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University of Virginia Library

One and Thyrtye Epigrammes

wherein are briefly touched so many Abuses, that maye and ought to be put away. Compiled and Imprinted by Robert Crowley

Crowley, Robert (1518?-1588)

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The Boke to the Reader.

Of almes houses

Of Baylife Arrantes.

Of Bear baytynge.

Of Blasphemous swerers

Of the colier of Croydon.

Of Commotionars.

Of commen drunkardes

Of commune Liars

Of double benificed men.

Of the Exchecker.

Of Forestallars.

Of Godlesse men

Of Idle persons

Of inuenters of straunge newes

Of Laye men that take Tithes and Priests that vse theyr rites priuatly.

Of leasemongars.

Of Marchauntes.

Of men that haue diuers offices

Of Obstinate Papistes

Of rente raysers.

Of Uayne wryters, vaine talkers and vaine hearers.

Of unsaciable purchasers

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Of Bear baytynge.

What follye is thys?
to kepe wyth daunger,
A greate mastyfe dogge
and a foule ouglye Beare

And to thys onelye ende
to se them two fyght,
Wyth terrible tearynge
a full ouglye syght,
And yet me thynke those men
be mooste foles of all,
Whose store of money
is but verye smale,
And yet euerye sondaye
they wyll surelye spende,
One penye or two
the bearwardes lyuyng to mende,
At Paryse garden eche sundaye
a man shall not fayle,

Parise garden

To fynde two or thre hundredes
for the bearwardes vaile,
One halpenye a piece
they vse for to giue
When some haue no more
in their purse I beleue
Well, at the laste daye
theyr conscience wyll declare
That the pore ought to haue
all that they maye spare,

For god hath commaunded

Eccles. 4.

that what we maye spare,
Be geuen to the pore
that be full of care,
If you giue it therefore
to se a Beare fyght,
Be ye sure goddes curse
wyl vpon you lyght,