"IV. All such of the old laws of England as do not in any
way interfere with, or militate against, the views of this
honourable assembly, we will loyally adhere to and maintain.
The rest we declare null and void as far as relates to ourselves,
in all cases wherein a vigour beyond the law may be conducive
to our own interest and preservation."
"The articles of Equity are three:
"I. The balance of power among the people being very much deranged,
by one having too much and another nothing, we hereby resolve ourselves
into a congress or court of equity, to restore as far as in us lies
the said natural balance of power, by taking from all who have
too much as much of the said too much as we can lay our hands on;
and giving to those who have nothing such a portion thereof as it
may seem to us expedient to part with.
"II. In all cases a quorum of foresters shall constitute a court of equity,
and as many as may be strong enough to manage the matter in hand shall
constitute a quorum.
"III. All usurers, monks, courtiers, and other drones of the great hive
of society, who shall be found laden with any portion of the honey
whereof they have wrongfully despoiled the industrious bee, shall be
rightfully despoiled thereof in turn; and all bishops and abbots
shall be bound and beaten,[5] especially the abbot of Doncaster;
as shall also all sheriffs, especially the sheriff of Nottingham.
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