74. HENRY VIII: STATUTES

(A) Act Concerning the Court of Star Chamber (1529)

An act that the president of the king's council shall be associate with the 
chancellor and treasurer of England and the keeper of the king's privy seal. 
Where ... , in the same good and profitable statute[1] the president of the 
king's most honourable council for the time being attending upon his most 
noble and royal person is omitted, and not named ... to be one of the said 
persons that should have authority to call before them such misdoers so 
offending the king's laws in any of the premises as is before rehearsed: be 
it therefore ... enacted that from henceforth the chancellor, treasurer of 
England, and the president of the king's most honourable council attending 
upon his most honourable person for the time being, and the keeper of the 
king's privy seal, or two of them, calling unto them one bishop and one 
temporal lord of the king's most honourable council and the two chief 
justices of the king's bench and the common pleas for the time being, or 
other two of the king's justices in their absence, upon any bill or 
information hereafter to be put in ... , for any misbehaving before 
rehearsed ... , have full power and authority to call before them by writ of 
privy seal such misdoers, and them and other by their discretion by whom the 
truth may be known to examine; and such as they shall find defective to 
punish them after their demerits after the form and effect of the said 
former statute, and of all other statutes thereof tofore made and not 
repealed nor expired, in like manner and form as they should and ought to be 
punished if they were thereof convicted after the due order in the king's 
laws....

                             Ibid., III, 304: 21 Henry VIII, c. 20.

(B) Act in Restraint of Appeals (1533)

An act that the appeals in such cases as have been used to be pursued to the 
see of Rome shall not be from henceforth had nor used but within this realm. 
Where, by divers sundry old authentic histories and chronicles, it is 
manifestly declared and expressed that this realm of England is an empire, 
and so hath been accepted in the world, governed by one supreme head and 
king having the dignity and royal estate of the imperial crown of the same, 
unto whom a body politic, compact of all sorts and degrees of people divided 
in terms and by names of spiritualty and temporalty, be bounden and owe to 
bear next to God a natural and humble obedience (he being also institute and 
furnished by the goodness and sufferance of Almighty God with plenary, 
whole, and entire power, pre-eminence, authority, prerogative, and 
jurisdiction to render and yield justice and final determination to all 
manner of folk residents or subjects within this his realm, in all causes, 
matters, debates, and contentions happening to occur, insurge, or begin 
within the limits thereof, without restraint or provocation to any foreign 
princes or potentates of the world ... ); and whereas the king his most 
noble progenitors, and the nobility and commons of this said realm, at 
divers and sundry parliaments as well in the time of King Edward I, Edward 
III, Richard II, Henry IV, and other noble kings of this realm, made sundry 
ordinances, laws, statutes, and provisions for the entire and sure 
conservation of the prerogatives, liberties, and pre-eminences of the said 
imperial crown of this realm, and of the jurisdictions spiritual and 
temporal of the same, to keep it from the annoyance as well of the see of 
Rome as from the authority of other foreign potentates attempting the 
diminution or violation thereof, as often and from time to time as any such 
annoyance or attempt might be known or espied; and [whereas,] 
notwithstanding the said good statutes and ordinances ... , divers and 
sundry inconveniences and dangers not provided for plainly by the said 
former acts ... have risen and sprung by reason of appeals sued out of this 
realm to the see of Rome, in causes testamentary, causes of matrimony and 
divorces, right of tithes, oblations, and obventions ...: in consideration 
whereof, the king's highness, his nobles, and commons, considering the great 
enormities, dangers, long delays, and hurts that as well to his highness as 
to his said nobles, subjects, commons, and residents of this his realm in 
the said causes ... do daily ensue, doth therefore by his royal assent, and 
by the assent of the lords spiritual and temporal and the commons in this 
present parliament assembled and by authority of the same, enact, establish, 
and ordain that all causes testamentary, causes of matrimony and divorces, 
rights of tithes, oblations, and obventions ... , whether they concern the 
king our sovereign lord, his heirs, or successors, or any other subjects or 
residents within the same of what degree soever they be, shall be from 
henceforth heard ... and definitively adjudged and determined within the 
king's jurisdiction and authority and not elsewhere....

And it is further enacted ... that, if any person or persons ... do attempt, 
move, purchase, or procure from or to the see of Rome, or from or to any 
other foreign court or courts out of this realm, any manner foreign process, 
inhibitions, appeals, sentences, summons, citations, suspensions, 
interdictions, excommunications, restraints, or judgments, of what nature, 
kind, or quality soever they be, or execute any of the same process, or do 
any act or acts to the let, impediment, hindrance, or derogation of any 
process, sentence, judgment, or determination had, made, done, or hereafter 
to be had, done, or made in any courts of this realm or the king's said 
dominions or marches of the same for any of the causes aforesaid ... , that 
then every person or persons so doing ... , being convict of the same, for 
every such default shall incur and run in the same pains, penalties, and 
forfeitures ordained and provided by the Statute of Provision and Praemunire 
made in the sixteenth year of the reign of ... King Richard II.... [2]

