Stories or Poems There 's none of them let their Disposition be never so good but are in danger of being corrupted by this Method and I should look on it as next akin to a Miracle if there were any Virgin or Matron so Religiously Chast as not to have their Lusts inflamed almost to madness by Reading such kind of Books and Poems In this Case even the Heathen Lecher Ovid who is much more ingenuous than our pretended Christian Poets gives Judgment against his own Amorous POEMS and those of Tibullus c. Eloquar in vitus teneros ne tange Poetas Summonâ—o dotâ—s impias esse meas Callimachum â—ugito non est inimicus amori Et cum Callimacho tu quoque Coe Noces Carmina quis potuit tuto legisse Tibulli Vel tita cujus opus Cynthea sola suit Quis potuit lecto durus discedere Gallo Et mea nescio quid carmina tale sonant De Remedio amoris lib. 3. p. 230. It will appear plain from the very Nature and Design of Christian Schools That such things ought not to be taught in them The end of all such Schools is to teach Wisdom and Vertue that we may know God and our selves and how to Worship God aright whereas the quite contrary is taught by those Authors Homer Hesiod Pindar Aristophanes Virgil Horace and the rest of those Heathen Authors arriv'd to that height of Impiety and Madness that they feign'd such lewd things to be acted by their Gods as a modest Man cannot but be ashamed to rehâ—arse before Youth for they represent their Gods and Goddesses to be such as no honest or well-governed Common-wealth would have admitted them for Citizens so that Palingenius writes truly of them In câ—elo est Meretrix in coelo est turpis adulter Lib. I. There 's no doubt but the Heathen Poets were influenced by Satan to feign such Monstrous and Horrid Things concerning their Deities that they might thereby promote and Authorize Whoredom and Uncleanness among Men and add Fewel to the Flames of Corrupt Nature Certainly those Fables in Ovid's Metamorphosis concerning the Amous nay Rapes of the Gods and others cannot leave any Chast Impressions upon the Minds of Youth What a fulsom Expression is that of Virgil Aneid 7. Mista Deo Mulier The danger of teaching such things to Youth was seen by the very Heathen Philosophers And therefore Plato says That those fabulous Stories of the Poets were not to be receiv'd into a City as if the Gods wag'd War and form'd Ambushes against one another c. whether they be taken in an Allegorical Sense or not For Children says he cannot distinguish betwixt what is spoke figuratively or otherwise and such Opinions as they drink in when they are young they can hardly ever lay aside To feign that God who is altogether Good is the Cause of Evil is an Error that ought to be refuted and therefore the Poets should be compelled to write and speak things that are honest Thaâ— same Author says in Theage I know not what any Man in his Right Wits ought to be more solicitous about than how to have his Son made as good as possible and therefore he advises that care be taken that Nurses don't entertain them with old Wives Fables lest they be corrupted with Madness and Folly from their very Infancy Seeing those poor Heathens who had nothinâ— but the Light of Nature to direct them coulâ— give such excellent Precepts what a shame 〈◊〉 it for Christian Schoolmasters to spend more timâ— in teaching their Youth who Iupiter Vulcaâ— Neptune and Saturn were than who Iesus Chrisâ— is and to teach them those Lascivious Heatheâ— Poâ—ts in direct Opposition to the Seventh Coâ—â—mand St. Augustine in his Book of Conâ—ession 〈◊〉 out Oh that when I was a young Man I haâ—â— been instructed in profitable Books Whilst I wâ—â— a Youth at School I heard them talk of Iupitâ—â— darting Thunder and committing Adultery at tâ—â— same time The Jews were commanded to teach the Laâ—â— of God to their Children diligently to talk 〈◊〉 them when they sat in their Houses when thâ—â— walked by the way when they lay down anâ— when they rose up to write them upon the Posâ— of their Houses and on their Gates Deut. 6. 6 7 â— The Royâ—l Prophet David taught them Thâ— young Men were to purifie their way by takinâ— heed thereunto according to the Word of Goâ— Psal. 119. 9. And the wise King Solomon coâ—â—manded Children to be trained up in the Way tâ—â— they should go and when they were old they woâ—â— not depart from it Prov. 22. 6. The Apostle 〈◊〉 joyns that our Children should be brought up 〈◊〉 the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord Eph. 6 And commands Timothy to avoid Profane and 〈◊〉 Wives Fables 1 Tim. 4. 7. The only Objection of any weight that can 〈◊〉 raised against this is That in those Heathen Poeâ— there are abundance of excellent Moral Sentencâ— and that Youth learn the Purity of the Latiâ—â— Tongue from them To which it may be answerâ— That put them all together they come infiniteâ— short of those Moral Instructions that are to be found in the Proverbs of Solomon and the Ecclesiastes that its evident what Moral Sayings of worth any of those Heathen Authors have they borrow'd them from Moses and others of the divinely inspired Writers and we may with more safety and purity drink from the same Fountaâ—ns than from their polluted Streams And as for the purity of the Latine Tongue it may as well be learnt from others as from the Poets The Roman Histories are excellent for that end and if their Poets were purg'd from their Obscenities c. and so put into the Hands of Youth there could be nothing to object against ' em Nor are there wanting excellent Latine Poems by Christian Authors which might be equally serviceable for instructing our Youth in the purity of the Latine Tongue and inspring them also with true Christian Sentiments such as the famous Antient Poems of Tertullian Arator Apollinaris Nazianzen Prudentius Prosper and other Christian Worthies and the later ones of Du Bartas Beza Scaliger Buchanan Heinsius c. That a Reform of the Schools in this Point hath been so long neglected reflects Shame upon the Church who ought to have chiefly concerned themselves in it and is one main Reason why so many Persons of good parts have applied themselves to write for the Stage and that too with more Wantonness and Latitude than most of the Heaâ—hen Poets ever dar'd to allow themselves and the Corruption hath spread so far as to inâ—ect our Universities who tho' formerly they condemned the Stage are now become its Admirers and to the Scandal of the Nation obscene Poems are writ at their Publick Acts. CAP. V. An Answer to M. Motteuxes Defence of the STAGE I Come next to consider what is offer'd in Defence of the Stage by a Divine of the Church of England from the Authority
their Sense and Lust As one that hath the Green-Sickness may say Coals and Clay and Ashes do me more good than Meat because they are not so sit to judge as those that have a healthful State and Appetite And it seldom pleâ—sed the Conscience of a dying Man to remember the time he had spent at Stage-Plays IX Usually there is much cost bestowed on them which might be better employed and therefore is unlawful X. God hath appointed a stated means of instructing Souls by Parents Ministers c. which is much more fit and powerful Therefore that time were better spent and it is doubtful whether Play-houses be not a stated means of Man's Institution set up to the same pretended use as the Church and Ministry of Christ and so be not againsâ— the second Commandment For my part I cannot defend them if any shall say that the Devil hath apishly made these his Churches in Competition with the Churches of Christ. XI It seemeth to me a heinous Sin for Players to live upon this as a Trade and Function and to be educated for it and maintained in it that which might be used as a Recreation may not always be made a Trade of XII There is no mention that ever such Plays were used in Scripture-times by any godly Persons XIII The Primitive Christians and Churches were commonly against them Many Canons are yet to be seen by which they did condemn them Read but Dr. Io. Reinolds against Albericus Gentilis and you shall see unanswerable Testimonies from Councils Fathers Emperors Kings and all sober Antiquity against them XIV Thousands of Young People in our time have been undone by them some at the Gallows and many Servants who run out in their Accounts neglect their Masters Business and turn to Drunkenness and â—hordom and Debauchery do confess that Stage-plays were not the last or least of the Temptations which did over-throw them XV. The best that can be said of these Plays is that they are controverted and of doubtful Lawfulness but there are other means enough of undoubtful and uncontroverted Lawfulness for the same honest ends and therefore it is a sin to do that which is doubtful without need Upon all these Reasons I advise all that love their Time their Souls their God and Happiness â—o turn away from these Nurseries of Vice and to delight themselves in the Law and Ordinances of their Saviour Ps. 1. 2 3. As for Play-Books and Romances and Idle Tales I have already shewed in my Book of Self-denial how pernicious they are especially to Youth and to frothy empty idle Wits that know not what a Man is not what he hath to do in the World they are powerful Baits of the Devil to keep more necessary things out of their minds and better Books out of their hands and to poison the mind so much the more dangerously as they are read with more delight and pleasure and to fill the minds of sensual people with such idle fumes and intoxicating fancies as may divert them from the serious thoughts of their Salvation and which is no small loss to Rob them of abundance of that precious time which was given them for more important business and which they will wish and wish again at last that they had spent more wisely I know the Fantastick will say that these things are innocent and may teach men much good like him that must go to a Whore-house to learn to hate Uncleanness and him that would go out with Robbers to learn to hate Thievery But I shall now only ask them as in the presence of God 1. Whether they could spend that time no better 2. Whether better Books and Practices would not edisie them more 3. Whether the greatest Lovers of Romances and Plays he the greatest Lovers of the Book of God and of a holy Life 4. Whether they feel in themselves that the Love of these Vanities doth increase their Love to the Word of God and kill their sin and prepare them for the Life to come or clean contrary And I would desire men not to prate against their own Experience and Reason nor to dispute themselves into damnable impeâ—tinency nor to befool their Souls by a few silly words which any but a Sensualist may perceive to be meer deceâ—t and falshood If this will not serve they shall be shortly convinced and answered in another manner CAP. XVIII Reflections on some late PLAYS First on Beauty in Distress I Come next to make some Remarks on M. Motteux's Play call'd Beauty in Distress which it seems he and his Friend Mr. Dryden propose as a pattern of Reformation It were eâ—sie in the first place to observe from Mr. Dryden's Poetical Epistle to the Author that it contains an unmannerly and malicious Reflection upon the Clergy in general Rebellion worse than Witchâ—raft they pursu'd The Pulpit preach'd the Crime the People ru'd The Stage was silenc'd for the Saints would see In Fields perform'd their plotted Tragedy Mr. Dryden's Wit and Extraordinary Talent of Poetry are uncontrovertible but his turning Renegado from the Protestant Religion which abhors the Doctrine of Killing KINGS and running over to the Church of Rome which hath advanc'd that Practice to the Dignity of Merit renderâ— him as unfit as any Man alive to charge his Neighbours with Rebellion and is no convincing Proof of his extraordinary Judgment either as to Divinity or Politicks If his Charge had been levell'd against Sibthorp and Manwaring and their Disciples on the one side or against Hugh Peters and the Tubâ—Preachers of those Times on the other side there 's few Men of Sense would have thought themselves concern'd in the Reflection but as it is levell'd against all the Clergy without distinction he must give me leave to tell him that it may easily be prov'd that Sibthorp and Manwaring and the rest of their passive Obedience-Doctors who taught That the King was above Law and might dispose of our Estates Lives and Liberties without Consent of Parliament were the chief Fire-brands of the Rebellion and set the two Constituent parts of our Government the King and Parliament together by the Ears And were by consequence chargeable with the Reveries of Hugh Peters and the rest of the Enthusiastical Tribe who carried things to the other Extream when the People were render'd Mad by Oppression But as for the Body of the English Clergy either Episcopal or Presbyterian the Charge is Malicious and Injurious The best of the Church of England Clergy opposed the Stage in those times as well as the Presbyterians yet it 's known that both of them oppos'd the carrying on of things to that height which they afterwards came to And I must beg leave to tell him that his Brethren of the Stage by usurping upon the Sabbath and ridiculing the Pretensions of the People to their Liberty and Property had no small share in bringing on the Calamities he speaks of Or if he be for a later Instance I can oblige him
Passages that have a tendency to promote Uncleanness and that is the Reason why nothing but the Schools is mentioned in the Introduction ERRATA PAge 3. Line 22. dele the and put after Versails p. 35. l. 13 dele the after Journey p. 40. l. 10. r. â—â—vitus p. 128. l. 25. r. Epimantus p. 140. l. 5. r. adjur'd instead of abjur'd p. 162. l. 13. Genselarics p. 172. l. 20. r. Personae instead of Personal p. 194. l. 34. r. were instead of there p. 198. l. 34. r. Moses instead of Samuel Some may perhaps object against what is said p. 200 that Oliver made Richlieu to tremble whereas Richlieu died soon after 〈◊〉 began to appear the Author owns that this slipt his Observation till the Sheet was printed off but the Argument holds good as to the French Nation and his Successor Mazarin Books Printed for J. Salusbury at the Angel in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1698. A Compleat French Master for Ladies and Gentlemen or a most exact new Grammar to learn with Ease and delight the French Tongue as it is now spoken in the Court of France wherein is to be seen an Extraordinary and Methodical Order for the Acquisition of that Tongue Inriched with new Words and the most modish Pronounciation and all the Advantages and Improvements of that famous Language Written for the Use of his Highness the Duke of Glocester Price 2 s. A Most compleat Compenâ—um of Geography General and Special describing all the Empires Kingdoms and Dominions in the whole World shewing their Bounds Scituation Dimensions History Government Religions Languages Commodities Cities Rivers Mountains Lakes Archbishopricks Bishopricks and Universities in a most plain and easie Method c. The Fourth Edition Corrected and much Improved By Laurence Echard M. A. of Christ's College in Cambridge Price 1 s. 6 d. 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A Dialogue between two young Ladies lately Maried concerning the Management of Husbands shewing how to make that Honourable State more Easie and Comfortable The Third Edition Revised and Coâ—rected By the said Young Ladies Price 6 d. where the Second Part may be had Price 6 d. FINIS Introduction WE have had lately a Curious and Learned Survey of the Immorality and Profaness of the Stage but tho' that Author hath done excellently well there may still be some Gleanings left for another Mr. Collier strikes directly at the Miscarriages of the Stage because they were most obvious and nearest to View but this ought not supersede the Endeavours of others nor to put a stop to their Inquiry into the Root of the Mischief If the Foundation be sapp'd the Superstructures must â—umble of course and it signifies little to patch the Roof or to tell us that it Rains in at the Sky-Lights when an Inundation comes in at Doors and Windows There 's none can be fit to write for the Stage that hath not first been at School and if we be instructed there in Plays and Romances it s but natural we should think our selves good Proficients and that we have in a great measure answered the End of our Education when we can oblige the World with those of our own Composure If the Amorous Passages of Ovid Terence Plautus c. be thought commendable Patterns fit to be put into the hands of Youth and by them imbib'd as proper Nourishment why should not the Harvest answer the Seed-time or why should the Scholar be blam'd to Viâ— with his Masters Copy or when time and opportunity serves to sett up for a Master himself CAP. I. The Stage Encouraged by the Clergy IF our Shepherds have no better Morals than to feed their Lambs with the Milk of Goats why should they not expect that their Flocks in time should come to smell Pâ—nk and where 's the Justice to bait and worry them when they do so If the Pulpits be so grosly negligent as not to tell us with Tertullian that Stage-Plays are the Chief of those Pomps that we abjure at Baptism or if they will needs Canonize one as a Martyr and Saint who by Royal Authority introduc'd the Use of Masks and Plays into his Court and Dominions on Sundays and never testified his Repentance for it to the World why should not they who write and frequent Plays think they are in the Path Road to Heaven as well as he and why may not they who distinguish themselves from others by such like performances hope some time or other to bear him company in the Calendar If the Head and Fathers of the Church did prosecute Mr. Prin for his Histriomastrix and condemn those for Schismaticks who would not Comply with Laud's Book of Sports and Pastimes on Sundays whereof Masks and Opera's at Court led the Van why should not the Writing and Haunting of Plays be reckon'd genuine Marks of a true Son of the Church and the contrary the Badge of one that is no true Church-man as a certain Clergy-man thought fit to express it in relation to K. William because of his not frequenting the Play-house Let the Clergy if they seriously design a Reform in this particular strike St. Ch s out of their Calender or declare their opposition to St. Chrysostom Tertullian and many others that might be named who thought the writing and frequenting of Plays to be damnable without Repentance and much more the commanding and patronâ—â—ing them It cannot be denied but Mr. Collier has writ ingeniously and has taken a great deal of pains to hew and lop off the Branches and considering how much the Play-house was favoured in the Reign of Charles I. by some of the highest Dignity in the Church we have more reason to wonder that he hath said so much than that he hath said any thing too little because that part of the Sense of Antiquity which he hath repeated to us in this Matter does obliquely condemn that Prince whom so many Ecclesiasticks of great Note have always accounted a Martyr Besides his writing against Plays at present and some of the principal Authors of them is not like to be accounted an extraordinary piece
demonstration of the Spirit and of Power yet this great Apostle of the Gentiles was brought up at the Feet of Gamaliel and had more humane Learning than 20 of our fluttering Doctors It is not my design to cry down Eloquence in a Preacher nor to commend a rough way of Expression from the Pulpit Eloquence is the Gift of God and commended in the Preacher Apollos but at the same time we are told That he was mighty in the Scriptures and taught diligently the things of the Lord It 's reckoned highly prophane and Mr. Collier has smartly reproved it for Poets to apply the Phrase of the Scripture to the use of the Stage and I see no reason why Vice Versa it should not be liable to that same Censure to adopt the Phrase of the Stage for the Language of the Pulpit not that it 's absolutely Unlawful for a Preache◠to quote an apposite Sentence or Verse either from Greek Latine or other Poets The Apostle himself hath taught us the contrary by his own Example when he tells the Cretians that one of their own Poets says 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But it is an intolerable Affectation of Novelty when a New Word or a Quaint Phrase is no sooner published in a Play or Gazzette but we shall the next Sunday after hear it out of the Pulpit This is so far from holding fast the Form of sound Words as St. Paul enjoyned Timothy that it is rather the prophane and vain Babbling he commanded him to avoid and which Calvin upon the place says is Inanis tinnitus profanus Simulatque Doctores it a inflant suas tibias ad suam Eloquentiam Venditandam A prophane and empty Jingle which the Doctors make use of to set off their Eloquence It were an easie matter to quote as many Sermons guilty of these Vanities as Mr. Collier has quoted Plays guilty of abusing Scripture but for obvious Reasons I forbear it The only cause why I mention it is to shew that it is not the Poets alone that support the Credit of the Stage and that what is Criminal in a Poet is ten times worse in a Priest and therefore they ought not to pass without a Reproof It 's known there are many godly Persons amongst our Clergy who bewail those things and oppose them as much as they can but there is a mighty Neglect somewhere and the World will hardly be perswaded that our Church of England is unanimous in this Matter else it were easie for them who shook King James out of his Throne to overturn the Stage It is not to be supposed that the King and Parliament would deny the Clergy such a Request if it were duly presented and considering how much the Nation hath suffered in its Morals and Religion by the Licentiousness of the Stage it 's high time that some effectual Course should be taken to suppress it But there 's reason to fear that the Faction begun by Arch-bishop Laud has still too great an interest amongst our Clergy for scarcely can any other reason be imagined why after so many Years Experience of the Mischief of the Stage the Church should be so silent in this Matter That there is something in this I am very apt to think because of the Deference many of the Clergy men pay to the