The appointment of Thomas Cromwell to the new office of vicegerent, which had been made in the interval between the parliament of 1536, and that of 1539, the latter of these assemblies seized the earliest moment of confirming by their recognition; avoiding, however, the appearance of the necessity of their sanction, by introducing the fact of appointment and the description of the office into the preamble of this statute, where a matter so weighty otherwise appears to be exceedingly misplaced.

Forasmuch as in all great councils and congregations of men, having sundry degrees and offices in the commonwealth, it is very requisite and convenient that an order should be had and taken for the How the placing and fitting of such persons as been bounden to resort to the same, to the intent that they, knowing their places, may use the same without displeasure or let of the council; therefore the King's most royal majesty, although it appertaineth unto his prerogative royal to give such honour, reputation and placing to his councellors, and other his subjects, as shall be seeming to his most excellent wisdom, is nevertheless pleased and contented, for an order to be had and taken in this his most high court of parliament, that it shall be enacted by authority of the same, in manner and form as hereafter followeth.

Forasmouche as in all great Counsells and Congregacions of Men, havinge sundrie degrees and offices in the common wealth, yt is verie requisite and convenient that an order shulde be had and taken for the placinge and sittinge of suche persons as bene bounde to resorte to the same, to thentent that they knowinge their places maye use the same without displeasure or lett of the Counsell; Therfore the Kinges most royall Majestie, althought it apperteyneth unto his perogatyve royall to give suche honour reputation and placinge to his Counsellors and other his subjects as shalbe semynge to his most excellent Wisdome, ys nevertheles pleased and contented for an order to be had and taken in this his moste highe Courte of Parliament, that it shalbe enacted by authoritie of the same in manner and forme as hereafter followeth; First it is enacted by authoritie aforsaide that noe person or persons of what estate degree or condition soever he or they be of, Excepte onlie the Kings Children, shall at any tyme hereafter attempte or presume to sytt or have place at any side of the Clothe of estate in the parliament Chamber, nother of the one hand of the Kings Highnes nor of the other, whether the Kings Majestie be there personallie present or absent.This section, except the words from "And foreasmuch" to "Churche of England", was repealed by Schedule 1 to the Statute Law Revision Act 1948.

And forasmuche as the Kings Majestie is justly and laufullie supreme hed in Erthe, under God, of the Churche of Englande, [and for the good exercise of the said most royal dignity and office, hath made Thomas lord Crumwel and lord privy seal, his vicegerent, for good and due ministration of justice to be had in all causes and cases touching the ecclestastical jurisdiction, and for the godly reformation and redress of all errors, heresies and abuses in the said church.

And that the Kinges Chief Secretory beinge of the degre of a Baron of the Parliament shall sytt and be placed afore and above all Baronys, not havinge eny of the offices aforemencioned; And if he be a Bisshoppe, that then he shall sytt and be placed above all other Bisshopps, not havinge any of the offices above remembred.

And that if any person or persons which at any tyme hereafter shall happen to have anye of the saide offices of Lorde Chauncelor Lorde Treasorer, Lorde Precident of the Kings Counsell, Lorde Privey Seale or Chief Secretorie, shalbe under the degree of a Baron of the Parliament, by reason wherof they can have noe interest to give any assent or dissent in the saide House, that then in everie such case suche of them as shall happen to be under the saide degree of a Baron, shall sitt and be placed at the uppermost parte of the sakkes in the middes of the saide Parliament Chamber, eyther there to sytt uppon one fourme or uppon the uppermost sakk, the one of them above the other in order as is above rehersed.

In this section, the words "in the Sterr Chamber and" were repealed by Schedule 1 to the Statute Law Revision Act 1948.