remaines of a greater worke, concerning britaine, the inhabitants thereof, their languages, names, surnames, empreses, wise speeches, poësies, and epitaphes remaines concerning britain camden, william, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) remaines of a greater worke, concerning britaine, the inhabitants thereof, their languages, names, surnames, empreses, wise speeches, poësies, and epitaphes remaines concerning britain camden, william, - . [ ], , [ ]; , [ ] p. printed by g[eorge] e[ld] for simon waterson, at london : . dedication signed: m.n., i.e. william camden. printer's name from stc. the first leaf is blank. "poems" has separate pagination and register. subsequent editions published as: remaines concerning britaine. reproduction of the original in yale university. library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng names, english -- early works to . epitaphs -- early works to . proverbs -- early works to . anagrams -- early works to . english language -- usage -- early works to . vocabulary -- early works to . great britain -- antiquities -- early works to . great britain -- description and travel -- - . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion remaines of a greater worke , concerning britaine , the inhabitants thereof , their languages , names , surnames , empreses , wise speeches , poësies , and epitaphes . at london printed by g. e. for simon waterson . . to the right worshipfvll , worthy , and learned sir robert cotton of connington knight . temples ( saith the auncient aristides ) are to be dedicated to the gods , and bookes to good-men . vpon warrant of which words , and long experience of your goodnesse , right worshipfull , this silly , pittifull , and poore treatise was once vnaduisedly forward to haue bin dedicated to your good worship . but vpon more aduised consideration , whereas aristides in his wisdome knew nothing but that which was good , to be seemly and sortable for goodmen , & therfore meant most certainly , that onely good bookes are to be dedicated to good men : it recalled it selfe in good tine , for that it cannot challenge any such title either for matter or manner of handling , being only the rude rubble and out-cast rubbis● ( as you know ) of a greater and more serious worke . whereas therefore neither in respect of it selfe it dare , neither in regarde of you it may present it selfe by way of dedication , for that should implie honour vnto you , which it cannot bring , and require patronage from you , which it needeth not , beeing by the pittifull sillynesse thereof secured from enuie , onelie reaching at eminencie . i heere sende it vnto you in lose leaues , as fitt to be ludibria venti : and withall submit it to your censure , not as he did siue legi , siue tegi iusseris . albeit i assure my selfe that you in your learned iudgement cannot but sentence it , as i haue done with this doome . tineas pascat taciturnus inertes . from my lodging xii . iunii . . your worships assured m. n. britaine whereas i have purposed in all this treatise to confine my selfe within the bounds of this isle of britaine , it cannot be impertinent , at the verie enterance , to say somewhat of britaine , which is the onely subiect of all that is to be said , and well knowne to be the most flourishing and excellent , most renowmed and famous isle of the whole world : so rich in commodities , so beautifull in situation , so resplendent in all glorie , that if the most omnipotent had fashioned the world round like a ring , as hee did like a globe , it might haue beene most worthily the onely gemme therein . for the ayre is most temperate and wholesome , sited in the middest of the temperate zone , subiect to no stormes and tempests as the more southerne and northerne are ; but stored with infinite delicate fowle . for water , it is walled and garded with the oc●an most commodious for trafficke to all parts of the world , and watered with pleasant fishfull and navigable rivers , which yeelde safe havens and roads , and furnished with shipping and saylers , that it may rightly be termed the lady of the sea . that i may say nothing of healthfull bathes , and of meares stored both with fish and fowle ; the earth fertile of all kinde of graine , manured with good husbandrie , rich in minerall of coles , tinne , lead , copper , not without gold and silver , aboundant in pasture , replenished with cattell both tame and wilde , ( for it hath more par●es than all europe besides , ) plentifully wooded , prouided with all complete provisions of warre , beautified with many populous citties , faire borroughs , good townes , and well-built villages , strong munitions , magnificent pallaces of the prince , stately houses of the nobilitie , frequent hospitals , beautiful churches , faire colleges , as well in other places , as in the two vniversities , which are comparable to all the rest in christendome , not onely in antiquitie , but also in learning , building , and endowments . as for governement ecclesiasticall and civill , which is the very soule of a kingdome , i neede to say nothing , whenas i write to home-borne , and not to strangers . but to praise britaine according as the dignitie thereof requireth is a matter which may exercise , if not tier the happiest wit furnished with the greatest variety of learning ; and some already have busied their braines and pennes heerein with no sma●l labour and travel : let therefore these few lines in this behalfe suffice , out of an antient writer . britaine , thou art a gloriou●●sle , extolled and renowmed among all nations ; the navies of tharsis can not be compared to thy shipping bringing in all pretious commodities of the world : the sea is thy wall , and strong fortifications doe secure thy portes : chivalrie , cleargie , and merchandize do flourish in thee . the p●sans , genoveses , and venetians do bring thee saphires , emeraldes and carbuncles from the east : asia serveth thee with silke & purple , affrica with cinamon and balme , spaine with golde , and germanie with silver : thy weaver flaunders dooth drape cloth for thee of thine owne wooll ; thy gascoigne dooth send thee wine : bucke and doe are plentifull in thy forrests : droves of cattle , and flockes of sheepe are vpon thy hilles : all the perfection of the goodiust ●and is in thee : thou hast all the foule of the aire . in plenty of fish thou doost surpasse all regions . and albeit thou art not stretched out with large limites , yet bordering nations clothed with thy fleeces , doe woonder at thee for thy blessed plenty . thy swordes have beene turned into plow-shares : peace and religion flourish in thee ; so that thou arte a mirrour to all christian kingdomes . adde heerevnto ( if you please ) these few lines out of a farre more antient panegyrist in the time of constantine the great . o happy britaine and more blisfull then all other regions : nature hath enriched thee with all commodities of heaven and earth , wherein there is neither extreame colde in winter , nor scorching heate in summer ; wherein there is such aboundant plenty of corne , as may suffice both for bread and wine : wherein are woodes without wilde beasts , and the fields without noysome serpents ; but infinite numbers of milch cattle , and sheepe weighed downe with rich fleeces : and that which is most comfortable , long dayes , and lightsome nights . so that , not without cause , it was accounted one of the fairest and most glorious plumes in the triumphant diademe of the roman empire , while it was a province vnder the same ; and was truely called by charles the great , the store-house , and granary of the whole westerne world . but whereas the saide panegyrist falleth into a gladsome admiration , how from hence there hath risen gratious princes , as good gods honoured throughout the whole world . that if ever , as it was lately to our glorious ioy evidently , & effectually verified in our late soveraigne , of most deare , sacred and ever-glorious memorie qv●ene elizabeth , the honour of her time , and the mirrour of succeeding ages : so with an assured confidence , wee hope it will likewise bee prooved true in her vndoubted and rightfull successor , our dread lord and soveraigne . that to his endlesse honour mercie and trvth , righteovsnes and peace may heere kisse together ; and true religion , with her attendants ioy , happines , and glory , may heere for ever seate themselves vnder him ; in whose person the two mightie kingdomes of england and scotland hitherto severed , are now conioyned , and beginne to close together into one , in their most antient name of britaine . if any would vndertake the honour and precedence of britaine before other realmes in serious maner ( for heere i protest once for all , i will passe over each thing lightly & slightly ) a world of matter at the first view would present it selfe vnto him . as that the true christian religion was planted heere most auntiently by ioseph of arimathia , simon zelotes , aristobulus , yea by saint peter , and saint paul , as may be prooved by dorotheus , theod●●● , sophronius , & before the yere of christ . it was propagated , as tertullian writes to places of britaine ●accessa ro●anis , whither the romans never reached , which can not be vnderstoode , but of that parte which was afterward called scotland . the kingdomes also are most auntient , helde of god alone , acknowledging no superiours , in no vassalage to emperour or pope . the power of the kings more absolute , than in most other kingdomes , their territories very large ; for the kings of england , beside ireland , have commaunded from the isles of orkenay , to the pyrene mountaines , and are de iure , kings of all france by descent . the kings of scotland , beside the ample realm of scotland commands the westerne isles , the . of orkney & schetland . also , which was accounted a special note of maiesty in former ages , the kings of england , with them of fraunce , ierusalem , naples , and afterward scotland , were antiently the onely annointed kings of christendome : which manner beganne among the iewes , was recontinued at length by the christian emperors of constantinople , with this word at the annoynting , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , be holy ; and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , be worthie ; and from thence was that sacred ceremonie brought to vs and the other kingdomes . as for that admirable gift hereditary to the annoynted princes of this realme , in curing the kings evil , i referre you to the learned discourse thereof lately written . neyther would it be forgotten , that england in the opinion of the popes ( when they swayd the world , and their authoritie was held sacred ) was preferred , because it contained in the ecclesiasticall division , two large provinces , which had their severall legatinati , whereas fraunce had scantly one , that scotland was by them accompted an exempt kingdome , and a peculiar properly appertaining to the roman chappell . and which was accompted in that age a matter of honour , when all christianitie in the counsell constance was divided into nations , anglicana natio was one of the principall and no sub alterne . as also , that in times past , the emperour was accounted maior filius ecclesiae , the king of france , filius minor , and the king of england , filius tertius , and adoptivus . and so in generall councells , as the king of fraunce had place next the emperour on the right hand , so the king of england on the left ; and the kings of scotland , as appeereth in an antient roman provinciall , had next place before castil● . the archbishops of canterbury , who were antiently stiled archbishoppes of britaine , were adiudged by the popes , tanquam alterius orbis pontifices maximi , and they had their place in all general councells , at the popes right foote . the title also of defensor fidei , is as honourable , and more iustly conferred vpon the kings of england , than , either christianissimus vpon the french , or catholicus vpon the spaniard . neither is it to be omitted , which is so often recorded in our histories , when brithwald the monke , not long before the conquest busied his brain much about the succession of the crown , because the blood royall was almost extinguished , he had a strange vision , and heard a voyce , which forbade him to be inquisitive of such matters , resounding in his eares . the kingdome of england is gods owne kingdome , and for it god himselfe will provide . but these , & such like are more fit for a graver treatise than this . i will performe that i promised , in handling nothing seriously , and therfore i will bring you in some poets , to speake in this behalfe for mee , and will beginne with olde alfred of beverlie , who made this for britaine in generall , which you must not reade with a censorious eye ; for it is , as the rest i will cite , of the middle age , having heeretofore vsed all of more auntient and better times in an other worke . but thus saide he of britaine . insula praedives quae toto vix eget orbe , et cuius totus indiget orbis ope . insula praedives , cuius miretur , & optet , delicias salomon , octavianus opes . for scotland , one lately in a far higher straine , and more poetically , sung these ; quis tibi frugifera 〈…〉 , aut aris gravides , & 〈◊〉 p●●dere 〈…〉 , et nitidos auro monces , ferr●que rigent●● deque met all●feris manantia 〈…〉 : quaeque bea●t alias communia commoda g●●tes● for england a very olde epigr●●●tist made these with a prosopopoeia of nature , the indulgent mother to england , which doth comprise as much as the best wittes can nowe conceive in that behalfe . anglia terra ferax , tibi pax secura quietem , multiplicem luxum merx opulenta dedit . tu nimio nec stricta gelu , nec sydere fervens . clementi coelo , temperieque places . cùm pareret natura parens , varioque favore , divideret dotes omnibus vna locis : seposuit potiora tibi , matremque professa insula fis ●oelix , plenaque pacis , ●●t . quicquid amat luxus , quicquid desiderat vsus , ex t● proveniet , vel aliunde tibi . accordingly it is written in the blacke booke of the exchequer , that our auncestors termed england , a store-house of treasure , and a paradise of pleasure , in this verse ; divitijsque sinum , delicijsque larem . so that not without cause pope innocentius the fourth , most willingly , and especially desired to see divitias londini , & delicias westmonasterij . in these respects , to conclude , most truely our lucan singeth of this our countrey ; the fairest land , that from her thrusts the rest , as if she car'd not for the world beside , a world within herselfe vvith vvonders blest . the inhabitants of britaine as all the regions with the whole worlds frame , and all therein was created by the almightie , for his last and most perfect worke , that goodly , vpright , provident , subtile , wittie , and reasonable creature , which the greekes call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , for his vpright looke ; the latines homo , for that he was made of molde ; and we with the germains , call man of his principall part , the mind , being the verie image of god , and a pettie world within himselfe : so he assigned in his divine providence , this so happy and worthy a region to men of answerable worth , if not surpassing , yet equalling the most excellent inhabitants of the earth , both in the endowments of minde , lineaments of bodie , and their deportment both in peace and warre , as if i would enter into discourse i could very easily shew . but overpassing their naturall inclination by heauenly influence , answerable to the disposition of aries , leo , and sagittary , & iupiter , with mars dominators for this northwest part of the world , which maketh them impatient of servitude , lovers of libertie , martiall and couragious . i will only in particular note somewhat , and that summarily of the britaines , scottish , and english , the three principall inhabitants . the britaines , the most antient people of this isle antiently inhabited the same from sea to sea , whose valour and prowes is renowned both in latine & greek monuments , and may appeare in these two points which i will heere onely note . first that the most p●●ssant roman forces , when they were at the highest , could not gaine of them , being but then a halfe-naked people , in thirtie whole yeares the countries from the thames to str●●ling . and when they had gained them , and brought them into forme of a province , they found them so warlike a people , that the romanes levied as many cohorts , companies , and ensignes of britans from hence for the service of armenia , aegypt , illyricum , their frontire countries , as from any other of their provinces whatsoeuer . as for those britane which were farther north , and after as is most probable , called pictes , ( for that they still painted themselues when the southerne parts were brought to civilitie , ) they not onely most couragiously defended their libertie , but offended the romans with continuall and most dangerous incursions . the other remainder of the britans , which retyred themselues to west parts , now called w●●es , with like honour of fortitude , for many hundred yeares repelled the yoake both of the english and norman slaverie . but since they were ●●ted to the imperiall crowne of england , they have , to their iust praise , performed all parts of dutifull loyaltie and allegiance most faithfully therevnto . ] great also is the glorie of those britans , which in most dolefull time of the english invasion , with-drew themselves into the west parts of gallia , then called armorica : for they not onely seated themselves , there maugre the romans , ( then indeede low , and neare setting , ) and the french : but also imposed their name to the countrey , held and defended the same against the french , vntill in our grandfathers memorie , it was vnited to france by the sacred bonds of matrimonie . ] next after the britans , the scottishmen comming out of ireland , planted themselves in this islco● the north side of cluid , partly by force , partly by fauour of the pictes , with whom a long time they annoyed the southerne parts , but after many blody battels amongst themselves , the scottishmen subdued them , and established a kingdome in those parts , which with 〈◊〉 courag● and warlike prowesse , they have not onely maintained at home , but also hath purchased great honour abroad . for the french cannot but acknowledge they have seldome atchieved any honourable acts without scottish hands , who therefore are deservedly to participate the glorie with them . as also divers parts of france , germany , and suitzerland , cannot but confesse , that they owe to the scottish nation , the propagation of good letters and christian religion amongst them . after the scottishmen , the angles , englishmen or saxons , by gods wonderfull providence were transplanted hither out of germanie . a people composed of the valiant angles , iutes , and saxons , then inhabiting iutland , ●olsten , and the sea coasts along to the river rhene , who in short time subduing the britans , and driving them into the mountanous westerne parts , made themselves by a most compleate conquest , absolute lords of all the better soyle thereof , as farre as orkeney . which cannot be doubted of , when their english tongue reacheth so farre along the east coast , vnto the farthest parts of scotland , and the people thereof are called by the highland-men , which are the true scots , by no other name then saxons , by which they also call vs the english . this warlike , victorious , stiffe , stowt , and rigorous nation , after it had as it were taken roote heere about one hundred and sixtie yeares , and spread his branches farre and wide , being mellowed and mollified by the mildenes of the soyle and sweete aire , was prepared in fulnes of time for the first spirituall blessing of god , i meane our regeneration in christ , and our ingrafting into his mysticall bodie by holy baptisme . which beda our ecclesiastical historian recounteth in this manner , and i hope you will give it the reading . gregorie the great bishop of rome , on a time saw beautifull boyes to befold in the market at rome , & demanded from whence they were ▪ answer was made him out of the isle of britaine then asked he againe , whither they were christians or no● they said no. alas for pittie said gregorie , that the soule 〈…〉 be lord of such faire folkes ▪ and that they which carrie such grace in their 〈…〉 in their hearts . then he would know of them by what name their nation was called , and they told him 〈◊〉 , and iustly be they so called ( quoth he , ) for they haue angelike faces , and seeme meete to be made cohair●● with the angells in heaven . since which time , they made such happy progresse in the christian profession both of faith and works , that if i should but enter into consideration thereof , i should be over-whelmed with mayn tides of matter . many and admirable monuments thereof , do every where , at home present themselves to your view , erected informer times , ( and no small number in our age , although few men note them , ) not for affectation of ●ame , or ostentation of wealth , but to the glorie of god , increase of faith , of learning and to maintenance of the poore . as for abroad , the world ca● testifie that foure englishmen have converted to christianitie , eight nations of europe , wi●frid alias boniface , the d●●shire-man converted the german saxons , franc●●●ns hossians , and thuringians , willebred the northerne man , the frisians and hollanders . nicholas braksp●● of middlesex , who was after called pope hadrian the normegians , and not long since , thomas of w●lden of essex , the lit●●●ians . neither will i heere note which strangers have noted , that england hath bred more princes renowned for sanctitie , then any christian nation whatsoever . it doth also redound to the eternall honour of england , that our countrimen have twice beene schoolemaist 〈…〉 france . first when they taught the gaules the discipline of the 〈◊〉 and after , when they and the scottishmen first taught the french the liberall arts , and persuaded carelus magnus to found the vniversitie of paris . they also brought into fraunce the best lawes which the parl●ament of 〈◊〉 and burdeaux have now in vse . they at the lowest ebbe of learning , amazed the world with their excellent knowledge in philosophie , and divinitie : for that i may not 〈◊〉 of alexander of hales , the 〈…〉 schoolemaster to the 〈◊〉 doctor thomas aq●●● , one colledge in oxford brought forth in one age those foure lights of learning : sco●us the subtile , bradward●ne the profound , okham the invincible , and burley the perspicuous , and as some say , baconthorpe the resolute ; which titles they hadde by the common consent of the iudiciall and learned of that and the succeeding ages . yet their militarie glorie hath surpassed all , for they have terrified the whole world with their armes in syria , aegypt , cyprus , spaine , sicill , and india . they have traversed with most happy victories both france and scotland , brought away their kings captives , conquered ireland and the isle of cypres , which king richard the first gave frankly to guie of lusigni●● , and lately with a maidens hand , mated the mightiest monarch in his owne countries . they beside many other notable discoveries , twice compassed the whole globe of the earth with admirable successe , which the spaniards have yet but once performed . good lord , how spaciously might a learned pen walke in this argument ! but lest i should seeme over prodigall in the praise of my countrimen , i will onely present you with some few verses in this behalfe , and first this latine rythme of the middle time in praise of the english nation , with some close cautions . it s quilted as ●t were out of shreds of divers poets , such as schollers do call a cento . quo versu anglorum possim describere gentem , saepe mihi dubiam traxit sententia mentem . sunt in amicitia percusso foedere veri . maior at est virtus , quàm quarere , parta tu●●i . su●● bello fortes , al●res , validique duel●●s , aspera se● po●●tis ●●●●scant secula bellis . sunt 〈…〉 , florent virtutis 〈◊〉 , s●d nihil est virtus , nisi cum 〈…〉 . quid fit avaritia pestis gens anglicanescit , cr●scit amor dandi , quantum ipsa 〈…〉 〈…〉 prima 〈◊〉 , dare largè , 〈◊〉 virescit , vas nisi syncerum quodcunque infundis acescit . l●uti●r est ill●s cum mensa divite cu●●us , accedunt hilares semper super 〈…〉 . non ibi damaetas pauper dicit melyb●● , in cratere meo thetis est sociata ly●● . gratius ingenium datur his , & gratia m●rum , sic norunt quàm sit du●cis ●●xtura bonorum . anglorum cur est gens quaevis invida genti ? summa petit livor , perflant altissima venti . and for the scottish nation this of their owne poet : illa pharetratis est propria gloria scotis , cingere venatu saltus , superare natand● flumina , ferre famem , contemnere frigora & ●stus : nec fossa & muris patriam , sed marte tueri , et spreta incolumem vita defendere fam●● , polliciti servare fidem , sanctumque vereri numen amicitia , mores non munus amare . the languages . from the people we will now proceede to the languages . heere would schollers shew you the first confusion of languages out of moses , that the gods had their peculiar tongue out of h●●er , that brute beasts , birdes , and fishes , had their owne proper languages out of clemens alexandri●●● . they would teach you out of euphorus , that there were but . tongues in the world , because so many soules out of iacob descended into aegypt , and out of arnobius , that there were seaventie and two : albeit timosthenes reporteth that in dioscurias a mart towne of colchis , their trafficked . nations of divers languages : and howsoever our indian or american discouerers say , that in every fourescore mile in america , and in every valley almost of peru you shall finde a new language . neither would they omit the iland where the people have cloven tongues out of the fabulous narrations of diodorus siculus : yea , they would lash out of the vtopian language with volvola barchin hema●● , la lalvola drame pagloni . whenas it is a greater glory now to be a linguist , then a realist . they would moreover discourse at large , which i will tell you in a word . first the british tongue or welsh ( as we now call it ) was in vse onely in this island , having great affinitie with the olde galliqua of gaule , now fraunce , from whence the first inhabitants in all probability came hither . afterward the latin was taken vp when it was brought into the forme of a proviner , about the time of domitian , according to that notable place of tacitus , where he reportteth that iulius agricola governour heere for the romans , preferred the britans , as able to doe more by witte , then the gaules by studie : vt qui ( saieth he ) modò linguam romanam abnuebant , eloquentiam concupiscerent . inde etiam habitus nostri honor & frequens toga . but the british overgrewe the latine , and continueth yet in wales , and some villages of cornwall intermingled with some provinciall latine . after the irish tongue was brought into the northwest partes of the isle , out of ireland by the auntient scottishmen , and there yet remaineth . lastly , the english-saxon tongue came in by the english-saxons on t of germany , who valiantly and wisely performed heere all the three things , which implie a full conquest , viz. the alteration of lawes , language , and attire . this english tongue extracted out of the olde german , as most other from island to the alpes , is mixed as it is now , of the olde english-saxon & n●●●●● of latine , german , and the olde 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 latine and german-gotish , and the spanish of latine , gotish-german and arabique , saracen , or m●r●sq●● . and to the honour of our progenitors the english-saxons be it spoken , their conquest was more absolute heere over the brita●●s , than either of the francs in fran●c● over the g●●l●s , or the gothes and lombardes in italie over the k 〈…〉 , or of the gothes , vandales , and moores over the auntient spaniards in spaine . for in these nations much of the provinciall latine ( i meane the latine vsed whilest they were provinces of the romans ) remaineth , which they politi●ely had spread over their empire , by planting of colonies and enfranchising all nations subiect vnto them . but the english-saxon conquerors , altred the tongue which they found here wholy : so that no british words , or provinciall latine appeared therein at the first : & in short time they spread it over this whole iland , from the orcades to isle of wight , except a few barren corners in the western● parts , wherevnto the reliques of the britans and scots retyred , reserving in them both their life and their language . for certainely it is that the greatest and best parts , the east and south of scotland , which call themselves the lawland-men , speake the english tongue varied onely in dialect , as descended from the english-saxons : and the old scottish , which is the verie irish , is vsed onely by them of the west , called the hechtland-men , who call the other as the welsh call vs sassons , saxons , both in respect of language and originall , as i shewed before . i dare not yet heere affirme for the antiquitie of our language , that our great-great-great-grandsires tongue came out of persia , albeit the wonderfull linguist ioseph scaliger hath observed , fader ; moder , bruder , 〈◊〉 &c. in the pers 〈…〉 tongue in the very sence as we now vse th 〈…〉 . it will not be vnproper i hope to this purpose , if i note out of the epistles of that learned ambassadour busbeq 〈…〉 , how the inhabitants of taurica-ch●rson●ssus , in the vtter-most part of europe eastward , have these words , wind , silver , kor●● , sak , fish , son , apple , waggen , singen , 〈◊〉 , beard , with many other in the very same sence and signification , as they now are in vse with vs , whereat i mervailed not a little when i first read it . but nothing can bee gathered thereby , but that the saxons our progenitours , which planted themselves heere in the west , did also to their glorie place colonies likewise there in the east . as in the latine tongue , the learned make in respect of time , foure idioms , the antient , the latine , the roman , the mixt : so we in ours may make the antient english-saxon , and the mixt. but that you may seeme how powerable time is in altering tongues as all things else , i will set downe the lords prayer as it was translated in sundrie ages , that you may see by what degrees our tongue is risen , and thereby coniecture how in time it may alter and fall againe . if we could set it downe in the antient saxon , i meane in the tongue which the english vsed at their first arrivall heere , about . yeares after christs birth , it would seeme most strange and harsh dutch or gebrish , as women call it ; or when they first embraced christianitie , about the yeare of christ . but the antientst that i can finde , was about . yeare since , about the yeare of christ . found in an antient saxon , glossed evangelists in the hands of my good friend m. robert bowyer , written by eadfride the eight bishop of lindiffar●● , ( which after was translated to durrham , ) and divided according to the antient canon of eusebius , not into chapters , for stephen langton , archbishop of canturburie , first divided the holy scriptures into chapters , as robert stephan did lately into verse ; and thus it is . vren our fader father thic which arth art in in heofnas heaven , sie be gehalgud hallowed thin thin noma name . , to cymeth come thin thy ric kingdom . . sie be thin thy willa will sue so is as in in heofnas heaven , and and in in eortho earth . . vren oure hlaf lofe ofer super - wirtlic substantiall sel give vs vs to to daeg day , , and and forg●f forgive vs vs scylda debts urna eu●es , sue so we we for for . gefan give scyldgum debts vrum oures , , and and no do inlead not led vsith vs in into custnung temptation . , ah but gefrig deliver vrich every one from from ifle evill . . amen . some two hundred yeeres after , i finde this somewhat varied in two translations . thu vre fader the eart on heofenum si thin nama gehalgod . cum thin ric . * si thin willa on eorthan , swa swa on heofo num . syle vs to daeg vrn daegthanlican dayly hlaf . and forgif vs vre gyltas trespasses swa , swa we for gifath * tham the with against vs vs agyltath have trespassed . and ne led the vs on costnung , ac alys vs from yfle . * si be it it swa . so . about an hundred and three score yeeres after , in the time of king . henry the second , i find this in time sent from rome by pope adrian an englishman , to be taught to the people . vre fadyr in heaven rich , thy name be halyed everlich : thou bring vs thy michell blisse , al 's hit in heaveny-doe , evar in yearth beene it also : that holy bread that lasteth ay , thou send it ou● this ilke day . forgive ous all that we havith don , as wee forgivet vch other mon : ne let ous fall into no founding , ac sheild ous fro the fowle thing . amen . neither was there any great variation in the time of king henry the third , as appeereth in this of that age , as i coniecture by the character ; fader that art in heavin blisse , thin helge nam it wurth the blisse . cumen & mot thi kingdom , thin holy will it be all don , in heaven and in erdh also , so it shall bin full well ic tr● . gif vs all bread on this day , and forgif vs vre sinnes , ai we do vre wider winnes : let vs not in fonding fall , o ac fro evill thu syld vs all . amen . in the time of king richard the second about a hundred and odde yeeres after , it was so mollified , that it came to be thus , as it is in the translation of wickliffe , with some latine wordes now inserted , whereas there was not one before . our fadyr , that art in heaven , halloed be thy name , thy kingdom com to , be thy will done , so in heaven , and in erth : gif to vs this day our bread over other substance : and forgif to vs our dettis , as we forgeven to our detter● , and leed vs nott into temptation , but deliver vs fro evill . amen . hitherto will our sparkefull youth laugh at their great grandfathers english , who had more care to do well , than to speake minion-like , and l●ft m●re glory to vs by th●ir exploiting of great actes , than we shall do by our sonnetting . great verily was the glory of our tongue before the norman conquest in this , that the olde english could expresse most aptly , all the conceiptes of the minde in their owne tongue without borrowing from any . as for example : the holy service of god , which the latines called religion , because it knitted the mindes of men together , and most people of europe have borrowed the same from them , they called most significantly fan-fastnes , as the one and onely assurance and fast anker-holde of our soules health . the gladsome tidings of our salvation , which the greekes called evangelion , and other nations in the same word , they called godspel , that is , god speech . for our saviour , which wee borrowed from the french , and they from the latin salvator , they called in their owne word , haelend from hael , that is , salus , safetie , which we ●●tame still in al-hael , and was-hael , that is , ave , salve , sis salvus . they could call the disciples of christ , leorning cnibtas , that is , learning servitours . for 〈◊〉 which is now a name of worship , signified with them an attendant , or servitour . they could name the pharises according to the hebrew , sunder-halgens , as holy religious men which had sundred and severed themselves from other . the scribes they could call in their proper signification , as booke-men , bocer . so they called parchment which wee have catcht from the latine pergamenum , boc-fell in respect of the vse . so they could call the sacrament haligdome , as holy iudgement . for so it is according as we receive it . they could call fortilitie and fruitfulnesse of land significatively eordes-wela , as wealth of the earth . they could call a comet , a faxed starre ; which is all one with stella crinita , or cometa . so they did call the iudgement seate domesettle . that which we call the parlament of the french parier to speake , they called a witten mot , as the meeting and assembly of wise men . the certaine and inward knowledge of that which is in our minde , be it good or bad , which in the latine word we call conscience , they called inwit , as that which they did inwardly wit and wote , that is , know certainely . that in a river which the latines call alveus , and cana●is , and from thence most nations of europe name the chanel , kanel , canale , &c. they properly called the streame-race . neither in the degrees of kinred they were destitute of significative woordes ; for he whom we of a french & english compound word call grandfather , they called eald-fader , whom we call great grandfather , they called thirdafader . so proavus , which we call great great grandfather , they called fortha-fader , as abavus , fiftha-fader . an eunuch , for whome we have no name , but from the greekes , they could aptly name vnstana , that is , without stones , as we vse vnspotted for without spotte , vnlearned , for , without learning . a covetous man whome we so call of the french convoitise , they truely called git-sor , as a fore & eagre getter , and gatherer . that which the latines call abortus , and wee in many wordes , vntimely birth , or , borne before the full time , they called miss-borne . a porter , which wee have received from the french , they could in their own word as significatively call a doreward . i could particulate in many more , but this woulde appeare most plentifully , if the labours of the learned gentlemen maister laurence nowell of lincolnes inne , who first in our time recalled the studie heereof , maister william lambert , maister i : ioscelin , maister fr : tate were once published . otherwise it is to bee feared , that devouring time , in few yeeres will vtterly swallow it , without hope of recoverie . the alteration and innovation in our tongue as in all others , hath beene brought in by entrance of strangers , as danes , normans , and others which have swarmed hither , by trafficke , for new words as well as for new wares , have alwaies come in by the tyranne time , which altereth all vnder heaven , by vse , which swayeth most , and hath an absolute command in words , and by pregnant wits : specially since that learning after long banishment , was recalled in the time of king henry the eight , it hath beene beautified and enriched out of other good tongues , partly by enfranchising and endenizing strange words , partly by refining and mollifying olde words , partly by implanting new wordes with artificiall composition , happily containing themselves within the bounds prescribed by horace . so that our long is ( and i doubt not but hath beene ) as copious , pithie , and significative , as any other tongue in europe : and i hope we are not yet and shall not heereafter come to that which seneca saw in his time , when mens mindes beginne once to iniure themselves to dislike whatsoever is vsuall , is disdained . they affect noveltie in speech , they recall forworne and vncuth words , they forge new phrases , and that which is newest , is best liked ; there is presumptuous and farre fetching of words . and some there are which thinke it a grace if their speech doe hover , and thereby hold the hearer in suspence : you know what followeth . omitting this , pardon me and thinke me not overballanced with affection , if i thinke that our english tongue is ( i will not say as sacred as the hebrew , or as learned as the greeke , ) but as fluent as the latine , as courteous as the spanish , as courtlike as the french , and as amorous as the italian , as some italianated amorous have confessed . neither hath any thing detracted more from the dignitie of our tongue , than our owne affection of forraine tongues , by admiring , praising , and studying them above measure : whereas the wise romans thought no small part of their honour to consist in the honour of their language , esteeming it a dishonour to answer any forraine in his owne language . as for a long time the english placed in the borrough townes of ireland and wales , would admit neither irish nor welsh among them . and not long since for the honour of our native tongue , henry fitz-allan earle of arundell , in his travaile into italie , and the lord william howard of effingham , in his government of calice , albeit they were not ignorant of other forraine tongues , would answer no strangers by word or writing , but onely in english . as in this consideration also before them cardinall wolsey in his ambassage into france , commaunded all his servaunts to vse no french , but meere english to the french , in all communication whatsoever . as for the monosyllables so rife in our tongue which were not so originally , although they are vnfitting for verses and measures , yet are they most fit for expressing briefly the first conceipts of the minde , or intentionalia as they call them in schooles : so that we can set downe more matter in fewer lines , than any other language . neither do we or the welsh so curtall latine , that we make all therein monosyllables , as ioseph scaliger chargeth vs ; who in the meane time forgetteth that his frenchmen have put in their proviso in the edict of pacification in the grammaticall warre , that they might not pronounce latine distinctly , as the english common lawyers obtained then a reservation that they might write false latine , and the irish not to observe quantitie of syllables . i cannot yet but confesse that we have corruptly contracted most names both of men and places , if they were of more then two sillables , and thereby hath ensued no little obscuritie . whereas our tongue is mixed , it is no disgrace , whe●●as all the tongues of europe doe participate interchangeably the one of the other , and in the learned tongues , there hath been like borrowing one from another . yet is it false which gesner affirmeth , that our tongue is the most mixt and corrupt of all other . for if it may please any to compare but the lords prayer in other languages , he shall finde as few latine and borrowed forraine words in ours , as in any other whatsoever . notwithstanding the diversiue of nations which have swarmed hither , and the practise of the normans , who as a monument of their conquest , would have yoaked the english vnder their tongue , as they did vnder their command , by compelling them to teach their children in schooles nothing but french , by setting downe their lawes in the norman-french , and enforcing them most rigorously to pleade and to be impleaded in that tongue onely , for the space of three hundred yeares , vntill k. edward the third enlarged them first from that bondage . since which time , our language hath risen by little , and the proverbe proved vntrue , which so long had beene vsed , iacke would be a gentleman , if he could speake any french. heerein is a notable argument of our ancestors stedfastnes in esteeming and retaining their owne tongue . for as before the conquest they misliked nothing more in k. edward the confessor , than that he was frenchified , & accounted the desire of forraine language , then to be a foretoken of the bringing in of forraine powers , which indeede happened . in like manner after the conquest , notwithstanding those enforcements of the normans in supplanting it , and the nature of men , which is most pliable with a curious iolitie to fashion & frame themselves according to the manners , attyre , and language of the conquerours . yet in all that long space of . yeares , they intermingled very few french-norman words , except some termes of law , hunting , hawking , and dicing , whenas wee within these . yeares , have incorporated so many latine and french , as the third part of our tongue consisteth now in them . but like themselves , continue still those old englishmen which were planted in ireland , in fingall , & the country of weysford , in the time of k. henry the second , who yet still continue their antient attyre and tongue , in somuch that an english gentleman not long since , sent thither in commssion among them , said that he would quickly vnderstand the irish , when they spake the antient english . so that our ancestors seemed in part as iealous of their native language , as those b●itans which passed hence into armorica in france , and marrying strange women there , did cut out their tongs , lest their children should corrupt their language with their motters tongues , or as the germans which have most of all nations opposed themselves against all innovations in habite , and language . whereas the hebrew rabbines say , and that truly , that nature hath given man five instruments for the pronouncing of all letters , the lips , the teeth , the tongue , the palate , and throate ; i will not denie but some among vs do pronounce more fully , some flatly , some broadly , and no few mincingly , offending in defect , excesse , or change of letters , which is rather to be imputed to the persons and their education , than to the language . whenas generally wee pronounce by the confession of strangers , as sweetely , smoothly , and moderately , as any of the northerne nations of the world , who are noted to soupe their words out of the throat with fat and full spirits . this variety of pronuntiation hath brought in some diversitie of orthographie , and heere-vpon sir iohn price , to the derogation of our tongue , and glorie of his welsh , reporteth that a sentence spoken by him in english , & penned out of his mouth by foure good secretaries , severally , for trial of our orthography , was so set downe by them , that they all differed one from the other in many letters : whereas so many welsh writing the same likewise in their tongue varied not in any one letter at all . well , i will not derogate from the good knights credite ; yet it hath beene seene where tenne english writing the same sentence , have all so concurred , that among them all there hath beene no other difference , than the adding , or omitting once or twice of our silent e , in the end of some wordes . as for the welsh , i could never happen on two of that nation together , that would acknowledge that they could write their owne language . sir thomas smith her maiesties secretarie not long since , a man of great learning and iudgement , occasioned by som vncertainty of our orthographie , though it seeme grounded vpon sound , reason , and custome , laboured to reduce it to certaine heads ; seeing that whereas of necessity there must be so many letters in every tongue , as there are simple and single sounds , that the latine letters were not sufficient to expresse all our simple sounds . therefore he wished that we should have a short , and a long , bicause a in man , and in mân of horse hath different sounds ; e long as in mên moderate , and e short as in men , and an english e as in wée , thee , he , me : i long , and i short , as in bi , per , and bî , emere : o short , and o long , as in smōk of a woman , and smôk of the fire : v long , as in bût , ocrea , and v short , as in būt , sed : and v or y greeke , as slu , nu , tru . for consonants he would have c be never vsed but for ch , as it was among the olde english , and k in all other words ; for th , he would have the saxon letter thorne , which was a d with a dash through the head , or ● ; for i consonant the saxon ● , as ●et , not ieat for ieat-stone , ●ay for iay : q , if he were king of the a , b , c , should be putte to the horne , and banished ; and ku in his place , as kuik , not quik , kuarel , not quarel : z ; he would have vsed for the softer s , or eth , and es , as dîz for dieth , liz for lies , and the same s inverted for sh , as sal for shall , fler for flesh . this briefly i have set you downe his devise , which albeit sound and reason seemed to countenance , yet that tyranne custome hath so confronted , that it will never be admitted . if it be any glorie which the french and dutch do brag of , that many wordes in their tongues doe not differ from the greeke , i can shew you as many in the english ; whereof i will give you a few for a taste , as they have offred themselves in reading ; but withall , i trust you will not gather by consequence , that wee are descanded from the graecians . who dooth not see an identitie in these wordes , as if the one descended from the other . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to call . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a path . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to lappe . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , raine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to rappe . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , last . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to seethe . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , rash . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , new . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , grasse . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , an orchard . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to creake . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a starre . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , whole . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , foule . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a dere . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a rodde . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , rest . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the moone . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a mill . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a treate . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a shippe . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a rope . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to galloppe . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ache . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a ragge . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a climbing . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , an vdder . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , whoorish sporte . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to kisse . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to hang. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , earth . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a crabbe . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a phoale . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a li●ke . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to cut . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to raze out . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , oker . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to mocke . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , lesse . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , an axe . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to scoffe . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to strowe . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a skirmish . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a church . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a potte . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , mustaches . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a doore . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a hulke . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to you know what . with many more if a man would be so idle to gather them with budans , baifius , iunius , pichardus , and others . heereby may be seene the originall of some english words , and the etymology or reason whence many other are derived , beside them alreadie specified may as well be found in our tongue , as in the learned tongues , although hardly ; for that heerein as in other tongues , the truth heth hidden and is not easilie found , as both varro and isidor do acknowledge . but an indifferent man may iudge that our name of the most divine power , god , is better derived from good , the chiefe attribute of god , than deus from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , because god is to be feared . so winter from winde , so●●er from the sonne , lent from springing , because it falleth in the spring , for which our progenitours the germans , vse glent . the feast of christs rising , easter , from the old world east , which we now vse for the place of the rising of the sunne , sayle as the sea-haile , windor or windowe , as a doore against the winde , king from conning , for so our great grandfathers called them , which one word imployeth two most important matters in a governour , power and skill , and many other better answering in sound and sence , then those of the latines , frater quasi ferè alter , tempestas quasi tempus pestis , caput à capiendo , digiti quia decentèr iuncti , cura quia cor vrit , peccare quasi pedam capere . dionysius a greeke coyner of etymologyes is commended by athenaeus , in his supper-gulls , table-talkers , or deipnos●phistae , for making mowse-traps of musteria : and verily if that be commendable , the mint-masters of our etymilogies , deserve no lesse commendation : for they have merily forged mony from my-hony , flatter from flie-at-her , shovell from shove-full , mayd as my ayd mastiefe as mase-thiefe , staffe as stay of , beere , be-heere , symony see-mony , stirrup , a sayre-vp , &c. this merry playing with words too much vsed by some hath occasioned a great and high personage , to say , that as the italian tongue is fit for courting , the spanish for treating , the french for trafficke ; so the english is most fit for trifling and toying . and so doth giraldus cambrensis seem to think whenas in his time he saith , the english and welsh delighted much in licking the letter and clapping together of agnominations . but now will i conclude this trifling discourse with a true tale out of an antient historian . of the effectuall power of words , great disputes have beene of great wits in all ages ; the pithagoreans extolled it , the impious iewes ascribed all miracles to a name which was ingravened in the revestiarie of the temple , watched by two brazen dogges , which one stale away and enseamed it in his thigh , as you may reade in osorius de sapientia , and the like in rabi hamas speculation : and strange it is what samonicus serenus ascribed to the word abradacabra , against agues . but there was one true english word of as great , if not greater force than them all , now out of all vse and will be thought for sound barbarous ; but therefore of more efficacie ( as it pleaseth porphyrie ) and in signification it signifieth as it seemeth , no more then abiect , base minded , false harted , coward , or nidget . yet it hath levied armies , and subdued rebellious enemies ; and that i may hold you no longer , it is niding . for when there was a daungerous rebellion against king william rufus , and rochester castle then the most important & strongest fort of this realm was stowtly kept against him , after that he had but proclaimed that his subiects should repaire thither to his campe , vpon no other penaltie , but that whosoever refused to come , should be reputed a niding : they swarmed to him immediatly from all sides in such numbers , that he had in few daies an infinite armie , and the rebells therewith weere so terrified , that they forthwith yeelded . while i runne on in this course of english tongue , rather respecting matter then words , i forget that i may be charged by the mi●●ion refiners of english , neither to write state-english , court-english , nor secretarie-english , and verily i acknowledge it . sufficient it is for me , if i have waded hither-vnto in the fourth kinde , which is plaine english , leaving to such as are compleat in all , to supply whatsoever remaineth . christian names . names called in latine nomina quas● notamina , were first imposed for the distinction of persons , which wee call now christian names : after for difference of families which wee call surnames , and have beene especially respected as whereon the glorie and credite of men is grounded , and by which the same is convayed to the knowledge of posteritie . every person had in the beginning one onely proper name , as among the iewes , adam , ioseph , solomon ; among the aegiptians , anubis , amasis , busuris ; among the chaldaeans , ninus , ninias , semira●● ; among the medians , astiages , bardanes , arbaces ; among the grecians , diomedes , vlisses , orestes ; among the romans , romulus , remus , faustulus ; among the old gaules , litavicus , cavarilus , divitiacus ; among the germans , ariovistus , arminius , nassua ; among the britans , cassibellin , caratac , calgac ; among the antient english , hengest , aella , kenrie , likewise among all other nations , except the savages of mount atlas in barbary , which were reported to be both namelesse and dreamelesse . the most antient nation of the iewes gave the name at the circumcision the eight day after the nativitie ; the romans to females the same day , to males the ninth day , which they called dies lustricus , as it were the cleansing day ; vpon which day they solemnized a feast called nominalia , and as tertulian noteth , fata scribenda advocabantur , that is , as i conceive , their nativitie was set . at what time other nations in auntient times gave names i have not read : but since christianitie , most nations for the time followed the iewes , celebrating baptisme the eight day after the birth , onely our ancestours in this realme , vntill latter time baptized , and gave name the very birth day , or next day after , following therein the counsell of s. cyprian , in his third epistle ad fidum . but the polonians gave name in the seaventh yeare , at which time they did first cut their childrens haire . the first imposition of names was grounded vpon so many occasions , as were hard to be specified , but the most common in most antient times among all nations , as well as the hebrewes , was vpon future good hope conceived by parents of their children , in which you might see their first and principall wishes toward them . whereupon saint hierome saith , votiva & quasi ob virtutis auspicium imponuntur vocabula hominibus , & appellativa vertuntur inpropria , sicut apud latines , victor , probus , castus , &c. and such hopefull luckie names called by cicero , bona nomina , by tacitus , fansta nomina were ever first enrolled and ●anged in the roman musters ; first called out to serve at the first sacrifices , in the foundation of colonies , as statorius , faustus , valerius , which implied the persons to be stowt , happy , and valorous . as contrariwise atrius v●●ber is accounted in i●vie , abominandi ominis nomen , an abhominable name , for that it participated in signification with dismall darkenes , dead ghosts , and shadowes . and you remember what plautus saieth of one whose name was lyco , that is , a greedy woolfe ; vosmet nunc facit● coniectur 〈◊〉 caeterùm quid id sit hominis , cui lyco nomen siet . yea such names were thought so happy and so fortunate , that in the time of galienus one regilianus , which commanded in illyricum , got the empire there , only in favour of of his name . for when it was demanded at a supper from whence regilianus was derived , one answered , à regno , another beganne to decline rex , regis , regi , regilianus ; whereat the souldiers ( which in all actions are forward . ) beganne with acclamation , ergo potest rex esse , ergo potest regere , deus tibi regis nomen imposuit : and so invested him with imperiall roabes . in this isle also at silcaster in hamshire , constantinus a militarie man of some reputation , in hope of his luckie name , and that he would proue another constantinus magnus to the good of the people , was by the britan armie proclaimed emperour against henorius : who exployted great matters in his owne person in gallia , and by his son in spaine . so in former times the name of antoninus in remembrance of antoninus pius , was so amiable among the romans , as he was supposed vnfit for the empire , who bare not that name , vntill antoninus elagabalus with his filthie vices distained the same . we reade also that two ambassadours were sent out of france into spaine , to king alphonse the , to d●mand one of the daughters that he begat of the daughter of king henry the second of england , to be married to their soveraigne , king lewes the eight : one of these ladies was very beautifull called vrraca , the other not so beautifull , but named blanche . when they were presented to the ambassadours , all men held it as a matter resolved that the choyce would light vpon vrraca , as the elder and fairer : but the ambassadours enquiring each of their names , tooke offence at vrraca , and made choyce of the lady blanche , saying , that her name would be better received in france than the other , as signifying faire and beautifull , according to the verse made to her honour . candida , candescens candore , & cordis , & oris . so that the greatest philosopher plato might seeme , not without cause , to advise men to be carefull in giving faire and happie names : as the pythagoreans affirmed the mindes , actions , and successes of men to be according to their fate , genius , and name . one also well observeth that these seven things ; virtue , good parentage , wealth , dignity or office , good presence , a good christian name , with a gratious surname , and seemely attire , doe especially grace and adorne a man. and accordingly saieth panormitan ; ex bono nomine oritur bona presumptio . as the common proverb , bonum nomen , bonum omen . the divell neverthelesse who alwayes maligneth god and goodnesse , wrought by the cruelty of valens the emperour the destruction of many men of worth , who hadde happy names beginning with theo signifying god , as theodorus , theodubis , theodoretus , theodosius , &c. for that diverse curious companions had found by the falling of a ring magically prepared , vpon those letters onely of all the alphab●t , graven in a charger of sundry mettals , and set vpon a laurell trivet ; that one who had his name beginning with theod , should succeede in the empire , which was verified in theodosius not long after . in times of christianity the names of most holy and vertuous persons , and of their most worthy progenitors were given to stir vp men to the imitation of them , whose names they bare . but succeeding ages ( little regarding saint chrysostoms admonition to the contrary , have recalled prophane names , so as now 〈…〉 , names of vnhappy disastre are as 〈◊〉 some 〈…〉 they were in paga●●sm●s ▪ albeit in our late 〈…〉 of good consideration have brought in 〈…〉 iosias , &c. as better agreeing with our saith , but without contempt of our countrey names ( as i hope ) which have both good and gratious significations , as shal appeare hereafter . whereas in late yeeres surnames have beene given for christian names , among vs , and no where else in christendome ; although many dislike it , for that great inconvenience will ensue : neverthelesse it seemeth to proceede from hearty good-will and affection of the godfathers to show their love , or from a desire to continue and propagate their owne names to succeeding ages . and is in no wise to be disliked , but rather approoved in those which matching with heires generall of worshipful antient families have given those names to their heires , with a mindefull and thankefull regard of them , as we have now , pickering wott●n , grevill varney , bassingburne ga●●dy , culthorp parker , pees●ll brac●● , fuz-raulfe chamberlaine , who are the hei●●s of pickering , 〈◊〉 bassingburn , grevill , calthorp , &c. for beside the continuation of the name , we see that the selfe name , yea & somtime the similitude of names doth kindle sparkles of love and liking among meere strangers . neither can i beleeve a waiward olde man , which would say , that the giving of surnames for christian names first began in the time of king edward the sixt , by such as would be godfathers , when they were more then halfe fathers , and thereupon would have perswaded some to change such names at the confirmation . which ( that i may note by the way ) is vsuall in other countries , as wee remember two sonnes of king henry the second of france , christ●●ed by the names of alexander and hercules , ch●●●ged them at their confirmation into 〈◊〉 and francis. but two christian names are rare in england , and i only remember now his maiesty who was named charles iames , as the prince 〈…〉 and among private men , thomas maria wingfield , and sir thomas p●sth●●●us hobby . although it is common in ita●●e , to adioyne the name of some saint , in a kinde of devotion to the christian name , as 〈◊〉 baptista spinalu , iohannes franciscns bor●omeus , marcus antonius 〈◊〉 : and in spaine to adde the name of the saint on whose day the childe was borne . if that any among vs have named their children remedian 〈◊〉 , imago s●eu● , or with such like names , i knowe some will thinke it more then a vanitie , as they do but little better of the new names , free-gift , reformation , earth , dust , ashes , delivery , more fruite , tribulation , the lord is neare , more triall , discipline , ioy againe , from above : which have lately beene given by some to their children with no evill meaning , but vpon some singular and precise conceit . that i may omit another more vaine absurditie , in giving names and surnames of ruen , yea and of the best families to dogges , beares , and horses . whenas wee reade it was thought a capitall crime in pomposiamas for calling his base bondslaves by the name of grand captaines . here i might remember how some mislike the giving of parents names successively to their heires , for that if they should be forced to proove descent , it will be hard to proove the doner and the done in formedon , and to distinguish the one from the other . it were impertinent to note heere , that destinies were superstitiously by onomantin desciphered out of names , as though the names and natures of men were sutable , and fatall necessitie concurred heerein with voluntary motion , in giving the name , according to that of ausonius to probus . qualem cravit moribus , iussit vocari nomine . mundi supremus arbitar . and after , where he playeth with bibbing mother mere● , as thogh she were so named , bicause she would to drink meere wine without water , or as he pleasantly 〈◊〉 it ●●rum merum ; for as he saieth ; qui primus mere● 〈◊〉 tibi 〈…〉 thesida nomen condidit hippolit● . nam divinare est , nomen componere , quòd 〈◊〉 fortuna , morum , vel nocis indici●● . for hyppolitus the sonne of theseus was torne in 〈◊〉 by his coach horses , according to his name . so 〈◊〉 , signified he should linger long before trey . 〈◊〉 that he should be redeemed out of bondage in his childehoode , tantalus , that he should be most wretched , because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the one , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in the other , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the third implieth such accidents vnto them . hither also may be referred that of claudius rutilius . nominibus certis credam decurrere mores ? moribus aut potiùs nomina certa dari● but to confront poet with poet , our good epigr 〈◊〉 poet , olde godfrey of winchester thinketh no ominous forspeaking to lie in names , in that to faustus : multùm fauste tua de nobilitate superbis , quodq , bone faustus omine nomen habes , sed nullum nomen nomenti , sit licèt omen . memorable is that which may be observed out of histories , how that men of the selfe same name have begun and ended great states and empires : as cyrus the sonne of cambises beganne the persian monarchy , cyrus ●he sonne of darius ruinated the same . darius the sonne of histaspes restored it . and againe , darius the sonne of ars●●is vtterly overthrew it . philip the sonne of ami●●●tas especially enlarged the kingdome of macedonia , philip the sonne of antigonus wholy lost the same . augustus was the first established emperour of rome , augustulus the last . constantinus magnus borne in this isle first beganne the empire of constantinople , constantinus the last left it to the turkes , and vtterly lost the same , &c. such 〈◊〉 curions observations bred the superstitious kinde of divination called 〈◊〉 , condemned by the last generall counsell , by which the pithagoreans iudged the even number of vowells in names to signifie imperfections in the left sides of men , and the odde number in the right . by this augustus the emperour encouraged himselfe , and conceived good hope of victory , whenas the night before the sea-battell at actium , the first man hee mette was a poore waysa●ing man driving his asse before him , whose name when hee demaunded , he answered , eutyches , that is , happyman ; and that his asses name was nicon , that is , victor . in which place when he accordingly had obtained the victory , he builded the cittie nicopolis , that is , the citty of victory , and there erected brasen images of the man and his asse . by this theodatus king of the gothes , when he was curious to knowe the successe of his warres against the romans , an on●manticall or name-wisard iew willed him to shut vp a number of swine in little hog-sties , and to give some of them roman names , to other gotish names , with severall markes , and there to leave them to a certaine day ; at the day appointed , the king with the iew repaired to the hog-sties , where they found them only dead to whom they had given the gotish names , and those alive to whom they had given the roman names , but yet with their brissels more then halfe shed . whereupon the iew foretolde , that the gothes should wholy be discomfited , and the romans should loose a great part of their forces . by this vespasian was incouraged to take vpon him the empire , when comming to the temple of serapi● at alexandria , and being there alone at his devotion , he sodainly sawe in a vision , one basilides , a noble man of aegypt , who was then foure score miles off . vpon which name of basilides derived from basileus , signifying a king , hee assured himselfe of royaltie , and the empire which hee then complotted for . as concerning this on●mantia a german lately set foorth a table , which i wish had beene suppressed , for that the divell by such vanities , doth abuse the credulitie of youth to greater matters , and sometimes to their 〈…〉 . i can not tell how you would like it if i should 〈◊〉 remember how the greekes superstitiously iudged them more happy , in whose names the numerall letters added together made the greater summe , and therefore achilles forsooth must needes vanquish hector , because the numerall greeke letters rose to a greater number in his name then in the others . or how the amorous romans kissed the cup with a health so often at their meetings , as there were letters in their mistresse names , according to that of merry martiall of his two wenches , navia which had six letters , and iustina that had seaven in her name ; navia sex cyathis , septem iustina ●ibatur . our nation was farre from those and such curious 〈◊〉 therefore heere will i overpasse them , and set downe alph●betically the names which wee now call christian names , most vsuall to the english nation , with their significations . for this is to be takē as a granted veritie , that names among all nations and tongues ( as i partly noted before ) as significative and not vaine senselesse sounds . among the hobrew●s it is certaine out of sacred scriptures , s. hicrome , and philo likewise among the greekes , romans , german , french , &c. yea among the barbarous turks , for with them m●●emet signifieth glorified or laudable , h●mar lively , abdall● gods servant , seliman peaceable , agm●● good , ha●iza readie . neam● pl●asant . and the savages of hispa●●la and all america , name their children in their owne languages , glistering light , sunne bright , gold-bright , fine gold , sweete , rich feather , &c. as they of congo , by names of birdes , pretious stones floures , &c. so that it were grosse ignorance and to no ●mall reproach , of our progenitours , to thinke their names onely nothing significative , because that in the daily alteration of our ●ong , the signification of them is lost , or not commonly knowne , which yet i hope to recover , and to make in some part knowne , albeit they cannot easily and happily be 〈◊〉 , because as 〈◊〉 noteth ; barberous name● ( as hee terme th● them , ) were very emphaticall and very short . but in all the significations of these names , you shall see the good and hopefull respects which the devisers of the names had , that there is an orthetes or certitude of names among all nations according to plate , and thereby perceive that many were translated out of the greeke and latine . with all we may make this fruit by consideration of our names , which have good , hopefull , and luckie significations , that accordingly we do carrie and conforme our selves ; so that wee faile not to be answerable to them , but be nostri nominis homines , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as severus , preb●s , and aur●●lus are called sui nominis imporatores . and accordingly it seemeth to have beene the manner at giving of names , to wish the children might performe and discharge their names , as when gunthr●● king of the french , named clatharius at the font , he said ; crescat puer , & huius sit nominis executer . but before i proceed farther , this is to be noted . in most antient times the britans had heere their peculiar names , for the most part taken from colours , ( for they vsed to pain● themselves ) which are now lost or remaine among the welsh . afterward they tooke roman names when they were provincialls , which either remaine corrupted among them , or were extinguished in the greatest part of the realme , after the entrance of the english saxons , who brought in their german names , as cridda , ponda , oswald , edward , vchtred , edmund , &c. then to say nothing of the danes , who no doubt brought in their names , as suayn , harold , knute , &c. the normans conquest brought in other german names , for they originally vsed the german tong , as william , henry , richard , robert , hughe , roger , &c. as the greeke names , a●labius , i. innocent , aspasious i. delightful , beëthius , symmachus . i. helper , texetius . i. archer , &c. were brought into italy after the division of the empire . after the conquest , our nation ( who before would not admitte st●●nge and vnknowne names , but avoyded them therefore as vnluckie ) by little and little beganne to vse hebrew and sacred names , as mathew , david , sampson , luke , 〈…〉 , &c. which were never received in germany , 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 of frederick the second , about some . yeares since . so that the saxons , danish , norman , and british tongues . are the fittest keyes to open the entrance for searching out of our antient names yet in vse . for the hebrew i wil follow the common tables of the bible , which every one may do as well , and philo do nominibus mutatis . for the greeke the best glossaries with mine owne little skill . for the welsh , i will sparingly touch them , or leave them to the learned of that nation . but for old english names , which heere are the scope of my care , i must sift them as i may out of old english - saxon treatises , as i have happened vpon heere and there : and some coniecturally , referring all to the iudgement of such , as shall be more happy in finding out the truth , hoping that probability may either please , or be pardoned by such as are modestly learned in histories and languages ; to whose iudgement in all humilitie , i commit all that is to be said . for that they cānot but observe the diversity of names , from the originall in divers languages , as how the french have changed petrus into pierre , iohaunes to 〈◊〉 , benedictus to beneist , stephanus to esti●n , radulphus to r●●l : how the italians have changed iohannes into giovanni , constans into gostante , christopherus into christophan● , iacobus into iacope , radulphus into ridulpho , laurentius into lorenz . how the welsh have altered ioannes into even , aegidius into silim , george into sior , lawrence into lowris , constantinus into custenith . how the english have changed gerrard into garret , albric into aubry , alexander into sanders , constantin into custance , benedict into bennet . how the english and scottish borderers do vse roby and rob for robert , l●kky for luke , io●ie and ionie for iohn , cristie for christopher , &c. that i may omit the spaniard which have turned iohn into iuan , and iacobus into iago and diego : as the germans which have contracted iohannes into house , and theodoric into doric . these and the like , whosoever will learnedly consider , will not thinke any thing strange which shal hereafter follows ; howsoever the vnlearned will boldly censure it . i had purposed heere , lest i might seeme heereafter to lay my foundations in the sands of coniecture , and not on grounds of truth and authoritie , to have given you the signification of such words as offer themselves most frequent in the compositions of our meers english names , viz. ael al aelf ard ar bert bald cin cuth ead fred gisle gund hold helm hulph hare here leod leof mer mund rad red rod ric sig stan theod ward wald weld wi will win , &c. and these not out of suppositive coniectures , but out of alfricus grammer , who was a learned archbishop of canterbury , well neere six hundred yeare since , and therefore not to be supposed ignorant of the english tongue , out of the english-saxon testament , psalter , and lawes , out of willeramus paraphrasis vpon the canticles , and the learned notes thereon by a man skilfull in the northerne tongues , as also out of beatus rhonanus , m. luther , dasipodius , killianus , who have laboured in illustration of the old german tongue , which vndoubtedly is the matrix and mother of our english . but i thinke it most fitting to this purpose , to shew those my grounds in their proper places heereafter . in the table following . gre. noteth the name to be greeke ; germ. german , lat. latine , fre. french , hebr. hebrew , brit. welsh , sax. saxon , or old english . vsuall christian names . araon , heb. a teacher , or mountaine of sortitude . abel , heb. iust . adam , heb. man , 〈◊〉 , or red . adolph , s●e eadulph . adrian , 〈◊〉 hadrian . alan , is thought by iuhas scaliger ( some of whose progenitors bare that name ) to signifie an hownd in the sclavonian tongue , and chancer vseth 〈◊〉 in the same sense : neither may it seem strange to take names from beasts . the romanes had their caninius , apur , asinus , &c. and 〈…〉 , lup●●vrsula . but whereas 〈…〉 into england with alan earle of britaine , to whome the conqueror gave the greatest part of 〈◊〉 , and hath 〈◊〉 most common since that time in the northern parts , in the yonger children of the noble house of percies , and the family of zouch , descended from the earles of britaine ; i would feeles it rather out of the british , than 〈◊〉 tongue , and will beleeve with an 〈…〉 from aeliamus , that is , sunne-bright , as they 〈…〉 into guida● . 〈…〉 and hope 〈…〉 , wealth and might , as plutarchus , architas , crates , craterus , polycrates , pancratius , with the greekes , regulus opimius , &c. with the latines . the king of the gothes , which sacked rome bearing his name , was called by the romans allaricus , the olde englishmen turned it into alric , the normans into aiberic . that ric , as it signified a kingdome , so also it signified , rich , wealthy , mighty , able powerful , attributes to a kingdome ; the word yet remaines in that sence among all the german nations dispersed in europe , and little mollisied dooth sufficiently proove . the italians receiving it from the longobardes , have turned it into ricco , the spaniards from the gothes into rico , the french from the frankes into richo , we from the saxons into rich , &c. fortunatus venantius , who lived about a thousand yeares since , translated it by potens , and fortis in these verses to hilperic king of fraunce : hilperice potens , si interpres barbarus adsit , adiutor fortis hoc quoq , nomen habet . nec fuit in vanum sic te vocitare parentes , praesagum hoc totum laudis , & omen erat . as that hilperic did signifie , puissant and mightie helper . this name is vsually written chilperic , but the c was set before the coning , that is , king , as in clotharius , clodovens , cheribertus , for lotharius , lodovaeus , heribertus . aubry hath beene a most common name in the honorable familie of vere earles of oxford . alban , lat. white , or high , as it pleaseth other . the name of our stephen and first martyr of britaine . alvvin , sax. all victorious , or winning all , as victor and vincontius , in latine nicetas and nicophorus . the yorkeshireman , which was schoolemaister to carolus magnus , and perswaded him to found the vniversitie of paris , is in an english-saxon treatise called alwin . but the french , as it seemeth , not able to pronounce the w , called him alcumus , and albinus . albert , germ. all-bright , as epiphanius , phaedrus , eudoxus with the ●racians : lucilius , illustrius , fulgentius , with the latines , beert and bert , as alfricus , and rhenamus do translate it , is famous , faire , and cleare . which the rather i beleeve , for that bertha a german lady sent into greece , was there called eudoxia in the same sence , as luitprandus reporteth . they moreover that in auntient bookes are written ecbert , sebert , ethelbert , in the latter are written echright , sebright , ethelbright : so that , bert in composition of names dooth not signifie beard , as some translate it . aelfred , sax. all peace , not varying much in signification from irenans . eal , ail , ael in old english compound names is answerable to pan and pam in greek names , as pamphilus , pammachius , panaetius , pantalcon , &c. aldred , sax. all reverent feare . alexander , gre. succour-man , or helper of men . alphons , if it be a german name , and came into spaine with the gothes , a german nation , it is as much as holfa●s , that is , our helpe , and probable it is to be a gotish name , for alphens the first king of spaine of that name anno was descended from the gothes . amery , in latine almaricus , from the german emerich , that is , alwayes rich , able , and powerfull , according to luther : the french write it aumery , as they of theoderic , henric , frederic , make terrey , henry , frery . ambrose , gr●● divine , immortall . amie , from the french amiè , that is , beloved , and that from amatus , as renè from renatus . the erles and dukes of savoy which be commonly called aimè , were in latine called amadeus , that is , loving god , as theophilus , and so was that erle of savoy called , which did homage to king henry the third of england for bourg in bresse , saint maurice in chablais , chasteau bard , &c. which i note for the honour of england . we doe vse now amias for this in difference from amie the womens name . some deduce amias from aemilius the roman name , which was deduced from the greeke aimulios , faire spoken . ananias , heb . the grace of the lord. andrevv , gre : manly , or manfull freculphus turneth it decorus , comely and decent ; i know not vpon what ground . see charles . anaravd , brit . corrupted from honoratus , that is , honorable . angel , gre : a messenger . anthonie , gre : as anthoros , flourishing , from the greeke anthos a floure , as florens and florentius with the latines , and thales , euthalius with the greekes . there are yet some that drawe it from anton a companion of hercules , anselm , germ : defence of authoritie , according to luther . whether this name came from the gotish word anses , by which the gothes called their victorious capitaines as demi-gods , i dare not determine : yet ansbert , ansegis , answ●ld , germane names , and ansketel vsed much in the antient house of the mallories seeme to descend from one head . archebald , vide erchenbald . arfast , sax. goodly-man [ alfricus . ] arnold , ger : honest , but the germans write ernold . probus in latine [ luther . ] it hath beene common in the old familie of the boyses . arthvr , a latin name in iuvenal drawne from the goodly fixed starre arcturus , and that from arctus is the beare , as vrsicinus amongst the romanes . the famous arthur made this name first famous amongest the brittaines . avgvstine , latine , ●ncreasing , or maiesticall from augustus , as victorinus , iustinus , constantinus diminutives from victor , iustus , constans , according to molinaeus . one observeth that adoptive names doe end in anus , as aemilianus , domitianus , iustinianus , adopted by aemilius , domitius , iustinus [ lilius giraldus . ] b baldvvin , ger. if we beleeve luther , speedie conquerour , if rhenanus , and lipsius , victorious power . but whereas iornandes , cap. . sheweth that king alaric was surnamed baldh id est , audax : for that he was bold and adventurous , and both kilianus , and lipsius him selfe doth confesse , that it was antiently in vse , for bold and confident , baldwin must signifie bold victor , as winbald , the same name inverted , ethelbald nobly bold , willibald very bold and confident , concurring somewhat in signification with thraseas , thrasimachus , thrasibulus , thrasillus of the graecians . so all the names wherein win is found , seeme to imply victorie , as tatewin , learned victor , bertwin , famous victor , earlewin , glorions or honourable victor , and vnwin , yet amongst the danes for invincible [ ionas turson ] as anicetus in greeke . accordingly we may iudge that most names wherein win is found , to resemble the greeke names , nicetes , nicocles , nichomachus , nicander , polynices , &c. which have nice in them . baptist , gre : a name given to s. iohn , for that he first baptized , and to many since in honor of him . bardvlph , ger. from bertulph .i. faire helpe , viph , wolf , hulf , aelf , hilp , helf , signifie help , as luther and others assure vs. so aelfwin-victorious helpe , aeelfric rich or powerfull helpe , aelfwold helping governour , aelfgiva helpe-giver . names conformable to boetius , symmachus , &c. bartholmevv , hebr. the sonne of him that maketh the waters to mount , that is , of god which lifteth vp the minde of his teachers , and droppes downe water [ szegedinus . ] barnabas , or barnabie , heb. sonne of the master , or sonne of comfort . barvch , hebr. the same which bennet , blessed . basil , gre. royall , kingly , or princely . bede , sax. he that praieth , or a devout man , as eucherius , or eusebius in greeke . we retaine still bedman in the same sence , and to say our bedes , is but to say our praiers . beavis , may seeme probably to be corrupted from the name of the famous celtique king bellovesus . wher●as the french have made in like sort beavois of the olde cittie bellovacum . in both these is a significancie of beautie . in latter times boge hath beene vsed in latine for beavis . benet , lat. contracted from benedictus . i. blessed . beniamin , he. the son of the right hand , or filius dierum , [ phil● : ] see ioseph . li. . archaielogias . bernard , germ. saint bernardes cluniac monks drew it from bona nardus , by allusion , some turne it hard child , in which sence barne is yet retained with vs in the north. if it be derived as the germans wil have it from bearne , which signifieth a beare , it is answerable to arthur . others yet more iudicially translate bernard , into filialis indoles , childe-like disposition toward parents , as bernher , lord of many children . it hath been most common in the house of brus of connigton and exton . out of the which the lord harrington of exton , and sir robert cotton of connington are discended , as his most excellent maiestie from robert brus , eldest brother to the first bernard bertran , for bertrand , faire and pure ; some thinke that the spaniards have with sweeter sound drawne hence their fernando and ferdinando . blash , gr. budding forth , or sprewting with encrease . boniface , lat. well doer , or good and sweete face : see winefrid . bonaventvre , lat. good adventure , as eutychius among the greekes , paustus and portunatus among the latines , botolph , sax. contracted into botall , helpe shippe , as saylers in that age were called botescarles . in parte it is answereable to the greeke names , nauplins , naumachius . &c. brian , fre. written in old bookes , briant and brient , shrill voyce as among the romans voconins , [ nicotius ] balthasar , heb . searcher of treasure , or without treasure . c caler , heb. hearty , philo. calisthenes , gre. beautifull & strong . caradoc , bri. deerely beloved . quaere . ceasar , this came a late to be a christian name among vs. spartianus saith it was first given for killing of an elephant , which in the moores language is called caesar , or that he was cut out of his mothers woombe , or borne with a bush of haire , or grey eyes . such variety of opinions is concerning a name , which as he saith , cum ●ternitate mundi duratur●●● . charles , germ. according to i. du tillet , from carl , that is , strong , stowt , couragious , and valiant , as virius , valerius , valeus , &c. with the romans , craterus , &c. with the greekes ; not from the greeke charilans , which signifieth publicola , the claw-backe of the people . the hungarians call a king by a generall name carl [ aventinus . ] . and carl is onely in the coines of carolus magnus , ful. scaliger makes caellman carlman answerable to the greeke andreas . christopher , gre. christe-carrier , a name , as learned men thinke , devised , and a picture thereunto mystically applied as a representation of the dueties of a true christian , and was as their nosce teipsum . of such mystical symboles of the primitive christians ; see ioseph scaliger ad freherum . chrysostome , gre : golden-mouth . clemens , lat : meeke , milde and gentle. constantin , lat : fast , or firme , for which in some partes of the realme we vse custance . conrad , germ : able-counsell , or advised valour , as iulius scaliger will exercitat . . but heere is to be noted , that rad , red , and rod signifie counsell and advise . [ luther , alfricus , killian ] and differ onely in dialect , as stan , sten , stone . and this appeereth by that which the northerne men cried when they killed walter bishop of duresme , short rad , good rade , quell yee the bishop , that is , short councell , good councell , &c. [ m. paris . ] cornelivs , lat : all drawe it from cornis an horne . cvthbert , sax. not cut-beard , as some fable , but famous , bright , and cleare skill or knowledge , according to the olde verse ; quique gerit certum cuthbert de luce vocamen . no man doubteth but cuth signified knowledge , as vncuth vnknowne ; so cuthwin skilfull victor , cuthred , skilfull in counsell . cyprian , gre : from cypria , a name of venus , so named of the isle of cyprus , where she was especially honoured . cadvvallader , brit : a warrelike name , deduced from cad , that is , battaile , as it seemeth : but i referre it to the learned britans . crescens , lat : increasing . d daniel , hebr. iudgement of god. david , hebr. beloved . demetrivs , ger. belonging to ceres . denis , gr. for dronisius , which some fetch from dios nous , s. divine mind . it is one of the names of the drunkard bacehus , & derived by nonnus in his dionysiacis , from iupiter his lame leg , for nises signifieth , saith he , lame in the syrian tongue : and we will imagine that iupiter halted when bacehus was enseamed in his thigh but saint denis of fraunce hath most graced this name . drv , in lat drugo , or dr●g● subtile , as callidius in latin if it come from the saxon or german ; but if it bee french , lively and lustie [ ni cetius ] dvnstan , sax. one that writeth s. dunstans life , saith the name is answerable to aaron●s . mountaine of fortitude . that dun with the old english signified a mountain or high hill , is apparant that they called mountaine man dunlettan , and downe continueth in the like sence with vs. others suppose it to signifie most high , as among our ancestors leofstan signified most beleved , betstan , best of al , fridstan , most peacefull , &c. stan being the most vsuall termination of the superlative degree . e eadgar , sax for eadig●ar , happy , or blessed honor , or power , for i find it interpreted in an old history faelix potestas the last verse of ethelwardus historie seemeth to proove the same , and eadigi ( for the which ead was vsed in composition , ) is the word in the c. of saint math. in the english saxon testament , so oftē●terated , for blessed in the beatitudes . that ear , or ar , signifie honor , it appeareth in the saxon lawes , and in ionas turson danish vocabulary , as artic & earlic , honourable . and from honor commeth our honourable name of earles , which came hither with the danes , as may be gathered out of ethetwerdus . edmvnd , sax. for eadmund , happy , or blessed , peace : our lawyers yet doe acknowledge muna for peace . in their word mundbzeck , for breach of peace . so aelmund all peace , kinmund , peace to his kinred , ethelmund noble peace ; yet i know that some translate mund by mouth , as pharamund , true mouth . eadvlph , sax. happy helpe . eadvvin , happy victor . edvvard , in sax. coins eadward , happy keeper . the christian humilitie of king edward the confessor , broght such a credit to this name , that since that time it hath beene most vsuall in all estates . that ward signifieth a keeper , is apparant by wood ward . mill-wara , &c. ealdred , sax. all reverent feare . ealred , sax all councell . ebvlo , see thell . egbert , or rather ecbert , sax. alwaies bright , famous for ever , as the olde english called everlasting life , ec-life . ellis , heb. corruptly for elias , lord god. elmer , sax. contracted from ethelmer , noble and renowened : for willeranus translateth 〈◊〉 , by celebris and famosus . so merwin renowmed victor , merwald renowmed governour . yet i know b. 〈◊〉 turneth mier & mere by governor . cap. vlt. rer. ger. emanvel , heb. god with vs. emery , see amery . enion , brit. from aen●●s as some thinke , but the british glossarie translateth it iustus .i. iust and vpright . engelbert , germ. bright angell . erasmvs , gr. amiable , or to be beloved . erchenbald , ger. powerfull , bold , and speedie learner , or observer [ dasypodius . ] ernest , germ. in casar ariovistus , severe [ a●entinus . ] in the 〈◊〉 sence we still retaine it . esay , heb. reward of the lord. ethelbert , or edlebert , noble bright , or nobly renowmed , for ethel or adel , signifie in germany , noble . from whence happily athalric king of the gothes had his name . from hence it was that the heires apparant of the crowne of england , were surnamed etheling .i. noble borne , and clito .i. inclitus ; as in the declining estate of the roman empire , the heires of emperours were called nobilisssimi : hence also the spaniards which discended from the german gothes , may seeme to have partly borrowed their idal-guie , by which word they signifie their noblest gentlemen . ethelred , sax. noble advise and councell . ethelard , sax. for which we now vse adelard , noble disposition . e●hel●●an , sax. noble jewell , 〈…〉 , or , most noble . ethelvvard , sax. now ae●ward , noble keeper . ethelvvold , sax. noble governour , for the old booke of s. augustines in canterbury . wileranus and luther do agree that wold & wald doth signifie praefectus a governour . so bertwold and brightwold famous governour , kinwald , governour of his kinred . ethelvvolph , sax. noble helper . everard , ger . wel reported , as gesnerus writeth , like to eudoxus of the greekes : but other with more probabilitie deduce it from eberard .i. excellent or supreme towardnes . a name most vsuall in the ancient familie of the digbyes . evsebivs , gre . pious and religious godly-man . evstace , gre . seemeth to be drawne from the greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which signifieth constant , as constantinus ▪ but the former ages turned it into eustachius in latine . evan , see ivon . evtropivs . gr . well mannered . ezechias , heb. strength of the lord. ezechiel , heb. seeing the lord. f fabian , from fabius , who had his name from beanes , as valerian from valerius fabianus bishop of rome , martyred vnder decius , first gave reputation to this name . foelix , lat : happy , the same with macarius among the graecians . florence , lat : flourishing , as thales with the greekes , antonius with the latines . francis , g●rm : from franc , that is , free , not servile , or bond . the same with the greeke eleutherius , and the latine liberius . frederic , germ : rich peace , or as the monk which made this allusion , peaceable raigne . est ●●ibenda fides rationi nominis huius composit● frederic , 〈◊〉 componentia cuius . s●●t frideric , frith , ꝙ nisi pax , ric ꝙ nisi regnū . sic per 〈◊〉 fredericus , quid nisi vel rex , pacificus vel regia pax ? pax , pacificusque . for 〈◊〉 , th' english have commonly vsed frery and fery , which hath beene now a long time a christian name in the antient family of tilney , and luckie to their house , as they report . fremvnd , sax : free-peace . fovlk , or fvlke , germ : some derive it from the german vollg , noble and gallant . but i from folc , the english-saxon woorde for people , as though it were the same with publius of the romanes , and onely translated from publius , as , beloved of the people and commons . fvlbert , sax : full bright . fvlcher , sax : lord of people . ferdinando , see beriram . this name is so variable , that i can not resolve what to say : for the spaniards make it hernand , and hernan , the italians ferando , and ferante , the french ferrant , which is now become a surname with vs , and the latines ferdinandus : vnlesse wee may thinke it is fetcht by transposition from fred , and rand , that is , pure peace . g ga●riel , ●ebr . man of god , or strength of god. gamaliel , hebr . gods rewarde , as deodatus , theodorus , and theodosiu● . garret , for gerard , and gerald : see everard , for from thence they are de●●rted , if we beleeve ges●erus . but rather gerard may seeme to signifie , all 〈◊〉 , as 〈◊〉 , all truth , gerwin , all victorious , and the german nation is so named , as all and fully men . gavven , a name devised by the author of king arthurs fable , if it be not walwin : see walwin . george , gre : husbandman , the same with agricola , a name of speciall respect in england , since the victorious king edward the third chose saint george for his patro●●c , and the english in all encounters , and batt●●les , vsed the name of saint george in their cries , as the french did , m●●ti●y s. denis . gedeon , heb : a breaker , or destroyer . german , lat : of the same stocke , tr●e , no counterfeit , or a naturall brother . s. german , who suppressed the pelagian heresie in brittaine , about the yeere . adva●●ced this name in this isle . gervas , ger●●sius in latine , for gerfast , ( as some germans coniecture ) that is , all sure , firme , or fast . if ●● be so , it is onely c●●stans translated . but it is the name of a 〈◊〉 who suffered vnder nero at ma●lai●● , who if hee were a 〈…〉 was , it may signifie grave & antient , or honourable , as wrested from gero●sius . geffrey , ger. from gaufred , ioyfull peace . kilianus translateth gaw . ioyfull , as the french doe gay . that fred and frid , doe signifie peace , is most certaine , as fred-stole . i. pacis cathedra . see frederic . gilbert germ . i supposed heretofore to signifie gold-like-bright , as aurelius or aurelianus : or yellow bright , as fl●vius with the romans . for geele is yellow in old saxon , & still in dutch , as gilvus according to some in l●tin . but because it is written in dooms-day booke ▪ g●sl●bert . i iudge it rather to signifie bright or brave pledge ; for in old saxon , gisle signifieth a pledge , & in the old english booke of s. augustines of canterbury , sureties and pledges for keeping the peace are called fredgisles . so it is a well fitting name for children whi●h are the onlye sweet pledges and pawns of love between mā & wife , & accordingly called dulcia pignora & pignora amoris . giles , is miserably disjoynted from aegidius , as gillet from aegidia , by the french , as appeareth in lustories by the name of duke of rollos wife . it may seeme a greeke name , for that s. g●●es , the first that i have read so named , was an athenian , and so drawne from aigidion , that is , little kid , as we know martia●us capell . had his name in like sense ; ●or some no●●sse probably fetch giles from iulius , as g●●ha● from iuliana . godfrey , ger . from godfred , gods-peace , or god●v ; for the d●nes call godlines gudfreidhed . [ ionas turson ] godard ger . strength of god , or gods-man as gabriel according to luther . but i thinke it rather to signifie godly disposition or toward●es , for ard and art in the german tongue , do signifie towardnes , aptnes or disposition . as mainard , powerfull disposition , giffard , liberal dispositiō , as largus ; bernard , childlike disposition , leonard lionlike disposition , as leoninus ; re●●ard , pure disposition , as syncerus . godvvin , ger . for win-god , converted , or victorious in god. godrich . ger . rich , or powerfull in god. gregory gre . watching , watchfull , as vigilantius , and v●gilius in latine . gryffith , brit. some britans interpret it , strong-faithed . grvffin , brit. if it be not the same with griffith , some do fetch from rufinus , red. as many other welsh names are derived f●ō colours . grim●ald , ger . but truly grim●ald , power over anger , as rodoalà power of councel [ ●uther ] a name most vsuall in the old family of pa●●cefoote . gvvischard , see wischard . gvy , in latine , guide from the french guide . a guide , leader , or director to other . h hadrian , lat. deduced from the city hadria , whence hadrian the emperor had his orig●nall . gesner bringeth it from the greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , grosse or weal●hie . hamon , heb. faithfull . haniball , a● unick name . gratious lord. hector gr . defendour , according to ●lat● . henry , ger . in latine henricus . a name so famous since the yeare . when henry the first was emperour , that there have beene . emperours , . kings of england , . kings of france , as many of spaine of that name . if ein-ric be the originall , it signifieth ever rich or powerfull . if it be deduced from herric , which the germans vse now , it is as much as rich-lord . i once supposed , not without some probabilitie , that it was contracted from honoricus , of which name , as procopius mention●th , there was a prince of the vandales , in the time of honorius , and therefore likely to take name of him , as hee did from honor. and lately i have found that fr. philelphus is of the same opinion . howsoever it hath been an ominous good name in all respects of signification . hengest , sax. horse man , the name of him which led the first englishmen into this isle , somewhat answerable to the greeke names , philippe , speusiprus , ctesippus , his brother in like sort was called horsa . harhold , sax. luther interpreteth it governour or generall of an armie , and so would i if it were harwold . but being written harhold & herold , i rather turne it love of the armie . for hold see rheinhold . for hare and here that they signifie both an armie , and a lord , it is taken for granted : yet i suspect this here , for a lord to come from the latine herus . see ethelwold . herbert , germ. famous lord , bright lord , or glorie of the army . hervvin , ger . victorious lord , or victor in the armie . harman , or hermon , ger . generall of an army , the same which strato or polemarchus in greeke caesar turned it into arminius [ tscudus , ] hence the german dukes are called hertogen , as leaders of armies . hercvles , gr . glorie or illumination of the aire , as it pleaseth macrobius , who affirmeth it to be proper to the sunne , but hath bin given to valiant men for their glorie . hierome , gr . holy name . hildebert , germ . bright , or famous lord. see maud. hilary , lat. merrie and pleasant . hovvel , a brittish name , the originall whereof some britan may finde . goropius turneth it sound or whole , as wisely as he saith , englishmen were called angli , because they were good anglers . i rather would fetch hoel from haelius , that is , sunne-bright , as coel from caelius . hv●h , aventinus deriveth it from the german word hougen , that is , slasher or cutter . but whereas the name hugh , was first in vse among the french , and o●frid in the yeare . vsed hugh for comfort , i iudge this name to be borrowed thence , and so it is correspondent to the greeke names elpidius , and elpis . hvmfrey , ger . for humfred , house-peace , a lovely and happie name , if it could turne home-warres betweene man and wife into peace . the italians have made onuphrius of it in latine . hvbert , sax. bright forme , faire shape , or faire hope . horatio , i know not the etymologie , vnlesse you will derive from the greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , wel sighted . j iaco● , heb. a tripper , or supplanter . whose name because he had power with god , that he might also prevaile with men , was changed into israel by god. see genes . ca. . philo de nominibus mutatis . iames , wrested from iacob , the same . iago in spanish , iaques in french , which some frenchified english , to their disgrace , have too much affected . iasper . i●el , see ybel . ioachim , heb. preparation of the lord. ieremy , heb : high of the lord. ioab , heb : fatherhood . iohn , heb : gratious , yet though so vnfortunate in kings ; for that iohn of england well neare , lost his kingdome ; and iohn of france was long captive in england ; and iohn balioll was lifted out of his kingdome of scotland ; that iohn steward when the kingdome of scotland came vnto him , renouncing that name , would be proclaimed king robert. see iuon . iob , heb. sighing or sorrowing . iordan , heb : the river of iudgement . iosvah , heb : as iesuiah saviour . iosc●lin , a diminitive from i●st or iustus , as iustulus according to islebius , but molefied from iostelin , in the old netherland language , from whence it came with ioscelin of lovan , yonger sonne of godfrey duke of brabant , progenitour of the honourable percyes , if not the first , yet the most noble of that name in this realme . nicotius maketh it a diminitive from iost iudocus . ioseph , heb. encreasing [ phil● ] or encrease of the lord. iosias , heb. fire of the lord. iosvah , heb : the lord saviour . ingeibert , see engelbert . ingram , germ : engelramus in latine , deduced from engell which signifieth an angell , as angelo is common in italy , so engelbert seemeth to signifie bright angell . isaac , heb : laughter , the same which gelasius among the greekes . israel , heb. seeing the lord , or prevailing in the lord : see iacob . ivlivs , gr : soft haired or mossie bearded , so doth iulus signifie in greeke . it was the name of aeneas sonne , who was first called ilus . ilus erat dum res stetit ilia regno . the old englishmen in the north parts turned iulius into ioly , and the vnlearned scribes of that time may seeme to have turned iulianus , into iolanus , for that name doth often occurre in olde evidences . ivon , is the same with iohn , and vsed by the welsh , and sclav●nians for iohn ; and in this realme about the conquerours time iohn was rarely found , but iuon as i have observed . ionathan , heb. the same with theodorus , and theodosius , that is , gods gift . k kenhelme , sax. defence of his kinred . h●●m , defence , [ luther : ] so 〈◊〉 happy defence , bright-helme , faire defence , sig-●elme , victorious defence . kenard , sax. kinde disposition , and affection his kinred . l lambert , sax : as some thinke , faire-lamb luther turneth it farre famous . lancelot seemeth a spanish name , and may signifie a launce , as the militarie men , vse the word now for an horseman . some think it to be no auntient name , but forged by the writer of king arthurs historie for one of his doubtie knights . lavrence , lat : flourishing like a baie tree : the same that daphnis in greeke . lazarvs , hebr : lords-help . leofstan , sax : most beloved . leofvvin , sax : winlove , or to be loved , as agapetus , and erasmus with the greekes , and amandus with the latines . leonard , ger : lion-like disposition , as thymoleon with the greekes , or popularis indoles , as it pleaseth lips●●s , that is , people pleasing disposition . levvis , wrenched from l●dowike , which tilius interpreteth , refuge of the people . levvlin , brit. lion-like , the same with leominus , and leontius . lionell , lat : leonellus , that is , little-lyon . lvke , hebr : rising or lifting vp . leodegar , or leger , ge●m : gatherer , of people , lipsius in . poliorceticis , or , altogether popular . leodpold , ger : defender of people , corruptly leopold . in our auncient tongue leod signified people of one citie , as leodscip , was to them respublica , the northerne germans have yet leud in the same sense . so luti , li●di , leuti , and leudi , as the dialect varieth , signifies people . in which sence , the normans in the life of carolus magnus were called nortleud . the names wherein leod are found , seeme translated from those greeke names wherein you shall finde d●m●s and l●●s , as demosthenes , that is , strength of the people . dimochares , that is , gratious to the people , demophilus , that is , lover of the people . nicodemus , that is , conqueror of people . l●●medon , that is , ruler of people . l●od●mas , that is , tamer of people , &c. livin , germ . the same with amatus , that is , beloved [ kilianus ] m madoc , brit : from mad , that is , good in the welsh , as caradoc , from c●●● , that is , beloved . the same with agathias in greek [ dict : walicum ] malachias , hebr : my messenger . manas●● hebr : not forgotten . marc●llv● , lat : plutarch out of p●ssido●ius do●●vet● it from mars , as martiall and warlike , other from marculus , that is , an hammer . the latter times turned it to martell and mallet , which diverse tooke for a surname , because they valiantly didde hammer and beate downe their adversaries , see malmes . pag. . marmadvc , germ : mermachtig as some coniecture , which in olde saxon signifieth more mightie , being sweetened in sound by processe of time . a name vsuall in the north , but most in former times in the noble families of tweng , lumley , and constable , and thought to be val●ntinianus translated . marke in hebrew signifieth high , but in latine , according to varr● , it was a name at the first given to them that were borne in the moneth of march ; but according to festus pompeius it signifieth a hammer or mallet , given in hope the person should be martiall . mathevv , hebr . gods-gift . martin , lat : from martius , as antoninus from antonius . saint martin the militarie saint , bishop of toures first made this name famous among the christians by his admirable piety . mercvrie , lat : quasi medius currens inter deos & homines , as the gramarians etymologize it , a mediate coursi●or betweene gods and men . meredith , brit : in latine mereducius . merric , brit : in latine meuricus , i knowe not whether it be corrupted from maurice . michael , hebr. who is perfect ? or , who is like god ? the french contract it into miel . maximilian , a new name , first devised by frederic the third emperour , who doubting what name to give to his sonne and heire , composed this name of two worthy romans names , whome he most admired , q. fabius max●●us , and scipio aemili●●● , with hope , that his sonne would immitate their vertues . [ hieronymus gebviterius de f●milia austriaca . miles , lat : mile , which some fetch from milium , a kinde of graine called millet , as probably as plime draweth fab●● , le●tulus , c●eer● from faba , lens , cicer , that is , beanes , lentill , and chich pease . but whereas the french contract michael into miel : some suppose our miles to come from thence . moses , hebr ▪ drawne vp . morgan , brit ▪ the same with pelagius , that is , se●man , if we may beleeve an olde fragment , and mor signifies the sea among the welsh : so marius , marinus , marianus , and pontius among the latines have their name from mare and pontus the sea. qu●re . mavger , a name eftsoones vsed in the worshipfull family of vavasors . malgerius , in olde histories . quare . morice , from the latine m●●●itius , and that from maurus , a moore , as syritius from syus a sy●ian . the name not of any worth in his owne signification , but in respect of saint maurice a commander in the thebane legion martyred for the christian profession vnder maximianus . n nathaniel , hebr : the gift of god , as theod●sius , &c. neale , fre : blackish , or swart , for it is abridged from nigel , and so alwayes written , in latine records nigellus , consonant to nigrinus , and atrius of the latines , melanius and melauthus of the graecians . nicholas , gre : conquerour of the people , norman , drawne from the norman nation , as northerne-man , vsuall antiently in the familie of darcy . noel , fre : the same with the latine natalis , given first in honour of the feast of christes birth , to such as were then borne . o odo , see othes . oliver , a name fetched from the peace-bringing olive , as daphnis , and laurence , from the triumphant lar●rell . osbern , sax. house-childe , as filius familiàs , [ luther . ] osbert , sax. domesticall brightnes , or light of the family . osmvnd , sax. house-peace . osvvold , ger. house-ruler or steward : for wold in old english and high dutch , is a ruler : but for this the normans brought in ledespencer now spencer . the holy life of s. oswald king of northumberland , who was incessantly in prayer hath given much honour to this name . see ethelwold . othes , an old name in england , drawne from otho , written by some odo , and by others , eudo , in english-saxon odan , and after the originall , whereof when 〈◊〉 could not finde , i will not seeke . av●nt●●s maketh it hud , that is , keeper : but petr●● bles●●sis epist . . maketh it to signifie a faithfull reconciler ; for he writeth , od● in episc●pum parisionsem consecratus nomen s●is operibus interpret●●i non cessat , fidelis sequester inter deum & 〈◊〉 . ottwell and ottey seeme to bee nursenames drawne from othes . ovven , lat. audoenus , if it be the same with s. owen of france . but the britans will have it from old king oenus father in law to hercules ; others from eugenius , that is , noble or well borne . certaine it is that the country of ireland called tir-oen , is in latine records , terra eugenij ; and the irish priests know no lat●ne for their oen but eugenius , as rothericus for rorke . and sir owen ogle in latine records , as i have beene enformed , was written eugenius ogle . originall , may seeme to be deducted from the greeke origenos , that is , borne in good time . p pascal , deduced from pascha , the passover . patrik , lat. from patricius , quasi patram cians , a peere or state , he which could cite his father as a man of honour . a name given first to senators sonnes , but it grew to reputation when constantin● the greeke made a new state of patricij , who had place befor the praefectus praet●ri● , or lord great master of the house , if it may be so translated [ zosim●s . ] pavl , heb. wonderfull or rest : but the learned baronius drawing it from the latine , maketh it little , or humble . pavlin , from paul , at nigrinus from niger . percival , is thought at first to have bin a surname , and after ( as many other ) a christian n●me : fetched from p●rcheval , a place in normandie . one by allusion made this percival , per se valens . payn , in lat. paganus , exempt from militarie service , a name now out of vse , but having an opposite signification to a millitarie man , as scaliger observeth vpon ansdnius . petre , for which as the french vsed pierre : so our ancestours vsed pierce , a name of high esteeme among the christians , since our saviour named simon , the sonne of iona , cephas , which is by interpretation a stone , ioan. . . but fole-wisely have some petres , called themselves pierius . peregrine , lat. strange , or outlandish . philebert , ger. much bright fame , or very bright and famous , as polyphemus in greeke [ rhenanus . ] philippe , gr. a lover of horses , philip b●roald conceiting this his name , very clerckly proveth that phillippe is an apostolicall name by saint philip the apostle , a royall name by king philip king of macedonia , and an imperiall name by philip the first christian emperour . posthvmvs , lat. borne after his fathers death . q qvintin , lat. from quintus , the fifth borne , a man dignified by saint qu●tin of france . r ralfe , germ. contracted from radulph , which as rodulph signifieth help-councell , not differing much from the greeke eubulus . raymvnd , germ. quiet peace , as hesichius in greeke . randal , sax. corrupted from ra●ulph , that is , faire helpe . raphael , heb : the phisicke of god. reinhold , sax. sincere or pure love : for the germans call their greatest and goodliest river for purenes rheine , and the old english vsed hold for love , holdlic , for lovely , as vnhold , without love : willeranus vseth hold for favour , which is answerable to love . i have also observed hold for firme , and once for a generall of an armie . rhese , a british name , deduced as they thinke from rh●sus the thracian king , who was ( as homer describeth him by his armour , ) of a giantlike stature . but i dare not say the wordimplieth so much in signification : yet rhesi , signifieth a giant in the german tong . richard , sax. powerfull and rich disposition , as richer , an antient christian name , signified powerfull in the armie , or rich lord , and was but herr●● reversed , aventinus turneth it , treasure of the kingdome . see aubry . robert , germ. famous in councell , for it is written most anciently rodbert . rod , red , and rod , do signifie councell , see conrad and albert . this name was given to rollo , first duke of normandy , an originall ancestour of the kings of england , who was called first by the normans and french rou , wherevnto , some without ground thinke that bert was added : so that it should signifie rou , the renowmed . others vntruly turne it red-●eard , as thogh it were al one with aenobarbus of the latines , or barbarossa of the italians , iohn bodin ( or pudding , ) that i may give him his true english name , maketh it full wisely red-bara ; but i thinke no robert which knoweth what bardus meaneth , will like of it . roger , ger. ruger , quiet , the same with tranquilles in latine , frodoard writeth it alwaies rottgarius , or rodgarus , so it seemeth to signifie all councell , or strong councell . rolland , ger. whereas it was anciently written rod , land , it may seem to signifie councell for the land. and the first that i finde so named , was land-wardē in france , vnder carolus magn●s , against the piracies of the normans . the italians vse orland for rowland by metathesis . romane , lat. strong , from the greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 answerable to valens . rvben , heb. the sonne of visions , or a quick-seeing sonne . [ philo. ] reinfred , sax. pure peace . s salomon , hebr : peaceabi● . sampson , hebr : there the second 〈◊〉 . samv●l , hebr : place of god. savle , hebr : lent of the lord , or ●● some will , fox . s●●astian , gre : honorable or 〈◊〉 , as augustus or augustinus among the romans . sig●smvnd , germ : victo●●●● peace , 〈◊〉 victory with peace ; that sig signifieth victorie , a●frie , das●podius , and luther do all agree , yet hadr : 〈◊〉 turneth it victorious or prevailing speech . so sigward , now seward , victorious preserver , sigh●m , victorious defence , sighere , conqueror of an army , or victorious lord : and sigbert , now sebright , victorious fame , or fame by victory . silvester , iat : woodman . sylvanvs , lat : woodman , or rather wood-god . see walter . simon , hebr : obedientlistening [ phil● ] stephen , gre : a crowne . svvithin , sax : from the olde english swithea●n , that is , very high , as ce●●●s or ex●periu● with the romans . this name hath bin taken vp in honour of saint swithin the holie bishop of w●nchester about the y●●re . and called the weeping saint 〈◊〉 , for that about his feast praesepe and aselli , 〈◊〉 constellanons do 〈◊〉 cosmic●●y , and commonly cause raine . t theobald , ●●mmonly tibald , and thibald , gods power , as b : rhenanius noteth . but certaine it is , that in our saxon psalter gentes is alwayes translated by theod , and in the english-saxon old annales , the english nation is often called engl●-th●●d . the same lips●●● in poli●●ceticis affirmeth to be in the auntient german psalters . so that theobald seemeth in his opinion to signifie powerfull , or bolde over people . it was the common name in the familie of the gorges ; and of the lord verdons , of whom the earles of shr●wsburie , and essex are descended . theodore , gre : gods gift , now corruptly by the welsh-britans called tydder . theodosivs , gre : the same with theodore . theoderic , ger : contractly deric and torry with the french , powerable , or rich in people according to lipsius . theophilvs , gre : a lover of god. thomas , hebr : bottomles deepe , or twinne . timothy , gre : from timotheus , honou●ing god. tobias , hebr : the lord is good . tristram , i knowe not whether the first of this name was christned by king arthurs fabl●r . if it be the same which the french ●all trist●● , it commeth from sorrow : for p. aemi●ius noteth that the sonne of saint lewes of franc● , horne in the heavie sorrowfull time of his fathers imprisonment vnder the saracens , was named tristan in the same respect . tvrstan , sax : for trustan , most true and trustie , as it seemeth . v valens , lat : puissant . valentine , lat : the same . vchtred , ger : high counsell , vsed in the old family of raby . from whence the nevilles . vincent , lat : victorious . vital , lat : hee that may live a long life , like to macrobius ; or lively , the same that zosimus in greeke . vivian , lat : the same . vrbanvs , lat : curteous , civill . vrian , the same with george , as i have heard of some learned danes . it hath beene a common name in the family of saint pier of chesshire , now extinguished . w vvalter , ger : from waldher , for so it is most auntiently written , a pilgrime according to reneccius ; other make it a wod-lorde , or a wood-man , aunswerable to the name of silvius , silvanus , or sylvester . the old english called a wood , wald , and an hermite living in the woods , a waldbro●der . but if i may cast in my conceit , i take it to be herwald inverted , as herric and richer , winbald and baldwin . and so it signifieth governour or generall of an arm●e , as hegesistratus , see herman and harold : walvvin , some have interpreted out of the german tongue , a conquerour , as nicholaus and nicodemus , victor in latine ; but wee now vse gawen insteede of walwyn , architrenius maketh it walganus in latine . but if walwin was a britan , and king arthurs nephew , as w : malmesbury noteth , where hee speaketh of his giant-like bones found in wales , i referre the signification to the britans . warin , iovianus libr. . de aspiratione draweth it from ●●rro . but whereas it is written in all records . guarinus : it may seeme mollified from the dutch gerwm , that is , all-victorious . see gertrud . william , ge : for sweeter sound drawne from wilhelm , which is interpreted by luther , much defence , or , defence to many , as wilwald , ruling many . wildred , much reverent feare , or awfull . wilfred , much peace . willibert , much brightnesse , or very bright . willibrod much increase . so the french that cannot pronounce w have turnd it into philli , as phillibert , for willibert , much brightnes . many names wherein wee have will , seeme translated from the greeke names composed of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as polydamas , polybius , polyxenus , &c. helm yet remaineth with vs , and villi , willi , and bills yet with the germans for many . other turne william , a willing defender , and so it answereth the roman titus , if it come from tuendo , as some will have it . the italians that liked the name , but could not pronounce the w if wee may beleeve gesner , turned it into galeazo , retaining the sence in part for helme . but the italians report , that galeazo the first viscount of mill●●●● was so called , for that many cockes crew lustily at his birth . this name hath beene most common in england since king william the conqueror , insomuch that vppon a festivall day in the court of king henry the second , when sir william saint-iohn , and sir william fitz-hamon especiall officers had commaunded that none but of the name of william should d●●e in the great chamber with them , they were accompanied with an hundred and twentie williams , all knights , as robert moutensis recordeth anno . willfred , sax : much peace . wimvnd , sax : sacred peace , or holy peace , as wibert , holy and bright ; for wi , in willeramus is translated sacer. wischard , or gvi●card , norm : wilie , and crafty shifter : [ w : gemiticensis ] falcandus the italian interpreteth it erro , that is , wanderer . but in a norman name i rather beleeve the norman writer . wolstan , sax : comely , decent , as decentius , [ dasipodius . ] wvlpher , sax : helper , the saxon name of a king of middle - england , answering to the greeke name alexias , or rather epicurus . the most famous of which name was a hurtefull man , albeit he had a helpefull name . y ybell , brit : contracted from eubulus , good councellor . ythell , brit : likewise contracted from euthalius , very flourishing . z zachary , hebr : the memorie of the lord. christian names of women . lest women , the most kinde sex , should conceive vnkindenes if they were omitted , somewhat of necessitie must bee saide of their names . abigael , heb. the fathers ioy . agatha , gr. good , guth in old saxon. agnes , gr. chaste , the french write ignatia , but i know not why ▪ aletheia , gre. veritie , or ●uth . alice , ger. abridged from adesiz , noble . see ethelbert . but the french make it defendresse , turning it into alexia . anna , heb. gracious , or mercifull . arbela , heb. god hath revenged , as some translations have it . [ index bibliorum . ] adelin , ge. noble , or descending from nobles . avdry , sax. it seemeth to be the same with etheldred ▪ for the first foundresse of ely church is so called in latine histories , but by the people in those parts , s. audry . see etheldred . amie , fr. beloved , in latine amata , the name of the ancient king , latinus wife . it is written in the like sence amicia , in old records . anchoret , gr. for anachoreta , solitarie live● , which retyred her selfe from the world to serve god. avice , some observe that as it is written now avice , so in former times hawisia , and in elder ages helwisa : where-vpon they thinke it detorted from hildevig , that is , lady-defence , as lewis is wrested from lodovicus and ludwig . avreola , lat. pretty-little golden dame . anstase , gr. anastasia , and that from anastasis , as anastasius , given in remembrance of christs glorious resurrection & ours in christ . b barbara , gr. strange ; of vnknowne language , but the name respected in honour of s. barbara , martyred for the true profession of christian religion , vnder the tyranne maximian . beatrice , lat. from beatrix , blessed . blanch , fr. white , or faire . brigid , contracted into bride , an irish name as it seemeth , for that the ancient s. brigid , was of that nation : the other of suetia was lately canonized about . quaere . bertha , ger. bright and famous . see albert. bona , lat. good. benedicta , lat : blessed . benigna , lat : milde and gentle . c cassandra , gr. inflaming men with love . catherin , gr : pure , chaste . christian , a name from our christian profession , which the pagans most tyrannically persecuted , hating as tertullian writeth in his apologetico , a harmelesse name in harmelesse people clara , lat : bright , the same with berta , & claricia in latter times . cicely , from the latine caecilia , grey-eyed . d denis , see before among the name of men . diana , from the greeke di●s , that is , iove , as iovina , or ioves daughter , or gods daughter . dionye , from diana . dido , a phaenician name , signifying a manlike woman . [ servius hon●ratus . ] dorothye , gr : the gift of god , or given of god. dorcas , gr : a roe-bucke , lu●retius lib. . noteth , that by this name , the amorous knights were wont to salute freckled , wartie , and wodden-faced wenches , where he saith , caes●a palladi●n ; naevosa & ●ignea dorcas . dovze , from the latine dulcia , that is , sweetewench . dovsabel , fr : sweete and faire , somewhat like glycerium . dovglas , of the scottish surname , taken from the river douglas , not long since made a christian name in england , as iordan from the river of that name in the holy land , was made a christian name for men . e eth●ldred , noble advise : see audrey . ela , see alice . eleanor , deduced from helena , pittifull . eliza , heb. god saveth . elizabeth , heb. peace of the lord , or quiet rest of the lord , the which england hath found verified in the most honoured name of our late soveraigne . mantuan playing with it , maketh it eliza-bella . eade , sax. drawne from eadith , in which there is signification of happines . in latter time it was writen auda , ada , ida , and by some id●nea in latine . emme , some wil have to be the same with amie , in latine amata . paulus merula saith it signifieth a good nurse , and so is the same with eutrophime among the greekes , rog : hoveden pag. . noteth that emma daughter to richard the first duke of normandie , was called in saxon elfgiva , that is as it seemeth , helpe-giver . emmet , a diminitive from emme . eva , heb. giving life . f faith . fortvne , the signification well knowne . fredisvvid , sax. very free , truely free . francis , see francis before . faelice , lat. happy . fortitvd , lat. florence , lat. flourishing . g gertrvd , gr : all true , and amiable ; if german signifieth all-man , as most learned consent , and so gerard may signifie all-hardy . [ althamerus . ] grace , the signification is well knowne . grishild , grey lady , as caesia , see maud. gladvse , brit : from claudia . goodith , sax : contracted from goodwife , as we now vse goody : by which name king henry the first was nicked in contempt , as william of ma●nesbury noteth . h helena , gre : pittifull : a name much vsed in the honour of helena mother to constantine the great , and native of this isle● although one on ●he authour ma●eth h●r a bithini●n , but baronius and our historian● will have her a britaine . havvis , see avice . j iane , see ioane ; for . eliz : reg●●a ●t was agreed by the court of the kings bench to be all one with ioane . ivdith , hebr. praising , confessing ▪ our auncestors turned it into iuet . ioyce , in latine ioco●a , m●rry , pleasant . iaqvet , fr : from iacoba , see iames. ienet , a diminitive from ioan , as litle and prettie ihoan . ioane , see iohn . in latter yeeres , some of the better and nicer sorte misliking ioane , have mollified the name of ioane into iane , as it may seeme , for that iane is never found in olde recordes : and as some will , never before the time of king henry the eight . lately in like sort some learned iohns and hanses beyond the sea , have new christned themselves by the name of ianus . isabell , the same with elizabeth ; if the spaniardes doe not mistake , which alwayes translate elizabeth into isabel ; and the french into isabeau . ivlian , from iulius , gilian commonly , yet our lawyers libr. assis . . pa. . make them distinct names , i doubt not but vppon some good ground . k katharin , see catharin . kinbvrg , sax : strength and defence of her kinred ; as kinulf , help of her kinred . l letice , lat : ioyfulnesse , mirth . lydia , gre : borne in that region of asia . lora , sax : discipline , or learning : but i suppose rather it is corrupted from laura , that is , bay , and is agreeable to the greeke name daphne . lvcia , lat : lightsome , bright : a name given first to them that were borne when daie-light first appeared . lvcretia , lat : an honourable name in respect of the chaste lady lucretia ; if it as lucretius doe not come from lucrum , gaine , as a good huswife , i leave it to grammarians . lucris , a wench in plautus seemed to have hir name from thence , when-as hee saieth it was nomen & omen quantivis pretij . m maeei . some will have it to be a contraction of the italians from mabella , that is , my faire daughter , or maide . but whereas it is written in deedes , amabilia and mabilia , i thinke it commeth from amabilis , that is , loveable , or lovely . magdalen , hebr : maiesticall . margaret , gre : commonly marget , pearle or pretious . margerie , some thinke to be the same with margaret : others fetch it from marioria , i know not what floure . marie , hebr : exalted . the name of the blessed virgine , who was blessed among women , because of the fruit of her wombe . mavd for matild , ger : matildis , mathilidis , and matilda in latine , noble or honourable ladie of maides . alfric turneth heroina by hild. so hildebert was heroically famous , hildegard , heroicall preserver : and hilda was the name of a religious lady in the primitive church of england . melicent , fr : hony-sweete . meravd : vsed antiently in cornewall , from the pretious stone called the emeraud . mvriel from the greeke muron , sweete perfume . n nest , vsed in wales for agnes , see agnes . nichola , see nicholas . nicia , gre : victorious . o olympias , gre : heavenly . orabilis , lat : easely intreated . p penelope , gre : the name of the most patient , true , constant and chaste wife of vlysses , which was given to her , for that she carefully loved and fed those birdes with purpre neckes called penelopes . perne●l , from petronilla , pretty-stone , as ●iere and perkin strained out of petre. the first of this name was the daughter of saint petre. prisca , lat : antient. priscilla , a diminutive from prisca . prvdence , lat : whome the greekes call sophia , that is , wisedome . philippa , see philip. philadelphia , gre : a lover of her sisters , or brethren . phillis , gre : lovely , as amie in latine . polyxena , gre : shee that will entertaine many guests , and strangers . r radegvnd , sax : favourable councell . hadrianus iunius translateth gund favor , so gunther favorable lord , gunderic , rich , or mighty in favour , &c. rachel , hebr : a sheepe . rebecca , hebr : fatte and full . rosamvnd , rose of the world , or rose of peace : see in the epitaphs . rose , of that faire floure , as susan in hebrew . s saeina , as chaste and religious as a sabine , who had their name from their worshipping of god. sanchia , lat : from sancta , that is , holie . sarah , hebr : ladie , mistris , or dame. scholastica , gre : leasure from busines . svsan , hebr : lillie , or rose . sisley : see caeselia . sophronia , gre : modest , and temperate . sybill , gre : gods councell , other draw it from hebrue , and will have it to signifie divine doctrine . [ peucerus . ] sophia , gre : wisedome ; a name peculiarly applied by the primitive christians to our most blessed saviour , who is the wisedome of his father , [ epistle to the hebrewes ] by whome all things were made . and therefore some godly men do more than dislike it as irreligious , that it should bee communicated to any other . t tabitha , hebr : roe-bucke . tamesin , or thomasin : see thomas . theodosia , gre : gods-gift . tace , be silent , a fitte name to admonish that sex of silence . temperance , lat. the signification knowne to all . v venvs , lat. comming to all , as cicero derived it à veniendo , a fit name for a good wench . but for shame it is turned of some to venice . in greeke venus was called aphrodite , not from the foame of the sea , but as enripides saith , from aphrosune , that is , maddefollie . vrsvla , lat. a little beare . a name heeretofore of great reputation in honour of vrsula the britan virgin-saint , martyred vnder gods-scourge attila . w vvalbvrg , gratious ; the same with eucharia in greek [ luther ] we have turned it into warburg . winefrid , sax. win , or get peace . if it be a britaine word , as some thinke it to be & written guinfrid , it signifieth faire and beautifull countenance . verily winifred a native of this isle , which preached the gospel in germany , was called boniface ; for his good face , or good deedes , iudge you . other vsuall names of women i do not call to remembrance at this time , yet i know many other have beene in vse in former ages among vs , as derv●rgild , sith , amphilas , &c : and also nicholea , laurentia , richarda , guilielma , wilmetta , drawne from the names of men , in which number we yet retaine philippa , philip , francisca , francis , ioanna , iana , &c. these english-saxon , german and other names may be thought as faire , and as fit for men and women , as those most vsuall praenomina among the romans , 〈◊〉 for that hee was nourished of the gods : luciu● for him that was borne in the dawning of the day : marcus , for him that was borne in march : manius for him that was borne in the morning : cneus for him that had a wart : servius for him that was borne a slave , quinctius for him that was fift borne , &c. and our womens names more gratious than their rutilia , that is , red-head : caesilia , that is , grey-eyed , and caia● the most common name of all among them ( signifying ●oy : ) for that caia caesilia the wife of king tarquinius priscus was the best distasse-wife and spinster among them . neither doe i thinke in this comparison of names , that any will proove like the gentleman , who distasting our names , preferred king arthurs age before ours , for the gallant , brave , and stately names then vsed , as sir orson , sir tor , sir quadragan , sir dinadan , sir launcelot , &c. which came out of that forge , out of the which the spaniard forged the haughty and lofty name traquitantos for his giant , which hee so highly admired , when hee had studied many dayes and odde houres , before hee could hammer out a name so conformable to such a person as hee in imagination then conceited . surnames . svrnames given for difference of ●amilies , and continued as hereditary in families , were vsed in no nation antiently but among the romans , ( and that after the league with the sabines ) which called thē nomina , and nomina gentilitia , as the former were called praenomina . but the french and wee termed them surnames , not because they are names of the sire , or the father , but because they are super-added to christian names , as the spaniards call them renombres , as renames . the hebrewes keeping memory of their tribe , vsed in their genealogies in steede of surnames , the name of their father with ben , that is , sonne , as melchi ben-addi , addi ben-cosam , cosam ben-e●●adam , &c. so the graecians , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , icarus the sonne of dedalus , dedalus the sonne of eupalmus , eupalmus the sonne of metion . the like was vsed amongst our auncestors the english , as c●oured ceolwalding , ceolwald cuthing , cuth cuthwining , that is , ceonred so●ne of ceolwald , ceolwald sonne of cuth , cuthe son of cuthwin , &c. and to this is observed by william of malmesbury , where he noteth that the sonne of eadgar was called eadgaring , and the son of edmund , edmunding . the britans in the same sence with ap for mab , as ap owen , owen ap harry , harry ap rhese , as the irish with their mac , as donald mac neale , neale mac con , con mac d●rm●tt , &c. and the olde normans with fitz for filz , as iohn fitz-robert , robert fitz-richard , richard fitz-ralph , &c. the arabians onely as one learned noteth , vsed their fathers names without their owne forename , as aven-pace , aven rois , aven-z●ar , that is , the sonne of pace , rois and zoar ; as if pace had a sonne at his circumcision named haly , hee would be called aven pace , concealing haly , but his sonne , howsoever hee were named , would be called aven-haly , &c. so surnames passing from father to sonne , and cōtinuing to their issue , was not antiently in vse among any people in the world . yet to these single names were adioyned oftentimes other names , as cognomina , or sobriquetts , as the french call them , and by-names , or nicke-names , as we terme them , if that word be indifferent to good and bad , which still did die with the bearer , and never descended to posteritie . that we may not exemplifie in other nations ( which would afforde great plenty , ) but in our own . king eadgar was called the peaceable , king ethelred the vnreadie , king edmund for his valour , iron-side ; king harold the hare-foote , eadric the streona , that is , the getter or streiner , siward the degera , that is , the valiant , king william the first , bastard , king william the second rouse , that is , the red , king henry the first beauclarke , that is , fine scholler : so in the house of aniou which obtained the crowne of england , geffrey the first earle of aniou was surnamed grisogonel , that is , grey-cloake , fulco his sonne nerra , his grand-childe rechi● , for his extortion . againe , his grand-childe plantagenet , for that he ware commonly a broome-stalke in his bonnet . his sonne henry the second , king of england , fitz-empresse , because his mother was empresse , his sonne king richard had for surname corde-lion , for his lion-like courage , as iohn was called sans-terre , that is , without land : so that wheras these names were never taken vp by the sonne , i knowe not why any should thinke plantagenet to be the surname of the royall house of england , albeit in late yeeres many have so accounted it . neither is it lesse strange , why so many should thinke theodore or tydur , as they contract it , to be the surname of the princes of this realme since king henry the seaventh . for albeit owen ap mer●dith tydur , which married katharine the daughter of charles the sixth king of france , was grandfather to king henry the seventh , yet that tydur , or theodore was but the christian name of owens grandfather . for owens father was meredith ap tydur , ap grone , ap tydur , who all without surnames iterated christian names , after the olde manner of the britaines , and other nations heeretofore noted , and so lineally deduced his pedegree from cadwallader king of the britans , as was found by commission directed to griffin ap lewellin ; gitteu owen , iohn king , and other learned men both english and welsh in the seaventh yeare of the said king henry the seventh . likewise in the line royall of scotland , milcolme , or malcolme was surnamed canmore , that is , great head , and his brother , donald , ban , that is , white : alexander the first , the prowde , malcolme the fourth , the virgine , william his brother the lion. as amongest the princes of wales , brochvail schitrauc , that is , gaggtothed , gurind , barmbtruch , that is , spade-bearded , elidir coscorvaur , that is , heliodor the great house-keeper , and so in ireland murough duff . that is , blacke : 〈◊〉 roo . that is , red : nemoliah , that is , full of wounds : patric ban , that is , white : gavelc● , that is , fetters . to seeke therefore the auntient surnames of the royall , and most antient families of europe , is to seeke that which never was . and , therefore greatly are they deceived which thinke valoys to have beene the surname of the late french kings , or borbon of this present king , or habsburg , or austriac of the spanish king , or steward of the late kings of scotland , and now of britaine , or oldenburg of the danish ; for ( as all know that have but sipped of histories ) valoys was but the apponage and earledome of charles yonger sonne to philip ▪ the second , from whome the late kings descended : so borbon was the inheritance of robert a yonger sonne to saint lewes , of whom this king is descended : habsburg and austria were but the olde possessions of the emperors and spanish kings progenitours . steward was but the name of office to walter , who was high steward of scotland , the progenitour of robert first king of scots of that family , and of the king our soveraigne . and oldenburg was but the erledome of christian the first danish king of this family , elected about . but yet pl●●tagenet , steward , valois , borbon , habsburg , &c. by prescription of time have prevailed so farre , as they are now accounted surnames . but for surnames of princes , well said the learned marcus , salon de pace . reges cognomiue now vt●ntur , q●●ia vt regum familiae , & agnationes , & memoriae conserventur , 〈◊〉 cognomina non sunt necessaria prout in alijs inferioribus , quorum ipsa cognomina agnationum ac familiarum memori●● tutantur . about the yeare of our lord . ( that we may not minute out the time ) surnames beganne to be taken vp in france , and in england about the time of the conquest , or else a very little before , vnder king edward the confessor , who was all frenchified . and to this time doe the scottishmen referre the antiquitie of their surnames , although buchanan supposeth that they were not in vse in scotland many yeares after . but in england certaine it is , that as the better sort , even from the conquest by little and little tooke surnames , so they were not setled among the common people fully , vntill about the time of king edward the second : but still varied according to the fathers name , as richardson , if his father were richard , hodgeson , if his father were roger , or in some other respect , and from thenceforth beganne to be established , ( some say by statute , ) in their posteritie . this will seeme strange to some englishmen and scotishmen , which like the arcadians thinke their surnames as ancient as the moone , or at the least to reach many an age beyond the conquest . but they which thinke it most strange , ( i speake vnder correction , ) i doubt they will hardly finde any surname which descended to posteritie before that time : neyther have they seene ( i feare ) any deede or donation before the conquest , but subsigned with crosses and single names , without surnames in this manner in england ; ego eadredus confirmavi . ✚ ego edmundus corroboravi . ✚ ego sigarius conclusi . ✚ ego olfstanus consolidavi , &c. likewise for scotland , in an old booke of duresme in the charter , whereby edgare sonne of king malcolme , gave lands neere coldingham to that church , in the yeare . the scottish noblemen witnesses therevnto , had no other surnames than the christian names of their fathers . for thus they signed s. ✚ gulfi filij m●niani , s ✚ culverti filij donecani , s ✚ olavi filij oghe , &c. as for my selfe , i never hitherto found any hereditarie surname before the conquest , neither any that i know : and yet both i my selfe and divers whom i know , have pored and pusled vpon many an old record and evidence to satisfie our selves heerein : and for my part i will acknowledge my selfe greatly indebted to them that wil cleare me this doubt . but about the time of the conquest , i observed the very primary beginnings as it were of many surnames , which are thought very antient , when as it may be proved that their very lineall progenitors bare other names within these sixe hundred yeers . mortimer and warren are accounted names of great antiquitie , yet the father of them ( for they were brethren ) who first bare those names , was walterus de sancto martino . he that first tooke the name of clifford from his habitation , was the sonne of richard , sonne of puntz a noble norman , who had no other name . the first lumley was sonne of an antient english man called liwulph . the first gifford , from whome they of buckingham , the lords of brimesfeld , and others descended , was the sonne of a norman called osbert de belebe● . the first windsor descended from walter the sonne of other castellan of windsor . the first who tooke the name of shirley was the sonne of sewall , descended from fulcher without any other name . the first nevill of them which are now , from robert the sonne of maldred , a braunch of an olde english familie who married isabel the daughter and heire of the nevills which came out of normandy . the first level came from 〈◊〉 de perce●●●ll . the first montacute was the sonne of drogo ●●venis , as it is in record . the first stanley of them now earles of derby was likewise sonne to ad●vn de aldeleigh , or audley , as it is in the olde pedegree in the eagle tower of latham . and to omit others , the first that tooke the name of de burgo , or burks in ireland was the sonne of an english man called william fitz aldelni● ; as the first of the girald●●es also in that countrey was the sonne of an englishman called girald of windsor . in many more could i exemplifie , which shortly after the conquest , tooke these surnames , when either their fathers had none at all , or else most different , whatsoever some of their posteritie doe overweene of the antiquitie of their names , as though in the continuall mutabilitie of the worlde , conversions of states , and fatall periods of families , five hundred yeeres were not sufficient antiquitie for a family or name , whenas but very few have reached thereunto . in the autentical record of the exchequer called domesday , surnames are first found , brought in then by the normans , who not long before first tooke them : but most noted with de , such a place as godefridus de mannevilla ; a. de grey . walterus de vernon ; robert de oily , now doyley ; albericus de vere ; radulphus de pomerey ; goscelinus de dive . robertus de busl●● guilielmus de moiun ; r. de brai●se ; rogerus de lacy ; gislebertus de venables , or with filius , as ranulphus , asculphi , guilielmis ; filius osbernie , richardus filius gisleberti ; or else with the name of their office , as eudo depifer : guil : camerarius , hervaeus legatus , gislebertus cocus , radulphus venator : but very many with their christian names onlie , as olaff , nigellus , eustachius , baldricus , with single names are noted last in every shire , as men of least account , and as all , or most vnderholders specified in that booke . but shortly after , as the romans of better sorte had three names according to that of iuvenal , tanquam habeas trianomina , & that of ausonius , tria nomina nobiliorum . so it seemed a disgrace for a gentleman to have but one single name , a● the meaner sorte and bastards had . for the daughter and 〈◊〉 of fitz - 〈◊〉 a great lord , as robert of gloucester in the librarie of the industrious antiquary maister iohn stowe writeth , when king henry the first would have married hir to his base sonne robert , she first refusing answered ; it were to me a great shame , to have a lord without'n his twa name . whereupon the king his father gave him the name of fitz-roy , who after was earle of gloucester , and the onely worthy of his age . to reduce surnames to a methode , is matter for a ramist , who should happly finde it to be a typocosmie : i will plainely set downe from whence the most have beene deduced , as farre as i can conceive , hoping to incurre no offence heerein with any person , when i protest in all sinceritie , that i purpose nothing lesse than to wrong any man in any respect , or to make the least aspersion vpon any whosoever . the end of this scribling labour tending onely to maintaine the honor of our names against some italianated , who admiring strange names , doe disdainefully contemne their owne countrey names : which i doubt not but i shall effect with the learned and iudicious , to whom i submit all that i shall write . the most surnames in number , the most antient , and of best accompt , have been locall , deduced from places in normandy and the countries confining , being either the patrimonaill possessions or native places of such as served the conquerour , or came in after out of normandy ; as aulbeny , or mortimer , warren , albigny , percy , gournay , devreux , tankervil , saint-lo , argenton , marmion , saint maure , bracy , maigny , nevill , ferrers , harecourt , baskervile , mortaigne , tracy , beufoe , valoyns , cayly , lucy , montfort , bonvile , bovil , auranch , &c. neither is there any village in normandy , that gave not denomination to some family in england ; in which number are all names , having the french de , du , des , de-la prefixt , & beginning or ending with font , fant , beau , sainct mont , bois , aux , eux , vall , vaux , cort , court , fort , champ , vil , which is corruptly turned in some into ●eld , as in ba●kerfeld , somerfeld , dangerfeld , trubl●feld , gr●●feld , 〈◊〉 , for b●●kervil , somervil , dangervil , turbervil , gree●●vil , 〈◊〉 vil ; and in others into well , as boswell for b●ssevil , 〈◊〉 for freschevil . as that i may note in passage , the 〈◊〉 nobilitie take their names from places adding ski or ki thereunto . out of places in britaine came the families of saint aubin , mor●ey , d●nant , lately called denham , d●le , bal●● , conquest , valtort , lascells , bluet , &c. out of other partes of fraunce from places of the same names came , courtney , corby , b●ll●in , crevecuer , sai●t-leger , bohun , saint george , saint andrew , chaworth , sainct qu●●ti● , gorges , villiers , cromar , paris , reims , cressy , fines , 〈◊〉 , coignac , lyons , chalons , chaloner , estampes , or stampes , and many more . out of the netherlands came the names of levayne , gaunt , ipres , bruges , malines , odingsells , tournay , doway , buers , beke ; and in latter ages dabridgecourt , robsert , m●●y , grand●son , &c. from places in england and scotland infinite likewise . for every towne , village , or hamlet hath made names to families , as darbyshire , lancaster , ( do not looke that i should as the nomenclators in olde time marshall every name according to his place ) essex , murray , clifford , stafford , barkley , leigh , lea , hasting , hamleton , gordon , lumley . douglas , booths , clinton , heydon , cleydon , hicham , henningham , popham , ratcliffe , markham , seaton , framingham , pagrave , cotton , cari● , hume , poinings , goring , prideaux , windsor , hardes , stanhope , sydenham , needehaus , dimoc , wi●nington , allington , d●cre , thaxton , whitney , willoughby , apseley , crew , kniveton , wentworth , fa●shaw , woderington , manwood , fetherston , penrudock , tremaine , trevoire , killigrew , roscarroc , carminow , and most families in cornewall , of whome i have heard this rythme : by tre , ros , pol , lan , caer and pen , you may know the most cornish men . which signifie a towne , a health , a poole , a church , a castle , or cittie , and a foreland , or promontory . in like sort many names among the romans were taken from places , as tarquinius , gabinus , volscius , vatinius , norbanus , from tarquini , gabij , volic● , vatia , norba , townes in italie , sigo●ius and other before him have observed ; and likewise amerinus , carrinas , macenas as varre noteth . so ruric●us , fonteius , fundanus , agellius , &c. generally , all these following are locall names , and all which have their beginning or termination in them , the significations whereof , for the most parte , are commonly knowne . to the rest now vnknowne , i will adioyne somwhat briefly out of a●fricus and others , reserving a more ample explication to his proper place . aker , drawne from the latine ager . ay , vide eye . bac , fre : a ferry . bach , the same which bee a river , [ munster . ] bancke . barne . barrovv , vide burrow . bathe . beache . beame , a trunck , or stock of a tree . beake or bec , ( as bach ) vsed in the north. begin , a building . alfricus . bent , a place where rushes grow . bearne , a wood . beda lib. . cap. . berton or barton . berry , a court. others make it a hill from the dutch word berg , some take it to bee the same with burrow , and onely varied in dialect . beorh , adceruus , as stane beorh , lapidum accruus [ glossarium vetus . ] bold , from the dutch bol , a fe●ne . bye , from the hebrew beth , an habitation . [ alfricus ] bois , fr : a wood . borrovgh , from the latine burgu● , a fortified place or defence , pronounced in the south partes bury , in other burgh and brough , and often berry and barrow . alfricus . borne , or burne , a river . bottle , an house in the north partes . alfricus turneth it aedes , & aedilis , bottleward . booth . bridge . brome-field . brvnn , a fountaine from burne . brievvr , fr : an heath . brovgh , see burrowgh . bvry , see burrow . bvrgh , see burrowgh . bvrne , vide borne . bvsh . bvts . caer , but a fortefied place , or citty . camph . capell , the same with chapell . car , a low waterie place where alders do grow , or a poole . carnes , the same with stones . castell . caster , chester , cester , chaster , the same varied in dialect , a citty or walled place derived frō castrum . cave . chvrch . caster , see chester . chanell . chappell . chase . cley , or clay . cove , a small creeke . cliff , and cleve . clovgh , a deepe descent betweene hills . cob , a forced harborow for ships , as the cob of linne in dorsetshire . cope , the top of a high hill . comer , a word in vse both in france and england for a valley between two high hills . nicotius . cote . covrte . covert , fr : a shadowed place or shade . cragge . creek . croft , translated by abbo floriacencis in praedium a farme . our ancestours would say prover . bially of a very poore man , that he had ne toft , ne croft . crosse . dale . delle , a dike . dene , a small valley contrary to doun . deepes . derne , see terne . dich , or dish . dike . dock . don , corruptly sometime for ton or towne . don , and doun , all one , varied in pronuntiation , a high hill or mont. [ alfricus . ] ende . ey , a watery place as the germans vse now aw , ortelius . alfricus translateth amnis into ea or eye . farme . field . fell , sax : cragges , barren and stony hills . fenn . fleet , a small streame . fold . ford . forrest . foote . font , or funt , a spring . frith , a plaine amiddest woods : but in scotland a streight betweene two lands , from the latine fretum . garnet , a great granary . garden . garth , a yarde . gate . gill , a small water . glin , welsh , a dale . gorst , bushes . grange , fr : a barne ( nicotius . ) grave , a dich or trench , or rather a wood , for in that sence i have read grava in old deedes . gravet , the same with ●rove . greene . grove . hale , or haule , from the latine aula , in some names turned into all. ham , mansio [ beda ] which we call now home , or house often abridged into am. hatch ▪ havvgh , or ho●gh , a greene plot in a valley , as they vse it in the north. hay , fr : a hedge . head , and heveth , a foreland ▪ promōtory , or high place . headge . heath . herst , see hurst . hern● , sax : a house beda , who translateth whatbern , candida casa . hith , a haven . [ alfricus . hide , so much land as one plough can plow in a yeare . hill , often in composition changed into hull and ell. holme , plaine grassie ground vpon water sides , or in the water . [ buchanan ] holt , a wood , nemus , [ alfricus . hold , a tenement , or the same with holl ▪ hope . the side of a● hill , but in the north , a low ground amidst the tops of hills . hovv , or h●● , an high place . horn . see hurn . hovse . hvll , see hill , hvnt . hvrne , or horn , a corner alfricu● . hvrst , or herst , a wood ing , a meadow or low ground , ignulphus , and the danes still keep it . isle , or i le . kay , a landing place , a wharfe , the old glossary kaij , cancelli . knap . knoll , the top of a hill . kyrk , a church , from the greeke kuriace , that is , the lords house . lade , passage of waters , aquaeductus in the olde glossarie is translated water-lada . lake . land . lane . lath , a barne among them of lincolnshire . lavnd , a plaine among trees . lavv , a hill in vse among the hither scottishmen . le , brit : a place . ley , and leigh , the same , or a pasture . l'lys , brit : a place . lod , see lad. lock , a place where rivers are vnstopped , or a lake , as the word is vsed in the north parts . loppe , salebra , an vneven place which cannot be passed without leaping . lovnd , the same with laund . march , a limit , or confines . market . mead● . medovv . mere . mesnill , or menill , in norman french , a mansion house . mersh . mill . myne . minster , contracted from monastery , in the north , mouster , in the south mister . more . mossr . mote . movth , where a river falleth into the sea , or into another water . ness , a promontory , for that it runneth into the sea as a nose . nore , the same with north. orchard over , and contractly , ore. pace parke pen , brit : the top of an hill , or mountaine pitts place plat , fr : plaine ground playn pole pond port povvnd prat , fre : a meddow prindle , the same with crost qvarry reyke ridge , and rig ring , an enclosure road rovv , fre : a streete raw in the north . ros , brit : a heath ry , fr : from rive , a shore , coast , or bancke rill , a small brooke rithy , brit : from rith a forde sale , fre : a hall , an entraunce [ iunius ] sand , or sands scarr , a craggy stony hill sett , habitation or seate , ortelius schell , a spring : see skell shavv , many trees neere together , or shadowe of trees . shallovve sheal , a cottage , or shelter , the word is vsuall in the wastes of northumberland and cumberland . shore shot , or shvt , a keepe [ munster ] skell , a well in the olde northerne english slade slovve , a mi●y foule place smeth , a smoothe plaine field , a woorde vsuall in norffolke and suffolke spir , pyramis : a shaft to the olde english , or spire steeple . spring stake strand , a banke of a river stret stroad , strovd : as some doe thinke , the same with strand . stable , as stale . stale and staple , the same : a storehouse . staple sted , from the dutch stadt , a standing place , a station . steeple ste● , a banke [ alfricus ] stile , stocke stoke , the same with stow stone , or stane stovv , a place . alfricus straith , a vale along a river syde temple tern , or dern , a standing poole , a word vsuall in the north. thorn thorp , from the dutch : dorpe , a village thvrn , a tower : ortelius thvvait , a word only vsed in the north , in addition of townes : some take it for a pasture from the dutch hwoit toft , a parcell of ground where there hath beene a house : but for toft and croft , enquire of lawyers . tor , a high place or tower trey , brittish from tref a towne trench tree vale vavlx , the same in french vpp vnder wald , a wood ; the same with wild. wall ware , or wear wark , or werk , a worke or building warren wast , a desart or solitary place . wash wath , a foorde ; a worde vsuall in yorkeshire water way wick , and wich , ī short , the curving or rech of a river , or the sea : iunius , rhenanus : but our alfric , and so tillius maketh it a castle , or little port. wich , ī long , a salt spring . well wild wold , hills without wood wood worth , auntiently worth and woorthid : alfricus makes it praedium , a possession or farme : abbo translateth it a court or place : ki●●anus a fort and an isle . yard yate , or yates at a word , all which in english had of set before them , which in cheshire and the north was contracted into a , as thomas a dutton , iohn a standish , adam a kirkby , and all which in la●ine old ●vi●ences have had de praefixed , as all heeretofore sp●cified , were borrowed from places . as those which had le set before them , were not ●●call , but given in other respects . as i● marshall , le l●●ner , le despencer , le scroope . le sav●●e , le ●av●sour . le strange . le norice , le fscriva● , le bl●●d , le molineux , le bret. as they also which were never noted with de or le , in which number i have observed , gifford b●sset , arundel , howard , talb●● , bellot , bigot , bagot , ta●leboise , tale●●ch , gern●● , l●vell , lovet , fortescu , pancevolt , tirell , biund or blunt , bisset , bacun , &c. and these distinctions of locall names with de , and other with le , or simply , were religiously observed in recordes vntill about the time of king edward the fourth . neither was there , as i said before , or is there any towne , village , hamlet , or place in england , but hath made names to families , and so many names are locall which doe not seeme so , because the places are vnknowne to most men , and all knowne to no one man : as who would imagine whitegift , powlet , bacon , creping , alshop , tirwhit , antrobus , heather , hartshorne , and many such like to be locall names , and yet most certainely they are . many also are so changed by corruption of speach , and altered , so strangely to significative wordes by the common sort , who desire to make all to be significative , as they seeme nothing lesse than locall names ; as wormwood , inkepen , tiptow , moone , maners , drinkewater , cuckold , goddolphin , harlestone , waites , smalbacke , loscotte , devill . neithe●mill , bellows , filpot , wod●l , &c. for ormund , ingepen , tiptoft , mahune , manors , derwentwater , cuckswold , godolchan , hudleston . th●●ts , smalbach , ●●scot , davill , or d'eivill , nettervil , bell-house , phillipot , wahul , &c. neither is it to be omitted , that many locall names had at prefixed before them in olde evidences , as at more , a● stow , at ho , at bower , at wood , at ●owne , &c. which a● , as it hath beene removed from some , so hath it beene conioyned to other , as atwood , atslowe , atho , atwell , atmor . as s also is ioyned to most now , as mannors , kn●les , crofts , yates , gates , thornes , groves , hills , combes , holmes , stokes , &c. rivers also have imposed names to some men , as they have to townes situated on them ; as that olde ba●on ●ur-teys , that is , on the river teys running betweene yorkshire and the bishoppricke of duresine , derwent-water , i de● , troutbecke , hartgill , esgill , wampull , swale , stoure , temes , trent , tamar , grant , tine , croc , lone , lun , calder , &c. as some at rome were called tiberij , an●eni , aufidij , &c , bicause they were borne neere the rivers tibris , anten , ausidus , as iulius paris noteth . divers also had names from trees neere their habitations , as oke , aspe , box , alder , el●●e , elder , beach , coigniers , that is , q●ince , zouch , that is , the trunke of a tree , cursy and curson , the stocke of a vine , pine , plumme , chesney or cheyney , that is , oke , dauney , that is , alder , foulgiers , that is , fearne , vine , ashe , hawthorne , turres , bush , hasle , coularay , that is , has●ewood , bucke , that is , ` beech , willowes , thorne , broome , blocke , &c. which in former time had at praefixed , as at beech , at furres , at ashe , at ●lme . and heere is to be noted , that diverse of this sorte have beene strangely contracted , as at ashe into tash , at oke into toke , at abbey into tabbey ; at the end into th end ; as in saints names , saint olye into tolye , saint ebbe into saint tabbe , saint osyth into saint tows . many strangers also comming hither , and residing here , were named of their countries , as picard , scot , lombard , flemming , french , bigod , that is , superstitious , or norman . ( for so the frenchmen calld the normans , because at every other word they would sweare , ) by god ; bretton , britaine , bret , burgoin , germain , westphaling , dane , daneis , man , gascoigne , welsh , walsh , walleys , irish , cornish , cornwallis , fasterling , maigne , champneis , poitevin , angevin . loring , that is , de lotharingia , &c. and these had commonly le praefixed in records and writings , as le fle●●ing , le picard , le bret , &c. viz. the flemming , the picard . in respect of situation to other neere places rise these vsuall names , norrey , north ▪ south , east , weast ▪ and likewise northcote , southcote , estcote , westcote ; which also had originally at set before them . yea the names of kitchin , hall , sellar , parler , church , lodge &c. may seeme to have been borrowed from the places of birth , or most frequent abode ; as among the greekes , anato●●us . i. east zephirius , i. weast , &c. whereas therefore these locall denominations of families are of no great antiquitie , i can not yet see why men should thinke that their auncestours gave names to places , when the places bare those very names , before anie men did their surnames . yea the very terminations of the names are such as are onely proper and appliable to places , and not to persons in their significations , if any will marke the locall ●erminations which i lately specified . who would suppose hil , wood , field , ford , ditch , pole , pond , towne , or ton , and such like terminations to bee convenient for men to beare in their n●mes , vnlesse they could also dreame hilles , woods , fieldes , fordes , ponds , pounds &c. to have beene m●tamorphosed into men by some supernaturall transformation . and i doubt not but they will confesse that townes stand longer then families continue . it may also be prooved that many places which nowe have lordes denominated of them , had lordes and owners of other surnames , and families not many hundred yeeres since . but a sufficient proofe it is of anti●nt descent where the inhabitant had his surname of the place where he inhabiteth , as compton of compton , terringham of terringham , egerton of egerton , portington of portington , skeffington of skeffington , beeston of beeston , &c. i know neverthelesse , that albeit most townes have borrowed their names from their situation , and other respectes ; yet some with apt terminations have their names from men , as edwarston , alfredston , vbsford , malmesbury , corruptly for maidu●p●sbury . but these names were from fore-names or christian names , and not fro● surnames . for ingulphus plainely sheweth , that w●burton ▪ and leffrington were so named , because two knights , wiburt , and leofric there sometimes inhabited . but if any should affirme that the gentlemen named le●frington , wiburton , lancaster , or leicester , bossevill , or shordich , gave the names to the places so named , i woulde humbly , without preiudice , crave respite for a further day before i beleeved them . and to say as i thinke , verily when they shall better advise themselves , and marke well the terminations of these , and such like locall names , they will not presse me ov●r eagrely heerein . notwithstanding , certaine it is that surnames of families have beene adioyned to the names of places for distinction , or to notifie the owner , as melton mowbray , higham ferrers , minster-l●vel , stansted rivers , drayton-basset , drayton-beauchamp , &c. for that they were the possessions of mowbray , ferrers , level , &c. neither do i denie , but some among vs in former time , aswell as now , dreaming of immortalitie of their names , have named their houses after their owne names , as camois-court , hamons , bretts , bailies , theobaldes , whenas now they have possessors of other names . and the olde verse is , and alwayes will be verified of them , which a right worshipfull friend of mine not long since writ vpon his new house : nunc mea , mox ●uius , sed posteà nescio cuius . neither must all , having their names from places , suppose that their auncestors were either lordes , or possessors of them ; but may assure themselves , that they originally came from them , or were borne at them . but the germans and polonians doe cleare this errour by placing in before the locall names , if they are possessours of the place , or of , if they onelie were borne at them , as martinus cromerus noteth . the like also seemeth to be in vse in the marches of scotland , for there you shall have trotter of folshaw , and trotter in fogo , haitly of haitly , and h●●ly in haitly . whereas since the time of king henry the third the princes children tooke names from their natall places , as edward of carnarvon , thomas of brotherton , ioann● of acres , ●●dmund of woodstocke , iohn of gaunt , who named his children by cath. swinford , beaufort of the place wher they wer born● u● nothing to our purpose , to make further mentiō of thē whenas they never desc●nded to their posteritie . after this locall names , the most names in number have beene derived from occupations , or professions , as taylor , potter , smith , sadler , arblaster , that is , balistarius , archer , taverner , chauser , i. hosier , weaver , pointer , painter , walker , ●d est , fuller in olde english , baker , baxter , boulengem , all one in signification , collier , carpenter , ioyner , salter , armorer , spicer , grocer , monger , id est , chapman , brower . brasier , webster , wh●eler , wright , cartwright , shipwright , banister , id est , balneator , forbisher , farrar , goff , id est , smyth in welsh . and most which end in er in our tongue , as among the latines , artifice●s names have arius , as lu●tcariarius , vestiarius , calcearius , &c. or eo , or ●o for th●ir termi●ations , as linteo , pellio phrygio . neither was there any trade , craft , arte , profession , occupation never so meane , but had a name among vs commonly ending in er , and men accordingly denominated , but some ●re worne out of vse , and therefore the significatio●● vnknowne , and other have beene mollified ridiculously by the bearers , lest they should seeme vilified by them . and yet the like names were amōg the noblest romans , as figul●s , pictor , fabritius , scribon●●s , sal●●tor , rusticus , agricola , carbo , ●unarius , &c. and who can deny but they so named may be gentlemen , if virtue which is the soule of gentrie shall ennoble them , and virtus ( as one saieth ) nulli pralusa est omnibus patet . albeit doctour turner in a booke against stephan cardiner saieth the contrary , exemplifying of their owne names . at which time wise was the man that tolde my lord bishop that his name was not gardiner , as the english pronounce it , but gardiner vvith the french accent , and therefore a gentleman . hitherto may be referred many that end in man , as , tubman , carreman , coachman , f●rriman , clothman , chapman , spelman , id est , learned man , palf●iman , horsman , &c. many have beene assumed from offices , as , chambers , chamberlaine , cooke , spenser , that is , steward , marshall , latimer , that is , interpretour , staller , that is , constable or standard-bearer , reeve , wo●dreeve , sherif● , sergeant , parker , foster , that is , nourisher , forraster , contractly forster , hunter , kempe , that is , souldier in olde english ; ( for alfricus translateth t●ro , yong-kempe ) faulconer , fowler , page , butler , clarke , proctor , abbot , frier , monke , priest , bishop , spigurnell , that is , a sealer of writs , which office was hereditarie for a time to the bohunes of midherst . deacon , deane , bailive , franklin , leach , warder , i. keeper ; & frō th●nce woodward , millward , steward , dooreward , tha●● , porter , beareward , heyward , hereward , that is , conserver of the armie , bond , that is , paterfamilias , as it is in the booke of olde termes belonging sometimes to saint augustine in canterbury , and we retaine it in the compound husb●nd . in which booke also horden is interpreted a steward . names also have beene taken of honours , dignities , or estate , as king , duke , prince , lord , baron , knight , valuasor , or vavasor , squire , castellan , partly for that their ancestours were such , served such , acted such parts , or were kings of the beane , christmas lords , &c. and the like names we reade among the greeks and romans , as basi●us , archias , archel●● , regulus , servius , flaminius , caesarius , augustulus : who notwithstanding were neither kings , priests , dukes , or caesars . others from the qualities of the minde , as good , through good , goodman , goodchild , wise , hardie , plaine , light , meeke , bold , best , prowd , sharpe , still , sweete , speede , quicke , sure , &c. as those old saxon names , shire , that is , cleere , dyre , that is , welbeloved , blith , that is , merry , drury , that is , jewell . also these french names , galliard , that is , frolicke , musard , that is , delayer , bland , that is , fairespoken , coigne , that is , valiant , baud , that is , pleasant , barrat ; kus , rush , that is , subtile , and so is prat in the old booke of petreborrough , huttin , that is , mutiner . as among the grecians , agathias , a●dragathius , sophocles , eubulus , eumenius ; thraseas . among the romans , prudentius , lepidus , cato , ` pius , valeus , constans , asper , tacitus , dulcitius , &c. and accordingly names were borrowed , as plutarch saieth , from the nature of the man , from his actions , from some marke , forme or deformitie of his body , as macrinus , that is , long , torquatus , that is , chained , sulla that is , white and red : and in like sort , mnemon , that is , mindefull , grypus , that is , hawkes-nose , callinicus , that is , faire victor . from the habit●des of body , and the perfections or imperfections thereof , many names have beene imposed , as strong , ar●●strong , long , low , short , broad , bigge , little , speed , faire , goodbody , free body , ●●ll , that is , faire , bell●t , that is , bel●ulus , proper in french : helder , that is , thinne , heile , that is , healthfull , fairfax , that is , faire-lockes , in antient english whitlocks . as those british names still in vse amongst vs , vachan , that is , little , mool , that is , bald , gam , that is , crooked , fane , that is , s●lender , grim , that is , strong , krich , that is , curlepate , grig , or krig , that is , hoarse . no more to bee disliked than this greeke and roman names , ner● , that is , strong , as also romulu● ; longus , longinus , minut●●s , macros , megasthenes , calistus , callisthenes , paulus , cincinnatus , crispus , caluus , terentius , that is , tender according to varr● . gracchus , that is , thinne , bassus , that is , fatte , salus●●us , that is , healthfull , and cocles one-eye . as pap●rius masonius reporteth that philippus augustus king of france , was surnamed borgne for his blinking with one eye . others in respect of age have received names , as yong , olde , baby , child stripling , as with the romau● ▪ senec●● , priscus , iuvenalis , iunius , virginius , &c. some from the time wherein they were borne , as winter , summer , christmas , day , may , sunday , holiday , munday , pascall , noel ▪ penticost : as with the ancient romans , ianuarius , martius , manius , lucius , f●stus , and vergilius borne at the rising of the vergiliae , or seaven starres , as pontanus learnedly writeth against them which write his name virgilius . some from that which they commonly carried , as palmer , that is , pilgrime , for that they carried palme when they returned from hierusalem . long-sword , broad-speare , fortescu , that is , strong-shield , and in some such respect , breake-speare , shake-speare , shotbolt , wagstaffe , bagot , in the old norman , the same with scipio , that is , a stay or walking staffe with the latines , which became a surname , for that cornelius served as a stay to his blinde father . likewise biliman , hookeman , talevas , of a shield so called , whereof william sonne of robert de belisme earle of shrewsbury had his name . some from parts of the body , as head , redhead , whitehead , legge , foote , pollard , arme , hand , lips , hart , as corculum , capito , pedo , labeo , naso , among the romans . garments have also occasioned names , as hos , hosatus , hat , cap , frocke , petycote , gaicoat : as with the romans , caligula , caracalla , fimbria , and hugh capet , from whom this last house of france descended , was so called , for that hee vsed when he was young to snatch off his fellowes caps , if we believe du tillet . not a few from colours of their complexions , garments , or otherwise have gotten names , as white , blacke , browne , red , greene , and those norman names : rous , that is , red , blunt or blund , that is , flaxen haire , and from these russell and blundell , gris , that is , gray , pigot , that is , speckled , blanch and blanc , that is , white , with those british or welsh names , who whereas they were wont to depaint themselves with sundry colours , have also borrowed many names from the said colours , as gogh , that is , red , gwin , that is , white , dee , that is , blacke , l●uid or ●lud , that is , r●sset : names to be no more disliked than albinus , candidus , flavius , fulvius , fusc●● , 〈◊〉 , c●cc●●us , rutilius , rufus , niger , nigrinus , among the roman● and pyrrhus , chlorus , le●cagus , chryses , 〈◊〉 , &c. among the graecians . some from flowers and fruits , as lilly , li● , rose , peare , nut , f●lbert , peach , pescod , vetch , as faire names , as lentu●us , pis● , fabius , among the romans . others from beasts , as lambe , lion , boare , beare , bucke , hind , hound , fox , wolph , hare , hog , roc , broc , badger , &c. neither are these & such like to be disliked , whenas among the noblest romans , leo , vrsicinus , catulus , lupus , leporius , aper , apronius , canimus , cast●r , &c. and cyrus , that is , dog , with the persians were very vsuall . from fishes likewise , as playce , salmon , trowt , cub , gurnard , herring , pike , pikerill , breme , burt , whiting , crab , sole , mullet , base , &c. nothing inferiour to the roman names , murena , phocas , orata , that is , gilihed , &c. for that happily they loved those fishes more than other . many have beene derived from birds , as corbet , that is , raven , arondell , that is , swallow : the gentlemen of which name , do beare those birds in their coat-armours , bisset , .i. dove , larke , tisson , chaffinch , nitingall , iay-cocke , peacocke , sparrow , swanne , crow , woodcocke , eagle , alecocke , wilcocke , handecocke , hulet or howlet , wren , gosling , parret , wilde goose , finch , kite , &c. as good names as these , corvinus , aquilius , milvius , gallus , picus , falco , livia , .i. stockedove , &c therefore i cannot but mervaile why one should so sadly mervaile such names of beasts and birds to be in vse in congo in africa , when they are and have beene common in other nations , as well as they were among the troglodites inhabiting neere congo in former times . of christian names as they have been without change , many more have beene made , as francis , herbert , guy , giles , leonard , michael , lewis , lambert , owen , h●wel , ioscelin , humfry , gilbert , griffith , griffin , constantine , iames , thomas , 〈…〉 godfrey , g●rvas , randall , alexander , charles , daniel , &c. beside these & such like , many surnames are derived from those christian names which were in vse about the time of the conquest , & are found in the record calld doomesday book , & else where ; as achard , alan , alpheg , aldelme , aucher , a●sel● , a●selm , a●sger , askaeth , hascuith , alberic , bagot , baldric , bardolph , belchard , berenger , berner , biso , brient , ca●●t , knout or c●ute , carbonell , chettell , colf , corbet corven , crouch , degory , dod , done , donet , as it seemeth frō donatus , dru , duncan , durand , eadid , edolph , egenulph , el●er , eud● or fde , fabian , fulcher , gamelin , gernegan , girth , goodwin , godwin , goodrich , goodlucke , grime , grimbald , guncelin , guthlake , haco or hake , hamon , hamelin , harding , hasting , herebrand , and many ending in brand , herman , hervye herward , howard , heward , hubald , hubert , huldrich , iollan , ioll , contractly from iulian , iuo , or iue , kettell , leofwin , lewin , levin , liming , macy , maino , maynerd , meiler , murdac , nele , norman , oddo or hode , oger , olave , orso or vrso , orme , osborne , other , payne , picotte , pipard , pontz , pu●tz , reyner , remy , rolph , rotroc , saer , searle , semar , sewal , sanchet , siwald , siward , staverd , star , calf , swain , sperwicke , talbot , toly , tovy , turgod , turrold , turstan , turchill , vctred , or oughtred , vde , vivian , voner , wade , walarand , wistan , winoc , walklin , warner , winebald , wigod , wigan , wi●●arc , woodnot , &c. and not onely these from the saxons and normans , but also many britan or welsh christian names , as well in ancient time , as lately hath been taken vp for surnames , when they came into england , as chun , blethin , kenham , frō cynan or conanus , gittin-mervin , bely , sitsil , or cesil , caradoc , madoc , rhud , ithell , meric , meredith , edern , bedow , from the english bede , .i. a devout prayer , beside the welsh christian names vsuall and knowne to all as in like manner many names were made from the praenomina among the romans , as spurilius , statilius , titius , from spurius , statius , titus , and as qu●itilian saieth , agnom●● & cognomina 〈…〉 . by contracting or rather corrupting of christian names , we have terry from theodorie , frerry from frederic , collin and cole from nicholas , tebald from theobald , iessop , from ioseph , aubry , from alberic , amery , from almeric , garret , from gerrard , nele , from nigel , elis , from elias , bets , from beatus , as bennet , from benedict , &c. by addition of s to christian names , many have beene taken , as williams , rogers , peters , peirs , davies , harris , roberts , simonds , guyes , stevens , richards , hughes , iones , &c. from nicknames or nursenames , came these ( pardon me if it offend any , for it is but my coniecture , ) bill for william , clem for clement , nat for nathaniel , mab for abraham , kit for christopher , mund for edmund , hall for harry , at and atty for arthur , cut for cuthberd , mill for miles , baul and bald for baldwin , ran for randal , crips for crispin , turk for turktetill , sam for sampson or samuell , pipe for pipard , gib for gilbert . dan for daniel , greg for gregory , bat for barthobnewe , law for lawrence , 〈◊〉 for timothy , rol for rolland , ieff for ieffrey , dun for duncan or dunstan , duke for marmaduke , daye for david , god. for godfrey or godard , for otherwise i cannot imagine how that most holy name vnfit for a man , and not to be tolerated , should be appropriate to any man : and many such like which you may learne of nurses . by adding of s to these nicknames or nursenames , in all probabilitie we have robins , nicks , nicolls , tho●s , dickes , hickes , wills , sims , sams , iecks , iucks , collins , ienks , munds , hodges , hobs , dobi , saunders from alexander , gibs from gilbert , cuts from cuthberd , bats from barthol●●we wats from walter , philips from philip , hai●es from anulphus , as some will , for ainulphesbury in cambridgshire is contracted to aiusbury , and such like . many likewise have beene made by adioyning ki●● and ius to those nursenames , making them in ki●s as it were diminutives , & those in ius , as patronymica . for so alfric archbishop of canterbury , & the most ancient saxon grammarian of our nation , noteth that names taken from progenitours , do end in ins ; so dickins , that is , little dick , perkins from peir or peter , little petre ; so tomkins , wilkins , hutchins , huggins , higgins , hitchins ; from hughe , lambkins , hopkins , hobkins ; from hob , dobbin● , robbins , atkins ; from arthur , gibbins , simkins , hodgekins , hoskins , watkins , ienkins , iennings , tipkins ; from tibald , daukins ; from davy , rawlins from ra●ul , that is , rafe , and hankin for rand●ll in cheshire . in this manner did the romans very names , as constans , constantius , constantinus ; iustus , iustulus , iustinus , iustinianus : aurelius , aureolus , aurelianus , augustus , augustinus , augustinianus , augustulus , &c , beside these , there are also other diminitive names after the french analogie in et or ot , as willet ; from will , haket ; from hake , bartlet ; from bartholmew , millet from miles , huet from hughe , allet from allan , collet from cole , guyet from guy , eliot from elias and beckvet , that is , little sharpe nose . but many more by addition of son , to the christian or nickname of the father , as williamson , richardson , dickson , harryson , gibson ; for gilbertson , simson , simondson , stevenson , dauson ; for davison , morison , lawson , id est , lawrenson , robinson , cutbertson , nicholson , tomson , willson , leweson , iobson , waterson , watson , peerson , and pierson , peterson , ha●son from hankin , wilkinson , danison for daniel , benison , and benson from bennet , denison , patison ; from patrick , ienkinson , matison ; from mathew , colson ; from cole , or nicholl , rogerson , herdson ; from herdingson , hodgskinson , hugheson , hulson ; from huldric , hodson from hod or odd● , nelson from neale or nigell , davidson , saunderson , iohnson , raulson ; from raoul or ralf . so the ancient romans vsed publipor , marcip●r , lucipor ; for publij puer , marci puer , lucij puer , according to varro : as afterwards in the capitolin tables , they were wont to note both father and grandfather for proofe of their gentry in abbreviations , as a. sempronius , aulifilius lucij nep●s , that is , 〈◊〉 se●pronius , sonne of aulus , grandchild or nephew of lucius , c. martius , l. f. c. n. &c. neither is it true which some say , omnia nomina in son sunt boralis generis , whenas it was vsuall in every part of the realme . some also have had names from their mothers , as fitz-parnell , fitz-isabell , fitz-mary , fitz-emme , mandle●s , susans , mawds , grace , emson , &c. as vespasian the emperour , from vespasia polla his mother , and popaea sabina the empresse , from her grandmother . in the same sence it continueth yet in them which descended from the normans , fitz-hughe , fitz-william , fitz-herbert , fitz-geffrey , fitz-simon , fitz-alian , fitz-owen , fitz-randoll , being names taken from their progenitours , as among the irish , mac-william , mac-cone , mac-dermot , mac-mahon , mac-donell , mac-arti , .i. the sonne of arthur . so among the welsh-britans likewise , ap-robert , ap-evans , ab-yihel , ap-hary , ap-hughe , ap-rice , ap-richard , ap-howell , ap-enion , ap-owen , ap-henry , ap-rhud , which be contracted into probert , bevans , bythell , parry , pughe , price , prichard , powell , benion , b●wen , peurbye , prud , &c. so in the borders of england and scotland , gawis i●k , for iohn the sonne of gawin , richies edward , for edward the sonne of richard , iony riches will , for william the sonne of iohn , sonne of richard. the like i have heard to be in vse among the meaner sort in cornwall . daintie was the devise of my host at grantham , which would wisely make a difference of degrees in persons , by the terminations of names in this word son , as betweene robertson , robinson , robson , hobson ; richardson , dickson , and dickinson ; willson , williamson , and wilkinson , iackson , iohnson , ienkinson , as though the one were more worshipful than the other by his degrees of comparison . the names of aliance , have also continued in some for surnames , as where they of one family being of the same christian name , were for distinction called r. le frere , le fitz , le cosm , that is , brother , the sonne , &c. all which passed in time into surnames . many names also given in merriment for by-names or nicke-names have continued to posteritie : as malduit for ill schollership , or ill taught , mallieure commonly mallyvery , i. malus leporarins , for ill hunting the hare , pater noster for devout praying . the frenchman , which craftily , and cleanely conveyed himselfe and his prisoner , t : crioll a great lord in rent , about the time of king edward the second out of fraunce , and had therefore swinfield given him by crioll , as i have read , for his fine conveyance , was then called fineux , and left that name to his posteritie . so baldwin le-pettour , who had his name , and held his land in suffolke , per saltum , sufflum & pettum , sive bumbulum , for dauncing , pout-puffing , and dooing that before the king of england in christmasse holy dayes , which the worde pet signifieth in french. inquire if you vnderstand it not of cloacinas chaplaines , or such as are well read in a●ax . vpon such like occasions names were given among the romans , as tremellius was called scropha or sow , because when he had hid his neighbours sow vnder a padde , and commanded his wife to lie dovvne thereon ; he sware when the owner came in to seeke the sow , that hee had no sow but the great sow that lay there , poynting to the padde , and the sow his vvife . so one cornelius was surnamed asina , for that when he was to put in assurance for payment of certaine summes in a purchase , hee brought his asse laden with money , and made ready payment . so augustus named his dwarfe sarmentum , i. sprigge , and tiberius called one tricongius , for carowsing three gallons of wine . so servilius was called ala , for carrying his dagger vnder his arme-pit , vvhen hee killed spurius . so pertinax the emperor being stubbernly resolute in his youth to be a wood monger as his father vvas , vvhen hee vvoulde have made him a scholler , vvas named pertinax . so the father of valens the emperour , who was camp-maister heere in britaine , for his fast holding a rope in his youth , vvhich 