Poor there to be levied by Distress by any Person or Persons having Warrant from the Magistrate or Court where any Conviction shall be and to be paid to the Church-wardens as before limited who are to account for the same as aforesaid And if any Person or Persons within this Realm of England or Dominion of Wales shall remain or continue Drinking or Tipling in any Inn Victualing-house or Ale-house being in the same City Town Village or Hamlet wherein they dwell or inhabit at the time of such Drinking and Tipling and the same being viewed or seen by any Mayor or other head Officer Justice or Justices of the Peace within their several Limits or duly proved in such manner and form as is limited in and by the Act of Parliament 1 Jac. 1. Ch. 9. aforementioned except it be in such Case or Cases as be tolerated or excepted in the said Act That then every Person or Persons so offending shall forfeit for every such Offence three Shillings and four Pence to the use of the Poor of the Parish where the Offence shall be committed to be levied by Distress in such manner and form as is before appointed by this Act for the levying the Penalty of five Shillings for being Drunk and the Offender being unable to pay and being lawfully Convicted then any of the Magistrates aforesaid or Court where any such Conviction shall be may punish the Offender or Offenders by setting them in the Stocks for every such Offence by the space of four Hours The Offences in this and the former mentioned Act shall be inquired of and presented before the Justices of Assize in their Circuits Justices of Peace in their ordinary Sessions and before the Mayor Bailiffs or other Head Officers of every City or Town Corporate who have Power to enquire of Trespasses Riots Routs and such like Offences and in every Court Leet and such Proceedings to be had thereupon against such Offenders for their Conviction as in such like Cases is used by the Laws of the Realm or Custom of the City Town or Place where such Presentment or Indictment shall be enquired of and found And if any Person or Persons being once lawfully Convicted of the said Offence of Drunkenness shall after that be again lawfully Convicted of the like Offence of Drunkenness Then for such second Offence they shall be bound with two Sureties to the King's Majesty in one Recognizance or Obligation of ten Pounds with Condition to be from thenceforth of the good Behaviour All Constables Church-wardens Headboroughs Tything-men Ale-Conners and Side-men shall in their several Oaths incident to their Offices be charged to present the Offences contrary to this Act. This Act is not to restrain the Ecclesiastical Power or Jurisdiction nor the Liberty of either of the Universities but that they enjoy their Jurisdictions Rights and Privileges And if any Offender against the true Intent and Meaning of this Act or any Branch thereof hath been once punished or corrected for his or her Offence by any the Ways or Means before limited he shall not be punished or corrected for the said Offence by any other Ways or Means And none shall be punished or molested for any Offence mentioned in this Statute unless he shall be Indicted Presented or Convicted for the same within six Months after such Offence committed Then by another Act of Parliament 7 Jac. 1. Ch. 10. It is Enacted That if any Person being an Alehouse-keeper shall be lawfully Convicted for any Offence or Offences committed against any of the Branches of the two before mentioned Acts of Parliament that then every Person or Persons so Convicted shall for the space of three Years next ensuing the said Conviction be utterly disabled to keep any such Ale-house The two Statutes first mentioned in this Chapter made against Tipling and Drunkenness requiring proof to be made by two Witnesses for the more easy Conviction of such Offenders It is by the Statute 21 Jac. 1. Ch. 7. Enacted That proof by one Witness shall be allowed and taken for sufficient in that behalf and the voluntary Confession before any such Persons as by the said Acts are authorized to minister the Oath of any Person offending either of the said Statutes shall suffice to convict the Person so offending and after such Confession the Oath of the party so offending shall and may be taken and be a sufficient proof against any other offending at thesame time And it is further Enacted That if any Person or Persons wheresoever his or their Habitation or abiding be shall at any time be found upon view or his own Confession or proof of one Witness to be Tipling in any Inn Ale-house or Victualling-house such Person or Persons shall be within the meaning of the said Statutes as if such Person had inhabited and dwelt in the same place where the said Inn Ale-house or Victualling-house is or shall be where he or they shall be found Tipling and shall incur the like Penalty and the same to be levied and disposed as in the said Act is expressed concerning such as there inhabit and the voluntary Confession of the Offenders before such as by the said Statutes are authorized to minister the Oath shall suffice to convince themselves And after such Confession the Oath of such Person or Persons so confessing shall and may be taken by such as by the said Act have Authority to minister the said Oath and shall be a sufficient proof against any other offending at the same time And any Justice of Peace in any County and any Justice of Peace or other Head Officer in any City or Town Corporate within their Limits respectively shall have Power and Authority upon his own View Confession of the party or proof of one Witness upon Oath before him to convince any Person of the offence of Drunkenness whereby such Person so convict shall incur the forfeiture of five Shillings for every such Offence and the same to be levied or the Offender otherwise punished as in the Statute is appointed and for the second Offence shall become bound to the good Behaviour as if he had been convicted in open Sessions any thing in the said former Act 4 Jac. 1. Ch. 5. to the contrary notwithstanding And if any Person being an Alehouse-keeper shall at any time be lawfully convicted for any Offence against any the Branches of either of the two former mentioned Statutes according to the Alterations and Additions herein contained against the true meaning of this Statute then every Person so convict shall for the space of three years next ensuing such Conviction be utterly disabled to keep any such Ale-house And Constables Church-wardens Headboroughs Tything-men Ale-conners and Side-men are to be charged in their Offices and Oaths to present all the Offences made in the Statute 1 Jac. 1. against inordinate Haunting and Tipling in Inns Ale-houses and other Victualling-houses according to the Alterations and Additions of the same in this Act contained There being no
