Bale

The first history plays were written in the 1530's, the most notable of which was John Bale's [|//King Johan//]. While it considered matters of morality and religion, these were handled in the light of the Reformation. These plays set the precedent of presenting history in the dramatic medium and laid the foundation for what would later be elevated by [|Marlowe] and [|Shakespeare] into the English History Play, or Chronicle Play, in the latter part of the century. http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/dramamedren.htm


 * John Bale (21 November 1495 – November 1563) was an English churchman, historian and controversialist, and Bishop of Ossory.
 * He wrote the oldest known historical verse drama in English (on the subject of King John)
 * This was a time of religious upheaval in England. The Roman Catholics vs. the Protestants.
 * John Bale denounced the monastic system and its supporters in unrestrained language and coarse imagery.
 * The prayer of Infidelitas which opens the second act of his Three Laws is an example of his profane parody.