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Plymouth Colony codification of laws.

Date: 1636

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Many of the early laws passed in the colonies are intended to punish so-called sex crimes, or acts seen to disrupt the Puritan social order. The laws in Plymouth distinguish between capital and criminal sexual offences. "Adultery, sodomy, rapes, and buggery" are declared capital offenses, punishable by death. "Fornication before contract or marriage" is determined to be criminal.