But bachelors and "thornbacks" were not the only people who caused the lawmaker anxiety. He kept a sharp eye on married persons living away from their mates. An act of the Massachusetts general court, in 1647, after reciting that diverse married persons are living in the jurisdiction, whose wives or husbands are in England or elsewhere, and who are guilty of making love to women, of attempting marriage or even attaining it, or are under "suspition of uncleannes"--the vice which seems to have sorely vexed the good people of those days--and all of whom are a great dishonor to God and a reproof to religion, commonwealth, and church--orders that every such person shall be incontinently sent back "by y^e first oportunity of shiping," unless present on transient business or to "make way" for the family to come over.[474] Such complaints were by no means groundless and the courts were often called upon to execute the law. Under the circumstances bigamy was easily committed, though not always permanently concealed. On December 3, 1639, the pretended marriage of James Luxford was declared void; "all that hee hath" was given to his victim; and he himself was fined, set in the stocks, and ordered "sent away to England by the first opportunity."[475] In 1644 the "marriage of John Richardson to Elizabeth Frier was annulled upon proof that he had a former wife living in England."[476] Henry Jackson--whose case seems to justify the act of 1647--was presented in 1672-73 "for lying, in saying he was single and attempting marriage with several," though since confessing that he has a wife beyond the sea; "for living from under family government; and for carrying a fire brand at night near a hay stack;" on all of which counts, we are prepared to hear, he got twenty stripes, had to pay costs, and was ordered away to "England by the next ship."[477] [Footnote 474: _Mass. Col. Rec._, II, 211, 212; WHITMORE, _Col. Laws of Mass._ (1660-72), 172; _ibid._ (1672-86), 216.] [Footnote 475: _Mass. Col. Rec._, I, 283.] [Footnote 476: _Ibid._, II, 86.] [Footnote 477: _MSS. Records of the County Court of Suffolk_, 113.]