Blasphemy against God, and a denial of the Trinity should be punished with death and confiscation of lands and goods, and blasphemy against the Virgin Mary should first be punished by a fine of five pounds, and if persisted in, by a forfeiture of all possessions and banishment from the colony.
1649.
Acts and Orders of ASSEMBLY, assented to, enacted and made, at a General Session of the said Assembly, begun and held at St. Mary’s on the 2d Day of April 1649, and ended the 21st Day of the same Month.
William Stone, Esq; Governor.
CHAP. I.
Passed 21st of April 1649.
An Act concerning Religion. Lib. C and WH. fol. 106. Lib. WH. fol. 111. and Lib. WH and L. fol. 1.
Confirmed among the perpetual Laws 1676, ch. 2.
N. B. By this Law, (1.) Blasphemy against GOD, denying our Saviour JESUS CHRIST to be the Son of GOD, or denying the Holy TRINITY, or the Godhead of any of the Three Persons, &c. was to be Punished with Death, and Confiscation of Lands and Goods to the Lord Proprietary. (2.) Persons using any reproachful Words or Speeches concerning the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of our Saviour, or the Holy Apostles or Evangelists, or any of them, for the 1st Offence to forfeit 5l. Sterling to the Lord Proprietary; or, in default of Payment, to be publicly Whipped, and Imprisoned at the Pleasure of his Lordship, or his Lieut. General. For the 2d Offence to forfeit 10l. Sterling, or in default of Payment to be publicly and severely Whipped, and Imprisoned as before directed. And for the 3d Offence to forfeit Lands and Goods, and be for ever Banished out of the Province. (3.) Persons reproaching any other within the Province by the Name or Denomination of Heretic, Schismatic, Idolater, Puritan, Independent, Presbyterian, Popish Priest, Jesuit, Jesuited Papist, Lutheran, Calvinist, Anabaptist, Brownist, Antinomian, Barrowist, Round-Head, Separatist, or any other Name or Term in a reproach-