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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A10187	Histrio-mastix The players scourge, or, actors tragædie, divided into two parts. Wherein it is largely evidenced, by divers arguments, by the concurring authorities and resolutions of sundry texts of Scripture ... That popular stage-playes ... are sinfull, heathenish, lewde, ungodly spectacles, and most pernicious corruptions; condemned in all ages, as intolerable mischiefes to churches, to republickes, to the manners, mindes, and soules of men. And that the profession of play-poets, of stage-players; together with the penning, acting, and frequenting of stage-playes, are unlawfull, infamous and misbeseeming Christians. All pretences to the contrary are here likewise fully answered; and the unlawfulnes of acting, of beholding academicall enterludes, briefly discussed; besides sundry other particulars concerning dancing, dicing, health-drinking, &c. of which the table will informe you. By William Prynne, an vtter-barrester of Lincolnes Inne.	Prynne, William, 1600-1669.	1633 (1633)	STC 20464A; ESTC S115316	1,193,680	1,258

Philosophers● as the Incendiaries and common Nurseri●s of all Villany and Wickednesse the bane and ouerthrow of all Grace and Goodnesse the very poyson and corruption of mens mindes and manners the very fatall plagues and ouertures of those States and Kingdomes where they are once tollerated as I shall prooue anon Yet wee we miserable and gracelesse wretches after so many sentences of condemnation passed vpon them after so many Iudgements already inflicted on and yet threatned to vs for them after so many yeres and Iubilies of the glorious Gospel-sun-shine which teacheth vs to deny vngodlinesse and all worldly lusts and to liue soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for the comming and appearance of the great God and our Sauiour Iesus Christ yea after our very vow and sacred couenant in Baptisme which bindes vs to forsake the Deuill and all his Workes the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World and all the sinfull lusts of the flesh of which these Stage-Playes are the chiefe as if wee were quite degenerated not onely from the grace and holinesse of Christians but euen from the naturall goodnesse and moralitie of Pagans in former Ages doe now euen now in the middest of all our feares at home● and the miserable desolations of Gods Church abroade the very thoughts of which should cause our hearts to bleed and soules to mourne much more our Hellish iollitie and mirth to cease as if wee had made a couenant with Hell and sworne alleageance to the Deuill himselfe inthrall and sell our selues to these Diabolicall and hellish Enter-ludes notwithstanding all that God or man haue said against them and would rather part with Christ Religion God or Heauen then with them Yea so farre are many mens affections wedded to these prophane and Heathenish vanities that as it was in Saint Augustines time euen so it is now whosoeuer is but displeased and offended with them is presently reputed for a common Enemie he that speakes against them or comes not at them is forthwith branded for a Scismaticall or factious Puritan and if any one assay to alter or suppresse them he becomes so odious vnto many that did not the feare of punishment restraine their malice they would not onely scorne and disgrace but euen stone or rent him all to pieces as a man vnworthy for to liue on earth whereas such who further these delights of sinne are highly magnified as the chiefe contriuers of the publike happinesse There was once a time if Tertullian with some other ancient Fathers may bee credited when as it was the chiefest badge and character of a Christian to refraine from Stage-Playes yea this was one great crime which the Pagans did obiect against the Christians in the Primitiue Church that they came not to their Enterludes But now as if Stage-Playes were our Creed and Gospel or the truest embleme of our Christian profession those are not worthy of the name of Christians they must be Puritans and Precisians not Protestants who dislike them Heu quantum mutatus ab illo Alas how ●arre are Christians now degenerated from what they were in ancient times when as that which was their badge and honour heretofore is now become their brand and shame Quantus in Christiano populo honor Christi est vbi religio ignobilem facit How little doe we Christians honour Christ when as the ancient character and practicall power of Religion I meane the abandoning and renouncing of sinne-fomenting Stage-Playes subiect men vnto the highest censure and disgrace Conquerar an taceam This being the dissolute and vnhappy constitution of our depraued times it put mee at the first to this Dilemma whether to sit mute and silent still and mourne in secret for these ouerspredding abominations which haue got such head of late among vs that many who visit the Church scarce once a weeke frequent the Play-house once a day or whether I should lift vp my voyce like a trumpet and crie against them to my power If I should bend my tongue or pen against them as I haue done against some other sinfull and Vnchristian vanities my thoughts informed me that I might with the vnfortunate Disciples fish all night and catch iust nothing at the last but the reproach and scorne of the Histrionicall and prophaner sort whose tongues are set on fire of Hell against all such as dare affront their Hellish practises and so my hopes and trauell would bee wreckt at once If I should on the other side neglect to doe my vttermost to extirpate● or withstand these dangerous spectacles or to withdraw such persons from them as my paines and briefe collections in this subiect might reclaime when God had put this oportunitie into my hand and will into my heart to doe it my Conscience then perswaded me that my negligence and slackenesse in this kinde might make mee guiltie of the death of all such ignorant and seduced So●les which these my poore endeuours might rescue from these chaines of Hell and cordes of sinne and interest me● in all the euill