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.

Before whose comming, the maior being aduerti|sed thereof, tooke order,The king is receiued [...] honorablie [...] to the citie of Excester. and gaue commandement to euerie citizen and inhabitant, being of abilitie, to prouide and prepare for himselfe a gowne of the ci|ties liuerie, which was then red colour, and to be in a readinesse for receiuing of the king, which was accor|dinglie doone. And when the king was come neere to the citie, the maior being verie well attended with foure hundred persons well and séemelie apparelled in the cities liuerie, went to the south gate, and with|out the same attended the kings comming. Who when he was come, the maior did his most humble obeisance, and therewith Thomas Dowrish then re|corder of the citie made vnto his grace an humble oration, congratulating his comming to the citie: which ended, the maior deliuered vnto the king the keies of the gates and the maces of his office, and therewith a pursse of one hundred nobles in gold,The citizen [...] be neuole [...] to the king. which his grace tooke verie thankfullie. The monie he kept, but the keies and the maces he deliuered backe to the maior; and then the maior tooke the mace and did beare it through the citie bare-headed before the king, vntill he came to his lodging.