some enemies had landed to sacke them the Pole being thus brought home and set up they began to drinke healthes about it and to it till they could not stand so steady as the pole did whereupon the Major and Iustice bound the ringleaders 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 booke But the justices acquainted him they did it for their disorder in transgressing the bounds of the booke hereupon these libertines scorning at Authority one of them fell suddainly into a Consumption whereof he shortly after dyed now allthough 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 profanation of the Lords day the whole yeare after it was sufficient to provoke God to send plagues and judgements among them EXAMPLE 17. In the same yeare 1634. and in the same Shire one Edward Amerideth a Gentleman having bene pained in his feet and being upon his recovery whereupon one sayd unto him he was glad to see him so nimble Amerideth replyed 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 hart and dizsines in his head that desiring helpe to carry him to an house he dyed before the Lords day came so fearefull it is to fall into the hands of the living God EXAMPLE 54. Many more examples might here be added not only such as have fallen out within these two yeares last past since the sayd booke was published by the Ministers in their Churches but also since the booke was first of all printed and published the very bruite whereof without being read by Ministers was enough and to much to imbolden youth to take their liberty in profaning the Lords day but for the present I will add but one more At Chidlington upon the edge of Hertfordshire not farre from Hitchin a company of fellowes upon a holy day being to play a match at foot ball one of them was tolling the bell to assemble the rest some being come into the Church the randevoze of their meeting suddainly it thundering was seene a blacke ball come tumbling downe a hill neere by which tooke its course directly into the Church there it flew into the bell free and first slew him that tolled the bell then it flustered about the Church and hurted divers of them and at last bursting left a filthy stinke like to that of brimstone and so left a terror to all such spend thrifts of precious time and especially such as is dedicated to sacred uses who so is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord. Psal. 107. 43. EXAMPLE 4. Vpon May day last being the Lords day a mayd of the Minister of the Parish Cripplegate London was married to a Widower having 3. children the youngest being at Nurce in the Country upon this day they kept their feast in the Church-house joyning to the Church where they spent all the afternoone in dauncing but within one weeke after the Plague began in that Parish in the new married mans house where within a moneth it tooke away the man and his wife and his two children that were in the house And thus was the Plague brought first into that Parish this yeare To this we will adde another example because it fell within the same moneth in the same city A Minister Rector of a Church in London on the saturday would goe with two of his neighbours boon companions to be joviall the next day being the Lords day they conditioning that he should bestow a Sermon upon them They on the Lords day being now in the country spent the forenoone idly in the afternoone they goe to visit another London Minister who had another benefice there in the Country he puts his brother to preach which done invites him with his companions to a bottle of Sacke They drank so long that the two neighbours tongues began to faile them Home to their lodging within a few miles they betake them That night their Minister could not sleepe and raising early to walke abroad he returned with such a coldnesse upon him that he looked and felt like cold pale death the two neighbours much dismayd and with much adoe get him home to London where in that case continuing he dyeth before the next Sabbath day EXAMPLE 55. Vpon May-Eve Thomas Troe of Glocester Carpenter in the Parish of S. Michaell some comming unto him and asking him whether he would goe with them to fetch the May-pole he swore by the Lords woundes that he would though he never went more Now while he was working on the May-pole on May day morning before he had finished his worke the Lord smote him with such a lamenesse and swelling in all his limbes that he could neither goe nor lift his hands to his mouth to feed himselfe but kept his bed for halfe a yeare together and still goes lame to this day May 4. 