fusion of our enemies. Our sayd archbishop promised diligētly to do hys endeuour, aswel in collecting the same, as also in procuring other necessaryes to serue our purpose. Whereuppon, trustyng vnto these fayre promises, hauyng all thinges in a readynes both men and furnished shyps, we made sayle towardes Flaunders, and by the way vpon the daungerous seas buckeled wyth our enemies (sworen to the destruction of our Englishe nation) of whom we triumphed and were victors, not by our merites (theyr multitude far exceeding ours) but by the mercyfull clemency of hym that ruleth both wynde and sea. Whych beyng done, we passed from thence with a mighty power for the recouerye of our ryght, and pytched our tentes nere vnto the puissant city of Tornaye: where beyng deteyned for a tyme in the siege therof. wearyed with continuall toyle, our charges styll encreasyng awayting wyth sylence our promised ayde: daye by daye we hoped from our archbishop to receaue succor in these so great our necessities. At length being frustrate of all conceaued hope, we signifyed vnto our sayd archbishop, and other hys adherentes, by diuers messengers & sondrye letters, our greate necessitie and perilles which we were in for lacke of the sayd subsidie graunted vnto vs. We added also the vtilitie and honour, whiche wee sawe might be atchiued if we haue receaued mony in tyme. All thys notwithstanding, we receaued from them no succor at all, for that, preferring theyr priuate busines and proper commodities, they cloked theyr slothe, or rather (as I may cal it) their fraude and malice with vaine excuses: and paynted glosyng wordes, lyke vnto the deceitfull, which (as sayth Esay) vse to deryde with these wordes: Manda remanda, &c.

By meanes wherof (alas for sorow) it came to passe, that, whyles good hope of subduing our enemyes graciouslye smyled vpon vs, we were constrayned (penurye preuayling agaynst vs) to take truce to our shame, the hindraunce of our expedition, and no small reioysyng of our euill willers: and so we returned into Flaunders all voyde of money, oppressed with infinite debts, neyther had we in our treasuries wherwith to discharge our necessities, nor yet to pay our souldiers wages: insomuch, that we were compelled to enter into the deuouring goulfe of vsurie, and to sustaine on our shoulders greate burdens of debts, heape vpon heape. Thys being done, our faythfull frendes, companions in warres, and partakers of our tribulations came vnto vs, with whom we consulted diligently by what meanes we myght best deliuer our selues from this daungerous storme of euill fortune. MarginaliaArchb. of Cant. fals to the kingThey all agreed affirming certainlye, that the protracting of our warres, and cause of our manifolde necessitie happened vnto vs through the fault and negligence (or rather the malice) of the sayd archbishop (vpō wholse discretion the disposition of our whole kingdome semed to depend) and other officers whom we had ioyned in counsaile with hym touching the affayres of our kingdome: vehementlye swearing and murmuring agmongst them selues (for that we had left so longe vncorrected the insolencie of the byshops and other officers) that if remedie in these cases were not had with spede: they would withdraw themselues from our allegeance, and the couenaunt, which they had sworne vnto: to the vtter subuersion of our kyngdome, our perpetuall ignomie, & the euerlasting shame of the English natiō (which God our most mercifull father forbydde) should come to passe in our daies, in whom is fyxed immoueably the anchor of our hope. MarginaliaEuil officers displaced by the king.Wherupon entending the due correctiō of our officers, we remoued from offices (as semed good to our wysdome) diuers persons, whom we suspected in causes euident of euil administration of iustice, of subuersion, & oppression of our subiectes, of corruption, of bribes, & other haynous offences. Others also of inferior degree offending in the premisses, we caused to be deteyned in safe custodie, least by theyr libertye, iustice myght bee troden vnder foote, and the inquisition of the truth concernyng the premisses not come to lyght. Forasmuche therefore as the knowledge of the truth in these cases might of none more certainly be knowen, thē from the secrete brest of our sayd archbishop, for that nothing pertayning to our informatiō ought to lye hid frō hym, vnto whom of so long a time had been committed the administration of our whole cōmon weale, & summe of all our busines: we sent vnto him our faithfull subiect Nicholas de Cantilupe with speciall commaundement from vs (all delayes set a part) that he should forthwith make his personall appearance before vs at our citie ofLondon. But he (as one alwayes timerous aswell in prosperitie as in aduersitie, and fearing where no feare was) vntruely alleageth that some of our assistents had threatned him, & layd wayte for his life, if at any tyme he departed from the church of Canterbury: Which (God we take to witnes and a pure conscience) we neuer mēt nor any of our assistentes.

