King Athelstan was a good Christian; he was called Athelstan the Faithful.
The king asked Thorolf and his brother to consent to take the first signing
with the cross, for this was then a common custom both with merchants and
those who took soldiers' pay in Christian armies, since those who
were 'prime-signed' (as 'twas termed) could hold all intercourse with
Christians and heathens alike, while retaining the faith which was most to their mind.
Thorolf and Egil did this at the king's request, and both let themselves be prime-signed.
They had three hundred men with them
who took the king's pay.