LAWS IN IRELAND FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF POPERY
commonly known as the
PENAL LAWS


STATUTES BY SUBJECT -- CLERGY AND SCHOOLMASTERS

 


9 Will III c.1 (1697):
An Act for banishing all papists exercising any ecclesiastical jurisdiction and all regulars of the popish clergy...

Sec. 1. Whereas it is notoriously known, that the late rebellions in this kingdom have been promoted by popish bishops and other ecclesiastical persons of the popish religion, and forasmuch as the peace and publick safety of this kingdom is in danger by the great number of said the clergy now residing here, and settling in fraternities contrary to law, and to the great impoverishing of his Majesty's subjects who are forced to maintain them, and said the clergy do not only endeavour to withdraw his Majesty's subjects from their obedience, but do daily stir up and move sedition and rebellion , all popish archbishops, bishops, vicars-general, deans, jesuits, monks, friars, and all other regular popish clergy shall depart out of this kingdom before the 1st day of May, 1698, and if any of said ecclesiastical persons shall after that day be in this kingdom, they shall suffer imprisonment, and remain in prison until transported out of his Majesty's dominions, wherever his Majesty or the chief governors of this kingdom shall see fit, and if any person so transported shall return, he shall be guilty of high treason.


9 Will III c.1 (1697):
An Act for banishing all papists exercising any ecclesiastical jurisdiction and all regulars of the popish clergy...

Sec. 2. All such popish clergy shall before the 1st day of May repair to certain named seaports to await transportation into some parts beyond the sea, giving their names to the mayor who shall make a list and with the collector of the port, assist in the transporting of such clergy.


9 Will III c.1 (1697):
An Act for banishing all papists exercising any ecclesiastical jurisdiction and all regulars of the popish clergy...

Sec. 3. After the 29th day of December, 1697, such popish clergy as enter this kingdom shall suffer twelve months imprisonment, and then transportation; upon return after transportation, they shall be guilty of high treason.


9 Will III c.1 (1697):
An Act for banishing all papists exercising any ecclesiastical jurisdiction and all regulars of the popish clergy...

Sec. 4-5. Anyone who shall knowingly harbour such popish clergy shall for the first offence forfeit 20 pounds, for the second offence, double that sum, and for the third offence, shall forfeit all his lands during his life, and also his goods and chattels, one half to his Majesty, one half (not to exceed 100 pounds) to the informer.


9 Will III c.1 (1697)
An Act for banishing all papists exercising any ecclesiastical jurisdiction and all regulars of the popish clergy...

Sec. 8-10. Every justice of the peace, shall from time to time issue their warrants for apprehending such popish clergy, and for suppressing all monasteries or other popish fraternities or societies, and give accounts of the same. Any justice of the peace, mayor, or other officer who shall neglect their duty to execute this act shall forfeit 100 pounds for each such neglect, one half to his Majesty, one half to the informer, and be disabled from serving as justice of the peace during his life.


2 Ann c.3 (1703):
An Act to prevent Popish Priests from coming into this Kingdom

Sec. 1. Whereas great numbers of Popish bishops, deans, fryers, jesuits, and other regulars of the popish clergy come into this kingdom from France, Spain, and other foreign parts, under the disguise of being Popish secular priests, with intent to stir up her Majesty's Popish subjects to rebellion, and for that sufficient proof to convict them cannot be had, they have hitherto remained in this kingdom contrary to law, to the great prejudice of her Majesty's Protestant subjects and to the hazard of the publick peace, every clergyman of the popish religion who shall come into this kingdom and every person who shall knowingly conceal the same, shall be liable to such penalties, forfeitures, and punishments as is imposed on popish bishops etc. by the act of 9 Will III c.1.


2 Ann c. 3: (1703):
An Act to prevent Popish Priests from coming into this Kingdom
Sec. 2. Any person who shall knowingly harbour such clergyman of the popish religion shall be liable to such penalties as are imposed on the harbourers of popish regulars.


2 Ann c. 3: (1703)
An Act to prevent Popish Priests from coming into this Kingdom

Sec. 3-4. Justices of the peace, mayors etc are enjoined to use utmost diligence in apprehending such popish priests; neglect of this duty to be punished by a forfeiture of 100 pounds, one half to the Queen, the other to the informer. Jurisdiction over returned priests shall be in such county wherein they shall be taken or in any county where her Majesty shall appoint.


2 Ann c.7 (1703):
An Act for registering the Popish Clergy

Sec. 1. Whereas two acts lately made for banishing all regulars of the Popish clergy out of this kingdom and to prevent Popish priests from coming into the same may be wholly eluded, unless the government be truly informed of the number of such dangerous persons as still reside among us, all popish priests now in this kingdom shall after 24 June, 1704 register at the next quarter sessions, with their name, age, the parish of which he pretends to be popish priest, the time and place of receiving popish orders, and from whom received, and give two sureties of fifty pounds for peaceable behaviour and not remove to any other part of the kingdom.
And all popish priests who shall not so register shall be committed to the common gaol till they be transported.


