Marginalia1550. cause your former doyngs to be reformed and punished to the exaumple of others: yet for that we woulde bothe the world and your selfe also should know that we delite more in clemency than in the straight administration of iustice, we haue vouchsafed not onely to addresse vnto you these our letters, but also to send eftsoones vnto you foure of our priuy counsaile with certaine articles: which beyng by vs with the aduise of our sayd Counsaile considered, we thinke requisite for sondry considerations to be subscribed by you, and therfore woulde and commaunde you to subscribe the sayd Articles vpon payne of incurryng such punishment and penalties, as by our lawes may be put vpon you for not doyng the same. Geuen at our palace of Westminster the 8. day of Iuly the 4. yere of our raigne.

With this letter addressed from the kyng & his Counsail, these articles also were deliuered to the bishop of Winchester here followyng.

MarginaliaThe byshops aunswere to this article in the margent. W Hereas I Steuen bishop of Winchester haue bene suspected as one to much fauouring the bishop of Romes authoritie, decrees, and ordinaunces, and as one that did not approue or allow the kings maiestes procedings in alteration of certayne rites in religion, was conuented before the kings highnes Counsaile and admonished therof: and hauing certayne thinges appoynted for me to doe and preach for my declaration, haue not done that as I ought to do, althoughe I promised to do the same, wherby I haue not onely incurred the kings maiesties indignation, but also diuers of hys highnes subiectes haue by myne example taken incouragement (as his graces counsaile is certainly enformed) to repine at his maiesties most godly procedinges: I am right sory therfore and acknowledge my selfe condignly to haue bene punished, and do most hartely thanke his maiesty, that of hys great clemency it hath pleased his highnesse to deale with me, not accordyng to rigour, but mercy. And to the entent it may appeare to the world how little I do repyne at his highnes doyngs, which be in religion most godly and to the cōmon wealth most profitable, I do affirme & say freely of myne owne will without any compulsion as ensueth.

MarginaliaThe kinges supremacie. 1. first, that by the law of God and the authoritie of scriptures the kinges maiesty and his successors are the supreme heds of the churches of England and also of Ireland.

MarginaliaThe kinges authoritie in dispensing with holy dayes and fastyng dayes or in appointing the same. 2. Item, that the appoynting of holydayes or fasting days, as Lent, imber dayes, or any such lyke, or to dispence therewith, is in the kings maiesties autority and power: and his highnes as supreme hed of the said churches of England and Ireland and gouernour therof, may appointe the maner and tyme of the holydayes and fasting dayes, or dispence therewith as to his wisdome shall seme most conuenient for the honour of God and the wealth of this realme.

MarginaliaThe kinges booke of procedinges. 3. Item, that the kings maiesty hath most Christianly and godly set forth by and with the consent of the wholl parliament, a deuout and christian booke of seruice of the church to be frequented in the church, which booke is to be accepted and allowed of all bishops, pastours, curates, and all ministers ecclesiasticall of the realme of england, and so of him to be declared and commended in all places where he shall fortune to preach or speake to the people of it, that it is a godly and christian booke and order, and to be allowed, accepted, and obserued of all the kings maiesties true subiects.

MarginaliaThe kinges full authoritie in hys tender age. 4. I do acknowledge the kings maiesty that now is, (whose lyfe God long preserue) to be my soueraigne lord and supreme hed vnder Christ to me as a bishop of this realm, and naturall subiect to his maiesty: and now in this hys yong & tender age to be my full and entire kyng, and that I and all other his highnes subiects are bound to obey all hys maiesties proclamations, statutes, lawes, and commaundementes made, prouulgate and set forth in this his highnes yong age as well as thoughe his highnes were at this present 30. or 40. yeres old.

MarginaliaAbrogation of the vi. Articles. 5. Item, I confesse and acknowledge that the statute commonly called the statute of six articles, for iust causes and groundes, is by authoritie of parliament repealed and disanulled.

MarginaliaThe kinges iurisdiction to alter and correct abuses ecclesiasticall. 6. Item, that his maiestie and his successors haue authority in the said churches of England and also of Ireland to alter, reforme, correct, and amend all errours and abuses and all rites and ceremonies ecclesiasticall, as shall seeme from time to time to his highnes and his successors most conuenient for the edification of his people, so that the same alteration be not contrary or repugnant to the scripture and lawe of God.

MarginaliaSubscriptiō of Winchest. to the articles aforesayd. Subscribed by Steuen Winchester,
with the testimoniall handes of the
counsail to the same.

