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IXDTAXA rXTYERSITY 



matters, ... If then it be all one in City as in Conntrey. among the 

 rich as amongst us poore. and generally in all Trades and Occupa- 

 tions deceit and abuses, sith it is so that he that cannot dissemble 

 cannot live : why then should you bee so spitefull goodman Sauns- 

 bell to inueigh against us poore soules above the rest, who of all 

 others, in shifting are the most simplest soules in this over wise 

 world. 



It would seem then that we rccilly have three defences of conny 

 catchers, parts of ''G-reenes Ghost" and ''Martin Mark-all" re- 

 jecting the very spirit of "The Defence." Of course the author 

 of "Greenes Ghost" doesn't practice what he preaches; his is a 

 conny catching i>ampldet. Nevertheless it. like the other two tracts, 

 does call attention to the tricks and skin-games of tradesmen.-'^ 

 This, as Profe,ssor F. W. Chandler points out. is the real signifi- 

 cance of "The Defence." Several interesting ciuestions grow out 

 C'f this similarity in the tliree works. Did Kowlands merely borrow 

 the idea from the earlier works Or is it possible that he wrote 

 "The Defence?" It seeurs to me to be about his level. ^Moreover 

 it shows that rather accm^ate knowledge of the conny catching stuff 

 that is shown in "Greenes Ghost." ^Moreover, though here I may 

 be foisting a theory upon my reading, the half -serious, half-humor- 

 ous attitude which these pmphlets take toward the problem of de- 

 fence and Avhicli in "]\Iartin ]\Iark-aU" breaks out into broad bur- 

 lesque indicates, to put it mildly, the work of kindred spirits. Of 

 course, this is at best mere speculation — speculation, the joy of the 

 litterateur, the fear of the historian. ^Manifestly the student of 

 ]>amphlet literature, a sort of mongrel criss-cross, is in a delicate 

 position when tempted to use his imagination ; therefore, on to 

 surer ground. 



"Greenes Ghost" does scarcely more than enumerate a number 

 of tricks practiced by tradesmen when it turns its attention to 



19 TForA-.s, II. 12-1.3. The spirit of The Defence is well shown by an extract 

 from the closing paragraph. "Thus have I proved to your ma ships, how there is no 

 estate, trade, occupatiou. nor mistery. but lives by Cun n if-cutcliiinj. and that our 

 shift at cards compared to the rest, is the simnlest of al. >k yet forsuoth. you could 

 Itestow the paines to write two whole Pamphlets against us poore cony-catchers: 

 Think M. K. G. it shal not be put up except you grant us our request." tireene. 

 iro)-A-.s-. XI. 1(»8. 



-"A Xotahle Discorrrif of Coosuaijc has inimitable stories about cosening colliers 

 (IVorks, X. 51-63) and .1 Quiji for loi T'p^fdrt Cnurfier (1.592) is a real mine i)f 

 information about the tricks of the trades : in it indoed "is plainly set downe tlx- 

 disorders in all Estates and Trades." (WorT,-.*. XI. 207.) 



21 He might. I suppose, have gotten the idea from Greenes Xeirs holh from 

 Heaven and Hell, a pam))hlet which I have not had opportunity to examine. This 

 seems hardly likely, however, inasmuch as Martin Mnrl;-aU copies from The Defence. 



