46 DANIEL BRUUN. 
countries, the existence of which he knew nothing of beforehand. There 
were self sown wheat-fields, vines grew, also trees called Masur (a sort 
of birch-tree), and they took specimens of all this, including some tree- 
trunks, so big that they were used for houses.” 
The country here mentioned, was “Vineland” on the north American 
east-coast, of which we shall hear more later on: The Saga continues: 
"Leif found some people who were shipwrecked sitting on the wreck, 
and took them home with him. 
He luckily introduced Christianity into the country, and on this 
occasion, as on all others, he showed himself to be a gallant man and 
the right one, and he saved the wretched men. Since then he has 
constantly been called Leif the Fortunate. 
Leif landed m Ericsfiord, from there he proceeded home to Brat- 
tahlid where all received him kindly. He soon proclaimed Christianity 
and the universal (catholic) belief, in the country, bringing the people 
King Olaf Tryggvason’s declaration, explaining to them at the same time 
what great glory and honour there was in that belief. 
Eric was unwilling to give up his belief, but Thiodhild was soon 
induced to do so, she built a church, not too near to the houses; it was 
called Thiodhild’s church. She and those who had accepted Christianity 
prayed here. After accepting the belief, Thiodhild would have no inter- 
course with Zrie which displeased him greatly.” 
Although Eric the Red, would not accept the new doctrine it seems 
on the other hand he was not greatly opposed to it being introduced. 
His attitude towards this matter is best seen through his remark to 
Leif, “that the two things were equal, his having saved the ship- 
wrecked, and his having brought “Skemann” (the hypocrite) — as he 
called the priest — along with him”. 
Besides this priest, Leif is said to have brought several ecclesiastical 
men with him, and several more came later. Conversion presumeably 
had taken place, as they were in the settlements. Christianity was prob- 
ably received here as in Iceland through the decision of Parliament. 
In the beginning, the Greenland church, as well as the Scandinavian 
was under the Archbishop in Bremen, until the year 1103, when the 
Archbishoprie was established in Lund. Later still (1152) the Green- 
land and Iceland dioceses came in under the Archbishopric in Trondhjem. 
About the middle of the 11th century Christianity must have penetrated 
Greenland. Adam of Bremen informs us that messengers came from 
Greenland to the Archbishop Adalbert (1043—72) begging him to send 
them clergy. 
Having finished with these remarks, we will once more take up the 
Saga records about the first attempt to sail to Vineland: 
“Now there was much talked of a voyage of discovery which ought 
to be taken to that country found by Leif. It was especially Thorstein 
Ericsson both a clever and popular man, who urged it. Eric was 
