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Simple English definitions for legal terms
neck verse
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A quick definition of neck verse:
A neck verse is a special verse from the Bible that was used as a test to see if someone could read. If a person was accused of a crime and claimed to be a member of the clergy, they could read the neck verse to prove it. If they read it correctly, they would be spared from the worst punishment. The neck verse was usually the first verse of Psalm 51, which starts with "Have mercy on me, O God." However, some people pretended to be able to read it even if they couldn't, so not everyone who tried to claim clergy status was successful. The neck verse test was stopped in 1707.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Neck verse is a verse, usually the opening verse of Psalm 51, that was used as a literacy test for an accused person who claimed benefit of clergy. If the accused person could read the verse satisfactorily, they would not receive the maximum sentence and their neck would be saved.
Example: During the medieval period, judges used the neck verse to determine whether an accused person was eligible for benefit of clergy. The accused person would be asked to read the opening verse of Psalm 51, "Miserere mei, Deus" ("Have mercy on me, O God"). If they could read it correctly, they would be considered a member of the clergy and would not be sentenced to death.
Explanation: The neck verse was used as a way to determine whether an accused person was literate and therefore eligible for benefit of clergy. This was important because members of the clergy were not subject to the same harsh punishments as laypeople. By using the neck verse, judges could ensure that only those who were truly members of the clergy received the benefit of clergy.