Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 Arthur would neither conſent hereunto, nor yet graunt a truce for three dayes, for the which they made earneſt ſute, but bad them depart for that time, only aſſuring thẽ that he woulde not come paſſing two miles forward for that day, ſo that if they thought good, they might returne to him in the morning, and haue anſwere what the chiefeſt gouernors of his hoſt thought touching their re|queſt, by whom he woulde haue the matter more throughly debated. In the meane time whyleſt the Brytaines were buſied with hearing of theſe Ambaſſadors, & taking aduiſe what was beſt to do touching their demaund, the Saxons marched forth with all ſpeed,The Saxons comming vp|on Mordred and Gawolan, put them with their people to the worſe. and cõming vpon Mordred and Gawolan at vnwares, they gaue the onſet freſhly vpon them, & that very muche to the diſ|aduauntage of the Brytains & Pictes, who not|withſtanding through the earneſt exhortation of their captains, receyued their enimies right fierce|ly, in doing that which was poſſible for ſo ſmall a nũber to do, howbeit in the ende oppreſſed with multitude, they were forced to flie and ſo did, not reſting till they came in ſight of the whole armie. In which flight, Mordred and Gawolan by help of their ſoldiers, being moũted vpon their horſes, eſcaped without hurt, though they loſt no ſmall number of their cõpanie, as wel in the fight as in the chaſe. The Saxons Ambaſſadors being not yet departed out of the Britiſh campe, were here|vpon ſtayed till the next morning, and then had EEBO page image 130 anſwere giuen them,What anſwer the Saxons Embaſſadors had at Ar|thurs hands. that from thenceforth the Brytaynes were not mynded to heare any meſ|ſengers of the Saxons comming to intreate of peace, ſith it was manifeſt inough, they ment no|thing but falſhoode, as well appeared in that they had againſt the law of armes whileſt their Am|baſſadors were in cõmunicatiõ, diſtreſſed part of the Britiſh army, and therfore they ſhould aſſure thẽſelues, to haue at Arthures hands nothing but cruel war to the vttermoſt of his power in reuẽge of ſuch their great vntruthes & cloked dealings.
Compare 1587 edition: 1 They had vneth receyued their anſwere, but that there came from the Saxons .xl. other Am|baſſadors being mẽ of great authoritie amongſt them, to excuſe that whiche had happened ouer night,The excuſe of the Saxons. in laying the fault vpon a ſort of vndiſcrete perſons, nothing priuie vnto that which the go|uerners of the armie had done, touching the ſen|ding of their Ambaſſadours, and therevpon had without their aduiſe made that ſkirmiſh.
Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 But Arthure iudging that there was ſome newe ſubtill practiſe in hande vnder pretence of this newe Ambaſſage, commaunded as wel theſe that came laſt, as the other which came firſt, to be kept in the Marſhalles tent, that in no wiſe they ſhoulde eſcape, whileſt he himſelfe in the ſeconde watch of the night departed out of his camp, with all his puiſſance,The ſodaine inuaſion made by the Bry|tains vpon the Saxons. which he deuided into three bat|tailes, & hauing marched three miles forwarde, he was vpon his enimies ere they vnderſtoode any thing of his cõming, inſomuch that the Britains had ſlain and chaſed the watche of the Saxons campe, before it was certainly knowne what the matter ment.The great tu|mult in the Saxons camp. Hereof alſo enſued ſuch a tumult & noyſe amongſt the Saxons, running vp & down, calling & crying one to another, as it happeneth in ſuch caſes of extreeme feare, that the beſt adui|ſed amongſt thẽ, wiſt not wel what to do.Mordred de|ſirous to be reuenged. Wher|vpon Mordred deſirous to reuenge his laſt ouer|throw, brake in alſo vpõ his enimies right fierce|ly. But ſome of them hauing gotten them into their armor, ſtood at their defence awhile amõgſt [figure appears here on page 130] their cartes and cariages, and ſo reſiſted the Bry|tains on that ſide for a ſeaſon: other of the Sax|ons hauing no leyſure to arme themſelues, nor to draw into any order of battaile, by reaſon of the ſodaine impreſſion of the Brytaynes, brake forth of the campe on the contrary ſide,The Saxons are put to the flight. and fled ſo faſt as theyr feete myght beare them. But being purſued by the Brytiſhe Horſemen, and beaten downe, a great number of them ranne into the next Ryuer, and there were drowned, chooſing rather that kinde of death, than ſo cruellye to be murthered by the aduerſaryes handes: verily the Brytaines ſhewed no mercie that day,The crueltie of the Bry|tains in ſlea|ing the Sax|ons. for ſo ma|nye as came within theyr daunger, dyed with|out redemption. And this bloudie battaile made an ende of ſuch an huge number of Saxons, that it was thought they ſhoulde neuer haue recoue|red againe any puiſſaunce able to haue endoma|ged the Brytaynes in any maner of wiſe.