The "Great Law" - December 7, 1682

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The Great Law on parchment

History

Record Group 26: Records of the Department of State, Basic Documents. Iron gall ink on parchment, seven pages, 24" X 11 1/2."

What is known as the "Great Law" is a series of statutes enacted by Pennsylvania's first legislature that met in Upland, now Chester, on December 4-7, 1682. William Penn supervised their preparation before he arrived in America on October 30, 1682. Because he wanted to submit them to the property-holders' representatives as promptly as possible, he issued writs calling for the election of men from three Pennsylvania and three Delaware Counties to serve as their representatives in a General Assembly. The colony's legislature had not yet organized into a bicameral body nor were the proposed laws circulated as Penn's First Frame of Government required. Penn anticipated that eventually the legislature's upper house, to be known as the Council, would prepare bills for the lower house, the Assembly, to approve or disapprove. Penn was reluctant to grant to the Assembly the authority to initiate legislation, lest the representatives pass laws that were contrary to his charter and would threaten his colony's existence. Nevertheless, he later granted this power. There is no complete record of the composition of this first legislative body. Whoever they were, they displayed their independence by failing to pass twelve of the laws that Penn submitted.

The preamble and laws reflect Penn's belief that religion and politics were intertwined. With all due respect to the King, he believed that his colony was a gift from God and that government is a "venerable ordinance of God." Penn's God was a Christian deity. He intended to provide "such Laws as shall best preserve true Christian and Civil Liberty." Office-holders were to profess their belief in Jesus Christ as "the Son of God and Savior of the World." Within a Christian context, Penn was a distinctive colonizer as he insisted on freedom of worship, typical of the Society of Friends (Quakers) who believed that they should extend to others the rights that they requested for themselves. The first "Chapter" in the "Great Law" emphasizes clearly that no one shall be "Compelled to frequent or Maintaine any Religious Worshipp place or Ministry whatever." Pennsylvania was the only large political unit in the western world to offer this degree of religious liberty.

Many other laws also reflect the Friends' religious beliefs. Pennsylvanians were forbidden to do their "Common Toyle" on the "first day of the Week called the Lord's day." They were not to "take the Lord's name in vain" or bear "false witness." Also prohibited was wasting time in worldly amusements, such as "Playing at Cards...," attending "Bullbaits," and participating in "Riotous Sports." The "days of the Week and Months of the Year" were to be known by their numbers "as in Scripture," such as the first day of the week and the second month of the year, "and not by Heathen Names...." The Friends concern for the "Natives" they expressed in the prohibition on the sale of alcoholic beverages to them because they feared that the "Indians are not able to Govern themselves in their use of it... ." Punishments were to be humane. When incarceration was required it was to be in "houses of Correction", or "Workhouses" that were required in every county, where Friends believed offenders might be redeemed. Capitol punishment (Chapter 7) was to be used only in cases of premeditated murder.

The "Great Law" provided a stable foundation for Pennsylvania's representative government. Provisions that were not obviously religious included such matters as specification for weights and measures, regulation of a "Publique house," maintenance of records, establishment of courts, conduct of trials, eligibility of voters, prevention of fraud in elections, and control of taxation "by a Law for that purpose made by the Government and Freemen... ." The establishment so promptly of a regime in which the people could participate in passing laws was unusual. Settlers in most other colonies in America had to contend for what Penn offered immediately. His emphasis on the involvement of the people, however limited, also was inconsistent with the trend in England. For example, his benefactor, King Charles II, dismissed Parliament on March 2, 1681, and did not call it into session again for the remainder of his reign. In contrast, Penn gradually expanded the authority of the Pennsylvania Assembly. By the late Colonial Period, it was one of the most powerful legislatures in British America.

 

Transcript

The Great Law Or the Body of Laws of the Province of Pennsilvania and territorys thereunto Belonging past at an Assemble at Chester alias Upland the 7th day of the 10th Month December 1682 [Taken from: Gail McKnight Beckman, The Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania in the Time of William Penn, Volume I, 1680-1700. New York: Vantage Press, 1976. This is the longer version from the so-called "fair copy" . This version is engrossed on seven parchment sheets].

