Recusancy (Noun)
Meaning
Refusal to submit to established authority; originally the refusal of Roman Catholics to attend services of the Church of England.
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The laws against recusancy were strict and any Roman Catholic found guilty could face severe penalties, including imprisonment and even death.
- In 16th-century England, the Catholic gentry often faced accusations of recusancy due to their reluctance to attend Church of England services.
- Historians argue that the enforcement of recusancy laws played a significant role in shaping the relationship between Catholics and Protestants in post-Reformation England.
- Despite the threat of persecution, many Catholics continued to practice their faith in secret, thus risking charges of recusancy.
- The government saw recusancy as a sign of disloyalty and used it as a pretext to confiscate Catholic properties and impose heavy fines on suspected recusants.