Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/317

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 309 also have the people divide themselves into distinet saga vn. 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 men 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 bonders." When the king had finished speaking, the army arrayed, and arranged itself according to the king's orders. Thereafter the king had a meeting with the chiefs Chapter of the different divisions, and then the men had re- King turned whom the kino; had sent out into the neigh- olaf ' s o c counsel. bouring districts to demand men from the bonders. They brought the tidings from the inhabited places they had gone through, that all around the country was stripped of all men able to carry arms, as all the people had joined the bonders' army; and where they did find any they got but few to follow them, for the most of them answered that they staid at home be- cause they would not follow either party : they would not go out against the king, nor yet against their own relations. Thus they had got but few people. Now the king asked his men their counsel, and what they now should do. Finn Arneson answered thus to the king's question : "I will say what should be done, if x 3