The Players Scourge, Part 1 · Act 3 · Scene 1

The Players Scourge · Part 1 · Act 3 · Scene 1

p. 62SCENA PRIMA.

The stile and subiect matt…r of Stage-Playes, is vnlaw…ull, therefore the Play…s thems…lues.THirdly, as Stage-Playes are thus odious, vnseemely, pernicious, and vnlawfull vntounto Christians in all the precedent respects: so likewise are they such in regard of their ordinary stile, and subiect matter; which no Christian can, or dares to patronize: If we sur…ay the stile, or subiect matter of all our popular Enterludes; we shall discouer them, to bee qqAd malum malae res plunimae se agglutinant. Plauti. Aulularia. Act. 4. pag. 102Acts 4either Scurrilous, Amorous, and Obscene: or Barbarous, Bloody, and Tyrannicall: or Heathenish, and Prophane: or Fabulous, and Fictitious: or Impious, and Blasphemous: or Satyricall, and Inuectiue: or at the best but Frothy, Vaine, and Friuolous: If then, rrNecesse est vt initia & exitus inter se congruant. Seneca. Epist. 9.the composure, and matter of our popular Stage-Playes, be but such as this, the Playes themselues must needes be euill, vnseemely, and vnlawfull vntounto Christians.

Not to insist vponupon this Generall: that the subiect matter of most Comedies, and Tragedies is some vile, and odious sinne: ssHas ob res non chachinnis diffluere sedentes, sed lachrymis gemere ac doler… oportet. Chrys. Hom. 3…. in Mat. Religiosa tristitia, aut aliorum luget peccatum, aut proprium: Be…ti quorum l…ctus in haec inte…tione versatur. Bernardi. Serm. in F…sto. Mar. Magd. Col. 244. H. See De Modo bene viuendi. lib. Col. 1252. The stile, and subiect matter of Stage-Playes, is Amorous, and Obscene: therefore the Playes th…mselues vnlawfull.which should bee rather a griefe, and abomination, then a recreation vntounto Christians: I shall for the present confine my selfe to the particulars here specified.

First, I say, that the stile, and subiect matter of most popular, (especially Comicall) Stage-Playes, is Amorous, Scurrilous, and Obscene, vnbeseeming all Chast, and Christian eares: from whence I raise this fift Argument.

p. 63That whose very stile, and subiect matter is Lasciuious, Scurrilous, and filthy, ttSee Clemens Alexandrinus. Paedag. lib. 2. cap. 4, 5, 6. B B. Babington. Mr. Perkins. Mr. Dod. Mr. Elton. Mr. Caluin. and others on the seauenth Commandement. Accordingly.must needes bee vnseemely, vnlawfull, and pernicious vntounto Christians.

But the very stile, and subiect matter of most, if not of all our popular Stage-Playes is such.

Therefore they must needes be vnseemely, vnlawfull, and pernicious vntounto Christians.

