Note 7. The idea of some persons that the Church of England began to exist at the Reformation would have astonished the medieval reckoners "according to the computation of the Church of England," who were accustomed to hear Parliaments summoned to debate "concerning the welfare of the kingdom and Church of England." The former notion is purely modern. PART ONE, CHAPTER 5. THE REIGN OF KING ROGER. "She is no sheep who goes walking with the wolf." Russian Proverb. And now, were I inditing a very chronicle, should I dip my quill next in the red ink, and write in full great letters--"Here beginneth the reign of King Edward of Windsor, the Third after the Conquest." But, to scribe soothliness, I cannot do so. For not for four years thereafter did he in verity begin to reign. And what I should write, if I writ truth, should be--"Here beginneth the reign of King Roger de Mortimer, the First in England." Now, here cometh an other matter I have noted. When man setteth him up to do that whereto he was not born, and hath not used himself, he is secure to do the same with never so much more din and outrage [extravagance] than he to whom it cometh of nature. If man be but a bedel [herald, crier] he shall rowt [Shout] like a lion the first day; and a prince's charetter [charioteer] shall be a full braver [finer, more showy] man than the prince his master. Sir Roger made a deal more bruit than ever the King himself; that during all these four years was meek and debonair [humble and gentle], as though he abode his time. He wrought what he would (which was mostly ill), and bare him like those of whom the Psalmist speaketh, that said, "Our lips are of us, who is our lord?" [Psalm 9 4, Rolle's translation.] He held up but a finger, and first the King, and all else after, followed along his path. Truly, I fault not the King; poor lad, he was in evil case, and might well enough have found hard to know the way he should go. But I do fault them that might have oped his eyes, and instead thereof, as being smoother way, chose to run after King Mortimer with his livery on their backs. "How many of them knew the man, thinkest?" saith Jack, that had come in while I writ the last piece.