Stephen Gosson

Note on the etext: this Renascence Editions text was transcribed by Richard Bear, July 2000, from the Arber edition of 1895. Any errors that have crept in are the fault of the present publisher. The text is in the public domain. Content unique to this presentation is copyright © 2000 The University of Oregon. For nonprofit and educational uses only. Send comments and corrections to the Publisher.

Your worshippes to 
commaund. Stephan Gosson.

Entlemen, and others, you may wel thinke that I sell my corne, and eate Chaffe; barter my wine, and drinke Water; sith I take vpon mee to driue you from Playes, when mine owne woorkes are dayly to be seene vpon stages, as sufficient witnesses of mine owne folly, and seuer Iudges againste my selfe. But if you sawe how many teares of sorrowe mine eyes shed, when I beholde them; or how many drops of blood my heart sweates, when I remember them; you would not so much blame me for missespending my time, when I knew not what I did; as commend mee at the laste, for recouering my steppes, with grauer counsell. After-wittes are euer best, burnt Children dread the fire. I haue seene that which you behold, and I shun that which you frequent. And that I might the easier pull your mindes from such studyes, drawe your feete from such places; I haue sente you a Schoole of those abuses, which I haue gathered by obseruation. 
    Theodorus the Atheist complayned, that his schollers were woont, how plaine soeuer he spake, to misconster him; howe right soeuer he wrote, to wrest him: And I looke for some such Auditors in my Schoole, as of rancour will hit me, how soeuer I warde; or of stomacke assayle mee, howe soeuver I bee garded; making black of white, Chalk of Cheese, the full Moone of a messe of Cruddes. These are such as with curst Curres barke at euery man but their owne friendes: these snatch vp bones in open streetes, and byte them with madnesse in secrete corners: these with sharpe windes, pearce subtiler in narrowe lanes then in large fieldes. And sith there is neither authoritie in me to bridle their tongues, nor reason in them to rule their owne talke; I am contented to suffer them their taunts; requesting you which are Gentlemen, of curtesie to beare with me, and because you are learned amende the faultes freendly, which escape the Presse: The ignoraunt I knowe will swallow them downe, and digest them with ease. Farewel.

HE Syracusans vsed such varietie of dishes in theyr banquets, that when they were sette, and their boordes furnished, they were many times in doubt, which they shoulde touth first, or taste last. And in my opinion the world giueth euery writer so large a field to walke in, that before he set penne to the booke, he shall find him selfe feasted at Syracusa, vncertaine where to begin, or when to end. This caused Pindarus too question with his Muse, whether he were better with his art to discifer the life of y^e Nimp[h]e Melia, or Cadmus encounter with the Dragon, or the warres of Hercules, at the walles of Thebes, or Bacchus cuppes, or Venus iugling. Hee sawe so many turninges layde open to his feete, that hee knewe not which way to bende his pace.
    Therefore as I cannot but commende his wisedome, which in banqueting feedes most vpon that, that doth nourish best; so must I disprayse his methode in writing, which following the course of amarous Poets, dwelleth longest in those pointes, that profite least; and like a wanton whelpe, leaueth the game, to runne riot. The Scarabe flies ouer many a sweete flower, and lightes in a cowshard : It is the custome of the flye to leaue the sound places of the Horse, and suck at the Botch: The nature of Colloquintida, to draw the worst humours too it selfe : The maner of swine, to forsake the fayre fieldes, and wallow in the myre : And the whole practise of Poets, eyther with fables to shew theyr abuses, or with plaine tearmes to vnfolde theyr mischiefe, discouer theyr shame, discredit them selues, and disperse their poyson through all the worlde. Virgill sweates in describyng his Gnat: Ouid bestirreth him to paint out his Flea : the one shewes his art in the lust of Dido, the other his cunning in the inceste of Myrrha, and that trumpet of Baudrie, the Craft of loue.
    I must confesse that Poets are the whetstones of wit, notwithstanding that wit is dearly bought : where hony and gall are mixed, it will be hard to seuer the one from the other[.] The deceitfull Phisition giueth sweete Syrropes to make his poyson goe downe the smoother: The Iuggler casteth a myst to worke the closer: The Syrens song is the Saylers wrack: The Fowlers whistle, the birdes death : The wholesome bayte, the fishes bane: The Harpies haue Virgins faces, and vultures Talentes: Hyena speakes like a friend, and deuoures like a Foe: The calmest Seas hide dangerous Rockes: the Woolf iettes in Weathers felles: Many good sentences are spoken by Danus, to shadowe his knauery: and written by Poets, as ornaments to beautifye their woorkes, and sette theyr trumperie too sale without suspect.
    But if you looke well too Epæus horse, you shall finde in his bowels the destruction of Troy: open the sepulchre of Semyramis, whose Title promiseth suche wealth to the Kinges of Persia, you shall see nothing but deade bones : Rippe vp the golden Ball, that Nero consecrated to Iupiter Capitollinus, you shall haue it stuffed with the shauinges of his Beard: pul off the visard that Poets maske in, you shall disclose their reproch, bewray their vanitie, loth their wantonnesse, lament their follie, and perceiue their sharpe sayings to be placed as Pearles in Dunghils, fresh pictures on rotten walles, chaste Matrons apparel on common Curtesans. These are the Cuppes of Circes, that turne reasonable creatures into brute Beastes, the balles of Hippomenes, that hinder the course of Atalanta; and the blocks of the Diuel that are cast in our wayes, to cut off the rase of toward wittes. No marueyle though Plato shut them out of his schoole, and banished them quite from his common wealth, as effeminate writers, vnprofitable members, and vtter enimies to vertue.
    The Romans were verie desirous to imitate the Greekes, and yet verie loth to receiue their Poets: insomuch that Cato layth it in the dishe of Marcus the noble as a foule reproche, that in the time of his Consulshippe, hee brought Ennius the Poet into his prouince. Tullie accustomed to read them with great diligence in his youth, but when hee waxed grauer in studie, elder in yeares, riper in iudgement, hee accompted them the fathers of lyes, Pipes of vanitie, and Schooles of Abuse. 

Tusc. 1.2.           A desperate conflict.

Maximus Tyrius taketh vppon him to defend the discipline of these Doctors vnder the name of Homer, wresting the rashnes of Aiax, to valour; the cowardice of Vlisses, to Policie; the dotage of Nestor, to graue counsell, and the battaile of Troy, too the woonderfull conflict of the foure Elementes: where Iuno which is counted the ayre, settes in her foote to take vp the strife, and steps boldly betwixt them to part the fray. It is a Pageant woorth the sight, to beholde how he labors with Mountaines to bring foorth Mise; much like to some of those Players, that come to the scaffold with Drum and Trumpet to profer skirmishe, and when they haue sounded Allarme, off go the peeces to encounter a shadow, or conquer a Paper monster. You will smile I am sure if you read it, to see how this morall Philosopher toyles too draw the Lyons skin vpon Æsops Asse. Hercules shoes on a childes feete, amplifying that which the more it is stirred, the more it stinkes; the lesse it is talked of, the better it is liked; and as waywarde children, the more they bee flattered, the worse they are; or as curst sores with often touching waxe angry, and run the longer without healing. He attributeth the beginning of vertue to Minerva, of friendship to Venus, and the roote of all handy crafts to Vulcan; but if he had broke his arme aswel as his legge, when he fel out of heauen into Lemnos, either Apollo must haue played the Bonesetter, or euery occupation beene laide a water. Plato when he sawe the doctrine of these Teachers, neither for profite, 

Poets banished by Plato.

necessary, nor to be wished for pleasure, gaue them all Drummes entertainment, not suffering them once to shew their faces in a reformed common wealth. And the Tyrius that layes such a foundation for Poets, in the name of Homer, ouerthrows his whole building in the person of Mithecus, which was an excellent Cooke among the Greekes, and asmuch honored for his confections, as Phidias for his caruing. But when he came to Sparta, thinking there for his cunning to be accounted a God, the good lawes of Licurgus, and custom of the country were to hot for his diet. The gouernours banished him and his art, and al the inhabitants folowing the steppes of their Predecessors, vsed not with dainties to prouoke appetite, but with labour and trauell too whette their stomackes to their meate. 

