Escape of Traitors Act 1572
| Act of Parliament | |
| Long title | An Act against such as shall conspire or practice the Enlargement of any Prisoner committed for High Treason. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 14 Eliz. 1. c. 2 |
| Territorial extent | England and Wales |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 30 June 1572 |
| Commencement | 30 June 1572 |
| Repealed | 28 July 1863 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 |
| Relates to | Treason Act 1423 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Escape of Traitors Act 1572 (14 Eliz. 1. c. 2), full title An Act against such as shall conspire or practice the enlargement of any prisoner committed for high treason, was an act of the Parliament of England enacted during the reign of Elizabeth I.
The Act was passed alongside the Rebellion Act 1572, and together they formed part of the response to the 1571 Ridolfi Plot to overthrow the Queen. The two Acts expanded the definition of treason and high treason, bringing a number of new offences into being as capital crimes. Along with the earlier Treasons Act 1571, and the later Coin Act 1575, they were part of a broader move to define treason as more than simply an attack on the person of the monarch.