Suppression of Heresy Act 1414 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Citation | 2 Hen. 5. Stat. 1. c. 7 |
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Quick facts for kids Other legislation |
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| Repealed by | Treason Act 1547 |
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Status: Repealed
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The Suppression of Heresy Act of 1414 was an important law made by the Parliament of England. This law made it a crime to have beliefs that were different from the official teachings of the church. It also gave more power to government officials to help church leaders find and stop people they believed were teaching wrong ideas.
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What Was the Heresy Act of 1414?
The Heresy Act of 1414 was a law passed in England during the time of King Henry V. Its main goal was to stop the spread of ideas that the official church considered wrong or dangerous. These ideas were called heresy.
Why Was This Law Created?
In the 1400s, the Church had a lot of power in England. People were expected to follow its teachings very closely. However, some new ideas were starting to spread, especially those from a group called the Lollards. The Lollards questioned some of the Church's practices and beliefs. The Church and the King wanted to stop these new ideas from becoming too popular.
What Did the Law Do?
This law made heresy a crime not just against the Church, but also against the country's general laws. This meant that government officials, not just church officials, could get involved.
- Working Together: The law said that government officers had to promise to help church leaders. Their job was to find and stop people who were spreading heretical ideas.
- New Powers for Justices: Local officials called Justices of the Peace were given special powers.
- They could investigate people suspected of heresy.
- They could order the arrest of these suspects.
- They had to hand over the arrested people to a special church court for a trial.
What Was Heresy?
Heresy meant believing or teaching things that went against the official rules and teachings of the main Christian Church at that time. For example, the Lollards believed that people should be able to read the Bible in English, which was not allowed by the Church then. They also questioned some church ceremonies.
How Did This Law Affect People?
This law made it much harder for people to express different religious ideas. If someone was accused of heresy, they could be arrested by government officials and then tried by a church court. The punishments for heresy could be very serious.
The Law's Impact and End
The Suppression of Heresy Act of 1414 was a strong tool used to control religious beliefs in England for many years. It showed how closely the government and the Church worked together to keep order.
When Did the Law End?
This law was eventually removed. It was officially repealed, or cancelled, by the Treason Act 1547. This happened much later, during the time of King Edward VI, when England was going through big changes in its religious practices.
