Compare 1577 edition: 1 Arthur would neither consent heerevnto, nor yet grant a truce for thrée daies, [...]or the which they made earnest sute, but bad them depart for that time, one|lie assuring them that he would not come passing two miles forwards for that day, so that if they thought good, they might returne to him in the mor|ning, and haue answer what the chiefest gouernors of his host thought touching their request, by whome he would haue the matter more throughlie debated. In the meane time, whilest the Britains were busied with hearing of these ambassadors, and taking ad|uise what was best to doo touching their demand, the Saxons marched foorth with all spéed, and comming vpon Mordred and Gawolan at vnwares, they gaue The Saxons comming vp|on Mordred and Gawolan put them with their people to the woorse. the onset freshlie vpon them, and that verie much to the disaduantage of the Britains and Picts, who not|withstanding, through the earnest exhortation of their capteins, receiued their enimies verie fiercelie, in dooing that which was possible for so small a num|ber to doo, howbeit in the end oppressed with multi|tude, they were forced to flée, and so did, not res [...]ng till they came in sight of the whole armie. In which flight, Mordred and Gawolan by helpe of their soul|diers, being mounted vpon their horsses, escaped without hurt, though they lost no small number of their companie, as well in the fight as in the chase.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 The Saxons ambassadors being not yet departed out of the British campe, were héerevpon staied till the next morning, and then had answer giuen them, What answer the Saxons ambassadors had at Ar|thurs hands. that from thencefoorth the Britains were not minded to heare anie messengers of the Saxons comming to intreat of peace, since it was manifest enough, they ment nothing but falshood, as well appéered in that they had against the law of armes, whilest their ambassadors were in communication, distressed part of the British armie, and therefore they should assure themselues, to haue at Arthurs hands nothing but cruell war to the vttermost of his power, in re|uenge of such their great vntruths and cloked dea|lings. They had scarse receiued their answer, but that there came from the Saxons fortie other ambassa|dors, being men of great authoritie amongst them, to excuse that which had happened ouer night, in lai|eng the fault vpon a sort of vndiscréet persons, no|thing The excuse of the Saxons. priuie vnto that which the gouernors of the ar|mie had doone, touching the sending of their ambas|sadors, and therevpon had without their aduise made that skirmish.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 But Arthur iudging that there was some new subtill practise in hand, vnder pretense of this new ambassage, commanded as well these that came last, as the other which came first, to be kept in the mar|shals tent, that in no wise they should escape, whilest he himselfe in the second watch of the night departed out of his campe, with all his puissance, which he di|uided into thrée battels, and hauing marched thrée The sudden inuasion made by the Bri|tains vpon the Saxons. miles forward, he was vpon his enimies yer they vnderstood anie thing of his comming, insomuch that the Britains had slaine and chased the watch of the Saxons campe, before it was certeinlie knowne what the matter ment. Héereof also insued such a tu|mult The great tu|mult in the Saxons campe. and noise amongst the Saxons, running vp and downe, calling and crieng one to another, as it happeneth in such cases of extreme feare, that the best aduised amongest them wist not well what to doo. Wherevpon Mordred desirous to reuenge his last o|uerthrowe, Mordred de|sirous to be re|uenged. brake in also vpon his enimies verie [...]ercelie.