English Church Law and Divorce: Notes on the Reformatio Legum Ecclesiasticarum

Lewis Dibdin, Charles E. H. Chadwyck Healey

ISBN 10: 1331780098 / ISBN 13: 9781331780090

Published by Forgotten Books, 2018

About this Item

Print on Demand. This book delves into the history of the Reformatio Legum Ecclesiasticarum, an ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to reform ecclesiastical laws. The author traces the Reformation's origins to the reign of Henry VIII, when Parliament empowered a commission of 32 to revise canon law, with a focus on divorce. Amid the religious and political turmoil of the 16th century, the commission's work was influenced by prominent figures like Archbishop Cranmer and the foreign Protestant reformer Peter Martyr. Despite being incomplete at Henry's death, the Reformatio was revived under Edward VI and finally published in 1571, albeit without royal assent. It proposed sweeping changes to divorce laws, allowing it in cases beyond adultery, but encountered resistance from both the Crown and the Church of England. The author explores the Reformatio's significance in the broader context of religious and legal reforms in Tudor England, shedding light on the complex interplay between church and state in shaping societal norms during a transformative period. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book.

Seller Inventory # 9781331780090_0

Bibliographic Details

• Title: English Church Law and Divorce: Notes on the Reformatio Legum Ecclesiasticarum
• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication Date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1331780098
• ISBN 13: 9781331780090
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Book Type: print-on-demand item
• Seller catalogs:
  • Law

About this title

Synopsis

Explore how centuries of church law shaped divorce and remarriage in England This edition surveys the Reformatio Legum Ecclesiasticarum and key cases, including the Stawell matter, to reveal how early English church law influenced marital outcomes.

The work frames the evolution of canon law, its conflicts with royal authority, and the way courts addressed dower, reconciliation, and divorce. It combines critical excerpts with scholarly notes to illuminate legal thought, procedural steps, and the limits of reform in a changing religious landscape.

• How divorce arguments moved through ecclesiastical courts and the role of judges and commissioners


• Connections between canonical rules and parliamentary acts on marriage and adultery


• Case studies that illustrate legal concepts like reconciliation, divorce a mensa, and dowry disputes


• Key figures and texts that shaped the English approach to marital law

Ideal for readers of legal history, ecclesiastical law, and early modern English governance who want a concise, document-driven look at how theology and law intersected in marriage decisions.