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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	day_n	private_a	public_a	3,325	5	6.8500	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17298	A divine tragedie lately acted, or A collection of sundry memorable examples of Gods judgements upon Sabbath-breakers, and other like libertines, in their unlawfull sports, happening within the realme of England, in the compass only of two yeares last past, since the booke was published worthy to be knowne and considered of all men, especially such, who are guilty of the sinne or arch-patrons thereof.	Burton, Henry, 1578-1648.	1636 (1636)	STC 4140.7; ESTC S115279	33,687	58

of the booke prepared for a solemne summer ale The bringing in of their Lady flora should have been guarded with a Marshall troope the lustiest wench and stoutest young man in the towne 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 mayd on the satturday before went to the mill to fetch home the meale for cakes on her head shee being stronge and able for the purpose but in the way passing by a hedge shee was suddainly struck by a divine stroke and fell into the ditch where shee was found dead shee was suffered to lye abroad in that pickle all the Lords day til munday morning when the Coroner being send for shee was thence carried to her grave immediately where all her solemnity was burried with her all her vaine thoughts in that very day wherein the great solemnity should have been And see what a good effect this wrought in the whole towne First all their mirth was turned into mourning no summer ale kept and besides that they being moved by the dreadfull stroke of God tooke their may-pole downe which they had before sett up and never after would presume to set it up againe or to have any more summer-ales or may-games God grant they continue in their sober mindes and that all other would learne to be wise by their example EXAMPLE 11. In Yorkshire at a Wake in the Parish of Otley at Baildon on the Lords day two of them sitting at drinke late in the night fell out and being parted the one a little after finding his fellow sitting by the fire with his backe towards him comes behinde him and with a hatchet chines him downe the backe so as his bowells fell out the murtherer flying immediately and being hotly pursued lept into a river and so drowned himselfe O fearefull fruits of carnall liberty EXAMPLE 18. One in Glocestershire being very forward to advance a solemne sommer-meeting wherein his sonne was to be a cheefe stickler went himselfe in great jollity to see it and there beholding it he fell downe suddainly and so dyed EXAMPLE 12. One at Ham neere Kingston being a scoffer of all goodnesse and a common profaner of the Sabbath going abroad to see his grounds on the Lords day and finding some neighbours cattell to have broken in he runnes to drive them out and that with such eagernesse that he fell downe 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 booke of sports in their Churches saying hee hoped to see them allso served shortly was within a day or two after struck with a dead Palsy all over the one side and with blindnesse and dumnesse that he could neither goe see nor speake and so lay in a miserable manner for a fortnight and then dyed EXAMPLE 14. In Moorefields neere London sundry youths playing at Catt on the Lords day two of them fell out and the one hitting the other under the eare with his catt he therewith fell downe 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 profane the Lords day EXAMPLE 1. A woman about Northampton the same day that shee heard the booke for sports read went immediately and having 3. pence in her purse hired a fellow to goe to the next Towne to fetch a Minstrell who comming shee with others fell a dauncing which continued within night at which time shee was got with child which at the birth shee murthering was detected and apprehended and being convented before the justice shee confessed it and with all told the occasion of it saying it was her falling to sport on the Sabbath upon the reading of the booke so as for this treble sinful act her presumtuous profaning of the Sabbath which brought her adulte●y that murther Shee was according to the Law both of God and man put to death much sinne and misery followeth upon sabbath-breaking EXAMPLE 2. Also at Northampton in the last Easter assises there was a youngman who formerly by seeing the example of good people in the due sanctification of the Lords day or Sabbath had begun to reforme his former loose kind of life and to frame his conversation according to Gods word and that in the well keeping of the Sabbath abstaining therein from sports and pastimes and spending the whole day in the publike and private duties of it but when once he heard of the publishing of the booke for sports and pastimes he fell backe againe to his former wallowing and being taken as he was picking a pocket when the Iudges weare in the Church upon examination confessed what he had formerly beene and how he had been reformed and that upon the publishing of the sayd booke he was incouraged to run riot a fresh by which meanes he