“Prior to the statute of 1676, any act done on Sunday, except in proceedings of courts, was of the same binding force as if performed on any other day. Parliament sat on that day, for in the reign of Edward I., in 1278 and 1305, three statutes were made on Sunday. Nor did the first restraining laws make any distinction between Sundays and other holy days. Thus the statute of 28 Edward III., Cap. 14, in 1357, says: “Shewing of wools (_i. e._, by merchants) shall be made at the staple every day in the week except the Sunday and solemn feasts of the year.” No further enactment was made touching the matter in question for nearly 100 years; but in 1448 was passed the act of 27 Henry VI., Cap. 5, entitled, “Certain days wherein fairs and markets ought not to be kept,” which sets forth that “The King hath ordained that all manner of fairs and markets in said principal feasts (of Ascension, Corpus Christi, Assumption, and All Saints) and Sundays and Good Friday shall clearly cease from all shewing of any goods or merchandises (necessary victuals only except);” but in recognition of the fact that there had previously been no such restriction, it is provided that “Nevertheless, of his special grace (the King) granted to them power which of old time had no day to hold their fair or market, but only upon the festival days aforesaid, to hold the same authority and strength of his old grant within three days next before said feasts or next after.” The act of 4, Edward IV., Cap. 7, in 1464, seems to have been occasioned by some special irritation from the dishonesty of leather-dressers and shoemakers; for, after sundry stringent provisions applying to them generally, it is provided that “No person, cordwainer or cobbler, within the City of London * * * upon any Sunday in the year, or in the feasts of the Nativity or Ascension of our Lord, or in the feast of Corpus Christi, shall sell, or command, or do to be sold, any shoes, huseaus, or galoches, or upon the Sunday, or any of said feasts, shall set or put upon the feet or legs of any person, any shoes, huseaus, or galoches.” This statute was repealed in 1522, but re-enacted, in part, in 1604.