Compare 1587 edition: 1 The report of which miſchiefe being brought to London to the Lordes there (who as ye haue heard were not all of one accorde togither) they tooke new aduiſe, to redreſſe the preſent miſchief in this mãner. Firſt they thought it beſt to ſende foorth .ij. ambaſſades,The Lordes of Brytaine take new aduiſe. one to the Scots & Pictes to require a peace: And an other with letters vn|to Etius the Romaine lieutenant in Fraunce, for freſhe ayde and ſuccour.See more here|of in England. The te [...]n of which letters as then ſent vnto Etius here enſueth.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The lamentable complaints of the Brytons vnto Etius thrice Conſull.The tenour of the letters ſent vnto Etius frõ the Brytons as is written by Hect. Boetius. At what time our el|ders became ſubiectes into the Romains, they vnderſtood by woorthie proues and notable en|ſamples, that the Senate was a moſte ſafe re|fuge and hauen, to be wiſhed of all ſuch as fledde to the ſame for ſupport. But we theyr poſteritie by the pernicious working of the legate Maxi|mianus, tending wholy to one diſtructione, being ſpoyled both of force and ſubſtance, and therfore remayning in greate daunger of looſing bothe kingdome and ſides, through the ſore and terri|ble inuaſion of one moſt cruel enimies the Scots and Pictes, making humble ſuyte for ſuccours vnto the Romaine Empyre, according to the loyall truſt & moſt aſſured confidence, the which euer like true and faithfull ſubiectes we haue re|poſed in the ſame, are yet neglected, and nothing regarded, but deliuered as a pray vnto the Bar|barous nations to be ſpoyled, deſtroyed & ſlaine in moſt piteous wiſe, which can not but be an e|uident ſigne, that eyther the Romains haue chaunged theyr moſt commendable maners into EEBO page image 106 the worſt that may be deuiſſed, either els theyr moſt large Empyre, through the wrath & highe diſpleaſure of almightie God, is now giuen for a pray vnto other forraine nations. But if it be ſo, that the atall force of the time preſent, doth re|quire that without all remedie, the lande of the Brytons being takẽ away from the Romains, muſt needes be brought vnder ſubiection of ſome barbarous nation. Wee neither abhorre nor re|fuſe the gouernment of any people or nation, the Scots & Pictes (the moſt cruell of all other) onely excepted, whoſe crueltie wee hauing long ſithence to muche taſted, are at this preſent brought vnto that point, by theyr late increaſed puyſſance, that we know not now after the loſſe of our goodes and cattell, which way to ſafegard our liues, for the Turfe walles being pulled downe, & the ditches filled vp with earth, whiche afore time did ſomewhat ſtay them, now brea|king in vpon vs without letting paſſe any one kinde of crueltie, they haue diſtroyed our fieldes, brenned vp our houſes, townes and villages, and beaten downe and raſed to the grounde our ca|ſtels & towers, with ſuch other places of defence, not ſparing to put to the ſworde as wel the poore innocent children, women, and impotent age, as ſuch other innumerable numbers of men, whiche they haue ſlayne ſtanding at defence with wea|pon in hande. And as for vs, whiche are the re|ſidue of our decayed nation, they haue driuen e|uen to the ſea ſide, and from thence (bycauſe wee can not paſſe ouer) wee are put backe vpon our enimies againe. And hereof proceede two kindes of our deſtruction, for eyther are wee drowned in the ragyng flouddes, eyther els ſlayne moſte vnmercyfully by our cruell enimies. Therefore if the honour of the Romaine people, if our aſſu|red loyaltie & loue, whiche we beare to the Em|pyre of Rome, nowe continued for the ſpace of theſe .300. yeares or there aboute, may moue you to rewe on our miſeries, wee humbly pray & beſeeche you, not to ſuffer vs longer to be trodde vnder foote of theſe our moſt beaſtly & cruell eni|mies, but ſende vnto vs ſome cõuenable ſuccors & that with all ſpeede, leaſt we ſeeme to be more cruelly betrayed of the Romains, thã brought to diſtruction by theſe barbarous people, & that wee be not ſet forth as a notable enſample for al other to be ware, how they put confidence hereafter ei|ther in the rule or friendſhip of the Romains.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 But not ſo largely as here is expreſſed. The anſweare of Etius.Paulus Diaconus, Beede, Geffray of Mun|mouth, Veremound, and other, make mention of theſe foreſayde letters. Wherevnto Etius aun|ſwearing, declared that thoſe calamities, infor|tunes & loſſes ſuſtayned by the Brytains were right diſpleaſant vnto him, & ſo muche the more for that through the ſundry inuaſions made, aſ|well into Fraunce as alſo into Italy it ſelfe, and into other parties of the Romaine Empyre by people of ſundry nations, he coulde not as then ſpare any men of warre to ſend ouer vnto them, and therfore he willed the Brytons to make the beſt ſhifte they could, to defend themſelues for a time, till things were better quieted in other par|ties, & then ſhould they ſee ſuche redreſſe of their iniuries prouided, as they ſhould thinke them|ſelues to be very well reuenged.