[But for the further and cleerer explanation of these stratagems, Abr. Flem. or rather ciuill tumults, it shall not be amisse to insert in this place (si [...]h I cannot hit vp|on one more conuenient) a verie good note or additi|on receiued from the hands of maister Iohn Hooker chamberlaine of Excester; the contents whereof are of such qualitie, that they cannot stand in concur|rence with anie matter introduced within the com|passe of the ninth yeare of this kings reigne (as he had quoted it) and therfore I thought it méet to trans|fer the same to this tenth yeare; considering that some part of the matter by him largelie touched, is briefelie in the premisses alreadie remembred.]

¶This yeare (saith he) was verie troublesome, and full of ciuill wars and great discords. For after that king Edward the fourth was escaped out of prison, Iohn Hooker, aliàs Vowell. at Wolneie besides Warwike, he mustered and pre|pared a new armie. Wherevpon the earle of War|wike and the duke of Clarence, mistrusting them|selues, prepared to passe the seas ouer to Calis, and fi [...]st of all sent awaie the duches of Clarence daugh|ter to the said earle, who was then great with child, and she being accompanied with the lord Fitz War|ren,Lord Dinhã, and baron Carew, with their power come to Ex|cester. the lord Dinham, and the baron of Carew, and a thousand fighting men came to this citie of Exce|ster the eightéenth daie of March, and was lodged in the bishops palace. Sir Hugh, or (as some saie) sir William Courtneie, who then fauoured the partie of king Edward the fourth, assembled a great troope and armie of all the fréends he could make, and inui|roning the citie, besieged the same; he pulled downe all the bridges, rampered vp all the waies, and stop|ped all the passages, so that no vittels at all could be brought to this citie for twelue daies togither, which being doone vpon a sudden and vnlooked for, vittels waxed short and scant within the citie, and by reason of so great a multitude within the same, the people for want of food began to murmur and mutter.

The duches and the lords of hir companie, mistrust|ing what might and would be the sequele hereof, be|gan to deale with the maior, and required to haue the keies of the gates to be deliuered into their hands and that they would vndertake the safe custodie of the citie. Likewise sir William Courtneie did send his messenger to the maior, and required the gates to be opened and to giue him entrance: or els he would with sword and fier destroie the same. The ma|ior and his brethren being in great perple [...]ities, and hauing to answer not onelie the lords within and the knight without, but most of all doubting the com|mon people within, who being impatient of penurie, were deafe to all persuasions and listen to any coun|sels: did so order and handle the matter, as that by good spéeches and courteous vsages, euerie partie was stopped and staied, vntill by means and media|tions of certeine good and godlie men, an intreatie was made, the matter was compounded and the siege raised, and euerie man set at libertie.