〈◊〉 souldiers could not plucke from him , vvas called 〈◊〉 . about vvhich time also paul a spaniard , a common informer in britaine vvas named catena , i. the chaine , for that he chained and fettered many good men heere , vvith linking together false surmises , to their vtter vndooing in the time of constantinus , who also that i may remember it in passage , named his attendant scholler by no vnfitting name , musonius . but what names the beastly monster , rather than emperour commmodus gave to his attendants , i dare not mention , lest i should be immodestly offensive to chaste eares , and modest mindes . but hitherto with modesty may be referred this of the familie of gephyri , i. bridges in greece , who tooke their name from a bridge ; for vvhen their mother was delivered of nine children at a birth , and in a foolish feare had privily sent seven of them to be drowned at a bridge , the father sodainely comming to the bridge , saved them , and thereupon gave them that name . of these , and the like , we may say , propi●ra sunt honori , quàm ignominiae . infinite are the occasions which in like manner have made names to persons , i will onely reporte one or two french examples , that thereby you may imagine of others in other places and former ages . in the first broyles of fraunce , certaine companies ranging themselves into troupes , one captaine tooke newe names to himselfe and his company from the furniture of an horse . among these new named gallants , you might have heard of , monsieur saddle , ( to english them ) mounsieur bridle , le croupier , le girte , horsh●●● , bitte , trappiers , hoofe , stirrope , curbe , musrole , frontstall , &c. most of the which had their pasport , as my author noteth , by seign●●● de la halter . another captaine there also gave names to his , according to the places where he found thē , as hodge , hieway , river , pond , vine , stable , street , corner , gall●ws , taverne , tree , &c. and i have heard of a consort in england , who when they had served at sea , tooke names from the equipage of a shippe , when they would serve themselves at land , as , 〈◊〉 , ball●st , planke , f●re-decke , decke , loope-hole , pumpe , rudder , gable , anchor , misen saile , capson , maste , bolt .. so that is true which isidore saieth , names are not alwayes given according to nature , but some after our owne will and pleasure , as we name our landes and servants according to our owne liking . and the dutchmans saying may be verified , which when he heard of , englishmen called god and divell , saide , that the english borrowed names from all things whatsoever , good or bad . it might be heere questioned , whether these surnames were assumed and taken at the first by the persons themselves , or imposed and given vnto them by others . it may aswell seeme that the locall names of persons were partely taken vp by themselves , if they were owners of the place , as given by the people , who have the soveraignty of words and names , as they did in the nicke-names before surnames were in vse . for who would have named himselfe , peaceable , vnready , without-land , beauclerke , strongbow , gagtooth , blanch-mayne , bossue , i. crook-backe , but the concurrent voyce of the people , as the women neighbours gave the name to obed in the booke of ruth ; and likewise in surnames . in these pretty names , as i may terme them , from floures , fishes , birdes , habitudes , &c : it may bee thought that they came from nurses in former times heere , as very many , or rather most in ireland and wales doe at this present . these nicke-names of one sillable turned to surnames , as dickes , nickes , toms , hobbes , &c. may also seeme to proceed from nurses , to their nurslings ; or from fathers and maisters to their boyes and servants . for , as according to the old proverb , omnis herus serv● monosyllabus , in respect of their short commands : so omnis servus har● monosyllabus in respect of the curtolling their names , as wil , sim , hodge , &c. neither is it improbable , but that many names that seeme vnfitting for men , as of brutish beasts , &c. came frō the very signes of the houses where they inhabited ; for i have heard of them which said they spake of knowledge , that some in late time dwelling at the signe of the dolphin , dull , white-horse , ●●●ket , peacocke , &c. were commonly called 〈◊〉 at the dolphin , will at the bull , george at the white horse , robin at the racket , which names as many other of like sort , with omitting at , became afterward herod●ta●le to their children . heereby some insight may bee had in the originall of surnames , yet it is a matter of great difficultie , to being them all to certain heads , whenas our language is so greatly altered , so many new names daily brought in by aliens , as french , scots , irish , welch , dutch , &c. and so many old words worne out of vse . i meane not only in the old english , but also the late norman , for who knoweth nowe what these names were , giffard , basset , gernon , mallet , howard , peverell , paganell , or paynell , taile boise , talb●t , l●vet , panc●volt , tirrell , &c. which are nothing lesse than locall , and certainely significative , for they are never noted , as i said before in olde evidences with de as locall names , 〈◊〉 alwayes absolutely , as w. giffard , r. basset , as christian names are , when they are made surnames ; and yet i will not affirme , that all these heere mentioned were at anie time christian names , although doubtlesse some were . for wee knowe the significations of some of them , as mallet , an hammer , bigot , a norman , or superstitious tailebois . i. cutwood , lovet , little woolfe , and basset , ( as some thinke ) fatte ; giffard is by some interpreted liberall ; and howard , high warden , or guardian ( as it seemeth an office now out of vs● ) whenas heobeorg signified in olde english high defence , and he●h-faeder , patriarch or high father . certaine it is , that the first of that right noble family who was knowne by the name of h●ward , was the sonne of william de wigenhall , as the honourable lord william howard of naworth , third sonne to thomas late duke of norffolke , an especial searcher of antiquities , who equalleth his high parentage with his vertues , hath lately discovered . to find out the true originall of surnames , is full of difficulty , so it is not easie to search all the causes of alterations of surnames , which in former ages have beene verie common among vs , and have so intricated , or rather , obscured the trueth of our pedegrees , that it will be no little hard labour to deduce many of them truly from the conquest ; somewhat neverthelesse shall be said thereof , but more shall be left for them which will sound deeper into this matter . to speake of alteration of names , omitting them of abraham , and sara , iacob , and israel , in holy scriptures , i have observed that the change of names , hath most commonly proceeded from a desire to avoyd the opinion of basenes . so c●d●marus when he succeeded ochus in the kingdome of persia , called himselfe by the princely name darius . so new names were given to them which were deified by the paganish consecration , as romulus was called quirmus , melicertus was called portunus , and palaemon , likewise in adoptions into better families and testament , as the sonne of l. aemilius , adopted by scipio , tooke the name of scipio africanus . so augustus who was first named thureon , tooke the name of octavian by testament : by enfranchising also into new citties , as he which first was called lucumo , when he was infranchised at rome , tooke the name of lucius tarquinius priscus . so demetrius mega when he was there made free of the citty , was called publius cornelius . cicero epist . . lib. . likewise slaves when they were manumised , tooke often their masters names , whenas they had but one name in their servile state . as they which have read artemidorus , do know , how a slave , who when he dreamed he had tria virilia , was made free the next morning , and had three names given him . neither is it to be forgotten , that men were not forbidden to change name or surname , by the rescript of dioclesian l. vinc. c. de mutat . nom . so be that it were sine aliqua fraude , iure licito . as that great philosopher which was first called malchus in the syrian tongue , tooke the name of porphyrius , as eunapius reporteth : as before suetonius the historian looke to surname 〈◊〉 , whenas his father was suetonius l●uis . those notvvithstanding of strange base parentage were forbidden l. super 〈◊〉 c. de quaest . to insert , or inthrust themselves into noble and honest families by changing their names , which will growe to inconvenience in england , as it is thought , by reason that surnames of honourable and worshipfull families are given now to meane mens children for christian names , as it is growen nowe in fraunce , to the confusion of their gentry , by taking new names from their purchased landes at their pleasures . among the romans nevertheles they that were called ad equestrem ordinem , having base names , were new named nomine ingenuorum veterumque romanorum , lest the name should disgrace the dignitie , when according to plato , comely things should have no vncomely names . it was vsuall amongest the christians in the primitive church , to change at baptisme the names of catechu●e●i , which were in yeeres , as that impious renegado , that was before called lucius , was in his baptisme called lucianus . so the popes vse to change their names , when they enter into the papaci● , which as plati●a saith , was begunne by pope sergius the second , who first changed his name , for that his former name was hogges-mouth , but other referre the change of names in popes to christ , who changed simon into peter , iohn and iames into bonarges : onely marcellus , not long since chosen pope , refused to chaunge his name , saying , marcellus i was , and marcellus i will be , i will neither change name nor manners . other religious men also when they entred into some orders , chaunged their name ●n times past , follovving therein , ( as they report ) the apostle , that chaunged his name from saule to paule , after he entred into the ministery , borrovving ( as some say ) that name from sergius paulus the roman lievtenant , but as other will from his lovve stature , for hee was but three cubites high , as saint chrysostome speaking of him . tricubitalis ille tamen coelum ascendit . of changing also christian names in confirmation we have saide before ; but overpassing these forraine matters let vs say somewhat as concerning chaunge of names in england . as among the french in former time , and also nowe , the heire tooke the fathers surname , and the yonger sonnes tooke names of their landes allotted vnto them . so likewise in times past did they in england ; and the most common alteration proceeded from place of habitation . as if hugh of suddington gave to his second sonne his mannour of frydon , to his third sonne his mannour of pantley , to his fourth his wood of albdy ; the sonnes calld thems●lves de frydon , de pantley , de albdy ; and their posteritie removed de. so hugh montfortes second sonne called richard being lord of hatton in warwickeshire tooke the name of hatton . so the yongest sonne of simon de montfort earle of leicester staying in england , when his father was slaine , and brethren fled , tooke the name of welsborne , as some of that name have reported . so the name of ever came from the mannour of ever , neere vxbridge , to yonger sonnes of l. iohn fitz-robert de clavering , from whom the lorde evers , and sir peter evers of axholme are descended so sir iohn cradocke knight great grandfather of sir henry newton of somersetshire tooke first the name of newton , which was the name of his habitation : as the issue of huddard in cheshire tooke the name of dutton . bnt for varietie and alteration of names in one familie vpon divers respects , i will give you one cheshire example for all , out of an antient roule belonging to sir william brerton of brerton knight , which i sawe twenty yeares since . not long after the conquest william bellward lord of the moietie of malpasse , had two sonnes , dan-david of malpasse , surnamed le clerke , and richard ; dan-david had william his eldest sonne surnamed de malpasse , from whom the baron dudley is descended by heire generall . his second sonne was named philip gogh , one of the issue of whose eldest sonnes tooke the name of egerton ; a third sonne tooke the name of david 〈◊〉 , and one of his sonnes the name of goodm●● . richard the other sonne of the aforesaid william belward had three sonnes , who tooke also divers names , viz. thomas de c●tgrave , william de overton , and richard little , who had two sonnes , the one named ken-clarke , and the other iohn richardson . heerein you may note alteration of names in respect of habitation in egerton , cotgrave , overton , in respect of colour in g●g● , that is , red , in respect of qualitie in him that was called goodm●n , in respect of stature in richard little , in respect of learning in ken-clarke , in respect of the fathers christian name in richardson , all descending from william bellward . and verily the gentlemen of those so different names in cheshire would not easily be induced to beleeve they were descended from one house , if it were not warranted by so antient a proofe . in respect of stature i could recite to you other examples , but i will onely adde this which i have read , that a yong gentleman of the house of preux , being of tall stature attending on the lord hungerford , lord treasourer of england , was among his fellowes called long h : who after preferred to a good marriage by his lorde , was called h. long , that name continued to his posteritie , knights and men of great worship . other took their mothers surnames , as a. audley yonger brother to iames lord audley , marrying the daughter and heire of h. de stanley left a sonne william , that tooke the name of stanley , from whome stanley earle of derby , aud other of that name are descended . geffrey the sonne of robert fitz-maldred , and isabel his wife , heire of the norman house of the nevilles , tooke the name of nevill , and left it to his posteritie which was spread into very manie honourable families of england . in like manner the sonne of ioscelin of lovan a yoonger sonne to the duke of brabant , when he had married agnes the onely daughter of william lord percy so named of percy forrest in the county of maen , from whome they came , ( and not of piercing the king of s●●ts through the 〈◊〉 , as h●ct●r b●●tius fableth ) his sonne and posteritie vppon a composition with the same lady , tooke her name of percy , but retained theyr olde coate armour , to shew from whome they descended ; so adam de montgomery marrying the daughter and heire of carew of molesford , her sonne relinquishing his owne , left to his posteritie his mothers name carew , from whom the barons carew , the carews of haccomb , of berry , of authony , beddington , &c. have had their names and originall . likewise ralph gernon marrying the daughter of cavendish , or candish , left that name to his issue , as th : talbot , a learned genealogist hath prooved . so robert meg the great favourite of king iohn took the name of braybrooke , whereof his mother was one of the heires . so sir iohn de haudlow marrying the daughter and heire of the lorde burnell , his posteritie tooke the name of burnell . so sir tibauld russell tooke the name of de gorges to him and his issue , for that his mother was sister and one of the heirs of ralfe de gorges , as it appeareth in the controversie betweene warbleton and the saide tibauld de corges for the coate of armes lozengy , or , and azure , . of edward the third , before henry earle of lancaster , and others , at the siege of saint margaret . not many years since , when iames h●rsey had married the daughter of de-le-vale of northumberland , his issue tooke the name of de-la-vale . heerevnto may they also bee referred who changed their names in remembrance of their progenitours being more honourable , as the sonnes of geffrey fitz-petre , tooke the name of magnavilla or mandevile , when they came to be earles of essex , because their grandmother beatrix was of the house of mandevile , as appeareth by the abby booke of walden . so thomas de molton tooke the name of lucy , and many other , which i omit . others also have taken the name of them whose lands they had : as when king henry the first gave the lands of the attainted robert moubray earle of northumberland , being . knights fees in normandy , and . in england , to nigall or n●●le de 〈…〉 who in the battell at 〈◊〉 , tooke robert duke of 〈◊〉 prisoner : he commanded withall , that his posteritie should take the surname of mo●bray , which they accordingly did , and retained the same as long as the issue male continued , which determined in iohn mo●bray duke of norfolke , in the time of king edward the fourth : whose heires were married into the families of howard and barkeley . remembrance of benefits made others to change their names , as william mortimer descended from those of richards castle , tooke the name of la-zouch , and named his sonne alan de la-zouch , for some favour received from the lord zouch of ashby de la-zouch , as appeareth by inquisition . . & . ed. . in respect of adoption also , very many in all ages have changed their names : i neede not particulate it , for all know it . some of their owne dislike of their names , have altered them : for as i have read in the booke of fornesse , william fitz-gilbert baron of kendall , obtained licence of king henry the second , to change his name and call himselfe and his posteritie lancaster , from whom the lancasters in westm●rlaud &c. are descended . heerevpon some thinke that without the kings licence new names cannot be taken , or old names given away to others . yet tiraquell the great civilian of france , in leg. quin. conub . tit. . seemeth to incline , that both name and armes may be transferred by will and testament , and produceth augustus , who by his testament commanded tiberius and livia to beare his name . how in former times herevile , dunvile , clauwowe , gave and granted away their armes , which are as silent names , distinctions of families ; and the same was thought vnlawfull afterward , when the lord 〈◊〉 would have done the same , shall be declared in more convenient place . but the inconvenience of change of names , hath beene discovered to be such in france , that it hath beene pr●pounded in 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 , that it should not be permitted but in these two respects , eyther when one should bee made heire to any with especiall words , to assume the name of the testatour ; or when any one should have a donation surmounting a thousand crownes , vpon the same condition . but to retyre to our purpose . not a few have assumed the names of their fathers baronies , as in former times the issue of richard fitz-gilbert , tooke the name of clare , which was their barony : and in late time , since the suttons came to the barony of dudley , all their issue tooke the name of dudleyes : that i may omit others . the dislike of others hath caused also a change of names , for king edward the first , disliking the iteration of fitz , commanded the lord iohn fitz-robert , a most ancient baron , ( whose ancestours had continued their surnames by their fathers christian names , ) to leave that manner , and to be called iohn clavering , which was the capitall seate of his barony . and in this time , many that had followed that course of naming by fitz , tooke them one setled name , and retained it as fitz walter , and others . also at that time the names of thomson , richardson , willson , and other of that forme began to be setled , which before had varied according to the name of the father . edward the fourth likewise ( as i have heard , ) loving some whose name was picard , would often tell them that hee loved them well , but not their names , wherevpon some of them changed their names : and i have heard that one of them which tooke the name of ruddle , being the place of his birth in that respect . and in late yeares in the time of king henry the eight , an ancient worshipfull gentleman of wales , being called at the panniell of iury by the name of thomas ap william , ap thomas , ap richard , ap hoel , ap evan vaghan , &c. was advised by the iudge to leave that old manner . wherevpon he after called himselfe moston , according to the name of his principall house , and left that surname to his posterity . offices have brought new names to divers families , as when edward fitz-th●●bald , of ireland , the earles of ormond and others descended from them , tooke the name of butler . so the distinct families of the constables in the county of yorke , are saide to have taken that name , from some of their ancestours which bare the office of constables of some castles . in like manner the stewards , marshalls , spencers . that i may say nothing of such as for well acting on the stage , have carried away the names of the personages which they acted , and have lost their owne names among the people . schollers pride hath wrought alteration in some names which have beene sweetned in sound , by drawing ●hem to the latine analog●● . as that notable non-resident in our fathers time doctor magnus , who being a foundling at newark vppon trent , where hee erected a grammer schoole , was called by the people t. among vs , for that he was found among them : but he profiting in learning , turned among vs , into magnus , and was famous by that name , not onely heere , but also in forraine places where he was often ambassadour . it were needelesse to note heere againe , how many have taken in former times the christian name of their father , with prefixing of fitz or filz , as fitz-bugh , fitz-alan , fitz-william , or adding of son , as richardson , tomson , iohnson , &c. and so altered their surnames if they had any . whereas divers ancient gentlemen of england do beare coates of armes , which by old roules and good proofes are knowne to belong to other names and families , and cannot make proofe that they matched with those families , it is worth observation , considering how religious they were in elder times in keeping their owne armes : whether they were not of those ancient houses whose armes they beare , and have changed their names in respect of their habitation , or partitions and lands gotten by their wives . as pickering of the north , beareth ermin a lion rampant azure crowned , or , which , as it is in the old abby booke of furnesse , was the coat of roger de miyth●rp . in the same booke the coate of dacr● , gules . escal●pes arg. is the coate of r. ger●●th of cumberland , and so the three pillowes ermin of redman of northumberland , is the coate of ran. de greystock . so vfford e. of suffolk , and peit●n , fetiplace , and hide , and many other gentlemen of the same armes , may seeme to haue beene of the same stocke , and to haue varied their names in diuers respects . finally , among the common people which sway all in names , many surnames haue bene changed in respect of occupations , and not a few have beene changed in respect of masters , for in every place we see the youth very commonly called by the names of their ocupations , as iohn baker , thomas taylor , will butcher , dic barber , and many by their masters names , as iohn pickering , thomas watkins , nicholas french , whenas they served maisters of those names , which often were conveyed to their posteritie , and their owne surnames altogether forgotten . some other causes of alteration of names may be found , as for crimes committed when men have beene enforced to leave their countries . but heereby it may be vnderstood that an alias or double name cannot preiudice the honest : and it is knowne that when iudge catiline tooke exception at one in this respect , saying , that no honest man had a double name , & came in with an alias . the party asked him what exception his lordship could take to iesus christ , alias , iesus of nazareth . i doubt not but some men among vs in changing their names , do imitate olde goffer simon the cobbler in lucian , who when he grew fat in the purse , would needes be called for goodman si●●on . master simonides , as some women do follow the good greeke wench , melissarton , that is , pretty honny-bee , who when of a commediant shee became a wealthy mans wife , would be saluted madam pithias , or prudence . and some likewise can change themselves from shee , to hee , and consequeetly their name , as cenis the wench , into ceneus the yong man , as you may see in ovid. among the alteration of 〈…〉 how kings of armes , 〈◊〉 , and 〈◊〉 are new named with a bole of wine powred vpon their heads by the prince or earle marshall , when they are invested , and the kings crowned , as garter , clerenceux , n●rrey : l●●caster , yorke , richmond , somerset , &c. which is as ancient as the time of king edward the third . for we reade , that when newes was brought him at windsor , by a pursuvant , of the victory at the battell of auroy , hee bountifully rewarded him , and immediately created him herold , by the name of windsor . heere might i note that women with vs at their marriage do change their surnames and passe into their husbands names , and iustly for that then non sunt du● , sed car● vna : and yet in fraunce and the netherlands , the better sort of women will still retaine their owne name with their husbands , as if mary daughter of villevill be married to a. vavin , she will write herselfe mary vavin ville vill . but i feare husbands will not like this note , for that some of their dames may be ambitiously over-pert and too-too forward to imitate it . beside these former alterations , the tyran time which hath swallowed many names , hath also in vse of speach , changed more by contr●cting syncopating , cu●telling and mollifying them , as beside them before mentioned . adr●●y is now turned into darcy , aldethelight into awdley , sabrigworth into sapsford , sitsil into cecil , mount●●y into mungey , dunevet into knevet , if you bel●eve leland , gr●vile into greenefeild , haverington into harrington , bourgchier into bowcer , le dai●erell into dairell , ravensford into rainsford , mohune into moone , danvers into davers , gernegan into ierningham , cah●rs into chaworth , din●●t into dinham , wooderington into witherington , estlegh into ast●y , turbervile into troublefeild , de oilei● into d●iley , p●gli into polye , de alanson into dalison , purefoy into purfrey , cavend●sh into cand●sh , veinour into fenner , harecourt into harcot , sanctpaul into sampol , fortesen into f●sk● , ferrers 〈…〉 , culwen into curwen , p●●tevin into petsin , berenger into be●ger . montacute into montague , ger●●us into garnish , pul●●ston into p●ston , cholmondley into cholmley , grosvenour into gravener , meisuilwarin into manwaring , after into man●ering , fitz-gerard into garret , ok●ver into oker , vvedale into vdall , damprecourt first into dabrig●court , now into dabscot , leventhrop into lenthrop , wilburnhame into willbram , a●kow from ascouth , and that from the old christian name ascuith , which in latine was hasculphus and hastulphus , that is , speedy helpe , &c. it may not seem from this purpose , if i here set down & compare a few names of ancient good families , as they are written in old latine records and histories , with them now in vse : whereof many are as it were so transformed in common pronunciation from the originall , as they will scantly seeme to have beene the same . ashe , de fraxi●is . bellevv , de bella aqua . beavfoe , de bella fago , boys , de bosc● . beavpre , ` de bello prato . bovrchier , de burgo chare , onely once . beavmont , de bello-monte . beavchamp , de bello-campo . blovnt , flavus , sometimes . bovves , de arcubus . bovil , de bovis villa . chavvorth , de cadurcis . cheney , de casineto , and de querceto . champaigne , de campania . cantlovv , de cantelupo . chavvmond , de calvo mont● . champflovr , de campo-florid● . capell , de capella . crevecvre , de crepito corde . champ●rnovn , de 〈…〉 . d'evrevx , de ebr●i●is . d'avtr●y , de altaripa . d'avney , de al●eto . d'avbeney , de albeneie . freshmersh , de frisco-marisco . ferrers , de ferrarijs . hvssey , de hosato , & hosatu● . lorty , de vrtiaco . love , lupus . lovet , lupettus . lovell , lupellus . lisle , de iusula . mallovell , malus lupellus . montioy , de moute iovis . mannovrs , de mannerijs . minors , de minerijs . marsh , de marisco . mavley , de mal●-lacu . montchensey , de monte canisio . mortimer , de mortuo mari. mvsters , de monasterijs . mevvs , de melsa . monthermer . de monto hermer●● . montfichet , de monte-●ix● . montperson , de monte pessonis . molines , de molindinis . moigne , monachus . nevvmarch , de noue mercatu . novvres , de nodorijs . nevill , de nova villa . peche , de peccato . perpoint , de petra-ponte . pvdsey , de puteaco . roch , de rupe . sellenger , or saint leger , de sancto 〈◊〉 . symber● , de sancta barb●● stradling , easterling , because they first came out of the east part of germany . s●nlis , sylv●●●ct●●sis , and de sancto lizi● . s. foster , de s. vedasto . semarc , de s. medardo . seimor , de s. maur● . sampier , de s. petro. sampol , de s. paul● . sentlo , de s. land● . sentlovv , de s. lup● . syncler , de s. clara. semarton , de s. martino . singlis , in ireland , de s. gelasio . s. tomer , de s. aud●mar● . s. ovven , de s. aud●●n● . samond , de s. amand● . sv●teyes , super teysam . saltmersh , de salso marisco . spencer , or le despencer , dispensat , or , scales , de scalarijs . stravnge , extrancus . vipovnt , de veteri-ponte . de la zovch , de stipite sicc● . for william de la zouch archbishop of yorke , is so called in this verse , for his valour in an encounter against the scottishmen at bearparke . ● . est pater invictus sicc● de stipite dictus , &c. for zouch signifieth the stocke of a tree in the french tongue . and this translation of names into greeke or latine , is still in vse among the germans , for hee whose name is ertswert or blackland , will be melancthon ; if newman , neander ; if holieman , osiander ; if brooke , torrenti●s ; if fenne , paludanus , &c. which some amongest vs beganne lately to imitate . to drawe to an end , no man whatsoever is to be disliked in respect either of originall , or of signification , for neither the good names doe grace the bad , neither do evil names disgrace the good ; if names are to bee accounted good or bad . in all countries both good and bad have bin of the same surnames , which as they participate one with the other in glory , so somtimes in shame . therfore for ancestors , parentage and names ( as he said ) let every man say vix ca nostra voco . time hath intermingled & confused all , & we are com al to this present , by successive variable descents from high and lowe : or as hee saieth more plainely , the low are descended from the high , and contrariwise , the high from low . if any doe vaunt of their names , let them looke to it , lest they have inania nomina ; you know who faith , vestra nomina nunquam sum admiratus , 〈…〉 vobis reliquerunt , magnos arbitrabor . and if they glory in their auntient fai●e names , and farr● fetcht descents , with contempt of others , happly some such like as marius was , may returne vppon them marius wordes ; si iure despiciunt nos , faciunt idem maioribus suis , quibus vti nobis ex virtu●● nobilitas caepit . invident honori nostro : ergo invideant labori , innocentiae . periculis etiam nostris , quoniam per haec ill●● 〈◊〉 . yea some of these occupation and office names , which doe seeme so meane to some , are as auntient in this realme as most other . for in that most authenticall register doomesday book in the exchequer , ye shal have c●●us , a●rifaber , ●●tor , pistor , accipitrarius , camera●ius , venator , 〈◊〉 modicus , ● cook , goldsmith , painter , baker , falconer , chamberlaine , huntsman , fisher , marshall , porter , leach , and others , which then held land in capite , and without doubt left these names to their posteritie , albeit happly they are not mentioned in those tables of b●●●aile abbey , of such as came in at the conquest : which whosoever consider well , shall finde alwayes to be forged , and those names to be inserted which the time in every age favoured , and were never mentioned in that authenticall record . if you please to compare the roman names that seeme so stately , because you vnderstand them not , you will disdaine them in respect of our meanest names ; for what is fronte but beetle-browed ? casius but cattes-eies ? petus but pink-eyed ? cocles one-eye , naso bottle-nose , galba maggot , as suetonius interpreteth ; sil● apes-nose , ancus crooked arme , pausa broade foote , strabo squint-eye , suillius swincheard , capito iobbernoll , calvus bald-pate , crispus curle-pate , flaccus loll-eares , or flagge-eared , labeo blabber-lippe , scaurus knobd heele , varus bow-legged , pedo long-shankes , marcellus hammer , for it commeth from marculus , hortensius gardner , cilo petty-long pate , chilo flap-lippes , or , as velius longus saith , impro●●●ribus labris hom● . those great names also fabius , l●ntulus , cicero , piso , stolo , are no more in our tongue then bean-man , lentill , chich-pease , pescod-man , braunch ; for as plinie saieth , these names were first appropriated to them , for skill in sowing those graines . neyther those from beasts which varro reciteth in the second de rustica , taurus , vitulus , ovilius , por●ius , caprilius , were better than bull , calfe , sheep , hogge , goate , &c. in respect of these names all the names of england are such as i thinke few would take the benefite of dioclesians rescript , which i lately mentioned . but in france ( where the fowle names marmot , merd●oyson , boreau ) and in spaine ( where verdugo , i. hangman , putanero , and such like are rife ) it is no marvel that some procure licence from the king to change their names : and that a gentlewoman , doctor andreas the great civilians wife said ; if faire names were saleable , they woulde be well bought . thus much of christian names and surnames , or praenomina and nomina . as for cognomina and agnomina , or by-names were rare in our nation ; onely i remember these three , le beuf in the familie of the giffardes , of meuill among the darcies , and bouchard in one house of the latimers , and some say algernoun in the familie of percies : but that as yet is out of the reach of my reading , vnlesse it be the same that is corruptly in the descent of the earles of belleyn belonging to the late queene mother of france , set downe agernouns , for alger●●●●s ; for so eustace the second is there by-named , who in other olde pedegrees is called eustace with the cleare eyes . as for additions given over and beside names , and surnames in law causes , that i may note them out of a lawe booke , they are either of estate , or degree , or mysterie , or towne , or hamlet , or countie . addition of estate are these ; yeoman , gentleman , esquire . addition of degree are those which wee call names of dignitie , as knight , earle , marquesse , duke . additions of mysterie are such , scrivener , carpenter , smith . addition of townes , as of padington , islington , edelmeton . and where a man hath houshold in two places , he shall be saide to dwell in both of them , so that his addition in one of them doth suffice . by the statute the first yeere of king henry the fift and fift chapter , it was ordained , that in suites or in actions where processe of vtary lieth , such addition should be to the name of the defendant , to shew his estate , mysterie , and place where he dwelleth , and that such writts shall abate , if they have not such additions , if the defendant do take exception thereat , they shall not abate by the office of the court . also , duke , marquesse , earle , or knight be none of that addition , but names of dignitie , which should have beene given before the statute . aud this was ordained by the sayde statnte , made in the first yeare of king henry the seaventh chap. . to the intent that one man may not be grieved or troubled by the vtlary of an other , but that by reason of the certaine addition every man might be certainely knowne , and beare his owne burden . how the names of them which for capitall crimes against maiestie , were creazed out of the publike records , tables , and registers , or forbidden to be borne by their posteritie , when their memory was damned . i could shew at large , but this and such like , with misnomer in our lawes , and other quidities , i leave to the professours of lawes . somewhat might be said here of the adjuncts to names or titles , which in most antient times were ●●ther none , or most simple . for augustus was impatient to be called domin●●● yet domitian liked well to be called dom ●nus deusque and dominus was taken vp by everie private man , as appeereth by seneca , and the poore graecian which refused that title by alluding 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . nevertheles it was never vsed by the emperors , from domitian to dioclesianus , as victor noteth ; but afterward it was continued by the christian emperors , yea vpon their coines . and that which is more strange , they vsed then as appeareth in the constitutions , for themselves . aeternitat nostra , perennitas nostra , numen nostrum ; and to their principall officers , vir illustri● , vi●●spectabilis , magnifica cellitudo , sublimis magnit●do tua , illustris magnificentia , sublim●tas , miranda sublimitas , eminentia tua , excellentia tua , praecelsa magnificentia tua , &c. as appeareth in the volumes of the civill lawe . so as i know not wh●e that spite king buchanan should envy lesser titles to princes , the verie tipes of gods maiestie , yea verie gods in earth , and brand them with the marke of seric●●● nebulones , which honour princes therewith . the romans vnder the latter emperours had a verie curious and carefull observation , in giving titles to men of reputation , which as i have read were onely five ; illustris was the highest appropriated to the praefecti praetorio of italy and gallia , the prafectus of the cittie of rome , magister equitum , magister peditum , quaestor palatij , comes largitania , &c. and all that had voice in the senate . spectabil●● was the second 〈◊〉 due to the lievtenants generall , and 〈◊〉 of provinces &c. so in notitia provinciarum , vicarius britanniarum , comes littoris saxonici per britanni●● . dux britanniae are st●●ed viri spectabiles . clarissimus was the third title peculiar onelie to the consulares , correctores , and praesides of provinces . perfectissimus was the fourth . egregius the fift . and as clarissimus was a title to those great officers above specified , so no other could have that , as neither of perfectissimus , and egregius , but graunted by patents . and in that age , as it is in the code of theodosius , titulo , vt dignitatem ordo servetur . si quis indebitum sibi locum vsurpaverit , nulla seignoratione defendat , sitque planè sacrilegij reus . amongst vs the kings had these adiuncts , when they were written and spoken vnto , gloriosus , gloriosissimus , pracellentissimus , charissimus dominus , rex illustris , lately potentissimus , invictissimus , serenissimus ; our ●ege lord , our soveraigne . our dread soveraigne &c. as for grace , it beganne about the time of henry the fourth . excellent grace vnder henry the sixt . high and mighty prince vnder edward the fourth . and maiestie which first beganne to the roman emperours about the time of gallienus , came hither in the time of king henry the eight , as sacred maiestie lately in our memory . whereas among christians it was appli●ble onely in former ages to god , as among the old romans to the goddesse maiestie the daughter of honour and reverence . among other men in former ages d●n corrupted from dominus , was the greatest attribute both to spi●ituall and temporall , and afterward worshipfull , and right worshipfull , hath been thought convenient among vs for the great dukes and fa●les ; but wee nowe beginne so to overlade men with additions , as spaniardes did lately , vntill they were restrained by the pragmaticall . at which time pasquil at rome being demanded why philip of spaine had so taken away all titles from all sortes of men , aunswered merrily , albeit not religiously . that it may be verified of him which is saide , tu solus do●●inus , tu solus altissimus , in respect of his voluminous long title which will ●i●e the reader . thus farre had i proceeded in names , when it was hie time to stay , for i am advertised that there is one , which by arte trochilick , will drawe all english surnames of the best families out of the pitte of poetrie , as bourchier from busyris the tyrant of aegypt ; percy from flying perseus ; darcy from dircaus apollo ; lee from laetus turned into a swanne in ovid ; iakeson from iason : well hee may satisfie them herein , whom i cannot . as for my selfe , i acknowledge that i cannot satisfie neither them , nor my selfe in all particularities : and well therefore i doe like h●m that said , he dooth not teach well which teacheth all ; leaving nothing to subtill wittes to sift out . and sure i am scrupulous diligence lieth open to envie . but for such as wil not be content with that which is said , i wish sir iohn de bilbao would coniure vp william ockam the father of the nominalles ( as appion did homer , ) for their better satisfaction heerein . meane while i desire no man will take offence at any thing heere spoken , when as i have beene so farre from giving offence , that i dare protest it in that solemne auntient forme , superos , & sydera testor . hating it in others , and condemning it in my selfe , even vnto the bottomles pitt of hell . allusions . i will now present vnto you a few extracts out of names , ( i feare you will call them foolish foppe●●es , ) but call them what you please , i hope a little folly may be pardonable in this our so wise an age out of names the busie wit of man continually working hath wrought vpon liking or dislike allusions , very common in all ages , and among all men , rebus , 〈…〉 ages both with learned and vnlearned , and anagramme● though long since invented , yet rare in this our refined times . in all which , i will briefly shew our nation hath beene no lesse pregnant , then those southerne which presume of wits in respect of 〈◊〉 . afterward somewhat shall be said of armes , which as silent names distinguish families . an allusion is as it were a d●lliance or playing with words , like in sound , vnlike in sence , by changing , adding , or substracting a letter or two ; so that words nicking and resembling one the other , are appliable to diffrent significations . as the almightie ( if we may heerein vse sacred authority , ) in ratification of his promise to the seede of isaac , changed abram , ⸫ high father , into abraham , that is , father of many ; and sarai , that is , my dame , into sara , that is , lady or dame. the greekes ( to omit infinite others , ) nicked antiochus epiphanes , that is , the famous , with epinanes , that is , the furious . the romans likewise played with bibbing tiberius nero , calling him biberius mero . so tully called the extorting verres , in the actions against him verrens , as sweepe-all . so in quintilian the sower fellow , placidus was called acidus , and of late one called scaliger , aliger . excellent is that which our countriman reverend beda reporteth in his ecclesiasticall history of england , of the cause that mooved gregory the great to send augustine into england . on a time ( as i shewed before ) when he saw beautifull boyes to be sold in the market at rome , and demanded by what name their nation was called ; and they told him english-men ; and iustly be they so called ( quoth he , ) for they have angelike faces , and seeme meete to be made coheirs with the angells in heaven : after , when it was tolde him that their king was called alla , then said he ought alleluya to be sung in that country to the praise of their creatour : when it was also signified vnto him , they were borne in a part of the kingdome of northumberland , called then deira , now holdernesse deira dei , ( then said he , ) sunt liberandi . laurens archbishop , which succeeded that augustine , was by allusion called lauriger , mellitus , mellifluus , brith-wald , bright-world , nothelhelme , noble-helme , celnothu● , caelo natus , all archbishops of canterbury . and such like were framed out of the names of many english confessours , which i omit . arletta , the good wench which so kindely entertained robert duke of normandy , when he begate of her william the conquerour , ( as i had rather you should read in others then heare of me , ) was for his honesty , closely with an aspiration called harlot . but the good and learned recorder would say , that this name beganne from her , and in honour of her , was appropriated by the normans in england , to all of her kinde profession , and so continueth . when herbert first bishop of norwich , and founder of the cathedrall church there , had simoniacally procured that bishopricke to himselfe , and the abbacy of winchester to his father , they were alluded vpon by the name of simon in the worst sence , in this verse . filius est praesul , pater abbas , simon vterque . strong and suddaine was that allusion of gilbert folioth bishop of hereford , who when hee had incurred the hatred of many , for opposing himselfe against thomas becket archbishop of canterbury , one c●●ed with a lowd voyce at his chamber windowe at mid-night , folieth , ●olioth , thy god is the goddesse azaroth . hee suddenly and stowtly replied , thou list fowle feind , my god is the god of sabaoth . hitherto may be referred that which giraldus cambrensis reporteth . an archdeacon named pecc●tum or peche , a rurall deane called de vill , & a iew travailing together in the marches of wales , when they came to illustrate , the archdeacon said to his deane , that their iurisdiction began there , & reached to malpasse : the iew considering the names of the deane , archdecon , & limits , said by allusion : marvaile may it be if i scape well out of this iurisdiction , where sinne is archdeacon , the divell the deane , and the bounds illustrate with malpasse . alexander nequam , a man of great learning , borne at saint albanes , and desirous to enter into religion there , after hee had signified his desire , writ to the abot laconically . si vis , veniam , sin autem , tu autem . who answered as briefly , alluding to his name . si bonus sis , venias , si nequam , nequaquam . wherevpon he changed his name to neckam . philip rependum , abbot of leicester , alluded thus vpon the name of neckam , es niger & nequam , cùm sis cognomine neckam . nigrior esse potes , nequior esse nequis . but hee repaied him with this re-allusion vppon the name of philipp . phinota faetoris , lippus malus omnibus horis , &c. a london poet dallied thus with the name of fustachius , when he was preferred from treasurer of the exchequer , to be bishop of london , . which was thought a great preferment in that age . eustachi nupèr benè stabas , nunc benè stabis . ille status valuit , praevalet iste tamen . robert passelve , an especiall favorite of henry the third , afterward by a court-tempest so shaken as he was glad to be parson of derham in norfolke ; was alluded vnto while he was in the sun-shine , by pass●le-eau , as surpassing the pure water , the most excellent element of all , if you beleeve pindar . this allusion was composed to the honour of a religious man called robertus , resolving it into ros , ver , thus. tu benè robertus quasi ros , ver , thusque vocaris , ros sata , ver flores , thus h●locausta facit . sic tu ros , ver , thus , geris haec tria , ros sata verbi , ver floris morum , thus holocausta precum . vpon the same , another framed this . robertus titulo dotatur triplice , roris temperie , veris dulcedine , thuris odore . vpon the same name and invention i have also found this , es benè ros , ver , thus , ros es qùod nectare stillas , ver , qùod flore vires , thus , quia mente sapis . ros ( inquam ) ver , thus : ros qui dulcedine stillat , ver quod flore nitet , thus quod odore sapit . nam qùod tu sis ros , ver , thus , perhibet tua roris , temperies , veris gratia , thuris odor . vpon the same name robertus , an other made robur , thus , with this distiche : tu benè robertus quasi robur , thus : benè robur , nam virtute vig●s , thus , quia mente sapis . when pandulphus the popes nuncio came into england , a scholler smoothed him with this foolish allusion . te totum dulcor perfundit , & indè vocaris , pandulphus quid pan nisi totum ? dul nisidulcor ! phu● nisi fusus ? id est , totus dulcedine fusus . one in a dedication alluded vnto roger an ecclesiasticall pe●son in this verse : qui cleri rogere rosam geris , annno vati . a poore poet begging of one , whose name was iohn , which is in hebrew , the grace of god , begged of him by praising his name in this manner . nomen habes non immeritò divina , iohannes , gratia , voce sua conveniente rei . ergo vel gratus summo , vel gratia summi , es , pro parte meâ casus vterque facit . si summo gratus , ergo pietatis alumnus , ergo pauperibus ferre teneria apem . another played vpon the name of turbervill , when practising with the french , he plaied false with his soveraigne k. edward the first . turbat tranquilla clàm thomas turbida vil●a . these may seeme over many in so slight a matter , yet i will in respect of the persons , offer you two or three more to be regarded . william , lord monti●y , famous for his learning , great grandfather to the honourable charles , now earle of denshire , who is no lesse famous for his vertue and hereditary love of learning ; when hee was the queenes chamberlaine , in an epistle to erasmus , called king henry the eight octavius for octavus resembling him thereby to octavius augustus the onely mirror of princely vertues . lady iane grey daughter to the duke of suffolke , who payde the p●●ce of others ambition with her bloud , for her excellency in the greeke tongue was called for greia , graia , and this made to her honour in that respect . miraris ianam craio sermone valere ? quo nata est primùm tempore crata fuit . when the duke of buckingham was put to death by the practise of cardinall wolsey a butchers sonne , the emperour charles the fift saide , it was great pitty , that so faire and goodly a bucke should be woried to death by a buchers curre ; alluding either to the name of buckingham , or to a bucke , which was a badge of honour to that familie . domingo a spaniard in the time of queene mary , offended with an englishman that called him domingus , tolde him hee was dominicu● ; but hee was i assure you more highly offended , when hee after for dominicus called him d●moniacu● . in the beginning of her late maiesties raigne one alluded to her name elisabetha , with illasa-beata , that is , safe without hurt , and happy . the sense whereof , as the almightie by his fatherly mercy performed in her person , so shee by her motherly providence vnder god effected in this realme in blisfull peace and plenty , whereas contrariwise other con●ining regions have beene overwhelmed with all kinde of miseries . the cause whereof , one in this last french broyles referred by allusion to spania and mania two greeke words , signifying panury and furie ; but implying therein closely the late king of spaine , and duke du maine . rebus , or name-devises . many approoved customes , lawes , maners , fashions , and phrases have the english alwayes borrowed of their neighbours the french , especially since the time of king edward the confessour , who resided long in fraunce , and is charged by historians of his time , to have returned from thence wholy frenchified ; then by the norman conquest which immediately ensued , after by the honourable aliances of the kings of england , with the most renowned families , yea and with the verie royall house of fraunce . but after that the triumphant victorious king edward the third had traversed fraunce with his victories , and had planted english colonies in calice , havres and guynes , our people bordering vpon the pregnant picardes , beganne to admire their fooleries in painted poesies . for whereas a poesie is a speaking picture , and a picture a speechlesse poesie , they which lackt wit expresse their conceit in speech , did vse to dep●int it out ( as it were ) in pictures , which they called rebus , by a latine name well fitting their devise . these were so well liked by our english there , and sent hither over the streight of callice with full saile , were so entertained heere ( although they were most ridiculous ) by all degrees , by the learned and vnlearned , that he was no body that coulde not hammer out of his name an invention by this wit-craft , and picture it accordingly : whereupon who did not busie his braine to hammer his devise out of this forge . sir thomas cavall , whereas cavall signifieth an horse , engraved a gallopping horse in his scale with 〈◊〉 limping verse ; thomae credite , cùm cernitis eius equum . so iohn eagleshead , as it seemeth , to notifie his name , about his armes , as i have seene in an olde s●ale with an eagles head , set downe this : hoc aquila caput est , signumque figura iohannis . the abbot of ramsey more wisely sette in his seale a ramme in the sea , with this verse , to shew hee was a right ramme ; cuius signa gero dux gregis est , vt ego . william chaundler warden of new colledge in oxford , playing with his owne name , so filled the hall-windowes with candles , and these wordes , fiat lux , that hee darkened the hall . whereuppon the vidam of charters when hee was there , saide , it should have bin , fiant tenebrae . did not that amorous youth mystically expresse his love to rose hill , whome hee courted , when in the border of his painted cloth , hee caused to be painted as rudely , as he devised grosely , a rose , an hill , an eye , a loafe , a well , that is , if you will spell it . rose-hill i love well . you may imagine that frauncis corn●field did scratch his elbow when hee hadde sweetely invented to signifie his name , saint francis with his frierly kowle in a corne-field . it may seeme doubtfull whether bolton prior of saint 〈◊〉 in smithfield , was vviser vvhen hee invented for his name a bird bolt through a t●nne , or when hee built him an house vppon harrow hill , for feare of an mundation after a great coniunction in the watry triplicitie . islip abbot of westminster , a man most favored by king henry the seaven●h , had a quadruple devise for his single name ; for somewhere hee s●tte vppe in his windowes an ●ie with a slip of a t●ee , other places one slipping boughs in a tree , in other places an i wi●h the saide slip ; and in some places one slipping from a t●ee with the woorde islip . whosoever devised for thomas earle of arundell , a capitall a in a rundle , wherewith hee decked an house which hee built , did thinke i warrant you , that hee did the nobleman great honour . no lesse did he 〈◊〉 his invention , which for sir anthony wingfield , devised● wing with these foure letters , f , e , l , d , quarterly about it , and over the wing a crosse , to shew he was a christian , and on the crosse a red rose , to shew that the followed the house of lancaster . morton archbishop of canterbury , a man of great wisedome , and borne to the vniversall good of this realme , was content to vse mor vppon a tunne ; and sometime a mulbery tree called morus in latine out of a tunne . so luton , thorneton , ashton did notifie their names with a lute , a thorne , an ash vpon a tunne . so an ha●● on a bottle for harebottle ; a maggot-pie vppon a goate for pigot , an hare by a sheafe of ●e in the sunne for harrison ; med written on a calfe for medcalfe ; chester , a chest with a starre over it : allet a lot ; lionel duckes a lion with l. on his head , whereas it should have beene in his 〈◊〉 . if the lion had beene eating a ducke , it had beene a ra●e devise woorth a duckat , or ducke-egge . and if you require more , i referre you to the witty inventions of some i ●●doners , but that for garret dews is most memorable , two in agarret casting dews at dice. this for rebus may suffice , and yet if there were more , i thinke some lips would like such kinde of lettice . in parte to excuse them yet , some of the greatest romans were alittle blasted with this fooleri● , if you so censure it . our great maister cicero in a dedication of his to his gods , inscribed marcus 〈◊〉 , and that 〈◊〉 pulse lesse than , 〈…〉 call ( i thinke ) a 〈◊〉 pease , and the latines cicer , in steede of cicero . as in the coines of iulius casar wee have seene an elephant , for so caesar signifieth in the mauritanian tong , and the two mint-maisters in that age , l. aquilius florus , and voconius vitulus ; the one vsed a floure , the other a calfe in the reverses of their coynes , alluding vnto their names . anagrammes . the onely quint-essence that hitherto the alchimy of wit coulde draw out of names , is anagrammatisme , or metagrammatisme , which is a dissolution of a name truly written into his letters , as his elements , and a new connexion of it by artificiall transposition , without addition , substraction , or chang of any letter into different words , making some perfect 〈…〉 . 〈…〉 omitting or retaining it , for that it cannot challenge the ●●ght of a letter . but the licentiats somewhat licentiously lest they should preiudice poeticall libertie , will pardon themselves for doubling or reiecting a letter , if the sence fall aptly , and thinke it no iniury to vse e for ae , v for w , s for z , and c for k , and contrariwise . the french exceedingly admire and celebrate this facultie , for the deepe and farre fetched antiquitie , the piked fines and the mysticall significations thereby : for that names are divi●e notes , and divine notes do notifie future events ; so that events consequently must lurke in names , which onely can be pried into by this mystery . affirming that each mans fortune is written in his name , as astrologians say , all things are written in heaven , if a man could read them : they exemplifie out of the rabbins ; they quote dreaming 〈◊〉 , with other allegations ; they vrge particular experiments , and so enforce the matter , with strong words and weake proofes , that some credulous yong men , hovering betweene hope and feare , might casily be carried away by them into the forbidden superstition of onomantia , or south-saying by names . but some of the sower sort will say it is nothing but a troublous toy , and because they cannot attaine to it , will condemne it , lest by commending it , they should discommend themselves . others more milde will grant it to be a daintie devise and disport of wit not without pleasure , if it be not wrested out of the name to the reproach of the person . and such will not deny , but that as good names may be ominous , so also good anagrammes , with a delightfull comfort and pleasant motion in honest mindes , in no point yeelding to many vaine pleasures of the body . they will also afford it some commendations in respect of the difficultie , ( diffici●●a quae pulchra , ) as also that it is a whetstone of a patience to them that shall practise it . for some have beene seene to bite their penne , scratch their head , bend their browes , bite their lips , beate the boord , teare the paper when they were faire for somewhat , and caught nothing heerein . if profound antiquitie , or the inventour may commend an invention , this will not give place to many . for as the great masters of the iewes testifie , moses received of god a literall law , written by the finger of god , in the two tables of the ten commaundements to be imparted to all , and another mysticall to be communicated onely to seaventy men , which by tradition they should passe to their posteritie , whereof it was called cabala . which was devided into mercana , concerning onely the sacred names of god , and bresith of other names consisting of alphabetary revolution , which they will have to be anagrammatisme , by which they say marie resolved made , our holy mistris . but whether this cabala is more ancient than the talmudicall learning , hatched by the curious iewes , ( as some will , ) about . yeares after christ , let the learned consider . the greeks referre this invention to licophron , ( as isaac tzetzes hath in his preface to his obscure poeme cassandra , who was one of those poets which the greekes called the seaven-starres , or ple●ades , and flourished about the yeare . before christ , in the time of ptolomaus philadelphus , king of aegypt , whose name hee thus anagramatised . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . made of h●●ny . and vpon arsinoe his wife , thus ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . iunes violet . afterward as appeareth by eustachius there were some greekes disported themselves heerein , as he which turned atlas for his heavie burthen , in supporting heaven to talas , that is , wretched , aret , virtue into erate , that is , louely , ilaros , merry , into liar●s , that is , warme . but in late yeares , when learning revived vnder francis the first in france , the french beganne to distill their wits heerein , for there was made for him . francis de valoys . de facon svis royal . for his sonne henry de valoys . roy es de nvl hay. for charles of barbon , the prince of conde . borbonius . orbi bonvs . for the late queene of scotland , his maiesties mother . maria stevarta . veritas armata . and that greeke one , which is most excellent , of the sacred name of our sweete saviour iesus , according to that of the . of esay , he is brought as a sheepe to the slaughter , thus : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , thou art that sheepe . the italians who now admire them , beganne not . yeares since to vse them as the bishop of grassa a professor heerein testifieth . in england i know some who . yeares since have bestowed some idle houres heerein with good successe , albeit our english names running rough with cragged consonants , are not so smooth and easie for transposition as the french and italian . yet i will set downe some which i have happened vpon , framed o●t of the names of divers great personages , and others in most of the which in the sence may seeme appliable to their good parts . to begin with his most excellent maiestie our d●ead soveraigne , was made this declaring his vndoubted rightfull claime to the monarchy of britan , as the successor of the valourous king arthur . charles iames steuart . claimes arthvrs seate . as this also truly verified in his person . iacobus sextus stuartus . vita castvs , ex se robvstvs . for our late queene of happy memory , to whose gratious government vnder god , we owe much happinesse . i have found the letters of elizabetha regina transposed to signifie that happinesse , as speaking vnto her in this sence . o englands soveraigne thou hast made vs happy : thus elizabetha regina , ang●iae hera , beasti . and whereas the french compare anagrames by themselves to gems , but when they are cast into a distich or epigram to gems enchased in enameled gold . thi● distich was then made thereon with a most humble and 〈◊〉 wish . nos anglos radijs hera nostra beata beasti , sis hera nostro solo , sis deasera poso . the same blessednes of her maiestre to england vnspeakeable good , and her ioyfull raigne were noted thus out of elizabetha regina , angliae eris beata . eia , leta regnabis . carolus vienhovius my good friend made this . years since in greeke , when he attended heere vpon monsieur foix , ambassadour from the french king. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is , the devine dew of her kingdome . likewise out of the greeke was this , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . that is , a goddesse queene . her most milde government of her subiects , and lion-like courage against her spanish enemies , was thus declared out of elizabetha regina anglia , anglis agna , hiberiae lea. whereas she was as a sweepnet for the spanish ships , which ( as the athenians said of their fortunate timothye , ) happily fell into her net : this was made by transposing of elizabeth regina angliae , genti hiberae , illa sagena . in respect of her great warres exploited against that mighty monarch , this was wrought out of elizabetha anglorum regina , magna bella tv ●eroina geris . the good government of her maiestie , was thus noted vnder the name of the flourishing muse thalia elizabetha regina , bene thalia regis . in this following was comprised the wish then of all true english , elizabetha regina anglorum , gloria regni salva manebit . have now some framed vpon the names of divers honourable personages and others , lovers i hope of good letters , neither let any conceive offensively if they a●e not here remembred : i have imparted all that came to my hands . out of the name of the late right reverend , the lorde archebishoppe of canterbury , the mirrour of praelats in our daies was found this , in respect of his milde proceedings . ioannes whitegiftius . non vi egit favit ●●esvs . for the lord chancelor , lord ellesmer . thomas egerton , gest at honorem . oris honore viget , vt mentis gestat honorem iuris egertonus , dignus honore col● . for the late lord treasurer , a most prudent and honourable councellor to two mightie princes . guilielmus cecisius baro burglio . vigili cvm labore illvces regibvs . regibus illuces vigili gulielme labore , nam clarè fulget lux tua luce dei. for the earle of nottingham , lord admirall . carolus howarde , charvs , ardvo leo. for the earle of northumberland . henricus percius , hic pvre sincervs . vpon which with a relation to the crescent or silver moone his cognisance , was framed thus : percius hic pvre sincervs , percia luna candida tota micat , pallet at illa p●lo . this was made as a wish to the earle of shrewsbury , that his name and talbot may be as terrible to the french , as it was when the french so feared his progenitour iohn , lord talbot , first earle of shrewsbury of that family . gilbert●● talbottius . callos tv tibi tvrbes vt proavi preavus , sic gallos tv tibi tvrbes ; impreses . an imprese ( as the italians call it ) is a devise in picture with his motte , or word , borne by noble and learned personages , to notifie some particular conceit of their owne : as emblemes ( that we may omitte other differences ) doe propound some generall instruction to all : as for example : wheras cosmi medici doke of florence had in the ascendent at his nativitie the signe capricorue , vnder which also augustus and charles the fift , two great and good princes were borne : hee vsed the celeshall signe capricorne , with this mone ; fidem fati virtvte se qvemvr for his imprese , particularly concerning his good hope to proove like vnto them . but a faire woman pictured with an olive crowne representing peace , carrying in one hand the horne of plenty , leading a little golden boy for plutus in the other , with , ex pace rervm opvlentia , is an embleme , and a generall document to all , that peace bringeth plentie . there is required in an imprese ( that wee may reduce them to few heades ) a correspondencie of the picture , which is as the bodie , and the motte , which as the soule giveth it life . that is , the body must be of faire representation , and the word in some different language , wittie , short , and answerable thereunto neither too obscur● 〈◊〉 too plaine , and most comm●nded , when it is an hemislich , or parcell of a verse . according to these prescripts neither the starres with the moone in tide●s shield in aeschilus , neither amphiaraus dragon in pindare , neither the stemme of a shippe vsed for a seale by pompey , can have heere place : much lesse the reverses in roman coynes , which were onely historicall memorialles of their actes ; as that of claudius , with a plowman at plow and this col : camalodvn was to signifie that he made maldon in ●ssex a colony , and that of hadrian with an emperour , three souldiers , and exerc : britannicvs was in memorie of some good service by the three legions resiant in this isle at yorke , chester , and car-leon vpon vske . that also of severus with a woman sitting vppon cliffes holding an ensigne in one hand , and as it were writing vppon a shield , with victoria britann : was onely to shew his victories here . such also as are set downe in notitia provinciarum , as a boore seiant for iovij , a circle party per saltier for britanniciani , a carbuncle ( as blazoners terme it ) for britannici , &c. cannot be admitted into the number of impreses , for they were the severall ensignes of severall militarie companies , whereof the two last seemed to be leavied out of this isle . childish it is to referre hither the shieldes of king arthurs round-table knights , when they were devised , as it is probable , for no other end , but to teach yoong men the termes of blazon . neither are armes to be referred hither , which were devised to distinguish families , and were most vsuall among the nobilitie in warres , tiltes and tournaments in their coates called coate-armours , shields , standards , banners , pennors , guydons , vntill about some hundred yeeres since , when the french and italian in the expedition of naples , vnder charles the eight beganne to leave armes , happly for that many of them had none , and to beare the curtaines of their mistresses beddes , their mistresses colours , or these impreses in their banners , shields , and caparisons : in which the english have 〈…〉 and albeit a few have borrowed somewhat from them , yet many have matched them , and no few surpassed them in wittie conceit , as you shall perceive heereafter , if you will first give me leave to remember some imperfect devises in this kinde of some former kings of england , which you may well say to be livelesse bodies , for that they have no word adioyned . of king william conquerour i have heard none , neither dare ( as iovius taketh the sphinx augustus signet for an imprese ) so set downe our conquerours seale ? which had his owne picture on horsebacke with these verses to notifie his dominions . hoc normannorum willelmum nosce patronum : on the other side ; hoc anglis regem signo fatearis eundem . as a king of sicile had about that time this ; apulus & calaber , siculus mihi servit & afer . stephen of bloys the vs●●per tooke the signe sagutarius , for that hee obtained this kingdome when the sunne was in the saide signe . king henry the second grievously molested by the disobedience of his foure sonnes , who entred into actuall rebellion against him , caused to be painted in his great chamber at his pallace in winchester an eagle with foure yong chickens , whereof three pecked and scratched him , the fourth picked at his eyes . this his devise had no life , because it had no motte : but his answer gave it life , when he said to one demaunding his meaning , that they were his sonnes which did so pecke him , and that iohn the yongest whome he loved best , practised his death more busily than the rest . [ giraldus cambrensis distinct ] king henry the third as liking well of remuneration ; commaunded to be written in his chamber at woodstocke , as it appeareth in the recordes in the tower , qui non dat quod amat ; non accipit i●le quod optat . edmund cr●uch-backe his second sonne first earle of lancaster , vsed a red rose , wherewith his tombe at westminster is adorned . edward the third bare for his devise the rayes of the sunne dispersing themselves out of a cloude , and in other places , a golden truncke of a tree . the victorious blacke prince his sonne vsed sometimes one feather , sometime three , in token of his speedy execution in all his services , as the postes in the roman times were pterophori , and wore feathers to signifie their flying post-haste . but the tradition is , that hee wonne them at the battell of poitiers , whereunto hee adioyned this olde english word ic den , that is , i serve , according to that of the apostle , the heire while he is a childe , differeth nothing from a servant : these feathers were an an●ent ornament of militarie men , as is evident by that of virgil : cuius olorina surgunt de vertice pennae : and were vsed by this prince before the time of canoy chan the tartarian , who because his life was saved by an owle , would have his people weare their feathers : from whome haithon fableth , that the people of iurope received first the vse of feathers . iohn of gaunt duke of lancaster , brother to this prince , tooke a red rose to his devise ( as it were by right of his first wise the heire of lancaster , as edmund of langley , duke of yorke , tooke the white rose . before these two brethren tooke these two roses , which the fautors and followers of their heires after , bare in that pittifull distraction of england , betweene the families of lancaster and york , a white rose-tree at longleete , bare vpon one branch a faire white rose on the one side , and as faire a red rose on the other ; which might as well have beene a fore-token of that division , as the white henne with the bay sprigge lighting in the lap of livia augusta , betokened the empire to her posteritie , which ended in nero , when both the brood of that hen failed , and the baies of that sprigge withered . the said edmund of langley , bare also for an imprese a faulcon in a fetter-locke , implying that he was locked vp from all hope and possibility of the kingdome , when his brethren beganne to aspire therevnto . wherevpon he asked on a time his sonnes when he saw them , beholding this devise set vp in a window , what was latine for a fetter-locke : whereat when the yong gentleman studied , the father said , well then you cannot tell me , i will tell you , hic haec hoc tacea●s , as advising them to be silent and quiet , and therewithall said , yet god knoweth what may come to passe heereafter . this his great grandchilde king edward the fourth reported , when he commanded that his yonger sonne richard duke of yorke , should vse this devise with the fetter-locke opened , as roger wall an herald of that time reporteth . king richard the second , whose vntrained youth and yeelding lenitie hastened his fall , vsed commonly a white hart couchant with a crowne , and chaine about his ●●cke . for wearing the which , soone after his deposition lost their lives . he also vsed a pescod branch with the cods open , but the pease out , as it is vpon his robe in his monument at westminster . his wife anne , sister to wenceslaus the emperour , bare an ostrich , with a naile in his beake . king henry the fourth ( as it is in maister garters booke , ) vs●d onely a fox tayled pendent , following lysanders advise , if the lions skin were too short , to peece it out with a foxes case . his halfe brethren surnamed beausort , of their natall place , who after were dukes of s●mmerset , &c. bare a port-cullis golde ; wherevnto not long afterward was added this word altera slcvritas . and not long since by the earles of worcester , issued from them mvtare , avt timere sp●rno . his yonger sonne humfrey duke of glocester , a noble fautor of good letters , ba●e in that respect a laurell branch in a golden cup. that most martiall prince king henry the fift , carried a burn●ng cresset , sometime a beacon : and for his word , ( but not appropriate therevnto , ) vne sans plvs . one and no more . king henry the sixt had two feathers in saltire . king edward the fourth , bare his white rose , the fetter-locke before specified , and the sunne after the battell of mortimers crosse , where three sunnes were seene imm●diately conioyning in one . king richard the third bare a white boare , which gave occ●sion to the ryme that cost the maker his life . the cat , the rat , and lovell the dog , rule all england vnder an hog . king henry the seaventh , in respect of his descent from the house of summerset , vsed the portcullis before mentioned ; and in respect of the vnion of the two houses of lancaster and yorke by his marriage , the white rose vnited with the red , sometime placed in the sunne . and in respect he was crowned in the field with king richards crowne , found in an hawtherne bush , hee bare the hawthorne bush with the crowne in it ; & with this he filled the windowes at richmond , and his chappell at westminster . his wife queene elizabeth , had a white and red rose knit together . his mother lady margaret , countesse of richmond , had three white dasies growing vpon a turfe . when king henry the eight beganne his raigne , the english wits beganne to imitate the french and italian in these devises , adding the mots . first king henry himselfe at the interview betweene him and king francis the first , whereat also charles the fift was present , vsed for his impresse , an english archer in a greene coat , drawing his arrow to the head , with this inscription , cvi adhaereo , praeest : whenas at that time those mighty princes banding one against the other , wrought him for their owne particular . his wife queene anne , a happy mother of englands happines by her most happy daughter , bare a white crowned faulcon , holding a scepter in her right talon , standing vpon a golden truncke , out of the which sprowted both white and red roses , with mihi , et meae to the honour of queene iane , who died willingly to save her childe king edwarde , was devised after her death a phaenix in his funerall fire , with this motte , nascatvr vt alter . king edward the sixt bare ( as the blacke prince ) three feathers in a crowne while his father survived , as prince of wales , with ic den. queene mary when she was princesse of wales , vsed both a red and white rose , and a pomegranate knitte together , to shew her descent from la●caster , yorke , and spaine . when she came to the kingdome , by perswasion of her cleargie , she bare winged time drawing trueth out of a pit , with verit as temporis filia . her successor of blessed memory queene elizabeth ; vpon occasions , vsed so many heroicall devises , as would require a volume ; but most commonly a sive without a motte , for her words , video , taceo , and semper eadem , which shee as truely and constantly performed . cardinal poole shevvd the terrestrial globe incompassed with a serpent , adding this out of saint mathew , estote prvdentes . now i will descend from the bloud royall and former time , and present vnto you a few impreses born by noble , and gentlemen of our nation , in our age , without commenting vpon them , as the italians vse . for the persons names i am to be pardoned as knowing them not , when i observed them at titles and else-where : but such as adioyned after the olde and most laudable italian manner , their armes withall . he signified his constancie in aduersitie , which painted a man swimming and striving against the streame in a tempestuous sea , with this , animvs tamen idem . desirous was he to rise , but found counterblasts , who figured a man ascending a mountaine , but repelled with contrarie winds , with this mot , nitens ad svmma , repellor . henry howard earle of surrey , sonne and heire to thomas duke of norfolke , devised for himselfe , i know not vpon what consideration , a broken piller with this word , sat svperest . but i reade he was charged at his arraignement with that devise , the impaling of his armes with the armes of saint edward , and erecting three banqueting houses , as bastilions in his garden neere norwich ; as matters of great consequence and high treason , to the losse of his life . this is that noble earle of surrey , who first among the nobilitie of england , conioyned the honour of learning to the honour of high parentage . of whom the learned hadrianus iunius giueth this testimonie in lattine , which i cannot so well expresse in english , h●roicum corporis filium , ingenium velox , & expromptum , memoria inexhausta , planeque mythridatica , sermo ob ipsis gratiis effictus , linguarum multiplex cognitio , &c. he would either finde a way or make a way to his preferment , which caused to be pourtrayed , a hand working out a way in a craggie hill with a pickaxe , and this woord , invenit avt facit . sir philip sidney , to note that he persisted alwayes one , depainted out the caspian sea surrounded with his shoares , which neither ebbeth nor floweth , and over it : sine reflvxv . he acknowledged his essence to be in his gratious soveraigne , which bare a sunne-diall , and the sun setting , adding occasv desinet esse . hee might seeme to beare a vindicative minde , but i thinke it was for some amorous affection , which bare a she vpon an eye , with sic vltvs peream . vpon his princes favour he wholy 〈◊〉 , which devised the sunne shining vpon a bush , subscrib●●g si des●ris pereo. as he which in like sense bare the sunne reflecting his rayes from him , with qvovs qve avertes ▪ his devote minde to his lady hee devoutly , though not religiously shewed , which vnder venus in ●●●owde chaunged the vsuall prayer into , salva me domina . he shewed his affectionate goodwill in height of courage , that shewed in his shield , atlas bearing heaven with a roule inscribed in italian , intendam , che pvo. the force of love was well figured by him that gave an vnicorne ( happly the badge of his family ) reposing his head in a ladies lappe , with this worde , o qvanta potentia . excellent was that of the late earle of essex , who when he was cast downe with sorrow , and yet to be employed in armes , bare a blacke mourning shield without any figure , but inscribed , par nvlla figvra dolori . a stedfast settled minde was in that gentleman , that devised for himselfe a pyramis open to winde and weather , with nec flatv , nec flvctv . he noted our peaceable times , when having a martia●l minde , shewed an armed knight soundly sleeping in a cocke-boate vpon a calme sea , with , aeqvora tvta silent . hee played with a name , and hoped remedy to his love , which d●vised a rose , with that of ovid , ( leaving out the neg●tive ) amor est medicabilis hfrbis . a gentleman committed , and after to his great commend●tion enlarged , tooke to him for an imprese , a ball vpon a racket , sapers●ebing , percvssa resvr●o . the sunne declining to the weast , with occidens , occidens , i being short in the first word , and long in the second , shewed that the safetie and life both of the bearer and of others did depend on the light and life of the soveraigne . a studious lover of good letters framed to himselfe only the figure of i with this philosophicall principle , omnia ex vno . out of philosophie likewise an other , to notifie his greatest impeachment , drew this principle , ex nihi●o nihil : and inscribed it bend-wise , with his armes in a bare shield . one weighed downe with some adverse happe , and yet not altogether hopelesse , painted an heavy stone fastned to a mans arme with , spes mihi magna tamen . neither seemed he voide of all hope for his paines , after long service , which painted a followe fielde with , at qvando messis . the needle in the sea compasse still moving but to the north poynt onely with moveor immotvs , notified the respective constancie of the gentleman to one onely . the ornament of our land was meant by him which placed only the moone in heaven in full light with , qvid sine te coelvm ? farre was he from venus service with bare venus portrayed in a cloude with nihil minvs . but whole devoted was hee to that goddesse , which contrariwise bare the astronomicall character of venus , with nihil magis . the successive varietie of wordly affaires , or his owne favours , a studious gen●leman well noted , which painted in an hemisphere some starres rising some setting , with , svrgvnt qve cadvnt qve vicissim . his whole trust reposed that good divine in god , which after some adversities set vppe a rocke beaten with winde & weather , to expresse his state yet standing , with deo ivvante , deo conservante . heavenly cogitations were in him , who onely figured a man kneeling , with ●is hands lifted vp to the heavens , with this inscribede , svprema optima mvndi . a verie good invention was that to shew his stay and support by a virgin prince , who presented in his shield , the zodiacke with the characters onely of leo and virgo , and this word , his ego praesidiis . it may bee thought that he noted deserts to bee everie where excluded , and meere happe to raise most men , who inscribed within a laurell garland , fato , non merito . a lavish tongue might seeme to have damnified the gentleman which tooke for his device landskip , as they call it , and solitarie mountaines , with tvti montes , tvtvm silentivm . he had no great care to exp●esse his conceit in an imprese , which neverthelesse he did expresse , which bare a white shield enscribed , nec cvra , nec character . no knight of venus was he , who as triumphing over her force , bare her sonne winged cupid in a nette , with qvi capit , capitvr . the starre called spica virginis , one of the fifteene which are accompted to be of the first magnitude among the astronomers , with a scrole in written , mihi vita spica virginis , declared thereby happly , that hee had that starre in the ascendent at his nativitie , or rather , that he lived by the gracious favour of a virgin prince . one in our sea-faring age adventuring himselfe and all he had to the seas , proposing no certaine arrivall to himselfe , made a ship with full sayles in the sea , and superscribed , portvs in ignoto . his minde mounted above the meane , which devised for himselfe , one that had clambred much more then halfe the way of a sleepe mountaine , adding this worde neere him , dixervnt fatvi , omitting the other part of the verse , medicum tenuere beati . likewise he hoped to attaine the height of his desire , which made one climing to the middle of a piramis , with hac spe , by him , and illic spes aboue him . another also which climed in his conceyt , but as it seemeth fearing a fall , made a man vpon the vpp●r degree● of a ladder , with this mot adioyned , non qvo , sed vnde cado. he referred fate , fortune and all to his soveraigne , which drew for himselfe the twelve houses of heaven , in the forme which astrologians vse , setting downe neither signe , nor planet therein , but onely placing over it this worde , dispone . the like reference had he which onely vsed a white shield , and therein written , fatvm inscribat eliza . it may bee doubtfull whether hee affected his soveraigne , or iustice more zealously , which made a man hovering in the aire , with feror ad astaeam . you may easily coniecture what he conceyued , who in his shield reared an oare with a ●aile fastned therevnto , adding . fo rs et virtvs miscentvr in vnvm . full of loving affection was he to his ladie , which bare a rose vpon his pricking branch , and abigitqve trahitqve . with many a blustring blast he seemed to have beene tossed , which painted an horizon , with all the cardinall and collaterall windes blowing , and in the middest rapivnt qvefervnt qve . as to the honour of magellanus ( whose ship first passed round about the world , though he miscaried ) was devised the terrestriall globe , with , tv primvs circvmdedisti me. so our sir francis drake , who fortunately effected the same , had devised for him a globe terrestriall , vpon the height whereof in a ship vnder sayle , trayned about the globe with two golden halsers , by direction of an hand out of a cloud , and a dragon volant vpon the hatches , regarding the direction with these wordes , avxi●io divino . an imprese too perplexed and vnfitting for so worthy a mā , who as one said to him most excelētly in this distich plvs vltra , herculeis inscribas drake 〈◊〉 , et magno dicas hercule maior 〈◊〉 . a man ve●●ly worthie to bee eternized by some good p●n , as also his seruant iohn oxenham , who ariving with . men in the straight of dariena in america ▪ drew a land his ship ▪ and hiding it with boughes , marched ouer the l●nd with his companie , guided by negros , vntill bee came to a riuer where he cut wood made him a pinasse , entred the south sea , went to the island of pearles , lay there ten dayes , intercepted in two spanish shippes . thousand weight of gol●e , and one hundred thousand in barres of silver , returned safely to the maine land : but through the mutinie of his souldiers he miscaried , and as the poet sai●h , magnu excidit ausis . in an adventure never attempted by any , and therefore not to be forgotten , when as the lopez a spaniard hath recorded it not without admiration , as you may see in the discoveries of the lea●ned and industrious m rich. ha●kluit : but pardon this d●gression occasioned by the memorie of sir fr. drake . it seemed a difficultie vnto him to l●●e rightly , either in libertie or in bondage , w●i●h painted one greyhound coursing , with , in libertate labor , and another ●i●d to a tree g●z●ng on the game , with , in servitvte dolor . i can not imagine what he m●ant , which too●e for his deuise a small brooke passing along the lands ●●ldly , till it came to a damme , and there rising and raging overflowed the lands , with , magis magis qve , written in the place ouerflowed : vnlesse he would giue vs to vnderstand that the more his affections were stopped , the more they were stirred . he which tooke a man armed at all poynts with , me , et mevm , while he shewed a resolution in his owne behalfe , forgat god , and that of king henrie the eight , diev et mon droit , god and my right . in the impreses of ruscelli , i find that sir ri●hard shetley , knight of s : ioh●s , vsed a white faulcon , with th●s spanish motto , fe y fidalgvia . id est . faith and gentlenesse , which faulcon he quartered in his arme● by the name of michelgroue , as they say . whereas the laurell sacred to learning is never hurt by lightning , and therefore the cocke resorteth therevnto in tempests , as naturall historians testifie . he seemed studious of good learning , and feareful of daunger , which caused to be painted for him a cocke vnder a laurell , with , sic evit abile fvlmfn . an amorous affection was onely noted in him which set downe an eye in an heart , with , vvlnvs alo. hee also helde one course , and levelled at one marke , which made a riuer in a long tract disgorging himselfe into the sea , with semper ad mare . hee doubted not to find the right course by indirect meanes , which did set downe a sphericall crooked paire of compasses , with per obliqva re●ta . hee proposed to himselfe honour in martiall seruice , which made a trophee , or truncke of a tree , with harnesse and abillements of warre , and a sepulchre not farre off , adding vnder-neath , avt spoliis laetemvr opimis . omitting that which followeth in virg●●l , aut laetho insigni . a warie man would he seeme , and carefull for his owne , which shewed a village on fire , with i am proximvs ardet . tyred might he seeme with law-delayes , or such like sutes , which deuised for himself a tottering ship with torne sayles driuen vp and downe , with i am sevtima portat . you know what followeth , omn●bus errantem terris & fluctibus astas . in the beginning of her late maiesties raigne , one vpon happie hope conceyved , made an halfe of the zodiake , with virgo rising , adding i am redit et virgo : suppressing the wordes following , redeunt saturma regna . varietie and vicissitude of humane things he seemed to shew , which parted his shield , per pale , argent , & sables , and counterchangeably writte in the argent , ater , and in the sables , albvs . he elegantly shewed by whom he was drawne , which depainted the n●●ticall cōpasse , with , avt magnes , avi magna . another ascribing his life and all to his ladie , pictured at 〈◊〉 neere a spring , and at the roote thereof , qvod vivam tvvm . he shevved himselfe to be a martiall , and a mercuriall man , vvhich bare a svvorde in one hand , and a bay in the other , vvith arti et marti . it might seeme a craving imprese , vvhich set nothing but ciphers downe in a ro●le , with adde vel vnvm . likewise hee which set downe the nine numerall figures ▪ with adde , vel adime . his meaning might be perceyved out of the last eglogue of virgill , containing gallus loving lamentations , which po●● trayed a tree , and in the barke engraved e , adding this worde , cres●etis . studious in alchimy might he seeme , or in some abstruse art which he could not finde out , which shewed for his devise onely a golden branch , with latet arbore opaca . hee se●med not to respect hopefull tokens without good effects , which made a ship sinking , and the rainebow appearing , with qvid tv , si pereo. i know one which overcome with a praedominant humour was so troubled with a fancifull v●ine cogitation , so that no counsel or company could withdraw him from it , figured a man with a shadow pro●ected before him , with this word , it comes . a gentleman scholler drawne from the vniversitie where he was well liked to the court , for which in respect of his bashfull modestie , he was not so fit ; painted a red corall branch , which while it grew in the sea was greene , with this , nvnc rvbeo , ante virebam . master richard carew of anthony , when he was in his tender yeares , devised for himselfe an adamant vpon an anvile , with a hand holding an hammer thereover , and this italian motto , che verace dvrera : which also contained his name anagranimatically . he seemed not to be sufficiently warmed , living in the sun-shine of the court , which framed for his devise a glasse of parabolicall concavitie , or burning glasse as some call it , with the sunne shining over it , and a combustible matter kindled vnder it , with nec dvm calesco . he doubted not but continuall suit would molifie his mistris heart , which made an eye-dropping teares vpon an heart , saepe cadindo . he lacked but some gracious hand to effect some matter well forward , which made more then halfe a circle with a paire of compasses , the onefoote fixed in the center , the other in the circumference , placing thereby , adde manvm . his conceit was godly and ●owe spondent to his name , who made an , hart to his race to a fountaine and over it , vt cfrvvs fontem , and vnder it , sic abrahamvs christvm . the meaning is plaine to all which know scriptures , and i take the gentlemans name to be abraham hartwell : the same imprese was vsed by boromeo the best cardinall which i have heard of , but with this word , vna salvs . when the spania●ds purposed the invasion , and their navie was scattered to their confusion , by a ship fierd and carried among them by direction from her late maiestie . a gentleman depainted that navie in confusion with a fiered ship approaching , adding to her honour out of virgil : dvx faemina facti . this calles another to my remembrance , which i have seen cast in silver , as concerning that matter , a great navy vppon the sea neere the south coast of englād , with venit , vidit , fvgit : as that of iulius casar , when he had overcome pharmaces , veni , vidi , vici . about that time , vvhen some dislikes grew betweene the english and the states of the vnited provinces , they fearing that it might tend to the hurt of both , caused to be imprinted two pitchers floating on the water vpon a medalia , with si collidimvr , frangimvr . in the like sense , there vvere comed peeces vvith two oxen drawing the plough , the one marked vvith a rose for england , the other vvith a lyon on the shoulder for holland , and vvritten thereby , trahite ae qvo ivgo . he measured himselfe vvith a meane , and seemed to rest content , which made a to●tois in his shell , vvith mecvm habito . his conceit vvas obscure to mee vvhich painted a savadge of america pointing toward the sun , vvith tibi accessv , mihi decessv . sir philip sidney , vvho vvas a long time heire apparant to the earle of leicester , after the said earle had a sonne borne to him , vsed at the next tilte-day following speravi , thus dashed through , to shew his hope therein was dashed . he signified himselfe to be revived with gracious favor , which made the sun-shining vpon a●●●hered tree , but new blooming , with this , his radiis rediviva viresco . the late earle of essex tooke a diamond onely amidst his shield , with this about it , dvm formas minvis : diamonds , as all know , are impaired while they are fashioned and pointed . sir henry lea vpon some astrologicall consideration , vsed to her late maiesties he now , the whole constellation of ariadnes crowne , culminant in her nativitie , with this word : caelvm qve solvmqve be avit . a setled conscience did he shew , which made a haleyon hovering against the winde with , constans contraria spernit . the fishers do say , that when it is dead and hanged vp , turneth the belly alwaies to the winde . he might seeme to be in some hard distresse , which carried a viper vpon his hand , with this word over written , mors , vel morsvs . he might seeme to reach at some of vulcans order , which made a bucke casting his hornes , with inermis deformis over him ; and vnder him , cvr dolent habentes ? it was some loving conceite expressed by him , which bare two torches , the one light , the other out , with , extingvor a simili . another presenting himselfe at the tilt , to shew himselfe to be but yong in these services , and resolving of no one imprese , tooke onely a white shield , as all they did in olde time , that had exployted nothing : and in the base poynt thereof made a painters pensill , and a little shell of colours , with this spanish word , hazed me qve qvires , ●d est , make of me what you will. at that time one bare a paire of scales , with fire in one ballance , and smoake in the other , thereby written , ponder are , err are. the same day was borne by an other , many flies about a candle , with , sic splendidiora petvntvr . in an other shield , ( if i am not deceived ) droppes fell downe into a fire , and there-vnder was written , tamen non extingvenda . the sunne in another shield did seeme to cast his rayes vpon a starre , partely over-shadowed with a cloude , and thereby was set downe , tantvm , qvantvm . a letter folded and sealed vp , superscribed , lege et relege , was borne by another , and this last i referre to the readers consideration . confident vvas he in the goodnes of his cause , and the iustice of our land , who onely pictured iustiti● with her ballance and sword , and this beeing an anagramme of his name , dvm illa , evincam . for whom also was devised by his learned friend , pallas defensive shield with g●rg●ns head thereon , in respect of his late soveraignes most gratious patronage of him , with this anagrammaticall woorde , nil malvm , cvi dea . caetera desunt . ¶ grave speeches , and wittie apothegmes of woorthie personages of this realme in former times . twenty yeares since , while i : bishop ( whose memory for his learning is deare to me ) and my selfe turned over all our historians wee could then finde , for diverse endes , wee beganne to note aparte the apothegms or speeches ( call them what ye wil ) of our nation . which since that time i have so farre encreased , as our countrey-writers spare in this point , have affoorded ; and heere doe offer them vnto you . albeit i doe knowe they will lie open to the censure of the youth of our time , who for the most part , are so over-gulled with self-liking , that they are more then giddy in admiring themselves , and carping whatsoever hath beene done or saide heeretofore , neverthelesse i hope that all are not of one humour , and doubt not , but that there is diversitie of tastes , as was among horaces guests ; so that which seemeth vnsavorie to one , may seemed dainty to another , and the most witlesse speech that shal be set downe , wil seeme wittie to some . we knowe that whereas dianaes temple at ephesus was burned that night that alexander the great was borne ; one saide , it was no marvel , for she was then absent , as mother midwise , at so great a child-birth ▪ tully dooth commend this for a wittie conceit , and plutarch condemneth it as a witlesse ieast . the like is to be looked for in these , which neverthelesse whatsoever they are in themselves , or in other mens iudgements , i commend them to such indifferent , courteous , modest readers , as doe not thinke basely of the former ages , their country , and countriemen ; leaving to other to gather the pregnant apothegmes of our time , which i knowe wil finde farre more favour . and that i may set them in order of time , i will beginne with the antient britan prince , called by the rom●ns caratacu● ( happly in his owne tongue caradoc ) who flourished in the partes now called wales , about the sixt●eth yeare after the birth of christ . caratacus a britaine that . yeeres withstood the roman p●●ssance , was at length vanquished , and in triumphant manner with his wife , daughters , and brethren , presented to claudius the emperour , in the view of the whole cittie of rome . but he nothing appalled with this adversitie , delivered this speech ; had my moderation and carriage in prosperitie , beene answerable to my nobilitie and estate , i might have come hither rather a friend than a captive ; neither would you have disdained to have entred amitie with me being nobly descended and soveraigne over many people . my present state , as it is reproachfull to me , ●o it is honorable to you : i had horsemen , munition and money , what marvel is it , if i were loath to loose thems if you will be soveraign● over all , by consequence all must serve you : had i yeelded at the first , neither my power , nor your glorie had beene renewned , and after my execution oblivion bad ansewed : but if you save my use , i shall be for ever a president and proofe of your clemencie . this manly speech purchased pardon for him and his , and the senate assembled adiudged the taking of this poore prince of wales , as glorious , as the conquering of siphax king of numidia by p. scipio , or of perses king of macedonia by l. paulus . [ tacitu● ] when this 〈◊〉 now enl●rged was carried about to see the state and magnificence of rome , why doe you ( saide hee ) so greedily desire our poore cottages , when as you have such stately and magnificall pallaces ? [ zonaras ] in the time of nero , when the britans could no longer beare the iniustice wherewith the romans both h●re and elsewhere grounded their greatnes ; bundica , called by some boadicia , princesse then of the partes of norffolke and suffolke , exceedingly iniuried by them , animated the britan● to shake off the roman bondage , and concluded : let the romaines which are no better than hares and f●xe● vnderstand that they make a wrong match with wool●es and greyhoundes : and with that woorde lette an hare o●t of her lappe , as a fore-token of the romans fearefulnesse , but the successe of the b●ttell prooved otherwise . [ xiphilinus . ] calgacus a warrelike britan commaunding in the north parte of this isle , when he had encouraged his people with a long speach to withstand the romans ready to invade them , concluded emphatically with these words , you are now come to the shocke , thinke of your auncestors , thinke of your posteritie : for the britans before the arivall of the romans enioyed happy liberty , and now were in daunger of most heavy slaverie . severus the emperour an absolute lorde of the most parte of this isle , when from meane estate hee had ascended to the highest honour , was woont to say , i have beene all , and am never the better . when hee lay sicke of the gowt at yorke , and the souldiers had saluted his sonne there by the name of augustus as their soveraigne : he got him vppe , caused the principall practisers of that fact to be brought before him , and when they prostrate craved pardon , hee laying his hand vppon his head , sayde ; you shall vnderstand , that my head , and not my feete dooth governe the empire : and shortly after ended his life in the cittie of yorke with these wordes ; i found the state troublesome every where , and i leave it quiet even to the britans , and the empire sure and firme to my children , if they be good , but vnsure and weake if they be bad : a man he was verie industrious , of marvellous dispatch , and so invred in continuall action , that at the last gaspe he said , and is there any thing for me to doe now ? while he ruled , the world was so loose that three thousand were indicted at rome of adultery , at which time iulia the empresse blamed the wife of argetocox a northern britaine lady , that the brittish women did not according to womanhoode carry themselves , in accompanying with men , ( for then tenne or twelve men hadde twoo or three wives common among them . ) but she not ignorant of the roman incontinencie , replied ; wee accompany indeede with the best and bravest men openly , but most vile and base companions doe vse you secretly . [ xiphilinus ] at yorke also died constantinus chlorus the emperour , who being not able to furnish dioclesian his consort in the empire with such a masse of mony , as he required at that instant , saide , hee thought it better for the common-weale that many should be in the handes of private men , then shutte vp in the emperors coffers ; concurring with traiane , who compared the treasure of the prince vnto the splene , that the greater it groweth , the limbes are the lesser . [ eusebius . ] his sonne c●nstantine , invested in the empire at yorke , ( and a britan borne as all writers consent , beside nicophorus who lived not long since , and now lipsius deceived by the false printed coppie of iul. firmicus , ) the first emperour which advanced the faith of christ , followed the humilitie of christ , for hee vsed to call the common people , his fellow servants and brethren of the church of god. when a slattering priest ( for in all ages the clericall will flatter , as well the laicall ) tolde him that his godlines & virtues iustly deservd to have in this world the empire of the world , and in the world to come , to raigne with the sonne of god : the humble emperour cried , fie , fie , for shame , let me heare no more such vnseemely speeches : but rather suppliantly pray vnto my almightie maker , that in this life , and in the life to come , i may seeme worthy to be his servant . when hee sought by severe edicts to abolish all heathenish superstition , and laboured by godly lawes to establish the true religion and service of christ ; yea , and vncessantly endevoured to draw men vnto the faith , perswading , reproving , praying , intreating in time , out of time , publikely and privately : he one day said merrily , yet truly vnto the bishop , that he had bidden to a banquet , as ye be bishops within the church , so may i also seeme to be a bishop out of the church . he disswading one from covetousnes , did with his lance draw out the length and bredth of a mans grave , saying : this is all that thou shalt have when thou art dead , if thou canst happily get so much . he made a law , that no christian should be bondman to a iew , and if that any iew did buy any christian for his slave , hee should bee fined therefore , and the christian enfranchised ; adding this reason : that it stoode not with equitie , that a christian should be slave vnto the murderers of christ . ethelbert king of kent , was hardly induced to imbrace christian religion at the perswasion of augustine , sent to convert the english nation : but at length , being perswaded and desirous to be baptized , said : let vs come also to the king of kings , and giver of kingdomes : it may redound to our shame , that we which are first in authoritie , should come list to christianitie : but i doe beseech that true king , that he would not respect the precedence in time , but devotion of my m●nde , [ ioscelinus . ] when paulinus brought vnto edwin king of northumberland , the glad tidings of the salvation of mankinde by christ , and preached the gospel vnto the king and his nobilitie , zealously and eloquently , opening vnto them the mysteries of our faith and precepts of christian religion ; one of the lords thus spake vnto the king , ( but some now happily will smile at this speach , ) we may ●●ely compare mans state vnto this little robbin-redbrest , that is now in this cold weather heere in the wa●me chamber chirpeng and singing merrily , and as long as she shall remaine heere , wee shall see and vnderstand how she doeth : but anone when she shall be flowne hence abroad into the wide world , and shall be forced to feele the bitter stormes of hard winter , we shall not know what shall become of her : so likewise we see how men fare as long as they live among vs , but after they be dead , neither wee nor our religion have any knowledge what becomes of them : wherefore i do thinke it wisedome to give care vnto this man , who seemeth to shew vs , not onely what shall become of vs , but also how we may obtaine overlasting life heereafter . beda . when rodoald king of the east angles , being wonne with rewards , was shamefully minded to have delivered vnto edelfride the king of northumberland , the innocent prince edwin , who had fled vnto him to be saved from the bloodie hands of edelfride , who had vnlawfully bereaft him of his kingdome : his wife turned his intent , by telling him , that it stoode not with the high and sacred state of a king to buy and sell the bodies of men , as it were a peti●chapman : or that which is more dishonourable , slave-like to sell away his faith , a thing which hee ought to hold more precious then all the gold and gemmes of the whole world yea and his owne life . beda . ina king of west-saxons , had three daughters , of whom vpon a time he demanded whether they did love him , and so would do during their lives above all others ; the two elder sware deepely they would , the yongest , but the wisest told her father flatly without flattery , that albest she did love , honour , and reverence him , and so would whilst she lived , as much as nature and daughterly dutie at the vttermost could expect : yet she did thinke that one day it would come to passe , that she should affect another more servently , meaning her husband , when she were married : who being made one flesh with her as god by commaundement had told , and nature had taught h●r she was to cleave fast to , forsaking father and mother , kisse and kinne . [ anonymus . ] one referreth this to the daughters of king leir . imperious was that speech of theodore the grecian , archbishop of canterbury , in depriving a poore english bishop , although we can charge you with nothing , yet that we w●●l we wi●l : like to that , sie volo , sic ●ubeo , stat pro ratione voluntas : but humble was the english bishops reply : paul appealed from the iewes to caesar , and i from you to christ . vita s. wilfredi . the reverend bede , whome wee may more easily admire , than sufficiently praise for his profound learning in a most barbarous age , when he was in the pangs of death , saide to the standers by ; i have so lived among you , that i am not ashamed of my life , neither feare i to die , because i have a most gratious redeemer . hee yeelded vp his life with this praier for the church ; o king of glory , lorde of hostes , which hast triumphantly ascended into heaven , leave vs not fatherlesse , but send the promised spirit of thy trueth amongest vs. some write that hee went to rome , and interpreted there s , p , q , r , in derision of the gothes swarming to reme , stultus populus quaerit roman : and that in his returne hee died at genoa , where they shew his toombe : but certaine it is that he was sent for to rome by sergius the pope , and more certaine that hee died at weremouth , and from thence was translated to durham : and that i may incidently note that which i have heard : not manie yeeres since a french bishop returning out of scotland , comming to the church of durham , and brought to the shrine of saint cu●hbert , kneeled downe , and after his devotions , offered a baubie , saying ; sancte cuthberte , si sanctus si● , ora pro me : but afterward , being brought vnto the toombe of bed● , saying likewise his orisons , offered there a french crowne with this alteration , sancte beda , quia sanctus es , ora pro me . iohannes erigena surnamed scotus , a man renowned for learning , sitting at the table , in respect of his learning , with charles the bawld emperour and king of fraunce , behaved himselfe as a slovenly scholler , nothing courtly ; whereupon the emperour asked him merrily , quid interest inter scotum & sotum ; what is betweene a scot and a sot ? hee merrily , but yet malapertly aunswered , mensa , the table ; as though the emperour were the sot , and hee the scot. [ rog : hovede●us , ] on an other time the emperour did serte downe vnto him a dish with two faire great fishes , and one little one , willing him to be carver vnto two other schollers that fate beneath him : then maister iohn , who was but a little man , layed the two great fishes vppon his owne trencher , and set downe the one little fish vnto the other two schollers , who were bigge men . which when the emperour sawe , hee smiling saide ; in good faith maister iohn , you are no indifferent divider : yes if it like your highnesse , verie indifferent ( saide he ) for heere ( poynting to himselfe and the two great fishes ) be two great ones , and a little one , and so yonder ( reaching his hand towardes the schollers ) are two great ones and a little one . idem wenefridus borne at kirton in devonshire , after furnamed boniface , who converted freesel and to christianitie , was wont to say , in olde time there were golden prelats , and woodden chalices , but in his time woodden prelates , and golden chalices . [ beatus rhenanus libr. . rerum germen●arum . ] ethelwold the bishop of winchester in the time of king edgar , in a great famine , solde away all the sacred golde and silver vessells of all his church , to releeve the hunger-starved poore people , saying , that there was no reason that the senselesse temples of god should abound in riches , and living temples of the holy-ghost starve for hunger . whenas kinnad king of scot● a vassall to king eadgar of england , had saide at his table , that it stoode not with the honour of the princes of this isle to be subiect to that dandiprat eadgar , who was indeede but of small stature , yet full of courage . he vnderstanding thereof withdrew kinnad privately into a wood , as though hee had to conferre with him of some important secret ; where he offered him the choice of two swords , prepared for that purpose , with these wordes , now we are alone , you may try your manhood : now may it appeare who should be subiect to the other : retire not one foote backe : it standeth not with the honour of princes to brave it at the table , and not to dare it in the field . but kinad heere-at dismaied , desired pardon by excuse , and obtained it . [ malmesburiensis pag. . ] the same king eadgar , having brought into his subiection the aforesaid kinnad king of scottes , malcolm king of cumberland , mac cuis the arch pirate lord of the isles , with dufnall , griffith , howell , iacob , iudethil● princes of wales , was rowed by them in triumphant manner in his barge vpon the river of dee at chester , at which time it is reported he saide ; then may my successours the kings of england glorie , when they shall doe the like . [ marianus scotus anno . when hinguar of denmarke came so sodainely vppon edmund the king of the east-angles , that hee was forced to seeke his safetie by flight , hee happened vnhappily on a troupe of danes , who fell to examining of him , whether hee knew where the king of the east-angles was , whome edmund thus answered ; even now when i was in the palace , he was there , and when i went from thence , he departed thence , and whether he shall escape your handes or no , onely god knoweth . but so soone as they once heard him name god , the godlesse infidells pittifully martired him . [ vita sancti edmundi . when brithwold a noble saxon marching against the danes encamped neare maldon , was invited by the abbot of elie to take his dinner with him , he refusing , answered ; hee would not dine from his companies , because hee could not fight without his companies . liber eliensis . king canutus , commonly called knute , walking on the sea sands neare to southampton , was extolled by some of his flattering followers , and tolde that hee was a king of kings , the mightiest that raigned farre and neare , that both sea and land were at his commaund : but this speach did put the godly king in mind of the infinite power of god , by whome kings have and enioy their power , and therevpon hee made this demonstration to refell their flatterie : he tooke off his cloake , and wrapping it round together , s●te downe vpon it neare to the sea , that then beganne to slowe , saying , sea , i commaund thee that thou touch not my feete : 〈◊〉 he had not so soone spoken the worde , but the surg●ng wave dashed him . he then rising vp , and going backe , saide : ye see now my lorde , what good cause you have to call me a king , that am not able by my commaundement to stay one wave : no morta●l man doubtlesse is woorthy of such an 〈◊〉 name , no man hath such commaund , but one king , which ruleth all : let vs honour him , let vs call him king of all kings , and lord of all nations : let vs not onely confesse , bvt also pr●fesse him to be ruler of the heavens , sea , an● land . [ polydorus and others . when edric the extorte● was deprived by king c●ute of the government of mercia ; hee impatient of the disgrace , tolde him he had deserved better , for that to pleasure him , hee had first revolted from his soveraigne king edmund , and also dispatched him . whereat c●ute all appalled , answered ; and thou shalt die for thy desert , when●● thou arte a traitour to god and me , in killing thy king , and my confederate brother ; his bloud be vpon thy head , which hast layed handes vpon the lordes annoynted . some reporte that he saide ; for his deserts he should be advaunced above all the nobilitie of england , which h● c●mmediately performed , advauncing his head vpon the tower of london . [ florilegus . king edward the confessour , one afternoone lying in his bedde with the curtaine , drawne round about him , a poore pilfering courtier came into his chamber , where finding the kings casket open , which hugoline his chamberlaine had forgotten to shut , going foorth to pay money in haste , hee tooke out so much money as hee could● well carry , and went away . but insatiable desire brought him againe , and so the third time , when the king who lay still all this while , and would not seeme to see , beganne to speake to him , and bade him speedily be packing ; for he was well if hee coulde see , for if hugoline came and tooke him there , he were not onely like to loose all that he had gotten , but also stretch an halter . the fellow was no sooner gone , but hugoline came in ; and finding the casket open , and much money taken away , was greatly mooved : but the king willed him not to he grieved , for ( saide he ) he that hath it had more neede of it then wee have . this at that time was adiudged christian lenitie , but i thinke in our age it will be accounted simplicitie in the woorst sense . [ vita sancti edwardi . this edward hasted out of normandie , whither his expelled father king ethelred had fled with him , with a great power to recover the kingdome of england from the danes , neere vnto whose forces hee was encamped , ready to give them battell : but when his captaines promised him assured victorie , and that they would not leave one dane alive : god forbid ( quoth edward , ) that the kingdome should be recovered for me one man , by the death of so many thousand men : it is better that i do leade a private and vnbloody life , then be a king by such but chery : and therewithall brake vp campe and retyred into normandy , where he staied vntill god sent oportunitie to obtaine the kingdome without blood . [ paulus aemilius . ] harold as hee waited on the cup of the said king edward , chanced to stumble with one foot that he almost kissed the ground , but with the other legge he recovered himselfe and saved the wine , whereat his father godwyn earle of kent , who then dined with the king , smiling sa●d : now one brother did helpe another : at this word , although spoken proverbially , the kings blood beganne to rise , thinking how shamefully they had murdered his brother alfrede , and angerly answered : and so might my brother have beene a helpe to me , if it had pleased you . [ vitas . edwards . ] the same king edward passing out of this life , commended his wise to the nobilitie , and said ; that she had carried her selfe as his wife abroad , but as his sister or daughter at home : afterward seeing such as were present weeping and lamenting for him , he said ; if you loved me , you would for beare weeping and reioyce , because i go to my father , with whom i shall receive the ioyes promised to the faithfull , not through my merits , but by the free mercy of my saviour , which sheweth mercy on whom he pleaseth . [ eilredus rivallensis ] sywarde the martiall earle of northumberland , feeling in his sicknes that he drew towards his end , arose out of his bed and put on hi● armour , saying , that it became not a valiant man to die lying , like a beast : and so he gave vp the ghost standing : as valiantly both spoken and performed , as it was by vespasian . when the said siward vnderstood that his sonne whom he had sent in service against the scottishmen , was staine , he demaunded whether his wound were in fore part or hinder pa●t of his body , when it was answered in the fore part , he replied : i am right glad , neither wish any other death to me or mine . [ hen. hunt●ngdon . ] in this age when a bishop living loosely was charged that his conversation was not according to the apostles lives , he made a mocke at it ▪ and excus●d himselfe with this verse , which was after taken vp for a common excuse in that behalfe : nunc aliud tempus , a●●j pro tempere m●res . [ anonymus . ] when the fatall period of the saxon empire was now complete , and battells were marshalled betweene william duke of normandy , and harold king of england , girthe haroldes yonger brother , not holding it best to hazard the kingdome of england at one cast , signified to the king , that the succ●sse of warre was doubtfull , that victory was swayed rather by fortune than by valour , that advised delay was most important in martiall affaires , and if so bee brother ( said he , ) you have plighted your faith to the duke , retyre your selfe , for no force can serve against a mans owne conscience , god will revenge the violation of an ●the : you may reserve your selfe to give them a new encounter , which will be more to their terrour : as for me , if you will commit the charge to me , i will performe both the part of a kinde brother , and a couragious leader . for being cleare in conscience , i shall sell my life , or discomfit your enemy with more felicitie . but the king not liking his speech , answered : i will never turne my backe with dishonour to the norman , neither can i in any sort disgest the reproach of a base minde : wel , then be it so , ( said some discontented of the company , ) let him beare the brunt that hath given the occasion . [ anonymus . ] vvilliam conquerour when he invaded this iland , chanced at his arrivall to be graveled , and one of his feete stacke so fast in the sand , that he fell to the ground . wherewithall one of his attendants caught him by the arme and helped him vp , saying : stand vp my ●iege lord and be of good cheare , for now you have taken fast footing in england : and then espying that he brought vp sand and earth in his hand , added : yea and you have taken livery and seisin of the country : for you know that in delivering of livery and seisin , a peece of the earth is taken . [ hist . normanica . ] a wizard , ( or a wise-man as they then called them , ) had fore-told william that he should safely arrive an england with his whole armie , without any impeachment of harold : the which after it came it passe , the king sent for the wizard to conferre further with him . but when it was told him that he was drowned in that ship which onely of all the whole fleete miscarried , the conquerour said : he would never make account of that science that profited more the ignorant then the skilfull therein , for he could fore-see my good fortune , but not his owne mishap . [ idem . ] that morning that he was to ioyne battell with harold , his atmorer put on his backe-peece before , and his breast-plate behinde , the which being espied by some that stood by , was taken on them for an ill token , and therefore advised him not to fight that day ; to whom the duke answered : i force not of such fooleries , but if i have any skill 〈◊〉 south-saying , ( as in sooth i have none , ) it doth prognosticate that i shall change copie from a duke to a king. [ idem . ] magike in the time of ner● , was discovered to be but a vanitie , in the declining state of the roman empire accounted by the gentiles a verity : in the time of hildebrand , ( if we beleeve authors , ) so approoved that it was commonly practised : for as in the time of vale●s , divers curious men ( as hath beene said , ) by the falling of a ring magically prepared vpon the letters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , iudged that one theodorus should succeede in the empire , when indeede theodosius did . so when hildebrand was pope , by like curiosities it was found that odo should succcede . wherevppon odo earle of kent , and bishop of bayeux , brother to king william the conquerour , devoured the papacy in hope , sent mony his perswading messengers to rome , perchased a pallace there , and prepared thitherward ; when king william for his presumption , and other his misdemenours staied him , and committed him , saying : offensive foole-hardines must be timely restrained [ liber cadomensis . ] when the same od● who was both bishop of bai●ux in normandy , and earle of kent , in former time had so disloyally carried himselfe against king william the conquerour , that he complained of him to his lords : lanfranc archbishop of canterbury advised the king to commit him . but what say you● ( quoth the king , ) whenas he is a clergyman ? you may not , saide he , commit the bishop of baieux , but you may well 〈◊〉 the earle of kent [ w : malmsbur ] like vnto this was that distinction of piramus , secretary to charles the fift in late yeares , when pope iulius the second did combine with the french king , against the emperour , of the popes honesty , and iulius dishonesty . this king william , by reason of sickenes , kept his chamber a long time , whereat the french king scoffing saide : the king of england heth long in childe-bed . which when it was reported vnto king william , hee aunswered ; when i am churched there shal be a thousand lights in france : ( alluding to the lights that women vsed to beare when they were churched , ) and that hee performed within few dayes after , wasting the french frontires with fire and sword . the same king at the time of his death , saide ; i appoint 〈◊〉 successour in the kingdome of england , but i commend it to the eternall god , whose i am , and in whose handes all thinges are : happly remembring that of the monke before specified , pag. . this king perceiving his owne defects , in some poynts , for want of learning , did exhort his children oftentimes to learning with this saying , an vnlearned prince is a crowned asse : which speech tooke so great impression in his sonne henry , that hee obtained by studie and learning the surname of beauclearke , or fine scholler . [ annales ecclesia cant. malmesburiensi● . vvilliam rufus loved wel to keep vacant bishopriks and abbies in his handes , saying ; christes bread is sweet , dainty , and most delicate for kings . but although this king made most commonly , as it were , port-sale of the spirituall livings ; yet when twoo monkes were at drop-vied bezantines ( the currant golde of that age ) before him for an abbey , hee espied a third monke of their company standing in a corner , whom the king asked , what hee would give to be abbot ? not one farthing ( saide he ) for i renounced the world and riches , that i might serve god more sincerely . then ( said the king ) thou arte most woorthy to be made abbot , and thou shalt have it . [ liber cantuar. when newes were brought him that the french king had besieged the cittie of constances in normandy , ●e posted with a few to the sea coast , to take ship . but because the winde blew very strong from south , the sailers signified , that it was very dangerous for him to take sea , but the king replied , hoise vp sailes in gods name , for i have not heard of a king drowned by tempest : you shall see both winde and weather serviceable to vs. answerable to that of iulius caesar , which inforced a poore pilote in the like case to launch foorth , and in the rage of the storme comforted him with saying , caesarem & caesaris fortunam vebis . and as couragiously as that of charles the fift , who in the battel of tunis when he was advised by the marquise of gu●sto to retire his person , when the great ordonance began to play , saide ; marquesse , thou never heardst that an emperour was slaine with a great shot . i will heere present you with an other speech ( or call it what you will ) of the same king william rufus , out of the good and historicall poet robert of glocester , that you may compare a princes pride in that age , with our private pride , and that our first finest poets may smile at the verses of that time , as succeeding ages , after some hundred yeeres will happly smile at theirs : as his chamberlaine him brought , as he rose on a day . a morrow for to weare , a paire of hose of say : he asked what they costned , three shillings he seid , fie a dibles quoth the king , who sey so vile a deede : king to weare so vile a cloth , but it costned more , buy a paire for a marke , or thou shalt ha cory f●re . a worse paire enough , the other swith him brought , and said they costned a marke , & vnneth he them so boght : aye bel-amy , quoth the king , these were well bought , in this manner serve me , other ne serve me not . hitherto also may be referred that of this king william , who the morning before hee was slaine with an arrow in hunting , tolde his company he dreamed the last night before , that an extreame cold winde passed throgh his sides : whereupon some disswaded him to hunt that day , but hee resolved to the contrary answering . they are no good christians that regard dreames . but he found the dreame too true , being shot through the side by walter tirell . [ tragmentum antiquae historiae franc. à p. p●th●● aditum . of henry the first i have read no memorable speach , but what i have read i will report . he was by common voice of the people commended for his wisedome , eloquence , and victories , dispraised for covetousnes , cruelty , and lechery : of which hee left proofe by his sixteene bastards . but it seemeth that his iustice was deemed by the common people to be crueltie , for the learned of that age surnamed him the lion of iustice , [ huntingd. polycraticon , gemeticensis . it was the custome of the court in the time of king henry the first , that bookes , billes , and letters shoulde be drawne , and signed for servitors in the court , concerning their owne matters , without fee. but at this time turstane the kings steward , or le despencer , as they then called him , from whom the family of the l. spencers came , exhibited to the king a complaint , against adam of yarmouth clarke of the signet , for that he refused to signe without fee , a bill passed for him . the king first heard turstane , commending the olde custome at large , and charging the clarke for exacting somewhat contrary thereunto , for passing his booke . then the clarke was heard , who briefly saide , i received the booke , and sent vnto your steward , desiring him only to bestow of me two spice cakes , made for your owne mouth , who returned answer ; he would not , and thereupon i denied to seale his booke . the king greatly disliked the steward for returning that negative , and forthwith made adam sit downe vppon the bench , with the seale and turstanes booke before him , but compelled the steward to put off his cloake , to fetch two of the best spice cakes for the kings owne mouth , to bring them in a faire white napkin , and wi●h lowe curtsie to present them to adam th● c●arke ; which being accordingly performed , the ki●g comma●ded adam to seale and delive , him his booke , and made them s●endes , add●ng this speech , officers of the court must gratifie , anashew a cast of their office , not onely one to another : but also to all strangers , whensoever neede shall require . [ ●ualterus mapes . de nugis curialium . there was allowed a pottle of wine for livery everie night to be served vp to king henry the first chamber , but because the king did seldome or never vse to drinke in the night , paine fitz-iohn his chamberlaine , and the pages of the chamber did carowse the wine among them . on a time it happened the king at midnight called for wine , but none was to be found : paine and the pages bestured them●elves in vaine , seeking wine heere ●nd there . paine was called in to the king , who asked him if there were not allowance for livery : hee humbly answered that there was a pottle allowed everie night , but for that hee never called for it ( to say the trueth in hope of pardon ) wee drunke it vp amongst v● ; then ( quoth the king ) have you but one pottle every night ? that is too shorte for mee and you , from hencefoorth there shall be a whole gallon allowed , whereof the one pottle shall be for mee , the other for you and yours . this i note , not for anie gravi●e , but that the king in that age was commended herein both for bountie and clemencie . [ cualterus mapes . queene mawd wife to king henry the first of england , and daughter to malcolme canmore king of scotland , was so devoutly religious , that she would goe to church barefoote , and alwayes exercise herselfe in workes of charitie , insomuch that when david her brother came out of scotland to visite her , he found her in her privie chamber with a towell about her middle , washing , wiping , and kissing poore peoples feete , which he disliking saide , verily if the king your husband knew this , you should never kisse his lippes . she replied ; that the feete of the king of heaven are to bee preferred before the lippes of a king in earth . [ guil : malmes : & math. paris . simon deane of lincolne , who for his courtlike carriage was called to court , and became a favourite of this king henry the first , was wont to say , i am cast among courtiers , as salt among quicke eeles , for that he salted , powdred , and made them stirre with his salt and sharpe quipping speeches . but what saieth the author , who reporteth this of him ; the salt lost his season by the moysture of the eeles , and was cast out on the dunghill : for hee incurring hatred in court , was disgraced , committed , and at last banished . henr. huntingdon in epistola . vvhen the scottes in the time of king stephen with a great army invaded england , the northerne people brought to the field the earle of albemarle the only respective heire of those partes in his cradle , and placed him by the standard , hoping thereby to animate the people : but ralph bishop of duresme animated them more with this saying , assure your selves , that this multitude not trained by discipline wil be combersome to it selfe in good successe , and in distresse easily discomforted . which proved accordingly , for many scottishmen left their carcases in the field . [ historiola de standardo . mawd the empresse , daughter and heire of this king henry the first , which stiled her s●lfe lady of the englishmen , would often say to her sonne king henry the second ; be hasty in nothing ; hawkes are made more serviceable , when yee make faire shewes of offering meate often , and yet with-hold it the longer . [ cualterus mapes . others maximes of her , in arte reguands proceeding from a niggish olde wife i wittingly omitte , as vnbefitting a prince . robert earle of gloucester base sonne to king henry the first , the onely martiall man of england in his age , vsed stephen beauchampe with all grace and countenaunce , as his onely favorite and privado , to the great dislike of all his followers . whereupon when he was distressed in a conflict , he called to some of his companie for helpe , but one bitterly bade him , call nowe to your stephen . pardon mee , pardon me , replieth the earle , in matters of venery i must vse my stephen , but in martiall affaires i relie who he vppon you . [ gualter mapes de nugis curialium . henry the second caused his eldest sonne henry to bee crowned k●ng , and that day served him at the table , whereuppon the archebishop of yorke said vnto the yoong king , your maiestie may reioyce , for there is never a prince in the world that hath this day such a waiter a● his table as you have . wonder you so much a● that my lord ( saide the yong king ) and dooth my father thinke it an abasement for him being discended of royall bloud , onely by his mother , to serve me at the table , that have both a king to my father , and a queene to my mother ? which prowde speech when the vnfortunate father heard , hee rounded the archbishop in the care , and saide ; i repent mee , i repent me of nothing more than of vntimely advauncements . [ anonymus . wimund bishop of the isle of man , in the time of king stephen , a martiall prelate ( as many were in that age ) after he had with many an inrode annoyed the scots , some english procured by them sodainely apprehended him , put out his eies , and gelded him ( as my author saieth ) for the peace of the kingdome , not for the kingdome of heaven . who after retiring himselfe to the abbey of biland in yorkeshire , would often couragiously say , had i but a sparrowe , eye , my enemies should never carry it away scot-free . [ newbrigensis . ] when king plenry the second was at s. davis in wales , and from the cliffes there in a cleere day discovered the coast of ireland , that most mighty monark of this realme , saide ; i with my shippes am able to make a bridge thither , if it be no further : which speach of his beeing related to murchard king of lemster in ireland ; he demaunded if hee added not to his speech ( with the grace of god : ) when it was answered , that hee made no mention of god : then saide hee more cheerefully , i feare him lesse which trusteth more to himselfe , than to the helpe of god. [ giraldus cambrensis . owen of kevelsoc prince of powis admitted to the table of king henry the second at shrewsbury , the king the more to grace him , reached him one of his owne loaves , which he cutting in small peeces , and setting them as farre off as he could reach , did eate very leasurely . when the king demaunded what he meant thereby , he aunswered , i doe as you my soveraigne , meaning that the king in like manner tooke the fruition of offices and spirituall preferments , as long as he might . [ giraldus . the same king henry returning out of ireland , arrived at saint davis in wales , where it was signified vnto him , that the conqueror of ireland returning that way , should die vpon a stone called lech-laver neere the churchyard : whereupon in a great presence he pasted over it , and then reprooving the welsh-britans credulity in merlins prophecies , said ; now who will heereafter credite that liar merlin ? [ giraldus . gilbert foliot bishop of london disliking thomas becket archbishop of canterbury , woulde say oftentimes , ad zachaeum non divertisset dominus nisi de sicomoro iam descendisset : that zachaeus had never entertained and lodged christ , vnlesse he had come downe from the figge tree : as though christ could never like the lofty , vntill they should humiliate themselves , and come downe . [ anonymus ms. the same king would often say , the whole world is 〈◊〉 enough for a great prince . [ girald . in distinct . in the time of this henry the second , the see of lincolne was so long voyde , as a certaine convert of tame prophecied , that there should be no more bishoppes of lincolne : but he prooved a truthlesse prophet , for geffrey the kings base sonne was preferred after sixteene yeeres vacancie thereunto , but so fitte a man , as one saide of him , that he was skilfull in fleecing , but vnskilfull in feeding . [ vitae episcoporum eboracensium . this gallant base bishoppe would in his protestations and othes alwayes protest , by my faith , and the king my father . but walter mapes the kings chaplan told him , you might doe aswel to remember sometimes your mothers honesty , as to mention so often your fathers royaltie . [ mapes de nugis curialium . this bishop ceffrey in all his instruments passing from him , vsed the stile of g. archiepiscopus eborum ; but in the circumference of his seale , to notifie his royall parentage , sigillum galfredi filij regis anglorum , as i observed in his seales . savage a gentleman which amongst the first english , had planted himselfe in vlster in ireland , advised his sonne for to builde a castle for his better defence against the irish enemy , who valiantly answered ; that hee woulde not trust to a castle of stones , but to his castle of bones , meaning his body . [ mar●ebrigensis . robert b●anchmaines earle of leicester was wont to say soveraigne princes are the true types or relemblances of gods true maiestie , in which respect , saieth mine author , treason against the princes person was called crimen maiest at is [ polycraticon . pope adrian the fourth an english man borne , of the familie of breakespeare in middlesex , a 〈◊〉 commended for converting norway to christianity , before his papacie . but noted in his papacie , for vsing the emperour fredericke the second as his page , in holding his stirroppe , demaunded of iohn of sarisbury his countryman what opinion the world had of the church of rome , and of him , who answered : the church of rome which should be a mother , is now a stepmother , wherein sit both scribes and pharises ; and as for your selfe , whenas you are a father , why doe you exspect pensions from your children ? &c. adrian smiled , and after some excuses tolde him this tale , which albeit it may seeme long , and is not vnlike that of menenius agrippa in livie , yet give it the reading , and happly you may learne somewhat by it . all the members of the body conspired against the stomacke , as against the swallowing gulfe of all their labors ; for whereas the eies beheld , the eares heard , the handes labored , the feete traveled , the tongue spake , and all partes performeds their functions , onely the stomacke lay ydle and consumed all . hereuppon they ioyntly agreed al to forbeare their labors , and to pine away their lasie and publike enemy . one day passed over , the second followed very tedious , but the third day was so grievous to them all , that they called a common counsel ; the eyes waxed d●mme , the feete could not support the body , the armes waxed lasie , the tongue faltered , and could not lay open the matter ; therefore they all with one accord desired the advise of the heart . there reason layd open before them , that ●ee against whome they had proclaimed warres , was the cause of all this their misery : for he as their common steward , when his allowances were withdrawne , of necessitie withdrew theirs fro them , as not receiving that he might allow . therfore it were a farre better course to supply him , than that the limbs should faint with hunger . so by the perswasion of reason , the stomacke was served , the limbes comforted , and peace re-established . even so it fareth with the bodies of common-weales ; for albeit the princes gather much , yet not so much for themselves , as for others : so that if they want , they cannot supply the want of others ; therefore do not repine at princes heerein , but respect the common good of the whole publike estate . [ idem . oftentimes would he say , all his preferments never added any one iote to his happinesse or quietnesse . [ idem . he also ( that i may omitte other of his speeches ) would say , the lord hath dilated me by hammering me vpon the anvild ; but i beseech him he would vnderlay his hand to the vnsupportable burthen which he hath layde vpon me . [ idem . when it was signified vnto king richard the first , son to the foresaide king henry sitting at supper in his pallace at westminster ( which we call the old pallace now ) that the french king besieged his towne of vernoil in normandie : he in greatnes of courage protested in these wordes , i will never turne my backe vntil i have confronted the french : for performance of which his princely word , hee caused the wall in his pallace at westminster to be broken downe directly towardes the south , posted to the coast , and immediately into normandie , where the very report of his sodaine arrivall , so terrified the french , that they raised the siege , and retired themselves . [ ypodigma . the same king richard purposing an expedition into the holy land , made money at all handes , and amongst other things solde vnto hugh pudsey bishop of durham the earledome of northumberland , merrily laughing when he invested him , and saying ; am not i cunning , and my crafiesmaister , that can make a yoong earle of an olde bishoppe ? but this prelate was fitte to be an earle , for the worlde ( as one of that age saide of him ) was not crucifixus to him , but infixus in him . [ lib. dunelm . one fulke a frenchman of great opinion for his holinesse tolde this king richard that hee kept with him three daughters , that would procure him the wrath of god , if he did not shortly ridde himselfe of them . why hypocrite ( quoth the king ) all the worlde knoweth that i never hadde childe , yea ( saide fulke ) you have as i saide , three ; and their names are pride , covetousnesse , and lechery . ( it is so ( saide the king ) you shal see me presently bestow them : the knightes templers shal have pride , the while m●nkes covetousnesse , and the cleargy lechery ; and there have you my three daughters bestowed among you . when there was a faire opportunitie offered vnto this king richard , and to hugh duke of burgundie for the surprise of ierusalem , they marched forward in two battalles from acres . the king of england led the first , the duke of burgundie the other ; when they approched , the duke of burgundie envying the glory of the english , signified to the king of england , that he would retire with his companies , because it should not be said , that the english had taken ierusalem . while this message was delivering , and the king grieving that so glorious an enterprise was so overthwarted by envie ; one amongest the english companies cryed alowde to the king and said , sir , s●r , come hither and i will shew you ierusalem . but king richard cast his coate of armes before his face , and weeping vttered these wordes with alowde voice ; ah my lord god , i beseech thee that i may not see thy holy cittie ierusalem , whenas i am not able to deliver it out of the handes of the enemies . [ ian sire signour de ionville in the life of saint le wes . cap. . this author also giveth this testimony of the saide king , in the eight chapter of the saide booke . this prince was of such prowesse , that he was more feared and redoubted amongest the sarazens then ever was any prince christian . insomuch that when as their little infants beganne to crie , their mothers would say to make them holde their peace ; king richard commeth , and wil have you , and immediately the little children hearing him named , would forbeare crying : and likewise the turkes and sarazens , when their horses at any time started , they woulde putte spurre to them and say ; what you iades , you thinke king richard is heere ? when the same king richard had fortunately taken in a skirmish , philippe the bishop of beavoys a deadly enemy of his , hee cast him in prison with boltes vpon his heeles , which being complained of vnto the pope , he wrote earnestly vnto him , not to detaine his deere sonne , an ecclesiasticall person , and a sheepheard of the lordes , but to send him backe vnto his flocke . whereuppon the king sent vnto the pope the armour that he was taken in , and willed his ambassadour to vse the words of iacobs sonnes vnto their father , when they had solde away their brother ioseph , hanc invenimus , vide vtrum tunica filij tui sit , an 〈◊〉 this wee found , see whether it be the coate of thy sonne , or no. nay ( quoth the pope ) it is not the coate of my sonne , nor of my brother , but some impe of mars , and let him procure his deliverie of he will , for i wil be no meane for him . when the french king and king richard the first beganne to parlee of peace , his brother iohn , who had falsely and vnnaturally revolted vnto the french king , fearing himselfe , came in of his owne accord , and suppliantly besought richard brotherly to pardon his manifolde offences , that he had vnbrotherly committed against him , hee rehersed the straight league of brotherly piety , he recounted the many merits of his brother , he bewailed with teares that hitherto he had beene vnmindefull of them , as an vnnaturall and vnthankefull person . finally , that hee dooth live , and shall live , hee dooth acknowledge that hee hath received it at his handes . the king being mollified with this humble submission , saide : god graunt that i may as easily forget your offences , as you may remember wherein you have offended . in the wofull warres with the barons , when king iohn was viewing of the castle of rochester held against him by the earle of arundel , he was espied by a very good arcubalister , who tolde the earle thereof , and saide , that hee would soone dispatch the cruell tyrant , if he would but say the word ; god forbid , vile varlet ( quoth the earle ) that we should procure the death of the holy one of god. what ( saide the souldier ) he would not spare you if hee had you at the like advantage . no matter for that ( quoth the earle ) gods good wil be done , and be wil dispose , and not the king. [ math : paris . when one about him shewed him where a noble man , that had rebelliously borne armes against him , lay verie honourably intoombed , and advised the king to deface the monument , he said ; no , no , but i would al the rest of mine enemies were as honourably buried . [ idem . when diverse greekes came hither , and offered to proove that there were cettaine ●rrours in the church of england at that time , hee reiected them , saying , i will not suffer our faith established to be called in question with doubtful disputations . [ fragm : antiquum aeditum à p. pithaeo . yet when the saide king iohn sawe a fatie bucke haunched , he saide to the standers by , see how faire and fatte this bu●ke is , and yet hee never heard masse all his life long . but this may be forged to his disgrace by the envious . [ math. paris . in a solemne conference betweene king henry the third of england , and saint lewes king of france , the onely devout kings of that age , when the french king saide , he had rather heare sermons , than heare masses . our king replied , which some will smile at now , but according to the learning of that time , that he had rather see his loving friend ( meaning the reall presence in the sacrament ) than to heare never so much good of him , by others in sermons . this i note , because it was then thought facetious , which i doubt not but some wil now condemne as superstitious [ g●●l : rishanger . pecham that opticall archbishop of canterbury , who writte perspectiva communis , when pope gregorie the tenth , who had created him archbishop , commaunded him to pay foure thousand markes within foure moneths , vnder paine of excommunication , hee that came vnto the see then deepely indebted , saide ; beholde , you have created me , and as a creature doth desire to be perfected by his creator , so i doe in my oppressions flie vnto your holmesse to be recreated . archiep. cantuar. sewall archbishop of yorke much agrieved with some practises of the popes collectors in england , tooke all patiently , and saide ; i will not with cha● discover the nakednes of my father , but cover and conceale it with sem. as constantine the great saide , that hee would cover the faults of bishops and fathers of the church with his imperiall robe . [ mat. paris . pope innocentius the fourth when he offered the kingdome of sicil and naples to richard earle of cornewall with many impossible conditions , you might as well ( say de the earles agent at rome ) say to my lord and maister , i sell or give you the moone , climbe vp , catch is , and take it . [ anonymus qui incipit . rex pictorum . alexander successor to innocentius sent vnto the saide earle richard to borrow a great masse of money ; but the earle answered , i wil not lend to my superior , uppon whome i cannot distraine for the debts . this richard is reported by the saide author , to have had so great treasure , that hee was able to dispend for tenne yeeres an hundred markes a day , which according to the standard of that time was no small summe . [ idem . in the raigne of king henry a bishop of london sto●●ly withstoode the popes nunci● , that would have levied exactions of the cleargie : whereupon the n●●ci● complained vnto the king , who shortly menaced the bishop , and tolde him he would cause the pope to plucke his peacockes toile : but the bishop boldely answered the king , that the pope and he being too strong for him , might bereave him of his bishoprick , by might , but never by , right ; and that although they tooke away his mitre , yet they would leave him his helmet . [ lib. cantuar. wicked rather than wittie is that of a deane high treasurer of england , that had demeaned himselfe so well in his office , that when he died he made this wicked will ; i bequeathe all my goodes and possessions vnto my liege lords the king , my body to the earth , and my soule to the divell . [ idem . vvhen edward the first heard of the death of his onely sonne , hee tooke it grievously as a father , but patiently as a wise man. but when hee vnderstoode shortely after of the departure of his father king henry the third , he was wholy deiected and comfortlesses whereat when charles king of sicile , with whome he then soiourned in his returne from the holy land , greatly marvelled , he satisfied him with this , god may send more sonnes , but the death of a father is irrecoverable . [ wa●singham . this is that king edward the first , who as in lineaments of body he surpassed all his people , being like saul , higher than any of them ; so in prudence conioyned with valour and industry , he excelled all our princes , giving ther by sure ankerholde to the governement of this realme , waving vp and downe before most vncertainely . which hee effected not so much by establishing good lawes , as by giving life vnto his lawes , by due execution . and as my author saith , iudices potissimùm iudicans quos constituit indices aliorum . who addeth also this of him ; nem● in consilijs illo argutior , in eloqu●● torrenti●r , in periculis socurior , in prosperis ●●uti●r , in adversis constanti●r . [ commendatie lamentabilis in transi●n regis edw : pri●● . whereas the kings of england , before his time , vsed to weare their crowne vpon all solemne feast dayes , he first omitted that custome , saying merrily , that crownes doe rather ●nerate , than honour princes . [ idem tractatus . when a simple religious man seeing him meanely attired , wondering thereat , asked him , why hee beeing so potent a prince ware so simple a sute , he answered , father , father , you know how god regardeth garments , what can i doe more in royall robes , than in this my gabbardine ? [ idem . when the cleargie pretending a discharge by a 〈◊〉 lately made at the councell held at lyons in fra●●● , would contribute nothing to the temporall necessities of king edward , hee saide vnto them in parliament , seeing you doe refuse to helpe me , i will also refuse to help you , &c. if you deny to pay tribute to me as vnto your prince , i will refuse to protect you as my subiects ; and therefore if you be spoyled , robbed , mai●●ed , and nurthered , seeke for no succourner defence of me , or mine . the pope sent an iniunction vnto the same edward , the which was delivered vnto him in one of his iornies against the fautors of iohn balleal king of scotland , the tenour of it was , that he should surcease to disquiet the scottes , which were an exempt nation , and properly appertaining to the roman chappell , wherefore the citty of ierusalem could not but defend her cittizens , and helpe them that did trust in the lord , like mount si●● . hee hadde no sooner read it , but rapping out an othe , saide ; i will not holde my peace for syon nor ierusalems rest , as long as there is breath in my bodie , but wil prosecute my iust right knowne vnto all the world , and defend is to the death . [ tho : walsing ham . when iohn earle of ath●ll nobly descended , who had with other murthered iohn co●●in , was apprehended by king edward the first , and some intreated for him , the king answered , the higher his calling is , the greater must his fall be ; and as he is of higher parentage , so he shal be the higher hanged : which accordingly was performed , for he was hanged on a gallowes fiftie foote high . [ florilegus . whenas in siege of the castle of strivelin in scotland , king edward the first , by his over-forwardnesse was often endaungered , some advised him to have more regarde to his person , hee aunswered them with that of david in the psalme , a thousand shall fall as my fide , and tenne thousand at my right hand , but it shall not come neere me . [ florilegus . when the learned lawyers of the realme were consulted in a cause by him , and after long consultation did not satisfie him , hee saide , ( as kings impatient of delayes may be bolde with their lawyers , ) my lawyers are long advising , and never advised . [ florilegus . as for other speeches of his i wittingly and willingly overpasse . eleanor wife to king edward the first , a most vertuous and wise woman , when hee tooke his long and dangerous voyage into the holy land , would not be disswaded to tarrie at home , but woulde needes accompany him , saying ; nothing must part them whome god hath ioyned , and the way to heaven is as neare in the holy land , ( if not nearer ) as in england , or spaine . this worthy queene maketh mee remember eubulus a scoffing comicall greeke poet , which curseth himselfe if ever hee opened his mouth against women , inferring albeit medea were wicked , yet penelope was peerelesse : if clytemnestra were naught , yet alcestes was passing good : if ph●dra were damnable , yet there was an other laudable . but heere saith he i am at a stand , of good women i finde not one more , but of the wicked i remember thousandes . beshrew this scoffer , yee good wives all , and let his curse fall vpon him , for of your kinde may many a million bee found , yea of your owne country , and that i may reserve other to a fitter place , i will shew vnto you a rare example in this queene of england , a most loving and kinde wife , out of rodericus sanctius not mentioned by our historians . when king edward the first was in the holy land , hee was stabbed with a poysoned dagger , by a sarazen , and through the rancor of the poyson , the wound was iudged incurable by his physitions . this good queene eleanor his wife , who had accompanied him in that iourney , endangering her owne life , in loving affection saved his life , and eternized her owne honour . for she daily and nightly sucked out the ranke poyson , which love made sweete to her , and thereby effected that which no arte durst attempt ; to his safety , her ioy , and the comfort of all england ; so that well woorthy was shee to be remembred by those grosses as monuments , which in steade of statues were erected by her husband to hir honour at lincolne , gr●●tham , stanford , goddington , northampton , st●●y straford , dunstaple , saint albanes , waltham , and westminster called charing crosse , all adorned with her armes of castile , leon , and pontive robert winchelsey the archbishop of canterbury was banished by king edward the first , but afterward restored againe by him , and all the rents that had beene sequestred during his absence , repayed him : whereby he became the richest archbishop that had been in that feate before him : wherefore often recording his troubles hee woulde say ; adversitie never burteth , where no uniquity over-rule●● . [ liber cantuar. william de march lord treasourer vnto king edward the first , caused all the treasure throughout all the land , that was layed vppe in the monasteries and churches , to be at one iustant violently taken away by military men , saying , it is better that money should be mooving , and according to the name be currant , and goe abroad to the vse of the people , than resting in chests without fruits and occupation : concurring in this last poynt with a maxime of the vsurers hall . of king edward the second i finde nothing memorable , but that which griefe and great indignitie wreasted from him , when corney and his rascall rabblements after his deposition , would needes shave him on the way , lest he should be knowne and rescewed . they enforced him to sit downe vpon a mole hil , and the knave barber insulting , told him that cold water taken out of the next ditch should serve for his trimming at that time . hee answered , whether you will or no , there shall be warme water : and therewithall hee shedding teares plentifully , verified his words . [ thom : de la more . after the battell of poitiers 〈◊〉 lorde audley was brought to the blacke prince in a litter most grievously wounded , for hee had carried himselfe most valiantly that day . to whome the prince with due commendations , gave for his good service foure hundred markes of yeerely revenews . the which hee returning to his tent , gave as franckely to his foure esquiers , that attended him in the battell : whereof when the prince was advertised , doubting that his gift was contemned as too little for so great good service : the lord audley satisfied him with this answer ; i must doe for them who deserved best of me . these my esquiers saved my life amiddest the ennemies . and god bee thanked , i have sufficient revenews left by my a●ncestours to maintaine me in your service . whereupon the prince praising his prudence and liberalitie , confirmed his gift made to his esquiers , and assigned him moreover sixe hundred markes of like land in england . [ ●rossard . william wickham after bishoppe of winchester came into the service , and also into the great favour of king edward the third , by beeing overseer of his great woorke at windesor , wheras before he served as a poore parish priest . wherfore he caused to be written in one of his windows , this worke made wickham . which being tolde vnto the king , hee was offended with wickham , as though hee had gone about to robbe him of the glorie of that magnificent worke . but when wickham tolde him that his meaning was , that that worke had beene his making , and advauncement , the king rested content and satisfied , [ vita wiccami . when the saide william wickham ( as it is commonlie saide ) sued vnto edward the third for the bishoppricke of winchester , the king tolde him that hee was vnmeete for it , because he was vnlearned , but hee saide , in recompence thereof i will make many learned men . the which hee performed indeed . for he founded new colledge in oxford and another in winchester , which houses have affoorded verie many learned men , both to the church and to the common-wealth . when henry of lancaster surnamed the good earle of darby had taken . bigerac in gascoigne , hee gave and graunted to every souldier , the house which every one should first seaze vpon , with all therein . a certaine souldier of his br●ke into a mint-maisters house , where hee found so great a masse of money , that hee amazed therewith , as a prey greater than his desert or desire , signified the same vnto the earle , who with a liberall minde aunswered , it is not for my state to play boyes play , to give and take ; take thou the money , if it were thrice as much . [ walsingham . ] when newes was b●ought vnto king richard the second , that his vnkles of yorke and gloucester , the earles of arundell , warwicke , darby , and nottingham , with other of that faction , who sought to reforme the misorders of the king , or rather , of his wicked counsellors , were assembled in a woodde neere vnto the court ; after hee had asked other mens opinions , what was to be done in so weightie and doubtfull a case . at length hee mernly demaunded of one sir hugh a linne , who had beene a good militarie man in his dayes , but was then somewhat distraught of his wittes , what he would advise him to doe : issue out ( quoth sir hugh ) and let vs set vppon them , and stay them every mothers sonne ; and by gods eyes , when thou hast so done , thou hast killed all the faithfull friendes that thou hast in england . [ anonymus . ] king henry the fourth , a wise prince , who full well knew the humour of the english , in his admonition to his sonne , at his death , saide ; of englishmen , so long as they have wealth and riches , so long s●alt thou have obeysance ; but when they be poore , then they be alwayes ready to make insurrections at every motion . [ hall. king henry the fourth , during his sickenes , caused his crowne to be set on his pillow , at his beds head , and sodain●ly his pangue so sore troubled him , that hee lay as though his vitall spirites had beene from him departed : such chamberlaines as had the care and charge of his bodie thinking him to be dead , covered his face with a linnen cloth . the prince his sonne being thereof advertised , entred into the chamber , and tooke away the crowne , and departed . the father being sodainely revived out of his traunce , quickely perceived that his crowne was taken away : and vnderstanding that the prince his sonne had it , caused him to repaire to his presence , requiring of him for what cause he had so mis-used himselfe . the prince with a good audacitie answered : sir , to mine and all men : iudgements you seemed dead in this world , wherefore i , as your next and apparant heire tooke that as mine owne , not as yours . well faire sonne , ( saide the king with a great sigh ) what right i had to it , and how i enioyed it , god knoweth , well ( quoth the prince ) if you die king , i will have the garland , and trust to keepe it with the sworde against all mine enemies , as you have done . [ hall. king henry the fift , when he prepared warres against fraunce , the dolphin of fraunce sent him a present of paris balles , in derision : but hee returned for answere , that he would shortly resend him london balles , which should shake paris walles . [ anonymus angticè . when king henry the fift had given that famous overthrowe vnto the french at agincourt , hee fell downe vppon his knees , and commaunded his whole armie to doe the same , saying that verse in the psalme , non nobis domine , non nobis , sed nomini tuo da gloriam : not vnto vs ( o lord ) not vs , but vnto thy name give the glorie . henry the sixt did take all iniuries , whereof he received plenty so patiently , that he not only did not seek to revenge them , but gave god thankes that hee did send them to punish his sinnes in this life , that hee might escape punishment in the life to come . [ vita henrici sexti . as the emperor fredericke the third , when he heard of the death of a great noble man of austria , who lived ninety three yeeres most wickedly in fleshly pleasures , and yet never once afflicted with griefe or sickenes , saide ; this pro●veth that which divines teach , that after death there is some place where wee receive rewarde or punishment ; when wee see often in this worlde , neyther the iust rewarded , nor the wicked punished . the same king henry having in christmasse a shew of yoong women , with their bare breasts layde out , presented before him , hee immediately departed with these wordes , fie , fie for shame , forsooth you be too blame . [ idem . he receiving on a time a great blowe by a wicked man , which compassed his death , hee onely sayde , forsooth , forsooth yee doe fowly to smite a king annoynted . not long before his death , being demaunded why hee had so long held the crowne of england vniustly , hee replied , my father was king of england , quietly enioying the crowne all his raigne , and his father my grandfire was also king of england , and i even a childe in cradle was proclaimed and crowned king without any interruption , and so held it fortie yeeres , wel-neere all the states doing homage vnto mee , as to my auncestors . therefore wi●● i say with king david , my lot is fallen in a faire ground , i have a goodly heritage , my helpe is from the lord which saveth the vpright in heart . [ idem . thomas montacute ●arle of sarisbury , when hee besieged orleans , and had so enforced it , that the inhabitants were willing to articulate , and to yeelde themselves to the duke of burgundie , then being in his company : he highly disdaining it , saide in the english proverbe ; i wil not beate the bush , and another shal have the birdes . which proverbiall speech so offended the burgundian , that it wholy alienated his minde from the english , to their great losse in all the french warres following . [ paulus aemilius lib. . iohn lorde talbot first earle of shrewsbury of that familie , supprised vppon the sodaine by the french army at chastilion , farre from cowardly f●are of death , and fatherly affected to his sonne the lorde ●isle , who woulde not forsake him in that danger , advised him to f●le , saying ; my death in respect of my former exploites can not be but honourable ; and in respect of thy youth , neither can it be honourable for thee to die , nor dishonourable to f●ie . but this yong lord in height of courage , nothing degenerating from so worthy a father , lost his life with his father in the field , and with them a base sonne , and a sonne in lawe of the sayde earles . [ paulus aemilius lib. . & commentarij pij pp . . lib. . after this battell , when the flames of inward warre beganne to flash out in england , the martiall men of england were called home out of fraunce , to maintaine the factions heere : at which time a french captaine scoffingly asked an english-man when they woulde returne againe into fraunce . he answered feelingly , and vpon a true ground : when your sinnes shal be greater and more grievous in the sight of god , than ours are now . ¶ vntill this time , from the beginning of king edward the first , which was about an hundred and sixtie yeeres , whosoever will with a marking eie consider the comportment of the english nation , the concurrent of martiall men , their councells , military discipline , designs , actions , and exploites , not onely out of our owne writers , but also forraine historians ; cannot but acknowledge , that they were men of especiall worth , and their prowesse both great and glorious . why afterward it should decay , as all other professions , which even like plants have their times of beginning or in-rooting , their growing vp , their flourishing , their maturitie , and than these fading , were a disquisition for the learned . whether it proceedeth from celestiall influence , or those angelles which plato makes , or the secundei which trith●●●ius imagined to have the regiment of the world successively , or from the degenerating of numbers into summes , which i confesse i vnderstand not , being an ignorant in abstruse learning . onely i have read in paterculus , that when either envie , or admiration hath given m●n an edge to ascend to the highest , and when they can ascend no higher , after a while they must naturally descend . yet i relie vpon that of eccclesiastes , as i vnderstand it , cuncta fecit bona in tempore su● deus , & mundum tradidit disputationi eorum , vt non inveniat home quod operatus est deus ab initio vsque ad finem . but pardon mee , i cannot tell how i have beene by admiration of our progenitours diverted from my purpose . in the yeere of our lord . when a fifteene hundred english vnder the cōduct of i : beaufort erle of derset were encompassed betweene the sea , and fifteen thousand french. the erle of arminac generall of the french , sent to the earle , advising him to yeelde himselfe , but hee answered , it is not the manner of the english , to yeelde without blowes , neither am i so heartlesse that i will deliver my selfe into their handes , whom god ●ay deliver into mine . and accordingly god gave him the honour of the day , to the great confusion of the enemy . [ walsingham in ypodigmate . vvhen elizabeth the widow of sir iohn gray was a suter vnto king edward the fourth ( against whome her husband lost his life ) for her ioynture : the kinde king became also a suter to her vnto her for a nights lodging : but she wisely answered him , when hee became importunate , that as she did account her selfe too base to be his wife , so shee did thinke her selfe too good to be his 〈◊〉 . when love grew so hote in this k. edward the fourth , that hee would needes marry the saide elizabeth , widow of sir iohn grey , to the great discontent of his counsell , but especially of his mother , who alleaging many reasons to the contrary , saide , that onely widowhood might be sufficient to restraine him , for that it was high disparagement to a king , to be dishonoured with bigamy in his first marriage . the king merrily aunswered ; in that shee is a widdow , and hath already children ; by gods blessed lady i am a batcheller , and have some too : and so each of vs hath a proofe , that neither of vs are like to be barren . and therefore madam , i pray you be content , i trust in god she shal bring you forth a yong prince ; that shall please you . and as for the bigamy , let the bishop hardly lay it in my way when i come to take orders : for i vnderstand it is forbidden to a priest , but i never wist it yet that it was forbidden to a prince . his note love neverthelesse was partable among three other of his mistresses , of whome hee was woont to say , the one was the fairest , the other the merriest , and the third the holiest , for she had wholy devoted her selfe to his bedde and her beades . when lewes the eleaventh french king entertained diverse councellors of king edward the fourth with large pensions to steede him in england , hee sent peter cleret one of the maisters of his housholde vnto the lorde hastings the kings chamberlaine , to present him with twoo thousand crownes . which when he had received , petre cleret did pray him , that for his discharge he would make him an acquittance ; the lorde chamberlaine made a great difficultie thereat . then cleret dooth request him againe that hee would give vnto him onely a letter of three lines for his discharge to the king , signifying that hee had received them . the lord chamberlaine answered ; sir , that which you say is very reasonable ; but the gift comes from the goodwill of the king your maister , and not at my request at all : if it please you that i shall have it , you shall put it within the pocket of my sleeve , and you shall have no other acquittance of me . for i will never it shal be saide for mee , that the lorde chamberlaine of the king of england had beene pentioner to the king of fraunce : nor that my acquittances shal be found in the chamber of accompts in fraunce . the afores●id cleret went away male-content , but left his money with him , and came to tell his message to his king , who was very angry with him . but thenceforth the lord chamberlaine of england was more esteemed with the french , and alwayes payde without acquittance . [ philippe de commines . king richard the third , whose monstrous birth foreshewed his monstrous proceedings , for he was born with all his teeth , and haire to his shoulders , albeit hee lived wickedly , yet made good lawes , and when diverse shires of england offered him a benevolence , hee refused it , saying , i know not in what sence ; i haa rather have your hearts , than your money . [ ioannes rossus warwiceusis . ] iohn morton then bishoppe of elie , but afterward of canterbury , being solicited by the duke of buckingham then alienated from richard the third , to speake his minde frankely vnto him , in matters of state : the bishoppe aunswered him ; in good faith my lord i love not much to talke with princes , as a thing not all out of perill , although the words be without fault . forasmuch as it shall not be taken as the partie meant it , but as it pleaseth the prince to construe it . and ever i thinke on aesopes tale , that when the lien had proclaimed , that on paine of death , there should no horned beast abide in that wood , one that had in his forehead a bounch of flesh , fledde away a great pase . the foxe that sawe him ruune so fast , asked him whither he made all that haste : hee answered ; in faith i neither wote nor recke , so i were once hence , because of this proclamation made of horned beasts . what fo●le ( quoth the foxe ) thou mayest well enough abide , the lion meant not by thee , for it is no horne that is vppon thy head : no mary ( quoth hee ) that wote i well enough , but what and hee call it an horne , where am i then ? [ tho : moore . sir thomas rokesby being controlde for suffering himselfe to be served in treene cuppes , answered ; these homelie cuppes and dishes pay truly for that they containe : i had rather drinke out of treene , and pay golde and silver , than drinke out of golde and silver , and make woodden payment . vvhen richard the third was slain at bosworth , and with him iohn howard duke of norffolke , king henry the seaventh demaunded of thomas howard earle of surrey the dukes sonne and heire then taken prisoner , how he d●rst beare armes in the behalfe of that tyranne richard. he answered ; he was my crowned king , and if the parliamentary authority of england sette the crowne vppon a stocke , i will fight for that stocke . and as i fought then for him , i wi● fight for you , when you are established by the said authoritie . and so hee did for his sonne king henry the eight at flodden field . anonymus . when margaret the widdow of charles the hardie duke of bargundie , and sister to king edward the fourth , envying much the happy estate and raigne of henry the seaventh descended of the adverse family of lancaster , had at sundry times suborned two rascalles to counterfeit the persons of her two brothers sonnes , thereby to withdrawe the hearts of his subiects , and raise vproares in his realme , the king sent over vnto philippe the duke of burgundie doctour warrham afterward archbishop of canterbury , to informe him of her treachery . this doctour in the latter ●●d of his oration thus nipped the seditious dutchesse that within few yeeres after shee was past threescore yeeres of age , she had brought foorth two monsters , lambert and peter , and not in the nine and tenth moneths , as women naturally doe , but in the hundred and fourescore moneth , ( for they were both about fifteene yeeres of age when shee brought them abroade , as it were , out of her belly : ) neither were they crisomers , but such childe-choppers , that as soone as ever they were borne , they were able to wage warre with a mighty king. [ th : more . the earle of kildare being charged before king henry the seaventh for burning the metropolitane church of cassilles in ireland , and many witnesses procured to avouch the trueth of the article against him , hee sodainely confessed it to the great wondring and detestation of the counsell . then it was looked how he should iustifie that fact . by iesus ( quoth hee ) i would never have done it , if it had not beene tolde me that the archbishop had beene within it . and because the bishop was one of the busiest accusers present , merrily laughed the king at the plainnesse of the man , to see him alledge that intent for excuse , which most of all did aggravate his fault . when among many articles the last article exhibited by the irish against that earle of kildare , the last was : finally , all ireland cannot rule this earle . then ( quoth the king ) shall this earle rule all ireland ; and shortly after hee made him deputie thereof . when one reprooved king henry the seaventh for his slownesse in making warres on those that wronged him , he answered , if we princes should take every occasion that is offered vs , the worlde should never be quiet , but wearied with continuall warres . when a gentleman , none of the wisest , tolde king henry the seaventh , that hee found sir richard gr●ftes , who was made banneret at the battell of stoke to be a very wise man. the king answered , hee doubted not that , but marvelled much how a foole could knowe a wiseman . it h●ppened that there was fallen in communication the story of ioseph , how his maister putiphars wife a great m●n with the king of aegipt , would have pulled him to ●e●b●d ●n● he fled away . now maister m●●o ( hee was the king almoner ) quoth king henry the seaventh , you be a tall strong man on the one side , and a cunning doctor on the other side , what would you have done , if you had not beene ioseph , but in iosephs steade ? by my troth fir ( quoth he ) and it like your grace , i cannot tell what i would have done , but i can tell you what i should have done . [ tho : moore . the lady margaret countesse of richmond mother to king henry the seaventh , a most worthy patronesse of good letters , would often say , on the condition that princes of christendome would combine themselves , and march against the common enemy the turke , shee would most wil●ingly attend them , and be their laundresse in the campe . there was a poore blind man in warwick-shire , that was accounted verie cunning in prognosticating of weather : vpon a day , empson a great lawier , as hee road that way , sayd in scorne of his cunning . i pray you tell me father when doth the sunne change ? the chafed old man that knew his corrupt conscience , answered : when such a wicked lawier as you goeth to heauen . doctor collet the deane of paules said , that if the clergie were naught , the laitie were worse , for it could not otherwise be , but the laye men must ever be one degree vnder the clergie : for surely it can be no 〈◊〉 that our sauiour sayth himselfe , who sayth of the cleargie , that they be the salt of the earth , and if the salt once appall , the world must needes waxe vnsauerie : and he sayeth that the clergie bee the light of the world ; and then sayeth he , if the light bee darkened , how darke will then the darkenesse be ? that is to wit , all the world beside , whereof he calleth the clergie onely the light . cardinall wolsey , his teeth watering at the rich bishopricke of winchester , sent one vnto bishop foxe ( who had advaunced him vnto the kings service ) for to move him to resigne the bishopricke , because extreame age had made him blind : the which message and motion foxe did take in so ill part , that he willed the messenger to tell the cardinall thus from him : that although olde age bereaving me of sight , i know not white from blacke , yet i can discerne truth from falshoode , and right from wrong : yea , and that now i am blind i haue esp●ed his malicious vnthankfulnesse : the which i could never before perceive when my e●e sight was at the best . and let my lord cardinall take heede , that his ambition and covetousnesse , bring him not into a worse blindnesse then i have , and make him fall before he feare . at sir thomas moore his first comming to the service of king henrie the eight the king gave him this godly lesson . first looke vnto god , and after vnto me . he would also wish , as i have heard of an ancient man of that age , that his councellers would commit simulation , dissimulation , and part●●litie , to the porters lodge , when they came to sit in councell . the same king henrie the eight , finding fault with the disagreement of preachers , would often say ; some are too stiffe in their olde mumpsimus , and other to busie and curious in their new sumpsimus . happly borrowing these phrases from that which master pace his secretarie reporteth in his booke de fructu doctrinae , of an old priest in that age , which alwayes read in his portasse , mumpsimus domine , for sumsimus : whereof when he was admonished , he said that he now had vsed mumplimus thirtie yeares , and would not leave his olde mumpsimus for their new sumpsimus . a noble man of this time , in contempt of learning sayd , that it was for noble mens sonnes enough to winde their horne , and carrie their hauke faire , and to leave studie and learning to the children of mean men . to whom the foresaide richard pace replied . then you and other noble men must be content , that your children may wind their bornes , and keepe their haukes while the children of meane men do manage matters of estate [ r. pacaeus de fructu doctrinae . ] iohn fisher bishop of rochester , when the king would have translated him from that poore bishopricke to a better , he refused , saying : he would not forsake his poore little olde wife , with whom he had so long lived . happly thinking of the fifteenth canon of the nicone councell , and that of the canonistes , matrimonium inter episcopum , & ecclesiam esse contractum , &c. there was a nobleman merry conceited , aud ●iotously given , that having lately sold a mannor of an hundred tenements , came ruffling into the court , in a new sute , saying : am not i a mightie man , that beare an hundred houses on my backe ? which cardinall wolsey hearing , said : you might have better employed it in paying your debts . indeede my lord ( quoth he ) you say wel ; for my lord my father , owde my maister your father three half pence for a calfs head , hold , here is two pence for it . as skelton iested at the cardinal , that he was descended of sanguil●er , hee was cast out of a butchers stall , for his father was a butcher of ipswich . when stephen cardiner was advaunced vnto the bishopricke of winchester , and sent over as ambassadour into fraunce with great pomp●● hee saide vnto an old acquaintance of his that came to take his leave of him ; nowe i am in 〈◊〉 gloria patri : yea ( saide his friend ) and i hope , ●t nunc & semper . or ( replied the bishop ) if it please the king my maister , sicut erat in principio . a poore scholler of cambridge againe . when sir thomas , moore was speaker of the parliament , with his wis●dome and eloquence , hee so crossed a purpose of cardinall wolsey that the cardinall in a chafe sent for him 〈◊〉 white-hall ; where when he had daunced attendaunce long , at length the cardinall comming out , saide in the presence of many ; maister moore , i woulde you had beene at rome , when you were made speaker of the parliament house . hee immediately replied : and if it pleased your grace , so would i , for then i should have seene a famous cittie , whereof i have heard much , but never sawe . [ vita tho : mori impressa . the same cardinal at a ful counsel table , when sir th● moore was first made privie counseller , moved that there might be a lievteuant generall of the realme chosen for certaine considerations ; and the body of the counsell inclined thereunto . sir thomas moore opposed himselfe . whereuppon the cardinall in a chafe saide ; are not you ashamed who are the meanest man heere , to dissent from so many honourable and wise personages : you proove your selfe a plaine foole . whereunto maister moore foorthwith aunswered ; thankes be to god that the kings maiestie hath but one foole in his right honourable counsell . [ idem . when hee was lorde chauncellour , hee inioyned a gentleman to pay a good round summe of money vnto a poore widdowe whome he had oppressed ; and the gentleman saide : then i doe hope your lordeship will give mee a good long day to pay it . you shall have your request ( saide sir thomas ) munday next is saint barnabas day , the longest day in all the yeere , pay her mee then , or else you shall kisse the fleete . when hee had no lust to growe greatly vpward in the worlde , neyther would labour for office of authoritie , and over that , forsake a right worshipfull roome when it was offered him , his wife fell in hand with him , and asked him ; what will you do that you list not to put foorth your selfe as others doe ? will you sit still by the fire , and make goselings in the ashes with a sticke , as children doe ? woulde god i were a man , and looke what i would doe . what ? by god goe forward with the best ; for as my mother was wont to say , it is ever more better to rule than to be ruled , and therefore i warrant you , i would not be so foolish to be ruled , where i might rule . by my trueth wife ( quoth he ) i dare say you say trueth , for i never found you willing to be ruled yet . he vsed , when hee was lord chauncellor , vpon every sonday , when he was at home , to sitte in the quire in his surplice and sing the service : and being one day espied in that attire by the duke of norffolke . the duke beganne to chafe , crying , fie , fie , my lorde , the lord chauncellour of england a parish priest , and a paltrie singing man , you dishonour the king , you dishonour the king. no my lord ( quoth sir thomas ) it is no shame for the king , if his servant serve his soveraigne and saviour , who is king of kings . during the time of his chancellourship of england , he vsed to send his gentleman-vsher to his wifes pew , after divine service was done , to tell her that he was gone : but the next sonday after hee gave vp his chancellourship of england , he came himselfe to her pew , and vsed the vsuall words of his gentleman-vsher , madame , my lorde is gone . his latter wife was a widdow , of whom erasmus writeth , that hee was wont to say , that shee was , nec bella , nec puella : who as shee was a good huswife , so was shee not voyde of the fault that often followeth that vertue , somewhat shrewd to her servants : vppon a time sir thomas found fault with her continuall ch●ding , saying ; if that nothing else would reclame her , yet the consideration of the time ( for it was lent ) should restraine her . tush , tush , my lord ( saide shee ) looke , heere is one steppe to heaven-ward , shewing him a friers girdle . i feare mee ( quoth sir thomas moore ) this one steppe will not bring you vppe a steppe higher . one day when shee came from shrift , shee saide merrily vnto him , be merry sir thomas , for this day was i well shriven , i thanke god , and purpose now therefore to leave off all my olde shrewdnesse ; yea ( quoth hee ) and to beginne afresh . when he was sent prisoner vnto the tower , and the lievtenant , his olde friend , received him with a heavy cheere , hee sayde ; is this the entertainement and good countenance you give your guests when they come to you ? why looke man , heere are twenty angell nobles ( shewing him his purse ) and when this is spent , turne me out at doores , as a bare gamester , and not able to pay for that he takes . hitherto may bee referred his silent answere , when at his entring into the tower , one of the officers claimed for a fee , his vpper garment , ( meaning his gowne or his cloke ) he offred him his cappe . being asked after his condemnation , and before his execution , whether hee had changed his minde , hee saide : yea , for i thought to have beene shaven , but now seeing i shall die so shortly , i will let my beard growe . his daughter roper one day as shee repaired vnto him into the tower , counselled him to recover the kings favour , and his owne former libertie , by doing i know not what , the which shee saide one of the greatest states of this realme , and a man learned too , and his tender friend , saide he might doe , without scruple of conscience , as most of the nobilitie of the realme hadde doone , not once sticking thereat , save onely himselfe , and one other man. this speach of her hee aunswered with a pleasaunt tale . at a bartholomew faire at london , there was an escheater of the same city , that had arrested a clothier that was outlawed , and had seized his goodes , which he had brought into the faire , tolling him out of the faire by a traine . the man that was arrested was a northerne man , which by his friendes made the escheator to be arrested within the faire , vppon an action i not neere what , and called a court of pipowders . now ●ad the clothier , by friendship of the officers , found the meanes to have all the quest almost made of the northerne men , such as had their boothes standing in the faire , who were no sooner departed from the barre , and come into the house , but the northerne men were agreed , and in effect all the other , to cast our london escheater . they thought they needed no were to proove that hee did wrong , than even the name of his bare office alone . but then was there amongest them , as the divell woulde , an honest man of another quarter called company . and the fellow seemed but a seely soule , and sate still , and sayde nothing ; they made noreckoning of him , but saide . we be agreed now , come , let vs goe and give vp our verdict . then when the poore fellow sawe that they made such hasle , and his minde nothing gave him that way that theirs did ( if that their ●●ndes gave them that way they saide , ) hee prayed them to tarry and talke vpon the matter , and tell such reason therein , that ●ee might thinke as they did , and when they should so doe , be would be glad to say with them ; or else hee saide they must pardon him : for sith ●ee had a soule of his owne to keepe , as they had , be must say as he thought for his soule , as they must for theirs . when they heard this they were halfe angry with him , what good fellow , ( quoth one of the northerne men ) whare wannes thou ? be not we eleaven heere , and thou but one all alone , and al we agreed , whereto shouldst thou sticke ? whates thy name gud fellow ? maisters ( quoth he ) my name is called company . company ( quoth they ) now by my troth good felow , play then the gud companion , come thereon foorth with vs , and passe even for gude company . would god good maisters ( quoth the man againe ) that there lay no more weight thereon . but now , when we shall hence , and come before god , and that hee shall send you vnto heaven for doing according vnto your conscience , and me to the divell , for doing against mine , al passing at your request heere for good company now , by god maister dickenson ( that was one of the northerne mens names , ) if i then shall say vnto you al againe ; maisters , i went once with you for good company , which is the cause that i goe now to hell , play you the good felowes now againe with mee , as i went then for good company with you , so some of you go now for good company with me : would you goe maister dickenson ? nay , nay , by our lady , nor never a one of you all . and therefore must you pardon me for passing as you passe ; for the passage of my poore soule passeth all good company . in the like sence he vsed often to say , that he would never pinne his soule at another mans backe , not even the best man that he knew that day living ; for he knew not whither he might hap to carry it . when one came to him , to signifie that hee must prepare himselfe to die , for hee coulde not live , he called for his vrinall , wherein when hee had made water , hee cast it , and viewed it ( as physitions vse ) at last hee saide soberly , that hee saw nothing in that water , but that he might live , if it pleased the king. when he was in prison , and his bookes and papers taken from him , he did shutte his chamber windowes both day and night , saying ; when the wares are gone , and the tooles taken away , we must shut vp shop . when he went to death , a certaine woman offered him a cuppe of wine , which he refusing , saide ; good woman , christ in his passion drunke gall , and no wine . when he was to mount the scaffold hee saide to one of the shiriffes men , i pray thee helpe mee vp , as for comming downe i take no care . when the hangman ( according to his manner ) desired him to pardon him his death , hee answered , i doe forgive thee with al my heart : but one thing i wil tel thee , thou w●●t never have honestie in cutting off my head , my necke is so short . now we have done with sir thomas moore his owne apothegmes which have come to my handes , i will transcribe out of his workes , a few tales , or call them what you please . a poore man found a priest over familiar with his wife , and because he spake it abroad , and could not prove it , the priest sued him before the bishops officiall for defamation , where the poore man in paine of cursing was commaunded , that in his parish church hee should vppon the sonday , at high masse , stand vp , and say , mouth thou liest : whereuppon for fulfilling of his penaunce , vp was the poore soule set in a pew , that the people might wonder at him , and heare what hee sayde : and there all aloude ( when hee had rehearsed what hee had reported by the priest ) then hee sette his handes on his mouth , and sayde ; mouth thou liest : and by and by thereupon , he sette his handes vpon both his eyes , and sayde ; but eyne ( quoth hee ) by the masse yee lie not a whit . when sir thomas moore had told one whom hee tearmeth in his dialogue the messenger , how he might yeerly have seene a myracle done at the rhodes , if he would have gone thither . so farre , quoth the messenge ? nay , yet i had rather have gods blessing to beleeve that i see not , then to go so farre for it . i am well apaid ( said sir thomas ) thereof , for if you had rather beleeve , then take the paine of a long pilgrimage , you will never be so stiffe in any opinion , that you will put your selfe in ieopardie for pertinacy , and stubborne standing by your part . nay marie said the messenger , i warrant you that i will never be so madde , to hold , till it waxe too hot , for i have such a fond fantasie of mine owne , that i had rather shiver and shake for colde in the summer , then be burned in the mids of winter . it happened that a yong priest verie devoutly in a procession , bare a candle before the crosse for lying with a wench , and bare it light all the long way , wherein the people tooke such spirituall pleasure and inward solace , that they laughed apace . and one merrie marchant sayd vnto the priests that followed him , sic luceat lux vestra coram hominibus , thus let your light shine before the people . but a lewde priest in later time , being reproved of his loose life , and told that he and other of the clergie ought to bee the lanthornes of light , how can we ( saide the shamelesse priest ) be lanthornes of light , when as ye lay men have all the hornes . when a lustie gallant saw a frier going barefoote in a great frost and snowe , hee asked him why hee did take such paine . hee aunswered , that it was a verie little paine if a man would remember hell : yea frier ( quoth the gallant ) but what and if there be no hell ? then arte thou a great foole : yea maister ( quoth the frier ) but what if there be hell , then is mastership much more foole . a frier as he was preaching in the countrey , espied a poore wife of the parish , whispering with her pew-felow , and he falling angrie thereat , cried out vnto her aloude , holde thy babble i bid thee , thou wife in the red hoode , which when the huswife heard , she waxed as angrie , and sodainly she started vp , and cried vnto the frier againe that all the church rang thereon ; mary sir , i beshrew his heart , that babbleth most of vs both , for i do but whisper a word with my neighbour here , and thou hast babled there a good large houre . king ladislaus vsed much this maner among his servants , when one of them praised any deed of his , or any condition in him , if he perceyved that they sayde nothing but the truth , he would let it passe by vncontrolled : but when he saw that they did set a glose vpon it for his praise , of their owne making beside ; then would he shortly say vnto them , i pray thee good fellow , when thou faist grace , never bring in gloria patri , without a sicut erat . any act that ever i did , if thou report it againe to mine honour , with a gloria patri , never report it but with a suut trat . that is to wit , euen as it was , and no otherwise , and lift not me vp with lies , for i loue it not . frier donalde preached at paules crosse , that our ladie was a virgin , and yet at her pilgrimages , there was made many a foule meeting . and loude cried out , ye men of london , gang on your selues with your wiues to wilsdon , in the divils name , or else keepe them at home with you with a sorrow . sir iohn moore was wont to compare the choosing of a wife vnto a casuall taking out at all a verie ventures of eles out of a bagge , wherein were twentie snakes for an ele. sir iohn fineux , sometime chiefe iustice of the kings bench , was often heard to say : who so taketh from a iustice the order of his discretion , taketh surely from him more than halfe his office . wise was that saying of doctor medealfe : you yong men do thinke vs olde men to be fooles , but we olde men do know that you yong men are fooles . katherine wife to charles brandon duke of suffolke : when her husband at a feast , willed everie ladie to take to sit by hir , him that shee loued best , prouided hee were not her husband , she tooke stephen cardiner , bishop of winchester , saying : seeing she might not have him whom she loved best , she would take him whom she loved worst . king edward the sixt when three swordes were delivered at his coronation vnto him , as king of england , fraunce , and ireland , sayd , there was yet another sworde to be delivered vnto him . whereat when the lords marvelled , he sayd : i meane ( sayd he ) the sacred bible , which is the sworde of the spirit , without which we are nothing , neither can do any thing . [ balaeus in centurijs . ] when sit ralfe fane was condemned to die by the practise of the duke of northumberland , he said no more , protesting his innocencie , but , my blood shall be the dukes bolster , as long as he liveth : meaning , as i thinke , that his conscience affrighted with shedding innocent blood , shoulde enioy little quiet , but passe restlesse nights . relatio gallica . thirlby bishop of elie , when he was ambassador at rome , one of hir men negligently laying downe his liuery cloake , in his lodging lost it : wherewith the bishop being angrie rated the fellow roughly , who told him that hee suspected nothing in so holy a place as rome was , but did take them all for true men . what knaue ( qvoth the bishop ) when thou commest into a strange place , thinke all men there to be theeves , yet take heede thou doe not call them theeves . when hee was prisoner in the tower , he was searched by the lievetenaunt , and five hundred french crownes found in his purse , and in his doublet about him : whereat when the lievetenant wondering , asked him , what hee meant to carry so much money about him : hee answered , i love to have my friends still neere about mee , and can not tell how i should be vsed if i lacked them . in the rebellion in the weast , during the raigne of king edward the sixt , sir anthony kingston marshall of the field , hanged vp a fellow that was servant to a rebellious miller , whome he affirmed himselfe to be , vntill hee came vnto the gallowes , and then his deniall would not be allowed . afterward the matter being better knowne , sir anthonie was tolde that hee had executed the man for the maister . it is well enough ( quoth sir anthony ) hee coulde never have doone his maister better service , than have hanged for him . these following are taken out of the life of cardinall poole archbishop of canterbury , written by a learned man , and printed at venice . when one asked counsell of cardinall poole , what methode and way was best to be taken , to vnderstand the obscure places in saint paules epistles : he answered him he thought the best and shortest way was , to reade first the latter parte of those epistles , which dooth intreate of christian manners , and vnderstand it , and expresse it in life and good manners ; and then to go vnto the first part , where the matters of faith are subtily and exactly handled , saying ; that god wil give his spirite of vnderstanding soonest vnto those , that with al their whole hearts seeke to serve him . he was wont to say , that he and all other bishops ought to consider that they were ordained , not onely iudges over those of their dioceses , but father iudges . in communication when mention hapned to be made of a certaine bishoppe , who was woont to blame the bishops that lived at rome , and neglected their charge , and yet he himselfe was resident at rome . he ( quoth poole ) doth like vnto those that cannot abide the smel of garlicke , for if they have to do with them that have eaten garlike , they eate some too themselves , that they may not percerve their stinking breaths . speach was heard of a yoong man that was learned indeede , but too bolde , and ready to censure . learning ( quoth poole ) doth worke almost that in yong men , that wine doth in the fatte ; there it worketh , there it boileth vppe , and swelleth . but as soone as it is purged , and put in the vessel , having gathered his forces together , it is quiet and stil . when one very skilfull in astrologie tolde him , that hee had very exactly calculated his-nativitie , and found that great matters were portended of him : poole aunswered , perhaps it may be as you affirme , but you must remember that i was borne againe by baptisme , and that day of nativitie wherein i was borne againe , doth eclipse the other before . when one had saide , that we must be so wholy busied in the studie of the scriptures , that no time should be left for other studies : and another man had added , that the studies of other learnings were to bee vsed as wayting-maides , and bond-women , what do you not know ( quoth poole ) that agar was cast out of the doores , because shee was a bond-woman ? when sadolet adhorted him vnto the studie of philosophy , giving to it the price above all other studies : poole answered him , while al the worlde was overwhelmed with the darkenesse of paganisme , it did excel al other artes : but since that thicke mist was chased away , by the bright beames of the preaching of christ and his apostles , and their successours ; the study of the sacred scriptures and divinitie had gotten the pa●ne and chiefe praise , adding , that philosophy was now as tenedos , of whome virgil writeth : — notissima fama insula div●s opum priami dum regna manebant . nunc tantùm sinus & statio malefida carinis . a famous isle of riches great while priamus kingdome stoode , now nothing but a baggage bay , and harbour nothing good . he vsed friendly to admonish a certaine bishop , not to forsake his sheepe , but rather leaving rome to repayre home and execute his office . this bishop vpon a time came vnto him , and tolde him that hee was minded to goe out of the cittie , for one moneth , and to visite his sheepe , and therefore hee did desire that hee might departe with his good leave and liking : poole answered , i shal take this comfort by your departure , that you shal bee beaten the lesse . when letters were shewed vnto him very artificially penned , which one had sent vnto a great man , to comfort him for the death of his friendes , and to tha● intent had vsed all the places of rhethoricke , hee read them , and then saide ; that hee never in al his life had ever read letters , that could bring greater comfort ; for they were such , that no man that shoulde reade them , could be able to keepe himselfe from laughing . having heard a certaine preacher of great name , who arrogated much to himselfe , and did passingly please himselfe ; hee was asked what hee thought of the man. poole aunswered ; well , but i would that hee would first preach vnto himselfe , and then afterward to other . when a nobleman of rome tolde him , that hee did trust that he should come to his pleasaunt gardines , which hee had sumptuously made , yea thirtie yeeres after , and wonder at the beauty of them . poole answered , i hope i have not deserved so ill of you , that you should wish me so long a banishment from my heavenly country . while he was in the low countries , and one day would have gone vnto charles the emperour , but hee could not be admitted to his speach : but two dayes after the bishop of arras was sent vnto him by the emperour , to excuse his long stay , and desire him to come vnto him : poole sayde , that hee had strange happe , that whereas be spake daily vnto god for the emperour , yet he was not admitted vnto the emperour , to talke with him about a matter belonging to god. there was one that was very curious in keeping of his beard , and it was reported that hee bestowed every moneth two duckats vpon the trimming of it . if it be so ( said poole ) his beard wil shortly be more woorth than his head . after the death of paulus tertius when many cardinals came vnto him , and tolde him , that if hee liked of it , they would make him pope : he desired them to looke well to it , that they were swayed by no passion of the minde , or did ought for favour , and good-will , but referre all their cogitations wh●lie vnto the honour of god , and the profite of his church ; the which only they all ought especially to have alwayes before their eyes . when one of the cardinalls of the adverse faction did one day charge him with ambition , and saide that hee did vntimely and over-hastily seeke the popedome : he answered gravely that he thought not the burthen of that great office to be so light , but that he was of the minde , that it was rather to be feared , than desired . a● for them which vnderstood not , and thought more basely of so great a place , hee lamented their case , and was sory for them . when the cardinall farnesi , and diverse other of his fri●nds came vnto him , at midnight , to make him pope , by adoration , he repelled them saying ; he would not have so weighty a matter tumultuously and rashly done , but v●●aily and orderly , that the night was no convenient time therefore , that god loved the light more than darkenesse , wherefore they should deferre it vntill the next day , and that then of it plea●ed god , it might very well be done . but this his pious modesty lost him the papacie . he vsed often to say , those which would betake them vnto the study of the holy scriptures , ( which was as though they would goe into the inner and secret parte of the temple ) must passe thorow a lowe and a narrow doore : for that no man can attaine to the vnderstanding of the scriptures , that is prowde and puffed vp with the sharpenesse of his wit , or excellencie of humane learning ; but be that bringeth lowlinesse of minde , and 〈◊〉 tempt of himselfe , and yeeldes his vnderstanding ( as the apostle saith ) captive vnto faith . of this also did hee often admonish those that woulde study the sacred scriptures , that they should specially beware that they never went to the reading of them with this intent and minde , that they might dispute of them to shew their learning , and by that knowledge to get them honors and riches : for both purposes , were every contrary to this kind of studie . wherevnto ought to be adhibited , first fervent prayers ▪ then a lowely mind , and finally an heart voyde of all ambition and greedy desire . thus farre of this good cardinall . wil●iam marq●es of winchester , being asked how hee continued of the counsel on the troblesome times of divers princes , aunswered . by being a willow , and not an oake . hee woulde also often say , that he found great ease in this : that i never sought to rule the r●ste , and to be the director of others , but alwayes suffred my selfe to be swayed with the most and mightiest . as another courtier of former times saide he had borne off many court-stormes indangerous times . by suffering iniuries and giving thankes for them . a lusty gallant that had wasted much of his patrimony , seeing master dutton a gentleman in a gowne , not of the newest out , tolde him that hee had thought it had beene his great grandfathers gowne , it is so ( saide maister dutton ) and i have also my great grandfathers lands , and so have not you . a reverend man my first teacher would often say in the middest of his mirth , sorrowe is good for nothing save sinne onely . now we draw to an end , have a few savings of merie m. ●●elwood the great epigrammatist . when qu : mary tolde this heiwood , that the priests must forgoe their wives . hee merrily aunswered , your grace must allow them lemmans then , for the cleargie can not live without sawce . he being asked of the saide queene mary , what winde blew him to the court , answered her , two specially , the one to see your maiestie , we thanke you for that , said queene mary ; but i pray you , what is the other ? that your grace ( saide he ) might see me . when one told him , that pace being a maister of arte had disgraced himselfe with wearing a fooles come , he answered , it is lesse hurtfull to the common-weale , when wisemen goe in fooles coates , than when fooles goe in w●●e m●ns gownes . when hee sawe one riding that bare a wanton behinde him , hee saide ; in good faith sir , i would say that your horse were overloaden , if i did not perceive this the 〈◊〉 you carry were very light . when a man of worship , whose beere was better hopped than maulted , asked him at his table , how hee liked of his beere , and whether it were not well hopped : yes by the faith of my body ( saide hee ) it is very well hopped : but if it ha● hoppea a li●tle further , it had hopped into the water . when one saide , that the number of lawyers woulde marre the occupation ; hee aunswered , no , for alwayes the more spaniels in the field , the more game . this vsuall speech of sir th : moore , both of himselfe & other book breeders , which is also extant in an epistle of his , i have reserved to close vp this part . booke-makers are ful●●se folke who p●ine and ●●ne themselves away by writing , to subiect themselves to the censure of such which in ordinaries and in ale-benches will 〈…〉 pull them by their wordes , phrases , and lines , as it were by the beards ; when some of them are so pill● themselves , as that they have not one haire of honestie ; or to vse his owne wordes , ne pilum boni hominis . but these he resembleth to those vnmanerly guests , which when they have bin well and kindely entertained flinch away never giving thankes , but depraving and disprasing their curteous entertainement . certaine poemes , or poesies , epigrammes , rythmes , and epitaphs of the english nation in former times . poems . of the dignity of poetry much hath beene said by the worthy sir philipp sidney , and by the gentleman which proued that poets were the first politicians , the first philosophers , the first historiographers . i will onely adde out of philo , that they were gods owne creatures , who in his booke de plantatione noe , reporteth , that when he had made the whole worlds masse ; he created poets to celebrate and set out the creator himselfe , and all the creatures : you poëts read the place and you will like it . howsoeuer it pleaseth the italian to censure vs , yet neither doth the sunne so farre retire his charriot from our climate , neither are there lesse fauourable aspects betweene mercurie , iupiter , and the moone , in our inclination of heauen , if poëts are fato , as it pleased socrates , neither are our poets destitute of arte prescribed by reason , and grounded vpon experience , but they are as pregnant both in witty conceits and deuises , and also in imitation , as any of them . yea and according to the argument excell in granditie and grauity , in smoothnesse and proprietie , in quicknesse and briefnesse . so that for skill , varietie , efficacie , and sweetnesse , the foure materiall points required in a poët , they can both teach and delight perfectly . this would easily appeare if any lines were extant of that worthy british lady claudia rufina , so commended by martial , or of gildas which lilius giraldus sawe in the libraries of italie , or of old chedmon who by diuine inspiration about the yeare . became so diuine a poët in our english tongue , that with his sweete verses full of compunction , he withdrew many from vice to vertue , and a religious feare of god : or of our claudius clemens one of the first founders of the vniuersity of paris : and doth most clearely appeare to all that can iudge by many learned poems published in this our learned age . but whereas these later are in euery mans hand , and the former are irrecouerable , i will onely giue you a taste of some of midle age , which was so ouercast with darke clouds , or rather thicke fogges of ignorance , that euery little sparke of liberall learning seemed wonderfull : so that if sometime you happen of an vncouth word , let the time entreate pardon for it , when as all words haue their times , and as he saith . licuit semperque licebit , signatum praesente nota procudere nomen . we will begin with ioseph of excester , who followed our king richard the first in his warres in the holy land , celebrated his acts in a booke called antiocheidos , and turned dares phrigius so happily into verse , that it hath been printed not long since in germany , vnder the name of cornelius nepos . the passing of the pleasant riuer simois by troy , & the encounter betweene the waues of the sea , and it , at the disemboging , or inlett therof , he liuely setteth forth thus : proxima rura rigans alio peregrinus ab orbe visurus troiam simois , longoque meatu emeruisse velit , vt per tot regna , tot vrbes exeat aequoreas tandem trotanus in vndas . dumque indefesso miratur pergama visu lapsurum suspendit iter , fluuiumque moratur , tardior & totam complects destinat vrbem : suspensis infensus aquis violentior instat nereus , atque amnem cogens procùl ire minorem ; proximus accedit vrbi , contendere credas quis propior , sic alternis concurritur vndis , sic crebras iterant voces , sic iurgia miscent . you may at one view behold mount ida with his trees , & the country adiacent to troy in these few lines , as in a most pleasant prospect presēted vnto you thus , by the said ioseph . haud procul incumbens intercurrentibus aruis idaeus consurgit apex , vetus incola montis silua viret , vernat abies procera , cupressus flebilis , interpres laurus , vaga pinus , oliua concilians , cornus venatrix , fraxinus audax , staet comitis patiens vlmus , nunquamque senescens cantatrix buxus : paulò procliuiùs aruum ebria vitis habet non dedignata latere cancricolam poscit phoebum , vicinus aristas praegnantes faecundat ager ▪ non plura falernus vina bibit , non tot pascit campania messes . a right woman and ladylike disdaine may be obserued in the sa●e author , where he bringeth in pallas , mating dame iuno with modest disdamfulnesse before paris , in the action of beauty , a matter of greatest importance in that sex , after this manner of reply . magna parens superûm , nec enim nego ; magna tonantis nupta , nec inuideo ; meritum , paris inclyte , nostrum si quod erat carpsit testor freta , testor olympum , testor humum , non armatas in praelia linguae credideram venisse deas ; hâc parte loquacem erubeo sexum , minùs hîc quàm faemina possum ; martem alium didici , victoria faeda vbi victis plus laudis victore feret , nostrisque trophaeis hic hand notus honos . sed quo regina dearum effatu tendit , dea sit , cedo , imò dearum maxima , non dextrae sortiri sceptra potentis , partiri ue iouem certatim venimus , illa illa habeat , quae se ostentat . in the commendation of britaine , for breeding martiall men , and praise of the famous king arthur , he song in his antiocheidos these which onely remaine out of that worke , inclita fulsit posteritas ducibus tantis , tot diues alumnis , tot faecunda viris , premerent qui viribus o● bem , et famà veteres . hinc constantinus adeptus imperium , romam tenuit , byzantion auxit . hinc senenum ductor captiuà brennius vrbe , romuleas domuit flammis victricibus arces . hinc & scaeua satus pars non obscura tumultus ciuilis , magnum solus qui mole soluta obsedit , meliorque stetit pro caesare murus , hinc celebri fato faelici floruit ortu flos regum arthurus , cuius tamen acta stupori non micuere minùs , totus quòd in aure voluptas et populo plaudente fauus . quacunque priorum inspice , pellaeum commendat fama tyrannum , pagina caesareos loquitur romana triumphos , alciden domitis attollit gloria monstris . sed nec pinetum coryli , nec sydera solem aequant , annales graios , latiosque reuolue , prisca parem nescit , aequalem postera nullum exhibitura dies . reges supereminet omnes solus praeteritis melior , maiorque futuris . if a painter would portraite deuills let him paint them in his coulors , as foelix the old monke , of crowland depaynted the bugges of crowland in his verses , and they will seeme right hell-hounds . sunt aliqui quibus est crinis rigidus , caput amplum , frons cornuta , gena distorta , pupilla coruscans , os patulum , labra turgentia , dens praeacutus , et quibus est crinis quasi seta , caput quasi truncus , frons quasi cera , gena quasi pix , oculus quasi carbo , os quasi sporta , labra quasi plumbum , dens quasi buxus . sunt alij quibus est vultus gibbosus & acer , nasus curuatus & foedus , auris acuta , et grandis , ceruix dependens & macilenta : caesaries & barba rigens , frons & gena pallens , nasus & auris olens , vertex & sinciput horrens . et sunt perplures qui crine videntur adusto , fronte truci , naso praegrandi , lumine toruo . faucibus horrendis , labris pendentibus , ore igniuomo , vultu squamoso , vertice grosso , dente fero , mento peracuto , gutture rauco , pelle nigra , scapulis contractis , ventre rapaci , costis mobilibus , lumbis ardentibus , anis caudatis , genibus nodatis , cruribus vncis , plantis auersis , talisque tumentibus , & sunt nonnulli , quibus est non horrida forma , sed ipse horror , cum non sint scelerati , sed scelus ipsum . he did seeme also a good poet in his age , which described a great battaile betweene the danes and the english ; thus . eminùs in primis hiberni grandinis instar tela volant , syluas hastarum fragmina frangunt ; mox ruitur propiùs , praescinditur ensis ab ense , conculcatur equus ab equo , ruit hostis in hostem . hic effossa trahit hostili viscera ferro , hic tacet exanimis fusâ cum sanguine vitâ . hic pedis , ille manus , hic pectoris , ille lacerti vulnere damnatus reditum proponit inanem . if he which scraped together the fragments of ancient poets , had hapned on the verses following , written to a bishop of norwich , happely he would haue inserted them . magnus alexander bellorum saepe procellas immixtus fregit studijs , socratesque studend● continuum solitus interrupisse laborem , threicias tremulo numerauit pollice chordas . cedit atlas oneri , ciuili scriptor ab ense iulius abstinuit , inuictus saepe quieuit alcides , rigidum mollis lyra flexit achillem , tu quoque lugenti patriae grauiterque diuque expectate parens , sibi quem viduata maritum iam pastoralis norwici regia poscit . &c. iohn hanuill a monke of s. albanes made this good & godly inuocation before his poeme , comparable with many of the latter broode . tu cyrrhae latices nostrae deus implue menti , eloquij rorem siccis infunde labellis , distillaque fauos , quos nec dum pallidus auro scit tagus , aut sitiens admotis tantalus vndis . dirige qua timidè susc●pit dextera , dextram audacem pauidamque iuua , tu mentis habenas feruoremque rege , quicquid dictauerit ori spiritus aridior , oleum suffunde fauoris . tu patris es verbum , tu mens , tu dextra , verbum expediat verbum , mens mentem , dextera dextram . lasie and superficiall scholers which thrust the day forward ward with their shoulders in the vniuersity , and returne as wise as they came thether he describeth in this sort : hi sunt qui statuae veniunt-statuaeque recedunt , et bacchi sapiunt non phaebi pocula , nysae agmina non cirrhae , phaebo bacchoque ministrant , hoc pleni illo vacui . the old ale knights of england were well depainted out of him , in the ale house coulours of that time , in this maner , iamque vagante scypho , discincto gutture was-heil ingeminant was-fieil ; labor est plus perdere vini quam sitis , exhaurire merum vehementius ardent , quàm exhaurire sitim . the same iohn hanuill when he would signifie whatsoeuer enuy had wrought against troy , the roman vertue had repayred , sung briefely . si quid de cùlmine troiae diminuit liuor , virtus reparauit , vt orbi hic vrbem rapuit , haec orbem reddidit vrbi . passionate are these verses vpon the death of k. richard the first , penned by one gaulfrid . neustria sub clypeô regis defensa richardi indefensa modò gestu testare dolorem , exundent oculi lachrimas exterminet ora pallor , connodet digitos tortura , cruentet interiora dolor , & verberet aera clamor : tota peris ex morte suâ , mors non fuit eius sed tua , non vna sed publica mortis imago . o veneris lachrimosa dies , ô sidus amarum . illa dies tua nox fuit , & venus illa venenum . illa dedit vulnus , sed pessimus ille dierum primus ab vndecimo , qui vitam victricus ipsam clausit , vterque dies homicida , tyrannide mira , traiecit clausus inclusum , tectus apertum , prouidus incautum , miles munitus inermem , et proprium regem . and after a fewe verses : he speaking to death , addeth in commendation of that prince . — , nihil addere nouerat vltrà ipse fuit quicquid potuit natura , sed istud causa fuit quare rapuisti , res pretiosas eligis , & viles quasi dedignata relinquis . these former verses were mentioned by chaucer our english homer in the description of the sodaine stirre and panicall feare when chanteclere the cocke was caried away by reynold the foxe with a relation to the said galfride . the silly widow and her daughters two herd the hennes crie and make ado . and out at the dore stert they anon and saw the fox toward the woodygon , and bare vpon his back the cock away and cried out harow and well away . aha the fox , and after him they ran , and eke with staues many other man. ran coll our dogge , talbot and eke garland , and malkin with her distaffe in her hand , ran cow and calfe and eke the very hogges , for they so sore affraid were of the dogges . and showting of men and of women eake . they ran so her hert thought to breaks they yellen as fends do in hell , the duckes cried as men would them quell , the geese for feare flew ouer the trees , out of the heues came swarmes of bees . so hideous was the noyse , ah benedicite certes iack strawe , ne his meiney ne made neuer shoutes halfe so shrill when that they would any fleming kill , as that day was made vpon the fox . of brasse they blew the trumpes and of box , of horne , and box , i which they blew and pouped , and therewith they shriked and shouted , it seemed as though heauen should fall . o gaulfride dere maister soueraigne , that whan the worthy king richard was slaine with shot , complainedst his death so sore , why ne had i now thie science , and thy lore ? the friday for to chide as did ye , for on a friday shortly slaine was he . then would i shew you how that i could plaine , for chauntecleercs dred and for his paine . certes such crie , ne lamentation , was neuer of ladyes made when that ilion was won , an pirrhus with his bright sword , whan he hent king priam by the beard , and slough him ( as saith aeneidos ) as made all the hennes in the cloos , whan they lost of chantecleere the sight : but souerainly dame pert●lott shright , well louder than did hasdruballs wife , whan that her husband hath lost his life , and that the romans had brent cartage , she was so full of torment and of rage , that wilfully into the fire she stert , and brent her selfe with a stedfast hert . o wofull hennes right so cried ye , as when that nero brent the city of rome , cried the senators wives , for that her husbonds should lose her lives . these may suffice for some poeticall descriptions of our auncient poets , if i would come to our time , what a world could i present to you out of sir philipp sidney , ed. spencer , samuel daniel , hugh holland , ben : iohnson , th. campion , mich. drayton , george chapman , iohn marston , william shakespeare , & other most pregnant witts of these our times , whom succeeding ages may iustly admire . epigrammes . in short and sweete poems , framed to praise or dispraise , or some other sharpe conceit which are called epigrammes , as our countrie men now surpasse other nations , so in former times they were not inferior , if you consider ages , as the indifferent reader may iudge by these . in the praise of our natiue countrie england , alfred of beuerley made this . anglia plena iocis , gens libera et apta iocari , libera gens cui libera mens & libera lingua , sed lingu . i melior , liberiorque manus . and in another olde booke i finde this . anglia dulce solum , quod non aliena , recensque , sed tua dulcedo pristina dulce facit , quae nihil à galli● , sed gallia suscipit à te quicquid amoris habet quicquid honoris , habet . in the darke misle of all good learning , about . yeares since , in commendation of the godly king saint os●uald , was made this . quis fuit alcides ? quis casar iulius ? aut quis magnus alexander ? alcides se superasse fertur , alexander mundum : sed iulius hostem : se simul osuualdus , & mundum vicit , & hostem . to the honour of elfleda noble lady , which repaired darby , chester , warwicke , &c. i haue found this . o elfleda potens , ô terror virgo virorum , victrix naturae , nomine digna viri ; te quo splendidior fieres , natura puellam , te probitas fecit nomen habere viri . te mutare decet , sed solum nomina sexus tu regina potens , rexque trophaea parans . iam nec caesarei tantum meraeri triumphi , caesare splendidior virgo , virago viges . this also may here haue place , which william conquerours poet made to him whē he had obtained this realme . caesariem caesar tibi si natura negauit , hanc wilielme tibi stella comata dedit . it may seeme he alluded to the baldnesse of iulius caesar , who for that cause vsed a lawrell garland , to the comete appearing before his conquest of this kingdome , portending the same as it was thought , and to the manner of the french in that time : among whom long bushie haire was the signale marke of maiestie , as agathias noteth , when as all subiects were rounded , and the kings only long haired . which custome continued among the french kings , vntill peter lombard bishop of paris disswaded them from it , and among ours , as appeareth by their seales vntill king henry the . the happy successe of english and normans , with the cowardly flight of the french , at nugent in the time of king henry the first , was thus expressed . henricus regum rex & decus , abstulit altos francigenis animos , ludouicum namque nugenti rex regem campo magnum maior superauit : praeposuere fugam bellis , calcaria telis galli praecipites : fama spolijsque potitos laureâ normanos , & laus aterna coronat , sic decus iste ducum sic corda tumentia pressit , oraque francorum superba mutire coegit . maud daughter to malcolm king of scots , a woman of rare pietie , buried at westminster , to which church she would come dayly barefoote , while the court laye there , had an excellent epigramme made to her commendation , whereof these foure verses onely remaine . prospera non laetam fecere , nec aspera tristem , aspera risus erant , prospera terror erant . non decor effecit fragilem , non sceptra superbam , sola potens humilis , sola pudica decens . no bad poet was he which wrote to the honor of adeliza , second wife to king henry the first , who was daughter to the duke of brabant , & sister to lord ioscelin , from whom the percies earles of northumberland descended . anglorum regina tuos adeliza decores ipsa referre parans musa , stupore riget . quid diadema tibi pulcherrima ? quid tibi gemma ? pallet gemma tibi , nec diadema nitet . deme tibi cultus , cultum natura ministrat , non exornari forma beata potest . ornamenta caue , nec quicquam luminis inde accipis , illa micant lumine clara tuo ; non puduit modicas de magnis dicere laudes , nec pudeat dominam te precor esse meam . but among all our olde epigrammatists all commendation is carried away by olde godffery prior of winchester , who liued anno . which citie hath brought forth so many excelling in poeticall facultie , not onely in former ages , but also in latter , out of the worthy colledge there , that the very genius loci doth seeme poeticall . out of his epigrammes first imparted to me by the right learned maister th. allen of oxford , i will here impart a few vnto you . to one that would know how long he should learne , he wrighteth thus . discendi damiane modum te quaerere dicunt , discas dum nescis , sit modus iste tibi . that the contempt of fooles is not to be respected . contemptum stulti contemnere dindime laus est , contemni a stulto dedecus esse nego . against pride in prosperitie . extolli noli quùm te fortuna beauit pompone , haec eadem quae leuat , ipsa premit . against such as teach well , and liue not accordingly . multa solon , sed plura cato me verba docetis , at nemo vestrum quanta docetis , agit . to one which had eaten stinking meate . druse comedisti quem misit siluius hircum , vel tibi non nasus , vel tibi nasus olet . he teacheth vs to relye vpon firme and sure supports , lest we fall to the ground with them in this . non est securus super titubantia fultus iungere labenti , labitur ille , ruis . that we must looke for like measure , if we doe not as we would be done vnto , he admonisheth all vnder the name of albius . iurgia , clamores tibi gloria gloria lites , et facis & dicis omnibus , vnde noces . expectes ead●m quae nobis seceris albi , nam quem tu laedis , te ferit ille libens . youth which in their haughty heat , reiect the aduise of ould men , he aduiseth thus . pannorum veterum facile contemnitur vsus non sic consilium , posthumiane , senum . the vanity of them which vaunt of their auncient nobility , and haue no nobility in themselues , he thus taxeth . stemmata continuas , recitas ex ordine patres , queis nisi tu similis , rufule quid recitas ? that there was no contending with him who with missiue bribes can preuaile against iustice . missilibus daciane tuis astraea recessit vincis m●ssilibus ius dac●●nc tuis . the common prouerbe , loue me loue mine , he thus aduised vs to obserue , me tanquam socium te dicis amare trebati , et quos totus amo dente furente teris sed nisi sis socius socijs , & amic●s non potero nostrum dicere te socium . against hooked gifts which draw others . multa mihi donas , vereor ne multa requiras , nolo mihi doncs aulice , si repetas . against one that sought a benefice and would teach before he could teach . quâ doceat sedem quaerit pl●timus & aedem , quarit quâ doceat , non ea quae doceat , against a couetous wretch . nasidiane diu vixisti semper anarus , oro tibi ●●uas nasidiane dus . against one that would exact of others , and do nothing himselfe . ex●gis a nobis quem 〈◊〉 soluis amorem , quam nulli praestes exigis . aule sidem . exig●● à nobis quem non m●rearis honorem , mirum est quod non das , id tibi velle 〈◊〉 . against an abbot that would defend his monks from others , but worrye them himselfe . tollit onem de fauce lupi persaepe molossus , ereptamque lupo ventre recondit ouem . tu quoque sceuae tuos praedone tueris ab omni , vnus praedo tamen perdis vbique tuos . one amidst the warres betweene king stephen and henrie the second , commended the same henry in these verses . praelia quanta mouet stephanus , moucat volo namque gloria nulla foret si pralia null : moueret . tu contra stephanum cui copia multa virorum ; duxisti pautos , our paucos ? gloria maior , est ▪ multos paucis , quàm paucos vincere multis . at the same troublesome time and as it were desolation of england were written to the same henry as it were in a prosopopcia of england . dux henrice nepos henrici maxime magni ; anglia tota ruo , nec iam ruo , tota ruina . &c. vpon two other fearfull flights of the french , one at vernoil , the other at vandosme in the time of king henry the second , one made this . gallia fugisti bis , & hoc sub rege philippo , nec sunt sub modio facta pudenda duo . vernolium sumit testem fuga prima , secunda vindocîum , noctem prima ▪ secunda diem . nocte fugam primam celerasti , mane secundam , prima pauore fuit , vique secunda fuit . when one had flattered william longchampe bishop of elye the only powerable man of england in his time with this blandation . tam benè , tam facile , tu magna negotia tractas , vt dubium reddas sis homo , siue deus . giraldus cambrensis a man well borne and better lettered , of that house from whence the giraldines of ireland are descended , and secretary to king iohn , played vpon these verses , and that bishop after he was apprehended in womans attire flying out of the realme . tam male , tam temerè , tam turpiter omnia tractas , vt dubium reddas bellua sis , vel homo . sic cum sis minimus tentas maioribus vti , ve dubium reddas simia sis , vel homo . he that made the verse following ( some ascribe it to that giraldus ) could adore both the sonne rising , and the sonne setting , when he could so cleanly honour king henry the second then departed , and king richard succeeding . miracano sol occubuit , nox nulla sequuta . great was the commendation of maecenas , who when he could do all with augustus , yet neuer harmed any , wherevpon in an elegie vpon his death , pedo albinouanus writeth . omnia cum posses , tanto tam carus amico , te sensit nemo posse nocere tamen . which commendation king henry the eight gaue to that worthy duke of suffolke charles brandon , who neuer vsed the kings fauour to the hurt of any . and the same giraldus testified the like of king henry the second , in this verse very effectually . glorior hoc vno , quòd nunquam vidimus vnum , nec potuisse magis , nec nocuisse minùs . these also following are referred vnto him . viue deo , tibi mors requies , tibi vita labori , viue deo , mors est viuere , vita mori . these following were likewise written by him against lewde loue . nec laus , nec probitas , nec honor superare puellam , sed veneris vitium vincere laudis opus . vis melius sapiens , melius vis strenuus esse , si venerem superes , istud & istud eris : noli castra sequi veneris , sed castra mineruae , haec docet , illa furit , haec iu●at , illa nocet . cum sit amor vetitus , vetiti malus actus amoris , si malus ergo nocet , si nocet , ergo fuge , cuius caepta timor , medium scelus , exitus ignis , tu fuge , tu reproba , tu metuendo caue . why the sun appeareth ruddy and as it were blusheth at his first rising . alexander necham somtime prior of cirencester rendreth the cause thus . sol vultu roseo rubicundo fulget in ortu , incestae noctis facta pudore notans . nempè rubore suo tot damnat damna pudoris , cernere tot phaebum gesta pudenda pudet ▪ tot blandos nexus , tot suauia pressa labellis , tot miserae veneris monstra nouella videt . frigida quòd nimium caleat lasciua senectus , ignis quòd gelido ferueat amne stupet . of the fiery coulour of the planet mars , and the spotts in the moone he giueth this reason . mars venerem secum deprensam fraude mariti erubuit , superest flammeus ille rubor . sed cur lunaris facies fuscata videtur ? quae vultu damnat , furta videre solet . adde quòd ecclesiam phaebe , maculae nota culpam signat , habet maculas vtrque luna suas . if you will read carping epigrammaticall verses of a durham poet against the prior ralfe , here you may haue them . de sene , de caluo , de delirante radulpho omnia monstra cano , nil nisi vera tamen : imputat errores alijs semper , sibi nunquam , est alijs argus , tyresiasque sibi . non vult esse bonus , sed vult bonus esse videri ▪ est ouis exterius , interiusque lupus . sus vita , canis officio , vulpecula fraude , mente lepus , passer renibus , ore lupus . talis qui daemon nunquam poterit nisi morte esse bonus , postquam desinat esse malus . the same author plaid also pretily vpon william and alan arch-deacons of northumberland and durham . archileuitas in sorte northumbria largos , dunnelmum cupidos semper habere solet . nunc è conuerso sedem dotauit vtramque willelmi probitas , crimen alane tuum . vos nunc degeneres patribus succeditis ambo , hic bonus , antè malus , hîc malus , antè bonus . answerable to these , were these verses of the said durham poet , vpon the fate of a potte and a pipkin , when the potte was all broken , and the pitcher lost but the handle , by the fall of a window . lapsa fenestra ruit , luit vrna sciphusque propinquus , desinit haec esse prorsus , hic esse bene . alias . lapsa fenestra ruit , sciphus vrna luunt , nihil illa quo teneat , nihil hic quo teneatur , habet . when king richard the first was deteined prisoner with the emperour , one did write this supplicant verse to the emperour in a sharpe close . magnus es , & genibus flexis tibi supplicat orbis , cum possis , noli saeuire , memento neronis . a huswife which had encreased her family in her husbands absence with a new bratte , assured her husband at his returne , that she conceiued it of a snow-ball cast at her . but he conueying it away , selling it to a begger assured her with the like lye ; that as it was conceiued by snowe , so it was melted away by the sunne , which a poet in the time of k. iohn expressed thus very briefly , & for that age pretily . rebus in augendis longè remorante marito , vxor maecha parit puerum ; post multa reuerso , dè niue conceptum fingit , fraus mutua , cautè sustulit , asportat , vendit , matrique reportans ridiculum simile , liquefactum sole refingit . but two others comprised the same matter more succinctly in this maner . de niue conceptum quem mater adultera fingit , s●o●sus eum vendens , liquefactum sole refi●xit . vir quia quem reperit genitum niue famina fingit vendit , & a simili liquefactum sole resinxit . that scholler also could play at euen and odd , that could keepe the figure compar so precisely in these two verses vpon the spring . turba colorum , vis violarum , pompa rosarum , induit hortos , purpurat agros , pascit ocellos . a suter wearied with delais in the emperours court , did at the length frame this distiche , and coled it on a wall . si nequeo placidas affari caesaris aures , saltem aliquis veniat , qui mihi dicat , abi. so a poore english man fed with vaine hope by many , in the time of king henry the third did write this distiche . spem mihi dent alij magnam , rem tu citò paruam , res me parua iuuet , spes mihi magna nocet . against a carping companion was this made about that time by iohn hauill . zoile tu laudem cunens , tu serra bonorum , magna doles , maiora notas , in maxima saeuis . such as can speake feelingly of church liuings , will not dissemble that these were the fowre entraunces into the church , which a countriman of ours long since in this manner epigrammatically opened . ecclesias portis his quatuor itur in omnes , principis , & simonis , sanguinis atque , dei. prima patet magnis , nummatis altera , charis tertia , sed raris ianua quarta patet . good also is that vnder s. peter in the cathedral church of norwich , ( were it not for the fault which is in the former , ) but therein you haue s. peters ship sea , nets , and fishe . ecclesiam pro naue rego , mihi climata mundi sunt mare , scriptura retia , piscis homo . when eustathius was elected bishop of london , one congratulated his aduancement thus . omnes hic digni , tu dignior omnibus , omnes hic plenè sapiunt , plenius ipse sapis . of a bragging braule betweene two well met , was framed this by henry of winchester , but the beginning is lost . hic ait , ille negat , hic asserit , ille refellit , hic proauos multum praedicat , ille premit . fisus vterque sibi se venditat , iste decorem iactitat , ille decus , hic opus , alter opes . hic bonus , ille beatus , hic multis disserit , ille multiplicata refert : hic leuis , ille loquax . when adrian our countriman had conuerted some people of norway , and was made pope , this was composed to his honour . conferet hic romae , plus laudis quam sibi roma , plus dabit hic orbi , quàm dabit orbis ei . but this would not easily be matched in our age , which was written in the time of king henry the . ouer the entrance into the reccipt at westminster , to admonish accontants to be circumspect in entring , as ianus with his two heads , and as vigilant in ending exchequer accounts , as argus with his hundred eyes . ingrediens iani , rediture sis aemulus argi. rythmes . riming verses which are called versus leonini , i know not wherefore ( for a lions taile doth not answere to the middle parts as these verses doe ) began in the time of carolus magnus , and were onely in request then , and in many ages following , which delighted in nothing more then in this minstrelsie of meeters . i could present you with many of them , but few shall suffice , when as there are but few now which delight in them . in the praise of miles earle of hereford , was this penned , in respect he was both martiall and lettered . vatum & ducum gloria milo , cuius in pectore certant vires & studia , certat hector cum nestore . virtutum priuilegia , mente geris & corpore . teque coronat arbore mars phoebi , phabus propria . walter de mapes archdeacon of oxford , who in the time of king henry the second filled england with his meriments , confessed his loue to good liquor , with the causes , in this maner . mihi est propositum in taberna mori , vinum sit appositum morientis ori : vt dicant , cùm venerint , angelorum chori , deus sit propitius huic potatori . poculis accenditur animi lucerna , cor imbutum nectare volat ad superna , mihi sapit dulcius vinum in taberna , quàm quod aqua miscuit praesulis pincernn . suum cuique proprium dat natura munus , ego nunquam potui scribere iciunus : me iciunum vincere posset puer vnus . sitim & iciunium , odi tanquam funus . vnicuique propriumdat natura donum , ego versus faciens , vinum bibo bonum , ft quod habent melius dolia cauponum , tale vinum generat copiam sermonum . tales versus facio , quale vinum bibo , nihil possum scribere , nisi sumpto cibo , nihil valet penitus , quod iciunus scribo , nasonem post caelices carmine praeibo , mihi nunquam spiritus prophetiae datur . nisi tunc cùm fuerit , venter bene satur cum in arce cerebri bacchus dominatur , in me phoebus irruit , ac miranda fatur . the infirmity and corruption of our nature prone to sensuality he acknowledgeth thus . via lata gradior more iuuentutis , implico me vitijs , immenor virtutis , voluptatis auidus , magis quam salutis mortuus in anima curam gero cutis . mihi cordis grauitâs , res videtur grauis , iocus est amabilis , dulciorque fauis . quicquid venus imperat labor est suauis , quae nunquam in mentibus habitat ignauis . quis in igne positus igni non vratur ? quis in mundo demorans castus habeatur ? vbi venus digito iuuenes venatur , oculis illaqueat , facie praedatur . this lustie priest when pope innocent the third forbade the clergie their wiues , became proctor for himselfe , and them with these verses : desiring onely for his fee , that euery priest with his sweet hart would say a pater noster for him . prisciani regula penitùs cassatur , sacerdos per hic et haec olim declinatur , sed per hic solummodo , nunc articulatur . cum per nostrum praesulum haec amoueatur . ita quidem presbyter caepit allegare , peccat criminaliter qui vult seperare , quod deus iniunxerat , faeminam amare . tales dignum duximus●fures appellare . o quam dolor anxius , quàm tormentum graue , nobis est dimittere , quoniam suaue . o romane pontifex , statuisti prauè , ne in tanto crimine moriaris , caue . non est innocentius , immò nocens verè , qui quod facto docuit studet abolere : et quod olim inuenis voluit habere , modò vetus pontifex , studet prohibere , gignere nos praecipit vetus testamentum : vbi nouum prohibet , nusquam est inuentum . praesul qui contrarium donat documentum , nullum necessarium his dat argumentum , dedit enim dominus maledictionem viro qui non fecerit generationem . ergo tibi consulo , per hanc rationem , gignere , vt habeas benedictionem . nonnè de militibus mili●es procedunt ? et reges à regibus qui sibi succedunt ? per locum à simili , omnes iura laedunt . clericos qui gignere crimen esse credunt . zacharias habuit prolem ●t vxorem . per virum quem genuit adeptus honore● : baptiz●uit enim nostrum saluatorem : p●reat , qui teneat nouum hunc errorem , paulus caelos rapitur ad superiores , vbi multas didicit res secretiores , ad nos tandem rediens , instruensque mores . suas ( inquit ) habeat quilibet vxores . propter haec et alia dogmata doctor●● . reor est m●lius , et magis decorum , quisque suam habeat et non proximorum , ne incurrat odium & iram eorum . proximorum faeminas filias , & neptes , violare nefas est , quare nil deceptes . verè tuam habeas & ha● del●●les diem vt sic vltimum tutius expectes ecce iam pro clericis multum allegaui , nec non pro presbiteris plura comprobaui : pater noster nunc pro me quoniam peccaui , dicat quisque presbiter , cum sua suaui . mery michaell the cornish poet piped this vpon his pipe for mery england , but with a mocking compassion of normandy , when the french vsurped it in the time of k. iohn ; nobilis anglie pocula , prandia , donat et aera : terra iuuabilis , et sociabilis agmine plena omnibus vtilis anglia fertilis est , et amaena . sed miserabilis et lachrimabilis absque cateruà , neustria debilis , et modo flebilis et quia serua , he begged his exhibition of king henry the third with this distich . regie rector , miles vt hector , dux vt achilles , te quia sector , melle ●vector , * mel mihi stilles . the same michael highly offended with henry of aurench the kings poet for disgracing cornwall , thought to draw bloud of him with these bobbing times . est tibi gamba capri , crus passeris , et latus apri , os leporis , catuli nasus dens et gena muli , frons vetulae , tauri caput , et color vndique mauri : his argumentis quaenam est argutia mentis ? quod non a monstro differs : satis hic tibi monstro . if you please to heare a solemne plea at reasons barre betweene the eye & the heart , runne ouer this , which a contriman of ours made in time of king henry the . quisquis cordis et oculi non sentit in se iurgia , non nouit qui sunt stimuli , quae culpae seminaria . causam nescit periculi , cur alternant convitia , cur procaces & aemuli replicent in se vitia . cor sic affatur oculum te peccati principium , te fontem , te stimulum , te mortis voco nuntium . tu domus meae ianitor hosti non claudis ostium , familiaris proditor admittis aduersarium . nonnè fenestra diceris quod mors intrat ad animam ; nonnè quod vides sequeris vt bos ductus ad victimam . saltem sordes quas ingeris , cur non lauas per lachrimam aut quarè non crueris mentem fermentans azimam ? cordi respondet oculus , iniustè de me quaereris , seruus sum tibi sedulus , exequor quicquid iusseris . nonne tu mihi praecipis , sicut et membris caeteris , non ego , tu te decipis , nuntius sum quò tu miseris . cur damnatur apertio ? corpori necessaria , sine cuius obsequio , cuncta languent officia . quo si fiat ereptio . cum sim fenestra peruia , si quod recepi nuntio , quae putatur iniuria ? addo quòd nullo puluere quem immitto pollueris , nullum malum te laedere potest , nisi consenseris . de corde mala prodeunt nihil inuitum pateris , virtutes non intereunt , nisi culpam commiseris . dum sic vterque disputat soluto pacis osculo : ratio litem amputat diffinitiuo calculo . vtrumque reum reputat sed non pari periculo , nam cordi causam imputat , occasionem oculo . dan elingham a monke of linton of saint benedicts order , comming to the white-friers in nottingham , found there iohn baptist painted in a white friers weed , whereat marueling , he coled out these verses vpon the wall neere to the picture . christi baptista , vestis non te decet ista , qui●e vestiuit fratrem , maledictus abiuit . nunquam messias ●iater fuerat , nec helias , non stat plebs lata , dum sit pro fratre propheta . si fratrem ionam fingis geezi tibi ponam : ac iebusaeum , ne iungas his helisaeum . but a white frier there answered elingham , with these following in the person of iohn baptist. elingham mentiris , metris fatuis quoque miris atque ea quae nescis , sic astruis vt ea quae scis . nam deus est testis , decet haec me candida vestis , plusquàm te vestis pulla , siue nigra cuculla . sum carmelita meritò , sed tu geezita . a● frater fictus benedicti , non benedictus . he which made this when king edward the first , and the pope concurred in exacting a paiment from the cleargie , should haue smarted , had he beene knowne . ecclesiae nauis titubat , regni quia clauis errat , rex , papa facti sunt vnica capa , hoc faciunt do , des , pilatus hîc alter herodes . a merry learned lawyer which had receiued wine for a regarde , or remembrance , from the abbot of merton , who had entertained him in a cause , sent these two verses , as standing vpon his integrity against bribes , and requiring rather good euidence than good wine . vinum transmissum nunc me facit esse remissum , conuiuis vina , causis tua iura propina . the abbot which perswaded himselfe what would moue a lawyer , when wine could not , returned these three distiches . tentaui temerè vinô te , posse movere , non movi verè , sed forte moveberis aere . vinum non quaeris , sed tinnit si sonus aeris , et spe duceris , forsitàn alter eris . vt mihi sis mitis , tibi misi pocula vitis , nec tamen illa sitis desinit , vndè sitis . king edward the third when he first quartered the armes of france with england , declared his claime in this kinde of verse , thus . rex sum regnorum binâ ratione duorum , anglorum regno sum rex ego iure paterno , matris iure quidem francorum nuncupor idem . hinc est armorum variatio facta meorum . these following were made by his poet , when philip de valoys the french king lurked in cambray , and so well liked of him , that he sware by saint george they were valiant verses ; and commanded them to be shot vpon an arrow into the cittie , as a cartell of challenge . si valeas , venias valoys , depelle timorem , non lateas , pateas , maneas , ostende vigorem . in the chapiter house of yorke minster is written this in commendation thereof : vt rosa flos florum , sic est domus ista domorum . the exchequer officers were extortours in the time of king henry the , otherwise henry bell collectour of the custome , ( as he stileth himselfe at that time , ) would neuer haue written a riming long satyre against them , which beginneth thus . o scacci camera , locus est mirabilis ille . vt referam vera , tortores sunt ibi mille . si contingat ibi temet quid habere patrandum , certe dico tibi caetum reperire nefandum . and concludeth in this maner . o sic vexatè tortoribus & cruciate non dices vere propter tales miserere . but this is good aduise , which he giveth to such as haue to deale with the officers of the receipt . qui tallas scribunt , cum murmure saepè loquuntur , summas quique solent in magnâ scribere pelle . scribere valdè dolent , dùm non sit soluere bellè . escas manè datas propter ientacula pones , costas assatas , pisces , pinguesque capones , illos conforta pariter per fortia vina , westminster porta , pro talibus est medicina . now for the fleet then , he writeth thus . cum sis in fleta , patioris mille molesta , illic dona dabis , si sanus vis fore puncto , nam custos fletae bona de prisonibus vnit , ni soluant laete mox hos per vincula punit : illis qui baculos portant , ostendere debes , valde pios loculos , & ludere praebeo , praebes . in the time of king henry the . when in leauying of a subsidie , the rich would not , and the poore could not pay , so they of the meaner sort bare the burthen : a skilfull dicer , and no vnskilfull rimer wrote these verses . dews as non possunt , & sise sinke soluere nolunt , est igitùr notum , cater tre soluere totum . of the decay of gentry one made these rimes . ex quo nobilitas seruilia caepit amare , nobilitas caepit cum seruis degenerare . many more and of great varietie of meeters in this kinde i could present you with all , for these rimers haue as curious obse●●ations in their arte rithmizandi , as the italian makers , in their stanzas , quartetts , tercetts , octaves : but now they are counted long eared which delight in them . beside these , our poets hath their knacks as young schollers call them , as ecchos , achrostiches , serpentine verses , recurrents , numeralls , &c. yea and our prose authors could vse achrostiches , for ranulph of chester began the first chapter of his polychronicon with p , the . with r , the . with e. the . with s. the fift with n. and so forth , as if you would spell the first chapters of his booke , you , shall find , praesentem chronicam compilauit ranulphus monachus cestrensis . and why not as well as agapetus the greeke , who did the like in his admonitions to iustinian the emperour . but i will end with this of odo , houlding maister doctors mule , and anne with her table-cloth : which cost the maker much foolish labour , for it is a perfect verse , and euery word is the very same , both backward and forward . odo tenet mulum , madidam mappam tenet anna. anna tenet mappam madidam , mulum tenet odo . epitaphes . great hath bene the care of burial euen since the first times , as you may see by the examples of abraham , iacob , ioseph , iosua , the old prophet in bethel , and tobie ; and also by that in holy scriptures : mortuo ne deneges gratiam . the iews annoynted the dead bodies , wrapped them in sindon , layed them in couered sepulchers hewed out of stone : the aegyptians embalmed and filled them with odoriferous spices , reseruing them in glasse or coffins , the assirians in wax and hony , the scythians caried about the cleansed carkases to the freinds of the deceased for . daies with solemne banquets . and that we may not particulate , the romaines so far exceeded in funerall honors , and ceremonyes , with oyntments , images , bonfires of most precious woods , sacrifices , & banquets , burning their dead bodies vntill about the time of theodosius , that lawes were enacted to restraine the excesse . neither haue any neglected buriall , but some sauage nations as bactrians , ( which cast the dead to their doggs ) some varlet philosophers , as diogenes which desired to be deuoured of fishes , some dissolute courtiers as mecaenas , who was wont to say . non tumulum curo , sepelit natura relictos . as an other said . de terra in terram , & quaeuis terra sepulchrum . yea some of especiall note amongst vs neglecting the last duty eyther vpon a sparing or a precise humour , are content to commit to the earth their parents , wiues , and the nearest vnto them in tenebris with little better than sepultura asinorum . as for those which philosophically dislike monuments and memorialls after their death , and those that affect them , i thinke as plinie did , speaking of virginius , and apronius : that both of them do ambitiously march with like paces toward glory , but by diuerse wayes , these openly , in that they desire their due titles , those other couertly , in that they would seeme carlesly to contemne them . but among all funerall honours epitaphes haue alwaies bene most respectiue , for in them loue was shewed to the deceased , memory was continued to posterity , friends were comforted , and the reader put in mind of humane fraielty . the inuention of them proceeded from the presage or forfeeling of immortality implanted in all men naturally , and is referred to the schollers of linus , who first bewayled their maister when he was slaine , in dolefull verses then called of him aelinum , afterward epitaphia , for that they were first song at burialls , after engraued vpon the sepulchers . it were needlesse to set downe heere the lawes of plato , that an epitaph should be comprised in foure verses , or of the lacedemonians , who reserued this honor only to martiall men , and chast women : or how the most ancient , ( especially greeke ) were written in elegiac verse , after in prose : how monuments were erected most vsually along the high waye side , to put passengers in minde that they are , as those were mortall . how such as violated sepulchres were punished with death , banishment , condemnation to the mines , losse of members , according to circumstance of fact aud person , and how sacred they were accompted . in which regard i cannot but giue you the words out of the nouellae leges valentiniani augusti : de sepulchris titulo . v. which are worth reading scimus , nec vana fides , & solutas membris animas habere sensum , & in originem suam spiritum redire caelestem . hoc libris veteris sapientiae , hoc religionis , quam veneramur & colimus , declaratur arcanis . et licaet occasus necessitatem mens diuina non sentiat , amani tamen animae sedem corporum relictorum , & nescio qua sorte rationis occultae sepulchri honore laetantur : cuius tanta permaneat cura temporibus , vt videamus in hos vsus sumptu nimio praetiosa montium metalla transferri , operosasque moles censu laborante componi . quod prudentium certè intelligentia recusaret , si nihil crederet esse post mortem . nimis barbara est & vesana crudelitas , munus extremum luce carentibus inuidere , & dirutis per inexpiabile crimē sepulchris , monstrare caelo corporum reliquias humatorum . against which i cannot without griefe remember , how barbarously , and vnchristianly some not long since haue offended , yea some mingendo in patrios cineres , which yet we haue seene strangely reuenged . i could here also call to your remembrance how the place of buriall was called by s. paul seminatio , in the respect of the assured hope of resurrection , of the greekes caemiterion , as a sleeping place vntill the resurrection , and of the hebrews the house of the liuing in the same respect , as the germaines call churchyardes vntill this day gods aker , or gods field . and in the like sence tombes were named requietoria , ossuaria , cineraria , domus aeternae , &c. as you may see in ould inscriptions at rome , and elsewhere . which lucian scoffingly termed campes and cottages of carkases . notorious it is to all how the same lucian bringeth in diogenes laughing and outlaughing king mausolus for that he was so pitifully pressed and chrushed with an huge heape of stones vnder his stately monument mausoleum . for the magnificence accompted among the worlds wonders : but monuments answerable to mens worth , states , and places , haue alwaies bene allowed , yet stately sepulchers for base fellowes haue alwayes lyen open to bitter iests , as that marble one of licinus the barber , which one by way of comparison thus derided , with a doubt thereon , whether god regarded men of worth . marmoreo licinus tumulo iacet , at cato paruo , pompeius nullo . credimus esse deos ? whereunto another replied with an assurance that god doth regard worthy men . saxa premunt licinum , vehit altum fama catonem , pompetum tituli , cedimus esse deos. as for such as bury themselues liuing , and say they liue to themselues , when they liue neither to themselues , nor to other , but to their belly , ease , and pleasure , wel worthy are they to haue while they liue , that epitaph which seneca deuised for vatia their fellow to be inscribed vpon his house , hic situs est vatia . and no memoriall at all when they are dead . it is not impertinent to note in one worde as the auncient romans beganne epitaphes with d. m. for dijs manibus . d. m. s. i. dijs manibus sacrum . hic situs est . hospes , as speaking to the reader . so we & other christians began them with hic deponitur , hic iacet , hic requiescit , hic tumulatur ▪ in french icy gist . here lieth . and in latter time according to the doctrine of the time ora pro. &c. of your charity , &c. and now after the auncient manner d. o. m. for deo. optimo . maximo . posteritati sacrum . memoriae sacrum . deo & posteris . virtuti & honori sacrum . &c. likewise as our epitaphes were concluded with on whose soule god haue mercy . cuius animae prepitietur deus . god send him a ioyfull resurrection . &c. so theirs with , hoc monumentum posuit vel fecit , in these letters . m. p. m. f. in the behalfe of him that made the monumente . with vale , vale , & salue anima , nos eo ordine quo natura iusserit . sequemur . with h. m. h. n. s : for hoc monumentum haeredes non sequitur . when they would not haue their heires entombed therein ; with rogo per deos superos inferosque ossa nostra ne violes , and most commonly with sit tibi terra leuis in these notes , s. t. t. l. and somtime with quietem posteri non inuideant . but omitting this discourse i will offer vnto your view a century of choise epitaphes of our nation for matter and conceit , some good , some bad , that you may see how learning ebbed and flowed : most of them recouered from the iniury of time by writers . and will beginne with that at rome as most auncient erected to the memory of a britanne ; who after the maner of the time , tooke a romane name . m. vlpio ivsto . q. sig. avg. militavit . an. xxv . vixit . xlv . natione britto . ●ec . m. vlsivs respectvs veh. avg. amico optimo de se bene merenti . arthur the valerous vpholder of the ruinous state of britaine against the saxons about the yeare . was buried secretly at glastenburie , least the enimie should offer indignity to the dead body , and about . yeares after when a graue was to be made in the churchyard there , a stone was found betweene two pyramides deepe in the ground with a crosse of lead infixed into the lower part thereof , and inscribed in the inner side of the crosse in rude characters , which the italians now call gotish letters . hic iacet sepvltvs inclytvs rex artvrivs in insvla avalonia . vnder which in a trough of oke were found his bones , which the monkes , translated into the church and honoured them with a tombe , but dishonored him with these horne pipe verses . hic iacet ●rturus flos regum , gloria regni , quem morum probitas commendat laude perenni . augustine the first archbishop of canterbury , who first preached christ to the english nation , conuerted the kentishmen , & reuiued christianity in this isle , which flourished among the britaines , many years before his cōming , was buried at canterbury in s. peters porch , with this epitaph . hic requiescit dominus augustinus dorobernensis archiepiscopus primus , qui ●lim huc a beato gregorio remanae vrbis pontifice directus , & a deo operatione miraculorum suffultus aethelbertum regem , ac gentem illius ab idolorum cultu ad christi fidem perduxit . & completis in pace diebus officij sui , defunctus est septimo kalendas iunias , eodem rege regnante : in the same place were interred the sixe succeeding archbishops , for whom and augustin making the seauenth , were these verses , as cōmon to them all , written on the wall with this title : as i finde them in geruasius dorobernensis . septem primae ecclesiae anglorum columnae . augustinus , laurentius , mellitus , iustus , honorius . deus-dedit . theodorus . septem sunt anglis primates & protopatres , septem rectores , caelo septemque triones , septem cisternae vitae , septemque lucernae , et septem palmae regni , septemque coronae septem sunt stellae quas haec tenet area cellae : but theodore the last of the . which first taught greeke in england , and died in the yeare . had this seuerally inscribed vpon his tombe . scandens alma nouae foelix consortia vitae ciuibus angelicis iunctus in arce poli . cedwall king of the west saxons went to rome in the yeare . & there being baptized , renounced the world , ended his life , and lieth buried with this epitaph . culmen , opes , sobolem , pollentia regna , triumphos exuuias , proceres , mania , castra , lares . quaeque patrum virtus , & quae congesserat ipse , caedwal armipotens liquit amore dei. with some more which you may see in paulus diaconus , and beda : king eadgar surnamed the peaceable , the great patron and fauourer of monkes , deserued well for his foundation of so many abbayes this epitaph . autor opum , vindex scelerum , largitor honorum sceptriger eadgarus , regna superna petit . hic alter salomon , legum pater , orbita pacis , quòd caruit bellis , claruit inde magis . templa deo , templis monachos , monachis dedit agros nequitiae lapsum , iustitiaeque locum . nouit enim regno verum perquirere falso . immensum modico , perpetuumque breui : to the honor of king alfred , a godly , wise , and warlike prince , and an especiall aduancer of learning , was made this better then that time commonly afforded . nobilitas innata tibi probitatis honorem armipotens alfrede dedit , probitasque laborem , perpetuumque labor nomen : cui mixta dolori gaudia semper erant : spes semper mixta timori , si modò victor eras ad crastina bella pauebas si modó victus eras in crastina bella parabas . cui vestes sudore iugi , cui sica cruore tincta iugi , quantum sit onus regnare probarunt . non fuit immensi quisquam per climata mundi cui tot in aduersis vel respirare liceret : nec tamen aut ferro contritus ponere ferrum , aut gladio potuit vitae finisse labores . iam post transactos vitae regnique labores christus ei sit vera quies , et vita perennis . it is meruailous how immediately after this time learning decayed in this kingdome , for iohn erigena alias scotus , fauoured of charles the bald king of france , and the forsaid king alfred for his learning , when he was stabbed by his schollers at malmesbury was buried with this rude , rough and vnlearned verse . clauditur in tumulo sanctus sophista iohannes qui ditatus erat , iam viuens dogmate miro . martyrio tandem christi conscendere regnum quo meritis , regnant sancti per secula cuncti . and from this time learning so lowe ebbed in england that betweene thames & trent , there was scant one found which could vnderstand latin , and that you may perceiue , when as hugolin treasurer to king edward the confessor , had these most sillie verses in grauen vpon his monument in the olde chapter house of westminster . qui ruis iniustè capit hic hugoline locus te , laude pia clares , qnia martyribus nece clares : but shortly after the conquest learning reuiued , as appeareth by these that follow , which were cast in a more learned mould than the former . king william surnamed the conqueror for his conquest of england , was buried at caen in normandie , with this epitaph , discouered in the late ciuill warres of france , but mentioned in gemeticensis . qui rexit rigidos normannos atque britannos , audacter vicit , fortiter obtinuit : et caenomanenses virtute contudit enses , imperijque sui legibus applicuit . rex magnus parua iacet his gulielmus in vrna : sufficit & magno paruae domus domino . ter septem gradibus se voluerat atque duobus , virginis in gremio phoebus , et hic obijt . vpon stigand archbishop of canterbury degraded for his corruptiō , i finde this most viperous epitaph in an olde manuscript . hic iacet herodes herode ferocior , huius inquinat infernum spiritus , ossa solum . william the valiant , earle of flaunders , nephew to this king william the conquerour , sonne to robert , who vnhappy in his state , loosing the hope of the kingdome of england , & dying of a wound in his hand , was not altogether vnhappy in his poet , which made him this epitaph . vnicus ille ruit , cuius non terga sagittam , cuius nosse pedes non potuere fugam . nil nisi fulmen erat , quoties res ipsa mouebat , et si non fulmen , fulminis instar erat : king henry the first , for his learning surnamed beauclerc , had this flatterng epitaph , as poets could flatter in all ages . rex henricus obit , decus olim , nunc dolor orbis , numina flent numen deperijsse suum . mercurius minor eloquio , vi mentis apollo , iupiter imperio , marsque vigore gemunt . anglia quae curá , quae sceptro principis huius , ardua splenduerat , tam tenebrosa ruit . haec cum rege suo , normania cum duce marcet , nutrijt haec puerum , perdidit illa virum . of him also another composed these in respect of his peaceable gouernment , and the troubles which ensued vnder king stephen , both in england and normandie . anglia iugeat hinc , normannica gens fleat illinc , occidit henricus modò lux , nunc luctus vtrique vpon william sonne of , king henry the first , and heire apparent of this realme , drowned vpon the coast of normandie , i haue found this epitaphe . abstulit hunc terrae matri maris vnda nouerca , proh dolor ? occubuit sol anglicus , anglia plora : quaeque priùs fueras gemino radiata nitore , extincto nato viuas contenta parente . but well it was with england in that he was so preuented , which threatned to make the english draw the plough as oxen. ( hypodigma ) mawd daughter to the foresaid king , wife to henry the emperour , mother to king henry the . who intitled her selfe empresse & augusta , for that she was thrice solemnly crowned at rome as r. de diceto test fieth , & anglorum domina , because she was heire apparent to the crowne of englād , was very happy in her poet , who in these . funerall verses , contained her princely parentage , match , & issue . magna ortis , maiorque viro , sed maxima partu , hic iacet henrici filia , sponsa , parens . alberic vere graundfather to the first earle of oxford , and his sonne william were buried together anno . with this epitaphe at colne where he was founder & afterward monke , as it is in the annales of abingdon . en puer , en senior , pater alter , filius alter , legem , fortunam , terram venêre sub vnam : in which the maker seemed to imitate that of conrad the emperour at spires in germany . filius hîc , pater hîc , annus hî , proauus iacet istic . thomas beket arch-bishop of canterbury had these epitaphes expressing the cause , the time , & place of his death , made by his especiall fauourer . pro christi sponsa , christi sub tempore , christi in templo , christi verus amator obit quinta dies natalis erat , flos orbis ab orbe carpitur , et fructus incipit esse poli . quis morritur ? praesul . cur ? pro grege . qualiter ? ense : quando ? natali . quis locus ? ara dei. for theobald of bloys earle of champaine nephew to king henry the first . giraldus cambrensis bishop of s. dauids in walles made this . ille comes , comes ille pius theobaldus eras , quem gaudet habere polus , terra carere dolet . non hominem possum , non audeo dicere numen : mors probat hunc hominem , vita fuisse deum . trans hominem , citraque deum , plus hoc , minus istud , nescio qui● neuter , inter vtrumque fuit : vitalis abbot of westminster which died in the time of the conquerour , had this epitaph : qui nomen traxit a vita , morte vocante abbas vitalis transijt , hicque iacet : and for lawrence abbot of the same place which died . was made this alluding to his name : pro meritis vitae dedit isti laurea nomen , detur ei vitae laurea pro meritis . these two happely , may finde as much fauour with some if one word do not preiudice , as that auncient one of floridus so highly commended . quod vixi flos est , seruat lapis hic mihi nomen , nolo deos manes , flos mihi pro titulo . geruays de bloys base sonne to king stephen , and abbot also of the same church was buried with the foresaid in the cloyster with this . de regum genere pater hic geruasius ecce monstrat defunctus , mors rapit omne genus : william de albeney erle of arundel , and butler to the king , was buried at wimodham which he founded with this . hunc pincerna locum fundauit , & hîc iacet alla quae dedit huic domui , tam sine fine tenet . that mighty monarch king henry the second , which by his owne right adioyned anioy , maine and tourain , by his wife aquatine , poyctov , and by conquest ireland to the crowne of england , and commanded from the pyrene mountaines to the orcades , had this epitaph according to his greatnesse . rex henricus eram , mihi plurima regna subegi multiplicique modo , duxque comesque fui . cui satis ad votum non essent omnia terrae climata , terra modo sufficit octo pedum . qui legis haec pensa discrimina mortis , et in me humanae speculum conditionis habe . sufficit hic tumulus , cui non suffecerat orbis . res breuis ampla mihi , cui fuit ampla breuis : rosamond the faire his paramour , daughter to walter lord clifford , and mother to william longspee , the first earle of sarisbury aeternised by maister daniels muse , had this nothing answerable to her beauty . hac iacet in tumba rosa mundi non rosamunda , non redolet , sed olet quae redolere solet . william longspee earle of sarum , base sonne to king henry the second by this lady , had an epitaph not vnlike to that of his mother . flos comitum willielmus cognomine longus ensis , vaginam caepit habere breuem . the glory of that magnanimous and lionlike prince king richard the first , renowned for his conquest of cyprus . the king whereof he tooke and kept in setters of siluer , and for his great exployts in the holy land stirred vp the wits of the best poets in that age , to honor him , with these epitaphs which follow , when he was slaine in viewing the castle of chaluz in limosin . hic richarde iaces , sed mors si cederet armis victa timore tui , cederet ipsa tuis : another also writt of him . istius in morte perimit formica leonem : proh dolor , in tanto funere , mundus obit . an english poet imitating the epitaph made of pompey & his children , whose bodies were buried in diuerse contries , made these following of the glory of this one king deuided in three places by his funerall . viscera carccolum , corpus fons seruat ebrandi , et cor rothomagum magne richarde tuum . in tria diuiditur vnus , qui plus fuit vno : non vno iaceat gloria tanta loco . at font euerard where his body was enterred with a gilt image , were these sixe excellent verses written in golden letters , contayning his greatest and most glorions atchieuementes : as his victory against the sicilians , his conquering of cyprus , the sinkinge of the great galiasse of the saracens , the taking of their conuoie , which in the east partes is called a caruana , and the defending of ieppe in the holye land against them : scribitur hoc tumulo rex auree , laus tua , tota aurea , materiae conueniente notâ . laus tua prima fuit siculi , cyprus altera , dromo tertia , caruena quarta , suprema iope . suppressi siculi , ciprus pessundata . dromo mersus , caruana capta , retenta iope . but sharpe and satyrical was that one verse , which by alluding noted his taking the chalices from churches for his ransome , and place of his death which was called chaluz . christe tui calicis praedo sit praeda caluzis . sauaricus bishop of bath and wells a stirring prelate , which laboured most for the redeeming king richard , when he was captiue in austria , and is famous in the decretalls ( lib. . tit . . nouit ille ) had this epitaph , for that he was alwayes gadding vp and downe the world , and had little rest . hospes erat mundo per mundum semper eundo , sic suprema diès , fit sibi prima quies . and the like in late yeares was engrauen vpon the monument of iacobus triulcio a military man of the same metall , as lodonic guicciardin reporteth . hic mor tvvs reqviesscit semel . qvi vivvs reqvievit nvnqvam . but ●imilis captaine of the guard to adrian the emperor , when he had passed a most toylesome life , after he had retired himselfe from seruice , and liued priuatly . yeares in the countrie , acknowledged that he had liued only them . yeares , as he caused to be inscribed vpon his monument thus . hic iacet similis cuius aetas multorum annorum fuit , ipse septem duntaxat annos vixit . it may be doubted whether wulgrine the organist was so good a musician , as hugh archdeacon of yorke was a poet , which made this epitaph for him . te wulgrine cadente cadunt vox , organa , cantus , et quicquid gratum gratia vocis habet . voce , lira , modulis , syrenes , orphea , phoebum vnus tres poteras aequiperare tribus . si tamen illorum non fallet fama locorum , quod fueras nobis , hoc eris eliijs . cantor eris , qui cantor eras , hic charus et illî , orpheus alter eras , orpheus alter eris . vpon one peter a religious man of this age i found this . petra capit petri cineres , animam petra christus . sic sibi diuisit vtraque petra petrum . vpon the death of morgan base sonne of king henry the . was made this epitaph , alluding to his name in that alluding age . larga , benigna , decens , iacet his stirps regia , morum , organa morgano fracta iacente , silent : in the time of king henry the third they began to make epitaphs , as they call it now out of propria quae maribus , as some do in our age , but among them this was short and good for william erle of pembroke and marshall of england , buried in the temple church . sum quem saeturnum sibi sensit hibernia , solem anglia , mercurium normannia , gallia martem . and this was not bad for richard de clare , erle of glocestor and hertford which died , anno . hic pudor hippoliti , paridis gena , sensus vlissis , aeneae pietas , hectoris ira iacet . i doubt not but this time of simon montfort earle of leicester , slaine at euesham found fauour in that age , as the earle himselfe who was so followed by the people , that he durst confront his soueraigne king henry the . and as the epitaph doth implie , was the peerelesse man of that time , for valour , personage , and wisdome . nunc dantur fato , casuque cadunt iterato simone sublato , mars , paris , atque cato . vpon a gentleman as some thinke named none buried at wimondham who gaue nothing to the religīous there , was made this . hîc situs est nullus , quia nullo nullior iste ; et quia nullus erat , de nullo nil tibi christe . excellent is this ( which i found in the booke of wimondham ) for pope lucius borne at luca , bishop of ostia pope of rome , and dying at verona . luca dedit lucem tibi luci , pontificatum ostia , papatum roma , verona mori . imo verona dedit tibi verè viuere , roma exilium , curas ostia , luca mori . if you will see an ould deane named ham● sol , resembled to the twelue sonnes of olde father annus which had euery one as cleobulus was wont to call them thirty daughters , some faire , some foule , all dying and neuer dying , , read this epitaph . participat mensis dotes cuiuslibet hamo circumspectus erat vt ianus , crimina purgans , vt februus , veterana nouans vs martius ipse , semina producens vt ap●ilis flore coruscans , vt maiu● , facie plaudens vt iunius , intùs feruens vt iulius , frugis maturi●● adultae messor vt augustus , faecundans horrea more septembris , replens vino cellaria more octobris , p●stor pecundum sed spiritualis , more nouembris epulator dapsilis instar , omne decembris habet hiemalis peste quiescens . another playing vpon the name hamon made this for him olim piscator hominum quasi pisces ab hamo mortis captus hamo , celebrat conuiuia vitae . but witty was this , whereas he died in a leape yeare vpon the leape day accounted so vnhappy a day of the romans that valentinian the emperour durst not peepe out in that day : one , made this : hamo decane iaces , toto fugit exul ab anno interitum solis , ausa videre dies . verely he was a man of some good note in that time , for i finde another of him alluding also to this leape day . nulla dies anni nisi bisextilis , et anni iudicio damnata sui , nec subdita mensi , sed noctis lux instar erat , lux nescia lucis , et lux existens inter luces , quasi bubo , inter aues , huius poterat concludere vitam solis , et humanum genus hac priuare lucerna . alexāder nechā a great learned man of this age , as appeareth by his books de diuinae sapientiae laudibus , was buried in the cloister at worcester with this , but deserued a better . eclipsim patitur sapientia : sol sepelitur ; qui dum vinebat , studij genus omne vigebat : soluitur in cineres neccham , cui si foret haeres in terris vnus , minus esset flebile funus . a mery mad maker as they call poets now was he which in the time of k. henry the . made this for iohn calf . o deus omnipotens vituli miserere iohannis , quem mors praeucaiens noluit esse bouem . robert de courtn●y was buried at ford , as appeareth by the register of that place ● . vnder a stately piramis , who whether he was descen●ed from the earles of eodessa , or from petre the sōne of 〈◊〉 the grosse k. of frāce , had but this bad inscriptiō which i insert more for the honor of the name , then the worth of the verse . hic iacet ingenui de courtney gleba roberti , militis egregij , virtutum laude referti . quem genuit strenuus reginal dus courteniensis qui procer eximius fuerat tunc deuoniensis . a mōke of duresme busied his braine in nicking out these nice verses vpon the death of w. de la-march chauncellor of england vnder king iohn . culmina qui cupitis laudes pompasque sititis est sedata sitis si me pensare velitis qui populos regitis memores super omnia sitis quod mors immitis non parcit honore potitis vobis prapositis similis fucram benè scitis quod sum vos eritis ad me currendo venitis william de valentia cōmonly called valens earle of pembroke , & halfe brother to k. henry the . from whom , the earles of shrewsbury , kent , and others are descended , is intombed at westminster , with these ranke rimes . anglia tota doles , moritur quia regia proles , qua slorere soles , quam continet infima moles : guilelmus nomen insigne valentia praebet celsum cognomen , nam tale dari sibi debet qui valuit validus , vincens virtute valore et placuit placido sensu , morumque vigore . robert grostest cōmonly called robin groshead bishop of lincolne , a most learned prelate , reported by mathew paris to be a seuere reproouer of the pope , a fauourer of learning , a searcher of scriptures , a preacher of the word , & generally a man of great worth cōmanded this only to be engrauen ouer his tombe . quis sim nosse cupis ? caro putrida , nil nisi vermis ; quisquis es , hoc de me sit tibi scire satis . but vpon his death this was written . rex dolet ac regnum gemit , et flet anglia tota , plebs plangit gemitus ingeminare iuuat , quippe grosredus speculum , virtutis , asylum iust●●ciae , regis inchora morte iacet . non poterit tamen ille mori , cui fama perorat , laus loquitur , redolet fructus , abundat honor , vnde 〈◊〉 tristatur homo , canit angelus inde , vnde serenantur sidera , pallet humus . vpon the tombe of doctor iohn bekingale somtime bishop of chichester this is engrauen which i set here , for rare correspondency of the rime . tu modo qualis eris ? quid mundi quaeris honores ? crimina deplores , in me nunc te speculeris : en mors ante fores , quae clamitat omnibus adsum in paenis passum , pro me te deprecor ores . which is the same in sence with that at geneua . vixi vt vivis morieris vt svm mortvvs sic vita trvditvr . lewes de beaumont that learned bishop of duresme , who was preferred therunto for his affinity vnto the queene , although he could not with all his learning read this word metropoli●ice at his cōsecration , but passed it ouer with soit pour dict . and would sweare by s. lewes that they were discourteous , which set downe so many hard words in the ordering of priests , had this vpon his tombe in duresme church where he was buried . de bello monte iacet hic lodouicus humatus , nobilis ex fonte regum , comitumque creatus &c. king edward the first a most worthy , and mighty prince the first establisher of the kingdome of england , had affixed at the aulter of s. edward neare his tombe at westminster , a large epitaph in prose , whereof i haue found onely this fragment . abauus autem & tri●vus eius dilatantes imperia , subie●erunt sibi ducatus & comitatus . edwardus vero paternarum magnificentiarum amplius aemulator existens . regaleque solium perornans in clypeo & in hastà , principatum walliae truncatis eius principibus , leclino & dauid potentissimè adquisiuit . quinimò dominium regni scotiae , primò magni industria consilij , de inde virtute bellorum victoriosissimè est adeptus . nihilominus comitatibus cornubiae & northfolke ( disponente ●o cuius est orbis terrae & plenitudo eius ) ad manus edwardi mirabilitèr deuolutis , suis successoribus amplissimam reliquit materiam gloriandi . vbicunque igitur christus habet nomen , inter praecellentissimos reges fidelium habeat & edwardus honorem . the famous k. edward the . which had so great victories ouer the french , to the greater glory than good of england as some say , is entombed at westminster with this . hic decus anglorum , slos regum praeteritorum , fama futurorum , rex clemens , pax populorum , tertius eduardus regni complens iubilaum : robert hawley a valiant esquire , was murthered in westminster church in seruice time , where he had taken sanctuary , and is there buried in the place , where he was first assaulted with these verses . me dolus , ira , furor , multorum militis atque , in hoc gladiis celebri pietatis asylo , dum leuita dei sermones legit ad aram proh dolor , ipse meo monachorum sanguine vultus aspersi moriens , chorus est mihi testis in ●uum , et me nunc retinet sacer hic locus hawle robertum , hic quia pestiferos malè sensi primitùs hostes : famous is l. siccinius dentatus , who serued in an hundred and twentie battailes . and glorious is henry the third emperour , who fought . battailes , and likewise honourable should the memory be of sir mathew g●urnay out countriman , of whose house sir h. newton is descended , which commaunded in . battailes , & was buried at stoke hamden in somersetshire , with this french memoriall now defaced . icy gist le noble & valient cheualer , mahe● de gurnay iadis seneschall de landes & capitayn du chastell d'aques pro nostre signior le roy en la duche de guien que in sa vi● fu a la battaile , de benamazin & a la pres a la siege de algezir sur le sarazines & auxi a les battayles de scluse , de cressy , de ingenesse , de poyters , de nazara , &c. obijt . aetatis . septemb. . henry chichely although he was founder of all soules colledge in oxford , and an especiall furtherer of learning , was but little honoured by this vnlearned epitaph . pauper eram natus , post primas his releuatus iam sum prostratus , & vermibus esca paratus , ecce meum tumulum : his next successour one iohn kempe , happened vpon a better poet , who in one verse comprehended all his dignities which were great . thomas kempe . bis primas , ter praesul erat , bis cardine functus . for he was bishop of rochester , chichester , and london , archbishop of yorke , then of canterbury , and cardinall , first deacon , than priest . this that followeth is engrauen about a faire tombe in a goodly chappell adioyning to the quire of saint maries church in warwick , being a worthy monument of so noble a person , since whose time although but late , you may obserue a great change both of the heyres of his house , and the vse of words in this epitaph . pray deuoutly for the soule whome god asso●le of one of the most worshipfull knights in his dayes of manhood and cunning , richard b●auchampe late earle of warwicke , lord dispenser of bergeuenny , and of many other great lordships , whose body resteth here vnder this tombe , in a full faire vaulte of stone , set in the bare roche . the which visited with long sicknesse , in the castle of rohan , therein deceased full christianly the last day of aprill , in the yeare of our lord god . he being at that time lieutenant generall of france , and of the duchie of normandie , by sufficient authoritie of our soueraigne lord king henry the sixt . the which body by great deliberation and worshipfull conduct , by sea and by land , was brought to warwicke the fourth of october , the yeare abou●said , and was laid with full solemne exequies in a faire chest made of stone , in the west dore of this chappell , according to his last will and testament therein to rest , till this chappell by him deuised in his life were made , the which chappell founded on the roche , and all the members therof his executors did fully make , & apparail , by the auctority of his said last will & testament . and therafter by the said auctoritie , they did translate worshipfully the said body into the vaulte aforesaid : honoured be god therefore . his sister the countesse of shrewsbury was buried in saint faithes vnder s. paules at london with this : here before the image of ihesu lyeth the worshipfull and right noble lady , margaret countesse of shrouseburie , late wife of the true & victorious knight , & redoubted warriour iohn talbot , earle of shrousebury , which worshipfully died in gien for the right of this lond , the first daughter and one of the heires of the right famous and renowned knight richard beauchampe , late erle of warwicke which died in roane , and of dame elizabeth his wife , the which elizabeth was daughter and heire to thomas late lord berkely , on his syd , and of 〈◊〉 moders side lady lisle , and ties , which countesse passed from this world the xiiii , day of iune , the yeare of our lord . on whose soule the lord haue mercy . for that valerous earle her husband the terror of france , i found no epitaph , but insteed thereof i will giue you ●o vnderstand , that not long since his sworde was found in the riuer of dordon , and solde by a pesant to an armorour of burdeaux , with this inscription , but pardon the latin , for it was not his , but his camping priests . svm talboti m. iiii.c.xliii . pro vincere inimico meo . this inscription following is in the cathedrall church at roan in normandie , for iohn duke of bedford , and gouernour of normandie , sonne to king henry the fourth , buried in a faire plaine monument ; which when a french gentleman aduised charles the eight french king to deface , as being a monument of the english victories , he said : let him rest in peace now he is dead , whom we feared while he liued . cy gist feu de noble memoire haut & puissant , prince iean en son viuant regent du royaume de france , duc de bethfort , pour lequel est fondè vne messe estre par chacun iour perpetuellement celebr●e en cest autel par le college , des clementins incontine●● apres prime : & trespassa le . septembre . au quel . iour semblablement est fondè po●r luy vn obït en ceste eglise . dieu face pardon à soname . vpon an auncient knight sir iernegan buried crosse-legd in somerly in suffolke some hundred yeares since , is written : iesus christ both god and man , saue thy seruant iernegan . happy & prudent k. henry the . who stopped the streames of ciuill bloud , which so long ouer-flowed england , & left a most peaceable state to his posteritie , hath his magnificall monument at westminster , inscribed thus : septimus hic situs est henricus gloria regum cunctorum illius qui tempestate fuerunt , ingenio atque opibus gestarum nomine rerum : accessere quibus naturae dona benignae , frontis honos , facies augusta , heroica forma iunctaque ei suauis coniunx perpulchra , pudica et faecunda fuit , foelices prole parentes , henricum quibus octauum terra anglia debes . hic iacet henricus , huius nominis vii . angliae quondam rex edmundi richmundiae comitis filius , qui die . aug. rex creatus , statim post apud westmonasterium . octob. coronatur , anno domini . . moritur deinde xxi april . anno aetatis liii . regnauit annos xxii . mens . viii . minùs vno die . this following i will note out of hackney church , that you may see that the clergie , were not alwaies anticipating , and griping many liuings by this worthy man , which relinquished great dignities , and refused greater . christopherus vrswicus regis henrici septimi elemozinaerius , vir sua aetate clarus , summatibus atque infimatibus iuxtà charus . ad exteros reges vndecies pro patria legatus . decanatū eboracensem , archidiaconatum richmundiae , decanatū windsoriae habitos viuens reliquit . episcopatū norwicensem oblatum recusauit . magnos honores totâ vita spreu●t , frugali vita contentus , hic viuere , hic mori voluit . plenus annorū obi●● ab omnibus desideratus . funeris pompam etiam testamento vetuit . hic sepultus carnis resurrectionem in aduentum christi expectat : obijt anno christi incarnati . die . martij . anno aetatis suae . this testamentarie epitaph i haue read in an ould manuscript . terram terra tegit , daemon peccata resumat . res habeat mundus , spiritus alta petat the name of the defunct is as it were enigmatically expressed in this ould epitaph . bis fuit hic natus , puer & bis , bis iuuenisque bis vir , bisque senex , bis doctor , bisque sacerdos , in the cathedrall church of s. pauls in london , a stone is inscribed thus without name . non hominem aspiciam vltra . oblivio . this man yet would not willingly haue bene forgotten , when he adioyned his armes to continue his memorye , not vnlike to philosophers which prefixde their names before their treatises of contemning glorie . another likewise suppressing his name , for his epitaph did set downe this goodly admonition . looke man before thee how thy death hasteth , looke man behind thee , how thy life wasteth : looke on thy right side how death thee desireth . looke on thy left side how sinne thee beguileth : looke man aboue thee , ioyes that euer shall last . looke man beneth thee , the paines without rest . the abott of s. albanes which lieth buried there in the high quire , suppressed his name as modestly as any other , in this . hic quidam terra tegitur peccato soluens debitum , cuius nomen non impositum , in libro vitae sit inscriptum : in the cloister on the north side of s. pauls now ruinated , one had this inscription vpon his graue , without name . vixi , peccavi , paenitvi , natvrae cessi . which is as christian , as that was prophane of the romane : amici , dvm vivimvs v●vamvs . queene iane who died in child birth of king edward the sixt and vsed for her deuice a phaenix , has this therevnto alluding for her epitaph . phenix iana iacet , nato phaenice , doendum secula phaenices nulla tulisse duos : the noble thomas earle of surrey , father to thomas late duke of norfolk , and the right honourable and nobly learned now earle of northampton , in the time of king henry the eight , first refined our homly english poesy ; among many other , made this epitaph comparable with the best , for thomas clere esquire his friend and follower buried at lambeth . . norfolk sprang thee , lambeth holds thee dead , clere of the county of cleremont though high . within the wombe of ormondes race thou bread and sawest thy cosin crowned in thy sight ; shelton for loue , surrey for lord thou chase , aye me , while life did last that league was tender : tracing whose steps thou sawest kelsall blaze , laundersey burnt , & battered bullen render , at muttrell gates hopeles of all recure thine earle halfe dead gaue in thy hand his will : which cause did thee this pining death procure , ere summers seauen times seaven , thou couldest fulfill . ah , clere , if loue had booted , care , or cost ; heauen had not wonn , nor earth so timely lost . the duke of suffolke and his brother , sonnes of charles brandon , which died of the sweat at bugden , were buried together with this . vna fides viuos coniunxit , religio vna , ardor et in studijs vnus , et vnus amor . abstulit hos simul vna dies : duo corpora iungit vna vrna , ac mentes vnus olympus habet . the earle of deuonshire edward courtney honorably descended , from one of the daughters of king edward the fourth , is buried at saint anthonies in padua with this which i set downe more for his honor , then the elegancy of the verse . anglia quem , genuit , fueratque habitura patronum , corteneum celsa haec continet ar●a ducem : credita causa necis , regni affectata cupido , reginae optatum tunc quoque connubium — cui regni proceres nou cosensere , philippo reginam regi iungere posse rati , europam vnde fuit iuuem peragrare necesse : ex quo mors misero contigit ante diem . anglia si plorat defuncto principe tanto , nil mirum , domino deficit illa pio . sed iam corteneus caelo fruiturque beatis cum doleant angli , cum sine fine gemant : cortenei probitas igitur , praestantia , nomen , dum stabit hoc templum , viuanda semper erunt . angliaque hinc etiam stabit , stabuntque britanni , coniugij optati fama perennis eris . improba naturae leges libitina rescindens , ex aequo iuuenes praecipitatque senes . walter milles , who died for the profession of his faith , as some saye made this epitaph for himselfe . non praua impietas , aut actae crimina vitae armarunt hostes in mea fata truces . sola fides christi sacris signata libellis , quae vitae causa est , est mihi causa necis . this man was not so godly , as he was impious ( as it seemeth ▪ ) who was buried in the night without any ceremony vnder the name of menalcas , with this . here lyeth menalcas as dead as a logge ▪ that liued like a deuill & died like a dogge : here doth he lye said i ? then saye i lye , for from this place , he parted by and by . but here he made his discent into hell , without either booke , candell , or bell . this may seeme too sharpe , but happily it proceeded from some exulcerated minde , as that of don petro of toledo viceroy of naples , wickedly detorted out of the scriptures . hic est . qui propter nos & nostram salutem , descendit ad inferos : a merry and wealthy goldsmith of london in his life time prepared this for his grauestone , which is seene at s. leonards neere foster-lane . when the bells , be merrilie runge , and the masse deuoutly songe , and the meate merrily eaten : then is robert traps , his wife and children quite forgetten , wherefore ihesu that of mary sprong , set their soules the saints among ; though it be vndeserued on their side , let them euermore thy mercy abide , doctor caius a learned phisition of cambridge , and a co-founder of gunwell and caius colledge , hath onely on his monument there : fvi caivs . which is as good as that great learned man of his profession iulius scaliger . scaligeri qvod reliqvvm . but that which cardinall pole appointed for himselfe , is better than both . depositum poli cardinalis . this ensuing for sir n. bacon lord keeper of the great seale , is worthy to be read , both for the honour of the person who was a most wise councellour , and the rarenesse of iambique verses in epitaphes ( albeit this our age doth delight 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) but as he saith , malos iambus enecat , beat bonos . hic nicolaum n● baconum conditum existima illum , tam diu britannici , regni secundum columen ; exitium malis . bonis asylum , caeca quem non extulit , ad hunc honorem sors ; sed aequitas , fides , doctrina , pietas , vnica , & prudentia , non morte raptum crede , qui vnica vita perennes emerit duas : agit vitam secundam caelites inter animos . fama implet orbem , vita quae illi tertia est . hac positum in arca est corpus , olim animi domus : ara dicata sempiternae memoriae . w. lambe , a man which deserued well of the citie of london by diuerse charitable deeds , framed this for himselfe . as i was so be yee , as i am yee shall be : that i gaue , that i haue , that i spent , that i had : thus i end all my cost , that i left , that i lost . all which claudius secundus a romane contained in these foure words : hic mecvm habeo omnia . shorte and yet a sufficient commendation of m. sandes was this . margareta sandes . digna haec luce diuturniore , nisi quod luce meliore digna . and answerable thereunto is this , for a gentleman of the same name . who would liue in others breath ? fame deceaues the dead mans trust : when our names do change by death : sands i was , and now am dust . sir philip sidney ( to whose honour i will say no more , ) but that which maro saide of marcellus nephew of augustus . ostendunt terris hunc tantum fata , nec vltra esse sinunt , which also was answered by the oracle to claudius the . emperour of his brother quintilius ) hath this most happily imitated out of the french of mons . boniuet , made by ioach. du bellay , as it was noted by sir george buc in his poetica . england , netherland , the heauens , and the arts , the souldiers , and the world hath made six parts , of noble sidney , for who will suppose , that a small heape of stones , can sidney enclose . england had his body for she it fed , netherland his bloud in her defence shed : the heauens haue his soule , the arts haue his fame , the souldiers the griefe , the world his good name . vpon the golden lion rampaut in gueles of the house of albenye which the late earle h. fitz-alan bare in his armes as receauing the earledome of arundel from the house of albenye , one composed this epitaph . aureus ille leo ( reliqui trepidate leones ) non in sanguineo nunc stat vt ante solo : nam leo de iuda vicit , victoque pepercit , et secum patris duxit ad vsque domos . sic cadit vt surgat , sic victus vincit , et illum , quem modo terra tulit , nunc paradisus habet . in the cloyster of new colledge in oxford , this following is written with a coale , for one woodgate who bequeathed pound to one , who would not bestowe a plate for his memoriall : h●us peripatetice , conde tibi tumulum , nec fide haeredis amori : epitaphiumque compara , mortuus est , nec emit libris haec verba ducentis . woodgatvs hic sepvltvs est. therefore the counsaile of diego de valles is good , who made his owne tombe at rome with this inscription . certa dies nulli est , mors certa , incerta sequentum cura , locet tumulum qui sapit , ante sibi . a gentleman falling off his horse brake his necke , which soddaine hap gaue occasion of much speech of his former life , and some in this iudging world , iudged the worst . in which respect a good friend made this good epitaph , remembring of s. augustin . miserecordia domini inter pontem , & fontem . my friend iudge not me , thou seest i iudge not thee : betwixt the stirrop and the ground , mercy i askt , mercy i found . to the honour of sir henry goodyer of polesworth , a knight memorable for his vertues : an affectionate friend of his , framed this tetrastich . an yll yeare of a goodyer v●●●rest , who gon to god , much lacke of him heere left : full of good gifts , of body and of minde , wise , comely , learned , eloquent , and kinde . short and sufficient is this of a most worthy knight , who for his epitaph hath a whole college in cambridge , and commaunded no more to be inscribed than this . virtute non vi . mors mihi lucrum . hic iacet gualterus mildmay miles , et vxor eius . ipse obijt vltimo die maij . ipsa decimo sexto martij . reliquerunt duos filios et tres filias fundauit collegium emanuelis cantabrigiae . moritur cancellarius & subthesaurarius scaccarij , et regiae maiestati â consilijs . vpon a youngman of great hope , a student in oxford w●●a made this . short was thy life , yet liuest thou euer : death hath his due , yet diest thou neuer . but i feare now i haue ouercharged the readers minde , with dolefull , dumpish , and vncomfortable lines . i will therefore for his recomfort , end this part with a few conceited , merry , and laughing epitaphes , the most of them composed by maister iohn hostines when he was young , and will begin with the bellowes maker of oxford . here lyeth iohn cruker a maker of bellowes , his craftes-master and king of good-fellowes ; yet when he came to the hower of his death , he that made bellowes , could not make breath . thomas elderton , who did arme himselfe with ale ( as ould father ennius did with wine ) when he ballated , had this , in that respect made to his memorie . hic situs est sitiens atque ebrius eldertonus , quid dico hic situs est ? hic potiùs sitis est . of him also was made this . here is elderton lyeng in dust . or lyeng elderton , chose which you lust . here he lyes dead , i doe him no wrong , for who knew him standing , all his life long . some wise man was he , and so reputed for whom this was composed . here lyeth thom nicks bodie who liued a foole and dyed a nodye : as for his soule aske them that can tell . whether fooles soules go to heauen or to hell . neither may this offend any , for that of durandus the ould priest is little better . hic est durandus positue sub marmore duro , an sit saluandus ego nescio , nec ego curo . miserable was hermon , who when he had onely dreamed that he had disbursed money , dyed for woe , likewise ph●idon who weapt not for that he should dye , but that his buriall would stand 〈◊〉 at . s. but most miserable was that pinchpenie hermocrates , that in his last will and testament made himselfe his owne sole heire and executor of all he had , and yet refused to liue when he might , because he would not be at charge of a purgation . and our countriman ould sparges ●ight seeme to be of his tribe , for whom was made . here lyeth father sparges that died to saue charges . maister wills doctor of phisick who died lately at vienna would often say that he would haue this verse only for his epitaph . here lyeth willing wills. but a friend of his that knew him to be caprichious , wished him to adde one verse more to make vp time after the manner , but when he said , he had nothing he might adde more , one extempore sayed it might be wel made vp thus . here lyeth willing wills with his head full of windmills . for one that had continuall new encounters in his owne minde , and crammed his head with contrary discontents , i haue heard this . here lyeth he , which with himselfe could neuer agree . you shall haue this out of the cathedrall church of norwich whatsoeuer you account of it . vnder this stone lies iohn knapton . who died iust the xxviii of august m.d.xc. and one of this church peti-canon , vpon merry tarlton , i haue heard this . hic situs est cuius vox , vultus , actio possit ex heraclito reddere democritum . here lyeth richard a preene , one thousand , fiue hundred , eighty nine , of march the . day , and he that will die after him may . here lieth he , who was borne and cried , told ●hreescore yeares , fell sick , and died . here lyes the man whose horse did gaine , the bell in race on salsbury plaine : reader , i know not whether needs it , you or your horse rather to read it . here lyes the man that madly slaine , in earnest madnesse did complaine , on nature that she did not giue , one life to loose , another to liue . here lyeth c. vnder ground , as wise as l. thousand pound . he neuer refused the wine of his friend , drinke was his life , and drinke was his end . here lyeth n. a man of fame the first of his howse and last of his name . at fa●lam on the west marches neare naworth castle . iohn bell broken-brow ligs vnder this stean : four● of myne een sonnes laid it on my weam . i was a man of my meate master of my wife i liued on myn own land without micle strife . for old th. churchyard the poore court-poet this is now commonly current . come alecto and lend me thy torch , to finde a church-yard in the church-porch . pouerty , and poetry this tombe doth enclose , therfore gentlemen be mery in prose . with this memoriales of the dead which giue a little liuing breath to the dead : for as he saith , mortuorum vita in memoria vi●orum posita est , i conclude : et veniam pro laude peto : laudatus abundè : non fastiditus si tibi lector ero . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e gascoigne then vnder the crown of england . alfred● 〈…〉 . tho ▪ moore in the debellation parl. . edw. . curopalares . charisma of doctor tooker . epist . bonif. sept . ad ● d. . reg . angl●● . mathew paris . samuel daniel . notes for div a -e cicero . petrus nanuius . p●ol . in quad●●● . britains plinius . notitia provin●●arum . pict-britans . welsh-britans . american or french britans . scottishmen . ● b●●a lib. ● . englishm●● 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 colledge notes for div a -e in psalm . . britania camdem . holy-iland . * gewurthe thin willa . * vrum gyltendum . * sothlice . leorning i● epistolis . in catalecti● . in mithridat● . ne●nius . william malmsbury . notes for div a -e v●●to iulius . paris viglius . plinius marcellin●● . de anima ca. . mart. crom●● . cic de divinatione . see herodot . lib. ● . de hegesistrato . trebellius . polli● . lampridiu● . ammianus macellinus lib . suetonius in domit . cap. se demosthenes contra boetua● , de nomine . 〈…〉 . 〈…〉 . c●● . rodog●●● lib. cap. . tackes 〈◊〉 . bell forrest . ioseph acosta . theolo●●● ph●nicum . in cratyl● , olden dorplu● . 〈◊〉 . notes for div a -e rie . bert. ealand ael . math. paris iornandes cap. . 〈◊〉 . epist . . cent . win. vlph. wolph . hulf . aelf . hilp . helf . bern or barn. gastius brisacensis . rad , red , rod. stan. ead. ar. ear. mund. ward . mer. metr . ethel . adel. wold and wald. ger. gar. althamerus frid. fred. ard. iunius . lipfius . kilianus . ael spartia●●s 〈◊〉 in libr. v●●ae suae . in ●pis●oli● . hare . here. ●e●m . leod. aimonius li . c. ● m. wel●erus re●um boi●carum pag. . hood . rein , and ran. hold. rad , red , rod. frodo●rdi . romensis chronic . sig , and seg. theod. w●ld . helm will and willi. notes for div a -e gund . notes for div a -e libr. primo . scaliger de c●nsis linguae lat : 〈◊〉 consti●●●● . vit● milcolumb● . signu● . rob. de mon ●● de sundat . monast . 〈◊〉 . lib. dunelmen . ge●itieg●● . record . regul hibe●●iae . vide politian●● 〈◊〉 libr. . mart. cro●ar●● . pag. . chauces . plutarch . in matio & sylla . claud. ●a●cher . brand , a stirring vp , iunius . tillius . macrobius . suetonius . capitolinus . nicotlus . m. lambert p●●amb , cantu , pa. . change of names cre●●as guid●●● alex. ab alexandro genial . dier . lib. . c. . in philebo . chrysostomus . lib prioratus de wroxhall . yvo catnotensis in his epistles complaineth of th●● . ● . wirl●y . lib. monasterii sibeton . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . sen●ca . in orthographi● lib. c. . ● . andr. in c●dum sec●ndum de p●ab . cod. theod. & iustinian . trebellius pollio . ovid. fast . notes for div a -e minor hist . m. paris . venu● . sinne. notes for div a -e britannia 〈◊〉 . thegn . notes for div a -e ●●eer . de nat. deorum lib. . plutarch in alexand●● . gastellos . velleius paterculus . li. . naturaliter quod procedere non potest , recedit . notes for div a -e beda eccl. hist . lib. . cap. . notes for div a -e sub stephano rege . * money my honye . macrobius . plinius lib. . epist . . & lib. . epist . . xiphilinus . wits recreations. selected from the finest fancies of moderne muses approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) wits recreations. selected from the finest fancies of moderne muses herbert, george, - . marshall, william, fl. - , engraver. [ ] p. printed by r[ichard] h[odgkinson and thomas paine] for humphry blunden at the castle in corn-hill, london : . in verse. with an additional title page, engraved, "witts recreations", signed: w. marshall sculpsit. signatures: pi² [a]⁴ b-l m⁴ a- c; a-d e⁴. "outlandish proverbs, selected by mr. g.h." (i.e. george herbert) has separate dated title page with imprint "london, printed by t[homas]. p[aine]. for humphrey blunden ..". it was also issued separately. printers' names from stc. the last leaf is blank. reproduction of the original in the university of illinois (urbana-champaign campus). library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng english wit and humor -- early works to . epigrams, english -- early works to . epitaphs -- england -- early works to . proverbs, english -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the frontespeice discovered . this spreading vine , like these choyce leaves invites the curteous eye to tast her choyce delights . these painefull bees , presented to thy view , shewes th' author works not for himselfe , but you . the windy musick , that salutes thine eye , bespeakes thine eare , thy judgement standing by . the devious horseman , wandring in this maze , shewes error , and her execrable wayes : whose brazen insolence , and boldnesse urges the hornefoot satyres to their angry scourges : and he that drawes his sword against the swarme of waspes , is he , that lasht , begins to storme . witts recreations selected from the finest fancies of moderne muses . with a thousand out landish proverbs . london . printed for humph : blunden at y e castle in corn-hill . the stationer to the reader . if new or old wit please the reader best , i 've hope each man of wit will be our guest , the new was fram'd to humor some mens taste ; which if they like not , they may carve the last : each dish hath sauce belongs to 't , and you will by your dislike , censure the authors skill ; yet if you cannot speake well of it , spare to utter your dislike , that the like snare may entrap others ; so the booke may bee sold , though not lik'd , by a neate fallacy : that 's all i aske yet'twill your goodnes raise , if as i gaine your coyn , he may your praise . wits recreations . to the reader . excuse me reader though i now and than in some light lines doe shew my selfe a man , nor be so sowre , some wanton words to blame they are the language of an epigram . on battus battus doth bragge he hath a world of bookes his studies maw holds more then well it may , but seld ' or never he upon them looks and yet he looks upon them every day , he looks upon their out-side , but within he never looks , nor never will begin : because it cleane against his nature goes to know mens secrets , so he keeps them close . on the same i pray thee battus , adde unto thy store this booke of mine to make thy number more ; it is well bound , well printed , neatly strung , and doth deserve to have a place among th' inhabitants of thy vatican , if thou wilt so much favor to its worth allow . . an evill age . virgill of mars and ruthfull wars did treat , ovid of venus love , and peace did write : yet virgill for his strain was counted great , and ovid for his love was bannished quite ; no marvell then if c●ur●ezie grow cold , when hare is prais'd and love it self control'd . on a woman's will. how dearly doth the simple husband buy , his wiv●s defect of will , when she doth dy ? bett●r in death by will to let her give , then let her have her will whilst she doth live . . to a 〈◊〉 ●eader . thou say'st these verses are rude , ragged , rough , not like some others , ●imes smooth dainty ●●uffe : epigrames are like satires rough without , like chesse-nuts sweet , take thou the kernell out . of a iudge . were i to choose a captain i would than , not choose your courtier or a youthfull man , no , i would choose a judge , one grim and grave ; to make a captain such a man i 'de crave : give me that man , whose frowning brow is death , i , such an one , as can kill men with breath . of poet●s . poetus with fine sonnets painteth forth , this and that soul ladyes beauties worth : he shewes small wit thereby , and for his paines , by my consent he never shall reape gains , why what need poets paint them ? o sweet elves ? when ladyes paint their beauties best themselves . on an up-start . pray wrong not ( late-coyn'd ) give the man his right he 's made a gentleman although no knight , for now 't is cloths the gentleman doth make , men from gay cloths their pedigrees do take ; but wot you what 's the armes to such mens house● why this — hands chacing of a rampant louse . ad clodium . wir , once thou said'st was worth thy weight in gold though now't be common for a trifle sold ; it dearer seems to thee , that get'st not any , when thou should'st use it , for thy love or money in getam . geta from wool and weaving first began , swelling and swelling to a gentleman , when he was gentleman and bravely dight : he left not swelling till he was a knight ; at last forgetting what he was at first , he swole to be a lord , and then he burst . in fimum . fimus is coach'd and for his farther grace , doth a ske his friends how he becomes the place ; troth i should tell him , the poor coach hath wrong and that a cart would serve to carry dung . asper●m ●imis condimentum . monsieur albanus new invested is , with sundry suits and fashions passing fit , but never any came so neer as this , for joy whereof albanus frollique is : untill the taylours bill of solvi fias , diverts his humor to another bias . gender and number . singular sins and plurall we commit ; and we in every gender vary it . at●eists pastimes . grammarians talk of times past and hereafter : i spend time present in pastime and laughter . to sr. iohn suckling . if learning will beseem a courtier well , if honour 〈◊〉 on those who dare excell , then let not poets envy but admire , the eager flames of thy poetique fire ; for whilst the world loves wit , aglaura shall , phoenix-like live after her funerall . on a braggadocio . don lollus brags , he comes of noble blood , drawn down from brutus line ; 't is very good ! if this praise-worthy be , each flea may then , boast of his blood more then some gentlemen . to mr. george sands . sweet-tongued ovid , though strange tales ●e told , which gods and men did act in dayes of old , what various shapes for love sometimes they took ; to purchase what they ay●'d at : could he look , but back upon himself he would admire , the sumptuous bravery of that rich attire ; which sands hath clad him with , & then place this his change amongst their metamorphosis . to mr. william habbington on his castara , a poem . thy muse is chaste and thy castara too , ●tis strange at court , & thou hadst power to woo and to obtain ( what others were deny'd ) the fair castara for thy vertuous bride : enjoy what you dare wish , and may there bee , fair issues branch from both , to honor thee . to mr. francis beaumont and mr. iohn fletcher gent. twin-stars of poetry , whom we justly may , call the two-tops of learn'd pernassus-bay , peerlesse for freindship and for numbers sweet ; whom oft the muses swaddled in one sheet : your works shall still be prais'd and dearer sold , for our new-nothings doe extoll your old . on apump stopt with stones . m. i 'le cut it down , i swear by this same hand , if 't will not run , it shall no longer stand . r. pray ●ir be patient , let your pump alone , how can it water-make when 't hath the stone . yet did he wisely when he did it fell , for in so doing he did make it well . to mr. benjamin iohnson . had rome but heard her worthies speak so high , as thou hast taught them in thy poesie ; she would have sent her poets to obtain , ( tutour'd by thee ) thy most majestique strain . . in aulam . thou still art mutring aulus in mine eare , love me and love my dog , i will i swear , thou ask'st but right and aulus truth to tell , i think thy dog deserves my love as well . to mr. george chapman on his translation of homers works into english meeter . thou ghost of homer 'twere no fault to call , his the translation thine the originall , did we not know 't was done by thee so well ; thou makest homer , homers self excell . to mr. william shake-spear . shake-speare we must be silent in thy pra●se , 'cause our encomion's will but blast thy bayes , which envy could not , that thou didst do well ; let thine own histories prove thy chronicle . ad tilenum . tilenus 'cause th' art old , fly not the field , where youthfull cupid doth his banner weild for why● this god , old men his souldiers stil'd none loves , but he , who hath bin twice a child . to mr. thomas randolph . thou darling of the muses for we may be thought deserving , if what was thy play our utmost labours can produce , we will freely allow thee heir unto the hill , the muses did assign thee , and think 't fit , thy younger yeares should have the elder-wit . in paulum . paul what my cloak doth hide thou fain wouldst know were 't to be seen i would not cover't so . of sleep and death . that death is but a sleep i not deny yet when i next would sleep , i would not dy . ad lectorem . reader thou see'st how pale these papers look , whiles they fear thy hard censure on this book . ad momum . momus thou say'st our verses are but ●oyes , t is true , yet truth is often spoken by boyes . on thraso . thraso goes lame with a blow he did receive , in a late duell , if you 'll him beleeve . news . when news doth come if any would discusse , the letters of the word , resolve it thus : news is convay'd by letter , word or mouth and comes to us , from north , east , west and sout● of ru●us . rufus had robb'd his host and being put to it ; said i 'm an arrar●t rogue , if i did doe it . of marcus. when marcus fail'd a borrowed sum to pay , unto his freind at the appointed day : 't were superstition for a man he sayes , to be a strict observer of set dayes . of a theefe . a theefe arested and in custody , under strong guards of armed company , ask't why they held him so ? sir quoth the cheife ▪ we hold you for none other than a theif . of motion . motion brings heat , and thus we see it prov'd most men are hot and angry , when they 're mov'd ad scriptorem . half of your book is to an index grown , you give your book contents , your reader none . domi●a margarita sandis : anagramma . anne domi das marg●●it as ? vvhy do wee seek & saile abroad to find , those pearls which do adorn the female-kind , within our seas there comes unto our hands , a matchlesse margaryte among the sands . man. man 's like the earth , his hair like grasse is grown , his veins the rivers are , his heart the stone . vita via . well may mans life be likened to a way , many be weary of their life they 'll say . to mr. thomas may. thou son of mercury whose fluent tongue made lucan finish his pharsalian song , thy fame is equall , better is thy fate , thou hast got charles his love , he nero's hate . on harpax . harpax gave to the poor all by his will , because his heir should no feign'd teares distill . on sextu● . sextus doth wish his wife in heaven were where can shee have more happines then there . to mr. george wyt●ers . th' hast whipp'd our vices shrewdly and we may , think on thy scourge untill our dying-day : th ▪ hast given us a remembrancer which shall , outlast the vices we are tax'd withall , th●'ha●t made us both eternall , for our shame shall never wyther , whilst thou hast a name . on a drawer drunk . drawer with thee now even is thy wine , for thou hast peirc'd his hogs-head and he thine . vpon the weights of a clock . i wonder time 's so swift , when as i see , upon her heeles , such lumps of lead to bee . to mr. thomas middleton . f●cetious middleton thy witty muse , hath pleased all , that books or men peruse if any thee dispise , he doth but show , antipathy to wit , in daring so : thy fam's above his malice and 't wilbe , dispraise enough for him , to censure thee . on cyn●● . because , i am not of a giant 's stature , despise me not , nor praise thy liberall nature , for thy huge limbs , that you are great 't is true , and that i 'm little in respect of you , the reason of our growths is eas'ly had , you many had perchance , i but one dad. to mr. iames shirly on his comedy viz. the yong admirall . how all our votes are for thee ( s●irly ) come conduct our troops , strike up apollo's drum , we wait upon thy summons and do all , intend to choose thee our yong admirall : on alastrus . alastrus hath nor coyn , nor spirit nor wit , i thinke hee 's only then for bedlam fit . on macer . you call my verses ●oyes th' are so 't is true , yet they are better , then ought comes from you . to mr. philip massinger . apollo's messenger , who doth impart to us the edicts of his learned art , we cannot but respect thee , for we know , princes are honour'd in their legats so . on celsus . celsus doth love himself , celsus is wise , for now no rivall ere can claime his prize . on candidus . when i am sick not else thou com'st to see me : waild fortune from both torments still would free me . to mr. iohn ford. if e're the muses did admire that well , of hellicon as elder times do tell , i dare presume to say upon my word ; they much more pleasure take in thee rare ford on paulus . because thou followst some great peer at court , dost think the world deem's thee a great one for● ah no! thou art mistaken paulus , know dwarfs still as pages unto giants goe . to mr. thomas heywood . thou hast writ much and art admir'd by those , who love the easie ambling of thy prose ; but yet thy pleasingst flight , was somewhat hig● when thou did'st touch the angels hyerarchie : fly that way still it will become thy age , and better please then groveling on the stage . on a cowardly souldier . strotzo doth weare no ring upon his hand , ●lthough he be a man of great command ; but gilded spurs do jingle at his heeles whose rowels are as big as some coach-wheels , he grac'd them well , for in the netherlands , his heels d●d him more service then his hands . to mr. thomas goffe on his tragedies . when first i heard the turkish emperours speak , in such a dialect , and o●estes break his silence in such language , i admir'd what powerful favorite of the nimphs inspir'd into their souls such utterance , but i wrong , to think 't was learnt from any but thy tongue . on cornuto . cornuto is not jealous of his wife , nor e're mistrust's her too la●civious life , aske him the reason why he doth forbeare , hee 'l answer straight , it commeth with a fear . on a shrew . a froward shrew being blam'd because she show'd , not so much reverence as by right she ow'd unto her husband , she reply'd he might forbeare complaint of me , i do him right ▪ his will is mine , he would beare rule , and i desire the like , onely in sympathy . on a youth married to an old woman . fond youth i wonder why thou didst intend to marry her who is so neer her end , thy fortune i dare tell , perchance thou 'lt have at supper dainties ; but in bed a grave . on a dying vsurer . with greater grief non doth death entertain , then wretched chrysalus , he sighs a mayn , not that he dyes , but 'cause much cost is spent upon the sexton and his regiment the joviall ringers , and the curate must have his fee too , when dust is turn'd to dust , and which is greater then the former sum , hee 'l pay an angell for a moor-stone-tomb . on a fly in a glasse . a fly out of his glasse a guest did take , e're with the liquor he his thirst would slake , when he had drunk his fill , again the fly into the glasse he put , and said though i love not flyes in my drink , yet others may , whose humour i nor like , nor will gain-say . on collimus . if that collimus any thing do lend , or dog , or horse , or hawk unto his friend , he to endear the borrowers love the more , saith he ne'r lent it any one before , nor would to any but to him : his wife having observ'd these speeches all her life , behind him forks her fingers and doth cry : to none but you , i 'd doe this courtesie . auri-sacra fames-qui● non ? a smoothfac'd youth was wedded to an old , decrepit shrew , such is the power of gold : that love did tye this knot , the end will prove , the love of money not the god of love . on sex●us . what great revenews sextus doth possesse , when as his sums of gold are numberlesse , what cannot sextus have ? i wonder then , sextus cann't live as well as other men . good wits jump . against a post a scholler chanc'd to strike , at unawares his head , like will to like : good wits will jump ( quoth he ) if that be true the title of a block-head is his due . on womens maskes . it seems that masks do women much disgrace , sith when they weare them they do hide their face . on lepidus and his wife . lepidus married somewhile to a shrew , she sick'ned , he in jesting wise to shew how glad her death would make him ; said sweet-heart i pray you e're you sing loath to depart tell who shall be my second wife , and i after your death will wed her instantly , she somewhat vext hereat , straightway reply'd then let grim pluto's daughter be your bride . he answer'd wife i would your will obey , but that our laws my willingnesse gain-say : for he who pluto's sister takes to wife , cannot his daughter too upon my life . vpon a pair of tongs . the burnt child dreads the fire ; if this be true , who first invented tongs it's fury knew . on celsus his works . celsus to please himselfe , a book hath writ : it seem's so , for there 's few that buyeth it . he is no popular man it thereby seems ; sith men condemn , what he praise worthy deems , yet this his wisdome and his book prefer , disprais'd by all , they think both singular . the devill and the fryar . the devill was once deceived by a fryar , who though he sold his soul cheated the buyer , the devill was promist if he would supply , the fryar with coyn at his necessity , when all the debts he ow'd discharg'd were quite , the devill should have his soul as his by right , the devill defray'd all scores , payd all , at last , demanded for his due , his soul in haste : the fryar return'd this answer , if i ow you any debts at all , then you must know , i am indebted still , if nothing be due unto you , why do you trouble me ? to phillis . aske me not phillis why i do refuse to kisse thee as the most of gallants use , for seeing oft thy dog to fawn and skip upon thy lap and joyning lip to lip , although thy kisses i full fain would crave ; yet would i not thy dog my rivall have . of charidem●s . although thy neighbour have a handsom horse , matchlesse for comly shape , for hue and course and though thy wife thou knowest ill-shapen ●e , yet charidemus praises mightily , his ugly wife and doth the horse dispraise : how subtilly the fox his engin layes , for he desires his neighbours horse to buy , and sell his wife to any willingly . of clytus . clytus the barber doth occasion fly , because 't is bal'd and he gains nought thereby . on balbus . balbus a verse on venus , boy doth scan , but ere 't was fini●●'d cupid's grown a man. on comptulus . i wonder'd comptulus , how thy long hair in comely curles could show so debonair and every hair in order be , when as thou could'st not trim it by a looking-glasse , nor any barber did thy tresses pleat , 't is strange ; but monsieur i conceive the feat when you your hair do kemb , you off it take and order 't as you please for fashions sake . on gellius . in building of his house , gellius hath spent all his revenews and his ancient rent , aske not a reason why gellius is poor . his great house hath turn'd him out of door . to ponticus . at supper-time will poutus visit me , i 'd rather have his room then companie ; but if him ▪ from me i can no wayes fright , i 'd have him visit me each fasting night . on a pot-poet . what lofty verses cael●s writes ? it is , but when his head with wine oppressed is , so when great drops of rain fall from the skyes in standing pools , huge bubles will arise . on onellus . thou never supp'st abroad , onellus , true ; for at my home i 'm sure to meet with you . on wine . what ? must we then on muddy tap-lash swill , neglecting sack ? which makes the poet's quill to thunder forth high raptures , such as when sweet-tongued ovid erst with his smooth pen , in flourishing rome did write ; frown god of win● to see how most men disesteem thy vines . on beere . is no juice pleasing but the grapes ? is none , so much beloved ? doth perfection , onely conjoyn in wine ? or doth the well of aganippe with this liquor swell , that po●ts thus affect it ? shall we crown , a meer ex●tique ? and contemn our own , our native liquor ? haunt who list the grape , he more esteem our oate , whose reed shall make , an instrument to warble forth her praise , which shall survive untill the date of daies , and eke invoke some potent power divine , to patronize her worth above the vine . on a vaunting poetaster . c●cilius boasts his verses worthy bee , to be engraven on a cypresse tree , a cypresse wreath befits 'em well ; 't is true , for they are neer their death , and crave but due . on philos. if philos , none but those are dead , doe praise , i would i might displease him all his dayes . on a valiant souldier . a spanish souldier in the indian war , who oft came off with honor and some scar , after a teadious battle , when they were enforc'd for want of bullets to forbear , farther to encounter , which the savage moor perceiving , scoff'd , and nearer then before , approach'd the christian host , the souldier grie● to be out brav'd , yet could not be reliev'd beyond all patience vex'd , he said although i bullets want , my self will wound the foe ; then from his mouth , took he a tooth and sent , a fatall message to their regiment , what armes will fury steed men with , when we . can from our selves have such artillery ; sampson thy jaw-bone can no trophy reare equall to his , who made his tooth his speare . on aurispa . why doth the world repute aurispa learn'd ? because she gives men what they never earn'd . on paulus . those verses which thou mad'st i did condemn , nor did i censure thee in censuring them , thou mad'st them , but sith them in print i see , they must the people 's not the authors bee . on alexander the great . if alexander thought the world but small because his conquering hand subdu'd it all , he should not then have stil'd himself the great , an infants stool can be no giants seat . on a vertuous talker . if vertue 's alwaies in thy mouth , how can it ere have time to reach thy heart fond man ? on a land-skip in the lid of his mrs. virginals . behold don phoebus in yon shady grove , on his sweet harp plaies roundelaies of love , mark how the fatyr grim marsyas playes on his rude pipe , hi● merry-harmlesse layes , mark how the swaines attentively admire , both to the sound of pipe and tang of lyre ; but if you on these virginals will play , they both will cast their instruments away , and deeming it the ●●sique of the spheares admire your musique as the swains do theirs vpon pigs devouring a bed of penny-royall commonly called organs . a good wife once a bed of organs set , the pigs came in and eate up every whit , the good-man said wife you your garden may hogs norton call , here pigs on organs play . on a fortune-teller . the influence of the stars are known to thee , by whom thou canst each future fortune see yet , sith thy wife doth thee a cuckold make , 't is strange they do not that to thee partake . on sore eyes . fuscus was councell'd if he would preserve , his eyes in perfect sight drinking to swerve ; but he replyd ' t is better that i shu'd loose them , then keep them for the worms as food on a gallant . a glittering gallant , from a prauncing steed , alighting down , desir'd a boy with speed to hold his horse a while , he made reply , can one man hold him fast ? 't was answerd i , if then one man can hold him sir , you may do it your self , quoth he , and slunk away . on an inevitable cuckold . two wives th' hast buried and another wed , yet neither of the three chaste to thy bed , wherefore thou blam'st not onely them , but all their sex into disgrace and scorn dost call , yet if the thing thou wilt consider well , thou wilt thy malice , and this rage expell , for when the three were all alike 't should seem thy stars gave thee the cuckold's anadem , if thou wert born to be a wittoll , can thy wife prevent thy fortune ? foolish man ! that woman which a hellen is to thee , would prove another mans penelope . on an empty house . lollus by night awak'd heard theeves about his house , and searching narrowly throughout to find some pillage there , he said you may by night , but i can find nought here by day . on a bragging coward . corsus in campe , when as his mates betook , themselves to dine , encourag'd them , and spoke , have a good stomake lads , this night we shall in heaven at supper keep a festivall , but battle joynd he fled away in haste , and said i had forgot , this night i fast . on a great nose . thy nose no man wipe , proclus unlesse he have a hand as big as hercules , when thou dost sneeze the sound thou dost not heare , thy nose is so far distant from thine eare . on an unequall paire . faire pbi●●is is to churlish pris●us wed , as stronger wine with waters mingled , priscus his love to phillis more doth glow ; with fervency then fire , her 's cold as snow ; 't is well for if their flames alike did burn , one house would be to hot to serve their turn . on a changeable raiment . know you why lollus changeth every day , his perriwig , his face and his array , 't is not because his commings in are much , or cause hee 'll swill it with the roaring dutch ; but 'cause the sergeants ( who a writ have had long since against him ) should not know the lad . on the ensuring office . linus met thuscus on the burse by chance , and swore he 'd drink a health to th' heir of france for on th' exchange for currant news 't was told , france had a daulphin not yet seaven dayes old , thuscus excus'd himself , and said he must by all meanes go to th' ensuring office first , and so ensure some goods , he doubted were , unlikely else ere to his hands appeare , linus replyd i le with thee then , for i would have my lands ensur'd to me in fee which otherwise i doubt , i never shall , from debt and morgage ere redeem at all . on a tennis-court haunter . the world 's a court , we are the bals , wherein we bandied are by every stroke of sin , then onely this can i commend in thee , thou actest well our frail mortalitie . on barossa . barossa boasts his pedegree although , he knows no letter of the christ-crosse-row , his house is ancient , and his gentry great , for what more ancient e're was heard of yet then is the family of fools , how than dare you not call barossa gentleman ? on clodius albinus . clodius great cheer for supper doth prepare , buyes chickens , rabbets , phesants and a hare , great store of fowl , variety of fish , and tempting sawce serv'd in , in every dish , to this great feast , whom doth he meane t' envite , aloinus only sups with him to night . on afer . afer hath sold his land and bought a horse , whereon he p●aunceth to the royall burse , to be on horse back he delights ; wilt know ? 'cause then his company hee 'd higher show , but happy chance tall afer in his pride , mounts a gunnelly and on foot doth ride . on balbulus . thou do'st complaine poets have no reward and now adayes they are in no regard : verses are nothing worth , yet he that buyes , ought that is thine , at a three - 〈◊〉 price , will think it too too dear , and justly may think verses are in price , since 〈◊〉 other day , yea who ere buies 'em at a farthing rate , at the same price can never sell 'em at . to lycus . that poetry is good and pleasing thou dost cry , yet know'st not when 't is right or when awry thou know'st great ovid's censure to abstaine from pleasing good , is vertue 's chiefest aime . on charismus . thou hast compos'd a book , which neither age nor future time shall hurt through all their rage , for how can future times or age invade that work , which perished assoone as made . of one praising my book . harpax doth praise my book i lately writ , saith it is short and sweet and full of wit ; i knew his drift and sayd be silent 'pray , for in good fayth , i 've given 'em all away . facilis discensus averni . the way to hell is easie , th' other day , a blind man ●hither quickly found the way . age and youth . admire not youth , despise not age , although some yong are grave , most old men children grow on orus . orus sold wine , and then tobacco , now he aqua-vitae doth his friends allow , what ere he had , is sold , to save his life , and now turn'd pander he doth sell his wife . on women . women are books and men the readers be , in whom oft times they great errata's see ; here sometimes wee a blot , there wee espy a leafe misplac'd , at least a line awry ; if they are books , i wish that my wife were an almanacke to change her every yeare on acerra . tobacco hurts the braine phisicians say , doth dull the wit and memory decay , yet feare not thou acerra , for 't will ne'r hurt thee so much by use , as by thy feare . on briso . who private lives , lives well , no wonder then you do absent you from the sight of men , for out of doores you neer by day appeare , since last you lost i' th pill●ry your eare . on the king of 〈◊〉 picture . who but the halfe of this neat picture drew , that it could ne're be fully done , well knew . to his mistris . hyperbole of worth , should wit suggest . my will with epithites , and i invest , that shrine but with deserved paraphrase , adulatory poetry would praise . and so but staine your wo●th : your vertues ( or else none at all ) shall be my orator . b. i. answer to a thiefe bidding him stand . fly villaine hence or be thy coate of steele , i le make thy heart , my ●razen b●llet feele , and send that thrice as thievish soul of thine , to hell , to weare the devils v●lentine . the theefe 's ●eplie . art thou great ben ? or the revived ghost of famous shake-spear ? or som drunken host ? who being tipfie with thy muddy beer , dost think thy rimes shall daunt my soul with fear nay know base slave , that i am one of those , can take a purse a swell in verse as prose , and when th' art dead , write this upon thy herse ; here lies a poet that was robb'd in verse . vpon clarinda begging a lock of her lovers haire . fairest clarinda , she whom truth cals faire , begg'd my heart of mee , and a lock of haire should i give both said i , how should i live , the lock i would , the heart i would not give , for that lest●heeving love should steal away , discretion had lock'd up and kept the key ; as for the locke of haire , which lovers use my head laid on her knee i pray'd her chuse , taking her ●izars by a cunni●g art , first pick'd the lock , and then she stole my heart . to his mistris . dearest thy twin'd haires are not threds of gold , nor thine eyes diamonds , nor do i hold , thy lips for rubies , nor thy cheeks to bee , fresh roses , nor thy dugs of ivory , the skin that doth thy dainty body sheath , nor alablaster is , nor dost thou breath , arabian odours , these the earth brings forth , compar'd with thine , they would impair thy worth ; such then are other mistrisses , but mine , hath nothing earth , but all divine . the answer . if earth doth never change , nor move , there 's nought of earth , sure in thy love , sith heavenly bodies with each one , concur in generation , and wanting gravitie are light , or in a borrowed lustre bright ; if meteors and each falling star of heavenly matter framed are : earth hath my mistrisse , but sure thine all heavenly is , though not divine . on his mrs. i saw faire flora take the aire , when p●aehus shin'd and it was faire ; the heavens to allay the heat , sent drops of raine , which gently beat the sun retires , asham'd to see that he was barr'd from kissing thee then bore as took such high disdaine , that soon he dri'd those drops again : ah cunning plot and most ●ivine ! thus to mix his breath with thine . on an houre glasse . do thou consider this small dust here running in this glasse by atomes mov'd ca●st thou beleeve , that this the body was of one that lov'd . and in his mistrisse playing like a fly turn'd to cinders by her eye : yes and in death as life , have it expre●t that lovers ashes take no rest . on the picture of cupid in a jewell worn by his mrs. on her brest . little cupid enter in and heat her heart , her brest is not thy seat ; her brests are fitted to entice lovers , but her heart's ofice , thaw cupid , that it hence forth grow tender still by answering no. on his mistris . when first i saw thee thou didst sweetly play , the gentle theefe , and stol'st my heart away ; ren●er me mine againe , or leave thy own , two are too much for thee since i have none ; but if thou wilt not i will swear thou art a sweet-fac'd creature with a double heart . on cupid . cupid hath by his sly and subtill art , a certaine arrow shot and peirc't my heart : what shall i doe to be reveng'd on love ? there is but one way and that one i 'le prove ; i 'le steale his arrowes and will head them new , with womens hearts and then they will fly true . on a tobacconist . all dainty meats i do defie , which feed men fat as swine , hee is a frug all man indeed , that on a leafe can dine , he needs no napkin for his hands his fingers ends to wipe , that keeps his kitchin in a box and roast - 〈◊〉 in a pipe . on the same . if mans flesh be like swines , as it is said the metamorphosis is sooner made then full-fac'd gnatho no tobacco take smoaking your corps , lest bacon you do make . another . tom i commend thee above all i know that sold'●t thy cushion for a pipe of to for now t is like if ere thou study more , thou 'lt sit to 't harder then thou dist before . on tobacco . nature's idea , phisicks rare perfection , cold rheumes expeller and the wits direction , o had the gods known thy immortall smack , the heavens ere this time had been colored black . on a beloved lye . i hate a lie , and yet a lye did run of noble goring's death and kensington , and for that they did not untimely dye i love a lye because that was a ly , for had it been an accident of ruth 't had made me grow in hatred of the truth , though lies be bad , yet give this lye it 's due , 't is ten times better , then if 't had been true . on button a s●xton , making a grave . ye powers above and heavenly poles are graves become but button-holes . on long haire . luc as long haire down to his shoulders weares , and why ? he dares not cut it for his eares . a crab's restorative . the crab of the wood is sauce very good ; for the crab of the foaming sea , but the wood of a crab is sauce for a drab that will not her husband obey . on iustus lypsius who bequeathed his gown to the virgin mary . a dying latinist of great renown , unto the virgin mary gave his gown and was not this false latine , so to joyn with femall gender , the case masculine . on a fidle-stick . am i an instrument to make you sport , a fiddle-stick i am , ye shann't report that ere yee hand'led me in such a case ; to make me strike up fiddles mean and base , nay you shall never bend me to your bow it goeth against the haire you should do so , nor shall you curbe me in , thus every day , i 'le but my pleasure , i was made to play ; but here i must not play upon another , why have i then a fiddle for my brother ? if i were gon , you 'd be compel'd my freinds to make your musique on your fingers ends : my brother fiddle is so hollow hearted , that ere 't be long , we must needs be parted and with so many frets he doth abound , that i can never touch him but hee 'l sound : when hee 's reviv'd , this poore excuse he puts , that when i play , i vex him to the guts ; but since it is my nature , and i must i 'le crowd and scrape acquaintance for a crust ; i am a genleman of high descent come from apollos glorious element , above the bridge i alwayes use to keep , and that 's my proper spheare , when i do sleep , so that i cannot be in tune or town , for all my scraping if the bridge be down ; but since without an end , nought can endure , a fiddle-stick hath two ends to be sure . on hopes of preferment . i saw my fortune goe before as palinurus saw the shore , if that i dye , before it hitch , wel-fare mine eyes for they are rich . sorte tu●● contentus . if adverse fortune bring to passe , and will that thou an asse must bee ; then be an asse , and live an asse , for out of question wife is hee that undergoes with humble mind , the state that chance hath him assign'd . on a pretender to prophecy . ninety two yeares the world as yet shall stand if it do stand or fall at your command ; but say why plac'd you not the world's end nigher lest ere you dy'd you might be prov'd a lyer . mart. lib epigr. . old poets only thou dost praise , and none but dead one's magnifie : pardon voc●rra , thee to please , i am not yet in mind to dye . on a gamester . for hundred-thousands matho playes ; olus what 's that to thee ? not thou by meanes thereof i trow , but matho poore shall bee . on fr. drake . sir drake whom well the world's end knew , which thou did'st compasse round , and whom both poles of heaven once saw which north and south do bound , the stars above , would make thee known , if men here silent were ; the sun himself cannot forget his fellow traveller . b. i. approbation of a copy of verses . one of the witty sort of gentlemen , that held society with learned ben — shew'd him some verses of such tragique sense they did his curious eare much violence ; but after ben had been a kind partaker of the sad lines , he needs must know the maker ; what unjust man he was , that spent his time and banish'd reason to , advance his rime : nay gentle ben , replies the gentleman i see i must support the poet than ; although those humble straines are not so fit for to please you , hee 's held a pretty wit ; is he held so ? ( sa●es ben ) so may a goose , had i the holding , i would let him loose . on a gentleman that married an heire privately at the tower. the angry father hearing that his childe , was stoln , married , and his hopes beguild ; ( 'cause his usurious nature had a thought she might have bin to greater fortunes brought ) with rigid looks , bent brows , and words austere ask'd his forc'd son in law , how he did dare ( without a full consenting from him carried ) thus beare his onely daughter to be married , and by what cannons he assum'd such power ? he sayd the best in england sir , the tower. a gentlemans satisfaction for spitting in anothers face . a gentleman ( not in malice nor disgrace , but by a chance ) spet in anothers face , he that receiv'd it , knowing not the cause that should produce such rashne● ( 'gainst the law● of christian man-hood or civility ) in kindling anger , ask'd the reason why ; pray ●ir sayes he , what thing that doth but sound like to an injury have you ere found by me at any time ? or if you had , it never could deserve contempt so bad 't is an inhumane custome none ere use ; but the vile nation of conte●ned jewes : pray sir , cryes th' other be not so unkind , thus with an accident to charge my minde i meant it not , but ●●nce it fals out so , i 'm sorry , yea make satisfaction too ; then be not mov'd but let this ease your doubt since i have spet , please you , i 'le tread it out . on a little gentleman and one mr. story . the little man , by th' other mans vain-glory , it seems was roughly us'd ( so say's the story ) but being a little h●ated and high blown , in anger flyes at story , puls him down ; and when they rise ( i know not how it fated ) one got the worst , the story was tran●●ated from white to red , but ere the fight was ended it seemes a gentleman that one be●riended came in and parted them ; the little blade , there 's none that could intreat , or yet perswade , but he would fight still , till another came , and with sound reasons councel'd gainst the same 't was in this manner friend ye shall not fight with one that 's so unequall to your height , story is higher , th' othe● made reply , i 'd pluck him down were he three stories high . on a welshman and an englishman . there was a time a difference began between a welshman and an englishman , and thus it was ; the english-man would stand against all argument , that this our land , was fre●st of her fruits , there is a place quoth he , whose ground , so fruitfull is of grasse ; but throw a staffe in 't but this night , you shall not see 't the morrow , 't would be cover'd all : the welsh-man cry'd 't is true , it might ly under , the o're-grown grasse , 〈◊〉 is with us no wonder , for turn your horse into our frui●full ground , and before morning come , he shann't be found . on a souldier . the souldier fights well and with good regard , but when hee 's lame , he lies at an ill ward . on a faire gentlewoman whose name was brown. we praise the faire , and our inventions wrack , in pleasing numbers to applaud the black , we court this ladies eye , that ladyes haire , the faire love black , the black best like the faire● yet neither sort , i court , i doate upon nor faire nor black , but a complexion more rare then either ; she that is the crown of my entire affection is brown , and yet shee s faire , 't is strange , how can it be , that two complexions should in one agree do i love brown , my love can please mine eye , and ●ate my narrow'st curiosity , if i like faire , she hath so sweet a grace , that i could leave an angell for her face , let any judge then , which complexion 's rarest , in my opinion , she is brown that 's fairest . on garret and chambers . garret and his friend chambers having done their citty bus'nesse walk'd to paddington , and comming neer the fatall place where men i meane offenders ne're return agen , looking on tyborn in a merryment , sayes chambers here 's a pretty tenement had it a garret : garret hearing that , replyes friend chambers i do wonder at your simple censure , and could mock you for it , there must be chambers ere there be a garret . on the word intollerable . two gentlemen did to a tavern come , and call'd the drawer for to shew a room , the drawer did , and what room think ye was 't ? one of the small ones , where men drink in haste ; one gentleman sat down there , but the other dislik'd it , would not sit , call'd for another : at whi●h his friend , rising up from the table , cryes friend lets stay , this room is tollerable : why that 's the cause ( quoth hee ) i will not stay , is that the cause , quoth th' other ? why i pray ? to give a reason to you , i am able , because i hate to be in — tollerable . ad lectorem . is 't possible that thou my book hast bought , that saidst●'twas nothing worth ? why was it naught read it again , perchance thy wit was dul , thou may'st find something at the second pull , indeed at first thou nought didst understand , for shame g●t somthing at the second hand . suum cuique pulcbrum . posthumus not the last of many more , ask's why i write in such an idle vaine , seeing there are of epigrams such store ; oh give me leave to tell thee once again that epigrams are fitted to the season , of such as best know how to make rime reason in magnis voluisse sat●est . in matters great to will it doth suffice , i blush to heare how loud this proverb lyes , for they that ow great sums by bond or bill , can never cancell them , with meere good will. as proud as witlesse draccus . draccus his head is highly by him born , and so by strawes are emptied heads of corne . s●liem●videret●●r . a welshman and an englishman disputed , which of their lands maintain'd the greatest 〈◊〉 the englishman the welshman quite confuted , yet would the welshman nought his brags abate , ten cooks quoth he , in wales one wedding fees truth quoth the other , each man to●t● his cheese . on womens inconstancy . goe catch a star that 's falling from the skye ▪ cause an immortall creature for to dye , stop with thy hand the current of the seas , poste o're the earth to the antipodes , cause times return and call back yesterday ; cloath january with the month of may , weigh out an ounce of flame , blow back the wind and then find faith within a womans mind . on women . why sure these necessary harmes were fram'd , that man as too too heedlsse might be blam'd , his weaknes cannot greatest weakenesse fly , in her strong drawing , fraile necessity ; then happy they , that know what women are , but happier , which to know them never care . to his mrs. sweetest faire be not too cruell , blot not beauty with disdaine , let not those bright eyes adde fewell to a burning heart in vaine , least men justly when i dye deem you the candle , mee the fly . how to choose a wife . good sir , if you will shew the best of your skill ; to picke a vertuous creature , then picke such a wife , as you love a life , of a comely grace and feature ; the noblest part let it be her heart , without deceit or cunning , with a nimble wit , and all things fit , with a tongue that 's never running , the haire of her head , it must not be red , but faire and brown as a berry ; her fore-head high , with a christall eye her lips as red as a cherry . on his mistris . my love and i for kisses play'd , she would keep stakes , i was content , and when i wonne , she would be payd ; this made me aske her what she meant , sayth she , since you are in this wrangling vaine , take you your kisses , and give me mine againe . on a proud mayde . she that will eate her breakfast in her bed , and spend the morn in dressing of her head , and fit at dinner like a mayden-bride , and talke of nothing all day but of pride , god in mercy may doe much to save her , but what a case is he in that shall have her ? satis est quod sufficit . weep no more , sigh nor groane , sorrow recals not times are gone , violets pluck'd , the sweetst raine , makes not fresh or grow againe , joyes are windy , dreams flye fast why should sadnes longer last ? griefe is but a wound to woe , gentle faire , mourn no moe . tempus edaxrerum . time eateth all things could the poets say , the times are chang'd our times drink all away . of women . commit thy ship unto the winde , but not thy faith to woman kind , there is more safety in a wave , then in the faith that women have ; no woman's good , if chance it fall , some one be good amongst them all , some strange intent the dest ' nies had , to make a good thing of a bad . on a coy woman . she seems not won , yet won she is at length , in loves war women use but half their strength . on morcho . morcho for hast was married in the night , what needed day ? his fair young wife is light . on bed keeping . bradus the smith , hath often sworn and sed , that no disease should make him keep his bed ; his reason was , i oft have heard him tell it , he wanted money therefore he would fell it . on a man stealing a candle from a la●ther● . one walking in the street a winter night , climb'd to a lanthern , thought t' have stole the light , but taken in the manner and descri'd by one o' th' servants who look'd out and cry'd , whose there ? what d' you ? who doth our lanthern nothing said he , but only snuf the candle . handle , on fraternus . fraternus ' opinions show his reason weak he held the nose was made for man to speak . on a french ●encer , that challeng'd church an english fencer . the fencing ca●les in pride and gallant vaunt , challeng'd the english at the fen●ing , skill , the fencer church , or the church militant , his errors still reprov'd and knock'd him still , but si●h our church him disciplin'd so sore , he ( rank recusant ) comes to church no more . on two striving together . two falling out into a ditch they fell , their falling out was ill , but in was well . on musique . i want a quill out of an angels wing , to write sweet musike's everlasting praise , i likewise want an angels voice to sing a wished an●hem to her happy dayes ▪ then since i want an angels voice and pen , let angels write and sing , i 'le say amen . on tobacco . times great consumer , cause of idlenes , old whorehouse hunter , cause of drunkennes bewitching smoake , vainest wealths consumer ; abuse of wit , stinking breath's perfumer , cause of entrailes blacknes , bodyes dyer cause of nature's slacknesse , quenching her fire , offence to many , bringing good to none , ev'n be thou hack'd till thou art burnt and gone . claudianus de sphaer●a archimedis when iove within a little glasse survay'd , the heavens he smil'd , and to the gods thus sayd , can strength of mortall wit proceed thus far ? loe in a fraile orbe , my works mated are , hither the syracu●ians art translates , heavens form , the course of things and humane fates th' including spirit serving the star-deck'd signes the living work inconstant motion windes , th' adult ' rate zodiaque runs a naturall yeere , and cyntsias forg'd horns monethly new light bear , viewing her own world , now bold industry triumphs and rules with humane power the sky . on caelia . in caelia's face a question did arise , which were more beautifull her lips or eyes ; we say the eyes , send forth those pointed darts , which pierce the hardest adamantine hearts , from us reply the lips proceed those blisses , which lovers reap by kind words and sweet kisses then wept the eyes and from their eyes did pow'r of liquid orientall pearle a shower , whereat the lips mov'd with delight and pleasure through a sweet smile ●●lock'd their i vory treasure , and bad love judge , whether did ad more grace weeping or smiling pearls to c●lia's face . on chloris walking in the snow . i saw faire chloris walke alone , when feather'd raine came softly down , then iove descended from ●is tower , to court her in a silver shower , the wanton snow flew to her brest , like little birds into their nest ; but overcome with whitenes there , for grei●e it thaw'd into a teare , then falling down her garment h●m , to deck her , froze into a gem . to a shoomaker . what bootes it thee , to follow such a trade , that 's alwaies under foot and underlaid ? youth and age. age is deformed , youth unkind , wee scorn their bodies , they our mind . to loquax . loqu●x to hold thy tongue , would do thee wrong , for thou would ' st be no man , but for thy tongue . death . the lives of men seem in two seas to swim , death comes to young folks and old goe to him . a disparity . children fondly blad truth , & fools their brothers women have learn'd more wisdom of their mothers . . to mak dict . thou speake st ill , not to give men their dues ▪ but speakestill , because thou canst not chuse . womens properti●s . to weep oft , still to flatter , sometimes spin . are properties , women excell men in . interpone tuis &c. not mirth , nor care alone , but inter-wreathed , care gets mirth stomacke , mir●h makes care long breathed . womens teares when women weep in their dissembling art , their teares are sauce to their malicious heart . pot-poets . poet and pot differ but in a letter , which makes the poet love the pot the better . content . content is all we ayme at with our store ; if that be had with little , what needs more . fast and loose . paphus was marry'd all in haste , and now to rack doth run ; so knitting of himself too fast , he hath himself undone . on gervase . a double gelding gervase did provide , that he and 's wife to see their friends might ride , and he a double gelding prov'd indeed ; for he so suddenly fell to his speed , that both alight , with blows and threats among ▪ he leads him , and his wife drives him along . tortus . tortus accus'd to lye , to fawn , to flatter , said he but set a good face on the matter , then sure he borrow'd it for 't is well known ; tortus ne're wore a good face of his own ▪ annagrams . thom●s egerton . anagr. honors met age . honors met age and seeking where to rest ; agreed to lodge , and harbour in thy brest . on capt●ine iohn , came-age anagr. age-came . when perils i by land and sea had past , age came to summon me to death at last . christopher lindall , anagr. i offer , lend christ all . tha● with this epigram thy deeds agree , they well know , that did ever well know thee . iohn rysdon anagr. in honors dy . thy actions friend declare thy noble mind , and to the world thy reall worth proclaime that fame her self cannot thy equall find , to paralell thy glory and thy name , on , onward still from no good action fly , who lives like thee , cann't but in honors dy . on the same . i ne're will credit any powerfull fare , can turn thy glory to a waning state , thou ●till wilt be thy self ; therefore say i , in honors thou shalt live , but never dy . phineas fletcher . anagr. hath spencer life ? or spencer hath life . that spencer liveth , none can ignorant be , that reads his works ( fletcher ) or knoweth thee . mrs. elizabeth noell anagr. holinesse be still my star . the safest conduct to the port of blisse , lyes not in brittle honor , for by this we often loose our way , to shun this bar , to heaven , holines be still my star . . my lot is blisse ●ternall . the world 's a lottry , full of various chances , whereof each draws a share as fortune fancies , among the rest that ayme at things supernall ; i 've drawn , and find my lot is blisse eternall . i shall smite no ill brest . the common way to wound mens hearts i shun , nor with meere outside am i to be won , vertue may move me , for it crowns the best , but i shall smite no ill or lustfull brest . my blisse on earth's little . honors are faire but fading flowers which give , delight to those that gather them , but live not ever flowrishing , this truth i find , too truely in my selfe , by fate assign'd for having all , i see that all 's but but brittle , and even at best my blisse on earth 's but little . see my heart is still noble : thongh fortune frowns and fate suppres my will , yet see the lucke , my heart is noble still . a riddle . thoughts searching c valued love may b truth never tyes too a foole y y : three in one heart if in v have part wr another being a translation . est aliis servire tenetur iure qui sum , servire necesse est iure tibi me te nulli cunctos ant are videris qui cunctos bos laude ant fero cunctis . thus englished . - ling bound to serve his mr's hands an - is you - bound to do your high command● i 'me and none's you you all are then i 'le you - praise other men . another . a begger once exceeding poore , a penny pray'd me give him , and deeply vow'd nere to aske more and i ne're more to give him , next day he begg'd againe , i gave , yet both of us our oathes did save . another . i hold as faith what rome's church saith where th' king is head the flocks misled where th' alter's drest the peopele's blest hee 's but an asse who shuns the masse who charity preach they heav'n soon reach on faith t' rely is heresy what england's church allows my conscience disavowes the church can have no seame , where the pope's supream there 's service scarce divine where 's table bread and wine who the communion flyes is catholique and wise their church with error 's fraught where only faith is taught no matter for good works make 's christians worse then turks another : there was a man bespake a thing , which when the owner home did bring , he that made it , did refuse it , he that bought it , would not use it , he that hath it doth not know whether he hath it , yea or no. on women . woman 's the centre and the lines are men the circles love , how doe they differ then ? circles draw many lines into the center but love gives leave to onely one to enter . on clarret wine spilt . what 's this that 's spilt ? 't is clarret wine , 't is well 't is spilt , it 's fall sav'd mine . on womans love . a womans love is like a syrian flower , that buds and spreads and withers in an houre . on cooke a cuckold . a young cooke marri'd upon sunday last , and hee grew-old e're tuesday night was past . a butcher marrying a tanners daughter . a fitter match then this could not have bin , for now the flesh is married to the skin . on cupid . cupid , no wonder was not cloath d of old , for love though naked seldom ere is cold . a plain sutor to his love . faire i love thee , yet i cannot sue , and shew my love as masking courtiers doe , yet by the smocke of venus for thy good , i 'le freely spend my thrice concocted blood . . on a passing bell . this dolefull mu●ique of impartiall death , who danceth after , danceth out of breath . on a farmer knighted . in my conceit sir iohn , you were to blame , to make a quiet goodwife a mad●dame . on pallas and bacchus birth . pallas the ofspring of iove's braine , bacchus out of his thigh was ta'ne , he breake 's his braine that learning winns , when he that 's drunk breaks but his shins . on an old man doating on a yong mench . a rich old man loving a faire yong lasse , out of his breeches his spectacles drew , wherewith he read a note , how rich he was : all which ( quoth he ) sweet-heart i 'le give to you excuse me sir ( quoth she ) for all your riches , i le marry none , that wears his eies in 's breeches . clownish court-ship . excellent mrs. brighter then the moon , then scoured p●wter or the silver spoon , fairer then phoebus or the morning star , dainty fair mistrisse by my troth you are , as far excelling dian , and her nimphs , as lobsters crawfish , and as craw fish shrimps . thine eyes like diamonds do shine most cleerly , as i 'm an honest man i lo●e thee dearely . a gen●leman to his love . tell her i love , and if she aske how well ; tell her my tongue told thee no tongue can tell . her answer . say not you love , unlesse you doe , for lying will not honor you . his answer . maddam i love , and love to doe , and will not lye unlesse with you . on a wels●man . the way to make a welshman thinke on blisse , and daily say his prayers on his knees , is to perswade him that most certaiae ' t is , the moon is made of nothing but green cheese , then hee 'l desire of iove , no geater boon , then to be pleas'd in heaven to eate the moon . the vanity of man. that every thing we do , might vaine appeare , we have a veine , for each day in the yeere . to a friend on the losse of his mrs. if thou the best of women didst forgo , weigh if thou found'st her , or didst , make her so , if she was found , know there is more then one , if made , the workman lives though she be gone . on a whore . rosa is faire , but not a proper woman , can any woman proper be that 's common . on a welshman . a welshman comming late into an inn , asked the maid what meat there was within ? cow-heels she answered , and a brest of mutton ; but quoth the welshman , since i am no glutton , either of both shall serve , to night the brest , the heels i' th morning , then light meat is best , at night he tooke the brest , and did not pay , i th' morning tooke his heels and run away . on men and women . i 'll thrives that haplesse family , that showes a cocke that 's silent , and a hen that crows , i know not which lives more unnaturall lives , obeying husbands or commanding wives . on linus . linus told me of verses that he made , riding to london on a trotting jade , i should have known , had he conceal'd the case , even by his verses of his horses pace . on a litle diminutive band . what is the reason of god-dam-me's band , inch-deep ? and that his fashion doth not alter , god-dam me saves a labor , understand , in pulling't off when he puts on the halter . on iulius . by fraud the merchant iulius rakes in pel●e , for heaven he sels , yet hath it not himself . on fine apparell . some that their wives may near and cleanely go , do all their substance upon them bestow : but who a goldfinch fain would make his wife , make 's her perhaps a wag-taile all her life . vpon conscience . many men this present age dispraise , and thinke men have small conscience now adaies . but sure i 'le lay no such fault to their charge , i rather think their conscience is too large . in cornutum . cornutus call'd his wife both whore and slut , quoth she , you 'l never leave your brawling , but. but what quoth he ? quoth she the post or doore , for you have horns to but , if i 'me a whore . a witty passage an old man sitting at a christmas feast , by eating brawn occasioned a jest ; for whilest his tongue and gums chafed about , for want of pales the chafed bore broke out , and lights perchance upon a handsom lasse , that neer him at the table placed was , which when she ' spi'd she pluck'd out of her sleeve a pin and did it to the old man give , saying sith your brawn , out of your mouth doth slip , sir take this pin and therewith close your lip , and bursting into laughter , strain'd so much , as with that strain her back-part spakelow dutch which th' old man hearing , did the pin restore . and bad her therewith close her postern doore . a new married bride . the first of all our sex , came from the side of man i thither am return'd from whence i came . on a pudding . the end is all , and in the end , the praise of all depends , a pudding merri●s double praise , because it hath two ends . answer . a pudding hath two ends ? you lye my brother , for it begins at one , and ends at th' other . on maydes . most maids resemble eve now in their lives , who are no sooner women , then th' are wives , as eve knew no man ere fruit wrought her wo , so these have fruit oft e're their husbands know . on a man whose choice was to be hang'd or married . m. loe here 's the bride , and here 's the tree , take which of these , best liketh thee . r. the choise is bad on either part , the woman's worse drive on the cart . women . were women as little , as they are good , a pease cod would make them a gown and a hood . on a louse . a louse no reason hath to deal so ill , with them of whom she hath so much her will , she hath no tongue to speake ought in their praise , but to back-bite them , finds a tongue all wayes . a courtier and a scholler meeting . a courtier proud walking along the street , hap'ned by chance a scholer for to meet , the courtier said , ( minding nought more then place unto the scholler meeting face to face , to take the wall , base men i le not permit , the scholler said , i will , and gave him it . cede maj●ribus . i took the wall , one rudely thrust me by , and told me the high way did open lye , i thank't him that he would mee so much grace , to take the worse and leave the better place , for if by owners we esteem of things , the wall 's the subjects , but the way the kings . on women . are women saints ? no saints , and yet no devils , are women good ? not good , but needfull evils , so angel like that devils you need not doubt , such needfull evils , that few can be without . on a m●●sitian and his scholler . a man of late did his fair daughter bring to a musitian for to learn● to sing , he fell in love with her , and her beguil'd , with flattering words and she was got with child , her father hearing this was griev'd and said , that he with her but a base-part had playd , for w ch he swore that he would make him smart for teaching of his daughter such a part : but the musitian said , he did no wrong , he had but taught her how to ●ing prick-song . why women weare a fall . a question 't is why women weare a fall , the truth it is to pride they are given all , and pride the proverb saies must have a fall . foras expertus . priscus hath been a traveller , for why ? he will so strangely swagger , swear and ly . liber too wary to thrive . liber is late set up , and wanteth custome , yet great resort hath got , but will not trust 'em : is not his love unto his friend the greater , hee 'l want himselfe , ere hee 'l see him a debtor . on venus and vulcan . i muse , why venus hath such fiery holes , i thinke that vulcan , once there blow'd his coales . detur quod meritum . a courtier kind in speech , curst in condition , finding his faults could be no longer hidden , came to his friend to cleare his bad suspition , and fearing least he should be more then chidden . fell to flatt'ring and most base submission , vowing to kisse his foot if he were bidden . my foot said he ? nay that were too submisse , you three foot higher , well deserve to kisse . gluto , at meales is never heard to talk , for which the more his chaps and chin do walke , when every one that sits about the bord , makes sport to aske ; what gluto ne're a word ? he forc'd to answer being very loath is almost choak'd speaking and eating both . sorte t●a contentus . b●rtus being bid to supper to a lord , was marshall'd at the lower end of the boord , who vext thereat , 'mongst his comrades doth fre● and sweares that he below the salt was set ; but bartus , th' art a fool to fret and sweare , the salt stands on the bord wouldst thou sit there● fovent perjuria furtum . piso hath stoln a silver bole in jest , for which suspected only , not confest , rather then piso will restore your bole , to quit the body , he will cast the soule . the promise breaker . ventus doth promise much , but still doth breake , so all his promises are great and weake ; like bubbles in the water ( round and light ) swelling so great , that they are broke out-right . nummos & demona jungit . bat bids you swell with envy till you burst , so he be rich , and may his coffers fill , bringing th' example of the fox that 's curst , and threatning folks who have least power to kill● for why 't is known , his trade can never fall , that hath already got the devill and all . nil gratum ratione carens . paulus a pamphle● doth in prose present , unto his lord , ( the fruits of idle time ) who farre more carelesse then therewith content , wisheth it were converted into rime : which done and brought him at another season , sayd now ' t is rime , before not rime nor reason . non cessat perdere lusor . aske ficus how his lucke at dicing goes . like to the tide ( quoth he ) it ebbs and flowes , then i suppose his chance cannot be good , for all men know , 't is longer ebbe then flood . volucren● sic decipi● auceps . hidrus the horse-courser ( that cunning mate ) doth with the buyers thus equivocate , claps on his hand , and prayes he may not thrive if that his gelding be not under five . perdat qui cav●at emp●or . nor lesse meant promus when that vow he made , then to give ore his cous'ning tapsters trade , who check'd for short and frothy measure , swore he never would from thence forth fill pot more . virescit vulnere venus . susan 's well sped and weares a velve● hood , as who should know , her breeding hath bin good ? 't is reason she should rise once in her life , that fell so oft before she was a wife . on death . how base hath ●in made man , to feare a thing whichmen call m●rs ? which yet hath lost all sting , and is but a privation as we know , nay is no word , if wee exempt the o , then let good men the feare of it de●ie ▪ all is but o when they shall come to dye . on a rich country gentleman . of woods , of plaines , of hils and vales , of fields , of meades , of parks and pales , of all i had , this i possesse , i need no more i have no lesse . on his mrs. shall i tell you how the rose at first grew red , and whence the lilly whitenes borrowed , you blusht , & straight the rose with red was dight , the lilly kist your hand , and so was white , before such time , each rose had but a stain , and lillies nought but palenes did contayne , you have the native colour , these the dy , and onely flowrish in your livery . to bis mrs. think not deare love that i 'le reveale , those houres of pleasure we do steale , no eye shall see , nor vet the sun , descrie what thee and i have done ; the god of love himself , hose dart did first peirce mine , and next thy heart , he shall not know , that we can tell what sweets in stoln cmoracem●nts dwell , onely this meanes may find it out , if when i dy , phisians doubt what caus'd my death and they to view of all the judgements that are true , rip up my heart oh then i feare , the world will find thy picture there . to mr. ben. iohnson demanding the reason why he call'd his playes ●arks . pray tell me ben , where doth the mistery lurke , what others call a play you call a worke . thus answer'd by a friendin mr. ioh●sons defence . the authors friend thus for the author sayes , bens plays are works , when others works are plaies tempus edax rerum . the sweetest flower in the summers prime , by all agreement is the damaske rose , which if it grow , an● be not pluck'd in time , she sheds her leaves her buds their sent do loose , oh let not things of worth , for want of use fall into all consuming times abuse : the sweetest work that ever nature fram'd , by all agreement is a virgins face , which not enjoy'd , her white and red will fade , and unto all worm eating time give place : oh let not things of worth , for want of use fall into all consuming times abuse . ad aristarchum . be not agriev'd my humerous lines afford , of looser language here and there a word , who undertakes to sweep a common sinke , i cannot blame him , though his broome do stinke . to his mrs. thou send'st to me a heart was crown'd , i tooke it to be thine , but when i saw it had a wound , i knew that heart was mine . a bounty of a strange conceit , to send mine own to me , and send it in a worse estate , then when it came to thee ; the heart i gave thee had no staine , it was intire and sound ; but thou hast sent it back againe , sick of a deadly wound . oh heavens ! how wouldst thou use a heart that should rebellious be , when thou hast kill'd me with a dart , that so much honor'd thee . on a charming beauty . i 'le gaze no more on that bewitched face , since ruin harbors there in every place , for my inchanted soul alike she drowns , with calms and tempests of her smiles and frowns i 'le love no more those cruell eyes of hers , which pleas'd or anger'd still are murtherers , for if she dart like lightning through the ayre , her beames of wrath , she kils me with despaire , if she behold me with a pleasing eye , i surfet with excesse of joy and dy . covetous persons . patrons are latrons , then by this , th' are worst of greedy people , whose cognizance a wolfes head is , and is his mouth a steeple . on a dyer . who hath time hath life , that he denies , this man hath both , yet still he dyes . non verber a sed verba . two schollers late appointed for the field , must , which was weakest to the other yeeld , the quarrell first began about a word , which now should be decided by the sword ; but er'e they drew , there fell that alteration , as they grew friends againe by disputation . in octavium . octavius lying at the point of death , his gelding kindly did to me bequeath : i wanted one , and was in haste to ride , in better time he never could have di'd . ofletting . in bed a yong man with his old wife lay , o wife quoth he i've let a thing to day , by which i feare i am a looser much : his wife replyes youths bargaines still are such ; so turning from him angry at her heart , she unawares let out a thundring — oh wife quoth he , no looser i am now , a marv'lous saver i am made by you : yong men that old wives have may never fell , because old wives quoth he let things so well . in dossum . dosse riding forth the wind was very big and strained court'sie with his perriwig , leaving his sconce behind so voyd of haire , as esops crow might breake her oyster there ; foole he to thinke his haire could tarry fast , when bore as teares up forests with a blast . post dulcia finis amarus . ienkin a welshman that had suires in law , journying to london chanc'd to steale a cow ; for which ( pox on her luck as ne're man saw ) was burnt within the fist , and know not how : being ask'd if well the lawes with him did stand was have her now ( quoth ienkin ) in her hand . in mi●cam . fine minca lisping yea and no forsooth , though little ears , yet keeps a dainty tooth : minca that longs for apples on the tree , in may , before the blossomes fallen be , or will not eate a kentish cherry down , but for a couple , when she payes a crown ; and cares not for a straw-berry or peare , in truth because th' are common every where , yet what is that which may be had for reason , and never comes to minca out of season ? feminae ludifieantur vi●os . kind katherine to her husb and kist these words ; mine own sweet will how dearly do i love thee ● if true ( quoth will ) the world no such affords , and that it 's true i durst his warrant bee , for ne're heard i of woman good or ill , but alwayes loved best her own sweet will. ad t●sserum . tusser , they tell me when thou wert alive , thou teaching thrift , thy self couldst never thrive so like the whetstone many men are wont to sharpen others when themselves are blunt . praestar videri qu●messe . clit●s with clients is well customed , that hath the laws but little studied , no matter clitus so they bring their fees , how ill ●he case and thy advice agrees . tun●●ua res agitur . a jealous merchant that a saylor met , ask'd him the reason why he meant to marry , knowing what ill their absence might beget , that still at sea , constrained are to tarry ? sir ( quoth the saylor ) think you that so strange ? 't is done the time whiles you but walke th' exchange a conference . a dane , a spaniard , a polonian , my selfe , a swisse , with a hungarian , at supper met discoursed each with other , drank , laught , yet none that understood another . in marcum . marcus is not a hypocrite and why ? he flyes all good , to fly hypocrifie . quid ●on verba suadeant . sextus , halfe salv'd his credit with a jest , that at a reckoning this devise had got , when he should come to draw amongst the rest , and saw each man had coine , himselfe had not ; his empty pocket feels and 'gins to say , in sadnes firs here 's not a crosse to pay . stupid binus . sith time flyes fast away , his fastest flight , binus prevents with dreaming day and night . in divites . rich men their wealth as children rattles keep , when playd a while with 't then they fall asleep . in fannium . what furi 's this , his foe whilst fannius flyes , he kils himselfe , for feare of death he dies . to vellius . thou swearest i bowle as well as most men doe , the most are bunglers , therein thou say'st true . in divites iracundos . rich friends ' gainst poore to anger still are prone , it is not well but profitably done . clericus absque libro . when crassus in his office was instal'd , for summs of money , which he yet doth ow , a client by the name of clerk him call'd , as he next day to westminster did go , which crassus hearing whispers thus in 's eare , sirrah you now mistake and much do erre , that henceforth must the name of clerke forbea● , and know i am become an officer . alas ( quoth he ) i did not so much marke , good mr. officer , that are no clerke . durum telum necessitas . coquus with hunger pennilesse constrain'd to call for meat and wine three shillings cost , had suddainly this project entertain'd ; instead of what 's to pay , to call mine host , who being come entreateth him discusse ; what price the law allots for shedding blood : whereto mine host directly answers thus , 't was alwayes fourty pence he understood ; so then quoth coquus to requite your paines pray break my head , & give me what remaines . loves lunacy . before i knew what might belong to war , i was content to suffer many a scar ; yet none could hurt me , 'till at length a boy , disgrace to manhood , wrought my sad annoy , this lad though blind , yet did he shoot a dart which pierc'd my brest and lighted on my heart , yetdid i feel no hurt till from above , i heard a voyce say souldiers you must love , i lik't it well and in this pleasing vaine : i lost my wits to get my heart againe . so his mrs. your lips ( faire lady ) ( if 't be not too much , i beg to kisse , your hand i crave to touch , and if your hand deny that courtesie , ( sweet mistri● ) at your feet i prostrately ; but if your foot spurn my humility , or that your lips think i do aime too high : then let your hand in token of consent , point at the meane , the maine of all content , and i shall leave extreames , and to be blist , rest in your midst where vertue doth consist . to an upstart . thine old frinds thou forgot'st having got wealth no marvaile , for thou hast forgot thy self . suum euique . a strange contention being lately had which kind of musicke was the sweet'st and best , some prais'd the sprightly sound and some the sad some lik't the viols ; and among the rest some in the bag-pipes commendations spoke , ( quoth one stood by ) give me a pipe of smoake . similis doctrina libell● . craesus of all things loveth not to buy so many books of such diversity : your almanack ( sayes he ) yeeld's all the sence , of time's best profit and experience . on tullus . tullus who was a taylour by profession , is late turn'd lawyer , and of large possession . in prodigum . each age of men new fashions doth invent , things which are old , young men do not esteeme : what pleas'd our fathers doth not us content : what flourish'd then we out of fashion deeme . and that 's the cause as i doe understand , why prodigus did sell his fathers land . in medicum . when mingo cryes how doe you sir ? t is thought , his patient's wanteth and his practice's naught : wherefore of late , now every one he meeteth , with i am glad to see you well — he greeteth : but who 'l beleeve him now , when all can tell , the world goes ill with him , when all are well . crispati crines plumae dant calcar am●ri . why is young annas thus with feathers dight ? and on his shoulder weares a dangling lock ? the one foretels hee 'l sooner fly then fight , the other showes hee 's wrapt in 's mothers smock . but wherefore weares hee such a jingling spu● ▪ : o know , he deales with jades that will not sti●● most men mistaken . good , bad , rich , poor , the foolish and the sage , doe all cry out against the present age : ignorance make us thinke our young times good , our elder dayes are better understood : besides griefes past , we easily forget , present displeasures make us sad or fret . on glaucus . glaucus a man , a womans hayre doth weare , but yet he weares the same comb'd out behinde : so men the wallet of their faults doe beare , for if before him , he that fault should finde : i thinke foule shame , would his fayre face invade , to see a man so like a woman made . of batardas . batardas needs would know his horoscope , to see if he were borne to scape the rope : the magus said , ere thou mine answer have , i must the names of both thy parents crave : that said , batardas could not speak , but spit ; for on his fathers name he could not hitt : and out of doores at last he stept with shame , to aske his mother for his fathers name . an idle huswife . fine , neat , and curious misteris butterfly , the idle toy , to please an idiots eyes : you , that wish all good huswives hang'd , for why , your dayes work 's done , each morning as you rise : put on your gown , your ruff , your mask , your chain , then dine and sup , and goe to bed againe . consuetudo lex . two woers for a wench were each at strife , which should enjoy her to his wedded wife : quoth th' one , shee 's mine , because i first her saw , shee 's mine quoth th' other by pye-corner law : where sticking once a pricke on what you buy , it 's then your owne , which no man must deny . in battum . battus affirm'd no poet ever writ , before that love inspir'd his dull-head witt : and that himselfe in love , had wit no more , then one starke mad , though somewhat wise before ▪ to women . you were created angels pure and fayre , but since the first fell , tempting devills you are : you should be mens blisse , but you prove their rod● were there no women men might live like gods . on marriage . wedding and hanging the destinies dispatch , but hanging to some , seemes the better match . quidam erat . a preaching fryar there was , who thus began , the scripture saith there was a certaine man : a certain man ? but i do read no where , of any certaine woman mention'd there : a certaine man a phrase in scripture common ▪ but no place shewes there was a certaine woman : and fit it is , that we should ground our faith , on nothing more then what the scripture saith . against a certaine — for mad-men bedlam , bridewell for a knave , choose whether of those two , th' hadst rather have . loves progresse . loves first approach , delights sweet song doth sing , but in departure , shee woes stinge doth bring . on old scylla . scilla is toothlesse , yet , when shee was young , shee had both teeth enough and to much tongue : what shall i then of toothlesse scilla say , but that her tongue hath worne her teeth away . on gallants cloakes . without , plaine cloth , within , plufh ' t ? but i doubt the wearers worst within , and best without . on banks the usurer . banks feels no lamenesse of his knotty gout , his monyes travaile for him in and out : and though the soundest legges go every day , he toyles to be at hell as soone as they . pecunia praevale●s . tell tom of plato's worth or aristotles ? hang 't give him wealth enough , let wit stop bottl● . on the same . tom vow'd to beat his boy against the wall , and as he strucke , he forth-with caught a fall : the boy deriding said , i doe averre , y' have done a thing , you cannot stand to ●ir . on debt . to be indebted is a shame men say , 〈…〉 vmbras non certus metuit mistrisse maryna starts to see a frog , a naked rapier or a creeping mouse : to hear a gun , or barking mastive dog , or smell tobacco , that defiles her house , to taste of fish , no man alive shall woeher , yet feares she not what flesh can doe unto her . on women . although they seeme us onely to affect , 't is their content , not ours , they most respect : they for their own ends cunningly can feigne , and though they have 't by nature , yet they 'll strain : snre if on earth , by wiles gain'd might be blisse , staight that i were a woman i would wish . on saranzo . soranzos broad-brim'd hat i oft compare , to the vast compasse of the heavenly spheare : his head , the earths globe , fixed under it , whose center is , his wondrous little witt . in cottam . cotta when he hath din'd saith god be prais'd , yet never prayseth god , for meat or drinke : sith cotta speaketh and not practiceth , he speaketh surely what he doth not thinke . de corde & lingua . the tongue was once a servant to the heart , and what it gave shee freely did impart : but now hypocrisie is growne so stronge : shee makes the heart a servant to the tongue . on poverty . if thou be poor , thou shalt be ever so . none now doe wealth but on the rich bestow . women are mens shadowes : follow a shaddow it still flies you , seeme to fly , it will pursue : so court a mistrisse shee denies you , let her alone , she will court you . say are not women tr●ely then , stil'd but the shadwoes of us men ? at morne and even shades are longest , at noone they are , or short or none : so men at weakest they are strongest ; but grant us perfect they 're not known . say are not women truely then stil'd but the shadowes of us men ? in ebriosum . fy man ( saith shee ) but i tell mistrisse an●e , her drunken husband is no drunken man : for those wits , which are overcome with drink , are voyd of reasons and are beasts i thinke . wills errour . will sayes his wife 's so fat , shee scarce can goe , but shee as nimbly answers faith sir no : alas good will thou art mistaken quite , for all men know , that shee is wondrous light . on rome . hate & debate , rome through the world hath spred , yet ro●a a mock is if backeward read : then is●t not strange , rome hate should foster ? no , for out of backward love all hate doth grow . all things have savour , though some very small , nay a box on ●he eare hath no smell at all . act , fortune , and ignorance . when fortune fell asleep , and hate did blinde her , art fortune lost , and ignorance did finde her : sith when , dull ignorance with fortune's store , hath bin enrich'd and art hath still bin poore . on ebrio . see where don ebrio like a dutch-man goes , yet drunke with en●lish ale ; one would suppose : that h●e would shoulder down each door & wall , but they must stand , or he , poor fool ! must fall : on love . love hath two divers wings , as lovers say , thou following him , with one he flies away : with th' other , if thou fly , he followes thee , therefore the last , love , onely use for me . on the same . love , as t is said , doth work with such strange tools , that he can make fooles wise-men , wise-men fools : then happy i , for being nor foole nor wise , love with his toyes and tooles i shall despise . on a wanton . some the word wanton fetch , though with sinal ski● from those that want one to effect their will : if so , i thinke that wantons there are none , for till the world want men , can they want one ! in procos : who woes a wife , thinks wedded men do know ▪ the onely true content , i thinke not so : if woe in wooers bee , that women court , as the word woe in wooers doth import : and woe in woemen too , that courted be , as the word woe , in women we doe see : i thinke 't is better lead a single life , then with this double woe to wooe a wife . ingluviem sequitur fames : curio would feed upon the daintyest fare , that with the court or countrey might compare : for what let 's curio that he need to care , to frolique freely with the proud'st that dare : but this excesse was such in all things rare , as he prov'd banquerout e're he was aware . in corbum . corbus will not , perswade him all i can , the world should take him for an gentle-man : his reason●s this , because men should not deeme , that he is such , as he doth never seem . on priscus mistrisse . priscus commends his mistrisse for a girle , whose lips be rubies , and whose teeth are pearl : th' had need prove so , or else it will be found , he payes too deare ; they cost him many a pound . on women . women thinke wo — men far more constant bee , then wee men , and the letter o wee see : in wo — men ▪ not in we men , as they say , figures earth's constant orbe ; we men say nay : it meanes the moone , which proves ( none thinke it strange women are constant , & most true in change on promises . my mistrisse sweares shee 'd leave all men for me , yea though that iove himselfe should rivall be : shee sweares it , but what women sweare to kind - - loves , may be writ in rapid seas and winde . to his mistrisse . take , oh take those lips a way , that so sweetly were for-sworne : and those eies like breake of day . lights that doe mislead he morne : but my kisses bring againe , seales of love , though seal'd in vaine . hide , oh hide those hills of snow , which thy frozen bosome beares : on whose tops the pinkes that grow , are of those that aprill weares : but first set my poor heart free , bound in those icie chaines by thee . on souldiers . not faith , nor conscience common souldiers carry , best pay , is right ; their hands are mercinary . in diogenem & craesum : when the tubb'd cynicke went to hell , and there , found the pale ghost of golden craesus bare , hee stops ; and jeering till he shrugges againe , sayes o! thou richest king of kings what gaine have all thy large heapes brought thee , since i spie thee here alone , and poorer now then i ? for all i had , i with me bring ; but thou , of all thy wealth haft not one farthing now . on a barber . suppose my barber , when his razors nigh my throat , should then aske wealth and liberty : i de promise sure , the barber askes not this , no , t is a thiefe and feare imperious is . drusiu● and furio. furio would fight with drusius iu the field , because the straw , stout drusiu● would not yeeld , on which their mistrisse trod , they both tid meet , drusius in fight fell dead at furios feet , one had the straw , but with it this greek letter the other lo●t it , pray who had the better ? on cupid . love is a boy , and subject to the rod some say , but lovers say he is a god : i thinke that love is neither god nor boy , but a mad-braines imaginary toy . on durus . a friend of durus comming on a day to visite him , finding the doores say nay ; 〈◊〉 lock'd fast up , first knocks , and then doth pause , as lord have mercy on 's had bin the cause ; but missing it , he ask't a neighbour by when the rich duru's were lock'd and why ? he said it was a custome growne of late at diner time to lock your great man's gate . durus ' his poor friend admir'd & thought the doo● was not for state lock'd up , but 'gainst the poore , and thence departing empty of good cheere , said , lord have mercy on us , is not there . . on a puritane . from impure mouthes now many bear the name of puritane , yet merit not the same , this one shall onely be my puritan that is a knave , yet seems an honest man. . quantum mutatus ab illo . pedes growne proud makes men admire thereat whose baser breeding , should they think not bear it nay , he on cock-horse rides , how like you that ? tut pedes proverb is , win gold and wear it , but pedes you have seen them ri●e in ha●te , that through their pride have broke their necks at last . on bibens . bibens to shew his liberality , made lusus drunk ; a noble quality , and much esteem'd , which bibens fain would prove , to be the signe of his familiar-love . lusus beware , thou 'lt finde him in the end , familiar devill , no familiar friend . on tobacco . things which are common , common men do use , the better sort do common things refuse : yet countrys-cloth-breech , & court-velvet-hose , puff both alike , tobacco , through the nose . in superbum . rustick superbus fine new cloath's hath got , of taffata and velvet , fair in sight ; the shew of which hath so bewitch'd the sot , that he thinks gentleman to be his right . but he 's deceiv'd ; for , true that is of old , an ape 's an ape , though he wear cloth of gold . on infidus . infidus was so free of oathes last day , that he would swear , what e're he thought to say : but now such is his chance , whereat h●'s griev'd , the more he swears , the lesse he is believ'd . on christmas-ivy . at christmas men do alwaies ivie get , and in each corner of the house it set . but why do they , then , use that bacchus weed ? because they mean , then , bacchus-like to feed . on bacchus . pot-lifting - bacchus , to the earth did bend his k●ee , to drink a health unto his friend : and there he did , so long , in liquor pour , that he lay quite sick-drunk upon the floor . judge , was not there a drunkards kindnes shown , to drink his friend a health , and lose his own ? of a fat man. he 's rich , that hath great in-comes by the year ; then that great belly'd man is rich , i le swear : for sure , his belly ne'r so big had bin , had he not daily had great comings-in . vindicta vim sequitur . kitt being kick'd and spurr'd , pursu●s the law , that doom'd the dammage at twice forty pence . w ch , whē the party w ch had wrong'd him , saw ; thought t was too great a fine for such off●nce . why then , quoth kitt , if i too much request , thou maist at any time kick out the rest . on flaccus . flaccus being yong , they said he was a gull ; of his s●mplicity , each mouth was full : and pitying him , they 'd say , the foolish lad would be deceived , sure , of all he had . his youth is past , now may they turn him loose ; for why ? the gull is grown to be a goose. per plumas anser . see how y●ng rufus walks in green each day , as if he ne'r was youthfull untill now : e're christmas next , his green goose will be gray , and those high burnish'd plumes in 's cap will bow . but you do wrong him , since his purse is full ▪ to call him goose , that is so yong a gull. of ienkyn . ienkyn is a rude clown , go tell him so . what need i tell , what he himself doth know ? perhaps he doth not , then he is a sot ; for tell me , what knows he that knows it not ? to fortune . poets say fortune's blinde , and cannot see , and therefore to be born withall , if she sometimes drop gifts on undeserving wights : but sure they are deceiv'd ; she hath her sight , els could it not at all times so fall out , that fools should have , & wise men go without . vnde venis , memora . with earthen plate , agathocles , they say , did use to meal ; so serv'd with samo's clay , when jewell'd plate , and rugged earth was by , he seem'd to mingle wealth and poverty . one ask'd the cause : he answers , i that am si●ilia's king , from a poor potter came . hence learn , thou that art rais'd from mean estate ▪ to sudden riches , to be temperate . on leucus . leucus loves life , yet liveth wickedly ; h● ha●eth death , yet wisheth he may dy honestly and well : so what is naught he loves , and what he would have good , he nought approves . on biscus . i pray you sir , give biscus leave to speak , the gander loves to hear himself to creak . in thrasonem . since thraso met one stoutly in the field , he crakes his spirit , & knows not how to yield ; looks big , swears , strouts with set-side-arms the streets , yet gently yields the wal to al he meets . and to his friends that asks the reason , why ? his an●wer's this , my self i grace thereby : for every one the common proverb knows , that alwaies to the wall the weakest go's . in cornutum . one told his wife , a hart's-head he had bought , to hang his hat upon , and home it brought . to whom his frugal wife , what needs that ca●● ▪ i hope , sweet-heart , your head your hat can bear ▪ on more-dew . more-dew the mercer , with a kinde salute , would needs intreat my custom ● for a suit : here sir , quoth he , for sattins , velvets call , what e're you please , i le take your word for all ▪ i thank'd , took , gave my word ; say than , am i at all indebted to this man ? on sims mariage . six moneths , quoth sim , a suitor , and not sped ▪ i in a sev'n-night did both woo & wed . who gre●n fruit loves , must take long pains to shake ▪ thine was some downfall , i dare undertake . on a wittall . i know my fate , and that must bear ; and since i know , i need not fear . on mopsus . mopsus almost , what e're he means to speak , before it sir-reverence the way must break : such maners hath sir-reverence learnt at school , that now sir-reverence mopsus is a fool . on clym . clym cals his wife , & reck'ning all his neighbors , just half of them are cuckolds , he averrs . nay fie , quoth she , i would they heard you speak ; you of your self , it seems , no reckoning make . turpe lucrum veneris . will in a wilfull humour , needs would wed a wench of wonder , but without a stock ; whose fame no sooner through the street was spred , but thither straight our chiefest gallants flock . put ca●e she 's poor , brings she not chapmen on ? i hope his stock may serve to graff upon . on womens f●ults . wee men in many faults abound , but two in women can be found : the worst that from their sex proceeds , is naught in words , and naught in deeds . si hodie tibi , cras mihi . a scornfull dame , invited over-night , to come and dine next morrow with a knight , refus'd his sudden bidding with disdain . to whom this message was return'd again ; sith with so short time she could not dispence , to pray her come at that day twelve-moneth hence . on law. our civill-law doth seem a royall thing , it hath more titl●s than the spanish king : but yet the common-law quite puts it down , in getting , like the pope , so many a crown . better lost than found . lo here 's a coyner , yet he fears no death , for he ne'r stamps in mettall , but in breath : swears from believe me , & good-faith & troth , up to god-damn-me ; and without an oath protests in nothing , be he ne'r so bare , he 's brave in this , that he can bravely swear . in coam . a nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will coa espy , till she ascend up the corner'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . de ore. os of o , a mouth , scaliger doth make ; and from this letter , mouth his name doth take . i had been in scaligers belief , but that i look'd in o , and saw no teeth . in hugonem . though praise , & please , doth hugo never none , yet praise , and please , doth hugo ever one ; for praise , and please , doth hugo himself alone . fronti nulla fides . cantus that wooll-ward went , was wondred at ; which he excus'd , as done through pure contrition . but who so simple , cantus , credits that ? t is too wel known , thou art of worse condition . and therefore if no linnen thee begirt , the naked truth will prove , thou hast no shirt . on severus . severus is extreme in eloquence , for he creates rare phrase , but rarer sence : unto his serving-man , alias , his boy . h● utters speech exceeding quaint and coy ; diminitive , and my defective slave , my pleasures pleasure is , that i must have my corps coverture , and immediately , t'insconce my person from frigidity . his man believes all 's welsh his master spoke , till he rails english , rogue , go fetch my cloak . on a gallant . what gallant 's that , whose oathes fly through mine ears ? how like a lord of pluto's court he swears ! how dutch-man like he swallows down his drink ! how sweet he takes tobacco , til he stink ! how lofty sprighted , he disdains a boor : how faithfull hearted he is to a — ! how cock-tail proud he doth himself advance ! how rare his spurs do ring the morri●e-dance ! now i protest , by mistris susans fann , he and his boy will make a proper man. against caius . twenty small pieces i 'd have borrowed late , which , if bestow'd , had been a gift not great : for , 't was a rich fri●nd whom i ask'd , and old ; whose crowded chests would scarce his riches hold . he cry's , turn lawyer , and thou 'lt thrive : i'● have no conncell , caius , give me what i crave . on vertue , milla's maid . saith aristotle , vertue ought to be communicative of her self , and free ; and hath not vertue , milla's maid , been so ? who 's grown hereby , as big as she can go . on corydon . an home-spun peasant with his urine-glasse , the doctour ask'd what country-man he was . quoth corydon , with making legs full low , your worship , that , shall ●y my water kn●w . fam● mendax . report , thou sometime art ambitious , at other times , too sparing , covetous ; but many times exceeding envious , and out of time most dev'lish , furious . of some , or all of these , i dare compound thee ; but for a lyer ever have i found thee . on a spanish souldier . a spanish souldier , sick unto the death , his pistoll to 's physician did bequeath . who did demand , what should the reason be , 'bove other things to give him that . ( quoth he ) this , with your practise joyned , you may kill , sir , all alive , and have the world at will. on otho . three daughters otho hath , his onely heirs , but will by no means let them learn to write ; 'cause , after his own humour , much he fears , they 'l one day learn , love-letters to indite . the yongest now 's with childe ; who taught her then , or of her self learn'd she to hold her pen ? on hypocrisy . as venison in a poor mans kitchin 's rare , so hypocrites and usurers in heaven are . on man and woman . when man and woman dies , as poets sung , his heart 's the last that stirs , of hers , the tongue . on fabullus . i ask'd fabullus , why he had no wife ? ( quoth he ) because i 'd live a quiet life . on furnus . furnus takes pains , he need not without doubt ; o yes , he labours much . how ? with the gowt . on a thief . a thief condemned for a hainous crime , was for to lose his tongue at the same time : but he the court intreats with feigned tears , to spare his tongue , and cut off both his ears . to t●is , the judge , and all the bench agreed , a●d for th'executioner sent with speed : who being come , and searching , there was found no ears , but hairs ; at which , all laughed round ▪ sai●h th'ju●ge , thou hast no ears . sir ( quoth the wight ) where there is nought , the king must lose his right . quidn●● ebrietas ? ●ubin reports , his mistris is a punk ; which being told ●er , was no whit dismaid , for sure as death ( quoth she ) the villains drunk ▪ and in that taking , knows not what he said . 't was well excus'd , but oft it comes to pas●e , that true we finde , in vino veritas . infirmis-animosus . ●ontus by no means from his coyn departs , z'foot , will you have of men more than their hearts ? a culina ad curiam . lixa , that long a serving-groom hath been , will now no more the man be known or seen : and reason good , he hath that place resign'd , witnes his cloak , throughout with velvet lin'd . which by a paradox comes thus to passe , the greasie gull is turn'd a gallant asse . fruf●ra vocaveris heri . dick had but two words to maintain him ever , and t●at was , stand ; and after , stand-deliver . but dick's in newgate , and he fears shall never be blest again with that sweet word , d●liver ▪ magnis non est morandum . see how silenus walks accomplished , with due performance of his fathers page : looks back of purpose to be honoured , and on each slight occasion 'gins to rage ; you villain , dog , where hath your stay bin such ▪ quoth he , the broaker would not lend so muc● ▪ puduit sua ●amna referre . such ill successe had dick , at dice , last night , as he was forc'd , next day , play least in sight : but if you love him , make thereof no speeches , he lost his rapier , cloak , and velvet breeches . nimis-docuit consuetudo . old fucus board is oft replenished , but nought thereof must be diminished , vnless some worthless upper-dish or twain ; the rest for service still again remain . his man that us'd to bring them in for show , leaving a dish upon the bench below , was by his master ( much offended ) blam'd : which he , as brief , with answer quickly fram'd ; ' tath been so often brought afore this day , as now ch'ad thoft it self had known the way . poculo junguntur amici . a health , saith lucas , to his loves bright eye ; which no● to pledge , were much indignity : you cannot do him greater courtesie , than to be drunk , and damn'd for company . nullum s●imulum ignaris . caecus awake , was told the sun appear'd , which had the darkness of the morning clear'd : but caecus sluggish , thereto makes reply , the sun hath further far to go than i. detur laus digniori . mistris marina 'mongst some gossips sate , where faces were the subject of their chat ; some look'd too pale , some seem'd too fiery red , some brown , some black , and some ill fashioned . good lord ( quoth she ) you all are much to blame , let 's alone , and praise the maker of the same : her chamber maid , who heard her , standing by , said , then love me , for that you know was i. non p●nna , sed ●sus . caius accounts himselfe accurst of men , only because his lady loves him not : who , till he taught her , could not hold her pen , and yet hath since , another tutor got . caius , it seems , thy skill she did but cheapen , and means to try him at another weapen . an absolute gallant . if you will see true valour here display'd , heare poly-phemus , and be not afraid : d' ye see me wrong'd , and will ye thus restrain me ? sir let me go , for by these hilts i 'le braine ye . shall a base patch , with appearance wrong me ? i 'le kill the villaine , pray do not prolong me ; call my tobacco pu●rified stuffe ? tell me it stinks ? say it is drosse i snuffe ? sirrah what are you ? why sir what would you ? i am a prentice , and will knock you too : o are you so ? i cry you mercy then , i am to fight with none but gentlemen . in dolentem . dolens doth shew his purse , and tels you this , it is mor● horrid than a pest-house is ; for in a pest-house many mortals enter , but in his purse one angell dares not venture . ambo-dexter . two gentlemen of hot and fiery sp'rite , took boat and went up west-ward to go fight ; embarked both , for wend-worth they set sail , and there arriving with a happy gale . the water-men discharged for their fare , then to be parted , thus their minds declare : pray oares , say they , stay here , and come not nigh , we go to fight a little , but here by : the water-men , with staves did follow then , and cry'd , oh hold your hands , good gentlemen , you know the danger of the law , forbear ; so they put weapons up , and fell to swear . on a gallant . sirrah come hither , boy , take view of me , my lady i am purpos'd to go see ; what , doth my feather flourish with a grace ? and this my curled hair become my face ? how decent doth my doublet 's forme appear ? i would i had my sute in hounds-ditch here . do not my spurs pronounce a silv●r sound ? is not my hose-circumference profound ? sir these be well , but there is one thing ill , your taylor with a sheet of paper-bill , vow 's he 'll be paid , and sergeants he hath fee'd ▪ which wait your comming forth to do the deed . boy god-a-mercy , let 〈◊〉 lady stay , i 'le see no counter for her sake to day ▪ in sextum . sextus sixe pockets wears ; two for his uses , the other four , to pocket up abuses . tom's fortune . tom tels he 's robb'd , and counting all his losses , concludes , all 's gone , the world is full of crosses : if all be gone , tom take this comfort then , th' art certain never to have crosse agen . opus & vsus . opus for need , consum'd his wealth apace , and ne're would cease untill he was undone ; his brother vsus liv'd in better case than opus did although the eldest son. 't is strange it should be so , yet here was it , opus had all the land , vsus the wit. a good wi●e . a batchelor would have a wife were wis● , faire , rich , and yong , a maiden for his his bed — nor proud , no● churli●h , but of faultlesse size ; a country huswife , in the city bred . but he 's a fool , and long in vain hath staid ; he should bespeak her , there 's none ready made . on an inconstant mistris . i dare not much say , when i thee commend , lest thou be changed e're my prayses end . in lesbiam . why should i love thee lesbia ? i no reason see , then out of reason , lesbia i love thee . in paulinum . paul by day wrongs me , yet he daily swears . he wisheth me as well as to his soul : i know his drift to damne that he nought cares , to please his body ; therefore good friend paul , if thy kind nature , will affoord me grace , hereafter love me in thy body's place . on zeno. zeno would faine th' old widow egle have ; trust me she 's wise , for she is rich and brave : but zeno , zeno , she will none of you , in my mind she 's the wiser of the two . to cotta . be not wroth cotta , that i not salute thee , i us'd it whilst i wor thy did repute thee ; now thou art made a painted saint , and i , cotta , will not commit idolatry . to women . ye that have beauty , and withall no pity , are like a prick-song lesson without ditty . on creta . creta doth love her husband wondro●s well , it needs no proof , for every one can tell : so strong 's her love , tha● if i not mist ake , it doth extend to others , for his sake . on priscus . why still doth priscus strive to have the wall ? because he 's often dr●nk , and fears to fall . ictus piscator sapit . brutus at length escap'd the surgeons hands , begins to frollique as if all were well ; and would not for the worth of thrice his lands , endure the brunt of such another hell ; but leaves this farewell , for his physicks hire ; the child tha●'s burnt , for ever dreads the fire . on rufus . at all , quoth rufus , set ye , what you dare ? i 'le throw at all , and 't were a peck of gold ; no life lies on 't , then coyn i 'le never spare , why rufus , that 's the cause of all that 's sold. for with franck gamesters it doth oft befall , they throw at all , till thrown quite out of all . on tobacco . tobacco is a weed of so great power , that it ( like earth ) doth all it feeds , devour . ne● vultus indicat virum . dick in a raging deep discourtesie , call'd an a●torny meer necessity : the more kna●e he , admit he had no law , must he be ●louted at by every daw ? . on f●rius . furius a lover was , and had loving fits ▪ he lov'd so madly , that he lost his wits ; yet he lost nought , yet grant i he was mad , how could he loose that which he never had ? fooles fortune . god sends fools fortune , but not to all , for some are great fools , whose fortunes are small . tace sed age . little or nothing said , soon mended is , but they that nothing do , do most amisse . on a mad-màn . one ask'd a mad-man if a wife he had ? a wife , quoth he , i never was so mad . to scilla . if it be true , that promise is a debt , then scill● will her freedome hardly get ; for if she hath vow'd her service to so many , she 'll neither pay them all , nor part from any . yet she to satisfy her debts , desires to yeild her body ( as the la● r●quires . ) nescis , quid serus vesper vehat . lyncus deviseth as he lies in bed , what new apparrell , he were best to make him : so many fashions flow within his head , as much he fears the taylor will mistake him : but he mistook him not , that by the way , did for his old ●uit lay him up , that day . to ficus . ficus hath lost his nose , but knows not how , and that seems strange to every one that knows it : methinks i see it written in his brow , how , wherefore , and the cause that he did loose it . to tell you true , ficus i thus suppose , 't was some french caniball , bit off your nose . of arnaldo . arnaldo free from fault , demands his wife , why he is burthen'd with her wicked life ? quoth she , good husband , do not now repent , i far more burthens bear , yet am content . quis nisi mentis inops — ware profer'd , stinks , yet stay good proverb , stay , thou art deceiv'd , as clients best can say ; who profering trebble fees , for single care , it 's well accepted , gold it is such ware . on a friend inde●d . a reall friend a canon cannot batter ; with nom'nall friends , a squib's a perilous matter . mans ingresse , and egresse . nature , which headlong , into life did throng us , with our feet forward , to our grave doth bring us : what is lesse ours , than this our borrowed breat● ? we stumble into life , we go to death . on bad de●tors . bad debtors are good lyers ; for they say , i 'le pay you without fail , on such a day : come is the day , to come the debt is still , so still they lye , though stand in debt they will. but fulcus hath so oft ly'd in this wise , that now he lies in lud-gate for his lyes . on a foolish dolt . a justice walking o're the frozen thames , the ice about him round , began to crack ; he said to 's man , here is some danger , iames , i prethee help me over on thy back . on panurgus . panurgus pryes in high and low affairs , he talks of forraigne , and our civill state : but for his own , he neither counts nor cares ; that he refers to fortune and his ●ate , his neighbors faults straight in his face he 'l find , but in a bag he laps his own behind . to a sleeping talker . in sleep thou talk'st unfore-thought mysteries , and utter'st unfore-seen things , with close eyes : how wel wouldst thou discourse , if thou wert dead , since sleep , death's image , such fine talk hath bred ? omne simile non est idem . together as we walk'd , a friend of mine , mistook a painted madam for a signe that in a window stood ; but i acquainted , told him it was no woodden signe was painted , but madam — yea true said he , yet 't is little signe of modesty . qui ebrius laudat temperantiam . severus likes not these unseason'd lines , of rude absurdities , times foul abuse , to all posterities , and their assignes , that might have bin , saith he , to better use . what sencelesse gull , but reason may convince , or jade so dull , but being kick'd will wince . on misus . they say the usurer misus hath a mill , which men to powder grindeth cruelly ; but what is that to me ? i feare no ill , for smaller than i am , i cannot be . on wisdome and vertue . wise-men are wiser than good-men , what then ? 't is better to be wiser than wise men . on ducus . ducus keeps house , and it with reason stands , that he keep house , hath sold away his lands , on mysus , and mopsus . mysus and mopsa hardly could agree , striving about superiority : the text which saith that man and wife are one , was the chief argument they stood upon . she held , they both one woman should become : he held , they should be man , and both but one . so they contended dayly , but the strife ; could not be ended , till both were one wife . on photinus . i met photynus at the b. court , cited ( as he said ) by a knave relator : i ask'd him wherefore ? he in laughing sort , told me it was but for a childish matter . how ere he laught it out , he lied not : indee d'twas childish , for the child he got . on ca●triotes . see , see , what love is now betwixt each fist , since castriotes had a scabby wrist : how kindly they , by clawing one another , as if the left ha●d were the right hands brother . new rhetoricke . good arguments without coyn , will not stick , to pay , and not to say's best rhetorick . est mi●i diva parens . ominus wondreth , since he came from wales , what the description of this isle might be ; that ne're had seen but mountains , hils , and dales , yet would he boast , and stand on 's pedegree . from rice ap ric●ard , sprung from dick a cow , be cod was right good gentle-man , look ye now ? on t●irsites . although thirsites have a filthy facae , and staring eyes , and little outward grace : yet this he hath , to make amends for all , nature h●r selfe , is not more naturall . on zoylus . if souldiers may obtain four termes of war , muskets should be the pleaders , pikes the bar : for black bags , bandeleirs , jackets for gownes , angels for fees ; we 'll take no more crack't crowns . on a swearing gallant . what god cōmands , this wretched creature loathes , he never names his maker , but by oathes : and weares his tongue , of such a damned fashion , that swearing is his only recreation . in morning , even assoon as he doth rise , he swears his sleep is scarcely out of 's eyes ; then makes him ready , swearing all the while , the drowzy weather did him much beguile . got ready , he , to dice or tables goes , swearing an oath , at every cast he throws : to dinner next , and then in stead of grace , he swears his stomack is in hungry case . no sooner din'd , but calls , come take away , and swears 't is late , he must goe see a play. there sits , and swears , to all he hears and see 's , this speech is good , that action disagrees . so takes his oa●es , and swears he must make hast , his houre of supper-time is almost past . on a long beard . thy beard is long , better it would thee ●it , to have a shorter be●rd , and longer wit. on my selfe . who seeks to please all men each way , and not himselfe offend ; he may begin to work to day , but god knows when hee 'l end . to the mis-interperter . cease gaul'd backt guilt , those inscious lines to mince , the world wil know y' are rubd if once you wince they hem within their ●eeming critique wall , particularly none , generally all : 'mongst which if you have chanc'd to catch a prick cry we-hy if you will , but do not kick ▪ on a mother and her son having but two eyes betwixt the● , each one . a half blind-boy , born of a half blind mother , peerlesse for beauty , save compar'd to th' other ; faire boy , give her thine eye and she will prove the queen of beauty , thou the god of love . to his quill . thou hast been wanton , therefore it is meet , thou ' shouldst do penance do it in a sheet . of c●irst crucified . when red the sun goes down , we use to say it is a signe , we shall have a faire day : blood red the sun of heaven went down from hence and we have had faire weather ever since . on himselfe . mirth pleaseth some , to others 't is offen●e , some cōmend plain conceits , some profound sence some wish a witty jest , some dislike that , and most would have themselves they know not what then he that would plea●e all , and himselfe too , takes more in hand than he is like to doe . to young men . yong men fly , when beauty darts amorous glances at your hearts , the fixt marke gives your shooter aime , and ladyes lookes have power to maime , now 'twixt their lips , now in ●heir eyes 〈◊〉 a kisse or smile love lyes , then fly betimes for onely they conquer love that run away . the pens prosopopeia to the scrivener . thinike who when you cut the quill , wounded was yet did no ill ; when you mend me , thinke you must mend your selfe , else you 're unjust when you dip my nib in inke , thinke on him that gall did drinke , when the inke sheds from your pen , thinke who shed his blood for men ; when you write , but thinke on this , and you ne're shall write amisse . a raritie . if thou bee'st born to strange sights , things invisible to see : ride ten thousand dayes and nights , till age snow white haires on thee . and thou when thou return'st wilt tell me ; all strange wonders that befell thee , and thou ' lt sweare that no where lives a maiden true and faire . vpon tom tolt●am's nose . the radiant colour of tom toltham's nose , puts down the lilly and obscures the rose ; had i a jewell of such pretious hew , i would present it to some monarch's view , no subject should possesse such jems as those ergo , the king must have tom toltham's nose . vpon thorough-good an unthrif● . thy sir name thorough-good befitteth thee , thou t●orough-good , and good goes thorough thee nor thou in good , nor good in thee doth stay , both of you , thorough goe , and passe away . in amorem . love , if a god thou art , then evermore thou must be mercifull and just , if just thou be , o wherefore doth thy dart , wound mine alone , and not my mistrisse heart ? if mercifull , then why am i to paine reserv'd , who have the truly serv'd ? whiles she that for thy power cares not a fly , ●aughs thee to scorn , and lives at liberty : then if a god thou wilt accounted be heale me like her , or else wound her like me . ariddle on a pound of candles . one evening as cold as cold might bee , with frost and snow , and pinching weather , companions about three times three , lay close all in a bed together ; yet one after other they took● a heat , and dy'd that night all in a sweat . on the new aressings . ladyes that weare black cypresse vailes , turn'd lately to white linnen railes , and to your girdle weare your bands ; and shew your armes in stead of hands : what can you do in lent more meet , as fittest dresse , than weare a sheet : 't was once a band , t is now a cloake , an acorne one day proves an oake , weare but your lawn unto your feet , and then your band will prove a sheet : by which device and wise excesse , you do your pennance in a dresse , and none shall know , by what they see , which lady 's censur'd , which goes free . t●us answered . blacke cypresse vailes are shrouds of night , white linnen railes are railes of light ; which though we to our girdles weare , w'have hands to keepe your armes off there ; who makes our bands to be a cloake , makes iohn a stiles of iohn an oke : we weare our linnen to our feet , yet need not make our band a sheet . your clergie wears as long as wee , yet that implyes conformitie : be wise , recant what you have writ , least you do pennance for your wit : love charmes have power to weave a string shall tye you , as you ty'd your ring , thus by loves sharpe , but just decree you may be censur'd , we go free . amicitia . what 's ●riendship ? 't is a treasure , 't is a pleasure : bred 'twixt two worthy spirits , by their merits : 't is two ●inds in one , meeting never fleeting : two wils in one consenting , each contenting , one brest in two divided , yet not parted ; a double body , and yet single hearted ; two bodies making one , through self election , two minds , yet having both but one affection . ▪ to his mistrisse . i cannot pray you in a studied stile , nor speak words distant from my heart a mile ; i cannot visit hide-parke every day , and with a hackney court my time away ; i cannot spanniolize it weeke by week , or waite a moneth to kisse your hand or cheek ; if when you 'r lov'd you cannot love againe , why doe but say so , i am out of paine . on the queene of bohemia . you meaner beauties of the night , which poorely satisfie our eyes ; more by your number then your light ; the common people of the skies : what are ye when the moon shall rise ? you violets that first appeare , by your purple mantle known ; like proud virgins of the yeere , as if the spring were all your own ; what are you when the rose is blown ? you wandring chaunters of the wood , that fill the ayre with natures layes : thinking your passions understood , by weak accents , where 's your praise , when philomell her voyce shall raise : so when my princesse shall be seen , in sweetnes of her lookes and mind : by vertues first , then choyce a queen , tell me , was she not design'd , th' eclipse and glory of her kind ? to his noble friend . there 's no necessity that can exclude the poorest being from a gratitude ; for when the strength of fortune lends no more , he that is truely thankefull is not poore , yours be the bounty then , mine the great debt , on which no time , nor power can ransome set . fatum supremum . all buildings are but monuments of death , all clothes but winding sheets for our last knell , all dainty fattings for the worms beneath , all curious musique , but our passing bell ; thus death is nobly waited on , for why ? all that we have is but deaths livery . on his mrs. death unjustly we complain of fate , for short'ning our unhappy dayes , when death doth nothing but translate and print ●s in a better phrase ; yet who can choose but weep ? not i , that beautie of such excellence , and more vertue then could dy ; by deaths rude hand is ravish'd hence , sleepe blest creature in thine urne , my sighes , my teares shall not awake thee , i but stay untill my turne and then , oh then ! i 'le overtake thee . aequè facilitas ac difficultas nocet amoris . i love not her that at the first cries i , i love not her that doth me still deny , be she too hard shee 'll cause me to despaire , be she too easie , shee 's as light as faire ; 't is hard to say whether most hurt procure , she that is hard or easy to allure , if it be so , then lay me by my side the hard , soft , willing and unwilling bride . in monumenta westminsteriensia . mortality behold and feare , what a change of flesh is here ; thinke how many royall bones , sleep within this heap of stones , here they ly , had realmes and lands ; who now want strength to stir their hands ; where from their pulpits seel'd with dust , they preach , in greatnes is no trust ; here 's an acre sown indeed , with the richest royal'st seed , that the earth did e're suck in since the first man dy'd for sin , here the bones of birth have cry'd , though gods they were , as men they dy'd : here are sands , ignoble things , drop'd from the ruin'd sides of kings ; here 's a world of pompe and state , buried in dust , once dead by fate . semel it sa●ivimus . beldam , god blesse thee , thou want'st nought but wit and having gotten that , we 'r freed from it , bridewell , i cannot any way dispraise thee for thou dost feed the poore and jerke the lazie . new-gate , of thee i cannot much complaine ; for once a moneth , thou freest men out of paine , but from the counters gracious lord defend us : to bedlam , bridewell , or to new gate send us , for there in time wit , worke , or law sets free ; but here wit , work , nor law gets liberty . on the marriage of one turbolt , with mrs. hill. what are deucalions dayes return'd that we , a turbolt swimming on a hill do see ? what shall we in this age so strange report , that fishes leave the sea on hils to sport ? and yet this hill , though never tir'd with standing lay gently down to give a turbolt landing . vpon annas marriadge with a lawyer . anne is an angell , what if so shee be ? what is a angell ? but a lawyers fee. in cupidinem . who grafts in blindnes may mistake his stock , love hath no tree , but that whose bark is smock . aenigma . the devill men say in devonshire dy'd of late ; but devonshire lately liv'd in rich estate , till rich his toyes did devonshire so bewitch , as devonshire dy'd and left the devill rich . on cupid . why feign they cupid robbed of sight ; can he whose seat is in the eye , want light ? a● answer . experience shews , and reason doth decree that he who sits in 's owne light cannot see . barten holiday to the puritan on his technogamia . 't is not my person , nor my play , but my sirname , holiday , that does offend thee , thy complaints are not against me , but the saints ; so ill dost thou endure my name , because the church doth like the same , a name more awfull to the puritane then talbo● unto france , or drake to spaine ▪ on a picture . this face here pictur'd time shall longer have , then life the substance of it , or the grave , yet as i change from this by death i know , i shall like death , the liker death i grow . in meretrices . the law hangs theeves for their unlawfull stealing , the law carts bawds for keeping of the doore , the law doth punish rogues , for roguish dealing , the law whips both the pander and the whore ; but yet i muse from whence this law is grown ; whores must not steal , yet must not use their own . on the citty venice . when in the adriatick neptune saw how venice stood , and gave the seas their law , boast thy tarpeian towers , now iove said he , and mars thy wals , if tiber 'fore the sea thou dost prefer , view both the cities ods , thou'l● say that men built rome , venice , the gods . to a lady that every morning used to paint her fa●e . preserve what nature gave you , nought's more base , th●n belgian colour on a roman face , much good time 's lost , you rest your faces debtor , and make it worse , striving to make it better . on a cuckold . my friend did tax me seriously one morne , that i would weare , yet could not winde a horne and i reply'd he perfect truth should find it , many did weare the horn that could not wind it , howe're of all that man may weare it best , who makes claime to it as his ancient crest . vpon marriage . marriage as old men note , hath likened bin unto a publiq●e feast or common route , where those that are without , would fain get in , and those that are within would faine get out . quicquid non nummus . the mony'd man can safely saile all seas , and make his fortune as himselfe shall please , he can wed danae , and command that now acrisius selfe that fatall match allow : he can declaime , chide , censure verses , write , and do all things better then cato might ; he knows the law and rules it , hath and is whole servius , and what labeo can possesse , in briefe let rich men wish what e're they love , 't will come , they in a lock'd chest keep a iove . on annas a news-monger . annas hath long eares for all news to passe : his eares must needs be long for hee 's an asse . semel in●anivimus omnes . thus have i waded through a worthlesse taske , whereto i trust there 's no exception ta'ne , for meant to none , i answer such as aske , 't is like apparell made in birchen lane ; if any please to suit themselves and weare it , the blames not mine but theirs that needs will weare it . to aulus . some ( speaking in their own renown ) say that this book , was not exactly done ; i care not much , like banquets , let my bookes rather be pleasing to the guests then cooks . ad sesquipedales poetastros . hence brauron's god to tauriminion , and you levaltoring corybants be gone ; fly thundring bronsterops to hippocrene , and maur●s to nimph nursing mytelene ; grisly maegera's necromantique spell depart to blacke nights acheronticke cell : avaunt transformed epidarian , unto th' antipod isles of tabraban , away cyllenius plumy-pinnion'd god , with thy peace making wand , snake charming rod and all the rest not daring looke upon vranus ' blood-borne brood , and fell typhon chimaera's victor great bellepheron ; thou vanquisher of spanish geryon , stout asdruball sicilian lord of yore , thou that destroyd'st the calidonian bore ; couragious conqueror of creetes minotaure , thou pride of mermeros ' cloudy semitaure . perseus whose marble stone transforming shield ; enfor●'d the whale , andromeda to yeeld , you argonautes that scour'd syndromades , and pass't the quicke sands of semplegades , helpe demogorgon , king of heaven and earth , chaos lucina at litigiums birth , the world with child looks for delivery of cannibals or poetophagie ; a devillish brood , from ericthonius , from iphidemia , nox , and erebus , chide pegasus for op'ning helicon , and poets damn to pery-phlegeton , or make this monstrous birth abortive be or else i will shake hands with poetrie . a serving man. one to a serving man this councell sent , to get a master that 's intelligent ; then if of him no wages he could get , yet he would understand he 's in his debt . two theeves . two theeves by night began a lock to pick , one in the house awake ; thus answer'd quick , why how now ? what a stir you there do keep , goe home again , we are not yet asleep . a physitian and a farrier . a neate physitian for a farrier sends to dresse his horse , promising him amends . nay ( quoth the farrier ) amends is made , for nothing do we take of our own trade . a poore peasant . a poore man being sent for to the king , began to covet much a certaine thing before he went : being but an iron naile , his friend did aske him what it would availe ? ( quoth he ) this is as good as one of steele , for me to knock now into fortunes wheele . three pages . three pages on a time together met , and made a motion , that each one would let the other know what hee 'd desire to be having his wish , thereto they did agree . quoth one , to be a melon i would chuse , for then i 'm sure , none would refuse to kisse my breech although the sent were hot , and so they 'd know whether i were good or not . a gentleman and his phisitian . a gentleman not richest in discretion , was alwayes sending for his own phisition . and on a time he needs would of him know , what was the cause his pulse did go so slow ? why ( quoth the doctor ) thus it comes to passe , must needs go slow , which goes upon an asse . a peasant and his wife . a peasant with his wife was almost wilde , to understand his daughter was with childe , and said if to the girle sh 'ad taken heed , sh 'ad not been guilty of so foule a deed . husband ( said she ) i sweare by cock , ( welfare a good old token ) the dev●ll him selfe can't keep that lock which every key can open . g-l-asse . he that loves glasse without a g , leave out l and that is hee . — nihil hic nisi carmina desunt . epitaphs . . on a travelling begger . here lies a vagrant person whom our lawes , ( of late growne strict ) denied passage , cause hee wandred thus , therefore returne he must , from whence at first he hither came , to dust . . on a mason . so long the mason wrought on other's walles , that his owne house of clay to ruine falles : no wonder spitefull death , wrought his annoy , he us'd to build , and death seekes to destroy . . on a dyer . though death the dyer colour-lesse hath made , yet he dies pale , and will not leave his trade ; but being dead , the meanes yet doth not lacke to die his friends cloth into mourning blacke . some sure foresaw his death , for they of late vs'd to exclaime upon his dying fate . and weake , and faint , he seem'd oft-times t' have been , for to change colours , often he was seen ; yet there no matter was so foule , but he would set a colour on it handsomlye . death him no unexpected stroke could give that learnt to dye , since he began to live . he shall yet prove , what he before hath try'd , and shall once more , live after he hath dy'd . . of a schoolemaster . the grāmer schoole a long time taught i have , yet all my skill could not decline the grave , but yet i hope it one day will be show'ne in no case save the ablative alone . . on william shake-speare . renowned spencer lye a thought more nigh to learned chaucer , and rare beaumont lye a little neerer spencer , to make roome for shake-speare in your threefold , fourefold tombe to lodge all foure in one bed make a shift vntill doomes d●y , for hardly will a fifth betwixt this day and that by fates be slaine ▪ for whom your curtaines may be drawn againe . if your precedencie in death doe barre a fourth place in your sacred sepulchre ; vnder this sacred marble of thine owne , sleepe rare tragaedian shake-speare ! sleep alone . thy unmolested peace in an unshared cave possesse as lord , not tenant of thy grave . that unto us , and others it may bee honour hereafter to be laid by thee . . on a youth . now thou hast heaven for merit , but 't is strange mortality should ●nvie at thy change : but god thought us unfit , for such as thee , and made thee consort of eternitye . we grieve not then , that thou to heaven art takē but that thou hast thy friends so soone forsaken ▪ . on prince henry . i have no veine in verse , but if i could , distill on every word a pearle i would . our sorrowes pearles drop not from pens , but eies , whilst other's muse ? write , mine onely cries . . on a foot-boy that dyed with overmuch running . base tyrant death thus to assaile one tyr'd who scarse his latest breath beeing left expir'd ; and being too too cruell thus to stay so swift a course , at length ran quite away . but pretty boy , be sure it was not death that left behind thy body out of breath : thy soule and body running in a race , thy soule held out ; thy body tyr'd apace , thy soule gained , and left that lump of clay to rest it selfe , untill the latter day . . on hobson the carrier . hobson , ( what 's out of sight is out of mind ) is gone , and left his letters here behind . he that with so much paper us'd to meet ; is now , alas ! content to take one sheet . . another . he that such carriage store , was wont to have , is carried now himselfe unto his grave : o strange ! he that in life ne're made but one , six carriers makes , now he is dead and gone . . another . here hobson lyes , prest with a heavy loade , who now is gone the old and common roade ; the waggon he so lov'd , so lov'd to ride , that he was drawing on , whilst that he dy'd . . another . hobson●s not dead but charles the northerne swaine hath sent for him , to draw his lightsome-waine . . on a treachero●s warrener . behold here lyes a scalded pate quite bare ▪ in catching conies , who lost many a hare . . on a faire damosell . life is the road to death , & death heavens gate must be , heaven is the throne of christ , & christ is life to me . . on a foot-man . this nimble foot-man ran away from death , and here he rested being out of breath ; here death him overtooke , made him his slave , and sent him on an errand to his grave . . on queene anne , 〈◊〉 dyed in march , was kept all aprill , and buried in may. march with his winds hath strucke a cedar tall , and weeping april mournes the cedar's fall ; and may intēds her month no flow'rs shal bring since she must lose , the flow'r of all the spring . thy march his winds have caused april show'rs and yet sad may must lose his flow'r of flow'rs . . iustus lipsius . some have high mountaines of parian stone , and some in brasse carve their inscription , some have their tombes of costly marble rea●'d , but in our teares , onely art thou interr'd . . on a child of two yeeres old , being borne and dying in iuly . here is laid a july-flow'r with surviving teares bedew'd not despayring of that houre when her spring shall be renew'd ; e're she had her summer seene , shee was gather'd , fresh and greene . . another . like bird of prey , death snatcht away , this harmelesse dove , whose soule so pure is now secure in heaven above . . another . that flesh is grasse it 's grace a flower reade e're you passe whom wormes dovour● . . on a cobler . death at a coblers doore oft made a stand , and alwaies found him on the mending hand ; at last came death in very foule weather , and ript the soale , from the upper leather : death put a trick upon him , and what was 't ? the cobler call'd for 's awle , death brought his laste . . on a lock-smith . a zealous lock-smith dy'd of late , who by this time 's at heaven-gate the reason why he will not knocke is , 'cause he meanes to picke the locke . . on a collier . here lies the collier jenkin dashes , by whom death nothing gain'd he swore , for living he was dust and ashes : and being dead , he is no more . . on dick pinner . here lyes dick pinner , o ungentle death ! why did'st thou rob dick pinner of his breath ? for living , he by scraping of a pin made better dust , then thou hast made of him . . on m. thomas best . with happie stars he sure is blest , where ● ere he goes , that still is best . . on robyn . round robyn's gone , & this grave doth inclose the pudding of his doublet and his hose . . on proud tygeras . proud and foolish , so it came to passe , he liu'd a tyger , and he dy'd and asse . . on iohn cofferer . here lyes iohn cofferer , and takes his rest , now he hath chang'd a coffer for a chest . . on blind and deafe dicke freeman . here lyes dicke freeman that could not heare , nor see man. . on a miller . death without warning , was as bold as briefe , when he kill'd two in one , miller & thiefe . . on a disagreeing couple . hîc jacet ille , qui ●enties & mille : did scold with his wife , cùm illo jacet illa , quae communis in villâ did quittance his life : his name was nicke , the which was sicke , and that very mal● , her name was nan , who lou'd well a man , so gentlemen vale . . on a sack-sucker . good reader blesse thee , be assur'd , the spirit of sack lyes here immur'd : who havock'd all he could come by for sack , and here quite sack'd doth lye . . on a lady . here lyes one dead under this marble stone , who when she liv'd , lay under more than one ▪ . on a westler . death to this wrestler , gave a fine fall ▪ that tript up his heeles , and tooke no hold at all . . on iohn death . here 's death intterred , that liu'd by bread , then all should live , now death is dead . . on a scrivener . here to a period , is the scrievener come , this is the last sheet , his full point this tombe . of all aspersions i excuse him not , 't is knowne he liu'd not , without many a blot ; yet he no ill example shew'd to any , but rather gave good coppies unto many : he in good letters alwaies hath beene bred and hath writ more , then many men have read . he rulers had as his command by law , and though he could not hang , yet he could draw . he far more bond men had & made than any , a dash alone of his pen ruin'd many . that not without good reason , we might call hi● letters great or little capitall : yet is the scriveners fate as sure as just , when he hath all done , then he falls to dust . . on a chandler . how might his dayes end that made weekes ? or hee that could make light , here laid in darkenes bee ? yet since his weekes were spent how could he chose but be depriu'd of light & his trade lose ▪ yet dead the chandler is , and sleep's in peace , no wonder ! long since melted was his greace : it seemes that he did evill , for daylight he hated , and did rather wish the night , yet came his workes to light , & were like gold prou'd in the fire , but could not tryall hold . his candle had an end , and death's black night is an extinguisher of all his light . . on a young gentle-woman . nature in this small volume was about to perfect what in women was left out ; yet carefull least a peice so well begun should want preservatives when she had done : e're she could finish , what she undertooke , threw dust upon it , and shut up the booke . . on an infant . the reeling world turn'd poet , made a play , i came to see 't , dislik't it , w●nt my way . . on a lady dying quickly after her husband . he first deceased , she a little try'd to live without him , liked not , and dy'd . . on a smith . farewell stout iron-side , not all thine art could make a shield against death's envious dart . without a fault no man , his life doth passe , for to his vice the smith addicted was . he oft , ( as choller is encreas't by fire ) was in a ●ume , and much enclin'd to ire . he had so long bin us'd to forge , that he was with a blacke coale markt for forgery but he for witnesse needed not to care , who but a blacke-smith was , though ne●'e so fayre . and opertunities he slacked not that knew to strike , then when the●ir'n was hot as the doore-nailes he made , hee 's now as dead , he them , & death him , hath knockt on the head . . on mr. stone . jerusalems curse is not fulfill'd in mee , for here a stone upon a stone you see . . on a child . into this world as stranger to an inne this child came guest-wise , where when it had beene a while and f●und nought worthy of his stay , he onely broke his fast & went away . . on a man drown'd in the snow . within a fleece of silent waters drown'd ; before my death was knowne a grave i found . that which exil'd my life from her sweet home , for griefe straight froz it selfe into a tombe . one element my angry fate thought meet to be my death , grave , tombe , & winding-sheet , phaebus himselfe mine epitaph had writ , but blotting many e're he thought one fit ; he wrote untill my grave , and tombe were gone , and ●twas an epitaph that i had none ; for every one that passed by that way , without a sculpture read that there ● lay ; here now the second time untomb'd i lye , and thus much have the best of destinie : corruption from which onely one was free , devour'd my grave but did not feede on mee : my first grave tooke me from the ●ace of men , my last shall give me backe to life agen . . on prince henry . in natur's law 't is a plaine case to dye , no cunning lawyer can demurre on that ; for cruell death and destiny , serve all men with a latitat . so princely henry ; when his case was try'd , confess'd the action , paid the debt , and dy'd . . on mr. strange . here lyes one strange , no pagan , turke , nor jew it 's strange , but not so strange as it is true . . on a scholler . forbeare friend t' unclaspe this booke onely in the fore-front looke , for in it have errours bin , which made th' authour call it in : yet know this , 't shall have more worth , at the second comming forth . . on a young woman . the body which within this earth is laid , twice sixe weekes knew a wife , a saint , a maid ; fair maid , chast wif , pure saint , yet 't is not strange she was a woman therefore pleas'd to change : and now shee 's dead , some woman doth remaine for still she hopes , on●e to be chang'd againe . . on brawne . here br●wne the quondam begger lyes ▪ who counted by his tale , full sixscore winters in his life ; such vertue is in ale . ale was his meate , ale was his drinke , ale did him long reprive , and could he still have drunke his ale , he had beene still alive . . on a lyar . good passenger ! here lyes one here , that living did lie every where . . on a dyer . he lives with god none can deny , that while he liv'd to th' world did dye . . on a candle . here lyes ( i wot ) a little star that did belong to jupiter , which from him prometheus stole and with it a fire-coale . or this is that i meane to handle , here doth lie a farthing-candle that was lov●d well , having it's light , but losing that , now bids good-night . . another . here lyes the chandlers chiefest say here lyes the schollers pale-fac'd boy , having nought else but skin and bone dy'd of a deepe consumption . . on m. r. who soonest dyes lives long enough , our life is but a blast or puffe . i did resist and strive with death but soone he put me out of breath ; he of my life thought to bereave me but i did yeeld onely to breathe me . o're him i shall in triumph sing , thy conquest grave , where is thy sting ? . on an inne-keeper . it is not i that dye , i doe but leave an inne , where harbour'd was with me all filthy kind of sin ; it is not i that dye , i doe but now begin into eternall joy by faith to enter in . why weepe you then my friends , my parents & my kin lament ye whē i lose , but weep not when i win . on hobson the carrier . whom seeke ye sirs ? old hobson ? fye up●n your tardinesse , the carrier is gone . why stare you so ? nay you deserve to faile , alas here 's naught , but his old rotten maile . her went a good-while since , no question store are glad , who vext he would not goe before : and some are grieu'd hee 's gone so soone away , the lord knowes why he did no longer stay . how could he please you all ? i 'm sure of this , he linger'd soundly howsoe're you misse . but gone he is , nor was he surely well at his departure as mischance befell , for he is gone in such unwonted kinde as ne're before , his goods all left behinde . . on bolus . if gentlenesse could tame the fates , or wit delude them , bolus had not dyed yet ; but one that death o're rules in judgement sits , and saies ou● sins are stronger than our witts . . on iuggler . death came to see thy trickes and cut in twaine thy thread , why did'st not make it whole againe . on a child . a child and dead ? alas ! how could it come ? surely thy thread of life was but a thrumme . . on a clowne . softly tread this earth upon , for here lyes our corydon who through care to save his sheepe watcht too much , oh let him sleepe ! . on queene anne . thee to invite the great god sent his star , whose friends & kinsmen mightie princes are for though they run the race of men and dye , death serves but to refine their majesty . so did the queen from hence her court remove , and left the earth to be enthron'd above . thus is she chang'd not dead , no good prince dyes but like the day-star , onely sets to rise . . on sir horatio palavozeene . here lyes sir horatio palavozeene , who robb'd the pope to pay the queene , and was a theife . a theife ? thou ly'st : for why , he robo'd but antichrist . him death with his beesome sweept from babram , into the bosome of old abraham : but then came hercules with his club , and struck him downe to belzebub . . on an onely child . here lyes the fathers hope , the mothers joy , though they seeme haplesse , happy was the boy who of this life , the long and tedious race , hath travell'd out in lesse then moneth 's space ; oh happie soule to whom such grace was given ▪ to make so short a voyage backe to heaven , as here a name & christendome t' obtaine and to his maker then returne again● . . another . as carefull nurses on their beds doe lay , their babes which would too long the wantons play ▪ so to prevent my youth's ensuing crimes nature my nurse laid me to bed betimes . . on a mu●●tian . be not offended at our sad complaint , you quire of angels , that have gain'd a saint ! where all perfection met in skill and voice , we mourne our losse , but yet commend your choyce . . on prince henry . did he dye young ? oh no , it could not be , for i know few , that liv'd so long as he . till god and all men lov'd him , then be bold the man that lives so long must needs be old . . on a cobler . come hither , reade , my gentle friend ! and here behold a cobler's end . longer in length his life had gone , but that he had no laste so long ; o mighty death ! whose dart can kill , the man that made him soules at will. . on master doe . do is my name , and here i lye , my grammar tells me , do fit di. . on a gard'ner . could hee forget his death that ev'ry houre was emblem'd to it , by the fading flowre ? should hee not mind his end ? yes sure he must that still was conversant 'mong beds of dust . . on edmund spencer , poet laureat . he was , and is ( see then where lyes the od●s ) once god of poets , poet now to th' gods , and though his time of life , be gone about , the life of his lines never shall weare out . . ou taylour a sergeant , kill'd by a horse . a taylour is a thiefe , a sergeant is worse who here lyes dead , god-a-mercy horse . . on sir francis drake , drowned . where drake first found , there last he lost his fame and for his tombe left nothing but his name . his body 's buried under some great wave , the sea that was his glory , is his grave . of him no man , true epitaph can make , for who can say , here lies sir francis drake ? . on a drunkard . by●ax the drunkard , while he liv'd would say , the more i drinke the more me think 's i may : but see how death ha●h prov'd his saying just , for he hath drunke himselfe as dry as dust . . on a child . tread softly passenger ! for here doth lye a dainty jewell of sweet infancie : a harmelesse babe , that onely came & cry'd in baptisme to bee washt from sin and dy'd . . another . in this marble-casket lyes a matchlesse jewell of rich prize whom nature in the worlds disdaine but shew'd and put it up againe . . on master stone . here worthy of a better chest , a pretious stone inclos'd doth rest whom nature had so rarely wrought that pallas it admir'd and thought , no greater jewell , than to weare still such a diamond in her eare : but sicknesse did it from her wring , and placed it in libitina's ring , who changed natures worke a new and death's pale image , in it drew ▪ pitty that paine had not been sav'd ▪ so good a stone to be engrav'd . . on master aire . vnder this stone of marble fayre lyes th'body ' ntomb'd of gervase aire . he dy'd not of an ague fitt nor surfetted of too much witt , me thinks this was a wond'rous death , that aire should dye for want of breath . . on a young man. surpriz'd by griefe and sicknesse here i lye , stopt in my middle age and soone made dead , yet doe not grudge at god , if soone thou dye , but know hee trebles favours on thy head . who for thy morning worke , equalls thy pay , with those that have endur'd the heate of day . on master sand's . who would live in others breath ? fame deceives the dead mans trust , when our names doe change by death ; sands i was and now am dust . . on a scholler . some doe for anguish weepe , for anger i , that ignorance should live , and arte should dye . . on master goad . go adde this verse , to goad's herse , for goad is gone , but whither ? goad himselfe , is gone to god 't was death's goad drove him thither . . on master munday . hallowed be the sabboath , and farewell all worldly pelfe ; the weeke begins on tuesday , for munday hath hang'd himselfe . . on the two littletons who were drowned at oxford . . herelye wee ( reader canst thou not admire ? ) who both at once by water dy'd and fire , for whilst our bodies perisht in the deepe , our soules in love burnt , so we fell asleepe , let this be then our epitaph , here lyes two , yet but one , one for the other dyes . . on a matron . here lyes a wife was chaste , a mother blest , a modest matron , all these in one chest : sarah unto her mate , mary to god , martha to men , whilst here she had abode . . in latine thus . vxor casta , parens foelix , matrona pudica , sara viro , mundo mart●a , maria de● . . on a butler . that death should thus from hence our butler into my minde it cannot quickly sinke , sure death came thirsty to the butt'ry-hatch catch when he ( that buisy'd was ) deny'd him drinke . tut 't was not so , 't is like he gave him liquour and death made drunke , him made away the quicker yet let not others grieve to much in mind ( the butlers gone ) the key 's are left behind . . on a souldier . when i was young in warres i shed my blood , both for my king and for my countries good ; in elder yeares , my care was chie●e to be souldier to him that shed his blood for me . . on a tobacconi●t . loe here i lye , roll'd up like th' indian weede my pipes i have pack't up , for breath i neede . man's breath 's a vopour , he himselfe is grasse my breath , but of a weede , the vapour was . when i shal turne to earth , good friends ! beware least it evap'rate and infect the ayre . . on master thomas allen. no epitaphs neede make the just man fam'd , the good are prays'd , when they are only nam'd . on master cooke . to god , his country , and the poore , he had a zealous soule , free heart , and lib'rall minde . his wife , his children , and his kindred sad lacke of his love , his care , and kindnesse finde : yet are their sorrowes asswag'd w th the thought he hath attayn'd the happinesse he sought . . on a printer whose wife was lame . sleep william ! sleep , she that thine eyes did close makes lame iambiques for thee , as shee goes . . on a taylour who dy'd of the stitch . here lyes a taylour in this ditch , who liv'd and dyed by the stitch . . on a dumbe fellow dying of the collicke . here lyes iohn dumbello , who dy'd because he was so for if his breech could have spoke , his heart sur●ly had not broke . . on isabella a curtezan . he who would write an epitaph whereby to make faire is'bell laugh , must get upon her , and write well here underneath lyes isabell. . on a vertuous wife , viz. susanna wife to mr. william horsenell . in briefe , to speake thy praise let this suffice , thou wert a wife , most loving , modest , wise ; of children carefull , to thy neighbour's kind , a worthy mistris and of liberall mind . . on m. christopher lawson . death did not kill unjustly this good-man , but death in death by death did shew his power , his pious deedes & thoughts to heaven fore-ran ; there to prepare his soule a blessed bower . . on hobson the carrier . here hobson lyes amongst his many betters , a man unlearned , yet a man o● letters , his carriage was well knowne , oft hath he gone in embassye 'twixt father and the sonne ; there 's few in cambridge , to his praise be it spoken but may remember him , by some good token : from whence he rid to london day by day , till death benighting him , he lo●t his way , his teame was of the best , nor would he have benee min'd in any way , but in the grave . nor is 't a wonder , that he thus is gone , since all men knew , he long was drawing on . thus rest in peace thou everlasting swaine and supreame waggoner , next charles his wayne . . on a welshman . here lyes puried under these stones shon ap williams ap ienkyn ap iones , her was porne in wales , her was kill'd in fra●●e her went to cottpy a fe●y mischance , la yee now ▪ . on m. pricke . vpon the fith day of november christ's colledge lost a privie , member ▪ cupid and death did both their arrowes micke , cupid shot short , but death did hit the pricke . women lament and maidens make great mones because the pri●ke 〈…〉 the stones . . 〈…〉 porter . at length by worke of wond'rous face here lyes the porter of wynchester-gate : if gone to heav'n , as much i feare , he can be but a porter there : he fear'd not hell so much for 's sinne , as for th' great rapping and oft comming in . . on m. carter , burnt by the great powder - mischance in finsbury . here lyes an honest carter ( yet no clowne ) vnladen of his cares , his end the crowne , vanisht from hence even in a cloud of smoake , a blowne-up citizen , and yet not broke . . on a lady dying in child-bed . borne at the first to bring another forth , shee leaves the world , to leave the world her worth thus phaenix-like , as she was borne to bleede dying herselfe , renew's it in her seede . . on prince henry . loe where he shineth yonder a fixed starre in heaven , whose motions thence , coms under none of the planets seven : if that the moone shou'd tender , the sunne her love and marry , they both could not ●ngender , so bright a starre as harry . . vpon one , who dy'd in prison . reader , i liv'd , enquire no more , least a spye enter in at doore , such are the times a dead-man dare not trust or creditt common ayre : but dye , and lye entombed here , by me , i 'le whisper in thine eare such things as onely dust to dust , ( and without witnesse ) may entrust . . on sir walter rawleygh . if spite be pleas'd , when as her object 's dead , or malice pleas'd , when it hath bruiz'd the head or envie pleas'd , when it hath what it would , then all are pleas'd , for rawleyh's blood is cold , which were it warme & active would o'recome and strike the two first blind , the other dumbe . . on doctour hacket's wife . drop mournful eyes your pearly trick'ling teares flow streames of sadnesse , drowne the spangled spheares fall like the tumbling cataracts of nile , make deafe the world with cries ; let not a smile appeare , let not an eye be seene to sleepe nor slumber , onely let them serve to weepe her deare lamented death , who in her life was a religious , loya●l , loving wife , of children tender to an husband kinde th' undoubted symptoms of a vertuous minde ▪ which mak's her glorious , bove the highest pole , where angels sing sweet requicins to her soule shee liv'd a none-such , did a non-such dye neere non-such here her corpes interred lye . . on waddham . colledge-butler . man's life is like a new turn'd caske they say , the fore-most draught is most times cast aw●y , such are our younger yeares , the following still , are more and more inclining unto ill ; such is our man-hood , untill age at length , doth sowre it's sweetnes ▪ & doth stop it's strēgth then death prescribing to each thing it's 〈◊〉 takes what is left , and tu●nes it all to grounds . . on a horse . here lyes a horse , who dyed but to make his master goe on foot . a miracle should it be so the dead to make the lame to goe ; yet fate would have it , that the ●ame should make him goe , that made him lame . . on aratyne . here biting aretyne lyes buried , with gall more bitter never man was fed ▪ the living , nor the dead to carpe he spar'de , nor yet for any king or caesar car'd . onely on god to rayle he had forgot ▪ his answer was , indeed i know him not . . on william coale an ale-house-keeper , at coaton neere cambridg● . doth william coale lye here ? hēceforth be stale , be strong , & laugh on us , thou coaton ale ! living indeed , he with his violent hand never left grasping thee , while he could stand . but death at last , hath with his fiery flashes burnt up the coale , and turn'd it into ashes . . on one andrew leygh who was vext with a shrewd wife , in his life-time . here lyes leygh , who vext with a shrewd wife to gaine his quiet , parted with his life , but see the spight , she , that had alwaies crost him living , dyes , & mean's to haunte his ghost . but she may faile , for andrew out of doubt will cause his brother peter , shutt her out . . on richard burbage a famous actour . — exit burbage . . on an infant unborne , the mother dying in travell . the father digg'd a pit , and in it left part of himselfe interr'd , that soone bereft the mother of the gift , she gave , life ; so both now are buried in one tombe of woe . 't is strange the mother should a being give ▪ and not have liberty to make it live . 't was strange , that the child blindfold espi'd so quick and neere a way to parricide ▪ yet both are justly question'd , child and mothe● are guilty of the killing of each other . not with an ill intent , both did desire preserves for life , and not a funerall fire ; and yet they needs must dye , & 't was thought best to keepe the infant in the mother's chest ; it had both life and death from her , the wombe in which it was begot , became the tombe ; there was some marble sav'd , because in her the wombe that bare it , was a sepulcher ; whose epitaphs are these , - here lyes a child that shall be free from all sins but originall . here lyes a pittied mother that did dye onely to beare her poore child companie . . in quendam . stay mortall , stay , remove not from this tombe before thou hast consider'd well thy dombe ; my bow stands ready bent & could●st it see mine arrow 's drawne to head , and aymes at thee ; prepare yet wandring ghost , take home this line the grave that next is op'ned , may be thine . . on sir philip sy●ney . reader . within this ground sir philip sydney lyes nor is it fit that more , i should acquaint , least superstition rise and men adore , a lover , scholler , souldier , & a saint . . vpon iohn crop , who dyed by taking a vomit . man's life 's a game at tables , and he may mend his bad fortune , by his wiser play ; death pla●'s against us , each disease and sore are blotts , if hit , the danger is the more to lose the the game ; but an old stander by bind's up the blotts , and cures the malady , and so prolongs the game ; john crop was hee death in a rage did challenge for to see his play , the dice are throwne , when first he drink 's cast's , makes a blott , death hits him with a synke he cast's againe , but all in vaine , for death by th' after-game did winne the prize , his breath what though his skill was good , his luck was bad for never mortall man worse casting had . but did not death play false , to w●nne from such as he , no doubt he bare a man too much . . on q elizabeth king's , queens , men's , virgin 's eyes see , where the mirrour lyes . in whom her friend's have ●eene , a kings state in a queene : in whom her foes survay'd , a man's heart in a mayde : whom least men for her piety should grow to thinke some diety , heaven hence by death did summon her , to shew she was a woman . . on a vertuous youth . reader , let a stone thee tell that in this body , there did dwell a soule as heavenly , rich , and good as e're could live in flesh and blood : and therefore heav'n that held it deare ▪ did let it stay the lesse while here ▪ whose corps here sacred ashes mak's thus heav'n and earth have parted stakes . . on a learned noble man. hee that can reade a sigh and spell a teare , pronounce amaze-ment , or accent wilde feare , or get all grei●e by heart , hee , onely hee is fit to write , or reade thy elegye . unvalued lord ! that wer 't so hard a text , reade in one age and understood i' th' next . . on a lady . finis and bonum are converted , so that ev'ry good thing to an end must goe . . on mr. mychael drayton buried in westminster , admarmor tumulj . doe pious marble let thy readers know what they and what their children owe to drayton's sacred name , whose ●ust we recommend unto thy trust . protect his memory , preserve his story and a lasting monument of his glory , and when thy ruines shall disclaime to be the treasury of his name : his name , which cannot fade , shall bee an everlasting monument to thee . . on a faulconer . death with her talons having seas'd this prey , after a tedious flight truss'd him away . we mark'd him , here he fell , whence he shall rise at call , till then unretriu●d here he lyes . . on a cocke-master . fare-well stout hott-spur , now the battail's done in which th' art foyi'd , & death hath over-come having o're-matcht thy strength , & made thee stoop she quickly forct thee on the pit to droop from whence thou art not able , rise or stir : for death is now become , thy vanquisher . ▪ on a pious benefactour . the poore , the world , the heavens , & the grave his almes , his praise , his soule , and body have . . vpon hodge pue's father . oh cruell death that stopt the view ; of thom's parishioner good-man pue , who lived alwaies in good order , vntill that death stopt his recorder , which was betwixt easter and penticost , in the yeare of the great frost , at new-market then was the king : when as the bells did merrily ring ; the minister preached the day before vnto his highnesse , and no more , returning home said prayers , and bnried the man as i understand . . on m. washington , page to the prince . knew'st thou whose these ashes were ; reader thou would'st weeping sweare , the rash fate er●'d here ; as appeares , counting his vertues for his yeares , his goodnesse made them so o're seene , which shew'd him threescore ; at eighteene . enquire not his disease or paine ! he dy'd of nothing else but spayne , where the worst calenture he feeles , are jesuites , and alguaziles , where he is not allow'd to have , ( vnlesse he steal 't ) a quiet grave . hee needes no other epitaph or stone but this , here lyes lov'd washington , write this in teares , in that loose dust and every greiv'd beholder must , when he waigh●s him , and knowes his yeares ▪ renew the let●ers with his teares . . on gustavus adolphus , king of sweden . the world expects swede's monumentall stone , should equall the philosophers , each groane should breath a golden veine , and ev'ry verse should draw elixar from his fatall hearse . no fitter subject where strong lines should meet than such a noble center ; could the feet of able verse but trace his rectories , they neede not feare o're strayn'd hyperbole's , where all 's transoendent , who out-paralell'd plutarch's selected heroes ; and is held the tenth of worthies , who hath over-acted great caesar's german-comments , & contracted his expeditions by preventing awe , he often over-came before hee saw ; and ( what of his great sonne jove us'd to say ) hee alwaies either found or made his way . such was his personall and single fight , as if that death it selfe had ta'ne her flight into brave swedens scabbard , when he drew ; death with that steele inevitably flew ; his campe a church , wherein the gen'rall's life was the best sermon , and the onely strife ' amongst his was to repeate it , bended knee was his prime posture , and his ●nemy found this most praevalent , his discipline impartiall and exact , it did out-shine those antique martiall-graecian , roman lamps from w ch most of the worlds succeeding camps have had their borrow'd light ; this , this was hee all this and more , yet even all this can dye . death surely ventur'd on the swede ' to try if heav'n were subject to mortality ; and shot his soule to heav'n , as if that shee could ( if not kill ) unthrone a diety bold death 's deceiv'd , 't is in another sense that heav'n is said to suffer violence . no yr'n chaine-shot , but 't is the golden chaine of vertue and the graces , are the maine that doe unhinge the everlasting gates all which like yoaked undivided mates , were linck't in sweden , where they were enchain'd like orthodoxall volumes nothing feign'd , though fairely bound his story is not dipt in oyle , ●ut in his owne true manuscript . it is enough to name him , surely wee have got that roman's doating lethargy and may our names forget , if so we can forget the name of sweden ; renown●d man ! thon hadst no sooner made the worthies ten but heavē did claime the tenth ; zealous that men would idolize thee , but their inst●ment . thus thy meridian prov'd thy occiden . had longer dayes beene graunted by the fates , rome had heard this hanniball at her gates farewell thou austrian scourge , thou moderne wonder , srange raine hath followed thy last clap of thunder , a shower of teares : and yet for ought we know , the horne that 's left . may blow downe jericho . finis . imprimatur . octob. . . matth. clay . ovtlandish proverbs , selected london , printed by t. p. for humphrey blunden ; at the castle in corn-bill . . outlandish proverbs . . man proposeth , god disposeth . . hee begins to die , that quits his desires . . a handfull of good life , is better then a bushell of learning . . he that studies his content , wants it . . every day brings his bread with it . . humble hearts , have humble desires . . hee that stumbles and falles not , mends his pace . . the house shewes the owner . . hee that gets out of debt , growes rich . . all is well with him , who is beloved . . all came from , and will goe to others . . he that will take the bird , must not skare it . . he lives unsafely , that lookes too neere on things . . a gentle houswife , marres the houshold . . a crooked log makes a strait fire . . he hath great neede of a foole , that plaies the foole himselfe . . a marchant that gaines not , looseth . . let not him that feares feathers , come among wild-foule . . love , and a cough cannot be hid . . a dwarfe , on a gyants shoulder , sees further of the two . hee that sends a foole , means to follow him . . brabling curres never want sore eares . . better the feet slip then the tongue . . for washing his hands , none fels his lands . . a lyons skin is never cheape . . the goate must browse where she is tyed . . who hath a wolfe for his mate , needes a dog for his man. . in a good house all is quickly ready . . a bad dog never sees the wolfe . . god oft hath a great share in a little house . . ill ware is never cheape . . a cherefull looke , makes a dish a feast . . if all fooles had bables , wee should want fuell . . vertue never growes old . . evening words are not like to morning . . were there no fooles , badd ware would not passe . . never had ill workeman good tooles . . hee stands not surely , that never slips . . were there no hearers , there would be no backbiters . . every thing is of use to a houskeeper . . when prayers are done , my lady is ready . . at length the fox turnes monk. . flies are busiest about leane horses . . harken to reason or shee will bee heard . . the bird loves her nest . . every thing new , is fine . . when a dog is a drowning , every one offers him drink . . better a ba●e foote then none . . who is so deafe , as he that will not heare . . he that is warme , thinkes all so . . at length the fox is brought to the fu●rier . . hee that goes barefoot , must not plant thornes . . they that are booted are not alwa●es ready . . he that will learne to pray , let him goe to sea. . in spending , lies the advantage . . hee that lives well is learned enough . . ill vessells seldome miscarry . . a full belly neither fights nor flies well . . all truths are not to be told . . an old wise mans shaddow , is better then a young buzzards sword . . noble houskeepers neede no dores . . every ill man hath his ill day . . sleepe without supping , and wake without owing ▪ . i gave the mouse a hole , and she is become my heire . . assai●e who will , the valiant attends . . whether goest griefe ? where i am wont . . praise day at night , and life at the end . . whether shall the oxe goe , where he shall not labour . . where you thinke there is bacon , there is no chimney . . mend your cloathes , and you may hold out this yeare . . presse a stick , and it seemes a youth . ● . the tongue walkes where the teeth speede not . . a faire wife and a frontire castle breede quarrels , . leave jesting whiles it pleaseth , lest it turne to earnest . . deceive not thy physitian , confessor , nor lawyer . . ill natures , the more you aske them , the more they stick . . vertue and a trade are the best portion for children . . the chicken is the countries , but the citie eateth it . . he that gives thee a capon , give him the leg and the wing . . hee that lives ill , feare followes him . . give a clowne your finger , and he will take your hand . . good is to bee sought out , and evill attended . . a good pay-master starts not at assurances . . no alchymy to saving . . to a grate full man give mony when he askes . . who would doe ill ne're wants occasion . . to fine folkes a little ill finely wrapt . . a child correct behind and not before . . to a faire day open the window , but make you ready as to a foule . . keepe good men company , and you shall be of the number . . no love to a fathers . . the mill gets by going . . to a boyling pot flies come not . . make hast to an ill way that you may get out of it . . a snow yeare , a rich yeare . . better to be blinde , then to see ill . . learne weeping , and thou shalt laugh gayning . . who hath no more bread then neede , must not keepe a dog . . a garden must be lookt unto and drest as the body . . the fox , when hee cannot reach the grapes , saies they are not ripe . . water trotted is as good as oates . . though the mastiffe be gentle , yet bite him not by the lippe . . though a lie be well drest , it is ever overcome . . though old and wise , yet still advise . . three helping one another , beare the burthen of sixe . . old wine , and an old friend , are good provisions . . happie is hee that chastens himselfe . . well may hee smell fire , whose gowne burnes . . the wrongs of a husband or master are not reproached . welcome evill , if thou commest alone . . love your neighbour , yet pull not downe your hedge . . the bit that one eates , no friend makes . . a drunkards purse is a bottle . . shee spins well that breedes her children . . good is the mora that makes all sure . . play with a foole at home , and he will play with you in the market . . every one stretcherh his legges according to his coverlet . . autumnall agues are long , or mortall . marry your sonne when you will ; your daughter when you can . . dally not with mony or women . . men speake of the faire , as things went with them there . . the best remedy against an ill man , is much ground betweene both . . the mill cannot grind with the water that 's past . . corne is cleaned with winde , and the soule with chastnings . . good words are worth much , and cost little . . to buy deare is not bounty . . jest not with the eye or with religion . . the eye and religion can beare no jesting . . without favour none will know you , and with it you will not know your selfe . . buy at a faire , but sell at home . . cover your selfe with your shield , and care not for cryes . . a wicked mans gift hath a touch of his master . . none is a foole alwaies , every one sometimes . . from a chollerick man withdraw a little , from him that saies nothing , for ever . . debters are lyers . . of all smells , bread : of all tasts , salt . . in a great river great fish are found , but take heede , lest you bee drowned . . ever since we weare cloathes , we know not one another . . god heales , and the physitian hath the thankes . . hell is full of good meanings and wishings . . take heede of still waters , the quick passe away . . after the house is finisht , leave it . . our owne actions are our security , not others judgements . . thinke of ease , but worke on . . hee that lies long a bed his estate feeles it . . whether you boyle snow or pound it , you can have but water of it . . one stroke fells not an oke . . god complaines not , but doth what is fitting . . a diligent shcoller and the master 's paid . . milke saies to wine , welcome friend . . they that know one another , salute a farre off . . where there is no honour , there is no griefe . . where the drink goes in , there the wit goes out . . he that staies does the businesse . almes never make poore others . . great almes-giving lessens no mans living . . giving much to the poore , doth inrich a mans store . . it takes much from the account , to which his sin doth amount . . it adds to the glory both of soule and body . ill comes in by ells , and goes out by inches . the smith and his penny both are black . whos 's house is of glasse , must not throw stones at another . . if the old dog barke he gives counsell . . the tree that growes slowly , keepes it selfe for another . . i wept when i was borne , and every day shewes why . . hee that lookes not before , finds him selfe behind . . he that plaies his mony ought not to value it . . he that riseth first , is first drest . . diseases of the eye are to bee cured with the elbow . . the hole calls the thiefe . . a gentlemans grayhound , and a salt-box ; seeke them at the fire . . a childs service is little , yet hee is no little foole that despiseth it . . the river past , and god forgotten . . evils have their comfort , good none can support ( to wit ) with a moderate and contented heart . . who must account for himselfe and others , must know both . . hee that eats the hard shall eate the ripe . . the miserable man makes a peny of a farthing , and the liberall of a farthing sixe pence . . the honey is sweet , but the bee stings . . waight and measure take away strife . . the sonne full and tattered , the daughter empty and fine . . every path hath a puddle . . in good yeares corne is hay , in ill yeares straw is corne . . send a wise man on an errand , and say nothing unto him . . in life you lov'd me not , in death you bewaile me . . into a mouth shut , flies flie not . . the hearts letter is read in the eyes . the ill that comes out of our mouth ●alles into our bosome . . in great pedigrees there are governours and chand●ers . . in the house of a fidler , all fiddle . . sometimes the best gaine is to lose . . working and making a fire doth discretion require . . one graine fills not a sacke , but helpes his fellowes . . it is a great victory that comes without blood . . in war , hunting , and love , men for one pleasure a thousand griefes prove . . reckon right , and february hath one and thirty daies . . honour without profit is a ring on the finger . . estate in two parishes is bread in two wallets . . honour and profit lie not in one sacke . . a naughty child is better sick , then whole . . truth and oyle are ev●r above . . he that riseth betimes hath some thing in his head . . advise none to marry or to goe to warre . . to steale the hog , and give the feet for almes . . the thorne comes forth with his point forwards . . one hand washeth another , and both the face . . the fault of the horse is put on the saddle . . the corne hides it self in the snow , as an old man in furrs . . the jewes spend at easter , the mores at marriages , the christians in sutes . . fine dressing is a foule house swept before the doores . . a woman and a glasse are ever in danger . . an ill wound is cured , not an ill name . . the wise hand doth not all that the foolish mouth speakes . . on painting and fighting looke aloofe . . knowledge is folly , except grace guide it . . punishment is lame , but it comes . . the more women looke in their glasse , the lesse they looke to their house . . a long tongue is a signe of a short hand . . marry a widdow before she leave mourning . . the worst of law is , that one suit breedes twenty . . providence is better then a rent . . what your glasse telles you , will not be told by councell . . there are more men threatned then stricken . . a foole knowes more in his house , then a wise man in anothers . . i had rather ride on an asse that carries me , then a horse that throwes me . , the hard gives more then he that hath nothing . . the beast that goes alwaies never wants blowes . . good cheape is deare . . it costs more to doe ill then to doe well . . good words quench more then a a bucket of water . . an ill agreement is better then a good judgement . . there is more talke then trouble . . better spare to have of thine own , then aske of other men . . better good afarre off , then evill at hand . . feare keepes the garden better , then the gardiner . . i had rather aske of my sire browne bread , then borrow of my neighbour white . . your pot broken seemes better then my whole one . . let an ill man lie in thy straw , and he lookes to be thy heire . . by suppers more have beene killed then gallen ever cured . . while the discreet advise the foole doth his busines . . a mountaine and a river are good neighbours . . gossips are frogs , they drinke and talke . . much spends the traveller , more then the abider . . prayers and provender hinder no journey . . a well-bred youth n●ither speakes of himselfe , nor being spoken to is silent . . a journying woman speakes much of all , and all of her . . the fox knowes much , but more he that catcheth him . . many friends in generall , one in spcciall . . the foole askes much , but hee is more foole that grants it . . many kisse the hand , they wish cut off . . neither bribe nor loose thy right . . in the world who knowes not to swimme , goes to the bottome . . chuse not an house neere an inne , ( viz for noise ) or in a corner ( for filth . ) . hee is a foole that thinks not , that another thinks . . neither eyes on letters , nor hands in coffers . . the lyon is not so fierce as they paint him . . goe not for every griefe to the physitian , nor for every quarrell to the lawyer , nor for every thirst to the pot . . good service is a great inchantment . . there would bee no great ones if there were no little ones . . it 's no sure rule to fish with a crosbow . . there were no ill language , if it were not ill taken . . the groundsell speakes not save what it heard at the hinges . . the best mirrour is an old friend . . say no ill of the yeere , till it be past . . a mans discontent is his worst evill . . feare nothing but sinne . . the child saies nothing , but what it heard by the sire . . call me not an olive , till thou see me gathered . . that is not good language which all understand not . . hee that burnes his house warmes himselfe for once . . he will burne his house , to warme his hands . . hee will spend a whole yeares rent at one meales meate . . all is not gold that glisters . . a blustering night , a faire day . . bee not idle and you shall not bee longing . . he is not poore that hath little , but he that desireth much . . let none say , i will not drinke water . . hee wrongs not an old-man that steales his supper from him . . the tongue talkes at the heads cost . . hee that strikes with his tongue , must ward with his head . . keep not ill men company , lest you increase the number . . god strikes not with both hands , for to the sea he made havens , and to rivers foords . . a rugged stone growes smooth from hand to hand . . no lock will hold against the power of gold . . the absent partie is still faultie . . peace , and patience , and death with repentance . . if vou loose your time , you cannot get mony nor gaine . . bee not a baker , if your head be of butter . aske much to have a little . . litle stickes kindle the fire ; great ones put it out . . anothers bread costs deare . . although it raine , throw not away thy watering pot . . although the sun shine , leave not thy cloake at home . . a little with quiet is the onely dye● . . in vaine is the mill clacke , if the m●●er his hearing lack . . by the needle you shall draw the thread , and by that which is past , see how that which is to come will be drawne on . . stay a little and news will find you . . stay till the lame messenger come , if you will know the truth of the thing . . when god will , no winde , but brings raine . . though you rise early , yet the day comes at his time , and not till then . . pull downe your hatt on the winds side . . as the yeere is , your pot must seeth . . since you know all , and i nothing , tell me what i dreamed last night . . when the foxe preacheth , beware geese . . when you are an anvill , hold you still ; when you are a hammer strike your fill . . poore and liberall , rich and coveteous . . he that makes his bed ill , lies there . . hee that labours and thrives spins gold . . he that sowes trusts in god. . hee that lies with the dogs , riseth with fleas . . hee that repaires not a part , builds all . . a discontented man kwes not where to sit easie . . who spits against heaven , it falls in his face . . hee that dines and leaves , layes the cloth twice . . who eates his cock alone must saddle his horse alone . . he that is not handsome at , nor strong at , nor rich at , nor wise at will never bee handsome , strong , rich , or wise . . hee that doth what hee will , doth not what he ought . . hee that will deceive the fox , must rise betimes . . he that lives well sees a farre off . . he that hath a mouth of his owne , must not say to another ; blow . . he that will be served must bee patient . . hee that gives thee a bone , would not have thee die . . he that chastens one , chastens . . he that hath lost his credit is dead to the world . . he that hath no ill fortune , is troubled with good . . hee that demands misseth not , unlesse his demands be foolish . . he that hath no hony in his pot , let him have it in his mouth . . he that takes not up a pin , slilghts his wife . . he that owes nothing , if he makes not mouthes at us , is courteous . . hee that looseth his due , gets not thankes . . hee that beleeveth all , misseth , hee that beleeveth nothing , hitts not . . pardons and pleasantnesse are great revenges of slanders . . a married man turnes his staffe into a stake . . if you would know secrets , looke them in griefe or pleasure . . serve a noble disposition , though poore , the time comes that hee will repay thee . . the fault is as great as hee that is faulty . . if folly were griefe every house would weepe . . hee that would bee well old , must bee old betimes . . sit in your place and none can make you rise . . if you could runne , as you drinke , you might catch a hare . . would you know what mony is , go borrow some . . the morning sunne never lasts a day . . thou hast death in thy house , and dost bew aile anothers . . all griefes with bread are lesse . . all things require skill , but an appetite . . all things have their place , knew wee , how to place them . . little pitchers have wide eares . . we are fooles one to another . . this world is nothing except it tend to another . . there are three waies , the vniversities , the sea , the court. . god comes to see without a bell . . life without a friend is death without a witnesse . cloath thee in war , arme thee in peace . . the horse thinkes one thing , and he that sadles him another . . mills and wives ever want . . the dog that licks ashes , trust not with meale . . the buyer needes a hundred eyes , the seller not one . . he carries well , to whom it waighes not . . the comforters head never akes . . step after step the ladder is ascended . . who likes not the drinke , god deprives him of bread . . to crazy ship all winds are contrary . . justice pleaseth few in their owne house . . in times comes he , whom god sends . . water a farre off quencheth not fire . . in sports and journeys men are knowne . . an old friend is a new house . . love is not found in the market . . dry feet , warme head , bring safe to bed . . hee is rich enough that wants nothing . . one father is enough to governe one hundred sons , but not a hundred sons one father . . farre shooting never kild bird . . an upbraid●d morsell never choaked any . . dearths foreseene come not . . an ill labourer quarrells with his tooles . . hee that falles into the durt , the longer he stayes there , the fowler he is . . he that blames would buy . . he that sings on friday , will weepe on sunday . . the charges of building , and making of gardens are unknowne . . my house , my house , though thou art small , thou art to me the escuriall . . a hundred loade of thought will not pay one of debts . . hee that comes of a hen must scrape . . he that seekes trouble never misses . . he that once deceives is ever suspected . . being on sea saile , being on land settle . . who doth his owne businesse , foules not his hands . . hee that makes a good warre makes a good peace . . hee that workes after his owne manner , his head akes not at the matter . . who hath bitter in his mouth ▪ spits not all sweet . . he that hath children , all his morsels are not his owne . . he that hath the spice , may season as he list . . he that hath a head of waxe must not walke in the sunne . . he that hath love in his brest , hath spurres in his sides . . hee that respects not , is not respected . . hee that hath a fox for his mate , hath neede of a net at his girdle . . he that hath right , feares , he that hath wrong , hopes . . hee that hath patience hath fatt thrushes for a farthing . . never was strumpet faire . . he that measures not himselfe , is measured . . hee that hath one hogge makes him fat , and hee that hath one son makes him a foole . . who letts his wife goe to every feast , and his horse drinke at every water , shall neither have good wife nor good horse . . he that speakes sowes , and he that holds his peace , gathers . . he that hath little is the lesse durtie . . he that lives most dies most . . he that hath one foot in the straw , hath another in the spittle . . hee that 's fed at anothers hand may sray long ere he be full . . hee that makes a thing too fine , breakes it . . hee that bewailes himselfe hath the cure in his hands . . he that would be well , needs not goe from his owne house . . councell breakes not the head . . fly the pleasure that bites to morrow . . hee that knowes what may bee gained in a day never steales . . mony refused looseth its brightnesse . . health and mony goe farre . , where your will is ready , your feete are light . . a great ship askes deepe waters . . woe to the house where there is no chiding . . take heede of the viniger of sweet wine . . fooles bite one another , but wisemen agree together . . trust not one nights ice . . good is good , but better carries it . . to gaine teacheth how to spend . . good finds good . . the dog gnawes the bone because he cannot swallow it . . the crow bewailes the sheepe , and then eates it . . building is a sweet impoverishing . . the first degree of folly is to hold ones selfe wise , the second to professe it , the third to dsepise counsell . . the greatest step is that out of doores . . to weepe for joy is a kinde of manna . . the first service a child doth his father is to make him foolish . . the resolved minde hath no cares . . in the kingdome of a cheater , the wallet is carried before . . the eye will have his part . . the good mother sayes not , will you ? but gives . . a house and a woman sute excellently . . in the kingdome of blind men the one ey'd is king . . a little kitchin makes a large house . . warre makes theeves , and peace hangs them . . poverty is the mother of health . . in the morning mountaines , in the evening fountaines . . the back-doore robs the house . . wealth is like rheume , it falles on the weakest parts . . the gowne is his that weares it , and the world his that enjoyes it . . hope is the poore mans bread . . vertue now is in herbs and stones and words onely . . fine words dresse ill deedes . . labour as long liu'd , pray as even dying . . a poore beauty finds more lovers then husbands . . discreet women have neither eyes nor eares . . things well fitted abide . . prettinesse dies first . . talking payes no toll . . the masters eye fattens the horse , and his foote the ground . . disgraces are like cherries , one drawes another . . praise a hill , but keepe below . . praise the sea , but keepe on land . . in chusing a wife , and buying a sword , we ought not to trust another . . the wearer knowes , where the shoe wrings . . faire is not faire , but that which pleaseth . . there is no jollitie but hath a smack of folly . . he that 's long agiving , knowes not how to give . . the filth under the white snow , the sunne discovers . . every one fastens where there is gaine . . all feete tread not in one shoe . . patience , time and money accommodate all things . . for want of a naile the shoe is lost , for want of a shoe the horse is lost , for want of a horse the rider is lost . . weigh justly and sell dearely . . little wealth little care . . little journeys and good cost , bring safe home . . gluttony kills more then the sword . . when children stand quiet , they have done some ill . . a little and good fills the trencher . . a penny spar'd is twice got . . when a knave is in a plumtree he hath neither friend nor kin . . short boughs , long vintage . . health without money , is halfe an ague . . if the wise erred not , it would goe hard with fooles . . beare with evill , and expect good . . he that tells a secret , is anothers servant . . if all fooles wore white caps , wee should seeme a flock of geese . . water , fire , and shouldiers , quickly make roome . . pension never inriched young man. . vnder water , famine , under snow bread . . the lame goes as farre as your staggerer . . he that looseth is marchant as well as he that gaines . . a jade eates as much as a good horse . . all things in their beeing are good for something . . one flower makes no garland . . a faire death honours the whole life . . one enemy is too much . . living well is the best revenge . . one foole makes a hundred . . one paire of eares drawes dry a hundred tongues . . a foole may throw a stone into a well , which a hundred wise men cannot pull out . . one slumber finds another . . on a good bargaine thinke twice . . to a good spender god is the treasurer . . a curst cow hath short hornes . . musick helps not the tooth-ach . . we cannot come to honour under coverlet . ▪ great paines quickly find ease . . to the counsell of fooles a woodden bell . . the cholerick man never wants woe . . helpe thy selfe , and god will helpe thee . . at the games end we shall see who gaines . . there are many waies to fame . . love is the true price of love . . love rules his kingdome without a sword . . love makes all hard hearts gentle . . love makes a good eye squint . . love askes faith , and faith firmenesse . . a scepter is one thing , and a ladle another . . great trees are good for nothing but shade . . hee commands enough that obeyes a wise man. . faire words makes mee looke to my purse . . though the fox run , the chicken hath wings . . he plaies well that winnes . . you must strike in measure , when there are many to strike on one anvile . . the shortest answer is doing . . it 's a poore stake that cannot stand one yeare in the ground . . he that commits a fault , thinkes every one speakes of it . . he that 's foolish in the fault , let him be wise in the punishment . . the blind eate many a flie . . he that can make a fire well , can end a quarrell . . the tooth-ach is more ease , then to deale with ill people . . hee that should have what hee hath not , should doe what he doth not . . he that hath no good trade , it is to his losse . . the offender never pardons . . he that lives not well one yeare , sorrowes seven after . . he that hopes not for good , feares not evill . . he that is angry at a feast is rude . . he that mockes a cripple , ought to be whole . . when the tree is fallen , all goe with their hatchet . . he that hath hornes in his bosom , let him not put them on his head . . he that burnes most shines most . . he that trusts in a lie , shall perish in truth . . hee that blowes in the dust fills his eyes with it . . bells call others , but themselves enter not into the church . . of faire things , the autumne is faire . . giving is dead , restoring very sicke . . a gift much expected is paid , not given . . two ill meales make the third a glutton . . the royall crowne cures not the head-ach . . 't is hard to be wretched , but worse to be knowne so . . a feather in hand is better then a bird in the ayre . . it 's better to be head of a lyzard , then the tayle of a lyon. , good & quickly seldome meete . . folly growes without watering . . happier are the hands compast with yron , then a heart with thoughts . , if the staffe be crooked , the shaddow cannot be straight . . to take the nuts from the fire with the dogges foot . . he is a foole that makes a wedge of his fist . . valour that parlies , is neare yeelding . . thursday come , and the week's gone . . a flatterers throat is an open sepulcher . . there is great force hidden in a sweet command . . the command of custome is great . . to have money is a feare , not to have it a griefe . . the catt sees not the mouse ever . . little dogs start the hare , the great get her . . willowes are weake , yet they bind other wood . . a good prayer is master of anothers purse . . the thread breakes , where it is weakest . . old men , when they scorne young make much of death . . god is at the end , when we thinke he is furthest off it . . a good judge conceives quickly , judges slowly . . rivers neede a spring . . he that contemplates , hath a day without night . . give loosers leave to talke . . losse embraceth shame . . gaming , women , and wine , while they laugh they make men pine . . the fatt man knoweth not , what the leane thinketh . . wood halfe burnt is easily kindled . . the fish adores the bait . . he that goeth farre hath many encounters . . every bees hony is sweet . . the slothfull is the servant of the counters . . wisedome hath one foot on land , and another on sea. . the thought hath good leggs , and the quill a good tongue . . a wise man needes not blush for changing his purpose . . the march sunne raises but dissolves not . time is the rider that breakes youth . . the wine in the bottell doth not quench thirst . . the sight of a man hath the force of a lyon. . an examin'd enterprize , goes on boldly . . in every art it is good to have a master . . in every country dogges bite . . in every countrey the sun rises in the morning . . a noble plant suites not with a stubborne ground . . you may bring a horse to the river , but he will drinke when and what he pleaseth . . before you make a friend , eate a bushell of salt with him . . speake fitly , or be silent wisely ▪ . skill and confidence are an unconquered army . . i was taken by a morsell , saies the fish . . a disarmed peace is weake . . the ballance distinguisheth not betweene gold and lead . . the perswasion of the fortunate swaies the doubtfull . . to bee beloved is above all bargaines . . to deceive ones selfe is very easie . . the reasons of the poore weigh not . . perversnes makes one squint ey'd . . the evening praises the day , and the morning a frost . . the table robbes more then a thiefe . . when age is jocond it makes sport for death . . true praise rootes and spreedes . . feares are divided in the midst . . the soule needes few things , the body many . . astrologie is true , but the astrologers cannot finde it . . ty it well , and let it goe . . emptie vessels sound most . . send not a catt for lard . . foolish tongues talke by the dozen . . love makes one fitt for any work . . a pittifull mother makes a scald head . . an old physitian , and a young lawyer . . talke much and erre much , saies the spanyard . . some make a conscience of spitting in the church , yet robbe the altar . . an idle head is a boxe for the winde . . shew me a lyer , and i le shew thee a theefe . . a beane in liberty , is better then a comfit in prison . . none is borne master . . shew a good man his errour and he turnes it to a vertue , but an ill , it doubles his fault . . none is offended but by himselfe . . none saies his garner is full . . in the husband , wisedome , in the wife gentlenesse . . nothing dries sooner then a teare . . in a leopard the spotts are not observed . . nothing lasts but the church . . a wise man cares not for what he cannot have . . it 's not good fishing before the net . . he cannot be vertuous that is not rigorous . . that which will not be spun , let it not come betweene the spindle and the distaffe . . when my house burnes , it 's not good playing at chesse . . no barber shaves so close , but another finds worke . . ther 's no great banquet , but some fares ill . . a holy habit clenseth not a foule soule . . forbeare not sowing , because of birds . . mention not a halter in the house of him that was hanged . . speake not of a dead man at the table . . a hatt is not made for one shower . . no sooner is a temple built to god but the devill builds a chappell hard by . . every one puts his fault on the times . . you cannot make a wind-mill goe with a paire of bellowes . . pardon all but thy selfe . . every one is weary , the poore in seeking , the rich in keeping , the good in learning . . the escaped mouse ever feeles the taste of the bait . . a litle wind kindles ; much puts out the fire . . dry bread at home is better than rost meate abroad . . more have repented speech then silence . . the coveteous spends more then the liberall . . divine ashes are better then earthly meale . . beauty drawes more then oxen . . one father is more then a hundred schoolemasters . . one eye of the masters sees more , then ten of the servants . . when god will punish , hee will first take away the understanding . . a little labour , much health . . when it thunders , the theefe becomes honest . . the tree that god plants , no winde hurts it . . knowledge is no burthen . . it 's a bold mouse that nestles in the catts eare . . long jesting was never good . . if a good man thrive , all thrive with him . . if the mother had not beene in the oven , shee had never sought her daughter there . if great men would have care of little ones , both would last long . . though you see a church-man ill , yet continue in the church still . . old praise dies , unlesse you feede it . . if things were to be done twice , all would be wise . . had you the world on your chesse-bord , you could not fit all to your mind . . suffer and expect . . if fooles should not foole it , they should loose their season . . love and businesse teach eloquence . . that which two will , takes effect . . he complaines wrongfully on the sea that twice suffers shipwrack . . he is onely bright that shines by himselfe . . a valiant mans looke is more then a cowards sword . . the effect speakes , the tongue needes not . . divine grace was never slow . . reason lies betweene the spurre and the bridle . . it 's a proud horse that will not carry his owne provender . . three women make a market . . three can hold their peace , if two be away . . it 's an ill councell that hath no escape . . all our pompe the earth covers . . to whirle the eyes too much shewes a kites braine . . comparisons are odious . . all keyes hang not on one girdle . great businesses turne on a little pinne . . the wind in ones face makes one wise . . all the armes of england will not arme feare . . one sword keepes another in the sheath . . be what thou wouldst seeme to be . . let all live as they would die . . a gentle heart is tyed with an easie thread . sweet discourse makes short daies and nights . . god provides for him that trusteth . . he that will not have peace , god gives him warre . . to him that will , waies are not wanting . . to a great night a great lanthorne . . to a child all weather is cold . . where there is peace , god is . . none is so wise , but the foole overtakes him . . fooles give , to please all , but their owne . . prosperity le ts goe the bridle . . the frier preached against stealing , and had a goose in his sleeve . . to be too busie gets contempt . . february makes a bridge and march breakes it . . a horse stumbles that hath foure legges . . the best smell is bread , the best savour , salt , the best love that of children . . that 's the best gowne that goes up and downe the house . . the market is the best garden . . the first dish pleaseth all . . the higher the ape goes , the more he shewes his taile . . night is the mother of councels . . gods mill grinds slow , but sure . . every one thinkes his sacke heaviest . . drought never brought dearth . . all complaine . . gamsters and race-horses never last long . . it 's a poore sport that 's nor worth the candle . . he that is fallen cannot helpe him that is downe . . every one is witty for his owne purpose . . a little lett lets an ill workeman . . good workemen are seldome rich . . by doing nothing we learne to do ill . . a great dowry is a bed full of brables . . no profit to honour , no honour to religion . . every sin brings it's punishment with it . . of him that speakes ill , consider the life more then the words . . you cannot hide an eele in a sacke . . give not s. peter so much , to leave saint paul nothing . . you cannot flea a stone . . the chiefe disease that raignes this yeare is folly . . a sleepy master makes his servant a lowt . . better speake truth rudely , then lye covertly . . he that feares leaves , let him not goe into the wood . one foote is better then two crutches . . better suffer ill , then doe ill . . neither praise nor dispraise thy selfe , thy actions serve the turne . . soft and faire goes farre . . the constancy of the benefit of the yeere in their seasons , argues a deity . . praise none to much , for all are fickle . . it 's absurd to warme one in his armour . . law sutes consume time , and mony , and rest , and friends . . nature drawes more then ten teemes . . hee that hath a wife and children wants not businesse . . a shippe and a woman are ever repairing . . he that feares death lives not . . he that pitties another , remembers himselfe . . he that doth what he should not , shall feele what he would not . . hee that marries for wealth sells his liberty . . he that once hitts , is ever bending . . he that serves , must serve . . he that lends , gives . . he that preacheth giveth almes . . he that cockers his child , provides for his enemie . . a pittifull looke askes enough . . who will sell the cow , must say the word . . service is no inheritance . . the faulty stands on his guard . . a kinsman , a friend , or whom you intreate , take not to serve you , if you will be served neately . . at court , every one for himselfe . . to a crafty man , a crafty and an halfe . . hee that is throwne , would ever wrestle . . he that serves well needes not ask his wages . faire language grates not the tongue . . a good heart cannot lye . . good swimmers at length are drowned . good land , evill way . . in doing we learne . . it 's good walking with a horse in ones hand . . god , and parents , and our master , can never be requited . . an ill deede cannot bring honour . . a small heart hath small desires . . all are not merry that dance lightly . . curtesie on one side only lasts not long . . wine-counsels seldome prosper . . weening is not measure . . the best of the sport is to doe the deede , and say nothing . . if thou thy selfe canst doe it , attend no others helpe or hand . . of a little thing a little displeaseth . ▪ he warmes too neere that burnes . . god keepe me from foure houses , an vsurers , a taverne , a spittle , and a prison . . in hundred elles of contention , there is not an inch of love . . doe what thou oughtest , and come what come can . . hunger makes dinners , pastime suppers . . in a long journey straw waighs . . women laugh when they can , and weepe when they will. . warre is deaths feast . . set good against evill . . hee that brings good newes knockes hard . . beate the dog before the lyon. . hast comes not alone . . you must loose a flie to catch a trout . . better a snotty child , then his nose wip'd off . . no prison is faire , not love foule . . hee is not free that drawes his chaine . . hee goes not out of his way , that goes to a good inne . . there come nought out of the sacke but what was there . . a little given seasonably , excuses a great gift . . hee lookes not well to himselfe that lookes not ever . . he thinkes not well , that thinkes not againe . . religion , credit , and the eye are not to be touched . . the tongue is not steele , yet it cuts . . a white wall is the paper of a foole . . they talke of christmas so long , that it comes . . that is gold which is worth gold . . it 's good tying the sack before it be full . . words are women , deedes are men . . poverty is no sinne . . a stone in a well is not lost . . he can give little to his servant , that lickes his knife . . promising is the eve of giving . . hee that keepes his owne makes warre . . the wolfe must dye in his owne skinne . . goods are theirs that enjoy them . . he that sends a foole expects one . . he that can stay obtaines . . hee that gaines well and spends well , needes no count booke . . he that endures , is not overcome . . he that gives all , before hee dies provides to suffer . . he that talkes much of his happinesse summons griefe . hee that loves the tree , loves the branch . who hastens a glutton choakes him . . who praiseth saint peter , doth not blame saint paul. . he that hath not the craft , let him shut up shop . . he that knowes nothing , doubts nothing . . greene wood makes a hott fire . . he that marries late , marries ill . . he that passeth a winters day escapes an enemy . . the rich knowes not who is his friend . . a morning sunne , and a wine-bred child , and a latin-bred woman , seldome end well . . to a close shorne sheepe , god gives wind by measure . a pleasure long expected , is deare enough sold. . a poore mans cow dies rich mans child . . the cow knowes not what her taile is worth , till she have lost it . . chuse a horse made , and a wife to make . . it 's an ill aire where wee gaine nothing . . hee hath not liv'd , that lives not after death . . so many men in court and so many strangers . . he quits his place well , that leaves his friend there . . that which sufficeth is not little . . good newes may bee told at any time , but ill in the morning . . hee that would be a gentleman , let him goe to an assault . . who paies the physitian , does the cure . . none knowes the weight of anothers burthen . . every one hath a foole in his sleeve . . one houres sleepe before midnight , is worth three after . . in a retreat the lame are formost . . it 's more paine to doe nothing then something . . amongst good men two men suffice . . there needs a long time to know the worlds pulse . . the ofspring of those that are very young , or very old , lasts not . . a tyrant is most tyrant to himselfe . . too much taking heede is losse . . craft against craft , makes no living . . the reverend are ever before . . france is a meddow that cuts thrice a yeere . . 't is easier to build two chimneys , then to maintaine one . . the court hath no almanack . . he that will enter into paradise . must have a good key . . when you enter into a house , leave the anger ever at the doore . . hee hath no leisure who useth it not . . it 's a wicked thing to make a dearth ones garner . . he that deales in the world needes foure seeves . . take heede of an oxe before , of an horse behind , of a monke on all sides . . the yeare doth nothing else but open and shut . . the ignorant hath an eagles wings , and an owles eyes . . there are more physitians in health then drunkards . . the wife is the key of the house . . the law is not the same at morning and at night . . warre and physicke are governed by the eye . . halfe the world knowes not how the other halfe lies . . death keepes no calender . . ships feare fire more then water . . the least foolish is wise . . the chiefe boxe of health is time . . silkes and satins put out the fire in the chimney . . the first blow is as much as two . the life of man is a winter way . . the way is an ill neighbour . . an old mans staffe is the rapper of deaths doore . . life is halfe spent before we know , what it is . . the singing man keepes his shop in his throate . . the body is more drest then the soule . . the body is sooner drest then the soule . . the physitian owes all to the patient , but the patient owes nothing to him but a little mony . . the little cannot bee great , unlesse he devoure many . . time undermines us . . the chollerick drinkes , the melancholick eates ; the flegmatick sleepes . . the apothecaries morter spoiles the luters musick . . conversation makes one what he is . . the deafe gaines the injury . . yeeres know more then bookes . . wine is a turne-coate ( first a friend , then an enemy . ) . wine ever paies for his lodging . . wine makes all sorts of creatures at table . . wine that cost nothing is digested before it be drunke . . trees eate but once . . armour is light at table . . good horses make short miles . . castles are forrests of stones . . the dainties of the great , are the teares of the poore . . parsons are soules waggoners . . children when they are little make parents fooles , when they are great they make them mad . . the mr. absent , and the house dead . . dogs are fine in the field ▪ . sinnes are not knowne till they bee acted . . thornes whiten yet doe nothing . . all are presumed good , till they are found in a fault . . the great put the little on the hooke . . the great would have none great and the little all little . the italians are wise before the deede , the germanes in the deede , the french after the deede . . every mile is two in winter . . spectacles are deaths harquebuze . . lawyers houses are built on the heads of fooles . . the house is a fine house , when good folke are within . . the best bred have the best portion . . the first and last frosts are the worst . . gifts enter every where without a wimble . . princes have no way . . knowledge makes one laugh , but wealth makes one dance . . the citizen is at his businesse before he rise . . the eyes have one language every where . . it is better to have wings then hornes . . better be a foole then a knave . . count not fowre except you have them in a wallett . . to live peaceably with all breedes good blood . . you may be on land , yet not in a garden . . you cannot make the fire so low but it will get out . . wee know not who lives or dies . . an oxe is taken by the horns , and a man by the tongue . . manie things are lost for want of osking . . no church-yard is so handsom , that a man would desire straight to bee buried there . . citties are taken by the eares . . once a yeare a man may say : on his conscience . . wee leave more to do when wee dye , then wee have done . . with customes wee live well , but lawes undoe us . to speake of an vsurer at the table , marres the wine . . paines to get , care to keep , feare to lose . . for a morning raine leave not your journey . . one faire day in winter makes not birds merrie . hee that learnes a trade hath a purchase made . . when all men have , what belongs to them , it cannot bee much . . though god take the sunne out of the heaven yet we must have patience . . when a man sleepes , his head is in his stomach . . when one is on horsebacke hee knowes all things . . when god is made master of a family , he orders the disorderly . . when a lackey comes to hells doore the devills locke the gates . . he that is at ease , seekes dainties . . hee that hath charge of soules , transports them not in bundles . . hee that tells his wife newes is but newly married . . hee that is in a towne in may , loseth his spring . . hee that is in a taverne , thinkes he is in a vine-garden . . he that praiseth himselfe , spattereth himselfe . . hee that is a master must serve ( another . ) . he that is surprized with the first frost , feeles it all the winter after . . hee a beast doth die , that hath done no good to his country . . he that followes the lord hopes to goe before . . he that dies without the company of good men , puts not himselfe into a good way . . who hath no head , needes no hatt . . who hath no hast in his businesse , mountaines to him seeme valleys . . speake not of my debts , unlesse you meane to pay them . . he that is not in the warres is not out of danger . . he that gives me small gifts , would have me live . . he that is his owne counsellor , knowes nothing sure but what hee hath laid out . . he that hath lands hath quarrells . . hee that goes to bed thirsty , riseth healthy . . who will make a doore of gold must knock a naile every day . . a trade is better then service . ▪ hee that lives in hope danceth without musick . . to review ones store is to mow twice . . saint luke was a saint and a physitian , yet is dead . . without businesse debauchery . . without danger we cannot get beyond danger . . health and sicknesse surely are mens double enemies . . if gold knew what gold is , gold would get gold i wis . . little losses amaze , great , tame . . chuse none for thy servant , who have served thy betters . . service without reward is punishment . . if the husband be not at home , there is nobodie . . an oath that is not to bee made , is not to be kept . . the eye is bigger then the belly . . if you would bee at ease , all the world is not . . were it not for the bone in the legge , all the world would turne carpenters ( to make them crutches . ) . if you must flie , flie well . . all that shakes falles not . . all beasts of prey , are strong or treacherous . . if the braine sowes not corne , it plants thistles . . a man well mounted , is ever cholerick . . every one is a master and servant . . a piece of a churchyard fitts every body . ▪ one month doth nothing without another . . a master of straw eates a servant of steele . . an old cat sports not with her prey . a woman conceales what shee knowes not . . hee that wipes the childs nose , kisseth the mothers cheeke . finis . crossing of prouerbs crosse-answeres. and crosse-humours. by b.n. gent. crossing of proverbs. part breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) crossing of prouerbs crosse-answeres. and crosse-humours. by b.n. gent. crossing of proverbs. part breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ ]+ p. printed [by g. eld] for iohn wright, and are to be solde at his shop without newgate, at the signe of the bible, at london : . b.n. = nicholas breton. printer's name from stc. signatures: a b - . collation from incomplete l copy as reported in stc. a second part was published the same year. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng proverbs, english. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion crossing of proverbs . crosse-answeres . and crosse-humours . by b. n. gent. at london , printed for iohn wright , and are to be solde at his shop without new-gate , at the signe of the bible , . to the reader . meeting with many crosses in the world , among them all i found some in books , as crossing of prouerbs , crosse answers and such other like crosse humours , as i haue collected out of crosse authors , which i haue here put together in this little booke , in which , if you find any thing crosse to your liking , crosse it out : and if there bee any thing that is better worth then nothing , be not crosse to patience to esteeme of a little , though but a little : so loth to crosse mine owne reason , with too much persswasion of your too kinde , either disposition or discretion , i rest as i finde cause . your well-wisher , b , n. crosse & pile or crossing of prouerbs prouerbs . the more , the merrier cross. not so , one hand is enough in a purse . p. euery man loues himselfe best . cros. not so , when man is vndone by surety-ship . prou. hee that runnes fastest , gets most ground . c. not so , for then foote-men would haue more land then their masters . pro. he runnes far that neuer turnes . cros. not so : he may breake his necke in a short course . p. no man can call againe yesterday . c. yes , hee may call till his heart ake , though it neuer come . p. had i wist was a foole . c. no , he was a foole that said so . p. he that goes softly goes safely . c. not among thieues . prou. nothing hurts the stomake more then surfeiting cross. yes , lacke of meat pro. nothing hard to a willing mind . cros. yes , to get money . pro. women are necessary euills . cros. not so , for no euill is necessary . pro. a faire woman is a pearle in a black mans eye . cros. not so , for then shee would put it out . pro. the nearer the bone , the sweeter the flesh . c. not , when it hath taken wind . p. none so blind as they that will not see . c. yes , they that cannot see . p. the deeper the sweeter : c. not in a foule hole . p. to day for me , to morrow for thee . c. not so , wee may both be fox't together . p. a crust is better then no bread . c. not for the gummes that haue no teeth . p. a woman is the weaker vessell . c. not when a curst wife beates her husband . p. salt sauers euery thing . c. not a sir-reuerence . p. labour in vaine is losse of time c. not where endeauours are wel accepted . p. no man so wise but may bee deceiued . c. not so , for hee is not wise when he is deceiued . p. there is no such griefe as ingratitude . c. yes , lacke of money . p. faire water makes all cleane . cros. no , not a foule minde . prou. it is in vaine to striue against the streame . cros. not if the winde be with them . p. the sunne giues comfort to all creatures . cros. no not to an owle , for she connot endure the light . pro. ther is no creature so like a man as an ape . cros. yes a woman . pro. soft fier makes sweet male . cros. not if the barley be musty . pro lawe is the scourge of sinne . cros. not till it be executed . pro. a man may see day at a little hole . cros. not so , he may be blind , and then he cannot see . pro. patience is a plaster for al sores . cros. not if it be forced . pro. he that trauels far knowes much . cros not if he be a foole . pro. nothing but is good for something , cros. not so , nothing is not good for any thing . p. couetuousnesse is the roote of all euill . c. no , not of gluttony in a miser . p. euery thing hath an end . cros. not so , a ring hath none , for it is round . p. mony is a great comfort . cros. not when it brings a thiefe to the gallowes . p. the world is a long iourney . cors. not so , the sunne goes it euery day . p. it is a great way to the bottome of the sea. c. not so , it is but a stones cast . p. hee playes well that winnes . c. not , if hee lose his time for trifles . p. birds of a feather will flye together . c. not if their wings be clipt . p. change of pasture makes fat calues . c. not if the ground be barraine . p. as the tree is , so is the fruit . c. not so , when a pippin is graft vpon a crabbe . p. a ragged coult may proue a good horse . c. not except he be wel managed . p farre fetcht and deare bought is good for ladies . c. not if the ware bee nought , when it comes home . p. when the cat is away , the mouse may play . c. not if the wezill be neere . p. hunger is the best sauce . c. not without meat . p. blacke will take no other hue . c. yes , when a foule slut is painted faire , p. honesty is ill for thriuing . c. not amongst honest men . p. time is precious to an vnderstanding spirit . c. not to a theefe when hee is going to hanging . p. he is not wise that is not wise to himselfe . c. ye● , when he can giue better counsell then he can take . p. after a storme comes faire weather . c. not when a boy is whipt for pissing in his bed . p. nature is no botcher . c. yes , when she couers young flesh with an old skin . p. no such losse as the losse of a friend . c. yes , the losse of life . p. a friend is best found in aduersity . c. not so , for then there is none to bee found . p. the pride of the rich makes the labours of the poore . c. no , the labours of the poore make the pride of the rich . p. no greater shame to a man , then to bee a cuckolde . c. yes , to be a wittoll . p. true loue is the ioy of life . c. not without mony to maintaine it . p. will is the cause of woe . c. no it is the lack of wit to guide it . p. a faire wife is a comfortable creature . c. not if she be not constant . p. valour is the noblenes of the minde . c. not except it be guided by reason . p. there is no lack , to the lack of mony . c. yes lacke of grace . p. high flying hauks are fittest for princes ▪ c. not except they will come downe to the lure . p. he that will borrow must pay . c. not if he haue it not . p. delayes are the death of sutors . c. not so for then lawyers should haue no clients . p. wealth makes the worship of the world . cros. not so , for then euery iacke would bee a gentleman . p. he is wise that is honest . c. not , if he cannot doe withall . p. vertue is a iuell of great price . c. not so , for then the poore could not come by it . p. dicing , drabbing , and drinking , are the three ds. to destruction . c. not so , it is the fourth d. the diuell , that leades men to it . p. sweet is the fruit of labour . c. not except god blesse the businesse paroimiographia proverbs, or, old sayed savves & adages in english (or the saxon toung), italian, french, and spanish, whereunto the british for their great antiquity and weight are added ... / collected by j.h., esqr. howell, james, ?- . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing h estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : b, : , : b) paroimiographia proverbs, or, old sayed savves & adages in english (or the saxon toung), italian, french, and spanish, whereunto the british for their great antiquity and weight are added ... / collected by j.h., esqr. howell, james, ?- . [ ] p., [ ] leaf of plates : ill. printed by j.g., london : . collected by james howell. cf. wing. title transliterated from greek. included on reels and as part of howell's lexicon tetraglotton : an english-french-italian-spanish dictionary. imperfect: film lacks plate. reproduction of original in huntington library and harvard university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng proverbs, english. proverbs, italian. proverbs, french. proverbs, spanish. proverbs, portuguese. proverbs, catalan. proverbs, galician. proverbs, welsh. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - ben griffin sampled and proofread - ben griffin text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion of proverbs or adages . the peeples voice , the voice of god we call , and what are proverbs but the peeples voice ? coin'd first , and current made by common choice , then sure they must have weight and truth withall . they are a publick heritage entayld on every nation , or like hireloomes nayld , which passe from sire to son , and so from son down to the granchild till the world be done ; they are free-denisons by long descent , without the grace of prince or parlement , the truest commoners , and inmate guests , we fetch them from the nurse and mothers brests ; they can prescription plead gainst king or crown , and need no affidavit but their own . vvee thought it then well worth the pains , and cost , to muster up these ancients in one host , which here like furbishd medalls we present to all that breath in christendom and kent . j. h. ΠΑΡΟΙΜΙΟΓΡΑΦΙΑ . proverbs , or , old sayed savves & adages , in english ( or the saxon toung ) italian , french and spanish whereunto the british , for their great antiquity , and weight are added . which proverbs are either moral , relating to good life ; physical , relating to diet , and health ; topical , relating to particular places ; temporal , relating to seasons ; or or ironical , relating to raillery , and mirth , &c. collected by i. h. esq r. senesco , non segnesco . london , printed by j. g. . to the glorious i le of great britain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . renowned albion , nature's choice delight , neptune's chief care , and arsenall of might , vvhich in thy watry orb dost sparkling lye as cinthia shines in the cerulean sky ; or as the tortoise in her circling shell dost live secure within thy rocky cell a vvorld within thy self , fit to defend thine own , and fit no further to extend , yet with thy winged coursers dost give law unto the ocean , and his surges awe , the baltic waves , and hyperborean , the vast atlantic , euxin , indian , the adriatic , tyrrhen , hellespont , the white , the black , the redd all seas are wont to do thee homage , and rich tributes bring unto thy thames by way of offering , vvhich makes civilians hold that thy sea-bounds reach to the shoares of all thy neighbours round ; to thee , triumphant i le , i do addresse this work of oyl and toyl , be patronesse of thy own toung , which here 'twixt columns strong throughout a massy fabrick all along goes in the van of europe's noblest toungs , though they want somwhat of her nerfs and lungs . to my highest honored lord , mountague , earl of lindzey , lord great chamberlain of england , &c. at grimsthorp . my lord , i have heard the english toung often traduc'd abroad , that , whereas the witt and wisedom of a nation is much discernd in their proverbiall speeches , the english is more barren in this kind then other languages ; to take off this aspersion , and rectifie the opinion of the world herein , was one of the main motifs that induced me to impose this ( no easie ) taske upon my self of collecting and publishing these english proverbs , or old sayed-sawes and adages , which i dare say , have as much witt , significance and salt in them as any of the other languages that follow . some of them may be said to be as old as pauls steeple ; and we live in those destructive fatall times , that are like to verifie a very ancient proverb of that stately temple ( the greatest ornament london ever had ) viz. pauls cannot alwayes stand , alluding to the lubricity of all sublunary things . 't is confessed that other languages are fuller of them , specially the italian , whereof signior florio ( who deserved so much of the english nation , by his dialogs and dictionary , ( specially this last which is more compleat ) hath published about six thousand , and divers of them are allowed to be bald being so old . now touching the patronage of these antient free denisons , and franklins of england ( for so proverbs may be called , ) it may , under favour , well become your lordship , in regard you make one of the most eminent part of the nation , if one look upon your numerous and noble family , whereof the late addition of your son , james , lord norris , that hopefull bud of honor , is none of the least . but , my lord , besides the premises , there was another main reson did prompt me to this dedicatory addresse , which was , that late posterity ( for proverbs are long-liv'd ) as well as the present age , may find it upon record , how much i was your servant for so many noble favors of sundry kinds , so that i may say you do herein as in all things else , truly patrizare with my lord your father , in whose favor i had the happinesse to live many years , that noble hero , who having received some mortal wounds upon the true stage of honor , as he commanded in chief a royall army , you did preserve him for the time ( though with the apparant hazard of your life and liberty ) from the fury of the firing enemy . so with my hearty prayers to heaven for an affluence of all felicities upon you and yours , most humbly desiring to live still in your good opinion and favor , ( which i account one of the greatest contentments of my life ) i rest , my highest honored lord , your obedient , and ever obliged servant , while jam howell . to the tru philologer , touching the english ( or saxon ) with the three sororian toungs , french , italian and spanish ; of their originalls , their growth , their changes , interpolations and present consistence , &c. whatsoever is comprehended within the vast volumes of nature , or paprehended by human understanding , may be divided to things , ro words ; this small division , though it consist but of two monosyllables , is adaequat to the whole univers , and extends to whatsoever hath existence or essence within trismegistus circle , nor doth it terminat there , but it mounts up to the empyrean heven , to the celestiall hierarchy , nay , it reacheth to chymeras , and such idaeas that have no other subsistence but only in the imagination ; the first , viz. things by mediation of accidents are the object of sense , the second , viz. words by the mediation of sense are the objects of the intellect , for if we give credit to the philosopher , nihil est in intellectu , quod non prius fuit sub sensu : words may be said to be the meer cretures of the mind , they are the purest emanations of the soul , her interpreters , her chiefest agents , and engines to knock down falshood , and assert truth , by them she useth to make her sallies abroad , and shew nature the difference that is twixt brute animals and the rationall creture , who hath the sole prerogative of cutting the air into articulat sounds , by them we suck in all knowledg , for as syllables are made of letters , words of syllables , and speech of words , so speech turns to notions , notions to knowledg , and knowledg to speculation , which is pabulum animae , the food and nectar of the soul , now , these speculations in the cells of the brain without utterance of speech , are like rich wines barell'd up without bung or vent . moreover , observable it is , that , as after the creation one of the chiefest benedictions which it pleas'd god to confer upon man , was a faculty to impose words , and call all cretures by their names , which were signatures at first of their natures , ( nor only so but some words have whole histories in them ) so after the great work of redemption , the prime and most miraculous blessing which dropped down from heven upon the holy apostles was the gift of speaking many languages for the propagation of that soul-saving knowledg of christian faith ; yet , though we read that the speaking of many toungs was a benedicton in the new testament , we read as well that it proved a malediction in the old , when the swelling extravagant fancies of man thinking to have made morter and stone to have touched heven , this foolish towring presumption was battered down by a multiplicity , and confusion of toungs , which hath prov'd a kind of curse ever since , for how much would it add to the happines of mankind in point of attaining reall knowledg , as also for mutuall society , negotiation and commerce , nay , to the advantage of religion it self , if there were but one language spoken upon both the hemispheres of the earth as was at first , for then that time we spend now in learning of words , which are but air , might be employed in realities . at the beginning , as antiquaries tell us , that multiplicity of toungs encreas'd from one to seventy , but now it may be well sayed , and sayed within compas , that they are multiplied to seventy times seventy , if we take in all dialects , and sub-dialects , whereof asia long since did so abound , that of those two and twenty toungs which mithridates king of pontus is so much fam'd to have spoken , most of them were dialects , and that upon no great tract of earth , for 't was not the fourth part of asia . but in the new-found world in america , 'ts wonderfull what is reported ; for in that vast continent , which is thought to be of as large expansion as the other three , observing travellers have related , that one cannot crosse a mountain , wood or river of any bignes , but the inhabitants on both sides have a differing dialect , and idiom of speech . touching europe , glottographers tell us ( as you shall find it more amply in a book calld epistolae hoelianae ) that she hath eleven originall , independent , and mother-toungs , wherof the teutonic or high-dutch , and the latin are two ; the english or saxon ( for ther 's no other name for it in welsh and irish to this day ) is a dialect , or rather a sub-dialect of the first ; the italian , spanish , and french toungs are dialects of the latter , which may be expressd in these hexameters . anglica teutonicae proles comptissima linguae : gallica lingua nihil nisi linguae squama latinae ; lingua hispana nihil nisi linguae squama latinae ; itala lingua nihil nisi linguae squama latinae . let not these three noble languages take it for a disparagement that this word squama is applied unto them , for the chymist will tell them that squama is the flower of metalls as well as the parings , &c. the englishman is high-dutch capapie from top to toe go to the parts of his body inward and outward , together with his coverings and clothes ; he is dutch in drinking , in eating , at bed and at board , by sea also and by land when he steers a ship or drives the plough , in his nombers , in the dayes of the week , in his kindred , in the church and holy things he is dutch , &c. but in hawking , in hunting , in heraldry , in fencing , in riding , in painting , in dancing , in music , in aires he is all french ; insomuch that it cannot be denied but if the english toung shold repay unto the dutch , and french all she ows , she wold prove a stark bankrupt , and be as bare as esops crow . nor is it any derogation for the english language to be descended of the high-dutch , or teutonic , which is so ancient a maternall toung , that becanus thinks t was the language of paradis , and the italian did merrily twitt him in that opinion when he sayed , that t was the toung wherein adam was cast out thence , being a rough and cartalaginous or boany speech in regard of the collision of so many consonants , that if a man were to be worded to death , or stoned to death by words , the high-dutch ( or pole ) were the fittest ; some draw the pedigree thus , the english came of the saxon , the saxon of the dutch , the dutch of the slavonick , the slavonick of the persian , the persian of the caldaic , and the caldaic of the hebrew . so much touching the originall , now , touching the growth and changes of the english toung from time to time , i shall take the dominicall prayer for my instance as it was spoken nine hundred years ago , as that sagacious , and sedulous antiquary mr. cambden hath it , which prayer ran then as followeth , and is here compared verbatim with the present english. uren fader thic arth in heofnas , ( our father which art heaven ) sic gehalgud thin noma ( be hallowed thy name ) to cometh thin ric , ( come thy kingdom ) sic thin willa sue is in heofnas , and in eortho , ( be thy will so as in heaven , and in earth ) uren hlaf ofer wirtlic sel us to daeg , ( our loaf superstantiall give us to day . ) and forgef us scylda urna , ( and forgive us our debts ) sue we forgefan scyldgum urum ( as we forgive debts ours ) and no inlead usith in costnung ( and not lead us into temptation ) ah gefrig urich from ifle ( but deliver us from evill . ) this was found among the records of eadfride bishop of lindiffarne or the holy iland , translated afterwards to durham , and it was in the yeer . before the holy scriptures were divided to chapters , for stephen langton archbishop of canterbury did that first , and robert stephen long after did subdivide them into verses ; but about two hundred years after the lords prayer ran thus ; thu ure fader the eart heofenum , si thin nama gehalgod , cum thin ric , gewarth thin willa on eorthan swu swa on heofenum , syle us to deg um dethanglican hlaf ( or daily bread ) and forgif us ure gyltas ( trespasses ) swa we forgifath urun gyltendun , ( our trespassers ) and ne led the us on costnung ( temptation ) ac alys us from yfle , si it swa ( so be it . ) about . yeers after , in the raign of henry the second the dominical prayer was thus , as it was sent by adrian the fourth ( who was an englishman born , whose name was breckspeare as i take it ) and it ran in rime because the common people might retain it the better . ure fader in heaven rich thy name be halyed ever lich , thou bring us thy michell blisse , al 's hit in heaven y doe , evar in yearth beene it also . that holy bread that lasteth aye , thou send it ous this ilke day , forgive ous all that we have done , as we forgivet uch other mon , ne lett us fall into no founding , ac shield ous fro the fowle thing . amen . about two hundred yeers after , in the reign of richard the second , it came to be thus , according to the translation of wickliffe ; our fader that art in heaven , hallowed be thy name , thy kingdom com to , be thy will done so in heaven as in earth , gif to us this day our bread over other substance , and forgive us our dettes as we forgeven our detters , and leed us not into temptation , but deliver us from evill , amen . in this translation we find that ther are some french words crepd in , as dettis , detters , temptation , deliver . touching the refinings , interpolation and enrichments which the english toung hath receavd from time to time , it is to be considered that languages as well as other notions of the mind use to proceed to a perfection by certain degrees ; the latin toung remaind in a kind of barbarisme nere upon . yeers till caesar , cicero , salust and others did refine her , and brought her to that purity we now read her in ; so did her daughters the italian , french and spanish till the first was refined by dante , petrarca with boccace ( his scholler , ) and ariosto ; the french began to be polishd in the reign of philip de valois , marot did something under francis the first , but ronsard under henry the second did more then both . now the english came to that perfection , and fullnes that she is now arrivd unto , by adopting to herself the choicest , best sounding , and significanst words of other languages , which in tract of time were enfranchizd , and made free denizons as it were of england by a kind of naturalization , but she hath more of the french then of any other because of the norman conquest , insomuch that for the speaking of eloquent english 't is a great advantage to understand french , whence she hath her gentilest words , which was the ground of the old proverb iack wold be a gentleman could he speak french ; therefore though the root of the english language be dutch , yet she may be sayed to have bin inoculated afterwards upon a french stock , and she thrive so well that she did reingraffe upon divers words , as chiefly upon chief , faulty upon fault , precisenes upon precise , ( which are not found in french ) with a great nomber more ; but som critiques observe that she takes the liberty to altar sometimes the sense of the words which she borrows ; as she useth crank for being lively and well , whereas 't is sick in dutch , she useth bid to require or command , whereas in dutch t is to pray or entreat , she useth rogue for a rascall &c. whereas in french t is used for a bragger or highminded man ; she useth nice for unwilling or averse , whereas t is idle in french with divers besides ; moreover they tax her that she wants single words for sundry things which she expresseth by way of paraphrase , as an old man , a woman with child , a looking glasse , a peece of bread and butter , &c for which there are single words in other toungs , yet for som things she hath differing proper words which others want , as the italian and spaniards have no toes but fingars on their feet , nor can all france , italy , or spain find a word for a smock though they all three love it well enough . nor doth the english language enfranchize french words only , but divers choice expressive words from the italian , and spaniard with others , insomuch that she may be sayed to be dutch embrodered with french and other toungs , or she may be sayed to be like one that garhers sweet flowers out of divers banks , and beds to make a nosegay ; but t is a thing that gravells all antiquaries how so many greek words shold be found in the english toung , being the same both for sense and signification , as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , rain , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i call , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 grasse , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a door , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 foul , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whole , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 new , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to kisse with a great many more : the probablest reason that may be given for this , is that the greek being a great mercantile toung , and the most spacious for trading in times passd of any on earth , som of that nation for traffique sake migh come here or to saxony , and not many ages since there was a colony of grecians in marseilles in france and another in calabria in italy . by these applications and borrowings of choice exotic words the english may be sayed to be one of the most copious languages on earth , nor in point of native eloquence as for allegories , tropes , agnominations , metaphors and rhe constant poursuit of them doth she yield to any , as also for soundnes and strength of poeticall fancyes , so strong , that the soft melting phrases of other toungs are too weak to gird them about . concerning the originall of the french-toung t is taken pro confesso by all , that she is sprung of the latin while rome kept three and twenty legions of roman soldiers many ages within her bowels , who with the countrey may be sayed to have conquerd the language also which was calld the old celtique , and is thought to be the same that the remnant of the old britains now speak in wales ; touching the changes which the french toung hath receivd , ther be divers instances producd in my epistle to the reder before cotgraves dictionary ; she hath divers dialects as the gascon , picard , provensall , that of iersey , guernsey , and low normandy , that of liege , and the walloon who calls it romand , as the spaniard calls his romance ; and considering the ayrie and volatil humor of that nation it is to be wondred that their language did receive no more changes , ther having bin so many externall causes that concurrd thereunto , as the continuance and coalition of the english so long among them , the voyages that six of their kings made to the holy land , the warrs , and weddings , with their neighbours and the great company of strangers that kept still in the queens court ; but at this time the french is arrivd to a great pitch of perfection , purity and sweetnes ; ther was a contest not long agoe which spoke the best french , the kings court , the university , or the lawyers , and the courtier carried it , the other two savouring the one of pedantery , the other of chicanery or sophistry . touching the italian toung she may be calld the topbranch or eldest daughter of the latin , and she resembleth her mother more then the other two , which made king iames say that the italian was nothing els but the dative and ablative cases of the latin ; she is held the smoothest , the civillst , and charmingst vulgar toung of europe ; for the first , she hath not one word that ends with a consonant throughout the whole body of the language , unlesse it be som small monosyllable praepositions and conjunctions , which makes her the more fluent , and smooth , this made the german , for retorting of a geere which was cast upon the roughnes of his toung , by being that wherein adam was thrust out of paradis , to say , that the devill had tempted eva before in italian , and he went further that he thought all the playsterers at the building of the tower of babel were italians : the italian may be also calld the courtliest language of christendom , or the imperiall caesarean language , for by the golden bull he is not capable to be emperour unlesse he hath knowledg of the italian toung . touching the changes and dialects of the italian toung ther 's no language hath more , and this may be imputed to the severall sorts of governments , and soverain princes which are up and down the countrey , as the greek dialects were ascribed to the diversity of so many ilands ; in italy ther is the roman or court-dialect , the toscan or florentine , the venetian , the milanese , the piemontese , that of bologna , the parmazan , the luquese , the napolitan , the genovese , the calabrian , &c. whereof the two last are the most harsh , and degenerat . in calabria they will say queddo cauaddo for quello cavallo , fog , mog for fuoco , moglie , the languages of sardinia , sicily , and corsica may be sayed likewise to be italian dialects , but the prime and purest italian is lingua toscana in bocca romana . concerning the spanish , romance , or the castillian language it may be sayed to be nothing els but latin inlayed with morisco ( and som few old gothic words ) for the moors kept there nere upon . yeers , a fair time to corrupt a language ; ther is no speech wherein the toung and the text do more agree , none that is freest from apostrophes which may be calld the thrumbs of a language ; she is also an open , and masculin high lofty language , so high that she may be sayed to go upon stilts , she is also a wary , and pawsing long-●●ngd language , delighting in leasurly prolation , and long words , she bestows five syllables upon a ●att calling him muncielago , a 〈◊〉 hath six despavilad●ra , a gransire is tartarabu●l● ; now , whereas the italian and french endeavour dayly to go further off from the latin , the spaniard makes it his ambition to make a neerer approch unto her , and if the morisco words were garbled out she wold be nothing but latin , which may be calld mundus & mundanus sermo for her large extent , and neatnes ; and there may be instances made both in prose and verse that will be pure congruous latin ( which cannot be don in italian and spanish , much lesse in french ) as i have shewd in my instructions for forren travell . touching the changes and variety of dialects in the spanish toung , the las●ternian or portuguez is the chiefest , ther is then the gallego , the andaluz , the biscainer and the battueco , a new pagan nation discoverd of late yeers in the very center of spain among the mountains nere toledo , which two last have another very ancient language of their own that hath no more affinity with the spanish then the british hath with the english , and 't is thought to be the originall language of cantabria or spain ; but the prime castilian dialect is that of toledo ( as that of siena is in italy , and the aurelian or that of orleans in france ) and if ther be any debate or doubt about the tru sense of any spanish word a toledano is to be the expounder , and judg thereof ; touching the kingdoms of valencia and catalonia , their toungs may be sayed to be more properly dialects of the gascon . now , concerning this large , and long-spund peece of industry , the main division of it is into three parts , whereof every one hath bulk , and matter enough to make a considerable distinct volume of it self ; the first is a fower-toungd dictionary , where the english doth head the french , italian and spanish the three noblest languages of europe , and they all fower come without any interruption of etymologies , or proverbs ( which are also here in tomes by themselfs ) immediately one after the other , and this will prove a great advantage to memory in regard of the affinity and consonance they have one with another in thousands of words , as to dispute ( in english ) disputare ( in italian ) disputer ( in french ) disputar ( in spanish ) to contend , contendére , contendre , contender ; to establish , stabilire , establir , establecer ; a school , scuola , escole , escuela , with multitudes more , which coming so immediately one after the other will be a great help to the retention of memory , and to carry away all the fower with more ease . nor will the reder here be sent twice upon one arrand as other dictionaries use to send him , putting him to a double labour , if you look for a badger , he wil not turn you to seek a brock , nor from a brock to a gray , nor vice versa , when you wold desire what 's spanish , italian , or french for thorn back he will not make you go a fishing for s●ate or ray ; if you wold know what 's french , &c. for a blister , he will not turn you to a wheale , push or pimple , but every word though it hath many synonymas will satisfie you by it self , and not make you tumble the leafs so often for one thing which will put one to an impatience . the second volume is a large nomenclature of the peculiar and proper termes in all the fower languages belonging to severall arts , to the most generous sort of recreations , to all professions both liberall , and manuall from the engineer to the moustrapmaker , from the marchant adventurer to the cryer of matches ; here you have in all the fower toungs , the termes of heraldry , of horsmanship , of hunting , of hawking , of warr , the termes of chymistry , of architecture , of navigation , not a cable , or rope in a ship but you haue it here , you shall find here all the knighthoods and religious orders of christendome , with . severall distinct sections , a work most usefull for all that pretend to knowledg , curiosity and true eloquence , specially for orators and divines which use to illustrat things by familiar comparisons , and similes , for the prime part of eloquence is to give all things their proper termes . the third volume is of the choicest proverbs in all the sayed toungs , consisting of divers compleat tomes , and the english translated into the other three , with divers familiar letters in every one consisting all of proverbiall speeches after a new mode . ther is also a particular tome of the british , or old cambrian proverbs which the author thought fit to annex for their great antiquity and weight ; and among these proverbs ther are many hundred in each toung that never knew presse before ; lastly ther are five hundred new sayings , which with the revolution of time may serve for proverbs to after ages : let the judicious reder observe besides , that in this new lexicon and nomenclature ther be very many recent words in all the fower languages which were never inserted in dictionary before , it is now above forty yeers since florio , cotgrave , and minshew compild theirs , but ther be divers words got into those languages since ; touching the english , what a nomber of new words have got into her of late yeers which will be found here ; as stumming of wine , clover grasse , regalos , treatment , mobby , punch , perino , ( carribby ilands drink ) picaro , peccadillio , pantaloon , vogue , quakers , seekers , levellers , trepanners , piqueering , plundring , storming , excise , &c. and others which got in during the reign of the long parlement . all these things being well considered , and weighed in the balance of an unbiassd judgment , i may promise to my self that this treble volume will be judgd a work that will conduce much to the publick good , ( which is the white i aymd at all the while ) as also to the honor of the nation , and of the english toung for three respects . first , because she is put into the front of the civillst languages of christendom , and as it were incorporated with them ; secondly , because it will be an occasion hereby to accreditat her the more , and make her expand , and spread further abroad by mixing with these spacious languages ; thirdly , because it will take off those aspersions whcih useth to be cast upon her , that wheras the genius , and wit of a nation is much discernd in their proverbiall speeches , the english toung is dry and defective in this particular , and those proverbs she hath are but flat and empty . the contemplation of these particulars did much heighten the spirits of the author , and lighten the burden of so tedious and tough a task all the way . the printer to the severest sort of reders . in regard of the absence sometimes of the author to supervise , and for want of able correctors in so many diffring languages under this insulary region cut off fom the rest of mankind , ther will be som erratas of the presse found up and down in this first impression : but t is to be hoped that the generous and discreet reder , without stumbling at every straw , or making mountains of mole-hills , will passe by such light faults , and go still on to the full sense of the thing without any descanting overcriticall humor ; for t is a rule full of good morality that is to be observd in the reding of books , agnoscendum quod benè , ignoscendum quod secùs , acknowledg what 's good , excuse what 's otherwise . l'imprimeur au lecteur critique . en l'absence quelques fois de l'antheur pour en avoir la surintendance , & a faute de correcteurs assez adroits en tant de langues soubs ce climat insulaire retrenchè du reste du monde , il n'y aur à pas suiet de s'estonner , si quelques errates de l'imprimerie , se soyent glissez en ceste premiere edition ; mais il est a esperer , que le lecteur genereux , & discret , sans broncher a chaque paille , ou en faysant collines de taupineries , ne s'arreterà pas a tells petis obstacles , mais qu'il passera rondement plus outre jusques au sens entier de la matiere sans se rendre trop critique : car cest'une reigle pleine de bonne moralite qu'on devroit observer in la lecture de liures , agnoscendum quod benè , ignoscendum quod secùs , il faut reconoitre ce qui est bien , & excuser ce qu'est autrement . lo stampatore al lectore giudicioso . nell ' assensa dell ' autore qualche volte per haverne la so prantendenza , & mancandoci anco correttori as●ai sapevoli in tanti linguaggii sotto questo clima insulario troncato dal resto del mondo non ci'è da meravigilare si qualchi errati della stampa si trouvino in questa primiera editione , mà , è da sperare , ch'il lettore generoso , & sagace , senza intopparsi a ogni paglia , ò facendo montagne de talpinerie , passara sempre più auanti fin ' al sentimento intiero d'ogni materià , senza rendersi troppo curioso , ò critico ; perche , nella lettura de libri , ci'è una regola piena de buona moralita , agnoscendum quod benè , ignoscendum quod secùs . el imprimidòr al letor prudente . en el ausencia del autòr algunas vezes por auer la sobreintendencia de la obra , y por falta de corregidores harto platicos en tantos lenguajes debaxo de este clima insular tajado del resto del mundo , no aurà de que espantarse si algunos yerros de la imprimeria se topen en esta primera edicion ; mas esperanças ay , que el letor generoso , y juyzioso sin tromp çarse a cada paja , passarà siempre mas adelante hasta el sentido entero de la cosa , sin hazerse critico , ò curioso en demasiae , porque en la lectura de libros ay una regla uena de buena moralidad , que se deve observar , agnoscendum quod benè , ignoscendum quod secùs . poems by the author , touching the association of the english-toung , with the french , italian , and spanish , &c. france , italy and spain , ye sisters three whose toungs are branches of the latian tree , to perfect your odd number , be not shy to take a fourth to your society , that high teutonick dialect which bold hengistus with his saxons brought of old among the brittains , when by knife and sword he first of england did create the word ; nor is 't a small advantage to admitt so male a speech to mix with you , and knitt , who by her consonants and tougher strains will bring more arteries 'mong your soft veins , for of all toungs dutch hath most nerves and bones , except the pole , who hurles his words like stones . some feign that when our protoplastick sire lost paradis by heavens provoked ire , he in italian tempted was in french he fell a begging pardon , but from thence he was thrust out in the high teuton toung , whence english ( though much polishd since ) is sprung . this book is then an inlaid peece of art , english the knots which strengthen every part , four languages are here together fix'd , our lemsters ore with naples silk is mix'd , the loire , the po , the thames and tagus glide all in one bed , and kisse each others side , the alpes , and pyrenoean mountains meet , the rose and flower de luce hang in one street : nay , spain and red-cap't france a league here strike , ▪ if 'twixt their kings and crowns there were the like , poore europe should not bleed so fast , and call turbands at last unto her funerall . of proverbs , or old sayed-savves & adages , which go hereunto annexed . the peeples voice the voice of god we call , nd what are proverbs but the peeples voice ? coin'd first , and current made by common choice ; then sure , they must have weight and truth withall ; they are a publike heritage entayld on every nation , or like hirelomes nayld , which passe from sire to son , and so from son down to the granchild till the world be don . they are free-denisons by long descent , without the grace of prince or parlement ; the truest commoners and inmate guests , we fetch them from the nurse , and mothers brests , they can prescription plead 'gainst king or crown , and need no affidavit but their own . we thought it then well worth the pains and cost to muster up these ancients in one host , which here like furbishd medalls we present to all that breath in christendome and kent . of vvords , and languages ; poema gnomicum , consisting most of sentences in order to this lexicon tetraglotton . words are the souls ambassadors , who go abroad upon her errands too and fro ; they are the sole expounders of the mind , and correspondence keep 'twixt all mankind ; they are those airy keyes that ope , and wrest somtimes the locks and hinges of the brest , by them the heart makes sallies , witt and sence belong to them , they are the quintessence of those ide'as , which the thoughts distill and so calcine , then melt again , untill they drop forth into accents , in whom lies the salt of fancy , and all faculties . the world was fram'd by the eternall vvord , who to each creture did a name affoord , and such an union made twixt words and things , that every name a nature with it brings ; words do involve the deepest mysteries , by them the iew into his caball pries , the chymick sayes in stones , in herbs , in words , nature for every thing a cure affoords ; nay , some have found the glorious starrs to be but letters set in an orthography , the fate of kings and empires to foretell , and all things else below could we them spell ; that gran-distinction between man and brute , we may to language chiefly attribute , the lion roares , the elephant doth bray , the bull doth bellow , and the horse doth neigh , man speaks , t is only man can words create , and cut the air to sounds articulate by natures speciall charter ; nay speech can make a shrewd discrepance 'twixt man and man , it doth the gentleman from clown discover , and from a fool the grave philosopher , as solon said to one ( in judgement weak ) i thought thee wise untill i heard thee speak : for words in man , bear the most critick part , we speak by nature , but speak well by art ; and as good bells we judge of by the sound , so discreet men by words well-plac'd are found , therefore it may be calld no vain pretence , when 'mong the rest the toung would be a sence , the toung 's the rudder which mans body guides vvhile on this worlds tempestuous seas he rides : words are the life of knowledge , they sett free , and bring forth truth by way of midwifry , the activ'st cretures of the teeming brain , the judges who the inward man arraign , reasons chief engin and artillery to batter error , and make falshood fly , the canons of the mind , who sometimes bounce nothing but war , then peace again pronounce ; the rabbins say , such is the strength of words , that they make deeper wounds then spears or swords : this book may be then call'd a magazin of armes and words , it keeps and doth combine four toungs , t is like a frame on divers wheels , one followes still the other at the heels , the smooth italian , and the nimble frank , the long-lung'd spanish march all in a rank , the english head 's them , ●o commands the van , and reason good in this meridian , but spain brings up the rear , because we know her counsels are so long , and pace so slow . j. h. to the knovvingest kind of philologers . proverbs may not improperly be called the philosophy of the common peeple , or , according to aristotle , the truest reliques of old philosophy , whereunto he adds another remarkable saying , that as no man is so rich who might be able to spend equally with the peeple , so none is so wise as the peeple in generall ; for vox populi vox dei the voice of the people is the voice of god , voz de pleu , voz de deu , as the gascon hath it , for it must needs be true what every one sayes . now all proverbs consist most commonly of caution , and counsell , of directions , and document , for the regulating of humane life ; wherein as there is much witt , so there is oftentimes a great deal of weight wrapp'd up in a little . the chief ingredients that go to make a true proverb , being sense , shortnesse and salt ; this may be the reason that induc'd the gretest of sophies , and wisest of kings , to characterize his inspirations and precepts with the title of proverbs ; for it may be sayed , that as the peripatetic in his acroamatiques , the egyptians in their hieroglyphics , and the rabbies in their caball involve the choicest of their knowledge ( though obscurely ) so it may be said , that in proverbs there is much wisedom couch'd up in a concise quaint way , and that with a kind of quicknesse , familiarity and mirth , and sometimes twixt jest and earnest . plato in his dialogs called pythagoras , makes socrates maintain ; that proverbs are the antientst philosophy ; add hereunto , that among the ancients , proverbs carried a great sway with them in point of proof towards the assertion of right , and vindication of truth ; that famous plea twixt the athenians and megarenses about salamina , was determined by an old proverb of solon's : 't is also very remarkable in the annalls of italy , how the gibelins attempting to demolish flo●ence , were diverted by two old proverbs , which farinata de gli uberti produced : in our common law there are some proverbs that carry a kind of authority with them , as that which began in henrie the fourths time , he that bulls the cow must keep the calf ; in kent they have one touching gavelkind , the father to the bough , the son to the plough ; as also , a solo ad coelum , viz. that one may build as high as he will upon his own freehold . there is another , possession is eleven points of the law ; there are others , as , when gabriel blowes his horn this question will be decided ; there are two more that come neer to the nature of proverbs , the king can do no wrong , the king cannot die ; ( but by the fatality of the times , these last be now grown out of date ; ) there is also among the heralds , color upon color is false heraldrie , &c. moreover , some proverbs are of so rich , and recondit a sense , that like silk wown'd up upon a small bottom , they may be drawn out into a large webb ; as in salamanca one fram'd a weighty discours of an houre long out of this proverb , da dios alas a la hormiga para qùe se pierda mas ayna ; god gives wings unto the ant that she may destroy herself the sooner , alluding to riches and ambition — tolluntur in altum vt lapsu graviore cadant — that inspired instrument of saving faith , saint paul , makes use of divers proverbs ( we know well ) for matter of edification ; for a significant , and sapid succinct proverb makes a firmer impression , it sticks unto , and works upon the intellectuals oftentimes more then a whole oration , or long-lungd sermon : moreover , proverbs may be sayed to serve as perl , or other pre●ious stones for the embrodering of a speech , or as sinews to strengthen i● , and enforce a belief upon the auditor ; for as the italian hath it , proverbio non falla , ther 's a kind of infallibility in proverbs , for it must needs be true what every one sayes ( as was pointed before ) ; and 't is better to be spoken of ill by one before all , then by all before one . this made erasmus of roterodam , and doctor herman nunnez the spaniard , who was called the phoenix of his time in all kind of literature , after they had waded through all the severest sciences , to become paroemiographers , or collectors of vulgar proverbs in their old age ; touching the latter , after he had been reader of the greek toung ( the prime philosophicall language ) as also of rhetoric and other graver studies in salamanca , and had writt many glosses upon seneca , pomponius mela , and pliny , yet at last , like cato , who fell to learn greek at fourscore years of age , he applied himself to the study of proverbs ; nay , to go a stepp higher , don innigo de lopez , a grande of spain , and marquis of sentellana , being chief of the family of the mendozas , made it his study at last to purge and publish the common spanish ref●ans , or proverbs , which will be found in this volume . lastly , proverbs may be called the truest franklins or freeholders of a countrey ; they have no other parent but the peeple , being traditionall sayings , precepts and memorandums , handed over as it were from father to son , from mother to daughter , from nurses to children time out of mind , and will be so as long as sermocination lasts among men ; and though in point of generation they are a kind of naturall children , and of an unknown birth , yet are they no by-blowes or bastards , but legitimated by prescription and long tract of ancestriall time ; so that , that topicall axiom may be verified of them more , then of any other knowledge , viz. bonum quò communius eò melius . now let the squeamish reder take this rule along with him , that proverbs being proleticall , and free familiar countrey sayings do assume the libertie to be sometimes in plain , down-right , and homely termes , with wanton naturall expressions , that with their salt some of them carry a kind of salacity ( which are very frequent in gower , chaucer , skelton , io. heywood and others ) yet they cannot be taxd of beastlines , or bawdry . to conclude , touching the method of perusing these proverbs or adages , ( for varro is for that word ) with benefit , the reder shall do well to have his leger-book about him when he falls upon them , to register therein such that quadrat with his conceit and genius , for a proverb is a very slippery thing , and soon slides out of the memory , which by that means may be made more tenable . a letter of advice , consisting all of proverbs , ( running in one congruous and concurrent sense ) to one that was towards mariage . sir , although i am none of those that love to have an oare in every ones boat , or such a busie body as deserves to be hitt in the teeth , that i should keep my breath to cool my pottage , yet , you and i having eaten a peck of salt together , and having a hint that you are upon a businesse that will either make you or mar you , for a mans best fortune , or his worst's a wife , i would wish you to look before you leap , and make more then two words to a bargain . t is true , that marriages are made in heaven , it is also true that marriage and hanging goeth by destiny ; but if you are disposed to marry , marry a shrew rather then a sheep , for a fool is fulsome , yet ye run a risk also in the other , for a shrew may so tye your nose to the grindstone , that the gray mare will prove the better horse ; besides , there is another old sayed saw , that every one knowes how to tame a shrew but he who hath her ; if it be your fortune to meet with such a one , she may chance put you to the charge of buying a long spoon , for he must have a long spoon who will eat with the devill . moreover , if you needs must marry , do not fetch your wife from dunmow , for so you may bring home two sides of a sow , nor from westminster , for he who goeth to westminster for a wife , to pauls for a man , and to smithfield for a horse , may have a jade to his horse , a knave to his man , and a wagg-tail to his wife . but if you needs must marry , lett her rather be little then bigg ▪ for of two evils the least is to be chosen ; yet there is another hazard in that also , for a little pott is soon hott , and so she will be little and lowd , if you give her an inch she will take an ell , she will alwayes have a rowland for your oliver , and two words for one , such a wife though she be as tender as a parsons lemman , yet she may prove a wolf in a lambs skinn , insteed of a rose you will have a burr ; if you meet with such a one , you may be put to answer as he was who having a damnable scold to his wife , and being asked by sir tho ▪ badger , who recommended her unto him ? he sayed an old courtier sir ; what courtier ? sayed sir tho. 