dem sinceram perpetuamq; animi devotionem, fidem, observantiam, honorem, cultum, reverentiam præstemus, sed etiam de eadem fide et observantia nostra rationem quotiescunq; postulabitur reddamus, et palam omnibus si res poscat libentissime testemur: Norint universi ad quos præsens scriptum pervenit, quod nos Priores et Conventus fratrum, viz. prædicatoris Langley Regis ordinis Sancti Dominici, Minorum de Ailsbury Ordinis Sancti Francisci, prædicatorum Dunstopliæ Ordinis antedicti, Minorum de Bedford Ordinis Sancti Francisci, Fratrum Carmelitarum de Hechyng Ordinis Beatæ Mariæ, Minorum de Morea Ordinis Sancti Francisci, uno ore et voce, atque unanimi omnium et singulorum consensu et assensu, hoc scripto nostro sub sigillis nostris communibus, et in domibus nostris capitularibus dato, pro nobis et successoribus nostris omnibus singulis, in perpetuum profitemur, testamur et fideliter promittimus et spondemus, nos dictos Priores et Conventus et Successores nostros, omnes et singulos, integram, inviolatam, sinceram perpetuamq; fidem, observantiam et obedientiam semper præstituros erga Dominum Regem nostrum Henricum Octavum, et erga Serenissimam Reginam Annam Uxorem ejusdem, et erga castum Sanctumq; Matrimonium nuper non solum inter eosdem juste et legitime contractum, ratum et consummatum, sed etiam tam in duabus Convocationibus Cleri, quam in Parliamento Dominorum Spiritualium et Temporalium atq; Communium in eodem Parliamento Congregatorum et præsentum determinatum, et per Thomam Cantuarien. Episcopum solenniter confirmatum, et erga quamcunq; aliam ejusdem Henrici Regis nostri Uxorem, post mortem prædictæ Annæ nunc Uxoris suæ legitimæ ducendam, et erga sobolem dicti Domini Regis Henrici ex prædicta Anna legitime tam progenitam quam progignendam, et erga sobolem dicti Domini Regis ex alia quacunq; legitima Uxore post mortem ejusdem Annæ legitime progignendam, et quod eadem populo notificabimus, prædicabimus et suadebimus, ubicunq; dabitur locus et occasio. Item, quod confirmatum ratumq; habemus semperq; perpetuo habituri sumus, quod prædictus Rex noster Henricus est Caput Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ. Item, quod Episcopus Romanus, qui in suis Bullis Papæ nomen ususpat et summi Pontificis Principatum sibi arrogat, nihilo majoris neq; Auctoritatis aut jurisdictionis habendus sit, quam cæteri quivis Episcopi in Anglia alibi in sua cujusq; Diocese. Item, quod soli dicto Domino Regi et Successoribus suis adhærebimus, atq; ejus et Proclamationes, insuper omnes Angliæ leges atque etiam Statuta omnia, in Parliamento et per Parliamentum decreta, confirmata, stabilita

et ratificata, perpetuo manutenebimus, Episcopi Romani legibus, decretis et Canonibus, si qui contra legem Divinam et Sacram Scripturam esse invenientur, in perpetuum renunciantes. Item, quod nullus nostrum omnium in ulla vel privata vel publica concione quicquam ex Sacris Scripturis desumptum ad alienum sensum detorquere præsumet, sed quisquis Christum ejusq; vera, prædicabit Catholice et Orthodoxe. Item, quod unusquisq; in suis orationibus et comprecationibus de more faciendis, primum omnium Regem, tanquam Supremum Caput Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ, Deo et populi precibus commendabit; deinde Reginam cum sua sobole, tum demum Archiepiscopam Cantuarien. cum cæteris Cleri Ordinibus, prout videbitur. Item, quod omnes et singuli prædicti Priores et Conventus et Successores nostri, Conscientiæ et Jurisjurandi Sacro firmiter obligamur, quod omnia et singula prædicta fideliter et in perpetuum observabimus. In cujus rei testimonium huic Instrumento, vel scripto nostro, communia sigilla nostra appendimus, et nostra nomina propria quisq; manu subscripsimus, Sacris in Domibus nostris Capitularibus, die quinto Mensis Maii, Anno Christi millesimo quingentesimo trigesimo quarto, Regni vero Regis nostri Henrici Octavi vicesimo sexto.

Ego Frater Richardus Ingerth Prior Conventus, et Prædicator Langley Regis, cum consensu omnium Fratrum Conventus prædicti, non coactus sed sponte subscribo.

Ego Frater Joannes Cotton, Prior Conventus Prædicatorum Dunstabliæ, cum assensu omnium Fratrum Conventus prædicti, non coactus sed sponte subscribo.

Ego Frater Edwardus Tryley Sacræ Theologiæ Bacalaureus, et Conventus Ailsberiæ, cum assensu omnium Fratrum Conventus prædicti, non coactus sed sponte subscribo.

Ego Frater Joannes Wyatt, Sacræ Theologiæ Doctor Conventus Bed. una cum assensu omnium Fratium, sponte hoc scribo et non coactus.

Ego Frater Joannes Sut- Ego Frater Joannes Chapler, Prior Conventus Car- man, Sacræ Theologiæ Ba. melitarum Hicchiæ, cum calaureus, Magister immerito Assensu omnium Fratrum Conventus Mare, cnm assenConventus prædicti, non su omnium Fratrum, mea coactus sed sponte subscribo. sponte subscribo.

Another Declaration to the same purpose, Mutatis Mutandis, is made by the Prioress of Bedford in Kent, of the Order of St. Dominick, May 4, 1534. Regn. vicesimo sexto. Rot. Clausa.

LI.

