Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 13.pdf/602

 A Flirtation under the Blue Laws. and Sarah Tuttle were summoned before the Court by no less a personage than the Governor of the Colony of New Haven, who, to quote the language of the report, declared that the business for which they were warned to this court he had heard in private at his house, which he related to stand thus: "It chanced that on the day on which John Potter was married, Sarah Tuttle went to Mistress Murline's house for some thredd and Mistress Murline bid her go to her daughter's in the other room. Whereupon her son, Jacob Tuttle, came in and tooke up or tooke away Sarah's gloves. She desired him to give her the said gloves, which he answered he would do so if she would give him a kysse, upon which they sat down together, his arm being about her waiste and her arme upon his shoulder or about his necke, and he kyssed her and she kyssed him or they kyssed one another for about the space of half an hour, which Marian Murline now in court affirmed to be so. "Jacob was asked what he had to say to these things, to which he answered that he thought that Sarah had with intent let fall her gloves when he came into the room, and that he tooke them up and told her he would give her them, if so be that she would kysse him. "But Sarah hereupon testified that she did not let her gloves fall with intent. "Further, said Jacob, that he tooke her by the hand and they both set down upon a chest but whether he kyssed her or she kyssed him, he knows not for he never thought of it since until Mr. Raymond spoke to him at Man-

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natos and told that he had not layde it to heart as he ought. "But hereupon testified Sarah that she did not kysse him but upon being questioned would say not as to whether he had kyssed her or no. "Mr. Tuttle testified that Jacob had endeavored to steal away his daughter's affections. "But thereupon Sarah testified that he had not so stolen her said affections. "The Governor told Sarah that her mis carriage is the greatest, that a virgin should be so bold in the presence of others to carry it as she had done, for though that part of the kyssing is denied yet much is proven. "Sarah professed that she was sorry that she had carried it so sinfully and foolishly which she saw to be hateful. She hoped that God would help her to carry it better for time to come. "The Governor aliso told Jacob that his carriage hath been very evil and sinful and to make such a light matter of it as not to think of it doth greatly aggravate. "Whereupon the Court declared that we have heard in the Publique Ministry that it is a thing to be lamented that young people should so misconduct themselves. As for Sarah, her miscarriages are very great that she should carry it in such an uncivil, im modest manner as hath been proven. And for Jacob, his carriage hath been very cor rupt and sinful such as brings reproach upon his family and place. "The sentence therefore concerning them is that they shall pay either of them as a fine 20 s. to the Colony."