OLD FASHIONED SUNDAY-KEEPING.
THE following article will show how Sunday was kept in England in king James’ time. “Sunday of all days, was chosen for the ratification of peace with Spain, but the nature of the ceremonies and rejoicings was such as to exhibit an awful profanation of that holy day, illustrative of the habits of the times, and forming a fit prelude to the introduction of the book of sports, which sanctioned so shamefully the practice of Sabbath-breaking, and awakened the righteous displeasure of the English puritans. “A most imposing pageant was exhibited by the procession in coaches and on horse-back, all the parties clothed in the most gorgeous attire. In the royal chapel various pieces of church music were performed, after which the peace was ratified by the king’s oath, on a copy of Jerome’s Latin Bible, before the Duke de Friar, constable of Spain, the ambassador. The air was rent by acclamation. Then came the grand banquet and drinking, which lasted about three hours. Meanwhile, dancing had commenced in the drawing-room, to which all had repaired. The prince of Wales opened the ball with a Spanish gallarda, and after various other dances, it closed with a correnta by the queen and lord Southampton. Upon this, from the window they had a view of an amphitheatre filled with people, where bears, the property of the king, were baited by the greyhounds; a bull running about, tossing and goring mastiffs let loose upon him, followed next; the whole scene concluding with rope-dancing and feats of horsemanship.”—Ellis' Letters, Vol. iii, p. 207; Anderson’s Annals, Vol. ii, p. 372.