This statute applied, in some degree, to the other British plantations, as well as the sugar colonies.
 

CHAP. 5.  An act to repeal the statute made in the first year of the reign of king
    James the first, entitled, An act against conjuration, witchcraft, and dealing with
    wicked and evil spirits, except so much thereof as repeals an act of the fifth year
    of queen Elizabeth, against conjurations, enchantments and witchcrafts; and to
    repeal an act passed in the parliament of Scotland, in the ninth parliament of
    queen Mary, entitled, amentis witchcrafts, and for punishing such persons as pretend
    to exercise or use any kind of witchcraft, sorcery, enchantment or conjuration.

    Although I have met with no instance of a prosecution under the last part of this statute, yet it may
have been in force with the first part, which certainly extended to the province in its beneficial effects,
in repealing the statute 1 James 1, Ch. 12, which, strange as it may seem, had been in use.  It will
appear by the commissions to the judges, that they were to determine concerning witchcraft, burglary,
felony, murder, &c. and the charges to the grand juries were to the same effect, until a short period
after the making of this statute.
    In 1685 there was an indictment against R. F. for witchcraft, against the form of the statute.
There was a special verdict finding the facts, and if, &c.  The court took time to consider till the next
term.  " Afterwards, &c. the court having advised themselves of, and upon the premises, it is considered
by the court, that the said R. F. be hanged by the neck, till she be dead," which was performed
the 9th day of October, aforesaid.  There were two other cases, one in 1686, and the other in 1712,
in which the verdicts were, " not guilty;" but this statute is not considered necessary to be incorporated
in the present state of society, and under our constitution even as to the last part; no persons
being now found so absurd as to pretend to exercise such witchcraft, &c.

    See the note on 9 Henry 3, Ch. 36.
 

CHAP. 3.  An act for the better supply of mariners and seamen, to serve in his majesty's
    ships of war, and on board merchant ships, and other trading ships and
    privateers.

    This statute related in part, to seamen, natives of the plantations, and it contained provisions
concerning the naturalization of foreign seamen.