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Forasmuch as in a well governed and
Christian Common Wealth matters concerning
Religion and the honor of God ought in the first
place to bee taken, into serious consideration and
endeavoured to be settled....
...[W]hereas the inforceing of the conscience in matters of Religion hath frequently
fallen out to be of dangerous Consequence in
those commonwealthes where it hath been practised, And for the more quiett and peaceable governement of this Province, and the better to
preserve mutuall Love and amity amongst the
Inhabitants thereof. Be it Therefore... enacted
...that noe person or persons whatsoever within
this Province, or the Islands, Ports, Harbors,
Creekes, or havens thereunto belonging professing to believe in Jesus Christ, shall from henceforth bee any waies troubled, Molested, or
discountenanced for or in respect of his or her
religion nor in the free exercise thereof within
this Province or the Islands thereunto belonging
nor any way compelled to the beleife or exercise
of any other religion against his or her consent,
soe as they be not unfaithful to the
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Lord Proprietary, or molest or conspire against the civill
Government established or to bee established in
this Province under him or his heires. And that all
& every person and persons that shall presume
Contrary to this Act and the true intent and
meaning thereof directly or indirectly either in
person or estate willfully to wronge, disturb,
trouble, or molest any person whatsoever within
this Province professing to believe in Jesus Christ
for or in respect of his or her religion or the free
exercise thereof within this Province other than is
provided for in this Act that such person or persons soe offending shalbe compelled to pay
trebble damages to the party soe wronged or
molested, and for every such offence shall also
forfeit 20s sterling in money or the value thereof.
... Or if the parties soe offending as aforesaid
shall refuse or bee unable to recompense the party
soe wronged, or to satisfy such ffyne or forfeiture, then such offender shalbe severely punished
by publick whipping and imprisonment during
the pleasure of the Lord proprietary, or his Leiuetenant or cheife Governor of this Province. . . .
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