The lawes wee did interprete[118] and statutes of the land, Not truely by the texte, but newly by a glose: And wordes that were most playne, when they by vs were skand, Wee tourned by construction to[119] a _Welshman’s_ hose, Whereby many a one[120] both life and land did lose: Yet this wee made our meane to mount aloft on mules: And seruing times and turnes peruerted lawes and rules.[121] 14. Thus climing and contending alway to the toppe, From hie vnto higher, and then to bee most hye, The honny dewe of fortune so fast on vs did droppe, That of king _Richarde’s_ counsayle wee came to bee most nye:[122] Whose fauour to attayne wee[123] were full fine and slye: Alway to his profite[124] where any thing[125] might sounde, That way (all were it wrong) the lawes[126] wee did expounde. 15. So working lawe like waxe, the subiect was not sure Of life, land,[127] nor goodes but at the prince’s will, Which caused his kingdome the shorter time to dure: For clayming power absolute both to saue and spill, The prince thereby presumed his people for to pill, And set his lustes for lawe, and will had reason’s place, No more but hang and drawe, there was no better grace. 16. Thus the king outleaping the limits of his lawe, Not raigning but raging, as youth[128] did him entice, Wise and worthy persons from court did dayly drawe, Sage counsayle set at naught, proude vaunters were in price, And roysters bare the rule, which wasted all in vice: Of ryot and excesse, grewe scarsity and lacke, Of lacking came taxing, and so went welth to wracke.[129] 17. The barons[130] of the land not bearing this abuse, Conspiring with the commons assembled by assent, And seeing neyther reason,[131] nor treaty, could induce The king in any thing his rigour to relent, Maugre[132] his might they[133] calde a parliament: Franke and free for all men without checke[134] to debate As well for weale publique, as for the prince’s state. 18. In this[135] high assembly, great thinges were proponed Touching the prince’s state, his regalty[136] and crowne, By reason that the king[137] (which much was to be moned) Without regarde at all, of honour or renowne, Misledde by ill aduice, had tournde all vpside downe, For surety of whose state, them thought it did behoue His counsaylours corrupt by reason[138] to remoue:[139] 19.