A table containing the proportions to be paid by their graces and lordships the archbishops and bishops, for the sum of £198 according to the rate settled in convocation.

The first column contains the proportions. The second, their graces’ and lordships’ proportion toward payment of the sum agreed. The third, their proportions toward the payment of £66, a half of the former sum. The fourth column contains their proportions of both sums added together.

The royal writ for a parliament on 14 January 1339

Robertus, permissione divina episcopus Cicestrensis, reverendi patris Iohannis, Dei gratia Cantuariensis archiepiscopi, totius Angliae primatis et apostolicae sedis legati in remotis agentis vicarius in spiritualibus generalis, venerabili in Christo patri Domino Richardo, Dei gratia Londoniensi episcopo, salutem et sinceram in Domino caritatem. Septimo die mensis Decembris ultimo praeterito [7 December 1338] apud Aldyngbourne literas regias recepimus sub hac forma:

Monitio cum citatione contra studentes in libris damnatis

Thomas etc., dilectis filiis universis et singulis rectoribus, et curatis et non curatis, quibuscumque per nostram provinciam Cantuariensem et necnon cuicumque Verbum Dei ad crucem Sancti Pauli Londoniarum praedicante sive praedicaturo salutem, gratiam et benedictionem.

Inter solicitudines [342r] nostris humeris incumbentes cura solerti revolimus ut ea quae causam praestant erroris extirpare et in viam veritatis reinducere errantes ipsoque lucrifacere Deo sua nobis co-operante gratia valeamus. Cum itaque multorum querela immo evidentia facti quod dolenter referimus nostrum deduxerit ad auditum quod nonnulli nostrae provinciae Cantuariensis plus sapere conantes quam oportet libros habentes diversorum operum non solum confratris nostri Cicestrensis episcopi in vulgari Anglico compositos quos coram nobis exhibitos et per nos examinatos tanquam errorum et haeresum suspectos quantum ad usum suspendimus et damnavimus, contra eos tamen iuxta potestatem nobis desuper attributam et iuris exigentiam cum omni celeritate accommoda ulterius processuri, sed alios e Latino in Anglicum ex Sacra Scriptura traductos sive translatos in ipsis libris student et laborant, sanctorum patrum sanctionibus, dictis et decretis quae alma mater ecclesia hactenus approbant spretis partiter et neglectis, quo sic1508 in Ecclesia Anglicana praesertim in provincia nostra Cantuariensi talia murmura, seditiones sectionesque et scandala sunt exorta ut, si non opportunum his remedium celerius apponatur, ecclesia praedicta erit - quod Deus avertat - enormiter sanciata, quo circa vobis communiter et divisim committimus et mandamus firmiter iniungentes quatenus moneatis peremptorie et in genere omnes et singulos nostrae Cantuariensis provinciae subditos libros huiusmodi in sua custodia habentes cuiuscunque status, praeeminentiae, gradus, ordinis, sexus vel conditionis existant sub poenis infrascriptis quos nos etiam tenore praesentium sic monemus quod infra viginti dierum spatium a tempore monitionis vestrae quinverius nostrae continue numerandorum quorum viginti dierum sex pro primo, sex pro secundo et reliquos dictorum viginti dierum pro tertio et peremptorio termino ac monitione canonica eis et eorum cuilibet assignamus et praefigimus ac sic per vos assignari et praefigi volumus et mandamus libros antedictos omnes et singulos nobis aut confratribus nostris co-episcopis, locorum diocesanis, nostrae provinciae Cantuariensis revelent, exhibeant et tradant realiter et cum effectu sub poena maioris excommunicationis quam in singularum libros antedictos habentium et illos (ut praemittitur), non revelantium, exhibentium et tradentium personas eorum contumacia mora, culpa et negligentia atque praedicta monitione canonica praecedentibus ferimus et promulgamus exnunc prout extunc et extunc prout exnunc in his scriptis.

The papal commission for a convocation

[170r] Simon, permissione divina Cantuariensis archiepiscopus, totius Angliae primas et apostolicae sedis legatus, venerabili fratri nostro Domino Michaeli, Dei gratia Londoniensi episcopo, salutem et fraternam in Domino caritatem. Literas sanctissimi in Christo patris et domini nostri Domini Innocentii, divina providentia papae sexti, nos noveritis accepisse, virtute quarum nobis est efficaciter demandatum, ut confratres nostros ecclesiae nostrae Cantuariensis suffraganeos, absque morae diffugio convocemus, quatenus omnes et singuli nobiscum conveniant, literas consimiles ipsis singulis in hac parte directas humiliter recepturi, et circa executionem et expeditionem earundem deliberaturi, et sanum ipsorum consilium secretius impensuri.

