William Patten (historian): This William Patten lived around 1510 to after 1598. He was an author, scholar, and government official during the reigns of King Edward VI and Queen Elizabeth I. His most famous work is "The Expedition into Scotland," which chronicles a military campaign. We don't have a confirmed date for his death, but we know he was alive in 1587 and published work as late as 1598.
Other William Pattens: There are other people named William Patten who have written books or achieved some public recognition. For instance, there was a William Patten who was a zoologist (1861-1932) and another who was the stepfather of author Bill Patten.