Зображення сторінки
PDF
ePub

by you
I shall bee encouraged to go on in the discharge of
greater offices by examining and fauouring my good intention in
this, and in what else my poore knowledge or faithfulnesse may
enable me to be a seruant in so beloued and sacred a businesse.
And euen so committing to your still most abstract, graue and
vnsatisfied carefulnesse, both it and myselfe, I wish returne of
seuen fold into such his well inspired bosome, who hath lent his
helping hand vnto this new Sion. From my lodging in the
blacke Friers.

At your best pleasures, either to returne vnto the
Colony, or to pray for the successe of it heere.

WILLIAM STRACHEY,

Articles, Lawes, and Orders, Diuine, Politique, and Martiall for the Colony in Virginea: first established by Sir Thomas Gates Knight, Lieutenant Generall, the 24. of May 1610. exemplified and approued by the Right Honourable Sir Thomas West Knight, Lord Lawair, Lord Gouernour and Captaine Generall the 12. of lune 1610. Againe exemplified and enlarged by Sir Thomas Dale Knight, Marshall, and Deputie Gouernour, the 22. of lune. 1611.

W

Hereas his Maiestie like himselfe a most zealous Prince hath in his owne Realmes a principall care of true Religion, and reuerence to God, and hath alwaies strictly commaunded his Generals and Gouernours, with all his forces wheresoeuer, to let their waies be like his ends, for the glorie of God.

And forasmuch as no good seruice can be performed, or warre well managed, where militarie discipline is not obserued, and militarie discipline cannot be kept, where the rules or chiefe parts thereof, be not certainely set downe, and generally knowne, 1 haue (with the aduise and counsell of Sir Thomas Gates Knight, Lieutenant Generall) adhered vnto the lawes diuine, and orders politique, and martiall of his Lordship (the same exemplified) an addition of such others, as I haue found either the necessitie of the present State of the Colonie to require, or the infancie, and weaknesse of the body thereof, as yet able to digest, and doe now publish them to all persons in the Colonie, that they may as well take knowledge of the Lawes themselues, as of the penaltie and punishment, which without partialitie shall be inflicted vpon the breakers of the same.

1

F

Irst since we owe our highest and supreme duty, our greatest, and all our allegeance to him, from whom all power and authoritie is deriued, and flowes as from the first, and onely fountaine, and being especiall souldiers emprest in this sacred cause, we must alone expect our

VOL. III-No. 2.

2

successe

successe from him, who is onely the blesser of all good attempts, the King of kings, the commaunder of commaunders, and Lord of Hostes, I do strictly commaund and charge all Captaines and Officers, of what qualitie or nature soeuer, whether commanders in the field, or in towne, or townes, forts or fortresses, to haue a care that the Almightie God bee duly and daily serued, and that they call vpon their people to heare Sermons, as that also they diligently frequent Morning and Euening praier themselues by their owne exemplar and daily life, and dutie herein, encouraging others thereunto, and that such, who shall often and wilfully absent themselues, be duly punished according to the martial law in that case prouided.

2 That no man speake impiously or maliciously, against the holy and blessed Trinitie, or any of the three persons, that is to say, against God the Father, God the Son, and God the holy Ghost, or against the knowne Articles of the Christian faith, vpon paine of death.

3 That no man blaspheme Gods holy name upon paine of death, or vse vnlawful oathes, taking the name of God in vaine, curse, or banne, vpon paine of seuere punishment for the first offence so committed, and for the second, to haue a bodkin thrust through his tongue, and if he continue the blaspheming of Gods holy name, for the third time so offending, he shall be brought to a martiall court, and there receiue censure of death for his offence.

2

4 No man shall vse any traiterous words against his Maiesties Person, or royall authority vpon paine of death. >

5 No man shall speake any word, or do any act, which may tend to the derision, or despight of Gods holy word vpon paine of death: Nor shall any man vnworthily demeane himselfe vnto any Preacher, or Minister of the same, but generally hold them in all reuerent regard, and dutiful intreatie, otherwise he the offender shall openly be whipt three times, and ask publike forgiuenesse in the assembly of the congregation three seueral Saboth daies.

