this Province or within any the Ports Harbours
Creeks or Havens to the same belonging an Heretick,
Schismatick, Idolator, Puritan, Independent Presbyterian
Antenomian, Barrowist, Roundhead, Seperatist, Popish
Priest, Jesuit, Jesuited Papist, Lutheran, Calvenist, Anabap
tist, Brownist or any other name or term in a reproach-
ful manner relating to matters of Religion shall for every
such Offence forfeit and Lose the sum of ten shillings
Sterling or the Value thereof to be levied on the Goods
and Chattels of every such Offender and Offenders the
One half thereof to be forfeited and paid unto the Person
and Persons of whom such reproachful words are and
shall be spoken or uttered and the other half thereof
to the Lord Proprietary and his heirs Lords and Pro
prietarys of this Province but if such Person or Persons
who shall at any time utter or speak any such re-
proachful words or language shall not have Goods &
Chattels sufficient and overt within this Province
to be taken to satisfy the Penalty aforesaid or that the
same be not otherwise speedily satisfied that then the
Person or Persons so Offending shall be publickly whipt
and shall suffer imprisonment without bail or main
prize until he she or they respectively shall satisfy the
Party so Offended or Grieved by such reproachful Lan-
guage by asking him or her respectively forgiveness pub-
lickly for such his Offences before the Magistrate or chief
Officer or Officers of the Town or Place where the Offence
shall be Given and be it further likewise enacted by
the Authority and Consent aforesaid that every Per-
son and Persons within this Province that shall at

Source: An Act Concerning Religion, 1649, April 21.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY, UPPER HOUSE (Proceedings) MSA S 977-1, f. 356.