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.

HISTRIO-MASTIX. THE PLAYERS SCOVRGE, OR, ACTORS TRAGAEDIE, Divided into Two Parts. Wherein it is largely evidenced, by divers Arguments, by the concurring Authorities and Reso∣lutions of sundry texts of Scripture; of the whole Primi∣tive Church, both under the Law and Gospell; of 55 Synodes and Councels; of 71 Fathers and Christian Writers, before the yeare of our Lord 1200; of above 150 foraigne and domestique Protestant and Popish Authors, since; of 40 Heathen Philosophers, Hi∣storians, Poets; of many Heathen, many Christian Nations, Repub∣liques, Emperors, Princes, Magistrates; of sundry Aposto∣licall, Canonicall, Imperiall Constitutions; and of our owne English Statutes, Magistrates, Vniversities, Writers, Preachers.

That popular Stage-playes (the very Pompes of the Divell which we renounce in Baptisme, if we beleeve the Fathers) are sin∣full, heathenish, lewde, ungodly Spectacles, and most pernicious Cor∣ruptions; 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 Chri∣stians. 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 con∣cerning Dancing, Dicing, Health-drinking, &c. of which the Table will informe you.

By WILLIAM PRYNNE, an Vtter-Barrester of Lincolnes Inne.

Cyprian. De Spectaculis lib p 244.

Fugienda sunt ista Christianis fidelibus, ut tàm frequenter diximus, tàm vana, tàm perniciosa, tàm sacrilega Spectacula ••quae, essi non haberent crimen, habent in se et maximam et parum congruentē fidelibus vanitatē.

Lactantius de Verò Cultu cap. 20.

Vit••••da ergo Spectaculo ••••••xia, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 ne quid vitiorum pectoribus i••side et, &c. sed ne cuius nos volup∣tatis consuetudo delineat, atque à Deo et à b••ri•• operibus ••ve••tat.

Chrysost. Hom. 38. in Matth. Tom. 2. Col. 299. B & Hom. 8 De Poenitentia, Tom. 5. Col 750.

••mmo vero, ••is Theatralibus ludis eversis, non leges, sed iniquitatem evertetis, ac emnem civitatis pestem ex∣tinguetis. ••Etenim Theatrum, communis luxuriae officina, publicum incontinentiae gymnasium; cathedra pesti∣lentia; pess••••us locus; plurimer••mone mo••herum plena Babylonica fornax, &c.

Augustinus De Civit. Dei, l. 4 c. 1.

Si tontummodo boni et honesti homines in civitate essent, nec in rebus humanis Ludi scenici esse debuissent.

LONDON, Printed by E.A. and W.I. for Michael Sparke, and are to be sold at the Blue Bible, in Greene Arbour, in little Old Bayly. 1633.