Compare 1587 edition: 1 The anſwere made to the Pictiſh Am|baſſadours.Herevnto anſwere was made, by conſent of the nobles of Brytayne, that the league whiche was concluded betwixt Arthur and Loth, endu|red but for the life times of them two onely, and to ceaſſe by eyther of their deathes: therefore Ar|thur had done nothing contrarie to any pact or promiſe made, but according to the duetie of a Prince that tendred the weale of his ſubiects, had prouided them one to ſucceede him of their owne nation, for doubt leaſt the realme after his deceaſe ſhould fall into the handes of ſtraungers, whiche in no wiſe ought of right to be ſuffered. There|fore if the Pictes loued the ſuretie of their owne eſtate, it ſhoulde be good for them to holde them|ſelues contented with their owne boundes, leaſt if they ſought for other mens liuings, they might happely within ſhort time perceyue, what doth enſue oftentimes vppon ſuch raſh and vnaduiſed attemptes.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The Pictiſh Ambaſſadours returning home with this anſwere,The Pictes purpoſe to be reuenged on the Brytaines by open war. cauſed the whole Nation to take ſuch diſdaine therewith, that immediately they reſolued to reuenge their wrongs, by open warres: but firſt they thought good to trie if they might procure the Scottiſh mẽ to take part with thẽ in reuenge of ſuch iniuries as they had in like maner lately receiued at y^e Britains hãds.The Picts ſo|licite both Scottes and Saxons to make warre vpon the Bry|taynes. More|ouer, repenting themſelues, that they had in times paſt ayded the Brytaynes againſt the Saxons, they purpoſe to trie if they might now moue the ſame Saxons eftſoones to make warres vpon the Brytains, thereby to be the better able to main|taine their owne quarell againſt them.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Firſt ſuche Ambaſſadors as were ſent from Mordred vnto Eugenius king of the Scottes,Eugenius the Scottiſh king agreeable to the requeſt of the Pictes. found him very agreeable vnto their requeſts, and the ſooner, for that ſuch Scottiſh rebels as fledde vnto Arthure, were not onely receyued by him, but alſo mainteyned to make rodes and incurſi|ons into the Scottiſh borders.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 They required him therefore to call himselfe to remembrance, and not so lightlie to agrée vnto the flattering persuasions of the Britains, aduising him vnto that thing which was méerelie repugnant to reason, and against both gods lawes and mans, admonishing him withall to obserue the league, ac|cording to the oth, which he had solemnelie taken v|pon him, and to mooue his subiects to doo the like, least for the contrarie, they should prouoke the wrath of almightie God against them, who is the iust re|uenger of all such as go about to breake leagues The answere made to the Pictish am|bassadours. and couenanted pactions. Herevnto answere was made by consent of the nobles of Britaine, that the league which was concluded betwixt Arthur and Loth, indured but for the life times of them two one|lie, and to ceasse by either of their deaths: therefore Arthur had doone nothing contrarie to anie pact or promise made, but according to the duetie of a prince that tendered the weale of his subiects, had prouided them one to succeed him of their owne na|tion, for doubt least the realme after his deceasse should fall into the hands of strangers, which in no wise ought of right to be suffered. Therefore if the Picts loued the suertie of their owne estate, it should be good for them to hold themselues contented with their owne bounds, least if they sought for other mens liuings, they might happilie within short time perceiue, what dooth insue o [...]entimes vpon such rash and vnaduised attempts.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 The Pictish ambassadors returning home with this The Picts purpose to be reuenged on the Britains by open war. answer, caused the whole nation to take such dis [...]aine therewith, that immediatlie they resolued to re|uenge their wrongs by open warres; but first they thought good to trie if they might procure the Sco|tishmen to take part with them, in reuenge of such The Picts solicit both Scots and Saxons to make warre vpon the Bri|tains. iniuries as they had in like maner latelie receiued at the Britains hands. Moreouer, repenting them|selues, that they had in times past aided the Bri|tains against the Saxons, they purpose to trie if they might now mooue the same Saxons [...]tsoones to make warres vpon the Britains, thereby to be the better able to mainteine their owne quarrell against them. First, such ambassadours as were sent from Mordred vnto Eugenius king of the Scots, found Eugenius the Scotish king agréeable to the request of the Picts. him verie agreeable vnto their requests, and the soo|ner, for that such Scotish rebels as fled vnto Ar|thur, were not onelie receiued by him, but also main|teined to make rodes and incursions into the Sco|tish borders.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 5 Arthur hauing knowledge of the deuises of his enimies (the warres being first proclamed) he fur|nished all the sea-coasts with notable numbers of EEBO page image 106 men, to withstand the landing of the Saxons, if they Arthur set+teth forward toward the Scots and Picts. Humber a fa|tall place for the Britains to be vanqui|shed in. should fortune to attempt anie inuasion. That doone, he passed foorth with the residue of his people to|wards the Scots & Picts, who were alreadie assem|bled in campe, and were come as farre as the riuer of Humber, néere to the bankes whereof they had pitched their tents, as in a place fatall for the Bri|tains to be vanquished in. Both the armies being brought here into order of battell, the one in sight of the other, there were certeine bishops of those thrée Bishops tra|uell betwixt the parties to bring them to communica|tion for a peace. nations that tooke great pains to ride to and fro be|twixt them, to exhort the kings vnto peace and con|cord, considering what mischiefe and great bloud|shed should insue, if vpon wilfullnesse they would séeke to trie that by dint of sword, which they might make an end of by means of amiable treatie and friendlie agréement. Againe, they could not doo the thing that might more content the Saxons, com|mon enimies to christian religion, than if by their incountring togither in battell, they should so infée|ble their whole powers, whereby the Saxons might haue readie means and occasion offered to execute their gréedie desires to conquere the whole Ile. Mor|dred and Eugenius were persuaded by this earnest Mordred and Eugenius were persua|ded vnto peace. trauell of the bishops, to put their matter in com|promise, and to lay away their armour and weapon, if they might haue assurance that the league made with king Loth should in euerie point be obserued. Arthur likewise at the sute of the same bishops, would haue béene contented for his part to haue a|gréed herevnto; but other of the Britains, namelie those that were of kin and aliance vnto Constan|tine The Bri|tains would not consent to haue anie peace talked vpon. their prince, could in no wise be persuaded therevnto; but rather with manie reprochfull words rebuked the bishops for their vntimelie sute, seeing the enimies readie ranged in battell at point to giue the onset, so that (as they alledged) it might be doub|ted what they meant by their motion, vnlesse they went about to betraie the armie, vnder pretense of a cloked treatie for an vnprofitable agréement. These or such like words were vnneth ended, when The battell is begun. suddenlie the noise being raised on both sides; the battels rushed togither right fiercelie. The Bri|tains had the disaduantage of the place, being so in|cumbred with mires, bogs, and mosses, that they could not well aid themselues, nor handle their wea|pons to anie purpose. Yet did the battell continue A cruell bat|tell. a long time, to the destruction of such numbers of men; that the riuer Humber (néere vnto the which this field was fought) was so mingled with bloud; that the water thereof being all coloured red, caried no small number of dead bodies downe into the sea. In the middest of the fight, there was one with lowd A craftie po|licie. This was one of the Picts. voice in the British toong cried out to the Britains (of purpose prompted therevnto) that Arthur with other of the nobles on his side were slaine, and there|fore it were but follie to trust anie longer vpon vic|torie, but rather were it wisdome for euerie man by flight to prouide for his owne safetie.