which they might suppresse Whereupon I resolued with my selfe at last to endure the crosse and despise the hate and shame which the publishing of this HISTRIO-MASTIX might procure mee and to asswage at least in my endeuours if not otherwise these inueterate and festred vlcers which may endanger Church and State at once by applying some speedy corrosiues and emplaisters to them and ripping vp their noxious and infectious nature on the publike Theater in these ensuing Acts and Scoenes which I thought good to stile The Players or Actors Tragoedie not so much for the Stile or Method of it for alas here is neither Tragicke stile nor Poeticall straines nor rare Inuention nor Clowne nor Actor in it but onely bare and naked Trueth which needes n● Eloquence nor straine of wit for to adorne or pleade its cause as for the good effects I hope it may and will produce to the suppression and extirpation at least the restraint and diminution both of Playes and common Actors and all those seuerall mischieuous and pestiferous fruites of Hellish wickednesses that issue from them which much desired successe and reformation if I could but liue to see I should deeme my selfe an happy man and thinke my labour richly recompenced The Argument Parts and Method of the ensuing TRAGAEDIE BVt not to spend more time in Prologues I shall now addresse my selfe vnto the Argument or Subiect of this Tragicall Discourse which is no more in briefe then this Conclusion That all popular and common Stage-Playes whether Comicall Tragicall Satyricall Mimicall or mixt of either especially as they are now compiled and personated among vs are such sinfull hurtfull and pernitious Recreations as are altogether vnseemely and vnlawfull vnto Christians A Paradoxicall new and strange Conclusion or Probleme vnto many and yet an ancient and resolued trueth

That the time past of our lives may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles when we walked in lasciviousnesse lusts excesse of wine revellings banquetings and abominable idolatries wherein they thinke it strange that you run not with th●m into the same excesse of riot speaking evill of you who shall giue an account to him who is ready to iudge both quicke and dead By Titus 2.11.12 The grace of God which bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men teaching us that denying ungodlinesse and worldly lusts we should live soberly right●ously and godly in this present world By Ephes. 5.18 And be not drunke with wine wherein is excesse By Luke 21.34 Take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be overch●rged with surfetting a●d drunkennesse and cares of this world and that day come upon you at unawares by sundry such like Scriptures to this purpose which I have formerly quoted in another Treatise And likewise by the dangerous quality of these effeminating soule-destroying sinnes which are more pernicious to a Common-weale then pestilence or warre it selfe m●re fatall to mens soules and bodies then any Circean charme The Minor is most apparant First from the originall invention and dedication of Stage-playes which were first of all devised by a company of drunken Grecians in honor of their Devil-Idoll Bacchus the God of wine of drunkennesse and all excesse to whom Playes and Play-houses were consecrated at the first as Historians and Fathers certifie us Whence Tertullian stiles the Theater the house or temple of Bacchus because Stage-playes which were formerly stiled Liberalia were as Diodorus Siculus Isiodor Hispalensis and others record instituted by consecrated unto Bacchus the Idol the author of all intemperance If therefore their very inception were thus from drunkennesse and excesse their progresse questionlesse must bee such Secondly it is euident from the testimony the experience of former ages who not onely enumerate Stage-playes among the exc●sses the luxury both of the Greckes and Romanes as the Fathers and Authors in the margent testifie● but likewise make them the chiefe occasions of it Hence Chrysostome and Nazianzen stile the Play-house The Schoole of intemperance deboistnesse luxury and excesse Hence Salvian ioynes the Stage-playes epicuri●me and drunkennesse of the Romanes and those of Trevers both together making one the effect the companion of the other It is noted by Historians that Caligula Heliogobalus Nero Commodus Gallienus and other Roman Emperours who delighted most in Stage-playes were the most deboist luxurious dissolute ebrious of all others an infallible demonstration that Stage-playes are the occasion fewell and attendants of these sinnes It was the custome of the Pagan Greekes and Romanes in all their drunken riotous Feasts as it is now the usage of too many Christians to exhilerate themselves with Stage-playes of purpose to draw men on to drunkennesse luxury and more grosse intemperance Whence the Councell of Laodicea Can. 53.54 and the Councell of Aquisgrane under Lewes the godly prohibited Stage-playes at Christians marriage-Feasts and enioyned all Ministers not to be present at them but to arise and depart from such feasts before the Players entred that so they might prevent that riot that excesse which these theatricall Enterludes might occasion All which together with that of Plutarch who relates that all Stage-players were consecrated unto Bacchus as well as these their Stage-playes is a plenary ratification of my Minors truth to which our owne experience must subscribe For who more luxu●ious ebrious riotous or deboist then our assiduous Actors and Play-haunters Who greater Taverne Ale-house Tobacco-shop Hot-water house haunters c who greater stouter drinkers health-quaffers Epicures or good-fellowes then they What walke more usuall then from a Play-house to a Taverne to an Ale-house a Tobacco-shop or Hot-water Brothel-house or from these unto a Play-house where the Pot the Can the Tobacco-pipe are alwayes walking till the Play be ended from whence they returne to these their former haunts Many are the Ale-house more the Bacchanalian Taverne-meetings that are appointed concluded at the Play-house from which much drunkennes●e