The Players Scourge, Part 1 · Act 7 · Scene 6

The Players Scourge · Part 1 · Act 7 · Scene 6

p. 702SCENA SEXTA.

6BVt it may be some rash Play-house censurers, out of their grosse prophanesse,4040Heathen Writers and Philosophers against Stage-playes and Actors. will be ready to censure all the fore-alledged Fathers and moderne Christistian Authours, for ooInsani sapiens, nomen fert aequus iniqui, ultra quā satis est virtutem si petat ipsam. Horatius Epist. l. 1. Epist. 6Puritans or Precisians, and so blow away all these their authorities at one breath, the very title of a Puritan (as of olde the ppNon ideo bonus Caius et prudens Lucius quia Christianus: Vt quisque nomine Christiani emendatur offendit. Tertulliani Apologia advers. Gentes cap. 2, 3.name of a Christian) being sufficient to dash, to blast them all. I shall therefore in the next place controll the qq1 Pet. 2.16.1 Pet 2:16madnesse of these Antipuritan Play-proctors with a squadron of such Play-condemning Pagan Philosophers, Orators, Historians and Poets, as the very Divell himselfe dares not brand for Puritans, though perchance some desperate Players or Play-haunters will, against all sence and reason, because they are better than themselves. I shall begin with Heathen Philosophers, Orators, Morralists, and then proceed to Historians and Poets, whose names and workes I shall onelyonly quote for the most part, with those Editions which I follow; because I have recited most of their words at large, Act. 6. Scene 3. & 5. p. 365. to 371. & 440. to 450. & Act. 5. Scen. 8. p. 245. to 252. on which you may cast backe your eyes. The first Play-condemning Heathen Philosopher is Socrates, the very wisest Heathen, by the expresse verdict of the Delphian Oracle, (witnesse Plato his Socratis Apologia, 11Socrates, Anno Mundi, 3590. aut eo circiter.p. 12. & Diogenis Laertij, Socrates:) who condemned Comedies and Stage-playes, as pernicious, lascivious vanities; refusing to resort to Aristophanes his Comedies; & persuading the Athenians with all the Graecians to abandon Comicall Play-Poets, which they did accordingly: for which see, Plato his Socratis Apologia, p. 22. Diogenis Laertij Socrates: p. 703AElian Variae Historiae, l. 2, c. 13. Volateranus Commentariorum lib: 29. fol: 113. & Plutarch: De Gloria Atheniensium, lib: p: 514. The 2.22Isocrates, Anno 3630. is Isocrates, that famous Oratour, Oratio ad Nicoclem, Editione Crispini 1613. p. 45, 46, 47. & Oratio De Pace, p. 321. The 3.33Plato, Anno 3632. is that incomparable Philosopher Plato, who banished all Players and Play-Poets with their Stage-playes out of his Commonweale. De Republica, Dialog. 2. Opera Lat. Basileae 1561. p. 580, 581. Dialog. 3. p. 585, 586, &c. Dialog. 10. p. 696, 697. Legum: Dialog. 2. p. 800, 801, 802. Dialog. 3. p. 822. Dialog. 7. p. 870, to 877. See Augustine De Civit. Dei, l: 2, c: 14, l: 8, c: 13: 14. Cicero Tusc Quaest: l: 2, p: 449: and here p: 448, accordingly. The 4.44Aristotle, 3640. is Aristotle, the most eminent of all Plato his schollers, and the Coryphaeus of all Heathen Phylosophers: Politicorum lib: 7, c: 7, & l: 8, c: 3, 5, 6, and 7. Francofurti 1601. Rhetoricae l: 2, c: 6, p: 136, 137. Hanouiae 1606: & Problematum l: 3, quoted by Gellius, Noctium Attic: l: 20, c: 4. The 5.55Gorgias, An. 3660. is Gorgias, whose censure of Playes and Tragedies for meere impostures &c. is recorded by Plutarch, De Audiendis Poetis lib: p: 26. The 6.66Cicero, An. 3904. is M: Tullius Cicero, the Prince of Roman Orators, Oratio pro Pub: Quinctio, in his workes Aureliae Alobrogum, 1608, tom: 1, p: 225. Epist: lib: 7, ad Marium. Epist. 1, tom. 2, p: 53. Tusculanarum Quaest: l: 2, pag: 449, & lib: 4, pag. 472, 473. De Legibus lib. 1. pag. 593. & lib. 2. p. 598. B, C. & De Republica lib. 4. quoted by St. Augustine De Civit. Dei l. 2. c. 9. The 7.77Seneca, An. 4020. is Lu: Annaeus Seneca, the divinest and most absolute heathen Morralist, Epist. 7.90, 122, 123. Opera Coloniae Alobr. 1614. p. 154, 155, 377, &c. 505. & Naturalium Quaest. l. 7. c. 31, 32. p. 952, 953. De Vita Beata, c. 12, 13, 14. p. 636, 637. De Brevitate Vitae c. 12. p. 707, 708. & Controversiarum l. 1. Proaemium p. 966, 967. The 8.88Aulus Gellius, An. 4050. is Aulus Gellius, Noctium Atticarum l. 20. c. 4. Edit. 1592. p. 644, 645. The 9.99Plinius Secundus, An. 4070. is C. Plinius Secundus, Naturalis Historiae l. 36. c. 15. Coloniae Alobr. 1616. p. 404. & l. 10. c. 51. p. 500. Epistolarum p. 704lib. 4. Epistola 22. Coloniae Alobr. 1610. p. 185, 186, 187. & Panegyric: Trajano dictus, p. 38, 45. See here pag. 462, 463. The 10.1010Macrobius, An. 4100. is Macrobius Ambrosius Aurelianus, De Somno Scipionis, lib. 1. Edit. 1607. p. 20. Saturnaliorum l. 2. c. 1. & 7. p. 386, 387, 408. to 412, & l. 3. cap. 14. p. 456. to 460. The 11.1111M. Aurelius An. 4150. is Marcus Aurelius Antonius, that worthy Roman Emperor and Philosopher, in his Epistle to Lambert: Epist. 12. in the Booke intituled M: Aurelius; where it is recorded: and in Guevara his Diall of Princes, l. 3. c. 45, 46, 47. See here p. 318, 319, 463, 464. The 12.1212Athenaeus, An. 4150. is Athenaeus, Dipnosophistarum l. 2. c. 1. Edit. Basileae, 1556. p. p. 67. l. 6. c. 1. p. 364. l. 4. c. 17. p. 249, 250. l. 5. c. 4. p. 314, to 319. l. 11. c. 3. p. 734. See l. 12. c. 7, 8, 9, 10. &c. 13. p. 841. &c. 18, 19, 20. l. 13. c. 27. & l. 14. c. 7. to 14. The 13.1313Diodorus Siculus, An. 3902. is Diodorus Siculus, Bibliothecae Historiae, l. 4. sect. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Hanoviae 1611. p. 202. to 206. The 14.1414Dionysius Hallicarnasseus An. 3904. is Dionysius Hallicarnasseus, Antiqu. Romanorum l. 2. sect. 3. Edit. 1590. p. 137, 138. c. 5. p. 151, 152. & l. 7. sect. 1. p. 634. See lib. 2. c. 8. p. 195, 196, 197. & l. 7. sect. 9. p. 700. to 707. where he describes at large, how the Romans and Graecians spent their holy-dayes in dances and Stage-playes, which they dedicated to their Idols, as a speciall part of their worship and service; which Idols had their Salij, Curetes, Ludiones, Histriones, their dancing Stage-playing Priests devoted to their service: their Circenses and THEATRALES POMPAE et Spectacula (Ib. p. 197, 709, 712, 714, 715.) as this Authour oft times stiles them; an infallible evidence, that Stage-playes are the very eeSee here p. 42 to 61, & 561, to 568.Pomps of the Divel: which Playes saith this Authour (p. 709) were antiquated and abolished by the Lacedemonians, though some other Greekes and the ancient Romans out of a superstition to their Idols who exacted them at their hands, did still retaine them. The 15.1515Salustius, An. 3906. is C. Cris…ius Salustius, an ancient Roman Historian, In his Bellum Ca…ilinarium, Opera: Coloniae Agrip. 1615. p. 22, 23. & Bellum Iugurthinum, p. 159. The 16.1616Valerius Maximus, An. 3990. is Valerius p. 705Maximus, lib. 2. cap. 4. & cap. 6. sect. 7. Raphelengij 1612. p. 56, 57, 58, 59, 60. & l. 6. c. 3. sect. 12. p. 237. The 17.1717Titus Livius, An. 4020. is Titus Livius Patavinus, that exce…lent Roman Historian, Historiae l. 7. sect. 2, 3. Francofurti 1600. p. 255, 256. The 18.1818Corn. Tacitus, An. 4070. is Cornelius Tacitus, Annalium l. 1. sect. 14. Edit. 1614. p. 44, 45. l. 4. sect. 3. p. 139, 140. l. 14. sect. 2, 3. p, 301. to 305. l. 15. sect… 11. p. 360. l. 16. sect. 1. p. 366, 367. Historiae l. 2. sect. 22. p. 481, 482. De Moribus Germanorum, l. sect. 6. p. 615. & De Oratoribus Dialogus, sect. 14, 15, 16. p… 679, 681, 682. which Dialogue though fathered upon him by some, is yet attributed and that truly to Quintilian, (a 19.1919Quinctilian, 4050. Heathen Authour) by most: where, as he complaines of the effeminacie and lasciviousnesse of Orators language in these words. (Neque …nim oratorius, immo hercule ne virilis quidem cultus est quo plerique temporum nostrorum actores ita utuntur ut lasciviâ verborum, et