writeth) the three floure delices were since that time annexed thereto
by Edward the third, by reason of his claime to the crowne of France,
whereof hereafter ye shall heare. Among other greeuances which the
English susteined by the hard deling of the Conquerour, this is to be
remembered, that he brought Jewes into this land from Rouen, and
appointed them a place to inhabit and occupie.

[Sidenote: _Polydor._] There be that write, how the inconstancie of
the English people by their oft rebellions occasioned the king to be
so rough and rigorous against them; wheras (of his naturall
disposition and proper inclination) he was rather gentle and courteous
than sharpe and cruell. But sith he continued his extremitie euen to
his last daies, we may rather beléeue, that although from his
childhood he shewed some tokens of clemencie, bountie, and
liberalitie; yet by following the wars, and practising to reigne with
sternenesse, he became so inured therewith, that those peaceable
vertues were quite altered in him, and in maner clearelie quenched. He
was indued with a certeine stoutnesse of courage and skill in feats of
warre, which good hap euer followed: he was frée from lecherous lusts,
without suspicion of bodilie vices, quicke of wit, desirous of honor,
painefull, watchfull, and able to tolerate heat and cold, though he
were tall of stature, and verie grosse of bodie.

Toward the end of his daies he waxed verie deuout, and became desirous
to aduance the state of the church, insomuch that he builded thrée
abbeies in three seuerall places, endowing them with faire lands and
large possessions, one at the place where he vanquished king Harold,
fiue miles from Hastings, which he named Battell, of the field there
fought: the other at Celby in Yorkeshire: and the third in Normandie at
Caen, where his wife Quéene Maud had builded a nunnerie, which Maud died