Poetes and Cookes compared togither.

I may well liken Homer to Mithecus, and Poetes to Cookes the pleasures of the one winnes the body from labor, and conquereth the sense; the allurement of the other drawes the mind from vertue, and confoundeth wit. As in euery perfect common wealth there ought to be good lawes established, right mainteined, wrong repressed, vertue rewarded, vice punished, and all maner of abuses thoroughly purged: So ought there such schooles for the furtherance of the same to be aduaunced, that young men may bee taught that in greene yeeres, that becomes them to practise in gray haires.
    Anacharsis beeing demaunded of a Greeke, whether they 

Poetrie in Scythia without vice, as the Phoenix in Arabia, without a fellow.

had not instrumentes of Musicke, or Schooles of Poetrie in Scythia, answered, yes, and that without vice, as though it were either impossible, or incredible, that no abuse should be learned where such lessons are taught, and such schooles mainteined.
    Salust in describing the nurture of Sempronia, commendeth her witte in that shee coulde frame her selfe to all companies, too talke discretely with wyse men, and vaynely with wantons, taking a quip ere it came too grounde, and returning it back without a faulte. She was taught (saith he) both Greek and Latine, she could versifie, sing, and daunce, better then became an honest woman. Sappho was skilfull in Poetrie and sung wel, but she was whorish. I set not this downe too condemne the giftes of versifying, daunsing 

Qualities allowed in women.

or singyng in women, so they bee vsed with meane, and exercised in due tyme. But to shew you that as by Anacharsis report the Scythians did it without offence: so one Swalowe bringes not Sommer; nor one particular example sufficient proofe for a generall precept. Whyte siluer, drawes a blacke lyne; Fyre is as hurtfull, as healthie; water as daungerous, as it is commodious; and these qualities as harde to bee wel vsed when we haue them, as they are to be learned before wee get them. Hee that goes to Sea, must smel of the Ship; and that sayles into Poets wil sauour of Pitch.
    C. Marius in the assembly of the whole Senate at Rome, in a somlemne oration, giueth an account of his bringing vp: he sheweth that he hath beene taught to lye on the ground, to suffer all weathers, to leade men, to strike his foe, to feare nothing but an euill name: and chalengeth praise vnto him selfe, in that hee neuer learned the Greeke tongue, neither ment to be instructed in it heerafter, either that he thought it too farre a iourney to fetche learning beyonde the fielde, or because he doubted the abuses of those Schooles, where Poets were euer the head Maisters. 

Poets chiefe Maisters in Greece.  Poets banished from Rome. Dion in vita Neronis.

Tiberius the Emperour sawe somewhat, when he iudged Scaurus to death for writing a Tragidie: Augustus, banished Ouid: And Nero when he charged Lucan, to put vp his pipes, to stay his penne and write no more. Burrus and Seneca the schoolemaisters of Nero are flowted and hated of the people, for teaching their Scholer the song of Attis. For Dion saith, that the hearing thereof wroonge laughter and teares from most of those that were then about him. Wherby I iudge that they scorned the folly of the teachers, and lamented the frenzie of the Scholer, who beeing Emperour of Rome, and bearing the weight of the whole common wealth vppon his shoulders, was easier to bee drawen to vanitie by wanton Poets, then to good gouernment by the fatherly counsell of graue Senators. They were condemned to dye by the lawes of the Heathens, which inchaunted the graine in other mens grounds: and are not they accursed thinke you by the mouth of God, which hauing the gouernment of young Princes, with Poeticall fantasies draw them to the schooles of their owne abuses, bewitching the graine in the green blade, that was sowed for the sustenance of many thousands, and poisoning the spring with their amorous layes, whence the whole common wealth should fetch water? But to leaue the scepter to Iupiter, and instructing of Princes to Plutarch andXenophon, I will beare a lowe sayle, and rowe neere the shore, least I chaunce to bee carried beyonde my reache, or runne a grounde in those Coasts which I neuer knewe. My onely endeuour shalbe to show you that in a rough cast, which I see in a cloude, loking through my fingers.
    And because I haue bene matriculated my selfe in the schoole where so many abuses florish, I wil imitate y^e dogs of Ægypt, which comming to the bancks of Nylus too quenche their thirste, syp and away, drinke running, lest they bee snapt short for a pray too Crocodiles. I shoulde tel tales out of the Schoole, and bee Ferruled for my faulte, or hyssed at for a blab, yf I layde al the orders open before your eyes. You are no sooner entred, but libertie looseth the reynes, and geues you head, placing you with Poetrie in the lowest forme: when his skill is showne too make his Scholer as good as euer twangde, hee preferres you too Pyping, from Pyping to playing, from play to pleasure, from pleasure to slouth, from slouth to sleepe, from sleepe to sinne, from sinne to death, from death to the deuill, if you take your learning apace, and passe through euery forme without reuolting. Looke not too haue mee discourse these at large, the Crocodile watcheth to take me tardie, which soeuer of them I touche, is a vyle: Trype and goe, for I dare not tarry.
    Heraclides accounteth Amphyon the ringleader of poets and Pypers: Delphus Philammones penned the birth of Latona, Diana and Apollo in verse; and taught the people to Pype and Daunce rounde about the temple of Delphos. Hesiodus was as cunning in Pyping, as in Poetrie: so was Terpandrus, and after him Clonas. Apollo which is honoured of Poets as the God of their Art, had at the one side of his Idol in Delos a bowe, and at the other, the three Graces with three sundrie instruments, of which one was a pype, and some writers affirme that he pyped himselfe now and than.
    Poetrie and pyping, haue allwaies bene so vnited togither, that til the time of Melanippides, Pipers were Poets 

Plutarch.  Olde Poets.

hyerlings. But marke I pray you, how they are now both abused. 
    The right vse of auncient Poetrie was too haue the notable exploytes of woorthy Captaines, the holesome councels of good fathers, and vertuous liues of predecessors set downe in numbers, and song to the Instrument at solemne feastes, that the sound of the one might draw the hearers from kissing the cupp too often; the sense of the other put them in minde of things past, and chaulk out the way to do the like. After this manner were the Boeotians trained from rudenesse to ciuilitie, The Lacedemonians instructed by Terteæus verse, The Argiues by the melody of Telesilla, And the Lesbians by Alcæus Odes.
    To this end are instruments vsed in battaile, not to tickle the eare, but too teach euery souldier when to strike and when to stay, when to flye, and when to followe. 