three hours but if the Offender be under that Age and shall not forthwith pay the same sum of twelve Pence then he or she by such Warrant as aforesaid shall be whip'd by the Constable or by the Parent or Master in his presence And if such Offender shall commence any Suit at Law against any Officer or other for such distraining sale of Goods whipping or setting in the Stocks the Defendant or Defendants may plead the general Issue and give the special matter in evidence to the Jury at the Trial and if it be found against the Plaintiff or Plaintiffs or they are Nonsuited then the Defendant or Defendants shall be allowed good Costs to be taxed by the Court. The Offence shall be complained of and proved as abovesaid within twenty days after the Offence committed And it is Enacted That this Act shall be read in every Parish-Church by the Minister thereof upon the Sunday after Evening-Prayer twice in the Year There being no Penalty inflicted upon Ministers by this Statute of the 21 Jac. 1. for the not reading thereof it was therefore in most Churches very seldom and in some Churches never read and it being a long time since the making of this Law and the Penalty appointed thereby to be paid by the Offenders very small and proof by two witnesses troublesom it was therefore very seldom put in execution So for the more effectual discouragement and restraining of this spreading and catching profane Vice another Act of Parliament has been made in the sixth and seventh years of his present Majesties reign King William the third something more severe as appears by the Tenure thereof hereafter following By the Statute of the 6 7 Gul. 3. Ch. 2. it is Enacted That if any Person or Persons shall profanely Swear or Curse in the presence and hearing of any Justice of Peace of the County Riding or Division or of the Mayor or other Head Officer or Justice of Peace for any City or Town-Corporate or by the Confession of the party offending before any such Magistrate where the said Offence shall be committed that then for every such Offence the party so offending if a Servant Day-labourer common Soldier or common Sea-man shall forfeit and pay to the use of the Poor of the Parish where such offence is committed one Shilling and every other Person two Shillings and in case any of the Persons aforesaid shall after Conviction offend a second time such Person shall forfeit and pay double and if a third time treble the sum respectively by him or her to be paid for the first Offence And upon neglect or refusal of paiment of the said Forfeiture any Justice of Peace of the County Riding or Division or Mayor or other Head Officer or Justice of Peace for any City or Town-Corporate where the Offence is committed shall have Authority and are required to send his Warrant to the Constable Tything-man Church-warden or Overseer of the Poor of the Parish where the Offence is committed or where the Offender shall inhabit thereby commanding them or some or one of them to levy by Distress and sale of the Goods of the Offender or Offenders the sum so forfeited for the use of the Poor of the Parish as aforesaid and for want of Distress then every such Offender being above the age of sixteen Years shall by such Warrant as aforesaid be publickly set in the Stocks for the space of one Hour for every single Offence and for any number of Offences whereof he shall be Convicted at one and the same time then two Hours and if the party offending be under the age of sixteen years and shall not forthwith pay the said Forfeiture then he or she shall by Warrant as aforesaid be whip'd by the Constable or by the Parent Guardian or Master of such Offender in the presence of the Constable And if any Justice of Peace or chief Magistrate shall wilfully or wittingly omit the performance of his Duty in the execution of this Act he shall forfeit the sum of five Pounds one moiety to the use of the Informer to be recovered by Action Suit Bill or Plaint in any of his Majesties Courts at Westminster wherein no Essoin Protection c. shall be allowed nor any more than one Imparlance And if any Action or Suit shall be commenc'd or brought against any Justice of Peace Constable or other Officer for any thing done in the pursuance of this Act concerning the said Offences the Defendant in such Action may plead the general Issue and give the special matter in Evidence and upon a Verdict for the Defendant or Non-suit of the Plaintiff or Discontinuance then the Defendant shall have treble Costs No Person to be prosecuted or troubled for any Offence against this Statute unless the same be proved and prosecuted within ten days next after the Offence committed This Act shall be publickly read four several times in the Year in all Parish Churches and publick Chappels by the Parson Vicar or Curate of the respective Parishes or Chappels immediately after Morning-Prayer on four several Sundays that is to say the Sunday next after the four and twentieth day of June the nine and twentieth day of September the five and twentieth day of December and the five and twentieth day of March under the pain of twenty Shillings for every such Omission or Neglect And the Justice of Peace Mayor or other Head Officer shall register in a Book to be kept for that purpose all the Convictions made before him upon this Act and the time of making thereof and for what Offence and shall certify the same to the next general quarter-Quarter-Sessions of the Peace for the said County or Place where the Offences are committed to be there kept upon Record by the respective Clerks of the Peace to be seen without Fee or Reward Altho some Persons accustomed to profane Swearing and Cursing in their ordinary discourse and communication may possibly evade the Punishments ordained and appointed by the aforementioned Laws for such abominable wickedness yet such daring presumptuous Sinners may be assured they cannot without serious and unfeigned Repentance and an absolute and total renouncing and forsaking of their Wickedness escape the punishments threatned by Almighty God against such provoking Sins and that they may not be ignorant thereof I shall in the next Chapter set down several proofs of Scripture to that purpose in hopes that upon the perusal and serious Consideration thereof their Consciences may be touched with the guilt of their profane debauched Wickedness CHAP. V. Some Texts of Scripture shewing the odiousness and danger of profane customary Swearing and Cursing THOV shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain Exod. 20. 7. Deut. 5. 11. He that Curseth his Father or Mother shall surely be put to death Exod. 21. 17. Thou shalt not revile the Gods nor curse the Ruler of thy
will not be altogether improper before I proceed to give an account of the Laws made for the observation of the Lords day to set down an Abstract here of the Statute of E. 6. about the Sacrament and of that of Q. M. about disturbing Ministers likewise the Statute Jac. 1. about profane speaking or jesting with the Name of God c. and then to proceed to the other Laws By the Statute 1 E. 6. Ch. 1. it is Enacted That none shall speak or do any thing in contempt of the most Holy Sacrament in pain of Imprisonment and to make Fine and Ransom at the King 's Will. Three Justices of the Peace Quor unus have power to take Information by the Oaths of two lawful Persons at least concerning the Offence aforesaid and to bind over by Recognizances every Accuser and Witness in five Pound apiece to appear at the next Sessions to give Evidence against the Offendors who are there to be enquired of before three Justices or more by the Oaths of twelve men and also indicted if the matter alledged against them be found true the Offence to be prosecuted within three Months By the Statute 1 M. Sess 2. Ch. 3. it is Enacted That if any shall disturb a Preacher lawfully Licensed in his open Sermon or Collation he shall be by the Constables or Church-wardens of the Parish brought before a Justice of the Peace who upon due Accusation shall commit him to safe Custody and within six days after together with another Justice shall diligently examine the Fact who if they find cause shall commit him to the common Goal there to remain for three Months and from thence to the next quarter-Quarter-Sessions at Which upon the parties Reconciliation and entring into Bond