Copy of James II's decree appointing an ecclesiastical commission to inspect schools, universities and religious establishments King James II c. 2,270 words Newton Project Brighton 2008 Newton Project, Sussex University

This text is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

 1685, in English, c. 2,282 words, 4 pp.

In Humphrey Newton's hand.

Authorisation to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor and other counsellors to investigate universities, schools and religious institutions at will to confirm their orthodoxy.

 4 pp.

in English

 Keynes Ms. 122, King's College, Cambridge, UK UKCambridgeKing's College Keynes Mss Keynes Ms. 122 SL190

Bought at the Sotheby sale by Keynes for £14.10s.

20

 1685 English Latin Humphrey Newton Political MattersAlban Francis affair Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young Transcribed and tagged by John Young Proofed by Robert Iliffe Updated to Newton V3.0 (TEI P5 Schema) by Michael Hawkins Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins

1. Iames the 2nd by yethe Grace of God of England, Scotl:Scotland France & Ireland King, Defender of yethe faith &c. To yethe most Reverend Father in God our right trusty & right well-beloved CouncellrCouncellor WmWilliam LdLord Archbishop of Cant:Canterbury Primate of all Engl:England & Metropolitan & to our right Trusty & right well-beloved CouncellrCouncellor George LdLord Ieffreys Ld.Lord Chr.Chancellor of Engl:England & to our right Trusty & right well-beloved Cosin & CouncellrCouncellor Laurence E.Earl of Rochester, LdLord high Treasurer of Engl:England & to our right Trusty & right well-beloved Cosin & CouncellrCouncellor RobtRobert E.Earl of Sunderland, PrPresident of our Councel & our principall Secretary of State, Nathaniel Ld.Lord BꝑBishop of Durham, & to yethe right Reverend Father in God our Trusty & well-beloved Councellr.Councellor SrSir Edw:Edward Herbert Kt.Knight Cheif Iustice of the Pleas before us to be holden assign'd Greeting.

2. We for divers good weighty & necessary causes & considerations us hereunto especially moving, of our meer motion & certain knowledge by force & virtue of our Supreme Authority, & Prerogative Royal doe assigne name & authorize by these our LettrsLetters patents under our great Seal of Engl:England you yethe sdsaid Ld.Lord Archbꝑbishop of Cant:Canterbury LdLord Ch:Chancellor of Engl:England LdLord high Treasurer of Engl:England Ld.Lord President of our Councel, LdLord BꝑBishop of Durham, Ld.Lord BꝑBishop of Rochester, & our cheif Iustice aforesdsaid, or any three or more of you (whereof you yethe sdsaid Ld.Lord Ch:Chancellor to be one) from time to time & at all times during our pleasure, to exercise, use, occupy & execute under us all manner of Iurisdictions, priviledges & preheminencies in any wise touching or concerning any Spirituall or EcclallEcclesiasticall Iurisdictions within this our Realm of Engl:England & Dominion of Wales, & to visit, reform, redresse, order, correct & amend all such abuses offences, contempts & enormities whatsoever, wchwhich by yethe spiritual or EccleslEcclesiastical laws of this our Realm, can or may lawfully be reformed, order'd, redressed, corrected, restrained, or amended to yethe pleasure of Almighty God, the increase of Virtue, & yethe Conservation of yethe peace & unity of this Realm.

3. And we doe hereby give & grant unto you or any three of you or more of you as is aforesdsaid (whereof you yethe sdsaid LdLord Ch:Chancellor to be one) thus by us named assigned, authorized, & appointed by force of our Supreme Authority and Prerogative Royal, full power & authority from time to time, & at all times, during our pleasure under us to exercize, use & execute all the prpremises according to yethe tenor & effect of these our LettrsLetters patents any matter or cause to yethe contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

4. And we do by these prpresents give full power & authority unto you, or any three or more of you as is aforesdsaid (whereof you yethe sdsaid LdLord Ch:Chancellor to be one) by all lawful ways & meanes from time to time hereafter during our pleasure, to enquire of all offences, contempts, transgressions and misdemeanors done, & committed, & hereafter done & to be committed contrary to yethe EcclallEcclesiasticall Laws of this our Realm, in any County, City, Burrough or other place or places, exempt or not exempt within this our Realm of Engl:England & dominion of Wales, & of all & every yethe Offender or Offenders therein, & ymthem & every of ymthem to order, correct, reform & punish by censures of yethe Church.

5. And also we do give & grant full power & Authority unto you, or any three or more of you, as is aforesdsaid (whereof you yethe sdsaid Ld.Lord Ch:Chancellor to be one) in like manner as is aforesdsaid from time to time, & at all times during our pleasure, to enquire of, search out, & call before you all & every EcclecallEcclesiasticall person or persons of wtwhat Degree or Dignity soever, as shall offend in any of the particulars before mention'd, & ymthem & every of them to correct & punish for such their misbehaviors, & misdemeanors by suspending or depriving ymthem from all promotions EcclallEcclesiasticall & from all Functions in yethe Church; & to inflict such other punishments or Censures upon ymthem according to the EcclcallEcclesiasticall laws of this Realm.

6. And farther we do give full power & authority unto you or any three or more of you as is aforesdsaid (whereof you yethe sdsaid Ld.Lord Ch:Chancellor to be one): by virtue hereof & in like manner & form as is aforesdsaid, to enquire, hear determine & punish all Incests, Adulteries, fornications, Outragious misbehaviors & disorders in Marriages, & all other greivous or great Crimes or Offences wch.which are punishable or Reformeable by yethe EcclcallEcclesiasticall laws of this our Realm, committed or done, or hereafter to be committed or done in any place exempt or not exempt, within this our Realm according to yethe tenor of yethe EcclcallEcclesiasticall laws in ytthat behalf. Hereby granting you or any three or more of you as is aforesdsaid (whereof you yethe sdsaid Ld.Lord Ch:Chancellor to be one) full power & authority to order & award such punishmtment to every such Offenders by Censures of yethe Church, or other lawfull wayes as is aforesdsaid.

7 And we do farther give full Power & Authority to you, or any three or more of you as is aforesdsaid (whereof you yethe sdsaid Ld.Lord Ch:Chancellor to be one) to call before you or any three or more of you as is aforesdsaid (whereof you yethe sdsaid Ld.Lord Ch:Chancellor to be one) all & every offender and offenders in any of yethe prepremises; & also all such as by you or any three or more of you as is aforesdsaid (whereof you yethe sdsaid Ld.Lord Ch:Chancellor to be one) shall seem to be suspected persons in any of yethe prpremises, & them to examine touching every or any of the prpremises, wchwhich you shall object agtagainst ymthem, & to proceed agtagainst ymthem & every of ymthem as yethe nature & quality of their offence or suspition in ytthat behalf shall require, & also to call all such witnesses, or any other person or persons, ytthat can inform you concerning any of yethe prpremises, as you or any three ofr more of you as is aforesdsaid (whereof you yethe sdsaid LdLord Ch:Chancellor to be one) shall think meet to be call'd before you, or any three or more of you as is aforesaid (whereof you yethe sdsaid LdLord Ch:Chancellor to be one) & ymthem & every of ymthem to examine upon their corporal oaths, for yethe better tryal & opening of yethe Truth of yethe prpreemises, or any part thereof. And if you or any three or more of you as is aforesdsaid (whereof you yethe sdsaid Ld.Lord Ch:Chancellor to be one) shall find any person or persons whatsoever obstinate or disobedient either in their appearance before you or any three or more of you (whereof you yethe sdsaid Ld.Lord Ch:Chancellor to be one) at yorour calling & com̄mmandmt.ment or else in not obeying or not accomplishing yorour Orders, decrees or Com̄mmandmts.ments or any thing touching yethe prpremises or any part thereof, or any other bratnch or clause contain'd in this Com̄mmission, ytthat ynthen you or any three or more of you as is aforesdsaid (whereof you yethe sdsaid Ld.Lord Ch:Chancellor to be one) shall have full power & Authority to punish yethe same person & persons so offending by Excom̄mmunication Suspension, Deprivation, or other Censures EcclcallEcclesiasticall.

8 And where any person shall be convented or prosecuted before you, as aforesdsaid, for any of yethe causes above expressed, at yethe Instance & suit of any person prosecuting yethe offence in ytthat behalf ytthat then you or any three or more of you as is aforesdsaid (whereof you yethe sdsaid Ld.Lord Ch:Chancellor to be one) shall have full power & Authority to award such costs & expences of yethe suit, as well to & agtagainst yethe party as shall preferr or prosecute yethe sdsaid offence, as agtagainst yethe parties ytthat shall be convented according as their causes shall require & to you in Iustice shall be thought reasonable.

9. And farther our will & pleasure is. That you assume our well beloved Subject Nc: Bor. EsqrEsquire one of yethe Clerks of our Councel or his sufficient Deputy, or Deputies in ytthat behalf, to be your Register, whom we do depute by these prpresents to ytthat effect, for yethe Registring of all your Acts, Decrees & proceedings by virtue of this our Com̄mmission: & ytthat in like manner you or any three or more of you, as is aforesdsaid (whereof you yethe sdsaid Ld.Lord Ch:Chancellor to be one) by yorour discretions shall appoint one or more Messenger or Messengers, & other officer or officers necessary & convenient to attend upon you for any service in this behalfe.

