Dale's Code

In 1611, the deputy-governor of Virginia, Sir Thomas Dale, enacted the “Lawes Divine, Morall, and Martial,” which became known as Dale’s Code. The code, among other things, created a rather authoritarian system of government for the Colony of Virginia. It established a "single ruling group" that "held tight control of the colony." The word "Martiall," contained in Dale’s Code, governed the duties of soldiers, while the terms "Divine" and "Morall" related to crime and punishment. The code provided that capital punishment be given to any colonist who committed rather trivial crimes such as stealing certain property deemed intrinsically valuable to colonial life.^[1] Dale’s Code remained in force until 1618.^[2]

References

1. ^ Friedman, Lawrence M. (2005). A History of American Law: Third Edition. Touchstone. pp. pp.10–11. ISBN 0684869888. 
2. ^ Konig, Thomas (1982). "'Dale’s Laws' and the Non-Common Law Origins of Criminal Justice in Virginia". The American Journal of Legal History (Temple University) 26 (4): p.354. doi:10.2307/844941. JSTOR 844941. 

External links

• Article on Sir Thomas Dale from the Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th edition