The above is a description of the Huth copy. The only other copy of this edition on record was Archdeacon Wrangham’s, which wanted nearly a leaf. The present copy is from the libraries of Joly and Corser: “To those Gentlemen his quondam acquaintance that spend their wits in making Plaies R. G. wisheth a better exercise and wisdome to prevent his extremities. If woeful experience may move you Gentlemen to beware, or unheard-of wretchedness entreat you to take heed, I doubt not but you will looke backe with sorrow on your time past, and endeavour with repentance to spend that which is to come. Wonder not for with thee will I first begin, thou famous gracer of Tragedians, that Greene, who hath said with thee like the fool in his heart, ‘There is no God,’ should now give glory unto his greatness, for penetrating in his power his hand is heavy upon me, he hath spoken to me with a voice of thunder, and I have felt he is a God that can punish enemies. Why should thy excellent wit, his gift be so blinded that thou shouldst give no glory to the giver? Is it pestilent Machiavellian folly that thou hast studied? With thee I join young Juvenal that biting satirist that lastly with me writ a comedy. Sweet boy might I advise thee, be advised and get not many enemies by bitter words. Tread on a worm and it will turn, then blame not scholars vexed with sharp lines if they reprove thy too much liberty of reproof. And thou no less deserving than the other two in some things rarer in nothing inferior, driven as myself to extreme shifts a little have I to say to thee, and were it not an idolatrous oath I would swear by Sweet S. George thou art unworthy better hap, seth thou dependest on so meane a stay.

“Base minded men all three of you fly, my misery ye be not warned; for unto none of you like me sought these burns to cleave: these Puppets I meane that speak from our mouths these Anticks garnished in our colours. Is it not strange that I, to whom they all have been beholding, is it not like that you, to whom they all have been beholding, shall were ye in that case that I am now be both at once of them forsaken?

“Yes, trust them not, for there is an upstart crow, beautiful with our feathers, that with his Tiger’s heart wrapped in a player’s hide supposes he is as well able to bumbast out blank verse as the best of you: And being an absolute Johannes factotum is in his own conceit the only Shake-scene in a country.”

The three writers who spend their time in making plays are Marlowe, Nash, and George Peele. There can be no question about Marlowe: he was an avowed atheist, and the foremost dramatist of his time; he was killed in a tavern brawl in a quarrel over some woman down Deptford way in 1593.

Young Juvenal is doubtful, but in all probability it applies to Thomas Nash, the greatest satirist of his time. When Greene writes in connexion with young Juvenal, “blame not scholars,” he must surely refer to the long outstanding quarrel between Nash and Gabriel Harvey, one of the foremost scholars of his age. The acrimonious literary duel lasted many years, and was carried on in a most vicious and unseemly manner, personalities of every description being brought in on both sides. The quarrel lasted long after Greene’s death.

The third person alluded to is George Peele, the Sweet S. George making the personality obvious. Greene is especially angry with Shakespeare; this tirade arising chiefly from jealousy. It is generally agreed that Shakespeare revised the three parts of “Henry the Sixth” from earlier plays, in which Greene had a great share.

KIND-HARTS
DREAME.

Conteining fiue Apparitions, vvith their
Inuectiues against abuses raigning.