The Hand of God Discovered at Whitney, Summary
A BRIEFE NARRATIVE OF The Play Acted at Witny the third of February 1652. Together with its ſad and Tragicall End.
IT may not ſeem ſo proper, nor be ſo pleaſing to every Reader, to ſet down all the Circumſtances about this Play, foraſmuch that ſomewhat might be ſaid touching the riſe and originall of it, the nature of the Play it ſelf, and the book from whence it was taken, the motives, grounds, and ends of the Actors, concerning all which I might ſpeak more then here ſhall be inſerted, having taken ſome paines to ſatisfie my ſelfe in thoſe particulars. But I thought it meet to inſiſt on thoſe things, which did moſt diſcover the hand of God in ſo eminent and remarkable a Providence, and lightly touch on other things, ſo far as they may give light to that which is the name. This Play was and old Play, and had been Acted by ſome of Santon-Har-court men many years ſince. The Title of it is, A most pleaſant Comedy of Mucedorus the Kings Sonne of Valentia, and Amadine the Kings Daughter of Aragon: with the merry conceits of Mouſe, &c. The Actors of the Play were Countreymen; moſt of them, and for any thing I can heare, all of Stanton-Harcourt Pariſh. The punctuall time of their firſt Learning the Play, cannot be certainly ſet downe: but this we have been told, they had been learning it ever ſince Michaelmas, and had been Acting privatly every week. This we are informed upon more certain grounds, that they began to Act it in a more publike manner about Chriſtmas, and Acted it three or foure times in their own Pariſh, they Acted it likewiſe in ſeverall neighbowring Pariſhes, as Moore, Stanlake, South-Leigh, Cumner. The laſt place that they came at was Witny, where it pleaſed the Lord to diſcover his diſpleaſure, againſt ſuch wicked and ungodly Playes by an eminent hand. Some few dayes before the Play was to be Acted, one of Stanton came to the Baylife of Witny telling him that there were ſome Countrey men that had learn'd to make a Play, and deſired his Leave to ſhew it, his aime being (as the Baylife conceiv'd) that they might have the Liberty of the Towne-Hall. Leave alſo was deſired of the other Baylife, but they being denied by both the Baylifs, they pitched on the White Hart, a chiefe Inne of the Towne to Act their Play there. The day when it was Acted, was the third of February, the ſame day when many Godly People, Towneſmen and Schollars of Oxford, kept a Solemne Day of Fast at Carfax. About ſeaven a Clock at Night they cauſed a Drum to beat, and a Trumpet to be ſounded to gather the People together. The people flocked in great multitudes, Men, Women, and Children, to the number (as is gueſs'd) of three Hundred, ſome ſay foure hundred, and the Chamber where the Play was Acted being full, others in the Yard preſſed ſorely to get in. The people which were in the Roome were exceeding Joviall, and merry before the Play began, Young men and Maides dancing together, and ſo merry and frolick were many of the Spectators, that the Players could hardly get Liberty that they themſelves might Act, but at laſt a little Liberty being obtained, the Play it ſelf began. In the beginning of it Enters a Perſon that took the name of Comedie, and ſpeaks as follows.
Why ſo thus doe I hope to pleaſe;
Muſick revives, and Mirth is tolerable,
Comedie play thy part, and pleaſe:
Make merry them that come to joy with thee.
With two or three verſes more.
VponUpon this enters Envy, another perſon, & ſpeaks as followes.
Nay ſtay Minion ſtay there lyes a block;
What all on mirth? I'le interrupt your tale,
And mix your Muſick with a Tragickend.
VponUpon which Comedie replyes. Envy makesanſwer againe in ſeverall verſes, and among the reſt theſe:
Harken thou ſhalt heare noyſe
Shall fill the ayre with ſhrilling ſound,
And thunder Muſick to the Gods above.
Three verſes after it followes,
In this brave Muſick Envy takes delight
Where I may ſee them wallow in their bloud,
To ſpurne at Armes & Leggs quite ſhivered off,
And heare the cryes of many thouſand ſlaine.
After this Comedie ſpeaks, Envy replies
Trebble death ſhall croſſe thee with diſpight,
And make thee mourn where moſt thou joyeſt,
Turning thy mirth into a deadly dole,
Whirling thy pleaſurs with a peale of death,
And drench thy methods in a Sea of bloud.
Which paſſages if the Reader carry along with him, he will ſee how farre they were made good by the Divine hand, both on the Actors and Spectators. The matter of the Play is ſcurrilous, impious, blaſphemous in ſeverall paſſages. One paſſage of it hath ſuch a bitter Taunt againſt all Godly perſons under the name of Puritans, and at Religion it ſelfe, under the phraſe of obſerving Faſting days, that it may not be omitted, it was almoſt in the beginning of the Play, and they were ſome of the Clownes words when he firſt began to Act, Well Ile ſee my Father hang'd before Ile ſerve his Horſe any more, well Ile carry home my bottle of Hay and for once make my Fathers Horſe turne Puritan, and obſerve Faſting dayes, for he gets not a bitt. How remarkable was this that ſome of them that were called Puritans in the dayes of old, had ſpent that very day in Oxford in Faſting, and Prayer; and that the Lord by ſo eminent an hand ſhould teſtifie againſt ſuch, who were not only ſcoffers at Godly perſons, but at Religion it ſelfe. Another paſſage was of ſo horrid an aſpect, as that the Actor who was to ſpeak it durſt not vent it without a change. The verſes as they are Printed are theſe.
Ah Bremo, Bremo, what a foyle hadſt thou, that yet at no time was afraid
To dare the greatest Gods to fight with thee
At the end of which verſes it followeth, He ſtrikes: and probable enough it is, that he uſed ſome action at that time; but the words were ſo gaſtly, and had ſuch a face of impiety in them, that he durſt not ſay Gods, but (as one that excuſed him would have us believe) he ſai'd Gobs. And indeed ſo inſolent were theſe, and other expreſſions in the Play, that ſome of the Spectators thought they were not fit to be uſed, and when they heard them, wiſhed themſelves out of the roome. We might inſtance in ſome other paſſages, but there hath been enough already. The modeſt, and ingenuous reader would bluſh to read ſome paſſages. Thus had they continued their ſport for an hour, and halfe, as ſome of the Spectators ſay, but as is more probable, about two houres, for they were ordinarily three houres in acting it (as the Players ſay) and there were aboue two parts in three of the play that were paſſed over in this Action. At which time it pleaſed God to put a ſtop to their mirth, and by an immediate hand of his owne, in cauſing the chamber to ſink, and fall under them, to put an end to this ungodly Play before it was thought, or intended by them.
The Actors who were now in action were Bremo a wild man, (courting, and ſolliciting his Lady, and among other things, begging a Kiſſe in this verſe.
Come kiſſe me (Sweet) for all my favours past)
And Amadine the Kings daughter (as named in the Play) but in truth a young man attired in a womans Habit. The words which were then ſpeaking, were theſe, the words of Bremo to his Lady
Thou ſhalt be fed with Quailes, and Partridges,
With Black-birds, Larkes, Thruſhes, and Nightingales.
Various reports there have been concerning the words ſpoken at that time, as that it ſhould be ſayed, the Devill was now come to act his part: ſome of the People might ſay ſo, obſerving the wild mans carriage, and ſome other paſſages that went before, where there was mention made of the Divell in a Bares dublet, the wild man then acting the Bares part: and indeed we have it upon good information that there were ſuch words ſpoken; only they were the ſpectators words, and not the Actors: but this we are aſſured of, the words then ſpoken by the Actor were thoſe above mentioned, as he himſelfe acknowledged, and we find them printed ſo in the Book.
The Place wherein the Play was acted, was not a Stage erected on purpoſe, but a Chamber belonging to the Inne, a larg Chamber, and which ſometime had been a Malting roome, having a part of it covered with earth to that purpoſe. It had two Beames to ſupport it, of which one Sc: the ſhorter was a great, ſoūd & ſubſtantiall one, & lay between the two ſide walls; the other had one end ſhooting into the middle of the ſhorter beame, and the other end of it faſtned in the wall, of which you may ſee a deſcription.
