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diff --git a/10108-0.txt b/10108-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d02a970 --- /dev/null +++ b/10108-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,659 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10108 *** + +A Treatise Of Daunses, wherin it is shewed, that they are as it were +accessories and dependants (or thynges annexed) to whoredome: where +also by the way is touched and proued, that _Playes are ioyned and +knit togeather in a rancke or rowe with them._ + +I. Thessal. 5. + +_Let eurie one possesse his vessel in holines and honor._ + +Anno 1581. + +A Treatise of Daunses, in which is shewed, that daunses bee +intisementes to whoredome, and that the abuse of playes ought not to +be among Christians. + +I Doubt not, but that some, into whose handes this little treatise +shall come, will thinke me to be at greate leasure, that haue +enterprised largely to leuie out and handle this argument: which to +their seeming is not otherwise of great importaunce. For be it that +daunses were allowed or condemned, or els yet they were putt in the +rowe of thinges indifferent men might easily iudge according to their +opinion, that that should not bring great profit or hurt to our +christian common wealth, seeing that ther are diuers pointes of +greater weight and consequence, which trouble the spirits of manye +learned men, & make afraide the consciences of the weake and simple +ones: which poyntes haue verye much nede to be opened and made plaine, +rather then to trouble a mans selfe to write agaynst playes and +daunses. Furthermore men should be in very great forwardnes, if euery +thinge were so well refourmed, that they were come euen unto daunses, +that is to say, that all that which is corrupted, and those abuses +which beare the sway among Christians were so cut off, and this so +sick a body againe so wel restored to his soundnes and health, that +there should remayne nothing els but to debate the question of leaping +skippings and daunses. + +Ther will be found an other manner & sort of people, who will make no +accoumpte at all to mocke at this matter: as indeede the world is ful +of mockers, and men without Godlines, without God, and without +religion. Now as concerninge these persons, they deserue no manner of +aunsweare at al, because they do as soone scoffe at the principall +pointes of christian religion, and that which directly concerneth the +seruice of God, as matters of lesse weight and importaunce. Wherefore +I not much regarding or caringe for the iudgement of such iudges, will +let them runne to the water with the bridle uppon their head, or in +their necke, as they say. But as touchinge the first, because they bee +not altogeather malicious and obstinate, I hope, that ha= uing +aunsweared their obiections, and declared the reasons which haue +moued, yea rather driuen me forward or inforsed mee to descipher and +sett out this matter, they will iudge my labour not to haue bene +altogeather unprofitable. + +It is then in the first place to bee wished and desired, that troubles +beyng pacified, and all dissentions repressed, and put out, the +spirits and consciences of men, should be assured and thorowly +perswaded of that which appertaineth to their saluation. And indeede +our Lorde hath stirred and raised up so perfect an age in al sciences +& know= ledge, in which so many learned men, and of excellent learning +and knowledge, haue so blessedly and diligently imployed them= selues +to teach us the order and maner to liue well, some after one sort and +fashion, and some after an other, that those which be not yet +satisfyed, can not, or ought not, to lay the fault in any but in +themselues. + +Next all good men ought to wishe and desire that those which put their +hande to (this is to say trauaile for) the reformation of maners, +should do it with such good argumentes, that there shoulde remayne, or +be left, but euen a very litle to be corrected and amended. And yet +this wish & desire should not let or hinder the trauaile of such as do +indeuor to pull up by the rootes such herbes as be hurtful to the +field of the Lord, be they neuer so small and little: and I do, or +which thing I labour to do in this little boke according to the +talente & graces which are geuen me from aboue. + +Adde also that if any do deeply & seasonably consider this matter, I +hope he shal not finde it so barren and of little edification, that it +ought to be dispised or troden under foote: for many men of quality +(yea euen in the company of notable personages) of name and authority, +make no conscience to demaunde and aske whether it be yll done to +daunce, demaunding also a formall or playne parcell and text of +Scripture, by which it may appeare that daunses be prohibited and +forbidden, otherwise they think not that they do euill in +daunsing. Some others goe further and alledging or rather indeede +abusing some peece of the