A10335:79
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.
Now if the stronger of your reasons hinder not but your demand might be made to us: much less doeth the weaker.
Nowe if the stronger of your reasons hinder not but your demande might bee made to vs: much lesse doeth the weaker.
For whereas you tell us, that you demanded not of me, or them, or any man but Momus, any such question, if you may be believed; as, why you should not, you see no cause: first how prove you this, that you see no cause, why you should not be believed? Forsooth because you were as sure (you say) that I or any learned man did not despise poetry, as you were certain that Momus did. O miserable blindness shall I say? or madness, wherewith your humorous greediness of crossing me distracted you. As who say you had not so much the greater reason to ask us such a question, because you were sure that we did not despise poetry. Else you must affirm that when Christ demanded, kwhat man shall there be among you that hath a sheep, who, if it fall on a Sabbath day into a pit, will not take hold of it, and lift it out? He asked not any such question of the Pharisees, or Scribes, or any man, but your Momus brethren, that is, the men whom fancies imagine in the clouds: because he was as sure that the Pharisees or any wise man would not suffer his sheep to lie in the pit on the Sabbath day, as he was certain that the clouds would. For if you perceive that Christ, to make the Pharisees confess that it is lawful to heal a man on a Sabbath day, had reason to demand whether they would not lift up their sheep out of a pit then, which he knew they would; that by granting this they might discern the better they must needs grant that: how could you choose but see, that your purpose being to make us confess, that comedies & tragedies may be lawfully played, you had like reason to ask whether we did despise learned poetry, which you were sure we did not; that by granting this (you thought) we might the rather be forced to grant that. Wherefore sith-even herein there was cause sufficient to make me imagine that you did ⟨p. 60⟩