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The ground

The unlawful

mer bishop of

the agreement and affent of both their most noble parents, by the counfel and advice of the most wife and gravest men of both their realms, by the deliberate and mature confideration and consent of the best and most notable men in learning, in those days, of Christendom, did even Jo continue by the space of twenty years and more between them, to the pleasure of Almighty God and fatisfaction of the world, the joy and comfort of all the fubjects of this realm, and to their own repofe and good contentment, God giving for a fure token and teftimony of his good acceptation of the fame, not only godly fruit, your Highnefs most noble perfon (whom we beseech the Almighty and everliving God, long to profper and preferve here amongst us) and other iffue alfo, whom it bath pleafed God to take out of this tranfitory life unto his eternal glory, but also fending us a happier, flourishing and most profperous common-wealth in all things.

III. And then afterward, how that the malicious and perverse affections of fome (a very few perfons) envying the great felicity, wherein by the goodness of God, your faid most noble father and mother, and all their good fubjects lived and continued in many years, did for their own fingular glory, and vain reputation conceive fundry fubtil and difloyal practices, for the interruption and breach of the faid moft lawful and godly concord. And travelling to put the fame or caufe of the in ure, devised first to infinuate a fcruple into the King your father's divorce beconfcience, of an unlawful marriage between him, and his most lawtween King Henry the ful wife the Queen, your Highness mother, pretending for the ground eighth, and thereof, that the fame was against the word of God. And thereupon Queen Katha- ceafed not to perfuade continually unto the faid King your father, that rine his wife. be could not without danger of the lofs of his foul continue with his faid moft lawful wife, but must be feparated and divorced from her. IV. And to this intent caufed the feals, as well of certain univerfentence of fities in Italy and France to be gotten (as it were for a teftimony) ThomasCran- by the corruption of money with a few light perfons, fcholars of the Canterbury, fame univerfities, as alfo the feals of the universities of this realm touching the to be obtained by great travel, finifter working, fecret threatenings, King's mar- and entreatings of fome men of authority, Specially fent at that time riage. thither for the fame purposes. And how that finally, Thomas Cranmer, then newly made archbishop of Canterbury, most ungodly and against all laws, equity and confcience, profecuting the fame wicked device of divorce, and feparation of the faid King your father, and Queen your mother, called before him (ex officio) the hearing of the Jame matter of marriage, and taking his foundation partly upon his own unadvifed judgment of the fcripture, joining therewith the pretended teftimonies of the faid univerfities, and partly upon bare and most untrue conjectures, gathered and admitted by him upon matters of no Strength and effect, but only by fuppofal, and without admitting or hearing any thing that could be faid by the Queen your mother, or by any other on her behalf, in the absence of the faid late Queen your mother, proceeded, pronounced, difcerned, declared, and gave sentence, the fame most lawful and undoubted matrimony, to be naught, and to be contracted against God's law, and of no value, but lacking the firength of the law: and the faid most noble King your father, and the faid noble Queen your mother, fo married together, did feparate

and

and divorce, and the fame your moft noble father King Henry the Eighth, and the faid noble Queen your mother, from the bands of the fame moft lawful matrimony, did pronounce and declare, by the fame his unlawful fentence, to be free, difebarged, and fet at liberty.

V. Which fentence and judgment fo given by unlawful and corrupt The fentence means and ways, by the faid archbishop of Canterbury, was after- confirmed by wards upon certain affections ratified and confirmed by two feveral the statutes. made 25 H. 8. acts, the one made in the five and twentieth year of the reign of the C. 22. & 28 faid King your Highness father, and intituled, An act declaring the H. 8. C. 7. ftablishment of the fucceffion of the King's most royal majefty of the imperial crown of this realm. The other act of parliament made in the eight and twentieth year of the reign of the faid King your Highness father, intituled, An act for the ftablishment of the fucceffion of the imperial crown of this realm.

