Second Succession Act

The Second Succession Act (28 Hen. 8. c. 7) was a piece of legislation passed by the Parliament of England in June 1536, during the reign of Henry VIII.
== Provisions ==
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 It superseded the First Succession Act, which had declared Mary to be illegitimate and Elizabeth to be heir presumptive.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.Section 18
The Act also created several offences of high treason connected with interrupting the succession to the throne of any person so chosen,Section 20 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.
The Act also required some of Henry's subjects to take an oath to uphold the Act, and made it treason to refuse to take said oath.Sections 24 and 25 Sanctuary was not available for people accused of treason under the Act,Section 22 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.
The Act also made it treason to criticise the death sentence passed against Thomas More under the Treasons Act 1534.Section 21
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 It was superseded in 1543 by the Third Succession Act, which returned Henry's daughters into the line of succession to the throne, but did not restore their legitimacy.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 ==
* Succession to the British throne
* Alternative successions of the English and British crown
== References ==
==External links==
*Second Succession Act
Category:1530s in law
Category:1530s in England
Category:Acts of the Parliament of England (1485–1603)
Succession to the Crown Act 1536
Category:Succession acts
Category:Mary I of England
Category:Elizabeth I of England