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.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Aboute the ſame time that the ambaſſadours returned with this anſwere vnto London from Etius, the other alſo came backe foorth of the north without hope to ſpeede of that aboute the which they had bene ſent:The Scottes & Picts would agree vpon no reſonable con|dition of peace. for the Scots & Pictes woulde encline to no reaſonable conditions of peace, onleſſe the Brytains would wholly ſub|mit themſelues as ſubiectes vnto them.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The lamentable complaints of the Britains vnto Etius thrise consull. At what time our elders be|came subiects vnto the Romans, they vnderstood by woorthie proofes and notable examples, that the se|nate was a most safe refuge and hauen, to be wished of all such as fled to the same for support. But we their posteritie by the pernicious working of the le|gat Maximianus, tending wholie to our destruction, being spoiled both of force and substance, and there|fore remaining in great danger of loosing both king|dome and liues, through the sore and terrible inua|sion of our most cruell enimies the Scots and Picts, making humble sute for succours vnto the Romane empire, according to the loiall trust and most assu|red confidence, the which euer like true and faithfull subiects we haue reposed in the same, are yet neg|lected, & nothing regarded, but deliuered as a prey vnto the barbarous nations to be spoiled, destroied, and slaine in most pitious wise, which can not but be an euident signe, that either the Romans haue chan|ged their most commendable maners into the worst that may be deuised, either els their most large em|pire, thorough the wrath and high displeasure of al|mightie God, is now giuen for a prey vnto other forren nations. But if it be so, that the fatall force of the time present dooth require, that without all re|medie the land of the Britains being taken awaie from the Romans, must needs be brought vnder the subiection of some barbarous nation, we neither abhorre nor refuse the gouernement of anie people or nation, the Scots and Picts (the most cruell of all other) onelie excepted, whose crueltie we hauing long since too too much tasted, are at this present brought vnto that point by their late increased puis|sance, that we know not now after the losse of our goods and cattell, which way to safe gard our liues, for the turffe walls being pulled downe, and the ditches filled vp with earth, which aforetime did somewhat staie them, now breaking in vpon vs without let|ting passe anie one kind of crueltie, they haue de|stroied our fields, burned vp our houses, townes & villages, beaten dow [...]e & raced euen to the ground our [...]els and towers, with such other places of de|fense; not sparing to put to the sword as well the [...] innocent children, women, and impotent aged, as such other innumerable numbers of men, which they haue slaine standing at defense with weapon in hand. And as for vs, which are the residue of our de|caied nation, they haue driuen euen to the sea side, and from thence (because we cannot passe ouer) we are put backe vpon our enimies againe. And here|of pr [...]céed two kinds of our destruction, for either we are drowned in the raging slouds, either else slaine most vnmercifullie by our cruell enimies. Therefore if the honor of the Romane people, if our assured loialtie and loue, which we beare to the em|pire of Rome, now continued for the space of these 500 yeares or thereabout, may moue you to rue on our miseries, we humblie pray and beseech you, not to suffer vs longer to be trodden vnder foot of these our most beastlie and cruell enimies, but send vnto vs some conuenable succors and that with all spéed, least we séeme to be more cruellie betraied of the Romans, than brought to destruction by these bar|barous people, and that we be not set foorth as a no|table example for all other to beware, how they put confidence hereafter either in the rule or friendship of the Romans.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 Paulus Diaconus, Beda, Geffray of Monmouth, But not so largelie as here is expres|sed. The answere of Etius. Veremound, and others make mention of these fore|said letters. Wherevpon Etius answering, decla|red that those calamities, misfortunes and losses su|steined by the Britains were right displeasant vnto him, and so much the more, for that through the sun|drie inuasions made, aswell into France as also in|to Italie it selfe, and into other parties of the Ro|mane empire by people of sundrie nations, he could not as then spare anie men of warre to send ouer vn|to them, & therefore he willed the Britains to make the best shift they could to defend themselues for a time, till things were better quieted in other parties, and then should they sée such redresse of their iniuries prouided, as they should thinke themselues to be ve|rie well reuenged. About the same time that the ambassadours returned with this answere vnto London from Etius, the other also came backe foorth The Scots and Picts would agrée vpon no rea|sonable condi|tions of peace. of the north without hope to spéed of that about the which they had bin sent, for the Scots & Picts would incline to no reasonable conditions of peace, vnlesse the Britains would wholie submit themselues as subiects vnto them. The Britains here at tooke such indignation, that by generall consent they agreed to trie it out with the enimies by maine force; & here|vpon made their prouision with all diligence. The The Scots and Picts prepare a|gainst the Britains. Scots and Picts hearing of the Britains intents, gathered their people togither with more spéed than was thought possible for them to haue doone, & foorth|with rushed into the borders of their enimies coun|tries in right puissant wise and most warlike order.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 In the fore ward went such as came foorth of Gal|loway The order of the Scots and Picts entring into the lands of the Britains. and Annandale, with those Picts which inha|bited about the coasts of Barwike. Then followed there a mightie battell of those which came foorth of Argile, Athole, and other Picts inhabiting néere vn|to the parties of Kalendar and Camelone with them of Fife, and Angus. In the midst of this ba [...]tell both the kings kept their place with their choisest souldi|ers, and standards borne afore them. Then went the carriage and trusse of the armie, next wherevnto a great number of noble men of both the nations followed in faire order of battell, with their seruants and men of warre the best they could choose foorth. And last of all (as the maner of those nations hath beene euen from the beginning) there came a great multitude of the cõmons closing vp the back of the EEBO page image 89 whole aforesaid armie.