levi…ate sententiarum, et licentiâ compositionis, histrionales modo exprimant, quodque vix auditu fas esse debeat, laudis et gloriae et ingenij loco plerique jactani, cantari saltarique commentarios suos. Vnde oritur illa faeda et praepostera, sed tamen frequens quibusdam exclamatio, ut oratores nostri temere dicere, histriones diserte saltare dicuntur, &c.) So he informes us whence this evill and the decay of eloquence & all other arts did spring; & that was from the ill education, the idlenesse of youth, and their resort to Stage-playes: which he thus notably expresseth. Quis enim ignorat et eloquentiam et caeteras artes descivisse ab istâ veteri gloriâ, non inopia hominum, sed desidiâ juventutis, et negligentiâ parentum, et inscientiâ praecipientium, et oblivione moris antiqui? quae mala primum in urbe nata, mox per Italiam fusa, jam in provincias manant &c. Iam primum suus cuique filius ex castâ parente natus, non in cellâ emptae nutricis, sed gremio ac sinu rrSee Gen. 21.… Exod. 2.8, 9. 1 Sam. 1.23. 1 Kings 3.21. Isay 49.15. …am. 4.3, 4. 1 Tim. 5.10. Luke 11.27. Plutarch De Puerorum Educati…ne l. p. 4, 5. Gellius Noctium Atti…carū, l. 12, c. 1, p. 368, &c. Macrobius Saturnalior. l. 5, c. 11, p. 545. Aristotle Polit. l. 1. c. 7. p. 44. Henricus Stephanus Horodoti Apologia p. 46. Case Polit. l. 7. c. 17. p. 689. to 696. with infinite others, that all women who have milke ought to nurse their owne children; because God hath given them breasts for that purpose; because all other creatures that have milke give sucke unto their owne: because it is a signe of unnaturalnesse and want of love to their children, not to doe it; because many children miscarry by reason of nurses negligence; because else they are apt to degenerate, and to savour of the qualities they sucke in with their milke, because they are a part of themselves which they nourish in their womb, therefore they should nourish it out of it too.Gen 21Exod 2:8Exod 2:91 Sam 1:231 Kgs 3:21Isa 49:151 Tim 5:10Luke 11:27matris educabatur, cujus praecipua laus er at, tueri domum p. 706et inservire liberis. Eligebatur autem aliqua major natu propinqua cujus probatis spectatisque moribus omnes cujusquam familiae soboles committeretur, coram quâ noque dicere fas erat quod turpe dictu, neque facere quod inhonestum f…ctu videretur. Ac non studia, modo curas que sed remissiones etiam lusus que puerorum, sanctitate quadam ac verecundi… temperabat &c. At nunc natus infans delegatur Graeculae alicui ancillae, cui adjungitur unus aut alter ex omnibus servis plerum que vilissimus, nec cuiq…am serio ministerio accomodatus, horum fabulis et erroribus teneri statim et rudes animi imbuuntur. Nec quisquam in totâ domo pensi habet quid coram infanti domino, aut dicat aut faciat; quando etiam ipsi parentes nec probitati neque modestiae parvulos assuefaciant, sed lasciviae et libertati per quae paulatim impudentia irrepit, et sui alieni que contemptus. Iam vero propria et peculiaria hujus urbis vitia paene in utero matris concipi mihi videntur; HISTRIONALIS FAVOR, et gladiatorum eq…orumque studia; quibus occupatus et obsessus animus QVANTVLVM LOCI BONIS ARTIBVS RELINQVIT! quotum quemque inveneris qui domi quicquam aliud loquatur? quos alios adolescentulorum sermones excipimus, si quando auditoria intravimus? &c. A passage very applicable to our present times. So that Stage-playes and such like sports in Quintilians judgement, are the depravers of youth, the ingenderers of vice and idlenesse; the overthrow of all good arts; they so prepossessing mens mindes and tongues, that their thoughts and speeches are of nought but Playes and Enterludes. The 20.2020Plutarchus, …n. 4070. is Plutarchus Chaeronensis, that eminent Philosopher and Historian, De Audiendis Poetis, lib. Moral. Tom. 1. Basileae 1572. p. 26. Laconica Apothegmata, p. 461, 462, 475, 486, 487. Laconica Instituta, p. 504, 505, 506. Romanae Quaestiones, Quaest. 