for good Behaviour for one whole Year at discretion of the Justices in Sessions he shall be released but if he persist still in his Obstinacy he shall remain in Prison without Bail until he shall reconcile and be penitent for his Offence He that rescues an Offendor in this kind shall suffer like Imprisonment as aforesaid and besides shall forfeit five Pounds to the King The Inhabitants of a Town that suffer such an Offendor to escape shall forfeit five Pounds being presented before the Justices of Peace in Sessions within the County or Corporation where the escape was made Justices of Peace Assize and Oyer and Terminer and Mayors and head Officers of Corporations have power to hear and determin these Offences and to impose the Fines aforesaid This Act shall not restrain the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Laws howbeit none shall be punished here for one Offence By the Statute 3 Jac. 1. Ch. 21. None shall in any Stage-play Shew May game or Pageant profanely use the Name of God Christ Jesus the Holy Ghost or Trinity on pain of ten Pounds to be divided between the King and Prosecutor It 's said that Constantine the Great made Laws for the strict observation of the Lord's Day commanding that through all the Roman Empire all servile Employments should cease on those days he prescribed also a form for the Legions of Soldiers to be used both on the Sabbath-days and other days and himself used to shew much Reverence and Attention to the Word of God so that many times he would stand up all the Sermon time and when some of his Courtiers told him that it would tend to his disparagement he answered that it was in the Service of the great God who was no respecter of Persons By the Statute 1 Eliz. Ch. 2. Every Person is to resort to their Parish Church or upon let thereof to some other every Sunday and Holy-day upon pain to be punished by Censures of the Church and also to forfeit twelve pence for every Default to be levied by the Church-wardens there for the use of the Poor upon the Offendor's Goods by way of Distress and for want of Distress to be committed to some Prison until the same be paid And by the Statute 23 El. Ch. 1. Every Person not repairing to Church according to the Statute aforesaid shall forfeit twenty Pounds for every Month they so make Default and if the Offendor is not able to pay and do not pay within three Months after Judgment then to be committed to Prison and there to remain until he have satisfied the same or shall conform himself and go to the Church By the Statute 3 Jac. 1. Ch. 4. The King may refuse the twenty Pounds a Month for absenting from the Church and take in lieu thereof two third parts of the absenters Lands and Leases but here he shall not include the Recusants Mansion-house nor demise the two third parts to a Recusant or to any other for a Recusants use The Church-wardens and Constables of every Parish or one of them or if there be none such then the High-Constable of the Hundred there shall present once every year at the general Sessions of the Peace the monthly absence from Church of every Popish Recusant and then Children being above the Age of nine years and their Servants together with the Age of their Children as near as they can know them on pain to forfeit respectively for every such default twenty Shillings which Presentment the Clerk of the Peace or Town-Clerk shall record without Fee on pain of forty Shillings If upon such Presentment being the first the Recusant be convicted the Officer that presents him shall have forty Shillings reward to be levied by Warrant upon the Recusants Goods and Estate as the more part of the Justices of Peace shall think fit But Note that his Majesties Protestant Subjects Dissenting from the Church of England and qualified according to the late Statute of Indulgence are exempted from the Penalties of these Statutes The command of the Sabbath hath a special memento prefixed to it which may not only note to us that we are by this Memento Remember thou keep Holy the Sabbath-day to observe the Lord's zeal for the observance thereof but we are thereby put in mind timely to lay aside our worldly Business and get our Hearts into readiness for the entertainment of God into the same And altho nothing is more acceptable to God than the true and sincere Worship and Service of him according to his Holy Will and that the Holy keeping of the Lord's-day is a principal part of the true Worship and Service of God Yet the People of this Kingdom having enjoyed a long continued series of Peace Plenty and Prosperity instead of rendring thanks to Almighty God for this great Blessing and of serving him in Holiness and Righteousness of Life and Conversation they on the contrary like the idolatrous Jews upon the making of their Golden-Calf they sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play Exod. 32. 6. 1 Cor. 10. 7. Nay the people of this Realm were so entirely devoted to Games and Pastimes that they could not or would not forbear them upon the Lord's Day but spent that
let not such an one therefore procrastinate and put off Repentance but let him watch for he knows neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh For he shall come in an hour that he is not aware of and if he find him in the daring provoking pursuit of his unrepented of Prafaness shall cut him in sunder and appoint him his Portion with the Hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth Math. 24. 50 51. and 25. 13. Luke 12. 46. CHAP. X. A brief Account of the Laws made against vitious and debauched Men and lew'd Women about getting Bastards NOte that before the Raign of K. H. 7. there were eighteen infamous Stews or Brothel-houses and H. 7. for a time forbad them but afterwards twelve only were permitted and had Signs painted on their Walls as a Boars-Head the Cross-Keys the Gun the Castle the Cardinals-Hat the Bell the Swan c. But afterwards H. 8. in the 37 th Year of his Raign by Proclamation under the great Seal dated 30 March Anno 37. aforesaid suppressed all the Stews and Brothel-houses on the Bank-side in Southwark for that they were against the Law of God and the Law of the Land And those Infamous Women were not buried in Christian Burial when they were dead nor permitted to receive the Rites of the Church whilst they lived And the Keeper He or She of such Houses is punishable by Indictment at the Common Law by Fine and Imprisonment for altho Adultery and Fornication be punishable by the Ecclesiastical Law yet the keeping of Bawdy or Stews or Brothel-houses being as it were a Common Nusance is punishable by the Common Law and is the cause of-many Mischiefs not only to the overthrowing of their Bodies but to the indangering of their Souls By the Custom of London as appears by the 1 H. 7. Fol. 6. c. If a Constable c. has Notice that a Woman is in Adultery with a Man that a Man or Woman of Evil Fame is gone to a suspected House he may take help with him and enter the House and if he find them so he may arrest them and carry them to Prison or to a Justice of the Peace to be bound over and prosecuted Bastards begotten and born out of lawful Matrimony being an Offence against God's Law and Man's Law It is by the Statute 18 Eliz. Chap. 3. Enacted That two Justices of the Peace whereof one to be of the Quorum in or next to the Limits where the Parish Church is within which Parish a Bastard shall be born that may be chargeable to the Parish upon Examination of the Cause and Circumstances shall by their discretion take order as well for the punishment of the Mother and reputed Father of such Bastard