Royal Assent by Commission Act 1541 facts for kids
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| Long title | An Act concerning the Attainder of the late Queen Catherine and her Complices. The Bill of Atteynder of Mestres Katherin Hawarde late Quene of England, and divers other personnes her complices. |
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| Repealing legislation | Royal Assent Act 1967 |
| Status: Repealed | |
The Royal Assent by Commission Act 1541 (33 Hen. 8. c. 21) was an Act of the Parliament of England, passed in 1542 to convict Queen Catherine Howard and authorise her execution.
The Royal Assent by Commission Act 1541 was a bill of attainder, which meant it declared Queen Catherine Howard guilty of a crime without a trial. According to the act the Queen was guilty of high treason, punishable by death, for failing to disclose the history of her relationships to the king within 20 days of their marriage. The act also stipulated that all of Queen Catherine's assets were to be forfeited to the Crown while also creating a new method in which royal assent could be granted to legislation.
Until 1542 the Royal Assent could be granted only by the king in person, at a ceremony in which the whole text of the bill would be read aloud. King Henry decided to avoid this, and the Parliament inserted a clause in the bill of attainder, which provided that the Royal Assent could be granted by commissioners appointed for the purpose, instead of by the king in person. Initially used sparingly, the new procedure gradually became used more often until it became the usual way. The last monarch to grant Royal Assent in person was Queen Victoria in 1854.
The Act was repealed by section 2(2) of the Royal Assent Act 1967, which however preserved the Commissioners' role.
See also
- Treason Act 1541
- High treason in the United Kingdom
