The colony of Virginia was settled by Loyalist Englishmen – men faithful to King James and to the Church of England. Their first charter, dated on this day in 1606, said in part, “We do specially ordaine, charge and require (the residents of Virginia) that they with all diligence, care and respect doe provide that the true word and service of God and Christian faith be preached, planted and used… according to the doctrine, rights, and religion now professed and established within the realme of England, and that they shall not suffer any person, or person to withdrawe any of the subjects or people inhabiting, or which shall inhabit within any of the said several colonies and plantations from the same, or from their due allegiance unto us, and their immediate sovereigne under God; and if they shall find within any of the said colonies…. any person or person soe seeking to withdrawe… they shall with all diligence, him or them soe offending, cause to be apprehended, arrested and imprisoned until he shall fully and thoroughly reforme himself.”
In 1611, Sir Thomas Dale ordered every man to meet with the minister to be questioned about his religions beliefs. The penalty for the first refusal was whipping; for the second a double flogging; and for the third, whipping daily until pardon was sought and the law was obeyed.
My source went on to list the names of forty-five Baptist brethren who were beaten, incarcerated or otherwise punished for refusing to comply with these unjust laws. The people of the United States should be made aware that it was through Baptist suffering such as this that liberty was first mad available to this nation.