Histrio-mastix The players scourge, or, actors tragædie, divided into two parts. Wherein it is largely evidenced, by divers arguments, by the concurring authorities and resolutions of sundry texts of Scripture ... That popular stage-playes ... are sinfull, heathenish, lewde, ungodly spectacles, and most pernicious corruptions; condemned in all ages, as intolerable mischiefes to churches, to republickes, to the manners, mindes, and soules of men. And that the profession of play-poets, of stage-players; together with the penning, acting, and frequenting of stage-playes, are unlawfull, infamous and misbeseeming Christians. All pretences to the contrary are here likewise fully answered; and the unlawfulnes of acting, of beholding academicall enterludes, briefly discussed; besides sundry other particulars concerning dancing, dicing, health-drinking, &c. of which the table will informe you. By William Prynne, an vtter-barrester of Lincolnes Inne.

ACTVS QVINTVS.

THe unlawfulnesse of penning, acting, and behold∣ing Stage-playes, being thus at large evinced, and those Objections answered, which are most usually op∣posed in their unjust defence, there is nothing now re∣maining, but that I should cloze up this whole Trea∣tise with a few words of exhortation to Play-poets, Players, and Play-haunters, whom the love of Stage-playes hath f 1.1 seduced, to their eternall prejudice.

And here I shall first of all beseech all Play-poets, to ponder with themselves; that they are the primary

causes of all the sinnes which Players, Playes or Play-houses doe occasion: not any one sinne is there that any Actors, Auditors, or Spectators commit by meanes of acting or beholding these their Stage-playes, but flowes originally from them, and g 1.2shall at last be set on their account: for if there were no Play-house-poets there could be no Playes to see or act, and so by conse∣quence no such accursed h 1.3 fruits of Stage-playes as now are too too frequent in the world, both to the publike and mens private hurt. Now tell mee I beseech you, what man, what Christian is there who in Gods, in mens account would thus be branded i 1.4for an inventor of evill things; a publike nursery of all sin and wicked∣nesse; a man borne onely for the common hurt both of himselfe and others, yea an instrument raysed up from Hell it selfe to draw on thousands to that horrid place of their eternall woe. k 1.5 Quanto autem non nasci melius fuit, quā sic numerari inter publico malo natos? l 1.6Bet∣ter had it beene for you never to have had a being, to m 1.7 have perished in the wombe like an untimely birth: yea happier were it that a n 1.8 milstone had beene fastned about your neckes and you so drowned in the very depth of the Sea, then that you should thus pull downe damnation, eternall damnation on your owne and infinite others heads by these your prophane ungodly Enterludes, which will o 1.9 prove no other at the last but the evidences of your vanity, folly, sinne and shame, and without repentance your owne and others destruction. O therefore deare Christian Brethren, as you tender your owne, the States, the Churches welfare; as you feare, that dreadfullp 1.10 reckning which you must shortly make before the Iudgement Seate of Christ, when q 1.11 all your idle, wanton, amorous, prophane, ungodly, scurrilous Playes and words, with all the sinnes they have produced, shall be charged on your soules; let me now perswade you with many a r 1.12 bitter sigh and teare, to lament your former, and seriously to renounce your fu∣ture

Play-making, as h 1.13 many tr••e penitent Play-poets have done before you, endeavouring to consecrate your much applauded wits, your parts and industry to Gods glory, the Churches, the Republikes benefit, your owne and others spirituall good, which you have formerly devo∣ted to the t 1.14 Devils pompes and service, u 1.15 the Republikes prejudice, sinnes advantage, Religions infamy, and mens common hurt. O consider, consider I beseech you, that as long as you continue Play-poets, you are but the u 1.16 professed agents of the world, the flesh, the Devill, whose pompes, whose lusts and vanities you have long since re∣nounced; that you doe but sacrifice your wits, your parts, your studies, your inventions, your lives to these accursed Masters, who can gratifie you with no other * 1.17 wages at the last, but Hell and endlesse torments; a poore reward for so hard a service. Doe not, O doe not then devote your pretious time, your flourishing parts of Poetry, Eloquence, Art and Learning to these usurping hellish tyrants, which you should x 1.18 wh••ly dedicate to your God, y 1.19 to whom they are onely due: but since you are * 1.20 no longer debtors to the flesh to live after the flesh, nor yet to the a 1.21 world, the Devill, or sinne to doe them servic••, let God alone henceforth enjoy them, b 1.22 from whom, for whom you did at first receive them. Alas my Brethren when you shall come to die, when * 1.23 terrors of conscience shall seize upon your soules, or when as d 1.24 Christ himselfe shall sit upon his Throne of Glory for to Iudge you, what good, what comfort, (yea what e 1.25 shame and f 1.26 horror) will all your Play-poems bring to your amazed spirits? then will you wish in earnest, O that we had beene so happy as never to have pend, or seene a Stage-play; yea woe be to us that we were ever ••o ill imployed as to cast away our time, our parts, our studies, our lear∣ning upon such heathenish, foolish and unchristian va∣nities. Alas, g 1.27 one day, one houre in Gods Courts, Gods

service, had h 1.28 beene farre better to us; then all t••e yeeres of our vaine uselesse lives, which wee have spent on Playes and Theaters, which now bring nothing else but a more multiplied treasure of endlesse miseries and con∣demnation on our owne and others soules, which these our Enterludes have drawne on to sundry sinnes. i 1.29 O that the day had perished wherein we were borne, and the night wherein it was said, there is a man-childe conceived! Why dyed we not from the wombe, why did we not give up the ghost when we came out of the belly, before ever we had learnt the art of making Playes? for then should wee have lien still and beene at rest; then had we beene free from all those Play-house sinnes and tortures which now ••urcharge our soules, then had wee never drawne such k 1.30 troopes of Players, of Play-haunters after us into Hell, whose company cannot mitigate, but infinitely enlarge our endlesse torments. And then all this over-late repentance will be to little purpose. O then be truely penitent and wise l 1.31 be••imes, before these dayes of horror and amaze∣ment over-whelme you, that so you may have m 1.32 peace and comfort in your latter ends, in that * 1.33 Great, that terrible Day of the Lord Iesus, when all impenitent Play-poets, Players, and Play-haunters m 1.34 faces shall gather blacknesse, their hearts faint, their spirits languish, their joynts trem∣ble, their knees smite one against the other, and their mouthes shreeke out unto the n 1.35 Mountaines to fall upon them, and unto the Rockes to cover them, for feare of the Lord, and for the glory of his Majesty, when he shall come in ••laming fire to render o 1.36 indignation and wrath, tribula∣tion and anguish to every soule of man that doth evill, whe∣ther he be Iew or Gentile. Certainely the time will p 1.37 come ere long, when the q 1.38 Sunne shall become blacke as sackcloth, and the Moone a•• blood: when the Starres of Heaven shall fall unto the earth even as a Figtree casteth her untimely fruit when shee is shaken with a mighty winde; when th••

Heave••s shall depart as a scrowle when it is rolled toge∣ther, and the Elements melt with fervent heat; when eve∣ry Mountaine and I sland shall be moved out of their pla∣ces, yea the earth also and the workes that are therein shall be burnt up with fire: when the Kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chiefe Captaines, and the mighty men, (who now wallow securely in their sinfull lusts and pleasures without feare of God or man) and every Bond-man and every Free-man (who lives and dyes in sinne and vaine delights) shall hide them∣selves in the Dennes and Rockes of the Mountaines; yea say to the Mountaines and Rockes, fall on us, and cover us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lambe: for the Great Day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand? And then what r 1.39 good, what profit will all the Stage-playes you have penned, seene, or acted, doe you? will they appease that sin-revenging Iudge, before whose Tribunall you shall then bee dragged? Will they any way comfort or support your drooping trembling soules? or any whit asswage your endlesse, easelesse torments? O no! * 1.40 no∣thing but Christ, nothing but grace and holinesse, (which the t 1.41 world, which Playes and Play-poets now deride and laugh at) will then stand you instead, and sheild of all the terrors of that dismall Day. * 1.42 Wherefore (beloved) seeing that all these dreadfull Spectacles, and this day of horror draw so nigh, be diligent that yee may be found of God in peace, without spot and blamelesse; abandoning Play-making, with all such fruitlesse studies, passing all the time of your sojourning here in feare, endevouring to be holy in all manner of conversation, even as God is holy; x 1.43 and growing up daily more and more in grace, and in the know∣ledge of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ, y 1.44 laying up in store for your selves a good foundation against the time to come; that so you may lay hold on eternall life, and re∣ceive that Crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall give at that Day to all those who

love, and wait for his appearing.

Secondly, I shall here beseech all voluntary Actors, [ 2] of academicall or private Enterludes, in the name and feare of God, as they tender the glory of their Creator and Redeemer, the peace of their owne consciences, the eternall welfare of their soules, or their owne cre∣dit and repute with men, now seriously to consider the intolerable infamy, sinfulnesse, shame, and vanity of acting Playes, which not only * 1.45the Primitive Christians, a••d Protestants, but even Pagans and Papists have con∣demned. Alas how can you justifie or excuse your selves in the sight of God for this your action, when as you are thus condemned in the eyes of men? or how can you appeare before God with comfort in the Day of Iudgement, when as you are unable to stand in∣nocent before mans tribunall in these dayes of grace? Certainely, if z 1.46 for every idle word that men shall speake, (yea and for every idle part or gesture to, which they shall act or use) they must give an account at the day of Iudge∣ment; what a dreadfull reckning must you then expect for all those idle wanton words and gestures which have passed from you whiles you have acted Playes? Repent therefore, repent I say with floods of brinish teares for wha•• is past, and never adventure the acting of any academicall Enterlude for time to come. And if any Clergie-men, who have taken ministeriall Or∣ders upon them, are guilty of this infamy, this impiety of prophaning, of polluting their high & heavenly pro∣fession by acting or dancing on any publike or private Stage; becomming thereby the worlds, the Devils pro∣fessed Ministers instead of Christs, to the intolerable scandall of Religion, the ill example of the Laity, (a 1.47 who are apt to imitate them in their b 1.48 lewdnesse) and their own deserved infamy; Let such disorderly histrionicall Di∣vines, consider that of * 1.49 Bernard, Si quis de populo de∣viat

solus perit, Verum Pastoris error multos involuit, & tantis ob est quantis praeest ipse. d 1.50 Verum tu Sacerdos Dei altissimi, cui ex his placere gestis, mundo an Deo? Si mundo, cur Sacerdos? Si Deo, cur qualis populus talis & Sacerdos? Nam si placere vis mundo, quid tibi prodest Sa∣cerdotium? Volens ita{que} placere hominibus, Deo non places. Si non places, non placas. Alas how can any commit the custody of their soules to such who are altogether neg∣ligent of their owne. e 1.51 Qui sibi nequam, cui bonus? * 1.52 Placet vobis ut illi homini credam animam meam qui perdidit suam? was S. Bernards question to Pope Inno∣cent; it may be mine to Patrons and Ordinaries who present or admit such Play-acting or other scandalous Ministers to the cure of soules, which ought to be de∣prived of all sacred Orders and preferments, as the g 1.53 pre∣cedent Councels and Canonists witnesse. But how ever such Actors chance to escape all humane penalties here, let them remember that they shall surely undergoe the everlasting censure of the h 1.54 Great Shepheard of the Sheep, Christ Iesus, hereafter: and let this for ever disswade them from this ungodly practise of personating Stage-playes, which hath beene most execrably infamous in all former ages. As for all professed common Actors, I shall here adjure them by the very hopes and joyes of Heaven, and the eternall torments of Hell, to abomi∣nate, to renounce all future acting, and this their i 1.55 hel∣lish profession, which makes them the very instruments, the arch-agents, the professed bondslaves of the Devill, the pub∣like enemies both of Church and State, the authors of their owne and others just damnation; excommunicating them both from the Church, the Sacraments, and society of the faithfull in this life, and everlastingly excluding them from Gods blessed presence in the life to come. You then who are but newly entred into this infernall unchristian course of Play-acting, consider I beseech you, that this your in∣famous profession is the broad beaten rode to all kinde of vice, of wickednesse & prophanesse; the readiest pas∣sage

unto Hell it selfe, in which you cannot finally pro∣ceed without the assured losse of Heaven; & a professed apprentiship to the very Devill, whose pompes, whose service you have long since renounced in your bap∣tisme; and therefore cannot now embrace without the highest perjury. O then take pitty on your owne poore soules before it be too late; before Stage-playes, sinne, and Satan have k 1.56 gotten such absolute full possession of you, as utterly to disable you to cast off their yoake: And now I pray say thus unto your soules; * 1.57 Cur ergo tan∣topere vitam istam desideramus, in qua quanto amplius vi∣vimus tanto plus peccamus? Quanto est vita longior, tanto culpa numerosior. Quotidie nam{que} crescunt mala & sub∣trahuntur bona. Mi••ime pro certo est bonus qui melior esse non vult: & ubi incipis nolle fieri melior, ibi etiam desinis esse bonus. Alas why will you die, why will you voluntari∣ly cast away your soules for ever by this trade of acting Playes, when as you need not hazard them if you will now renounce it? What, is there any profit or plea∣sure in your owne damnation? is there any advantage to be gotten by the Devils service? is there any safe living in the very mouth of Hell it selfe? Why then should you proceed on in this Diabolicall trade? Doe your Friends or gracelesse Paren••s presse, or else induce you to it, even against your wills? O give them that pa∣thetical resolute answer which Helyas the Monke once gave unto his Parents. m 1.58 Sime vere ut boni, ut pij Paren∣tes diligitis; si veram si fidelem erga filium pietatem habe∣tis, quid me patri omnium Deo placere satagentem inquie∣tatis, & ab ejus servitio cujus servire regnare est, retrahere attentatis? Vere nunc cognosco, n 1.59 quod inimici hominis do∣mestici ejus. In hoc vobis obedire non debeo, in hoc vos non agnosco parentes sed hostes. Si diligeretis me gauderetis uti{que} quiavado admeum at{que} vestrum, immo universorum patrem. Alioquin quid mihi & vobis? o 1.60 Quid à vobis

habeo nisi peccatum & miseriam? hoc solum quod gesto corruptibile corpus de vestro me habere fateor & agnosco. Non sufficit vobis quod me in hanc seculi miseriam miserum miseri induxistis, quod in peccato vestro peccatores pecca∣torem genuistis; quod in peccato natum de peccato nutri∣stis, nisi etiam invidendo mihi misericordiam quam conse∣cutus sum ab eo qui non vult mortem peccatoris, filium in∣super gehennae faciatis? O durum patrem! ô saevam ma∣trem! ô parentes crudeles & impios! imo non parentes sed peremptores, quorum dolor salus pignoris, quorum consola∣tio mors filij est. Qui me malunt perire cum ijs, quâm reg∣nare sine eis. Qui me rursus ad naufragium unde tandem nudus evasi, rursus ad ignem, unde vix semiustus exivi, rursus adlatrones à quibus semivivus relictus sum, sed mi∣serante Samaritano jàm aliquantulum convalui, revocare conantur, & militem Christi prope jam rapto caelo trium∣phantem, ab ipso jam introitu gloriae, tanquam canem ad vomitum, tanquam suem ad lutum, ad seculum reducere moliuntur. Mira abusio. Domus ardet; ignis instat à tergo, & fugienti prohibetur egredi, evadenti suadetur re∣gredi? & haec ab his qui in incendio positi sunt & obstina∣tissima dementia, ac dementissima obstinatione fugere peri∣culum nolunt? Proh furor! Si vos contemnitis mortem ve∣stram, cur etiam appetitis meam? Si inquam negligitis sa∣lutem vestram, quid juvat etiam persequi meam? Quare vos non potius sequimini me fugientem, ut non ardeatis? An hoc est vestri cruciatus levamen, si me etiam perima∣tis, & hoc solumtimetis, ne soli pereatis? Ardens ardenti∣bus quod solatium praestare poterit? Quae inquam consola∣tio damnatis socios habere suae damnationis, &c? Desinite igitur parentes mei, desinite, & vos frustra plorando affli∣gere, & me gratis revocando inquietere. Doth the love of gaine or pleasure allure you to it? Alas, p 1.61 what will it profit you to win the whole world (much lesse a little fil∣thy gaine, or foolish carnall momentany delight) and then to lose your soules? q 1.62 Remember therefore your Crea∣tor in the dayes of your youth, by abjuring the Devils ser∣vice,

and betaking your selves to Gods, lest the Devill being your lord and master in your youth, prove your tormentor onely in your age. r 1.63 Recedat ita{que} peccandi amor, succedat judicij timor. Nam quamdiu in vobis car∣nalium re••um vixerit appetitus, spiritalium à vobis sensu∣um elongabit affectus. Nemo in vas aliquo faetore corrup∣tum balsama pretiosa transfundit; & sicut dixit Dominus: Nemo mittit vinum novum in utres veteres. Difficile est ut assurgere ad bonum possis, nisi à malo ante diverteris: quamdiu nova delicta adijciuntur, vetera non curantur. Prorsus peccata non redimet, qui peccare non desinit: quia nemo potest duobus dominis servire. In uno animae domicilio iniquitas at{que} justitia, castitas at{que} luxuria simul habitare non possunt. Interdicatur igitur accessus voluptati, at{que} li∣bidini, ut domus munda pateat castitati: excludatur Dia∣bolus cum militia vitiorum, ut Christus cum choro possit intrate virtutum. You who have beene ancient Stage-players, and have served many Apprentiships to the Devill in this your infernall profession, O consider, con∣sider seriously I beseech you, the wretched condition wherein now you stand: your parts are almost acted, your last dying Scenes draw on apace, and it will not be long ere you goe off the Theater of this world s 1.64 unto your proper place; and then how miserable will your condition be? You have beene the Devils professed agents, his meniall hired servants all your lives, and must you not then expect his wages at your deathes? You have treasured up nought but wrath unto your selves against the day of wrath, whiles you lived here,t 1.65 precipita∣ting both your selves and others to destruction; and can you reape ought but wrath and vengeance hereafter if you repent not now? Your very u 1.66profession hath excommuni∣cated you the Church, the Sacraments, the society of the Saints on earth; and will it not then much more exclude you out of Heaven? * 1.67 O miserabilis humana conditio, & sine Christo vanum omne quod vivimus! was S. Hieroms patheticall ejaculation: and may it not be much more

yours, who have * 1.68 lived without Christ in the world, who have renounced his service, and betaken your selves to the Devils workes and pompes against your bapti••mall vow, as if you had covenanted by your selves and others to serve the Devill, and performe his workes, even then when you did at first abjure them: O then bewaile with many a bitter teare, with many an heart-piercing sigh; with much shame, much hor∣ror, griefe and indignation, the losse of all that precious time which you have already consumed in the Devils vassalage•• and since God hath forborne you for so many yeeres, out of his tender mercy, O now at last thinke it enough, yea too too much that you have spent your best, your chiefest dayes in this unchristian diabolicall lewde profession; professing publikely in z 1.69 S. Peters words; The time past of our lives may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, and of the Devill to, we will henceforth live to God alone: If you will now cast of your former hellish trade of life, with shame and de∣testa••ion; if you will prove new men, new creatures for the time to come; Christs armes, Christs wounds, yea and the Church her bosome stand open to receive you, notwithstanding all the * 1.70 lusts and sinnes of your for∣mer ignorance. But if you will yet stop your eares, and harden your hearts against all advice proceeding on stil in this your ungodly trade of life, * 1.71 in which you cannot but be wicked, then know you are such as are marked out for Hell; b 1.72 such who are given up to a reprobate sence to worke all uncleanesse even with greedinesse, that you all may be damned in the Day of Iudgement, for taking pleasure in unrighteousnesse, and disobeying the truth. As therefore you expect to enter Heaven Gates, or to escape eternall damnation in that great dreadfull Day, c 1.73 when you must all appeare before the Iudgement Seate of Christ, to give a particular account of all those idle, vaine and sinfull actions gestures, words and thoughts, which have proceeded from you, or beene occasioned in others by you all your dayes; be

sure to give over this wicked trade of Play-acting without any more delayes, which will certainely bring you to destruction, if you renounce it not, d 1.74 as all true penitent Players have done before you. For if the righte∣ous shall scarcely be saved in the Day of Iudgement, where shall such ungodly sinners, as you appeare?e 1.75 Certainely, f 1.76you shall not be able to stand in Iudgement, or to justifie your selves in this your profession in that sinne-confounding soule-appaling Day: but g 1.77you shall then be punished with everlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord, & from the glory of his power, if the very riches of his grace and mercy will not perswade you to renounce this calling now; * 1.78 Quanto{que} diutius Deus vos expectavit vt emendetis, tanto districtius judicabit si neglexeritis: by how much the longer God hath forborne you here expecting your repētance, the more severely shal he then condemne you.

If any Stage-players here object,* 1.79 that they know not how to live or maintaine themselves if they should give over acting.

To this I answer first,* 1.80 that as it is no good argument for Bawdes, Panders, Whores, Theeves, Sorcerers, Witches, Cheaters, to persevere in these their wicked courses, because they cannot else maintaine themselves; so it is no good Plea for Players. h 1.81 No man must live by any sinfull profession; nor yet doe evill that good may come of it: therefore you must not maintaine your selves by acting Playes, it being a lewde unchristian infamous occupation. Secondly, there are divers lawfull callings and imployments by which Players might live in bet∣ter credit, in a farre happier condition then now they doe, would they but bee industrious: i 1.82 It is therefore Players idlenesse, their love of vanity & sinfull pleasures, not want of other callings, that is the ground of this objection. Thirdly, admit there were no other course of life but this for Players; I dare boldly averre that the charity of Christians is such, as that they would readily sup∣ply the wants of all such indigent impotent aged

Actors (unable to get their livelihood by any other lawfull trade) who out of conscience shall give over Playing. Certainely, the charity of Christians was such in k 1.83 Cyprians dayes, that they would rather maintaine poore penitent Actors with their publike almes, then suffer them to perish, or continue acting; and I doubt not but their charity will be now as large in this particular as it was then. Lastly, admit the objection true; yet it were farre better for you to die, to starve, then any wayes to live by sinne or sinfull courses. There is l 1.84 no absolute ne∣cessity at all that men should live; but there is this necessity lies on all men, not to sinne•• yea every pious Christian as is evident by the concurrent examples of all the Mar∣tyrs, should rather chuse to die the cruellest death, then to commit one act of sinne. Better therefore is it for Players to part with their profession for Christs sake even with the very losse of their lives and goods, (which m 1.85 they must willingly lose for Christ, or else they are not worthy of him,) then to retaine their Play-acting, and so lose their Saviour, themselves, their very bodies and soules for all eternity, as all unreclaimed, unrepenting Players in all probability ever doe. Let Players there∣fore if they will be mercifull to themselves, shew mer∣cy rather to their soules, then to their bodies or estates. * 1.86Talis enim misericordia crudelitate plena est, qua vide∣l••cet ita corpori servitur, ut anima juguletur. Quae enim charitas est, carnem diligere, & spiritum negligere? * 1.87 Quaeve discretio, totum dare corpori & animae nihil? Qualis vero mis••••icordia ancillam reficere & dominam interficere? Ne∣mo pro hujusmodi misericordia sperat se consequi misericor∣diam sed certissime potius paenam expectet. Yea let them re∣nounce their Play-acting though they perish here, rather then perish eternally hereafter to live by it now.

