Produced by Greg Lindahl
A Treatise Of Daunses, wherin it is shewed, that they are as it wereaccessories and dependants (or thynges annexed) to whoredome: wherealso by the way is touched and proued, that Playes are ioyned andknit 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 beeintisementes to whoredome, and that the abuse of playes ought not tobe among Christians.
I Doubt not, but that some, into whose handes this little treatiseshall come, will thinke me to be at greate leasure, that haueenterprised largely to leuie out and handle this argument: which totheir seeming is not otherwise of great importaunce. For be it thatdaunses were allowed or condemned, or els yet they were putt in therowe of thinges indifferent men might easily iudge according to theiropinion, that that should not bring great profit or hurt to ourchristian common wealth, seeing that ther are diuers pointes ofgreater weight and consequence, which trouble the spirits of manyelearned men, & make afraide the consciences of the weake and simpleones: which poyntes haue verye much nede to be opened and made plaine,rather then to trouble a mans selfe to write agaynst playes anddaunses. Furthermore men should be in very great forwardnes, if euerythinge were so well refourmed, that they were come euen unto daunses,that is to say, that all that which is corrupted, and those abuseswhich beare the sway among Christians were so cut off, and this sosick a body againe so wel restored to his soundnes and health, thatthere should remayne nothing els but to debate the question of leapingskippings and daunses.
Ther will be found an other manner & sort of people, who will make noaccoumpte at all to mocke at this matter: as indeede the world is fulof mockers, and men without Godlines, without God, and withoutreligion. Now as concerninge these persons, they deserue no manner ofaunsweare at al, because they do as soone scoffe at the principallpointes of christian religion, and that which directly concerneth theseruice of God, as matters of lesse weight and importaunce. WhereforeI not much regarding or caringe for the iudgement of such iudges, willlet them runne to the water with the bridle uppon their head, or intheir necke, as they say. But as touchinge the first, because they beenot altogeather malicious and obstinate, I hope, that ha= uingaunsweared their obiections, and declared the reasons which hauemoued, yea rather driuen me forward or inforsed mee to descipher andsett out this matter, they will iudge my labour not to haue benealtogeather unprofitable.
It is then in the first place to bee wished and desired, that troublesbeyng pacified, and all dissentions repressed, and put out, thespirits and consciences of men, should be assured and thorowlyperswaded of that which appertaineth to their saluation. And indeedeour Lorde hath stirred and raised up so perfect an age in al sciences& know= ledge, in which so many learned men, and of excellent learningand knowledge, haue so blessedly and diligently imployed them= seluesto teach us the order and maner to liue well, some after one sort andfashion, and some after an other, that those which be not yetsatisfyed, can not, or ought not, to lay the fault in any but inthemselues.
Next all good men ought to wishe and desire that those which put theirhande to (this is to say trauaile for) the reformation of maners,should do it with such good argumentes, that there shoulde remayne, orbe left, but euen a very litle to be corrected and amended. A