libel, proclamation, magistrates, assizes, Protstant, Catholic, ballad, morality, marriage

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Knell is keen to point out in his answer (beginning “How now my maisters/ popish Priestes”), that the libel in question has been treated according to the demands of the proclamation, having been brought before local magistrates at the assizes. In the, albeit modest, capacity of humorous backbiting he seconds Elizabeth’s proclamation by rebutting the satire against Protestant priests point for point on its own artistic level, and in its own scurrilous tenor:

The answer does not attempt to raise the tone or subject matter of the argument to a higher level, but answers the criticism of clergymen marrying with equally clichéd accusations of Catholic priests’ addiction to whoring, and suggests they conform to Protestant standards of morality by getting married themselves. The scurrilous response, by answering in the same tone of ribaldry, appeals to the same literary tastes as the antecedent and thereby, theoretically, disseminates a counter-argument to the same sort of audience. The propaganda war is waged at a low level of sophistication, and the poems culminate predictably with proverbial warnings of retribution to come. According to the Catholic, the Protestant should be wary “Least halter be your share” (Stanza 9, l.4). The Protestant rejoins that his opponent is “tyborne fare” (Stanza 9, l.4).

Although the Protestant poem simply turns the power of laughter back upon this outlawed poem and thereby might be expected to fulfil a useful satirical function from an official viewpoint, Knell’s project fits imperfectly with the official attitude towards libelling and, although the ballad was licensed, it does not claim to be printed with royal

⁹⁰ Clegg (1997), p.68 and p.69.

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