Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1858 — Value of Reading in “Olden Times” [ARTICLE]

Value of Reading in “Olden Times”

In the days of Jack Cade few could read, except those who were actually in orders, or educated for that purpose; so that if a personAvas arraigned before a temporal judge for any crime (the punishment whereof was death) ite might pray his clergy; that was, to have a Latin Bible in a black Gothic character delivered to him; and if he could read a passage where the judge appointed, which was generally in the Psalms, the ordinary, or his deputy, who stood near, said, legit ut clericus, that is, he could read like a clerk or scholar, and the criminal was acquitted as being a ijian of learning, who might, therefore, be useful to the public; if. however, he Could not read, he sufl'erad death.- This privilege was granted in all offences, except high treason and sacrilege, until after the"year 1530.; and it was carried to such an extent, that if a criminal was condemned at one assize, because he could not read, and was reprieved to the subsequent assize, he might again claim this benefit, either at that time, or even under the gallows tree, and if he could then read, he was pardohed, of which there was an instance in the reign ol Queen Elizabeth. — Shakspeare a Lawyer.