and excesse arise yea the Play-house is the common Randevouze where most such riotous Taverne conventicles are either motioned plotted or resolved on as our Play-haunters themselves confesse And is there not reason why it should be so Are not drunkennesse ioviality epicurisme luxury and profusenesse most rhetorically applauded most elegantly adorned in our Stage-playes with the sublimest Encomiums the most insinuating Panegyrickes the most amiable Titles that either art or eloquence can invent and doth not this adde spurs and fewell to many Yongsters lusts who to purchase the empty title of brave generous liberall and right ioviall Sparkes whom Players most applaud doe prodigally consume their Patrimonies their Pensions their time in Tavernes Ordinaries Tobacco-shops c. in ebrious luxurious meetings to their owne undoing their friends and Parents griefe Alas the pittifull complaints of sundry parents together with the testimony of our owne grave English Authors prove this to be too true Therefore we must needs abominate and reject all popular Stage-playes in respect of these their cursed fruits SCENA OCTAVA THe eight effect of Stage-playes is impudency immodesty and shamelesnesse yea even in sinfull things Whence this 34. Argument may be deduced That which banisheth all modesty al shamefacenesse and makes both Actors Spectators impudently shamelesse in committing sinne is questionlesse abominable and unlawfull unto Christians But this doe Stage-playes and Play-houses Therefore they are questionlesse abominable and unlawfull unto Christians My Major is irrefragable First because modesty and shamefastnesse are such graces such vertues as God himselfe requires of us in his Word and which the very Heathen much extoll They are the chiefest ornaments virtues guides supports and stay of Youth the Mothers the conservers of all other Christian or morrall vertues the onely curbs that restraine men from all sinne all lewdnesse and dishonest● whatsoever where these are once removed the whole practise of honesty and vertue will be quite extinguished Hee who hath lost these vertues is no better then a cast-away He who is past all shame is certainely past all grace past all recovery all amendment That therefore which banisheth these two restrayning vice-suppressing vertues in which not onely Christianity but even all common honesty civility and the publike safety doe subsist must needs bee abominable Secondly because impudency and shamelesnesse especially in committing sinne is almost the very highest degree of sinne yea they provoke God more to anger and draw a deeper guilt a more multiplied condemnation upon men then the sinne it selfe which they thus perpetrate They are infallible symptomes of a cauterized conscience an obdurate heart a reprobate sence of a man given wholy over unto sinne and Satan yea they

All which is a sufficient evidence that Stage-playes wholy indispose men to the true worship of God Salvian Bishop of Marselles is very copious in this theame We say writes he God hath forsaken us when in very deed we forsake God For suppose we that the Lord will respect us not deserving his favour let us see if he can Loe infinite thousands of Christians daily abide at the shewes of unseemely things Can God then favour such kinde of persons Can God cast his gracious countenance upon such as rage in Cirques and commit adultery in Theaters Or is this our meaning or d●e we thinke it meete that for as much as God seeth us in Cirques and Theaters that what things we see he beholdeth and what filthinesse we behold he seeth it also for company For one of these must needs be for if he vouchsafe to looke upon us it followes that he must behold all these things where we are or if which is most true he turne away his eyes from these things he must likewise turne away his countenance from us who are there And the case standing thus yet neverthelesse we doe these things which I have said and that without c●a●ing Or thinke we that God hath his Theaters and Cirques as had the gods of the Gentiles For thus did they in old teme because they were perswaded that their Idols delighted in them but how is it that we doe so who are certaine that our God detesteth them Or verily if we know that these abominations doe please God I will not gainsay but we may resort unto them continually But if it be in our conscience that God abhorreth that he detesteth that God is offe●ded as the Devill is fed by Theaters how say we that we worship God in the Church who alwayes serve the Devill in the obscenity of Playes and that wittingly and willingly out of deliberation and set purpose And what hope I pray you shall we have with God who not ignorantly or at unawares offend him but after the example of those Giants heretofore whom we read to have attempted Heaven with their mad endeavours and as it were to have marched forwards against the clouds So we through the iniuries which all the world over we continually commit doe as it were appugne Heaven with a common consent To Christ therefore O monstrous madnesse even to Christ doe we offer Cirques and Stage-playes yea and even then especially when as we receive any goodnesse from his hands when any prosperity is bestowed upon us by him or when as God hath given us any victory over our enemies And what else by this doe we shew our selves to doe but even to be like the man who is iniurious to the person who hath done him good who rayles upon him that speakes him faire or strikes him over the face with a sword that kisseth him For I aske the great and rich men of this world of what offence is that servant guilty which wisheth ill to a good and gracious Master which rayleth on him that deserveth well and rendreth dispitefull words for his good received without controversie all men will iudge him a most hainous offender who rendreth evill for good to him to whom indeed he might not render evill for evill Thus verily doe even we who are called Christians we stirre up a mercifull God against us by our uncleanesse we offend a gracious God by our filthinesse and we wound a loving God by our wickednesse To