Monastic Wales.








Event detail for site: Pill

1534: Act of Supremacy

On 20 July 1534 the prior, William Watts, and the monks of Pill gathered in the chapter-house and signed the Act of Supremacy, thereby acknowledging Henry VIII as head of the church and agreeing to call the pope bishop.

Bibliographical sources

Printed sources

The Heads of Religious Houses in England and Wales, III, 1377-1540, ed. David M. Smith (CUP: Cambridge, 2008) p. 200

Letters and Papers Foreign and Domestic, of the reign of Henry VIII, 1509-47, 23 in 38 vols, ed. J.S. Brewer, R.H. Brodie and J. Gairdner (London, 1862- 1932) vol. 7, p. 393, no. 1024 (18)

Pritchard, Emily M., The History of St Dogmaels Abbey together with her Cells, Pill, Caldey and Glascareg and the Mother Abbey of Tiron (London, 1907) pp. 140-1

Web links (open in new window)

Image of Oath of allegiance to Henry VIII and his successors, 1534 (View website)

Transcript and translation of oath of allegiance to Henry VIII, 1534 (View website)


Other events in the history of this site

c.1190Foundation - There is much uncertainty about the date of foundation. [4 sources]
1204 x 1219Confirmation - William Marshal I, earl of Pembroke and lord of Haverford, confirmed the priory's holdings. [1 sources]
c.1291Fiscal duties - Pill was obliged to pay the annual sum of £9 6s 8d to its mother-house, St Dogmaels. [1 sources]
c.1294Inspeximus - Edward I confirmed the priory's previous charters including the foundation charter of Adam de Roche. [2 sources]
1314Burial - John de Roche willed to be buried at Pill. [2 sources]
1381Clerical poll tax - Payments required from the community [1 sources][1 archives]
1388Proposed visitation - John Sampson was commissioned by the archbishop of Canterbury to conduct a visitation of St Dogmaels and Pill. [1 sources]
1405Diocesan control - From 1405 St Dogmaels and its daughter-houses of Pill and Caldey were placed under episcopal jurisdiction and subject to episcopal visitation. [1 sources]
1405Visitation - In April 1405 Prior Walter Robjoy and the community at Pill had their first episcopal visitation. [2 sources]
1504Visitation - On 10 September visitation of the priory was conducted by a representative of the archbishop of Canterbury since the see of St David's was vacant.  [1 sources][1 archives]
1534Act of Supremacy - On 20 July 1534 the prior, William Watts, and the monks of Pill gathered in the chapter-house and signed the Act of Supremacy, thereby acknowledging Henry VIII as head of the church and agreeing to call the pope bishop. [5 sources]
c.1535Wealth - According to the Valor Ecclesiasticus Pill had an estimated annual income of £67 15s 3d gross and £52 2s 5d net after charges. [5 sources][1 archives]
1537Dissolution -  [6 sources]

 
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