[_Fiaunt_, fiat.]
All offices, all leases by him lept, 1145
And of them all whatso he likte he kept.
Iustice he solde iniustice for to buy,
And for to purchase for his progeny.
[_Purchase_, collect spoil.]
Ill might it prosper that ill gotten was,
But, so he got it, little did he pas. 1150
[_Pas_, care.]
He fed his cubs with fat of all the soyle,
And with the sweete of others sweating toyle;
He crammed them with crumbs of benefices,
And fild their mouthes with meeds of malefices;
[_Malifices_, evil deeds.]
He cloathed them with all colours save white, 1155
And loded them with lordships and with might,
So much as they were able well to beare,
That with the weight their backs nigh broken were.
He chaffred chayres in which churchmen were set,
[_Chaffred_, bartered.]
And breach of lawes to privie ferme did let. 1160
[_Ferme_, farm.]
No statute so established might bee,
Nor ordinaunce so needfull, but that hee
Would violate, though not with violence,
Yet under colour of the confidence
The which the Ape repos'd in him alone, 1165
And reckned him the kingdomes corner stone.
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