Chapter XVII The Domestic Life of Shakspere's Time — III 1 1 2

Last lecture dealt with several early founts of English humour
— now to consider the more serious side of sixteenth-cen- tury life — to look at the books, sermons, and tragedies common at that time — the great debate about this time over plays and play-going — severe acts of Parliament against strolling players — Corporation of London expels players from the city — unex- pected effect of this measure — the first English theatre building a result — erection of ''The Theatre," **The Curtain," and ** The Blackfriars" just outside the city limits — furious attack of the clergy upon the stage — sermons against it by Wilcocks and Stockwood — William Prynne's Histriomastix and Rankin's Mirrour of Monsters — Stephen Gosson and his Scboole of Abuse
— his own change of mind — his inappropriate dedication to Sidney — probability that young Shakspere read the Scboole of Abuse — extracts from the book — its attack on poetry, music, and the drama — his picture of theatre manners of the time — his combative ending — a sample of Gosson's poetry — probable effect of Gosson's tirade on young Will Shakspere — he goes to London — goes to Paul's Cross to hear the sermon Sunday morn- ing — an apropos sermon of Hugh Latimer's, though he dates thirty years earlier — Latimer's sermons before Edward VI — his strength and sweetness of character — extracts from his sermons
— text of his Good Friday sermon.