Histrio-mastix The players scourge, or, actors tragædie, divided into two parts. Wherein it is largely evidenced, by divers arguments, by the concurring authorities and resolutions of sundry texts of Scripture ... That popular stage-playes ... are sinfull, heathenish, lewde, ungodly spectacles, and most pernicious corruptions; condemned in all ages, as intolerable mischiefes to churches, to republickes, to the manners, mindes, and soules of men. And that the profession of play-poets, of stage-players; together with the penning, acting, and frequenting of stage-playes, are unlawfull, infamous and misbeseeming Christians. All pretences to the contrary are here likewise fully answered; and the unlawfulnes of acting, of beholding academicall enterludes, briefly discussed; besides sundry other particulars concerning dancing, dicing, health-drinking, &c. of which the table will informe you. By William Prynne, an vtter-barrester of Lincolnes Inne.

Abstract

Mathewes printed quires B-M; Cotes N-Z; Allde 2A-3Z, 3A*-3K*, and 5V to end; Jones the title page, preliminaries and 4A-5T, including a cancel for 4X2,3 (STC). The first leaf is blank. Includes index. This state has errata on 3*4v. Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery.