26 THE SABBATH. 



difficulty of enforcing it. In 1560 it was, among other 

 things, decreed that on Sundays c all persons be astricted 

 to be present at the ordinary sermons, as well after noon 

 as before noon, and that from the last jow of the bell 

 to the said sermons to the final end.' In 1581 the 

 Council ordained that ' proclamation be made through 

 this burgh, discharging all kinds of games and plays 

 now commonly used the said day, such as bowling in 

 yards, dancing, playing, running through the high 

 street of hussies, bairns, and boys, with all manner of 

 dissolution of behaviour/ The people obeyed and went 

 to church, but it seems they chose their own preachers. 

 This galavanting among the kirks was, however, quickly 

 put an end to; for in 1584 it was ordained ' that all 

 freemen and freemen's wives in times coming be found 

 in their own parish kirk every Sunday, as also at the 

 time of the Communions, under the pain of payment of 

 an unlaw for every person being found absent.' In 1 586 

 the Council ' finds it expedient that a bailie ilk Sunday 

 his week about, visit the street taverns and other com- 

 mon places in time of sermon, and pones all offenders 

 according to the town statutes.' Vaging (strolling) in 

 the High Gate was also forbidden. 



These restrictions, applying at first to the time of 

 divine service only, were afterwards extended to the 

 entire Sunday ; but sabbath profanation resembled hy- 

 draulic pressure, and broke forth whenever it found a 

 weak point in the municipal dam. The repairing and 

 strengthening of the dam were incessant. Proclamation 

 followed proclamation, forbidding the practice of buying 

 and selling, the opening of eating- and coffee-houses, 

 and prohibiting such sports as golf, archery, row-bowles, 

 penny-stone, and kaitch-pullis. The gates of the city 

 were ordered to be closed on Saturday night and not to 

 be opened before four o'clock on Monday morning. At 



