Abbeys and Alien Superiors Act 1307

Statutum De Apportis Religiosorum, madeAnno 35 EDW. I. Stat. 1. and Anno Dom. 1307a.

Abbeys and Alien Superiors Act 1307

1307 (35 Edw. 1) C A P. I.

The Causes of Erection of Abbies. Impositions set by Priors Aliens.

''2 Inst. 580. 25 Ed. 3. stat. 6. giving King and Lords Power to present to Benefices of their own and Ancestors Foundation.'' ''Hob. 148'' OF late it came to the Knowledge of our Lord the King, by the grievous Complaint of the honourable Persons, Lords, and other Noblemen of his Realm, that whereas Monasteries, Priories, and other Religious Houses were founded to the Honour and Glory of God, and the Advancement of the Holy Church, by the King and his Progenitors, and by the said Noblemen and their Ancestors,

(2) and a very great Portion of Lands and Tenements have been given by them to the said Monasteries, Priories, and Houses, and the Religious Men serving God in them, to the Intent thatClerks and Laymen might be admitted in such Monasteries, Priories, and Religious Houses, according to their sufficient Ability, and that sick and feeble Men might be maintained, Hospitality, Almsgiving, and other charitable Deeds might be done, and that in them Prayers might be said for the Souls of the said Founders and their Heirs;

(3) the Abbots, Priors, and Governours of the said Houses, and certain Aliens their Superiours, as the Abbots and Priors of Cestercienses, and Pemonstratenses, and of the Order of St. Augustine, and St. Benedict, and many more of other Religion and Order, have at their own Pleasure set divers unwonted, heavy and importable Tallages, Payments, and Impositions upon every of the said Monasteries and Houses in Subjection unto them in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, without the Privity of our Lord the King and his Nobility, contrary to the Laws and Customs of the said Realm;

(4) and thereby the Number of Religious Persons, and other Servants in the said Houses and Religious Places being oppressed by such Tallages, Payments, and Impositions, the Service of God is diminished, Alms being not given to the Poor, the Sick, and Feeble, the Healths of the Living and the Souls of the Dead be miserably defrauded, Hospitality, Almsgiving, and other godly Deeds do cease;

(5) and so that which in Times past was charitably given to godly Uses, and to the Increase of the Service of God, is now converted to an evil End; by Permission whereof there groweth great Scandal to the People, and infinite Losses and Disheritances are like to ensue to the Founders of the said Houses and their Heirs, unless speedy and sufficient Remedy be provided to redress so many and grievous Detriments.

II. Wherefore our foresaid Lord the King, considering that it would be very prejudicial to him and his People if he should any longer suffer so great Losses and Injuries to be winked at, and therefore being willing to maintain and defend the Monasteries, Priories, and other Religious Houses erected in his Kingdom, and in all Lands subject to his Dominion,* and from henceforth to provide sufficient Remedy to reform such Oppressions, as he is bound," 'by the Counsel of his Earls, Barons, Great Men, and other Nobles of his Kingdom in his Parliament holden at Westminster, in the five and thirtieth Year of his Reign, hath ordained and enacted,