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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09809	The liues of Epaminondas, of Philip of Macedon, of Dionysius the Elder, and of Octauius Cæsar Augustus: collected out of good authors. Also the liues of nine excellent chieftaines of warre, taken out of Latine from Emylius Probus, by S.G. S. By whom also are added the liues of Plutarch and of Seneca: gathered together, disposed, and enriched as the others. And now translated into English by Sir Thomas North Knight	Nepos, Cornelius. Vitae excellentium imperatorum. English. Selections.; Goulart, Simon, 1543-1628.; North, Thomas, Sir, 1535-1601?	1602 (1602)	STC 20071; ESTC S111836	1,193,680	142

as so many Panders Bellowes and Firebrands to their vile luscivious desires But passing by all these with a briefe quotation of their names and workes to which you may resort as being too tedious to recite at large I shall onely relate unto you what 4. other Authors of our owne have written concerning the lewde effects of Stage-playes The first of them is reverend Bishop Babington who writes thus of Playes These prophane and wanton Stage-playes or Enterludes what an occasion they are of adultery and uncleanesse by gesture by speech by convayances by devices to attaine to so ungodly desires the world knoweth by too much hurt by long experience Vanities they are if we make the best of them and the Prophet prayeth to have his eyes turned away by the Lord from beholding such matter Evill words corrupt good manners they have abundance There is in them ever many dangerous ●ights and we must abstaine from all appearance of evill They corrupt the eyes with alluring gestures the eyes the heart and the heart the body till all be horrible before the Lord. Histrionicis Gestibus inquinantur omnia saith Chrysostome These Players behaviour polluteth all things And of their Playes he saith they are the feasts of Satan the inventions of the Devill c. Councels have decreed very sharpely against them and polluted bodies by these filthy occasions have on their death-beds confessed the danger of them lamented their owne foule and grievous faults and left their warning for ever with us to beware of them But I referre you to them that upon good knowledge of the abominations of them have written largely and well against them If they be dangerous in the day time more dangerous are they in the night certainely if on a Stage and in open Courts much more in Chambers and private houses For there are many roomes besides that where the Play is and peradventure the strangenesse of the place and lacke of light to guide them causeth error in their way more then good Christians should in their houses suffer Thus this right godly Prelate of our Church who makes Stage-playes a breach of the 7. Commandement because they are the frequent occasions both of contemplative and actuall fornication and the inducements to it The second is one Master Stephen Gosson once a professed Play-poet yea a great Patron and admirer of Playes and Players as himselfe confesseth till God had called him to repentance and opened his eyes to see their abominablenesse who among other things writeth thus of Stage-playes As I have already discovered the corruption of Playes by the corruption of their causes the Efficient the Matter the Forme the End so will I conclude the effects that this poyson workes among us The Devill is not ignorant how mightily these outward Spectacles effeminate and soften the hearts of men vice is learned with beholding sinne is tickled desire pricked and those impressions of minde are secretly conveyed over to the gazers which the Players counterfeit on the Stage As long as we know our selves to be flesh beholding those examples in Theaters that are incident to flesh we are taught by other mens examples how to fall And they that come honest to a Pl●y may ●●part infected Lactantius doub●eth whether any corruption can be greater th●n that which is daily bred by Playes because th● expr●ssi●g of vice by imi●atien brings us by ●he shadow to the substance of the same Whereupon he affirmeth t●●m necessary to be banished les● wickednesse be learned or with the custome of pleasure by little and little we forget God What force th●re ●s in the gestures of Players may be gathered by the tale of Bacchus and Ariadne which Xenophon reporteth to be ●layed at a banquet by a Syracusian his Boy and his dancing Tru●● In came the Syracusian not unlike to the Prologue o● our Playes discoursing the argument of the fable then ●ntred Ariadn● gorgeously attired like a bride and sate in the pr●sence of them all after came Bacchus dancing to the Pipe Ariadne p●rceiving him though she neither rose to meet● him nor stirred from the place to welcome him yet she shewed by her gesture that she sate upon th●r●es When Bacchus beheld her expressing in his dance the passions of love he placed hims●lfe somewhat neere to her and embraced her she with an amorous kinde of feare and strangenesse as though she would thr●st him away with the little finger and pull him againe with bo●h ●●r hands somewhat t●●●rously and doubtfully entertained him At this the beholders began to shout when Bacchus rose up tenderl● li●ting Ariadne from her seate no small store of curtesie passing betweene them the beholders rose up every man stood on tiptoe and seemed to h●ver over the prey when they sware the company sware when they departed to bed the company presently was set on fire they that were married posted home to their wives those that were single vowed solemnly to be wedded A very notable History for our present purpose especially as Xenophon hath related it As the stinge of Phalangion spredeth her poyson thorow every vaine when no hurt is seene so amorous gesture stickes to the heart when no ●kin is raced Therefore Cupid is painted wi●h Bow and Arrowes because it is the property of lust to wound alo●ffe which being well weighed Saint Cyprian had very good cause to complaine that Players are spots to our manners nourishers of vice and corrupters of all things by their gestures The godly Father knowing the practice of Playing to be so evill and the inconveniences so monstrous that grew thereby thinkes the Maiesty o God to be stained the honor of his Church defaced when Players are admitted to the Table of the Lord. Ne●ther was this the opinion of Saint Cyprian alone but of the whole assembly of godly Fathers in the Councell held under Constantius the Emperour Great then is the hardnesse of our hearts when neither Fathers nor Councels● nor God himselfe strikes us with any shame of that which every good man is ashamed to remember Mine eyes throughly beheld the manner of Theaters when I wrote Playes my selfe and found them to be THE VERY MARKETS OF BAVVDERY where choyce without shame hath beene as free as it is for your money in the Royall Exchange to take a short stocke or a long a faling Band or a French Ruffe The first building of Theaters was to ravish the Sabines and that they were continued in whoredome ever after Ovid con●esseth in these words Scilicet ex islo solennia more Theatra Nunc quoque formo●is insidiosa manent As at the first so now Theaters are snares to faire women And as I ●old you long agoe in my Schoole of abuses our Theaters and Play-houses in London are as full of s●cret adultery as they were in Rome In Rome it was the fashion of wanton yong men to place

of an Horse was much more pleasing and delightfull to him And of Diogenes Cinnicus that he neglected Musicke as an unprofitable needlesse uselesse thing But these perchance are over-rigorous and lesse proper for our present purpose I therefore passe to more punctuall witn●sses It is storied of the Lacedemonians that though they approved of plaine of grave and modest yet they utterly exploded all eff●minate light new-fangled harmonies for the practise of which Terpander and Timotheus were fined and censured by their Ephori Polibius a grave Historian condemnes all amorous lascivious harmonies together with the use of musicke for effeminate or voluptuous ends Plato though he approves of Musicke yet he exiles all loose unmanly voluptuous wanton Lydian or Ionicke Harmonies and Musicions together with all musicall Instruments of many strings as being a meanes to effeminate mens mindes corrupt their manners abate their courage consume their time and to draw them on to idlenesse and voluptuous living with whom Aristotle and Socrates concurre upon the selfe-sam● grounds Salust and Iustin have both long since condemned lascivious Musicke and Dancing as the instruments of luxury Ovid and Athenaeus two great Patriots of Musicke have notwithstanding censured effeminate accurate Songs and Harmonies as emasculating the virility and unbending the sinewes of mens mindes making them of Courteous effeminate of temperate intemperate of valiant unmanly persons whence they advise men to abandon them When the Lydians had revolted from Cyrus and taken up Armes against him King Cresus advised him this course to keepe them in subiection for future times viz. To prohibit them the use of Armes to cause them to traine up their Children to effeminate Songs and Musicke and then O King saith he their men will soone degenerate into women so that thou needest not then to feare any rebellion which fell out accordingly For when as Cyrus had conquered them he put this counsell into execution by meanes of which this industrious mighty warlike Nation became effeminate and riotous and so quite degenerated from their former valour By which experimentall example and the fore-alleadged testimonies it is most apparent that effeminate accurate lust-provoking Musicke especially in publike meetings feasts and Enterludes where other concurrent circumstances confederate with it to poast men on to sinfull actions in which cases the Scriptures most condemne it must undoubtedly bee utterly unlawfull unto Christians in regard of the fore-named lewde effects which issue from it and so by consequence must Playes be too which are either compounded of it or attended with it For the Minor that Stage-playes which have all other inescating lust-inflaming sollicitations accompanying them that either human pravity or Satans pollicy can invent are attended with such lascivious amorous Musicke which is apt to captivate mens chastity and foment their lusts it is more then evident not onely by moderne experience our Play-houses resounding alwayes with such voluptuous Melody but likewise by the suffrage of sundry Paga● and Christian Authors both ancient and moderne Witnesse Plato Legum Dialogus 3. pag. 822. Aristotle Politic. l. 8. c. 7. p. 532.533 Livy Rom. Hist. lib. 7. sect 2. Polybius Hist. lib. 4. p. 340. Dion●sius Hallicarnas Antiqu. Rom. l. 7. sect 9. Ovid De Remedio Amoris lib. 2. Pastorum lib. 3 4.5 Horace De Arte Poëtica lib. p. 302.303 Athenaeus Dipnosoph l. 14. c. 3.5 Tacitus Annal. l. 14. sect 3. Suetonij Caligula sect 54. Nero. sect 20.21.23.25.32 Plutarchus De Musica Macrobius Saturnalium l. 2. c. 7. l. 3. c. 14. Tertullian De Spectaculis lib. Arnobius adversus Gentes lib. 4. 7. Basil Hexaëmer Hom. 4. Nazienzen ad Selucum pag. 1063. Clemens Alexand. Paedag. l. 2. c. 4. l. 3. c. 11. Chrysost. Hom. 38. 89. in Matth. Hom. 15.21.22.23 Ad Pop. Antioch Augustine De Musica l. 1. c. 2. to 8. Hierom. Comment in Ephes. l. 3. c. 2. Tom. 6. p. 188. A. Isi●dor Hispal●nsis Originum l. 18. c. 47. Damascen Paralellorum l. 3. cap. 47. with sundry other Fathers and Councels quoted in the precedent Scene Alexander ab Alexandro l. 2. c. 25. Mariana Brissonius de Spectaculis Stephen Gosson his Schoole of Abuses and Playes confuted Action 2. Godwins Roman Antiquities Booke 2. sect 3. chap. 11. p. 108.109 Bodinus De Republica l. 6. c. 3. Agrippa De Vanitate Scientiarum cap. 17. 20. and above all Caesar Bulengerus De Theatro lib. 2. cap. 1. to 47. All which with infinite others largely ratifie the truth of this Assumption that Playes are alwayes accompanied with most effeminate amorous lust-provoking Musicke which depraves mens mindes and manners therefore both it and the Conclusion resulting from it must be granted SCENA VNDECIMA THe last unlawfull Concomitant of Stage-playes is profuse lascivious laughter accompanied with an immoderate applause of those scurrilous Playes and Actors which Christians should rather abominate then admire From whence this 26. Argument against Stage-playes may be framed That which is alwaies accompanied with profuse lascivious laughter with immoderate sinfull applauses of Playes and infamous Actors which Christians should abhorre must certainely be unlawfull unto Christians But Stage-playes are alwayes accompanied with such laughter and applauses Therefore they must certainely bee unlawfull unto Christians The Major I shall evidence by proving such laughter such applauses to be sinfull That p●ofuse lascivious laughter especially such as is occasioned by Stage-playes is evill it is most apparant First in regard of the originall efficient cause of it which is commonly some obscene lascivious sinfull passage gesture speech or iest the common obiect of mens hellish mirth which should rather provoke the Actors the Spectators to penitent sobs then wanton smiles to brinish teares then carnall solace which suite not with such sinfull obiects as Nazienzen Chrysostome and Antonius Laurentius well observe It is recorded of Lot that he vexed his righteous soule from day to day in seeing and hearing the unlawfull filthy deeds and conversation of the wicked Sodomites Of David that rivers of teares ran downe his eyes because men kept not Gods Law Of Ieremiah that his heart did bleed in secret his eyes weepe sore and trickle downe with teares for the iniquities of his people Of Paul that he seriously bewayled the unlamented unrepented sinne of the incestuo●s Corinthian Of Ezra that he humbled himselfe and rent his cloathes and mourned and wept exceedingly for the Israelites sin●e in marrying with Idolaters And of all the faithfull of Ierusalem that they sighed and cryed for all the abominations that were committed in the middest thereof Yea God himselfe enioynes his servants to mourne for others sinnes to turne their sinfull laughter into heavinesse and their carnall ioy arising from lascivious objects into mourning effulminating an everlasting woe a dismall curse against all such gracelesse

from all evill things but likewise from all appearance of evill 1 Thes. 5.22 See here Part 1. Act. 3. Scene 3. Act. 5. Scene 1 2 3. Act. 6. Scene 4. accordingly But Stageplayes as the Premises prove at large are unlawfull scandalous and dishonest sports Therefore their action cannot but be unlawfull especially unto Christians Fourthly That profession which hath neither Gods word for its rule nor his glorie for its end must certainely be unlawfull unto Christians witnesse Psal. 119.9.10 Gal. 6.16 1 Cor. 10.31 c. 6.20 1 Pet. 4.11 which informe us that Gods people must make his word the square his glory the cheife and onely end of all their actions But the pro●ession or art of acting Playes hath neither the word of God for its rule there being neither precept nor example in all the scripture for to warrant it but many texts against it See here p. 547. to 551. 723. to 730 nor yet the glory of God for its end as I have here largely manifested p. 127. to 133. f. 5●0 to 570. Therefore it must certainely bee unlawfull unto Christians Fiftly That art or trade of life in which men cannot proceed with faith or comfort on which men cannot pray for or expect a blessing from God must questionlesse be unlawfull unto Christians witnesse Rom. 14.23 Psal. 129.7 8. Phil. 4.6.8.9 1 Iohn 5.16 Neh. 1.11 c. 2.20 Psal. 90.17 But in this art or trade of acting Playes men cannot proceed with faith or comfort because it hath no warrant from the word the rule of faith nor from the Spirit the efficient cause of faith nor from the Church or Saints of God the houshold of faith neither can men pray for or expect a blessing from God upon their Playacting it being a calling of the very Divels institution not of Gods appointment a calling not authorized by the word of God and therefore no wayes intitled to the blessing of God A profession I dare say on which the very professors themselves could never heartily pray as yet for a blessing Neither doe or can those pious Christians which go by whiles they are acting say The blessing of the Lord be upon you wee blesse you in the name of the Lord. A profession which hath oft times drawne downe the very vengeance and curse of God on many who have practised or beheld it See here f. 552. to 568. Therefore it must questionlesse bee unlawfull unto Christians Sixtly That calling or profession in which a man cannot attribute his gaines to the blessing and favour of God so as to say it is God that hath blessed mee in this my honest vocation and made me rich and for his gaines and thriving in which hee cannot render any thanks prayse to God must doutblesse be an ungodly calling and profession not lawfull among Christians witnes Prov 10.22 Gen. 33.5.11 2 Chron. 1.12 Eccles. 5.19 Matth. 11.6.33 Psal. 145.1 2.15 16. Acts 2.46 47. 1 Tim. 4.3 4. Phil. 4.6 But Players cannot attribute or ascribe their gaines to the blessing and favour of God it being but turpe lucrum dishonest filthy gaine much like the hire of an harlot neither can they render true praise or thankes to God for what they gaine by acting because they have no assura●ce that it proceedes from his good blessing on this their lewde profession Therefore it must doutlesse bee an ungodly calling and profession not lawfull among Christians Seventhly That profession towards the maintenance of which a man cannot contribute without sinne and sacrificing to the Devill himselfe must questionlesse bee unlawfull unto Christians See 1 Cor. 10.21 22 23. Rom. 1.30 32. 2 Iohn 10 11. But no man can contribute towards the maintenance of Stage-players as Stageplayers with out sinne without ●acrificing to the very Devill himselfe For histrionibus dare imman● peccatum est histrionibus dare est daemonibus immolare as St Augustine Raymundus and sundrie others testifie See here p. 324 325 326.905.906 688. Therefore it must questionlesse bee unlawfull unto Christians Eightly That calling or profession which altogether indisposeth and unfits men for Gods worship service and for all religious duties must necessarily bee sinfull and unsu●able unto Christians See Luke 1. 74 75. Hebr. 12.1 Matt● 5.29 30. Act. 19.18 19. Iam. 1.21 1 Pet. 2.1 2. But the profession of Playacting doth altogether indispose and unfit men for Gods worship his service for the hearing of his word the receiving of his Sacraments from which all Players were excomunicated from all other religious duties See here p. 393. to 420. fol. 522. to 542. p. 561. to 573. Therfore it must necessarily be unlawfull unto Christians Ninthly That profession which is pernicious and hurtful both to the manners mindes and soules of men and preiudiciall to the Church the State that suffers it must certainely bee unlawfull intolerable among Christians See here p. 447 448. Ioh. 10.10 But the profession of acting Playes is pernicious both to the manners mindes and soules of men of actors spectators preiudicial to the Churches and States that suffer them witnesse page 302. to 568. Therefore it must certainely be unlawfull intollerable among Christians Lastly That calling which the very professors of it upō their conversion repentance have vtterly renounced with shame and highest detestation as altogether incompatible with Christianity piety or salvation● must certainely be sinfull and utterly unlawfull unto Christians See Rom. 6.20 21. But sundry professed Actors and Stage-players both in the Primitive Church and since upon their true conversion and repentance have vtterly renounced and given over their profession of acting Playes with soule confounding shame and highest detestation as altogether incompatible with Christianity piety or salvation See here p. 134. fol. 542.545.566.568 p. 561. to 573.840 910. Therefore it must certainely be sinfull and altogether unlawfull unto Christians And that upon these severall grounds which is the second thing First in regard of the parts persons that are most usually acted on the Stage which are for the most part Devills heat●en Idoll Gods and Goddesses Satyrs Syluanes Furies Fayries Fates Nymphes Muses such like ethnicke idolatrous figments which Christians should not name or represent Or else Adulterers Whoremasters Adulteresses Whores Bawdes Panders Incestuous persons Sodomites Parricides Tyrants Traitors Blasphemers Cheaters Drunkards Parasites Prodigals Fantastiques Ruffians and all kinde of vitious godlesse persons whose very wickednesses are the cōmon Subiect of those Stageplayes which men so much applaud And if the persons of any Magistrates Ministers or Professors of Religion are brought upon the Stage as now too oft they are it is onely to deride and jeere them for that which most commends them to God and all good men The parts and persons therefore of Stage-playes being such the represention of thē on the Stage must needs be ill as I have largely proved pag.