People the seeing of _Comedies_. Such permissions not being safe till Age
and Discipline had confirm'd them in sobriety, fortified their Virtue, and
made them as it were proof against Debauchery.'[439] This Philosopher who
had look'd as far into Humane Nature as any Man, observes farther. 'That
the force of Musick and _Action_ is very affecting. It commands the
Audience and changes the Passions to a Resemblance of the Matter before
them.'[440] So that where the Representation is foul, the Thoughts of the
Company must suffer.
_Tully_ crys out upon 'Licentious _Plays_ and _Poems_, as the bane of
Sobriety, and wise Thinking: That _Comedy_ subsists upon Lewdness, and that
Pleasure is the Root, of all Evil.'[441]
_Livy_, reports the Original of _Plays_ among the _Romans_. 'He tells us
they were brought in upon the score of Religion, to pacifie the Gods, and
remove a _Mortality_. But then He adds that the Motives are sometimes good,
when the Means are stark naught: That the Remedy in this case was worse
than the Disease, and the Atonement more Infectious then the Plague.'[442]
_Valerius Maximus_, Contemporary with _Livy_, gives much the same Account
of the rise of _Theatres_ at _Rome_. 'Twas Devotion which built them. And
as for the Performances of those Places, which Mr. _Dryden_ calls the
_Ornaments_, this Author censures as the Blemishes of _Peace_.' And which
is more, He affirms 'They were the Occasions of Civil Distractions; And
that the _State_ first Blush'd, and then Bled, for the Entertainment.[443]
He concludes the consequences of _Plays_ intolerable;[444] And that the
_Massilienses_ did well in clearing the Country of them. _Seneca_ complains
heartily of the Extravagance and Debauchery of the Age: And how forward
People were to improve in that which was naught. That scarce any Body would
apply themselves to the Study of Nature and Morality, unless when the
_Play-House_ was shut, or the Weather foul. That there was no body to teach
_Philosophy_, because there was no body to Learn it: But that the _Stage_
had _Nurseries_, and Company enough. This Misapplication of time and Fancy,
made Knowledge in so ill a Condition. This was the Cause the Hints of
Antiquity were no better pursued; that some Inventions were sunk, and that
Humane Reason grew Downwards rather than otherwise.[445] And elswhere he
avers that there is nothing more destructive to Good Manners then to run
Idling to see _Sights_. For there Vice makes an insensible Approach, and
steals upon us in the Disguise of pleasure.[446]
'_Tacitus_ relating how _Nero_ hired decay'd Gentlemen for the _Stage_,
complains of the Mismanagement;[447] And lets us know 'twas the part of a
Prince to releive their Necessity, and not to Tempt it. And that his Bounty
should rather 'have set them above an ill practise, than driven them
upon't.'
And in another place, He informs us that 'the German Women were Guarded
against danger, and kept their Honour out of Harms way, by having no
_Play-Houses_ amongst them.'[448]
_Plays_, in the Opinion of the Judicious _Plutark_ are dangerous to corrupt
Young People; And therefore _Stage_ Poetry when it grows too hardy, and
Licentious, ought to be checkt.[449] This was the Opinion of these
Celebrated _Authors_ with respect to _Theatres_: They Charge them with the
Corruption of Principles, and Manners, and lay in all imaginable Caution
against them. And yet these Men had seldom any thing but this World in
their Scheme; and form'd their Judgments only upon Natural Light, and
Common Experience. We see then to what sort of Conduct we are oblig'd. The
case is plain; Unless we are little enough to renounce our Reason, and fall
short of Philosophy, and live _under_ the Pitch of _Heathenism_.
To these Testimonies I shall add a Couple of _Poets_, who both seem good
Judges of the Affair in Hand.
The first is _Ovid_, who in his Book _De Arte Amandi_, gives his _Reader_
to understand that the _Play-House_ was the most likely Place for him to
Forage in. Here would be choice of all sorts: Nothing being more common
than to see Beauty surpriz'd, Women debauch'd, and Wenches Pick'd up at
these Diversions.
