Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Upon this occasion therfore, Polydor. The king gi|ueth a gentle answer to his lords. they sued to the king for the restitution of the ancient lawes according to his promise, who to pacifie them for the time, gaue them a gentle answer, assuring them, that he would perfourme all that he had promised, so soone as oppor|tunitie would permit and suffer him so to doo. How|beit, afterwards by the aduise of certeine old coun|cellours, which had béene of the priuie councell with king Iohn his father, he found a shift to disappoint them of their demands, by requiring them on the o|ther side, to restore vnto him those things which they had in times past receiued of his ancestors. Fur|thermore, bicause he would the more easilie obteine his purpose, and make the residue afraid to follow a suit so displeasant and irkesome, he thought best to begin with the chiefe authors and first procurers of the said petitions, and to take from them whatsoeuer they held belonging to his crowne.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Herevpon therefore assembling a great power about him, he demanded of Ranulph earle of Chester the restitution of certeine lordships which ancientlie apperteined to the crowne of the realme,The king de|manded resti|tution of par|cels of inheri|tance belon|ging to the crowne. which earle not being as then able to resist, readilie obeied the kings pleasure, and resigned them all. By this en|trance of the king into the execution of his purpose diuerse of the rest of the barons were brought into such feare, that they were contented also to doo the like, so that by this meanes the lords being cut short and weakened in power, surceased as then from mo|lesting the king anie further with the demand of o|ther lands or liberties.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The archbishop of Canturburie also threatened them with the dart of excommunication, if they went about to disquiet the realme with anie ciuill commotions, though no man was more desirous to haue that matter go forward than he, as appéered by his diligent trauell therein (hoping as now in short processe of time, and that by courteous meanes, to EEBO page image 206 persuade the king to his purpose) but the king droue him off with faire words, and minded nothing lesse than to alter anie one of the lawes which he knew to be profitable to himselfe and his successours after him. Wherevpon diuerse misliking his dealing here|in, withdrew themselues secretlie, some into one place, and some into an other, to the intent they might auoid the dailie sight of such abuses, as they for the most part could not well abide to beare.