_ [...] their moste humble wyse s [...]ewen vnto your maiesty [...], your moste humble and obedyent s [...]b [...]ecte [...], the [...] [...] ­ [...]uall and tu [...]all, and the cōmons in this present parly ament assembled, that syns it is the naturall in [...] of euery man, gladly and wyllingly to prouy [...]e for the suretie of bothe his tytle and successyon, although it touche his onely priuate cause. Wethe [...]re moste ryghtfull and dredefull soueraign [...] lorde, teken our selues m [...]ch [...] more boundes to beseche and instant your hyghnesse, although we doubte not of your princely he [...]e and wysdome, myxed with [...] rall affectyon to the same, to forese and prouyde for the perfyte suretie of bothe you and of your moste laufull succesyon and heyres, vpon whiche dependeth all our ioye and welthe▪ In whom also is vnyted and k [...]ytte the onely mere trewe inherytaunce and [...]ycle of this realme, without any contradictyon. [...]herfore we your sayd moste humble and obedyent subiectes, in this present parlyament assemb [...]ed, callynge to our remembraunce the great diuisyons, whiche in tymes paste haue ben in this realme by reason of seuerall tyt [...]es pretende [...] to the imperyall crowne of the same whiche somtymes, and for the moste parte ensued by occasyon of ambiguite and doubtes, than not so perfycely declared, but that men myght vpon frowarde intentes expounde them i [...] euery mannes s [...]ce appetyte and affectyon, after their sence, contrary to the ryght legalyte of the successyon and posterite of the laufull kynges and [...] ­perours of this realme: wherof hath insued great effecsyon and distruction of ma [...]es bloode, as well of a great numbre of the nobles as of other the subiectes, and specially inherytours in the same. And the greatest occasyou therof hath ben bycause no perfyte and substancyall promsyou by lawe hath ben made within this realme of it selfe, whan doubtes and questyous haue ben moued and pro­poned of the certay [...]ti [...] and legalytie of the successyon and posterytie of the crowne. By reason wherof the by shoppe of Bome and see apostolybe, contrarye to the great and inniolable grauntes of iutisdictions gyuen by god immedyatly to emp [...]ours, kynges, and princes in successyon to their hey [...]es, hath presumed in tymes paste to inuest, who shulde please them to inheryte in other me [...]es ky [...]ghomes and domynions: Whiche thynge we pour moste humble subiectes, bothe spitiruall and temporall, do moste abhor [...] and deteste. And som [...]ymes other forayne princes and potentates of soudrye degrees, myndynge rather dissensyon and discorde to con­ty [...]e in the rea [...]ne, to the [...]tter desolacyon them [...]f, that charyte, equyre, or vnite, haue many tymes suppor [...] [...]onge tyties, wher­by they myght the more casyly and facilly asppre to the superyorite of the same. The contynuaunce and sufferaunce wherof depely consydred and pondered, were to daungerous and pery [...]lous to be suffred any lenger within this realme, and to moche contrary to the buite, peace, and tranquyllite of the same, beynge greatly reprocheable and di [...]able to the hole realme.

