mous _Book of Sports_. His Majesty, on
returning to the capital, issued a proclamation,[33] stating--

"That in his progress through Lancashire he found it necessary to rebuke
some Puritans and precise people, and took order that the said unlawful
carriage should not be used by any of them hereafter, in the prohibiting
and unlawfully punishing his good people, for using their lawful
recreations and honest exercises upon Sundays, after divine service."
"His Majesty further saw that his loyal subjects in all other parts of
the kingdom did suffer in the same kind, though not, perhaps, in the
same degree as in Lancashire; and he did therefore, in his princely
wisdom, publish a declaration to all his loving subjects concerning
lawful sports to be used on Sundays and festivals."--Published by his
royal command in the year 1618, under the title of the _Book of Sports_.
The royal visit to Lancashire proved ultimately of more importance to
the civil and ecclesiastical establishments of the kingdom than could
have been anticipated either by the king or his subjects. This infamous
_Book of Sports_ formed the first link in that mysterious chain of
events, ending in the downfall of the Stuarts, and their exile and
expulsion from the throne.

The gladsome tidings having been communicated to the petitioners, with
one accord they galloped off, shouting and huzzaing, to the great
annoyance of all peaceable and sober-minded persons, and the great
dishonour of that holy day.

The king attended divine service at the chapel, where Dr Morton
preached, commanding and exhorting to an obedience well pleasing to
their Maker; inasmuch as it was rendered to the vicegerent of heaven,
the high and mighty and puissant James, defender of the Faith, and so
forth. After this comfortable and gracious doctrine, there was a
rush-bearing[34] and a piping before the king in the great quadrangle.
Robin Hood and Maid Marian, with the fool and hobby-horse, were,
doubtless, enacted to the jingling of morris-dancers and other
profanities.

These fooleries put the king into such good humour that he was more
witty in his speech than ordinary. Some of these sayings have been
recorded, and amongst the rest that well-known quibble which has been
the origin of an absurd mistake, still current through the county,
respecting the sirloin. It is said to have been knighted there by his
Majesty, who found, such were his knight-making propensities, that other
subjects we