The history of the reformation of the Church of England. The first part of the progess made in it during the reign of K. Henry the VIII / by Gilbert Burnet.

Act 5. Anno Regni 25. XLVIII. An Act concerning the Deprivations of the Bishops of Salisbury and Worcester.

WHere before this time the Church of England, by the King's most noble Progenitors, and the Nobles of the same, have been founded, ordained, and established, in the Estate and degree of Prela∣tie Dignities, and other Promotions Spiritual, to the intent and pur∣pose that the said Prelates, and other Persons, having the said Dignities and Promotions Spiritual, continually should be abiding, and Reseants upon their said Promotions within this Realm; and also keep, use, and exercise Hospitality, Divine Services, teaching and preaching of the

Laws of Almighty God, to such Persons as were and have been within the precinct of their Promotions or Dignities, for the Wealth of the Souls of their Givers and Founders, greatly to the honour of Almighty God. Of the which said Spiritual Persons, the King's Highness, and his most noble Progenitors, have had right honourable, and well-learned Personages, apt, meet, and convenient, for to guide and in∣struct his Highness, and his most noble Progenitors, in their Counsels, concerning as well their Outward as Inward Affairs, to be devised and practised for the utility and preservation of this Realm; by reason whereof the Issues, Revenues, Profits, and Treasure, rising and com∣ing of the said Spiritual Promotions and Dignities, were and should be spent, employed, and converted within this Realm, to the great profit and commodity of the King's Subjects of the same. And where also by the laudable Laws and Provisions of this Realm, before this time made, it hath been ordained, used, and established, that no Person nor Per∣sons, of whatsoever Estate, Degree, or Quality he or they were, should take or receive within this Realm of England, to Farm, by any Procu∣racy, Writ, Letter of Attorney, Administrations, by Indenture, or by any other Mean, any Benefice, or other Promotion within this Realm, of any Person or Persons, but only of the King's true and lawful Sub∣jects, being born under the King's Dominions. And also that no Per∣son or Persons, of what estate and degree soever he or they were, by reason of any such Farm, Procuracie, Letter of Attorney, Admini∣stration, Indenture, or by any other mean, as is aforesaid, should car∣ry, conveigh, or cause to be carried and conveighed out of this Realm, any Gold, Silver, Treasure, or other Commodity, by Letter of Ex∣change, or by way of Merchandise, or otherwise, for any of the Causes aforesaid, to the profit or commodity of any Alien, or other Stranger, being born out of this Realm, having any such Promotion Spiritual within the same, without license of the King's Highness, by the advice of his Council, as by the same Laws, Statutes, and Provisions, more plainly at large it may appear; which said laudable Laws, Statutes, and Provisions, were made, devised, and ordained, by great policy and foresight of the King's most noble Progenitors, the Nobles and Com∣mons of this Realm, for the great profit, utility, and benefit of the same, to the intent that the Gold, Silver, Treasure, Riches, and other Com∣modity of the same, by the occasion aforesaid, should not be exhau∣sted, employed, converted, and otherwise transported out of this Realm and Dominions of the same, to the use, profit, and commodity of any Stranger being born out of this Realm, or the Dominions of the same; But only to be spent, and used, and bestowed within the same, to the great comfort and consolation of the Subjects of this Realm. Notwith∣standing which said wholsome Laws, Statutes, and Provisions, the King's Highness being a Prince of great benignity and liberality, having no knowledg, nor other due information, or instruction of the same Laws, Statutes, and Provisions, heretofore hath nominated, and prefer∣red, and promoted, Laurence Campegius Bishop of Sarum, with all the Spiritual and Temporal Possessions, Promotions, and other Emoluments and Commodities in any wise belonging or appertaining to the same: And also hath nominated, preferred, and promoted, Hierome, being another Stranger, born out of the King's said Realm and Dominions, to

the See and Bishoprick of Worcester, with all the Spiritual and Tempo∣ral Promotions, and other Emoluments and Commodities, in any wise belonging or appertaining to the same. Which said two Bishops, and namely the Bishop of Sarum, nothing regarding their Duties to Almigh∣ty God, nor their Cures of the said Bishopricks, eversith or for the more part of the time of their said Promotions or Profections into the same, have been, and yet be resident, dwelling and abiding at the See of Rome, or elsewhere, in other parts beyond the Sea, far out and from any of the King's said Dominions; by reason whereof, the great Ho∣spitality, Divine Service, teaching and Preaching the Laws, and Exam∣ples of good living, and the other good and necessary effects before re∣hearsed, have been many years by-past, and yet continually be, not only withdrawn, decayed, hindred, and minished, but also great quantity of Gold, Silver, and Treasure, to the yearly sum and value of 3000 l. at the least, have been yearly taken and conveighed out of this Realm, to the singular profit, and great enriching of the said Bishops, and daily is like to be conveighed, transported, and sent, contrary to the pur∣port and effect of the said former wholsome Laws and Statutes, to the great impoverishing of this Realm, as well presently as for to come, if speedy remedy be not had therefore in brief time provided. In consi∣deration whereof, be it enacted by the Authority of this present Par∣liament, that the said two several Sees and Bishopricks of Salisbury and Worcester, and either of them from henceforth, shall be taken, reputed, and accounted in the Law to be utterly void, vacant, and utterly desti∣tute of any Incumbent, or Prelate, &c.