On The Origin Of Regency In Early Modern England (1534-1553)

The regency in 1534-1553 is the beginning of the English regency institutionalization. From 1534, Henry VIII enacted a series of succession acts which are including the basic principles of the regency system. The last will of Henry VIII carried out those principles, and ordained specific details for the regency during the minority of Edward VI. After the succession of Edward VI, those executors of Henry VIII's will modified the regency system designed by Henry VIII. After 3 months discussion and arguments, those executors and Edward VI eventually elected a protector and governor, established the regency system in Tudor dynasty which was succeed by the future English dynasty.Chapter I mainly described the statutes preparation made by Henry VIII for the regency during the minority of Edward VI. By Reformation, Henry VIII established the royal supremacy, the king replaced the Pope and became the supreme head of Church of England, and the royal power was made the only ruling power in both the religious and the secular world. Henry VIII used acts and laws to protect the supremacy of royal power. He encouraged the study of civil law, and obtained legislative power through the principle of"king-in-Parliament". During and after the Reformation Parliament, Henry VIII made a series of statutes to restrict the power of the clergy, and extend the royal power. He even established and strengthened privileges courts to control the judicature. The despotism of Tudor Monarchy nearly became true.Since prince Edward was very young, the regency during his minority was an difficult issue needed to be solved. Making sure the young king's minority went through peacefully was vital for maintaining the supremacy of royal power. Henry VIII enacted three succession acts in which he limited his three legal children's succession, and prescribed the order of his successors. The first and the second succession acts provided, that the successor, if a male and under eighteen, or if a female and under sixteen, should be till such age in the governance of his or her natural mother, and such other councilors as Henry VIII should by will or otherwise appoint. This is the very first act in English history in which ordained the king or queen's full age. The two acts also designed the basic form of the regency system. Meanwhile the three succession acts impowered the king's will to nominate executors of his will and prescribed the order of his successors. Before Tudor Dynasty, nearly none of the kings'last wills had been carried out because there was no act impowered the king's last will. Although Henry VIII's last will had not been entirely abided, his last will had drawn a lot of attention and constantly impacted the Tudor history.Chapter II mainly discussed the issue of Henry VIII's last will and its arrangements for the royal minority. Some historians believed that the will of Henry VIII we are studying today was manipulated by"the new"in Tudor court. But I don't think we should make our conclusion and clam it a fake just because the will was inclined to"the new". Doctor Ives and Doctor Pollard had proved the truth of the will in their articles and works.The main idea of the will was the arrangements for the royal minority. In the will Henry VIII created an institution which included equal members of"the new"and"the old"to execute his will and govern the kingdom and the young king. The institution had three characteristics: first, the executors were asked to cooperate. They were all equal in the institution, no one supposed to be the head of it. They must discuss all the important issue in the kingdom, and they can make a decision only over half of the executors agree; Second, the institution was sealed. After the death of Henry VIII, no body can change the list of the executors, even the executors themselves had no choice and couldn't quit; Third, the institution had the full authority. The decisions made by the institution were valid as much as they were made by the king.Chapter III explained the practice of the regency after Edward VI succeeded the crown. Not long after the death of Henry VIII, the executors breached his will, they elected Edward Seymour as the chief executor and gave him the title of the Protector of all the realms and dominions and the Governor of Edward VI. Although he was forbidden to do any act but with the advice and consent of the rest of the co-executors. For the whole time, the executors understood that their power was extraordinary. Their authority was not coming from the king for the time being, but came from the dead king. After the issue of Thomas Wriothesley, the executors had to adjust the regency system again. They enacted an act of privy council in March 13th, 1547, in the act the executors and the assistant executors gave up their power and became normal councilors of Edward VI's privy council; Edward Seymour was no longer bounded by the executors. He was the Protector and Governor who controlled the privy council, all the councilor were his adviser, not his colleague. No body was supervising him in court, even not the king. So we can say Edward Seymour was the vice-king.The regency during the minority of Edward VI had been carefully prepared. Since the first succession act made in 1534, the preparation of the regency was set-up. During the practice of the regency, Tudor statesmen had tried all the regency form that existed before. The executors reformed the regency institution for several times, and eventually elected Edward Seymour as the Protector and Governor, and canceled the regency institution. This form of regency became example which was imitated by the forthcoming dynasty of England, and started up the regency institutionalization. After centuries developing, the regency system was settled down in 1937 by the Regency Act.