In the former Book we brought down this Second Series of poems, as low as about the middle of the fixteenth century. We now find the Mufes deeply engaged in religious controversy. The Sudden revolution, wrought in the opinions of mankind by the Reformation, is one of the most stri

king events in the history of the human mind. It could not but engroß the attention of every individual in that age, and therefore no other writings would have any chance to be read, but fuch as related to this grand topic. The alterations made in the established religion by Henry VIII, the sudden changes it underwent in the three fucceeding reigns within So Short a Space 'as eleven or twelve years, and the violent Struggles between expiring Popery, and growing Proteftantifm, could not but intereft all mankind. Accordingly every pen was engaged in the dispute. The followers of the Old and New Profeffion (as it was called) had their respective Ballad-makers; and every day produced Some popular Sonnet for, or against the Reformation. The following ballad, and that intitled LITTLE JOHN NOBODY, may serve for Spe-cimens of the writings of each party. Both were written in the reign of Edward VI; and are not the worst that, were composed upon the occafion. Controverfial divinity is no friend to poetic flights. Yet this ballad of "Luther and "the Pope, is not altogether devoid of Spirit; it is of the dramatic kind, and the characters are tolerably well fuftained; especially that of Luther, which is made to Speak in a manner not unbecoming the Spirit and courage of that vigo rous' Reformer. It is printed from the original black-letter copy (in the Pepys collection, vol. I. folio,) to which is prefixed a large wooden cut, defigned and executed by Some eminent mafter. This is copied in miniature in the small Engraving inferted above.

We are not to wonder that the Ballad-writers of that age Should be inspired with the zeal of controversy, when the very stage teemed with polemic divinity. I have now before me two very ancient quarto black- letter plays : the one published in the time of Henry VIII, intitled Every Man; the other, called Lusty Juventus printed in the

reign of Edward VI. In the former of thefe, occafion is taken to inculcate great reverence for old mother church and her fuperftitions: in the other, the poet (one R. WEVER ) with great fucceß attacks both. So that the Stage in those days literally was, what wife men have always wifhed it, a Supplement to the Pulpit: This was so much the case that in the play of Lufty Juventus, chapter and verse are every where quoted as formally, as in a Sermon ; take an inftance,

"The Lord by his prophet Ezechiel fayeth in this wife playnlye,

"As in the xxxiij chapter it doth appere:

"Be converted, O ye children, &c.,

། བ

12

From this play we learn, that most of the young people were New Gofpellers, or friends to the Reformation and that the old were tenacious of the doctrines imbibed in their youth: for thus the Devil is introduced lamenting the downfal of Superftition,

"The olde people would believe ftil in my lawes,. "But the yonger fort leade them a contrary way

"The worlde was never mèri

Since chyldren were fo boulde:

"Now every boy wil be a teacher,

"The father a foole, the chyld a preacher.,,

Of the plays abovementioned, to the first is fubjoined the fol lowing Printer's Colophon Thus endeth this morall playe of Every Man. Imprynted at London in Powles chyrche yarde by me John Skot. . In Mr. GarVOL. II.

Ꮐ

Bayerische
Staatsbibliothek

München

rick s

rick's collection is an imperfect copy of the fame play, printed by Wynkyn de Worde.

The other is intitled, An enterlude called Lusty Juven: tus: and is thus distinguished at the end: Finis. quod R. Wever. Imprinted at London in Paules churche yeard, by Abraham Dele at the signe of the Lambe.

Of this too Mr. Garrick has an imperfect copy of a different edition.

THE HUSBANDMAN.

LET us lyft up our hartes all,

And prayfe the lordes magnificence,
Which hath geven the wolues a fall,
And is become our strong defence:
For they thorowe a falfe pretens
From Chriftes bloude dyd all us leade,
Gettyngenom every man his pence,
As fatisfactours for the deade.

For what we with our FLAYLES coulde get
To kepe our houfe, and fervantes,

That did the freers from us fet,

And with our foules played the marchauntes:
And thus they with theyr falfe warantes
Of our fweate have eafelye lyved,
That for fatneffe theyr belyes pantes,
So greatlye have they us deceated.

They fpared not the fatherleffe,
The carefull, nor the pore wydowe;

They wolde have fomewhat more or leffe

If it above the ground did growe:

But now we hufbandmen do knowe

Al their fubteltye, and their falfe cafte;
For the lorde hath them overthrowe
With his fwete word now at the lafte.

DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER.

Thou antichrift, with thy thre crownès, Haft ufurped kynges powers,

As having power over realmes and townes, Whom thou oughteft to ferve all houres: Thou thinkeft by thy jugglyng colours

Thou maift lykewife Gods word oppreffe; As do the deceatful foulers,

Whan they theyr nettes craftelye dreffe.

1 N

Thou flattereft every prince, and lord,
Thretening poore men with fwearde and fyre;
All thofe, that do followe Gods worde,
To make them cleve to thy defire,
Theyr bokes thou burneft in flaming fire;
Curfing with boke, bell, and candell,

Such as to reade them have defyre,

25

30

35.

Or with them are wyllynge to meddell.

40

Thy falfe power wyl I bryng down, Thou shalt not raygne many a yere,

I fhall dryve the from citye and townè,
Even with this PEN that thou feyfte here:

Thou fyghteft with fwerd, fhylde, and speare,
But I wyll fyght with Gods worde;

Which is now fo open and cleare,

That it fhall brynge the under the borde.

45