568 The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. V. K. Charles L « have been put down, many miniflers have complained to me (fays his r6 . 's lordfhip) that they are afraid they, fhall have no parifh clerks. Bid ales. " Abidale is when a poor man decayed inhis fubftance, is fet up againby " the liberal benevolence and contribution of his friends at afunday's feafl. " The people were fond of thefe recreations, and the bi(hop recommends .them, as bringing the people more willingly to church ; -as tending to ci- vilize-them, and to compofe differences among them ; and as ferving to encreafe love and unity, forafmùch as they were in the nature of feafls of charity, the richer fort keeping in a manner open houle ; for which, and fome other reafons his lordship thinks them fit to be retained. But the juftices of peace were of another mind, and figned an humble petition to the king, in which theydeclare that thefe revels had not only introduced a great profanation of the Lord'sday, but riotous tipling, con- tempt of authority, quarrels, murders; &c. and were very prejudicial to the peace, plenty, and good government of the country, and therefore they pray that theymay be fuppreffed. Herewe obferve the laity petitioning for the religious obfervation-of the lord's day, and the bifhop withhis clergy pleading for the profanationof it. Declaration To encourage thefe diforderly affemblies more effeEtually, archbifhop far [ports on Laud put the king upon republifhing his father's declaration of the year the Lord's 1618. concerning lawful(ports to be ufed onfundays after divine fervice ; day' which was done accordingly, Oel. 18th. with this remarkable addition. After a recital of the words of king tames's declaration his majefty adds, " Out ofa like pious care for the fervice of God, and for fupprefling of " thofe humours that oppofe truth, and for the eafe, comfort, and recrea- " tion ofhis majefty's well deferving people, he doth ratify his bluedfa- " ther's declaration, the rather, becaufe of late in fome counties ofthe king- " dom his majefty finds, that under pretence of taking away an abufe, " there bath been a general forbidding, not only ofordinary meetings, but ° of the fees of the dedication of churches, commonly called wakes; it " is therefore his will and pleafure, that thefe falls with others (hall be s° obferved, and that all neighbourhood and freedom with man -like and " lawful exercifes be ufed ; and the juflices of the peace are commanded " not to moleft any in their recreations, having firft done their duty to God, " and continuing in obedience to his majefty's Laws." And he does fur, Cher will, " that publication of this his command be made by order from " thebifhops, through all the parifh churches of their feveral diocefes, refpedively." Ofthe mora- This declaration revived the controverfyof the morality of the fabbath, toy of the which had flept for many years ; Mr. Theophilus Bradbourne a Sujilk fabbath. minifter, had publifhed in the year 1628. 21 defenceofthe me ancient and ,jacred ordinance ofGod, the fabbath day, and dedicated it to the king. But Fuller
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