 temptation, were enabled to set them at defiance, from the proud
consciousness that they were, at the same time, resisting an act of council. To
compel men to dance and be merry by authority, has rarely succeeded even on
board of slave-ships, where it was formerly sometimes attempted by way of
inducing the wretched captives to agitate their limbs and restore the
circulation, during the few minutes they were permitted to enjoy the fresh air
upon deck. The rigour of the strict Calvinists increased in proportion to the
wishes of the Government that it should be relaxed. A judaical observance of the
Sabbath - a supercilious condemnation of all manly pastimes and harmless
recreations, as well as of the profane custom of promiscuous dancing, that is,
of men and women dancing together in the same party (for I believe they admitted
that the exercise might be inoffensive if practised by the parties separately) -
distinguishing those who professed a more than ordinary share of sanctity. They
discouraged, as far as lay in their power, even the ancient wappenschaws, as
they were termed, when the feudal array of the county was called out, and each
crown-vassal was required to appear with such muster of men and armour as he was
bound to make by his fief, and that under high statutory penalties. The
Covenanters were the more jealous of those assemblies, as the lord lieutenants
and sheriffs under whom they were held had instructions from the Government to
spare no pains which might render them agreeable to the young men who were thus
summoned together, upon whom the military exercise of the morning, and the
sports which usually closed the evening, might naturally be supposed to have a
seductive effect.
    The preachers and proselytes of the more rigid Presbyterians laboured,
therefore, by caution, remonstrance, and authority, to diminish the attendance
upon these summonses, conscious that in doing so, they lessened not only the
apparent, but the actual strength of the Government, by impeding the extension
of that esprit de corps which soon unites young men who are in the habit of
meeting together for manly sport, or military exercise. They, therefore, exerted
themselves earnestly to prevent attendance on these occasions by those who could
find any possible excuse for absence, and were especially severe upon such of
their hearers as mere curiosity led to be spectators, or love of exercise to be
partakers, of the array and the sports which took place. Such of the gentry as
acceded to these doctrines were not always, however, in a situation to be ruled
by them. The commands of the law were imperative; and the privy council, who
administered the
