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Albeit the King's Majesty justly and rightfully is and oweth to
be the supreme head of the Church of England, and so is recognised
by the clergy of this realm in their convocations; yet nevertheless,
for corroboration and confirmation thereof, and for increase of virtue
in Christ's religion within this realm of England, and to repress
and extirpate all errors, heresies, and other enormities and abuses
heretofore used in the same, Be it enacted by authority of this present
Parliament, that the king, our sovereign lord, his heirs and successors,
kings of this realm, shall be taken, accepted, and reputed the only
supreme head in earth of the Church of England, called Anglicans
Ecclesia; and shall have and enjoy, annexed and united to the
imperial crown of this realm, as well the title and style thereof,
as all honours, dignities, preeminences, jurisdictions, privileges,
authorities, immunities, profits, and commodities to the said dignity
of the supreme head of the same Church belonging and appertaining;
And that our said sovereign lord, his heirs and successors kings
of this realm, shall have full power and authority from time to time
to visit, repress, redress, record, order, correct, restrain, and
amend all such errors, heresies, abuses, offenses, contempts and
enormities, whatsoever they be, which by any manner of spiritual
authority or jurisdiction ought or may lawfully be reformed, repressed,
ordered, redressed, corrected, restrained, or amended, most to the
pleasure of Almighty God, the increase of virtue in Christ's religion,
and for the conservation of the peace, unity, and tranquility of
this realm; any usage, foreign laws, foreign authority, prescription
or any other thing or things to the contrary hereof notwithstanding.
From: Statutes of the Realm, III; spelling modernised.
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