T H E B O O K O F T H E G E N E R A L

L A W S

1 6 8 5

–––––––––––– The Inhabitants of New-Plimouth Colony ––––––––––––

C H I L D R E N ’ S E D U C A T I O N

Forasmuch as the good Education of Children and Youth is of singular use

and benefit to any Common wealth; and whereas many Parents and Masters

either through an over-respect to their own Occasions and Business, or nor

duely considering the good of their Children and Servants, have too much

neglected their Duties in their Education whilest they are young and capable of

Learning.

It is Ordered; That the Select men of every Town, shall have a vigilant Eye

from time to time over their Brethren and Neighbours, to see that all Parents

and Masters do duely endeavour by themselves or others, to teach their

Children and Servants as they grow capable, so much Learning as through the

blessing of God they may attain; at least to be able duely to read the Scriptures,

and other profitable Books Printed in the English Tongue; and the knowledge of

the Capital Laws; and in some competent measure, the main Grounds and

Principles of Christian Religion, necessary to Salvation; by causing them to learn

some orthodox Catechisme without book, or otherwayes instructing them, as

they may be able to give a due answer to such plain and ordinary questions as

may by them or others be propounded to them concerning the same. And

further, that all Parents and Masters do breed and bring up their Children and

Apprentices in some honest lawful Calling and Imployment, that may be

profitable for themselves and the Country. And if after Warning and

Admonition given by any of the Select Men unto such Parents or Masters, they

shall full remain negligent in their duty, in any of the particulars

aforementioned, whereby Children or Servants may be in danger to grow

Barbarous, Rude and Stubborn, and to prove Pests in stead of Blessings to the

Country; That then a Fine of ten shillings shall be Levyed on the Goods of such

Negligent Parent or Master to the Towns use, except extream poverty call for a

Mitigation of the Fine. And if in three Months after that, there be no due Care

taken, and continued for the Education of such Children and Apprentices as

aforesaid, then a Fine of twenty shillings to be Levyed on such Delinquents to

the Towns use; except as aforesaid. And lastly, if in three Months after that,

their be no Reformation of the said Neglect, then the Select Men, with the

Advice of two Magistrates shall put such Children to Apprentice; Boyes till they

come to twenty-one, and Girls eighteen years of Age, where they may be

Educated according to the Rules of this Order.

I N D I A N S

It is Ordered by this Court and Authority thereof; that no Indian which shall

dwell or come into our Jurisdiction, shall presume at any time to Pawwaw or

perform outward Worship to the Devil, or other false God, under the penalty of

five pounds, or severe Corporal punishment, both of said Pawwaw and of such

other as shall procure or abett him therein.

And that no Indian shall resort to any English house on the Lords day,

especially when any of the People thereof are gone to Meeting, unless upon

extraordinary occasion, under the penalty of ten shillings or Corporal

punishment by Whipping, as the matter may be circumstanced; and that no

Indian under the like penalty, prophane the Lords day, by Hunting, Fishing,

Fowling, Travelling with Burthens, or doing any servile work thereon.

And forasmuch at sundry Burglaries, Thefts and other Mischiefs and Injuries

have been by sundry Indians in the night; for prevention whereof;

It is Ordered by this Court, &c. That no Indian or Indians shall walk about in

the Night without necessary occasion, especially at unseasonable Times thereof,

under the pain of being Convicted thereby, at least as one Evidence of his or

their being guilty of any such mischief or injuries as may happen to be done or

committed in such Night, unless such Indian or Indians can rationally clear

themselves thereof.…

It is Ordered by this Court, That whosoever shall sell or give, directly or

indirectly any Arms, as Guns, Sword, Pistols, &c. unto any Indians without

License first obtained from the General Court shall forfeit five times the value

thereof; and whosoever shall lend any Gun to art Indian, or sell any Powder,

Shot or Lead to them, shall forfeit twice the value thereof, if such person have

not first obtained Licence of some one of the Magistrates who are hereby

impowered to give Licence to any English to lend a Gun for a Month or two in a

Year, and to sell some small quantity of Powder and Shot, not exceeding half a

pound of Powder, and proportionable Shot at one time to such of our friendly

Indians, as he shall give a Certificate under his hand.

