De republica anglorum, Sir Thomas Smith

Résumé du document

This text is extracted from DE REPVBLICA ANGLORVM, 1565, by Sir Thomas Smith, a fiery protestant. He focused upon two main monarchs, Edward VI and Elizabeth I. They both belonged to the Tudor dynasty. In 1547, Edward VI became King of England, at the age of nine, and on his death in 1553, Mary I, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon was crowned. On her death, Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, became Queen. England became a modern nation-state under the Tudor monarchs. The nobility was disarmed, the church nationalized, and overseas trade and colony-taking encouraged. It was a period of war, of enormous change and progress. Thus we will see in what way this text announces the rise of absolutism (not in the same way that the Stuart's absolutism which was connected with Catholicism, but purely in its strict definition, that is to say a supremacy of the monarch in each matter) in the realm of England, and the supremacy of the Monarch, as much in political matters as in religious ones.

Extraits

[...] At this period, an important theory was developed: the great chain of being. Indeed, it was thought at this time that the assemblage of the body and the head, that is to say, the Parliament and the Monarch, create a whole institution that could only work if each elements were together and not divided. This theory was called macrocosm and microcosm. So we will see in what way this text announces the rise of absolutism (not in the same way that the Stuart's absolutism which was connected with Catholicism, but purely in its strict definition, that is to say a supremacy of the monarch in each matter) in the realm of England, and the supremacy of the Monarch, as in political matters as in religious ones. [...]

[...] In law matters, Elizabeth I especially needed the Parliament that asserted her politic (even if it is only true at the beginning of her reign because after she had enough financial means to do without it). The parliament had the power, and it was most of the time seen as its main power, to create law. Indeed, for a bill to become an Act, the parliament's consent was necessary. Thomas Smith said “every bill or law being thrice read and disputed upon in either house”. The monarch, if he or she wanted to pass a law, had to summon the Parliament to do it. [...]

[...] De republica anglorum, Sir Thomas Smith This text is extracted from DE REPVBLICA ANGLORVM by Sir Thomas Smith, a fiery protestant. He focussed upon two main monarchs, Edward VI and Elizabeth I. They both belonged to the Tudor dynasty. In 1547, Edward VI became King of England, at the age of nine; and on his death in 1553, Mary daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon was crowned. On her death, Elizabeth daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, became Queen. [...]

[...] The religion established in the Realm of England was Protestantism and more specifically Anglicanism (which is a part of Protestantism). Anglican Church knows a form of hierarchy and the head of Anglicanism is the monarch. Elizabeth I established a legal form of Protestantism in the whole state. She even passed laws in order to ban the other religions and people who did not respect Protestantism. Furthermore, under her reign, she passed an Act called Act of Supremacy which declared that the Monarch is the supreme head of the Church of England. [...]

[...] In that way, we can affirm that the Monarch was controlling the Parliament in its composition, but also in its action because he could summon, prorogue or dissolve it when he wished to do so. In term of justice, the Parliament, even if it was the highest court of justice, was not totally free and alone. Actually, the Monarch played an important role in justice: as it is said in Thomas Smith's DE REPVBLICA ANGLORVM writs, executions and commandments be done in the prince's name”. So justice was given in the Monarch's name. In term of the elaboration of Law, the Parliament, as we said had the whole power of it. [...]