Sabbath Breakers , & c . 555

ervice .

exceeding six months , then the said fines and penalties shall A . D . 1792 . be levied upon the goods of such person or persons by warrant or precept from any justice of the peace , before whom such conviction shall be , which warrant may be directed to the she riff of the county , or to the constable in his respective precinct , or to the serjeant of a corporation , to be appraised and valued as in other distresses ; and , if the offender or offenders be not able to pay the said sum or sums , then he , she or they shall have and receive ten lashes upon his or her bare back , well laid on , for every such offence . ( a )

2 . PROVIDED , always , That every prosecution by virtue of Prosecution in tva this act , for swearing , cursing , or for being drunk , shall be made months . within two months after the offence committed , and not after wards . ( 6 )

3 . No officer for any civil cause shall arrest any minister of No licensed minise religion licensed according to the rules of his sect , and who ter to be arrested shall have taken the oath or affirmation of fidelity to the Com - Jivine

while performing monwealth , while such minister shall be publicly preaching or performing religious worship , in any church , meeting - house , or other place of religious worship , on pain of imprisonment and amercement , at the discretion of a jury , and of making satis faction to the party so arrested . ( c )

4 . And if any person shall , on purpose , maliciously or con - Any person dis temptuously , disquiet or disturb any congregation assembled in turbing a congres any church , meeting - house , or other place of religious worship ,

Tengous worship , arrested & bound or misuse any such minister being there , he may be put under to good behavior ; restraint during religious worship by any justice present ; which justice being present , or , if none be present , then any justice before whom proof of the offence shall be made , may cause the offender to find two securities to be bound by recognizance in a sufficient penalty for his good behaviour , and , in default there of , shall commit him to prison , there to remain till the next court to be held for the same county or corporation ; and , upon And may be pun conviction of the said offence before the said court , he shall be ished by fine and further punished by imprisonment and amercement , at the dis . " cretion of a jury . ( d )

5 . If any person on a sabbath day shall himself be found la - Penalty for labor . boring at his own , or any other trade , or calling , or shall employ ing on Sunday . his apprentices , servants , or slaves in labor , or other business , except it be in the ordinary household offices of daily necessity , or other work of necessity or charity , he shall forfeit the sum of one dollar and sixty - seven cents for every such offence ; deem ing every apprentice , servant , or slave , so employed , and every day he shall be so employed , as constituting a distinct offence . ( e )

6 . EVERY person , not being a servant or slave , committing Punishment for adultery , or fornication , and being thereof lawfully convicted adultery or formi by the oaths of two or more credible witnesses , or confession cation . of the party , shall , for every offence of adultery , forfeit and

ment .

( a ) Altered at the revisal of 1792 , trom 1705 , edi . 1733 , and 1752 , c . 30 , $ 4 ; edi . 1769 , c . 6 , 9 4 : vid . 1792 , edi . 1794 , 1803 , and 1814 , c . 138 , 91 .

( 6 ) 1705 , edi . 1733 , and 1752 , c . 30 , 95 ; and edi . 1769 , c . 6 , 85 ; 1792 , edi . 1794 , 1803 , and 1814 , 6 , 136 , 5 2 .

( c ) 1786 , c . 54 ; 1792 , edi . 1794 , 1803 , and 1814 , c . 138 , s 3 .

( d ) Ibid , $ 4 .

le ) Ibid , $ 5 ; vid . 1705 , edi . 1733 , and 1752 , c . 30 , 97 ; and edi . 1769 , c . 6 , 57 . '