Homer.

Chiron by singing to his instrument, quencheth Achiles furye; Terpandrus with his notes, layeth the tempest, and pacifies the tumult at Lacedæmon: Homer with his Musicke cured the sick Souldiers in the Grecians campe, and purged euery mans Tent of the Plague. Thinke you that those miracles coulde be wrought with playing of Daunces, Dumpes, Pauins, Galiardes, Measures Fancyes, or new streynes? They neuer came wher this grewe, nor knew what it ment.
    Pythagoras bequeathes them a Clokebagge, and condemnes them for fooles, that iudge Musicke by sounde and eare. If you will bee good Scholars, and profite well in the Arte of Musicke, shutte your Fidels in their cases, and looke vp to heauen: the order of the Spheres, the vnfallible motion of the Planets, the iuste course of the yeere, and varietie of seasons, the concorde of the Elementes and their qualyties, Fyre, Water, Ayre, Earth, Heate, Colde, Moysture and Drought concurring togeather to the constitution of earthly bodies and sustenance of euery creature.
    The politike Lawes in well gouerned common wealthes, that treade downe 

True Musicke.

the prowde, and vpholde the meeke, the loue of the King and his subiectes, the Father and his childe, the Lord and his Slaue, the Maister and his Man, The Trophees and Triumphes of our auncestours, which pursued vertue at the harde heeles, and shunned vyce as a rocke for feare of shipwracke, are excellent maisters too shewe you that this is right Musicke, this perfecte harmony. Chiron when hee appeased the wrath of Achilles, tolde him the duetie of a good souldier, repeated the vertues of his father Peleus, and sung the famous enterprises of noble men. Terpandrus when he ended the brabbles at Lacedæmon, neyther pyped Rogero nor Turkeloy, but reckoning vp the commodities of friendship, and fruites of debate, putting them in mind of Lycurgus lawes, taught them too treade a better measure. When Homers Musicke droue the pestilence from the Grecians camp, there was no such vertue in his penne, nor in his pipe, but if I might bee vmpier, in the sweet harmony of diuerse natures and wonderful concord of sundry medicines. For Appoloes cunning extendeth it self aswel to Phisick, as musick or Poetrie. And Plutarch reporteth that as Chiron was a wise man, a learned Poet, a skilful Musition, so was hee also a teacher of iustice, by shewing what Princes ought to doe, and a Reader of Phisicke, by opening the natures of many simples. If you enquire howe manie such Poetes and Pipers wee haue in our Age, I am perswaded that euerie one of them may creepe through a ring, or daunce the wilde Morice in a Needles eye. We haue infinite Poets, and Pipers, and suche peeuish cattel among vs in Englande, that liue by merrie begging, mainteyned by almes, and priuily encroch vppon euerie mans purse. But if they that are in authoritie, and haue the sworde in their handes to cut off abuses, shoulde call an accompt to see how many Chirons, Terpandri, and Homers are heere, they might cast the summe without pen, or counters, and sit downe with Racha, to weepe for her Children, because they were not. He that compareth our instruments, with those that were vsed in ancient times, shall see them agree like Dogges and Cattes, and meete as iump as Germans lippes. Terpandrus and Olimpus vsed instruments of 7. strings. And Plutarch is of an opinion that the instruments of 3. strings, which were vsed before their time, passed al that haue followed since. It was an old law and long kept that no man should according to his owne humor, adde or diminish, in matters concerning that Art, but walk in the pathes of their predecessors. But when newfangled Phrynis becam a fiddler, being somwhat curious in carping, and searching for moats with a pair of blearde eies, thought to amend his maisters, and marred al. Timotheus a bird of the same broode, and a right hound of the same Hare, toke the 7. stringed harp, that was altogether vsed in Terpandrus time, and increaced the number of the strings at his owne pleasure. The Argiues appointed by their lawes great punishments for such as placed aboue 7. strings vpon any instrument. Pythagoras commaunded that no Musition should go beyond his Diapason. Were the Argiues and Pythagoras nowe aliue, and saw how many frets, how many stringes, how many stops, how many keyes, how many cliffes, how many moodes, how many flats, how many sharps, how many rules, how many spaces, how many noates, how many restes, how many querks, how many corners, what chopping, what changing, what tossing, what turning, what wresting and wringing is among our Musitions, I beleue verily, that they would cry out with the countryman: Heu quòd tam pingui macer est mihi taurus in aruo. Alas here is fat feeding, and leane beasts: or as one said at the shearing of hogs, great cry and litle wool, much adoe, and smal help. To shew y^e abuses of these vnthrifty scholers that despise y^e good rules of their ancient masters and run to the shop of their owne deuises, defacing olde stampes, forging newe Printes, and coining strange precepts, Phoercrates a Comicall Poet, bringeth in Musicke and Iustice vpon the stage: Musicke with her clothes tottered, her fleshe torne, her face deformed, her whole bodie mangled and dismembred: Iustice, viewing her well, and pitying her case, questioneth with her howe shee came in that plight: to whom Musick replyes, that Melanippides, Phrynis, Timotheus, and such fantasticall heades, haue so disfiguered her lookes, defaced her beautie, so hacked her, 

Musicke sore wounded.

and hewed her, and with manye stringes, geuen her so many woundes, that she is striken to death, in daunger to peryshe, and present in place the least part of her selfe. When the Sicilians, and Dores forsooke the playnsong that they had learned of their auncestours in the Mountaynes, and practiced long among theyr heardes, they founde out such descant in Sybaris instrumentes, that by dauncing and skipping the fel into lewdnesse of life. Neither staied these abuses in the compasse of that countrey : but like vnto yll weedes in time spread so far, that they choked the good grayne in euery place.
   For as Poetrie and Piping are Cosen germans: so piping, and playing are of great affinity, and all three chayned in linkes of abuse.
   Plutarch complaineth, that ignorant men, not knowing the maiestie of auncient musick, abuse both the eares of the people, and the Arte it selfe: with bringing sweete comfortes into Theaters, which rather effeminate the minde, as pricks vnto vice, then procure amendement of manners, as spurres to vertue. Ouid the high martial of Venus fielde planteth his maine battell in publique assemblies, sendeth out his scoutes too Theaters to descry the enimie, and in steede of vaunte Curriers, with instruments of musicke, playing, singing, and dauncing, geues the first charge. Maximus Tyrius holdeth it for a Maxime that the bringing of instruments to Theaters and plaies, was the first cup that poisoned the commen wealth. They that are borne in Seriphos, and cockered continually in those Islandes, where they see nothing but Foxes and Hares, wil neuer be persuaded that there are huger beastes: They that neuer went out of the champions in Brabant, will hardly conceiue what rockes are in Germany. And they that neuer goe out of their houses, for regard of thier credit, nor steppe from the vniuersitye for loue of knowledge, seeing but slender offences and small abuses within their owne walles, wil neuer beleeue y^t such rockes are abrode, nor such horrible monsters in playing places. But as (I speake the one to my comforte, the other to my shame, and remember both with a sorrowfull hart) I was first instructed in the vniuersity, after drawne like a nouice to these abuses: so will I shew you what I see, and informe you what I reade of such affaires. Ouid sayth, that Romulus builte his Theater as a horse faire for hores, made Triumphes, and set out playes to gather the fayre women togither, that euery one of his souldiers might take where he liked, a snatch of his share: wherevpon the Amarous Scholemaister bursteth out in these words: 

Romule, militibus solus dare præmia nosti:
Hæc mihi si dederis commoda, miles ero.

Thou Romulus alone knowest how thy souldiers to rewarde:
Graunt me the like, my selfe will be attendant on thy garde.

   It should seeme that the abuse of such places was so great, that for any chaste liuer to haunt them was a black swan, and a white crowe. Dion so straightly forbiddeth the auncient families of Rome and gentlewomen that tender their name and honor, to come to Theaters, and rebuks them so sharply, when he takes them napping, that if they be but once seene there, hee iudgeth it sufficient cause to speake il of them and thinke worse. The shadowe of a knaue hurts an honest man: the sent of the stewes a sober matron: and the shew of Theaters a simple gaser. Clitomachus the wrestler geuen altogether to manly exercise, if hee had hearde any talke of loue, in what company soeuer he had bin, would forsake his seat, and bid them adue. 
   Lacon when he sawe the Atheniens studie so muche to set out Playes, sayde they were madde. If men for good exercise, and women for theyr credite, be shut from Theaters, whom shall we suffer to goe thither? Litle children? Plutarch with a caueat keepeth them out, not so much as admitting the litle crackhalter that carrieth his maisters pantouffles, to set foote within those doores: And alledgeth this reason, that those wanton spectacles of lyght huswiues, drawing gods from the heauens, and young men from them selues to shipwracke of honestie, will hurte them more, then if at the Epicures table, they had nigh burnt their guts with ouer feeding. For if the body bee ouercharged, it may be holpe; but 

Obiection.

the surfite of the soule is hardly cured. Here I doubte not but some Archplayer or other that hath read a litle, or stumbled by chance vpon Plautus comedies, will cast me a bone or ii. to pick, y^t whatsoeuer these ancient writers haue spoken against playes is to bee applied too the abuses on olde Comedies, where Gods are broughte in, as Prisoners to beautie, rauishers of Virgins, and seruantes by loue, too earthly creatures. But the Comedies that are exercised in oure dais are better sifted. They shewe no such branne: The first smelte of Plautus, these tast of Menander; the lewdeness of Gods, is altered and chaunged to the loue of young men; force, to friendshippe; rapes, too mariage; wooing allowed by assurance of wedding; priuie meetinges of bachelours and maidens on the stage, not as murderers that deuour the good name ech of other in their mindes, but as those that desire to bee made one in hearte. Nowe are the abuses of the worlde reuealed, euery man in a play may see his owne faultes, and learne by this glasse, to amende his manners. Curculio may chatte til his heart ake, ere any be offended with his gyrdes. Deformities are checked in ieast, and mated in earnerst. The sweetenesse of musicke, and pleasure of sportes, temper the bitternesse of rebukes, and mitigate the tartenesse of euery taunt according to this 

Omne vafer vitium redenti Flaccus amico
Narrat, et admissus circum precordia ludit.

Flaccus among his friends, with fanning Muse
Doth nip him neere, that fostreth foule abuse.

Therefore they are either so blinde, that they cannot, or so blunt, that they 

Answere.

will not see why this exercise should not be suffered as a profitable recreation. For my parte I am neither so fonde a Phisition, nor so bad a Cooke, but I can allowe my patient a cup of wine to meales, although it be hotte; and pleasaunt sauces to driue downe his meate, if his stomake bee queasie. Notwithstanding, if people will be instructed, (God be thanked) wee haue Diuines enough to discharge that, and moe by a great many, then are well hearkened to: yet sith these abuses are growne too head, and sinne so rype, the number is lesse then I would it were.
    Euripides holdes not him onely a foole, that beeing well at home, wil gad abrode, that hath a Conduite within doore, and fetcheth water without: but all suche beside, as haue sufficient in them selues, to make them selues merry with pleasaunte talke, tending too good, and mixed with  the Grecians glee, yet will they seeke when they neede not, to be sported abrode at playes and Pageauntes. Plutarch likeneth the recreation that is gotte by conference, too a pleasaunt banquet; the sweet pappe of the one sustaineth the body, the sauery doctrine of the other doth nourish the minde: and as in banquetting, the wayter standes ready too fill the Cuppe: So in all our recreations we should haue an instructer at our elbowes to feede the soule. If wee gather Grapes among thistles, or seeke for this foode at Theaters, wee shall haue a harde pyttaunce, and come to shorte commons. I cannot thinke that Cittie to be safe, that strikes downe herPercollices, rammes vp her gates, and suffereth the enimie to enter the posterne. Neyther will I be perswaded, that he is in any way likely to conquer affection, which breaketh his instrumentes, burneth all his Poets, abandons his haunt, mufleth his eyes as he passeth the streate, and resortes too Theaters too bee assaulted. Cookes did neuer shewe mor crafte in their iunckets to vanquish the taste, nor Painters in shadowes to allure the eye, then Poets in Theaters to wounde the conscience. 
    There set they abroche straunge consortes of melody, to tickle the eare, costly apparel, to flatter the sight; effeminate gesture, to rauish the sence; and wanton speache, to whet desire too inordinate lust. Therefore of both barrelles, I iudge Cookes and Painters the better hearing, for the one extendeth his arte no farther then to the tongue, palate, and nose, the other to the eye; and both are ended in outwarde sense, which is common too vs with bruite beasts. But these by the priuie entries of the eare, slip downe into the hart, and with gunshotte of affection gaule the minde, where reason and vertue should rule the roste. These people in Rome were as pleasant as Nectar at the first beginning, and cast out for lees, when their abuses were knowen. They whome Cæsar vpheld, were driuen out by Octauian: whom Caligula reclaimed, were cast of by Nero: whom Nerua exalted, were throwne downe by Traian: whom Anthony admitted, were expelled againe, pestred in Gallies and sent into Hellespont by Marcus Aurelius. But when the whole rabble of Poets, Pipers, Players, Iugglers, Iesters, and dauncers were receiued againe, Rome was reported to bee fuller of fooles then of wise men. Domitian suffered playing and dauncing so long in Theaters, that 

Domitia was the first wife of Domitian, and Messalina, the second. Dion.

Paris led the shaking of sheetes with Domitia and Mnester the Trenchmour with Messalina. Caligula made so muche of Players and Dauncers, that hee suffered them openly to kysse his lyppes, when the Senators might scarce haue a lick at his feete: He gaue Dauncers great stipends for selling their hopps: and placed Apelles the player by his own sweete side: Besides that you may see what excellent graue men were euer about him, he loued Prasinus the Cochman so wel, that for good wil to the master, he bid his horse to supper, gaue him wine to drink in cups of estate, set barly graines of golde before him to eate, and swore by no bugs, that hee would make him a Consul: which thing (saith Dion) had bin performed, had he not bin preuented by suddain death. For as his life was abhominable, so was his end miserable: Comming from dancing and playing, he was slaine by Chærea, a iust rewarde, and a fit Catastrophe. I haue heard some Players vaunt of the credit they had in Rome, but they are as foolish in that, as Vibius Rufus which bosted himself to be an Emperor because hee had sit in Cæsars chaire, and a perfect Orator, because he was marryed to Tullies widowe. Better might they say them selues to be murderers, because they haue represented the persons of Thyestes and Atreus, Achilles and Hector: or perfect Limme lifters, for teaching the trickes of euery Strumpet. Such are the abuses that I reade of in Rome: such are the Caterpillers that haue deuoured and blasted the fruite of Ægypt: Such are the Dragons that are hurtful in Affricke: Such are the Adders that sting with pleasure, and kil with paine: and such are the Basiliskes of the world, that poyson, as well with the beame of their sighte, as with the breath of their mouth.
 

