Compare 1577 edition: 1 For the names of persons, townes, and places, as I haue beene diligent to reforme the errours of other (which are to be ascribed more to the vnperfect copies than to the authors) so may it be that I haue some-where committed the like faults, either by neg|ligence or want of skill to restore them to their full integritie as I wished. But what I haue performed, aswell in that behalfe as others, the skilfull reader shall easily perceiue, EEBO page image 7 and withall consider (I trust) what trauell I haue bestowed to his behoofe in this huge volume; crauing onelie, that in recompense thereof he will iudge the best, and to make a freendlie construction of my meaning, where ought may seeme to haue escaped my pen or the printers presse, otherwise than we could haue wished for his better satisfacti|on. Manie things being taken out as they lie in authors, may be thought to giue of|fense in time present, which referred to the time past when the author writ, are not one|lie tollerable, but also allowable. Therefore (good reader) I beseech thee to weigh the causes and circumstances of such faults and imperfections, and consider that the like may creepe into a far lesse volume than this, and shew me so much fauour as hath beene shewed to others in like causes. And sithens I haue doone my good will, accept the same, as I with a free and thankefull mind doo offer it thee; so shall I thinke my labour well bestowed. For the other histories, which are alreadie collected, if it please God to giue abilitie, shall in time come to light, with some such breefe descriptions of the for|ren regions whereof they treat, as may the better suffice to the readers contentation, and vnderstanding of the matters conteined in the same histories, reduced into abridgements out of their great volumes. And thus I ceasse further to trouble thy pa|tience, wishing to thee (gentle reader) so much profit, as by reading may be had, and as great comfort as Gods ho|lie spirit may endue thee with.

The politike Conquest of William the first.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _THis William Duke of Nor|mandie, Anno. 1. base son of Robert the sixt Duke of Nor|mandie, and ne|phew vnto Ed|ward King of England, surna|med the Confes|sor, hauing van|quished the Eng|lish power, and slaine Harold in the field (as you may read at large towards the end of the historie of England) began his reigne ouer England the xv. daie of October being sundaie, in the yeare after the creation of the world 5033. (as W. Harison gathereth) and after the birth of our Saui|our 1066. which was in the tenth yeare of the empe|rour Henrie the fourth, in the sixt of pope Alexander the second, in the sixt of Philip king of France, and a|bout the tenth of Malcolme the third, surnamed Ca|moir, king of Scotland.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Sim. Dun. Immediatlie after he had thus got the victorie in a pight field (as before ye haue heard) he first re|turned to Hastings, and after set forward towards London, wasted the countries of Sussex, Kent, Ham|shire, Southerie, Middlesex, and Herefordshire, bur|ning the townes, and sleaing the people, till he came to Beorcham. In the meane time, immediatlie after the discomfiture in Sussex, the two earles of Nor|thumberland and Mercia,Edwin and Marchar. Edwin and Marchar, who had withdrawne themselues from the battell togi|ther with their people, came to London, and with all speed sent their sister quéene Aldgitha vnto the citie of Chester,Quéene Ald|githa sent to Chester. and herewith sought to persuade the Lon|doners to aduance one of them to the kingdome: as Wil. Mal. writeth. Wil. Mal. Simon Dun. But Simon of Durham saith, that Aldred archbishop of Yorke, and the said earles with others would haue made Edgar Etheling king. Howbeit, whilest manie of the Nobilitie and others prepared to make themselues redie to giue a new battell to the Normans (how or whatsoeuer was the cause) the said earles drew homewards with their powers, Wil. Malm. The bishops blamed. to the great discomfort of their freends. Wil. Malm. séemeth to put blame in the bishops, for that the lords went not forward with their purpose in ad|uancing Edgar Etheling to the crowne. For the bi|shops (saith he) refused to ioine with the lords in that behalfe, and so through enuie and spite which one part bare to another, when they could not agrée vpon an Englishman, they receiued a stranger, insomuch that vpon king William his comming vnto Beorcham,The archbi|shop of Yorke & other submit themselues to king William. Aldred archbishop of Yorke, Wolstane bishop of Worcester, and Walter bishop of Hereford, Edgar Etheling, and the foresaid earles Edwin and Mar|char came and submitted themselues vnto him, whom he gentlie receiued, and incontinentlie made an a|gréement with them, taking their oth and hostages (as some write) and yet neuerthelesse he permitted his people to spoile and burne the countrie.