Scripture, where it appeareth that the +faithfull haue leaped and daunsed: they thinke verily that they haue +founde the beane in the cake, as though this were a proper couerture & +cloke to couer the infection and filthines of their daunces. + +Seyng then that many be foulie & grosely deceaued in this behalfe, and +that possible for want of beyng sufficiently instructed and informed +or taught touching this matter, I haue bene so much the more willing +to ease them in this question, by how much I hope to profit in common, +that is, to do good to the greatest multitude, as also being willing +hereby to satisfy some which haue earnestly and instantly required it +at my handes. + +Now to answeare them which demaund and aske a playne peece or text of +Scripture in which daunses should be forbidden, let them know that +there be many wicked and euill thinges which are not euidently and +playnly expressed in the Scripture, to be forbidden, notwithstanding +they bee of the same kynd and nature, or else dependences of some +thynges which are therein expressed, and under which they ought to be +comprehended, or els when the contrary of these things is praised and +commended, we are sufficiently taught and instructed to cast them +away, as things condemned by the holy Ghost, because ther is one & the +selfe same reason in contrary things. + +I will place, & put in the order or rowe of the first, playes and +daunses: I meane such playes as by which man draweth or getteth to +hymselfe, his neighboures money. It is true that wee fynd not in the +Scripture these words. Thou shalt not play, but wee find indeede these +wordes. Thou shale not steale: Now that to gayne or get an other mans +money at play shoulde not be a most manifest & plaine thieuery: none +of sound iudgement will denie it. For hee which hath wonne or gotten +it, by what title or right can he say, that such money is his: Verily +when we get or win the money, or the goods of our brother, it must be +with the sweate of our face or browe, & that our laboure bringe him +some profite, that is to be profitable unto him: and euen as we +receaue his money or good: so must hee thorow our diligence and +trauaile receaue some profite. But when a man hath gotten his money by +the hazard or chaunce, as a man would say, of play, I pray you what +commoditye and profite commeth to him thereby: we must then conclude, +that this is a kind of theft: which although it be not playnly +expressed in the holye scripture, yet neuertheles it ought to bee +referred to the eight commaundement, in which it is sayd, Thou shalt +not steale. + +The like is of daunses which wee may put in the first & second row or +order. For although wee haue not any playne and expresse forbidding, +where it should be sayd, Thou shalt not daunse, yet we haue a formall +and plaine commaundement, Thou shalt not commit adultery, or +whoredome: to which the daunses ought to be referred. [Sidenote: A +definition of daunses.] Now if one would aske me what daunses were: I +wil answeare, that considering the sway which they haue at this day +amongest us Cristians, they bee nothing else but impudent, shameles, +and dissolute gestures, by which the lust of the flesh is awaked, +stirred by, and inflamed, as wel in men as in women. [Sidenote: +Deut. 22. Titus. 2.] Bat if honesty, modesty, and sobernes, be +required in apparaile, & adorning of mens selues, as we see that it is +commended and commaunded in Deuteronomie, & seing that S. Paule also +in his epistle to Titus, willeth that there should be among us a sober +and holy countenaunce, singularly and specially in women, which +ordinarily be very curious in their garmentes, it is certayne and +sure, that there is some poyson or venym hidden under the +grasse. [Sidenote: I. Pet. 3.] And because it is so, S. Peter in his +first canonicall or generall epistle, forbiddeth that women should +appeare, shew, and sett out themselues by theyr apparayle and +neatnes. Add that in many other places of the sayd holy scripture, the +diuersity and difference in attire and garmentes, is condemned, as +prouoking to whoredome, and slipperines, by more stronge reason the +dissolute and lewde gestures, which be practised by the proper and +owne members of a mans bodye, ought to be cutt of, and banished from +among christians. [Sidenote: Jud. 23.] And S. Jude exhorteth us, to +haue, yea and that in hatred the garment which is defiled by the +flesh, meaning under this figure & manner of speech, all inticementes +& allurements which might draw us to any pollution, uncleannes, and +fylthynes: what ought we to iudge in the excellency (as a man woulde +say) value and estimation of the flesh itselfe, which is so polluted +and defyled, that it bringeth forth, and setteth out the pollution and +filthines thereof, by villanous and dishonest gestures. [Sidenote: +Ephe. 4. 29. Colos. 