Mutiny Act 1703

Mutiny Act 1703

Act of Parliament
Parliament of England
Long title	An Act for punishing Mutiny, Desertion, and false Musters; and for better paying of the Army and Quarters, and for satisfying divers Arrears; and for a further Continuance of the Powers of the Five Commissioners for examining and determining the Accompts of the Army.
Citation	2 & 3 Ann. c. 20 (Ruffhead c. 20)
Dates
Royal assent	3 April 1704
Other legislation
Repealed by	Statute Law Revision Act 1867
Status: Repealed

The Mutiny Act 1703 (2 & 3 Ann. c. 20) was one of the Mutiny Acts passed by the Parliament of England. Although its main purpose was to provide for the punishment of mutiny in the English Army and Royal Navy and other provisions for regulating the armed forces, it differed from other Mutiny Acts by providing (in section 34) for a new species of treason, which was committed by any officer or soldier who corresponded with any rebel or enemy without a licence to do so from the queen or from a general, lieutenant-general or "chief commander." Section 43 expressly provided that a defendant charged with that offence was to have the benefit of the safeguards in the Treason Act 1695.

• Statutes at Large, vol. XI, Danby Pickering, Cambridge University Press, 1765.

• Correspondence with Enemies Act 1691
• High treason in the United Kingdom
• Treason Act