1548: 2 & 3 Edward VI c.29: An Act against Buggery.

[Sodomy declared Felony without Clergy:]

1. Forasmuch as there is not at this present time any sufficient and condign punishment by due course of the laws of this realm for the detestable vice of buggery: 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 life only excepted, as felons convicted or attainted of felony 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,

[Justices of Peace may determine such Offences:]

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 for Wife, Children, &c. of Offender.]

saving to the wife and children, the heirs and successors and administrators of the said offender or offenders, and all other persons and bodies politic other than the said offender or offenders, all such right, title, claim, and interest to all and 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[s], offended any of the King’s laws.

[Limitation of Prosecution, Six Months.]

2. 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 the same:

[Witnesses interested not admitted.]

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 themself, 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:

[No Corruption of Blood by Attainder of such Felony.]

nor that any such attainder shall make any corruption of blood to the heir or heirs of such offender or offenders.

Source: Modernized text adapted from University of British Columbia, checked against Statutes of the Realm volume 4, part 1.