Christ therefore O monstrous madnesse even to Christ doe we offer Cirquers and Stage-players to Christ doe we render for his benefits the filthinesse of Th●●ters even to Christ doe we sacrifice the oblation of most base sports As though our Saviour who for us became man had taught us thus to doe As though he had preached this either by himselfe or by his Apostles As though that for this end he had taken upon him the shame of mans nativity and the contumelious beginnings of an earthly generation As though for this end he had layen in a manger at what time notwithstanding the very Angels ministred unto him As if for this purpose he would be swadled in ragges of cloth who did governe Heaven in his cloutes As though for this end he had hung upon the Crosse at whose hanging the whole world was astonished Who for your sakes saith the Apostle when he was rich became poore that yee through his poverty might be made rich And being saith he in the forme of God hee humbled himselfe to the death even the death of the Crosse. Even this did Christ teach us when he suffred these things for our sakes Well doe we requite his passion who receiving through his death redemption leade a most filthy life For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men saith blessed Paul and teacheth us that we should deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and that we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the mighty God and of our Saviour Iesus Christ who gave himselfe for us that he might redeeme us from all iniquity and purifie us a peculiar people to himselfe zealous of good workes Where be they who doe these things for which the Apostle saith that Christ came where be they who flie desires of this world where be they which live godly and righteously that looke for this blessed hope by well doing and leading a pure life shewing thereby that they looke and long for the Kingdome of God where be such Our Lord Iesus Christ came saith he that he might purifie us a pecular people to himselfe zealous of good workes Where is that pure people that peculiar people that good people that people of holinesse Christ saith the Scripture suffred for us leaving us an ensample that wee should follow his steps And we follow the steps of our Saviour in Cirques and in Theaters as if our Saviour had left us such an example whom we read to have wept but that he laughed we never read And both these for our sakes because weeping is a pricking of the heart laughter a corruption of manners Therefore saith he Woe to you that laugh for yee shall waile and weepe And blessed are yee that weepe now for yee shall laugh But it is not enough for us to laugh and be merry unlesse we reioyce with sinne and madnesse unlesse our laughter be tempered with filthinesse and mixed with impiety What error I say is this or what folly Cannot we daily be merry and laugh unlesse we make our laughter and mirth to be wickednesse Or else thinke we simple mirth to be nothing worth and can we not laugh except we sinne What a mischiefe is this or what furie Let us laugh I pray you and be merry so we sinne not What foolishnesse nay madnesse is it to thinke mirth and ioy nothing worth unlesse God

point of Christianity to mispend all this eating drinking and rising up to play whole dayes and nights together Those who are civill at other seasons will be now deboist and such who were but soberly dissolute before if I may so speak will be now stark mad forgetting not onely their Saviour but themselves Those who repute it a shame to be unruly disorderly any other part of the yeare thinke it an honour to be outragiously disordered and distempered now turning day into night and night into day against the course of nature like Seneca his Antipodes setting no bounds to any lust That which is not tollerable at other times seemes laudable unto most men now that which were it done at any other season could not but be condemned as an execrable sinne becomes now a vertue at least a veniall crime In a word those who make a kinde of conscience of drinking amarous dancing healthing dicing idlenesse Stage-playes and of every sinne at other times● deeme it a part of their piety to make no bones of these of any deboistnesse or prophanesse now those who are constant in religious familie-duties now discontinue them those who remembred their Saviour and sinnes before now qui●e forget them those who seemed Saints before turne Divels incarnate now those who were reasonable men before are metamorphosed into beasts or monsters now those who were formerly good at least in outward shew doe now turne bad and all who were bad before prove now ten●times worse all under this pretence of solemnizing Christs Nativitie as if he were delighted onely with their sins Thus doe we even crucifie our blessed Saviour in his very cradle and like that v Tyrant Herod seeke to take away his life as soone as he is born whiles we thus impiously celebrate prophane his birth evē pierce him through with these grosse disorders which are now too frequent among many Christians Should Turkes Indels behold our Bacchanaliā Christmas extravagancies would they not thinke our Saviour to be a glutton an Epicure a wine-bibber a Divell a friend of publicanes and sinners as the Iewes once stiled him yea a very Bacchus● a God of all dissolutenesse drunkennesse and disorder since his Nativitie is thus solemnized by his followers who are never so dissolutely so exorbitantly deboist in all kindes as in this his festivall Would they not take up that speech in Salvian Ecce quales sunt qui Christum colunt falsum plane illud est quod aiunt se bona discere quod jactant se sanctae legis praecepta retinere Si enim bona discerent boni essent Talis profecto secta est quales et sectatores hoc sunt absque dubio quod docentur Apparet itaque Prophetas quos habent impuritatem docere et Apostolos quos legunt nefaria sensisse et Evangelia quibus imbuuntur haec quae ipsi faciunt praedicare Postremo sancta à Christianis fierent si Christus sancta docuisset AEstimari itaque de cultoribus suis potest ille qui colitur Quomodo enim bonus magister est cujus tam malos videmus esse discipulos Ex ipso enim Christiani sunt ipsum audiunt ipsum legunt promptum est omnibus Christi intelligere doctrinam Vide Christianos quid agant et evidenter potest de ipso Christo sciri quid doceat Would they not condemne our God our Saviour our religion and loath both th●m and us qui ita agimus ac vivimus ut hoc ipsum quod Christianus populus esse dicitur opprobrium Christi esse videatur as the same Father speakes O inaestimabile facinus et prodigiosum Quid non ausae sint improbae mentes in the Christmas season Armant se ad peccandum per Christi nomen auctorem quodammodo sui scele●is Deum faciunt et cum interdictor ac vindex malorum omnium Christus sit dicunt se scelus quod agunt agere pro Christo. Such are our gracelesse unchristian Christmas lives who when as our Saviour daily cries unto us Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes and glorifie your Father which is in heaven we on the contrary live so in the Christmas season that I speake not of other times that the sonnes of men that Infidels and Pagans may openly behold our evill workes and blasphem● ou● Father● our most blessed Saviour who is now grieving in heaven whiles we are thus dishonouring his Nativitie here on earth And should not our hearts then smi●e us should not shame confound us all for this our heinous sinne for this our indignity to our blessed Lord and Saviour who never findes worse entertainmen● in the world than in the feast of his Nativity when he expects the best O let us now at length remember that our holy Saviour was borne into the world for this very purpose to redeeme and call us from not to those sinnes and sinfull pleasures to destroy out of us not to erect within us those very workes and pompes of Satan which now we more especially practise at his sacred birthtide as if he were borne to no other purpose but to set hell loose to give a liberty to all kinde of wickednesse and to prove a meere broker for such a one men then make him to the very Divell Did we but seriously consider and beleeve that our Saviour Christ was for this end borne into the world that hee might purifie and wash ●s both from the guilt and power of all our sinnes in his most precious blood that hee might sanctifie and cleanse us with the washing of water by the word from all iniquitie and present us to himselfe a glorious Church without any spot or wrinkle that he might teach us to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present evill world expecting every day his second comming that he might quite destroy out of us the workes of the Divell purge us from all iniquitie and purifie us unto himselfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes that wee being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without feare in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our lives shining as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation that we should henceforth cease from sinne and no longer live the rest of our time in the lusts of the flesh to the will of men but to the will of God that we might be holy in all manner of conversation and godlinesse even as hee is holy especially at holy s●asons that wee should not henceforth live unto our selves but unto him who died for us and rose againe that whether we live we might live unto him or whether we die we might die unto him and that living and dying we might be his glorifying him both in our soules and bodies which are his And

this dissolute and vnruly age For first the Scriptures doe positiuely informe vs that Righteousnesse● hath no fellowship with Vnrighteousnesse nor Light with Darkenesse that Christ hath no co●cord with Belial that he that beleeueth hath no part nor portion with an Infidell that the Temple of God hath no agreement wi●h Id●les and that we cannot drinke the cup of the Lord and the cup of De●ils nor be partakers of the Lords table and of the table of Deuils If then Christ if Christians and Infidels haue no communion great reason is it that they should not intercommon in these Heathenish Spectacles and delights of sinne Secondly all Christians haue vowed in their Baptisme to forsake the Deuill and all his workes the Pompes and Vaniti●s of this wicked world and all the sinfull lustes of the flesh and haue they any reason then to harbour or retaine the Ceremonies of Worldlings or Enterludes of Pagans which they haue thus seriously renounced Thirdly all true and reall Christians are Redeemed by the red and precious blood of Iesus Christ from the ordinances rudiments and customes of the world from their vaine conuersation receiued by tradition from their Fathers they are purchased from off the earth and from among the sonnes of men they are ransomed and taken out of this World and made m●n of another world that so they might haue their whole conuersation with God in Heauen and walke on in all holy conuersation and godlinesse seruing God in holinesse and true Righteousnesse all the dayes of their liues Christ Iesus himselfe hath bought them at the dearest rate for this very end that they should no longer liue to the world or to the will and lusts of men but vnto him alone that they should cast off the workes of Darkenesse and put on the armor of Light that they should not hencefoorth walke as other Gentiles in the vanitie of their mindes following the desires of the flesh and of the minde giuing themselues ouer to Lasciuiousnesse and vncleannesse that the time past of their liues might suffice them to haue wrought the will of the Gentiles when as they walked in Lasciuiousnesse Lusts Reuellings Banquetings and abominable idolatries that they should now denie vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and walke soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed comming and appearance of their Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ that they should not hencefoorth walke according to the course of this world according to the power of the Prince of the ayre which now worketh in the children of disobedience but that they should be pure and vndefiled before God keeping themselues vnspotted from the World Since therefore Ie●us Christ ha●h thus Redeemed all Christians from the World and all i●s Pagan customes pleasures ceremonies and delights of sinne that so they might be holy and blamelesse before him in loue and become a peculiar people to him Zealous of good workes great reason is there that they should abominate all Pagan practises Enterludes and Ceremonies as vnlawfull and misbeseeming Christians else they should but euacuate and make voyde vnto themselues the death of Christ yea trample vnder feete his precious blood and put him vnto open shame And would any Christian be so ingratefull so dispitefull to his blessed Sauiour whose bleeding wounds doe preach Saluation to his fiercest enemies as thus to wrong and shame him Fourthly mans nature is exceeding prone to Paganisme and Heathenish superstition as is euident not onely by the frequent Apostasies of the Israelites to grosse Idolatrie recorded in the Scriptures but likewise by that generall deluge of Heathenisme Mahometisme and hideous Idolatrie which now and alwayes heretofore hath ouerspred the greatest part of all the world God therefore out of his Fatherly care and compassi●n ●o his Children to anticipate all occasions which might withdraw them from him to Idolatrie doeth oft times prohibit them to imitate the Fashions Customes Vanities Habites Rites or Ceremonies of Infidels and Heathen Gentiles for feare lest one thing should draw on another by degrees till they were quite Ap●statized to Idolatrie and seduced from the Faith Whereupon Saint Augustine exh●rts all Christians to prohibit the vse of all diabolicall Enterludes Vacillations and songs of the Gentiles and that no Christian should exercise any of these because by this he is made a Pagan Since therefore the imitation of Pagan customes pleasures and delights are but so many ingredients and allectiues to Paganisme and grosse Idolatrie and since they alienate or at least in some degree disioyne our affections from God and heauenly things there is ground and cause enough that Christians should reiect them as sinfull and pernicious So that vpon all these authorities and reasons the force of which no pious heart is euer able to withstand I may safely conclude this second Scaene with this short Corollary That Stage-Playes are sinfull vnseemely pernicious and vnlawfull at least wise vnto Christians because they were the inuentions ceremonies and pastimes of Idolatrous Infidels and the most Licentious Heathens who were no other but the Deuils Purueyers whom Christians must not imitate ACTVS SECVNDVS SEcondly as Stage-Playes are thus sinfull vnseemely pernicious and vnlawfull vnto Christians in regard of their originall and primitiue Inuentors so likewise are they such in respect of those Idolatrous vnwarrantable and Vnchristian ends to which they were destinated and designed at the first The chiefe and primarie end of inuenting instituting or personating Stage-Playes was the superstitious worship or at least wise the pacification or attonement of Iupiter Bacchus Neptune the Muses Flora Apollo Diana Venus Victoria or some such Deuill-gods or Goddesses which the Idolatrous Pagans did adore to whose honour names and memories these Playes which were alwayes Acted and celebrated heretofore as the insuing Authours testifie on those Festiuall and Solemne dayes which were dedicated to the speciall seruice and commemoration of these Idoles were at first deuoted That Stage-Playes yea and Theaters or Play-houses too were primarily inuented for the honour and Dedicated to the seruice or at least-wise oft times Celebrated in times of Pestilence to appease the anger of these Idole-Gods whose Images and Pictures were carried about and represented in them wee haue the expresse authorities not onely of Plutarch in the life O● Romulus and Romanae Quaest. Quaest. 107. of Dionysius Hallicarnasseus Antiq. Roman lib. 2. cap. 3.5 lib. 7. cap. 9. Of Valerius Maximus lib. 2. cap. 4. Of Thucidides Hist. lib. 3. Of Liuie Rom. Hist. lib. 2. Sect. 36. l. 1. Sect. 9.20 l. 7. Sect. 2.3 l. 26. Sect. 23. lib. 5. Sect. 1. lib. 42. Sect. 20. Of Demosthenes Orat. aduersus Midi●m Of Horace De Arte Poetica lib. Of Athenaeus Dipnos lib. 2. cap. 1. Diodorus Siculus Histor. lib. 17. Sect. 16. with sundry other Pagan Authors but likewise of Tatianus Oratio aduersus

Christian Zeale I will neuer giue ouer preaching vntill I haue dissipated and rent a sunder that diuelish Theater that so the assembly of the Church may bee made pure and cleane freed from its present filthinesse and enioy eternall Life hereafter by the Grace and Mercy of Iesus Christ their Lord a memorable and Christian resolution That holy man of God and professed enemie of Stage-Playes Saluian Bishop of Marcelles is very Elegant and Copious in this Theame In Stage-Playes writes hee there is a certaine Apostasie from the Faith and a deadly preuarication both from the Symboles of it and the heauenly Sacraments For what is the first confession of Christians in their wholesome Baptisme what else b●t that they protest they doe renounce the Deuill his Pompes his Spectacles and his workes Therefore Playes and Pompes according to our profession are the workes of the Deuill How then Oh Christian doest thou follow Stage-Playes after Baptisme which thou confessest to be the worke of the Deuill Thou hast once renounced the Deuill and his Spectacles and by this thou must needes know that thou doest returne to the Deuill when thou doest wittingly and knowingly returne to Stage-Playes for thou hast renounced both of them together and thou hast professed both of them to bee one If then thou reuert to one thou hast returned vnto both for thou sayest I renounce the Deuill his Pompes his Spectacles and hi● Workes And what followes I beleeue sayest thou in God the Father Almighty and in Iesus Christ his Sonne Therefore the Deuill is first renounced that God may be beleeued in because he who doeth not renounce the Deuill doeth not beleeue in God and therefore hee who returnes to the Deuill forsaketh God Now the Deuill is in his Playes and Pompes yea the Play-house the Temple of all Deuills as Tertullian obserues is alwayes full of Deuills and by these meanes when we returne to Stage-Playes wee r●linquish the Faith of Christ and returne to the Deuill By this meanes then all the Sacraments of the Creed are abrogated and all that which followes in the Creed is demolished If then the crime of Stage-Playes seemes but small to any man let him reflect on all this which we haue said and hee may see that there is no pleasure in Stage-Playes but death All which if our Actors Play-Poets and Stage-haunters would but a whiles consider it would make them for euer to abominate and renounce all Stage-Playes as they ought to doe because they were consecrated to the Deuill as his chiefest Pompes You see now by all these concurrent Testimonies of the Fathers that Stage-Playes are those very Workes those Pompes and Vanities of the Deuill which euery Christian hath solemnely renounced and seriously vowed against in his Baptisme in the very presence of God himselfe and all his Angels That they are likewise those Pompes and Vanities of this wicked World which they haue then and there renounced the former reasons together with the expresse and punctuall suffrages of Saint Hilary Saint Ambrose Saint Chrysostome and Saint Augustine in their Comments and Expositions on the 118 alias the 119. Psalme verse 37. Turne away mine eyes from beholding vanitie to whom I might adde Saint Cyprian Lactantius Cyril of Hierusalem Clemens Alexandrinus Saint Bernard Macarius AEgyptius Saint Basil Nazianzen and Saluian omitting all those Moderne writers which are copious in this Theame doe abundantly testifie and indeed what are what should bee the Workes and Pompes of Satan the Spectacles Pleasures Pompes and Vanities of this wicked World which we renounce in Baptisme if Stage-Playes are exempted from that order If then this my Assumption be yeelded to me as of necessitie it must for who can or dares controle it against such punctuall and pregnant euidences my Sequell and Conclusion must bee granted without any more dispute For what man who dares to stile himselfe a Christian can bee so Diabolically absurd so Audaciously impious or Desperately prophane as to denie that to be abominable pernicious vndecent and vnlawfull vnto Christians which they haue all renounced and abominated in their Baptisme Doubtlesse if there be any odious hurtfull vnseemely or illegitimate thing in all the world if there bee any euills any vanities or delights of sinne that Christians must refraine then certainely those which they haue vowed sworne and solemnely protested against in the very house and presence of God himselfe and that in the audience both of men and Angels those whom they haue euerlastingly abiured in that init●atory Sacrament of Baptisme which giues them their primarie admission into the visible Church of Christ must needes bee they no Man no Christian no Deuill can gaine-say it Since then I haue prooued by irrefragable Testimonies that Stage-Playes are those very workes and Pompes of the Deuill those very Pompes and Vanities of this wicked world which euery Christian hath solemnely disclaimed and seriously renounced in his Baptisme who can who dares stand out to iustifie them who can who dares denie them to bee abominable incompatible and vtterly vnlawfull vnto Christians God forbid that any who haue beene dipped in the Sacred lauer of Regeneration any who haue beene bathed and purified in the Soule-cleansing and Sinne-purging blood of the Lord Iesus Christ any who haue pledged their Faith and Troth to God in Baptisme any who haue beene Baptized with the name of Christians any who haue either by themselues or others renounced the Deuill withall his Pompes and Workes together with all the Pompes and Vanities of this wicked World from which Christ Iesus hath Redeemed them should prooue such desperate incarnate Deuills such mo●sters of Impietie such Atheisticall Prodigious and infernall Miscreants such treacherous Iudasses to their Lord and Master such periured and professed Rebells to their God such blemishes and cut-throates to their Religion such Apostates and vnderminers to their Faith and Baptisme such vnnaturall and deplored Enemies to their owne Saluation or such will-full bloody Murtherers to their owne Soules as to approoue to iustifie to practise or frequent these Stage-Playes which they haue thus abiured or to deeme them tollerable or lawfull vnto CHRISTIANS Alas what haue Christians any more to doe with Idoles what will the Deuill what with the Pompes and workes of Satan what with the shewes the pleasures and vanities of this wicked world yea what with Stage-Playes which they haue abiured Is there any late or new agreement signed betweene Christ and Belial betweene Righteousnesse and Vnrighteousnesse Beleeuers and Infidels Is there any peace or contract newly made betweene God and Satan betweene Christians and the Deuill betweene Heauen and Hell betweene the Citizens of the new Hierusalem and this present euill World which are euerlasting enemies vncapable of any truce or mixture Or hath God dispensed with our vow in Baptisme or haue we lately renounced our couenant with our God and sworne

say more Hee beheld hee shouted hee grew outragious he carried away madnesse with him ●rom thence whereby hee was excited to r●turne thither againe not onely with those by whom hee was first drawne away but likewise before them and drawing along others with him And yet thou O Lord hast pluckt him ●hence with a most powerfull and mercifull hand and hast taught him not to have any confidence in himselfe but in thee but this a long time after From this experimentall Story thus related by S. Augustine which comes punctually to our purpose wee may learne many good instructions First that lewde companions are very importunate sollicitors to draw others to Playes and Play-houses as Panders Whore-masters and Yongsters now are to draw yong Gentlewomen and others whom they would make their prey that so they may corrupt and lead them on to greater evils with more facility Secondly that the best remedy to avoyd their importunate sollicitations is peremptorily to withstand them and not to yeeld one inch unto them Thirdly that it is exceeding dangerous for good Christians especially for new converted Novices to be drawne by any importunities or perswasions of friends or lewde companions to a Play-house though it be against their wills and judgements though they goe thither with a prejudicate opinion against Playes with a peremptory resolution not to minde them much lesse to be overcome or tempted by them as this Alipius did Fourthly that the beholding of one lascivious Stage-play though with prejudice disaffection and an absolute resolution against it is able to corrupt and vitiate the very best spectators that resort unto it how much more then will it deprave those lewde Play-haunters who flocke unto it with delight and are almost daily in the Play-house Fiftly that the sight of one onely Stage-play though with a prepossessed opinion against it will draw men onto frequent applaud and admire others Sixtly that those who are once corrupted by seeing Stage-playes are industrious to seduce and draw others to them whereas it were farre better for such men not to have beene borne then to be thus enrolled among the number of those who are borne for the publike hurt of others Seventhly that those who are misled by Stage-playes though they be civill or religious men are seldome speedily reclaimed from them and that onely by the strong arme and powerfull hand of God not by any strength or goodnesse of their owne Lastly that God commonly with-drawes his preventing and perfecting grace from such who runne to Stage-playes so that sinne and Satan may easily surprise them All which are naturally deduced from this History of Alipius and should teach yong Gentlemen and others as they tender their owne safety and the eternall welfare of their owne and others soules to avoyd the company o● Play-haunters yea peremptorily to withstand the very temptations and allurements unto Stage-playes and never to come neere a Play-house though it be with strongest prejudice vigilancy resolution against the corruptions vices abominations that attend it How dangerous ill company are especially a● Play-houses where the most are such how apt they are to insinuate into others by this vice of Stage-playes I have at large declared in a former Scene viz. Act. 4. Scene 1.2 I shall therefore close this Scene with this 41. Play●encountring Argument That which intangles men in incorporates them into the company the acquaintance of dissolute lecherous deboist prophane ungodly vitious persons who leade them to destruction must needs be sinfull unlawfull abominable unto Christians intolerable in any Christian State Witnesse Act. 4. Scene 2. But this doe Stage-playes as the premises S. Chrysostome Hom. 7.17 38. in Matth. Act. 4. Scene 1.2 doe largely testifie Therefore they must needs be sinfull unlawfull abominable unto Christians intolerable in any Christian State SCENA DECIMA-SEPTIMA THe 17. effect of Stage-playes is that they draw men on to Atheisme Heathenisme and grosse Idolatry and prophanesse This is evident by Clemens Romanus Constit. Apostol lib. 2. cap. 65.66 By Tertullian De Spectaculis●●ap 22. where hee affirmes That many by communicating with the Devill in Stage-playes hav● falne quite away from God Lactantius De Vero Cultu cap. 20. 21. Cyprian Tertullian De Spectaculis lib. By Augustine De Civitate Dei lib. 2. cap. 6. to 29. De Rectitudine Catholicae Conversationis Tract Tom● 9. pars 1. pag. 1447.1448 By Minucius Felix Octavius pag. 70. By Chrysost. Hom. 6.7 38. in Matth. Salvian De Gubernatione Dei lib. 6. By Master Brinsly in his True Watch. cap. 11. Abomination 30. pag. 302. where hee writes that Stage-playes sow the seeds of Atheisme in mens hearts and that Stage-players are the Trumpeters of Satan who call men from God and his House unto the Theaters from his heavenly Maiesty to his sworne enemy and by sundry others who expresly testifie that Stage-playes which are commonly stuffed with the names the histories persons fables rites ceremonies villanies incests rapes applauses oathes imprecations and invocations of Pagan Idols with atheisticall● blasphemous prophane and wicked scoffes and iests with abuses of Scripture phrases and bitter invectives against piety and religion that matter to ingender athei●me Idolatry and Heathenisme both in the Actors Auditors and Spectators of them are a ready way to draw men on to Atheisme Paganisme Idolatry and all prophanesse which are there acted and applauded Yea Chrysostome Cyprian Lactan●ius Tertullian and Augustine in their forequoted places affirme That the Devill himselfe invented Stage-playes for this very end that he might withdraw men from God unto Idolatry and by these pleasures writes Theodoret which suite well with the pleasurable sloathfull and voluptuous disposition of men who are most of them addicted to pastimes to a remisse and idle life the most malignant Devill very easily domineeres over men and hath drawne very many into bondage who flying laborious virtue and avoyding the difficulty of Gods Law have revolted unto him who hath commanded things easie and most pleasant to be done Stage-playes and Play-poems as the Fathers joyntly testifie were the chiefe occasioners propagators and fomenters of Atheisme Heathenisme Idolatry and all dissolute prophanesse heretofore they being wholy consecrated to Idols and celebrated to their honour in their solemne Festivals and anniversary commemorations as the very principall part of their irreligious worship and idolatrous adoration And doe they not produce the selfesame dangerous effects and issues still Alas whence is all that practicall Atheisme Paganisme and prophanesse whence all those Heathenish vanities customes ceremonies habits speeches blasphemies execrations Idolatries superstitions and the like whence that open neglect and contempt that denying of God in workes in actions that ordinary living without God in the world those secret whisperings in many Players and Play-haunters hearts that there is no God at all at least no God