Maners of England in olde time,     Olde exercise of England.       New England

     Consider with thy selfe (gentle Reader) the olde discipline of Englande, mark what we were before, and what we are now: Leaue Rome a while, and cast thine eye backe to thy Predecessors, and tell mee howe wonderfully wee haue beene chaunged, since wee were schooled with these abuses. Dion sayth, that english men could suffer watching and labor, hunger and thirst, and beare of al stormes with hed and shoulders, they vsed slender weapons, went naked, and were good soldiours, they fed vppon rootes and barkes of trees, they would stand vp to the chin many dayes in marishes without victualles: and they had a kind of sustenaunce in time of neede, of which if they had taken but the quantitie of a beane, or the weight of a pease, they did neyther gape after meate, nor long for the cuppe, a great while after. The men in valure not yeelding to Scithia, the women in courage passing the Amazons. The exercise of both was shootyng and darting, running and wrestling, and trying such maisteries, as eyther consisted in swiftnesse of feete, agilitie of body, strength of armes, or Martiall discipline. But the exercise that is nowe among vs, is banqueting, playing, pipyng, and dauncing, and all suche delightes as may win vs to pleasure, or rocke vs a sleepe.
    Oh what a woonderfull chaunge is this? Our wreastling at armes, is turned to wallowyng in Ladies laps, our courage to cowardice, our running to ryot, our Bowes into Bolles, and our Dartes to Dishes. We haue robbed Greece of Gluttonie, Italy of wantonnesse, Spaine of pride, Fraunce of deceite, and Dutchland of quaffing. Compare London to Rome, and England to Italy, you shall finde the Theaters of the one, the abuses of the other, to be rife among vs. Experto crede, I haue seene somewhat, and therefore I thinke may say the more. In Rome when Plaies or Pageants are showne: Ouid chargeth his Pilgrims to crepe close to the Saintes, whom they serue, and shew their double diligence to lifte the Gentlewomens roabes from the grounde, for soyling in the duste; to sweepe Moates from their Kirtles, to keepe their fingers in vre; to lay their hands at their backes for an easie stay; to look vppon those, whome they beholde; too prayse that, whiche they commende; too lyke euerye thing that pleaseth them; to presente them Pomegranates, to picke as they syt; and when all is done, to waite on them mannerly to their houses. In our assemblies at playes in London, you shall see suche heauing, and shoouing, suche ytching and shouldring, too sitte by women; Suche care for their garments, that they bee not trode on: Such eyes to their lappes, that no chippes light in them: Such pillowes to ther backes, that they take no hurte: Such masking in their eares, I knowe not what: Such giuing the Pippins to passe the time: Suche playing at foot Saunt without Cardes: Such ticking, such toying, such smiling, such winking, and such manning them home, when the sportes are ended, that it is a right Comedie, to marke their behauiour, to watche their conceites, as the Catte for the Mouse, and as good as a course at the game it selfe, to dogge them a little, or followe aloofe by the print of their feete, and so discouer by slotte where the Deare taketh soyle. If this were as well noted, as ill seene: or as openly punished, as secretly practiced: I haue no doubte but the cause would be feared to dry vp the effect, and these prettie Rabbets very cunningly ferretted from their borrowes. For they that lack Customers al the weeke, either because their haunte in vnknowen, or the Constables and Officers of their Parishe, watch them so narrowly, that they dare not queatche; To celebrate the Sabboth, flock to Theaters, and there keepe a generall Market of Bawdrie: Not that any filthynesse in deede, is committed within the compasse of that grounde, as was doone in Rome, but that euery wanton and his Parmour, euery man and his Mistresse, euery John and his Joan, euery knaue and his queane, are there first acquainted and cheapen the Merchandise in that place, which they pay for elsewhere as they can agree. These wormes when they dare not nestle in the Pescod at home, finde refuge abrode and are hidde in the eares of other mens Corne. Euery Vawter in one blinde Tauerne or other, is Tenant at will, to which shee tolleth reforme, and playes the stale to vtter their victuall, and helpe them to emptie their mustie caskes. There is she so intreated with wordes, and receiued with curtesie, that euery back roome in the house is at her commaundement. Some that haue neither land to maintaine them, nor good occupation to get their breade, desirous to strowt it with the beste, yet disdayning too liue by the seate of their browes, haue found out this cast of Ledgerdemayne, to play fast and loose among their neighbours. If any parte of Musick haue suffred shipwrack, and ariued by fortune at their fingers endes, with shew of gentilitie they take vp faire houses, receiue lusty lasses at a price for boorders, an pipe from morning to euening for wood and coale. By the brothers, cosens, vncles, great grandsires and such like acquaintaunce of their ghestes, they drink of the best, they sit rent free, they haue their owne Table spreade to their handes, without wearing the strings of their pursse, or any thing else, but housholde and honestie. When resorte so increaseth that they growe in suspition, and the pottes which are sent so often too the Tauerne, gette such a knock before they come home, that they returne their Mayster a crack to his credite: Though hee bee called in question of his life, hee hath shiftes inoughe to auoyde the blanke. If their houses bee searched, some instrumente of Musick is layde in sighte to dazell the eyes of euery Officer, and all that are lodged in the house by night, or frequente it by day, come thither as pupilles to be well schoolde. Other ther are which beeing so knowen that they are the bywoorde of euery mans mouth, and pointed at commonly as they passe the streetes, either couch them selues in Allyes, or blind Lanes, or take sanctuary in fryeries, or liue a mile from the Cittie like Venus nunnes in a Cloyster as Newington, Ratliffe, Islington, Hogsdon or some such place, where like penitents, they deny the worlde, and spende theyr dayes in double deuotion. And when they are weery of contemplation to comfort themselues, and renew their acquaintaunce, they visit Theaters, where they make full account of a pray before they departe. Solon made no lawe for Parricides, because he feared that hee shoulde rather put men in minde to commit such offences, then by any straunge, punishment, giue them a bitte to keepe them vnder. And I intend not to shewe you al that I see, nor halfe that I heare of these abuses, lest you iudge me more wilfull to teach them, then willing to forbid them. 
    I looke still when Players shoulde cast me their Gauntlets, and challenge a combate for entring so far into their possessions, as though I made them Lords of this misrule, or the very scholmaisters of these abuses: though the best Clarkes bee of that opinion, they heare not me say so. There are more houses then Parishe Churches, more maydes the Maulkin, more wayes to the woode then one, and more causes in nature then Efficients. The Carpenter rayseth not his frame without tooles, nor the Deuill his woork without instrumentes: were not Players the meane, to make these assemblyes, such multitudes wold hardly be drawne in so narrowe roome. They seek not to hurte, but desire to please: they haue purged their Comedyes of wanton speaches, yet the Corne which they sell, is full of Cockle: and the drinke that they draw, ouercharged with dregges. There is more in them then we perceiue, the Deuill standes at our elbowe when we see not, speaks when we heare him not, strikes when wee feele not, and woundeth sore when he raseth no skinne, nor rentes the fleshe. In those thinges, that we least mistrust, the greatest daunger dooth often lurke. The Countryeman is more affrayde of the Serpente that is hid in the grasse, then the wilde beaste that openly feeds vpon the mountains: The Marriner is more indaungered by Priuie shelues, then knowen Rockes; The Souldier is sooner killed with a little Bullet, then a longe Swoorde; There is more perill in close Fistoloes, then outwarde sores; in secret ambushe, then maine battels; in vndermining, then playne assaulting; in ciuill discorde, then forraine warres. Small are the abuses, and sleight are the faultes, that nowe in Theaters escape the Poets pen: But tal Cedars, from little graynes shoote hight: great Okes, from slender rootes spread wide: Large streames, from narrowe springes runne farre: One little sparke, fyers a whole Citie: One dramme of Eleborus ransackes euery vaine: The Fish Remora hath a small body, and great force too staye shippes against winde and tide: Ichneumon a little worme, ouercomes the Elephant: The Viper flayes the Bul: The Weefell the Cockatrice: And the weakest Waspe, stingeth the stoutest manne of warre. The height of Heauen, is taken by the staffe: The bottome of the Sea, sounded with lead: The farthest coast, discouered by Compasse: the secretes of nature, searched by witte: the Anatomy of man, set out by experience: But the abuses of plaies cannot be showen, because they passe the degrees of the instrument, reach of the Plummet, sight of the minde, and for trial are neuer brought to the touchstone. Therefore he that will auoyde the open shame of pryuy sinne, the common plague of priuate offences, the greate wracks of little Rocks: the sure disease of vncertaine causes: must set hande to the sterne, and eye to his steppes, to shunne the occasion as neere as he can: neither running to bushes for renting his clothes, nor rent his clothes for impairing his thrift, nor walke vpun Yse, for taking a fall, nor take a fall for brusing him selfe, nor goe too Theaters for beeing allured, nor once bee allured for feare of abuse.
    Bunducia a notable woman and a Queene of Englande, that time that Nero was Emperour of Rome, hauing some of the Romans in garrison heere against her, in an Oration which she made to her subiects, seemed vtterly to contemne their force, and laugh at their folly. For she accounted them vnwoorthy the name of men, or title of Souldiers, because they were smoothly appareled, soft lodged. daintely feasted, bathed in warme waters, rubbed with sweet oyntments, strewd with fine poulders, wine swillers, singers, Dauncers, and Players. God hath now blessed England with a Queene, in vertue 

