Proclamations, Royal. These documents in former times were almost ecpial in authority to an act of the constitutional legislature. They often interfered with religion, and dealt largely in reformation of man- ners. In L529 king Henry VII issued a proclamation "for resisting and withstanding of most dampnable heresyes sowen within the realme by the discyples of Luther and other heretykes, perverters ofChristes re- lygyon." In June, 1530, this was followed by the proc- lamation "for dampning (or condemning) of erronious bokes and heresies, and prohibitinge the havinge of holy scripture translated into the vulgar tonges ofeng- lishe, frenche, or dutche." "And that having respect to the malignity of this present tyme, with the inclina- tion of people to erronious opinions, the translation of the newe testament and the old into the vulgar tonge of englysshe, shulde rather he the occasion of contyn- uance or increase of errours amonge the said people, than any benefit or commodite towards the weale of their soules." It was therefore determined that the Scriptures should only lie expounded to the people as heretofore, and that these books "be clerely extermy- nale and exiled out ,,| this realme of Englande for ever." Under Edward VI there is a proclamation againsl such "as innovate any ceremony," and who are described as ••certain private preachers and other laie-
meii. who rashly attempt of their own and singular wil and mind, not only to persuade the people from the old and accustomed rites and ceremonies, but also them- selves hring in new and strange orders according to their phantasies. The which, as il is an evident token of pride and arrogancy, so ii tendeth both to confusion and disorder." There is a proclamation also lo abstain from flesh on Fridays and Saturdays; enforced on the principle, not only that "men should abstain on those days, and forbear the pleasures and the meats wherein they have more delight, to the intent to Bubdue their bodies to the BOul ami spirit, hut also for worldly policy." Charles ii issued a proclamation against "vicious, de- bauched, and profane persons!" i. e. "a sort of men of whom we have heard much, and are sufficiently ashamed;
who spend their time in taverns. tippling-hOUSeS, and debauchery: giving no other e\ idence of their affection
to us but in drinking our health, and inveighing against all others who are not of their own dissolute temper; and who, in truth, have more discredited our cause, by the license of their manners and lives, than they could ever advance it by their affection or courage. VVe hop., all persons of honor, or in place and authority, will so far assist us in discountenancing such men. that their discretion and shame will persuade them to reform what tli. ii conscience would not; and that the displeasure of good men towards them may supply what the laws have not, and, it may he. cannot well provide against; there being by the license and corruption of the times. and the depraved nature of man, many enormities, scan- dals, and impieties in practice and manners, which laws cannot well describe, and consequently not enough pro- vide against, which may, by tin,' example and severity of virtuous men, be easily discountenanced, and by de- grees suppressed." Some parties in Scotland who had no objection to national fasts, or even to the royal rec- ommendation of them, yet objected to royal command and dictation as worded in the usual form, they being charged to keep the fast "as they tender the favor of Almighty God, and would avoid his wrath and indigna- tion." According to counsel leaned in the law. obedi- ence to such mandate is not imperative, for it isatlirmed — "1. That in England, where by statute the sovereign is head of the Church as well as of the State, that head- ship applies only to the clergy and members of the Na- tional Church, and does not include those who are not of her communion. 2. That in Scotland — where seced- ing or dissenting churches (except ii he the nonjurors) stand not upon any statute of toleration, but upon the free basis and constitution of the country — no such re- lation exists, but is excluded by the act of 10' 90 (c. 5), ratifying the Confession of Faith: whereby an antago- nistic principle is established, it being declared that 'there is no other Head of the Church hut the Lord Jesus Christ,' and that he, 'as King and Head of the Church, hath therein appointed a government in the hand of church -officers distinct from the civil magis- trate,' who • may not assume to himself the administra- tion of the Word and sacrament, or the keys of the kingdom of heaven.' 3. That, in point of fact, proc- lamations f,,r the observance of national fasts and thanksgivings in Scotland were, for a considerable pe- riod alter the date of that act, and until the union be- tween England and Scotland, passed by the three es- tates of the Scottish Parliament, and not by the sov- ereign alone. And. 1. That no statute can be found authorizing such proclamations in Scotland: and the phraseology used in them seems to have grown out of the practice in England, or to be founded on what ap- pears to be an unwarranted extension of the two statutes cited in the proclamation of June. 1*.">7. which refer ex- clusively to prayers for royal personages, and apply at most to ministers and preachers of two denominations." — Eadie, Eccles. < '>/'-1<>j>. s. v.