And furthermore, in eschewing the said great enormities, inquietations, 
delays, charges, and expenses hereafter to be sustained in pursuing of such 
appeals and foreign process ... [they] do therefore ... ordain and enact 
that, in such cases where heretofore any of the king's subjects or residents 
have used to pursue, provoke, or procure any appeal to the see of Rome ... , 
they ... shall from henceforth take, have, and use their appeals within this 
realm and not elsewhere, in manner and form as hereafter ensueth and not 
otherwise: that is to say, first from the archdeacon or his official, if the 
matter or cause be there begun, to the bishop diocesan of the said see ...; 
and likewise, if it be commenced before the bishop diocesan or his 
commissary, from the bishop diocesan or his commissary, within fifteen days 
next ensuing the judgment or sentence thereof there given, to the archbishop 
of the province of Canterbury, if it be within his province, and if it be 
within the province of York, then to the archbishop of York; and so likewise 
to all other archbishops in other the king's dominions as the case by the 
order of justice shall require, and there to be definitively and finally 
ordered, decreed, and adjudged according to justice, without any other 
appellation or provocation to any other person or persons, court or courts. 
And if the matter or contention for any of the causes aforesaid be or shall 
be commenced ... before the archdeacon of any archbishop or his commissary, 
then the party grieved shall or may take his appeal, within fifteen days 
next after judgment or sentence there given, to the court of the arches or 
audience of the same archbishop or archbishops, and from the said court of 
the arches or audience, within fifteen days then next ensuing after judgment 
or sentence there given, to the archbishop of the same province, there to be 
definitively and finally determined without any other or further process or 
appeal thereupon to be had or sued.... And in ... any cause, matter, or 
contention ... which hath, doth, shall, or may touch the king, his heirs, or 
successors, kings of this realm ... , the party grieved ... shall or may 
appeal ... to the spiritual prelates and other abbots and priors of the 
upper house assembled and convocate by the king's writ in the convocation 
being or next ensuing within the province or provinces where the same matter 
of contention is or shall be begun; so that every such appeal be taken by 
the party grieved within fifteen days next after the judgment or sentence 
thereupon given or to be given. And ... whatsoever be done or shall be done 
and affirmed, determined, decreed, and adjudged by the foresaid prelates, 
abbots, and priors of the upper house of the said convocation as is 
aforesaid, appertaining, concerning, or belonging to the king, his heirs, or 
successors, in any of these foresaid causes of appeals, shall stand and be 
taken for a final decree, sentence, judgment, definition, and determination, 
and the same matter so determined never after to come in question and 
debate, to be examined in any other court or courts....

                           Ibid., III, 427 f.: 24 Henry VIII, c. 12.

(C) Act for the Submission of the Clergy and Restraint of Appeals (1534)

... Be it therefore now enacted by authority of this present parliament, 
according to the said submission and petition of the said clergy, that 
[neither] they nor any of them from henceforth shall presume to attempt, 
allege, claim, or put in ure[3] any constitutions or ordinances, provincial 
or synodal, or any other canons; nor shall enact, promulge, or execute any 
such canons constitutions or ordinance provincial, by whatsoever name or 
names they may be called, in their convocations in time coming (which alway 
shall be assembled by authority of the king's writ), unless the same clergy 
may have the king's most royal assent and licence ... , upon pain ... to 
suffer imprisonment and make fine at the king's will.... Provided alway that 
no canons, constitutions, or ordinance shall be made or put in execution 
within this realm by authority of the convocation of the clergy which shall 
be contrariant or repugnant to the king's prerogative royal or the customs, 
laws, or statutes of this realm — anything contained in this act to the 
contrary hereof notwithstanding, ...

And be it further enacted by authority aforesaid that, from the feast of 
Easter ... 1534, no manner of appeals shall be had, provoked, or made out of 
this realm ... to the bishop of Rome .... but that all manner of appeals ... 
shall be made and had ... after such manner, form, and condition as is 
limited for appeals to be had ... in causes of matrimony, tithes, oblations, 
and obventions by a statute thereof made and established since the beginning 
of this present parliament....[4]

And for lack of justice at or in any the courts of the archbishops of this 
realm, or in any the king's dominions, it shall be lawful to the parties 
grieved to appeal to the king's majesty in the king's court of chancery; and 
that, upon every such appeal, a commission shall be directed under the great 
seal to such persons as shall be named by the king's highness, his heirs, or 
successors, like as in case of appeal from the admiral's court, to hear and 
definitively determine such appeals and the causes concerning the same....

                           Ibid., III, 460 f.: 25 Henry VIII, c. 19.

(D) Act Concerning Ecclesiastical Appointments and Absolute Restraint of 
Annates (1534).

An act restraining the payment of annates, etc.... And forasmuch as in the 
said act[5] it is not plainly and certainly expressed in what manner and 
fashion archbishops and bishops shall be elected, presented, invested, and 
consecrated within this realm and in all other the king's dominions: be it 
now therefore enacted ... that the said act and everything therein contained 
shall be and stand in strength, virtue, and effect; except only that no 
person nor persons hereafter shall be presented, nominated, or commended to 
the said bishop of Rome, otherwise called the pope, or to the see of Rome, 
to or for the dignity or office of any archbishop or bishop within this 
realm or in any other the king's dominions, nor shall send nor procure there 
for any manner of bulls, briefs, palls, or other things requisite for an 
archbishop or bishop, nor shall pay any sums of money for annates, first 
fruits, or otherwise, for expedition of any such bulls, briefs, or palls; 
but that by the authority of this act such presenting, nominating, or 
commending to the said bishop of Rome or to the see of Rome, and such bulls, 
briefs, palls, annates, first fruits, and every other sums of money 
heretofore limited, accustomed, or used to be paid at the said see of Rome 
for procuration or expedition of any such bulls, briefs, or palls, or other 
thing concerning the same, shall utterly cease and no longer be used within 
this realm or within any the king's dominions — anything contained in the 
said act aforementioned, or any use, custom, or prescription to the contrary 
thereof notwithstanding.

