Chap. I. 7'he HISTORY of the PURITANS. 9 Here was the rife of the reformation. The whole power of reforming Hen1vHI. heroes and errors in doctrine and worfhip was transferred from the Pope 5533 to the King, without any regard to the rights of fynods or councils of the Clergy ; and without a referve of liberty to fuch confciences as could not comply with the publick ftandard. This was undoubtedly a change for the better, tho' far from being confonant to fcripture or reafon. n The parliament had already forbid all appeals to the court of Rome, in A eafi caufes teflamentary, matrimonial, and in all difputes concerning divorces, 4Hen. 8. tithes, oblations, &c. under penalty of a Proemunire; and were now vo- cap. 52. ting away annates and firfl fruits; and providing, That in cafe the & as H. 8. " Pope denied his Bulls for electing or confecrating Bifhops, it fhould be cap' zo. " done without them by the Archbifhop of . the province; that an Arch- " bifhop might be confecrated by any two Bifhops whom the King fhould « appoint; and being fo confecrated fhould enjoy all the rights of his fee, " any law or cuftom to the contrary notwithflanding." All which alts paffed both houfes without any confiderable oppofition. Thus, the pope flood trifling about a contefted marriage, while the king and parliament were taking away all his profits, revenues, and authority, in the church of England. Kin's Di. His majefty having waited fix years for a determination of his mar- riage from the court of Rome, and being now bimfelf head of the church of England, commanded Dr. Cranmer, lately confecrated archbifhopof Can- terbury, to call a court of canonifis and divines and proceed to judgment. Accordingly his grace fummoned queen Katherine to appear at Dun/iable, near the place where (he refided, in perfon .or by proxy on the loth of May, 1533. but her majefty refufed to appear, adhering to her appeal to the court of Rome; upon which the archbifhop by advice of the court, de- clared her contumax or in contempt, and on the 23d of the fame month pronounced the king's marriage with her null and void, as being contrary to the laws of God. Soon after which his majefty married alnne Bullen, and procured an ad of parliament, for fettling the crown upon the heirs of her body, the contents of which ad all his fubjeds were (worn to obferve. There was a remarkable appearance of divine providence in this affair ; for the French king had prevailed with the king of England, to refer his caufe once more to the court of Rome, upon affurances given, that the pope fhould decide it in his majefly's favour within a limited time; the pope confented, and fixed a time for the return of the king's anfwer, but the courier not arriving upon the very day, the Imperialifls who dreaded an al- liance between the pope and king of England, perfwaded his holinefs to H!g Rl= give fentence againft him, and accordingly March 23d, the marriage was Vol. Ili. declared good, and the king was requiredto take hiswifeagain, otherwife p' 89 the cenfures of the church were to be denounced againft him. Two days V os.. I. C after
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