BATTLi: Hi' j:i,'l \.l.\l;f ln.il. 471 



to the heath where the battle was appointed, to find a place 

 for the tents and prepare everything in advance. When the\ 

 came to where the field was to be fenced, hazel poles wcr 

 put up all round to mark the place where the battle was to 

 take place. Care was taken that it should be even, as a large 

 number of men was to be arrayed there. The battleplace was 

 a level heath ; on one side a river, and on the other a large 

 forest. There was a very long distance between the forest 

 and the river, where it was shortest, and where the tents of 

 JEthelstan reached all the way from the one to the other. 

 There was no one in every third tent, and even few in those 

 that were occupied. When the men of Olaf came to the tents 

 they had many men in front of all the tents, but did not allow 

 them to go in. The men of ^Ethelstan said that all their tents 

 were full, and that their whole host had not room in them ; 

 the tents stood in so high a place that it was impossible to 

 look over them and see whether they were many or few in 

 a cut through, and they thought there must be a great host. 

 They pitched their tents north of the hazel poles, on a gentle 

 slope. The men of .ZEthelstan said day after day that their 

 king was coming or had arrived to the town south of the 

 heath, and men gathered to them both by day and by night. 



" When the appointed time was past they sent a message t< 

 Olaf that ^Ethelstan was readv for the battle, with a MTV 



* ' 



numerous host, but that he did not wish such a great slaugliti-i 

 as was likely to take place, and bade him rather go home to 

 Scotland and he would allow him as a friendly gift a shilling 

 (skilling) in silver for every plough in all his kingdom, and 

 that they should become friends. When the messengers came 

 to Olaf he was preparing for battle, but on the announcement 

 of their errand he stopped his advance that day, and with his 

 chiefs sat in council. Different advices were given ; some 

 urged him much to accept this offer, thinking it most honour- 

 able to go home, having received so large a tribute from 

 ./Ethelstan; others dissented, and said that he would offer 

 much more next time if this Mas not accepted. This was 

 agreed upon Then the messengers asked Olaf to grant them 

 time to see King ^Ethelstan, and try if he would pay more to 

 get peace. They asked for truce ; one day to ride home, 

 another for deliberation, the third for returning. This \ya> 

 granted; the messengers went home, and came back the third 

 day and told Olaf that ^Ethelstan would give all In- offered 

 before, and besides to his host a shilling to every freeborn 

 man, and a mark to every leader who had command over 

 twelve men or more, one mark in gold to every leader of 

 hirdinen (courtiers), and five marks in gold to every jarl. 



