The statute of ''Circumspecte agatis'' (), or Circumspecte Agatis, was an English

statute A statute is a law or formal written enactment of a legislature. Statutes typically declare, command or prohibit something. Statutes are distinguished from court law and unwritten law (also known as common law) in that they are the expressed wil ...

issued in 1285 by King

Edward I Edward I (17/18 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots (Latin: Malleus Scotorum), was King of England from 1272 to 1307. Concurrently, he was Lord of Ireland, and from 125 ...

. It defines the jurisdictions of Church and State, forcing church courts to confine themselves to ecclesiastical cases. This, along with the ''Articuli Cleri'' of Edward II, the Act of the 18th of

Edward III Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377), also known as Edward of Windsor before his accession, was King of England from January 1327 until his death in 1377. He is noted for his military success and for restoring royal authority after t ...

(1344) and the Charter of

Edward IV Edward IV (28 April 1442 – 9 April 1483) was King of England from 4 March 1461 to 3 October 1470, then again from 11 April 1471 until his death in 1483. He was a central figure in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars in England ...

(1462), eventually settled this long-standing dispute. The original statute issued by Edward I was a response to a dispute involving the

bishop of Norwich The Bishop of Norwich is the Ordinary (Catholic Church), ordinary of the Church of England Anglican Diocese of Norwich, Diocese of Norwich in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers most of the county of Norfolk and part of Suffolk. Th ...

. The instructions to the king's judges were to:

...use yourselves circumspectly in all matters concerning the Bishop of Norwich and his Clergy, not punishing them if they hold Plea in Court Christian, of such things as be meer spiritual, that is to wit, of Penance, enjoined by Prelates for deadly Sin, as Fornication, Adultery, and such like.

References

English law 1280s in law 1285 in England 13th century in England Edward I of England {{England-stub

See also

References