The Proclamations of the Tudor Queens

This study investigates the independent prerogative which Mary I and Elizabeth I exercised through royal proclamations. These public documents were announced throughout England, informing men and arguing the Queen's positions, commanding local officials to perform specific actions, and on occasion creating new but temporary law that was designed to meet crisis situation when no delay could be tolerated. The theoretical relationship between this prerogative power and the existing statutory law has been the subject of much debate. This study adds an element previously neglected, the investigation of the Queens' actual use of the proclamations, showing that they did innovate with vigour and legislate in them, but only to supplement and not supplant the law, and within the limits slowly being formulated in the sixteenth century. Professor Youngs demonstrates how the proclamations affected domestic security and foreign affairs, social and economic matters, and religion.

Part I. The Theory: The Nature and Roles of Royal Proclamations: 1. Introduction; 2. The roles of proclamations; Reflections: The proclamations and the Constitution; Part II. The Practice: The Proclamations and Security: 3. Domestic security; 4. Foreign affairs; Reflections: The proclamations and security; Part III. The Practice: The proclamations and Economic and Social Management: 5. Economic management for the public interest; 6. Economic management for private interests; 7. Social management; Reflections: The proclamations and economic and social management; Part IV. The Practice: The Proclamations and Religion: 8. The interim settlements of religion; 9. Dissident religious books; 10. Elizabethan Catholic priests; Reflections: The proclamations and religion.

This study investigates the independent prerogative which Mary I and Elizabeth I exercised through royal proclamations. These public documents were announced throughout England, informing men and arguing the Queen's positions, commanding local officials to perform specific actions, and on occasion creating new but temporary law that was designed to meet crisis situation when no delay could be tolerated.