Correspondence with James the Pretender (High Treason) Act 1701

Correspondence with James the Pretender (High Treason) Act 1701X1

1701 CHAPTER 3 13 and 14 Will 3

An Act for the Attainder of the pretended Prince of Wales of High Treason

Editorial Information

X1 Abbreviated title derived from Chronological Table of the Statutes: Covering the Period from 1235 to the End of 1971 (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 1972)

Reasons for passing this Act;

The pretended Prince of Wales convicted and attainted of High Treason.

Whereas the pretended Prince of Wales X2 since the Decease of the late King James by the Incitation and Encouragement of the French King (being bred up and instructed to introduce the Romish Superstition and French Government into these Your Majesties Kingdoms) openly and traiterously with design to dethrone Your Majesty assumed the Name and Title of James the Third King of England Scotland and Ireland and caused himself to be so proclaimed in the Kingdom of France in manifest Violation of Your Majesties most lawfull and rightful Title to the Crown of these Realms and of the several Acts of Parliament made as well for recognizing of the same as for settling the Succession of the Crown contrary to the Duty of his Allegiance and to the disturbing of the Peace of these Your Majesties Kingdoms to the End therefore that Your Majesties good and loyal People of England assembled in Parliament may in the most solemn Manner express their utmost Resentment of so great an Indignity done to Your Majesties most sacred Person and Government and that the said Traitor may be brought more certainly and speedily to condign Punishment May it please Your Majesty that it may be enacted And be it enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same That the said pretended Prince of Wales stand and be convicted and attainted of High Treason and that he suffer Pains of Death and incurr all Forfeitures as a Traitor [X3 convicted] and attainted of High Treason

Editorial Information

X2 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: hath O. [O. refers to a collection in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge]

X3 interlined on the Roll.

II. Holding Correspondence with, or aiding with Money, &c. the said pretended Prince of Wales or his Agents;

High Treason.

And for preventing traiterous Correspondence between Your Majesties Subjects and the said pretended Prince of Wales or his Adherents Be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any of the Subjects of the Crown of England from and after the First Day of March One thousand seven hundred and one shall within this Realm or without hold entertain or keep any Intelligence or Correspondence in Person or by Letters Messages or otherwise with the said pretended Prince of Wales or with any Person or Persons imployed by him knowing such Person to be so imployed or shall by Bill of Exchange or otherwise remitt or pay any Sum or Sums of Money for the Use or Service of the said pretended Prince of Wales knowing such Money to be for such Use or Service such Person so offending being lawfully convicted shall be taken deemed and adjudged to be guilty of High Treason and shall suffer and forfeit as in Cases of High Treason.

III. Offences out of the Realm, laid in England.

And be it further enacted That where any of the Offences against this Act shall be committed out of this Realm the same may be alledged and laid enquired of and tryed in any County of this Kingdom of England.