r manner of tythes than hath been
accustomed to be paid this hundred years past; and in some parts of this
your realm there is exacted double tythes, that is to say, threepence, or
twopence-halfpenny, for one acre, over and beside the tythe for the
increase of cattle that pastureth the same:

"To this we say, that tythes being due by God's law, be so duly paid
(thanked be God), by all good men, as there needeth not exaction in the
most parts of this your Grace's realm. As for double tythes, they cannot be
maintained due for one increase; whether in any place they be unduly
exacted in fact we know not. This we know in learning, that neither a
hundred years, nor seven hundred of non-payment, may debar the right of
God's law. The manner of payment, and person unto whom to pay, may be in
time altered, but the duty cannot by any means be taken away.

"Item where they say that when a mortuary is due, curates sometimes, before
they will demand it, will bring citation for it; and then will not receive
the mortuaries till they may have such costs as they say they have laid out
for the suit of the same; when, indeed, if they would first have charitably
demanded it, they needed not to have sued for the same, for it should have
been paid with good will:

"We answer that curates thus offending, if they were known, ought to be
punished, but who thus doeth we know not.

"Item where they say that divers spiritual persons being presented to
benefices within this your realm, we and our ministers do take of them
great sums of money and reward; we reply that this is a particular abuse,
and he that taketh reward doeth not well; and if any penny be exacted above
the accustomed rate and after convenient proportion, it is not well done.
But in taking the usual fee for the sealing, writing, and registering the
letters, which is very moderate, we cannot think it to be reputed as any
offence; neither have we heard any priests in our days complain of any
excess therein.

"And where they say in the same article that such as be presented be
delayed without reasonable cause, to the intent that we the ordinaries may
have the profit of the benefice during the vacation, unless they will pact
and convent with us by temporal bonds, whereof some bonds contain that we
should have part of the profit of the said benefice, which your said
subjects suppose to be not only against right and conscience, but also
seemeth to be simony, and contrary to the laws o