Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 And first it is not to be forgotten, that the French|men neuer shewed more vanitie than they did this yeare, Iacob. Meir. Froissard. since the linage of the Capetes began first to rule in France. All the ships that they could prouide from the confines of Spaine, vnto the mouth of the Rhene, all alongst the coast, they assembled at Sluis and thereabouts, and made so great preparation for the warre, that the like had not béene heard of (mea|ning, as they boasted, and made their vants) to passe ouer into England, and to deuoure the whole coun|trie, in dooing sacrifice to the soules of their elders with the bloud of the English people. Howbeit these words were wind, & to them accorded the prouerbe,
Parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.There were numbred in the moneth of September about Sluis,A mightie great nauie of French ships at Sluis pur|posing to in|uade Englãd. Dam, and Blankberke 1287 ships, besides those which were rigged in Britaine by the constable, who had caused an inclosure of a field to be made of timber, like railes or barriers, that when they were landed in England, they might there|with inclose their field, and so lodge more at suertie, and when they remooued, it was so made with ioints, that they might take it vp in péeces and easilie con|ueie it with them.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 The descrip|tion of the inclosure.This inclosure or wall of wood was twentie foot in height, and conteined in length or in compasse, when it was set vp, three thousand pases, and at the end of euerie twelue pases stood a turret able to receiue ten men, that was higher than the rest of the wall by ten foot at the least. There were appointed to haue passed ouer in those ships twentie thousand men of armes, Thom. Wals. twentie thousand crosbowes, and twentie thousand other men of warre. To haue séene the great apparell, furniture and prouision, the shipping, trussing, bearing, and carrieng to and fro of things needfull for this iournie, a man might haue meruel|led; for suerlie the like hath sildome beene remem|bred. Tho. Walsi. All that was doone there on that side the sea by the Frenchmen, was notified into England, so that the Frenchmen were not more occupied to prepare themselues to inuade England, than the English|men were to make themselues readie to defend their countrie from all danger of enimies;The prouisi|on of ye Eng|lishmen to resist ye great power of Frenchmen. so that euerie hauen towne, especiallie alongst the west, south, and eastcoasts, were kept and warded with notable num|bers of armed men and archers.
¶Notwithstanding the great confidence which the French king reposed in the fortification which he had imbarked, Abr. Fl. out of Henrie Knigh|ton canon of Leicester abbeie. thinking thereby to haue wrought great woonders, to the discomfiture of the English: yet (contrarie to his expectation) it so fortuned, that a|bout Michaelmas, the lord William Beauchampe capteine of Calis tooke two ships; whereof one was loden with a péece of the said inclosure or wall of wood, and in the same ship was the maister carpen|ter of the inclosure, being an Englishman borne, but banished his countrie before that time for some of|fense. He also tooke another ship, wherein were en|gins, guns, gunpowder & other instruments of war. Not long after this, two more ships were taken like|wise, whose burthen was parcels of the foresaid frame or inclosure: so that three ships were met withall and seized vpon, each of them loden with one kind of stuffe. Whereof king Richard hearing, he caused the said inclosure to be reared and set vp about Winchelsie towne. In the meane while, namelie in September, the foresaid armie came into Flanders, and arriued at the hauen of Sluis, intending to make their progresse into England: but by prolong|ing of the time there, they were driuen to great dis|tresse and want of vittels: for it was reported that a loafe of bread, sold in England for a penie, was sold there for eightéene pence; and a hens eg for a pe|nie: so that in the end of Nouember they returned to France, missing their purpose as much as if they had neuer ment it.