Now beside these iustices and sergeant, there were called at that
present vnto Notingham, all other iustices of the realme, and the
shiriffes. Also, diuerse of the citie of London, which the king knew
would incline to his will, the rather; for that some of them, hauing
aforetime confessed treason against the king by them imagined, and
obteining pardon for the same, were readie at his commandement, to
recompense such fauour, in the accomplishment of whatsoeuer they
knew might stand with his pleasure. Herevpon, they being impanelled
to inquire of certeine treasons that were supposed to be committed
by the lords, which in the last parlement had so caused things to
passe, contrarie to the kings pleasure, indicted the same lords of
manie crimes informed against them. ¶ The Londoners indeed were euill
reported of in those daies, by some writers, for their vnstablenesse,
one while holding on the kings part, and with such as were chéefe in
counsell about him; and an other while on the lords side that were of a
contrarie faction: according as the streame of their affections draue
them, and as they were carried awaie perforce by the floud of their
variable willes, whereby they were diuided into differing passions, as
they were assaulted by sundrie and vncerteine desires: which is the
nature of the people, as the poet noteth, saieng:
Scinditur incertum studia in contraria vulgus.
[Sidenote: Why the shiriffes of all shires were sent for to the court.