purfes, it was taken from them. The farmers/ houfes were pillaged of grain, and their beeves, pigs and fheep carried away, without the owners daring to fay a word. Thefc enormities increafed fo much, there was nothing but com-plaints heard. The common people faid ; ' Times are fadly changed for the worfe fince the days of king Edward of happy memory. Juftice was then rigorous in punifhing the wicked. Then ^there was no man in England daring enough to take a fowl or fheep without paying for them, but now they carry off all things, and .we muft not ^ fpeak. This cannot go on without the country being ruined, and yet no one attempts to check it. We have a good-for-nothing king, who only attends to his idle" pleafures j and, as it fhould feem, he cares not how public affairs are managed, fo that his inclinations are gratified. We muft look for a remedy, or our enemies and ill-wifticrs will be rejoiced and laugh at us. King Richard . has made his brother, the earl of Huntingdon, governor of Calais, and perchance there may be' fome underhand treaties going forward to furrender it to the French, although it be fo neceffary and convenient to England : fhould this happen no nation will be ever more difcomfited than the Englifh, and with good reafon, for they will lofe the keys of the entrance to France/ Thefe murmurings and difcontents multiplied i and the prelates and rich barons came to live in London, that they might avoid the troubles and dangers which were increafing throughout the kingdom* 110