Then King Harald arranged his army, and made the line of battle long,
but not deep. He bent both wings of it back, so that they met together;
and formed a wide ring equally thick all round, shield to shield, both
in the front and rear ranks. The king himself and his retinue were
within the circle; and there was the banner, and a body of chosen men.
Earl Toste, with his retinue, was at another place, and had a different
banner. The army was arranged in this way, because the king knew that
horsemen were accustomed to ride forwards with great vigour, but to
turn back immediately. Now the king ordered that his own and the earl's
attendants should ride forwards where it was most required. "And our
bowmen," said he, "shall be near to us; and they who stand in the
first rank shall set the spear-shaft on the ground, and the spear-point
against the horseman's breast, if he rides at them; and those who
stand in the second rank shall set the spear-point against the horse's
breast."