An alien governor ruled the island, which was divided under him
into local counties, administered by sheriffs appointed by the
king of Norway. The Al-thing was replaced by a royal court, the
local work of the local things was taken by a subordinate of the
sheriff, and things, quarter-courts, trial by jury, and all the
rest, were swept away to make room for these "improvements",
which have lasted with few changes into this century. In 1380
the island passed under the rule of Denmark, and so continues.
(9) During the fifteenth century the English trade was the only
link between Iceland and the outer world; the Danish government
weakened that link as much as it could, and sought to shut in and
monopolise everything Icelandic; under the deadening effect of
such rule it is no marvel that everything found a lower level,
and many things went out of existence for lack of use. In the
sixteenth century there is little to record but the Reformation,
which did little good, if any, and the ravages of English,
Gascon, and Algerine pirates who made havoc on the coast; (10)
they appear toward the close of the century and disappear early
in the seventeenth.
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