The Players Scourge — William Prynne

The Players Scourge · William Prynne

SCENA TERTIA.

THe third effect or fruit of Stage-playes, is the irritation, the inflamation, the fomentation of divers sinfull lusts, of many lewde, unchaste adulterous affections, both in the Actors and Spectators hearts: From whence this 29. Play-oppugning Argument will ebulliate.Argument 29.

That which doth ordinarily, if not alwayes defile the eyes, the eares and soules both of the Actors and Spectators, by ingendring, by exciting meretricious lustfull, lewde, adulterous desires and affections in their hearts; or by instigating, by preparing, by inducing them to actuall uncleanesse; *See Mat. 5.29. 1 Thes. 5.22. Iude 23.must needs be abominable and unlawfull unto Christians.

But this doe Stage-playes, as I shall here make manifest.

Therefore they must needs bee abominable and unlawfull unto Christians.

The Major is irr…fragable; because all polluting objects, all unchaste affections, and unruly *Concupiscenti… enim carnis fo…entū peccati, …ena vitio…ū: … …lagrātior est, grav…us que praecipitat & inflāmat. Ambr. l. 4. in Lucae Evang. Tom. 3. p. 34. B. C. Cupiditas fomes & velut quoddam incentivū vitiorum. Bernard. Sermo 1. In Caena Dom. Col. 145. C.carnall lusts, (which are tMat. 5.27, 28. Rom. 7.7. Eph. 5.3. 2 Pet. 2.14.no lesse then adultery, then uncleanesse it selfe in Gods account,) doe not onelyonly uIer. 4.14. Mat. 5.27, 28. c. 15.18, 19, 20. 1 Pet. 2.11. Tit. 1.15.contaminate, and war against mens soules; but likewise xRom. 1.18.deprive them of Gods favour, yPsal. 66.18. Isay 1.11… to 19.disable them to every holy duty, zEphes. 2.23. 2 Tim. 2.26.inthrall them unto Satan; aRev. 21.27. Gal. 5.19, 21.exclude them out of Heaven; and without repentance b1 Cor. 6.9, 10. Gal. 6.8. Rev. 21.9. c. 22 15.plunge them into Hell for all eternity. Since therefore the Scripture calls upon us; c1 Cor. 7.1.to cleanse our selves from all pollution of flesh and spirit; dCol. 3.5. Rom. 8.10, 11.to mor…ifie our carnall lusts and earthly members: to eGal. 5.24.crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof; the fRom. 6.21, 23… &c. 8.6, 13.fruit of which is eternall death: g1 Pet. 2.11.to abstaine from fleshly lusts which war against the soule; and to hRom. 13.14.make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof: Since it expresly informes us; iEphes. 2.2, 3. c. 4.17, 18, 19. 1 Pet. 4.2, 3, 4. Rom. 1.24. to 29.that none but Idola…rous Heathen Gentiles, in whom the Devill raignes; kRom. 8.5 to 14. 2 Pet. 2.13, 14. Tit. 3.3. Iude 8. Amos 6.1. to 7.none but unregenerate, carnall, gracelesse persons, who have no part in Christ, doe wallow with delight; doe foster, harbour, or take pleasure in such lusts as these. And that lGal. 5.24. Rom. 8.1, 4, 9, 10.all who are Christs, have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof: mRom. 8.7, 8.because the carnall minde is enmity against God, neither is it, nor can it be subiect to his law: There are none but Whores and Panders, or foule incarnate Devils, who dare controll my Minors truth; which all Christians must subscribe to; nRom. 8.12. 1 Pet. 4.1, 2, 3, 4.because they are no longer debtors to the flesh, to live after the flesh; but oRom. 14.7, 8, 9. 1 Cor. 3.23 c. 6.19.20. 2 Cor. 5.15. Gal. 2.20.sworne Servants and Spouses unto Christ alone, pRom. 6.13, 19. c. 21.1. Nupsisti Christo, illi tradidisti carnem tuā, illi sponsasti maturitatem tuam. Incede secundum sponsi tui voluntatem. Tertul. De Velandis Virginibus cap. 13.to whom they have resigned both their soules and bodies, to be at none but his disposall.

The Minor is notoriously evident, not onelyonly by experience; but likewise by the concurring suffrages of sundry Fathers, Councels, and Authors of all sorts: Who as they stile, oSee p. 66 67, 68, 69. with the Fathers & Authors there alleaged; who give these Epithites or Stiles to Playes and Play-hou…es. See the 2. & 3. Blast of Retrait from Playes & Theaters. D. Sparkes, his Rehearsal Sermon at Pau…s Crosse, Aprill 29. 1579. A Treatise of Danc…s, Anno 1581. Stephen Goss…n, his Schoole of Abuses, accordingly.Play-houses; The Temples of Venery; the Schooles of Bawdry; the De…s of Lewdnesse; the Si…kes of Filthinesse: and Stage-playes; the Lectures of Ribaldry; the Meditations of Adultery; the Nurseries of Vncleanesse: the Fomentations of Lechery: the Fuell, the Incendiaries of lust: and the very Devils Forge or Bellowes, to excite and blow up flames of carnall Concupi…cence, both in the Actors and Spectators hearts: a su…ficient ratification of our present Assumption. So they likewise positively a…firme, and copiously testifie the truth of this proposition in expresse words: Witnesse Clemens Alexandrinus; who informes us; oQuod sanctū est Daemonio…ū personis in Comaedi… ludificati estis. Desine canticū ô Homere, non est pulchrum, docet adulterium. Nos autem ne aures quidē …tupris & fornicationibus inquinare volumus, &c Horum non solum usus, sed etiā aspectus & auditus deponendam esse memoriam vobis annuntiamus: scortatae sunt aures vestrae, fornicati sunt ocu…i, & quod est magis novum, ante complexum vestri adulteriū admiserunt aspectus. Oratio. Adhortatoria ad Gentes. p. 8. E.F. & 9. A.that Comedies and amorous moderne Poems teach men adultery: that they defile mens eares with incests, and fornications: therefore he tells the Gentiles, that not onelyonly the use, the sight and hearing, but likewise the very memory of Stage-playes, yea of the fabulous Poems, pictures, and representations of their uncha…te, libidinous Idol-gods, ought utterly to be abolished; because their eares had committed whoredome, their eyes had played the harlots with them: and which is more strange, that their very sight had committed adultery before any actuall embracement, by reason of these obscene Pictures… and filthy Enterludes. Hence he instructeth Christians; pNon ducet ergò nos Paedagogus ad spectacula: nec inconcinne stadia & Theatra pestilen…iae cathedram quis vo…averit. Magna enim con…usione & iniquitate hi cae…us plaeni sunt, & occasio conventus causa est turpitudinis, cū viri & faeminae permixtim conveniant alter ad alterius spect…culū. Hic quo que s…lestū est consiliū, quem…dmodū adversus iustū. Dum enim lasciviunt oculi, calescunt appetitiones, & oculi proximos impudentius respicere assue facti, quòd concessum ociū habeant, intendunt cupiditates. Prohibeantur ergo spectacula & acromata, quae nequitia verbisque obscaenis & vanis, temere profusis, plena sunt, &c. Paedagogi. lib. 3. cap. 11.that his Paedagoge must not lead them unto Playes or Theaters, which may not be unfitly called, the Chaire of Pestilence: because these Conventicles where men and women meete promis…uously together to behold one another, are the occasion of lewdnesse: here they give, or plot wicked counsell: For while their eyes are lasciviously occupied, their lusts waxe warme, and their eyes being accustomed to glance more impudently on those who sit next them, having liberty and leisure granted to them, intend their lusts. These Spectacles therefore (saith he) which are fraught with wickednesse, with obscene, and vaine speeches; with the representations of filthy deeds; with impudent and unchaste discourses which provoke laughter, the Idaeaes of which men carry away with them to their houses, & there more deepely imprint them in their mindes; are utterly to he prohibited. Witnesse Tertullian; who records; qTragaediae & Comaediae scelerum & libidinū auctrices, cruentae & lasci…ae, impiae & prodigae. De Spectae. cap. 18.that Tragedies and Comedies, are the augmenters of villanies and lusts; being both cruell and lascivious, impious and prodigall. rOculos & aures communicant, &c. Ibid. cap. 17.That they defile mens eyes and eares with uncleanesse: *Scintillas libidinum conflabellant. Ibid. cap. 25.and blow up the sparkles of their Lusts. Hence he stiles the Play-house: tSacrarium Veneris: Veneris domus. Ibid. cap. 10.the Chappell of Venery: the House of Lechery: the *Consistoriū impudicitiae, ubi nihil probatur quā quod alibi non probatur. Ibid. c. 17.Consistory of Incontinency: Hence he informes us; xNihil nobis cum impudicitia Theatri. Apologia Advers. Gentes. c. 38. Non scenae turpetudinibus Christianū affici oportet. De habitu Muli…r. c. 5.that all the Christians in the Primitive Church, had utterly relinquished the uncleanesse of the Theater. Hence he comforts the close imprisoned Martyrs of his time with this consideration; yNon in loca libidinum publicarū oculi tuiimpingunt: non clamoribus spectaculorū vel impudicitia celebrā tium caederis. Ad Martyres. lib. c. 2. Sceni…a Faeditas. De Pudicitia. lib. cap. 7.that by meanes of their imprisonment; their eyes were kept from the sight of Theaters, the places of publike lust, and lechery. Neither were their eares o…fended with the clamors or uncleanesse of Stage-players. And hence hee doubles this Assertion. zSimiliter impudicitiam omnem amoliri iubemut; hoc igitur modo etiam à Theatro seperam…r, quod est privatum consistorium impudicitiae, &c. Habes igitur & Theatri interdictionem, de interdictione impudicitiae. De Spectaculis. cap. 17.That Stage-playes are absolutely prohibited, by the inhibition of incontinency. Witnesse Origen; who instructeth us: that Christians must not lift up their eyes to aSpectacula Circi vel Theatri sordidarū spectacula visionum, quibus libidinem, vel alia quae que vitia amans, inflammetur. In Epist. Ad Rom. c 11. l. 8. Tom 3. f. 103. A.Stage-playes, the pleasurable delights of polluted eyes (as he there stiles them) lest their lusts should be inflamed by them. What then (writes he in *Nam de ijs quid dic…mus qui cum Gentilium turbis ad spectacula ma…urant, & cōspectus suos at que auditus impudicis verbis & actibus faedant? Non est nostrū pronunciare de talibus. Ipsi enim sentire & videre possunt quā sibi deligerint partē. Tu ergo qui haec audis, &c. Sancti esto…e quia & ego sanctus sum Dominus Deus ve…ter; Sapienter intellige quae dicuntur. Vt sis beatus cū feceris …a. Sepera te … terrenis a…tibus, sep…a te à concupiscentia mundi: Sepera te & remove ab omni pollutione peccati. H…m 11. Super L…viticum. Tom. 1 …ol. 84. B.C.another place) shall we say of these who with the troopes of the Gentiles make haste to Stage-playes, and defile their eyes and eares with unchaste words and motions? It is not our part …o passe sentence upon such, for they themselves may perceive and see what part they have chosen to themselves. Thou therefore who hearest these things. Be ye holy, for I am holy: Wisely understand what is spoken: seperate thy selfe from terrene actions; seperate thy selfe from the lusts of the world, and from the contagion of every sinne. Witnesse Saint Cyprian, who stiles Theaters ^b The Stewes of publike chastity, and Mastership of obscaenity: which teach those sinnes in publike, that men may more usually commit them in private. cQuid int…r haec Christianus fidelis facit, cu… vitia non licet nec cogitare? quid oblectatur simulachris libidinis, ut in ipsis deposita verecundia audacior fiat ad crimina? Discit facere dum assues…it vid…e. Illas tamen qu…s infaelicitas sua in servitutem prostituit libidinis publicae, occultent locus, & dedecus suum de latebris consolantur: erubescunt videri etiam qui pudorem vendi…erunt. A… istud publicum nostrum omnibus videntibus geritur, & pr…sti…ut…rum transitur obscaenitas. Quaesitum est quomodo adulterium ex oculis admittetur. Cyprian D… S…ectaculis. lib.What doth a faithfull Christian (writes he) doe amidest these things, who may not so much as thinke upon any vice? Why is he delighted with these Images of lusts; that so having deposited his modesty in them, he may be made more bold to commit the crimes themselves? He learnes to commit, who accustometh himselfe to behold the Theatricall representations of uncleanesse. Those common whores whose misfortune hath prostituted them to the slavery of the publike Stewes, conceale the place where their filthinesse is committed, taking comfort in their disgrace from the secrecy of their Cells: Those Adulterers also who have sold their chastity, are ashamed to be seene in publike: But this our publike lewdnesse is acted in the open viewe of all men: the obs…aenity of common Whores is surpassed, and men have found out how they may commit adultery be…ore the eyes of others. dIta amatur, quicquid nō licet, &c. Non licet inquā adesse Christianis fidelibus, non licet omnino, nec illis quos ad oblectamenta au…iū ad omnes ubi que G…aecia instructos suis artibus vanis mit…it, &c. Fugienda sunt ista Christianis fidelibus, ut iam frequēter diximus, tam vana, tam perniciosa, tam sacrilega spectacul…, & oculi nostri fūt, & aures custodi…ndae; cito enim in hoc assuescimus quod audimus scelere. Nam cum mens hominis ad vitia ipsa ducatur, sibi quid faciet si habuerit exemplan… turae, corporis lubricae? quae sponte cor…uit, quid faciet si fuerit impulsa? Avocandus est igitur animus ab istis. Cy…rian. Ibid.Thus whatsoever is prohibited, is affected. Now I say, (I pray observe it well good Reader,) it is NOT LAVVFVLL FOR FAITHFVLL CHRISTIANS, yea, IT IS ALTOGETHER VNLAVVFVLL FOR THEM TO BE PRESENT AT THESE PLAYES. These so vaine, so pernicious, so sachrilegious Stage-playes, AS I HAVE NOVV OFTEN AFFIRMED, ARE VVHOLLY TO BEE AVOYDED BY ALL FAITHFVLL CHRISTIANS; because we soone accustome our selves to the practise of that wickednesse, which we heare and see: For since the minde of man is easily led on to these vices of it selfe; what will it doe when it is presented with unchaste examples both of body and nature? she who thus falls of her owne accord, what will she doe if she be precipitated? The minde therefore is wholly to be avotated from these lascivious Enterludes. Adde we to this another speech of his to the same purpose. eConverte hinc vultus ad diversi spectaculi nō minus paenitēda contagia; in Theatris quo que inspicies quod tibi & dolori sit & pudori. Cothurnus est tragicus prisca facinora carmine recensere, de paracidis & incestis horror antiquus, expressa ad imaginē veritaris actione replicatur, ne seculis trāseuntibus exole…cat, quod aliquando cōmissum est: Admonetur omnis aetas auditu fieri posse, quod aliquādo factū est, &c. Cyprian Ep. l. 2. Ep. 2. Donato. See here Act 5. Scene 3.Turne (saith he) thine eyes to the no-lesse sinfull contagions of a different shew: thou maist also behold in Theaters, that which m…y affect thee both with griefe and shame. It is a Tragedians part, to rela…e ancient wickednesses in verse: the ancient horror of Paricides and Incestuou… persons is represented by him to the life; lest those wickednesses which were committed in former ages, should grow obsolete in aftertimes. Every age is admonished, that what-ever villany was actually committed in former times, may be committed still. Those things are now made examples, which have ceased to be si…nes. Then you may please to know from Stage-players, what filthinesse any man hath committed in secret, or to heare what he might have done. fAdulteriū discitur dū videtur; & lenocināte ad vitia publicae authoritatis malo, quae pudica forrasse ad spectaculū matrona processerat, revertitur impudica. Adhuc deinde morū quanta labes, quae probrorum fomēnta, quae alimenta vitiorum, histrionibus gestibus inquin…ri? videre contra faedus ius que nascendi patientiam incestae turpitudinis elaboratam, &c. Ibidem.Thus is adultery learned whiles it is beheld, and the evill of publike authority playing the Pander to these vices, she who at first came perchance a chaste Matron to the Play, returnes a Strumpet from the Play-house. Moreover, what a great corruption of mens manners, what fomentations of reproachfull actions, what a fuell of vices is it, to be polluted with histrionicall gestures, to see filthy Incest elaborately acted, against the very covenant and right of mans nativity? gSee Act 5. Scene 3. p. 168. where the Latine is recited.Men are emasculated; all the honour and vigor of their Sex is abated by the filthinesse of an effeminated body; and he there gives best consent, who doth most dissolve himselfe into a woman: his sinne addes to his applause, and he is reputed the more skilfull, by how much the more filthy he is. What then cannot be perswade who is such a one? he moves the sences, he soothes the affections, he expugnes the stronger conscience of an upright heart; neither wants there the authority of flattering reproach, that so destruction may creepe upon men by a more delicate hearing. hSee Act 3. Scene 3. p. 75.They represent unchaste Venus, adulterous Mars, yea, their great love, not more a Prince in dominion, then in vices; burning with his very Thunderbolts into terrene loves; iSee Lactantius De falsa Religione. l. 1 c. 11. Tatianus, & Clemens Alexandr. Oratio. Adhor. ad Gentes. Athenaeus Dipnos. lib. 9. c. 18. Ovid Metamorph. lib. 10.sometimes waxing white in the feathers of a Swan; kLactantius, De falsa Relig. c. 11. Arnobius, Advers. Gentes. lib. 4. Ovid Metamorph. l. 10. Terentij Eunu…hus. August De Civ. Dei. l. 2. c. 7.otherwhiles descending in a golden shoure; lLactantius De falsa Relig. c. 11. Ovid Metamorph. l. 10. Iulius Firmicus, De Errore Profanarum Relig. cap. 13.anon comming forth attended with Birds to ravish and snach away yong Youthes, mQuaere iam-nunc an possit esse qui spectat, integer vel pudicus, cum Deos suos quos venerantur imitantur? O si & possis in illa sublim… specula constitutus oculos tuos inserere secretis, recludere cubiculorū obductos fores, & ad conscientiā luminis penetralia occulta reserare, aspicias ab impudicis geri, quod nec aspicere possit frons padica, &c. Cyprian. Epist. l. 2. Epist. 