Lastly, I shall here exhort all Play-haunters, all Spe∣ctators of any publike or private Enterludes, to ponder

all the premised reasons and Authorities against Stage-playes, together with those o 1.88 severall soule-condemning wickednesses, sinnes, yea fearefull judgements, in which they frequently involue their Actors and Spectators: to re∣member, that they are the very p 1.89 Devils snares, his workes, his pompes, which they most solemnely renounced in their baptisme: that they are q 1.90 the greatest, the most pernicious corruptions both of their Actors, their Spectators mindes and manners; the onely Canker-wormes of their graces, their vertues; the chiefest incendiaries of their car∣nall lusts•• the common occasions of much actuall lewdnesse, sinne and wickednesse; the principall obstacles of their sin∣cere repentance; the grand empoysoners of their soules; and if we believe r 1.91 S. Augustine, the mortiferous broad bea∣ten way to Hell it selfe, and everlasting death, in which whole troopes of men run daily on unto destruction. O then let all these, all other fore-alleaged flexanimous conside∣rations divorce you now from Stage-playes, from Theaters, which else will seperate you from your God; and so engage your hearts, your judgements, your con∣sciences against them, as never to frequent them more upon any occasion or perswasion whatsoever. You have heard and seene at large what Censures, what Verdicts the * 1.92 Primitive Church, both before and under the Law and Gospell; the ancientest Christians, Councels, Fathers; the best Ch••istian, the best Pagan Nations, Emperours, Princes, States, Magistrates, Writers, both ancient and moderne, have constantly, have unanimously passed upon Stage-playes, Theaters, Players, Play-haunters, against whom Ter∣tullian, Cyprian, Chrysostome, Augustine, Salvian, and o∣ther Fathers, with sundry moderne Authors, have pro∣fessedly written ample Volumes: You have seene all

ages, all places, all qualities and degrees of men, t 1.93 Iewes and Gentiles, Greekes and Barbarians, Christians and Pa∣gans, Protestants and Papists, yea Popes and Iesuits to, concurring in their just damnation. Be not, O be not yee therefore u 1.94 wiser, nay worser, then all, then any of these Play-condemning Worthies who have gone before you; (whose harmonious Play-confounding resolutions agree∣able with the Scripture, if Saint x 1.95 Bernard may be cre∣dited, must binde you to renounce all Stage-playes, in the very selfesame manner as if God himselfe had expresly commanded you to abandon them:) frequent not Playes which they abominated; pleade not for Enterludes which they so seriously, so abundantly condemned: Let not that censure of holy y 1.96 Bernard be verified of you; that you have now not onely lost the power of the ancient Christian Religion, but even the very shew and outside to: but as you are Christians in name, in profession, so bee you such in truth, in practise. And since it was the z 1.97 most notorious character of Christians heretofore, to abo∣minate, to abandon Players, Playes and Play-houses; let it bee your honour, your piety, your practicall badge of Christianity to forsake them now: that so imitating the Primitive Play-renouncing Christians in their holinesse, you may at last participate with them in their eternall blisse. And so much the rather let me admonish you to withdraw your selves from Playes and Play-houses, because no ordinance of God can doe you any good, or clense you from your sinnes, whiles you resort to Theaters, as I have * 1.98 largely proved: heare but Saint Chrysostome once more to this purpose, where spea∣king against mens and womens parling, laughing, and ga∣zing

about in Churches (which * 1.99 hee severely censures) he writes thus. a 1.100 Nunquid theatrica sunt haec quae hîc geruntur? opinor autem quod id Theatris debeamus. Ino∣bedientes enim multos nobis constituunt & ineptos: quae enim hîc extruuntur, illic subvertuntur: & non hoc solum, sed & alias immunditias necesse est Theatri studiosis ad∣haerere. Et perinde fit ac si quis campum velit purgare, in quem fons lut•• fluens, ins••uat; quantum enim purgaris, tantum influit. Hoc & hîc fit, quando enim purgamus à Theatro huc venientes, & immundiciam afferentes, dum illuc iterum abeunt, majorem contrahunt immundiciam, quasi dedita opera sic vivant ut nobis negocium faciant, & iterum veniunt multo luto sordidati, in moribus, in gesti∣bus, in verbis, in risu, i•• desidia. Deinde iterum nos fodi∣mus, quasi dedita opera in hoc fodientes, ut puros illos di∣missos iterum videamus luto ac caeno inquinari. You then who have beene constant Play-haunters besmeared with their filth and dung for divers yeeres together, you who have spent your youth your manhood, your best and chiefest dayes * 1.101 which you should have dedica∣ted to God, your honest callings, and farre better things; on Playes, on Play-houses, and such lascivious sports, you who have cast away your money, your estates on Players, Playes & Play-houses, (the b 1.102 very factors, pompes and synagogues of the Devill) c 1.103 wherewith you should have cherished Christs poore needy members; You who have beene ancient Patriots, Supporters of Actors or their Enterludes either by your purses, or your presence, drawing thereby upon your soules the guilt of many a fearefull unlamented sinne; remember, O remember that it is now d 1.104 more then time for you to clense your selves from these Augaean Stables; with which you have beene too long defiled: to renounce these cursed pompes of Satan, which you have too long served; e 1.105 to redeeme the short remainder of that most sacred time which you have too prodigally, too sinfully consumed; to take some speedy serious course for the f 1.106 mortifying of

those soule-slaying ••leshly lusts which you have over-long fomented; for the g 1.107 adorning, the saving of those immor∣tall soules, which you have over-much neglected; for the h 1.108 attoning of that holy God, that blessed Saviour that sanctifying Spirit of grace, which you have too highly, too long i 1.109 provoked, k 1.110 crucified, l 1.111 grieved; which you m 1.112 can never doe whiles you resort to Stage-playes. And since the world, the flesh, the Devill have had your youth and strength, let God be sure to enjoy your age, whom you have n 1.113 sacrilegiously robbed of all the rest. Alas, all the time that you have already past in Play-haun∣ting, and such delights of sinne, hath beene but a time of spirituall death, wherein you have beene worse then nought in Gods account: o 1.114 Ab eo enim tempore cense∣mur ex quo in Christo renascimur, as Saint Hierom truely writes: and what other profit have you reaped from Playes or Play-houses, p 1.115 Nisi quod senes magis onusti peccatorum fasce proficiscimini, as the same Father speaks? O therefore now at last before it be too q 1.116 late, before death hath wounded you, Heaven excluded you, Hell devoured you, repent of all your former Play-haunting with many a sob and teare, abandoning all Playes, all Play-houses for the future; r 1.117 ut sic correcti at{que} in meliu•• reformati, qui admirati fuerant prius in Spectaculis insani∣am, nunc admirentur in moribus disciplinam. You who are but young and newly entred into this dangerous course of Play-haunting; you of whom I may say as * 1.118 Seneca once did of the Roman gentry; Ostendam nobi∣lissimos juvenes mancipia pantomimorum, remember that holy covenant which you not long since made to God in baptisme, s 1.119 to forsake the Devill and all his workes, the pompes, the vanities of this wicked world, with all the sin∣full lusts of the flesh, of which Stage-playes (as the t 1.120 Fathers

teach you) are the chiefe; O perjure, perjure not your selves, renounce not your christianity, your faith, your vow, your baptisme (by frequenting Playes) in your youth, your child-hood; u 1.121 bequeath not your selves so soone unto the Devill, after your solemne consecration unto God in Christ; let not him gaine possession of your persons, your service in your youth, that so hee may command, and challenge them in your age; * 1.122 Non enim obtin••bis ut desinat si incipere permiseris: ergo intranti resistamus, &c. But as x 1.123 you have given up your soules and bodies as an holy living sacrifice unto God in baptisme, to serve him with them in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of your lives; so be yee sure to make good your promise, by y 1.124 remembring, by serving your Creator in the dayes of your youth, your strength, your health and life, who will z 1.125 then crowne you with glory and immortality at your death. Pitty it is to see how many ingenious Youthes and Girles; how many young (that I say not old) Gentlemen and Gentlewomen of birth and quality, (as if they were borne for no other purpose but to consume their youth, their lives in lascivious dallian∣ces, Playes and pastimes, or in pampering, in a 1.126 adorning those idolized living carcases of theirs, which will turne to earth, to dung, to rottennesse and wormes-meat ere be long, and to condemne, their poore neglected soules) casting by all honest studies, callings, imploy∣ments, all care of Heaven, of salvation, of their owne immortall soules, of that God who made them, that

Saviour who redeemed them, that Spirit who should sanctifie them, and that Common-weale that fosters them; doe in this idle age of ours, like those b 1.127 Epicures of old most prodigally, most sinfully riot away the very creame and flower of their yeeres, their dayes in Play-houses, in Dancing-schooles, Tavernes, Ale-houses, Dice-houses, Tobacco-shops, Bowling-allies, and such infamous places, upon those life-devouring, time-ex∣hausting Playes and pastimes, (that I say not sinnes be∣side,) as is a shame for Pagans, much more for Christians to approve. O that men endued with reason, ennobled with religion; with immortall soules, c 1.128 fit onely for the noblest, heavenliest, sublimest and divinest actions, should ever bee so desperately besotted as to wast their pre∣cious time upon such vaine, such childish, base igno∣ble pleasures, which can d 1.129 no way profit soule or body, Church or State; nor yet advance their temporall, much lesse their spirituall and eternall good, which they should ever seeke. You therefore deare Christian Brethren, who are, who have beene peccant in this kinde, for Gods sake, for Christs sake, for the holy Ghosts sake, for Religions sake, (which now extremely * 1.130 suffers by this your folly;) for the Church and Com∣mon-weales sake, for your owne soules sake, which you so much neglect, repent of what is past recalling, and for the future time resolve through Gods assistance, never to cast away your time, your money, your estates, your good names, your lives, your salvation, upon these unprofitable spectacles of vanity, lewdnesse, lasci∣viousnesse, or these delights of sinne, of which you must necessarily repent and be f 1.131 ashamed, or else be condemned for them at the last; g 1.132 passing all the time of your pilgri∣mage here in feare, and imploying all the remainder of your short inconstant lives, in those honest studies, cal∣lings•• and pious Christian duties,h 1.133 which have their fruit unto holinesse, and the end everlasting life. And because we have now many wanton females of all sorts resort∣ing

