One and Thyrtye Epigrammes :: :: University of Virginia Library

Two sortes of Allayes
in London I finde,
The one agaynste the lawe
and the other againste kinde,
The firste is where bowlinge
forbidden, menne vse,
And wastynge theyr goodes
do their laboure refuse.

A dispraise of London.

But in London (alas)
some men are deuillishelye.

Suffered to professe it
as an acte to lyue by.
Well I wyll saye no more
but suche as lyue so,
And officers that suffer them
shall togither go,
To Satan their sire
for of god they are not,
Who commaundeth to laboure
syxe dayes ye wotte.
And the seuenth he commaundeth.

Exo. xxiii.

all menne to sanctifie,
In beynge well occupied
and not idlelye,
The other sorte of Allayes

Allayes agaynste kynde.

that be agaynste kynde,
Do make my harte wepe
whan they come to my mind
For there are pore people
welmoste innumerable,
That are dryuen to begge
and yet to worcke they are able,
If they might haue althinges
prouided aright,

Alas, is not thys
a greate ouer syght?
Ye Aldermen and other
that take Allaye rente
Why bestowe ye not the riches
that god hath you sente.
In woule or in flaxe
to finde them occupied
That nowe lye and begge
by euerye highe waye side,
And you that be chiefe
and haue the commune treasure,
Why can you neuer finde
a time of leasure,
To se where the treasure
will finde them workinge
To the profit of the Citye
in some maner thinge
But (alas) this my tale
is to deafe men tolde
For the charitie of rich men
is nowe thorowe colde,
And this is a Citye
in name, but in dede,

It is a packe of people
that seke after meede,

Loke the definition of a Line, you that be lerned

For Officers and al
do seke their owne gaine,
But for the wealth of ye commons
not one taketh paine
An hell with out order
I maye it well call.
Where euerye man is for him selfe
and no manne for all,