In consyderacion wherof your sayd moste humble and obedyent subiectes, the nobles and comons of this realme, callynge further to their remembrannce, that the good vuite, peace, and welthe of this realme, and the successyon of the sithiectes of the same moste specially and principally aboue all woridly thyuges, consysteth and restech in the certayutie and suretie of the procreation, and poste­tyte of your hyghnesse, in whose moste coyall person at this present tyme is no maner of doubte nor question, do therfore moste hum­bly beseche your hyghnesse, that it may please your maiestye, that it may be inacted by your hyghnesse, with the assent of the lordes spirytuall and temporall, and the cōmons in this present parlyament assembled, and by anctorite of the same, that the maryage here to fore solemnysed bytwene your hyghnesse and the lady Catharyue, beyuge before laufull wyfe to prince Acture, your eider brother, whiche by hym was carnally knowen, as dothe duely appere by suffycient proue in a laufull processe had and made before Ch [...]mas by the suffera [...]nce of god nowe archebyss [...]op of Canterbury, and metropolytane and primate of all this realme, shall be by auctorit [...] of this present parlyament, diffynityuely, clerely, and absolutely declared, de [...]ed and ading [...] to be ag [...]y [...]st the lawes of a [...]uighty god, and also accepted, reputed, and taken of no value ne effecte: but vtterly voyde and [...] therof made be the sayd a [...]chebysshop shalbe good and effectuall to all intentes and purposes: any lyconce, dispen [...]n or [...] acte or actes, go­ [...]ge afore, or [...]suyng the same, or to the contrary therof in any wys [...]not withstandynge. And that euery [...], dispensation, acte or actes thynge or thynges, here tofore had, made, done or to be done to the contrary therof shall be [...] of [...] effecte. And that the sayd lady Catharyne shall be from hence forthe ca [...]d and reputed onely dowagyet to prince A [...]ture, and not quene of this realme. And that the laufull matrymouye had and solemysed bytwene your hyg [...]esse and your moste dere & entietly beloued wy [...] quene A [...]me, shall be establysshed and taken for vndoubtfull, trewe, syncere, and perfy [...]e euer hereafter, accordynge to the iuste iudge­men of the sayd Thomas archbysshop of Canterbury, metropolytane and primate of all this realme / whose groundes of iudgement haue ben confyrmed as well by the hole clergye of this realme, in bothe the conuocacions, and by bothe the vn [...]uersyties therof, as by the vniuersyties of Bon [...]ny, Padua, Parys, Orlyaunce, Tolouse, Ingieu, and dyuers others: And also by the priuate writynges of many ryght excellent well lerned men. Whiche groundes so confyrmed, and iudgement of the sayd archebysshop [...]usuynge the same, togyther with your maryage solempnysed, byt [...]e your hyghnesse and your sayd laufull wyfe quene Anne / We your sayd subiectes bothe spirytuall and temporall, do purely, play [...]ely, constantly, and fyrmely accept, approue, and tatifye for good and consonant to the lawes of almyghty god, withou [...] [...]rour or defaute: Moste humbly besechynge your maiestye, that it may be so establysshed for euer by your moste gracyous and royall assent.

¶ And furthermore syns many inconuenyences haue fallen as well within this realme as in others, by reason of maryenge within the degrees of maryage prohybit by goddes lawes, that is to saye. The sonne to marye the mother, or the stepmother: The brother the syste [...] ▪ The father his sonnes doughter, or his doughters doughter: or the sonne to marie the doughter of his father, procrest and borne by his stedmother: or the sonne to mary [...] du [...]t [...], beynge his fathers o [...] mothers syster: or to marie his vn [...]les wyfe: or t [...]e rather to marie his sonnes wyfe: or the brother to marie his brothers wyfe: or any man to marie his wyfes doughter, or his wyfes sonnes doughter, or his wyfes d [...]ughters doughter, or his wyfes syster. whiche maryages all be it they be playnly prohybite and detested by the lawes of god: yet neuerthelesse at some tymes the [...] haue proceded vnder colours of dispensacions by mannes power, whiche is but vsurped and of right ought not to be graunted, admytted, [...] alowed▪ for no man, of what estate, degree, or con­dycion so euer he be, hath power to dispence with goddes lawes: as all the [...]lergy [...] of this realme in the sayd conuocacions, and the moste parte of all the famous [...] and thynke.

¶ Be it therefore [...] refrant [...] of thus [...]me, or in any your domi­nyons, of what esl [...] [...] the sayd [...]egrees afore re [...]ersed, what pret [...] so [...]uer shall be [...] digni [...]e, degree, or coudycion so euer they be, hath [...] any the degrees about ex­pressed, and [...] the [...] [...]ate from the boundes of suche [...] [...]ad not by any power. [Page]power whit he is bu [...] [...] [...]aght not to be gra [...] [...] [...]ntan, of what estate, d [...], [...] [...]on so euer he be, hath power to [...]pence with goodes lawes: as all the c [...]y [...] [...] [...]me in the said com [...]ocacio [...]s, and the [...] parte of all the famous wi [...]tersycies of christendome, and the also do affyrme and thynke.

¶ Be it therfore enacted by a [...]ctorire aforesayd, that no person or persons, subiectes or r [...]sea [...]es of this tradi [...]e, or in any your [...] [...]yons, of what estate, degree, or dignyte so euer they be shall from [...] w [...]m the sayd degrees afore r [...]hersed, what pretence so euer shall be made to the contrary therof. And in case any person or persons, of what estate, degr [...], degree, [...]condycion so euer they be, hath ben hereto fore maryed within this realme, or in any the ay [...]ges domymous, within any the degrees aboue ex­pressed, and by any the archebysshoppes, bysshops or mynisters of the churche of Englande, be separate from the boundes of suche [...]aufull maryage, that than euery suche separacion shall be good, laufull, fy [...], and permanent for euer: And not by any power, auctorite, or meanes to be reuoked or vndone here after. And that the chyldren procedynge and proc [...]e [...]t vnder suche unlaufull mary­age, shall not be laufullne legi [...]timate: any forayne lawes, lyco [...]ces, dispensacions, or other thynge or thynges to the contrary therof not withstandyng. And in case there be any persone or persons within this realme, or in any the kynges domy [...]ons all [...]edy maryed within any the sayd degrees aboue specifyed, and not yet separat from the boūdes of suche vnlaufull maryage that than mary suche person so vnlaufully maryed, shall be separate by the distinityne sentence and iudgementes of the archebysshops, bysshops, and other mynisters of the churche of Englande, and in other your domynions within the lymittes of their inrisdictions and auctorites, and by no [...]e other power or auctorite. And that all sentences and ingementes, gyuen and to be geuen by any archebysshop, bysshop, or other mynister of the churche of Englande, or in other the kynges domynions, within the limittes of their inrisdictions and auctorite, shall be dif [...]inityne, fyrme, good, and effectuall to all intentes, and be obserued and obeyed without strynge any prouocations, appeles, pro­hibycions, or other processe from the courte of Rome to the derogation therof, or contrary to the acte made syns the begynnyng of this present parlyament for restraynt of suche prouocations, appeles, prohibicions, and other processes.