3.] And when S. Paule in his epistles to the +Ephesians and Colossians, forbiddeth us all corrupt, infected, and +filthy speech, or woordes, is there not at the least as much, or as +greate occasion: [Sidenote: The eies.] yea more or greater to +condemne dissolute and lewd gestures: for as concerning dishonest and +unmeete woordes, they be gathered or receaued with our eares onely, +but as for villanous & dishonest gestures, they be so many obiects, or +thinges set before our eyes, as if one shoulde set before us a painted +table, in which all villany infection, and filthines should be liuely +pourtraited and set out. [Sidenote: Mat. 5.] Now that the sighte of +all our senses is it which hath most force & strength to make us +incline to uncleannes and filthynes, I will haue none other iudge but +our Lord himselfe, when he hath uttered and spoken with his mouth, +that hee which hath cast his eye uppon his neighbours wife, for to +couet, desyre, and with her is already a whoremonger in his hart: +[Sidenote: I John. 2.] behold also wherefore S. John in his first +canonicall or generall epistle, putteth or ioyneth with the +concupiscence or lust of the flesh, the concupiscence & lust of the +eyes. finally when S. Paule placeth or putteth sobernes, modestie, +and temperaunce among the effects and fruites which the grace of God +ought to bring forth in us, doth hee not sufficiently forbid all +dissolutenes, lightnes, outrages, and disorders, as wel in our manners +as in our gestures, & other manner of doings. + +But for as much as all the former argumentes are founded and grounded +upon that definition of daunses, which I haue before geuen and made, +and that some men might deny it me, we must answeare that which they +haue bene accustomed to obiect against it. First of al I haue heard of +some which denye daunses to be shamelesse and dissolute gestures, +because that when they daunse, they do it not, but for a recreation of +themselues and bodily exercise, yea that they use it as a certayne +thing, which of itselfe is neither good nor euill. But let such people +be answeared after this manner, that is to say, that their affection +cannot so chaunge the nature of the thing, that it doth not alwaies +kepe and hold fast, his proper or owne name. We see that if one enter +or goe into a Brothel house, or Stewes, yea without affection or mind +to commit whoredome ther, yet neuerthelesse the place shal not cease +or leaue of to be called a stewes, or Brothell house. Likewise let +them say, that in daunsing they haue not any shamelesse or vilanous +mynde, & affection, which notwithstanding, may not well, easily, or +lightly be beleeued, yet so it is, yet daunses cease not to be called +shamelesse gestures. + +But what: The question is not onely of their persons, but of a thing, +which ought not to be in any use among Christians. And moreeuer this +is not all, to haue respect or regard onely of a mans owne selfe, but +we must loke also to our neighbours, who is he which dare assure or +warrant him selfe & others, that when he daunseth, or after that he +hath daunsed he hath not prevoked & stirred up the lust of the flesh +in some one of the standers by: But yet it is so, the effect & sute +declareth it, because that the daughter and sister of the County or +Earle of A. was so enamoured or rauished with the loue of a very +simple and base gentleman whom she had seene daunse in the courte, and +it printed so wel, that is, toke such deepe impression and roote in +her hart, and understanding, that against the will of Father and +Mother, parentes and friends shee maried him. Now let us come to the +poynt or matter, what prouoked this young gentlewoman beyng rych, +wise, learned, fayre, & of good countenaunce to loue a base man, of +litle discretion, unlearned, cockbrained, yea, which with great payne +or much adoe knoweth to write his owne name, and besyde, or moreouer +very deformed in face & countenaunce, if not to daunce onely, and to +see in him some small experience & skill to runne at the ringe: + +Men will say, that shee shewed not hir wifedome, in that shee chose +her husbande for daunsing onely: but what is that the flesh doth not +intise and allure, with his snares & baytes: For albeit ther is so +much difference betweene the two parties, as betweene fayre gold and +leade, yea so much indeed yet by her wifedome shee kept him backe, or +made him to refrayne from striking, fighting, slaying, and casting the +house out at the windowes, as we say, for the least flee, which came +before his eies: yet so it is, that he obtayned and got her by the +meane abouesayde: notwithstanding if ther fell out no worse by +daunsing, this were somewhat to be supported, or borne withall. + +But now if he reply, and say hee careth not or regardeth not, what +other men think, seyng hee hath no maner of euil or naughty meaninge +in himselfe. I answere, that here we see an offense geuen, and the +very bond of loue broken and violated. + +For put the case, or graunt that daunsing were put & reckoned among +things indifferent, in respect and consideration