Anno quinto reginæ Elizabethe. At the parliament holden at Wesmynster the .xii. of Ianuary, in the fyfth yere of the raigne of our soueraigne lady, Elizabeth by the grace of god, of England, Fraunce, and Irelande, quene, defendour of the the fayth. [et]c. To the hygh pleasure of almyghtye God, and the weale publique of this realme, were enacted as foloweth

¶An Acte for the confirmation of a Subsedy, graunted by the Clergy. The .xxix. Chapter. (Book 29)

WHere the Prelates and Clergye of the Prouince of Cantorburye haue moste louynglye and liberallye for cer∣tayne considerations, geuen and graunted to the Quenes Maiestie, a Subsedye of sixe shillynges of the pounde, to be take and leuyed of all and singuler the spirituall Promo∣tions within the same Prouince, du∣ringe the tearme of three yeres, nowe nexte ensuynge, in suche certayne ma∣ner and fourme, and with suche ex∣ceptions and prouisions, as be specified and conteyned in a certain in∣strument by them thereof made and deliuered to the Quenes high∣nes, vnder the Seale of the moste reuerende father in God Mathewe nowe Archbyshoppe of Cantorburye, and Primat of all England, whiche instrument is nowe exhibited in this present Parliament to be ratifyed. The tenour wherof ensueth in these wordes:

The Prelates and Clergie of the prouince of Cantorbury, beyng lawefully congregated and assembled together in a conuo∣cation or sinode, callyng to theyr remembraunce the greate and manyfolde benefites whiche they haue many and sundrye wayes receaued of you Maiesties moste gracious bountifulnes, princi∣pally for the settyng forth and aduaunceyng of Gods holy worde, his sincere and true religion, & abolyshyng all forrayne power con∣trary to the same. Consideryng also the great debtes wherewith thimperiall Crowne of this Realme was charged, when it pleased almightie God fyrste to call your hyghnes to the gouernaunce of the same. And further, waying the great and intollerable char∣ges wherewith your Maiestie of late hath ben burdened, in the repayryng and furnyshyng of your Maiesties Nauie, and prouisi∣on of armour and munitions, moste necessarye and requisite for the defence and safegarde of this Realme, whereof the same at the begynnyng of your hyghnes raigne was voyde and destitute. And finallye, ponderyng the inestimable charges susteyned by your hyghnes, aswell of late dayes, in reducyng the Realme of Scot∣lande to vnitie and concorde, as also in procuryng as muche as in your hyghnes lyeth, by all kynde of godlye and prudent meanes, the abatyng of all hostilitie and persecution within the Realme of Fraunce, practised and vsed agaynst the professours of Gods holye Gospell and true religion, and in defendyng and preseruyng this your highnes Realme and natuall Subiectes, in Christian peace and tranquillitie, agaynste all assaultes of forrayne enemies hy∣therto, duryng all the tyme of your moste gracious and happye reigne.

In consideration of the premisses, and for a true declarati∣on of our bounden dueties, good hartes, and myndes towarde your Maiestie, with one vniforme agrement, accorde, and con∣sent, together with moste hartye good wyll, haue geuen and graunted, and by these presentes do geue and graunt to your high∣nes, your heyres, and successours, one Subsedye in maner and fourme folowyng. That is to saye: That euery Archebyshop, Byshoppe, Deane, Archedeacon, Prebendarye, Prouoste, Maister of Colledges, Maister of Hospitalles, Parson, Vicar, and euery other person and persons of whatsoeuer name or degree he or they be, enioying any Spirituall promotion or other Temporall pos∣sessions to the same Spirituall promotion annexed, nowe not de∣uided nor seperated by Acte of Parliament, or otherwyse from the possession of the Clergie, shall paye to your hyghnes, your heyres, and successours, for euery pounde that he may yerely dispende by

reason of the sayde Spirituall promotion, the summe of syre shyl∣lynges.

And for the true and certayne value of the sayde promotions, and euery of them, whereof the payment shalbe made, the rate, taxation, valuation, and estimation, remaynyng of Recorde in your Maiesties Courte of Exchequer for the true payment of the perpetuall Disme, concernyng all suche promotions as be in pos∣session of the Clergie, or any other not deuided by Acte of Parlia∣ment, or otherwyse alienated from the possession of the Clergie, shalbe folowed and obserued without making any valuation, rate taxation, or estimation, other then in the sayde Recorde is com∣prised.

