4.
Chapuys to Charles V.
The clergy are more conscious every day of the great error they committed in acknowledging the King as sovereign of the Church, and they are urgent in Parliament to retract it. Otherwise they say they will not pay a penny of the 400,000 crowns. What will be the issue no one knows. …
5.
Chapuys to Charles V.
… Since the ecclesiastics have obtained exemption from the Præmunire, the laity, understanding that the King would make his account to draw from them a large sum, insisted that the King should give them a similar exemption, showing that they had not incurred forfeiture; and if they had, that, in consideration of the large sums of money they had given him heretofore, they ought to be absolved. As the King would not listen to them for some days, there was great murmuring among them in the Chamber of the Commons, where it was publicly said, in the presence of some of the Privy Council, that the King had burdened and oppressed his kingdom with more imposts and exactions than any three or four of his predecessors, and he ought to consider that the strength of the King lay in the affections of his subjects. And many instances were alleged of the inconveniences which had happened to princes through ill-treatment of their subjects. On learning this, the King granted the exemption, which was published in Parliament on Wednesday last, without any reservation. …
6.
Chapuys to Charles V.
… Four days ago the clergy of York and Durham sent to the King a strong protestation against the supremacy which he pretended to have over them. The province of Canterbury have done the same, of which I send a copy to Granvelle. The King is greatly displeased. …
7.
Chapuys to Charles V.
Giving an account of a visit of Henry VIII.'s Councillors to Katherine of Arragon to persuade her to give in. Katherine says
