Ben Johnson

Robert Johnson was a priest in Scotland and fled to England due to an accusation of heresy, the heresy of Lutheranism. Johnson was in York in 1530, Scotland again and a final return to England in 1535. He composed Latin sacred music with characteristic implementations of imitation. Many of the first song-texts translated from Latin into English were occurring at this time including some of the works by Johnson. Harmonies were often chordal when not imitative and genres of his music included music for services, secualr songs in English and a few instrumental pieces. It is possible that he set some of Anne Boleyn's poetry to music. Some of the titles of his songs include "Ty the mare tomboy," and "Com palefaced death." ~ Keith Johnson, All Music Guide