ARCIERI

SONGS AND BALLAD S,

s.

SERIES THE SECOND.

BOOK II.

I.

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

In the former Book we brought down this fecond Series of poems, as low as about the middle of the fixteenth century. 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 hiftory 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 fudden changes it underwent in the three fucceeding reigns with

in so skort à 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 à 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 mafter. 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 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)

*

Take a fpecimen from his high encomiums on the priefihood,

"There is no emperour, kyng, duke, ne baron

That of God hath commifsyon,

"As bath the leeft preeft in the world beynge.

* * *

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

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"With

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 fermon; take an inftance,

"The Lord by his prophet Ezechiel Sayeth 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 lawes, "But the yonger fort leade them a contrary way, "They wyl not beleve, they playnly fay,

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

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, Chus endeth this moral playe of Every Man. ¶ Iniprpnted at London in Powles chyrche parde bome 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 K. WeverImprinted at Londen in Paules churche peard, by Abraham Dele at the figne of the Lambe. Of this too Mr. Garrick bas an imperfect copy of a different edition.

Of thefe two Plays the Reader may find fome farther particulars in the former Volume, Book II. See THE ESSAY ON THE ORIGIN OF THE ENGLISH STAGE.

THE HUSBANDMAN,

LET us lift up our hartes all,

And prayse the lordes magnificence,

Which hath given the wolues a fall,

And is become our ftrong defence: For they thorowe a false pretens From Chriftes bloude dyd all us leade,

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Gettynge

Gettynge from every man his pence,

As fatisfactours for the deade.

For what we with our FLAYLES couldė get
To kepe our houfe, and fervauntes;
That did the Freers from us fet,

And with our foules played the marchauntes ;
And thus they with theyr false warrantes

Of our fweate have easelye lyved,

That for fatneffe theyr belyes pantes, So greatlye have they us deceaued.

They fpared not the fatherleffe,

The carefull, nor the pore wydowe;
They wolde have fomewhat more or leffe,
If it above the ground did growě :
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.

As having power over realmes and townes,
Whom thou oughtest to serve all houres:
Thou thinkeft by thy jugglyng colours
Thou maift lykewife Gods word oppreffe ;

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