of it selfe, is it +meete or dutifull that for an indifferent and light thing, a man +should geue an occasion of falling or stumbling to his neighboure: But +so farr of is it, that daunses should bee put in the rome and number +of thinges indifferent, that euery one ought to make an accompt of +them, and to holde them altogeather wicked, and unlawful: in so much +that I send all them againe back to their owne consciences, which say, +that in daunsing they haue not any impudent & shamelesse +affection. For the thing beyng so vilanous, and so infected of his own +nature, as daunsing is, it is impossible, that he which useth it, +should not bee infected, neither more nor lesse: then it is impossible +to touch any filthines, and not to bee once uncleane, infected, and +defyled. + +[Sidenote: The beginning of daunses.] And that it is so, let us +somewhat, or a little serch and seeke out the beginning of daunses, +and we shal fynd that men cannot geue them a better nor more apt and +proper definition, then that which hath bene brought heretofore. For +if wee would in this matter refer our selues to them, which haue +written of the antiquities, as well of the Grecians as of the Romains, +yea, and that to some Poets, wee shall fynd how that daunses haue +taken their begynning, from Pagans and Heathen men, which haue then +first used them, when they did sacrifyce to their Gods. For beeing +plunged into very thick, & as it were palpable dark nesses, after that +they had forged and advised Gods according to their owne fantasy, they +thought and supposed that they should bee delighted and pleased, with +the selfe same delightes and pleasures, wherein, or wherewith they +delighted themselues. + +Whereupon wee neede not doubt hereof, but that it was the deuil which +did guide and leade them, whom al superstition, false religion, and +erronious doctrine pleaseth, aboue all thinges, speciallye when such a +toy and trifle is accompanied with al wantonnesse and villanie. Now +that such manner of doing, that is to say, custome of Pagans and +heathen men, hath bene followed and practiced, by the children of +Israel, after that hauing sacrificed to the golden calf; they gaue +themselues to play, the scripture assureth us thereof, in the +ii. chapter of Exodus. + +Afterward men began to daunce in open playes, spectacles, and shewes, +from which notwithstanding the people were driuen, prohibited, and +forbidden, for feare lest they should be constrained there to behold +and see, an unhonest, and unseemly thinge, for their fere or +kynd. Afterwarde when in a small space of tyme all honesty and shame +did begin, to vanish and weare away, then mens daughters and women +were admitted and receaued to daunses: and yet withall it is true, +that this was a part by themselues, and in priuie places. + +Finally a short time after, men haue so far disordered themselues, and +broken the bondes and limits of honesty, that men & women haue daunsed +togeather, or as wee would say, in mingle mangle, and namely and +specially in feastes and banquets, in so much that we see, that this +wicked and ungodlye custome, hath stretched forth it selfe euen unto +us, and hath yet, or already the sway at this daye, more then euer it +had. + +Beholde the beginninge of daunses, togeather with their fruits and +properties, which if they be well considered, and deeply waighed by +sound and rype understandinge, it will not, or shall not bee thought +straunge & maruailous, that I condemne them, hauing indeede on my syde +as well the authority of the doctors of the Church, as of the fathers +which were found or present at certayne auncient, and olde councels. + +[Sidenote: Augustine against Petilian cap. 6.] Saint Augustine in his +booke agaynst Petilian, speaketh in this manner: The Byshops haue +always accustomed to represse and beate downe vayne and wanton +daunses: but there are at this day some, which are found in daunses, +yea, and they themselues daunse with women, so farre of is it, that +they reproue, correct, or amend such a greate vice. + +[Sidenote: Augustine uppon the 32. psa.] And uppon the thirtie and +two psalme, he condemneth also, or lykewyse the daunces which be had +or used on the Sondaies or Lordes dayes. + +[Sidenote: Chrisos. in the 26 homily upon Gen.] Saint John +Chrisostome in the fiftie & sixt homily uppon the booke of Genesis, +intreatinge or speaking of the mariage of Jacob, doth very much +condemne daunsescalling them diuilish. + +[Sidenote: Chrisos. in the 48. homily upon Gen.] [Sidenote: +Chrisos. in 14. chap. of S. Mat.] The like is founde in the fourty +and eighte Homily. And upon the fourteenth chapiter of Saint Mathew, +speakinge of the daunsynge of Salome, the Daughter of Herodias, hee +sayth, that when a wanton daunsynge is hadde, or used, the Deuill, +daunseth by and by, or altogeather. + +[Sidenote: In the 53. cannon.] In the counsell of Laodicea, which was +holden in the yeare 368. ther was a cannon made, in these proper +tearmes, or wordes. It must be not admitted that the Christians, +which either goe or come to mariages, leape or daunse, but that +chastlye & soberly they sup or dyne, and as it is seemly and +conuenient for christians. Likewise in the yeare 676. there was holden +& kept the sixt councell of Constantinople, where daunses were +forbidden, principally to women as greatly hurtfull. + +[Sidenote: In the canon 22.] The third councel of Toletum, condemneth +the peruerse and wicked custome of suche people which occupied +themselues in vile and infected daunses: and aboue all uppon the +Sondayes, and holy dayes when they should haue imployed themselues in +the seruice of God. + +[Sidenote: Article 23.] According to these Canons, there was made by +the estates lately holden at Orleans, in the young age or minority of +Charles the 9. an article, in which, amongest other thinges all iudges +are forbidden to permit or suffer any publicke daunses, uppon the +sondayes, and other solonme holy dayes. + +But in the first place it were to be desired, and wished, that this +ordinance might be straitly obserued and kept. Secondlye, that it were +more generall, that is to say, that it did wholly and altogeather +forbidd daunses, as wicked and unlawful thinges: for if we be +Christians indeede, we ought not to suffer, that some pore and blinde +Pagans should surmount and ouercome us in honesty & modesty. We fynd +that amongest the Romains, they which were ouermuch geuen to +daunsinge, caried, or bare with them so greate a note or marke of +infamy, & sklaunder, that they oftentimes accounted and estemed them +unworthy to exercise or haue a publicke and honorable office: as +appeareth by the censure, punishment, and correction, of Domitian, +who, for thys only cause, cast out of the Senate a citizen of Rome, as +unmeete, and unworthy of such a degree of honor. Saluit in his Oration +against Catilina, speaking of a certaine woman, named Sempronia, +sayeth that shee could daunse more delicately and fynely, then did +appertaine to an honest and good woman. Cicero much reprocheth and +upbraydeth, yea and constantly obiecteth, to Gabinius the studying and +practisinge of daunses, as an infamous thing. He both like in his +Philippickes agaynst Antonius, and in the oration of Durena, he sayth +that a sober man neuer daunseth, neither a part or priuily, neyther in +an honest & moderate banquet, unlesse perhaps hee be unwyse, or out of +his wit. + +[Sidenote: Daunsers are folish & senseles persons.] Varro writeth, +that Scipio was wont to say, that there was no difference at all +betweene a furious, outragious, or mad man and a daunser, sauing that +this man, that is to say, the daunser was then onely mad when he +daunsed, and the other was so all his life long. From thence commeth +the Latine prouerbe, that daunsers play the fooles, or wantons, but it +is with measure. + +Here wee euidently and playnly see, in what estimation and regard +daunses were among Pagans and infidels, which trulye could not iudge +otherwise therof, I speake of them which had the best and more sound +iudgement, and which were able to weigh and consider, as well the +daunses themselues, as their so pretious fruites, and excellent +effectes. For if it be, yet after feastes and banquets, men commonly +set, or geue themselues to daunse, and after that men be full of wyne +and good meates, they bee then prouoked & pricked forwarde, by the +prickes of the flesh, to what end serue such manner of gestures, if +not, to make manifest & set out their intemperency. Now if men would +refer it, or bringe it to bodily exercise, this would be very folishly +done. For the body of her owne health, requireth not to be so shaken, +tossed, and as a man woulde say, hunted after meate, for feare to +hinder digestion, as the Phisition placed it amonge their rules of +diet. Moreouer seeing yet men may exercise themselues in many other +maners and sortes of exercises, hee, as mee thinketh openly sheweth, +yet he hath not modesty, nor temperance, nor his health it selfe in +estimation, yet is, he estemeth & regardeth not. &c. which choseth +daunsing for his exercise. Daunses then were neuer heretofore +otherwise accounted of, nether be at this present otherwise thought +of, then mere vilany, & a most certaine, plaine, and evident testimony +of the filthines & intemperancy of them which delighted themselues +therin. Now, that so it is, the Prouerbe sayeth, De la panse, vient la +Danse: from the panch commeth the daunce: [Sidenote: Math. 14. +Mark. 6] And if we durst ioine therto whoredom their elder daughter, +we shal find that she followeth after immediately. which thing we +shall easily fynd, if we consider the most ordinary & common effectes +of daunsing. what was the cause that Herode so lightly promised, to +that goodlye daunser Salome, the daughter of Herodias, euen the one +halfe of his Realme, and kingdome, but that by her vilanous, and +shameles daunsing, shee had stirred