Legal Definitions - neck verse

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.