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KIng Henry the eighth vpon occasion of delay, made by Pope Clement the seuenth, in the controuersie of diuorcement betwixt him and
Queene Katherine, and through displeasure of such reports as hee heard had beene made of him to the Court of Rome: or else pricked forward by some of his Counsellours, to follow the example of the Germanes; caused Proclamation to be made on the eighteenth day of September,* 1.1 Anno reg. 22. forbidding all his subiects to purchase or attempt to purchase any man∣ner of thing from the Court of Rome, containing matter preiudiciall to the high authoritie, iurisdiction and prerogatiue Royall of this Realme; or to the hinderance and impeachment of the Kings Maiesties noble and vertu∣ous intended purposes. Vpon paine of incurring his Highnesse indigna∣tion, and imprisonment, and further punishment of their bodies, for their so doing, at his Graces pleasure, to the dreadfull example of all other.
Not long after,* 1.2 it was enacted, that appeale••, such as had been vsed to be pursued to the See of Rome, should not be from thenceforth, had, neither vsed but within this Realme; and that euerie person offending against this Act, should runne into the dangers, paines, and penalties, of the Estatute of the Prouision and Premunire, made in the fiue and twentieth yeare of the raigne of King Edward the third; and in the sixteenth yeare of King Ri∣chard the second.
And shortly after this, it being thought by the ignorant vulgar people; that to speake against any of the lawes, decrees, ordinances, and constitu∣tions of the Popes, made for the aduancement of their worldly glorie and ambition,* 1.3 was damnable heresie; it was enacted that no manner of speak∣ing, doing, communication, or holding against the Bishop of Rome, called the Pope, or his pretensed authoritie or power, made or giuen by humane lawes or policies, and not by holy Scripture; nor any speaking, doing, communication, or holding against any Lawes, called Spirituall Lawes, made by authoritie of the See of Rome, by the policie of men, which were repugnant and contrariant to the Lawes and Statutes of this Realme, or the Kings Prerogatiue royall, should be deemed, reputed, accepted, or taken to be Heresie.
It was also enacted that no manner of appeales,* 1.4 should be had prouoked, or made, out of this Realme, or any the Kings dominions to the Bishop of Rome, or to the See of Rome, in any causes or matters, happening to be in contention, and hauing their commensement and beginning in any of the Courts within this Realme, or within any the Kings dominions, of what nature, condition, or qualitie soeuer they were.
Vpon this followed another Act,* 1.5 restraining the payment of Annates, or first-fruits, to the Bishop of Rome, and of the electing and consecrating of Bishops within this Realme.
Another Act was made concerning the exoneration of the Kings Sub¦iects,* 1.6 from exactions and impositions, theretofore paied to the See of Rome, and for hauing licences and dispensations within this Realme, without suing further for the same: in which the Commons assembled complaine to his Maiestie, that the subiects of this Realme, and other his dominions, were greatly decaied and impouerished by intollerable exactions of great summes of money, claimed and taken by the Bishop of Rome, and the See of Rome, as well in pensions, censes, Peter-pense, procurations, fruits, sutes for pro∣uisions, and expeditions of Bulls for Archbishoprickes and Bishopricks,
and for delegacies of rescripts in causes of contentions, and appeales, iuris∣dictions, legatiue; and also for dispensations, licences, faculties, grants, re∣laxations, Writs, called Perinde valere, rehabitations, abolitions, and other infinite sorts of Bulls, breeues, and instruments of sundrie natures, names, and kindes, in great numbers, ouer long and tedious here particularly to be inserted.
* 1.7It was affirmed in this Parliament, that there had been paied to the Pope of Rome onely for Bulls, by our English Bishops, and other of the king∣dome, since the fourth of Henry the seuenth to that time, threescore thou∣sand pound sterling.
