Skip directly to:Main content Main navigation

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)

collapse section

The Boke to the Reader.

Of almes houses

Of Baylife Arrantes.

Of Bear baytynge.

Of Brawlers

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

collapse section

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

Of Brawlers

A brawler that loueth
to breake the kinges peace,
And seke his owne sorowe
his fansye to please,
Is lyke a curre Dogge
that setteth vpon
Eche mastyfe and hounde
that he may light on,
He getteth hym hatered
of euerye manne,
And meteth with his maister
euer nowe and than,
To hurte other menne
he taketh greate payne,
He turneth no manne

to profite or gayne,
Except it be the Surgian
or the Armorer,
The Baylife, the Constable
or the Iayler,
This is a worthye membre
in a commune wealthe,
That to worcke other wo
will lose his owne health,
What other men will iudge
I can not tell:
But if he scape Tiburne
I thinke he wyll hange in hell.