Nothing surely can prove much more distinctly than does the history of this Act, how completely Henry VIII. and Cromwell had, to adopt a favourite modern phrase, made the supreme headship a 'reality.' Here is a direct and emphatic and authoritative statement of doctrine which is introduced into Parliament as 'the King's will,' is hurried by Parliament into a bill, to which is appended—also because it is 'the King's will'—a penal clause, and the whole is passed by Parliament into an Act, and, as such, becomes the law of England, binding upon clergy no less than laity. And what is the share of Convocation in this important Act? It is simply asked whether it approves of the doctrines—i.e., it is consulted in the same way as, at the present day, the College of Physicians sometimes has been consulted—simply as a professional body of experts—on the advisability of some intended legislation about leprosy or cholera. Even the ordinary forms of legislation in use in Convocation are omitted. The vicegerent comes and asks what the members think of the doctrine, and that is all; and even that is done with as little respect as may be, and with no regard even to the appearance of permitting liberty of discussion. The questions are asked and the answers given between Monday and Thursday of the same week;[1] and the deliberation, if there was any deliberation, took place under the immediate superintendence of the lay Vicar-General.
To this year also (Nov. 12) appertains another very remarkable document, printed by Burnet, vol. iv. p. 410 (185), which shows how truly Chapuys spoke of the supremacy as 'a new papacy,' viz., the commission taken out by Bonner from the King for the exercise of his episcopal functions. It is probable that other
- ↑ Stubbs, Appendix iv. p. 118.