And furthermore be it ordained and established by the authority aforesaid 
that, at every avoidance of any archbishopric or bishopric within this realm 
or in any other the king's dominions, the king our sovereign lord, his 
heirs, and successors, may grant unto the prior and convent, or the dean and 
chapter of the cathedral churches or monasteries where the see of such 
archbishopric or bishopric shall happen to be void, a licence under the 
great seal, as of old time hath been accustomed, to proceed to election of 
an archbishop or bishop of the see so being void, with a letter missive 
containing the name of the person which they shall elect and choose; by 
virtue of which licence the said dean and chapter, or prior and convent, to 
whom any such licence and letters missives shall be directed, shall with all 
speed and celerity in due form elect and choose the said person named in the 
said letters missives to the dignity and office of the archbishopric or 
bishopric so being void, and none other; and if they do defer or delay their 
election above twelve days next after such licence and letters missives to 
them delivered, that then for every such default the king's highness, his 
heirs, and successors, at their liberty and pleasure shall nominate and 
present, by their letters patents under their great seal, such a person to 
the said office and dignity so being void as they shall think able and 
convenient for the same....

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid that, if the prior and 
convent of any monastery, or dean and chapter of any cathedral church, where 
the see of any archbishop or bishop is within the king's dominions, after 
such licence as is afore rehearsed shall be delivered to them, proceed not 
to election and signify the same according to the tenor of this act within 
the space of twenty days next after such licence shall come to their hands, 
or else ... , after any such election, nomination, or presentation shall be 
signified unto them by the king's letters patents, shall refuse and do not 
confirm, invest, and consecrate, with all due circumstance as is aforesaid, 
every such person as shall be so elected, nominate, or presented ... within 
twenty days next after the king's letters patents of such signification or 
presentation shall come to their hands ... , that then every ... person ... 
so offending ... shall run into the dangers, pains, and penalties of the 
Statute of the Provision and Praemunire made in the twenty-fifth year of the 
reign of King Edward III and in the sixteenth year of King Richard II.[6]

                           Ibid., III, 462 f.: 25 Henry VIII, c. 20.

(E) Act Concerning Peter's Pence and Dispensations (1534)

An act for the exoneration from exactions paid to the see of Rome. Most 
humbly beseech your most royal majesty your obedient and faithful subjects 
the commons of this your present parliament, assembled by your most dread 
commandment, that, where your subjects of this your realm, and of other 
countries and dominions being under your obeisance, by many years past have 
been and yet be greatly decayed and impoverished by such intolerable 
exactions of great sums of money as have been claimed and taken ... out of 
this your realm, and other your said countries and dominions, by the bishop 
of Rome called the pope ... , pretending ... that he hath full power to 
dispense with all human laws, uses, and customs of all realms in all causes 
which be called spiritual (which matter hath been usurped and practised by 
him and his predecessors by many years in great derogation of your imperial 
crown and authority royal, contrary to right and conscience, for where this 
your grace's realm, recognizing no superior under God but only your grace, 
hath been and is free from subjection to any man's laws, but only to such as 
have been devised, made, and ordained within this realm for the wealth of 
the same, or to such other as by sufferance of your grace and your 
progenitors the people of this your realm have taken at their free liberty 
by their own consent to be used amongst them, and have bound themselves by 
long use and custom to the observance of the same) ...; [and whereas], 
therefore, ... your royal majesty and your lords spiritual and temporal and 
commons, representing the whole state of your realm in this your most high 
court of parliament, have full power and authority not only to dispense but 
also to authorize some elect person or persons to dispense with those and 
all other human laws of this your realm and with every one of them, as the 
quality of the persons and matter shall require, and also the said laws and 
every of them to abrogate, annul, amplify, or diminish, as it shall be seen 
unto your majesty and the nobles and commons of your realm present in your 
parliament meet and convenient for the wealth of your realm ...: — 

It may therefore please your most noble majesty ... , forasmuch as your 
majesty is supreme head of the Church of England, as the prelates and clergy 
of your realm representing the said Church in their synods and convocations 
have recognized, in whom consisteth full power and authority upon all such 
laws as have been made and used within this realm, to ordain and enact, by 
the assent of your lords spiritual and temporal and the commons in this your 
present parliament assembled, and by authority of the same, that no person 
or persons of this your realm or of any other your dominions shall from 
henceforth pay any pensions, censes, portions, Peter pence, or any other 
impositions to the use of the said bishop or of the see of Rome ...; but 
that all such pensions [etc.] ... shall from henceforth clearly surcease and 
never more be levied, taken, perceived, nor paid to any person or persons in 
any manner of wise — any constitution, use, prescription, or custom to the 
contrary thereof notwithstanding....

Provided always that [neither] this act nor any thing or things therein 
contained shall be hereafter interpreted or expounded that your grace, your 
nobles, and subjects, intend by the same to decline or vary from the 
congregation of Christ's Church in any things concerning the very articles 
of the catholic faith of Christendom, or in any other things declared by 
Holy Scripture and the word of God necessary for your and their salvations; 
but only to make an ordinance by policies necessary and convenient to 
repress vice and for good conservation of this realm in peace, unity, and 
tranquillity from ravin and spoil, ensuing much the old ancient customs of 
this realm in that behalf, not minding to seek for any reliefs, succours, or 
remedies for any worldly things or human laws in any cause of necessity but 
within this realm at the hands of your highness, your heirs, and successors, 
kings of this realm, which have and ought to have an imperial power and 
authority in the same and not [be] obliged in any worldly causes to any 
other superior....

                           Ibid., III, 464 f.: 25 Henry VIII, c. 21.

(F) First Act of Succession (1534)

An act for the establishment of the king's succession.... Your said most 
humble and obedient subjects, the nobles and commons of this realm ... , do 
... most humbly beseech your highness ... that it may be enacted ... that 
the marriage heretofore solemnized between your highness and the lady 
Katherine, being before lawful wife to Prince Arthur your elder brother, 
which by him was carnally known (as doth duly appear by sufficient proof in 
a lawful process had and made before Thomas, by the sufferance of God now 
archbishop of Canterbury and metropolitan and primate of all this realm), 
shall be by authority of this present parliament definitively, clearly, and 
absolutely declared, deemed, and adjudged to be against the laws of Almighty 
God, and also accepted, reputed, and taken of no value nor effect, but 
utterly void and annulled ...; and that the lawful matrimony had and 
solemnized between your highness and your most dear and entirely beloved 
wife, Queen Anne, shall be established and taken for undoubtful, true, 
sincere, and perfect ever hereafter....

And also be it enacted by authority aforesaid that all the issue had and 
procreate, or hereafter to be had and procreate, between your highness and 
your said most dearly and entirely beloved wife Queen Anne shall be your 
lawful children, and be inheritable and inherit, according to the course of 
inheritance and laws of this realm, the imperial crown of the same, with all 
dignities, honours, pre-eminences, prerogatives, authorities, and 
jurisdictions to the same annexed or belonging, in as large and ample manner 
as your highness to this present time hath the same as king of this 
realm....[7]

And be it further enacted by authority aforesaid that ... proclamations 
shall be made in all shires within this realm of the tenor and contents of 
this act. And if any person or persons ... , subject or resident within this 
realm, or elsewhere within any the king's dominions ... , by writing or 
imprinting or by any exterior act or deed maliciously procure or do, or 
cause to be procured or done, any thing or things to the peril of your most 
royal person, or maliciously give occasion by writing, print, deed, or act 
whereby your highness might be disturbed or interrupted of the crown of this 
realm, or by writing, print, deed, or act procure or do, or cause to be 
procured or done, any thing or things to the prejudice, slander, 
disturbance, or derogation of the said lawful matrimony solemnized between 
your majesty and the said Queen Anne, or to the peril, slander, or 
disherison of any the issues and heirs of your highness being limited by 
this act to inherit and to be inheritable to the crown of this realm in such 
form as is aforesaid — whereby any such issues or heirs of your highness 
might be destroyed, disturbed, or interrupted in body or title of 
inheritance to the crown of this realm as to them is limited in this act in 
form above rehearsed — that then every such person and persons, of what 
estate, degree, or condition they be of, subject or resident within this 
realm, and their aiders, counsellors, maintainers, and abettors, and every 
of them, for every such offence shall be adjudged high traitors, and every 
offence shall be adjudged high treason, and the offender and their aiders 
[etc.] ... , being lawfully convict of such offence by presentment, verdict, 
confession, or process according to the laws and customs of this realm, 
shall suffer pains of death as in cases of high treason....

And be it further enacted by authority aforesaid that, if any person or 
persons ... , by any words without writing, or any exterior deed or act, 
maliciously and obstinately publish, divulge, or utter any thing or things 
to the peril of your highness, or to the slander or prejudice of the said 
matrimony solemnized between your highness and the said Queen Anne, or to 
the slander or disherison of the issue and heirs of your body begotten and 
to be gotten of the said Queen Anne, or any other your lawful heirs which 
shall be inheritable to the crown of this realm, as is afore limited by this 
act, that then every such offence shall be taken and adjudged for misprision 
of treason....

                           Ibid., III, 471 f.: 25 Henry VIII, c. 22.

(G) Supremacy Act (1534)

An act concerning the king's highness to be supreme head of the Church of 
England and to have authority to reform and redress all errors, heresies, 
and abuses in the same. Albeit the king's majesty justly and rightfully is 
and ought to be the supreme head of the Church of England, and so is 
recognized by the clergy of this realm in their convocations; yet, 
nevertheless, for corroboration and confirmation thereof, and for increase 
of virtue in Christ's religion within this realm of England, and to repress 
and extirp all errors, heresies, and other enormities and abuses heretofore 
used in the same, be it enacted by authority of this present parliament that 
the king, our sovereign lord, his heirs, and successors, kings of this 
realm, shall be taken, accepted, and reputed the only supreme head in earth 
of the Church of England called Anglicana Ecclesia, and shall have and 
enjoy, annexed and united to the imperial crown of this realm, as well the 
title and style thereof as all honours, dignities, pre-eminences, 
jurisdictions, privileges, authorities, immunities, profits, and commodities 
to the said dignity of supreme head of the same Church belonging and 
appertaining; and that our said sovereign lord, his heirs, and successors, 
kings of this realm, shall have full power and authority from time to time 
to visit, repress, redress, reform, order, correct, restrain, and amend all 
such errors, heresies, abuses, offences, contempts, and enormities, 
whatsoever they be, which by any manner spiritual authority or jurisdiction 
ought or may lawfully be reformed, repressed, ordered, redressed, corrected, 
restrained, or amended, most to the pleasure of Almighty God, the increase 
of virtue in Christ's religion, and for the conservation of the peace, 
unity, and tranquillity of this realm — any usage, custom, foreign laws, 
foreign authority, prescription, or any other thing or things to the 
contrary hereof notwithstanding.

                              Ibid., III, 492: 26 Henry VIII, c. I.

