AN ACT against, and for the punishment of Adultery.

Be it enacted, and it is hereby enacted, by the representatives of the freemen of the State of Vermont, in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same, that whosoever shall commit adultery with a married woman, or one betrothed to another man, both of them shall be severely punished by whipping on the naked body, not exceeding thirtynine stripes, and stigmatized, or burnt on the forehead with the letter A, on a hot iron; and each of them shall wear the capital letter A, on the back of their outside garment, of a different colour, in fair view, during their abode in this State. And as often as such convicted person shall be seen without such letter, and be thereof convicted before an assistant or justice of the peace in this State, shall be whipt on the naked body, not exceeding ten stripes.

AN ACT against Polygamy.

Whereas, the violation of the marriage covenant is contrary to the command of God, and destructive to families :

Be it enacted, and it is hereby enacted, by the representatives of the freemen of the State of Vermont, in Genenal Assembly met, and by the authority of the same, that if any person or persons in this State, being married, or who shall hereafter marry, do, at any time, presume to marry any other person, the former or other husband or wife being alive, and not by law divorced; or shall continue to live together, so married; that then, every such offender shall suffer and be punished as in case of adultery; and such marriage shall be, and is hereby declared to be, null and void-which offenders shall be tried in the county where they shall be apprehended.

AN ACT for the punishment of lascivious carriage and behaviour.

For the preventing of lascivious carriage and behaviour-against, and for the punishment of which (in regard of the variety of circumstances) particular and express laws cannot be easily suited and made. Therefore,

Be it enacted, and it is hereby enacted, by the representatives of the freemen of the State of Vermont, in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same, that the several and respective county courts within this State, shall be, and are hereby impowered and directed, to proceed against, and punish, such persons as shall be guilty of lascivious carriage and behaviour, either by imposing a fine on them, or by committing them to the house of correction, or by inflicting corporal punishment on them, according tot he nature and aggravation of the offence

according to the discretion of such court; that such seasonable and exemplary punishment may be inflicted on such offenders in that kind, that others may hear and fear.

AN ACT for the punishment of Incest, and for preventing incestuous marriages.

Be it enacted, and it is hereby enacted, by the representatives of the freemen of the State of Vermont, in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same, that no man shall marry any woman within the degrees of kindred hereafter named in this act; that is to say,—no man shall marry his grandfather's wife, wife's grandmother, father's sister, mother's sister, wife's mother's sister, father's wife, wife's mother, daughter, son's daughter, wife's daughter, son's wife, sister's son's daughter, daughter's daughter, son's son's wife, daughter's son's wife, wife's son's daughter, wife's daughter's daughter, brother's daughter, sister's daughter, brother's son's wife, sister's son's wife.

And if any man shall hereafter marry, or have carnal copulation with, any woman who is, within the degrees before recited in this act, every such marriage shall be null and void; and all children that shall hereafter be born of such incestuous marriages or copulation, shall be forever disabled to inherit by descent, or by being generally named in any deed or will, by father or mother.

That every man and woman who shall marry, or carnally know each other, being within any of the degrees before mentioned in this act, and shall be convicted thereof, before any superior court in this State, shall be set upon the gallows, the space of one hour, with a rope about their neck, and the other end cast over the gallows; and in the way from thence to the common goal, shall be severely whipt, not exceeding thirtynine stripes each.

Also, every person so offending, shall, forever after, wear a capital letter, I, of two inches long, and proportionable bigness, cut out in cloth of a contrary colour to their cloaths, and sewed upon their garments, on the outside of their arm, or on their back, in open view.

And if any person or persons, convicted and sentenced, as aforesaid, for such offence, shall, at any time, be found without their letter so worn, during their abode in this State, they shall, by warrant from any one assistant or justice of the peace, be forthwith apprehended, and ordered to be publicly whipt, not exceeding fifteen stripes, and from time to time, or as often as they shall so offend.

AN ACT for the punishment of Rape.

Be it enacted, and it is hereby enacted, by the representatives of the freemen of the State of Vermont, in General Assembly met, and by the

authority of the same, that if any man shall forcibly, and without consent, ravish any woman, or maid, by committing carnal copulatiou with her, against her consent, he shall be put to death.

Provided, complaint and prosecution be made, forthwith, upon the rape; and that the woman, in time of her distress, did make an outcry on the occasion.

AN ACT regulating of Marriages.

Be it enacted, and it is hereby enacted, by the representatives of the freemen of the State of Vermont, in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same, that no man and woman shall be joined together in marriage, before the purpose or intention of such marriage has been published in the respective towns where the persons do ordinarily belong or reside, by the town clerk or clerks of such town or towns, at least eight days before such marriage is consummated; nor shall any such persons be joined together, before they arrive to lawful age; that is to say, a male person to the age of twenty-one years, and a female person to the age of eighteen years, without leave first obtained from the parents, (if living) or the master or masters, or guardians of such person.

Any person that shall presume to join any man or woman together in marriage, before he is certified that such purpose of marriage has been published as aforesaid, and if minors, without consent as aforesaid, shall forfeit and pay to the treasurer of the county where the offence is committed, the sum of fifty pounds, to be recovered by bill, plaint, or information.

And that no person whatsoever, in this State, other than the Governor, Deputy Governor, members of the Council, Judges of superior and inferior courts, Justices of the peace in their respective counties, settled Ministers of the Gospel in their respective towns, and during the time of his or their ministry in such town or towns, shall join any persons in marriage, on penalty of forfeiting the sum of twenty pounds, to be recovered and appropriated as aforesaid, and suffer imprisonment, not exceeding twelve months.

AN ACT to prevent the taking and using boats and canoes, without leave.

Whereas the taking and using of boats and canoes, without liberty, is too frequently practised, to the damage of the owners thereof,

Which to prevent,

Be it enacted, and it is hereby enacted, by the representatives of the freemen of the State of Vermont, in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same, that whosoever shall take and use any kind of

boats or canoes, other than such as shall be taken up going adrift, and loose from any shore, or found when driven away and left, without liberty from the owner or owners thereof, shall, for every such offence, forfeit and pay to the owner or owners thereof, double the damage he or they shall sustain by his or their boat or canoe's being taken and used as aforesaid; to be recovered by bill, plaint, or information.

AN ACT for enabling communities to maintain, recover, and defend, their common rights, estates, and interests.

Be it enacted, and it is hereby enacted, by the representatives of the freemen of the State of Vermont, in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same, that it shall and may be lawful for all and every town, village, precinct, trustees for schools, proprietors of commons or undivided lands, grants and other estates and interests, and all other lawful societies or communities whatsoever, to sue, commence, and prosecute, any suits or actions, for the maintaining, recovery, or defence of their grants, interest, and estates, in any court proper to try the same; and to appear, either by themselves, agents, or attornies: and, in like manner, to defend in all such suits and actions as shall be brought or commenced against them.

And when any such town, village, precinct, trustees, proprietors, or society, as aforesaid, shall be sued, it shall be sufficient notice for them to appear and answer, to leave a true copy of the writ or summons containing such suit or action, with their clerk, or other principal member, inhabitant, or proprietor, twelve days before the sitting of the court where the case is to be heard, as in other actions is provided.

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AN ACT against high Treason.

Be it enacted, and it is hereby enacted, by the representatives of the freemen of the State of Vermont, in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same, that if any person or persons belonging to, or residing within, this State, and under the protection of its laws, shall levy war against the State, or government thereof; or knowingly, and willingly, shall aid or assist any enemies, at open war against this State, or the United States of America, by joining their armies, or by inlisting, or procuring, or persuading others to inlist, for that purpose; or by furnishing such enemies with arms, or ammunition, provision, or any other articles for their aid or comfort; or by carrying on a treacherous correspondence with them; or shall form, or be any way concerned in forming any combination, plot, or conspiracy, for betraying this State, or the United States, into the hands, or power of any enemy; or shall give, or attempt to give or send, any intelligence to the enemies of this State, for

that purpose; every person, so offending, and being thereof convicted, shall suffer death, and his estate shall be confiscated.

And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that if any person or persons shall endeavor to join the enemies of this State, or of the United States; or use their influence to persuade or induce any person or persons to join, aid, comfort, or assist them, in any way or manner whatsoever; or shall have knowledge of any person or persons endeavoring, or using their influence aforesaid, and shall conceal the same, shall be punished by fine, according to the nature of his offence, and shall be imprisoned, at the judgment of the superior court, in any of the goals in this State, not exceeding ten years.

AN ACT for establishing County lines.

Be it enacted, and it is hereby enacted, by the representatives of the freemen of the State of Vermont, in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same, that the tract of land in the hereafter described limits, as well the lands that are, as those that are not appropriated, shall be and remain one entire county, and known by the name of the county of Bennington, viz;-beginning at the southwest corner of the town of Pownal, thence northerly in the west lines of the towns of Pownal, Bennington, Shaftsbury, Arlington, Sandgate, Ruport, Pollet, and Wells, to the southwest corner of Poultney; thence northerly on the west line of said Poultney, to the centre of a small river, commonly called and known by the name of Poultney river; thence down the centre of said river, into the head of East-Bay; thence down said Bay, through the centre of the deepest channel of the same, into South-Bay; thence down said Bay, through the centre of the deepest channel of the same, into Lake Champlain; thence down said lake, through the centre of the deepest channel of the same, to the south line of the province of Quebec, being the west line of this State; thence east in the south line of the province of Quebec, fifty miles, being the north line of this State; thence southerly to the northeast corner of Worcester; thence southerly on the easterly lines of the towns of Worcester, Middlesex, and Berlin, to the southeast corner thereof; thence on a straight line to the northwest corner of Tunbridge; thence on the westerly line of Tunbridge, to the southwest corner thereof; thence in a straight line to the northwesterly corner of Bradford; thence in the westerly line of Bradford and Bridgwater, to the southwesterly corner thereof; thence southerly, in a straight line, to the northeast corner of Shrewsbury; thence on the easterly line of Shrewsbury, to the southeasterly corner thereof; thence west to the northeast corner of Wallingford; thence southerly on the easterly lines of Wallingford, Harwich, Brumley, Winhall, and Stratton, to the southeasterly corner of the latter; thence southerly on the westerly line of Somerset, to the southwest corner thereof; thence southerly to the northwest corner of Draper; thence southerly in the west lines of Draper and Cumberland, to the north line of the Massachusetts-Bay; thence westerly on the