When the messengers came to Olaf he was just beginning to make ready his army, and purposing to
attack. But on the messengers declaring their errand, he forebore to advance for that day. Then he and
his captains sate in council. Wherein opinions were much divided. Some strongly desired that these
terms should be taken; they said that this journey had already won them great honour, if they should
go home after receiving so much money from Athelstan. But some were against it, saying that
Athelstan would offer much more the second time, were this refused. And this latter counsel prevailed.
Then the messengers begged king Olaf to give them time to go back to king Athelstan, and try if he
would pay yet more money to ensure peace. They asked a truce of one day for their journey home,
another for deliberation, a third to return to Olaf. The king granted them this.

The messengers went home, and came back on the third day according to promise; they now said to
king Olaf that Athelstan would give all that he offered before, and over and above, for distribution
among king Olaf’s soldiers, a shilling to every freeborn man, a silver mark to every officer of a
company of twelve men or more, a gold mark to every captain of the king’s guard, and five gold
marks to every earl. Then the king laid this offer before his forces. It was again as before; some
opposed this, some desired it. In the end the king gave a decision: he said he would accept these terms,
if this too were added, that king Athelstan let him have all Northumberland with the tributes and dues
thereto belonging. Again the messengers ask armistice of three days, with this further, that king Olaf
should send his men to hear Athelstan’s answer, whether he would take these terms or no; they say
that to their thinking Athelstan will hardly refuse anything to ensure peace. King Olaf agreed to this
and sent his men to king Athelstan.

Then the messengers ride all together, and find king Athelstan in the town that was close to the heath
on the south. King Olaf’s messengers declare before Athelstan their errand and the proposals for
peace. King Athelstan’s men told also with what offers they had gone to king Olaf, adding that this
had been the counsel of wise men, thus to delay the battle so long as the king had not come.

But king Athelstan made a quick decision on this matter, and thus bespake the messengers: ’Bear ye
these my words to king Olaf, that I will give him leave for this, to go home to Scotland with his forces;
only let him restore all the property that he has wrongfully taken here in the land. Then make we peace
between our lands, neither harrying the other. Further be it provided that king Olaf shall become my
vassal, and hold Scotland for me, and be my under-king. Go now back,’ said he, ’and tell him this.’

At once that same evening the messengers turned back on their way, and came to king Olaf about
midnight; they then waked up the king, and told him straightway the words of king Athelstan. The
king instantly summoned his earls and other captains; he then caused the messengers to come and
declare the issue of their errand and the words of Athelstan. But when this was made known before the
soldiers, all with one mouth said that this was now before them, to prepare for battle. The messengers
said this too, that Athelstan had a numerous force, but he had come into the town on that same day
when the messengers came there.

Then spoke earl Adils, ’Now, methinks, that has come to pass, O king, which I said, that ye would find
tricksters in the English. We have sat here long time and waited while they have gathered to them all
their forces, whereas their king can have been nowhere near when we came here. They will have been
assembling a multitude while we were sitting still. Now this is my counsel, O king, that we two
brothers ride at once forward this very night with our troop. It may be they will have no fear for
themselves, now they know that their king is near with a large army. So we shall make a dash upon
them. But if they turn and fly, they will lose some of their men, and be less bold afterwards for conflict
with us.’