¶ And also be it enacted by auctorite aforesayd, that all the issue had and procreat, or hereafter to be had and procreat between your hyghnesse and your sayd moste dere and entierly beloued wyfe quene Anne, shall be your laufull chyldren and be inherytable and inhe­ryte accordynge to the course of inherytance and lawes of this realme, the imperiall crowne of the same, with all dignyties, honours, preheminences, prerogatyues, auctorities, and i [...]risdictions to the same a [...]nexed or belongyng, in as large and ample maner as your hyghnesse at this present tyme hath the same as kynge of this realme, the inherytaunce therof to be and remayne to your sayd chyl­dren and ryght heyres, in maner and forme as here after shall be declared. That is to say, fyrst the sayd imperyall crowne and other the premisses, shall be to your maiestie and to your heyres of your body laufully begotten, that is to say, to the fyrst sonne of your body bytwene your hyghnesse and your sayd laufull wyfe quene Anne, begotten, and to the heyres of the body of the same fyrst sonne lau­fully begotten. And for defaute of suche heyres, than to the seconde sonne of your body and of the body of the sayd quene Anne begot­ten, and to the heyres of the body of the sayd seconde sonne laufully begotten. And so to euery sonne of your body and of the body of the sayd quene Anne begotten, and to the heyres of the body of euery suche sonne begotten accordynge to the course of inherytaunce in that behalfe. And if it shall happen your sayd dere and entierly beloued wyfe quene Anne to decesse without issue male of the body of your hyghnesse to begotten (whiche god defende) that the same imperyall crowne, and all other the premisses to be to your maiestie as is aforesayd, and to the sonne and heyre male of your body laufully begotten, and to the heyres of the body of the same sonne and heyre male laufully begotten. And for defaute of suche issue, than to your seconde sonne of your body laufully begotten, and to the hey­res of the body of the same seconde sonne laufully begotten: And so from sonne and heyre male, to sonne and [...] heyres of the seuerall bodyes of euery suche sonne and heyre male to be gotten accordyng to the course of inherytaunce, in l [...]ke maner and fourme as is aboue sayd. And for defaute of suche sonnes of your body begotten, and of the heires of the seuerall bodyes of euery suche sonnes laufully begotten, that than the sayd imperiall crowne, and other the premisses, shalbe to the issue female bytwene your maiestie and your sayd moste dere and entierly beloued wyfe quene Anne begotten. That is to saye, fyrst to the eldest issue female, whiche is the lady Elisabeth nowe princesse, and to the heyres of her body laufully begotten: And for defaute of suche issue, than to the seconde issue female, and to the heyres of her body laufully begotten: And so from issue female to issue female, and to their heyres of their bodyes one after an other, by course of inherytaunce, accordynge to their ages, as the crowne of Englande hath ben accusto­med & ought to go in cases whan there be heyres females to the same: And for defaute of suche issue: than the sayd imperyall crowne, and all other the premisses, shall be in the right heyres of your hyghnesse for euer.