't was the devill sir. furthermore , take heed of too hansome a wife , for then she is likely not to be all your own , and so she may bring you to your horn-book again , or rather make you horn-madd , and then you have brought your hoggs to a fair market . but by all means , be wary of too costly and lavishing a wife , for so you may quickly turn a noble to nine-pence , and come home by broken crosse , she will in a short time make hunger to dropp out at your nose , she will thwitten a mill-post to a pudding-prick , the goose will drink as deep as the gander , and then , when all is gone and nothing left , what avails the dagger with the dudgeon heft ? the wolf will be then still at your door , and the black ox will tread on your toe , your neighbours will make mowes at you , and say , you are as wise as walthams calf , who went nine miles to suck a bull , and came home more thirsty then when he went. you must also be wary how you marry one that hath cast her rider , lest you fall into a quagmire wherein another was lost , i mean a widdow , for so you will be subject to have a deaths head putt often in your dish ; touching the complexion of your wife , the spaniard holdeth black to be the wholsomest , for he hath a proverb , muger negra trementina en ella , a black woman hath turpentine in her ; the frenchman is for the broun , when he saith , fille brunette , gaye & nette , a broun lasse is gay and cleanly , but they both will tell you , that touching a red-haird and bearded woman , salute them a hundred paces off . lastly , take heed by all means of doting so farre upon any one female , as to marry her for meer affection ; 't is true , that one hair of a woman will draw more then a hundred yoake of oxen , yet meer affection is but blind reason , and there are more mayds then malkin ; 't is true , that in love ther 's no lack , yet it is as true , that nothing hath no savour , and there must be suet as well as oatmeal to make a pudding ; in this case it is better to buy a quart of milk by the penny then keep a cow , and to follow the italian proverb , videlicet , commend the sea , but keep thy self ashoar , commend the hills , but keep thy self on the plains , commend a wedded life , but keep thy self a batchelor ; according to another wise proverb , he who marrieth doth well , but he who marrieth not , doth better ; whereunto alludeth a third , that next to a single life the married is best ; i will conclude with that of the italian , honest men use to marry , but wise men not . when you read this , i know you will be apt to say , that a fools bolt is soon shott , or crie out , witt whither wilt thou ? yet , though i am none of the seven sages , i can look as farr into a milstone as another , and you know that the stander by seeth more then the gamester . what i write is the language of a friend , and could i steed you herein , i would do it with as good a will as ever i came from school , for i am yours as much as any wife can be , or rather , that i may conclude with the old roman proverb , i am yours , usque ad aras , yours to the altar , j. h. proverbs , or old sayed-savves , and adages in the english toung . the grace of god is worth a fair. the parish-priest forgot that he was ever a clark ; this is meant of proud starters up . 't is wit to pick a lock , and steal a horse , but 't is wisedom to let him alone . the kings cheese goes half away in parings ; viz. among so many officers . happy is he who knows his follies in his youth . speak the truth and shame the devil . he who could know what would be dear , need be a merchant but once in a year . three ills come from the north , a cold wind , a shrinking cloth , and a dissembling man. god send● a curst cow short horns . he hath brought a mill-post to a pudding-prick ; this is meant of a great unthrift . keep your breath to cool your pottage ; spoken to a busie pratler . to steal a goose , and give the giblets in almes . who waits for dead mens shooes may go a good while bare-foot . love thy neighbour , yet pull not down thy hedge . vvho tells a ly to save his credit , wipes his nose on his sleeve to save his napkin . the first chapter of fools is , to hold themselves wise . drink in the morning staring , then all the day be sparing . some are wise , and some are otherwise . to loose a sheep for sparing a halperth of tarr . a thousand pounds , and a bottle of hay , is all one thing at dooms-day . play , women , and wine , undo men laughing . an humble-bee in a cow-turd thinks himself a king . a man will rather hurt his body , then displease his pallate . lend thy horse for a long journey , thou mayst have him return with his skinn . ther 's no fool to the old fool . so we get the clink , we will bear with the stink . he gave his wife a recumbentibus ; viz. he swadled her soundly . he who payeth last , payeth but once . the dogg who hunts foulest , hitts at most faults . here will he a good fire anone , said the fox when he pist on the ice . a nurse spoil's a huswife ; viz. because she is more daintily fed , and more idle all the while . 't is good sometimes to hold a candle to the devill . a dogg in a dublett , bitch in a baskett . an ape 's an ape , a varlett's a varlett , though they be cladd in silk , or scarlett . a man , is a man , if he have but a hose on his head . give a thief rope enough and he will hang himself . one hand in the purse , and two in the dish . it may serve with an onion ; spoken ironically . madam parnell , crack the nutt , and eat the kernell . he strutteth like a crow in a gutter . the fairer the hostesse , the fouler the reckoning . after meat comes mustard . hungry doggs love dirty puddings . after rain comes fair weather . fancy may bo●lt bran , and think it floure . he is , pattring , the devils pater-noster ; viz he grumbles or mutters . one pair of heels sometimes is worth two pair of hands . here is talk of the turk , and the pope , but it is my next neighbour doth me the hurt . the frier preacht against stealing , when he had a pudding in his sleeve . sorrow is good for nothing but for sin . who bulls the cow , must keep the calf ; a law-proverb . the man of god is better for having his bows and arrows about him . old mares lust after new cruppers . one of the four and twenty qualities of a knave , is to stay long at his arrand . three may keep counsel if two be away . to throw the helve after the hatchet ; to be in despair . who goeth worse shodd then the shooe-makers wife ? the toung breaketh bone , though it selfe have none . you are never well full or fasting . half an acre is good land . the gray mare is the better horse ; viz. when a wife wears the breeches . he is well seen in horse-flesh , for he hath lain with a pa●sons wife . pride feels no cold . as the catt licks mustard . goe to law with a beggar , thou shalt gett a lowse . he hath sneezed thrice , turn him out of the hospital . wishers and woulders , were never good householders . make hay while the sun shines ; viz. let not slipp your opportunity . iacke would be a gentleman , could he speake french. put a stool in the sun , when one knave riseth another comes ; viz. to places of preferment . when gabriel blows his horn , then this question will be decided . you would leap over the stile , before you come near it . the greatest clerks are not alwayes the wisest men . children are a certain care , and an uncertain comfort . to stumble at a straw , and leap over a block . whett brings no lett ; viz. when a mower whets his sithe . every one as he likes quoth the good man when he kiss'd his cow. as the bell tinketh , so the fool thinketh . if the bed could tell all it knoweth , it would putt many to the blush . to cast up all old scores and driblets , set the hares ●oot to the goose giblets . when the belly is full , the bones would be at rest . over boots , over shooes . a muffled cat no good mous-hunter . light gain maketh a heavy purse . he teacheth ill who teacheth all . a diurnal-maker , is the sub-amner to an historian . every one can tame a shrew , but he who hath her . a fool and his money are soon parted . he who sweareth when he is at play , may challenge his damnation by way of purchase . souldiers in peace , are lik● chimneyes in summer . all covet , all loose . he will have an oar in every mans boat . a shipp under sayl , a man in compleat armour , a woman with a great belly , are three of the hansomest sights ; whereunto the spaniard addeth two more ; viz. a bishop in a pulpit , and a theif on the gallowes . even reckoning maketh long friends . the devil run through thee booted and spurr'd , with a sithe on his back ; sedgley curse in staffordshire . i know best where my shooe pincheth . change of pasture makes fat calfs , change of women make lean knaves . when he should work every finger is a thumb . the catt would eat fish , but she would not wett her feet . better is the last smile , then the first laughter . he must have a long spoon who will eat with the devil . love and peas-pottage will make their way ; viz. the one breaks the heart , the other the belly . when the mare hath a balld face , the filly will have a blaze . 't is an evill procession , where the devil holdeth the candle . as plain as dunstable high-way . when the cat 's away , the mouse may play . he that is afraid of every fart , must goe farr to to piss . he loves sheeps flesh well , that wetts his bread in the wooll . i have a goose to pluck with you ; viz. i have something to complain of . fire and water are good servants , but they are bad masters . the catt winked , when both her eyes were out . if p. be sick , and b. be dead , then go thy way c. and beg thy bread . i le warrant you for an egg at easter . the fox preyes furthest from home . a hungry horse maketh a clean manger ; viz. he eateth all his oats . you may drive a toppe over a tylde house as soon . they stick together like burrs . as madd as a march-hare . the blind eats many a fly . 't is sooner said then done . bolster or pillow , be it whose will for me . better it be done , then wish it had bin done as good undone as do it too soon . as soon goes the lamb-skin to the market , as the old ewes . 't is a bad sack that will abide no clowting . an ill stake standeth longest . proffer'd service stinks . better to have then wish . itch and ease can no man please . he cannot see the wood for trees , viz. he is a blockhead . snow is white , and lies in the dike , and every man letts it ly ; pepper is black , and hath a good smack , and every man doth it buy . change is no robbery . he that is angry without a cause , must be pleased without amends . tread on a worm , and it will turn against you . too much of one thing , is good for nothing . vvit whither wilt thou ? a dandiprat , a hopp on my thumb , a demilance , viz. a little man. he hath got the better end of the staff . who medleth with all things , may goe and shooe goslings . as merry as cup and can , as merry as tinkers , as mice in malt . a scald head 's soon broken . as just as iermans lipps ; spoken in derision . of little medling comes great ease . who puts variance twixt man and wife , goeth twixt bark and tree . they agree like two catts in a gutter . as nice as a nuns hen . as meet as a sow for a saddle . a new broom sweeps clean . spare to speak , spare to speed . seldom seen soon forgotten . a little pott , is soon hott ; meant of little men soon cholerick . as angry as a wasp . as merry as a crickett . every cock is proud on his own dunghil a ragg'd colt , may make a good horse . 't is easie to cry ule at other mens costs . he would fain fly , but he wants feathers . all this wind shakes no corn . let every cuckold wear his own horns ; his heart fell down to his hose . children and fools tell truth . i know him as well as the beggar knoweth his dish . to help a lame dogg over a stile ; viz. to help one at a pinch . he is high in the instepp , viz. proved . i had him streight in the wind ; viz. smelt him out . all is fish that comes to his nett . hunger drops down at his nose . he will not part with the parings of his nails . a gauld horse is good enough for a scabby squire . a man may break his neck as soon as his fast in his house . backan quoth mortimer to his sow . nothing down , nothing up . ka me , ka thee , viz. one good turn asketh another . i may put my winnings in my eye , and see never the worse . you are none of the hastings . to steal a goose , and stick a feather . he is as rich as a new-shorn sheep . i suck not this out of my fingers ends . by right or wrong , by hook or crook . as good play for nought , as work for nought . patience is a flower that groweth not in every garden . to take a haire of the same dogg ; viz. to be drunk again the next day . many kinsfolks and few friends . every one basteth the fatt hogg , while the lean one burneth ; viz. he that hath shall have more . cheer up man , god is still where he was .. who can sing so merry a note , as he that cannot change a grote ? be not too bold with your biggers , or betters . where nothing is , the king must loose his right . there is no more hold to be taken of his word then of an eel by the tail . one tale is good till the other be told . the first point of hawking , is hold fast . i 'le warrant you for an egg at easter . who sendeth a fool upon an errand , must goe himself after . who hath once the fame to be an early riser , may sleep till noon . what is worse then ill luck ? yes , pissing a bedd . a thinn medow is soon mow'd . he who perisheth in needless danger , is the devils martyr . truth hath a good face , but ill clothes . put a miller , a tailor , and a weaver in a bagg and shake them , the first who cometh out will be a thief . a turd in your teeth , that 's no false latin. it is ill awaking of a sleeping lion. 't is best fishing in troubled waters . hasty peeple will never make good middwifes . 't is good christning of a mans own child first . he that goes out with often losse , at last comes home by weeping crosse . the crow thinketh her own bird fairest . a meer scholler , a meer asse . a fatt commodity hath no fellow . you give me chalk for cheese . a young man old , makes an old man young . beggers should be no choosers . children and fools tell truth . you have let leap a whiting , viz. you have let slip an opportunity . two hands in a dish , but one in a purse . poor folks must be glad of pottage . every one cannot have a nose like a shooing-horn . two to one is odd● at foot-ball . gip quoth gilbert when his mare farted . every pease will have its veaze , and a bean fifteen trick for trick , and a stone in thy foot besides , quoth one pulling out a stone out of his mares hoof , when she bit him upon the back , and he her upon the buttock . he looks like a bull that hath beshit the fair. a womans knee , and dogs snout are alwayes cold . if you will not when you may , when you will , you shall have nay . he speaks like a mouse in a cheese . he that doth kiss and do no more , may kiss behind , and not before . the weakest goes still to the wall . my horse pisseth whey , my man pisseth ambar , my horse is for my way , my man is for my chamber . early to bed , and early to rise , makes a man healthy , wealthy and wise . there runs more water by the mill , then the miller knows of . you are a hot-shot indeed ; a speech spoken in a slighting derision . he follows me like a tantony pigg . you tell your chickins before they be hatch'd . you leap over the stile before you come to it . let every sack stand upon its own bottom . life is sweet , though it alway sweat . soon todd , soon with god , a northern proverb when a child hath teeth too soon . a thing there was , and done it was , and wise was he that hid it , let no man know who knows it not , not do so no more that did it . of one who mistook his neighbours wife for his own . we must creep before we can go . put thy wish in one fist , and shire in the tother , and try which will be fill'd soonest . do not say go , but gaw , viz. go thy self along . love me little , and love me long . i took her for a rose , but she prov'd a burr . we fish'd all night , and catch'd a frogg . she thinks her farthing as good silver as anothers . a little horse is soon curried . some are early up , yet nere the neer . store is no sore . in the dark all catts are grey . you must not look a given horse in the mouth . 't is yet but honey moon with them , viz. the first moneth of the marriage . better to be happy then wise . wit is never good till it be bought . there must be more then four leggs a bedd to keep a houshold . self do , self have . cut thy coat after thy cloth . unminded , unmoned . coll under canstick , he can play with both hands . better unborn then untaught . leave is light . i proud , and thou proud , who shall carry out the asnes ? he will hold with the hare , and run with the hound . better to stand by one shiting , then by one chipping . wit is best when it is bought . use makes mastery . when the belly is full , the bones would be at rest . the burnt child dreads the fire . she will ly as fast , as a dogg will lick a dish . have among you blind harpers . the more the merrier , the fewer the better cheer . better come at the end of a feast , then the begining of a fray . better to be an old mans derling , then a young mans werling . crack me that nutt , quoth bumsted . hew not too high , lest the chipps fall into the eye . there is difference 'twixt staring and stark madd . when the fox preacheth , beware the gees . you make me scratch where it itcheth not . there is no butter will stick to my bread . t is ill healing of an old sore . do well and have well . what , must i tel you a tale , and find you ears ? 't is an ill wind that bloweth no body good . this wind shakes no corn . all the sart is fallen into the fire , spoken when a business miscarries . there are more wayes to the wood then one , viz. more means to compass a business then one . i le get the horse or loose the saddle . to stop two gaps with one bush , to give two hitts with one stone . i give an inch , and you take an ell . would you both eat your cake , and have your cake ? you can have no more of the fox then his skin . every man for himself , and god for us all . you harp too long on this string . short shooting looseth the game . all covet , all loose . you cannot see green cheese , but your teeth must water . you would over the stile ere you come at it . long standing , and poor offering , maketh poor priests . t is a sory asse that will not bear his own burden . a clowdy morn may turn to a cleer afternoon . i think you have piss'd on a nettle , viz. you are froward . you have hit the nail on the head , viz. you are in the right . as good never a whitt as never the better . in neither barrel better herring . enough is as good as a feast . lord , take me as i'am , not as i was . a saying of the penitent . 't is good sleeping in a whole skin . she mends as sower ale doth in sommer . small pitchers have wide ears . he setts cock on the hoop , viz. he is prodigal . when he should work , each finger is a thumb . spoken of a lazy fellow . better spare at the brim , then at the bottom . he goes out of gods blessing to the warm sun , viz. from good to worse . they are so great one with another , that the one cannot piss but the tother must let a fart . the shooe will hold with the sole . better to be unmannerly then troublesom . he that 's bound must obey . you have spun a fair threed , you have brought your hogs to a fair market . spoken in derision when a business hath sped ill . neer is my petticoat , but neerer is my smock . as flat as a flounder . there is a padd in the straw . spik and span new , viz. from spica an ear of corn , and the spawn of a fresh fish . as sure as louse in bosome . nothing down , nothing up . a good jack makes a good gill. in love is no lack . an inch breaks no square . the hasty man never wants woe . wedding and hanging go by destiny . better give then take . butter is gold in the morning , silver at noon , and lead at night . in space comes grace . t is ill waking of a sleepy dogg . it hapneth in an hower , that happens not in seven yeers . he holds my nose to the grindstone . to set up a candle before the devil . i am made or marr'd . of sufferance comes ease . a lords heart , and a beggars purse . his heart is at his heel . a cunning knave needs no broker . what 's bred in the bone , will never out of the flesh . i can see as far into a milstone as another . god is no botcher . thy capp hath more ease then thy head . a new broom sweeps clean . make not two sorrows of one . his hand is still on his halfpenny . good walking with horse in hand . he hath turnd his tipper . no receivers , no thieves . beggars may sing before thieves . thou beggest at the wrong door . the black oxe never trod on thy foot , viz. thou wast never in want . he runneth far , that ne're returns . to buy a pigg in a poke . hungry flies bite sore . this is to cast perls before swine . in at the tone ear , and out at the tother . the further we go , the further behind . take heart of grace . as mad as a march-hare . harp no more on that string . he casts a sheeps eye at her . who is more deaf then he that will not hear ? have but few friends , though much acquaintance . 't is a good horse that never stumbles . he may mend , but not grow worse . i cannot hear on that side . to set a good face on the matter . that which will be a sharp thorn pricks betime● : this is meant of the disposition of children . one nail drives out another . light burden far heavy . a tale of a tubb , catt to her kind . a catt may look on a king. thou maist be in my paternoster , but shalt never come into my creed . there goeth the hare away . loosers have leave to speak . further then the wall we cannot go . a man far from his good is nigh his harm . how many miles to cuntington mayd ? if you light my lord , and kiss my tail , you are at the towns end . that which is one mans meat , is another mans poyson . who would please all , and himself too , undertakes what he cannot do . smooth language grates not the toung . you may put in your eye what you get by it . children are a certain care , and incertain comfort . give a thing , and take a thing , that 's the devils gold-ring . ask my fellow whether i am a thief . he that is hang'd in a crabb tree , will never love verjuyce . possession is eleven points of the law. he hath not yet sowed all his wild oats . there is no cake , but there is the like of the same make . swell quoth the parson to his prick , when he lay with his mayd . they agree like bells , they want but hanging up . he was hangd who left his drink behind him ; a thief being pursued to an alehouse , left suddenly his drink behind , and so was discover'd and hang'd . every one cannot have a nose like a shooing-horn . his eyes are bigger then his belly . to loose a goose , and get a fether . as scabby as a cuckow , as lean as a hern. ther is no deceit in a brimmer . brave man at arms , but weak to balthasar . what , shall we starve in a cooks-shop , and a shoulder of mutton by ? sweet heart and bagg pudding . threatned folks live long . he hath a good voice to beg bacon . eat less , and drink less , and buy a knife at michael-mass . as plain to be seen as the nose on your face . can you not be content to feed well , but you must cry roast-meat ? to put a good face on an ill game . you count your chickins before they be hatch'd . one doth the scathe , and another hath the scorn . he hath swallowed a spider , viz. he hath plaid the bankrupt . fall edge , fall blade , whatsoever happen . he who doth an old wife wedd , must eat a cold apple as he goes to bed ; this relates to the flatulence of the apple which causeth erection . you will make me believe that the moon is made of green cheese . one pair of heels is worth two pair of hands . coy mayds lead apes in hell. you are as wise as the men of gotham , who went to build a wall about the wood to keep out the cuckow . the more hast the worse speed . his horses head is swoln so bigg , that he cannot come out of the stable , viz. he owes the hostler so much . this tobacco grew under the king of spains window , and the queen piss'd upon it . our fathers which were wondrous wise , did wash their throats , before they wash'd their eyes . with as good a will as ever i came from school . who is killed by a canon-bullet was curst in his mothers belly . when thou dost hear a toul or knell , then think upon thy passing-bel . as busie as a hen with ten chickins . a crabb of the wood , is sawce very good , for a crabb of the sea ; the wood of a crabb , is good for a drabb that will not her husband obey . pauls will not alwayes stand . the third of november the duke of vandosm was under water , the fourth of november the queen was delivered of a daughter , the fifth of november we were like to have a great slaughter , and the sixth of november was the next day after . who wears black , must carry a brush at his back . iohn would wipe his nose if he had it . shitten-come-shites is the beginning of love . his nose will abide no jest ; he hath taken a pett , or pepper in the nose . you would make me believe that an asses ears are made of horns . drift is as bad as unth●ift . full of curtesie full of craft . his hair growes through his hood . he who will thrive , must rise at five ; he who hath thriven , may sleep till seven ; who will not thrive at all , may sleep till eleven . a drunken c. hath no porter . debt is better then death . last make fast , viz. shut the dore . if every fool should weat a bable , fewel would be dear . a fit night to steal away a fair lady , viz. a cleer moon-shine . every one a fool or a physitian to himself after thirtie . to buy a pigg in a poke . god sends meat , the devil sends us cooks . the more she weeps the less she will piss . where the turks horse doth once tread the grass never growes . a good conscience a continual feast . the greatest wealth is contentment with a little . prayer brings down the first blessing , and praise the second . you are he that did eat the pudding and the bagg . money makes the gray mare to go . he is my neighbour who grinds at my mill . stick a sprigg of nettle in her arse and send her for a token to the devil . a womans advice is best at a dead lift . better children cry , then old men . in every countrey the sun riseth in the morning . the brain that sowes not corn plants thistles , viz. if there be not good thoughts , there are bad . he who hath no ill fortune is cloyd with good . do what thou oughtst , and come what can come . think of ease , but work on . it is more painfull to do nothing then something . good is good , but better carries it . good cheap is dear , for it tempts a man to buy what he needs not . the absent party is still faulty . a married man turns his staff into a stake , viz. he hath not so much liberty . truth and oyl are ever above . prayer and provender never hinder journey . water , fire , and war , quickly make room . the eye and holy things can bear no jeasting . thou art wise enough , if thou canst keep thee warm . as wise as walthams calf , who went nine miles to suck a bull , and came home as dry as he went. light come light go . unknown , unkist . there is god in the almery . the devil 's in the orologe . the best is behind . the worst is behind . a wonder lasteth but nine dayes . rubb a gald hors on the back and he will winch . a good beginning hath a good ending . to stumble at a straw , and leap over a block . the shoe will hold with the sole . i have hang'd up my hatchet and scap'd my self . an old knave is no babe . thy face is shorn against the wooll . thou art one of them to whom god bad ho. the weakest goes to the walls . i will set all at six and seven . a scabby horse is good enough for a scabby squire . when ale is in , wit is out . poor men have no souls . time and tyde stayes for no man. better steal a horse then stand by and look on . a woman hath nine lives , and a cat so many . he will say the crow is white . you give me a pigg of my own sow . change is no robbery . i laught in my sleeve . i seek for a thing wife , that i would not find . he hath thy head under his girdle . he shoots wide of the mark . he is a merchant without ware or money . toung breaketh bones . time is tickel . he casts beyond the moon . ' backare quoth mortimer to his sow . t is but a flea-biting . wine wears no breeches . he that medleth with all things may shooe the gosling . the plain fashion is best . who cometh last , let him make fast . he will kill a man for a mess of mustard . of two ills choose the least . forberance is no quittance . misreckoning is no payment . i will take it falth in the sneaf where ever it fall . he is iack out of office. let the cat wink , and the mouse runs . say nay and take it . i will say nought but mum . his toung runs before his wit. own is own , and home is home . she hath spun a fair threed . they may laugh that win . he playes best who wins . let this wind blow over . i have seen as far come as nigh . the keys hang not at one mans girdle . a good coming in , is all in all with a widdow . a bow long bent at last waxeth weak . a broken sleeve holdeth the arm back . a cat may look upon a king. a carion kite will never be a good hawk a dogg hath his day . a dogg will bark ere he bite . a fools bolt is soon shot . a friend is not so soon gotten as lost . a friend is never known till a man have need . a good man can doe no more harme then a sheep . a good tale ill told in the telling is marr'd . a good wife maketh a good husband . a good neighbour , a good good morrow . a grunting horse and a groaning wife never fail their riders . a hard beginning hath a good ending . a hard-fought field , where no man escapeth unkilld . a hasty man never wants woe . a hony toung , a heart of gall . a legg of a lark is better then the whole body of a kyte . a friend in court is worth a penny in purse . after meat comes mustard . as long liveth a merry man as a sadd . a long harvest of a little corn. a low hedge is easily leaped over . a man is not so soon healed as hurt . a man , far from his good , is nigh his harm . a man may buy gold too dear . a man may well bring a horse to the water , but he cannot make him drink without he will. a mouse in time may bite in two a cable . a piece of a kid is worth two of a cat. a sorry dogg that is not worth the whistling after . as proud comes behind as goes before . a proud horse that will not bear his own provender . a pound of care will not pay an ounce of debt . a scald head is soon broken . a swine over-fat , is the cause of his own bane . a traveller may ly with authority . a wonder lasteth but nine dayes . after black clouds cleer weather . after a storm comes a calm . after dinner sit a while , after supper walk a mile . all is not gold that glisters . all is well that ends well . an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers . an inch breaketh no square . an inch in a misse , is as bad as an ell . an unbidden guest knoweth not where to sit . as a man is friended so the law is ended . as deep drinketh the goose , as the gander . as good to play for nought as work for nought . as i brew , so must i drink . batchelors wives and maydens children be well taught . be it better be it worse , go you after him that bears the purse . believe well , and have well , better be envied then pittied . better tooth out then alwayes ake . better fed then taught . better half a loaf then no bread . better late then never . better leave then lack . better sit still then rise and fall . better spare at brim , then at bottom . better to be happy then wise . better to bow then break . better to rule , then be ruled by the rout . better unborn then untaught . better a bad excuse then none at all . beware of had i wist . black will take no other hue . blind men should not judge of colours . bought wit is best . by wisedom peace , by peace plentie . burnt child dreads the fire . cat after kind . christmas come's but once a year , and when it come's there is good cheer . close sitteth my shirt , but closer my skin . clowdy mornings turn to fair evenings . cut your coat after your cloth . dear bought and farr fett , are dainties for ladies . dinners cannot be long where dainties want . do well and have well . enough is as good as a feast . ever drunk ever dry . even reckoning maketh long friends . every man basteth the fat hog . every man cannot hit the nail on the head . every man for himself and god for us all . every one after his fashion . evil gotten goods never proves well . evil gotten evil spent . fast bind , fast find . fair words make fools fain . eair words hurt not the mouth . few words to the wise , suffice . fish is cast away that is cast into dry pools . first come first served . folly it is to spurn against a prick . foul water as soon as faire will quench hot fire . foul in the cradle , fair in the saddle . fools with fair words are pleased . frost and fraud have alwayes foul ends . give an inch , and you will take an ell . god never sendeth mouth , but he sendeth meat . god sendeth cold after cloth . god sendeth fools fortune . good words cost nought . good riding at two ankers men have told , for if the one fail , the other may hold . good to be merry and wise . great boast small rost . great barkers are no biters . half warn'd , half arm'd . happy man , happy dole . hast makes wast . he can ill pipe that lacketh his upper lip . he laugheth that winneth . he may ill run that cannot go . he must needs swim that is held up by the chin . he runneth far that never returneth again . he that cometh last must make all fast . he that cometh last to the pot soonest wroth . he that feareth every grasse must not pisse in the meddow . he that hath an ill name is half hanged . he that hath plenty of good shall have more . he that hath but a little , he shall have lesse , and he that hath right nought , right nought shall possesse . he that is borne to be hanged shall never be drown'd . he that striketh with the sword shall be beaten with the scabbard . he that will not when he may , when he would he shall have nay . he that winketh with the one eye and looketh with the other , i will not trust him though he were my brother . he that playes more then he sees , forfeiteth his eyes to the king. he is proper that hath proper conditions . he that worst may must hold the candle . he that reckoneth without his host , must reckon twice . hold fast when you have it . hope well and have well . hot love soon cold . how can the fole amble when the horse and mare trot ? hunger maketh hard beans sweet . hunger pierceth stone-walls . hunger is the best sauce . if every one mend one , all shall be mended . ill gotten ill spent . ill putting a sword in a mad mans hand . ill weeds grow fast . in love no lack . in trust is treason . it chanceth in an houre that happeneth not once in seven year . it is a bad cloth that will take no colour . it is a foul bird that defileth his own nest . it is an ill wind that bloweth no man good . it is a good horse that never stumbleth . it is better kisse a knave then to be troubled with him . it is better to be a shrew then a sheep . it is easier to descend then ascend . it is good fishing in troubled water . it is good to beware by other mens harms . it is good to be merry and wise , it is good sleeping in a whole skin . it is good to have a hatch before the door . it is hard halting before a cripple . it is hard to wive and thrive both in a year . it is hard striving against the stream . it is an ill coming to the end of a feast and begining of a fray . it is ill fishing before the net . it is ill healing of an old sore . it is merry in hall , when beards wagg all . it is merry when tinkers meet . it is not all butter that the cow shites . it must needs be true what every man saith . it pricketh betimes that will be a good thorn . it is not good to have an oare in every mans boat . it will not out of the flesh , that is bred in the bone . it is a rare thing to doe good . is every man born to be rich ? in the end , things will mend . knowledge is a great blessing . kindnesse will creep where it cannot go . leave is light . like will to like . little said soon amended . little do you know what i think . look ere you leap . look not too high , lest a chip fall in thine eye . love cometh in at the window , and goeth out at the door . love is blind . love me little , and love me long . love me , love my dogg . like to like , quoth the devil to the collier . like master , like man. look not a given horse in the mouth . many hands make light work . many cannot see wood from trees . mock not quoth mumford , when his wife call'd him cuckold . many kisse the child for the nurses sake . many a little maketh a mickle . more mayds then mawkin . many small make a great . many words will not fill a bushel . many men many minds . measure is a merry mean. might overcometh right . more afraid then hurt . need hath no law. need maketh the old wife trott . never pleasure without repentance . no man loveth his fetters , be they made of gold . no man ought to look a given horse in the mouth . no woman seeks another in the oven , which hath not before been there . nothing hath no savor . no man liveth without a fault . nothing is impossible to a willing heart . nothing venture nothing have . of a good beginning cometh a good end . of a ragg'd colt cometh a good horse . of little medling cometh great ease . of sufferance cometh ease . one ill weed marreth a whole pot of pottage . one ill word asketh another . one shrewd turn followeth another . one fool maketh many fools . one thing well done , is twice done . out of sight out of mind . over shooes over boots . one beateth the bush , another catcheth the birds . poor and proud , fie , fie . pride goes before , and shame follows after . pride will have a fall . profered service stinketh . prove thy friend ere thou have need . patience is a vertue . puff not against the wind . patience perforce , is medicin for a mad dog . reckoners without their host , must reckon twice . rome was not built in one day . reason rules all things . righteous things will prosper . saying and doing are two things . seldom cometh the better . seldom seen is soon forgotten . self do self have . shame take him that shame thinketh . shamefull craving must have shameful nay . set a beggar a hors-back , and he will gallop . small pitchers have wide ears . so many heads , so many witts . soft fire maketh sweet malt . salt seasons all things . somewat is better then nothing . soon gotten , soon spent . soon hot , soon cold . soon ripe , soon rotten . so long goeth the pot to the water , that at length it cometh home broken . spare to speak , spare to speed . speak faire and think what you will. spend and god will send . store is no sore . struggle not against the stream . such a father such a son . such beginning such end . such lipps such lettice . such welcome such farewell . such carpenters such chips . sweet meat will have sowre sauce . take time when time cometh , lest time steal away . take heed is a good reed . tales of robin hood are good for fools . that one will not another will. that the eye seeth not , the heart rueth not . that peny is well spent that saveth a groat . the beggar may sing before the thief . the best cart may overthrow . the best is best cheap . the blind lead the blind , they will stumble . the cat knoweth whose lipps she licketh well enough . the fewer the better fare . the fox fareth well when he is cursed . the greatest talkers are the least doers . the greatest clarks be not the wisest men . the more the merrier . the malt-man comes on munday . the greatest crabs be not all the best . the highest tree hath the greatest fall . the young cock croweth as the old heareth . the keyes hang not all at one mans girdle . the longer east , the shorter west . the longest day hath an end . the low stake standeth long . the eye-servant is never good for his master . the more thy years , the nigher thy grave . the nightingall sings clear . the parish-priest forgetteth that ever he hath been holy-water clark. the tide keeps its course . there is difference between staring and starke blind . there is falsehood in fellowship . think well of all men . they must hunger in frost that will not worke in heat . they that are bound must obey . they that be in hell weene there is no other heaven . threatned folks live long . time lost we cannot win . time stayeth for no man. too much of one thing is good for nothing . tread a worm on the tail , and she will turn again . the penny in pocket is a good companion . truth shameth the devil . two eyes can see more then one . two false knaves need no broker . two apples in my hand , and the third in my mouth . two heads are better then one . talk not too much on state-affairs . two may keep counsel when one is away . what is a workman without his tools ? what the heart thinketh , the toung speaketh . when the head aketh all the body is the worse . when the pigg is proferd hold up the poke . when theives fall out , true folks come to their own . vvelcome death quoth the ratt , when the trapp fell down . when thy neighbours house doth burn be careful of thine own . vve will do any thing that we may dance all . will. the piper hath broke his pipes . vvho hath an ill name is half hang'd . vhere nothing is a little doth ease . vvhere saddles lack , better ride on a padd , then on a horses bare back . vvhere nought is to wend witt , wise men flee the clogs . vvhere men are well used , they will frequent there . vvhere wine is not common , commons must be sent . vvithout hope the heart would break . vvho lacketh a stock , his gaine is not worth a chipp . vvho meddleth in all things , may shooe the goslings . vvho so deaf as he that will not hear ? vvho weddeth ere he be wise , shill die ere he thrive . will. will have wilt , though will woe winn . vvinn gold , and wear gold . vvit is never good till it be bought . vvho that may not as they would , must will as they may . yll gotten , ill spent . ynough is as stood as a feast . the goose drinketh as deep as the gander . the masters footsteps fatten the soyl . he hath enough to keep the vvolf from the door ; viz. hunger . better are many meals then one merry one . you may scratch where it itcheth not . he shaketh as an aspen-leaf . the grief of the head is the grief of griefs . a piece of kid is worth two of a catt . ther 's no butter will stick on my bread . 't is ill healing of an old sore . he cannot see the wood for trees . his lust is as young as his limbs are old . as coy as crokers mare . it would make a horse break his halter . a new broom sweepeth clean . every thing is worse for the wearing . as cold as a key . as hott as a toast . i fear neither king nor keysar . better to be king of a mole-hill , then a keysars slave . vvinn it and wear it . a mans best fortune , or his worst's a wife . his toung outrunneth his witt . to marry a young mayd to an old man , is to cover a new house with old straw . hab or nab , i le have her . vvho hath much pease may put the more in the pott . as bald as a coott . as sure as check . foolish pitty mars the citty . spare the rodd , spill the child . after dinner sitt a while , after supper walk a mile . a serjeant is the spawn of some decayed shop-keeper . as lean as a rake . to play least in sight . to walk by owle-light , viz. to fear arresting . a fool is fulsome . long and lazy , little and loud , fatt and fulsome , prety and proud ; in point of women . as melancholy as a colliers horse . as melancholy as a gibb'd catt . his witt goes a wool-gathering . vvitt whither wilt thou ? the difference twixt the poor man and the rich , is that the one walketh to gett meat for his stomack , the other to get a stomack to his meat . are you there with your bears ? as welcome as water into ones shooes . as welcome as flowers in may. a whipp for a fool , and a rodd for a school , is alwayes in good season . answer , a halter and a rope , for him that will be pope , vvithout all right and reason . twixt card. woolsey , and w. sommers . vvife and children , anvil of charges . she holds her tail awry . god grant your early rising do you no harm ; spoken jeeringly . soldiers in peace are like chimneys in summer . his eye is bigger then his belly . a white loaf and a hard cheese never shames the master . a good pawn never shame● the master . vvare wapps quoth will. day . all 's fish that comes into his nett . your geese are all swans . you shall have a flapp with a fox tail . t is good walking with horse in hand . as good a mayd as her mother . tittle tattle , give the goos more hay . no smoke without fire . much would have more . many women , many words , many geese many turds . as merry as fourty beggars . with as good a will as ever i came from school . twixt two stools the tail goes down . better sit still , then rise up and fall . i le christen my own child first . charity begins at home . long lookd for comes at last . the more hast the worse speed . true blew will never stain . you will not believe one bald , except you see his brain . one cannot catch a fly when he will. nine eggs a peny and eight addle . as fine as fippence , as neat as nine pence . as good without as never the nere . to break ones head and gve him a plaster . harm watch , harm catch . as a man 's friended so the law 's ended . peace and catch a mouse . claw me , and i le claw thee . i le have none of your flat milk . one swallow doth not make a summer . one vvoodcock does not make a winter . t is midsummer moon with you ; viz. you are madd . my catt hath no such ears . a pudding hath two ends , but a fool hath none . a silent woman better then a double-toung'd man. silence the best ornament of a woman . you must not let your mouse-trapp smell of cheese . if your plow be jogging , you may have meat for your horses . you dance in a nett , and you think no body sees you . a pint of wine to a vintner is but as a pipping to a coster-monge● . he is sick of the lombard feaver . newes , newes , the skin of your arse will make a new pair of shooes . kiss my arse for a week of fair weather . you will make hony of a doggs-turd . take heed of lighting at both ends . wheresoever you see your kindred , make much of your friends . words are but sands , but 't is money buyes lands . the peniless man may sing before the thief . what again quoth palmer . he that buyes the cow must keep the calf . as sure as cheque ; viz. exchequer . one good turn asks another . there is no striving against the stream . a man without reason , is a beast in season . ther 's no venome to that of the toung . 't is clear gain that remains by honest gettings . ther 's none poor , but such as god hates . i le take no leave of you , quoth the baker to the pillory . a little house well fill'd , and a little wife well will'd , and a little field well till'd , are great riches . warrs are sweet to them who know them not . 't is ill playing with edg'd tools . a good recorder sets all in order . as good never a whit as never the better . good ale is meat , drink and cloth . 't is wisedom somtimes to run with the hare , and hold with hound . when fern grows redd then milk is good with bread . farewell and be hang'd that is twise god be with you . good night nicholas , the moon is in the flockbedd . stark dead be thy comfort . the witt of you , and the wool of an old dogg , will make a piece of lincy-woolsie . to skin a stone for a peny , and break a knife of twelvepence . no hast to hang true men . as right as a rams horn . a turd in his teeth that owes no money . t is ill gathering of stones where the sea is bottomlesse . the devil and iohn of cumber . an itch is worse then a smart . if that be so , i 'le give you leave to make a whistle of my arse . spare not to spend , but spare to go thither . bragg is a good dogg . happy is the child whose father goes to the devil . every day in the week one shower of rain , and on sunday twain ; a proverb in many shires of england . usurers purses and woments plackets are never satisfied . how good witts do jump ! a hot may makes a fatt church-yard . take a hare without a muse , and a knave without an excuse , and hang them up . ready money will away . every thing must leak , quoth the wren when she pi●s'd into the sea. a cold may and a windy , maketh a full barn , and a findy . a pox on that quoth gill to her hole . there you lett slip a whiting ; viz. an oportunity . when hath the goose most feathers on her back ? when the gander is a topp of her , the fox had a wound he knew not where , he look'd in his arse and found it there . of all the fishes in the sea , give me a naked woman . fly brass , the coblers nose in the tinkers arse . that 's even a goodly dish of birds . dabb quoth dawkins , when he hit his wife in the arse with a pound of butter . good fish , but all the craft is in the catching . nippence , no pence , half a groat wanting two pench . you cannot fare well , but you must cry roast-meat . you are as welcome as water in ones shooes . as lazy as he who laid down his wallet to lett a fart . he brings meat in his mouth . april snowers bring forth may flowers . ianivir freez the pott by the fire . february fill dike , either with black or white ; he will fill it ere he go , if it be but with a fould of straw . fair and soft goes farr . children and fools tell truth . pease-pottage and tawny , never made good medley . the proof of a pudding is in the eating . a gentleman without money , is like a pudding without suet . an old serving-man , a young beggar . who is born under a three-peny planett , will never be worth a groat . 't is ill gaping before an oven . out of the frying-pan into the fire . viz. from bad to worse . out of gods blessing into the warm sun. butter's good for any thing , but to stopp an oven , or seal a letter . he will not give his head for the washing . ther 's difference twixt staring and stark madd . you come a day after the fair. manners make a man , quoth william of wickham . any tooth good barber . i love it as an ape loves a whipp . he will shave a whetstone . he will not loose the droppings of his nose . give a child while he 'l crave , and a dogg while his tail will wave , you shall have a fair dogg , and a foul child . i have a goose to pluck with you . you measure every one by your own yard . women in state-affairs , are like munkies in glasshopps . for one good turn another will itch , claw my elbow and i le scratch your brich . let not the shooe-maker go beyond his last . you putt the saddle on the wrong horse . all is is not gold that glisters . ther 's not a turd to choose . that will be when the devil is blind . ther 's reason in ros●ing of eggs. i le not creep in her arse to bake in her oven . catt to her kind . it 's a sory dogg that is not worth the whisling after . you put the cart before the horse . this is to sell a pigg in a poke . one tale is good till the other be told . my elbow itches , i must change my bedfellow . 't is an evil battle where the devil carrieth the colours . they that love most are least set by . a light christmass , a heavy sheaf . i would it were in again with the hedg-hogg after it ; viz. a fart . give a man fortune , and throw him into the sea. all work and no play , makes iack a dull boy . a red beard , and a black head , catch him with a good trick , and take him dead . i have other eggs to fry . the king and pope , the lion and the wolf ; a proverb used in king johns time , in regard of the great exactions . the ratt , the catt , and lovell the dogg , do rule all england under a hogg ; a proverb used in richard the third's time . if you are angry , turn the buckle of your girdle behind you . make hay while the sun shines . hinckeson-down welly wrought , is worth london town dearly bought ; a cornish proverb , because of rich tinne mines there . you are like to come by weeping cross . o master vier , we cannot pay you your rent , for we had no grace of god this year ; no shipwrack upon our coast ; a saying of the cornish . well fare nothing once a year . he builds castles in the air. 't is good to be merry and wise . forewarnd , half armd . like to like quoth the devil to the collier . the father to the bough , the son to the plow . a kentish proverb meant of gavelkind . in rain and sun-shine , cuckolds go to heaven . he that can gett a quart of milk for a peny , need not keep a cow. a cunning knave needs no broker . strand on the green , thirteen houses , fourteen cuckolds , and never a house between ; for the father and the son lay in one house . who goeth to law with your ladiship , taketh a wrong sow by the ear . fly brass , thy father 's a tinker . he that wrastleth with a turd shall be beshitt fall he over or under . what 's that ? it is a layer for my ladies arse , lick you the tother thing ; norfolk . grass and hay , we are all mortal . where fell the parson ? betwixt the whore your mothers leggs ; a jeere to those below london bridge . he must have a long spoon that eats with the devil . in the dark , ioan is as good as my lady . little said , and soon amended . he is a wise child that knows his own father . better a clout then the arse out . when the sky falls we shall catch larks . look high and fall into a cow-turd . who follows truth too close at the heels , she may chance dash out his teeth . to swallow an ox , and be choaked with the tail . the devil shites upon a great heap ; viz. of money . wide quoth walley , when he thrust his pintle into the bedstraw . as good steal the horse as look over the hedge . without herb - iohn , no good pottage . let the dogg worry the hogg . fight dog fight bear , the devil part them . every one is not born a poet. he that groaps in the dark , finds that which he would not . he that kisseth his wife in the market-place shall have many teachers . farr fetcht and dear bought is meat for ladies . a young saint , an old devil . the old catt slapps more then the kittling . drink after an egg , as after an ox. too much money makes one madd . when thieves fall out , true men come to their own . a good candle-holder proves a good gamester . 't is ill halting before a cripple . i can look into a mil-stone as farr as another . he is like the devil , alwayes in mischief . when might overcomes right , the weakest goes to the wall . ther 's never a promise made , but it s either broken or kept . he who dies of threats , must be rung to church by farts . ther 's more wayes to the wood then one . a fatt commodity hath no fellow . no cutt to unkindness . once a knave and ever a knave . a pox on these true jests . ask my brother whether i am a thief . the lion not so fierce as he is painted . vvords cutt more then swords . 't is good to help a lame dogg over the stile . vvords are wind , but blows are unkind . you will never make a sattin purse of a sowes ear . he is all hony , or all turd . every light is not the sun. trimm tramm , like master like man. you two are finger and thumb . youth and white paper takes any impression . when adam delv'd and eve span , who was then a gentleman ? up starts a churl that gathered good , from whence did spring his noble blood . if you swear you 'l catch no fish . if the sky fall we shall have larks ; but who will catch them ? a great cry and little wooll , quoth the devil when he sheard the hogg . 't is pitty fair weather should do any hurt . if it rain on st. swithins day , expect t will do so fourty dayes after more or lesse . never a barrel better herring . gramercy fourty pence , iack noble's dead . he that eats the kings goose , shal be choaked with the feathets . a living dogg is better then a dead lion. better be a cock for a day , then a hen for a year . prate is prate , but it is the duck that layes the eggs. better have it , then hear of it . little difference twixt a feast and a belly-ful . he that hath money in his purse cannot want a head for his shoulders . well horse , winter will come . he found him napping as mosse found his mare . better half a loaf then no bread . he runs farr that never returns . when you ride a young colt , see your saddle be well girt . who kills a man when he is drunk , shall be hang'd when he is sober . what do you roming so up and down ? i fishd long and caught a frogg . there are more then four leggs in a bedd that belong to man and wife . money is welcome , though it come in a shitten clout . kindness will creep where it cannot go . one may live and learn , and be hang'd and forget all . such a reason pist my goose. as hungry as a church-mouse . i will not sett at my heart what i should sett at my heel . a broken apothecary , a new doctor . a hungry man , an angry man. he looks as if he had sold all and took nothing for it . he deserves not the sweet that will not taste of the sowre . as good as ever water wet . one scabd sheep spoils the whole flock . he that never drank was never athirst . ther 's a pudding in the fire , and my part lies thereinna . he speaks like a mouse in a cheese . it comes by iohn long the carrier ; viz. never . fly , and you will catch the swallow . he was bredd at hoggs-norton . you have fisht fair and catcht a frogg . two hungry meals make the third a glutton . to take a hair of the same dogg ; viz. to be drunk with the same drink again . t is not worth an egg-shel . by hook or crook ; viz. by right or wrong . the worst can fall , is but a denial . ther 's neither pot broke , nor water spilt ; viz. no hurt done . a lyer had need of a good memory . tell me it snowes . one may break his neck in his house as soon as his fast . i le look into his water hereafter . t is to cast water into the thames . to help a lame dogg over the stile . she swelld like a toad . i had him in the wind , and smelt him streight . all your geese are swans . he is as free of his gift , as a poor man is of his eye . one may gett a fart from a dead horse , as soon as a farthing from him . he is high in the instepp , he stands a tiptoe . he is hide-bound , he is an hungarian . t is lost that 's unsought . he hath many knacks in his budget . gramercy horse . this is to turn the catt in the pan . have among you blind harpers . such lipps such lettice . you see the mote in my eye , but cannot see the beam in your own . to strain at a gnatt and swallow a camel. to stumble at a straw and jump over a stile . will you have better bread then is made of wheat ? best is best cheap . feed sparingly , and defie the physitian . blurt mr. constable ; spoken in derision . better half a loaf then none at all . pride feels no cold . provender pricks him . poverty parteth friends . as an owle in an ivy-bush . farewell frost . he knows well enough what side his bread is butterd upon . oxford knifes , and london wives . who goes to westminster for a vvife , to pauls for a man , and to smithfield for a horse , may meet with a whore , a knave , and a jade . grayes inn for walks , lincolns inn for a wall , the inner temple for a garden , and the middle for a hall. donmow bacon , and doncaster daggers . monmouth caps , and lemsters wool . derby ale , and london beer . when all is gone and nothing left , vvhat avails the dagger with the dudgeon heft ? so you told me ; spoken ironically . like a curst cow that gives a paile of milk , and then kicks it down . butter is in the cows horns one a year . like banbury tinkers , who in stopping one hole , make two . that which is got into the bone will never out of the flesh . happy is the eye , that dwels twixr the severn and the wye . what 's better then the beer that 's made of malt ? what 's sweeter then the c. hipphalt ? there is no fishing to the sea , nor service to the king. a northern sawing saw ; doll , dick , and davie , look wel to thy pater-noster , and thy avie ; and if thy soul desires to speed , look also well unto thy creed ; for tak 't from me , that he or she deserves to be vvell belted in a bridle , vvho leaves her werk to play the clerk , and descant on the bible . bate me an ace , quoth bolton . mark snelling anon . find me a true man trent northward , and i will find you an honest whore . it works like soap in a sowes tail . vvhere the hedge is lowest , all men do go over ; viz. the poor is oppressed . vvords are but wind , but blowes are unkind . i must not hang all my bells upon one horse ; viz. give all away to one son . you dream of a dry summer . he will live as long as old russe of pottern , who lived till all the world was weary of him . t is an ill wind that blows no body any good . grease a fat sow in the tail , she will shite in your fist . he hath the better end of the staff . as good never a whit , as never the better . he hath thwittend a mill-post to a thwittle . you cannot see a green goose , but your teeth must warer . to come in pudding-time . short-shooting looseth the game . long standing and small offering maketh poore priests . vvould you eat your cake , and have your cake ? a tale of robin hood . a tale of tom thumb . you may lend your arse , and shite thorough your ribbs . let him sett up shop on goodwins sands . if it were not for hope the heart would break . must i tell you a tale , and find you ears ? there was no more water then the ship drew . he hath not a peny to bless him . he looks like a bull that hath beshit the fair . t is easie to cry ule at other mens cost . he hath a flea in his ear . he would fain flee , but he wants feathers . she is naught i warrant her . when you have told your cards you will find you have gaind but little . who hath a scold hath sorrow to his sopps . 't is the fairest flower in your garden . he hath played wily beguile with me . mum is counsel ; viz. silence . a merchant of eel-skins . in three words she is at the roof of the house . in trust is treason . 't is folly to spurn against pricks . better sitt still , then rise and fall . to make havock , and set cock on the hoop . 't is folly to strive against the stream . an honest plain man without pleets . no fire witbout smoak . fields have eyes , and woods have ears . out of sight , out of mind . i love his little finger more then thy whole body . his toung is like a lambs tail , or the clack of a mill. you harp still on one string . i know him as well as the begga● knoweth his dish . catch that catch may . the weaker goes to the pot . as meet as a sow to bear a saddle . when bale is hekst , boot is next . to pick a pockt , is the way to newgate . fast bind , fast find . the bird is flown . better to have , then to wish . the loth stake stands long . strike while the iron is hot . he waits for moon-shine in the water . who never climbd never fell . he comes with his five eggs a penny . once a whore , and ever a whore . provide for the worst , the best will save it self . who shall tie the bell about the cats neck ? folly to spurn against the wall . use makes mastery . be as be may , is no banning . toss'd from post to pillory . poverty parts fellowshipp . the beggar is never out of his way . god is where he was . i have the bent of his bow . all the fatt is in the fire . she thinketh her farthing good silver . he shall sink in his own sin . she is as tender as a parsons leman . a mans spirits being very dull , are easily rais'd by cunny-wooll . the devil danceth in a womans placket . a drunken man seldom catcheth harm . there is no mischief in the world done , but that a woman is alwayes one . womens words are but wind . tell a tale to a mare and she will let a fart . he will ly as fast as a nagg will trott . his provender pricks him . weddings are made in heaven . of two evils the least is to be chosen . as they brew , so let them bake . as the bell tinketh , the fool thinketh . take time when time cometh . time and tide will stay no mans leisure . foure farthings and a thimble , will make a taylors pocket jingle . whipp saith the taylor , whir saith the shears , take a true taylor and cutt off his ears . a miller , a man , a thief and a cuckold . he a man ? he a mouse . if you will not , another will. i le sitt on your skirts . you begg breeches of a bare-ars'd man. who goes worse shod then the shooemakers wife , and worse cladd , then the taylors wife ? he goes as a bear to the stake . if fortune favour , i may have her , for i go about her ; if fortune fail , you may kiss her tail , and go without her . an unbidden guest must bring his stool with him . when drink 's in the witt 's out . he is a fool , and ever shall , that writes his name upon the wall . children and fools speak truth . you gape for gudgeons . cast an old shooe after him . the rough nett is not the best catcher of birds . fire in one hand , and water in tother . he blows hot and cold . you tell tales out of school . he playes with a staff of two ends . he may be gott by an apple , and lost by a nutt . come up to my shoulder , and shite in my neck . leave these flimflams and be earnest . to stand to his promise is to hold an eel by the tail . he is neither fish , nor flesh , nor good red herring . lovers live by love , as larks do by leaks . she looks as if butter would not melt in her mouth . a wolf in a lambs skin . as quiet as a lamb. as innocent as a dove . as fierce as a lion. as outragious as a bull. he is a fool that kisseth the mayd , when he may kiss the mistresse . love me little , love me long . you shall have as much favour as at billinsgate for a box on the ear . well begun is half done . god send you more witt , and me more money . we burn day-light . a goshawk scorns to beat a bunting . we are all in the same predicament . he blusheth like a black dogg . he will go to law for a straw . the dosnell dawcock comes dropping in among the doctors . his toung runs at random . such a reason pist my goose. you speak like a pothecary , viz. ignorantly . he was ore shooes at first stepp . so the butcher look'd for his knife when it was in his mouth . rancor sticketh long by the ribs . when sorrow 's asleep wake it not . many stroaks fell down strong oaks . the hindmost hound may catch the hare . the businesse mendeth as sowre ale in summer . i care as little for it , as a goose-turd for the thames . spend and be free , but make no waste . she is as quiet as a wasp in ones nose . a scotch mist wetteth an englishman to the skin . he knoweth not a b. from a battledoor . you are a right englishman , you cannot tell when you are well . as like him as if he had been spitt out of his mouth . the vicar of fools is his ghostly father . you seek a brack where the hedge is whole . who commendeth himself , wanteth good neighbours . you will make a horn as soon of an apes tail . lack of looking maketh cobwebbs in a boyes tail . go meddle with your old shooes . to leave boyes play , and go to blow point . i am not like a dogg that cometh at every ones whisling . you putt a silly soul to be a keeper for the devils good grace . he carrieth all his wardrobe about him . strike home when the iron 's hot . it melteth like butter in a sowes arse . he is mealy-mouth'd , he will creep into your bosome . there goeth but a pair of shears betwixt them . he spake of a fox , but when all came to all , it was but a fernbrake . teach your grany to groap her goose. i know what i do when i drink . catt after kind . a hare and a mare go one year ; viz. nine the one , and three the other . too much learning maketh men madd . a clout is better then a hole . sweet meats will have sower sauce . a young serving-man an old beggar . words cut deeper then swords . manners make a man , quoth william of wickham ; who had been bishop of winchester . a liccorish toung , a lecherous tail . he hath plaid the iack with me ; viz. he hath not dealt well . saint matthias , both leaf and grasse . david and chad sow good and bad ; viz. the first and seco●d of march. 't will make you scratch , where it doth not itch . lett may come early or come late , yet it will make the cow to quake . i think thou wast born at hoggs-norton , where piggs play upon the organs . if fro●t in march , there will be some in may. better fedd then taught . if dreams and wishes had been true , there had been found a mayd since the virgin mary to make a nunn of . ther 's no more pitty to be taken of a woman weeping then of a goose going bare-foot . some have the happ , and others sticke in the gapp . you must not go , but gawe . give losers leave to speak . if i be hang'd i le chuse my gallowes . a smiling boy seldom good servant . the devil is good to some body . to a red man reade thy reade , with a brown man break thy bread ; at a pale man draw thy knife , from a black man keep thy wife . give me the mayd that went to bed to her master to keep him warm ; a proverb in beverley . wer 't not for hope , the heart would break . fidlers fare , meat , drink , and money . as warm as wool. as cold as charity . as comfortable as matrimony . colchester oysters , salzey cockles , rye herrings , severn salmon . let every sack stand upon its own bottom . happy man be thy dole . even reckoning maketh long friends . at christmas great loafs , at easter clean souls , and at whitsontide new clothes . when christ falleth in our ladies lapp , then lett england look for a clapp . when the cuckow sitteth on a dry thorn , sell thy cow , and sow thy corn. 't is a good body , she wanteth but a new pair of sleeves . 't is safe riding in a good haven . what ? must i tell you a tale , and find you ears too ? i le go no more on your sleevelesse errands . nothing have nothing crave . kissing goeth by favor . you begg a breech of a bare-arsed man. god help the rich , the poor can begg . the rough nett not best to catch birds . he speaketh as if he would creep into ones mouth . he is neither fish , nor flesh , nor good red herring . for all your kindred , make much of your friends . better fedd then taught . a young saint , an old devil . little knoweth the fatt sow what the lean thinketh . leave her on a ley , and lett the devil flitt her ; a lincolnshire proverb spoken of a scolding wife ; viz. tye her to a plow-ridge , and lett the devill remove her to a better pasture . cold weather , and crafty knaves , come from the north. a little house well fill'd , a little land well till'd , and a little wife well will'd , make one happy . she looketh as if butter would nor melt in her mouth . we have fish'd all night and catch'd a frogg . he is not worthy to carry gutts to a bear , he hath more in his little finger then the other hath in all his whole body . the more the merrier , the fewer the better cheer . peny wise and pound foolish . a knight of cales , and a gentleman of wales , and a squire of the north countrey ; a yeo●an of kent , with his yearly rent , will buy them together three . fidlers fare , meat , drink and money . the nun of sion with the frier of shean , went under the water to play the quean . after a coller comes a halter , quoth the tanner of tamworth , when henry the fourth called for a coller to make him a squire . my friend keep money in thy purse ; 't is one of solomons proverbs said one ; another answering that he thought 't was not there , if it be not , replied kitt lancaster , it should have been , for it is as good as any he hath . provide for the worst , the best will save it self . the tapp's a thief . he cannot say boe to a goose. coblers and tinkers are the best ale-drinkers . winters thunder and summers flood , never boded englishman good . he hath brought a noble to nine pence . who marrieth a widdow hath a deaths head often in his dish . keep thy shopp , and thy shopp will keep thee . lett uterpendragon do what he can , eden will run the same way it ran ; a river in westmerland , which uterpendragon thought to bring about pendragon castle . he giveth twice that giveth in a trice . good words without deeds , are rushes and reeds . little avails wealth , where there is no health . to day a man , to morrow none . good witts commonly jump . a man of gladnesse , seldome falleth into madnesse . make ab or warp of the businesse as soon as you can ; a metaphor taken from weavers . the devil wipeth his arse with the poore mans pride . i le quickly make a shaft or a bolt of it . vvho draweth his sword against his prince , must throw away the scabbard . the rath sower never borroweth of the late . salisbury plain , is seldome without a theef or twain . the furthest way about is the nearest way home . 't is ill spurring a free horse . it is pitie to part three things , the lawyer and his client , the physician and his patient , and a pot of good ale and a toast . stoln goods seem sweet , but take heed of after-clapps . crush the cocatrice in the shell . use maketh mastery . his toung is like a lambs tail , or the clack of a mill. possession is eleven points of the law. diversity of humors breedeth tumors . he that bulls the cow , must keep the calf ; a proverb used in the common law of england . pater noster built churches , and our father pull'd them down . 't is but one doctors opinion . at latter lammas when men shear their calfs . i have gott it ore the left shoulder . the higher the tree the sweeter the plumb , the better the shooe , the blacker the thumb . if it be not true , here 's my elbow . the case is alter'd quoth ploydon ; a lawyer of that name , who being asked by a n●ighbour of his what remedy there was in law against same hoggs that trespassed his ground , he answered , he might have very good remedy ; but the other replying , that they were his hoggs , nay then , the case is alter'd said ploydon . in three words she is at the roof of the house . i love his little finger more then thy whole body . go teach your grandam to sard ; a nottingham proverb . ungitt , unblessed . vvhat , shall we starve in a cooks shopp , and a shoulder of mutton by ? all is well when the mistresse smiles . coats change with countreyes . stretching and yawning leadeth to bed . home is home , though ne're so homely . search not too curiously lest you find trouble . he who will an old wife wedd , lett him eat a cold apple when he goeth to bedd . you will never make a good whistle on a piggs tail . to robb peter to pay paul. lett every pedler carry his own burden . 't is the fairest flower in your garden . mum is counsel ; viz. silence . lett every tubb stand upon his own bottom . speak the truth and shame the devil . be it for better or for worse , follow him that bears the purse . as sure as a juglers box . he speaketh like a mouse in a cheese . as white as the driven snow . vvho goes a borrowing goeth a sorrowing . change is no robbery . you teach your father how to get children . you are come in pudding-time , viz. seasonably . i cry you mercy , i took you for a joint stool . vvo robs a schollar robs twenty men . he beareth the bell . as learned as doctor doddipoll . there i caught a knave in a purse-nett . it smells of elbow-grease . lett me spitt in thy mouth . he carrieth two faces under one hood . better belly burst then good drink lost . sorrow is good for nothing but sin . the second blow maketh the fray . every one hath a fool in his sleeve . better a fool then a knave . as they brew , so let them bake . he smiles like a brewers horse . of two evils the least is to be chosen . the difference twixt the poor man and the rich , is , that the one walketh to gett meat for his stomack , the other to get a stomack to his meat . wear the inside of thy stockins outward to scare the witches . a black shooe maketh a merry heart . he who hath eaten of a bear-pye , will alwaies smell of the garden . su●ton wall , and kenchester hill , are able to buy london were it to sell. vvitt whither wilt thou ? ill gotten , ill spent . enough is as good as a feast . love me little love me long . vvin gold and wear it . vvho that may not as they would , must will as they may . his cake is become dough , or his nose is put out of joynt . the devil and iohn of cumberland . as plain as a pike-staff . as rough as a tinkers budgett . as clear as the sun at noon-tide . two words to a bargain . friends must part quoth luce , when her leggs were laid open . a fatt soyl good for the bider , bad for the rider . he that shiteth more then he eateth is in danger of bursting . then we shall have it quoth iudy when her smock was up . cleanly quoth catch●ole when he wip't his arse with his elbow . he who but once a good name getts , may pisse a bed , and say he sweats . when all is gone and nothing left , what avails the dagger with the dudgeon heft ? a jaylors conscience and his fetters made both of one mettle . who sweareth when he playeth at dice , may challenge his damnation by way of purchase . wife and children are bills of charges . the wholsomest way to gett a good stomach is to walk on thy own ground . many great men so ignorant , that they know not their own fathers . money is that which art hath turned up trump . an usurer is one that tormenteth men for their good conditions ; viz. the conditions of their bonds . a prisoner , though a shop-keeper cannot call himself a freeman . an usurer is one that putteth his money to the unnaturall act of generation , and the scrivener is his bawd. 't is better ro be stung by a nettle , then prickt by a rose ; viz. to be wrongd by a foe , then a friend . you may as soon hold water in a sive . make not thy tail broader then thy wings ; viz. keep not too many attendants . a true friend should be like a privie , open in time of necessity . a cutt-purse is a sure trade , for he hath ready money when his work is done . though the old man cannot live long , yet the young man may dy quickly . vvho weddeth ere he be wise , shall die ere he thrive . make not thy friend too cheap to thee , nor thy self too dear to him . vvhere wine is not common , commons must be sent . vvithout hope the heart would break . barbers are correctors of capitall crimes . a drunkard is doubly divorced from himself , for when he is got sober , he is scarce his own man , and being in drink , he cometh short by many degrees . the furthest way about is sometimes the nearest way home . haberdehoy , half a man and half a boy . the greatest clerks are not alwayes the learnedst men . there is no fishing to the sea , nor service to the kings . as sure as check . a friend in court , is better then a penny in purse . plain dealing is a jewell , and he that useth it shall die a beggar . give a shoulder of mutton to a sick horse . 't is ill healing of an old sore . well fare nothing once a year ; for then he is not subject to plundring . seldome cometh a better ; meant of wife or governments . as weak as water . as strong as mustard . as bitter as gall. two heads are better then one . a cow may catch a hare . talk not too much of state-affairs . if dreams and wishes were true , there would hardly be found a mayd in all the nunneries of christendom . she is loose in the hilts ; viz. a wagg-tail or light woman . bauds and attorneyes like andyrons , the one holds the sticks , the other their clients till they consume . who expounds scripture upon his own warrant , layeth together hot brands with his fingers . a covetous man like a dogg in a wheel , that roasteth meat for others . souldiers are good antiquaries in keeping the old fashion , for the first bedd was the bare ground . the bragger pisseth more then he drinketh . two may keep counsel when one is away . he that hath many friends eateth too much salt with his meat . patience perforce , is a medicin for a mad horse . speak faire and think what you will. he must rise betimes that will cozen the devill . spend and god will send ; viz. a bagg , and a wallet . puff not against the wind . the wind bloweth where it listeth . shame take him that shame thinketh . he looketh like a hogg in armour . the wholesomest meat is at another mans cost . shamefull craving must have shameful nay . when the winde is in the east , it is good for neither man nor beast . it will not out of the flesh , that is bred in the bone . prove thy friend ere thou have need . of sufferance cometh ease . understanding and reason cannot conclude out of mood and figure . the cock crowes , but the hen goes . need maketh the old wife trott . he capers like a flie in a tar-box . never pleasure without repentance . youth and age will not agree . no man loveth his fetters , be they made of gold . a strumpet with child , like one prickt in a hedge , and cannot tell which thorn it was . as loud as a horn , and as sharp as a thorn . of little medling cometh great ease . through peace cometh plenty . riches like muck which stinks in a heap , but spread abroad , maketh the earth fruitful . a rich citizens daughter marrying a noble man , is like a black-pudding , the one bringeth blood , the other sewitt . a new office , like a new garment , strait at first putting on . love like a wife and child . riches are but the baggage of fortune . men fear death as children do to go to the dark . stay a little that we may make an end the sooner . many can pack the cards , yet cannot play well ; viz. witty men seldom wise . choose thy friends like thy books , few , but choice . ther 's a devill in every berry of the grape ; a turkish proverb . a lye stands on one legg , but truth upon two ; a iewish proverb . shoot the second shaft , and perhaps thou maist find again the first . who goeth to school to himself , may find a fool to his master . change is no robbery . knaves and whores go by the clock . the most essentiall part of a wise man is , not to open all the boxes of his brest . pains is the price , that god putterh upon all things . lett him chomp upon the bitt , and think on it . proverbs used at dice , very frequent among the western inn-keepers . twelve quoth twatt when it rung noon . am's ace , ambling annes , and trotting ioan. size deux ; si deus nobiscum , quis contra nos ? sice cinque , when a queen shites , she needs must stinke . quatre tray , katherine gray . tray deux ace , passage cometh apace . two sixes , black is my hole quoth nan bentley . foure and five , whom fortune favoureth he will thrive . cinque tray , some stood , and some ran away . two fives , two thiefs besides the caster . six foure , we shall be all merry within this houre . six three , six trees will make two pair of gallowes . cinque tray , some fought , and some run away . foul in the craddle , clean in the saddle . serve god in thy calling , 't is better then praying ; viz. this is meant of foolish impertinent zelotts . the fairest rose endeth in a hep ; viz. all beauties perish . honour bought is temporal simony . what 's well done is ever done . the holy man of god will be better with his bowes and arrowes about him ; an irish prverb . vvave a wife with no fault , and take one with two ; a british proverb . topicall and temporall proverbs , relating to particular places , seasons , and persons put together . lett uter pendragon doe what he can , eden will run the same way she ran ; a river in westmerland , which uter pendragon thought to bring about pendragon castle , but could not force nature ; naturam expellas furcâ licèt . wotten under wever , where god was never ; a black squalid place neere moreland in staffordshire . in april , doves-flood , is worth a kings good ; a river in staffordshire . you may sip up the severn , and swallow mavern as soon ; meant of impossibilities . scarborough warning ; viz. not till danger knock at the door , as it once happened there from the french. archdeacon pratt would eat no fatt , his wife would eat no lean ; twixt archdeacon pratt , and ioan his wife , the meat was eat up clean . rain , rain go to spain , fair weather come again . at witson poke munday , when peeple shear hogs ; viz. never . like banbury tinkers , who in stopping one hole , make two ; meant of those that marr a business in mending it . barnaby bright , the longest day and shortest night . backare , quoth mortimer to his sow . there be more mayds in the world then malkin . as old as pendle hill ; in lancashire where the witches use to be . from hull , hell , and hallifax , good lord deliver us . as wise as vvalthams calf , who went nine miles to suck a bull , and came back more thirstie then when he went. ioan in the dark is as good as my lady . a man in words and not in deeds , is like a garden full of weeds . badger-like , one legg shorter then another . they scold like so many butter-whores , or oyster-women at billinsgate . in time of prosperity friends will be plenty , in time of adversity not one amongst twenty . the dutchman drinketh pure wine in the morning , at noon wine without water , in the evening as it comes from the butt . nick would wipe his nose if he had one . some places of kent have health and no wealth , some wealth and no health , some health and wealth , some have neither health nor wealth . a burford bait ; viz. vvhen one sipps or drinks but part , they still fill his cupp untill he drinketh all . drink off your drink and steal no lambs . as craftie as a kendale fox . they thrive as new-colledge students , who are golden schollers , silver batchelors , and leaden masters . as fierce as a lion of cotshwold ; viz. a sheep . go digg at mavorn hill ; spoken of one whose wife wears the breeches . god sends meat and the devil sends cooks . after meat comes mustard . hunger is the best sawce . cato never laughed but once , and that was when he saw an asse eat thistles ; being laden with gold . go ride upon saint leonards saddle ; a speech used to be spoken to a barren woman ; this saddle was kept at bromley ( in essex . ) vvebley ale , medley bells , lemster ore ; three things in herefordshire , which are the best in that kind . an ague in the spring , is physick for a king. a bushell of march dust , is worth a kings ransome . as plain as the nose of a mans face . easter so long'd for is gone in a day . winter thunder is summers wonder . after a storm cometh a calm . vvide quoth bolton when his bolt flew backward . he shooteth well that hitts the mark . bait me an ace quoth bolton . sutton wall , and kenchister , are able to buy london were it to sell ; two fruitfull places in herefordshire . the devil and iohn of cumber . blessed be saint stephen , ther 's no fast at his even ; because 't is christmas night . in lincolnshire , the sow shites sope , the cow shites fire ; for they wash with the one , and make fire with the other . every thing hath an end , and a pudding hath two . it would vex a dogg to see a pudding creep . the vale of holmesdale , never won , nor never shall ; holmesdale is near rigat in surrey . little england beyond vvales ; pembrokeshire more then half inhabited by the english. lemster wooll , and monmouth capps . find me an honest man trent northward , and i will find you an honest whore . solomon was a wise man , and sampson was a strong man , yet neither of them could pay money before they had it . lay thy hand on thy heart , and speak the truth . look behind thee , and consider what thou wast . let god be true , and all men liars . do as you would be done unto . a cold may and a windy , makes a fat barn and findy . manners make a man , quoth vvilliam of wickeham . a soft fire maketh sweet malt . you may know his meaning by his gaping . souldiers and travellers may lye by authority . the smoak of charren ; a proverb relating to a wife who had beat her husband , and he going out weeping , said it was for the smoake that his eyes watered . he that hath it and will not keep it , he that wanteth it and will not seek it , he that drinketh and is not dry , shall want money as well as i. if one knew how good it were to eat a hen in ianivere , he would not leave one in the flock , for to be trodden by the cock. of all the fish in the sea , herring is the king. the nun of sion , with the frier of shean , vvent under water to play the quean . if skiddaw wears a capp , scruffel wots full well of that ; viz. if it be cloudy . skiddaw , and scruffel are in cumberland , and anandell . skiddaw , lauellin , and casticand , are the highest hills in all england ; all in cumberland . a sheriff had he bin , and a contour , vvas no where such a vavasour ; an old said saw of that family . the jowl of a salmon , the tail of a tench ; the back of a herring , the belly of a vvench . vvere i near my castle of bungey , upon the river of vvavenley , i would ne care for the king of cockeney . hugh bigod in henry the seconds time ; these places are in suffolk . it shall be done when the king cometh to vvogan , a little village ; viz. an impossibility . cheshire chief of men , lancashire for fair women . iudas might have repented before he could have found a tree to have hang'd himself upon , had he betraid christ in scotland . essex calfs , kentish long-tails , yorkshire tikes , norfolk bumkins . vvho fetcheth a wife from dunmow , carrieth home two sides of a sow . madame parnell , crack the nut and eat the kernel ; this alludes to labor . when gabriel blowes his horn , then this question will be decided ; viz. never . as plain as dunstable high-way . i le warrant thee for an egg at easter . brave man at arms , but weak to balthazar . you are as wise as the men of gotham , who went to build a wall about the wood to keep out the cuckow . this tohacco grew under the king of spains window , and the queen piss'd upon 't . pauls will not alwayes stand . where the great turks horse once treads , the grass will never grow . as just as iermans lipps . gipp quoth gilbert when his mare farted . coll under candlestick , he can play with both hands . crack me that nutt quoth bumsted . cold weather and craftie knaves come from the north. at christmas great loafs , at easter clean souls , and at whitsontide new clothes . bricklesey oysters , selzey cockles , rye herrings , severn sammon . i care as little for it as a goose-turd doth for the thames . you are a right englishman , you know not when you are well . david and chad sow good or bad . saint matthias both leaf and grasse . i think she was bred at hoggsnorton , where piggs play on the organs . mock not quoth mumford when his wife call'd him cuckold . oxford knifes , london wives . dunmow bacon , doncaster daggers . happy is the eye , that dwelleth twixt severn and the wye . a scott's mist wetteth an englishman to the skinne . every one cannot dwell at rotheras ; a delicate seat of the bodmans in herefordshire . he will live as long as old russe of pottern , who lived till all the world was weary of him . grayes inn for walks , lincoln's inn for a wall , the inner temple for a garden , and the middle for a hall. hinkeson down welly wrought , is worth london town dearly bought ; because of the tinn-mines . strand on the green , thirteen houses , fourteen cuckolds , and never a house between ; for the father and son lay in one house . dabb quoth dawkins when he hitt his wife on the arse with a pound of butter . three ills come from the north , a cold wind , a sleazy cloth , and a crafty man. some of old john heivvoods rhimes , which run for the most part in proverbs & adages of old ferne yeers . touching mariage and against too much haste that way . the best or worst thing to man for this life , is good or ill choosing his good or ill wife ; some things that provoke young men to wedd in haste , shew after wedding , that haste makes waste . when time hath turn'd white sugar to vvhite salt , then such folk see , soft fire makes sweet malt . and that deliberation doth men assist before they wedd , to beware of had i wist : and then their timely wedding doth soon appear that they were early up but nere the neer ; for when their hasty heat 's a little controll'd then perceive they well , hott love 's soon cold , and when hasty wittlesse mirth is mated wee le , good to be merrie and wise , they think and feel . hast in wedding some man thinketh his own avail when it proves at last a rod for his own tail . in lesse things then weddings hast showeth hast mans foe . so that the hastie man never wants woe . and though some seem wifes for you be never so fitt , yet lett not harmfull hast so farre outrun your witt , for in all or most things we wish at need in our carriage oft-times , the more haste the less speed : thus by these lessons you may learn good cheape , in wedding , and in all things else to looke ere you leape . a young mans answer . he that will not when he may , when he would he shall have nay . i am proferr'd fair , then hast must provoke when the pigg is profer'd to hold up the poke ; when the sun shines make hay , which is to say , take time when time cometh , lest time steal away , and one good lesson to this purpose i pike from the smiths forge , when th' iron 's hott strike . the sure sea-man seeth , the tyde tarrieth no man , delay in the lover , is death to the woman . time is tickle , and out of sight out of mind , then catch and hold while thou mayest , fast binde , fast finde . blame me not to hast for fear mine eye be blerde , and thereby the fatt clean flitt from my bearde ; where wooers hopp in and out long time may bring him that hoppeth best at last to have the ring , i hopping without for a ring of rush. and while i at length debate , and beat the bush , there shall stepp in other men , and catch the burds , which i by long time lost in many vain wurds . between fear and hope , sloth may me confound , while twixt twoo stools the taile goes to the ground ; by this since we see sloth must breed a stab , i le venture my fortune , and come hab or nab , and i hope that none shall my fortune condole , come what come will , happie man , happie dole ; we know right well wedding is destinie , and hanging likewise , we cannot them fly . thus all your proverbs inveighing against hast , be answer'd with proverbs plain , and promptly plac'd , the complaint of one who had a shrow to his wife . oh , what choyce may compare to the devils life like his , that hath chosen a devil for his wife , namely , such an old witch , such a mackabroyne as ever more like a hogg hangeth the groyne on her husband , except he be her slave , and follow all fancies that she would have ! but the proverb 's true , ther 's no good accord , where everie man would be a lord. before i was wedded , and since , i made reckning to make my wife bow at every beckning , batchlers boast how they will teach their wifes good , but many a man speaketh of robin hood that never shot in his bow ; but now i begin to gather , everie one can rule a shrew save he who hath her . it is said of old , an old dog biteth sore , but the old bitch biteth sorer , and more . but this is not all , she hath another blisse , she will lie as fast as a dog will lick a dish , she is of truth as false as god is true . she 's damnably jealous , for if she chance view me kissing my maydes alone but in sport that taketh she in earnest after bedlams sort . the cow is wood , her toung runneth on pattens , if it be morn we have a pair of mattens , if it be evening even-song , not latine nor greek , but english , and like that as in easter week , she beginneth first with a cry a leysone to which she ring'th a peal , or larom , such a one as folks ring the bees with basons , the world run'th on wheels , but except her mayd shew a fair pair of heels she haleth her by the boyrope till her brains ake . and bring i home a dish good chear to make , what 's this saith she ? good meat say i , for you , god a mercy horse , a pigg of my own sow ; and commonly if i eat with her either flesh or fish , i have a dead mans head cast into my dish ; she is as wholsome a morsell for a mans corse as a shoulder of mutton is for a sick horse , the devill with his dam , hath more rest in hell , at every one of her teeth there hangs a great bell . a small thing amisse late i did espie which to make her mend by a jest merrily i said but this , tantivet wife your nose dropps , so it may fall i will eat no browesse sopps this day , but two dayes after this came in ure i had sorrow to my sopps enough be sure , this hath been her humor long and evermore now , it is ill healing of an old sore . for the proverb saith many years agone , it will nere out of the flesh that 's bred in the bone . if any husband but i were handled thus they would give her many a recumbentibus ; but as well as i you know the saying , i think the more you stir a turd , the worse it will stink . english proverbs , rendred into french , italian , & spanish ; proverbes anglois traduits en françois , italien , & espagnòl ; proverbi inglesi tradotti in italiano , francese , & spagnuolo ; refranes ingleses traduzidos en castellano , francès , y italiano . to the knowing reder . som ther are who reproch the english , that in regard the genius and witt of a nation is much discernd in their common , proverbiall speeches , the english language is more barren and meager in this particular then others : to take off this aspersion , and rectifie the world herein , i have thought it worth the pains to publish both in french , italian and spanish , these ensuing english proverbs , wherein the impartiall reder will find as much salt , significancy and true sense , as in the proverbs of any other language . au lecteur des-interessè . il y en a qui reprochent a l'anglois , que , veu que le genie , & lesprit d'une nation se discerne grandement par ses mots & dictons proverbiaux , l'angloise se trouue plus maigre , & sterile en ce particulier , que les autres langues ; pour desabuser le monde touchant cela à este le principal motif qui in'a induit d'exposer au public ces proverbes anglois ensuyvans , dans lesquels le lecteur desinteressè trouuerà autant du sel , & du sens qu' en ceux d'aucun autre langage quelqu ' qu'il soit . al lettore disinteressato . vi sono alcuni chi rinfacciano l'inglese , che , poi ch' il genio , & la prudenza de vna natione si scuopre assai nelli lor motti proverbiali , la lingua inglesa è più sterile in questo particolare che l●altre ; per disingannar ' il mondo tocante questo , hò volsuto esporre alla luce publica cosi ben in italiano , com' in francese , & spagnuolo , gli proverbi inglesi che seguono , ne i quali il lettore disinteressato trouvara tanto sale , & sentimento ch' in quelli d'alcun aliro linguaggio . al letor desinteressado . algunos ay qui derogan de l' ynglès , que pues , que el genio , y prudencia de vna nacion se descubre mucho en sus refranes , y dichos proverbiales , la ynglesa es mas esteril en este particular che las otras lenguas ; por defenganar el mundo tocante esto , ha sido mi desinio de sacar a luz publica en castellano , como en francès y italiano estos refranes ingleses que siguen , en los quales el letor desenteri essado hallarà tanto sal , y agudeza que en os de qualquier otro lenguaje . englsih proverbs , rendred into french , italian & spanish ; proverbes anglois traduits en françois , italien , & espagnòl ; proverbi inglesi tradotti in italiano , francese , & spagnuolo ; proverbios ingleses traduzidos en castellano , francès , y italiano . the grace of god is worth a fair. la grace de dieu vaut vne foire . la gratia d' iddio val ' vna fiera . la gracia de dios vale una feria . 't is witt to pick a lock and steal a horse , but it is wisedom to let him alone . c'est finesse de crocheter vne serrure , & derober vn cheval , mais ce'st sagesse de s'en abstenir . e sotilezza di grimaldellar ' vna serratura , & furar ' vn cavallo , mà , e saviezza de lasciarli là . sotileza es , de ganzuar vna cerràdura , & hurtar vn cauallo , mas labiduria es de dexarlo estar . the kings cheese goes half away in parings . le formage du roy va plus de la moitie en rongneures . il formaggio del re va via più della meta in cortez●e . el queso del rey va mas de la mitad en cortezas . i. entre les officiales . happy is he who knowes his follies in his youth . il est bien heureux qui conoit ses folies en sa ieunesse . egli e felice assaji chi conosce le sue pazzie nella gioventù . dichoso es , quien conoce sus locuras en la mocedad . speak the truth and shame the devil . dis la veritè , & affronteras le diable . dir ' il vero , & affronterai il diavolo . digas la verdad , y afrenteras el demonio . he who could know what would be dear , need be a merchant but once in a year . si on sçauroit ce quese rencheretoit , n'auroit besoin d'estre marchand plus d'vne fois l'anneé . se si potesse saper ' che si'ncarirebbe , bastarebbe esser ' mercante vna quel volta nell ' anno . si se supiera che cosa se encare ceria bastaria ser mercader vna vez en el an̄o . keep your broth to cool your pottage . gardez l'halaine pour refroidir vostre souppe . guardate il fiato per raffreddar vostra minestra . guardad el aliento por enfriar vuestro caldo . who waits for deadmens shooes , may go a goodwhile barefoot . qui attend les souliers des morts , pourra aller bien long temps les pieds nuds . chi aspetta le scarpe de morti potrà andar assaj tempo scalzo . quien aguarda los capatos de muertos podrà yr harto tiempo descalzo . love thy neighbour , yet pull not down thy hedge . aime ton voisin ce neantmoins n'abbas pas ton haye . amar ' il tuo vicino mà non disfaila tua siep● . ama tu vezino , pero no deshagas tu seto . a nurse spoils a good huswife . nourice gaste bonne mesnagere . balia guasta buona messara . ser ama , echa a perder buena casera . give a thief rope enough and he will hang himself . donnez corde assez au làrron , & il se pendrà soy mesme . dar ' corda assaj al ladrone , & egli impiccara se stesso . dad harta soga al ladron , y ahorcarsi hà si mèsmo . here will be a good fire anon quoth the fox when he pist in the snow . il y aurà icy bon feu tantost , dit le renard , quand il pissoit dans la neige . ci sarà buon fuoco subito disse il volpe quando pisciava ●olla neve . aurà luego buena lumbre , dixo el raposo , quando meava en la nieve . who payeth last , payeth but once . qui paye le dernier ne paye qu●vne fois . chi paga l' vltimo no paga ch'vna volta . quien paga postrero , no paga mas d'vna vez . lend thy horse for a long journey , thou mayest have him again with his skinn . preste ton cheval pour vn long voyage , il t'en retournerà avec sa peau . prestar il tuo cavallo per vn viaggio lungo , & egli ne ritornerà colla pelle . dexa tu cavalgadura por vn largo viaie , & ti sara buelto con su pelleio . to loose a sheep for a halfperth of tar ; laisser perdre vn brèbis pour deux liards de goderon . lasciar ' perderse vna pecora per vn carlino de pegola . echar a perder vna oveia por media placa de pega . a thousand pounds , and a bottle of hay , will be one thing at doomsday ; monceau do'r , & boteau du foin ce seront la mesme chose au dernier jour . massa d'oro & mucchio di fieno sara la medema cosa al d● de guidicio . massa de oro , & almiar de heno , la mesma cosa sera en el dia de juyzio . the faire● the hostesse the ●ouler the reckning . belle hotesse laid escot , bella hostiera brutto conto . linda huespeda , escote feo . fancy may bolt bran , and think it flour . la phantasie pourra bluter du son , & l'imaginer farine . la fantasia potra buratar crusca , & pensarla farina . la fantasia podrà cernir afrecho , y imaginarlo harina . one pair of heels is worth two pair of hands . vn pair de iambes valent deux couples de bras . vn paro de garetti vale due pari de mani . vn par de piernas vale dos pares de manos . here is talk of the turk and the pope , but it is my next neighbour that doth me the hurt . on parle tant du turc , & du pape , mais cest mon voisin qui me fait le dommage . parlano assai del turco , & del papa , mà il mio vicino e quel chi mi fà il danno . hablan tanto del turco , y del papa , mas , mi vezino es el qui me haze el dan̄o . sorrow is good for nothing but for sin . tristezza non val mente si no per il peccato . tristezza no vale nada sino por el pecado . the man of god is better by having his bowes and arrows about him . l'homme de dieu est plus asseurè ayant son arc & fleches sur le dos . l'huomo d'iddio è più sicuro havendo son arco , & freccie adosso . el hombre de dios es mas seguro teniendo su arco y flechas acuestas . who goes worse shod then the shooemakers wife ? qui e plus mal chaussè que la femme du cordonnier ? chi anda peggio calzato che la moglie del scarpaio ? quien và peòr calçado que la muger del capatero ? half an acre is good land . demy arpent est bonne terre . mezza biolca e buona terra , media yugada buena tierra es . pride feels no cold . la superbe ne sent pas le froid , superbia no sente freddo . la soberuia no siente frio . go to law with a beggar , thou mayest catch a louse ; playdes contre vn gueux , & gaigneras vn poulx . chi litiga con pitoco guadagnerà vn pidecchio . qui pleytea con mendigo medrarà vn pio●o . make hay while the sun shines . recuelle ton foin pendant que le soleil luit . raccoglier ' il tuo fieno fin a tanto ch'il sol splendesca . recoje tu heno mientras que el sol luziere . put a stool in the sun , when one knave riseth another comes . mets vn scabèau au soleil quand un fol s'y leve , vn autre vient . metter ' vn scanno nel sole quando vn pazzo se leva vn altro viene . metas vna sedia en el sol , quandovn loco se levanta otro viene . as the bell tinketh , so the fool thinketh . comme la cloche sonne , le fol songe . come la campana suona il pazzo pensa . como la campana suena el loco piensa . when gabriel blowes his horn this business will be decided . quànd gabriel sonne sa trompette c'est affaire s ' uvider● . quando gabriel suonara la sua tromba questo si determinara . quando gabriel suena su trompeta este negocio quedarà resuelto . children are a certain care , and uncertain comfort . les enfans sont soins certains , & comforts incertains . franciulli sogni certi comforti incerti . hijos cuydados ciertos , consuelos ; inciertos . to stumble at a straw and leap over a block . broncher contre vne paille , & sauter par dessus vn poutre . inciam parse contra vna paglia , & balzar ' di sopra vn tronco . tropieçar contra vna paia , y saltar sobre vn trunco . every one as he likes , quoth the good man when he kissed his cow. chacun selon son humeur , dit le bon homme quand il baisoit sa vache ; ogniuno al suo gusto disse il buon huomo quando baciava la sua vacca . cada uno a su gusto , dixo el buen hombre besando su vaca . souldiers in peace are like chimneyes in summer . soldats en temps de la paix comme chimence es en l'estè . soldati in tempo di pace come camini da fuoco nella state . soldados en tiempo pazes , como chimeneas en el estio . if the bed would tell all it knowes it would put many to the blush . si le lict disoit tout ce qu'il scait il feroit plusieurs rougir . se il letto direbbe tutto che sà farebbe molti rosseggiarsi . se la cama descubriesse todo lo que sabe haria muchos berme jecerse . when the belly is full the bones would be at rest . quand la pance est pleine , les os voudroyent bien se repo●er . quando la pancia e piena gli ossi vogliono riposo . quando la barriga està llena los huessos dessean reposo . he teacheth ill , who teacheth all . enseigne mal , qui enseigne tout . mal ' insegna , chi insegna tutto . ensen̄a mal qui ensen̄a todo . every one can tame a shrew ; but he who hath her . chacun scait dompter vn ' harenguere fo rs celuy qui l'a pour femme . ogniuno sà domar ' vna ciarlona eccetto coluy chi la tiene . cada vno sabe domar vna parlera fuera el quien la tiene por mugèr . a fool and his money are soon parted . le fol , & son argent sont bien tost separez . il pazzo , & ' l suo danaro son● presto separati . el bouo , y su dinero son luego apartados . he will have an oar in every one 's boat. il veut auoir vogue en chasque b●teau . vuol auer ' ramo in ogni barca . quiere auer ramo en cada barca . change of pasture makes fat calfs . changement de pasture fait gras veaux . cambiamento de pascolo fà vi●elli grassi . remuda de pasturage haze bizerros gordos . better is the last smile , then the first laughter . le dernier soubris vaut plus que le premier ris . l'ultimo ghigno val ' più che la primiera risata . el postrer sonriso mejor es qua la primera riza . when he should work , all his fingers are thumbs . quand il devroit trauailler chasque doit devient pouce . quando deve travagliare , ogni dito diventa pollice . quando hà de trabajar cada dedo es pulgar . he must havè a long spoon who will eat with the devil . qui veut manger avec le diable il luy faut avoir le cueiller long . chi vuol ' mangiar col diavolo bisogna hauer'cucciaio lungo . quien quiere comer con el diablo es menestèr que tenga cuchara larga . as good eat the flesh as the broth where the devil was boyld in . autant vaut il manger la chair , que le potage auquel le diable fut bouilli . l'istessa cosa è de mangiar ' la carne chi'l brodo nell ' qua'l il diauolo fù bollito . tanto vale comer la carne que el caldo do el diablo fue bullido . a hungry horse makes a clean manger . cheval affamè rend la creche net●e . il cauallo affamato fà presepio netto . cauallo hambriento haze el pesèbre limpio . time and tyde stayes for no man. le temps , & la maree n'attend personne . il tempo & ' l flusso non aspetano . el tiempo , y la marea no esperano al rey. as good steal a horse as stand by and look on . autant vaut il derober vn cheval que d'estre aupres du larron . tanto val ' furar ' un cavallo que mirar ' appresso . tanto vale hur●ar vn cavallo que de mirar cerquita . fire and water are good servants , but ill masters . le feu , & l'eau sont bons serviteurs , mauvais maistres . il fuoco , & l'acqua buoni servitori cattiui patroni . el fuego , y el agua son buenos servidores , ruynes amos. a mans best fortune , or his worst's a wife . le plus gran malheur , ou bonheur de l'homme est vne femme . la maggior ' seventura , ò ventura de l' huomo e la moglie . la mayor dicha , ò defdicha del hombre es la muger . who hath pease enough may put the more in the pott . qui a quan●ite de cices pourr ' , en mettre assez au pot . chi hà abondanza de ceci potra metter ' assaj nella pentola . qui a garvancos en abundancia , podra echar harto en la olla . the penny is good that saves a groat . le denier est bon qui sauve vn soubs . il dinaro è buono che salvara vn soldo . la placa es buena que salva vn real . try thy friend before thou have need of him . esprouvez ●on amy devant que tu en a●ezbesoin . provar ' l'amico inanzi che ne hai bisognio . prueva el amigo antes que ayas menester . i beat the bush , and another catcheth the hare . cést moy qui bat le buisson & vn autre prend la lievre . io batto lo spino & altro piglia la leppro . jo bate el espinal y otro coge el lebru no. for all your kindred make much of your friends . quoy que vous ayez assez de parens cherissez vos amis . anchor che voj habbiate assaj parenti carezzate g●i amici . aunque tengays ha●tos parientes , acariciad los amigos . you dance in a nett , and you think no body sees you . tu dances dans vn filè & penses que personne ne te voit . tu ballai en vna rete , & pensai che nissuno te vede . tu baylas en vna red y piensas que nadie te vee . silence the best ornament of a woman . silence le plus bell ' ornement de femme . silentio il maggior ' ornamento de donna . silentio il mayor ornamiento de muger . to break ones head and give him a playster . casser la teste , & puis luy donner vn emplastre , romper ' la testa , & poi dar ' vn implastra . quebrantar la cabeça , y despues darvn emplastro . you will not believe one bald , unless you see his brain . vous ne croirez pas qu'on est chauve , sans voir son cerveau . non crederete che sia caluo , senza veder ' il cervello . no creyreis que sea caluo sin ver el seso . i le christen my own child first . je feray baptizer mon enfant premier . farò battizar ' il mio fanciullo primiero . harè bautizar mi nin̄o primero . with as good a will as ever i came from from school . avec tant de volontè que ie revins de l'ecole : di tanta buona voglia comm ' io ritornai dalla scuola . de tan buena voluntad que yo bolui de la escuela . your geese are all swans . toutes vos oyes son cignes . tutte l'ocche vostre sono cigni . todas sus gansas son cisnes . wife and children are bills of charges . femme & enfans sont billets de despens . moglie & fanciulli sono polizze de spese . muger y nin̄os son cedulas de ga●tos . as welcome as flowers in may. aussy bien venu comme fleurs en may. tanto ben venuto come fiori in maggio . tan bien venido como flores en mayo . kindness will creep where it cannot go . amour grimperà ou il ne peut marcher . amor ' strascinarà dove non può caminare . amor treparà do no puede caminar . money is welcome though it come in a shitten clowtt . argent est bien venu anchor qu'il so●t dans vn torch●● . danaro e ben venuto anchor che sia dentr●●e vn cocone . bien venga el dinero aunque sea en vn trapo . we fishd all night and catchd a frogg . nous avons pechè tout le long de la nuit , & pris vne granouille . pescammo tutta la notte , & habbiamo colto vn ranocchio . hemos pescado toda la noche & cogido vna rana . who kills a man being drunk shall be hangd for him when he is sober . qui tue vn homme estant yure , sera pendu quand il est sobre . chi amazza vn huomo essendo ubbriaco sara impiccato essendo sobrio . quien mata vn hombre siendo borracho , sara ahorcado sobrio . when you ride a young colt , see your saddle be well girt . quand vous montez vn poulain ayez bonnes sangles . quando montate vn poledro bisogna aver buone cingie . quando subes a vn potro es menester auer buenas cinchas . he runs farr that never returns . il court bien loin qui ne revient jamais . corre ben lontano chi mai ritorna . corre bien lexo ; qui nunca buelue . better half a loaf then none at all . demi pain vaut mieux que rien du tout . piu val ' mezzo pan que niente . mas vale medio pan que no nada . t is pity fair weather should do any hurt . c'est pitiè que le beau temps face dommage . e pietà chi'l bel● ' tempo faccia alcun danno . es lastima que el lindo tiempo haga algun dan̄o . when adam delv'd and eve span , who was then a gentleman ? quand adam beschoit , & eve filbiot qui estoit noble alors ? quando adamo vangava , & eva filava chi ●era nobile alhora ? quando adam açadoneuva , y eva hilava , qui en era entonces hidalgo ? he is all honey , or all turd . il est tout miel ou merde . egli e tutto miele ò merda . el es todo miel ò mierda . ask my brother whether i am a thief . demandes a mon frere si ie suislarron . domandar ' al mio fratello se io son ' ladro . preguntad à mi hermano se yo soy ladron . once a knave and ever a knave . vne fois coquin , & tousiours coquin . vna volta forfante , & sempre forfante . vna vez vellaco y siempre vellaco . there 's more wayes to the wood then one . il y a plus d'un sentier au bois . c'e piu d'uno sentiero al bosco . mas ay de vna senda al bosque . when thiefs fall out true men may come by their goods . quand les latrons s'entrebattent les honestes gens parviendront a leur biens . quando gli ladri contrastant ' gli huomini da bene riscuo ranno lor beni . quando ladrones contienden los hombres de bien cobraran su hazienda . the devil shites upon the usurers heaps . le diable foire sur les monceaux de l' usurier . il diavolo caga sopra le bisacce del ' usuraio . el diablo caga sobre las talegas del logrero . to swallow an ox and be choakd with the tayl . aualler vn baeuf , & s'estrangler avec la queüe . tranguggiar ' un bue , & strangolarsi con la coda . tragar vn buey y ahogarse con el rabo . in the dark joan is as good as my lady . de nuit jeanne est aussy belle que madame . di notte francisca e cosi bella che madonna ; de noche juana es tan linda que mi sen̄ora . he is a wise child that knows his own father . c'est vn sage enfant qui conoit son vray pere . saggio fanciullo è , chi conosce il suo vero padre . es prudente nin̄o qui conoce su verdadero padre . who followes truth too close at the heels , she may dash out his teeth . qui talonne la veritè trop pres pourra auoir les dents brizez . chi segue la verita troppo presso potra hauer ' gli denti spezzati . qui sigue la verdad muy cerquita podra auer los dientes quebrados . he that can get a quart of milk for a penny needs not keep a cow. qui peut auoir vn lot du lait pour deux liards , n'a pas besoin de garder vne vache . chi puo'l hauer ' pentola di latte per vn ●oldo non ha bisogna di guardar ' vna vacca . quien puede comprar vn puchero de leche por vn quartil , no ha menester guardar una vaca . butter is good for any thing but to stop an oven . le beurre est bon pour toutes choses , fo rs que de boucher vn four . burro e buono per qualunche cosa mà non da serrar ' vn forno . manteca es buena por qualquier cosa , mas , no por atapar vn horno . children and fools tell truth . enfans , & fols disent la veritè . fanciulli , & pazzi dicono lu veritâ . locos y nin̄os , dizen la verdad . the goose hath more feathers upon her back when the gander tr●ads her . l'oison a les plus plumes sur les dos quand le iars la coure . l'occa hà le più piume adosso quando lochone la copre . lazgan a a las mas plumas acuestas quando el ganço la cubre . foolish pitty marrs the citty . folle pitie gaste la cittè . pazza pieta guasta la città . loca piedad echa a perder la ciudad . he cannot see the wood for trees . il ne peut voir le bois pour arbres . non può veder ' il hosco per gli arbori . no puede ver el bosque por los arboles . he that 's bound must obey . qui est obligè doit obeir . chi e obligato-bisogna ubbedire . quien queda obligadò deve obedecer . a catt hath nine lives and a woman ten . les chats ont neuf vies , & les femmes en ont dix . gatti hanno nove vite , le donne dieci . gatòs tienen nuene vidas , las mugeres diez . you give me a pigg of my own sow . vous me donnez vn cochon de ma truye . voi mi date●porchetto della mia troia . das me lechon de mi propia puerca . change is no robbery . change n'est pas vol. cambio non e furto . trueque no es robo . a fools bolt is soon shott . la fleche du fol est bien tost decoche . la freccia del pazzo e ben tosto scoccata . la flecha del loco luego se deballesta . better spare at the brim then at the bottom . il vaut mi●ux epargne● au bord qu' au fond . meglio è sparagnar ' all' orlo ch' al fondo . mas vale ahorrar al borde que no al hondo . after dinner sit a while , after supper walke a mile . apres disner repose vn peu , apres souper proumene vne mille . doppo pranso riposar ' vn poco , doppo cena passeggiar ' vn miglio . despues de aya●tar reposad vn poco , despues de cenar passead vna milla . a fat sow causeth her own bane . truye grasse cause sa ruine . troia grassa cagiona la sua ruina . puerca gorda acarrea su propia ruina . a man may bring a horse to the water , but he cannot make him drink . on pourr● bien amener vn cheval a la riuere , mais il ne le peut forcer a boire . ben si può menar ' vn cavallo a l'acqua , mà non si puo forzarli a bere . bien se puede traer vn cavallo al rio pero nadie podrà forcarle a bever . a legg of a lark is better then the whole body of a kite . vne cuisse d'alouette vaut plus que le corps entier d'un ecoufle . coscia di lodola val ' più che tutto il corpo del nibbio . muslo de la calandria vale mas que todo el cuerpo de vn milan . it must needs be true what every one sayes . il faut bien qu'il soit vray ce que tout le monde dit . bisogna che sia vero quel che tutti dicono . es menester que sea verdadero lo que cada vno dize . it is good sleeping in a whole skin . il fait bon dormir en vne peau entiere . fa ben ' dormir ' in vna pelle intiera . haze bien dormir en vn pelleiò entero . t is an ill wind that blowes no body good . ce'st vn mauvais ven qui n'est bon pour quelqun . e cattivo vento chi non è buono per qualchuno . es ruyn viento que no es beueno por algunos . he that strikes with the sword may be beaten with the scabbard . celui qui frappe avec la lame pourra estre batu avec le fourreau . chi ferisce colla lama potra esser buttuto col fodero . quien da con la hoja podrà serbatido con la vayna . every man for himself and god for us all . chacun pour soy mesme , & dieu pour tous . ogni uno per si medesimo , & dio per tutti . cada vno por si mesmo , y dios por todos . to quench a fire , one may use foul water as well as fresh . pour esteindre vn embrasement on pourra se servir d'eau sale comme de la nette . per stringuera ' vn incendio potrete adoperar ' aqua sporc come la netta . por apagar vn incendio podras valerte de aqua suzia como de la limpia . frost and fraud end foul . la glace , & la fraude finissent salement . il ghiaccio , & la frode finiscono bruttamente . el yelo y el engan̄o fenecen suziamente . he that hath got an il name is half hangd . qui à mauvais renom est demi pendu . chi hà mala fama , e mezzo impiccato . quien tiene mala fama està medio ahorcado . the shooe will hold with the sole . le soulier tiendra avec la semelle . la scarpa terrà con la sola . el capato tiendra con la suela . butter is gold in the morning , silver at noon , and lead at night . le beurre est or au matin , argent a midy , & plomb au soir . butiro la mattina oro , argento a mezzo di , & piombo la sera . manteca la man̄ana es oro , plata a medio dia , plomo la a tarde . a new broom sweeps clean . vn balay neuf netroye bien . vna scopa nuova spazza bene . vn barradero nuevo escoba bien ▪ good going a foot with horse in hand . il fait bon marchera pied amenant vn cheval par la bride . fa buono andar ' a piede me nando vn cavallo . haze bien yr a pie teniendo vn cavallo por la brida . his eyes are bigger then his belly . ses yeux sont plus grands que la pance . gli occhi sono maggiori della pancia . los ojos son mayores que la barriga . you may put inn your eye what you get by it . vous pourrez mettre dans l'oeil ce que vous en gaignerez . potrete metter ' nel occhio cio che ne guadg narete . podreys meter en el ojo lo que medrareys . he who would please all and himself too , undertakes to do more then he can do . celuy qui voudroit complaire a tous & a soymesme aussy , entreprend ce quil ne peut pas faire . chi votrebbe compiacer ' tutti & si medesimo traprende troppo . qui querria agradar todos , y a si mesmo , emprende demasiado . he may mend but not grow worse . il pourra meilleurer non pas empirer . potrà miglio rarsi , non impeggiorare . podra meiorar , empeorarse no. grease a fatt sow in the arse she will shite in your fist . oignez vne truie grasse a cul ' elle foirera en ton poing . vnger ' vna troia grassa en il culo , ella cagara nel tuo pugno . vnta vna puerca gorda an el culo , y cagara en tu pun̄o . if it were not for hope the heart would break . s'il n'estoit pour l'esperance le coeur se casseroit . si no saria per speranza il cuore si spezzarebbe . no fuera por esperança el coraçon se quesi brantaria . like a curst cow that gives a pail of milk and then kickes it down . comme meschante vache qui donne vn lot du lait , & puis le renverse la seille . come vna vacca trista , chi da vn bigonzo di latte , & poi lo ravescia . como vna vaca traviessa qui da vna serrada de leche , y despues la trastor na . usurers purses and womens plackets are never satisfied . les bourses des avaricieux , & les brayettes de femmes sont insatiables . le borse del avaro , & le braghette de donne son , insatiabli . las bolsas del avariento , y las braguetas de mugeres son insaciables . happy is the child whose father goes to the devil . le fils est heureux du quel le pere và au diable . venturoso è il figlio il padre dell quale va all inferno . dichoso es el hijo cuyo padre va al infierno . i le take no leave of you , quoth the baker to the pillory . je ne prendray pas congè de vous dit le boulenger au pilori . no te dico adio disse ill fornaio alla berlina . no me despido de ti dixo el panadero a la argolla del rollo . maydens above twenty lead apes in hell . pucelles de vint ans conduisent les singes en enfer . vergini de venti anni menano scimie nell ' inferno . virgines de veynte an̄os traen ximias en el infierno . a thing well done is twice done . chose bien faite , & faite deux fois . cosa ben fatta , e fatta due volte . cosa bien hecha està hecha dos vezes . a smiling boy seldom good servant . garcon qui trop sourit n'est gueres bon valet . ragazzo chi toppo se ne ride rade volte buon servitore . muchacho qui sonreye mucho pocas vezes buen servidòr . when thy neighbours house is on fire by its light thou mayest see thine own danger . quand la maison de ton voisin s'embrase , par la lumiere du feu pou●ras voir ton danger . quando la casa vicina s'abbruccia per il lume del fuoco potrai veder ' il tuo pericolo . quando la casa de tu vezino abrasa por la lumbre del fuego veras tu peligro . a ragged colt may make a good horse . poulain haillonneux fait bon cheval . poledro strazzoso fa buon cavallo . potro handrajoso haze buen cavallo . a cutt-purse the surest trade , for he hath ready money when his work is done . coupeur de bourses a vn mestier asseure car il a argent comprant pour son o uure . taglia borse ha buon mestiero perche egli ha donaro canta●o per il suo travaglio . cortabolsas a buen officio porque tiene dinero contado por sù trabajo . a young saint , an old devil . jeune saint , vieux diable . giovane santo , diavolo vecchio . santon moço , diablo viejo . two heads are better then one . deux testes valent plus qu'vne . due teste vagliano più che vna sola . dos cabeças valen mas que no vna . good cheap is dear , for it tempts one to buy what he needs not . bon merchè devient par fois cher , car il nous fait acheter ce que nous n'en avons pas besoin . buon mercato diuenta qualche volta caro , per che ce ne fà comprar ' quello che non fà di bosogno . barato a vezes viene a ser caro , porche haze mercar lo que no es menester . riches are the baggage of fortune . les richesses ne sont autre chose que le bagage de la fortune . ricchezze sono le bagaglie della fortuna . las riquezas son bagajes de la fortuna . i love his little finger more then thy whole body . i'ayme son petit doit plus que tout ton corps . voglio piu il suo nigolo che tutt ' il tuo corpo . quiero mas su menique que todo tu cuerpo . prayers bring down the first blessing , and praises the second . la priere fait descendre la premiere benediction , la loûange la seconde . le preghiere fan ' discender ' la primiera benedictione , le lodi la secunda . la plegaria haze de cender la primera benedicion , loor la segunda . better children should cry then old men . il vaut mieux que les enfans pleurent , que les viellards . e meglio che gli fanciulli pianghino che gli vecchi . meior es que los nin̄os lloren que los viejos . a bushell of march-dust is worth a kings ransome . vn muy de la poussiere de mars vaut la rancon d'vn roy. vn meggio di polve di marzo val ' i l rescato d● un re. vn cahyz del polvo de março vale el rescate de vn rey. better to be a shrew then a sheep . il vaut mieux estre harengere que brebis . più val ' esser ' ciarlona que pecora . mas vale ser parlera que oveja . you count your chickens before they be hatchd . vous contes vos poulsins devant qu'ils soyent couvez . voj contate gli pulcini inanzi che siano covati . cuentas tus pollos antes que esten cobijados . you will make me beleeve that the moon is made of green cheese . vous me ferez a croire que la lune soit fait de fourmage nouveua . mi farete ereder ' che la luna sia fatta di formaggio nuovo . me haras creer que la luna sea hecha de queso nuevo . iohn would wipe his nose if he had one . jean voudroit bien essuyer son nez sil en avoit vn . giovanni vorrebbe ben asciugar ' ill naso se ne havesse vno . juan querria limpiar el naso si lo tuciesse . you will make me believe that an asses ears are made of horns . vous me ferez a croire que les oreilles de l'asne soyent faites de corne . mi farete ●reder ' che l'orecchie de l'asino siano fatte di corno . me hareys creer que las orejas del asno sean de cuerno . rubb a galld horse on the back , and he will winch . frottez vn cheval galleux audos il ▪ regimberà . fregar ' vn cavallo rognoso , & dara calci . fregad vn cavallo samoso , y tirara coces . truth and oyle swim alwayes above . la veritè & l'huyle nagent tousiours par dessus . la verita & l'oglio natano sempre di sopra . la verdad y el azeyte nadan siempre encima . in every countrey the sun riseth still in the morning . en chasque pais le soleil se leve au matin . in ogni paese sol il si leva la mattina . en cada tierra el sol se le vanta la man̄ana . he is my neighbour that grinds in my mill . celvy est mon voisin qui mout en mon moulin . colui è mio vicino chi macina nel mio molino . mi vezino es qui machuca en mi molino . god sends us meat , the devil sends us cooks . dieu nous envoye le viande , & le diable le cuisinier . iddio ci da le viuande , & il diavolo il cuoco . dios nos embia la comida , y el diablo el cozinero . every one is a fool or a physitian after thirty . chacun est fol , ou medicin apres trent ' ans . ogni uno è pazzo ò medico doppo trent ' anni . cada uno es necio ò medico despues de treynta an̄os . as soon comes a lamb-skin to the market , as the ewes . aussy tost vient la peau de l'agneau au marchè que celle de brebis . si tosto viene la pelle dell ' agnello al mercato che quella della pecora . tan amenudo viene el pellejo dell cordero a la placa que de la oueja . you give me chalk for cheese . vous me donnez de la craye pour fourmage . mi date creta per casio . me days greda por queso . the crow thinks her own birds the fairest . le corbeau pense que ses poussins sont les plus beaux . il corvo pensa ch'i suoi pulcini sieno gli più belli . el cuervo piensa que sus pollos son los mas lindos . putt a miller , a taylor , and a weaver into one bagg and shake them , the first that comes out will be a thief . mets vn tailleur , vn tisserand , & vn munier dans vn sac , & secovez les bien , & le premier qui en sortira sera larron . metter ' vn sartor ' , vn tessitore , & vn molinaio dentro de vn sacco , & il primiero chi vscirà sarà ●e ladro . eches en vn saco vn sastre , vn texedor , & vn molniero , y el primero qui saldrà sera in ladròn . a little pott soon hott . vn petit pot est bien tost echauffè . picciola pentola si scalda presto . olla chiquita se calienta luego . this wind shakes no corn. ce vent ne vanne point le blè . questo vento no cribra la biada . este ayre no avielda el grano . who intermeddleth twixt man and wife goeth twixt the bark and the tree . qui s'entremesle des affaires de mary & femme , se met entre l'arbre & lescorce . chi si tramette frà marito & moglie anda frà la scorza , & l'albero . quien se mescla entre marido y muger , se pone entre el arbol y la corteza . he hath got the better end of the staffe . il a gaignè le meilleur bout du baston . hà colto il miglior ' capo del bastone . ha cogido el mejor cabo del palo . it is better to have then to wish . il vaut mieux iouir que suhaiter . e meglio posseder che desiare . meior es posseer que dessear . all is fish that comes into his nett . tout est poisson qui entre en son filè . tutto è pesce che viene nella sua rete . todo es pece que en sured en̄tra . patience is a flower that growes not in every garden . la patience n'est pas fleur qui croit en chasque iardin . patienza non è fiore chi cresce in ogni giardino . paciencia no es flor que crece en cada huerto . as good play for nothing , as work for nothing . il vaut autant iouer pour neant que travailler pour neant . tanto val ' giocar ' per niente che travagliar ' per niente . tanto vale juegar por nada que trabaiar por no nada . i suck not this out of my fingers ends . ie ne succe cecy de bouts de mes doits . non succhio questo delle punte de miei diti . non chupo esto de los cabos de mis dedos . a young man old makes the old man young . jeune vieil rend le vieil jeune . giovane vecchio fà vecchio giovane . moço vieio haze el vieio moço . two hands in a dish , but one in the pocket . deux mains dans le plat , & vn ' en la bourse . due mani nel piatto , & vna nella tasca . dos manos en el plato y una en la bolsa . a womans knee and a doggs snowt are alwayes cold . le genovil de femme , & le museau du chien sont ●ousiours froids . il ginocchio di donna & grugno di can sempre freddi . la rodillade muger , y nariz de perro siempre frios . he that doth kisse and doe no more , may kisse behind and not before . qui baise , & ne fait plus , qu'il baisir par dereiere . chi bacia , & non fà altro , bascij di dietro . qui besa , y no haze mas que bese atras . ther 's more water passeth by the mill then the miller knowes . il y a plus d'eau qui coule au moulin , que le meunier ne scait . ci'e più d'acqua chi passa per il molino ch'il mugnaio sà . mas agua corre por el molino que el molinero sabe . putt thy wish in one fist , and shite in the other , and try which will be fill'd soonest . mets ton souhait en vn poing , & foires dans l'autre , & veras qui se remplira plus tost . metter ' tuo desio in vn pugno & cagar ' nell ' altro , & vedrai chi sara più tosto pieno . metas tu desseo en vn pun̄o y cagues en el otro , y veras el qual serà mas presto lleno . the furthest way about is sometimes the neerest way home . le chemin d'alentour est quelques fois le plus court . il camino intorno è qualche volta il più corto . el camino enderredor es a vezes el mas corto . when the good vvife drinketh to the husband all is well in the house . quand la bonne femme fait brindis a son mary tout va bien en la maison . quando la moglie fa brindesi al maritó tutta va ben ' in casa . quand la muger haze brindis a su marido todo va bien en casa . i took her for a rose , but she proved a burr . je la pris pour vne rose mais elle devint chardon . io la pigliai per rosa , ma diventiva cardone . to mavala por rosa , mas devenia cardo . i think she hath pist on a nettle . je pense qu'elle a pissè sur vn ' ortie . pensoch'habbia pisci-●to sopra vna ortica . pienso que hà meado sobre vna hortiga . go teach your granham to grope a goose. va tén enseigner la vielle a foviller vn oison . andar ' insegnare la vecchia a palpar ' vn ' occa . andad ensen̄ar la vieja a palpar vna gansa . go teach your father to get children . va t'en enseigner ton pere a faire d'enfans . andar ' insegnar ' il tuo padre a far ' figliuoli . andad ensen̄ar tu padre a hazer hijos . a young servingman an old beggar . jeune valet vieil caymand . servo giovane pitoco vecchio . criado moço , mendigo viejo . honor bought , temporal simony . honneur achetè est simonie temporelle . honore comprato è simonia temporale . honore comprado es simonia seglar . serve god in thy calling , it is better then praying . sers dieu en ton mestier , il vaut plus que la priere . servir , iddio nella tua vacatione è meglio que preghiere . servid a dios en tu officio , es mejor que plegarias . the crow thinks her own birds the fairest . le corbeau pense que ses poussin● sont les plus beaux . il corvo pensa ch'i suoi pulcini sieno gli più belli . el cuervo piensa que sus pollos son los mas lindos . you give me chalk for cheese . vous me donnez de la craye pour fourmage . mi date creta per casio . me days greda por queso . the bragger , pisseth more then he drinketh . le venturpisse plus qu'il ne boit . il vantatore piscia più che beve . el vana glorioso mea mas que no beve . a great noise and little woll , quoth the devil when he sheard the hogg . beaucoup de bruit , & peu de laine , dit le diable quand il ecorchoir le pourceau . assaj strepito & poca lana disse il diavolo quando scorticava il porco . mucho ruydo y poca lana , dixo el diablo desollando el puerco . many can pack the cards , yet cannot play well . il y à qui scavent mesler les cartes finement , toutes fois ils ne sont pas bons ioueurs . vi sono chi sanno mescolar ' le carte , tutta via non sanno gio car ' bene . ay qui saben mesclar los naypes , toda via no saben iuegar bien . stay a little and we shall make an end the sooner . attendez vn peu , & nous finirons plus tost . aspettate vn poco & finiremo piu presto . esperad vn poco , y acabaremos mas presto . ther 's a devil in every berry of the grape . yl y a un diable dans chasque grappe de la vigne . ci'è vn diavolo in ogni grappo della vigna . ay vn diablo en cadarazimo de la vua . a lie stands on one legg , and truth on two . le mensonge se soustient sur vne jambe , la verite sur deux . la buggia si sostiene sopra vna gamba , la verita sopra due . la mentira se apoya sobre vna pierna , la verdad sobre dos . choose thy friends like thy bookes , few but choice . choisissez vos amis comme vos liures , peu , mais qu'ils sovent d'elite . sciolier ' gli amici come gli libri , pochi , ma che sieno scelti . escoge tus amigos como tus libros , pocos , pero que sean buenos . who is more deaf then he that will not hear ? qui est plus sourd que celuy qui ne veut ecouter ? chi è più sordo che coluy chi non vuol ascoltare ? quien es mas tiniente de oydo que qui no quire escuchar ' . men fear death as children do to go in the dark . les hommes craignent la mort comme les enfans les tenebres . gli huomini temono la morte come gli fanciulli la scurita . los hombres temen la muerte como los nin̄os las tinieblas . soon ripe soon rotten . tost meur , tost pourri . tosto maturo ▪ tosto marcio . presto maduro , presto podrido . riches like muck which stinks in a heap , but scatterd fructifieth the earth . les richesses sont comme la fiente qui put en vn monceau , mais estant esparse fructifie la terre . richezze come letame chi puzza in vn mucchio , mà essendo sparso fructifica la terra . riquezas como el estiercol que hiede amontanado , pero esparcido fructifica la tierra . no man loves fetters though made of gold. personne n'ayme les ceps quoy qu'ils soyent d'or . nissuno ama ceppi anchor ' che sieno d'oro . nadie quiere grillos aunque fean de oro . who hath too many friends eats too much salt . qui à plusieurs amis mange trop du sel. chi a molti amici mangia troppo sale . quien tiene muchos amigos come sal en demasia . he must rise betimes who will cosen the devil . il faut qu'il se leve de bon matin qui veut tromper le diable . bisogna che si levi di buon hora chi v●ol ' ingannar ' il diavolo . es menester que se levante temprano quien quiere engan̄ar el demonio . a covetous man like a dog in a wheel that roasts meat for others . l'usurier come chien dans vne ro●e qui rostit la viande pout autruy . l'avaro come can in ruota chi arrostisce vivande per altri . el pelon como perro en rueda qui assa carne por otros . who expounds holy scripture upon his own warrant , puts hot brands together with his fingers . qui interprete l'ecriture sainte selon sa seule phantasie ramasse charbons ardens avec se doits . chi interpreta la santa sorittura secondo la sua fantasiae coglie carboni ardenti colli diti . quien expone las sagradas escrituras segun su fantasia propia coge carbones ardientes con sus dedos . bawds , and attorneys like andyrons , the one holds the wood , the other their clyents till they consume . les advocats & maquereaux sont comme les chenets les vns supportent le bois , & les autres leurs clients jusqu'a tant quils soient consumez . gli auvocati , & gli ruffiani son , comme alari del fuoco , chi apoggiano il legno fin a tanto che se ne consumi . abogados y alcahueres son como los morillos los vnos apoyàn la madera , y los otros sus pleyteantes hasta consumirse . give a shoulder of mutton to a dead horse . c'est donner vn ' epaule du mouton a vn cheval malade . questo e dar vna spalla di castrato a vn cavallo ammalato . esto es dar vna espalda de carnero a vn cavallo enfiermo . no fool to the old fool . il n'y à tel fol , comme le vieil fol. non cie ' pazzo simile al pazzo vecchio . no ay necio como el necio viejo . one fool makes many . vn fol en fait plusieurs . vn sciocco ne fà molti altri . vn loco haze muchos mas . a scotts mist wetteth an englishman to the skin . les brovillars d'escosse mouilleront l'anglois jusques a la peau . vna nebbia escosseza bagnarà l' inglese fin alla pelle . niebla escoceza mojara vn ynglès hasta pellejo . where the turks horse once trèads , the grass will never grow again . ou le cheval du turc plante le pied , l'herbe n'y recroitra iamais . dove il cavallo turchesco pianta il suo piede l'herba ne recrescera mai . donde el cavallo del turco planta su pie las yervas no recreceran iamas . cold weather and crafty knaves come from the north. le froid , & les fins compagnons viennent du nort . il fredào , & gli furbi vengono dal norte . el frio , y los finos compan̄eros vienen del norte . you are a right englishman , you cannot tell when you are well . vous estes vray anglois , vous ne scavez pas quand vous estes a vostre ayse . egli è vero inglese non sà quando stà bene . es verdadero ynglès no sabe ' quando esta bueno . one should take no more pitty on a woman weeping , then to see a goose go barefoot . on ne devroit plus resentir les lar●es de femme que de voir vn oison aller pieds nuds . non si doverebbe ri●entire più le lagrine de donne che de veder vn ' ooca andar scalza . no fe devria resentir mas las lagrimas de mugeres , que de voit vna gança yr descalça . a christmass great loafs , at easter clean souls , at whitsontide new clothes . a noel grans pains , a pasque ames nettes , a penteco●e nouveaux habits . al natale pani grandi , a pascua anime nette , a pentecosta vestiti nuovi . a la navidad panes grandes , a las pascuas almas limpias , a pente costa vestidos nuevos . salomon was a wiseman , and sampson was a strong man , yet neither of them could pay money till they had it . salomon estoit sage & samson estoit bien fort , toutes fois ni l'un ni l'autre pouvoient payer argent devant que de l'avoir . solomone era saggio & sansone era forte , tutta via ne l'vno ne l'altro poteva pagar ' danaro inanzich d'haverlo . salomon era savio , & sanson era fuerte , toda via ni el vno ni el otro podia pagar dinero antes de tenerlo . that which is bred in the bone will never out of the flesh . ce qu'est nourri dans les o● ne sortira jamais hors de la chair . quel ch'è nodrito dentro gli ossi , non uscira mai della carne . lo que se cria dentro los hues●o● no saldrà iamas de la carne . patience perforce is medicine for a mad horse . patience par force est remede pour vn cheval enragè . patienza per forza è rimedio per vn cavallo arrabiato . paciencia por fuerça es remedio por vn cavallo arrabiado . a friend in court is better then a penny in purs● , amy'en la cour vaut plus qu'argent en bourse . amico nella corte val più que bezzi in borsa . amigo en palacio vale mas que dinero en bolsa . make not thy tayl broader then thy wings . ne fais pas ton train plus large que tes ailes . non far ' la tua codapiù la●ga que le ale . no hagas tu rabo mas largo que las alas . he that hath the name to be an early riser may sleep till noon . celuy qui à la renommèe d'estre matineux pourra dormi● jusques a midy . colui chi hà la fama d' esser mattinoso potrà dormir ' fin ' a mezzo giorno . qui a la la fama de ser madrugadòr podra dormir hasta medio dia. a young mayd married to an old man is like a new house thatchd with old straw . jeune fille mariée a vn vieillard est come maison novelle couverte de chaulme vieil . vna giovanne maritata con vn vicchione è come casa nuova coperta di strame vecchio . moça casada con anciano es como casa nueva cubierta de rastrojo viejo . find me an honest man trent northward , and i will find you an honest whore . donnez moy vn honest ' homme de là la trente , & je vous donneray vne honeste garce . dammi vn huomo da bene di là la trenta & jo vj darò vna puttana honesta . de me vn hombre de bien de là la trenta y yo te ' darè vna puta honrada . the stander by sees often more then the gamester . le spectateur voit souuentes fois plus que le joueur . il spettatore vede ben souvente più ch' il giocatore . el que està mirando cerca , vee muchas vezes mas que el jugador . who hath married a widdow , hath a deaths head put often in his dish . qui espouse vne vefue aurà vn reste de mort iettée quelques fois en son plat . chi sposa vna vedoa , hauerà vna testa di morto gettato ben souvente nell ' suo piatto . quien casa con biuda tendra cabeça de muerto echada à vezes èn su plato . the colerique man never wants woe . l' homme colerique n'est iamais sans enuy . l'huomo colerico mai senza fastidio . el hombre enojadizo nunca sin enfado . penny in pocket is a good companion . argent en poche bon compagnon . danaro in tasca e buon compagno . el dinero es buen compan̄ero . youth and white p●pertake any impression . la ieunesse , & papier blanc prennent toutes impressions . charta bianca , & la gioventù pigliano qualunque impressione . papel blanco y mocedad toman qualquier impression . barbers are correctors of capitall crimes . barbiers son correcteurs de crimes capitaux . barbieri sono corregitori de crimi capitali . los barveros son corregidores de crimines capitales . the second blow makes the fray . le second mornifle fait la noise . il colpo secondo fà la rissa . el bofeton segundo haze la renzilla . a client twixt his attorney and counsellor , is like a goose twixt two foxes . le playdeur entre le procureur , & l'auocat est comme vn oison entre deux renards . il piatitore fra'l procuratore , & l'auocato è come vn'occa fra due volpi . el pleytista entre el procurador , y el abogado es , como vn ganso entre dos raposos . where the hedge is low every one gets over . ou la haye est basse tout le monde passe . dove la siepe è bassa ogniuno passa . adonde el seto es baxo todos passan . a child may have too much of his mothers blessing . l'enfant pourrà auoir trop de la benediction de sa mere . il fanciullo potrà hauer ' troppo della benedictione nella madre . el nin̄o podra aver la benedicion de su madre en demasia . he is now too old to learn his accidence . il est trop vieil pour apprender sa grammarie . e troppo vecchio per imparar ' la sua grammatica . es muy viejo por aprender su gramatica . with all thy knowledge know thy self . avec tout ton sçavoir cognois toy mesme . con tutta la tua scienza conoscer ' te stesso . con todo tu saber conoce ti mesmo . the devill makes his christmas pies of clerks fingers and lawyers toungs . le diable fait son paste ne noel de doits de notaires , & de langues d'avocats . il diavolo fà pasticcij per il natale de dita de notari a delle lingue d' avocati . el diablo haze pasteles por la navidad de dedos de notarios , y de lenguas de abogados . they agree like harp and harrow . ils s'entr'acordent comme la harpe , & la harce . traccordono come l'harpa & l'arpico . conciertan como la harpa , y el rastrillo . eggs and a nutt , one may buy of a slutt . des oeufs , & des noix on pourra acheter n'une saloppe . vuovi & noci se potranno comprar ' d'vna sporca . huevos y nuezes se pueden comprar de una puerca . to forget a wrong is the greatest revenge . oublier vn injure est la plus grande revenche . dimenticar ' vn torto è la maggor ' vendetia . oluidar vn agravio es la mayor vengança . maydens ought to be seen and not heard . filles devroient estre veües plus qu' ouyes . figlie debbono esser ' vedute più ch'vdite . moças deven ser vistas mas que oydas . g●d never sends mouths but he sends them meat . dieu ne donne bouches sans dequoy manger . iddio non da bocche senza di che mangiare . dios no da bocas sin de que comer . wives must be had , be they good or bad . il faut avoir femmes soyent elles mauvaises ou bonnes . bisogna hauer ' moglie sieno buone ò cattive . es menester mugeres sean buenas ò malas . weigh not what thou givest , but what is given thee . ne peses pas ce que tu donnes , mais ce que t'est donnè . non pesar ' cio che tu daj , mà cio che t'e dato . no peses lo que das , mas lo te es dado . to stopp two gapps with one bush . boucher deux trous d'un buisson . serrar ' due buchi con vn sterpo . atapar dos horados con vn espinal . the devil wipes his arse with the poor mans pride . le diable essuye le cul avec l'orgueil du gueux . il diavolo asciuga il culo con la superbia del pouero . el diablo limpia el culo con la so veruia del pobre . look not too high , least something fall into thy eye . ne mires trop haut , de peur que quelque chose ne te tombe en l'oeil . non mirar ' troppo alto , de paura che qualch● cosa non ti caschi nell ' occhio . no mires muy alto de miedo que algo no te cayga en el ojo . vox populi vox dicta dei est , proverbia quid sunt ? sunt populi voces , ergo divina loquuntur . proverbes d'elite , et dictons communs , ou vieux quolibets , en la langue francoise , dont plusieurs vont glossez . some choice proverbs , and common sayings , or old adages in the french tovng : with glosses upon divers of them ; which proverbs are partly moral , relating to good life ; partly physical , relating to diet , and health : partly topical , relating to particular places ; partly temporal , relating to seasons ; partly ironical , relating to drollery , and mirth , &c. au tres-accompli seigneur , le seigneur willoughby , d' ersby , &c. personnage , qui , ovtre les tres-excellentes perfections dont il est doÜe , s'est rendu gran maitre de la langue francoise . lettre composee de proverbes , lesquels vont tres-tous , enchainez a un sens congru , envoyée a un gentilhomme , qui se mettoit en train pour aller en france . monsieur , apres avoir jettè l'oeil sur la presente qui va toute farcie de proverbes , de dictons , & de vieux quolibets , dont quelques uns s'usoient du temps de hauts bonnets quand on muchoit a la manche , vous direz , par avanture , que l'autheur ayt quelques tintouins , ou grillons en la teste , qu'il ait de sable mouvant , ou du mercure , ou plustost un quartier de la lune en la cervelle ; mais vous qui avez la cabo che si bien timbrée en passerez un autre jugement . le bruit court , que vous avez dessein de voyager , & tracasser le monde pour quelque temps , & particulierement de faire , le tour de france , sil vous estes fichè en telle resolution permettez un vieux routier qui est madrè es affaires du monde ayant pisse en beaucoup de neiges , qui sçait bien son entregent , & plus que son pain manger , de vous donner un mot d' advis touchant le genie de ce pays là . quant a la conversation , vous y trouverez des gens y gens ; vous y trouverez autant de testes , tant de sentimens , & plus souvent en france qu'en aucun ' autre region , ou la plus part du peuple semble avoir mangè de la biche blanche , ou de la vache enragee , estant impatient de la paix , jusques à tant qu'l ait reparè les bresches de la guerre ; mais par tout , il faut prendre les gens comm ' elles sont , & le temps comm ' il est : sur tout observez ces trois monosyllabes , oy , voy , & tais si tu veux vivre en paix , car il vaut mieux glisser du pied que de la langue , & l'espagnol vous dit , en bouche serrée les mouches n'y entrent pas : soubs ce bovillant climat vous rencontrerez quelques fois de bravàches , de mangeurs de charrettes ferrées , qui faisans le roland portent mine de tuer six de la chandelle , & saize avec le chandelier ; ils vous feront accroire que vesses sont lanternes , & les estoilles papillotes ; soyez moderè , & discret parmi telles gens , mais nullement craintif , & lasche , poutce que celuy qui se fait brebis le loup le mange ; et le peuple voysin qui boutonne le pourpoint du bas en haut , vous dirà , que les françois a la premiere bouffee sont plus qu'hommes , mais depuis moins que femmes . vous y trouverez mesmement de je unes desbauches qui mangent leur bled en herbe , & bruslent la chandelle par les doux bouts , il vont coiffez en l'opinion qu'on ne sçauroit estre gentilhomme parfa't sans avoir fait cinq voyages en süerie , car en france ( comme part tout ) a la quenoville le plus f●rt s'agenouille ; gardez vous bien des camerades de ceste calibie là ; ce neantmoins traitez les debonnairement , car , belles paroles n'ecorchent par la langue ; en tout cas ne prestez pas vostre argent , car au prester cousin-germain , au rendre fils de put●in , et vous y trouverez aussy ( comm'en en angleterre ) qui preste a l'amy perd au double : ce neantmoius , a celuy qui a son paste au four , on pourrà bien prester un torteau . outre tout cecy , donnez vous garde de ne vous opiniatrer , & debatre des matieres de la religion , mais laissez le monstier on il est , pource que par trop debattre la veritè se perd , especiallemen es points de la foy , vous y trouverex assez de gens de ceste farine là , qui seront prompts a sauter du coq a l'asne , & de treille en paisleux . le pays , & le peuple de france sont addonnez a toutes sortes de gaillardises , & divertissements , vous y trouverez des bons garcons , des rogiers de bons temps , qui seront joyeux comm ' esmerillons , ou rats en paille ; vous ne deuriez pas estre d'un humeur si saturnin , & sombre , que de ne jovialìzer par fois avec eux , & avec le bon vin chasser le soin & le chagrin , car un ' once d'alegresse vaut cens livres de melancolie ; s'il vous y avez envie d'entretenir un laquay , vous y en trouverez a foison ; mais gardez bien de n'en choisir un qui est trop officieux , car c'est un valet du diable qui faict plus qu'on ne luy commande . quant a la santè , & les reiglements pour la diete , qui est la chose plus principale , car qui n'a santè n'a rien , vous ferez bien en ce pays vineux de marier la cave , & le puits ; toutes fois a morceau restif esperon de bon vin ; mais le vin bois comme roy , & l'eau comme taureau ; au matin bois le vin blanc , le rouge an soir ; pour faire bon sang , observez aussy , qu'apres la poire ou le vin , ou le prestre ; on dit que boeuf salè faict trouver le vin sans chandelle ; ajoustez a cecy que si tu veux engraisser promptement , mangez avec faim , bois a loisir , & lentement . touchant les mangeailles , salade bien lavée , & salée , peu de vinaigre , & bien huylée ; des potirons , ou champignons les meilleurs ne valent rien ; faim faict dinner , & passetemps souper ; veau mal cuit , & poulets cruds font cimitieres bossus ; cest un repas pour le diable ou il n'y a point du sel ; fourmage est sain qui vient de chiche main ; des femmes , & des poissons le milieu est le meilleur ; un oeuf n'est rien , deux font gran bien , trois c'est assez , quatre c'est tort , cinq c'est la mort . touchant l exercice , pourmenez jusques a tant que la sang paroisse es ioües , non pas que la sueur roupie de nez ; au matin vers les monts , au soir vers les fonts ; quant au sommeil , & le repos de nuit , il y a un ' observation , que six heures dort l'ecolier , sept le voyager , huit le vigneron , & neuf , en demande le poltron ; il y a un'autre regle , que lever a six , manger a dix , souper a six , coucher a dix , font viure l'homme dix fois dix : en conclusion , tenez chauds les pieds , & la teste , au demeurant vivez en beste . touchant les occurrences du temps il y en a diverses sortes de relations , mais ce'st ne'st pas evangile , tout ce qu'on dit par la ville , mais on le dit pour chose asseurée que dunquerque ( ce nid d'harpyes ) commence a parlementer , & vous sçavez , que la ville qui parle , & la fille qu' escoute , l'un se rend , l'autre se fou — a bon entendeur , ne faut que demy mot . ce'st tout ce que j'ay a vous dire pour le present , pource is veux couper le fil de mon dire , car courtes folies sont les meilleures , en vous priant de ne prendre pas en mauvaise part ces drolleries , pource qu'elles procedent de vostre ancien serviteur , & amy , & il n'y a meilleur miroir que le vieil amy ; durant vostre absence , s'il y a aucune chose imaginable , en quoy vous vous puissiez servir de moy , j'employeray verd , & sec , je mettray tous mes cinq sens pour vous rendre obeissance , car je suis du fin fond de mon coeur le vostre i. h. a letter composed of french proverbs , concurring all to one congruous sense , and sent to a gentleman that was going to travell abroad , and dedicated to the most accomplished lord , robert lord willovghby of ersby , &c. a personage , who , besides other excellent perfections , is great master of the french language . sir , when you have cast an eye upon this letter which goeth stuff'd with all proverbs , old motts , and adages , whereof some were used in the time of high bonnets , when men used to wipe their noses on their sleeves , for want of a napkin , you will judge perhaps , that the author hath some strange freaks , or quinombroms in his noddle , that he hath quicksands , or mercury , or rather one quarter of the moon in his pericranium ; but you sir , that have a head so well timbred , will , i presume , passe another judgement . the report is rife , that you have a design to travell , and range abroad for some time , and particularly to make the turn of france : if you are fixed in such a resolution , i pray give leave to an old soker , one that is well salted in the world , and knoweth more then how to eat his bread , one that hath pissed in many snowes , to give you some few mots of advice touching the genius of that countrey . for matter of conversation , you shall find there , more then any where else , as many heads , so many several humours , and caprichios , as if most of the people had eaten of the white hinde , or of the mad cow ( being impatient of peace any longer then they are recovering the ruines of the former war : ) but every where , you must take the people as they be , and the season as it is : above all , observe this short worded rule , heare , see , and hold thy peace , if thou wilt live in peace ; for a slip of the toe is better then that of the toung , and the spaniard will tell you that when the mouth is shut the flies cannot enter . under that ayrie clime , you shall rancounter sometimes with rambling bragadochians , or devourers of iron carts , who will make a shew as if they would kill six with the candle , and sixteen with the candlestick ; they will make you believe that the stars are but spangles , and that bladders are lanterns : among such blades be moderate , and discreet , but by no means fearfull , or pusillanimous , for he that maketh himself a sheep , the wolf will devour him , and that nation which button their dublets upward , will tell you , that the french at first puff is more then a man , and afterwards lesse then a woman . you shall meet also there with debosh'd youngsters , who use to eat their corn in the green blade , and to burn their candles at both ends ; 't is a maxime amongst them , that one cannot be a compleat gentleman , untill he hath been five times in cornelius tub ; for there , the stoutest of them will kneel to the distaff : take heed of companions of that gang , yet treat them with civil language , for fair words never blister the tongue : by all means lend them no money , for when you lend you are a cousin-german , but when you demand it again , you are the son of a whore ; you shall verifie it there as well as in england , who lendeth to his friend exposeth himself to a double hazard , viz. the losse of friend and money : ye● notwithstanding , one may safely lend a cake to one that hath a pastie in the oven . mor●over , be carefull not to shew your self such a bigot , or babe of grace as to raise disputes of matters of religion , but leave the minster where it is , and oftentimes in too much debate truth is lost , especially in matters of religion ; you shall meet with many there of this cavilling humor , that will ever and anou leap from the cock to the asse , or from the arbour among the stakes . the countrey and people of france are given to all kind of jollities , and divertisements , there you shall meet with boon companions , the rogers of the good time , who will be as merry as crickets , or mice in malt : you must not be of such a dull saturnin humour , as not to jovialize sometimes with such , and with a cup of good liquor to chace away all care , and cumber , for one ounce of mirth , is better then a whole pound of melancholy . if you have a mind to entertain a lacquay , you shall find enough in that countrey , but take heed of choosing one who is too officieux , for he is a lacquay for the devil who doth more then he is commanded . for matters of health , and order of diet , which is the principal main thing , for who hath not health , hath nothing , you shall do well in that wine countrey to marrie the celler , and the cistern , yet a jadish bitt will require a good cup of wine ; but drink wine like a king , and water like a bull ; in the morning white wine is good , claret at night to breed good blood ; observe also that after peare , the wine , or priest ( viz. to confesse thee , ) salt beef they say , will make one find out the wine without a candle : adde hereunto , that if thou wilt batten , and be quickly fat , eat with hunger , and drinke leisurely and slow . concerning thy food , take notice , that thy sallet must be well washed , and salted , a little vinegar , but well oyled ; we dine to drive away hunger , we sup to pass away the time ; veal ill roasted , and rawish poullets , they say , make the church-yard full of hillocks : it is a repast for the devil , where there is no salt : take notice , that the cheese is wholsome which cometh from a misers hand : of fish , and women the middle part is best ; touching mushrumps , the best are worth nothing ; one egg is nothing , two do some good , three is enough , four do hurt , five is death . touching exercise , walk till blood appear in thy cheeks , not untill sweat drop down at thy nose : in the morning seek the mount , in the evening the fount : concerning sleep the chief repose of nature , there is a saying , that the scholler sleeps sixe houres , the traveller seven , eight the vigneron , and nine every poltron : there is another rule , to rise at six , to dine at ten , to sup at six , and bed at ten , will make one live ten times ten : to conclude , observe this general caution , keep thy head , and feet warm , and for the rest thou maist live like a beast ( who never eats nor drinks to excess . ) touching the occurrences of the present times , there be various reports of things , but all is not gospel that is spoken up and down the town ; yet they say for certain , that dunkerk ( that neast af harpies , and birds of english prey ) beginneth to parly , and you know that the town which parlie's , and the woman which listneth , are half got , half a word to the wise . 