Whereas the Glory of Almighty God and the Good of Mankind is the Reason and End of Government and therefore Government in it selfe is a Venerable ordinance of God and for as much as it is principally desired and intended by the Proprietary and Governor and the Freemen of the Province of Pennsilvania and Territorys thereunto Belonging to Make and Establish Such Laws as shall best preserve true Christian and Civill Liberty in Opposition to all UnChristian Licentious and Unjust Practices whereby God may have his Due Caesar his Due and the People their Due from Tyranny and Oppression on the One Side of Insolency & Licentiousness on the Other So that the best and firmist Foundation may be Laid for the Present and future happiness for both the Governor and People of this Province and Territory aforesaid and their Posterity Be it therefore Enacted by William Penn Proprietary and Governor with the advice and Consent of the Deputies of the Freemen of this Province and Countys aforesaid in Assembly mett and by the Authority of the same that these following Chapters and Paragraphs shall be the Laws of Pennsilvania an the Territorys thereof.

Chapter I Almighty God being only Lord of Conscience Father of Lights & Spirits an the Author as well as Object of all divine Knowledge Faith and Worship who only can Enlighten the Mind and perswade and Convince the Understanding of People in Due Reverance to his Soveraingty over the Souls of Mankind it is Enacted by the Authority Aforesaid that no Person now or at Any time hereafter Liveing in this Province who Shall Confess and acknowledge one Almighty God to be the Creatour Upholder and Ruler of the World and that professeth him or herselfe Obliged in Conscience to Live Peaceably and Justly under the Civill Government shall in any case be Molested or Prejudiced for his or her Conscientious Perswasion or Practice nor shall he or she at any time be Compelled to frequent or Maintaine any Religious Worshipp place or Ministry whatever Contrary to his or her mind but shall freely and fully Enjoy his or her Christian Liberty without any Interuption or reflection and if any Person shall abuse or deride any Other for his or her Diferant Perswasion and Practice in Matters of Religion Such shall be Lookt upon as a disturber of the Peace and be punished accordingly But to the End that Looseness Irreligion & Ath[e]ism may not creep in under pretence of Conscience in this Province Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that according to the Example of the Primitive Christians and for the Ease of the Creation Every first day of the Week called the Lords day People Shall Abstaine from their Usuall and Common Toyle & Labour that Wheather Masters Parents Children or Servants they may the Better dispose themselves to read the Scriptures of truth at home or frequent such Meetings of Religious Worship abroad as may best Sute their Respective Perswasions.

Chapter 2 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all Officers & Persons Commissionated and Imployed in the Service of the Government of this Province and all Members and Deputys Elected to Serve in Assembly thereof and all that have Right to Elect such deputies shall be Such as profess and Declare they Believe in Jesus Christ to be the Son of God the Savior of the World and that are not Convicted of ill fame or Unsober and Dishonest Conversation and that are of One and Twenty Years of age at Least.

Chapter 3 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that whosoever shall Swear in their Conversation by the Name of God or Christ or Jesus being Legally Convicted thereof shall pay for Every Such offence five Shillings or Suffer five days Imprisonment in the house of Correction at hard Labour to the behoof of the Publike and be fed with bread and Water only during that time.

Chapter 4 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that whosoever shall swear by any other thing or Name and is Legally Convicted thereof shall for Every Such offence pay halfe a Crowne or Suffer three days Imprisonment in the house of Correction at hard Labour haveing only bread and Water for their Sustinance.

Chapter 5 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid for the better prevention of Corrupt Communication that whosoever shall Speake Loosly and prophanely of Almighty God Christ Jesus the Holy Sperit or the Scriptures of truth and is Legally Convicted thereof shall for Every Such offence pay five Shillings or Suffer five Days Imprisonment in the house of Correction at hard Labour to the behoof of the Publick and be fed with bread and Water only during that time.