2. See Act 5. Scene 3. p. 168.169.Examine now whether those who behold these Spectacles can be sincere or chaste, whiles they imitate the gods they worship? Even sinnes themselves are made religious to these wretches: O if thou couldest standing in that sublime watch-towre insert thine eyes into their secrets, open the closed doores of their bed-chambers, and bring all their hidden inmost roomes unto the conscience or the light, thou mightest see that done by these unchaste persons, which is a sinne to see: thou mightest see that, which they sighing under the fury of their vices deny themselves to have done, and yet they hasten for to doe it. nSee Act 3. Scene 3 p. 92. and Act 4. Scene 3. p 135.136. & 211.Men rush upon men with mad unruly lusts, &c. A sufficient adequate testimony of my Minors truth. Adde wee to these irrefragable Witnesses some others of no lesse validity: Tatianus, stiles Stage-players, pAdulterij promo…or, cinae dorum doctor, cōdemnandorum author. Obscaen… verba naso resonante effutiunt, & motus, indecentes moventur, & adulteriorū in scena Magistros siliae & silij vestri spectant. Omnes nequitiae nocturnae, & quid obscaenè dictū demulcere potest auditores, al…a voce promulgantur. Oratio Contra Graecos Bibl. Patrum. Tō. 2. p. 180. B.C.the Promoters of Adultery the Tutors of effeminate Dancers, and Sodomites; the authors of damnable practises; the teachers of adultery, who utter obscene words with a loud voyee, and use lascivious motions promulgating all nocturnall abominations, and uttering all obscenities that might delight the Auditors. qNec caetera spectacula spectare audemus, ne oculi nostri inquinentur, & aures nostrae hauriant prophana, quae ibi decantantur, carmina. Nec phas est nobis audire adulteria Deorum hominú que , &c. Ad Autolycum. l. 3. Bib Patr. Tom. 2. p 170. G.HTheophylus Antiochenus, writes: That the Christians in his time durst not behold Stage-playes, lest their eyes should be defiled with the adulteries of those Devill-gods and men, that were there personated; and lest their eares should sucke in those prophane verses that were there recited. To passe by rAdvers. Gentes. l. 4. p. 249.250, 251. l. 7. p. 231.232, 233.Arnobius, who declaimes much against the obscenity of Stage-playes, which did adulterate the mindes, inflame the lusts of the Spectators, by reason of those lewde adulterous villanies of Idol-gods that were represented in them, which he at larges discyphers: Lactantius, his Scholler, writes thus of Stage-playes. sIn scenis nelcio an sit corruptela vitiosior. Nam & Comicae fabulae de stupris virginum loquuntur aut amoribus meretricum: & quo magis sunt eloquētes, qui flagitia illa finxerunt, eò magis sententiarum elegantia persuadent, & facilius inhaerent audientium memoriae versus numerosi & ornati. Item Tragicae historiae subijciunt oculis parricidia & incesta Regum malorum & cothurnata scelera demonstrant. Lactantius, De Vero Cultu. lib. 6. cap. 20.In Stage-playes also, I know not whether there be a more dangerous corruption. For Comicall fables treat of the rapes of Virgins, or of the loves of Harlots, and by how much the more eloquent the Poets are who have feined these wickednesses, by so much the more doe they perswade by their elegant sentences, and the more easily doe their wel-composed and adorned verses sticke in the memory of the Hearers. Likewise Trapicall Histories present unto mens eyes the Paricides, the Incests of evill Kings, and they demonstrate tragicall wickednesses. tHistrionum quo que impudicissimi motus, quid aliud, nisi libidines docent, & instigant? quorum enervata corpora, & in muliebrē incessum habitū que mollita, impudicas faeminas inhonestis gestibus mentiuntur. Quid de mimis loquor corruptelarū praeferentibus disciplinam? qui docent adulteria, dū fingunt, & simulatis erudiunt ad vera? Ibidem.The most unchaste motions likewise of Stage-players, what else doe they but teach and prouoke lusts? whose enervated bodies dissolved into a womans pace and habit, personate unchaste women with dishonest gestures. What shall I speake of mimicall Actors, who carry along with them even in outward shew, the discipline of depraving corruptions? who teach adulteries whiles they feine them, and by counterfeit representations instruct men how to commit even reall uncleanesses. uQuid iuvenes, aut virgines faciant, quū haec & fieri sine pudore, & spect… ri libenter ab omnibus cernunt? Admonē tur uti que quid facere pos…n…, & inflāmantur libidi…e, quae aspectu maxime concitatur: ac se quis que pro sexu in illis imaginibus praefigurat: probantqu… illa dum rident, & ad haerentibus vitijs corruptiores ad cubi…ula revertuntur. Ibidem.What may yong Men, or Virgins doe, when as they perceive these things to be acted without shame, and willingly to be beheld of all? Verily they are admonished what they may doe, and they are inflamed with lust, which is most of all excited by the sight: and every one according to his Sex doth prefigure himselfe in these Images; yea, they approve them whiles they laugh at them, and they returne more corrupt to their Chambers by reason of the vices which adhere unto them. xNec pue…i modo, quos praematuris vitijs imb… non opo…tet, sed etiam senes quos pecc…e iam non decet in talem vitiorum semitam dilabuntur. Vitanda ergo spectacula omnia, non solum ne quid vitiorum pectoribus insideat, quae sedata & paci…ica esse debent, sed ne cujus nos voluptatis consuetudo delinia…, & à Deo atque à bonis operibus avertat. Ibidem.And not onelyonly Children who ought not to be seasoned with premature vices, but even old men, for whom it is unseemely now to sinne, stray aside into this path of vices. THEREFORE ALL SPECTACLES AND STAGE-PLAYES (I pray observe it well) ARE VVHOLY TO BE AVOYDED, not on…ly lest any vices should harbour in our hearts, which ought to be calme and quiet; but likewise lest the custome of any pleasure should delight us, and so TVRNE VSUS FROM GOD AND FROM GOOD VVORKES. yHis spectaculis & delectantur, & libenter intersunt. Quae, quoniam maxima sunt irrit…m…nta vitiorum, & ad corrumpendos animos potissime valent, tollenda sunt nobis: quia non modo ad vitam beatam nihil conferunt, sed etiam no…ent plurimu…. Ibidem.Yea these Enterludes with which men are delighted, and at which they are willingly present; because they are THE GREATEST INSTIGATIONS VNTOUNTO VICE, (pray marke it) AND THE MOST POVVERFVLL INSTRVMENTS TO CORRVPT MENS MINDES, ARE VVHOLY TO BE ABOLISHED FROM AMONG VSUS; Since they doe not onelyonly, not contribute any thing to an happy life, but likewise doe much hurt. In another worke of his he writes thus. zQuid scena? num sanctio…? in qua Cōmedia de stupris & amoribus; Tragaedia de incestis & parricidijs fabulatur. Histrionici etiā impudici gestus, quibus infames faeminas imitantur, libidines, quas salt…ndo exprimunt, docent: An nō mimu… corruptela disciplinarū est? in quo …iunt per imaginem, quae non sunt, ut fiant sine pudore, quae vera sunt. Spectant haec adolescentes: quorum lubrica aetas, quae fraenari, ac regi debet, ad vitia & pecca…a his im…ginibus …ruditur. Fugiend… igitur omnia spectacula ut tranqu…ll… mentis statum tenere possimus. Renunciandum noxijs volupta…ibus, ne deliniti suavitate pestifera, in mortis laqueos incidamus. Placet sola virtus, cujus merces immortalis est, quum vicerit voluptatem. Lactantius, Divinarum. Instit. Epitome cap. 6.What is the Play-house? is it more holy then these Sw…rd-playes? in which a Comedy treates of Rapes, and Loves… a Tragedy of Incests, and Murthers. Moreover unchaste Histrionicall gestures, with which they imitate infamous Women, doe teach those lusts which they expresse by dancing: And is not then a Player the corruption of d…scipline, in whom those things that are done are acted by representation, that so th…se things which are truely reall, may be perpetrated without any shame. Yong men behold these things, whose slippery age, which should be brideled and governed, is instructed to commit sinnes and vices by these representations. THEREFORE ALL PLAYES ARE TO BEE AVOYDED, THAT VVE MAY enioy a serene state of minde. THESE NOXIOVS PLEASVRES ARE TO BE RENOVNCED, lest we being delighted with their pestiferous sweetnesse, should fall into the snares of death. Vertue alone, whose reward is immortall, will then content us, when she hath overcome these pleasures. Thus farre Lactantius, most elegantly, most truely. Adde wee to him Minucius Felix, that eminent Christian Lawyer, whom aMinucius Felix non ignobilis inter causidicos loci fuit. Huj…s liber, cu… Octavio titulus est, declarat, quam idonus assertor veritatis e…e potuisset, si se totum ad id studium contulisset. De Iustitia lib. 5. cap 1.Lactantius himselfe commends: who writes thus of Stage-playes. bComaediae & Tragaediae vestrae incestis gloriantur, quas vos libent…r & legitis, & auditis: & sic Deos colitis incestos, cum m…tre, cum fi…iâ, cum sorore conjunctos: meritò igitur incestum penes vos saepe depraehenditur semper admitti…ur. Minucius Felix. Octavius. pag. 101.Your Comedies and Tragedies glory in incestuous persons, and yet you wil…lingly both read and heare them: and so you worship In…stuous gods, who have coupled with their owne Mothers, Daughters, Sist…rs: Worthily therefore (such was the fruit of these their Stage-playes) is Incest oft-times deprehended among you, alwayes is it tollerated and committed. cNos igitur qui moribus & pudore censemur meritò malis voluptatibus, & pompis vestris, & spectaculis abstinemus: quorum & de sacris originem novimus, & ut noxia blandimenta damnamus. Nā in ludis curulibus, quis non horreat populi in se rixantis insaniam? in gladiatorijs homicidij disciplinam? in scenicis etiam non minor furor, turpitudo prolixior. Nunc enim mimus, vel exponitadulteria, vel monstrat. Nunc enervis histrio amorem dū fingit, infligit. Idē Deos vestros, induendo stupra, suspiria, odia, dedecorat. Idem simulatis doloribus lacrymas vestras vanis gestibus & …utibus provocat. Sic homicidiū in vero flagitatis, in mendacio fletis, Ibid. p. 123.124.We therefore who are valued according to our maners and modesty, deservedly absteine from your evill pleasures, your shewes, and Stage-playes, whom we know to have taken their originall from your Idol-worship, and whose noxious flattering enticements we condemne. For in your Chariot-playes, who would not abhorre the madnesse of th… people brawling among themselves? the discipline or art of murther in Sword-playes? in Stage-playes likewise there is no lesse fury, more prolix obscenity: For one while the testing Actor, doth either expound adulteries, or personate them. Another while, THE EFFEMINATE STAGE-PLAYER VVHILES HE FEINES LOVE, DOTH VIOLENTLY INFLICT IT. The same by personating wh…redomes, sighes, hatreds, disgraceth your gods: The same w…h feined griefes provokes your teares with his vaine gestures and nods. Thus you desire true murther, you bewaile feined, &c. Thus hee. Saint Basil the Great, informes us: dSpectacula & corrupti can…us nimiam in animis ingenerātes libidinē, &c. N…scij sane ludos spectaculis abundantes lascivis, cōmunem ac publicam officinam scelerum esse: modulationes at que concentus meretricios que cantus, auditorum animis insidentes, nil ali…d efficere, quam ut turpitudinem omnibus persuadeant, citharae dorum sonitus imitantes. H…xaemeron. Hom. 4. Tom. 1. pag. 45. See De Legendis libris Gentilium, Oratio. pag. 408.412. accordingly.That the very beholding and hearing of Stage-playes ingenders overmuch lust in the mindes of men; That Stage-playes abounding with lascivious Spectacles are the common Shops of all wickednesse: that they sticke fast in the mindes of the Auditors: and serve to no other purpose but to perswade all men unto filthinesse. Gregory Nyssen records; *Sordida & luxuriosa Spectacula, & in muris, & in aulis diversae ad luxuriam animae picturae, & in vasis sculpturae impressae nequitiam praedicant, quibus cogitatio ad cupiditates suas revocatur, vituperosi spectaculi visione, ad animam usque passionum affectu perveniente, ne scilicet cupiditatum ardore extinguatur, aut retunda…ur. Vitae Moseos Enarratio. pag. 503. See 502.That lascivious Spectacles; and filthy Pictures engraven or painted either in Walls, in Halls, or Plate, (to satisfie the luxury of the minde) doe proclaime lewdnesse: the though…s are recalled to their lusts, by the sight of these blame-worthy Spectacles, whose inflammation pierceth even to the affections, lest verily the heat of mens lusts should be quenched. fQuod si recondita, abditaque hujusmodi, non dico vascula & capsulas (multisenim ea patent, nec ali…na sunt a turpitudine vitae) sed occulta mē tis & animi perspicere poteris, iam verò accumulat…rū …anarū putredinem reperies faetidam. At modesti hominis oculus etiā mundus est, & haec quae ad luxuriam incitant, spectacula despicit. Ibidem.If that thou couldest dive, I say, not into the Vessels and Caskets (for they are manifest unto many, neither are they different from their filthinesse of life) but into the retyred hidden secrets of the minde and soule of a man delighted with these Spectacles, thou shouldest verily there finde a sti…king rottennesse of many accumulated Frogges; that is (as hee there expresseth himselfe in a former passage) of filthy lusts and vices. But even the eye of a chaste man is cleane, and refuseth these Spectacles which incite men unto luxury, or carnall pleasure. Our common Play-haunters and lascivious Picture-masters therefore, by this Fathers verdict, (whatever they may deeme themselves,) are no chaste, no modest persons; gQui naturam respicit, homines: qui vitam considerat, non homines, sed ex brutorum genere eos esse putabit: cujus quidem bruti signa tam in universa domo, quam in singulis invenias partibus. Ibidemyea rather beasts, then men; as he there tearmes them. Gregory Nazienzen, stiles Stage-players; hTurpitudinis administri. Ad Seleucum, De Recta Educatione. pag… 1063.the servants of lewdnesse: Play-houses, iLasciva faeditatis, & impuritatis omnis officina. Ibidem.the lascivious shops of all filthinesse and impurity: Stage-playes: kLascivorum hominum inhonestae & indecorae disciplinae, qui nihil turpe ducunt, praeter modestiam. Nimirum in his natura vitiatur & adulterina …it, voluptatumque flamma multiplex accenditur. Ibidem.the dishonest unseemely instructions of lascivious men, who repute nothing filthy, but modesty; by which nature is vitiated, and made adulterous, and severall flames of different lusts are kindled. lEtiam spurcissimus rebus Theatra conduntur, ut ne hi morbi clam turpitudinem suam exerceant. Sed disciplinis improbis & sceleratis praemia proposita sint. Tu autem mihi velim haec execreris. Noli pupulas …uas polluere, sed omnes oculorum corruptelas vitato, …t pupulae tuae mihi. Virgines cura tua maneant. Ibidem.Theaters likewise are seasoned with most filthy things; lest that these diseases should practise their lewdnesse onelyonly in secret; Rewards are promised to these dishonest, and wicked instructions: But doe thou have these things in execration: Suffer not thy female pupils to be defiled with them; but cause them to avoyd all corruptions of their eyes, that so they may contin…e Virgins to me, by thy care: Intimating hereby, that resort to Stage-playes, would soone defloure their Virginity, and make them Strumpets. Saint Hilary informes us, mImmaculatus sit, ac nitidus: …itque …i non corpus stupris contaminatum, non oculi spectaculis theatralibus sordidati, &c. Enarrat… in Psal. 14. pag. 202. G.That he who will ascend up in…o the Hill of the Lord must keepe himselfe unspotted from corruption; his body must not be defiled with whoredome; his eyes must not be polluted with Stage-playes: which hee there couples with whordome, because they ingender unchaste affections in mens hearts, and oft-times allure them to actuall lewdnesse. Therefore in his Commentary on the 118. alias the 119. Psalme, verse 37. (Turne away mine eyes from beholding vanity) he paraphraseth thus: nOrat autem & animi & corporis oculos; …os scilicet, qui in theatralibus ludis captivi incubant, & obscaenis illis spectaculorum fabulis, &c. vanitatibus avert…. Ibidem. pag. 258. E. F.That the Prophet prayes to have bot… the ey…s of his body and minde turned away from Stage-playes, and the obscene fables of dishonest Enterludes; which did formerly occupy and defile them. Cyrill of Hierusalem affirmes; oPompa Diaboli, est in Theatris spectacula, &c. Ne ergo sis curiosus in frequentia spectaculorum, ubi conspicias mimorum pe…ulantias, omni contumelia & impudicitia refer…as, &c. Catechesis Mystagogic cap. 1. fol. 175. B.That Play-house meetings, and Playes, which are the Devils Pompes, were fraught with all lewdnesse, contumely, and incontinency; Whence he perswades all Christians to avoyd them. Saint Ambrose stiles Stage-playes pDiabolus tibi effundat spectacula vanitatum; incentiva inserat volup…atum: pete ut dominus avertat oculos tuos. Avertamus igitur oculos à vanitatibus, atque ludorum theatralium spectaculis, ne quod oculos viderit, animus concupiscat. In hoc navigio corporis tui movetur aestus cùpiditatum; & non avertis oculus animae tuae ne videant sentinam libidinum, ne aspiciant mundi hujus stercora. Ambros Enarrat. in Psal. 118… Octon. 