The query of your correspondent W. at p. 12, No. 1. regards, I presume,
_Henno Comediola Rustico Ludicra, nunc iterum publicata_; Magdeburg,
1614, 8vo.? If so, he will find it to be identical with the _Scænica
Progymnasmata h. e. Ludicra Præexercitamenta_ of Reuchlin, first printed
at Strasburg in 1497, and frequently reprinted during the first part of
the sixteenth century, often with a commentary by Jacob Spiegel.
A copy, which was successively the property of Mr. Bindley and Mr.
Heber, is now before me. It was printed at Tubingen by Thomas Anselm in
1511. I have another copy by the same printer, in 1519; both in small
4to.
Reuchlin, while at Heidelberg, had amused himself by writing a satirical
drama, entitled _Sergius seu Capitis Caput_, in ridicule of his absurd
and ignorant monkish opponent. This he purposed to have had represented
by some students, for the amusement of his friends; but Dalberg, for
prudent reasons, dissuaded its performance. It being known, however,
that a dramatic exhibition was intended, not to disappoint those who
were anxiously expecting it, Reuchlin hastily availed himself of the
very amusing old farce of _Maistre Pierre Patelin_, and produced his
_Scænica Progymnasmata_, in which the _Rustic Henno_ is the principal
character. It varies much, however, from its prototype, is very
laughable, and severely satirical upon the defects of the law and the
dishonesty of advocates.
Its popularity is evinced by the numerous editions; and, as the
commentary was intended for the instruction of youth in the niceties of
the Latin language, it was used as a school-book; the copies shared the
fate of such books, and hence its rarity. It is perhaps the earliest
comic drama of the German stage, having been performed before Dalberg,
Bishop of Worms (at Heidelberg in 1497), to whom it is also inscribed by
Reuchlin. It seems to have given the good bishop great pleasure, and he
requited each of the performers with a gold ring and some gold coin.
Their names are recorded at the end of the drama.