. among the English is the most excellent in
both kinds for the stage ... witness his 'Gentlemen of Verona,' his
'Errors,' his 'Love's Labour's Lost,' his 'Love's Labour Wonne,' his
'Midsummer Night's Dream,' and his 'Merchante of Venice'; for tragedy
his 'Richard II.,' 'Richard III.,' 'Henry IV.,' 'King John,' 'Titus
Andronicus,' and 'Romeo and Juliet.'"[150]

On the other hand, the Quiney correspondence shows the estimation in
which his fellow-townsmen held him--that he had money, that he wanted to
invest, and was already styled "master." He was considering the policy
of buying "an odd yard land or other" in Stratford, when Richard Quiney,
who was in the Metropolis, was urged by his brother-in-law, Abraham
Sturley, to induce Shakespeare to buy one of the tithe leases. "By the
friends he can make therefore, we think it a fair mark for him to shoot
at; it obtained, would advance him in deed, and would _do us much
good_." Richard Quiney was in the Metropolis at the end of 1598 on
affairs of the town, trying to secure the grant of a new charter, and
relief from subsidy; but either on his own account, or the affairs of
the town, he applied to Shakespeare for a loan. As there are no letters
of Shakespeare's extant, and this is the only one addressed to him, it
is worth noting very specially. It could hardly have been sent, as it
was found among the Corporation Records. Mr. Halliwell-Phillipps
suggests that Shakespeare may have called to see Quiney before the
letter was sent off, and given his reply verbally.

"Loveinge contreyman, I am bolde of yow, as of a ffrende, craveinge yowr
helpe with xxx^li uppon Mr. Bushells and my securytee, or Mr. Myttons
with me. Mr. Rosswell is nott come to London as yeate, and I have
especiall cawse. Yow shall ffrende me muche in helpeing me out of all
the debettes I owe in London, I thancke God, and muche quyet my mynde,
which wolde nott be indebeted. I am nowe towardes the Cowrte, in hope of
answer for the dispatch of my buysness. Yow shall nether loase creddytt
nor monney by me, the Lord wyllinge; and nowe butt persuade yourselfe
soe, as I hope, and you shall nott need to feare, butt, with all hartie
thanckefullness, I wyll holde my tyme, and content yowr ffrende, and yf
we bargaine farther, you shal be the paie-master yowrselfe. My tyme
biddes me hastene to an ende, and soe I comitt thys (to) yowr care, and
hope of yowr helpe. I feare I shall nott be backe thys night ffrom the
Cowrte. Has