Child as also for the relief of every such Parish in part or in all and for the keeping of every such Bastard Child by charging such Mother or reputed Father with the Payment of Money weekly or other Sustentation for the relief of such Child in such wise as they shall think meet and convenient And if after the same Order by them subscribed under their Hands the Mother or reputed Father upon notice thereof shall not observe and perform the same that then every such Party so making Default in the non-performance thereof to be committed to the Common Goal without Bail except they give sufficient Surety to perform the same or to appear Personally at the next General Sessions of the Peace to be holden for the same County where such Order shall be taken and also to abide such Order as the Justices there or the more part of them shall take in that Behalf if they take any and if they take none at the Sessions then to abide and perform the Order before made as is abovesaid And by the Statute 7 Jas. 1. Ch. 4. It is Enacted That every lewd Woman which shall have any Bastard Child which may be chargeable to the Parish the Justice of Peace shall commit such lewd Woman to the House of Correction there to be punished and set on work during the term of one whole Year and if afterwards she offend again then to be committed to the House of Correction as aforesaid and to remain there until she can put in good Sureties for her good Behaviour not to offend so again And by the Statute 3 Car. 1. Ch. 4. It is Enacted That all Justices of the Peace within their several Limits and Precincts and in their several Sessions may do and execute all things concerning that part of the Statute 18 Eliz. Ch. 3. aforementioned that by Justices of the Peace in the several Counties are by the said Statute limited to be done The Punishment appointed by these Statutes being gentle and easy we see by every days Experience that Bastards are very frequently begotten I shall therefore inform such vitious profane and sinful Persons in the next Chapter what Punishments the Scripture has appointed for such Persons of such profligate and debauched Lives that they may not be ignorant of the great Anger and Displeasure conceived by Almighty God against such profane sinful Courses and of the great Hazard and Danger they involve their precious Souls in if they forsake not their vitious way of living and by hearty Repentance cleanse their Souls putting away the Filth of the Flesh 1 Pet. 2. 3. 21. And perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. For he that soweth to the Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit neap Life everlasting Gal. 6. 8. CHAP. XI Of the several Places of Scripture threatning Judgments or forbidding Adultery Fornication Incontinency Lasoiviousness and Whoredom and shewing God's Anger and Displeasure against such profane Wickedness THou shalt not commit Adultery Exod. 20. 14. Deut. 5. 18. Do not prostitute thy Daughter to cause her to be a VVâ—â—re lest the Land fall to VVhoredom and the Land become full of VVickedness Lev. 19. 29. 〈◊〉 the Maâ— that committeth Adultery with another Mans VVife even he that committeth Adultery with his Neighbours VVife the and the Adulteress shall surely put to death Lev. 20. 10. And the Daughter of any Priest if she profane her self by playing the Whore she profaneth her Father she shall be hurnt with Fire Levit. 21. 9. If a Man be found lying with a Woman married to an Husband then they shall both of them die both the Man that lay with the VVoman and the VVoman So shalt thou put away Evil from Israel Deut. 22. 22. The Eye also of the Adulterer waiteth for the â—â—ilight saying No Eye shall see me and disgâ—iseth his Face Job 24. 15. VVhen thou sawest a Thief thou consented'st unto him and hast been Partaker with the Adulterers Psal 50. 18. By the means of a VVhorish VVoman a Man is brought to a piece of Bread and the Adulteress will hunt for the precious Life Prov. 6. 26. Who so
England and Scotland by the Accession of King James the First to the Crown of this Realm the Minds and Hearts of the People were so elevated with the prospect and great assurances they propounded to themselves of the future Tranquillity Peace Plenty Happiness and great Prosperity that in all probability was thereby likely to ensue that they thereupon became less industrious and laborious in their several Callings Trades Arts Mysteries Professions and ways of getting their Livelihoods and did much indulge themselves in the pleasant enjoyment of frequent and frolick Society by them call'd Good-fellowship which oft-times happened to be with such expence of Time and Money too that many of their Families became much impoverished thereby And the antient true and principal use of Inns Alehouses and Victualing-houses being for the Receipt Relief and Lodging of such People as are not able by greater quantities to make their Provision of Victuals became common Tipling Houses and places of Entertainment and Harbour of lewd and idle People to spend and consume their Money and their Time in lewd and drunken manner contrary to the true meaning of the principal intended Purposes of such Houses as the Parliament the first Year of King James the First observes It is therefore enacted by the said Parliament 1 Jac. 1. chap. 9. That if any Inn-keeper Victualer or Alehouse-keeper within the Realm of England or Dominion of Wales do permit or suffer any Person or Persons inhabiting or dwelling in any City Town Corporate Village or Hamlet within the said Realm or Dominions where any such Inn Alehouse or Victualing-house is or shall be to remain and continue drinking or tipling in the same other than such as shall be invited by any Traveller and shall accompany him only during his necessary Abode there and other than labouring and Handicrafts-men in Cities and Towns Corporate and Market Towns upon the usual working days for one hour at Dinner-time to take their Diet in an Alehouse and other than Labourers and Workmen which for the following of their Work by the day or by the great in any City Town Corporate Market-Town or Village shall for the time of their said continuing in work there sojourn lodg or victual in any Inn Alehouse or Victualing-house other than for urgent and necessary occasions to be allowed by two Justices of the Peace That then every such Innkeeper Victualer and Alehouse-keeper shall for every such Offence forfeit and lose the Sum of Ten Shillings of current Money of England to the use of the Poor of the Parish where such Offence shall be committed the same Offence being view'd and seen by any Mayor Bailiff or Justice of Peace within their several Limits or proved by the Oaths of two Witnesses to be taken before any Mayor Bailiff or any other head Officer or any one or more Justice or Justices of the Peace who are authorized to administer the same within the Limits of their Commission The said Penalties to be levied by the Constable or Church-wardens of the Parish or Parishes where the Offence or Offences shall be committed by way of Distress to be taken and detain'd for the said Forfeiture and for default of Satisfaction within six days next ensuing the same then to be presently apprized and sold and the Surplusage or Remainder over and above to be deliver'd to the Party distrained and for want of sufficient Distress the Offenders to be by the Mayor Bailiff or other head Officer or Justice or Justices of the Peace aforesaid committed to the common Goal there to remain until the same Penalty be truly paid If the Constable or Church-wardens neglect their Duty