Quocirca vestrae fraternitati iniungimus et mandamus quatenus omnes et singulos confratres nostros praedictos per literas vestras clausas moneatis, et efficaciter inducatis, peremptorie [170v] citantes eosdem, ut ipsi in crastino diei Ascensionis Dominicae proximo nunc futuro [7 May 1361] in ecclesia conventuali Beatae Mariae de Southwark Wintoniensis diocesis personaliter nobiscum conveniant, vosque consimiliter conveniatis recepturi, facturi et expedituri cum oboedientia debita quod communis deliberatio circa praemissa salubriter dictaverit prosequendum, et finaliter peragendum. Neminem vero dictorum fratrum excusarum habere poterimus propter dicti negotii qualitatem, nobis et illis ex electa speciali industria demandatam, nisi gravi infirmitate vel debilitate corporis excusetur; quo casu aliquem de confratribus suis loco suo constituere teneatur. Et quid feceritis in praemissis, nos die et loco huiusmodi, una cum nominibus confratrum et suffraganeorum nostrorum per vos citatorum in quadam schedula literis vestris certificatoriis annectenda descriptis certificetis per literas vestras patentes harum seriem continentes. Datum apud Maghfeld [Mayfield], secundo Kalendarum Aprilis anno Domini MCCCLXI et nostrae consecrationis duodecimo [31 March 1361].

The bishop of London's additions to the above

Vos igitur cum reverentia qua decet monemus et citamus peremptorie ac per vos clerum vestrae diocesis, tarn saecularem quam regularem, exemptum et non exemptum, citari volumus et mandamus, quod compareatis personaliter et compareat dictus clerus, die et loco in dicto mandato contentis, per procuratores suos idoneos, unum, duos vel plures, iuxta huiusmodi mandati seriem et effectum, facturi quod huiusmodi mandati tenor exigit, continet et requirit. Certificetis insuper dictum reverendum patrem, eisdem die et loco, quatenus vos et vestrum diocesim concernit, literis vestris patentibus, habentibus hunc tenorem, ut mandate. Paternitatem vestram conservet Altissimus ad regimen ecclesiae suae sanctae. Datum Londoniis, Nonis Aprilis anno Domini supradicto et nostrae consecrationis sexto [5 April 1361].

The archbishop's mandate

Simon, permissione divina Cantuariensis archiepiscopus [totius Angliae primas et apostolicae sedis legatus] venerabili fratri nostro Domino Iohanni, Dei gratia Exoniensi episcopo salutem et fraternam in Domino caritatem. Literas et processus venerabilis in Christo patris Domini Andruyni abbatis monasterii Cluniacensis880 nuper recepimus graves censuras ac poenas varias continentes. In quibus quidem literis et processibus idem dominus abbas asserit se nuntium pro prosecutione et complemento pacis inter nobiles viros Carolum ducem Britanniae et Iohannem comitem Montis Fortis reformandae a sede apostolica specialiter deputatum; sicque quamdiu circa prosecutionem negotiorum huiusmodi insisteret diebus singulis pro expensis et stipendiis suis et familiae suae auctoritate literarum apostolicarum sibi in hac parte concessarum sexdecim florenos auri percipere debere per praelatos et personas ecclesiasticas de Anglia pro medietate et per praelatos et personas ecclesiasticas de Francia regnis pro alia medietate sibi persolvendos.

