Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 This matter went so farre foorth, that th [...]e were sundrie persons armed and disguised like mummers, which enterprised not onelie to take diuerse of those strangers that were beneficed men, but also came to their barnes, threshed vp their graine,Masking threshers. and either made sale therof, or gaue it awaie for God his sake, shewing counterfeited letters vnder the kings seale, which they had procured for their warrant, as they did pretend. At length the pope vpon complaint made vnto him of such violent doings,The pope cõ|plaineth to the K. in bla|ming him. The pope cõ|mandeth the offendors to be accursed. wrote to king Henrie, blaming him not a little for suffering such disorders to be committed within his realme, com|manding him vpon paine of excommunication to cause a diligent inquirie to be had of the offendors, and to sée them sharpelie punished, to the example of others.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Moreouer he sent letters to the bishop of Win|chester, and to the abbat of saint Edmundsburie, to make the like inquisition, and to accurse all those that should be found culpable within the south parts of England, as he did to the archbishop of Yorke, to the bishop of Durham, and to an Italian named Iohn a canon of Yorke, to doo the like in the north parts, so that the offendors should remaine accursed, till they came to Rome, there to fetch their absolution.Inquisition taken. Here|vpon therefore a generall inquisition was taken, as well by the king as by the bishops, and manie found guiltie, some in fact, and some in consent: amongst which number there were both bishops and chapleins to the king, with archdeacons and deanes, knights, and manie of the laitie.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 There were some shiriffes and batliffes also, which by the kings commandement were arrested and put in prison, and diuerse of all sorts did kéepe themselues out of the waie, and would not as yet be [...]ound. In like maner, H [...]beit earle of Kent, lord cheefe iustice,The earle of Kent put in blame. was accused to be chiefe transgressour in this mat|ter, as he that had giuen foorth the kings letters pa|tents to those disguised and ma [...]ing threshers, who had taken vpon them so to sequester other mens goods, whereto they had no right. There came also to the king one sir Robert de Twing,Sir Robert de Twing. a knight of the north parts (which named himselfe William We|therso, and had led about a companie of the foresaid maskers) profes [...]ing that he had doone it vpon iust cause to be reuenged vpon the Romans, which went about by sentence of the pope, and manifest fraud to spoile him of the parsonage of a certeine church which he held, and therfore he said he had rather stand accur|sed without iust cause for a time, [...]an to lose his bene|fice without due iudgement. Howbeit the king and the other commissioners counseled him in the end to go to Rome to purchase his absolution, sith he was fallen in danger of excommunication, and there to sue for his pardon in the popes consistorie. And to in|courage him the better so to doo, the king wrote also in his fauour to the pope, testifieng the right which he claimed to the church, whereby at length he obteined his suit (as after ye shall heare. Polydor. A parle [...] & subsidie demanded, and denied.)