Memory of that Prelate and of his Master King Charles I. whom he help'd to mislead In those Times as Mr. Prin acquaints us in his Histriomastix none were accounted Enemies to the Play-house but Puritans and Precisians and in opposition to them it probably was that Laud and his Clergy became its Patrons and it is not unlike that many of the Less-thinking Church-men continue still to favour it on that Account as being unwilling to condemn that for which King Charles I. and Arch-bishop Laud testified so much Passion but these Gentlemen would do well to remember That the Defence of the Stage was never so much the Characteristick of their church as was the Doctrine of Passive Obedience and seeing the Majority of them have relinquished that they are infinitely the more to blame for still adhering to this If a Petition of the Londoners had so much Influence on Queen Elizabeth as to get the Play-houses suppress'd and if the Stage was expresly condemned by a Statute of King Iames I. we have no reason to despair of obtaining the same now upon the like Application And methinks the Clergy are more concerned to stir in it than ever seeing it would appear by Mr. Collier's third Chapter Of the Clergy abused by the Stage that the Theatre is now become a Nusano◠to themselves It is apparent enough from what has been said already that the Clergy are chargeable with the Mischief of the Stage by the omitting of what their Character obliges them to do against it and that many of them are also Culpable by seeming to hallow its Phrase in the Pulpit but this is not all as will appear by what follows We have heard that the Stage was condemned by Act of Parliament in King Iames I. Time but reviv'd again in the Reign of K. Charles contrary to Law and that Operas were practised in his own Court by his Royal Authority on Sundays Now considering how much that Prince was devoted to the Interest of the Clergy it 's highly improbable that he would have atttempted any such thing had the then Governing part of the Church given him faithful warning against it but Laud and the other topping Church-men of that time were so far from opposing it that they concur'd with him imposed a Book of Sports and Pastimes upon all their Clergy to be read to the People on Sundays which was a fair step towards converting all the Churches of the Nation into Play-houses This great Example did so much incourage the Stage that Mr. Prin tells us in his Book before-mentioned in two Years time there were above 40000 Play-Books printed They became more vendible than the choicest Sermons Grew up from Quarto's to Folio's were printed on far better Paper than most of the Octavo or Quarto Bibles and were more saleable than they And Shackspeers Plays in particular were printed in the best◠Paper The two old Play-houses were rebuilt and enlarged and a new Theatre erected so that there were then six Play-houses in London twice the number of those in Rome in Nero's Time which though a much more spacious City Seneca complains of as being too many That Faction of the Clergy became at last so enamour'd of the Stage that the same Author informs us He had heard some Preachers call their Text a Land-skip or Picture and others a Play or Spectacle dividing their Texts into Actors Spectators Scenes c. as if they had been Acting a Play Upon which he complains of their using Play-house Phrases Clinches and strong Lines as they called them and that it was to to frequent to have Sermons in respect of their Divisions
Language Action Stile and Subject Matter fitter for the Stage from whence they were borrowed than for the Pulpit He tells us further That one Atkinson a Minister in Bedford did the Christtide before Act a private Interlude in the Commissaries House there where he made a Prayer on the Stage chose the Words Acts 10. 14. I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean for his Text preached prophanely upon it and jested to the shame and grief of most that heard him In that same place he complains that in private as well as in popular Stage-plays they represented Ministers Preaching and Praying and brought the Sacred Bible and the Stories of it on the Stage contrary to the Statute of 3. Iac. Cap. 21. The same Author tells us likewise That one Giles Widdowes in a Sermon at Carfolkes in Oxford on Psalm 68. verse 25. did avowedly justifie the Lawfulness of mix'd Dancing at Church-ales and Maypoles upon the Lords Day and confirm'd his Doctrine by his own Practise And page 700. he informs us of three Doctors of Divinity viz. Dr. Gager Dr. Gentiles and Dr. Case who writ in Defence of Stage-plays And page 979. he insinuates that diverse of the Clergy had acted and danced on publick and private Stages The Theatre having thus made so large a Conquest as to get the Court and the Governing part of the Church on its side grew Rampant and as if it disdained to have any less Adversary than God himself did boldly usurp on the Sabbath Afternoons And thus in the Year 1637. Masks were set up at Court on Sundays by His Majesties Authority while at the same time Laud and his Faction forbad Preaching any oftner than once a day and that the common People who could not bear the Expence nor have the Opportunities of Stage-plays might not want one however to prophane the Sabbath the Book of Sports and Pastimes was enjoyned by the Bishops to be read in the Churches by their Inferior Clergy on pain of Deprivation CAP. II. The Stage Encouraged by King Charles I. Sundays MASKS THAT the World may see what a Noble Exchange we had for our Afternoon Sermons and Evening Lectures I shall here give an Account of the Mask that was presented by the Kings Majesty at Whitehall in 1637. on the Sunday after Twelfth-night Entituled BRITANNIA TRIUMPHANS by Inigo Iones Surveyer of His Majesties Works and William Davenant Her Majesties Servant We are told in the Introduction That for these three Years their Majecties had intermitted those Masques and Shews because the Room where they were formerly presented having the Seeling richly adorn'd since with Painting of great Value Figuring the Acts of K. Iames of blessed Memory they were afraid it might suffer by the Smoke of the Lights but His Majesty having now ordered a New Room to be made on purpose which was performed in two Months the Scenes for this Mask were prepared Now who can say but these were Reasons becoming a Martyr and that this was a frugal way of spending his Treasure when at the same time he extorted Money from his Subjects in a Tyrannical manner by Ship-money Loans c. We come now to the Subject of the Mask Britanocles the Glory of the Western World hath by his Wisdom Valour and Piety not only vindicated his own but far distant Seas infested with Pyrates and reduc'd the Land by his Example to a real knowledge of all good Arts and Sciences These Eminent Acts Bellerophon in a wise Pity willingly would preserve from devouring time and therefore to make them last to our Posterity gives a command to Fame who hath already spread them abroad that she should now at home if there can be any maliciously insensible awake them from theif pretended Sleep that even they with the large yet still increasing Number of the Good and Loyal may mutually admire and rejoyce in our happiness This makes it evident enough that the subject was K. Charles himself who had gained some advantage against the Pirates of Barbary the praise of which there was none would have envied him