Succession Acts.

Succession Acts. From a comparatively early period in English history parliament occasionally exercised the power of limiting or modifying the hereditary succession to the throne. The first instance of such interference occurred in the case of Henry IV.; and parliamentary interposition was subsequently exercised in the case of Henry VII. and in regard to the immediate successors of Henry VIII. The respective rights of James I., Charles I., and Charles II. were acknowledged by parliament. The revolution of 1688 was founded on the so-called abdication of the government by James II. The Convention bestowed the crown on William and Mary for life, and regulated the claims of Anne. In view of the impending extinction of the Protestant descendants of Charles I. the crown was settled by 12 and 13 Will. III. chap. 2, in the event of the death of William and Anne without issue, on the next Protestant line, according to the regular order of succession—viz. the descendants of the Electress Sophia of Hanover, granddaughter of James I.; and it was at the same time enacted that whoever should hereafter come to possession of the crown should join the communion of the Church of England as by law established (see GEORGE I., HANOVER). This is the latest parliamentary limitation of the crown; but the right of parliament to limit the succession was secured by 6 Anne, chap. 7.