There were six of the best warriors of the crew before Olaf as his shield wall, and six of the best English warriors had been named by Prat to act in the same way for me.

Olaf had given me a good plain sword in place of that which I broke, but I took a spear now, ashen shafted and strong, in the English way, that I might be armed as were my men, and I think that pleased them.
The Danes came on fast, and they had not been miscounted.

They were full half as many again as we, and they were drawn up in line with their horsemen on the wings as we were, so that at first I thought we should fight man to man, both horse and foot, along the whole front.
Now they came almost within bow shot, and there they halted and closed up, leaning on their weapons, while a great man, tall and black bearded, and clad in black chain mail, rode out before them and came towards us with his right hand held up in token of parley.
Olaf went out from the line to meet him, and when they were close together a great hush fell on the two hosts to hear what was said.
"Are you the leader of this host ?" the Dane said.
"Aye.

Who are you ?" answered Olaf.
"I am Egil Thorarinsson, of Colchester," he answered.

"And whoever you may be, I call on you to yield to Cnut, King of Denmark and England, and Norway also." "Maybe he is king of neither," Olaf answered quietly.