¶ And be it further enacted by auctorite foresayd, that on this syde the fyrst day of May next comynge proclamations shall be made in all shyres within this realme of the tenour and contentes of this acte. And if any person or persones, of what estate, dignytie, or condycion so euer they be, subiecte or reseaunt within this realme, or els where within any the kynges domynions, after the sayd fyrst daye of May, by writynge or imprintynge, or by any exteriour acte or dede, malyciously procure or do, or cause to be procured or done any thynge or thynges to the peryll of your moste royall person, or malyciously gyue occasyon by writynge, printe, dede or acte, wherby your hyghnesse might be distourbed or interrupted of the crowne of this realme: or by writynge, printe, dede, or acte procure or do, or cause to be procured or done any thyng or thynges to the preiudyce, falaunder, distourbaunce, or deregacion of the sayd laufull matrimony solempnysed bytwene your maiestie and the sayd quene Anne: or to the peryll, sklaunder, or disheryson of any the issues and heyres of your hyghnesse, beynge lymitted by this acte to enheryte and to be inherytable to the crowne of this realme, in suche forme as is aforesayd: wherby any suche issues or heyres of your hyghnesse myght be distroyed, distourbed, or interrupted in body or tytle of inherytaunce to the crowne of this realme, as to them is lymitted in this acte, in forme aboue rehersed: that than euery suche person and persones, of what estate, degree, or condycion they be of, subiecte or rescant within this realme, and their aydours, coun­saylours, maynteynours, and abbettours, & euery of them for euery suche offence shall be adiudged hygh traytours, and euery suche offence shall be adinged hygh treason, and the offenders and their aydours, counsaylours, maynteynours, and abbettours, and euery of them, beynge laufully contricte of suche offence by presentement, verdyte, confessyon, or processe, accordinge to the customes and lawes of this realme. shall suffer paynes of dethe. as in cases of hygh treason. And that also euery suche offender, heynge conuicte, as is aforesayd, shall lose and forsayde to your hyghnesse, and to your heyres kynges of this realme, all suche manours, landes, tene­mentes, rentes, annuities, and hereditamentes. Wherein they had in possessyon as owners, or were sole scased of, by or in any ryght, tytle or meanes, or any other person or persons [...] vse, of any estate of inherytaūce at the day of suche treasons and offences by them cōmytted and done: And shall [...] your sa [...]d [...]res. as well all maner suche esta­tes of f [...]eholde and interestes [...] whiche they had at the tyme of conuiction or atteyndre of any suche [...] polteyke, to their heyres, as­signes, and succesours, and euery [...] and then [...]e [...]res and successours, and all other [...] to their vses, [...] [...]ffyces, auntutees, and cōmunes, [...] [Page] [...]ces, [...]es, [...] sole scased of, by or in any [...] [...]y [...]e [...] meanes, [...] so [...]s had to their vse, of any [...] the day of suche treasons and offen [...] by them [...]omy [...]ted and done: And shall also los [...] and for [...]a [...]et to your hyghnesse, and to your sayd heyres, as well all maner suche esta­tes of [...] for yeres of i [...]des and [...]es, as all their goodes, catals, and de [...]es, whiche they had at the tyme of coun [...]tion or after [...]re of any suche offence. Sauyng [...] [...] price and persons, and bodyes polityke, to their heyres, as­signes, and succe [...]ours, and euery of them, other than suche persons as shall [...] so [...], and their heyres and succe [...]ours, and [...] [...]her [...] to their vses, all suche ryghe, tytle, vse, interest [...], [...]ees, off yees, an [...]tes, and com [...]es, whiche they a [...]y of them shall happen to [...], or vpon any suche [...] a [...]ties, or here [...]e tamenets, that shall so happen to be [...] and for [...]ayet [...]y reason of [...], for any the [...] and offences aboue reh [...]rsed, as [...] tyme before the sayd creasons and offences [...].

¶ And be it further enacted by an [...]t [...]ite aforesayd, that if any person or persons, after the said first day of May, by any wordes with­out writyng, or any [...]e [...]our [...] or acte [...] and [...], or verer any change or changes to the peryll of your hygh [...]sse, or to [...]he [...]der or pr [...]n [...]dyce of the sayd [...], [...]ysed by [...] your hyghenesse and the sayd [...]uene [...] or to the s [...]i [...]der or dishen [...]e of the issue are [...]e [...]es of your body [...], and to be [...] of the sayd que [...]e. I [...], or any other your lawfull heyres, whi [...]he shall be inherytable to the [...] of this rea [...] as is afore [...] by this acte [...]: that than euery suche offence shall be taken and adiuged for [...] pryson [...]. And that euery persone and persones, of what esta [...], degree, or [...]ycion so euer they be [...] or [...] this [...], or in any the kynges [...], so doynge and offendy [...], & bey [...]g thereof lawfully [...] by [...], ver [...]yce, processe [...] co [...]e [...], shall suffer [...] of their bodyes at the kynges [...], and shall [...]ose as well all their goodes, cata [...]ies, and de [...]es as all suche interestes & estates of free bolde, or for pe [...]es, whiche any suche [...] shall haue of or in any [...]es [...] at the tyme of [...] & [...] of such office.

