26 Aug 1809 + Ch '.4; 3

Parl y. Reform

Ch. Compensation

' 4. Advowsons

8

1

What makes it quite a different case is the benefice lawfully yields money to the possessor.

' 4. The Case of advowsons is inapplicable

But the advowson is a trust and an advowson is as valuable[?] - Advowsons? would you take them away without compensation.

The case of advowsons is nothing to the purpose. Advowsons indeed are bought and sold, as between individual and individual: and if so it had been that they had been taken away by government and compensation made for them at the expense of the public, then indeed it would /might/ have case for consideration, in the point in question how far that case ran parallel with the present.

Advowsons /Ecclesiastical benefices/ are bought and sold. Yes and no. The traffic in them is lawful: yes but it is unlawful otherwise. Battle between priestcraft and lawyercraft. Selling an ecclesiastical benefice is selling souls: it is a sort of Simony. Simon Magus set up a dupe[?] for selling the Holy Ghost: in so doing he committed a sin: which from him was called Simony. Therefore quoth Priestcraft ecclesiastical benefices ought not to be sold. Disinquo[?], quoth Lawyercraft. In a certain way, no: in a certain other way, yes. Selling a benefice when vacant shall be a sin: it shall be simony it shall be a sin: in that quality do what you will with it. /make the most of it./ But Selling it when full, the sale not to take effect till it is empty, this is no sin; or if it be a sin it is no offence; but lawful, for so we make it.

Buying it for yourself you being a priest /by yourself in your own name/, and proposing to do the duty for it shall be unlawful, as awful as you please, and unlawful into the bargain Buy it for yourself by another person, in another name though[?] it be a sin is not an offence but lawful. Do so and welcome at least for any thing as care about the matter others being [...?], we [...?]: and so long as we [...?], no harm can happen to you.