fell into this impiety and iniquity for the which he suffered death EXAMPLE 15. Aprill 1● 1635. being Satturday 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 commandement 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 travail in the afternoone but as he went in the way leading his horse in his hand gently downe a plaine descent and even way his horse suddainly fell and broke both his fore leggs the man sore agast at this not more suddaine then strange disaster which he could not but attribute to the immediate hand of God and being past all hope of recovery was forced himselfe to knocke his horse in 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 worke upon his conscience as this thing did and that this example should be a warning unto him for ever travailing on the Sabbathday againe This is testified under the hands of those 3. which had travailed with him and over tooke him EXAMPLE 16. At Dartmouth 1634. upon the comming forth and publishing of the booke for sports a company of younkers on May-day morning before day went into the Country to fetch home a May-pole with Drum and Trumpett whereat the neighbouring inhabitants were affrighted supposing

common sinne for which so many have smarted from heaven in an exemplarie manner I shall therefore confine my selfe only to such domesticke examples as have fallen out in sundry corners of this our Realme within these two yeares of purpose to refute the madnesse of those Prophets who in the Presse and Pulpit and the profanes of those people who in their dauncing-greenes and may-pole arbors have bene so audacious as to affirme the Profanation of the Lords day by Maygames Daunces May-poles Wakes and common Labour out of time of divine Service especially after evening Prayer to be no sin at all against the 4. Commandement or any other Law of God or man but necessary and commendable point of true Christian Liberty they should have sayd of carnall and heathenish licentiousnesse rather from which the people must not be debarred But let these blinde guides and libertines learne from these examples to correct this their erronious judgment and practise for feare the Lord make them the next examples in this kinde to teach others to keepe his Sabbaths better and more intirely for the future And if these tragical spectacles of divine justice will not perswade them that such profaning of the Lords most Sacred day is a Syn yea and a crying Syn too as all our writers yea and our Prelates generally till now of late have unanimously defined and the whole State in Parliament in two late famous Statutes and two more ancient Acts to omit our Homilyes Common Praier booke Canons Articles and Injunctions which conclude the same I say have adjudged such a presumptuous transgression as will draw downe Gods vengeance on mens heads Our late Soveraigne K. Iames of happy memory and our present gracious Soveraigne Lord R. Charles with all the Prelates Cleargy and people of the Realme in the first yeares of both their Raignes in the severall Bookes of Common Praier and order for the publike fasts set out by their royall authorityes and the Bishops advice with the Consent and harty desire of the whole Realme for the abating aversion and ceasing of those dreadfull eating Plagues which then swallowed up many thousands of people every weeke will informe them That amonge other Syns The profaning OF THE SABBATH So King Iames his Booke styles the sunday and not keeping holy the Lords day was one cheife cause why those two great terrible Plagues and why not also this great Plague which is now begun and spread much abroade 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 M r. Rodolphus Gualter and Wolfgangus Musculus men of principall note and learning amonge them will both assure them that the Lords day is not onely WHOLLY ONLY AND INTIRELY TO BE SPENT IN RELIGIOVS PVBLIKE AND PRIVATE DVTIES OF GODS WORSHIP AND THAT DAVNCING SPORTES AND PASTIMES ON IT ARE SINFVLL AND EXECRABLE the constant judgment of all forraigne Protestant divines whatsoever as I am able to prove what ever D r Helyn or others have rashly averred to the contrary But likewise further informe them That God may justly revenge the great contempt of his Deity in profaning his Sacred day with daunces and such like Revells and discorders WITH HORRIBLE PVNISHMENTS NEITHER IS IT TO BE DOVBTED saith M r Gualther THAT THE PROFANATION OF THE LORDS DAY IS NOT THE LEAST CAVSE OF THE EVILS AND CALAMITIES OF OVR AGE Yea their owne most illustrious Cardinall Robert Bellarmine whom they allmost deify when they doe but name him is so farre a Puritan in this particular that he not only spends 4. or 5. whole Sermones against dauncing mummeries maskes and such like Bacchanals which he simply condemnes at all times but especially on sacred festivals and Lords dayes as most detestable profanations of them but likewise professeth that the practise of them upon sacred times was the occasion of all the publike calamities and judgments which they suffered But by these Daunces Mummeries Bacchanels and discorders saith he we polute the holy dayes of the Lord and yet neverthelesse do we inquire the