98, 107. p. 593, 600. De Homero lib. p. 151. De Gloria Atheniensium lib. p. 514, 515, 516. Symposiacon l. 7 Quaest. 8. p. 262, 263. & Plutarchi Romulus, Francofurti 1580. p. 29. Pericles p. 707p. 51. & Solon. p. 31. The 21.2121Emiliu… Probus, An. 4072. is AEmilius Probus, Excellentium Imperatorum Vitae, Praefatio, bound up with Plutarches Lives, p. 356. where he affirmeth, that the acting of Playes was ever reputed infamous, base, dishonest among the Romans.. The 22.2222Suetonius, An. 4080. is C. Suetonius Tranquillus. See his …ulius, sect… 39. Octavius, sect. 44, 45.68. 71, Tiberius sect… 43, 44, 47. Caligula, sect. 18, 19, 20, 21, 52, 54, 55, 57, 58. Claudius, sect. 6, 12, 21, 28, 34. Nero, sect. 12, 13, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 54. Vaspatianus, sect. 19. & Titus, sect. 7, 8, 9. where he declares his dislike of Stage-playes, taxing those vitious Emperours who either act…d, frequented, or supported them, and applauding such who did suppresse them. The 23.2121Diogenes Laertius, An. 4100. is Diogines Laertius, De Vita Philosophorum, lib. 1. Solon. p. 46. The 24.2424AElianus, An. 4100. is AElianus, Variae Historiae, l. 2. c. 13. Edit. 1599. p. 33. to 39. where hee brings in Socrates declaiming against Comedians, as satyricall, invective, injurous persons, who savour of nought that is good or profitable. The 25.2525Dion Cassius, An. 4200. is Dion Cassius, Romanae Historiae, Lugduni 1559. l. 42. p. 312.313, 325. l. 49. p. 553. l. 50. p. 558.560. & p. 575, 576. where hee objects this to Antony, Quod Cleopatra ludos cum eo curabat: and withall hee brings in Caesar, incouraging his soldiers thus against him, even from his dancing and effeminacie. Nemo Antonium Consulem aut Imperatorem fuisse, sed Gymnasiarcham existimet. Neque metuere quisquam debet. ne is aliquod momentum bello sit allaturus, &c. Fieri enim non potest ut is qui regio luxui molli…iei que muliebri indulget viro aliquid dignum vey consulat vel agat. Est enim necesse omnino ut quibus unusquisque vitae ra…ionibus utitur, earum similis reddatur. Etenim si quis vestrum ppDancing therefore, esp…cially the learning to dance, was reputed an effeminate, ignominious and sordid thing among the ancient Romans, and all dancers were esteemed effeminate amorous persons. See Herodian Hist. l. 5. p. 267. to 275. & here p. 245. to 250.RIDICVLE SALTARE, ac choream Bacchi ducere opus habeat, omnino is ab Antonio superabi…ur ea in re: NAM SALTARE HIC DIDICIT: sin pugna et armis opus est, quid tandem in eo timendum est? So lib. 51. p. 606, 607. lib. 54. p. 682. hee whers;tt; us of Augustus: Ac quoniam equites et faminae p. 708illustres adhuc in Orchestra saltabant, prohibuit ne non modo patriciorum liberi (id enim jam ante cautum erat) sed etiam nepotes eorum, quique equestris essent ordinis, amplius id facerent… A manifest proofe, how ignominious a thing it was reputed among the auncient Romans, for men or women of quality to masque or dance in publike or to act a masque or play upon a Stage. See p. 696, 697, 703, 704, 710. & lib. 57. p. 798. where he records this to Tiberius his honour, that he banished Stage-players out of Rome: Histriones Tiberius Roma exturbavit, rrThe unlawfullnes and abuses of Plaies and Actors…ARTEQVE EA INTERDIXIT, quod et mulieres ignominia afficerent, et turbas darent. Lib. 59. p. 827. he writes thus in disparagement of Caligula. Nunc statim revocatis histrionibus (whom Tiberius had banished & suppressed) equis gladiatoribus que et alijs huiusmodi rebus, ssThe prodigality & expence of Playes.immodice pecuniam impendens, et thesauros maximos brevissimo tempore exhausit (a notable president of the prodigality and expence of Stage-playes) et demonstravit priora quoque ista non judicio sed prodigalitate à se facta fuisse, &c. and pag. 629, 630. hee thus branded Caligula for favouring Players, and acting Playes and Masques himselfe. Caius ab aurigis gladiatoribus que