The Religion Act 1592 or the Seditious Sectaries Act 1592 or the Act Against Puritans 1592 or the Conventicle Act 1593 ( 35 Eliz. 1. c. 1) was an act of the

Parliament of England The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England from the 13th century until 1707 when it was replaced by the Parliament of Great Britain. Parliament evolved from the Great Council of England, great council of Lords Spi ...

. The act imprisoned without bail those over the age of sixteen who failed to attend Church; persuaded others to do the same; denied Queen

Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudo ...

's authority in religious matters; and who attended unlawful religious meetings. The act was cognisable in the

Court of High Commission A court is an institution, often a government entity, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and administer justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law. Courts gene ...

. If, after offending, they did not conform in the next three months, they would be exiled from England forever. The act fined those who harboured recusants £10 for every month hidden. The act stated that it would continue no longer than the end of the next session of Parliament. However, the act was still in effect in 1661, when John Bunyan was tried and convicted for disobedience to it. The act was continued until the end of the next session of parliament by the Continuance, etc. of Laws Act 1601 ( 43 Eliz. 1. c. 9) and the Continuance, etc. of Laws Act 1623 ( 21 Jas. 1. c. 28). Towards the end of 1680, during the

Exclusion Crisis The Exclusion Crisis ran from 1679 until 1681 in the reign of King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland. Three Exclusion Bills sought to exclude the King's brother and heir presumptive, James, Duke of York, from the thrones of England, ...

, Parliament passed a Bill for repealing the act. However, on the day of the proroguing of Parliament (10 January 1681), when the Bill ought to have been presented to Charles II to sign, he instructed the Clerk of the Crown to withdraw the Bill. As late as 1683 the act was being used against a

Quaker Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations. Members refer to each other as Friends after in the Bible, and originally, others referred to them as Quakers ...

meeting in 'Gratious' Street ( Gracechurch Street), London.

Notes

References

{{Reflist Acts of the Parliament of England 1592 Acts of the Parliament of England concerning religion Repealed English legislation 1592 in Christianity