The Reigns of Edward V (1483) and Richard III (1483-5)

Summary

Overview

In the history of the convocations, the short reigns of Edward V and Richard III can only be regarded as a hiatus. There was no meeting of the northern convocation during this time, and the 1483 Canterbury synod was nipped in the bud. Under Richard III there were two convocations held, the first of which did no more than grant him a subsidy. The second did likewise, but also passed two statutes, one relating to ecclesiastical jurisdiction and the other to clergy discipline.

The convocation of 1483

This was called by a royal writ of Edward IV issued on 3 February 1483, but by the time the archbishop summoned the convocation on 14 April, the king had died (9 April) and the government was thrown into confusion. A meeting of sorts may have taken place, since plans were so far advanced, but if so, nothing of substance was decided.

The convocation of 1484

On 20 December 1483 Richard III issued a writ for a convocation, which the archbishop summoned to meet on 3 February 1484. It remained in session until 24 February when it granted the king a subsidy of a full tenth.

The convocation of 1485

On 7 December 1484 the king issued a writ for a convocation which the archbishop summoned to meet on 10 February 1485. It remained in session until 12 March, when it granted a subsidy of a full tenth, to be paid in halves on 24 June 1485 and 24 June 1486. The king was killed at Bosworth Field on 22 August 1485, but it appears that the collection of the second part of the subsidy was paid regardless.

The convocation also passed a statute which imposed a penalty of excommunication on any secular official who might arrest, or have arrested, any ecclesiastical person. A second statute, passed at the same time, tried to regulate clerical dress along the usual lines of modesty combined with distinctiveness.