# Benefit of Clergy, etc. Act 1691, Section VI: Women convicted of Crimes for which Men have their Clergy, upon Prayer punished as Men.


Punishment
And whereas by the Laws of this Realme Women convicted of Felony for stealing of Goods and Chattel of the value of Ten shillings and upwards and for other Felonies where a man is to have the benefitt of his Clergy are to suffer Death Be it therefore enacted and declared by the authority aforesaid that where a man being convicted of any Felony for which hee may demand the benefitt of his Clergy if a Woman be convicted for the same or like offence upon her Prayer to have the benefitt of this Statute Judgment of Death shall not be given against her upon such Conviction or Execution awarded upon any outlawry for such offence but shall suffer the same Punishment as a Man should suffer that has the benefitt of his Clergy allowed him in the like case that is to say sshall be burnt in the Hand by the Gaoler in open Court and further bee kept in Prison for such time as the Justices in their discretion shall think fitt so as the same doe not exceed One years Imprisonment

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/WillandMar/3/9/section/VI (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/benefit-of-clergy-etc-act-1691/section-VI
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.