A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 811 



At the Assizes held lV-19th July, 162V, the following sentences 

 were imposed for theft : 



" Eichard Stroud late of Smiths Tribe, labourer, Indicted for that bee, tbe said 

 Eichard, about tbe second day of may last past, 1627, by force and arms into 

 the House or Cabben of Eichard Huet of Smiths Tribe aforesaid did enter, and 

 then and there beeing did felloniously take, steale and carrie awaie 6 lb of coi"ne, 

 price 12d, of the goods and chattels of Eichard Huet aforesaid, contrary to the 

 peace of our soveraign Lord the king his crowne and dignitie. 



Of wch indictment The said Eichard Stroud confessed himselfe guiltie, for 

 wch he was adjudged to receive 20 lashes upon his naked backe, which was per- 

 formed the 20 July, 1627." 



•' Jerome Edes received the like sentence and punishment for stealing three 

 shirts price xiid, off a Pumpian vine, the goods and chattels of John Birch." 



' ' William Hingson , alias f att, was convicted of stealing from a cabin 1 pair 

 of shoes price five shillings, upon which he having beene so oft pardoned before, 

 did now receive the sentance of death which was executed upon him the 21st 

 July, 1627." 



Blasphemy or swearing appears to have been very prevalent among 

 the early settlers, and, in extreme cases, was sometimes punished, but 

 probably only a few of the convictions are recorded : 



Thus in July, 1627 : 



" Eobert Newman being complayned of and presented for an horrible swearer 

 and curser and having no meanes to pay the fine according to the statute in that 

 case provided, was adjudged to receive 20 lashes upon the naked backe as pun- 

 ishment for his said offence, which hee suffered accordingly." 



" Extract from a Presentment of the Grand Jury to a Court of Assizes held in 

 St. Georges, November, 1659. 



The Grand Inquest did present John Morgan, Chirurgian. for speaking of 

 most Blasphemous words against Almighty God as per the attestations of Eliza- 

 beth, the wife of Josias Newman, Samuel Dunscome, Thomas Hartlan, and 

 Louis his wife, and Francis Welch do more at large appear, for which Blasphe- 

 mous words he was censured. 



By the Secretary and the major part of the Council, to lie in prison, according 

 to the Statute, three months, or to give 101b Sterl : for the public works. 



Mr Eichard Norwood's censure, that he shall stand upon the Pilloi-y, and be 

 burned through the tongue with an hot iron, and to practice no more in this 

 Island. Capt. Tho. Eichards that he shall be forthwith banished." 



In many trials different persons were allowed to express their 

 opinions as to the punishment, as in the above instance. Frequently 

 the punishments suggested were extremely cruel and barbarous. 

 Mr. Norwood was probably the best educated man on the islands at 

 this time. He was the distinguised engineer or surveyor of the 

 islands and taught the principal school for many years. But he was 

 a very religious man and a zealous churchman, to whom blasphemy 

 was one of the worst of crimes. 



