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Handout #173 |
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The Act of Supremacy of 1534 A.D. |
| An extract from the preamble to the Act,
which takes the line that Parliament is merely recognizing something which
was already a fact.
Albeit the King's Majesty justly and rightfully is and oweth to be the supreme head of the Church of England, and so is recognized by the clergy of this realm in their Convocations; yet nevertheless for corroborations and confirmation thereof, and for increase of virtue in, Christ's religion within this realm of England, and to repress and extract all errors, heresies and other enormities and abuses hereto be used in the same, Be it enacted.. that the King our sovereign lord, his heirs and of his successor kings of this realm, shall be taken, accepted and reputed the only supreme head in earth of the Church of England... any usage, custom, foreign laws foreign authority, prescription or another thing or things to the contrary hereof notwithstanding. Text taken from G. R. Elton, The Tudor Constitution, CUP 1968, 3556. |
