Compare 1587 edition: 1 Arthure likewiſe at the ſute of the ſame By|ſhoppes, would haue bene contented for his part to haue agreed herevnto, but other of the Bry|tayns,The Brytaines woulde not cõſent to haue any peace tal|ked vpon. namely thoſe that were of kinne and alli|ance vnto Conſtantine theyr Prince, coulde in no wiſe be perſwaded therevnto, but rather with many reprochfull wordes rebuked the Biſhops for theyr vntimely ſute, ſeeing the enimies rea|die raunged in battaile at poynt to giue the on|ſet, ſo that as they alledged) it might be doubted what they ment by their mocion, oneleſſe they went about to betray the army, vnder pretence of a cloked treatie for an vnprofitable agreement.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Theſe or ſuch like wordes were vneth ended,The battaile is begonne. when ſodainly the noyſe being rayſed on bothe ſides, the battailes ruſhed togither right fiercely. The Brytaines had the diſaduauntage of the place, being ſo encumbred in myres, bogges, and Moſſes, that they coulde not well ayde them|ſelues, nor handle their weapons to any pur|poſe. Yet did the battaile continue a long time to the deſtruction of ſuch numbers of men,A cruell bat|taile. that the riuer of Humber (neare vnto the whiche this field was fought) was ſo mingled with bloud, that the water thereof being all ouer coloured red, caried no ſmall multitude of dead bodies downe [figure appears here on page 134] into the ſea.

A craftie policie.

This was one of the Pickes.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 This voyce wonderfully encoraged the Scot|tiſh men and Pictes, but the Brytaines were put in ſuch feare therwith,The Brytaines put to flight. that the moſt part of them immediately herevpon fell to running away.

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.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 5 This voice woonderfullie incouraged the Scotish|men The Bri|tains put to flight. and Picts, but the Britains were put in such feare therewith, that the most part of them imme|diatlie herevpon fell to running away. Others of them iudging this to be but some craftie and subtill practise of the enimies deuised of purpose, as it was in déed, to discomfort them with, abode by it still: manfullie continuing in fight, till they were beaten downe and slaine in maner euerie mothers sonne. This victorie being thus hardlie got, cost more mens liues than anie other had doone of manie yeares be|fore; Twentie thousand of Scots and Picts slaine. Mordred is slaine. for of the Scots and Picts being vanquishers, there died in that mortall battell aboue 20000 men, togither with Mordred, and a great number of the nobilitie of both the nations. Of the Britains and such other as were with them in aid, there were slaine, what in battell and what in chase, at the point of 30000, among whome was Arthur himselfe, with Arthur with 30000 Bri|tains slaine. Gawan is slaine. Gawan or Galuan (as some bookes haue) brother vnto Mordred, who bare such good will and intire loue vnto his lord and maister the said Arthur, that he fought that day most earnestlie on his side against his owne naturall brother the said Mordred. Also there were killed Caime and Gawolan, with the Caime and Gawolan are slaine. most part of all the residue of the British nobilitie, and manie prisoners taken, by reason that Humber kept them in from flieng anie way foorth on the one side, which prisoners also were afterwards slaine, the gentlemen onelie excepted.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 The day next after the battell, the campe of the Britains was rifled, and amongst other rich spoiles Quéene Guainore ta|ken. The spoile of the Britains camp diuided. there was found quéene Guainore Arthurs wife, with a great number of other ladies and gentlewo|men. The whole spoile of the campe and field being equallie diuided by lots betwixt them, the Scots had for their parts certeine faire charets laden with rich stuffe and iewels, also horsses and armours, beside sundrie noble men, whom they had to their prisoners. Unto the Picts fell for their portion quéene Guai|nore, with the ladies and gentlewomen, and diuers other of the noble men, besides a great quantitie of other rich preie and booties. These prisoners, which Dunbarre in Angus, not that in Lou|thian. the Picts had, were conueied into a castell in Angus, called Dunbarre, a place of great strength in those daies, though at this present there remaineth no|thing but the name with the ruines therof. In which castell they were deteined vnder sure ward, during the residue of their naturall liues. In witnesse wherof there be remaining vnto this day, the graues and monuments where manie of these captiue Bri|tains were buried, in the fields of a towne in that countrie called Megill, not past 10 miles from Dun|dée: but amongest the residue, that of Guainore is most famous.