Rebellion Act 1572

Rebellion Act 1572

Act of Parliament
Parliament of England
Long title	An Act for the punishment of such as shall rebelliously take or detain or conspire to take or detain from the Queen's Majesty any of her castles, towers, fortresses, holds, &c.
Citation	14 Eliz. 1. c. 1
Territorial extent	England and Wales
Dates
Royal assent	30 June 1572
Commencement	8 May 1572 [a]
Expired	24 March 1603 [b]
Repealed	28 July 1863
Other legislation
Repealed by	Statute Law Revision Act 1863
Relates to	Escape of Traitors Act 1572 Coin Act 1575
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

The Rebellion Act 1572 (14 Eliz. 1. c. 1) was an act of the Parliament of England enacted during the reign of Elizabeth I that provided that if any person was convicted of conspiring to seize or destroy any castle or fortification held or garrisoned by the Queen's forces, then they and any associates were to be judged felons and suffer the death penalty without benefit of clergy or sanctuary. If any person was to prevent the use of any royal castle or ordnance by the crown, destroy any of the Queen's ships, or prevent the use of a harbour within the realm, then they were to be considered guilty of high treason and sentenced accordingly.

Section 3 of the act provided that the act would remain in force until the death of Queen Elizabeth I.

Legacy

Elizabeth I died on 24 March 1603, and the act was not continued.

Having expired, the whole act was repealed by section 1 of, and the schedule to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict. c. 125).

See also

• Treasons Act 1534
• Treason Act 1551

Notes

1. Start of session.
2. Section 3. The death of queen.

References

• Select statutes and other constitutional documents illustrative of the reigns of Elizabeth and James I, ed. by G. W. Prothero. Oxford University Press, 1913. Fourth edition.
• Chronological table of the statutes; HMSO, London. 1993.