Penny Dreadfuls, 1602 · page 275 of 400
Penny Dreadful Cover — page 275: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Page This is a **page of running verse text** from what appears to be a narrative poem titled "Albions England" (visible at top). The text discusses French political strategy, describing how a French King might consolidate power by controlling the three estates (Princes, Nobles, Commons), managing religious conflict, and preventing noble rebellion through patronage and military strength. The passage then shifts to describing how religious strife and civil war in France have actually occurred, referencing the St. Bartholomew's massacre and Protestant martyrdom. The verse argues that religious bloodshed paradoxically strengthened the Reformed Church and inspired figures like Luther to challenge papal authority. The page contains dense early modern English verse in black letter type, densely packed with minimal margins.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
_ To quarrelithen thofe Nobles, when in them great hearts would lurke, ‘- . es). > * ‘ 4 re . : Pin Te. ‘ a i \ \ *% a an - pes - ’ ‘ ‘ j - a - . iv 7 ple ’ ; 4 Aa ee Pee ee eee 128. ' i, ys 3 4 : : ut a 7 ‘a . "7 0! * d ) a. a ¢ ome Me EN GLAND: Difcourft of his Experience thus,he then defcends to it, Whereby of Monarchia might himfelfethe French King fit. i ‘ Whereas(quoth he) French Policie confifts of Three Eftates, i‘ The Princes, Nobles, Commons,and eachoneofth’other wates i _ For hearts and helpes,and oft the King is bridled of thofe Three, | Himfelfe therefore, fuch Lets remou’d, fole Monarch thus mightbee, Of ancient Peeres,of valiant Men,great ‘Lords, and Wifemenail, > - By forced Warre,or fraudfull peace,to temporize the fall : ‘le Whereto Religions quarrell then prefented meane not finall. a Meane while,vntill of them by turnes weare Riddance,didbehoue To worke them Mal-contents,the King to labor vulgar Loue. Immediately euen from himfelfe, No whit at their Requeft, » To paffe preferments,not to them sbur els as likes him beft: And but of Peeces ruinous the Great-Ones to pofleffe. And when his Creatures thall grow to more,thofe Great to leffe, ~ That for the Souldier,or the fword of Iuftice,thould make worke. _ Soto prouide that of the States be no Conuention nain’d: A _ Religion not difputed of: Song Townes,whichofthauctam’d » _ The French Kings, be difmantled: And when things as thusbe fram d; His Maieltie(quor ne)thall hie the Marke whereatis is aim ‘d, Hen this,8¢ worfe than thus,this worfe than Afachinelhad fad, With that Conuenticles Applaufe fo working wasnorttaid, ~ Forhence,if Accidents we (hall obferue,may be collected | . — Theciuill Warres and Butcheries in Franceco haue efieGed. : Religion gaue the colour,whear thougl hinfiaite were flaine, The Church reform’d did not refit syeat {till by loffe did gaine: | For blood of Martyrs wellis faid to be the Churches Scede, ei Where Maffacres haue plathed there is fpread a wip!e Breede, In Senfe it feenr'd a fillie Spring fhould aed oucr-floe, way Whence Lather his occafion tooke againft the Gofpels Fises : | EAs Scotlands fore! aid Guztan Broyles,euen France het Tumulesfo > phot: y CoOmicle 00kKs. uCOr 1