130 The Life of William, Duke of Newcastle 



into gazettes (for it over-heats the people's brains, and makes 

 them neglect their private affairs, by over-busying themselves 

 with state business) ; so it is great wisdom for a Council of 

 State to have good intelligences (although they be bought 

 with great cost and charges) as well of domestic, as foreign 

 affairs and transactions, and to keep them in private for the 

 benefit of the commonwealth l . 



XLVII 



That there is no better policy for a prince to please his 

 people, than to have many holidays for their ease, and order 

 several sports and pastimes for their recreation, and to be 

 himself sometime spectator thereof ; by which means he'll not 

 only gain love and respect from the people, but busy their 

 minds in harmless actions, sweeten their natures, and hinder 

 them from factious signs 2 . 



XLVu 



That it is more difficult and dangerous for a prince or com- 

 mander to raise an army in such a time when the country is 

 embroiled in a civil war, than to lead out an army to fight a 

 battle ; for when an army is raised, he hath strength ; but in 

 raising it hath none. 



1 Burnet praises Cromwell for his excellent intelligence. ' He laid it down for a 

 maxim to spare no cost or charge in order to procure intelligence. ... He had on all 

 occasions very good intelligence : he knew everything that passed in the King's little 

 court, and yet none of his spies were discovered but one only.' 



2 The same idea inspired James I and his son when they published in 1618 and 1633 

 respectively their Declarations concerning Lawful Sports to be used. The prohibition 

 of lawful sports, says the Declaration, ' barreth the common and meaner sort of people 

 from using such exercises, as may make their bodies more able for war when we or our 

 successor shall have occasion to use them ; and in place thereof, sets up filthy tipplings 

 and drunkenness, and breeds a number of idle and discontented speeches in their ale- 

 houses.' When the Long Parliament abolished the observation of Christmas and other 

 holy-days, it was obliged to ordain days of recreation, '-that all scholars, apprentices, 

 and other servants shall, with the leave and approbation of their masters respectively 

 first had and obtained, have such convenient relaxation and recreation from their con- 

 stant and ordinary labours on every second Tuesday in the month, throughout the 5 T ear, 

 as formerly they have used to have on such aforesaid festivals, commonly called Holy- 

 days. And that masters of all scholars, apprentices, and servants shall grant unto 

 them respectively such time for their recreations on the aforesaid second Tuesdays in every 

 month, as they may conveniently spare from their extraordinary and necessary services 

 and occasions.' This ordinance was passed on June 8, 1647, and on the renewed peti- 

 tion of the apprentices, followed by another on June 28, which made its observance 

 compulsory by ordaining that the windows of all shops and warehouses should be shut 

 from eight in the morning till eight in the evening, and by adding the clause ' That no 

 master shall wilfully detain or withhold his apprentice or other servant within doors , 

 or from his recreation, in his usual duty or service on the said day of recreation, unless 

 market-days, fair days, or other extraordinary occasion ; yet so as such master shall 

 allow unto such apprentice or other servant, one other day instead ', etc. Provisions 

 were also added against the abuse of such days by riots or other misconduct. 



