The Fyring Therof!

Today was the first full day of teaching at my new school. I used the Smart Board in each of my five classes, and I think I will find it a big help. While doing some research for my AP US History class, I came across the full text of The Book of the General Lawes and Libertyes Concerning the Inhabitants of the Massachusets (1648). It was a document that put legal rights and responsibilities in alphabetical order from "actions" to "torture." It provides an illuminating glimpse of early Puritan Massachusetts. Shuffleboard and Anabaptists were banned. I was surprised to see that the wrangling over public smoking goes back so far in American history though the primary worry of the Puritans seems more practical than moral:

Tobacco.
This Court finding that since the repealing of the former Laws against Tobacco, the same is more abused then before doth therfore order,
That no man shall take any tobacco within twenty poles of any house, or so neer as may indanger the same, or neer any Barn, corn, or hay-cock as may occasion the fyring therof, upon pain of ten shillings for everie such offence, besides full recompence of all damages done by means therof. Nor shall any take tobacco in any Inne or common Victualing-house, except in a private room there, so as neither the Master of the said house nor any other Guests there shall take offence therat, which if any doe, then such person shall forthwith forbear, upon pain of two shillings sixpence for everie such offence. And for all Fines incurred by this Law, one half part shall be to the Informer the other to the poor of the town where the offence is done.

Peace
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