(H) Statute of Uses (1530)[8]

Where, by the common laws of this realm, lands, tenements, and hereditaments 
be not devisable by testament, nor ought to be transferred from one to 
another but by solemn livery and seisin ... , yet, nevertheless, divers and 
sundry imaginations, subtle inventions, and practices have been used whereby 
the hereditaments of this realm have been conveyed from one to another by 
fraudulent feoffments, fines, recoveries, and other assurances craftily made 
to secret uses, intents, and trusts, and also by wills and testaments 
sometime made by ... words, sometime by signs and tokens, and sometime by 
writing ...; for the extirping and extinguishment of all such ... , and to 
the intent that the king's highness or any other his subjects of this realm 
shall not in any wise hereafter ... be deceived, damaged, or hurt by reason 
of such trusts, uses, or confidences ...: it may please the king's most 
royal majesty that it may be enacted by his highness, by the assent of the 
lords spiritual and temporal and the commons in this present parliament 
assembled, and by authority of the same ... , that, where any person or 
persons stand or be seised or at any time hereafter shall happen to be 
seised of and in any honours, castles, manors, lands, tenements, rents, 
services, reversions, remainders, or other hereditaments, to the use, 
confidence, or trust of any other person or persons, or of any body politic, 
by reason of any bargain, sale, feoffment, fine, recovery, covenant, 
contract, agreement, will, or otherwise ... , in every such case all and 
every such person and persons and bodies politic ... shall from henceforth 
stand and be seised, deemed, and adjudged in lawful seisin, estate, and 
possession of and in the same honours [etc.] ... to all intents, 
constructions, and purposes in the law ...; and that the estate, right, 
title, and possession that was in such person or persons that were or shall 
be hereafter seised of any lands, tenements, or hereditaments to the use, 
confidence, or trust of any such person or persons, or of any body politic, 
be from henceforth clearly deemed and adjudged to be in him or them that 
have or hereafter shall have such use, confidence, or trust....[9]

                           Ibid., III, 539 f.: 27 Henry VIII, c. 10.

(I) Beggars Act (1536)

An act for punishment of sturdy vagabonds and beggars.... And forasmuch as 
it was not provided in the said act[10] how and in what wise the said poor 
people and sturdy vagabonds should be ordered at their repair and at their 
coming into their countries, nor how the inhabitants of every hundred should 
be charged for the relief of the same poor people, nor yet for the setting 
and keeping in work and labour of the aforesaid valiant vagabonds at their 
said repair into every hundred of this realm: it is therefore now ordained 
and established and enacted ... that all the governors and ministers of ... 
cities, shires, towns, hundreds, wapentakes, lathes, rapes, ridings, 
tithings, hamlets, and parishes, as well within liberties as without, shall 
not only succour, find, and keep all and every of the same poor people by 
way of voluntary and charitable alms ... , in such wise as none of them of 
very necessity shall be compelled to wander idly and go openly in begging to 
ask alms in any of the same cities, shires, towns, and parishes, but also to 
cause and to compel all and every the said sturdy vagabonds and valiant 
beggars to be set and kept to continual labour, in such wise as by their 
said labours they and every of them may get their own livings with the 
continual labour of their own hands....

Item, it is ordained and enacted ... that all and every the mayors, 
governors, and head officers of every city, borough, and town corporate and 
the churchwardens or two others of every parish of this realm shall in good 
and charitable wise take such discreet and convenient order, by gathering 
and procuring of such charitable and voluntary alms of the good Christian 
people within the same with boxes every Sunday, holy day, and other festival 
day or otherwise among themselves, in such good and discreet wise as the 
poor, impotent, lame, feeble, sick, and diseased people, being not able to 
work, may be provided, holpen, and relieved; so that in no wise they nor 
none of them be suffered to go openly in begging, and that such as be lusty, 
or having their limbs strong enough to labour, may be daily kept in 
continual labour, whereby every one of them may get their own substance and 
living with their own hands....

And for the avoiding of all such inconveniences and infections as oftentime 
have and daily do chance amongst the people by common and open doles, and 
that most commonly unto such doles many persons do resort which have no need 
of the same, it is therefore enacted ... that no manner of person or persons 
shall make or cause to be made any such common or open doles, or shall give 
any ready money in alms, otherwise than to the common boxes and common 
gatherings ... , to and for the putting in ... due execution ... this 
present act, upon pain to ... forfeit ten times the value of all such ready 
money as shall be given in alms contrary to the tenor and purport of the 
same; and that every person or persons of this realm, bodies politic 
corporate, and others that be bound or charged yearly, monthly, or weekly to 
give or to distribute any ready money, bread, victual, or other sustentation 
to poor people in any place within this realm, shall ... give and distribute 
the same money or the value of all such bread, victual, or sustentation unto 
such common boxes, to the intent the same may be employed towards the 
relieving of the said poor, needy, sick, sore, and indigent persons, and 
also towards the setting in work of the said sturdy and idle vagabonds and 
valiant beggars....

                           Ibid., III, 558 f.: 27 Henry VIII, c. 25.

(J) Act for the Government of Wales (1536)

