neck verse

Hist. A verse, usu. consisting of the opening verse of Psalm 51 (Miserere mei, Deus “Have mercy on me, O God”), which was used as a literacy test for an accused who claimed benefit of clergy.

• An accused who read the passage satisfactorily would not receive the maximum sentence (the person’s neck would be saved). Although judges could assign any passage, they usu. chose Psalm 51, so that for many years criminals memorized this verse and pretended to read it. Still, the records show that many accused persons failed the test. The reading of the neck verse was abolished in 1707. See BENEFIT OF CLERGY.

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