but this was a new way of singing Te Deum no great Argument of Religion and far less any Presage that he should become a Martyr for it to order a Masque for his own praise upon that day which by Divine Institution was set apart for the praise of our Redeemer The next thing we have an Account of is That the Queen being sat under the State and the Room fill'd with Spectators of Quality a Stage was raised at the lower end with an Oval Stair down into the Room The first thing which presented it self to the Eye was the Ornament that inclosed the Scene In the under part of which were two Pedestals of a solid Order whereon the Captives lay bound above sat two Figures in Neeches on the right hand a Woman in a Watchet Drapery heightened with Silver on her Head a Corona Rostrata with one Hand holding the Rudder of a Ship and in the other a little winged Figure with a branch of Palm and a Garland This Woman was to represent Naval Victory In the other Neech on the left sat the Figure of a Man bearing a Scepter with a Hand and an Eye in the Palm and in the other hand a Book on his Head a Garland of Amaranthus his Curace was of Gold with a Palludamentum of Blue and Antick Bases of Crimson his Foot treading on the Head of a Serpent This Figure was to represent Right Government Above these were Ornaments cut out like Cloath of Silver tied up in Knots with Scarsings all touch'd with Gold These Pillasters bore up a large Freese with a Sea-Triumph of naked Children riding on Sea-Horses and Fishes and young Tritoâ—â— with writhen Trumpets and other Maritime Fancies In the midst was placed a great Compartiment of Gold with branches of Palm coming out of the Scrols and within that a lesser of Silver with this Inscription Virtutis Opus proper to the Subject of this Mask and alluding to that of Virgil Sed famam Extendere fuctis from this came a Drapery of Crimson which being tied up with great Knots in the Corners hung down in Foulds on the sides of the Pillasters A Curtain flying up discovered the first Scene wherein were English Houses of the old and newer Forms intermixt with Trees and a far off a prospect of London and the River of Thames So much for the Pomp of this Sunday's Theatre And let any Man who has the least sense of Religion judge whether it does not smell strong of that Pomp and Vanity of the World which Christians abjure at Baptism and was by consequence the most unbecoming Exercise for a Sabbath that could be invented as having an unavoidable Tendency to take up the Thoughts of the Actors and Spectators throughout the whole day and to wear off the Impressions of any Sermons they might have heard in the former part of it But we come now to the
Publication of this Our Command be made by Order of the Bishops through all the Parish-Churches of their several Diocesses respectively Here was a great difference betwixt the Exercise of the Episcopal Function in the Reigns of the Father and the Son or by this Declaration Ch. I. made the Bishops Trumpeters to the Stage and King Iames II said that in his Time they were Trumpeters of Rebellion because they petitioned against Reading the Declaration for Liberty of Conscience This Declaration for Sports was read by most of them and such of the Ministers as would not conform were turned out till the Controversies betwixt the King and Parliament and the Civil War that ensued put a stop to it Thus I have made it plain That the governing part of the Church patroniz'd the Stage in the Reign of Charles I. and by the Book call'd Centuries of scandalous Ministers we find that many of them were turned out for frequenting the Stage in the Parliament Times and the Theatre being then overturned there was so great a Reform of Manners that notwithstanding the Libertinism which usually accompanies War one might have walk'd through the City and Suburbs without hearing an Oath but when King Charles II. was restored the Play-houses were speedily re-opened and without any Publick Check or Control from the Church went on to that height of Immorality which Mr. C. complains of Nay they were thought very subservient to support the Church by jerking at the Whigs and Dissenters in their Prologues and Plays and to infuse â—rightful Ideas of them into the Heads of the Spectators whilst at the same time they run down the belief of the Popish Plot vindicated the Traitors that had been executed for it and dress'd the true Patriots of our Religion and Liberty in the Skins of Beasts of prey that they might be devoured with the better Appetite It were easie to cram a Volume with Instances of this sort but they are so well known that 't is needless There being no Body who â—requented the Play-house or read the Plays in the two last Reigns but know that the Stage was attempered to the Lascivious and Arbitrary â—umoeâ—s of those Princes and to blacken all those that opposed their Tyrannical Designs Having thus made it appear that the Church hath â—avoured the Stage by their not warning the People against it by seeming to hallow the Phrase of it in their Pulpits by approving or at least conniving at the practise of it on the Sabbath in King Charles I. by prosecuting those who writ against it Writing Plays themselves by some of them practising it in their own Persons and Writing in Defence of it by enjoining the Book of Sports by not opposing it in the Reigns of Charles II. and Iames II. and to which I shall add by their not opposing it in this Reign when they might have hopes of better success seeing both King and Parliament have declared themselves so highly against Immorality and Profaneness I come now in the next place to see how far the Schools are chargeable with the same Crime CAP. IV. The Stage Encouraged by the Schools THIS Subject hath not been so much â—reated on as the former and by Consequence is a sign that the danger of it hath not â—een so much perceived yet it hath not been altogether over-look'd for Authors both Antient and Modern have taken Notice of it Clemens Romanus Nazianzen Tertullian Ambrose Ierom Lactantius Augustine and others of the Antients The 4th Council of Carthage and divers other Councils Bishop Babington Bishop Hooper Perkins Doâ—nham Williams and all other Commentators on the 7th Commandment have Condemned and Forbid the Writing Printing Selling or Teaching any Amorous Wanton Play-books Histories or Heathen Authors especially Ovids wanton Epistles and Books of Love Catullus Tibâ—â—lus Propertius Martial Plautus and Terenâ—â— as may be seen in the Places quoted in the Maâ—â—gin The Reasons why they should not be read 〈◊〉 Youth are giv'n us by Osorius thus 〈◊〉 Poets are Obscene Petulant Effeminate and 〈◊〉 their Lascivious and impure Verses divert thâ— Mind from Shamfastness and Industry to Lust anâ— Sloth and so much the smoother they are 〈◊〉 much the more Noxious and like so manâ— Syrens ruine all those that give Ear to them The more ingeniously any of them write 〈◊〉 amorous Subjects they are so much the moâ—â— Criminal for we willingly Read and easilâ— Learn by Heart a Fine and Elegant Poem anâ— therefore the Poison of Lascivious Verse makâ—â— a quick and speedy Impression upon the Mind and by the Smoothness and Elegancy of thâ— Language kills before an Antidote can be aâ—â—plied Therefore all such Poets ought not only 〈◊〉 be banished the Câ—urt but also the Country Nay Aeneas Silvius afterwards Pope Pius 〈◊〉 in his Treatise of Education dedicated to Ladislâ—â—â— King of Hungary