_Sed tu præcique curvis venare Theatris,
Hæc loca sunt voto fertiliora tuo.
---- ruit ad celebres cultissima Fæmina Ludos;
Copia judicium sæpe morata meum est.
Spectatum veniunt, veniunt Spectentur ut ipsæ;
Ille locus casti damna pudoris habet._[450]
And afterwards relating the imperfect beginning of _Plays_ at the Rape of
the _Sabine_ Virgins, he adds,
_Silicit exillo solennia more Theatra
Nunc quoque formosis insidiosa manent._
This _Author_ some time after wrote the _Remedy_ of _Love_. Here he
pretends to Prescribe for Prudence, if not for Sobriety. And to this
purpose, He forbids the seeing of _Plays_, and the reading of _Poets_,
especially some of them. Such Recreations being apt to feed the
_Distemper_, and make the _Patient_ relapse.
_At tanti tibi sit non indulgere Theatris
Dum bene de cacuo Pectore cedat amor.
Enervant animos Citharæ, Cantusque, lyraque
Et vox, & numeris brachia mota suis.
Illic assidue ficti saltantur amantes,
Quid, caveas, actor, quid juvet, arte docet_.[451]
In his _De Tristibus_, He endeavours to make some Amends for his scandalous
_Poems_, and gives _Augustus_ a sort of _Plan_ for a Publick _Reformation_.
Amongst other Things, he advises the suppressing of _Plays_, as being the
promoters of Lewdness, and Dissolution of Manners.
_Ut tamen hoc fatear ludi quoque semina præbent
Nequitiæ, tolli tota Theatra jube._[452]
To the Testimony of _Ovid_, I could add _Plautus_, _Propertius_, and
_Juvenal_, but being not willing to overburthen the _Reader_, I shall
content my self with the _Plain-Dealer_ as one better known at _Home_.
This _Poet_ in his _Dedication_ to _Lady B_, some Eminent _Procuress_,
pleads the Merits of his Function, and insists on being Billeted upon _free
Quarter_. _Madam_ (says he) _I think a Poet ought to be as free of your
Houses, as of the Play-Houses: since he contributes to the support of both,
and is as necessary to such as you, as the Ballad-singer to the Pick-purse,
in Convening the Cullies at the Theatres to be pick'd up, and Carried to a
supper, and Bed, at your Houses._[453] This is franck Evidence, and ne're
the less true, for the Air of a Jest.
I shall now in the Second Place proceed to the _Censures_ of the _State_;
And show in a few Words how much the _Stage_ stands discouraged by the
_Laws_ of other Countrys and our own.
To begin with the _Athenians_.[454] This People tho' none of the worst
Freinds to the _Play-House_ 'thought a _Comedy_ so unreputable a
Performance, that they made a Law that no Judge of the _Ariopagus_ should
make one.'
The _Lacedemonians_,[455] who were remarkable for the Wisdom of their
_Laws_, the Sobriety of their _Manners_, and their Breeding of brave Men.
This _Government_ would not endure the _Stage_ in any Form, nor under any
Regulation.
To pass on to the _Romans_. _Tully_[456] informs us that their
_Predecessours_ 'counted all _Stage-Plays_ uncreditable and Scandalous. In
so much that any _Roman_ who turn'd _Actor_ was not only to be Degraded,
but likewise as it were disincorporated, and unnaturalized by the _Order_
of the _Censors_.
St. _Augustine_ in the same Book,[457] commends the _Romans_ for refusing
the _Jus Civitatis_ to _Players_, for seizing their Freedoms, and making
them perfectly Foreign to their _Government_.
We read in _Livy_[458] that the Young People in _Rome_ kept the _Fabulæ
Attellanæ_ to themselves. 'They would not suffer this Diversion to be
blemish'd by the _Stage_. For this reason, as the Historian observes,[459]
the _Actors_ of the _Fabulæ Atellanæ_ were neither expell'd their _Tribe_,
nor refused to serve in _Arms_; Both which Penalties it appears the _Common
Players_ lay under.'
In the Theodosian _Code_, _Players_ are call'd _Personæ inhonestæ_;[460]
that is, to _Translate_ it softly, Persons Maim'd, and Blemish'd in their
Reputation. Their _Pictures_ might be seen at the _Play-House_, but were
not permitted to hang in any creditable Place[461] of the _Town_, Upon this
_Text_ _Gothofred_ tells us the Function of Players was counted
scandalous[462] by the _Civil Law_, L. 4. And that those who came upon the
_Stage_ to divert the people, had a mark of Infamy set upon them. _Famosi
sunt ex Edicto._ [463]
I shall now come down to our own _Constitution_. And I find by 39 _Eliz.
cap. 4. 1. Jac. cap. 7_. That all Bearwards, Common Players of Enterludes,
Counterfeit Egyptians &c. shall be taken, adjudged and deem'd Rogues,
Vagabonds, and sturdy beggars, and shall sustain all pain and Punishment,
as by this Act is in that behalf appointed. The _Penalties_ are infamous to
the last degree, and _Capital_ too, unless they give over. 'Tis true, the
first _Act_ excepts those Players which belong to a Baron or other
Personage of higher Degree, and are authorized to Play under the hand and
Seal of Armes of such Baron, or Personage. But by the later _Statute_ this
Privilege of _Licensing_ is taken away: And all of them are expresly
brought under the Penalty without Distinction.
About the Year 1580, there was a Petition made to Queen _Elizabeth_ for
suppressing of _Play-Houses_. 'Tis somewhat remarkable, and therefore I
shall transcribe some part of the Relation.
_Many Godly Citizens, and other well disposed Gentlemen of_ London,
_considering that_ Play-Houses _and_ Dicing-Houses, _were Traps for Young
Gentlemen and others, and perceiving the many Inconveniencies and great
damage that would ensue upon the long suffering of the same, not only to
particular Persons but to the whole City; And that it would also be a great
disparagement to the Governours, and a dishonour to the Government of this
Honourable City, if they should any longer continue, acquainted some Pious
Magistrates therewith, desiring them to take some Course for the
suppression of Common_ Play-Houses, _&c. within the City of_ London _and
Liberties thereof; who thereupon made humble suit to Queen_ Elizabeth _and
her Privy Council, and obtain'd leave of her Majesty to thrust the Players
out of the City and to pull down all_ Play-Houses, _and_ Dicing-Houses
_within their Liberties, which accordingly was effected.[464] And the
Play-Houses in_ Grace-Church-street _&c. were quite put down and
suppress'd_.
I shall give a Modern Instance or two from _France_ and so conclude these
Authorities.
In the Year 1696. we are inform'd by a Dutch _Print_,[465] M. _L'
Archevéque appuyé_ &c. That the Lord Arch-Bishop 'support'd by the interest
of some Religious Persons at Court, has done his utmost to suppress the
_Publick Theatres_ by degrees; or at least to clear them of Profaness.'
And last Summer the _Gazetts_ in the _Paris Article_ affirm.[466] That the
King has 'order'd the _Italian Players_ to retire out of _France_ because
they did not observe his _Majesties Orders_, but represented immodest
_Pieces_, and did not correct their _Obscenities_, and indecent
_Gestures_.'
The same _Intelligence_ the next week after, acquaints us, 'that some
Persons of the first _Quality_ at Court, who were the Protectors of these
_Comedians_, had solicited the French King to recal his _Order_ against
them, but their Request had no success.'
