SEVERAL LAWS AND ORDERS Made at the GENERAL COURT Held at Boston, the 23d of May, 1666. And on the 11th of October following.  
PRinted and Published by Order of the General Court, the said 11th of October, 1666.  By EDWARD RAWSON Secretary 
WHereas this Court hath already provided for the well Ordering and settling the Militia of this Commonwealth, as in the Law tit. Military, yet, forasmuch as many Complaints are presented to this Court, 
Major General & Major's power to see that all the Arms of the Country be readily fixed.  that the said Orders are not so attended as is to be desired, considering the present Juncture of affairs between our English Nation and foreign Enemies, who are now engaged in a bloody war, which calls for a prudential endeaurur of our own safety, against any foreign Invasion or sudden Surprisal; This Court doth therefore Order, and Enact, that the said Military Laws be by all persons therein mentioned, forthwith attended in all respects, and for the better effecting the same, 
Penalty for defects of Inferior Officers.  the Major General is required forthwith by warrant under his hand to the Majors of the several Regiments, require them to make diligent inquiry into the state of the several Companies under their charge, and to be certified under the hands of the Commission Officers, or Chief Officers where no Commission Officers are, of each Company, of all defects of Arms, Ammunition, or otherwise in every respect, and the said Majors respectively are required, to give speedy advice to the Major General what posture their said Regiments are in, and wherein the said Majors cannot of themselves forthwith make redress of any defects in the said Companies the said Majors with the advice of the Major General have hereby power to use all lawful means to effect the same. And all inferior Officers are hereby required to yield ready obedience to all such warrants sent to them by the said Majors respectively, or Major General, upon the penalty of five pounds for every defect, 
All the fines to go to procure a stock of Powder for the company where the defects arise.  to be levied by distress by such person as the said Major General and Majors of the Regiments shall depute, which said fines shall be for a stock of Powder for the said Company where the defects arise from time to time.  
And whereas several Towns in this Jurisdiction, are not under the Command of any Sergeant Major, as Dover, Portsmouth, &c, as also the Towns of the County of Hampshire; 
The several Towns that are not under Majors of Regiments to be Regulated & Ordered by the Major General.  It is Ordered that the Major General take care for regulating of the Military affairs of such Towns, till they are brought under a Major as in other Counties: and all Military Officers of such places are required Obedience to the Orders of the Major General from time to time, upon the penalty above mentioned, for every defect.  

Order to prevent Drunkenness in Indians.  WHereas the sin of Drunkenness amongst the Indians doth much increase, notwithstanding the Laws provided against that crying sin; This Court doth therefore Order, 
Their strong Liquors. etc. to be seized by any person.  that any person or persons that shall see, know or find, any Indian with any strong Liquors, Wine, or strong Drink, that such Indians have any way gotten without order, as the Law directs; shall have power to seize the same, 
On refusal to confess etc. to be committed to Prison.  and to deliver the said strong drink to the Constables of the Town or Place where such Indians are found, with their persons to be conveyed before some Magistrate, or Commissioner, who have power to deal in such cases, and such Indians as are found drunk, 
Their accusation against persons to be evidence unless the party cear himself on Oath, etc.  being apprehended, and will not confess how, or where they had the said Wine, Liquors or strong Drink, shall be secured or imprisoned, until they make a just acknowledgement where they had their Drink aforesaid, or committed to the house of Correction, and there labour to discharge the charge of their provision.  
And if any such Indian do accuse any person for selling or delivering strong drink unto them, 
If Drunk to pay ten shillings or be whipped with ten stripes, etc.  such Indian accusation shall be accounted valid, against any such persons accused, except such persons shall clear themselves by taking their Oath to the contrary, any Law, or Custom to the contrary notwithstanding.  
And it is also further Ordered that whatsoever Indian shall hereafter be taken Drunk, shall pay the sum of ten shillings or else be whipped, by laying on ten stripes, according to the discretion of the Judge, whether Magistrate or Commissioner, who shall have cognizance of the case: and in all Towns where no Magistrate or Commissioners are, such cases shall be judged by the select men or major part of them.  
WHereas the Law tit. Military, Sect. 7. Requires every Pikeman to be completely furnished (amongst other weapons with a sufficient Corslet) This Court considering that Corslets are wanting to many Soldiers in several Companies and that supplies therein are not easily to be attained; 
Pikemen to provide Buff Coats or Quilted coats in stead.  It is therefore now Ordered, and by the Authority of this Court Enacted, that every Pikeman within this Jurisdiction, shall be completely furnished, either with a sufficient Corslet, Buff Coat, or Quilted Coat, such as shall be allowed by the Chief Officer, under whose command they from time to time shall serve, upon the penalty in the recited Law already expressed, any Law, Custom or Usage to the contrary notwithstanding.  
AS an Addition & explanation of the Law tit. This Court finding that several inconveniences and troubles do arise about Strays, 
Addition to the Law of Strays.  Cattle and Horses etc. and that the temptation may be too great on some persons in remote Towns and Farms, to tak● up cattle, etc. and make Stray●s of them, 
To be cried in the Town on which they have the Brand mark.  the whole benefit redounding to themselves; This Court doth Order for the time to come, that all Strays shall be first cried in that Town of which they have the Brand-mark, and that all such Strays and other lost Goods contained in the said Law, 
To be entered with the Recorder of the County.  shall be entered with the County Recorder in each County, and by him transferred to the Country Treasurer within one Month, and in case the said Goods and Strays are not owned within one year, as is therein expressed, 
Half to the Country & the other half to the finder.  than the one half, or the value of one half shall be to the use of the Country, and the other half to the finder, the charges being first paid out of the whole.  
WHereas this Court hath encouraged and authorized some Persons to make Gunpowder and have promised to enable them thereunto, 
Order impouring the Select men to make Orders with penalty to propagate salt Peter. etc.  by such public and necessary Orders as may conduce to the effecting the same, The consideration whereof hath moved the Court hereby to Order and Enact, that the Select men of every Town (where the Powder makers Authorized, by this Court shall desire it) be Authorized and required hereby, to make and execute such Orders in their respective Towns, as they shall judge meet (with the advice of skilful persons) for increasing and procuring of Salt Peter, and to impose such penalties as the Select men shall see meet not exceeding ten shillings for one offence, upon all persons that shall neglect or refuse to perform such Order or Orders, for the propagating and increasing of Salt Peter, in their respective Towns: and moreover the said select men are further empowered to choose and appoint an Officer or Officers, and to allow him a convenient stipend annually, for his pains out of the fines, or otherwise to look to the executing such Orders as they shall make in that behalf.  
And it is further Ordered that such Select men who shall neglect or refuse to make and effectually execute such necessary Orders, as shall conduce to the ends aforesaid, they shall be presented at the Court of that County, and there be fined for their neglect at the discretion of the Court, not exceeding five pounds for one offence, and this Law to be put in execution forthwith after the publication thereof, and this to continue during the Court's pleasure.  
FINIS.