¶Notwithstanding the great confidence which the French king reposed in the fortification which he had imbarked, Abr. Fl. out of Henrie Knigh|ton canon of Leicester abbeie. thinking thereby to haue wrought great woonders, to the discomfiture of the English: yet (contrarie to his expectation) it so fortuned, that a|bout Michaelmas, the lord William Beauchampe capteine of Calis tooke two ships; whereof one was loden with a péece of the said inclosure or wall of wood, and in the same ship was the maister carpen|ter of the inclosure, being an Englishman borne, but banished his countrie before that time for some of|fense. He also tooke another ship, wherein were en|gins, guns, gunpowder & other instruments of war. Not long after this, two more ships were taken like|wise, whose burthen was parcels of the foresaid frame or inclosure: so that three ships were met withall and seized vpon, each of them loden with one kind of stuffe. Whereof king Richard hearing, he caused the said inclosure to be reared and set vp about Winchelsie towne. In the meane while, namelie in September, the foresaid armie came into Flanders, and arriued at the hauen of Sluis, intending to make their progresse into England: but by prolong|ing of the time there, they were driuen to great dis|tresse and want of vittels: for it was reported that a loafe of bread, sold in England for a penie, was sold there for eightéene pence; and a hens eg for a pe|nie: so that in the end of Nouember they returned to France, missing their purpose as much as if they had neuer ment it.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 There were readie within the realme at that sea|son, in one part and other 100000 archers, and ten thousand men of armes, besides those that were gone into Spaine with the duke of Lancaster. All this preparation lasted for the more part of the sum|mer, euen till the beginning of winter: and still the French king that was come downe into Flanders, staied for the comming of his vncle the duke of Ber|rie: who at length in the moneth of Nouember came to Sluis, hauing protracted time, of purpose, that he might by the excuse of winter, cause this ior|nie to be put off till another season. Wherin he shew|ed more wit than all the councellors which the French king had about him: for if he had not politikelie shif|ted off the matter, the king had landed here in Eng|land, to the great danger of his person and losse of his people. And yet if we shall beléeue writers that liued in those daies, by reason of the brute that was spred through the realme, of that huge preparation which the French king made to inuade this land, no small feare entered into the harts of manie, namelie of the Londoners,The Londo|ners speciallie afraid of the Frẽch forces. who (as if the enimies had beene alredie landed) bestirred them, in making what prouision they might for their defense, though it séemed by their manner of dooings, they stood in doubt least the whole realme had not béene able to make sufficient resis|tance.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 In déed diuerse were the more afraid,Dissention a|mong the no|blemen. for that they perceiued how the barons and great lords agreed not in manie points among themselues, and so being not of one mind, the wiser sort doubted least through their disagréeing in that troublesome time, some danger might grow to the state of the whole realme. Notwithstanding, Froissard. no small number of others wished nothing more, than that the French king in going forward with his purpose, might haue come ouer, not doubting but that he should haue found such a wel|come, as would haue beene little to his ease. Tho. Walsin. A parlement at London. About the feast of saint Michaell, a parlement was called and holden at London, and withall great numbers of men of armes & archers were appointed to come and lie about London, that they might be readie to march foorthwith against the enimies whensoeuer it chanced them to land. Thus all the townes and vil|lages twentie miles in compasse round about Lon|don, were full of men of armes and archers, lieng as it had beene in campe; and wanting both vittels and monie, they were driuen to spoile and to take by vio|lence what they might get. At length, after they had lame thus to small purpose a long season, they were licenced to depart home, with commandement to be readie to returne againe vpon the first summons. Manie of them were constreined through necessitie, to sell their horsses, and armour, and some to spoile and to rob as they went homewards, not sparing what they might laie their hands vpon. Although the men of warre were dismissed home, the parlement yet continued, and the lords still remained at Lon|don, hearkening still for the French kings com|ming.