daily by troopes unto our Playes, our Play-houses, to see and to be seene, as they did in i 1.134 Ovids age; I shall only desire them (if not their Parents and Husbands, to con∣sider; k 1.135 that it hath evermore beene the notorious badge of prostituted Strumpets and the lewdest Harlots, to ram∣ble abroad to Playes, to Play-houses; whether no honest, chast or sober Girles or Women, but only branded Whores, & infamous Adulteresses did usually resort in ancient times: the * 1.136 Theater being then made a common Brothell: And that all ages, all places have constantly suspected the chasti∣ty, yea branded the honesty of those females who have beene so immodest as to resort to Theaters, to Stage-playes, which either finde or make them Harlots; * 1.137 inhibiting all married Wives and Virgins to resort to Playes and Theaters,* 1.138 as I have here amply proved•• Since therefore Saint Paul ex∣presly enjoynes all women (especially those of the younger sort) to be l 1.139 sober, chaste, keepers at home, (yea m 1.140 therefore keepers at home, that they may be chaste and sober, as anci∣ent and moderne Commentators glosse it;) that the Word of God be not blasphemed: (where as the dissolutenesse of our lascivious, impudent, rattle-pated gadding females now is such, that as if they had purposely studied to ap∣propriate to themselves King Solomons memorable cha∣racter of an whorish woman, n 1.141 with an impudent face, a sub∣tile heart and the attire of an Harlot; they are lowde and stubborne; their feet abide not in their houses; now they are without, now in the streets, and lie in wait at every corner; being never well pleased nor contented, but when they are wandring abroad to Playes, to Play-houses, Dancing-matches, Masques, and publike Shewes; from which nature it selfe (if we believe S. * 1.142 Chrysostome

hath sequestred all women; (or to such suspicious places under pretence of businesse or some idle visits, where they oft-times leave their modesty, their chastity be∣hinde them, to their eternall infamy:) Let me now be∣seech all female Play-haunters, as they regard this Apo∣stolicall precept, which enjoynes them, to be sober, chast, keepers at home (or good carefull House-wives, as * 1.143 som•• have rendred it:) * 1.144 adorning themselves in modest appa∣rell, with shamefastnesse and sobriety: (which now are out of fashion) not with broidered cut or borrowed plaited haire, or gold, or pearles, or costly array, (the onely fashi∣ons of our age;) but (which becommeth women professing godlinesse) with good workes: As they tender their owne honesty, fame or reputation both with God and men; the honour of their sex; the prayse of that Christian Religion, which they professe, the glory of their God, their Saviour, and their q 1.145 soules salvation, to abandon Playes and Play-houses, as most pernicious Pests; where r 1.146 all females, wrecke their credits; most, their chastity; some, their fortunes; not a few, their soules: and to say unto them as the Philosopher did unto his wealth which he cast into the Sea, * 1.147 Abite in profundum malae cupiditates; ego vos mergam ne ipse mergar à vobis.

CATASTROPHE.

I Have now deare Christian Readers, through Gods assistance, compleatly finished this my Histrio-Mastix,

wherein I have represented both to your view and s 1.148 censures to, (as well as my poore ability, and other interloping Imployments would permit,) the unlaw∣fulnesse, the mischievous qualities and effects of Stage-playes themselves, and of their penning, acting, and fre∣quenting; endeavoring (out of a t 1.149 cordiall desire of your eternall welfare) as much as in mee lieth, to perswade you to abandon them; by ripping up the severall mis∣chiefes and dangers that attend them. If any there∣fore henceforth perish by frequenting Stage-playes, after this large discovery of their sin-engendring soule-condemning qualities, their sinne, u 1.150 their blood shall light upon their owne heads, not an mine, who have taken all this paines to doe them good. All then I shall desire of you in recompence of my labour, is but this; that as I have acted my part in oppugning, so you would now play your parts to in abominating, in abandoning, Stage-playes, without which this Play-refuting Trea∣tise, will doe no good, but hurt unto your soules, by turning your sinnes of ignorance, into sinnes of know∣ledge and rebellion. The labour of it hath beene mine alone; my desire, my prayer is and shall bee, that the benefit, the comfort of it may be yours, the Republikes, and the glory, Gods; the x 1.151 convincing concurrence of whose ever-blessed Spirit, so blesse, so prosper it to your everlasting weale, that y 1.152 your whole spirits, soules and bo∣dies, may be henceforth preserved blamelesse, from all fu∣ture soule-defiling Enterludes and delights of sinne, unto the comming of our Lord Iesui Christ•• (z 1.153 before whose dreadful Tribunall we must al ere long be summoned, to give an account of all our actions:) & that you may so judge of Stage-playes now, as you will determine of them in that great dreadfull Day of Iudgement, and in the day of death, when you shall not judge amisse. And because no dissolute Libertines, or licentious Readers through Satans or the worlds delusions, should cheat their ••oules of the benefit intended to them by this worke,

out of a prejudicate opinion, that it is overstrict, and more then puritanically invective against Players, Playes and Theaters; to prevent this fond evasion, and to put all a 1.154 exclaiming Play-patriots to perpetuall silence, pretermitting the memorable omitted authorities of Gulielmus Stuckius, Antiquitatum Convivalium. lib. 3. cap, 20••21, 22, &c Tiguri. 1597. and of Gulielmus Peral∣dus, Summae Virtutum ac Vitiorum. Tom. 2. Lugduni. 1585. Tit. De Luxuria. c. 3. p. 68. to 77. two excellent learned Discourses against Stage-playes, health-drinking, and b 1.155 mixt lascivious dancing, which I shall commend unto your reading; with c 1.156 the Imperiall Edicts of Charles the Great, against Stage-playes and Dancing on Lords-dayes, and Holy-dayes, and all fore-cited Play-condemning Authorities:) I shall here by way of Con∣clusion, cloze up this whole Discourse, with the words of Ioannis Mariana, a famous Spanish Iesuit; who be∣sides his large and learned Booke, De Spectaculis, pro∣fessedly oppugning Stage-playes, hath since the publi∣cation of that Treatise, in his 3. Booke and 16. Chapter De Rege & Regum Institutione. pag. 341. to 352. (de∣dicated to King Philip the 3. of Spaine, and published in the yeere 1598. Cum Privilegio Caesareae Majestatis & permissu Superiorum, with the speciall prefixed approba∣tions of Stephanus Hoieda, Visitor, and Petrus De Onna, Master Provinciall of the Iesuits of the Province of Toledo, in Spaine,) delivered his positive and deliberate resolu∣tion against Players, Playes, and Play-houses in these en∣suing termes, which is every way as harsh, as rigid and precise as any verdict, that either I my selfe, or any other fore-quoted Authors have here past against them. His words well worthy all Players and Play-haunters consi∣deration are these.

* 1.157 Publicam ludorum insaniam, quae spectacula nomi∣nantur, * 1.158 seperata disputatione pro virili parte castiga∣vimus, multis{que} Argumentis & majorum testimonijs con∣firmavimus, theatri licentiam, de qua potissimum laboran∣dum est, nihil esse aliud; * 1.159 quam o••ficinam impudicitiae & improbitatis, ubi omnis aetatis, sexus & conditionis ho∣mines depravantur: simulatis{que} & ludicris actionibus ad vitia vera informantur. Admonentur enim quid facere possint, & inflammantur libidine, quae aspectu maxime & auribus concitatur: puellae presertim, & juvenes, quos in∣tempestive voluptatibus infici grave est, * 1.160 at{que} reipublicae Christianae exitiale malum. Quid enim continet scena, nisi virginum * 1.161 stupra, & mores prostituti pudoris fae∣minarum, lenonum artes, at{que} lenarum, ancillarum & servorum fraudes, versibus numerosis & ornatis expli∣cata, sententiarum luminibus distincta, eo{que} tenacius memoriae adhaerentia, quarum rerum ignoratio multò commodi••r est? Histrionum impudici motus & gestus, fractae{que} in faeminarum modum voces, quibus impudi∣cas mulieres imitantur, quid aliud nisi ad libidinem in∣••lammant, per se ad vitia satis proclives? An major ulla corruptela morum excogitari possit? Quae enim in scena per imaginem aguntur, peracta fabula cum risu commemorantur, sine pudore deinde fiunt, voluptatis cupi∣ditate animum titillante: qui sunt veluti gradus ad susci∣piendam pravitatem, cum sit facilie à jocis ad seria tran∣situs. Rectè enim & sapienter Solomon, Quasi per risum, inquit, stultus operatur Scelus; turpia enim, at{que} inhone∣sta factu dictu{que} dum ridemus, approbamus: suo{que} pon∣dere pravitas identidem inpejus trahit: * 1.162 Censeo ergo, moribus Christianis certissimā pestem afferre theatri licen∣tiam, nomini Christiano gravissimam ignominiam. Censeo Principi eam rem vel maxime curae fore, ne aut ipse suo ex∣emplo authoritatem conciliet arti vanissimae, si frequenter intersit spectaculis, audiat{que} libenter fabulas, praesertim quae ab histrionibus venalibus exhibentur: & quoad fieri pote∣rit, de tota provincia exturbet eam pravitatem. Ne{que} con∣cedat

mores suorum ea turpitudine depravari. * 1.163 Hoc no∣strum votum est destinata{que} sententia. Verum populi levitas & peccantium multitudo, quasi moles quaedam opponitur; tum auctoritas eorum qui communi Errori patrocinantur. Et est excusatio furoris multitudo insa∣norum, hoc quo{que} nomine prava nostra natura, quod vi∣tijs suis & cupiditatibus favet, ne{que} facile avelli se sinit ab ijs quae cum voluptate suscipiuntur; cujus sumus na∣tura cupidissimi. Vsque adeo ut si quis vanitati resi∣stat, ei vehementer irascatur populi multitudo. * 1.164 Ille si•• publicus inimicus, Augustinus ait, cui haec faelicitas displi∣cet, quisquis eam auferre vel mutare tentaverit, eum libera multitudo, avertat ab auribus, evertat à sedibus, auferat à viventibus. Excaecat nimirum prava consuetudo ani∣mos, & quae passim fieri videmus, defendere conantur quidem * 1.165 licentiae patroni, magni scilicet Theologi, quasi juri & aequitati consona, otio & literis abu••entes: quos redarguere facile erit testimonio & authoritate veterum Theologorum, in hac re non discrepantium; à quibus dis∣cedere nostrae aetatis Theologos velle non putamus. Has omnes simulatae veritatis praestigias retegere non erit difficile, multitudinem à furore retinere difficilius erit: nisi publica accesserit authoritas, quorum interest magistratuum. Profecto curandum est, ut ea opinio publice suscipiatur, * 1.166 Theatra sane, quibus obscaena ar∣gumenta tractantur; officinam universae improbitatis esse, qui concurrunt eò non secus facere, quam qui ad ganeas, ad furta, ad caedes, ad lupanaria: qui suscepti laboris fructus erit multò maximus. Erunt enim qui pravitate cognita desinant peccare, salutem{que} suam turpi voluptate potio∣rem habeant, ne{que} prudenter & scientes in mortem feran∣tur furentes, rapidi, & miserabiles. Illud certe omni cura prestandum, ut haec* 1.167 natio perditorum hominum, penitus à templis exturbet••r: quod Romanorum tempore fuisse aliquando factum, Tacitus, Libro quartodecimo his verbis indicat. Ac ne modica quidem studia plebis exar∣sere, quia redditi quanquam scaenae pantomimi,* 1.168 certamnibus