5. Tom. 2. pag. 430. F. 431. B.D.Spectacles of Vanities, by which the Devill convayes incentives of pleasures into mens hearts. Let us therefore (saith he) turne away our eyes from these vanities, and Stage-playes, lest our minds should affect that which our eyes behold, & let us come to God that he would doe it for us. In the s…ip of thy body there is a tempest of lusts raysed, and yet thou turnest not away the eyes of thy soule that they should not see the sinke of lusts, nor behold the filth of this world: Such are Stage-playes in this Fathers repute. S. Hierom in his Epistle to Salvina, writes thus unto her. qTenera res in faeminis fama pudicitiae est, quasi flos pulcherrimus c…tò ad levem marcessit auram, levi que flatu corrūpitur; maxime ubi aetas consentit ad vitium, & maritalis deest auctoritas, cujus umbra tutamen uxoris est. Epist. 9. c. 5. Tō. 1. p. 28.The fame of chastity in women is a tender thing; like a most beautifull flower it is quickly blasted with a small winde, and corrupted with an easie breath: especially where both age consents to vice, and the authority of an Husband is wanting, whose shadow is the shelter of the Wife. rNon ambulet iuxta te calamistratus procurator, non histrio fractus in faeminam, non cantoris Diabolici venenata dulcedo, non iuvenis cultus & nitidus. Nihil artiū scenicarum …ibi iungatur, &c. eò quod incentiva vitiorum omniū titi…lant animos, & quibusdam illecebris ad mortiferas animam voluptates trahunt, &c. Ibidem. See Epist. 10. cap 4. & Epist. 18. accordingly.Wherefore let no frizeld-pated Steward, no effeminate Stage-player accompany thee; let not the venomous sweetnesse of a Diabolicall Singer come neere thee, nor a compt and beautifull Youth. Ha…e thou nothing to doe with Stage-playes: because they are the pleasing incendiaries of mens lusts and vices: because they draw mens soules by their flattering entisements to deadly pleasures, (which Christians should extinguish with the love of Christ, and curbe with fasting:) and cause them to violate the vow and bond of Chastity, of Widdowhood, of Virginity. So in his Commentary on Ezechiel. lib. 6. cap 20. he certifieth us. sSed & nobis quando exitur de AEgypto, iubetur ut offensiones oculorum nostrorū ab…jciamus, ne scilicet his delectemur, quibus anteà delectabamur in saeculo: ne simulachris AEgypti polluamur, adinventionibus scilicet Philosophorum, at que Haereticorū, quae recte Idola nominantur. A spectaculis quo que , imò offensionibus AEgypti removeamus oculos, arenae, circi, Theatrorum, & omnibus, quae animae contaminant puritatem, & per sensus ingrediuntur ad mentem: impleturque quod scriptum est: Mors intravit per fenestras vestras. Ibidem. Tom. 4. pag. 3…9. A.That we also when as we depart out of AEgypt, are commanded to cast away all those things which offend our eyes, that so we may not be delighted with those things with which we were formerly affected in the world; to wit, with the inventions of Philosophers and Heretiques, which are rightly stiled Idols. We must likewise remove our eyes from all the Spectacles, yea rather, the offences of AEgypt, as Sword-playes, Cirque-playes, and Stage-playes; which defile the purity of the soule; and by the sences gaine entrance to the minde: and so that is fulfilled, which is written; Death hath entred by your windowes: By this grave learned Fathers verdict then, it is most evident; that Stage-playes devirginate unmarried persons, especially beautifull tender Virgins who resort unto them, (which I would our female Play-haunters; and *See Augustin Hom. 21. …om. 10. pag. 592.their Parents would consider:) that they defile their soules with impure carnall lusts; and so let in eternall death upon them. Saint Augustine brands all Stage-playes with this stigmaticall Impresse. That they are tLudi scenici Spectacula turpitudinum. De Civit. Dei. lib 1. cap. 32.the Sp…ctacles of filthinesse: uProbitatis & honestatis eversio. Ibid. c. 33.The overturners of goodnesse and honesty: xVere Fugalia, sed pudoris & honestatis. Ibid. lib. 2. cap. 6.The chasers away of all modesty and chastity: yMeretriciam pompam hinc celebrari, &c. Avertebant faciem ab impur…s motibus scenicorum, artem flagitij videre erubescentes, ne auderent impudicos gestus ore libero cernere, &c. Frequentans in aperto invitamenta nequitiae, ad possidendos innumerabiles malos. Ibidem l. 2. c. 26.Meretricious shewes. The unchaste, the filthy gestures of Actors: The art of mischievous villanies, which even modest Pagans did blush to behold: The invitations to lewdnesse, by which the Devill useth to gaine innumerable companies of evill men unto himsefe. Hence hee stiles Theaters; zTheatra, Caveae turpitudinum; & professiones publicae flagitiosorū. De Consensu Evan…. l. 1. c. 33. Tom. 4. pars 1. p. 530.The Cages of uncleanesse, the publike professions of wickednesse, of wicked men: and Stage-playes; aHanc talium numinum placationem petul…ntissimam, impurissimam, impudentissimam, nequissimam, immundissimam, cujus actores laudanda Romanae virtutis indoles honore privavit, tribu movit, agnovit turpes, fecit infames. Hanc inquam pudendam, verae que religion… adversandam & detestandam numinum placationem; has fabulas in Deos illecebrosas atque criminosas, haec ignominiosa Deorum facta scelerate turpiter que conficta, vel sceleratius turpiusque commiss…, oculis & auribus publicis civitas to…a discebat, haec commissa numinibus placere cernebat, & ideo non solum illis exhibenda, sed sibi quoque imitanda credebat. Idem. De Civit… Dei. lib. 2. cap. 27.The most petulant, the most impure, impudent, wicked, uncleane; the most shamefull and detestable attonements of filthy Devil-gods; which to true Religion are most ex…crable: whose Actors the laudable towardnes of Roman vertue had depriv…d of all honour, disfranchised their tribe, acknowledged as filthy, made infamous: because the people were instructed, incouraged by the sight and hearing of St…ge-playes, to imitate, to practise those alluring criminous fictions; those ignominious facts of Pagan-gods, that were either wickedly and filthily forged of them, or more wickedly and filthily committed by them. Hence is it that this godly Father, doth *Qua supra. De Doctrina Christiana. lib. 2. cap. 25. De Symbolo ad Catechumenos. lib. 4… cap. 1. Confessionum. lib. 6. cap. 7.8… & Epist. 202.oft dissuade all Christians from acting, seeing, or frequenting Stage-playes, and Cirque-playes, because they are but P…nders, but allectives to uncleanesse, incendiaries and fomentations unto carnall lusts. Hence he speakes thus to Christian Parents (which I would to God those gracelesse Parents who either accompany, send, encourage, or else permit their Children to runne to filthy, lewde, lascivious Stage-playes, bQuo semel est imbuta recens servabit odorē testa diu. Horace Epist. l. 1. Epist. 2. pag. 24.which vitiate, which deprave them ever after, would seriously consider:) cQuotiescú que fratres charissimi aliquos ex filijs vestris ad spectacula vel furiosa, vel cruenta, vel turpia, quasi ad aliquod bonum opus currere vana persuasione & pestifero amore cognoscitis, vos qui jam Deo propicio ista, non solū luxuriosa, sed etiam crudelia oblectamenta despicitis, castigare eos, & abundantius pro eis domino supplicare debetis, quia illos cognoscitis ire in vanitatem, & in…anias mendaces, & negligere quò vocati sunt. August. Hom. 21. Tom. 10. pag. 592.As oft, deare Breathren, as you know that any of your Children resor… either to furious, bloody, or filthy Enterludes, with a vaine perswation, and pestiferous love… as if it were to some good worke, you who now by the grace of God contemne, not onelyonly these luxurious, but also cruell recreations, and disports, ought diligently to chastise them, and to pray more abundantly to the Lord for them, because you know that they run unto vanity, and lying follies, neglecting that place to which they are called. dQui si forte in ipso Circo aliqua ex causa expavescant, continuò se signant, & stant illic portantes in fronte, unde abscederent si hoc portarent in corde. Omnis enim qui ad aliquod opus malum currit, si fortè pedem impegerit, signat os suum, & n…scit quod includit potius Daemonem quam excludit. Tunc enim bene se signaret, & Diabolum de corde suo repelleret, si se ab illo opere nefario revocaret. Vnde iterum atque iterum rogo vos fratres charissimi, ut pro eis totis viribus supplicetis… quatenus ad ista damnanda intellectum accipere mereantur, & affectum ad fugienda, & misericordiam ad agnoscendum. Ibidem.These if they chance to be affrighted in the Play-house by any sudden accident, (I would our Popish Stage-haunters, who thinke to scare away the Devill from them by their crossings, would well consider it,) doe presently crosse themselves, and they stand there carrying that in their foreheds, from whence they would depart if they carried it in their hearts. For every one who runnes to any evill worke, if he chance but to stumble, doth forth-with crosse his face, and knoweth not, that he doth rather include, then exclude the Devill. For then should he crosse himselfe well, and repell the Devill out of his heart, if he recalled himsefe from that wicked worke. Wherefore I intreat you, deare Brethren, agai…e and againe, that you would supplicate for them with all your might, that so they may receive understanding to condemne these damnable things; desire, to avoyd them; mercy, to acknowledge them. eLoquemur tamen & ad illos, quos frequentèr ab Ecclesiae conventu spectacula voluptuosa subducant. Rogo vos fratres charissimi, ut quotiescunque eos tale aliquid facere videritis, ad vicem nostram severissime castigetis. Sit ad eos vox nostra, memoria vestra: corrigite arguendo, consolamini alloquendo, exemplum praebete vivendo. Aderit illis qui affuit vobis. Ibid.We may likewise speake unto those whom voluptuous Stage-playes oft-times draw from the assemblies of the Church. Notwithstanding I intreat you, deare Brethren, that as often as you shall see them to doe any such thing, you would in our stead most severely correct them: Let them heare our voyce, your remembrance: correct them by reproving them, comfort them by conferring with them, give them an ensample by living well: Then he will be present with them, who hath beene present with you. Thus Saint Augustine, by whose words you may easily discover, not onelyonly the truth of our present Assumption: but likewise the sinfulnesse, the unlawfulnesse of Playes themselves, fAmbae tu…pes, ambae que damnabiles. Illa enim de Dijs turpia fingenda seminat, haec favendo metit. Illa mendacia spargit, haec colligit. Facinora & flagitia numinū illa cantat, haec amat. Illa prodit aut fingit; haec autem attestatur veris, aut oble statur & falsis. August. De Civit. Dei. l. 6. c. 6.as also of acting, hearing, seeing and frequenting Stage-playes: Which hee likewise seconds in some other passages: as namely in his 2. Booke, De Moribus Manichaeorum, where hee writes thus against them. gPostremò in Theatris electos & aetate, & ut videbantur, moribus graves, cum sene presbytero saepissimè invenimus. Omitto invenes, quos etiam rixantes pro scenicis & aurigis depraehendere solebamus; quae rès mediocri argumento est, quo modo se possint continere ab occultis, cum eam cupiditat…m superare non possint, quae illos auditorum suorum oculis sustentat, & prodit erubescentes, at que fugitantes. Ibid. cap. 19. Tom. 1. p. 1129.Finally, we have oft-times found in Theaters divers of their choyce men, who were grave both in age, and as they seemed, even in manners too, with an old Presbyter. I omit yong men whom we were likewise wont to finde brawling for Stage-players and Wagoners: which thing is no small argument after what manner they can containe themselves from secret adulteries, and villanies, since they cannot overcome that lust, which may uphold them in the eyes of their Auditors, and makes them even to blush and runne away for shame. In his Booke, De Catechizandis Rudibus. cap. 16. Hee informes us: hSunt etiam homines qui nec divites esse quaerunt, nec ad vanas honorum pompas ambiunt pervenire, sed gaudere & requiescere volunt in popinis, & in fornicationibus & in Theatris at que spectaculis nugacitatis, quae in magnis civitatibus gratis habentur. Sed sic etiam ipsi aut consumunt per luxuriam paupertatem suam, & ab egestate posteâ in furta & effracturas & aliquando etiā in latrocinia prosiliunt, & subitò multis & magnis timoribus implentur: & qui in popina paul… antè cātabant, iàm planctus carceris somniant. Studiis autem spectaculorum fiunt Daemonibus similes, &c. Ibidem Tom. 4. pag. 340.That there are certaine men who seeke not to be rich, nor yet to aspire to the vaine pompes of honors, but desire onelyonly to be merry and to rest quietly in Ale-houses, in Brothel-houses, in Theaters, and in the spectacles of vanity, which are had gratis in great Citties. But these through their luxury consume their meane estate, and from poverty they fall to Burglaries, Thefts, and Robberies, and are suddenly filled with many and great feares: and these who a little before did sing in an Ale-house, now dreame of the mourning of a prison. But by the study and sight of Stage-playes they are made like to Devils, &c. To passe by his sundry notable passages against Players and Stage-playes, in his 1.2, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8. Bookes, De Civitate Dei, which I shall touch upon in some other Scenes: in his 17. Sermon… De Verbis Apostoli. Tom. 10. pag. 442. he writes. That of those things which delight the sences of the body, some are lawfull; others unlawfull. iDelectant enim ut dixi, oculos & spectacula ista magna naturae, sed delectant etiam & oculos spectacula Theatrorum. Haec licita, illa illicita. Psalmus sacer suaviter cantatus delectat auditum, sed delectant auditum etiam cantica histrionum. Hoc licitè, illud illicitè. Ibidem.For these great spectacles of nature, as I have said, delight the eyes; and the spectacles of Play-houses delight the eyes likewise: these are lawfull, those unlawfull. An holy Psalme sung sweetly delights the hearing, and so doe the songs of Stage-players delight the hearing too: This lawfully, the other unlawfully. So that if this Father may be Iudge: the very seeing and hearing of Stage-playes is unlawfull. Heare him but once more for all: De Symbolo ad