Joan would go tell her hairs; and well she might,
Having but seven in all: three black, four white.
534. UPON LETCHER. EPIG.
Letcher was carted first about the streets,
For false position in his neighbour's sheets:
Next, hanged for thieving: now the people say,
His carting was the prologue to this play.
535. UPON DUNDRIGE.
Dundrige his issue hath; but is not styl'd,
For all his issue, father of one child.
553. WAY IN A CROWD.
Once on a Lord Mayor's Day, in Cheapside, when
Skulls could not well pass through that scum of men,
For quick despatch Skulls made no longer stay
Than but to breathe, and everyone gave way;
For, as he breathed, the people swore from thence
A fart flew out, or a sir-reverence.
Sir-reverence, "save-reverence," the word of apology used for the indecency itself.
557. UPON ONE-EY'D BROOMSTED. EPIG.
Broomsted a lameness got by cold and beer:
And to the bath went, to be cured there:
His feet were helped, and left his crutch behind;
But home returned, as he went forth, half blind.