Acts of the Privy Council of England: New Series A.D. 1542-1628

Microform Collection

Location:  Microfiche Cabinet 16, Drawer 10

Scope:  "The Privy Council was the chief source of executive power in England before the emergence of the cabinet system of government. It developed during the later years of the reign of Henry VIII (1509-1547), when the councillors at the King's side became permanently organized as a "privy council.'' Under the later Stuarts the Council declined in power due to the Stuart policy of working primarily with confidential committees within the council. Following the repeal in 1706 of the clause in the Act of Settlement (1701) which would have compelled all business to pass through the full Privy Council, it rapidly lost its political powers to the Cabinet." (University of Maryland Libraries)

Researchers should also consult the Acts of the Privy Council Colonial, 1613-1783.

How to search the collection: There is an index at the end of each volume.  Each entry in the index has a number (or sometimes several numbers).  Use that number to find the page in the microfiche.  The pages are clearly written on the top of the microfiche card.

Guides: There is a detailed  explanation of the scope of the collection on the first microfiche.  This explanation goes into a great deal of the history of the Privy Council.

For more information about this subject in our Library Catalog, check out these
Subject Categories:

Time Period:  16th Century  17th Century

Subject keywords:  Great Britain - History

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