regebatur, servus histrionum et scenicorum hominum. Tragaedorum eâ aetate principem, semper et in publico secum… habuit, deinde seor…im ipse, seorsim histriones, omnia ea quae hujusmodi homines potentiam nacti agere ausint, peregerunt: quae ad eam rem pertinebant, ipse perniciosissime quacunque occasione suppeditavit ac constituit, coegitque etiam praetores ac Consules ut ea pararent: itaque ttPlayes therefore were not every day acted in Rome in this most vlcious Princes dayes, as they are of later times.fere quotidie fabula aliqua acta fuit. Principio ipse spectatorem tantum se, ac auditorem praebuit, ac studio suo quasi unus è turba hominum, aut favit cuidam, aut r…st…tit, ita ut aliquando adversarijs iratus ad spectaculum non venerit. Procedente tempore multos imitatus est varijs in rebus, cum multis certavit; nam et aurigavit, et pugnavit et vvIt is infamous in this Authors iudgement for Empe…ors or persons of quality to dance vponupon a Stage or Act a Play.saltavit, et Tragaediam egit, semper haec tractans: semel noctu primoribus patrum quasi ad necessariā p. 709deliberationem vocatis, coram saltavit. Which Suetonius thus expresseth. xxCaligula, sect. 54, 55.Sed & aliorum generum artes studiosissime & diversissime exercuit. Thrax & auriga, idem cantor atque saltator. Batuebat pugnatorijs armis; aurigabat extructo plurifariam Circo. Cantandi ac saltandi voluptate ita efferebatur, ut neque publicis quidem spectaculis temperaret, quo minus & pronuncianti tragaedo concineret, et gestum histrionis quasi laudans vel corrigens palameffingeret: nec alia de causa videtur ea die quâ pertij, pervigilium indixisse, quam ut initium in scenam prodeundi licentia temporis auspicaretur. Saltabat autem nonnunquam etiam noctis; & quondam tres consulares secunda vigilia in palatium accitos, multa que & extrema metuentes super pulpitum collocavit, deinde repente magno tibiarum & scabellorum crepitu, cum palla tunicaque talari prosiluit, ac desaltato cantico abijt. Quorum vero studio teneretur, omnibus ad insaniam favit. Mnesterem pantomimum etiam inter spectacula osculabatur, et si quis saltante eo leviter obstreperet, detrahi jussum manu sua flagellabat, &c. A good caveat for all Pagan, all Christian Princes and Magistrates, to beware of being besotted with Playes, or Actors, as this prodigious Pagan Emperour &**Nero, Antigonus, Commodus, with others. others were to their eternall infamy. The 26.2626Iustin, An. 4110. is Iustin. H…storiae lib. 6. Spirae 1610. pag. 79. who writs thus of the miserable effects of Stage-playes among the Athenians after Epaminondas his decease. Hujus morte etiam Atheniensium virtus intercidit. Siquidem amisso, quem aemulari consueverant, in segnitiem torporemque resoluti, non ut olim in classem, exercitusque, sed in dies festos, yyThe prodigality of Stage-playes.APPARATVSQVE LUDORVM… redditus publicos effundunt: & cum actoribus nobilissimis, poetisque theatra celebrant, frequentius scenam quâm castra visentes. Versificatores oratoresque meliores quàm duces laudentes. QVIBVS REBVS EFFECTVM EST (pray marke the fatall consequence) ut inter otia Graecorum sordidum & obscurum antea Macedonum nomen emergeret: Et Philippus obses triennio Thebis habitus Epaminondae & Pelopidarum virtutibus eruditus, regnum p. 710Macedoniae, Greciae & Asiae cervicibus, veluti jugum servitutis imponeret. So that the Athenians and Graecians Stage-expences, and their delight in Stage-playes, Play-poets and Actors, corrupted their manners, emasculated their prowesse, and so brought them into subjection unto those, who formerly had beene captives unto them; as it brought the Romans into bondage to the Gothes and Vandals: a… Salvian De Gubernation… Dei, l. 6. and Carolus Sigonius, De occidentali Imperio, l. 1. f. 32. informe us. SeeAtque ita omnia magnitudine nominis ac maiestatis obli…us nocte in stupris, dies in convivijs consumit. Adduntur instrumenta luxuriaetymp…na, & tripudia: nec iam spectator, Rex sed magister nequitiae, nervorum oblectamenta modutur. Iustin, lib. 30. p. 254 to t…e same purpose, where he taxeth Ptolomie for dancing, singing, and playing. The 27.2727Herodian, An. 4230. is Herodianus, Historiae lib. 1. Ingolstadij 1608. p. 29.31.55. to 74. & l. 5. p. 267. to 282. Where he exceedingly censureth Commodus & Antoninus the first, for delighting in Stage-playes, Sword-playes, Actors, Gladiators, and playing the Gladiator himselfe, to his perpetuall infamy and the peoples griefe, contrary to his imperiall dignity, and the earnest intreaty of his friends… which by consequence proved the occasion of his untimely death: the latter for his dancing & delight in Stage-playes. The 28,2828Iulius Capitolinns, An. 4300. 29,2929Trebellius Pollio, Ann. 4300. 30,3030AElius Lampridius, An. 4300. 31.3131Flavius Vopiscus, An. 4300. are Iulius Capitolinus, Trebellius Pollio, AElius Lampridius, and Flavius Vopiscus; in their fore-quoted places: Act. 6. Scene 5. p. 451. in the margent; where they condemne Heliogabalus, Commodus, Verus, Carinus, the Galieni, and other Roman Emperors, for fostering Playes and Players, on whom they spent much treasure & time; whereby they corrupted their owne, and likewise the peoples mindes and manners to their eternall infamy. The 32.**Ammianus Marcellinus, An. 4370. is Amianus Marcellinus, Hist. l. 28. c. 9, 10. London 1609. p. 340, 341, 342. Where he first declaimes against the Senators and Roman Gentry, for their play-haunting & dice-play; then against the sloath, the vanity & lewde behaviour of the commō people, who flocked thick and threefold to the base sports of the Theatre, where the Actors were sure to be hissed by them off the stage if they had not with some money bought the favour of the abject multitude; which there did nought but clamour, shout, p. 711and raise up tumults. The 33,3333Ovid, An. 3950. 34,3434Horace, An. 3950. 35,3535Iuvenal, An. 4020. 36,3636Propertius, An. 4024. are Ovid, Horace, Iuvenal, and Propertius: 4 famous Heathen Poets, who in their severall forequoted places, Act. 6. Scene 3. & 5. p. 369, 370.371, 452, 453, 454. condemne all Stage-playes and Actors, as intollerable mischiefes in a state: and as the occasions of much adultery, villany, lewdnesse, prodigality, and the like; as their forequoted testimonies more largely prove, to which I shall referre you. To these I might adde C. Velleius Paterculus, 3737Paterculus.Hist. l. 1. Francofurti, 1602. p. 16. Taurus, 3838Taurus.the Philosopher, apud Gellium, Noctium Attic. l. 20. c. 4. who there labours to withdraw his scholler from Stagelayes, with a speech of Aristotle. Together with Macro the Philosopher,3939Macro. tutor to Caius Caligula; whom he dissuaded from Playes and Players: as Philo Iudaeus, De Legatione ad Caium, p. 1342. records: and that passage of Plautus, 4040Plautus.in his Captivei Prologus, Raphelengij 1609. p. 105. where he writes thus. Profecto expedit fabulae huic operam dare: Non pertractate facta est, neque idem ut caeterae: Nequ… spurcidici in sunt versus immemorabiles. Hîc neque periurus leno est, nec meretrix mala &c. An infallible evidence that most Stage-playes are fraught with ribaldry; with bawdes, with whores and panders parts; and that such Playes are lewd and vile, not fit for Pagan (much lesse for Christian) Auditors, as this passage intimates. If then all these 40 several Pagan Writers, Philosophers, Historians, Poets of chiefest note, (which none but Atheists, or men more desperately wicked, dare taxe for Puritans) have thus censured Playes and Players, as intollerable mischievous evils, even in a heathen Commonweale; taxing all such for vitious unworthy persons, who countenance or applaud them; can any Christian be so far past shame, past grace, or hopes of goodnesse, as once to patronize them? Alas, with what countenance or forehead can any Christian pleade for Playes or Actors as tollerable among Christians, which not onelyonly Plato, Seneca and Tully, but even Ovid and p. 712Propertius too have long since doomed, as unfit for Pagans? With what assurance can any one stile himselfe a zzPlus enim …ebet Christi discipulus praestare, quam mundi philosophus. Hierom. Epist. 