The Puritans came to America to find a place where they could practise their religion without interference. Here are some of the Blue Laws which indicate the Puritan intolerance of the religion of others:
If any man, after due conviction, shall have, or worship any other God but the Lord God, he shall be put to death.—Lev. xxiv:15-16.
If any person turns Quaker, he shall be banished and not suffered to return upon the pain of death.
No priest shall abide in this Dominion; he shall be banished, and suffer death on his return. Priests may be seized by any one without a warrant. (In force before 1656.)
No man shall hold any office who is not sound in the faith, and faithful to his Dominion; and whoever gives a vote to such person shall pay a fine of one pound; for a second offense he shall be disfranchised.
No Quaker or dissenter from the established worship of this Dominion shall be allowed to give a vote for the election of magistrates or any officer.
No food or lodging shall be afforded to a Quaker, Adamite, or other heretic.
How strictly the conduct of the individual was made to conform with religious rules may be gathered from the following laws as to Sunday observance, the name of authorities being given in parentheses, in some instances:
Every person in this jurisdiction, according to the mind of God, shall duly resort and attend worship upon the Lord's days at least, and upon public fasting, or thanksgiving days, and if any person, without just cause, absent, or withdraw from the same, he shall for every such sinful miscarriage forfeit five shillings. (1656.)
No one shall run on the Sabbath day, or walk in his garden, or elsewhere, except reverently to and from meeting. (Barber.)