Catechumenos. lib. 2. cap. 1.2. Tom. 9. pars 1. pag. 1393.1394, 1395. There are two sorts of Weapons with which the Devill fights against mens soules; pleasures, and feare. kPlures tamen noveritis dilectissimi capere adversarium per voluptatem, quàm pe… …morem. Nam quare quotidie muscipulam spectaculorum, insaniam studiorum ac turpium voluptatum proponit, nisi ut his delectationibus capiat, quos amiserat, ac laetetur denuo se invenisse quod perdiderat? Quid nobis opus est ire per multa? Breviter admonendi estis quid spernere & quid diligere debeatis. Fugi…e dilectissimi spectacula, fugite caveas turpissimas Diaboli, ne vos vincula teneant maligni. Sed si oblectandus est animus & spectare delectat, exhibet nobis sancta mater Ecclesia veneranda, haec salubria spectacula, quae & mentes vestras oblectent sua delectatione, & in vobis non corrumpant sed custodiant fidem, &c. Ibidem.Yet beloved, you must know, that the Devill takes more by pleasures, then by feare. For why doth he daily set the Mouse-trap of Stage-playes, the madnesse of filthy studies and pleasures, but that he might take those whom he hath lost with these delights, and reioyce that he hath found that againe which he had lost? What need we runne thorow many things? You are breefly to be admonished, what you ought to reiect, and what to love. Flie Stage-playes, my best beloved, …lie (Play-houses) the most filthy Dens of the Devill, lest the Chaines of that wicked one hold you captive. But if the minde be to be exhilerated, and delights to behold, the holy Mother the Church will exhibit you those venerable and wholesome spectacles, which will delight your mindes with their pleasure, and will not corrupt… but keepe faith in you. Is any of you a lover of the Cirque? What doth …e delight in in the Circus? To see the Coachmen striving, the people breathing out frantique furies, every swift one going before breaking the horse of his Adversary. This is all the pleasure to shout, because he hath overcome whom the Devill hath overcome: to reioyce and insult, that the adverse part hath lost an horse, when as he who is delighted with such a spectacle, hath already lost his soule. See on the other side our holy, h…lesome, and most sweet spectacles. Behold in the Booke of the lActs 3.Acts of the Apostles, a lame man never walking from his birth, whom Peter hath made running: see one suddenly whole, whom before thou didest behold infirme: and if there be any soundnesse of minde in thee, if the reason of equity, and the pleasure of salvation shine forth in thee; see what thou oughtest to behold, consider where thou oughtest to shout: there, where sound horses are broken in pieces, or here where bruised men are made whole? But if that pompe; that coulor of the horses, that composition of the Chariots, those ornaments of the Coachman standing above governing the horses, and desiring to overcome; if this pompe, as I have said, delight thee; neither hath he denied this to thee, who hath commanded thee, to renounce the pompes of the Devill: we also have our spirituall Horseman the holy Prophet Elijas, who m2 Kings 2.being set upon a fiery Chariot, hath runne so much, that he hath taken the very limits, (or won the goale) of Heaven. And if thou desirest to see the adversaries, which even true vertue hath overcome… and whom he by …ring hath …ut-gon…, and from whose victory he hath received the reward of supernall greatnesse; he hath cast the nExod. 15.Chariots of Pharoh and al… his strength into the Sea: oAlius fortas…is Theatri amat…r admonē dus sit, quid fugiat, & quo delectetur, ac sic voluptatem spectandi non perdat sed mutet. …n Theatris labes morum, discere turpi…, audi…e inhonesta… videre perniciosa. Sed adiuvāte domino …a fortiter repel…amus, singula singu…is comparemus. Illic intuentur spectatores… propositū nescio quem …o… fictum de…m Iovem, & …dulterantem & ton…tem: … respi…ie n… …erum Deu… Christum, c…stitatem docentem, immundiciam destruentem, salubria praedicantem. Illi… fingitu… quod idem Iovis …unonem habeat sororem & conjugem: hi… praedicamus s…nctam Mariam … simul ac Virginem: Illic stupor ingeritur visui, ex usu hominem in fune ambulantem: hic magnum mirac…lum, Petrum mare pedibus transeuntem. Illic per inimicam (mim…can) turpitudinem castitas vio…atur: hic per castam S…san…am castumque Ioseph libido …omprimitur, mors contemnitur, Deus amatur, castitas exaltatur. Chorus illic & cantio Pantomimi illicit auditum, sed expugnat sa…um affectum: & quid tale nostro cantico comparandum sit, in quo di…it qui ama… & canta…, Narraverunt mihi peccatores delectationes suas, sed non ita ut …ex t…a domine, Omnia mand…ta tua veritas? Nam illic universa fingit vanitas, &c. Ibidem.Another, perchance a lover of the Theater, is to be admonished, what he must avoyd… and with what he may be delighted, and so may not lose the desire of beholding, but change it. In Play-house… there is a contagion of manners, where people use to learne filthy things, to heare dishonest things, to s…e pernicious things? But the Lord assisting we may strongly repell these things out of our hearts, if we compare one thing with another. There the Spectators behold I know not what propounded counterfeit god Iove, both committing adultery, and thundring: here, we may againe behold the true God Christ, teaching chastity, destroying …ilthinesse, preaching holesome things. There, it is feined, that the same Iove may have Iuno both for his sister and wi…e: here, we preach holy Mary a Virgin and a Mother together. There, amazement is strucke into the sight, that a man through use should walke upon a rope: here, a great miracle, Peter passing over the Sea on his feet. There, chastity is violated throu…h mimicall fil…hinesse; here by chaste Susanna, and chaste Ioseph, lust is suppressed, death dispised, God loved… chastity exalted. There the quier and singing of the Stage-player allureth the hearing, but conquereth the wholesome affection: and what such thing may be compared to our song, in which he who loveth and singeth, saith, pPsal. 119.Sinners have rela…ed unto me their delights, but not so as thy Law O Lord… all thy Commandements are truth? For there vanity feineth all things. Doth any one perchance admire the skill of Climebers or Vaulters, to see little Children playing in th… ayre, expressing divers Histories? but looke upon the playes of our Infants; In the qGen. 25.wombe of Rebecca two Infaunts s…rive, the elder comming forth, the …oote of the other is seised upon by the hand of the yonger thrust forth of the wombe. rIn quorū cer…amine m…gn… sacr…menti …igura monstr…t… …st, ut minor suppl…ntaret majorem, esq postmodū prima…ū at que benedictionē …uferret. In quibꝰ parvu…is quasi ludentibus & sacramentū u… dixi, magnum exhibentibus, & reprobi in Esau demonstrantur Iudaei, & praedestinati in Iacob app… rent Christiani. Ille enim Iacob unus paruulus sic garr…ens, mul…os in se praedestina…os etiam parvulos de…ē strabat Infantes; qui ex …tero m…tris sus…ipiuntur manibus fidelium; n… eos sic excutiunt, ut in aëre pende…nt, sed u… renat… in caelo vivan… His igitur oblectamentis mens delect…tur, pas…atur anima Christiana… han… so…rietatem retinens mentis, fugiat ebri…tatem Diaboli, &c. Ibidem.In whose combate the figure of a great mystery is declared, that the …onger should supplant the elder, and should afterwards take away the birth-right and blessing from him. In which little ones as it were playing, and exhibiting a great sacrament, as I have said, both the repr…bate Iewes are demonstrated in Esau, and the predestinated Christians appeare in Iacob. For that Iacob one little one so pratling, did also manifest, that many little Infants likewise were predestinated in himselfe; who are rece…ved out of the Mothers wombe, with the hands of the faithfull; neither doe they so shake them off, that they may hang in the ayre, but that being regenerated they may live in Heaven. The minde therefore may be recreated, and the Christian soule fed with these delights, and keeping this sobriety, it may avoyd the drunk…nnesse of the Devill. Neither may the combates of the amphitheater seduce or draw any Christians to them, unto which verily men runne so much the more greedily, by how much the more slowly they are exhibited. But even there what not dangerous, what not bloody thing is not iniected into mens eyes? where, as most blessed S. Cyp…ian saith, a noxious will cond…mnes men to wilde beasts, without an offence. sDe Spectaculis. lib. & Epist. lib. …. Epist. 2. Donato.Therefore my beloved, that cruell spectacle may not invite you to behold two Hunters contending with nine …ea…es, but let it delight you to see our one Daniel by prayer overcomming seven Lyons. tDaniel. 6.Distinguish combates spirituall lover; see two guilty in will, looke upon one innocent, and full of …aith: behold th…se for an earthly reward to have offred their soules to beasts; behold this man crying in prayer, uPsal. 74.Deliver not to beasts the soules that confesse to thee. In that spectacle, he who sets it forth is sorrowfull if the Hunter escape without harme who hath slaine him many wilde beasts; but in this our combate, there is a fight without Iron, neither is Daniel hurt, nor the wilde beast slaine, and yet he is so overcome, that the King wonders and is changed, and the people feare, and the enemies dispaire. O admirable spectacle of ours, truely admirable! in which God assists, faith impetrates strength, innocency fights, holinesse overcome…, and such a reward is obteined, that both thou and he who shall overcome may receive it, and he who shall give it loseth nothing. Desire these spirituall gifts, come together cheerefully to the Church to behold these things, and to waite for them with all security: recall the purpose of your heart from all carnall lust, commit all your care to be governed by God, that the adversary may feare, finding nothing of his owne in you; and you reiecting him and renouncing his Pompes, after that your liberty shall be rescued from his snares and waylayings, lest that wicked one should finde you empty, whom we have knowne desirous to hold those fast who are not his owne; believe faithfully in God the Father Almighty, &c. By which excellent passage of this iudicious Father, (parallel to which he hath another of the same nature, in his xTom. 8. pars 1. p. 416.417, 418.E…arration on the 39. Psalme, where hee seriously bewailes the vanity and madnesse of those who delight in Stage-playes and such like Spectacles, yQuem itaque compraehendā istorū insanorū? Bonus Deus omnia potest. Oremus pro ipsis fratres charissimi, inde crescit numerus sanctorum, de numero qui erat impiorum. Ibidem.desiring all Christians to pitty their condition and to pray earnestly to God for their conversion, that so they might see the vanity, and sinfulnesse of this world, and zQuid ergo facimus fratres? Demissuri eum sumus? sine spectaculo morietur, non subsistet, non vos sequetur. Quid ergo faciemus? demus pro spectaculis spectacula. Et quae spectacula datuti sumus Christiano homini quem volumus ab illis spectaculis revocare, &c? vid. Ibidem.behold the excellency of these many heavenly Spectacles which he there musters up at large, on which Christiās should fix their eyes and hearts;) it is most apparent, that Stage-playes in his iudgement, are very dangerous, obscene, pernicious Spectacles, aSee Augustin. De Civitate Dei. lib. 2. cap. 5.9, 22, 26, 27. lib. 4. cap. 10.26, 27, 28. lib. 6. cap. 1.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 21, 24, 26, 27, 33. lib. 8. cap. 14.18, 20, 21, 26, 27. where hee lively sets out the obscenity of Stage-playes.invented by the Devill to conquer and en…rap mens soules; and that no Christians ought for to behold them, since they have so many other heavenly Spectacles to contemplate. Which me thinkes should cause all Christians to renounce them. Not to remember Nilus an ancient Abbot, about the yeere of our Lord 410. who informes us. bOratio. …. de Luxuria. Bibl. Patrum. Tom. 5. pars 2. pag. 969. G.That he who is conversant in a multitude (especially at Stage-playes) is affected with daily wounds; for the countenance of women is a Dart anoynted with poyson, which wounds the soule and sends in venome, and by how much the longer it continueth by so much the more the wound doth putrifie. cQui vitare cupit …jusmodi vulnera is a publicis Spectaculis ab…inebit, Ne que in celebritatibus versabitur: Satius est enim, ut domi maneas, qu…m dum putas te celebritates venerari in manus inimicorum incidere. Ibid.He w…o desires to avoyd these wounds (pray marke it well) will absteine from publike Playes and Spectacles, neither will he be conversant in such Assemblies. For it i… better that thou abide at home, then that thou fall into the hands of the enemy, whiles thou thinkest to honor such Solemnities. Which comes punctuall to our purpose. Nor yet to mention, either Primasius in Romanos. cap. 10. fol. 53. Or Remigius, Explanatio in Galat. 5.19. Or Mac…rius AEgytius, Homil. 27. pag. 212. Or Isiodor Hispalensis. Originum. lib. 18. cap. 27.42. to 69. & De Ecclesiasticis Officijs. lib. 2. cap. 2. Or Haymo & Anselme. Exeg…sis in Ephe…ios 5.3. who ranke Players with Whores, and couple Play-houses, and Brothel-houses together: (whose words I shall at large recite in the ensuing Scene.) Which proves, that Playes, and Play-houses in their opinion are but Panders to mens lusts, yea, the beaten rodes to *Fornicentur in Spectaculis, &c. A…selme. In Phil. 4. Tom. 2. pag. 306. A.whoredome, adultery, and unchafte desires. Nor yet to remember Prosper his verdict, who stiles Stage-playes, fMimicae turpitudines. De Gloria Sanctor… Peroratio. fol. 73.mimicall uncleanesses; not onelyonly in regard of their matter, or manner of action, but likewise of their lewde unchaste effects: Or Damascen, or Eusebius; who call the Stage, gIgnorantes, orch…stram impudicis spectaculis affluentem, communem ac publicam libidinis scholam ijs esse; Meretricias que ibidem cantiones nihil aliud affer…e, quam ut omnibus turpiter se gerere & obscaenè persuadeant. Damascen. Paralellorum. lib. 3. cap. 47. See Eusebius Ibidem. & Ecclesiast. Histor… lib. 8. cap. 24.the publike Schoole of lust; and Playes the instruments which perswade men to nothing else, but lewde behaviour, &c. a pregnant testimony for our present purpose. Not to record S. Bernard; who calls hNon est hic ludus pu…rilis, non e…t de theatro qui faemineis faedis que anfractibus provocet libidinē; actus sordidos rep…aesētet, &c. Epistola. 87. Co… 1477. A.Stage-playes, childish sports, provoking lusts with their feminine and filthy turnings, and representing sordid actions: a punctuall evidence for us: Or Cassiodorus; who stiles Stage-playes, iSpectaculum …xp…llans grav…ssimos mores, …vacuator honestatis, &c. Variarum. lib. 3. ca…. 