Chapter 6 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that whosoever Shall in their Conversation at any time curse himselfe or an Other or any thing belonging to himselfe or any other and is Legally Convicted thereof Shall pay for Every Such offence five Shillings or Suffer five days Imprisonment as aforesaid.

Chapter 7 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that if any Person shall with Malice or premeditation Kill or be accessary to the death of an Other Person Man Woman or Child being Legally Convicted thereof Shall according to the Law of God and all Nations Suffer death and that the Estates of such Capitall offenders shall go one halfe to the Next of Kin to the Sufferer and the remainder to the next of Kin of the Criminall.

Chapter 8 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all Persons Guilty of Mans Slaughter or Chance-medley Shall be punished according to the Nature and Circumstance of the offence.

Chapter 9 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that whosoever defileth the Marriage bed by Lying with an other Woman or Man then [than] their own wife or husband being Legally Convicted thereof Shall for the first offence be publikely Whipt and Suffer one Whole years Imprisonment in the house of Correction at hard Labour to the behoofe of the Publick and Longer if the Cheif Magistrate See meet and both he and the Woman shall be Liable to a bill of Divorsement if required by the greived husband or Wife within the Said terme of One whole Year after Conviction and for the Second offence imprisonment in Manner aforesaid during Life and if the Party with whom the husband or Wife shall defile their bedds be unmarried for the first offence they shall Suffer half a years Imprisonment in the Manner aforesaid and for the Second offence Imprisonment for Life.

Chapter 10 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that if any Person shall be Legally Convicted of Incest which is uncleaness betwixt near Relations in blood Such Shall forfeit one halfe of his Estate and boath Suffer Imprisonment a Whole year in the house of Correction at hard Labour and for the Second offence Imprisonment in Manner aforesaid for Life.

Chapter 11 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that if any Person shall be Legally Convicted of the Unnaturall Sin of Sodomy or Joyning with beasts such persons shall be whipt and forfeit one third part of his or her Estate and worke Six months in the house o Correction at hard Labour and for the Second offence Imprisonment as aforesaid during Life.

Chapter 12 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that whosoever shall be Legally Convicted of a Rape or Ravishment that is forsing A Maid Widdow or Wife shall forfeit one third of his Estate to the Parent of the Said Maid and for want of a Parent to the Said Maid and if a Widdow to the Said Widdow and if a Wife to the husband and the Said party be Whipt and Suffer a Years Imprisonment in the house of Correction at hard Labour and for the Second offence Imprisonment in manner aforesaid during Life.

Chapter 13 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That whosoever shall be Convicted of Uncleanness or the Commission of fornication that is if any Single Man shall defile a Single Woman they Shall Suffer three Months Imprisonment in the house of Correction at hard Labour and after the Expiration of the Said terme Shall take one an Other in Marriage & Live as Man and Wife together but if the Man be Married he shall forfeit one third of his Estate and both be Imprisoned as aforesaid and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that Whoso Ever Shall be Convicted of Speaking an Unclean Word shall for Every Such offence pay one Shilling or Sit in the Stocks two houres.

Chapter 14 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that whosoever shall be Convicted of haveing two Wives or two husbands shall be Imprisoned all their Lifetime in the house of Correction at hard Labour to the behoofe of his former Wife and Children or her former Husband & Children and if a man or Woman being unmarried do knowingly marry the Husband or Wife of an other person he or she shall be punished after the same manner aforesaid.

Chapter 15 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that Every Person disordering and abusing himselfe with drinke unto drunkenness being Legally Convicted thereof shall for the first time pay five Shillings or Worke five dayes in the house of Correction at hard Labour and be fed only with bread and water and for the Second offence and Ever after tenn Shillings or ten days Labour as aforesaid.

Chapter 16 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that they who do Suffer such Excess of Drinking at their houses shall be lyable to the Same Punishment with the Drunkard.

Chapter 17 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that if any Person shall drinke healths which may provoke people to unnecessary and Excessive drinking being Legally convicted thereof shall for Every Such offence forfeit five shillings and whosoever shall pledge the same Shall be Lyable to the Same punishment.

Chapter 18 And whereas divers Persons as English Dutch Sweeds &ct have been wont to Sell to the Indians Rum and Brandy and Such Like Distilled Spirrits though they know the Said Indians are not able to Govern themselves in the use their of but do commonly drinke of it to Such Excess as makes them Sometimes to Destroy one another and Grievously anoy and disquiet the People of this Province and Peradventure those of Neighbouring Governments whereby they make the poore Natives worse and not better for their coming among them which is an heinous offence to God and a Reproach to the Blessed name of Christ and his Holy Religion It is therefore Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that no Person within this Province do from henseforth presume to Sell or Exchange any Rum or Brandy or any Other Strong Liquors at any time to any Indian within this Province and if any one shall offend therein the Person Convicted thereof Shall for Every Such offence pay five pounds.

Chapter 19 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that whosoEver be convicted of Wilfully firing of any Mans house warehouse Outhouse Barnes Stacks or Ricks of corne Vessells or boats in any part of this Province or Territory thereunto Annexed Every such offender shall be Lyable to make Satisfaction double the Vallue and suffer Imprisonment for one year in the house of Correction and bear Such Corporall punishment as shall be Inflicted by the Court of Justice of that County where the party offending hath Committed the fact.

Chapter 20 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that if any Person shall breake into the dwelling house of any Other to the affrighting of any dwelling therin and Shall Intend or offer to take any thing out of the said house such person Convicted thereof shall make fourfold Satisfaction and Suffer three Months Imprisonment at hard Labour in the house of Correction and if the party offending be not able to make restitution he or She shall be Imprisoned Seaven Years.

Chapter 21 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that the Land and goods of Theives and fellons shall be Liable to make Satisfaction to the party Wronged four fold the Vallue and for want of Lands or goods the Theifs or Fellons shall be bondsman to Worke in the Comon prison or Workehouse or Otherwise till the party Injured be Sattisfied.

Chapter 22 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that if any person Shall Violently or forceably Enter the house or possessions of any Other being duly convicted thereof shall be punisht as a Breaker of the peace and make Such Sattisfaction to the party agreived as the Circumstances of the fault will bear.

Chapter 23 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that if any persons to the Number of three shall meet together with Clubbs Staves or any other hurtful Weapon to the terror of any of the Peaceable People of this Province and Comitt or Designe to Comitt any Violence or Injury upon the person or goods of any of the Said Inhabitants and be Convicted thereof they shall be Reputed and Punisht as Rioters and that act of Terror and Violence or Design of Violence accounted a Riot.

Chapter 24 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that whosoEver shall assault or Menace a parent and shall be duly proved Guilty thereof shall be Committed to the house of Correction and their [there] remaine at hard Labour during the pleasure of the Said Parent.

Chapter 25 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid if any Person shall assault or Menace a Magistrate and be Duly convicted thereof he shall be fined according to the Nature of the fact and be Comitted to the house of Correction at hard Labour for One Month after Conviction.

Chapter 26 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that if any Servant assault or Menace his or her Master or Mistress and be Convicted thereof shall be punisht at the Discretion of Two Justices of the Peace so it be Suteable to the Nature of the offence.

Chapter 27 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that any Person convicted of an assault or Battery comitted by him on an Other Person he shall be reputed a Breaker of the Peace and Shall be punisht according to the Nature and Circumstances of the fact.

Chapter 28 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that whosoEver shall challenge an other Person to fight he that Challengeth and he that accepteth the Challenge shall for Every Such offence pay five pounds or Suffer three Months Imprisonment in the house of Correction at hard Labour.

Chapter 29 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that whosoEver shall introduce into this Province or frequent Such rude and Riotus Sports & practices as Prized or Stage Plays Masks Revells Bulbaits Cock fightings with such Like being convicted thereof shall be reputed and fined as Breakers of the Peace and Suffer at Least tenn days Imprisonment in the house of Correction at hard Labour or forfeit twenty Shillings.

Chapter 30 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that if any Person be Convicted of Playing at Cards Dice Lotterys or Such Like Enticing Vaine and Evill Sports and Games Such persons shall for Every Such offence pay five shillings or suffer five Days imprisonment at hard Labour in the House of Correction.

Chapter 31 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that if any person shall speake write or Act any thing tending to Sedition or Disturbance of the peace and be duly Convicted thereof the party so offending shall for Every Such offence be fined according to the Nature and Circumstance of the fact provided it be not Less than twenty Shillings.

Chapter 32 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that if any Person Speake Slightingly or carry themselves abusively against any Magistrate or Person in office being duly Convicted thereof shall for Every Such offence Suffer according to the Quality of the Magistrat an Nature of the offence always provided it be not Less then [than] twenty Shillings or tenn days imprisonment at hard Labour in the house of Correction.

Chapter 33 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all Scandalous and Malicious reporters Defamers and Spreaders of false News whether against Magistrates or Private Persons being convicted thereof Shall be accordingly Severely punisht as Enemys to the Peace & Concord of the Province.

Chapter 34 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that if any Person shall be Clamourus Scolding and Rayling with their tounges upon Complaint and full proof thereof before a Justice of the Peace the said Justice shall for Such offence committ Such Persons to the house of Correction there to remaine three days at hard Labour.

Chapter 35 And to prevent Clandestine Loose and Unseemly proceedings aboute Marriage be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all Marriages not forbidden by the Law of God shall be Encouraged but the Parents and Guardians shall be first Consulted and the parties Clearness of all other Engagements assured by a Certificate from Credible persons and the Marriage shall be publisht before it be Solemnized and it shall be Solemnized by takeing and Owning one another as Husband & Wife before Sufficient Witnesses and a Certificate of the Whole under the hands of Parties and Witnesses shall be brought to the proper Register of the County where they are Married and Shall be Registered in his office.

Chapter 36 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that no Person be it Either Widdower or Widdow shall Contract Marriage much Less Marrie under one Yeare after the Decease of his Wife or her Husband.

Chapter 37 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that if any Person or Persons shall fall into decay and Poverty and not be able to Maintaine themselves and Children with their honest Endeavers or shall dye and Leave Poore Orphants that upon Compaint to the Next Justices of the Peace of the Same County the Said Justices finding the Complaint to be true Shall make provision for them in Such Way as they Shall See Convenient till the Next County Court and that there care be taken for their future Comfortable Subsistance.

Chapter 38 And to prevent Exaction in Publick houses be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all Strong beere and ale make of Barley Malt shall be Sould for not above two pennys Sterling a full Winchester Quart and all Beere made of Mollassus Shall not Exceed one penny by the Quart.

Chapter 39 And to prevent fraude in Measures and to reduce all forreigne Measures here to the English Standard be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that the Measures of this Province shall be according to the Standard of Weights and Measures in England that is to say a Bushell Shall Containe Eight Gallons according to the Winchester Measure and all Weights to be averdupois which hath Sixteen Ounces to the pound within three Months after the first Session of this Assembly.

Chapter 40 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that no person presume to Keep an Ordinary or Publique house without a Licence first Obtayned of the Governor and to the End that all travelers and Such as are not house Keepers may be resonable accomodated in Places where Ordinarys now are or shall be hereafter Erected no Such Keeper of Such Ordinary shall demand above Six pennyes a Meale by the head which Meale shall Consist of Beef or Porke or Such Like produce of the Country and small beere and a footman he shall not Demand above Two pennyes a night for his bed and of a horseman Nothing he paying Six pennyes a Night for his horse his hay.

Chapter 41 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that the days of the Week and Months of the Year Shall be Called as in Scripture and not by Heathen Names (as are Vulgarly Used) as the first second & third days of the Week and first second and third months of the Year and beginning with the day Called Sunday and the Month Called March.

Chapter 42 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid to the End that Justice may be faithfully and Openly done according to Law that all Courts of Justice shall be Open and Justice shall bot be Sould denyed or delayed and in Every County there shall be one Court Erected to which the Inhabitants thereof may Every Month repaire for Justice and in Case any person shall hold himselfe agrieved by the Sentence of the Said County Court that Such Persons may appeale to the Provinciall Court which Shall Sitt Quarterly and Consist of not Less than five Judges the appellant giveing Security for the Charges of the Sute and no further appeale to be admitted till the appellant deposit in Court the Summe he is Condemned to pay and Give Security in Case he be Cast by the Last Jurisdiction which shall be the Provinciall Councell to pay treble Damages.

Chapter 43 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that in all Courts all Persons of all Perswasions may freely appear in their own way and according to their own Manner and their[there] personally plead their own Cause themselves or if Unable by their friends and the first prosses [process] shall be the Exhibition of the Complaint in Court fourteen days before the Tryall and that the Defendant be prepared for his Defence he or she Shall be Summoned no less then [than] tenn days before and a Coppy of the Complaint delivered him or her at his or her Dwelling house to answer unto but before the Complaint of any person shall be received he or she Shall Solemnly declare in Open Court that he or she beleiveth in his or her Conscience his or her Cause is Just and if the Party complained against Shall notwith Standing refuse to appear the Plaintiff Shall have Judgement against the Defendant by Default.

Chapter 44 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that there Shall be two Credible Wittnesses in all Cases in order to Judgement and all Witt-nesses Comeing or Called to testifie their knowledge in or to any matter or thing in any Court or before any Lawfull Authority within the Said Province shall their [there] give and Deliver in their Evidence or Testimony by Solemnly promising to speake the truth the whole Truth and Nothing but the truth to the Matter or thing in Question and in Case any person so Called to Evidence shall afterwards be Convicted of Wilfull falsehood such person shall Suffer and Undergoe such damage or Penalty as the person or Persons against whome he or she bore false Wittness did or Should undergoe and Shall also make Sattisfaction to the Party Wronged and be publikely Exposed for a false Witness never to be Credited againe in any Court or before any Magistrate in the Said province and whosoever shall be Convicted of Lying in Conversation shall for Every Such offence pay halfe a Crowne or Suffer three days Imprisonment in the house of Correction at hard Labour.

Chapter 45 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all pleadings Processes and records in Court shall be Short and in English and in an Ordinary and plaine Character that they may be Esily read & understood and Justice Speedily administered.

Chapter 46 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all Tryalls in Civill Cases shall be by twelve men and as near as may be peers or Equalls and of the Neighbourhood and men without Just Exception and in Criminall Matters of Life their [there] shall be first twenty four returned by the Sheriff for a Grand Inquest of whome twelve at Least Shall find the Complaint to be true and then forty Eight shall be Likewise returned by the Sheriff of whom Twelve shall have the finall Judgement but resonable Challenges shall be always admitted against any or all of them.

Chapter 47 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all fines shall be moderate Saveing mens Contenements Marchandize or Wainage which is to say the furniture of their Calling and Meanes of Livelyhood.

Chapter 48 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all Fees and Salaries in all Cases shall be moderate and Limited by the Governor and Assembly and be hung up in a table in Every respective Court and whosoEver shall be Convicted of taking more shall pay two fold & be Dismist his Imployment one Moyety of which shall go to the party wronged and that all Persons Convicted of Bribery and Extortion shall forfeit Double the sume.

Chapter 49 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid for avoyding of Numerous Suits if two men dealing together be indebted to Each other upon bills Bonds Bargains or the like provided they be of Equall truth and Clearness the defendant shall in his Answer acknowledge the debt which the Plantiffe demandeth and defalke what the Plaintiffe Oweth to him upon the like Clearness.

