Wherefore king Edward gaue in charge to Bo|dringham, ruler or shiriffe of Cornewall,Shiriffe Bo|dringham be|siegeth the mount that the earle had taken. to assem|ble such power as he could; and besieging the mount, he should either take or kill the earle of Oxford. The which the shiriffe did accordinglie, but that so feintlie and fauourablie, as he permitted the earle of Ox|ford (now in distresse) to reuittell the mount, know|ing that there was no waie to expell the earle from thence but by famine. These things thus doone (the king not pleased, and the earle not displeased) one Fortescue (which surname is deduced from the strength of his shield, whereof that familie had first originall) was with a stronger and faithfuller com|panie sent by king Edward to laie siege to the ca|stell; which he did, and long continued.The name of Fortescue wherevpon it grew. For it was not easie to be had, being (of it selfe) by nature stronglie set, by policie well vittelled, and by manhood valiant|lie defended: which mooued the king to assay an other means therefore, and to sée if policie might doo that which force could not.

For which cause, as Fortescue still continued the said siege, the K. supposed it best (if possiblie he might) to weaken the earles part,Deuises to withdraw the earles power from him. by withdrawing the strength and hearts of his people from him: which might not be doone but with rich promises and strong pardons. On which consideration he sent liberallie pardons to them, and in the end so secretlie wrought with the earles men: that if the earle (fearing the woorst, and iudging it better to trie the kings mer|cie, than to hazard the extreamitie of taking, in which rested nothing but assured death) had not wholie sub|mitted himselfe to king Edward,The earle of Oxford sub|mitteth him|selfe & yéeldeth the castell into the kings hands. he had beene by his owne men most dishonestlie betraied, and suddenlie taken prisoner. Wherevpon the earle comming foorth to Fortescue, did there yeeld himselfe and the castell into the kings hands. At what time (being the fiftéenth of Februarie, which from the first entrance of the earle into that castell being the last of sep|tember, was about foure moneths and foureteene daies) the same Fortescue entred the mount, & tooke possession thereof, finding it yet sufficientlie vittelled to haue susteined an other siege more than one halfe yeare. After all things were thus quieted, the earle, the lord Beaumont, two brothers of the said earle, and Thomas Clifford, were brought vp as prisoners vnto king Edward. And now to our present historie againe.]

Compare 1577 edition: 1 When the earle of Richmond saw the earle of Oxenford, he was rauished with an incredible glad|nesse, that he being a man of so high nobilitie, of such knowledge and practises in feates of warre, and so constant, trustie and assured (which alwaie had studi|ed for the maintenance and preferment of the house of Lancaster) was now by Gods prouision deliuered out of captiuitie and imprisonment; and in time so necessarie and conuenient come to his aid, succour, and aduancement; in whome more surer than anie o|ther he might put his trust and confidence, and take lesse paine and trauell in his owne person. For it EEBO page image 750 was not hid from him, that such as euer had taken part with king Edward before this time, came to doo him seruice, either for malice they bare king Ri|chard, or else for feare to liue vnder his cruell rule and tyrannous gouernance.