234 Assembly Proceedings, April 26-June 3, 1715.

C. P

And be it Enacted by the Authority Advice and Consent
afd that Every pson or psons that shall Comitt Adultery and
that shall be thereof Convict Either by Confession or Verdict
of twelve men in the provinciall or any of the County Courts
of this pvince shall be fined by the Justices before whome
such Conviction shall be three pound Currt mony as afd or
twelve hundred pounds of Tob^o to the Kings Majty his heirs
and Successors Towards Defraying such County Charge as
afd And in Case the said Offenders or any of them shall not
have wherewith to pay the Sev^ll fines by this Act Imposed

p. 23

then the said Offenders shall be Adjudged to suffer Corporall
punishmt by whipping upon his or their bare bodys 'till the
blood Doe appear soe many Stripes not Exceeding thirty
nine as the Justices before whome such Conviction shall be
shall Adjudge.
Provided that this Act shall not be Construed to Extend as
to the fine for Women who have bastards And Doe refuse to
Discover the father or begetter of such Children but that in
such Cases it shall be in the Discretion of the Justices before
whome such Woman or Women shall be Convicted Either to
take the fine by this Act Appointed or to Award Corporall
punishmt anything in this Act before to the Contrary Not-
withstanding. And for the Ascertaining what Women shall
be Accounted Lewd,
Bee it Enacted by the Authority afd by and with the Advice
and Consent afd that it shall and may be Lawfull for the
Minister Vestry and Church wardens of any parish where
there is a Minister And for the Vestry and Church Wardens
where there is no Minister before any Admonition by them
or any of them given in pursuance of the Directions Afore-
mentioned to give Notice or Cause Notice to be given to any

p. 3

person or persons by them or the Major part of them sus-
pected of Lewdness or Incontinency and being or residing
within their respective Parishes to Appear before them or the
Major part of them att such time and place as they or the
Major part of them shall appoint And on Appearance of such
person or psons to acquaint them of the Suspicion that is had
of them and to hear what reasonable Excuse such psons shall
Offer why they ought not to be proceeded agt According to
Law as ffornicators or Adulterers as the Case shall happen
and in Case the pson or psons having such Notice given
them shall not appear According to such Notice given them
on Affidavit! of such Notice given or Appearing doe not Excuse
or Acquit themselves of the grounds of such Suspicion in such
Manner as such Ministers Vestry and Church Wardens as
afd shall Approve that then it shall and may be Lawfull for