Another sign of the secularization of the government was the change in the character of the chancellors.

Wolsey was the last great ecclesiastical minister of the reign; More and Cromwell who followed him were laymen.
The severance with Rome was now completed by three laws.

In the first place the definite abolition of the annates meant that henceforth the election of archbishops and bishops must be under licence by the king and that they must swear allegiance to him before consecration.

A second act forbade the payment of Peter's pence and all other fees to Rome, and vested in the Archbishop of Canterbury the right to grant licences previously granted by the pope.

A third act, for the subjection of the clergy, put convocation under the royal power and forbade all privileges inconsistent with this.