The convocation of 1593

Summary

[fos. 133-5] List of both houses.

Proctors of the clergy:

[fo. 136] Queen's writ of summons.

Session. 1. 20 February 1593

Sessions 2-6. Dates unknown

[fos. 137-47] Nothing extraordinary. Archbishop's mandate, bishop of London and archdeacon of Canterbury's certificates. Protestation of the dean of Westminster to archbishop. Adjournments from day to day and place to place.

Session 7.14 March 1593

[fo. 147] Bishops agree upon two subsidies, confer with the lower house; they consent. Adjourn.

Session 8.16 March 1593

[fo. 148] Adjourn.

Session 9. 17 March 1593

[fos. 148-59] Archbishop present. Grant engrossed of two subsidies of four shillings per pound brought in; to be paid at two shillings yearly in four years. The first payment 19 February 1593 [1594]. The last payment 19 February 1586 [1597].

Sessions 10-18. Dates unknown

[fos. 159-62] Sessions have little more than meeting and adjourning, and proceeding against non comparentes and departers without leave.

Session 19.11 April 1593

[fo. 162] Archbishop present. Queen's writ for dissolving read. Archbishop dissolves the convocation accordingly.

[fos. 162-3] Then follows [sic] two papers, one of questions and answers about marriage within degrees of affinity, another containing orders agreed on by the bishops for the better executing the laws and avoiding offences. But how or when ordered, or whether to be referred, appears not.

Lower house

In this convocation, the deans and divers of the prebendaries of the late erected churches, being now met together, resolved to move for an act of parliament for the confirmation of them, to prevent for the future the great vexations they had met with from such as pretended that much of their revenues were concealed lands, and so belonging to the crown. The archbishop had often laboured to stop these mischiefs to the church and learning, and had so prevailed with the lord treasurer to espouse this cause, that upon their petition he had lately effectually shown the queen (the archbishop also being present) the great inconveniences of these commissions granted by her, to the spoiling of those religious foundations of hers, and her father and brother. And upon this encouragement, both from the archbishop and the said lord, they wrote their letter dated in March from the convocation house to him, to this tenor: