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…

Thou seest, saith he, Marriages but dances thou seest not. For at that time they were nothing so wanton as they are in these days. Diverse other things hath he in the .14. of Matthew, where reciting Herodias dancing ⟨image 27⟩to the people, among the rest, he saith now a days Christians deliver not half their kingdom nor another mans head, but their own soul into destruction. And he addeth, where this lascivious dancing is set up, there danceth the Devil together with them. In the council of Laodicea we find written, that it is not convenient for Christian men to dance at Marriages. Let them dine and sup discreetly and moderately, giving God thanks for the benefit of Matrimony. In the self same council it is also written. Let not Clerks approach the Theatre, or marriages to gape after Pageants: they may be at Marriages, but after the singers and Harpers be come in, who serve for dances, arise they and depart, least by their presence they may seem to allow and approve that wantonness. In the Council of Illerden, holden under Simmachus and Hormisda Popes, and king Theodoric, the same is decreed: that Christians should not dance at weddings. In the Council of Arrisidoren, which was under Pope Deus dedit, this seemeth to be restrained to Clerks: for there is, there a Proviso, that no Clerks might in the ⟨image 28⟩feast either singe or dance, as if to others it were after a forte lawful.

Thou séest, sayth he, Mariages but daunces thou séest not. For at that time they were nothing so wanton as they are in these dayes. Diuerse other thinges hath he in the .14. of Matthew, wher reciting Herodius dauncing ⟨image 27⟩to the people, among the rest, he saith now a daies Christians deliuer not halfe their kingdome nor another mans head, but their own soule into distruction. And he addeth, where this lasciuious dauncing is set vp, there daunceth the Deuill together with them. In the counsell of Laodicia we finde written, that it is not conuenient for Christian men to daunce at Mariages. Let thē dine and suppe discréetly and moderatelye, geuing God thankes for the benefit of Matrimony. In the selfe same councell it is also written. Let not Clarkes approche the Theatre, or matiages to gape after Pageaunts: they maye be at Mariages, but after the singers and Harpers be come in, who serue for daunces, aryse they and depart, least by theyr presence they maye seeme to allowe and approue that wantonnesse. In the Councell of Illerden, holden vnder Simmachus and Hormisda Popes, and king Theodoricke, the same is decréed: that Christians should not daunce at weddinges. In the Councell of Arrisidoren, which was vnder Pope Deus dedit, this séemeth to bée restrayned to Clarkes: for there is, there a Prouiso, that no Clarkes myght in the