Mutiny Act 1703

{{Short description|Act of the Parliament of England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Use British English|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox UK legislation

| short_title = Mutiny Act 1703

| type = Act

| 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.

| year = 1703

| citation = 2 & 3 Ann. c. 20{{br}}(Ruffhead c. 20)

| territorial_extent = England and Wales

| royal_assent = 3 April 1704

| commencement = 9 November 1703{{efn|Start of session.}}

| repeal_date = 15 July 1867

| amendments =

| repealing_legislation = Statute Law Revision Act 1867

| related_legislation =

| status = Repealed

| original_text = https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=pst.000033905846&view=1up&seq=353

}}

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.