Minister onely c. As for the place of Ieremie you shall note that he goeth aboute to shewe the Iewes the right keeping of the Lawe For by naming the Sabboth day he comprehendeth the thing that is thereby signified for if they transgressed in the ceremonie they must needes be culpable of the rest which is meditating the spiritual Sabboth or rest hearing of Gods worde and resting from worldly trauels And doth also declare that by the breaking of this one coÌ„maundement he maketh them transgressors of the whole lawe forasmuch as the first and seconde table are therein contayned that is as I haue sayde before fayth towardes God and charitie towardes our neyghbors and not for our owne fantasie gaine and pleasure we shoulde go about our owne businesse and leaue our duty towards God and giue our selues to al maner ydlenesse and Ethnicall sportes and pastimes as is nowe vsed too muche amongst vs That day is most holy in the which we must apply and giue our selues vnto holy workes and spirituall meditations For if we doe but rest in the Sabboth day from the works of the bodie then do we take that like rest as beasts do and not as the faithfull doe Saint Hierome to this sayth Non sufficit à malis esse otiosum si quu fuerit à bonis otiosus It is not ynough for man to rest and cease from euil things if a man be ydle from good things Likewise Saint Augustine sayth Quod in otio non debet esse iners vacatio sed aus inquisitio veritatis aut inuentio that is In ydlenesse sluggish rest ought to be away and when he is at rest there ought to be either inquisitioÌ„ of the truth or inuention of the same YOVTH What doth this worde Sabboth signifie AGE It signifieth in Hebrue quietnesse or rest YOVTH Howe many Sabboths are there AGE Three The first is corporall to cease from our bodily labours Seconde is spirituall to cease from our sinne Thirde is heauenly that is after this our pilgrimage and ende of our life we shall keepe our Sabboth and rest in heauen with Iesus Christ for euer and euer YOVTH You haue throughlye satisfied me in this point I thank you good Father for it Yet I pray you let me vnderstand what Christ meaneth by saying in S. Mathewe that of euerye ydle worde that men shall speake they shall giue account thereof at the daye of iudgement AGE That is a sharpe saying and a true if we shall giue account for euery ydle worde O Lorde be mercifull to vs what shall we doe then for our ydle and sinnefull workes By these ydle wordes Saint Hierome vnderstandeth all that is spoken without profit to the hearers letting passe good and gracious talke and speake of friuolous vaine things full of scurrilitie and baudrie c. Maister Bullinger sayth Hereby is forbidden all lyes vanities and whatsoeuer springeth of the affections of the fleshe Maister Musculus sayeth That Christ hereby declareth that we shall not giue accountes to God onely for deedes but also for wicked wordes not onely for vaine wordes but for ydle words it for ydle wordes what for hurtfull wordes what for lyings what for slaunderings what for cursings what for leastings and mockings what for periuries shall be done hereafter to those at the daye of iudgement Wee see hereby that there is not a worde in our tongue but the Lorde knoweth them wholy altogither Not without great cause therefore did Dauid pray vnto the Lord that he would set a watch before his mouth to keepe the doore of his lippes Bicause sayeth Paule euill speakings corrupt good maners Saint Paule sayth that fornication and all vncleannesse or couetousnes must not be once named among vs as it becommeth Saints Neither filthinesse neither foolish talking neither â—easting which are things not comelye but rather giuing of thanks Let your speach be gracious alwayes poudred with salt He sayth also Let no corrupt communication proceede out of your mouthes but which is good to the vse of edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers In fine therefore he concludeth to the Colossians thus Whatsoeuer ye shall doe in worde or deede doe all in the name of the Lorde Iesus giuing thanks to God euen the father by him O quà m sanctum est os vnde semper coelestia erumpunt eloquia O sayeth Augustine howe holy is that mouth wherrout commeth alwayes heauenlye speaches Let them take heede therefore which speake what they list saying with the wicked in the Psalme With our tongue we will preuayle our lippes are our owne who is Lorde ouer vs But sayth the Prophet the Lorde will cut off all flattering lippes and the tongue that speaketh proud things Dauid asketh what the deceitfull tongue bringeth vnto himselfe or what doth it auayle him Salomon sayeth that life and death are in the power of the tongue and they that loue it shall eate the fruite thereof YOVTH Is it not lawfull then to vse any kinde of ieasting or mery talke when companies are gathered togither to make them merie withall AGE Yes so that your talke and ieasting be not to the disglorie of Gods name or hurt to your neighbour you maye For there are diuers examples in the Scriptures of pleasant talke which is also godlye as Eliah â—easted with Baals Prophetes saying Crie loude for he meaning Baall the Idoll is a God eyther he talketh or pursueth his enimies or is in his iourney or it may be that he sleepeth and must be awaked c. When honest iesting to good honest endes be vsed it is tollerable Therefore Paule sayeth not simplye Iâ—asting but addeth whiche are things not comely meaning ieasting that is full of scurrilitie and filthinesse YOVTH Well let this passe and let vs come againe to our talke that we had before which was that you wente aboute to driue me to labour for my liuing and that euerye man shoulde walke in his vocation to get his breade in the sweate of his face Well I tell you plaine Playes must be had and we will haue them say you to the contrarie what you lyst AGE Salomon sayth He that loueth pastimes shall be a poore man. c. Agayne he sayth By slothfulnesse the roofe of the house goeth to decay and by the ydlenesse of the handes the house droppeth through againe a diligent hande maketh riche but a slothfull hande maketh poore He that tilleth his lande shall bee satisfied with breade but he that followeth the ydle is destitute of defence c. YOVTH And it please you sir Christe biddeth vs not to bee carefull for our liues what we shall eate and drinke and sayeth that the Lillies of the fielde labour not neyther spinne yet Salomon was neuer arrayed like vnto them And also that the birdes doe not sowe reape nor carie into the barne c. We are bidden also not
Playes himselfe but also he must not teach others nor encourage them thereto S. Ambrose sayth that all such Playes though they seeme pleasant and full of sport must vtterly be abolished bicause no such Playes are mentioned nor expressed in holy Scripture S. Augustine sayth that such Enterludes and Playes are filthie spectacles For when the Heathen did appoint and ordeyne sayth he Playes and Enterludes to their Gods for the auoyding of the Pestilence of their bodies your Bishops for the auoyding of the pestilence of your soules hath prohibited and forbidden those kynde of Scenicall and Enterlude playes Thus you may perceiue and vnderstande howe those Playes haue bene thought off among the good and godly Fathers afore time which instructe vs thereby to hate and detest the like now in this latter time practised YOVTH Is there no lawes or decrees that haue bene made against such players of Enterludes fith they are so noysome a pestilence to infect a Common wealth AGE Uery many lawes and decrees YOVTH I pray you expresse some of them for the better satisfying of my minde herein AGE I will so doe God willing It was decreed vnder Constantinus the Emperour that all Players of Enterludes shoulde be excluded from the Lordes table Iohannes de Burgo sometime Chauncelour of Cambridge and a Doctor of Diuinitie in his booke entituled Pupilla oculi sayeth that Histriones Enterlude players Non sunt ad ordines promouendi are not to be promoted to any dignitie the reason is sayth he Quia sunt infames for that those Players are infamous persons He noteth further howe they are knowen Hoc intellige de his quihis qui publicè coram pâ—pulo faciunt aspectum siue ludibrium sui corporis exercendo opus illud Understande this of those Players whiche vse to make shewes openly before the people or else in vsing their bodies to this businesse as to make sport to be laughed at In another place he sayth Histrionibus Magicis Scenteis alijs infamibus notorijs manifestis non est Eucharistria conferenda quiatales vitaÌ„ ducunt illicitam The Sacrament of thanksgiuing ought not to be ministred vnto stage players of Enterludes or to Witches Sorcerers or to anye suche infamous and notorious wicked persons for that they leade a lewde and vngodly lyfe In the decrees it is so decreed that all Enterlude players and Comedie players Heretikes Iewes and Pagans are infamous persons and ought to be taken for no accusers of any nor yet to bee produced as witnesses in any matter or cause before any Iudge if they be the law is that the partie may lawfully except against them say they are infamous persons for they are Players of Enterludes And this may you doe also against common Minstrels S. Augustine sayth also that those Enterlude players are infamous persons Cornelius Agrippa sayeth There was in times past no name more infamous than Stage players And all they that hadde played an Enterlude in the Theatre were by the Lawes depriued from all honoure and dignitie Also there is a notable Statute made againste Uagabondes Roges c. wherein is expressed what they are that shall bee taken and accounted for Roges Amongst all the whole rablement Common players in Enterludes are to be taken for Roges and punishment is appoynted for them to bee burnte through the eare with an hote yron of an ynche compasse and for the second fault to be hanged as a Felon c. The reason is for that their trade is such an ydle loytering life a practise to all mischiefe as you haue hearde before YOVTH If they leaue this lyfe and become good true labourers in the Common wealth to gette their owne liuings with their owne handes in the sweate of their face shall not they be admitted and taken againe to the Lords table and afterwarde to be reputed and taken for honest men AGE Yes trulye And therefore in the thirde Councell of Carthage it is put downe in these wordes Scenicis atque Histrionibus caeterisâ— personis huiusmodi vel Apostatis conuersis ad Dominum gratia vel reconciliatio non negetur To Players of Enterludes and Comedies and other such lyke infamous persons and Apostates conuerting and returning to the Lorde by repentance grace and reconciliation is not to bee denyed And this is according to the saying of the Prophete Ezechiell If the wicked will returne from all his sinnes that he hath committed kepe all my statutes and doe that which is lawfull and right he shall surely liue and not die c. YOVTH I pray you shewe mee from whence those kinde of Playes had their beginning and who deuised them AGE Chrysostome sayth the Deuill founde oute Stage playes first and were inuented by his crafte and policie for that they conteyne the wicked actes and whoredomes of the Goddes whereby the consciences of godly men are grieuously wounded and wicked lustes are many wayes stirred vp And therefore the Diuell builded Stages in cities Arnobius sayeth The Heathens supposed to haue pleased and pacified their Gods from their wrath and displeasure when as they dedicated to them the sounds of Instruments and Shalmes c Stage playes and Enterludes Saint Augustine sayth The heathen did appoint Playes and Enterludes to their Gods for the aduoyding of pestilent infections c. Theophylus sayth Gentes suos dies habebant quibus publica spectacula c. religiosa c. The Gentyles had their certaine dayes appointed for open spectacles and shewes c. which they dedicated religiouslye vnto their Gods. Clemens and others say Diabolus sir author Gentilium superstitionum That the Deuil is the author of the Gentiles superstitions For these causes many other sayth Theophilus christians were forbidden to vse any such like Playes c If you will know more hereof I will referre you vnto Polydore Virgil and also vnto Iohn Textor where you shall fully see the originall of all those Playes c. YOVTH I maruaile much this being as you say that these Playes and Enterludes are tollerated and suffred nowe a dayes in a Common wealth being so euill of it selfe and hauing so euill patrons AGE It is much to be maryled at in dede my sonne for where Gods Gospell is preached and taught such vaine ydle and filthie pastimes and myrthes shoulde sur cease and be banished far away from Christians from whence it came Beatus Rhenanus sayth Non solum temperandum fuit quae manifestam pra se ferrent impietatem sed etiam c. It was meete for them to refrayne not onely from such things as haue a manifest shew of wickednesse but also from such things as might bee called indifferent partly least anye of the weaker christians shoulde be corrupted partly also least the Heathens shoulde be encouraged in their errors thinking that thing for that the christians themselues doe it to be the better Tertullian
foote or hande Yet playeth he the foole with other in the hande What newe kinde of daunces and newe deuised gestures the people haue deuised and daylye doe deuise it will grieue chaste eares to heare it good eyes to see it or tongue to vtter it so that it may truly be verified that the wyse man sayth He that will seeke for a dauncing place Shall finde there all maners that lacketh grace YOVTH God graunt that we may leaue this filthie vyce of Dauncing among all the rest and that the Magistrates and rulers may in such sort cut downe this wicked vice that it may be no more vsed and exercised and set sharpe punishment for the vsers and teachers thereof as is most meete for them so as God may be glorified and sinne abandoned AGE You haue made a very good prayer which I praye also vnto God it may take effect for his mercies sake Amen YOVTH Nowe giue me to vnderstande I praye you good father Age what aunswere shall I make vnto them that will alledge and say there must be some pleasures in our life and pastimes whereby we may be recreated and our wits refreshed that are wearied with toyle labour and studie AGE You must graunt them that but in the meane time they must be admonished that there are other pleasures more religious and honest as Saint Paule sayth Speake vnto your selues in psalmes and Hymnes and spirituall songs singing and making melodie to the Lorde in your heartes Agayne he sayth Let the worde of God dwell in you plenteously in all wisedome teaching and admonishing your owne selues in Psalmes c. singing to the Lord with grace in your hearts Also Saint Iames sayth Is any among you afflicted let him pray Is any merie let him sing Saint Tertullian sayth that Christians vsed assemblies togither to their moderate shorte suppers and when they were refreshed with meat they sang diuine prayses or recited some thing out of the holy Scriptures prouoking one another by them and by this meanes they returned home soberlye So Syrach sayth Stande vp betimes and be not the last but get thee home without delay and there take thy pastime and doe what thou wilt so that thou doe no euill or vse prowde wordes But aboue al things giue thanks vnto him that hath made thee and replenished thee with his goodes c. There are other honest pleasures as Problemes wherewith the wittes may be exercised and refreshed There are notable histories as the Actes and Monumentes of the Church made by That good and blessed manne maister Iohn Foxe For hystories sayth Cicero is a witnesse of tymes the light of truth the life of memorie the mystresse of lyfe the messenger of antiquitie c. Those prayses certainlye are great and yet they agree not with euery kynde of hystoriâ—s but with those onely in which these rules are obserued namely that it sette forth no lyes or bee afrayde to tell the truth c. whiche in my conscience neuer none wrote a more true and faythfull hystorie than maister Iohn Fore hath whatsoeuer the carping Papistes prate and say to the contrarie so that I say to you there is no hystorie so slender which is not verye muche profitable for some parte of mans life But aboue all let them reade the holy Scriptures and exercise themselues therein daye and night c. Saint Chrysostome sayth He that is ignorant shall finde to learne there he that is stubborne and a sinner may finde there scourges he that is troubled may finde there ioyes and comfort of eternall life c. It is a sea sayth Gregorie for Elephants to swimme in and the sillye Lambe to walke in c. These are the exercises that we ought to take our repast and pleasure in all the dayes of our lyfe c. Plato sayth That the life of a Philosopher is the meditation of death The like I may say that the lyfe of a christian man is a perpetuall studie and exercise of mortifying the fleshe vntill it be vtterly slaine the spirit getting the dominion in vs. YOVTH These are very good and godly exercises and necessarie to bee vsed in these daungerous dayes wherein wee nowe lyue AGE In deede if they doe consider the daungerous times that we are in they haue litle cause to vse those follies for in stead of playing they woulde vse praying in steade of Dauncing repenting for ioye sorowe for laughing mourning