Chapter 50 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that if in Case any Man arrest one another goeing out of the Province he Shall be ready with his Declaration and Evidence the Next day and shall put in Security to pay the Charges and Damages Sustained by the party arrested if he shall be found in the wrong.

Chapter 51 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all Promises Bargains and Agreements about buying and Selling being made appear by Sufficient Evidence, shall stand good and firme and Such as shall Violate the Same he or She Shall for Every Such offence pay twice the Value to the Person Wronged.

Chapter 52 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that to prevent frauds and Vexatious Suits within the said Province all Charters guifts grants and Conveyances of Land (Except Leases for one Year or Under) and all bills Bonds and Speciallitys above five pounds and not under three Months made in the Said Province Shall be Enrolld or Registered in the publike Enrolement office of the said Province within the Space of two months after the makeing thereof Else to be voyde in Law and all deeds grants and Conveyances of Land (Except as aforesaid) within the Said province and made out of the Said province shall be Enroled or Registered as aforesaid within Six Months next after the Makeing thereof and Settleing and Constituting an Inrolement office or Registry within the Said Province Else to be Voyd in Law against all persons whatsoEver and in Case the Deeds of Purchase in England made of Lands in this Province should be Lost by the Way and so cannot be Registered Copies of the Deeds attested by a Publike Notary shall be of Equall force therein.

Chapter 53 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all Wills in Writing attested by two Sufficient Witnesses shall be of the Same force as to Land as to Other Convayances being Legally proved within forty days Either within or Without the said Province.

Chapter 54 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that the Will of no Person shall be of force that is not in his or her Right Mind and Usuall understanding at the Makeing thereof.

Chapter 55 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that the Estates of Intestates shall go to the Wife and to the Children and if no Wife be living at the time of his Death all the Estate Shall go to the Children and if no Children one third to the Governor and two thirds to the Next of Kinn.

Chapter 56 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that there shall be a Registry for Births Marriages Burialls Wills the Names of Executors and Guardians and Trustees and Letters of Administration distinckt from the Other Register.

Chapter 57 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that there shall be a Registry for all Servants where theire Names time Wages and days of freedom or Payment Shall be Registered.

Chapter 58 And be it further Enacted by the Authority Aforesaid that Servants Shall not be kept Longer than their time and Such as are Carefull shall Be boath Justly and Kindly Used in their Service and put in fitting Equipage at the Expiration thereof according to Custom and Such as Run-away and Serve not their time when Caught shall serve twice the time he or she was absent and pay the Charges or Serve out the Vallue after their time is Expired and if any Master abuse his Servant on Complaint to the next Justices of the Peace he shall take Care to redress the Said Grieveance.

Chapter 59 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all factors or Correspondents in the Said Province Wronging their Imployers shall make Sattisfaction and one third over to the Said Imployers and in Case of Death of any Such Factor or Corrispondent the Committee of Trade Shall take care to Secure so much of the Deceased partyes Estate as belongs to the Said Respective Imployers.

Chapter 60 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all defacers or Corrupters of Charters Guifts Grants Bonds Bills Wills Contracts and Conveyances or that shall deface or falsifie any Enrolement Registrey or Record within this Province shall make Double Sattisfaction for the Same halfe whereof shall go to the Party Wronged and they shall be dismissed of all places of Trust and be Publikely Disgraced as false Persons.

Chapter 61 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all Lands and Goods shall be Lyable to pay debts Except where there be Legal Issue and then all goods and one halfe of the Land only in Case the Land was bought before the Debts were Contracted.

Chapter 62 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all Prisoners Shall be Bailable by Sufficient Sureties unless for Capitall offences where the proof is Evident or the Presumption great and Every Quarter of a Year there shall be a Goal [gaol] delivery in Every County where Imprisonment is not the Punishment.

Chapter 63 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that Goalers shall not oppres their Prisoners and that all Prisons shall be free as to rome [room] and all Prisoners shall have Liberty to provide themselves Bedding food and other Ne[ce]ssarys during their Imprisonment Except Such whose Punishment by Law will not admitt of that Liberty.

