That as I shalbee ready vppon all occasions, to serve you, soe I shall not bee wanting in any of fice of ffreindshipp which I shal bee able hereafter to showe him. Hoping that the goodness of God to the Nation will soe setle our present distracc'ons at sea, as may putt me into a capacity of ma nifesting my respect towards him, in testimony of that affecc'on thats borne vnto yo'selfe, by yo' assured friend WARWICKE.

"Tilbury Hope, 14 August, 1648,

"To my hono'd freind Sir Thomas Jervoise, Knt. a Member of the hono❜ble House of Commons.

[Indorsed" August 14, 1648. Earl of Warwick to Sir T. Jervoise about turning Henry Jervoise out of his ship."]

EXTRACT from the BOOK OF SPORTS; as set forth by CHARLES THE FIRST *.

BY THE KING.

"OUR dear father, of blessed memory, coming through Lancashire, found that his subjects were debarred from lawful recreations, upon Sundays after evening prayers ended, and upon holidays: and he prudently considered, that if these times were taken from them, the meaner sort, who la

* It will be impossible for the reader to peruse this article without being sensibly struck with the contrast of things during the present church-building era, and the time to which it refers. So far from amusements being sanctioned on Sunday, the necessaries of life are now actually prohibited from being sold on that day.

bour hard all the week, should have no recreations at all to refresh their spirits; did, in his princely wisdom, publish a declaration to ALL his loving subjects, concerning lawful sports to be used at such times which after other particulars, proceeds and says:

"It is true, that at our first entry to this crown and kingdom, we were informed, and that too truely, 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 diocese, that there is some amendment now daily beginning, which is no small contentment to us.

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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 the conversion of many, whom their priests will take occasion here to vex, persuading them, that no honest mirth or recreation is lawful or tolerable in our religion, which cannot but breed a great discontent in our people's hearts; especially of such as are peradventure upon the point of turn

ing. 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 ale-houses. For when shall the the common people have leave to exercise, if not upon the Sundays and holidays; seeing they must apply to their labour, and win their living in all working days?

'Our express law 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 misled in religion, presenting them that will not conform themselves, but obstinately stand out against our judges and justices; whom we likewise command to put the law in due execution against them.

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Our pleasure likewise is, that the bishop of that diocese take the like straight order with all

the puritans and precisiares, within the same, either constraining them to conform themselves, of to leave the country, according to the laws of our kingdom, and canons of our church; and so to 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, whitsonales, 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 leaves to carry rushes to the church for the decorating 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, 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 services for that day. And we likewise straightly 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 our declaration shall be published by order from the Bishop of the diocese, thro' all the parish churches; and that both our Judges of our circuit, and our justice of our peace be informed.

• 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.'

"Now, out of a like pious care for the service of God, and for suppressing of 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