A BALLAD OF LUTHER, THE POPE, A
CARDINAL, AND A HUSBANDMAN.

In the former Book we brought down this Second Series of poems, as low as about the middle of the fixteenth cen tury. We now find the Mufes deeply engaged in religious controverfy. The fudden revolution, wrought in the opinions of mankind by the Reformation, is one of the most ftriking 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 fudVOL. II.

den

den changes it underwent in the three fucceeding reigns within fo fhort 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 difpute. The followers of the Old and New Profeffion (as they were called) had their respective Ballad-makers; and every day produced fome popular fonnet for or against the Reformation. The following ballad, and that intitled LITTLE JOHN NOBODY, may ferve for Specimens of the writings of each party. Both were written in the reign of Edward VI; and are not the worst that were compofed 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 vigorous 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 fome eminent master. This is copied in miniature in the small Engraving inferted above.

We are not to wonder that the Ballad-writers of that age fhould be infpired with the zeal of controverfy, when the very ftage 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

an; the other called Lufty Juventus, printed in the reign of Edward VI. In the former of these, occafion is taken to inculcate great reverence for old mother church and her fuperftitions ↑: in the other, the poet (one R.

Take a fpecimen from his high encomiums on the priesthood, "There is no emperour, kyng, duke, ne baron

"That of God hath commisyon,

"As bath the leeft preeft in the world beynge.

WEVER)

**

"God hath to them more power gyven, "Than to any aungell, that is in beven z

"With

ANCIENT

POEMS.

115

WEVER) with great fuccefs attacks both. So that the Stage in thofe days literally was, what wife men have always wifhed it,-a fupplement to the pulpit :-This was fo much the cafe, that in the play of Lufty Juventus, chapter and verfe 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."

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 fuperftition,

"The olde people would believe ftil in my larwes, "But the yonger fort leade them a contrary way, "They wyl not beleve, they playnly fay,

"In olde traditions, and made by men, &c."

I z

"With v. words he may confecrate
"Goddes body in fleshe and blode to take,
"And bandeleth his maker bytwene his handes.

"The preeft byndeth and unbindeth all bandes,

"Bothe in erthe and in beven.

"Thou minifters all the facramentes feven.

"Though we kyft thy fete thou were worthy;

"Thou art the furgyan that cureth fynne dedly;

"No remedy may we fynde under God,

"But alone on preeftbode.

God gave preeft that dignitè,

"And letteth them in bis ftede amonge us be,

"Thus be they above aungels in degre."

And

See Hawkins's Orig. of Eng. Drama. Vol. I. p. 61.

And in another place Hypocrify urges,

"The worlde was never meri
"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 following Printer's Colophon, ¶ Thus endeth this moral playe of Every Man. ¶ Imprented at London in Powles chyrche parse by me John Skot. In Mr. Garrick's collection is an imperfect copy of the fame play, printed by Richarde Pynfon.

The other is intitled, An enterlude called Lusty Juventus: and is thus diftinguished at the end: Finis. quod H. Wever. Imprinted at London in Paules churche yeard, by Abraham Dele at the figne of the Lambe. Of this too Mr. Garrick has an imperfect copy of a different edition.

Of these two Plays, the Reader may find fome further particulars in the former Volume, Book II. Jee THE ESSAY ON THE ORIGIN OF THE ENGLISH STAGE; and the curious Reader will find the Plays themselves printed at large in HAWKINS'S " Origin of the English Drama." 3 vols. Oxford. 1773. 12mo.

THE HUSBANDMAN.

ET us lift up our hartes all,

LE

And prayfe the lordes magnificence,
Which hath given the wolues a fall,

And is become our firong defence:
For they thorowe a falfe pretens

From Chriftes bloude dyd all us leade †,

i. e. denied us the Cup. fee below, ver. 94.

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