Compare 1577 edition: 1 But to proceed. Polydor. The ambassa|dours returne from the pope. The ambassadours being dispatch|ed, and hauing the popes prescript, and such other his letters with them as they had obteined of him, re|turned with all spéed into England vnto the king (who was come a litle before vnto Windsore castell) and there declared vnto him how they sped. K. Iohn being ioifull in that they had brought the matter so well about for his purpose,The popes decrée is de|clared to the lords. caused the popes decree to be declared vnto the barons, commanding them streitlie to obeie the same. The barons taking the matter grieuouslie to be thus mocked, with great in|dignation both blamed king Iohns vniust dealing, and the popes wrongfull iudgement, in that he had pronounced against them, without hearing what they had of right to alledge for themselues. Where|vpon out of hand (notwithstanding the popes prohi|bition and prescript to the contrarie) they determined to trie their cause by dint of sword,The barons will trie their quarel by dint of sword. and with all speed assembled their powers, which for the greater part they had latelie dismissed and sent home. They fur|nished the castell of Rochester with a strong garri|son of men, and placed therein as capteine one Wil|liam Albeney, a verie skilfull warriour.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 King Iohn, after he vnderstood that the barons (contemning the popes decrée and inhibition) were more offended and bent against him than before,The K. sen|deth eftsoons to the pope. sent once againe to the pope, to aduertise him of their dis|obedience and great contumacie shewed in refusing to stand to his prescript. This doone, he returned to the Ile of Wight, and sailed from thence to Douer,The king re|turneth into the Ile of Wight. where diuerse of those his commissaries which he had sent to hire soldiers in forren parts returned to him, bringing with them out of diuerse countries such a multitude of souldiers and armed men, Matt. Paris. Polydor. that the one|lie sight of them stroke the harts of all the beholders with great feare and terror.The arriuall of forren soul|diers to the kings aid. Sancrie de Mauleon. For out of the parties of Poictou and Gascoine, there came men of great no|bilitie, and right worthie warriours, as Sauerie de Mauleon, Geffrey and Oliuer de Buteuile two bre|thren, hauing vnder them great numbers of good souldiers and tall men of warre. Also out of Bra|bant there came Walter Buc, Gerard de Sotignie, and on [...] Godestall, with thrée legions of armed men and crossebowes. Likewise there came out of Flan|ders other capteins, with diuerse bands of souldiers, which Ferdinando earle of Flanders (latelie retur|nedFerdinando erle of Flan|ders. out of the French captiuitie) for old fréendships EEBO page image 188 [...] furnished and sent ouer to aid him against his [...] as he had [...].

Compare 1577 edition: 1 King Iohn then hauing recouered strength [...] him and being aduertised that William de [...] was entred into the castell of Rochester with a great number of knights, [...] men of armes and other souldiers, hasted thither with his whole arme, and be|sieged them within, inforcing himselfe by all waies possible to win the castell as well by battering the walles with engines, [...] as by giuing thereto manie as|saults: but the garison within consisting of nintie and foure knights beside demilances, and other soul|diers defended the place verie manfullie, in hope of reseue from the barons, which laie as then at Lon|don: but they comming forward one daies iournie vnto Dartford, when they heard that the king was comming forward in good araie of battell to meet them vpon consideration had of their owne forces, for that they were not able to match him with foot|men, they returned barke againe to the citie, break|ing that assured promise which they had made and al|so confirmed by their solemne oths, which was that if the castell should chance to be besieged, [...] they would not faile but raise the siege.