51.the expellers of gravity; the exhausters of honesty, &c. Nor yet to register our own learned Country-man Iohn Saresbury, flourishing about the yeere of our Lord… 1140. who informes us; That kFomenta viti…rum, tyrocinia vanitatis, Spe…tacula. De Nugis Curialiū. l. 1. c 8. Bibl. Patrum. Tom. 15. pag. 348.Stage-playes are …he fomentations of vices, the apprentiships of vanity. lHinc mimi & tota ioculatorū scena procedit. Quorum adeò error invaluit, ut … praeclaris domibus non arceantur etiam illi qui obscaenis partibus corporis, oculis omnium eam ingerunt turpitudinē, quod erubescat videre vel Cynicus. Quod que magis mirere, nec tunc ei…ciuntur, quando tumultuantes inferius crebro …onitu aërē faedant, & turpiter inclusum, turpius produnt. IbidemThat Stage-players, (whose error had then so prevayled, that they could not be expelled great m…ns houses) did with their obscene actions, infuse such filthinesse into the eyes of all men, as the Cynicke himselfe might blush to see. And that which was more wonderfull, neither were they then cast out, when as the people making a tumult below, defiled the ayre with their frequent noyse, which being filthily shut in, they more filthily uttered. After which he breakes out into these passages. mNunquid tibi videtur sapiens qui oculos, vel aures istis expandit? Iocundum quidem est, & ab honesto non recedit, virum probum quandoque modesta hilaritate mulceri: sed ignominiosum est, gravitatem hujuscemodi lascivia frequenter resolvi. Ab istis quoque spectaculis, & maximè ab obscaenis, honesti viri arcendus est oculus, ne incontinentia ejus, mentis quoque impudicitiam fateatur. Ibidem.Can he seeme to thee to be a wise man, who opens either his eyes, or eares to these things? It is verily a pleasant thing, and not dishonest, for an honest man to be sometimes delighted with honest modest myrth; but it is an ignominious thing, for gravity to be often recreated with such wantonnesse. From these Spectacles therefore, but especially from obscene ones, the eye of an honest man is to be kept backe, lest the incontinency of it, bewray likewise the uncleanes of his minde. nEgregiè siquidem Sophoclem Praetorem Collega Parides arguens, ait: Decet Praetorem Sophoclem, non modò manus, sed & oculos habere continentes. Averte, inquit, homo, cui de regni maiestate multa licebant, oculos meos, ne videant vanitatem: sciens utique verum esse quod alius ingemescit: quia oculus meus depraedatus est animam meam. Ibidem.Parides the Colleage of Sophocles the Pretor reproving him, saith very excellently; (I would to God all Nobles and Magistrates would remember it) It becomes Pretor Sophocles, not onelyonly to have chaste hands, but eyes. Yea, a man, to whom much might be lawfull in regard of the great Maiesty of his Kingdome, saith; *Psal. 119.37.Turne away mine eyes lest they behold vanity; knowing that to be true which another lamenteth: because mine eye hath preyed upon my soule. To passe by (I say) these ancient Writers which are punctuall; I shall onelyonly remember two Fathers more with whom I will conclude. The first of them, is Golden-tongued Saint Chrysostome, who writes thus of oIn theatro, malae cupiditatis inductio, adulterij meditatio, fornicationis gymnasiū, turpitudinis exhortatio, inhonestatis exempla; verba multae fatuita…is ac stulti…iae plena, &c. Ho…il 42. in Acta. Tom. 3. Col. 611. Hom. 62. ad Populum Antioch. Tom. 5. Col. 347, &c. See Homil. 3. De Davide & Sa… de. Homil. in Psal. 140. Homil. 6.7 & 38. in Matth. & Homil. 13. in 1 Corinth 4. accordingly.Stage-playes: that they are the introduction of sinfull lust; the Meditation of Adultery; the Schoole of Fornication; the Exhortation of Vncleanesse; the Examples of Dishonesty; the Incendiarus of men… lustfull Affections; the polluters of their eyes, their eares, their soules: yea the very originall causes of much actuall whoredome, filthinesse, and adultery; as I shall more largely prove in the *See Scene 4.ensuing Scene out of his owne Records, which I shall there recite at large. The second, is vice-rebuking Salvian, Bishop of Massilia, who thus discyphers Stage-playes: pDe solis circorum ac Theatrorum impuritatibus dico. Talia sunt quae illic fiunt, ut ea non solum dicere, sed etiam recordari aliquis sine pollu…ione non possit. Alia quippe crimina singulas sibi fermè in nobis vendicant portiones; ut cogitationes sordidae, animum; ut impudici aspectus, oculos; ut auditus improbi, aures; ut cum ex his unum aliquod erraverit, reliqu… possint carere pec…atis. In Theatris verò nihil horum reatu vacat; quia & concupiscentijs animus, & auditu aures, & aspectu oculi polluuntur. Quae quidem omnia tam flagi…osa sunt, ut etiam explicare ea quispiam atque eloqui salvo pudore non valeat. De Gub…rnati…ne Dei. lib. 6. pag. 185.186.Such things are committed at Playes and Theaters, as cannot be thought upon, much lesse uttered without sinne. For other vices challenge their severall portions within us: as filthy cogitations, the minde; unchaste aspects, the eyes: wicked speeches, the eares; so that when one of these doth offend, the other may be without fault. But at Theaters, not one of these but sinneth: for b…th the minde with lust; and the eyes with shewes, and the eares with hearing are there polluted: all which are so bad, that no man can well report or declare them with honesty. qQuis enim integro verecundiae statu dicere queat illas rerum turpium imitationes, illas vocū ac verborum obscenitates, illas motuum turpitudines, illas gestuum faeditates? quae quāti criminis sint… vel hinc intelligi potest, quod & relationem sui interdicunt. Non-nulla quippe etiam maxima s…elera incolumi honestate referētis & nominari & arg…i possunt, ut homicidiū, latrocinium, adulterium, sacrilegium, caeteraque in hunc modū. Solae impuritates theatrorū sunt, quae honestè non possunt vel accusari: ita nova in coarguenda harum turpitudinū probrositate res evenit arguenti; ut cum abs que dubio honestus sit qui ea accusare velit, honestate tamen integra ea loqui & accusare non possit. Ibid.For who without passing the bounds of modesty, can utter those imitations of dishonest things; those filthy spectacles, those lewde motions; those obscene gestures that are used there? the extraordinary sinfulnesse of which may be gathered even from this, that it is unlawfull for to name them. For s…me sinnes, though most hainous, may well and honestly both be named, and blamed too; as murther, theft, adultery, sacriledge, and such like: onelyonly the impurities of Theaters are such, as may not honestly be, no not so much as blamed. Such new matter ariseth against the reprover in finding fault with their most horrible filthinesse; that albeit he be a most perfect honest man that would speake against it, yet can he not so doe, and keepe his honesty rAlia quo que omnia mala agentes poll…t, non vidētes, vel audientes. Siqnidem etsi blasphemū quempiā audias, sachrilegio non pollueris, quia mente dissentis. Et si intervenias latrocinio, nō inquinari… actu, qui abhorris animo. Solae spectaculorū impuritates sunt, quae unū admodū faciunt, & agentiū, & spectantiū crimē. Nam cū spectantes haec comprobant & libentèr vident, omnes ea visu at que assensu agunt, ut verè in eos Apostolicū illud peculiariter caedat: quia digni sunt morte non solum qui faciunt …a, sed etiam qui consentiunt facientibus. Ibid.Againe, all other evils pollute the doers onelyonly, not the beholders or the hearers: for a man may heare a blasphemer and not be partaker of his sacriledge, in as much as be dissenteth from him in minde. And if one come while a robbery is doing, he is not actually guilty of it, because he abhors the fact. OnelyOnly the filthinesse of Playes and Spectacles is such, as makes the Actors and Spectators guilty alike. For whiles they gladly looke on, and so approve them by beholding them, they all become Actors of them by sight and assent: so as that of the Apostle may be properly applyed to them. How that not onelyonly those who commit such things, are worthy of death, but they also who favor those that doe them. sIta que in illis imaginibus fornicationum omnis omnino plebs animo fornicatur. Et qui fortè ad spectaculum puri venerant, de theatro adulteri revertuntur. Non enim tunc tantūmodo quando redeunt, sed etiam quando veniunt, fornicantur. Nam hoc ipso quod aliquis rem obscaenam cupit dum ad immunda properat, immundus est, &c. Ibid. p. 187.So that in these representations of whoredome, all the people, doe altogether in minde play the Harlots. And such as happily come chaste to Stage-playes, returne adulterers from the Theater: For they play the fornicators not then onelyonly when they goe away, but also when they come to Playes. For as soone as one lusteth after a filthy thing, whiles he hasteneth to that which is uncleane, he becommeth uncleane. And so hee proceeds. It is therefore abundantly evident by the concurrent punctuall testimonies of these 30. Fathers, whose words I have here transcribed; to whom I might have added, tConstit. Apostol. l. 2. c. 65.66. l. 3. c. 38.Clemens Romanus, uContra Haereses. l. 1. c. 1. p. 23. l. 2. c. 19. p. 155.Irenaeus, xContra Haereses. Tom. 3. lib. 2. Compendiaria & vera Doctrina de fide Catholicae & Apostolicae Ecclesiae. Col. 922. E.Epiphanius, yDe Agricultura. lib. p. 271. De Vita Mosis. p. 932. De Vita Contempl. pag. 1209.1210.Philo Iudaeus, zIn Hesaiam. l. 1. c. 3. Tom. 1. pag. 134. in Iohannis Evangelium. lib. 8. cap. 5. pag. 595.Cyrillus Alexandri…us, *De Activa virtute lib. 12. Tom. 2. pag. 4…8. D.E. De Martyribus. lib. 8. pag. 390. E.F.Theodoret, bIn Lucae Evangelium. cap. 7. lib. 2. Tom. 5. Col. 300.Beda, cDe Ceremonijs Baptismi. Col. 1158.Alchuvinus, dPro Christianis Legatio. Bibl. Patrum. Tom. 2. pag. 138.139.Anexagoras, eIn Ecclesiasten Enarratio. cap. 4. Bibl. Patrum. Tom. 11. pag. 405. E.Olympiodorus, fHistoriae. lib. 3. cap. 4.Orosius, gDe Errore Profanarum Religionum. cap. 13. Bibl. Patrum. Tom. 4. pag. 111 112.Iulius Firmicus, hDistinctio. 33.48. & 86. & Causa. 4. Quaest. 1.Grattan, with *Sancti A…terij Homilia. Bibl. Patrum. Tom. 4. pag. 706. See Act 7. Scene 4.others, whom I shall quote hereafter in their more proper Scenes; That Stage-playes pollute the eyes, the eares, the mindes, both of their Actors and Spectators, by ingendring unchaste, adulterous lewde affections in their hearts, iVanus sermo citò polluit mentem, & facile agitur quod libentèr auditur. Bernard. De Interiori Dom. Tract. cap. 43.by their obscene words, and lascivious gestures. That they irritate, inflame, foment those beastly carnall lusts, which draw them on to actuall uncleanesse, to their eternall ruine: and so by necessary consequence, that they are utterly unlawfull for Christians, to act, to see, to heare, or resort to even in this regard, as they all from hence conclude. And dare any Play-patron then reject these grave Authorities, in iustifying, in frequenting Stage-playes, as innoxious, honest, chaste, or usefull recreations, after all these Fathers censures? If any Stage-frequenting… Play-adoring Christian bee so incredulous, as not to give credit to these alleaged Fathers: let him then listen to some Councels, some moderne Christian Authors; some ancient Pagans, who averre the selfesame truth, whose ioynt concurrent Authorities he cannot deny. If wee cast our eyes upon Councels; we shall finde, these severall Councels in severall Countries and ages; to wit, *The words & Canons of which Councels are here at large recited, in Act 7. Scene 3.Concilium Laodicenum. Can. 54. Eliberinum. Can. 62.67. Arelatense. 1. Can. 4.5 & 2. Can. 20. Carthaginense. 3. Can. 11. & 35. Carthaginense. 4. Can. 86. & 88. Aphricanum. Can. 27.28, 30. Agathense. Can. 39. in S…rius, but 28. in Carranza. Vene…ic…m. Can. 11. Constantinopolitanum. 6. in Trullo. Can. 24 51, 62.66. & 71. Turonense. 3. Can. 7.8. Cabilonense. 2. Can. 9. Moguntinum. Anno Dom. 813. Can. 10.14. Rhemense. Anno. 813. Can. 17. *Surius Concil. Tō. 3. p. 40.Synodus Francica sub Zacharia Papa. Anno Dom. 742. Aquisgranense Concilium. sub Ludovico Pio. Canon. 83.100, 145. Concil. Parisiense 1. Can. 28. Moguntinum sub Rabano Archiepiscopo. Can. 13. Synodus 8. Oecumenica. Can. 16. *Surius. Tom. 2. pag. 757.Capitula Graecarum Synodorum. Can. 59. Concilium Lateranense. 1. Can. 16. *Surius. Tom. 4. p. 6…. & 223.Concil. Basiliense. Sessio. 21. & Appendix …usde… Concilij. Concil. Senonense. Can. 25. Nicaenum. 2. Can. 22. Mediolanense. 1. De Mimis & Circulatoribus. cap. Concil. Carolo Magnum. Can. 5. Coloniense. Anno. 1536. pars 2. cap. 25. pars 3. cap. 26. pars 9. cap. 10. Synodus Augustensis. Can. 19. Concil. Coloniense. sub Adolpho. Anno. 1549. Can. 17. Synodus Moguntina. Anno. 1549. sub Sebastiano. cap. 61. & 75. together with kAll these are quoted by Bochellus, in his Decreta Ecclesiae Gallicanae. lib. 6. Tit. 19. cap. 11. & are not registred in the Councels at large.Concilium Lingonense. Anno. 1404. Senonense. Anno. 1524. Carnotense. Anno. 1526. Burdigense. 1582. Bituriense. 1584. Turonicum. 1583. cap. 23. Senonense. 1585. cap. 13. wee shall finde, I say, these 37. severall Councels, together with lDecreta Eusebij Papae. Anno. 309. Cap. 4. Surius Concil. Tom. 1. pag. 312. Decreta Innocentij Papae. 1. Can. 11. Ibidem. pag. 529 Reformatio Cleri Germaniae Ratisboni. Anno Dom. 1524. cap. 4. Apud Surium. Tom. 4. pag. 713. Statuta Synodalia Odonis Parisiensis. inter Communia Precepta. cap. 13. apud Carranzam. Epit. Concil. fol. 356.sundry other Canonicall Constitutions; prohibiting not onelyonly Players, under the penalty of excommunication, from acting; but even all other Christian… (especially Clergy-men) under the selfesame penalty from hearing, seeing, and frequenting Stage-playes; as for sundry other reasons, so especially for this; because Stage-playes, would contaminate their eyes, their eares, their mindes, their hearts; effeminate, yea deprave their spirits; exasperate and foment their lusts; indispose them, disable them to the religious performance of every holy duty, and usher in by their eyes, and eares, the whole troope of vices, into their soules. An irrefragable confirmation of our present Assumption. If we survey againe those moderne Christian Authors, who have written against Stage-playes, we shall finde them all concurring with us in this truth… I shall onelyonly recite some few of them, by which you may easily conjecture of the rest mDelector varijs spectaculis: Ra. Circo forsan, & Theatro: quae duo loca bonis semp…r adversa moribus fuisse notissimum; quò, quisquis malus ierit, redibit pessimus. Nam bonis iter i…lud ignotum est: qui, s…asu aliquo ig…ari adeant, contagio non carebunt. De R…med. Vtrius… Fortunae. l. 1. Dialog. 30.Cirques and Theaters (writes Francis Petrarcha) are the two places which have beene knowne to be alwayes most opposite to good manners, whether if any bad man goe; he will returne much worse: For this iourny (pray observe it) is altogether unknowne to good men; who if they ignorantly chance to goe unto them by any accident, are sure not to want defilement. nLibentèr ludos scenicos specto. Ra. Rem, quae nec honeste geritur, nec honestè cernitur; nec facile dictu, an …usor infamior, an spectator; & an s…ena tu…pior, an orchestra; nisi quod in illam saepe paupertas, in hanc verò semper vanitas tr…hit. Ibidem.Stage-playes which thou willingly beholdest, are such things, as can neither be honestly acted, nor honestly seene; neither is it easie to tell, whether the Actor or the Spectator be more infamous; or whether the Stage be more filthy then the Scaffold; unlesse it be, that poverty oft… times drawes m…n into the one… but va…ity alwayes into the other. oNeque enim patrimoniorum …actura gravior quam morum; ubi libido discitur, humanitas dedi…citur. Promde quid de spectaculis speraretis, iam inde ab exordio, primus Regum ve…trorum Romulus omen fuit, qui in his …igidam tetricam que illam Sabinarum pudicitiam circumvenit, etsi ut…un que matrimonij honor texi… injuriam. At quàm multis hoc postmodū, non ad conjugium, sed ad …tupr…m… vagam que licentiam fuit via? Ad summam enim …oc teneas velim, pudicitiam spectaculis saepè stratam, semper impulsam. Er ut sileam viros quibus id scelerum furor est, ut pene iam adulterio glorientur, multarum ibi fama perijt, pudorque: multae inde domum impudicae, plures ambiguae redi…re; ca…tior a…tem nulla… Hi spectaculorū fructus, hi sunt exitus. Ibidem.N…ither is there a greater co…sumption of Patrimonies at Stage-playes, then of manners; where lust is learned, humanity forgotten. What you might expect from Stage-playes, even from the very beginning, the first of your Kings, Romulus, may give you a guesse, who by these circumvented that riged, rough unpleasant chastity of the Sabin… Virgins; albeit the honor of matrimony, hath in some sort covered that offence. But to how many since this have Stage-playes beene the way, not to wedlocke, but to whoredome, and disorderly liberty? I will that thou remember this as the summe of all; that chastity hath beene oft-times overthrowne by Stage-playes, alwayes assaulted. And that I may not speake of men, the …ury of whose wickednesse is such, that they doe now welnigh even glory in adultery: the good name, and chastity of many women hath there perished: many have thence returned home unchaste, more ambiguous, but not one more honest: These are the events, these the fruits of Stage-playes: (And are they then desirable, or true Christian pleasures?) pQuis ferro iugulum laetus exciperit? Quis fervido vulnere plus cruoris effuderit? Quis minus conspecta morte palluerit? Quid crudelitatis ad scholam ire iuvat? Non egetis praeceptoribus; nimis dociles malorum estis. Plura per vos domi discitis, quā necesse est. Quid si tam promptis ingenijs artifices scelerū, ac magistra erro…um, plebs accesserit. Multos, quos mites natura fecerat, saevitiā spectacula docuêre. Mens hominis in vitiū pron…, non urgenda uti que sed frenenda est; si sibi linquitur, aegrè stabit; si impellitur, praeceps ruet? Ibidem.Now who would willingly