Idemque dominus abbas in eisdem suis processibus asserens se circa persecutionem negotiorum praedictorum per mensem et ultra ante primam diem mensis Maii ultimo praeteritum [1 May 1361] vacasse extunc vacare debere usque ad Kalendas Decembris proximo iam futuras [1 December 1361] medietatem expensarum suarum praetensarum factarum et fiendarum per tempora supradicta ab ecclesiis, praelatis et viris ecclesiasticis regni Angliae exigendam fore decrevit, et medietatem huiusmodi iniuncta quadam alia summa quingentorum et quadraginta florenorum quam idem abbas ratione suarum expensarum sibi in suis processibus esse debitam asserit, eo quod per dictos mensis, videlicet Novembris et Decembris ultimo praeteritos pro pace inter reges Angliae et Franciae dudum reformanda (ut praetendit) insistebat; quamquam iidem duos menses post pacem inter ipsos reges finaliter concordatam, et post completum nuntium suum in hac parte, et postquam de expensis, procurationibus et stipendiis suis quibuscunque dum circa expeditionem negotii reformationis pacis eiusdem vacasset sibi assignatis plene et integre iuxta petitionem suam sibi fuerat satisfactum notorie contigerunt; prout sibi placuit et nimis excessive ad duo milia quadringentos septuaginta et sex florenos taxavit in processibus suis supradictis. De qua summa nobis et clero nostrarum civitatis, diocesis et provinciae summam mille quingentorum et triginta sex florenorum assignavit et imposuit nobisque sub gravibus poenis et censuris ecclesiasticis demandavit quatenus dictam summam infra sexaginta dierum spatium a die praesentationis processuum suorum nobis facta computandorum, quern terminum pro termino pereptorio ac monitione canonica nobis assignavit, nostris expensis et periculo sibi vel suo procuratori realiter et integraliter solveremus.

The writ for a parliament on 11 September 1346

Iohannes, Dei gratia Herefordensis episcopus, discreto viro Magistro Willelmo de Herwynton, officiali nostro, vel Magistro Willelmo de Thynghulle [Thinghull],781 nostro in eiusdem officialis nostri absentia commissario generali, salutem. Breve domini nostri regis nuper recepimus continens hunc tenorem:

Quocirca vobis committimus et mandamus, firmiter iniungentes quatenus dictum breve, quatenus decanum et capitulum ecclesiae nostrae Herefordensis ac archidiaconos nostros, totumque clerum diocesis nostrae concernit, in omnibus celerius quo poteritis exequamini vice nostra.

Convocation anno vicesimo septimo Elizabethae reginae held by Archbishop Whitgift anno secundo translationis, begun the 24th of November 1584

Session 1. Tuesday 24 November 1584

[fo. 1] Sets forth the manner of the archbishop's setting forth from Lambeth, his procession to St Paul's and his sitting in convocation.

[fos. 2-5] The bishop of London exhibits his certificate of execution of the archbishop's mandate for summons of the clergy. The mandate is cited in the certificate at large, and registered.

[fo. 5] Archbishop requires the lower house to choose their prolocutor. [fos. 5-6] And gives the vicar general (Dr Aubrey) commission to receive the bishops’ certificates of summons of their clergy, to inspect proxies and allow or disallow causes of absence. And pronounces all non-apparentes contumacious; adjourns to Westminster Abbey.

[fos. 6-8] Then follows as of that session the archdeacon of Canterbury's certificate of his execution of the archbishop's mandate of summons of the clergy of Canterbury diocese.

Session 2. Wednesday 2 December 1584

[fos. 9-10] Convocation assemble at Henry VII's chapel, Westminster. The dean protests for the liberty and exemptions of his church, and that the archbishop hath no jurisdiction nor right to sit there. The archbishop protests he intends no infringement of their rights and liberties. Adjourns to the fourth instant.

Session 3. Friday 4 December 1584

[fos. 11-12] Archbishop proposes to both houses to consider of giving a subsidy. Adjourns to St Paul's, December 1 lth instant. Archbishop grants a commission to five bishops, the vicar general Dr Dunne, doctor of law and Mr Redman, archdeacon of Canterbury, to preside in his place in his absence as often as need shall require, with power from day to day and place [to place] to adjourn and prorogue. Dated the seventh of December at Lambeth.

Session 4. Friday 11 December 1584 (AM)

[fos. 12-13] At St Paul's. A petition of all the vicars of the province exhibited (not registered, nor said what it concerned). A conference about the subsidy. Adjourned to the afternoon, the same place.

Session 5. Friday 11 December 1584 (PM)

[fo. 13] Meet. Privately debate. Adjourn.

Session 6. Wednesday 16 December 1584 (AM)

[fo. 14] Vicar general adjourns by commission to the afternoon.

Convocation anno tertio Caroliprimi regis, held by Archbishop Abbot, anno decimo septimo translations, begun at St Paul's, London, videlicet 18 Martii 1627 [1628]

[fos. 438-42] List of both houses.

The proxy of the dean and chapter of Exeter

On 26 February 1628 Laurence Burnell was elected proctor for the dean and chapter of Exeter. The proxy was also issued to William Cotton, Edward Cotton, William Peterson1 and William Hutchinson.

