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ARTICLE XXXIII. Ceasing of singing Psalms in Churches whilst Processions pass.
That when the Processions in which the Holy Sacrament is born, pass before the Temples of those of the P. R. R. they shall cease to sing their Psalms until the said Processions be past by.
HEre is no appearance that they would have this Article to be extended to all sorts of Procession of that Quality which is here specified, for that it would be im∣possible to obey what pains soever were taken therein. For the most part of these Pro∣cessions are arbitrary, and unforeseen, and made on days and hours not fixed, nor set∣tled; how then can it be possible for those who are in an Assembly to know when they are to pass? And how shall they who sing in a Temple, many times far distant from the Street or Way, shut in with Walls, and in a place apart, understand whether a Procession pass or not? There is therefore sufficient reason to believe, that the in∣tention of the King in this Article is to speak only of that Solemn Procession of the day called Corpus Christi day, which being known and foreseen of all People, those of the P. R. R. may be forewarned not to Preach in the morning of that day, but to chuse some other, as is already practised in divers places.
This is the interpretation which they herein request of his Majesty for preventing the evil intentions of those who seek to trouble their repose, and will raise a thou∣sand Suits against them, if this Article remain in the condition it is in at present. For if they of the P. R. R. whilst they are in a Temple, be not silent when a Procession passeth, although they could neither foresee it, nor discover it, nor perceive it; they will not fail to fall on them, and draw them into Law, and condemn them to pay great Amercements; and perhaps will use them far worse. For they will think themselves sufficiently authorised to assault the Temple, and to treat it as Rebellious, and de∣mand to have it pulled down, and it may even so come to pass, that the people in the Procession will seditiously pull it down at that instant, through their fervor, without attend∣ing the order of Justice, as hath been often seen in those times in which they have had no Declaration which might serve them for a pretext for such popular commotion. And this may happen to be the mean to raise whole Cities, and to cause such flames as can∣not be extinguished but by the blood of many persons. His Majesty therefore will be pleased to revoke this Article; or at least to make it clear, by restraining it to the Pro∣cession of the day named Corpus Christi day, and leaving, in regard of other Processions to them of the P. R. R. the liberty which they have always enjoyed, notwithstanding all contrary Decrees, Judgments and Ordinances.