A Threefold Treatise of the Sabbath, Chapter 19 – Chapter 20
CHAP. XIX. How it was to be kept by the Edicts of Chriſtian Kings in this our Kingdome.
THe Kings in this Iſland of Great Brittaine, have from time to time ſhewed a religious care, concerning the obſervation of our Sunday.
In King Ina's raigne, Anno 688, 900 yeers ſince, a Maſter might not force his bond ſervant to work, if he did, the ſervant was freed, and the Maſter was puniſhed, and was to pay thirty ſhillings; but if the ſervant wrought without his Maſters commandement, hee ſhould bee whipt, or redeeme his whipping with a price; and if a Freeman, to looſe his freedome, or pay three pounds.
King Alured and Edward his ſonne, in a league, between Cited by Biſhop White, pag. 222.him and Gunthran King of the Danes, in this land did prohibite all Markets, and other kinds of works whatſoever on the Sunday: The thing bought was forfeited, and to pay money too, and the ſervant working, being a Freeman, was to bee made a ſlave, or to redeeme himſelfe: if a ſlave, then to be beaten, and his Maſter to anſwer, for cauſing him to work: None guiltie was to die on this day for his offence, but to be impriſoned till the day was paſt.
King Athelſtan forbad buying and ſelling on this day, under a penaltie.
King Edgar, commanded every Sunday to be celebrated of every one from Saturday at three aclock in the afternoone, till Munday morning at break of the day.
King Canutus, ordained the obſervation of the Lords day, as King Edgar had done, from three a clock in the afternoon on Saturday till Munday: Hee alſo inhibited Markets, Courts, and publick meetings for civill buſineſſe, hunting, and that every one ſhould reſt from worldly works.
King Edward the Confeſſor, would have none moleſted either going to the Church to ſerve God, or comming from it.
King Edward the Third, in his time the ſhewing of Woolls ſhould not be made at the Staple on Sundayes, and on the ſolemne Feaſts.
King Henry the Sixth, in his dayes, Fayres, and Markets, were forbidden, as an abominable injury and offence to Almightie God. Yea, it was held then by John de Burge, Chancelour of the Univerſitie of Cambridge, that the Sunday might be called the Sabbath as before I noted, for that we were then to reſt from all ſervile work, arts mechanick, husbandry, law-dayes, markets, and to bee buſied at our prayers, publick ſervice of the Church, in Hymnes and ſpirituall Songs, and hearing of Sermons.
King Edward the Fourth, in his raigne were forbidden, as unlawfull games, Dice, quoits, tennis, bowling; as alſo the felling of ſhooes, bootes, nor was it lawfull for Shoomakers to put upon the feet, or pull on the legges any ſhooes or boots on Sundayes: In whoſe time it was judged, That ſale made on a Sunday of any thing, was not good, nor altered the propertie of it.
King Edward the Sixth, it was in his dayes manifeſted by Act of Parliament, that the Sundayes were holy dayes, and other dayes there expreſſed, wherein Chriſtians ſhould ceaſe from all kinde of labour, and apply themſelves only and wholly unto holy works properly belonging to true religion, which holy works were to be called Gods Service, whereunto ſuch times and dayes were ſanctified and hallowed (that is to ſay) ſeparated (marke it well) from all profane uſes.
In Queen Elizabeth her reigne, this Statute of King Edward the Sixth was in uſe and practice: and the obſervation of the holy day was enjoyned by the twentieth of her duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page Majeſties Injunctions, in the ſame words, with our now thirteenth Canon, which was taken out, of that Injunction.
Thus farre for this Kingdome before the happy uniting of the two Kingdomes in one.
CHAP. XX. How our late Soveraigne King James, and now our King Charles would have it obſerved.
KIng James, the learnedſt King that ever this Nation Anno 1603. May 7.had, at his entrance of his reigne, ſent out his royall pleaſure by Proclamation, in which we may obſerve; Firſt, that hee calleth the day, againe and againe the Sabbath day: Secondly, the drift of the Proclamation was both for the better obſerving of the day, and for the avoiding of all impious profanation of it: Thirdly, that he forbad Beare-baitings, Bull-baitings, Enterludes, Common Plaies, and other like diſordered or unlawfull exerciſes or pastimes.
After this in the Conference at Hampton Court, when that great Scholer Doctor Rainold deſired a ſtraighter courſe for the Reformation of the abuſe of the Sabbath; there was found a generall unanimous conſent thereto of the King, of the Prelates, and of that honourable Aſſembly met then in that place.
Furthermore when the Parliament was held, and a Convocation of the reverend Clergie the ſame yeere, the pious Canon before mentioned, agreeing almoſt verbatim with the Queenes Injunction, was then framed, for the keeping holy the Lords day with other holy dayes: Alſo in the ſelfe ſame yeere at the Commencement in Cambridge, as before hath been noted, a Doctor held this Theſis, Dies Dominicus nititur verbo Dei, and ſo determined by the Vice-Chancelour.
Laſtly, as before in the raigne of Queene Elizabeth, ſo in King James his time, large Treatiſes of Celebrating the Lords day, were publiſhed under Authority licenſing the ſame; among which was the Practice of Piety by a Biſhop, and Biſhop Downhams expoſition upon the Command…ments; to mention no other of lower rank, though ſome of them learned and reverend Divines.
King Charles, our now gracious Soveraigne, hath with the flower of this whole Land, by Act of Parliament declared himſelfe with them concerning the holy obſervation of this day; Firſt, In giving it the title of the Lords day, Secondly, In affirming that in the keeping of the day holy, it is a principall part of the true Service of God: Then undoubtedly, hee highly pleaſeth God, who keepeth holy the whole day: For by the judgment of the King, and the whole State, ſuch a one as keepeth it is performing a principall part of the true Service of God: Thirdly, In prohibiting on this day all meetings, aſſemblies, or concourſe of people, out of their owne Pariſhes, for any ſportes or paſtimes whatſoever; All Beare-baitings, Bull-baitings, Common Plaies, Enterludes, or any other unlawfull exerciſes or paſtimes. Alſo that no Carryer, Waggoner, Waine-man, Car-man, or Drover, travell on the Lords day: Or any Butcher by himſelfe, or by any other, with his privitie and conſent, kill or ſell any victuall on this day.
Hereto may I adde our Common Law, by which as the Sages in the Law have reſolved it, That the day is exempted from Law-dayes, publik Seſſions in Courts of Juſtice, and that no plea is to be holden, no writ of a Scire facias, must beare date on a Sunday, for if it doe, it is an errour: ſo a Fine levied with Proclamations, if the Proclamations bee made on this day, all of them are held erroneous acts: And all this was for the ſolemnitie of the day, as alſo the intent that the people might apply themſelves to prayer, and Gods publick Worſhip and Service. Thus we ſee the honourableneſſe of this day, and the high eſteeme thereof, as it hath beene, and ſtill ought to bee in our Kingdome amongſt all faithfull Chriſtians.