To the worshipful justices of the peace for the County of Stafford at
their quarter
sessions on October 2nd 1655 the humble petition of John Jackson
minister of
Lapley Sheweth that all or most of the townes in the said County there
are
annually still observed and kept the wakes on the Sabbath dayes by feasting
friends and farrainers. Out-Butchers resorting thither on the wake-eve
only, utter
much meate for wake-provision. And great parte of the weeke after are
the wakes
continued and upheld by loose people, especially by ale-houses licensed
and
unlicensed without restraint for that tyme, and by multitudes of vaine
people that can
give no good account of their concourse, besides a great rabble of common
beggars.
Great part of the wake-weekes is pent by promiscuous dancing, maurice-dancing,
tipleling, gameing, quarrelling, wantonnesse. Hereby god is highly dishonored,
superstiton fostered by dedicating dayes and tymes to saint departed,
the name
of god torne in pieces, Sabbath prophaned , peace endangered, brawling
occasioned, wantonnesse furthered, tyme and mony misspended, the good
names
of others traduced, other mens wives, children, servants and goods coveted.
And
thus they run on the breach of every command of God against the reformation
ingaged , to the pulling down common calamity upon the countrey. All which
sadds
the hearts of the godly that have Davids affection, downe whose eyes rivers
of
tears did run because men kept not Gods Lawes. Though the publike ministery
prevaile with many against such courses, yett many others remaine refractory
especially the Papists and other carelesse livers that are negligent in
hearing Gods
word, and neither regard Doctrine nor Discipline.
May it therefore please your worships according to former covenants and
oathes for
a reall reformation of ourselves and all others under our charge; and
the judges late
order at our last Assizes to take a speedy and strict for the utter suppressing
of the wakes and the ill concomitants of them in such way as your wisedomes
shall
se most meete. Would you be pleased to sett downe your pleasure herein
, and
send it to the high-Constables to be dispersed and published: and an account
duely
required at all quarter sessions, it might be means to put downe the wakes
and
many other disorders the whole county through. Your strict order is much
desired
against making any provision for any wakes, against Butchers, fruit sellers,
musitioners, and all others resorting to any wakes: against all common
wandering
beggars at all tymes in the year & against all unlawfull games, mentioning
those ten
in 33.H.8 C.9 [an act of Parliament passed in Henry VIII's reign]. It
is not the
publike preaching only, nor your excellent charges upon Bench, not words
but
your power is to be put forth against the obsinate. Your imposing 12d
a Sabbath
on neglecters of the congregation, as the judg declared at the last Assizes,
and
duly executing the lawes enacted will declare you good executors and render
us
more capable of blessings. Moderne divines have written many arguments
against
wakes and wandering beggars (which would be over tedious here to recite,)
wherein
great blame is layd upon Justices for suffering the same. Be pleased to
satisfy the
desires of many herein who truly pray for their countrey.
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