The history of the reigns of Henry the Seventh, Henry the Eighth, Edward the Sixth, and Queen Mary the first written by the Right Honourable Francis Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban ; the other three by the Right Honourable and Right Reverend Father in God, Francis Godwyn, Lord Bishop of Hereford.

ANNO DOM. 1530. REG. 22.

VVIlliam Tyndal having translated the New Testament [ 1530] into English, and procured it to be printed at Ant∣werp, had secretly dispersed many copies thereof thoughout Eng∣land. Whereat the Bishops and Clergy (especially those that were most addicted to the Doctrine of Rome) stormed exceedingly, saying that this Translation was full of errours, and that in the Prefaces and elsewhere it contained many things contrary to the Truth. The King being angry with the Pope, had long since determined to free himself from his usurped power. And there∣fore admonished the murmuring Clergy to correct this Book, not to suppress it: for it was a most profitable work, and very neces∣sary for the discovery of the deceits of the Court of Rome, the tyranny whereof was become intolerable to all the Princes of Christendom. Whereupon he giveth order to the Bishops and some other learned men to set forth a new Translation, which his Subjects might read with safety and profit.

The hope of prevailing with the Pope by the French King's means had drawn Henry to send on a second Embassage to the Pope, the Earl of Wiltshire, Doctor Stokesley Elect of London, and Edward Lee, Wolsey his Successor in York. They found the Pope at Bononia with the Emperour, but had no other answer to their

demands, than, that his Holiness when he came to Rome, would [ 1530] endeavour to do the King justice. Till then he could do no∣thing.

Fair means not prevailing, the King runs another course. By publick Proclamation throughout the Kingdom he forbids all commerce between his Subjects and the Bishop of Rome; com∣manding that no man should receive any thing from, or send any thing (especially money) unto him, either by exchange, or any other means, calling him Tyrant, the Harpy of the World, the common Incendiary, and deeming him utterly unworthy of that glorious title which he had vaingloriously usurped, Christ's Vicar. This in September.

But the wealth of the Clergy being very great, and consi∣dering how they had in the Reigns of his Predecessors strongly sided with the Pope, the King was somewhat jealous of them. To curb them he condemns the whole Clergy throughout the Kingdom in a Praemunire, for that without licence from his Ma∣jesty they had been obedient to the authority of the Pope, in acknowledging Wolsey for his Legate. The Clergy of the Province of Canterbury, being assembled in Convocation, buy their pardon at a hundred thousand Pounds, and in this Synod he is (with much ado) by the Clergy of both Provinces declared next under Christ Supreme Head of the Church of England, and all forein power or authority whatsoever disclaimed. The Province of York is moreover fined at eighteen thousand eight hundred and forty Pounds. So this one fault (if it may be so accompted, it being certain that Wolsey was licenced to exercise his authority Legantine) cost the Clergy a hundred and eighteen thousand, eight hundred and forty Pounds.

Notes

• The Bible translated into English.
• An Embassy to the Pope.
• All comnierce with the See of Rome for∣bidden.
• The Clergy fined.
• The King de∣clared supreme Head of the Church.