* 1.8The next yeare following, in a Parliament begun at Westminster, the third of Nouember, the Pope with all his authoritie was cleane banished this Realme, and order taken that he should no more bee called Pope, but Bishop of Rome; and the King to be taken and reputed as supreme head in earth of the Church of England, called Anglicana Ecclesia. And that hee their Soueraigne Lord, his heires and successours kings of this Realme, should haue full power and authoritie, from time to time, to visit, represse, redresse, reforme, order, correct, restraine, and amend all such e••rours, he∣resies, abuses, offences, contempts, and enormities whatsoeuer they were, which by any manner spirituall authoritie or iurisdiction, ought or might lawfully bee reformed, repressed, ordered, redressed, corrected, restrained, or amended, most to the pleasure of Almighty God, the increase of vertue in Christs religion, and for the conseruation of peace, vnitie, and tranqui∣litie of this Realme, any vsage, custome, forraine lawes, forraine authority, prescription, or any thing, or things, to the contrary thereof notwith∣standing.
* 1.9In this Parliament also were granted to the King and his heires, the first-fruits and tenths of all spirituall dignities and promotions.
* 1.10His stile of supremacie was further ratified, and declared to bee set downe in this forme and manner following: in the Latine tongue by these words.
Henricus octauus Dei gratia, Angliae, Franciae, & Hiberniae Rex, Fidei defensor, & in terra Ecclesiae Anglicanae & Hibernicae supremum caput. In the English tongue by these:
Henry the eight, by the grace of God, King of England, France, and Ire∣land, defendour of the faith, and of the Church of England, and also of Ire∣land in earth, the supreme head.
Which stile was enacted, to bee vnited and annexed for euer to the im∣periall Crowne of this his Highnesse Realme of England.
Vpon the first expulsion of the Popes authoritie, and King Henries vn∣dertaking of the Supremacie; the Priests both religious and secular, did, openly in their Pulpits, so farre extoll the Popes iurisdiction and authority, that they preferred his lawes before the kings; yea and before the holy pre∣cepts of God Almighty. Whereupon the King sent his mandatory letters to certaine of his Nobilitie, and others in especiall office, thinking thereby to restraine their seditious false doctrine and exorbitancie. And here let me tell you that amongst many letters of important affaires, which I found in certaine Chandlers shops of our Parish, allotted to light Tobacco pipes,
and wrap vp peniworths of their commodities (all which I gaue to Sir Ro∣bert Cotton, Knight and Baronet, the onely repairer of ruined antiquirie, whom I knew (the contents therof shewing some passages of former times) would preserue them for better vses; I happened vpon certaine letters fol∣lowing tending to the same purpose: of which I haue already spoken.
Henry R. By the King.
RIght trusty and right welbiloued Cousin we grete you well. And wher it is commen to our knowlaige that sundry persons, aswell religious as seculer Priests and curats in their peroches and d••ue••se places within this our Realme, do dailly asmoche as in them is, set fo••the, and extolle the iu∣risdiction and auctoritie of the Bishop of Rome, ortherwyse called Pope, sowing their sediciouse pestylent and false doctryne, praying for him in the Pulpit, and makyng hym a God, to the greate deceyte, illudyng and sedu∣cyng of our subgietts, bryngyng them into errors, sedicyon, and euyll opy¦nyons, more preferryng the power, lawes, and Iurisdictyon of the said Bishop of Rome, then the most holly lawes and precepts of almighty God. We therfore myndyng not only to prouide for an vnitie and quietnes to be had and contynued among our said subgietts, but also greatly cou••tyng and desyryng them to be brought to a perfectyon and knawlege of the mere veritie and truth, and no longer to be seduced, nor blynded, with any suche superstitiouse and false doctryne of any erthly vsurper of godds lawes, will therfore and commaund you, that wher and whensoeuer ye shall fynde, ap¦perceyve, know, or heretell, of any such sedicious personnes, that in suche wise do spreade, teche, and preache, or otherwise set forth any su••he opy¦nyons and perniciouse doctryne; to the exaltatyon of the power of the bi∣shop of Rome, bryngyng therby our subgietts into error, gruge, and mur∣muracyon; that ye indelaydly doo apprehend and take them, or cause them to be apprehended and taken, and so commytted to Ward ther to remayne without bayle or mayneprise, vntill vpon your aduertisement therof vnto vs or our Councell ye shall know our further pleasure in that behalfe. Ye uen vndre our Signet, at our Manor of Grenwich the xvii day of Aprill.