MarginaliaWinchester denieth to subscribe to the first beginning of these Articles. To these Articles afore specified, although Winchester with his owne hand did subscribe, grauntyng and consentyng to the supremacie of the kyng as well then beyng as of his successours to come: yet because he stoocke so much in the first pointe touchyng his submission, and would in no case subscribe to the same, but onely made his aunswere in the margent (as is aboue noted) it was therfore thought good to the kyng, that the Maister of the horse, and Maister Secretary Peter should repaire vnto him agayne with the same request of submission, exhortyng him to looke better vpon it: and in case the wordes semed to sore, then to referre it vnto him selfe in what sorte & with what wordes he should deuise to submit him, that vppon the acknowledge of his fault, the Kinges highnes might extende his mercy and liberalitie towardes him as it was determined. Which was the xj. day of Iune, the yeare abouesayd.

When the Maister of the horse and Secretary Peter had bene with him in the Tower accordyng to their Commission, returnyng from him agayn they declared vnto the kyng and his Counsaile how precisely the sayd Byshop stode in iustification of him selfe, that he had neuer offended the Kynges Maiestye: wherfore he vtterly refused to make any submission at all. For the more suretie of whiche denyall, it was agreed that a new booke of Articles should be deuised, wherwith the sayd Maister of the horse and M. Secretary Peter should repayre vnto him agayne, and for the more autentike procedyng with him, they to haue with them a Diuine and a temporall Lawyer, which were the Byshop of London, and Maister Goodricke.

w Here as I Steuen Byshop of Winchester haue bene suspected as one that dyd not approue or allowe the kinges maiesties procedings in alteration of certain rites in Religion, and was conuented before the kinges highnes Counsaill, and admonished thereof, and hauing certain thinges appointed for me to doe and preach for my declaration, haue not done therein as I ought to do, whereby I haue deserued his maiesties displeasure: I am right sory therfore.MarginaliaWinchester agayne required to submitte him selfe. And to the intent it maye appeare to the world howe lytle I do repyne at his highnes doyngs, which be in religion most godly and to the cōmon wealth most profitable, I do affirme as followeth.

MarginaliaGood reason and ground in suppressing houses of religion. 1. first, that the late kyng of moste famous memory kyng Henry the eight, our late soueraigne Lorde, iustlye and of good reason and grounde, hath taken awaye and caused to be suppressed and defaced, all monasteries and religious houses and all conuenticles and conuentes of Monkes, Friers, Nonnes, Chanons, Bonhoms, and other persons called religious, and that the same beyng so dissolued, the persones therein bound and professed to obedience to a persone, place, habite, and other supersticious rites and ceremonies, vppon that dissolution and order appoynted by the kinges maiesties authoritie, as supreme head of the church, are clerely released and acquited of those vowes and professions, and at their full libertie as though those vnwittie & supersticious vowes had neuer bene made.

MarginaliaMariages permitted by Gods lawe, stand good without the Popes dispensation. 2. Item, that any person may lawfully marye without any dispensation from the Byshop of Rome or any other man with any person whom it is not prohibited to contract matrimony by the lawe leuiticall.

MarginaliaVowes and going of pilgrimage. 3. Item, that the vowing and going of pilgrimaige to Images or to the bones and reliques of any sainctes hath bene supersticiously vsed and cause of much wickednes and Idolatrie, and therfore iustlye abolished by the sayd late king of famous memorie, and the Images and reliques so abused, haue bene of great and godly consideracions defaced and destroyd.

MarginaliaGadding about with S. Nicholas, &c. 4. Item, that the coūterfeyting of S. Nicolas, S. Clement, S. Katherine, and S. Edmonde by Children heretofore brought into the Church, was a mere mockerye & folishnes, and therfore iustly abolished and taken away.

MarginaliaScriptures to be in the vulgare tounge. 5. Item, it is conuenient and godly that the scripture of the old Testament and newe, that is the hole Bible, be had in Englishe and published to be read of euery man, and that who soeuer doth repell and dehorte men from the reading therof, doth euell and damnably.

6. Item, that the sayd late King of iust ground and reason dyd receaue into his handes the authority and disposition of chauntries and such liuinges as were giuen for the maintenaūce of priuate masses, and did well chaunge diuers of them to other vses.

MarginaliaChauntrey Masses well put downe. 7. Also the kinges maiestie that now is by the aduise and consent of the Parliament dyd vpon iuste grounde and reason, suppresse, abolish, and take away the sayd chauntryes and such other liuinges as were vsed and occupied for maintenaunce of priuate masses, and masses satisfactory, for the sowles of them which are dead, or finding of obites, lights, or other like things. MarginaliaThe Masse full of abuses and well chaūged to the Cōmunion. The masse that was wont to be sayde of priestes