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The effect of certaine branches of the Statute made in Anno xxxiij. Henrici viij. touching the main∣tenance of Artillerie, and the punishment of such as vse vnlawfull games, very necessary to be put in execution.
FIrst, that all fathers, gouernors, and rulers of such as be tender of age, doe teach and bring them vp in the knowledge of shooting: and that euery man hauing a man childe, or men children in his house, shall pro∣uide, ordeine, and haue in his house for euery man childe, being of the age of seuen yeeres and aboue, til he shall come to the age of seuenteene yeeres, a bow and two shafts, to induce and learne them, and bring them vp in shooting, and shall deliuer all the same bow and Arrowes to the same yong men to vse and occupy. And if the same yong men be seruants, that then their master shall abate the money that they shall pay for the same bowes and arrowes of their wages. And after all such yong men shall come to the age of seuenteene yeres, euery of them shall prouide and haue a bow and foure arrowes continually for himselfe, at his proper costes and charges, or else of the gift or prouision of his friends, and vse and cocupy the same in shooting, as is before rehearsed. And if the master suffer any of his seruants taking wages, being in his houshold, and vnder the age of seuenteene yeeres, to lacke a bow and two arrowes, contrary to the forme of this estatute, by the space of one moneth together, then the master or father in whom such negligence shal be, shal for euery such default forfeit vi.s.viii.d. and that euery seruant passing the age of seuenteene yeeres, and vnder the age of threescore yeeres, and taking wages, which can or is able to shoot, and shal lacke a bow and foure arrowes by the space of one moneth together, shall for euery such default forfeit and lose vi.s.viii.d.
Item, that no person by himselfe, factor, deputie, seruant, or other person, shall for his or their gaine, lucre, or liuing, keepe, haue, hold, occupie, exercise, or mainteine, any common house, alley, or place of bowling, coiting, cloise, coiles, halfe bowle, tennis, dising, table, or carding, or any other maner of game, prohibited by any statute heretofore made, or any vnlawfull new game now inuented or made, or hereafter to be inuented, found, had, or made, vpon paine to forfeit and pay for euery day keeping, ha∣uing, mainteining, or suffering any such game to be had, kept, executed, played, or mainteined within any such house, garden, alley, or other place, contrary to the forme and effect of this estatute, xl.s. and the players so taken, to pay for euery time vi.s.viii.d.
Item, that the Iustices of Peace, and euery Maior, Shiriffe, Bailiffe, Constable, or other head Offi∣cer, haue authoritie to enter into all places, aswell within Franchises or elsewhere, and the persons offending in any of the premisses, to take and put in prison, vntil such time they put in sureties no more to suffer, occupy, or commit the said offences.
Item, that all Maiors, Shiriffes, Bailiffes, Constables, and other head Officers within euery Ci∣tie, Borough, and Towne within this Realme, where any such Officers shal fortune to be, aswel with∣in the Franchises as without, shall make due search weekely, or at the furthest at all times hereafter once euery moneth in all places, where any such houses, Alleys, Play, or Playes shalbe suspected to be had, kept, and mainteined. And if the said Maiors, Shiriffes, Bailiffes, Constables, and other head Officers, within their Cities, Boroughs, and Townes, aswell within Franchises, as without, doe not make due search at the furthest once euery moueth, if the case so require, according to the tenor of this Act, and do not execute the same, in all things according to the purport and force of the same: that then euery such Maior, Shiriffes, Bailiffes, Constables, or other head Officer, to pay and forfeit for euery moneth not making such search, nor executing the same, xl.s.
Item, that no Artificer, or handycrafts man of any occupation, Husbandman, Apprentice, Labou∣rer, seruant of Husbandry, Iourney man, or seruant, or Artificer, Mariner, Fisherman, Waterman, or any Seruingman, may vse any vnlawfull game.
Item, that all that play at Bowles or any other vnlawfull game in the fields, to loose for euery such time vi.s.viii.d. and to be committed to prison, vnto such time they put in sureties no more to vse the same.
Item, this Statute to be proclaimed foure times euery yeere, and the like to be done in all Assises and Sessions, and to continue for euer.
Memorandum, that there is a prouiso in this Statute for all men of worship, which may dispend one hundred pounds yeerely and vpwards, may vse these games with discretion at their pleasures.