WHereas vpon Our returne the last yeere out of Scotland , Wee did publish Our pleasure touching the recreations of Our people in those parts vnder Our hand : For some causes Us thereunto moouing , We haue thought good to command these Our directions then giuen in Lancashire with a few words thereunto added , and most appliable to these parts of Our Realmes , to be published to all Our Subiects .

Whereas We did iustly in Our Progresse through Lancashire , rebuke some Puritanes & precise people , and tooke order that the like vnlawfull cariage should not bee vsed by any of them hereafter , in the prohibiting and vnlawfull punishing of Our good people for vsing their lawfull Recreations , and honest exercises vpon Sundayes and other Holy dayes , after the afternoone Sermon or Seruice : Wee now find that two sorts of people wherewith that Countrey is much infested , ( Wee meane Papists and Puritanes ) haue maliciously traduced and calumniated those Our iust and honourable proceedings . And therefore lest Our reputation might vpon the one side ( though innocently ) haue some aspersion layd vpon it , and that vpon the other part Our good people in that Countrey bee misled by the mistaking and misinterpretation of Our meaning : We haue therefore thought good hereby to cleare and make Our pleasure to bee manifested to all Our good People inthose parts .

Jt is true that at Our first entry to this Crowne , and Kingdome , Wee were informed , and that too truely , that Our County of Lancashire abounded more in Popish Recusants then any Countie of England , and thus hath stil continued since to Our great regreet , with litle amendment , saue that now of late , in Our last riding through Our said County , Wee find both by the report of the Judges , and of the Bishop of that diocesse that there is some amendment now daily beginning , which is no small contentment to Us .

The report of this growing amendment amongst them , made Us the more sory , when with Our owne Eares Wee heard the generall complaint of Our people , that they were barred from all lawfull Recreation , and exercise vpon the Sundayes afternoone , after the ending of all Diuine Seruice , which cannot but produce two euils : The one , the hindering of the conuersion of many , whom their Priests will take occasion hereby to vexe , perswading them that no honest mirth or recreation is lawfull or tollerable in Our Religion , which cannot but breed a great discontentment in Our peoples hearts , especially of such as are peraduenture vpon the point of turning ; The other inconuenience is , that this prohibition barreth the common and meaner sort of people from vsing such exercises as may make their bodies more able for Warre , when Wee or Our Successors shall haue occasion to vse them . And in place thereof sets vp filthy tiplings and drunkennesse , and breeds a number of idle and discontented speaches in their Alehouses . For when shal the common people haue leaue to exercise , if not vpon the Sundayes and Holydayes , seeing they must apply their labour , and winne their liuing in all working dayes ?

Our expresse pleasure therefore is , that the Lawes of Our Kingdome , and Canons of Our Church bee aswell obserued in that County , as in all other places of this Our Kingdome . And on the other part , that no lawfull Recreation shall bee barred to Our good People , which shall not tend to the breach of Our aforesaid Lawes , and Canons of Our Church : which to expresse more particularly , Our pleasure is , That the Bishop , and all other inferiour Churchmen , and Churchwardens , shall for their parts bee carefull and diligent , both to instruct the ignorant , and conuince & reforme them that are misled in religion , presenting them that will not conforme themselues , but obstinately stand out to Our Iudges and Iustices : Whom We likewise command to put the Law in due execution against them .

Our pleasure likewise is , That the Bishop of that Diocesse take the like straight order with all the Puritans and Precisians within the same , either constraining them to conforme themselues , or to leaue the Countrey according to the Lawes of Our Kingdome , and Canons of Our Church , and so to strike equally on both hands , against the contemners of Our Authoritie , and aduersaries of Our Church . And as for Our good peoples lawfull Recreation , Our pleasure likewise is , That after the end of Diuine Seruice , Our good people be not disturbed , letted , or discouraged from any lawfull Recreation ; Such as dauncing , either men or women , Archerie for men , leaping , vaulting , or any other such harmelesse Recreation , nor from hauing of May-Games , Whitson Ales , and Morrisdances , and the setting vp of Maypoles and other sports therewith vsed , so as the same be had in due and conuenient time , without impediment or neglect of diuine Seruice : And that women shall haue leaue to carry rushes to the Church for the decoring of it , according to their old custome . But withall We doe here accompt still as prohibited all vnlawfull games to bee vsed vpon Sundayes onely , as Beare and Bullbaitings , Jnterludes , and at all times in the meaner sort of People by Law prohibited , Bowling .

And likewise Wee barre from this benefite and libertie , all such knowne Recusants , either men or Women , as will abstaine from comming to Church or diuine Seruice , being therefore vnworthy of any lawfull recreation after the said Seruice , that will not first come to the Church and serue GOD : Prohibiting in like sort the said Recreations to any that , though conforme in Religion , are not present in the Church at the Seruice of GOD , before their going to the said Recreations . Our pleasure likewise is , That they to whom it belongeth in Office , shall present and sharply punish all such as in abuse of this Our libertie , will vse these exercises before the ends of all diuine Seruices for that day . And We likewise straightly command , that euery person shall resort to his owne Parish Church to heare diuine Seruice , and each Parish by it selfe to vse the said Recreation after diuine Seruice . Prohibiting likewise any Offensiue weapons to be caried or vsed in the said times of Recreations And Our pleasure is , That this Our Declaration shal be published by order from the Bishop of the Diocesse , through all the Parish Churches , and that both Our Iudges of Our Circuit , and Our Iustices of Our Peace be informed thereof .