1636. EXAMPLE 56. About a yeare since 1635. in Ashton under the Hill in the Parish of Beckford in the Country of Glocester the Minister there Master Blackwell having occasion in his Sermon in the afternoone on the Lords-day to reproove the profaning of that day by sports c. as soone as the Sermon was done a youngman of that place used these words Now Master Blackwell hath done we 'le begin and so taking the Cudgells playes with them and at the second or third bout he received a thrust in one of his eyes that thrust it quite out so as it hanged by and could never recover it againe THese Examples of divine justice so notorious so remarkableboth for number and variety having fallen out in so narrow a compasse of time and so dispersed over the whole Land as every particular place and country might take speciall notice thereof if they will not take and make impression in our stony hearts to moove us to speedy repentance as for many other enormities and crying sins so in speciall for this our ring-leading sinne of the heathenish profanation of the Sabbath or Lords day what plea can we make for our selves why the Lord of the Sabbath should not send some universall epidemicall sweeping calamity uponthe land sparing neither small nor great And now that the plague and pestilence begins to breake forth and spreeds itselfe much amongst us the Lord shooting these his terrible venemous arrowes from which not even Princes nor Prelates palaces can secure themselves from becoming his butts and marks What can we more impute it unto as the cause thereof then to this grand sinne of the profanation of the Sabbath or Lords day occasioned so much the more by the publishing of the late booke for sports
bringe thee unto judgement EXAMPLE 29. In the yeare of our Lord 1633. Octob. 26. after the booke for sports was known to be published in print David Price a Welshman servant to one Thomas Hill a knowne Grasier of that Country coming to Banbury with his drove on Satturday 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 Hee answered that he would drive them and let me see saith hee 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 oUt of the Towne and admonished him saying What David today today he made no answere but went onward and though for any thing that appeared to any other or that himselfe complained of he was then in good health as ever he was yet within little more then a stones cast of the Towne he fell downe dead suddainly and was burried in Banbury Church-yard the next day after None could discerne any sensible or evident cause of so suddaine a surprizall and himselfe gave no signe of any paine weakenesse or illnesse till the instant time that he gave up the ghost EXAMPLE 5. On Ian. 25. 1634. being the Lords day in the time of the last great Frost 14. younge men presuming to play at football upon the yce on the river Trent neere to Ganisborrow comming alltogether in a scuffle the yce suddainly brake and they were all drowned EXAMPLE 30. At Wicks a Towne betwixt Colchester and Harwich in Essex upon Whitsunday last in the afternoone two fellowes meeting at the football the one killed the other EXAMPLE 31. At Oxford this last Sommer on the Sabbathday one Bally Hawkes a Butcher would needs goe into his feild with an hatchet and showell to mend his ditch his Wife disswaded him what shee could being the Sabbathday but he said he would goe and make an end of his worke which he did for suddainly he was struck dead in his ditch and so made an end of his worke and his life together EXAMPLE 32. Also at Oxford a carpenter undertaking to mend a Stage in S. Iohns Colleidge on the Satturday night for the finishing wherof he must of necessity spent 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 farre from the ground and brake his neck and so ended his life in a fearefull Tragedy EXAMPLE 33. At Iuye Hinckley a mile from Oxford about the time when May-poles are sett up on the Lords day after evening Prayer when most of the Towne were at the May-pole one Iohn Cooper servant to master Tinmore of the said Towne going along the street a Mayd out of a windowe in Iohn Nicols his house not farre from the May-pole called him to come in thither where also was another Mayd and a young man named Christopher younge servant to Master Willis of the sayd Towne Iohn Cooper at first refused to come to them but the mayd earnestly intreating him he yeilded to her and being come in sate downe by the other two where having sate a while the foresaid Christopher younge spied a Gun over the chimney which he supposing not to be charged fondly tooke downe and fell a tampearing with it and first levelled at the mayds and after held it up against Iohn Cooper as he sate and unwittingly lifting up the Cocke it strucke fire and the peece discharged and shot the said Iohn Cooper through the shoulder so that he dyed presently being heard only to say O Lord. EXAMPLE 6. At Dover the very same Lords day that the booke was read one in S. Iames Parish that played on a kitt went and played and thereby calld together a sort of wenches and young men But he was thereupon that very day struck by divine hand so as within two dayes he dyed EXAMPLE 34. A young man neere Bow going to swimme in the river on Essex side on the Lords day in the afternoone was drowned EXAMPLE 35. Two boyes of S. Albons going to Verolanes Ponds a mile off to swimme on the Lords day Iuly 19. one of them was drowned and the other hardly escaped EXAMPLE 36. At Ramsey in Suffolke a tall man on the Lords day going with others to swimme and being advertized and warned of a hole in the water he sware that there was no place there could drowne him but by and by on a suddaine he was missing being now under water and so drowned EXAMPLE 37. On September 13. 1635. being the Lords day two young men of the Parish of S. Dunstans in the West London going to swimme were both drowned EXAMPLE 7. At Thurlow in Suffolke one making a Feast to his freinds on the Sabbath day for joy of the publishing of the Booke for sports was the next day pressed to death by the suddaine fall of a faggot stack EXAMPLE 38. At Twiford in Buckinghamshire a fellow playing at cudgels on the Lords day or as some say upon a revell day receaved a hurt in the face whereof he dyed the next weeke EXAMPLE 39. At Lemster one Master Powel Ian. 1634. on the Lords day serving a writt of sub poena and that of purpose on that day as is credibly reported upon one Master Shuit a Gentleman this he did in the Church-yard so soone as they were come out of the Church Master Shuit thereupon told him I thought you had beene an honester man then so to doe this upon this day he replyed I hope I am never a whit the more dishonest or lesse holy for that having spoken this he suddainly fell downe dead and spoke not a word more his wife seeing this was suddainly struck with sicknesse EXAMPLE 40. A fellow in Sommersetshire being to make a tente upon the Lords day for a faire that was to be kept upon the Munday following sayd to one on the Satturday that they would reare it to morrow so the next day which was the Lords day being drunk he dyed the same day roaring EXAMPLE 43. At Glassenbury in Sommersetshire at the setting up of a May-pole it miscarrying fell upon a child slew it and it is reported that it was the Churchwardens child who was the cheefe stickler in the businesse Also when the May-pole in the same Towne was againe the second time a setting up a fire tooke in the Towne so as all the people about the May-pole were forced to leave it and to runne to the quenching of the fire EXAMPLE 44. A may-May-Lord of misrule not farre from thence became madd upon it EXAMPLE 45. Also at Battersey neere London the last yeare a notable example of Gods judgement befell a fidler the youth of the town of both
and that by the Ministers themselves For was it not the judgement and confession of King Iames of famous memory and of the whole state and Kingdome in an exhortation published in that great plague beginning with his raigne 1603 where are these words The Lords Sabbath is not kept holy but polluted c. and therefore the cause is apparent why the plague is broken in amongst us And was not the same exhortation afterwards republished by our gracious King Charles whom God long preserve a religious and righteous Governour over us in the first yeare of his raigne with the approbation of the whole Parliament where the same is acknowledged of that other great Plague in the beginning of his Raigne 1625. namely that one principall speciall cause thereof was the not keeping holy but polluting the Lords day And if this were a principall cause of those great plagues then why not of this which now we suffer yea what Plague upon plagues may we not justly expect to breake forth upon us in these dayes wherein we have increased surpassed our fathers sins and that in such a height as they reach up to heaven to pull downe flames and flakes of vengeance upon our heads And so much the more sith upon the publishing of the said booke so manyfold mischiefes have attended and followed as never any age since Christ much lesse such a Christian state as we professe to be hath seene or ever heard the like For besides the open violation of Gods holy commandement the 4. Morall acknowledged in our 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 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 D r. Poch 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 Iohn Knox others of the Puritan faction in the yeare 1554. What saith he then to the Homilies of our Church which were set forth in K. Edw. 6. his Raigne and so I am sure before 1554. by 3. or 4. yeares now these to omitt innumerable testimonies more both out of ancient Fathers and the Prelates of this Land too large to be comprehended in a Parenthesis being now to furnish a pretty Treatise these our Homilies I say so frequently and clearly called the Lords day the Sabbath day before Iohn Knox called it so 1554. And the same Homilies being set forth a fresh by Queene Elizabeth 1562. will Dr. P. dare to charge the learned and pious compilers of them a pack of Puritans or as 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 livelyhood and Freeholds against all Lawes 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 prey to that roaring Lion and all this because they dare not offer violence to their consciences in doing that which should dishonour God indanger their owne and their peoples soules abase before God and man the authority and dignity to their Ministry condemne the innocent people of God and call the wicked righteous teach inferiours rebellion to their Superiours and in a word hasten the pulling downe 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 least the daughters of the Philistims rejoyce least the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph What could the Pope have done more then some