An Additionall ORDINANCE OF THE LORDS and COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT: Concerning days of Recreation, allowed unto Scholars, Apprentices and other Servants. Die Lunae 28 Junii. 1647. ORdered by the Lords Assembled in Parliament, That this Ordinance be forthwith printed and published. Jo. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum. London printed for John Wright at the King's Head in the old Bayley. 1647. Die Lunae 28 Junii 1647. An additional Ordinance concerning days of Recreation, allowed unto Scholars. Appentices, and other 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 Month 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 Holidays, as by the said Ordinance more at large appeareth: and lest such days 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 windows of Shops, Warehouses, 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 until eight of the clock at evening, on the said day; And that no Master shall wilfully detain or withhold 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 days, Fair days, or other extraordinary occasion; yet so as such Master shall allow unto such Apprentice or other Servant one other day instead of such day employed in the Service of his Master, upon such occasion as aforesaid. 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 damage of his Master, and being thereof lawfully convicted and found guilty before any one Justice of the Peace; It shall and may be lawful for such Master at his pleasure to detain and withhold such Apprentice or other Servant from their Recreation on such allowed days. 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 days. And it is lastly Ordained, That all Mayors, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, 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, Alehouses, 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 case provided for the punishment of such Offenders. Joh. Brown Cler. Parliam. FINIS. The Apprentices Petition and Propositions, presented unto the Honourable House of Commons in Parliament Assembled, June 22. 1647. To the Right Honourable the Commons Assembled in Parliament. The humble Petition of the well-affected Apprentices of the City of London, etc. Right Honourable, Upon a due neglect and slight regard of certain Festivals and Holidays, formerly authorized and observed, which was effected through their superstitious use; we were emboldened (being hereby deprived of all times of lawful pleasure and recreation) to Petition your Honours for an establishment and confirmation of some other set times for the supplying our ordinary pleasure, (which indeed though Your Honours were pleased in some measure to satisfy us in this our request) yet your Petitioners find, and humbly conceive, that so full satisfaction is not contained in that late published Ordinance from this House, as is by the general expected; neither is an observance of the day so firmly authorized, as, if Your Honours pleases, may be vouchsafed. We are bold therefore to renew our desires, and humbly present unto your Honour's consideration, these following Propositions, or Heads, which we desire may be specified and included in a renewed Ordinance from your Honours. Which shall oblige us uncessently to pray, etc. The Heads or Propositions presented to the Honourable House of COMMONS, etc. 1. THat every second Tuesday monthly be strictly observed with Shop-shutting, and that no Master detain his Servant on such day or days in his usual employment unless extraordinary occasion happen, (which if it shall so be) that then the servant be allowed some other day in stead thereof. 2 That no Apprentice or Servant disobey his Master herein (when extraordinary occasion shall require his service on such days.) 3. That whatsoever Apprentice shall be found to abuse such day or days, to his own hurt, or damage of his Master, that then he be deprived of the benefit of the next day. 4 That none exceed the usual hours of eight in the morning to eight at night. 5. That whatsoever Apprentice be found the cause of any tumultuous assembly to the disturbance of the peace, or through his distemper shall cause any disorderly rout, or seditious company, that upon examination before the next Justice, if found notorious Offenders, Justice be duly executed upon them. 6 That all Constables and Officers, etc. be authorized to search all Taverns, Alehouses, and seize upon such Apprentices or Servants as shall be found at unseasonable hours, either Gaming, Carding, Dice, or any other lawful Games, whereby any disturbance may happen, or fall out, to the great disquiet of the City and such places, etc. These and such like heads we leave to your honour's prudence and judgement, to be comprised in the renewed Ordinance, which we doubt not but will greatly prevent distractions, which otherwise may arise. Die Jovis 24 Junii, 1647. AN Ordinance concerning days of Recreation for Scholars and Apprentices was this day read the first and second time, and upon the question committed unto Sir Walter earl. Mr. Beddingfield. Mr. Wheeler. Mr. Edward Ashe. Mr. Knightley. Mr. Gell. Mr. Nelthorp. Mr. Love. Colonel Ven. Mr. Trenchard. Sir Robert Pye. Mr. Scewen. Mr. Jesson. Mr. Vaughan. Mr. Dennis Bond. Sir John Curson. Mr. Vassal. Col. Montague. Sir Henry Mildmay. Mr. Francis Allen. Mr. Laurence Whittacre. Mr. Leman. Mr. Reyonlds. Mr. Sergeant wild. Or unto any five of them; who are to meet upon it to morrow in the afternoon, at two of the clock, in the Queen's Court. And the care hereof is more especially referred unto Master Wheeler. FINIS. Imprinted at London for John Wright at the King's Head in the Old-Bayley. 1647.