between Simon Certen and Pierce Plowman_. Faithfully
collected and gathered by T. F. Student (1579, 1585), F_{4},
quoted from 1585 ed. in Stubbes, 299. There seems to be no
justification for Collier’s identification of T. F. with Francis
Thynne.]
I call to witnesse the Theaters, Curtines, Heauing houses, Rifling
boothes, Bowling alleyes, and such places, where the time is so
shamefully mispent, namely the Sabaoth daies, vnto the great dishonor
of God, and the corruption and vtter distruction of youth.
xxi. 1579. THOMAS TWYNE.
[From _Physic against Fortune_ (1579), i. 30. This is a
translation from Petrarch’s _De remediis utriusque Fortunae_;
but Twyne has adapted the wording to bring in the names of the
London theatres.]
_Joy._ I am delighted with sundrie Shewes.
_Reason._ Perhaps with the Curteine or Theater: which two places
are well knowen to be enimies to good manners: for looke who goeth
thyther evyl, returneth worse. For that iourney is unknowen to the
good, whiche yf any undertake uppon ignoraunce, he cannot choose but be
defyled.
xxii. 1579. STEPHEN GOSSON.
[From _The Schoole of Abuse, Containing a pleasaunt inuectiue
against Poets, Pipers, Plaiers, Iesters and such like
Caterpillers of a Commonwelth_ ... (1579; S. R. 22 July 1579).
A second edition appeared in 1587. There are modern reprints in
_Somers Tracts_, iii (1810), 552, and by J. P. Collier (1841,
_Sh. Soc_.) and E. Arber (1868, _English Reprints_). On 5 (or
16) Oct. 1579 Spenser wrote to Gabriel Harvey (Gregory Smith,
i. 89, from _Two Other very Commendable Letters_, 1580): ‘Newe
Bookes I heare of none, but only of one, that writing a certaine
Booke, called The Schoole of Abuse, and dedicating it to Maister
Sidney, was for hys labor scorned, if at leaste it be in the
goodnesse of that nature to scorne. Suche follie is it not to
regarde aforehande the inclination and qualitie of him to whome
wee dedicate oure Bookes.’]
[Summary and Extracts.] _Epistle to Sidney. Epistle to the
Reader_.... ‘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 seuere iudges againste my selfe.’ Poetry and
Music are first attacked; an apologist for Homer being likened (p. 21)
‘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 conquere a paper monster.’ P.
28. ‘As poetrie and piping are cosen germans: so piping and playing
are of great affinity, and all three chayned in linkes of abuse.’ P.
29. ‘I was first instructed in the university, after drawne like a
nouice to these abuses.’ Criticism of the theatre by the graver Greeks
and Romans and its abuses in Rome. Similar abuses have replaced ‘the
olde discipline of Englande’. P. 35. ‘In our assemblies at playes in
London, you shall see suche heauing, and shoouing, suche ytching and
shouldring, too sitte by the 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 them pippins
to passe the time: suche playing at foote 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 printe 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 practised: I haue no
doubte but the cause would be seared 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 is
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 paramour,
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.’ Players
at least indirectly to blame for London’s wantonness. P. 37. ‘They
seeke not to hurte, but desire too please: they haue purged their
comedyes of wanton speaches, yet the corne whiche they sell, is full
of cockle, and the drinke that they drawe, ouercharged with dregges.’
Advises those who would avoid offence to avoid the theatre. The
abuses are contrary to the Queen’s will. P. 39. ‘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 reentred.
Ouerlashing in apparel is so common a fault, that the very 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 looke 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
housholders and citizens well thought on amonge their neighbours at
home, though the pryde of their shadowes (I meane those hangebyes
whome they succour with stipend) cause them to bee somewhat il talked
of abroade. And as some of the players are farre frome abuse: so some
of their playes are without rebuke: which are as easily remembered as
quickly reckoned. The twooe 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 descrybing
how seditious estates, with their owne deuises, false friendes, with
their owne swoordes, and rebellious commons in their owne snares are
owerthrowne: 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 the 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
sow, 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.... These
playes are good playes and sweete playes, and of al playes the best
playes and most to be liked, woorthy to bee 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 to bee 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 insaniuimus
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.’ Deprecates the
excuse that plays keep idle heads occupied. P. 42. ‘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 wool-gathering, and emptie their
purses for thriuing to fast.’ Has shown the abuses of players out of
profane writers rather than out of the Scriptures. Exhorts against
vanity; but, p. 44, ‘if players can promise in woordes, and performe it
in deedes, proclame 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’. Briefly reprehends dancers,
tumblers, dicers, carders, and bowlers, and more at length fencers.
_Epistle to Sir Richard Pipe, Lord Mayor, and the Aldermen_....
P. 56. ‘I woulde the abuses of my Schoole were as wel knowen of you,
to reformation: as they are found out by other to their owne peril.
But the fishe _Sepia_ can trouble the water to shun the nettes,
that are shot to catch her: _Torpedo_ hath craft inough at the
first touch to inchant the hooke, to coniure the line, to bewitch
the rod, and to benumme the handes of him that angleth. Whether our
players be the spawnes of such fishes, I know not wel, yet I am sure
that how many nets so euer ther be layde to take them, or hookes to
choke them, they haue ynke in their bowels to darken the water, and
sleights in their budgets, to dry vp the arme of euery magistrate. If
their letters of commendations were once stayed, it were easie for you
to ouerthrow them.... I doubte not but the gouernours of London will
vexe mee for speaking my minde, when they are out of their wittes, and
banishe their players, when they are beste aduised.’ _Epistle to
the Gentlewomen Citizens of London_.... P. 58. ‘It is not ... your
sober countenance, that defendeth your credite; nor your friends which
accompany your person, that excuse your folly; nor your modestie at
home, that couereth your lightnesse, if you present your selues in open
theaters.... Though you go to theaters to se sport, Cupid may catche
you ere you departe.... In deede I muste confesse there comes to playes
of all sortes, old and young; it is hard to say that all offend, yet I
promise you, I wil sweare for none.’
xxiii. _c._ 1579. THOMAS LODGE.
[From a print without title-page edited by D. Laing (1853, _Sh.
Soc._) under the title of _A Defence of Poetry, Music and Stage
Plays_; part in Gregory Smith, i. 61. There can be little doubt
that this is the _Honest Excuses_ of Gosson’s _Apology_ and the
suppressed work of Lodge referred to in his _Alarum_ and Gosson,
_P. C._ (Nos. xxx, xxxv, _infra_); cf. J. D. Wilson in M. L. R.
iii. 166.]
[Summary and Extracts.] P. 3. ‘There came to my hands lately a litle
(would God a wittye) pamphelet, baring a fayre face as though it
were the Scoole of Abuse.’ Defends against Gosson poetry, music, and
thirdly players, for whose art he claims both ‘antiquity’ and ‘use and
comoditye’ as an instrument of moral criticism. P. 24. Of comedies
he says, ‘Tulley defines them thus, _Comedia_ (saith he) is
_imitatio vitae, speculum consuetudinis, et imago veritatis_’.
P. 27. He has concessions to make. ‘I wish as zealously as the best
that all abuse of playinge weare abolished, but for the thing, the
antiquitie causeth me to allow it, so it be used as it should be. I
cannot allow the prophaning of the Sabaoth. I praise your reprehension
in that; you did well in discommending the abuse, and surely I wysh
that folly wer disclaymed; it is not to be admitted, it maks those
sinne, which perhaps if it were not, would have binne present at a good
sermon. It is in the magistrate to take away that order, and appoynt
it otherwyse. But sure it were pittie to abolish that which hath so
great vertue in it, because it is abused.’ P. 28. He turns on the
critic. ‘But, after your discrediting of playmaking, you salue upon
the sore somewhat, and among many wise workes there be some that fitte
your vaine: The Practice of Parasites is one, which I meruel it likes
you so well, since it bites you so sore. But sure in that I like your
judgement, and for the rest to, I approue your wit, but for the pigg
of your owne sow, (as you terme it) assuredly I must discommend your
verdit: Tell me, Gosson, was all your owne you wrote there? did you
borow nothing of your neyghbours? Out of what booke patched you out
Cicero’s Oration? Whence fet you Catilin’s Inuectiue?.... Beleue me
I should preferr Wilson’s Shorte and sweete if I were judge, a peece
surely worthe prayse, the practice of a good scholler; would the wiser
would ouerlooke that, they may perhaps cull some wisedome out of a
player’s toye.’ Assents to Gosson’s rebuke of carders, dicers, fencers,
bowlers, dancers, and tumblers.
xxiv. 1579. STEPHEN GOSSON.
[From _The Ephemerides of Phialo and a short Apologie of the
Schoole of Abuse_ (1579; S. R. 7 Nov. 1579). A second edition
appeared in 1586. The Apologie is reprinted by E. Arber with
_The Schoole of Abuse_ (1868).]
[Extracts.] _Epistle to Sidney_.... Sith it hath beene my fortune to
bear sayle in a storme, since my first publishing the _Schoole of
Abuse_ ... I can not but acknowledge my safetie, in your Worships
patronage. _The Ephemerides of Phialo_.... I think it necessary, before
I set downe the discourses of _Phialo_ ... to whippe out those Doggs,
which haue barked ... at mee for writinge the _Schoole of Abuse_.... It
is not long since, a friend of mine presented me with straunge newes
out of _Affrick_ [in margin, ‘A Libell cast out against the Schoole
of Abuse’] requesting me earnestly to shape them an answere.... I ...
unfolded the Paper, and found nothing within but guttes and garbage....
And had not the writer himself, which sent these newes into _England_,
reuealed his name to some of his friends by whom I hearde it, I would
haue iudged such a Daw to bee hacht in _Barbary_, and the tydinges
that came, to be scribled in post.... This Doctour of _Affrike_ with
a straunge kinde of style begins to write thus: _To his frinds the
Plaiers_ ... If Players get no better Atturnie to pleade their case, I
will holde mee contented where the Haruest is harde, too take Otes of
yl debters in parte of payment.... I intende not to aunswere him....
_An Apologie of the Schoole of Abuse_.... Such is the skirmishe of our
players, who perceiuing the truthe to stand on my side as an armour of
proofe; and finding them selues vnappointed for the fielde, keepe a
farre off, biting me in corners, casting out libels which are but clay,
and rattle on mine armour, or tippe me on the shinnes, without farther
hurt.... If plaiers take a little more counsel of their pillowe, they
shall finde them selues to be the worste and the daungerousest people
in the world.... If Diogenes were nowe aliue, to see the abuses that
growe by playes, I beleeue hee would wyshe rather to bee a Londoners
hounde than his apprentice, bicause hee rateth his dogge, for wallowing
in carrion; but rebukes not his seruaunt for resorting to playes, that
are ranke poyson.... We perceiue not ... that players counterfaiting a
shewe to make vs merry, shoote their nettes to worke our misery; that
when _Comedie_ comes vpon the stage, _Cupide_ sets vpp a Springe for
Woodcockes, which are entangled ere they descrie the line, and caught
before they mistruste the snare.... Our players, since I set out the
_Schole of abuse_, haue trauailed to some of mine acquaintance of both
Vniuersities, with fayre profers, and greater promises of rewardes,
yf they woulde take so much paine as too write agaynst mee.... When
neither of both Vniuersities would heare their plea, they were driuen
to flie to a weake hedge, and fight for themselues with a rotten
stake.... It is tolde mee that they haue got one in London to write
certaine _Honest Excuses_, for so they tearme it, to their dishonest
abuses which I reuealed.... How he frames his excuses, I knowe not yet,
because it is doone in hudder mudder. Trueth can neuer be Falsehods
Visarde, which maketh him maske without a torche and keepe his papers
very secret.... If the Excuser be the man that is named to me, he is
as famous a Clarke as _Clauitius Sabinus_, which was so troubled with
a grosse conceite, and as short a memory, that euery minute he forgote
the names of _Vlisses_, _Achilles_, _Priamus_, and such as he knew as
well as the Begger his dishe.... I was determined to send you greater
matters, touching the saleable toung of _Curio_, but I stay my handes
till I see his booke, when I haue perusd it I will tel you more.
xxv. 1580. ANON.
[From Stationers’ Register, 8 April 1580 (Arber, ii. 368).
This is one of a number of ballads and pamphlets entered in
April-June 1580 as a result of the earthquake on 6 April;
Abraham Fleming, in his _A Bright Burning Beacon_, names eight
writers on the subject besides himself, including Thomas
Churchyard and Richard Tarlton. It may be that several of these
improved the occasion by reproving bear-baitings and plays, as
did Arthur Golding in his _A Discourse Upon the Earthquake_, but
it does not appear from Golding’s ‘reporte’ that any playhouses
suffered serious damage, although Halliwell-Phillipps, i.
369, quotes Munday, _View of Sundry Examples_ (1580), ‘At the
playhouses the people came running foorth, supprised with great
astonishment’, and S. Gardiner, _Doomes-day Booke_ (1606), ‘The
earthquake ... shaked not only the scenicall Theatre, but the
great stage and theatre of the whole land’. On the contrary, the
only deaths were those of two children killed ‘while they were
hearing a sermon’ at Christ Church, Newgate, a detail which is
omitted in the reprint of the ‘reporte’ and of some of Golding’s
moralizing, with an official _Order of Prayer_ issued for use in
parish churches (_Liturgical Services_, Parker Soc., 573).]
H. Carr, ‘a ballat intituled comme from the plaie, comme from the
playe: the house will fall, so people saye: the earth quakes, lett us
hast awaye’.
xxvi. 1580. ANTHONY MUNDAY (?).
[Entry in S. R. for Edward White on 10 Nov. 1580 (Arber, ii.
381). Collier, _S. R._ ii. 125, prints a ballad, probably
forged, ‘which has come down to us in MS.’, and suggests that it
may be the one in question. Fleay, 52, Thompson, 86, and J. D.
Wilson in _M. L. R._ iv. 486, suppose the entry to refer to the
‘balat against plays’ ascribed to Munday (cf. ch. xxiii).]
A Ringinge Retraite Couragiouslie sounded, wherein Plaies and Players
are fytlie Confounded.
xxvii. 1580. ANTHONY MUNDAY (?).
[From _A second and third blast of retrait from plaies and
Theaters: the one whereof was sounded by a reuerend Byshop dead
long since: the other by a worshipful and zealous Gentleman now
aliue_: ... Set forth by Anglo-phile Eutheo (1580; _S. R._ 18
Oct. 1580) in Hazlitt, _E. D. S._ 97. It bears the City arms.
The title recalls that of No. xxvi. J. D. Wilson (_M. L. R._
iv. 484) supports the conjectural attribution of Fleay, 51, to
Munday, on the ground that the author is a converted playwright,
probably identical with the one referred to in Gosson, _P. C._,
in terms resembling those applied to Munday in _A True Report of
... M. Campion_ (cf. ch. xxiii).]