occupied no small share of public attention and curiosity. They proceeded finally to such extremities that the arm of power interfered, and they were seized and prohibited.

The following Tract is particularly deserving attention. It throws light upon many passing circumstances and prevailing manners of our ancestors; it illustrates more or less of the popular writers and productions of the time; and it is often and particularly referred to by the critics and commentators, who have undertaken to explain and investigate the state of English literature in the reign of Elizabeth and her immediate successor.

Of this writer, so well known in his time, the author of many respectable works, and of no inferior accomplishments in learning or talents, very imperfect accounts are to be found in any of our biographical compilations. He certainly deserves a place among the national records of his countrymen. The following work may thus

be described:

"FOUR LETTERS

AND CERTAINE SONNETS.

Especially touching Robert Greene, and other Poets by him abused.

But incidently of divers excellent persons, and some matters of note.

To all courteous mindes that will vouchsafe the reading.

Lond. Imprinted by John Wolfe.

1592." The language in which the author expresses himself concerning Greene, is so whimsical, and so truly characteristic of the times, that I shall annex it as a specimen of the entertainment to be expected from the perusal of the book itself, which is in the British Museum.

"Whiles I was thus, or to like effecte, resoluing with myselfe, and discoursing with some special frendes: not onely writing unto you, I was suddainely certified that the king of the paper stage (so that gentleman tearmed Greene) had played his last part, and was gone to Tarleton: whereof I protest, I was nothing glad, as was expected, but vnfainedly sory: as well because I could haue wished, he had taken his leaue with a more charetable farewell, as also because I was deprived of that remedy in law, that I entended against him, in the behalfe of my father, whose honest reputation I was in many dueties to tender. Yet to some conceited. witt that could take delight to discouer knaueries, or were a fitte person to augment the history of Conny-catchers: O Lord, what a pregnant ococcasion were here presented, to display leaud vanity in his lively coullours, and to decipher the very misteries of that base arte. Petty Cooseners are not worth the naming: he, they they say, was the Monarch of Crosbiters, and the very Emperour of Shifters. I was altogether vn

acquainted

acquainted with the man, and never once saluted him by name; but who, in London, hath not heard of his dissolute and licentious liuing; his fonde disguisinge of a Master of Arte with ruffianly haire, vnseemely apparell, and more vnseemelye company, his vaine glorious and Thrasonicall brauinge: his piperly extemporizing, and Tarletonizing; his apishe counterfeiting of euery ridiculous and absurd toy: his fine coosening of juglers, and fine jugling with cooseners; hys villainous cogging, and foisting; his monstrous swearinge, and horrible forswearing; his impious profaning of sacred textes; his other scandalous and blasphemous rauinge; his riotous and outrageous surfeitinge: his continuali shifting of lodginges; his plausible musteringe, and banquettynge of roysterly acquaintance at his first comminge; his beggarly departing in euery hostisses debt; his infamous resorting to the Banckeside, Shorditch, Southwarke, and other filthy hauntes: his obscure lurkinge in basest corners: his pawning of his sword, cloak, and what not, when money came short; his impudent pamphletting, phantasticall interluding, and desperate libelling, when other coosening shiftes failed: his employinge of Ball, (surnamed Cuttinge Ball) till he was intercepted at Tiborne, to leauy a crew of his trustiest companions, to guarde him in daunger of Arrestes: his keping of the foresaid Balls sister, a sorry ragged queane,

of whome he had his base sonne, InfortunatusGreene; his forsaking of his owne wife, too honest for such a husband; particulars are infinite his contemning of superiours, deriding of other, and defying all good order? Compare base fellowes and noble men together, and what in a manner wanted he of the ruffianly, and variable nature of Catiline or Antony, but the honourable fortunes of Catiline and Antony ? They that have seene much more than I have heard; (for so I am credibly infourmed) can relate straunge and almost incredible comedies of his monstrous disposition, wherewith I am not to infect the aire or defile this paper.

There be inough, and inough such histories, both dead and liuing; though youth be not corrupted, or age accloyed with his legendary. Truely I have beene ashamed to hear some ascertained reportes of hys most woefull, and rascall estate; how the wretched fellow, or shall I say, the prince of beggars, laid all to gage for some few shillinges; and was attended by lice; and would pittifully beg a penny pott of Malmesie: and could not gett any of his old acquaintance to comforte or visite him in his extremity, but Mistris Appleby, and the mother of Infortunatus. Alas, even his fellow writer, a proper young

This person was Thomas Nash.

man,

man, if advised in time, that was a principall guest at that fatall banquet of pickle herrins (I spare his name, and in some respects wish him well) came never more at him; but either would not, or happily could not perform the duty of an affectionate and faithfull frend. The poore Cordwainers wife was his onely nurse, and the mother of Infortunatus hys sole companion: but when Mrs. Appleby came, as much to expostulate injuries with her, as to visite him. God helpe good fellowes, when they cannot helpe themselves. Slender reliefe in the predicamente of privations and fained habites. Miserable man that must pearish, or be succoured by coun terfeite or impotent supplies.

I once bemoned the decayed and blasted estate of M. Gascoigne, who wanted not some commendable parts of conceit, and endeuour: but vnhappy M. Gascoigne, how lordly happy, in comparison of most vnhappy M. Greene? He neuer enuyed me so much, as I pittied him from my hart; especially when his hostesse Isam, with teares in her eies, and sighes from a deeper fountaine (for she loued him deerely) tould me of his lamentable begging of a penny pott of Malmesie; and sir reuerence how lowsy he, and the mother of Infortunatus were (I would her surgeon found her no worse than lowsy:) and how he was faine poore soule, to borrow her husbandes shirte, whiles his owne was a washing:

and