The Players Scourge, Part 1 · Act 3 · Scene 2
SCENA SECVNDA.
SEcondly, as the Stile, and subiect Matter of Stage-Playes is Scurrilous, and Obscene, so likewise it is Bloody, and Tyrannicall; breathing out Malice, kSee Seneca. He…ul. Furens. & Medea.Fury, Anger, Murther, Crueltie, Tyrannie, Treacherie, lArchil…c…um proprio rabies …rmauit …ambo… Hor. De Arte Po…t lib.Frensie, Treason, and Reuenge, (the constant Theames, and chiefe Ingredients, of all our Tragedies,) which mSee Act. 6. Scene. 10. Argument. 6. The Stile, and subiect Matter of Stage Plaies is Bloody, and Tyrannicall: Therefore …uil and vnlawfull vntounto ChristiansEfferate, and enrage the Hearts, …nd Mindes, of Actors, and Spectators; yea, oft times animate, and excite them to Anger, Malice, Duels, Murthers, Reuenge, and more then Barbarous crueltie, to the gre…t disturbance of the publike Peace. From whence I frame this sixt Argument.
That whose Stile, and subiect Matter is Bloody, and Tyrannicall, breathing out Malice, Anger, Fury, Crueltie, Tyrannie, Piercenesse, Treason, Rapine, Violence, Oppression, Murther, and Reuenge, must needes be Odious, Vnseemely, and Vnlawfull vntounto Christians.
But such is the Stile, and subiect Matter of most, (but especially of our Tragicall) Stage-Playes.
Therefore they must needes be Odious, Vnseemely, and Vnlawfull vntounto Christians.
The Minor is euident: First, by Experience: Secondly, by nChrys… Hom 38. in Matth. Lact. l. 6 c. 20. Cypr. & Tert. De Spectac. Polyd. Virg. De Inuent. R…rum l. 1. c. 10. Mr. Northbrookes Treatise against vaine Playes, and Ente…ludes. f. 30.37. Mr. Stubs Anat…mie of Abus…s. p. 10…, 105, 107 Mr. Gossons Play…s Confuted. Act. 4, 5. Seneca. Epist 7. Read Sophocl…s, Euripides, and Seneca his Tragedies, with all our Moderne Tragedies, which confirme it.expresse Authorities; both which doe testifie: that the Stile, and subiect Matter of our Tragedies are Bloody, and Tyrannicall; abounding with Enuie, Malice, Furie, Clamours, Wrath, Crueltie, Treacherie, Frensie, Murthers, Treasons, Villany, Vnplacablenesse, Discordes, Mutinies, Rebellions, Conspiracies, Rapes, Duells, and Reuenge, which prouoke, and whet on the Spectators to all these Barbarous, and inhumane Vices, which they should abhorre.
The Maior is vncontrouleable: First, because the Scriptures doe expresly enioyne vsus: oEphes. 4.26… 27.31. Genes. 4.5, 6. Cap. 49.6.7. Iames 3.14, 15, 16. Psalm. 71.4. Psalm. 55.9, 10. Psalm. 86.14. Psalm. 140.11. Psalm. 27.12. Psalm. 74.20. Prou. 11 17. Cap. 12.10. Cap. 27.4. Actes 8.3. Rom. 1.29, 30, 31. 2 Tim. 3 2.3.4.to put away all Malice, Anger, Wrath, Contention, Sedition, Strife, Cruelty, Violence, Rapine, and Reuenge; together with all pEphes. 4.31. Psalm. 27.12. Actes 9.1. Psalm. 52.4. Psalm. 55.21. Psalm. 64.3. Prou. 12.6. Cap. 15.1. Rom. 1.29, 30, 31. Galat. 5.15. Rom. 3.14. Colos. 3.8. Cap. 4.6.Truculent, Clamorous, Furious, Irefull, Tragicall, Bloody, Fierce, Malicious, and reuengefull speaches: and that for sundry reasons: First, because such words, and actions as these, qI…mes 3.6.14, 15, 16, 17. Galat 5.20, 21. Rom. 1.29, 30, 31.are Earthly, Carnall, Diuelish; proceeding from the World, the Flesh, and the Deuill, (who are fraught rGen. 49.6.7. 1 Peter 5.8. Prou. 12.10.with Rage, and Crueltie:) not from the wisedome of God from aboue, which is Pure, Peaceable, Gentle, easie to be intreated, full of Mercy, and good Fruites: Secondly, because such speaches as these, sProu. 15.1. Equus est vociferatio, ascensor autem ira, impedi equum, & subuertisti as…ensorem. Theophylact Enar. in Ephes. 4.31.are the Fomenters of Contention, yea, the Chariots of Anger, Crueltie, and Reuenge: Thirdly, because such Tragicall, Fell, and Bloody discourses as these, are altogether vnsuitable vntounto Christians; who are, or should bee, tEphes. 4 31, 32, 33. Marke 9.50. 1 Cor. 14.33. 2 Cor. 13.11, 12. Ephes. 6.23. Galat. 6.1. Phil. 4.7. Col. 3.12, 13, 14, 15.Men of a Quiet, Peaceable, Gentle, Meeke, and tender-hearted Disposition, being Kinde, and Louing one towards another, and forgiuing one another, euen as God for Christs sake, hath forgiuen them. The God of Christians, uRom. 15.33. Cap. 16.20. 