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hope that our much-beloved Monarch, who may be literally said to reign in the hearts of his subjects, will not be averse to the imitation of one of the most popular acts of his predecessor, James I, under whose sovereignty, Historians tell us, "Reason was extending her influence, and discovering to mankind a thousand errors in religion, in morals, and in government that had long been reverenced by blind submission." It may be necessary to premise that the first paragraph of the

Proclamation which follows is from James's son and successor Charles I, who was instigated to the revival of the Royal Commandment from his having discovered, as is subsequently stated, "that, under pretence of taking away abuses, there hath been a general forbidding, not only of ordinary meetings, but of the Feasts of the Dedication of the Churches, commonly called Wakes."

The Ordinance, which was first promulgated in 1618, and revived in 1633, is thus intitled-

The King's Majesty's Declaration to his Subjects concerning lawful Sports to be used.

"BY THE KING,

"Our dear Father of blessed memory, in his return from Scotland, coming through Lancashire, found that his subjects were debarred from lawful recreations upon Sundays after evening prayers ended, and upon holy days: and he prudently considered, that if these times were taken from them, the meaner sort, who labour hard all the week, should have no recreations at all to refresh their spirits and, after his return, he farther saw that his loyal subjects in all other parts of his kingdom did suffer in the same kind, though perhaps not in the same degree; and did, therefore, in his princely wisdom, publish a Declaration to all his loving subjects concerning lawful sports to be used at such times, which was printed and published by His Royal Commandment in the year 1618, in the tenor which hereafter followeth :

"Whereas, upon our return the last year out of Scotland, we did publish our pleasure touching the recreations of our people in those parts under our hand: For some causes us thereunto moving, We have thought good to command these our directions, then given in Lancashire, with a few words thereunto added, and most appliable to these parts of our realms, to be published to all our subjects.

"Whereas we did justly, in our progress through Lancashire, rebuke somę puritans and precise people, and took order that the like unlawful carriage should not be used by any of them hereafter, in the prohibiting and unlawful punishing of our good people for using their lawful recreations and honest exercises upon Sundays and other holy days, after the afternoon sermon or service: We now find that two sorts of people wherewith that country is much infected (we mean Papists and Puritans) have maliciously traduced and calumniated those our just and honorable proceedings; and, therefore, lest our reputation might upon the one side (though innocently) have some aspersion laid upon it; and that upon the other part our good people in that country be mis-led by the mistaking and misinterpretation of our meaning: We have therefore thought good hereby to clear and make our pleasure to be manifested to all our good people in those parts.

"It is true that on our first entry to this Crown and Kingdom we were informed, and that too truly, that our county of Lancashire abounded more in Popish recusants than any county of England, and thus hath still continued since to our great regret, with little amendment, save that now of late, in our last riding through our said county, we find, both by the report of the Judges,

and of the Bishop of that diocess, that there is some amendment now daily beginning, which is no small contentment to us.

"The report of this growing amendment amongst them made us the more sorry, when with our own ears we heard the general complaint of our people, that they were barred from all lawful recreation and exercise upon the Sundays afternoon, after the ending of all Divine Service, which cannot but produce two evils: the one, the hindering of the conversion of many, whom their priests will take occasion hereby to vex, persuading them that no honest mirth or recreation is lawful or tolerable in our religion; which cannot but breed a great discontentment in our people's hearts, especially of such as are peradventureupon the point of turning: the other inconvenience is, that this prohibition barreth the common and meaner sort of people from using such exercises as may make their bodies more able for war, when we or our successors shall have occasion to use them; and in place thereof sets up filthy tipplings and drunkenness, and breeds a number of idle and discontented speeches in their alehouses. For when shall the common people have leave to exercise, if not upon the Sundays and holy days, seeing they must apply their labour and win their living in all working days?

"Our express pleasure, therefore, is, that the laws of our kingdom and canons of our Church be as well observed in that county as in all other places of this our kingdom: and on the other part, that no lawful recreation shall be barred to our good people which shall not tend to the breach of our aforesaid laws and canons of our Church; which, to express more particularly, our pleasure is, that the Bishop, and all other inferior churchmen, and churchwardens, shall for their parts be careful and diligent both to instruct the ignorant, and convince and reform them that are mis-led in religion, presenting them that will not conform themselves, but obstinately stand out, to our Judges and Justices, whom we likewise command to put the law in due execution against them.

