nding rather dissension and discord to continue in the realm
than charity, equity, or unity, have many times supported wrong titles,
whereby they might the more easily and facilly aspire to the superiority of
the same.

"The continuance and sufferance of these things, deeply considered and
pondered, is too dangerous and perilous to be suffered any longer; and too
much contrary to unity, peace, and tranquillity, being greatly reproachable
and dishonourable to the whole realm. And in consideration thereof, your
said subjects, calling further to their remembrance, that the good unity,
peace, and wealth of the realm, specially and principally, above all
worldly things, consisteth in the surety and certainty of the procreation
and posterity of your Highness, in whose most Royal person at this time is
no manner of doubt, do therefore most humbly beseech your Highness that it
may be enacted, with the consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and
the Commons in this present parliament assembled--

"1. That the marriage between your Highness and the Lady Catherine, widow
of the late Prince Arthur, be declared to have been from the beginning,
null, the issue of it illegitimate, and the separation pronounced by the
Archbishop of Canterbury good and valid.

"2. That the marriage between your Highness and your most dear and entirely
beloved wife, Queen Anne, be established and held good, and taken for
undoubtful, true, sincere, and perfect, ever hereafter."[701]

The act then assumed a general character, laying down a table of prohibited
degrees, within which marriage might not under any pretence be in future
contracted; and demanding that any marriage which might already exist
within those degrees should be at once dissolved. After this provision, it
again returned to the king, and fixed the order in which his children by
Queen Anne were to succeed. The details of the regulations were minute and
elaborate, and the rule to be observed was the same as that which exists at
present. First, the sons were to succeed with their heirs. If sons failed,
then the daughters, with their heirs; and, in conclusion, it was resolved
that any person who should maliciously do anything by writing, printing, or
other external act or deed to the peril of the king, or to the prejudice of
his marriage with Queen Anne, or to the derogation of the issue of that
marriage, should be held guilty of high treason; and whoever should speak
against that marria