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

C. P.

head or shall utter any prophane words Concerning the Holy
Trinity or any the psons thereof for his her or their first
Offence shall be bored through his her or their tongue and
fined the sume of twenty pounds Sterl to his Majesty his heirs

p. 43

and Successors to be Applyed to the Use of the Parish
Church where such Offence shall be Comitted to be Levyed
upon his her or their bodys Goods or Chattells Lands or
Tenements and if such Offender or Offenders shall not
redeeme his her or their body by the payment of such fine
with his her or their goods or Chattells Lands or Tenements
then such Offender or Offenders shall by Vertue of a Comitt-
ment or Levari facias on such Judgment of Conviction be
Immediately detained in prison and shall in Lieu of the said
fine Suffer Six months Imprisonment of his her or their bodys
without baile or Mainprize to be Accounted from the day of
such Offenders first Committment after such Judgment ren-
dered against him And for Every second Offence whereof
such Offender or Offenders shall be Legally Convicted he she
or they shall be stigmatized by burning in the forehead with
the Letter (B) and be fined by the Court where he she or they
shall be Convicted forty pounds Sterl to the Kings Majesty
his heirs and Successors to be Applyed to the Uses afd to be
Levyed as afd and in Default of Satisfaction thereof as afd to
Suffer twelve months Imprisonment as afd on such Execution

p. 44

or Committment as afd in Lieu thereof And for Every third
Offence whereof such Offendor or Offenders shall be Legally
Convict he she or they soe Offending shall be Adjudged Fel-
lons and shall suffer pains of Death without any benefitt of
Clergy.
And Forasmuch as itt hath been too plainly found by Long
Experience that there are some such bold Offenders as to the
scandall of a Christian People and Civill Government att
once dare Sportingly Contemn the Laws of God and of their
King and Country by prophane Curseing and Swearing not-
withstanding the provisions that have been heretofore made
against them,
Be itt therefore Enacted by the Authority Advice and Con-
sent afd that if any pson or psons shall after the End of this
prsent Sessions of Assembly prophanely Swear or Curse in
the presence or hearing of any Magistrate the Commissary
Gen^ll the Secretary Constables Provinciall or County Clerke
Sherriffe Coroner Minister Vestryman or Churchwarden or
that shall be Convicted of prophane Curseing or Swearing by
the Oath of one witness or by the Confession of the party
Offending before any Justice of the peace or other Magistrate
that then for Every such Offence the party soe Offending
shall fforfeit and pay to the use of the County where such