For the Maior, I hope no Christian, no Pagan dares to question it. For God himselfe, hath laid this peremptorie Iniunction vponupon men: uuPsal. 34.13.Ps 34:13to keepe their tongues from euill, and their lips from speaking guile: yea, he hath giuen this in speciall charge to Christians. xxColo…. 4.6.Let your speach bee alwayes gracious, seasoned with salt: yyEphes. 4.29, 30. cap. 5.3.4. See Ambrose, Hierome, Primasius, Theodoret, Chrysostome, and Theophylact, on Ephes. 5.3.4. Accordingly.Eph 4:29Eph 4:30Eph 5:3Eph 5:4Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good for the vse of edi…ying, that it may minister grace to the hearers: Let all euill speaking be put away from you: and as for fornication, and vncleanenesse, (the common subiects, and principall ingredients of our Comedies,) neither foolish talking, nor iesting, which are not conuenient, let them not bee once named, (much lesse then acted, or applauded) among you, as becommeth Saints: zzApud Christianos enim s…l…cismus est magnus, est vitium, turpe aliquid vel narrare, vel facere. Hierom. Aduers Heluidium cap. 8. Tom. 2. pag. 139.It is a great solecisme, yea, a sinne among Christians, either to relate, or doe, (much more, to Personate, Penne, or Pleasingly to behold,) any obscene, or filthie thing: Christians they are, at leastwise should be, **Rom. 1.7. Ephes. 1.1. 1 Thes. 4.7. Hebr. 3.1.Rom 1:7Eph 1:11 Thess 4:7Heb 3:1Saints; yea, aa1 Cor. 3.16. cap 6.17. 2 Cor. 11.2. 2 Tim. 2.21. Reu. 14.4.1 Cor 3:162 Cor 11:22 Tim 2:21Rev 14:4Chast, and holy Virgins, Temples, and Vessels for the Lord: bb2 Cor. 7 1.2 Cor 7:1cleansing themselues from all pollution, both of Flesh, and Spirit: ccIsay 33.15.Isa 33:15stopping their eares from hearing blood, sh…tting their eyes from seeing euill: yea, not so much, ddIsay …2.11. 2 Cor. 6.17.Isa 2:112 Cor 6:17as touching any vncleane thing: therefore they must abandon all Vnchast, all Scurrilous, and filthie things: their Eyes, t…eir Eares, their Hands, eeNihil aliud nouerit linguae nisi Christum: nihil posset sonare nisi quod sanctum est. Hierom. Epist. 9. cap. 1….their Tongues, their Hearts, must know nothing but Christ, intermeddle with nothing but pure… and holy things: ffLe…it… 11.44. cap. 19.2. 1 P…t 1.15.Their God p. 64is holy: ggLuke 1.35. Acts. 4.27.Luke 1:35Acts 4:27their Sauiou… Iesus Christ is holy: hhPsal. 51.11. 2 Pet. 1.21. Reuel. 4.7.Ps 51:112 Pet 1:21Rev 4:7their holy Ghost is holy: iiIames 1.27.Jas 1:27their Religion, kkRom. 1.2. 2 Tim. 3.15. 2 Pet. 2.22.Rom 1:22 Tim 3:152 Pet 2:22their Scriptures, ll1 Cor. 11 27.29. Heb. 10.29.1 Cor 11:271 Cor 11:29Heb 10:29their Sacraments, mmIude 20.Jude 1:20their Companions, nnEphes. 1.4. Hebr. 3.1. 1 Peter 2.9.Eph 1:4Heb 3:11 Pet 2:9their Faith, ooReu 21.2.10.Rev 21:2Rev 21:10their Inheritance, and pp1 Thes. 4 7. Hebr. 12.14.1 Thess 4:7Heb 12:14Profession holy, Chast, and Vndefiled: and so must qq1 Pet. 1.15.16 2 Peter 3.11.1 Pet 1:151 Pet 1:162 Pet 3:11they be too, in all manner of con…ersation, at all times: therefore all Amorous, all Lasciuious, filthie, and polluted things, which hauehave no analogie, nor proportion with them, must needes bee sinfull, hurtfull, and vnseemely, yea, odious, and displeasing to them. Obscenitie, or rotten discourse: (which the Fathers in the margent who condemne it, define to be nothing else, rrTurpil…quium iure vocatur quae de vitiosis factis habeturoratio; cuiusmodi est, si de adulterio, vel de puerorum Amore disseratur, &c. Clemens Alex. Paedag. lib. 2. cap. 6. See Chrys Hom. 17. in Ephes. 5. Hierome, Ambrose, Theodoret, Primasius, Theophylact, and Haymo, in Ephes. 