hey had
understanding of euil newes. Wherefore they did lye weltering and
tumblinge upon the ground, put on sackcloth, put on ashes, or dust
upon their heads, yea then, when they pretended to shew some
repentance, and to manifest or set out an inward greefe: all which
thinges would bee founde, and thought rediculous, foolish, and to bee
laughed at amonge nations & peoples, on this side of them: And if that
women should take tabourets in their handes, as we read that the women
of Israel haue done: would not men thinke that they were out of their
witt: which notwihstanding was not found in thought straung among the
Israelites, because this was the custome of the nation and people. It
is true, that a man may also referr the tabourets & other instrumentes
of musicke to the ceremonies of Moyses law: which ceremonies haue bene
abolished at the comming of Jesus Christ, in so much that at this day
where we are under the Gospell, wee must use the same more soberly,
and sparingly, & with greater modesty: but all that, hath nothinge
common with the daunses of this present time or age.

These three poyntes being dispatched we fynd and see cleerely, what
affinity & agreement there is, betweene these twoo maners of
daunses. [Sidenote: 2. Sam. 6.] Our daunsers do yet further alledge
an other parcel or peece of the scripture written in the booke of the
Kinges, where it is said, that Dauid leaped and daunsed before the
Arke of the Lord. [Sidenote: Mark this you that folowe daunsing
scholes.] But so far of is it, that this serueth them to mayntayne
their daunses, that I would not wish to haue a more proper, fitt,
playne, and agreeable place to confute them. For if Dauid hath had a
like affection in his daunse, as they haue in theirs, that is to say,
to please the gentlewoman and Ladies, as our daunsers endeuor, studye
& deuise to please their minions and flattering dames, Michol his
wife, had neuer mocked him. He might then haue daunsed more
pleasantly, and after a fashion more agreeable to the flesh: and for
trueth, hee might haue done it beyng light or nimble by nature, and
able or meete to do al thinges.

But the answeare which he made his wife Michol, very well declareth,
that hee pretended or purposed no other thinge but to set out by
outward gestures, the greatnes of the ioy which he had conceaued in
his harte, because of the presence of God. This was (sayd he) before
the Lord which I haue done in this behalfe: it appeareth b