Compare 1577 edition: 1 This yeare also, Geffrey the kings bastard sonne, who was the elect of Lincolne, and had receiued the profits of that bishoprike by the space of seuen years, and had his election confirmed by the pope in the feast of the Epiphanie at Marlebridge, in presence of the king and bishops renounced that preferment, of his owne free will. R. Houed. Within a while after the pope sent a streit commandement vnto Richard archbi|shop of Canturburie, either to cause the same Gef|frey by the censure of the church to renounce his mi|ter, or else to take vpon him the order of préesthood. Wherefore vpon good aduice taken in the matter with his father and other of his especiall fréends, iud|ging himselfe insufficient for the one, he was con|tented to part with the other; and therevpon wrote letters vnto the said archbishop of Canturburie, in forme as followeth.
5.1. A letter of Geffrey the kings base sonne elect of Lincolne to Richard archbishop of Canturburie.
A letter of Geffrey the kings base sonne elect of Lincolne to Richard archbishop of Canturburie.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 _VEnerabili patri Richardo Dei gratia Cantuari|ensi archiepiscopo apostolicae sedis legato, Galfri|dus domini regis Angliae filius & cancellarius salutem & reuerentiam debitam ac deuotam. Placuit maiestati apostolicae vestrae iniungere sanctitati, v [...] me certo tempore vocaretis ad suscipendum ordinem sacerdotis, & pontificalis officij dignitatem. Ego verò considerans quam|plures episcopos maturiores ac prouectiores prudentia & aetate vix tantae administrationi sufficere, nec sine periculo anima|rum suarum sui officium pontificatus ad perfectum explere, ve|ritus sum onus importabile senioribus mihi imponere iuniori: faciens haec nõ ex leuitate animi, sed ob reuerentiam sacramen|ti. Habito itaque tractatu super eo cum domino rege patre meo, dominis fratribus meísque rege & Pictauensi & Britannorum comitibus: episcopis etiam Henrico Baiocensi, Frogerio Sagien|si, Reginaldo Batoniensi, Sefrido Cicestrensi, qui praesentes ade|rant, aliter de vita & statu meo disposui, volens patris mei obsequijs militare ad tempus, & ab episcopalibus abstinere: omne itaque ius electionis inde & Lincolnensem episcopatum spontaneè, liberè, quietè, & integrè, in manu vestra pater sa [...]|cte resigno, tam electionem quàm episcopatus absolutionem po|stulans à vobis, tanquam à metropolitano meo, & ad hoc ab a|postolica sede specialiter delegato. Bene vale.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 The king for his maintenance, now after he had resigned his bishoprike, gaue him 500. markes of yearelie rent in England, and as much in Norman|die, and made him moreouer lord chancellor.