legislation

Date

Name

description

Significance

23rd April 1509

Henry VIII Crowned king

'the end of our slavery, the fount of our liberty, the end of sadness...' -More

 

1510

Epsom and Dudley executed

 

Council learned abolished

1515

Wolsey becomes Lord Chancellor/ appointed cardinal

Credited with making a major contribution to English law

7,526 cases heard in Court of Chancery, 1,685 in the Star Chamber (champion of poor?)

1515

Act of Resumption

Took back lands granted away

 

1515

Re-enacted HVII's law of 1489 ordering destruction of enclosures

 

An overreaction to bad harvests 1511-13? Not such a large problem

1518

Wolsey made papal legate

 

In 1521 this was extended to life

1521

Henry named Fidei Defensor

Given by the pope after book 'in Defence of the Seven Sacraments)

 

1521

Duke of Buckingham executed

Was only English duke at start of reign, regarded with suspicion

Shows ruthlessness towards nobility at start of reign

1523

One of two (1515) Pt called under Wolsey

W appeared personally in HofC demanding a subsidy of 4/-, speaker More told W he had no right in HofC however later pt grated smaller subsidy (1/4 of wanted) and W had to abandon his campaign against enclosure to secure the deal

Mean more resistance to amicable grant as this tax still being collected,

Tudor Subsidy more accurate way of collection tax, able to raise considerable funds

1525

Amicable Grant

Forced loan, 1/6th moveable goods/incomes; 1/3rd clergy's income.

Widely opposed; disorder in Lavenham, Suffolk involved 10,000 men (Loades 'quasi rebellion)

1525

Revived Court of Marches of Wales and Council of the North

Tribunals inherited from Yorkists, Henry's illegitimate son made Lieutenant-General of the North

Not Wolsey trying to raise personal power, members common lawyers experianced in affairs of North, not Wolsey's yes men as remained after his downfall

1525

Princess Mary's Council set up

In Wales, perhaps reflection lawlessness

Hoped her presence would slow flag and boost status of Council of Marches

1526

Eltham Ordinance

Reform finances of Privy Council/royal household

Reduction in number of Gentlemen in PC 12-6 (increase own importance) replaced Henry's Groom of Stool Sir William Compton. (Gwyn argues purely financial vs Starkey who argues Wolsey feared Amicable Grant would make him unpopular)

October 1529

Statute of Praemunire

Pope cant interfere in England and as legate Wolsey was challenging royal family's power (praemunire)

Wolsey's downfall

1529-36

Reformation parliament

 

 Precedent of parliament passing religious legislation

1531

Clergy collectively accused of praemunire and fined

 

 

1532

Supplication against the Ordinaries

H of C petition against bishops, king demanded lay scrutiny of clergy, they agreed, submission of clergy

Designed to increase anti-clerical pressure in House of Commons

1532

First Act of Annates (conditional restraint)

Only allowed 5% of money normally remitted to Rome, coincided with formal submission of Clergy to HVIII

More resignations

January1553

Henry marries Anne

Secret marriage by Cranmer, pregnancy decided timing of break.

 

April 1533

Act in restraint of appeals to Rome

Based on manuscript compiled by Foxe and Cranmer (Collectanae satis copiosa) historical precedents which claimed to deny papal rule

Cut off appeals from the verdict of the archbishop of Canterbury, Cranmer could hear and grant divorce - no appeal

April 1534

Act of Succession

Anne's son to be unchallenged heir, Mary declared a bastard and it became treason to write/do anything agaisnt the marriage.

 

November 1534

Act of Supremacy

King's headship of C of E

 

November 1534

Treason Act

Treason to say Henry/Anne were heretics/schismatics, reflected govt fear of Pro-papal elements causing rebellion

 

1534

2nd Act of Annates (Act in Absolute Restraint of Annates)

Cut off all payments to Rome, increased financial burned on clergy

Money went to Henry (£40-50,000 p.a.) strengthened royal supremacy

1534

Act Annexing First Fruits and tenths to the Crown

Punitive regular tax on clergy and much more than paid to Rome, all clerical officers were to give first year's income on appointment and an annual tenth thereafter

 

1535

Valor Ecclesiasticus

Black book, justifying the dissolution

 

January 1536

Catherine of Aragon dies

 

 H can marry Seymor

March 1536

Act  for dissolution of smaller monasteries

All religious houses with annual income less than £200 should be dissolved and property handed to the crown

300 fell into category, 67 exemptions (made to pay)

1536

10 Articles on Religion

Left out 4 sacrements and denied full doctrine of purgatory, hints of Lutheran ideas but more significant what was left out

Audience was clergy

1536

Rowland Lee appointed as President of Welsh Council

Influence by Englefield, member of council, TC established more uniforme govt in Wales, English style JPs introduced 1536 and Welsh shires could elect an MP to English Pt

A further statue 1543 further embedded union

1537

Bishops' Book

Restored 4 sacrements omitted from Ten Articles

 

1538

Injunctions

-established register of birth marriages and death, English bible in every church, Pilgrimages discouraged

 

1539

Act for the dissolution of larger monasteries

Any voluntary surrenderings were completely legal

Neither sped up or slowed down the dissolutions (800 monasteries in less than 5 years) all monasteries dissolved by 1540

1539

Act of Six Articles (six Whips)

All 7 sacraments necessary for salvation, good works for salvation, confirmed transubstantiation, banned clerical marriage

Triumph for conservatives

1543

King's Book

Distinctly Catholic and conservative

 

1543

Prebendaries' Plot

Conservatives in Kent against Cranmer

 

1546

Anne askew dead

She was a protestant burnt at stake