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…

In deed, for my self, whom in this you glance at, I must confess I thought that it did become ^pme to say, Da veniam Cyprian, upon the circumstances that I said it: which, if it were a fault, though D. ^qFulke thought otherwise, but if it were, it was of error; and I will recant it, if you confute the ⁹reasons that moved me to think it did become me so to say. But you, who wot well (by your own confession) ⟨p. 95⟩it little becometh you to say, Da veniam Cyprian, do thereby acknowledge, that although you are persuaded, as you pretend, the proper natural sense of the word of God to be on your side, not on Cyprian's; in trueth you are not so. For else you would think that it should become you very well to say, Pardon me, O Cyprian: sith you know, I hope, that it became the Apostles very well to say, ^rWe ought rather to obey God then men. And if it do little become you to say, Pardon me, O Cyprian, when yet you dissent from him and contradict him: then you glozed in saying that with all humbleness you reverence his authority; seeing, to crave ¹leave and pardon, in dissenting, is a sign of reverence. And if to use so mild words, Pardon me, O Cyprian, it become you little: how much less, to say, as in effect you do, ²It is a cursed gloss, O Cyprian, which thou makest? And if unto Cyprian alone it little becometh you to say so much: how greatly unbeseeming is it for you to say it unto such a number, both of old, & new interpreters, besides him? Finally, for an upshot, where you say that he, as a godly man, was carried with a vehement & a perfect hatred against the detestable abuses of the heathen spectacles in his time: you grant that the spectacles of plays set forth by you have detestable abuses in them; sith the ³