h 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.

217. KING OLAF'S COUNSEL.

Thereafter the king had a meeting with the chiefs of the different
divisions, and then the men had returned whom the king had sent out into
the neighbouring districts to demand men from the bondes. 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 bondes' army; and where they did find any
they got but few to follow them, for the most of them answered that they
stayed at home because 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. Fin Arnason answered thus to the king's
question: "I will say what should be done, if I may advise. We should
go with armed hand over all the inhabited places, plunder all the goods,
and burn all the habitations, and leave not a hut standing, and thus
punish the bondes for their treason against their sovereign. I think
many a man will then cast himself loose from the bondes' army, when he
sees smoke and flame at home on his farm, and does not know how it is
going with children, wives, or old men, fathers, mothers, and other
connections. I expect also," he added, "that if we succeed in breaking
the assembled host, their ranks will soon be thinned; for so it is with
the bondes, that the counsel which is the newest is always the dearest
to them all, and most followed." When Fin had ended his speech it met
with general applause; for many thought well of such a good occasion to
make booty, and all thought the bondes well deserved to suffer damage;
and they also thought it probable, what Fin said, that many would in
this way be brought to forsake the assembled army of the bondes.

Now when the king heard the warm expressions of his people he told
them to listen to him, and said, "The