Young—William Gager's Defence of Academic Stage . 637 
you in the particular applycation agaynst vs. which you may the 
rather doe, because you are not the worse for your opynion thoughe 
it be false, but we are no lesse then infamous if it be true, if I 
have greatly erred in any thinge, I shall better be reformed by 
pryvatt conference, then with any your furder replye in wrytinge. 
which I pray you therfor to forbeare, as also because I knowe 
you have, and I ought to have some thinge ells to doe, then to 
troble owre selves, specially you, and your better studyes, with a 
matter of this nature and moment. And so prayinge God to blysse 
you with constancye of mynde, and healthe of bodye, to goe for- 
warde in your godly and learned labours, I most hartely recom¬ 
mend you to his grace and favor. At Christchurche the laste of 
Julye 1592. 
Your very lovinge frende 
Willi Am Gager. 
YII. Rainolds’ reply (May 30, 1593) 1 to Gager’s letter of 
July 31, 1592. 
Although-Gager concluded his letter of July 31, 1592, by 
expressing the hope that his correspondent would thence¬ 
forth confine the controversy to “pryvatt conference,” and 
would desist from “furder replye in wrytinge,” Rainolds 
returned to the attack, on May 30, 1593, with a letter of 
portentous bulk and truculence. This rejoinder opens with 
the following paragraph: 
Your request, Maister D. Gager, that I should forbeare farther 
reply in writing, and by word of mouth in private conference in¬ 
forme you, if you have greatlie erred in any part of your answer; 
brought into my mind the Philosophers censuring and checking 
of such as offered sacrifice for health , and at their very sacrifizing 
did banket riotouslie against health . For that which I wrote con¬ 
cerning things, the stage-playes, you draw vnto the persons, who 
played on the stage at Christchurch , as if I went to make them 
and your house most vilanouslie infamous: and partlie by con¬ 
cealing, partly by perverting the drift & substance of my speeches, 
you seeke to smoother up and suppresse the trueth. Which being 
done in writing by you with care and diligence, not to be imparted 
vnto me alone, but to others also, as your selfe doe signifie: if I 
should note the fault thereof by worde of mouth, my plaister 
would be lesse a great deale then the wound, and therefore never 
reach to heale it: for woordes haue wings, and flie away, mens 
1 Printed in Th ’ overthrow of Stage-Plages, 1599, pp. 29-163, under the fol¬ 
lowing heading: “Vnto this maister D. Gager replying and desiring Maister 
Rainoldes to forbeare, Maister Rainoldes did reioine as followeth.” 