¶ And be it also enacted by [...] aforesayd that no person nor persones off [...]ndynge [...]n any the treasons or mesprisyons co [...]try [...]ed and ly [...]ted by this acte, shal [...] any wa [...]e ha [...] or [...] the [...] or [...] of any maner of [...] within this realme, or els where within any the [...]ynges domy [...], but shall [...]ete [...] [...]se are be [...]ded of the [...]amer Ioy vse, custome graunt, prescrip­tion confyrmacion, or was other thynge or thynges to the contrary thereof in any [...] out [...].

¶ And be it also [...]ted [...] aforesayd that if your mate [...] sh [...]e happen to [...] before any suche your issue and heyre male, whiche shulde wheryte the [...] of this realm [...] shall be of his age of [...]he [...] [...]e [...]es, or before suche your issue and heyre female. Whiche sh [...]de wheryte the [...] of this realme shall be maryed, or be of the age of the reces (Whiche almyngher god defende) that than your sayd issue and h [...]e made to the [...], so beynge [...] [...]he sayd age of that yetes, or your sayd issue and female i [...] the crowne, beynge [...]aryed, or within the sayd age of the yetes? shall be and remayne, [...] suche tyme as suche issues and hey­res shall come to their sayd [...] ages afore ly [...]tted, at and in the [...] of their naturall another. [...] [...]ynge, with suche others counsay [...]ours of your [...], as your [...]ester [...]s your lyfe tyme shall depure and assigne by your wyll, or otherwyse for the sa [...]e, without contradiction of any persone or persones to the contrary therof. And if and persone or persones by [...]itynge or exte­ [...]er [...] or acte, pro [...]re or do, or cause to be proceeded or do [...]e any thynge or thynges to the let or disturb [...]n [...]ce of the [...] that than euery suche offence shall be hygh treason, and the offenders, beynge therof [...], shall suffer suche payde [...] of dethe, and [...]ssed of [...], [...]do [...]des, interestes for yetes, goodes, [...], and dertes in suche [...] and [...] as is aboue shecifyes [...] cases of treason afore muche youed.

¶ And for the more sure [...] of the [...] of your [...], accordynge to the [...]our and fourme of this [...] enacted by [...], that as [...] off the [...] of your [...] and [...], and all other your [...] and beynge, of that hers after shall be at their shall ages, by the [...] of your [...]est [...]e, or of [...]our beyres, at all tymes here after, from tyme to tyme, wh [...] it shall please your byg [...]u [...]sse, or your beyres to appoynte, shall [...]ake a corporall [...]thour the presence of your hyghnesse [...] your b [...]yres: or before suche other as your [...] or your heyres wyll depute for the [...], that they shall ree [...], [...] and constantly, without frame [...]e [...]yle obstruct, [...], def [...]ude and [...]eye, to their co [...]ynges wy [...]e and vttermost of their powers, the hole effecte [...] and co [...]tes of this presone acte. And that all ma [...]ner your subiectes, as well spirituall as temporall, s [...]ynge bu [...]ay, testy [...]cio [...]s, or dees is may [...] out of the handes of your hyghnesse, or of your heyres, or doynge any f [...]a [...]te to your hyghnesse or to your heyres, by reason of [...] of their l [...]ndes, shall sweare alyke cor­porall othe, that they and euery of them, without faude or gyle, to their co [...]ynge, wytte, and vttermost of their powers, shall [...]rewly, fyr [...]nely, and constantly obserue, fulfill, maynteyne, defende, and kept the effectes and contentes contayner and specifyed in this acte, or us any parte therof. And that they or [...] of them shall hereafter haue any lyuerayes, oterlemayn, or restytucion out of your handes, nor out of the handes of your [...]e [...]s, tyll they haue made the sayd corporall othe, in fourme aboue rehersed. And if any person or persones, beynge [...]maunded by [...] of this acte, to make the sayd othe afore lymitted, obstyna [...]ely refuse that to do, in contemper of this acte [...] that than euery suche person (so doynge) to be taken and accepted for [...]ffendour in [...]esprisyon of hygh treason. And that euery suche refusall shall be demed and adiuged mesprisyon of hygh treason: and the offendour therin to suffer suche pa [...]nes and imprisonment, losses and forfartures, and also lose priu [...]sseges of sain [...]tuaties, in lyke maner and fourme as is aboue mency [...]ned for the mesprisyons of treasons afore lymitted by this acte.

¶ Prouyded alwares, that the artycle in this acte contayned concernynge proi [...]bicions of maryages whithin the degrees afore mencyoned in this acte, shall alwayes be taken, the inrespreted, and expounded of suche maryages, where maryages were solem [...]ny­sed, and carnall knowlege was had.