There was a
Papal party in the House of Commons whose opposition had perhaps to be
considered,[355] and the annates were left suspended before Clement at once
as a menace and a bribe.
"Forasmuch," concluded the statute, "as the King's Highness and this his
high Court of Parliament neither have nor do intend in this or any other
like cause any manner of extremity or violence, before gentle courtesy and
friendly ways and means be first approved and attempted, and without a very
great urgent cause and occasion given to the contrary; but principally
coveting to disburden this Realm of the said great exactions and
intolerable charges of annates and firstfruits: [the said Court of
Parliament] have therefore thought convenient to commit the final order and
determination of the premises unto the King's Highness, so that if it may
seem to his high wisdom and most prudent discretion meet to move the Pope's
Holiness and the Court of Rome, amicably, charitably, and reasonably, to
compound either to extinct the said annates, or by some friendly, loving,
and tolerable composition to moderate the same in such way as may be by
this his Realm easily borne and sustained, then those ways of composition
once taken shall stand in the strength, force, and effect of a law."[356]
The business of the session was closing. It remained to receive the reply
of convocation on the limitation of its powers. The convocation, presuming,
perhaps, upon its concessions on the annates question, and untamed by the
premunire, had framed their answer in the same spirit which had been
previously exhibited by the bishops.
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