1. The principal argument, upon which they founded this exemption, was that text of scripture; "touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm." (Keilw. 181.)
2. See Vol. III. pag. 62.
3. Keilw. 180.
4. 2 Hal. P. C. 377.
5. 2 Hal. P. C. 372. M. Paris. A. D. 1259. See Vol. I. pag. 24.
6. Hob. 294.
7. 3 P. Wms. 447. Hob. 289.
8. hon. 291
9. The printed statute book reads and instead of or: and, if that be the true reading, it may be doubted, and, as the consequence may in some cases be capital, it deserves to be explained by the legislature, whether women, and persons convicted of petit larceny, are strictly within these statutes of George the first; for the statutes, as printed, seem to extend only to such convicts as are entitled to the benefit of clergy, which no woman, or petit larcener, properly is. For, with regard to the female sex, the statutes of William and Mary (before referred to) very anxiously distinguish between the benefit of clergy, which extends only to men, and the benefit of the statute 3 & 4 W. & M. which is allowed to be claimed by women: and the statute of Anne (as is hereafter observed) does not entitle any one to the benefit of clergy but such as were entitled before; as its whole operation is merely to dispense with their reading.
10. 2 Hal. P. C. 375.
11. See note i. [ note 9.]
12. 2 Hal. P. C. 373. 2 Hawk. P. C. 338. Fost. 306.
13. 2 Hal. P. C. 333.
14. 1 Hal. P. C. 346.
15. Moor. 756. Fost. 288.
16. 2 Hal. P. C. 330.
17. 2 Hawk. P. C. 342.
18. 1 Hal. P. C. 529. Foster. 356.
19. 2 Hal. P. C. 388.
20. 2 P. Wms 487.
21. 2 Hal. P. C. 389. 5 Rep. 110.
22. 2 Hal. P. C. 389, 390.