of our Prelates have done in this kind for the darkening of the glory of Christs Kingdome and for the setting up of Antichrists throne againe in this Land But our Lord sayth Ye shall know them by their fruits Besides what impudency and impiety hath broken out from sundry aëry and ambitious spirits who have dared in their late published bookes upon bookes to belch out their blasphemies against God and the power purity and profession of the Religion established amongst us for so many yeares Nor only is the floodgate of all profanenesse and impiety broken up in the violation of the 4. commandement but of the 5. also when as by occasion of the publishing of the sayd booke which inhibits Magistrates and superiours to restraine or punish youth for taking such liberty on the Lords day as the booke alloweth and which all other books writings monuments of Fathers Councells Kings Emperours Divines ancient and moderne Protestants and Papists have universally with one vote and voyce cryed downe till now but yesterday a new generation of Maleferiati hath risen up out daring and defining the whole world and God himselfe inferiour persons exalt themselves in high contempt against their Superiours 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 outcryes 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 weeke after and so their whole life while like untamed colts they have thus learned to take the bitt betweene their teeth and so to runne a gallop into all excesse of riot So as if the booke be not all the sooner called in and the authors of those late books against the sanctification of the Lords day condignly punished and a speedy reformation hereofset on foot how can we looke for a stay of the plague untill the Land be consumed Now the Lord make us wise to lay these things to heart least 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 bene the theater 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 profaners of the Lords day and that in so short a time even since the booke for such sports was published we may thus argue and conclude That for which the Lord inflicteth and executed so many notorious and severe judgements must needs be a notorious and hainous sin and so a breach of his holy commandement But for the violation and
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
and died Remarkable it is that where the Father drew ale upon the Lordsday and so profaned it In the same place his Sonne the next day drew his last breath for that the punishment inflicted was stamped with the resemblance of the sinne convicted EXAMPLE 21. At Baunton in Dorcetshire some being at bowles on the Lords day one flinging his bowle at his fellowbowler hit him on the eare so as the bloud issued forth at the other eare whereof he shortly died The Murtherer fledd EXAMPLE 22. One good man Paul neere Stoke in Dorcetshire rejoycinge much at the erection of a summer-pole at a Parish cald Simsbury in Dorcetshire saying before one his Neighbours he would goe see it though he went naked through a quickset hedge which is a coÌ„mon proverb 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 2. or 3. dayes dyed and his wife with him These two last examples are testifieth by a Minister in his letter to a brother Minister EXAMPLE 3. A Mayd at Enfield neere London hearing of the liberty which was given by the booke which was published for sports would needs goe daunce with others on the Lords day saying shee would goe daunce so long as shee could stand on her leggs shee daunced so long that thereof within 2. or 3. dayes shee dyed EXAMPLE 23. In the edge of Essex neere Brinkley two fellowes working in a chalke pitt the one was boasting to his fellow how he had angred his Mistrisse with staying so late at their sports the last sunday night but he sayd he would anger her worse the next Sunday He had no sooner sayd this but suddainly the earth fel downe upon him and slew him out right with the fall whereof his fellowes limbe was broken who had been also partner with him in his jollity 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 reforme such his profanesse and remaine as a pillar of salt to season others with feare by his example EXAMPLE 24. The last Spring a Miller hard by Wootton in Worcestershire went on the Lordsday to a wake whence returning home againe the same day at night found his Mill and house all on a fier this was testified by a Minister in a Reply to another Minister who was an eye witnes EXAMPLE 25. At Woolston in the same Country where the sayd Ministers father had beene Minister 40. yeares and by Gods blessing upon his labours had reformed things very well yet upon the publication of this booke in printe many of the inhabitants the springe following were imboldned to set up Maypoles Morrice daunce and a Whitson ale continuing their rude revelling a weeke together with many affronts to their ancient and reverent Pastor but it pleased God that not long after a sparke from a smithes shop caught in that roome where the ale was brewed and though meanes were ready at hand yet it could not be quenched but set the house on fire and presently flew to the barne in which their disorder was and burnt the same with 13. dwelling houses more most of whose inhabitants were actors or abetters in the same This is testifieth by many EXAMPLE 12. At Topudle in Dorceshiere one Iohn Hooper alià s Cole upon the promulgation of the sayd Booke was let downe into a Well to cleanse it for to brew beere for a Whitson ale by Francis Laurence alià s Smith and Stephen Pâ—pe Churchwardens which Well was in the backe side of Richard Laurence alià s Smith Which Iohn Hooperfelâ— from the rope into the Well where he dyed EXAMPLE 26. Richard Iones son of Widdow Iones Iul. 1634. not farre from Dorchester being severely admonished by his Mother when shee understood he had a purpose on satturday night to goe on the Lords day with other companions to Stoake to play at a sport called fiues but persisting in his resolution and going the next day accordingly being the Lords day at Stoake where he played at the said sport at night returning home with his companions W m. Burges W m. Hill Iohn Edwards after they had there wel drunke they fall first a justling one another in the way then to boxes and in the end Edwards stabbing Iones under the left side he dyed thereof the monday night following about seaven of the Clocke Behold here a terrible example of disobedience to Gods holy commandements not only the fourth but the fifth also EXAMPLE 27. At Ovendeane in Sussex about 9. or 10. miles from Alfriston alià s Ason one Iohn Arcold of the age of one or two and twenty yeares eldest sonne to Iohn Arcold a blacksmith dwelling in Ason with other younkars would needs fall a ringing of the bells on a Sabbath day presuming the Booke for Sports gave them full liberty so to doe 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 Iohn Arcold the ringleader before the next Sunday came was strucke with a sicknesse in which he continued a fortnight or 3. weekes till he died in which time Robbert 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 againe to his health he would never doe the like God make his surviving companions and all others wise by his example EXAMPLE 28. At Walton upon Thames in Surrey not farre from Oatlands in the last great frost 3 youngmen on the Lords day after they had beene at the Church in the forenoone where the Minister pressing the words of his text out of 2. Cor. 5. 10. that we must all appeare before the judgement seat of Christ c. they the while whispering one to another as they sate In the afternoone they went together over the Thames upon the Ice unto a house of disorder and gameing where they spent the rest of the Lords day and part of the night also in revelling one of them in a Tauerne merrily discoursing the next day of his Sabbath-acts and voyage over the Ice but on the Tewsday next after these three returning home wards and attempting to passe again over the yce they all sanke downe to the bottome as stones whereof one only of them was miraculously preserved but the other two were drowned Rejoyce O younge man in thy youth and let thy hart cheare thee in the dayes of thy youth and walke in the wayes of thy hart and in the sight of thine eyes But know thou that for all these things God will
sexes being assembled solemnly to set up a garland upon their may-pole and having gott a Taber and Pipe for the purpose he with the pipe in his mouth fell down dead and never spake word EXAMPLE 41. At Corsham in Wiltshire in the Whitsunweeke at a whitson-ale one Marke Hulbert a lusty young man undertaking to act the fooles part was so extreamly drunke and hurt with falls taken in the time of his drunkenesse that shortly he tooke his bed where he lay very loathsomly in most grieuous paine until the sixth day of Iune being the Lordsday on which he dyed at 4. of the clocke in the afternoone the usuall time for youth to take their liberty and was burried the same day before 9. of the clocke yet he burst before he was layd into his grave See Iob. 31. 3. EXAMPLE 46. On May 31. 1635. being the Lords day one Richard Clerke an apprentise unto Timothy Denorell shoomaker of Sherston in the Country of Wiltshire within 3. miles of Tedbury being drunke at the Church-house in the same Parish told Henry Larrum of the same Parish that was then in the same place drunke likewise with the Church-house ale that he the said Richard would either hange himselfe or drowne himselfe demanding of the sayd Henry which of the two was best unto whom he replyed that he hoped he would do neither on the day following being munday in the morning the said Richard Clerke was seene to goe through the streat without a bande as if he had beene going about his masters businesse and putting on his band without the Towne he gott up into the middle of a tree and there did hang himselfe A miserable effect of carnall liberty and profane meetings on the Lords day EXAMPLE 47. The 31. May 1635. the booke of recreation was read in the Parish Church of Alvelye in Comit. Salop in the afternoone after all divine exercises publicke ended there fell out a bloody fight betwixt 3. of Alvelye above said and one of Envield of the Country of Stafford neere Adjacent in so much that the man of Envield was