¶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.

The next daie after which conclusion,The duke of Clarence [...] the earle of Warwike [...]|iorne at E [...]|cester, and in pursue of the king. the gates being opened, to wit, the third of Aprill 1470, the earle of Warwike and the duke of Clarence came to this citie, and here rested, and soiorned themselues vntill sufficient shipping was prouided for their pas|sage ouer the seas, and then they all imbarked them|selues, and passed ouer to Calis. The king in this meane time mustered his armie, and prepared with all spéed all things necessarie to follow and pursue his said aduersaries, and came to this citie, thinking to find them here the fouretéenth of Aprill being satur|daie 1470, with fortie thousand fighting men: but the birds were fled awaie before his comming. Ne|uerthelesse the king came and entred into the citie, being accompanied with sundrie noble men; name|lie, the bishop of Elie then lord treasuror, the duke of Norffolke earle marshall, the duke of Suffolke, the earle of Arundell, the earle of Wilshire sonne to the duke of Buckingham, the earle of Worcester constable of England, the earle of Shrewesburie, the earle Riuers, the lord Hastings, the lord Graie of Codnor, the lord Andelie, the lord Saie, the lord Sturton, the lord Dacres, the lord Montioie, the lord Stanleie, the lord Ferris, and the baron of Dudleie.