[Sidenote: _Hen.
Hunt._ _Will. Thorne._ _Simon Dun._ A subsidie.] About this time
another occasion was offered vnto king William, to laie a new paiment
vpon his subiects, so greeuous and intolerable, as well to the
spiritualtie as the temporaltie, that diuerse bishops and abbats, who
had alreadie made away some of their chalices and church iewels to
paie the king, made now plaine answer that they were not able to helpe
him with any more. Unto whom on the other side (as the report went)
the king said againe; "Haue you not (I beseech you) coffins of gold
and siluer full of dead mens bones:" Meaning the shrines wherein the
relikes of saints were inclosed. Which (as his words seemed to import)
he would haue had them conuert into monie, therewith to helpe him in
that need, iudging it no sacrilege, though manie did otherwise esteeme
it, considering (as he pretended) that it was gathered for so godlie
an vse, as to mainteine warres against Infidels and enimies of Christ.
[Sidenote: _Eadmerus._] The archbishop Anselme tooke the worth of two
hundred markes of siluer of the iewels that belonged to the church of
Canturburie (the greater part of the couent of moonks winking thereat)
towards the making vp of such paiment as he was constreined to make
vnto the king towards his aid at that time. But bicause he would not
leaue this for an example to be followed of his successours, he
granted to the church of Canturburie the profits and reuenues of his
manour of Petteham, vnto the vse of the same church for the terme of
seauen yeares, which amounted to the summe of thirtie pounds yearelie
in those daies.
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