The governance of England: otherwise called The difference between an absolute and a limited monarchy. A rev. text edited with introd., notes, and appendices by Charles Plummer.

mey no reaume prospere, or be worshipfull, vndir a poure kynge.

AND sithyn it is necessarie that the kynge be alway riche, wich may not be with owt he haue revenues sufficiant for the yerely mayntenance of his estate; it is behouefull that we furst esteme, what his erly charges and expences bith likely to drawe vnto. Ffor aftir that nedith his reuenues to be proporcioned; but yet thai nedun to be gretter than woll be the charges, for doute of soden cases, wich mey falle to hym and to his reaume. Ffor Seynt Bernarde saith, þat yf a mannes ex|penses be egall to his livelode, a soden chaunce mey distroye his estate. The kynges yerely ex|penses stonden in charges ordinarie, and in charges extra ordinarie. His charges ordinary mey not be eschewed, and therfore it nedith þat ther be lyvelode asseigned ffor the payment therof; wich lyvelode be in no wyse putte to no other vse. And yff it happen that any patent be made of any parte therof to oþer vse, þat thanne þat patent be voide and of non effect. Wich thynge yff hit be ffermely estableshed, the kynges ordinarie charges mey alway be paid in hande, and the pro vision ffor hem mey alway be made in seson; wich shalbe worth to the kynge the