up and set on fyre his +concupiscence and lust who was already a villanous adulterer, and +infamous whoremonger, so that the delighte and pleasure which he take +therin, provoked him to be willing to make so excessiue and +unmeasurable a recompence: Moreouer let us marke more narrowly in +Genesis, that which is written of Dina the daughter of Jacob, and we +shall find that daunses were partly the cause of her rauishing, or +deflouring. For albeit, that in that place, there is no expresse +mention made of daunses, yet so it is, that when it is sayde, that +Dina went to see the daughters of the countrey or land, there is some +appearance and likelihod that the daughters had this custome, to +assemble themselues togeather in daunse, and that to the end, that in +shewing the nimblenes of their body, their bewty, and wery conceyts, +they might bee coveted and desyred of young men, as indeede Dina was +by Sichem. And in this our tyme and age, do not men daily see many +such thinges, which daunses bring with them: The example by mee +heretofore brought forth and alleged, ought to serue for an example to +all great lords, to withdraw their daughters from such baites. But +setting all the rest aside, do wee not see that duncing hath cost, +this holy man, and great prophet of God so deare, that it hath taken +away from him the head from aboue his shoulders. + +By the way or meane of daunsing, the children of Israell, were willing +to geue honour to an ydole, to a calfe of Gold, to a dead thing, and +which they themselues had molten & framed after the imitation & manner +of Pagans, which in such a sort & fashion serued their gods. Bee not +these things sufficient to make a man flie daunses, & to prouoke a +christian man to haue them in abomination, & to abhore them as things +which haue ordinarilye, and commonlye serued to idolatry, and haue +prouoked to whoredome, and haue chaunged and altered many daughters of +good house and stocke, from the loue and fauour of their parentes, and +finally haue caused infinite murthers: murthers I say, for in all the +3 peeces of Scripture before alledged, we euer fynd ther the death of +some. In the daunse before Herod the death of John Baptist. In the +rape or rauishing of Dina, Sichem, his father, & all his sobiectes, +died there. In the worshipping of the golden calfe, where the children +of Israel daunsed and leaped so nimblie, cherefully, & merily, before +that their belly was full, there died then aboute three thousande in +recompence of their ioy and gladnes. If then we would consider the +issues, and effectes, which come from daunses, & the fayre or goodly +fruites which they bring forth, we would neuer thinke, but that the +heares would stand upright upon our very heades when the question is +of daunsing. + +It remaineth now to answeare them, who would serue themselues with +certaine parcels and peeces of the scripture, in which mention is +made, that the faithfull people haue daunsed. [Sidenote: Exo. 15 20.] +First they alledge that which is written in Exodus, that Mary the +prophetesse, the sister of Aaron, who after that God had ouerwhelmed +and drowned Pharao & his army in the red sea, toke a taberet in hir +hand, & being attended, or waited upon by other women, song with them +a songe to the lord: as also Moses, and the children of Israel song +another. + +The like is founde in the booke of Samuel, after that Dauid had slaine +Goliath, that many women came out of all the townes of Israel singing +and daunsing before King Saule, with tabours, rebeckes, and other +instrumentes of harmonie, or musicke. + +But when these which loue to leape and daunse, seeing there is here +spoken not only of daunses, but also of taberets and other musicall +instrumentes, do thinke that they are already in the hall of leapinge +or skipping, and do daunse according to the note and measures that the +Minstrels and Pipers wil sound or play to them: inferringe that the +holy scripture before alleged maketh for them, and that by it daunses +are approued, they are indeede fouly deceaued and very farre of from +their reckoninge, because that reckoning without the host, it was +meete for them to reckon twyse. + +For it is most certaine that there is as much difference betweene +their daunses, and those which holy men haue used, as there is betwene +mariage and fornication. I meane betweene chastity & whoredome. And +euen as it is no maner of way permitted or suffered to committe +whoredome, so our daunses and the usage of them may not be allowed nor +receiued. But to cut it short, that is to say, to be short, wee can +not gather that any appearaunce or shew of euil, or any signe of +watonnes or dissolutenes, was euer found in the daunses of holy men, +but altogeather contrariwise, they therein behaued themselues with +such honor, fear, and reuerence towardes God, the whole matter it +selfe beyng accompanied, with so great honesty and sobernesse, as +nothinge more. And in which mens deede 