2 Cor. 13.11. Phil. 4.9. 1 Thes. 5.23. 2 Thes. 3.16. Heb. 13.20.is a God of Peace: the Head of Christians, xIsay 9.6. Heb. 7.2.is a Prince of Peace: the Guide of Christians, yEphes. 4.3is a Spirit of Peace, and Vnitie: the Rule of Christians, is a zEph. 6.15.Word, a Gospel of Peace, aLuke 10.5. Cap. 19.42. Act. 20.36.which bringeth, and proclaimeth Peace to all, bRom. 12.18 Heb. 12.14. 1 Pet. 3.11.and perswadeth Peace with all Men: the way of Christians, bLuke 1.79. Rom. 3.17.is a way of Peace; yea, their c1 Cor. 7.15.Vocation, d2 Cor. 13.11. 2 Tim 2.22. 1 Tim. 2.2.Life, ePsal. 37.37. 2 Pet. 3.14.and End, are Peace: therefore all Irefull, Truculent, …ierce, and Tragicke Spectacles, or Poemes, which breathe out nothing but Crueltie, Blood, Vnmercifulnesse, Discorde, Vnplacablenesse, and Reuenge, must needes bee vnseemely, and vnlawfull to them; as being opposite, and Repugna…t to their Peaceable, Meeke, and Courteous constitution. Secondly, such Barbarous, Bloody, Tyrannicall, Fierce, and Cruell Spectacles, and Enterludes as these, where Tyrannie, Enuy, Malice, Murther, Furie, and Reuenge, are Acted, and Applauded to the Life, fLuxuriosior redeo, immo vero crudelior & in humanior, quiae inter homines in Spectaculis fui. Seneca. Epist. 7. vid. Ib.must needes Inrage, Imbitter, Exasperate the Spectators, and prouoke them to Crueltie, Passion, Rage, Reuenge, and Discontent, vponupon very small occasion, as I shall prooue at large gAct. 6. Scene. 10.anon: therefore they must needes bee Euill. VponUpon this very ground, hAduers. Haereses lib 1. cap. 1. pag. 23.Irenaeus, iDe Spectaculis. lib.Tertullian, kEpist. lib. 2. Epist. 2.Cyprian, lPro Christianis Lagatio. Bibl. Patrum. Tom. 2. p. 139.Athenagoras, mContr. Autolicum. lib. 3. Ib. pag 170. G. H.Theophylus Antiochenus… nO…atio. Contra. Graecos. Ib. pag. 180. C. D.Tatianus, oDe Vero Cult. cap. 20. Diuinarum Instit. Epit cap 6.Lactantius, pOratio. 48. & De Recta Educatione ad Selcucum. pag. 1063, 1064Nazianzen, qCompend. De Doctr. & Fide Eccles. Catholic. pag. 922.Epiphanius, rHom. 38. in Matth. & Hom. 12. in Roman…s.Chrysostome, sDe Ciuitat. Dei. lib 2. cap. 25. lib. 4. cap. 5.Augustine, *Octa…ius. pag. …23, 124.Minucius Felix, tDe Gubernat. Dei. lib. 6.Saluian; together with all the Christians in the Primitiue Church, as these record, did vtterly condemne, and auoyde all Sword-Playes, Tragoedies, and bloody Spectacles of crueltie; as Fightings, and Combates of Men, with Men, or Men, and Beasts together, (which the uPlutarch. Laconica Instituta.Lacedemonians, together with xDe Republica. lib. 8.Plato, and yEpist. 7.Seneca, though Pagans, did likewise censure, and reiect:) because zSee Ioannes Mariana De Specta…ulis. lib. Lipsius De Gladiatoribus, Agrippa De Vanitate Scientiarum. cap. 13. Peter Mar…yr Locorum Commun… Classis. 4. cap. 18, Sect. 2, 3, 4.they did excite, and stirre men vp to Murther, Crueltie, and Reuenge; and make them guilty of the Wounds, and Blood of all those Combatants, and Sword-Players, which they did behold. And hence likewise was it, that the good Emperour aEusebius De Vita Constantini. lib. 4. cap. 1. Zozeman. Historiae. Eccles. lib. 1. cap. 8. Nicephorus Calist. Eccles. Hist. lib. 7. cap. 46. Eutropius Rerum. Rom Hist. lib. 11. pag. 142.Constantine; together with bZonaras Annal. Tom. 2. Imperium Neruae. fol. 101. Col. A.Nerua, cEutropius R…rum. Rom lib. 13. Arcadius & Honorius. pag. 174. See Doctor Hackwells Apologie. lib. 4. cap. 4. Sect. 9. cap. 10.11.Arcadius, and Honorius; prohibited all Sword-Playes, Duels, and such like Cruell, and Bloody Spectacles; as misbeseeming Christian hands to act, or eyes to see; because they were but so many Incendiaries, and Fomentors of Crueltie, Quarrells, Murthers, and Reuenge. Since therefore the Stile, and subiect Ma…ter of our Playes, together with the consequences of them, are such as these, wee must, wee cannot but reiect them, on the fore-said reasons, as those fore-quoted Authors hauehave already done.