Compare 1577 edition: 1 The spéedie diligence and loiall dutie which was found at that present in the worthie councellour George earle of Shrewesburie,The faithfull diligence of the earle of Shrewsburie is not to be forgot|ten, who immediatlie after he vnderstood how the northerne men were thus vp in armes, considering how much it imported to stop them of their passage before they should aduance too far forwards, where|by they might both increase in power, and put all o|ther parts of the realme in hazard, through feare or hope to incline to their wicked purposes, he sent abroad with all spéed possible to raise such power of his seruants, tenants, and fréends, as by anie means he might make, and withall dispatched one of his ser|uants to the king, both to aduertise him what he had doone, and also to purchase his pardon, for making such leuie of power, before he had receiued his ma|iesties commission so to doo.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 I haue heard by relation of men of good credit that were there present: that when such knights and gentlemen as were of his councell, and other of his especiall fréends were come vnto him, he put foorth this question to them; Whether his fact in raising a power of armed men without the kings commission (although he had doone it to resist the rebels) were treason or not?A good mean|ing or intent dooth not by and by iustifie and make good the action. Wherevnto when answer was made by some that were knowne to haue skill in the laws of the realme, how that by no means it could be in|tended treason, sith his intent was good, and no euill thereby meant, but contrarilie the aduancement of the kings seruice dutifullie sought: Yee are fooles (quoth the earle) I know it in substance to be treason, and I would thinke my selfe in an hard case, if I thought I had not my pardon comming.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Such a reuerend regard had this noble earle vn|to his bounden allegiance towards his prince, that whatsoeuer seemed but as it were to sound in anie be|halfe to the breach thereof,The loialtie of the earle. it so troubled his loiall mind, that he could not be satisfied, till as it were in confessing his fault: where according to the truth there was none at all. He had signified his assured fi|delitie in crauing pardon, where otherwise he might haue looked for thanks, which indéed he receiued with his pardon, according to his petition, and a commissi|on to procéed as he had begun. Moreouer, whereas there were diuerse speaches amongst the soldiors in the armie, vttered by some not altogither happilie well disposed, that the said earle had so good liking of the northerne mens cause, that when it came to the point of triall, he would surelie ioine with them against that part, which he yet pretended to main|teine.