The Charter Granted by Their Majesties King William and Queen Mary to the Inhabitants of the Providence of the Massachussets Bay in New England 271-72 (1726)
| dc.coverage.spatial | Massachusetts | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-10-24T01:55:24Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-11-12T13:54:22Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-03-17T02:21:46Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1719 | |
| dc.description.abstract | An Act For the Punishing and Preventing of Duelling: That whoever ... fight a duel, combat, or engage in a rencounter with rapier, or small-sword, back-sword, pistol, or any other dangerous weapon, to the danger of life, mayhem, or wounding of the parties, or the affray of his Majesty's good subjects, (although death doth not thereby ensue) and be thereof convicted, by due course of law, before the Court of Assize, or Court of General Sessions of the Peace, in the respective Counties of this Province, shall be punished by fine, not exceeding a hundred pounds, imprisonment, not exceeding six months, or corporally punished... | |
| dc.description.lawtext | Be it Enacted by His Excellency the Governour, Council and Representatives, in General Court Assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That whoever from and after the Publication of this Act shall of their own heads, and for private Malice, Displeasure, in Fury or Revenge, Fight a Duel, Combat, or Engage in a Rencounter with Rapier, or small Sword, back-Sword, Pistol, or any other Dangerous Weapon, to the Danger of Life, Maihem or Wounding of the Parties or the Affray of His Majesty’s good Subjects, (altho’ Death doth not thereby ensue) and be there- of Convicted by due Course of Law before the Court of Assize, or Court of General Sessions of the Peace in the respective Counties of this Province, shall be punished by Fine not exceeding a Hundred Pounds, Imprisonment not exceeding Six Months, or Corporally Punished (not extending to Member or Pillory) any or all of the said Punishments, at the Discretion of the Court that have Cognizance of such offence, as the Nature and Circumstances of the Fact and Persons, may require: And be also further obliged to find Sureties for the Peace and good Behaviour for so long a time as the said Court shall judge reasonable. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any person or persons by Word, Writing or Message, Challenge another to fight a Duel, and be thereof Convicted by due course of Law, he or they shall be punished in Manner and Form, as aforesaid. | |
| dc.description.summary | This colonial act mandates that anyone who fights in a duel or pre-arranged combat with dangerous weapons faces a fine up to 100 pounds, imprisonment up to six months, or corporal punishment. Additionally, convicted individuals must secure sureties to guarantee their future peace and good behavior for a duration deemed reasonable by the court. These exact same legal penalties also apply to anyone who issues a duel challenge through spoken words, writing, or messages. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dspace.firearmsresearchcenter.org/id/frc0001/4224 | |
| dc.relation.isreferencedbyGoogle | https://www.google.com/books/edition/Acts_and_Laws_of_His_Majesty_s_Province/6-dBAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=dueling | |
| dc.subject | DUELING | |
| dc.title | The Charter Granted by Their Majesties King William and Queen Mary to the Inhabitants of the Providence of the Massachussets Bay in New England 271-72 (1726) |