4. chap. of S. Mat.] The like is founde in the fourty
and eighte Homily. And upon the fourteenth chapiter of Saint Mathew,
speakinge of the daunsynge of Salome, the Daughter of Herodias, hee
sayth, that when a wanton daunsynge is hadde, or used, the Deuill,
daunseth by and by, or altogeather.

[Sidenote: In the 53. cannon.] In the counsell of Laodicea, which was
holden in the yeare 368. ther was a cannon made, in these proper
tearmes, or wordes. It must be not admitted that the Christians,
which either goe or come to mariages, leape or daunse, but that
chastlye & soberly they sup or dyne, and as it is seemly and
conuenient for christians. Likewise in the yeare 676. there was holden
& kept the sixt councell of Constantinople, where daunses were
forbidden, principally to women as greatly hurtfull.

[Sidenote: In the canon 22.] The third councel of Toletum, condemneth
the peruerse and wicked custome of suche people which occupied
themselues in vile and infected daunses: and aboue all uppon the
Sondayes, and holy dayes when they should haue imployed themselues in
the seruice of God.

[Sidenote: Article 23.] According to these Canons, there was made by
the estates lately holden at Orleans, in the young age or minority of
Charles the 9. an article, in which, amongest other thinges all iudges
are forbidden to permit or suffer any publicke daunses, uppon the
sondayes, and other solonme holy dayes.

But in the first place it were to be desired, and wished, that this
ordinance might be straitly obserued and kept. Secondlye, that it were
more generall, that is to say, that it did wholly and altogeather
forbidd daunses, as wicked and unlawful thinges: for if we be
Christians indeede, we ought not to suffer, that some pore and blinde
Pagans should surmount and ouercome us in honesty & modesty. We fynd
that amongest the Romains, they which were ouermuch geuen to
daunsinge, caried, or bare with them so greate a note or marke of
infamy, & sklaunder, that they oftentimes accounted and estemed them
unworthy to exercise or haue a publicke and honorable office: as
appeareth by the censure, punishment, and correction, of Domitian,
who, for thys only cause, cast out of the Senate a citizen of Rome, as
unmeete, and unworthy of such a degree of honor. Saluit in his Oration
against Catilina, speaking of a certaine woman, named Sempronia,
sayeth that shee could daunse more delicately and fynely, then did
appertaine to an honest and goo