Theatre.- Prynne (William) Histrio-mastix. The players scourge, or, actors tragædie, divided into two parts. Wherein it is largely evidenced...That popular stage-playes...are sinfull, heathenish, lewde, ungodly spectacles, and most pernicious corruptions, first edition, state with errata on 3*4v, first leaf and 5N4 blank, woodcut head-pieces and decorative initials, title trimmed at head, just touching first word, 3A3 very small burn hole at foot, with loss of 3 or 4 letters, without loss of sense, 5X1 short tear at head, without loss, water-stained, some soiling, occasional spotting, lightly browned, 19th century antique style panelled calf, rebacked, preserving original gilt backstrip in compartments, crackled, rubbed and scuffed, [Pforzheimer 809; STC 20464a], small 4to, Printed by E. A[llde]. [Thomas Cotes, Augustine Mathewes,] and W[illiam]. I[ones]. for Michael Sparke, and are to be sold at the Blue Bible, in Greene Arbour, in little Old Bayly, 1633.

⁂ Prynne's vehement attack on the theatre, with his disgraceful epithet on actresses, widely supposed to have been directed at Henrietta Maria, who was at that time taking part in a ballet rehersal. For this Prynne was sentenced to life imprisonment, a fine of £5,000, and to stand in the pillory and lose both of his ears (all commuted).