it more absolutely her own, express commandment given by her ladyship, as is reported, that neither sir Edward Coke nor any of his servants should be admitted."

Such then were the wars, such the negotiations, which, under the auspices of king James and his favorite, engrossed the attention of the court, and occupied the minds of sir Edward Coke and Francis Bacon!

During the king's journey back from Scotland, which he converted into a hunting progress of several weeks, the observations which he had occasion to make on the temper of the people in the north of England, and particularly in Lancashire, seconded by a petition from the inhabitants of that county, suggested to him a measure pregnant with future mischiefs to the house of Stuart. This was the publication of a "declaration to encourage recreations and sports on the Lord's day;" commonly called the Book of sports. The indulgence was a large one, comprehending dancing, archery, leaping, vaulting, May-games, Whitsunales, morrice dances and setting up of Maypoles; bull and bear baiting, interludes and bowls being alone prohibited of the diversions permitted on other days. It was however provided, that these recreations should be held at such hours as not to interfere with divine service, and that they should be allowed to such persons only as had performed the religious duties of the day at their own parish churches.

a Strafford papers, vol. i. p. 5.

The

The people of Lancashire, mostly catholics, embraced with joy the permission to return to their ancient recreations, some of which were closely connected with the observances of the old religion; and the declaration seems to have been read without scruple in the parish churches of that county. On the other hand, it was regarded with horror by the puritanical clergy, and indeed by all but a highchurch party, throughout the rest of the kingdom; and Wilson states, that the king's design of causing it to be published in all the parish churches of the kingdom, was quashed by the primate's positive refusal to read it in his own church of Croydon.

A few particulars of the Sabbatarian controversy which had preceded these transactions will reflect light on the conduct and motives of James in this affair. Fuller, in his Church History, affords the following notices under the year 1595: "About this time throughout England began the more solemn and strict observation of the Lord's day (hereafter both in writing and preaching commonly called the Sabbath) occasioned by a book this year set forth by one P. Bound doctor in divinity, and enlarged with additions in 1606a." The following precepts were contained in this work: That the sanctifying of every seventh day, as in the decalogue, is moral and perpetual: That it ought to be observed as "a most careful, exact and precise rest, after another manner than men are accustomed:" That scholars

Fuller's Church history, b: 1x. p. 227.

should

should not study the liberal arts on that day, nor lawyers consult, nor serjeants and apparitors be allowed to execute their offices, nor magistrates to examine causes: That the ringing of more bells than one on that day could not be justified: That feasts and wedding dinners should not be made, (unless by lords, knights and gentlemen.) and that all recreations lawful on other days, and all speech of pleasure, should be forborne. "It is almost incredible," adds our author, "how taking this doctrine was, partly because of its own purity, and partly for the eminent piety of such persons as maintained it; so that the Lord's day, especially in corporations, began to be precisely kept, people becoming a law to themselves, forbearing such sports, as yet by statute permitted; yea many rejoicing at their own restraint herein...... Yet learned men were much divided in their judgements about these Sabbatarian doctrines some embraced them as ancient truths consonant to scripture long disused and neglected, and now seasonably revived for the increase of piety. Others conceived them grounded on a wrong bottom, but because they tended to the manifest advance of religion it was pity to oppose them....But a third sort flatly fell out with these positions as galling men's necks with a jewish yoke, against the liberty of Christians: That Christ, as lord of the Sabbath, had removed the rigor thereof and allowed men lawful recreations: That this doctrine put an unequal lustre on the Sunday on set purpose to eclipse all other holidays, to the derogation of the

authority

authority of the church: That this strict observance was set up out of faction to be a character of difference, to brand all for libertines who did not entertain it." It was some years however before any one chose openly to oppose the doctrine of Bound and his followers, which in the mean time grew and prospered. At length Thomas Rogers, in his preface to the Book of articles, boldly attacked "the Sabbatarian errors and impieties;" taking great credit to himself that through his representations their books had been both called in by archbishop Whitgift and "forbidden any more to be printed" by chief-justice Popham. These prohibitions however did but increase the reputation and the sale of the forbidden books; the doctrine grew with the growth of puritanism, and even extended beyond its pale; and at the time when the declaration was issued, it had already become unwise, to say no more, to attempt its subversion by authority. But James was impelled on this occasion by his humor no less than his political bias, and it is difficult to say whether he more disliked the strictness of Sabbath observance as a badge of puritanism, or as a check on the natural carelessness and festivity of his temper. Theologian as he was, his behaviour even at church was grossly irreverent; and the common decencies of the day were fearlessly violated by his household and attendants. On this head it is related, that the court being once about to remove on a Monday from Whitehall to Theobalds, the carts were sent through the city the day before in service time, with much noise

and

and clatter. The lord-mayor caused them to be stopped, equally to the indignation and astonishment of the officers who attended them, by whom an angry representation was carried to the king of the indignity which had been put upon them. James was much enraged, and swore he thought there had been no more kings in England than himself: however, after a pause, he condescended to order a regular warrant to be sent to the lord-mayor for the release of the carts: the magistrate immediately complied, with this remark: "While it was in my power I did my duty; but that being taken away by a higher power, it is my duty to obey." The king was struck with the answer, and, on second thoughts, thanked the lord-mayor for his conducta.

One of the few remaining incidents of the year 1617 was the arrival of a Russian embassy, which afforded matter both of admiration and amusement to the king and the inhabitants of London. Sir John Finett is the narrator of the particulars of its reception.

On the day of audience, the ambassador with his two assistants proceeded to court from their quarters in the city, all their servants of less esteem marching on foot before them, "the rest in coaches provided by the merchants: each of those on foot carrying before them with ostentation to open view some parcel of the various presents sent to his majesty from the emperor. This consisted of sable furs, black foxes, ermines, hawks, with their hoods and