Henry VIII’s 1534 Act of Supremacy separates…

Henry VIII’s 1534 Act of Supremacy separates the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church.

Parliament recognizes Henry VIII as Supreme Head of the Church of England and, with the Act in Restraint of Appeals in 1532, has abolished the right of appeal to Rome.

It is only now that Pope Clement takes the step of excommunicating Henry and Thomas Cranmer, although the excommunication will not be not made official until some time later.

Henry has thus established a state church and placed ecclesiastical structures under the authority of the crown.

In many German principalities the same Protestant principle is enshrined through the formula “cuius regio eius religio,” or "to each prince his own religion."

The dominant religion, in other words, is to conform to that of the secular ruler.

Opposition to Henry's religious policies is quickly suppressed in England.

A number of dissenting monks, including the first Carthusian Martyrs, are executed and many more pilloried.

The most prominent resisters include John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, and Sir Thomas More, both of whom refuse to take the oath to the King.

Fisher, who has maintained his interest in education and humanism throughout his life, has reacted strongly against the spread of Lutheranism in England, and was openly opposed to the dissolution of Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon.

He refuses to recognize royal supremacy and the end of papal jurisdiction over the church in England.

Neither Henry nor Cromwell seek to have the men executed; rather, they hope that the two might change their minds and save themselves.