possession of his right after that so long as he liued, without any
trouble or vexation concerning the said possessions and liberties.

Whereas also not onelie Walkhem the bishop of Winchester, but diuerse
other bishops in England were in mind to haue displaced moonks out of
their cathedrall churches, and to haue brought canons into their
roomes, Lanfranke withstood them, and would tollerate no such
dislocation: [Sidenote: Lanfranke praised for holding with the
moonks.] an act at that time so well liked, that he was highlie
commended for the same. [Sidenote: The king giuen to sensuall lust and
couetousnesse.] After Lanfrankes death, the king began greatlie to
forget himselfe in all his dealings, insomuch that he kept many
concubines, and waxed verie cruell and inconstant in all his dooings,
so that he became an heauie burthen vnto his people. For he was so
much addicted to gather goods, that he considered not what perteined
to the maiestie of a king, insomuch that nothing tending to his gaine,
and the satisfieng of his appetite, was estéemed of him vnlawfull,
sith he measured all things by the vncontrolled rule of his roialtie,
and considered nothing what so high an office required. He kept the
sée of Canturburie foure yeares in his hands, to see who would giue
most for it, in the meane time taking the profits thereof, and making
the vttermost of the same that by any meanes could be deuised.

[Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._] The like he vsed when other benefices and
abbeies were vacant, and furthermore that little which the prince
spared, his officers and farmers, no lesse couetous than he, conuerted
to their aduantage: so that what by the king, and what by his
procurators, the church of England was now sore charged and fléeced of
hir wealth. Diuerse of hir prelates in like maner were not a little
offended, to sée their mother so spoiled of hir treasure and