The King's Business

“In England a king hath little more to do than to make war and give away places; which in plain terms, is to impoverish the nation and set it together by the ears. A pretty business indeed for a man to be allowed 800,000 sterling a year for, and worshipped into the bargain! Of more worth is one honest man to society and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived.”

In Englalande hæfð cyning lytel more to dōn þonne to wyrcan wæpna and forlætan stowe; þe on clēne sprǣce, is to unwihtigendne þæt folc and set hit togædere þurh ært. A fæger wyrċend witodlice for ān man to be gehāten 800,000 sterlinga áre oþþe, and geþwærede for ðām! Of māre weorþum is án hālig man to gemænum and on ðam gesihðum Godes, þonne eall þe crowned ruffians þe æfre lifdon.