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.

Royal proclamations were an important instrument of Tudor government and their legislative function has long been a subject of historical controversy, but the actual use of them by the Tudor monarchs has not been adequately studied. The main purpose of this book is to provide a systematic analysis of the use, authority and enforcement of proclamations in early Tudor England. Professor Heinze first attempts to establish a more accurate account of the proclamations issued; and then describes their formulation and promulgation. He also investigates the authority of proclamations as defined by Parliament and the role and power attributed to them by Tudor judges and legal writers. The main body of the study traces the actual use of proclamations and their relationship to statutory and common law. Separate chapters are devoted to the controversial Statute of Proclamations and the long neglected subject of enforcement.