The  stream  is  ruffled  into  silver  crests  by  the  west
wind  as  we  pass  on  by  all  the  old  plaut^itions  —  Ikrke*
ley,  where  Master  Thoi*i)e  was  hacked  to  pieces  by  the
savages,  and  where  a  President  of  the  United  States  will
be  born  a  hundred  and  fifty  years  hence;  by  Dale's
plantation,  where  Captain  Butler,  the  author  of  the  li-
bellous "  Unmasked  Face  of  Virginia,"  **  plundered  Lady
Dale's  cattle ; "  by  little  assemblages  of  mauor-housesi


OUTLINE  OF   VIRGLVIA    UNDER  JA}fKa  I. 149

all  defended  by  palisades,  which  dot  the  bunks  of  the
great  Virginia  highway. Here  is  a  group  on  the  shore
by  the  home  of  a  commander. They  are  whipping  a
man,  and  when  asked  what  has  been  his  offense,  the
reply  is  grotesque. He  has  **  engaged  himself  to  marry
two  women  at  one  time ; "  and  the  commander  is  in-
flicting the  punishment  directed  by  Governor  Wyat's
proclamation  for  that  offense. The  said  proclamation
includes  women  in  the  class  of  offenders  —  is  even
chiefly  aimed  at  them  and  their  doings. It  "forbids
them  to  contract  themselves  to  two  several  men  at  one
Ume ; "  for  women  are  "  yet  scarce  and  in  much  re-
quest, and  this  offense  has  become  very  common,  where-
by great  disquiet  arose  between  parties,  and  no  small
trouble  to  the  government."  Therefore  it  must  cease,
and  "  every  minister  should  give  notice  in  his  church
that  what  man  or  woman  soever  should  use  any  word
or  speech  tending  to  a  contract  of  marriage  to  two  sev-
eral persons  at  one  time  .... as  might  entangle  or
breed  servples  in  their  coiisciences,  should  for  such  their
offense,  either  undergo  corporal  correction,  or  be  pun-
ished by  fine  or  otherwise,  according  to  the  quality  of
the  person  so  offending.**

Thus  the  law  is  duly  proclaimed,  and  offenders  are  to
take  warning  not  to  canse  disquiet,  or  trouble  to  the
government  in  that  manner,  on  penalty  of  being  fined
or  chastised  —  man  or  woman. But  proper  distinctions
are  to  be  observed  in  inflicting  the  penalty. If  persons
of  '*  quality  "  indulge  in  this  dangerous  amusement,  they
are  only  to  be  fined ;  all  others  are  to  be  corporally  cor-
recte<l  with  good  lashes  on  the  back. 