Simony Act 1588
1588 c. 6 31_Eliz_1
An Acte against Abuses in Election of Scollers and presentacions to Benefices.
Elections of Fellows, Scholars, &c. in Colleges, &c. made corruptly; Whereas by the intent of the Founders of Colledges, Churches Collegiat, Churches Cathedrall, Scoles Hospitalls Halles and other like Societies within this Realme, and by the Statutes and good Orders of the same, the Eleccions presentacions and Nominacions of Fellowes Schollers Officers and other persons to have roome or place in the same, are to be had and made of the fittest & moste meete persons beinge capable of the same Eleccions presentacions and Nominacions, freelye without anye Rewarde Guyfte or Thinge given or taken for the same; And for true performaunce whereof, some Ellectors Presentors and Nomynators in the same have or shoulde take a Corporall Oathe to make their Eleccions presenacions and Nominacions accordinglye; Yet notwithstandinge it is sene and founde by experience that the saide Eleccions Presentacions and Nominacions be manye tymes wrought and brought to passe with Monye Guyfts & Rewards, whereby the fyttest persons to be presented elected or nominated wantinge Money or Friends are sildome or not at all preferred, contrarie to the good meaninge of the saide Founders, and the saide good Statutes and Ordynaunces of the saide Colledges Churches Scholes Halles Hospitalls & Socyeties, and to the great prejudice of Learning and the Common Wealthe and Estate of the Realme:
I. Where Election of Fellows, Officers, &c. of Colleges, Hospitals, &c. shall be produced by Bribery, the Election declared void.
For Remedye whereof, Yf any person or persons Bodyes Pollitick or Corporate, whiche have Eleccion presentacion or Nominacion, or Voyce or Assent in the Choyse Eleccion presentacion or Nominacion, of anye Fellowe Scholler or any other person, to have roome or place in anye the saide Churches Colledges Scholes Hospitalls Halles or Societies, shall have receyve or take anye Monye Fee Rewarde or any other Profytt, directly or indirectlie, or shall take any Promyse Agreament Coveniante Bonde or other Assuraunce, to receyve or have any Monye Fee Rewarde or any other Profytt, directlye or indirectlye, either to him or themselves or to any other of their or anye of their Freindes, for his or their Voice or Voices Assent or Assents or Consents, in electinge chosinge presentinge or nominatinge anye Officer Fellowe Scholler or other person, to have any roome or place in any the saide Churches Colledges Halles Scholes Hospitalles or Societies, that then and from thenceforthe the Place Roome or Office, whiche suche person soe offendinge shall then have in anye the saide Churches Colledges Scholles Halles Hospitalls or Societies, shalbe voyde; And that then aswell the Quenes Majestie her Heires and Successors, and everie other person and persons their Heires and Successors, to whom the presentacion Donacion Guyfte Eleccion or Disposicion shall of right belonge or apperteyne of anye suche of the saide Roomes or Places of the saide person offendinge as aforesaide, shall or maye at their pleasure elect present nominate place or appoynte any other person or persons in the Roome Office or Place of suche person or persons so offendinge, as yf the saide person or persons so offendinge then were naturallie deade.
II. Penalty on Resignation of any Fellowship, Office, &c. for Money, &c.; Double the Amount on the Resigner, and Incapacity in the Giver.
And yf any Fellowe Officer or Scholler of anye the saide Churches Colledges Scholes Halles Hospitalls or Societies, or other persons havinge Roome or Place in anye of the same, shall at anye tyme hereafter directly or indirectlie take or receive, or by any waye devise or meanes contract or agree to have or receyve, any Monye Rewarde or Profytt whatsoever, for the levinge or resignyng upp of the same his Roome or Place for any other to be placed in the same, That then everie person soe takinge or contractinge or agreinge to take or have any thinge for the same, shall forfeyte and loose double the somme of Money or value of the thinge so receyved and taken or agreed to be receyved or taken; And everie person, by whom or for whom anye Monye Guyfte or Rewarde as aforesaide shalbe given or agreeed to be payde, shalbe uncapeable of that Place or Roome for that tyme or turne, and shall not be nor had nor taken to be a laufull Fellowe Scholler or Officer of any the Churches Colledges Halles Hospitalls Scholles or Societies, or to have suche Roome or Place there; but that they to whom it shall apperteyne, at any tyme therafter, shall and maye elect chose present and nominate any other person, fitt to be elected presented or nominated, into the saide Roome or Felloweshippe, as yf the saide person, by or for whome anye suche Money Gufte or Rewarde shalbe given or agreed to be payde, were dead or had resigned and leafte the same.
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IV. Simoniacal Presentations to Benefices, &c. declared void: Penalty of Double the yearly Value on the Giver and Taker; and the Giver incapacitated to hold the Benefice.
