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.

CHAPTER III. HERE BIEN SHEWED THE FRUYTES OF JUS REGALE AND THE FRUYTES OF JUS POLITICUM ET REGALE.

AND how so be it that þe Ffrenche kynge reignith vppon is peple dominio regali, yet Seynt Lowes some tyme kynge ther, nor eny of his progenitors sette neuer tayles or oþer imposicion vppon the peple of þat lande with owt the assent of þe iij estates, wich whan thai bith assembled bith like to the courte of the parlement in Ingelonde. And this ordre kepte many of his successours in to late dayis, that Ingelonde men made suche warre in Ffraunce, that the iij estates durst not come to gedre. And than for

that cause and for gret necessite wich the Ffrench kynge hade of goode for the defence of þat lande, he toke vpon hym to sett tayles and oþer imposicions vpon the commons with owt the assent of the iij estates; but yet he wolde not sett any such charges, nor hath sette, vppon the nobles for fere of rebillion. And bi cause the commons þer, though thai haue grucched, haue not rebellid or beth hardy to rebelle, the Ffrench kynges haue yerely sithyn sette such charges vpon them, and so augmented the same charges, as the same commons be so impouerysshid and distroyed, þat thai mowe vnneth leve. Thai drinken water, thai eyten apples, with brede right browne made of rye; thai eyten no flesshe but yf it be right seldon a litle larde, or of the entrales and heydes of bestis slayn for the nobles and marchauntes of the lande. Thai weren no wolen, but yf it be a pouere cote vndir thair vttermest garnement, made of grete caunuas, and callid a frokke. Thair hausyn beth of lyke caunuas, and passyn not thair kne, wher fore thai beth gartered and ther theis bare. Thair wyfes and childeren gone bare fote; thai mowe in non oþer wyse leve. For somme of thaim þat were wont to pay to his lorde for his tenement, wich he hiryth by the yere, a scute, payith nowe to the kynge ouer þat scute .v. scutes. Wher thurgh thai be arted bi necessite so to wacch, labour, and grubbe in the ground for thair sustenance, that thair nature is wasted, and the kynde of hem broght to noght. Thai gon crokyd, and ben feble, not able to fight, nor to defende þe realme; nor thai haue wepen, nor money to bie thaim wepen with all. But verely thai liven in the most extreme pouertie and miserie, and yet dwellyn thai in on the most fertile reaume of the

worlde. Werthurgh the Ffrench kynge hath not men of his owne reaume able to defende it, except his nobles, wich beyren non such imposicions, and ther fore thai ben right likely of thair bodies; bi wich cause the said kynge is compellid to make his armeys and retenues for the defence of his lande of straungers, as Scottes, Spaynardes, Arrogoners, men of Almeyn, and of oþer nacions, or ellis all his enymes myght ouerrenne hym; for he hath no defence of his owne except is castels and fortresses. Lo this is the frute of his Tus regale. Yf the reaume of Englonde, wich is an Ile, and therfor mey not lyghtly geyte soucore of other landes, were rulid vndir such a lawe, and vndir such a prince, it wolde be than a pray to all oþer nacions þat wolde conqwer, robbe, or deuouir it; wich was well provid in the tyme of the Bretons, when the Scottes and the Pyctes so bete and oppressid this lande, þat the peple therof sought helpe of the Romayns, to whom thai hade be tributori. And when thai coude not be defende be thaym, thai sought helpe of the Duke of Bretayn tho called litle Bretayn, and grauntid ther|fore to make his brother Costantyne þer kynge. And so he was made kynge here, and reigned many yeres, and his childirren aftir hym, of wich gret Artour was one of thair issue. But blessyd be God, this lande is rulid vndir a bettir lawe; and therfore the peple therof be not in such peynurie, nor ther by hurt in thair persons, but thai bith welthe, and haue all thinges nescessarie to the sustenance of nature. Wherfore thai ben myghty, and able to resiste the aduersaries of this reaume, and to beete oþer reaumes that do, or wolde do them wronge. Lo this is the fruyt of Tus polliticum et regale, vndre wich we live.

Sumwhat now I haue shewid the frutes of both lawes, ut ex fructibus eorum cognoscetis eos.