◇ their moste humble wyse s●ewen vnto your maiesty● , your moste humble and obedyent s●b●ecte● , the 〈◇〉 ●●●●●●uall and tu●●●all , and the commons 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 commons 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 shal be 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 . 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 boundes 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 , shal be 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 inherytaunce at the day of suche treasons and offences by them commytted 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 communes , ●●●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 .