And here to put an end to the Modern Authorities, I shall subjoyn a sort of
_Pastoral Letter_ publish'd about two years since by the Bishop of _Arras_
in _Flanders_. The _Reader_ shall have as much of it as concerns him in
both Languages.
MANDEMENT
DE MONSEIGNEUR
_L'Illustrissime Et Reverendissime_
EVEQUE D'ARRAS
CONTRE LA COMEDIE.
GUY DE SEVE DE ROCHE CHOUART _par la grace de Dieu & du Saint Siége
Apostolique Evéque d' Arras, A tous fideles dela Ville d'Arras Salut &
Benediction. Il faut ignorer sa Religion pour ne pas connoître l'horreur
qu'elle a marquée dans tous les temps des Spectacles, & de la Comédie en
particulier. Les saints Peres la condamnent dans leurs écrits; Ils la
regardent comme un reste du paganisme, & Comme une école d'impureté.
L'Eglise l' a toûjours regardée avec abomination, & si elle n'a pas
absolument rejetté de son sein ceux qui exercent ce mêtier infame &
scandaleux, elle les prive publiquement des Sacremens & n'oublie rien pour
marquer en toutes rencountres son aversion pour cet ètat & pour l'inspirer
a ses Enfans. Des Rituels de Dioceses tres reglés les mettent au nombre des
personnes que les Curés sont obligés de traiter comme excommunies; Celui de
Paris les joint aux Sorciers, & aux Magiciens, & les regarde comme
manifestement infames; Les Eveques les plus saints leur font refuser
publiquement, les Sacremens; Nous avons veu un des premiers Eveques de
France ne vouloir pas par cette raison recevoir au mariage un homme de cet
état; un autre ne vouloir pas leur accorder la terre Sainte; Et dans les
Statuts d'un prelat bien plus illustre per son merite par sa Pieté, & par
l'austerité de sa vie que par la pourpre dont il est revestu, on les trouve
avec les concubinaires, les Usuriers, les Blasphemateurs, les Femmes
debauchées, les excommuniés denoncés, les Infames, les Simoniaque's, &
autres personnes scandaleuses mis an nombre de ceux a qui on doit refuser
publiquement la Communion_.
_Il est donc impossible de justifyer la Comedie sans vouloir condamner
l'Eglise, les saints peres, les plus saint Prelats, mais il ne l'est pas
moins de justifiër ceux qui par leur assistance a ces spectacles non
seulement prennent part au mal qui s'y fait, mais contribuent en même temps
à retenir ces malheureux ministres de Satan dans une profession, qui les
separant des Sâcremens de l'Eglise les met dans un état perpetuel de peché
& hors de salut s'ils ne l'abandonnnent._---- ----
_Et à egard des Comediens & Commediennes, Nous defendons trés expressement
à nos pasteurs & à nos Confesseurs des les recevoir aux Sacremens si cé
n'est qu'ils aient fait Penitence de leur peché, donné des preuves
d'amendment, renoncé a leur Etat, & repare par une satisfaction publique
telle que nous jugerons à propos de leur ordonner, le Scandale public
qu'ils ont donné. Fait & ordonné à Arras le quatriéme jour de Decembre mil
six cent quatre-vingt quinze._[467]
_Guy Evéque d'Arras
Et plus bas
Par Monseigneur_
CARON.
In English thus,
_An Order of the most Illustrious and most Reverend Lord Bishop of_ Arras
_against_ Plays.
'GUY DE SEVE DE ROCHE CHOUART by the grace of God, &c. Bishop of _Arras_.
