1794: 34 George 3 c.61: An act for the better observation of the Lord’s day, by persons exercising the trade of bakers.
[May 23, 1794.]
[Preamble.]
WHEREAS many persons exercising the trade of bakers do, under pretence of being employed in works of necessity or charity, carry on their trade or calling on the Lord’s day, and are employed therein during a much greater part thereof than is requisite for such purposes; be it therefore enacted by the King’s most excellent majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and commons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same,
[No baker in London, &c. to work on Sunday, except as herein mentioned, on penalty of 10s.]
That no master baker, journeyman baker, or other person, carrying on the business of a baker in the city of London, or within twelve miles of the said city, shall, on any pretence whatsoever, make, bake, or expose to sale, any houshold or other bread, or rolls of any sort or kind, or bake any meat, puddings, pies, or tarts, or in any other manner exercise the trade or calling of a baker, on the Lord’s day, or any part thereof, (save and except as herein after is mentioned); and every master baker, journeyman baker, or other person, exercising the business of a baker, on the Lord’s day, contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act, and being thereof convicted before any justice of the peace of the county, city, or place, where the offence shall be committed, either upon his own view, or confession of the party, or proof by one or more witness or witnesses, upon oath, shall forfeit and pay the sum of ten shillings;
[Penalty may be levied by distress, &c.]
and if any person so convicted shall neglect or refuse to pay the said sum of ten shillings, such justice shall and may, by warrant under his hand and seal, direct the same to be levied by distress and sale of the offender’s goods and chattels, and, in default or insufficiency of such distress, commit the offender to the house of correction for any time not exceeding fourteen, nor less than seven days, unless the penalty or forfeiture shall be sooner paid;
[Application of penalty.]
and the said penalty or forfeiture shall, within seven days after payment thereof, be transmitted by such justice to the churchwardens or overseers of the poor of the parish where the offence shall he committed, to be employed and converted to the use of the poor of such parish.
[Bread may be sold, and meat, &c. baked, on Sundays between certain hours.]
II. Provided always, That nothing herein contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to prohibit the selling of bread, or to prohibit or make liable to the penalties of this act any master or journeyman baker, or other person, baking meat, puddings, or pies, only, on the Lord’s day, between the hours of nine of the clock in the forenoon and one of the clock in the afternoon, so as the person requiring the baking thereof shall carry or send the same to and from the place where such meat, pudding, or pie, is baked.
[Complaints to be made within six days.]
III. Provided always, and be it enacted, That every complaint against any master baker, journeyman baker, or other person, for any thing by him or them done contrary to the provisions of this act, shall be made and prosecuted within six days after the offence committed.
[Convictions to be drawn up in the following Form.]
IV. And be it further enacted, That the justice before whom any person shall be convicted under this act shall and may cause such conviction to be drawn up in the form or to the effect following:
To wit:
Be it remembered, That on this ________ day of ________ A. B. is convicted before me ________ one of his Majesty’s justices of the peace for the said county of ________ [or as the case may be], due proof being made before me, on the oath of ________ or, upon the confession of, &c. [as the case may be] that ________ [specifying the offence, the time when, and the place where]; and I do adjudge the said ________ to pay and forfeit for the same the sum of ten shillings. Given under my band and seal this ________ day of ________.