Page:Ruffhead - The Statutes at Large - vol 9.djvu/626

152

From the Rolls. occupyed with any suche Mansion or Dwelling house or houses or any of them or to take any other landes or tenements com'only used and kepte in the manurance tillage or Manuell occupac'on of any Archebishopp or Bisshopp' for the mayntenance of Hospitalitie and good house keeping Any thing in this acte conteyned to the contrary notwithestanding.

II. Saving to all and every person and persons Bodyes politike and Corporate their Heires and Successoures and to theires and successoures of everye of them Other then the sayd Archebisshoppes and Bishoppes and their successoures All suche estate right title tearme interest Rent profet Offices or commodities as they or any of them have shoulde might or ought to have had in or to any Honors Castles Manors Lands Tenements or other hereditamentes whatsoever in suche like maner forme and condic'on to all intents and purposes as if this acte had never been had nor made any thing herein conteyned to the contrary notwithstanding.

III. And be it further enacted by thaucthoritie aforesayd That all giftes grantes feoffamentes fynes or other conveyance or estates from the first daye of this presente parliament to be had made doone or suffred by any Archebishhoppe or Byshoppe of any Honors Castles Manors landes tenements or other hereditamentes being parcell of the possessions of his Archebisshoprick or Bisshoprick or united apperteyning or belonging to any the same Arche Bisshoprickes or Bishoprickes to any person or persons Bodyes politike or Corporate (other then to the Quenes Highnes her Heires or succssoures) wherby any estate or estates should or may passe from the same Archbishoppes or Bishopes or any of them (other then for the teime of xxj yeres or three lyves from suche time as any suche lease grante or assurance shall beginne and wherupon the olde accustomed yerely rent or more shalbe reserved & payable yerely during the sayd terme of xxj yeres or three lyves shalbe utterly voyde and of none effecte to all intents construcc'ons and purposes any lawe custome or usage to the contrary in any wife notwithstanding.

Cui quidem Bille perlecte et ad plenum Intellecte per dictam Dominam Reginarn ex aucthoritate parliament predicti tic responsum est. La Reine Le Veult,

he care which we doe perceive your Maiestie hath, most noble and redoubted Soveraigne, to reduce this Realme and the imperiall Crowne thereof now lately so sore shaken, so impoverished, so inseebled and weakened, into the former estate, strength and glory, doth make us not onely to reioyce much in the great bounteousbnesse of Almightie God, who hath so marvellously, and beyond all wordly expectation preserved your Maiestie in these late difficult and dangerous times, but also to studie and bend all our wits and force of understanding, how we may like loving and obedient Subjects, follow our head, in this so noble and so necessary an enterprise. And considering with our selves, that the decay hath beene, besides many other things, especially in these three: First, wasting of treasure, abandoning of strength, and in diminishing of the ancient authoritie of your imperiall Crowne.

"II. We doe most earnestly and faithfully promise to your highnesse, that there shall lacke no good will, travell, nor force on our behalfe, to the redresse of all this: but we shall be readie, with heart, will, strength, bodie, hues and goods, not only to recover againe that which is thus diminished, but if neede be, to recover further (as far as right, and the will and pleasure of God shall suffer) the old dignitie and renowne of this Realme. The time and place whereof doth not rest in us, but, as most reason is, in your most noble Maiestie, with the advice of your honourable counsell. Neuerthelesse, since it doth so manifestly appeare to us all what inestimable wasting and consumption of the treasure and ancient revenues of this Realme hath been of late dayes, and what great new charges, and intollerable expenses your highnesse is forced now to susteine, by reason of the decay and losse of parcell of your ancient Crowne: so, being not ignorant that no worthie enterpise, no noble attempt, no not so much as the preservation of a strong and puissant estate, may be without some masse of Treasure presently to be had, and ready against all occurrents.

III. Therfore we your most obedient & loving Subjects, the Lords spirituall & temporall, and the commons in this present Parliament assembled, to shew our willing hearts and good minds, upon mature co'sultation had, have condescended and agreed with one voice and most entire affections, to make your highnesse at this time a present, not such in deede as in our affections we doe with it, and as we know most certainly ought to be: but yet of your accustomed clemencie which you doe shew to all men, we humbly on our knees pray your Highnesse not to reject it, but to accept our good wills and hearty desires herein, and that this our small gift may be by your Highnesse, the Lords Spirituall and Temporall, and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same enacted."

IV. And be it enacted, that your Highnesse towards the said great costs and inestimable charges, shall have by authoritie of this present Parliament, two whole Fifteens and Tenths to be paid, taken, and levied of the moveable goods, chattels and other things usuall to such Fifteenes and Tenths, to bee contributory and chargeable within the Shires, Cities, Boroughs, Townes and other places of this your Majesties Realmce, in manner and forme afore time used; "Except the summe of twelve thousand pounds "thereof