A sermon preached at Paul's Cross, November, 1577, "in the time of the plague," by the Rev.T.Wilcocks, denounced in strong language the "common plays" in London, and the multitude that flocked to them and followed them, and described "the sumptuous theatre houses" as a continual monument of London's prodigality and folly.

Performances, it seems, had for a while been forbidden because of the plague.

"I like the policy well if it hold still," said the preacher; "for a disease is but bodged and patched up that is not cured in the cause, and the cause of plague is sin, if you look to it well; and the cause of sin are playes; therefore, the cause of plagues are playes." It is clear, too, that the clergy had become affected by a certain jealousy of the players, the sound of whose trumpet attracted more attention than the ringing of the church-bells, and brought together a larger audience.

John Stockwood, schoolmaster of Tunbridge, who preached at Paul's Cross on St.Bartholomew's Day, 1578, demanded, "will not a filthy play, with the blast of a trumpet, sooner call thither a thousand than an hour's tolling bring to the sermon a hundred ?" It was, moreover, an especial grievance to the devout at this period that plays were represented on a Sunday, the church and the theatre being thus brought into positive rivalry and antagonism.

The clergy saw with dismay that their own congregations were thin and listless, while crowded and excited audiences rewarded the exertions of the players.