"Our pleasure likewise is, that the Bishop of that diocess take the like straight order with all the Puritans and Socinians within the same, either constraining them to conform themselves, or to leave the county according to the laws of our kingdom and canons of our Church, and so strike equally on both hands against the contemners of our authority and adversaries of our Church. And as for our good people's lawful recreation, our pleasure likewise is, that after the end of Divine Service our good people be not disturbed, letted, or discouraged from any lawful recreation, such as dancing (either men or women), archery for men, leaping, vaulting, or any other such harmless recreation; nor from having of May Games, Whitsun Ales, and Morris Dances, and the setting up of May Poles, and other sports therewith used, so as the same be had in due and convenient time, without impediment or neglect of Divine Service. And that women shall have leave to carry rushes to the Church for the decoring of it, according to their old custom. But withal we do here account still as prohibited all unlawful games to be used upon Sundays only, as bear and bull-baitings, interludes, and at all times, in the meaner sort of people, by law prohibited, bowling.

"And likewise we bar from this benefit and liberty all such known recusants, either men or women, as will abstain from coming to Church or Divine Service, being therefore unworthy of any lawful recreation after the said service, that will not first come to the Church and serve God: prohibiting in like sort the said recreations to any that, though conform in Religion, are not present in the Church at the service of God, before their going to the said recreations. Our pleasure, likewise, is, that they to whom it belongeth in office shall present and sharply punish all such as, in abuse of this our liberty, will use these exercises before the ends of all Divine Service for that day: And we likewise straightly VOL. IV. SECOND SERIES.--No. 20. N

command that every person shall resort to his own parish church to hear Divine Service, and each parish by itself to use the said recreation after Divine Service: prohibiting likewise any offensive weapons to be carried or used in the said times of recreations. And our pleasure is, that this cur Declaration shall be published by order from the Bishop of the diocess, through all the parish churches, and that both our Judges of our circuits and our Justices of our Peace be informed thereof.

"Given at our Manor of Greenwich the four-and-twentieth day of May, in the sixteenth year of our reign of England, France, and Ireland, and of Scotland the one-and-fiftieth!

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"Now out of a like pious care for the service of God, and for suppressing any humours that oppose truth, and for the ease, comfort, and recreation of our well-deserving people, we do ratify and publish this our blessed father's Declaration; the rather because of late in some counties of our kingdom we find, that, under pretence of taking away abuses, there hath been a general forbidding, not only of ordinary meetings, but of the Feasts of the Dedication of the Churches, commonly called Wakes. Now our express will and pleasure is, that these feasts, with others, shall be observed, and that our Justices of the Peace in their several divisions shall look to it, both that all disorders there may be prevented or punished, and that all neighbourhood and freedom with manlike and lawful exercises be used. And we farther command our Justices of Assize, in their several circuits, to see that no man do trouble or molest any of our loyal and dutiful people in or for their lawful recreations, having first done their duty to God, and continuing in obedience to us and our laws: And of this we command all our Judges, Justices of the Peace, as well within liberties as without, Mayors, Bailiffs, Constables, and other Officers, to take notice of, and to see observed, as they tender our displeasure: And we farther will, that publication of this our Command be made by order from the Bishops through all the parish churches of their several diocesses respectively.

"Given at our Palace of Westminster the eighteenth day of October, in the ninth year of our reign. God save the King."

Such were the Royal Ordinances two centuries ago; and I have yet to learn that their revival at the present day would be attended with anything but the happiest results. That I am not alone in this opinion may be gathered from what follows. On turning over the pages of a work just issued from the press-and by a writer, too, who ranks in no mean estimation in the republic of letters-I was forcibly struck with the coincidence of sentiment between us; and, as it was evidently dictated from the same common motive, I make no apology for transcribing it.

"But what has become of the power, or the will, or the zest for

natural and innocent enjoyment of the villagers of Old England? -merry Old England it used to be, we are told-can I call it so at present? Why don't these hard-worked, simple-minded poor fellows take delight in the few holidays left open to them ?-for as to Sunday, it has now be

to all outward appearance, the saddest day out of the seven. And stop:-perhaps it is this very pharisaical observance of the Sabbath, at first imposed upon them against their natures and wishes, and since grown into a sullen, sulky habit, which at length incapacitates them from relishing even their annual play days. At all events, Graves, you

know my notions of old, as to the good sense, good feeling, nay good religion of making it criminal in a poor man or lad to sing a harmless song, play at quoits or cricket, or be seen dancing with his sweetheart, or, if he and she like, his arm round her neck, of a Sunday. None of those acts would be in themselves unholy, and therefore would not break the command for keeping holy the Sabbath. Farther, I do sincerely believe, that after due worship of God, or in the intervals of different times set apart for His worship, on His own Day, a joyous and a contented heart giving vent, according to the common manifestations of human nature, to its joy and to its content, would not be odious in the sight of Him who loves his creatures with a surpassing love, and who has contrived a wondrous plan for even their earthly happiness. There is joy in heaven,' where reigns an eternal Sabbath; and I WILL insist that it was upon the first earthly Sabbath Day, after the foundations of the earth were laid,' and 'the corner stone there,' that the morning stars praised Him together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy!'

