Jump to content

Page:Ruffhead - The Statutes at Large - vol 9.djvu/595

From Wikisource
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
APPENDIX
121

under the same mariage, and to the let, disturbance, and interruption of the said Ladie Elizabeth to the title of the Crowne: and also to deprive the saide Ladie Anne late Queene, and the said Ladie Elizabeth, and every of them of their dignitie, title, and name of their royall estates, contrary to the tenors, purports, provisions and ordinances, aswell conteined in the said Act made in the last Parliament, for the establishment of the Kings succession, as in an other Act made in the last Parliament for punishment of treasons. Which words, doings, practices, procurements and attempts of his saide subiects, albeit they proceeded of no malice, but upon true and just grounds, for punishment of the saide Ladie Anne, according to her deserts, and for reformation of the saide unlawfull mariage for the suretie of the Kings highnesse, and for the unitie and wealth of this Realme yet neverthelesse the Kings saide subjects might hereafter happen to bee impeached, troubled and vexed for such their words, doings, actes, procurements and attempts, aswell by reason of the saide Statute, made for the establishment of the Kings succession, and now repealed by this Act, as by occasion of other Statutes heretofore made for punishment of treason and misprision of treason, to the great danger and perils of the hues, lands, and goods of the Kings saide subjects, which onely for hartie good will and faithfull obedience, that they beare to the Kings Maiestie, incurred into the saide dangers and perils;' The Kings highnesse therefore of his most bountifull mercie and benignitie is pleased and contented, that it bee enacted by authoritie of this present Parliament, that all and singular his loving subjects, which have spoken, done, practised, committed or attempted, or procured to bee done or attempted directly or indirectly, by words, writings, prints, or any exteriour act, any thing or things whatsoever it bee, against the saide marriage, solemnized betweene his highnes and the said late Queene Anne, or for the setting foorth or preferment of the divorce or dissolution thereof: or against the late saide Queene Anne, or the said Ladie Elizabeth, or to any of their slanders, perils, or disherisons: or have wished, willed or desired by words or writings, or invented, imagined, practised or attempted any bodily harme to the said late Queene Anne, or Ladie Elizabeth, or to deprive the same late Queene Anne, or Ladie Elizabeth, or any of them, of the dignitie, title or name of their royall estates, or have spoken, done, or procured to be done, any other words, writings, printings, wishing, willing, thing or things, act or acts against the said late Queene Anne, or Ladie Elizabeth, which is or might be deemed or interpreted for treason, or misprision of treason by any construction upon any Statutes of this Realme heretofore made, shall bee freely and cleerely pardoned, discharged, and released by authoritie of this Act, of all those and such treasons and misprisions of treasons above mentioned. And that none of his said loving subjects for any of the said treasons or misprisions of treason above mentioned and specified, shall hereafter at any time, by any manner of meanes be impeached, vexed or troubled, in their bodies, Hues, lands, goods or chattels, any thing in this Act, or in any Act or Actes heretofore made for treasons or misprifion of treason, to the contrary thereof notwithstanding.

'V. And that it bee further enacted by authoritie aforefaid, that the said late Queene Anne, George Bullen, late Lord Rochford, Henrie Norreis Esquier, Francis Weston Knight, William Brereton Esquier, and Marke Smeton, for their abhominable and detestable treasons, by them and every of them most abhomihably and traitorously committed and done against your Maiestie and the Realme, shall bee by authoritie of this present Parliament convicted and atteinted of high treason, in such maner and forme, and accordingly as they be, by the due course and order of your Lawes of this Realme. And that the said late Queene Anne, George Lord Rochford, Henrie Norreis, Francis Weston, William Brereton, and Marke Smeton, and every of them, shall loose & forfeit to your highnesse and to your heires, all such their manors, meases, lands, tenements, rents, reversions, remainders, uses, possessions, offices, rights, conditions, and all other hereditaments, of what names, natures or qualities foever they bee, which they or any of them, or any other to their uses, or to the use of any of them had or ought to have had, of any estate of inheritance in fee-simple or in taile, in use or posession at the dayes of their severall treasons committed and expressed in their inditement, or any time after. Saving to every person and persons, and bodies politicke, and to the heires, assignes and successours of every of them (other then to the said late Queene Anne, and the other traitors aforenamed, and the heires and assignes of every of them, and all and every other person and persons claiming by them, or any of them, or to their uses, or to the uses of any of them, or to the use of any of their heires) all such right, title, use, possession, interest, condition, fees, offices, rents, annuities, commons, and al other commodities and hereditaments, whatsoever they or any of them might, should or ought to have had, if this Act had never bene had nor made.

'And over this most gratious Sovereigne Lord, forasmuch as it hath pleased your most royall Maiesftie, notwithstanding the great and intollerable perils and occaiions, which your highnesse hath suffered and susteined, aswell by occasion of your first unlawfull mariage, solemnized betweene your highnes and the Ladie Katharine, late Princes dowager, as by occasion of the saide unlawfull mariage betwene your highnesse and the said late Queene Anne, at the most humble petition and intercession of us your Nobles of this Realme, for the ardent love and feruent affection, which your highnesse beareth to the conservation of the peace and unitie of the same, and for the good and quiet governance thereof, of your most excellent goodnesse to enter into mariage againe, and have chosen and taken a right noble, vertuous and excellent Ladie Queene Jane to your true and lawful wife, and have lawfully celebrated and solemnized mariage with her, according to the lawes of holy Church: who for her convenient yeeres, excellent beautie, and purenesse of flesh and blood, is apt (God willing) to conceive issue by your highnesse: which mariage is so pure and sincere, without spot, doubt or impediment, that the issue procreated under the same, when it shall please almightie God to send it, cannot be lawfully, truely nor justly interrupted or disturbed of the right and title in the succession of your Crowne:' It may therefore now please your most gratious Maiestie, at the most humble petition and intercession of

us