In 1529, the first year of Henry’s long parliament, a very sweeping measure was passed to regulate the clergy. They were prohibited from holding any land by lease. All leases held by ecclesiastics must be transferred to laymen before the next Michaelmas. Spiritual persons were prohibited from trading, except in the case of monasteries selling the produce of their own lands for their own needs. No priest was henceforth to hold more than one benefice of value above £8 yearly, but existing pluralists might retain four; members of the King’s Council, chaplains of the royal family or of peers, and brothers of peers and knights, were permitted to hold three, and Doctors of Divinity might hold two. Every priest was required to reside on one of his benefices, but exceptions were made in favour of pilgrims, persons on the King’s service, scholars at universities, and royal chaplains. Spiritual persons were prohibited from keeping breweries and tan-yards[13]. The chief object of this statute was probably to facilitate the transference of ecclesiastical property to laymen[14]. It must have caused great indignation among the clergy. They may have hoped at first that it would not be strictly enforced, but in 1536 it was re-enacted with still more stringent residentiary clauses[15]. In 1530 the clergy of England were called upon to face the overwhelming charge that they had all offended against the Statute of Praemunire by acknowledging Wolsey’s legatine authority. In order to buy their pardon from the King they were compelled to pay a heavy fine. In addition to this the King demanded that they should acknowledge him “the only Protector and Supreme Head of the Church and clergy of England,” and that cure of souls was committed to him, “curæ animarum ejus majestati commissæ et populo sibi commisso debite inservire possimus.” He made other demands, but these were the most important points. The clergy would only accept the title qualified by the phrase “quantum per Christi leges licet,” “as far as the laws of Christ will allow.”[16] They applied the same qualifications to the phrase about the cure of souls “ut et curæ animarum populi ejus majestati commissi _dehinc_ servire possimus,” “and so far (as the laws of Christ will allow) we are able to agree that the cure of the souls of his people has been committed to his Majesty.” This acknowledgment was made, as far as can be discovered, only by the southern convocation. The questions were not put to the northern convocation, and it seems that at least three of the northern bishops, Tunstall being one, protested against the new title, even with the modification[17]. However the King was satisfied for the moment by the compromise, and the clergy were solemnly pardoned[18].