The brothers Thorolf and Egil were standing southwards along Saxony and Flanders,
when they heard that the king of England wanted men,
and that there was in his service hope of much gain.
So they resolved to take their force thither.
And they went on that autumn till they came to king Athelstan.
He received them well; he saw plainly that such followers would be a great help.
Full soon did the English king decide to ask them to join him, to take pay there,
and become defenders of his land.
They so agreed between them that they became king Athelstan's men.
England was thoroughly Christian in faith, and had long been so,
when these things happened.