and from that time forward, hath ftill been retain'd till the late Rebellion, when this, and many other good things grew into difufe: But at the Reftauration they were again reviv'd by the Act of Uniformity, whereby the Liturgy, as amended by Convocation, is eftablifhed; for in this Liturgy, which this A&t authorizes, there are Epifles, Gospels, and Collects appoint ed to be read on Holydays, and the Curate is to give notice on the Sunday before, what Holydays are to be observed the Week following: And the Preface of that Act intimates it to be Schifmatical to refufe to come to Church on Holydays; and by this Act, 1 Eliz. is declar'd, to be in full force; and by i Eliz. all Perfons are oblig'd to refort to their Parish Church on Holydays, as well as Sundays, upon pain of Punifhment by the Cenfures of the Church, and likewife upon pain of 12 d. for every Offence, to be levied by Diftrefs.

The Statute Law has made a Diftinction in this laft Age betwixt Sundays and other Holydays. For all Paftimes, out of their own Pa rifhes, are forbid People on the Sunday, under Penalty of 35. 4 d. or being fet in the Stocks three Hours; 1 Car. I. c. 1. and all Work, and worldly Bufinefs, or Travelling without a Licenfe from a Juftice, is forbid on this Day under 5s. Penalty; and Goods expofed to Sale are forfeited, by 29 Car. II. c. 7. By the fame Law, any Procefs ferved on the fame Day i 6 void, and he that ferves it is punishable, as i he had done it without Warrant. Farther, he that goes with a Waggon, or travels with a

Drove

Drove, forfeits 20s. and a Butcher killing Meat, or felling it, 6s. 8d." 4 Car. I. c. 1.

By Stat. 27 Hen. VI. c. 5. Fairs and Markets are forbid to be kept on Afcenfion-Day, AllSaints, Good-Friday, and every Sunday in the Year (the four Sundays in Harvest excepted) on pain of forfeiting the Wares to the Lord of the Franchife. This is ftill in Force, fave hat the Four Sundays in Harveft, are by latter Acts to be kept as other Sundays.

But the Parliament never faw juft occafion to nake any penal Law against Clergymen, for egle&t of their Office on that Day, which thews how diligent they have been in this main part of their Duty, or at leaft, how great a Care he Bishops have taken to prevent, or supply ny Defect in this particular.

If the Clergy have not of late Years been fo trict in obferving other Holydays, it is chiefly o be attributed to the backwardness of the Peole, who either thro' false and fuperftitious Noions, or an immoderate purfuit of Worldly 'rofit and Pleafure, are not eafily drawn toge her to worship GOD on thefe Days.

The Bishops indeed have the fame Power to blige their Clergy to obferve other Holydays, at they have to oblige them to keep Sundays: ut there are feveral penal Laws, whereby all eople are bound to go to Church on Sundays: nd thefe Laws are in force against all Perfons at do not go, either to Church, or fome other eligious Affembly on that Day. [See ToleratiAct. But not against Diffenters, who do t publickly worship GOD on Holydays: he Act of 1ft Elizabeth is indeed in full Force againft

K 2

against thofe who are not Diffenters, but if they fhould be profecuted on this Act, this were one effectual way to make them fo. By the Canon Law People were obliged to forbear all Work on thefe Holydays of Obligation, even fuch Works as were profitable to the Commonwealth: But our Statute Law is not fo fevere: And even by the A&t of Convocation made in 1536, the People were permitted to work in Harvest on all Holy days, Sundays not excepted.

There is in our Liturgy a Table, containing the Days of Fafting and Abftinence. By Fafting or Abftinence, I think none of our Church un derstand, forbearing Flesh, and eating Fi Tho' by Statute 5 Elizab. 5. fill in Force none may eat Flefh on Fith-Days, without 'Licenfe from the Bishop or Minifter, unde Penalty of three Pounds in Money, or thre "Months Imprifonment without Bail, and for ty Shillings Forfeiture to him that conceal it: But this is declared to be a meer politica Law, and he who fays 'tis neceffary to abftai from Flesh, for the Service of GOD, fhall b punifh'd as a fpreader of falfe News; that i be imprifon'd till be produce the Author,Stat. 3 Edw. III. c. 1. and if he cannot produce th Author, be fhall be punish'd by the King's Cou cil, 12 Richard II. c. 11.

