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.