't is all that i have to say unto you at present , therefore i will draw this threed no longer , for short follies are the best : and i doubt not but you will take these kind of drolleries in good part , because they come from an ancient friend of yours , and you know there is not a truer looking-glass then an old friend . during your absence , if there be any thing imaginable wherein i may steed you , i will employ green and dry , i will set my five sences on work to serve you ; for i am from the center of my heart yours , j. h. proverbes , refrains , où quolibets en la langue francoise . proverbes moraux . qui fert dieu il à bon maistre . quand tout pechez sont vieux , avarice est encore jeune . en petite maison dieu à gran part . pour devenir tost riche il faut tourner le dos à dieu . il a chiè en un chapeau , & puis se'n và couvert , viz. il a couchè avec une femme , & puis l' a mariè . par trop debattre la veritè se perd . apres besogne faicte , le fol barguigne . l'hoste , & le poisson , passez trois jours , puent . craindre ce qu' on peut vaincre , est un bas courage . le mort na point amy , le malade , & l' absent , qu' un demy . il est tost trompè , qui mal ne pense . qui à le bruit de matineux peut dormir jusques a midy . vous me ferez croire que les estoilles sont papillottes . la farine du diable se'n và moitiè en son . il n' y à de plus sage abbè , qué celuy qui à este moine . il à mangè son bled en herbe ; cecy sentend d' un prodigue heritier . caeur content , & manteau sur l'epaule . il n'est pas gentilhomme parfait , qui n' a fait cinque voyages a soris , viz. suerie . qui preste a l'amy perd au double , viz. l' argent & l' amy . la paix , est la feste de tous saints , & se garde en paradis . laissez le monstier où il est , viz. ne t' entremesle point de disputes de religion . gaster une chandelle , pour trover un epingle . c ' est un valet du diable , qui fait plus qu' on luy comande . avec le temps l' on meure les neffles . il n' est horloge plus juste que le ventre . celuy est bien mon oncle qui le ventre me comble . mere piteuse , fille rigneuse . le porc à tout bon en soy , fo rs la merde . beautè sans bonte est comme le vin eventè . ils s'entre accordent comme les horloges de londres . chacun à son tour , mot du duc de guyse qui fut tuè a blois . il est marque a l' a , is est fort honest ' homme , il est bon tout a fait . qui fait nopces & maison , il met le sien en abandon . i l comence bien a mourir , qui abandonne son desir . chien qui abaye ne mord pas . abbé & convent ce n' est qu' un , mais la bourse est en divers lieux . des abeilles ils deviennent frelons . chose accoustumée n'est pas troy prise . achete maison faite , femme a faire . le riche disne quand il veut , le pauvre quand il peut . qui ne s'avanture , n' a cheval ni mule . venrre affame n' a point d'oreilles . a la quenoville le fol s' agenoville . a force du vit le monde croit . qui ayme bertrand , ayme son chien . qui bien ayme bien chastie . qui va , il lesche , qui repose , il seiche . bien part de sa place , qui son amy y laisse . il n' y a meilleur miroir que le vieil amy . amour & seigneurie ne tiendrent jamais compagnie amour fait beaucoup , mais l' argent fair tout . l'amour , la tousse , & la galle ne se peuvent celer . amour fait rage , mais l'argent fait mariage . aussi bien sont amourettes , soubs bureau que soubs brunettes . vit de vint ans , & cun de quinze . contre la mort il n'y à nul appel . l'arbre ne tombe pas du premier coup . pour un poil martin perdit son asne . qui à maratre , à le diable en atre . ma chemise blanche , baise mon cul tóus les dimanches . il à mis en ●n doit , un anneau trop estroit . un borgne est roy au pais des aveugles . avarice rompt le sac , & la besace . aviourdhuy tresorier , demain tres arriere . aviourdhuy mariè , demain marry . rendre de l' avoine pour foin , viz. remercier au double . mieux vaut un tenez , que deux fois vous l' aurez . si tu veux conoitre un vilain , baillez luy la baguette en main . gran bandon , gran larron . en cent ans civiere , en cent ans banniere . il n'est banquet que d' homme chiche . ore le pape est devenu françois , & jesu christ devenu anglois ; cela se disoit quandle siege papal estoit en avignon , & que les anglois tenoient plus de la moitie de france . le coeur fait l'oevure , non pas le grands jours . craindre ce qu' on peut vaincre , est un bas courage . la moitie du monde ne sçait comme l'autre vit . les debtes engardent l' homme de dormir trop . les deliberations sont en nostre main , & les evenements dieu en ordonne . l'on ne peut empescher qu'a dieu l' on ne se dedie . de demain a demain le temps s'en và bien loin . a folle demande , il ne faut point de reponce . heureux celuy qui ne desire point ce qu'il n'a pas . le trou trop sovent ouvert sous le nez , fait porter souliers deschirez . il n'y a bouclier qui puisse resister a l'encontre du de●tin . qui manie ses propres affaires , ne soville point les main● . il luy est avis que les alouettes luy tomberont toutes roties au bec . celuy n' est pas esloignè d' amendement lequel reconoit sa faute . le vray amy mieux que chevance . il faut aymer l' amy & hayr son vice . n' avoir point d' amis , est pire que d' avoir des ennemis . a nul ne peut estre amy , qui de soy mesme est ennemy . il à l' appetit ouvert , comme la bourse d' un avocat . si tost que l' arbre est tombè chacun se rue dessus . argent reçeu , les bras rompus , viz. le travail cesse . fient de chien , & marc d' argent , seront tout un au jour du jugement . un amoureux fait tousiours quelque chose du folatre . chante a l' asne , il te ferà des pets . le pauvre qui donne au riche , demande . six heures dort l' escolier , sept le voyager , huit le vigneron , neuf en demande le poltron . mal và la nef sans avirons . la guerre fait les larrons , & la paix les meine au gibet . qui preste non r ' a , & s' il r ' a non tost , si tost non tout , si tout non tel , si tel non grè , or te garde donc de prester . au prester cousin germain , & au rendre fils de putain . qui n' a point de miel en sa cruche , qu' il ayt en sa buche . on se sovule bien de manger tartes . j ' ay payè tous mes anglois , viz. me cranciers . le vin n' a point de chaussure . sont les regiments de monsieur brovillon , trois tambours , & deux soldats . au plus fort la besace , viz. la force emporte tout . il est plus aysè de se tirer de la rive que de fond . langage de hauts bonnets , viz. vieux , & hors de usage . il parle baragouin , c ' est a dire il parle un langage qui n' est pas intelligible . il a chiè en un chappeau , & puis s' en và couvert ; cecy se dit , d' un qui a couche avec une femme , & l'espouse apres . ell ' est faite a maschecoulis le haut defend le bas , viz. elle a la mine laide , & le corps de bonne taille . les paroles du soir ne resemblent a celles du matin . qui a bon voisin a bon matin . chanter magnificat a matines . estre en la paille jusques au ventre , viz. estre en grande prosperitè . la verole a tous ses apennages , viz. toutes sortes de saletez . il faut prendre le temps com' il est , & les gens com' ils sont . amasser la disme de l' ail ; cest ' a dire , estre blen batu . coiffer la rolline , dechausser be●trand , c ' est estre yure ; faire le roland , viz. le brava●he . il n' est chance qui n' est retourne . on est plus tenu a sa peau , qu' a sa chemise . dieu donne biens , & boeufs mais c ' est ne pas par la corne . on voit plus de vieux yurognes , que de vieux medicins . il n'est tresor que de vivre a son aise . un ' once de fortune vaut mieux qu' un livre de sagesse ▪ mieux vaut estre oyseau du bois que de cage . aviourdhuy cuissi●r , demain cass● . la langue n'a point d'os , & casse poitrine & dos . quand la fille pese un auque , on luy peut mettre la cauque . cercher noises , pour noisettes . cercher cinq pies en un mouton . cercher midy a dix heures . de l'arbre de messoi● , manche de cemoir . plus pres est la chair , que la chemise . il n'est chance , qui ne retourne . il en tuera dixe de la chandelle & vint du chandelier . il n' y a si petit saint qui ne desire sa chandelle . a la chandelle cheure semble damoiselle . je f●rai que vous ne pisserez plus roid . qui n' a chapon soit content de pain & d'oignon . qui seme les chardons recueille des espines . compagnon plaisant , vaut en chemim chariot branlant . il n'est chasse , que de vieux levriers . tomber de la fiebre en chaud mal . qui trop se haste , en beau chemin se fourvoye . a l' aise marche a pied , qui meine cheval par la bride . il a pour chasque trou sa cheville . tandis que le chien chie , le loup s' en va . il ne choisit pas qui emprunte . mieux vaut un poing de bonne vie , que plein muy de clergie . je vous tireray les vers du nez . ostez un vilain du gibet , il vous y mettrà . qui premier naist , premier paist . truye sterile , serviteur desloial , poule sans ●●ufs choses inutiles . son habit ●eroit peu● au voleur . i' y mettray tous mes cinq sens . j'employeroy verd & sec. mal soupe qui tout disne . les rogneures du temps . tost atrappè est le souris , qui n' a pour giste qu' un pertuis . le froid est si aspre qu' il me fait battre le tambour avec les dents . aviourdhuy en terre , demain enterrè . parole jettee và par tout a la volée . homme de deux visages n' agrée en ville ni villages . perdre la volée pour le bond . au vis lè vice . on ne sçauroit faire d' une buse , un esprevier . il a oste a saint pierre pour donner a saint pal. chien eschaudè craint l' eau froide . le dernier ferme la porte , où la laisse ouverte . si le ciel tomboit , les cailles seroyent prises . quel maistre tel valet . il n'y à sauce que d' appe●i● . pres de l' eglise loin de dieu . il ne faut pas elocher devant un boiteux . tant souvent và le pot a l' eau , que l' anse y demeure . mettre la charrue devant les boeufs . il a une face a deux visages . qui ayme jean ayme a fon chien . qui trop empoigne rien n' estraind . le roy perd la rente où il n' y a que prendre . il n' y a si bon cheval qui ne bronche . homme rouge , & femme ba●bue , de cinquante pas les salue . je trouveray autant de chevilles , que trouvez pane de trous . de corsaire a corsaire n' y pend que barriques rompues . il a beau mentir qui vient de loin . apres besogne faite repos , & denier . baston porte paix quand , & soy . quand beau vient sur beau perd sa beauté . qui vient est beau , qui apporte est plus beau . beauté & folie vont souvent de compagnie . deniers avancent bediers . apprins au ber dure jusques au ver . nul ne fait si bien besogne , que celuy a qui elle est . les biens de la fortune passent comme la lune . ville que parle , & femme qu' ecoute , l'une se rend , l'autre se fou - qui bien est , ne se bouge . bien a en sa maison qui de ses voisins est aymé . aviourdhuy en chere , demain en biere . c'est un cheval aux quatre pieds blancs . retirer son epingle du jeu . quiter un boeuf pour mangerun oeuf . une fois n'est past coustume . vers dieu c'est le meilleur . coudre la peau du renard , a celle du lion , c ' est a dire joindre la finesse avec la force . il n'est si bon qu' aussi bon ne soit . entre la bouche , & le cueillier , souvent avient gran destourbier . il a la conscience large comme la manche d' un cordelier . tomber de la poile aux braises . farine du diable n' est que bran . qui se fait brebis le loup le mange . qui a bruit de matinois peut dormir jusques a midy . brusler la chandelle par les deux bouts . clocher devant les boiteux . belle chere , & coeur arriere . quì n' a coeur , ait jambes . un fol fait tousiours le comencement . qui bien ayme tard oublie . tout y va par compere , & commere . chose trop veue mesprisée . bon bastard c ' est d' avanture , meschant c ' est la nature . a conseil de fols cloche de bois . assez gaigne qui malheur perd . argent contant porte medicine . bonne renommée vaùt plus que ceinture dorée . assez à , qui se contente . a la continuè l' eau cave la pierre . mieux vaut l' ombre d' un sage , veillard , que le bouclier d' un jeune couard . il vaut mieux estre cocu , que coquin . on tourne le rosti en nos maisons , nous avons la fum●e , & les autres la viande . qui se couche avec les chiens se leve avec des puces . mieux vaut couard , que trop hardi . coup de langue , blesse plus que coup de lance . chascun est sage apres le coup . fille qui prend , se vend ; fille qui donne s' abandonne . femme bonne vaut une couronne . de cuir d' autruy large courroye . trop grater cuit , trop parler nuit . grasse cuisnie maigre testament ; contre les prodigues . telle terre , telle cruche . entre deux selles le cul en terre . qui ne chastie culot ne chastie culasse . de la panse vient la danse . fais ce que tu dois , avienne ce que pourra . il est tost deceu , qui mal ne pense . vos finesses sont cousues de fil blanc , elles sont trop apparentes . chasque demain apporte son pain . assez demande , qui se plaint . assez demande qui bien serr . il ne demeure pas trop qui vient a la fin . faire de l'argent avec les dents . tel a du pain qui n' a point de dents . le dernier le loup le mange , cecy s' entend de paresseux , & lasches . qui plus despend que ne pourchasse , il ne luy faut une besace . secret de deux , secret de dieux . la fa●ine du diable s' en va moitie en son . ton fils repeu , & mal vestu ; ta fille vestue , & mal repeue . ne croire a dieu que sur bons gages . pour un point martin perdit son asne . oblier dieu parmi tous les saints . dieu donne biens & baeuf mais ce n' est pas par la corne . il est bien fin , la cousture de ses chausses est derriere . a pere , a maistre , & dieu tout puissant , nul ne peut rendre l' equivalent . a toile ourdie dieu mande le fil . il ne perd rien , qui dieu ne perd . a propos comme le magnificat a matins . la où dieu veut , il pleut . en peu d' heure , dieu labeure . qui à beaucoup d'amys n' en a point . diligence passe science , & la fortune toutes les deux . du dire au fait il y a un gran trait . tout vray n' est pas bon a dire . courtoisie tardive est descourtoise . mettre le doibt entre le bois , & l' escorce . femme se plaind , femme se deult , femme est malade quand elle veut . qui e●t loin du plat , est pres de son dommage . le diable estoit alors en son grammaire . il à un quartier de la lune en la teste . assez dort qui rien ne fair . de femme qui se farde , donne toy bien garde . femme , argent & vin , ont lour bien , & leur venim . femme sage l'ornement de son mesnage . il n'est si bon que femme n' assotte . homme de paille , vaut une femme d' or . il n' est pas tousiours feste , où prim temps . amour de femme feu d'estoupe ; qui n'est pas de durée . a la fin sçaura on qui à mangé le lard . fille aymant silence , est douee de grand ' science . fille brunette gaye , & nette . ce que est venu par la fleute , s'en returne par le tabourin . fols sont sages quand ils se taisent . mieux vaut un ' once de fortune , qu' une livre de sagesse . il ne peut estre ensemble au four , & au moulin . si la fortune me tourmente , l'esperance me contente sur perit comencement on fait grande fusée . le fuseau doit suyvre le gorreau . le petit gain emplit la bourse . mieux vaut un bon gardeur , qu'un bon gaigneur . celuy qui est sur les espaules du geant voit plus loin que celuy qui le porte . il y à gens , & gens , viz. hommes de divers humeurs tant de gens , tant de guises . chascun a son gibbier , viz. selon son naturel . il n' y a cheval si bien ferré qui ne glisse . attendre le gland , jusques a tant qu'il tombe . a goupil endormy rien ne tombe en sa gueule . gourmandise tue plus de gens que l'espée tranchant goutte a goutte la mer s' egoute . goutte a goutte on emplit la cuve . nul grain sans paille , nul or sans escume . vin de grain , plus doux que de la presse . il n' est si gran jour qui ne vienne a vespre . en seureté dort qui n' a que perdre . renard qui dort la matinée , n'a pas la langue emplumée . ce qu' on donne luit , ce qu' on mange puit . tout est perdu ce qu' on donne au fol. qui fait credos charge son dos . bonnes paroles n' ecorchent pas la langue . le drap & les ciseaux luy sont donnez . bon droit a bon mestièr d' ayde . assez boit qui a dueil , viz. des larmes . pour durer il faut endurer . qui veut prendre un oyseau qu'il ne l'effarouche . l'oyseau gazoville selon qu'il est embecqué . qui scait mestier , à rente . soleil qui luysarne au matin , femme qui parle latin , enfant nourry du vin ne viennent point a bonne fin . il peut hardiment hurter a la porte qui bonnes nouvelles apporte . il n' est nul petit ennemy , viz. on ne doit mespriser quel qu'en̄emy qui soit . il n'est orgueil que de povre enrichi . qui s'acquite , s'enrichit , viz. qui paye ses debtes . a bon entendeur ne faut que demy mot . le souris qui n' a qu' une entrée est incontinent happée . envieux meurent , mais l' envie jamais . qui fol envoye , fol attend . se mettre en rang d' oignon , & ne valoir un eschalotte . on ne peut faire d' hibou bon esparuier . tout estat est viande aux vers ; viz. nous sommes tres touts mortels . on le fait croire que les estoilles son papillottes . tout ce que tonne ne nous estonne . tel s' excuse , qui s'accuse . la faim chasse le loup hors du bois . ne prens point un aveugle pour ta guide , ni fol pour conseiller . qui peu se prise , dieu l'advise , viz. les modestes . on cognoit le diable a ses griffes . qui veut tenir nette maison , il n' y faut poule ni pigeon . en pont , en planche , en riviere valet devant , maistre derriere . l'oeil du maistre engraisse le cheval . qui mal entend , mal respond . mal pense qui ne repense . mal fait , qui ne parfait . le mort n' a point amy le malade n' a qu' un den●y . malheur ne vient jamais seul . il luy torche le nez en sa manche . a main lavée dieu mande la repeue . il a mangé de la biche blanche , viz. il est leger . bonne beste s'echauffe en mangeant . a homme hardy fortune tend la main . qui mange l' oye du roy il en chie la plume cent ans apres . on n'a jamais bon marche , de mauvaise marchandise se faire marchand de poisson la vieille de pasques . bonne marchandise , trouve tousiours son marchand . si tous les fols portoient marotte , on ne scait pas de quel bois on se chaufferoit . se coiffer de folles opinions . il n'est cheval qui n' ayt son mehaing . courtes folies sont les meilleures . songes sont mensonges . petit homme abat bien gran chesne . mieux vaut en paix un oeuf qu'en guerre un boeuf . bon guet chasse malaventure . l' habit ne fait pas le moine . il est poure qui est de dieu abandonné . couper l' herbe soubs les pies . parez herisson il semblera baron . le renard est devenu hermite . toutes heures ne sont pas meures . les hommes donnent aux femmes ce qu'ils n' ont pas . de meschant homme bon roy. un mestier requiert tout son homme . qui vit a comte , vit a honte . meschante parole jettée , va par tout a la volée . il a coiffè la rolline . amour se nourrit de jeune chair . jeune en sa croissance , a le loup en la pance . innocence porte avec soy sa defense . nous achetons tout fo rs le jour & la nuit . un jour juge de l' autre , & le dernier juge de tous . longue langue , courte main ; cecy s'entend des compliments . pour laver les mains , on n' en vend pas sa terre . il ne regarde plus loin que le bout de son nez . faire le loup plus gran qu'il n'est . il tient le loup par les oreilles . a petite achoison le loup prend le mouton . a paroles lourdes , oreilles sourdes . de meschante vie bonnes loix . garder la lune des louts . bonne est la maille qui sauve la denier . c ' est ne pas evangile ce qu' on dit parmi la ville . qui n' a patience n' a rien . de mauvais payeur foin , où paille . quand tous pechez sont vieux l' avarice est encore jeune . le teigneux n' arine pas le peigne . dieu scait qui est bon pelerin . en fin les regnards se trouvent chez le pelletier . asseurement chante qui n' a que perdre . il faut perdre un veron , pour prendre un savmon . il ne perd rien qui ne perd dieu . qui perd le sien perd le sens . qui preste a l' amy perd au double . il est plus ayse de tirer un pet d' un asne mort . chantez a l' asne il vous fera de pets . mieux vaut glisser du pied que de la langue . mieux vaut un pied que deux eschasses . il voudroit trouver cinq pieds en un mouton . il a dechaussè bertrand . d' une pierre donner deux coups . perdre pigeon pour un grain d' orge . mieux vaut plier que rompre . acheter chat en poche . tout vient au point qui peut attendre . oignez vilain , il vous poindra . discouvrir s. pierre pour couvrir s. paul. il n' est pas si fol qu'il en porte l' habit . il n' a plus de scavoir que ce qu' il en faut pour sa portée . un clou pousse l' autre . contre fortune nul ne peut . vieil oyseau ne se prend a rets . belle promesse fol lie . entre promettre & donner doit on marier sa fille . femme sage l' ornement de son mesnage . a la quenoville hercule s'agenoville . jamais françois fut recreu a bien faire . ces sont les pires bourdes que les vrayes . qui du sien donne , dieu redonne . qui bon vin boit il se repose . la mort n' espargne ni roy ny roc. le beau soulier devient en fin savate . il est plus fol , qui a fol sens demande . nul n' a trop de sens , & d' argent . en seureté dort qui n' a que perdre . de gran dessein une souris . le troù trop ouvert soubs le nez fait porter souliers dechirez . prendre des lievres a tabourin . le sage fait guet au temps . a laver la teste d' un asne on ne perd que le temps & la lexive . qui choppe , & ne tombe ajouste a ses pas . il ne se tord pas qui va le gran chemin . amour , toux , & fumèe , en secret ne font demeurée . de gran train a l' estrain . il faut mieux trebucher une fois que tousiours chanceler . il à pour chasque trou une cheville . cest ' argent qu' argent vaut . vent au visage rend un homme sage . toute chair n' est pas venaison , n' y faysan . vie n' est pas seur heritage . il n' est vie que d' estre contenr . or , amy & vin vieux , sont prisez en tous lieux . si tu veux conoistre vilain baille luy la baguette en main . le boeuf salè fait trouver le vin sans chandelle . c ' est la cour du roy petaud , chacun y est mai●re . le sage va tousiours la sonde en main . il faut loger le bidet . vous regimbez contre l' esguillon . qui se couche avec les chiens , se leve avec des puces . qui tout me donne , tout me nie . nid tissu oyseau envolé . a tous oyseaux leurs nids sont beaux . nulle noix sans coque , nul oeuf sans coquille . ouvrage de comun , ouvrage de nul . cercher a tondre sur un oeuf . s' il tu te trouves sans chapon , soit content de pain , & d' oignon . il bat le buisson sans prendre l'oisillon . en petites boites met on les bons onguens . nul or sans escume , ni femme sans tache . or est qui or vaut . autant de testes , autant de sentimens . un asne ne peut porter deux orgueilleux . asne d' arcadie broute chardons quoy que chargé d' or . oy , voy , & te tais si tu veux vivre en paix . peu a peu le loup mange l'o●● . il luy estoit advis que les alouettes luy tomberoient toutes rosties au bec . faire a dieu gerbe de paille . de tout s'avise , a qui pain faut . sauter de treille en paisseaux , de coq a l' asne . peu , & paix don de dieu . il a les yeux plus grands que la pance . rouge visage , & grosse pance ne son signes de penitence . c ' est folie de beer contre un four . adieu paniers , vendanges sont faites . pardonne tous , a toy point . assez parens , assez tourmens . qui à mal aux dents , ha mauvais parens . mal sert qui ne parsert , viz. qui n' est constant . qui veut bien parler , doit bien pourpenser . qui ne parle , n' erre . le paresseux ayme bien besogne faite . si souhaits fussent vrays pasteroux fussent roys . a celuy qui à son paste au four , on peut donner de son tourteau . c ' est folie de faire son medecin son heritier . celuy peut hardiment nager a qui l' on foustient le menton . mere piteuse , fait la fille rogneuse . bon bastard c ' est avanture , mais meschant c ' est de nature . il ne pas en seureté , a qui ne mescheut onques . mettre la faucille en la moisson d' autruy . faire bonne mine au mauvais jeu . trop achete le miel qui sur espines le leche . se moque , qui cloque , viz. qui cloche . plein poing de bonne vie vaut mieux , q' un muid de science . le monde va tousiours a l' empire . fy de l' avarice , c ' est un vilain vice . apres grand ' montée grande vallée . au serviteur le morceau d' honneur . le mortier sent , tousiours les aulx . va où tu veux , meurs où tu dois . lé bien mal acquis , s' en và comme il est venu . aussi bien meurt veau , comme vache , le hardi comme le lasche . c'est folie de faire un maillet de son poing . on s' avise tard en mourant . allez au four où au moulin pour entendré nouvelles . c ' est la maistresse roüe , qui tourne le moulin . il faut laisser l' enfant morveux , plus tost que luy arracher le nez . avoir de moucherons en la teste . a petire a choison le loup prend le mouton . pierre qui se remue n' accueille point de mousse . estre au pied du mur sans eschelle . homme mutin , brusque roussin , flascon du vin prennent tost fin . il à pissè en beaucoup de neiges . necessité est la moitié de raison . necessité fait trotter la vieille . naistre tout coiffé . nourriture passe nature . la mort n' espargne ni roy ni roc . proverbes physiques , où touchans la santè . en mangeant l'appetit vient . femme , argent , & vin ont leur bien , & leur venin . assez y à , si trop n' y à. table sans sel bouche sans salive . fille brunette est de nature gaye & nette . l' odeur de camphre chastre l' homme . amour se nourrit de jeune chair . cheval courant , sepulchre ouvert . les maladies viennent à cheval , & s' en retournent a pied . qui mal enfourne tire les pains cornus . tenez chaud le pied & la teste , au demeurant vivez en beste . la goute en la hanche , la fille en la pance . au matin vers les monts , au soir vers les fonts . faillit est chose humaine , se repentir divine , perseverer diabolique . fourmage est bon quand il y en à peu . fourmage est sain que ●ient de chiche main . les fols font la feste , & les sages la mangent . fy de manteau , quand il fait beau . a la goute le medecin ne voit goutte . s' il tu veux engraisser promptement , manges avec faim , bois a loisir , & lentement . a l' an soixante & douze , temps est qu' on se house . apres la feste , on gratte la teste . vin sur lait , c ' est mon souhait . lait sur vin , est venin . homme matineux sain & soigneux . faim fait diner , passetemps souper . les maux terminans en ique font au medecin la nique . servez vous du jeune barbier , mais du vieil medecin . de nouveau medecin cimitiere bossu . a morceau restif , esperon du vin . feu , feues , argent & bois sont bons en tous mois . chair de mouton manger de glouton . un oeuf n' est rien , deux font gran bien , trois c ' est assez , quarte cest ' tort , cinq c ' est la mort . qui ne fait comme fair l' oye , n' ha de sa vie longue joye . apres la poire le vin où le prestre . veau mal cuit , & poulets cruds , font les cimitieres bossus . qui n' a santé n' a rien . qui à la ●ante est riche , & ne le scait pas . qui vin ne boit apres salade , est en danger d' estre malade . c'e●t un banquet du diable , où il n' y a point du sel. le gourmans , font leurs fosses avec leurs dents . a la trogne conoit on l' yvrogne . i l ressemble la mule du pape , il ne boit qu' a ses heures . il n' est horologe plus juste que le ventre . pour ron brevu●ge maries la cave , & le puits . le fourrier de la lune à marquè le logis . de femmes , & des poissons le milieu vaut le mieux . au matin boy le vin blanc , le rouge au soir pour faire bon sang . une pillule fromentine , une dragme sermentine , & la balle d' une geline , est une bonne medecin . il vaut mieux tomber entre les mains d' un medecin heureux , que d' un medecin sçavant . cens escus de melancholie ne payeront pas un liard de debtes . vieux chirurgiens , & jeunes medecins font les cimitieres bossus . ce que le sobre retient en sa pensée , l' yvrogne à en sa bouche . bois le vin comme roy , bois l' eau comme taureau . boire de l' eau , manger de pierres , coucher dehors il n'en faut demander congè a personne . il faut plustost prendre garde avec qui tu bois , & manges , qu' a ce que tu manges & bois . qui tout mange le soir , le lendemain ronge son pain noir . le vin , est le laict de vieillards . vin vieux , amy vieux , & or vieux sont amez en tous lieux . salade bien lavée , & salée , peu de vinaigre , & bien huylée . qui veut vivre sain , disne peu , & soupe moins . lever a six , manger a dix ; souper a six , coucher a dix , font vivre l'homme dix fois dix . de tous poissons fo rs que la tanche , prenez le dos , laissez ●e ventre . qui couche avec la soif , se leve avec la santé . des champignons les meilleures n' en valent rien . proverbes , où drolleries , & dictons plaisans . al' advocat le pied en main , c ' est a dire avec quelque present . longuement proceder , est a l'advocat vendanger . il ne bat plus que d' une aile . il à amassé le disme de l'ail . amour de garse & saut de chien ne dure si l'on ne dit tien . amour de putain , feu d' estoupe . il luy rendit le nez aussi plàt que d'une andoville . de jeune angelot , vieux diable . au prester ange , au rendre diable . apprenti de san crespin , viz. un cordormier . vous bridez le cheval par la queve . il saute du coq a l' asne , viz. il fait digressions . il en est plus assottè , qu'un fol de sa marotte . qui fol envoye , fol attend . gras comm ' un porc a l' auge gras , comm ' un glivon . il ne perdra pas l' avoine a faute de brailler . la place de niais , le plus haut bout de la table . il se retira avec tant du nez . de b carré a b mol . bachelier en busche . la grange est pres des bateurs . il a mange de la biche blanche . pennache de boeuf . il est clerc jusques aux dents , il a mange son breviarie . courage de brebis , le nez en terre . il dit ses brimborions , viz. il va grommolant . evesque dor , crosse de bois , crosse de or , evesque de bois . un espagnol sans jesuite est comme perdrix sans son orenge . medecin d' eau douce . marchand d' allumettes , où marchand de merde en gros . fourni d' entendement comme un oison de creste . le mutin anglois , le bravache escossois , le fin italien , le fol françois , le poultron romain , le larron de gascogne , l' espagnol superbe , l' aleman yvrogne . dictons playsans & propres a la langue francoise . a conseil de fols cloche de bois . le poil folet , la premiere barbe de homme . c ' est le cheval aux quatre pieds blancs . c'est un cheval de trompette , viz. il est hardi . il parle a cheval , viz. il hà l' avantage . il luy accommoda bien sa robbe . c ' est la maison de robin de la vallée , où il n'y a ne pot au feu , ni escuelle lavée . je luy baillerry guy contre robert. la rose en fin devient un gratecul . je n'y voy ni grain ni goutte . goutte a goutte la mer s' egoutte . celuy gouverne bien mal le miel , qui n' en taste . joyeux comme fourmis en grain . fourrer la main du juge . fourrage der corbeaux , viz. un belitre . aujourdhuy facteur , demain fracteur . qui à peur des fueilles ne doit aller au bois . porter de fueilles au bois , ou verres a venise . s' aller frotter le cul au panicaut . il à les yeux plus grands que la pance . il l' a mis a deviner . j ' ay beaucoup a detoviller . faire le diable de vauvert . je suis au dessus du vent contre . il est crotte en archidiacre . tout tremblant entre cuir , & chair . qui ne chastie culot , ne charie culasse . mal poise , qui ne contre poise . je suis fait tout a rebours de vous . c ' est un papelard tout a faict . encore n' a pas failli , qui à ruer . faire de son raminagrobis . faire le renard , faire le roland . il a bien de clinquans , il est farci d'escus . il a dequoy , il à bien vaillant . il y va de cul , & de teste comme la corneille qui abat les noix . enfans & fols sont divins . apres trois jours on s' ennuye de femme , d' hoste , & de pluye . guy , guy mon mignon , trop enquerre n'est pas bon . son pere estoit nattier , il entend le festu . entrez , entrez nos chiens sont liez . il n'est pas echappè qui son lien trainè . en la terre des aveugles , le borgne est roy. la langue peut faillir , mais l'escriture ne peut mentir . il à beau se taire de l' escot qui rien n'en paye . il n' y à point de plus beau revenu que l' espargne . l'estè sen va , mais un ' autre année la rameine . il ne passe pas tour les jours de tels estourneaux . qui s'accuse premier , s' excuse . il faut que la faim soit bien grande quand le loups se mangent l' un l' autre . apres le fait ne vaut souhait . il ne faut qu' une mousche luy passe par devant les nez pour le fascher . les fautes les plus courtes sont les meilleures . la femme , & l' oeuf un seul maistre veut . femme ne doit toucher a b b b b de l'homme , viz. bourse , bonnet , barbe , brayette . femme qui ses levres mord , femme qui son alleure tord , se mesle du mestier ord . la pire des choses du monde c'est la femme encores qu' elle soit bonne . la femme de bien n'a ny yeux , ni oreilles . a femme sotte nul ne s'y frotte . a tout ' heure , chien pisse , & femme pleure . la femme est bien malade , quand elle ne se peut tenir sur le dos . il y à tousiours quelque fer qui loche . nous voyons bien un festu en l' oeil de voisin , mais non pas la poutre dans le nostre . il fait de sa fille deux gendres . il y a du lard en luy . jetter le froc aux orties· il n'a pas este encore leurré . il vous fera croire que les lievres pondent . voila où gist le lieure . il avoit sa lippée du butin . i'en suis logé là . il ne scait de quel bois faire fleche . il est en son lourdaut . il nà pas bien assis ses lunettes . je me suis madré en cest , affaire plus que vous . il scait plus que son pain manger . ceste fleche n'est pas sortie de mon carquios . l' affaire va a quatre roües . marchand d'allumettes , où marchand de merde en gros . elle a son marquis . il luy en fit porter la marotte . robin à trouvé mariòn . marier la cave , & le puits . il te frotteray a double carillon . il à memoire de lapin. il à de mercure en la teste . il ne se lassent prendre sans mitaines . il à dequoy . bailler mornifles sur le leures du roy . faire la moue aux harengiers . c'est vn mouton de berri , il est marqué sur le nez . baueux comm ' vn pot de moustarde . apres le cerf la biere , apres le sanglier le mire . le diable l'a chèi en volant , vn meschant . il se retirà auce vn pied de nez . gresler sur le persil , viz. tyrannizer . le nez aussy plat comme vn andouille . tu es en tes gogues , viz. gagliard . il à rogné les ongles a l'e stude . il est de bas or , il craint la touche . opiniastre comme l● mule d'un abbe . employer verd & sec. a vn autre chien auec cet ' os . on norroit dieu tonner . il dit le paternostre a l'envers . sifflant en paume ie me rendray a vous . je scay bien sur quel pied il cloche . il à bien soncé le poignet , il à bien rempli ses poches . l' heur vous en veut . coment se portent vos petits populos . il en pelera la prune , viz. il s'en repentira . il n'est pas de mon qualibre . je l'ay rendu quinaud . il est en quinte de faire cela . un vieux quolibet où adage . cela luy à bien rabiasse le menton . il se recognoit a la langue latine . mal de saint quentin , viz , la toux . il ne luy à laissè rif ny raf . il ne saucera son pain en ma souppe . i' y mettray tous mes cinq sens . il scait faire un teston de six soubs . cerveau bien timbré . chicaneur , où tricoteur de procez . monsieur de t●iquenisques . il à mangé de la vache enragée . il y và de vostré honneur . grosse teste & prim col , c'est signe d'un fol. employer verd & sec , viz. faire tout son pouvoir . qué veut le roy ce veut la loy . il ne vaut pas vn zest . viz. rieu . vous allez a l'entour du pot , viz. vous faires des ambages . reprenons nostre cheure par la barbe ; viz , recomençons . fourni de fil & d'aiguille , viz. estre bien pourveu & preparé . il vole d'haute aile ; viz. il est ambitieux . a la volée viz. temerairement . cela me rebouche fort an coeur . ventre de veloux , robbe de bureau . il viennent des paroles au poil . qui tout convoite tout perd . monsieur de foin , & foarre . trencher les mot , viz. parler exactement . a celuy qui à fa paste au four on peut donner de son torteau . assez parens , assez tourmens . si je ne fait cela qu'on me tonde . chacun tire a son profit . il a beaucoup de tintouins en la teste . vin de comeres ; viz. doux vins . de fonds en comble ; viz. entierement . compere de oribus , viz. un parasit . c'est un merchand qui prend largent sans conter où peser . cela me vient fort a contrecoeur . je vous paye en monnoye de cordelier : viz. en prieres & remerciements . je ne scay a quel saint prier : viz. a le remedier . couchè entre l'enclume , & le marteau . viz , entre deux dangers . il ha les deux bouts de la courroye . crotte en archediacre . cecy est d'un autre cùuée viz. autre goust . elle scait assez de la vieille dance . le dé est deja ietré ; viz , il est determiné . prendre la lune a belles dents . il à bien dequoy . viz , il à bien de moyens . il est sur le bord de la fosse . deschausser bertrand . derober la bosse a saint roc. vous allez au devant par de●riere . les tesmoins du mary . i'ay beaucoup a detoviller : viz , vn affaire malaisé . le monde est toutdetravé , viz , confus . cest vn val du d , cest a dire cest vn valet du diable qui fait plus que l'on luy comande . il n'est , si diable , quil est noir . docteur de quandoque , où lourdant docteur en gaye science . vous avez mis le doit dessus , viz. vous avezacertené . se pensans signer , il donna du doit dans l'oetil . mettre de l'eau dedans leur vin , viz. refroidir le courage . fol eccentrique , viz. opiniastre . s'embarquer sans biscuit , viz. sans avoir dequoy . il en payera la folle enchere . il en cuyda bien enfiler son aiguille . enfoncer le poignet , viz. corrompre . encamber sur les marches d'autruy . i l entend le numero , viz. il est fin . coucher a l'ensiegne de l'estoile , viz. dehors . ils sont bien ensemble , viz. il s'entrecordent . on ne trouve ni tric ni trac . il scair bien son entregent . viz. il est prudent & accort . j'ay assez a faire environ les mains , viz. fort a faire . je le vous envoyeray par le borgne . faire escran contre le vent sùr les alpes . vous chassez apres lés mouches . joyeux comm ' un esmerillon . gentilhomme frais esmoulu . essimé comm ' un haranc soret . estans onner le mensonge d'un roseau . esonné comm ' un fondeur des cloches . faire les diable de vauvert . faire le guet au temps , videlicet , bien l'observer . ell ' a fait un faux bond , videlicet , ell ' a paillardé . ferrer les cigàles , videlicet , faire des impertinences . mangeur de charrettes ferrées , viz. un vaingloreux . il nest , ni figue ni raisin . cést unce chose fort estrange , de coucher dans une grange . avoir le bec gelé , viz. estre muet . plus malheureux que le bois dont on fait le gibbet . cecy n'est pas de mon gibbier . joyeux comme souris en grain . chapon de haute graisse , viz. bien paissu . il a beaucoup de grillons en la teste . parent du gillot le songeur , viz. un lourdaut . haut a la main , viz. resolu , & vaillant . pris entre la haye , & le bled , viz. pris oportunement . par les hypocondres de tous les diables . cracher un jacobin , videlicet un gros crachat . donner le croc en jambe , videlicet , prevenir . a bander ▪ & racler , a droit ou a travers . plus joyeux que rats en paille . prendre un lion par les jubes , viz. attenter chose dangereuse . il a retté de bon lait , viz. il a estè bien eslevè . cest un language du temps de hauts bonnets . il a langue de tripiere , viz. c'est un tricheur . vous me ferez croire que vessies sont lanternes . cést un cagueraffe , où pobre caguemaille . le champ vous est demeuré . il a pris campos , viz. il s'est echappè . il fut rendu bien camus , viz. etourdi . elle a son cardinal , viz. le menstrue . cardinal en greve , viz. un decapitè . je te frotteray a double carillon . bran de judas , où les lentilles . je laisse la carte blanche a vous . il a la cassade , viz. il est trompè . il a perdu sa ceinture , viz. il a fait le banqueroute . vous chassez apres lés mouches . vous faites de chasteaux en castille . jetter le chat aux iambes , viz. charger un autre . entre chien est loup , viz. fort tard . contes de la cicogne , viz. begauderies . il a un muid de clergie en la teste . ie scay bien de quel pied il cloche . gras comme un cochon , un gliron . il est nè tout coiffé , viz. riche . jetter la manche apres la coigneè . collation de moine , viz. bonne chere . il est fourni de fil , & d'aiguille , viz. il à tout qu' est necessaire . de quelque coste que le bast vire . ventru plein basta , fort grossier . baston d' adam , viz. le membre viril . je vien de la encore tout batant . il faut mener le ba●eau d'une autre sorte . il bat le tambour avec les dents . habits de beat , ongles de chat . il ne scait de quel bois faire sa flesche . la faim chasse le loups hors du bois . du temps de hauts bonnets , quand on muchoit sur la manche . tarte bourbonoisse , viz. un marais . il est au bout de son brevìarie . reprenons nos brisees , où la cheure par la barbe . je n' iray pas sur vos brisees . il pense briser le fer aux dents . tenu secret come cabale , viz. cachement . il a la caboche bien tymbrée . il est mis en sa cahotte . il se baigne en ces nouvelles . entre beaucaire & tarascon ne pais brebis ni mouton . trois espagnols sont quatre diables en france . qui m'aura perdu ne m'aille cercher en escosse . il est de chasteaudun , viz. il est precipitè en jugement . chevalier errant du royaume de logres . le sang françois ne peut mentir a son prince . prendre paris , pour corbeil , viz. une montagne pour une fourmilliere . l' aleman a lésprit au doibs , viz. il est bon artizan . le norman vendange avec la gaule ; viz. il bat les pommes pour en faire du cidre . il a passè le pont de gournay , viz. ce'st vn effrontè . fait cardinal en greve , viz. estre decapitè . faire le guet a monfaulcon , viz. estre pendu & estranglè . boucon de lombard , viz. du poison . patience de lombard , viz. une grande patience . quand le françois dort le diable le berce ; ce proverbe s'use parmy les flamens . qui fit normand , fit truand ; diton de reproche . querelle d' aleman , viz. parmy les pots . pi●toles de sancerre , viz. les tondes ou frondes . les secours des venetiens , trois jours apres la bataille . chevalier de cornouaille , viz. un cocu . anger 's basse ville , hauts clochers . riche putains , pouvres ecoliers . quand on voit un picard sans bavarie , & un normand sans flaterie , le bon temps viendrà . armanson , mauvaise riviete , bon poisson . paris sans pair , roüen sans nom . il est saoul comme un anglois . a montmartre il y a plus de putains que de vache● que , s'il n'y avoit tant de nonains , il y auroit plus de vaches que de putains . il n'y à si bon chartier en beausse qui quelque fois ny verse . jamais cheval ny homme , s'amenda pour aller a rome . angleterre bonne terre , male gent. il y à plus de montmartre a paris , que de paris a montmartre : cecy s'entend de plastre de paris , qui vient de montmartre . il n'y a si pauvre village , où ne soit feste un jour en l'an . les liegois se ventent d' avoir trois choses ; du pain meilleur que du pain , du fer plus dur que fer , du feu plus chaud que le feu . i l ressemble les suisses , il est a qui plus luy donne . c'est le chasteau de montargis , beau de loin de pres rien . lourd comm ' un aleman , ou un pastè de chevilles . gasconner , viz. faire le larron . i'ay payè tous mes anglois . viz. tous mes creanciers . le roy iean estant prisonnier en angletterre il y eut une grande imposition mise sur le peuple pour payer sa rançon , d'ou vint ce proverbe . rigueur de tholouse , humanitè de bourdeaux , misericorde de rouen , justice de paris . il est de chasteaudun , il entend a deny mot . angleterre , le paradis de femmes , le purgatoire de valets , l'enfer des chevaux . le françois ny parle comm ' il pense , ny fait comm ' il parle , ny chante comm ' il compose . il s'ntrecordent comme les horloges de londres . resolu comme pihourt en ses heteroclites , c'est a scavoi● quand un ignorant , parleentre les géns sçavants . vous ●e loger chez . guilloe le songeur . le ma● an entre en n●geant . si ●'hyvet estoit outre la me● si viendra-il st. nicolas parler . celuy peut nager hardiment , a qui on cient le mentòn . a la san martin on boit le bon vin . quand il tonne en mars , nous pouvons dire helas . année seiche n'apouv●it pas son maistre . rouge vespre & brun matin cela est ioye pour pelerin . année epigeuse , année fructueuse . a noel au pérron , a pasques au tison . quand lè choux passe le cep le vigneron meurt de soif . au temps de moisson dames chambrieres son . a la saint pierre l'hyver s'en va , où il reserre . a la saint vincent si l'hyver s'engrine si l'attends . januier & fevriet comblent , ou vuident le grenier . qui à la fiebre au mois de may , le reste de l'an vit sain & gay . decembre estoit anciennement un mois , mais il est maintenant un ' année . mars aride , fevrier neigeux , auril humide , may rousineux , presage de l'an ens plantureux . proverbes temporaux , referans aux saisons . un mois avant , & apres noel , l'hyver se montre le plus cruel . en hyver au feu , en estè au bois , & au ieu . januier frileux , fevrier fievereux , mars poudreux , auril pluvieux , may venteux denotent l'an planteureux . une hirondelle n'amene pas le printemps . a la saint barnabè le faulx au prè . avec la paille & le temps , se meurissent les neffles , & les glands . au commencement , ou a la fin , mars à poison , ou venin . a la saint valentin , le printemps est voisin . a la saint martin l'hyver est en chemin . a la saint luce , le jour croist du saut d'une puce . le saumon , & le sermon , en caresme ont leur saison . aujourdhuy fevrier , demain chandelier , qui est tousiours au deuxisme de fevrier . autres dictons , & mots proverbiaux propres a la langue françoise . que gibet , que diable veut dire cela ? il le plante là pour reverdir . payer la tart de sa nativitè . faire d'un diable deux ; faire montagne d'une fourmilliere . faire le guet a montfaucon . faire le grobis , faire le groin . faire le mitou , viz. l'hipocrite , ou bigot . son kalendrier est rubriquè . faire le moüe aux harangiers , viz. estre pilorié . il luy torcha le nez de sa manche . tel fait la faute qu' un autre boir . faire quinquenelle , viz. le banqueroutier . qui bien fera bien trouverà . assez dort qui rien ne fait . table d'abbè , table du cardinal . abbreurè d'un opinion , ou croyance . il luy passa la plaine par le bec . il l'a accoutrè a la tigresque . tel cuide venger la faute qui l'accroi● . il le fait fort accroire . il n'y a point d'acquest en luy . selon que les affaires s'addonnent . personne de tres-bonne addresse . au sceu , & adveu de tour le monde . je vous advoüe en cela . il in'est d'avis , il me semble . il ne faut estre loup , ny en affubler la peau . faire beaucoup d'agiois . il va d'aguet en ses affaires . il n'est vie que d'estre bien aise . chapeau fair a l'albanoise . alleguer son alibi , viz. s'excuser . i'eu l'allée pour le venir . vous allez a l'entour du pot . au fort , au pis aller . aller au saffran , faire banqueroute . on ne sçait pour qui on amasse . il est de lorry , ou le batu paye l'amende . amour de grands ombre de büisson , qui passe bien tost . en amour est sottise , & sens . il n'est que les premieres amours . il y a bien de l'anguille sous roche . vous aller rompre l'anguille a genovil . je te crains aussy peu que les neiges d'enten . a pens , de guet a pens . souliers a l'apostolique . il est de nostre appartenance . a peine endure mal , qui n' a là appris . cest'la famille d'archimbaut , plus y en a & pis vaut . il l'a fait vuider les arcons . d'argent , & sens jamais trop . contre la nuit s'arment les limaçons . l'homme qui a de l'art possede sa part . je croy q'uil y aurà icy del'asne . demander de la laine a l'asne . d'un petit aiguillon poind on un gros as-non . assez boit qui a dueil . il a le coeur assis en bonne part . je le feray bien gaigner son avoine . j'ay beau attendre . avoir , ou bien trouver son compte . avoir bouche a la cour. il a bon bec , ou il a le bec gelè . tout a este a autruy , & sera d'autruy . il se baigne en ces nouvelles . il luy a baillè belle . il m a baillè febres a my croi● . je n' en iray du banc au feu . ventru a plein bast , fort gros y gras . tant que l'ame me bastera au corps . faire le voyage de baviere . mon petit bedaud , mon petit mignon , mon petit bedon . payer son beiaune , c'est a dire droit de novices . prendre le baeufle par le museau . eschauffons nous au feu de dieu , cést a scavoir , au soleil . il ne s'y print pas de bon biais . s'embarquer sans breuuage . cela ne se ferà a l'espee blanche cest a scavoir sans sang . prendre entre la hay , & le bled . je cognoy bien de quel bois il s'echauffe . bon gaignage fait bon potage . il ne si bon qu' aussy bon ne soit . bonne est la maille qui sauve le denier . se mettre a l'ombre de bouchons . il s'enyure de sa propre bouteille . je suis en bransle , viz. irresolu . je luy bailleray bris contre robert. robbe d'argent , brodè de merde . qui suit le broust . je le garderay secret comme cabale . il fut rendu bien camus . le coeur me tremble dans la capsule . fol a vin cinq carats . quiter sa ceinture ; cest a scavoir , se faire banqueroute . il a la ce●uelle a double rebras . toute chair n'est pas venaison . donner le fardeau selon le chameau . aller au change , viz. a un ' autre femme . celuy a bon gage du chat qui en tient la peau . chevalier errant du royaume de logres . estre bien en conche , on en bonne conche . je ne sçay quelle piece coudre a cecy . il ne craind ny les , ny les viz tondus . qui fait credos charge son dos . parler a grosses dents . le dernier le loup le mange . vous allez au devant par derriere . d'ieu donne froid selon le drap . prendre la volte de paris . perdre la voleé pour le bond . je n' en ay eu ny vent ny voix . tu auras miserere jusques aux vitulos . il m'a monstrè visage du bois . au vis le vice . il n'est vie que de coquins . il nous a donne de bien verdes . de bonne terre bon tupin . tel tue qui ne pense que blesser . i l entend autant que truye en espices . je vous grupperay au truc . il est bien trovè de la foire . troussez vostre verre du vin . il y a plus de trompeurs ; que de trompes . il luy donna au travers du nez . une science requiert tout son homme . titer son espingle du ieu . il est bien heureux , qui se mesle seulement de ses affaires . entre tels tel deviendras . nul soulas humain sans helas . je l'envoyeray bien grater le cul au soleil . il n'est pas en seurete a qui ne mescheut onques . il a le sang aux ongles . joüer a la ronfle . je m'y suis bien rompu la teste . ce n'est plus rien que de moy . fiançailles cheuavchent en selle , & repentailles en croupe . je te rengourmeray bien le groin . il se recognoit a la langue françoise . et puis qu'en sera-il ? qu'en deviendra il ? il n'ya rien a rembouser tout est a boire . il luy faudroit fendre les pieds , & l'envoyer paistre comme une pecore . c'est fait de moy , je suis ruinè tout a fait , sans resource . tant que tige fait souche , elle ne branche jamais ; cecy se'ntend de la succession hereditaire , de a la couronne de france . explications morales d'aucuns proverbes en la lángue françoise . le morier sent tousiours les aulx . ce proverbe est propre a celuy le quel estant une fois entachè de quelque vice , en retient tousiours les marques , & ne peut dissimuler son inclination a iceluy , tout ainsi qu'un mortier dans le quel on à pile des aulx ne se peut tant laver qu'il n'en retienne ●ousiours l'odeur . tousiours souvient robin a ses flustres . ce proverbe est prins d'un certain drol de paris nommè robin , & se dit quand quelq'un importunement , & sans propos fait mention de quelque chose que luy est propre , n'ayant autre chose en la bouche . les cousteaux de iean colot l'un vaut l'autre . ce proverbe prit son origine en la ville de troye en champagne ou viuvot ce jean colot qui estoit un artizan , & bon compagnon qui portoit ordinariment pendue a sa ceinture une gaine dans laquelle y avoit trois où quatre couteaux tous de peu de valeur , tarez de quelque defaut , l'un ayant la pointe rompue , l'autre estoit ebrechè au taillant , l'autre estoit rebouchè , l'autre ne coupoit point du tout ; & de ce fut fait ce proverbe lequel se dit proprement de toutes choses où il n'y à pas gran choix , & mesmes de personnes qui valent aussi peu l'un que l'autre . qui à le bruit de se lever abonn'heure , peut bien dormir la grasse matinée . par ces mots nous sommes enseignez que bien souvent la bonne opinion , & jugement que l'on fait dez personnes , est fondee sur le bruit & dire du comun plus que sur laverite mesme , de sorte quela repuracion surmonte le fait propre , & se voit assez de gens que le comuntient pour sages , doctes , vaillans & ornez de beaucoup d'autres vertus , qui n'ont rien de tout cela si on les regarde de pres . pour un poil martin perdit son asne . un nommèmartin ayant perdu son asne a la foire , il atriva que l'on en trouva un autre qui estoit aussi perdu , de sorte que le juge du village estoit d' opinion qu'on rendist a ce martin l'asne qui avoit este trouvè , mais celuy qui l'avoit en sa possession pria le juge de demander a martin de quel poil estoit son asne , lequel ayant respondu que son asne estoit tout gris , fut deboutè de sa demande d'autant qu'on trouva un poil noir en sa quëve . estre en la paille jusques au ventre . ce proverbe est pris de chevaux , auquels le meilleur traitement qu'ils puissent recevoir ( outre le foin , & l'avoine ) est , qu'ils ayent ample , & profonde lictiere ; et par cetre similitude il se peut dire de ceux lequels ont a leur souhait toutes choses necessaries a une vie opulente & heureuse . qui parle du loup on en voit la quëve . l'usage de ce proverbe est , quand aucun survient a l'improviste lors qu'on tient propos de luy . c'est le ventre de ma mere . cecy est dit , quand quelq'un se repent d'avoir este en telle place , où estant echappè de quelque danger , il prend resolution de n'y jamais retourner , tout ainsi que l'enfant estant sorti du ventre de sa mere jamais plus n'y rentre . il n'est si grand jour qui ne vienne a vespre . par ce proverbe nous sommes appris que toutes choses de ce monde viennent en fin a decadence , comme il n'est point du jour si long qui n'ayt son soir . il à du nez . quand on veut donner les los a quelq'un d'estre bien avisè , accort , entendu , & prevoyant de loin tous accidens , pour ne se laisser surprendre , on dit cet ' homme à du nez ; et ceste similitude est prise de la sagacitè , & aigu odorat des chiens de chasse , lequel , au sentiment du nez , la teste bassée contre terre , decovurent , & suyvent tous les tours & entortillements des bestes qu'ils pourchassent . il à autant de nez . cela se dit quand quelq'un ayant entrepris de faire quelque chose , manquant d'en venir a bout , demeure confus , & tout honteux . estre au nid de la pie. quand quelq'un est montè au plus haut degrè de sa fortune , on use communement de ce proverbe : car le natural de la pie est , de faire son nid sur les plus hauts arbres qu'elle peut choisir . rompre l'andouille a genouil . la nature differente des choses porte que les unes se manient d'une sorte , les autres d'une autre ; les uns se peuvent rompre sur le genuoil où autrement comme sont les esclats de bois sec , & deliez ; les autres requierent le couteau , & ferrements pour estre mises en deux pieces , comme l'ozier verd & tout autre bois flexible quand il est encore verd ; de cette façon sont les andouilles , lequelles ne se peuvent rompre , mais il faut les couper au couteau ; ce proverbe donc apprend , qu'en toutes nos actions nons ne pouvons parvenir a ce que nous pretendons , si ce n'est par les moyens a ce convenables . laisses ton enfant morveux , plutot que luy arracher le nez . ce di●e nous apprend que ceux qui ont de personnes a governer tellement inveterez , & endurcis en aucunes complexions , & mauvaises coutumes desquelles on les voudtoit bien retirer , & n'est pas possible de le faire entierement , doivent plutot tascher d'en corriger le plus , & en laisser le moins qu'ils pou●ront , que par les vouloir trop presser , les depiter , & rebuter du tout ; ceste similitude est prise des petits enfans qui estans ordinairement morveux , on les arracheroit plutot le nez , que de le garder du tout , qu'ils n'ayent tousiours quelque roupie pendante sur leurs leures . faire a dieu jarbe de foüarre . l'on scait que de tout temps il à estè ordonnè de payer au seigneur le disme , cest ' a sçauoir la dixieme partie que l'homme recueille de fruits de la terre ; ce droit estoit tellement sacrosaint que chacun en toute verite laissoit sur le champ ce qui etoit du dit disme ; or , il aduint qu'aucuns prophanes faisant aussy peu de difficultè de tromper dieu comme les hommes faisoyent tout expres certaines jarbes equelles il n'y avoit point de grain , & de cela payoyent leur dismes ; ce qui à donnè lieu a ce proverbe le quel se peut appliquer a toute personne de mauvaise conscience , soit envers dieu , soit envers les hommes comme sont telles gens . homme de porc & de boeuf . par ces mots on veut signifier un homme grossier , mal apprins , incivil , & mal honneste , tels que sont ordinairement ceux de plus vil , & bas degrè d'entre le peuple , dont la nourriture ordinaire est du lard , & du boeuf . ietter le manche apres la coignée . ce proverbe prit l'origine d'un pavure boscheron . lequel ay●nt rompu , où autrement perdu le fer de la coignée , par un despit jetta le manche apres ; a cest ' exemple nous est enseignè quand quelque perte nous advient , de retenir nostre corroux , & ne la vouloir faire plus grande par nostre propre faute , en perdant par despit le reste qui nous peut encor servir . maille a maille se fait le haubergeon . haubergeon estoit de temps passè une façon d'armeure meure qui se faisoit du tell ' etoffe dont nous faisons cottes de mailles ; ces mailles sont petits annelets de fer , ou d'acier s'embrassans , & tenants , l'un l'autre pour enfair ' un habillement ; & pource qu'a bastir cest'ouvrage composè de tant de petites pieces , il y va beaucoup de temps & de patience , ce proverbe nous ensigne qu'il n'est rien qu'on ne puisse parfaire par le menu , & petit a petit , si on y veut mettre l'estude . il n'st chasse que de vieux chiens . ce proverbe vise aux jeunes gens , qui ne sont si capables d'aucune function que ce soit , comme les aagez quien on t acquis l'experience . aller aux meures sans crocher . le meurier est un arbre qui es●end ses rameaux loin du tronc , & sont fort aisez a rompre , qui fait que ceux qui en veulent cueiller le fruit se servent d'un crochet pour tirer les branches ; cela nous ensigne de ne point s'acheminer a aucune entreprise , sans estre pourveu , & garni de ce qui la peut faciliter . faire un trou a la nuit . si aucun part de quelque lieu a la derobee sans que personne en sache rien , & mesmes lors qu'on l'eut le moins soupçonne , on use de ce proverbs , il a fait un trou a la nuit . a goupil endormi rien ne tombe , en la gueule . ce proverbe nous apprend que pour s'entre renir au monde ill ne suffit pas d'estre sage , & scauant , mais il faut employer le soin , & la diligence , en mettant la main a la besongne ; cela est pris du renard , lequel encore q'uil soit tenu entre les autres bestes pour l'un des plus cauteuleuses pour sa nourriture , neantmoins sil demeuroit tousiours dormant en son terrier , aucune viande n'entreroit jamais en son ventre . resolu comme pihourt en ses heteroclites . c'est a dire , quand un ignorant est trop prompt de parler parmi les gens scavant . ce pihourt estoit un masson de la ville de renes , d'ou vin le proverbe . i'ay payè tous mes anglois , c'est a scavior tous mes creanciers . ce proverbe prenoit son origine du temps de roy jean quand il estoit prisonner en angleterre , car alois ●our sarançon , il y avoit de tailles extraordinaires , & diverses sortes d'impositions generales mises sur le peuple , qui duroient long temps pour satisfaire les anglois , de sorte que anglois , & creancier vinrent a estre synonymes . ore le pape est devenu françois , & iesu christ anglois . ces mots s'usoient comme proverbe , quand le pontife romain tenoit le siege papal en auignon , & que les anglois prosperoient tant en france ocupants plus de la moitiè du royaume . proverbs , or old said sawes and adages in the french languages . moral proverbs . who serves god hath a good master . when all sins grow old , covetousness growes younger . god hath a great share in a little house . to become quickly rich one must turn his back to god. he hath shit in a hat , and then clap'd it on his head , viz. he hath lain with a woman , and then made her his wife . in too much dispute truth is lost . when the business is done , the fool makes his bargain . a guest and fish stink in three dayes . to fear that which may be overcome , is a sign of a white liver . the dead hath no friend , the sick and absent but half a one . he is soon deceived , that thinks no hurt . who hath once the fame of an early riser , may sleep till noon . you will make me believe that the stars are but spangles . the devils flower turns half to bran . he is the wisest abbot , who hath bee● fryar before , viz. he is best experienced . he hath eaten his corn in the blade ; spoken of a young unthrift . a contented heart , and a cloak on the shoulders . he is no compleat gentleman who hath not made five voyages to swetland , viz. to cornelius tub . who lends a friend , is like to lose double , viz. both money and friend . peace is the festival of all saints , and is kept in paradise . leave the minster where it is , viz. do not meddle with church-matters . to burn a whole candle to find a pin . he is the devils boy who doth more then he is commanded . with time medlers grow ripe . there 's no clock truer then the belly . he is my true uncle who fills my belly . a gentle mother , a scabby child . the hog hath all things good in him except his dung . beauty without goodness is like faded wine . they agree together as the clocks of london . every one must have his turn , viz. must dye ; the motto of the duke of guyse who was kill'd at blois . he is a right man , a man of worth ; from the best sort of coin is marked with a. who makes marriages and builds houses , quickly wastes himself . he well begins to dye , who from his own desires doth fly . a barking dog seldome bites . the abbot and the convent are but one thing , but their purse is in many places . from bees they become drones . a thing us'd cannot be priz'd too much . a house ready made , a wife to be made . the rich man dines when he pleaseth , the poor man when he can . nothing venture , nothing have . a hunger-starved belly hath no ears . the fool falls down before the distaff . the world encreaseth by the strength of the yard . love me , love my dog . who loves well , corrects well . who goes , licks , who lies still , dryes up . he parts well with his place who leaves his friend there . there is not so clear a mirrour as an old friend . love and lordship never kept fellowship . love may do much , but money more . love , cough , and itch cannot be conceal'd . love causeth rage , but money makes the marriage . there is love under a fustian petticoat as well as under a silk fardingall . a prick of . a c. of fifteen . there 's no appeal from death . the tree falls not down at the first stroak . martin lost his ass by laying he was all white , whereas there was one black hair found in his tail ; this alludes to rash wagers . who hath a step-mother , hath a devil in a womans shape . my white shirt kisseth my tail every sunday . he hath put too narrow a ring on his finger , viz. he hath tyed himself to too hard a task . the pur-blind is king in the blind mens countrey . covetousness breaks both sack and bag . to day a treasurer , to morrow a bankrupt . married to day , and marred to morrow . to give oats for hay , viz. to over-requite a kindness . once take , is better then twice you shall have . if thou wilt know a true clown , give him the staff of authority . much liberty , many theeves . in a hundred years a wheel-barrow may be a banner . there 's no feast to the misers feast . now is the pope become french , and jesus christ english ; a saying when the pope came to avignon , at which time the english prosper'd much in france . 't is the heart that doth the business , not the length of time . to fear that which may be overcome , shews a white liver . half the world doth not know how the other lives . debts keep a man from sleeping too much . deliberations are in our hands , but god orders the success . no man can stop ones way from going to god. from morning to morning time goes a long journey . an idle question needs no answer . he is happy who doth not desire that which he hath not . the opening too oft the hole under the nose , makes one have tatter'd hose . there 's no fence against the stroaks of fortune . who manageth his own business berayes not his hands . he thinks that roasted larks will fall into his mouth ; spoken of a sluggard . he is not far from amendment , who confesseth his fault . a true friend better then a rich farm. one must love his friend , but hate his faults . not to have a friend is worse then to have an enemy . he can hardly be a true friend to another , who is an enemy to himself . his stomach is insatiable as a lawyers purse . when a tree is down every one runs upon it . the wages had , the arms are broken , viz. labour ceaseth . a ducket , and a dogs turd will be the same thing at the day of judgement . who is in love doth alwayes something of a fool . sing to an ass , and he will give you a fart . when a poor man gives any thing to the rich , he begs . the scholar sleeps six hours , seven the traveller , eight the labourer , nine the sluggard . the boat goes but ill without oars . war makes theeves , and peace brings them to the gallowes . who lends , hath it not again ; if he hath it , yet not so soon ; if soon , not all ; if all , not from the same ; if from the same , not so willingly ; therefore spare to lend . in lending my cousin german , in repaying the son of a whore . who hath no honey in his pot , let him have it in his mouth . a man may be weary in eating tarts . i have payed all my english , viz. my creditors . wine wears no breeches , viz. wine shews what a man is . they are the regiments of monsieur brovillon , three drums , and two souldiers ; spoken ironically . the strongest carries away the bag . 't is more easie to draw away from the bank then the bottome of a river . old obsolete language spoken in the time when high bonnets were worn . he speaks gibberish , whereas baraguin is a british word , and signifies white bread . he hath shit in his hat , and then claps it on his head ; which is meant of one who hath lain with a woman , and marrieth her afterwards . she is built as a watch-tower , where there are grates to let down great stones , the top defends the lower parts ; 't is meant of a woman that hath an ill-favoured face , and a handsome body . the morning words agree not with those of the evening . who hath a good neighbour hath a good morrow . to sing magnificat in the morning ; which should be at vespers . to be in the straw up to the belly , viz. to be in great prosperity . the pox hath all its due , viz. all kind of foulness . take the time as it is , and the people as they are . to gather the tithes of garlick , viz. to be well beaten . to be fox'd or drunk . to brag , or play the bragadocio . there 's no chance but what 's before . neer is my petticoat , but neerer is my smock . god gives blessings , and beefs , but not by the horns , viz. with danger . there are more old good fellowes , then old physicians . to live at ease is the greatest treasure . an ounce of fortune is worth a pound of wisedome . better to be a bird of the wood then a cage-bird . to day brave , to morrow in the grave . the toung hath no bones , yet it breaks the back and breast . when a girl weighs a goose , she must have a tent . to make a great noise for nutshels . to seek five feet in a mutton . to seek noon at nine . a mill-post to a thwittle . the flesh is neerer then the shirt . there 's not a chance but comes again . he will kill ten with the candle , and twenty with the candlestick . the least saint desire 's his candle . by owl-light a goat looks like a lady . he take a course that you shall piss strong no more . who hath no capon , let him be content with bread and onion . who sowes thistles gathers prickles . a pleasant companion is better then a chariot . there 's no hunting but with old hounds . to fall from the frying-pan to the fire . who hasteneth too much , may go astray in a fair way . he walks at his ease , who leads a horse . he hath a button for every hole , viz. an excuse for every thing . while the dog shites , the wolf scapes . borrowers must be no choosers . one handful of a good life is better then a bushel of preaching . i le draw out the worms at your nose . save a theef from the gallowes , he will put you there . first born ; first fed . a barren sow , a knavish servant , and a hen without eggs , are three unprofitable things . his clothes would scare a theef , viz. being so bare that the threed might be seen , to put him in mind of the halter . i will do my utmost , i will employ all my five senses in the business . i will employ green and dry , i will do my best endeavours . he sups ill who eats all at dinner . the parings of time . that mouse is soon caught who hath but one hole . 't is such an extreme cold that it makes me beat the tabour with my teeth . to day above ground , to morrow under . a word once out flyes every where abroad . a double-fac'd man is lik'd of neither in town or countrey . to lose time , to stay too long for the bound . his fault may be read in his forehead . you will never make a good hawk of a buzzard . he hath taken from saint peter to pay saint paul. a burnt dog fears cold water . who comes last let him make fast . if heaven would fall we should catch larks . like master like man. there 's no sawce to appetite . neer the church , far from god. you must not halt before a cripple . the pitcher goes so oft to the water that he leaves the handle behind . to put the cart before the oxen. two faces under one hood . who loves john , loves his dog . who grapples too much , takes hold of nothing . the king must lose his rent where nothing's to be had . there 's no horse so good but he will stumble . a red man , and a bearded woman salute them a hundred paces off . i le finde as many pins as you shall finde holes , viz. as many excuses . 'twixt pirat and pirat there 's nothing found but crack'd casks . who come's from far may safely lye . when the dayes work is done , rest and money . the club brings law with it . fair upon fair fairness loseth its beauty . who comes is fair , who brings is fairer . beauty and folly go commonly together . money advanceth meacocks . what 's learnt in youth doth last to the grave . none does ones businesse better then himself . the goods of fortune passe with the moon . the woman which hearkens , and the town which treats , the one will yeeld , the other will do . who is at ease let him not stir . he hath enough at home who is lov'd by his neighbours . to day at good chear , to morrow on the biere . he is a horse with four white feet , viz. he is unlucky . to draw his pin out of the stake , viz. to disingage himself of a business . to leave an ox to eat an egg. once is no custome . the best way is towards god. to sow a fox tail to the lions skin , viz. to joyn cunning with strength . he 's not so good , but there may be as good . 'twixt the cup and the lip a mischance may happen . his conscience is as large as the sleeve of a cordelier fryer . to fall from the pan to the fire . the devils flower is but bran . who makes himself a sheep , the wolf devours him . who hath the fame of an early riser may sleep till noon . he burns his candle at both ends , viz. a great unthrift . to halt before a cripple . a good face , but a poor heart . who wants a heart , let him have good legs . the fool ends alwayes at the beginning . who loves well is long a forgetting . all goes by favour and acquaintance . an object seen too oft growes contemptible . if a bastard be good , 't is by chance , if bad , 't is by nature . for woodcocks counsels wooden bells . he gains enough who scapes a mischance . ready money brings physick . a good name is worth more then a gold girdle . he hath enough who is content . in time the spout makes the stone hollow . the shadow of a wise old man is more safe then the target of the young gallant . better be a cuckold then a knave . the rost is turn'd in our houses , we have the stomack , and others the meat . who lies with dogs , riseth with fleas about him . better be a coward then fool-hardy . the tongue hurts more then the lance . every one is wise after the blow . the maid which takes , sells her self , the maid which gives , forsakes her self . a good wife worth a crown . a large thong of another mans leather . too much scratching frets , too much prating hurts . a fat kitchin , a lean testament ; this is meant of prodigals . like earth , like pitcher . 'twixt two stools the tail falls to the ground . he that corrects not youth , controlls not age . the dance comes from a full panch . do what thou oughtest , let come what will come . he is easily deceived who thinks no hurt . your tricks are sowed with white threed , they are too apparent . every morn brings its own bread . who complains , asks enough . who serves well , asks enough . he stayes not long who comes at last . to make money with his teeth , viz. by parsimony . they have most bread who have least teeth . the wolf devours the last ; meant of the lazy . who spends more then he gets needs no budget . the secret of two , the secret of gods. the devils meal turns more then half to bran . thy son well fed , and ill cloth'd , but thy daughter well cloth'd , and ill fed ; a rule in breeding children . not to trust god but upon good pawn . for one point saint martin lost his ass , viz. his convent called asellus , for this verse , porta patens esto , nulli claudaris honesto . to forget god among so many saints . god gives goods and cattle , but not by the horn . he is a cunning iack , the seam of his breeches is backward . to father , and school-master , and god almighty we cannot be too thankful . god provides threed for the work begun . he loseth nothing that loseth not god. as proper as the magnificat in the morning . it rains there where god pleaseth . god works in a short time . who hath many friends , hath none at all . diligence goes beyond science , and good fortune beyond both . there 's a good distance 'twixt the word and the deed . all truths are not good to be told . a slow courtesie is a discourtesie . to put ones finger 'twixt the rind and the tree . women complain , women do grieve , women are sickly when they please . who is far from the dish , is neer his own loss . the devil was then in his primmer . he carryes a quarter of the moon in his noddle , viz. he is mad . he sleeps enough who doth nothing . take heed of a painted woman . women , wealth and wine have their good and their venome . a wise woman , the ornament of the house . there 's none so wise , but women may besot him . a man of straw worth a woman of gold . 't is not alwayes holy-day , nor spring-tide . a womans love like fire of flax , which is of no durance . at the end 't will be known who did eat the bacon . a maid silent , shews wisdome . a brown maid gay and neat . that which came by the pipe , goes away by the tabor . fools are wise when they hold their peace . an ounce of fortune is more worth then a pound of learning . he cannot be at once at the mill and the bakers . if fortune me torments , yet hope doth me content . a small beginning makes a great web . the wife must follow the husband . light gain makes a heavy purse . 't is more to spare then to gain . he who is upon the giants shoulders sees more then he who carryeth him . there be men of all conditions and humours . as many nations , so many fashions . every one to what he is fit for . let a horse be never so well shod , he may slide . to stay for the acorns till they fall . nothing falls into the throat of a sleeping fox . gluttony kills more then the sword . by little and little the sea is drain'd . drop after drop fills the tub . no grain without stubble , no gold without dross . wine from the grape is better then that of the press . no day so long but will have his evening . he sleeps safely who hath nothing to lose . the fox who sleeps in the morning hath not his tongue feathered . that which is given shines , that which is eaten stinks . all 's lost that 's given to a fool . he who borrowe●h much lades his back . fair words blister not the tongue . he hath both the cloth and cizzars given him , viz. full power . a good cause hath need of help . sorrow hath drink enough , viz. tears . to last and dure , one must endure . who will take a bird , he must not scare him . the bird sings according as he is beaked . who hath a trade , hath rent . a sun glittering in the morning , a latin woman , and a child nurs'd with wine , seldome come to a good end . who brings good news may knock boldly . there 's no enemy little , viz. we must not undervalue any foe . there 's no such pride as from a begger grown rich . he who payes his debts grows rich . half a word to a good understander . the mouse who hath but one hole is quickly caught . envious men may dye , but envy never . who sends a fool , must expect a fool . to rank himself among onions , being but a small scalon . of an owl one can never make good hawk . every state is worms meat , viz. we are all mortal . they make him believe that the stars are but spangles . all that thunders doth not astonish . who accuseth himself , excuseth himself . hunger drives the wolf out of the wood . take not a blind man for thy guide , nor a fool for thy counsellor . god directs him who despiseth himself , viz. the modest man. the devil is known by his clawes . who will keep his house clean , must have neither poultry nor pigeon . over a bridge , a plank , or river , the servant before , the master after . the masters eye fattens the horse . he answers ill who understands ill . he thinks ill who thinks not twice . he doth ill , who doth not all , viz. who doth not perfect his work . the dead hath no friend , the sick but half a one . one crosse never comes single . he wip'd his nose in his own sleeve . to wash'd hands god sends encrease . he is giddy or shuttle headed . a good beast gets heat in eating . fortune reacheth her hand to a bold man. he who eats the kings goose may shite out the feathers a hundred years after . bad ware is never too cheap . to make himself a merchant of fish on easters eve . good ware will never want a chapman . if all fools hables were of wood , there would be but a small store . to coif himself with foolish opinions . there 's no horse without some bruise or fault . short follies are the best . dreams are dotages or lyes . a little man can fell a great oke . an egg in peace is better then a beef in war. good heed chaceth away misfortune . the froc makes not the monk. he is truly poor whom god forsakes . to cut the grass under ones feet . trim up a hedge-hog and he will look like a lord. the fox is turn'd hermit . all hours are not ripe , viz. seasonable . men give women milk , though they have none themselves , viz. milk . a bad man may be a good king. one trade requires one whole man. who lives on the score , lives in shame . an ill report quickly flyes abroad . he is got drunk . love feeds on young flesh . a growing youth hath a wolf in his belly . innocence carryeth her own defence about her . all things may be bought except day and night . one day judgeth another , and the last is judge of all . a long toung , a short hand ; meant of complements . for washing his hands one never sells lands . he sees no farther then the end of his nose . to make the wolf fiercer then he is . he hath the wolf by the ears . a small matter makes the wolf take the sheep . to bad language clos'd ears . good laws come from lewd lives . to keep the moon from wolfs . 't is a good farthing that gains a penny . all is not gospel that 's spoken up and down the town . who hath not patience wants all things . from an ill debtor take hay or straw . when all sins become old , covetousness growes younger . the scabby head loves not the comb . god knows who is the good pilgrim . at last the foxes meet at the furriers shop . he may safely sing who hath nothing to lose . you may well lose a menow to take a salmon . he loseth nothing who loseth not god. who loseth his right loseth his reason . who lends to a friend loseth double . 't is easier to draw a fart from a dead ass . sing to an ass and he will fart at you . better stumble with the foot then the tongue . one foot is better then two stilts . he would find more then four feet in a mutton . he is drunk . to give two blowes with one stone . to lose a mutton for a little tar , or a pigeon for a grain of rye . better bow then break . to buy a cat in a poke . all succeeds well to him who hath patience . anoint a clown , and he will prick you . to rob peter to pay paul. he is not yet such a fool that he wears the fools coat . he hath no more wit then will serve his turn . one nail thrusts out the other . there is no banding against fortune . an old bird is not caught by nets . fair promises bind , fools . 'twixt promising and giving , one should marry his daughter . a wise woman is the ornament of her house . the strongest men kneel to the distaff . a true french man was never weary of well doing . true jests are the worst . who gives of his own , god gives it him back again . who drinks good wine gets ease . death spares not court nor cottage . the finest shoo comes at last to be out at the heel . he is more fool that demands sense of a fool . one cannot have too much sense or money . he sleeps securely who hath nothing to lose . a grand design becomes a mouse . the hole too ope under the nose , breeds ragged shoes and tattered hose . to take a hare with a tabor . the wise man observes his time . to wash an asses head , one doth but lose sope and time . who stumbles and falls not , goes the faster . he goes not wrong who goes the high-way . love , cough , and smoke , cannot be hid in a poke . to fall into the straw from a great train . better to stumble once then be alwayes shaking . he hath a button for every hole . that 's money which is money-worth . wind in the face , viz. adversity makes one wise . all flesh is neither venison nor feasant . life here is no sure inheritance . there is no life to contentment . gold , a friend , and wine , the older the better . if you will discover a clown , give him a staff and a gown . salt beef findes the way to the wine without a candle . like king petauds court , where every one is master . the wise man goes alway with the plummet in his hand . we must make a shift though with a little . you kick against pricks . who sleeps among dogs , riseth up with fleas . who offers me all , denyes me all . the nest made , the bird flown . to every bird his nest is fairest . no nuts without rinds , no egg without his shell . the work of the common is no mans work . to seek something to be shorn off an egg , viz. to be over-critical . if thou hast no capon , content thy self with bread and onion , he beats the bush ▪ but cannot take the bird . the best ointments are put in little boxes . no gold without drosse , nor woman without some fault . 't is gold which is worth gold . as many heads so many opinions . one ass cannot carry two proud men . like the arcadian asse , who eats thistles though laden with gold ; meant of the covetous miser . hear , see , and hold thy peace , if thou wilt live in peace . by degrees the wolf eats up the goose. he thought that roasted larks would have faln into his mouth ; spoken of the sluggard . to make god a sheaf of straw . who wants bread , wants all things . to leap , or digress from one thing to another . peace with a little , the gift of god. there be eyes bigger then the belly . a red nose , and a great panch is no sign of repentance . he 's a fool who yawns before an oven . farewell panniers , the vintage is ended . pardon all except thy self . many kinred , much trouble . who hath sore teeth , hath ill neighbours . he serveth ill , who serve 's not thoroughly . who will speak well , must think well before , who speaks not , err's not . the lazy loves business already done . if wishes were true , coblers had been kings . who hath a pye in the oven , one may lend him a piece of cake . he is a fool that makes his physitian his heir . he may boldly swim who is held up by the chin . too pitiful a mother makes a scabby child . a bastard is good by chance , bad by nature . he is not safe who never had a mishap . to put his sickle in anothers harvest . to put a good face on a bad matter . he comes too dear by honey , who licks it off thorns . he mocks another who halts himself . a handful of good life is better then a bushel of learning . the world goes alwayes from bad to worse . fy on avarice , 't is a base vice . a high climbing , a great coming down . to the servant the bit of good manners , viz. the last bit . the morter will smell of the garlick . go where thou wilt , dye where thou ought'st . goods ill gotten go away as they come . the calf dyes as well as the cow , the captain as well as the coward . he 's a fool who makes a hammer of his fist . 't is late advice one takes when he is a dying . if you will learn news , you must go to the oven or the mill . 't is the master-wheel that turns the mill . rather let the childs nose be snotty then cut it off . to have humble bees in his head . a small cause will serve for the wolf to take the sheep . a rowling stone gathers no mosse . to be at the foot of the wall without a ladder . a forward horse , a quarrelling man , and a flask of wine are of no long continuance . he hath piss'd in many snowes , he hath suffered much . necessity is half reason . need makes the old wife trot . born to good means . nurture passeth nature . death spares neither king nor cobler . physical proverbs , concerning diet , and health . one bit drawes on another . money , wine , and women , have their good and their poison . there 's enough , if there be not too much . a table without salt , a mouth without spittle . a brown lass is naturally merry , and neat . the smell of camphyre gelds a man. love is fed with young flesh . a running horse , an open grave . sicknesses come on horse-back , go away afoot , viz. slowly . who puts not his bread aright in the oven , drawes forth crooked loaves . keep warm your head and feet , for the rest live like a beast . pain in the hanche , a girl in the panch , or the womb of a woman with child . in the morning to the hills , in the evening to the rills , or fountains . to erre is humane , to repent is divine , to persevere is diabolicall . cheese is good when there 's but little . cheese is good that comes from a niggard . fools make feasts , and wise men eat them . fye upon a cloak when 't is fair weather . the physitian is blind at the gout . if thou wilt be quickly fat , eat with hunger , and drink slowly , and at leisure . at seventy two 't is time to go warm . after a feast one scratches his head . wine upon milk is good . milk upon wine hurts the bloud . an early riser is healthy and careful . hunger makes us dine , and pleasure makes us to sup . diseases ending in ik shame the physitian , as paralytik , hydropik , &c. make use of a young chyrurgeon , but an old physitian . a young physitian makes the church-yard hilly , viz. full of graves . a hard bit must have a spur of wine . fi●e , beans , silver , and wood , in every moneth are good . mutton is the food of a glutton . one egg is as nothing , two doe much good , three is enough , four are too many , five bring death . he who doth not like the goose , shall not joy long in his life , viz. who drinks not well . after pears , the priest or wine . raw veal and pullets make the church-yard full of graves . who hath not health , enjoyes nothing . he who hath health is rich , and knowes it not . who after sallet drinks not wine , is in danger to be sick ▪ it is the devils feast where there is no salt . the gluttons dig their own graves with their teeth . a drunkard is known by his snout . he is like the popes mule , he drinks but at his set hours . there 's no clock truer then the belly . for thy drink marry the cellar with the cystern . the harbenger of the moon hath mark'd the lodging , viz. when a woman hath her flowers . of women , and fish , the middle is best . in the morning drink white , and claret at night , to make good bloud . a wheaten pill , a dram of the grape , and the ball of a hen , is good physick , viz. bread , wine , and an egge . 't is better to fall under the hands of a lucky then a knowing physitian . a hundred crowns of melancholy will not pay a half pennyworth of debt . old chyrurgeons , and young physitians make the church-yards swell . that which the sober man keeps in his thoughts , the drunkard hath in his mouth . drink wine like a king ( sparingly ) drink water like an oxe . to drink water , eat stones , and lye abroad , any one may doe it without leave . be more careful with whom you eat and drink , then what you eat and drink . who eats all at supper , may gnaw a brown crust the next morning . wine is the old mans milk . old wine , an old friend , and old gold are beloved in all places . let a sallet be well wash'd and salted , little vinegar , and well oyl'd . who will live in health , let him eat little at dinner , and less at supper . to rise at six , and dine at ten ; to sup at six , and go to bed at ten , will make a man live ten times ten . of all fish except the tench , take the back , and leave the belly . who goes to bed athirst , riseth in health . the best of mushrumps are worth nothing . proverbs , or pleasant sayings . go to your lawyer with feet in hand ; meaning some present of poultry . a long plea is the harvest of the lawyer . he beats but with one wing , viz. his courage is abated . he hath gathered the tithe of garlick , viz. he hath smarted . the frisking of a dog , and love of a punk , doth not last unless you feed them . the love of a quean like fire of flax . he made his nose as flat as a flook , viz. he couzen'd him . a young saint , an old devil . a saint in borrowing , a devil in repaying . a shoomaker saint crispins prentice . you bridle the horse by the tail , viz. you go the wrong way to work . he leaps from the ●ock to the asse , viz. he goes from the matter . he is more besotted then a fool with his bable . who sends a fool , must expect a fool . as fat as a hog in a sty , as fat as a dormouse . he will not lose his oats for want of brawling . the upper end of the table , the ninny's place . he went away with so much nose , viz. he was mightily jeer'd . to shift from one matter to another . a logger-head . the barn is neer the threshens , viz. the nunnery is neer the fryers . he hath eaten of the white hind , viz. he is a shittle head . a buls plume , viz. a pair of horns . he is a clerk to the very teeth , he hath eaten his breviary . courage of sheep ; nose to the earth . he stands muttering , viz. grumbling . the time was , that the bishop was gold , and crozier the wood , now clean contrary . a spaniard without a iesuit is like a partridge without his orenge . a pedling merchant , or a merchant of eelskins . he is furnish'd with wit , as a goose is with a crest . the mutinous english , the bragging scotch man , the foolish french , the cowardly roman , the gascon a theef , the spaniard proud , the dutch a drunkard . peculiar french sayings . to a councel of fools , a wooden bell . the first dowle upon the lip or chin . he is the horse of four white feet , viz. he promiseth fair , but performs nothing . he is a trumpet horse , viz. he is a stout man. he speaks on horseback , viz. he hath the advantage of me . he truss'd his coat , or hang'd him soundly . 't is like robins house in the vale , where there 's neither pot on the fire , nor clean dish withal . i le give him a rowland for his oliver . the rose at last becomes a hep , viz. beauty fades . i see not a jot , nothing at all . by little and little the sea is drain'd . he is a sorry cook that licks not his own fingers . as merry as ants in a haggard . to grease the hand , or bribe the iudge . a crackrope , a slipstring , a rogue . to day a banker , to morrow a bankrupt . who fears the wagging of leaves , let him not go to the wood . to bring leaves to the wood , or glasses to venice . to spend time loosely , and lazily . his eyes are bigger then his belly . he hath put him to his wits end . i have a hard task , an intricate business . to keep a mighty , a horrible stir . i have the advantage of him . he is daggled with dirt up to the tail . trembling all over , to the very heart . who corrects not his son being a child , 't will be too late to do it afterwards . he valueth prosperity best , who provides for adversity . i am of a clean contrary opinion to yours . he is a rank hypocrite , a very dissembler . he hath not yet lost , who hath once to throw more . to counterfeit an affected gravity . to slink away cunningly , to swagger . he hath clinquans , or money enough . he is well to passe , he is rich enough . his head and tail go on in the business , as the crow when she would crack a nut . children and fools tell truth . a woman , a guest , and rain are wearisome after three dayes . here you have it , never ask whence it comes . his father was a mat-maker , he understands well the festraw . come in , come in , our dogs are tyed up . he hath not broke prison who drags his train after him . in the countrey of the blind , the one-ey'd is king. the toung may fail , but the letter cannot lye . who payes nothing , needs not question the reckoning . parsimony is the best revenue . sommer's gone , but the next yeer brings him again . such starlings do not pass every day , viz. such fair occasions . who accuseth himself first , excuseth himself . the hunger must be great when the wolfs eat one another . when a thing is done , wishes are too late . there needs not but a fly to passe by his nose to make him angry . the lesser the fault the better . a wife , and an egge but one master . the woman ought not to meddle with her husbands purse , his beard , his bonnet , his codpisse . the woman that bites her lips , and wambles in her pace , is bent upon some foul business . the worst thing in the world is a woman , though she be good . an honest woman hath neither eyes nor ears . let no man meddle with a foolish woman . a dog pisseth , and a woman weeps at any time . the woman must be very sick that cannot lye on her back . there 's alwayes some iron or other that shakes , viz. there 's something or other to complain of . we see a mote in our neighbours eye , but not the beam in our own . he makes two sons in law with one daughter , viz. he promiseth much . he hath good matter in him : to throw the froc among the nettles , i. e. to apostatize . he hath not been yet broke . he will make you believe that hares lay eggs . there the hare lies . he hath share of the booty . i am of that opinion . he knows not of what wood to make his arrow . he is in a scurvy humour . he hath not well set on his spectacles . i am better vers'd in this business then you . he is a cunning fellow . that arrow came not out of my quiver . the business goes on roundly , it goes upon foure wheels . a merchant of bables . she hath her flowe●s . he made him carry the fools bable . robin hath found his mate . to marry the cellar and the cystern , viz. to mingle wine with water . i will handle thee to some purpose . he hath no more memory then a rabbet . he is shuttle-headed . they will not be caught without mittains . he is rich . to clip the kings coin . to stand on the pillory . he is mark'd like a berry mutton , who hath alwayes some scurf upon the nose , because the sheep there feed on time , not that they are mark'd with red oker . as snotty as a mustard pot . after dear-hunting the cossin , after the bore the surgeon . the devil shit him down flying . he went away with a nose foot long , viz. he was jeer'd out of countenance . to hail on the parsly , viz. to tyrannize . a nose as flat as a flock . thou art in a merry mood , merrily dispos'd . he hath pared all his nails at study . he is of a base metal , he fears the touch . as headstrong as an abbots mule . to use green and dry , viz. to do his utmost . i pray give another dog this bone . such a noise that one could not hear god thunder . he curseth , he sayeth the lords prayer backward . i 'le be with you in a trice . i know his faults , or upon what foot he halts . he hath well feather'd his nest , or made up his mouth . fortune favours you . how do all your little ones ? he will pay dearly for it , or he will repent it . he is not of my mould . i have put him to a non-plus . he is in the humour to do it . an old threedbare proverb . that hath made him stoop low enough . he is well seen in latin. saint quintens disease , viz. the cough . he left him not a rag . he shall not eat in my dish . i will do all possible endeavour . he is so good a husband that he can make a tester of eighteen pence . a well furnish'd brain . a promoter or common pettifogger . a gentleman of straw . he is well broken in the world . your credit lies at the stake . a great head , and thin neck is a sign of a fool . to endeavour a businesse with might and maine . that which the king wills the law wills . he is not worth the film of a wallnut . you go about the pot , you use too many circumlocutions . le ts take again the goat by the beard , viz , le ts begin again . furnish'd with needle and thred , viz. to be ready for the businesse . he soares upon a high wing , viz. he is ambitious . rashly or precipitately . that goes much against my stomack . a velvet belly , and coarse clothes . they come from words to blowes . all covet all lose ; meant of misers . a gallant of straw , or a knight of cockleshells . to speak exactly or curiously well . you may lend a piece of your cake to one that hath one of his own in the oven . many kindred , many cares and troubles . if i do not that let me be bak'd . every one seeks his own interest . he hath many gingles in his brain . gossiping or sweet wine , as hypocras . utterly , from the very bottom to the top . a fawnning companion or parasit . a marchant who takes money without weighing , or telling it , viz. a theef . it is much against my desire and will. i will pay you in the cordeliers coin , viz. with thanks and prayers . i know not what saint to pray unto , viz. how to remedy it . put twixt the anvill and the hammer , viz. twixt two dangers . he hath got the thoung at both ends . daggled like an arch-deacon . this is of another kind or taste . she knowes enough of the old dance . the chance is already cast , viz. the thing is resolv'd . to take the moon with his teeth . he is well to passe , viz. he is rich he is upon the brink of his grave . to be drunk to steal the pox from saint roc. you go the clean contrary way . the genitories off the husband . i have a difficult or crabbed businesse . the world is quite off the hinges . 't is one of the devills journeymen who doth more then he is commanded . he is not such a devill as he looks . a dunsticall doctor , an ignoramus . you have hit the nail on the head . thinking to crosse himselfe , he thrust his finger into his eye . to throw water into ones wine , viz. to abate his courage . an excentrick cros-graind fool . to embarke without bisket , viz. to goe about a businesse rashly . he will dearly repent and pay for it . he thought to threed his needle hereby . to greaze in the fist , or give bribes . to encroach upon anothers right . he is a cunning crafty companion . to lie at the sign of the star , viz. abroad . they are well agreed , and at a good pass . one finds not any thing at all . he hath well studied men , he knoweth how to carry himself . i have as much business to do as i can turn my hands unto . i will send it by iohn long the carrier . to make a skreen against the wind on the alps. you hunt after flies , you trifle away time . as merry as a merlin . a gentleman of the new mold . as lean as a rake , or a shotten herring . to prop a lie u●on a reed . as dull and stupid as a bel-founder . to keep a foul horrible coyl . to observe time and opportunity . she made a false bound , viz. she hath plaid the whore . to shooe goselings , or do impertinencies . a devovrer of iron carts , viz. a bragger . he is neither fig nor raison . 't is a thing very strange to sleep within a grange , spoken in drollery . to be toungue-tied , or frozen-tongued . more unlucky then the wood which makes the gibbet . this is not belonging to my trade . as merry as mice in malt . a fat capon , a capon high fed . he hath many whimses in his head . a dull fellow , a kinsman to gillor the dreamer . stout and valiant of his hands . taken napping twixt the hedge and the corn . by the devils flanks and bowels . to spit out a collop or a iacobin . to give one a trip , or prevent and hinder him . by hook or by crook , by right or wrong . more merry then rats in straw , or mice in malt . to take a lion by his jawe , viz. to attempt a dangerous taske he is wel bred , or he hath sucked good milk . 't is the language of uterpendragon . he is a very wrangler , he hath a tripe-womans tongue . you will make me believe that bladders are lanterns . he is a poor sordid miser , or snudge . you are conqueror , the field is yours . he is run away , he hath taken campos . he was put quite out of countenance . she hath her cardinal , viz. her monthly flowers . one beheaded , or made a cardinal on tower hill . i will beat thee like a stock-fish . the morpheyes in the face iudas bran . you may do what you please , i give a blank . he is cousened , or he hath swallowed a gudgeon . he is become a bankrupt , he hath given up his girdle . you hunt after flies , you trifle away time . you build castles in the aire , or in castile . to lay the fault on another , to throw the cat at anothers legs . twilight , when one cannot discern a dog from a wolf . frivolous tales of a cock and a bull . he is very learned , or devout . i know well what aileth him , upon what foot he halteth . as fat as a pig , or a dormouse . he is born with his head coiff'd , viz. rich . to throw the helve after the hatchet . a monks collation , viz. good cheer . he is furnished with needle and threed , viz. he hath all things fit for the business . howsoever matters go or stand . swagbellied , gorbellied , or bigbellied . a mans yard , called adams club . i come newly , freshly thence . you must steer your course some other way . he beats the tabor with his teeth for cold . a wolf in a sheep skin , viz. an hypocrite . he is in a quandare , he knoweth not of what wood to make his shaft . hunger drives the wolf out of the wood . in the times of yore , when men wiped their noses on the sleeve insteed of a handkercher . a bourbon tart , or a quagmire or irish tart . he is at the end of his prayers . let us begin again , let us take again the goat by the beard . i will not take your way . he thinks to bruise iron `with his teeth . kept as close as the iewish cabal . he hath a good brain , he is no fool . he is buried , he is laid in his hutch . he battens with this good newes . between baucair and tarascon feed neither sheep nor mutton . three spaniards are four devils in france . if i am missing , never seek me in scotland . he is rash in judgement , he is of chasteaudun . one of king arthurs knights , or a knight errant . french blood cannot be false to his prince . to take a mountain for a mole-hil , to take paris for a corbeil . the germane hath his spirit at his fingers ends , because he is a good artificer . the norman vintageth with a pole ; viz. by beating down apples to make syder of . he is ashamed of nothing , for he hath passed gournay bridge . to be beheaded , or made a cardinal at tower hill , viz. beheaded . to be hanged , to be centinel at montfaulcon . an italian fig , a lombard bit or poyson . the patience of a lombard , or a milanois . when the frenchman sleeps the devil rocks him : a proverb the flemmins have of the french , who is alwayes plotting some ill against him . who made a norman , made a truant . a pot-quarrel or dutch fray . the pistols of sancerre , viz. sling to hurl stones . untimely or unseasonable help three dayes after the battel . a cornish knight , viz. a cuckold . anger 's a low town and high steeple , rich whores and poor scholars . when a picard is without drive●ing , and a norman without flattering , the world will mend . arma●son , a bad river but good fish . paris without a parallel , rouan beyond a name . he is as full fed as an englishman . at montmartre there be more whores then kine , but if there were not there so many nuns , there would be more kine then whores . there is no car-man so good in beauce but he is sometime overthrown . nere horse or man did mend , that unto rome did wend. england's a good countrey , but ill people . there is more of montmartre in paris , then of paris in montmartre : alluding to the playster of paris , whereof the bes● is had from montmartre . there is no village so poore , but it hath a feast once a year . they of liege do brag to have three things ; to have bread better then bre●d , to have iron harder then iron , to have fire hotter then fire . he is like the suisse , who are his who gives most . it is the castle of montargis , fair afar off , and nothing neer . as dull as a dutchman , or a pie of petitoes . to gasconize , viz. to play the thief . i have payed all my english , viz. all my creditors : this proverb t●ok its rise when john the french king was prisoner in england , for whose ransome a long lasting contribution was laid upon the people . the rigor of tholouse , the humanitie of bourdeaux , the mercy of rouen , the justice of paris . he is of chasteaudun , he understandeth at halfe a word . england the paradice of women , the purgatory of servants , and the hell of horses . the french neither speaks as he thinks , nor acts as he speaks , nor sings as he pricks . they agree like london clocks , viz , not at all . resolu●e as pihourt in his heteroclites , viz. when an ignorant person speaks among learned men . you put me to my dumps , or my wits end . the ill year comes in swimming , viz. with too much rain . if winter did beyond sea pass , yet would it come to find saint nicholas . that person may boldly swim , who is holden up by the chin . at saint martin we drink the good wine . when it thunders in march , we may cry , alas . a dry year never beggars the master . an evening red , and morning gray , makes the pilgrime to sing wellady . a snowie year , a fruitful year . at christmas to the sun , at easter to the fire . when the cabage grows above the stock , the vineyard-man dies of thirst . in harvest time ladies are chamber-maids . at saint peters , winter departeth , or groweth stronger . if the weather be sharp at saint vincenrs day looke for more winter . ianuary , and february , do fill or empty the granary . who hath an ague in may , lives all the year after both healthy and gay . december was of old a moneth , but now it is a year because it ends it . a dry march , a snowy february , a moist april , and a dry may , presage a good year . temporal proverbes relating to the seasons . a month afore , and after christmas winter shews it self the most cruel . to the fire in winter , to the fields and woods in sommer . a cold ianuary , a feverish february , a dusty march , a weeping april , a windy may , presage a good year and gay . one swallow alone brings not in the spring . at saint barnabe the sithe in the medow . with time and straw , medlers and acorns grow ripe . mars hath his poyson about the beginning or ending . to saint valentine the spring is a neighbour . at saint martins winter is in his way . at saint lucies the day growes the skip of a flea . salmons and sermons have their seasons in lent. february to day , and candlemass tomorrow ; because candlemas is alwayes the second of february . other proverbial sayings , and expressions peculiar to the french tongue . what a pox , what a devill means that ? he left him there to cool his fingers , to picke strawes . to pay the tart of his birth-day . to make of one devill two , to make a mountain of an ant-hill . to lie sentinell a● tyburn . to grow proud , to pow● , or grumble . to play the hypocrite , or babe of grace . her calender is rubrickd , viz. she hath the flowres . to make mowes at the apple-women , viz. to stand in the pillorie . he wiped his nose with his own sleeve , viz. he cousened him neatly . he doth the fault though another drinks it up . to break , to swallow a spider , or play the bankrupt . who doth well , is sure to find well . he sleeps enough , who doth nothing . an abbots table , viz. plentiful . waterd , or strongly possest with an opinion . he cheated , he cousened him grosly . he hath thwackd him soundly . in extenuating his fault , he hath doubled it . he hath a great conceit of himself . ther 's nothing to be got by dealing with him . according as things will permit . a pragmatical , and discreet man. to the knowledge and sight of all the world . i approve of your carriage in that . me thinks , it seems to me . you must not be a wolf , nor seem to be so . to be superstitious . he goes on very warily in his business . he onely lives , who lives contented . a hat made like a sugar loafe . to excuse , or clear himself . i had my pains for my labour . you use too many circumstances . let the business go as bad as it will. to swallow a spider , to break . men know not who shall spend their gettings . he is a lorriman , where the party beaten payes the fine . the love of great men , but the shadow of bushes , which will soon passe . in love there is both foolishness , and wit. there is no love like to the first . there is a padd in the straw . you goe the clean contrary way to work . i fear thee as little as the snow of the last year . wittingly , or of set purpose . sandals or woodden shooes . he is a bird of our feather . he is more sensile of ill , who hath felt none before . like the family of archimbaut , the more in number , the worse . he hath unsadled , or overthrown him . a man cannot have too much wit or money . snailes a●me against the night , when they stretch out their horns . he that hath a good trade will have his share . i believe there will be some foolish adoe here . you will have an asse to bear wooll . a little prick may make a great asse to go . he hath drink enough who hath grief . he is an upright well natured man. i will make him trudge for it . i stay indeed to much purpose . to get well by the business . to have diet at court. he hath words at will , or he is tongue-tied : the contrary . all hath been anothers , and will be anothers . he battens with this good newes . he hath fair and mannerly cousned him . he hath cousned me , he hath given me beans half ripe . i will not stirre an inch in the business . a swagbellied , gorbellied , full pauncht fellow . whilest i have breath in my body . to travell , and get the pox . my pretty little mopp , my little bully . to pay for his matriculation . to have a difficult business to do . le ts go warm our selves at gods fire , viz. at the sun. he went not the right way to work . to undertake a business without the proper means . that cannot be performed with a white sword , viz. without bloody noses . hee was taken napping , betwixt the hedge , and the corn. i know well enough what helps he hath . good gains make good pottage . he is not so good but there may be as good . that half penny is good that saves a penny . to get into a tipling house or tavern . he is drunk of his own bottle , viz. he is too well conceited of himself . he is brangling , he is not resolv'd . i will give him a rowland for his oliver , as good as he bringeth . a good book , but filthy commentaries . a smel-feast , a trencher-friend . i will keep it very secret and close as the cabal . he was graveld or put to a nonplus . my heart trembleth within my breast . a fool of five and twenty carats , an egregious fool . to give up his girdle , viz. to be a bankrupt . a stupid , dull , dunstical fellow . all flesh is not venison . not to put a burden that one cannot bear . to goe to the change , viz. to another woman besides his wife . hee hath a good pawne of the cat , that hath her skinne . one of the knights of king arthurs round table . he is well clothed , he is well covered . i know not how to remedy this . he fears nor king nor kesar . who lendeth often loseth at last . to c●ide one soundly . ' the wolf devours the last , meant of the slothful . you goe clean cam , the clean contrary way . god sends nothing above our patience . to go towards paris , or paris-ward . to let slip an opportunity . i heard nothing at all of it . thou shalt be soundly whipt . he clapt the door against me . every ones fault is writ in his forehead . there 's no such life as that of the gypsies . he hath guld us egregiously . a good earth must make a good pipkin . he kils sometimes who thinks but to wound . he hath as much judgement as a sow hath of spices . i shall take you napping . he hath made a good market . wind up your bottoms , and drink your cup. there are more cheaters then trompets . he gave him a flirt , he plaid with his nose . one trade requires a whole man. to disingage himself of a business . he is a happy man who hath nothing to doe , but with his own business . among such compagnons such thou wilt become . there is no earthly pleasure but is accompagnied with pain . he turn him loose , to lowse himself at the sun. he is not safe who never had a cross . he is resolute , he is bent upon it . to play at hand-ruff , viz. to snore . i have plodded extremely upon the busines . i am utterly , altogether undone . mariage rideth upon the saddle , and repentance on the crupper . i will hold thee close to it . he makes profession to speak french. and then what will follow , what will become of it ? spoken jeastingly of a fart let in company . cleave his feet , and send him abroad to feed among sheep . i am spoyled , i am utterly undone without resource , or ever being able to rise . as long as the stock bears stemmes , it never brancheth , viz. as long as there be heirs of an elder prince of the bloud , the second brother or his heirs can never inherit in france . a morall explication of some proverbs in the french language . the morter smelleth alwaies of the garlick . this proverb is proper to him who being once foul'd with some vice , beareth still some markes of it , nor can he dissemble his inclination thereunto ; as a morter , wherein garlicke hath been pestelled in , cannot be so washed , but that it will still retain some smell thereof . robins mind runs alwayes on his pipes . this proverb is taken from a droll called robin who lived in paris , and is meant of one who impertinently makes mention of something that his fancie runs upon , having nothing else in his mouth . john colots knifes , one is no better then the other . this proverb grew up first in the town of troy in champany , where this john colot lived , who was an artizan , and a good fellow , and had commonly at his girdle a sheath , wherein there were three or four knives , all of little value , and having some fault or other , as one having the point broke , the other hacked on the edge , the other blunted , the other did not cut at all ; and hence did arise this proverb , which is properly spoken of things , whereof there is no great choice , as also of men that are of little value . who hath once the report to be an early riser , may sleep till noon . we are taught by these words , that oft times the good opinion and judgement which we have of some persons are grounded more upon common report then upon truth it selfe , in so much that the reputation is more then the thing it selfe ; and it is found that there are many whom the vulgar cry up to be wise , learned , and valiant , and adorned with other vertues , yet they have nothing of all these three if one should pry narrowly unto them . for one hair martin lost his asse . one called martin having lost his asse in the fair , it happened that another was found which had been also lost , the iudge of the place was of that opinion that that asse should be restored to martin , but he who had him in his possession , desired the iudge to ask martin of what colour his asse was , who having answered , that he was all gray , he was put by his claim , because there was a black hair found in the asse's tail . to be in straw up to the belly . this proverb is borrowed from horses , to whom the best usage they can have ( besides oats and hey ) is to give them good store of fresh straw for their litter ; and by this similitude , it may be spoken of those that are at their ease , and have all things to their hearts desire . as he spoke of the wolf he sees his tail . the use of this proverb is , when one comes unexspectedly to to a place where he is spoken of . 't is my mothers belly . this proverb is spoken of one , who having escaped some danger in a place , resolveth never to return thither , like the childe who being come out of his mothers wombe with much pain and danger , never entereth there again . there is no day so long but hath his evening . by this proverb we are taught , that all things in this world come to an end , as there is no day ever so long , but hath its declination . he hath a nose . when one is commended to be well advised , sagacious , prudent , and soreseeing afarre off all accidents whereby he might be surprized , we say that that man hath a nose : and this similitude is taken from the sagacitie , and acute sent of hunting dogs , who by the smell of the nose , their heads being towards the earth discover and follow all the turns of those beasts which they pursue . he hath so much nose . this proverb is spoken , when one undertaking a business , miscarrieth in bringing it about , therefore he resteth confused and ashamed . to be in the pi'es nest . use is made of this proverb , when one is mounted up to the highest degree of his fortune ; for the nature of the pie is , to build her nest upon the highest trees that she can choose . to break a pudding on the knee . the different nature of things require that some be managed one way , and some another ; there are some things that may be broken on the knee , as stickes of dry wood ; there are other things that require the knife , or hatchet , as green osiers , and all other wood while it is sappy , and green ; of this kinde are puddings which cannot be broken properly , but with a knife ; now now , this proverb teacheth , that in all our actions we cannot arrive to that which we pretend , but by such means that are proper thereunto . rather let the child be snottie then pluck off his nose . this proverb teacheth that they who have those to govern who are habituated , and hardened in some customes , from which one would withdraw and wean them , and it being unpossible to doe it altogether , one should endeavour to correct the greatest part and leave alone the lesser by pressing them too much ; this similitude is taken from little children , who being commonly snotty , one might as well plucke off their noses , as keep them altogether , but they must have some small ropes of s●ot hanging on their lips . to leave god a sheaf of straw . it is well known , that from all times it was ordained to pay dimes or tithes unto the lord , which was the tenth part of our earthly increase ; this was kept so holy , that every one used to leave upon the field the tenth sheaf : now , it happened that some prophane persons made of purpose some kinde of sheaves wherein there were no grains , wherewith they payed their tithes : which gave occasion to this proverb , and it may be applyed to any person of an ill conscience , whether towards god , or man , whereof there were never more then now adayes , ( thank the long parliament . ) a man of pork , and beef . by these words is meant a gross fellow ill taught , and uncivil , such as they commonly are who are of a low degree , whose ordinary food is bacon and beef . to throw the helve after the hatchet . this proverb tooke its beginning from a poor wood-cleaver , who having broken the iron head of his hatchet foolishly threw the helve after it in despite : hereby we are admonished , that when some small losse is befallen us , we should suppresse our choler , and not make the losse bigger . by link and link the coat of male is made at last . a haubergeon in times past was a kind of armour , which was made of the same stuff as we now make our coats of male which use to be made of small rings of iron , or 〈◊〉 , ●●●sping one another ; and in regard that to make such a coat composed of so many small pieces , there must be much time and patience used this proverb telleth us that there is nothing but by little and little may be perfected by study and labour . there is no hunting but with old dogs . this proverb aimeth at young men , who cannnot be so capable of any function as the aged , who have gained experience , and studied men . to go gather mulberries without a crook . the mulberry is a tree which stretcheth her branches far from the trunke , and they are easie to be broken ; wherefore they who goe to gather the fruit thereof , carry with them a kind of crook to drawe the branches : this teacheth us not to goe about any businesse , without being provided with that which is necessary to expedite it . he hath made a hole in the night . if any get away from a place by stealth without any bodies privity , specially when he is least suspected , they use this proverb , he hath made a hole in the night . a sleeping fox hath nothing falls into his mouth . this proverb teacheth us , that to entertain our selves in this world , 't is not enough to be wise , and learned , but we must employ our care and diligence in having a hand upon the work : the proverb is taken from the fox , 〈◊〉 although he be held the cunningest of creatures , if he should keep● still sleeping in his earth , hole or terrier , he should never have any meat enter into his belly . as resolute as pihourt in his heteroclits . the meaning of this is , when an ignorant buzzard is too ready to speak in a learned assembly ; this pihourt was a mason of the citie of renes in britany , whence sprung the proverb . i have paid all my english , viz. all my creditors . this proverb had its beginning in the reign of john ( the french king ) when he was prisoner in england , at which time for his ransome , there were divers tallies , and other general impositions laid upon the people , which lasted a long time to satisfie the english ; insomuch that english , and creditor came to be synonymas . now the pope is become french , and jesus christ english. these words were used as a proverb , when the pope came to keep his see in auignon , and that the english prospered so much in france , that they possessed more then half the kingdome . proverbi gli più scelti nella lingua italiana de i quali alicuni andano glossati ; con lettre composte tutte de proverbi . italian proverbs of the choisest sort , whereof divers are gloss'd , and comented upon . which proverbs are partly moral , relating to good life ; partly physical , relating to diet , and health ; partly topical , relating to particular places ; partly temporal , relating to seasons ; partly ironical , relating to drollery , and mirth , &c. al molto illustre , & generosissimo personaggio , don guilhelmo paston , cavagliere dorato , & baronetto ; il quale , havendo traghettato il nilo al gran cayro , & d' egitto , trascorso la maggior ' parte dell ' imperio turchesco ( oltra le regioni piu nobili de l'europa ; ) frà altre isquisitissime perfettioni che rapportava seco , si rese padrone assoluto della lingua italiana , &c. to the honorable , & most generous personage , sir vvilliam paston knight , & baronet ; who , having travers'd most of the noble regions of europe , and gone up the nile to the gran cayro , and invaded most of the dominions of the ottoman empire , besides other most exquisit perfections which returned with him , he made himself great master of the italian toung , &c. lettera composta de proverbi , i quali vanno tutti incatinati a far ' un sentimento intiero , & congruo ; mandata a vn gentilhuomo ch'era su'l punto de viaggiare , & andarsi a italia . signore mio affectionatissimo , dicono communemente che l'acqua corrente è piu chiara che la cheta , & che quella del stagno è assai piu torbida che la passagiera , & quella del ruscello ; cosi gli spiriti di loro che andano per il mondo & s'applicano allo studio degli huomini divengono piu sottili , chiari ed acuti ; parimente frà gli vegetabili s'osserva , chegli migliori porri sono quelli che si traspiantano ; per tanto io lodo grandemente il pensiere che voi hauete di voler ' trappassare gli alpi , è scender poi l'apennino la schiena d'italia ; mà siate auverito che per andar ' saluo per il mondo , & principalmente in italia , doue vi sono tante teste , tempeste , & feste , bisogna auer ' l'occhio di falcone ( per veder ' lontano ) orecchie d'asino , viso di simia ( per compiacer ' tutti ) lingua de montinbanco spalle di camelo ( da portar ' qualunche cosa , ) bocca di porco ( da mangiar ' tutto ) gambe di ceruo per schifar ' il pericolo ; in italia voi trouarete assai marioli , più doppij che la cepolla per tanto guardate vi ben bene del gioco , ( nel quale gli italiani si dilattano troppo ) per che il gioco è un tarlo che rode fin ' a losso ; havendo passato piemonte traghettarete quel delicatissimo fiume del pò perche gli pioppi del pò ligriman ' ābra , tuttavia il pà non sarebbe pò se l'adda , & tesin non vi metesseroco ' . essendo intruto la lombardia , voi vederete milan ' la grande , tanto per la sua forza , quanto per la sua ampiezza donde nacque quel proverbio , milan può far , milan può dire , mà non può far ' dell ' acqua vino ; guardate ui ben in quei contorni de boccon lombardo , ciò è d'un fico italiano . di l● intrarete nell dominio veneto , & frà l'altre nobili citta vicenza è degna d'esser ' salutata , perche dicono che venetia non hà tanti gondolieri , quanti vicenza ha conti , & cavalieri ; dilà v'incaminarete a padoua la sede principal ' d' hippocrat . & di là a venetia doue si può vedere l'impossibile , nell ' impossibile ; là potrete salutare la sposa di nettuno anchor ch'alcuni ( gli anni a dietro ) la chiamino la concubina del turco ; gli veneti . nonsono cosi facili a compiacere , perche dicono che ui sono quatro difficili cose , cuocer ' un vuouo , far ' al can'vn letto , insegna● ' un florentino , & servir ' un venetiano ; farete ben di visitare l'arsenale , una delle grandezze del mondo per la sua forza ; donde nacque il detto commune , che tutto l'arsenale de venetia non basta armar la paura ; in venetia guardate ui ben delle donne , perche il sesso donnesco è dannoso ; le cortesane di quel lago si stimano le piu belle del mondo , secondo il detto , pan padouan , vin visintin , tripe trevisane , puttane venetiane , de donde nacque un altro , venetia , venetia , chi non te vede non te preggia chi t' ha t●oppo veduto te dispreggia ; essendo sotollato dalla virgine città , per che fra tutte l'altre città d' italia , la venetia si chiama la virgine citta , per non aver mai stato rapita dal nemico , & v'ene una profetia che continuorà vergine fin a tanto ch'il suo marito l'abandoni , cio è il mare . havendo dico detto adio a venetia , farete ben di visitar toscana , mà essendo là , siate auvereito che chi hà da far con tosco , non bisogna esse● ' losco ; oslervate donque queste due regole , chi non si fida , non vien ingannato , & che chi hà il lupo per compagno , porti il can ' sotto il mantello . là , voi vederete fierenze la bella , si bella , che si dice che sia una città da veder ' solamente le feste , de doue nacque un altro decto , se fierenze havesse un porto de pisa farebbe un horto , & de liuorno un escritoio , & de luca un cacatoio ; dipoi , siena è degna d'esser sa . tata ancho● ' che dicano , che siena quatro cose piena , torri , campane , bardassi , puttaen ; guardate vi di non comprar ' panno in siena ▪ perche panno sanese si rompe prima chesi mette adosso ; farete ben di visitar luca che si chiama casetta de api , per la sua industria ; di là u'incaminarete a genoa la superba , dove gli mariti ingravidano lor moglie cento miglia lontano , dove ancho si dice che ui sono montagne senza legno , mar senza pesce , donne senza vergogna , & huomini senza conscienza ; poi farete ben di visitar ' lo stato ecclesiastico come . bologna la grassa , doue si legano le vigne con salsiccie ; di là potrete pigliar la strada romana , & , non ci'e cosa piu pesta che la strada di roma , dicono che chi và a roma & porta buon borsetto diuenta abbate , ò vescovo di bott● , niente di manco ci'e vn ' altro proverbio che u'informa , che in roma , chi seguita le fortune li fuggono et chi non l'aspetta le vengono ; mà osseruisi ben che la corte romana non vuol pecora senza lana ; di là havendo veduto ( non fututo come disse il tedesco secondo il fuo accento ) il papa et tutti gli cardinali potrete a bell agio passar a napoli la gentile , tutta via , un paradiso habitato da diavoli se si da fede al detto comune ; oltra di questo dicono ch'il napolitano è largo di bocca , & stretto di mano ; de sorte che spesse volte la , tal mano si bacia che si vorrebbe veder mozza ; in quella delicatissima citta si troua che un ' pelo di donna tira piu che cento carra de boui , per preuenir questo , bisogna allontanarui dal dinanzi delle moglie , di dietro delle mule , et da tutti li lati di monachi ; non importa molto che si veda la calabria terra de tarantole , perche si dice che guai a quel paese doue ci'e un calabrese , se ui stà un anno , apporta ruina , et danno ; terra sterile , tutta via piena de nobili , de sorte chi si viddero tre marquesi sopra un albero mangiando fichi : per tutto doue si passa bisogna haver bezzi in borsa , perche un cavalier ' là senza danaro è muro senza croce da tutti scompisciato ; conviene ancho star'all erta et ardito , perche in quelpaese chi pecora sifà il lupo li man gia , li meneranno per il naso come un bufalo ; fra altre cose italia abonda de vescovi ( mà alcuni assai poueri ) secondo quel proverbio nationale , i conti d'alemagna , i don di spagna , i monsieurs de francia , i minori fratelli d' inglitàrra , i nobili di scotiá , vescovi d' italia , fanno una pouera compagnia ; l' italia è la scuola di prudenza , perche dicono che gli todeschi sono saggij nel fatto , gli francesi doppo il fatto , & gli italiani innanzi il fatto ; tuttavia l' italiano è gran dormiglione conforme a quel motto , le nationi smaltiscono di versamente la lor melancholia , ●l todesco la beue , il francese la canta , lo spagnuolo piagne , l' italiano la dorme . frà altre cose potrete osseruar ' a napoli et milano , che affetto portano alli spagnuoli , et francesi , doue l'uno e l'altro dice ; amo tanto lo spagnuolo , che mi contentarei di vederlo impiccato con budelli francesi . per trarr ' il filo di questa lettera al fine hò speranza che doppo questo viaggio non si verificarà in voi quel detto , inglese italimato è un diavolo incarnato ; ni manco , che sarete del numero di quelli chi vanno messeri , et tornano seri ; non posso più , perche un negotio m'e subito sopravenuto , che mi ministrarà più da fare ch'a un forno inglese la mattina del natale , solamente dico che se , mentre che voi mancate quà , io ui posso valere in alcuna cosa , farò quel che potrò per servirui , et un poco meno per poterui durare ; cosi , allo lombardo , senza lechetto delle ceremonie rimango . il vostro da senno j. h. a letter composed of italian proverbs concurring all in one congruous sense , and sent to a gentleman , that was upon point of crossing the alpes to italy . sir , they say commonly that running waters are the cleerest , and those of the brook farr more then they of a standing bog ; in like manner the spirits of those who travel up and down the world , and by their motions apply themselves to the study of men , become thereby more cleer , acute , and subtile . it is also observed among vegetables , that ( according to the proverb ) the best oignons are those which are transplanted ; therefore i highly approve of the resolution you have to cross the alpes , and afterwards the apennin hill , the chinebone of italy . but take along with you these rules , that he who traverseth the world , specially italy , must have the eye of a faulcon ( to see danger affar off , ) the ears of an ass , the face of an ape , the toung of a mountibank , the back of a camell ( to bear any thing ) the mouth of a hog ( to eat any thing ) the legs of a stagg , to fly from all mischiefs . in italy you shall meet with many cunning rooks that have more doublings in them then a cabage ; therefore take heed of associating with such , specially to fall a gaming ( whereunto the italians are extraordinarily addicted ) for they say that gaming doth gnaw one to the very bone . having gone through piemont , you will come to the most delicate river of pò , where the very trees weep ambar , yet po would not be pò , unless adda and tesin did not come into her . being entred lombardy , you shall see milan the great , so call'd as well for her strength , as for her bigness , whence sprung the proverb , milan can talk , and milan can do , yet she cannot turn water into wine ; in those quarters take head of a lombard bit , viz. an italian figg . thence you will pass to the venetian dominions , and among other the noble citty of vicenza deserves to be saluted , for they say that vienza hath more counts and cavaliers , then venice hath gondolleers : thence you may direct your cours to padua , called the chief residence of hippocrates , and thence to venice , where they say one may see an impossibility in an impossibility ; there you may kiss neptunes spouse , for venice is called so , though some would have her to be a concubine to the turk : the venetians they say are hard to be pleased , if the proverb be true that there are foure difficult things , viz. to make a bed for a dogg , to roast an egg well , to teach a florentine , and serve a venetian ; being there , you shall do well to visite the arsenal , one of the grandezas of the world for its strength , whence sprung the saying , that the whole arsenal of venice is not able to arm a coward ; in that melting citty , take heed of females , for a woman may be a woe to a man ; the courtezans of that lake , are cried up for the fairest in the world , according to the proverb , vienza wine , treviso tripes , padua bread , and venice whores ; whence sprung another , venice , o venice , none thee unseen can prize , but who hath seen too much will thee despise . being glutted with the virgin citty , for among the rest of the citties of italy , venice is called so , because she was never ravished by any enemy , and there is a prophesie that she shall continue a virgin for ever , untill her husband forsake her , which is the sea , having i say bad venice farewell , you shall do well to visit tuscany , but take this caution with you , that he who hath to deal with a tuscan must have both his eyes about him ; observe therefore these two proverbial rules , who doth not trust shall not be coosened , and that he who hath a wolf for his companion must carry a dogg under his cloake ; there you shall behold the fair citty of florence , so fair , that they say she is fit to be seen onely on holydayes , whence sprung another saying , that if florence had a sea port , she would make a hortyard of pisa , a counting-house of ligorn , and a shitt-house of luca. siena is worth the saluting , although the saying be , that siena is full of four things , viz. churches and towers , ingles and whores , but take heed of buying any cloth there ; for they say , that siena cloath tears before it is worn ; it will not be amiss , being there , to give luca a visit , that hive of bees , called so for their industry ; thence you may steer your cours to genoa , where husbands gets their wives with child a hundred miles off ; where also , they say , there are mountains without wood , sea without fish , men without conscience , and women without shame . afterwards , you shall do well to visit the ecclesiastical state , as bologna the fatt , where 't is said , they use to tie their vines with sausages ; thence you may take the road towards rome , and never was any thing so worn out as the way to rome : they say , that he who goes to rome , and carrieth a good purse , becomes a bishop or an abbot ; yet there is another saying , which tells us , that in rome fortune flies from them who follow her , and seeks after them who flye from her , yet you must take notice , that the court of rome will not take the sheep without her fleece ; thence you may direct your cours to naples the gentle , though som call her a paradise inhabited by devils ; take notice that the napolitan hath a large mouth , but a narrow purse ; in so much that there they often kiss the hands which they wish were cutt off ; in that syrenian citty 't is found that one hair of a woman can draw more then a hundred yoaks of oxen ; to prevent this , observe the cautious proverb , take heed of going before women , behind a mule , or any side of a frier . it matters not much whether you see calabria or no , the territory of the tarantolas , it being a sad barren cuntrey , yet abounding with nobles , in so much that somtimes three marquesses may be seen eating figgs upon one tree to drive away hunger . but wheresoever you pass be sure to have money in your purse , for they say in italy , that a gentleman without money is like a wall without a cross that every one pisseth against ; you must also be spritefull and bold , for in that cuntrey , he who makes himself a sheep the wolf will devour him , and a simpleton will be led along like a bufalo by the nose . among other things italy abounds with bishops , ( though some of them be but poor ) according to that nationall proverb , the counts of germany , the dons of spain , the mounsieurs of france , the cadets of england , the nobles of scotland , the bishops of italy make a poor company ; italy is the school of prudence , for there is a saying , that whereas the french is wise after the fact , the dutch and english in the fact , the italian is wise before , yet he is a great sleeper , for whereas the german drinks away his melancholy , the frenchman sings it away , the spaniard sighs it away , the italian sleeps it away . among other things , you may observe in naples and milan the affection that the peeple bear to the spanish , and french , where both the one and the other use to say , that they would be content to see all the spaniards in italy hung up with frenchmens gutts ; whence you way judge who is best beloved . but to wind up the threed of this coorse letter ; i hope , that after your return , it will not be verified of you , that an englishman italionat is a devill incarnat , much less that you will be of the number of those who go out masters , and come back clarks in the point of knowledge . i can extend my self no further now , for ther 's a sudden accident hath surprised me , that will hold me more busie then an english furnace on christmas day morning ; onely i say , that if i may steed you in any thing while you are absent , i will do what i can to serve you , and somthing less that i may last your's the longer : so , after the lombard fashion without any clawing of complements , i remain yours in earnest i. h. proverbi morali nella lingua italiana . gli huomini da bene si maritano , gli sauij no. inglese italianato , è un diavolo incarnato . una oncia d'alegrezza vale una libra di melanconia . l'astrologia è vera , mà non si trova l'astrologo . i peccati , & i debiti son sempre più di quel che si crede . ha più da fare che i forni di natale in inghilterra . più sa il mato in casa sua , ch'il savio in casa d'altrui . quel che non sà fingere l'amico , non è fiero nemico . e ' meglio haver ' hoggi un vuovo , che domani una gallina . chi digiuna , & altro ben nonfà , sparagna il pan ' , & al inferno va . beata quella casa che da vecchio sà . troppo s'arrischia , chi del proprio giudicio s'assicura . chi ha il lupo per compagno , porti il cane sotto il mantello . più tosto tardi , che in fretta . assai pampani , poca vua ; viz. assai parole , pochi fatti . la prima parte del pazzo è tenersi savio . un male , & un frate rare voltesoli . multifan ' conscienza di sputar in chiesa , & poi cacan su l'altare . la moscha chi punge la tartaruga si rompe il becco . la necessita , è infidel guardiana della castità . l'anima di poche , il corpo di molte cose hà bisogno . meglio è magro accordo , che grassa sentenza . mentre che il lupo caca , la pecora scampa . nel marito prudenza , nella moglie patienza . non è tutto butyro che fa la vacca . il mondo è fatto a scale , chi le scende , & chi le sale . il sparagno , è il primo guadagno . se la cosa s'havesse a fare due volte , l'asino sarebbe nostro . tardi tornò orlando . voi mi farete credere che le lucciole son lanterne . al frigger ' se ne avuedranno . al carnovale si vede chi hà la gallina grassa . quel che fà tanto il savio il più delle volte viene a cader ' del asino . in bocca serrata non entrò maj . mosca . chi non s'arrischia , non guadagna . chi vuol del pesce , bisogna che s'ammolli le brache . ventura haver poco senno basta . accasca in un punto quel che non accasca in cento anni . e ' meglio crederlo , che provarlo . la forza caca adosso la ragione . cavallo corrente sepultura viva . se jo hò le corna in seno , non me le voglio metter ' , in capo . chi guarda a ogni penna non fà mai letto . chi ha poca vergogna tutto il mondo è suo . a l'arca aperta il santo pecca . lega l'asino doue vuol il padrone . dio mi guardi da oste nuovo , & puttana vecchia . tal mano si lava che si vorrebbe veder mozza . jo levai la lepre , & un altro la prese . se non vuoi che si sappia , nolo fare . il male nón stà sempre doue si pone . il mondo è tondo , & doppo la notte viene il giorno . a chi increscer stare pongasi à sedere . so ben quanti pani fanno una coppia , & quante paia fanno tre buoi . egli è mala cosa l'esser cattivo , mà gl'e peggiore l'essere conosciuto . presto maturo , presto marzo . massara piena tosto fa la cena . s'el sol mi splende , non curo la luna . niente non vuol sale . l'habito & il riso manifestano l'huomo . non hà sal in zucca . si lascia menar per il naso come un buffalo . gli amici legano la borsa con un filo di ragnatelo . chi hà l'amor nel petto , ha lo sprone a i fianchi . ti vuol il bene , come vuol alle cipolle il cane . porta teco se vuoi viver ' meco . egli è più misero che non era mida , che si scaldava all fumo della merda . tanto è mio , quanto godo , & do per dio . chi confessa destino niega iddio . si jo cascassi in dietro , mi romperei il naso , son tanto disgratiato . chi hà il neo sopra la centura , hà gran ventura . chi nasce bella , nasce maritata . a ogni grolla piaccion i suoi grollatini . chi ti vede di di , non ti cercarà di notte . e buon rimedio contra la lusuria . e ' più bugiardo d'un epitasio . primo porco , ultimo cane . la porta di dietro è quella che rubba la casa . cavallo , & cavalla cavalgalo in su la spalla , asino & mulo cavalcalo in su'b culo . chi per altri sta , paga per sè . il prometter ' è la vigilia del dare . beata colei che di vecchio pazzo sinnamora . quando tu puoi haver del ben , totene . casa mia , mamma mia . chi mangia lepre ride sette giorni . vuo senza sale , non fà ben ni male . chi da presto raddoppia il dono . i danari son tondi , & ruzzolano . proverbio non falla , misura non cala , superbia non dura . l'asino chihà fame , mangia d'ogni strame . jo hò le voci , & altri hanno le noci . i pisto●i , & i molinari sono gli ultimi a morirsi di fame . farò quel che potro , & un poco manco per poterui durare . chi non vuol affaticarsi in questo mondo non ci nasca . chi ha figliyoli tutti j bocconi non sono suoi . cosa fatta per forza non vale una scorza . chi risponde presto , sa poco . chi paga inanzi , è seruito in dietro . chi belletta il viso , al culo pensa . penso ripenso cosi divengo pazzo , come l'huomo si fa dallo sputo d'un cazzo . il male per libra viene , và via per once . la più trista routa del carro cigola il più . abondanza genera fastidio , & scarsità apetito . le puttane piangono con un occhio , le maritate con due , le monache con quatro . l'huomo fin cinque è porco . maggior ' fretta minor atto . allontanarti dal dinanzi delle donne de dietra delle mide & da tutti i lati de' monachi . saper ' esser pazzo a tempo è sav●ezza . chi per altrui s'obliga entra per lo largo , & esce per lo stretto . egli hà po●o di quel ch'il bue ne hà troppo , i. cervello . a mal mortale ne medico ne medicina vale . a chi la riesce ben , è tenuto savio . a casa mia non entrarai se teco non porterai . a governar pazzia ci vuol senno . a ciascun passo nasce un pensiere . assai ben balla a chi fortuna suona . a cader và chi troppo alto sale . ancor il bene quando è soverchio spiace . chi frequenta la cucina sente di fumo . e ' meglio sdruciolare co ' piede che con la lingua . chi a l'honor mancà d'un momento non ripare mai in anni cento . lauda il mare & tienti alla terra , lauda il monte , & tienti al pian , lauda la moglié , & tienti donzello . chi da vinti non è , chi da trenta non sa , chi da quarenta non hà , ne maj sarà , ne maj saprà , ne maj haverà . quando sei incudine ubedisci al martello . siedi , & gambetta , che vedrai tua vendetta . il gioco è un tarlo che rode fin su l'osso . assai parole , pochi fatti ingannano j sauij anche mati . non gittar mai tanto con le mani , chi ij costretto ac darlo cernando puoi co ' piedi . povertà non è vitio , mà solo incommodità . assai sà chi sà , se tacer sà . amaro è il dono che toglie la libertà assai comanda chi ubedisce al savio . nulla nuova , buona nuova . assai domanda chi ben serve , & tace . al infelice mai riesce il disegno . amor infanga i giovani , & annega i vecchi . al bugiardo non si crede la verità . allegrezza di cuore fa bella pelatura di viso . amor vuol fede , & fede firmezza . al torre imprestito sei cugin germano , mà al render figlio di puttana . al bugiardo gioua esser sagace , se vuol far creder , il suo dir verace . a donna non si fà maggior dispetto , che quando vecchia ò brutta le vien detto . a chi ti vuol malè , venga donna , processo , ò urinale . andar col cembalo in columbaia . a me pare una coglioneria lasciar di se memoria a l'hosteria . a mal passo l'honore . ad ogni cosa fuor ch'a la morte , troua remedio l'huomo forte . arbor spesso trapiantaro mai di frutti è caricato . a l'acqua cede il sasso . amore col suo strale percuote ogni mortale . biasimar prencipi è pericolo , il lodargli buggia . beata quella casa che da vecchio sà . assiduità genera facilità . ac attivo cane corto legame . a orgoglio non manca cordoglio . amico di bocca non vale una stoppa . a ffibbia quella . arrischiar un vou per quadagnat un bou . beni di fortuna passano come la luna . occus , poccus , chi nasce matto , non guarisce maj . ogni cosa è meglio che moglie . ogni dieci anni l'uno hà bisogno del ' altro . ogni donna & vacca , hà qualche tacca . ogni uno s'affatica , il povero in cercare , il rico in conservare , il virtuoso in imparare . più caca un bue , che cento mosche . per altri , non per sè suona la campana . pesta giusto , & vendi caro . pigliam ' prima l'orso , & poi vendiamo la pelle . per durare , bisogna indurare . per troppo dibarter la verità si perde . per picciola cagion ' , il lupo tuole il monton . il diavolo alla porta chiusa volta le spalle . il pensier ' ha' buone gambe . il diavolo può tentare , ma non precipitare . tal man si bascia che si vorrebbe mozza . tanto è mercante chi perde , che chi guadagna . tre forfanti fan una forca . terra negra fà pan biancho . tutte le nationi diversamente smaltiscono il dolore . tal nutre il corvo che gli caverà poi gli occhi . tosto si mostra il pazzo , & lo sterco . tosa la pecora , & non la scorticare . tavola senza sale bocca senza saliva . trista è quella casa dove il patrone non porta braghe . tre taceranno se due non vi sono . troppo disputare la verità fà errare . tanto erra chi crede tutti sogni esser fallaci , quanto gli crede esser veraci . trà gli amici guardimi iddio , che frà nemici mi guardero jo. d'agnello , porco , cimia & leone , tiene il vino la complessione . non si tosto si fa un templo a dio , come il diavolo ci fabrica una capella appresso . voj uscite de gangheri . fo la vita di michelazzo , mangio , & beuo , & vado a solazzo . una man lavà l'altra , & ambedue il viso . ubidisci al rè gius●o , & l'iniquo un a sella non s adatta ad uno dosso solo . un par d'orecchie seccan cento lingue . un huomo di paglia val ' una donna doro ▪ vera prosperit● , è non haver necessità . vento al visaggio rende l'huomo saggio . và doue vuoi , morì doue devi . un male & un frate rare volte soli . una spada , tien l'altra nel fodra . villano non è chi in villa està , mà villan , è chi villanie fa. chi vive a speranza , magra fà la danza . chi dona & toglie , gli viene la biscia al cu●re . qui promette , & non attende , in inferno si distende . cavallo rognoso non si cura d'essere strigliato . cio che si usa , non ha scusa . chi si marita fa bene , è chi no fà meglio . chi schernisce il zoppo dee esser dritto . chi non si fida , non viene ingannato . chi tò moglier , to pensier . cuor ●orte rompe cattiva sorte . chi non hà danari in borsa , habbi miel ' in bocca . compagnia d'uno compagnia de nissuno , compagnia di due compagnia di dio , compagnia di tre compagnia di re , compagnia di quatro compagnia di diavolo . render agresto per prugnole . piu tosto ●i satolla il ventre , che l'occhio . senza danaro georgio non canta . quando la gatta no c●e , i sorgi trescano . quand ìl fromenro è nè campi , è di dio , & de' sancti . quando superbia galoppa , la povertà è in groppa . quanto più si ruga , tanto più spuzza il ' stronzo . amor vuol quatro cosè , savio , solo , solecito , secreto . quel che manda il cielo , forza è che si togla . quando il cieco porta la bandiera , guaj a que gli chi vengono di dietro . parole di bocca , & pietra gittata chi le riaspetta ●●rde giornata . più felice ch ' il can de becchaio , ò gallo del mugnaio . più pesto che la strada romea . più pro fà il pan sciutto a casa sua , che l'arosto fuori . più tosto mendicante che ignorante . più vale l'ingegno , che forza & legno . processo , taverna , & urinale , mandan l'huomo a hospidale . parole di angelotto , & fatti di diavoletto . più tosto moro che mandorlo . pecora mansueta d'ogni agnello è tettata . luy non hà ossi in bocca . lui è più doppio ch'una cipolla . la fame la più gran machina per espugnar la superbia . la mosca che punge la tartaruga si rompe il becco . ligami le mani , & piè , & mettimi fra miè . lui hà sangue sotto l'onghie . le buone parole ongono , le cattive pungono . molti san ' tutto , & di se stessi nulla . mentre dorme l'auaro sueglia il ladro . meglio è ubbedire che sanctificare . mangia a tuo modo , ma vesti a quel d'altruy . molte cose è meglio crederle che probarle . meglio è un bicchier de vino che tutto il tevere . molti parlan d' orlando chi non viddero maj il suo brando . mal pensa , chi non contra pensa . muso di porco , gambe di cervo , scniena di asino , hà bisogno il viandante . la mula che ride , la moglie che soghigna , quella ti tira , & questa ti graffigna . mal cena , chi tuttò desina . consumo me stesso per seruir altri . ninguno nasce maestro . non è sciolto , chi si strascina la catena dietro . non manchiam a noi medesimi , poi faccia il cielo . non lo fare se non vuoj che si sappia . non si può insieme bere & fischiare . non è tempo da giocar a schacci quando la casa bruscia . non è saggio chi non sa essere pazzo . nurritura passa natura . chi paga inanzi il tratto troua il lavor ' mal fatto . chi aspetta● puol ' hà cio che vuol . chi è savio di giorno non è pazzo di notte . chi ' da dio è visitato , da dio è amato . chi hà tempo , non aspetti il tempo . chi hà paura d'ogni ortica , non pisci in herba . chi lascia andar la sua moglie ad ogni festa , & bere il suo cavallo ad ogni fontana , dal suo cavallo haverà una rozza , & dalla sua moglie una puttana . con fiorino , latino , & buon ronci in ogni paese si trova camino . chi d'altri vuol aver compassione , non ponga se stesso in oblivione . chi si marita per amore , di notte hà piacer , di giorno dolore . cinque hore dorme il viandante , sette il studiante , otto il mercatante , & undeci ogni forrante . cavalier , senza entrata , è muro senza crocelda tutti scompisciato . chi si loda s'imbroda . ciascuno è figliolo delle sue opere . chi danari presta due cose perde . con l'evangelio , si diventa heretico . chi parla semina , chi tace raccoglie . cambiar il trotto per l'ambiatura . contra duo non la potrebbe orlando . danari fanno cavaglieri da vaccari . dar la farnia al diavolo , & la semola a dio. di padre santelotto figlio diavolotto . due visi sotto una berretta . fammi indouino & io ti faro ricco . grande è grassa mi faccia dio , che bella & bianca mi farò io . iddio al fin ci giunge quando pensiamo essergli piu lontano . maj si fa cosa ben in fetta fuor che fuggir la peste . pensa & poi fà . si le donne fossero d'argento non varrebbono un quatrino perche non starebbono al martello . se la madre non fosse mai stata nel forno , non iui cercarebbe la figlia . sela donna fosse picciola com' è buona la mìnima foglia le farebbe una veste , & una corona . e'tanto auarone che scorticarebbe un pedocchio per venderne la pelle . il sesso donnesco è dannoso . chi perde moglie , & un quatrino hà gran perdita del quatrino . la puttana è come il carbone , ò bruscia , ò tigne . vorebbe mangiar la focaccia , & trovar la in tasca . studio bastòn di bombace . bene detto sia quel male chivien solo . il mal francese si guarisce ch'una volta in poi . cazzo bandito non porta lanterna . insegnando s'impara . hanno ligato il budel insieme . chi hà la testa di cera non vadi al sole . amaro è quel donativo che ti rende della libertà privo . gatto inguantato non piglia sorci . ogni uno tira l'acqua al suo molino . donne , preti & polli non son mais atolli sassa che rotola non fà muffa . da matto attizato , da uno che legge un libro solo , da villan riffatto , da recipe de medici , da etcetera de notari guardici dio . i 'l tignoso non ama'l pettine . l'huomo propone , ma dio dispone . sopra dio non èsignore , sopra sal non c'e sapore , sopra negro non c'e colore . donna danno . al primo colpo non cade l'arbore . l'ambasciadore non porta pena . quel che vien de ruffa raffa , se ne va de buffa in baffa . batte il ferro mentre è caldo . al cane ch'invecchia la volpe gli piscia adosso . e'stretto in cintola . favella senza barbozzale . chi pecora si fà , il lupo se lo mangia . cader della padella nella brace . col tempo & con la paglia si maturano le nes pole . parole femine fatti maschi . alegramente , il diayolo è motto si ben , mà il figlivolo vive . il più duro passo , è quello della soglia . chi nasce pazzo non guarisce mai . il lupo cangia il pelo , ma non il vezzo . non si puo pigliar pesci senza immolarsi . chi vi piano và sano . chi va piano , va lontano & vasano . quatrino ni risparmiato , due volete guadagnato . ogni ritto hà il suo rovescio . al buon vino non bisogna frasca . domandar l'ehe s'il hà buon vino . chi s'ajuta , iddio l'ajuta . cui dio vuol male , gli toglie il senno . la spada di la sù , non cala in fretta . scherza co ' fanri , & lasci à star i santi . non si puo bere , & zuffolare . tu metti il carro innanzi a j buoi . non vorrej esser solo in paradiso . habbiamo mangiato il pan de putti . pietra , & parola tratta non può tornar indietro . l'indugio piglia vizio . bisogno fa buon fante . chi due lepre caccia , una non piglia , & l'altra lascia . più tosto invidia , che compassione . i panni rifanno le stanghe , ouero vesti una colonna la par una donna . in fin che ci é fiatto , ci és peranza . doue il dente duole , la lingua vi corre . chi l' à per narura fin alla fossa dura . l'asino che hà fame mangia d'ogni strame . di qua a là , dio sa quel che sarà . chi se la fa , fagliela . hoggi in figura , & diman in sepoltura . la ne dà a i cani , ne alle gatte . e'ricco che non ha de debiti . hà paura delle mosche . lasciar fare il mestiero a chi sa . a ogni cosa è re medio fuor ch'alla morte . chi va prima al mulin macina . a ogni grolla paion belli i suo grollatini . stuzzicar il vespaio . dinanzi il precipitio , & di dietro i lupi . chi non hà cuore , habbi gambe . le buone parole acconciano i mali fatti . da del tuo al diavolo , & man da lo via . chi tutto vuole nulla hà , ò de rabbia muore . e ' ui si legano le vigne con salciccie . l'avaro non fa niente bene , se non quando tira le calze . qualche volta sonacchia il buon homero . tu vuoj insegnare a rampicar alle gatte . pietra mossa non fa muschio . poco & spesso empie il borsetto . essere tra l'incude , e'l martello . il mondo và a la riversa . sei pié de terra e guaglion tutti . chi parla troppo , falla spesso . che de l'altrui prende , la sua liberta vende . mi conoscerai , quando non m'hauraj . quel é tuo nemico ch' é di tuo officio . e ' più guaj che allegrezza . chi fà non falla . raccomandare uno di buon inchiostro . non hà buon tempo se non j matti . ben venga chi ben porta . in tempo de carestia pan veccioso . felice chi impara a spese d'altri . domanda pur assaj che non manca poi a calare . quando egli arde in vicinanza , porta l'acqua a tua casa . bisogna che ' l bugiardo , habbia buona memoria . chi di gallina nasce , convien che ruspi . veggo il meglio , & al peggior m'appiglio . piaga antivedata men duole . l'e●tremo dell ' allegrezza ocupa il pianto . non pianse maj uno che non ridesse un altro . havete dato in brocca . a casa de poltroni è ogni dì festa . le ricchezze de foccheri . tutti disegni non riescono . non metter la falce ne l'altrui biade . il dì loda la sera , & la vita il fine . mette ci ancor voi la vostra manno . i' travagli tirano giù l'huomo . egli é a l'oglio santo . farse che vai , usa che troui . chi lascia la via vecchia per la nuova , spesse volte ingannato si ritroua . a i ricchi non mancano parenti . chi troppo la capra munge , ne fá venir ' il sangue . chi vive a minuto fà le spese a suoi , & a gli altri . di quella misura che misuraraj , misurato tu saràj . la speranza é il pan de miseri . chi pratica col lupo impara a urlare . non é ingannato se non che si fida . l'occhio del patron ingrassa il cavallo . il buon pastore tosa , non iscortica le peccore . amico di buon di . doue parla l'oro , ogni lingua , é mutola . jo hò le voci , gli altri hanno le noci . dispicca l'impiccato , che t'impicchera poi . chi non può far comè vuole , faccia come può . tanto é misero l'huomo quant ' ei si riputa . pigliar due columbi a una fava . la morte fura i migliori & lascia star i reì. ad ogni uccello suo nido , é bello . ogni tigre porta amor alla sua tana . il far il letto al cane , é gràn fatica . e ' ancor un poco dell ' oglio nella lume . nonsi può cavar rana dal pantano . uso converte natura . non há tetto nè letto . ogni simile appetisce il suo simile . nelle cose importanti bisogna andare col pie di piombo . il satollo non crede al digiuno . le cose rare care , l'abondanza genera fastidio . i signori hanno il cingolo rosso . cavar un chiodo , è piantar una cavicchia . godi l'amicò tò , col vezzo sò . e'tanto invidioso che cavarebbe un occhio a se per cavarne due al compagno . guarda che tu non trovi quel che non vai cercando . meglio è esser capo di lucerto la , che coda di dragone . non ho quasi il fiato che sia mio . fà larghe corregge del cuoio d'altrui . miele in bocca , él rasoio alla cintola . sedendo & riposandosi l'anima diventa più savia . e ' meglio esser uccel ' di bosco che di gabbià . l'amicitia si deve sdrucire , non stracciare . vale più una oncia di sorte , che una libra di senno . duro con duro non fé mai buon muro . assaj presto fà , che si fà bene . che giova dar di cozzo al fato ? chi è fàcile a credere si troua spesso ingannato . a giouane soldato vecchio cavallo . a cane scottato l'acqua fredda par calda . a chi ti può torre cio che hai , dagli cio che ti chiede . a chi compra bisogna haver cent ' occhi , a chi ne vende basta uno . a buona derrata pensavi sù . a parole lorde orecchie sorde . a cose troppo alte non si piglia mira . a tutto si é riparo chi lo sá trovare . a donare , & tenere , ingegno bisogna havere . acarezza vecchio matto , se vuoi ricco fa●ti in un tratto . al canto l'uccello , al parlar il cervello . alla corte del rè ogniuno laccia per sè . amico de stranuti . amor , la rogna , la rosse non si ponno nascondere . amico dognimo , amico de nissuno . andar dove ne papa ne imperatore può mandar ambasciatore . artegiano che non mente non h● mestier frà la gente . assaj comanda chi ubbedisce al saggio . aspetar ' & non venir , esser ' in letto & non dormir ' , ben servir & non gradir ' , son tre cose da morir ' . ben tardi venuto per niente é tenuro . bella donna , & veste tagliuzzata sempre troua qualche uncino . la lettera aspetti il messo , & non il messo la lettera . buon é sapere mestier per servirsene quando fa mestier . can vecchio non baia indarno . campane chiamano gli altri , mà maj andano a missa . cento carra di pensieri non pagano un ' oncia di debiti . chi divide il miele con l'orso hà la menor parte . chi piscia contra il vento si bagna la camiscia . chi hà tutto in un luoco , l'hà tutto nel fuoco . chi suo secreto dice , servo si fà . chi nasce bella , nasce maritata . chi digiuna , & altro ben non fà , sparagna il pane , & al inferno vá . chi piglia leone in assentia , teme la talpa in presentia . chi non si fida non vien ingannaro . chi vuol guardar la festa digiuni la vigilia . chi vive nella corte muore s'ul pagliao . chi paga inanzi tratto , troua il lavo mal fatto . chi há spirito di poesia merita ogni compagnia . chi non ●uol render fá mal a prender ' . chi aspettar puol , hà cio che vuol . chi è savio di giorno , non è pazzo di notte . chi fà l'ingiuria , é il misero , & non che la riceve . chi fá li fatti suoi non imbratta le mani . chi ben dona ben vende , se non è villano chi prende . chi mal intende peggio responde . chi paga i suoi debiti fà capitale . chi mi vuol ben mi fà aorro sire , chi mal inbianchire . chi offende non perdo na mai . con ogni uno fà un patto , con te dostesso fane quatro . chi vuol quaresma corta , faccia debiti da pagar a pasqua . chi há arte per tutto há parte . che vende a credenza , spazza robba assaj , perde gli amici , danari non há maj . chi non hà matti , proveri puttanne , frà parenti , è nato di lampo di tuono . chi dorme grossa mattinata , và mendicando la giornata . che ne può la gatta , se la massara è matta . ciascuno è figliuolo delle sue opere . compagno allegro per camino , serve per roncino . cosi tosto muore il capretto come la capra . da gli amici mi guardi iddio , da gli nemici mi guardaro io . da recipe de medici , etcaetera de notari guardimi iddio . dal detto al fatto ci è un gran tratto . d'acqua torbida non si fà buon specchio . delle ingiurie il remedio , è liu scordarsi . donna specchiante poco filante . donna chi prende presto si rende . donna baciata mezzo guadagnata . donna brutta è mal di stomacho , donna bella mal di testa . dono molto aspetato , è venduto non donato . dove non entra il capo mettervi la coda . e ' come un ancora sempre nell ' acqua & non nata maj . e ' meglio ricusare & fare , che prometter & non fare . e ' meglio pagar ' & poco havere , chi moltohavere , & sempre dovere . e ' ricco che non ha debiti . mangia foglia , & caca seta . fà bene a te & tuoj , & poi a gli altri se tu puoi . far come fa la scimia che leva le castagne del fuoco con la zampa del gato . dove non sono gatti , j toppi ballano . andar alla gatta pél lardo . fedele , forte , brutta sia la massaia . fortezza che vien a parlamento , vien a rendirsi . folle è la pecora che al lupo si confessa . hà buon giuditio che del proprio non si fida . hà dato del cul in terra . hoggi non si dà a ●reta , diman si . huomo solitario ò bestia ò angelo . i salici sono deboli , & pur ligano altre legna . il vin nel fiasco non cava la sete del capo . il barbier non si contenta del peco . il diavolo a porta chiu● a volta le spalle . il prometter ' è la vigilia del dare . il gioco è paragon del huomo . il veder ' è facile , mà il preveder è difficile . il tignoso non ama il pettine . il buon pagatore , del altrui borsa è signore . il troppo guasta , il poco non basta . in bocca del discreto il publico è secreto . inanzi il maritare , habbi l'abitare . la carra no arroscisse . la diligenza è la madre de la buona sorte . la guerra fa i ladri , & la pace gli impicca . la maravigilia è figlia la del l' ignoranza . la robba non è di chi la fà , mà di chi la gode . la stoppa lontan dal fuoco , & la gioventù dal gioco . l'arco rompe sè sta troppo teso . le feste sono belle a casa d'altri . l'insegna del hosteria altri alloggia , è stà essa alla pioggia . l'innocenza porta la protettione seco . mercanzia non vuol ne amici ne parenti . misura tre volre , & taglia una . ne tu●to che sai , ò puoi , ò hai , non voler dire mai . ne occhi in lettera , ne mano in tasca , ne orecchi in secreti d'altrui . ne la moglie , ne il vino , ne il cavallo non si vuol lodare . nel assentia del signore si conosce il servitore . non far ma medico tuo herede . non bisogna imbarcarsi senza biscotto . non gettar il tuo tanto per le mani , che tu lo vadi poi cercando co ' piedi . non resta mai carne in beccaria per trista ch'ella sia . vuo far vendetta del tuo nemico ? governati bene . vender l'uccello in su la frosca . soccorso non venne mai tardi . volendo far quel che non puoi , s'interviene quel che non vuoi . buona insalata è principio d'una cattiva cena . una man frica l'altra & amendue la testa . picciol ' donporta spesso gran guiderdon . l'haver oro è un timore , il non haver un dolore . e ' ben venuto chi vien gobbo . vedendo uno conosci mezzo , udendolo parlar il conosci tutto . val più una berretta che cento coffie . che giova dar di cozzi al fato ? villano non è chi in villa stà , mà villano è chi villanie fà . virtù della bocca sana cio che tocca . secondo i beni sia la dispensa , il savio lo crede , il pazzo non ci pensa . se il giovane sapesse , & il vecchio potesse , non è cosa che non ci facesse . se cascasse indietro romperebbe il naso . savie all' impensata , alla pensara pazze son le donne . saviamente governa chi fugge la taberna . solo idio è senza peccato . render ben per male è carità , mal per bene crudeltà , mal per male vendetta , ben per bene giustitia . riserua il colpo maestro . amor de purana , & vin de fiasco la mattina buona , la sera guasto . quel che schernisces il zoppo devi andar dritto . quel che hà un piè in bordello , hà l'altro nello spedale . quanto più s'aspetta , piu nuoce la vendetta . quando la guerra comincia , s'apre l'inferno . poca robba , poco pensiero . più vede un occhio del patron , che quatro de servitori . più tira un pelo di codonna che cento carra de buoi . perdona a tutti , mà niente à tè . per andar salvo per lo mundo bisogna haver ' occhio di falcone , orecchie di asino , viso di scimia , parole de mercanti , spalle di camelo , bocca di porco , gambe de cervo . bàlzan di quatro , cavallo da mato , balzan de trè , cavallo da rè , balzan da uno no le darò a nissuno . con ogni uno patto , con amico fare quatro . sà fat peso d'ogni lana . pigliar due colombi a una fava . chi cerca briga , la trouarà a suá posta . chi vive a speranza muor ' cacando . so quanti pani fanno una coppia . quelche hà da essere , convien che sia . che sarà , sa rà . egli è mala cosa l'esser cattivo , mà glié peggiore l'essere conosciuto . gli migliori porri sono quelli che si traspiantano . non hò paura de brutti volti , che son nato in carnevale . non son uso a portar in groppa . non val levar a buon hora , bisogna buona fortuna . onor di bocca assai giov● , & poco costa . ogni femina è casta , se non hà chi la caccia . odi , vede , tace , se vuoi viver ' in pace . pasqua tanto desiata , in un giorno è passata . patienza , tempo , & danari accommodano il tutto . seminar aghi , per coglier ferro . proverbi temporali tocante la stagione . e ' come il sole di marzo , che muove , & non risolue . sotto acqua fame , sotto neve pane . aprilone , aprilone , tu non mi farai metter giù il pellicione . a san tomè tanto è cresciuto il di , quanto il gallo alza il piè . sera rossa , & negro mattino allegra il pelegrino . a san michelo il calot và nel cièlo . a san martin si veste il giouane & il vecchio . a san martino becci il buon vino , & lascia andar l'acqua ol molino . quando là state il gallo beue che subito pioua creder ' si deve . la neve per otto dì madre de la terra da indi in poi matrigna . come marzo s'auvicina tutti gli humor isi risentano . poca uva assai vin , poco pan manco pan . oliva , castagna , & ghianda d' agosto ne dimanda . gennaio fà il peccato , & maggio n'e incolpato . anno di neve , anno di beue . tre acque d' agosto con buona stagione vaglion ' gli buoi , & il carro del re salomone . proverbii fisici tocante la sanità . formaggio non guasta sapore . giaci la notte , senti la mattina , stá dritto di mezzo di , la sera camina . i vecchi chi scherzano con le giouani , accarezzano la morte . il pesce guasta l'lacqua , la carne la concia . lauda moglie & tienti donzello . lo badagliar non vuol mentir , ò che egli hà sanno che vorra dormir ò ch'egli hà qualche cosa che non dir . quando una donna si stende becco fututo chi non intende . maj fù fiume grande che non v'entrasse acqua torbida . meglio è dar la lana che la pecora . meglio è dar un soldo , che prestarne vinti . meglio è pericolar un tratto che estar sempre in timore . nella gotta il medico non vede gotta . pan mentre dura , mà vino a misura . pan d'un dì , vouvo d'un hora , vin d'un anno , pesce di dieu , donna di quindeci , amico di cent'ci anni . sanità senza danari , è mezza malaria . piscia chiaro , & fá le fiche al medico . il bel vestir sono negro , nuovo , netto . quando il vecchio non vuol bevere , nell ' altro mondo và lo vedere . porco d'un mese , & oce di trè , è un varo mangiar da rè . pome , pere , & noce guastano la voce . pesce , oglio , & amico vecchio . pesce al sole , & carne a l'ombra . poco cibo & nissun a fanno . sta sanita del corpo fanno , frà il letto e'l lettuccio . febbre quartana amazza j vecchi & j giovani risana . vi sono pià vecchi ubbriachi , che medici vecchi . un buon pasto , un cattivo , & un mezzano , mantien ' l'huomo sano . vendi la tonica per com●rar la betonica . vitello , polastro , & pesce crudo ingrassano j cimitieri . vino dentro , sernno fuori . vino al mezzo , oglio di sopra , & miele di sotto . chi vuol ' ●tar fan ' , pisci come il can . vecchia gallina ingrassa la cucina . un vuovo è nulla , due una frulla , tre un che , quatro un atto , cinque un tratto , & sei sono la morte . un gallo basta a dieci galline , ma non dieci huomini ad una donna . gallina vecchia fà buon brodo . una volta l anno cavati sangue , una volta il mese entra nel bagno , una volta la semana lavati la testa , una volta il giorno bascia la tua donna . giugnio , iuglio , agosto , donna non ti conosco . cacio cieco , pan con occhi , vino che salti alli occhi . sano come pesee , ò campana . piscia chiaro , & incacane al medico . a tavola non bisogna haver vergogna . a buon hora in pescaria , & tardi in beccaria . asciuto il piede , càlda la testa , & del resto vive da bestia ▪ barbier giovane , medico vecchio . aria di finestra , colpo di balestra . chi và a letto senza cena , tutta notte si dimena . di giorno quanto vuoi , di notte quanto puoi . di buona terra tò la vigna , di buona razza tò la figlia . e ' meglio pascer ' febbre che debolezza . ei fà beneficio a quei che sono da cà del diavolo , & de i suoi non fa conto niuno ▪ tu mi leggi per cose nuove , le mie compositioni . tu sei l'ottavo sapiente , il terzo catone . tu vai cercando miglior pan che di fromento . egli há pisciato in più d'una neve . e ' più lungo che un dante . diventa di papa vescovo . tu vuoj votar il mare con un cucchiaro . donna che si liscia , vuol fat altro che la piscia . e ' come la castagna bella di fuori , & dentro la magagna . tu comniciai a scorticare dalla coda . puzza da ruffiano . tu sei doppio come le cipolle . voi mi date pan per focaccia . puoi pisciar in letto , & dir che sei sudato . ha màngiato del culo della gallina . il lupo d'esser frate há voglia ardentee mentre è infermo , mà sano si pen●e . il gallo è l'orivolo della villa . il primo anno che l'huomo s'ammoglia , ò s'ammala ò s'indebita . di fuori argo , in casa talpa . muro bianco carta de matti . mette pur sù legna , chi in ogno modo la cenere val danari . tu sei più matto che un granchio che porta il cervello nella tasca . dove sono donne & ocche non vi son parole poche . rimaner con vno palmo di naso . le cortesane piangon con un occhio , le màritate con due , & le monache con quatro . due guglielmi , & un piero fan un pazz ' intero . buon di dante , di donde vieni , quanto erto el fango ? risp . di roma , final cul , buon di , buon anno . tu sei fuor del solco , fuor della carriera . come il can dell ' ortolano che non mangia de cavoli , & non ne lasciar mangiar altri . il papari menan l'oche a bere . il giorno di san nimbo , giouedi de tre fusi . scapucciare al primo passo . gli ho messo una pulce nell ' orecchio . egli pagarà a tre doppi . non ti stimo un bagattino . non ha sale in zucca . tu non sai nè bu nè bas . tu sè fuor de gangheri . scorticarebbe un pedocchio per venderne la pelle . tu misuri gli altri co'l tuo passetto . maj dici il vero se non quando non se n'accorge . há piantato un porro per unà cipolla . questo è il punto disse lippotoppo . tu hai intra preso a menar l'orso a modena . cercar funghi in arno. gigante de tivoli che burtaua j ceci con le pertiche . arco soriano che tira a gli amici & a nemici . ei gli par d'esser il poeta di modena . non andrei a scotia s'io v'havessi lasciato un occhio . nato nella falterona & frágli alpi . come quel perugino , che subito cha gli fù rotto il capo corse a casa per la celata . pan padouan , vin vicintin , tripe trevisane , puttane venetiane . se firenze havesse un porto , de pisa farebbe un horto , & de livorno un escritoio , & de luca un cacatoio . napoli un paradiso habitato da diavoli . chivà a roma & porta buon borsetto , diuenta abbate , ò vescovo di botto . chi lingua há , a roma vá . in roma chi segue le fortune le fuggono , chi non l'aspetta le vengono . con le labbra parlouana i greci , & con il petto gli romani . corte romana non vuol pecora senza lana . i tedeschi hanno l'ingegno nelle mani . venetia , venetia , chi non te vede non ti preggia . chi t' ha troppo veduto te despreggia . vorrei esser ' in guimea dove rompono le bracchia a chi parla di lavorare . le monache di genoa tornano dal bagno , & poi dimandano licentia dalla badessa . roma la santa , milan la grande . le nationi smaltiscono diversamente il lor dolore ; il tidesco lo beve ; il francese lo canta ; lo spagnuolo piagne ; l' italiano il dorme . napolitano largo di bocca , stretto di mano . provar ' can in puglia . tutti vogano alla galiotta . guelfo son io , & ghibellin m'i appello . panno sanese che si rompe prima che si metta adosso . come i quadri di fiandra , belli da lunghi , brutti d'appresso . siena di sei cose piena , torti , campane , puttane , becchi , scolari , roffiane . napoli la gentile , venetia la signorile . bologna la grassa , padova la passa . venetia la ricca , genoa la superba . lingua toscana in bocca romana . gli genouosi ingravidano lor moglie cento miglia lontano . in genoa vi sono montagne senza legno , mar senza pesce , donne senza vergogno , & huomini senza conscienza . in italia ui sono troppo teste , troppo feste , troppo tempeste . guai a quel paese , dove ci è un calabrese , se vi stà un anno porta rouina , & danno . i don di spagna , conti d' alemagna , i monsieurs di francia , i vescovi d' italia , i cavaglieri di napoli , i lordi d' scotia , i minori fratelli d' inghilterra , i nobili di ungheria , fanno una povera compagnia . un milanese , & un mantouano se ne vergogna rebbe . andar senza barca in cornovaglia . gli italiani saggii inanzi il fatto , tedeschi nel fatto , gli fra●cesi doppo il fatto . facciamo alla lombarda che dove si cena si dorme . di tre cose il florentino fá una frulla , d'adio , mi raccomando , vuoi tu nulla ? chi va a bologna catta febbte , ò rogna . fatta a ferrara , è temperata a piombino . donna graeca , vin graeco , vento graeco . l' insulano giamai habbi per compagno . amessina si trovano assaj pulci , polvore , puttane . i guidaei in pasqua , j mori in nozze , j christiani in piatire consumano il loro bein . inglize italionato , è un diavolo incarnaro . roma gi● capo , hor coda del mundo . amo tanto lo spagnnolo che me contentarei vederlo impiccato con gli budelli del francese . dove stanno tedeschi , non vogliono star italiani . e ' grassa come una puglia . milan può far ' , milan può dire , mà non può far ' d'acqua vino . più pazzi che quei da zago chi davan ' del letame al campanile perche crescesse . pazzo , come quel perugiano , che sabito che gli fù rotto il capo , corse a casa per la celata . amici di tanan chi mostrano j sassi a chi lor domanda pan . e ' come donna da castel cerino , bella da lungo , & brutta da vicino . e ' più stretto in cintura che qual si voglia spagniolo . il bergamasco hà il parlar grosso , & l'ingegnosottile non hà venet●a tanti gandolieri , quanti vicenza conti , & cavalieri . facciamo come que di , prato ; i lasciamo piovere . il francese non dice come pensa , non legge come scrive , non canta come nota . e ' torto come la via de bergamo . il pò non sarebbe pò , se adda & tesin non vi mettessero cò . gli pioppi de pò largiman , ambra . chi ha da far con tosco , non bisogna esset ' losco . spositioni , & glose d'alcuni proverbi particolari . il cacio fà romper le scarpette , & ingrossare la lingua . questo si dice a fanciulli , acchioche non mangino troppo di formaggio . vino da un orecchio . vuol dire , que quando bevete un buon vino , voi dite buono , chinando un oreccchio ; quando non ui garba , gli rimenate tuttì due . eravi un mulinaccio . questo proverbio è accommodato a chi dice qualche buggia , & non la può soltentare ; uno contava d'aversi rotto in mare , & a nuoto esser scampato in uno luogo deserto dove non era nulla da mangiare , dimandato come facesti tu ? disse , que ' havea mangiato un tedesco , & cottolo su i carboni , & dimandato , donde havesti il fuoco ? disse , che sempre portava seco il focile , & ogni pietra è focaia , & pur dimandato al fin onde havesti le legne , soggiunse subitó , quivi era un mulianio guasto ; è cacàsangue li venga . da verona a vicenza miglia trenta , da vicenza a verona trenta dua ; questo s'intende delle disese , & ascese . la mosca chi punge la tartaruga rompe al fin il beco . questo vuol ' dire che chi contrasta co'l più potente , è peggiorato al fine . ella aspetta tor ' marito . si dice d'una ch' a lunghe l'ugna . egli ha ●atlivi vicini . questo si'ntende d'uno che loda se stesso . egli non hà freddo a i piedi . si dice di coloro che dal bisogno non sono astretti a vender le lor merci manco di quel che vagliono , & possono sostentarle fin che venghi , che si levi per giusto prezzo , & è tratro , da coloro che alcuna volta per aver freddo a i piedi le danno via per quel che possono per andar ' a scaldarsi . non si fà mantello per un acqua sola . questo vuol dire , che non si fà un amico per servirsene una sol volta . egli par d'esser il caca di reggio . una si fatta storia si racconta di questo caca , i gibellini di reggio erano molto possenti , & tra gli altri vi havea uno chiamato il caca da reggio , & ancora per ischerne del nome di luy si fà mentione in motti ; quel caca era grande come gigante , & di maravigliosa forzà , & con una mazza di ferro in mano nullo s'ardia appressare che no l'abbatesse ò morro ò guasto nissun divento mai povero per far elemosyna . perche chi dona a poveri impresta a dio . primo porco , ultimo cane . perche de porci i primi che nascono sono i migliori , & de' cani gli ultimi . le siepi non hanno occhi , mà orecchie . auvisa che si guardi come si parla , quando s'e in luogo dove altri non veduto possa udire . dio mi guardi da mula che faccia hin , da borea , & da garbin , da donna che sappia latin. da donna chi pretende saper ' troppo . dio mi guardi da chi non hà denti . cio è de un nemico soave & lusinghiere . chi contra al cielo gitta pietra in capo gli ritorna . ciò è , chi resiste la volunta d'iddio , le cose luy succedono di mal in peggio . voi volete che io vada star a mantova . viz. voi volete chio ' fallisca , perche a mantova varino la maggiore parte de mercatanti che falliscono . egli si sta frà il le●to e'l lettuccio . i. non troppo bene , tratto da i convalescenti che per la de bo lezza ora s'ul letto , ora s'ul lettuccio si gettano . chi per altrui promette entra per lò largo , & esce per lostretto . questo è tratto dal corno chi hà due buchi uno stretto l'altro largo . e ' va più d'un asino biancho al mulino . questo s'usa quando alcuno pensa che qualche cosa sia sua , per esser ' simile alla sua . al leone stà bene la quartana . vuol dire , all' huomo feroce & superbo sono utili le infermità . tu m'hai rotto , ò schiacciato il vouo in boca . diciamo , quando essendo noi per dire qualche cosa , un'altro lo dice prima di noi . hò più da fare che i forni di natale in londra . vuol dire chio sono occupatissimo . d'agnello , di porco , di scimia , di leone tiene il vino la complessione . ciò è che in vino veritas , quando uno è ubbriaco , si scopre la sua dispositione . pochi principi si salvono . la ragione è perche ve ne siano pochi , come fu predicato inanzi il duca di savoya . moral proverbs in the italian toung . honest men use to marry , but wise men not . an englishman italianate is a devil incarnate . an ounce of mirth is better then a pound of melancholy . astrologie is true , but where is the astrologer ? our sinnes and our debts are alwayes more then we take them to be . he hath more business then english ovens at christmas . the fool knowes more of his own house , then a wiseman of anothers . he who cannot counterfet a friend , is no dangerous enemy . 't is better to have an egg to day , then a ' hen to morrow . who fasts and doth no good thing else , spareth his bread , and goeth to hell . that house is happy which smells of an old man. he ventures too much , who relies soly upon his own judgement . vvho hath a wolf for his companion , let him carry a dog under his cloak . rather late , then do a thing in hast . leafs enough , but few grapes ; viz. many words and few deeds . the first chapter of fools is to hold themselves wise . a misfortune , and a frier seldome go alone . many make a conscience to spit in the chruch who shite after upon the altar . the fly which pricks at the tortoise breaketh her beak at last . necessity is an ill guardian of chastity . the soul hath need of few things , the body of many . a lean agreement is better th●n a fat sentence . vvhile the wolf shites , the sheep escapes . prudence in the husband , and patience in the wife . it is not all butter that comes from the cow . the world is like a ladder , one goeth up , the other down . sparing is the first gain . if the thing had been to be done twice , the asse had been our own . orlando came too late . you will make me believe that gloworms are lanterns . you will find it in the frying , viz. upon trial . at shrovetide t' will be known who hath the fat hen . he who vaunts himself to be wisest , cometh to fall down his asse most commonly . vvhen the mouth is shut the flies will not get in . nothing venture , nothing have . who will have fish , must wet his breeches . little wit will serve to have good fortune . that falleth out ofttimes in a moment , which happeneth not in an age . 't is better believe then try it . force shites upon reasons back . a galloping horse ; a living grave . if i have the horns in my breast , i will not put them on my head . he who looks to every feather never makes bed . who hath little shame all the world 's his own . the saint sinne 's at an open chest . tie the asse where your master will have you . from a new host , and an old whore the lord deliver me . a hand is sometimes wash'd , that one would see rotted . i started the hare , and another took her . if thou wilt not have it known do it not . the wrong is not alwayes there where it is laid . the world 's round , and after night comes day . who is weary of standing let him sit . i know well how many loafs make a couple , and how many pair three oxen make . 't is an ill thing to be a knave , but a worse thing to be known so . soon ripe soon rotten . in a full house supper is quickly made ready . if the sun shines on me what care i for the moon . nothing needs no salt . clothes and laughter discover the man. he hath no wit in his noddle . he suffereth himself to be led by the nose like a buffalo . friends do ty the purse with a cob-web threed . vvho hath love in his breast , hath a spur in his flank . he loveth thee as well as a dog loves onions . if thou wilt live with me , bring something with thee . he is more miserable then mida , who warmed himself at the smoke of a turd . that 's mine which i enjoy , and give for god. vvho grants destiny denieth god. if i fell backward , i should break my nose , i am so unlucky . vvho hath a mole over his waste hath great luck . vvho is born fair , is born married . every creature thinks her own fair . vvho sees thee by day , will not seek thee by night . she is a remedy against lust . he is a greater lyar then an epitaph . the first pig , the last puppy is best . ti 's the back door that robbeth the house . ride a horse or a mare towards the shoulders , an asse or a ●ule towards the tail . vvho stands for another , payes for himself . a promise is the yeeve of the gift . she is happy who falls in love with an old fool . vvhen thou canst get good , take it . my house is my dugg . vvho eats a hare , laughs seven dayes after . an egg without salt doth neither good nor hurt . he that gives quickly doubles the gift . money is round , and so quickly trills away . a proverb deceiveth not , measure groweth not less , and pride doth not last . a hungry asse will eat any straw . i bear the noise , but others have the nuts . bakers and millers are the last that dy of a dearth . i will do all i can , but little less , that i may last to serve you . he who will not take pains in this world , let him not come into it . who hath children , his loaf is not all his own . a thing done by force is not worth a nutshel . who answers suddenly , knowes little . who payes before , is served behind . vvh paints her face thinks on her tail . i think and think again , so i become a fool , how man is made of the spittle of a tool . mischances come by pounds , and go away by ounces . the worst wheel of the cart makes most noise . abundance engenders loathing , and scarcity an appetite . curtesans weep with one eye , married women with two , nunnes with foure . a man is a kind of pig till five . the more hast , the worse speed . vvithdraw thy self from before a woman , from behind a mule , and from all sides of a monk . it is wisedom to play the fool sometimes . vvho is bound for another , goes in at the wide hole of the horn , and comes out at the small . he hath too little of that whereof the bull hath too much , viz. brain . neither physick , nor physition can avail against a mortal diseas vvho thrives well is accounted wise . thou shalt not come into my house if thou bringest nothing . there is wisedome required to govern foolishness . a new thought at every step . he danceth well who hath fortune to pipe unto him .. who climbs too high goes to fall . too much of good is distasteful . who frequents the kitchin smels of smoak . it is better to slip with the feet then with the toung . who suffereth in his good name but a moment , cannot recover it in a hundred year . commend the sea , but keep thee shoare , commend the hills , but keep thee on the plain , commend a wife , but keep thy self a batchelor . vvho is not something at twenty , nor knows not at thirty , nor hath not at fourty , he never will be , nor will he ever know , nor will ever have any thing . when thou art an anvil obey the hammer . sit still awhile , and thou shalt see thy revenge . gaming is a vermin that gnawes to the bone . many words , and few deeds deceive wise men and foo's . cast not away with thy hands that what thou must seek for afwards with thy feet . poverty is no vice , but an incommodity . he knows enough , who knows and holds his peace . it is a bitter gift that taketh away ones liberty . he commands enough who obeyes the wise . the best news is no news . he asks enough who serves well and saith nothing . to the infortunate nothing succeds well . lust dirtieth young men , and drowns the old . a liar is not believed when he tells truth . a merry heart makes a good countenance . love requires faith , and faith firmness . my dear cousin in borrowing , and the sonne of a whore in repaying . it behoveth a fool to be wise , if he will make his words true . you cannot spite a woman more , then to call her old , or illfavoured . to him who loves thee not , wish him a scould , a process , or an urinal . to go to a pigeon house with a taber . it is a simple thing to leave a memory for one in his inn ▪ in an ill passage honour thy companion , viz. let him go first . a stout man finds remedy for any thing except death . a tree often transplanted bears not much fruit . the stone yields to the water . love with his dart hits all men to the heart . t is danger to blame princes , and flattery to praise them . that house is happy which smells of an old man. assiduity makes all things easie . a short slip for a cursed dog . pride never wants woe . a mou●h-friend not worth a mite . crack me that nut . venter an egg for an ox . the goods of fortune pass away like the moon . who is born a fool is never cured . every thing is better then a wife . every ten years one hath some use of another . every woman and cow have some blemish . every one hath something to do ; the poor to get , the rich to keep , the vertuous to learn. an ox shites more then a hundred flies . the bell tolls for others , not for it self . give just weight , and sell dear . let ts take the bear first , and then let ts sell the skin . to dure , we must endure . by too many controversies truth is lost . a small cause makes the wolf take the lamb. the devil turns his back at a gate shut up . the thought hath good legs . the devil may tempt , but not break ones neck . some do kiss the hand they wish were cut off . he is as well a merchant who loses , as he that gains . three rogues make a gallowes . a black soyl makes white bread . all nations have differing digestions of grief . some do nourish a crow that will peck out their eyes . a fool and a turd are soon smelt . shear thy sheep , but do not slay her . a table without salt , a mouth without spittle . that is a pitifull house where the goodman weareth not the breeches . the third would keep secret , if there were not two more in company . too much dispute makes truth to depart . he erreth as much who holdeth all dreams to be true , as he who holdeth there is none . god preserve me among my friends , for among my enemies i will defend my self . wine hath the complexion of a lamb , a hogg , an ape , and a lion. no sooner is a church built for god , but the devil erects a chappel for himself hard by . you go from the matter . i lead the life of little mick , i eat , i drinke , and take my pleasure . one hand washeth another , and both the face . obey the king , whether just or injust . there be more backs then one for a saddle to fit . one pair of ears dry up a hundred tongues . a man of straw is worth a woman of gold . 't is true prosperity to have no adversity . wind in the visage makes one sage : viz. adversity . go where thou wilt , but dy at home . a misfortune and a frier seldome go alone . one sword keeps another in the scabbard . he is not a clown who holdeth the plough , but he who doth clownish things . he who liveth in hope doth dance in a hoope , viz. in a narrow scope . who giveth and taketh , a serpent cometh at his heart . who promiseth and performeth not may he stretch in hell. a gall'd horse loves not to be curried . that which is in use hath no excuse . who marrieth doth well , who marrieth not , doth better . who jeers the lame ought to go streight himself . who doth not trust shall not be deceived . who takes a wife , takes care . a stout heart breaks through ill luck . who hath not money in his purse , let him have honey in his mouth . the company of one is no company at all , the company of two is the company of god , the company of three is the company of a king , the company of foure is company of the devil . to do disservice for a courtesie . the belly is sooner satisfied then the eye . without money george sings not . the mice are merry where there is no cat . when the corn is in the field 't is gods and the saints . while pride gallops , poverty rideth behind on the crupper . the more a turd is stirred , the more it stinks . love requires foure things , to be wise , to be alone , to be careful and secret . that which heaven sends we cannot avoid . when the blind carrieth the banner , woe to them who come behinde . a word once out , and a stone flung , he labours in vain who seeks them again . more happy then a butchers dog , or the millers cock . more worn then the way to rome . dry bread is better at home , then roast meat abroad . better be a begger then ignorant . wit prevails more then force or wood . law , the taverne , and an urinall , send a man to the hospitall . the words of an angel , the deeds of a devil . rather a moore then no body . a mild sheep is suckt by every lamb . he hath no bones in his mouth , he is a smooth-toungd fellow . he is more doubled then an ●ignion : spoken of a cunning fellow hunger the best engine to batter down pride . the fly which pricks at the tortoise breaks her beak . ' tie my hands and feet , and throw me among mine . he hath blood under his nails , he is stout . good words do anoint , but bad do prick . many pretend to know all , and know not themselves at all . while the miser sleeps , the thief wake 's . obedience is better then sacrifice . eat after thy own fashion , but cloath thy self as others doe . 't is better to believe many things then to go prove them . a glass of wine is better then all the tyber . many speak of orlando who never saw his sword . he thinks ill that doth not think the contrary . a traveller must have the snout of a hog , the legs of a deer , and the back of an asse . the mule that laughs , and the woman that fleers , the first will overthrow thee , ehe other will scratch thee . he sups ill that eats all at dinner . i spend my self to serve others , viz. a candle . no man is born a master in any trade . he is not freed , who drags his chain after him . le ts not be wanting to our selves , then let heaven work . do not do it , if thou wilt not have it known . one cannot drink , and whistle at once . 't is no time to play at chess when the house is on fire . he is not wise , that knows not how to be a fool . nurture overcomes nature . who payeth before hand hath his work ill done . who can have patience hath what he will. who is wise in the day , can be no fool in the night . who is beloved by god , is visited by god. who hath time , let him not stay for time . who fears every nettle , let him not piss upon the grass . who letteh his wife go to every feast , and his horse to drink at all waters , will have a jade to the one , and a whore to the other . with money , latine , and a good nag , one may find a way in every countrey . who will have compassion of others , let him not forget himself . who marrieth for love hath pleasant nights , but sorrowfull dayes . the traveller sleeps five houres , the student seven , the merchant eight , and the knave eleven . a gentleman without money is like a wall without a cross ; piss'd at by every body . who commends himself , berayes himself . every one is the son of his own work . who lends money , looseth two things ; viz. friend & mo●y . the gospel makes heretiques . who speaks sowes , who holds his peace gathers . to change the trot for the amble . orlando himself cannot deal with two . money makes cowheards cavaliers . to give the floure to the devil , and offer the bran to god. the father a saint the son a devil . two faces under one hood . make me a prophet , and i will make thee rich . god make me tall and fat , and i will make my selfe white and fair . god comes at last , when we think he is furthest off . there can be nothing done well in haste , but to fly from the plague . think and then do . if women were silver , they were not worth a farthing , for they would not bear the hammer . if the mother had not been at the bakers , she would not seek her daughter there . if a woman were as little as she is good , a pescod would make her a cap and a hood . he is such a miser , that he would flay a louse to sell the skin . the femal sex is hurtful . who loseth a wife and a peny , hath a great loss of the peny . a punk is like a coal , it burns or smuts . he would eat his cake , and find his cake in his pocket . study a cotton staff , viz. it consumes one softly . blessed be that cross which comes alone . the french disease is cured but once at a time . a standing prick carrieth no lantern . we learn by teaching . they have tied the tripe together , viz. they are married . who hath a head of wax let him not go to the sun . that gift is bitter which deprives one of his liberty . a muffed cat takes no mice . every one draweth water to his own mill . women , priests and poultry have never enough . a rowling stone gathers no moss . from an angry fool , from one that reads but one book , from an upstart squire , from the physicians recipe , and the scrivenors etcaetera , the lord deliver us . a scabby pate loves not the comb . man purposeth , god disposeth . above god there is no lord , above salt there 's no savour , above black there is no colour . woman is the woe of man. the tree falls not at the first stroke . an ambassador is not punishable . ill gotten goods thrive not . beat the iron while it is hot . the wolf pisseth upon the back of an old dog . he is streight in the waste . free speech without restraint . who maketh himself a sheep , the wolf will eat him up . to fall from the frying pan into the fire . with time and straw medlars grow ripe . words are women , deeds are men . le ts be merry , the devil is dead , i , but his sonne is still living . the hardest step is that over the threshold , viz. the beginning . who is born a fool is never cured . the wolf changeth his hair , but not his humor . one cannot take fish without wetting . who goeth soft , goeth safe . who goeth soft and faire , goeth far and safe . a peny saved is twice gained . every streight thing hath its turning . good wine needs no bush . ask the vintner whether he hath good wine . god helps him , who helps himself . god infatuats those whom he doth not love . divine vengeance comes not in hast . iest with boyes , and leave the saints alone . one cannot drink and whissle at one time . thou puttst the cart before the oxen . i would not be alone in paradise . we have already eaten our boyes cakes . a word spoke , and a stone hurled cannot be call'd back . delay breeds danger . want maketh a good lackey . who traceth two hares at once , taketh not the one , and letteth the other go . be rather envied , then pittied . a post looketh well in good clothes , and a milke-maid is as fair as a madame . while there is breath , there is some hope . where the tooth pains , the toung is commonly upon it . what one hath by nature it goes with him to his grave . the hungry asse eats any straw . god knows what may happen from hence thither . do as you are done unto . to day above ground , to morrow under . neither dog nor cat can get any thing there . he is rich who is not in debt . he fears the flies . leave every craftsman his own trade . there is remedy for all things except against death . vvho is first at the mill let him grind . every bird thinks his own chickins fairest . to anger a wasp . a precipice before , and a wolf behind , viz. twixt two dangers . vvho hath no heart , let him have legs . fair words make some amends for ill deeds . give something of thine own to the devil , and turn him away . vvho covets all hath nothing , or dieth mad . in that countrey they bind vines with sausages . the miser doth nothing well , but when he kicketh up his heels . good old homer dote's sometimes . thou wilt teach cats to creep . a rowling stone gathers no moss . little and oft fills the purse . to be twixt the hammer and the anvil . the world goes clean cam . six feet of earth make all men equal . vvho speaketh oft , is oft mistaken . vvho takes a courtesie of another sels him his liberty . thou wilt know me better when thou hast me not . he is thy enemy who is of thy profession . there are more groans then gladness . who doth do deceives not . to recommend one with good ink . fools have the best times . he is welcome who brings something . in time of dearth make shift with mouldy bread . he is happy who learns at another mans cost . ask enough , and there will be enough to abate . when there is fire in the neighbourhood , bring water to thy own house . a lyer must have a good memory . who comes of a hen , must do like a hen . i see the best but follow the worst . a mischief foreseen grieves less . at the fag end of mirth there lies melancholy . one never wept but another laught . you have hit the nail on the head . in the sluggards bouse every day is festival . as rich as the foukers , who were dutch merchants . all designes take not . put not thy sickle in another mans corn . the day commendeth the evening , and a good life ones death . put also your hand thereunto . crosses draw one upwards . 't is holy oyle . follow the fashion of the countrey thou goest in . who leaveth the old way for the new , is oftentimes cousened . rich men can want no kindred . vvho milketh his goate too much , may draw blood . vvho buyeth by the penny , findeth not onely himselfe , but others . the same measure thou givest to others , thou shalt have thy self . hope is the poor mans bread . who keepeth company with the woolf will learn to howl . ther 's none deceived but he who trusts . the masters eye fa●neth the horse . the good shepheard sheareth , he doth not slay his sheep . a friend who gives onely good morrow . where gold speaks , every toung is dumb . i have the fame , and others have the nuts . take down a thief from the gallowes , and he will hang thee after . who cannot do as he would , let him do as he can . a man is unhappy according as he thinks himself to be . to take two pigeons with one bean . death takes away the innocent , and leaves the guilty . every bird thinks his own nest the fairest . every tygre loves his own brood . he hath something to do who maketh a bed for a dog . there is yet some oyle left in the lamp. you cannot draw the frog from his ditch . custome converteth nature . he hath neither bed nor roof . like to like . in matters of weight go on with leaden feet . who hath dined well , believes not him who is hungry . rare things are dear , plenty brings distaste . lords wear the red gird'es , viz. are happy . to take out a nail , and strike in a pin . bear with the hum●r of thy friend . such an envious wretch , that he would pluck out one of his own eyes to take out both his neighbours . take heed you find not that which you do not seek . better to be the head of a mouse then the tail of a lion. i am scarce master of my own breath . he cuts large thongs of another mans leather . he hath honey in his mouth , and the razor at his girdle . by ease and rest the soul becomes wiser . better to be a bird of the wood then of the cage . friendship should be unsowed , and not ript . an ounce of fortune is worth a pound of wisedom . hard and hard makes no good wall . what 's well done , is done soon enough . what boots it to kick at the fates ? who believes lightly , is deceived easily . an old horse to a young souldier . cold water seems hot to a scalded dog . vvho can take from thee what thou hast , give him what he asketh ▪ a hundred eyes for the buyer , and one is enough for the seller . think well upon 't w●en thou art offered a good pen●iworth . deaf ears to dirty speeches . one can take no aim at things too high . there is fence for all things if one could find it out . to give and keep , there is need of wit. humor a silly old man if thou wilt be suddenly rich . the bird by his note , the man is known by his words . in the court let every one shift for himself . a friend to pray for sneezers . the itch , a cough , and love cannot be hid . every ones's friend , is friend to none . to go whither pope nor emperour can send an ambassador , viz. to stool . the tradesman who doth not lie hath no trade among men . he commands enough who obeyes the wise . to stand waiting and not to come , to lie a bed and not to sleep , to serve well and not to please , are three things as bad as death . a good turn too late is as much as nothing . a fair woman and a slash'd garment find alwayes some nail in the way . let the letter stay for the post , and not the post for the letter . 't is good to have some trade to serve at a pinch . an old dog barks not in vain . the bells call others to mass , though they never go themselves . a hundred cart-load of thoughts cannot pay an ounce of debt . vvho divides honey with the bear hath the least part . vvho pisseth against the wind wets his shirt . vvho hath all in one place , hath all in the fire . vvho discovers his secret maketh himself a slave . vvho is born fair , is born married . who fasts and doth no good also spares his bread , and goeth to hell . who taketh a lion absent , fears a mouse present . who trusts not , is not cousend . who will well observe the festival , let him fast the yeeve before . who liveth at court dieth upon straw . who payeth before hand hath his work ill done . who hath the spirit of poetry is fit for all company . who will not restore doth ill to take . who can have patience , hath what he will. who is wise in the day time , cannot be a fool at night . he who doth the wrong is the unhappy , and not he who receiveth it . who doth his own business foule's not his fingers . who bestoweth well selleth well , if he be not a clown that taketh it . who understands ill , answers worse . who payes his debts makes up his principal . who wisheth me well maketh me blush , but i grow pale at my ill wishers . who offends doth never forgive . make one bargain with every body , but make four with thy self . who desires a short lent , let him make a debt to be paid at easter . who hath a trade , may through all waters wade . vvho sells upon trust brusheth many clothes , loseth friends , and never hath money . vvo hath neither fools nor beggars , or whores among his kindred , was born of a stroke of thunder vvho sleeps all the morning , may beg all the day after . it is not the cats fault , if the mistress of the house be a fool . every one is son of his own works . a merry companion is as good as an ambling horse . the kid may die as soon as the goat . god guard me from my friends , for i shall guard my self from my enemies . from the recipe of physicians , and the etcaetera of notaries the lord deliver me . ther 's a great difference twixt the word and the deed . troubled waters will never make a good looking-glass . the best remedy against injuries , is to forget them . a woman that lookes too much in a glass was never good spinstress . a woman kiss'd is half won . an illfavored woman is a pain to the stomack , a fair one to the head . a gift long looked for is sold , not given . vvhere the head cannot enter the tayl may . he is like an anchor , which though alwayes in the water , yet never drinks . 't is better to deny and do , then to promise , and not to do . 't is better to pay and have little , then have much , and to be in debt . he is rich who hath no debt . he eats leafs , and shites silk ▪ do well to thy self and thine , then to others if thou canst . like the ape that takes the chesnuts out of the fire with the cats paw . vvhen there are no cats the mice dance . to go to the ●at for bacon . let thy maid-servant be faithfull , strong and homely . a fort which begins to parly is half got . 't is a foolish sheep that makes the wolfe her confessor . he hath a good judgement who trusts not to his own . he is a bankerupt ; whose punishment in italy is to sit bare on a stone in the market place . you cannot goe here upon the score to day , to morrow you may . a solitary man is either a beast or an angel. willows are weak yet they tie strong wood . wine in the bottle quencheth not thirst . it is not the cut hair that will content the barber . the devil turns his back at a door shut . the promise is the yeeve of the gift . gaming is the touch-stone ●f man , to see is easie , 't is hard to foresee . the scabby head loves not the comb . a good paymaster is lord of another mans purse . too much spoiles , too little doth not satisfie . in a discreet mans mouth a publick thing is private . have a mansion before thou marry . a letter doth not blush . diligence is the mother of good luck . war makes thieves , and peace hangs them . admiration is the daughter of ignorance . wealth is not his who hath it , but his who enjoyes it . keep flax far from the fire , and youth from gaming . the bow breaks that 's too hard bent . 't is good feasting at other mens houses . the sign of an inn lodgeth others , and keepeth it self in the rain . innocence carrieth her protection with her . merchandize will neither friends or kindred . measure thrice what thou buyest , and cut it once . never tell all thou knowest , thou canst , or hast . nor eye in a letter , nor hand in a purse , nor ears in the secrets of another . nor wife , nor wine , nor horse ought to be praised . a servant is known in the absence of his master . never make thy physitian thy heir . do not imbark without bisket . do not cast away with thy hands , what thou mayest seek after with thy feet . flesh never rest in the shambles be it never so bad . wilt thou be revenged of thy enemy ? carry thy self well . to sell the bird upon the branch . help never comes too late . seeking to do what thou canst not , there will happen what thou wouldst not . a good sallet is the beginning of an ill supper . one hand rubs another , and both do rub the head . a small gift brings often a great reward . to have gold brings fear , to have none brings grief . he is welcome who comes well laden . by seeing one thou knowest him half , by hearing him speak thou knowst him all . one cap is more worth then a hundred coifs . what boots it to give kicks at fate ? he is no clown that driveth the plough , but he who doth clownish things . the vertue of the mouth healeth what it toucheth . let thy expences be according to thy means , the wise man knows it , the fool thinks not of it . if the young man knew , and the old man could , there is nothing but would be done . such a rechless thing , that if he fell bakward he would break his nose . upon a sudden women are wise , and fools afterward . he governs himself well , who shuns the tavern . god is sole without sin . to render good for evil is charity , evil for good cruelty , ill for ill revenge , good for good justice . reserve thy master-piece . the love of a punk , and the wine of a flask fresh in the morn , and flatt at night . let him go right who mocketh the lame . who hath one foot in a baudy house , hath the other in the hospital . the longer 't is a coming the sorer is the judgement . when war begins hell opens . little wealth little care . one eye of the master seeth more then four of servants . a hair of a woman draweth more then a hundred yoke of oxen. forgive all , but thy self never . to tr●aerse the world safely , one must have the eye of a faulcon , the ears of an asse , the countenance of an ape , the toung of a mountibank , the shoulders of a camel , the mouth of a hogg , and the feet of a hinde . a four white-foot horse is a horse for a fool , a three white-foot horse is a horse for a king , and if he hath but one i le give him to none . make thy bargain more cautiously with thy friend then a stranger . he can make weight of every lock of wooll . to take two pigeons with one bean . who seeketh strife shall find it at home . who lives by hope dies farting . i know how many loafs make a couple . that which must be 't is fitting it should come . that which will be , will be . 't is an ill thing to be bad , but 't is worse to be known so . the best oignions are those which are transplanted . i am not afraid of ill faces , for i was born at shrovetide , viz. when there was so many whifflers . i am not used to carry double . 't is bootles to rise betimes , unless one hath good fortune . the honor one doth with the mouth avails much & costs little . every woman is chaste , unless she be hunted after . to live content , hear , see , and be silent . easter so wished for long , passeth away in one day . patience , time and money accommodate all things . like the men of gotham , who sowed needles , hoping they would grow to bars of iron . temporall proverbs touching the seasons . like march sun , which heats but doth not melt . dearth under water , bread under snow . april , april , thou shalt not make me cast off my wascot . at saint thomas the day is lengthened a cock-stride . an evening red , and a morning gray , presages are of a fair day . at michaelmas hot weather goeth to heaven . young and old must go warm at martlemas . at saint martins drink wine , and let the water run by the mill . when the cock drinkes in summer , it will rain a little after . the snow for eight dayes is a mother to the earth , but after a stepmother . as mars hastneth all the humors feel it . few grapes and wine enough , a little corn little bread . in august neither ask for olive , chesnut nor acorns . january commits the fault , and may bears the blame . a year of snow , a year of plenty . three seasonable showres in august , are worth king salomons chariot and horses . physicall proverbs touching health . cheese marrs no taste . lie along at night , sit in the morning , stand up at noon , and walk in the evening . old men who play with young maids , embrace death . fish spoils water , flesh mends it . commend a wife , but keep thy self a batchelor . who gapes would either go to sleep , or doe a thing which he dare's not tell . when a woman doth yawn and stretch , who understands not her meaning is a silly wretch . never was there great river but puddle water went into it . better give the wool then the sheep . better give a peny then lend twenty . better to pass a danger once then be alwaies in fear . to the gout all physicians are blind . bread as long as it last , but wine by measure . bread of one day , an egg of one hour , wine of one year , fish of ten , a woman of fifteen , and a friend of a hundred . health without money is half a sickness . piss cleer , and a fig for the physician . black , new , and neat is the way to go brave . when the old man will not drink , go to see him in the other world . a hog of a moneth , a goose of three , are food for a king. apples , pears , and nuts spoil the voice . o●d fish , old oyl , and an old friend . fish in the sun , and flesh in the shade . a little meat and less grief cause mirth . he is twixt the bed and the couch , viz. in a mending way . a quartan ague kills the old , and cures the young . there be more old drunkards then old physitians . a good , a bad , and one indifferent meal maintaineth health . sell thy coat to buy betony . veal , poultry , and raw fish do fatten the churchyard . wine within , and wit without . wine in the middle , oyle obove , and hony beneath . who will keep himself in health , let him piss like a dogg ; viz. often . an old hen fattens the kitchin . one egg is nothing , two a little better then nothing , three are something , five are too many , and six kill . one cock serves ten hens , but ten men not one woman . an old hen makes good broth . once a year let bloud , once a moneth bath , once a week wash thy head , ( i. be trimd , ) and once a day kiss thy wife . june , july and august , wife , i know thee not . blind cheese , bread with eyes , wine that leaps into your eyes . as sound as a fish , or a bell . piss clear , and shite upon the physitians head . be not bashful at table . go betimes to the fishmarket , and late to the shambles . keep thy feet dry , and thy head warm , and for the rest , live like a beast ; viz. temperately . a young barber , and an old physitian . window wind like the hit of a crossbow . who goeth supperless to bed museth most part of the night . sleep by day as much as thou wilt , and at night as much as thou canst . plant thy vine in a good soyl , and take a wife of a good race . 