It is also Ordered, That whatsoever Indians who have or shall have Guns, or

other Arms, that have or shall manifestly appear to be unfaithful and

treacherous to us, shall forfeit their Arms, and not suffered to have or carry any

Arms until they shall have Licence from the County Court.

It is also Ordered, That whosoever shall any wayes sell, hire or give to any

Indian or Indians any kind of Boat, Barque or other Vessel of burthen, or Sail or

Tackling to fit up any such like Vessel, shall forfeit twice the value of it.

It is also Ordered by this Court and the Authority thereof; That no Person,

whither Inhabitant of this Government or other, shall Purchase, Hire, or receive

of Gift of any Indian or Indians, any Lands that lie within the Line of this

Colony, without the Order and Allowance of this Court, on pain of forfeiting

for every Acre, so Bought, Hired, or any wayes obtained of them five pounds to

the Colonies use: and if the Fine or Forfeiture cannot be obtained, the Lands so

procured, shall be forthwith seized for the Colonies use. [1643, & 1671.]

Neither shall any person Buy, Hire or Receive any Wood, Timber, of the

Indians, without the Courts allowance, on pain of forfeiting five times the value

thereof to the Colonies use.

It is also Ordered; That no person within this Government, shall give or sell

any Mare to any Indian, on pain of the forfeiture of every such Mare, or the

value thereof; and that no Indian keep any Mare on like pain of the forfeiture of

every such Offence.…

S A B B A T H

This Court taking Notice of great abuse, and many misdemeanours

committed by divers Persons many wayes, prophaning the Christian Sabbath, or

Lords Day, to the great Dishonour of God, Reproach of Religion, Grief of the

Spirits of Gods People;

Do therefore Order and Enact, That whosoever shall Prophane the Lords

Day by unnecessary servile work, unnecessary travelling by Land, or passing by

Water, by bearing Burthens, carrying of Packs, or by Buying or Selling, or by

Sports or Recreation, shall for the first Offence pay ten shillings fine to the

Town, or be committed to Prison, or safe custody till the next Day, and then sit

in the Stocks two hours: and for the second Offence shall pay twenty shillings

fine to the County or be Whipt; and so from time to time as often as they shall

be Convicted of the like Transgression afterwards.

It is Ordered, That if any Person henceforth, either on the Saturday Evening,

or on the Lord’s Day Evening after the Sun is Set, shall be found sporting in the

Streets or Fields of any Town in this Jurisdiction, drinking, or being in any

publick House of Entertainment (unless Strangers or Sojourners in their

Lodgings) or uncivily walking, and is duly Convict; such Persons so Offending,

shall for every Transgression pay five shillings fine to the Town, or sit in the

Stocks, not exceeding two hours.

It is Ordered by this Court and the Authority thereof, That in no case shall

any Person Travail further on a Sabbath Day than from the place where he lay

the Night before to the next Town on his way, nor shall he have liberty, unless

it be where there is no allowed Meeting in said Town, Bona fide, to go to the

Meeting that is at the next Town, and so order it as to be there before the

beginning of the Morning Exercise: and if any person shall presume to Travail

on the Sabbath, from the place he took up his Lodging on the Saturday Night,

unless, as aforesaid, or shall pass through the next Town before the Sabbath be

ended, he shall be proceeded with for Breach of Sabbath, as is by Law

provided, unless it appear it hath been in case of Life and Death, or that he hath

a Licence from some Magistrate or one of the Selectmen of the Town; and it

shall be lawful for the Constable or any other person to stop and bring before

Authority any person suspected for the Breach of this Law: and if any person

hath obtained a Licence to Travail by a false pretence, he shall any time in a

twelve Month be liable to be apprehended and punisht for his Breach of

Sabbath, and ten shillings besides, as a fine to the Town.

Ordered, That in Towns, Villages or other Places, if any Person or Persons

shall be found Walking or Riding about the Town, or Visiting of the

Neighbours, or upon any other occasion from their own Families, or place of

abode on the Sabbath Day, unless it appear it was upon account of some Act of

Piety, Mercy or Necessity, such persons so offending shall be proceeded with as

Sabbath-Breakers.