Penny Dreadfuls, 1602 · page 342 of 400
Penny Dreadful Cover — page 342: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains running verse prose from Chapter 78 of what appears to be *Albions England* (a historical poem, not a penny dreadful). The text criticizes pagan gods and their associated rituals—particularly their indecent feasts and the obscene theatrical practices devoted to them—while contrasting heathen beliefs with Christian doctrine. The passage argues that serving such gods through inappropriate rites is ungodly, and distinguishes between mere wonders (achieved through physics) and true miracles wrought by God through holy men. A new chapter (LXXVIII) begins partway down, discussing how heathen philosophers held lesser gods subordinate to one sovereign deity. The language and typography are early modern, not Victorian.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
< “<Se e c ‘ Ps - Oat - O. — | Yea,notto flaie the choifefts did thofe diuelifh Gods offend. — - | Thebaffling of thofe Gods themfelues, in thofe ribaldious Plaies | Tothem erected,worthy of their Godheads worthleffe praies : | Their moft inceftious ,lecrerous, & routious Drinke-mad Featts, | (Wherein were acted ouglies things than tobe found mong’ ft Beafts) _ As BerecynralesV enbrales,their Bacunales,and like — Would into meanely modett Eares,iftold,abhorring ftrike. _ Porphyrws,Ploten, Hermes-felfe, Pythagoras and moe _ Bett learned Heathens thus of this,and worfer write than fo, _ Obferue we then,than thus to ferue thofe Gods what fitter Rites, _ Ormeanes for toappropriate Men to fuch foule-flaying Sprites 2 _ So infinitly far in all from being godly as | _ From fomething nothing Being from what nather is nor was. _ Nor Myracles,but wonders,they to pafle by Phyficks brought; Whear holy men,by very God,euen Myracles haue wrought: — Which onely-God to Atheifts next,in Watures Booke,be taught. + For,though indifferencie it were our Scriptures they fhould truft, _ Aswould they we their Bookes,yeat thence fhall not be here difcuft. . se He greateft heathen Clarkes and allfrom firftto 43) — lafthold this, , Thatall the reft be Vnder-Gods to one that So- Psig ueraigneis. _ J re, Whom if yee Natare call(faith One)ye call him. =} notamis. | d yauisir 19. VV Se Sa Ga? + For why 2 of Him are all things bred, andthat we. Me | Or | What did their fword-play Feafts but to their hackfters flaughter tend? _ ECORMMICLOOOKSseE@ & m3 ‘ = ~ ae ” > ; BJ 4 > in 7 ; ' - ¢ 4; « . * .