Act in Restraint of Appeals

The Act in Restraint of Appeals(1533) was one of the most important steps towards England's independency from Rome. Thomas Cromwell had made it an political act by letting it be passed by the anti-clerical Parliament. Religion was at that time very important and he wanted to avoid that people got the impression that the king made the act in the name of only a few. As the people were represented in Parliament, the act represented the people's wish and not only the king's.

Objectives

The main purpose of this act was to legitimate King Henry VIII's marriage with Anne Boleyn and at the same time allow the annulment of his marriage with Catherine of Aragon. But it also was the great break between England and Rome, it showed the Pope that he had lost his power in England.

Beginning of the text

"WHERE by divers sundry old authentic histories and chronicles, it is manifestly declared and expressed, that this realm of England is an empire, and so hath been accepted in the world, governed by one supreme head and king, having the dignity and royal estate of the imperial crown of the same, unto whom a body politic, compact of all sorts and degrees of people, divided in terms, and by names of spiritualty and temporalty, be bounden and ought to bear, next to God, a natural and humble obedience: he being also institute and furnished, by the goodness and sufferance of Almighty God, with plenary, whole, and entire power, pre-eminence, authority, prerogative and jurisdiction, to render and yield justice, and final determination to all manner of folk, residents, or subjects within this his realm, in all causes, matters, debates, and contentions, happening to occur, insurge, or begin within the limits thereof, without restraint..."

Sources

See full text: http://home.freeuk.net/don-aitken/ast/h8a.html#145 http://en.allexperts.com/e/s/st/statute_in_restraint_of_appeals.htm http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/act_restraint_appeals.htm