To all the Faithful in the Town of _Arras_ Health and Benediction. A man
must be very ignorant of his Religion, not to know the great disgust it has
always declar'd, for _Publick Sights_, and for _Plays_ in particular. The
Holy _Fathers_ condemn them in their writings; They look upon them as
reliques of Heathenism, and Schools of Debauchery. They have been always
abominated by the Church; And notwithstanding those who are concern'd in
this Scandalous Profession; are not absolutely expell'd by a Formal
Excommunication, yet She publickly refuses them the Sacraments, and omits
nothing upon all occasions, to show her aversion for this Employment, and
to transfuse the same sentiments into her Children. The _Rituals_ of the
best govern'd Dioceses, have ranged the _Players_ among those whom the
Parish Priests are oblig'd to treat as Excommunicated Persons. The _Ritual_
of _Paris_ joyns them with Sorcerers, and Magicians, and looks upon them as
notoriously infamous; The most eminent Bishops for Piety, have publickly
denied them the Sacraments: For this reason, we our selves have known one
of the most considerable Bishops in _France_, turn back a _Player_ that
came to be Married; And an other of the same order, refused to bury them in
Consecrated Ground. And by the _Orders_ of a Bishop, who is much more
illustrious for his worth, for his Piety, and the Strictness of his Life,
than for the _Purple_ in his Habit; They are thrown amongst Fornicators,
Usurers, Blasphemers, Lewd Women, and declar'd Excommunicates, amongst the
Infamous, and Simoniacal, and other Scandalous Persons who are in the List
of those who ought publickly to be barr'd Communion.
'Unless therfore we have a mind to condemn the Church, the Holy Fathers,
and the most holy Bishops, 'tis impossible to justifie _Plays_; neither is
the Defence of those less impracticable, who by their Countenance of these
Diversions, not only have their share of the Mischief there done, but
contribute at the same time to fix these unhappy Ministers of Satan in a
Profession, which by depriving them of the Sacraments of the Church, leaves
them under a constant necessity of Sinning, and out of all hopes of being
saved, unless they give it over.----'
From the general Unlawfulness of _Plays_, the Bishop proceeds to argue more
strongly against seeing them at times which are more particularly devoted
to Piety, and Humiliation: And therefore he strickly forbids his Diocess
the _Play-House_ in _Advent_, _Lent_, or under any publick _Calamity_. And
at last concludes in this Manner.
'As for the Case of _Players_ both Men, and Women, we expresly forbid all
our Rectors, Pastors, and Confessours, to admit them to the Sacraments,
unless they shall repent them of their Crime, make proof of their
Reformation, renounce their _Business_, and retrieve the Scandal they have
given, by such publick Satisfaction as we shall think proper to injoyn
them. Made and Decreed at _Arras_ the fourth day of _December 1695._
_Guy_ Bishop of _Arras_. &c.
I shall now in the Third Place, give a short account of the sense of the
_Primitive_ Church concerning the _Stage_: And first I shall instance in
her _Councils_.
The Council of _Illiberis_, or _Collioure_ in _Spain_, decrees,[468]
'That it shall not be lawful for any Woman who is either in full Communion
or a probationer for Baptism, to Marry, or Entertain any _Comedians_ or
_Actors_; whoever takes this Liberty shall be Excommunicated.'
The first Council of _Arles_, runs thus,[469]
'Concerning _Players_, we have thought fit to Excommunicate them as long as
they continue to _Act_.'
The Second Council of _Arles_ made their _20th_ Canon to the same purpose,
and almost in the same words.[470]
The Third Council of _Carthage_, of which St. _Augustine_ was a Member,
ordains,[471]
'That the Sons of Bishops, or other Clergy-men should not be permitted to
furnish out Publick _Shews_, or _Plays_[472] or be present at them: Such
sort of Pagan _Entertainments_ being forbidden all the _Laity_. It being
always unlawful for all Christians to come amongst _Blasphemers_.
This last branch shews the _Canon_ was Principally levell'd against the
_Play-House_: And the reason of the Prohibition, holds every jot as strong
against the _English_, as against the _Roman Stage_.
By the 35th _Canon_ of this _Council_ 'tis decreed,
'That _Actors_ or others belonging to the _Stage_, who are either
_Converts_, or _Penitents_ upon a Relapse, shall not be denied Admission
into the Church.' This is farther proof, that _Players_ as long as they
kept to their Employment were bar'd _Communion_.
