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.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 To put that mat [...]er out of doubt, he caused the multitude of his soldiours to come before him,What the earle said to them that talked lewdlie of him in the campe. and there declared to them, that he vnderstood what lewd talke had béene raised of his meaning among them in the campe, as if he had fauoured the part of the re|bels:

But (saith he) whatsoeuer their colourable pre|tense may be, true it is, that traitors they are in this their wicked attempt. And whereas my ancestors haue beene euer true to the crowne, I meane not to staine my bloud now in ioining with such a sort of traitors, but to liue and die in defense of the crowne, if it stood but vpon a stake: and therefore those that will take my part in this quarrell, I haue to thanke them, and if there be anie that be otherwise minded, I would wish them hence. And herewith he caused his chapleine to minister an oth to him, which he re|ceiued to the effect aforesaid, in the presence of them all.