in levying or in default of Distress do neglect to certify the default of Distress by the space of twenty days then next ensuing to the Magistrates aforesaid within whose Jurisdiction the Offence is committed then every Person so offending shall forfeit for every such default the Sum of Forty Shillings to the use of the Poor of the Parish where such Offence shall be committed to be levied by Distress and Sale of the Offender's Goods by Warrant from any such Magistrate within the Limits of their Jurisdictions respectively under his Hand and Seal if Payment be not made within six days next ensuing the taking of the said Distress and the Surplusage if any be to be delivered to the Party distrained and for want of sufficient the Constable or Church-wardens so offending to be by such Magistrate committed to the common Goal there to remain until the said Penalty or Penalties be truly paid Notwithstanding the Restraint put upon Inn-keepers Victualers and Alehouse-keepers by the Act of Parliament aforementioned and the Penalty to be incurred by them for suffering Tipling in their Houses the People did still continue their Bowsing Tipling and Carousing which by little and little arrived to that height of Excess that it usually ended and does so still in downright Drunkenness and grew so habitual and practicable that it was and still is even in a manner become an Epidemical Vice through the whole Realm for Punishing and Suppressing of which odious Sin in the fourth year of King James the First an Act of Parliament was made inflicting a Penalty upon Drunkards and such as continue drinking in Ale-houses In the preamble of which Act the Parliament takes notice of several Sins occasioned by and proceeding from Drunkenness as appears by what follows Stat. 4 Jac. 1. Ch. 5. Whereas the loathsom and odious Sin of Drunkenness is of late years grown into common use within this Realm being the Root and Foundation of many other enormous Sins as Bloodshed Stabbing Murder Swearing Fornication Adultery and such like to the great dishonour of God and of the Nation the overthrow of many good Arts and manual Trades the disabling of divers Workmen and the general impoverishing of many good Subjects abusively wasting the good Creatures of God It is therefore Enacted That all and every Person and Persons that shall be drunken and of the same Offence of Drunkenness shall be lawfully Convicted shall for every such Offence forfeit and lose five Shillings to be paid within one Week next after Conviction to the hands of the Church-warden of that Parish where the Offence shall be committed who shall be accountable for it to the use of the said Poor and if the Persons convicted refuse or neglect to pay then the same to be levied of their Goods by Warrant or Precept from the same Court Judg or Justices before whom the said Conviction shall be And if the Offenders be not able to pay the Penalty then to be committed to the Stocks for every Offence there to remain by the space of six Hours And if any Officer of the Place where the Offence shall be committed upon a Precept sent to him shall neglect his Duty in correcting the Offenders or in due Levying the Penalties where Distress may be had then the Officer so offending shall forfeit ten Shillings to the use of the
size he cri'd it is too late I must be burned in Hell he pressed him with Tears not to cast away his Soul for Christ died c. he answered he cast off Christ and therefore must go to Hell in short at last in idleness of thoughts and talk he ended his miserable Life Anno 1576. Tir-Owen the Irish Rebel in Queen Elizabeths time was such a Drunkard that when his Body was immoderately inflamed with drinking strong Drink and Usquebath he used many times as Mr. Camden reports to be set in the Earth up to the Chin to cool himself A Gentleman whom I knew having been at a Fair at North-Allerton in Yorkshire a Town famous for strong Ale and there having overcharged himself with that Liquor as he was riding homewards putting his Horse into a galloping posture the Horse being in great heart and very mettl'd and he not in a condition to guide him having gotten about a mile from the Town the Horse threw the Gentleman in the open High-way and kill'd him with the Fall for he died presently Another Person with whom I had been long acquainted he being Barliff to the Lords of a Market-Town where I kept their Courts several years being full of strong Drink and not able to govern his Horse was in like manner slain with a fall from his Horse And one who lived in the same Town where I lived having gotten too large a quantity of strong Drink and riding his Horse into a River to pass over it the Water at that time being very high and scarce passable and he not keeping the Horses head up against the current of the Water when he came into the main Stream being driven down the River after a little while he parted from his Horse and was drowned And another of my Acquaintance being invited by a Gentleman to the Tavern and there drinking too freely at his going homewards from the Tavern on the back-side of the Town coming to enter into his own Yard he fell from off a little Bridg at the end of the Yard with his Head downwards into a Ditch and tho the Ditch were dry without any Water in it and that he was missed and found in a very short time yet he was found dead for the weight of his Body had choaked him A man being riding in the same Company that I was in and being very full of strong Liquor and clapping his Spurs to the Horses sides the Horse run into a Ditch or Gutter with the man on his back and riding along in the Gutter a Tree in the Hedg over hanging the same the Horse run the man's Head against the Tree and beat out his Brains and he fell down dead and never spoke one word of this sad Accident I was an Eye-witness and see the man's Brains lying on the Ground And one who was a customary prosane Swearer and a great Drinker being gotten drunk at North-Allerton aforesaid and desiring one of his Neighbours to let him ride home behind him when they came near the Town where the Drunkard dwelt he desired to alight from behind his Neighbour to ease himself and so getting down his Neighbour rid along the Street and some Company coming not long after found the man dead lying in the Street with his Breeches about his Feet in an unseemly and nasty manner A Mason who loved strong Drink too well and was frequently drunk one time lying down upon the ground to sober himself when he was drunk he fell into a long Sleep for he never awaked again but was there found dead A Farmer who lived in Cleaveland in Yorkshire in the same Constablery where I have a small Estate going with other of his Neighbours to pay his Tythe Rent to the Impropriator who being a jovial boon free man was very liberal and bestow'd great store of strong Ale on them And this man having drunk too freely had it seems got more than he was able to bear for when he was got very near his own House at his coming home when he alighted from his Horse it being in the Night and dark and he not able to guide himself he staggeâ—ed into a Pond close by the House and not able to get out of it was in the Morning found standing in the Pond with his Back against the bank of the Pond and up to the Knees in Water and there starv'd to death All these eight last mentioned exemplary Judgments have fall'n within the compass of my own certain knowledg Drunkenness is a flattering Evil a sweet Poison a cunning Circe that besots the Soul and destroys the Body Dolores gignit in capite in stomacho in toto corpore acerrimos Dolours and