Correspondence with James the Pretender (High Treason) Act 1701
Encyclopedia
The Correspondence with James the Pretender (High Treason) Act 1701 (13 & 14 Will. III, c. 3) was an Act of Parliament
of the Parliament of England
passed in 1701. The long title
of the Act is "An Act for the Attainder of the pretended Prince of Wales of High Treason". After the death of the exiled James II of England
in September 1701, his son, James Francis Edward Stuart
(the Old Pretender), declared himself to be King James III of England and Ireland and VIII of Scotland, in order to assert the Jacobite
claim to the English and Scottish thrones. The Act was a response to this "manifest violation", expressing the "utmost Resentment of so great an Indignity" to William III of England
. It enacted that the "pretended Prince of Wales" was convicted and attainted of high treason
and that he was "to suffer Pains of Death
and incurr all Forfeitures as a Traitor". It further enacted that if any English subject was to knowingly hold any correspondence with James Stuart, or with any person in his employ, or to knowingly spend or transmit any sum of money for the use of James, then on conviction they would be deemed guilty of high treason
. If these offences were committed outside the realm, then they could be brought to trial in any English county.
This Act was repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act 1948
.
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
of the Parliament of England
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
passed in 1701. The long title
Long title
The long title is the formal title appearing at the head of a statute or other legislative instrument...
of the Act is "An Act for the Attainder of the pretended Prince of Wales of High Treason". After the death of the exiled James II of England
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
in September 1701, his son, James Francis Edward Stuart
James Francis Edward Stuart
James Francis Edward, Prince of Wales was the son of the deposed James II of England...
(the Old Pretender), declared himself to be King James III of England and Ireland and VIII of Scotland, in order to assert the Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
claim to the English and Scottish thrones. The Act was a response to this "manifest violation", expressing the "utmost Resentment of so great an Indignity" to William III of England
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
. It enacted that the "pretended Prince of Wales" was convicted and attainted of high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
and that he was "to suffer Pains of Death
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
and incurr all Forfeitures as a Traitor". It further enacted that if any English subject was to knowingly hold any correspondence with James Stuart, or with any person in his employ, or to knowingly spend or transmit any sum of money for the use of James, then on conviction they would be deemed guilty of high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
. If these offences were committed outside the realm, then they could be brought to trial in any English county.
This Act was repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act 1948
Statute Law Revision Act 1948
The Statute Law Revision Act 1948 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.Section 5 and Schedule 2 authorised the citation of 158 earlier Acts by short titles....
.
See also
- Correspondence with Enemies Act 1691Correspondence with Enemies Act 1691The Correspondence with Enemies Act 1691 was an Act of the Parliament of England which made it high treason to correspond with the deposed King James II. It was repealed and replaced by the Correspondence with the Pretender Act 1697...
- Correspondence with the Pretender Act 1697Correspondence with the Pretender Act 1697The Correspondence with the Pretender Act 1697 was an Act of the Parliament of England which made it high treason to correspond with the deposed King James II...
- JacobitismJacobitismJacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
- High treason in the United KingdomHigh treason in the United KingdomUnder the law of the United Kingdom, high treason is the crime of disloyalty to the Crown. Offences constituting high treason include plotting the murder of the sovereign; having sexual intercourse with the sovereign's consort, with his eldest unmarried daughter, or with the wife of the heir to the...
- Security of the Succession, etc. Act 1701Security of the Succession, etc. Act 1701The Security of the Succession, etc. Act 1701 was an Act of the Parliament of England. The Act required nearly all office-holders to take the oath of abjuration against James Francis Edward Stuart, pretender to the throne, self-styled Prince of Wales and son of the former King James II.The Act...
- Treason Act 1743Treason Act 1743The Treason Act 1743 was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain which made it high treason to correspond with any of the sons of James Francis Edward Stuart , who claimed to be king of Great Britain and of Ireland...
- Treason ActTreason ActTreason Act or Treasons Act is a stock short title used for legislation in the United Kingdom and in the Republic of Ireland on the subject of treason and related offences...