3. pointes are to be considered +and marked, which can not be at any hand found in the Prophane and +wicked daunses of our tyme. + +First the occasions which thrust them forwarde to do it, was such a +great ioy which they had conceaued of the fauoure which God had shewed +to them, that they coulde not conceale, or kepe hidden, but needes +must manifest it, & let it abroad, by all the meanes and wayes that +they could inuent or deuise. [Sidenote: Psal. 68.] Which thinge also +Dauid declareth in the sixty and eight psalme, saying, the Lord hath +geuen an argument, occasion or matter unto the women, who also haue +song accordingly: It was then a solomne (as a man would say) or +publicke thankes geuing, which they rendred, or gaue unto God, singing +or setting forth him to be the author of their deliuerance. What +fellowship, agreement, or likenes, can there bee, between the daunce +of these holy fathers, and these which wee behold nowe at this day +among christians. Is it a question when men daunce to acknowledge or +confesse the graces & goodnesses of God, to thanke him therfore, +reioicing themselues in him: When the lusty and fyne man should holde +a young damosel, or a woman by the hand, and keeping his measures he +shal remoue himselfe, whirle about, & shake his legges alofte (which +the daunsers call crosse capring) for pleasure, doth not she in the +meane while make a good threede, playing at the Moris on her behalfe: +but I pray you: what can ther by there of God, of his worde, of of +honestye in such folishnes: I holde my tounge, that is, I speake +nothing of their wordes, amorous deuises, or deuises of loue, wanton +communications or speeches or markes only knowen to the Ladye, or +Gentlewoman. It is true, that a man will say to me, that he must +reioyce and be mery, which thing also I graunt, but yet not with a +worldly, dissolute, and leuse ioy. + +The seconde pointe is, that euen as the people of Israell were +instructed in the seruice of God by very many cerimonies, and outward +manners or fashions, so when they would honor him, and geue him some +duety which they did owe, they did not content themselues to do it +with the harte, and with the mouth, but by and by they added, and +ioyned there withall some outwarde gestures, to witnes that, which was +within. Euen unto this present or hetherto we haue founde very little +affinitye or agreement betweene the daunses of the auncient +patriarches, and of good and religious people, and these, which we use +at this present, or in these dayes. + +It is certaine and true, that the daunsers of our tyme would very +fayne make themselues equall with them, and be in the selfe same +degree of honor: sauing notwithstanding, that they content not them +selues to haue a shameles and villanous harte, but they will also +discouer and lay open their own shame & villany, by dissolute +gestures. + +The third and last poynt sheweth us the fashion of the nations or +people of the East, the outward gestures, and custome receaued among +them, contrary herein to the westerne people. The reason is because +euery nation hath alwayes some proper and particuler inclination, +which another hath not. Moreouer those which draw nigh unto the East +and South, are by reason of the heate, mor easie to moue themselues, +and consequently to make or shew gestures, then they are which be in +the East, or North who by reason of the cold be more heauy & weighty: +From whence it commeth, that the Italian in his communications or +speeches, but especially if he speake with an affection or good hart, +intermingleth and useth so many gestures, that if an English man +should see him a farre of, not hearing his words, would iudge him out +of his wit or els playing some comedy upon a scaffold. + +Let a man on the other side beholde an Almain or Germain in the +Pulpit, and hee would thinke him benummed, and impotent, or lame in +all his members or partes, of his bodie. + +And to confirme this, lett us beholde and call to remembraunce, how +the auncient Romains were remoued farr from the opinion and mind of +the Greks. These, that is the Greekes, esteemed daunsing verye much, +and all these which knew howe to helpe and comfort themselues with an +instrument of musicke. The other, that is the Romains made very small +account of both daunsyngs, and lesse of the daunsers themselues. Here +appeareth the difference of Climates, and of such as dwell under those +climates. From thence it commeth that the people of the East partes +did breake and rent in peeces their garmentes when they had +understanding of euil newes. Wherefore they did lye weltering and +tumblinge upon the ground, put on sackcloth, put on ashes, or dust +upon their heads, yea then, when they pretended to shew some +repentance, and to manifest or set out an inward greefe: all which +thinges would bee founde, and thought rediculous, foolish, and to bee +laughed at amonge nations & peoples, on this side of them: And if that +women should