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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78019	A divine tragedie lately acted, or, A collection of sundrie memorable examples of Gods judgements upon Sabbath-breakers, and other like libertines, in their unlawfull sports, hapning within the realme of England, in the compasse onely of few yeers last past, since the book was published, worthy to be known and considered of all men, especially such, who are guilty of the sin or archpatrons thereof. / By that worthy divine Mr. Henry Burton.	Burton, Henry, 1578-1648.; Prynne, William, 1600-1669, attributed name.	1642 (1642)	Wing B6161; Thomason E176_1; ESTC R18494	27,899	47

g The Praier after the 4. 10 Commandment Common Prayer Book h Canon 13. 163. Canons i Article 35. of Ireland 56. Articles and k Queen Eliz. In un●r 20. Injunctions which conclude the same I say have adjudged such a presumptuous transgression as will draw down Gods vengeance on mens heads Our late Soveraign King James of happy memory and our present gracious Soveraign Lord K. Charles with all the Prelates Clergy and people of the Realm in the first yeers of both their Reigns in the severall Books of Common Prayer and order for the publike fasts set out by their royal authorities and the Bishops advice with the consent and hearty desire of the whole Realm for the abating aversion and ceasing of those dreadfull Plagues which then swallowed up many thousands of people every week will inform them That among other sins The prophaning of the Sabbath so King James his Book styles the Sunday and not keeping holy the Lords day was one chief cause why those two great terrible Plagues and why not also this great Plague which is now begun and spread much abroad brake in upon us to the destruction not of some few particular persons but of many thousands and the punishment of the whole Realme and Nation in generall And because some of these men plead most falsly that the chiefest writers of the reformed Churches are of their opinion l Homil. 162. in Matth. fol. 308. Hom. 28. in Mar. f. 35. Hom. 56. in Lu. f. 141. Hom. 36. in Joan. f. 77. Hom. 88. in Act. Mr. Kodolphus Gualter and m Comment in Matth. 12. 14. p. 376. 423. in Joa 7. f. 293. Wolfgangus Musculus men of principall note and learning among them will both assure them that the Lords day is not onely wholly onely and intirely to be spent in religious publike and private duties of Gods worship and that dancing sports and pastimes on it are sinfull and execrable the constant judgement of all forraigne Protestant Divines whatsoever as I am able to prove what ever n History of the Sabbath ●● 1. 2. ● 6. 〈◊〉 9 10. Dr. Helyn or o D. Pooklinton Sunday no Sabbath p. 8. others have rashly averred to the contrary But likewise further inform them That God may justly revenge the great contempt of his Deity in prophaning his Sacred day with dances and such like Revels and disorders With horrible punishments neither is it to be doubted saith Mr. Gualther that the prophanation of the Lords day is not the least cause of the evils and calamities of our age Yea their own most illustrious Cardinall Robert Bellarmine whom they almost deifie when they do but name him is so far a Puritan in this particular that he not onely spends P Concio 6. 9 19 20. 2● foure or five whole Sermons against dancing mummeries masks and such like Bacchanals which he simply condemnes at all times but especially on sacred festivals and Lords dayes as most detestable prophanations of them but likewise professeth that the practise of them upon sacred times was the occasion of all the publike calamities and judgements which they suffered But by these Dances Mummeries Bacchanels and disorders saith he we pollute the holy dayes of the Lord and yet neverthelesse we do inquire the reasons why God doth punish us why we are slain in our very houses do not the Scriptures cry aloud Sin maketh a people miserable And there is no evill in the Citie which the Lord hath not done Therefore these our sins of prophaning the holy dayes of the Lord with dances revels and bacchanals have procured us famine and pover y and pestilence and sedition and all plagues and scourges And verily saith he in another Sermon I vehemently fear that if we proceed to celebrate the Bacchanals with mummeries and masks and dances as we do at other times and to provoke God to wrath with so many wicked pastimes our sin will be grown to the full at last and the anger of the Lord be so far incensed that he will utterly destroy us as we see he hath destroyed many nations for what I pray hath destroyed Grecia but even that very thing which we do They were men exceedingly given to drunkennesse feasting and dancing and that upon sacred times as may be known by the Orations of Basil and Chrysostome But what hath God done because they were addicted to these things and especially to Dancing he hath imposed such a severe tyrant to wit the Turke upon their necks that they now groane under the yoke and are pressed with so heavy a burthen that they have neither Time nor Will to Dance or Caper Thus Bellarmine to his great admirers shame and refutation If then this sin of prophaning the Lords day by dancing Maygames Ales Pastimes or unnecessary travell and labour draw down Gods Plagues and vengeance upon whole Kingdomes and Churches as these authors together with Mr. John Field in his declaration of the judgement of God at Paris Garden and Humphrey Robarts in his complaint for the Reformation of divers vain and wicked abused exercises practised on the Sabbath day which tend to the hindrance of the Gospel and increase of many abominable vices printed by Richard Jones London 1580. together with Mr. Philip Stubs in his Anatomie of abuses and M. John Northrook in his Treatise where in Dicing Dancing vain playes and Enter ludes with other idle Pastimes and exercises commonly used on the Sabbath day are by the Word of God and ancient Writers reproved printed for George Bishop London 1579. most punctually testifie and the Practice of Piety dedicated to his Majestie and 39. times printed by publike authority resolves no wonder if it hath lately caused God to unsheath his sword of exemplarie justice upon these particular persons that I speak not of the whole kingdome in generall now scourged with a fresh plague and lately a draught whose tragicall examples I here present unto your view to deterre all others from this sin It is a true saying of Cyprian Praebentur cunctis Exempla cum fuerint quibusdam irrogata Supplicia The Divine punishments of a few are warnings to all God grant that these may be so to us He faith the same Father is over audacious who strives to passe over there where he hath seen another to have fallen he is patragiously head strong who is not struck with fear when he beholds another perish in that course which he is running he onely is a lover of his own safety who takes warning by the Deaths of othes and he alone is a prudent man who is made wife by the Ruins of other men God of his mercie vouchsafe that the exemplarie deaths of these few here specified and of thousands more in this time of mortality occasioned by this sinne of Sabbath-breaking were as the former pests Together with a Plague in Pope Pelagius the second his time An. Dom. 591. as Petrus Blessensis in his 20. Sermon

upon the ice on the river Trent neer to Ganisborow coming all together in a scuffle the ice suddenly brake and they were all drowned Example 6. At Dover the very same Lords day 1635. that the book was read one in S. James Parish that played on a kitt went and plaied and thereby called together a sort of wenches and young men But he was thereupon that very day struck by divine hand so as within two daies he died Example 7. At Thurlow in Suffolke one making a Feast to his friends on the Sabbath day for joy of the publishing of the Book for sports was the next day pressed to death by the sudden fall or a faggot stack Example 8. At Hellings by five or six miles from Af●● in Sussex the book being read on the Lords day in the Church by the Minister on the next day being Munday an honest man one Tomkins being on his way a neighbour overtakes him and scoffingly asks him if he would go daunce with him the next Sunday to whom the man answered Take heed that thou be not dauncing in hell before that day come or before it be long By the next week Gods hand fell on this Scoffer that himself and two more of his family died Example 9. On February 9. 1634. being the Lords day an Apothecaries man in Limestreet London rid to Barnet with another companion to make merry who returning home drunk neer High-gate met a Tinker and offering him some abuse the Tinker strikes one of their horses whereat the one bid the other run him thorow who drawing his Rapier ran the Tinker thorow the breast that he fell down dead thereupon being by and by apprehended and confessing the fact they were both sent to Newgate Example 10. At Thornton neer Westchester 1634. the people there upon the first publishing of the book prepared for a solemn summer-ale The bringing in of their Lady flora should have been guarded with a Marshall troop the lustiest wench and stoutest young man in the town were chosen to be the purveyors for cakes and for ribbons for favours the solemnity was to be on the Munday but the preparation on the Lords day this lusty tall maid on the Saturday before went to the mill to fetch home the meal for cakes on her head she being strong and able for the purpose but in the way passing by a hedge she was suddenly struck by a divine stroke and fell into the ditch where she was found dead she was suffered to lie abroad in that pickle all the Lords day till Munday morning when the Coroner being sent for she was thence carried to her grave immediately where all her solemnity was buried with her and all her vain thoughts in that verie day wherein the great solemnity should have been And see what a good effect this wrought in the whole town First all their mirth was turned into mourning no summer ale kept and besides that they being moved by the dreadfull stroke of God took their May-pole down which they had before set up and never after would presume to set it up again or to have any more summer-ales or may-games God grant they continue in their sober mindes and that all other would learn to be wise by their example Example 11. In Yorkshire at a Wake in the Parish of Otley at Baildon 1634. on the Lords day two of them sitting at drink late in the night fell out and being parted the one a little after finding his fellow sitting by the fire with his back towards him comes behinde him and with a hatchet chines him down the back so as his bowels fell out the murtherer flying immediately and being hotly pursued lept into a river and so drowned himself O fearfull fruits of carnall liberty Example 12. One at Ham neer Kingston being a scoffer of all goodnesse 1635. and a common prophaner of the Sabbath going abroad to see his grounds on the Lords day and finding some neighbours cattell to have broken in he runs to drive them out and that with such eagernesse that he fell down dead instantly upon the place Example 13. One Wright at Kingston being a scoffer of Religion and rejoycing much at the suspending of his Minister and others for not reading the book of Sports in their Churches saying he hoped to see them all so served shortly was within a day or two after struck with a dead Palsey all over the one side and with blindnesse and dumbnesse that he could neither go nor see nor speak and so lay in a miserable manner for a fort-night and then died Example 14. In Moorefields neer London 1635. sundry youths playing at Cat on the Lords day two of them fell out and the one hitting the other under the eare with his Cat he therewith fell down for dead in the place the other was sent to prison but the dead for the time by Gods mercy recovering the prisoner was released which may be a warning both to them and all other youth to take heed how they so prophane the Lords day Example 15. April 18. 1635. being Saturday one travelling with three others from London to Maydenhead he the rest spending the Sabbath there would travell on his way the next day being the Lords day contrary both to Gods commandment and also of the Lady whom he served who had given him strict charge to observe the Sabbath and not to travell on it He rode in the morning to Henley and there heard the Sermon after that he fell to travell in the afternoon but as he went in the way leading his horse in his hand gently down a plain descent and even way his horse suddenly fell and broke both his fore legs the man fore agast at this not more sudden then strange disaster which he could not but attribute to the immediate hand of God and being past all hope of recovery was forced himself to knock his horse on the head and so to leave him and being the next day overtaken at Abington by his company whom he had left the day before and they asking him how it fell out he was no further on his way he smote his breast and told them how it had befallen him in the way saying that he had heard many a good Sermon yet none of them or any thing else did so work upon his conscience as this thing did and that this example should be a warning unto him for ever travelling on the Sabbath day again This is testified under the hands of those three which had travelled with him and overtook him Example 16. At Dartmouth 1634. upon the coming forth and publishing of the book for sports a company of younkers on May-day morning before day went into the countrey to fetch home a May pole with Drumme and Trumpet whereat the neighbouring Inhabitants were affrighted supposing some enemies had landed to sack them the Pole being thus brought home and set up they began to drink healths about it

and to it till they could not stand so steady as the Pole did whereupon the Major and Justice bound the ring leaders over to the Sessions whereupon these complaining to the Archbishops Vicar Generall then in his visitation he prohibited the Justices to proceed against them in regard of the Kings book But the Justices acquainted him they did it for their disorder in transgressing the bounds of the book hereupon these libertines scorning at Authority one of them fell suddenly into a * Deut. 28. 22. Consumption whereof he shortly after died now although this revelling was not on the Lords day yet being upon any other day and especially May-day the May-pole set up thereon giving occasion to the prophanation of the Lords day the whole yeer after it was sufficient to provoke God to send plagues and judgements among them Example 17. In the same yeer 1634. and in the same Shire one Edward Amerideth a Gentleman having been pained in his feet and being upon his recovery whereupon one said unto him he was glad to see him so nimble Amerideth replied that he doubted not but to daunce about the May-pole the next Lords day But behold the hand of the Lord for before he moved out of that place he was smitten with such a feeblenesse of heart and dizsinesse in his head that desiring help to carry him to an house he died before the Lords day came so fearfull it is to fall into the hands of the living God Example 18. One in Glocestershire being very forward to advance a solemne sommer-meeting wherein his son was to be a chief stickler went himself in great jollity to see it and there beholding it he fell down suddenly and so died Example 19. A Miller at Churchdown neer Glocester would needs contrary to the admonitions both of his Minister in private and generally in publike yea and that very day and of other Christian friends keep a solemn Whitson ale for which he had made large preparation and provision even of threescore dozen of cheesecakes with other things proportionable in the Church-house half a mile from his Mil his musicall instruments were set forth on the side of the Church-house where the Minister and people were to passe to the Church to Evening Prayer When Prayer and Sermon were ended the Drumme is struck up the peeces discharged the Musicians play and the rowt fall a dauncing till the evening where they all with the Miller resort to his Mill where that evening before they had supt about nine of the clock on Whitsunday a fire took suddenly in his house over their heads and was so brief and quick that it burnt down his house and mill and devoured with all the greatest of all his other provision and housholdstuffe This is confirmed by sundry good testimonies Example 20. Richard Benfield an Apparitor in the Parish of Hemsteed kept an Ale in the Church-house joyning to the Church-yard with dauncing and revelling night and day without controule pretending that the Bishop would bear him out and not unlikely because at his complaint to the Bishop of his Minister for preaching against dauncing and Maypoles he was suspended for his labour It happened that upon the Lords day at even being the 20. day of April that his youngest son was accused for stealing a purse and 20. shillings in it from a Butcher who lay drunk upon the board or table in the Church-house for which he was like to be hanged the purse being found about him Vpon the 21. day of the said moneth Benfield his eldest son Richard went down into Hempsteeds Peirse about some businesse and his youngest brother with him where they met with a little boy called Baker that had been a fishing having some small fishes in his hand Benfields youngest sonne would have taken these fishes from Baker whereupon they fell together by the eares The eldest brother Rich. Benfield went to help his younger brother being too weak