B00830:29
A brief treatise, concerning the use and abuse of dancing. Collected out of the…A briefe treatise, concerning the vse and abuse of dauncing. Collected oute of the…
A brief treatise, concerning the use and abuse of dancing. Collected out of the learned works of the most excellent dean doctor, Peter Martyr, by paister Rob Massonius: and translated into English by I.K.A briefe treatise, concerning the vse and abuse of dauncing. Collected oute of the learned workes of the most excellent deaine doctour, Peter Martyr, by paister Rob Massonius: and translated into English by I.K.
London: printed by John Jugge, 1580London: printed by Iohn Iugge, 1580
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.
In the primitive Church the faithful made feasts among them selves,1 partly to protest their brotherly love, and partly to relieve the poor people. The ancient Father Chrysostom saith.2 Let one of you take the holy book, and let him call his neighbours about him, and by the heavenly words let him water and refresh both their minds, and also his own, that by this means we may be able to escape the Deceits of the Devil. You that stick so fast to old customs and have always in your mouths let us keep old customs, leave those your new and naught, and keep these old and good customs: or at the least change your common song, and sing another while: Ours be of ⟨image 17⟩late since iniquity hath got the upperhand, & yours of old in the primitive Church, & time of the ancient Fathers. But forasmuch as neither the good counsel of this ancient Father, nor the shining mirror of this primitive Church, so much move many as the commandment of the Prince and her Magistrates, I will therefore thereof speak somewhat, that I may win some. The Queens Majesty in the twenty article of her Injunctions, Commandeth that her faithful and loving subjects celebrate, & keep their holy days according to Gods holy will & pleasure: that is, in hearing the word of God read & taught: in private & public prayers: in acknowledging their offences to God, and amendment of the same: in reconciling themselves charitably to their neighbours, where displeasure hath been: in often receiving the Communion, in visiting the poor and sick, in using all soberness and godly conversation. Hitherto the words of the Injunction: Wherein albeit dancing be not named, & namely forbidden, yet is it as straightly denied, as if it were expressed. For in commanding godliness to be used, wickedness is denied: & whosoever accomplisheth her Majesties most godly ⟨image 17⟩mind in these points, shall have (I warrant him) little leisure and less pleasure to dance and dally: and wheresoever these godly exercises be put in practise, dancing Dagon will down before the ark, the severest Saul that seeketh to persecute such as speak against these abuses, will him self fall to prophesying? The sturdiest soldier that cometh to take Christ will stagger, and fall flat to the ground, as many happy places and blessed persons in these days well witness and declare: