The law unsealed

ludicrous, effeminate, and luxurious mode on the Stage, which had never before been used in the City (for several Plays they had ere this time) a strange device for a martial people, who before time (for most part at least) accustomed to behold games of activity and strength in the great lift called Circus; and from this small beginning (says he) in a second and wholesome State, this folly grew to such a height of madness, as is untolerable to the most opulent States and Empires; and yet these Plays so brought in, and set forth (called by Florus in his Breviary on that Book, new and strange Religions) employed about a religious business, did neither rid mens minds of scruple and superstition, nor ease their bodies: Thus they are condemned as superstition and an innovation of their old Religion, by these two famous Heathen Historians. The fourth may be that which is made mention of by Tit. Livius also towards the end of his 40-Book concerning Fulvius Flaccus, fellow-Consul with his own German-brother L. Manlius Occidinus, Ann. ab urb. cond. 575. Who declared that before he would meddle with his Office, he would discharge both himself and the City of duty towards the Gods, in paying the Vows that he had made on that same day, that he had his last battle with the Celtiberians, anent the celebrating Plays to the honour of the most mighty and gracious God Jupiter, and to build a Temple to Fortuna Aequestris; and accordingly levied a great Tax for that end, which behoved to be retrenched, because of the exorbitancy of it. The fifth and last shall be that which is ⟨image 13⟩touched by Pol. Virg. ubi prius pag. 377. concerning the Romans, their taking care for Apollo his Plays, which were first dedicated to him in the time of the second Punic War for obtaining Victory from him, to drive Hannibal out of Italy. To these may be added what Spondanus in his Eccles. Annal. pag. 263. reports from Zozimus concerning Constantine the Great, when he returned victorious over the Germans to Milan, That he quite neglected and contemned such Plays, to the great grief of the Heathens, who alleged that these Plays were instituted by the Gods for the cure of the pestilence and other diseases, and for averting of wars.

ludicrous, effeminate, and luxurious mode on the Stage, which had never before been used in the City (for several Playes they had ere this time) a strange device for a martial people, who before time (for most part at least) accustomed to behold games of activity and strength in the great lift called Circus; and from this small beginning (sayes he) in a second and wholsome State, this folly grew to such a height of madness, as is untolerable to the most opulent States and Empires; and yet these Playes so brought in, and set forth (called by Florus in his Breviary on that Book, new and strange Religions) imployed about a religious business, did neither rid mens minds of scruple and superstition, nor ease their bodies: Thus they are condemned as superstition and an innovation of their old Religion, by these two famous Heathen Historians. The fourth may be that which is made mention of by Tit. Livius also towards the end of his 40-Book concerning Fulvius Flaccus, fellow-Consul with his own German-brother L. Manlius Occidinus, Ann. ab urb. cond. 575. Who declared that before he would meddle with his Office, he would discharge both himself and the City of duty towards the Gods, in paying the Vows that he had made on that same day, that he had his last battel with the Celtiberians, anent the celebraeting Playes to the honour of the most mighty and gracious God Jupiter, and to build a Temple to Fortuna Aequestris; and accordingly levied a great Tax for that end, which behoved to be retrenched, because of the exorbitancy of it. The fifth and last shall be that which is