stretch out his throat to receive the sword that cuts it? who will poure out more blood out of his bleeding wound? who will become lesse fearefull at the sight of death? What doth it availe you to run to the Schoole of lust and cruelty? You need no Masters; you are naturally too docible of evill things. You learne more at home by your selves, then is needfull: What will you learne if these Artificers of wickednesse, and the Mistresse of errors, the multitude, should be added to such ready wits? Many, whom nature had made meeke, and chaste, have Stage-playes taught cruelty, and incontinency. The minde of man which is naturally prone to vices is not therefore to be instigated, but brideled: if it be left to it selfe, it will hardly stand; if it be violently driven forward, it will fall downe hedlong. qMultùm mali auribus invehitur, sed multò plus oculis: illis, quasi …enestris bipatentibus, in animam mors rumpit. Nil potentius in memoriam descendit quam quod visu subit: facile audita prae…ervolant: conspectarum imagines rerum haerent etiam invitis: nec tamen nisi volentibus ingerunt, nisi, perrarò & ocyus abiturae. Quo pergis igitur? Quis te rapit impetus? ut ad horam gaudeas, und… semper doleas; ut vi…eas semel, quod vidisse millies paeniteat, &c. Ibidem.Much evill is conveyed into us by the eares, but much more by the eyes: by them, as by two open windowes doth death breake in upon the soule: Nothing more powerfully sinkes into the memory, then that which is apprehended by the eye: things that are onelyonly heard doe easily passe away; the images of the things we see sticke fast in our mindes even against our wills: yet notwithstanding, they doe not offer themselves undesired, but to such who willingly behold them, unlesse it be very seldome, and that in … transitory manner to passe soone away. Whether goest thou therefore? what impetus or gust doth violently dragge thee? that thou shouldest reioyce but for an houre, in that which thou maist chance eternally to lament: that thou shouldest run to see that once, the very sight of which thou maist a thousand times repent off. *Nescio quid hic dulce, sen non quid potius amarum, aut triste sentitis: nec ullum in vobis majas insaniae argumentū video, quā quod quotidic vos ad mortē miseris delinimentis illectos, & velut stygio sopore demersos, dulcedo amara, & delectatio inamaena praecipitat. Vna est enim vobis lex rerum fermè omnium, quicquid cupitis, quicquid molimini contra vos est. Ibidem.I know not what pleasant, or rather what not bitter, or sorrowfull thing, you perceive in Stage-playes: neither doe I discerne any other greater argument of madnesse in you, then that I see you daily allured unto death by miserable entisements, and as if you were drowned in an infernall slumber, a bitter sweetnesse, and an unpleasant pleasure, precipitates you. For there is one rule almost of all things to you; Whatever you desire, whatever you endeaver, whatever you doe, is against your selves. Thus Petrarcha, most elegantly, most divinely. To him I might adde the concurrent suffrages of Alexander Fabritius, in his Destructorium Vitiorum. pars 4. cap. 23. B. *Spectacula dulcissima sunt irritamenta omnis non tam libidinis, quam inhumanitatis. Ibid…m.Mapheus Vegius, De Educatione Liberorum. lib. 1. cap. 14. & lib. 3. cap. 7. & 12. Ludovicus Vives in Augustinum De Civitate De…. lib. 1. cap. 31.32, 33. & lib. 2. cap. 3. to 15, cap. 26.27, 28, 29. & De Causis Corrupt. Artium. lib. 2. pag. 81.83. Agippa De Vanitate Scientiarum. cap. 20.59, 64 71. Peter Martyr Locorum Communium Classis. 2. cap. 12. sect. 62.66. cap. 12. sect. 15.19. & Commentary upon Iudges p. 220 221. Master Gualther. Hom. 11 in Nahum. 3. Bodinus De Republica. lib. 6. cap. 1. Iohannes De Burgo. Pupilla Oculi. pars 10. cap. 5. V. Danaeus Ethicae Christianae. lib. 2. cap. 8. Polydor Virgil, De Invent. Rerum. lib. 5. cap. 2. Franciscus Z…phyrus. Comment in Tertislliani Apologiam. advers Gentes, P…ter De Prima…day, in his French Achademy. c. 20. pag. 205. A stexanus De Casibus. lib. 2. Titulus 5… lib. 4. Titulus …7 Artic. 4. Theodorus Balsamon in Phocij Nom… canonis. Titulus 13. cap. 21. Bochellus, Decreta Ecclesia Gallicanae. lib. 6. Titulus 19. c. 11. Ioannes Mariana, & Barnabas Brissonius, in their Bookes, De Spectaculis. together with Bul…ngerus, De Theatro. lib. 1. c. 50.51. *Quid multa? Auctore… omnes cum Sacritum pro…ni spurcitiam S…en… exagitant, nō modo quod fabulae obscenae in Scena agerentur, sed etiā quod motus gestus que essent impudici, at que adeò prostibula ipsa in S…n…m saepe venirent, & sub Scena prostarent. Vnde & obscaenū …it Vano, quod non nisi in S…ena pal…m dicitur, &c. vid. Ibidem. lib. 1. De Theatro. cap. 56. pag. 296.where he confesseth, that all Authors, both sacred and prophane, have declaimed against the filthinesse and lewdnesse of the Stage, not onelyonly because of the obscenity of their Playes, but likewise because their motions and gestures also are unchaste, in so much that the very Stewes themselves were oft-times brought upon the Stage, and prosti…uted under it. Whence Varro writes, that that is obscene which is not spoken openly but onelyonly on the Stage &c. Doctor Reinolds, in his Preface to his 6. Theses, and in his Overthrow of Stage-playes thorowout. Printed 1599. and now reprinted, 1629. Doctor Sparkes, in his R…hearsall Sermon at Pauls Crosse, Aprill 29, 1579. Master Perkins, in his Treatise of Conscience. c. 3. and on the 7. Commandement. Ma…er Stubs, in his Anatomy of Abuses pag. 101. to 107. Master Northbrooke, in his Treatise against Vaine Playes and Enterludes. pag. 57. to 77. A Booke intituled, The Church of evill Men and Women, whereof Lucifer is the head… and the members, are all dissolute Players, and Sinners. Printed by Richard Pinson in 8^o. A Treatise of Dances, printed in 8^o. 1581. wherein it is shewed, that Dances are as it were acc…ssaries, or dependants, or things annexed unto whoredome: where also by the way is proved; that Playes are ioyned and k…it together in a ranke with them. The second and third Blast of Retrait from Playes and Theaters. pag. 1.2, 3, 4, 43, 44, 53, 54, 55, 56, 89, 92, 96 98, to 103. (all pregnant places to our purpose) printed by Authority. London, 1580. Mast…r Gosson, in his Schoole of Abuse. Two Bookes, the one in…i…uled, The Myrror for Magistrates of C…ties; the other, The Counter-blast to Stage-playes, by an uncertaine Author… Iohn Field, in his Declaration of Gods Iudgement shewed at Paris Garden. Ianuary the 13. 1587. Printed by Henry Carre, 1588. I. G. in his Refutation of Haywoods Apologie for Actors. Master Thomas Beard, in his Theater of Gods Iudgements. cap. 34. Master Elton, and Master Dod, on the 7. Commandement. Bishop Ba…ly, in his Preface to the Practise of Piety. Bishop Hall, in his Epistles. Decad. 6. Epist. 6. I. P. Minister of Feversha…, in his Booke intituled, The Covenant betweene God and man. Exposition on the 7. Commandement. Doctor Layton, in his Speculum Bellisacr…. cap. 45. Master Brinsl…, in his True Watch. part 3. Abomination 19. p. 73.74. Master Iohn Downham, i… his Guide to Godlinesse. lib. 3. cap. 21. sect. 5. and in his Summe of Divinity. lib. 1. cap. 11. pag. 203. and Richard Rawledge, in his Scourging of Tiplers. pag. 2.3.4. who *See Scene 5. & Act 7. Scene 7.all with one unanimous Vote condemne all Stage-playes, as altogether abominable unto Christians, from this very reason among sundry others; that they irritate and foment mens carnall lusts: pollute their soules with adulterous affections, defile their eyes, their eares, their hearts with filthinesse; and allure, ye precipitate both their Actors and Spectators to all actuall lewdnesse, and execrable uncleanesses; being as so many Panders, Bellowes, and Firebrands to their vile luscivious desires. But passing by all these with a briefe quotation of their names and workes, to which you may resort, as being too tedious to recite at large; I shall onelyonly relate unto you what 4. other Authors of our owne have written, concerning the lewde effects of Stage-playes. The first of them is reverend Bishop Babington, who writes thus of Playes. sExposition upon the Commandements. Com. 7. In his Workes at large, p…inted at London 1622. the last part. p. 60. & 67.These prophane and wanton Stage-playes or Enterludes, what an occasion they are of adultery and uncleanesse by gesture, by speech, by convayances, by devices to attaine to so ungodly desires, the world knoweth by too much hurt, by long experience. Vanities they are if we make the best of them, and the Prophet prayeth *Psal. 119 37.to have his eyes turned away by the Lord from beholding such matter. t1 Cor. 15.Evill words corrupt good manners, & they have abundance. There is in them, ever many dangerous …ights, and u1 Thes. 5.22.we must abstaine from all appearance of evill. They corrupt the eyes with alluring gestures; the eyes, the heart; and the heart the body, till all be horrible before the Lord. Histrionicis Gestibus inquinantur omnia (saith Chrysostome.) These Players behaviour polluteth all things: And of their Playes he saith; they are the feasts of Satan, the inventions of the Devill, &c. Councels have decreed very sharpely against them, and polluted bodies by these filthy occasions have on their death-beds confessed the danger of them, lamented their owne foule and grievous faults, and left their warning for ever with us to beware of them. But I referre you to them, that upon good knowledge of the abominations of them, have written largely and well against them. *Note this well, O yee lascivious persons, who harbour Players in your private houses.If they be dangerous in the day time, more dangerous are they in the night certainely: if on a Stage, and in open Courts, much more in Chambers and private houses. For there are many roomes besides that where the Play is; and peradventure the strangenesse of the place, and lacke of light to guide them, causeth error in their way, more then good Christians should in their houses suffer. Thus this right godly Prelate of our Church, who makes Stage-playes a breach of the 7. Commandement, because they are the frequent occasions both of contemplative, and actuall fornication, and the inducements to it. The second, is one Master Stephen Gosson, (once a professed Play-poet; yea a great Patron, and admirer of Playes and Players, xIn his Anatomy of Abuses; In his Epistles prefixed to his Playes confuted in five Actions, & so thorowout these Bookes of his.as himselfe confesseth, till God had called him to repentance, and opened his eyes to see their abominablenesse:) who among other things, writeth thus of Stage-playes. yPlayes confuted. Action 5.As I have already discovered the corruption of Playes, by the corruption of their causes; the Efficient, the Matter, the Forme, the End; so will I conclude the effects, that this poyson workes among us. The Devill is not ignorant how mightily these outward Spectacles effeminate and soften the hearts of men; vice is learned with beholding; sinne is tickled, desire pricked, and those impressions of minde are secretly conveyed over to the gazers, which the Players counterfeit on the Stage. As long as we know our selves to be flesh beholding those examples in Theaters that are incident to flesh, we are taught by other mens examples how to fall. And they that come honest to a Pl…y, may …part infected. zLib. 6. cap. …0.Lactantius doub…eth, whether any corruption can be greater, th…n that which is daily bred by Playes, because th… expr…ssi…g of vice by imi…atien, brings us by …he shadow, to the substance of the same. Whereupon he affirmeth t…m necessary to be banished, les… wickednesse be learned, or with the custome of pleasure by little and little we forget God. What force th…re …s in the gestures of Players, may be gathered by the tale of Bacchus and Ariadne, which aConvivium ap…d Xenopho…is …p…ra. …ranco…urti. Graecolat. 1594. pag. 893. to 900.Xenophon reporteth to be …layed at a banquet, by a Syracusian, his Boy, and his dancing Tru…. In came the Syracusian, not unlike to the Prologue o… our Playes, discoursing the argument of the fable: then …ntred Ariadn…, gorgeously attired like a bride, and sate in the pr…sence of them all: b…ta …tiā B… cho prod…nte, tibi… numerus bacchi…us ca…e…a…ur. Xenophon. Ibi…m. pag. 900. B.after came Bacchus, dancing to the Pipe: Ariadne p…rceiving him, cAc obviam illa quidem nō process…t, n…c ad…u…ex…t, prae se sereb…t tamē quod vox conq… es…t. Ibid.though she neither rose to meet… him, nor stirred from the place to welcome him, yet she shewed by her gesture that she sate upon th…r…es. dPo…qu… verò Bacchus …a… vidisset, ha…d … liter saltans quamfieri amicissime posset, in genibus consedebat. Quum que complexus …m fuisser, osculatus est. Ea verò tametsi pudore quodam affectae similis …sser, amic… …amen illum viciffim amplecteba…ur. Ibid.When Bacchus beheld her, expressing in his dance the passions of love, he placed hims…lfe somewhat neere to her, and embraced her: she with an amorous kinde of feare and strangenesse, as though she would thr…st him away with the little finger, and pull him againe with bo…h …r hands, somewhat t…rously and doubtfully entertained him. eQuod cùm convivae cern…rent, passim plausum excitabant-partim rursus exclamabant. Quum autem Bacchus surgens Ariadnam secum er…xisset, osculantium iam & complectentiū sese gestus erat sp…ct…re. Illi quu… …ever… Bacchum formosum …sse c…rnerent, & Ariadnam formosam, eos que non per iocū, sed vere se admotis oribus osculari, omnes …rectis animis spectab…nt. Audiebant enim Bacchum interrog…ntem ips…m, num se am…r…t, at que …lla… hoc i…a con…rmantem j…r…jur…ndo ut non modo Bacchus, sed omnes …iam qui …dera…t, iur…ssent, rever… esse mutuum inter puerum & pu…ll…m amorem. Er…t c…im similes qui gestus hos non docti …ssent, sed facere cuperent id, quod iamdudū expe…vissent. Tandem quum convivae illos sese comple…os c…nerent, qu…si que ad …ubile rendentes; quotquot uxores nec dum duxerant, ductur…s se jurabant, mariti vero c…nscens…s … quis ad uxores suas avehebantur, ut …js potirentur. Xenophon. Ibidem.At this the beholders began to shout, when Bacchus rose up, tenderl… li…ting Ariadne from her seate; no small store of curtesie passing betweene them, the beholders rose up, every man stood on tiptoe, and seemed to h…ver over the prey: when they sware, the company sware: when they departed to bed, the company presently was set on fire: they that were married posted home to their wives: those that were single vowed solemnly to be wedded. (A very notable History for our present purpose, especially as Xenophon hath related it:) As the stinge of Phalangion spredeth her poyson thorow every vaine, when no hurt is seene, so amorous gesture stickes to the heart when no …kin is raced. Therefore Cupid is painted wi…h Bow and Arrowes, because it is the property of lust to wound alo…ffe, which being well weighed; fEpist. lib. 2. Epist. 2. ad Donatum.Saint Cyprian had very good cause to complaine; that Players are spots to our manners, nourishers of vice, and corrupters of all things by their gestures. The godly Father, knowing the practice of Playing to be so evill, and the inconveniences so monstrous that grew thereby; gEpist. lib. 1. Epist. 10. ad Eucra…ium.thinkes the Maiesty o God to be stained, the honor of his Church defaced, when Players are admitted to the Table of the Lord. Ne…ther was this the opinion of Saint Cyprian alone, but of the whole assembly of godly Fathers in the hConcil. Arelatense. 2. Canon 10.Councell held under Constantius the Emperour. Great then is the hardnesse of our hearts when neither Fathers, nor Councels… nor God himselfe strikes us with any shame of that, which every good man is ashamed to remember. Mine eyes throughly beheld the manner of Theaters when I wrote Playes my selfe, *Note this: & note it so as to believe it, because the Author resti…ieth it from his owne experience.and found them to be THE VERY MARKETS OF BAVVDERY; where choyce without shame hath beene as free, as it is for your money in the Royall Exchange, to take a short stocke or a long; a faling Band, or a French Ruffe. The first building of Theaters was to ravish the Sabines, and that they were continued in whoredome ever after, Ovid con…esseth in these words:

iDe Arte Amandi. lib. 1.Scilicet ex islo solennia more Theatra,

Nunc quoque formo…is insidiosa manent.

As at the first, so now; Theaters are snares to faire women. And as I …old you long agoe in my Schoole of abuses; *Quod nota.our Theaters and Play-houses in London are as full of s…cret adultery as they were in Rome. In Rome it was the fashion of wanton yong men, to place themselves as nigh as they could to the Curtesans, to present them Pome-granates, to play with their garments, and waite on them home when the sport was done. *Loe the chasti…y, …he modesty, and Christianity of Play-haunters, which they boast off. S…e the Schoole of Abuses.In the Play-houses at London, it is the fashion of Youthes to goe first into the Yard, and to carry their eye thorow every Gallery, then like unto Ravens, where they spy the Carrion thither they fly, and presse as neere to the fairest as they can. In stead of Pome-granats they give them *Now they offer them the Tobacco-pipe which was then unknowne.Pippins, they dally with their Garments to passe the time, *Nil opus est digitis per quos arcana loquaris; Nec tibi p…r nutus accipienda not… est. Proximus à domina nulla prohibente s…deto, Iunge tuum lateri, quam potes, us que latus. Hic tibi quaera…ur socij sermonis origio; Et moveant primos publica verbason…s, &c Ovid, De A…te Amand…. lib. 1.they minister talke upon all occasions, & either bring them home to their houses on small acquaintance, or slip into Tavernes when the Playes are done. He thinketh best of his painted Sheath, and taketh himself for a …olly fellow, that is noted of most to be busiest with women in all such places. This open corruption is a pricke in the eyes of them that see it, and a thorne in the sides of the godly when they heare it. This is a poyson to t…e behold…rs, and a Nursery of idlenesse to the Players. Thus far Master Goss…r, who in his Schoole of Abuse, hath much more to this purpose. The third of them is Master Iohn Brinsly, an eminent worthy Divine: who writes thus of Stage-playes. *The 3. Part of the T…e W…tch. Edit. 2. London. 1623. chap. 11. Abomination. 30. pag. 302.But to passe over these also, with all other unlawfull flockings and lewde sports upon the Sabbath, by eueryevery of which the worke of the Lord is hindred, as every one must needs acknowledge. What defence can we make for that concourse that is ordinary to those wanton Playes in such places, even upon that day? In which are the continuall sowings of all Ath…isme, and throwing the very firebra…ds of all filthy and noysome lusts into the hearts of poore simple soules the stirring up and blowing the …oales of concupiscence to kindle and increase the fire thereof, to breake out into an …ideou… fl…me untill it *Concourse to Playes, and the vilenesse of them.burne downe to Hell. Aske but your owne hearts as in the presence of the Lord, and you will need no further witnesse. And how can it be otherwise? how can you take these fireb…ands of Hell into your bosomes, and not be burnt? *The inevitable danger of frequenters of Playes.Is not every filthy speech, eueryevery whorish gesture, such a firebrand cast by Satan into the heart of every wanton beholder, as a brand cast into a bundle of Tow, or into a barrell of Gun-powder, to set all on fire of a sudden? *Such are from under Gods protection.Thy… pro…ection is gone whosoever thou art, that adventurest hither, for thou art out of thy wayes. These are not the wayes of the Lord, and much lesse upon his Sabbath, when thou shouldest be amongst his people, and doing his worke, where his Angels waite for thee, his owne presence expects thee. *They cannot think to …scape.How then shouldest thou possibly escape when tho… wilt offer thy heart naked unto these fiery darts of Satan? how canst thou thinke to be delivered from that flame in thy soule; that fire in the infernall lake, that river of brimstone that shall never be consumed nor quenc…ed, when thou wilt desperately cast thy selfe headlong into the middest thereof? how can it be but that such must needs bring fagots and firebrands to set in the Gates of our Hierusalem? The fourth of them is M. Robert Bolton, a reverend learned Minister of our Church, now living; who writes thus of Stage-playes. kA Discourse of True Happin…sse. p. 73.74.Lastly, let those examine themselves at this marke, who offer themselves to these sinfull occasions, breeders of many strange and fearefull mischi…fes, I meane prophane and obscene Playes. Pardon me, beloved, I cannot passe by these abominable Spectacles without particular indignation. For I have ever esteemed them (since I had any understanding in the wayes of God) the Grand …mpoysoners of Grace, ingenuousnesse, and all manly resolution; Greater plagues and infections to your soules, then the contagious pestilence to your bodies: The inexpiable staine and dishonor to this famous City. The noysome Wormes th…t canker and blast the generous and noble Buds of this Land: and doe by a slie and bewitching insinuation, so empoyson all Seeds of Vertue, and so weaken and emasculate all the operations of the soule, with a prophane, if not an unnaturall dissolutenesse; *Let Innes of Court Gentlemen observe this.that whereas they are planted in these worthy houses of Law, to be fitted and enabled for great and honourable actions, for the publike good, and th… continuance of the glory and happinesse of this Kingdome; they licentiously dissolve into wicked vanities and pleasures: and all hope of ever doing good either unto God, the Church, their Country, or owne soules, melteth as the Winter Ice, and floweth away as unprofi…able waters. These infamous Spectacles are condemned by all kinde of sound learning, both divine and humane. Distinctions devised for their upholding and defence, may g…ve some shallow and weake contentment to partiall, and sensuall affections, possest with preuidice: but how shall they be able to satis…ie a conscience sensible of all appearance of evill? How can they preserve the inclinablenesse of our corrupt nature from the in…ection of these SCHOOLES OF LEVVDNESSE, AND SINCK…S OF ALL SINNE, as, (to omit Divines, Councels, Fathers, Moralists, because the point is not directly incident) even a lTheatra d…finir… possimius; turpitudinis vitiorum que omnium s…n…in…m ac Sch…lam. B…din. De Repub. lib. 6. cap. 1.Politician calls them. Alas, are not our wretched corruptions raging and fiery enough, being left to themselves dispersed at their naturall liberty; but they must be united at these accursed Theaters, as in a hollow glasse, to set on fire the whole body of our naturall viciousnesse at once, and to c…rage it further with lust, fiercenesse, and effeminatenesse, beyond the compasse of nature? *Marke this O Play h…unt…rs, and th…n iudge your selves.Doth any man thinke it possible that the power of saving Grace, or the pure Spirit of God can reside in his heart, that willingly and with full consent feeds his inward concupiscence, with such variety of sinfull vanities, and lewd occasions, which the Lord himselfe hath pronounced to be, mDeut. 22.5.an abomination unto him? how can any man, that ever felt in his heart the love or feare of so dreadfull a Maiesty, as the Lord of Heaven and Earth, e… dure to be present, especially with delight and contentment, at Oathes, Blasthemies, Obscenities, and the abusing sometimes of the most precious things in the Booke of God, (whereat we should tremble) to most base and scurrill …ests? Certainely every Child of God, is of a most noble and heroicke spirit, and therefore is most impatient of he…ring any wrong, indignity, or dishonor offered to the Word, Name, or Glory of his Almighty Father, &c. Thus this grave reverend Divine; in proofe of my Assumption. If any man deeme all these or any of the fo…e-quoted Fathers and Councels over-pa…tiall, in the case of Playes, let him then attend unto some Pagan Authors, who concurre in iudgement with them. Not to recite the fore-mentioned Story of the Syracusian with his Boy and Trull, who acting Bacchus and Ariadne, (as nConvivium. pag. 900. See here ^a, ^b, ^c, ^d, ^e, in the margent.Xenophon relates it) enflamed the fleshly lusts of all the Spectators in a strange excessive measure: (a sufficient exp…riment to confirme my Minors …ruth:) Aristotle himselfe records it: oQui in Iudis & scenis his…rionum motus & actus sp…ctant, qu…mvis numeris ipsis subl…tis at que can…ibus tamen perinde ut res aguntur, ita moventur & affi…iuntur. Ar. Politic lib. 8. c 5. Numb. 21.That those who behold the motions, and actions of Players in Stage-playes, although there b… neither verse, nor singing in them, are yet notwithstanding so moved, and affected as the things are acted in them: so that if the things they act, be filthy or lascivious, the affections, the actions, the desires of the Spectators must bee such: oLaudandum igitut etiam illud, ut à rerum sordidarum & servilium, non solum auditu sed aspectu tene…lus adhuc animus avertatur. Quare Legisl…tor, u… si quid aliud; verborū certè obscaenitatē de civitate penitus exterminabit. Nam turpitèr & obscaenè loquendi licentiae, turpiter quo que & obscaenè faciendi licentia proxima est, sed imprimis à tenellis animis, ut ejusmo…i n…hil ne que dicāt, ne que audi…nt. Quod si quis eorū quae vetita fuerint, quicquā vel dicer…, v…l facer… depraehendacur, is que ingenuus, ne que dū in sod…litijs accubationis honorē meritus, afficiendus erit ignomini… & virg…s caedendus. Sin aet…sijs castigationibus major fuerit servili ignominia, servilis hujus peccati causa notandus erit. Polit. l. 7.6.17. Numb. 76.This therefore (writes he) is to be commended, that the tender mindes of Children be with-drawen, not onelyonly from the hearing, but likewise from the fight of filthy servile things. Therefore the Lawgiver, if he doth any other thing, ought verily, even utterly to banish all obscenity of speech out of the City. For the liberty of doing filthily and obscenely, is next to the liberty of speaking filthily and obscenely: therefore obscenities are especially to be exterminated from yong tender mindes, that they neither heare nor speake any such thing. But if a…y one shall be deprehended either to speake or doe any of the things prohibited, if h… be a Free-man, and so y…ng as to be liable to correction, he shall be shamed, and beaten with Rods: But if he be too old to be thus chastised, he shall be branded with s…me s…rvile disgrace for this his flavish offence. pEt quoniam ejusmodi quicquam dicere prohibemus, certè etiam spectacula & tabularū & fabularū impudicarū prohibemus. Quare Magistratibus adhibenda cura erit, ut ne que signis ne que fabulis obscaenitas ull… aut faeditas ostendatur. Nisi fortè apud illos deos, quibus etiam per leges lascivia illa con…editur, & apud quos sacra facere aetate quidē provectioribus pro se, pro liberis & conjugibus permittitur. Adolescentulos autem & Iamborum, & Comaediarum spectatores …sse lex prohibeat, priusquā aetatem attigerint, in qua & cū caeteris accubare iam licuerit & ab omnibus vel ebrietatis vel aliarū inde nascentiū rerū incōmodis disciplina liberos efficiat. Ib. Num… 77.And because we prohibit the speech of any such thing, we doe likewise verily inhibit the Spectacles both of unchaste Pictures and Fables. Therefore Magistrates must take care that no filthiness… or obscenity be shewed neither in Shewes, nor Pictures; Vnlesse it be where there are such gods (and I am sure our holy God, qHaback. 1.13.who is purer of eyes then to behold iniquity, is not such a one) to whom such lasciviousnesse is granted by the Lawes, …nd among whom those who are of riper yeeres are permitted to offer sacrifices, or to performe religious worship for themselves, their Chi…dren and Wives. But the Law must prohibite yong men to be Spectators, bo…h of Iambickes, and Come…ies, before they come to their full age, when as education or discipline shall have made them free, from all the inconveniences both of drunkennesse it selfe, and of all other th…ngs that issue from it. rNeque verò fortassis Theodorus tragaedus in hoc errabat, quod nollet quenquam vel levissimum actorem ante se agere, qu…si magis his rebus, quas primas audierint, spectatores capi & oblectari solerent. Hoc enim ipsum idem in hominum & rerum ips…rum naturā, us…m que cadit, ut pr…ma quaeque gratissima accidant. Qu…propter mala omnia à pueris amovenda sunt, sed imprimis nequitia omnis, atque l…s…ivia. Ibid…m. Num. 78.Neither verily did Theodorus the Tragedian perchance c…re in this, that he would not permit any, no not the slightest Actor, to act before him, because the Spectators are wont most commonly to be more taken and delighted with those things which they first heare. For this very thing is incident both to the nature and use of things themselves, that the first things are most acceptable and dilightfull. Wherefore all evill things are to be removed from Children, but especi…lly all lewdnesse and lasciviousnesse; which is most rife in Stage-playes. Thus Aristotle, whose words I would our Magistrates, our Parents would consider. Xenophon, in…ormes us: sIta de venereis etiam rebus ad valde iuvenes verba non facimus, ne accidente ad vehementem in eis libidinem levitate, immodicè huic libidinisuae indulgeant De Institutione Cyr… Historia. lib. 1. p. 34. D.that the Persians did never so much as speake of any amorous things to You…hs, lest levity …oyning it selfe to that vehement iust which was in them, they should immodera…ly addict thems…lves to those their lusts: intimating thereby; that amorous obscene words; (much tSee Xenophontis. Convivium. pag. 900. accordingly.more then lewde lascivious, ribaldrous Stage-playes, in which filthy speeches, verses, ditties, gestures, shewes, and actions are united) are as fire and fewell to mens lusts; as himselfe recordeth in his forementioned Story. Plato relates, uDe Republica. Di…log 2. p…. 570.581. D…log… 10. p… 6….69…. … D… Natu…a p. 7…0. L…gum. Di… log. 2 p. 80….that Comicall and Tragicall Poems and Poets, effeminate mens mindes, corrupt thei… iudgements, provoke laughter, treat of lecherous things, no… … w…ter mens sinfull lusts, which should be dried up; givi…g t…em a cōmanding power over men, when as they should be subi…ct to them: and for these and such like reasons he e…clu…s … Po…ts, and Stage-playes out of his Common-we…lth, as inchauating and bewitching mischie…es, that fo…ent and stirre u… those corruptions which every man should labour to the utmos… to avoyd. Cornelius Tacitus rankes Theaters and St…we… together: assuring us from his owne experience; xIn…e Gl…s…re … & …nf… m…, nec culla moribus cor…up…i… … pl…s libidinum cir…md…dit, qu…m ill… col…u…s… Vix ar…i…us honestis p…dor r…tine…tur, nedum inter …ertamina vic…orum, pudicitia, aut …od…s…a, …ut quic quam probi mo…is re…er…aretur. Ann…lvim. l. 14. s…ct. 2.that all kindes of w…ckednesses and infamy did issue from them in an apparant man…r; and that no …ilth did yeeld more plenty of lusts to corrupt manners, then Playes. yQuippe erant qui Cn. quo que Pomp…ium incusatū … senioribus f…rrent, quod mansu…ā The…tri sed…m po…uiss…t ubi populus d…es totos ignavia continuaret, &c. Ib. sect 3.Therefore divers of the Senators and people exclaimed against Pompie, for building Gall…ries about the Stage, wherein the people might sit the greater part of the day beholding Stage-playes, which did by little and l…tle corrupt, yea utterly abolish and s…bv…t their Country manners, inducing th…m to exercise dishonest loves, and drawing them on to commit that lewdnesse in the night, which they lust…ully beh…ld and desired in the day time. This was the fruit of Stage-playes then, which made this Author to cond…mne them, and many grave Senators to d…claime against them.zCete…ùm abolitos p…latim patrios mores fund…tos …verti per …ccitam l…sciviam, …t quod usquam corrumpi & corrumpere que…t, in urbe visatur, d…generent que st…dijs …xterni… juve…tus gymnasia, & otia, & turpes amores exercēdo, &c. Proc…r…s Romani sp…cie orationum & ca…minū, scena pollu…ntur, &c. Noct… quo que dede…ori adj…ctas, …e quid tempus pudori relinquatur… sed caetu promiscuo quod p…rditissimus q…isque per diem con…upiverit, per tenebras audeat. Ibidem. Seneca the Philosopher informes us: aTunc enim per voluptatem f…cil…us vi…ia surrepunt, &c. Epist. 7.That in Stage-playes vices d…e game a more easie passage i…to our hearts. bIn hoc mares, in hoc faeminae tripudiant. Deinde sub persona c… diù trita frons est, transitur ad gan…am; Philosophiae nulla cura est. Natural Quaest. lib. 7. cap. 32.And that those men …nd women wh… harden their for…-heads by frequenting Stage-playes, doe wholy neglect Philosophy, and passe over to the Stewes or Br…thel h…se at last; a thing he much lament…, as being the common practise of his age: Wherefore he cSubducendus est popu…o tener animus, & parum tenax recti. Facile transitur ad plures. Socrati, Catoni & Laelio excutere me…tem su…m dissimilis multitudo po…uisset: adeò nemo nostrum, qui cum maxime concinnamus ingenium …rre impetum vitiorum …am magno comitatu venientium potest. Epist. 7.adviseth Lucilius to avoyd all Playes, together w…h the ill company that frequented them; who were able to corrupt even Socrates, Cato, and Laelius themselves; much more then those o… meaner vertue; who are never able to withstand the violence of these vices (which are accompanied and backed by the mul…itud…,) even then when they doe most arme themselves against them; much lesse, when as they are not fi…ted to resist them. To passe by the 12. Epistle of Marcus Aurelius to Lam…ert, which I shall quote hereafter; even dSed …u praecipuè …urvis venare Theatris, Haec loca sunt votis faciliora tuis. Illic invenies quod ames, quod ludere possis Quod que s…mel tangas, quod que tenere v…lis, &c. Sic ruit ad c…lebres cultissima saemina Iudos, Copia iudicium saepe mora…a meum est. Sp…ctatum veniu…t, veniunt spectātur ut ipsae, Ille locus casti damna pudoris habet. Primus sollicitos fecisti Romule ludos, Cum iuvit viduos rapta Sabina vi…os. Romule militibus scisti dar… commoda solus. Haec mihi s… dederis commoda miles cro. Scilicet ex illo solennia more Theatra, Nunc quoqu… formosis insidiosa manent. D… Arte Am…ndi. lib. 1.Ovid himselfe acknowledgeth; that Stage-playes are meer… Bawdes and Pand…rs to mens lusts; that they were the causes of much wheredome, lewdnesse and adultery, even from their very first invention, to the times in which h… lived; Therefore in his Art of Loving, he advis…th all amorous, unchaste, lascivious persons to haunt Theaters, as being the places that were most suitable, most advantagious to their u…chaste desires, where they should seldome misse th…ir prey: And aft…r, in his Penetentiary Elegies, for these wanton …ookes of Love, eSee Tristium. lib. 1.2, 3, 4. De Po…to libri. Aldus Pius Ovidij Vita.for which he was exiled: …e informes Augustus; fLudi quoque semina praeb…nt Nequitiae; tolli tota Theatra jube… P…ccandi causam quam multis saepe dederunt, Martia cum durum sternit arena solum… Tollatur Circus; non tuta licentia Cir…i est. Hi… sed… ignoto iuncta puella vi…o. Cum quaedam sp…tiantur in haec, ut amator …odem Conv…nia…: quare porti…us ulla patet? Tristi…m. lib. 2. …ag. 155.that Playes are the Seminaries of lewdnesse, the causes of much sinne, much whor…dome, and adultery in many; wh…re…or… he adviseth him to demo…sh all Theaters, to abandon all Cirques, and blocke up all p…ssages to them both, as be…ng the publik… Marts where Adulterers and Adulteresses commonly met without controll, to conclude their adulterous bargaines, and make up their unchaste …e…etricious matches. gPirm…m est genus probationis, quod etiā ab ad…ersario sum…tur, ut veritas etiam ab ipsis inimicis veritatis probetur. Tertul. De Trinitate. lib. Tom. 2. p. 262.A most pregnant ratification of our present Assumption; and a passage worth the noting, because a most lascivious Poet, (who was as farre from Puritanisme or over-strict Precisenesse, as he was from Christianity) hath registred it to Posterity, as an experimentall truth: The Poet Horace hVt quo…idam Marsaeus amator Origenis illi, Qui patriā mimae donat, fund…m que larem que Nil …uit mi (inqui…) cū uxoribꝰ unquā alienis. Verum est cum mimis, e…t cum meretricibus; unde Fama mal…m g…avius, &c. Sermo. l. 1. Satyr. 2. p. 165.doth couple Whores and Stage-haunters together, as being equally adulterous, and unchaste: Moreover hee stiles Stage-playes, iAn tua demens Vilibus in …udis dictari carmina malis? Ibid. Satyr. 10. p. 195.base Playes; kQuid censes munera terrae? Ludicra quid, plausus, & amici dona Quiritis? Q. 10 spectanda modo… &c. Epist. l. 1. Ep. 6. p. 246.which men ought not to esteeme; lSpis…is indigna Theatris S…ripta pudet recitare, & nugis addere pondus. Ibid. Epist. 19. p. 274.but to account as toyes mHae nugae seria ducent in mala. De Arte Poet. p. 312.and trifles, which yet notwithstanding bring men into serious evills, and nNon satis est pulchra esse Poëmat… dulcia sunto, Et quocun que volent, animū auditoris agunto. De Arte Poëtica. p. 298.by their pleasantnesse impell the mindes of the Auditors to what-ever they please. The Poet Iuvenal tells us in plaine te…mes. oCuneis an habent spectacula totis Quod securus ames, quod que inde expetere possis? Chironomon Laedam nulli s…ltante Batillo Turcia vesicae non imperat: Appu…a gannit Sicu… in amplexu: subitum & miserabile, longū Attendit Thymel…, Thymile tunc rustica discit, &c. Hispula tragaedo Gaudet, an expectat ut Quintilianus ametur? Accipis uxorem de qua citha…aedus Echion, Aut Glaphyrus fiat pater, Ambrosius que choraules. Longa per angustos figamus pulpita viros. Nup…a Senatori comitata est hyppia ludū. Ad Pharū, … Nilum, famosa que maenia Lagi, Prodigia & mores urbes damnante Canopo, &c. Famā contēpserat olim, Cujus apud molleis nimia est jactura cathedras. Fortem animā praestant rebus quas turpiter audent. Sat. 6 p. 43 44, 45.T…at a man in his time could not picke forth one chaste woman, which he …ight safely love as his wife, out of the whole Play-hou…e: That all w…men (let such who have beautifull gadding Play-haunting Wives, and Daughters marke it,) who frequent Stage-playes, or love lascivious mixt dancing, are inco…nent, unchaste, and infamous persons, who have for…aited their good names, and beare ou… their dishonest actions with their audacious cariage. pO quantus tunc illis mentibus ardor Concubitus? quae vox saltante libidine, quan…us, …llic meri veteris per crura madent…a torrens? Lenonum ancillas posita Laufella corona Provocat, & tollit pendentis praemia copae. Ipsa Medullinae frictū cri…santis adorat. Palmā … inter dominas virtus natalibus aeqvat. Nil ibi per ludum simulabitur, omnia fient Ad verum; quibus incendi j…m …igidus aevo Laomedontiades, & Nestoris hermia possi…. Tunc prurigo morae impariens, tunc faemina …mplex. Iā …as est, admitte viros, dormitat adulter? Illa jubet su…pto iuvenem properare …ncullo: Si nihil est servis ni curritur: abstuleris spem Servorum? … niet conduc…us aquarius, &c. Ibidem. pag. 53.54, 56, 59.That they are such who burne in unchaste, in filthy lu…ts, and commit ad…ltery in …ar…est, (as they did in their solemne feasts of Priapus,) not in sport or representation onelyonly: in so …uch that they would prostitute themselves to servants, to hired Wat…r-bearers, and the very basest persons for want of others, rath…r then not satisfie their beastly raging lusts: Such were the Play-haunting females in this Poets age; and I feare that ours are but little better now, as I shall expresly prove in the next ensuing Scene.

You see then, how all the fore-recited Fathers, Councels, moderne Christian Writers, and ancient Pagan Authors give punctuall t…stimony to my Minors truth, which no one A…thor to my knowledge… whether anci…nt or moderne, Christian or Pagan, did ever yet gainsay: therefore we may resolve upon it without any further scruple; and thereupon reject, reno…nce all Stage-playes, as the defilements of mens eyes, mens eares, *Hoc maximè hominis interiora corrumpa…, quod exteriora delectat: Leo, De Ieiunio Pentecostes. Se…. 1. cap. 1. fol. 158.mens soules: the incendiaries, the fomenters of filthy lusts: the very Pand…rs… allurements, and provocations to contemplative, to actuall uncleanesse, whoredome, adultery, and the like, which bring destruction to me…s soules. And indeed, how can they choose but irritate mens lusts and draw them on to lewde unchaste affections, and meretricious filthy practises. For rAdulteriū discitur, dum videtur Cyprian. Epist. l. 2. Epist. 2. D…nato. Discit face…e, dum assu…scit videre… Idem. De Spectac…lis lib.when a man shall delightfully behold adulteries, whoredomes, incests, together with all other obscene abominations, even lively personated, emphatically expressed before his face; sVocis dulcedines per aurem animam vulnerant: quae quantò licentius adeunt, tanto difficilius evitantur. Hi…rom. Tom. 1. Epist. 12 c. 3. Corpo…e licet virgo ac mente p…rm…ne…t, oculis, …uribus, lingua minuit illa quae hab…bat. Non Decet, non licet praesen…s …sse inter verba turpia, quibus libidinum fomes accenditur, …ponsa and p…i…iam stupri, ad audaciam sponsus animatur. Cyprian. De Habitu Virginum pag. 2….When …e shall heare these beastly sinnes appla…ded, varnished and set o…t to sale with the most elegant expressions; the most rhetoricall, patheticall, flexanimous, encomiums: the most insinuating Love-compl…ments, and amorous streines of wit, of eloquence, that either the oratory of H…ll, or lust can reach to: when he shall seriously con…mplate those tN…m ubi pedum strepitus cū carminibus numerosis consentit, ibi videlicet omninò & manuū ipsarū plausus r…sonat, & omne ge…us faeditatis, & invitan…ur spectatores ad turpitudinem. Cyril. Alexandrinus. in Hesa…am. lib. 1. cap. 3. Tom. 1. pag. 134. D. Histriones libidines quas saltando exprimunt docent, & faciūt per im… ginem quae nō sunt, ut fiant sine pudore quae vera sunt. Lacta…tius Div…narum. Instit. Epit. cap. 6. See Act 3. Scene 1.lascivious gestures, dances, complements, embracements: those meretricious kisses, claspings and da… …es: those wanton smiles, those petulant nods, th…se unchaste s…gnes, those lust-irritating motions which passe betweene amorous Love-sicke Actors. When he shall heare such uSee Act 5. Scene 9.10. accordingly.scurrilous Pastorals, such ribaldrous Ditties, such inescating Love-sonnets; such effeminate, overcomming, heart-resolving Musicke, which prepare the Auditors to uncleanesse, & subiect them as so many Captives to their enraged lusts. When both xOculi, sunt in amore duces. Qui videt is peccat, qui non te viderit ergo Non cupiet, facti crimina lumen habet. Propertius Elegiarum. lib. 2. Eleg. 15. & 31.his eyes, his eares, affections, heart, and all his senses shal be wholy taken up, with such amorous, yMaximinus Iunior tantae pulchritudinis fuit ut passim amatus sit à procac…oribus saeminis, nonnullae etiam optaverunt de eo concipere. Iulij Capitolini Maximinus Iunior. pag. 267.beautifull lust-provoking obiects as are able to reviue the most mortified carnall affections; zCarpi… enim vires paulatim uritque videndo F…emina, nec nemorum pati…ur meminisse nec herbae. Virgil. Georg. lib. 3. pag. 68.to fire, the most frozen benummed lusts; to overcome the most chaste and continent heart; (all which concurre at once in Stage-playes:) how can it but ingender, not onelyonly a sparke or two, aQuum tu Lydia Telaphi cervicem roseam, cèrea Telaphi Laudas brachia, vae, m…um F…rvens difficili bile tumet i…cur. Tunc nec mens mihi nec color Certa sede maner, humor & in gen…s surtim …bitur arguens. Quam lentis penitus macerer ignibus. Vror, &c. Horace. Carm. lib. 1. Ode. 13.but an whole fl…me, an Hell of filthy lusts within his soule; and carry him on to all uncleanesse even with a full carere? We all know by wofull experience, that all men (but bNon enim adulteria & fornicationes aliunde prove…u…t quam ex nimia inventutis licentià. Chrysostom. in Matth. 18. Homil. 60. Tom. 2. Col. 430. A.especially yong men and women, who are the most assiduous Play-haunters) are exceeding prone by nature to unchaste adulterous desires, to c1 Pet. 2.11.fleshly lusts which warre against their soules: no sinnes dCastitas igitur (quia uterque sexus vitio libidinis aegrotat) nisi aliarum virtutum ope fulciatur facile labitur. Bernard… De Ordine Vitae. Col. 1120. M.so consonant to their depraved natures as these. Hence is it, eSee Bernard…. Meditationes. c. 12.14. O quoties ego ipse in er…mo consti…tus & in illa vasta soli…udin…, quae ex…sta solis ardoribus horridum Monachis p…aebeb… habitaculū, putabā me Romanis interesse delicijs. Sed…bā solus quia amaritudine replet…s e…am: h…rrebant sacco membra d…sormia & squalida cutis si… A… thiop… car…is obduxerat: quotidie lacrymae, quotidie gemitus: & si qu…ndo repugnantē somnus imminens oppressisset, nuda humo vix ossa haerentia collidebam: de cibis verò & potu taceo, cū etiam lang…e…tes Monachi aqua frigida utantur; & coctum aliquid accipisse luxu…ia sit. Ille igi…ur ego, qui ob gehennae me…um …ali me carcere ipse damnaverā scorpiorū tantū socius & ferarū, saep… cho…s intererā pu…llarum: pallebant ora jejunijs, & mens desiderijs aestuabat in frigido corpore… & …nte hominem sua iam carne praemortuū s…la libidinū incendia bullieban…. Si autem hoc sustin…nt illi qui exeso corpore, solis cogitationibus oppugnantur; quid patitur puella quae delicijs fruitur? nempe illud Apostoli: vivens mortua est. Hier…m. Epist. 22. c. 3.that those who live the m…st retired lives; who keepe the most constant watch over their owne deceitfull hearts: who most mortifie and keepe under their rebellious carnall lusts by prayer and fasting; by substracting all that …ewell, that provision which should nourish them: who abstaine from all appearance of evill; from all those lascivious lust-enflaming obiects, which might either steine their soules with unchaste desires, or defile their bodies with adulterous copulaetions, are oft-tim… vexed and assaulted; yea sometimes vanquished, and foyled … their carnall lusts: as the examples of fGen. 19.30. to 38.Lot, g2 Sam 3.2.10 18.David, hRom 7.23, 24, 25. 1 Cor. ….27. 2 Cor. 12.7.Saint Paul, kSee …Saint Hierom, and some others …estifie. And if lQui sponte corru…t, …uid saciet si impulsus? Cyprian De Spectaculis. lib.these men oft-times fall into these lustfull passions of their owne accord, even then when as they have kept watch and ward against them, by avoyding all occasions which might provoke them to them: how much more then must our common Actors and Play-haunters, who adde fire, spurres, and fewell to their enraged, unbrideled lusts in Stage-playes, be much more conquered and subdued by them. mSi vix qui longe ab hujusmodi c…ntibus & spectaculis remo…a est anima castimoniae hon…statem amplectitur, quomodo continenter vivere pote…it, qui in his vivit? Chrysost. Hom. 38. in Matth Tom. 2. Col. 29. S. A.If he who keepes the farthest distance from lascivious lust-enraging Stage-playes, can ha…dly keepe his affections, his body within the bounds of chastity; how then can they be chaste in minde, in body, who live and wallow in them with delight. Alas, how can the weak…st stand, when the strongest fall? How can the carelesse be secure, where the most vigilant are surprised? H…w can unmortified gracelesse nSatis enim ard…um era…, absque illis su…t…ationibus illū aetatem posse ferre moderatè temp…sta…em affectionum… quum autem & haec accedunt, t…m q…e videntur, quam quae aud…tur, majusque accenditur incendium, & fo…n…x concupi centiarum …is ins…am…r, quomod… nō pessum it adolescētis, anima… hinc enim omnia pereu…t & corrumpuntur. Chrys. Hom. 56. in Genes. 29. Tō. 1. Col. 367. B.Yongsters continue chaste, untainted, unpolluted, either in thought, in soule, in body, in the very middest of all the temptations, the defilements of lust-irritating polluted obiects; in the very Stewes and Brothel-house of lust; the very Schoole and Shop of Venery, Lechery, and Lewdnesse; (for oSee p. 67.68, 69so some stile the Play-house… ) when as the pTerra enim carnis nostrae nisi assiduis fuerit subacta culturis, citò de segni otio spinas tribūlos que producit, & partu degeneri dabit fructum, nō horreis inferendum. sed ignibus concremandum. Custodienda igitur nobis omnium germinum seminumque generositas, quam ex summi agricolae plantatione concepimus, & vigili solitudine providendum, ne Dei numera aliqua invidentis inimici fraude violentur, & in Paradiso virtutum concrescat sylva vitiorum. Leo De Ieiunio Pentecost. Sermo. 4. cap. 3. fol. 161.most mortified gracious Christians, who have retired themselves wholy from all carnall obiects; who have with-drawne their eyes, their eares, their thoughts from all lust-fomenting pleasures of sinne, have yet beene desteined with uncleane affections, in the very middest of holy duties in their private Closets? Since therefore the very dearest of Gods Saints, qGal. 5.16, 17. Rom. 8.12, 13, 14.who alwayes warre against their lusts, are *Vincit sanctos dira libido. Senecae Hyppolitus. Act. 3. Chorus. fol. 87.oft-times foyled, vexed, or disturbed by them, even then when as there are no externall objects to tempt them: much more then must common Actors and Play-haunters, rRom. 6.12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20. Ephes. 2.2, 3. cap. 4.18, 19. Titus. 3.3.who yeeld themselves over as slaves, as vassalls to their untamed carnall lusts, be steined, conquered, and controlled by them. And here I appeale unto the consciences of Players, of Play-haunters for proofe of this effect. Doe not your owne hearts experimentally informe you, that there are many sinfull swarmes *In omnibus seculis pauciores reperti sunt qui suas cupiditates, quam qui host…um copias vincerent. Cicero. Epist. lib. 13.and flames of lust, *Succensas agit libido mentes. Senicae Hyppolitus. Act. 2. fol. 78.many lewde unchaste affections oft kindled in your brests sSi mobilitate histrionum quispiam delectetur, per oculorum fenestras animae capta libertas est, & mors intrat per has fenestras. Hierom. advers. Iovinianum. lib. 2. cap. 7.by the very acting, sight, and hearing of lascivious Stage-playes? Doe not the wanton gestures; the amorous kisses, complements, and salutes; the meretricious songs and speeches; the lascivious whorish Actions; the beautifull faces; the ravishing Musicke, the flexanimous enticements, the witty obscenities, the rhetoricall passages, the adulterous representations, with al the other fomentations of uncleanesse in the Play-house, (tHaec sunt Diaboli ignita …acula, quae simul & vulnerant, & inflammant. Heirom. Epist. 8. ca…. 16. which are as so many fiery darts of Satan to wound our soules with lust; as so many uTurpi loquentia & facetiae fornicationis vehiculū. Theophylact. Enarrat. in Ephes. 5. See Chrysostome, Ambrose, Anselme, Primasius, Oce… menius, Ibidem. & Bishop Babington, Calvin, Perkins, Hooper, Dod, & Elton, on the 7 Commandement, accordingly.Conduict-pipes, or Chariots to usher concupiscence into our hearts, xVitijs nostris in animum per oculos via est. Oculi tota nostra luxu…ia: hi nos in omnia vitia quotidiè praecipitant; mirantur, adamant, concupiscunt. Quintilian. Declamatio. 1. & 2. Pro. Caeco. p. 6. & 23. Omnis sceleris officin… oculus est. Hic ignis, incus, mallei, & affectus velut Cyclopes: nulla corporis parte facilius pec…amus. Quid? ipsi oculi cupidines sunt, animum que torrent sauciant, cruciant. Plae…ique oculis mali mortales sumus. Put…an. Consolatio Caecitatis. p. 721. to 736. Se… Basil. De Vera Virginitate. Clem. Alexandr. Paedag. l. 2. c. 8. Greg Nyssen, De Oratione. Greg. Magnus. Rom. 5. in Evangelia accordingly.thorow the doores, the portals of our eyes and eares;) even raise a tempest of unchaste affections; yea kindle a very hell of lusts within your soules? Do not they strongly yQuid hoc est inquam aliud, quam irritare cupiditates hominum per se incitatas? Seneca Epist. 110.instigate & inrage your carn…ll mindes adding much fewell unto your lewde desires? Doe not they fraught z2 Pet. 2.13.your eyes, your eares, your hearts with filthy obiects, so that they cannot cease from sinne? Have they not ca…s…d you to looke upon Whores and Strumpets, upon b…autifull comely women with a lustfull eye, aM…th. 5.28. c. 15.19. Mark. 7.21, 22, 23. Quoti…s concupis…imus, toties fornicamur. Hi…rom, Epist. 4. c. 3.and so to commit, if not actuall, yet contemplative adultery with th…m in your hearts, either more or lesse? If you deny all this, your owne consciences, together with all the fore-recited Fathers, Councels, Christian and Pagan Authors will presently convince you of a lie. If you acknowledge it; as needs you must; since your owne consciences, with all the premises bConfessio conscientiae vox est. Sen…ca Controvers. lib. 8. Controv. 4.will force you to confesse it; you must certainely ioyne hands, ioyne hearts, and iudgements with me in censuring, in condemning Stage-playes, because they contaminate and defile both their Actors, their Spectators soules and bodies; because they thus instigate, nourish, and enflame their inseperable c1 Pet. 2.11. Hic hostis nobiscum inclusus est: Q…ocunque pergimus, nobiscum portamus inimicum. Quid ergò oleum flammae adij…imus? quid ardenti corpusculo, fomenta ignium ministramus? Hierom. Epist. 12. cap. 4.sinfull fleshly lusts which war against their soules; dRom. 8.13. Gal. 5.24. Col. 3.5.which should be mortefied, and subdued; eRom. 13.14.not fostered, not fomented, as they are.

The Players Scourge, Part 1 · Act 6 · Scene 3

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