But to procéed, when men saw such vnreasonable couetousnes and polling, by the popes procurement; some of the nobility of the realme, not able longer to beare it, came to the king, and exhibited to him their complaint hereof, namelie for that the popes procurator bestowed diuers rich prebends and other rooms in churches vpon strangers knowne to be infamed for vsurie, simonie, and other heinous vices, which had no respect to preaching, nor to kéeping of any hospitalitie, for maintenance whereof their ancestors had giuen foorth their lands to the inriching of the church, not meaning to haue the same bestowed on such maner of persons. The king vnderstood that truth it was which was told him, and therefore writ to the pope in humble wise, beséeching him of his fatherlie care to take order for some redresse therein. [Sidenote: _Polydor._] [Sidenote: The king asketh counsell how to procéed in his warres against the French king.] [Sidenote: The possessions of the Normans confiscated.] About this time the king began to renew his imagination for the following of the warres against the French king, and therefore asked the aduise of his councell how he might best attempt the recouerie of those lands in France which were wrongfullie deteined from him. The most part of all his ancient councellors were of this opinion, that to make warre againe in trust of others aid, as had béene attempted so often before without any profit, should be no wisdome, and therefore he ought either to forbeare, or els so to prouide himselfe of power sufficient, without trusting to the support of strangers, as he might be able with his owne puissance and force to atchiue his enterprise, for otherwise his trauell should prooue but vaine and to verie small effect. The king persuaded with these sound reasons, thought not good to attempt any thing more touching the said warre vnaduisedlie: and to the end it should not be said how he trusted in vaine vpon the aid of strangers, he caused all such possessions as the Normans held in England to be confiscated, to the intent that as well the Normans as Britons and Poictouins might well vnderstand, that he minded not from thencefoorth to credit the false promises of rebels, as he that would now vse onelie the seruice of his owne people the Englishmen, which in respect of others painted promises he had before contemned. [Sidenote: _Matth. Paris._] [Sidenote: The occasion why the Normans were disherited.]