The 2 end Walls. A. The 2 Beames B. The ſid-Walls C. The ſhort Beame, which broke neare the middle, was betwixt 13 and 14 Inches ſquare, one end lying even, or a little within the Wall upon a ſhoulder of Stone, the other end almoſt a foot in the Wall, the ſhort Beame breaking the other fell with it.
The fall was not very quick, but ſomewhat ſlow, & gentle, in ſo much that ſōe that were preſent thought it was a part of the play, (but it proved the ſaddeſt part) & expected whē they ſhould be taken up againe, yet was it not ſo ſlowe as that they were able to recover themſelves, for the actors then in action fell down, and a great number of people with them into the under roome, which was a Shufle-board-roome, and the table it ſelfe broken in peeces by the fall of the Timber. The Chamber did not fall down quite, but lay ſomewhat pendulous, and hanging, broad at the top, and narrow at the bottome, that end of the long beame, which lay in the ſhort falling down, the other end not falling, & the ends of the ſhort Beame where it brake hanging down, the bottome where the people lay was of a very narrow compaſſe, the people falling as it were into a Pit: & ſuch were the apprehentions of ſome of the Spectators, ſeeing the chamber ſink in that manner as if the earth was opening, and ſwallowing them up. After the Crack of the beame which was exceeding great, and the fall of the Chamber (in the manner as is before deſcribed) all was quiet, and ſtill, and a kind of ſilence for a pretty ſpace of time, the people being aſtonied, and bereft of their ſenſes. One that was preſent was ſo much affrighted (as was ſaid) that ſhe thought her ſelfe verily to be in Hell, which we do the rather inſert becauſe whoever ſhall put the circumſtances together may well ſay it was a little reſemblance of that black, and diſmall place, there being ſo many taken in the middeſt of their ſinfull practiſes, and thruſt into a pit together where they were left in darkneſſe, the Lights being put out by the fall, where the duſt that was raiſed made a kind of Miſt, and Smoake, where there were the moſt lamentable ſkreekes, and out-cryes that may be imagined; where they were ſhut up as in a priſon, and could not get themſelves out, (the doore of the under roome being blocked up, and their leg's being ſo pinioned, & wedged together by faggots, and other things, that fell down together with them from the upper roome, that they could not ſtirre to help themſelves.) Another (as is ſaid) ſuppoſing his limbs to be all plucked aſunder cryed out, that they ſhould cut off his head: this is certaine, the fright was exceeding great, and many were dead for a time that afterward came to themſelves. When the people were come to themſelves, there was a fearfull, and moſt lamentable cry, ſōe crying one thing, ſōe another, ſome crying aid for the Lords ſake, others crying Lord have mercy on us, Chriſt have mercy on us, others cryed oh my Huſband! a ſecond, oh my Wife! a third, Oh my child! and another ſaid, No body loves me ſo well as to ſee where my child is. Others cryed out for Ladders, and Hatchets to make their paſſage out, for the chamber falling, the doore of the under roome was ſo Blocked up that they could not get out there, ſo that they were fain to break the barres of the window, and moſt of the people got out that way though it were a good ſpace of time before they could get forth. The other Players that were not in action were in the Attiring-roome which was joyning to the chamber that fell, and they helped to ſave ſome of the people which were neer that part. Thoſe of the people that fell not down, but were preſerved by that meanes got out at the window of the upper roome. There were five ſlaine outright, whereof three were Boys, two of which being about ſeaven, or eight yeares old or thereabout; the other neer twelve: the other two were Girles, the elder of which being fourteen, or fiveteen, and the younger twelve, or thirteen yeares old. A woman alſo had her legg ſorely broken that the ſurgeons were forced to cut it off, and ſhe dyed within three or foure dayes after it was cut off. Many were hurt, and ſorely bruiſed, to the number of about threeſcore, that we have certaine information of, beſides thoſe that conceale their greifes, and ſome of the Contry of which there were diverſe preſent, it being market day when this Play was acted.
The Surgeon that dreſſed the wounded people, told me that the next day after this was done he was counting with himſelfe how many he had dreſſed, and as neere as he could reckon he had dreſſed about fortie five, and twelve after that as he had ſuppoſed, and two or three after he had cut off the womans legg. Which therefore I thought good to inſert that the reader may know upon what grounds he may take this relation.
Some others were dreſſed by others in the town the juſt number of which I have not learn't But it is generally conceaved that there were divers did receive hurt which would not ſuffer it to be knowen. Among thoſe that were hurt there were about a dozen broken armes, and leggs, and ſome two or three diſlocations, as we were likewiſe informed by the Surgeon. Some of the people came out with bloody faces, neither could it be otherwiſe, they having trod one upon another in a moſt ſad, and lamentable manner. Certain it is there was much hurt done that way; the children that were killed, being ſtifled as was ſuppoſed. The man in womans apparrell lay panting for breath, and had it not been for Bremo his fellow Actor, he had been ſtifled; but Bremo having recovered himſelfe a little, bare up the others head with his arme, whereby he got ſome breath, and ſo was preſerved; but both the one, and the other were hurt; Bremo being ſo ſorely bruiſed, as that he was fain to keep his bed for two dayes after, and the Lady had her beuty mar'd, her face being ſwoln by the hurt taken in the fall. Some had their mouths ſo ſtuf'd with duſt that they could hardly ſpeak, the people that came from the houſe made a pittifull moane, ſome going in the ſtreets, and complaining, here is a Play, a ſad Play indeed, others crying out to them that met them, (as they are wont that have received ſome deadly wound) oh I am kil'd! Some cryed out that their Armes were broken, others that their Leggs were broken, ſome curſed the Players that ever they came to Witny, and the players themſelves wiſhed that they had never came thither. They that received no hurt were exceedingly affrighted, inſomuch that one of them that were preſent, as I am credibly informed, did ſay, that he would not, for as much as Witny was worth, be in the like affright again, though he were ſure he ſhould have no hurt. Others ſaid they would never goe to a play more, and that it was a judgment. Others have been ſo prophane; as we hear, to make a laughing-ſtock of it, and ſome ſo deſperate, as to ſay, they would go againe, if it were to morrow next: and too many apt to ſay it was but a chance, a misfortune, the beame was weak, there were ſo many load of people there, and the like. But how ſleight ſo ever the matter was made afterwards, ſure enough it is, it was ſad enough then. It was one of the ſaddeſt, and blackeſt nights that ever came on Witny. Sad it was to ſee Parents carry home their Children dead in their armes, ſad it was to ſee ſo many bruiſed, hurt, and maimed, and ſome, as it were, halfe dead that were not able to help themſelves, but were fain to be carryed away by their friends, ſome on their backs, ſome on chaires, ſad it was to hear the pitteous cryes of thoſe that were not there bemoaning their diſtreſſed friends. This was the ſad end of this ungodly play. And what was ſpoken in jeſt in the beginning of it, by the juſt hand of God, was made good in earneſt. The Comedy being turned into a Tragedy, it had a ſad Cataſtrophe, ending with the deaths of ſome, and hurts of many. And as it was ſaid before And make thee mourn where moſt thou joy'ſt
So by the juſt hand of God came it to paſſe. For in the midſt of their mirth, and jollity did this fall out, in the middeſt of theſe amorous paſſages between Bremo, and his Lady was this ſtroke given; yea, immediately before they expected the greateſt pleaſure, and contentment. For the Actors ſaid the beſt of the play was ſtill behind, and a little after the hearts, and fancyes of the Spectators were to be filled with the love-complements between Mucedorus, and his Amadine. So true was that Turning thy mirth into a deadly Dole.
The Lord from heaven, having given a check to ſuch wanton ſports, teaching men what they muſt look for, and that he will not bear with ſuch groſſe open profaneneſſe in ſuch an age of light as this is. That he will ſo farre take notice of the Atheiſme, and profaneneſſe of men in this world, as ſhall keep the world in order, though he hath reſerved the great, and full recompence for another day, and place.