House of Lords Precedence Act 1539

None but the King’s Children shall sit on either Side of the Cloth of Estate in Parliament. E+W

Forasmouche as in all great Counsells and Congregacions of Men, havinge sundrie degrees and offices in the common wealth, yt is verie requisite and convenient that an order shulde be had and taken for the placinge and sittinge of suche persons as bene bounde to resorte to the same, to thentent that they knowinge their places maye use the same without displeasure or lett of the Counsell; Therfore the Kinges most royall Majestie, [X1 althought] it apperteyneth unto his perogatyve royall to give suche honour reputation and placinge to his Counsellors and other his subjects as shalbe semynge to his most excellent Wisdome, ys nevertheles pleased and contented for an order to be had and taken in this his moste highe Courte of Parliament, that it shalbe enacted by authoritie of the same in manner and forme as hereafter followeth; First it is enacted by authoritie aforsaide that noe person or persons of what estate degree or condition soever he or they be of, Excepte onlie the Kings Children, shall at any tyme hereafter attempte or presume to sytt or have place at any side of the Clothe of estate in the parliament Chamber, nother of the one hand of the Kings Highnes nor of the other, whether the Kings Majestie be there personallie present or absent.

Editorial Information

X1 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: althoughe O. [O. refers to a collection in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge]