Morton & Muntz 1972 Carmen (Oxford Medieval Press):
In the city there was a certain man crippled by a weakness of the loins and therefore slow upon his feet, because he had received some few wounds in the service of his country. He was borne on a litter, lacking the ability to move, yet he commanded all the chief men of the city and the affairs of the community were conducted by his aid. To this man, by an envoy, the king secretly revealed a better choice, privately seeking to learn how far he favoured this.
Tyson 2013 Carmen (Granularity / CreateSpace):681. Intus erat quidam contractus debilatateAmong those drawn together to weaken
682. Regnum sicque pedum signis ab officio,
Royal powerwas onewhose staff of office was a bishop's crozier,
683. Vulnera pro patria quoniam numerosa recepit.Sorrowful for his country because the multitude were besieged.
684. Lectica vehitur mobilitate cavens.A litter set forth bearing him cautiously.
685. Omnibus ille tamen primatibus imperat urbis,Of all men, those most superior rule the City,
686. Ejus in auxilio publica res agitur.Overseeing it in the public interest.
687. Huic per legatum clam rex pociora revelat.He revealed this legacy unknown to the better king,
688. Secreti poscens quatinus his faveat.
Asking to what extent hewould support separate rule.
London was a church livery port, granted to the Abbey of Saint-Denis in a royal charter by King Offa in 790, along with the ports of Hastings and Pevensey. William the Conqueror had known about the livery status of Hastings and Pevensey, and indeed the seizure of the ports by Godwin of Wessex was almost certainly casus belli for the Roman Catholic Church joining forces with Duke William for the invasion of England. William had not known about London, but as soon as he is told by the bishop of the French church's livery claim, he cedes all the customary privileges and immunities owed to a church harborough, including self-administration by elected aldermen.
This passage is my favourite in the Carmen as it offers an 11th century defense of democracy and civil rule. And it shows better than any other part of the translation why historical context is important to good translation.