Note 81 — Chapter V
Reading edition
In the "Return from Parnassus," 1606, Studiosus says of the players:
"Vile world that lifts them up to high degree, And treads us down in grovelling misery, England affords these glorious vagabonds That carried erst their fardels on their backs Coursers to ride on through the gazing streets, Sweeping it in their glaring satin suits, And pages to attend their masterships. With mouthing words that better wits have framed, They purchase lands and now esquires are made."
Act V., Sc. 1.
The satire in "Ratsey's Ghost" also may refer to Shakespeare, though Alleyn and others might be intended.
Freeman, in his "Epigrams," 1614, asks:
"Why hath our age such new-found 'gentles' found To give the 'master' to the farmer's son?"
But his high praise of Shakespeare elsewhere shows he does not refer to him.