Chap. 46.
1 Carol. 1. |
Games unlawful.
CHAP. XLVI. V. 23.
Games.
THere shall be no meeting of people out of their
own Parishes on the
Lords day (or Sunday) for any Sport or Pastimes whatsoever;
nor any Bear-baiting, Bul-baiting, Enterludes, common Plays, or other
unlawful Exercises or Pastimes, used by any within their own Parishes:
upon pain that every person offending in any the premisses do forfeit for
every Offence Three shillings four pence, to be imployed to the use of
the
Poor of the same Parish where the Offence shall be committed. And
any
one Justice of Peace of the County (or the chief Officer of any City
Borough, or Town Corporate) upon his or their view, or Confession of
the party or proof of any one Witness by Oath, shall give Warrant under
his Hand and Seal to the Constables or Church wardens of the Parish
where the Offence shall be committed, to levy the said Penalty by Distress,
and Sale of the Offenders goods, (rendring them the Overplus:) and in
defalt of Distress, the Offenders to be set in the Stocks by the space
of
Three hours; Provided that none be impeached by this Act, except
he be
called in question within one month next after the said Offence committed,
i Caroli Regis, cap. 1 & 3 Caroli. cap. 4. |
89
§. 1.
Sunday. |
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King James of happy memory Anno Domini
1618. publickly declared to
his Subjects, these Recreations or Exercises hereunder mentioned to be
lawful; that is to say, Dancing of Men or Women, Archery, Leaping,
Vaulting, May-games, Whitson Ales, Moris-Dances, and setting up Maypoles,
and other sports therewith used: And commanded that no such
honest Mirth or Recreation should be forbidden to his Subjects upon the
Sunday or Holy-days, after Divine Service (sc. Evening Prayer) ended.
Restraining and barring notwithstanding from this liberty any Recusants,
and all such as absent themselves from the Church upon those days; Commanding
each Parish by it self to use these Recreations, and only after
Evening Prayer ended: And prohibiting all unlawful Games to be used
upon Sunday, Bear-baiting, Bull baiting, Enterludes, and Bowling by the
meaner sort. |
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All which our late gratious Soveraign King Charles
the First, by publick
Declaration, Anno Domini 1633. hath confirmed; allowing farther
the Feasts of the Dedication of Churches, commonly called Wakes, and
all manlike exercises to be there used with all freedom, yet so as some
bring any Weapons thither: Commanding all Justices of Peace to look
that no disorder be at such Wakes, but to be prevented or punished,
&c. |
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The Statute of 12 R. 2. c. 6. Directs
Servants and Labourers in Husbandry,
Artificers and Victuallers to use shooting upon Sundays and Holidays,
and prohibits them to play at Tennis, Foot-bal, Coits, Dice, and
other Games; and the Statute of 11 H. 4. c. 4. confirms it with
the penalty
of Imprisonment Six days upon the Offender; and thereby it is
Enacted, that no Apprentice or Servant shall play at Tables, unless it
be
for meat or drink, nor at Tennis, Dice, Cards, Bowls, or any other unlawful
Game out of Christmas and in Christmas, to play only in their
Masters Houses or presence, upon pain of Imprisonment in the Stocks for
a day, and the Housholder that suffers these Games to be used in other
manner upon conviction before the Justice of Peace, &c. forfeited 6
s. 8 d.
But the Statute of 12 R. 2. c. 6. is repealed by 21 Jac.
c. 28. and by the |
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