that he had been almost choaked with a pair of lawn fleeves. This declaration, we are affured • and Morice-dances, and the setting up of May-poles, and other sports therewith ufed; fo as the fame be had in due and convenient time, without impediment or ⚫ neglect of divine fervice. And that women fhall have leave to carry rufhes to the church, for the decorating of it, according to their old cuftom. But withal his • majefty doth hereby account ftill as prohibited all unlawful games to be used upon Sundays only, as bear and bull-baitings, interludes, and, at all times in the meaner fort of people by law prohibited, bowling. And likewife bars from this benefit and liberty, all fuch known recufants, either men or women, as will ⚫ abftain from coming to church or divine fervice; being therefore unworthy of any lawful recreation after the faid fervice, that will not first come to the church and ferve God: prohibiting in like fort the faid recreations to any that, though conform in religion, are not prefent in the church at the service of God, before their ⚫ going to the faid recreations. His pleasure likewife is, that they, to whom it belongeth in office, fhall present and sharply punish all fuch as, in abuse of this his liberty, will use these exercises before the end of all divine fervices for that day. And he doth likewife * ftraightly command, that every perfon fhall refort to his own parish-church to hear divine service, and each parish by itself to use the said recreation after divine ⚫ fervice: prohibiting likewife any offenfive weapons to ⚫ be carried, or ufed, in the fame times of recreation. • And his pleasure is, that this his declaration fhall be publifhed, by order from the bishop of the diocess, through all the parish-churches; and that both the judges of the circuits, and the juftices of the peace, be informed thereof. • Given at the manor of Greenwich the 24th day of May, in the fixteenth year of his majesty's reign, of England, France and Ireland, and of Scotland the one and fiftieth.' (9) Rushw. collections, part 2d, vol. i. fol. Lond. 1681. Heylin's life of Laud, p. affured by Whitlock, gave great distaste not only to those who were ufually termed puritans, Now out of a like pious care for the service of God, ⚫ and for fuppreffing of any humours that oppose truth, and for the eafe, comfort, and recreation of his welldeferving people, his majefty doth ratify and publish this his bleffed father's declaration; the rather, because of late, in fome 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 feafts of the dedication of the churches, commonly called Wakes. Now his majesty's exprefs will and pleasure is, that these feaits, with others, fhall be obferved; and that his juftices of the peace, in their feveral divisions, shall look to it, both that all diforders 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 affize, in their feveral circuits, to fee, that no man do trouble or mo• left 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 majefty's laws. And for this his majefty commands all his judges, juftices of peace, as well within liberties as without, majors, bailiffs, constables, and other officers, to take notice of, and to fee obferved, as they tender his difpleasure. And doth further will, that publication of this his command be made, by order from the bishops, through all the parish-churches of their feveral dio• ceffes refpectively. Given at the palace of Westminster, the 18th day of • God fave the King (q).' This is the declaration for sports on the Sabbath-day, 255--258. fo often mentioned by writers; which I chose to give at length, that the reader might the better be able to judge fol. Lond. 1668. of tans, but to many others; and, as we shall hereafter fee, produced ill effects. But of it. For my own part, I fhall content myself with obferving, that, however the queftion 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 diverfions, after divine fervice, was a thing of ill report, destructive to the morals of the common people, oppofite to a ftatute made in this reign, and yet in force (r), of a (r) 1 Caroli, tendency to efface any good impreffions received in the c. I. worship of God, and feemingly inconfiftent with the anfwer or prayer fubjoined to the fourth commandment in the Common-prayer-book, Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law!' and confequently muft leave an ill impreffion on the minds of men, with refpect to his majesty's regard to religion and morality; more especially, when it is known that he himself made ufe of the liberty he gave to his fubjects. For it muft not be concealed, that Charles fcrupled 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 ambaffadors, fays he, were both at the king's mask, but not received as ambaffadors. The French fat amongst the ladies, the Spanish in a box. It was performed on a Sunday-night, the day after the Twelfthnight, in very cold weather, fo 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 inven❝tion of the scenes, were given for causes, why so small a company came to fee it. My lord-treasurer [bishop Juxton] was there by command (s).'