Compare 1577 edition: 1 One of them séene in the ciuill lawes, was appoin|ted to declare the message in all their names, who shewing himselfe more rash than wise, more arro|gant than learned,A presumtu|ous orator. first tooke vpon him to shew wher|in the glorie of victorie consisted, aduising the king not to shew his manhood in famishing a multitude of poore, simple, and innocent people, but rather suffer such miserable wretches as laie betwixt the wals of the citie, and the trenches of his siege, to passe through the campe, that they might get their liuing in other places, and then if he durst manfullie assault the citie, and by force subdue it, he should win both worldlie fame, and merit great méed at the hands of almightie God, for hauing compassion of the poore, needie, and indigent people.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 When this orator had said, the king who no request lesse suspected, than that which was thus desired, be|gan a while to muse; and after he had well conside|red the craftie cautell of his enimies, with a fierce countenance,The kings answer to this proud mes|sage. and bold spirit he reprooued them, both for their subtill dealing with him, and their malapert presumption, in that they should seeme to go about to teach him what belonged to the dutie of a conque|rour.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 And therefore since it appeared that the same was vnknowne vnto them, he declared that the goddesse of battell called Bellona, had thrée handmai|dens, euer of necessitie attending vpon hir, as blood, fire, and famine. And whereas it laie in his choise to vse them all thrée; yea, two, or one of them at his pleasure, he had appointed onelie the méekest maid of those thrée damsels to punish them of that citie, till they were brought to reason.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 And whereas the gaine of a capteine atteined by anie of the said thrée handmaidens, was both glori|ous, honourable, and woorthie of triumph: yet of all the thrée, the yoongest maid, which he meant to vse at that time was most profitable and commodious. And as for the poore people lieng in the ditches, if they died through famine, the fault was theirs, that like cruell tyrants had put them out of the towne, to the intent he should slaie them; and yet had he saued their liues, so that if anie lacke of charitie was, it rested in them, and not in him. But to their cloked request, he meant not to gratifie the them within so much, but they should kéepe them still to helpe to spend their vittels. And as to assault the towne, he told them that he would they should know, he was both able and willing thereto, as he should see occasion: but the choise was in his hand, to [...]am [...] them either with blood, fire, or famine, or with them all, whereof he would take the choise at his pleasure, and not at theirs.