Now when the cardinall at the last perceiued their vntrue surmises,Erection of new courts by the kings commissio [...]. and feined complaints for the most part, he then waxed wearie of hearing their causes, and ordeined by the kings commission diuerse vnder courts to beare complaints by bill of poore people. The one was kept in the White hall, the other before the kings almoner doctor Stokesleie, a man that had more learning than discretion to be a iudge, the EEBO page image 839 third was kept in the lord treasurors chamber be|side the starre chamber, and the fourth at the rols at the after noone. These courts were greatlie haunted for a time: but at the last the people perceiued that much delaie was vsed in these courts, and few mat|ters ended, and when they were ended, they bound no man by the law; then euerie man was werie of them and resorted to the common law.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 It was strange to sée the cardinall (a man not skil|led in the laws) fit in the seat of iudgement and pro|nounce the law, being aided at the first by such as (ac|cording to the ancient custome) did sit as associats with him: but he would not sticke to determine sun|drie causes, neither rightlie decided nor adiudged by order of law. And againe, such as were cleare cases, he would sometime prohibit the same to passe, call them into iudgement, frame an order in controuer|sies, and punish such as came with vntrue surmises afore the iudges, & sharpelie reprooue the negligence of the iudges themselues, which had receiued such sur|mises, and not well considered of the controuersies of the parties. [...]. Hall. And such was the administration of the cardinall vnder a colour of iustice at the first: Polydor. but bicause the same seemed at length to be but a verie shadow or colour in déed, it quicklie vanished awaie, he taking vpon him the whole rule himselfe, for that he saw the king made small account of anie other but onelie of him.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Whereby it came to passe, that manie of the péeres and high estates of the realme withdrew them from the court; [...] is [...]trarie to [...]. as first the archbishop of Canturburie, and the bishop of Winchester, which got them home into their diocesses. But yet before their departure (as good fathers of their countrie) they instantlie be|sought the king that he would not suffer anie seruant to exceed and passe his maister: borrowing that sen|tence out of the gospell of saint Iohn, where our Sa|uiour speaking to his disciples, saith to them; Uere|lie, verelie, I say vnto you, the seruant is not greater than his maister. Herevnto the king, knowing that they meant this by the cardinall, made this answer, That he would diligentlie sée, that euerie seruant should obeie, and not command. But the cardinall notwithstanding (during the time of his flattering felicitie) held out, thinking scorne to be counterman|ded; behauing himselfe more like a prince, than a prelat, so blinded was he with vaineglorie, and drun|ken with the transitorie delights of the world: obsti|nate impediments and most horrible hinderances to the permanent ioies of heauen, as the poet saith:

[...]lla. in lac. 4. Delicias mundi fragiles qui mente sequetur,

Perdidit aeterni certissima gaudia coeli.