The Players Scourge, Part 1 · Act 7 · Scene 3 · Floating text 33 – Floating text 35
mBinius Concil. Tom. 4. p. 521, 522.Quia tempore quo sacrorum Canonum decretis nuptiarum celebratio interdicitur et carnalis copula prohibetur; nonnullos laicos nubere et carnaliter commisceri, ac proinde convivia publica, strepitus, ac choreas facere; (a thing much in use among the Russians, who at their weddings spend almost the whole night in nConvivae utrius que sexus saltando et ludendo, clamando et ridendo bonam noctis obscurae partem consumūt &c. Vulgus interim ducendis choreis occupatur &c. In nuptiis et aliis solennitatibus persaepe ad manuum complosarum fragorem choreas du…unt. Guagninus Rerum Pollonicarum Tom. 2. …. 400.408.dancing, which practise the oSee here p. 22, 38, 22.Church of God hath alwayes disallowed:) et cū histrionibus ac joculatoribus solenniter celebrare, et ad Ecclesias sic incedere plerun que contingit. Nos perniciosā hujusmodi cō suetudinē divellere cupientes, sacro approbante Concilio, commixtiones hujusmodi, strepitus, choreas, joculationes &c. fieri de caetero prohibemus &c.
Ab Ecclesia &c. turpitudo quae que merito est abolenda. Quia verò quaedam tàm in Metropolitanis quā in Cathedralibus et alijs Ecclesijs nostrae provinciae consuetudo inolevit, ut videlicet in festis *Here we may see whence our disorderly Christmas keeping had its derivation.Nativitatis Domini nostri Iesu Christi, et sanctorum Stephani, Ioannis, Innocentium, alijs que certis diebus festivis, etiàm in solennitatibus Missarum novarum dum divina aguntur, ludi theatrales, larvae, monstra, spectacula, necnō quàmplurima inhonesta et diversa figmenta in Ecclesijs introducuntur, tumultuationes quo que et turpia carmina, et derisorij sermones dicuntur, adeo quod divinum officiū impediunt, et populum reddunt indevotū. Nos hanc corruptelam sacro approbante Concilio, revocantes, hujusmodi larvas, ludos, monstra, spectacula, figmenta, et tumultuationes fieri; carmina quoque turpia et sermones illicitos dici tam in Metropolitanis quā in Cathedralibus, caeteris que nostrae provinciae Ecclesijs, dum divina celebrantur, praesentiū serie omnino prohibemus: …tatuentes nihilominus ut Clerici qui praemissa ludibria, et inhonesta figmenta officijs divinis immiscuerint, aut immisceri permiserint, si in praefatis Metropolitanis seu Cathedralibus Ecclesijs beneficiati extiterint, eo ipso per mens…m por…ionibus suis mulctentur: si verò in parochialibus fuerint beneficiati, triginta; et si beneficiati non fuerint, quindecē regaliū poenam incurrant, fabricis Ecclesiarū et testi Synodali aequaliter applicandam. Per hoc tamen honestas repraesentationes et devotas quae populum ad devotionē movent, tàm in praefatis diebus, quā in alijs non intendimus prohibere.
Because in the time wherein by the Decrees of holy Canons, the solemnizing of marriages and carnall copulation are prohibited; it falls out for the most part that some lay men marrie, and use carnall copulation, and thereupon make publicke feasts, tumults, and dances; (prohibited at marriages by sundry forerecited Coū cels:) and solemnly celebrate their nuptialls with Stage-players, and so for the most part walke unto the Churches. Wee desiring to abolish this pernicious custome, the holy Councell approving it, prohibit such commixtures, tumults, dances, Playes &c. to be hereafter made &c. So that Stage-plaies, Masques, Mummeries and dances, are altogether unlawfull at Mariages, by this Councels verdict.
All filthinesse is worthily to bee abandoned from the Church. But because as well in Metropolitan as in Cathedrall and other Churches of our Diocesse there hath a custome growne, that even in the feasts of our Lord Iesus Christs Nativity, and of St. Stephen, Iohn, Innocents, and other certain holy dayes, yea in the solemnities of new Masses whiles divine things are doing, Stageplayes, mummeries, monsters, spectacles, as also very many dishonest and various fictions are brought into the Churches, as also tumults, and filthy songs, and scoffing speeches are uttered, so that they hinder divine service, and make the people undevout. Wee repealing this corruption by the approbation of this holy Councell, doe by the contents of these presents, utterly prohibit these disguised Playes, monsters, spectacles, fictions, and tumults to be made, and likewise all filthy verses and unlawfull speeches to be uttered, as well in Metropolitan as in Cathedrall and other Churches of our province, whiles divine things are celebrating: ordaining neverthelesse that Clergie men who shall intermixe the foresaid Playes and dishonest figments with divine offices, or suffer them to be intermixed, if they shall be beneficed in the said Metropolitane or Collegiate Churches, shall for this cause and this offence forfeit their pentions for a monethmonth: but if they are beneficed in Parish Churches, they shall incurre the penalty of thirty; and if they are not beneficed, of fifteene royalls, to be equally bestowed upon the fabrickes of Churches and the Chapter house. But yet by this wee intend not to prohibit honest and devout representations which stirre up the people to devotion either on the foresaid dayes or others.
