Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 In the night following, after sundrie consulta|tions had amongest them, it was agréed by generall consent, that the next day they should giue battell to the Englishmen. And so herevpon preparing them|selues for the purpose, euen vpon the breake of the The Picts prepare them|selues vnto battell. day, forward they make towards their enimies with fierce willes, speciallie incouraged thereto by the comfortable words of Hungus. The Englishmen halfe amazed at the hardie approch and onset of the Picts, were not long able to susteine their sore im|pression; so that beginning somewhat to swarue, at length they were forced to flée vnto the place, where ye heard how they tooke the baggage and spoile of The English|men are put to flight. the Pictish campe: where they were beaten downe in greater numbers than before, insomuch that such prisoners as they had before taken of them that kept the said spoile, greatlie now to aduance the victorie of their fellowes, shewed more crueltie to|wards the Englishmen than anie of the rest, now that they saw once how the victorie was inclined to the Pictish side.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 In fine, such slaughter was made, that of the whole English host which was there assembled, there vnneth escaped fiue hundred. Athelstane himselfe at the first was run through the bodie with a speare, Athelstane is slaine. and so died, giuing name to the place of the battell, which continueth euen vnto this daie, being called Ailstone foord. Athelstans foord. This victorie fell to the Picts by miracle: for in the night season, as Hungus was [...]reame. laid downe to sléepe (after it was agreed that they should giue battell) there appeared vnto him the apo|stle saint Andrew (as the tale goeth) promising him and his people victorie against their enimies on the day next following; and for an assured token there|of, he told him that there should appeare ouer the Pictish host in the element such a fashioned crosse, as The crosse of saint Andrew. he sometime suffered vpon. Hungus awakened, and beholding the skie, saw the crosse, as the apostle had told him: wherevpon calling his people togi|ther, he not onelie shewed them the same sight, but also declared vnto them what vision had appeared vnto him in his sléepe; willing them therefore to be of good comfort, sith there was cause of such assured hope to haue assistance from aboue against their cru|ell enimies.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 The signe of the foresaid crosse was not onelie Saint An|drew the Scotishmens patrone. séene of the Picts and Scots being there with them in aid, to both their great comforts and gladnesse, but also of the Englishmen to their no lesse discou|ragement, as they that vnderstood saint Andrew to be patrone and protector of the Scotish and Pictish nations. For it did put such a feare into their hearts, that when they came to the point of ioining, their stomachs so failed them, that with small resistance they were easilie vanquished (as is said) and put to flight. For this so manifest a miracle, after the bat|tell was once ended, and the victorie obteined, Hun|gus repaired with his people following him, vnto the church of that blessed man saint Regulus, now Saint Reule. called saint Andrewes, where they made their offe|rings with humble deuotion vnto the relickes of the apostle, rendering thanks vnto him for their vic|torie with deuout praier after the accustomed ma|ner. Why Scotish men vse saint Andrews crosse in war|fare. They vowed there also at the verie same time (as the fame goeth) that from thencefoorth as well they as their posteritie in time of war should weare a crosse of saint Andrew for their badge and cogni|sance. Which ordinance continuallie after remai|ned with the Picts, and after their destruction and extermination with the Scots euen vnto our time. Athelstan his buriall. The bodie of Athelstane was buried in the next church vnto the place where the field was fought, howbeit, some haue left in writing that his head was cut off from the bodie, and brought to Inchgar|uie, where being set vpon a stake, it was shewed to the people in reproch of his iniurious enterprise.