And for the avoydinge of Symony & Corrupcion, in presentacions Collacions and Donacions of and to Benefices Dignyties Prebends and other Livings and Promocions Eccliasticall, and in Admissions Institucions and Inductions to the same; yf any person or persons Bodyes Polliticke or Corporate shall or doe, for anye somme of Money Rewarde Guyfte Profytt or Benefytt, directlie or indirectlie, or for or by reason of any Promyse Agreement Graunte Bonds Coveniante or other Assuraunces of or for any somme of Money Rewarde Guyfte Profitt or Benefytt whatsoever, directly or indirectlie, present or collate any person to anye Benefice withe Cure of Soules, Dignytie Prebend or Lyvinge Eccliasticall, or give or bestowe the same for or in respecte of any suche corrupte cause or consideracion, that then everie suche presentacion Collation Guifte and bestowinge, and everie Admyssion Institucion Investure and Induction thereupon, shalbe utterlie voyde frustrate and of none Effecte in Lawe: . . .
: And that all and every person or persons Bodye Pollitick and Corporate, that from thenceforthe shall give or take anye suche somme ofMoney Rewarde Guyfte or Benefitt, directlye or indirectlye, or that shall take or make anye suche Promysse Graunte Bonde Coven-nte or other Assuraunce, shall forfeite and loose the double value of one yeres Profitt of everie suche Benefice Dignitie Prebend and Livinge Eccliasticall; and the person, soe corruptlye takinge Procuringe seekinge or accepting any suche Benefice Dignitie prebende or Lyvinge, shall thereupon and from thenceforth be adjudged a disabled person in Lawe to have or enjoye the same Benefice Dignitie Prebend or Lyvinge Eccliasticall.
V. Penalty on corruptly instituting, &c. to Benefices, &c. Double the yearly Value; Institution void, and Patron, &c. may present.
And That yf anye person shall for any somme of Money Rewarde Guyfte proffitt or Cmoditye whatsoever, directly or indirectly, other then for usuall and laufull fees, or for or by reason of any Promyse Agreement Graunte Coveniante Bonde or other Assuraunce of or for any somme of Monye Rewarde Guifte Profitt or Benefitt whatsoever, directlye or indirectly, admytt institute install inducte investe or place any person, in or to any Benefice withe cure of Soules, Dignitie prebend or other Living Eccliasticall, that then everie suche person soe offendinge shall forfeyte and loose the dooble value of one yeres Profytt of everie suche Benefice Dignitie prebend and Living Eccliasticall; And that therupon, ymediatlie from and after the Investinge Installacion or Induccion thereof had, the same Benefice Dignitie Prebend and Living Eccliasticall shalbe eftsones merely voyd; . . .
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VII. Penalty on corrupt Resignation of Benefices; Double the Sum given, by Giver and Taker: Application of Penalties.
And yf any Incumbent of any Benefice withe Cure of Soules, doe or shall corruptlie resigne or exchange the same, or corruptlye take for or in respecte of the resignynge or exchanginge of the same, directlie or indirectlie, any Pencion somme of Money or Benefitt whatsoever, that then aswell the Giver as the Taker of any suche Pencion somme of Money or other Benefitt corruptlie, shall loose double the value of the some soe given taken or had; thone moytie, aswell thereof as of the Forfeyture of double value of one yeres Profytt before mencioned, to be to the Quenes Majestie her heires and successors, and thother moytie to him or them that will sue for the same by Accion of Debte Bill or Informacion, in any of her Majesties Courts of Recorde, . . .
VIII. Penalties under Spiritual Laws shall remain in force.
Provided alwaies, That this Acte or any Thinge herein conteyned, shall not in anye wise extende to take awaye or restrayne any Punyshment Payne or Penaltie lymitted prescribed or instituted by the Lawes Eccliasticall for any the Offences before in this Acte mencioned, but that the same shall remayne in force, and may be putt in due execucion as it might be before the makinge of this Acte; This Acte or anythinge therein conteyned to the contrarye thereof in anye wise notwithstandinge.
IX. Penalty on corrupt Ordination, &c. of Ministers; On the Receiver, £40; and on the Minister, £10, and 7 Years Incapacity to hold any Benefice.
Provided further and, That yf any person or persons whatsoever shall or doe, receyve or take anye Money Fee Rewarde or anye other Profytt, directlye or indirectlye, or shall take anye Promyse Agreament Coveniante Bonde or other Assuraunce, to receive or have any Money Fee Rewarde or any other Profytt, directly or indirectly, either to him or themselves or to anye other of their or any of their freindes, all ordinary and laufull fees onlye excepted, for or to procure the ordeyninge or makinge of any Minister or Ministers, or gyvinge of any Orders or Licence or Licences to preache, That then everye person and persons so offendinge shall for everye suche Offence forfeyt and loose the somme of Fortie Poundes of laufull Money of England, and the partie soe corruptlie ordeyned or made Minister or taking Orders, shall forfeyt and loose the somme of Tenne Poundes: And if, at anye tyme within seaven yeres next after such corrupte entringe into the Minystery or receyvinge of Orders, he shall accepte or take any Benefice Livinge or Promocion Eccliasticall, That then imediatlye from and after the Induction Investing or Installacion thereof or there into had, the same Benefice Lyvinge and Promocion Eccliasticall shalbe eftsones merelye voyde; . . .
; Thone moytie of all whiche forfeytures shalbe to our Soveraigne Ladye the Quene her heires and successors, and the other moytie to him or them that will sue for the same by Accion of Debte Bill Playnte or Informacion, in any of her Majesties Courts of Recorde, . . .
