Barbados Slave Code, Page 1
Dublin Core
Title
Barbados Slave Code, Page 1
Subject
Colonial Law
Description
Page 1 of the Barbados Slave Code — image and transcription.
Note that some abbreviations have been extended. Square brackets indicate likely readings where the document is damaged or illegible.
An Act for the better ordering and governing of Negroes
Whereas heretofore many good Lawes and ordinances have been made for
the governing [and] regulateing and ordering the Negroes, Slaves in this Isle
& sundry punishments appointed to many their misdemeanors, crimes and offencesÂ
which yet have not met the effect hath been desired and might have reasonably been
reasonably expected had the Masters of Families and other the Inhabitants
of this Isle been soe carefull of their obedience and complyance with the said
Lawes as they ought to have beene. And these former Lawes being in many
clauses imperfect, and not fully comprehending the true Constitution of this
Government in relation of their Slaves their Negroes, an heathenish, brutish, and
an uncertaine dangerous kind of people, to whom if surely in any thing we
may extend the legislative power given us of provisionary Lawes, for the
benefit and good of this plantation, not being contradictory to the Lawes
of England, there being in all the body of that Law, noe tract to guide us
where to walke, nor any rule sett us, how to governe such Slaves, yet we
well know by the right rule of reason, and order, we are not to leave them to
the arbitrary, cruel, and outrageous wills of every evil disposed person, but
soe farr to protect them as we doe many other goods and Chattels, and alsoe
somewhat further as being created Men, though without the knowledge of God
in the world, we have therefore upon mature and serious Consideracion of
the premises thought good to renewe and revive whatsoever we have found
Note that some abbreviations have been extended. Square brackets indicate likely readings where the document is damaged or illegible.
An Act for the better ordering and governing of Negroes
Whereas heretofore many good Lawes and ordinances have been made for
the governing [and] regulateing and ordering the Negroes, Slaves in this Isle
& sundry punishments appointed to many their misdemeanors, crimes and offencesÂ
which yet have not met the effect hath been desired and might have reasonably been
reasonably expected had the Masters of Families and other the Inhabitants
of this Isle been soe carefull of their obedience and complyance with the said
Lawes as they ought to have beene. And these former Lawes being in many
clauses imperfect, and not fully comprehending the true Constitution of this
Government in relation of their Slaves their Negroes, an heathenish, brutish, and
an uncertaine dangerous kind of people, to whom if surely in any thing we
may extend the legislative power given us of provisionary Lawes, for the
benefit and good of this plantation, not being contradictory to the Lawes
of England, there being in all the body of that Law, noe tract to guide us
where to walke, nor any rule sett us, how to governe such Slaves, yet we
well know by the right rule of reason, and order, we are not to leave them to
the arbitrary, cruel, and outrageous wills of every evil disposed person, but
soe farr to protect them as we doe many other goods and Chattels, and alsoe
somewhat further as being created Men, though without the knowledge of God
in the world, we have therefore upon mature and serious Consideracion of
the premises thought good to renewe and revive whatsoever we have found
Source
National Archives of the United Kingdom, Kew
Date
1667
Contributor
Slavery, Law, and Power Project
Format
Handwritten document
Language
English
Type
Manuscript
Identifier
CO 30/2/16-26, PRO, NA
Files
Citation
“Barbados Slave Code, Page 1,” Slavery, Law, and Power , accessed April 27, 2024, https://slaverylawpower.omeka.net/items/show/1.