in so much that in his presence it was made notorious, that sith the
beginning of his reigne, [Sidenote: Murthers committed by préests.]
aboue an hundred manslaughters had béene committed within his realme of
England by préests and men of religious orders. Herevpon being mooued in
mind, he set forth lawes against the spiritualtie, wherein he shewed his
zeale of iustice. For as the cause procéeded from the bishops of that
age, so did the fault also, sith contrarie to their owne canons they
permitted préests to liue ouer licentiouslie without due correction,
[Sidenote: _W. Paruus._] studieng onelie to mainteine the liberties and
immunities of the church, and not to reforme the irregularitie of the
regulars. [Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._] Of this crew was one Philip de
Broc, a canon of Bedford, who being arreigned before the kings iusticer
for a murther, vttered disdainefull words against the same iusticer:
which when he could not denie before the archbishop, he was depriued of
his prebend, and banished the land for two yeares space.

These things troubled the king, who therefore hauing alreadie set downe
such orders as should bridle the spiritualtie from their wicked dooings,
thought that if he might get them confirmed in parlement by consent of
the bishops and clergie, then the same should take place and be receiued
for lawes. [Sidenote: The king meaneth to bridle the spiritualtie frō
presumptuous dealing. The prelats against the king. _Ger. Dor._]
Wherefore he earnestlie required at this parlement that it
might be enacted against all such of the spiritualtie, as should be
taken and conuicted for any henious offense, they should loose the
priuiledge of the church, and be deliuered vnto the ciuill magistrate,
who should sée them suffer execution for their offences, in like maner
as he might any of the kings subiects being laie men. For otherwise the
king alledged, that they would boldlie presume to doo much more
mischiefe, if after ecclesiasticall discipline, no secular correction