Compare 1577 edition: 1 The righteousnes of their cause ought to be regarded, least men runne in danger of the soule; the number of men is to be respected, least they should be oppressed with multitude of enimies; and the goodnesse of the soldiers is to be considered, least trusting in the multitude, they should presume vpon the aid of feeble persons, & such as are of small valure. In all these points we see our selues suffici|entlie furnished. The iustice of our cause is this: that obseruing the thing which we vowed to our king be|fore God, we stand to the same against those that haue falsified their faith, euen to the perill of death. Our number is not much lesse in horssemen, and in footmen we excéed them. As for the goodnesse or suffi|ciencie of our men, who is able to expresse the noble prowesse of so manie earles, of so manie lords and soldiers, trained vp euer in warres? The passing va|liancie of our king may stand in place of innumera|ble souldiers. Sith then he being the lords annoin|ted, is here amongst you, vnto whom ye haue vowed allegiance, performe your vow. For the more ear|nestly and faithfully ye serue your prince in this bat|tell, which you are readie to fight against periured persons, the more shall your reward be at the hands of God and him. Therfore be of good comfort, & haue EEBO page image 53 in remembrance against whom you doo darraine the battell.Erle Robert. The force of erle Robert is well knowne, his maner is to threaten much, & to worke little, furious in words, eloquent of speach, but cold or rather dead harted in déeds.The earle of Chester. The earle of Chester what is he? A man of vnreasonable boldnesse, bent to conspira|cie, inconstant to performe that which he rashlie ta|keth in hand, readie to run into batell, vncircumspect in danger, practising things of great importance, sée|king after things vnpossible, bringing with him few good soldiers, but gathering a vagarant rout of ras|cals. There is nothing in him that we ought to be afraid of, for looke whatsoeuer he attempteth man|fullie, the same he giueth ouer womanlie, in all his dooings vnfortunate, in all encounters either he is ouercome and fléeth awaie, or if he get the vpper hand (which seldome times chanceth) he susteineth greater losse than they whom he dooth vanquish.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 The Welshmen, whom he bringeth with him are little estéemed of vs, who pretend a naked rashnesse without any vse of armor, so that as men without any knowledge of martiall policie, they fall as brute beasts vpon the hunters iaueline. The other, as well the nobles as the common souldiers are but runna|gates and vagabounds; of whom I would wish the number greater than it is: for the more they be, the woorsse in effect their seruice shall prooue in time of need. You therefore (most worthie cheefetaines) you men of honor, it standeth you vpon to haue in regard your vertue and dignities. This day aduance your renowme, and follow the foresteps of your famous ancestors, leaue to your sonnes an euerlasting com|mendation.Continuall good successe a prouocation of boldnesse. The continuall successe of victorie ought to be a prouocation vnto you to doo manfullie: the continuance of euill speed may be to yonder side an occasion to run away. For euen alreadie (I dare say) they repent them of their comming hither, and could be contented to be gone, if the nature of the place would suffer them to depart. Then sith it is not possi|ble for them either to fight or to flée, what other thing can they doo, but (as appointed by Gods ordinance) offer themselues and all they haue about them pre|sentlie vnto vs. Yée sée then their horsses, their ar|mour, and their bodies readie here at your pleasure, lift vp your hearts therefore, and reach your hands to take that with great chearefulnesse of mind, which the Lord hath thus offered and freelie presented vnto you.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Now yer he had all made an end of his words, the batels were readie to ioine, they met with great noise of trumpets and other instruments, and the fight began with a verie sore and cruell slaughter. Hard it was in the beginning to gesse who should haue the better. Matth. Paris. Hen. Hunt. The wing of the disherited men ouerthrew and bare downe their aduersaries, which were led by the duke of Britaine, and the forenamed earles. On the contrarie part, the earle of Albemarle and William de Ypres put the Welshmen to flight, but by the earle of Chester and his retinue, the same earle and William de Ypres were fiercelie assailed afresh, and put out of order. Thus was the kings side put to the worse, W. Paru. Hen. Hunt. namelie his horssemen, who being placed in the forefront, and there ouermatched, fell to galoping. Which thing when the king beheld, he was not yet any whit therewith abashed, but like an har|die captein (as he was no lesse indéed) comforted his footmen whom he had about him, and rushing vpon his enimies, bare them downe, and ouerthrew so manie as stood before him, so that with the point of his weapon he made himselfe waie. His footmen, who were but a few in number to the multitude of his enimies, Polydor. counteruailed in all points the prowes and manlike dooings of their king and capteine, in|somuch that few battels had beene better fought, nor with greater slaughter on both sides, if the kings fore ward (which in maner at the first shranke backe and was disordered, not without some supicion of treason) had staied the brunt of the enimies a while, as it had béene requisite. At length the king encoun|tring with the earle of Chester, being ouercharged with multitude, was taken prisoner by one William de Cahames.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Earle Baldwine, Simon Dun. Hen. Hunt. who had made the oration in the kings behalfe, was also taken, after he had fought valiantlie and receiued manie sore wounds: like|wise Richard Fitzvrse, who on that daie had shewed good proofe of his manhood, and had giuen and recei|ued manie a sore stripe. To conclude, Matth. Paris. all those that abode with the king, and namelie all the footmen were taken prisoners, those which were slaine in the place excepted. W. Paru. This battell was fought in the sixt yeare of king Stephans reigne, vpon Candlemas daie, being sundaie, as Niger saith.