ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Simony Act 1713

Okay little one, let's talk about a law called the Simony Act of 1713.

This law was made a long, long time ago in England. It was named after something called "simony", which means buying or selling things that should not be bought or sold.

This law was made to stop people from buying important jobs in the church. Back then, being a priest or a bishop was a very important job, and people wanted it for different reasons. Some people wanted the power that came with the job, while others just wanted the money.

The Simony Act made it illegal to give someone a job in the church in exchange for money or gifts. This means that people could not buy their way into jobs in the church. It was also illegal for anyone to sell a church job or anything else that had to do with the church.

This law was important because it stopped people from using the church and its jobs for personal gain. It made sure that important jobs in the church were given to people who were qualified and wanted to serve the community, not just those who had money or power.

So, to sum it up, the Simony Act of 1713 was a law that made it illegal to buy or sell important jobs in the church. It was named after something called "simony", which means buying or selling things that should not be bought or sold.