Anno tricesimo primo Henrici octavi Henry the VIII. by the grace of God kynge of England and of France, defender of the fayth, Lorde of Irelande, and in earth supreme hed immediatly vnder Christ of the churche of Englande, to the honour of almyghty God, conseruation of the true doctrine of Christes religion, and for the concorde quiet and vvelth of this his realme and subiectes of the same helde his moste hyghe court of Parliament begonne at VVestm[inster] the. xxviii. daye of Aprill, and there continued tyll the. xxviii. daye of Iune, the. xxxi. yere of his most noble and victorious reigne, vvherin in vvere establysshed these actes folovvinge.

¶ An act auctorisinge the kynges hyghnes to make byshops by his letters patentes. Cap. ix.

FOr as moch as it is not vnknowen, the slouthfull and vn∣godly lyfe, which hath bene vsed amonge al those sort, whi∣che haue borne the name of religious folke, and to thintent that from hensforth many of them might be turned to better vse, as hereafter shall folow: wherby goddis worde myght the better be set forth, children brought vp in lerninge, cler∣kes norished in the vniuersities, old seruauntes decayed to haue lyuinges, almes houses for pore folke to be susteyned in, reders of Grece, Ebrew, and latine to haue good stipende, dayly almes to be ministred, mendinge of hye wayes, exhibition for ministers of the church. It is thought therfore vnto the kynges hyghnes most expedient and necessary, that mo byshoriches col¦legiall and cathedrall churches shalbe establysshed in stede of these foresayd religious houses, within the foundacion wherof these other titles afore re∣hersed, shalbe establysshed. Be it therfore enacted by auctoritie of this pre∣sent parliament, that his hyghnes shall haue full power and auctoritie frō tyme to tyme, to declare & nominat by his letters patētes or other writingis

to be made vnder his greatte Seale, suche noumber of bysshoppes, suche nomber of cities, sees for bysshoppes, cathedrall churches, and dyoces by metes and bondes, for thexercise and mynistration of their episcopall offy∣ces and adminystration, as shall appertayne, and to endowe theym with suche possessyons, after suche maner fourme and condition, as to his most excellente wysedome shall be thoughte necessary and conuenyent. And al∣so shall haue power and auctoritie to make and diuise translations, ordy∣nances rules and statutes concernynge theym all and euery of theym, and further to do all and euery other thing and thinges, what so euer it be, whi∣che shall be deuised and thought requisite conuenient and necessarye by his mooste excellent wysedome and discretion, for the good perfection and ac∣complyshement of all and syngular his sayde mooste godly and graciouse purposes and intentes, touchynge the premysses, or any other charytable or godly dedes to be deuised by his highnes concernynge the same. And that all and syngular suche translations nominations of bishops cities sees and lymittation of dioces for byshops, erections, establishmentes, foundations, ordynances, statutes, rules, and al and euery other thyng and thinges, whi∣che shalbe deuysed comprised and expressed by his gracis sondry and seueral letters patentes or other writinges vnder his greatte seale, touchynge and concernynge the premisses, or any of them, or any circumstances or depen∣dances therof, necessary and requisite for the perfection of the premisses, or any of them, shall be of as good strength force value and effect, to al inten∣tes and purposes, as if suche thynges, that shall so be diuised expressed and mencioned in his letters patentes or other writinges vnder his great seale, had ben done made and had by auctoritie of parliament.