The inhabitants of Iedworth (not ignorant of their intent, and considering wherevnto all this pre|paration EEBO page image 409 tended) with spéedie & fearefull messengers signifie vnto Iohn Areskine earle of Mar & regent, the present danger wherein they stood, crauing some succor of light furnished souldiers to be sent to them, which foorthwith was granted accordinglie. Where|vpon Walter Car of Stefford, being called before Walter Car sent to defend Iedworth. the regent for that cause, had the charge of such aid granted vnto him, as a person who both for valure & experience was of sufficiencie to discharge anie such matter laied vpon him. Besides which, a conuenient number of sufficient souldiers, gathered out of the countries adioining, for that season assembled them|selues in defense of the towne, & ioined their armie with them at Iedworth. At what time also to strike more feare in the one part & to aduance the courage of the other part, it was noised amongst both armies that William Ruthwine with a hundred shot and William Ruthwine with a power comming to Driburge. certeine horsmen (wherof he brought part with him, and part he gathered out of the marches adioining) were at the same time comming to Driburge with the said Ruthwine. All which notwithstanding, the queenes faction trusting to their owne strength con|sisting in multitude (for they were in number thrée thousand men) did earlie in the morning draw to|wards the towne, to preuent the comming of such succours as both were promised, looked for, and then almost at hand. Which being by Ruthwine partlie before suspected, he hastened the people with more spéed to follow them at the héeles, and by continuall shot weried the taile of his aduersaries with often assaults and skirmishes.

Walter Car also ioining vnto him and to his Walter Car ioineth with William Ruthwine. complices the townes men (readie to defend their tiles, their goods, their wiues, and their children) tooke the direct waie towards his enimies, to the end the better to suppresse them and their vnited force. Which when the aduerse part perceiued; foorthwith they reti|red to places of more defense, lest they shuld incoun|ter their enimies with doubtfull battell; and least be|ing set vpon before and behind, they might be sud|denlie inclosed, before they could be able to turne themselues, either to escape, or to preuent the approch|ing enimie. At what time such as sought after spoile, and were allured to that warre with hope of gaine, being now by that means defrauded of their preie, when they saw the towne manfullie defended, and The quéenes faction flie a|waie. the kings part readilie and stronglie come foorth to battell, left the field, and departed euerie man to his owne house, as it was néerest to the place where they then remained. Whose sudden flight, without any oc|casion of danger, being vnderstood of the chiefe of the rest of such as were of the queenes faction (supposing at the first nothing lesse than that the enimie would make vpon them) they also followed after the others, raised their campe, and departed to Hawike with the rest of their followers and companie of footmen, hoping thereby to escape all danger, by reason of the sharpenesse of the winter and late fall of the snow, which would staie the following of the enimie.

But Ruthwine, iudging it best to vse the opportu|nitie Ruthwine with his ar|mie commeth to Hawike. of time, did before daie so spéedilie lead his ar|mie to Hawike, that he was within a mile of his enimies, before they could by anie means be certi|fied of his comming. Whose spéedie and vnlooked for approch did strike such extreame feare into the hearts of those which possessed Hawike; that there was no place left for anie consultation; but presentlie that e|uerie one should shift for himselfe as well as hée might. Wherevpon suddenlie bringing foorth their horsses and footmen, and following the course of the next riuer, they attempted to withdraw into places The quéens faction ouer|throwne and dispersed at Hawike. of more safetie for themselues, and further from their enimies. But the horssemen of Ruthwine spée|dilie following at their héeles, so preuented their de|uise, that forsaking their footmen, they fled ouer all the countrie to the places best knowne vnto them.