An abridgement of the notable woorke of Polidore Vergile conteignyng the deuisers and firste finders out as well of artes, ministeries, feactes & ciuill ordinaunces, as of rites, and ceremonies, commo[n]ly vsed in the churche: and the originall beginnyng of the same. Co[m]pendiously gathered by Thomas Langley

The .ix. Chapiter. ¶Of Theatres, and Amphi∣theatres, and Bathes.

THEATRES wer cer∣tain places,* 1.1 as scaffol∣des with pentises, wher∣in the people of Athens stoode to beholde the en∣terludes that were shewed, and thei were made like halfe a circle with benches one aboue another, that thei might without any impedimente see the places.* 1.2 Dionisius did firste insti∣tute theim in Athens: in the middes of the scaffolde or theatre stoode the stage, wherin Comodies, Tragedies, with other shewes were exibited too the common sorte. Of theim the Ro∣maines toke example to make suche scaffoldes: whiche Quintus Catulus caused to bee couered with linen clo∣thes, and hanged it with silke,* 1.3 where as afore thei had no vaulte to bere of the sonne or raine. But Marcus Scau¦rus beeyng Aedil, that is,* 1.4 hauyng the ouersight of all publike and priuate buyldynges, made the firste in Rome that endure•• for the space of thirtie daies, it was made vp with pillers of Marble.* 1.5 Caius Curio at his fa∣thers buriall builded twoo theatres of timber after suche a fashion that

thei might in time of enterludes stād one cōtrary to another in suche wise that neither plaie should disturbe o∣ther: and whē it liked hym he turned theim together and made an Amphi∣theatre,* 1.6 whiche was a roūde scaffold full of benches of diuerse hightes: wherin he set furth a game of swerde plaiers. Pompeius Magnus made y^e firste standyng Theatre of free stone, after the patron that he sawe at Mi∣tylene, when he had subdued Mithri∣dates Kyng of Pontus. Caius Iulius Caesar buylded the firste Amphithe∣atre in the felde consecrated to Mars,* 1.7 In this were sette furthe shewes of wylde beastes, and swearde players: for the maner was that suche, as wer condemned too deathe, or taken pri∣soners in warre should bee cast there to the wylde beastes to bee deuoured and slayne. It was strawen with sande,* 1.8 leaste the bloude of those that were slayne should defile theim that foughte, or discourage their heartes: and therefore, there were certayne appoyncted too tosse and strawe the sande.* 1.9 The place called Circus, that wee maie call Listes or Tilte yardes

wer places walled about with stone of a greate length, wherin was vsed coursyng and Iustyng, and tourne∣yng on horsebacke and on foote by champions and chalengers: thei wer firste named in Tarquinius Priscus reigne, and that was called the grea¦test.* 1.10 After that twoo other wer made one by Flamminius, and the other by Nero.

THE firste coursyng, Iustyng, and runnyng with other exercises in the Listes were what tyme Spurius Marcius,* 1.11 Philippus wer consuls the yere of the citee fiue hundred three∣score and seuen.

HOATE Bathes or Stues wer vsed firste priuately of all menne ac∣cordyng to their degree and habilite bycause of the preseruacion of helth as thei pretended:* 1.12 but in processe thei buylded common Bathes and hoate houses too sweate in,* 1.13 and the nobles did Bathe and wasshe with the com∣mōs, and finally without any shame menne and women were permitted moste lasciuiously to bathe together moste notable bathes were thei that

Agrippa,* 1.14 and Nero, and Titus Ve∣spasianus with other Emperoures made, as Iulius Capitolinus wry∣teth, thei were bothe greate and also gorgeously dressed like citees & bigge tounes with all places of oportunite too mainteigne excessiue riote in all sortes of menne.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Theatres.
• * 1.2

  Dionisius.
• * 1.3

  Coueryng of scaffoldes.
• * 1.4

  Edili••.
• * 1.5

  Caius Curio
• * 1.6

  Amphithea∣tres.
• * 1.7

  Iulius Ce∣sar buylded an Amphi∣theatre.

  The vse of the Amphi∣theatre.
• * 1.8

  Sand was strawen in the Amphi∣theatre
• * 1.9

  Circus.
• * 1.10

  Circus Ma∣ximus.
• * 1.11

  First iustyng in Rome.
• * 1.12

  Bathes pry∣uate.
• * 1.13

  Commō Ba∣thes.
• * 1.14

  Notable bathes