Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Whereas also not onelie Walkhem the bishop of Winchester, but diuerse, other bishops in Eng|land were in mind to haue displaced moonks out of their cathedrall churches, and to haue brought ca|nons into their roomes, Lanfranke withstood them,Lanfranke praised for holding with the moonks. and would tollerate no such dislocation: an act at that time so well liked, that he was highlie commended for the same. After Lanfrankes death, the king be|gan greatlie to forget himselfe in all his dealings, insomuch that he kept many concubines, and waxed verie cruell and inconstant in all his dooings, so that he became an heauie burthen vnto his people.The king gi|uen to sensuall lust and coue|tousnesse. For he was so much addicted to gather goods, that he con|sidered not what perteined to the maiestie of a king, insomuch that nothing tending to his gaine, and the satisfieng of his appetite, was estéemed of him vn|lawfull, sith he measured all things by the vncontrol|led rule of his roialtie, and considered nothing what so high an office required. He kept the sée of Cantur|burie foure yeares in his hands, to sée who would giue most for it, in the meane time taking the pro|fits thereof, and making the vttermost of the same that by any meanes could be deuised.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The like he vsed when other benefices and abbeies were vacant, Matth. Paris. and furthermore that little which the prince spared, his officers and farmers, no lesse coue|tous than he, conuerted to their aduantage: so that what by the king, and what by his procurators, the church of England was now sore charged and fléeced of hir wealth. Diuerse of hir prelates in like maner were not a little offended, to sée their mother so spoi|led of hir treasure and liuelihood, insomuch that they practised a redresse: and to begin withall, complai|ned of the king to pope Urban: but he was so bu|sied with other troubles of his owne néerer home, that he could haue no time to séeke meanes how to redresse enormities a far off, Wil. Malm. Matt. Paris. whereby the lands and goods belonging to the church here in England were still wastfullie spent and consumed by the king and others, to whome he gaue or let them foorth to farme at his owne pleasure, and to his most commoditie.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 But albeit the prince was of such a disposition by nature, yet there is one thing written of him which ought not to be forgotten, to admonish vs that there is no man of so euill an affection, but that sometime he dealeth vprightlie, though it be by hap or other ex|traordinarie motion. It chanced that an abbeie was void of an abbat, wherein were two moonkes verie couetous persons aboue the rest, and such as by scra|ping and gathering togither, were become verie rich, for such (saith Polydor) in those daies mounted to preferment. These two appointed to go togither to the court, ech hoping at their comming thither to find some meanes that he might be made abbat of that house. Being thus agréed, to the court they come, and there offer verie largelie to the king to ob|teine their sute: who perceiuing their gréedie desires, and casting his eies about the chamber, espied by chance an other moonke (that came to beare them companie, being a more sober man, and simple after his outward appearance) whom he called vnto him, and asked what he would giue him to be made abbat of the foresaid abbeie. The moonke after a little pause, made answere, that he would giue nothing at all for anie such purpose, since he entred into that profession of méere zeale to despise riches & all worldlie pompe, to the end he might the more quietlie serue God in holinesse & puritie of conuersation. Saiest thou so, EEBO page image 19 quoth the king, then art thou euen he that art wor|thie to gouerne this house: and streightwaie he be|stowed the house vpon him, iustlie refusing the other two, to their open infamie and reproch.