take tabourets in their handes, as we read that the women +of Israel haue done: would not men thinke that they were out of their +witt: which notwihstanding was not found in thought straung among the +Israelites, because this was the custome of the nation and people. It +is true, that a man may also referr the tabourets & other instrumentes +of musicke to the ceremonies of Moyses law: which ceremonies haue bene +abolished at the comming of Jesus Christ, in so much that at this day +where we are under the Gospell, wee must use the same more soberly, +and sparingly, & with greater modesty: but all that, hath nothinge +common with the daunses of this present time or age. + +These three poyntes being dispatched we fynd and see cleerely, what +affinity & agreement there is, betweene these twoo maners of +daunses. [Sidenote: 2. Sam. 6.] Our daunsers do yet further alledge +an other parcel or peece of the scripture written in the booke of the +Kinges, where it is said, that Dauid leaped and daunsed before the +Arke of the Lord. [Sidenote: Mark this you that folowe daunsing +scholes.] But so far of is it, that this serueth them to mayntayne +their daunses, that I would not wish to haue a more proper, fitt, +playne, and agreeable place to confute them. For if Dauid hath had a +like affection in his daunse, as they haue in theirs, that is to say, +to please the gentlewoman and Ladies, as our daunsers endeuor, studye +& deuise to please their minions and flattering dames, Michol his +wife, had neuer mocked him. He might then haue daunsed more +pleasantly, and after a fashion more agreeable to the flesh: and for +trueth, hee might haue done it beyng light or nimble by nature, and +able or meete to do al thinges. + +But the answeare which he made his wife Michol, very well declareth, +that hee pretended or purposed no other thinge but to set out by +outward gestures, the greatnes of the ioy which he had conceaued in +his harte, because of the presence of God. This was (sayd he) before +the Lord which I haue done in this behalfe: it appeareth by this +aunsweare, that his affection was not in or on the world, and that he +cared not much for the iudgement of Michol, and of all other +worldlings, because he would not please them, nor satisfy or feede +their fine and goodly eyes, by his daunsing. Wherfore we must conclude +that Dauid condemneth the worldlines of his wife, and such other as +shee: yea in that that shee was punished by barrennes, which followed +theruppon. It is an evident argument, that God approued or allowed the +doing and saying of the Prophet. + +[Sidenote: Note you that delight in your art of daunsing] Now if al +they, which make daunsinge their god, would imprint this in their hart +and understanding, they should receaue & use the same, rather to their +condemnation, then to be so much without aforehead, that is to say, +shameles, that they woulde abuse the scripture, to couer their +uncleannes & infection. For this is a most detestable & abhominable +sacriledge, to make the unspeakeable truth of God to serue our wicked +and most shamefull affections. Adde thereunto that he will greeuously +& sharply punish all such scoffers, and prodigall persons which do so +much prophane the maiesty and excellency of his name, and that +diuinity, which is contayned and expressed in the holy scriptures. +[Sidenote: Isa. 5.20.] Moreouer, when we so disguise and chaunge the +nature of thinges that we call good euil, and the euil good, we ought +to assure our selues of the curse of God, pronounced by the prophet +Isaiah, saynge: cursed (sayth he) be they, which say that euil is +good, and that good is euil, which put darknes for light, and light +for darknes, which geue sowre thinges for sweete, and sweete for sower +& bytter. [Sidenote: Daunses not indifferent.] But I demaund or aske +now, whether they which allow daunses, and place them among +indifferent things, do not call good euil, and euil good: and by +consequent do not inflame and kindle the wrath of God upon them +themselues, and al their fautors or fauourers. + +All which thinges beyng considered, I hope that diuers knowing what +euil, and mischief there is in daunses, will giue them ouer and cast +them away, thinking or supposing, that in that, that thei haue +retained & fauoured them, euen unto this present, they haue rather +done it thorowe ignoraunce, than thorowe stubburnesse or selfe +will. But as concerning others, whiche will preseuer and continue in +their dissolutnes and loosenesse, the Lord withdraw and plucke them +therefrom, when it pleaseth him, least they incurre or runne headlong +into his wrath and vengeance, which hangeth ouer their heads, for that +they haue obstinatelie and stubburnlie gainesaide and withstood, so +manifest & plaine a truth. * * * + +Prayse be to GOD. + +[Stamp: Lambeth Palace Library] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Treatise Of Daunses, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10108 *** |