BLUE LAWS.

THE reader will find the following collection of Laws, Letters, Judgments, &c. in the Colonies of Massachusetts and Plymouth in 1657 &c., highly interesting:-punishing Quakers by whipping, branding, cutting off their ears, banishing and actually executing them upon the gallows, for differing in their religious opinions, (on the construction of the doctrines of the bible) from other Dissenters from the church of England.

PLYMOUTH, ORDER OF COURT ABOUT QUAKERS.

Plymouth Records.

It is ordered by the court, that in case any shall bring in any Quaker, Rantor or other notoriouse Heretiques, either by land or water into any parte of this government, shall forthwith, upon order from any one magistrate returne them to the place from whence they came, or clear the government of them on the penaltie of paying a fine of twenty shillings for euery (every) weeke that they shall stay in the government after warninge.

PLYMOUTH LAW AGAINST ENTERTAINING QUAKERS.

From the records of Plymouth.

Whereas there hath seuerall persons come into this gov

ernment commonly called Quakers, whose doctrine and practises manifestly tend to the subersion of the fundamentalls of christian religion, church order and the civell peace of this government, as appeers by the testimonies given in sundry depositions and otherwise: It is therefore enacted by the court and the authoretie thereof, that noe Quaker or person commonly soe called, bee entertained by any person or persons within this government, vnder the penalItie of five pounds for euery such default, or be whipt, and in case any one shall entertaine any such person ignorantly, if hee shal testify on his oath that hee knew not them to bee such, he shalbe freed of the aforesaid penaltie, provided hee vpon his first decerning them to bee such, doe discouer them to the constable or his deputie. (Reenacted 10th June, 1660.)

Plymouth Records, Oct. 6, 1657.

At this court, humphrey Norton, one of those commonly called Quakers, being summoned, appeered and, was examined and found guilty of diuers horred errors and was centanced speedily to depart the government, and was forthwith expelled the government by the vnder marshall whoe was required to accompanie him as farr as Asonett, towards Road Island.

Massachusetts Records, Oct. 14, 1657.

As an addition to the late order in reference to the coming or bringing in any of the cursed sect of the Quakers into this jurisdiction, it is ordered, that whosoeuer shall from henceforth bring, or cause to be brought, directly or indirectly any known Quaker or Quakers, or other blasphemous Hereticks into this jurisdiction, euery such person shall forfeit the sum of one hundred pounds to the country, and shall by warrant from any magistrate, be committed to prison, there to remain till the penalty be satisfied and paid, and if any person or persons within this

jurisdiction, shall henceforth entertaine and conceal any such Quaker or Quakers, or other blasphemous hereticks, (knowing them so to be,) euery such person shall forfeit to the country forty shillings for euery hour's entertainment and concealment of any Quaker or Quakers as aforesaid, and shall be committed to prison as aforesaid, untill the forfeitures be fully satisfied and paid—and it is further ordered, that if any Quaker or Quakers shall presume, after they have once suffered what the law requireth, to come into this jurisdiction, euery such male Quaker shall, for the first offence, haue one of his ears cut off and be kept att work in the house of correction till he can be sent away at his own charge; and for the second offence shall haue the other ear cut off &c., and kept at the house of correction as aforesaid. And euery woman Quaker that hath suffered the law here, that shall presume to come into this jurisdiction, shall be seuerely whipt and kept at the house of correction at work, till she be sent away at her own charge, and so also for her coming again she shall be alike used as aforesaid. And for euery Quaker, he or she that shall a third time heerin again offend, they shall haue their tongues bored through with a hot iron and be kept at the house of correction close at work, till they be sent away at thier own charge. And it is further ordered, that all and euery Quaker arising from amongst ourselues, shall be dealt with and suffer the like punishments as the law provides against foreign Quakers.

Massachusetts Records, 19th May, 1658.

That Quakers and such accursed hereticks arising amongst ourselues may be dealt withal according to thier deserts, and that thier pestilent errors and practices may speedily be preuented: It is hereby ordered, as an addition to the former law against Quakers, that euery such person or persons professing any of thier pernicious ways by speaking, writing or by meeting on the Lord's days, or at

any other time, to strengthen themselues or seduce others to thier diabolical doctrine, shall after due means of conviction, incur the penalty ensuing, that is, euery person so meeting, shall pay to the country for euery time, ten shillings, and euery one speaking in such meeting, shall pay five pounds a piece, and in case of any such person hath been punished by scourging or whipping, the first time according to the former laws, shall be still kept at work in the house of correction till they put in security with two sufficient men, that they shall not any more vent thier hateful crrors nor use thier sinful practices, or else shall depart this jurisdiction at thier own charges, and, if any of them return again, then each such person shall incur the penalty of the laws formerly made by strangers.

Records of New Plymouth, 1658.

It is enacted by the court and the authoritie thereof, that no Quaker, Rantor or any such corrupt person, shal bee admited to bee a freeman of this corporation.

It is enacted by the court and the authoritie thereof, that all such as are opposers of the good and wholesome lawes of this collonie; or manifest opposers of the true worship of God, or such as refuse to doe the countrey service, being called thereunto, shall not bee admitted freemen of this corporation; being duely convicted of all or any of these.

It is enacted by the court, that all such as refuse to take the oath of fidelitie as Quakers or such as are manifest encorragers of them, shall have noe voat in choise of publick officers in the place wher they dwell or shall bee imployed in any place of trust while they contineed such.

Massachusetts Records, Oct. 19th, 1658.

It is ordered that the Quakers in prison at Ipswich, be forthwith sent for. Warrant issued out accordingly and return of the warrant made. The court convented the