our landes and other helpes by hym deuised, should suffice aboundauntly for the maintenaunce of our sayde warres. Adding moreouer, that our onely care shoulde be for the furniture of strong and able soldiours, such as were fit for the purpose, and expert in warfare: for the rest, he hymself would effectually procure, for money conuenient to suffice our necessitie, and the charges thereof. Whereupon (entendyng great exploytes) we conueyed our armye beyonde the seas, and wyth marueylous great charges (as behoued) we set forward: we became also bound in great summes of money makyng sure accompt of the ayde aforesayd promised vnto vs. But alas, vnhappy is that man that reposeth cōfidence in mans deceiptfull staffe of brittle reede: whereunto (as sayth the prophet) if a man leane, it breaketh and pearceth the hand. Thus being defrauded of our long looked for subsidy, for very necessities sake, we were constrayned to take vpon vs importable charges of debts by greuous vsury. And so, our expedition beyng stayed, we were compelled to retyre into England, desisting from our enterprises so valyantly begun. Now, when we were returned into England, we layde before our Archbyshop our manifolde calamities and misfortunes before rehearsed, and therupon called a parliament: wherein the prelates noble men, and other the faythfull subiectes of our dominions, graunted vnto vs a new subsidie of corne, lambe, wool. &c. besides the tenth graunted by the Clergie: which subsidie (if it had bene faithfully collected and obtayned in due tyme) had greatly auayled for the expedition of our sayd warres, the payment of our debts, and coufusion of our enemies. Our sayd Archbyshop promised diligently to do hys endeuour, as well in collecting the same, as also in procuring other necessaries to serue our purpose. Whereupon, trusting vnto these fayre promises, hauyng all thynges in a readynes both men and furnished ships, we made sayle towards Flaunders, and by the way vpon the daungerous seas buckeled wyth our enemies (sworne to the destruction of our Englishe nation) of whom we triumphed and were victors, not by our merites (their multitude far exceeding ours) but by the mercifull clemency of hym that ruleth both wynde and sea. Which beyng done, we passed from thence with a mighty power for the recouery of our right, and pitched our tentes neare vnto the puissant citie of Tornaye: where beyng deteyned for a time in the siege therof. wearied with continuall toyle, our charges styll encreasing awayting wyth silence our promised ayd: day by day we hoped from our Archbyshop to receaue succor in these so great our necessities. At length being frustrate of all conceaued hope, we signifyed vnto our sayd Archbyshop, and other his adherentes, by diuers messengers and sundry letters, our great necessitie and perilles which we were in for lacke of the sayd subsidie graunted vnto vs. We added also the vtilitie and honour, which we saw myght be atchiued if we haue receaued mony in tyme. All thys notwithstandyng, we receaued from them no succor at all, for that, preferring their priuate busines and proper commodities, they cloked their slothe, or rather (as I may call it) their fraude and malice wyth vayne excuses: and painted glosing wordes, lyke vnto the deceitfull, which (as saith Esay) vse to deride wyth these wordes: Manda remanda, &c.