An act for laws and justice to be ministered in Wales in like form as it is 
in this realm. Albeit the dominion, principality, and country of Wales 
justly and righteously is and ever hath been incorporated, annexed, united, 
and subject to and under the imperial crown of this realm as a very member 
and joint of the same, wherefore the king's most royal majesty of ... very 
right is very head, king, lord, and ruler; yet, notwithstanding, because 
that in the same country, principality, and dominion divers rights, usages, 
laws, and customs be far discrepant from the laws and customs of this realm, 
and also because that the people of the same dominion have and do daily use 
a speech nothing like nor consonant to the natural mother tongue used within 
this realm, some rude and ignorant people have made distinction and 
diversity between the king's subjects of this realm and his subjects of the 
said dominion ... of Wales, whereby great discord ... and sedition hath 
grown between his said subjects: his highness, therefore, of a singular 
zeal, love, and favour that he beareth towards his subjects of his said 
dominion of Wales, minding and intending to reduce them to the perfect 
order, notice, and knowledge of his laws of this his realm, and utterly to 
extirp all and singular the sinister uses and customs differing from the 
same, and to bring his said subjects of this his realm and of his said 
dominion of Wales to an amicable concord and unity, hath by the deliberate 
advice, consent, and agreement of the lords spiritual and temporal and the 
commons in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the 
same ... , established that his said country or dominion of Wales shall be, 
stand, and continue forever from henceforth incorporated, united, and 
annexed to and with this his realm of England; and that all and singular 
person and persons born and to be born in the said ... dominion of Wales 
shall have, enjoy, and inherit all and singular freedoms, liberties, rights, 
privileges, and laws within this realm and other the king's dominions, as 
other the king's subjects naturally born within the same have, enjoy, and 
inherit; and that all and singular person and persons inheritable to any 
manors, lands, tenements, rents, reversions, services, or other 
hereditaments which shall descend after the feast of All Saints next coming 
within the said ... dominion of Wales, or within any particular lordship 
part or parcel of the said ... dominion of Wales, shall forever from and 
after the said feast of All Saints inherit and be inheritable to the same 
manors [etc.] ... after the English tenure, without division or partition, 
and after the form of the laws of this realm of England, and not after any 
tenure nor after the form of any Welsh laws or customs; and that the laws, 
ordinances, and statutes of this realm of England forever, and none other 
laws ... , from and after the said feast of All Saints ... , shall be had, 
used, practised, and executed in the said ... dominion of Wales and every 
part thereof in like manner, form, and order as they are and shall be ... 
executed in this realm and in such like manner and form as hereafter by this 
act shall be further established and ordained....[11]

Also be it enacted ... that all justices, commissioners, sheriffs, coroners 
... , and their lieutenants, and all other officers and ministers of the 
laws, shall proclaim and keep the sessions, courts, hundreds, leets, 
sheriff's courts, and all other courts in the English tongue, and all oaths 
of officers, juries, and inquests, and all other affidavits, verdicts, and 
wagers of law to be given and done in the English tongue; and also that from 
henceforth no person or persons that use the Welsh speech or language shall 
have or enjoy any manner office or fees within the realm of England, Wales, 
or other the king's dominions, upon pain of forfeiting the same offices or 
fees, unless he or they use and exercise the speech or language of 
English....[12]

                           Ibid., III, 563 f.: 27 Henry VIII, c. 26.

(K) Statute of Proclamations (1539)[13]

An act that proclamations made by the king shall be obeyed. Forasmuch as the 
king's most royal majesty, for divers considerations, by the advice of his 
council hath heretofore set forth divers and sundry his grace's 
proclamations, as well for and concerning divers and sundry articles of 
Christ's religion as for an unity and concord to be had amongst the loving 
and obedient subjects of this his realm and other his dominions, and also 
concerning the advancement of his commonwealth and good quiet of his people 
(which nevertheless divers and many froward, wilful, and obstinate persons 
have wilfully contemned and broken, not considering what a king by his royal 
power may do, and for lack of a direct statute and law to coerce offenders 
to obey the said proclamations ...); considering also that sudden causes and 
occasions fortune many times which do require speedy remedies, and that by 
abiding for a parliament in the meantime might happen great prejudice to 
ensue to the realm; and weighing also that his majesty, which by the kingly 
and regal power given him by God may do many things in such cases, should 
not be driven to extend the liberty and supremacy of his regal power and 
dignity by wilfulness of froward subjects: it is therefore thought in manner 
more than necessary that the king's highness of this realm for the time 
being, with the advice of his honourable council, should make and set forth 
proclamations for the good and politic order and governance of this his 
realm of England, Wales, and other his dominions, from time to time for the 
defence of his regal dignity and the advancement of his commonwealth and 
good quiet of his people, as the cases of necessity shall require; and that 
an ordinary law should be provided, by the assent of his majesty and 
parliament, for the due punishment, correction, and reformation of such 
offences and disobediences. Be it therefore enacted ... that always the king 
for the time being, with the advice of his honourable council, whose names 
hereafter followeth, or with the advice of the more part of them, may set 
forth at all times by authority of this act his proclamations, under such 
penalties and pains and of such sort as to his highness and his said 
honourable council or the more part of them shall see[m] necessary and 
requisite; and that those same shall be obeyed, observed, and kept as though 
they were made by act of parliament for the time in them limited, unless the 
king's highness dispense with them or any of them under his great seal.

Provided always that the words, meaning, and intent of this act be not 
understood, interpretate, construed, or extended that by virtue of it any of 
the king's liege people ... should have any of his or their inheritances, 
lawful possessions, offices, liberties, privileges, franchises, goods, or 
chattels taken from them ... , nor by virtue of the said act suffer any 
pains of death, other than shall be hereafter in this act declared; nor 
that, by any proclamation to be made by virtue of this act, any acts, common 
laws, standing at this present time in strength and force, nor yet any 
lawful or laudable customs of this realm ... shall be infringed, broken, or 
subverted; and specially all those acts standing this hour in force which 
have been made in the king's highness's time; but that every such person ... 
shall stand and be in the same state and condition, to every respect and 
purpose, as if this act or proviso had never been had or made ... , except 
such persons which shall offend any proclamation to be made by the king's 
highness, his heirs, or successors, for and concerning any kind of heresies 
against Christian religion....

