The Five Mile Act, or Oxford Act, or Nonconformists Act 1665, was an Act of the Parliament of England (17 Charles II c. 2), passed in 1665 with the long title "An Act for restraining Non-Conformists from inhabiting in Corporations". It was one of the English penal laws that sought to enforce conformity to the established Church of England, and to expel any who did not conform. It forbade clergymen from living within five miles (8 km) of a parish from which they had been expelled, unless they swore an oath never to resist the king, or attempt to alter the government of Church or State. The latter involved swearing to obey the 1662 prayer book. Thousands of ministers were deprived of a living under this act. As an example,

Theodosia Alleine Theodosia Alleine (d. 1685) was an English nonconformist writer. Life Theodosia was born in Ditcheat Somerset in about 1635. She being the daughter of a Richard Alleine and a Lettice Gough. Richard was born in Ditcheat in 1610 where his father an ...

and her husband

Joseph Alleine Joseph Alleine (baptised 8 April 1634 – 17 November 1668) was an English Nonconformist pastor and author of many religious works. Life Alleine belonged to a family that had originally settled in Suffolk. As early as 1430, some of the descendant ...

were obliged to move to Taunton after her husband's conviction as a non-conformist. They moved, but they were still harassed and had to move and live with friends to escape their critics.

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* * {{UK legislation Acts of the Parliament of England concerning religion 1665 in law 1665 in England Christianity and law in the 17th century 1665 in religion

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