8, 1885, mentions the following
among other cases taken from the Essex County Court Records:--
"In 1644 William Hewes and John his son, for terming such as sing
in the congregation fools, and William Hewes also for charging
Reverend Mr. Corbitt with falsehood in his doctrine, were ordered
to pay a fine of fifty shillings each, and to make humble
confession in a public meeting at Lynn."
William Hewes and his son were probably only criticising the music and
the preaching in the "meeting-house." If people nowadays were fined
for similar offences, the county would grow so rich that there would
be no necessity for the present heavy tax.
"In 1643 Roger Scott, for repeated sleeping in meeting on the
Lord's Day, and for striking the person who waked him, was, at
Salem, sentenced to be severely whipped."
It must be borne in mind that people in those days were not allowed to
stay at home on the Lord's Day and do their sleeping there. Staying at
home on Sunday is a modern innovation.
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