The works of the reverend and faithful servant of Jesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…The workes of the reuerend and faithfull seruant af Iesus Christ M. Richard Greenham,…

And thus much generally of the usual works of our calling. It remaineth to speak of those works which have not the ordinary course of the week days, but are nevertheless used at certain set times and seasons, as Fairs in certain months and quarters of the year, as the seeding in the winter and in the spring time, and the harvest in summer & in Autumn. Hereunto we may add special journeys taken in hand not usually, but extraordinarily, & the gathering of Saffron at the time of the year. Al which things have their several seasons, and are unnaturally thrust on the Lords own times, howsoever men have pretended a necessity, & flesh and blood hunting after liberty, disputeth to the contrary. First as for Fairs and Markets, which by politic, wise, and worldly men on the Lords¹ days are maintained: it argueth the want of godly wisdom where they be used, because without any prejudice to the worship of God they may not conveniently be observed. For if no necessity, profit, nor pleasure could cause the Papists to have their Fairs on their Christmas day, Easter day, holy Thursday, and Corpus Christi day; then it is a shame for us, that in truth and zeal ought to go before them, to defile the Lords day herewith: yea I add, it is intolerable, because a firm statute & civill law enforceth a plain inhibition of all such worldly convents and assemblies on that day. These fairs are for the most part either solemn Marts and of greater continuance, or petty Markets and of less resort: if they be more solemn Markets, then the continuance of the gain in the week days may easily afford the Lord his right on the Sabbath days: if they be the petty Markets, then they are within the compass of seven days, and they may be used on the six days between the Sabbaths, not charging the Lords day with them.

And thus much generally of the vsuall workes of our calling. It remaineth to speake of those works which haue not the ordinary course of the weeke daies, but are neuerthelesse vsed at certaine set times and seasons, as Faires in certaine moneths and quarters of the yeere, as the seeding in the winter and in the spring time, and the haruest in summer & in Autumne. Hereunto we may adde speciall iourneies taken in hand not vsually, but extraordinarily, & the gathering of Saffron at the time of the yeere. Al which things haue their seuerall seasons, and are vnnaturally thrust on the Lords owne times, howsoeuer men haue pretended a necessitie, & flesh and blood hunting after liberty, disputeth to the contrary. First as for Faires and Markets, which by politike, wise, and worldly men on the Lords