Page:Ruffhead - The Statutes at Large - vol 9.djvu/607

Rh Anno tricesimo secundo Octavi

N the Parliament begun at Westminster the twenty eight of April, Anno tricesimo primo otavi, and there holden and afterward continued by divers prorogations until the twelfth day of April, Anno tricesimo secundo,  octavi. In the last Session therof begun the said twelfth day of April, and there holden untill the eleventh day of May, and then prorogued untill the Hue and twentieth day of the same Moneth of May, and then holden and continued untill the foure and twentieth day of July, in the said two and thirtieth yeere of King the 8. at which time it was finished and dissolved.

"HE Lords spirituall and temporall and the commons in this present Parliament assembled, having credible knowledge that divers & sundry the Kings subjects called Knights of the Rhodes, otherwise called knights of Saint Johns, otherwise called Friers of the religion of Saint John of Jerusalem in England, and of a like house being in Ireland, abiding in he partes of beyond the Sea, and having as well out of this Reaime as out of Ireland and other the Kings dominions, yeerely great sums of money for maintenance of their livings, have unnaturally and contrary to the dutie of their allegiances, susteined and maintained the ufsrped power and authoritie of the Bishop of Rome lately used and practised within this realme and other the Kings dominions, and have not onely adhered themselves to the saide Bishop being common enemie to the King our Soveraigne Lord, and to this his realme untruly upholding, acknowledging and affirming maliciously and traiterously, the same Bishop to be supreame and chiefe head of Christs Church by Gods holy word, intending thereby to subvert and ouerthrow the good and godly lawes and statutes of this reaime their naturall countrey, made and grounded by authority of holy Church by the most excellent wisdome, policie and goodnes of the kings majestie with the whole assent and consent of the realme, for the abolishing, expulsing & utter extincting of the said usurped power and authoritie, but also have defamed and slandered as well the Kings majestie as the noble men, Prelats and other the Kings true and loving Subjects of this realme, for their good and godly proceeding in that behalfe, have therefore deepely pondered and considered that like as it is and was a most godly Act of the Kings most royall majestie, and the said Noble men, Prelats, and Commons of this reaime, utterly to expulse and abolish not onely from this reaime, but also from other the Kings dominions the said usurped power and authority of the Bishop of Rome, and also the hypocri'tike and superstitious religions in this Realme, and other the Kings dominions being his members and adherents having their originall erection and foundation by the said usurped authoritie, by expulsing whereof Gods holy word necessary for increase of vertue and salvation of christian soules, is not onely purely and sincerely advanced and set foorth, but also the extort exactions of innumerable summes of money, cattily exhausted out of this reaime and of other the Kings dominions, by the colour of the said usurped authoritie is removed and taken away, to the inestimable benefit and commoditie of the Kings loving subjects, so in like maner of wise it should be most dangerous to be suffered or permitted within this reaime or in any other the kings dominions, any religion being sparks, leaves, and imps of the said root of iniquitie, confidering also that the Isle of Rhodes, whereby the said religion tooke their old name and foundation is surpised by the Turke.

"II. And that it were and is much better that the possessions in this reaime, and in other the Kings dominions appertaining to the said religion, should rather be imployed and spent within this reaime, and in other the Kings dominions, for the defence and suretie of the same, then converted to & among such unnaturall subjects which have declined not only from their naturall dutie of obedience, that they ought to bear unto the King their soveraigne Lord, but also from the good lawes and Statutes of this realme, their naturall country, daily doing and attempting privily, and craftily all that they can to subvert the good and godly policie, in the which thanks be to God and to our most dread soveraigne Lord, this reaime and all other the Kings dominions now stand in:" In consederation whereof, the said Lords spirituall and temporall, and the commons in this present Parliament assembled, most humbly beseeche the Kings most royall Majestie, that it may be enacted by his highnes and by the assent of the Lords spirituall and temporall and the commons in this present Parliament assembled, that the corporation of the said religion, as well within this reaime, as within the Kings dominions and land of Ireland, by whatsoever name or names they bee founded, incorporated or knowne, shall be utterly dissolved and void to all intents and purposes. And that sir William Weston Knight, now being Prior of the said religion within this reaime of England, shall not be named or called from hencefoorth Prior of S. Johns of of Jerusalem in England, but shall be called by his proper name of William Weston Knight, without further addition touching the said religion. And that likewise John Rauson Knight, now being Prior of mainam