Page:Church and State under the Tudors.djvu/112

 objected, 'for the great slander which might thereupon ensue,' and it was withdrawn in consequence.

Much stress has been laid by certain writers upon this transaction as showing the greatness of the power which Convocation still retained, when it thought fit to use it. When it is considered how small a matter this was in comparison with the innumerable larger ones mentioned in the course of this chapter, and which were passed, either without the concurrence of the clergy, or in the teeth of their opposition, it will be seen at once how weak a case those writers must have when they make so great a matter out of it. Such as it is it avails them nothing, since another bill with the same object was passed only three years later—to all appearance unimpeded by Convocation. The probable explanation is simply that the King, who had just insisted in the Six Articles on the continued celibacy of the clergy, had not quite made up his mind as to whether these chancellors, amphibious beings as they were, half clergy and half lawyers, were or were not to be included in the ranks of the former, as hitherto they always had been; and thus it was not yet determinedly 'the King's will,' which was at this time the measure of the action of Convocation even more certainly than of that of Parliament.

The year 1543 was distinguished by the publication of the famous 'King's book, a necessary doctrine and erudition for any Christian man.'

There was a long and busy session of both Parliament and Convocation. The Acts passed by the former, however, having reference to our subject are but few. The most important of them was the 34 and 35 Hen. VIII. c. 1, called 'an Act for the advancement of true