Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Now beside these iustices and sergeant, Thom. Wals. there were called at that present vnto Notingham, all other iu|stices of the realme, and the shiriffes. Also, diuerse of the citie of London, which the king knew would in|cline to his will, the rather; for that some of them, hauing aforetime confessed treason against the king by them imagined, and obteining pardon for the same, were readie at his commandement, to recom|pense such fauour, in the accomplishment of whatso|euer they knew might stand with his pleasure. Here|vpon, they being impanelled to inquire of certeine treasons that were supposed to be committed by the lords, which in the last parlement had so caused things to passe, contrarie to the kings pleasure,The lords indicted of di|uerse offenses indicted the same lords of manie crimes informed against them, ¶The Londoners indeed were euill reported of in those daies, by some writers, for their vnstablenesse, one while holding on the kings part, and with such as were chéefe in counsell about him; and an other while on the lords side that were of a contrarie faction: ac|cording as the streame of their affections draue them, and as they were carried awaie perforce by the floud of their variable willes, whereby they were di|uided into differing passions, as they were assaul|ted by sundrie and vncerteine desires: which is the nature of the people, as the poet noteth, saieng:

Scinditur incertum studia in contraria vulgus.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 But now, as concerning the cause whie the shi|riffes were called hither,Why the shi|riffes of all shires were sent [...]or to the court. it was chéeflie to vnder|stand what power of men they might assure the king of, to serue him against the lords and barons, whome he tooke to be his enimies: and further, that where he meant to call a parlement verie shortlie, they should so vse the matter, that no knight might be chosen, but such as the king and his councell should name. But answer was made herevnto by the shiriffes, that the lords were so highlie beloued of the com|mons, that it laie not in their powers to assemble any great forces against the lords; and as for choosing the knights of the shires, they said that the com|mons would vndoubtedlie vse their ancient liber|ties, and priuileges, in choosing such as they thought meetest. But yet, after that the indictments were found, according to the desire of the king and his councellors, and that those which had béene called a|bout this matter, were licenced to depart home; the king and the duke of Ireland sent messengers into euerie part of the realme,Soldiers re|teined on all sides by the king against the lords. to reteine men of warre to assist them in the quarell against the lords, if néed were. Manie made answer, that sith they knew the lords to be faithfull and loiall to the king, euen from the bottome of their hearts, and were readie to stu|die, to deuise, and to doo all things that might tend to his honor, and wealth of the realme; they might not by anie meanes beare armour against them. But a great number of other, that tooke it that they were reteined for a good and necessarie purpose, promised to be readie, whensoeuer it should please the king to send for them.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 The lords being in this meane while aduertised of these dooings, were striken with great heauinesse, for that not knowing themselues (as they tooke it) giltie of anie offense, the king should thus seeke their de|struction. Herewith the duke of Glocester, meaning EEBO page image 458 to mitigate the kings displeasure, receiued a solemne oth before the bishop of London,The du [...]e of Glocest [...]rs procesta [...]ion vpon his oth. and diuerse other lords, protesting by the same oth, that he neuer ima|gined, nor went about any thing, to the kings hin|derance, but to his power had alwaies doone what he might to aduance the kings honor, prosperous state and good liking, except onelie that he had giuen no good countenance to the duke of Ireland, whom the king so much loued. And suerlie for that the said duke had dishonored his kinswoman, and the kings also, he was firmelie determined to reuenge that in|iurie vpon him; and herewith he besought the bishop of London to declare what his words were vnto the king.