June 1647: An Ordinance concerning days of Recreation allowed unto Scholars, Apprentizes and other Servants.

June, 1647

[28 June, 1647.]

Ord. 11 June, 1647.; Windowes shall be shut on daies of Recreation.; Masters shall not detain their Servants.

Whereas by an Ordinance of Parliament, bearing date the eleventh day of this instant June, 1647. it is provided and Ordained, that every second Tuesday in every moneth throughout the year, shall be allotted to Scholars, Apprentices, and other Servants, for Recreation and Relaxation from their constant and ordinary Labours, as formerly they have used to have on Festivals, commonly called Holy-dayes, as by the said Ordinance more at large appeareth: And least such daies of Recreation might be abused, to the dishonour of God, scandal to Religion, and detriment both of Masters and Servants, and for the more orderly proceeding in the strict observation of the said day of Recreation, according to the true intent and meaning of the said Ordinance; It is further Ordained by the said Lords and Commons, That all Windowes of Shops, Ware-houses, and other Places, where Wares or Commodities are usually sold, shall be kept shut on the said day of Recreation, from eight of the clock in the morning untill eight of the clock at evening, on the said day; And that no Master shall wilfully detain or with-hold his Apprentice or other Servant within doors, or from his Recreation in his usual duty or service on the said Day of Recreation, unless Market-dayes, Fair-dayes, or other extraordinary occasion; yet so as such Master shall allow unto such Apprentice or other Servant, one other day instead of such day imployed in the service of his Master, upon such occasion as aforesaid.

Abuse of daies of Recreation.

And be it likewise Provided and Ordained, That if such Apprentice or other Servant shall riotously spend or abuse such day of Recreation, either to his own hurt, or the dammage of his Master, and being thereof lawfully convicted and found guilty before any one Justice of the Peace; It shall and may be lawfull for such Master at his pleasure, to detain and withhold such Apprentice or other Servant from their Recreation on such allowed daies.

Riotous or tumultuous assemblies.; Punishment.

And be it also Provided and Ordained, That if such Apprentice or other Servant shall cause any riotous or tumultuous assembly, to the disturbance of the Peace on such day of Recreation, such Apprentice or other Servant being thereof lawfully convicted and found guilty, upon the testimony of two Witnesses upon Oath, before one Justice of the Peace in any County, City, or Town Corporate, where such offence shall be committed, or before the Chamberlain of the City of London, for the time being, within the said City, who shall have power to administer such Oath, such Justices of Peace, and the said Chamberlain of the City of London respectively, shall, and may at their discretion inflict on such Apprentice, or other Servant so convicted as aforesaid, any corporal punishment, by imprisonment or otherwise, so as the same imprisonment exceed not the space of three daies.

Search shall be made for such.

And it is lastly Ordained, That all Mayors, Sheriffs, Bayliffs, Constables, Headboroughs, and all other Officers and Ministers are hereby authorized to make, or cause to be made diligent searches for such Apprentices or other Servants in Taverns, Ale-houses, or Gaming-houses, and such Apprentices or other Servants as shall be found in any such place after eight of the clock in the evening, or being drunk, or otherwise disorderly, or shall there remain after eight of the clock in the evening on such day of Recreation, shall bring, or cause to be brought such Apprentice or other Servant before any Justice of the Peace in any County, City, or Town Corporate, or before the said Chamberlain of London within their respective Limits as aforesaid, who shall cause the Statutes to be executed upon them, that are in such cases provided for the punishment of such Offenders.