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Nation:England
Reign:Edward VI
Parliament:The Second Parliament of King Edward the Sixth (1548-11-04 — 1549-03-14)
Session:Only Session of the Second Parliament of Edward VI

29. ¶ The .xxix. Chapiter.
¶ An Acte agaynst Sodomy.

(29)

29. ¶ The .xxix. Chapter.
¶ An Act against Sodomy.

FOR asmuche as there is not at thys presente tyme any sufficient and condigne punishement appoynted by due course of the lawes of thys Realme, for the detestable vyce of Buggorie[1]: Be it therfore enacted by the assente of the Kynges hyghnes, the Lordes Spirituall and temporal and the Commons in this presente Parliament assembled, that all and euerie offendour or offendours in that cryme, after the fyrst daye of Aprill nexte ensuyng, beyng thereof conuicted, or attaynted by verdicte, confessyon, outlarye, or otherwise, shal suffer such paynes of death, without loss of goods or landes, or any other cómodite, his only life excepted, as felons cóuicted or attainted of felonie ben accustomed to do, touching thesayed paynes of deathe, by the Common lawes of thys Realme: And that no suche person shall enioye the priuelege or benefyte of hys or theyr Clergie or Sanctuary: And that the Justices of Peace shall haue full power and aucthoritie, wythin the lymytes of theyr Commission, and Jurisdictions, to here and determine thesayd offence, touchyng thesayd paynes of death, as they doo, and haue used to doo in cases of Felonie: Sauyng to the wyfe and chyldren the heyres and successours, & administratours of thesayd offendour or offendours, and all other persones, and bodyes politique, other then thesayed offendour or offendours, all such ryght, tytle, clayme, and interest, to al & euery thesayd offendour, or offendours, goodes, landes, and hereditamentes, as they, or any of thé myght haue, or ought to haue had, yf the said offendor or offendors had died his or theyr natural death, or had neyther in this case, neyther by any other meane offended any of the Kynges lawes.

Forasmuch as there is not at this present time any sufficient and condign punishment appointed by due course of the laws of this Realm, for the detestable vice of Buggery[2]: Be it therefore enacted by the assent of the King’s highness, the Lords Spiritual and temporal, and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, that all and every offender or offenders in that crime, after the first day of April next ensuing, being thereof convicted, or attainted by verdict, confession, outlawry, or otherwise, shall suffer such pains of death, without loss of goods or lands, or any other commodity, his only life excepted, as felons convicted or attainted of felony [have] been accustomed to do, touching the said pains of death, by the Common laws of this Realm: And that no such person shall enjoy the privilege or benefit of his or their Clergy or Sanctuary: And that the Justices of Peace shall have full power and authority, within the limits of their Commission, and Jurisdictions, to hear and determine the said offence, touching the said pains of death, as they do, and have used to do in cases of Felony: Saving to the wife and children the heirs and successours, & administrators of the said offender or offenders, and all other persons, and bodies politick, other than the said offender or offenders, all such right, title, claim, and interest, to all & every the said offender, or offenders, goods, lands, and hereditaments, as they, or any of them might have, or ought to have had, if the said offender or offenders had died his or their natural death, or had neither in this case, neither by any other mean offended any of the King’s laws.

PROVIDED that no maner of person bee empeched or molested for thesayed offence by reason of thys presente Acte, excepte the sayed person bee endicted of thesayed offence wythin syxe Monethes nexte and immediatlie folowyng the tyme of commyttyng of the same. And that no person bee receyued for wytnes, or to laye or geue euidence agaynst thesayed offendour, as vpon whose credite the enquest shoulde enfourme them selfe, whyche person shoulde take any profite or commoditie by the deathe of thesayed offendour, yf he were attaynted or conuicted of thesayed cryme and offence: Nor that any suche attayndour shall make any corrupcion of bloude to the heyre or heyres of suche offendour or offendours.

PROVIDED that no manner of person be impeached or molested for the said offence by reason of this present Act, except the said person be indicted of the said offence within six Months next and immediately following the time of committing of the same. And that no person be received for witness, or to lay or give evidence against the said offender, as upon whose credit the inquest should inform himself, which person should take any profit or commodity by the death of the said offender, if he were attainted or convicted of the said crime and offence: Nor that any such attainder shall make any corruption of blood to the heir or heirs of such offender or offenders.


1. The following sites contain relevant information about the history of laws against Sodomy in England and in America:

2. The following sites contain relevant information about the history of laws against Sodomy in England and in America:

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/pwh/englaw.html

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/pwh/englaw.html

http://www.citizensoldier.org/deathofamerica.html

http://www.citizensoldier.org/deathofamerica.html