sore wounded and had his jaw-bone broken so that he could not eate his meat for the sustaining of nature In his extremity he layd his death to the charge of the other 3. The Churchwardens of the Parish of Alvelye above said presented these 4. for profaning of the Sabbath to my Lord his grace of Canterbury to use the words of the relation being the time of his metropoliticall visitation since which time two of the parties fledd the third was committed to prison in Shewsbury and was the next assises to come to his answere EXAMPLE 48. In March betwixt 1634. and 1635. at Billericay in Essex one Theophilus Pease the Ministers sonne of that towne went to ring the bells on the Sabbath day whom the Churchwardens for that time hindered But against the next Sabbath he gathered a company together saying he would ringe in dispite of the Churchwardens While he was a ringing he was taken with a giddinesse like one drunke and so sickned and about three dayes after dyed EXAMPLE 49. Anno 1635. Ianuarie or there about in Chichester Diocesse one Thomas Perkin a willfull and usuall profaner of Gods Sabbath in Hailing South being ringing on a Sabbath day the rope tooke him up and flinging him about 8. foot high he fell downe on his head and was taken up dead and so remained long but life at last was gotten into him yet the bruise in his head is so great and dangerous as death is expected and little hope of life remaineth EXAMPLE 50. At Craies two miles from Billerikey a servant of Master Holdsworth Minister there ringing on the Sabbath his Master sent to forbid him but he would ring still and before he had done ringing he was strucke sicke and a while after dyed This was a little after the booke for sports was publikely read in the Church EXAMPLE 51. In Iune 1635. on the Lords day the Tapster and Chamberlaine of the Queenes head in Southwarke ridd into Kent to be merry and having drunke liberally riding homewards the one of them fell from his horse and broke his necke EXAMPLE 52. Also in Iune 1635. and as some report the very same Lords day in Southwarke at the red lion neere S. Georges Church in the afternoone a man with another sate drinking so longe that the other about sixe of the clocke departing fell a sleepe so that he never awaked againe EXAMPLE 8. At Hellingsby 5. or 6. miles from Ason in Sussex the booke 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 askes him if he would goe daunce with him the next Sunday to whom the man aswered take heed that thou be not dauncing in hell before that day come or before it be longe By the next weeke Gods hand fell on this Scoffer that himselfe and two more of his family dyed EXAMPLE 53. In the moneth of Iuly 1634. one Master Quince the Chirurgiō of the Tower of London having an horse to sell meeting with a chapman went to Coleman-street where the horse was kept to see and contract for him on the Lords day in the afternoone the horse being sadled M. Quince gets upon his back to shew his chapman how well he would pace which done as he was a lighting of his backe his foote which lighted on the ground slipped the other foote hung in the stirrup so as he fell to the ground and with the fall brake his thighbone short off so that he was carried from the place to an house neere adjoyning where he lay in great paine and agonye for 8 weekes space or more allmost despairing of his life and never stirring out of his bedde at last it pleased God by degrees to recover and restore him to the use of his legge againe he having little use of it that with great paine for halfe a yeares space and more His sonne had disswaded him from riding because it was the Lords day and himself hath since acknowledged it a just judgement of God upon him for profaning that sacred time which hath made him more carefully to frequent the Church and to avoyd the profanation of the Lords day ever since This the party himselfe and most of the Tower can testify EXAMPLE 9. On February 9. 1634. being the Lords day an Apothecaries man in Limestreat London rid to Barnet with another companion to make merry who returning home drunke neere highe gate met a Tinker and offring him some abuse the Tinker strikes one of their horses whereat the one bid the other run him through who drawing his rapier ran the Tinker through the breast that he fell downe dead therupon being by and by apprehended and confessing the fact they were both sent to Newgate EXAMPLE 10. At Thorneton neere Westchester the people there upon the first publishing
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 adulteâ—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 1â— 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