By this Act, Wednesday, (not falling Coriftmas, or Eafter-Week) is made a Fith-Da yet one Difh of Flesh to three of Fish, is a low'd on this Day, of which it is faid, th it had not heretofore been used as a Fish-D By Stat. 27. cap. 11. of Eliz. the foregoing. is repeal'd, fo far forth only as it concerns e

ing Fish, or prohibiting Flefh on Wednesdays, is not having before that Act been used as a Fish Day. Stat. 35 of Eliz. c. 7. Sect. 22. reftrains the Forfeiture for eating Flefh on Fridays, to 20s. or one Months Imprifonment; and for concealing of it to 13s. 4d. any thing in the faid Stat. (Stat. 5 of Eliz.) to the contrary not withstanding. This fuppofes the A&t yet in Force. The Stat. 1 Jac. I. c. 29. fpeaks of the 5th of Eliz. as yet in Force in Sect. i. and iv. Therefore tho' this A&t of Eliz. was at firft only temporary, it is certain it was made perpetual by fome following Statute; and Wingate, the Abridger, puts it as a perpetual Act, (tho' what relates to Wednesday, ought to be excepted) yet Bishop Gibson prints it as a repealed Act; and a late Writer affirms it fo to be; but without Caufe for fo doing. By Statute 2, 3 Edw. VI. c. 19. the Penalty of eating Flefh on Fifh-Days is IOS. and ten Days Imprifonment for the first Offence; 20s. and twenty Days Imprifonment for the fecond. The Act is declared to be made on Confideration, that due, and godly Abftinence is a Means to Virtue; but especially that Fishers may be fet at Work, and that by eating Fish, much of Flesh may be faved and increased.

But, I fuppofe, our Days of Abftinence are to e kept, by forbearing thofe Pleasures and Vaieties of Meats and Drinks, and Diverfions, which we may at other times innocently enjoy. Bellarmine fays, that the Feafts and Fafts of he Church, babent mitiffimam obligationem. Ve of the Church of England, act as if we hought fo too.

Befides the ftated Feafts and Fafts of the Church, there are other Days prefcribed to be obferv'd by A&t of Parliament, viz.

The Fifth of November, as a Day of Thankf giving for the Discovery of the Gunpowder Treafon; and the Statute for keeping the Day, is to be read after Morning Prayer, or Preach ing on the fame Day.

The 29th of May, as an Anniverfary Thankf giving for the Restauration of the Royal Family and the Church; the Act 12 Car. II. c. 14. to be read on the Sunday next before.

The 30th of January, as a Day of publick Humiliation, for the Murder of K. Charles I by virtue of a Clause in the Act for Attainder of feveral Perfons guilty of the horrid Murder of his late Sacred Majefty K. Charles the First 12 Car. II. c. 30. confirmed by 13 Car. II. c. 7 neither of which A&ts, nor the Claufe relating to this Day are order'd to be read in the Church and it is to be obferved, that by the Words of the first Act, if this Day fall on a Sunday, 'tis to be kept on the next Day. For it is a Rule al ways obferved not to faft on Sunday; becaufe that is the ftated Chriftian Feaft in all Churches but thofe of Rome, and Scotland. For the Church of Rome, contrary to the ancient Pra&tice, obliges her Votaries to Abftain (as they call it) on Sundays, as well as other Days in Lent: And in Scotland State-Fafts are often appointed on the fame Day.

Some have queftion'd, by what Law the Fafts, and Thanksgivings appointed by the King, are obferv'd, and by what Authority the Office for the Day, appointed by Act of Parlia

ment