atteining to be archbishop of Canturburie, he kept both Winchester
[Sidenote: _Ranul. Hig._ _Fabian_. Stigand infamed of simonie.]
and Canturburie in his hand at one instant. This Stigand was greatlie
infamed for his couetous practises in sale of possessions apperteining
to the church. He was nothing learned: but that want was a common
fault amongest the bishops of that age, for it was openlie spoken
[Sidenote: What maner of men méet to be bishops in those daies.]
in those daies, that he was méet onelie to be a bishop, which could
vse the pompe of the world, voluptuous pleasures, rich raiment, and
set himselfe foorth with a iollie retinue of gentlemen and seruants on
horsse-backe, for therein stood the countenance of a bishop, as the
world then went; and not in studie how to haue the people fed with the
word of life, to the sauing of their soules.

King Edward now in the twelfth yeare of his reigne, hauing brought
[Sidenote: _Polydor_.]
the state of the realme quite from troubles of warre both by sea and
land, began to foresée as well for the welth of his subiects, as for
himselfe, being naturallie inclined to wish well to all men. He
therefore considered, how by the manifold lawes which had beene made by
Britaines, Englishmen and Danes within this land, occasion was ministred
to manie, which measured all things by respect of their owne priuate
gaine and profit, to peruert iustice, and to vse wrongfull dealing in
stead of right, clouding the same vnder some branch of the lawe
naughtilie misconstrued. Wherevpon to auoid that mischiefe, he picked
out a summe of that huge and vnmesurable masse and heape of lawes, such
as were thought most indifferent and necessarie, & therewith ordeined a
few, & those most wholesome, to be from thenceforth vsed; according to
whose prescript, men might liue in due forme and rightfull order of
[Sidenote: The lawes of S. Edward instituted.]