The Palace of Westminster in the Reign of Henry VIII
Chronological Index
Please Note: Until The Calendar (New Style) Act 1750 was introduced the legal year began on 25 March. Therefore, all legislation passed between 1 January and that date is counted as part of the previous calendar year.
This Page Lists Acts Concerning the Reformation with a Link to All of the Acts for Each Session
3 November 1529
1st Legislative Session 3 November 1529 - 17 December 1529
Executors No 4
An Act concerning Executors of last Wills and Testaments.
Probate fees, inventories, etc. No 5
An Act concerning Fines and Sums of Money to be taken by the Ministers of Bishops and other Ordinaries of Holy Church for the Probate of Testaments.
Mortuaries Act No 6
An Act concerning the taking of Mortuaries, or demanding, receiving or claiming of the same.
Pluralism No 13
An Act that no Spiritual Persons shall take to farm, of the King or any other Person, any Lands or Tenements for Term of Life, Lives, Years or at Will, &c.; and for Pluralities of Benefices; and for Residence
All Acts of the First Session
An Act concerning Executors of last Wills and Testaments.
Probate fees, inventories, etc. No 5
An Act concerning Fines and Sums of Money to be taken by the Ministers of Bishops and other Ordinaries of Holy Church for the Probate of Testaments.
Mortuaries Act No 6
An Act concerning the taking of Mortuaries, or demanding, receiving or claiming of the same.
Pluralism No 13
An Act that no Spiritual Persons shall take to farm, of the King or any other Person, any Lands or Tenements for Term of Life, Lives, Years or at Will, &c.; and for Pluralities of Benefices; and for Residence
All Acts of the First Session
December 1530
In the King's Bench - The Whole Clergy were Indicted for Praemunire
2nd Legislative Session 16 January 1531 - 31 March 1531
An Act concerning the pardon granted to the King’s Spiritual Subjects of the Province of Canterbury for the Praemunire, upon payment of one hundred thousand pounds
All Acts of the Second Session
All Acts of the Second Session
3rd Legislative Session 15 January 1532 - 14 May 1532
A petition passed by the House of Commons detailing grievances against Church of England prelates and the clergy
The response of the clergy to the petition
1532 Submission of the Clergy
The English church submitted to the King’s authority. No church law in future would be legal without his consent
Although the submission was agreed in Convocation, sitting at the same time as Parliament, in 1532 it was not introduced into civil law until 1534
The English church submitted to the King’s authority. No church law in future would be legal without his consent
Although the submission was agreed in Convocation, sitting at the same time as Parliament, in 1532 it was not introduced into civil law until 1534
Suspension of traditional payments to Rome
By the end of the 1532 session, therefore, the king, through the work of Parliament, had gained control over the clergy and overthrown the medieval constitution as between the spiritual and the temporal
During the following phase of the Reformation, Parliament, with additional legislation, would sever the jurisdiction of the pope in England
During the following phase of the Reformation, Parliament, with additional legislation, would sever the jurisdiction of the pope in England
4th Legislative Session 4 February 1533 - 7 April 1533
An Act making the King the final legal authority in England to the exclusion of Rome.
'Where by divers sundry old authentic histories and chronicles it is manifestly declared and expressed that this realm of England is an empire...
'Where by divers sundry old authentic histories and chronicles it is manifestly declared and expressed that this realm of England is an empire...
5th Legislative Session 15 January 1534 - 30 March 1534
An Act which made Princess Elizabeth, successor to the Crown by declaring Princess Mary a bastard
Enactment of the above 1532 ruling
Complete termination of the above which had been suspended in 1532
6th Legislative Session 3 November 1534 - 18 December 1534
An Act that required all those asked to take the oath to recognise Anne Boleyn as King Henry VIII's lawful wife and their children legitimate heirs to the throne. Anyone refusing to take the oath was guilty of treason
The oath for the act
An Act which made it treason, punishable by death, to disavow the Act of Supremacy
The oath for the act
7th Legislative Session 4 February 1536 - 14 April 1536
An Act to dissolve monasteries with an income of less than £200 a year
End of the Reformation Parliament - 14 April 1536
Later Reforming Articles and Legislation
6th Parliament of Henry VIII's Reign 8 June 1536 - 18 July 1536
1536 Second Act of Succession
An Act, following the conviction and execution of Anne Boleyn, excluding Elizabeth from succession
In Convocation 1536 Ten Articles
See of Rome Act 1536
An Act extinguishing the Authority of the Bishop of Rome
An Act extinguishing the Authority of the Bishop of Rome
An Act for the dissolution of the remaining 552 monasteries after the Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries Act of 1535
A reversal of some of Cromwell's polices enacted, he claimed, while he was ill
Link to Summary of Sessions for the Reign