MarginaliaArchb. of Cant. odious to all the clergy.We suppose he touched therby our cosin, although to all others aswell of the clergie as comminaltie through hys malicious misdemeanors he was become odious.

Wherfore, entending the safegarde of our subiectes by letters or otherwyse called before vs, we appoynted our trustie and welbeloued Ralfe Stafford our Harbynger, to offer vnto hym safeconduct: and moreouer to present vnto him our letters patentes vnder our seale, willing and commaunding him therby again personally to come before vs, that we might be informed what of so longe a tyme he had done touching the affayres of the kingdom. MarginaliaThe archb. of Cant. denyeth to come to the king.Wherunto, contemning our commaundement and gentle request he answereth, that neither he would in person appeare, neyther yet in any matter conferre with vs, except it were in a full Parliament which for diuers reasonable causes could not then be called. Thus may you see thys archbyshop (whom our royall benignitie had amplified with large honors, admitted into all familiaritie, receaued into the bonde of vnanimitie & frendship, vpon whom as on a father our whole hope did consist: MarginaliaThe archb. charged with dissēbling and ingratitude.who, so long as we accomplished his will in all thinges, pretended towardes vs a face of counterfeat loue cloked wyth dissembling beneuolence euen as though he had been a louing father) how cruelly agaynst reason he hath nowe forsaken vs, requiting benefites with ingratitude, oppressing hys benefactor with the arrogancie of feare: and finally (according to the vulgar prouerbe) rewarding vs as a horse in a satchel, a snake in a mans bosome, and fire cherished nexte the skinne rewardeth their receauers. When we were fyrst exalted vnto the throne of our kingdom, descended vnto vs by ryght of inheritance (Gods diuine prouidence so workyng) we thought and alwaies thinke it a detestable thyng to abuse so high authoritye, but rather desyre to gouerne with clemencie, leuitie, and moderation of iustice, that peace of all mē desyred might firmely take place. MarginaliaThe archb. diffamer of the kyng.Neuertheles, our sayd Archbishop hath gone about to defame our innocencie, & the fidelitie and diligence of our faithfull counsailers prosequtors of true iustice: openly declaring in hys letters patente, and publishing abroad in diuers places, that he was oppressed by the kinges power contrarye to iustice, the clergye and comminaltie confounded, and the churche ouercharged with diuers greuous taxes and exactions. He subtillie vsurped the name of a good pastor, whē in dede he was nothing lesse, but rather (as it should seme by his own confession, & the common opinion had of him) a very hyreling. He cloked his craftie subtilnes with þ^e zeale of defending the church, although he himself in very dede was the onely cause, by hys euill counsaile & craftie deuises, of the tribulations of the same. He also fayned that not long a goe, certain writings were brought vnto him to be sealed, contayning in effect the defence & excusatiō of all suche in generall that were violaters of the liberties of the churhc: hoping therby to defame the opinion had of vs & of our faythfull counsailors, to styrre vp sedicion amongst the people, & finally to withdraw from vs the hartes of our nobilitie. He gaue cōmaundement by hys letters, that those things should be proclaimed in all places of great resort by diuers speciall articles cōtrary to hys former order in hys prouinciall councell. Wherfore, respecting the integritie of our fame, entending to preuent the malice of the said archbishop, & also to decline from vs the snares prepared for vs and oures: we haue thought good at this present (ouer & besides those which before are rehearsed) amongst so many which we omitte, to declare vnto you some of his peruerse & wicked actes. When in our minoritie we were constituted ouer our dominions, he caused vs through hys vnaduised coūsaile & rashe persuasion (therby to winne excessiue fauour) to geue away so many wastefull gifts, and so many vnlawfull alienations that now by meanes therof our treasure is cleane consumed, the reuenewes of our Exchequer without all order diminished, & he corrupted with bribes innumerable. Oftentimes also without cause why, when neyther necessitie nor vtilitie so requyred, onely through his persuasion we forgaue diuers men great summes of money due vnto vs, yea and the rentes and reuenewes which ought to haue been cōserued for our necessitie and