This letter was thus endorsed: To our right trusty and welbiloued cou∣sin and Counsellor Therle of Sussex.
In Iune or Iuly following, these maiesticall commanding Epistles were seconded, and made more strong by an Act of Parliament, called, An Act extinguishing the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome. Of which I hold it not amisse to set downe so much as principally tends to the purpose. To begin then at the beginning.
For as much as notwithstanding the good and wholesome lawes,* 2.1 ordi∣nances, and statutes heretofore made, enacted, and established by the kings Highnesse, our most gratious souereigne Lord, and by the whole consent of the high Court of Parliament, for the extirpation, abolition, and extin∣guishment out of this Realme, and other his graces dominions, seigniories, and countries, of the pretended power and vsurped authoritie of the Bishop of Rome, by some called the Pope, vsed within the same or elsewhere, con∣cerning
the same realme, dominions, segniories, or countries, whi••h did obfuscat and wrest Gods holy word and Testament a long season from the spirituall and true meaning thereof, to his worldly and carnall affections: as pompe, glory, auarice, ambition, and tyrannie, couering and shadow∣ing the same with his humane and politike deuises, traditions, and inuen∣tions, set forth to promote and stablish his onely dominion, both vpon the soules, and also the bodies and goods of all Christian people, excluding Christ out of his kingdome and rule of mans soule, as much as hee may, and all other temporall Kings and Princes out of their dominions; which they ought to haue by Gods law, vpon the bodies and goods of their sub∣iects: whereby he did not onely rob the Kings Maiestie, being onely the supreme head of this his Realme of England, immediately vnder God, of his honour, right, and preheminence, due vnto him by the law of God, but spoiled his Realme yearely of innumerable treasure, and with the losse of the same deceiued the Kings louing and obedient subiects, perswading to them by his lawes, buls, and other his deceiuable meanes, such dreames, vanities, and fantasies, as by the same many of them were seduced and con••ueied vnto superstitious and erroneous opinions; So that the Kings Ma∣iestie, the Lords Spirituall and Temporall, and the Commons in this Realme, being ouer-wearied and fatigated with the experience of the infi∣nite abhominations and mischiefes, proceeding of his impostures, and craf∣tily colouring of his deceits, to the great dammages of soules, bodies, and goods, were forced of necessitie for the publike weale of this Realme, to exclude that forraine pretended iurisdiction and authoritie, vsed and vsur∣ped within this Realme, and to deuise such remedies for their reliefe in the same, as doth not onely redound to the honour of God, the high praise and aduancement of the Kings Maiestie, and of his Realme, but also to the great and inestimable vtilitie of the same; And notwithstanding the said wholesome lawes so made and heretofore established, yet it is common to the knowledge of the Kings highnesse, and also to diuerse and many his lo••uing, faithfull, and obedient subiects, how that diuers seditious and con∣tentious persons, being imps of the said Bishop of Rome and his See, and in heart members of his pretended Monarchie, doe in corners, and elsewhere as they dare, whisper, inculke, preach, and perswade, and from time to time instill into the eares and heads of the poore simple and vnlettered people, the aduancement and continuance of the said Bishops feined and pretended authoritie, pretending the same to haue his ground and originall of Gods law, whereby the opinions of many bee suspended, their iudgements cor∣rupted and deceiued, and diuersitie in opinions augmented and increased, to the great displeasure of almighty God, the high discontentation of our said most dread soueraigne Lord, and the interruption of the vnitie, loue, charitie, concord, and agreement that ought to bee in a Christian Region and congregation. For auoiding whereof, and repression of the follies of such seditious persons, as be the meanes and authours of such inconueni∣ences: Be it enacted, ordained, and established by the King our soueraigne Lord and the Lords spirituall and temporall, and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authoritie of the same, that if any person or persons, dwelling, demurring, inhabiting, or resiant within this
