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.

THE kyngis counsell was wonned to be chosen off grete princes, and off the gretteste lordes off þe lande, both spirituelles and temporellis, and also off oþer men that were in grete auctorite and offices. Wich lordes and officers had nere hande also mony maters off thair owne to be treded in the counsell, as hade þe kynge. Wherthrough, when thai come to gedre, thai were so occupied with thair owne maters, and with the maters off thair kynne, ser|uantes, and tenantes, þat thai entendet but litle, and oþer while no thynge, to þe kynges maters. And also þer were but ffewe maters off the kynges, but yff þe same maters toucheden also þe said coun|sellers, thair cosyns, þer seruantes, tenantes, or such oþer as thai owed ffauor vnto. And what lower man was þer sytinge in þat counsell, þat durste say ayen the openyon off any off the grete lordis? And whi myght not then men make be meanes off cor|rupcion somme off the seruantes and counsellers off somme off the lordes to moue the lordes to par|ciallite, and to make hem also ffauorable and parcial as were the same seruantes, or the parties þat so moved hem? Then couude no mater treted in the counsell be kept prive. Ffor the lordes oftentymes tolde ther owne counsellours and seruantes, that hade suyd to hem ffor tho maters, how thai had sped in ham, and who was ayen ham. How mey