5.3, 4. Accordingly, where they together with Saint Augustine. De Rect. Cathol. Conu…rsationis. Tom. 9. part. 1. pag. 1447. and Saint Bernard. De Pass. Domini. Tract. cap. 27. condemne scurrilitie, and iesting.Eph 5Eph 5:3Eph 5:4but a Narration of some Vitious, Amorous, Adulterous, and filthie action, to passe away the time, or to prouoke, and stirre vp laughter: of which sort, are all ribaldrie Songs, and Iests; all Theatricall, Complementall, Poeticall, or Table-discourses of the Adulteries, Incests, Loues, and vile Obsenities of gracelesse wicked men, or Heathen-gods, ssExprimunt adulterum …ouem non tam reg…o suo quam vitiis praepotentem. Cyprian. Epist. lib. 2. Epist. 2. Donato.who transcended others in their vices, as much as in their Deitie:) was alwayes detestable, and odious vntounto Pagans: Hence Gellius informes vsus, ttNon in facta modo, sed etiam in voces petulantiores publice Romae vindicatum est. Noct. Att. lib. 10. cap. 6.that the Romans did publikely punish, not onelyonly Obscene, and petulant deedes, but words: Hence uuPlutarchi, Romulus. Opme…rus. Chronogr. pag. 90. Dionys. Hal. Antiq. Rom. lib. 2. Sect. 4.Romulus inacted this Law: Ne quis praesentibus foeminis obscaena verba facito: Let no man vse any obscene speach in the presence of any women: Hence Sophocles informes vsus, xxNon pulchrum est dicere ea qua factu turpia sunt. Oedip. Tyr. pag. 301. Theodoret, Chrysostome, Primasius, and Theophylact, in Ephes. 5.4, 5. Accordingly.Eph 5:4Eph 5:5that it is not seemely, nor honest, to speake such things, which are vnseemely to bee done: Hence was that ingenious checke… which Diogenes gaue to a beautifull youth, when hee heard him vttering some obscenities: p. 65yyNon erubescis; ait, ex eburnea vaegina plumbeum educens gladium. Diog. Laert. lib. 6. Diog. pag. 349.doest thou not blush, (saith hee) to draw a leaden Sword out of an Iuorie scabbard? Hence was that brand, which Seneca stamped vponupon all scurrilous persons, which I would such Christians whose tongues are tipt, and hearts delighted with Ribaldrous Songs, and Iests, would seriously apply vntounto their Consciences: wheresoeuer (saith he) thou zzVbi…unque videris orationem corruptam, ibi quoque mores a recto desciuisse non erit dubium. Epist. 114. Magna mala habitant in illa anima quae verba vsurpat malae & faceta. Chrys. Hom. 17. in Ephes. 5.Eph 5meetest with corrupt discourse, there doubt not but the heart, and manners are depraued: and no wonder: for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh, and euill words corrupt good manners, aaMat. 12.34. Luke 6.45. 1 Cor. 15.33.Matt 12:34Luke 6:451 Cor 15:33as the Scriptures teach vsus Hence bbRhetor. lib. 1. cap. 9. pag. 60. Al…aei. Carm. apud P…nda…um. pag. 405.Aristotle magnifies the modestie of that ingenuous Pagan, who when he was about to vtter an vnchast obscenitie, was tongue-tied out of modest shame: ccValerius Max… lib. 2. cap. 6. …ect. 7.the Citizens of Marcelles though Pagans, would admit no Stage-Playes into their Citie, least their filthinesse, and obsceniti… should corrupt their youth: Yea, the very ddNil dictu faedum visuque haec limina tangat Intra quae puer est: procul hinc, procul inde puellae Lenonum, & cantus pernoctantis parasiti. Maxima debetur pueris reuerentia. Iuuenal. Satyr. 14. pag. 126.Heathen Poet himselfe, would hauehave all scurrilitie, and ribaldrie, exiled from such places where Youthes, and Children were, for feare they should depraue their mindes, and manners. If then God himselfe, if the Fathers, yea, if all these Pagans hauehave vtterly condem…ed all filthie, Scurrilous, Vncha…t, and Amorous speaches, Iests, and Poemes, as misbeseeming Chast, and Modest eyes, or Lips, or Eares; my Maior cannot but be granted: and so much the rather, eeObscaenus s…rmo & scurrilitas vehiculum scortationis: Ne dixeris vrbana, scurrilia, nec turpia, nec feceris, & flamniam cupiditatis extingues. Chrysostome. Hom. 17. in Ephes. 5. & Theophylact. Ib.Eph 5because Vnchast, Obscene, and Amorous wordes, are but so many vehiculaes, to carrie m…n on to Adulterous, and Sinfull deedes, both which, all Christians must abominate.

