rules of Norse tactics, rules of little complexity, but perspicuously
true to the facts. I think he had a clear open ground still rather
raised above the plain in front; he could see how the Bonder army had
not yet quite arrived, but was pouring forward, in spontaneous rows or
groups, copiously by every path. This was thought to be the biggest
army that ever met in Norway; "certainly not much fewer than a hundred
times a hundred men," according to Snorro; great Bonders several of
them, small Bonders very many,--all of willing mind, animated with a
hot sense of intolerable injuries. "King Olaf had punished great and
small with equal rigor," says Snorro; "which appeared to the chief
people of the country too severe; and animosity rose to the highest
when they lost relatives by the King's just sentence, although they
were in reality guilty. He again would rather renounce his dignity
than omit righteous judgment. The accusation against him, of being
stingy with his money, was not just, for he was a most generous man
towards his friends. But that alone was the cause of the discontent
raised against him, that he appeared hard and severe in his
retributions. Besides, King Knut offered large sums of money, and the
great chiefs were corrupted by this, and by his offering them greater
dignities than they had possessed before." On these grounds, against
the intolerable man, great and small were now pouring along by every
path.

Olaf perceived it would still be some time before the Bonder army was
in rank. His own Dag of Sweden, too, was not yet come up; he was to
have the right banner; King Olaf's own being the middle or grand one;
some other person the third or left banner. All which being perfectly
ranked and settled, according to the best rules, and waiting only the
arrival of Dag, Olaf bade his men sit down, and freshen themselves
with a little rest. There were religious services gone through: a