Jesuits, etc. Act 1584
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1584 c. 2 |
(27 Eliz. 1) C A P. II.
'WHEREAS divers Persons called or professed Jesuits, Seminary Priests and other Priests, which have been, and from Time to Time are made in the Parts beyond the Seas, by or according to the Order and Rites of theRomish Church, have of late Years comen and been sent, and daily do come and are sent, into this Realm of England and other the Queen's Majesty's Dominions, (2) of Purpose (as it hath appeared, as well by sundry of their own Examinations and Confessions, as by divers other manifest Means and Proofs) not only to withdraw her Highness Subjects from their due Obedience to her Majesty, but also to stir up and move Sedition, Rebellion and open Hostility within the same her Highness Realms and Dominions, (3) to the great Endangering of the Safety of her most Royal Person, and to the utter Ruin, Desolation and Overthrow of the whole Realm, if the same be not the sooner by some good Means foreseen and prevented:'
II All Jesuits and Priests shall depart forth of the Realm.
II. For Reformation whereof be it ordained, established and enacted by the Queen's most excellent Majesty, and the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same Parliament, That all and every Jesuits, Seminary Priests, and other Priests whatsoever made or ordained out of the Realm ofEngland or other her Highness Dominions, or withinany of her Majesty's Realms or Dominions, by any Authority, Power or Jurisdiction derived, challenged or pretended from the See ofRome , since the Feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist in the first Year of her Highness Reign, shall within forty Days next after the End of this present Session of Parliament depart out of this Realm of England , and out of all other her Highness Realms and Dominions, if the Wind, Weather and Passage shall serve for the same, or else so soon after the End of the said forty Days as the Wind, Weather and Passage shall so serve.
III No Jesuits or Priests shall come into, or remain in this Realm.
III. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That it shall not be lawful to or for any Jesuit, Seminary Priest, or other such Priest, Deacon, or Religious or Ecclesiastical Person whatsoever, being born within this Realm, or any other her Highness Dominions, and heretofore since the said Feast of the Nativity of St.John Baptist , in the first Year of her Majesty's Reign, made, ordained or professed, or hereafter to be made, ordained or professed, by any Authority or Jurisdiction derived, challenged or pretended from the See of Rome , by or of what Name, Title or Degree soever the same shall be called or known, to come into, be or remain in any Part of this Realm, or any other her Highness Dominions, after the End of the same forty Days, other than in such special Cases, and upon such special Occasions only, and for such Time only, as is expressed in this Act; and if he do, that then every such Offence shall be taken and adjudged to be High Treason; and every Person so offending shall for his Offence be adjudged a Traytor, and shall suffer, lose and forfeit, as in Case of High Treason.
IV Receiving or relieving a Jesuit or Priest shall be Felony.
IV. And every Person which after the End of the same forty Days, and after such Time of Departure as is before limited and appointed, shall wittingly and willingly receive, relieve, comfort, aid or maintain any such Jesuit, Seminary Priest or other Priest, Deacon or Religious or Ecclesiastical Person, as is aforesaid, being at Liberty, or out of Hold, knowing him to be a Jesuit, Seminary Priest or other such Priest, Deacon, or Religious or Ecclesiastical Person, as is aforesaid, shall also for such Offence be adjudged a Felon, without Benefit of Clergy, and suffer Death, lose and forfeit, as in Case of one attainted of Felony
V The who be in Seminaries shall after Proclamation return and take the Oath.
V. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, If any of her Majesty's Subjects (not being a Jesuit, a Seminary Priest, or other such Priest, Deacon, or...
To continue reading
Request your trial