Another _African Council_ declares,[473]
'That the Testimony of People of ill Reputation, of _Players_, and others
of such scandalous Employments, shall not be admitted against any Person.'
The Second _Council_ of _Chaalon_ sets forth,[474]
'That Clergy men ought to abstain from all over-engaging Entertainments in
Musick or _Show_. (_oculorum auriumque illecebris_.) And as for the smutty,
and Licentious Insolence of _Players_, and Buffoons, let them not only
decline the Hearing it themselves, but likewise conclude the _Laity_
oblig'd to the same Conduct.
I could cite many more Authorities of this Kind, but being conscious of the
Niceness of the _Age_, I shall forbear, and proceed to the Testimony of the
_Fathers_.
To begin with _Theophilus_ Bishop of _Antioch_, who lived in the Second
_Century_.
''Tis not lawful (says he)[475] for us to be present at the _Prizes_ or
your _Gladiators_, least by this means we should be _Accessaries_ to the
Murthers there committed. Neither dare we presume upon the Liberty of your
other _Shews_,[476] least our Senses should be tinctur'd, and disoblig'd,
with Indecency, and Profaness. The Tragical Distractions of _Tereus_ and
_Thyestes_, are Nonsense to us. We are for seeing no Representations of
Lewdness. The Stage-Adulteries of the _Gods_, and _Hero's_, are
unwarrantable Entertainments: And so much the worse, because the Mercenary
_Players_ set them off with all the Charms and Advantages of Speaking. God
forbid that _Christians_ who are remarkable for Modesty, and Reserv'dness;
who are obliged to Discipline, and train'd up in Virtue, God forbid I say,
that we should dishonour our Thoughts, much less our Practise, with such
Wickedness as This!'
_Tertullian_ who liv'd at the latter end of this Century is copious upon
this subject; I shall translate but some Part of it. In his Apologetick, He
thus addresses the Heathens.[477]
'We keep off from your publick _Shews_, because we can't understand the
Warrant of their Original. There's Superstition and Idolatry in the Case:
And we dislike the Entertainment because we dislike the reason of its
Institution. Besides, We have nothing to do with the Frensies of the
_Race-Ground_, the Lewdness of the _Play-House_, or the Barbarities of the
_Bear-Garden_. The _Epicureans_ had the Liberty to state the Notion, and
determine the Object of Pleasure. Why can't we have the same Privilege?
What Offence is it then if we differ from you in the Idea of Satisfaction?
If we won't understand to brighten our Humour, and live pleasantly, where's
the harm? If any body has the worst on't, 'tis only our selves.'
His Book _de Spectaculis_ was wrote on purpose to diswade the Christians,
from the publick Diversions of the _Heathens_, of which the _Play-House_
was one. In his first Chapter He gives them to understand, 'That the Tenour
of their Faith, the Reason of Principle, and the Order of Discipline, had
bar'd them the Entertainments of the _Town_. And therefore He exhorts them
to refresh their Memories, to run up to their Baptism, and recollect their
first Engagements. For without care, Pleasure is a strange bewitching
Thing. When it gets the Ascendant, 'twill keep on Ignorance for an Excuse
of Liberty, make a man's Conscience wink, and suborn his Reason against
himself.
'But as he goes on,[478] some peoples Faith is either too full of Scruples,
or too barren of Sense. Nothing will serve to settle them but a plain Text
of _Scripture_. They hover in uncertainty because 'tis not said as expresly
thou shalt not go to the _Play-House_, as 'tis thou shalt not Kill. But
this looks more like Fencing than Argument. For we have the Meaning of the
prohibition tho' not the sound, in the first _Psalm. Blessed is the Man
that walks not in the Council of the Ungodly, nor stands in the way of
Sinners, nor sits in the Seat of the Scornful._