A Mandate for the Consecration of a Suffragan Bishop.
(Rot. Pat. 2. par. 27 Regni.)

REX Reverendissimo in Christo Patri et perdilecto Consiliario nostro Thomæ Cantuariensi Episcopo salutem. Reverendus Pater et dilectus Consiliarius noster Richardus Norvicensis Episcopus nobis significavit, quod Diocesis sua Episcopi Suffraganei solatio, qui suæ sollicitudinis partem sustinere consuevit, destituta est et existit; et ideo reverendos Patres Gregorium Abbatem Monasterii Beatæ Mariæ de Leystone, et Thomam Mannynge Priorem Monasterii Beatæ Mariæ de Butley, Norvicen. Dioc. Ordine Sacerdotali rite insignitos, et legitimo Matrimonio natos, et in ætate legitima constitutos, virosq; in Spiritualibus et Temporalibus multum circumspectos, quibus de Canonicis nihil obviant instituta, quo minus (ut asserunt) ad Episcopalem Suffraganei Dignitatem admitti possint et deberent, nobis per suas literas suo magno sigillo munitas præsentavit, humiliter et devote supplicans, quatenus nos alterum ipsorum sic præsentatorum ad aliquam sedem Episcopi Suffraganei infra Provinciam Cantuariensem existentem nominare, ipsique sic nominato stylum, Titulum et Dignitatem hujusmodi sedis donare dignaremur: unde nos ex gratia nostra speciali et mero motu nostris, dictum Reverendum Patrem Thomam Manynnge Priorem Monasterii Beatæ Mariæ de Butley prædicti, alterum ex dictis, Præsentamus in Episcopum Suffraganeum Sedis Gips vici Norvicen. Dioces. antedictæ, nominamus, eique Stilum, Titulum et Dignitatem ejusdem Sedis Episcopi Suffraganei damus et conferimus. Atque hæc vobis tenore præsentamus, significamus, requirentes vos, quatenus eundem Patrem sic per nos nominatum, in Episcopum Suffraganeum ejusdem Sedis Gips vici consecretis, eique Benedictionem ac omnia Episcopalia Insignia conferatis; cæteraq; omnia et singula quæ vestro in hac parte incumbunt officio pastorali, juxta modum et formam Statuti Parliamenti in vicesimo sexto Anno Regni nostri apud Westmonasterium nuper editi peragetis.

T. R. apud Westm. 6. die Martii 27. Regn.

AD LIBRUM TERTIUM.

I.

Instructions for the General Visitation of the Monasteries. (Cotton Libr. Cleop. E. 4.)

Articuli Regiæ Inquisitionis, in Monasticam vitam agentes, exponendi, et præcipue in exemptos a jurisdictione Diocæsana, jam tantum Regiæ Majestati et ejus jurisdictioni subditos et subjectos, ac hujus inclyti sui Regni Statutis et legibus, nullisq; aliis penitus, obnoxios et astrictos.

1. In primis; Whether Divine Service be solemnly sung, said, observed, and kept in this Monastery, according to the Number and the Abilities thereof, by Night and by Day, in due time and hours? and how many be present commonly at Mattins, and other Service, and who be absent, and so accustomed to be, without cause or sickness?

2. Item; How many Monks, Cannons Regulars, or Nuns, be within this Monastery, and how many there onght to be, and whether the number be compleat according to the Founder's Will, or the Statutes, Ordinances, and laudable custom of this House, and whether the number be augmented or diminished now of late?

3. Item; Who were the first Founders of this House? Fundationem primam, secundum, tertiam, et quotquot habent,

exhibeant.

4. Item; Whether this House hath had any encrease of Lands given to it sithence the first Foundation thereof? by whom? by how many? and when?

5. Item; To what Sum of Mony those Revenues and Rents of this House do extend and amount unto yearly? 6. Item; Whether this House was ever translated from

A COLLECTION OF RECORDS.

167

one habit and order to another? by whose Authority? and for what Cause?

Translationem exhibeant.

7. Item; How the Lands and Possessions appertaining unto this Monastery, given by the first Founder, and all other Lands given sithence the first Foundation, were granted, given, and established, and so first brought to Morte main? whether by the only Authority of the Giver, or by the Authorization of the Prince for that time reigning, and by what tenour and form ye hold them?

Donationem et Confirmationem exhibeant.

8. Item; What evidence have you to shew for all and singular your Lands, Manors, Tenements, and other your Possessions Mortisate, and given unto you, and this your Monastery?

9. Item; Wherefore, for what Causes and Considerations ye were exempt from your Diocesan? and what was your Suggestion and Motive at the obtaining of your said Exemption?

Exemptionem exhibeant.

10. Item; Whether ye have any private, peculiar, or local Statutes, Confirmations, Ordinances, or Rules, made only for the behoof, good order, and singular weal of this House, besides the Rules of your Profession? and whether they were made either by your Founders before your Exemption, or by the good Fathers of this House, with the whole consent of the Brethren, being sithence your exemption to what use they were made, and how ye observe them?

:

Statuta illa localia, et alia quotquot habent, exhibeant.

11. Item; By what way and form the Master of this House was elected and chosen? And whether all the Brethren having, or ought to have by the Law, Statutes, or laudable custom of this House, Voices in the Election, were present in the same Election, or lawfully called or cited to it?

12. Item; Whether any Persons Excommunicate, Suspended, or Interdicted, did give Voices in the same Election?

13. Item; Within what time after the Election was made and done, the Master of this House was confirmed? and by whom?

14. Item; Whether unto the Confirmation, all that had Interest, or that would object against the same, were lawfully cited, monished, and called?

Exhibeat Electionem, Confirmationem, et Titulum suæ

Incumbentiæ.