The capitall lawes of New-England, as they stand now in force in the Common-wealth. By the court, in the years 1641. 1642 Capitall lawes, established within the iurisdiction of Massachusets.

1643

Oxford Text Archive

The Capitall Lawes of New-England, as they stand now in force in the Common-Wealth. BY THE COVRT, In the Years 1641. 1642. Capitall Lawes, Established within the Iurisdiction of Massachusets.

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The Capitall Lawes of New-England, as they stand now in force in the Common-Wealth.
BY THE COVRT, In the Years 1641. 1642.
Capitall Lawes, Established within the Iurisdiction of Massachusets.

1. IF any man after legall conviction, shall have or worship any other God, but the Lord God, he shall be put to death. Deut. 13. 6, &c. and 17. 2. &c. Exodus 22. 20.

2. IF any man or woman be a Witch, that is, hath or consulteth with a familiar spirit, they shall be put to death. Exod. 22. 18. Lev. 20. 27. Deut. 18. 10, 11.

3. IF any person shall blaspheme the Name of God the Father, Sonne, or Holy Ghost, with direct, expresse, presumptuous, or high-handed blasphemy, or shall curse God in the like manner, he shall be put to death. Lev. 24. 15, 16.

4. IF any person shall commit any wilfull murther, which is manflaughter, committed upon premeditate malice, hatred, or cruelty, not in a mans necessary and just defence, nor by meer casualtie, against his will; he shall be put to death. Exod. 21. 12, 13, 14. Num. 35. 30, 31.

5. IF any person slayeth another suddenly in his anger, or cruelty of passion, he shall be put to death. Num. 35. 20, 21. Lev. 24. 17.

6. IF any person shall slay another through guile, either by poysonings, or other such divilish practice; he shall be put to death. Exod. 21. 14.

7. IF a man or woman shall lye with any beast, or bruit creature, by carnall copulation, they shall surely be put to death; and the beast shall be slaine, and buried. Lev. 20. 15, 16.

8. IF a man lyeth with mankinde, as he lyeth with a woman▪ both of them have committed abomination, they both shall surely be put to death. Lev. 20. 13.

9. IF any person committeth adultery with a married, or espoused wife, the Adulterer, and the Adulteresse, shall surely be put to death. Lev. 20. 10. and 18. 20. Deut. 22. 23, 24.

10. IF any man shall unlawfully have carnall copulation with any woman-childe under ten years old, either with, or without her consent, he shall be put to death.

11. IF any man shall forcibly, and without consent, ravish any maid or woman that is lawfully married or contracted, he shall be put to death. Deut. 22. 25. &c.

12. IF any man shall ravish any maid or single woman (committing carnall copulation with her by force, against her will) that is above the age of ten yeares; he shall be either punished with death, or with some other grievous punishment, according to circumstances, at the discretion of the Judges: and this Law to continue till the Court take further order.

13. IF any man stealeth a man, or man-kinde, he shall surely be put to death. Exod. 21. 16.

14. IF any man rise up by false witnesse wittingly, and of purpose to take away any mans life, he shall be put to death. Deut. 19. 16. 18, 19.

15. IF any man shall conspire, or attempt any invasion, insurrection, or publick rebellion against our Common-wealth, or shall indeavour to surprize any Towne or Townes, Fort or Forts therein: or shall treacherously, or perfidiously attempt the alteration and subversion of our frame of pollity, or government fundamentally, he shall be put to death. Num. 16. 2 Sam. 3. & 18. & 20.

Per exemplar Incre, Nowel, Secret.

Printed first in New-England, and re-printed in London for Ben. Allen in Popes-head Allen. 1643.

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