&c.—matters which would scarcely have come before Parliament at all in previous reigns, and could not assuredly have been settled by it without the intervention of Convocation, and probably also of the Court of Rome; but which seem small and insignificant when compared with the doings of the previous Parliaments of Henry VIII. Meanwhile Convocation, which does not seem to have been consulted on these Acts, was busy upon other and not unimportant matters. The Houses were informed,[1] at the commencement of the session, that it was the 'King's intention that they should deliberate on the bad state of religion, and on the remedies; and should correct and reform where it was necessary.' They accordingly discussed the revision of the translation of the Bible, the abolition of the lights burned before images, the erasure of the names of the Pope and Thomas à Becket from the service books, decreed the uniform employment of 'the use of Sarum' throughout the province of Canterbury, and introduced propositions concerning the reform of various practical disorders among clergy and laity, upon which it was determined to 'consult the King.'
One remarkable occurrence took place which, when taken in connection with other events before and after, illustrates in a curious manner the relations subsisting at the time between Parliament and Convocation.
A bill was introduced into Parliament to enable bishops-chancellors to marry, and yet to retain their offices, with the powers thereto belonging for pronouncing suspensions, excommunications, and other ecclesiastical censures,[2] 'as priests do'; also that they who held these offices should have sufficient fees of the ordinaries to find them and their families. To this bill the bishops
