Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 There be which write, that the numbring of men and of places, the valuation of goods and substance, Sim. Dunel. Hen. Marle. Matth. Paris. as well in cattell as readie monie, was not taken till about the xix. yéere of this kings reigne (although the subsidie afore mentioned was gathered about two yeares before of euerie hide of land as yée haue heard) and that the certificat hereof being inrolled, was put into the kings treasurie at Winchester, Hen. Marle. Anno Reg. 19. Simon Dun. in the xix. yeare of his reigne, and not in the xvj. But in what yeare soeuer it was, and howsoeuer the wri|ters agrée or disagree herein; certaine it is, that the same was exacted, to the great gréefe and impoue|rishment of the people, who sore lamented the mise|rable EEBO page image 14 estate whereinto they were brought, and hated the Normans in their harts to the verie death. How|beit, Polydor. Matth. Paris. the more they grudged at such tolles, tallages, customes, and other impositions wherewith they were pressed; the more they were charged and ouer|pressed. The Normans on the other side with their king perceiuing the hatred which the English bare them,The Conque|rour seeketh to kéepe the En|glish men low. were sore offended, and therefore sought by all meanes to kéepe them vnder. Such as were called to be iustices, were enimies to all iustice; whervpon greater burdens were laid vpon the English, inso|much that after they had béene robbed and spoiled of their goods, Polydor. they were also debarred of their accusto|med games and pastimes. For where naturallie (as they doo vnto this daie) they tooke great pleasure in hunting of déere, both red and fallow, in the woods and forrests about without restraint,The forrests seized into the kings hands. Matth. Paris. king William seizing the most part of the same forrests into his owne hands, appointed a punishment to be executed vpon all such offendors; namelie, to haue their eies put out. And to bring the greater number of men in danger of those his penall lawes (a pestilent policie of a spitefull mind, and sauoring altogither of his French slauerie) he deuised meanes how to bréed, nourish, and increase the multitude of déere, and al|so to make roome for them in that part of the realme which lieth betwixt Salisburie and the sea south|ward: he pulled downe townes, villages, churches, & other buildings for the space of 30. miles, to make thereof a forrest,New forrest. which at this daie is called New for|rest. The people as then sore bewailed their distres, & greatlie lamented that they must thus leaue house & home to the vse of sauage beasts. Which crueltie, not onelie mortall men liuing here on earth, but also the earth it selfe might seeme to detest, Matth. Paris. An earth|quake. as by a woonder|full signification it séemed to declare, by the shaking and roaring of the same, which chanced about the 14. yeare of his reigne (as writers haue recorded.) There be that suppose how the king made that part of the realme waste and barren vpon a policie, Polydor. to the in|tent that if his chance were to be expelled by ciuill wars, & he compelled to leaue the land, there should be no inhabitants in that part of the Ile to resist his arriuall vpon his new returne.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 But to go foorth with our purpose. About the same time, Simon Dun. a rumor was spred in England that Sueine king of Denmarke meant to inuade England with a puissant armie, A rumor spred of the cõming of the Danes. hauing the assistance of the earle of Flanders, whose daughter he had maried. Wher|vpon king William being then in Normandie, re|teined a great power of French souldiers, both ar|chers and footmen, which togither with his Normans he brought ouer into England in haruest season, & meaning to disburthen himselfe of the charge of their keeping, he caused their finding and wages to be borne by the lords and peeres of the realme, by the shirifs of shires, Anno 20. and other officers. Howbeit, when he vnderstood that the Danes changed their purpose, and would not hold on their iourneie, he dismissed part of his power, and sent them home againe, kee|ping the residue all the winter with him in Eng|land, readie for his defense, if anie rebellion or other necessitie should befall.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The same yeare, he kept his Christmasse at Glo|cester, and made his sonne Henrie knight at West|minster in Whitsunwéeke insuing. Matth. West. Shortlie after, calling togither aswell lords spirituall as temporall, he caused them all to sweare fealtie to him and his heires after him in the possession of this kingdome.An oth taken to be true to the king.