A10335:117
Th'overthrow of stage-plays, by the way of controversy betwixt D. Gager and D. Rainoldes…Th'overthrow of stage-playes, by the way of controversie betwixt D. Gager and D. Rainoldes…
Th'overthrow of stage-plays, by the way of controversy betwixt D. Gager and D. Rainoldes wherein all the reasons that can be made for them are notably refuted; th'objections answered, and the case so cleared and resolved, as that the judgement of any man, that is not froward and perverse, may easily be satisfied. Wherein is manifestly proved, that it is not only unlawful to be an actor, but a beholder of those vanities. Whereunto are added also and annexed in th'end certain latin letters betwixt the said Master Rainoldes, and D. Gentiles, reader of the civill law in Oxford, concerning the same matter.Th'overthrow of stage-playes, by the way of controversie betwixt D. Gager and D. Rainoldes wherein all the reasons that can be made for them are notably refuted; th'objections aunswered, and the case so cleared and resolved, as that the iudgement of any man, that is not froward and perverse, may easelie be satisfied. Wherein is manifestly proved, that it is not onely vnlawfull to bee an actor, but a beholder of those vanities. Wherevnto are added also and annexed in th'end certeine latine letters betwixt the sayed Maister Rainoldes, and D. Gentiles, reader of the civill law in Oxford, concerning the same matter.
Middelburg: printed by Richard Schilders, 1599
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
who partly by urging that place against stage-players partly by condemning the thing it speaketh of, as lewd, do evidently argue that they are of a different mind from you concerning it. Or sith you having had the most of these quoted in my letters to you, do grant, for Cyprian namely & the general council, that they make against you, & therefore seem, in citing all that ever you talked with; to mean not such as you have read and perused, but whom you have asked thereof by word of mouth: then, why should you more enforce against ⟨p. 93⟩me the sayings and judgment of all that ever you talked with, then I against you the sayings and judgements of all that ever I talked with? For as you report of them whom you talked with that they are very godly and excellently learned: in like sort may I of them whom I talked with. And of mine you can not but the rather believe me, because I named you one, of whom your self answer, that you esteem him to be a good man, a good scholar, and a good Preacher: you name me none of yours. Again, there hath not any of yours in public place, where men do speak with greater advise to Christian auditories, avouched that which you hold: he, whom you commend, and commend justly, hath preached the same that I teach. But, you say, he could not justify his speech, uttered so publicly, if it should come to due trial. But, I say, this speech of yours so publicly uttered is come to due trial, and you can not justify it. For he, having opened the words of his text, iLet me not wander from thy commandments, & begun to show what a contrary course unto the Prophets practise we take now a days, did prosecute it thus. To let pass other things, let stage-plays in the University, and Maygames in the town, speak whether these things be so. In kDeuteronomy the precept is, The woman shall not put on mans raiment, nether shall a man putt on woman's raiment; for all that do so are abomination to the Lord: And it is the lApostles precept to abstain from all appearance of evil. Whether the former precept be broken in all plays, I know not. Sure very few or none there are, wherein either the one, or both, is not broken: either through the vile scurrility of the matter oftentimes unbeseeming chaste ears; or thorough the time for the preparing for them; or through the unnecessary charges about them;