recusancen.

1585 T. Bilson True Difference Christian Subiection iii. 496 If it bee refused by him, that of order is bound to doe it [sc. perform a coronation], any Christian Bishoppe may perfite it, and the other bee punished for his recusance.

1597 in Antiquary (1881) Oct. 176/1 Being all most willing and ready without any recusance..still to be partakers of the Lorde's Supper at their own Parish Church.

1609 Bp. W. Barlow Answer Catholike English-man 168 Superiors and Gouernors command that vnto Bishops and Pastors which is vnlawfull; they yeeld not, but shew causes of their Recusance.

1671 R. McWard True Non-conformist 35 Was it not both rational and righteous that they, who stood thus obliged, by vertue of the first Covenant, to take the Second, upon their recusance, should be proceeded against as Deserters.

1886 ‘W. S. Gregg’ Irish Hist. for Eng. Readers 54 The parliament now passed laws prohibiting Catholic worship, and imposing a fine of one shilling, payable each Sunday for recusance.

1976 Albion 8 26 The remaining Catholic nobility (after a half century of recusance laws)..outnumbered the dissidents by at least ten.

1700 J. Astry tr. D. de Saavedra Fajardo Royal Politician II. liv. 28 By which generous Recusance of that Crown [Sp. Rehusando la Corona] on Earth he merited many more in Heaven.

1835 Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pa.) 23 Feb. We shall be..ready..to..make France feel the effects of her own recusance, where she will feel it most sensibly, in her agricultural and manufacturing interests.

1863 S. Baring-Gould Iceland 230 Jon began to show signs of recusance.

1925 Times 14 Nov. 6/4 The Prime Minister had affirmed, with a concordant silence, his Government's recusance from their prime domestic duty.

1993 Age (Melbourne) (Nexis) 13 Nov. (Saturday Extra section) 3 I see once again my bolthole, a one-bedroom-apartment... Inside is a scene of domestic recusance. Clothes dropped where I have stepped out of them,..coffee cups half-drunk, ashtrays unemptied and wine bottles.