Compare 1587 edition: 1 In whiche meane tyme Athelſtane hauing brought his people into good order of battaile,Athelſtane doth chalenge his enimie. prouoked the Pictes to come forth of theyr ſtrength into the playne fielde, there to trie their forces. But for that daye no notable thing was done: the Pictes keeping themſelues ſtill within theyr campe.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 In the night following,The Pictes prepare them|ſelues vnto battaile. after ſundrie conſul|tatiõs had amongſt thẽ, it was agreed by general conſent, that the next day they ſhould giue battail to the Engliſh men. And ſo herevpon preparing EEBO page image 166 themſelues for the purpoſe, euen vpon the breake of the day forwarde they make towardes their e|nimies wich fierce willes, ſpecially encouraged thereto by the comfortable wordes of Hungus.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The Engliſh men are put to flight.The Engliſhmen halfe amazed at the hardie approch and onſet of the Pictes, were not long a|ble to ſuſteyne their ſore impreſſion: ſo that, be|ginning ſomewhat to ſway, at length they were forced to flie vnto the place, where ye heard howe they tooke the baggage and ſpoyle of the Pictiſhe campe: were they were beaten downe in greater numbers than before, inſomuch that ſuch priſo|ners as they had before taken of them that kept the ſayde ſpoyle, greatly now to aduance the vic|torie of their fellowes, ſhewing more crueltie to|wardes the Engliſhe men than any of the reſt, now that they ſawe once howe the victorie was inclined to the Pictiſh ſide.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 The Picts thus séeing their enimies at hand, and hearing this cruell commandement, were woonder|fullie The Picts are amazed. amazed with the strangenesse of the thing, and oppressed so with feare, that they wist not what might be best for them to doo. At length by commandement of Hungus their king, they fell vnto fortifieng of their campe; but yet they quicklie perceiued how The Picts enter the campe. that it would not long preuaile them, considering that their enimies had gotten into their hands not onelie the spoile which they had brought with them out of Northumberland, but also all other their prouision, trusse, and baggage, which they had left in a field there adioining vnto the side of their campe. Herevpon manie reasons were put foorth amongest them, which way they might escape out of that present danger. In which meane time A|thelstane hauing brought his people into good order Athelstane dooth chalenge his enimies. of battell, prouoked the Picts to come foorth of their strength into the plaine field, there to trie their for|ces. But for that day no notable thing was doone; the Picts kéeping themselues still within their campe.

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.