sacris prohibeantur. * 1.169 Qua ergo fronte histriones de foro raptos é publicis diversorijs in Templu•• Christiani indu∣cent, ut per eos sacra festorum laetitia augeatur? Aut quî conveniat, uti Augustinus contra Romanos antiquos ait; histriones ignominia notare, at{que} in infamiûm numero ponere, per quos divinus cultus honestatur? cur à sacris or∣dinibus repellantur, quod ecclesiasticae leges sanciunt, quorum opera dies festi & caelestium celebritates illu∣strantur? Sed obijcis fortasse, eos in templis non in tur∣pibus argumentis versari, sed sacras historias referre; quod utinam verum esset, & non potius ad movendum populi risum, obscaenissima quo{que} actitarent. Et est a∣cerbum negare non posse, quod sit turpe confiteri. * 1.170 S••imus s••pe in sanctissimis templis inter fabuli actus, ch••ri adinstar adulterorum furta, amores tu••pes recitari, ut ho∣nestissimus quis{que} ea spectacula vitare debeat, si decori, & pudori consultum velit. * 1.171 Et putabimus tamen quae à mode∣stis hominibus fugiuntur, ea caelestibus esse grata? Ego crediderim potius quasi sordes & religionis ludibria, hos omnes ludos à sanctissimistemplis esse exterminandos, ac im∣primis publicos histriones, qui cum turpi vita sint, religio∣nem faedare potius sua ipsorum ignominia videntur; & assueti turpibus, in sanctissimis locis odorem, quo imbuti sunt, ore, oculis, & toto corpore exhalant: ac nescio an aliquando fabulam agant, quin verba turpia, vel impru∣dentibus saepe excidant: & hos tamen contendemus divi∣nis celebritatibus adhibere? Sed fac, (quod nunquam acci∣disse probabis) histriones severa aliqua lege constrictos, intra modestiae fines contineri posse, ac sacras tantum historias cum dignitate referre; * 1.172 contendo, non minus eum morem cum religionis sanctitate pugnare, ne{que} minus dedecus reipub. afferre: Quî enim conveniat ab hominibus turpibus Divorum res gestas referri, eos{que} Francisci, Do∣minici, Magdalenae, Apostolorum, ipsius etiam * 1.173 Christi personas repraesentare? An non id sit Caelum terrae, aut caeno

potius, sacra profanis miscere? Imagines in templis magna honestate depingi cavetur, & impudicam faeminam Mariae aut Catharinae, probosum hominem Augustini, aut Antonij personam sustinere patiamur? Quod Arnobius certe, & antiquior Tertullianus ab antiquis factitatum accusant: ignominiosos homines in scenam sanctissimorum Deorum personas inducere. Nonne violatur Majestas. (Tertullianus ait) & divinitas constupratur, laudantibus vobis? Quae verba ad nostros mores transferas licet, at{que} in antiquis interpreteris•• nostrorum licentiam & turpitudinem ac∣cusari. * 1.174 Ita{que} si duorum optio danda esset, mallem ab hi∣strionibus profanas fabulas agi, quam sacras historias: quo∣••iam cum decore & honestate eos facere non posse persuasum plane habeo, tum ob eorum vilitatem & dedecus, tum ob faedissimos mores, parem{que} actionum levitatem & turpitudi∣nem. Et ipse cogitabam in templis festis{que} Divorum omnia ad pietatera & modestiara comparanda esse, quibus rebus animus excitatur ad religionem & ad rerum divinarum contemplationem, ijs{que} communiter & privatim vacandum esse. Risus, plausus, clamores an id praestens, per se quis{que} considerabit. Sequitur pravitas alia, ne{que} minor superiori, neque minus devitanda. * 1.175 Mulieres excellenti pulchri∣tudine, eximia actionum venustate & gratia inducuntur in Theatrum, quod maximum est incitamentum libidinis, & ad corrumpendos homines potissimum valet. Deus enim (uti Basilius ait libro de virginitate) cum conderet ani∣mantes in utrum{que} sexum distinctas, aestrum mutuae cupidi∣tatis inseruit, inter homines maxime, qua se invicem appe∣terent, majorem multò in viro, quoniam faeminam de ejus latere formatam diligit ut proprium membrum, & ad eam toto impetu rapitur. * 1.176 Sic faemina in se quandam virtutem habet, miram{que} potestatem trahendi ad se virum, non secus a•• Magnes, cum ipse non moveatur, ferrum ad se rapit. Contra hanc potissimum cupiditatem pugnare debent, quicun{que} pudicitiae dignitatem consequi student, nun∣quam interrupto us{que} ad vitae finem certamine: * 1.177 Quod an ij faciant, qui tanto studio ad Theatra concurrunt, pius

& modestus lector secum ipse consideret. Enim vero cum histriones studia omnia lucro metiantur, ut multitudi∣nem alliciant, quam non ignorant aspectu mulierum, & auditu maxime capi, omnes fraudes suscipiunt, nulla ho∣nestatis cura: us{que} eò ut in templa etiam turpes has mu∣lierculas inducant: quod his Annis non semel factitatum est, neque uno loco in Hispania, quod horrescunt audire aures; de quibus rebus egerint pudet, piget{que} dicere. Et * 1.178 Principum munus est resistere levitati multitudinis, & perditorum hominum temeritati. Non ignoramus antiquis temporibus mulieres in scenas fuisse invectas, quas in∣signi impudentia corpora etiam nudasse, omnem{que} aeta∣tem objecta specie libidinis expugnasse passim at{que} cor∣rupisse, sua quo{que} aetate * 1.179 Chrysostomus multis locis accu∣sat. Nudas quidem in nostra Theatra mulieres prodi∣re non arbitror, tametsi nonnunquam in ipsa actione nudari audiebam, certe tenuissimis vestibus indutas prodire, quibus membra omnia figurantur, ac ferme subijcuntur oculis. Mulieris autem aspectu pulchrae & ornatae, pre∣terea ge••tus & verba in molliciem fracta adjungentis, quid potentius esse possit ad illiciendas animas, at{que} in sem∣piternam mortem impellendas, inflammandas{que} libidine, ego sane non video: vincit officium linguae periculi magnitudo: eo amplius quod haec etiam turpitudo suos patronos ha∣bet, non quosuis de populo, sed viros eruditionis & modestiae opinione praestantes. Aiunt enim aut comaedias in universum abdicandas, aut mulieres inducendas in Theatrum, * 1.180 quod majus periculum immineat si pueri sub∣stituantur in veste muliebri & ornatu, quo aspectu ad prae∣posteram & nefariam libidinem populus solicitetur. Nimi∣rum velamen malitiae quaerunt: aliud agunt, aliud agere videri volunt. Hispanorum nationi suspicio criminis imponitur, à quo natura abhorret, (paucos excipio) & nos in provincijs quibus id malum viget, scimus saepe pueros in scenam prodijsse sine periculo; varias{que} per∣sonas ut res se dabat cum dignitate, eligantiaque acti∣tasse. Cupiditas autem muliebris sexus latius patet, ma∣joresque

multo impetus habet, non solum in corruptis∣simis hominibus & pravis, quales sunt qui puerorum a∣moribus indulgent, sed in alijs etiam viris, aliqua pro∣bitatis & modestiae laude conspicuis. Mit••o quod fae∣minae scenicae, quae histriones consectantur & adjuvant, for∣masunt venali, sive quod tot viris procacibus & otiosis circumseptae, * 1.181 mira••uli instar esset, si pudice viverent: & ex turpi questuplerum{que} raptae, posito amplius in Theatro pudore ad ingenium redeunt. Ita vulgato inter plures cor∣pore omnibus exitium afferunt, juvenes otiosi & perditi (quorum magnus numerus ubi{que} est) eo aspectu concitati feruntur precipites: unde rixae graves, vulnera, & cedes, contemptus parentum & rei familiaris prae amore earum muliercularum. Quae probra, & similia multa alia, qui digna non putat quae omni studio avertantur, ferreus sit & communi hominum caeterorum sensu ratione{que} destitutus. * 1.182 Censeo praeterea nullam certam sedem histrionibus ex∣truendam publice, domum aut Theatrum, quam lucri parte locatam unde inopes alantur, aut quod in alias publicas utilitates impendatur; ea enim species obten∣ditur ab ijs qui contra statuunt. * 1.183 Primum enim facto Theatro occasio manifesta praebetur honesta conditione viris & faeminis inter se libere conveniendi, praesertim domus, aut Theatri magistro venali: nam qui emit magno, venda•• necesse est omnem licentiam, quae ab illo flagitare homines perditi poterunt: fiet{que} ex Theatro lupanar multo exitialius quam alia: deinde frequentiores ludi erunt perpetua sede publice designata, quam omnino sit opus. Alliciet loci oppor∣tunitas ad ludendum & spectandum, & praefectus cum magno eam sedem conduxerit histriones undi{que} conquiret, nullum{que} diem elabi sine ludo patietur; quin potius diebus noctes continuabit, quanta cum perturbatione reipublicae dicere non est necesse. Quis enim juvenes avellat ab ea vanitate? Opifices & agrestes relicto opere quotidiano concurrent, fa∣muli heros contemnent, faeminae viros & familiam, prae cupi∣ditate spectandi: quod scimus hoc etiam tempore ex parte contingere. Praeterea histrionum numerus extructo certe

