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CHURCH AND STATE UNDER THE TUDORS

interdictions, or any other process or compulsories, shall be by any of the prelates, or other spiritual fathers of this region, nor by any of their ministers or substitutes, be at any time or times hereafter published, executed, nor divulged, nor suffered to be published, executed, or divulged in any manner of ways.

Rol. Parl.

Memorand. Quod nono die Jidii, anno regni regis Henrici vicesimo quinto, idem dominus rex per literas suas patentes sub magno sigillo suo sigillat. Actum predichim ratificavit & confirmavit, et actui illi assensum suum regium dedit, prout per easdem literas patentes, cujus tenor sequitur in hæc verba, magis apertè constat.

Ratified and confirmed by 25 H. 8. c. 20. f. 2.

Then follows the ratification in form, with the act recited at large.


24 HENRY VIII.

Cap. XII.

For the restraint of appeals.

The power, pre-eminence and authority of the King of England.

Where by divers sundry old authentick 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; (2) unto whom a body politick, compact of all sorts and degrees of people, divided in terms, and by names of spiritualty and temporalty, been bounden and owen to bear, next to God, a natural and humble obedience; (3) 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, resiants, 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

The power, learning and wisdom of the body spiritual

potentates of the world; (4) the body spiritual whereof having power, when any cause of the law divine happened to come in question, or of spiritual learning, then it was declared, interpreted, and shelved by that part of the said body politick, called the spiritualty, now being usually called the English church, which always hath been reputed, and also found of that sort, that both for knowledge, integrity and sufficiency of number, it hath been always thought, and is also at this hour, sufficient and meet of it self without the intermeddling of any exterior person or persons, to declare and determine all such doubts, and to administer all such