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« The Merchants, the Prophets." 



" And the Butchers, the Tormentors *." 



All thefe Pageants moved in folemn proceffion to St. George's- 

 Chapel, the-fcene of their Dramatic exhibitions f. 



Grave as the fubjeds, in general, of thofe exhibitions appear 

 to have been, it is probable that the blandifhments of the comic 

 mufe fometimes lured their authors into the walks of wit and hu- 

 mour. Here indeed they might have ranged without offence : 

 but not content to excite innocent mirth, they introduced pro- 

 fanenefs and immorality on the Stage. The piety of John Bale J 



(then 



» The memory of thofe Pageants continued to be preferved in the Franehifes that 

 were rode triennially in Dublin till the year 1772, when they were abolifhed by 

 the Lord Mayor's Proclamation. 



t This chapel ftood in St. George's-Iane (now St. George's-ftreet, South), whence 

 it derived its name. Not a trace of the building remains. Stannihurst fuppofes 

 it had been founded by fome worthy knight of the Garter, and thus laments .ts fate : 

 <■ This chappell hatlr beene of late razed, and the ftones thereof, by confent of the 

 <« affemblie. turned to a common oven, converting the ancient monument of a 

 doutie, adventurous and holie knight, to the colerake fweeping of a pufloafe baker." 

 Difc. of Irel. in Holinshed'j- Chron. page 23. 



t Bale was a verfatile genius. Befides God's Promifes and John BaptlJ}, he wrote 

 feveral other dramatic pieces, fome of which ftill remain inedited. He alfo 

 engaged in controverfy, but with fo much acrimony, that he has been called bUious 

 Bale. But literary hifiory was his favourite purfuit. When Bale's dramatic and con- 



troverfial 



