Benefit of Clergy Act 1575
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1575 c. 7 |
| Year | 1575 |
(18 Eliz. 1) C A P. VII.
F O R the Repressing of the most wicked and felonious Rapes or Ravishments of Women, Maids, Wivesand Damosels, and of felonious Burglaries, and for the Avoiding of sundry Perjuries and other Abuses,in and about the Purgation of Clerks convict delivered to the Ordinaries, (2) Be it enacted and ordainedby the Authority of this present Parliament, That if any Person or Persons shall fortune at any Time after the first Day ofJune now next ensuing, to commit or do any Manner of felonious Rape, Ravishment, orBurglary, and to be found guilty by Verdict, of any such felonious Rape or Burglary, (3)or that any Person or Persons shall fortune to be outlawed for any the Offences aforesaid, (4) or upon his or their Arraignment shall confess any such felonious Rape or Burglary; (5) That in every such Case, every Person and Persons so being found guilty, outlawed or confessing any of the said felonious Rapes or Burglaries, shall suffer Pains of Death, and forfeit as in Cases of Felony hath been used and accustomed by the CommonLaws of this Realm, without any Allowance of the Privilege or Benefit of Clergy; any Law, Customor Usage heretofore had, made or used to the contrary notwithstanding.
II No Man allowed his Clergy shall be committed to the Ordinary, but presently delivered.
II. And, moreover, Be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That every Person and Persons, which at any Time after the End of this present Session of Parliament shall be admitted and allowed to have the Benefit or Privilege of his or their Clergy, shall not thereupon be delivered to the Ordinary as hath been accustomed, but after such Clergy allowed, and Burning in the Hand, according to the Satute in that Behalf provided, shall forthwith be enlarged and delivered out of Prison by the Justices before whom such Clergy shall be granted, that Cause notwithstanding.
III The Justices may retain Offenders in Prison for a Time.
III. Provided nevertheless, and be it also enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Justices before whom any such Allowance of Clergy shall be had, shall and may for the further Correction of such Persons to whom such...
To continue reading
Request your trial