't is better feed a fever then feebleness . he doth kindness to those who are beyond the devil , and makes no account of his own kindred . you read unto me my own compositions as newes . thou art the eighth wiseman , and the third cato . thou wilt have better bread then is made of wheat . he hath pissed in more then in one snow . he is longer then dante . he is become a bishop from a pope . thou wilt empty the sea with a spoon . a woman who paints will do more then piss . she is like a chesnut , fair without , and rottten within . thou beginst to slay at the tail . he smels of musk , viz. of a ruffian . thou hast as many doublings as a cabage . you give me bread for cake . you may piss a bed , and say you sweated . he is full of talk , it being the custome in italy to give the greatest talker the rump of the hen . the wolf being sick wished to be a frier , but being well he repented of it . the cock is the countrey mans clock . the first year a man is married , either he falleth sick , or into debt . an argos abroad , and a mole at home . a white wall is the paper of fools . put on wood enough , for the ashes will yield money . thou art a greater fool then the crab , who carrieth his brains in his pocket . where there are women and geese , there wants no noise . to be fouly bafled . the courtesan weeps with one eye , the wife with two , and the nun with four . two williams and one peter make a perfect fool . good morrow dante , whence comest thou , how high is the dirt ? answer , from rome , up to the tail , a good day , and a good year to you . thou art out of the furrow , thou art beside the way . as the gardners dog , who would not eat cabage himself , nor suffer others to do it . the goslings lead the geese to water . the feast of saint nimbo three dayes before doomesday . to stumble at the first step . i put a flea in his ear . he shall pay at three doblons . i care not a farthing for thee . he hath little salt in his skull . thou knowest nothing . you are off the hinges . he would flay a louse to sell the skin . you measure other by your own pace . he never speaketh truth but when he never thinks on it . he hath planted leeks for oignons . this is the point quoth lippotop , a kind of buffoon . thou hast undertaken to lead the bear to modena . to seek for mushrumps in arno. the giant of tivoli , who did beat down pease with a pole . like the bow of soria , who shot at friend and enemy . he takes upon him to be the poet of modena . i would not go to scotland to fetch again one of my eyes . born among rocks , hard-hearted . as he of perugia , who when his head was broke , ran home for his helmet . padoua bread , vicenza wine , treviso tripes , and venice courtesans . if florence had a port , she would make a garden of pisa , a counting house of ligorn , and a jaques of luca. naples is a paradise inhabited by devils . who goeth to rome , and carrieth a good purse , becometh an abbot or bishop . who hath a good tongue let him go to rome . in rome preferments seek them that seek them not , and fly from them that seek them . the greeks spoke with lipps , and the romans with their breasts . the court of rome will not take the sheep without the wooll . the germanes have their wits at their fingers ends , viz. good artificers . venice , venice , none thee unseen can prize , who hath seen thee too much will thee despise . i would be in guimea where they have their arms broke who speak of working . the nuns of genoa return from the bath , and then ask leave of the abadess . rome the holy , milan the great . nations do diversly digest their grief ; the dutch drink it away , the french sings it away , the spaniard grones it away , and the italian sleeps it away . the napolitan hath a large mouth , but a narrow hand . to trie a dogg in puglia . all row in the gally . i am a guelphian , and call my self a gibelin , he that giveth most shall have me . like siena cloth which breaks before it is worn . as flanders landskips , fair a far off , and course hard by . siena full of four things , of towers and bells , of whores and cuckolds , of scholers and panders . naples the gentile , venice the ladylike . bologna the fat , and padova more then that . venice the rich , genoa the proud . the toscan toung sounds best in a roman mouth . the men of genoa get their wives with child a hundred miles distant . in genoa , there are mountains without wood , sea without fish , vvomen without shame , and men without consciences . in italy there are too many heads , viz. politicians , too many holy dayes , and too many tempests . wo be to that countrey where there is a calabrese , if he stay there a year , he brings nothing but ruine and mischief . the dons of spain , the graves of germany , the monsieurs of france , the bishops of italy , the cavaliers of naples , the lerds of scotland , the younger brothers of england , the nobles of hungary , make but a poor company . a milanese , or montouan would blush at this . to goe to cornwal without a boat . the italians are wise before the fact , the germans in the fact , the french after the fact . le ts do as in lombardy , where one sups he sleeps . the florentine maketh nothing of three things , of adieu , farewel , do you want any thing ? who goes to bolonia , will meet with the fever or the itch . made at ferrara , and moulded at piombino . a greek woman , greek wine , and greek wind may i find . never make an ilander thy companion . messina hath store of fleas , dust and whores . the jewes in passovers , the moors in weddings , the christians in law sutes consume their wealth . an englishman italianated , is a devil incarnate . rome was the head , but now it is the tail of the world . i love a spaniard so well , that i could be contented to see him hang'd with a frenchmans guts . where dutchmen are , italians will not likely be ; viz. to drink too much . the names of all the wits , or ingenious men in most of the cities of italy , as they of the academie de beaux esprits in paris are called academiciens . lincei , fantastici , humoristi , di roma . intronati di siena· otiosi di bologna . addormentati di genoa . ricoverati , & orditi di padoa . olympici di vicenza . innominati di parma . invaghiti di mantova . affidati di pavia . offuscati di cesene . caliginosi d'ancona . adagiati di rimini . assorhiti di città di castello . insensati di perousa . catenati di macerata . ostinati di viterbo . immobili d'alexandria . occulti di bresia . perseveranti di treviso . oscari di luca. raffrontati di ferma . 't is a countrey as far as apulia . milan can doe , milan can speake , but she cannot turn water into wine . more foolish then they of zago , who dung'd the foot of the steeple to make it grow higher . as very a fool as that perugian , who as soon as his head was broke , ran home for a helmet . friends of tanan , who shew stones to him that aske them bread . she is like a woman of castel cerino , fair afar off , and foul near hand . he is streighter in the waste then any spaniard , viz. more covetous . they of bergamo have a gross speech , but subtile wits . venice hath not so many gondoliers , as vicenza h●th earls , and cavaliers . le ts do as they of prato ; le ts let it rain . the frenchman neither saith what he thinks , n●r reads as he writes , nor sings as he pricks . as crooked as the way of bergamo . po would not be po , if adda , and tesin did not joyn also . the poplars of po weep ambar . who hath to deal with a florentine must have both his eyes about him . expositions , and glosses upon some particular italian proverbs . cheese teareth the shooes , and maketh the toung fatt . these two proverbs use to be spoken to children , that they should not eat too much cheese . wine of the one eare . by this is meant , that when ye drink good wine , you use to say good , bowing one eare , but when it is naught , you shake both eares . there was an old mill there . this proverb is applied to those who tell a lye , and cannot maintain it ; as one who related that having suffered shipwrack , he scaped by swimming into a desart where there was nothing to eat ; being asked , how he could live , he said , that he fed upon a dutchman , being broyled upon the coales ; and being asked , where he found the fire , he said , that he carried a tinder-box with him ; at last , being asked where he found wood , he replied presently , that there was a decayed mill there ; and may the cackrel take him . from verona to vicenza there are thirty miles , from vicenza to verona thirty two ; this is meant of ascents and descents , as twixt highgate and london . the fly which pricks at the tortoise , breaks at last her beak . this is meant of that who doth contend with a stronger then himself , gets the worst at last . she is in hopes to marry . this is understood of one that hath long nails . it seemeth he hath ill neighbours . this is meant of one that prayseth himselfe too much . he hath no cold at his feet . this is understood of those which sometimes are constrained to sell their commodities at a lower rate then they are worth , because that having cold in their feet , they may goe warm themselves at the fire , and so vice versa . a cloak is not made for one showre of rain . this is meant of a friend that is made to doe more then one pleasure . he thinks himself to be caca of reggio . this is meant of a braggadocian or vain glorious man , for when the gibelines of reggio were very powerfull , there was one caca that was a tall giant-like man , who carried alwayes a great barre of iron , wherewith he had killed divers of the guelphies , who were then enemies to them of reggio in that great long civil war that happened in italy . a man doth never grew the poorer by giving almes . because almes are lent to god , who is a good pay-master . the first hog , and the last dog. this is meant that the first pig of a sow , and the last puppy of a bitch is the best . hedges have no eyes , but they have ears . this proverb giveth caution , that we should be wary what to speake , and in whose presence . god deliver me from a winching mule , from the bleak north-wind , and from a latine woman . viz. from a woman that pretendeth to be too wise . god deliver me from him who hath no teeth . viz. from a smooth-tounged , and flattering enemy . who hurleth stones at heaven , they fall upon his head . viz. who resisteth the good will of god , his businesses goe from bad to worse . you will have me go to dwell at montova . viz. you will have me swallow a spider , and play the bankrapt , and so go dwell at mantova , the refuge of bankrupts . he is betwixt the bed and the couch . that is , he is ill disposed ; for when men are not well , they sometimes use to lie on their beds , sometimes on their couches . who engageth for another , enters at the large hole , and cometh out at the streight . a caveat not to enter into bonds for another . there goes more then one white asse to the mill . this is used when one taketh a thing to be his , because 't is like his . the quartan ague doth well with the lion. viz. some crosses , and fits of sicknesses do well with a strong or proud man. thou hast crack'd the egg in my mouth . this is meant of those that thinking to speak of a business another speaketh before . i have more business then london fornaces at christmass . viz. i have more to do then i can turn my hands unto . wine hath the complexion of a lamb , a hogg , an ape , and a lion. viz. when one is drunke , then his humour , and natural disposition is discovered . few princes go to heaven . because there are but few of them , as it was preached before the duke of savoy , who is prince of piemont . lettera piaceuole , composta de proverbi , dell ' arsiccio academico intronato , in siena . a pleasant letter , composed all of proverbs , by arsiccio one of the vvitts of siena . gentilissima signiora , hor chio sono al sicuro , mi voglio pur cavar questa maschera , & non intendo più far lo sciocco ; sorella mia , voi ui sete ingannata a credere , che quello arsiccio che faceva il balordo fosse buono , egli era più falso , più latino , & più malitioso ch'il diavolo del inferno ; e se bene faceva la gatta di masino , egli haveua il pane in mano , èl rasoio alla cintola , & come colui cha ha fatto d'ogni lana un peso , accennava a coppe , & dava danari cercando s'ha esse potuto pigliar duo colombi a una faua ; ma la sorte volse che altri si levò prima di luy : perche l'huomo propone , & dio dispone ; egli si pensò d'andare a pascere , & andò ad orare , & però disse ben coluy , i sogni non son veri , & disegni non riescono , & chi mal pensa , mal dispensa , & altri disse , mal habbia & disse bene , per che è giusto chi chi cerca briga la trovi a sua posta , & chi potendo stare cade trà via , s'ei si rompe il collo a suo danno sia . mà il male non stà sempre dove si pena , che il mondo è tondo , & doppo la notte viene il giorno ; et come si dice ogni tempo viene a chi lo può aspettare ; & a chi rincresce pongali a sedere ; cosi farò io , ne mi spavento di quel che si dice , che chi vive a speranza , muor cacando , chio ho prisciatio sopra neve , & so hoggimai quanti pani fanno una coppia , & quanti paia fanno tre buoi , & conosco benissimo un bue frà cento persone , & per dir meglio , conosco j miei buoi , nè mi credo ingannare , che come sapete , più sà il matto in casa sua ch'il savio in quella d'altri , è basta . mà potreste dire , tardi torno orlando , jo vi rispondo che il bene non fù mai tardi , & pero anchorche la pietra sia caduta nel pozzo , & ch●io vegga che gli è un zappa in acqua , ò come dicono gettar le fave al muro , & non si può scorzare il popone ; ci bisogna poi ch'habbiamo tocato il culo alla cicala ch'ella canti , & se bene egli è un stuzzicare il formicaio , & un attizzare il fuoco e ' non importa , quel che h● da esse convien che sia , & chi nasce mato non guarisce mai , jo sono oca , & oca convien ch'io muoia , et se bene fò il cane dell ' ●ortolano patienza ; voi sapete che chi si contenta , gode ; & io godo poiche la casa bruccia & io mi scalderò ●ur le mani ; & se io duro nelle scartate mio danno , il è peggio che morire : costoro dicono che il mutar costume , e'l sopportare le corna per forza è ad pari di mori●e . et pero mi delibero di's borrare un tratto , & dir come il co●so se coglie , coglie se non sparge , & a chi toca , tocchi ; a me basta mostrare che non son'io quel che hà dato al cane , & poi che ho cattivi vicini bisogna ch'io ni loda da me stesso , se bene dicono che chi loda s imbroda . basta ch'io possa dir per voj mo●ij ò viddi che mi pianse , & veggio per prova che l'alegrezze di questo mondo duran poco , & che tutto quello che riluce non è o●o . egli è mala cosa l'esser cattivo , mà gliè peggiore l'essere conosciuto . jo confesso chio presi un granchio , & se non fu con due boche dicalo chi lo sà ; m● che profitta tauuedersi doppo'l fatto , o tardar pentirsi al capezzale ; chi hà tempo , non aspettitempo , & pigli il bene quando viene , che il mondo è fatto a scale chile scende , & chi le sale ; et l'hore non tornano a dietro che se la cosa s'havesse a fare due volte , l'asino sarebbe nostro ; mà voi sapete , come si dice , meglio è rauuederci una volta che non maj , perche il peggior de tutti peccati è l'ostinatione . vengo dunque a far come colui che perduti i baoi serra la stalla , & sò ch'egli è un gittare il manico dietro alla pala ; pur lo faccio accio che non crediate ch'iò dorma al fuoco , ò me ne vada preso alla grida , chio non son hoggimai il fancuillo di mona cimbella , & mostreroui che voi mi potrete ben l'forzare , mà non ingannare , che i gattuchi h●nno aperto gli occhi , ne voglia che si possa dire che mi sia stata venduta la lepre in sacco , ne fatto credere che le lucciole siano lanterne , ch'io non hò mangiato travergole , & non si pensi nissuno di farmi calandrino , ne farmi comprar la gatta per lepre , ch'ei s'ingannerabbe di grosso , perche quando il lor diavolo nacque , il mio andava alla banca , & , singannano a partito a pensar disaperne tanto essi dormendoquanto io vegghiando , mà al frigger ' se ne auuedranno ; al carnevale si conosce chi hà la gallina grassa , questi chi fanno tanto il savio il più delle volte vengon ' a cader del lor asino , ò darsi de la scure nel piede . jo hò sempre veduto che chi più ne h● più ne imbratta , & chi asino è & cervio esser si crede fa la zuppa nel paniere . mà non è ben sempre dire il tutto , anzi dicono ch'gli è meglio mangiare quel che altri hà , che dir quel che altri sà , perche in bocca serrata non entrò mai mosca , & la lingua non ha osso mà fà romper ' il dosso , perche chi troppo parla , spesso falla , & per cio dicono , che è saviezza pa●lar poco , & ascoltar assaj , & di qui nacque quel proverbio un par d'orecchie seccano cento lingue , & io ho udito sempre pentir i più d'aver ciarlato che d'aver tacciuto ; anchor che si dica che chi non parla dio non l'ode , & però dicono molti di il fatto tuo , & lascia far al diavolo , & io confesso che si perde molto esser stoltò , & chi non s'arrischia non guadagna , & chi vuol del pesce bisogna che s'ammolli le brache . ma a me è sempre intervenuto come al can d'esopo , perche anchor chio habbia rotto il scilinguagriolo la fortuna m'e stata sempre fi contraria che sempre hò dato sotto le buche , & trovo veri●simo quel che si canta : ventura aver che poco senno basta : mà io non feci mai bucata , che non piovesse , & credetti ben che piovesse , ma non che diluviasse , tutta via non vien un male che non venga per bene , chi sà , solo dio sà il tutto & accasca in un punto que che non accasca in centò anni , & però io ben mi comforto , che se bene le pere mature cadono in bocca aporci , non èperò che chi opera bene talhora non venga rimunerato , & che colui che mal vive non mucia , mà le non mi voglio gettar frà i morti , che dio dice ajutati , chio t'auitaro , & veggo che chi vive verzica , & chi pecora fà il lupo sela mangia . jo son ben sciocco mà non tanto quanto voi mi fate , & se voi non me lo cre lete , mettetimi , il dito in bocca , & vederete se io son terreno da porci vigna , & da piantar carotte , & se io vi riusciro meglio a pane che a farina . voi direte forse non voglio provare che alla prova si scortica l'asino , & molte cose son meglio crederle che provarle ; & io non mi voglio pigliar ' gli impacci del treccia , a chi duol il dente se lo cavi , che io non voglio che i peti d'altri rompino le mie brache . dico che sete savia , & che gli è meglio imparare alle spese d'altri , & io che vengo dalla fossa sò che cosa è il morto ; cosi havesse fatto io che non mi sarei gittato adosso , & ne li occhi agresto , & detto mi che il credere , & il peuere ing●nn● le donne , & i cani : nè mi sarebbe bussate le banche dietro ; mà se io feci male me ne gratto gli occhi & si può di● per me , che ch● semplicemente pecca semplicemente va all' inferno , & certo io confesso chio fui colto al boccone come i ranocchi , mà di qui a cent ' anni tanto varra il lino quanto la stoppa , & chi havera mangiato il pesce cacherà le lische , & se bene il peccato sarà vecchio la penitenza sarà nuova . hora il loperchio rompe il coperchio , & la forza caca adosso la ragione ; bisogna quando altri è incudine soffrire , & quando martello percuotere , che gio●are & perdere lo sa far ogni uno & bisogna tal volta pena patire per bella parere , & se io h● le corna in seno non me le voglio metter ' in ca ▪ o , fallo celato è mezzo per donato , & cercar d'aspettar il tempo , che càgna frettolosa fà i cagnuoli ciechi ; si dice ancora che non si fece mai nulla ben in fretta , salvo che il fuggire la peste , & per ciovoglio lasciar passar tre pani per coppia , perche io hò sentito dire che chi guarda a ogni penna non fa m●i letto , tanto più chio hò da fare con gente strascinata da cani , & che sà dove il diavolo tien la coda , & come dicono hà portato le naccare & é passato da pinton di maniera che il mio carlino non varrà cinque foldi , altre che voi sapete che chi hà poca vergogna tutto il mondo è suo . voi direte forse , arsiccio , il cane chi vuol morder non abbaia , è dove bisognano i fatti le parole sono d'avanzo farebbe meglio che tu ti arrecassi la mano al petto , & ti recordassi che tu non hai però il fil rosso per voler èsse● figlio della matrigna , & n'hai fatte le tue parti , & saj che si dice , qua l'asino che da in parete il colpò che dà lo riceve : ti lamenti de gamba sana , & ti si potrebbe di●e , che non sai ricevere li scherzi , & che asmo bian●o ti và al molino , & non sai quel che te ne fanno , & miri la brusca d'altri , & non vedi la tua trave , come se non sapessimo che sei stato l'asino nel pignataio , & hai fatto d'ogni herba fascio come falce fenaia , & quando t'è venuto bene hai ' arato con l'asino , & col bue , & sei andato con li zoccholi per lásciuto a tuo piacere , hora ti pat miracolo che i granchi vadino a traverso , & bravi a credenza : non sai tu chi hà bocca vuol mangiare , & che la comodità fa l'uhomo ladro & dicono a l'arca aperta il savio pecca , & che il mal pertuso non vuol fine . tu vai a zonzo per il mondo , nè ti recordi che chi và al mercato perde il lato & chi non torna di corto può dire d'esser morto ; su vuoi una legge per te , & un altra per gli altri come se non sapessi che ogni grillo g●illa a se , & og●iuno tira l'acqua al suo molino ; & chi prende dilettò di far frode , & lascia la via vecchia per la nuova , & vuol torre a mattonar ' il mare , & insegnar ' a volar ' a gli asini , ò menare l'osso a modena si perde tempo , e parole , & j passi ; si che se tu ti sei disposto a volar ' senza ale & facevi fondamento inaria , lamentati di te ; su sai che la salsa non è fatta per gli asini , & anchor che la girlanda costi un quatrino la non stà bene a ogniuno , & chi troppo presume , & troppo alto sale fa maggior caduta . tu ti lamenti che le tue bugie non son credute , & in tanto non vuoi credere a gli altri la verità ; anzi io ui rispondo ch'io sono in cattivo stato per troppo credere , & per lasciarmi menar per il naso come le bufale , & come colui chi non bavecca più malitia ch'una colomba , stava a bocca asperta com'i passerotti quando mi davi ad intendere che la luna stava sopra il cielo del forno . in fine che ognuno se'l becca , & quello e'l tuo nemico che è di tuo ufficio , & chi offende non perdona mai , & un pensa ghiotto l'altro il taverniere & tra corsale & corsale non si perde se non i barili vuoti , nè fu mai un si tristo che non si trovasse un peggior di lui , perche ogni dritto hà il suo roversio ; & però mi son risolto esser sempre fidele , perche io non voglio che mi sia fatto far ' il latino a cavallo ; perche per dir il vero l'huomo è impiccato ; & dicono ch'egli è il vero quel che dispiace . farò dunque l'intronato , & parlerò per proverbi comuni , & come i chi canta , & trova , perche è mal sordo quel che non vuol udire ; & è mal bussare a forniconi di sorbo , che fanno o●ecchi di mercatanti , & si lasciare gracchiare , & dicono tu dirai , & io farò ; & io mison accorto che questo pigliar le mosche in aria , è un voler ' esser la favola de commune , & è come voler entrar in un pettine di sette che eta cava , & quatro mette , & è meglio accordarsi con la volonta del maggiore , & legate l'asino dove vuol il padrone , & non voler ' andar sù per le cime de gli alter , che chi fà la casa in piazza , un dice che è alta , & alto ch'ella è bassa , & quel che pone il suo culo in consiglio , l'uno dice bianco , l'altro vermiglio , & benche dicono voce di popolo voce di dio , nientedimeno voi sapete che non è bestia più pazza di quella del popolo , in acqua più grossa che quella di maccheroni , & però io mi guardo di due cose , l'una da segnati da dio , l'altra d'aque chete , come ancho da hoste nuovo , & putana vecchia ; jo hò trovato che ognun conta della fiera com' egli andò con essa , & che talhora per un brutto viso si perde una buona compagnia , che porco pigro non mangiò mai pera mazza ; tanto è il bene che non giovo , quanto il male che non nuoce , & chi non vuol ballare non vada al ballo , perche poi sete dentro bisogna ballare , non fare come il mocicone del ' arsiccio che si lasciò fuggire j pesci cotti di mano . o sciocco , come ti stà bene ogni male , và datti in un monte di lolla , & non comparire più frà la gente è possibile che tu che fai il gigante , & vuoi darnorma a gli altri ti sia lasciato stiacciare le noci in capo , & menar ' in caperuccia di questa sorte ? rispondo , che chi fai come può non fà mai bene , & che contra due non la potrebbe anche orlando , & se io stetti cheto , & non mi dolsi feci perche non mi fosse detto sempre la più trista ruota del carro è quella che gracida , & che hà da fare la luna con i granchi , intrometendo ui io dove non bisognava , & era per certò che non si direbbe di me viene l'asino di montagna , & caccia il cavallo di stalla ; et pero io stava come il prete della poca offerta , che per più non poter l'huomo si lascia cadere ; mà non è chio non vedessi il mio male , perche al tutto è orbo chi non vede il sole . pure , come videte che la pala guarda la vigna ; jo volsi più tofto che si dicesse che fuggi il tale , che quì fù morto il tale , tenendo speranza in quel che si dice , siedi & gambetta & vedrai tua vendetta ; mà chi ha la prima non ne va mai netto , quel imboccarsi per man d'altri , è un non atollarsi mai . jo vorrei veder un tratto s'io potessi cavar la muffa di questo vino , perche questo giocar il pe●riera , & voi sapete chi'o sò che chi ti fà più carezze che non suole , non và a buon camino , perche ò tradire , ò ingannarti vuole . quel servir de pediglio cantar bene , & ruspar male è un arte del diavolo ; mà chi hà cotto il culo co ceci come io , è basta , elle non sono cose da stare al martello , chio hò udito dir più d'una volta che le galline si pigliano con belle , belle , & non con scioia , scioia , & che tal mano si bacia che si vorebbe veder mozza , & che non è ingannato se non che si fida . jo non intendo di rubbar'il porco per dar i piedi per limosina , nè manco far com' il zolla chi daua due pecore nere per una bianca , per cioche io sò che l'amore è cieco , & pazzo , & però dice ch'io piangerò per noci , & essi per aglio , & m'accorgo ch'ogni bel giuco rinercresce , & ben spesso si piglia delle volpi ; pur credi che a cane chi lecca cenere è mal fidarli la farina , & è come porre il lupo pet pecotaio , & andar ' alla gatta pe'l lardo ; jo fuggi ben il ranno caldo , & dubito un tempo di non me dar ' in un trent ' uno , temendo di non esser fatto morire di tisico . mà chi scappa da un punro scappa di cento , & non è in tutto savio colui chi non sa bisognando esser pazzo , & però feci l'intronato , & volli prima perder il dono che la mano ; jo mi sènto fin quà zuffolar gli orecchi , & parmi videre questa tua canta favola arsiccio , non vo●rei che metessi il pulce ne gli orecchi altrui in questa maniera ; jo ti cognosco meglio cha la madre che ti fece , tu ti vorresti metter ' il cervello a partito , & ti riuscirà quello che non ti pensi , perche tu sai che chi altri tribula se non posa , & che ti si potrebbe dire come la padella al paiuolo ognun facci i fatti suoi . tu ti lasci imbrogliare , & poi t'ardiri , & ti maraccigli del pont ' a tressa , & non sai che maggior miracolo fù il baleno , & che l'amore , & le latosse non si possono celare ; tu hai l'essempio inanzi alla buona derrata pensavi sù , & credi che non sono tutti huomini chi pisciano al muro . mà non intendo andar ' a caccia de grilli a esser lungo tempo fastidioso , se mi scriverete farete il debito vostro , ed io ui risponderò come l'asino che raglia dandovi per ogni pane tre foggacie , dischiarando ui questo mio ghiribezzo con altri termini più chiari . di milano dove io meno la vita di michelazzo , mangio , & beuo , & vado a solazzo ; essendo al comando tutto di v. s. la quale n. s. feliciti , del mese de gli asini , quel che tanto ama voi quanto amate voi medesima , l'arsiccio intronato . refranes , o proverbios en romance , ò la lengua castellana ; a los quales se han anadido algunos portuguezes , catalanes , y gallegos , &c. de los quales muchos andan glossados . proverbs , or adages in the spanish tovng , vvhereunto there are added divers , in portuguez , catalan , and gallego ; vvith glosses upon the darkest of them . which proverbs are partly moral , relating to good life ; partly physical , relating to diet , and health ; partly topical , relating to particular places ; partly temporal , relating to seasons ; partly ironical , relating to drollery , and mirth . carta compuesta de refranes , concurrientes todos a la conservacion de la salud humana ; a don lvys dives , que dios guarde mas de mil ann̄os , con salud , y honras correspondientes a sus heroicas prendas , y merecimientos . siendo la salud la mas preciosa joya de quantas la natura tiene en su retrete , yo le encomiendo tres doctores para mantenerla , es a saber , el doctor dieta , el doctor reposo , y el doctor gozo . tocante el postrero , bien se sabe por experiencia , ( que es aquel gran espeio de sabiduria ) que una onça de alegria vale mas que cien quintales de melancolia ; pesadumbres no pagan deudas , el cuydado en demasia roe hasta el tuetano , coraçòn contento es gran talento , que puede dezir , alegramente , el diablo es muerto , y el italiano dize , poco cibo , & men affanno , sanità del corpo fanno , tambien dize , grave cura non ti punga , & sarà tua vitae lunga . tocante el segundo doctor que mira al govierno del cuerpo , es mucha verdàd , que poca fatiga es gran salùd , bueno es passear hasta que se vea la sangre en le mexilla , no el sudòr en la frente , por lo que toca al suen̄o , que es el rey de reposo , duerme el dia quando quieres , y la noche quanto puedes ; la noche noche , y el dia dia , y viviràs con alegria ; mas , quien quiere bien dormir que compre la cama de un deudòr ; allende de esto , come poco , y cena mas , duerme en alto y viviras ; pero sobre la sombra del nogàl , no te pongas a acostàr ; mas desto , bueno es madrugar , porque quien el diablo hà d'engan̄ar , de manan̄a se hà de levantar ; tambien tenga cuenta de yr por la manan̄a a la pescaria , y la tarde a la carniceria , porque pece y huespèd luego hieden ; tocante la cobertura del cuerpo , si quieres vivir sano , haz te viejo temprano , no dexes los pelliscos hasta que vengan los galileos ; buena regla es , que yo ande caliente y riase la gente ; otra ay mas particular , enxuto el piè , caliente la cabeça por el resto vive como bestia ; escuche tambien lo que dize el romano , vesti caldo , mangia poco , bevi assai , & vivirai . por lo que toca las partes del cuerpo , aduiertase , que los oios ( siendo malos ) se han de curar con el codo ; los dientes no piden in mucho cuydado , in demasiado descuydo , quando te dolieren las tripas hazlo saber al culo , mee claro , y higa para el medico ; an̄adese a esto , si meares de color de florin , echa el medico para ruyn , toda via quien mea , y no pee , va a la corte , y el rey no vee ; sepase tambien que a la gota , el medico no vee gota ; tocante el casamiento , el dicho del marques de mirabel , se hà de observàr , el qual siendo preguntado como vivia tantos an̄os , ( porque tenia mas de ochenta ) respondio , caséme tarde , y embiude me temprano ; si quieres hembra escoie la negra , porque la muger negra trementina en ella , tambien el francès dize , fille brunette , gaye , & nette ; pero , muger roxa y barbuda de cien passos lass aluda ; mas de esto , muger , anade , y cabra mala cosa siendo magra ; observese tambien este cumplimiento , junio , julio , y agosto , sen̄ora mia , no os conosco . tocante el doctor dieta que predomina mucho sobre la salùd , es regla generàl , quien mucho come poco come ; el italiano dize bisogna far tre pasti per star sano , un buono , un cattivo , ed un mazzano ; quien come bien , y beve bien , hazelo que deve ; pero , a buen comer , ò a mal comer ties vezes haz de bever ; por lo que toca a la bevanda , bevase agua como un buey , y vino como rey ; el agua tiene tres excellentes virtudes ; ni enferma , ni adeuda , ni embiuda ; toda via , agua fria , y pan caliente nunca hizieron buen vientre ; siempre al higo agua , y a la pera vino ; tambien a bocado haròn espolado de vino ; pero vino trasnochado no vale un cornado ; dixo la leche al vino , bien vengays amigo ; regla es muy saludable , quien quisiere vivir sano , coma poco , y cene temprano . tocante los manjares , cabrito de un mès , y rezental de très ; un huevo escaseza , dos gentileza , tres valentìa , quatro vellaqueria ; dizese , que si el villano supiesse el sabòr de la gallina en el henero , no dexaria ninguna en el pollero ; escojase siempre leche de cabra , manteca de vaca , y queso de oueja , pero , el queso que vien de corta mano es el mas sano ; a los moços està permitido de comer mas que a los otros , porque se dize , que el moço creciente , hà el lobo en el vientre : por esto se dize , que quien hurta la cena al viejo , no le haze agravio ; porque quien no cena , no hà menestèr avicena ; otros dizen , que mas matò la cena , que no sano avicena ; de suerte que si tienes gana de morir , come carnero assado , y echate a dormir : an̄adese a esto , que si quieres comida mala , come la liebre assada : quien en mayo come sardina , en agosto caga la espina ; et quien come caracoles en abril apareje cera , y pavil ; todavia quando llueve , y haze sol , coie el caracòl . no ay caldo como el çumo guijarro , pero ni olla sin tocino , ni sermon sin agostino . tocante las frutas y legumbres , observese , que pan reziente , y vuas , a las moças pone mudas , y a las viejas quita las arrugas ; azeytuna oro es una , dos plata , tercera mara ; quieres buen bocado , el niespolo despen̄ado ; pera que dizir rodrigo no vale un higo , otros dizen , la muger , y la pera , la que calla es buena ; però el francès tiene una buena cauciòn tocante esta fruta , viz. apres la poire , où le vin , où le prest●e ; mas , sobre melòn vino follòn : con todo sea sal porque el francès , dize , cest un banquet du diable , où il n'y a point du sel. tocante el hinoio , y la ruda ay dos refranes muy notables , es a saber , quien hinojo vee , y no coje , diablo es , que no hombre ; el otro , si supiesse la muger la virtud de la ruda , la buscaria de noche a la luna . observando est as reglas se podria vivir tanto quanto un elefante qui es de la mas larga vida de quantos animales ay , segun aquel refran graduàl , un seto dura tres an̄os , un perro tres setos , tres perros un cavallo , tres cavallos un hombre , tres hombres un ciervo , tres ciervos un elefante . no soy por mas , si no , que desseandole en conclucion salùd y gozo , y casa con un corral y pozo , quedo de todas mis entranas su criado mayor , porque , quisiere annque soy chico , set en serville gigante i. h. a letter compos'd of spanish proverbs , concurring all in one congruous sense , and conducing to the preservation of humane health . to the heroique knight , sir lewis dives , whom god preserve with health and long life , &c. sir , health being the most precious jewel that nature hath in her cabinet , i recommend unto you three doctors for the maintenance thereof , viz. doctor diet , doctor quiet , doctor merry-man . touching the last , 't is well known by experience , which is the great looking-glasse of wisedome , that an ounce of mirth is more worth then a hundred weight of melancholy ; sorrow quits no score , and too much care eats to the very marrow : a heart content is a great talent , which may say , alegramente , the devil is dead ; and as the italian saith , a little meat , and less grief make a healthful body . touching the second doctor , which concerns the government of the body , 't is a great truth , that a little labour is much health ; 't is good to walk till blood appear in the cheeks , and not sweat on the brow . touching sleep , who is the king of repose , sleep in the day when thou wilt , and in the night as much as thou canst ; make night of night , and day of day , then thou maist sing welladay : but he who desires to sleep soundly , let him buy the boulster of one who died in debt . moreover , dine with little , and sup with lesse , sleep high , and thou wilt live long ; but take heed of sleeping on the shadow of a wallnut-tree : besides , 't is good to rise early , for he who will couzen the devil must rise betimes : go also early to the fish-market , and late to the shambles , for fish and guests quickly stink . concerning thy clothes , or coverings of thy body , if thou wilt live healthful , make thy self an old man betimes , leave not thy furs till the galileans come , ( viz. till ascension day , when that scripture is read . ) it is a good rule , let me go warm , and let the world laugh at me . there 's another rule , keep thy feet dry , and thy head hot , and for the rest live like a beast , ( viz. eat and drink no more then will suffice nature . ) concerning the parts of the body , take notice that the eyes being not well are to be cur'd with the elbow , ( viz. thou must not finger them . ) the teeth require not much care , nor too much neglect ; when thy tripes ake , make it known to thy tail , piss clear , and a fig for the physician : whereunto may be added , that if thy urine be a bright yellow , shake off thy doctor ; yet we say , who pisseth and lets not a fart , goes to the court and see 's not the king. know also that touching the gout the physician is blind . touching marriage , the saying of the marquesse of m. is observable , who being ask'd how he came to live so many fair years ( for he was above fourscore ) he answered , i married late , and i was a widdower betimes ; if thou desirest a woman , choose a black one , for in a black woman there is turpentine ; whereunto the french man alludes , when he saith , the brown lasse is gay and cleanly : but for a red hair'd , or bearded woman , salute them a hundred paces off . touching doctor diet , who predominates much over humane health , 't is a general rule , that he who eats much eats but little . the italian saith , that to preserve health , one must make three meals a day , one good , one bad , and another midling one ; who eats well , and drinks well , doth what he ought to do ; but whether you dine well or ill , be sure to drink thrice . touching drink , drink water like an oxe , and wine like king ; water hath three excellent vertues , for it neither makes one sick , nor puts one in debt , nor makes a widower ; yet cold water and hot bread never made good belly : after the fig water , and after the pear wine ; a jadish bit also requires a spur of wine , but wine that stood all night is not worth a rush . the milk told the wine , welcome friend ; it is a wholesome precept , who will live healthful , let him dine sparingly , and sup betimes . touching flesh , a kid of a moneth , and a lamb of three are best ; for eggs , one is scarceness , two are gentleness , three valour , and four are knavery . they say that if the country-man knew the goodness of a hen in january , he would not leave one in his roost-house : goats milk , cow butter , and sheeps cheese are best , but that cheese is best which comes from a misers hand : young men are allowed to eat more then others , for a growing youth hath a woolf in his belly ; therefore 't is said , who from an old man steals his supper , doth him no wrong , because he who doth not sup hath no need of the physician ; therefore if thou hast a mind to dye , eat rosted mutton at night , and go to sleep : hereunto may be added , if thou desirest ill food , eat a rosted hare . he who eats pilchers in may , shites out the bones in august : and he who eats mushrumps in april , let him provide week and wax , viz. let him prepare for his burial ; yet when it rains in a sun-shine , gather thy mushrumps . there is no broth like that of the juyce of flint , ( viz. of water that flowes thence ) but let not the pot of pottage be without bacon , nor a sermon without saint austine . touching fruit and garden-herbs , observe that new bread and grapes paint young maids , and takes away wrinkle from old folks . one olive is gold , two silver , three brass ; if you will have a good bit , eat a peel'd medlar . the pear which cryes rodrigo is not worth a rush . others say , that the woman and the pear which is silent are the best . but the french man hath a good caution touching this fruit , viz. apres la poire , où le vin où le prestre , after pear the wine or the priest ( to confess you before death . ) but after melon wine is a felon ; let there be salt withall , for the french man will tell you again , 't is a banquet for the devil where there is no salt . touching fennel and rue , there be two notable proverbs , viz. that he who sees fennel , and doth not gather it , he is a devil and no man ; the other is , that if the good woman did know the vertue of rue , she would look for it in the night at moonshine . by observing these rules one might by the strength and complaceney of nature arrive to the age of an elephant , whom the naturalists observe to live longest of any terrestrial creature ; according to that gradual proverb of lives , viz. a hedge doth last three years , a dog three hedges , a horse three dogs , a man three horses , a stag three men , an elephant three stags . no more now , but that wishing you all health and gladness , i rest from my very bowels , your greatest servant , for although i am but little , i would be a giant to serve you . j. h. refranes , ò proverbios morales tendientes a las costumbres , y a la buena vida , &c. con todo el mundo guerra , y paz con ingalatierra ; la primera muger es matrimonio , la segunda compania , la tercera heregia . la cruz en les pechos , y el diablo en los hechos . mejor es huevo oy , que pollo man̄ana . mas vale pun̄ado de natural , que almoçada de ciencia . poco a poco , hila la vieja el copo . deve algo para pascua , y hazerte hà corta la quaresma . pleyto y urinal . llevan el hombre al hospital . quien no miente , no viene de buena gente . no ay generacion , do no ay ò puta ò ladròn . de oio de ramera , y buelta de dado guarte . el huesped , y el pece a tres dias hiede . el dar limosna nunca la bolsa mengua . de rabo de puerco nunca buen virote . antes moral que almendro . hombre narigudo pocas vezes cornudo . un seto dura tres annos , un perro tres settos , tres perros un cavallo , tres cavallos un hombre , tres hombres un ciervo , tres ciervos un elefante . quin poco sabe presto lo reza . no me curo de los santos que mean. quien dinero tiene , alcança lo que quiere . quien posa debaxo de hoia , dos vezes se moia . quien al cielo escupe , en la cara le cae . quando estuvieres con tu muger vientre con vientre , no le digas quanto te viniere a la mente . quando dios no quiere , el santo no puede . quando todos dizen que ere 's asno , rebuzna . quando la mala fortuna se duerme nadie la despierte . quien trabaia , tiene alhaja . quien compra y vende , lo que gasta no siente . ni por colloio , in por conseio no delates tu venceio . ni yerua en el trigo , ni sospecha en el amigo . el coraçon manda las carnes . hagase el milagro , y hagalo mahoma . ni un dedo haze mano , ni una golondrina verano ni moço , pariente , ni rogado , no lo tomes por tu criado . ni tan vieja que amule , ni tan moça que retoce . de mula que haze hin , y muger que habla latin guarte . ni moca adevina , in muger ladina . ni los oios en las cartas , ni las manos en las arcas en bo ca cerrada , no entra mosca . mudança de tiempos , bordòn de necios . menea la cola el can no por ti , eno por el pàn. mas tiran tetas , que exes , y car●itas . mas vale verguença en cara , que manzilla en coraçon . mal de muchos , gozo es . mas vale prenda en arca , que fiador en la plaça . madre , y hija visten una cami●a . mas tiran nalgas en lecho , que bueys en barvecho . mas vale ser necio que porfiado . por esso es hombre cornudo porque dos pueden mas que uno . no ay tal hechizo como buen servicio . en la boca del discreto , lo publico es secreto . no son todos hombres que mean a la parèd . no es todo vero , lo que suena el pandero . no se haze la boda de hongos , sino de bollos redondos . todos los dedos no son y guales . no ay tal doctrina como la de la hormiga . quien hà officio , hà beneficio . no es pobre el que tiene poco , mas el que codicia mucho . nuestro gozo en el pozo . no ay mal tan lastimero , como no tener dinero . por do quiera ay tres leguas de mal quebranto . no puede mas faltar que março en quaresma . ●n alma sola ni canta , nil lora . no ay casa do no aya su chiticalla . haz bien , y no cates a quien . palabras y plumas el viento las tumba . duelo ageno de ●elo cuelga . palabra de boca , ●iedra de honda . quando vino el orinàl , muerto era iuan pasqual . quien mea y no pee , va a la corte , y no vee al el rey. quien quisiere muger hermosa el sabado la escoja y no el domingo . il sabio muda consejo , il necio no. sabe un punto mas que el diablo . el dia que te casas , ò te sanas , ò te matas . toma se el hombre por la barba , y la muger por el hilo . rogamos a dios por santos , mas no por tantos . secreto de dos sabe lo dios , secreto de tres toda res. viene dios a vernos sin campanilia . el pie en la cuna , la mano en la rueca . ni trigo de vega , ni len̄a de solumbrio . harto es ciego , quien no vee por tela de cedaço . la gente pone , y dios dispone . cobrate buena fama , y echate a dormir . las palabras buenas son , si assi es el coraçon . quien canta sus males espanta . mejor es , dexar a la muerte al enemigo , que pedir en la vida al amigo . buena es la tardanza que haze el camino seguro . bien vengas mal , si vienes solo . casa cumplida , en la otra vida . cayosele el pan en la miel . ce●o , ensen̄o , de mal hijo haze bueno . con lo que pedro adolece , sancho sana . como canta el abad , assi responde el sacristan . con●ra fortuna no vale arte ninguna . mucha conversacion acarrea meno precio . con un mucho y des poquitos se hazen los hombres buenos . perdida es la lexia en la cabeça del asno . cortesia de boca mucho vale y poco cuesta . con el oio y la fe no me burlarè . con lo que sana el higado , enferma el baço . pregona vino , y vende vinagre . da dios alas a la hormiga , para que se pierda mas ayna . del ocio , nace negocio . tiene cara de dos hazes . de piel agena larga correa . despues de descalabrado , untar el casco . mas vale un toma , que dos te darè . de potro sarnoso cavallo hermoso . dexemos padres y abuelos , y por nosotros seamos buenos . de moço reçongadòr nunca buen labòr . de espacio piensa , y obra a priessa . de cornada de ansaròn guarde dios mi coraçon . de buenas intenciones esta lleno el infierno . dichoso el varòn que escarmienta en cabeça agena y en la suya non . dixo la sarten alla caldera tirte allà cul negro . dieu consiente mas no siempre . dizen mas mal de el que mahoma del tocino . dios nos dè con que iamos , mas no de hijos bovos . di a tu amigo tu secreto , y tenerte hà el piè en el pescueço . do fueres , haras como vieres . donde vieios no andan cueruos no graznan . duele me el colodrillo , y untanme el tovillo . echar el mango tras el destràl . el alquazil y el sol por do quiera son . el perdon sobra donde el yerro falta . el corcobado no vee su corcoba , y vee la de su compan̄ero . el mal del oio curarle con el codo . el pie del duen̄o estiercol es para la heredad . en lo que estamos benedicamos . en casa del herrero cuchillo mangorrero . escapè del trueno , y dè en el relampago . en la boca del discreto lo publico es secreto . esse es mi amigo qui muele en mi molinillo . dotrina buena , escarmentarse en cabeça agena . galgo que muchas liebres levanta miguna mata . gloria vana florece , y no grana . gota a gota la mar se apoca . goza tu de poco , mientras busca mas el loco . grano a grano bastece la hormiga su granero . haz para mi , y aprende para ti . huelgo me un poco , mas hilo mi copo . huyendo del toro , cayme en el arroyo . la muger , y el vino sacan al hombre de tino . las entran̄as , y arquetas a los amigos abiertas . la telaran̄na suelta al rato , y la mosca apan̄a . de la mar el sal , de la muger el mal . por la pija del papa que es carne santa . despues que parì , nunca mi vientre henchi . dezir y hazer no comen a una mesa . de hombre necio a vezes buen consejo . de persona callada arriedra tu posada . el hombre es el fuego , la muger la estopa , viene el diablo y sopla . al comer sudar , al hazer temblar . el dinero , haze un hombre entero . quien de miedo se muriò de cagaiones le hizieron la sepultura . el melon y la mugèr , malos son de conocèr . gesto de oro , cabellosde plata , y oios d'escarlata . hombre apercebido medio combatido . hombre que madruga de algo tiene cura . entre hermanos no metas tus manos . la gente pone , dios dispone . las tripas estèn llenas , que ellas llevan las piernas . la cabra de mi vezina , mas leche da que no la mia . ama y seras amado , assi podràs hazer lo que no haràs desamado . a mugèr casta la pobreza le haze y hazer feeza . el tocino de parayso , para el casado que no arrepiso . casàr y compadrar , cada qual con su y guàl . hombre vieio cada dia un duelo nuevo . un cabello haze sombra . vender miel al colmenero . venga el bien , y venga por do quifiere . judio , ni puerco no metas en tu huerto . las tocas de beata , y un̄as de gata . la oveja loçana dixo a la cabra , da me lana . la vida passada haze la vejez pesada . la verdad como el olio siempre nada en somo . la muger loca por la lista compra la toca . la muger del ciego no hà menester afeyte . moça de la plaça la pucerta barrida , la casa cagada . la culpa del asno echan la a la aluarda . la mucha conversacion a carrea menos precio . la muger artera , el marido por delantera . la necessidad haze la vieja trotar , y el coxo saltar al bien pagados nunca duele prenda . libro cerrado no saca letrado . a muertos , y a ydos no ay amigos . los dineros , hazen duen̄os . oy ensilla , manan̄a se va . los dichos en nos lo hechos en dios. los que tienen muger muchos ojos han menester lo que has de hazer haz , y no digas cras . lo que no acaece en un an̄o , acaece en un instante . lo que se usa , no se escusa . la demasià rompe la talega . lo que saben tres , saben toda res. los muertos abren los ojos a los vivos . lo peor del pleytos es , que de uno nacen ciento . lo ordenado en el cielo forçoso se ha de cumplir en el suelo . lo que se haze a la boda , no se haze hora toda . cada una tiene su alma en su palma . la mançana podrida pierde a su compania . langosta haze la tripa angosta . la muger , y el melon huelense por el peçon . la muger y el vino sacan al hombre del tino . blanda respuesta la ira quiebra . verdad es verde . la mentira no tiene pies . mejor es huevo oy , que pollo man̄an̄a . palabras buenas sonjonetes . la mentira tiene las piernas cortas . levantar la liebre para que otro la jaco . el pobre como el hogal apedreado de todos . palabras hembras , son hechos machos . mejor doblar que quebrar . llegate a los buenos , e seras uno dellos . desseo humano jamas encumbrado . atame manos y pies , y meteme entre los mios . de burlas , ni de veras con tu sen̄or no partas peras . mas vale descozer , que romper . mas hiere mala palabra , que espada a hilada . mas vale prenda en arca , que fiador en la plaça . mas vale humo de mi casa que fuego de la agena . mal me quieren mis comadres porque les digo les verdades . mas vale rodear que ahojar . mal vale soltero andar , que mal casar . mas vale pun̄ado de natural , que almoçada de ciencia . martillar en hierro frio . mas caga un buey que cien golondrinas . mas vale tarde que nunca . malo es pecar , diabolico perseverar . mas apaga buena palabra , que caldera de agua . mal aviendo , y bien esperando , morirme he triste , y no se quando . si mucho las pintas , y las regalas de buenas hijas haras malas . muger alvendera , mas no ventanera . tanto quiso el diablo a su hijo , que le quebrò el ojo . trasegalla porque no sepa a la madre . ventura ayas hijo , que poco saber te basta . quien hijos tiene , razon es que allegue . quien hijos tiene al lado , no muere ahitado . quien quisiere ser gran viejo , comencelo presto . al hombre osada la fortuna le da la mano . al buey por el cuerno , y al hombre por el vierbo . dios le de casa de robre , taça de plata , y olla de cobre . don sin dinerono es don , si no donayre . dadivas quebrantan pen̄as . quien tiene hijas , y ovejas nunca le faltan quexas . mas valen dos camisones que uno . al ni●o , y al mulo en el culo . a muger parida , y tela urdida nunca le falta guarida . cria un cuervo sacarte hà el ojo . con hombre interessal no pongas tu caudal . con buen trage se encubre ruyn linage . da me la honesta , y darte la he compuesta . da me pega sin mancha , y dar te he moça sin tacha . mas vale guardar que pedir . mas tiran tetas que sogas can̄amen̄as . madre piadosa hija merdosa . mas vale tuerta , que ciega . mal de muchos , gozo es . mas cerca esta la rodilla , que la pantorilla . mas vale acostarse sin cena , que levantarse con deuda . mete la mano en tu seno , no diras de hado ageno . mejor es embidia , que manzilla . mejor es uno que nuestro . mientras mas moros , mas ganancica . missa ni cevada no estoruan jornada . mientras anda el yugo ande el huso . mientras en mi casa me esto y , rey me soy . mi fe , nuestra ama , con mal va esta trama . mira adelante no cayras atras . moça galana calabaça vana . moço bien criado ni de si habla , ni calla preguntado . mucho sabe el cornudo , pero mas el que pone los cuernos . mondo redondo , quien no sabe nadar vase àl hondo . muchos besan manos que querrian ver coradas . mucho vale , y poco cuesta , a mal hablar buena respuesta . muger se quexa , muger se duele , muger enferma quando quiere . bien cotre la liebre , mejor el galgo pues la prende . mudança de tiempos bordon de necios . nace en la huerta lo que no sembra el hortalano . no me agrada puerta que a muchas llaves haze . no compres cavallo rabeador . nacen alas a la hormiga para que se pierda mas ayna . no quiero cochino con sonaja . necios y porfiados enriquecen los letrados . la necessidad haze a la vieja trotar . necjo nao sin lastre . ni de amigo reconciliado , ni de manjar dos vezes guisado . ni ausente sin culpa , ni presente sin disculpa . ni compres mula coxa , ni cases puta pensando de curarlas . ni de lagtimas de puta , ni de fieros de rufian . ni mesa sin pan , ni exercito sin capitan . ni boda ●●n tamborino , ni olla ●n tocino . ni trigo de valle , ni trigo de solombrio . ni do y , ni tomo como judio en sabado . ni a la muge que llora , ni al perro que mea . ni mi era , ni civera , trille quien qui●ere en ella . ni comas mucho queso , ni de moço esperes seso . ni pollos sin tocino , ni sermon sin agostino . ni te abates por pobreza , nite ensalçes por riqueza . ni●a , vin̄a , peral y havar malas cosas de guardar . ni mula sin raça , ni muger sin tacha . ni con cada mal al fi●●co , ni con cada rin̄a al letrado , ni con cada sed al jarro . ni un dedo haze mano , ni una golondrina verano . ni sobre dios sen̄or , ni sobre negro ay color . no falte voluntad , que no faltarà lugar . no dexes los pellejos hasta que vengan los galileos . no ay tal hechizo , como el buen servicio . no es tan bravo el leon como le pintan . no te entremetas en lo que no te aran●e hazer . no ay peor burla que la verdadera . no ay peor sordo que el que no quiere oyr . no ay ataio , ●in traba●o . no se haze la boda de hongos , sino he ducados redondos . no se toman truchas a bragas enxutas . no ay mejor espeio que el amigo viejo . no ay mejor cirujano que el bien a cuchillado . no ●arte , no seras engan̄ado . ne ay razon como la del baston . no me pesa que mi hijo ●ierda , se no que desquitarse quiera . no es todo oro lo que reluze . no es bien huyr en çancos . no ay mejor maestra que la necessidad y pobreça . no ay mal , que el tiempo no alivie su tormento . no puede ser mas negro el cuervo que sus alas . no pidas al olmo la pera porque no la lleva . no ay testigo como buen trago de vino . no ay mejor bocado que el hu●tado . no te hagas mandador , donde no fueres sen̄or . no hables sin ser preguntado , y seras estimado . no hiere dios con dos manos , que a la mar hizo puertos , y a los nos vados . no ay cerradura si es de oro la ganzua . no seays hornera si teneys la cabeça de manteca . nuevo rey , nueva ley. no ay bien sin trabajo . obra de comun obra de migun . cada uno ●or si , y dios por todos . ofrecer mucho , especie es de negar . o●os ay que de lagan̄as se enamoran . oveia que b●la bocado pierde . palabras y lumas el viento las tumba . panadera eras antes , aunque ahora traes guantes . papel y tinta dineros cuesta . parte nicolas para si lo mas . palabra y piedra suelta no tiene buelta . palabras de santo , y un̄as de gato . palacio gran consancio . pan y vino andan carmino , y no el moço garrido . pan con ojos , y queso sin ojos . habla poco , escucha mucho , y no erraras . para cada domingo no ay un par de orejas . pereza no lava cabeça , y si la lava no la peyna . perro ladrador nunca buen mordedor . pereza llave de pobreza . pera , durazno , y melon el vino puro quieren . pecados viejos penitencia nueva . pesa justo , y vendi caro . pedir sobrado por salir con lo mediano . perdido hà la rucia los saltos . matar moros en pared . piedra movediza , nunca el moho la cobija . piensa el ladron que todos son de su condicion . pleyto y orinal , en casa de quien quisieres mal . mas borracho que una sopa , una espongia . por hazer bien a otto destruyome mi todo . por conservar amistad pared en medio . poca ropa , y buen talante . por sol que haga , no dexes tu capa en casa . por codicia de florin no te cases con ruyn . por dinero bayla el perro . porfiar , mas no apostar . por monte no vayas tras otro . ponte buen nombre ysabel , y casarte has bien . por tu ley , por tu rey , por tu grey , y por lo tuyo moriras . al puerco gordo untatle en el rabo . a la mala costumbre quebrarle la pierna . al que mal haze nunca le falta achaque . el fin final servir a dios , y no hazer mal . al marido amalo como amigo , y temelo como enemigo . al cabo del an̄o mas come el muerto que el sano allende ò aquende mire con quien ande . alcança quien no cansa . a la muerte no ay casa fuerte . a la ●ar , es negar , y tarde dar . amigo de todos , y de ninguno todo es uno . amor de puta , y fuego d'estopa , viento del culo todo es uno . a manos lavadas dios les da que coman . ande me yo caliente , y riase la gente . a otro perro con este huesto . a provechate de viejo , y valdra tu voto en consejo . a perro viejo nunca cuz cuz . a quien dizes poridad , a esse tu das la libertad . a quien te da el capon , dale la pierna y el alon . ara hondo , y cogeras pan en abondo . aunque la mentira escuresca la verdad , no la puede apagar . al acreedor mejor memoria , que al deudor . ayer vaquero , oy cavallero . amar es bueno , mejor ser amado . castiga el bueno , mejora , el ruyn empeora . barba remojada , medio rapada . bever , y perder asnos . bien hab●ar , y mal hazer , cedacillo de cerner . bien canta marta , despues de harta . mal parece la moça loçana , cabe la barba cana . escritura , buena memoria . esto seria bridar un bezerro . bueno en uno , en dos mejor , malo en tres , y en quatro peòr . buey viejo sulco derecho . buscays cinco pies al gato , y no tiene sino quatro . buena pascua de dios a pedro que nunca mi hizo malo , ny bueno . a pressurosa demanda espaciosa respuesta . magra olla , y gordo testamento . cacarear , y no poner huevo . cada qual en su corral dessea caudal . cada ollero su olla alaba . cantarillo que và muy a la fuente , ally dexa el a sa , ò la frente . a cada paxarillo agrada su nidillo . cada gallo en su muladar . canta el gallo , responde la gallina , amarga la casa do no ay harina . caro cuesta el arrepentir . cada oveja , con su pareja . cada qual hable en lo que sabe . casa tu hija quando pudieres , y tu hijo quando quisieres . casarte has hombre cuytado , y tomaras cuydado . cavallo que buela , no quiere espuela . cavallo rucio rodado antes muerto que cansado . cae en la cueva el que otro a ella lleva . tal para tal , maria para iuan. toma casa con hogar , y muger que sepa hilar . todas las aves con sus pares . la puerta trasera es la que destruye la casa . tras cornudo san̄udo . triste es la casa donde la gallina canta , y el gallo calla . es petrus in cunctis . amor de min̄a agua en cestilla . no quiero perro en mi casa con cencerro . a casa de tu tia , mas no cada dia. a casa de tu hermano , no yras cada serano . al buen varon tierras agenas le patria son . unos son monies , y ottos calonges . amistad de yerno sol de invierno . a padre ganador , hijo despendedor . a padre guardador , hijo gastador . bendita sea la puerta por do sale la muger muerta . el savio muda consejo , el loco persevera . costumbres , y dineros hazen hijos cavalleros . con mal la casa anda , do la rueca a la espada manda . casa de padre , vina de abuelo , olivar de tartarabuelo . obedece tu padre natural , y mas el espiritual . hijo ere 's , padre seras , como hizieres tal auras . dixo me mi madre que porfiando no apostasse . el hijo del asno dos veres rozna el dia. don lope ni es vinagre ni arrope . hijo tardano , huerfano temprano . mas cerca estan mis dientes que mis parientes . madre piadosa cria hija merdosa . no yerra quien a los suyos semeja . parto largo , hija al cabo . queso ciego , y pan con oios quitan a mis hijos los enojos . quien tiene mal diente , tiene mal patiente . quien bien me haze , esse es mi compadre . quien cria nieto , cria mal redruejo . sobre padre no ay compadre . pobreza , no es vileza , si no inconveniencia . abaxanse los adarves , y alçanse los muladare● . a boda , ni a baptismo no vayas sin ser llamado . a bestia loca recuero modorro . a buen entendedor , breve hablador . abeja , y oveja , y piedra que rabeja , y pendola tras oreja dessea a su hijo la vieja . el conejo ydo , y consejo venido . a chico pasterete , chico manjarete . a cabo de cien an̄os todo seremos salvos . dos paxaros en una espiga hazen mala liga . a do sacan , y no pon , presto llegan all hondon . la tarde loa el dia , y el fin la vida . aficion ciega razon . a fuerça de villano hierro en medio . quien a la postre viene primero llora . agua coge con harnero quien se crée de ligero . la jaula hecha , picaça muerta . agora que tengo oveja y borrigo , todos dizen en hora buena esteys pedro. a gran subida , gran descendida . al buen consejo no se halla precio . el desagra decimiento seca la fuente de piedad . al medico , confessor y letrado no le trayas engan̄ado . a la vasija nueva dura el resabio . el asno muerto la cevada al rabo . al enemigo que huye puente de plata . al bien buscallo , y al mal esperallo . al viejo nunca le falta que contar , ni al sol , ni al hogar . alquimia provada tener renta , y no gastar nada . a los an̄os mil buelve la liebre a su cubil . al hombre bueno no le busques abolengo . no ay cosa mala en espan̄o , si no la que habla . cu , cu , guarda no lo seas tu . con un mucho , y dos poquitos se hazen los ricos . compres cadena , buelves dinero en moneda . con mala persona el remedio de poner tierra en medio . con latin , rocin y florin andaras el mundo . cobre buena fama y echate a dormir . compan̄ia de uno compan̄ia de ninguno , compan̄ia de dos compan̄ia de dios , compan̄ia de tres compan̄ia es , compan̄ia de quatro compan̄ia del diablo . colorado y negro colores del infierno . como no rin̄e tu amo ? porque no es casado . cortesia de boca mucho vale y poca costa . consejo de quien te quiere , aunque te paresca mal , escrivele . colerico sanguino , borracho fino . cien sastres , cien molineros , y cien texedores son trecientos ladrones . el que dos liebres caça , a vezes toma la una , y muchas vezes ninguna . el vicio de la natura dura hasta la sepultura . aquel loar devemos cuyo pan comemos . del dicho al fecho ay gran trecho . dadivas quebrantan pen̄as . de quien me fio , dios me guarde , de quien no me fio me guardaré yo . del ayrado un poco te desuja , del calandriz toda tu vida . de chica centella gran hoguera . de hambre pocos vi morir , de mucho comer cien mil. del piel agena larga correa . del fuego te guardaras , del ladron no podras . de los colores la grana , de las frutas la mançana . de luengas vias , luengas mentiras . despues de vendimias cestos . de la mala muger te guarde , y de la buena no fies nada . de rabo de puerco nunca buen virote . despues de descalabrado untarle el casco . de puerta cerrada el diablo se torna . el vientre lleno si quiera de heno . del viejo el consejo . de buen servidor vendras a ser sen̄or . del mal lo menos . despues de caca hecha , dexalda . mas vale un toma , que dos te daré . quando dios quiere , en sereno llueve . de loco juez breve sentencia . deve algo para pascua , y hazer te se hà corta la quaresma . do van anto●os van los ojos . dime con quien vas , y dezirte hé quien ere 's . do fueres , haz como vieres . duele me el colodrillo , y untanme el tovillo . del arado saca el buen soldado . fuese por lana , y bolvio tresquilado . el que tiene tejado de vidrio , no tire piedras al de su vezino . el que paga lo que deve lo que queda es suyo . el dar limosna nunca la bolsa mengua . el que tarda recauda . el mal entra a braçadas , y sale a pulgaradas . quien gasta mas que gana , fuerça es que se planga . quien no se aventura , ni vaya a la mar , ni ande en mula . quien mucho abraça poco aprieta . quien antes nace , antes pace . quien no oye razon no haze razon . quien no pone , y siempre saca , suelo halla . quien bien hila , larga trae la camisa . quien en todo su muger contenta , cornudo animal presto diventa . quien estropieça , y no cae , a su passo an̄ade . quien enferma y sana , romeria es que anda . quien malas man̄as hà , tarde ò nunca las perdera . quien todo lo quis●ere , todo lo pierde . quien hermanos disparte , a vezes lleva la peor parte quien a buen arbol se arrima , buena sombra le cobija . quien es cornudo , y lo consiente , sea cornudo para siempre . quien de los suyos se alexa , dios le dexa . quien a treynta no tiene seso , y a quarenta no es rico , rapalde del libro . quien solo come su gallo , solo ensille su cavallo . quien burla al burlador , cien dias hà de perdon . quien tiene pie en el altar , come pan sin amassar . quien tiempo tiene , y tiempo atiende , tiempo viene que se arrepiente . quien a la postre viene , primero llora . quien en una piedra dos vezes tropieça , merece que se quiebre la cabeça . quien haze , aplaze . quien de presto se determina , de tarde se arrepiente quien hà oficio , hà beneficio . quien una vez hurta , fiel nunca . quien te haze fiesta que no suele hazer , ò te quiere engan̄ar , ò te hà menester . quien da lo suyo antes de morir , aparejese a bien sufrir . quien abrojos siembra , espinas coge . quien quisiere medrar , ò viva en pie de sierra ò en puerto de mar . quien no hà cayre , no hà donayre . quien fia , ò promete , en deuda se mete . quien no tiene dinero venda la bolsa , y el esquero . quien la fama hà perdida , muerto anda en la vida . quien huelga mucho , no medra . quien deve a pedro , y paga a andres , que pague otra vez . quien siembra abrojos , no ande descalço . quien a mi hijo quita el moço , a mi besa en el rostro . quien no sabe de mal , no sabe de bien . quien es tu enemigo ? hombre de tu oficio . quien cree de ligero , agua coge en harnero . quien uno castiga , ciento hostiga . quien pregunta , no yerra . quien se muda , dios le ayuda . quien va al molino y no madruga , los otros muelen , y el se espulga . el que bien esta , no se mueva . quien sirve a hombre malo , siembra en la plaça . quien se ensen̄a , su mal ensancha . quien dineros hà de cobrar , muchas bueltas hà de dar . quien no tuviere que hazer , arme navio , ò tome muger . quien calla , consiente . rey por natura , y papa por ventura . reniego del amigo que cubre con sus alas , y muerde con el pico . reniego de grillos , aunque sean de oro . regalado como gato de tripera . rin̄en las comadres , descubrense las poridades . sal vertida nunca bien cogida . sacar un pié del lodo , y meter el otro . santa lucia mengua la noche , y crece el dia. sancha , sancha beves el vino , y dizes que mancha . salir de lodaçales , y entrar en cenagales . salada bien salada poco vinagre , y bien a zeytada . san iuan el verde no es cada dia. no ay mal que no ve nga por bien . servicio no es herencia . secreto de dos sabelo dios , secreto de tres toda res . si quieres tener buena fama , no te tome el sol en la cama . sen̄al de mala bestia sudar tras la oreja . si quieres tener buen moco , antes que le nazca el boço. si quieres que haga por ti haz por mi. si la natura sen̄ala , ò es muy buena ò muy mala . si bien me quieres iuan , tus obras me lo diran . si de alguno re quieres vengar , has de callar . sigue razon , aunque a unos agrade , a otros non . si no llegais al punto , no comereys del unto . si el grande fuesse valiente , y el chico paciente , y el bermejo leal , todo el mundo seria ygual . si l● lengua errò , el coraçon no. sigue el bien , si quieres ser alguien . si quiere , ser bien servido , servete tu mismo . si quieres holgura sufre amargura . si no como queremos , passamos como podemos . si quieres ver quanto vale un ducado , buscalo prestado . son̄ò el ciego que via , y vino lo que querria . sobre dinero no ay compan̄ero . so el sayal , ay al. suelas y vino andan camino . sufra quien penas tiene , que tras un tiempo otro viene . tiempo , ni hora , no se ata con soga . todo hà lugar , a quien lo sabe manear . topado hà sancho con su rocin . topanse los hombres , mas no los cumbres . tòdos somos hijos de adam , si no que nos differencia la seda . todos , somos locos , los unos y los otros . cada uno a su guisa y el asno a la antigua . ve do vas , como vieres assi haz . un cabello haze sombra en el suelo . cornudo soys marido , muger , y quien os lo dixo ? cu , cu , guarda que no seas tu . a la muger ventanera , tuerce le el cuello si la quieres buena . el hombre bueno , no sube en lecho ageno . el pie en la cuna , la mano en la rueca , y cria tu hijuela . el asno , y la muger a palos se han de vencer . el marido antes con un ojo , che con un hijo . en casa del mesquino , mas manda la muger . enamoròse el ruyn de las trenças del mandil . guay del huso , quando la barba no anda de suso . hermosa es por cierto , la que es hermosa de su cuerpo . es menester la comida , assi mas la honra . a la muger brava , dalle la soga larga . la muger del ciego para quien se afeyta ? la biuda rica con un ojo llora , con el otra repica . el que tiene hermosa muger , mas de dos ojos hà menester . la muger buena , hecho del marido . mas vale ser cornudo que no lo sepa ninguno , que sin serlo , pensarlo todo el mundo . mas vale vieja con dineros , que moça con galas . muchos componedores , cohonden la novia . muestra me tu muger , dezirte hé que marido tiene . ni tan vieja que amule , ni tan moça que retoce . ni por buey , ni por vaca , no tomes muger maniaca . ni de nin̄o te ayuda , ni te cases con biuda . ni cavalgues en potro , ni tu muger alabes a otro . ni boda sin canto , ni mortuario sin llanto . no compres asno de recuero , ni te cases con hija de mesonero . por codicia del florin , no te cases con ruyn . mi marido hà ydo al mar , chirlos mirlos a buscar . la muger y la vin̄a el hombre la haze garrida . quien es cornudo y calla , en el coraçon trae la ascua marido tras del lar dolor de hijar . quien no alça un alfiler , no quiere bien a su muger . guardose de mosca y comio una aran̄a . gran trençado , y chico recaudo . al que yo bien quiera la muger se le muera . habla poco y bien , tenerte han por alguien . hablar sin pensar es tirar sin encarar . haz bien , y no cates a quien . haz lo que el frayle dize , y no lo que haze . harto pide , quien bien sirue . donde ay estiercol y loco , luego parece . hombre que madruga , de algo tiene cura . honra , y provecho no caben en un saco . huyr , y correr , no es todo uno . hurtar el puerco , y dar los pies por dios. husada menuda a su duen̄o ayuda . huesped nuevo , baraja en casa . huelga el trigo so la nieve , como el viejo so la pele . huelgo me un poco , mas hilo mi copo . huevos mil manjares . yo acoto el matorral , y otro toma los paxaros . voy do el papa , y el emperador no pueden embiar embaxador . el lobo , y la vulpeja son de una conceja . el pez que busca el anzuelo , busca su duelo . el que a su enemigo popa , a sus manos muere . el ojo del amo engorda el cavallo . frayle que pide por dios pide por dos . esto es hazer seto de espinas con manos desnudas . haga tu hijo heredero , no tu despensero . en tierra seca el agua salobre es buena . en la casa del official , assoma la hambre , mas no osa entrar . en el agua turbia haze buen pescar . en hora mala nace , quien mala fama cobra . en este mundo mesquino , quando ay para pan , no ay para vino . en arca abierta , el justo peca . en casa del tahur , poco dura el alegria . en luengo camino paja pesa . en casa llena presto se guisa la cena . bastardos ò del todo buenos , ò del todo maluados . guay al hijo , cuyo padre va a parayso . esso se haze , lo que a dios plaze . hazes buena harina , y no toques bozina . guarte de puta que dexa la bolsa enxuta . guarte de las ocasiones , y guardarte dios hà de los pecados . guay de la muerte , que no toma presente . grano no hincha arnero , mas ayuda a su compan̄ero . gran plazer no escotar , y bien comer .. quiere mi padre mun̄oz , lo que no quiere dios. quien yerra , y se eminenda , a dios se encomienda . quien se guarda , dios le guarda . quien vive bien , a nadie hà menester . quando a nuestra sen̄ora oyeres nombrar , no pidas si has de ayunar . su alma en su palma . tras este mundo otro verna . tanto es pedro de dios , que no le medra dios. todo es nada deste mundo , si no se endereça al segundo . quien no entra en la mar , no sabe a dios rogar . antes que cases , mira lo que hazes . antes de casar , ten casa en que morar . ala muger quinzeta , hombre de treynta . mala noche , y parir hija . quien bien quiere a beltran , quiere bien a su can . allegadora de la ceniza , y desparramadora de la harina . a cada ollaza su cobertaraça . bien ò mal , casado me han . casar , casar , suena bien , y sabe mal . casar , y compadrar , cada qual con su ygual . con buen vezino casaras tu hija , y vendras tu vino . casaras , y amansaras . de bovos y bovas , se hin chen las bodas . humo , gotera , y muger parlera echan el hombre de su casa fuera . el que es enemigo de la novia , como dira bien del novio . el ciervo muda cada an̄o su penacho , y tu marido cada dia. dios me guarde de moça adevina , y de muger ladina . de ayre por horado y de amigo reconciliado guarde me dios. de medico moco y barbero viejo cata te . de madrastra , el nombre le basta . el diablo le haze la cama al logrero . por la boca se escalienta el homo . fiar de dios sobre buena prenda . guarde te dios de hecho es . el rosario en el cuello , y el diablo en el cuerpo . la oracion breve sube al cielo . mucho en el suelo , poco en el cielo . por esso te hago , porque me hagas , que no ere 's dios que me valgas . poridad de dos , poridad de dios , poridad de tres de todo es . quando dios quiere , con todos vientos llueve . a dios rogando , y con el maço dando . con minerva ande tu mano . a quien dios quiere bien , la perra le pare lechones . a muger casta , dios le basta . a quien dios quiere bien la hormiga le và a buscar . aquel es rico , que esta bien con dios. a tuerto ò a derecho ayude dios a n̄ro consejo . a buen recaudo vengo . dame recaudo para comer . poner a recaudo . embiar un recaudo . dame recaudo para escrevir . dar recaudo . da dios higos a quien no tien muelas . de hora a hora dios mejora . dios me de marido rico , si quiera sea borrico . de cornada de ansaron guarde dios mi coraçon . dios te de salud y gozo , y casa con un corral , y pozo . dios me decontienda con quien me contienda . dios de savenga , quien nos mantenga . dios consiente , mas no siempre . del agua mansa me guarde dios que de la brava yo me guardare . caldo de tripas bien te repicas ? venga el bien , y venga do quisiere . la biuda rica , casa fica . la liebre y la puta , cabe la senda la busca . judio , paga lo que deves , que lo que yo te deuo cuenta es que tenemos . vè embiado , ven llamado . yo me era polvo , vino agua , y hizo me lodo . por mucho pan nunca mal an̄o . por mucho madrugar no amanece mas ayna . por nuevas no peneys , hazerse han viejas , y saber las heys . poca hazienda , poco cuydado . poco por mil , preso por mil y quinientos . por ningun tempero no dexes el camino real por el sendero . toma el primer consejo de tu muger , el segundo no. preguntaldo a mun̄oz , que miente mas que dos . puerta abierta , al santo tenta . pusieron la cruz , porque no le meassen . quando la bestiageme , carga , y no teme . quando el diablo reza , engan̄arte quiere . quando el diablo viniere a tu puerta , y te pidiere las mangas , cortalas , y da se las . qual la comp ana , tal la badajada . quando fueres yunque , sufre come yunque , quando maço hiere como maço . quando estuvieres con tu muger vientre con vientre , nole digas quanto te viniere a la mente . quando dios no quiere , el santo no puede . quando no dan los campos , no han los santos . quando el hierro esta encendido , entonces hà de ser batido . qual el tiempo tal el tiento . quando vieres la barva de tu vezino pelar , echa la tuya a remojar . quanto sabes no diras , quanto vees no juzgaras , y viviras en paz . quando el pilota promete missas , y cera , con mal anda la galera . qual el rey , tal la grey . quando la rana tuviere pelo , tu seras bueno . mejot doblar que quebrar . querria mihijo agudo , mas no reagudo . quieres comprar mulo sin boca y culo . que hazes mosquita ? aramos . que aprovecha candil sin mecha ? quien tarde se levanta , todo el dia trota . quien todo lo da todo lo niega . quien dize mal de la yegua , esse la merca . quien casa por amores , malos dias , y buenas noches . quien bien oye , bien responde . quieres que te siga el can , da le pan . quien puede ser libre , no se cautive . quien bien ama tarde oluida . quien de paja tiene la halda , temor tiene al fuego . quien guarda , halla . quien trata en lana , oro mana . quien no osa aventurar , no passe la mar . quien al asno alaba tal hijo le nasca . quien fia el dinero , pierde dinero y el vezero . quien come y canta , de locura se levanta . quien deve ciento , y tiene ciento y uno , no hà miedo alguno , quien tiene ciento , y uno , y deve cienro , y dos ; encomiendo le a dios. quien con perros se echa , con pulgas se levanta . quien lexos se và a casar ò và engan̄ado , ò và a engan̄ar . quien paga sus deudas se harà rico . boca fresca , pie caliente . quien la muerte agena espera , a larga soga tira . quando amigo pide , no ay manan̄a . si cada necio traeria palo , faltaria len̄a . por lavar los manos , no se venden heredades . escuche a la razon , ò se harà escuchar . quien bien vive harto letradoes . no te burles con el ojo , ni la religion . quien tarda , acaba . en boca cerrada no entran moscas . un grano no hinche el saco , mas ayuda a sus compan̄eros . honra y provecho no caben en un saco . lo mas que la muger mira en el espejo , lo menos mira a su casa . case biuda antes que eche luto . por oyr missa , y dar cevada , nunca se perdiò jornada . muchos besan las manos que quier●ian ver cortadas . mundo redondo , quien no sabe nadar por fuerça hà deyr al hondo . no es tan fiero el leon como le pintan . no es pobre quien tie●e poco , mas quien dessea mucho . no te accompan̄es con malos , porque acrecenterà el numero . quien limpia las narizes del nin̄o , besà la madre en la mexilla . quien vive de esperança , bayla sin musica . quien cuenta nuevas a su muger , es rezien casado . quien aprende un officio , gana una herencia . dadivas entran sin taladro . el musico trae tienda en la garganta . el palo del viejo , pestillo de la puerta de muer●o . guarte del buey adelante , del cavallo a tras , y del frayle a todas partes . cosa mas facil es de hazer algo , que no nada . cada uno lleva un loco en la manga . religion , fama , el ojo , son cosas muy tiernas . quien lama su cuchillo , darà poco al servidòr . mas vale nariz mocosa , que ninguna . quien trae buenas nuevas podra hurtar reziamente a la puerta . quien tiene cōpassion de otro , acuerdase de si mismo gran dote cama de renzillas . tres mugeres , y un ganso hazen un mercado . si las cosas se pudiessen hazer do● vezes , todos setian savios . la cosa mas facil del mundo , es enga●ar a si mismo . quien a su enemigo popa entre sus manos muere . quien es cornudo y calla , en el coraçon trae una asqua . por esso es uno cornudo , por que dos pueden mas que uno . la muger , y la cereza se aseytan por su mal . dile que es hermosa , y tornar se hà loca . haveys dado en el hito . padre viejo , y manga rota , no es deshonra . dixo me mi madre que porfiasse , mas que no apostasse . ciento de un vientre , y cada uno de su mente . alla me lleve dios a morar , do un huevo vale un real . no seria fortuna , si fuesse sempre una . el prodigo tiene amigos quanto come con testigos . al fin se rinde fortuna , si el trabajo l'importuna . el trabajo gana palma , y quita el orin del alma . no puede el hijo de adam , sin trabajo comer pan . yo sè lo que sè , mas desso callarme hè . zorilla tagarnillera , hazese muerta por asir la presa . una aguia para la bolsa , y dos para la boca . uno tiene la fama , y otro lleva la lana . uno fue , que nunca errò . virtudes vencen sen̄ales . una vez engan̄an al prudente dos al innocente . vieja che bayla mucho poluo levanta . vino de peras , ni lo bevas ni lo des a quien bien quieras . venid piando , y bolueras cantando . vende en casa , y compra en feria si quieres salir de lazeria . treynta monies , y un abad , no pueden hazer cagat un asno contra su voluntad . tres a uno metenle la paia en el culo . todo pescado es flema , y todo iuego apostem● . tienes en casa el muero , y vas a llorar el ageno . tahur , tahur el nombre dize hurta fur . tanto pan como un pulgàr , torna el alma a su lugàr . suelas y vino , andan camino . so●lando brasas se saca llama , y de malas palabras pendencia . si bien me quiere iuan , sus obras me lo diràn . si quieres dar palos , a tu muger , pide la al sol a bever . si quieres holganca , sufre amargura . si quieres enfermar , lavate la cabeça , y vete a echàr . si quieres cedo engordar , come con hambre , y beve a vagar . si quieres saber quanto vale un ducado buscalo prestado . si quieres tener buen moço , ten le antes que le nasca el boço. si el necio no fuesse al mercado , no se venderia lo malo . rogar al santo hasta passar el tranco . quien con mal anda , ò se quiebra el piè ò la çanca . quien no parece , perece . quieres dezir al necio lo que es ? di le bestia de dos pies . quien no halla mala hada , de la buena se enfada . quien no tiene miel en la orça tenga lo en la boca . quien promete , en deuda se mete . quien abrojos siembra , espinas coge . quien no hà cayre , no hà donayre . quien bien quiere , de lexos vee . quien solo come su gallo , solo ensille su cavallo . si esta pella a la pared no pega , a lo menos dexara sen̄al . un solo golpe no derriba el roble . uno , y ninguno todo es uno . un cuchillo mesmo me corta el pan y el dedo . uso saca maestro . yó que me callo piedras apa●o . honra sin provecho anillo en el dedo . el hombre cree , y el alma dud● . antes que escrivas recibas , antes que des escrivas . los dientes no quieren ny mucho descuydo , ni demasiado cuydado . el dia de la boda , no ay muger hermosa . de bovos y bovas se hinchen las bodas . asno que entra en dehesa agena , buelve cargado de len̄a . hombre palabrimuger , guarde me dios del . heredad blanca , simiente negra , cinco bueyes a una reja . hombre bermejo , y hembra barbuda , tres leguas lexos la saluda . ara hondo , cogeras pan en abondo . a tu hijo buen nombre y officio . a todo ay man̄a sino a la muerte . bever a codo alcado hasta ver las armas del mal logrado . refranes donosos , y satyricos . no ay peor abad , que el que monge hà estado . pato , ganso y ansaron tres cosas suenan , y una son . por las haldas del vicario , sube el diablo al campanario . quien prende el aguila por la cola , y muger por la palabra no tiene nada . quien dixo rodrigo dixo ruydo . cierra la puerta que la olla và fuera . sin clerigo y palomar ternas limpio tu hogar . somos gallegos , y no nos entendemos . viejo es pedro para cabrero . quan bovito seria pedro si se lavasse ? como el asno de san antolin , cada dia mas ruyn ▪ proverbios donosos . dios me dio un huevo , y esse dio me lo guero . dos a uno tornar me quiero grullo . n● ay hombre debaxo del sol , como el italiano , y el espan̄ol . respuesta . dizes la verdad y tienes razòn , el uno es puto , el otro ladròn . la hazienda de clerigo entra por la puerta , y sale por el humero . muera marta , y muera harta . tomò las calças de villadiego , y puso tierra en medio . de la mala muger te guarda , y de la buena no fies nada . refranes dionosos y plazenteros . nunca vi de cosas menos que de abriles y obispos buenos . abad de carçuela comistees la olla , pedis la caçuela . a clerigo hecho de frayle no le fies tu comadre . la hazienda de clerigo da la dios , y quita la el demonio . camino de roma ni mula coxa , ni bolsa floxa . dios es el quesana , y el medico lleva la plata . dos iuanes , y un pedro hazen un asno entero . el abad , y el gorrion dos malas aves son . el asno de san ladorin , cada dia mas ruyn . la hazienda de abad cantando viene , y chifflando và . los locos hazen los vanquetes , y los sabios los comen . lo que no lleva christo , lleva el fisco . manjar de burguillo a la man̄ana ravanos , y a la noche higos . martin cada dia mas ruyn . medicos di valencia luengas faldas y poca ciencia . mi comadre marimenga siempre a pedir venga . moço missero , abad vallero , y frayle cortes , reniego de todos tres . ni de fraile , ni de monja no esperes recebir nada . ni perro , ni negro , ni moço gallego . ni mula mohina , ni moça marina , ni poyo a la puerta ni abad porvezino . ni fies muger de frayle , ni barages con alcayde . ni frayle por amigo , ni clerigo por vezino . proverbios temporales referiendo a las sazones . abriles , y condes los mas son traydores . abril y mayo llaves del an̄o . abril frio mucho pan , y poco vino . a cada puerco su san martin . a dias tres de abril el cuclillo hà de venir , si no viniere a ocho ò es preso , ò morto . agua de março peor que la mancha en el pan̄o . agosto , y vendimia no es cada dia. agua de agosto açafran , miel , y musto . agua de mayo pan para todo el an̄o . an̄o de nieves an̄o de bienes . arreboles de aragon a la noche con aguas son . aurora ruvia , ò viento ò pluvia . cada casa en su tiempo , y navos en adviento . cerco de luna nunca hinche l●guna , cerco del sol moja el pastor . dize mayo a abril , aunque te pese , me hè de reyr . dezimbre dezembrina hiere como culebrina . elada barbuda , nieve anuncia . el dia de san barnabè dixo el sol aqui estaré . el viento , y el varon no es bueno de aragon . enero haze elar la vieja en el lecho , y el agua en puchero . en abril aguas mil. junio , julio y agosto sen̄ora no soy vuestro . la neblina del agua es madrina . luna con cerco agua trae en el pico . luna en creciente cuernos a oriente , luna en menguante cuernos adelante . mal vale un agua entre abril y mayo que los bueyes , y el carro . marco ventoso , abril llovioso haçen el mayo hermoso . abril ventoso , marco llovioso del buen colmenar hazen astroso . ni creas en juvierno claro , ni en vereno nublado . nieblas en alto , aguas en baxo . quando ay nieblas en hontejas , apareja tus tejas . quando la sierra de mosca se toca toda la villa haze una sopa . quando en verano es invierno , y en invierno verano nunca buen a●o . quando aroca tiene caperuça coge la vela , y vere a rastelo . quando llueve en agosto , llueve miel ò mosto . quando menguare la luna no siembres cosa alguna . quando florece el melicoton , el dia y la noche de un tenor son . quando el durazno esta en la flor , dia y noche estan de un tenor . quando brora la higuera requiere tu compan̄era . quando llueve llueve , quando nieva nieva , quando haze vien̄to haze mal tiempo . quando guara tiene capa , y moncayo chapiron , buen an̄o para castilla , y mejor por aragon . sol madruguero no dura dia entero . sol rojo agua al ojo . sol de março apega como pelmazo . sol puesto , obrero suelto . tiempo tras tiempo , y aguas tras viento . viento solano agua en la mano . arreboles a l'oriente agua amaneciente . yemas de abril pocas al barril . un mes antes , y otro despues de navidad , es invierno de verdad . santa , lucia , mengua la noche , y crece el dia. refranes ò proverbios fisicos tocante la salud . quien no cena , no hà menester avicena . anade , muger , cabra , mala cosa siendo magra . de man̄ana a la pescaria , y la tarde a la carniceria . agua fria , y pan caliente , nunca hizieron buen vientre . agua al higo , y a la pera vino . agua tiene tres cofas , ni enferma , ni embeoda , ni adeuda . compra la cama de deudor , y dormiras a sue●o suelto . allà và el mal , do comen el huevo sin sal . quien hurta la cena al viejo , no le haze agravio . anguilla empanada , y lamprea escavechada . azeytuna oro es una , dos plata , tercera mara . calenturas oton̄ales , ò muy luengas , ò mortales . cabrito de un mes , rezentàl de tres . calenturas de mayo , salud para todo el an̄o . bien cuenta la madre , mejor el infante . has la noche noche , y el dia dia , y viviras con alegria . hijo tardano , huerfano temprano . la muger negra trementina en ella . los pies secos , la boca humeda . lexos de ciudad , lexos de salud . man̄ana al monte , la tarde a la fuente . mas matò la cena , que no sanò avicena . come poco , y cena mas , duerme en alto y viviras . despues de pece , mala la leche . el salmon , y el sermon en la quaresma tienen sazoo . dixo la leche al vino , bien seays venido amigo . donde mea la oveja bien semeja . vino an̄ejo , y amigo viejo . quien viejo engorda , dos mocedades goza . case tu hija , y pece fresco , gastale presto . el moço dormiendo sana , y el viejo se acaba . agua sobre miel , sabe mal , y haze bien . pan caliente mucho en la mano y poco en el vientre . el queso es sano que da el avaro . el agua sin color , olor y sabor , y hà la de ver el sol. haz la puerta al solano , y viviras sano . vino trasnochado , no vale un cornado . que yo mee claro , y higa al medico . mejor es desseo , que hastio . moco creciente lobo en el vientre . monte y rio de me dios por mi vezino . moças davera quien os dio tan ruynes dientes ? agua fria , y castan̄as calientes . ni bevas de laguna , ni comas mas de una azeytuna . pan a hastura , y vino a mejura . pan reziente , y vuas , a las mocas pone mudas , y a las viejas quita las arrugas . pan de ayer , carne de oy , vino de antan̄o salud para todo el a●o . por quartanas no doblan campanas . poca fatiga es gran salud . quando te dolieren las tripas , haz lo saber al culo . quando ovieres gana de comer come de la nalgada , y dexa la hijada . turmas de varon . quando un hombre mea las botas , no es bueno para las bodas . quando comieres pan reziente , no bevas de la fuente . quando meares de color de florin , echa el medico para ruyn . quando llueve , y haze sol coge el caracol . quando el enfiermo caga rulo higa para el boticario . quando el baço crece , el cuerpo enmagrece . el que en mayo no merenda , con los muertos se encomienda . quien mea y no pee , no haze lo que deve . quien bien come , y bien beve , haze lo que deve . quien come caracoles en abril apareje cera y pavil . quien hinojo vee , y no coge , diablo es que no hombre . quieres ver a tu marido muerto , da le verças en agosto . el que mucho come , poco come . a buen comer , ò mal comer tres vezes bever . a bocado haron espolada de vino . aguja calumbrienta no entratas en mi hercamienta . quien no cansa , alcança . a manos lavadas dios les dà que coman . andeme yo caliente , y riase la gente . a torrezno de tocino buen golpe de vino . el agua como buey , y vino como rey. un huevo escaseza , dos gentileza , tres valentia , quatro vellaqueria . si el villano supiesse el sabor de la gallina en el enero , no dexaria ninguna en el pollero . quieres buen bocado ? el niespero despestan̄ado . quien se echa sin cena , toda la noche devanea . queso de ovejas , leche de cabras , manteca de vacas . no dexes los pellejos hasta que vengan los galiloos , quiere dezir hasta el diade ascension . no ay tal caldo como el çumo guijarro . no me echeis agua en el vino que andan gusarapas por el rio . pera que dize rodrigo no vale un higo . vino de peras ni lo bevas , ni lo des a quien bien quieras . las enfermades del ojo , se han de curar con el codo . quien el diablo hà de engan̄ar de manan̄a hà de madrugar . quien no halla mala hada , de la buena se enfada . quien comio la carne que roya el huesso . quien en lo llano estropieça que harà en la sierras . quien en tiempo huye , en tiempo acude . quien quisiere vivir sano , coma poco , y cena temprano . ruynes comidas , y grandes almuerzos , chicas cabeças y luengos pescueços . si quieres comida mala , come la liebre assada . si quieres vivir sano , haz te viejo temprano . si supiesse la muger la virtud de la ruda la buscaria la noche a la luna . si quisieres enfermar lava le cabeça , y vete a echar . sobre la sombra del nogal no te pongas a acostar . sobre brevas , no bevas . sobre el melon , vino follon . tienes gana de morir , cena carnero assado , y echate a dormir . la olla sin verdura no tiene gracia ni hartura . quien en mayo come la sardina , en agosto caga la espina . proverbios particulares , que apurtan a ciertos lugares . medicos de valencia , largas faldas , y poca ciencia . a juezes galicianos , con los pies en las manos . al iudio dalde un palmo , tomara quatro . gallego pedidòr , castellano tenedòr . al iudio dalde el huevo , y pediros hà la gallina . canizar , y villarejo , gran campana , y ruyn consejo . del andaluz , guarda tu capuz . cuenca de cabeças , y valencia de piernas . del toledano , guarte tarde , y temprano . cuchillo pamplonès , çapato baldrès , amigo burgalès , guarde me dios de todos lo● tres . el portuguès se criò de pedo de un judio . fuero de aragon , buen servicio mal galardon . antes puto que gallego . cerden̄a ò mata , ò empren̄a . en las asturias tres meses d' invierno , y tres d' infierno . hable burgos , que por toledo hablarè yo . apprendiz de portugal no sabe coser , y quiere cortar . en casa del moro no hables algaravia . quien lengua hà a roma và . camino de santiago tanto anda el coxo como el sano . como el ansar de cantipalos que falio al hombre . mula de losa , el que la cria no la goza . mucho pan tiene castilla , que no lo tiene , passa lazeria . repollo murciano , nabo bejarano . negar que negaras , que en aragon estas . ni piedra redona , ni gente de girona . ni buen çapato de valdrés , ni buen amigo salamanques . ni hombre cordoves , ni cuchillo pamplones , in moço burgales , ni çapato de baldrés . en un hora no se gano çamora . palencia la necia , quien te oye tedesprecia . quando fueres por pancoruo , ponte la capa en el hombro . quando passares por toròte , echa una piedra en tu capote , y pagarte hà el escote . quien fuere a andaluzia ande de noche y verma el dia. quien es conde y dessea ser duque , metase frayle en guadalupe . quien a roma va , dineros llevara . quien no ha visto lisboa , no ha visto cosa boa . quien ruyn es en su villa , ruyn es en sevilla . rincon por rincon , calatayud en aragon . roma , roma la que a los locos doma , y a los cuerdos no perdona . salamanca a unos sanas a atror manca . si castilla fuera vaca , rioia fuera la rin̄ovada . vega por vega de hita a talavera . vin̄a en cuenca , y muger fuerte , y pleyto en huete . vizcayno necio , tarazon de en medio . quieres conocer a catalan , mea , y meara . a quien dios quiere bien , en sevilla le da a comer . tres espan̄oles , dos christianos como dios , y el tercero santo como el papa ; tres portugueses , dos medio christianos , el otro judio . tres italianos , dos bugerones , el otro ateista ; tres tudescos , dos borrachos , el otro hereje ; tres ingleses , dos ladrones , el tercero rebelde . daroca la loca , cerco grande , y villa poca . medicos de valencia largas faldas , y poca ciencia . ea , ea , que burgos no es aldea . duero tiene la fama , y pisverga lleva el agua . aranda del duero , para mi la quiero . dos adevinos ay en segura , una experiencia , y el otro cordura . en salamanca mas vale un maravedi , que una blanca . dios te de vin̄a en cuenca . ebro traydor , naces en castilla y riegas a aragon . el rey fue viejo a toro , y bolvio moço . espan̄a escura , vendaval por natura . asnillo de caracena , mientras mas andava mas ruyn era . en navadijos poco pan , y muchos hijos . galizia es la huerta , y ponferrada la puerta . sevilla como crebejos de baxedrez tantos prietos , quantos blancos . harto era castilla de chico rincon quando amaya era cabeça , y hitero monton . locoya lleva el agua , y xarama tiene la fama . junio , julio , agosto , y carthagena los mejores puertos lo que dessea alagon , no le venga a aragon . les perros de zorita pocos , y mal avenidos . mete en tu granja el gallego , y hazerse te hà tu heredero . lo que quiere escamilla , no lo de dios a castillae . lo que quiere ocan̄a , no lo de dios à la mancha . lo que quiere hinojosos , no lo vean nuestros ojos . los potricos de buitrago , que siempre van desmedrando . los perros de zorita no teniendo a quien morder , uno a otro muerden . moços de cuenca , y potros de carboneras hasta las eras . mundo mundillo , nacer en granada , morir en bustillo . mundo mundillo nacer en xerez , morir en portillo . refranes portugueses . a as vezes ruyn gadela roy boa correa . a aden , moller , & a cabra , he ma cousa semdo magra . bolsa vazia faz o home sesudo , mas tarde . a fin louva a vida , & a tarde louva el dia. aiamos salud e paz , e logo teremos assaz . alem ou aquem , veias siempre con quem . a limgo longa he sinal de mao costa . a moller & a ovella concedo a corrella . a muyta costesia he especia dengano . amor , foguo , & tosse a seu dono descubre . amores de freyra , flores do medoeira cedo ven & pouco duraom . moller fermoso , vin̄a e figueral , muy malas son de guadar . mouro que naon podes aver forrao por tu alma . a o bom daras , & do mao te asastaràs . mays val divida vella que pecado novo . a on ny à , no ni cal cercar . a pedra & a palabra naom se recolle depois de deitada . meu sono solto , meu enemigo mosto . assi he dura cousa o a doudo calar , como a o sesudo mal falar . millar he un possaro que tenno na mao , que dous que van volando . as romerias e a as bodas vam as sandias todas . naom quero bacoro con chucallo . barriga quente pe durment . mellor he o meu que o nuestro . castigo de vella nunca fez mella . ho homen cree , & alma duvida . cacara sem dentes dos mortos faz viventes . naom fiar de caon que manqueia . can de can vello , y potro de potrelo . judio per la mercaduria , y frade per la hypocresia . conciencia de portalegre qui vende gato por liebre . comadre andareja naom vo a parte que vos naom veia . falaon le en allos respondè en bugallos . la va la ligoa omde doe o dente . ida de jan gomez que foy na sela veo nos alfories . refranes gallegos . a fazendo do crego da a deus , & levala a o demo . a maa vezin̄a da a agulla sin lin̄a . amor sà molt , argent fa tot satalan . assi està el pages entre dos advocats , como el pagel entre dos gats . jado de noviella , y potro de yegua viella . jornada de mar no he de tayxar . refranes catalanes . millor es de figue que factig . en juliol ni dona ni caracol . el hon del mal que ha paor dexo mor. quen ten cops bel nol cal mantel . quien gran dia se lleva tot lo dia trota . la voz de pleu , vos de deu. mes va pa exut ab amor , que gallines ab temor . explicacion de algunos refranes sennalados en romance . allà me lleve dios a morar , do un huevo vale un real . quiere dezir a una tierra dinerosa y rica , donde ay harto reales , que incitan los hombres al trabajo . a quien dios quiere bien , la perra le pare lechones : quiere dezir , a quien dios quiere bien todo se le buelue en bien , y allende de sus esperanças . a quien dios quiere bien , la hormiga le va a buscar : dizese , porque adonde va la hormiga ay trigo en abundancia . de cornada de ansaron guarde dios mi coracon : quiere dezir , de las escrituras de los letrados que traen pleytos . del agua mansa me guarde dios , que de la braua yo me guardarè . quiere dezir , de amigo simulador me guarde dios , que yo me guardare bien de mi enemigo . qual era dios para mercader ? porque sabe lo venidero , como la sazon del an̄o , y quando aura tempestades , &c. quiere mi padere mun̄oz lo que no quiere dios. entiende se de una hija que su padre queria casar contra su voluntad . rogamos a dios por santos , mas no por tantos . palabras son del labrador , y se entienden de los disantos , y las fiestas de las quales ay muchas en el an̄ . viene dios a vernos sin campanilla : quiere dezir sin ruydo , ò quando estamos con salud : el venir con campanilla es , quando va el santissimo sacramento a visitar un enfiermo . muchos componedores cohonden la novia ; por que do ay muchos pareceres suele auer desorden . quien quisiere muger hermosa , el sabado la escoja , que no el domingo : por que entonces anda ataviada , y afeytada . si quieres dar palos a tu muger , pidele al sol a bever . que por ser el agua limpia , tomarà en si de los atomos que trae el sol , que pareceran poluos . bezerilla mansa mama a su madre , y la agena : la glosa es , que los benevolos y comedidos con todos hallan cabida . casa de padre , vin̄a de abuelo , olivar de tartarabuelo : la glosa es , que la casa sea fresca , la vin̄a algo vieia , el olivar an̄eio , con estas tres cosas podra un hombre traer una vida alegre . creatura de un an̄o saca la leche del calca●o . quiere dezir , que mama , y chupa reziamente , siendo entonces algo fuerte . desque veo a mi tia , muerome de azedia , desque no la veo muerome de desseo . applicase a la variedad de las voluntades , y animos de los hombres , y que la ausencia suele aguzar la aficion . dixo me mi madre que porfiasse , mas que no apostasse . la glosa es muy clara contra apostadores . el hijo hatro , y rom●ido , la hija hambrienta y vestida . buena regla es para el govierno de casa , porque auiendo el hijo para ayudar a su padre en el trabajo , hà de andar harto , y roto . don lope , ni es miel , ni hiel , in vinagre , ni arrope . se dize de los que son de un natural frio , y indifferente . ganar al principio , es cebo para perder : porque incitan un hombre de darse al juego . entre hermano y hermano dos testigos , y un notario . para que nose rompa el parentesco , y se forn e● pleytos . madre y hija vesten una camisa : la glosilla es que la hija participa del natural de su madre ; partus sequitur ventrem . no me pesa que mi hijo pierda , si no que desquitarse quiera : esto se entiende de la costumbre al iuego , y de la porsia . el padre a pulgadas , el hijo a braçadas . quiere dezir , que el que gana la hazienda con trabajo gastalo con tiento , como bazen muchos padres , y viene un hijo gastador quien consume a braçadas lo que ganò su padre y gasta a pulgadas . quien a mi hijo quita el moco , a mi besa en el rostro . este refran se refiere al amor grande que los padres tienen a sus hijos . al hombre vergonçoso el diablo le truxo al palacio . este refran se refiere a los cortesanos , en los quales verguenca demasiada , y pusilanimidad no es loable . al hombre bueno no le busquen abolengo . este refran denota , que la virtud , y la bondad es la mayor hidalguia . la muger y la cereza , por su mal se afeyta : la muger , porque es requerida , la cereza porque es comida . da dios almendras a quien no tiene muelas . quiere dezir que riquezas , y mando vienen algunas vezes a quien no sabe repartir , ni sabe governar . nacieron alas a la hormiga por su mal . esto se puede aplicar a los hombres pobres , alcançando riquezas de donde procede sobervia , y ambicion , y consequentemente su ruina . el infierno es lleno de buenas intenciones . quiere dezir , que no ay pecador por malo que sea , que no tenga intencion de meiorar la vida , mas la muerte le sobreprende . mi padre fue se a acostar , y hallaron le muerto a la man̄ana , no pidas la razon , cenò carnero assado . quie e dezir , quel el carnero de espan̄a siendo gruesso , y fuerte , no se digere tan presto como el carnero de otras tierras . judios en pascuas , moros en bodas , cristianos en pleytos , gastan sus dineros . esto se refiere a las costumbres de todos los tres . en casa del official assoma la hambre , mas no osa entrar . porque està siempre trabajando , y en camino de ganar . los muertos abren los ojos a los vivos . quiere dezir que las historias que hablan de los hechos de hombres muertos , abren los ojos , y aconsejan a los vivos . en boca cerrada no entran moscas : quiere dezir , que el hombre callado previene muchas inconvenicias . no quiero cochino con sonaja . esto quiere dezir , que la merced que se haze con ostentacion , y ruydo no es tan agradable . al primer impetu los franceses son mas que hombres , y despues menos que mugeres . este proverbio se refiere a la ligereza , y inconstancia de la nacion francesa . hagas buena farina , y no toques bozina . este refran aconseja a cada uno de complir con su obligacion , y hazer bien , sin vanagloriarse despues . buscays cinco pies al gato , y no tiene sino quatro . este refran se refiere a los que son curiosos en demasia , y muy criticos . guarte de las occasion , y guardarte dios ha del pecado . este es un consejo espiritual muy excelente , y sen̄alado . madre vieja , y camisa rota , no es deshonra . este proverbio nos amonesta , que la viejez & la probreza no son deshonras . antes moral que almendro . este refran simbolica con la naturaleza del espan̄ol , el qual es mas flematico , y tardio en sus acciones que otras naciones : como el moral entre los arboles , el qual brota muy tarde , pero no , hasta que el aspereza del invierno sea passada ; por esto a quel arbol es simbolo de sabiduria , como el almendro que brota presto , es simbolo de temeridad ; lo qual induzio el autor de la floresta de dodona de paragonar el espan̄ol al moral . moral proverbs , or adages conducing to manners , and to good life , &c. with all the world have war , but with england do not jar . the first wife is matrimony , the second company , the third is heresie . he carrieth the cross on his breast , and the devil in his actions . an egge is better to day , then a pullet to morrow . a handful of nature is better then an armful of science . by little and little the old woman spinnes the bundle of flax . owe money at easter , and lent will seeme short to thee . a suit in law , and an vrinal , bring a man to the hospital . who never lyes comes not of good kinred . there 's no family but there 's a whore or a knave of it . from the glances of a drab , and the turn of a die , take heed . guests and fish stink in three dayes . giving of almes never lightens the purse . one can never make a streight arrow of a sowes tayl . be rather a mulberry then an almond-tree . viz. be rather slow then hasty . a long-nos'd man seldom a cuckold . a hedge lasts three years , a dog outlasts three hedges , a horse three dogs , a man three horses , a stag three men , an elephant outlives three stags . who knows little tells it quickly . i care not for saints that piss . who hath money hath what he will. who shelters himself under leaves is twice wet . who spits at heaven , his spettle falls on his face . understood of blasphemers . when thou art with thy wife belly to belly , yet do not tell her all things thou knowest . when it pleaseth not god , the saint can do little . when all tell thee thou art an ass , 't is time for thee to bray . when ill fortune lies asleep , let none awake her . who labours can want no houshold-stuff . who buyes and sells feels not what he spends . neither for company nor for counsel lose thy own hold . nor weeds in thy corn , nor scruples in thy friend . the heart bears up the body . let the miracle be done , though mahomet doe it . one finger makes no hand , nor one swallow a sommer . neither take too young a boy , nor kinsman , nor one that is intreated for thy servant . nor so old that she eates with a wryed mouth , nor so young as to be a wanton . take heed of a winching mule , and a latine woman . nor a prophecying maid , nor a learned wife . nor eyes in letter , nor hands in chests . when the mouth is shut , the flies cannot enter . change of weather the discourse of fools . the dog wags his tail not for thee , but for the bread . duggs draw more then axietrees or wheels . a blush in the face is better then a blot in the heart . grief of many turns to pleasure . a pawne in chest is better then a pledge in the market . mother and daughter wears one smock , viz. they are of one nature . buttocks abed draw more then bulls in a fallow . better be a fool then obstinate . therefore a man is a cuckold , because two can do more then one . there is not such an enchantment as good service . in the mouth of the wise a publick report is a secret . they are not all men that piss at the wall . all is not true that the tabour sounds . marriage is not made of mushromes , but of good round cakes . all the fingers are not of one length , viz. all men are not equal . there 's no such doctrine as that of the ant. who hath a trade hath a benefice . he is not poor that hath little , but he that covets much . all the fat is fallen into the fire . there 's nothing so bad as to want money . wheresoere thou goest there 's three leagues of ill way . he is as sure as march in lent. a body alone neither sings nor weeps . there 's no house but hath something not to be spoken of . do good , there 's no matter to whom . vvords and feathers are tossed by the air . grief for others hangs by a hair . the word of the mouth , like the stone of a sling . vvhen the urinal came , john pasqual was dead . vvho pisseth and doth not fart , goes to the court , and sees not the king. vvho will have a hansome wife , let him chuse her upon saturday , and not upon sunday , viz. when she is in her fine cloaths . the wise man changeth counsel , the fool not . he knows one point more then the devil ; spoken of a cunning fellow . the day thou dost marry , thou dost cure or kill thy self . a man is taken by the beard , and a woman by the thred . let 's pray to god by saints , but not by so many . the secret of one god knows , the secret of three the whole countrey . god comes to visit us without a bell , viz. without noyse . the foot on the cradle , and the hand on the distaff ; a sign of a good houswife . nor corn that grows in a valley , nor wood that grows in the shade . he is blind enough who sees not through the holes of a sive . men purpose , but god doth dispose . get once a good name , and sleep at leisure . the words are good if the heart be so . vvho sings scares away his sorrows . 't is better to leave to an enemy at ones death , then to beg of a friend in ones life . that delay is good which makes the way the safer . welcome cross , if thou comest alone , a compleat house ; in the other world . his bread fell into the honey-pot , viz. he got by the mischance . a frown and instruction makes a good child of an ill . that which makes peter sick , makes sancho well . as the abbot sings , the sexton answers . there 's no fence against fortune . too much familiarity breeds contempt . one much and two little make men rich . sope is lost on the head of an ass. a courtesie of the mouth is worth much , and costs but little . i will not jest with my eye nor with my faith . that which cures the lungs , hurts the spleen . he cries wine , and sells vinegar . god gives wings to the ant that she may perish the sooner ; spoken of ambition and honour . from idleness business is bred , i. trouble . he hath two looks , but one face . a large thong of another mans leather . to break ones head , and give him a plaister . one take is better then two promises . a scabbed colt a good horse . let 's leave fathers and grandsires , and be good of our selves . never a good work of a grumbling servant . think leisurely , and work speedily . god guard me from the stroak of a gander , viz. from a goose-quill , or scriveners shop . hell is full of good intentions . happy is he that growes wise by other mens harms . the frying-pan told the kettle , get thee hence thou black ars . god consents , but not always . they speak worse of him then mahomet spoke of bacon . god gives us whereat to laugh , but not at foolish children . tell thy friend thy secret , and he will lay his foot on thy throat . vvheresoever thou goest do as thou seest . vvhere old men do not haunt , crowes do not croke . my noddle akes , and they anoint my ankle . to hurle the helve after the hatchet . the sergeant and the sun are every where . pardon is superfluous where no fault is committed . the crumpshouldered sees not his bunch , yet he sees that of his companions . cure your sore eye with your elbow , viz. do not touch them . the foot of the master is as dung to the ground . let 's bless god in the state we are in . in the cutlers house an ill knife . i scap'd from the thunder and fell into the lightning , viz. from bad to worse . in the wise mans mouth what is publick is secret . he is my friend who grindes in my mill . 't is good doctrine to be wise by other mens harms . the greyhound who starts many hares kills none . vain-glory doth flourish , but bears no grain . by drop and drop the sea lesseneth . enjoy thou the little thou hast , while the fool seeks for more . by one grain after another the ant fills his barn . do for me , learn for thy self . i take some sport , but i finish my task . to scape the bull , i fell into the river . women and wine make a man swarve from his judgement . thy bowels and chests must fly ope to thy friend . the cobweb le ts go the rat , and holds fast the mouse . salt comes from the sea , and mischief from a woman . by the popes prick which is holy flesh . since i brought forth children i never fill'd my belly . words and works eat not at one table . sometimes a fool gives good counsel . from a silent person remove thy dwelling . man is the fire , woman the flax , the devil the bellows . to sweat at meat , and freeze at work . money makes the man compleat . vvho died of fear , they made him a tomb of turd . a melon and a woman are hard to be known . a golden face , silver hair , and scarlet eyes . fore-warn'd fore-arm'd . an early riser hath care of something . meddle not with the quarrels of brothers . men propose , but god doth dispose . let the tripes be full , , for they carry the legs . my neighbours goat gives more milk then mine . love , and thou shalt be loved , so thou maist do that which thou canst not do being not beloved . poverty may make a chaste woman do foul things . the bacon of paradise for the married man that never repented . marry and gossip every one with his equal . an old man a new grief every day . the least hair makes a shadow . to sell honey to him that hath hives of his own . let good luck come , and let it come whence it will. put neither iew nor hog into thy garden . shee 's coif'd like a saint , and nayl'd like a cat. the wanton sheep said to the goat , give me wooll . the life pass'd makes old age heavy . truth like oyl swims always on the top . the foolish woman by the list buyes the cloath . the blind mans wife needs no painting . a wench on the market-place hath commonly the door swep'd , and the house beshit . they cast the fault of the ass upon the panniers . too much conversation breeds contempt . the cunning wife makes the husband her apron . vvant makes the old wife to trot , and the cripple to caper . a good pay-master is never sorry for his pawn . a book shut brings not forth a lawyer . the absent and the dead have no friends . money makes masters . he sadleth to day , and goes to morrow . vvords are in us , deeds are in god. married men need many eyes . vvhat thou hast to do , do it , and say not to morrow . that which happens not in a year , falls out in an instant . that which is used , cannot be excused . too much breaks the bag . vvhat three know , all the world knows . the dead open the eyes of the living , viz. books . the worst of law-suits is , that of one there grow a hundred . what 's ordain'd in heaven must be done on earth . what 's done at a wedding must not be done every day . every one carrieth his soul in the palm of his hand . the rotten apple spoils his companion . the locusts make thin guts . the woman and the melon smell them at the tail . wine and women keep men from musing . a gentle answer breaks choler . truth is green . a lye wants feet . an egge to day is better then a hen to morrow . good words have a good sound . a lye hath short legs . to start a hare for another to take . the poor man like a walnut-tree , all throw stones at him . words are women , deeds men . better bow then break . converse with the wise , and thou shalt be one of them . the desire of man never comes to the highest pitch . bind me hand and foot , and throw me among my kindred . divide not pears with thy master in jest or earnest . better to unsow , then break , viz. to go too hastily to work . an ill word hurts more then a sharp sword . a pawn in the the chest is better then a pledge in the market . the smoak of my own house is better then the fire of another . my gossips wish me ill because i tell them truth . better to go about , then fall into the ditch . better be still single then ill married . a handful of naturall wit is better then an armful of learning . to hammer on cold iron . one ox shites more then a hundred swallows . better late then never . 't is ill to sin , 't is devillish to persevere . a mild word quencheth more then a whole cauldron of water . being ill , and hoping to be better , i must dye i know not when . if you paint and cocker them too much , you will make bad daughters of good . rather a trotting wife then a gazing wife . the devil so loved his child , that he pulled out one of his eyes . put her to another vessel , because she may not smell of the mother . have luck enough , and a little learning will serve thy turn . vvho hath children , 't is reason he should gather . vvho hath children , cannot die of a surfeit . vvho will be very old let him begin betimes to be so . fortune reacheth her hand to a bold man. take a bull by the horn , and a man by his word . god send thee a house of oak , a bowl of silver , and a pot of copper . a knight without money is no knight , but a bable . gifts break through rocks . who hath daughters and sheep , he can want no complaints . two shirts is better then one . correct thy mule , and thy child behind . a woman in the straw , and a webb begun cannot want a place of refuge . breed up a crow , and she will peck out thy eye . be not partner with a man engaged . a clown may be hid by good cloaths . give me her honest , and i will make her hansome . give a pye of one colour , and i will give you a maid without a fault . better keep then ask . the dugs draw more then cable ropes . a pitiful mother a shitten child . rather bleared then blind . the ill of many turns to delight . my knee is nearer then the calf of my leg . 't is wholsomer to go to bed without a supper , then rise in debt . put thy hand into thy own bosome , and never stand telling the fortune of others . envy is better then pity . mine is better then ours . the more moors ( viz. slaves ) the more gain . oats and mass never retard a journey . while the yoak goes , let the spindle wag . while i am in my house i am a king. truly dame this gear goes ill . look before , thou wilt not fall backward . a fine wench a frail gourd . a youth well bred neither speaks of himself , nor holds his peace being asked . the cuckold knowes much , but he knowes more who gives him the horns . the world goes round , who cannot swim must to the bottome . many do kiss hands which they would see cut off . it much avails and costs little , to give a good answer to a bad word . women complain , women do groan , women grow sick when they please . the hare runs well , but the dog that catcheth her better . fools talk of change of times . many things grow in the garden which were never sowed . the door doth not like me that hath many keyes . buy not a horse that wags his tail . the ant gets wings to destroy her self the sooner . i care not for a pig with bells about his neck . fools and quarrellers enrich the lawyers . want makes the old woman to trot . a foolish ship that hath no ballast . take heed of friends reconcil'd , and of meat twice boyl'd . nor the absent is without fault , nor the present without excuse . buy not a lame mule , nor marry a punk in hope to cure either . care not for the tears of a whore , or the bravadoes of a ruffian . nor table without bread , nor army without a captain . nor wedding without a tabor , nor porredge without bacon . nor wheat that grows in valleys , or under a shade . i neither give nor take , like a iew on the sabbath . trust not a woman that weeps , nor a dog that pisseth . 't is neither my mill nor b●rn , let who will thresh in it . neither eat too much cheese , nor expect wit from a boy . nor hen without bacon , nor sermon without saint austin . neither be daunted by poverty , nor lifted up by riches . a child , a vineyard , and a bean-garden are ill things to keep . nor mule without a race , nor woman without her blemish . go neither to the physician upon every distemper , nor to the lawyer upon every brabble , nor to the pot upon every thirst . one finger makes no hand , nor one swallow a summer . above god there 's no lord , nor above black any colour . if the will fail not , there will want no opportunity . leave not the skins till the galileans come . there 's not such an enchantment as good service . the lion is not so fierce as he is painted . meddle not with what doth not belong unto thee . the worst jest is the true jest . there 's no deaf man like him that will not hear . ' there 's no stop without trouble . marriages are not made of mushromes , but of round duckets . you cannot take trouts with dry breeches . there is not so clear a mirror as an old friend . there is not a better surgeon then he who hath been slashed . trust not and thou shalt not be cousened . there is no law like that of the club . i grieve not that my son hath lost his money , but that he will have a revenge . all is not gold that glisters . 't is ill flying away on stilts . there is not a better mistress then want and poverty . there is no ill but time may ease the smart . the crow cannot be blacker then her wings . seek not pears of an elme . a good carouse of wine is the best witness . the stollen bit is the sweetest . where thou art not lord command not . speak not till thou be asked , and thou shalt be esteemed . god strikes not with two hands , for he hath made ports to the sea , and fords to the rivers . there is no lock but a golden key will open it . be not a baker if thy head be made of butter . new king new lawes . no good is got without labour . a work of the commons is n● mans work . every one for himself , and god for all . to offer much is a kind of denial . there are eyes that fall in love with blearness . a bleating sheep loseth her bit . words and feathers the wind whirles them about . you were a baker before , though now you wear gloves . paper and ink cost money . nicholas divides most for himself . a word spoken and a stone flung have no return . the words of a saint , and the paws of a cat . the court is cumbersome . 't is bread and vvine that makes the journey , and not the nimble youth . bread with eyes , cheese without eyes . speak little , hear much , and thou shalt not erre . there is not a pair of ears for every sunday . sloth washeth not the head , and if it washeth , it kembs it not . a barking dog never good biter . idleness is the key of beggery . pear , peach , and melon require pure wine . old sins new repentance . give just weight and sell dear . to ask much for to get the one half . the gray mule hath lost her prancings . to kill moors on a wall . a rouling stone gathers no moss . the thief thinks that every one is of his gang . an urinal and a sute in law in his house whom thou wishest not well . more drunk then a sop , or spunge . i consume my self to do others good . spoken of the candle . to preserve friendship let there be a wall between . little wealth , and a good will. though the sun shines yet leave not thy cloak at home . for wealth marry not with a lewd man. the dog will dance for money . contest , but lay no wagers . go not behind at a hill . get a good name isabel , and thou wilt marry well . for thy religion , for thy king , for thy kindred , and for thine own , lay thy life . to grease a fat sow in the tail . cut off the leg of an ill custome . he who doth ill , an excuse never failes him . the main end of all is to serve god , and do no ill . love thy husband as a friend , and fear him as an enemy . at the years end the dead eats more then the living . whether here or there , look well with whom thou goest . he overtakes at last who tires not . there is no fence against death . to give slowly is as much as to deny . a friend to all , and to no body , is all one . the love of a punk , the fire of flax , and the wind of the tail is one and the same thnig . god gives washed hands wherewith to eat . let me go warm , and let people laugh as long as they will. take another dog with this bone . be advised by the aged , and thy opinion will prevail in council . old birds are not taken with chaff . to whom thy secret thou dost tel , to him thy freedom thou dost sel. he who gives thee a capon , give him a leg and a wing . plow deep , thou shalt have bread enough . though a lye may darken truth , it cannot extinguish it . the creditor hath a better memory then the debtor . a coward yesterday , a cavaleer to day . 't is good to love , 't is better to be beloved . correct the good he will grow better ; correct the bad he will grow worse . a beard wetted is half raz'd . to drink and lose the asses . to speak well , and do ill , is like a broken sive . marta sings well when her belly is full . a wanton wench looks illfavouredly near a gray beard . writing is the best memory . this were to bridle a calf . a secret is good in one , better in two , ill in three , and worse in four . the old ox makes the streightest furrow . thou seekest five feet in a cat , and she hath but four . god give peter a good easter , for he never did me good or hurt . to an hasty question a leisurely answer . a thin pot , and fat testament . to keep a cackling and lay no egge . every one desires wealth at his own home . every potter commends his own pitchers . the pot that goes often to the water comes home crack'd at last . every bird is pleased with his own nest . every cock crows on his own dunghil . the cock crows , the hen answers , 't is a sad house where there is no corn . to repent doth cost dear . every one with his equal . let every one speak in that which he knowes . marry thy daughter when thou mayst , and thy son when thou pleasest . if thou desirest care , marry a lewd fellow . a forward horse needs no spur. a dappled gray sooner dead then tired . he falls in the pit he digs for others . like to like , and nan for nicholas . a house with a chimney , and a wife with a spindle . like to like . the back door is that which spoiles the house . after horns comes learning . that is a sad house where the hen crows , and the cock is silent . he is fit for any thing . the love of a child like water in a pannier . i like it not well to have a dog in my house with a bell . go to thy aunts house , but not every day . go to thy brothers house , but not every evening . a wise man makes every countrey his own . some are monks , some fryers . the love of a son-in-law is like the winter sun. a gathering father , a scattering son. a pinching father , a prodigal son. that gate is happy through which a dead wife goes out . the wise man changeth counsel , the fool perseveres . money and good manners makes cavalleers . it goes ill with that house , where the spindle commands the sword . thy fathers house , thy grandfathers vineyard , and thy great grandfathers olive-trees . obey thy natural father , but thy spiritual more . thou art a son , a father thou wilt be , as thou doest , so shall it be done unto thee . my mother warned me i should lay no way-wagers in disputes . the asses son brayes twice a day . don lope is neither vinegar nor wine . a late child an early orphan . near is my petticoat , but nearer is my smock . a tender mother , a turdy child . he is not ugly who resembleth his kindred . a long child-birth , and a girl at last . blind cheese and eyed bread is best . who hath a sore tooth hath an ill neighbour . he who doth me good is my gossip . who breeds a nephew breeds an ill plant . above father ther 's no godfather . poverty is no baseness , but an inconvenience . the battlements come down , and dunghills climb up ; iacks rise up , and gentlemen come down . neither go to a wedding nor christning unbid . a foolish beast , a doltish driver . to a good understander a short speaker . a sheep and a bee , a stone which grinds , a iewel in his ear , the old womand wisheth her son. counsel after the cunney is gone . a small pitcher a small handle . at a hundred years end we shall all be saved . two sparrows agree but ill at one ear of corn . where they take out and put nothing in , they quickly go to the bottom . the evening commends the day , and death life . affection is blind reason . against the strength of a clown put iron between , viz. a sword . vvho comes last laments first . spoken of a younger brother . vvho believes slightly takes water into a sive . the cage made , the pye dead . now that i have a sheep and an ass every one bids me good morrow . a great ascent must have a great descent . no value can be put upon good counsel . ingratitude dries up the fountain of piety . do not misinform thy physician , thy councellor or lawyer . a new vessel retains the first scent . the ass dead and barley at his tayl . a silver bridge to a flying enemy . find out the good , and fear the bad . the old man never wants stories at the fire-side or the sun-shine . 't is tried alquimy to have rent and spend nothing . at the end of . years the hare returns to her first form . never seek the pedigree of a good man. there 's not a bad thing in spain but that which speaks . cu , cu , take heed thou beest not one . with one much , and two small ones men grow rich . buy a chain thou dost turn treasure into money . against an ill person the onely remedy is to put earth betwixt thee and him . with latine , a good nag , and money , thou mayst travel the world . get a good name and go to sleep . the company of one is the company of none , the company of two is the company of god , the company of three is company , the company of four is the devils company . red and black the colours of hell. why doth not thy master chide ? because he is not married . the courtesie of the mouth avails much , and costs little . the counsel of him who loves thee , though thou likest it not , yet write it down . collerique sanguin a pure drunkard . a hundred taylors , a hundred millers , and a hundred weavers make three hundred theeves . he who hunts two hares , he sometimes takes one , and sometimes none . natural vices last to the grave . we ought to praise him who gives us bread . there is a large distance betwixt the saying and the deed . gifts do burst rocks . god gard me from whom i trust , for i shall guard my self from whom i trust not . depart a while from the collerick man , and all thy life from a silent man. from a small spark a huge fire . i saw few die of hunger , of eating much a hundred thousand . a large thong of another mans leather . thou mayest keep thy selfe from the fire , but not from a thief . among colours scarlet , among fruits the apple . from long wayes , large lyes . panniers after vintage . take heed of a lewd woman , and trust not a good one . of a sows tail never good arrow . to break ones head and give him a plaister . the devil turns his back to a door that is shut . a belly full , though it be of hay . take counsel of the aged . from a good servant thou mayest become a master . of evils the least to be chosen . when thou hast made a turd leave it . one take is worth two i will give thee . when god pleases it raines in fair weather . a foolish iudge a short sentence . owe something against easter , and lent will seem short unto thee . where affection goes the eye goes . tell me with whom thou goest , and i will tell thee who thou art . wheresoever thou art , do as thou seest . my neck akes , and they anoint my ankle . take the good souldier from the plow. he went for wool , and he returned shorne . who hath a glass roof of his own , let him not throw stones at his neighbours . who payes his debts , what is left is his own . to give almes never makes the purse the lighter . who stayes long doth his business . mischief comes by ells , and goes away by inches . vvho spends more then he gaines , he must needs complain . who will not adventure , let him neither go to sea nor on a mule. who grasps too much , holds little . first born first fed . who hears not reason doth no reason . who still takes out , and puts not in , will quickly find a bottom . who spins well hath a large smock . who humours his wife in every thing becomes quickly a cuckold . who stumbles and falls not , goes faster . who hath been si●k and doth well must perform a pilgrimage . who hath ill customes he seldom or never forgets them . all covet all lose . who parts brothers comes by the worst . vvho gets under a good tree hath a good shelter . vvho is a cuckold and consents , let him be still a cuckold for me . vvho parts from his friends parts from god. vvho at thirty hath no wit , and is not rich at forty , raze his name out of the book . who eates his cock alone , let him saddle his horse himself . he who out-●eers a jeerer hath a hundred years of pardon . who hath his foot at the altar , eats bread without baking it . vvho hath time and waits for time , the time will come he will repent . vvho comes last weeps first . vvho stumbles twice at one stone deserves to have a broken face . vvho performs , appoints well . vvho resolves rashly , repents leisurely . wvho hath a good trade , hath a good office . a thief once , a thief ever . vvho sooths thee more then ordinary hath a purpose to couzen thee , or hath need of thee . vvho parts with his own before his death , let him provide for patience . vvho sowes thorns must meet with prickles . vvho desires to thrive let him live at the foot of a hill , or in a sea-port . who hath no money hath no grace . vvho trusts or promiseth doth cast himself into debt . vvho hath no ghelt let him sell both purse and budget . vvho hath lost his good name , goes dead up and down . vvho sports too much gathers little . who owes unto peter and payes andrew , let him pay another time . who sowes thorns let him not go barefoot . who wipes my sons nose kisseth me in the face . who knows not ill , cannot judge of the good . vvho is thy greatest enemy ? he who is of thy trade . vvho believes slightly takes up water in a sive . vvho corrects one beats a hundred . vvho asks errs not . vvho changeth his dwelling , god helps him . vvho goes to the mill and riseth not early , lets others grind while he is lowsing himself . vvho findes himself well , let him not stir . vvho doth a pleasure to a lewd man , soweth in the market-place . vvho teacheth himself , encreaseth his ills . vvho will recover money must give many turns . vvho wants employment , let him freight a ship or marry . vvho holds his peace consents . king by nature , pope by venture . i renounce that friend who shelters with his wings , and bites with his mouth . i renounce fetters though they be of gold. she fares as well as a tripe-womans cat. gossips scold , the truth is told . the salt oreturn'd never well taken up . to take one foot out of the mire , and put in the other . san lucy bright , the shortest day and longest night . sancha drinks wine , and cries out it staines . to fall from the dirt into a bog . in a sallet little vineger and much oyl . saint john the green is not every day seen . there 's no ill but may turn to ones good . service is no inheritance . a secret betwixt two safer then betwixt three . if thou wilt get a good name , let not the sun take thee in thy chamber . an ill beast sweats behind the ear . if thou wilt have a good servant , take him before his dowles be out . ca me , ca thee . the marks of nature are either very good or very bad . if thou wishest me well john , thy deeds will shew it . if thou wilt be revenged say little . follow reason although thou please some and displease others . if you come not in time , you shall not eat of the fat . if the tall were valiant , the little man patient , and the red loyal , all the world would be equal . if the tongue erred , the heart did not . if thou wilt thrive follow the good . if thou wilt be well served , serve thy self . if thou wilt enjoy the sweet , thou must taste of the sowre . if not as we will , as well as we may . if thou wilt know the value of a crown , borrow one . the blind man dream'd that he did see , & his dreā prov'd true . there 's no companion like the penny . there may be a subtile wit under a rough cloak . soles and wine go the journey . let him have patience who suffers , for one time succeeds another . the hour and time you cannot tie with a string . every one hath his opportunity if one knew how to manage it . sancho hath met with his match . men meet , mountains never . vve are all adams sons , silk onely distinguisheth us . we are all fools some way or other . every one after the old fashion . see whither thou goest , and do as thou seest . the least hair hath its shadow . you are a cuckold husband : who told you so wife ? cu , cu , take heed it be not thou . a window-gazing wife , wring off her neck if thou wilt have her good . the good man goes not into anothers bed . thy hand upon the spindle , and thy foot upon the cradle , so bring up thy daughter . the ass and the froward woman must have blows . rather have a husband with one eye , then with one son . in the fools house the wife commands . the fool fell in love with the lace of her gorget . the spindle is miserable when a beard is not above it . she is truely fair who is so of her body . meat is needful , a good name more . give a scolding wife rope enough . why doth the blind mans wife paint her self ? the rich widow weeps with one eye , and casts glances with the other . who hath a fair wife needs more then two eyes . the good wife is made by the man. better to be a cuckold and none know it , then to be none , and yet to be thought so . an old woman with money is better then a young one with beauty . too many counsellors confound the business . shew me thy wife , and i will tell thee what a husband thou art . nor so old a wife as to play the iade , nor so young as to kick . nor for cow , nor for ox , take a mad wife , or that hath the pox. neither marry with a widow , or seek help from a child . neither ride on a colt , nor commend thy wife . nor wedding without musick , nor burial without mourning . nor buy an ass of a mulateer , nor marry the daughter of an host. for money marry not an ill man. my husband is gone a wool gathering . 't is the man that makes the wife and the vineyard hansome . who is a cuckold and conceals it , carries coales in his heart . a husband behind the fire as bad as the mother , viz. the disease vvho takes not up a pin hath no care of his wife . in avoiding the fly he swallowed the spider . a large train and light purse . to whom i wish well let his wife dye . speak well and seldom , thou wilt be held for some body . to speak without fore-thinking , is to shoot without aiming . do well , it matters not to whom . do what the fryer tells thee , not what he doth . vvho serves well , asks enough . where there is a fool and a turd , they will quickly be known . an early riser hath care of something . honour and profit cannot hold in one bag . to fly away and run is not one thing . to steal a pig and give the pettitoes in almes . a little spindle , a great help . a new guest a trouble to the house . the wheat is merry under the snow , as an old man under a blanket . i ●m a little merry , but i do my business . egges are as thousands of meats . i beat the bush , another catcheth the birds . i go where no pope or emperour can send their embassador . viz. to stool . the wolf and the fox are of the same mind . the fish who seeks the ●ook seeks his ruine . vvho dallies with his enemy dies betwixt his hands . the masters eye fatneth the horse . the fryer who begs for god , begs for two . this is to make a hedge of thorns with naked hands . make thy son thy heir , not thy steward . in a dry soyl brackish water is good . in the labourers house hunger looks in , but dares not enter . good fishing in troubled water . he was born in an ill hour who gets an ill name . in this wretched world when there is wine enough , there wants bread . the just man may sin in an open chest . in the gamesters house joy lasts but little . a straw is heavy in a long journey . in a full house supper is quickly ready . bastards are very good , or very bad . wo to the son , whose father to heaven is gone . that must be which pleaseth god. grind good corn , and never blow the horn . take heed of a punk that leaves thy purse light . beware of the occasion , and god will save thee from the sin . death takes no bribe . a grain fills not the sive , but it helps its companions . a great pleasure to eat well and spend nothing . my father mun̄oz desires what god doth not . who erres and mends he recommends himself to god. who preserves himself , god preserves him . who lives well hath no need of any . when thou hearest our lady named , ask not whether thou must fast . he hath his soul in his fist . after this world another will come . peter is so much gods , that god gets him not . all is nothing in this world , unless you direct it to the other . who goes not to sea knows not how to pray . before thou marry see what thou dost . before thou marry have a house wherein to tarry . a husband of thirty for a wife of fifteen . an ill night , and yet a girl . who loves beltran loves his dog . she gathers ashes , and scatters corn . let every pot have its cover . well or ill they have married me . marry , marry , sounds well , and savours ill . marry and converse with your equal . marry thy daughter with a good neighbour , and thou wilt sell thy wine . marry , and thou wilt be tame enough . weddings have fools of all kind . smoak , a dropping gutter , and a scold , cast the good man out of his hold . who is an enemy to the bride , how can he speak well of the bridegroom ? the stag casts his horns every year , and thy husband every day . from a prognosticating maid , and a latine wife , the lord preserve me . god guard me from the wind through a hole , and from a reconciled friend . beware of a young physitian , and an old barber . the name of a step-mother is enough . the devil makes the usurers bed . the oven is heated by the mouth . to trust god upon a good pawn . god keep thee from 't is done . beads about his neck , and the devil in his body . a short prayer penetrates heaven . much on earth , little in heaven . i do for thee , because thou mayst do for me , for thou art not god. the secrecy of two is the secrecy of god , the secrecy of three is all mens secrecy . when god will , it raines with all winds . praying to god , and driving the plow , viz. prayer and labour will do well . let thy hand go to what thou art fit for . whom god doth bless , his bitch brings forth piggs . to a chast woman god is sufficient . whom god doth bless , the ant seeks him out . he is rich who is well with god. by right or wrong god speed our councel . i come very conveniently . give me some meat . to lock up or keep safely . to send a message . give me wherewith to write . to give order . it is to be noted , that this word recaudo is a word of the largest extent in all the spanish tongue , for it signifies a message by word or letter , a present , a commission , or any accomodation , assurance or security , victuall or provision for war , or any place else , and all things that a man needs , or is provided of , for himself or his beast , &c. god gives beans to him who hath no gums . god betters us from hour to hour . let me have a rich husband though he be an ass. from a fools bolt god deliver me . god send thee joy and health , and a house with a court and a well . god send me to do with him who understands me . god put strife among those that maintain us , viz. clients . god consents , but not alwayes . from smooth water god deliver me , for i shall preserve my self from the rough . tripe porredge dost thou brag ? against presumption . let good luck come , and let it come whence it will. a rich widow a quiet house . a whore and a hare , seek them near the high way . iew , pay what thou owest , for what i owe thee stands upon account . go when thou art sent , come when thou art called . i was dust , there came water and made me dirt . much corn , never bad year . for rising early the day breaks never the sooner . for newes never trouble thy selfe , thou shalt know it time enough . little wealth little care . over shooes over boots . by no means leave not the high-way for a by-path . take thy wifes first counsel , not the second . ask mun̄oz , for he tells more lies then two . an open gate tempts a saint . they set up a cross because he should not piss in the place . when the beast groans , load on and do not fear . when the devil is at his beads he will couzen thee . when the devil comes to thy gate and shall beg thy sleeves , cut them off and give them him . like bell like clapper . when thou art an anvil suffer like an anvil , when thou art a hammer strike like a hammer . vvhen thou art with thy wife belly to belly , do not tell her whatsoever comes into thy mind . the saint can do nothing when god is not pleased . if the fields will not , the saints can have no tithes . the iron must be beaten while 't is hot . keep touch with the time . when thou seest thy neighbours beard peel away , wet thine own . do not speak all thou knowest , do not judge all thou seest , and thou shalt live in peace . when the pilot promiseth mass and wax , it goes ill with the galley . like king , like people . when the frog hath hair thou wilt be good . better double then break . i would have my son witty , but not over witty . you would buy a mule without a mouth or a tail . fly , what dost thou ? we plough . meant of arrogant men . what avails a candle without week ? who riseth late must trot all the day , viz. because he is behind hand with his business . who gives all , denies all . who speaks ill of the mare buyes her . who marries for love hath good nights , but sorry dayes . who hearkens well , answers well . if you will have the dog follow you , give him bread . who can be free , let him not make himself a captive . who loves well forgets late . who hath his skirts of straw fears the fire . who spares , finds . who deals in wool distils gold . who dares not adventure , let him not pass the sea. who commends the ass , may he have such a son . who lends money looseth a visitor . who eats and sings riseth off foolishly . who hath a hundred , and owes a hundred and one , need not fear ; who hath a hundred and one , and owes one hundred and two , i recommend him to god. who lies with dogs riseth up with fleas . who goes far to marry , either he goes to deceive , or to be deceived . he that gets out of debt grows rich . a cool mouth , and warm feet live long . he pulls by a long rope who waits for anothers death . when a friend asks , there is no to morrow . if all fools had bables , we should want wood . for washing his hands , none sells his lands . hearken to reason , or she will make her self to be heard . vvho lives well is learned enough . iest not with the eye , nor with religion . he that stayes does his business . into a mouth shut , flyes do not enter . one grain fills not a sack , yet it helps his fellows . honour and profit lye not in one bag . the more a woman looks in her glass , the less she looks to her house . marry a widow before she leaves mourning . prayers and provender hinder no journey . many kiss the hand whom they wish were cut off . the world runs round , who cannot swim goes to the bottom . the lion is not so fierce as he is painted . he is not poor who hath little , but he that desires much . keep not ill company , lest you encrease the number . he that wipes the childs nose kisseth the mothers cheek . vvho lives in hopes danceth without musick . vvho tells his wife news is but newly married . vvho learns a trade , a purchase hath made . gifts enter every where without a winible . the musician keeps shop in his throat . an old mans staff is the rapper of death's door . take heed of an ox before , a horse behind , and a monk on all sides . it 's more pains to do nothing then something . every one hath a fool in his sleeve . religion , credit , and the eye , are tender things . vvho licks his knife , will give little to his servant . better a snotty nose , then none at all . vvho brings good news may knock boldly . vvho pities another , remembers himself . a great dowry is a bed full of brabbles . three women and a goose make a market . if things were to be done twice , all would be wise . the easiest thing in the world is for one to deceive himself . who dallies with his enemy , dies between his hands . vvho is a cuckold and holds his peace , carrieth a hot coal in his heart . vvhy is a man a cuckold ? because two can do more then one . a vvoman and a cherry paint themselves for their hurt , viz. the one to be tempted , the other to be eaten . the way to make a woman a fool , is to commend her beauty . you have hit the white . an old father and a broken sleeve is no dishonour . my mother told me that i should debate the business , but not bet . a hundred out of one womb , and every one of a several mind . god bring me to live there where an egge is worth six pence . i. to a country full of money . there would be no fortune , were she still the same . the prodigal hath as many friends as eat at his table . fortune at last yeelds to the importunity of labour . labour gets the laurel , and takes off the rust from the soul. adam's son cannot eat bread without labour . i know what i know , but i will keep it to my self . a cunning fox that lies betwixt weeds , makes her self dead , that she may catch the prize . one needle for the purse , but two for the mouth , viz. to keep it close . one hath the credite another washeth the wool . he was but one that never err'd . vertues overcome signs , viz. the influxes of the stars . the wise man is deceived but once , the simple twice . the old woman when she danceth raiseth much dust . the wine of pears , nor drink it thy selfe , nor give it thy friend . come cackling , thou mayst return singing , viz. go with some present of poultry to the judge . sell at home , and buy in a fair , if thou wilt be rich . thirty monks and an abbot cannot make an ass shite against his will. three to one may put a straw in ones arse . all fish is flegm , and all games imposthumes . you have one dead in your house , and you go to mourn for another . i. every one hath grief enough of his own . a gamester , a gamester , the name tells thee he is a thief . a little gives contentment . soles and wine makes the body go . from blowing coles there comes a flame , and from ill words a quarrel . if john wisheth me well , his works will shew it . if thou hast a mind to beat thy wife , let her bring thee water to the sun-shine ; for there thou mayst find some mote or other , that may be a ground for a quarrel . if thou wilt have pleasure , endure some pain . if thou desirest to be sick , wash thy head , and go to sleep . if thou desirest to be fat , eat with hunger , and drink leisurely . if thou wilt know the value of a crown , go and borrow one . if thou wilt have a good servant , take him before he hath dowle on his chin . if fools did not go to the market , ill wares would never be sold. to pray unto the saint till the danger is past . who goes with ill company breaks his foot , or his hip-bone . who doth not appear is perished . wilt thou tell the fool what he is ? call him a two-footed beast . who meets not with some ill luck , takes a surfeit of the good . who hath no honey in his cruce , let him have it in his mouth . who promiseth puts himself in debt . who sowes thistles , reaps prickles . who hath no money hath no grace . cayre an old spanish coin . who loves well sees afar off . who eats his cock alone , let him saddle his horse alone . if this dab doth not stick to the wall , 't will at least leave a mark . one stroke fells not the oak . one , and none is all one . the same knife cuts my bread and my finger . use makes mastery . i that do hold my peace do gripe stones . honour without profit , like a ring on ones finger . the man believes , the soul doubts . before thou write receive , and before thou givest write . the teeth require not much neglect , nor too much care . there 's no woman fair on her wedding day . marriages are fill'd up with fools . an ass that gets into another mans ground comes back laden with wood , viz. knocks . from a scolding man the lord deliver me . a white earth , black seed , and five oxen to the plow-share . a red man , and bearded woman salute them three leagues off . plow deep , thou wilt have bread enough . let thy son have a good name , and a good trade . there 's fence against all things except against death . to drink to the bottom to see the arms of the goldsmith . satyrical or drolling proverbs . the worse abbot is made of him who hath been a monk. goose , gander , and gosling have three sounds , yet are but one thing . by the skirts of the vicar the devil climes up to the steeple . who takes an eagle by the tail , and a woman at her word , holds nothing . who spoke rodrigo , spoke of noyse . shut the door , for the pot boyls over . without priest and pigeon-house thou mayst keep thy house clean . we are of galicia , we do not understand one another . peter is too old to keep goats . what a pretty fellow would peter be if he were washed ? as saint antlins ass , every day worse and worse . ironical proverbs . god gave me but one egge , and that was addle . two to one , i will turn a crane , viz. i will fly away . beneath the sun there 's no such man , as is the spaniard and italian . answer . thou tell'st the truth , and reason hast ; the first 's a thief , a buggerer the last . the church-mans wealth comes in at the door , and goes out at the chimney . let martha die , so she have her belly full . he took villadiegos breeches , and put earth in the middle , viz. he fled . take heed of a● ill woman , and do not trust a good one . drolleries , or merry proverbs . of things i never saw least , then of good aprils , and good bishops . abbot of carcuela having eaten the porredge , would have also the pot . trust not a priest made of a fryer . the priests wealth is given by god , but taken away by the devil . the way to rome must have neither a lame mule , or light purse . god is he who heals , but the physician gets the silver . two johns and one peter make one whole ass. the abbot and the sparrow are two ill birds . like the ass of saint ladorin , every day from bad to worse . the abbots wealth comes singing , and goes away whistling . fools makes feasts , and wise men eat them . that which christ hath not , the exchequer carrieth . the diet of burguillos , radishes in the morning , and figs at night . martin growes every day from bad to worse . physicians of valencia , long coats and little knowledge . my gossip marimenga comes alwayes to beg something . a boy given to mass , an abbot of vallero , and a court fryer , i renounce them all three . never expect much from a fryer , or a nun. nor dog , or neger , nor boy from galicia . nor a head-strong mule , nor a maid who hath been at sea , nor a well at the door , or an abbot for thy neighbour . trust not thy wife with a fryer , nor brabble with a iudge . nor a fryer for thy friend , nor a priest for thy neighbour . temporal proverbs , relating to the weather . aprils and earls are traytors for the most part . april and may the keyes of the year . a cold april , much bread , and little wine . every hog hath his saint martin . the third of april the cuckow is to come , if he comes not the eighth day , he is taken or dead . march water is worse then a stain in cloath . august and the vintage is not every day . august rain brings honey , wine , or saffron . may water bread for the whole year . a year of snow , a year of plenty . aragon clouds are water in the night . a red morning , wind or rain , every thing in its season , and turnips in autumn . the circle of the moon never fill'd pond , the circle of the sun wets the shepherd . may tells april , although thou weepest , i will laugh . december pierceth like a culverin . bearded frost , forerunner of snow . on saint barnabies day the sun said , here i will stand . neither the winds , nor the men of aragon are good . ianuary makes the pot freeze by the fire , and the old woman in her bed . in april a thousand waters . in iune , iuly , and august , lady excuse me you must — the cloud is the mother of rain . the moon with a circle brings water in her beak . the moon encreasing , her horns eastward , in the wane , her horns before . betwixt april and may , if there be rain , 't is more worth then oxen and w●in . a windy march , and a rainy april makes may beautiful . a windy april and a rainy march makes the hive unlucky . neither give credit to a clear winter , or cloudy spring . clouds above , water below . when there are clouds in hontejas mend thy roof . when the rock is coiff'd with flies , the town beneath becomes a sop . when there is a spring in winter , and a winter in spring , the year is never good . when aroca wears a hood go to rostelo . vvhen it rains in august , it rains wine or honey . when the moon is in the wane do not sow any thing . when the melicoton buds , the day and night are near the same . when the peach is in its flower , the day and night are in one tenour . when the figtree buds , find out thy mistress . when it snows it snows , when it rains it rains , when the wind blusters 't is ill weather . when guara hath a cloak , and moncayo a hood , a good year for castile , and a better for aragon . too early a sun lasts not a whole day . a red sun hath water in his eye . march sun sticks like a lock of wool . the sun set , the workman freed . time after time , and water after wind . an eastern wind carrieth water in his hand . red clouds in the east , rain the next day . april buds , few of them go to the barrel . one month before christmas , another after , is the true winter . saint lucy , the night shorteneth , and the day encreaseth . physical proverbs conducing to health and dyet . who doth not sup , needs not avicen , viz. the physician . a duck , a woman , and a goat are ill things being lean . go to the fish-market in the morning , to the shambles in the evening . cold water and hot bread never made good belly . water after figs , and wine after pears . vvater hath three qualities , it brings neither sickness , debts , nor widow-hood . buy the bolster of one in debt , and thou wilt sleep soundly . there sickness comes where egges are eaten without salt . vvho steals the old mans supper doth him no wrong . an eele in a pye , and in pickle the lamprey . one olive is gold , two silver , three all brass . agues or feavers in the fall , all alwayes long or mortal . a kid of one mouth , a lamb of three . an ague in may , health for a year and a day . the mother reckons well , but the child better . make night night , and day day , so thou mayst sing well-a-day . a late child quickly an orphan . in a black woman there is turpentine . keep thy feet dry , thy mouth moist . far from city , far from health . the morning to the mount , the evening to the fount . suppers killed more then avicen ever cured . dine with little , sup with less , sleep high , and thou wilt live . after fish milk do not wish . sammon and sermon have their season in l●nt . milk said to wine , friend , thou art come in good time . 't is good sowing where the sheep hath piss't . old wine , and an old friend . who grows fat being old , hath two youths . marry thy daughter , and eat fresh fish betimes . the young man by sleep improves his health , and the old man impairs it . water upon honey tastes ill , but doth well . hot bread , have much in thy hand , and little in thy belly . that cheese is wholesomest which comes from a miser . let thy water have neither colour , smell or savour , and let it see the sun. let thy door be towards the east , and thou wilt live the better . vvine over night is not worth a mite . let me piss clear , and a fig for the physician . appetite is better then surfeit . a growing youth hath a wolf in his belly . god give me a river and a hill for my neighbour . ye maids of davera who gave you bad teeth ? cold water and hot chesnuts . drink not of a pond , and eat but one olive . bread enough , and wine by measure . new bread and grapes , paint maids , and take away the old womans wrinkles . yesterdayes bread , and this dayes flesh , wine of the year pass't brings health . for a quartan ague the bell seldom tolls . moderate labour is much health . when thy belly akes , make it known to thy tail . when thou hast an appetite , eat of the buttock , not of the liver . the cods or genitories . when a man bepisseth his boots , he is not fit for marriage . when thou eatest new bread take heed of the fountain . when thy piss is of the florins colour , a fig for the physician . when it rains and the sun shines , gather snails . when the patient hath the postern-door open , a far● for the apothecary . when the spleen swells , the body grows less . he who breaks not his fast in may , let him recommend himself to the dead . he who pisseth and doth not fart , he doth not do what he should . who eats well and drinks well doth do his duty . who eats snails in april , let him provide for death . who sees fennel , and gathers it not , he is no man , but a devil . vvilt thou see thy husband dead ? give him cabage in august . vvho eats much eats little . vvhether you eat little or much , drink thrice . to a iady bit a spur of wine . a rusty needle shall not come among my tools . he obtains who tires not . god sends meat to washed hands . let me go warm , and let the world laugh at me . to a collop of bacon a good rouse of wine . drink water like an ox , and wine like a king , viz. sparingly . one egge is niggardliness , two is gentleness , three is valour , the fourth is knavery . if the countrey-man knew the goodness of a hen in ianuary , he would leave none in the roost . vvilt thou have a good bit ? take a medler the crown taken off . vvho goes to bed without some supper , hath a light brain all the night . sheeps cheese , goats milk , and cow butter is the best . leave not thy wastcoat till the galileans come , that is , till ascension day , when the gospel of the men of galilee , &c. is read . there 's no such broth as the juyce of flint , viz. that 's made of rock-water . pour no water in my wine , for there are worms that go up and down the river . a pear that cries rodrigo is not worth a fig , viz. a stony pear . neither drink perry thy self , nor give it to any other that thou lovest . distempers of the eye are to be cured with the elbow , viz. they must not be touched . he must rise betimes who will cheat the devil . he who meets with no ill luck , is weary of good . he who did eat the flesh , let him gnaw the bone . he who stumbleth in the plain way , what will he do on a rock ? he who flies away in time , comes timely home . he who will live in health , let him dine moderatly , and sup betimes . bad dinners , and great break-fasts , small heads , and long necks . if thou wilt eat what is ill , eat a roasted hare . if thou wilt live in health , make thy self old betimes . if the good woman knew the vertue of rhue , she would seek it by moon-shine . if thou wilt be sick , wash thy head and go to sleep . under the vvalnut-tree do not fall down and lie . upon new figs do not drink . upon melon wine is a felon . if thou desirest to die eat rost mutton , and sleep presently . pottage without herbs hath neither goodness nor nourishment . vvho eats a pilchard in may , shites out the bones in august . topical proverbs that aime at particular places and persons . the physicians of valentia have large skirts , but little knowledge . to the iudges of galicia go with feet in hand , viz. with some present of capons , &c. give the jew an inch , and he will take an ell . galliegos are beggers , the castillians are covetous . give a jew an egge , and he will beg of you the hen. ganiazar and villarejo , a great bell and bad counsel . from an andaluz take heed of thy cloak . cuenca ill for sore heads , and valencia for sore legs . from a toledano take heed early and late . from a pamplona knife , a shooe of baldres , and a friend of burgos , the lord deliver me . the portugues was born of a iews fart . the custome of aragon , for good service a bad reward . rather an ingle then a galliego . sardinia either kills , or makes thee well , viz. with a disease . in acturia there are three moneths of winter , and three of hell. let burgos speak , for toledo i 'le speak my self , said philip the second , to decide a controversie which was 'twixt these two towns , who should speak first in parlement . a portugal prentice that will cut , and yet he cannot sowe . speak not arabick in a moor's house . who hath a tongue goes to rome . santiago way the lame goes as much as the sound , viz. alluding to the pilgrims to be cur'd . as valiant as the gander of cantipalos , who made shew to set upon a man. like the mules of losa , he that breeds them enjoys them not . castile hath bread enough , who hath not must live in poverty . cabage of murcia , and turnips of bejara . deny what thou wilt , thou art in aragon . nor round stones , nor the people of girona . neither good shooe in valdres , nor good friend in salamanca . neither a man of cordova , nor a knife of pamplona , nor a boy of burges , or a shooe of baldres . camora was not got in an hour . palencia the fool who hears thee despiseth thee . when thou goest by pancorue , put thy cloak on thy shoulder . when thou goest by torote , carry a stone in thy cloak , and it will pay thy reckoning . who goes to andaluzia , let him sleep in the day , and go all night . who is an earl , and would be a duke , let him be a fryer in guadalupe . who goes to rome let him carry money . who hath not seen lisbon hath not seen a fair thing . who is naught in his own town , is also naught in sevil. corner for corner , and calatayud in aragon . rome , rome , who doth tame fools , and pardons not the wise . salamanca cures some , and spoils others . if castile were a cow , rioja would be the kidney . valley for valley , from hita to talavera . a vineyard in cuenca , a lusty wife , and a process in huete . bricayner the fool , put a tarace between . if thou wilt know a catalan , piss , and he will piss for company . whom god doth bless , he gives them a dwelling in sevil. three spaniards , two of them christians , as god , and the third as holy as the pope , three portegueses , two of them half christians , and the third a iew. three italians , two of them buggerers , the other an atheist . three dutch men , two of them drunkards , the other a heretick . three english men , two of them theeves , the third a rebel . daroca the fool , a great circuit , but a small town . valencia physitians large skirts , and little learning . on , on , for burgos is no village . duero hath the fame , but pisverga hath the water . aranda on duero , i 'le have for my self : a saying of philip the second . there are two magicians in segura , the one experience , the other wisedome . in salamanca a mite is better t●en a blanc , viz. a fair woman . to be happy god send thee a vineyard in cuenca . ebro thou traitor , who dost spring in castile , and waterest aragon . the king went old to toro , and came back young : because the water and grapes are so healthy . spain is dark , so is a south-west wind by nature . the ass of caracena the more he went the worse he was . in navadijos little bread , and many children . galicia is a garden , and ponferrada is the gate . sevile is like a chess-board , she hath as many black as white men , viz. moors and christians . castile was little enough when amaya was her head , and hitero a mount. locoya carrieth away the water , and xarama boars the fame . iune , iuly , august , and carthagena the best ports of spain . that which is desired by alagon , let it never come to aragon . zorita dogs are few , but ill condition'd . put a galliego but in thy barn , and he will make himself thy heir . that which escamilla doth crave let castilla never have , viz. too much drought . that which ocannia doth crave let mancha never have . that which hinojosos desires let our eyes never see . like buitrago colts , that alwayes grow less and less . like zorita dogs , who having no other do bite one another . the youths of cuenca , and colts of carboneras . the world runs round , born in granada , and dead in bustillo . the world runs round , to be born in xerez , and dye in portillo . portingal proverbs . sometimes an ill-favoured bitch gnawes a good chord . a duck , a woman , and a goat are ill things being lean . an empty purse makes one wise , but too late . the end commends life , and the evening the day . let 's have health and peace , and we shall quickly have enough . be it he or she look well with whom you converse . a long tongue is a sign of a short hand . the woman and the sheep let them go home betimes . too much courtesie a kind of cheat . love , fire and cough discover their matter . the love of a nun , and the flowers of the almond-tree soon come and soon depart . a handsome wife , a vineyard and fig-tree are hard to be kept . the mulberry which thou canst not reach lay up for thy soul. give to the good , and depart from the bad . an old debt is better then a new sin . 't is to no purpose to seek where nothing's to be found . the stone and the word returns not when once out . my sleep is found my enemy being dead . 't is as hard for a fool to be silent as for a wise man to speak foolishly . i had rather have one sparrow in my hand then two in the wood . fools go to weddings and pilgrimages . i do not desire a pig with a bell . a hot belly , a sleeping foot . mine is better then ours . an old womans stroke breaks no bone . the man beleeves , and the soul doubts . the hen without teeth makes living men of the dead , viz. with her eggs. trust not a lame dog . a dog of an old dog , and a colt of a young horse . a iew for merchandise , and a friar for hypocrisie . the conscience of portulegre , which sells a cat for a hare . a gadding wife is met every where . they spoke to him in garlick , & he answers them in codshead . there the tongue goes where the tooth akes . iohn gomez journey , who went with a saddle , and came back on a wallet . galliego proverbs . the wealth of a church-man god gives it , and the devil takes it away . the ill neighbour gives a needle without threed . love doth much , but money doth all . the countrey-man is 'twixt two lawyers as a fish 'twixt two cats . a calf of a young cow , and a colt of an old mare . a sea-voyage cannot be limited to dayes . catalunian proverbs . appetite is better then surfet . in iuly neither woman nor snail . a man dyes of the ill he fears . he that hath a handsome body needs no cloke . who riseth late , trots all the day , because he is behind hand with business . the voice of the people is the voice of god. dry bread is better with love , then a fat capon with fear . the explication of some remarkable proverbs in spanish . god bring me to dwell there where an egg is worth six pence , viz. to that country which is rich and full of treasure , which may incite men to labour . vvhom god loves , his bitch brings forth pigs , viz. whom god loves , all things cooperate for his good , and beyond his expectation and hopes . whom god love's , the ant goes to seek him out , viz. he will have plenty of corn , where the ants use to resort . god deliver me from a goose quill , viz. from lawyers bills , suits in law and a scrivener's shop . from still waters the lord deliver me , for from rough waters i will defend my self , viz. god deliver me from a glozing friend , for from an enemy i shall defend my self . vvhat a rich merchant would god be ? because he foreknows all things , as the season of the year , and when there will be tempests , &c. my father munnioz desires that which god will not have . this proverb is understood of a maid , whom her father would have married against her will. le ts pray god by the saints , but not by so many . they are the words of the husbandman , and must be understood of the holidayes and festivals , whereof there 's a great number in spain . god come's to see us without a bell ; that is , without any noise , or when we are well : to come to see one with a bell , is when the most holy sacrament goes to visit a sick body . many dressers discompose the bride : because where there is differing opinions , there is disorder . he who would marry a fair woman , let him choose her on saturday , and not upon sunday : because she goes then painted and deck'd . if thou hast a mind to beat thy wife , let her bring thee water to drink in the sun-shine ; and then the atomes of the sun will seem motes in the water , and make it look foul , so he may pick a quarrel with the wife . a mild calf sucks his own dam , and another : the gloss is , that they who are of a gentle , mild nature , will find entertainment in all places . thy fathers house , thy grandfathers vineyard , and thy olive trees thy great grandfathers : the meaning is , an house of one descent , a vineyard of two , olives of as many as thou wilt . a creature of one year sucks milk out of the ankle . the meaning is , that he sucks hard and strong , drawing the purest bloud from all parts of the body . while i look upon my aunt , i dye of tediousness , while i see her not , i dye of desire . this is applyed to the variableness of mens minds and humors , and that absence sets an edge upon affection . my mother told me that i should be earnest , but lay no wagers . the gloss of this proverb is plain against layers of wagers . let thy son be well fed , and raggedly cloth'd , thy daughter less fed , but well cloth'd . 't is a good rule for governing a house , because the son must help the father in his labour . don lopez is neither honey , nor gall , nor vinegar , nor malmsy wine . this proverb is meant of those that are of a cold and indifferent nature . to win at the beginning is a bait to lose : because it allures one to give himself to gaming . 'twixt brother and brother two witnesses and a notary . for fear of suits in law , and breach of brotherly love . the mother and the daughter wear but one smock . the gloss is , that the daughter followes the belly , and is like her in disposition . i am not sorry that my son loseth at play , but that he will have a revenge . 