2 Ann. c. 7: (1703)
An Act for registering the Popish Clergy

Sec. 1 cont.. All popish priests being so convicted shall be transported out of this kingdom, and shall incur the same penalties upon returning as popish bishops and regulars, by the Act of 9 Will. III, ch 26. Clerks of the peace are to transmit returns of such registrations, or forfeit 10 pounds.


2 Ann c.7 (1703):
An Act for registering the Popish Clergy

Sec. 2. Every popish priest who shall convert and conform to the Church of Ireland as by law established shall have 20 pounds yearly for their maintenance and till they are otherwise provided for, said money to be levied on the inhabitants of such county or city or town where such converted priest did last officiate.
And such converts shall publickly read the liturgy of the Church of Ireland in the English or Irish tongue, in such places as the archbishop or bishop of that diocese shall appoint.


2 Ann c.7 (1703):
An Act for registering the Popish Clergy

Sec. 3. No popish priest shall have any popish curate. Every popish priest that shall neglect to register shall depart out of this kingdom before the 20th of July, 1704, and any remaining shall be esteemed a popish regular clergyman, and prosecuted as such.


4 Ann c.2 (1705):
An Act to explain and amend an Act, intituled An Act for registering the popish clergy

Sec. 1. Whereas two acts lately made for banishing popish clergy do not extend to the great numbers of popish priests as have been ordained in this kingdom since the time appointed for registering the popish clergy, if any popish priest shall after the 24th day of June 1705 be found in this kingdom other than those priests who shall have registered, shall be liable to the penalties imposed on popish bishops and regulars.


4 Ann c.2 (1705):
An Act to explain and amend an Act, intituled An Act for registering the popish clergy

Sec. 2. Any persons who knowingly harbour such unregistered popish clergymen shall be liable to the penalties imposed on concealers of popish bishops and regulars.


4 Ann c.2 (1705):
An Act to explain and amend an Act, intituled An Act for registering the popish clergy

Sec. 4. Any mayor, justice of the peace or other officer who shall neglect to execute this Act shall forfeit 50 pounds, one half to the Queen, one half to the informer.


8 Ann c.3 (1709):
An Act for explaining ... an Act to Prevent the further Growth of Popery

Sec 17. The acts of 2 Ann c.3 and 4 Ann c.2 requiring the registration of popish clergy, are hereby made perpetual.


8 Ann c.3 (1709):
An Act for explaining ... an Act to Prevent the further Growth of Popery

Sec. 18. The annual maintenance for converted priests is raised to 30 pounds yearly, to be levied on the inhabitants of such county where such converted priest did last reside, and requires them to not only read the common prayer or liturgy of the Church of Ireland, but also to preach weekly in the English or Irish tongue as the bishop shall direct.


8 Ann c.3 (1709):
An Act for explaining ... an Act to Prevent the further Growth of Popery

Sec. 19. Every popish priest which keeps a curate shall lose the benefit of being registered, and he and his popish curate shall be prosecuted as popish regulars.


8 Ann c.3 (1709):
An Act for explaining ... an Act to Prevent the further Growth of Popery

Sec. 20. For discovering, so to lead to the apprehension and conviction of any popish archbishop, bishop, vicar general, jesuit, monk, or other person exercising foreign ecclesiastical jurisdiction, a reward of 50 pounds, and 20 pounds for each regular clergyman or non-registered secular clergyman so discovered, and 10 pounds for each popish schoolmaster, usher or assistant; said reward to be levied on the popish inhabitants of the county where found.


8 Ann c.3 (1709):
An Act for explaining ... an Act to Prevent the further Growth of Popery

Sec. 22. All registered popish priests shall take the oath of abjuration before the 25th of March, 1710, or incur the penalties as a popish regular.


8 Ann c.3 (1709):
An Act for explaining ... an Act to Prevent the further Growth of Popery

Sec. 25. No popish priest shall officiate anywhere but in the parish where he officiated at the time of registration, without incurring the penalties as a popish regular


8 Ann c.3 (1709):
An Act for explaining ... an Act to Prevent the further Growth of Popery

Sec. 31-33. Any papist clergy or schoolmaster liable to transportation under these Acts shall within three months be transported to the common gaol of the next seaport town, to remain until transported. If any merchant freighting any ship outward bound for any port not within the kingdoms of Great Britain or Ireland refuse to take such papists, not exceeding five per ship, if required by the chief magistrate, the collector of customs shall not discharge such ship until such merchant shall consent to receive and transport such papists. Such merchant shall receive 5 pounds for the transportation of every such person to any part of the West Indies not being subject to her Majesty, and 3 pounds to Europe, and shall enter into a recognizance in the amount of 50 pounds that he shall transport such papist outside of her Majesty's dominions. If any such papist shall be found in this kingdom out of the custody of the said merchant or ships master, he shall suffer the penalties of such regular clergyman who hath been banished and returned again.


31 Geo II c.9 (1759):
An Act for reviving, continuing, and amending several temporary Statutes

Sec. 1 The act of 8 Ann c.3 so far as it relates to the encouragement to popish priests becoming protestants, shall be revived and continued in force for 11 years.


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