And be it further enacted ... that, if any person or persons ... at any time 
hereafter do wilfully offend and break, or obstinately not observe and keep, 
any such proclamation ... , then all and every such offender or offenders — 
being thereof ... convicted by confession or lawful witness and proofs 
before the archbishop of Canterbury, metropolitan, the chancellor of 
England, the lord treasurer of England, the president of the king's most 
honourable council, the lord privy seal, the great chamberlain of England, 
[the] lord admiral, [the] lord steward or grand master, [the] lord 
chamberlain of the king's most honourable household, two other bishops being 
of the king's council (such as his grace shall appoint for the same), the 
secretary, the treasurer, and [the] controller of the king's most honourable 
household, the master of the horse, the two chief judges, and the master of 
the rolls for the time being, the chancellor of the augmentations, the 
chancellor of the duchy, the chief baron of the exchequer, the two general 
surveyors, the chancellor of the exchequer, the under-treasurer of the same, 
the treasurer of the king's chamber for the time being, in the star chamber 
at Westminster or elsewhere, or at least before the half of the number afore 
rehearsed, of which number the lord chancellor, the lord treasurer, the lord 
president of the king's most honourable council, the lord privy seal, the 
chamberlain of England, the lord admiral, the two chief judges for the time 
being, or two of them, shall be two — shall lose and pay such penalties, 
forfeitures of sums of money ... , and also suffer such imprisonment of his 
body, as shall be expressed, mentioned, and declared in any such 
proclamation....

                             Ibid, III, 726 f.: 31 Henry VIII, c. 8.

(L) Act Dissolving the Greater Monasteries (1539)

An act for dissolution of abbeys. Where divers and sundry abbots, priors, 
abbesses, prioresses, and other ecclesiastical governors and governesses of 
divers monasteries, abbacies, priories, nunneries, colleges, hospitals, 
houses of friars, and other religious and ecclesiastical houses and places 
within this our sovereign lord the king's realm of England and Wales, of 
their own free and voluntary minds, good wills, and assents, without 
constraint, coercion, or compulsion of any manner of person or persons, 
since the fourth day of February, the twenty-seventh year of the reign of 
our now most dread sovereign lord, by the due order and course of the common 
laws of this his realm of England, and by their sufficient writings of 
record under their convent and common seals, have severally given, granted, 
and by the same their writings severally confirmed all their said 
monasteries [etc.] ... , and all their sites, circuits, and precincts of the 
same, and all and singular their manors, lordships, granges, meses, lands, 
tenements, meadows, pastures, rents, reversions, services, woods, tithes, 
pensions, portions, churches, chapels, advowsons, patronage, annuities, 
rights, entries, conditions, commons, leets, courts, liberties, privileges, 
and franchises, appertaining or in any wise belonging to any such monastery 
[etc.] ... , to have and to hold all the said monasteries [etc.] ... , and 
all other the premises, to our said sovereign lord, his heirs and 
successors, forever; and the same their said monasteries [etc.] ... , and 
other the premises, voluntarily, as is aforesaid, have renounced, left, and 
forsaken ...: be it therefore enacted ... that the king, our sovereign lord, 
shall have, hold, possess, and enjoy to him, his heirs, and successors, 
forever all and singular such late monasteries [etc.] ... , which since the 
said fourth day of February ... have been dissolved ... , or by any other 
mean come to his highness; and by the same authority and in like manner 
shall have, hold, possess, and enjoy all the ... hereditaments which 
appertained or belonged to the said late monasteries [etc.] ... in as large 
and ample manner and form as the late abbots, priors, abbesses, prioresses, 
and other ecclesiastical governors and governesses of such late monasteries 
[etc.] ... had, held, or occupied ... their said late monasteries [etc.] ... 
at the time of the said dissolution ... , or by any other manner of mean 
coming of the same to the king's highness since the fourth day of February 
above specified.

And it is further enacted by the authority abovesaid that, not only all the 
said late monasteries [etc.] ... , but also all other monasteries [etc.] ... 
which hereafter shall happen to be dissolved ... , and also all the ... 
hereditaments, whatsoever they be, belonging or appertaining to the same or 
any of them, whensoever and as soon as they shall be dissolved ... , shall 
be vested, deemed, and adjudged by authority of this present parliament in 
the very actual and real seisin and possession of the king our sovereign 
lord, his heirs, and successors, forever....

And be it also enacted by authority aforesaid that all the said late 
monasteries [etc.] ... which be dissolved ... , except such thereof as be 
come to the king's hands by attainder or attainders of treason, and all the 
said monasteries [etc.] ... which hereafter shall happen to be dissolved ... 
, and all ... hereditaments, whatsoever they be, belonging to the same or to 
any of them, except such thereof which shall happen to come to the king's 
highness by attainder or attainders of treason, shall be in the order, 
survey, and governance of our said sovereign lord the king's court of 
augmentations of the revenues of his crown....

                           Ibid., III, 733 f.: 31 Henry VIII, c. 13.

(M) Statute of the Six Articles (1539)

An act abolishing diversity in opinions. Where the king's most excellent 
majesty is by God's law supreme head immediately under Him of this whole 
Church and Congregation of England, intending the conservation of the same 
Church and Congregation in a true, sincere, and uniform doctrine of Christ's 
religion ... , and ... hath therefore caused and commanded this his most 
high court of parliament, for sundry and many urgent causes and 
considerations, to be at this time summoned, and also a synod and 
convocation of all the archbishops, bishops, and other learned men of the 
clergy of this his realm to be in like manner assembled; and forasmuch as in 
the said parliament, synod, and convocation there were certain articles, 
matters, and questions proponed and set forth touching Christian religion 
...: whereupon, after a great and long deliberate and advised disputation 
and consultation had and made concerning the said articles, as well by the 
consent of the king's highness as by the assent of the lords spiritual and 
temporal and other learned men of his clergy in their convocation, and by 
the consent of the commons in this present parliament assembled, it was and 
is finally resolved, accorded, and agreed in manner and form following — 
that is to say, first, that in the most blessed sacrament of the altar, by 
the strength and efficacy of Christ's mighty word, it being spoken by the 
priest, is present really, under the form of bread and wine, the natural 
body and blood of our Saviour Jesu Christ, conceived of the Virgin Mary, and 
that after the consecration there remaineth no substance of bread and wine, 
nor any other substance but the substance of Christ, God and man; secondly, 
that communion in both kinds is not necessary ad salutem by the law of God 
to all persons, and that it is to be believed and not doubted of but that in 
the flesh under form of bread is the very blood, and with the blood under 
form of wine is the very flesh, as well apart as though they were both 
together; thirdly, that priests, after the order of priesthood received as 
afore, may not marry by the law of God; fourthly, that vows of chastity or 
widowhood by man or woman made to God advisedly ought to be observed by the 
law of God, and that it exempteth them from other liberties of Christian 
people which without that they might enjoy; fifthly, that it is meet and 
necessary that private masses be continued and admitted in this the king's 
English Church and Congregation, as whereby good Christian people ordering 
themselves accordingly do receive both godly and goodly consolations and 
benefits, and it is agreeable also to God's law; sixthly, that auricular 
confession is expedient and necessary to be retained and continued, used, 
and frequented, in the Church of God....