Realme, or within any other the Kings dominions, seigniories, or coun∣tries, or the marches of the same, or elsewhere within or vnder his obeizance and power, of what estate, dignitie, preheminence, order,, degree, or condi∣tion soeuer hee or they bee, after the last day of Iuly, which shall bee in the yeare of our Lord God, 1536. shall by writi••g, ci••ering▪ printing, preach••ing, or teaching, deed or act, obstinately or maliciously, hold or st••nd with, to extoll, set foorth, maintaine, or defend the authoritie, iurisdiction, or power of the Bishop of Rome, or of his See, heretofore claimed, vsed or vsurped within this Realme, or in any dominion or countrey, being or, with∣in, or vnder the Kings power or obeisance: or by any presence obstinately or maliciously inuent any thing▪ for the extolling, aduancement, setting forth, maintenance, or defence of the same, or any part thereof, or by any pretence obstinately or maliciously attribute any manner of iurisdiction, authoritie, or preheminence to the said See of Rome, or to any Bishop of the same See for the time being within this Realme, or in any the Kings dominions and countries: That then euery such person or persons, so do∣ing or offending, their aiders, assistants, comfortors, abettors, procurers, maintainers, fautors, counsellours, conceilours, and euery of them, being thereof lawfully conuicted, according to the Lawes of this Realme; for euery such default, and offence, shall incurre and runne into the dangers, penalties, paines, and forfeitures, ordeined and prouided by the statute of Prouision and Premunire, made in the sixteenth yeare of the reigne of the noble and valiant Prince King Richard the second, against such as attempt, procure, or make prouision to the See of Rome, or elsewhere, for any thing or things, to the derogation, or contrarie to the Prerogatiue royall, or iuris∣diction of the Crowne, and dignitie of this Realme.
King Henry still hearing of the murmuring of his Subiects, vpon the en∣acting of this Statute, writes againe to his principall magistrates in euery countrey, in this manner following.
Henry R. By the King.
TRusty and welbeloued we grete yow well; And wheras heretofore as ye know both vpon most iust and vertuouse fowndacions grownded vpon the lawes of Almighty God, and holy Scripture; And also by the deliberate aduice, consultacion, consent and agreement aswell of the Bi∣shops and Clergie, as by the Nobles and Commons temporall of this owr realme, assembled in owr high Court of Parliament, and by auctorite of the same; the abuses of the Bisshop of Rome his auctorite and iurisdiction, of long time vsurped against vs, haue been not onely vtterly extirped, abolish∣ed, and secluded; but also the same owr Nobles and Commons both of the Clergie and Temporalty by an other seuerall Acte, and vpon like funda∣cion for the publike weale of this our realme, haue vnited, knytte, and an∣nexed to vs and the Crowne imperiall of this our realme, the title, dignitie, and stile of Supreme hed in erthe, immediatly vndre God, of the Church of England; as vndoubtedly euermore we haue ben; which thing also the said
Bisshops and Clergie particularly in their Conuocacions haue holly and entyrely consented, recognised, ratifyed, confirmed, and approued authen∣tiquely in wryting both by their speciall othes, profession and wryting vnder their Signes and Seales, so vtterly reuouncyng all other othes, obe∣dience, and iurisdiction, either of the said Bisshop of Rome, or of any other Potentate. We late yow witt that prependyng and consideryng, the charge and commission, in this behalfe geuen vnto vs by almighty God togedre with the great quietnes, rest, and tranquillity that hereby may ensue to owr faithfull Subgiects, both in their conscience and otherwise, to the pleasure of almighty God, in cace