Benefit of the Clergy

• During the medieval period senior Church officials successfully argued that members of the clergy should only be tried in Church courts – this was called benefit of the clergy.
• Church courts were typically more lenient, and might impose a pilgrimage or confession rather than the death penalty.
• The system of benefit of the clergy was open to abuse as it was easy for anyone to claim to be a member of the clergy. The test was the accused’s ability to read Psalm 51 of the Bible, but criminals could easily memorise the psalm. It became known as the ‘neck verse’ because it could ‘save your neck’.
• Henry II tried to limit the benefit of the clergy with an agreement called the Constitutions of Clarendon, although this was controversial and was one reason for his falling out with Thomas Becket.