shall from henceforth use or utter any Reproachful words
or speeches concerning the blessed Virgin Mary the Mother
of Our Saviour the holy Apostles and Evangelist or any
of them shall in such Case for the first Offence forfeit to
the said Lord Proprietary and his heirs Lords and Proprie-
tarys of this Province the sum of five Pounds Sterling or
the Value thereof to be levied upon the Goods and Chattels
of every such Person so Offending but in case such Offen-
der or Offenders shall not then have Goods and Chattels
sufficient for the satisfying of such forfeiture or that
the sume be not [otherwise] speedily satisfied that then such Offen-
der or Offenders shall be publickly whipt and be impri-
soned during the Pleasure of the Lord Proprietary or the
Lieutenant or chief Governor of the Province for the time
being & that every such Offender or Offenders for every
Second Offence shall forfeit ten Pounds Sterling or the
Value thereof to be levied as aforesaid or in Case such Offen-
der or Offenders shall not then have Goods and Chattels
Sufficient for the satisfying of such forfeiture then to
be publickly and severely whipt and imprisoned as be-
fore is Expressed and that every Person or Persons before
mentioned offending herein the third time shall for such
third Offence forfeit all his lands and Goods and befor-
ever Banished and expelled out of this Province and
be it also further enacted by the name authority advise
and Consent that whatsoever Person or Persons shall
from henceforth upon any occasion of offence other-
wise in a reproachful manner or way declare call or
denominate any Person or persons whatsoever inhabi-
ting Residing trafficking trading or Comercing within

Source: An Act Concerning Religion, 1649, April 21.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY, UPPER HOUSE (Proceedings) MSA S 977-1, f. 355.
[Words in brackets supplied from the original recording of the law]