For the Maior; that the Stile, and subiect Matter of most ffComicae fabulae de stupris virginum loquuntur & am…ribus meretricum. Lactantius, De Vero Cultu. cap. 20.Comicall, and Theatricall Enterludes, is Amorous, and Obscene; it is as euident, as the Morning Sunne: First, by the expresse, and punctuall testimonie of sundry p. 66Fathers. Read but ggBibliotheca Patrum. Coloniae Agrip. 1616. Tom. 2. pag. 180.181.Tatianus Oratio. Aduersus Graecos. hhIb. pag. 170. G. H.Theophylus Antiochenus Contra Autolicum. lib. 3. Clemens Romanus Constit. Apostolorum. lib. 2. cap. 65.66. Clemens Alexandrinus Oratio. Exhort. ad Gentes. fol. 8.9. Paedag. lib. 2. cap. 6.7. & iiQuod enim turpe factum non ostenditur in Theatris? quod autem verbum impudens non proferunt qui risum mouent scurr… & histriones? Ib.lib. 3. cap. 11. Tertullian De Spectac. cap. 10.17. to 28. Apologia aduersus Gentes. cap. 38. De Pudicitia. cap. 7. Minucius Felix Octauius. pag. 101. Philo Iudaeus De Agricultura. lib. pag. 271. De vita Mosis. pag. 932. De vita Contemplatiua. lib. pag. 1209. Cyprian kkSed ad scenae inuerecundos ad sales iam transitum faciam; pudet referre quae dicuntur, pudet etiam accusare quae fiunt. Agentium strophas, a…ulterorum fallacias, mulierum impudicitias, scurriles ioc…s, parisitos sordidos, ipso… quoque patres familias regale…, modo stupido…, modo obscaenos, modo stotidos, certis nominibus iuuerem. Ib.De Spectac. lib. & Epist. lib. 2. Ep. 2. Donato. Origen in Rom. 11. lib. 8. Tom. 3. pag. 203. Arnobius aduers-Gentes. lib. 3. pag. 114. lib. 4. pag. 149.150. lib. 5. pag. 182. & lib. 7. pag. 230. to 241. Lactantius De vero Cultu. cap. 20. Diuinarum Institutionum llQuin scena? num sanctior? in qua Comoedia de stupris & amoribus; Tra…adia de incest… & parricidiis, fabulatur. Ib.Epit. cap. 6. Basilius Magnus Hexaemeron. Hom. 4. De Legendis libris Gentilium Oratio. & Ascetica. Tom. 2. pag. 180.181. Gregorie N…zianzen Oratio. 48. pag. 796.797. ad Seleuchum De recta Educatione Epist. pag. 1063.1064. Gregorie Nyssen. Vitae Moseos Enarratio. pag. 525. Ambrose De Paenitentia. lib. 2. cap. 6. & Enarratio in Plasm. 118. Octon. 5. Cyrillus Hierusolomitanus Catechesis Mystagogica. 1. Hilarie Enarratio in Psal. 14. & in Psal. 118. He. Hierom Comment. in Ezech. lib. 6. cap. 20. Tom. 4. pag. 389. H. & Epist. 2. cap. 6. Chrysostome Hom. 3. De Dauide & Saul. Hom. in Psal. 140. Hom. 6.7. mmCuncta enim simpliciter quae ibi fiunt turpissim… sunt: verba, vestitus, tonsura, incessus, voces, cantus, modulationes, oculorum euersiones, motus, tibiae, fistulae, & ipsa fabularum argumenta, omnia (inquam) turpi lasciu… plena sunt: quae aures mentis solent magis quam quauis sordes obst…uere: vel potiu… non obstruunt tantum, sed etiam impurum faciunt, & immundum. Chrys Ib.& 38. in Mat. Hom. 62. in Acta. Apost. Hom. 12. in 1 Cor. Hom. 17. in Ephes. 5. & Hom. 62. ad Pop. Antiochiae. Augustine De Ciuit. Dei. lib. 1. cap. 32.33. lib. 2. cap. 4. to 15. cap. 26.29. De Consensu. Euangel. l. 1. cap. 33. Confessionum. lib. 3. cap. 1.2. Prosper Aquitanicus De Gloria Sanctorum Peroratio. pag. 73. Orosius Historiae. lib. 3. cap. 4. Isiodor Hispalensis. Etimolog. lib. 18. cap. 41.42. Saluian De Gubernat. p. 67Dei. nnSolae Theatrorum impuritates tales sunt quae honeste non possunt vel accusari. Ib. p. 186.lib. 6. & 7. Bernard Oratio ad Milites Templ…. cap. 4. ooBibliotheca Patrum. Tom. 15. p. 348.463. D. 466. C.Ioannes Salisburiensis De Nugis Curialium. lib. 1. cap. 8. & lib. 8. cap. 6.7. Cassiodorus Variarum. lib. 1. cap. 27. & lib. 7. cap. 10. To whom I may adde, Concilium Parisiense sub Ludouico & Lothario. lib. 1. cap. 38. Concilium Agathense. Canon. 