Compare 1577 edition: 1 In the meane time, the earle of Flanders percei|uing that he was not able to resist so puissant an eni|mie as the French king, sent ouer in hast vnto the king of England for aid. Wherevpon king Iohn vnderstanding that his aduersarie king Philip had turned all his force against the earle of Flanders, and that thereby he was deliuered out of the feare of the Frenchmens comming into England; that same nauie (which as before is recited) he had put in a readinesse, conteining the number of fiue hundred saile, Matth. Paris. he sent streight into Flanders with a strong armie, both of horssemen and footmen, vnder the gui|ding of William duke of Holland, William Long|spée earle of Salisburie base brother to king Iohn, and Reignold earle of Bullongne.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 These capteins being now passed foorth with their fléets into the maine sea, espied anon manie ships lieng without the hauen of Dam (for the number of ships of the French fléet was so great, that the hauen could not receiue them all, so that manie of them laie at anchor without the hauen mouth, and all alongst the coast.) Wherefore they sent foorth certeine shal|lops, to espie whether they were freends or enimies, and what their number and order was. It chanced, that the same time, the men of warre which were ap|pointed to kéepe the French fleet, were gone foorth, togither with a great number of the mariners, to spoile and fetch booties abroad in the countrie.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 The English espials therefore, making semblance as though they had beene some fishermen of those parts, came verie neere the French ships lieng at anchor, and perceiuing them to be vnfurnished of people necessarie to defend them, came backe to their companie, and declared what they had séene, certifi|eng their capteins that the victorie was in their hands, if they would make speed. The capteins glad of these newes, commanded their men to make them readie to giue battell, and causing their mariners to make saile directlie towards the French fléet, at their first approch they wanne those tall ships that laie at anchor abroad before the hauen,The English men assaile the French ships. without any great resistance, the mariners onelie making re|quest to haue their liues saued. The other smaller ves|sels which (after the tide was gone) remained vpon the sands (spoiling them first of their tackle and other things that would serue to vse) they consumed with fier, the mariners escaping by flight.