Our summary title/abstract: Tudor Royal and Parliamentary Establishmentarianism (Henry VII and VIII) and Henrician (VIII) Succession, 1st Divorce, 2nd Marriage, Estate Planning 101, Plans for Traitors-Opponents 101, and Oaths. We've sifted through the two Acts for the highlights.
“An Act for Confirmation of Henry VII” (1485)
1. For “the avoiding of all ambiguities and questions”
2. Be it “established and enacted by the authority of this Parliament that the inheritance of the crowns of the realms of England and France…”
3. And “…in the heir of his body lawfully come…and none other…” [Prince Arthur, then Prince Henry]
And now, for a round of legalese:
“An Act for the Establishment of the King’s Succession, 1534 (25 Henry VIII, c. 22)”
1. “…The Lords temporal and spiritual and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled…”
2. “…for the surety of both the title and succession…” [=Catherine's out and Anne's in]
3. “…to foresee and provide for the most perfect surety of both you and your most lawful succession and heirs” [=bye, bye Princess Mary]
4. Because of “great divisions which in times past hath been in this realm…” [War of Roses and noblemen-infighting]
5. [= with a whack to Rome] “By reason whereof the bishop of Rome and See Apostolic contrary to the great and inviolable grants of jurisdictions given by God immediately to emperors, kings, and princes in succession to their heirs hath in time past to invest who should please them to inherit in other men’s kingdoms, dominions…we do abhor and detest.”
6. “…the marriage heretofore solemnized between your Highness and the Lady Catherine…[ed. compliments of the obliging Cranmer] shall by the authority of the present Parliament be definitely, clearly, and absolutely declared, deemed, and adjudged to be against the laws of God…[the marriage is] utterly void and annulled.” [=bye, bye Catherine]
7. Catherine is “only a dowager to Prince Arthur and not a queen of this realm.”
8. The marriage between Henry VIII and Anne Bolyen is “undoubtful, true, sincere, and perfect ever after, according to the just judgment of the said Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury, metropolitan and primate of all this realm…”
9. “…confirmed as well by the whole clergy of this realm in both Convocations, and both Universities…as well as universities of Bologna, Padua, Paris, Orleans, Toulouse, Angers and divers others…”
10. [Henry’s new marriage to Anne] is “purely, plainly, constantly…good and consonant to the laws of Almighty God without error or default…”
11. HENRICIAN AND PARLIAMENTARY DYNASTIC ESTATE PLANNING 101: “…all the issue” of the Henry VIII’s “dearly and entirely beloved wife Queen Anne shall be your lawful children and be inheritable and inherit…the imperial crown, dignities, honours, preeminences, prerogatives, authorities and jurisdictions…”
12. “…first son of your body between Your Highness and your said lawful wife Queen Anne…” The language then includes successive sons in the dynastic line.
13. Barring male issue, “…the eldest issue female which is the Lady Elizabeth, now princess…and the heirs of her body…” If these moves fail, then the 2nd, 3rd and subsequent daughters will ascend to the throne. [= um, this will be readjusted after Henry VIII has Anne beheaded, sorry Lady Elizabeth]
14. HENRICIAN AND PARLIAMENTARY PLANS FOR ALL OPPOSITION: “…by writing, print, deed or act…prejudice, slander, disturbance or derogation of the said lawful matrimony” shall be “high traitors” said to include “aiders, counselors, maintainers and abettors” shall “suffer pains of death…lose and forfeit to your heirs all such manors, lands, tenements, rents and annuities, and heritaments…” [=too bad Sir Thomas More, Mr. (bp.) John Fisher and others, life is hard when you oppose Henry and Parliament]
15. HENRICIAN AND PARLIAMENTARY SUBSCRIPTION PLAN
“…all nobles and other subjects shall make a corporal oath…” [= anyone think oaths were taken with mental and moral reservations?]
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