Prouided alwayes, that forasmuche as the tenth parte of the sayde valuation and rate before mentioned, is yerelye payde to your hyghnes for the perpetuall Disme, so as there remayneth onely nyne partes to the Incumbent clere: this Subsedye of .vi. shyllynges the pounde, shalbe vnderstanded and ment only of the same nyne partes, and of no more.

Prouided alwayes, that no person that is already promoted to any Spirituall benefice or promotion, sithens the laste daye of September laste paste, or that hereafter shalbe promoted to anye Spirituall benefice or promotion on this syde the laste daye of September, whiche shalbe in the yere of our Lorde God a Thou∣sande fyue Hundreth sixtie and fiue, by reason whereof they be, shall, or may be, charged to the payment of the fyrst fruites, shalbe contributory or charged to your hyghnes, your heyres, or succes∣sours, with any parte of this Subsedye, duryng the fyrst yere of his sayde promotion.

AND your sayde Prelates and Clergie also do graunt, that this Subsedye of syxe shyllynges the pounde, of the yerely value of euery promotion taxed as is aforesayde, shalbe payde to your Maiestie, your heyres, or successours, within three yeres nexte en∣suyng the date hereof. That is to saye, two shyllynges of euerye pounde in euery of the sayde three yeres. The fyrst payment ther∣of, to be due at the last daye of September next ensuyng, whiche shalbe in the yere of our Lorde God a Thousande fiue Hundreth sixtie and three. And the seconde payment therof to be due at the laste daye of September then nexte folowyng, whiche shalbe in the yere of our Lorde God a Thousande fiue Hundreth sixtie and foure. And the thyrde payment thereof to be due in the sayde last daye of September then nexte folowynge, whiche shalbe in the yere of our Lorde God a Thousande fiue Hundreth sixtie and fiue,

and to be delyuered and payde yerely by suche person and persons as in this present graunt shalbe appoynted to haue the collection thereof, to the Lorde hygh Treasourer or vnder Treasourer of Englande for the tyme beyng, or to suche person or persons, and in suche place or places as shall please your highnes to appoynt, to be payde at or before the .xiii. day of Ianuary in euery of the sayde three yeres, without paying any thyng to the Receauour or Re∣ceauours, or to any other officers or persons to be assigned for the receipte thereof, for any discharge or Quietus est vpon any payment and receipte of the sayde Subsedye to be geuen and deliuered, but only .iii. s. iiii. d. for the generall and finall acquittaunce or Quietus est for euery yeres payment.

Item we your sayde graces Prelates and Clergie also do graunt, that euery Prieste and all other Spirituall or Ecclesiasti∣call persons, hauyng any pencion by the reason of the dissolution of any the late Monasteries, Colledges, free Chappelles, Chaun∣tries, Fraternities, Guyldes and Hospitalles, or of any other spi∣rituall dignitie or corporation nowe dissolued within the sayde prouince of Cantorbury, shall lykewyse paye to your hyghnesse, your heyres, and successours .vi. shyllynges of euery pounde of the sayde Pencions within the sayde three yeres, at such dayes and tymes as is before specified. And that for the sure payment ther∣of, deduction and retention of the sayde syxe shyllynges, shalbe made yerely in the handes of the payers of the sayde Pencions af∣ter the rate and proporcion of two shyllynges the pounde, euery of the sayde three yeres, to be delyuered and payde by your hyghnes Receauours and officers deputed for the payment of suche Penci∣ons, vnto your Maiesties vse, at suche tyme and to suche persons as the Subsedye of .vi. shyllynges of the pounde aforesaide, shalbe payde vnto.

Item your sayde Prelates and Clergie do graunt, that euery Prieste or Minister Stipendary, receauyng annuall Stipende of eyght poundes by the yere and vnder, beyng no perpetuitie within the sayde Prouince, shall paye vnto the vse of your hygh∣nesse, your heyres, and successours, syxe shyllynges and eyght pence in euery of the sayde three yeres, at suche tyme and to suche persones as the sayde Subsedye shalbe payde, and vn∣der the same penalties as the reste of the Clergie do paye for their promotions.