the sayd Bisshops and Clergie of this our realme shuld sincerely, truly and faithfully sett furth, declare and preche vnto our sayd Subgiects the veray true word of God, and without all maner color dissimulacion and hipocrisie, manifest, publishe and declare the great and innumerable enormities and abuses, which the said Bisshop of Rome, as well in title and stile, as also in auctorite and iurisdiction of long time vnlaw∣fully and iniustly hath vsurped vpon vs our Progenitors and all other Chri∣sten Princes; haue not onely addressed our letters generall to all and euerye the same Bisshops straitely charging and commaundyng them, not only in their propre persons to declare teche and preche vnto the people the true, mere, and sincere word of God, and how the said title, stile, and iurisdiction of supreme hed apperteyneth to vs, our Crowne and dignitie royall; and to gyve like warnyng, monicion, and charge to all Abbots, Priors, Deanes, Archdeacons, Prouosts, Parsons, Vicars, Curats, Scolemasters, and all other Ecclesiasticall persons within their Diocesses to do the semblable; in their Churches euery Sunday and solempne feast, and also in their scoles: And to cause all maner prayers, orysons, Rubricks, and Canons in Massebokes, and all other bokes vsed in Churches, wherein the sayd Bisshop is named, vtterly to be abolished, eradicated, and rased, in soche wise as the said Bis∣shop of Rome, his name and memory for euermore (except to his contu∣mely and reproche) may be extinct, suppressed, and obscured. But also to the Iustices of our Peace, that they in euery place within the precinct of their Commissions do make and cause to be made diligent serche, wayte, and espiall whedder the sayd Bisshops and Clergie doo truly and sincerely, without any manner cloke, or dissimulacyon execute accomplish their said charge, to them committed in this behalf. And to certifye vs and our Councail of such of them as shuld omytt or leaue vndone any parte of the premises, or ells in the execucyon thereof shuld coldely or faynedly vse any maner synistre addicyon interpretacion or cloke, as more plainly is expressed in our said letters. We consideryng the great good, and furthe∣raunce, that ye may doo in thise matiers in the parties about yow, and spe∣cially at your being at Sises and Sessions, in the declaracion of the premisses, haue thought it good, necessary, and expedient to write thise letters vnto yow, whom wee esteme to be of soch singler zeale and affection, towards the glory of Almighty God, and of so faithfull and louing harte towards vs, as ye woll not only with all your wisdoms, diligences, and labors ac∣complishe all soche things as might be to the preferment and setting for∣wards of Gods word, and the amplification, defence, and maintenance of our said interesse, right, title, stile, iurisdiction, and auctorite apperteyning
vnto vs, our dignitie, prerogatiue, and Corone imperiall of this our realme; will and desire you, and neuerthelesse straitely charge and command you, that laying aparte all vayn affections, respects, and carnall consideracions, and setting before your ees the mirror of truth, the glory of God, the right and dignitie of your Soueraigne Lord, thus sounding to the inestimable vnitie and commoditie both of your selfes, and all other our louing and faithfull Subgiects; ye doo not only make diligent serche within the pre∣cinct of your Commission and auctorite, whedder the said Bisshops and Clergie doo truly and sincerly as before preche, teche, and declare to the people the premisses according to their dutyes; but also at your said sitting in Sises and Sessions ye doo perswade, shew, and declare vnto the said peo∣ple, the veray tenor, effect, and purpose of the premisses, in soch wise as the said Bisshops and Clergie may the better not only doo therby and exe∣cute their said duties, but also the parents, and rulers of families, may de∣clare, teche, and informe their childer and servaunts in the specialties of the same, to the vtter extirpacion of the said Bisshops vsurped auctoritie, name, and iurisdiction for euer. Shewing and declaring also to the people, at