What is the full account of the Act of Supremacy?

Answer 1

The Act of Supremacy was decreed by Parliament in 1534 and declared King Henry VIII of England and his successors Head of the Church in England with the title being "the only supreme head in the earth of the Church of England, called Anglicana Ecclesia." This act was intended to place the Church of England under the direct control of the Crown with the particular aim of abolishing papal authority and influence in the kingdom. On the succession of Queen Mary in 1553, the Act of Supremacy was rescinded. The repeal of the act was upheld by Queen Elizabeth I who reigned from 1558-1603. However, the first legislative act of Elizabeth's reign was the new Act of Supremacy of 1559. While the enactments under Henry VIII were essentially reinstated under a revised form, the new act changed the formal title of the monarch to "the only Supreme Governor of the realm, and all of her Highness's other dominions and countries, as well as all spiritual or ecclesiastical things or causes temporal."

An oath was required of all clergy and public officials that they accept the act and would be obedient to the Crown. Those who refused this oath could be charged with high treason. Because of their refusing to swear or affirm the oath, St. Sir Thomas More (1478-1535) and St. John Cardinal Fisher, Bishop (1469-1535) were both arrested, imprisoned, and tried in the Tower of London and beheaded.