Compare 1577 edition: 1 The report is, that this was his offense.The offense of sir William Stanleie. When communication was had betwixt him, and the aboue mentioned sir Robert Clifford, as concerning Per|kin, which falselie vsurped the name of K. Edwards sonne; sir William Stanleie said, that if he knew certeinlie that the yoong man was the indubitate heire of king Edward the fourth, he would neuer fight or beare armour against him. This point argu|ed, that he bare no hartie good will toward king Hen|rie as then. But what was the cause that he had con|ceiued some inward grudge towards the king; or how it chanced that the king had withdrawen his speciall fauor from him, manie haue doubted.Coniectures of sir William Stanleies a|lienated from king Henrie. Some indéed haue gessed, that sir William Stanlie, for the seruice which he shewed at Bosworth field, thought that all the benefits which he receiued of the king to be farre vnder that which he had deserued, in preser|uing not onelie the kings life; but also in obteining for him the victorie of his enimies, so that his aduer|sarie was slaine in the field.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Wherfore desiring to be created earle of Chester, and therof denied, he began to disdeine the king. And one thing incouraged him much, which was the ri|ches and treasure of king Richard, which he onlie pos|sessed at the battell of Bosworth; by reason of which EEBO page image 779 riches and great power of men, he set naught by the king his souereigne lord and maister. The king ha|uing thus an hole in his coat, doubted first what he should doo with him; for loth he was to lose the fauour of his brother the earle of Derbie:King Henrie in a quanda [...]e. and againe to par|don him, he feared least it should be an euill example to other, that should go about to attempt the like of|fense. And so at length, seueritie got the vpper hand, & mercie was put backe, in so much that he was ar|reigned at Westminster and adiudged to die, and (according to that iudgement) was brought to the Tower hill the sixtéenth daie of Februarie, Sir William Stanleie be|headed. and there had his head striken off.

[...]. Flem. [This was the end of sir William Stanleie the chiefest helper of king Henrie to the crowne at Bos|worth field against king Richard the third, and who set the same crowne first vpon the kings head,See pag. 760. when it was found in the field trampled vnder féet. He was a man (while he liued) of great power in his coun|trie, and also of great wealth; in somuch as the com|mon same ran, that there was in his castell of Holt found in readie coine, plate, and iewels, to the value of fortie thousand markes or more, and his land and fees extended to three thousand pounds by yeare. Ne|uerthelesse all helped not; neither his good seruice in Bosworth field, neither his forwardnesse (euen with the hazard of life) to prefer K. Henrie to the crowne, neither his faithfulnesse in cleauing to him at all brunts, neither the bond of aliance betwixt them, neither the power that he was able to make, neither the riches which he was worth, neither intercession of fréends, which he wanted not; none of these, nor all these could procure the redemption of his lost life:

O [...]luxum decus hominum, ô variabile tempus.]