Recusants

Recusants, persons who refuse or neglect to attend at the worship of the established church on Sundays and other days appointed for the purpose. The offence as a legal one may be held to date from 1 Elizabeth, chap. 2; but there were four classes punishable under the statutes against recusancy—simple 'recusants'; 'recusants convict,' who absented themselves after conviction; 'popish recusants,' who absented themselves because of their being Roman Catholics; and 'popish recusants convict,' who absented themselves after conviction. Protestant dissenting recusants were relieved from the penalties of recusation by the Toleration Act of 1 Will. and Mary, chap. 18. Catholics were partially relieved in the year 1791, and completely by the Emancipation Act of 1829.