Theatro per urbes & oppida, immensum augebitur pon∣dus iners atque inutile, cum sint enervati voluptatibus; nam & lucri aviditas multos excitabit, neque nisi mag∣no numero poterunt tam multis Theatris satisfacere. * 1.184 Postremo, num juvenes ex his privilegijs & bacchanali∣bus, aut strenuos milites, aut bonos senatores fore credimus? discent illi quidem ea inspectione amare, armorum pondus, alias{que} molestias sustinere non poterunt, cum totos dies resi∣dere in Theatris consueverint: quo tempore aut aequos cal∣caribus inci••are & flectere potuissent, aut alia ratione vires corporis exercere, aut certe pacis artes commentari. Scimus Romae primum ex lapide Theatrum à Gneio Pompeio fuisse extructum, nam antea scena ad tempus ex materia facta utebantur, tanta ex eo opere populi gratia, ut mag∣ni cognomen ex ea fabrica accesserit. Id fuit multitu∣dinis judicium, qua pal••ae instar levissimae in omnes par∣tes circumfertur: nam prudentiorum magnae partis re∣praehensionem incurrit, unde laudem captabat. Sic do∣cet Tacitus libro quartodecimo, productis etiam in utramque partem probandi & improbandi Theatra ar∣gumentis: ut * 1.185 quod in ea temporum faece & morum labe dubitatumest•• nobis pro certo lege esse debeat, nequaquam populi Christiani moribus & sanctitati convenire, ut per urbes & appida, certa, perpetua{que} sedes histrionibus detur. Scimus saepa à Censoribus Romae eversa Theatra nihilomi∣nus, quasi morum certissimam à lascivia labem: & erit in populo Christiano, hac professione, qui restituenda contendat? Ad haec: Suscepta Christi religione per omnes pene Civi∣tates cadunt Theatra, uti Augustinus ait, caveae turpitudi∣num & publicae professiones flagitiosorū; & nos ea instauran∣da contendamus? Vincit rei dignitas orationis facultatem. * 1.186 Neque excuses, nostra Theatra non esse conferenda cum antiquis, neque majestate operis, neque ludorum apparatu•• Turpit••dinem loci accusamus, non structurae modum; rivus tenuis, naturam continet fontis unde ma∣nat; surcu••us arboris unde excisus est, succum habet. Nam si magno vectigali, sublato Theatro rempub•• privari

accuses, risum tenere non potero, ne{que} enim tanti lucrum esse debet, ut mores populi & religio negligantur; neque deerunt aliunde rationes, si Theatra repudiemus, ad ege∣norum inopiam sublevandam. Et mihi qui secus statu∣unt, magni Pompeij factum imitari velle videntur. Is enim ut reprehensionem evaderet quasi Theatro consti∣tuto turpitudinis scholam apperuis••et, Veneris Templo Theatrum quasi appendicem adjunxit, religionis sancti∣tate novam structuram velaturus, nimirum verebatur ne aliquando memoriae suae censoria ignominia accederet, quasi arcem omnium turpitudinum struxisset; uti Tertullianus ait: Ergo Pompeij imitatione cum templis, aut hospi∣tijs pauperum theatrum jungatur, quo majus lucrum sit, honestius susceptae improbitatis velamen. * 1.187 Censeo ergo cum multis, fore è republica, si histriones pretio venales penitus removeantur. Omnes enim pecuniae vias norunt, & pecuniae causa omnes turpitudines suscipiunt, instillant{que} alijs; questuaria arte exhauriunt iunt pecunias, & veluti sopitis voluptate sensibus latenter extorquent, quas non minori tur∣pitudine insumant, otio & desidia ut torpeant Cives effici∣unt, quae omnium vitiorum radix est, vitijs omnibus & fraudibus viam muniunt, libidine maxime, quae auribus & oculis suscipitur. Divinum Cultum minuunt diebus festis, cum vacandum esset rebus divinis, populo ad specta∣cula attracto, quae pestis omnibus piaculis procuranda vide∣batur. * 1.188 Quod si non obtinemus, ut ludi scenici penitus amoveantur, & placet nihilominus eam oblectationem populis dare: quod jus & aequitas postulare videtur, impetrare certe cupimus, ut delectus aliquis sit, neque promiscue licentia quidvis agendi histrionibus conce∣datur: sed legibus certis circumscribantur & finibus, quos nemo impune transgrediatur. * 1.189 Tametsi nullis le∣gibus putabam furorem hunc satis frenari: prudenter quidam O here, inquit, quae res nec modum habet ne{que} Con∣silium, ratione, modo{que} tractari non vult. Sequamur tamen Platonis institutum, qui poetarum Carminibus exami∣nandis praefici sanxit viros prudentes non minores

quinquaginta annis: eorum judicio quaecunque agendae erunt fabulae examinentur, ipsi etiam intermedij actus quibus major turpitudo inesse solet; mulieres in Theatra inducere nefas esto: Theatrum nusquam publice constitua∣tur. Diebus festis (u••i antiquis legibus sancitum memi∣nimus) ludi scenici ne exhibeantur, ne temporibus quidem jejunij Christiani: quid enim commercij squalori cum Theatri risu, plausu{que}. A templis & sanctorum qui cum Christo in Caelo regnant, ac omnino divinis celebritatibus amoveantur: ac praesertim ij modi & gestus, quibus turpi∣tudo in memoriam revocatur, & ferme oculis subijcit••r, quae sunt vulnerareligionis nostrae probra, monstra{que} immania: Hispanorum nationis dedecora, * 1.190 adeo faeda, ut stilus contrectare vereatur, suoque se faetore tueri hoc genus mali videatur. Postremo, quoad fieri poterit minori aetate pueri & puellae arceantur ab ijs spectaculis, ne à teneris rei∣publicae s••minarium vitijs inficiatur, quae gravissima pestis est. A••sint inspectores publice designati, viri pij & pru∣dentes quibus cura sit ut turpitudo omnis amoveatur, & potestas coercendi paena si quis se petulanter gesserit. Deni{que}, populus intelligat, histriones non probari à republica, sed populi oblectationi at{que} importunis precibus dati: quae cum non potest quae ••unt meliora obtinere, solet ali∣quando minora mala tolerare, & populi levitati aliquid concedere. What could any Puritan or Precisian (as the * 1.191 world now stiles all such who run not with them into the same excesse of riot and prophanesse) write more a∣gainst Stage-playes, Play-houses, Players, Play-haunters; or what have I said more against them in this Trea∣tise, then this great Iesuit hath done, and that by pub∣like approbation both of his Royall Soveraigne, his Visitor and Superior too? And must not Stage-playes then be extremely bad when as pofessed Iesuits so se∣verely censure them? yea, shall not Protestants, nay Papists to, be unexcusably licentious, if they should be more moderate or indulgent unto Playes, then they? Let no Player, or Play-haunter, no voluptuous libertine

therefore henceforth quarrel either with me or others, as being too puritanically rigid against Stage-playes, when as these loose Iesuits equalize, if not exceed us in their Play-condemning Censures, as this large tran∣scribed passage fully proves. b 1.192 Yee therefore, beloved Readers, seeing yee now know these things before hand, be∣ware lest ye also being led away to Playes, to Theaters, with the error, the example, the importunate sollicitations of the wicked (as many ignorant and unstable nominall Christians have beene before you;) fall from your owne stedfastnesse, faith and Christian vertues, into a sinke of hellish vices, to your eternall ruine. c 1.193 Now the God of peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Iesus, that great Shepheard of the Sheepe, through the blood of the everlasting Covenant, make you perfect in every good worke to doe his will; working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Iesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Augustinus de Symbolo ad Catechumenos. l. 4. c. 2.

Quisquis contempto Deo sequeris mundum, & ipse te deserit mundus. Sequere adhuc quantū potes fugitivum, & si po∣tes apprehendere eum, tene eum: sed video non potes, fallis te. Illen. labiles motus suos torrentis ictu percurrens, dum te videt inhaerentem sibi, & tenentem se, ad hoc te rapit, non ut salvet, sed ut perdat te. Quid n. cū pompis Diaboli amator Christi? Noli te fallere, odit n. tales Deus, nec in∣ter suos deputat professores, quos cernit viae suae desertores. Ecce ruinosus est mundus, eccetantis calamitatibus reple∣vit Dominus mundum, ecce amarus est mundus & sic a∣matur, quid faceremus si dulcis esset? O munde immunde! teneri vis periens, quid faceres si maneres? Quem non deci∣peres dulcis si amarus alimenta mentiris? Vultis dilectissi∣mi non inhaerere mundo, eligite amare creator••m mundi, & renunciate pompis mundanis, quibus Princeps est Diabolus cum Angelis suis.

Notes

• f 1.1

  Abstrahunt •• recto quae opi∣nione nostrâ cara sunt, pretio ••uo vi∣lia. Nescimus aestimare res, de quibus non cum fama, sed cum rerum natura deliberandum. Nihil habe••t ista magnificum, quo mentes in se nostras tra••••ant, praeter hoc, quod mira∣ri illa consuescimus. Non enim quia concupiscenda sunt laudantur; sed concupis∣cuntur quia laudata sunt; & cum singulorum error publicum fecerit, singulorum erro••em facit publicus. Seneca. Epist. 81. pag. 331.
• g 1.2

  1 Tim. 5.22. See my Healthes Sick∣nesse pag. 52.
• h 1.3

  Qui semen praebuit is ena∣tae segitis ma∣lorum est au∣ctor. Demosthe∣nes Oratio De Corona.
• i 1.4

  Rom. 1.30.
• k 1.5

  Seneca De Clementia. lib. 1. cap. 18.
• l 1.6

  Matth. 26.24.
• m 1.7

  Iob 3.11, 16. Eccles. 6.3. Psal 58.8.
• n 1.8

  Matth. 18.6. Marke 9.42. Luke 17.1, 2.
• o 1.9

  See here, pag. 916. to 924 ac∣cordingly.
• p 1.10

  Rom. 14.10, 11, 12. 2 Cor. 5.10.
• q 1.11

  Matth. 12.36. Eccles. 12.14. Rom. 2.16. Iude 14.15. Rev. 20.12, 1••.
• r 1.12

  Zach. 12.10. Ierem. 6.26. cap. 31.15. Isay 22.4. cap. 33.7.
• h 1.13

  See here, pag. 360.436, 437, 438, 486. fol. 542.545, 566, 568. pag. 841.842, 910, 918, 922.
• t 1.14

  See pag. 10. to 62.
• u 1.15

  See pag. 302. to fol. 5••6. ac∣cordingly.
• u 1.16

  See here, pag. 42. to 62.92, 133. to 143.
• * 1.17

  Rom. 6.23. Psal. 9.17. Matth. 25.41.
• x 1.18

  Rom. 12.1. 1 Cor. 6.20. Rom. 6.13.
• y 1.19

  1 Cor. 6••19, 20.
• * 1.20

  Rom. 8.12.
• a 1.21

  Rom. 6.16, 17, 18, 11, 12. Iam. 4.4. Rom. 12.2. 1 Iohn 2.15, 16.
• b 1.22

  Rom. 11.36. Rev. 4.11. Pr••v. 16.4.
• * 1.23

  Isay 33.18. Iob 6.4. c. 18.11. cap. 27.20. Psal. 55.4. Psal. 73.19. Psal. 88.15, 16.
• d 1.24

  Dan. 7.9, 10. Matth. 25.31, ••2.
• e 1.25

  Rom. 6.21. Ier. 3.25. cap. 51.51. Ezech•• 16.52, 54, 63.
• f 1.26

  Psal. 55.5. Psal. 1••9.53. Ezech. 7.8••
• g 1.27

  Psal. 84.10.
• h 1.28

  Eccles. 6.12.
• i 1.29

  Iob 3.3, 11, 13.
• k 1.30

  Qui enim a∣lios peccare fe∣cerit, multos secum praeci∣pitat in mor∣tem, & necesse est ut sit pro tantis reus, quantos secum traxerit in rui∣nam. Salvian. De Gubernat. Dei. l. 4. p. 141.
• l 1.31

  Iob 8.5.
• m 1.32

  Psal. 37.37. Prov. 19.21.
• * 1.33

  Ioel 2.1, 2.
• m 1.34

  Ioel 2.6. Nahum 2.10. Isay 13.6, 7, 8, 9.
• n 1.35

  Luke 23.30. Rev. 6.16.17.
• o 1.36

  Rom. 2.8, 9. Iude 14.15. 2 Thes. 1.8.
• p 1.37

  Rev. 12.20. Iam. 5.8, 9. Heb. 10.37. 2 Pet. 3.16. Iude 14.
• q 1.38

  Rev. 6.12. to 17. Isay 34.4. cap. 13.9, 10, 11. Luke 23.36. 2 Pet. 3.7, 10••12.
• r 1.39

  Iob 33.27. Rom. 6.21. 1 Sam. 12.21. Isay 55.2.
• * 1.40

  Wisd. 5.1. 1 Iohn 4.17. Phil. 3.9, 10. 2 Cor. 5.1. to 21.
• t 1.41

  Wisd. 5.3, 4. See here, pag. 120. to 128. 814.815. ac∣cordingly.
• * 1.42

  2 Pet. 3.••1, 14. 1 Pet. 1.15, 16, 17.
• x 1.43

  2 Pet. 3.18.
• y 1.44

  1 Tim. 6.19. Heb. 9.28.
• * 1.45

  See here, pag. 841. to 866.
• z 1.46

  Matth. 1••.36•• 37. Isay 3.16.
• a 1.47

  See Bernard. Concio ad Clerum. & O∣ratio ad Pa∣stores. accor∣dingly.
• b 1.48

  Ideoque ti∣mendum est, ne quos duces hujus recti itineris habere nos credimus, ••os comites habeamus erroris. Hi••rom. Epist. 14. cap. 3. pag. 43.
• * 1.49

  Epist. 127. fol. 186.
• d 1.50

  Epist. 42. fol. 186.
• e 1.51

  Bernard. Ser. 11. in Psal. Qui habitat. f. 748.
• * 1.52

  Epist. 146. fol. 200.
• g 1.53

  See here, pag. 150.469, 512. & 573. to 668.841. to 868. & Summula Raymundi. f. 91.92, 93, 94. Summa Ho∣stiensis. lib. 3. De Vita & ho∣nestate Cleri∣corum. fol. 237. & l. 5. De Cle∣rico Venatore. fol. 455. Edit. Lugduni 1517. Innocentius 3. Operum. Tom. 1. pag. 471. ac∣cordingly.
• h 1.54

  1 Pet. 5.4.
• i 1.55

  See here, Act 4. Scene 1. Act 6. Scene 20. & Act 7. Scene 2.3.
• k 1.56

  Qui blandi∣endo dulce nu∣trivit malum serò recusat ferre quod sub∣ijt jugum. Se∣neca Hyp••olitus. Act 1. Facile est tenero•• ad∣huc animos componere. Difficulter re∣ciduntur vitia quae nobiscum creverunt. Se∣neca. De Ira. lib. 2. cap. 18.
• * 1.57

  Bernardi Meditationes. cap. 2. fol. 280. A. & Epist. 19. fol. 199. B.
• m 1.58

  Bernard. E∣pist. 111. fol. 202•• G.
• n 1.59

  Mich. 7.
• o 1.60

  Secundum exteriorem ho∣minem de pa∣rentibus illis venio, qui me ante fecerunt damnatū, qu••m natum. Pecca∣tores peccatorem in peccato suo genuerunt, & de p••ccato nutriverunt. Nihil ex eis habeo nisi miseriam & peccatū, & corruptibile hoc corp{us} quod gesto. Quid sum ego? Homo de hu∣more liquido. Fui enim in momento con∣ceptionisde hu∣mano semine conceptus, &c. Deinde spuma illa coagulata modicum cres∣cendo caro fa∣cta est. Poste•• plorans & eju∣lans traditus sum hujus mundi exilio, & ecce jàm morior plenus iniquitatibus & abominatio∣nibus. Iamjam presentabor ante districtum judicem, de o∣peribus meis rationem red∣diturus, &c. Bernardi Medi∣cationes cap. 2. ••ol. 280.
• p 1.61

  Matth. 16.26.
• q 1.62

  Eccles. 12.1.
• r 1.63

  Eusebius Gallicanus Sermo. exhort. contra diversa vitia. Bibl. Pa∣trum. Tom. 5. pars 1. pag. 594. H.
• s 1.64

  Acts 1.25.
• t 1.65

  Rom. 2.5. to 12.
• u 1.66

  See Act 4. Scene 1. & 7. Scene 2.3. & Part 2. p. 843.844, 845.
• * 1.67

  Hierom. E∣pist. 3. cap. 6.
• * 1.68

  Ephes. 2.12.
• z 1.69

  1 Pet. 4.2, 3, 4.
• * 1.70

  1 Pet. 1.11, 12, 13.
• * 1.71

  Quid autem eo infaelicius cui jam esse malum necesse est. Seneca. De Ira. lib. 1. c. 13.
• b 1.72

  2 Thes. 2.10, 11, 12.
• c 1.73

  2 Cor. 5.10. Matth. 12.36. Rom. 14.10.
• d 1.74

  See Part 1. Act 6. Scene 14.••0. & here p. 910.
• e 1.75

  1 Pet. 4.17.18.
• f 1.76

  Psal. 1.5, 6.
• g 1.77

  2 Thes. 1.8, 9.
• * 1.78

  Bernardi Me∣ditationes. c. 2. fol. 280.
• * 1.79

  Objection.
• * 1.80

  Answ. 1.
• h 1.81

  See Tertul. de Idololatria. lib. Chrysost. Hom. 50. in Matth. & Alex∣ander Alensis. Summa Theo∣logiae. pars 2. Quaest. 135. memb. 5.
• i 1.82

  See Marcus Aurelius, Epi∣stle 12. to Lam∣bert, according∣ly•• & Part 1. Act 6. Scene 5.
• k 1.83

  Epist lib. 1. Epist. 10. See here p. 906.
• l 1.84

  Nulla est ne∣cessitas delin∣quendi quibus una est necessi∣tas non delin∣quendi. T••rtul. ••e Corona Mili∣tis. cap. 7.
• m 1.85

  Matth. 10.37, 38.
• * 1.86

  Bernard, ad Gulielmum Abbatem A∣pologia. Col. 9••88 I.
• * 1.87

  ••i tàm solli∣citus es, si nec minima sper∣nis, si tàm pru∣denter servas paleas tuas, eti∣am hotreum tuum servare memento & custodire. Imo vero non exponas thesaurum tuum qui sic incubas sterquilinio tuo. Bernard. Sermo. 7. in Psal. Qui habitat. fol. 70. H.
• o 1.88

  See Part 1. Act 6. thorow∣out.
• p 1.89

  See here, pag. 42. to 62.129, 231, 236, 257, 405, 430. fol. 522, 524, 528, pag. 561. to 567.658.
• q 1.90

  Part 1. Act 6. Scene 1. to 20. accordingly.
• r 1.91

  Ecce qua vo∣leb••s ire, ecce turba viae la∣tae, non frustra ipsa ducit ad Amphithea∣trum, non fru∣stra ipsa ducit ad mortem. Via mortifera est, latitudo e∣jus delectat ad tempus, finis ejus angustus in aeternum. Sed turbae strepunt, turbae festinant, tur∣bae colluctan∣tur, turbae con∣currunt. Noli imitari, noli a∣verti: vanitates sun•• & insaniae mondaces. Noli numerare turbas hominum incedentes latas vias, implentes crastinum Cir∣cum; civitatis natalē clamando celebrantes, civitatem ipsam malè vivendo turbantes. Noli ergò illos attendere, multi sunt. Et quis numerat? Pauci autem per viam an∣gustam. Enar. in Psal. 39. Tom•• 8. pars. 1. p. 414.415. vid. p. 416.417, 418.
• * 1.92

  See Part 1. Act 6. Scene 3.4, 5, 12. & Act 7. Scene 1. to 7.
• t 1.93

  See Part 1. Act 6. Scene 3.4, 5, 12. & Act 7. Scene 2. to 7.
• u 1.94

  Nun quid pa∣tribus doctio∣res aut devoti∣ores sumus? Periculose praesumimus quicquid ipso∣rum in talibus prudentia pre∣terivit. Bernard. Epist. 174. fol. 111.
• x 1.95

  Obedientia quae majoribus praebetur Deo exhibetur. Quamobrem quicquid vice Dei praecipit homo, quod non sit tamen certum displi∣cere Deo, haud secus omnino accipiend••m est, quam si p••aecipiat Deus. Quid e∣nim interest utrum per se an per suos ministros sive homines sive Angelos ho∣minibus innotescat suum placitum Deus? Sive enim Deus, sive homo vicarius Dei mandatum quodcun{que} tradiderit, pari profectò obsequendum est cura, pari reveren∣tia deferendum, ••bi tamen Deo contraria non praecipit homo. De Praecepto & Di∣spensatione. fol. 250. H.K.
• y 1.96

  Iam religionis antiquae non solum virtutem amisimus, ••ed nec speciem retinemus. Ad Gulielmum Abbatem Apologia. fol. 260. D.
• z 1.97

  S••e here, p. 4.61, 557. accordingly.
• * 1.98

  See Part 1. Act 6. Scene 12. & p. 392. to 406.436, 433.
• * 1.99

  See Chrysost. Homil. 24 in Acta Apost. Tom. 3. Col. 519••520. Hom. 36. in 1 Cor 14. Tom. 4. Col. 535••536. & Homil. 8••9. in 1 Tim. accor∣dingly.
• a 1.100

  Homil. 24. in Acta Apost. Tom. ••. Col. 520. B.C. See here p. 432. to the like pur∣pose••
• * 1.101

  Eccles. 12.1. Luke 1.74, 75. Rom. 12.1, 2. Eph. 5.16, 17.
• b 1.102

  See here, pag. 10.11, 49, 50, 52, 67, 68, 69, 101, 102, 329, 330, 341, 374, 386, 418, 431, 446, 472, 474, 488, 510, 560.
• c 1.103

  1 Tim. 6.17, 18, 19. Heb. 13.16. Prov. 19 17. 1 Iohn. 3.17. See Part 1. Act 6. Scene 2.
• d 1.104

  Rom. 13.11, 12. 1 Pet. 4.2, 3.
• e 1.105

  Ephes. 5.15, 16. Col. 4.5.
• f 1.106

  Col. 3.5, 6, 7. Rom. 13.13. 1 Pet. 2.11. Gal. 5.24.
• g 1.107

  Psal. 149.4. Isay 1.16. Rom. 13 14. Rev. ••.18. Va∣nus error ho∣minis, & ina∣nis cultus dig∣nitatis, fulgere purpurâ, mente sordescere. Mi∣nucius Felix. Octavius p. 122.
• h 1.108

  2 Cor. 5.20. Rom. 5.1.
• i 1.109

  Isay 3.8. Ier. 41.8. Psal. 106.7, 33.43.
• k 1.110

  Heb. 6.6.
• l 1.111

  Eph. 4.29, 30. Heb. 10.29.
• m 1.112

  See Part 1. Act 6. Scene 12. & 20.
• n 1.113

  Deo dicata membra nulla tibi temeritate usurpes; sciens, quod pietati sanctificatanon abs{que} gravi sa∣crilegio in usus vanitatis, vo∣luptatis, aut e∣jusmodi secu∣lario operis assumantur. Bernard. in Psal. Qui Habitat. Serm 8. fol. 71.
• o 1.114

  Epist. 3. c. 5. Ephes. 2.1, 2, 3.
• p 1.115

  Hierom. Epist. 3. c. 7.
• q 1.116

  Matth. 25.10. to 14.
• r 1.117

  Cyprian. Epist. l. 1. Epist. 5. p. 37.
• * 1.118

  Seneca. Epist. 47. pag. 229.
• s 1.119

  See here, pag. 3. & 42. to 62.
• t 1.120

  See here, pag. 3.42. to 62.561. to 567.230, 236, 257, 425, 430, 522, 524, 528, 658.
• u 1.121

  Tu si templū spiritus sancti violas, si intra te sacrarium Dei deturbas & faedas, si cum calic•• Christi, de calice Dae∣moniorum communicas, contumelia est, non religio: injuria, non devotio: Idolo∣rum servitus & horrenda abo∣minatio, velle simul Baal fa∣mulari & Christo. Cyprian De Caena Dom. Serm. p. 299.
• * 1.122

  Seneca Epist. 116.
• x 1.123

  Rom. 12.1, 2. cap. 6.3. to 14. Luk. 1.74, 75.
• y 1.124

  Eccles. 12.1.
• z 1.125

  Rom. 2.10. 2 Tim. 4.8. Hebr. 2.7, 9.
• a 1.126

  To whom I may use S. Cyprians words in the like case. Tu licet indumenta pere∣grina & vestes sericas indues, nuda es: Auro te licet & margaritis gemmis{que} conde∣cores, sine Christi decore deformis es. Si quem de tuis charis mortalibus exitu per∣didisses, ingemiscer••s dolenter & fleres, facie inculta, veste mutata neglecto capillo, vultu nubilo, ore dejecto jndicia maeroris ostenderes. Animam tuam misera perdi∣disti, spiritualiter mortua supervivere hic tibi, & ipsa ambulans funus tuum portare caepisti, & non acriter plangis, non jugiter ingemiscis? Non te vel pudore crimi∣nis, vel continuatione lamentationis obscondis? Ecce pejora ad huc pe••candi vulne∣ra, ecce majora delicta; peccasse, nec satisfacere; deliquisse, nec delicta de••lere. Cy∣prian. De Lapsis Sermo. Tom. 2. pag. 347.
• b 1.127

  Isay 5.11, 12. c. 22.12, 13. cap. 56.12. Amos 6.1. to 8. Dan. 5.1.2, 3, 4. Iam. 5.5. & Iob 21.11. to 16.
• c 1.128

  Col. 3.1, 2, 3. Phil. 4.8, 9. Isay 43.21. Rom. 14.7, 8.
• d 1.129

  Eccles. 2.1. to 12.16.11. 1 Sam. 12.21. Isay 55.2. Iob 15.31. Hosea 8.7. Rom. 6.21.
• * 1.130

  Rom. 2.24. Isay 52.5. Ezech. 36.20, 23.
• f 1.131

  Rom. 6.21. Ezra 9.6. Isay 1.29. c. 26.11. Ezech. 16.61, 63.
• g 1.132

  1 Pet. 1.17.
• h 1.133

  Rom. 6.22.
• i 1.134

  See here, pag. 452.
• k 1.135

  See Part 1. Act 6. Scene 2.4, 5. & p. 144.145, 146, 331, 332, 333, 349, 270, 389, 390, 391, 419, 430, to 442•• 452, 498, 662. ac∣cordingly.
• * 1.136

  Adulterijs•• impudicitijs, puerorum vio∣lationibus om∣nia fervent, pernoctationes execrandae ••ie∣bant mulieres∣que ad ea spe∣ctacula voca∣banturi: ô scele∣stum illud no∣cturnū funestū∣que spectaculū! in Theatro fiebat ea per∣noctatio; & virgo inter a∣dolescentes in∣sanos atque ebriam turbam sedere cogeba∣tur, &c. Chrysost. Hom. 5. in Tit. 1. Tom. 4. Col. 1484. B.
• * 1.137

  See pag. 333.356, 439, 443, 444. accordingly.
• * 1.138

  See Thomas Beacon his Catechisme. fol. 515. & 536. Women ought not to resort to Playes or Enterludes.
• l 1.139

  Tit. 2.4, 5.
• m 1.140

  See here pag. 434.435. & Doctor Taylor his Commentary upon Titus 3. vers. 5. pag. 389.390. Thomas Beacon his Cate∣chisme. fol. 515.536. and in his 3. Booke of Matrimony. fol. 675.
• n 1.141

  Prov. 7.10, 11, 12, 13. See Lyra, Cartwright, Dod, ••nd Holcot on this place.
• * 1.142

  Nam quoniam à scena & ijs quae illic sunt turpia & ind••cora ipsa natura abduxit mulieres, Diabolus quae sunt The∣atri abduxit in gynecaeum, molles inquā, seu pathicos & meretrices. Hom. 12. in Col. 4 Tom. 4. Col. 1210 B••••id. Ibidem.
• * 1.143

  See Coverdals and Tindals Translations; and the Fa∣thers, who render it for the most part. Do••us curam habentes.
• * 1.144

  1 Tim. 2.9, 10. 1 Pet. 3.3, 4, 5. 1 Cor. 11.5, 6, 15. Isay 3.16. to 25. Prov. 7.10. 2 King 9.30. See Gu∣lielmus Peral∣dus. Summae Virtutum ac vitiorum. Tom. 2. Tit. De Superbia. cap. 10. to 15.
• q 1.145

  Cum enim judicium carnis ex anima pendeat, carni nihil potest utilius quam salus animae provideri. Bernardi De∣clamationes. fol. 170. B.
• r 1.146

  See Part 1. Act 6. Scen•• 3.4, 5, 20. & pag. 333.356, 439, 443, 444.
• * 1.147

  Hierom. Epist. 34. cap. 3. pag. 90.
• s 1.148

  In hoc enim Tractatu, non solum pium Lectorem sed etiam liberum correctorem desidero. Ve∣runtamen sicut lectorem me∣um nolo mihi esse deditum, ita correctore•• nolo sibi. Ille me non amet amplius quàm catholicam ••i∣dem; iste se non am••t am∣plius quàm ca∣tholicam veri∣tatem. Augusti∣nus. lib. 3. De Trinitate. Pro••∣mio. & Petrus Lombardus. in lib. 4. Se••tentia∣rum. Pr••logus.
• t 1.149

  Rom. 10.1.
• u 1.150

  Ezech. 34.••. Acts 20.26.
• x 1.151

  Vbi Deus Magister est•• quàm citò dis∣citur quod do∣cetur. Le••. 1. De Pentecoste. Serm. 1. cap. 1.
• y 1.152

  1 Thes. 5.23.
• z 1.153

  2 Cor. 5.10. Rom. 14.10, 11.
• a 1.154

  Nunquam n. sine querela aegra tangun∣tur. Seneca De Ira. lib. 3. cap. 10.
• b 1.155

  Against which See Ro∣bertus Massonius his Treatise of Dancing•• & Part 1. Act 5. Scene 8.9. with the Author•• there quoted; and those o∣ther Writers in the Table.
• c 1.156

  Quando po∣pulus ad eccle∣siam venerit tàm per dies Dominicos, quàm & per so∣lemnitates sanctorum, a∣liud ibi non agat, nisi quod ad Dei perti∣net servitium. Illas vero ba∣lationes & sal∣tationes, can∣ticaque turpia, & luxuriosa, & illa lusa Diabolica non faciat, nec in plateis, nec in domibus, neque in ullo loco, quia haec de Paganorum consuetudine reman∣serunt. Et qui ipsa fecerit canonicam sententiam accipiat. Bo••hellus Decret. Ec∣clesiae Gallicanae. lib. 4. Tit. 1. cap. 39. pag. 549, &c. See Tit. 10. cap. 2. to 19. where there are divers Constitutions to the same purpose.
• * 1.157

  De Rege & Regum Instit. lib. 3. cap. 16. p. 341. to 352. Edit. We••belij. 1611.
• * 1.158

  In his Books De Spectaculis. Coloniae. Agrip. 1609. See here pag. 695.
• * 1.159

  Nota.
• * 1.160

  Nota bene.
• * 1.161

  Hence Saint Hierom writes thus: Repertum est facinus quod nec mimus finge∣re, nec scurra lu∣dere, nec Atella∣••us possit effari. Epist. 48. cap. 3. pag. 103. be∣cause Players usually acted most wicked things.
• * 1.162

  Nota.
• * 1.163

  Nota.
• * 1.164

  See here, pag. 3.4.
• * 1.165

  Let our Play-patrons well observe this Epithite.
• * 1.166

  Let Play-haunters note this well.
• * 1.167

  Let Players marke this stile and title.
• * 1.168

  And if Pa∣gans prohibi∣ted Players to come unto their Idols So∣lemnities, shall Christians ad∣mit them to the Church or Sacraments?
• * 1.169

  Stage-playes then are no fit Ornaments for Christian Feastivals and Solemnities, this very Iesuit being Iudge.
• * 1.170

  Such is th•• holinesse of our Popish Playes.
• * 1.171

  Nota bene.
• * 1.172

  Sacred stories therefore in this Iesuits judgement ought not to be acted on the Stage, no nor yet in Church∣••••: which con∣trols the pra∣ctise of his fellow Priests and Iesuits.
• * 1.173

  Quanto res sacratior tanto abusus ••jus damna∣bilior. Concil. Coloniense 1536. pars 9. cap 16. Surius. Tom. 4 pag. 787.
• * 1.174

  Nota.
• * 1.175

  They h••ve Women actors in Spaine, as we have fem••le Spectators, and Playing Boyes in Womens attire.
• * 1.176

  N••ta.
• * 1.177

  Let Play-haunters pon∣der this.
• * 1.178

  Nota.
• * 1.179

  Hom, 38. in Matth.
• * 1.180

  Nota be••e.
• * 1.181

  Nota bene.
• * 1.182

  No standing Play-houses are to be suf∣fred by this Iesuits sen∣tence, whose reasons I wish all Magistrates and others would consi∣der.
• * 1.183

  No standing Play-houses are to be suf∣fred by this Iesuits sen∣tence, whose reasons I wish all Magistrates and others would consi∣der.
• * 1.184

  O that all Christian Princes, Magi∣strates, and Play-haunters would well weigh this reason.
• * 1.185

  Nota bene.
• * 1.186

  Nota••
• * 1.187

  Note this ensuing pas∣sage, and the accursed fruits of Stage-playes, well.
• * 1.188

  This the Iesuit writes, not that hee would have any Stage-playes suffred, for he profes∣seth the con∣trary before; but onely by way of preven∣tion; that in case he could not procure all Playes to bee suppressed, that yet those that were tolerated might bee thus regulated.
• * 1.189

  Nota bene.
• * 1.190

  See here, pag. 213.445, 446, 881. & BB Po∣net his Apolo∣gie or Answer to D. Martyn, p. 61•• & 78. Ba••aeus Centur. 8. pag. 665. where the Sodomy of the Papists and Popish Clergie is descried.
• * 1.191

  See here Part 1 Act 8. Scene 7. pag. 797. to 828. according∣ly. Quod autem de istis quaedam inhonesta & ma∣ligna jactantur, nolo mireris, cum scias hoc esse opus s••mper Diaboli, ut servos Dei men∣dacio lacerat, & opinionibus falsis gloriosum nomen infamet; ut qui conscientiae luce suae clarescunt alienis rumoribus sordidentur. Cy∣prian. Epist. l. 4. Epist. 1. p 170.171.
• b 1.192

  2 Pet. 3.17.
• c 1.193

  Heb. 13.20, 21.