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