Compare 1577 edition: 1 The bishop thinking least of that matter, and be|ing amazed to heare the wisdome and earnest zeale of the king, was (as he said himselfe) so astonied, that he could not well tell what to saie: but after some pause, said that as he thought at this present for some entrance to be had, it were good to practise with the citie of London, bicause the number of the poore there are verie great,The citizens of London mooued to be assistants in this charita|ble action. & the citizens are manie & also wise; and he doubted not but they were also both pi|tifull & mercifull, as the maior & his brethren, & other the worshipfull of the said citie. And that if it would please the kings maiestie to direct his gratious let|ter vnto the maior of London, willing him to call vnto him such assistants as he should thinke méet, to consult of this matter, for some order to be taken therein, he doubted not but good should follow there|of. And he himselfe promised the king to be one him|selfe that should earnestlie trauell therein.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 The king forthwith not onelie granted his letter, but made the bishop tarie vntill the same was writ|ten, and his hand and signet set therevnto, and com|manded the bishop not onelie to deliuer the said let|ter himselfe, but also to signifie vnto the maior, that it was the kings speciall request and expresse com|mandement, that the maior should therein trauell, and as soone as he might conuenientlie giue him knowledge how farre he had proceeded therein. The bishop was so ioious of the hauing of this letter, and that he had now an occasion to trauell in that good matter, wherein he was maruellous zealous, that nothing could more haue pleased and delighted him: wherefore the same night he came to the maior of London, who then was sir Richard Dobs knight, and deliuered the kings letter, and shewed his mes|sage with effect.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The maior not onelie ioiouslie receiued this let|ter, but with all spéed agreed to set forward this mat|ter, for he also fauoured it verie much. And the next daie being mondaie,The readines of the lord ma|ior to prefer this good déed. he desired the bishop of London to dine with him: and against that time, the maior promised that he would send for such men, as he thought méetest to talke of this matter, and so he did. And sent first for two aldermen and six commoners, and afterward were appointed more, to the number of foure and twentie. And in the end after sundrie méetings (for by meane of the good diligence of the bishop it was well followed) they agréed vpon a booke that they had deuised, wherein first they consi|dered of nine speciall kinds and sorts of poore people, and those same they brought in these thrée degrees:

Degrées of poore.Thrée degrées of poore.

• The poore by impotencie.
• Poore by casualtie.
• Thriftlesse poore.