Compare 1577 edition: 1 ¶ But here it may be doubted by the vncertentie of writers, whether the earle of Suffolke thus fled ouer to Calis, before the iournie at Ratcote bridge, or af|ter. But whether it chanced either after or before, it is certeine that since the time that the lords had forced the king to promise to exhibit him and others at the next parlement to abide their trials, he durst not o|penlie remaine in the court, but taking leaue of the king departed from him. Whervpon the king being out of quiet for the absence of him and other his best beloued councellors, whom he so much estéemed, and namelie of the duke of Ireland,A commission to the shiriffe of Cheshire to safe [...] the duke of Ireland to the kings presence. and the said earle of Suffolke, he appointed one Thomas Molineux con|stable of the castell of Chester, a man of high valian|cie, and great power in the parties of Cheshire and Lancashire, to raise an armie of men, with the assi|stance of the shiriffe of Cheshire, to whom his com|mission EEBO page image 461 of authoritie in that behalfe, vnder the great seale was directed, to the end that they might con|ueie the duke of Ireland in all safetie vnto the kings presence.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 The shiriffe hauing receiued this commission, to|gither with the foresaid Thomas Molineux raised a power, and such as refused to serue, in respect of such good will as they bare to the lords, he committed to prison, commanding the gailors to kéepe them streict in irons with bread and water till his returne. More|uer, the king sent to sir Rafe Uernon, & sir Richard Ratcliffe, willing them to assist the other. And so thus they set forward with the number of fiue thousand men.The lords seeke to stop the passage of the duke of Ireland. When the lords vnderstood that the duke of Ire|land was marching towards London, with such a power of men, meaning to ioine with the Londo|ners, and so to make as it had beene an inuincible ar|mie, they bestirred themselues, and fell in hand to arme their men, and to exhort one another, that now they should not be negligent in their owne defense, but make hast for the dispatching of those that craf|tilie had gone about to conspire their deaths. And so these lords, to wit, the duke of Glocester, the earles of Derbie, Arundell, Warwike, and Notingham, as|sembled their powers out of all quarters, to incoun|ter with the duke of Ireland; and when they had got their companies togither, they forelaied all the waies by which he was thought to come.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 But the duke of Ireland hauing with him Moli|neux, Uernon, and Ratcliffe, rode forward in statelie and glorious araie, with an armie (as ye haue heard) of fiue thousand men, supposing that none durst come foorth to withstand him. Neuerthelesse when he came to Ratcote bridge, not past foure miles from Cheping Norton (which bridge if he could haue passed, he had béene out of the danger of all enimies) he suddenlie espied where the armie of the lords laie, not far di|stant from him, readie in the midst of a vallie to a|bide his comming. Some of the earle of Derbies companie had broken the bridge, & so stopped his pas|sage. He therefore perceiuing his enimies intention, staied, and caused the kings banner to be spred, and began to set a good countenance of the matter, and to exhort his people to shew themselues valiant; and herewith caused the trumpets to sound. But when it appeared that as some were readie to fight in his quarell,The duke of Ireland his souldiers re|uolt frõ him. so there were other that quite forsooke him, and said flatlie they would not fight against so ma|nie noble men, in so vniust a cause: he being thereof aduertised, began to wax faint-harted, and to prepare himselfe to escape by flight; and declaring no lesse o|penlie vnto them, said:

Before we come to ioine, I will séeke to withdraw my selfe out of the waie, and saue my selfe if I can; for me they onlie seeke, against you they haue no quarell, so that I being shifted a|waie, you shall easilie be preserued. Herewith one of the knights said to him; You haue brought vs out of our countrie, you haue procured vs to giue you our promise, you haue caused vs to take this iournie in hand: here therefore are we readie to fight & win the victorie with you, if our hap be such; or if fortune will not so fauour vs,The duke of Ireland flieth frõ his armie. we are readie to spend our liues with you.

Virg. Aeneid. 9. —pedibus timor addidit alas.