for Baker This Baker did swear a great oath that he would stab him if he did meddle with him upon which words Benfield fell upon Baker gave him a box or two and ran away Baker followed him with his knife in his hand overtook him and thrust his knife three inches deep into his body which wound proved mortall so that he never spake more words then these Oh Jack Baker hath killed me and so fell down Two men being present there took him up in their armes brought him up into the Church-house alive and so soon as they had put him out of their armes upon the table he groaned and died Remarkable it is that where the Father drew ale upon the Lords day and so prophaned it In the same place his son the next day drew his last breath for that the punishment inflicted was stamped with the resemblance of the sin convicted Example 21. At Baunton in Dorcetshire some being at bowls on the Lords day 1634. one flinging his bowl at his fellow-bowler hit him on the eare so as the blood issued for that the other eare whereof he shortly died The murtherer fled Example 22. One good man Paul neer Stoke in Dorcetshire rejoycing much at the erection of a summer pole 1634. at a Parish called Simsbury in Dorcetshire and saying before one of his neighbours he would go see it though he went naked through a quickset hedge which is a common proverbe they use Going with wood in his armes to cast into the bonfire where he lived and using these words Heaven and earth are full of thy glory O Lord he was presently smitten by the stroke of God and within two or three daies died and his wife with him These two last examples are testified by a Minister in his letter to a brother Minister Example 23. In the edge of Essex neer Brinkley two fellows working in a chalkpit the one was boasting to his fellow how he had angred his Mistresse with staying so late at their sports the last sunday night but he said he would anger her worse the next Sunday He had no sooner said this but suddenly the earth fell down upon him and slew him out right with the fall whereof his fellows limbe was broken who had been also partner with him in his jollitie on the Lords day escaping with his life that he might tell the truth that God might be glorified and that by this warning he might repent of his sin and reform such his prophanenesse and remain as a pillar of salt to season others with fear by his example Example 24. The last Spring a Miller hard by Wootton in Worcestershire went on the Lords day to a wake whence returning home again the same day at night found his Mill and house all on a fire this was testified by a Minister in a Reply to another Minister who was an eye witnesse Example 25. At Woolston in the same countrey where the said Ministers father had been Minister fourty yeers and by Gods blessing upon his labours had

reformed things very well yet upon the publication of this book in print many of the inhabitants the Spring following were imboldned to set up Maypoles Morrice daunce and a Whitson ale continuing their rude revelling a week together with many affronts to their ancient and reverend Pastor but it pleased God that not long after a spark from a Smiths shop caught in that roome where the ale was brewed and though means were ready at hand yet it could not be quenched but set the house on fire and presently flew to the barn in which their disorder was and burnt the same with thirteen dwelling houses more most of whose Inhabitants were actors or abetters in the fame This is testified by many Example 26. Richard Jones son of Widow Jones July 1634. not far from Dorchester being severely admonished by his mother when she understood he had a purpose on Saturday night to go on the Lords day with other companions to Stoake to play at a sport called Fives but persisting in his resolution and going the next day accordingly being the Lords day at Stoke where he played at the said sport at night returning home with his companions William Burges William Hill John Edwards after they had there well drunk they fall first a justling one another in the way then to boxes and in the end Edwards stabbing Jones under the left side he died thereof the Munday night following about 7. of the clock Behold here a terrible example of disobedience to Gods holy Commandments not onely the fourth but the fifth also Example 27. At Ovendean in Sussex about nine or ten miles from Alfriston alias Ason one John Arcold of the age of one or two and twenty yeers eldest son to John Arcold a Blacksmith dwelling in Ason with other younkars would needs fall a ringing of the bels on a Sabbath day presuming the Book for Sports gave them full libertie so to do One of the Churchwardens Robert Kenward hindred them from their jangling whereupon the said Arcold and his companions fell in some contestation with him telling him that though he hindred them now yet they would ring the next Sunday whether he would or no. But the said John Arcold the ringleader before the next Sunday came was struck with a sicknesse in which he continued a fortnight or three weeks til he died in which time Robert Kenward the Churchwarden repairing to him and putting him in minde of his bold affronting of him he seemed to be sorry for it and promised if God would be pleased to restore him again to his health he would never do the like God make his surviving companions and all others wise by his example Example 28. At Walton upon Thames in Surrey 1634. not far from Oatlands in the last great Frost three young men on the Lords day after they had been at the Church in the forenoon where the Minister pressing the words of his text out of 2. Cor. 5. 10. that we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ c. they the while whispering one to another as they fa●e In the afternoon they went together over the Thames upon the ice unto a house of disorder and gaming where they spent the rest of the Lords day and part of the night also in revelling one of them in a Tavern merrily discoursing the next day of his Sabbath-acts and voyage over the Ice but on Tuesday next after these three returning homwards and attempting to passe againe over the Ice they all sanke downe to the bottome as stones whereof one onely of them was miraculously preserved but the other two were drowned Eccl 11. 9. Rejoyce O young man in thy youth and let thy heart chear thee in the dayes of thy youth and walk in the wayes of thy heart and in the sight of thine eyes But know thou that for all these things God will bring thee unto judgement Example 29. In the yeer of our Lord 1633. Octob. 26. after the book for sports was known to be published in print David Price a Welshman servant to one Thomas Hill a known Grasier of that countrey coming to Banbury with his drove on Saturday night declared his purpose of driving them the next day early in the morning being the Sabbath or Lords day his Host where he lodged disswaded him because it was the Sabbath day and told him that he would certainly be stopped and made to pay for it according to the Statute He answered that he would drive them and let mee see saith he who will hinder me So in the morning two other accompaning him he went to fetch the Cattell out of the ground one that knew him mett him at the Townes end not yet one of the Towne and admonished him saying What David to day to day he made no answere but went onward and though for any thing that appeared to any other or that himself complained of he was then in good health as ever he was yet within little more then a stones cast of the Town he fell down dead suddenly and was buried in Banbury Church-yard the next day after None could discern any sensible or evident cause of so sudden a surprizall and himself gave no signe of any pain weaknesse or illnesse till the instant time he gave up the ghost Example 30. At Wicks a Town betwixt Colchester and Harwich in Essex upon Whit sonday last in the afternoon two fellows meeting at the football the one killed the other Example 31. At Oxford this last Summer on the Sabbath day one Bally Hawks a Butcher would needs go into his field with an hatchet and shovell to mend his ditch his wife disswaded him what she could being the Sabbath day but he said he would go and make an end of his work which he did for suddenly he was struck dead in his ditch and so made an end of his work and his life together Example 32. Also at Oxford a Carpenter undertaking to mend a Stage in S. Johns Colledge on the Saturday night for the finishing whereof he must of necessity spend some part of the Lords day morning that the Stage might be ready against the Munday following he that night fell backward from the stage being not far from the ground and brake his neck and so ended his life in a fearfull Tragedie Example 33. At Ivye Hinckley a mile from Oxford about the time when May-poles are set up on the Lords day after Evening Prayer when most of the Town were at the May-pole one John Cooper servant to master Tinmore of the said Town going along the street a maid out of a window in John Nicols his house not far from the May-pole called him to come in thither where also was another maid and a young man named Christopher Young servant to Master Willis of the said Town John Cooper at first refused to come to them but the maid earnestly intreating him he yeelded to her and being come in sate down by the other two where

yea what Plague upon plagues may we not justly expect to break forth upon us in these dayes wherein we have increased and surpassed our fathers sins and that in such a height as they reach up to heaven to pull down flames and flakes of vengeance upon our heads And so much the more sith upon the publishing of the said book so manifold mischiefs have attended and followed as never any age since Christ much lesse such a Christian state as we professe to be hath seen or ever heard the like For besides the open violation of Gods holy commandment the 4th Morall acknowledged in our * Homily of the time and place of Praier Part. 1. p. 124. 125. 126. Homily to be the ground of our Christian Sabbath day as it is there no lesse then 8. severall times distinctly stiled as also in another * Hom. against Rebellion par 3. pag. 292. Homily twice which by the way makes me wonder at the audacious insolence arrogant ignorance of some new Masters in these dayes and in particular of Dr. Poc. k in his Sunday no Sabbath who is not ashamed to avouch with open mouth that the name of Sabbath was never given to the Lords day untill it was brought in by John Knox and others of the puritan faction in the yeer 1554. What saith he then to the Homilies of our Church which were set forth in K. Edw. 6. his Reign and so I am sure before 1554. by three or foure yeers now these to omit innumerable testimonies more both out of ancient Fathers and the Prelates of this land too large to be comprehended in a Parenthesis being enow to furnish a pretty Treatise these our Homilies I say so frequently and clearly called the Lords day the Sabbath day before John Knox called it so 1554. And the same Homilies being set forth afresh by Queen Elizabeth 1562. will Dr. P. dare to charge the learned and pious compilers of them a pack of Puritans or as * Doctor Wh●… Bp. of Ely some other Novell Sabbatarians But this by the way by which violation I say of the Sabbath or Lords day God is intolerably dishonoured and his religion disgraced through outragious libertinisme What an invention of Antichristian tyranny hath broken in at the opening of this great sluice What havock is made in our Church by sundry of the Hierarchy in suspending godly Ministers depriving them of their liberty livelihood and Freeholds against all Laws of God and man so as they their wives and children are exposed to beggery and all misery and their flocks to be devoured of the Wolves and to become a pray to the roaring Lion and all this because they dare not offer violence to their consciences in doing that which should dishonour God indanger their own and their peoples souls abase before God and man the authority and dignity to their Ministery condemne the innocent people of God and call the wicked righteous teach inferiours rebellion to their superiours and in a word hasten the pulling down of vengeance from heaven upon the Land O ye heavens stand amazed at this sight Tell it not in Gath nor publish it in the streets of Askelon lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoyce lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph what could the Pope have done more then some of our Prelates have done in this kinde for the darkning of the glory of Christs kingdome and for the setting up of Antichrists throne again in this Land But our Lord saith Ye shall know them by their fruits Besides what impudencie and impiety hath broken out from sundry aierie and ambitious spirits who have dared in their late published books upon books to belch out their blasphemies against God and the power purity and profession of the Religion established amongst us for so many yeers Nor onely is the floodgate of all prophanenesse and impiety broken up in the violation of the fourth commandment but of the fifth also when as by occasion of the publishing of the said book which inhibits Magistrates and superiors to restrain or punish youth fortaking such liberty on the Lords day as the book alloweth and which all other books writings monuments of Fathers Councels Kings Emperors Divines ancient and modern Protestants and Papists have universally with one vote and voice cried down till now but yesterday a new generation of Maleferiati hath risen up outdaring and defining the whole world and God himself inferiour persons exalt themselves in high contempt against their Superiors as the common vulgar against the Magistrate and Minister servants against their masters children against their parents and wanton wives against their husbands which hath caused such outcries and complaints of masters for their servants unbridled and uncontrowled outrage on the Lords day which must also in-jure them with pride and presumption of spirit the whole week after and so their whole life while like vntamed colts they have thus learned to take the bit between their teeth and so to run a gallop into all excesse of riot So as if the book be not all the sooner called in and authors of those late books against the sanctification of the Lords day condignly punished and a speedy reformation hereof set on foot how can we look for a stay of the plague untill the Land be consumed Now the Lord make us wise to lay these things to heart lest he teare in peeces and there be none to deliver For as never any Christian Church hath produced such monstrous impieties so never any Church hath been the theatre of such tragicall examples of divine wrath as our Land is like to be if we speedily repent not Vnlesse therefore we repent we shall all likewise perish as these examples have done before us Now for these so many so markable examples of Gods judgements inflicted upon the violaters and prophaners of the Lords day and that in so short a time even since the book for such sports was published we may thus argue and conclude That for which the Lord inflicteth and executeth so many notorious and severe judgements must needs be a notorious and hainous sin and so a breach of his holy commandment But for the violation and prophanation of the Lords day by sports and pastimes or by servile works the Lord inflicteth and executeth many notorious and severe judgements as of late we have seen Erg. the violation and prophanation of the Lords day is a notorious and hainous sin and so a breach of Gods holy commandment The major Proposition is a Maxime in Divinity God punisheth no man but for sin and sin is a transgression of Gods law 1. Joh. 3. 4. For the Minor proposition it is so clear as it cannot be denied except men will be senselesse and blinde Atheists But they that fear God shall declare the work of God for they shall wisely consider of his doing as Psal 64. 9. Now if the violation or prophanation of the Lords day be a sin and so a

transgression of Gods holy commandment then of what holy commandment but of the fourth And if of the fourth then the holy keeping of the Lords day for the Christian Sabbath is grounded upon the fourth Commandment and commanded in it as God hath abundantly testified by his many remarkable judgements even within these two yeers as hath been shewed Ob. But here some may object God may punish men for the breach of humane ordinances which are out of the expresse commandments of God So in this instance God may punish the violation or prophanation of the Lords day by such sports or wakes as being a breach of a humane ordinance or Ecclesiasticall institution Answ I answer it is true all humane ordinances being not against Gods word are to be observed for conscience sake of Gods commandment commanding subjection to all ordinances of men for the Lords sake Aud if it were a humane ordinance to dedicate this day of holy rest to God by a perpetuall vow and Decree then the greater is their sin that devoure that which is sanctified and after the vow make inquirie how it may be violated So as they are liable to the like judgements for so doing without repentance THE EPILOGVE THus have I presented you with a large Scene of late severall examples of Gods judgements upon Sabbath-breakers and such a So the Statute of 1. Caroli c. 1. stiles them disorderly people who have been so presumptuous as to prophane the Lords own sacred day against the monitions of Gods faithfull Ministers with unnecessarie labour vain sports and idle pastimes To which I might annex many ancient Precedents of like nature which I pretermit onely one excepted which is remarkable In the yeer of our Lord 1583. in the famous Metropolis of this our Land the City of London two Citizens the one leaving his wife the other her husband and committing adulterie together on the Lords day it pleased God to strike them dead with fire from heaven whilest they were in the very act of uncleannesse their bodies being left dead in the place half burnt up sending out a most loathsome savour for a spectacle of Gods avenging Justice unto others to teach them both to shun the sin of adultery and of Sabbath-breaking too and to take heed how they commit any fin or wickednesse at any time and especially on Gods sacred day or how they follow dauncing may-games Morisdaunces Ales and such lascivious pastimes b Vincentius Volnacensis Spec. moral li. 3. Ps. 9. Dist 6. Mr. Northbrook Stubs Brant Lovel and others in their Treatises against dauncing which commonly end in whoredome adultery as being strong allurements thereunto this judgement was so famous and remarkable that Laurentius Bayenlinke a forrain Historian in his Opus Chronologicum orbis universi Antwerp 1611. p. 110. hath thought good to register it to posterity if any deem those judgements strange or that God should iustice such punishments on this sin which some now justifie as a part of Christian liberty both in the Pulpit and in c The late Treatise History and Discourse of the Sabbath Sunday No Sabbath Doctor Pri. and a soveraigne Antidote against Sabbatarian Novelties printed works I shall onely intreat such to remember that the whole Convocation house all the Arcbbishops Bishops Archdeacons and greatest Clerks of England in their book intituled The Institution of a Christian Man subscribed with all their names and dedicated to King Hen. 8. an●… 1537. and King Hen. 8. himself in his own book inscribed A necessarie doctrine and erudition for any Christian man set forth by the Kings Majestie of England with the advise and approbation of the Lords spirituall and temporall and Nether house of Parliament ann 1543. and by the King himself dedicated under his name and title to all his faithfull and loving Subjects and published by vertue of the Statute of 30. H. 8. c. 26. in the exposition of the fourth Commandment have in the very dawning of Reformation injoyned all Bishops and Preachers diligently to instruct and teach the people committed to their spirituall charge and I wish that some Bishops would now do it that against this commandment generally do offend all they which having no lawfull impediment do not give themselves upon the holy day to hear the Word of God to remember the benefits of God to give thanks for the same to pray to exercise such holy works both publikely in the Church and privately in their houses as be appointed for such holy dayes but as commonly is used passe the time either in idlenesse in gluttony in riot or other vain and idle pastime Do * Ergo it is in force and the prophaning of the Lords day a sin against it break this Commandment For surely such keeping of holy day is not according to the intent and meaning of this Commandment as some new * As the Treatise History Discourse of the Sabbath Doctors now dogmatize but after the usage and custome of the Jews though some late Rabbies would make the world beleeve that the strict sanctification of the Lords day and the restraining of vain sports and pastimes on it is Jewish when a Epist 6. ad magnefianos Ignatius b Tract 3. in Iob. de 10. chordis c. 3. In Ps 32. 91. De consensu Evang li. 2. c. 77 Augustine c In Iob. Evang li. 8. c. 5. Cirillus Alexandrinus d Homily de festis diebus Ephraim Syrus e Eccl. Hist l. 7. c. 13. Socrates Scholasticus f Codicis Theodosit l. 15. tit 5. lex 5. Theodosius the Emperour g Enare in Ps 91. Beda Vincentius Belvacensis and generally al Authors since have branded dauncing sports and recreations on the Lords day both as Jewish and heathenish and i Edit 5. Lon. 1624. Sect. 38. n. 1. p. 110. Se. 43. digr 46. n. 6. p. 165. 186. Dr. John White in his way to the true Church defended and published by his elder brother Dr. Fr. White now Bishop of Ely k In 4. preceptum Mr. Zanchie l In Iohn Eu. c. 7. fol. 273. Wolfg. Musculus m Proposition for the Christian Sabbath p. 4. Mr. John Sprint as Popish and licentious tending to the overthrow of piety and desolation of publike Government and doth not please God but doth much more offend him and provoke his indignation and wrath towards us For as n In Iohan. tract 3. in Ps 32. 91. de 10. chordl●… c 3. St. Augustine saith of the Jews they should be better occupied labouring in the h Speculum morale li. 3. part 9. c. 6. fields and to be at plough then to be idle at home And women should better bestow their time in spinning of wooll then on the Sabbath day to loose their time in leaping or dauncing and other idle wantonnesse Now if the whole Clergy King State and Parliament were so quick-sighted as in those times of darknesse to see a Lords day

A DIVINE TRAGEDIE LATELY ACTED OR A Collection of sundrie memorable examples of Gods judgements upon Sabbath-breakers and other like Libertines in their unlawfull Sports hapning within the Realme of England in the compasse onely of few yeers last past since the Book was published worthy to be known and considered of all men especially such who are guilty of the sin or Arch-patrons thereof By that worthy Divine Mr. Henry Burton Printed in the yeer 1641. many thousand yeers past yet they remain still fresh upon record as done but yesterday even for this very end that they might be examples unto us not to lust after evill things as they lusted nor to trace the footsteps of their sinfull wayes lest we should incur the self same exemplarie punishments as they sustained 1. Cor. 10. 