grievous Pains by Drunkenness The Head the Stomach and whole man possess At last as Solomon observes it bites like a Serpent and stings like an Adder CHAP. IV. A Compendium of the Laws made against profane idle customary Swearing and Cursing TIpling and excessive Drinking having obtain'd a kind and favourable Reception and in a manner a general approbation within this Realm as appears by the several Acts of Parliament mentioned before in the first Chapter hereof made for the restraining this exorbitant sinful Vice the People in their Frolicks and extravagant Cups were apt and prone to fly out one profaneness ushering in another into sinful profane desperate Swearing and Cursing which by little and little began to be so very common and practicable that the Parliament of 21 Jac. 1. taking notice thereof and knowing that profane Swearing and Cursing is forbidden by the Word of God they thereupon made an Act for the restraining the growth of this catching Sin For by the Statute of 21 Jac. 1. Ch. 20. it is Enacted That no Person or Persons shall prosanely Swear or Curse and that if any Person or Persons shall offend herein either in the hearing of any Justice of the Peace of the County or any Mayor Justice of the Peace Bailiff or Head Officer of any City or Town Corporate where such offence is or shall be committed or shall be convicted by the Oaths of two Witnesses or by Confession of the party before any such Justice of the Peace of the County or Head Officer or Justice of the Peace in the City or Town-Corporate where such offence is or shall be committed which Oath they have power to administer That then every such Offender shall for every time so offending forfeit and pay to the use of the Poor of the Parish where the offence is or shall be committed the sum of twelve Pence to be levied by the Constable Church-wardens and overseers of the Poor of that Parish by Warrant from such Justice of the Peace or head Officer by Distress and sale of the Offenders Goods rendring to the party the Overplus and in default of such Distress the Offender if he or she be above the age of twelve Years shall by Warrant from such Justice of the Peace or Head Officer be set in the Stocks
day in the service of Satan which Almighty God hath hallowed and commanded to be set apart for the Service and Worship of himself For this Day in many Places of the Realm being prophaned and neglected by a disorderly sort of People in exercising and frequenting Bear-baiting Bull-baiting Enterludes Common Plays and other unlawful Exercises and Pastimes thereon And for that many Quarrels Bloodsheds and other great Inconveniencies did grow by the Resort and Concourse of People going out of their own Parishes to such disorderly and unlawful Exercises and Pastimes neglecting Divine Service both in their own Parishes and elsewhere Therefore by the Statute 1 Car. 1. Ch. 1. it is enacted That there shall be no Meetings Assemblies or Concourse of People out of their own Parishes on the Lord's Day within this Realm of England or any the Dominions thereof for any Sports or Pastimes whatsoever nor any Bear-baiting Bull-baiting Enterludes Common Plays or other unlawful Exercises or Pastimes used by any Person or Persons within their own Parishes and that every Person and Persons offending in any the Premisses shall forfeit for every Offence three Shillings and four Pence to the use of the Poor of the Parish where the Offence shall be committed And if any one Justice of the Peace of the County or the Chief Officer or Officers of any City Borough or Town-corporate where such Offence shall be committed upon his or their view or Confession of the Party or Proof of any one or more Witness by Oath which such Magistrate hath power to administer shall find any Person offending in the Premisses the said Magistrate shall give Warrant under his or their Hand and Seals to the Constable or Church-wardens of the Parish or Parishes where such Offence shall be committed to levy the said Penalties so to be assessed by way of Distress and Sale of the Goods of every such Offender rendring the said Offenders the overplus and in Default of such Distress that the Party offending be set publickly in the Stocks by the space of three Hours And if any Man be sued or impeached for the Execution of this Law he may plead the general Issue and give the matter of Justification in evidence and no Man to be impeached by this Act except he be called in question within one Month next after the Offence committed The Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction not to beabridged by this Act but that the Ecclesiastical Court may punish the same Offence as if this Act had not been made This Statute 1 Car. 1. Ch. 1. only prohibiting unlawful Sports Games and Pastimes on the Lord's Day Carriers Waggoners Wayr-men Carmen and Drovers being out of the Statute having no Veneration for the Lord's Day kindness for themselves nor pity for their Beasts did make a Common practise of Travelling upon this Day and Butchers did usually kill and fell Victuals on the Lord's Day So in the 3 Car. 1. An Act was made prohibiting Carriers Drovers c. to travel on this Day on pain of twenty Shillings every Offence and Butchers for killing and selling Victuals thereon on pain of six Shillings and eight Pence for every Offence But this Statute standing but upon contiunance and expiring after the end of the first Session of Parliament then next following Several of these Persons returned again like the Dog to his Vomit to their former accustomed Prophaness And tho this Statute 3 Car. 1. Ch. 2. was by the Statute 17 Car. 1. Ch. 4. continued and made perpetual yet the unnatural uncivil Civil War between the King and Parliament breaking out shortly after this Statute was much neglected and seldom put in Execution two Witnesses being required for the conviction of the Offender which was troublesome So by the Statute 29 Car. 2. Ch. 7. it is enacted That all Persons whatsoever shall on the Lord's Day apply themselves to the observation of the same by exercising themselves thereon in the Duties of Piety and true Religion publickly and privately And no Tradesman Artificer Workman Labourer or other Person whatsoever shall do or exercise any worldly Labours Business or Work of their ordinary Callings upon the Lord's Day Works of Necessity and Charity only excepted And every Person being of the Age of Fourteen Years or upwards offending in the Premisses shall for every such Offence forfeit the Sum of five Shillings and no Person or Persons whatsoever shall publickly cry shew forth or expose to Sale any Wares Merchandizes Fruit Herbs Goods or Chattels whatsoever upon the Lord's Day or any part thereof upon pain of forfeiting the same Goods so cryed or shewed forth or exposed to Sale And no Drover Horse-courser Waggoner Butcher or Higler their or any of their Servants shall travel or come into his or their Inn or Lodging upon the Lord's Day or any part thereof upon pain of twenty Shillings for every such Offence and none shall use imploy or travel upon the Lord's Day with any Boat Wherry Lighter or Barge except it be upon extraordinary occasion to be allowed by a Justice of the Pâ—ace of the County or Head Officer or Justice of the Peace of the City Borough or Town-Corporate where the Fact shall be committed on pain of five Shillings for every such Offence and if any Person so offending in any of the Premisses shall be thereof convicted before any Justice of the Peace of the County or chief Officer or Justice of the Peace of the City c. where the Offence shall be committed