T H E H I S T O R Y O F T H E P U R I T A N S . C H A P T E R I. ire Reign of King HENRY' VIII. I N G William the Conqueror having got pofl'eßïon of State ofroll- the crown of England, by the afli(tance of the fee ofg'oneforethe reformation. Rome, and King fohn having afterwards fold it in his wars with the Barons ; the rights and privileges of the Englifh clergy were delivered up into the hands of the Pope ; who taxed them at his pleafure, and in procefs of time drained the kingdom of immenfe treafures : for befides all his other dues, arifing from annates, fir/ifruits, peter pence &c. he extorted large fums of money from the clergy for their preferments in the church. He advanced foreigners to the richeft bifhopricks, who never refided in their VOL, I. B diocefes,
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