-But to go on. (s) StrafIt certainly is a very odd way to exprefs a pious care for forde's letthe fervice of God, by encouraging Morice-dances, Maypatches, vol. games, and May-poles, on the day fet apart for his wor- ii. p. 148. fhip; and men could not eafily bring themfelves to believe that the practice of virtue could be much promoted by ters and dif But though, from this declaration, one would have imagined king Charles not subject to the weakneffes of those against whom it was chiefly pointed; yet nothing can be more certain, than that (P) he fell into fuperftition, the vice of weak minds; which occafioned the mixt dancing of men and women, and their affociation at Wakes and Whitfon-ales. For, whatever may be thought of it, if the common people gad abroad on the Sunday, and spend it in idleness or diverfions, a loose turn of mind will be contracted, and a great depravity of manners enfue: 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 fense of religion (a thing of the greatest importance to focieties, as well as to individuals) heightned in the minds of men. This, I fay, is the duty of thofe in authority: If they neglect it, they are not to wonder at the wickednefs and ftupidity of those about them, or complain of their breach of every focial duty. (P) He fell into fuperftition, the vice of weak minds.] Superftition is a debasement of reason and religion; 'tis entertaining misapprehenfions of almighty God; 'tis the practice of things weak and ridiculous, in order to please him, whereby it excites in the mind chimerical hopes, illgrounded fears, and vain expectations: in fhort, it is weakness, attended with uneafinefs and dread, and productive of confufion and horror. Every one knows the mischiefs fuperftition has produced in the world: gods of all forts and kinds; facrifices of beafts and men; rites, ceremonies, and postures; antic tricks, and cruel torments; with every other thing which, from time to time, has been falfly called by the name of religion, have arose from hence. It took its rife early in the world, and foon fpread itself over the face of the earth; and few, very few, were there who were wholly free from it. The doctrine cafioned his making unreasonable vows, confulting the stars, and regarding omens! But this doctrine of Chrift, indeed, was calculated to destroy its dominion, and to restore religion to its original luftre, by teaching men to think honourably of the Deity, to practife virtue, to fubmit chearfully to the Divine Will, and expect happiness from his hands in confequence thereof. Very little ftrefs is laid on externals by the writers of the New Testament. 'Tis fobriety and righteousness, 'tis the love of God and men, 'tis meeknefs and humility, and every thing lovely and praise-worthy, which are infifted on in, and recommended by it: but as for pomp, and parade and fhew, these were not thought worthy of notice, or deemed mischievous and hurtful. Yet, notwithstanding this, fuperftition very foon found an entrance among Chriftians, and at length increased to an enormous fize. The reformation of religion, and the revival of letters, were somewhat unfriendly to it: but whether it be the craft of those who fubfift by the ignorance and credulity of others, or whether it be a proneness in men to fuperftition, or their laziness and inattention to other than fenfible objects; I fay, whether it be owing to one or all of these causes, fuperftition remained still alive, and fhewed itself even among thofe who gloried that they had got rid of the papal yoke. I doubt not, Charles would have been affronted, had any one told him he was fuperftitious, especially when in the height of his power; and, I believe, it would not have been very fafe for any one to have attempted to prove it: however, what would have then been imprudent, may now be fafe; and therefore, at the distance of more than an hundred years, I think I may hazard the charging it on him. But it is not expected my word alone fhould be taken: let the reader hear the evidence, and then judge impartially. His majefty in a letter to the queen, dated Jan. 14, 1644-5, has the following paragraph. I will not trouble thee with repetitions of news, Digby's difpatch, which I have seen, being so full, that I can add nothing; yet I cannot but paraphrafe on that E 3 ⚫ which |