Compare 1577 edition: 1 A great dearth. Matth. Paris. In this yeare was an exceeding great dearth, in so much that a quarter of wheat was sold at London for foure and twentie shillings, whereas within two or thrée yeares before, a quarter was sold at two shil|lings. It had beene more déerer, if great store had not come out of Almaine, for in France and in Nor|mandie it likewise failed. But there came fiftie great ships fraught with wheat and barlie, with meale and bread out of Dutchland, by the procure|ment of Richard king of Almaine, which greatlie re|leeued the poore; for proclamation was made, and or|der taken by the king, that none of the citizens of London should buy any of that graine to laie it vp in store, whereby it might be sold at an higher price vnto the needie. But though this prouision did much ease, yet the want was great ouer all the realme. For it was certeinelie affirmed, that in three shires within the realme, there was not found so much graine of that yeares growth, as came ouer in those fiftie ships.The gréedie dealing of the Londoners to the hurt of the cõmon-welth. The proclamation was set foorth, to re|streine the Londoners from ingrossing vp that graine, and not without cause: for the wealthie citi|zens were euill spoken of in that season, bicause in time of scarsitie they would either staie such ships as fraught with vittels were comming towards the citie, and send them some other way foorth; or else buy the whole, that they might sell it by retaile at their plesure to the needie. By means of this great dearth and scarsitie, the common people were constreined to liue vpon hearbs & roots, and a great number of the poore people died through famine, which is the most miserable calamitie that can betide mortall men, and was well marked euen of the heathen, but notablie by Ouid, who making a description of famine, setteth hir foorth in most ouglie and irkesome sort, intending therby the dreadfulnes of that heauie plague, saieng:

Quaesitámque famem lapidoso vidit in antro,Ouid. lib. 8. Meta. fab. 11.

Vnguibus & raris vellentem dentibus herbas,

Hirtus erat crinis, caua lumina, pallor in ore,

Labra incana situ, scabrirubigine dentes,

Dura cutis, per quam spectari viscera possent,

Ossa sub incuruis extabant arida lumbis,

Ventris erat pro ventre locus, pendêre putares,

Pectus & àspinae tantummodo crate teneri,

Auxerat articulos macies, genuùmque tumebat

Orbis, & immodico prodibant tubere tali, &c.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 This yeare after Easter a parlement was hol|den at London,A parlement. Matth. Paris. in the which manie weightie mat|ters were intreated of touching the kings causes, namelie, about the conquest of the realme of Na|ples,Hurtred, a messenger frõ the pope. the pope hauing sent a messenger named Hur|tred for the discharge of monie, which the pope had re|ceiued of merchants, as it were to the kings vse, and entred bonds for the paiment thereof. Also, whereas the king was sore disquieted for the warre which the Welshmen made against him, he asked aduise of the states, how he might procéed to seeke his iust re|uenge of them, who by reason of their good hap were become verie stout and loftie, and had of late by the expiring of a truce which had beene accorded betwixt them,The Welsh|men spoile Penbroke|shire. spoiled and wasted the most part of Penbroke|shire, of which iniurie the earle of Penbroke, name|lie William de Ualence, sore complained.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 But whereas the king knowing him to be rich, willed him to lay out some great portion of monie, towards the maintenance of his wars, the erle tooke great displeasure therewith, as though the king had made that request by the suggestion and setting on of some of the English lords,Uariance be|twixt the earle of Penbroke and others. in somuch that words passed in displeasant sort betwixt him and the earles of Glocester and Leicester, so far foorth, that the earle of Penbroke called the earle of Leicester traitor, who therewith made towards him, to haue reuenged the iniurie, and so would haue doone indéed, if the king had not beene moderator betwixt them. Fi|nallie at this parlement the lords told the king that they might not aid him with any great summes of monie, except it should redound to their great impo|uerishment: they told him also, that he had not doone wiselie to enter into couenants, for the purchase of the kingdome of Naples for his sonne, without their consents.