Originally published in 1617 by James I, the royal declaration commonly known as
The Book of Sports was republished by Charles I in 1633.
The Book of Sports sanctioned
participation in “lawful recreations,” such as archery and dancing, after church attendance on Sundays. Radical Protestants sought to oppress all Sunday recreations, and the cultural battle
over Sunday observance and traditional pastimes intensified.
This new work by Alistair Dougall examines the events surrounding the republication of The Book of Sports. It argues that this provocative and divisive statement of royal policy was
a key factor in England’s eventual descent into the civil wars of the 1640s.