reasons why God doth punish us why we are slaine in our very houses doe not the Scriptures cry aloude Sinne maketh a people miserable And there is no evill in the Citie which the Lord hath not done Therefore these our sinnes of profaning the holy dayes of the Lord with daunces revels and bacchanals have procured us famine and poverty and pestilence and sedition and ALL PLAGVES AND SCOVRGES And verily saith he in another Sermon I vehemently feare that if we proceed to celebrate the Bacchanals with mummeries and maskes and daunces as we doe at other times and to provoke God to wrath with so many wicked Pastimes our sinne will be growen to the full at last and the anger of the Lord be so farre 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 doe They were men exceedingly given to drunkenesses feasting and DAVNCING and that upon sacred times as may be knowne by the Orations of Basill and Chrisostome But what hath God done because they were addicted to these things and especially to DAVNCING 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 DAVNCE OR CAPER Thus Bellarmine to his greate admirers shame and refutation If then this sinne of profaning the Lords day by dauncing Maygames Ales Pastimes or unnecessary travel and labour drawe downe Gods Plagues and vengeance upon whole Kingdomes and Churches as these authors together with M r. Iohn Feild in his declaration of the judgement of God at Paris Garden and Humphry Robarts in his complaint for the Reformation of divers vaine and wicked abused exercises practised on the Sabbath day which tend to the hinderance of the Gospell and increase of many abominable vices printed by Richard Iones London 1580. together with M r. Philip Stubs in his Anatomic of abuses and M r. Iohn Nortbrooke in his Treatise where in dicing DAVNCING vaine playes and Enterludes with other idle Pastimes and exercises commonly used on the SABBATH DAY are by the Word of God and ancient writers reprooved printed for George Bishop London 1579. most punctually testifie and the Practise of Piety dedicated to his Majesty 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 speake not of the whole Kingdome in generall now scourged with a fresh plague and lately a drought whose tragicall examples I here present unto

A DIVINE TRAGEDIE LATELY ACTED Or A Collection of sundry memorable examples of Gods judgements upon Sabbath-breakers and other like Libertines in their unlawfull Sports happening within the Realme of England in the compass only of two yeares last past since the Booke was published worthy to be knowne and considered of all men especially such who are guilty of the sinne or Arch-patrons thereof Psal. 50. vers 22. Now consider this ye that forget God least he teare you in peeces and there be none to deliuer you Gregorius M. Moralium lib. 36. c. 18. Deus etsi quaedam longanimiter tolerat quaedam tamen in hac vita flagellat hîc nonnunquam ferire inchoatur quos aeterna damnatione consumat Tibullus Elegiarum lib. 3. Eleg. 7 Foelix quicunque dolore Alterius disces posse carere tuo Concil Paris 2. lib. 3. c. 5. Salubriter admonemus cunctos fideles ut diei Dominico debitum honorum reverentiam exhibeant Quoniam hujus dehonoratio à Religione Christiana valde abhorret suis violatoribus animarum perniciem proculdubio generat Alex. Alensis ex Hieron P. 3. Q. 32. M. 4. Art 1. Resol Quis dubitat Sceleratiùs esse commissum quod graviùs est punitum ut Num. 15. 35. ibid. Anno M. DC XXXVI TO THE READER CHristian Reader it is a true saying of that royal King Salomon Prov. 19. 29. Iudgments are prepared for Scorners that is for such who contemne the precepts and admonitions of God and his faithfull Ministers And as they are thus prepared so are they oft times executed upon such even in this present life that Gods power truth and justice might be manifested and wicked men frighted from their evill courses So the Psalmist Psalm 9. 16. The Lord is knowne by the judgment that he executeth the wicked is snared in the worke of his owne hands the reason is thus rendered by the Prophet Isay. c. 26. 9. For when thy judgements are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learne righteousnesse though never so indocible and refractory before Neither doth God so inflict his judgements as to have them presently forgotten but he stampes a Memento on them having so done his marvelous works as wel of justice as of mercy that they ought to be had in remembrance Psalm 111. 4. Himselfe therefore hath vouchsafed to record even in sacred writ many notable examples of his avenging justice both generall Nationall and personall for al posteritie to contemplate prefacing some of them with a special Memorandum for our more serious consideration of them with Luk. 17. 32. Remember Lots wife which judgments though executed many thousand yeares past yet they remaine still fresh upon record as done but yesterday even for this very end that they might be examples unto us not to last after evil things as they lusted nor to trace the footsteps of their sinfull wayes lest we should incurre the selfe same exemplarie punishments as they susteined 1. Cor. 10. 