and Bohemia Discoursing whâ—â— Authors and Poets are to be read to Children râ—solves it thus Ovid writes many times in a Melanchollâ— Strain and as often Sweetly but is in moâ—â— places too Lascivious Horace though an Aâ—thor of admirable Eloquence yet has manâ— things I would neither have Read nor expouâ—â—ded to you Martial is a Pernicious tho' Floriâ— and Ornat Poet but so full of Prickles that hiâ— Roses are not to be gathered without dangeâ— Those who write Elegies are altogether to 〈◊〉 kept up from the Boys for they are too Sofâ— and Effeminate Tibullus Propertius Catulliâ—â— and Sappho which we have now translated abound with amorous Subjects and are full of complaints of unfortunate Amours Your Preceptor ought to take special Care that whilst he reads the Comical and Tragical Poets to you he does not seem to instruct you in something that 's Vitious It is still more remarkeable that Ignatius Loyola the Founder of the Order of the Jesuites who are as little recommendable to the World for their Chastity as for their other Vertues forbad the Reading of Terence in Schools to Children and Youth before his Obscenities were expunged lest he should more corrupt their Manners by his Wantonness than help their Wits by his Latin The Jews a People noted enough for their Uncleanness yet did not permit their Children and Youth in Antient Times to read the Canticles till they arrived at 30 Years of Age for fear they should draw those Spiritual Passages of the Love betwixt Christ and his Church to a Carnal Sence and make them Instruments of inflaming their own Lusts And upon the same Account Origen adviâ—eth such as are of an amorous Temper to forbear Reading it How much more Reason is there to forbid the Reading of the Lascivious Heathen Poets and Plays seeing it is found to be true by Experience as Agrippa in his Discourse of Uncleanness hath excellently expressed it That there is no more powerful Engine to attaque and vanquish the Chastity of any Matron Girl or Widow or of any Male or Female whatever than the Reading of Lascivious
Religion and Vertue and bring Vice and Corruption of Manners into Esteem and Reputation The Poets that write for the Stage at least a great part of them seem deeply concerned in this Conspiracy These are the Champions that Charge Religion with such desperate Resolution and have given it so many deep and ghastly Wounds The Stage was an Out-work or Fort rais'd for the Protection and Security of the Temple but the Poets that kept it have revolted and basely betray'd it â—nd what is worse have turn'd all their Force and discharg'd all their Artillery against the Place their Duty was to defend If any Man thinks this an unjust Charge I desire him to read any of our Modern Comedies and I believe he will soon be convinced of the Truth of what I have said The Man of Sense and the â—ine Gentleman in the Comedy who as the chiefest Person propos'd to the Esteem and Imitation of the Audience is enrich'd with all the Sense and Wit the Poet can bestow This extraordinary Person you will find to be a Derider of Religion a greaâ— Admirer of Lucretius not so much for his Leâ—â—ning as Irreligion a Person wholly Idle dissolv'd in Luxury abandon'd to his Pleasure â— great Debaucher of Women profuse and extravagant in his Expences And in short this furnished Gentleman will appear a finished Libertine The young Lady that must support the Character of a Vertuous well-manner'd sensible Woman the most perfect Creature that can be and the very Flower of her Sex this Accomplish'd Person entertains the Audience with confident Discourses immodest Repartees and prophane Railery She is throughly instructed in Intreagues and Assignations a great Scoffeâ— at the prudent Reservedness and Modesty of the best of her Sex she despises the wise Instructions of her Parents or Guardians is disobedient to their Authority and at last without their Knowledge or Consent marries her self to the Gentleman above mentâ—oned And can any one imagine but that our young Ladies and Gentlewomen are admirably instructed by such Patterns of Sense and Virtue If a Clergyman be introduc'd as he often is t is seldom for any other Purpose but to abuse him to expose his very Character and Profession He must needs be a Pimp a Blockhead a Hypocrite some wretched Figure he must make and almost ever be so manag'd as to bring his Order into Contempt This indeed is a very common but yet so gross an Abuse of Wit as was never endured on a Pagan Theatre at least in the antient Primitive Times of Poetry before its Purity and Simplicity became corrupted with the Inventions of after Ages Poets then taught Men to Reverence their Gods and those who â—erv'd them none had so little regard for his Religion as to expose it publickly or if any had their Governments were too Wise to suffer the Worsâ—ip of their Gods to be treated on the Stage with Contempt In our Comedies the Wives of our Citizens are highly encouraged to despise their Husbands and to make great Friendship with some such Virtuous Gentleman and Man of Sense above described This is their way of Recommending Chastity and Fidelity and that Diligence and Frugality may be sufficiently expos'd though the two Virtues that chiefly support the being of any State to deter Men from being Industrious and Wealthy the diligent and thriving Citizen is made the most wretched contemptible thing in â—he World And as the Alderman that makes the best Figure in the City makes the worst on the Stage So under the Character of a Justice of Peace you have all the Prudence and Virtues of the Country most unmercifully insulted over And as these Characters are set up on purpose to ruin all Opinion and Esteem of Virtue so the Conduct throughout the Language the Fable and Contrivance seem evidently design'd for the same noble end There are few fine Conceits few strains of wit or extraordinary pieces of Railery but are either Immodest or Irreligious and very few Scenes but have some spiteful and envious Stroke at Sobriety and good Manners Whence the Youth of the Nation have apparently received very bad Impressions The universal Corruption of Manners and Irreligious Disposition of Mind that Infects the Kingdom seems to have been in a great Measure deriv'd from the Stage or has at least been highly promoted by it and 't is great pitty that those 〈◊〉 whose power it is have not restrained the 〈◊〉 centiousness of it and obliged the Writers to observe more decorum It were to be wished that Poets as Preachers are in some Countries were Paid and Licensed by the State and that none were suffered to write in prejudice of Religion and the Government but that all such Offenders as publick Enemies of Mankind should be silenc'd and duly punished Sure some effectual Care should be taken that these Men might not be suffered by debauching our Youth to help on the Destruction of a brave Nation But seeing the Author of the DEFENCE says without any limitation that Mr. Collier is the first who appear'd from the Pulpit or Press upon this Subject I must put him in mind of others that have Writ and Preached against the Stage long before those I have already mentioned And I think Mr. Prin Author of the Histriomastix deserves the Honour of being nam'd with the first His Treatise being perhaps the Largest Learnedst and most Elaborate of any that ever was writ upon the Subject and to which Mr. Collier has been very much oblig'd for many things in his ingenious Book as I own here once for all I am highly oblig'd my self for not a few though I have made use of them in a different Method I have already agreed with the Author of the Defence That the general Silence of the Clergy of late against the Stage is a Neglect of their Christian Duty but shall now make it appear that it has not always been thus with the Clergy which will be a further Confutation of our Authors Proposition That Mr. Collier is the first that broke Silence in this Matter and serve as a Reproof to the generality of the Church of England Divines of the present times that they come so much short of those of the former in their Zeal against the Stage Antient Church of England Divines against the STAGE IT may perhaps be reckon'd needless to go so far back as the famous Bradwardin Arch-bishop of Canterbury who wrote against the Stage in 1345. or Wickliff the Morning-Star of our Reformation who wrote against Plays in 1380. and therefore we shall descend to those times when the Reformation was arriv'd to a good hight And thus we find in 1572. Dr. Matthew Parker Arch-bishop of Canterbury in his Book De Antiquitate Ecclesiae Britannicae Page 445. asserts That Stage-Plays are not to be suffer'd in any Christian or well govern'd Commonwealth Dr. George Alley Bishop of Exeter and Divinity Lecturer at St. Pauls in 1571. the second year of Queen Elizabeth declaims against
time of the Reformation here in England several good Christians propagated the Protestant Doctrine under the Veil of Dialogues by way of Comedy and Tragedy insomuch that the Popish Clergy got them forbidden by the 34 and 35 of Henry 8. c. I. The famous Du Plessis Mornay writ a Tragedy of Ieptha's Daughter The great Poet Buchanan did the like he wrote also another call'd Baptistes and translated into Latin the Medea and Alcestis of Euripides but it will not therefore follow that those great Men approv'd the Stage Buchanan in his Dedication of Alcestis to Margaret of France Sister of Henry II. recommends that Tragedy to her because there is no mention in it of Parricid Witchraft or other Crimes with which Tragedians commonly abound so that by this he rather Censures than approves the Theatre Our Author's Assertion That the Stage was Established in Queen Elizabeths Time and flourished in that of K. Iames upon which Spencer Bacon and Raleigh three Prodigies of Wit appear'd all at once and that we had no first-rate Writer till Henry VIII is like the rest of his Learning and Confidence It was so far from being established in Queen Elizabeths Time tho' it had then but too much Incouragement that all the Play-houses in London were suppressed upon a Petition to that Queen in 1580. The Stage was restrained by the 14th and 39th of her Reign and Books against it there dedicated to her Secretary Walsingham and it was so far from flourishing in King Iames I. time that in the 1st Year of his Reign Stage-Players were by Act of Parliament declared Rogues and Vagabonds c. as has been already said under the Head of The English State against the Stage As to the Learning of Bacon and Raleigh it surpasses Mr. Dennis's Skill to prove that it was any way owing to the Stage and indeed according to his solid way of Writing he owns as much himself when he says immediately upon the Establishment of the Drama those three Prodigies of Wit appear'd And I must likewise observe That Bacon and Raleigh as he calls them employed themselves in more generous and manly Studies than any the Stage can boast of as appears by the Learned Works they have left behind them As to the other part of his Assertion that we had no first-rate Writer on any Subject before Henry VIII it 's an injury to the Nation and a proof of his own Assurance and Ignorance To name but a few What does he say to Rog. Bacon who liv'd in the 13th Centry and for his skill in the Mathematicks was esteemed a Conjurer and summoned to appear at Rome on that account where he cleared himself and was sent back again To go a little higher What does he think of the Venerable Bede who liv'd in the beginning of the 8th Century from the Birth of Christ to whose time Bale reckons but 79 British Writers Did he never hear of Sir Thomas Littleton the Oracle of the Law who liv'd in the Reign of Henry VI. of Bracton or Fortescue But because I will trouble my Reader with no more I would advise Mr. Dennis to turn over Bale's Centuries of English Writers and there he will find his bold Assertion to be shamefully False For in the 8th Century that Author reckons 18 more Writers besides Bede 7 in the 9th 14 in the 10th 18 in the 11th 87 in the 12th amongst whom were 6 of the Decem. Angliae Scriptores 123 in the 13th 244 in the 14th 137 in the 15th and from thence to the Year 1557. but 137 more Not that these were all First rate Writers but it is sufficient to shew that the State of Learning was not so low in England as Mr. Dennis would represent it to have been And that the increase and decrease of Learning has no dependency on the Stage all that our Plays can pretend to teach being only some scraps of Rhetoâ—ick and History which may be much better learn'd elsewhere The Reflections which he casts on the Parliament times when the Stage was abolish'd are full of Malice and Ignorance No Man can expect that Learning should flourish during an Intestine War yet those Times were not without Eminent Scholars in all Faculties and upon Enquiry it will be found that most of the great Men England can boast of laid the Foundation of their Studies and formed their Thoughts before the Stage was restored by King Charles II. The World cannot deny but Selden and Milton were famous for Learning tho' they were of the Parliaments side ow'd nothing of their Education to the Stage Nor can our Author pretend that the Lord Chief Justice Halcs or the Beginners of the Royal Society the Doctors Ward Wilkins Wallis c. or the famous Mr. Boyle were any thing indebted to the Theatre for their great Learning The slovenly Reflection he casts on the Divines of those times sufficiently discovers that he 's but sorrily read in Divinity The Doctors Calamy Case and Manton whom he mentions with so much Contempt are approv'd by better Judges than any that writes for the Theatre the good acceptance which the latter's Volumes of Sermons have met with from the Publick have sufficiently proclaimed their Value and if our Author had a little bethought himself the great Archbishop Usher flourished in those times who was no Friend to the Stage The most Learned Bishop of Worcester whom he forgets to mention was well advanc'd in his Studies and had given sufficient proof of his Extraordinary Abilities before the Revival of the Stage and I dare boldly aver that the Theatre afforded him none of those Learned Arguments by which of late he hath baffled the Deistâ— and Socinians The Bishop of Salisbury whose Learning has made him famous owes his Education to a Country where the Stage never took root The late Arch-bishop Tillotson ow'd nothing of his great Endowments to the Theatre And I Question whether Mr. Lock and Mr. Newton whose Learning he mentions wiâ—h deserved applause will give it under their Hands that they have had any Benefit by it This Venemous Reflection That none were encourag'd in the Parliament times but Hypocritical Fools whose abominable Canting was Christned Gift and their Dulness Grace is no Scandal from the Pen of an Ignorant Libertine It 's very well known that some of them that are yet alive such as Dr. Bates Mr. How Mr. Alsoâ— c. are in general esteem by the Learned Men of all Sides the two former were particularly respâ—cted by the late Arch-bishop Tillotson for their great Learning and Worth and the latter is sufficiently known to the World for the Accuteness of his Pen his admirable Talent of Preaching and Universal Learning It 's needâ—ess to mention Dr. Owen Mr. Baxter Mr. Câ—arnock and Mr. Pool deceased and I had almost forgot to mention the Poly-Glot a Laborious and Learned Work the Birth of which is owing to those times In a word The Reflection is so malicious and ill grounded that
answer in the Words of Augustus formerly mentioned in the like case That he had been powerful enough to make his Enemies stoop and is he not able now to banish Iesters and Fools His next Insinuation That it diverts the Iacobites and prevents their Plots and Conventicles is equally absur'd Let him but cast an Eye up to Westminster-Hall or the City Gates and there the Heads and Limbs of Charnock Perkins and Friend c. will tell him to his Face that he 's mistaken His Answers to the Objections from Authority in the Third Chapter I shall pass over as having said enough on that Head already in Answer to others And as for his Pretence in the rest of his Book to shew the Usefulness of the Stage to the Advancement of Religion it 's only a further proof of his Vanity and intollerable Confidence seeing Fathers Councils and the best of Divines in all Ages have demonstrated the contrary to their Arguments that I have quoted already I refer him and so bid him Farewel If he think that I have not used him with that Smoothness that he might have expected let him remember how he treated the whole Nation as Splenetick Rebels the Parliament of England in 1641. as Traitors and all the Divines of those Times as Blockheads and Hypocrites CAP. XX. The STAGE Encouraged by the Universities I Come next to consider the Encouragement given to the Stage by our Universities which may also bear date from the Reign of King Charles I. for before that time I find both of them had declared themselves against the Theatre Dr. Reynolds in his Book Entituled The Overthrow of Stage-Plays affirms That the best and gravest Divines in the University of Oxford condemned Stage-Plays by an express Statute in a full Convocation of the whole University in 1584. whereby the use of all Common-plays was expresly prohibited in the University lest the younger sort who are prone to imitate all kinds of Vice being Spectators of so many lewd and evil Sports as in them are practised should be corrupted by them And Mr. Prin informs us That the University of Cambridge enacted the like That no Common Actors should be suffered to play within the Jurisdiction of the University for fear they should deprave the Manners of the Scholars And whereas it was objected that the Universities approved of Private Stage-Plays acted by Scholars in private Colledges Dr. Reynolds answeâ—s in the Book above-mentioned That tho' they conniv'd at them yet they gave no publick approbation to them that they were not receiv'd into all Colledges but only practised in some private houses perchance once in three or four years and that by the particular Statutes of those Houses made in times of Popery which require some Latin Comedies for Learning sake only to be acted now and then and those Plays too were for tâ—e most part compos'd by idle persons who dâ—â— not affect better Studies and they were acted 〈◊〉 such as preferr'd Vain-glory Ostentation and Strutting on the Stage before Learning â— by such who were sent to the University not so much to obtain Knowledge as to keep tâ—â—m from the common Riotous way of living â—s Parents send little Children to School to keeâ— them out of harms way and their Spectators â— the most part were of the same sort but the raver better and more studious persons especially Divines condemn'd them censur'd them and came not at them Thus we see that our Universities formerly condemn'd the Stage and that they came afterwards to countenance them must without doubt be ascribed to the Influence of K. Charles I. and A. Bishop Laud for I find on Aug. the 30th 1636. the Students of Christ-Church in Oxford presented a Tragi-comedy call'd The Royal Slave to the K. and Queen which was afterwards presented again to Their Majesties at Hampton-Court and the 2d Edition Printed at Oxford by William Turner in 1640. The Gentlemen of Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge did before that viz. in 1634. present a Comedy to the King call'd Albumazar Printed at London by Nicholas Okes upon both which I shall make some Remarks and first upon Albumazar Remarks upon the Universities Plays before King Charles I. The Poet values himself in the Prologue upon the Dignity of his Audience but chiefly addresses himself to the Ladies whose Beauties he says made the whole Assembly glad Whether the Play was altogether so pure and chast as became His Majesties presence the Gravity of the University and the Modesty of the Ladies we shall see afterwards but this very hint of the Beauty of the Ladies cheering the hearts of the Assembly will fall under our Saviours Reproof of not looking upon a Woman to lust after her and is the very thing for which St. Chrysostom declaims against Plays as we have heard already Nor can it be reconcileable to the purity of the Christian Religion which hath set a Bar upon our very Looks for Men and Women to haunt Play-houses in order to ogle one another as the Stage-Poets themselves now express it Then for the Play it self The Dialogue betwixt Albumazar Harpax and Ronca where they applaud Theft and Robbery as that which made the Spartans Valiant and Arabia Happy and charge it on all Trades and Callings tho' guilt with the smooth Title of Merchant Lawyer or the like could have no Natural Tendency to teach Moral Honesty Whether it might have any design to justifie the after Practices of Levying Money without Consent of Parliament Exâ—orting Loan Money from Merchants and Tradesmen as being only a better sort of Thieves or to justifie Plundering the Country as the Histories of those times say was very usual amongst the King's Soldiers afterwards I know not but the Fable seems to carry some such Moral and the Authority of an University would go a great way among Libertines so that it could but be collected by the least Innuendo tho' never so much wrested Albumazar's insisting upon Great Necessity as the Cardinal Virtue and it being Printed too in Italick would seem to strengthen the Conjecture especially seeing he goes on to represent all Mankind as Thieves and that the very Members of Man's Body are fram'd by Nature so as to steal from one another which is good enough Authority for the Head to steal from all the rest The 2d Scene Containing a Discourse betwixt Pandolfo an old Fellow of 60 in Love with Flavia a Girl of 16 and Cricca his Servant is far from being Chast. I cannot imagine what Edification it could afford to the Audience to hear an old Man insist upon his Vigor and Fitness for a young Girl and his Servant on the other hand telling him that one Nights Lodging would so much enfeeble him as Flavia would make him a Cuckold This seems more adapted to expose to Laughter the Dotage that old Age is now and then subject to and to justifie the Disloyalty of a young Wife so Wedded than to bewail or reprove such Folly on both sides