the English Parliament

“ FIrst the King willeth and commandeth, That the Peace of holy Church and of the Land, be well kept and maintained in all Points, and that common Right be done to all, as well Poor as rich, without respect of Persons. ”

“ And because the State of [1] the holy Church had been evil kept, and the Prelates and religious Persons of the Land grieved many ways, and the People otherwise intreated than they ought to be, and the Peace less kept, and the Laws less used, and the Offenders less punished than they ought to be, by reason where of the People of the Land feared the less to offend; the King hath ordained and established these Acts underwritten, which he intendeth to be necessary and profitable unto the whole Realm. ”

“ And because that Abbeys and Houses of Religion of the Land have been overcharged, and fore grieved, by the Resort of great Men and other, [2] so that their Goods have not been sufficient for themselves, whereby they have been greatly [3] hindered and impoverished, that they cannot maintain themselves, nor such Charity as they have been accustomed to do; it is provided, That none shall come to eat or lodge in any House of Religion of any other's Foundation than of his own, at the Costs of the House, unless he be required by the Governor of the House before his coming thither. ”