39. Synodus Turonica. 3. Canon. 7.8. Synodus Cabilonensis. 2. Canon. 9. Synodus Moguntina sub Rabano. Canon. 13. Concilium Coloniense. Anno. 1536. pars. 2. cap. 25. pars. 9. cap. 10. Concilium. Coloniense sub Adolpho. Anno. 1549. & Gratian. Distinctio. 33.48.86. Peruse, I say, these seuerall Fathers, and Councels; (whose words, if I should at large transcribe them, would amount vntounto an ample volume:) and you shall finde them all concurre in this: ppComoedia & Tragadiae incestis gloria… tur, quas vos libenter legitis & auditis. Minucius Felix Octa. pag. 101.that Stage-Playes are wholly composed of, or at leastwise fraught with Ribaldrie, Scurrilitie; Vnchast, and Amorous streines, and passages: Obscene, and filthie Iests, which inquinate the Mindes, corrupt the Manners, and defile the Soules of men, qqNonne erg… fugies sedilia hostium Christi; illam cathedram pestilentiariam, ipsumque aerem quae desuper incuba… scelestis vocibus constupratum. Tertul. De Spectac. c 27.yea pollute the very places, and common ayre, where they are but acted: Whence they all condemne, these Theatricall Enterludes, as vnseemely, pernicious, abominable, and vtterly vnlawfull vntounto Christians: as exceeding odious, and displeasing vntounto God; stiling them, rrLudi scaenici spectacula turpitudinum, & Licentia vanitatum: per…etuus morbus animarum; malae cupiditatis inductio, adulteri… meditatio, tur…itudinis exhortatio. August. De Ciu. Dei. l. 1. c. 32. l… 2. c. 8.9. Orosius Hist. l. 3 c. 4. Chrys. Hom. 62. ad Pop. Antiochiae & Hom. 42. in Act.the very sinckes of all vncleanenesse, the Lectures of Obscenitie, the Meditations of Adultery, the examples of dishonestie, the exhortations, and instructions of …ilthinesse, and the like: and Play-houses, ssSacrarium Veneris: Templum & Ecclesia Diaboli: Arx omnium turpitudinum: Consistorium impudicitiae: Cathedra Pest…lentiaria: sedilia hostium Christi. Tertul De Spectac. c. 10.17.2…. Cathe…ra Pesti…entiarum. Clem. Alex… Paedag. l. 3. c. 11. Pudoris pu…lici …upa…arium, & obscaeni…atis magisterium. Cypr. De Spectac l…b. Communis & publica offic…a sce…erum. Basil. Hexaem. Hom. 4. Fornicationis g…mnasium; …ntemperantiae Schola. Chrys Hom. 62. ad. Pop. An…io…hiae & Hom. 42. in Act. Lasciua faeditatis & impuritatis omnis officina. Nazianz ad Seluchum de Recta educatione. p. 1063. Loca & habitacula turpitudinum. Salu. De Gub. Dei l. 6. p. 198. Cauiae iurpitudinum. August. De Cons…nsu Euang. l. 1. c. 33. Animarum labes & pestis: probitatis & honestatis e…ersio. August De Ciu. Dei l. 1. c 33. Vere fugalia, sed pudoris & honestatis. Ib. lib. 2. cap. 6. See Act. 6. Scene. 1, 2, 3.Acts 6the Temples p. 68of Venery; the St…wes of Modestie, the Schooles of Ribaldry, and Obscenitie: the Dennes of filthinesse: the Chaires of Pestilence, and corruption: the Seates, the Places, and Mansions of all filthinesses, and vnchastitie: and the common, and publike Shops of all wickednesses, and defilements whatsoeuer. 2Adde wee to these in the second place, the expresse, and punctuall Testimonies of Pagan Authours, whom none dares taxe of Puritanisme, or precisenesse in this point. Suruay but Zenophon in his Conuiuium. Plato De Republ. lib. 8. & 10. Legu… Dialogus. 7. Aristotle Politicorum. lib. 7. cap. 17. Diogenes Laertius. lib. 2. Socrates. Isocrates Oratio ad Nicoclem; & Oratio De Pace. Tullie ttQuoted by Augustine. De Ciuitate D…i. lib. 2. cap. 9.De Republica. lib. 4. Tus…. Quaest. lib. 1. & 2. De Legibus. lib. 7. Ad Marium. Epist. 1. Seneca. Epist. 7.90. & 123. Plutarch De Audiendis Poetis. lib. De Gloria Atheni…nsium. lib. Symposiarum. lib. 7. Quaest. 8. Liuie Romane Hist. lib. 7. cap. 2.3. Dionysius. Hallicar. Rom. Antiq. lib. 2. Sect. 3. lib. 7. Sect. 9. Valerius Maximus. lib. 2. cap. 4. Cornelius Tacitus. Annal. lib. 14. Sect. 2.3. Lampridii Heliogobalus. Plinie. Epist. lib. 4. Epist. 20. Ouid De Arte Amandi. lib. 1. Tristium. lib. 2. & Fastorum. lib. 3. pag. 55. Horace De Arte Poetica. Epist. lib. 2. Epist. 1. Iuuenal Satyr. 6.8.9. yea, Plautus himselfe, (as obscene as he is) Captiuei Prologus. pag. 105. You shall finde all these uuSee Ludou. Vi…es. De Caus. Corrupt. Artium. lib 2. Inde ioci veteres, obscaenaque verba canuntur: Ne… res h…c Veneri gratior vlla fuit. Ouid. Fastorum. lib. 3. pag. 55.acknowledging, yea, condemning the Amorousnesse, Scurrilitie, and lewdnesse of Stage-Playes, as I shall prooue xxSee Act. 7. Scene. 6.Acts 7anon. If any now reply, that the Playes of our age are defecat…d from these grosse Obscenities, and purged from all Ribaldrious, Amorous, Vnchast, and filthie passages: Let him then consider in the third place; that many Moderne Authors of all sorts, doe not onelyonly indite our popular Enterludes of the self…-same crimes, but likewise passe a fatall, and finall sentence of condemnation on them, for 3this very cause: Cast but your eyes on learned, and laborious Gualther. Hom. 11. in Nahum. 3. pag. 214.215… on Petrarch. De Remedio vtr. Fortunae. lib. 1. Dial. 30. on Bodinus De Republica. lib. 6. cap. 1. on Polydor Virgil De p. 69Inuentoribus Rerum. lib. 1. cap. 11. on Alexander Sardis De Inuent. Rerum. lib. 1. pag. 43.44. on Ludo…. Vines, De Caus… Corrupt. Arti…m. lib. 2. on Iohannis Mariana, & Barnabas Bristochius, in th…ir bookes De Spectaculis… on Doctor Reinolds his Ouerthrow of Stage-Playes. on Master Northbrookes Treatise against vaine Playes, and Enterl…des. pag. 57… to… 77. on Master Gossons Confutation of Playes. Act. 4.5… on Master Stubs his Anatomy of Ab…ses. Edit. 3. pag. 101. to… 107. o… I. G. in his Refutation of Haywoods Apologie for Actors. on Master Iohn Brinslies True watch. part. 1. Abomination. 19. pag. 227.228. on Bishop Babington. Master Perkins, Master Dod, and Master Elton, on the 7. Commandement. on Doctor Laytons Spec…lum belli sacri. cap. 45. on The Co…e…ant betweene God, and Man, by I. P. London. 1616. pag. 382, 383. on Master Iohn Downhams Guide to Godlinesse. lib. 3. cap. 21. Sect. 5. on Master Robert Bolton, in hi… Discourse of True Happinesse. pag. 73.74. You shall see our Moderne Stage-Playes, euen copiously Anatomized, yea, condemned by them: as being fully fraught, and wholly composed, of Ribaldrie, Obscenitie, Lasciuiousnesse, Vnch…st, and lustf…ll parts, and passages, which misbeseeme all modest eyes to see, all Christian eares to heare, or tongues to vtter: Whence they stile all Playes, yyVitiorum semina s…nt, s…lerum pabula, mortis iter. Ioannes Salisburiensis. De Nugis C… rialium. P…oce. See Master Bolton Discourse of True Happinesse. p 73…74.the grand empoyso…ers of Grace, Iugemio…esse, and all manly resolution: the Lectures of obscenitie, the Seedes of vices, the Foode of wickednesse, yea the Plagues, and Poyson of mens Soules, and Manners: zzTheatra rectè defini…e poss…mus… turpitudinis vitiorum que omnium sentinam ac scholam. Bodinus De Republi…a. lib. 6. cap. 1. S…e Gualther Hom. 1. in… Nahum. 