1. “If any man after legall conviction shall have or worship any other god but the Lord God, hee shall bee put to death.”—Deut. 13:6, 17:2.
2. “If any man or woman bee a witch, that is, hath or consulteth with a familliar spiritt, they shall bee put to death.”—Exodus 22:18; Levit. 20:27.
3. “If any person shall blaspheme the name of God, the Father, Sonne or Holy Ghost, with direct, express, presumptuous or high-handed blasphemy, or shall curse, in like manner, hee shall bee put to death.”
4. “If any man shall commit any willful murder—which is manslaughter commited from hatred, malice or cruelty—not in a man’s just and necessary defense, nor by mere casualty against his will, hee shall bee put to death.”
8. “If any person committeth adultery with a married or espoused wife, the adulterer and adulteress shall surely bee put to death.”
12. “If any man shall conspire or attempt any invasion, insurrection or rebellion against the Commonwealth hee shall bee put to death.”
The laws were specially severe against the social evil, and the homes of the colonists guarded not only against the crimes, but against all dalliance with evil, and imprudent conduct that might weaken the family bonds. The purity and bliss of the home might not be endangered with impunity, and the wayward were punished with wholesome severity. Here is a court record: “Martha Malbon, for consenting to goe to the farms with Will Harding at night, to a venison feast, and … for dalliance with said Harding was whiped.” How it fared with Will we are not told, but presume there was safety for him only in exile, as there was no marked discrimination in favor of his sex at that time. As connected with this case it is further recorded that “Goodman Hunt and his wife for keeping the councells of said William Harding, baking him a pastry and plum cakes, and keeping company with him on the Lord’s day, and she suffering Harding to kisse her, they being only admited to sojourn in this plantation on their good behavior, ordered to be sent out of this towne within one month after the date hereof; yea, in a shorter time, if any miscarriage be found in them.—December 3, 1651.” On another page I find it recorded that “Will Harding was sentenced to be severely whipped, fined £10, and presently to depart the plantation, and not retourne under the penalty of severer punishment.”
