Compare 1577 edition: 1 Then went king Edward vnto Edenburgh where he planted his siege about the castell, and raised en|gines, which cast stones against and ouer the walles, sore beating and brusing the buildings within. But as it chanced, the king writing letters, to aduertise his councell at [...] of his proceedings, and concer|ning other businesse, Rich. South [...]. deliuered that packet vnto a Welshman named Lewin, commanding him to go with the same to London in all hast possible, for he knew him to be a verie spéedie messenger and a tru|stie also (as he tooke it.) But hauing the letter thus deliuered him, togither with monie to beare his charges, he got him to a tauerne, where riotouslie cõ|suming the monie (which he had so receiued) in plaie, & making good cheere, in the morning he caused one of his companions to take a target, and beare it afore him in approching the castell, for that he meant (as he colourablie pretended) not to depart, vntill he had EEBO page image 300 wrought some displeasure to them within with his crossebow, which he tooke with him for that purpose, so that comming vnto the castell gates, he called to the warders on the walles to cast downe to him a cord, that they might plucke him vp to them there|with, for that he had somwhat to say to their capteine touching the secrets of the king of England.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 They fulfilling his desire, when he came in, and was brought afore the captein sitting then at break|fast, he said vnto him:
Behold sir, here ye may per|use the king of Englands secrets, and withall raught to him a box, wherein the packet of the kings letters were inclosed, and appoint me (saith he) to some cor|ner of the wall, and trie whether I can handle a crosse|bow or not, to defend it against your aduersaries.Héere when others would haue opened the box, and haue read the letters, the capteine would in no wise consent thereto, but going into a turret, called to the Englishmen beelow, and willed them to signifie to the king, that one of his seruants being fled to him, sought to bewraie his secrets, wherevnto he would by no means agree, and therefore meant to restore both the traitor and the letters. Herevpon, the lord Iohn Spenser, comming to heare what the matter might meane, the capteine caused Lewin to be let downe to him, togither with the letters safe, and not touched by him at all.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 When the king vnderstood this, he much commen|ded the honest respect of the capteine, and whereas he had caused engins to be raised to annoie them with|in (as yée haue heard) he commanded the same to ceasse, and withall, vpon their capteins suit, he gran|ted them libertie to send vnto their king Iohn Bali|oll, to giue him to vnderstand in what sort they stood. As touching the Welshman,A Welshman hanged. he was drawne and hanged on a paire of high galowes, prepared for him of purpose, as he had well deserued. A notable example of a traitorous villaine, so to offer the se|crets of his souereigne to be known to his enimies: and no lesse excellent a president of an honest and faithfull harted foe, that would not himselfe nor let anie other haue a sight of the contents therein writ|ten; a rare point of good meaning and vpright dea|ling in a souldier, and speciallie in an enimie; but
—multo optimus illeMilitiae cui postremum est primúm, tueriInter bella fidem.