Compare 1577 edition: 1 This prince, altho [...]gh euill reported of by writers for the couetous talking of his subiects, and retei|ning of ecclesiasticall liuings in his hands; yet was EEBO page image 27 he endued with manie noble and princelie qualities. He had good knowledge in feats of warre, and could well awaie with bodilie labour. In all his affaires he was circumspect; of his promise, trustie; of his word, stedfast; and in his wars no lesse diligent than fortimate. He gaue to the moonkes called Monachi de charitate in Southwarke, the great new church of S. Sauiour of Bermondsay, and also Bermonds eie it selfe. He founded a goodlie hospitall in the citie of Yorke, called S. Leonards, for the sustentation and finding of the poore as well brethren as sisters. Towards souldiers and men of warre he was verie liberall, and to enrich them, he passed not for taking from farmers and husbandmen what soeuer could be gotten. He was indéed of a prodigall nature, and therefore when in the begining of his reigne, doub|ting some troubles, he had assembled manie men of warre for his defense, there was nothing that they could aske which he would denie them, in somuch that his fathers treasures were soone consumed, by reason whereof he was put to his shifts to prouide more. For though substance wanted to shew his li|beralitie, yet there sailed not in him a mind still to be bountifull, sith continuall vse of giuing rewards, was in manner turned in him to a nature, so that to furnish himselfe with monie and necessaries, he was put to extremities vnbeséeming a king;The liberall hart of king William. and to be|stow his beneuolence vpon some, he spared not to im|pouerish others. For in such sort he was liberall, that therewith he was prodigall; and in such wise stout of courage, as proud withall; and in such maner seuere, as he séemed cruell and inexorable. But what meanes he vsed to make his best of benefices and spirituall liuings, partlie appeereth before.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 In déed such was his condition, that who soeuer would giue, might haue, & that oftentimes without respect, whether their sute was reasonable and allow|able or not, in somuch that it is said of him, that be|ing in Roan on a time, there came to him diuerse Iewes who inhabited that citie,Iewes. complaining to him, that diuerse of their nation had renounced their Iewish religion, and were become christians: wherefore they besought him, that for a certeine summe of monie which they offered to giue, it might please him to constreine them to abiure christianitie, and turne to the Iewish law againe. He was con|tented to satisfie their desires, and so receiuing the monie, called them before him, & what with threats, and putting them otherwise in feare, he compelled diuerse of them to forsake Christ, and returne to their old errors.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 There was about the same time a yoong man a Iew, who by a vision appearing vnto him (as is said) was conuerted to the christian faith, and being bapti|sed, was named Stephan, bicause S. Stephan was the man that had appeared to him in the vision, as by the same he was informed. The father of the yoong-man being sore troubled, for that his sonne was be|come a christian, and hearing what the king had doone in such like matters, presented to him 60. marks of siluer, conditionally that he should inforce his sonne to returne to his Iewish religion. Here|vpon was the yoong man brought before the king, vnto whom he said;

Sirra, thy father here complai|neth that without his licence thou art become a chri|stian: if this be true, I command thee to returne a|gaine to the religion of thy nation, without anie more adoo. To whom the yoongman answered, Your grace (as I gesse) dooth but iest. Wherwith the king being mooued said, What thou dunghill knaue, shuld I iest with thée? Get thee hence quicklie, and fulfill my commandement, or by S. Lukes face I shall cause thine eies to be plucked out of thine head. The yoongman nothing abashed hereat, with a constant voice answered, Trulie I will not doo it,An answer of a good Iew. but know for certeine, that if you were a good christian, you would neuer haue vttered anie such words, for it is the part of a christian to reduce them againe to Christ which be departed from him; & not to separate them from him, which are ioined to him by faith. The king herwith confounded, commanded the Iew to auant & get him out of his sight. But his father perceiuing that the king could not persuade his sonne to forsake the christian faith, required to haue his monie a|gaine. To whom the king said, he had doone so much as he promised to doo, that was, to persuade him so far as he might.