I could tell you of another, that came to me with a like relation concerning herself, and the robbing of her mistress; but at this time let this suffice.
ATTEN. But what was that other villain addicted to; I mean young
Badman's third companion.
WISE. Uncleanness; I told you before, but it seems you forgot.
ATTEN. Right, it was uncleanness. Uncleanness is also a filthy sin.
WISE. It is so; and yet it is one of the most reigning sins in our day.[27]
ATTEN. So they say, and that too among those that one would think had more wit, even among the great ones.
WISE. The more is the pity; for usually examples that are set by them that are great and chief, spread sooner, and more universally, than do the sins of other men; yea, and when such men are at the head in transgressing, sin walks with a bold face through the land. As Jeremiah saith of the prophets, so may it be said of such, 'From them is profaneness gone forth into all the land': that is, with bold and audacious face (Jer 23:15).
ATTEN. But pray let us return again to Mr. Badman and his companions.
You say one of them was very vile in the commission of uncleanness.
WISE. Yes, so I say; not but that he was a drunkard and also thievish, but he was most arch in this sin of uncleanness: this roguery was his masterpiece, for he was a ringleader to them all in the beastly sin of whoredom. He was also best acquainted with such houses where they were, and so could readily lead the rest of his gang unto them. The strumpets also, because they knew this young villain, would at first discover themselves in all their whorish pranks to those that he brought with him.
ATTEN. That is a deadly thing: I mean, it is a deadly thing to young men, when such beastly queens shall, with words and carriages that are openly tempting, discover themselves unto them; it is hard for such to escape their snare.