5. to 12. And as God himselfe so holy men of God in all ages following his example have carefully observed and registred to posteritie the speciall most remarkable judgments of God upon obstinate sinnes and sinners of all sorts with which not only ecclesiasticall but even profane Stories are fully fraught happened in the ages and the places wherein they lived Many whereof M r. Iohn Fox in his Acts and monuments neere the end M r Raynolds in his Treatise concerning the miraculous discovery and punishments of murthers and Murtherers D r Thomas Peard in his Theatre of Gods judgments with sundry others have collected and digested into intire Tractates the very reading serious perusall whereof would no doubt daunt the most professed Atheist reclaime the most incorrigible sinner I therefore desiring to tread in their pious footsteps having received from good intelligence many memorable presidents of Gods avenging Iustice upon Sabbath-breakers the profaners of Sacred times devouted to his service happening within the compasse of our little Iland within two yeares space since the publication of the Declaration for Sports and Pastimes after evening Prayer on the Lords day in Parish Churches by divers Ministers hath sett open the floudgates to this presumptuous Sinne 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 sanctifycation of his sacred day which he hath visiblie pleaded for from heaven since men have been audaciously profane as to pleade and I would I could not say to write and preach against it upon earth the clearing of those Ministers innocency who now unjustly suffer thorough the malice of ungodly persecutors and raging Prelates for refusing to joine with others in spurring on the people to the greedy pursuite of this crying dangerous Syn to the ruine of their Soules 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 Syn in former ages in such who have either by dancing Sports Pastimes orunnecessary Labors and travels profaned his Sacred day I meane not to record he that listeth may read store of such examples registred to his hands in the Counsell of Paris under Lewis and Lotharius anno 829. l. 1. c. 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 aboute their husbandry have bene slaine with thunder some punished with the contraction of their joynts and sinnes some even with visible fire have had their bodyes and bones burnt up in a moment and sodainly resolved into ashes and that many other terrible examples of like nature hath happened and did fall out dayly By WHICH IT WAS DECLARED THAT GOD IS MVCH OFFENDED WITH THE DISHONOVR OF SO GKEAT A DAI Petrus Plessensis in Litania major Sermo 20. In Mathew Paris Historia Major Anno 1200. p. 194. in Roger Houenden Anno 1200. p. 822. In Mathew Westminster Flores Historiarum Anno 1200. In Vincentius Beluacensis Speculum Morale l. 3. pr. 9. Distinctio 9. ofdances In the flower of the Commandements printed in the beginning of K. Hen. 8. fol. 159. to 163. In Henricus Gran. Distinct. 9. Exemp 51. in the Magdeburge Centuries Centurie 12. c. 6. In D r. Bownde his doctrine of the Sabbath Edition 2. p. 252. to 263. the first booke in M r Iohn Feild his declaration of Gods judgments at Paris garden in M r Philip Stubs his Anatomie of abuses p. 185. in the Practice of Piety 429. to 434. and D r. Beard his Theatre of Gods judgements All which have registred sundrie notable Iudgements of God upon sundry Sabbath-breakers which have presumed to daunce worke or travell on the Lords holy day of purpose to shew the danger of profaning holy times and to deterre men from this

Gospell behold so many sad spectacles of his wrath and indignation against the offendors of this commandement in this kind to teach these blind Seers and seducing guides as Bp. Latimer long since named them that God is now as jealous for the sanctification of his day and as much offended with the profanesse of it and infringers of the fourth Commandement by unnecessary labours travell or idle pastimes as he had bene in any age if not rather much more in regard of the great light of the Gospell that hath for these many yeares so clearly shined amongst us which if they will not yet beleeve I shall at once close up their mouthes with the resolution of our Homilies ratified by Act of Parliament and the 35. Article of our Church to which these Novellers have subscribed and whose Patronage they pretend against all novell Sabbatarians But alas saith the Homily all these notwithstanding and I pray God I may not still say notwithstanding all these fresh examples it is lamentable to see the wicked boldnesse of those that will be counted Gods people who passe nothing at all of keeping and hallowing the Sunday And these people are of two sorts the one sort if they have businesse to doe though there be no extreame need they must not spare for the Sunday they must ride journeyes on the Sunday they must drive and carry on the Sunday they must come and ferry on the Sunday they must buy and sell on the Sunday they must keepe markets and faires on the Sunday finally they use all dayes alike worke dayes and holy dayes are all one The other sort is WORSE so the Homily against these new masters who make labour in