And that euery Priest receauyng Stipende aboue eyght poundes yerely, and not aboue tenne poundes, to paye lykewyse tenne

shyllynges. And that euery Prieste receauyng stypende aboue tenne poundes, and not aboue thirtene poundes syxe shyllynges and eyght pence, to pay thirtene shyllynges and foure pence yere∣ly duryng the sayde three yeres, at such tyme and to suche persons as the sayde Subsedy shalbe payde. And that euery Priest takyng stipende aboue thirtene pounde syxe shyllynges and eyght pence, to paye lykewyse .xii. d. of the pounde euery yere duryng the sayde three yeres. And for defaulte or lacke of payment of the sayde sti∣pendaries, that euery Parson, Vicar, or other Spirituall or Tem∣porall person, proprietarie, or Fermour, hyryng any Priest or Mi∣nister to serue in any place, shalbe aunswerable for the payment of the sayde Prieste or Minister in that behalfe, after the sayde rates, and shall and maye make retention of his and theyr wages quarterly, of so muche as the sayd Stipendaries be charged with by this present graunt, euery of the sayde three yeres.

Item your sayde Prelates and Clergie further do graunt, that euery Archebyshoppe and Byshoppe, and the See beyng voyde, euery Deane and Chapiter of that See voyde, shalbe Collectours of this Subsedye within theyr proper diocesse, duryng the sayde three yeres, other then of the pencioners aforesayde. And the said Archebyshoppe, Byshoppe, or other Collectours, and the See be∣yng voyde, the Deane and Chapiter shall certifie into your Maie∣sties courte of the Exchequer vnder theyr seales, the names and surnames of all suche Stipendary Priestes and Ministers, as be chargeable by this Acte, before the .xxiiii. day of Ianuary yerely, duryng the sayde three yeres.

And for the better recouery of the sayde Subsedye, your sayde Prelates and Clergie moste humblye beseche your hyghnes, that euery Collectour of the sayde Subsedye, and of euery parte and parcell thereof, and theyr lawefull deputie or deputies, may haue full power and aucthoritie by your Maiestie, and your hygh court of Parliament, to vse all suche wayes, meanes, and processe, as be prescribed in your Acte of perpetuall Disme, for the collection and leuying of the same, and shall make accompte thereof before the Lorde hyghe Treasourer or vnder Treasourer of England for the tyme beyng, or any other officers by your hyghnesse to be appoyn∣ted for the same, and in suche place as your Maiestie lykewyse shall assigne, in suche wyse and after suche fourme onelye as the sayde Archebyshoppe and Byshoppes be nowe charged for the collection of the perpetuall Disme, whereby is meant howe the lacke and defaulte of payment of and for anye perticuler pro∣motion, shall onelye charge the Incumbent, and suche as

be bounde to paye the same, and that vpon such paynes as be pro∣uided in that Acte to Parliament of perpetuall Disme, agaynste them that make defaulte in that behalfe, at or vpon the dayes of payment before expressed.

And that the Archbyshoppe, Byshop, or Deane and Chapiter, gatheryng that whiche they can receaue, and makyng payment thereof, shall for the reste not by them receaued, be discharged by theyr certificat to be made before the .xxiiii. daye of Ianuarye in euery of the sayde three yeres, vnto your hyghnesse courte of Ex∣chequer. And .vi. pence of euery pounde wherewith the Collec∣tour shalbe charged in his accompte, clerely to be payde into the sayde receipte (or into suche other place as shall please your hygh∣nes to appoynt) shalbe alowed to the sayde Collectour for his sayde accompte for the same, for the charges and collection, por∣tage, safe conueying and paying of the sayde Subsedye.

