Compare 1577 edition: 1 Rich. Graf [...]on. In the meane time, the duke of Guise hauing gi|uen order to monsieur Dandelot coronell of the French footmen,The duke of Guise and mõsieur Dan|delot with their powers. that he with his bands should be in a readinesse to giue the assault when signe should be giuen, did withdraw him to an higher ground, from whence he might plainlie discouer the behauiour as well of his souldiors in the assault giuing, as also of the defendants in answering the same. And percei|uing not so manie of the English part appearing for defense (as he douted there would) gaue order foorth|with, that a regiment of his most forward lance, knights should mount the brech, to open the first pas|sage: and that monsieur Dandelot with his French footbands should backe them, which order was follo|wed, with such hast & desperat hardines, that entring a déepe ditch full of water, from the bottome whereof to the top of the breach, in some places, was well neare fortie foot, Rabutine. without feare either of the water beneath, or the fire aboue, they mounted the breach.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 And whereas the duke had prepared (as ye haue heard) bridges made of planke boords, borne vp with casks and emptie pipes, tied one to another, for his men to passe the said ditch: manie of them now at this assault, without care of those bridges, plunged into the water,The desperat aduenture of the French. and tooke the next waie to come to the assault. Which hot hast notwithstanding, the as|sailants were at the first so stoutlie repelled and put backe by the defendants, being furnished with great store of wildfire, and other fucasies for the purpose, that they were turned headlong one vpon another, much faster than they came vp, not without great wast and slaughter of their best and most forward souldiors, to the small comfort of the stout duke, who (as is said before) stood all this while vpon a little hill to behold this businesse. Wherefore he not induring this sight any longer,The duke of Guise in a [...]age with his soldiers. as a man inraged, ran among his men, so reprouing some, and incouraging other, that the assault was hot renewed, with much more vehemencie and furie than before, and with no lesse sturdie obstinacie and desperation receiued by the defendants, whereby all the breach beneath was filled with French carcases.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 This notwithstanding, the duke still redoubled his forces with fresh companies, and continued so manie assaults one vpon another, that at the last charge, being most vehement of all the other, the Englishmen being tired, and greatlie minished in their numbers, by slaughter and bloudie wounds, were of fine force driuen to auoid,The English forced to auoid & the enimie entereth. & so after halfe an hours fight, the enimie entered. Which when the lord Greie beheld, he leaped to the top of the rampire, wi|shing of God that some shot would take him. When one that stood next him, by the scarffe suddenlie pulled him downe, otherwise the effects had well declared the earnestnes of the praier: for he was not yet vp a|gaine, when a canon shot grated vpon the same place from whence he fell. And thus verie narrowlie hée scaped the danger of that shot, which if it had hit him would (no doubt) haue wrought his dispatch. For what is the weake frame of a mans bodie to migh|tie forts and strong castels, builded of timber and stone, beside the iron worke therewith compact, of|tentimes redoubling the strength of the same? And yet these (we see by experience) ruinated, battered, and laid leuell manie times with the thundering shot of this dreadfull artillerie: an engine of no great anti|quitie, and not vsed among ancient warriours in former ages, but a late deuise of a Franciscan frier; pitie it is that euer he was borne to set abroch such a pestilent inuention, as the poet noteth, shewing also the vse and the mischéefous effect therof as followeth:
Tormenti genus est ex ferro aut aere coactum,Quod Franciscanus frater reperisserefertur,Vt capias paucis validissima castra diebus,Quae vix cepisses armis toto prius anno, &c.