TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Some minor changes to the text are noted at the end of the book. WILLIAM SHAKSPERE _and_ ROBERT GREENE THE EVIDENCE _By_ WILLIAM H. CHAPMAN Tribune Publishing Co. OAKLAND, CAL. [Illustration] COPYRIGHTED BY WILLIAM H. CHAPMAN SANTA MONICA, CAL. FEBRUARY 26, 1912 To the Memory of My Mother _PREFACE._ _The design of this work is to give some account of the conspicuous events and of some of the personages connected with the literary history of England in that wonderful Renaissance which took place in the Elizabethan age. All that the writer has attempted is a concise narrative of some of the facts, grouping them together in a compact form, with such reflections as seemed to him to be just and appropriate. To secure this end he has labored to strip from Shakspere’s biography the manufactured traditions which date from a considerable period after Shakspere’s death. Where all is conjecture let the reader do his own guessing and strive for the abatement of that new Freak called Esthetic Criticism with which some of our critics and commentators designate their own absurdities._ _The writer has given unusual prominence to several distinguished personages amongst Shakspere’s contemporaries, notably Robert Greene, William Kemp and Ben Jonson. The work is sketchy in execution because the materials do not exist for more than an outline figure._ _The readers familiar with the old English dramatic poets do not believe in an exclusive authorship, or uniform workmanship, of the greatest of the Elizabethan English works. While they set up no claimant for the writings so commonly credited to William Shakspere of Stratford-on-Avon, they believe, nevertheless, that the Stratfordian canon is open to demurrer._ _Conspicuous among modern and recent writers on the subject of Robert Greene, who show the courage of their convictions by their valiant strokes in defense of that poet’s reputation, are Professor J. M. Brown of New Zealand, Dr. A. B. Grossart, and Professor Storojenko. The citations borrowed from their works attest the writer’s obligation to them, and are sufficiently indicated in the text._ _WILLIAM H. CHAPMAN_ _Santa Monica, California._ WILLIAM SHAKSPERE AND ROBERT GREENE THE EVIDENCE I