still numerically the strongest, and for a time remained in their allegiance to the Papacy,[1] but their convictions were too feeble to resist the influence brought to bear upon them, and when Parliament re-assembled after the Easter recess, the two Houses of Convocation presented an address to the Crown for the abolition of the impost, and with it of all other exactions, direct and indirect—the indulgences, dispensations, delegacies, and the thousand similar forms and processes by which the privileges of the Church of England were abridged for the benefit of the Church of Rome, and weighty injury of purse inflicted both on the clergy and the laity.[2]
That they contemplated a conclusive revolt from Rome as a consequence of the refusal to pay annates, appears positively in the close of their address: 'May it please your Grace,' they concluded, after detailing their occasions for complaint,—'may it please your Grace to cause
- ↑ M. de la, Pomeroy to Cardinal Tournon.'London, March 23, 1531–2.'My Lord, I sent two letters to your lordship on the 20th of this month. Since that day Parliament has been prorogued, and will not meet again till after Easter.'It has heen determined that the Pope's Holiness shall receive no more annates, and the collector's office is to he abolished. Everything is turning against the Holy See, but the King has shown no little skill, the Lords and Comnons have left the final decision cf the question at his personal pleasure, and the Pope is to understand that if he will do nothing for the King,, the King has the means of makinghim suffer. The clergy in Convocation have consented to nothing, nor will they, till they know the pleasure of their master the Holy Father; but the other estates being agreed, the refusal of the clergy is treated as of no consequence.'Many other rights and privileges of the Church are abolished also, too numerous to mention.'—MS. Bibliot. Impér. Paris.
- ↑ Strype, Eccles. Mem., vol. i. part 2 p. 158.