Proctors of the clergy:

Session 1. Tuesday 18 March 1628

[fo. 442] Begun at St Paul's by the lord bishop of London, president by the archbishop's commission. A writ to the archbishop for the convocation.

[fo. 443] Archbishop's commission to the bishops of London and Bath coniunctim et divisim to preside, with a clause in case of their absence to the bishops of Winton, Norwich, Roffen, Lichfleld.

[fos. 443-4] From Ford. Bishop of London's certificate to the archbishop's mandate.

[fo. 445] Schedula contumacium.

Election of the prolocutor.

In convocatione inchoata die Martis decimo octavo Martii 1627 iuxta etc., electus fuit venerabilis vir Walterus Curie sacrae theologiae professor, decanus ecclesiae cathedralis Lichensis in prolocutorem sive referendarium totius coetus domus inferioris convocationis.

Session 2. Friday 21 March 1628

At Westminster. Usual protestations.

Session 3. Friday 28 March 1628

Nothing considerable.

Presentation of the prolocutor to the upper house.

Die Veneris vicesimo octavo videlicet die mensis Martii praedicti inter horas secundam et quartam post meridiem eiusdem diei, per venerabiles viros Iohannem Donne sacrae theologiae professorem, decanum ecclesiae cathedralis Sancti Pauli Londoniarum et Thomam Halse sacrae theologiae professorem de gremio dictae domus in se fuit praesentatus [prolocutor antedictus], et per reverendum patrem Dominum Georgium Cantuariensem archiepiscopum approbatus et acceptatus.

Session 4. Wednesday 9 April 1628

[fos. 445-8] Archbishop present, proposes to both houses the grant of five subsidies of four shillings. Both houses agree. Archbishop orders a draught of the grant. Adjourn.

Session 5. Friday 18 April 1628

[fo. 448] Conference about amendments in the grant of subsidies.

Session 6. Wednesday 7 May 1628 (AM)

Session 7. Wednesday 7 May 1628 (PM)

[fo. 449] Grant engrossed of the said five subsidies brought in and consented to by both houses. This grant of subsidies is not registered. ﹛Quaere, how it comes to pass.)

Sessions 8-15. Dates unknown

[fos. 449-52] Nothing of moment.

Session 16. Friday 27 June 1628

[fo. 452] King's writ to prorogue to the 21 st of October 1628. Archbishop in person prorogues.

The royal writ for a parliament on 3 February

Edwardus, Dei gratia rex Angliae et Franciae et dominus Hiberniae, venerabili in Christo patri Wulstano, eadem gratia Wigorniensi episcopo, salutem. Quia pro executione guerrae nostrae Franciae ad partes transmarinas in principio mensis Martii proximo fiituro proponimus, disponente Deo, transfretare; propter quod vobiscum et cum aliis praelatis et magnatibus regni nostri Angliae super passagio praedicto et aliis negotiis, nos et statum iusdem regni tangentibus colloquium habere volumus et tractatum; vobis in fide et dilectione quibus nobis tenemini firmiter iniungendo mandamus, quatenus omnibus aliis praetermissis et quacunque excusatione cessante, sitis apud Westmonasterium in crastino Purificationis Beatae Mariae Virginis proximo futuro [3 February 1346] nobiscum et cum ceteris praelatis et magnatibus praedictis super praemissis tractaturi, vestrumque consilium impensuri, et hoc sicut nos et honorem nostrum ac expeditionem praedictam diligitis, nullatenus omittatis. Teste meipso apud Rockingham vicesimo sexto Novembris anno regni nostri Angliae decimo nono et Franciae sexto [26 November 1345].

The archbishop's mandate for an episcopal council

Venerabili Wulstano, Dei gratia Wigorniensi episcopo, Radulphus, permissione divina Londoniensis episcopus, salutem et fraternam in Domino caritatem. Mandatum Domini Iohannis, Dei gratia archiepiscopi, nuper recepimus tenorem continens subsequentem:

Upper house

[95] Session 1. Wednesday 4 November 1640

Die Mercurii, quarto videlicet die mensis Novembris anno Domini 1640, regnique serenissimi in Christo principis et domini nostri, Domini Caroli, Dei gratia Angliae, Scotiae, Franciae et Hiberniae regis, fidei defensoris etc., anno decimo sexto; reverendissimus in Christo pater et dominus, Dominus Gulielmus, providentia divina Cantuariensis archiepiscopus, totius Angliae primas et metropolitanus, mane inter horas octavam et nonam ante meridiem eiusdem diei, a manerio suo de Lambeth in comitatu Surriae, in naviculo suo dicto vulgo ‘a barge’ ad ripam dictam ‘Paul's Wharf, Londoniis applicuit, et inde in curru sive vehiculo ad palatium episcopale London venit.

