From this description of the ‘master of dependencies’ the exquisite humor of the passage in _The Devil is an Ass_ (3. 3. 60 f.) can be appreciated. Merecraft assures Fitzdottrel that this occupation, in reality the refuge only of the Shifts and Bobadills of the city, is a new and important office about to be formally established by the state. In spite of all their speaking against dueling, he says, they have come to see the evident necessity of a public tribunal to which all quarrels may be referred. It is by means of this pretended office that Merecraft attempts to swindle Fitzdottrel out of his entire estate, from which disaster he is saved only by the clever interposition of Wittipol. [67] Cf. also Gosson, _School of Abuse_, 1579; Dekker, _A Knight’s Conjuring_, 1607; Overbury, _Characters_, ed. Morley, p. 66. [68] See _New Inn_ 2. 2; _Every Man in_ 1. 5; B. & Fl., _Love’s Pilgrimage_, _Wks._ 11. 317, 320. [69] Cf. _Albumazar_, _O. Pl._ 7. 185-6; _Rom. and Jul._ 2. 4. 26; _Twelfth Night_ 3. 4. 335; _L. L. L._ 1. 2. 183; Massinger, _Guardian_, _Wks._, p. 346. Mercutio evidently refers to Saviolo’s book and the use of the rapier in _Rom. and Jul._ 3. 1. 93. Here the expression, ‘fight by the book’, first occurs, used again by B. & Fl., _Elder Brother_, _Wks._ 10. 284; Dekker, _Guls Horne-booke_, ch. 4; _As You Like it_ 5. 4. Dekker speaks of Saviolo, _Non-dram. Wks._ 1. 120. [70] Overbury, ed. Morley, p. 72. [71] _Ibid._, p. 66. [72] _Every Man in_, _Wks._ 1. 35. 2. _The Monopoly System_ Jonson’s severest satire in _The Devil is an Ass_ is directed against the projector. Through him the whole system of Monopolies is indirectly criticised. To understand the importance and timeliness of this attack, as well as the poet’s own attitude on the subject, it is necessary to give a brief historical discussion of the system as it had developed and then existed.