STARKAD was the first to set in order in Danish speech the history of the Swedish war, a conflict whereof he was himself a mighty pillar; the said history being rather an oral than a written tradition.

He set forth and arranged the course of this war in the mother tongue according to the fashion of our country; but I purpose to put it into Latin, and will first recount the most illustrious princes on either side.

For I have felt no desire to include the multitude, which are even past exact numbering.

And my pen shall relate first those on the side of Harald, and presently those who served under Ring.
Now the most famous of the captains that mustered to Harald are acknowledged to have been Sweyn and Sambar (Sam ?), Ambar and Elli; Rati of Funen, Salgard and Roe (Hrothgar), whom his long beard distinguished by a nickname.

Besides these, Skalk the Scanian, and Alf the son of Agg; to whom are joined Olwir the Broad, and Gnepie the Old.