Treasons Act 1571 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Acte whereby certayne Offences be made Treason. |
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| Citation | 13 Eliz. 1. c. 1 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 |
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Status: Repealed
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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Treasons Act 1571 was an important law passed by the Parliament of England during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. An Act of Parliament is like a big rule or decision made by the country's lawmakers. This Act brought back some rules about "treason" that had been used before. Treason means being disloyal to your country or its ruler.
This law was similar to the Treasons Act 1534, which was made by Elizabeth's father, King Henry VIII. That earlier law was later cancelled by the Treason Act 1547 when her half-brother, King Edward VI, became king.
Contents
What the Treasons Act 1571 Said
This Act made certain actions very serious crimes against the Queen and the country. These actions were called "high treason." Here are some things the Act said were treason:
- Planning to hurt the Queen.
- Starting a war against the Queen.
- Encouraging others to start a war against her.
- Saying that the Queen should not be the ruler.
- Writing that the Queen was a "heretic" (someone who goes against religious beliefs), a "tyrant" (a cruel ruler), or a "usurper" (someone who takes power illegally).
- Claiming you had a right to be Queen or King instead of Elizabeth.
- Saying that someone else should be the next ruler.
- Saying that Parliament's laws could not decide who would be the next ruler.
The Act's Impact and End
The Treasons Act 1571 was an important law for a long time. It helped Queen Elizabeth I keep control and protect her rule.
When the Act Ended
This Act was officially cancelled on July 28, 1863. This happened because of a new law called the Statute Law Revision Act 1863. This new Act removed many old laws that were no longer needed.
Rules About Succession
Even after 1863, some ideas from this Act lived on. For example, until 1967, it was still considered treason to say that Parliament could not decide who would be the next King or Queen. This rule came from another law, the Succession to the Crown Act 1707.
The 1571 Act also had some interesting words about who would be the next ruler. It mentioned "natural issue" when talking about the Queen's heir. This phrase was different from "heirs of the body," which usually meant legitimate children.
The law stated that no one could claim to be the rightful heir to the Queen, "except the same be the natural issue of her Majesty's body." Experts today still discuss what this exact wording meant. However, they generally agree that this part of the Act was meant to prevent problems with who would take the throne after Queen Elizabeth I. It aimed to make sure there was a clear plan for the future of the monarchy.
See also
- High treason in the United Kingdom
- Treason Act
- Succession to the British throne