Ac paulo post, idem reverendissimus pater, amictu et habitu suis vestitus, ab advocatis, procuratoribus et ceteris ministris suis curiae praedictae, ad ostium boreale ecclesiae Paulinae, iuxta palatium episcopale Londoniis antedictum, et inde in ecclesiam cathedralem Sancti Pauli Londoniarum praedictam ductus firit. Ibique ad dictum ostium venerabiles viri Thomas Winniffe, sacrae theologiae professor, decanus necnon Henricus King, Iohannes Montfort et Thomas Turner sacrae theologiae professores, canonici residentiarii ecclesiae cathedralis et ad ostium insulae australis chori eiusdem ecclesiae, ceteri ministri eiusdem ecclesiae superpelliciis induti, eum praestolabantur et ad chorum ipsius ecclesiae per dictum ostium insulae australis chori perduxerunt; comitantibus eum episcopis suffraganeis provinciae suae Cantuariensis, similibus habitibus indutis, et ibidem in stallo decani collocatus fuit. Ceterisque episcopis suffraganeis provinciae Cantuariensis, habitibus suis in huiusmodi negotio convocationis solitis et consuetis indutis, stallis praebendariorum, ex utraque parte dicti chori, sedentibus; ac consequenter decantato per ministros chori praedicti hymno ‘Te Deum laudamus’ etc., lectaque capitulo pro lectione secunda istius diei et aliis precibus matutinis iuxta formam liturgiae peractis et alio hymno ‘Lord grant the king a long life, etc’ cantato venerabilis vir Isaacus Bargrave sacrae theologiae professor, decanus ecclesiae cathedralis et metropoliticae Christi Cantuariensis, suggestum [96] in medio chori positum ingressus fuit.

Ac ibidem contionem venustam et eloquentem sermone Latino ad patres ac populum et clerum praesentes habuit; accepto pro themate versibus primo et secundo capituli quarti epistolae prioris ad Corinthios videlicet: ‘Sic nos existimet homo ut ministros Christi et dispensatores ministeriorum Dei. Hie iam quaeritur inter dispensatores it fidelis quisque inveniatur.’

Table of fees

Saturday 25 September 1830

Royal writ: 25 August.

Notary: Joseph Buckle.

Prorogued by William Venables Vernon to Wednesday 27 October 1830.

Dissolved by same on ? May 1831 (royal writ 23 April).

Royal writ of summons dated 1 July 1852, for 21 August 1852.

Archbishop's commission to William Cockburn, Edward Rice, Leveson Vernon Harcourt, William Vernon Harcourt, Charles Hawkins, William Henry Dixon and Charles Johnstone, dated 9 August 1852.

Saturday 21 August 1852

Royal writ: 18 August.

Notary: Joseph Buckle (and throughout unless otherwise stated).

Prorogued by Mr Hawkins.

Friday 22 October 1852

Royal writ: 16 October.

Notary: John Robert Mills.

Prorogued by Mr Hawkins.

Friday 5 November 1852

[Bishops:]

Thomas [Musgrave], lord archbishop of York.

Edward [Maltby], lord bishop of Durham. Charles Thorp, D. D., his proctor appeared etc.

John [Graham], lord bishop of Chester.

Hugh [Percy], lord bishop of Carlisle.

Charles Thomas [Longley], lord bishop of Ripon.

James Prince [Lee], lord bishop of Manchester.

Robert John [Eden], lord bishop of Sodor and Man. William Henry Dixon his proctor appeared.

[The deans of]

York: William Cockburn, D. D.

Durham: George Waddington, D. D. Charles Thorp, D. D., his proctor appeared.

Chester: Frederick Anson, D. D.

Carlisle: Archibald Campbell Tait, D. C. L., appeared.

Manchester: George Hull Bowers, D. D.

Ripon: venerable reverend Henry David Erskine appeared.

[The archdeacons of:]

York: Steven Creyke, M. A., appeared.

East Riding: Robert Isaac Wilberforce, M. A., appeared.

Cleveland: Edward Churton clerk, M. A., appeared.

