The Second Succession Act was formally titled
An Act concerning the Succession of the Crown, and was also known as the
Succession to the Crown (Marriage) Act 1536 (
28 Hen. 8. c. 7). The act followed the conviction and execution of
Anne Boleyn, and removed both her daughter,
Elizabeth I, and
Mary I, Henry's daughter by his
first wife, from the line of succession. It superseded the
First Succession Act, which had declared Mary to be illegitimate and Elizabeth to be
heir presumptive. This new act declared that Elizabeth was also a bastard. As a result, Henry was left without any legitimate child to inherit the throne after his death, although this would change upon the birth of
Edward VI in October 1537. Because Henry had no legitimate offspring at the time of the passage of the act, the act gave Henry "full and plenary power and authority" to choose who would succeed him if he died without an heir of his body, by naming his successor in
letters patent or in
his last will. The act also created several offences of
high treason connected with interrupting the succession to the throne of any person so chosen, or with saying that Henry's first two marriages to Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn had been valid, or that his third marriage to
Jane Seymour was invalid, or with saying either of his daughters were legitimate and any son of his third marriage was not.
Sanctuary was not available for people accused of treason under the act, and – in addition to the death penalty – anyone convicted of treason by interrupting the succession to the throne was to forfeit their own claim to the throne, if any existed. Finally, the act made it treason to attempt to repeal the act. It was superseded in 1543 by the
Third Succession Act, which returned Henry's daughters into the line of succession to the throne, but did not restore their legitimacy. == See also ==