Chapter 64 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all Prisons Shall be Workhouses for fellons Thieves Vagrans and Loose abusive and Idle persons whereof one shall be in Every County.

Chapter 65 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that any Person Wrongfully Imprisoned shall have Damages against the Informer or Prosecutor.

Chapter 66 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that as in divers Laws the penalty of the offences is thus Expresst Either a Certaine Summ of money or Certain time of Imprisonment at hard Labour in the house of Correction which shall be Left to the Choyce of the Civil Magistrate which of the two punishments he will Inflict upon the Person offending and whoso Ever shall know of any of the aforementioned offenses and informe the Civil Magistrate thereof shall have one third of the fine and if any one shall Conceal Such person he or She Shall pay halfe the fine due from the Guilty Persons.

Chapter 67 And to the End that it may be knowne who those are that in this Province and territorys thereunto belonging have Right of freemen to Chuse or to be Chosen and with the Proprietary and Governor make and Enact Laws that Every Inhabitant of the said Province and Territorys thereunto Annexed that is or Shall be a purchase of one hundred Acres of Land and hath seated the Same his Heirs and Assignes and Every person who Shall have paid his passage and taken up his fifty Acres of Land and Seated the Same and every inhabitant Artificer or Other Resident in the Said Province that payeth Scott and Lott to the Government Shall be Deemed and accounted A freeman of this Province and territorie thereof and Such only Shall have Rights of Election or being Elected to any Service in the Government thereof provided also and be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all Persons holding any office in this Province or the Territory thereunto belonging or that hath or shall have Right to Chuse or to be Chosen Members in Assembly Shall be Such as shall first Subscribe this following declaration I A B doe hereby freely acknowledge and Solemnly declare and Promise fidelity and Lawfull obedience to William Penn Son & Heir of Sir William Penn deseased and his Heirs and Assigns as Rightfull Proprietary and Governor of the Same according to the Kings Letters Patents and Deeds of Grant and Feofment from James Duke of Yorke and Albany &ct and that I will never Act nor doe by Word or Deed Directly nor Indirectly any thing nor Consent to nor Conceal any Person or thing whatsoever to the breach of this Solemn Engagement in Wittness of Which I have hereunto Set my hand this day of in the year A B

Chapter 68 And that Elections may not be Corruptly managed upon which the present and future good of the province so much depends be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all Elections of Members as Representatives of the People and freemen of the Province of Pennsilvania and Territorys Annexed to Serve in the Assembly there of shall be free and Volluntary and that the Elector that shall Receive any reward or Guift in meate drinke monys or Otherways shall forfeit his Right to Elect and Such Person as Shall give promise or Bestow any Such Reward as aforesaid to be elected shall forfeit his Election and be thereby Incapable to Serve as aforesaid and the Assembly Shall be Sole Judges of the Regularity or Irregularity of the Elections of the Members thereof.

Chapter 69 And that the People may be fully Secured in the Injoyment of there [their] Property be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that no Mony or goods shall be raised upon or paid by any of the People of this Province and Territorys annexed by way of a Publike Tax Custom or Contribution but by a Law for that purpose made by the Government and Freemen of the Shaid Province & Territorys thereof and whosoEver Shall Levie Collect Receive or pay any mony or Go[o]ds Contrary thereunto Shall be held and Punished as a Publick Enemy to the Province and a Betrayer of the Liberty of the people and that no tax at any time shall Continue Longer then [than] for the Space of one Whole Year.

Chapter 70 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that the Laws of this Province from time to time shall be publisht & Printed that Every Person may have the Knowlege thereof and they shall be one of the books taught in the Schooles of this Province and Territorys thereof.

Chapter 71 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all Other matters and things not herein provided for which Shall or may Concerne the publike Justice peace and Safety of the Said Province and the Raising and Imposing Taxes Customs duties or other Charges WhatsoEver Shall be and are hereby Referred to the Order Prudence and Determination of the Governor and Freemen of the Said Province from time to time.