Page:Ruffhead - The Statutes at Large - vol 9.djvu/597

Rh soever they be, shall from henceforth marry within the degrees afore rehearsed, what pretence foever shall bee made to the contrary thereof. And in case any person or persons, of what estate, dignitie, degree or condition soever they bee, that be heeretofore married within this Realme, or in any: other the Kings dominions, within any the degrees above rehearsed, and by any the Archbishops or ministers of the Church of England bee separate from the bonds of such unlawful marriages: that then every such separation shall be good, lawfull, firme and permanent for ever, and not by any power, authoritie or meanes to be revoked or undone hereafter. And that the children proceeding or procreat under such unlawfull marriage, shall not bee lawfull nor legitimate: Any forren lawes, licences, dispensations, or other thing or things to the contrary thereof notwithstanding.

XII. And that in case there be any person or persons within this Realme, or in any the Kings dominions already maried within any of the said degrees above specified, and not yet separate from the bonds of such unlawfull marriage, that then every such person so unlawfully maried, shall be separate by the definitive sentence and judgements of the Archbishops, Bishops, and other ministers of the Church of England, and in other your dominions, within the limits of their iurisdictions and authorities, and by none other power or authority. And that all sentences and judgements given and to be given by any Archbishop, bishop, or other minister of the Church of England, or in any other the Kings dominions., within the limits of their iurisdictions and authoritie, shall be definitive, firme, good, and effectuall to all intents, and be observed and obeyed, without suing any provocations, appeals, prohibitions, or other processe from or to the Court of Rome, to the derogation thereof, contrary to the Act made sithence the beginning of the last Parliament for restraint of such provocations, appeals, prohibitions and other processes.

XIII. And also be it enacted by authority aforesaid, that all the issue hereafter to bee had and procreat between your highnes, and your said most deare and intirely beloved lawful wife Queen Jane, shal be your lawfull children and heires, and be inheritable and inherite, according to the course of inheritance and lawes of this Realme, the imperiall crowne of the same, with all dignities, honors, preheminences, prerogatives, authorities and jurisdictions, to the same annexed or belonging, in as large and ample maner, as your highnesse at this present time hath the same as King of this Realme, the inheritance thereof to be and remaine to your said children and right heires in maner and forme as hereafter shall be declared, that is to say. First, the said imperiall Crowne and other the premisses, shall bee to your majesty and to your heires of your body lawfully begotten, that is to say, To the first sonne of your body betweene your highnes and your said lawfull wife Queene Jane begotten, and to the heires of the body of the fame first sonne lawfully begotten. And for the default of such heires, then to the second sonne of your body, and of the body of the saide Queene Jane begotten, and to the heires of the body of the same second sonne lawfully begotten, as aforesaid, and so to every sonne of your body, and of the body of the said Queene lane begotten, and to the heires of the body of every such sonne begotten, according to the course of inheritance in that behalfe.

XIV. And if it shall happen your said most deare and intirely beloved wife Queene Jane, to decease without issue male of the body of your highnes to be begotten (which God defend) then the same imperiall Crowne, and all other the premisses to be to your majesty, as is aforesaid, and to the son and heire male of your body lawfully begotten by any other lawfull wife, and to the heires of the body of the same sonne and heire male lawfully begotten: and for default of such issue, then to your second sonne of your body lawfully begotten, and to the heires of the body of the same second sonne lawfully begotten: and so from sonne and heire male, to sonne and heire male, and to the heires of the severall bodies of every such sonne and heire male lawfully begotten, according to the course of inheritance, in like maner and forme, as is abovesaid.

XV. And for default of such sonnes of your body lawfully begotten, and of the heires of the severall bodies of every such sonne lawfully begotten, that then the said imperiall Crowne, and other the premisses, shal be to the issue female between your maiesty and your saide most deare and intirely beloved wife Queene Jane begotten: And for lacke of such issue, then to the heires females of your bodie lawfully begotten by any other lawfull wife: that is to say, First to the eldest issue female, and to the heires of her body lawfully begotten, and so from issue female to issue female, and to their heirs of their bodies one after another by course of inheritance according to their ages, as the Crowne of England hath been accustomed and ought to succeed and goe, in case when there is heire female inheritable to the same.

"XVI. And for asmuch as it standeth at this present time in the onely pleasure and will of almightie God, whether your maiesty shall have heires begotten and procreated betweene your highnesse, and your said most deare and intirely beloved wife Queene Jane, or else any lawfull heires and issues hereafter of your owne body begotten by any other lawfull wife, and if such heires should faile, as God defend, and no provision made in your life, who should rule and governe this Realme for lacke or such heires, that then this Realme after your transitory life shall be destitute of a lawfull governour: or else percase incumbred with such a person, that would covet to aspire to the same, whom the subjects of this Realme shall not finde in their hearts to love, dread, and obediently serve as their sovereigne Lord. And if your grace afore it may be certainely knowne, whether ye shall have heires or no should suddenly name & declare any person or persons to succeed after your decease, and for lack of heirs of your body lawfully begotten, into the royall estate of the imperiall Crowne of this Realme: then it is to be doubted, that such person that should bee so named, might happen to take great heart and courage, and by presumption fall to inobedience and rebellion: by occasion of which premisses, great division and discention may bee and is very likely to arise & spring in this Realme, to the great peril and destruction of us your most humble & obedient sbujects, and of all our posterities, if remedy "for