One and thyrtye epigrammes wherein are brieflye touched so manye abuses, that maye and ought to be put away / compiled and imprinted by Robert Crowley, dwellinge in Elye rentes in Holburne.

Of Idle persons

IDlenes hath ben cause * 1.1of much wyckednes. As Ecclesiasticus, doeth playnely wytnes. Idle persons therfore, can not be all cleare. As by the storie of Sodome, it doeth well appeare But that we may come nere, to our owne age The Idlenes of Abbays, made them outrage. Yet let vs come nere, euen to the tyme present. And se what myschyfe, Idle persons do inuent. What cōspiracies haue bē wroght wythin this lyttle whyle. By Idle men that dyd,

the commons begyle. And what haue Idle men, alwaye practised. To breake the peace of prynces, that they myght be hyered. I wyll not saye what, the Idlenes of priestis hath done Nor yet the Idlenes, of seruantis in London Let euerie man search, his owne houshold well, And whether the thynge, be true that I tell. Yea what abuse dyde euer, emonge the people rayne. But the same dyd fyrst sprynge. out of an Idle brayn. Idlenes therfore, maye ryghte well be named The gate of all mischiefe that euer was framed. Ye maisters and fathers therfore that feare God omnipotente, Kepe youre families occupied

leaste ye be shente. For if thorowe their idlenes they fall into outrage, Your iudgemente shall be strayght, for they ar cōmitted to your charge Kepe them therfore styll occupied, in doynge youre busines. Or els in readynge or hearyng some bokes of Godlines. And woulde god the maiestrates woulde se men set a worke, And that within thys realme none were suffered to lurke. This realme hath thre cōmodities woule, tynne, and leade, Which beīg wrought w^t in y^e realme eche man might get his bread.

Notes

• * 1.1

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