Chettle

Chettle, HENRY, a dramatist and pamphleteer of the 16th century, was editor of Greene's Groat's-worth of Wit (1592), wrote thirteen plays of considerable merit, and was part author of thirty-five others, including Robin Hood in two parts, Patient Grisel, The Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green, and Jane Shore. In Meres's Palladis Tamia (1598) he is mentioned as one of 'the best for comedy amongst us.' Of his other works, his Kind-Hart's Dreame (1593?) and Englond's Mourning Garment (1603) are of interest, the former as containing an apology undoubtedly intended for Shakespeare as one of those whom Greene had attacked; the latter, a stanza supposed to be addressed to Shakespeare as 'silver-tonged Melicert.' Chettle died about 1607.