The Royalists' Declaration of Sports

The Royalists' Declaration of Sports was a 1618 document issued by King James I of England, which aimed to promote recreational activities on Sundays. It encouraged outdoor sports and leisure, countering Puritanical views that opposed such activities on the Sabbath. The declaration sparked significant backlash from Puritan factions, who saw it as a threat to religious observance and spiritual discipline. Ultimately, this tension contributed to broader conflicts during the English Civil War, as differing views on governance, religion, and social values emerged between Royalists and Parliamentarians.