The Queenes Maiestie.

excellent, in power mightie, in glorye renowned, in gouernment politike, in possession rich, breaking her foes with the bent of her brow, ruling her subiects with shaking her hand, remouing debate by diligent foresight, filling her chests with the fruites of peace, ministring iustice by order of law, reforming abuses with great regarde: and bearing her sword so euen, that neither the poore are trod vnder foote, nor the rich suffred to loke too hye, nor Rome, nor France, nor Tyrant, nor Turke, dare for their liues too enter the List. But wee vnworthy seruants of so mild a Mistresse, vnnatural children of so good a mother, vnthankful subiects of so louing a prince, wound her royall hart with abusing her lenitie, and stir Iupiter to anger to send vs a Stroke that shal deuoure vs. How often hath her Maiestie with the graue aduise of her honorable Councell, sette downe the limits of apparell to euery degree, and how soone againe hath the pride of our harts ouerflowen the chanel? How many times hath accesse to Theaters beene restrayned, and how boldly againe haue we re-entred? Ouerlashing in apparel is so common a fault, that the very 

Players men.

hyerlings of some of our Players, which stand at reuersion of vi.s. by the weeke, iet vnder Gentlemens noses in sutes of silke, exercising themselues too prating on the stage, and common scoffing when they come abrode, where they look askance ouer the shoulder at euery man, of whom the sunday before they begged an almes. I speake not this, as though euerye one that professeth the qualitie so abused him selfe, for it is well knowen, that some of them are sober, discreete, properly learned honest householders and Citizens well thought on amonge their neighbours at home, though the pryde of their shadowes (I meane those hangebyes whome they soccour with stipend) cause them to bee somewhat il talked of abroade. 

Some Players modest, if I bee not deceiued.     Some Playes tollerable at some time.

And as some of the Players are farre from abuse: so some of their Playes are without rebuke: which are as easily remembered as quickly reckoned. The twoo prose Bookes plaied at the Belsauage, where you shall finde neuer a woorde without wit, neuer a line without pith, neuer a letter placed in vaine. The Iew and Ptolome, showne at the Bull, the one representing the greedinesse of worldly chusers, and bloody mindes of Usurers: The other very liuely discrybing howe seditious estates, with their owne deuises, false friendes, with thir owne swoordes, and rebellious commons in their owne snares are ouerthrowne: neither with Amorous gesture wounding the eye: nor with slouenly talke hurting the eares of the chast hearers. The Blacke Smiths daughter, and Catilins Conspiracies vsually brought in to Theater: The first contayning the trechery of Turkes, the honourable bountye of a noble minde, and the shining of vertue in distresse : The last, because it is knowen too be a Pig of myne owne Sowe, I will speake the lesse of it; onely giuing you to vnderstand, that the whole marke which I shot at in that woorke, was too showe the rewarde of traytors in Catilin, and the necessary gouernment of learned men, in the person of Cicero, which forsees euery danger that is likely to happen, and forstalles it continually ere it take effect. Therefore I giue these Playes the commendation, that Maximus Tyrius gaue too Homers works: 

    These Playes are good playes and sweete playes, and of al playes the best playes and most to be liked, woorthy to be soung of the Muses, or set out with the cunning of Roscius himself, yet are they not fit for euery mans dyet: neither ought they commonly 

Playes are not to be made common.

to be shewen. Now if any man aske me why my selfe haue penned Comedyes in time paste, and inueigh so egerly against them here, let him knowe that Semel insaninimus omnes: I have sinned, and am sorry for my fault: hee runnes farre that neuer turnes, better late than neuer. I gaue my self to that exercise in hope to thriue but I burnt one candle to seek another, and lost bothe my time and my trauell, when I had doone.
    Thus sith I haue in my voyage suffred wrack with Vlisses, and wringing-wet scrambled with life to the shore, stand from mee Nausicaä with all thy traine, till I wipe the blot from my forhead, and with sweet springs wash away the salt froath that cleaues too my soule.
    Meane time if Players bee called to accounte for the abuses that growe by their assemblyes. I would not haue them answere, as Pilades did for the Theaters of Rome, when they were complayned on, and Augustus waxed angry: This resort O Cæsar is good for thee, for heere we keepe thousandes of idle heads occupyed, which else peraduenture would brue some 

Dion in vitâ Augusti.           Players compared to Lucinius.

mischiefe. A fit Cloude to couer their abuse, and not vnlike to the starting hole that Lucinius found, who like a greedy serueiour, beeing sente into Fraunce to gouerne the Countrie, robbed them and spoyled them of al their Treasure with vnreasonable taskes: at the last when his crueltie was so loudely cryed out on, that euery man hearde it; and all his packing did sauour so strong, that Augustus smelt it; he brought the good Emperour into his house, flapped him in the mouth with a smoth lye, and tolde him that for his sake and the safetie of Rome, hee gathered those riches, the better to impouerish the Countrie for rysing in Armes, and so holde the poore Frenchmennes Noses to the Grindstone for euer after.
    A bad excuse is better, they say then none at all. Hee, because the Frenchmen paid tribute euery moneth, into xiiii. Moneths deuided the yeere: These because they are allowed to play euery Sunday, make iiii. or v. Sundayes at least euery weeke, and all that is doone is good for Augustus, to busy the wittes of his people, for running a woolgathering, and emptie their purses for thriuing to fast. Though Lucinius had the cast to playster vppe his credite with the losse of his money: I trust that they which haue the swoorde in their hands among vs to pare away this putryfied flesh, are sharper sighted, and will not so easily be deluded.
    Marcus Aurelius sayth,

Epist. 12. ad Lambertum.