Also your sayde Prelates and Clergie do further moste hum∣blye beseche your hyghnes, that it may be enacted by your Maie∣sties aucthoritie, and your hyghe Courte of Parliament, that where diuers Curates liable to this Subsedye, beyng often times remoueable, do serue aswell in diuers Impropriations belongyng to your Maiestie, as in other Impropriations and other Spiritu∣all promotions belongyng to other persons: that for the spedy re∣couery of the sayde Subsedye, it may be lawfull to the Collectour or Collectours of the sayde Subsedye, theyr deputie or deputies, to leuie the sayde Subsedye vpon the Fermour or Fermours, and oc∣cupyers of all suche Impropriation or Impropriations and Spi∣rituall promotions, by all censures of the Churche and euery of them, or by waye of distresse, of the tythes of the sayde Impropria∣tion or Impropriations, or otherwise vpon the goodes and cattels of the sayde Fermour or Fermours & occupyers, in which no inhi∣bition, prohibition, repleuie, or other proces awarded to the con∣trary shalbe obeyed: Any lawes, statutes, priuileges, or customes to the contrary hereof, heretofore made, graunted, or vsed, or here∣after to be made, graunted, or vsed to the contrary, in any wyse notwithstandyng. And that it may be lawfull to the Collectours and the officers and ministers of such Archbyshoppe, Byshoppe, or Deane and Chapiter, for not payment at any tyme of the sayde three yeres abouesayde, to prayse and value the sayde distresse or distresses, by two indifferent neyghbours by hym to be chosen, and the distresse or distresses so praysed, to sell, and therof to detayne so much money as shall amount to the summe paiable to your hygh∣nes, with the charges of the sayde Collectour in that behalfe, and and rest of the money made of the sayd distresse, to be delyuered and

payde to the owner or occupyer thereof. And that euery Arch∣byshop, & Byshop, or Deane and Chapiter, of euery See vacaunt, and other persones chargeable to and with the collection of the Subsedye of syxe shyllynges the pounde, within the said prouince of Cantorbury, may haue vpon euery payment therof, made to the Lorde hygh Treasourer or vnder Treasourer of Englande for the tyme beyng, or to such person or persons, place & places, to whom and where it shall please your hyghnes to appoynt for the receipte therof, in, or at the .xiii. day of Ianuary in euery of the sayde three yeres, a sufficient acquittaunce in wrytyng of the sayd Lord hygh Treasourer or vnder Treasourer, or suche persons as your hygh∣nes shall assigne for the receipt therof, the same acquittaunce wit∣nessing the receipt of as much of the same summe of the said Sub∣sedy as shalbe so receaued. And euery such acquittaunce in wry∣tyng sealed and subscribed, with the name or names of the sayde Lorde hygh Treasourer or vnder Treasourer for the tyme beyng, or of such other person or persons as it shall please your hyghnes to appoynt for the same receipt as is aforesayde, maye be good and affectuall in the lawe, and also sufficient discharge to all intentes, constructions, and purposes. And that euery person and persons which shall haue and receaue any such acquittaunce, shall pay but only .iii.s.iiii.d. to the Clarke for the wrytyng of the same.

Prouided alwayes that euery Incumbent makyng suche de∣fault of payment, after certificat of euery such default made, and exhibited into your Maiesties court of Exchequer, shall forfait and lose onlye that his benefice or promotion for which he maketh de∣fault, and for the same shall incurre no other forfaiture, losse, do∣mage, payne, or penaltie: Any other payne, clause, article, or con∣dition in the sayde Statute of perpetuall Disme to the contrarye notwithstandyng.

Prouided alwayes, that no Spiritual promotion, or any landes, possessions, or reuenues annexed to the same, beyng charged by this graunt or Acte of the prouince of Cantorbury, or any goodes or cattelles growyng, beyng, or renewyng of the same, or appertai∣nyng to the owners of the sayde Spirituall promotion, shalbe charged or made contributory to any Fyftene or Tenth, or anye other Subsedye alreadye graunted to your hyghnes by the laitie, or hereafter to be graunted, duryng the tearme of the sayde three yeres.

Item your sayde Prelates and Clergie further graunt, that all Deanes, Archdeacons, Dignities, Preachers, and Prebendaries, of all Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches within the sayde pro∣uince, shalbe charged with this Subsedye for theyr owne promo∣tions

onely, therof to paye .vi. shyllynges of the pounde, within the sayde three yeres, as is aboue rehearsed. And that those porci∣ons of rentes, reuenues, and spirituall promotions, whiche haue ben geuen or impropried vnto the sayde Cathedrall or Collegiate Churches, or any of them, by your highnes or any your highnes noble progenitours, or any other person or persons, whatsoeuer he or they be, or were, for the yerely maintenaunce of poore men, Schoolemaisters, Vsshers, Grammarians, Peticannons, Vicars Chorall, and Readers of diuinitie, Choristers, and all other neces∣sary and dayly officers and ministers of such Cathedrall and Colle∣giate Churches, shall not be charged with any parte of this Sub∣sedye.