5. to 12. And as God himself so holy men of God in all ages following his example have carefully ob●●●ed and registred to posterity the speciall most remarkable judgements of God upon obstinate sins and sinners of all sorts with which not onely Ecclesiastical but even prophane stories are fully fraught happened in the ages and the places wherein they lived many whereof Mr. Jo. Fox in his Acts and Monuments near the end Mr. Raynolds in his Treatise concerning the miraculous discovery and punishments of murthers and Murtherers Dr. Thomas Beard in his Theatre of Gods judgements with sundry others have collected and digested into intire Tractates the very reading and serious perusall whereof would no doubt daunt the most professed Atheist and reclaim the most incorrigible sinner I therefore desiring to tread in their pious footsteps having received from good intelligence many memorable presidents of Gods avenging justice upon Sabbath-breakers and the prophaners of Sacred times devoted to his service hapning within the compasse of our little Island within two yeers space since the publication of the Declaration for Sports and Pastimes after Evening Prayer on the Lords day in Parish Churches by divers a Nullam habet spem salutis aeger quam ad intemperantiam Meditus hortatur Senec. Ministers hath set open the flood-gates to this presumptuous sin of Sabbath-breaking thought it a part of my bounden duty to preserve and propagate their memorie both for the honour of Gods truth and justice the vindication of the intire sanctification of his sacred day which he hath visibly pleaded for from heaven since men have been audaciously prophane b See the Doctrine of the Sabbath The History of the Sabbath the Treatise of the Sabbath-day and Discourse of the Sabbath lately printed which though they condemne the very name of Sabbath as Iewish yet they are all characterised with that name and title as to plead and I would I could not say to write and preach against it upon earth the clearing of those Ministers innocencie who now unjustly suffer through the malice of ungodly persecuters and raging Prelates for refusing to joyne with others in spurring on the people to the greedy pursuit of this crying dangerous sin to the ruin of their souls their bodies and shame of our Religion and the monition of this present and all future ages to beware of this so dangerous a transgression How God hath punished this very sin in former ages in such who have either by dancing Sports Pastimes or unnecessarie Labours and travels prophaned his Sacred day I mean not to record he that listeth may read store of such examples regist●ed to his hands in the Councell of Paris under Lewis and Lotharius anno 829. lib. 1. ca. 50. which relates in generall That many present in this Councell were eye-witnesses and others of them had it by relation that some men upon the Lords day being about their husbandry have been slain with Thunder some punished with the contraction of their joynts and sins some even with visible fire have had their bodies and bones burnt up in a moment and suddenly resolved into ashes and that many other terrible examples of like nature hath happened and did fall out daily By which it was declared that God is much offended with the dishonour of so great a Day Petrus Plessensis in Latinia major Sermo 20. In Mathew Paris Historia Major Anno 1200. p. 194. in Roger Hovenden anno 1200. p. 122. In Mathew Westminster Flores Historiarum Ann. 1200. In Vincentius Belvacensis Speculum Morale li. 3. pr 9. Distinctio 9. of dances In the flower of the Commandments printed in the beginning of King Hen. 8. fol. 159. to 163. In Henricus Gran. Distinct 9. Exemp 51. in the Magdeburge Centuries Centurie 12. ca 6. In Dr. Bownde his doctrine of the Sabbath Edition 2. p. 252. to 263. the first book in Mr. John Field his declaration of Gods judgements at Paris garden in Mr. Philip Stubs his Anatomie of abuses p. 185. in the Practice of Pietie 429. to 434. and Dr. Beard his Theatre of Gods Judgements All which have registred sundrie notable judgements of God upon sundrie Sabbath-breakers which have presumed to dance work or travell on the Lords holy day of purpose to shew the danger of prophaning holy times and to deter men from this common sin for which so many have smarted from heaven in an exemplarie manner I shall therefore confine my self onely to such domestick examples as have fallen out in sundrie corners of this our Realm within these two yeers of purpose to refute the * 2 Pet. 2. 16. madnesse of those Prophets who in the Presse and Pulpit and the prophanenesse of those people who in their dancing-greens and may-pole arbors have been so audacious as to affirm the Prophanation of the Lords day by Maygames Dances Maypoles Wakes and common Labour out of time of Divine Service especially after Evening Prayer to be no sin at all against the fourth Commandement or any other Law of God or man but c See the History Treatise Discourse and Doctrine of the Sabbath accordingly and Sunday no Sabbath necessary and commendable point of true Christian Libertie they should have said of carnall and heathenish licentiousnesse rather from which the people must not be debarred But let these blinde guides and Libertines learn from these examples to correct this their erronious judgement and practise for fear the Lord make them the next examples in this kinde to teach others to keep his Sabbaths better and more intirely for the future And if these tragicall spectacles of Divine justice will not perswade them that such prophaning of the Lords most sacred day is a sin yea and a crying sin too as all our writers yea and our Prelates generally till now of late have unanimously defined and the whole State in Parliament in d 1. Car. c 1. 3 Car. c. 1. two late famous Statutes and e 1. 27. H. 6. 5. 5. 6. E. 6. c. 3. two more ancient Acts to omit our f Of the Time and Place of Prayer part 1. Of Disobedience and unlawfull Rebellion part 3. p. 292. 293. Homilies