And be it further enacted ... that, if any person or persons ... contemn or 
contemptuously refuse, deny, or abstain to be confessed at the time commonly 
accustomed within this realm and Church of England, or contemn or 
contemptuously refuse, deny, or abstain to receive the holy and blessed 
sacrament abovesaid at the time commonly used and accustomed for the same, 
that then every such offender ... shall suffer such imprisonment and make 
such fine and ransom to the king our sovereign lord and his heirs as by his 
highness or by his or their council shall be ordered and adjudged in that 
behalf; and if any such offender ... do eftsoons[14] ... refuse ... to be 
confessed or to be communicate ... , that then every such offence shall be 
deemed and adjudged felony, and the offender ... shall suffer pains of 
death, and lose and forfeit all his ... goods, lands, and tenements, as in 
cases of felony....

                           Ibid., III, 739 f.: 31 Henry VIII, c. 14.

(N) Third Act of Succession (1543)[15]

An act concerning the establishment of the king's majesty's succession in 
the imperial crown of the realm.... Forasmuch as our said most dread 
sovereign lord the king, upon good and just grounds and causes, intendeth by 
God's grace to make a voyage royal in his majesty's most royal person into 
the realm of France against his ancient enemy the French king, his highness, 
most prudently and wisely considering and calling to his remembrance how 
this realm standeth at this present time in the case of succession ... , 
recognizing and knowledging also that it is the only pleasure and will of 
Almighty God how long his highness or his said entirely beloved son Prince 
Edward shall live, and whether the said prince shall have heirs of his body 
lawfully begotten or not, or whether his highness shall have heirs begotten 
and procreated between his majesty and his said most dear and entirely 
beloved wife, Queen Katherine that now is, or any lawful heirs and issues 
hereafter of his own body begotten by any other his lawful wife; and albeit 
that the king's most excellent majesty, for default of such heirs as be 
inheritable by the said act, might ... give and dispose the said imperial 
crown and other the premises by his letters patents under his great seal, or 
by his last will in writing signed with his most gracious hand, to any 
person or persons of such estate therein as should please his highness to 
limit and appoint; yet to the intent that his majesty's disposition and mind 
therein should be openly declared and manifestly known and notified as well 
to the lords spiritual and temporal as to all other his loving and obedient 
subjects of this his realm, to the intent that their assent and consent 
might appear to concur with thus far as followeth of his majesty's 
declaration in this behalf: his majesty therefore thinketh convenient, afore 
his departure beyond the seas, that it be enacted ... that, in case it shall 
happen to the king's majesty and the said excellent prince, his yet only son 
... and heir apparent, to decease without heir of either of their bodies 
lawfully begotten (as God defend!) ... , that then the said imperial crown 
and all other the premises shall be to the lady Mary, the king's highness's 
daughter and to the heirs of the body of the same lady Mary lawfully 
begotten, with such conditions as by his highness shall be limited by his 
letters patents under his great seal, or by his majesty's last will in 
writing signed with his gracious hand; and for default of such issue, the 
said imperial crown and other the premises shall be to the lady Elizabeth, 
the king's second daughter, and to the heirs of the body of the said lady 
Elizabeth lawfully begotten, with such conditions [etc.] ...[16 ]

                              Ibid., III, 955: 35 Henry VIII, c. 1.



[1] 3 Henry VII, c. I (no. 73B).

[2] No. 64F.

[3] Practice.

[4] The preceding document.

[5] 23 Henry VIII, c. 20, which had provisionally restrained the payment of 
annates.

[6] No. 64F.

[7] The king's heirs are enumerated in exact order of succession: first the 
heirs male and then the heirs female, beginning with Elizabeth.

[8] See no. 64E; and for comment on the law of uses, Holdsworth, History of 
English Law, IV, 449-73.

[9] Other articles make specific application of this principle and establish 
a number of exceptions.

[10] 22 Henry VIII, c. 12.

[11] The next fifteen sections describe the organization of counties, 
lordships, towns, parishes, and the like in the different parts of Wales.

[12] Section 22 provides for the representation of Welsh counties and 
boroughs in the English house of commons, allotting two knights to the 
county of Monmouth, one knight to each of the other counties, and one 
burgess to each of the county towns except Merioneth.

[13] Repealed immediately after the death of Henry VIII as a bid for 
popularity on the part of Edward VI's council. On the significance of the 
statute, see E. R. Adair, in the English Historical Review, XXXII, 34 f.; 
also Pickthorn, Early Tudor Government, Henry VIII, pp. 414 f.

[14] Again.

[15] A second Act of Succession (1536), necessitated by the king's marriage 
to Jane Seymour, had included additional provisions, some of which are here 
rehearsed.

[16] In default of the heirs mentioned, the king might determine the 
succession by his letters patent or will, as provided in the act of 1536 
(cf. no. 76).