1G50.] HORSE-RACES PROHIBITED. 209 



cock-fiohtinof, or horse-races, shall forfeit double the 

 money gained, one-half to the Lord Protector Crom- 

 well, the other half to the loser, if he prosecute 

 them in three months, or to any other prosecuting in 

 six months. Forfeitures on this Act were recover- 

 able in the courts of law ; and all bonds, mortgages, 

 etc., made since June 24, 1657, for gaming debts, 

 to be void and of no effect.* 



On the 8th of April, 1658, the Council of State, 

 at Whitehall, advised a proclamation to be 



1658. 



issued to prohibit " all horse-races for the 

 next eight months ensuing." t 



" Journals of the House of Commons. 

 "Wednesday, July 13, 1659. 

 " Mr. Scot reports from the Council of State, That 

 the Council conceive it necessary, that a Proclamation 

 be issued, prohibiting Horse-races, Cock- interregnum, 

 matches, Bull-baitings, Hurlings, and other i^^^- 

 Meetings of like Nature, as being a Means to 

 colour the Designs of such as endeavour or intend 

 the Disturbance cf the publick Peace : And that, all 

 Persons, who have been in Arms against this Common- 

 wealth, be, by Proclamation, required to repair to their 

 respective Habitations within Days, and 



prohibited to travel from the Places of their abode 

 above Five Miles, for the Space of except 



they shall have Licence thereunto from the Parliament, 

 or Council of State, or such Person or Persons as they 

 shall appoint. 



* State Papers, Dom., Interregnum, vol. civ., book ii., No. 121. 

 t Ibid., vol. Ixxviii., pp. 550-4. 



VOL. II. p 



