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What did the Statute of Praemunire forbid in 1353?
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Edward III
Edward III, watercolour, 15th century; in the British Library (Cotton MS. Julius E. IV).
The Statute of Praemunire, enacted in 1353 during the reign of Edward III, specifically forbade the practice of making appeals to Rome regarding patronage disputes.1
This legislation was part of a broader effort to limit papal interference in English ecclesiastical affairs, following the Statute of Provisors of 1351, which had addressed the unpopular papal practice of appointing individuals to church benefices in England. While the Crown already possessed sufficient authority to manage these matters, Edward III accepted these legislative measures to align with the views of his subjects.1