And if Religion signifies nothing, (as I am afraid it does with some People) there is Law, as well as Gospel against Swearing. 3d Jac. 1 cap. 21. is expresly against the Playhouse. It runs thus.
For the preventing and avoiding of the great abuse of the holy Name of God, in Stage Plays, Enterludes &c. Be it enacted by our Sovereign Lord &c. That if at any time, or times, after the End of this present Session of Parliament; any Person or Persons do, or shall in any Stage Play, Enterlude, Show, &c. Jeastingly or Profanly, speak or use the Holy Name of God, or of Christ Jesus, or of the Holy Ghost, or of the Trinity, which are not to be spoken, but with Fear and Reverence; shall forfeit for every such offence, by him or them committed, ten pounds: The one Moity thereof to the King's Majesty, his Heirs; and Successors, the other Moity thereof to him, or them, that will sue for the same in any Court of Record at Westminster, wherein no essoin, protection, or wager of Law shall be allow'd.
By this Act not only direct Swearing, but all vain Invocation of the Name of God is forbidden. This Statute well executed would mend the Poets, or sweep the Box: And the Stage must either reform, or not thrive upon Profaness.
3dly Swearing in the Playhouse is an ungentlemanly, as well as an unchristian Practice. The Ladies make a considerable part of the Audience. Now Swearing before Women is reckon'd a Breach of good Behaviour, and therefore a civil Atheist will forbear it. The custom seems to go upon this Presumption; that the Impressions of Religion are strongest in Women, and more generally spread. And that it must be very disagreeable to them, to hear the Majesty of God treated with so little respect. Besides: Oaths are a boistrous and tempestuous sort of Conversation; Generally the effects of Passion, and spoken with Noise, and Heat. Swearing looks like the beginning of a Quarrel, to which Women have an aversion: As being neither armed by Nature, nor disciplin'd by Custome for such rough Disputes. A Woman will start at a Soldiers Oath, almost as much as at the Report of his Pistol: And therefore a well Bred Man will no more Swear, than Fight in the Company of Ladies.
A Second Branch of the Profaness of the Stage is their Abuse of Religion, and Holy Scripture. And here sometimes they don't stop short of Blasphemy. To cite all that might be Collected of this kind would be tedious. I shall give the Reader enough to justifie the Charge, and I hope to abhor the Practice.
To begin with the Mock-Astrologer. In the First Act the Scene is a Chappel; And that the Use of such Consecrated places may be the better understood, the time is taken up in Courtship, Raillery, and ridiculing Devotion. Jacinta takes her turn among the rest. She Interrupts Theodosia, and cries out: why Sister, Sister——will you pray? what injury have I ever done you that you should pray in my Company?
Wildblood Swears by Mahomet, rallies smuttily upon the other World, and gives the preference to the Turkish Paradisep. 31.[103]! This Gentleman to incourage Jacinta to a Complyance in Debauchery, tells her Heaven is all Eyes and no Tongue.p. 37.[104] That is, it sees Wickedness but conceals it. He Courts much at the same rate a little before. When a Man comes to a great Lady, he is fain to approach her with Fear, and Reverence, methinks there's something of Godliness in't.p. 24.[105] Here you have the Scripture burlesqu'd, and the Pulpit Admonition apply'd to Whoring.Hebr. 12.
34. 36.[106] Afterwards Jacinta out of her great Breeding and Christianity, swears by Alla, and Mahomet, and makes a Jest upon Hell.[107] Wildblood tells his Man that such undesigning Rogues as he, make a Drudge of poor Providence. And Maskall to show his proficiency under his Masters, replies to Bellamy, who would have had him told a Lie.55.[108] Sir upon the Faith of a Sinner you have had my last Lie already. I have not one more to do me Credit, as I hope to be saved Sir.
In the close of the Play, They make sport with Apparitions and Fiends. One of the Devils sneezes, upon this they give him the Blessing of the Occasion, and conclude he has got cold by being too long out of the Fire.59.[109]
The Orphan lays the Scene in Christendom, and takes the same care of Religion. Castalio Complements his Mistress to Adoration.
No Tongue my Pleasure and my Pain can tell: