King Olaf got certain intelligence now that it would be but a short time
until he had a battle with the bondes; and after he had mustered his
men, and reckoned up the force, he had more than 3000 men, which appears
to be a great army in one field. Then the king made the following speech
to the people: "We have a great army, and excellent troops; and now I
will tell you, my men, how I will have our force drawn up. I will let
my banner go forward in the middle of the army, and my-court-men, and
pursuivants shall follow it, together with the war forces that joined
us from the Uplands, and also those who may come to us here in the
Throndhjem land. On the right hand of my banner shall be Dag Hringson,
with all the men he brought to our aid; and he shall have the second
banner. And on the left hand of our line shall the men be whom the
Swedish king gave us, together with all the people who came to us in
Sweden; and they shall have the third banner. I will also have the
people divide themselves into distinct flocks or parcels, so that
relations and acquaintances should be together; for thus they defend
each other best, and know each other. We will have all our men
distinguished by a mark, so as to be a field-token upon their helmets
and shields, by painting the holy cross thereupon with white colour.
When we come into battle we shall all have one countersign and
field-cry,--'Forward, forward, Christian men! cross men! king's men!'
We must draw up our meal in thinner ranks, because we have fewer people,
and I do not wish to let them surround us with their men. Now let the
men divide themselves into separate flocks, and then each flock into
ranks; then let each man observe well his proper place, and take notice
what banner he is drawn up under. And now we shall remain drawn up in
array; and our men shall be fully armed, night and day, until we know
where the meeting shall be between us and the bondes." When the king had
finished speaking, the army arrayed, and arranged itself according to
the king's orders.