been almost choaked with a pair of lawn sleeves. This declaration, we are assured

"The king's express pleasure therefore is, that the laws of this kingdom, and canons of the church, be as well observed in that county, as in all other places of this his kingdom. And, on the other part, that no lawful recreation shall be barred to his good people, which shall not tend to the breach of the aforesaid laws and canons of his church: which to express more particularly, his majesty's pleasure is, that the bishops, and all other inferior churchmen, and church-wardens, shall, for their parts, be careful and diligent, both to instruct the ignorant, and convince and reform them that are misled in religion; presenting them that will not conform themselves, but obstinately stand out, to the judges and justices; whom he likewise commands to put the laws in due execution against them.

"His majesty's pleasure likewise is, that the bishop of the diocess take the like strict order with all the puritans and precisians within the same, either constrain them to conform themselves, or to leave the country, according to the laws of this kingdom, and canons of this church, and so to strike equally on both hands against the contemners of his authority, and adversaries of the church. And as for his good people's lawfùl recreation, his pleasure likewise is, that, after the end of divine service, his good people be not disturbed, letted, or discouraged from any lawful recreation; such as dancing, either men or women; archery for men, leaping, vaulting, or any other such harmless recreations; nor from having of May-games, Whitson-ales, and Morice-dances, and the setting up of May-poles, and other sports therewith used; so as the same be had in due and convenient time, without impediment or neglect of divine service. And that women shall have

by Whitlock, gave great distaste, not only

leave to carry rushes to the church, for the decorating of it, according to their old custom. But withal his majesty doth hereby account still as prohibited all unlawful games to be used upon Sundays only, as bear and bull-baitings, interludes, and, at all times in the meaner sort of people by law prohibited, bowling.

"And likewise bars from this benefit and liberty, all such known recusants, either men or women, as will abstain from coming to church or divine service; being therefore unworthy of any lawful recreation after the said service, that will not first come to the church and serve God: prohibiting in like sort the said recreations to any that, though conform in religion, are not present in the church at the service of God, before their going to the said recreations. His pleasure likewise is, that they, to whom it belongeth in office, shall present and sharply punish all such as, in abuse of this his liberty, will use these exercises before the end of all divine services for that day. And he doth likewise straightly command, that every person shall resort to his own parish-church to hear divine service, and each parish by itself to use the said recreation after divine service: prohibiting likewise any offensive weapons to be carried, or used, in the same times of recreation. And his pleasure is, that this his declaration shall be published, by order from the bishop of the diocess, through all the parish-churches; and that both the judges of the circuits, and the justices of the peace,

be informed thereof.

"Given at the manor of Greenwich the 24th day of May, in the sixteenth year of his majesty's reign, of England, France, and Ireland, and of Scotland, the one and fiftieth."

"Now out of a like pious care for the service of

to those who were usually termed puritans,

God, and for suppressing of any humours that oppose truth, and for the ease, comfort, and recreation of his well-deserving people, his majesty doth ratify and publish this his blessed father's declaration; the rather, because of late, in some counties of this kingdom, his majesty finds that, under pretence of taking away abuses, there hath been a general forbidding, not only of ordinary meetings, but of the feasts of the dedication of the churches, commonly called Wakes. Now his majesty's express will and pleasure is, that these feasts, with others, shall be observed; and that his justices of the peace, in their several divisions, shall look to it, both that all disorders there may be prevented or punished, and that all neighbourhood and freedom, with manlike and lawful exercises, be used. And his majesty further commands all justices of assize, in their several circuits, to see, that no man do trouble or molest any of his loyal and dutiful people, in or for their lawful recreations, having first done their duty to God, and continuing in obedience to his majesty's laws. And for this his majesty commands all his judges, justices of peace, as well within liberties as without, majors, bailiffs, constables, and other officers, to take notice of, and to see observed, as they tender his displeasure. And doth further will, that publication of this his command be made, by order from the bishops, through all the parish churches of their several diocesses respectively.

"Given at the palace of Westminster, the 18th day of October, in the ninth year of his reign.

"God save the King."

* Rushw. Collections, part 2nd, vol. I. fol. p. 191-196. Lond. 1680. Franklin's Annals, p. 437. fol. Lond. 1681. Heylin's Life of Laud, p. 255-258, fol. Lond. 1668.

but to many others; and, as we shall hereafter see, produced ill effects.

But though, from this declaration, one

This is the declaration for sports on the Sabbath-day, so often mentioned by writers; which I chose to give at length, that the reader might the better be able to judge of it.-For my own part, I shall content myself with observing, that, however the question concerning the morality of the Sabbath (for by that name it generally went in the times of which we are writing) be determined, the public licence and encouragement of diversions, after divine service, was a thing of ill report, destructive to the morals of the common people, opposite to a statute made in this reign, and yet in force, of a tendency to efface any good impressions received in the worship of God, and seemingly inconsistent with the answer or prayer subjoined to the fourth commandment in the Common Prayer-book, "Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law!" and consequently must leave an ill impression on the minds of men, with respect to his majesty's regard to religion and morality; more especially, when it is known that he himself made use of the liberty he gave to his subjects. For it must not be concealed, that Charles scrupled not giving a mask on a Sunday, as we are informed in a letter from the reverend Mr. Gerrard to the lord-deputy Wentworth, dated London, Feb. 7, 1637. "The French and Spanish ambassadors," says he, "were both at the king's mask, but not received as ambassadors. The French sat amongst the ladies, the Spanish in a box. It was performed on a Sunday-night, the day after the

1 Caroli, c. 1.

would have imagined king Charles not subject to the weaknesses of those against whom it was chiefly pointed; yet nothing can be

Twelfth-night, in very cold weather, so that the house was not filled according to expectation. The act of council to drive all men into the country, the coldness of the weather, the day Sunday, and the illness of the invention of the scenes, were given for causes, why so small a company came to see it. My lord-treasurer [bishop Juxton] was there by command."-But to go on. It certainly is a very odd way to express a pious care for the service of God, by encouraging Moricedances, May-games, and May-poles, on the day set apart for his worship; and men could not easily bring themselves to believe that the practice of virtue could be much promoted by the mixt dancing of men and women, and their association at Wakes and Whitsonales. For, whatever may be thought of it, if the common people gad abroad on the Sunday, and spend it in idleness or diversions, a loose turn of mind will be contracted, and a great depravity of manners ensue : and, therefore, it behoves those who are in authority, to promote a regular and exemplary behaviour on the Lord's-day, whereby decency of manners will be increased, knowledge advanced, and a sense of religion (a thing of the greatest importance to societies, as well as to individuals) heightened in the minds of men. This, I say, is the duty of those in authority: If they neglect it, they are not to wonder at the wickedness and stupidity of those about them, or complain of their breach of every social duty.

a

Strafforde's Letters and Dispatches, vol. II. p. 148.