Every Town sends two Burgesses to their great and solemn general Court.
For being drunk, they either whip or impose a fine of Five shillings; so for swearing and cursing, or boring through the tongue with a hot Iron.
For kissing a woman in the street, though in way of civil salute, whipping or a fine.
For Single fornication whipping or a fine.
For Adultery, put to death, and so for witchcraft.
An English woman suffering an Indian to have carnal knowledge of her, had an Indian cut out exactly in red cloth sewed [p. 179.] upon her right Arm, and injoyned to wear it twelve moneths.
Scolds they gag and set them at their doors for certain hours, for all comers and goers by to gaze at.
Stealing is punished with restoring four fould, if able; if not, they are sold for some years, and so are poor debtors.
If you desire a further inspection to their Laws, I must refer you to them being in print, too many for to be inserted into this Relation.
The Governments of their Churches are Independent and Presbyterial, every Church (for so they call their particular Congregations) have one Pastor, one Teacher, Ruling Elders and Deacons.