6 Euerie man and woman duly twice a day vpon the first towling of the Bell shall vpon the working daies repaire vnto the Church, to hear diuine Service vpon pain of losing his or her dayes allowance for the first omission, for the second to be whipt, and for the third to be condemned to the Gallies for six Moneths. Likewise no man or woman shall dare to violate or breake the Sabboth by any gaming, publique, or priuate abroad, or at home, but duly sanctifie and obserue the same, both himselfe and his familie, by preparing themselues at home with pri

vate

wate prayer, that they may be the better fitted for the publique, according to the commandements of God, and the orders of our Church, as also euery man and woman shall repaire in the morning to the diuine seruice, and Sermons preached vpon the Saboth day, and in the afternoon to diuine seruice, and Catechising, vpon paine for the first fault to lose their prouision, and allowance for the whole weeke following, for the second to lose the said allowance, and also to be whipt, and for the third to suffer death. 4

All Preachers or Ministers within this our Colonie, or Colonies, shall in the Forts, where they are resident, after diuine Seruice, duly preach euery Sabbath day in the forenoone, and Catechise in the afternoone, and weekely say the diuine seruice, twice euery day, and preach euery Wednesday, likewise euery Minister where he is resident, within the same Fort, or Fortresse, Townes or Towne, shall chuse vnto him, foure of the most religious and better disposed as well to informe of the abuses and neglects of the people in their duties, and seruice to God, as also to the due reparation, and keeping of the Church handsome, and fitted with all reuerent obseruances thereunto belonging likewise euery Minister shall keepe a faithful and true Record, or Church Booke, of all Christnings, Marriages, and deaths of such our people, as shall happen within their Fort, or Fortresses, Townes or Towne at any time, vpon the burthen of a neglectfull conscience, and vpon paine of losing their Entertaine

ment.

8 He that vpon pretended malice, shall murther or take away the life of any man, shall bee punished with death. 5

9 No man shal commit the horrible, and detestable sins of Sodomie vpon pain of death; & he or she that can be lawfully conuict of Adultery shall be punished with death. No man shall rauish or force any woma, maid or Indian, or other, vpon pain of death, and know ye that he or shee, that shall commit fornication, and euident proofe made thereof, for their first fault shall be whipt, for their second they shall be whipt, and for their third they shall be whipt three times a weeke for one month, and aske publique forgiuenesse in the Assembly of the Congregation.

10 No man shall bee found guilty of Sacriledge, which is a Trespasse as well committed in violating and abusing any sacred ministry, duty or office of the Church, irreuerently, or prophanely, as by beeing a Church robber, to filch, steale or carry away any thing out of the Church appertaining thereunto, or vnto any holy, and consecrated place, to the diuine Seruice of

God,

God, which no man should doe vpon paine of death: likewise he that shall rob the store of any commodities therein, of what quality soeuer, whether prouisions of victuals, or of Arms, Trucking stuffe, Apparrell, Linnen, or Wollen, Hose or Shooes, Hats or Caps, Instruments or Tooles of Steele, Iron, &c. or shall rob from his fellow souldier, or neighbour, any thing that is his, victuals, apparell, household stuffe, toole, or what necessary else soeuer, by water or land, out of boate, house, or knapsack, shall bee punished with death.

11 Hee that shall take an oath vntruly, or beare false witnesse in any cause, or against any man whatsoeuer, shall be punished with death.

12 No manner of person whatsoeuer, shall dare to detract, slaunder, calumniate, or vtter vnseemely, and vnfitting speeches, either against his Maiesties Honourable Councell for this Colony, resident in England, or against the Committies, Assistants vnto the said Councell, or against the zealous indeauors, & intentions of the whole body of Aduenturers for this pious and Christian Plantation, or against any publique booke, or bookes, which by their mature aduise, and graue wisdomes, shall be thought fit, to be set foorth and publisht, for the aduancement of the good of this Colony, and the felicity thereof, vpon paine for the first time so offending, to bee whipt three seuerall times, and vpon his knees to acknowledge his offence and to aske forgiuenesse vpon the Saboth day in the assembly of the congregation, and for the second time so offending to be condemned to the Galley for three yeares, and for the third time so offending to be punished with death. 8

13 No manner of Person whatsoeuer, contrarie to the word of God (which tyes euery particular and priuate man, for conscience sake to obedience, and duty of the Magistrate, and such as shall be placed in authoritie ouer them, shall detract, slaunder, calumniate, murmur, mutenie, resist, disobey, or neglect the commaundments, either of the Lord Gouernour, and Captaine Generall, the Lieutenant Generall, the Martiall, the Councell, or any authorised Captaine, Commaunder or publike Officer, vpon paine for the first time so offending to be whipt three seuerall times, and vpon his knees to acknowledge his offence, with asking forgiuenesse vpon the Saboth day in the assembly of the congregation, and for the second time so offending to be condemned to the Gally for three yeares and for the third time so offending to be punished with death.

14 No man shall giue any disgracefull words, or commit any act to the disgrace of any person in this Colonie, or any part

thereof,

« НазадПродовжити »