Hans, a German meister-singer of the time of the Reformation, was born at Nuremberg in 1494, and was bred to the trade of a shoemaker. His mind was ingenious and unweariedly active. While plying the awl he was constantly manufacturing verses. The books of Scripture, the sentiments of the Reformers, and the tales and history in classical literature were taken indiscriminately as the raw material for his rhyming fabrics. His brain continued for many years to produce piece after piece with all the regularity and despatch of a machine. Accordingly, at his death in 1576 his compositions amounted to upwards of six thousand, a portion of which were published at Nuremberg in 5 vols. folio, 1576-79.