Page:The statutes of Wales (1908).djvu/54

l A.D. 1495.—During the twenty-four years of the reign of the Seventh, the only Act that had special reference to  was passed in 1495. It is a private Act (11 7, c. 33). It made void divers leases and offices "within the Principality of, , and in the County Palatine of Chester and Flint and in divers other Castles, Manors, Lordships, Lands and Tenements in the Marches of , and in the Counties of Hereford, and Salop, parcels of the Earldom of March." This was done because "much less rent was reserved to the King and Prince of than might be reasonably required," In this Act, there are many provisions made in favour of certain officials such as the "Porter of Beeston Castle; the Master Forester of Snowdon Forest; Sir Rhys ap Thomas, the Chamberlain of  and Captain of the Castle of Aberystwyth," &c., &c.

It was during the reign of the great Tudor monarch, the Eighth, that the most important statutes relating to  were passed. The strong personal character of that King, the importance of his initiative, his extraordinary power of carrying the nation with him, and his paternal but despotic policy, thinly disguised under constitutional reforms, are seen throughout the provisions of the many Acts relating to passed by his subservient Parliaments.

In this reign, the abuses of clerical privileges were vigorously attacked by Parliament. In 1515, a Bill was introduced to limit "benefit of clergy." In the same year a petition was presented to the Crown, complaining that clergymen declined to bury their parishioners unless they were rewarded by the most precious jewel, suit of clothes, or other possession of the deceased person; and praying that every incumbent should be compelled to bury the dead or to administer the sacrament to the sick upon penalty of