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VI. In the which faid two acts, was contained the illegitimations of your most noble perfon, which your faid moft noble perfon being born in fo folemn a marriage, fo openly approved in the world, and with fo good faith both first contracted, and alfo by fo many years continued between your most noble parents, and the fame marriage in very deed not being prohibited by the law of God, could not by any reason or equity in this cafe be fo Spotted. And now we your Highness faid most loving, faithful, and obedient fubjects, of a godly heart and true The marriage meaning, freely and frankly, without fear, fancy, or any other cor- made between rupt motion or fenfual affection, confidering that this forefaid marriage King Henry had his beginning of God, and by him was continued, and therefore Queen Kathathe eighth and was ever, and is to be taken for a most true, just, lawful, and to rine was true, all refpects, a fincere and perfect marriage, nor could, ne ought by any just and lawful. man's power, authority, or jurifdiction be diffolved, broken, or feparated, (for whom God joineth, no man can, we ought to put afunder,) and confidering alfo, how during the fame marriage in godly concord, the realm in all degrees flourished to the glory of God, the honour of the prince, and the great reputation of the fubjects of the fame, and on the other fide understanding manifeftly, that the ground of the faid device and practice for the faid divorce proceeded firft of malice and vain glory, and afterward was profecuted and followed of fond affection and fenfual fantafre, and finally executed and put in effect by corruption, ignorance and flattery: and not only Plagues fent feeling to our great forrow, damage and regret, how shameful ig- by God upon nominies, rebukes, flanders, contempts, yea, what death, pefti- this realm lence, wars, difobedience, rebellions, infurrections, and divers other fithence the divorce of the great and grievous plagues, God of his justice hath sent upon us, ever fithence this ungodly purpose was first begun and practifed: but alfa Queen. Seeing evidently before our eyes, that unless fo great an injuftice as this hath been and yet continueth, be redubbed, and that the faid falfe and wrongfu! procefs, judgment and fentence, with their dependencies be repealed and revoked, nothing is lefs to be doubted, than that greater plagues and firokes are like to increafe and continue daily more and more within this realm: do befeech your most excellent Majefty, as well in refpect of your own honour, dignity and just title, as for truth's fake, wherewith (we doubt not) but your Highness alfo will be specially moved in confcience, and alfo for the entire love, favour, and

B. 3

affection

King and

Every fentence or di

vorce between King H. 8. and Queen Katharine his wife, given by bishop Cranmer or any other, shall be void.

The ft. of 25 H.8.c.22&28

H. 8. c. 7.

repealed.

affection, which your Majefly beareth to the commonwealth of this realm, and for the good peace, unity, and rest of us your most bounden fubjects, and our pofterity, that it may be enacted by your Highnefs, with the confent of the lords fpiritual and temporal and the commons in this present parliament assembled.

VII. And be it enacted by the authority of this prefent parliament, That all, and every decree, fentence, and judgment of divorce, and feparation between the faid King your father, and the said late Queen your mother, and all the process commenced, followed, given, made, or promulged by the faid Thomas Cranmer, then archbishop of Canterbury, or by any other person or perfons whatsoever, whereby the fame most just, pure, and lawful marriage, between the faid late King your father, and the faid late Queen your mother, was, or is pronounced, or in any wife declared to be unlawful, or unjuft, or against the law of God, be and shall be from the beginning, and from henceforth of no force, validity, or effect but be utterly naught, void, fruftrate, and anihilate, to all intents, constructions, and purpofes, as if the fame had never been given or pronounced.

VIII. And be it also enacted by the authority aforefaid, That as well the faid act of parliament intituled, An act declaring the eftablishment of the fucceffion of the King's moft royal majefty of the imperial crown of this realm, made in the five and twentieth year of the reign of the King your father, be repealed, and be void, and of none effect, as also all and every fuch clauses, articles, branches, and matters contained and expreffed in the forefaid act of parliament, made in the faid eight and twentieth year of the reign of the faid late King your father, or in any other act or acts of parliament, as whereby your Highness is named or declared to be illegitimate, or the faid marriage between the said King your father, and the faid Queen your mother, is declared to be against the word of God, or by any means unlawful, shall The marriage be, and be repealed, and be void, and of no force, nor effect, between King to all intents, conftructions, and purposes, as if the same senH. 8. and tence, or acts of parliament, had never been had ne made. And that the faid marriage had and folemnized between your ftand with the faid moft noble father King Henry, and your faid most noble law of God, mother Queen Katharine, fhall be definitively, clearly, and abfolutely, declared, deemed, and adjudged to be, and stand with reputed good. God's law, and his moft holy word, and to be accepted, reputed, and taken of good effect and validity to all intents and purposes,

Queen Katha

rine doth

and shall be

I

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CAP. II.

A repeal of the ftat. of 1 Ed. 6. c. 1. made against fuch as fhall speak unreverently of the body and blood of Christ, and of the ftat. of 1 Ed. 6. c. 2. touching the election of bishops, and the ftat. of 2 Ed. 6. c. 1. concerning the uniformity of fervice, and administration of the facraments, and of the ftat. of 2 & 3 Ed. 6. c. 21. made to take away all pofitive laws ordained against the marriage of priests, and of the itat. of 3 & 4 Ed. 6. c. 10. made for the abolishing of divers books and images, and the ftat. of 3 & 4 Ed. 6. c. 12. made for the ordering of ecclesiastical ministers, and of the stat of 5 & 6 Ed. 6. c. 1. made

for

for the uniformity of common prayer and administration of the facraments, and of the ftat. of 5 & 6 Ed. 6. c. 3. made for the keeping of holydays and fafting-days, and of the ftat. of 5 & 6 Ed. 6. c. 12, touching the marriage of priests and legitimation of their children. All fuch divine service and administration of facraments as were most commonly used in England in the last year of Hen. 8. fhall be used through the realm, after the 20th day of December, Anno Dom. 1553. and no other kind of fervice nor administration of facraments. 1 El. c. 2. Repealed by 1 Jac. 1. c. 25. f. 48.

CAP. III.

An alt against offenders of preachers and other minifters in

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the church.