By meanes wherof (alas for sorow) it came to passe, that, whiles good hope of subduing our enemyes graciously smiled vpon vs, we were constrayned (penury preuaylyng agaynst vs) to take truce to our shame, the hindraunce of our expedition, and no small reioysing 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 souldiours wages: in so much, 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 beyng done, our faithfull frendes, companions in warres, and partakers of our tribulations came vnto vs, with whom we consulted diligently by what meanes we might best deliuer our selues from thys daungerous storme of euill fortune. MarginaliaArchb. of Cant. false to the kyngThey all agreed affirmyng certaynely, that the protracting of our warres, and cause of our manifolde necessitie happened vnto vs through the fault and negligēce (or rather the malice) of the sayd Archbishop (vpō whose discretion the disposition of our whole kyngdome seemed to depend) and other officers whom we had ioyned in coūsayle wyth him touching the affayres of our kyngdome: vehemently swearing and murmuring amongest themselues (for that we had left so long vncorrected the insolencie of the byshops and other officers) that if remedy in these cases were not had with speede: they would wythdraw thē-selues from our allegeance, and the couenaunt, which they had sworne vnto: to the vtter subuersion of our kyngdome, our perpetuall ignomie, and the euerlasting shame of the English nation (which God our most mercifull father forbid) should come to passe in our dayes, in whom is fixed immoueably the anchor of our hope.)MarginaliaEuil officers displaced by the kyng.Wherupon entēding the due correction of our officers, we remoued from offices (as seemed good to our wisedome) diuers persons, whome we suspected in causes euident of euill administration of iustice, of subuersion, and oppression of our subiectes, of corruption, of bribes, and other haynous offences. Others also of inferior degree offending in the premisses, we caused to be deteyned in safe custodie, least by their liberty, iustice might be troden vnder foote, and the inquisition of the truth concernyng the premisses not come to light. Forasmuch therfore as the knowledge of the truth in these cases might of none more certainely be knowen, then from the secret brest of our sayd Archbyshop, for that nothyng pertayning to our information ought to lye hyd from him, vnto whom of so long a time had beene committed the administration of our whole common weale, and summe of all our busines: we sent vnto hym our faithfull subiect Nicholas de Cantilupe wyth speciall commaundement from vs (all delayes set a part) that he should forthwyth make his personall appearance before vs at our citie of London. 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, and laid waite for hys lyfe, if at any time he departed frō the church of Canterbury: Which (God we take to witnes and a pure conscience) we neuer ment nor any of our assistentes.

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

Wherfore, intending the safegarde of our subiectes by letters or otherwise called before vs, we appointed our trustie and welbeloued Ralfe Stafford our Harbynger, to offer vnto hym safeconduct: and moreouer to present vnto hym our letters patentes vnder our seale, willing and commaunding him therby againe personally to come before vs, that we might be informed what of so long a time he had done touching the affayres of the kyngdome. 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 coulde not then be called. Thus may you see thys Archb. (whom our royall benignitie had amplified wyth large honours, admitted into all familiaritie, receaued into the bonde of vnanimitie and frendship, vpon whom as on a father our whole hope did consist: MarginaliaThe Archb. charged with dissembling and ingratitude.who, so long as we accomplyshed hys will in all thynges, pretended towards vs a face of coūterfeat loue cloaked with dissembling beneuolence euen as though he had bene a louing father) how cruelly agaynst reason he hath now forsaken vs, requiting benefites wyth ingratitude, oppressing hys benefactor with the arrogancie of feare: and finally (according to the vulgare prouerbe) rewarded vs as a horse in a satchel, a snake in a mans bosome, & fire cherished next the skinne rewardeth their receauers. When we were first exalted vnto the throne of our kingdome, descended vnto vs by right of inheritaunce (Gods diuine prouidence so working) we thought and alwayes thinke it a detestable thing to abuse so high authoritye, but rather desire to gouerne with clemency, leuitie, and moderation of iustice, that peace of all men desired might firmely take place. MarginaliaThe Archb. diffamer of the king.Neuertheles, our sayd Archbyshop hath gone about to defame our innocency, and the fidelitie and diligence of our faythfull counsailers prosequtors of true iustice: openly declaryng in his letters patente, and publishyng abroad in diuers places, that he was oppressed by the kyngs power cōtrary to iustice, the Clergy and comminaltie confounded, and the church ouercharged with diuers greuous taxes and exactions. He subtilly vsurped the name of a good pastor, whē in deede he was nothyng lesse, but rather (as it should seme by his own confession, and the cōmon opinion had of him) a very hyrelyng. He cloked his crafty subtilnes with the zeale of defendiyng the church, although he himselfe in very deede was the onely cause, by his euill coūsaile and crafty deuises, of the tribulatiōs of the same. He also fayned that not long ago, certaine writyngs were brought vnto hym to be sealed, containyng in effect the defence and excusation of all such in generall that were violaters of the liberties of the Church: hopyng thereby to defame the opinion had of vs and of our faythfull counsailors, to stirre vp sedicion a-