Confined to his deathbed in the late summer of 1592, Robert Greene seems to have written a pamphlet—part autobiographical fiction, part first-person confession—that was published within weeks after he died at age thirty-four as Greenes, Groats-worth of witte, bought with a million of Repentance. Its authenticity has been challenged since the time of its publication, despite its close resemblance to Greene's literary style and its fidelity to his lifestyle. Henry Chettle is the prime suspect—for either forging or liberally adapting Greene's papers, intermeddled with passages of his own invention and those of others—even though in his “To the Gentlemen Readers” of Kind-Heart's Dream (published later in 1592) he denies having added anything to Greene's manuscript. “I writ it over [that is, transcribed it], and as neare as I could, followed the copy,” he writes; “onely in that letter I put something out, but in the whole booke not a worde in, for I protest it was all Greenes, not mine, nor Maister Nashes, as some unjustly have affirmed.” The letter he refers to is that familiar warning to three fellow poets to beware an “upstart Crow, beautified with our feathers,” mentioned in my prologue and which we shall examine shortly. Given the uncertainty that hangs over the allegedly mingled authorship of Greenes Groats-Worth of Wit to this day, it is a fitting document with which to begin exploring Shakespeare's own ingenuity, imitation, and bodging.

It is the story of two brothers, sons of a new-made gentleman, grown fabulously wealthy as a usurer. Reproved for his trade by his university-educated son Roberto, the usurer confers all his goods upon his foolish younger son Lucanio and bequeaths to Roberto, who clearly doesn't appreciate the value of money, a single groat. In revenge, Roberto tries to make a deal with a courtesan to gull Lucanio out of his inheritance but she betrays him to his brother and he is given Jack Drum's Entertainment and turned out of doors. It's then that his real troubles begin.

Lamenting his destiny, his treachery, and the courtesan's betrayal, he is overheard by a fancy-looking fellow behind a hedge who approaches him with an offer of work. How might you employ me? Roberto inquires.