That players falling from iuste labour to vniuste idlenesse, doe make more trewandes, and ill husbands, then if open Schooles of vnthrifts and Vagabounds were kept. Who soeuer readeth his Epistle too Lambert the gouernor of Hellespont, when Players were banished, shall find more against them in plainer tearmes, then I will vtter.
    This haue I set downe of the abuses of Poets, Pypers, and Players which bringe vs too pleasure, slouth, sleepe, sinne, and without repentaunce to death and the Deuill: which I haue not confirmed by authoritie of the Scriptures, because they are not able to stand vppe in the sighte of God: and sithens they dare not abide in the field, where the word of God dooth bidde them battayle, but runne to Antiquityes (though nothing be more ancient

Scriptures to hoate for Players.

then holy Scripture) I haue giuen them a volley of prophane writers to beginne the Skirmishe, and doone my indeuour to beate them from their holdes with their owne weapons. The Patient that will be cured, of his owne accorde, must seek the meane: if euery man desire to saue one, and drawe his owne feete from Theaters, it shall preuayle as much against these abuses, as Homers Moly against Witchcraft, or Plynies Peristerion against the byting of Dogges.
    God hath armed euery creature agaynst his enemie: the Lyon with pawes, the bul with hornes, the Bore with tuskes, the Vulture with tallents, Hartes, Hindes, Hares, and such like, with swiftnes of feete, because they are fearefull, euery one of them putting his gift in practice; But man which is Lord of the whole earth, for whose seruice herbes, trees, roote, plants, fish, foule and beasts of the fielde were first made, is far worse then the brute beasts: for they endewed but with sence, doe Appetere salutaria, et declinare noxia, seek that which helpes them, and forsake that which hurtes them.
    Man is enriched with reason and knowledge: with knowledge, to serue his maker and gouerne himselfe; with reason to distinguish good and il, and chose the best, neither referring the one to the glory of God, nor vsing the other to his owne profite. Fire and Ayre mount vpwards, Earth and Water sinke downe, and 

Corpora naturalia ad locum momentur, et in suis sedibus acquiescunt.     Man unmindful of his ende. Hi. Animal.

euery insensible body else, neuer rests, til it bring it self to his owne home. But we which haue both sense, reason, wit, and vnderstanding, are euer ouerlashing, passing our boundes, going beyonde our limites, neuer keeping our selues within compasse, nor once looking after the place from whence we came, and whither we muste in spighte of our hartes.
    Aristotle thinketh that in greate windes, the Bees carry little stones in their mouthes to peyse their bodies, least they be carryed away, or kepte from their Hiues, vnto which they desire to returne with the fruites of their labour. The Crane is said to rest vpon one leg, and holding vp the other, keepe a Pebble in her clawe, which as sone as the senses are bound by approche of sleepe, falles to the ground, and with the noise of the knock against the Earth, makes her awake, whereby shee is euer redy to preuent her enemies. Geese are foolish birdes, yet when they flye ouer the mount Taurus, they shew greate wisedome in their own defence: for they stop their pipes full of grauel to auoide gagling, and so by silence escape the Eagles. Woodcocks, though they lack witte to saue them selues, yet they want not will to auoyde hurte, when they thrust theyr heads in a Bushe, and thinke their bodyes out of daunger. But wee which are so brittle, that we breake with euery fillop, so weake, that we are drawne with euery threade; so light, that wee are blowen away with euery blaste; so vnsteady, that we slip in euery ground; neither peyse our bodyes against the winde, nor stand vppon one legge, for sleeping too muche: nor close vppe our lippes for betraying our selues, nor vse any witte, to garde our owne persons, nor shewe our selues willing too shunne our owne harmes, running most greedily to those places, where we are soonest ouerthrowne.
    I cannot lyken our affection better than to an Arrowe, which getting lybertie, with winges is carryed beyonde our reach ; kepte in the Quiuer, it is still at commaundement : Or to a Dogge, let him slippe, he is straight out of sight, holde him in the Lease, hee neuer stirres : Or to a Colte, giue him the bridle, he flinges aboute ; raine him hard, and you may rule him: Or to a ship, hoyst the sayles it runnes on head ; let fall the Ancour, all is well : Or to Pandoraes boxe, lift vppe the lidde, out flyes the Deuill; shut it vp fast, it cannot hurt vs.
    Let vs but shut vppe our eares to Poets, Pypers and Players, pull our feete back from resort to Theaters, and turne away our eyes from beholding of vanitie, the greatest storme of abuse will be ouerblowen, and a fayre path troden to amendment of life. Were not we so foolish to taste euery drugge, and buy euery trifle, Players would shut in their shoppes, and carry their trashe to some other Countrie.
    Themistocles in setting a peece of his ground to sale, among all the commodyties whiche were reckoned vppe, straightly charged the Cryer to proclaime this, that hee which bought it, should haue a good neighbour. If Players can promise in woordes, and performe it in deedes, procla[i]me it in their Billes, and make it good in Theaters ; that there is nothing there noysome too the body, nor hurtfull to the soule: and that euerye one which comes to buye their Iestes, shall haue an honest neighbour, tagge and ragge, cutte and longe tayle, goe thither and spare not, otherwise I aduise you to keepe you thence, my selfe will beginne too leade the daunce.
    I make iuste reckoning to bee helde for a Stoike, in dealing so hardely with these people: but all the Keyes hang not at one mans girdle, neither doe these open the lockes to all abuses. There are other which haue a share with them in their Schooles, therefore ought they to daunce the same Rounde: and bee partakers together of the same rebuke : Fencers, Dycers, Dauncers, Tumble[r]s, Carders, and Bowlers.
    Dauncers and Tumblers,

Dauncers and Tumblers.     Dicers and carders. Bowling Alleys.

because they are dumbe Players, and I haue glaunced at them by the way, shall bee let passe with this clause, that they gather no assemblyes, and goe not beyond the precincts whiche Peter Martyr in his commentaryes vppon the Iudges hath set them downe: That is, if they will exercise those qualyties, to doe it priuilye, for the health and agilitie of the body, referring all to the glorye of God.
    Dicers and Carders because their abuses are as commonly cryed out on, as vsually shewen, haue no neede of a needelesse discourse, for euery manne seeth them, and they stinke almoste in euery mans nose. Common Bowling Allyes, are priuy Mothes, that eate vppe the credite of many idle Citizens: whose gaynes at home, are not able to weighe downe theyr losses abroade, whose Shoppes are so farre from maintaining their play, that their Wiues and Children cry out for bread, and go to bedde supperlesse ofte in the yeere.
    I would reade you a Lecture of these abuses, but my Schoole so increaseth, that I cannot touch all, nor stand to amplifie euery poynte: one worde of Fencing, and so a Conge to all kinde of Playes. The knowledge in weapons may bee gathered to be necessary in a common wealth, by the Senators of Rome, who in time of Catilins conspyracyes, caused Schooles of 

Fencers.      Salust.

