Soon after the king convoked a Thing in the town, and proclaimed to all
the public, that in summer would go abroad upon an expedition out of the
country, and would raise both ships and men from every district; and at
the same time fixed how many ships would have from the whole Throndhjem
fjord. Then he sent his message-token south and north, both along the
sea-coast and up in the interior of the country, to let an army be
gathered. The king ordered the Long Serpent to be put into the water,
along with all his other ships both small and great. He himself steered
the Long Serpent. When the crews were taken out for the ships, they were
so carefully selected that no man on board the Long Serpent was older
than sixty or younger than twenty years, and all were men distinguished
for strength and courage. Those who were Olaf's bodyguard were in
particular chosen men, both of the natives and of foreigners, and the
boldest and strongest.