Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 But the king now drawing into age, and willing to fill his chests with aboundance of treasure,The king co|ue [...]ous in his old age. was not satisfied with this onelie subsidie, but deuised an other meane how to inrich himselfe, as thus. He considered that the Englishmen little regarded the kéeping of penall lawes, and pecuniall statutes, de|uised for the good preseruation of the common-welth. Wherefore he caused inquisition to be made of those that had transgressed anie of the same lawes, so that there were but few noble men, merchants, farmers, husbandmen, grasiers, or occupiers, that could cléer|lie prooue themselues faultlesse, but had offended in some one or other of the same lawes. At the first, they that were found giltie were easilie fined. But after,Richard Empson & Edmund Dudleie. there were appointed two maisters and suruei|ors of his forfeits, the one sir Richard Empson, and the other Edmund Dudleie.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 These two were learned in the lawes of the realme, who meaning to satisfie their princes plea|sure, and to sée their commission executed to the vt|termost, séemed little to respect the perill that might insue. Wherevpon they being furnished with a sort of accusers, commonlie called promoters,Promoters or (as they themselues will be named) informers, troubled ma|nie a man, whereby they wan them great hatred, and the king (by such rigorous procéedings) lost the loue and fauour which the people before time had borne towards him; so that he for setting them a worke, and they for executing of it in such extreame wise, ran in|to obloquie with the subiects of this realme.

¶On the thirtéenth of Nouember was holden with|in the palace of the archbishop of Canturburie, Abr. Fl. ex I.S. pag. 876 Sergean [...]s feast whereat were the king and all his nobles at dinner. at Lambeth, the sergeants feast, where dined the king and all his nobles. And vpon the same day, Thomas Granger, newlie chosen shiriffe of London, was presented before the barons of the kings exchequer, there to take his oth, and after went with the maior vnto the same feast, which saued him monie in his pursse; for if that day that feast had not béene kept, he must haue feasted the maior, aldermen, and others, woorshipfull of the citie. This feast was kept at the charge of ten learned men, newlie admitted to bée sergeants to the kings law, whose names were, Ro|bert Bridnell, William Greuill, Thomas Marow, George Edgore, Iohn Moore, Iohn Cutler, Thomas Eliot, Lewes Pollard, Guie Palmis, William Fairesax. On the one and twentith of Nouember at night,Fire on Lon|don bridge. began a perillous fier at the signe of the pa|nier vpon London bridge, néere to saint Magnus church; where six tenements were burned yer the same could be quenched.Fire. On the seuenth of Ianua|rie, were certeine houses consumed with fire against saint Butolphes church in Thames street. On the fiue and twentith of Ianuarie began a parlement at Westminster,Parlement. of the which was chosen speaker for the commons, maister Edmund Dudleie.]