FOrasmuch as the Lords-day , notwithanding severall good Laws heretofore made , hath been not onely greatly prophaned , but divers ungodly Books have been published by the Prelaticall faction , against the morality of that day , and to countenance the prophanation of the same , to the manifest indangering of soules , prejudice of the true Religion , great dishonour of Almighty God , and provocation of his just wrath and indignation against this Land ; The Lords and Commons for remedy thereof , do Order and Ordain , and be it Ordered and Ordained , That all the Laws enacted , and in force , concerning the observation of the Lords day , be carefully put in execution ; and that all and singular person and persons whatsoever , shall on every Lords-day , apply themselves to the sanctification of the same , by exercising themselves thereon , in the duties of Piety and true Religion , publiquely and privately : And that no person or persons whatsoever , shall publiquely cry , shew forth , or expose to sale , any Wares , Merchandizes , Fruit , Herbs , Goods or Chattels whatsoever , upon the Lords-day , or any part thereof ; upon pain , that every person so offending shall forfeit the same Goods so cried , shewed forth or put to sale : And that no person or persons whatsoever , shall , without reasonable cause for the same , travell , carry burthens , or do any worldly labours , or work whatsoever , upon that day or any part thereof ; upon pain , that every one travelling contrary to the meaning of this Ordinance , shall forfeit for every offence , ten shillings of lawfull money ; and that every person carrying any burthen , or doing any worldly labour or work , contrary to the meaning hereof , shall forfeit five shillings of like money for every such offence . And be it further ordained , That no person or persons shall hereafter upon the Lords-day , use , exercise , keep , maintain , or be present at any Wrestlings , shooting , Bowling , Ringing of Bels for pleasure or pastime , Masque , Wake , otherwise called Feasts , Church-Ale , Dancing , Games , Sport or Pastime whatsoever ; upon pain , that every person so offending , being above the age of fourteen yeers , shall lose and forfeit five shillings for every such offence . And be it further Ordained , that all and singular person and persons , that have the care , government , tuition or education of any child or children , under , or within the age of fourteenyeers , shal forfeit and lose twelve pence for every of the said offences that shal be committed by any such child and children . And because the prophanation of the Lords-day hath been heretofore greatly occasioned by May-Poles ( a Heathenish vanity , generally abused to superstition and wickednesse , ) The Lords and Commons do further Order and Ordain , that all and singular May-Poles , that are , or shall be erected , shall be taken down , and removed by the Constables , Borsholders , Tything-men , petty Constables , and Church-wardens of the Parishes and places where the same be ; and that no May-pole shall be hereafter set up , erected , or suffered to be within this Kingdom of England or Dominion of Wales . And it is further Ordained , that if any of the said Officers shall neglect to do their Office in the premises , within one week after notice of this Ordinance , every of them for such neglect shall forfeit five shillings of lawfull moneys ; and so from week to week , weekly five shillings more afterwards , till the said May-pole shall be taken down and removed . And that if any Iustice of the Peace of the County , or the chiefe Officer or Officers , or any Iustice of the Peace , of , or within any City , Burrough , or Town-Corporate , where the said offences shall be committed upon his or their view , or confesson of the party , or proof of any one , or more witnesses by oath ( which the said Iustice , chief Officer or Officers , is by this Ordinance authorized to minister ) shall find any person offending in the premisses , the said Iustice , or chief Offcer or Officers , shall give warrant under his or their hand and seal , to the Constables or Church-wardens of the Parish or Parishes where such offence shall be committed , to seize the said Goods , cried , shewed forth , or put to sale as aforesaid ; and to leavie the said other forfeitures or penalties by way of distresse , and sale of the Goods of every such Offender , rendring to the said offenders the overplus of the moneys raised thereby ; And in default of such distresse , or in case of insufficiency , or inabilitie of the offender to pay the said forfeitures or penalties , that the party offending be set publiquely in the Stocks by the space of three hours : And all and singular , the forfeitures or penalties aforesaid shall be imployed and converted to the use of the poor of the parish where the said offences shall be committed , saving onely , that it shall and may be lawfull , to , and for any such Iustice , Major , or head Officer or Offcers , out of the said forfeitures or penalties , to reward any person or persons that shall inform of any offence against this Ordinance , according to their discretions ; so as such reward exceed not the third part of the forfeiture or penalties . And it is further Ordained by the said Lords and Commons , that the Kings Declaration concerning observing of Wakes , and use of exercise and recreation upon the Lords-day ; the Book entituled , The Kings Majesties Declaration to his Subjects , concerning lawfull sports to be used ; and all other Books and Pamphlets that have been , or shall be written , printed or published against the moralitie of the fourth Commandement , or of the Lords-day , or to countenance the prophanation thereof , be called in , seized and suppressed , and publiquely burnt by the Iustices of Peace , or some , or one of them , or by the chief Officer or Officers aforesaid , in their severall limits , or by their warrant or command . Provided , and be it Declared , That nothing in this Ordinance shall extend to the prohibiting of dressing of meat in private Families , or the dressing and sale of Victuals in a moderate way in Innes or Victualing-Houses , for the use of such as otherwise cannot be provided for ; or to the crying or selling Milk before nine of the clock in the Morning , and after four of the clock in the Afternoon , from the tenth of September till the tenth of March : or before eight of the clocke in the Morning , or after five of the clock in the Afternoon , from the tenth of March till the tenth of September . And whereas thereis great breach of the Sabbath by Rogues , Vagabons , and Beggars , it is further Ordained , That the Lord Major of the Citie of London , and all Iustices of Peace , Constables , Churchwardens , and other Officers , and Ministers whatsoever , shall from time to time cause all Laws against Rogues , Vagabons , and Beggars , to be put in due execution ; and take order that all Rogues , Vagabons and Beggars do on every Sabbath-day repair to some Church or Chappell , and remaine there soberly and orderly during the time of Divine-Worship . And that all and singular person and persons , that shall do any thing in the execution of this Ordinance , shall be protected and saved harmlesse by the power and Authority of Parliament .

And be it further Ordained , that this Ordinance be Printed and Published , and read in all Parish Churches and Chappels , before the Sermon in the Morning , on some Lords-day before the first of May next , on the South-side of Trent ; and before the first of June next , on the North-side of Trent .