Bulls, etc., from Rome Act 1571 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Acte agaynste the bringing in and putting in Execution of Bulls and other Instruments from the Sea of Rome. |
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| Citation | 13 Eliz. 1. c. 2 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1969 |
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Status: Repealed
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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Bulls, etc., from Rome Act 1571 was an important law made by the Parliament of England during a time called the English Reformation. This was a period when England was changing its main religion. The full name of the law was "An Act against the bringing in and putting in execution of bulls writings or instruments and other superstitious things from the See of Rome."
This law was created to stop people from bringing official letters or orders, called "papal bulls," from the Pope in Rome into England. It also aimed to stop people from following the Roman Catholic Church in ways that the English government did not approve of.
What Was the Bulls from Rome Act About?
The Bulls from Rome Act made it a very serious crime, known as high treason, for anyone to publish or use official letters from the Pope. It also targeted Roman Catholic priests and people who converted to the Catholic faith. This law was a direct response to a specific papal bull called Regnans in Excelsis, which had been issued by Pope Pius V.
This papal bull had declared that Queen Elizabeth I was no longer the rightful queen. It also encouraged people to disobey her. The English government saw this as a major threat to the Queen's power and the country's stability. So, they passed the Bulls from Rome Act to protect their authority.
What Happened to the Act Later?
Over time, the rules of the Bulls from Rome Act became less strict. By 1846, breaking the Act was no longer considered a crime. However, the law itself remained in place, meaning it was still officially part of English law, even if it wasn't actively used to punish people.
Finally, the entire Act was officially removed from the law books in 1969. This happened when the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1969 was passed. This later Act was designed to get rid of old laws that were no longer needed or used.
A Famous Court Case
In 1911, a man named Arnold Mathew was removed from the Catholic Church. This is called being "excommunicated," which means he was no longer considered part of the church community. A newspaper called The Times reported on this event and printed an English translation of the official document that described Mathew.
Two years later, in 1913, Mathew's lawyer argued in a court case that publishing this document in English was a very serious crime under the old Bulls from Rome Act. The lawyer claimed it was an act of high treason. However, the judge, Charles Darling, 1st Baron Darling, disagreed. He decided that it was not against the law for a newspaper to publish a papal bull simply to inform the public. This court case was one of the last times this old law was mentioned in a legal setting.