profanation 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 seene Erg. the violation profanation of the Lords day is a notorious and heinous sin and so a breach of Gods holy commandement The Major Proposition is a Maxime in Divinity God punisheth no man but for sin and sin is a transgression of Gods law 1. Ioh. 3. 4. For the Minor proposition it is so cleare as it cannot be denied except men will be senselesse and blind Atheists But they that feare God shall declare the worke of God for they shall wisely consider of his doing as Ps. 64. 9. Now if the violation or profanation of the Lords day be a sin and so a transgression of Gods holy commandement then of what holy cōmandement but of the 4. And if of the 4. then the holy keeping of the Lords day for the Christian Sabbath is grounded upon the 4. commandement and cōmanded in it as God hath abundantly testified by his many remarkable judgments even within this two yeares as hath bene shewed Ob. But here some may object God may punish men for the breach of humaine ordinances which are not the expresse commandements of God So in this instance God may punish the violation or profanatiō of the Lords day by such sportes or wakes as being a breach of a humaine ordinance or Ecclesiasticall institution Answ. I answere it is true all humaine ordinances being not against Gods word are to be observed for conscience sake of Gods commandement commanding subjection to all ordinances of men for the Lords sake And if it were a humaine 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 inquiry how it may be violated So as they ly under the wrath of God for so doing and are lyable to the like judgements 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 disorderly people who have bene so presumptuous as to profane the Lords owne sacred day against the monitions of Gods faithfull Ministers with unnecessary labour vaine sports and idle pastimes To which I might annexmany ancient Precedents of like nature which I pretermit onley one excepted which is remarkable In the yeare 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 adultery together on the Lords-day it pleased God to strike them dead with fire from heaven whilst they were in in the very act of uncleannes their bodies being left dead in the place halfe 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 sin or wickednesse at any time and especially on Gods sacred day or how they follow dauncing may-games morisdaunces ales and such lascivious pastimes which commonly end in whoredome adultery as being strong allurements thereunto this judgment was so famous and remarkable that Laurentius Bayenlinke a forraine Historian in his Opus Chronologicum orbis universi Antwerp 1611. p. 110. hath thought good to register it to posterity if any deeme those judgements strange or that God should inflict such punishments on this sin which some now justify as a part of Christian liberty both in the Pulpit in printed works I shall only intreat such to remember that the whole Convocation house all the Archbishops Bishops Archdeacons and greatest Clerks of England in their booke intituled THE INSTITVTION OF A CHRISTIAN MAN subscribed with all their names and dedicated to K. Hen. 8. an 1537. and K. Hen. 8. himselfe in his owne booke inscribed A necessary doctrine and erudition for any Christian man set forth by the Kings Majesty of England with the advise and approbation of the Lords spirituall and temporall and Nether house of Parliament an 1543. and by the King himselfe dedicated under his name and title to all his faithfull and loving subjects and published by vertue of the Statute of 32. H. 8. c. 26. in the exposition of the 4. Commandement 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 doe it that against this commandement generally do offend all they which having no lawfull impediment doe not give themselves upon the holy day to heare 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 vaine and idle pastime DOE BREAKE THIS COMMANDEMENT For surely such keeping of holy day is not according to the intent meaning of this cōmandement as some new Doctors now dogmatize but after the usage Custome of the Iewes though some late Rabbies would make the world beleeve that the strict sanctification of the Lords day and the restraining of vaine Sports and Pastimes on it is Iewish when Ignatius Augustine Cirillus Alexandrinus Ephraim Syrus Socrates Scholasticus Theodosius the Emperor Beda Vincentius Belvacensis and generally all authors since have branded dauncing sports and recreations on the Lords day both as jewish and heathenish and D r Iohn White in his way to the true Church defended published by his elder brother D r Fr. White now Bp. of Ely Mr Zanchie Wolfg. Musculus M r Iohn Sprint as Popish and licentious tending to the overthrow of piety and desolation of publike Governement and doth not please God but doth much more offend him and provoke his indignation and wrath towards us For as S. Augustine saith of the Iewes they should be better occupied labouring in the feilds and to be at plough then to be idle at home And women should better bestow their time in spinning of wool 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 quicke-sighted as in those times of darknes to see a Lords day Sabboth in the 4. commandement to be Wholly onely and intirely dedicated to God and his true worship as they there teach and so pious as to beleeve that the exercise of vaine idle sports Pastimes and dauncing on it did much more offend God then ploughing or spinning and provoke his wrath and indignation towards us no wonder if we in the cleare sunshine of the