Craven: Charles Musgrave, D. D., appeared.

Richmond: John Headlam, M. A., appeared.

Durham: Charles Thorp, B. D., appeared and protested (as above).

Northumberland: William Forbes Raymond, M. A. [Richard] Charles Coxe, M. A., his proctor appeared and exhibited a substitution, and protested etc. (as above).

Lindisfarne: George Bland, M. A. William Dodd, M. A., his proctor appeared.

Manchester: John Rushton, D. D.

Carlisle: William Goodenough clerk, M. A.

Sodor and Man: Joseph Christian Moore, M. A. William Henry Dixon his proctor appeared.

Chester: Isaac Wood, M. A., appeared.

Liverpool: Jonathan Brooks, M. A.

[The chapters of]

York: Charles Hawkins, LL. B., William Henry Dixon, M. A. Both appeared.

Durham: Charles Thorp, D. D., etc.

Chester: James Slade, M. A., appeared.

Carlisle: Henry Gipps clerk, appeared.

Ripon: Robert Sutton, M. A., ill.

Manchester: Cecil Daniel Wray, M. A., canon and subdean, appeared.

[The clergy of the archdeaconries of:]

York: William Howard and George Trevor, appeared.

East Riding: George Wray, M. A., and William Lindsay Palmes, appeared.

Cleveland: Samuel Gamlen, M. A., Charles Cator, appeared.

Durham: Thomas Linwood Strong, B. D., and John Davie Eade, M. A., their proctors appeared etc.

Convocation anno primo Caroli primi regis held by Archbishop Abbot anno decimo quarto translationis at St Paul's London, videlicet 7 February 1625 [1626]

[fos. 422-6] List of both houses.

Proctors of the clergy:

Peterborough: Si John Lambe

St David's: William Aubrey

Session 1. Tuesday 7 February 1626

[fo. 426] Convocation begun at St Paul's by the bishop of London, president by the archbishop's commission,

[fo. 427] The king's writ of convocation. Archbishop's commission of presidency.

[fos. 427-9] Bishop of London's certificate and archbishop's mandate,

[fo. 429] A writ to the archbishop for parliament,

[fo. 430] Archbishop's commission (he being sick) to the bishops of

London and Winchester coniunctim et divisim to preside.

Session 2. Wednesday 15 February 1626

[fo. 431] At Westminster. Usual protestation there. Dr Donne, dean of St Paul's, prolocutor.

Description of the election of John Donne as prolocutor

On Wednesday last Dr Mawe presented to convocation the dean of St Paul's for prolocutor. His oration in style was good Latin, in matter ordinary, but that he did extraordinarily flatter the bishops and prolocutor, leaving the lower house of clergy nothing but what they should measure from the bishops, in which also did concur the prolocutor, both making the bishops ‘ Stellas maioris magnitudinis’ and the inferior [clergy] ‘minoris magnitudinis’ (and this was well, if you give me leave to interpose my opinions, but what Dr Mawe added did not accord with their comparison of the stars, or divinity [w]rought) that from these bishops we must receive all our directions, that we must be obsequious to their commands, that by their light we must be illightened (at which words I said to one who stood by me, I hope he will not deal with the bishop as Dr Mus did with the pope's legate in concilio Tridentino, to give them the office of the Holy Ghost, spiritual illumination, neither did this fit with their comparison of maiores and minores stellae, for the lesser do not receive their light from the greater stars, but greater and lesser all from one of the great ones, the sun).

The archbishop's vicar-general's writ for the convocation

[65r] Robertas, permissione divina episcopus Cicestrensis, reverendi patris Domini Iohannis, Dei gratia Cantuariensis archiepiscopi, totius Angliae primatis et apostolicae sedis legati, a suis civitate, diocesi et provincia Cantuariensibus absentis et in remotis agentis, vicarius in spiritualibus generalis, venerabili patri Domino Richardo, eadem gratia Londoniensi episcopo, salutem et sinceram in Domino caritatem. Grandia, insolita et periculosa negotia emergentia nunc de novo, quae totum statum et honorem regni Angliae et Ecclesiae Anglicanae iura et libertates eorum notorie qua iustitia impugnata concernere dignoscitur, in quibus commune et singulare cuiuslibet dicti regni vertitur interesse multipliciter nos compellunt, licet anxios quodammodo et invitos, praelatos et clerum Cantuariensis provinciae convocare, et ad hoc etiam faciendum literas regias recepimus sub hac forma: