Page:Ruffhead - The Statutes at Large - vol 2.djvu/287

 A. D. 1535. Anno vicefimo feptimo Henrici VIII. C. 28. 249 . !! oth< 1 Pi r(i n i, I', r the Payment of fuch Sums of Money as they (land bounden to piy 1111 Part thereof. And forafmuch as the clear yearly Value of all the laid Monaflerii, Priorio nid otlu-r Religious Houfca in th is Realm, is certified into the King's Exchequer, fl the Hooks ol the yeaily Valuation of all the Spiritual Pofleflion of this Realm, amongil which (hall and may appeal the Certainty and Number of fuch fmall and little Religioi i Houl, as have not in incuts, Rents, Tythcs, Portions and other Hereditaments, above the laid clear yearly Value hunJrcd Pounds : VI. Be it therefore enacted by Authority aforefaid, That the King's Highnefs fhall have and enjoy, ac- Th? King null cording to this Act, the actual and real Pofleflion of all and lingular fuch Monafteries, Priories and other !', 1T i " he ld ! ujl us Houfes, as (hall appear by th • faid Certificate remaining in the King's Exchequer, not to have jJjEr J" ids, Tenements, Rents, Tithes, Portions and other Hereditaments, above the faid clear yearly Va- l r ]. of two hundred Pounds, to that his Highnefs may lawfully give, grant and difpofe them, or any of them, at his Will and Pleafure, to the Honour of God, and the Wealth of this Realm, without farther [nquifttions or Offices to be had or found for the fame. In Coniideration of which Premifles to be had to his Highnefs, and to his Heirs, as is aforefaid, his Majefty is plcafed and contented, of his mod excellent Charity, to provide to every chief Head and Go- vernor of every fuch Religious Houfc, during their Lives, fuch yearly Penfions ana Benefices as for their Degrees and Qualities (hall be rcafonable and convenient, wherein his Highnefs will have moft tender Rc- to fuch of the faid chief Governors, as well and truly prelervc and keep the Goods and Ornaments of their I loufes, to the Ule of his Grace, without Spoil, Wade, or embezling the fame ; and alio his Ma- jefty will ordain and provide, that the Covents of every fuch Religious Houfe (nail have their Capacities, if they will, to live honeftly and virtuoufly abroad, and Come convenient Charity difpofed to them towards their Living, or elfe fhall be committed to fuch honourable great Monafteries of this Realm wherein good Religion is obferved, as fhall be limited by his Highnefs, there to live religioufly during their Lives; and it is ordained by the Authority aforefaid, that the chief Governors and Covents of fuch honourable great Monafteries (hall take and accept into their Houfes from Time to Time, fuch Number of the Perfons of the faid Covents as fhall be affigned and appointed by the King's Highnefs, and keep them religioufly, during their Lives, within their faid Monafteries, in like Manner and Form as the Covents of fuch great Monafteries be ordered and kept. Provided always, That all Archbifhops, Bifhops and other Perfons which be or fhall be chargeable to and for the Collection of the Tenths, granted and going out of the Spiritual Pofleflions of this Realm, fhall be difcharged and acquitted of and for fuch Parts and Portions of the faid Tenths wherewith the faid Houfes of Religion, fupprefled and diftblved by this Act, were charged or chargeable to the King's High- nefs, except of fuch Sums of Money thereof, as they or any of them have or fhall have received for the faid Tenths, of the chief Governors of fuch Religious Houfes. Provided alio, That w r here the Clergy of the Province of Canterbury (land and be indebted to the Kings Highnefs in great Sums of Money, remain- ing yet unpaid, of the reft of a hundred thoufand Pounds granted and given to his Grace in their Convo- cation, towards the Payment whereof the faid Religious -Houfes fhould have been contributory if they had not been fupprefled by this Act ; and alfo fome of the Governors of the faid Religious Houles have been Collectors for levying of the faid Debt, and have received thereof great Sums of Money yet remaining in their Hands ; the King's moft Royal Majefty is pleafed and contented to deduct, abate, releafe and defalk, to the faid Clergy, of the faid reft yet unpaid, -as well fuch Sums of Money as any the chief Governors of fuch Religious Houfes hath received, and not paid, as fo much Money as every of the faid Religious Houfes, fupprefled by this Act, were rated and taxed to pay in any one Year, to and for the Payment of the laid hundred thoufand Pounds : And alfo the King's Majefty is pleafed and contented, that it be enacted by Authority aforefaid, that his Highnefs fnall fatisfy, content and pay all and fingular fuch juft and true Debts which been owing to any Perfon or Perfons by the chief Governors of any the faid Reli- gious Houfes, in as large and ample Manner, as the faid chief Governors fhould or ought to have done if this Act had never been made : Provided always, that the King's Highnefs, at any Time after the making of this Act, may at his Pleafure ordain and declare, by his Letters Patents under his Great Seal, that fuch of the faid Religious Houfes which his Highnefs fhall not be difpofed to have fupprefled nor diftblved by Authority of this Ait, fhall ftill continue, remain and be in the fame Body corporate, and in the faid efl'ential Eftate, Quality and Condition, as well in Pofleflions as otherwife, as they r were afore the making of this Act, without any Suppreflion or Diflblution thereof, or of any Part of the fame, by the Authority of this Act, and that every fuch Ordinance and Declaration, fo to be made by tha King's Highnefs, fliall be good and effectual to the chief Governors of fuch Religious Houfes which his Majefty will not have fup- ! preflcd, and to their Succefibrs, according to the Tenors ana Purports of the Letters Patents thereof to be made; any Thing or Things contained in this Act to the contrary hereof notwithstanding. Provided al- fo, That where the Clergy of the Province of York ftand and be indebted to the King's Highnefs in e'eat Sums of Money yet unpaid, of the.reft of fuch Sums of Money which was granted by them to hisMa- jefty in their Convocation, towards the Payment whereof the Religious Houfes that fliall be fupprefled and diftblved by this Act, being within the fame Province, fhould have been contributory if they had not been diftblved, and alfo fome of the Governors of the faid Religious Houfes within the faid Province, that fliall be fupprefled by this Act, have been Collectors for lev ing of Pait of the faicl Sums of Money granted to the King's Highnefs as is aforefaid, and have certain Sums thereof in their Hands yet unpaid, the King's Majefty is pleafed and "contented to deduct, abate, releafe and defalk, to the faid Clergy of the faid Pro- vince ot York) of the reft of their faid Debt yet unpaid, as well fuch of the faid Sums of Money, as any chiet Governors of any Religious Houfes within the fame Province, that fhall be fupprefled by this Act, hath collected and not paid, as fo much Money as every of the faid Religious Houfes, fupprefled by this Vol. II. K k Act,