❧ The effect of certaine braunches of the Statute made in Anno .xxxiii. Hen. viii. touching the maintenaunce of Artillerie, and the punishment of such as vse vnlawfull games, very necessarie to be put in execution.
FIrst, that all fathers, gouernours, and rulers of such as be of tender age, do teache and bryng vp them in the knowledgee of shooting: And that euery man, hauing a man chylde or men chyldren in his house, shall prouide, ordayne, and haue in his house for euery man chylde being of the age of. vii. yeres and aboue, tyll he shall come to the age of .xvii. yeres, a bowe and two shaftes, to induce and learne them and bryng them vp in shooting, and shall deliuer all the same bowe and arrowes to the same young men to vse and occupie: And if the same young men be seruauntes, that then their maisters shall abate the money that they shall pay for the same bowes and arrowes, of their wages. And after all such young men shall come to the age of .xvii. yeres, euery of them shall prouide and haue a bowe and foure arrowes, continually for him selfe at his proper costes and charges, or els of the gyft or prouision of his frendes, and vse and occupie the same in shooting, as is before rehearsed. And if the maister suffer any of his seruauntes taking wages, beyng in his housholde, and vnder the age of .xvii. yeres, or the father suffer any of his sonnes beyng in his housholde, and vnder the age of .xvii. yeres, to lacke a bowe and two arrowes, contrary to the fourme of this estatute, by the space of one moneth together: then the master or father in whom such negligence shalbe, shall for euery suche default forfaite. vi. s. viii. d. And that euery seruaunt passing the age of .xvii. yeres, and vnder the age of. lr. yeres, and taking wages, whiche can or is able to shoote, and shall lacke a bowe and foure arrowes by the space of one moneth together, shall for euery suche default forfaite and lose .vi.s.viii.d.
Item, that no person by hym selfe, factor, deputie, seruaunt, or other person, shall for his or their gayne, lucre, or liuing, kepe, haue, holde, occupie, exercise, or maintayne any common House, Alley, or place of Bowling, Coytyng, Cloise, Coiles, halfe Bowle, Tennis, Dising▪ Table or Carding, or any other maner of game prohibited by any statute heretofore made, or any vnlawfull newe game no we inuented or made, or hereafter to be inuented, founde, had, or made, vpon payne to forfaite and pay for euery day keping, hauing, mayntayning, or suffering any suche game to be had, kept, executed, played, or mayntayned, within any suche House, Garden, Alley, or other place, contrary to the fourme and effect to this estatute .xl.s. and the players so taken to pay for euery tyme .vi.s.vii.d.
Item, that the Iustices of peace, and euery Maior, Sheriffe, Bayliffe, Constable, or other head officer, haue aucthoritie to enter into all places aswell within fraunchesis as els where, and the persons offending in any of the premises, to take and put in pryson, vntyll suche tyme they put in suerties no more to suffer, occupie, or commit the sayde offences.
Item, that the Maior, Sheriffes, Bayliffes, Constables, and other head officers within euery Citie, Borough, and Towne within this Realme, where any suche officers shall fortune to be, aswell within the fraunchises as without, shall make due searche weekely, or at the furthest at all tymes hereafter once euery moneth, in all places where any suche Houses, Alleys, play or playes shalbe suspected to be had, kept, and mayntayned. And if the sayde Maiors, Sheriffes, Bayliffes, Constables, and other head officers, within their Cities, Borowes, and Townes, aswell within fraunchesis as without, do not make due searche at the furthest once euery moneth, if the case so require, according to the tenor of this acte, and do not execute the same in all thinges according to the purport and force of the same: that then euery such Maior, Sheriffes, Bayliffes, Constable, or other head officer, to pay and forfaite for euery moneth not making suche searche, nor executing the same .xl. s.
Item, that no artificer or handicraftes man of any occupation, Husbandman, Apprentice, Labourer, seruaunt of husbandry, Iorneyman or seruaunt, or Artificer, Marriner, Fissherman, Waterman, or any seruingman, may vse any vnlawfull game.
Item, that all that play at Bowles or any other vnlawfull game in the fieldes, to lose for euery such tyme .vi.s.viii.d. and to be committed to pryson, vnto suche tyme they put in suerties no more to vse the same.
Item, this statute to be proclaymed foure times euery yere, 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 dispende .C.li. yerely and vpwardes, may vse these games with discretion at their pleasures.
GOD saue the Queen.