The monks defended themselves in their possession; there was no moderation on either side, and the whole nation joined in these parties.

The murder of Edward threw an odious stain on the king, though he was wholly innocent of that crime.

There was a general discontent, and every corner was full of murmurs and cabals.

In this state of the kingdom, it was equally dangerous to exert the fulness of the sovereign authority or to suffer it to relax.

The temper of the king was most inclined to the latter method, which is of all things the worst.