Acts. 355

Maryland October 3^d 1704

On the Behalf of her Ma^ty &c. I will this be a Law.
Jo : Seymour

An Act for Publication of Marriages.

Be it Enacted by the Queens most excellent Majesty by and
with the Advice and Consent of her Majestys Governour
Councill and Assembly of this Province And the Authority of
the same that all persons who desire Marriage shall apply
themselves either to a Minister Pastor or Magistrate for the
Contracting thereof.
And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid by and
with the Advice and Consent aforesaid that all persons within
this Province intending Marriage shall make publication thereof
either at the Church Chappell County Court or Meeting house
next where they dwell and that at such time when such Church
Chappell or Meeting house shall be full and thereby capable
to take Cognizance thereof And that it shall and may be law-
full upon Certificate had from the Minister pastor or County
Court where such publication shall have been made three
weeks after the said publication for either Minister Pastor or
Magistrate (where no Minister can be had) to Joyn in Marriage
such persons aforesaid and if any person shall presume to con-
tract marriage without such Publication made and Certificate
thereof had as aforesaid or without particular Lycense from
the Governo^r for the time being do privately within the Limitts
of this Province contract Marriage every person so Contracted

Lib. L. L.
No. 64.

or marryed shall be lyable to a ffine of one thousand pounds
of Tob^o And every such Minister Pastor or Magistrate Joyning
in Marriage any persons without such Publication or lycense
or any ways infringing this Act shall be lyable to a ffine of ffive
thousand pounds of Tobacco the one half of the said ffines to
our Sovereign Lady the Queen her heires and Successors
for the Support of the Government of this Province And the
other half to the Informer to be recovered by bill plaint accon
of Debt or Information in any Court of Record wherein no
Essoyn protection or wager of Law to be allowed.
And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid by and
with the Advice and Consent aforesaid That all Ministers
Pastors and Magistrates who according to the law of this
Province do usually Joyne people in Marryage shall Joyn them
in Manner & forme as is sett down and expressd in the Liturgy
of the Church of England Which being finishd the Minister
Pastor or Magistrate shall say I being hereunto by law Author-
ized do pronounce you lawfull man and wife.

p. 164