10. Our Will & expresse Com̄mmandmtment also is. That there shall be two paper books indented & made, yethe one to remain wthwith yethe sdsaid Register, or his suffcient Deputy or Deputies, yethe other wthwith such person & in such place as you yethe sdsaid Com̄mmissioners or any three or more of you as is aforesaid (whereof you yethe sdsaid Ld.Lord Ch:Chancellor to be one) shall in your discretions think most fit & meet. In both wchwhich books shall be fairly entred all yethe Acts, Decrees & Proceedings made or to be made by virtue of this our Commission.

11. And whereas our Universities of Oxford & Cambridge & divers Cathedral & Collegiate Churches, Colledges, Grammer Schooles, & other EcclcallEcclesiasticall Corporacontions have been erected founded & endowed by several of our Royal Progenitors, Kings & Queens of this Realm & some others by yethe Charity & bounty of some of their subjects, as well within our Universities, as other parts & places, yethe ordinances, Rules & Statutes whereof are either imbezil'd, lost, corrupted or altogether imperfect: We do give full power & Authority unto you, or any five or more of you (of whom we will you yethe forenam'd LdLord Ch:Chancellor allwayes to be one) to cause & com̄mmand in our Name all & singular yethe ordinances, Rules & Statutes of our sdsaid Universities, & all & every Cathedral or Collegiate Churches, Colleges, Gram̄mmar-Schooles, & other EcclcallEcclesiasticall Incorporacontions, together wthwith their several LettrsLetters Patents, & other writings, touching or in any wise concerning their several Erections & Foundations to be brought & exhibited before you, or any five or more of you, as is aforesdsaid (whereof you yethe sdsaid Ld.Lord Ch:Chancellor to be one) willing, cm̄mmanding & Authorizing you or any five or more of you as is aforesdsaid, (whereof you yethe sdsaid Ld.Lord Ch:Chancellor to be one) upon yethe exhibiting & upon diligent & deliberate vieu, search & examinacontion of yethe sdsaid Statutes, Rules & Ordinances, LettrsLetters Patents & writings as is aforesdsaid, yethe same to correct, amend & alter, & also where no statutes are extant in all or any of yethe aforesdsaid cases, to devise & sett down such good Orders & Statutes as you, or any five or more of you is aforesdsaid (whereof you the sdsaid LdLord Ch:Chancellor to be one) shall think meet & convenient to be done by us confirmd ratified, allowed & sett forth for yethe better Order & Rule of yethe sdsaid Universities Cathedral & Collegiate Churches, Colledges & Grammar Schooles, Erections & Foundations, & yethe Possessions & revenues of yethe same, & as may best tend to yethe honour of Almighty God, Increase of Virtue, Learning & Unity in yethe sdsaid places, & yethe publick weal & tranquillity of this our Realm.

12. Moreover our Will, pleasure & Com̄mmandmtment is, ytthat you our sdsaid Comrs.Commissioners & every of you shall diligently & faithfully execute this our Com̄mmission & every part & Branch thereof in manner & form aforesdsaid, & according to yethe true meaning hereof: Notwithstanding any appellation, Provocation, Priviledge, or Exemption, in ytthat behalf to be had, made, prpretended or alledged by any person or persons resident or dwelling in any place or places, exempt or not exempt within this our Realm; Any Laws, Statutes, proclamacontions or other Grants Priviledges or Ordinances wchwhich may be or may seem contrary to yethe prepremises Notwithstanding.

13. And for yethe better credit & more manifest notice of yorour duty in the Execution of this our Com̄mmission, our pleasure & Com̄mmand is ytthat you or any three or more of you as is aforesdsaid forth, had, made, decreed the places as shall be appointed aforesdsaid for yethe due Execution of this our Com̄mmission by you or any three or more of you as is aforesdsaid (whereof you yethe sdsaid Ld.Lord Ch:Chancellor to be one) shall cause to be put & fixed a Seal engraven wthwith a Rose & Crown, & yethe Letter I. & a figure 2 before, & yethe Letter R after yethe same, wthwith a Ring or Circumference about yethe same Seal containing as followeth, Sigillum Com̄mmissariūum Regiæ Majestatis ecclesiasticas.

Finally we will & com̄mmand all & singular other our ministers & Subjects in all & every place & places exempt & not exempt within our Realm of Engl:England & Dominion of Wales, upon any knowledge or request from you or any three or more of you as is aforesdsaid to ymthem or any of ymthem given or made to be given, & unto you, & at your Com̄mmandmt.ment in & for yethe due executing of yorour Precepts, Letters & other processes, requisite in & for yethe due executing this our Commission, as they & every of ymthem tender our pleasure & will yethe contrary at their utmost peril. In In witnesse &c.