3. Accordingly.Nah 3and Theaters, the Oratories of the Deuill… the Synagogues of Satan; the Schooles of lewdnesse; and the very …inckes of filthinesse, and all other vices… which Christians should abhorre, yea feare, and flie, as much, nay more then any Pest-house: as these their writings, will at large demonstrate. If then these seuerall Fathers, Councells, Pagan Authours, and Moderne CHRISTIAN writers, (with sundry others, which I shall receit hereafter in their proper places:) conclude the very Structure, Stile, and Subiect Matter of popular Stage-Playes, to bee Amorous, Scurrilous, and Obscene; and thereupon passe this Iudgement on them: p. 70aaTalia sunt quae illic tiunt, vt ea non solum dicere, sed etiam recordari aliquis sine pollutione non possit: In Theatris, & concupiscentiis animus, & auditu aures, & aspectu oculi polluuntur. Quae quidem omnia tam flagitiosa sunt, vt etiam explicare ea quispiam aut eloqui saluo pudore non valeat. Sal. De Gub. Dei. l 6. p. 186, 187. Mel meum, lumen meum, meum desiderium, omnes delicias & lepores, & visis dignas vrbaenitates, & caeteras ineptias amatorum, in comoediis erubescimus, in saeculi hominibus detestamur: quanto magis in clericis, & in sanctis viris. Hierom. Epist. 2. cap. 6.that they are altogether vnfit for Chast, vnlawfull for Christian, vnseemely for Gracious, or modest Eares to heare, or Lips to vtter: I hope that none will bee so obstinately incredulous, as not to beleeue them in the one: or so desperately impious, as not to giuegive sentence with them; not to conforme their practise to them, in the other. But if all these seuerall Testimonies are not sufficient to conuince the most incredulous Play-haunters of the obscenities of Stage-Playes; I appeale for finall proofe of my Assumption vntounto eueryevery mans experience. Not to record those seuerall prophane, and grosse bbScurrilitas atque Lasciuia te praesente non habeant locum. Nunquam verbum inhonestum audias: aut, si audieris, ne inesceris. Hierom. Epist. 8. cap. 6.Obscenities, those Amorous streines, Lasciuious passages, and vnsauourie Iests, which are scattered in Aristophanes, Terrence, Plautus, Catullus, Tibullus, Propertius, ccIn his Amorum: De Arte Amandi: Pulex, &c.Ouid, and other ancient Comedians, and wanton Poets; which eueryevery Chast, and Gracious Christian must condemne: I shall confine my selfe vntounto the Comedies, and popular Enterludes of our present Age, **Ego amplius dico: non solum agi nunc illas ludicrorum infamium labes quae prius acta sunt; sed criminosius multo agi quam prius actae sunt. Saluian. De Gub. Dei. lib. 6. pag. 201.which farre exceede them in all these. Alas, what are the Maior part of all our Moderne Stage-Playes, but so many Lectures of Ribaldry; so many Abstracts, Compendiums, or Miscellaines of sublimated, Elegant, Wittie, or more Accurate, and choyce Obscenities? which ddVocis dulcedines per aurem animam vulnerant; quae quanto licentius adeunt, tanto difficilius euitantur. Hierom. Epist. 