Which last clause extends not to authorize any publike or private Stage-playes, either on the stage or else where, but onelyonly to those representations of our Saviours passion, or the Legends and Martyrdomes of such Saints as the Priests did use to personate in their Churches on festivall and solemne dayes: Which shewes and representations were afterwards particularly prohibited, condemned by the Councels of Millaine, Mogunce, and others, before and after recorded, though the pSee Ioannis Mo…anus Historia SS. Imaginum l. 4. c. 18 p. 424, 425. & Act. 3. Scene 5. p. 112. t… 11…. Polydor Vi…gil. De Inven…. …erum l. …. c. …. & Lud. Vives Notae in August. De Ci…i…. …il. 8. c. 27. d.Papists still retaine them, to their eternall in…amie.
The 34. is, Synodus Senonensis, Anno 1524. in which these Canons were enacted.
qBoch…llus De… cr…ta …c…l…s. Gall. l. 4. Tit. …. cap. 41, 42. p. 584, 585.Quoniam refrigescente nunc Christicolarum devotione, intelleximus ex nimia festorum multiplicatione populum ocio et vaniloquio illis diebus deditum, ebrietatibus, commessationibus ludis et lascivijs, mag…s quàm rei divinae, orationibus et contemplationibus vacare &c. Moneant itaque Ecclesiarum rectores suos parochianos, ut illis diebus easdem Ecclesias fr…quentent, orationibus insistant, Deum et Sanctos quo…um solennia aguntur, pia mente et devoto affectu venerentur et colant: verbum Domini, seu *Nota.praedicationes vigilanter et attentè audiant. Cessent his diebus, ludi, choreae, commessationes, ebrietates, vaniloquia, lasciviae, ab omni vitio abstineatur, &c. Which are no fit holyday exercises, and recreations, if this Councel erre not
rBochellus Decreta Ecclesiae Gall. l. 6. Tit. 29. c. 2. p. 1025.Non solum omnem alearum, taxillorum et sortis ludum, aut interesse dictis, interdictum Clericis esse constitutionis Concilij generalis denunciamus, prout eisdem autoritate dicti Concilij interdicimus, sed et turpes plausus, cachinnos, risus inconditos, larvales et theatrales jocos, et tripudia, et his similia ludibria, nec non omnem alium ludum per quem Ecclesiae honestas inquinari potest praedictis Clericis prohibemus. Non immisceantur caetibus ubi amatoria cantantur et turpia; ubi ob…scaeni motus corporis choreis et saltibus efferuntur: ne Clerici qui sacris mysterijs deputati sunt, turpium spectaculorum atque verborum contagione polluantur.
Because the devotion of Christians now waxing cold, we have understood through the multiplication of holydayes, that the people given to idlenesse and vaine discourse doe in these dayes addict themselves more to drunkennesse, surfetting, Playes and wantonnesse, than to divine things, prayers, and cont…mplations, &c. Ther…fore let the rectors of Churches admonish their Parishioners, that on those dayes they frequent their Churches, and be instant in prayers: that they reverence and worship God, and the Saints, whose sol…mnities are observed, with a pious minde, and devout affection: that they vigilantly and attentively heare the word of the Lord, and preaching. Let Playes, dances, surfetting, drunkennes, idle discourses, lasciviousnesse cease on these dayes, and let there be an abstinence from all vice &c.
We denounce not onelyonly all Playes of dice, tables, and lot, or to be present at them, to be inhibited Clergy men by the constitution of a generall Councell, as we forbid them by the authority of the said Councell; but wee likewise prohibit the aforesaid Clergy men all unseemely applauses, cachinnations, uncivill laughter, disguised and theatricall Playes, and dances, with all such ridiculous Enterludes, and likewise all other Pastimes by which the honestie of the Church may be defiled. They may not mix themselves with such assemblies where amorous and filthy things are sung: where obscene motions of the body are expressed in dances and galliards: lest Clergy men who are devoted to holy mysteries, should bee polluted with the contagion of filthy Spectacles and words.
Which reason extends as well to the Laity as the Clergie: since filthy Spectacles and words are as apt to pollute the one as the other. And dare any Clergy men then after such expresse inhibitions resort to Play-houses, or behold or practise any of these interdicted games and sports?
The 35. is Synodus Ratisponae Anno 1524. intituled, Reformatio Cleri Germaniae: where we reade thus.
sSurius Tom. 4 p. 713.Canon: 4. Insuper tabernas publicas Cleri evitent, nisi eas peregrè proficiscentes ingredi oporteat, (which our English tQueene Eliliz. Iniunctions Iniunct. 7. Canons. 1603. Can. 75. See my Heal…hes Sicknesse, p. 33.Canons have seconded:) et tàm in ibi, quàm domo et alibi à crapula et ebrietate, omni que ludo à jure prohibito, blasphemijs, rixis ac alijs quibuscun que excessibus et offensionibus penitus abstineant. Choreas, Spectacula et convivia publica evitent, ne ob luxum petulantiam que eorum nomen Ecclesiasticum malè audiat.
Can: 4. Moreover Clergy men must avoid all publike tavernes, (which too many of them now frequent) unlesse they are enforced to enter them when they travell: and as well there, as at home and elsewhere they ought wholly to abstaine from surfetting and drunkennesse, and from every Play prohibited by law, from blasphemies, brawles, and all other excesses and offences whatsoever. Let them shunne dances, Stage-playes & publike feasts, lest for their luxury and wantonnesse the Ecclesiasticall name be ill reported of.
The 36. is, Synodus Carnotensis, Anno 1526. Where these subs…quent Constitutions were compiled.