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"As to the good feeling and good sense of compelling poor Johnny Raw to be triste and demure-looking upon the only day of the week that he is not bent double with labour, follow him for a good part of a Sunday, and draw your own conclusions. See him first, after church or chapel service, moping alone, or with a group of his own sex, at one side of the village-street, or of a green field, while flocks of pretty and (if they durst) merry-hearted girls, move in a somewhat more

active manner at the other side: see him thus, and you pity his lot-(pray do not fall into the mistake of quarrelling with him for stupidity). When he tires of his unenlivening lounge, stand near the Tap, and you will catch a glimpe of him, however, slipping in its ever open or only latched door, round a corner; and you do not greatly pity him now-but how CAN you blame him? What are his means of enjoyment in the open air? And if he had some means of enjoyment in the open air, would he be in the Tap-in it at least so often or long at a time? And (take human nature as it is, as it has ever been, and as it ever must be) which is the greatest breach of the Sabbath, dancing happily on the green sod, aye, and with one of those nice village beauties before him, or spending his money on the heavy, stupifying national drink of England? —(Graves, have not the porter and the ale of England, the light wines or the light beer of France, and the whiskey of Ireland, a point of impression upon the very different characters of the three people?) And can his methodised avoidance of the cheery companionship of the other sex, openly, and in the face of heaven and of man, upon a Sabbath Day-to say nothing of his self-control in different matters--be much better, very often, than a system of demoralising hypocrisy? Ask the parish overseer, and he may perhaps tell you that more seeds of care and trouble to him are sown of a Sunday evening (at all events of a Sunday night, take the seasons through) than upon any other evening of the week. And does he or do you expect it otherwise? I think, in my conscience,

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it is evident that the natural gallantry common to all men, gentle and simple, might, in seven cases out of ten, be diverted from concentrating itself into a downright breach of parish law, if it were allowed to evaporate gradually in the hundred harmless little courtesies which are matters of course amongst men and women, lads and girls, in less disciplined communities. This, however, you will say, is rather a stretching of my theory.....very well. Give me back our fine merry Old England national character among the lower orders, aye, and some of the middle too, and that is what I want, and you may effect it as you like and as you can. Make our smock-frock compatriots look less unhappy, less jealous of a free-hearted natural existence, less sulky while a charming girl of the same street and parish stops him as he plods along, and

almost by force detains him a few moments while she tries her very best to tell him pleasant stories and anecdotes, and to look up, laughing, into his face-in fact (inverted man that he is to suffer it!), to court him.

"Let me finish my wandering chapter with a really serious sentence or two. Make your villagers enjoy their lives as their forefathers did theirs, or, at least, make them more moral than their forefathers were, as a set-off against their sad and sour pretensions to outward decorum. Convince them, that, one thing with another, they have more facilities for happiness than the people of any second country under the sun; and yet that, not in seeming merely, but in downright fact, and in their hearts and brains, spleens and gall-bladders, they are the least joyous people under that same sun.’

وو

EXCELLENT FOX-HUNT WITH LORD ELCHO'S HARRIERS IN EAST LOTHIAN.

THIS excellent pack, which determined on his purpose, he

has contributed so much to the amusement of those who are fond of hare-hunting, and are hunted in a style worthy of the excellent sportsman to whom they belong, met with a fox near Milknaw farm steading on Wednesday, October 5th.

Reynard was viewed away in the open, and appeared as if he would lead them a dance: his course was straight forward over a strongly fenced country for some miles, when, feeling himself pressed, he commenced his doubles, and succeeded in regaining his favorite abode, the farm-house where he had been found. He jumped at the kitchen window, but it was shut against him:

next darted at the door, and got in and concealed himself under a bed: the hounds were whipped off, and His Lordship succeeded in dragging poor pug from his retreat. "Fair-play" being always a jewel with His Lordship in all kinds of sport, the captive was liberally dealt with time was allowed to restore him to the use of his exhausted powers, and he was turned down at a distance quite sufficient to insure him a fair chance of escape. All would not do; the pack had marked him out for their own special property, and would have him; and they had. Poor reynard sunk after running a few fields, and yielded up the ghost to his unrelenting pursuers,

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