upon his or their view or confession of the Party or proof of any one or more Witnesses which Oath the said Magistrates are impowered to administer then the said Justice or chief Officer or Officers shall give Warrant under his or their Hand to the Constable or Church-wardens of the Parish or Parishes where the Offence shall be committed to seize the said Goods so shewed forth or put to sale as aforesaid and to fell the same And to levy the said other Forfeitures or Penalties by way of Distress and Sale of the Goods of every such Offender distrained rendring them the overplus of the Money raised thereby and in Default of such Distress or in case of Insufficiency or Inability to pay the Party offending to be set publickly in the Stocks by the space of two Hours And all Forfeitures to be imployed to the use of the Poor of the Parish where the said Offence shall be committed Save that any such Justice Mayor c. may out of the said Forfeitures reward the informer according to their Discretions so as such Reward exceed not a third part of the Forefeitures But this Act is not to extend to the prohibiting of dressing of Meat in Families or dressing or selling of Meat in Inns Cooks-shops or Victualling-houses for such as otherwise cannot be provided nor to the crying or selling of Milk before nine of the Clock in the Morning and after-four in the Afternoon No Person to be impeached prosecuted or molested for any Offence before mentioned
Immorality Debauchery and Profaneness Exposed To the Reproof of Scripture and the Censure of the Law Containing a Compendium of the Penal Laws now in Force against Idleness Profaneness and Drunkenness Houses of unlawful Games profane Swearing and Cursing speaking or acting in contempt of the Holy Sacrament disturbing of Ministers profane jesting with the Name of God absenting from the Church profanation of the Lord's Day Debauched Incontinency and Bastard-getting With several Texts of Scripture prohibiting such Vices Also a brief Collection of several signal Judgments of God against Offenders in the said Vices and Debaucheries Published for the Advancement of Reformation of Manners so happily begun and carried on by several Societies By G. MERITON Gent. Righteousness exalteth a Nation but Sin is a Reproach to any People Prov. 14. 34. God will wound the head of his Enemies and the hairy Scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his Wickedness Psal 68. 21. LONDON Printed for John Harris and Andrew Bell at the Harrow in Little Britain and at the Cross-keys and Bible in Cornhil 1698. To the Honourable PAUL FOLEY Esq SPEAKER OF THE Honourable House of Commons And to the rest of the Honourable and Worthy Members of that High Council of the Realm now assembled in Parliament This COMPENDIUM is humbly dedicated by G. MERITON THE PREFACE TO THE READER Reader OVR Gracious Soveraign King William having observed the spreading growth of profane vitious and profligate Debauchery and Immorality within this Realm out of his devout and pious Zeal for the Honour of God the advancement of true Religion and the Credit and Welfare of this his Kingdom of England in his most gracious Speech to both the Houses of Parliament at the opening of this present Session tells them That he esteems it one of the greatest Advantages of Peace that he shall now have leisure to rectify such Corruptions or Abuses as may have crept into any part of the Administration during the War and effectually to discourage Profaneness and Immorality And to that purpose his Majesty has not only issued out his Proclamation for the discouraging of all Debauchery Profaneness and Immorality and commanded the same to be read in every Church and publick Chappel four times in the year but has also required all his Judges Justices of the Peace and other Magistrates and Officers within their several Limits and Jurisdictions according to their several Powers and Authorities to put the Laws made against Profaneness and Immorality effectually in execution And has likewise recommended the further Care of the more effectual suppressing Debauchery Profaneness and Immorality to the Consideration of the Parliament who have prepared a Bill for that purpose And every good Christian ought devoutly to join with the Church in that Prayer appointed by her Liturgy to be read for the Parliament when sitting That God would be pleased to direct and prosper all their Consultations to the advancement of his Glory the good of his Church the Safety Honour and Welfare of our Soveraign and his Kingdoms that all things may be so ordered and settled by their Endeavours upon the best and surest Foundations that Peace and Happiness Truth and Justice Religion and Piety may be established among us for all Generations And as every one ought thus to pray so also every individual Person within this Realm ought as a Reverend and Grave Divine lately declared in his Pulpit according to his Capacity and the Post he is placed in to contribute his Help and Assistance towards the carrying on this great and pious work of Reformation In compliance wherewith and to manifest my good Will by contributing towards the carrying on this great and good Work I have compil'd this Essay as a Compendium of the Laws now in force against Idleness Profaneness Drunkenness Swearing c. and for the more effectual enforcing the Observation of the same I have after the said Laws set down several Texts of Scripture against such Sins and after them lest some by their long continued wicked Courses be so hardned in their Sins that neither Law nor Gospel will restrain them I have given an Account of several exemplary Judgments of God upon such as have accustomed themselves in the practice of such profane Vices in hopes that upon the perusal thereof such as walk and tread in the same Steps may be brought to a sight and sense of their Sins repent of their Wickedness and resolve to lead a new Course of Life There are some other Laws against suspicious Persons that walk by Night and sleep by Day keep lewd Company and frequent lewd Houses 39 Eliz. Ch. 4. 43 Eliz. Ch. 2. 7 Jac. 1. Ch. 4. and against wandring Rogues 1 Jac. 1. Ch. 7. But the other Vices aforementioned being the customary and provoking Sins of the Nation and these others last mentioned not so common and the Laws made against them not so properly falling under the Title of this Compendium I have therefore purposely omitted the inserting of them And such Readers as are desirous to inform themselves herein may have recourse to the several Statutes as they are here cited But I shall proceed no further only desire that this small Treatise may in some measure effect its intended purpose and prove serviceable to the Publick which is the hearty prayer of G. Meriton A Catalogue of the Authors Names out of whose Works the signal Examples of God's severe Justice mentioned in this ensuing Treatise are excerpted ABbot Anton. de Torquenda Augustinus Baxter Beadle Batman Baker Beard Bernard Beza Bolton Burton Clark Camden Discipulus de Tempore Eusebius Fauconer Fox Gregory Tomonensis German History Heylin Heywood Johan Wierus Johan Fincelius Lonicerus Luther Laertius Maginus Platina Perkins Quintus Curtius Socrates Spotswood Speed Stanley Stow. Teate Theatr. Historiarum Turner Twisden Ward THE Laws against Profaneness CHAP. I. A summary Account of the Laws made against profuse idle customary and expensive Tipling and against sinful customary and profane Drunkenness and against keeping Places or Houses of unlawful Games SOme of our Chronologers tell us that the Danes were the first and principal Introducers and Promoters of the immoderate profuse and sinful Vice of excessive Carousing Quaffing and Drinking which by their Example did so influence the People of this Kingdom that in a small time it arrived to that height of Vanity that Edgar the seventeenth King of the West-Saxons and first sole Saxon Monarch of England in order to the restraining and curbing the growth of the said debauched Vanity and sinful Vice did ordain certain Cups or Pots with Gages Pins or Marks in them and appointed a Penalty to be inflicted upon every one that should presume to drink beyond the limited Gage which Ordinance of his possibly might in some measure abate the exorbitant Practice of this growing Wickedness yet the Practice thereof was never wholly laid aside especially in the times of Peace and Tranquillity And upon the Union of the Kingdoms of
