his first work was a broadside of 1581, and london literati came to see him as one of a group of ballad writers including also william elderton and thomas deloney. in 1583 he published his best-known work, "the anatomie of abuses". it consisted of a virulent attack on the manners, customs, amusements and fashions of the period including the theatre, gambling, alcohol and fashion. it is still read for its full information on the cultural attitudes of the time.