Wesley Corpus

You shall well and duly execute all precepts and warrants to you directed. And you shall well and duly, accord ing to your knowledge, power, and ability, do and execute all other things belonging to the office of a Constable, so long as you shall continue therein.” (Page 8.) “Upon this, I would observe, first, that actors of plays are expressed by name within the statute, to be taken up for vaga bonds, and punished accordingly; and that though a statute of Queen Elizabeth’s excepts such companies as have a license under the hand and seal of a Nobleman, yet a later statute in the reign of King James the First has taken away that protec tion from them, by declaring, that ‘from thenceforth no autho rity to be given by any Peer of the realm shall be available to free or discharge them from the pains and punishments of that former statute. Every Constable, therefore, in those parishes where any of these strolling players come, is bound by his oath, to seize upon, correct, and send them packing without delay. “The next part of your oath obliges you to keep a watchful eye on such houses as keep, and such persons as use, unlawful gaming. The statute directs you weekly, or at least monthly, to search within your liberties all houses or places suspected of this offence, and, upon discovering, to bring them to punish ment. Upon this article, I would observe, (1.) That the law makes some allowance for artificers, husbandmen, apprentices, labourers, and servants, to play in Christmas, but at no other time of the year; and, (2.) That all sports and pastimes what soever are made unlawful upon the Lord’s day, by a statute of King Charles II. You are therefore bound upon oath, to bring to punishment such as are guilty of profaning that day by any sports or pastimes whatsoever. “The following parts of your oath are, (1.) That you shall present all and every the offences of tippling and drunkenness that come to your knowledge. (2.) That you shall once in the year present all Popish recusants; nay, and by the statute on which your oath is grounded, you are obliged once a year to present in Session all those within your parishes who (not being Dissenters) come not once in a month, at least, to church.