mens callings on the Lords day WORSE and more unlawfull then dauncing Pastimes contrary to the judgement of S. Augustine Gregory the great Alensis and all writers since who unavoce resolve that it is better and more lawfull to plough and spin on the Sabbath-day then to daunce for allthough they will not travell and labour on the Sunday as they doe on the worke day yet they will not rest in holinesse as God commandeth but they rest in ungodlinesse and filthinesse prauncing in their pride pranking and pricking pointing and painting themselves to be gorgeous and gay they rest in excesse and superfluity in gluttony and drunkennesse as they doe at wakes Ales and May-poles like ratts and swine they rest in brawling and rayling in quarrelling and fighting they rest in wantonnes and what else is dauncing moris-dauncing maygaming c. into-ish talking in filthy fleshlines so that it doth too evidently appeare that God is more dishonoured and the devill better served on Sunday then upon all the dayes of the weeke besides And I assure you that the beasts that are commanded to rest on the Sunday honour God better then this kind of people for they offend not God they breake not their holy dayes Wherefore O ye people of God lay your hands upon your hearts repent and amend this grievous and dangerous wickednesse stand in awe of the commandement of God gladly followe the example of God himselfe be not disobedient to the godly order of Christs Church used and kept from the Apostles times untill this day feare the displeasure and just plagues of Allmighty God if ye be negligent and forbeare not labouring and travailing on the SABBATH DAY and doe not resort together to celebrate and magnifie Gods blessed name in quiet holinesse and godly reverence I shall conclude all with the words of the Councell of Paris under Lewis and Lotharius Anno 829. li. 1. c. 50. li. 3. c. 5. 19. Multa alia terribilia judicia c. Many other terrible judgments have bene and hetherto are whereby is declared how much God is offended with the dishonour of this day Wherefore the Imperiall highnesse is specially to be implored of the Preists that this power ordained of God for the honour and reverence of so great a day may put a feare into all men least none of what condiō soever presume on this holy and venerable day to use these and the likesports dauncings and leapings hereafter because while they doe these things they both darken the glory of Christianity and give occasion to the blasphemers of Christs name the more to dishonour him We require also and earnestly intreat that in the observation of the Lords day as we have a longe time beseeched you you use due care that unlesse great necessity constraine you free your selves on that day as much as may be from worldly cares and sollicitousnesse And that which becometh the honour of so great a day that both you your selves doe it and by your example doe teach and compell yours to doe it We wholsomly admonish all faithfull people that they give due honour and reverence to the Lords day because the dishonour of this day doth both much swarue and abhorre from Christian religion and doth without doubt procure the perill of soules to the violaters thereof And with that of the Councell of Burges an 1582. apud Bachellum Decreta Ecclesiae Gall. l. 4. Tit. 7. c. 21. Allthough Lords dayes and holy dayes are instituted only for this purpose that faithfull Christians abstaining from externall and gainfull works might more freely and with greater piety give themselves to divine worship and to the meditation of the infinite benefits of Gods goodnesse towards mankinde and so being WHOLLY taken up with the wholsome duties of religion should diligently beware as Ignatius admonisheth the Philippians that they should not abuse holy dayes with any disgrace or injuries yet notwithstanding in our times it preposterously and usually comes to passe that both solemne and religious dayes are not only spent in transacting unlawfull and secular businesse but likewise in luxury lasciviousnesse prohibited sports and pastimes Revells and the exercising of other wickednesses whereupon it is not to be doubted that for the greatest part so many calamities wherewith we are so long since consumed are justly inflicted on us by God who is incensed against us by so great wickednes To appease whose present anger and likewise to avert his greater indignation hanging over our heads we command all Parish Priests of our Province that they frequently and seriously admonish the people that on Lords dayes they not only keepe themselves from all prohibited works but likewise that they be ex animo cordially and religiously present at all sacred misteries of the Church and at the preaching of Gods word and that they pretermit not the works of piety in releiving the poore comforting the afflicted and in doing other pious things wherein Christian profession and charity do most of all shine forth And we exhort all Magistrates according to their and our duety as farre as possibly we may that they would take care that those holy and solemne dayes should be holily and piously celebrated this being principally in their power and