`Orasmuch as it is most necessary in every christian commonwealth, The penalty to provide that tranquility and peace may be preferved and con- of disturbing tinued amongst the people, and specially in holy church, in the time of of preachers divine fervice, and adminiftration of facraments and facramentals, as and minifters before this time it hath been accustomed in holy church within this in the church. realm; and that all things being contrary thereunto, or that are, or may be in disturbance thereof, may by forefight be efchewed and avoided, and remedy therefore in due time provided, as well for the prefervation of the Queen's highness peace, as for an univerfal quietness and order to be used within this realm:

II. Be it therefore enacted by the Queen our fovereign lady, Disturbing by the lords fpiritual and temporal, and commons, in this prefent word or deed parliament affembled, and by the authority of the fame, That a preacher in if any perfon or persons of their own power and authority, at his fermon. 2 Bulftr.47,53. any time or times after the xx day of December next coming, Aleyn 50. do or fhall willingly and of purpose, by open and overt word, fact, act or deed, maliciously or contemptuously moleft, let, disturb, vex or trouble, or by any other unlawful ways or means disquiet or misuse any preacher or preachers that now is, or that at any time or times hereafter fhall be, licenced, allowed or authorized to preach by the Queen's highness, or by any archbishop or bishop of this realm, or by any other lawful ordinary, or by any of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, or otherwife lawfully authorized or charged by reafon of his or their cure, benefice, or other spiritual promotion or charge, in any of his or their open fermon, preaching or collation, that he or they fhall make, declare, preach or pronounce in any church, chapel, church-yard, or in any other place or places, ufed, frequented or appointed, or that hereafter fhall be used or appointed to be preached in.

or other fer

III. Or if any perfon or perfons after the faid xx. day of Molefting a December next coming, fhall malicioufly, willingly, or of pur- prieft prepa pose moleft, let, difturb, vex, difquiet or otherwife trouble ring or cele any parfon, vicar, parish priest or curate, or any lawful priest, brating mass preparing, faying, doing, finging, miniftring or celebrating the vice. mafs, or other fuch divine fervice, facraments or facramentals, Mod. 168. as was most commonly frequented and used in the last year of Jones Sir T, the reign of the late fovereign lord King Henry the Eighth, or 159.

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that

Abufing the bleffed facra

ment of the body and blood of

that at any time hereafter fhall be allowed, fet forth or authorized by the Queen's majesty.

IV. Or if any person or perfons, at any time or times after the faid xx. day of December, fhall contemptuously, unlawfully or maliciously, of their own power or authority, pull down, deface, fpoil, abufe, break or otherwise unreverently handle or order the most bleffed, comfortable and holy facrament of the breaking any body and blood of our Saviour Jefus Chrift, commonly called altar or cruci- the facrament of the altar, being or that shall be in fix.

Chrift, or

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any

church

or chapel, or in any other decent place, or the pix or canopy wherein the fame facrament is or thall be; (2) or unlawfully, contemptuously or malicioufly, of their own power and authority, pull down, deface, fpoil or otherwise break any altar or altars, or any crucifix or crofs, that now or hereafter shall be in any church, chapel or church-yard: (3) That then every such offender and offenders in any the premiffes, his or their aider, procurer or abettor, aiders, procurers or abettors, immediately and forthwith after any of the said act or acts, or other the faid misdemeanours fo committed, done or made, or any time or times after, fhall be apprehended, arrested and taken by any constable or conftables, churchwarden or churchwardens of the faid parish, town or place where the faid offence or offences fhall be fo committed, made or done, or by any other officer or officers, or by any other perfon or persons then being present at the time of the faid offence or offences fo unlawfully committed,, made or done:

V. Which perfon or perfons fo apprehended, taken or arrefted, with convenient speed shall be brought and carried to any juftice of peace within the said fhire, or within any city, borough, liberty or town corporate wherein juftices of peace be, where the faid offence or offences fhall be fo committed, done and made: (2) and that the faid juftice of peace, upon due ac-cufation thereupon had and made by the apprehender or apprehenders, or other perfon or perfons, of any of the faid perfon or perfons fo offending, forthwith fhall commit the said perfon or perfons fo apprehended, arrefted and taken, to safe keeping and cuftody, as by the difcretion of the faid juftice fhall be thought most meet and convenient, (3) and that within fix days next and immediately after the faid accufation so had and made to the faid juftice, the faid juftice with one other juftice of peace in the faid fhire, city, borough, liberty or town corporate, fhall diligently examine the act or acts, offence or offences aforefaid,

VI And if they the faid two juftices of peace fhall upon their faid'examination find or perceive the said perfon or perfons fo accufed guilty of cufed guilty of any of the faid offence or offences whereof he or they fhall be fo accufed, and that by two fufficient witnesses, or by his or their own confeffion or confeffions, that then and immediately with convenient speed the faid two juftices fhall commit and award the faid perfon or perfons fo accused as is aforefaid, to the gaol of or for the faid fhire, city, borough, liberty

or

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