Compare 1577 edition: 1 Ha good Lord (quoth the lord Hastings to this messenger) leaneth my lord thy maister so much to such trifles, and hath such faith in dreames, which ei|ther his owne feare fantasieth, or doo rise in the nights rest by reason of his daies thought? Tell him it is plaine witchcraft to beléeue in such dreames, which if they were tokens of things to come, why thinketh he not that we might be as likelie to make them true by our going, if we were caught & brought backe, as fréends faile fliers; for then had the boare a cause likelie to rase vs with his tusks, as folke that fled for some falsehood. Wherefore, either is there perill, or none there is in deed: or if anie be, it is ra|ther in going than biding. And in case we should néeds fall in perill one waie or other, yet had I rather that men should sée that it were by other mens false|hood, than thinke it were either by our owne fault, or faint heart. And therefore go to thy maister (man) and commend me to him, & praie him be merie & haue no feare: for I insure him I am as sure of the man that he woteth of, as I am of mine owne hand. God send grace sir (quoth the messenger) and went his waie.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 [...] misfortune to the lord Hastings.Certeine is it also, that in riding towards the Tower, the same morning in which be was beheded, his horsse twise or thrise stumbled with him, almost to the falling. Which thing albeit ech man wote well dailie happeneth to them, to whom no such mischance is toward; yet hath it béene of an old rite and cu|stome obserued, as a token oftentimes notablie fore|going some great misfortune. Now this that follow|eth was no warning, but an enuious scorne. The same morning yer he was vp, came a knight vnto him, as it were of courtesie, to accompanie him to the councell; but of truth sent by the protector to hast him thitherwards, with whome he was of secret con|federacie in that purpose; a meane man at that time, and now of great authoritie.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 This knight (I say) when it happened the lord cham|berleine by the waie to staie his horsse, & common a while with a priest whom he met in the Tower stréet, brake his tale, and said merilie to him; What my lord, I pray you come on, whereto talke you so long with that priest? you haue no néed of a priest yet: and ther|with he laughed vpon him, as though he would say. Ye shall haue soone. But so little wist the tother what he ment, and so little mistrusted, that he was neuer merier, nor neuer so full of good hope in his life, which selfe thing is oft séene a signe of change. But I shall rather let anie thing passe me, than the vaine suer|tie of mans mind so neere his death [flattering him|selfe with deceitfull conceipts of inward motions of life to be prolonged, euen in present cases of deadlie danger, and heauie misfortunes offering great mis|trust; as he did that is noted for speaking like a foole:
Non est (crede mihi) sapientis dicere, Viuam:Mani. lib. 4 Astro.Nascentes morimur, finís ab origine pendet.]