“You shall do your best endeavour, that rogues, vagabonds and night-walkers, be apprehended; and that the statutes made for their punishment, be duly put in execution: you shall have _a watchful eye_ to such as shall keep any house or place where any _unlawful game_ is used: as also to _such_ as shall _frequent_ such places, or shall _use_ any _unlawful game_ there or elsewhere. You shall _present all_ and _every_ the offences contrary to the statutes made to restrain the _tipling in inns, alehouses_, and _other victualling_ houses, and for repressing of _drunkenness_. You shall once in the year, during your office, present all _Popish recusants_. You shall well and duly execute all precepts and warrants to you directed. And you shall well and duly, according to your knowledge, power and ability, do and execute _all other_ things belonging to the office of a _constable_, so long as you shall continue therein.” Upon this, “I would observe first, that _actors of plays_ are exprest by name within the statute, to be taken up for vagabonds, and punished accordingly: and that though a statute of queen _Elizabeth’s excepts_ such companies as have a licence under the hand and seal of a nobleman, yet a ♦later statute in the reign of king _James_ I. has taken away that protection from them; by declaring, that _from thenceforth no authority to be given by any peer of the realms, shall be available to free or discharge them from the pains and punishments of that former statute_. Every _constable_ therefore in those parishes, where any of these _strolling players_ come, is bound by his _oath_, to seize upon, correct, and send them packing without delay.” ♦ “latter” replaced with “later” per Errata “The next part of your oath obliges you to keep _a watchful eye_, on such houses as keep and such _persons_ as use _unlawful gaming_. The statute directs you _weekly_ or at least _monthly_, to search within your liberties, all houses or places suspected of this offence, and upon discovering, to bring them to punishment. Upon this article I would observe, 1. That the law makes some allowance, for artificers, husbandmen, apprentices, labourers and servants, _to play in Christmas_, but at no other time of the year; and 2. That _all sports and pastimes_ whatsoever are made _unlawful_ upon the Lord’s day, by a statute of king _Charles_ II. You are therefore bound upon _oath_, to bring to punishment such as are guilty of _prophaning_ that day by any sports or pastimes whatsoever.”