Prouided also, that euery Parson, Vicar, or other spirituall person, paying any pention, wherof none allowaunce is made in the valuation of his sayde promotion or benefice, shall and may re∣tayne .ii.s. of euery pounde of euery such pention, euery yere du∣ryng the sayde three yeres, to his owne reliefe, in consideration that he is charged to paye this Subsedy of .vi. shyllynges of the pounde, out of euery pounde of the whole value of his promotion.

Prouided also, that where certayne landes, tenementes, rentes, tythes, pencions, portions, fruites, and other hereditamentes, lately belongyng to diuers Cathedrall Churches, and to other pla∣ces Ecclesiasticall within the saide prouince of Cantorbury, which were geuen and assigned to be bestowed and spent to and on the fyndyng and maintenaunce of certayne Chaunteries, Anniuersa∣ries, Obites, Lyghtes, Lampes, and other lyke charges, intentes and purposes, of late came into the handes and possession of the late kynge of famous memory kyng Edwarde the syxt, by force of a Statute therof made in the fyrst yere of his gracious reigne, as by the sayde Statute more plainely appeareth: That the sayd Cathe∣drall Churches, and the Deanes, or Presidentes and Chapitours of the same, and all other places and persons, to whom the sayde landes, rentes, and all other the premisses, or any of them, dyd latelye appertayne, shall not be charged to and with anye con∣tribution or payment of this Subsedye, of, and for that parte or portion wherevnto the sayde late kyng was entytled or possessed of, nor of and for any of the sayde yerely paymentes, goyng out or payde out of the premisses, or any part therof: But that this saide Subsedye shalbe vnderstanded to be chargeable and due onely of all and singuler landes, tenementes, rentes, tythes, pencions, por∣cions, fruites, and other hereditamentes, whiche do yet styll re∣mayne not disseuered from the handes and possession of the sayde Cathedrall Churches, and other the places and persons aforesaid.

And that deduction and allowaunce be made to them and euery of them in the payment of the sayde Subsedye, out of the whole va∣lue, taxation, and estimation, made for the payment of the sayde perpetuall Disme, remaynyng of Recorde in your hyghnes court of Exchequer, for that rate and portion, or yerely payment, which came to the handes and possession of the sayde late kyng Edwarde the syxte, or otherwyse seuered from the possessions of the sayd Ca∣thedrall Churches, and other places and persons aforesayde, by force of the Statute premised.

Prouided alwayes that this Subsedy graunted by the Clergie, shall not be demaunded or leuyed out of any benefice, house of stu∣dentes, or Colledge, scituate or set within the vniuersities of Cam∣bridge and Oxforde, or of any benefice or other reuenues vnto the sayde vniuersities, or eyther of them, or to any house of studentes or Colledge in the same vnited, appropried, or appertaynyng, or of the Colledges of Wyndsor, or Eaten nyghe Wyndsor, or of the Col∣ledge called Saint Mary Colledge by Winchester, founded by Wil∣lyam Wickham, sometyme Byshop of Winchester, or of any Hospi∣tals or Grāmer Scooles, or of any other Church or benefice, or of any other reuenues to the said vniuersities, houses, Colleges, Hos∣pitals, Almes houses, Almes halles, or Grammer Scooles, or to any of them, annexed, appropriated, or otherwyse appertaynyng.

Prouided alwayes, that all Parsons and Vicars, whose bene∣fices be of the valuation of fiue poundes or vnder, after the rate of the perpetual Tenth, shall not be charged or chargeable with this Subsedy, or any part therof.

Prouided also, that euery Priest, & all other late Ecclesiasticall persons, hauyng a pention by reason of the dissolution of the late Monasteries, Colledges, free Chappels, Chauntries, Fraternities Guyldes, and Hospitals, or any other Incorporations within the prouince of Cantorbury, or any of them, and being of the sūme of xl.s. or vnder, and not aboue, shall not be charged or chargeable to this said Subsedy, or any part therof, for any such pention of .xl.s. or vnder: Any thing conteyned in this graunt to the contrarye, notwithstandyng.

And for the true & sure payment of this Subsedy graūted by your said prelates & Clergie of the prouince of Cantorbury, according to the tenour, purport, effect, & true meanyng of this present graunt: your said Prelates and Clergie most humbly desire your highnes, that this theyr said gift, graunt, & Subsedy, & euery matter, sūme of money, clause, prouisions & sentences in this instrumēt contey∣ned, cōcerning the said Subsedy, may be ratified, established & con∣firmed by aucthoritie of this your hyghnes court of Parliament.

Wherefore, for the true and sure payment of the sayde Subse∣dye, graunted by the sayde Prelates and Clergie of the sayde pro∣uince of Cantorbury, according to the tenour, effect, and true mea∣nyng of the sayde instrument: Be it enacted by the Quenes Ma∣iestie, with thassent of the Lordes spirituall and temporall, and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the auc∣thoritie of the same, that the sayde gyfte and graunt, and euery matter, summe of money, prouision, clause, and sentence in the sayde instrument conteyned, may be ratified, establyshed, and con∣firmed by the aucthoritie aforesayde.

And furthermore be it enacted by thaucthoritie aforesaid, that euery person that shalbe appoynted to the collection & gatheryng of the sayde Subsedye, shall haue full power and aucthoritie to le∣uie, take, and perceiue the same Subsedye by thaucthoritie of the censures of the Churche, in maner and fourme, as in the sayde instrument of graunt is conteyned, without daunger of the lawes of this Realme, or by distresse vpon the possession of the fermours or occupyers of the landes and tenementes chargeable by the said instrument, for or to the payment of any summe or summes of mo∣ney, or otherwyse, by the discretion of the Collectour therof. And that no Repleuie, Prohibition or Supersedeas shalbe alowed or obeyed, for any person or persons, makyng default of payment of the sayde Sub∣sedye, contrary to the tenour of the graunt therof, vntyll such time as they haue truely satisfied and contented all such part and porti∣ons, as to them in that behalfe appertayneth. And that euery such fermour and fermours, theyr executours, and assignes (that shall fortune hereafter to be charged to and with the payment of the sayde Subsedye or any parte thereof) shall by thaucthoritie a∣foresayd be alowed and retayne in his handes as much of his yere∣ly rent and ferme, as the summe whiche he shall fortune to paye for his Lorde or Leassour shall extende vnto: Excepte the sayde fermour or fermours, theyr executours and assignes, by the lease and graunt that they haue of any parte of the landes, tythes, pro∣fites, and tenementes, chargeable to this sayde Subsedye, or by force of any couenaunte or article therein conteyned, be bounden and charged to pay the same, & thereof to discharge theyr Leassour and Landelorde, duryng the tearme mentioned in the sayd Leasse.

Prouided alwayes, and be it enacted by the aucthoritie of this present Parliament, that euery laye person hauyng a spirituall promotion, chargeable by this Acte, and also hauyng temporall possessions, goodes, cattelles, and debtes, chargeable to the Sub∣sedye graunted in this Parliament by the Temporaltie: shalbe

charged, taxed, and sette, for his sayde spirituall promocions with the Clergie, and for his temporall possessions and cattelles, with the Temporaltie, and not otherwyse: Any thyng before mentio∣ned to the contrary, notwithstandyng.

And be it further enacted by thaucthoritie aforesayde, that all and euery graunt and grauntes, of all and euery summe and sūmes of money, which hereafter shalbe graunted to the Quenes Maiestie by the Clergie of the prouince of Yorke, shalbe of the same strength, force, and effect in all thynges, as the sayde graunt made by the sayde prouince of Cantorbury, & shalbe taxed, certified, collected, leuyed, gathered, and payde, accordyng to the tenour, fourme, and effecte of this present Acte of Parliament, to all in∣tentes, constructions, and purposes, in such maner and fourme as though it were specially, playnely, and particulerly expressed and rehearsed in this Acte by expresse wordes, tearmes, and sentences, in theyr seuerall natures and kyndes.

Prouided alwayes, and be it enacted by the aucthoritie afore∣sayde, that all prouisos before rehearsed, conteyned in the sayde graunt of the Prelates and Clergie of the prouince of Cantorbu∣rye, and the lyke of the same prouisions hereafter to be conteyned in the graunt of the Prelates & Clergie of the prouince of Yorke, shalbe good and effectuall, and to be obserued and kepte in euery poynt and article, accordyng to the true purport and meanyng of the same.