12. cap. 3.the more refined, and accute they are, the more doe they empoyson, endanger, and depraue the Auditors: Doe not the ordinary Theames, and Subiects of our Moderne Comedies, being nothing else but the Adulteries, Fornications, Rapes, LoueLove-passions, Meritricious, Vnchast, and Amorous practises, of Lasciuious Wicked men, eeSee Cyprian. Epist. lib. 2. Epist. 2. August. De Ciuit. Dei. lib. 2. cap. 4. to 15 26, 27, 28, 29. Arnobius Aduers. Gentes. lib. 7. Accordingly. See here Scene. 3.or Heathen Idole-gods; ffEphes. 3.3, 4.Eph 3:3Eph 3:4which should not be so p. 71much as named, (much lesse then acted) among Christians? doe not those ggOf which see Act. 5.Acts 5Wanton, Whorish, lustfull Parts; those Ribaldrous Songs, and filthie Ditties: those Meretricious, and Vnchast Attires, Lookes, and Gestures: those Amorous, and lustfull Complements, Kissings, Clippings, and Embracements: those liuely, if not reall representations, or ocular demonstrations of the very acts of Whoredome, and Adulterie, which are vsually represented to vsus on the Theater: together with all those Obscene, and filthie Iests; those Scurrilous, and beastly passages, those quaint, Subtile, Rhetoricall, and Flexanimous streines of contemplatiue, Elegant, and wittie Obscenities, with which our Playes are fraught, and enterlaced: hh2 Pet. 2.7, 8. Ezech 9.4. Psalm. 119.136.158. See Chrysost. Hom 38. in Matth. Cyprian De Spectaculis. lib. Saluian. lib. 6. De Guber. Dei. Nonnullae prudentiores, (speaking of Pagans,) auertebant faciem ab impuris motibus foenicorum, & artem flagitii videre erubescentes, furtiua intentione discebant. August. De Ciu Dei. lib. 2. cap. 26. And should not Christians much more blush to see them?2 Pet 2:72 Pet 2:8Ezek 9:4Ps 119:136Ps 119:158the very sight, and hearing of which, should cause all modest Eyes to Blush, and Weepe; all Christian Eares, to Glow, and Tingle; all Chast, and Gracious Hearts, to Mourne, and Bleede:) doe not all these (I say) proclaime and testifie to the world; that the Stile, and subiect Matter; yea, the very Action, Circumstances, and Appendices of our popular Stage-Playes, are Scurrilous, and Obscene? what need we then any further witnesses? Doubtlesse, the Obscenitie of our Playes is such, that if the very Stones, and Pillars, which support the Play-house; if the Seates, and Scaffoldes, which adorne it: or the very Theater, and Stage it selfe, had Tongues to speake; they would presently exclaime against it, and reprooue it. And dares any Christian then, be so audaciously absurde, as to gaine-say it? so wil-fully blinde, as not to see it? so desperately prophane, as not to loathe it? when as his owne experience must acknowledge, and his very Coscience doeth, yea cannot, but condemne it? Since then the very Stile, and subiect Matter of our Playes are such; this must, this cannot but enforce vsus to reiect them, as pernicious, vnseemely, yea, vtterly vnlawfull vntounto Christians; yea, as iiSi proferas verbum spurcum, & Christiano ore indignum, non hominem contristasti sed Spiritum Dei, à quo beneficium accepisti; à quo sanctificatum est os tuum. Non pudet igitur nos illum contristare? Signatum est os tuum a Spiritu, vt nihil indignum ipso loquaris: ne dissoluas igitur sigillum. Theophylact. in Ephes. 4.30.Eph 4:30grieuous, and offensiue p. 72to Gods blessed Spirit, who hath Sanctified, and Sealed vp our Mouthes, and Eares from all Scurrilitie: as all the fore-recited Fathers, and Christian Authors hauehave already done, vponupon the selfe-same grounds.