for myrth sadnesse for pride patience for wantonnesse wofulnesse c. Is it now thinke you a time to be mery dice daunce and playe seeing before our eyes howe the blouddie Papistes murther and slaughter in all places rounde aboute vs oure poore brethren that professe the Gospell of Iesu Christ. Christ wept ouer Ierusalem for his eminent and imminent destruction and doe we laugh at our brethrens destruction Christ sayde to the Iewes Suppose ye that those Galileans were greater sinners than all the other Galileans bicause they haue suffered such things I tell you nay But excepte you amende your liues ye shall all likewyse perishe So I saye to thee Englande Doest thou suppose that those French men whiche were cruellye murthered and vnnaturallye slaughtered by the bloudye and vnmercifull Papistes in Fraunce were greater sinners than thou art I tell thee nay But excepte thou Englande amende thy manners and bring forth better fruites of the Gospell thou wilte likewise perishe also For thou drawest iniquitie with cordes of vanitie and sinne as with Carte roapes And yet as Salomon sayeth They knowe not that they doe euill God graunt to open the eyes of Englande that it maye see his sinnes and be ashamed thereof and fall to repentaunce and to rent their heartes and not their garmentes and turne to the Lorde God for he is gracious and mercifull c. Lette the people therfore be gathered togither sanctifie the congregation gather the Elders assemble the children and those that sucke the breastes let the Bridegrome go forth of his chamber and hys Bryde out of hir Bryde chamber let the Priestes the Ministers of the Lorde weepe betweene the Porche and the Altare and let them saye Spare thy people O Lorde and gyue not thyne heritage into reproche that the Heathen Papistes shoulde reygne ouer vs. Wherefore shoulde they say among the people Where is their God YOVTH You haue made a godlye prayer and the Lorde graunt it may take effecte in vs all But I feare me it is as it was in the tyme of Abraham whyles hee prayed the people played whyles he wept they laughed whyles he desired they deferred and whyle hee persuaded God they daylye prouoked God to anger c. AGE Yet my sonne Abraham left not to pray for them neyther ought we for no doubt but God hath his children amoÌ„g the wicked of this world as he had Lot among the Sodomits Abdias with Achab and Iesabel Nichodemus among the Pharises
I say the wicked enimie of mankinde kepeth man in sinne continually but like as god graunteth forgiuenesse at the first to the repentaunt so doeth he also sharply punish those sinners which do continue obstinately without repentance in vice and sin For such men then as repent not vnfainedly and purpose to leade newe liues conceiue a false hope and boldenesse of the mercie of god And by this meanes that the Diuell setteth forth to men this boldnesse he bringeth this to passe that they liue on forth quietly and securely in vice and wickednesse and thinke little or nothing with themselues at any time of anye reformation or amendment And herein they despise the aboundance and riches of the bountifulnesse long suffering of god being ignoraunt that the goodnesse of god doth induce and lead vnto repentaunce The third cause is the custome of sinne which is in a manner made naturall in long continuance For like as it is harde for a maÌ„ to alter nature so custome if it be once rooted cannot easily bee plucked vp and expelled And therefore it is that learned men doe cal custome an other nature It is as a certaine wiseman saith such vices as we haue accustomed our selues to from our tender age cannot be without great difficultie weeded out afterward whiche thing though it be very certaine and true yet who seeth not how fondly fathers and mothers bring vp their children in cockering and pampering them from their infancie they bee giuen to none other thing but to pride delicious fare and vaine idle pleasures and pastimes VVhat prodigious apparel what vndeceÌ„t behauiour what boasting bragging quarelling and ietting vp and down what quassing feasting ryoting playing dauncing and dicesing with other lyke felowship that is among them â–ª it is a wonder to see And the parents can hereat reioyce and laugh with them and giue libertye to their children to doe what they liste neuer endeuouring to tame and salue their wilde appetites VVhat marueyle is it if they bee found thus naughtie and vicious when they come to their full yeares and mans state which haue of children bene trayned and entred with suche vice â–ª whereof they wil alwayes taste as Horace saith Quod nouatesta capit inueterata sapit The Vessel wil conserue the tast of lycour very long With which it was first seasoned and thereof smelful strong Euen so a child if that he be in tender yeares brought vp In Vertues schoole and nurtred wel wil smel of Vertues cup. If these men therfore at any time do fully purpose to repent the and reforme their liuing as when their conscience moueth them or the burthen of their sinne pricketh them yet custome hath so preuailed in them that they fal into worse and worse enormities and like mad men desire the reformation of their life Consider I pray thee good Reader what ioly yonkers and lusty brutes these wil be whé they shal come to be Citizens and intermedlers in matters of the common welth which by their fathers haue ben thus nicely and wantonly cockered vp neuer correcting nor chasting them for any faults and offences whatsoeuer VVhat other thing but this is the cause that there be now so many adulterers vnchast and lewde persons and ydle Rogues That we haue such plentie of Dicers Carders Mummers Dauncers â–ª And that such-wickednesse and filthy liuers are spred about in euery quarter but only naughty education and bringing vp wel then suche as impute this thing to the newe learning and preaching of the gospel are shamefully deceiued hauing no iudgement to iudge of things No no the newe learning and preaching of the Gospell is not the cause hereof but the naughty wanton and foolish bringing vp of children by their parents as I haue declared Also the slacknesse and vnreadinesse of the Magistrates to doe and execute their office is a great cause of this if they that vse tauernes playing and walking vp and downe the streates in time of a Sermon if disobedient children to their parents If Dicers MuÌ„mers ydellers dronkerds swearers Rogues Dauncers and such as haue spent and made away their liuing in belly cheare and vnthriftinesse were streightly punished surely ther shuld be lesse occasion giuen to offend also good men should not haue so great cause to complain of the maners of men of this Age. Therfore the magistrate must remeÌ„ber his office For he beareth not his sworde for naught for he is gods minister and a father of the couÌ„trey appointed of god to punish offenders but nowadayes by reason of libertie without punishmente and slackenesse of men in office which wink at their faults causeth so many idle players dauÌ„cers to come to the Gallows as there are for as the wise man saith who so prohibiteth not men so to offend when he may in a maner coÌ„maundeth them so to do for it is better to be a subiect to a magistrate vnder whom nothing is lawfull than vnder him to whome al things is lawful I feareme gretly therfore least the heathen més seueritie and streightnesse in punishing vice shal be a reproch to our magistrars and accuse them at the last day for their negligence and slacknesse herein It is not inough to punish sinne only but also to preuent and take away the causes thereof The fourth cause is Securitie in wealth and prosperitie which doth inebriate the mindes of men in suche sort that they neyther remember God nor constantlye purpose to reforme and amende their liues Therfore it was wel sayd of one that like as of prosperitie riot proceedeth Euen so of riot coÌ„meth both other coÌ„mon vices and also vngodlynesse and the neglecting of Gods word and commaundements And as Seneca afâ—iâ—meth that into great welth and prosperitie as it was continual dronkennesse men â—al into a certaine sweete and pleasaunt sleepe For as Publius saith Riches maketh him a foole whom she cockereth to much Paul also willeth that warning should be giuen to the rich men that they waxe not proude nor haue their affiance in vncertaine riches but in the liuing God to do good and be rich in good workes This Securitie is verily the mother of al viâ—e for by the same a man is made vnsensible so that in his consciéce he feeleth not the anger and wrath of god against sinne by Securitie mens mindes are brought into a dead sleepe that they be not pierced one whit with the feare of gods punishment or with the feare of death or of the last day to leaue off their vice and sin This securitie Christ artificiallye painteth out in Luke where mention is made of the rich man which when his land had enriched and made him welthy with a fruitful and plentiful croppe did not goe about to reforme his liuing and to repent nor to bestow almes vpon the poore but studied how to enlarge his barnes and to make more â—oome for his corne and sayd Now
my soule thou hast a great deale layd vp for thee which wil last thee for many yeares now therfore take thy rest eate drinke and be of good cheare But in this Securitie what heard he of god thou foole this night thy soule shal be také away c. markest thou not how death coÌ„meth sodainly vpó him thinking to haue had al the cómodities pleasures of the world as ease rest delicious fare pastimes delectations and safegard of al his goods For this cause then Paule commaundeth vs to awake and bee in a readinesse at al times against the comming of the lord Christ our Sauiour also saith waâ—ch and pray least ye enter into tentatioÌ„ againe take heed to your selues least at any time your heartes bee oppressed with surfeting and dronkennesse and cares of this life and least that day come on you at vnwares For as a snare shall it come onal thé that dwel on the face of the earth like as it befell and happened in the time of Noe whéal the world was drowned and in the time of Lot when Sodome was burned with fire from heauen so verily the last day shal come sodainely at the twinckling of an eye euen when men loke least for it These things might be faire examples and sufficient warnings for vs if wee were not more than senselesse The fift cause is the hope of long life Among many euilles naughty affections which folow the nature of man corrupted by sinne none bringeth greater inconuenience than the inordinate hope of long life as Cicero saith no man is so olde and aged that he perswadeth not himselfe that he may liue a whole yeare This is the cause why we defer the reformation of our liues and reméber not that we haue an account to make at the last day It is to be wondered that men do put of and defer such a great and weightie matter and loke no more of a thing which profiteth so much and is so necessarie vnto saluation The very heathen I feare me shal in the last iudgement be a reproch to vs Christians in that we are so slouthfull and haue almost minde at no time to repent and amend our liuings Pythagoras rule and custome was wheÌ„ he weÌ„t to take reste to recken and call to remembraunce what thing so euer he had said or done good or bâ—d the day before which Virgil speaking of a godlye and vertuous man painteth out to vs learnedly how he neuer slept til he called to remébráce al things that he did that day c. I can not let passe that which Seneca speaketh of this form and order Sextus saith hâ— at the euening ere he weÌ„t to rest accustomed to aske of his minde certain questions what ill and naughty condition hast thou this day amended what vice hast thou withstanded what art thou better now than when thou diddest arise And after he addeth this what better forme can there be than this to examine the whole day againe in this wise And this rule saint Paul giueth also saying let a man therfore examine himself c. if we would iudge our selues we should not be iudged But now of the contrarie let vs consider our exercises how we vse to recken our faultes and examine the whole day again at night ere we go to rest and slepe how are we occupied verily we kepe ioly cheare one with an other in banquetting surfeting and dronkennesse also we vse al the night long in ranging from town to town and from house to house with Mummeries and Maskes Diceplaying Carding and Dauncing hauing nothing lesse in our memories than the day of death for SalomoÌ„ byddeth vs remember our end and last day and theÌ„ we shal neuer do amisse but they remeÌ„ber it not therfore they do amisse The bereuiti of our life is compared in Scriptures vnto the smoke vapour grasse a flower shadow a span long to a weauers web to a post c. teaching here by that we should be alwayes preparing to die for that we know not what hour it wil come therfore as wise Virgins let vs prepare oyle readie in our lampes for doubtlesse the day of the lord is not farre off Dare we take our rest and boldely to sleape in these our wicked sinnes in which if any man should die as no man is sure that he shall liue the next morow folowing he were vtterly cast away condemned body soule but alas these things they remeÌ„ber not In such wise they flatter theÌ„selues with hope of longer lyfe fith with the which so many men be deceiued how childish are they or rather how do they dote which do perswade themselues that they be exempted out of the number of those as it were by some singular priuiledge and prerogatiue These are the chiefest causes that we liue so wickedly as we do in these dayes Take away therfore the causes the effectes wil easily be remedied And for the curing of three notable vices amoÌ„g all the reste I haue here made according to my small skill a Treatise against Diceplaying Dauncing and vayne playes or Enterluds Dialogue wise betwene Age Youth wherin thou shalt finde great profit and commoditie and how in al ages times and seasoÌ„s these wicked c detestable vices of ydlenesse Diceplaying Dauncing and vaine Enterludes hath bin abhorred detested of al nations and also among the Heathens to the great shame condemnation of Christians that vse no playe nor pastime nor any exercise more than Diceplaying Dauncing and Enterludes Now therfore friendly Reader I haue laboured for thy sake with my poore penne to bring forth this small volume that thou seest VVherin I haue to request and desire thy friendly acceptaunce of the same bycause it is a pledge and token of my good hart will to thee for which if thou canst afourde me thy good worde I aske no more it shal not be the last if God leÌ„d me life that thou shalt receiue of me As for Aristaâ—chus broode and Zoilus generation lurking loyterers Dicers Dauncers Enterlude Players frantike findefaults dispraysing and condemning â—uerye good endeuour I wey them not I am not the first though the simplest and rudest that their venemous tongs typped with the Mettal of infamy and slaunder haue torne in pieces vncharitably abused god forgiue theÌ„ Accept thou therfore I beseech the cutteous Reader this my trauel good meaning in the best part Thus I bid thee farewel From Henbury Iohn Northbrooke ¶ A Treatise against Idlenes Idle Pastimes and Playes YOVTH AGE GOD blesse you and well ouertaken good father Age. AGE And you also good sonne Youth YOVTH From whence came you nowe good father if I may be so bolde to presume of your curtesie to demaunde of you AGE I came from thence whereas you oughte to haue bene and resort vnto YOVTH What place is that I pray you declare to me AGE In good sooth it is that place whiche you
especially women giue eare to Pagan Ouid if not to Christian preceptes speaking of those common resortings vnto Playes sayth They come to see and eke for to be seene Full much chastitie quailed thereby hath beene Iuuenall the Poet sayeth also That no wiues or maydens that list to content and please sad and honest men will be founde and seene at common Playes Dauncings or other great resorte of people For these Playes be the instrumentes and armour of Uenus and Cupide and to saye good soothe what safegarde of chastitie can there be where the woman is desired with so many eyes where so many faces looke vpon hir and againe she vppon so manye She must needes fire some and hir selfe also fired againe and she be not a stone for what minde can bee pure and whole among such a raâ—lement and not spotted with any lust according to the olde Prouerbe Ex visu amor And as Uirgill sayth at vidi vt perij c. Saint Cyâ—rian persuadeth his fâ—ende Eucratius mightly to leaue off and not practise nor teach such Playes and Enterludes shewing what inconueniences and wickednesse is gotten thereby and what lust and concupiscence is stirred vp thereby in beholding of it and what filthie and soule actes are done of whoredome and baudrie to the hurte of the beholders adding this Histrionicis gestibus inquinatur omnia By the gestures of Enterlude players all honestie is defiled and defaced Reade those places of S. Cyprian which he wrote of purpose against Playes for the inconueniences that hee sawe and hearde to come thereof O Lorde what woulde he say write of our playes nowe if he were aliue and sawe their order in these dayes For these causes was it that the godly Fathers wrote so earnestly against such Playes and Enterludes and also commaunded by Councels that none shoulde go or come to Playes As in the thirde Councel of Carthage and in the Synode of Laodicea it was decreed that no christians and especially Priests shoulde come into any place where Enterludes and Playes are for that christians must abstain from such places where blasphemie is coÌ„monly vsed Chrisostome calleth those places playing of Enterludes Festa Satana Sathans banquets Saluianus doth bitterly reprehended those men and women that will not abstaine from going to such vaine Enterludes and Playes saying Spernitur Dei templum vt concurratur ad Theatrum Ecclesia vacuatur circus impletur Christum in altario dimittimus vt adus lterantes visis impurissimo oculos ludicorum turpium fornicatione pascamus He despiseth the Temple of God that he maye runne to the Theatre the Church is alwaye emptie and voyde the playing place is replenished and full we leaue Christ alone at the aultar and seede our eyes with vaine and vnhonest sights and with filthie and vncleane playes And a little after he declareth what innumerable vices there groweth by those playes and what sinnes are committed against God and his lawes c. Also Olympiodorus sayth to all Christians men and women in generall Abstaine from prophane spectacles and Enterludes for it is not meete that we shoulde go with those feete vnto Playes Enterludes and abhominable spectacles wherewith wee vse to go into the Temple of god For they that will go with cleane vnpolluted feete into the Church of God must vtterly altogither abstaine from vngodly and prophane places as these are YOVTH Notwithstanding all this that you haue alledged out of the Fathers and Counselles I suppose a man or woman doth not sinne to beholde and lust one for another except they coÌ„mit carnall copulation togither AGE My sonne howe doest thou reade or heare the words of Christ in the Gospel that sayth He that looketh on a woman and desireth to haue hir he hath coÌ„mitted adulterie alredie in his heart c. And surely they are not spirituall but carnall which doe not beleeue that they haue a spring of vngraciousnesse within them and force not what the mynde be but the bodie I dare boldlye say that fewe men or women come from Playes and resorts of men with safe and chaste mindes Therefore Augustus Cesar gaue coÌ„mandement that no woman should come to see Wrastlers and Players The Massyltens as Ualerius sayth kepte so great grauitie that it woulde receyue into it no Stage players bicause the arguments for the moste part contayned the actes and doings of harlots to the ende that the custome of beholding such things might not also cause a licence of following it and therefore to exercise this arte is not onely a dishonest and wicked occupation but also to beholde it and therein to delite is a shamefull thing bicause that the delite of a wanton mynde is an offence c. Alas my sonne not withstanding all this are not almost all places in these our days replenished with Inglers Scoffers Ieasters and Players which may saye and doe what they lyst be it neuer so filthilye and fleshlye and yet are suffered and hearde with laughing and clapping of handes Lactantius saith Histrionum quoque impudicissimi motus quid aliud nisi libidines docent instigant Those filthie and vnhonest gestures and mouings of Enterlude players what other thing doe they teache than want on pleasure and stirring vp of fleshly lustes vnlawfull appetites and desires with their bawdie and filthie sayings and counterfeyt doings Saint Paule therefore biddeth vs to abstaine from all appearance of euill c. YOVTH I maruayle why you do speake against such Enterludes and places for Playes seeing that many times they play histories out of the Scriptures AGE Assuredly that is very euill so to doe to mingle scurtilitie with Diuinitie that is to eate meate with vnwashed hands Theopompus intermingled a portion of Moses lawe with his writings for the which God strake him madde Theodectes began the same practise and was stricken starke blinde and will God suffer them vnpunished that with impure and wicked maners and doings doe vse and handle vpon scaffoldes Gods diuine mysteries with such vnreuerentnesse and irreligiousnesse What fellowship hath righteousnesse with vnrighteousnes what communion hath light with darknesse Out of one mouth sayeth Saint Iames proceedeth blessing and cursing these things ought not so to be S. Augustine sayth It is better that spirituall things be vtterly omitted than vnworthilye and vnreuerently handled and touched O what rashnesse and madnesse is that sayth Bernarde to handle the worde of God with polluted handes and to vtter and speake it with a filthie mouth mingled with filthie speaches and wordes And by the long suffring and permitting of these vaine plays it hath stricken such a blinde zeale into the heartes of the people that they shame not to say and affirme openly that Playes are as good as Sermons and that they learne as much or more at a Playe than they doe at Gods worde preached God be mercifull to this Realme of Englande for we begynne to haue
hath for the most part a sadde and heauy beginning and ending A Comedie hath in it humble and priuate persons it beginneth with turbulent and troublesome matters but it hath a merie ende ¶ An Inuectiue against Dice playing SIth you haue instructed me so well against Idlenesse and vaine Pastimes and Playes I praye you instruct mee further also as touching other playes especially of one kinde of playe which is commonly vsed of most people in this land whether it be euill or good to be vsed AGE According vnto my simple talent I shall be readie to imploye it in what I may for your better instruction and therfore declare vnto me among all what playe that is which you meane which you say is so much practised now a dayes amongst all sortes and degrees YOVTH If you will giue mee a walke or two aboute the fields I will declare the whole matter of the play for I woulde gladly heare your iudgement of it AGE I will go with you willingly and heare your talke gladly and wherein I maye doe you any good I shall be readie the Lorde willing to satisfie your request whiche is my desire YOVTH Sir I yeelde you humble duetie for this your so great and vndeserned turtesie come on leade you the waye good father I beseech you for reuerence is due vnto the aged as Boles sayth Rise vp before the hore beade and honour the person of the aged AGE The honourable age sayeth Salomon is not that which is of long time neyther that whiche is measured by the number of yeares but wisedome sayth he is the gray heare and an vndefiled life is the old age Nowe my sonne say on in Gods name what you haue to say YOVTH In our former communication betweene vs you haue spoken against vaine Playes and ydle Pastimes yet you allowed of certaine moderate and actiue pastimes for exercise and recreations sake AGE It is very true I graunted it and doe allow of them so farre forth as they are vsed to that ende wherefore they were appointed YOVTH I pray you let me vnderstande what those Playes are which you allowe off and also of those which you allowe not off AGE Before I speake of them it shall be good to distribute and deuide Playes into their formes and kindes YOVTH I pray you doe so AGE I must herein make two exceptions First is that by this my speach I meane not to condemne such publike games or prices as are appoynted by the Magistrate Secondly that such games as may benefite if neede require the Common wealth are tollerable YOVTH I pray you let me heare your diuision of Playes in their kyndes AGE There are some kinde of Playes which are vtterly referred vnto chaunce as he whiche casteth moste or casteth thys chaunce or that at Dice carieth away the rewarde There are other wherby the powers either of the body or mind are exercised YOVTH I pray you speake first of those Playes which are for the exercise of the bodie and minde AGE Those Playes which are for the exercise eyther of the powers of mynde or bodie are not vtterly forbidden Iustinian when he had vtterly taken away Playes that depended of chance at Dice ordeyned certaine kinde of Playes as throwing a round ball into the ayre which play is at this day much vsed among my countrimen of Deuonshire handling and tossing the Pyke or staffe running at a marke or such like c. Aristotle in his Rhetorikes commendeth these exercises of the bodie So we see at this daye publike wealthes do sometime set forth vnto such as can best vse weapons a reward or price to the ende they may haue the people the better encouraged and exercised alwayes taking heede that those Playes be not hurtfull or pernitious and that it be not daungerous eyther to themselues or to the beholders as are the Turneys and such like c. Such kinde of playes are forbidden Adlegem Aquiliam in the Lawe Nam Ludus and in the Decretals it is also expressed De tornementis YOVTH What other Playes are there which are tollerable AGE That which was vsed of olde time YOVTH What Playes were that I besech you AGE To labour with poyses of Leade or other mettall called in Latine Alteres Lifting and throwing of the stone barre or bowle with hande or soote casting of the darte wrastling shooting in long Bowes Crossebowes handgurmes ryding trayning vp men in the knowledge of martiall and warrelike affaires and exercises knowledge to handle weapons to leap and vault running swimming Barriers running of horses at the tilt or otherwise which are called in Latine Luda Discus Cursus siue Saltus Cestus Certamen equestre vel Currule All which Playes are recited partly by Homer partly by Vergil and partly by Pausanias c. YOVTH What say you by hauking hunting and playing at Tennise AGE These exercises are good and haue bene vsed in ancient times as we may reade in Genesis Cicero sayth Suppeditant autem campus noster studia venandi honesti exempla ludendi The fieldes sayth he hunting of beastes and such other doe minister vnto vs goodly occasions of passing the time yet he addeth therevnto this saying Ludendi est quidem modus retinendui A measure ought to be kept in pastime For in these dayes many Gentlemen will doe almost nothing else or at the least can doe that better than any other thing And this is the cause why there are found so many raw captaines souldiers in Englande among our Gentlemen when time of seruice requireth And also it is the cause of so many vnlearned Gentlemen as there are For they suppose that it is no part belonging to their calling for to heare sermons pray and studie for learning nor to be exercised in heroicall actes and martiall affaires but onely to hauke and hunt all day long YOVTH I haue hearde olde woodmen saye hee cannot be a Gentleman which loueth not a dogge AGE If that be true he cannot be a dog that loueth not a Gentleman As I doe not hereby condemne all Gentlemen so must I nedes God be praysed iustifie many which are desirous to heare preaching to vse praier study for lerning exercise martiall affaires readie to serue at al commandements for iust causes YOVTH What say you to Musicke and playing vpon Instruments is not that a good exercise AGE Musicke is very good if it be lawfully vsed and not vnlawfully abused therefore I thinke good first to declare from whence it had his beginning and to what end it was instituted Secondly whether they may be kept in the Churches Lastly what kinde of songs and measures are profitable and healthfull YOVTH I beseech you let me heare this throughly and I will giue attentiue eare therevnto for that some men disprayse it to much and thinke it vnlawfull others commende it as much and thinke nothing so lawfull and a thirde sort there are which make it a thing indifferent AGE Two