We do not know
which of the two who take offence is the man with whom Chettle did
not care to be acquainted. Of "the other," according to Chettle,
"myself have seen his demeanour no less civil than he is excellent in
the quality he professes" (that is, "in his profession," as we say),
"besides divers of worship have reported his uprightness of dealing,
which argues his honesty; and his facetious grace in writing that
approves his art."
Speaking from his own observation, Chettle avers that the person of
whom he speaks is civil in his demeanour, and (APPARENTLY) that he is
"excellent in the quality he professes"--in his profession. Speaking
on the evidence of "divers of worship," the same man is said to
possess "facetious grace in writing." Had his writings been then
published, Chettle, a bookish man, would have read them and formed
his own opinion. Works of Lodge, Peele, and Marlowe had been
published. Writing is NOT "the quality he professes," is not the
"profession" of the man to whom Chettle refers. On the other hand,
the profession of Greene's "Quondam acquaintance" WAS writing, "they
spend their wits in making Plays." Thus the man who wrote, but whose
profession was not that of writing, does not, so far, appear to have
been one of those addressed by Greene. It seems undeniable that
Greene addresses gentlemen who are "playmakers," who "spend their
wits in making Plays," and who are NOT actors; for Greene's purpose
is to warn them against the rich, ungrateful actors.
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