26. c. 4.Christian, who in this case of Playes, of Actors, and such like branded evills, comes short of all these Pagans? If therefore there bee any sparkes of ingenuity, modesty, grace or goodnesse remaining yet in Christians, whereby they may manifest to themselves and others, that they are, if not farre better, yet at least as good as all these Pagans: let them now at last declare it in abandoning, in suppressing Playes and Actors, which they have long since stigmatized as lewd pernicious evils. Alas what an intollerable eclipse and blemish will it be to the honour, purity, power and holines of Christian religion? aaEt putamus nos salvos esse, quando omne impuritatis scelus, omnis impudicitiae turpitudo, a Christianis admittitur a barbaris vindicatur? hic nunc illos quaero qui meliores nos putant esse quam barbaros, impudicitiam nos diligimus, Ethnici execrantur: puritatem nos fugimus, illi amant: fornicatio apud illos crimen atque discrimen est, apud nos decus. Et putamus nos ante Deum posse consistere? Salvian. De Guber. Dei l. 6. p. 237.what a desperate hazard unto all our soules, Si non praestat fides quod exhibuit infidelitas? If Christians should fall short of Pagans in condemning Playes and Actors, and prove bbHierom. Ep. 3. c. 4.farre worse than they, as too too many doe? As therefore we desire to satisfie our owne consciences and others, or to secure our soules, that we are reall Christians as well in truth as appellation, let us now at leastwise equall, if not transcend these Pagans in anathematizing and renouncing Stage-playes, according to our vow in baptisme, which Pagans never made, who have no such strong professed solemne engagements against Playes, as we, ccSee here p. 41. to 61. & 561. to 567.who have our baptismall covenant to binde us, the concurring examples of all the ddScene 2, 3, 4, 5, before.forementioned primitive Christians, Fathers, Councels, and moderne Christian Writers, to induce us to it. And if any out of ignorance, perversenesse or prophanesse, have deemed it overmuch praecisenesse heretofore, to imitate the piety of the forequoted primitive or moderne Christians from age to age, in censuring, in renouncing Stage-playes, as execrable, lewd, infamous spectacles, unfit for Christians: let them not now degenerate so farre beneath themselves, as to prove worse than Pagans in this case of Playes, eeProfessio enim religionis non aufert debitum, sed auge…: quia adsumptio religiosi nominis, sponsio est devotionis: ac per hoc tanto plus quispiam debet opere, quanto plus promiserit professione. Sal…ian. ad Eccl…am Catholicam l. 2. p. 382.whom they should farre excell: but rather p. 713subscribe to this 51 Play-refelling Argument; which will certainly condemne and shame them, if it convince them not; with which I shall close up this Scene.

That which 40 Heathen Writers, Philosophers,Argum. 51. Historians, Orators and Poets of chiefest note, have unanimously censured, condemned from the very principles and remainders of corrupt nature, and their owne experimentall knowledge of its lewd pernicious effects; must doubtlesse be sinfull and altogeth…r abominable unto Christians: Witnesse, Rom. 2.14, 15, to 29. Ier. 2.10 11. c. 18.13, 14.

But these 40 recited Heathen Writers, Philosophers, Historians, Orators, and Poets of chiefest note, have unanimously censured and condemned Stage-playes, from the very principles and remainders of corrupt nature, and their owne experimentall knowledge of their many lewd pernicious effects: Witnes the premises, and Act. 6. Scene 3. & 5.

Therefore they must doubtlesse be sinfull, and altogether abominable unto Christians.