Penalty inflicted by the aforementioned Act upon the Inn-keeper Alehouse-keeper or Victualler that suffers Foreigners to Tipple in their Houses It is therefore 1 Car. 1. Ch. 4. Enacted That every Inn-keeper Alehouse-keeper or Victualler that shall permit or suffer any Person or Persons not inhabiting in the City Town Corporate Market-Town Village or Hamlet where such Inn Ale-house or Victualling-house is to Tipple in the said Inn Ale-house or Victualling-house contrary to the true intent of any or either of the aforesaid Statutes the said Inn-keeper Alehouse-keeper and Victualler so offending shall incur the same Penalty and in such manner to be proved levied and disposed as in the former Statute 1 Jac. 1. Ch. 9. is appointed for permitting such to tipple as dwell in the same City Town Corporate Market-Town Village or Hamlet And it is also Enacted That the keepers of Taverns and such as do sell Wine in their Houses and do also keep Inns or Victualling-houses shall be taken to be within the said two former Statutes and also within this Statute If these Laws against inordinate and customary Tippling and Drunkenness were duly and effectually put in Execution it would not only be greatly to the Honour of God but tend much to the Honour and Credit of this Realm And might also prove very instrumental in the preventing many Families from Ruin and becoming burdensom and chargeable to the Places where they live and are settled for many ingenious Handicraft-men and other laborious and working Persons are so bewitch'd and charm'd with the love of strong Drink that what they earn with hard Labour all the day having neither regard to their own Credit nor any Charity Love or Kindness for their poor Wives and Families they embezle and spend at Night in profuse idle and insatiable Tipling and Drunkenness amongst their debauched Comrades when at the same time perhaps their poor Families at home are ready to starve for want of Bread I shall therefore in the next Chapter acquaint these obstinate presumptuous and vitious Persons with some Texts of Scripture against these their sinful Courses in hopes that the perusal and serious Consideration of them may bring them to a sight and sense of their Wickedness and work some Reformation in them But before I proceed to the next Chapter I think it will not be amiss if we give a brief Account here of the Laws made against Keepers of Play-houses and unlawful Games of which Offences many Inn-keepers Alehouse-keepers and Victuallers ' are guilty By the Statute 33 H. 8. Ch. 9. it is Enacted That none shall keep or maintain any House or Place of unlawful Games on pain of forty Shillings every day And none shall use or haunt such places on pain of six Shillings and eight Pence every time And it shall be lawful for every Justice of the Peace in every County and for head Officers in Corporations as well within the Liberties as without to enter and resort into all such Houses and Places where such unlawful Games are suspected to be used and as well the Keepers thereof as the Resorters thereto to arrest and imprison until they shall severally give good Security at the discretion of the said Justices or Officers not to keep such Games any more Every Mayor Sheriff Bailiff Constable and other head Officer within every City Borough or Town shall make due Search as aforesaid once every Month at least on pain to forfeit 40 s. for every such Default No Artificer or Journey-man nor Husbandman Apprentice Labourer Servant at Husbandry Mariner Fisherman Waterman or Serving-man shall play at Tables Tenis Dice Cards Bowls Clash Goyting Logating or any other unlawful Game out of Christmass or then out of his Master's House or Presence on pain of twenty Shillings and none shall play at Bowls in open Places out of his Garden or Orchard on pain of six Shillings and eight Pence All Informations or Suits upon this Statute shall be prosecuted within one year and the Forfeitures thereof which happen within a Leet or Liberty shall be divided between the King and the Lord thereof and in all other Places betwixt the King and the Prosecutor Proclamation of this Act shall be made quarterly in every Market-Town as also at every Goal-delivery Assize and Sessions Then lastly there is a Proviso that this Act shall not restrain a Servant by his Master's License to play at Cards Dice or Tables with the Master himself or other Gentlemen resorting to his Master's House and if the Master have Freehold of an hundred Pounds per Annum he may also license his Servant to play at Bowls or Tenis By the Statute 2 3 Ph. Ma. Ch. 9. All Licences to keep Houses or Places of unlawful Games shall be void Before this Statute several Persons used to obtain Placards or Licences to keep common Gaming so that by this Statute all such Licences are made void CHAP. II. An Account of some Texts of Scripture shewing the sad Consequences and Effects that attend the customary sinful and profane practice of profuse Quaffing and Drunkenness SUCH Persons as neither the fear of the Law respect to their own Credit nor love to their Families will reclaim or deter from their obstinate and presumptuous sinful Progress in their profane Courses of customary expensive and profuse excessive Tipling and inordinate Drinking upon the perusal of these several Scripture-sentences following may I hope be thereby induced and excited to follow a more frugal vertuous and godly course of Living and to abandon the charming Delilahof their beloved sinful Vice And they shall say unto the Elders of his City This our Son is stubborn and rebellions he will not obey our Voice he is a Glutton and a Drunkard And all the men of his City shall stone him with stones that he die so shalt thou put evil away from among you and all Israel shall hear and fear Deut. 21. 20 21. Wine is a Mocker strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise Prov. 20. 1. Be not among Wine-bibbers amongst riotous eaters of Flesh For the Drunkard and the Glutton shall come to Poverty and drowsiness shall clothe a man with Rags Prov. 23. 20 21. Who hath wo who hath sorrow who hath contentions who hath bablings who hath wounds without cause who hath redness of Eyes They that tarry long at the Wine they that go to seek mixt Wine Look not thou upon the Wine when it is red when it giveth his colour in the Cup when it moveth it self aright At the last it biteth like a Serpent and stingeth like an Adder Prov. 23. 29 30 31 32. Wo unto them that rise up early in the Morning that they may follow strong Drink that continue until Night till Wine inflame them And the Harp and the Viol the Tabret and Pipe and Wine are in their Feasts but they regard not the Work of the Lord neither consider the Operation of his Hands Isa 5. 11 12. Wo unto