Suppression of Religious Houses Act 1535
The Suppression of Religious Houses Act 1535,[1] also referred to as the Act for the Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries[4] and as the Dissolution of Lesser Monasteries Act 1535,[5][6] was an Act of the Parliament of England enacted by the English Reformation Parliament in February 1535/36. It was the beginning of the legal process by which King Henry VIII set about the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
Long title
An Acte wherby all Relygeous Houses of Monkes Chanons and Nonnes whiche may not dyspend Manors Landes Tenementes & Heredytaments above the clere yerly Value of ii C li[a] are geven to the Kinges Highnes his Heires and Successours for ever.[2][3]
27 Hen. 8. c. 28
14 April 1536
Effect[edit]
The main effect of the Act was to expropriate the lesser religious houses to the King, who (in the words of the Act) "shall have to him and to his heirs all and singular such monasteries, abbeys, and priories, which at any time within one year next before the making of this Act have been given and granted to his majesty by any abbot, prior, abbess, or prioress, under their convent seals, or that otherwise have been suppressed or dissolved... to have and to hold all and singular the premises, with all their rights, profits, jurisdictions, and commodities, unto the king's majesty, and his heirs and assigns for ever, to do and use therewith his and their own wills, to the pleasure of Almighty God, and to the honour and profit of this realm".[15]
This section includes a retrospective effect, regularising suppressions of houses which had already taken place.
Consequences[edit]
The Act, and the many dissolutions which followed in its wake, was the principal cause of the Pilgrimage of Grace, a rebellion which broke out at Louth in Lincolnshire in October 1536. An army numbering about 30,000 men gathered, and King Henry ordered the Duke of Norfolk, Duke of Suffolk, and Lord Shrewsbury to take action. But he had no standing army, and the rebels were looked on favourably. So peace had to be negotiated, the demand to restore the monasteries was conceded, a new parliament was to be called, and the rebels were promised free pardons. After they had dispersed and gone home, Henry broke his word. The rebel leaders were arrested and put on trial, and several hundred were executed.[16] Bigod's rebellion then followed, also unsuccessful.
Repeals[edit]
Sections 17 and 18 were repealed by section 11 of the Continuance of Laws, etc. Act 1623 (21 Jas. 1. c. 28),[17] sections 4 to 6, 8 to 12, and 14 were repealed by section 1 of, and schedule 1 to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1948,[18] and finally the whole act, so far as still extant, was repealed by section 1 of, and Part II of the schedule to, the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1969.[19]