your said Sessions, the treasons treacherously committed against vs, and our lawes, by the late Bisshop of Rochester and Sir Thomas More knight, who therby, and by diuerse secrete practises of their maliciouse mynds against vs, entended to seminate, engender, and brede amongst our people and subgiects a most mischieuous and sediciouse opynyon not only to their own confusion, but also of diuers others, who lately haue condignely suffered execucion, according to their demerites: And in soche wise dila∣ting the same with persuacions, to the same our people, as they may be the better rixed, established and satisfyed in the truth; and consequently that all our faythfull and true subgiects may therby detest and abhorre in their hartes and heads, the most recreaunt and trayterouse abuses and behavi∣ors of the said maliciouse malefactors as they be most worthy. And finding any defaulte, negligence, or dissimulacion in any maner of person or per∣sons, not doing his duty in this partie. Ye immediatly doo advertise vs and our Counsail of the defaulte, maner and facion of the same, Lating you witt, that considering the great moment, weight, and importaunce of this matter, as wherevpon dependeth the vnitie, rest, and quietnes of this our Realme, yf ye shuld contrary to your duties, and our expectation and trust, neglect, be slake, or omytte to doo diligently your duties, in the true per∣formaunce and execucion of our mynde, pleasure, and commaundement as before; or wold haulte, stumble at any parte, or specialtie of the same; Be ye assured that we, like a Prince of Iustice, will so punyshe and correct your defaulte and negligence therin, as it shal be an example to all others how contrary to their allegiance, othes, and duties, they doo frustrate, de∣ceiue, and disobey the iust and lawfull commaundement of their soueraigne Lord, in such things, as by the true harty and faithfull execucion whereof, they shall not only prefer the honor and glory of God, and sett forth the maiestie and imperiall dignitie of their soueraign Lord, but also importe and bring an inestimable vnitie, concord, and tranquillitie of the publike and common state of this Realme: whereunto both by the lawes of God, and nature, and man, they be vtterly obliged and bounden. And therfore
faile ye not most effectually, ernestly, and entierly to see the premises done, and executed; vpon paine of your allegeance, & as ye well advoyd our high indignacion and displeasure at your vtmost perils. Y euen vndre our Signet, at our Manor besids Westminster the xxv day of Iune.
Henry R. By the King:
TRusty and welbeloued we grete yow well; And whereas we chiefly and principally regarding and tendring the quiet, rest, prosperite, and tranquillite of our Nobles and Commons, and their conservacion no lesse then our own; directed lately our letters vnto you and other Iustices of our Peace throughout this our Realme, conteyning our admonicion and gen∣till warenyng, to haue such speciall regard to the dewties of your offices ac∣cordyng to the trust we haue in yow; that not only for thymportance it is both vnto vs and our common welth, ye shuld see our high dignite of Supremacie of our Church (wherwith it hath pleased almighty God by his most certain and vndoubted word to endowe, and adorne, our auchtorite, and Corone imperiall of this our Realme) to be set forth and impressed in all our Subiects harts and mynds, and to forsee that the mayntenors of the Bisshop of Roomes vsurped and fayned auctorite, with all his Papisticall supersticions and abuses, wherwith he hath in times past abused the mul∣titud of our subgiects (of whose yoke, tyranny, and skornefull illusion we haue by Gods porveiaunce deliuered this our realme, and of other his Sa∣tellites whiche secretly did vphold his faction) shuld be by yow diligently serched, enqwired, and tried owt, and so broughte to our Iustices to re∣ceaue condigne punyshement, according to their demerits; but also that tale tellers about the cuntriee, and spraders of rumours, and false inventors of newes, to put owr people to feare, and stirr them to sedicyon, shulde be apprehended, and punyshed