in a very practical way, by sending down to the Convocation the first set of articles of faith and ceremonies, drawn up in his own handwriting.[1] These were not introduced till July 11, and seem to have been agreed to the same day;[2] at any rate they can have been but little debated, since the Convocation was dissolved nine days afterwards, and a good deal of other business of importance was got through in the interval, viz. some ordinances on the observation of festivals, and a bill showing the causes why the King should not appear in the General Council recently summoned by the Pope.[3] The two facts of the articles being in Henry's handwriting, and of the speed with which they were enacted, afford sufficient answer to the hypothesis that they were the spontaneous and willing work of the English clergy.
These Acts finished the work of the Parliament and Convocation elected and dissolved in 1536, and no Parliament or Convocation met again till the end of April 1539. But though legislation was thus suspended, this period of almost three years was far from wanting in occurrences affecting the relations of Church and State. On the contrary, soon after the rising of Parliament appeared a set of injunctions about religion and the conduct of the clergy, issued by the vicegerent on the King's authority. These, according to Burnet, gave much offence to the clergy as being the first act of supremacy on the part of the King, and done withal without the consent of Convocation.
The year 1539 is again a year of primary importance in the history of the relations of Church and State.