Defence to be erected in Capua, that teaching the people howe to warde, and how to locke, how to thrust, and how to strike, they might the more falselye coape with their enemies. As the Arte of Logique was first sette downe for a rule, by which wee might Confirmare nostra, et refutare aliena, confime our owne reasons, and confute the allegations of our aduersaryes, the end beeing trueth, which once fished out by the harde encounter of eithers Argumentes, like fyer by the knocking of Flintes togither, both partes shoulde be satisfyed and striue no more. And I iudge that the crafte of Defence was firste deuised to saue our selues harmelesse, and holde our enemies at aduantage, the ende beeing right, which once throughly tryed out, at handye stroakes, neither hee that offered inurie should haue his will, nor hee that was threatened, take any hurte, but bothe be contented and shake handes. Those dayes are now chaunged, the skil of Logicians, is exercysed in caueling, the cunning of Fencers applied to quarrelling: they, thinke themselues no Scholers, if they bee not able to finde out a knotte in euery rushe; these, no men, if for stirring of a strawe, they prooue not their valure vppon some bodyes fleshe. Euery Duns will be a Carper, euery Dick Swash a common Cutter. But as they bake, many times so they brue: Selfe doe, selfe haue, they whette their Swoords against themselues, pull the house on their owne heds, returne home by weeping Crosse, and fewe of them come to an honest ende. For the same water that driues the Mill, decayeth it. The woode is eaten by the worme, that breeds within it: The goodnesse of a knife cuts the owners finger, The Adders death, is her own broode, the Fencers scath, his own knowledg. Whether their harts be hardened, which vse that exercise, or God giue them ouer I know not well: I haue reade of none good that practiced it muche. Commodus the Emperour, so delighted in it, that oftentimes hee slewe one or other at home to keepe 

Commodus a Fencer and exercised in murder.       Epaminondas minde on his Buckler.

his fingers in ure. And one day hee gathered all the sicke, lame, and impotent people of Rome into one place, where hee hampred their feete with straunge deuises, gaue them softe spunges in their hands, to throw at him for stones, and with a great clubbe knatched them all on the hed, as they had been Giauntes. Epaminondas a famous Captaine, sore hurte in a battaile, and carryed out of the fielde, halfe deade; When tydinges was broughte him that his Souldiers gotte the day, asked presently, what became of his Buckler : whereby it appeareth, that hee loued his weapons, but I finde it not sayd that he was a Fencer. Therfore I may liken them which woulde not haue men to war til they are taught fencinge, to those superstitious wisemen, whiche would not take vpon them to burye the bodyes of their friends, before they had beene cast out vnto wilde beastes. Fencing is growne to such abuse, that I may wel compare the Scholers of this Schoole to them that prouide Staues for their owne shoulders; that foster Snakes in their owne bosoms, that trust Wolues, to garde theyr Sheepe; And to the men of Hyrcania, that keepe Mastiffes, to woorrye them selues. Thoughe I speake this too the shame of common Fencers, I goe not aboute the bushe with Souldiers. Homer calleth them the Sonnes of Iupiter, the Images of GOD, and the very sheepeheards of the people : beeing the Sonnes of Iupiter, they are bountifull too the meeke, and thunder out plagues 

Souldiers

to the proude in heart : beeing the images of GOD, they are the Welspringes of Iustice which giueth to euery man his owne; beeing accoumpted the shepeheards of the people, they fight with the Woolfe for the safetie of their flock and keepe of the enemie for the wealth of their Countrie. How full are Poets works of Bucklers, Battails, Lances, Dartes, Bowes, Quiuers, Speares, Iauelins, Swoordes, slaughters, Runners, Wrestlers, Chariots, Horse, and men at armes? Agamemnon beyonde the name of a King hath this title, that he was a Souldier. Menelaus, because he loued his Kercher better then a Burgonet, a softe bed then a hard fielde, the sounde of Instrumentes then neighing of Steedes, a fayre stable then a foule way, is let slippe without prayse. If Lycurgus before hee makes lawes too Sparta, take counsel of Apollo, whether it were good for him to teach the people thrift and husbandry, he shalbe charged to leaue those precepts to the white liuered Hylotes. The Spartans are all steele, fashioned out of tougher mettall, free in minde, valiaunt in hart, seruile to none, accustoming their flesh to stripes, their bodyes to labour, their feete to hunting, their handes to fighting. In Crete, Scythia, Persia, Thracia, all the Lawes tended to the maintenance of Martiall discipline. Among the Scythians no man was permitted to drink of their festiuall Cuppe, which had not manfully killed an enemie in fight. I could wishe it in England, that there were greater preferment for the valiant Spartanes, then the sottishe Hylotes : That our Lawes were directed to rewarding of those, whose liues are the firste, that must be hazarded to mayntaine the lybertie of the Lawes. The gentlemen of Carthage, were not allowed too weare, any moe linkes in theyr chaynes, then they had seene battayles. If our Gallantes of Englande might carry no more linkes in their Chaynes nor the ringes on their fingers, then they haue fought feeldes, their necks should not bee very often wreathed in Golde, nor their handes embrodered with pretious stones. If none but they might be suffered to drinke out of plate, that haue in skirmish slain one of her maiesties enemyes, many thousands shoude bring earthen pots to the table. Let vs learne by other mens harmes too looke to our selues, When the Egyptians were most busy in their husbandry, the Scythians ouerran them: When the Assyrians were looking to their thrift, the Persians wer in armes and ouercam them: when the Troians thoughte themselues safest, the Greekes were neerest : when Rome was a sleepe, the French men gaue a sharp assaulte too the Capitoll: when the Iewes were idle, their walles were rased, and the Romans entred: when the Chaldees were sporting, Babylon was sacked: when the senators were quiet, no garisons in Italy, and Pompey from home, wicked Catiline began his mischeuous enterprise. We are like those vnthankfull people, which puffed vp with prosperity forget the good turnes they receiued in aduersitie. The patient feeds his Phisition with gold in time of sicknesse, and when he is wel, scarcely affoords him a cup of water. Some there are that make gods of soldiers in open warrs, and trusse them vp like dogs in time of peace. Take heed of the foxefurd nightcap, I meene those schoolemen, that cry out vpon Mars calling him the bloody God, the angry God, the furious god, the mad God,  the tearethirsty God. These are but castes of their office and wordes of course. That is a vain brag and a false alarme, that Tullie giues to soldiers.

    Cedant arma togæ concedat laurea linguæ
    Let gunns to gouns, and bucklers yeeld to bookes.

of Pithagoras.

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