to the terrible example of others. Also that vagabonds and valiant Beggers shalbe avoyded and haue worthy correcti∣ons. And for the same purpose to kepe watches, and to see commen Iu∣stice with indifferency, and without corrupcion to be obserued and mini∣stred, vnto all owr Subgiects like as by the porporte and contents of our said Letters ye may more amplie perceiue. We haue thervpon ben creda∣bly enformed that sondry of yow haue, for a time, so well done yowr dew∣ties, and endeuoired your selues in fulfilling our admonitions, and caused the euill doers to be punyshed according to their demerites, that our louing Subgiects haue not ben disquieted of a long season, vntill now of late that sum vngracious, cankred, and maliciouse persons haue taken boldnes to at∣tempt, with sondry diuelish persuasions to moue and seduce our trewe sub∣giects, vsing false lies, and most vntrewe rumors; And amonst them we vn∣derstand, sondry Parsons, Vicars, and Curats of this our Realme to be chieffe; which to bring our people to darkenes, of their own perverse mynde, not only to blynde our Commons, do rede so confusely, hemming and hacking the word of God and soche our Iniunctions, as we haue lately set forthe, that almost no man can vnderstand the trewe meanyng of the
said Iniunctions, but also secretly haue suborned certeyne spreders of Ru∣mors and false tales in corners, which doo interpreat and wrast our trewe meanyng and intention of owr said Iniunctions to an vntrewe sense. For wheras we haue ordeyned by owr said Iniunctions for thavoyding of son∣dry striues, processis, and contentions, risyng vpon aege, vpon lineall dis∣cents, vpon title of Inheritances, vpon legittimation or Bastardie, and for knowlege whither any person is our subiect borne or no; Also for sondry other causes, that the names of all childer christened from hensforth with ther birth, ther fathers and mothers names, and likewise all mariages, and burialls, with the time and date thereof shuld be registred from time to time in a boke in euery Parish Church, surely and safe••y to be kept. They haue bruted and blowen abrode most falsely and vntrewely that we doo entende to make some new exactions at all christenyngs, weddings, and burials: The whiche in no wise we euer meaned or thought vpon, a••leging (for to forte∣fy and color there false and manif••st lies) that therin we go abowt to take away the liberties of the realme. For conservacion wherof they fayne that Bisshop Beckett of Canterbury, which they haue to fore called Saynt Tho∣mas, died for where in dede there was neuer soch thing done, nor ment in that time nor sithens. For the said Beckett neuer swarved nor contended with owr progenitor Kyng Henry the second, but only to lett that those of the Clergie shuld not be punyshed for their offences, nor iustyfyed by the Courts and lawes of this Realme, but only at the Bisshops pleaser, and after the decrees of Roome. And the causes why he died, was vpon a wilfull re∣skewe and a fray by him made and begon at Canterbury; Which was ne∣uerthelesse afterward alleged to be for soche liberties of the Churche which he contendyd for, during his life, with tharchbisshop of Yorke: chiefly to haue soche priuiledge that no Kyng of England ought euer to be crowned by any other Bisshop but oonly by the Bishops of Canterbury. Yea and in case he shuld be absent or fugitiue out of the Realme, the Kyng shuld neuer be coroned by any other, but constrayned to abide his retorne. These and soche other detestable and vnlawfull liberties of the Church, nothing con∣cerning the common weale, but only the partie of the Clergie, the said Thomas Becket most arrogantly desyred, and trayterouslye sewyd to haue, contrary to the law of this our Realme. To the which most false interpre∣tacions and wrasting of our trewe meanyng, they haue ioyned such mys∣cheuous lyes and false tales for markyng of catals, and like seditious devises; wherevpon owr people were lately stirred to sedition, and insurrection, to ther vtter ruyne and destruction; onles almighty God (who by his diuine prouidence gaue vnto vs habundance of force, as he alwaies dothe vnto rightfull Princes) had so with clemencie illumyned vs, that where as we with thedge of the swerde, and by our lawes might haue ouerthrowen and destroyed them, there wyues, children and posterite for euer, we neuerthe∣lesse, as ye can right well remember, extended vpon them at that time, our benigne and mercifull pardon. These miserable and Papisticall superstiti∣ous wretches, nothing regarding the same, nor caring what danger and myschiefe our people shuld incurre, haue both raysed the said olde rumors, and forged new sedicious tales, intendyng, asmoche as in them lyeth, a new commotion, and all to satisfye there cankred harts. Wherfore and for the
imminent daunger to yow, and all our good subgiects, and the troble that might ensewe, onlesse good and ernest prouision to represse them, be taken thervpon; We desyre and pray yow, and neuerthelesse straytly charge and commaund yow, that within the Precinct and lymyts of yowr charge; ye shall not only endeuor your self, and employ your most diligence, to in∣quyre and fynd owt such cankerd Parsons, Vicars, and Curats, which doo not trewly and substancially declare our said Iniunctions, and the very worde of God, but momble confusely, seying that they be compelled to rede them; and bydd ther Parishens neuerthelesse to doo as they did in times past, to lyue as ther fathers, and that the olde fashion is the best, and other crafty sedicious parables. But also with your most effectuall vigilan∣cy, doo enserche and trie owt such sedicious tale tellers, and spreders abrode of suche brutes, tydings, and rumors, touching vs in honor, or suretie of the state of our Realme, or any matacion of the lawes or customes therof▪ or any other thing which might cause any sedicion. And the same with ther setters forthe, maintenors, counsaylors, and fautors with all dilygence to apprehend, and commytt to warde and prison without bayle or mayn∣prise, till vpon euidence to be geuen against them, at tharriuall of our Iu∣stices in that cuntrey, or otherwise vpon yowr advertisement to vs, or our Counsaill to be geuen, and our further pleaser knowen, they may be pu∣nyshed for their seditious demerites, accordyng to the law: to the fearfull example of all other. Imploying and endeuoring yowr selfes therunto so ernestly and with soche dexterite, as we may haue cause to thinke that ye be the men, which aboue all things desyre the punyshment of evill doers and offendors. And will lett for no trauaile, to sett forthe all things for the commen peace, quiet, and tranquillite of this our Realme. And like as the daunger is imminent no lesse to your self and your neighbours then to other; so ye of yowr owne mynd shuld procure and see with celerite our Iniunctions, lawes, and Proclamations, aswell touching the Sacramentaries, and Anabaptists, as other to be sett forthe to the good instruction and con∣servacion of our people, and to the confusion of those which wold so craftely vndermine our common welth, and at the last destroye bothe yow and all other our louing subgiects, although we shuld geue vnto yow no such admonicion. Therfore faile ye not to follow the ••ffect, admonicion, and commaundement both in our said letters, and in these presents contey∣ned, and to communicate the hole tenor of these our letters, with soche Iustices of our Peace, your neighbors and other in that shire, and to geue vnto them the trewe copye thereof: exhorting them, like as by these pre∣sents we desyre, and pray them, and neuerthelesse straytly charge and com∣maund them, and euery of them, that they will shew their diligence, to∣wardnes, and good inclinacion to ioyne with you and other of your sorte, And that euery of yow for his own parte see the same put in execucion ac∣cordingly, as ye and they tendre our pleasur, and will deserue our condigne thankes. Y euen vndre our Signet at our Manor of Hampton Corte the day of December.
In bib. Cott.
Ex Parl. an. 24. Hen. 8. cap. 12.
Ex. Parl. an. 25. Hen. 8 ca. 21.
In eod. Parl. cap. 19.
In eod Parl. cap. 20.
In eod Parl. cap. 20.
S••o••. Annal.
An. 2••. Hen. 8. c••p. 1.
Cap 〈…〉〈…〉
〈…〉〈…〉. Hen. 8. cap. ••.
Ex Parl. an. 28. Hen. 8. ca. 10.