Proclamation by the Crown Act 1539 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act that Proclamations made by the King's Highness, with the Advice of His Honourable Council, shall be obeyed, and kept as though they were made by Act of Parliament. |
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| Citation | 31 Hen. 8. c. 8 |
The Proclamation by the Crown Act 1539 was a special law passed in England. It allowed King Henry VIII to make rules, called proclamations, that had the same power as laws made by Parliament. This meant the King could make important decisions without always waiting for Parliament to agree.
This law was also known as the Statute of Proclamations. It was a big deal because it gave the King a lot more power. Some people worried it could lead to the King having too much control over the country.
Contents
What Was the Proclamation Act?
The Proclamation by the Crown Act was passed in 1539. It was created during the time of King Henry VIII. This King wanted to make sure his royal orders were followed.
The Act said that the King's proclamations should be obeyed. It was "as though they were made by act of parliament." This made the King's direct orders very powerful.
Why Did the King Want This Power?
Normally, new laws had to be passed by Parliament. But sometimes, the King needed to make quick decisions. For example, he might need to stop money from leaving the country.
The King's chief minister, Thomas Cromwell, helped create this law. He wanted to make sure the King had the power to act fast. This Act gave the King a clear legal way to issue important orders.
How Did It Work?
The Act set up a special group of people. This group was meant to help enforce the King's new proclamations. They would make sure everyone followed the King's orders.
However, there was some disagreement about how this would work. The House of Lords, a part of Parliament, wanted to make sure the King's power was not completely unchecked.
Was the Act Popular?
Many people, even back then, thought this Act gave the King too much power. A famous legal expert named William Blackstone later said it was "calculated to introduce the most despotic tyranny." This means he thought it could lead to a very unfair and controlling government.
People worried it could take away the freedom of the kingdom. It was seen as a sign of King Henry VIII's very strong rule.
What Happened to the Act?
The special group set up to enforce the proclamations did not work very well. Because of this, the Act was eventually cancelled. It was repealed in 1547, after King Henry VIII died.
Even after the Act was repealed, kings still tried to use proclamations. But they often caused problems, especially when kings tried to use them to raise taxes.
How Did This Affect England's Future?
The idea of kings making laws without Parliament remained a big issue. It was one of the reasons for later conflicts in England. These included the Wars of the Three Kingdoms in the 1600s.
Later, the Glorious Revolution happened. This event led to the Bill of Rights in 1689. This important document made it clear that Parliament had the main power to make laws, not the King. This is called parliamentary sovereignty.
See also
- List of Acts of the Parliament of England to 1601