't is meant of those that are habituated to gaming , and obstinate . the father by inches , the son by ells . the meaning of this is , that he who gets his living hardly , spends it sparingly , as some fathers do ; then comes a prodigal son , and spends by ells what his father got and spent by inches . vvho wipes my sons nose , kisseth me in the face . this proverb refers to the great love which fathers use to bear their children . the devil brought the bashful man to the court. this hath reference to courtiers , in whom too much modesty and bashfulnesse is not commendable . never enquire the pedigree of a good man. this proverb denotes that vertue and goodnesse is the best coat of arms . women and cherries paint themselves for their own hurt : because the first are woed and courted , the other eaten . god gives almonds to him who hath no gums . the meaning is , that riches and command come sometimes to such that know not how to make use of them . the ant got wings to her own destruction . this may be applyed to mean men when they come to too much riches ; whence proceeds pride and ambition , and consequently their ruine . hell is full of good intentions . this proverb signifies , that there 's no sinner how bad soever , but hath an intention to better his life , although death doth surprise him . my father went to bed , and was found dead the next morning , ask not the reason , he supp'd on rosted mutton . the meaning is , that the spanish mutton being more grosse and strong , is not digested so soon as the mutton of other countries . the iews in their passeovers , the moors in their weddings , the christians in their law-suits , spend their estates . this relates to the customes of all three . in the arti●ans house hunger knocks at the door , but dares not enter : because he is alwayes at work , and on the gaining hand . the dead open living mens eyes , viz. history , which speaks of the actions of dead men , opens the eyes , and directs the living . when the mouth is shut flies will not enter . that is to say , the silent man prevents many inconveniencies . i desire not a pig with a bell about his neck . the meaning is , that a courtesie done with noise and ostentation is not so pleasing . at the first assault the french are more then men , and afterwards less then women . this saying relates to the lightness and inconstancy of the french nation . grind good corn , and blow not the horn . this proverb adviseth every one to perform his duty , and to do good , but not to brag of it afterwards . you would have the ●at have five feet , and she hath but four . this proverb relates to men that are too curious , and over-critical , that nothing can please them . preserve thy self from the occasion , and god will preserve thee from the sin . this is a most excellent and singular spirituall counsel . an old mother , and a torn shirt is no dishonour . this proverb doth admonish us that old age and poverty are no dishonour or marks of basenesse . rather a mulberry then an almond tree . this proverb doth agree with the complexion of the spaniard , who is more slow and flegmatick in his actions then other nations : as the mulberry is amongst trees , who buds very late , and not till the asperity of the cold weather be quite past ; wherefore that tree is taken for a symbol of wisdome , as the almond tree , that buds betimes , is of rashnesse : which induc'd the author of dodona's grove to compare the spaniard to the mulberry tree . carta embiada de un galan a su dama , en que por los mas usitados refranes le da cuenta de cosas que en su ausencia le avian sucedido ; a letter sent by a gallant to his mistress , wherein he giveth account of what fell out in her absence , all in proverbs , taken out of blasco de garay . seÑora , como quien habla de talanquera darè a vuestra merced cuenta de mi vida , y porque en tal caso dizen que las paredes han oydos , le suplico no se sepa lo que aqui dirè , pues en la boca del discreto lo publico es secreto ; y es que oyendo algunas vezes dezir que a quien muda , dios le ayuda , y otras , por el contrario , que piedra movediza no cria moho ; vino me desseo de saber qual de esto era verdad , considerando que valia mas auer , que saber ; assi acordè de mudar de vida , y no estar , siempre como dizen , en calma , porque quien no haze mas de otro , no vale mas de otro : y fue tal la mudanza que pudieran dezir por mi , quien bien tiene y mal escoje por mal que le venga no se enoie . al fin viendo que perdia tiempo porque no me dexassen cantar mal y porfiar , ò que me preciava de andar como cuchillo de melonero , dex● a quel camino , y tornè me a mi menester , acordandome de lo que dize el refran , quien bien està no se mude , que por do quiera ay tres leguas de mal quebranto ; mas como quien adelante no mira a tras se halla , mirando yo que un alma sola ni canta ni llora , y que una golondrina no haze verano , pareciome que devia buscar compan̄ia , puesto que a la verdad , mas vale ser solo , que mal accompan̄ado , porque dizen , dime con quien andas , y dezirre hè quien ere 's , aunque es el mal , que el peor se tiene por muy bueno , mas harto es ciego quien no vee por tela de cedaço : con este desseo que digo , madruguè un dia que no deviera , y como vale mas al que dios ayuda , que al que mucho madruga , pues por mucho madrugar no amanece mas ayna , tropecè , y no adelantè me camino con cierta moça que venia ladrada de los perros , mas como dizen , haz bien , y no cates a quien , puesto que por otra parte digan , que no es bueno caçar por monte traqueado , toda via acordeme de abrigarme con essa aunque auia propuesto de ayunar , ò comer trucha , mas la necessidad no tiene ley ; empero por el bien suena , y el mal buela , no faltò quien lo supo ( porque no ay cosa secreta ) y me reprehendio , que quien ha buen vezino hà buen maytino ; aunque toda via quise mas verguença en cara que manzilla en coraçon ; y assi acordè de no mudar bissiesto por no parecer perrillo de muchas bodas , y porque quica de rocin a ruyn ; y porque tambien la sen̄ora no dixesse , que el moco por no saber , y el viejo por no poder dexan las cosas perder , ò que se hazia encuentro feo , ò que da dios havas a quien no tiene quixadas ; de manera que sosseguè mi coraçon dissimulando con las gentes , y haziendo del gato de juan hurtado porque las buenas callan ; yo como la moca traya hambre de tres semanas , y picado el molino y el diente agudo , en topando con la despensa , porque luego le entreguè las llaves de la casa , quiso dalle tanta priessa , que aunque dizen , camino de santiago tanto anda el coxo como el sano , mucho avia de madrugar quien la avia de alcançar , porque toda su tema era , muera marta , y mueta harta , diziendo ni al gastador falta que gastar , ni al endurador que endurar , y que vale mas un dia de plazer qui ciento de pesar . yo como vi que se desmandava dixe , a cavallo comedor cabestro corto ; aunque ya venia tarde el gato a la longaniça , porque estava la se●ora muy apossessionada en mi hazienda , y assi dizen mete mendigo en tu paiar , y haçer●e se hà tu heredero ; de suerte que fue necessario lo meior que hombre pudo tornar a coger la hembra y quitarle el mando y el bando porque , como dizen . vezo pon , vezo quites ; despues de esto concertè me para no menester con un moço mio pensando que le tenia hecho a mis man̄as , avisandole que quando viesse que me pedia alguna cosa , porque era romero hito saca catico atravessasse con un triumfo con que el juego se les baratasse : yo fue el moço con el gaytero de arganda , porque le davan uno para que començasse , y diez porque acabasse ; porque tomò la cosa tan a pechos , que ya no era sen̄or de mi hazienda , ni podia dar nada a nadie quando dezia , el harto , del ayuno no tiene cuydado ninguno ; mal mira mi amo lo que hemos menester a unos mucho , y a otro no nada , unos monies , otros calonies ; al freyr me lo dirà para mi santiguada , que algun dia mande tanto pedro como su amo ; mas como a perro viejo nunca cuz cuz ▪ yo como le entendia , respondiale , oyr , ver y callar , que en la boca cerrada no entra mosca : assi algunas vezes se yua grun̄endo diziendo entre dientes con mal va todo , a otro perto con este huesso , mas cerca estan mis dientes que mis parientes : quiero dexar este amo que tanta sobervia tiene , y tomar asno que me lleve , y no cavallo qui me derrueque , que mas vale ser cabeça de raton , que cola de leon ; yo quando vi tantas consideraciones en un moço , y que se subia a mayotes , dixe , antes que digas tanto pan come queso , esto● tiros teneys ? no lo echareys en saco roto ; en fin acordeme que dizen , que a las vezes lleva el hombre a su casa con que llore , y que el necio por la pena es cuerdo , determinè de despedirle conformandome con el refran de las viejas , que dize , ni mula mohina , ni moça marina , ni poyo a la puerta , ni abad por vezino , ni moço pedro en casa , que siempre lo hè oydo dezir que de los enemigos los menos ; assi me determine , que quise mas bien de lexos , que mal de cerca ; esto hize por me quedar a solas con la ioya pensando que tenia trapillo con dineros porque dizen que quien guarda , halla ; mas , como al fin se canta la gloria quando bolui a poner recaudo en mi casa sin confiarme de nadie , porque duelo ageno de pelo cuelga soplò el viento en mi cara , y pensando echarme a dormit , espulgò me el gato ; porque como el dormir , no quien priessa , quando yo estava mas a suen̄o suelto echa otra sardina , nuestro gozo en el pozo : vase me la moça de casa , porque dadivas quebrantan pen̄as , mas quien tendrà el candil al ayre ? quando yo me hallè solo no pude dezir , compan̄ia de dos , compan̄ia de dios , si no bien vengas mal , si vienes solo , pues en verdad que no fue por mi culpa ; que harto le dezia , hija sey buena , y ella , madre he aqui un clavo , y le dezia que la muger , y la gallina por andar se pierde mas ayna , y que la pierna quebrada , y en casa , y le dezia que trabajasse , que quien hà officio , hà beneficio , y que no dixessen por ella , andate por ay maria sin toca , estate ay no hiles en oro de cestilla , mas ella hazia el caso de esto que el rey de un labrador , yo a quebrarme la cabeça , y ella buena que buena ; unas vezes callava , porque dizen que quien calla , piedras a pan̄a ; otras me respondian que quando la hormiga se ha de perder nacenle las alas , diziendome , can●ar mal y porfiar , bien canta marta despues de harta , porque quien canta sus males espanta , por do passa moia peor es hurgallo no me lo digays mas que primero beverè , que me toque gran sabor es comer , y no escotar , dezid lo que quisieredes , que al loco , y al toro dalle corro , que siempre lo ohi dezir , que de los leales se hinchen los hospitales , y por aqui quanto mandaredes , en fin como a dineros pagados braços quebrados , y la codicia rompe el saco , quando mas pensaua que la tenia convertida a essotra puerta que esta no se abre , nadar , nadar , y ahogar a la orilla , mas quien da lo suyo antes de su muerte , merece que le den con maço en la frente ; por esto escarmienten todos en mi , que bueno es escarmentar en cabeça agena , y en la confiança de las gentes nadie de lo suyo a los parientes , especial en la cama porque no es todo or● que reluze ; mas si bien le fue tornese al regosto , que en verdad acordandome de un consejo , que dize , la muger ; la muger , & la sardina de rostros en la ceniza , y que la mesa , y la muger han de ser sojusgadas quando mucho la via salir de madre , pegava con sus bienes y deziale assi se usa del pan , y del palo , aunque ella como buena sin auer miedo de dios , ni verguença a las gentes , acorde de poner tierra en medio y tomar las calças de villadiego ; porque mas vale salto de mata , que ruego de hombres buenos , y mas vale una traspuesta , que dos assomadas : y esto no para emendarse que no le passava por pensamiento , si no para andarse a sus vicios , y como dizen de aquel en aquel , que quien malas man̄as hà en la cuna , ò las pierde tardè , ò nunca : de manera que como hombre experimentado , y que sabe en que caen las cosas , porque no ay meior cirviano que el bien acuchillado , podria con ella dar consejo a otros , y dezir , de la mala muger te guarda , y de la buena no fies nada , aunque hablo en perviyzio de muchas m●s por un ladron pierden otro el meson ; bien sè que do ay malo ay bueno , mas tambien sè que por un bueno ay cien malos , que un cavallero sobre ciento , y un hombre sobre un cuento ; esta no se contentava con uno en casa , y otro a la puerta , si no como dizen , duero tiene la fama , y pisverga lleva el agua , ella lo tenia todo , y encubrialo yo por mi honra , mas tresquilenme en consejo , y no lo sepan en mi casa : pero siempre lo ohi dezir , que no ay mal que no venga por bien ; y assi fue , que desde alli a pocos dias se me bolvio al pesebre rogando me que por amor de dio● , y por lo passado entre los dos , y muy mas humilde y mansa que un cordero aunque despues de averse dado un muy buen verde en el prado no pude rehusalla , assi por no provar condiciones nuevas , como porque dos que se conocen de lexos se faludan , y tornela a mi casa , diziendo , dios me de contienda con quien me entienda ; desde a pocos dias como in el invidioso medro ni quien cabe el morò , atravessoseme otra dama , porque donde una cabra và alli quieren yr todas : yo por pagarme en la misma moneda tomè lo que me davan , y por desseo de çuecos meti el pie en un cantaro , y huyendo del trueno di en el rayo , mas quien quisiera mula sin tacha que se estè sin ella ; acontecio que rin̄eron dos comadres , y descubrieronse las verdades , y todo me llovia en casa , y mal para el cantato , porque por contentallas a entrambas , yo ponia , correo , y correas , y aun no me aprovechava , que cada uno creya que endurava para dar a la otra , mas el pensar no es saber , que en verdad no avia cosa en mi casa no estuviesse mas escurrida que alcuza de santero : verdad es , que si yo mirara el refran de la vieia , que dize , quien come , y dexa , dos vezis pone mesa , y que mas vale que sobre , que no que falte , y dexar a la muerte al enemigo , que pedir en la vida al amigo , y guardar , que no prestar , y no cobrar que quien presta , no cobra , y si cobra no todo , y si todo , no tal , y si tal , enemigo mortal ; no viniera mi bolso a tal estremo como estava , porque no ay mal tan lastimero como no tener dinero ; estas dos damas a porfia me venian a visitar , y a dezirme una mal de otra , porque no haze poco el que echa su mal a otro ; yo otorgando con todas porque assi se ganan los amigos , que si dezis la verdad quebraros hà la cabeça , una dezia , quien a la postre viene primero llora , otra , quien espera , desespera , y ambas , bien ayuna quien mal come ; mas porque no esperassen a comer en mi casa , siempre dezia , ò que avia comido , ò que no querria comer , que hombre harto no es comedor ; decta manera complia con ellas , ya combidando la una a bever , como los pollos de marta , que no han comido , y dan les agua , ya llevando la otra a passear , assi una por otra mal pen●● ambas ; las quales como yuan entendiendo , dezian me algunas vezes , a las que sabes mueras , gran tocado , y chico recaudo ; mas como ya me hedian en casa , porque el pan quiere ser de ante dia , y el vino de an̄o , y dia , y la carne desse dia ; no les dixe , que se fuessen , mas hizeles obras con que lo hiziessen ; aunque otros las rogavan , y assi es , nos por lo ageno , y el diablo por lo nuestro como los peces de la red , que unos mueren per entrar , y otros por salir ; hazia esto , porque via ya mi dan̄o , y oxala antes fuera , pero mas vale tarde que nunca , porque esso dizen tiempo tras tiempo , y agua tras viento ; al fin acordè de apartar paiuelas viendo que valia mas hasta el tovillo que no hasta el codrillo , con intencion de nunc a mas perro al molino , que ni de estopa buena camisa , ni de puta buena amiga ; estando en este proposito carcado de hierro , y cargado de miedo , determinado de no vivir mas de emprestado sino como dizen ave de tuyo levantose un viento que de la mar salia alçome las faldas de la mia camisa , y fue , que como que no ay cosa firme , vinieron en discordia dos hermanas de buena fama , y aunque dizen , que entre hermanos no metas tus manos , porque quien los disparte lleva la peor parte , no dexè de meterme entre ellas por ser personas honradas , tambien por provar ventura , que a los osados ayuda la fortuna , y acaeciome con la una della que por una vez que mis ojos alçè dizen que la enamorè , de manera que por ser yo roxo como un cuervo antes cuez que yervas si no fuy del todo favorecido alomenos tuue esperança que se podria hazer algo aunque pudieran dezir por mi hijo no tenemos , y nombre le ponemos ; verdad es que dizen , que lo que mucho se dessea no se cree aunque se vea , mas toda via pienso lo que podria ser , puesto que pensar no es saber , ni es siempre vero lo que suena el pandero , y con este relampago no vivo seguro , aunque en fin mal esta el fuego cabe la estopa , y esso es verde lo que el fuego no vee ; a la verdad por meioria mi casa dexaria , en especial hallandome en ausencia de quien pudiera pesarle , pues dizen los ausentes por los presentes porque mas vale paxaro en mano que bueytre volando ; assi estoy apercebido para lo que viniere , porque hombre apercebido , medio combatido , y porque no digan ya que ando como pedro por demas , y querria que fuesse oy antes oy que man̄ana , que no seria tan malo que con lo passado no tuviesse hombre por bueno , que quien de mucho mal es duecho poco bien le abasta , y como quiera mas valdria tuerto que ciego : mas si los coracones no sengan̄an ello le hara sin dalle priessa que lo que està de dios ello seviene ; no quiero pues mostrarme muy codicioso , porque no digan , a moço goloso higo a dinero sino esperar con cordura , que quien ata corto , y hierra somero , va cavallero , y el que menosprecia la yegua esse la lleva ; entre tanto passarè cochura por hermosura la qual nunca se podra dezir de mi si no quando mucho , tal te quiero crespa , y ella era tin̄osa , aunque quien feo amo hermoso le parece , que ojos ay que de lagan̄as se enamoran . desseoso estoy de entrar en esta casa hecha , que buenes dineros son casa con pucheros , y por no andar de bodegon en taverna , sino comer cabeça de olla , y por no tener quien mire por mi regalo , que mientras mas yela , mas aprieta , y estoy ya cansado de andar tentando vados de çoca en colodra ; pero dexemos esto , para quando nos veamos , aunque no se si tendrè quexa de mi porque le hè tantas vezes prometido de bolverle a ver , y no lo he hecho , pero quien tras otro cavalga no ensilla , quando quiere hase dilatado mi buelta , pòrque la gente pone , y dios dispone ; tername en possession de mentiroso , pero dezir y hazer no es para todos hombres , mas quien viene no tarda ; y assi lo entiendo hazer muy presto , plaziendo a dios , el qual me lo dexe cumplir para tomar el parecer de v●estra merced pues mas veen quatro ojos que no dos . a dios paredes hasta la buelta . finis . diharebion cymraeg , vvedu ei cyfiethu yn saisoneg· british , or old cambrian proverbs , and cymraecan adages , never englished , ( and divers never published ) before . which proverbs are partly moral , relating to good life ; partly physical , relating to diet , and health ; partly topical , relating to particular places ; partly temporal , relating to seasons ; partly ironical , relating to drollery , and mirth , &c. to the right honorable , ( my most endeered lord ) richard earl of carberry , &c. at his palace in golden-grove . my lord , having had the happiness to know your person first at the spanish court ( in those glorious times , when our prince of wales did court his mistress so gallantly , ) and looking upon that considerable tract of time , which hath intercurd since , i may claim the prerogative to be one of the ancientst servants you have ; therefore i hope , it will not be held an intrusion , that i now make this publick address unto your lordship ; nor will any well-weigh'd reader find any impertinence in this dedicatory address , if he regard the qualitie of the work , your lordship being the brightest star that 's fix'd in the british firmament , whence from your fair orb in golden-grove you display your influences far and near , not only among those hills , but to divers places also under the english clime , who are witnesses of your princely way of living , and noble hospitalitie . now , my lord , the design of this new piece si , to redeem from the dungeons of so long obscuritie , and to furbish up as it were from the rust of time the cymraegan proverbs , or cambrian adages , and old sayed sawes , which were so frequent among the bards , nay , some of them reach up unto , and were contemporary with the druids themselves , from whom they receiv'd their first rise long before the roman eagles planted their talons in this iland ; which druids being the divines and sages of those times , ( as the magi , and philosophers were in other countreyes ) grew so famous all the world over , that the gaules , ( now the french ) with other nations came hither by often transfretations to be indoctrinated by them : whence some of the most learned glottographers inferr , that the british was the first language of france also , as well as of this iland , in regard they did mutually understand one another in those times , which was long before the latine or greek came this side the alpes . lastly , my lord , besides the two motives above mentioned , there was another which wrought strongly upon me , and induc'd me to this dedication , which was , that i might exhibit to the world a publick evidence of my acknowledgements for so many noble favours , and that hereby both the present times may see how much i am , and future ages may find how much i was london º idus martii , . my truly honored lord , your most humbly devoted servant and compatriot , jam. howell to the knovving reder . it is a cleer and uncontroulable truth , or rather an historicall principle among all antiquaries both domestick and forren , that the first human cretures which peepled this iland were the brittains , or old cambrians ; they are the very aborigines and like the arcadians in greece , may be said to be contemporary with the cuntrey it self : if the nation be so ancient , surely their language must be coetaneous with them , for they were not born dumb . now , that language was , and is still the cymraecan toung , which is ranked by all glottographers among the fourteen maternall , and independent vernacular languages of europe ; she hath divers dialects , the first is the cornubian or cornish ; the second the armorican , which the inhabitants of brittany do speak in france , to which cuntrey ther were divers colonies transported hence : ther was also another dialect of the cymraecan toung among the picts , a valiant people , who , when the romans had rush'd here into the centre of the countrey , retir'd to the northern parts , as vvestmerland , cumberland , northumberland , the bishoprick , and to some places beyond the tweed , untill the whole nation of the scots orepowring them by multitudes , and ore-reaching them in craft , utterly extinguished both them , and their language in those parts : moreover , the irish was at first a dialect of the brittish , receiving her alphabet , and ogums from her , though afterwards it recieved some changes and interpolations by other colonies which were introduced thither , as the last most reverend lord primate usher , and that very worthy knight sir iames ware in his late learned work called antiquitates hiberniae doth acknowledge . nay , some judicious observing navigators have found out lately a dialect of the british toung in the west indies ; whch may well be , for master hackluyt and other authentick writers have it upon record , how not farre from mexico there was a colony of brittains about six hundred years since , where there remain yet divers radicall words ( as i have observed elsewhere ) of the brittish toung , with a stone epitaph ; and the spaniards observ'd , that thereabouts the cross was in great reverence , &c. now , this is a thing of speciall remark , that notwithstanding the various revolutions , with the entire changes of government , and turns of fortune which this iland received by so many differing-toung'd nations , yet the british language could never be subdued , but boare up still , and stood firm to her self ; whereas the romans who kept constant footing here above three hundred yeers , were used to bring in their language with the lance as a mark of conquest ; which thing they did all italy over , and france , with the cuntreyes interjacent which are scattered among the alpes , where not a syllable of the old primitive languages is left ; t is tru , that in spain the biscayners have retained their to this day , being mountaneers as the present brittains are , and twixt these two peeple there is an extraordinary sympathy observed to be in point of naturall disposition in many things , specially in their great civilities , and candidness towards strangers , as also in their gutturall pronunciations : and as the brittain here , so the biscainer in spain is held the antientest inhabitant , and a pure incorrupt peeple , having never mingled with the moores ; wherefore when any of them is to receive the habit of knight-hood , the'rs no scrutiny made into his extraction , whether he be a gentleman , or limpio de la sangre de los moros , free from morisco bloud , as useth to be done before any other be admitted . now touching the version of these cymraecan proverbs into english , it must be confessed that divers of them lose much of their primitive innate elegance , cadencies , and quickness of fancy ; for the cambrian tongue is so dainty , and so indulgent of her self , that as she will have none to pronounce her in the tru tone , but a britain born , or he who hath bin bred there very young , so she is not easily made a turn-coat , or rendred into any other language , but she loves to lie upon her own lees without frelatations , or rackings to be powr'd into other vessels ; in so much , that whereas all translations commonly are like the wrong side of a piece of arras , ( every language having some incommunicable idioms of her own ) this comparison may hold more properly in the british then in any other , for besides the ordinary cadencies of the rime ( wherein the english poetry chiefly consists ) the british meeter hath a conceit almost in every second word , which love to lick one another by agnomination : and this was used to be the genius of the old italians also in former times , as appears in that famous epistle , which circe the daughter of the sun sent to ulysses , whereof i thought it not impertinent to insert here a few stanzas . . ulisse à lasso , ò dolce amor i' moro , se porci parci qui armento hor monta , in selua salvo a me piu caro coro . . ninfa non fù a circe chente conta se bella ne sibilla ò falli felli donne ò danni che febe affranto affronta . fetonte si fè tanto ch a'rse , & corse su'l carro , chérra crudo che non crede di là dall ' alpi al pò si scarso scorse . this was just the genius ( and is still ) of the british bards in their poetical compositions , and it is the difficultst way of versifying , for non satis est verba in pedes cogere , & numeros observare , sed singula verba habent suos concentus ; it is not onely sufficient to make words to go upon feet , and to observe the number of them with riming cadencies at the end ( wherein onely consists the poetry of other nations ) but there is sweetness of consonancy in every second word , which may be said to greet and kiss one another by mutual concent . there could be volumes of instances produced hereof in the british toung , but this merry one shall serve here for all : a cobler having been at the alehouse , where he had spent all his money , and going home drunk , he stumbled against the cross in the market-place , where he slept all night upon one of the staires ; and awaking in the morning , and rubbing his eyes he thought to see two or three crosses of one ; but putting his hand in his pocket he had never a cross left there , hereupon he broke suddenly into this condid , or stanza : ond digree iw gweled dwy groes a sinne yn gridd heb vn groes , yn gorfedd amhen ar gerig yn cydfwrw yr cwrw ar cig . thus in english. i st not a merry thing to see one cross increase to two or three ? yet i poor cobler cannot find one cross in pocket left behind . most of these british proverbs run thus , therefore they must needs lose much of their grace in the version , as the best wines take wind by being poured from one vessell to another . now , touching the collection , and marshalling of these proverbs thus into one file , and to teach them the english march , there were some very knowing gentlemen that did cooperate with me , viz. mr. r. owen , mr. w. williams , and mr. r. evans , a hopeful young gentleman towards the law , one whereof is of south-wales , the other two of the north , where t is confessed , the purest dialect of the british toung is still preserv'd , and spoken , in regard there hath not bin so much mixture , and coalition with the english. i. h. a letter to the author from a worthy gentleman , who supplied him with som british proverbs . my most learned cuntreyman , and noble sir , since you intend to teach the age wisdome , by compiling a volume of select proverbs out of all those languages , that have taken up their sation in your capacious head ; i hope you will make it appear that you are a britain , and that however our nation hath bin reproched of late years to have had no religion among their hills , the world may know , they have had sense derived to them by tradition from their ancient progenitors . therefore you will be wanting to your self , unless you doe your own mother-toung that honour , i may say , that right , as to take notice of her proverbs , which for sharpness of wit , for brevity of expression , for weight of sense , and ( in many of them ) for sweetness of the cadency and rime , may ( to speak soberly ) keep company with those that italy , france , or spain affordeth . behold here a few for taste , borrowed of dr. davies of famous memory , whose unwearied labours have brought forth a grammar and a dictionary , to render the british tongue , and himself immortall . it was not possible ( for me at least , who am domi peregrinus ) to put them into english , with their own conciseness , and significancy ▪ there being hardly uny language under the sun , that makes less use of articles , and insignificant ligaments of speech , then ours doth , and that delivers more matter in fewer words ; nor shall you ever see a translation bear up exactly with the originall , much less in proverbs , where sense and stuff is crowded up into a narrow room , and brevity borders upon obscurity . have i need to apologize for some few , that are homely , and may possibly nauseate the more delicate or grave reader ? you know modern languages all of them have the like : this i dare pronounce for them , that not one offers to clash with piety , vertue , or good manners ; that generally they shew what men ought to do , or what men use to do ; and that the attentive reader may certainly learn here more then a little in re agibili , they are fetchd out of the bowels of experience , they are gray-haird , and so fit to teach wisdom , so claim a share in your perusall ; and such of them as shall be found to bear weight in your ballance , may be sent over to posterity under your so wel-known name , among the choicest adages of europe . to make short , here they are , let them speak for themselves . eltham in kent , aug. . . your friend and servant richard owen . to the highly honoured iames howell , esquire . british , or old cambrian proverbs , and cymraecan adages , never englished , ( and divers never published ) before . heb dduw hebddim , duw a digon . hwyra dial dial duw , tosta dial dial duw. tri pheth sŷanodd ei adnabod , dŷn , derwen , a diwrnod . pan darffo treiglo pôb tre , da yw edrych tuag adre . gwin côch , mêr moch a mwg , tri gelyn y golwg . gyda'r ci y cerdd ei gynffon . mwy oedd y braw na'r briw . ny chwerŷ hên gi a chenau . nyd yw hwyrach yn y farthnad , groen ye oen na chroeu y ddafad . o fôr ac o fynydd ac a waelod afonydd , y denfyn duw dda it ' dedwydd . nyd oes dogn , ar guardod . y march y wêl gyr ŷd ac ni wêl y câu . digon amal digall hanner gair y câll . os cebydd y fydd y fo , te gêll gwnaid oreu ac allo bonhedîg o'i ddîg y ddaw . gobaith ony bydd fe dor y galon , etto gobaith etto gobaith . sais sais y gâch yn ei bais , y cymro glan y gâch allan . cystall howell a heilin . a acwyno heb achos ; gwneler achos iddo . achwyn , rhag achwyn rhagddo . adwyog cae anhwsmon . adwyth diriad heb achos . addaw têg a wna yn●yd yn llawen . a ddycco ' r wy , a ddwg a fo mwy . a fo ma●w , ni ymogelir . a fo trechaf treisied ; a fo gwunaf , gweidded . a fynno glôd , bid farw . a fynno jechud , byd lawen . amcan y fydd gau bawb . am gwymp hên y chwardd jevange . aml bai , i le ni charer . angen a bryn ac a werth . anghyfarwydd a dirr ei din yn chacu . ae ddiwedd y mae barnu . ar nid yw pwyll , pyd yw . ar ni ochelo ' r mŵg , ni ochel ei ddrŵg . ar ni o ddefo wâs , bid gwâs iddo ei hun . ar ni phortho ei gâth , porthed ei lygod . athro pawb yn ei dy . awydd a dyrrr ei wddf . bendith i'r hwch biau'r bloneg . blodau cyn mayi , goreu na bai . bo tynna ' fo'r llyinnyn , cyntaf y tyrr . breuddwyd gwrâch wrth ei hewyllys . bwrw a' th unllaw , cais a' th ddwylaw . calanmaj mae cyfru'r hespyrniaid . caledach glew na maen . can car fydd i ddŷn , a chan esgar . casseg glôff , clôff ei hebol . cau tin wedi brammu . ca'r cywir yn yr ing y gwelir . cennad hwyr , drŵg ei neges . ci chwyrnog , halawg ei bais . ci a helio pob llwddn , ni bydd da ar yr un . cospi yr arth yngŵydd y llew , côs tin taeog , efe a gach yn dy ddwrn . crŷd ar hên , angeu ys dir . cyd boed hirddydd , dybydd ucher . cyd celer nawnos , ni chelir nawmis . cyfaill blaidd bugail diog . cystal ar draed a marchogaeth ffon . chwarae ac na friw , cellwair ac na chywillyddia . chwareued mâb noeth , ni chw mâb newynog . chwefror chwŷth neidr o i nŷth . chwerthin a wna ynfyd yn boddi . dadleu mawr mynych , ac egni ar lygoden . da gweddai ' r bêr e'r golwyth . dangos y llo , ac na ddangos y llaeth . dau bryd newynog a wna'r trydidd yn lŵth . da yw duw , a hîr yw bŷth . da yw ' r maen gydâ ' r efengyl . dedwydd a gaiff draen yn ei vwd. diffaith llyffant dan ia . digrif gan bob edetyn ei lais . dirmygir ni welir . diwedd hên cadw defaid . dlêd ar bawb ei addewy . dod fenthyg i noeth , nis cai drannoeth . doeth dŷn , tra tawo . drwg bawl , ni safo flwyddin . drwg y ceidw diafol ei wàs . drwg gw'r ford , nicherdder ond unwaith . drwg yw dry gwas , gwaeth yw bod hebddaw . drwg yw'r peth , ni thâl ei ofyn . drŷch i bawb ei gymmydog . drygwaith dwy waith y gwnair . duw a ran yr anwyd , fel y rann y dillad . dybydd rhew i lyffant . dygn yw adaw a garawr . ebril garw porchell marw . edwyn crŷch y llall . ef a wŷr dŷn pan el , ac ni wŷr pan ddêl . eil fam modrib dda . eiriawl a garawr hawddwaith . elâs a gafas rybudd , ac ni lâs a'i cymmerth . er heddwch nac er rhyfel , gwenynen farw ni chasgl fêl . esgud drygfab y anhŷ arall . esmwgtha gwaith yw methu . fôl pob tlawd . fo rhad gryglir , ac na fo rhag drwg arglwydd . gelyn yw i ddyn ei dda . glew a fydd llew hyd yn llwyd . gochel y dafarn , na ochel talu . goganu ' r bwyd a'i fwytra . golwg pawb ar a garo . goreu peddester yw gau . gwae a drô o glûn i glûn , ac ni feddo beth ei hûn . gwae a ddycco ei henwâs ilŷs . gwae a gâr ni garer . gwae a gaffo ddrygaer yn ieuange . gwae a wŷl eî arglwydd beunydd . gwae'r míl , ni wŷl ei berchen . gwaeth waeth , fel mab gafr . gwae undyn , a wnêl cant yn drist . gwayth y nôs y dydd a' i deng ys . gwaith yscafn ymogelyd . gwell gwegil câr nag wyneb estron . trech y gais nag y cei●w . torri gwyden a gordd . haws direwi rhew na dirywo rhyne . o hir nychdod angeu . nyd glew llew pan yn llwyd . pyscotta mewn corlan . o dra chynheldeb y lloscodd i gyddin . trech lwe na chwning . gwell vn aderyn yn llaw na dau yn y coed . ascreu lân diogel y percheie . gwell frend mevn llys nag aur ar fys . nyd hir àras da. angel penforr diafol tân pertan . ceisio ie fam yn forcewyn . dala jwd a llelfed . mwy nar bwch yr odyn . gwell vn ffal●wr na dau ym laddwr gwell un pâr o draed na dau bûr o ddwylo . bwa gwan gwan ei berchen . arglwydd , gwan gwan ei wâs . trech gwlad nag arglwydd . hawdd yw tynnu carrei o grôn gwr arall . hael yw howel ar gost y wlâd . chwarea hengi a cholwyn . y tafad y bâr torri y benglog . haws yw burow na saethu . ny chred y moel nys gwelo ei ymhennydd . hawdd yw tynny gwaed e ben crach . clyst y câr y clyw . trech y tin cont na rhâff . yfo gan y ferth yn ei chont y fydd gam y fam yn ei chalon . hir anelu hir gachu . law menyw yw hogfan galen . abl i bawb a'i bodlono . abl i bawa a'i gweinyddo . abl y bawb ei gydradd . a achwyno heb achos , gweter achos iddo . a arbetto y fych , arbetted ei gynnog . achos bycan y daw blinder . achos hebachos o hono . achos yr byssen fodar y barth . achub maes mawr a drygfarch . achwyn rhag achwyn rhagddo . adalb de dwydd yn ddiddos . ad fyd pob hir dristwch . adneu cyhyrin gangath . adneu gan berchen . adwen mab a'i slawch , agnyd epwyn mab a'i câr . adwyog cae anhwsmon . a ddyfo i dorth a'i dy haish ef a ddyfydd a wnel ei waith . addas i bawb ei gydradd . addaw fab , a ddaw jaen . addaw mawr a rhodd fechan . addaw teg a wna ynfyd yn llawen . adfed angeu i hen . addug yr hydd yr llynn . addug yr hydd i maes manc . adduned herwr hir nòs . a ddŵg angeu nyd adfer . a ddwg dâ drwg gyngor . a ddycco y gôd , ymborthed o hony . a ddycco r wy a ddwga fo mwy . a ddiscer y fab ddydd sul , fe a'i , groy bydd ddydd llûn . aed llew i gynnwrf câd duw a'i differ . a êl i lys heb neges doed a'i neges gan●aw . a êl yr gwarae adawed ei goren gartref . aerwy cyn buch . a esgynno yn hwyr ebrwydd y disgyn . afiach pob trwmgalon . a fiethus pob mammaeth . a flafar pob tawedog . a flan dwglaw diowgswrth . a flan genau anudonol . afled nais pob gwyllt . a fo aml ei fara dan ganu aed i laetha . a fo aml y fei bion , bid wâg ei geluddion . a fo aml y fêl rhoed yn eivwd . a fo calted ynghyngagaws , dadleued ar bob achaws . a fo da gan duw ys dir . a fo dy gwilydd , a fydd di golled . a fo diried ar fòr a fydd diried ar dîr . a fo ei fryd ar ddebed , ni wna dda cyn ei fynned . a fo hew arched weddi . a fo hyborth hy wir fydd . a fo marw ni ymogelir . a fo marw er ei fygwth a'i faw y cymmuner . a fo nessaf ir eglwys fydd pellaf o ddiwrth baradwys . a fo trechaf treisied . a frad yw gwrthod . a frad pob afraid . afrwydd pob dyrys . a fu bencwd aeth yn dincwd . a fynno barch byd gadarn . a fynno duw derfyd . a fynno glôd byd farw . a fynno gymmell bid glaf . a fynno jechid bid lawen . a stafas y carn , a gafas y llafn . a gaffo ddyrnodd y bore , hyd vcher ydd â ag ef . a gair duw yn vchaf . a garo ( rather ) ni charo ei fam ; cared y elldrewyn . a garo ei gilydd , nid adnebydd ei gabl . a garo yr iau cared ei wariace . a garo ei gûr cared ei chwegr . a gasclet ar farch malen , dan ei dorr ydd â. a gatwer a gair wrth raid . a grea'r frân faur , a grea'r frân fechan ( pohus ) a gria ev . a gŵyn cŵyn bychan , cwŷn mawr ddarogan . a gŵyn rhwy , ni ry gwyn fan . a gyfodes , a golles ei le . a gymmero ddysk cadwed . aluisen tam o garw . a lygrwys duw , à lygrwys dŷn . allan o olwg , allan o feddwl . allwedd calon cwrwf da. amaerwy adnabod ammynedd . amaerwr diriedi , drwg anian . amean a fydd gan bawb . am caro i , cared fynghi . amgeleddy ci am y cŵd halew . am gwynny heû y chwardd jeuange . amla'r cwrrwf tra hitler . amla'r mêl tra hitler . aml fai i le ni charer . amlwg gwaed arfarch gwelw . amlwg gwaed o ben crach . ammharod pob annallu . amheuthun pob dieithr fwyd . ammau pob anwybod . ammod a dyrr defod . ammraint pob tor defod . amser i fwyd , amser i olychwyd . amser sydd i bob peth . anafus pob drwg foesawg . anaf ynygiau angeu ynygŵythi . aneglur cennad , yw cewydawd . aneirian pob diriaid . angall mal dall a dwyllir . angel pen ffordd a diawll pentan . angen a bair i henwrach duthio . angen a brŷn ag a werth . angen a dyrr ddeddf . angen a ddŷsg i hên redeg . anghariadus pob diriaid . anghenwg peb flewd . anghwbt pob eisiaw . anghymmen pob fôl . anghynnes pob oer . angheu a ddyfrys . anghew garw drûd ai leirch . anghwanegid mefl mowr air . angyfarwydd a dyr i dîn yn cachu . anhael pob cybydd . an happus pob trŵch . an hyderus pob ofnog . anhydyn pob afrowiog . a noddo duw , ry noddir . annoeth llithrig ei dafod . annos dy gî ag naddos gantho . annos ci i gell egored . anwadal pob ehud . anwydogch whannog y dôu. anwyl gan baub a gâr . a oddef ry dau . a ogano a ogenir . araf dân a wna frâg melus . araith doeth a drûd ni ddygymmydd . a ranno y liaws , rhanned in hy naws . ardd cŷd bŷch ardd cyn ni bŷch . ar ddiwedd y mae barnu . arglwydd agymmell . arglwydd biau a wrthotter . arglwyd pawb ar ei eiddo . arglwydd gwan gwae ei wâs . arian ar : brŷn ag a werth . ar ni allo trais , twylled . ar ni ochelo'r mŵg , ni ochel ei ddrug . ar gwelleif y llâs y weirglodd . ar nid yw pwyll , pŷd yw . ar ni oddefo wâs , byd wâs iddo ei hûn . ar na phortho ei gath porshed ei lygod . ar na roddo a garo , ni chaiff a ddymuno . ar ni wano on ddraew , ny wan yn gyppil . arofyw drug fugail . arwaesaf a ddifydd ddiffaith . arwaesaf i leidir ei fanag . arwydd drŵg mŵg yn niffaith . arwydd nad cig bŵch . a sseth ni phlycco nid dâ . asglodin gwern ymhen y gath . asgre lân diogel ei pherchen . asgwrne yr hên , yn yr angen . astyrus pob anaf . arfer gell i gî , mynnych yr a iddi . atgas direid-ddyn . atteb araf gan ddysgedig . athro pawb yn ei dy . ahrod-waith o gen●●gen . aur pawb a whennych . awahanodd cnawd , gwahanodd ddolur . awchus arf a eillio , awgrym pawb nis gwybydd . a wnel drŵg arhoed y llall . a wnel drŵg ymogeled . a wnel duw dŷn ai barn . a wnelir yn rhinant , fe ai gwybydd cant. awdwt cerdd ai gwnel . a wnel dda , da a ddyly . a wnel mawr a ddewg rydd , fawr llŵ . a wnel twyll , ef a dwyllyr . awr ddrwg caffaeliad falswr . a yfo lawer , byd feddw . awydd a dyrr ei wddf . baiar wrâch dorri ei chlun . bai ar farch dorri ei droed . balchder heb droed . balchder o bell . bara ag ymenyn yw ûn tammaid . barf nyd ardd ni chwardd y chlas . bâs pan wahanner hynny . basaf dwfr yn id lefair . be a bawd y ●gweid gwe . be caffai bawb a finnai ni byddai hiraethawg neb rhai . berwid calon llew . bellach bellach fal chwedl y barcut . bendith i'r hwch biau'r blonneg . byd anian dedwydd . byd anniweir dife iriawg . byd anwadal ehud . bed ddirieid dryganianus . byd ehud drûd er chwerthin . byd eu●in alltud . byd gyfa ran rybuchir . byd ha ha byddar . byd hy fagl gwyar ar onn , byd lâs lluarth . byd llawen yach . byd llawen meddw . byd nych cwyn clâf . byd reuiad ymgyfarth . byd trist pob galarus . byd wagelawg lleidr . byd wâr antur glew wrth awr . byd wastad wriag oi mynych warth . byd gwraig drŵg oi mynych warth . byd wiw gŵr heb fagwriaeth . bid wiw march a gnith gwellt . blaenger ymadrodd ffôl . bling'or gath hyd y llosgwrne . blodeu cyn mai , malpai na bai . bo amlaf fo'r bleiddiau gweithaf fydd i'r defaid . bob eilwers y rhêd i cŵn . bod yn hir ynglâf , a marw eusys . bo hynnaf fo'r dyn , gwaethaf fyddy bwyll . boloch ofnawg fydd daw . bonned a dywys , dillada gynnwys . boreu brwynag , bradawg iair . boreu coch , a mawred gwraig . bo tynna fo'r llinyn cyntaf y fyrr . braith ui gôd a gynnyll . breuddwyd gwrach , wrth y hewyllys . brodyr pob cerddorion . buan barne pob ehud . budd cyn tymp . bwrw a' th ûn llaw , cais a' th ddwylaw . bwrw cath i gyrhraul . bwrw dwfr am ben gŵr marw . bwrw gwiddyf ar ol ir hwyaid . bwrw heli yn y môr . bwyst lawn genaw callawr . bychan fydd mam y cynfyl . bychodedd mynialed . byddar a gaiff gyffelyb . byrr ddryganian , a wna hîr ofal . byrr ddydd ni dderfydd cyngor . byrr hoedlog digafog saint . cadarnach yŵr edau yn gyfrodedd nag yn vngorn cafas da ni chafas drŵg . cafas málu , caffad ei werth . cais farchog da dan draed ei farch . cays yn y mwlwg . calan gauaf garw hin anhebig y gynnefin . caledach glew na maen . calon ni gynnyd cystydd . calon y sais wrth gymro . can rewydd ni bydd pell rhin . can câr fydd ( i ) ddŷn , a chan , nescar . can wôst gan henaint . canhymdaith ci ei losgwrn . cant mwyn mab yn y ty . canv heb gywydd . casbeth gwyr rhufain . casbeth owen cyfeiliog . câr cywyr , yn yr yng y gwelir . câs dyn ymma , câs duw fry . câs fydd a orelittio . câs maharen mwyeri . câs yw'r wirionedd yn i le ni charer . casseg glôff cloff ei hebol . cau tin gwedi brammu . cein mygir pob newydd . ceisied asgre ei fam a gollo . ceisio diried yn y dyddyn . ceisied pawb ddwr yw long . celfydd celed ei arfaeth . cêll arglwydd y weilgi . cenau yn ei wâl , a gà●t lem . cenmol gwraig mowrdda . cennad fûd , drùd ai crettwy . cerddwys a rwymmwys . cerid chawer diried , cyn ni charer . ceugant yw angeu . ci chwyrnog halawg i bais . ci a helio bob llwdn nybydd da ar yr un . cennad hwyr drŵg ei neges . clwm anghenog ar y geiniog . clwm eiddil moch ellwng . clywyd corn cyn y gwele● . coel can hadain , ( sive ) hedyn . coes ynn i le morddwyd . cof gan bawb a gâr . coffa dy dduw pan elltrewyd . clof wâs diog . cogor iâr yn ydlam . colles dy laeth cystal i'r fuwch . colles i glydwr a gyrchawdd ry yadwr . cosp ar ben jâr . cospi yr arth , yngwydd y llew . cos tin tagog efe a gach yn dy ddwrn . craff ci caledach asgwrne . craffach na'r efail . crechwen yngenau ynfyd . crefydd jâr w●th ei gylfin . crŷd ar hên , angen ys dir ▪ crynnu fal y fôr wialen . cuall cleddyf byrr o wain . cu annair , wedi praidd . cwymp ar galed lawr . cwywp y gŵr yn y rhych . cwyn bychod ceiliog yn aerwy . cyd boed dâ nid gwirdda . cyd boed doeth , diried ys drûd . cydboed hîr ddydd , dybydd vcher . cyd celer naw nôs ny cheler naw mîs . cyd fwtta a mab arglwydd , ag na chyd chwarae . cyd gwichio'r fenn hi ai ddwg ei llwyth . cydlais y bawb alw'r ychen . cyd ysso cig march , byd argig ebol . cyfa ran rybychir . cyfareddion gwrâch waeth waeth . cyfarwyddaf llaw i le dotto . cyfnewid a hael . cyfoed fydd da a deddwydd . cyfoethog i werthu tlawd i bryunu . cyfrin pen a chalon . cyffes pob rwydd . cymmwythach , corrach , a symmach . cymmyrryd haearn hoedl dŷn . cyn ddyheued ag yssu o'r llygod yr cwlldwr . cyn ebrwydded yn y farchnad , groen yr oen a chroen y ddafad . cyn heusedd wedi brewn . cyngor hen ni'th attwg . cynnal taeog yn ei dy . cynnelw cynnyn gan gadechyn . cynt y llysg yr odyn na't yscubor . cyrchyd fryn a ddysgwilio . cystall ar dtaed a marchogaeth fon. cystall y march ai adfarch werrh . cywala gwedow , gwraig unbeu . cywrys am fwyd , carant am ofyd . cyngor i 'm gwâs yn hen . chwannog trwch i drin . chwannog mâb yw hynt , chawnnog adref a fo cynt . chwarae broch ynghôd . chwarae ag na friw , cellwair ag na chwilyddia . chwarae hên gi a chenau . chwareu hŵch a phorchell . chwareuid mab noeth ni chwery mab newynnog . chwareuys yn awr nyd , chwarevys ym mlwyddyn . chwarddiad dŵr dan ja . chwefror chwyth , neidr oi nyth . chwêg mêdd , chwerw pan daler . chwegach bwyd cybydd . chwerddid bŷd , wrth a garer . chwerthin wna ynfyd yn boddi . chweyrys gwawd ô annianawd . chwil gan nôs . da angen ar eiddiawg ( i. ) taeawg . da daint rhag tafawd . dadleu gwedi barne . dadleu mawr mynydd , ag engi ar lygoden . da gwaith duw roî cyrn , byrrion yr fuwch a hwylio . da gweddai'r bêr ir golwyth . da gŵr mal pawb . da hil ceirch , gan gynnog drwg . danit y ci , wrth yr hŵch . dala dy dŷ am a fo , a diofryd a ddarffo . dall fyddar pob trwch . dall pob anghyfarwydd . damwain pob hely ( alias ) helynt . dangos dirieid y gŵn . dangos dy fys i falawg , ynteu ai heirch yn gwble . dangos llwybr i gyfarwydd . dangos nêf i bechadur . dangos y llô , ag na ddangos y llaeth . dau brŷd newynnog a wna'r trydydd yn llwth . dau waith a fydd gan gywraint . da yw a saif , ag ni waner . da yw cof mâb . da yw duw , a hîr yw by th ai bwyll . da yw'r maen gydar efengil . deddwyd , a gaiff draen yn y vwd. dedwydd , a gâr dalodwch . dedwydd dofydd , ai rhydd rhâd . dedwydd i'rai gwŷl ai câr . defwydd fawr , pob anghywraint . deuparth clòd , ymmhenlog . deuparth gwaith ei ddechreu . deuparth ffordd ei gwpbod . deuparth fydd , ynghalon . deuparth parch , yw arfer . deuparth prŷd ymdrwssio . deuparth bonedd yw dŷsg . deuparth dŷsg yw hyder . deuparth taith ymbaratoj . deuparth ttêf ei harferaw . deuparth cerdd ei gwrando . deuparth rhodd , yw ewyllys . dewin pob eiddig . dewis ai'r jau ai'r fwyall . dewis or ddwy fachddû hŵch . dewis pawb o'i giniaw . dieu gynnadl taeog o'i dy . di bech fowyd gwyn ei fŷd . diengid gwan , erlid rhy gadarne . diffaith llyffant dan ja. defferu duw ddiawg . dig pawb rhag ai câr os cawdd . digon da dewid gennad . digon duw da yn vnig . digon o g●wth a thelyn . digon yw digon ò figis . digon yw chwarae rhynawd . diglôd pawb an hawddgar . digrif gan bod ederyn y lais . digu pawb o anadl y pibydd . di gystydd deurudd dagrau . di hunnid a brydyddo . dillad a gynnwys . dyllyn jeuangc , carpiog heû . dyllyn yn llaw heû fâb . dinas a ddiffydd diffaith . dir yw gadael peth or dwfr heibio . diriaid a gabl ei oreu . direid a glud i ddedwydd o for ac o fynydd . diriadd ni hawd faidd heddwch . dirmigyr ni welir . dirwest odyn . disymmwth fydd dryglaw ammwyll . diwedd hên cadw defaid . di wyttach el fleiddan ei gennad ei hunan . diriaid a gaiff draen yn ei vwd. d●êd ar bawb ei addaw . dod dy law ar dy galon . dod fenthig i noeth nis cau drannoeth . doeth a dwyllyr deirgwaith ni , thwyllyr drûd ond vnwaith . doeth dŷn tra tawo . dogn sydd ar bob peth . dolurus calon ofalfawr . dyfyd dihirwaith aros . drûd a dâl dau cyfled . drûd i ddala , doeth i estwng . drûd ganu deulw . drwg a drefn wrth ei drwyddedawg . drwg llys ni atter ond a wahodder . drwg pawb oi wybod . drwg pechod oi bell erlid . drwg wrth drannoeth . drwg ûn , drwg arall . drwg y ceidw diafel ei was . drwg yw'r drŵg , a gwaeth yw'r gwaethaf . drŵg yw'r fordd , nacherddir ond vnwaith . drŵg yw drŵg was gwaeth yw bod heddaw . drŵg yw'r peth na thal ei ofyn . drŵg yw'r swydd na thâl ei gawsanethu . drych i bawb ei gymmydog . drygwaith dwy waith y gwnair . drythyll pob diriaid . drythill maen yn llaw esgud . drythyllwrh drŵg ei ddichwain . duw a byrth i fusgrell . duw a fedd , dyu y lefair . duw a rannod , nef a gafodd . duw cadarne a farn pob yawn . dybydd ●hew y llyffant . dycker ni weler ei rann . dyckyd ammwyll ei rann . dyckyd whant tros peiriant pwyll . dychyd duw da●har o law . dyddaw drŵg hanbyddyr gwell . dygas gwaith e●lyn ( or ) erlid . dygn dŷn o garch●● . dygn yw adaw a garawr . dyly mach , ny dyly ddim . dylyn hael onid êl yn gî . dynlluan yn llaw henfab . dyrnod gwâs hîr yw ( i. ) gâs . dyrro lynn y ddoeth e fydd ddoethach . dryswys y garthen . dysg ddedwydd a gair , dysg ddiriaid a gwiail . dysgu gradd y henfarch . dywaid llafar , ni wypo . dywal dir , fydd ei olaith . dyweddi ownck , galanas o bell . ebawl yr ebawl i duw. ebrill garw , porchell marw . edifar cybydd am draul . eddewid gwragedd dau euriawg . edwyn crach y llall . edwyn hen gath lefrith . ef a aeth hynny ar gyrne a ffiba● . ef a daw hâf i gi . ef a fydd am y maidd , ar nî bu am y caws . ef a wyr dyn pan êl , ag ni wyr pan ddêl . ef a wyr gath , pa farf a lŷf . ef y molyr pawb wrth ei waith . e'fynnai'r gath byscod ond ni fynnai wlychy ei throed . egor dy gŵd pan gaech borchell . ehang yw'r byd ( i. ) bawb . ehegr fydd dryglaw i amnwyll . eil fam modrib dda . eiriach law , nac eiriach droed . eiriol a garawr hawdd waith . eiriol nagarowr ni gyngain . eithr gallu nid oes dim . elàs a gafa ▪ rybydd , ac ni lâs ai cymmerth . elyd bryd yn ol breuddwyd . elyd ci i gellegored . elid gwgraig yn ôl i enllib . elid llaw gan droed . elid ryw , ar barth pa yw . elid ûn i gant , elid cant i ûn . elyd y scubor gan ddrygdorth . e●id y wrach ir freuan , er cigenau ei hnuan . enw heb ●enw . enw●ug meichiad oi foch . enwir , difenwir ei blant . ergyn llwfr ▪ lliaws addoed . ergydyn llwyn cussul heb erchi . er heddwch nag er rhyfel , gwenynen farw ni chasgl fêl . esgud drygfab yn nhy arall . esmwythaf gwaith yw methi . ethyw corne heb ysgyfarn . ewyn dûr , eddewid gwâs . fiaidd ni charer . fôl pob tlawd . ford bell i ŵr o benllyn . fo●●d lan faglan ydd air i néf . fordd lanfechan ydd ai y wennenen yn ei phresseb . fô rhag drygdir , ac na fo rhag drwg arglwydd . gado gwraig ag vnfesl , ai chymryd a dwy . gado ' r nos waethaf yn elaf . gair dannod yw am ûn a fethodd . gair drŵg anianol , a lûsg drŵg yn ei ôl . gair gwraig , fal gwynt yn faweidiau . gair gwraig gwueler . gair gwraig , mal gwynt y cychwyn . gair gŵr o gastell . gan newydd , nyd pellfydd rhin . gelyn yw i ddŷn ei dda . gollwng drygwr i yscubor gwrda . genau mwyalch ac arch rlaidd . gennid rhybyched rhwng llaw a llawes . gennid ymwŷs yn nhy ddûw . geuawg ni chaffo copmawd . glew a fydd llew hyd yn llwyd . gnawd aelwyd ddiffydd yn ddiffaith . gnawd aflwydd gan ddiriaid . gnawd a fo di gu diofryd . gnawd annerch am arall . gnawd anaf ar ddiried . gnawd ar eiddil ofalon . gnawd as tyrr gan orchymnyn . gnawd buan o fain . gnawd buan o frâs . gnawd cor●hawg o fain . gnawd cussyl dedwydd yn ddoth . gnawd difrawd , ar blant enwir . gnawd digarad yn llys . gnawd eddewid gwriag , gwaith ry phall . gnawd ffô ar fraeth . gnawd gan rewydd rychwerthin . gnawd gorphwysfa i le bo croes . gnawd gwrath o fynnych gysswyn . gnawd gwedi llyn led fryddedd . gnawd gwin yn llaw wledig . gnawd lledrad yn ddiymgel . gnawd mab taer yn filain . gnawd mann , ar rann cynnifiad . gnawd merydd ym puro . gnawd mynych awn y fethdaith . gnawd o ben drythyll dra ha . gnawd o egin meithrin dâs , gnawd osper nas gwahodder . gnawd rhiau eu rhadau yn wascarawg . gnawd rhygâs , wedi rhyserch . gnawd serchog ym lyniad . gnawd synn syml anghyfiath . gnawd tawel yn delaid . gnawd uch ben dedwydd dîddos . gnawd wedi rhedeg ategwch . gnawd wedi traha , tramgvvydd . gnawd wedi traha trangc hîr . gnawd y cair colled o fraw . gnawd yn êl dryghin , hindda . gnawd yn y bo cydwyr y bydd cyrch . gnawd yn y bo dwfr y bydd brwyn . gochel dafarn , na ochel dalu . godrohid buw'ch oi phen . gofal dyn duw a gweryd . goganu yt bwyd ai fwitta . gogy feirch pawb ar ni wypid . goleu freuddwyd a welir liw dydd . golwg duw ar adyn . golwg dyn ar ai dyhudd . golwg pawb ar a garo . golwg serchog syber fydd . golwg yn yd gwŷl , yd gâr . golwg y perchen yw cynydd y dâ . gorddiwedid hwyr fuan . goreu camwrj , cedwid . goreu canwyll pwŷll ( i. ) ddŷn . goreu cloff , cloff aradr . goreu cyngaws , gwas diog . goreu cyneddfau cadw moes . goreu defawd dajonj . goreu edifeiriwch , edifeiriwch gwerthy . goreu enw mi biau . goreu gan fy mam ei lladd . gorew gwrthwyneb , gwrthwyneb cwys . gorew meddig , meddig enaid . goreu newyn newyn arian . goreu peddestr yw gau . goreu rhann rhoddi cynnwys . goreu ûn tudded mantell . goreu ywr chwaereu , tra aller . gorlly pen ci tra eler heibjo . gormes y taeawg ar ei gilidd . gormodd buw ar ebol . gormod jaith yw twtt ar farch . gorug ei waith a fach y fachdaith . gwaddawd gwythlonedd gair blwng . cwae a ar hos ô i giniau , o din dafad wedi glaw . gwae a dro o glûn y glûn ag ni feddo beth i hùn . gwae a ddycco ei henwas ilys . gwae a fo ai fefl yn ei fynewes . gwae a fynn melf er byrhod . gwae a gawdd duw , n● nys crêd . gwae a gàr , ac ni charer . gwae a gaffo ddrygair yn jevange . gwae a wnel dy i ddiawg . gwae a wŷl ei arglwydd beuwydd . gwae ddigariad llŷs . gwaedlyd wrth faint dy drachwedd . gwae jevange a ei ddun henaint . gwae'r mil ni wŷl y berchen . gwaethaf anaf anfoes . gwae ofervvr ychhynnhauaf . gvvaethaf rhyfel , rhyfel teisban . gvvaethaf y stôr o ferch . gvvaeth ûn blaidd cloff , na dae jach· gvvaeth vvaeth chwedl wilmot . gvvaethvvaeth fel mâb gafr . gvvaeth vvaeth y rhed y çŵn. gvvae un dyn a vvnel cant yn drŷst . gvvae ŵr a gaffo drygvvraig . gvvae tŷ heb fab . gvvaith y nos y dydd y dangos . gvvala gvveddvv gwraig unben . gvvalt bonvvyn a gvvyn , estronion jawn . gvvan dy bavvl yn hafren , hafren fydd hi fal gynt . gvvare gvveli ir . gvvare hen gi , a cholvvyn . gvvare mi trech . gvvartheg arall yn adnau , pyn bo chvveccaf ny byd tau . gvvareuid mab noeth , ni chvarae mab nevvynnog . gvvas da a ga iff ei le . gvvas da bronvvala ei arglvvydd . gvvaith y gacon ymogelyd . gvvas i vvas y chvvibannvvr . gvvasgu'r haid cyn ' i cherdded : ( vel ) gwàs gvvraidd cyn no'i gerdded . gwatwar y dydd am waith no● . gweddill mab jaêh . gweddw creft , heb ei dawne . gweddw pwill , heb ammynnedd . gweini fawd hyd frawd ys dir . gwelius nyd di ddolur . gweled dau beth ar vn . gweled y glûst ai lygad . gwell corrawg na chybydd . gwell egor na chynnwys . gwell am y pared a dedwydd , nac am y tân a dir●id . gwell anghanawg môr , nag anghanawg mynydd . gwell aros o alltudedd , nag aros o fedd . gwell bedd na buchedd anghenawl . gwell benthig , nag eisiaw . gwell bendith y tlawd , na meistrolaeth y cadarne . gwell bod yn ben ar yr hyddod , nag yn dîn ar y jyrchod . gwell bodd pawb , nâi anfodd . gwell bonnedd na taeogrwydd . gwell buarth hysp , nag un gwâg . gwell byrhod ynghôd na chôd wâg . gwell aros na mefl gerdded . gwell yw byrr eistedd , na byrr sefyll . gwell buw na marw . gwell cadw , nag olrhain . gwell cadw nodwydd , na colli'r cwltwr . gwell can muw ir cannyn , nag vn muw i ûndyn . gwell câr cell , na châr pennill potius pell , gwell càr yn llŷs nag aur fŷs . gwell ceiniog na brawd . gwell cerdd o'i breiniaw . gwell ci a rodio na chi a eisteddo . gwell clutt , na thwll . gwell ceginiaeth , na brenhiniaerh . gwell creft , na golud . gwell cûl cyfa , na byrr , anghyfa . gwell cybydd i le bo , nâ hael i le ni bo . gwell cyngor hên no'i faeddu ( alias ) faddeu . gwell cynnyl , na chywraint . gwell cynnwys cott nag vn llidr . gwell chwarae nag y ymladd . gwell drygsaer nâ drygof . gwell duw na dim . gwell duw na drwg obaith . gwell duw wrrh ei folawd . gwell duw yn gâr nâ llu y ddaiar . gwell dwylo'r cigydd , nâ dwylo'r sebonydd . gwell dy chymygwr , na gorchwliwr . gwell dyhudd na rhyssedda . gwell dyn drŵg o'i gospi . gwell dynoliaeth na drych . gwell edrych ar ddyn yn cachu , nag yn cymmyny . gwell eidion gwerth nag ûn pryn . gwell eistedd ar y gwellt nag ar y llawr . gwell erlid arglwydd , na i ragod . gwell gan wraig a fo da genthi , nag a fo da iddi . gwell gan hwyr na chan foreu . gwell gochell me fle na i ddial . gwell goddeu na gofal . gwell golaith na gofyd . gwell golud na chyssedd . gwell gorne gol●hi nag vn glythni . gwell gwae fi , na gwae ni . gwill gwegil câr , nag wyneb estron . gwell gwestai gwraig , nag ûn gŵr . gwell gwichio'r colydd , na chochi yr ddeurydd . gwell gwr a ddaerh ymhen y flwyddyn na'r gwr ni ddaeth by th . gwell gwîr na chelwydd . gwell gwr na gwyr . gwell gwr na'i rann . gwell gŵr o'i berchi . gwell gwraig o'i chanmol . gwell hannar hâd , na hannar haf , or hauaf . gwell yw hên hawl , na hen alanas . gwell hir bwyll , na ttaha . gwell hir weddwdod na drwg briod . gwell iddaw a ddonier nag y fenhedder . gwell i ddyn y drwg a wyr , na'r drwg nys gwyr . gwell i'r gath nad elid i hafotta . gwell i'r gwr aerh ar faneg i ytta , nag ar fettan . gwell i wraig y pyscodwr , nag i wraig y gwynfydwr . gwell maen garw a'm attalio , na maen llyfn a'mgollyngò . gwell mam godawg , na thad rhieddawg . gwell marchwr gwerthu , nag vn prynny . gwell marw na hir nychdod . gwell marw na mynych ddifrod . gwell melf fod , na mefl gerdded . gwell migwrn o wr , na mynydd o wraig . gwell moes law , na moes fam . gwell nâg , nâ dau eddewid . gwell nerth dwywrach nag vû . gwell pen loyn yn llaw , na hwyad yn awyr . gwell pren cyhuddiad , na dyn cyhuddgar , gwell pwyll nag aur. gwell rhann ofn , na rhann cariad . gwell peidiaw , nag ymddireidiaw . gwell rhy draws , na rhy druan . gwell synwyr na chyfoeth . gwell tewi na drwg ddywedyd . gwell teiliaw , na huriaw ( al ) heiliaw . gwell trwch , nag arwyniad . gwell ûn cynnhorthwy na dau wŷs . gwell ûn ceidwad na dau ymlyniad . gwell ûn crywyn ( al ) croen , na dau fuddelw . gwell ùn dyrnod a'r ordd , na du a'r morthwyl . gwell ûn gair ymlaen , na dau in ôl . gwell yn hwde , na dau addaw ( al ) ti gai . gwell well hyd tarf , gweyth waeth hyd farw . gwell well pob fynnedig . gwell ychydig gan râd , na llawer gan afrâd . gwell ynchysgod y gownen , nag heb ddim . gwell wyneb na gwaly . gwell y i le y foes wilmot , na'r i le y llâs . gwell y llysg dau ettwyn nag ûn . gwell y tynn merch na rhâff . gwell y wialen a blycco , na'r honn a dôrro . gwel yw'r dirwy , na'r anrhaith , gwell yw'r march a fo yn ei forddwid nag a fo'n ei breseb . gwerth fawr pob odidawg . gwerthu cîg hŵch a phrynnu cîg moch . gwirion pawb ar ei air ei hûn . gwiw aur i ai dirper . gwna dda dros ddrwg vffern ni'th ddwg . gwnelid serch saeth syberw . gŷneithr deuddrwg o'r ûu. gwrach a fydd farw etto yn rhiw fabon . gŵr ni'th gâr ni'th gydfydd . gŵr pawb , yn haf . gwrthlŷs i bob llŷs a fydd . gwrthod gwadd a mynd i wêst . gwŷl yw hanes . gwynt a lŷf ddâ gwraig weddw . gwyw calon gan hiraeth . gyrr fâb ti a gai nâg . gyrru brân y geisio tîr . gyrru'r cŷn a gerddo . haeddu annerch yw caru . haeddu ar nith y caccwn . hael byrr llofiawg . hael ywain o bwrs y wlâd . hael pob colledig ychenawg . hâf hyd calan , gauaf hyd fai. han byd gwaeth y ddrygcath o dorri ei ewinedd . han byd gwell ci o farw y llall . han bydd ychwanneg y môr o byssodyn y dryw . hanes ty , hanes coed . hanner y wledd , hoffedd yw . hap dduw , ddewryn . hardd pob newydd . hâul in jonuawr , ni mâd welawr , mawrth a chwefrawr ai dialawr . hawd cymmod i le bo cariad . hawdd cynny tan yn hên aelwyd . hawdd dyddio rhwng falswr a chawnnog . hawd eiriawl ar a garer . hawdd nawdd y ngwascawd gorwydd . hawd peri y fingam wylo . hawd perri y fonheddig sorri . hawdd talu fûg y fôl . hawdd tynny gwaed o ben crach . hawdd ŷf a wŷl eî ●wely . hawdd clwyfo clâf . hawd yw digio , dig . hawdd yw dywedyd pymtheg . hawdd tynny cleddyfbyrr o wain . haws dadleu o goed , nag o gastell . haws dringo na disgyn . haws diwedid mynydd , na myned drosto . haws gan hwyr , na chan foreu . haws gwneithr hebog o farcut , na marchog o daeog . haws llosgi ty nai adeilad . haws twyllo baban , na twyllo gwrachan . hên bechod y wna cywilidd newydd . hên hawdd gorfod arnaw . hír ammod nid â i dda ( al ) annod . hir chwedl anghenog . hiraeth am farw ni weryd . hir eddewid i nâg . hir eisted i ogan al ) diogi . hir ei lygad a wrthgryf . hir frydig , a yfo ei holldda . hír fydd edau gwraig eiddil , ( al ) fusgrell . hîr fydd ( i. ) gybydd ei gabl . hîr gnif heb esgor , lludded . hîr grawn gan newyn . hîr hûn fael gwn yn eglwys rôs . hîr ladrad y grôg . h●r lyngeswriaeth y fawdd . hir nychy angeu . h●r pob aros . h●r saig a chi●lell aslen . h●r safyl i drwm . h●r weddwdod y fes● . hir wynniaw y ●●irieidi . hir y bydd blewyn yn mynd yn nhin blaidd . hir y bydd chwerw alanas . hir y bydd enderig ych dryg wr. h●r y byddyr yn cnoi tamm●id cherw . hir y bydd march yn ebol bach . hir y bydd y mûd y'm horth y byddar . h●r yw'r m●b yn y ceubren . hoedl dŷn ni chas yn y da. hoedl dŷn nyd gelyn ai rhann . h●ff y nmenyn trathan . h●ff gan anghenog ● , goelio . h●ff gan bob ●dn ei lais . h●ff gan fadyn ei faw ei hûn . h●ff gan ynfyd ei gnwppa . hoff tam mâb ni charer . hwch o bob heledd . hwyr waith anffynnedig . hwy cl●d na golud . hwyr y byd dŷn o'r dinieweddu . hwy clôd na hoedl . hwyra dial , dial duw. hydr gŵr o gymmydogaeth . hydr ●ob co og ar i dom ei hun . hydr waed● , gwaedd wrth frô . hygar pawb wrrh y garo . hyd tra fych na fydd ofer . hyd yn oed yr vndydd ydd a'r grochan ar y ●ân . hy p●wb ●r ei fabsant . hy pawb yn absen ofn . jach rydd , thyfedd pa gwyw . jawn ●hwedlawg m●b . yawn y bawb y gadwei hun . iro blonh●gen . iro t●n hwch a bloneg . i'r pant y thêd y dŵr . lladd gwaed ai ddwylaw ac ai draed . llinio y gwadn , fel y bo'r troed . llais maen yn oer ddwfr . llaw ddireid a ddidawl ei pherchen . llawen meichiad pan fo gwynt . llaw frys llaw gywraint . llaw mâb yn llawes ei dad . llaw lân , diogel ei pherchen . llaw lliaws ar waith . llawer ●n a ddwg newyn ag er hynny gwraîg a fynn . llawer am hawl , ûn a ddyly . ll●wer a weddill o feddwl chwannog . llawer câr baw ymdeg . llawer gair yn wynt a heibio , llawer gwr a wna cynnig drwg dros dda . llawer gwir drŵg ei ddywedid . llawer dŷn mawrei eisiau , a eilw y gi gidag ef . llawer or dŵr a heibio'r rhôd , heb wybod it melinydd . llawer rhwng byw a digon . llawer têg drw ei ddefnydd . lawer hagr fydd . llawn i bobi golwyth . lleas pawb pan rydyngyr . i le bo dolur y bydd llaw . i le da i bawb , i le y carer . lledfryd llâdd eigydymmaith . lled led rydau . lleddid mollt ni ddyfydd . lleilai lymmaid gauaf . i le ny bo dysg ni bydd dawn . lle'r ymgreynio'r march , y gedu beth oi flew . llês pawb pan feddyger . llettaf fydd y byswelyn o'i sathru . llewid bwyd ni bo beichiawg . llewid cywestach . lliaws ei anaf ni charer . llif yn afon , hinon fydd . llonn colwyn ar arffed ei feistres . llonn fydd y llygodin , pyn fo't gâth oddi garhef . llwfr lladd ei gydimaith . llwm o fann , a tham o dorth ni cheidw ei wyneb , ys gwna gwarth . llwm tîr ni phoro dafad . llwydog ag ynfyd ni ddygymidd ▪ llwydd pob hen . llwyd yw'r farcnad . llwyth gŵr ei gorwg . llyfyd y ci'r gwayw y brathyt ag ef . llyad duw ar adneu . llygad cywranit ymhen anghowraint . llymna fydd y gwayw o'i flaen . llymma'r onaes , llona'r ysgyfarnog . mâb côf , gŵr at h gôf . mâb heb ddysg , ty a lysg . maeddu'r dylluan wrth y maen . mae gwelion yr gwehinith . maen dros jaen . magu whil●eryn ym mynwes . mai oer y wna yscubor gynnes . mal adain i walch . malaen a ddyly ei daith , ( potius ) y dêl yn y daith . mal bwyd hely . mal ci a baw ar i ben . mal cogall gwraig fusgrel . mal cwn gan gyfreion . mal dall yn taflu ei fonn. mal dau eurych . mal drygfon heddig , ai faich . mal aderyn ar y gaingc . mal dyrnod pen. mal eira mawrth arbenmaen . mal fonn howell ap goronwy . mal gwaith emrys . mal gllwyth maer ketti . mal llygad ymhen . mal llyn melin ar drai . mal llyfu mel o ddiar ddrain . mal mynn magod . mal raw ym miswail . mal rhybudd hyd wemm . mal tynny bach trwy goed . mal wy ar drosol . mal y bo'rdyn y bydd e● lwdn . mal y cant y gŵr . mal y ce●ych dy fawl . mal y ci ar hŵch . mal y cî pan llysg ei droed . mal y cŵn am y moch . mal ychenawg am y geiniawg . mal y gâth am y pyscod . mal y gwalch ( potius ) gwallt , dros fin yr ellyn . mal y gwiddil am y yrry allan . mal y jar ai baw i mewn ai hwy allan . mal y llyn ar y maen . mal y llwyuog am yr ogfaeu . mal y llyffant dau yr ôg . mal y llygodeu dau balf câth . mal y môch amyfawydd . mal y pysg am y dwfr . mal yr âb am ei cheneu . mal yr aran , am ei ddwygoes . mal yr eddi am y garfan . mal y rhisg am y ben . mal yr hwch dan y fwyall . mal yr hydd ar blaidd . mal y saeth or llynin . mal y tân yn y carth. mal y tân yn yr aelwyd . mal y try'r ddôr ar er cholyn a try'r diog yn ei welu . mam esgud , wna merch ddiog . mam vechan a ddifanw ei phlant . marchog a fydd wedi gŵyb . march a syrth o ddiar y pedwar carn . march a wŷl yr yd , agny wŷlg cad . march y ddiawg , ci i lwth . mawredig pendefig castell . mawrth a ladd , ebrill a fling . mawr yw torreth yr aflwydd . meddiant bychan , i ewyllys drŵg . mefle yr gôg ni lyfo ei law . mefle yr llygoden dŷn twll . mefl ys gwawd o weddwdod hîr . mehefin haelawg , a wria medel ddwyreawg . mêl ai gola . melina tlawd ei gwynos . melys lys pan losgo . melys gair da am y garer . melissa fydd y cig , po neffaf i'r asgwrn . melys moes etto . melys pan gaer , chwerw pan daler . mi adwen iwrch er nas daliwf . mi a gawn a fai gan fy mam ag ni chawn ai dy gai yr llann . moch ddysg nawdd mâb hwyad . moes pob tûd , yn ei dûd. moled pawb y rhŷd , mal y caffo . moliant gwedi marw . morw yn jevangc , mâb yn arffed . mûd arynaig y lafar . mursen fyddo ŵr mal o wraîg . mwy na breuan din foel . mwy nag ûn ci , am cyfarthodd i. mwy nag y da'r blaidd , nyd da ei ysgell . mwy nar afr er da●gos ei thin . mwy na'r bêl dan yr humog . mwy ua'r cyfryw yr hwch . mwy na'r rhygen yn y rhych . myned ar gôgr yr afon . mynych hebraid , bod ar wall . mynnych y'r praidd bod ar wall , pan fo tywyssog yr enderig . mynych y daw drwg fugail . mynych y syrth mest o gesail . nag y'r wadn , hanbydd gwaeth . nag vntreu na dau , ni nawdd rhag angeu . na choll dy hên ffordd , er dy ffordd newydd . na chrêd fyth , ferch dy chwegrwn . na ddata dy dŷ wrth gyngor dy drwddedawg . na ddeffro'r ci a fo'n cysgu . naddiad dy foch na âd yn rhwy . na ddyfanw dy beriglawr . na ddos ( al ) na ddrych a gwrth wrth y faint . na ddrygddyn , ys gwell ci da. na fyd dy elyn dy gymydawg . na fyd dy wraig dy gyfrin . na tram oni'th wthier . na fydd fràd fugail i'r at h gretto . na fydd oreisteddgar yn ystafell . na fyd rhy fwythys i le galler dy hepgor . na fynych gût llwfr . naill a● llwynog , ai llwyn rhedyn . namyn duw nydoes ûn dewin . nattur yr hŵch fydd yn y porchell . nawd maen hydwaelawd . na werth er byrhodedd . na wrthod dy batch pan cynhycier . neges penddefig yn rhâd . neffa fi bawb i nessaf . nês y mi fy nghrŷs na'm pais . nês na choel . nes nes y llefain y'r dref . nês penelin nag arddwrne . neuadd pob diddos . neu fegaist at h ddirpwy . newydd bennyg , yn henfon . newyd y gwewyr . newid y penweig . ni ad annoeth ei orfod . ni âd diriaid ei garu . ni eill neb namyn ei allu . ni ein dau fràs yn ûn sâch . ni eing mewn llestr on'dei lonaid . ni elwyr daw , hyd dranoeth . ni elwir cwyrain ni chynnydd . ni elwyr yn euog , onis geirydd . ni ellyr cwbl o angwbl . ni erchill enaid ni ddiwig . ni farn dŷn a charu hyd ymhen y flwyddyn . ni fawrd liolchir rho●d gymmell . ni faw●ha y neges , ni ragwyl ei lês . ni fawrhier tra oganer . ni fydd vchenaid hey i ddeigr . ni fynn drygwraig ddal ei chwd . ni fanno duw ni lwydd . ni fynn y sant môr caws . ni hena ceudawd . ni hena ei ddige●d . ni hena hawl er i hoedi . ni hena meddwl . ni ladd cawad , mal y dygnnull . ni ladd i gyfaddeu . ni làs cennad erioed ( et ) ni leddir cennad . ni lùdd amraint fawdd . ni ludd bendith , ddiffaethwch . ni lwgt y dâ ar y llall . ni lwydda'r bendith ni haedder . ni lwydda cell , goreisteddwraig . ni lwydda golud a wader . ni lwydd gwenyn i geiliawg . ni lwydd hil corph anniweir . ni lwyddodd ond a dramgwyddodd . ni mâd newid , ni cheiff elw . ni moch ddiail mefl merydd . ni moch wna da dŷn segur . ni nawdd eing llyfrder rhag llaidd . ni nawddcaledi rhag bucho dedd . ni nawd difenwyr cywraint . ni wnawd vchenaid rhag gwael . nid cynnefyn cath a cebystr . ni pharrha cywydd namyn ûn flwyddyn . ni phell anrheg yr tlawd . ni phell digwydd afal ag afall . ni phella'r ehegr neb tlaud . ni pheru cíg brâs yn wastad . ni phis bonheddig ei hûn . ni phrinna gath mewn fettan . ni ro●dir gwla y fùd. ni rown erddo seren bren . ni rygelyr y dryglam . ni saif gogan ar gadarn . ni sengis yr ŷch du ar dy droed . ni thag namyn wy . ni thâl dim cennad . ni thâl dim drwg ymread . ni thawdddlêder ei haros . ni thelir gwyti tafod namyn i arglwydd . ni thelir saeth i ebawl ( potius ) ni ddellir faeth eb awl . ni thorres arthur nawdd gwraig . ni throf yn sy ammwlch potius ammhwyl , or arnwig . ni thŷf egin ym marchnad . ni thynnaf ddraen o droed arall , ai doddi i 'm troed fy hun . ni thirr pen er diwedyd vndêg . ni thyrr llestr , ni bo llawn . ni welais lam rhwydd i ewig . ni weles da yn nhŷ ei dâd a hoffes dâ yn nhŷ ei chwegrwn . ni wisg cain , ni wisg liain . ni wna'r llygoden ei nŷth yn llosgwrne y gâth . ni , wna'r môr waeth na boddi . ni welir eisiau'r fynnon onid el yn hesp . ni wich ci er ei daro ag asgwrn . ni wŷl diriaid arno fai. nyd a wŷl dyn ai pyrth . ni wŷl dŷn dolar y llall . ni wyr dŷn , nid el oi dŷ . ni wyr hawdd fod yn hawdd , onid el hawd yn anh awdd . ni wyr ni welodd , ni feidr , ni ddysg . ni wyr pryderuys , prydero , ac nys prynno . ni wyr yn llwyr , namin llyfr . ni wyr yr hŵch lawn pa wich y wâg . ni wyr ŷr jar nessaf ir ceiliog . nid eath rhy hir i goed . nid a cosp ar ynfyd . nid a cynnig arglwydd i lawr . nid adchwelawg gair . nid adwna duw a wnaeth . nida drwg fal y dêl . nid adwyth rhêg ni haedder . nid a gait i adwedd . nid a gwayw yn gronyn . nid ammwys a wnêl warth . nid angof brodyrdde . nid anudon , ymchwelid ar y da. nid a post a'r ynfyd , ar ynfyd y ddaw a'r y post. nid a rêd a gaiff y bûdd . nîd â ar fôr , nid ymlefair . nid ar redeg , y mad aredig . nid sŵllt dan ddiebryd . nid benthig ni hanffo gwetll . nid bwrne nid baich . nid bwyd rhyfedd i dirieid . nid cau fau ar lwynog . nid côf gan yr offeiriad ei fod yn glochydd . nid cyfothog ond ai cymmero nid cymnaint dleddyn ai drŵst . nid cynnefin brân a chanu . nid cyttun hûn a haint . nid cyweithas ond brawd . nid chwrae a fo erchill . nid chwarae , chwarae a tân , nag a dŵr nag a haiarn . nid da rhy o ddim . nid dedwydd ni ddy fo bwyll . ni bwyd heb weddill . nid diswrth neb diog . nid diwyd heb nai . nid drŵg arglwydd namyn drŵg wâs . nid drŵg dim a wneler drwy gyngor . nid drygwr wrth ddryg-wraig . nid edrichyr yn lligad march rhodd . nid eglur edrych yn nhywyll al towill . nid ei arfaeth a byrth dŷn namyn ei dynged ai herbyn . nid ef a byrth dyn ei debig . nid ef a ddwg dŷn ei ddrwg ammynedd . nid ef a gaiff , pawb a fynn . nid ef yw hwn y mis nis gwnn . nid eiddaw duw a watter . nid eiddun dedwydd dyhedd . nid eilir hael ar ni bo . nid erchis bwyd ond ei brofi . nid erchis yr hen gyrys , onid a fai rhwng y newidiau . nid ergid ni chywirer . nid eris maldraeth ar owein . nid esmwyth ymgyflogi . nid gair , gair alltud ar gymro . nid gwaeth yr ymladd dig , na glew . nid gwradwydd gwell hau . nid gwely heb wraig . nid gwell dim na digon . nid gwell gormod na rhy fechan . nid gwell i'r rhoddwr , nag ir lleidr . nid gwiw gwylder rhag eisiau . nid gŵr namyn gwrth muni . nid hawdd blingo ag elestren . nid hawdd chwythy tân , a blawd yngenau . nid hawdd deu ddaw or ûn ferch . nid hawdd lledratta ar lhidr . nid hawd tynny mêr o bôst . nid hawd di fenwi cywraint . nid hawdd gwlana ar yr afr . nid jach ond a fo marw . nid jangwr neb ar ferwyn . nid llafurus llaw gywraint . nid llai gwerth mefl , na gwerth fawd . nid llywiawdr namyn duw. nid mal aur da ydd a'r dŷu . nid mawr i' th gerid os rhwy a erchid . nid mi , nid ri , llewadd cîgy cî . nid moel gŵr , yn aros gwallt . nid mwy gwaith côg na chanu . nid mynechdid maerioni . nid myned a ddêl eilwaith . nid neges heb farch . nid newid heb fâch . nid oedd hôff cyn ni ddifenwyd . nid ei gorph ydd ymre y gwybedyn . nid oes ar vffern ond eisiau ei threfnu . nid oes cambren ond camran . nid oes cywilydd rhag gofid . nid oes gantho yr ewinedd i ymgrafy . nid oes gwŷl rhag elusen . nid oes neb heb i fai. nid oes o ddim ond fel y cymerer . nid oes rhodduamyn o fodd . nid oes wàd dros waesaf ( or ) waethaf . nid oes wyledd , rhag anforthedd . nid prophwyd neb yn ei wlad ei hûn . nid rhaid dodi cloch am fwnwgl yr ynfyd . nid rhaid dangos dirieid y gŵn . nid rhaid y ddedwyd ond ei eni . nid tân heb eirias . nid tebig neb i neâst . nid sorri yt ar dy fam. nid trêftad anrhydedd arglwydd . nid trymmach yblewyn llwyd na'r gwyn . nid twyll twillo , twyllwr . nid ûn anian jâch a clâf . nid ûn-naws gwyros a gwern . nid vnfrŷd ynfyd a chall . nid wrth brŷd gerid gwragedd . nid wrth ei bíg y mae prynnu cyffylog . nid y bore y mai canmol diwrnod teg . nid y fam a ddiwaid ar bawb ( or ) am bawb . nid ydiw'r bŷd ond by chydig . nid ymgais dirieid a da. nid yn ûn didd adeiladwyd rhyfain . nid ysgar anghenawg ag anhyfryd . nid ysgar dirieid ag anhyedd . nid ystyr cariad cywylidd . nid ymgar y llatteion . nid ymweis a fo parch . nid ystyn llaw ni rybuch calon . noswyl jâr gwae ai câr . nuggiau gan i cawn . traethawd o athronddysg gymraeg . ni wyr , ni ddysg . ni ddysg , ni wrendu . ni wren i ond astud . nid astud , ond dedwydd . nid dedwydd , ond a atto ei garû . ni âd i garu , ond difilain . nid difilain , ond vfydd . nid vfydd , ond tawedog . nid twaedog , ond goddefus . nid dioddefus ond synwhyrol . nid sinhwyrol , ynd cydwybodus . nid cydwybodus . ond cowyr . nid cowyr , ond meddylgar . nid meddylgar , ond serchog . nid serchog ond cerddgar . nid cerddgar , ond ymddiddangar . nyd ymddiddan , ond am dduw . treuthawd arall nid anwiw ei ysterried . nid cyngor , ond tâd . nid gweddi , ond mam. nid ymgeledd , ond chawer . nid cadernid , ond brodyr . nid galluog , ond cefndyr . nid cenedlog , ond cyfyrdyr . nid hoiwder , ond cleddyf . nid amddiffyn , ond tarian . nid hyder , ond bwa . nid brwydr , ond gwewyr . nid llŷdd , ond dager . nid ty , heb ŵr . nid tan , heb gyff . nid gwely , heb wraig . nid ynfydrwydd , ond carriad . nid tlodi , ond clefyd . nid gwall synwyr , ond ymrysson . nid methiant , ond musgrelli . nid golineb , ond meddwdod . nid doethineb , ond tewj . nid diogi , ond syrthni . nid syrthni , ond pechod . nid pechod , ond tentasiwn . nid tlawd , ond nas cymmer . nid cyfoethog , ond syber . nid gwressog , ond yr haul . nid oer , ond y lleuad . nid amlder , ond y sêr . nid buan , ond y gwynt . nid moliannus , ond cy●tundeb . nid cyfoeth , ond jechyd . nid yspail , ond gwynt . nid prudd-der , ond marwolaeth . nid llawenydd , ond nef . nid anhyfryd , ond vffern . nid hyfrydwch , ond gyda duw. nid athrylith , ond llawen . nid diddim , ond trîst . nid dedwydd , ond diddrwg . nid diddrwg , oud di bechod . nid di bechod , ond fanctaid . nid sanctaidd , ond diwybod . nid diwybod , ond di synwyr . nid hudoliaeth , ond jeuencgtyd . nid yeuengctyd , ond ennyd awr . nid twill , ond y byd . nid prudd-der , ond eisiau . nid haelaethrwydd , heb ●digon . nid am heuthun , llawer . nid somedigaeth , ond gwraig . nid difyrrwch , ond milgi . nid llawenydd , ond march. nid digrifwch , ond gwalch . nid ofnog , ond digasog . nid digasog , heb achos . nid dioddefgar , ond doeth . nid doeth , a ymryslon . nid mwynder , ond merch . nid mapcar . ond difilain . nid milain ond taeog . nid taeog , ond cerlyn . nid cerlyn , ond afrowyog . nid afrowiog ond jangwr . nid jangwr , ond o arferau . nid hawddgar , ond difalch . nid difalch ond trugarog . nid trugarog , ond deddfol . nid marchog heb fonn. nid peddestr , heb fwa . nid chwannog , ond máb . nid esgeulus , and gweinîdog . nid cywir , ond ci. nid melus ond pechod . nid chwerrw , ond pennid . nid ymdirried , ond cydymmaith , nid hoffder , ond ertifedd . nid glân , ond y pysg . nid cyfrinnach , ond rhwng dau . ni wyr , ond a weles . nid yspys , ond a ymofynno . nid cyfarwydd , ond a wypo . nid call , ond y garwo yn y gôf . nid dysg hêb synwyr . nid gwen hieuthus , ond merch. nid afiethus , ond diofall . nid gwenwynig , ond câth . nid fyrnig , ond ci. nid creulon , ond llew . nid cyfrwys , ond eppa . nid dichellgar , ond llwynog . nid ystrywgar , ond ysgyfarnog . nid ethrylithgar , ond bytheiad . nid diswrth , byrrhwrto . nid brwnt , ond fwlbert . nid moethus , ond bele . nid bowiog , ond gwiwair . ni esgud , ond dyfrgi . nid esmwyth , ond pathew . nid diffaith , ond ystlym . nid bonheddig , ond hŷd . nid khwiog , ond march. nid gwâr , ond ŷch . nid taeog ond eidion . nid rhadlawn , ond dafad . nid llysseuinwraig , ond gafr . nid tomlyd , ond bŵch . nid têg , onid paun . nid rhyfygus , ond bronfraith . nid serchog , ond eos● nid balch , ond alarch . nid siw , ond y bi. nid sionge , ond y dryw . nid cyfannedd , ond ceiliog . nid afradlon , ond jar. nid ynfyd , ondd gwydd . nid gwrol , ond ceiliog dû . nid mwynaidd , ond côg . nid llechiad ond cyffylog . nid anllad , ond aderyn y to. nid musgrell , ond ceiliagwydd . nid glŵth , ond mulfran . nid anferth , ond garan ( al ) grur . nid trais , ond tân . nid rhwystyr , ond dŵr . nid ysgafn , ond wybr . nid trwm , ond dayar . nid diarswyd , ond arho's . nid dewr , ond gwyr . nid calonng , ond a gyrcho . nid ofnog , ond a foo. nid llwfr , ond a lecho . nid anfeidrol , ond dim . nid dim , ond duw. ychawnneg or cyffelib . nerth eryr yn ei gilfin . nerth un icorn yn ei gorne . nerth sarph yn ei chloren . nerth hwrdd yn ei ben . nerth arth yn y breichiau . nerth tarw yn ei ddwfron . nerth ci yn ei ddanr . nerth twrch yn ei affach . nerth ysguthan yn ei hadenudd . nerth llew yn ei gynffon . nerth gwraig yn ei thafod . o achos y fammaeth a cusenyr y mâb . o bob ceinmyged , cyffes oreu . o bob fordd o'r awyr ydd ymchwelo'r gwynt y daw glaw . o bob trwm , trymmaf henaint . o bychydig y daw llawer . o bydd llawen y bugail , llawen fydd y tylwyrh . o bydd neb yn ol , byd y bawaf . o bydd wch bawd na sowdl . o cheri di ny'th garo , collaist a geraist ynno . och wŷr nad aethan yn wragedd . o chyrradd fry , ni ddaw obry . odid a ardd. odid a ddyrry atteb. odid y gatwo ei wyneb o ei sywed odid archoll heb waed . odid da di wara fun . oddid difro diwyd . odidawg a fo didwyll . odid dyn têg dianaf . odid eddewid a ddêl odid elw heb antur . odid ar gant cydyramaith . o down ni , ni addown . o down ni er pedwararddeg , ni ddown erpymtheg . oed y dŷn , ni chanlyn y dâ . oedd rhaid deall i alltûd . o englyn ni ddaliaf haid . oer pob pob gluyb . oer yw isgel i'r alanas . o flewyn i flewyn ydd a'r pen yn foel . o fôr ag o fynnydd , ac a waelod asonydd ; y denfyn duw ddâ i ddedwydd . offeren pawb yn ei galon . oegfaenen yngeneu , henwch . o gywyr deb y galon , a dywaid y gwirion . o hir ddylêd , ni ddylyr ddim . o hoenyn i hoenyn ydd a'r march yn gwt o lymmaid i lymmaid , y darfu'r cawl . o lladd y gàth lygodyn ar frys hi ai hŷs ei hûn . o mynny nodi yr j wrch ti a fwri naid amgen . oni byddi cyfarwydd , cyfarch . oni byddi grŷf bydd gyfrwys . oni chefi gennin dŵg fressych . oni heuir ni fedŷr . onid march ys casseg . or ddeuddrwg goreu'r lleiaf . os gŵr mawr cawr , os gŵr bychan corr. o sûl i sûl ar forwyn yn wrach . pa ham y bydd cûl y barcud ? am ysglyfaid . pa ham y llŷf y ci y maen am nas gall ei yssw . pa le yn y fuddai y mae'r enwyn . pan bwyser arnad , tynn dy draed attad . pau dywyso'r dall ddall arall y ddau a ddigwydd ir pwll . pan dywysso'r enderig ei braidd ni bydd da ir yscrubl y didd hwnnw . pan êl lladron i ymgyhuddo y caiff cywyrriaid ei da. pan bo addoed ar y geifr , y bychod a ridi ir pan bo ingaf gan ddŷn , ehengaf fydd gan dduw . pan fo culaf yr ŷch goreu , fydd yngwaith . pan fo melierydd arben malaria , y bydd es●ud asgell gwippa . pan fo tecca'r chwhare goreu fydd peidio . pan gaer ni hi , ni cheir mi ha . pan lladdo duw , y llad yn drwm . pan gysco pawb ar gylched , ni , chysg duw pan ryd gwared . pan yrrer y gwyddel allan , infyd ydd heurir ei fôd . pa waeth y dring●y gâth , yn el torri ei ewinedd . pawb a chennyrth anrhydedd . pawb a drais ymhais ei dâd . pawb a gnith eedor ynfyd . pawb ai chwedl gantho . pawb yn llosgwrn ei henfon . pawb yn y gorphen . pei diwettai tafawd a wypai geudawd , ni biddai gymmodawg neb rhai . pei y gâth fyddai gartref , gwaeth fyddai ychwi . pen carw ar ysgyfarnog . pen punt , a llosgwrn dimmai . pen saer pob perchennog . pen tros bawb i le ai carer . perchi gŵr er ei fawed . pettwn dewin , ni fwttawn furgyn . pilio wy cyn ei rostio . pob cadarne , gwan ei ddiwedd . pob cyffelib ymgais . pob darogan derfyd . pob dihareb gwir , pob coel celwydd . pob dryll ydd a'r aing yn y pren. pob edn , aedwin ei gymmar . pob gwlad yn ei arfer . pob llwybr mewn ceunant , yr ûn fordd a redant . pob llwfr llemmittor arnaw . pob peth yn ei amser . pob traha gorphen . po dyfna fo'r môr , diogelaf fydd y llong . po hyna fo'r cymro , ynfytta fydd . po hynaf fo'r ŷd tebycca fydd y fŷd . po mwya fô'r drafod , mwy a fydd y go●fod . pay mwyaf fo'r brŷs mwya fydd y rhwystr . po mwya fo'r llanw , mwya fydd y trai pa tynna fo'r llinnin , cyntaf y tyrr . pren ynchoed arall biau . prŷn hên . prŷn eilwaith . prŷn tra flingych . pwy bŷnnag sy heb wraig , sy heb ymrysson . pwŷll a ddyli padell . pŷsgotta ymlaen y rhwyd . rhag anwyd ni werid canwyll . rhag mynned ùn llôg o'r ty . rhag newyn , nid oes wŷledd . rhagnythed jar cyn dodwi . rhag trymfŷd ochyd ychenawg . rhaid y segur waith i wneithr . rhaid wtth amhwyll , pwyll parhawd . rhaid iw croppian cyn cerdded . rhan druan rhan draian . rhan gorwydd o dâd . rhan y gwas o eig i jâr . rhannu rhwng y bol ar cefn . rhedid car gan orwaered . rhedid maen yn i chaffo wastad . rhewydd pob rhyfeddawd . rheiddawg ychenawg ar fô. rhin tri dyn cannyn ai cliw . rhôdd ag adrodd rhod bachgen . rhodd fawr ac addaw fechan . rhodd ifor ar ei gappen . rhodd gwŷr erging . rhodd i hên nac adolwg . rhoi'r carr o flaen y march. rhoi'r ordd dan y celyn llwyn . rhuthr ci o griberdd . rhuthr enderig ar allt. rhuthr mammaeth . rhwng y ddwy ystol ydd a'r din i lawr . rhwy fu rhy fychod gynnen . rhwydd ni bo dyrrys . rhybidd ofnawg , a dal y ci . rhybydd y ddedwydd . rhy brynnwys rhy erchis . rhy buched baw gares . rhy buched dryg-fab ei fam . rhy dyn , a dyrr . rhy lawn a gyll . rhy vchel a syrth . rhy gâs , ry welir . rhy foddawg , rhy fawr a wŷl . rhygas pob rhywir . rhygu pob rhy fychod . rhiw i fâb jwrch lammu . sef a lâdd a gyhudd . sef a lwydd y fefl ei chelu . sef yw , blaidd y bugail . saith mlynedd a doroganyr dallu . siarad cymmynt a mab saith gudyn . siccraf ywr siccraf . sieffrai pieu ' r troed , fieffrai pieu'r fwyall . siommi duw , a mynach marw . son am awst , wiliau'r nadolig . sw●th pob diog . sychy trwyn y swch . symmydaw , addet rhag drŵg . tabler i lyfau , tafarn i chwedlau . tafawd a dorr asgwrn . tafawd aur ymhen dedwydd . tafawd gelyn ar dànnedd , ni chydfain ar gwirionedd . talwys a ryfeichwys . tawedog tew ei ddrŵg . tebig oedd tŵd i gyfrwy . tebig oedd hwch i garegle . teg pob dianaf . teg pob hardd . têg tân bob tymp . teirgwaith y dywaid mursen bendith dduw ●n y tŷ . teir gwers merch rhewid . telittor gwedi halawg-lw . terfyn cywiraf cyngwystl . toll fawr a wna toll fechan . tra fo'r borfa yn ryfu y bydd marw ' r march. tta fo'r ci yn maesa , ydd a'r ysgyfarnog yr coed . trafferth ŷch hyd echwydd ( al ) hwyrr . traha a threisio gweinion a ddifa'r eti feddion . tra rhetto'r ôg rheded y freuan . tra rhettor ôg , rheded y ddraen glwyd . trech ammod , na gwir . trêch anian nag addysg . trêch duw na drŵg obaith . trêch gwan arglwyd , na chadarn was . trêch tynged nag arfaeth . trengid golud , ni threinge molud . trengis a fremnis ( al ) frefwys . trickyd , cyn ni wahodder . trickyd wrth barch , ni thrîg wrth gyfarwys . trist pob , galarus . troi o bobtu it berth . troi'r gâth yn yr haul . trychni nyd haudd ei ochel . trydydd troed i' hên yw fonn. tw al gwhwa farch benthig . twyl trwy ymddiried . twillid rhyfegid , rhyfugaid . twyllwr yw gwobr . tyfyd maban ny thŷf ei gadachan . tyfod ebawl o hŷd garr . tyfyd enderig o'i dorr . tynghedfen gwraig , ott . tŷst yw'r chwedl , yr englyw . tywyll bol hyd pan lefair . tywynnyn greynyn i rann . tu ny fin duw ny llwydd . uchenaid at ddoeth . uchenaid gwrach yn o'll ei huw'd . uu arffed a fag gant . un cam uiogi a wna dau a thri . un llaw ar dân , can llaw ar wlân . un llawiog fydd mammaeth . un-llygeidiog fydd brenin yngwlad y deillaîd . un geiniawg a ddyly cant. un pryd ar iâr yn yr yscubor . untrew o garchar . unwaith yr aeth yr arglwyddes i nofio hi a foddodd . uwch pen na dwy ysgwydd . wineb trîst drwg'a ceri . wythnos y llwynog . y bendro wibwrn . y bol a bil y cefn . y bûdd a lâdd i ludded . y chydig laeth a hynny yn enwyn . y chydig yn aml a wna llawer . y ci a fynner i'grogi a ddiwedir ei fod yn ladd defed . y cŷn a gerddo a yrrir . y cyntaf a ddêl yr felin , maler yddo yn gyntaf . y cyntaf ai clybu , dan ei dŷn , y darfu . y cyntaf i' ôg , cyntaf i' grymman . y dafn a dyll y garreg , nyd o gryfder ond o fynnych syrrhio . y diwedda ar ddiwedder ar yfreuan ar hwnnw y dielir . y dŷn a werthodd i' dŷ ymha wlad y caiff letty . y diw corn , heb yscyfarn . y fefl a wneler yn rhîn nant , hi a dywynnyg yngwydd cant. y felin a fal fynw ddifr . y ferch a ddel yw phrofi , hwyr y daw wi phriodi . y gath a fo dâ ei chroen a flingir . y gŵr yn ceifio y gasseg , ai gsseg dano . goŵn a roed y gannwr , ar nid a'e goŵn o dy'r gŵr . y law a rydd a gynnill . y march a fram a ddŵg i pwn. ymbell amh●uthan wna mefl . ymguddio ar gefn y gîst . ymhob daioni y mae gobrwy . ymhob drygioni , y mae pechod . ymhob dewis y mae cyfyngder . ymhob creft , mae falster . ymhob clwif mae perigle . ymnob gwlad y megir glew . ymhob dyn y mae enaid . ymhod enaid y mae deall . ymhoh deall y mae meddwl . ymhob me ddwl y mae naill ai drŵg ai dâ . ymhob rhíth y daw angeu . ymhob rhyfel y mae gofall . ymhod pechod y mae ffoledd . ymrysson ar gof yn i' efail . ymrysson a doeth , ti a fyddi doethach . ymrysson a fôl ti a fyddi folach . ymchwelid duw ei law yngauaf nôs . y mûd a ddywaid y gŵir . y naill flwyddyn fydd mam i ddyn ar llall fydd ei elldrewin . yn ceisio yr blewyn glâs , y boddod y gasseg . y neb y saetho ar edrybedd , a gyll ei saeth . ynfyd a gabl ei wrthban . y naill wenwyn a llad y llall . y neb a fo a march ganddo , a gaiff march ym menthig . yn y croen y genir y blaidd , y bydd marw . yn y i le y bo yr dâ , y rhoir ag y tyccia . yr aderyn a faccer yn vffern yn uffern a mynn drigo . yr afr ddû a lâs . yr hai a laddoedd ŷr hŵch . yr hŵch a dau , a foyty'r soeg . yr hŵch a wich , ys hi a ladd . yr oen yn dysky'r ddfad i bori . yr ûn asgwrn a dâl . ys da felin a ballodd . ys dir drŵg , rhag drŵg arall . ys dir i hael a roddo . ys drŵg y dêg ewin , ni ffortho ûn gilfin . ysgafn llwyth a glùd coed . ysgafn y daeth , ysgafn yr aeth . ysgrubl dirieid yn eithaf . ys gwell cân mesur , na chân trwch . ys ar bawb y bryder . yssu bwyd drygwr , heb ei ddiolch . yssu bwyd yr ynfyd yn y blaen . ys marw a fo diobaith . ystum llawgar yn rhannu . yspys y dŷn o ba radd y bo ei wreiddin . casbethau gwyr rhufain . ny âd y môr hyd ei wregis . ny âd y mor mawelus ynndaw . ni budd llwfr lan ehelaeth . ni bû arthur ond tra fû . ni bu eiddil , hên yn was . ni bu esgynny gorŵydd oddiar geffyl . ni bu rygu , na bu rygas . ni ffyddra llaw dyn , er gwneithr da idd ei hûn . ni buttra llynwyn . ni byddaf na shoryn dwyn na chappan glaw . ni bydd allt heb waered . ni byd atglaf o glâfur . ni bydd frawd heb ei adfrawd . ni bydd bûdd o ychydig . ni bydd bual , o losgwrn y ci. ni bydd cymen neb oni fo ynfyd gyssefyn . ni bydd chewedl heb ystlys iddo . ni bydd dal ty ar fynach yt . ni bydd dialur di ofan . ni bydd cyfoethog , ry gall . ni bydd diriaid heb hawl . ni bydd doeth ni ddarlleno . ni bydd di ûn dau gymro . ni bydd gwan , heb ei gadarn . ni bydd gwr wrth ddim . ni byd hanawg serchog by th . ai bydd marw march er vn nôs . ni bydd myny glwen gwraig drygwr . ni bydd moesawg merch a gliw lef liog cei ei thâd . ni bydd myssyglawg maen oi fynych drafod . ni bydd neb llyfn , heb ei anaf . ni bydd preswil pasg . ni bydd rhy barch , rhy gynnefin . ni , fa. ni bydd y dryw , heb y lyw . ni chaiff chwedl nid êl o'i dy ni chaiff rhy an foddawg rhy barch . ni châr bvwch hêsp lô . ni châr dofyd diobaith . ni châr gwaith , nys gorddyfno . ni châr morwyn , mâb oi thrêf . ni charawdd grist , ai croges . ni charo ei fam , cared ei lys fam . ni cheffir hoedl hir er ymgeledd . ni cheffir gwastad y bêl . ni cheffir gwaith gŵr gan wâs . ni cheffir mwy na chôd y wrach . ni cheiff dda ni ddioddefo ddrŵg . ni cheiff dda nid êl yn namwain . ni cheiff ei ddewis gam a foô. ni cheiff parch , ar nys dylo . ni cheiff pwyll nys pryno . ni cheidw cymro , oni gollo . ni chein swedydd yn vnfron . ni cheir afal pêr , ar bren sûr . ni cheir bwyd taeog yn rhàd. ni cheir da o hîr gysgu . ni cheir geirda heb prŷd . ni cheir gan y llwynog ond i groen . ni cheir gwlân rhwiog ar glûn gafr . ni cheir y melus heb y chwerw . ni chêl dricdir ei egin . ni chêl grûdd gystudd calon . ni chêl ynfyd y feddwl . ni cherir newynnog . ni cherir yn llwyr on i ddelo yr wŷr . ni cheliw madyn ei ddrygsaw ei hûn . ni chlyw wilkin beth nys mynn . ni choelir y moel , oni weler ei ymmenydd . ni cholles mam ammynedd . ni cholles ei gifrif , a ddechruis . ni chrêd eiddig er a dynger . ni chryn llaw ar fa●-ddysg . ni chwenych morwyn mynach baglawg . ni chwery câth dros i blwydd . ni chwsg dedwydd hûn foreu . ni chwsg dw pan rydd gwared . ni chwsg gofalus , ag e gwsg galarus . ni chwsg gwag fol. ni chwyn ci er ei daro ag asgwrn . ni chwyn yr jâr , fod y gwalch yn glâf . ni chi feirch angen ei borthi . ni chill yr jâr ei hirnos . ni chymmer lû ceid ar fô. ni chymmyd dedwydd a dadleu . ni chymmyd diawl , a duwiol . ni chyngain gan gennad gywilidd . ni chyngain gwarthal ddewis . ni chynny gweinid arall . ni ddaliaf ddilys , o ddŷn . ni ddaw côf gan lŵth ei grach . ni daw côf i'r chwegr ei bod yn waudd . ni ddaw drŵg i ûn , na ddaw da i arall . ni ddawr crosan pa gabl . ni ddawr buttain pa gnwch . ni ddeil yr eryr ednogyn . ni dderfydd cyngor . ni ddiddawr newynnog pa yfo . ni ddelir coed o vnpren . ni ddiffig arf , as wâs gwych . ni ddiffig esgus ar wraig . ni ddiffig fon ar ynfyd . ni ddiylch angen ei borthi . ni ddwg newyn mam weision . ni ddigymmydd medd a chybydd . ni ddyly cyfrairh , nis gwnel . ni ddyly drygfoly namyn dryg yssu . ni eill barnu , ni wrandawo . ni eill duw dda ei ddireid . ni eill dyn ochel tynged . ni eill gwrach gwared yw phen . pethau anweddus . brenin heb ddoethineb . marchog heb provedigaeth . arglwydd heb gyngor . gwraig heh teistrolwr . cyffredin heb gyfraith . gwasnaethnyn heb ofan . tlawd balch . cyfoethawg heb elusen . jstus heb gyfiawnder . escob heb ddysg . hen ddyn heb dduwioldeb . jeuange heb ostyngeiddrwydd . doeth heb weithredodd dâ . câsddynion selyf ddoeth . gwr nis gwypo ac nis disgo . ni bo gantho ai gwsaneitho , ag nas gwasnaetha y hûn . yr hwn a delo yddo lawer ac ni roddo ddim . a ymryssono ai arglwydd oni el y bwll . a fo rhyfelwr llesk , ag na ddymuno hedddwch o flaen rhyfell . a oganno arall am y beîau fo arno ei hûn . a dybio fod yn well na neb ar bob peth ag yntef yn waethaf oll . a echwwyno bymmaint ac no bo gantho ai talo . a roddo ei gwbl ag a fo ei hûn heb ddim a addawo bob peth ag na chywyro ddim . a fygythio bawb ac ni bo ar neb ei ofan . a ddywetto lawer ac ni wrandawo ar nêb . a archo bob peth ag ai welo , ag ni chaffo ddim . a addefo ei rin iw elyn , neu yr neb y gwypo nas cêl . a fasnacho bob peth heb prynny dim . a dyngo lŵ anudon heb neb yn ei gredw . ai rhoddo y hûnmewn anvrddas , er vrddas i ûn arall . a welo lawer o foe●au a chelfiddydau ag ni ddesgo ddim . y brynno bob peth , ag heb ennill dim . a gasao bawb , a phawb yntau , na chretto neb , na nâb yntau . a ymyrro ar bob peth heb achos . a geiso gêl , gan ddyn dietihr . a gretto i bawb er na's adnappo . awnelo yn ûn dydd , fel na allo ddim drannoeth . a ymddirietto i rôdd . a gaffo ddewis , ag a ddewisso yr gwaethaf . a debycco orfod o falchder . agasao i les er afles yw gymmydog . ni wnel da ag nis gatto i arall . a ymgadarnhao mewn dtŵg olwg . a dybio i fod yn gall ag ynteu yn angall . a ddysgo lawer ag ni wyppo ddim , a adawo i gyd ymmaith heb achos . awnêl drŵg ag na bo edifar gantho . tlawd a wrthotto grynodeb . a wyppo gyfraith dduw ai orchyminion , ac a ddadleu yn ei herbyn er gwobr . a ymffrostio or gwilidd ei hûn . a ddyrmigo duw a dŷn . adreuliais a fu fau , medd yr enaid . a roddais a fu fau , medd yr enaid . a gedwais a gollais , medd yr enaid . a neccais sydd ym colli , medd yr enaid . dysg yn grâff a welych . cadwyn grâff a ddysgwych . a drodd a peth y fedrych . nî wedd yn bencenedl ond gŵr . a ymladdo gidai gâr , ac a ofner . a ddywetto gyd a'i gâr , ac awrandawer . a fechnio gyd a'i gâr ac a gymmerer . i achaf cîg llwdn gwyllt iwrch . llwdn dôf twrch . edn gwyllt pettris . edn dôf jâr . pysgod môr llythi . pysgod dwr croyw , draenog a brithill . tri cadarn byd. arglwydd yr hwn sydd faen dros jaen . drûd ni wnel ond a fynno . di ddim na bo dim i gael gantho . saith gynnedef ynad . mûd a llafar , drûd a byddar , ynfyd , ofnawg , a goleichiawg . traethawd o athronddysg . trecha treisied gwanna gwiched . cais ym-hell er mwyn cael yn agos . ychidig sy rhwng y cam ar cymmwys . goreu bonedd , bonedd arfer . pob ûn a addrodd a glyw pan dêl adref . ni lwydda ûn blaid , yn byd duw yn y blaen . gwell hoo gardottyn , na hw leidrin . an ffawd i bawb yn ei gylch . goreu cysgod , cysgod tîr a goreu gair yw gair o wîr . yr neb fo arno , anwyd , chwythed y tân . rhaid y gelwyddog fod yn gofiadur . y darawo y ysgwydd ym bob rhiw fe caiff hi'n friw or diwedd . tri pheth sidd anhawdd i nabod dŷn derwen a diwrnod . tri rwystr pen fordd , cnoien merchwen a gwiwair . na fynno i hûn , na wnaid i ûn . ni hoena meddwl henwr , ond i gorph dderfydd yr gwr . gwaethaf marchwr gwryw gwen. dau beth ni raid arbed , ychydig a llawer . mawl drygair , drygwr . cae'r stabl gwedi mynd y march ir maes . a ddywetto pawb gwir a fydd . dŷn a feddylia , duw a lwyodraetha . pawb a wŷl ei gilidd nid oes nemaur a wyr cyssur ei gilidd . gofyn i nhad wyfi leidr . os cybydd a fydd y fo , fe gyll gwnaed oreu ag allo . goreu cyfrwistra i ddyn , ei wadu ei hûn . na âd yr nos waethaf , fod , yn ddiwaethaf . na chais elw o esculustra . na chais fynd yr nêf●rth fod yn chwerw . na chais fwrw coel ar dy gelwydd . ledled rydau waethwaeth deddfau . cam glowed , na cam ddywedid . nid a sy a saif . ni pharha swydd ond blwyddyn , na fydded angall deall dyn . y mae'r byd wedi magu'r bendro . ni bydd tra ha , yn dra hir . dyn sy'n grydd fan , duw sy'n gwrando . griffudd ni bu erioed i grasfaith , i dynu gwraint o din gwrach . auriog cin buwch . hawdd yw cael drwg , ag anodd mind odiwrtho . cint oneddwl merch , na milgi . mingauad pob mirsen . po gwnna fo y' din , dua fudd y fontin . dranoeth gwedi r ' digwil . rhowir caen drws , wedi r defaid find allan . allan o olwg , allan o feddwll . chwerw yn y genau , melus yn y galon . ni cheir y melus heb y chwerw . cof pob diwaetha . gwell y fam glyttioge nar tad goludog . geill march farw yn aros ir borfa . cont vnwaith , canwaith y ceir . ameu pob drwg dybus . cynfigen y ladd i pherchen . breddwyd gwrach wrth ei huillus . chwerthin pawb ar i fantes . nid twill dwillo twyllwr . ar ddechre yr gist y mae eiriach y blawd . drwg y rhodd ni thal i gofun . ni thyccia rhybudd i' drwch . nid oes gin gerdottnn ond i' gwd . nid nesach att ange wlad arall na chartre . ni ddiowrid dim ond vffern . yr hen y wyr , ag ifanc y debig . ni ddoeth gwlad erioed i' fud . drwg y caidw diawl i' was . mwya trwst llestri gweigion . yr hwch y dai y fwyttu r soeg . cint cath ir gell nag allan . po nessa at yt eglwys pell a oddiwrth brodwys . nid cynefin cath a chebnst . nid gwiw mor wylo am laith a gollo . cyn edifated ar gwr y laddodd i' filgi . gwas diog cenad dda i' gyrchu ange i' wrda nid cadarn ond castell . cint crippil nai was . credigrwudd gittun felun ai fam . cyn siongced ar bioge . nid rhaid i' bechod gyfiadur ond cydwybod . a fo aml i feibion budd gwag i goliddion . a fo aml i' ferched nid eiff dim ir wared . ni wnelo gyngor i fam gwnaed gyngor i' lys fam . adar vnlliw a hed ir vnlle , ( al ) pob cyffelib ymgais . gofyn i' mam wyf leidr . ir pant y rhed y dwfr . na wel ar fai ond y fedrych ymendio . nid oes help ir perh a bassio ond tewi son a gathel i ddo . who hath god hath all , who hath him not hath less then nothing . the later that gods vengeance is , the heavier far , and sorer ' t is . three things are hard to be known , a man , an oke , and a day . while through all places thou dost rome , yet have thy eyes still towards home . red wine , hogs flesh and smoake are three enemies to the eyes . the tail will alwayes turn with the dog . greater was the fright then the fray . an old dog will not sport with a puppy . the lambs skin comes to the market as soon as the sheeps . from sea , from hill , and from the flood , god sends the fortunate some good . there is no stint upon almes . the horse looks not on the hedge , but the corn . many words to a fool , half a word to the wise . an unluckie man shall lose do what he can . a gentle man gently cools his passion . wer 't not for hope the heart would break ▪ yet hope ▪ yet hope . the saxon shites in his brich , the cleanly britain in the hedge . howell is as good as heilin . who so complains without cause , should have cause given him to complain . some complain , to prevent complaint . the bad husband's hedge is full of gaps . the misfortune of the fool is just , because it proceeds from his own rashness . a fair promise makes a fool merry . who so stealeth an egge , will steal a hen . none bewares of him that 's in his grave . let him that is the stronger oppress ; let him that is the weaker cry out . let him that would have praise , be dead first . let him that would have h●alth be merry . each man would give his guess . at the fall of the old , the young man laughs . faults are thick , where love is thin . necessity will buy and sell. the unskilful or ( simple ) will tear his breech over the close stool . you must judge at the latter end of a thing . vvhat is not wisdom ( or discretion ) is danger . vvho avoids not smoak , avoids not his enemy . vvho so cannot endure a servant , must be his owne servant . vvho so feeds not his cat , let him feed his mice . every man is a master in his own house . greediness breaks its own neck . blessing on the sow that owns the fat . flowers afore may , better they were not . the more a string is stretcht , the sooner it breaks . an old wifes dream runs according to her wish . scatter with 〈◊〉 hand , gather with two . you must not count your yearlings till may-day . the valiant is harder then a stone . a man hath a hundred friends , and a hundred foes , if the mare be lame , her colt will be lame . shut the breech after farting . the true friend is discernd in the distress . late leave argues a business . a snarling dog hath a ragged coat . the dog that hunts every beast , is not good at any . correct the bear in presence of the lion. scratch a clowns tail , and he will befoul thy fist . an ague in the aged is certain death . though the day be long , it will have an evening . though nine nights may be concealed , nine moneths cannot . a lazy shepherd is fellow to the wolf . as good foot it , as bestride a staff . play , but hurt not ; jest , but shame not . the naked youth may play , the hungry will not . february will blow the snake out of her nest . the fool will laugh , when he is a drowning . great and frequent debate , and to bring forth a mouse . well doth the spit become the rasher . shew me the calf , shew me not the milk . two hungry meals will make the third a load . good is god , and long is eternity . good is the stone with the gospel . the lucky man will find a thorn in his pap . lewd is the frog under ice . each bird is well pleased with his own voice . he shall be slighted that is out of sight . an old mans end is to keep sheep . every mans promise is his debt . lend to the naked , and you may goe whistle for it the next day . the man is wise , while he holds his peace . it 's a sory stake , that stands not the first year . ill doth the devil preserve his servant . bad is the way , that is trod but once . bad is a bad servant , but wors being without him . bad is the thing , that is not worth the asking . every mans neighbour is his looking-glass . a work ill done , must be twice done . god will distribute the cold , as he distributeth the cloaths . there will come ice for the frog . it is tedious parting with a thing we love . a sharp april kills the pig . one scabby fellow knoweth another . a man knoweth when he goes , not when he returns . a good aunt is a second mother . you will easily prevail with one that loveth you . hee was slaine that had warning , not hee that tooke it . neither for peace nor for warre , will a dead bee gather honey . a sorry son is active in another mans house . the easiest work is to miss ( or fail . ) every poor man is a fool . fly from bad land , not from a bad landlord . a mans wealth is his enemy . the active man will be a lion , till gray hairs come . forbear the alehouse , forbear not to pay . dispraise the meat and eat it . every mans eye is upon that he loveth . the nimblest footman is a false tale . woe be to him that goeth from hip to hip , and hath nothing of his own . woe to him that bringeth his old servant to a court of iustice. woe to him that loves , and is not loved . woe to him that hath a bad name in his youth . woe to him that seeks his landlord dayly . woe to the beast , that never seeth his owner . worse and worse , like the son of a goat . woe to that one man , that makes a hundred sad . the day will discover the work of the night . it is an easie work to beware . a friends frown is better then a fools smiles . an importunate begger cannot keep . to cut a witth with a beetle . naturam expellas furcâ , &c. after long languishing death . a lion when old may be conquered . to fish in a sheep-coat . too much cunning undoes . fortune out-veyes cunning . a bird in hand is better then two in the bush . clear conscience a sure card . a friend in court , &c. good , though long stayed for is good . a fair face and a foul heart . to think his grandmother a maide . to give pay with a ladle . no more then the he-goat to the kill ▪ antipathy . better one braggadocio , then two fighters . better one pair of feet , then two pair of hands . woe to the owner of a weak bow . woe to the servant of a weak lord. multitude conquers greatness . it is easie to cut out thongs of another mans skin . howell is generous at the countreyes charge . the play of an old cur with a whelp . the toung will cause beheading . easier to censure then do . the bald will not believe till he sees his brains . it is easie to draw blood out of a skabbie head . the kinsmans ear will hear it . a womans commodity stronger then a rope . he that hath the daughters cunt , will have the mothers heart . long aiming , long shiting . a womans hand is the pricks whe●stone . enough is as good as a feast . enough for each man what he can manage . compare onely with thy compeers . who complains without cause , may have cause to complain . spare the surety , spare the principal . a small cause may produce much grief . cause without cause . the besome ought still be busie . without a good horse , to take the field is folly . complain for fear of complaints . a house dry over head is happy . long sorrow moulds misery . a cat may be cram'd with crums . each owner his own . a child knowes who licks , but not who loves him . open-mouth'd hedges speak bad husband . feed liberally , find labourers . the wise and the fool have their fellows . get a sonne , get a sword . great promises , small performance . a fairly , makes a fool laugh . the gray is ripe for the grave . the hart brayes for the brook . the hart being fed takes the field . the lewd and naught love long nights . whom death kills , none recalls . should not bad councel be cancelled . he that bears the bag may fill his belly . he that steals an egg , will steal a nagg . teach the child a sunday , he will remember it a munday . if the lion go to the field , god will be his shield . he that goes to court without errand , may bring home an arrest . vvho at horse play would learn skill , at home should leave his skinne . tine before kine . soon get up , soon goe down . a heart heavy , is not healthy . a nurses tongue priviledged to talk . she silent and dull , domb . a lary fool , hands foule . his mouth fouly sweats that swears . wild and wanton . he that hath store of bread , may beg his milk merrily . many boxes make empty bellies . if much hony hap , thou mayest put it in thy pap . a lawyer pleads all pleas , or he that sticketh at the first course on all occasions shifts to discourse . no plea to what god pleaseth , or whom god loveth in his grave lies . an impudent shaver will hardly be saved . he that scolds at sea , will do the like on land . he that is uncertain when he goeth , will doe no good ere he goeth . an old mans best praise is prayer . gallant means , gallant men . the dead out of view we need not avoid . he that dieth for threats with his own t. should be tainted . the nearer the porch , the further from paradise . might overcomes right . to refuse in want , waste . to give where there is no want . a twisted lace is not easily loos'd ▪ once prime man , now no man. no power , no respect . gods will be done . who would be commended , let him die first . if thou wouldst try friends , be sick . be hearty , be healthy . have the haft , have the blade . a cuff in the morning is remembred in the evening . gods word uppermost . who loves not his mother , will hardly love his stepmother . that love is slender which regards not a friends slander . love young sparkes , love their sports . or love the yoak tine , love what belongs thereto . who loves her husband most , love his mother m. plundred ware , never thrive . close and near will cleave in need . the great crow doth cry , the young sayes i. out of a small complaint , groweth a greater . over complaint , no complaint . rise to plead , lose thy place . learn if thou can , and keep it . almes more valued then venison . offend god , offend man. out of sight , out of mind . good ale the key of cuuncel ( or ) the barly corn is the hearts key . patience is knowledge's life-guard . passion , a note of bad nature . every guest can guess . love me , love my dog . chide the birth for the salt bag . the old man dies , the young man danceth , ( or ) the old doth fall , the young laughs his fill . plenty of all a tanning . plenty of honny a straining . where love fails , we spy all faults . b●ood soon stands on a white steed . bloud is not hid in a scabby head . unrich , unready . strange dishes , dainties . ignorance denies the conclusion . covenant breaketh custome . breach of custome contempt . a time for meat , and a time for mass. a time for all things . ill bred , ill bruised . bruise in the sinewes , death in the veins . a hollow man , an ill messenger . choler waves kindred . the dull sees no more then the dark . an angel in the field , a devil by the fire . want will make the old trull to trot . want buyes and sells also . want cancels commands . want doth rouse the old to run . ever lewd , never beloved . needy and poor , are nobile par. what wants in part , is imperfect . if fool , ever foul . cold will never catch heat . death makes speed unexspected . grim death buyes full dear . the more fame , the greater shame . a fool may be shamed in shiting . a churlish friend never free . unhopeful , unhappy . no confidence in cowards . a churle , unstaid and stubborn . if god saith , it must be so . vvhat a babler saith ▪ is fawcy . set thy dog , but thou sit down . drive the dog to the dayry . rash in kind , inconstant . cold face calls for fire . whom i love , i like . patient and silent . mock and be mocked . soft fire maketh sweet malt . wise words and great seldom agree . give much and mildly ( or ) divide commons kindly . plow while thou art , plow ere thou art not . suspend till the end . a man of power may compel . vvhere none chuse it is the lords escheat . every one is lord of his own . god save a weak lords servant . money is said , to buy and sell. if foul fail , use fair means . he that avoids not smoak , may smart . the medow is shorn with the shears . vvhere no discretion is , there is danger . he that cannot bear with his servant , must serve himself . give the cat meat , or feed mice . he that will not give what is dear , shall not have what he desires . vvho cannot fell trouse , will ne're fell a tree , ( or ) if young a cow , old a coward . a sluggard is going stil , but stirs not . power weakeneth the wicked . power descrieth a thievish crue . smoke a bad sign they say . a sign hath no bucks side . a bad bow , that will not bend . an orle chip , in a cats cheek . a clean bosome , a beesome ( or ) blessing . a bone bad meat for an old man. every fault breeds fear . teach a dogge to the dayrie , and he will goe thither dayly . a fighting skit , a foul scab . a sober man , a soft answer . in his own house each man is master . envy breeds back-biting . all would gain gold . a great bruise brings grief . that rasor's keen that shaves clean . few by signs know what thou sayest . if thou play the fool stay for a fellow . if thou do not well , beware . vvhat god sends , man censures . vvhat ere is veyled , will be revealed . he that makes the song , is the author sure . who does well , deserves well . who bad will do , swears deeply too . deceive and be deceived . each bad one , waits a bad houre . much drink makes drunk . greediness breaks nicks neck . old trot , why wouldst break thy thigh ? the brave steed fails that founders . pride ( sir poore ) without support . pride far-fetchd , fie . bread and butter one bit is . a lazy calf laughs coldly . divide and diminish . the shallow channel chimes . thimb thumb say some . if all had what they liked , then none would long . a lions heart boyls with heat . anon , anon , quoth the kite . the hogs grace , is the grease . a kind heart happy . a whore sometimes sheddeth teares , ( or ) a shameless lock sometimes leaks . a rash man roves . anger notes bad nature . a rash lout laughs loud . up start and new come , bids himself welcome . a greedy gut would all get . cry and ho wt , the deaf cries ha . blood no base spot on a spear . green , where the army graze . be healthy , be hilarous . be jovial , be joyful . sick language sayes i languish . great ones bark boldly . one cannot mourn , and be merry . a thief most stout , best keep out . the valiant chargeth wisely , not wildly . a woman quell'd will be quiet . bad words make a woman worse . brave , though ill bred . lick well and look well , ( or ) feed well and fight well . a mad part to be malapart . play the cat , even to the tail . blossomes e're may , not good some say . the more wolves in shape , the worse for the sheep . the carres will have a second course . long sick , at length sink . the elder you die , the more you dote . the parents presence , the young mans prison . lineage pleads , well lin'd takes place . the hens foreshew a morning shower . a woman merry , a red morning . vvhen the string is streightest it breaks with stretching . a rich gull gathers , and the son scatters . an old wife dreams what she dreads . all fidlers are fellows . rash judgement soon spent ; ( or ) a fools bolt is soon shot . victory wound● , and death a●tidates . spend with one , spare with both hands . the devil take the curs'd cat . to wake a dead corps with cold water . make goose pond , of ducks puddle . cast brine salt into the sea . a p●t brimful and foule . a dwarf may be a monsters mother . few fairie-mouth'd . the deaf man hath his mate . short sweetness breeds long sorrow . a good tale never too tedious . good and loved , not long lived . twisted thrid fears no threats . do well and have well . the mill that talketh hath toll . look for him that bears the bell under his steeds belly . look for muske in the myskin . fair summer greets , yet it maketh winter grievous . a man stout , firmer then stone . ever heavy never hearty . the welsh knoweth well the saxons good will. vvantons never keep counsel . a hundred love , and a hundred leave me . aged and ached . the dog doth toil , so doth his tail . a hundred sweethearts in a house . he singeth odd , without an ode . the romans old , odium's . owen cyfeyliogs villaines , or odium's . a friend bars nay , in time of need . vvhat man hateth here , god hateth in heaven . a sharks haunt soon hated . a bramble tupp turbulent . truth not loved , where not allowed . the mare lame , the colt the like . the bumme hole 's shut , when the fart's shot . what ere is new is noble , ( or ) if new prised then praysed . the loss being great , look the mothers recruit . passion wardeth inward . provide for thy ship , or sink . if thou be skilful , reveal not thy skil to a fool . the sea is the lords cell , or cellar . young and tame , sharp in time . praise a good woman i pray . hard reading a dumb mans meaning . well girt , well goes . love thy sister notwithstanding disasters . death's capp's capacious , ( or ) death to all sorts pertains . a snarling cur hath a scurvy coat . hunt all games have no gains . a message too late lost . without penny penury . light knit , easily unknotted . a horn heard soon , though hardly seen . see to thy seed . a leg thought a thigh . my thought runs where my love rests . call god neere , when thou dost neeze . know a lout , by his load . the hen flaunts on the floor . a good cow ever , a milking runs over . hee looseth many a good bitt , that striveth with his betters . hang the poor hen . the beare pressed in the lions presence , ( or ) strike the man before the master . rub a churles tail he will give thee a turd , ( or ) speak a churl fair , he will spit in thy face . the dog bites hard , the bone's harder . pinch worse then pincers . a fool laughs a life . the hen's beak her mind doth speak , ( or ) the face without shewes what 's within . an old man is sick , death ensueth . shake a row like a reed . a short sword a fools supersedeas . once steal ever stayed , make much of a steer , when the rest is stolne . fall hard and clean , not on fowle clay . death falls the rich in the ridge . strange ! a cock tied in a cowes tine . goods long tried , not to be trusted . hasty , yet wise and wary . though day be long night comes at last . what is nine dayes kept close , nine moneths discloseth . eat with a lords son , play not with his lordship . as long as the cart calls it carries . all ought to plead for the plow. the colt stout as the stallion . a greedy gut would all get . old wives medicines , sins . the hand finds , where it feels . be a friend to the free . contemporaries , good and gaudy . the rich man sells , the poor man seals . the heart and pate , in plots copartners . confession free . wranglers , brats and brawlers . mans years as iron . as easie as the mouse trips in the trap . as soon doth the lambs skin as the sheeps skin march to the market . a plea after judgement . the old if not fond , offend not . at ●ome the churle keeps the chair . see the begger looks big . the kil●● sooner burns then the barn . a wa●c●man hies to stand on high . as good not stir as ride on a staff . as good the penny as the penny worth . he and she single may associate . contend about fare , at length fast . advise a lout too late . unlucky wags long for wars . youth loves to go hence , then longs to come home . play not such in a satchel . play and grieve not , jest and disgrace not . the dog playes a while with the whelp . so do●h the sow with the pig also . the naked plaies now , the hungry playes not . i plaid now a game , i had well nigh forgot . cold laughing lies under ice . february ●●ging , never stints stinging . wine is sweet , till the ●eckoning greet . a churles feast is sweeter , to make up the meeter . whe●e lovers like they laugh . the fool never droops , but laughs though he drowns . prayse innate to nature . never cease searching . good for the wealthy to want sometimes . good that the teeth guard the tongue . pleading after judgement . the mountain fumes , a mouse comes forth . 't is well god sends curst kine short horns . the spit and meat well met . him good man call that pleaseth all . good what 's musty , from bad pay-masters . set the dog upon the hog . keep house while thou canst . give over when thou canst not . all faults if unfortunate . a stranger they say , blind on his way . every chase , chance . set dogs upon doegs . give a churle an inch , he will take an ell . folly to teach tutors . shew heavens seat to sinners . shew the calf but not the curds . two hungry meals belike , makes the third gorbelize . have great care , in works curious . stand to thy wayes , wave wavering . mans wrong remembred long . god is good , everlasting , long patient . good the sword , with the word . mishaps in haps , happy . happy state loves high esteem . the lord is great , freely gives grace . he is happy sure , who is loved when seen . rough is not easily wrought . in capite , is love the best tenure . once begun , half done . half the way to know the way . faiths best hold in the heart . carriage carries the respect . beauty is clear in good clothes . the best pedigree , school degree . learning bald , if not bold . half way rod , when ready . towns keep their chairs , maintain their charter . lest musick erre , give ear . no gift well , without good will. a jealous eye doth prophecy . choose yoak for ox , or ax. choose foul hag , of both foul hogs . when all 's done , go dine . ever a churl voids his chamber . happy son that 's void of sin . the poor man flee's , ●he rich man fley's . the foul frog dies under ice . god arms the harmless . a friend , a fiend if offended . never loose if sedulous . one god , enough for one good . too much musick proves tedious . fy , enough of figs. a little play enough to please . ill favour'd , ill fam'd . each bird 't is said loves to hear himself sing . fetch the people from the piper . grief looks sleepy , and be slubber'd . care keeps the wise awake . good cloths and closest . a young swaggerer , an old begger . an old man neate newes . a town faithless , foul and falls . pawse and let the water pass . the bitter slanders his betters . the industrious strives to stand both by sea and by land . a knave le ts pass peace . not espied despised . long without meal or meat . a madmans stroke sad and sudden . the end of the old is to keep sheep in the fold . more carefull then the wolfe , for my own : ( or ) if thou wouldst not misse thy own message . a mad puppy meets thorns in his pap . all prone to promise . put thy hand upon thy heart . lend to the poor , late thou wilt be paid . a seholler may be gulld thrice , a souldier owl'd but once . for wise he may pass , that can hold his peace . on all things by all means measure . heart of cares hardly cured . long comes at last . the deére may pay double . wary to set , wise to sell twice swear pay dear . a bad guest admitted makes something missed . a bad court where none come , ( or ) a court void unless invited . were all knowe , most are knaves . that sin is foul that spreads fame . bad to care no more then for to morrow . a ●ad one , as another . the devil a most bad master . bad is bad , worse worst of all . that path's poore , but once trod o're . bad servant bad , worse if none had . stark naught , that 's not worth asking . that office is servile , that 's not worth the serving . thy neighbour as thy self , see . do it good , or do it again . each wild wanton . a bawble in the hand of a booby . wanton pranks seldom prosper . god will feed the simple . man doth say , god doth send . heaven's mine , if god doth say , amen . gods power , rights the poor . woe frog , ware frost . loose t●y sence that will not see . a frantick pate , loseth his part . all ought long for art and learning . god ever sends in season . the dayes are bad , god send better . to persecute odd , and odious . no joy in a gaole . grievous to leave , whom i love . a surety owes , and not owes . begg of the free , until a frey . the old playes with the owle . a foul abuse long abides . much liquor makes eloquent . to and fro , all out of frame . teach the wise with gentle strains , teach the wild with stripes . teach an old horse to pace home . to speak that , he knows not what . a cruel friend , death 's his end . marry ●ere home , malice far hence . give god the first fruits free . if april swell , ware swine . a churle rue's , that he was royal . womens vowes double and vain . scapes scrapes together . the old cat knowes what to make of milk . the secrets now seen and nois'd . the dog shall yet see summer . have at the curds , be chary of the cheese . i know when i goe , but not when i come again . the cat knowes and licks whom she likes . each mans worth is praised by his works . the cat would have fish , but not wet her feet . open thy bag to receive a pig . the world is a wide parish . the fool doth lift his hand full swift . a good aunt , almost a mother . spare thy fist , spare not thy foot . a suit , where lov'd not lost . if not loved spare thy labour . without power poore . wary that takes warning , not wary beware . a man dreads what he dreams . there neeeds no battery upon an open butterey . a maide crack'd , adieu credit . the hand and foot felltws . where akinne there call . one to a hundred , a hundred to one . great loaves empty barns . trot hag to the mill , if thou wouldst have meal . name without fam● . the swinehaerd swayes over swine . a bad race , drawes great disgrace . a heart that fears , protracts the field . to strike is bad when none do bid . be it peace or be it war , the dead bee doth little care . the busie brat sculks abroad . the easiest thing , to do nothing . all horn , no ear at all . a servants friendship froath . a lowse ne're loved . the poore though wise a vvittall , ( or ) all that faile fools . a far way for forreigners . saint faglans way to heaven winds . the bee hath a fine way to her hive , as the other to heaven . fly from bad land , but not from a bad lord. refuse a wife with one fault , and take one with two . l●st , the worst night last . a poor vertue to upbraid poverty . ill speak , ill speed . a stormie wife an evill stench , ( or ) her crooked words doe crash winde . a womans words though vile , must prevail . if a woman stirs , expect a storm . a mans word out of a castle is strong . sugred kisses divulge secrets . a mans own means his enemies . let go the bad to the good mans barn . lambs words , wolves works . a gift not show , 'twixt hand and sleeve . in church appear after a peal . a truant nere speaks truth . a lion once , but now ancient . a hearth without fire ill favoured . hasty pranks seldome prosper . rash vowes known vain . an easie civility to salute . a hasty fool ever faulty . the poor ever trips on troubles . over warnd ever forgets his errand . ever the gaunt nimbly goes . the gross sometim●s goes fast . in time the child becomes a giant . well goes the case , where wisdom counsels . wicked peers ever perish . the poor is sure cast in his suit . a womans double negative , is a single affirm live . usual to flaunt and fly . a wanton lass commonly laughs . where a cross is reard we commonly rest . secrecy shu● , that endeth in shame ( or ) ware vent●r tickles in conventicles . drinking over much , ever mads . the wine in a feast , first fits the founder . stollen at length , comes to light . the vile ever a villain . none so stout but have their stains . fat easily sould out of a fat soil . too much care usually miscarries . a wanton soul insolent . small blades full quick becomes a rick . enson comes when the bell calls . noble guests , nobly give . love too hot , turns to hate . a lovers part , comely port . some of esteem , if strange simple seem . noble minded , modest ; ( or ) speak lesse , speak learned . dry over head happy . after running stay and stand . others distress , thy destruction . after sin long sorrow . fear dooms damage . after showres phoebus shines . ioind souldiers assault . no rain no rushes . ware the alehouse prey , but not to pay . seek milk and feed the cowes mouth . man deliberates , god delivers . he scorns the meat , and yet doth eat . where is no kill , alike scholars . a dream by daylight lightsome . god disposeth of the despised . man is appeased by men of peace . all look on whom they like . a lovely look liberal . a modest look beloved . the masters eye-bals feeds the beasts belly . the day is long , yet ends at last . abuse got , best forget ( or ) the best abuse in battel . mans best candle understanding . of any slow , best is the plow. the lazy deludes , best pleads delay . the best part in man , to have good manners . practice of goods the best goodness . repent some day , thou hast sold dear . good none are without good name . my mother had rather be killed , then miscalled . the wrong side best of a furrow by far . the best surgeon is he of the soul. silver famine most ravenous . a false report rides poast . a small gift grea● , if discreet . the best of clothes is a cloak . the best play that ends pleasant . speak the dog fair , till thou pass the fold . curs to each other currish . frighted young , great wrong . trot too oft makes the steed stand . a journey not far easily performed . deep lies the hearts language . woe to the man who dines on rotten sheep after rain . hop hip to hip , woe is his hap , that nothing hath in lip or lap . that master hath small cause to sport , when his old servant calls to court. inward disgrace doth grate . disgrace a let , be it ●re so little . woe him that god allowes and not believes . woe to him who loves , and is not beloved . young of bad fame , ever ill name . never do good to a lazy gull . thy bord oft see , nere the better be . no court favour , a case ill favour'd . bloudy and foule , known by his fall . woe nonage that longs for dotage . woe the mule , sees not the master . a bad report no scurvier part . woe lurdans help in harvest , wars civil , most savage , ( or ) none worse to fight ▪ then a carpet knight . the worst store , a maid unbestowed . one wolf lame , worse then two lustie . willmots tale worse and worse told . wild goat , wilder doth get . dogs run their course , but worse and worse . that one is bad , makes hundreds sad . woe man ! hath bad woman . a house without son sad . done what 's by night , day brings to light . vide cywala . white hairs and gray are pilgrimes . water gives place , throw in what thou please . wounds and blood wanton play . vide chwarae , &c. strive who is strongest . others kine ne're think they are thine . vide chawreuid , &c. a servant that doth please , nere wants a place . a good servant is his lords shield and should . the easiest work and way , is to beware . a servant , and subservant to a piper , viz. a puppy . haste to the hive , ere the bees depart , ( or ) manly and bold though a boy . on the nights work , the day descants . sip after the sound . a trade love without largess . love good parts without patience . play fortunes game to the last gasp . wounds green do grieve . see two for one . he sees his ear with his eye . better free , then miser be . better courteous , then curtal . better in a coach with the courteous , then in the fire with the furious . better want the maine , then want the mountain . sooner exiles from groves , then exits from graves . better lie in grave , then live in grief . better borrow then beg . better the poor mans prayer , then the preying of the mightie . better end of dee , then basest of bucks . better every mans good speech then spight . better bonny , then base . better beast ▪ barren and few then none in fold . better something in purse then nothing in poak . better stay then stumble . better sit a while , then stand a while . better live and do , then ly dead . better keep now , then seek anon . better lose a pin , then lose a penny . better dy one then dy all , ( or ) better dy one in a hundred , then a hundred for one . better a kinsman near , then i know not where . better a friend in court , then penny in purse . better penny in silver , then any brother . a songs life , the delivery . better never stand then ly still . better rags and patches then rents and breaches . better cookdom , then kingdom . better trade then traffick . better lean whole , then fat unwholsom . better churl present , then charitable absent . an aged mans counsel best kept uncancelled . better art then experience . better lod●e a ranter , t●en a robber . better play faire then fight . better a bungling ●arpenter then bad smith . better god then gold . better hope in god then despair of good hap . god best priz'd , when most prais'd . bette● gods arm then earths army . the cooks hand 's smooth , the laundress smarts . better the artificers head , then hand . better a mean , then too much . better scourge the man , that will not mend . better man to see , then phantasie . better looke on a man shiting on a turf , then hewing of a tree . better a beast sold , then bought . better sit on straw then on the floor . better lord not enter , then entertain . a woman loves to gad , more then her own good . better sing late , then antedate . better shame avoid , then revenge . better patient , then passionate . better deaths shade then live in shame . better meanly rich then too much . better mouth spare then mouth spend . better woe one , then woe all . better a kinsmans back , then a strangers beck . a woman guest is ever best . better sorrowful sparing , then shameful spending . better come sometimes , then never return . better truly , then ly . better one man , then many . better a man , then means . respect a man , he will do the more . a woman commend , rather then command . better half seed , then half summer , or half sowen . better an action of debt , then of death . better prudence then oppression . better long unmarried then for ever mard . better mannours , then manners . better the harm i know , then that i know not . the cat and mouse love no removes . better go beg with a small bag . better a mean match then an over-match . better a rough stone that saveth , then a smooth stone that deceiveth me . better an able and rich mother , then a noble and wretched father . better sell then buy by far . better die once then languish long . better dy then waste and want . better shame veyld then reveald . better mite of man then mountain of woman . better hand have , then gaffer give . better nay , then to betray . two old stronger then one younger . better a finch in fist , then a pheasant in field . better trust a tree , then a tel-tale . better wise then wealthy . better for fear , then for fair words . better bear then beat . better snarl , then sneak . better wit , then wealth . better silent , then sawcy . better muck meade , then make merry . better crushd , then cruel . better one welcome then two invitations . better one securer , then two persecutors . better one good sty , then two bad stables . the beetle strikes once better home , then twice the hammer . better one word in time , then afterwards two . better give now , then come anon . better till beard , then forwards to beer . have much , have more . little and good blest , much and bad not best . better something hid , then nothing had . better fac'd then fed . better run in the bog , then rush into the battle . many faggots , good fire , one stick cold as stone . a rope is strong , a maid drawes stronger . better the rod that bends , then breaks . better to be plucked then flaid . better a horse with a full crest , then full cratch . rare and precious , richly prised . sell the sow and buy bacon . my own mouth saith , i 'me a saint . do good , deserve gold . for ill do well , then fear not hell . a liberal hand wins hearts . multiply mischiefs . some old wife will dy here , or elsewhere . where is no love , no liking . each man seen in summer . each court hath its anti-court . refuse a bidding , and go look for lodging . what thou seest thou maist say . a widows goods will soon be gone . a heart will break e're long with longing . command a son , he will not be gone . send a crow to look for land . drive the stake that goes and stands . love commands commends . down now with the wasps nest . courteous and curtal ( or ) free , but afraid . free and large on countries charge . spare no cost when all is lost . 'till new year sweat , 'till may no heat . a curst cat must have her nails cut . well fares the dog , when the other dies . at the pissing of the wren , the sea doth roar . if wood appear , sure house is near . a feasts best chear chearfulness . be bold and hope , god sends good hap . if new , good and gawdy . in ianuary though sun appear , march and february pay home full dear . where lovers be , there all agree . an old hearth soon heats . 'twixt false and desirous soon decided . on him thou lovest call aloud . easie to swim well near the willow . easie so make a weakling weep . easie so make the stout stalk . easie to defeat a fool . a scabby head soon let bloud . boldly soak by thy beds side . easie to wound the weak . easie to fret the frantick . fifteen is easie told . a short sword easily drawn . better treat far off , then near hand . better climb by a good deal , then clamber and go down . easier to say much , then do more . easier done at evening then early . easier to make a faulcon of a kite , then a knight of a knave . a house easier burnt then built . easier to cosen a roung truant , then an old trot . old sin renews the shame . easie to bear with an old body . long bargains seldom gains . the poor mans tale long a telling . long to dy never have done . still , i nere no , at length saith nay . long sit , do nothing but say . an eye that longs throughly looks . all by ease drinks all he hath . long thrid in needle , proclaims a huswife idle . a churles tale long , be it right or wrong . long grief yields no relief . the hungries care , longs for corn . the time slips , while man long sleeps . a thief long holds , at length hangs . long a droan , at length drown . long ly , at length dy . every delay long . meat for a knight , never a knife . heavy and stout care not to stand . long a widow weds with shame long patience , breaks into passion . 〈◊〉 a ●air in a wolfs tail a long toil . bloud and wrong lasts long . a bad husbands oxe , long before it be a bullock . a bitter bit long a biting . a little stallion will be long calld a colt . the blind at the deafs door may die . 't is long i trow to stand in a tree . his goods a man loves as long as he lives . mans life is fil'd by his foe . sweet butter from good fields . the needy skips if he may score . each bird loves to hear himself sing . each thinks his own fi lt fair . the clown loves his club . the chi●ds meat soon snatched from his mouth . a sow from each salt pot . late and lazy never wealthy . fame out-lives lands . t●e black calf a blunt courtier . fame out-lives life . god stayes long , but strikes at last . the poor trusts to his neighbour . the clown a lord on his own land . spare not to cry where houses are ●igh . every look is lovely , when thou likest . w●ile thou live , be not lazy . no day fails the pot on fire . all on their wakes , wantons . all would fight , till they come to the field . nere condole a cheerful cheek . the young may prance and prate . every soul ought to keep it self . annoint grease . annoint a sowes tail with tallow . down the road the water runs . hands and feet with veins filled . make the sole fit to the foot . a great stone makes a huge stir . a quarrelsome hand at last wearies the wearer . the swineherd playes when the wind blows . a hand quick and quaint . the fathers share a good hold for the sons hand . a clean hand is happy . many hands make light work . many one leads a hungry life , and yet must needs wed a wife . many sued , one sues . who covets much still wants more . friends onely in show , fie for shame ( or ) faire tailes fine turds . words , wind and away . many bid fair for foul . many have tales better untold . some for hunger like to die , yet keep their dogge for company . much water passeth by , the miller knoweth not when nor why . all live now , none say enough . fair in shew , but full of shame ; poore in sight , but pure in soul. a full earle to roast a collop . perjury kills kings , ( or ) perjury killeth whereever it calleth . where the pain is , the finger points . where love is , the place doth please . a frantick fool kills his fellow . the foord in wading groweth more wide , ( or ) a foord more room affords . kill the ramm that doth not runt . in winter draw a lesser draught . no learning no blessing , ( or ) no care no carriage . where the horse tumbles to sport himself , he leavet part of himself . the antimonial cup a general cure . on turd tread , the more it will spread , ( or ) turd stamp the more it stinks . who is not full , may eat his fill . luxury devours . he is all faults whom none favours . w●en floods ye see , the rain will cease . merry is a lout on his mistress lap . when the ca●'s from home the mice keep house . a coward kills his companion . poor and bare will still appear , till some do say thou come not here . poor grass where sheep cannot graze . wild and gray nere agree . ancient and grave and gray . the market is sure where there is an old senior . no man scorns to bear his skin . the dog licks the spear that did him the spight . gods eye is upon his own . a curious eye in a curres head . each ache is greatest at first . here the field , and here the hare . the boy being a man remembers . a youth untaught a house until'd . make the owl stand with a stone . the finest wheat hath its refuse . topsie turvie . feed a lowse in thy bosome , it will sometimes be busie . a blustring cold may , in the barn fills every bay . as light of wing as hawk or wind . money in thrall goeth through , ( or ) money beareth the charge of a journey . a hunted hare is venison . as a durty dog . as stiff as a drabs distaff . as dogs gape after goats . as the blind stands and casts his staff . as two tinkers . as a churle having a charge . as a bird on the bough . as a pat upon the pate . as march snow stands on stone . as howell goronwy's staff . as work of worth . as bulke some stands , as ketti's stone . as an eye in the head . as a mill pond d●ained dry . as hony thaw lickd of thorns . as a kidd from the high hills . as a shovel dipt in doung . as a warrant to wemm . as a hooke drawn through bushels . as an egg slips on a sledge . as the cow so the calf . as the man said or sung . as thou art prone to be praysed . as the hog and hound . as the dog when the fire burns his foot . as the dogs to the hogs . as the penurious for the penny . as the cat falls to fish . as the hair escapes the razing razour . as the iury turned out . as the hen with dung in , and egg out . as flax standing on stone . as the fox bites the be ry . as the frog frets under the harrow . as the mouse clos'd in the cats clawes . as hogs beat for beans . as fish for wet and water . as the ape whines for her whelp . as the crane likes his legs . as the thrum about the beam . as the bark trusses the tree . as the sow hackd with hatcher . as the deer and wolf. as the bolt from the bow . as fire flies in flax . as the fire heats the hearth . as door on hook doth turn full oft , so sluggard turns in down bed soft . lusty dame , makes lazy daughter . a pigmey mother , her race disgraceth . modest grace , makes great . the best steed stumbles . a horse sees the hay , sees not the hedge . a mule for a mome , a cur for an epicure . command a castle , and be costly . march flings , april fleyes . misfortunes come by forties . let ill will have little wealth . the cook is disliked that his fingers cannot lick . that mouse condole who hath but one hole . single long , shame at length . iune if sunny , brings harvest early . honey staind with a sting . the poor mans grist , is his bag . the finger sleighted till 't is burned . good words ( or a fray ) of my friend . the nearer the bone , the sweeter the flesh . sweet and good , give again . sweet appears sowre when we pay . i know my game though i cannot gain . though of my mother i had all , i cannot wait her funerall . the duck● soon learn to swim . every nation us own fashion . praise the fo●rd , as cause thou find . after death decl●mation . a lass with a lad in lap . a b●sh●ul du●ce , dombe . man and woman quaint and coy . no more then a hand mill . more then one cur did ba●t and bite me . bad is the wolf , the porredge far worse . no more then the go●t ash●med to shew her tail . no more be , then a tennis ball . no more then the saddle for the sow . no more ●hen the quaile rests in the ridge . fill the sieve at the river side . to do without need as good as neglect . the bulls reign is the sheeps ruine . a ba● shepherd views oft in vain . o●r 〈◊〉 oft shew our shames . no worse for the sole , then the shoe . for once or twice neesing , from death no escaping . be not so wild to lose the old way , for new pranks now i pray . never believe thy sister in law. square not thy feast by the rule of thy guest . have a care thou wake not a sleeping mast if . wa●e cutting thy swi●e , lest they swell . sleight not the meanest minister . make no statute of a mans stature . better a good dog , then a bad doeg . some neighbour nigh , an enemy . thy wife if wise , must not partake thy privities . nor stir , nor strive , unless struck . nere betray reposed trust . in chamber long , , at length chamberlain . be not too ready when thou maist be spared . beat a coward oft , thou wilt find he will fight . either a fox , or a fern bush . save god , none wise . the nature of the sow in the suckling . the stone swims best to the bottom . sell with skill when scant . fools refuse favours . a rulers errand free and currant . next to next annexed . neerer skin , then skirt . neerer me then my maw . the cry i tell , comes nearer the town . the elbow near , the wrist nearer . each dry place , a palace . get a son , he will help thee soon . the cal● would fain be a cow . change and pick pikemen . change hats and habits . a fool will not be foild . nor the cholerick be beloved . no man can beyond his kenn . two bigs will not go in one bag . no vessel filled beyond brimfull . not son in law till consummated love . none term'd right , unless turn'd rich . not guilty full , till one confess . never make totall of a title . soul never fear , if not faulty . though a whole year thou dost woo , thou knowst not yet what best to do . a gift oft sought , nor thanked , nor bought . a courtesie noi understood , where one foresees not his own good . love slack , where sleighted . a sad sigh , speaks tears nigh . a woman bad , conveighs her bag . whom god will , not wealthy . the saint will not chew cheese . internals say , we nere grow gray . iealousie not long lived . delay is no dismission . no mans mind moulders . nought to gather , worse then wind and weather . he means not to kill and confess . embassadors harms , against the law of arms. though lewd , yet lucky . though blest , yet bloudy . a good friend never offends . blest will not serve , unless thou deserve . an idle dame empty dayry . deny thy riches , be wretched . the honycomb , bad for cock . the wickeds race never rise . seldom rise unless first ruined . to change never proffer , but for thy profit . lost repute , late repair'd . slow ( o god ) wil never do good . cowardize never scapes death . be ever close , yet ware a clap . ignoble persons imperfect . a sigh , a sign of misery . a cat seldom hangs in a halter . an ode endures but a year . none sends the poor fare from afarr . not much between the apple i trow , & the apple tree . the quick and free never delay the poor mans fee. fat meat sure , cannot still endure . so proud he is , that he deigns not to piss . never buy a cat in a bag . scarse ought due to the dumb . no more esteemed then a wodden stone . all look on a bad leap . a flout sticks not long on a lord. the black ox did not tread on thy foot . an egg may chance choak . a messenger poor , and to no purpose . whoredome here doomd . debt never melts that still remains . submit to a lord , not to a lurda●e . never again have such a bolt in hand . arthur could not tame womans tongue . nere side without considering ( or ) no man shruggeth in his shrowd . in market growes no grass nor grain . i 'le never thorn draw from others foot , and having pulld it in mine own put . head never weary with speaking wisely . a vessel will not break that is not filled to the brim . i never saw a deer leap luckily . the more displeased with his father at home , the more pleased in ●is father in laws house . no clean linnen , no cleanliness . the mouse will not nestle in the cats ear . the sea can but drench and drown . of the well we see no want , till either dry , or water skant . the dog will not bite , for being struck with a bone. hot in bloud , himself never blames . all a man seeth is not his sustenance . no man kens anothers case . keep still at home , never knowledge have . easie counted easie , till thought easie becometh uneasie . not see , not know , not learn , nor lout . fear not feared , nor bard , till bought . for wit never look without the book . the full sow regards not what the empty saith . the hen next the cock , knows it not . long tarry , tane tardy . the law frees franticks . a lord offers faire , none go further . a word gone neve recalled . what god made he never marr's . harm soon got , not so gone . nere fear curse if no cause . a tale once told nere returns . achilles tried , impenetrate . he speaks awry and not down right , ( or ) 't is naked truth shames the youth . fields got , seldom forgot . perjurd souls , harm not saints . the post rides not the fool , but the fool rides the post . not each that runs gets the race . nere go to sea , till thou learn what to say . the plow never runs races . no surety for a shilling . lend no man , new spick and span . nor bundle nor burden . strange dishes antick , makes men frantick . not shut hole fast on fox . the priest forgets clean he was a clerk. who fasts though rich is wretched . keep a huge coyle , or nothing can ( or ) speaketh loudest , doth least . the crow they say , cannot sing . sleep , pain and care seldom concur . as good want breath as want brother . foul play to plunder . none but fools will jest with water , fire and furious tools . too much is stark naught . not happy doomd without wisedom . scarce meat , where nought remains . lazy and lubberly . none without fault yet ever found . no bad lord , but by his servants bad leading . good advice , abandons vice . wives shrowes , make husbands shrewd . the gift if free , never censure it . never dance in the dark . man thrives not by his own device , but fortune favours in a trice . it is not he , feeds us think we . it is not he , but thou thy self destroyeth thee . he nought receives , we all do seek . the time i miss , but 't is not this . deny thy goods , deny thy god , ( or ) denied goods are not gods. the good man waves war. where nought at all , who can be liberal ? taste the meat , perhaps you will eat . old cyrrys bids change but to chary . no blow right that falls awry . maldraeth will not own owen . a taske hard to serve on hire . a strangers voice , against a brittain voice , ( or ) brittains none call new comers . the furious fights and chafes , as well as the champion . no shame , but prayse to improve . the bed cold , till the wife calld . never fancy beyond sufficient . too much and too little alike . the thief and supporter equally parties . the shamefast , may fast . not a man , but a meacock . hard to let bloud with a leek blade . hard to blow the fire well , with thy mouth filled with meal . give twice one maid too much . a hard thing to steal of a thief . hard to strain a marrow-pie from a poet. hard to make right , wrong . wooll is never taken from a goats taile . never well do till well dy . a dream makes not a young man. the more perfect the less painful . as easily disgraced , as graced . no ruler good , save god. man 's not as currant as good gold . the more thou look for , the less beloved . nor ben nor bess , the dog did eat meat and mess. he is not bald that stayes for hair . the cuckoe hath nothing to do , but the same to say and sing too . difference 'twixt a major and a monk. not said gone , that comes again . no speed without steed . not cheap said till made sure . not sleek till slander'd ( or ) not glorious till eclipsed . it is not corporeal , makes gnats venereal . hell though ardent wants but order . nothing so awry as dividing wrong . misery cannot shun shame . his need so great , hath not nails to scrape . almes holy dayes heraulds ( or ) let almes be close , not proclaimd . none found without fault . nought in tune , but as is taken . all gifts plead during pleasure . never clear a bad client . no blush in a face deform'd . a prophet of small account in his own countrey . no need of a bell on a mad mans belt . you need not set dogs on doegs . a fortunate boor , needs but be born . no fire without fuel . none so neat as neâst . express no anger to thy mother . a lords honour not hereditary . the black hair and white , the same weight . to fox he fox , no foxing . ill and well note two natures . orl and priz●t are not like natur'd . the fool and wise differ alwayes . 't is not beauty makes women amiable . 't is not by the bill the woodcock must be bought . praise a fair day neither morn or noon , but at night . call not every matron , mother . t●e world about is but a ball . t●e mad doth not care for the meek . rome was not done in one day . needy poor and noddy pate , never part . twixt fury and force no divorce . love in shew doth pass over shame . pimps and bawds hate those of their trades . proud men care not to meet . the hand is the treasure of the heart . a high feast , the hens farewel . bents are known to have knots . british philosophicall extracts . learn not , and know not . hear not , and learn not . none hear well , but the studious . none studious , but the happy . none happy , but that is loved . none loved by god , but the good . none good be , but the obedient . none obedient , but the silent . none silent , but the patient . none patient , but the wise . none wise , but the conscientious . none conscientious , but the righteous . none righteous , but the mindful . none mindful , but the loving . none loving , but the melodious . none melodious , but the fairspoken . no speech good , but of god. other sayings , not unworthy the consideration . no advice , to the fathers . no prayer , to the mothers . no tenderness , to the sisters . r no strength to the brothers . not powerful , but in cousins . not gentle , but in kinsmen . nr gallantry , to the sword . no protection , to the target . no confidence , to the bowe 's . no battel , to the spear-men . no danger , to the dagger . no house , without a husband . no fire , without a block . no bed , without a wife . no folly , to love. no poverty , to sickness . no foolery , te falling out . no wretchedness , to idleness . mo madness , to drunkenness . no wisedom , to silence . no sloth , to sinking . no sinking , to sin . no sin , to temptation . no poverty , to obstinacy . no riches , to sobriety . no heat , to the suns . no cold , to the moons . no number , to the stars . no swiftness , to the wind. no glory , to unity . no health , to wealth . no plunder , to the winds . no sadness , to death . no ioy , to heavens . no ugliness , to hell . no mirth good , but with god. no ingeniousness , to mirth . no misery , to sadness . none happy , but harmless . none harmless , but sinless . none sinless , but saints . none saints , but the simple . none simple , but the innocent . no jugling , to youthfulness . no youths sport , but for a short space . no deceit , to the worlds . no sadness , to want . no plenty , if not enough . no rarity , where still plenty . no jugling , to the feminine gender . no sport , to the greyhound , no comfort , to a horse . no pleasure to a hawke . not feared , but abhorred , ( or ) hated . not hated , without cause . none patient but the wise . the wise strain , never strive . no wanton , to a we●ch . none lovely , but the lowly . no villain to the churle . no churle , to the bumkin . no bumkin , to the currish . no cur to the clown . no clown but by custome , ( or ) kind . no loveliness to the lowly . none lowly , but the merciful . none merciful , but the righteous . no horseman without lance . no footman , without bow . no covetousness to mans . no negligence to the magistrates . no fidelity , to the dogs . no sweetnes● , to sin . no sowreness , to penance . no trust to a friends . no joy , to an heir . no cleanliness , to a fish. no secrets but between two . not see , not know . not seek , not find . not know , not expert . not wise fool , if forgetful . no wit , no learning . no flattery , to a maids . none more prattle , then the idle . no venome , to the cats . no fierceness , to the dogs . no tyranny to the lions . no tricks , to the apes . no fraud , to the foxes . no policy , to the hares . no sagacity , to the hounds . no gravity , to the gray's . no foulness , to the fichocks . no niceness , to the martens . no nimbleness to the squirrils . no slowness , to the otters . no sleep , to the dormouse . no ugliness , to the batts . no haughtiness , to the hart. no stateliness , to the steeds . no mildness , to the oxe . no ill brood , to the brute , no innocence , to the sheep . no herbalist to the goat . no durtiness , to the buck. no pink , to the peacock . no presumption , to the threstle . no melody , to the nightingale . no pride , to the swan . no neatness , to the pianet . no jolliness , to the wren . no house-keeper , to the cock. no lavishness , to the hens . no fool , to the goose. no champion to the mountain-cock . no kindness , to the cuckoes . no sculking , to the wood-cocks . no leachery , to the sparrow's . no pecus , to the gander . no glutton , to the cormorant . no monster , to the hern. no violence , to fire . no hinderance , to water . no lightness , to aire . no weight . to earth . none stout , but he that stands . no valiantness to mans . no mettle found , but in him that fights . no fear , to him that flies . no coward , to him that couches . no infinity , to nothing . nothing good , but god. more of the like . the eagles strength in his beak . the unicorns strength in his horn . the serpents strength in its sting . the rams strength in his head . the bears strength in his paws . the bulls strength in his breast . the dogs strength in his tooth . the boars strength in his bristles . the quists strength in her wings . the lions strength in his tail . a womans strength in her tongue . for the mothers sake , kiss the son . confession the greatest glory . let the wind be where it will. somewhere rain , it stirreth still . of all heavies old age heaviest . of mickle comes much . if the shepherd sing , the whole house will ring . bear the worst behind , let him go and be hang'd . no higher toe , nor heel i trow . love where not beloved , is love lost . woe men , that they had not been women . above too long , short below . few know to hold the plow . many ask , few can answer . thy face hardly keep , be thou ever so curious . seldom blow without bloud . seldom best , unforbid . seldom outlawes laborious . an honest soul excells . seldom faire , but hath his fault . seldom promis'd performd . seldom good event , without venture . among a hundred fools scarce one good fellow . if we come , we come . if we come for fourteen , we will come for fifteen . scarce the man makes not for means . a stranger abroad , had need of strength of brain . bees are catch'd with catches . wet is cold , need not be coold . blood cries and calls , although it cools . by hair and hair , head bald and bare . from seas , hills and strands , from rivers , depths , sands , god sends to the fortunate riches and lands . all sacrifice in the heart fixed . a small berry in an old belly sowes . a man void of harm , speaks from the heart . forbear debt long , forget at last . hair and hair culled , makes the horse cutted . by little and little , the pottage-pot drawn dry . if the cat kills a mouse she makes a dainty mess. if thou wouldst take the roe buck , nimbly leap , or no good luck . if thou be a stranger be merry , and give the first good morrow . if thou be not strong set , be subtile . if thou hast not leeks , take what thou likest . not sow , not reap . if not a horse , 't is more , a mare . of both bad , the least best . if great a monster , if little a mandrake . from sunday to sunday , the maid becomes a matron . what makes the kite to pry ? the prey . why doth the dog lick the pan ? because he cannot eat the pie . where in the churn mill lies the buttermilk ? when one treads upon thee , draw thy foot to thee . when the blind leads the blind , both are down in the ditch . when the bullock leads , the oxe loiters . when thieves squabble true men hear of their cattle . when the season of the year is come , the goat sleeps on the bucks bum . when man is down and low , god doth enlarge . when the oxe is lean , he is best for labour . when the lark's upon his seat , the hobby then makes bold to bait . when the game is at best , best leave . have mi hi , and lose mi ha . revenge from heaven , heavy . when all sleep and delay , god sleeps not , but delivers . when the kerne's turn'd out of doore , they feign that he was mad before . the cat scarce climbes , when you cut her clawes . all hunt for honour . presume for favours , near thy father . all cry fie on the fool . each one tells a faire tale . each doth catch at his cow. every one layes on . if toung should tell what hovels hold , neighbours would scarce do ought but scold . when the cat is at home , the mouse keeps hole . a bucks head on a hare 's . the head worth a pound , the tail half a penny . the owner of the work , the master work-man . each man lords where he is belov'd . civil demeanour , though to the meanest . no wizard compleat , eats stinking meat . pill the egg round , ere rosted . whatever is strong , in the end is destroyed , ( or ) sampsons eyes at length put out . like after like , look . prophesies never fail to be fulfill'd . proverbs approved , likely hoods l●es . the wedge by degrees , cleaves through the trees . birds meet , each knows his ma●e . every coast peculiar customes . each path in a dingle , run one way to mingle . every coward , a cow. all do and say in season . all wrong comes to wrack . the deeper the sea , the better for the ship . the older the welchman , the more mad man , the older the rie the sooner reapt . the more thou longest , the more thy lets . the greater the sight , the greater the victory . the more the tide flowes , the more the ebb flinche● . streight string playes rex , but soon it breaks ▪ in wood a tree , whose will it be . buy old geere , buy again . buy flesh ere fleighed . without wife , without strife . wisdom bears the bell . fish before the net . a candle wasts not for cold . let no hire go out of the house . a hungry man waves manners . the hen forelooks before she layes . the poor doth fear an after fall . an idle dame should have somthing to do . patience must countermand passion . creep soft , ere go sure . the third part , a poor part . the colt resembles the sire . the meanest in the house hath small share of the hen. share between back and belly . a cart dances downwards . stone never stayes 'till placed on plain . rarities makes wantonize . the broakers fall , breeds many fello●s . secrets twixt three multiplie and thrive . give and tell a childs good turn . more performd then promised . i for gave away his cap. the men of ergings gift . what to old men thou give , thou wil● never regain . put the cart before the horse . hide the beetle under a holly-bush . a dog leaps unlookd . a bull mounts up the mountain . a nurse insults and assaults . between two stools the taile tumbles . little mischief too much . not hard to do easily done . a fearfull don , cries hold the dog . forewarnd happy and armd . offer too fair , pay for the folly . some desires foul and faulty . some sin incestuous . too streight breaks , though strong . too full ever runs over . the higher the fool , the greater the fall . a foe soon seen . the covetous spies through a perspective . some odd ones become odious . little and scarce is dear and scant . the buck-kid leaps by kind . who kills discovers . disgrace though conceald , not safe . the shepherd is oft the wolf . blindness foreseen seven years . a long tale with a seven-lockd boy , speaks tomboy . vvhat is safe , is safest . ieffreys is the helve , and ieffreys the hatchet . god mock with a dead monk. talke of lammas when 't is christmass . every lout lazy . make clean for shame the plough-share . fly and be gone speaks guilty . tables to play , taverns to talk . a tongue bad breaks bones , ( or ) a bad tongue turbulent . a golden tongue guides a tale . believe no tales from an enemies tongue . over-loaded well rewarded . the silent chews most mischief . as like as a sack to a sadle . as like as a hogs cheek to a chalice . vvithout fault perfect and fair , every one well featur'd and fair . fire seen alwayes seasonable . a wanton wench bids thrice farewel . vvanton lasses many lessons . pay after sway and forswear . vvho ends and wins takes the wager . tell now much and have no more . the steed sterves while the grass grows . vvhile the dog tires in the field , the hare takes the fallel . the oxe draws and is driven ever till evening . the oppression of orphans , the destruction of heirs . vvhile harrow drawn mills must not dry . covenant tried stronger then truth . nature stronger then nurture . so god speed never despair . a weak lord overtops a great lurdane . fortunes wiles forestall will. vvealth takes leave , but fame doth live . all sing or sigh are doomd to dy . all sing , or sigh , are doom'd to dy . stay thy vote , till invi●ed . stay for glory , if not for gain . each mournfull soul sad . turn about the bush. turn the puz , in phoebus . mischance hardly eschewed . a staff firm , a third foot . twt la , 't is a horse lent . deceive trust intrusted . the trap to high-born , ambition . a bribe i know is a jugling knave . as the boy growes , his coat doth decrease . a colt's height known by the hams . a bullock grows big from the belly . a womans fortune to be wanton . the saying concurs with the song . the womb not descried , till the child cry . a small fire-brand flies abroad . what god will not cannot prosper . the wise sometimes is sad and sighs . the old wife may hap , cry after her pap . one o wonder may nurse a hundred , ( or ) in one lap a hundred may ly . neglect one step , make many a stride . one hand maketh fire , but hundreds find to cull wooll faire . a nurse not harmd , though one armd . monoculus may be king in caecus countrey . a penny hire brings in a hundred . the hen barr'd of oats in barn. neezing's free , closed cannot be . once my lady would swim ore , she drownd , o me ! she will swim no more . one head higher then two shoulders . a sad countenance , a sorry courtier . the foxes procession-week . the dark vertigo . the belly robs the back . gain waves impediments . a little milk , and that butter-milk . many littles make a great . if hanging for a dog thou wouldst shape , say , he killeth sheep . the wedge that goes , drive again . the first that brings in grist , let him grind . the first heard he said it , for ever conceald it . harrow fast , reap first . the drop wears out the stone , not by force , but oft falling on . the last that grindeth his meal in mill , deepest toll payes likely still . he that selleth his house , may ly on the hills . hath a horn no ear to hear . the sin be it ever so secret that thou dost commit , at length it will come out . the mill stands that wants water . a maid's praecontact , marr's her postcontract . were the cat-skin pure , they would fleigh it sure . ride on still more , and still seekest thy mare . the gowne was given to many an one , and yet the gowne is not gone . the hand that gives , gathers . the grunti●g horse bears best . though rarely sin , at length breeds shame . hide the calf , top of the coffer . whatever is well hath its reward . in each bad saying , sin . in every choice there is chariness . in every trade , there is want of truth . in every wound , there is danger . in every ground , men valiant and great . in every self , there is a soul. in every soul , there is sense . in every sense or meaning , a mind . in every mind good or bad abides . death shews in all shapes . in every war , need to be wary . in every fault , there is folly . wish the smith to fight in his own forge . strive with a wise man , thou wilt be wiser . strive with a fool , thou wilt be more foolish . in winter nights , god save our neats . the dumb i trow , speaks truth . one year , a mother dear , the next a stepdame . seeking the green grass dry , the mare drownd . he that shoots alwayes aright , forfeits his arrow . a foolish clown tears his own clothes . one poyson expels another . have a horse of thy own , thou maist borrow another . in the skin , the wolf goes in , the same no doubt , the wolf goes out . have much , have none , and thrive therefore . a bird hatch'd in hell , thereout is nere well . the goat in hue , black and blue . hai and how , kill'd the sow . still sow that grunts , eats all the grains . the sow cries wee , till dead we see . the lamb in shew , doth teach the yew . the one bone payes . a good mill , that refuseth meal . do harm , to avoid harm . the liberal , doth give to all . ten nails were made , to feed one mouth . light portage , piles . light come , light go . the fiery oxe outmost . better play in , then play out of tune . all have full hands . churls meat devour it , never thank him for it . the fools mess had before hand . till death hies , no hopes , ( or ) till death cries , no crown . faithful and devout , to divide . knight or cobler soon descries , from what root he hath his rise . the romans odiums . the sea girds above the girdle . the sea casteth up corps . the coward dares not come to company . arthur himself had but his time . a weak boy will not long be . iade nere degrade , it takes no higher degree . love to huge , turns to hate . thy hand never worse for doing thy own work . a pool that stirs , never stinks . i le neither be coat , nor cap. no up-hill without down-hill . sick , is beyond sickly . no brother without another . little proof of little profit . never bull taken out of a dogs ●ayl . onely the rich fool is said to speak sense . no story , without sticklers . it is not one poast holds up a house . if revengeful , fearful . if rich in purse , small reach in pate . ill say , and be sued . never reade , ever rude . two more then one alone . the weakest part , hath a party . no man i think liveth of nothing . a drouzy one , an odious droan . one night starves not the steed . a bad husbands wife , still staind with weeping . who hears her fathers cock crow , over crowes . on a rowling stone no moss will stand . venus was choise , yet a wart on her cheek . all pass-over on the passover . frequent resorting ill resented . pa , con. the wren though small , over-colourd all . no news with lout , that goes not out . contest , and be contemned . a barren cow , never loves calf . happy hates hopeless . thou work not please , once entered ease . a lady faire , loves far . our b●essed saviour , those defied , that hang'd him high and crucified . who loves not his mother , may step to his stepmother . the tenderest dame , at length doth die . a ball never greets plain ground , the man yields to the master . old mother , cries more . good never be , till evil bear . try good hap , good have . a runaway , never regains sway . without desert , deserted . wit best , that is bought . learn having lost , to keep at last . art is not bred in one mans breast . a pear grows not i trow on a crab-tree . dine with a churle , it will be to thy charge . sleep and sloth undoes both . be faire , be famous . from a fox , nought scarce then the skin . no good wooll on a goats arse . sweet and sour meat , inmates . bad ground 's free of its own fruit . inward pain in face appears . a foolish man poures out his mind . hunger-starv'd of no esteem . i love son , but more grand-son . a man of state , thinks he never stinks . vvill ▪ hear will not , what he would not . bald sleights bruises till he see his brains . patience never mourns for mother . never lose reckoning at the beginning . a jealous one believes no oath . expert and quick never quakes . a maide hates a monk as a munky . in one year a cat grows grave . a rich earl riseth early . the keeper of israel neither slumbers nor sleeps . care still 's awake , grief sleeps being weak . his sleep's not great that minds his meat . the dog will not bite that 's struck with a bone . the grouse never sighes when the hawk is sick . famine being gone benefactors forgets . the hen doth never lose equal night . refused in war flee and beware . happy they say , that care not to sue . the devil and the godly enemies deadly . a messenger shent yet not asham'd . not pleased in choice though he chuse . others profit never prospers . i assert , no man certain . the glutton scarce doth mind his scabs . the mother in law doth not remember that she hath been a daughter in law by her lease . though many starve , yet some do stand . a sawcy iack , prateth he knows not why , nor what . a whore takes all , no matter who nor where . the eagle flies not at the fly . counsel never out of date . the hungry drone , cares not who drinks . one tree though fair , maketh not a forrest , ( or ) one tree maketh not three . none lack spear , but who lacks spirit . a womans cause never wants excuse . wild and stout never wants a staff . want not pleased , though supplied . the mother starved , the son 's not stout . wine and wary , ever vary . law barr , or else obey . unless quite overcome , take comfort . here saint , ere sentence . god will not be for the bad . not one in fourty can avoid his fortune . an old hag cannot shake off her head . unseemly things . a king without wisedome . a knight without trial . a lord without counsel . a woman without master . people without law. a servant without fear . a poor man proud . a rich man uncharitable . a iustice without iustice. a bishop without learning . an old man without godliness . a young man without humility . a man wise in words , without good works . vvise odiums . a man that knows not letter , and will not learn. that hath no servant , and will not serve himself . that hath much and gives nothing . that strives with his greaters , till he go to his grave . that 's no son of mars , and yet proclaims wars . that mocks another for faults written in his own forehead . that thinks himself good and fine , and is but a giddy fool . that borrows more pounds then he is able to pay . that supplies others need , and leaves himself nothing that promises all things and performs nothing . that threatens all fierce , but none fear him . that talks over and over , and will hear no other . that seeks all things , and gets nothing . that commits his secrets to his enemy , or women . that cheapens all , and buyes none . that perjures himself , and none believes him . that dishonours himself to honour another . that seeth good arts and manners , and knoweth nothing o● their meaning . that buyes all he sees and gains nothing . that hates all , and is hated of all . that trusts none , and is trusted of none . that handles every case , without cause . that gives his strength to a stranger . that believes a knave , though unknown . that doth so much in one day , that he can doe nothing in the next . that trusts to guiles in a gift . that hath his choice , takes not the chief . that makes a price of pride . that shunneth his own good , lest his neighbour should gain . that doth no good nor suffers others . that fortifies himself in sin . that thinks he is wise , is but a wizard . that learns much , knows nothing . that leaves his fellow without fault found . that commits sin , and repents not soon . the poor that scorns pittance . that knows gods law , pleads against it though for meer reward , to him be woe . that makes glorious shews of his own shame . that contemns god and man. what i spent was vain , saith the soul. what i gave is vain , saith the soul. what i kept hath faild me , saith the soul. what i denied hath foild me , saith the soul. learn diligently what thou seest . keep diligently what thou learnest . make know what thou knowest . none worthy to be top of kin , but one that will fight with his kinsman and is feard , that will speak for his kinsman and is heard . that will be surety for his kinsman , and will be taken . the wholesomest of wild beasts the roe buck. of tame beasts , the hog . of wild fowles , the partridges . of tame fowles , the he. of sea fish , the crab. of fresh fish the trout . the three invincibles . a lord , or dominus fac totum . the resolute that is self-will'd . the penurious that hath nothing . seven qualities belonging to a judge . tongu'd , and dumb , stout , and deaf , foolish , fearfull , and devout . additionall proverbs . the powerfull plucks , the poor complains . talk a good deal , but take onely thy due . little betwixt right and wrong . the best gentility is in the predicament of quality . vvhat abroad we hear , at home we rehearse . all are lewd , where god doth not lead . better still beg , then steal bag . misfortune drinks a health , and it goeth round about the house . earth's the best shelter , truth the best buckler . vvho the cold doth most fear , let him blow the fire . a liar's gone , if he forget , ( or ) lie the less , or learn thy lesson . let none alone , at length be lam'a . in three things a man may be deceived ; in a man till known , in a tree till down , in the day till done . three rubs upon the way ; a squirrel , a nut , a neate maid and gay . vvhat thou would not have done to thee , do not the same good man to me . though old mens body do decay , their soul 's alive , and bears sway . the choicest maid , ill chooseth man. two things need not be spared , much gain'd , and little got . a bad mans dispraise ▪ praiseth . shut the gate when the horse is gone , ( or ) shut the door when the thief hath done . vvhat all say , as good as seald . man purposeth , god disposeth . all see my face , few know my case . ask the father , if he thinketh his sonne a thief . clutch ever so close , an even lay thou wilt ever lose . the best cunning , self-deniall . thy last night , bid good night . no painfulness , no gainfulness , in heaven , the churle will never be chair-man . never seek belief to a ly . foords grow wide , faith weak . hear not plain , hardly reply . the present state , will not long stand . lose not the office of thy sence , by the sense of thy office . philosophers rise , the earth turns round . lug and hale , it will not long hold . the man that groans , god hears his moans . griffitk a cunning cooke , to pull a worm out of an old wives coop . a cellar before a cow. hurt is sooner received then well cured . a womans mind is swifter then the greyhound . each wanton speaks with mincing speech . the whiter the face , the blacker the arse . the morrow after the faire . fast bind , faest find . out of sight out of mind . in the mouth gall , in the heart cordiall . he deserveth no gains , who taketh no pains . vvhat acted last , the memory retains it best . better a poor careful mother , then a rich careless father . the horse may die , while the grass grows . cunt once got , an hundred times if thou wilt . vvho himself doth ill , thinks another will. her own dam , envy devoures . old grannams dream of their desire . vvhen gamester thrive , he will smile in his sleeve . to deceive the deceiver is no deceit . be provident while chest is full laid , if once empty 't is too late . the gift is bad that is not worth thanks . forewarning will not advantage the unfortunate . sue a begger , and get a louse . no nearer to death , though abroad , then at home . forswear to haunt no where but hell. what old men by experience know compleat , young men think they know in their own conceit . spare to speak , spare to speed . who serves the devil , will be deceived at the latter day . empty vessels sound most . the still sow eats all the draft . the cat is more ready to runne into , then out from the dayrie . the nearer the church , the further from christ. a cat is not used to a coller . no weeping for shed milk . he repented with grief , who kill'd his greyhound . a lazy servant a good message to fetch death , to an honest man. no town so strong as a tower. the lame returns sooner then his servant . the kindness of iack to his mother ioan. more wanton then the maggpie . who in sinne committeth offence , needeth no accuser but his conscience . who hath many sons shall have small share of his meat . who hath many daughters shall have none at all to eat . who regards not his mother , may step to his stepmother . birds of a feather will flie together . ask my mother if i am a thief . to the valley the water runs quickly . be not too curious ( man ) in finding fault , lest you fail to amend . sit down and patient be , what 's past thou canst not remedie . divers centuries of nevv sayings , vvhich may serve for proverbs , to posterity . to the right honourable , and most r. f. in god , brian duppa , lo. bishop of salsburie . my lord , that so many poor infants after so hard a labour , may receive a benediction now at the close , specially this last , which ( though he comes in the rear ) i esteem mine own more then any of the rest , i make my humble addresse to your lordshipp ; for having called my thoughts often to counsell who should give this blessing , they all concluded ther was none so fitt to do it as your lordshipp : and indeed ther were many resons for it ; first , the character i have heard applied unto you , which was given of one of the holiest fathers of the church , that you were coelestis homo , & terrestris angelus , a heavenly man , and terrestriall angell , being pious in so intense a degree ; which exemplary piety goes attended with a becoming reverentiall gravity , with such a meekness of spirit , and so many high morall vertues , together with a rare equanimity in possessing your soul with so much patience and courage , by making your crosses stoop unto you after so long a time of pressure . lastly , your most exquisite learning , and vniversality of knowledge , attended with such a soundnesse of iudgement , and clearnesse of vnderstanding ; the pleasing contemplation , and experimentall knowledge of all these particulars , induced me to this just application of desi●ing your blessing accordingly . touching the ingredients of this last peece , they cannot yet be called proverbs , for as rome was not built in a day , so a proverb is not suddenly made , but it requires a long tract of time , and vulgarity of usage before it becomes a proverb , it is the common-people alone that have priviledge of making proverbs . to conclude , i thought it not amisse to apprehend this oportunity , to make the world know the high reverence i bear to your lordship , and the sense i have of sundry noble civilities i received from time to time ; as also of the favourable opinion you please to have of divers things of mine ; which makes me in a due reverenciall posture , thus to crave your benediction , and to professe my self upon this publick record , calendis maij , . my lord , your obedient , and ever obliged servant , jam . howell . divers centuries of nevv sayings , vvhich may serve for proverbs , to posterity . the first century . make thou the furrowes , and god will send thee seed . in a sluttish house the devill shakes his tayl . as stiff as a puritans knee , who will not bend to him who made it . english merchant , wilt thou gain ? then have commerce , and peace with spain . as redd as rogers nose , who was christned in pump-water . robb the king thou may'st be hang'd , robb the church thou wilt be damn'd . the rich misers son quickly mewes his fathers feathers . warr begetts peace , as a ruddy evening a fair morn . doff not thy clothes till thou goest to bed , nor part with thy estate till thou art dead . burn not thy fingers to snuff another mans candle . who falleth to argue ere the case be stated , let ts slip his dogg before the hare be started . repentance is good , but innocence is better . clear thy conscience before thou close thy eyes , so thou mayest have golden dreams . a good name like a maydenhead , once lost irrecoverable . if spain had bread enough , and men , she of the cock would make a hen ; viz. of gallus the french. sea sicknesse and child-births pain are like , they both will to 't again . the works of a catholick , the words of a puritan , and the faith of a protestant , may make a perfect christian. he is a true author that creates a fancy . who adores gold is the worst idolater . if thou wilt make a good will , do it while thou art well . as hot as a punks plackett . a rebell , and madd dogg knock in the head , they 'l bite no more when they are dead . the devil is gods shadow . give not a lawyer or physician fee , unlesse it be in pure necessity . you will make me believe as soon , that the spanish moon is as hot as the swedish sun. as sneezing comes from a bad cause , so from ill manners come good lawes . as mercury among the planets , is the french among other nations . from the berry of the grape , and grain of the barly , comes many a fray , and hurlyburly . be thy breath never so sweet , thy own praise stinks out of it . an essex calf , will never make a wel● run● when come's from heaven ba●r on thy knees , what from men on thy shoulders ; viz. manfully . worldly accidents are but new moons in the old ones shape . gett ireland to day , and england may be thine to morrow . put all in the pater-noster , thy self only in thy creed . we come into the world without heads forward , we go out with our heels . i would not wi●● such an opinion to the wors● of my enemies . rash prayer is rather a sin then a sacrifice . here is wine indeed to be drunk in the devills skull . who woo's with fine clothes , maketh the taylor his broker . i think this bacon was a piece of lott● wifes burtock , 't is so salt . truth is the result of reason . as jealousie in love , so is superstition in religion . rebellion the spawn of wealth and wantonnesse . heaven once named , all things else are bables . the dutch in drinking charge the brain with smal shott , the english with bullets , viz. whole glasses . a shipp's a wooden horse , who carrieth his burden in his belly , and his bridle in his tayl . chameleons take all colours but the white , and schismaticks all fancies but the right . idleness the devils couch , and lust his cushion . the master who correcteth the childe kisseth the mother . the present philosophers compar'd to the old , are as dwarfs on giants shoulders . surely he knew well that coals would burn , who first invented fire-tongs . you must not expect perfumes in a piggsty . as wise as the mayor of banbury , who would prove that henry the third , was before henry the second . he may knock boldly , who bringeth good newes . the long parlement made god almighty the greatest malignant , for they plundered his house most . he is as fit for that place , as an ambling horse is for a coach. a loyall subject like the marigold should open and shutt with the sun ; viz. his soveraign prince . a good hous-wife should twinkle in her house like a starre in its sphere . god never turneth his face from us , till we turn our backs to him . rlutarch gave life to many others , but the longest to himself . there is many that goe up holborn , and so to heaven in a string . ther 's no book all gospel but the holy scripture alone . the stripe of a friend , better then the stroaking of a● enemy . a true friend a great treasure . oportunity the greatest bawd . the historian who speaketh well of all , speaketh well of none . vvho dies by a wrong sentence is murthered by the sword of justice . parlement bills without the princes consent like matches without fire . an opinion got into a roundheads brain is like quick-silver in a hot loaf . the ●lash of conscience a sore whipp . a t●●e friend chimney-like is hottest in winter ; vi . in adversity . the floure of england fine enough , the bran very course ; viz. the gentry and cominalty . as much differing as a frenchmans speech and his writing . the rich miser like the swan sings sweetest before death , viz. when he makes his last will. the way to heaven is to pass through hell. god striketh with the left hand and stroaketh with the right . the glutton diggeth his grave with his teeth . he hath good parts , but a fool hath them in keeping . the church-yard like a chessboard-bagg where all mates meet . better to commend the vertue of an enemy , then flatter the vice of a friend . choler opposed , is like a rapid torrent meeting with a damm . spanish wares better then spanish warrs . opinion the greatest lady that swayeth the world . warm , but do not burn thy self at the fire of passion . take heed of a speedy friend in france , and of a slow enemy in italy . who goeth to right himself by duel , may receive a greater wrong then the former . a wavering man like a skeyn of silk , the least thing entangleth him . the upbraiding of a courtesie half as bad as ingratitude . pride a flower that groweth in the devils garden . french women are so kind , that at first entrance you may have acquaintance , and at first acquaintance you may have entrance . where mars pitcheth his tent , venus pitcheth her pavilion . thank that sinn which moveth thee to repentance . prayer maketh the first rain fall , but prayse the second . 't is further from london to highgate , then from highgate to london . who is too familiar with his master stands too near the fire . he is a sory souldier who stayeth for fair weather . in gods house there can be no excesse of reverence . the patient man is alwayes at home . the second century . do thou thy best , and leave to god the rest . had i left one of my ears in scotland , i should hardly go thither to fetch it again . the presbyterian maketh oaths his engines to lay battery to the soul. the sword maketh reson , where he findeth none . one may draw a damn'd soul out of hell , as draw a peny out of his purse . the king represents god , the parlement the people , tell me who is highest ? peace with heaven the best friendship . 't is good to be an athiest 'mong them who make gold their god . if we knew what would happen we should be all politicians . nor walk nor water thy hott nagg , so he will carry still thy bagg . in a hundred pounds of law , there is scarce an ounce of love. the way to improve thy learning , is to teach another . ther 's many husbands able arithmeticians , yet they cannot multiply . while the cow chewes the cudd the horse still eateth . go to bedd dry , thou needst not fear death before the morning . a translator is an author as a cobler is a shooe-maker . some gentlemen are better then knights , as chancery-lane is better then knight-riders-street . he lives in as much plenty as a millers cock. if the lion saith the fox hath horns , he must have them . new-england hath undone the old ; viz. with distractions . ther 's no danger to prostrate thy self at a crosse , all the while thy mind is prostrate to thy creator . schismaticks like snakes though cutt asunder , yet the pieces will cling again together . excise and plunder though dutch words , yet are they of the devils hatching . live in compasse , so thou may'st whett thy knife at the counter-gate . a wife were a fine book if she were an almanack , that a man might change her once a year . the apple groweth on the tree , not the cyder . to live among bad men is worse then banishment . the pox in the bones not curable till the resurrection . let thy conscience be thy judge here , that he may not be thy accuser hereafter . a booke borrowed is sooner read then a booke bought . two in the afternoon is more then ten in the morning . two heads are better then one , said old weymark , when he wishd sir w. rawleighs head upon secretary nantons shoulders . pride is oftner seen through a threedbare coat then through a silk cloak . all your horses do amble . sloth breeds the scurvy . 't is a dear collop that is cutt out of ones own flesh . before thou take for better or worse , be sure that one of the two have a good purse . the ducks have merry lifes , for they do nothing but tipple and swive . who marries a widdow falleth into a pitt wherein another perish'd . the devil will do me no hurt , for i married his kinswoman ; quoth one that had a scold to his wife . a clean-fingerd wife is not alwayes the best huswife . the way to loose a friend is to lend him money . day and truth may be discernd through a little hole . in marriage the toung tieth a knott , that all the teeth in the head cannot untie afterwards . hang pinching , let ts drink the tother pott , we shall never do it younger . the sweet savour which vertue leaveth behind , is better then the black sudds of vice. with time , and art , the mulberry leafs grow to be sattin . rather bribe , then loose thy right . mans body is but the thorough-fare of sheep and oxen. who laughs at his own jest , is like the hen that cackles when she hath laid an egg . deeds are iohns , and words nans . man is nature's student . the presbyterian a jew of the new testament . holland a great cow , and amsterdam the udder . a true cardinal should have his soul in sackcloth , though his body be in scarlett . i care not much that my son is drunk , but that he will have a hair of the same dogg the next day . the truest chastity is tried in hott bloud . corruption sticks to humane nature as rust to brasse . vvhere diffidence begins , friendshipp ends . the cholerique man more often abroad then at home . in heaven all desires turn to fruition . education mendeth nature , as sawce doth meat . he is as much puzzled as one going up ludgate hill in a stopp of coaches and carts . the conquest of the passions , the prime trophey of vertue . for one hollow tooth pull not out the sound ones . f●om a long p. the lord deliver me ; viz. parl. the rebell useth to fire the beacon when ther 's no danger . rather then burn , venture a fall out of the window . reputation like a venice-glasse easily crackd . england useth to have too many tears in her eyes , i. rain . choler hath more heat then light . garlick the poor mans treacle . the way to go right , is to tread the paths of our progenitors . we think lawyers to be wise , but they know us to be fools . who goeth for his money before the day , need carry a lantern and candle with him . warr which beggars others , maketh the hollander rich . all mischiefs from the north proceed , witness what came from thames to tweed . ireland a good goose to be pluckd . what 's palpable to sense , needs no proof by reason . every one that hath a deaths-head in his study is not mortified . the wings of rebellion should not onely be clipd but seard . up hill the knees , down hill the thighs labour most . who parts with his estate before he dieth is a fool in folio . one day thrust's on another still , old moons do fail , and new ones fill . zeal like fire , dangerous , if it breaketh out of the funnell of the chimney . where there is no law broken , there can be no crime . in this i did not care , if god almighty were my judge . you may as soon cutt out a kirtle for the moon . the clothes warm the body , and the body the clothes by way of thankefull correspondence . a hundered misdemeanures cannot make one treason , no more then a hundred catts one lion. planting of trees englands old thrift . infortunate princes steer their course by them which know not the use of the compasse . as earth and water make but one globe , so man and wife make but one flesh . that s●n maketh one happy , that turneth to sorrow . as black as the soul of iudas . ireland a fitt countrey for quakers , because t is so full of boggs . vvhose hearts on riches dwell , bidd god farewell . the surest way to cure sore eyes , is to cast them up often towards heaven . money in all great actions , like mercury among the chymiques , without which no conclusion can be tried . too much liberty , and too much bread the common levain of rebellion . vvho accepts an invitation at first wants good manners . it is the devils reformation to turn order to confusion , and superstition to prophanenesse . the third century . when the sermon is ended in the church , let it begin in thee . a fair woman with ill qualities is like a sattin-petticoat lin'd with course buckram . faith is a great lady , and good works are her attendants . princes of an ill destiny follow the worst counsells . who goeth to school to himself , may have a fool for his master . who dischargeth a good conscience hath enough of his own to reward himself . no innocence so safe , but may be glad to stand in the eye of mercy . the futious man when his first blast is spent groweth the fearfullest . though the aire of affliction be clowdy , yet th●ough it we best discern god , and our friends . discretion the best passe-port to travell the world . i do not use to supp because i would not have the use of a physitian . rebellion suppressed , maketh the prince the stronger . what sayles are to a shipp , the passions are to the spirits . to give the pettitoes in almes , will not satisfie for stealing the pigg . vvho hath a good witt and memory without learning , hath a spindle and distaffe without flax . italy a great bordell , france a great bedlam , and germany a great brewhouse . when death kills a miller , he kills two ; viz. a miller and a thief . the sight of her would make a man wish himself ghelt . mildnesse the cognisance of a gentleman . a dutchman commonly barrells up more then he can broach , and drinketh more then he can carry . he is as fitt for that office , as caligulas horse was to be consul . the riches of the church is to a state as anchors in a storm . superstition lesse dangerous then prophanenesse . night succeeds day , and sorrow joy . the difference twixt a wife and a wench is , that we pay for the one , and receive money with the other . london to the rest of england is like the spleen , whose swelling makes the rest of the body lean , and lank . intestine broyles the readiest way to ruine any countrey . civill warrs like fire in the bed-straw . the hollander burns up his countrey before the day of judgement ; viz. in turfs . expedition the life of action . the greatest arms the turks ever used against the christians were their own divisions . spain a cheap countrey to travell in , for one cannot get meat for money . prayers like petards break open heaven gate . an ingenuous face is a good letter of recommendation . choose thy friends as bookes , few , but choice ones . confession and sorrow without amendment , are like the pumping of a shipp without stopping the leaks . the polititian like a sculler , he looketh one way , and roweth another . honor should be a spurt to vertue , not a stirr op to pride . a working brain toile's more then a sweating brow . the spaniard looketh as high as the german , but not so bigg . spanish coyn as catholique as the king. as piping hott as a prickeard preacher in a pulpitt . who spendeth more then he should , shall not have to spend when he would . woman and man are like loadstone and iron . in an ocean of newes , scarce a dropp of truth . aristotle the philosophers pope . she looks like a carack , that hath made three voyages into the east indies . humble ignorance a safe knowledge . english parlements good physicke , but an ill diet . he is a cheap friend that is gott by a complement . schools and hospitalls the best books that bishops can leave behind them . france and spain the two poles that bear up christendom . vvhen you travell neither shew your mind or your money . out of reverence we bear to antiquity , we extoll things passd , and extenuate things present . venice beareth the bell for lasses and glasses . he lesse offends who writes many toyes , then he who omitteth one serious thing . no wound healeth till the inflammation be taken away ; no peace made without a cessation of arms first . thankes , a good usher to draw on a second courtesie . is the plague in the point that you fly so far from it ? vvine a foul wrastler , it oftentimes takes one up by the leggs . money , the moving instrument in all things . the proud mans ambition hath no horizon . be content to walk on the battlements of honor without going upon stilts . in a whole volley of newes , scarce a true report . a favorite may secure himself from guilt , but not from envy . as much witt is shewn in a pertinent question as in a wise answer . the spaniard hardly casts up what he once swallowes . the frenchman like march , who enters like a lion , but goeth out like a lamb. the divine goeth to heaven by iacobs ladder , the astronomer by iacobs staff . the first principle of policy is for a state to preserve it self . an honorable retreat is the hardest thing in the feat of arms. france for a kingdom , flanders for an earldom , milan for a dutchy , venice for a common-wealth . the spaniard buggers his mother for gold . adam only knew no minority . as smooth as an italian complement . in a great fogg the devill tokes tobacco . a naturall fool is never out of his rionage . the astronomer being loth to go to heaven , makes heaven come to him . as wanton as the english after a long peace . if the french pesant be a slave , he may thank his warving humor for it . as hungry as the french toung who eats so many letters . if thou wilt live long , make thy selfe old betimes . favours like flowers , which quickly fade in the memory of an unthankfull man. the french like a flea , the dutch like a lowse , the spaniard like a 〈◊〉 . if thou art fatt , then sleep not after meal , if lean , thou in a chair a napp may steal . be still prepar'd 'gainst death , for he doth in thy shadow watch for thee . a cock , a scold , and a trumpetr , better heard in thy neighbors house then in thine own . as much transformd as de la motts house ( by the exchange ) to atheists alley . pride in the van , beggery in the rear . where ther 's no law ther 's no transgression , unlesse thy conscience tell thee so . necessity never made good bargain . as like one another , as a scott , and a red-shank . he truly liveth , who thinketh every beating of his pulse to be a passing-bell . the breaking open of letters is the basest kind of burglary . when you have a petition to make , buy your paper of mr. humble . above all creditors be sure to pay god first , so thou wilt never turn bankrupt . threats without power are like pistolls charg'd only with powder . to make a scottchman valiant , lett him be back'd by an englishman . a lickrous catt , beares many a patt . a fool may confute a philosopher , as the philistines were knockd down by the jawbone of an asse . who useth to pick his teeth with his knife point , may come in a short time to pick them with the haft . the fourth century . use to make thy bed thy grave , so death will be no stranger to thee when he comes . the cheifest lechery of old men is to go well to the stool and the wall . who goeth more tatterd then the taylors child ? the sickmans chamber a good chappell . if venus pictures had bin hott and hollow , she had bin made as great a wanton after her death as before . had ba , bu , p. bin hang'd , when they were cropp'd , poor england with such flakes of bloud had not so dropp'd . a chaste mayd should be like a venice glasse that will hold no poyson . one bee maketh no swarm . putt god before thee , thou needs not care who cometh behind thee . the droppings of ones own nose wett more then open rain ; viz. the scandals of a friend . every ones fate is writt in his forehead , but the letters are so dark that none can read them . the excise must needs be a drunken fellow , for he sipps out of every cupp . a poor man asking almes of a rich miser , beggeth of a poorer man then himself . i give you pears , and you hurle the parings at me . the kings of spain and france the greatest merchants ; the one of salt , the other of pepper . the spanish monarchy a large cloak made up of patches . adam was tempted in italian , fell a begging pardon in french , and was thrust out of paradis in high dutch. a painter is a dumb poet , and a poet a speaking painter . a valiant man upon the anvill of affliction groweth greater , as a spanish three pence is made a groat . though a woman be the weakest of the two , yet she will take a man down at the highest . so old , that she hath no wittnesse she was ever young . women among men in a tavern , are like flies , they will be still sipping and drinking , but pay nothing . do not poursue ill luck at play , 't will be thine own another day . he is a fool who putteth a coach-wheel on his back , when he can trill it before him . truth whence soever it cometh , doth come from god. putt all in the pater noster , but thy self only in thy creed . steer thy cours with a low sail , and thou shalt not need fear a storm . fools have fortune , and good reason why , for they most need it . who eats tosted cheese at supper maketh his mouth a mouse-trapp . god almighty is the centre , and the religions of the world are as so many differing lines tending from the circumference to that centre . a barber surgeon hath two strings to his bow . the sun and man begett man , the prince and parlement begett lawes . as merry as london boyes about a bonefire . a good countenance to a poor dinner , is like a rich comment upon a barren text. newgate birds are no buzzards . a fool is soon at his witts end , for he hath but a little way to it . thou with thy body warmst thy clothes , then , in gratitude thy clothes warm thee agen . go which way thou wilt , thou goest still towards gravesend . as light as a french heart . as crosgraind a spirit as iohn lilburns , when iohn would fall out with lilburn , and lilburn with iohn . inland fortresses nests for rebels . spinning out of time never made good cloth . py-corner law the surest way of wooing . vvho lives in hope danceth in a hoop . it hath as many severall shapes as a dish of fritters . the bee hive is natures confectionary . as needfull as a catt for a cheese-mongers shopp . repentance the laundresse of the conscience . t is as easie to quadrate a circle , as make a round-head a good subject . vvhen the razor is at the throat , the toung cannot be free ; viz. as long as there is an army at the mewse , the parlement members cannot speak what they please . at meat when thou do'st sitt , give thy creator the first bitt . as tatterd as the scotts colours in westminster-hall . the beast which bleats on lemsters ore , her flesh is good , het fleece is more . the crosse the first christian altar , therfore he who hates the altar , will hardly make benefit of the oblation . mercy the inseparable inmate of a magnanimous spirit . henry the eighth , the earth-quake of abbeyes . take off the dunghill against your own doo● , before you sweep before mine . a rich fool is good for nothing but to borrow money of . when a tallow-chandler expoundeth holy scripture , one may truely say ther 's a thief in the candle . vvarr is a fire strucke in the devills tinder-box . vices in queens are like spotts in the moon , which cannot be hidd . though shooing-horns be out of date , yet horns are as plentifull as ever . in all popular tumults rebellion leadeth the van , confusion the forlorn-hope , and ruine the rear . a noble spirit like the sunne at his declension , the more he is oppressed , the more he shines . the asse must not be so familiar with his master as the puppy . next to a single , a married life is best . one may go to heaven from off the devills back ; viz. the gallowes . weigh thy businesse first , as the fox did the goose , before he would carry her over the ferry . rebellion must be crush'd like a cocatrice in the shell . spirituall pride the epidemicall disease of england . to make the house firm , lett god be thy foundation . parlement bills without the royall assent , like matches without fire . letters are the limners of the mind . to reforme things by a civill vvarr , is to lett one bloud by giving him a dash on the nose . examples passd , are present instructers . vvho hath horns of his own , lett him take heed how he forkes his fingers at his neighbour . vvho coseneth another , coseneth himselfe more . you may make a windmill go with a pair of bellows as soon . he would drink and whistle at once . goe buy a penyworth of sope , and wash an asses head . vve can go no where but we have god over and under . a stepp-mothers love , like december sun. to thy physitian and lawyer , make the worst of thy business . vvho hath glasse-windowes of his own , lett him take heed how he throwes stones at those of his neighbour . vvhen thou art in a sweat , and hott , leak first before thou touch the pott . as bare as a baboons bumm . he looketh as pittifull as a chancery-bill . a vviddow marrying beneath her self pisseth backward . as wrinkled as the face of a peny custard . starve not thy cause for want of fees , nor thy horse to save a bottle of hay . the presbyters wife had rather see her husband in his shirt then in a surplice . refiners of religion commonly prove quacksalvers . you may as easily snuff the moon when she shines dimm . the venetian christned in salt-water which makes him so wise . forgive any one sooner then thy self . he bears in his face all the festivalls of the year . preferment without profit like a feather in ones capp . though its modesty to decline praise , yet it is a pride not to care what the world speaks of thee . redd capps , and coiffs fatall to france ; viz. cardinalls and queen mothers . the fifth century . make not gods house thy through-fare , unlesse thou dropp some prayses there . a platonique lover like one that 's still saying g●ace , and never falls to his meat . so long did the good wife pray for a boy , that she had one that proved a boy all his life-time . the wife knowes more then the cuckold her husband . who hath sore teeth hath ill tenants . who hangs one corrects a thousand . sett thy watch by the sun rather then by the clock . when thy ankle akes , it little avails thee to anoint thy elbow . he thrives as well as a vvelch runt in rumney marsh. vvho giveth almes maketh the best use of his money . you may paint the flower in all his colours , but not give it the smell . counterfeit friendshipp , is worse then false coyn. a martyr in prison is like a diamond sett in a horn-ring . hear thy self oftner speaking to god almighty , then another speaking for thee . vvho commends himself deserves a garland of hemlock . if god be in the portall , all the rooms in thy house will be well furnished . magnitude is not the measure of worth . more porters then princes go to heaven , because ther are more of them . king harry loved a man , and so did his daughter besse . a dry cough the trumpeter of death . a starr twinkleth most in winter , so a wiseman in adversity . the great wheel of providence doth alwaies turn , though none can see the spokes . the rufflingest vvinds are commonly found in church-yards , so the greatest clashes are about religion . gett thy spindle and distaff ready , and god will send thee flax. so miserable a kerle that he cannot bestow brown paper enough to wipe his tayl clean . the union twixt england and scotland , like oyle mixt with vinegar . a face that weareth patches , sheweth there is a roome to be lett , by the bill on the doore . the glorious sun is gods great emissary . one of the best conveniences of a house is to have good neighbours . the first part of wisedome is to give good counsell , the second to take it , the third to follow it . the body is but the sockett of the soul. they that are hang'd their souls goe out at their tayls . in vvarr take all advantages , but give none . never seek enemies abroad , thou hast too many at home ; viz. thy own passions . the presbyterian licks up that which the jesuit disgorgeth against kings . they who buy justice by whole sayl , must sell it by retayl . vvho preacheth vvarr , is the devils chaplain . giving begetts love , lending doth lessen it . hee who will passe a judgement of himselfe , must incline more to rigour , then mercy . there be many witty men , yet their brains cannot fill their bellies . the astrologer hath this advantage , that one true prediction maketh amends for a hundred lies . more easie to raise captains in england then common souldiers . the modern zelotts go to exalt christ's church upon the devils back . thou that hatest the crosse ( which was the first christian altar ) dost thou hope to have benefitt of the oblation ? the promise of a gentleman should be equall to a performance . in lotteries men mourn in white , and laugh in black . the french so fiery-mouth'd , that they must be ridd with a bitt . on the desk the priest is the peeples messenger to god , in the pulpitt he is gods messenger to the peeple . history , the tribunall of princes after death . the devill may now freely walke upp and down cheapside , for there is never a crosse to fright him . cleer thy conscience , before thou close thy eyes , so thou may'st have golden dreams . the presbyterian , though he hateth a crosse in the church , yet he loveth it too well in his pockett . the calvinists beleeve the salique law is in heaven , which make them so little esteem the blessed virgin. magnitude is not the measure of worth . if i had known of your coming , i would have dined with you ; viz. ( i had provided more for you ) but now you must be content to dine with me . honour moveth in a higher sphere farr then pleasure . the peeple to the politician like tools to a mechanique . he seldom goes with gray hairs to his grave , who disobeyeth his parents . a pope by voices , a king by nature , an emperour by power . a king should impose severer lawes upon himself then on his subjects . an old usurer like a thiefe , who though he be to be hanged to morrow , yet he stealeth to day . kings should be told what they ought to do , not what they are able . learning the child of light , born first in the east , next the sun rising . he is happy who endeth his journey before he be quite tyred ; viz. before he be too old . the english language is dutch embrodered with french. poesie the greatest light whereby to find that one hath a soul. a redd morn will commonly pisse or fart before night . when thou dost read a book , do not turn the leafs only , but gather the fruit . a rich kerle like a mill-horse that grindeth corn for others . the worst of crosses , is never to have had any . the passing-bell is deaths clock , and the clock is times passing-bell . as hard to brush off an infamy , as a shaddow . the poor are gods receivours , and the angels are his auditors . the german proud by imitation , the french by inclination . death is the certainst of all things to come . the majesty of a king , is a ray of divine light. craft is bastard-policy . necessitie hath found more arts , then ingenuity ever invented . water , earth , and air , the three staple commodities of nature . oportunity the best moment in the whole extension of time. chimistry the torture of mettalls . if thy sonne be given to drinke , send him to spain ; if to drabbs , send him to germany to be reclaimd . false reports , like musrumps that have no roots . the worst feaver is that of the toung . the rich man walketh to gett a stomack to his his meat , the poore man to gett meat for his stomack . lett reson perswade thee , before she invade thee . a rich citty like a fatt cheese apt to breed magotts ; viz. mutinies and vices . take part alwayes with reson against thy will. england lies strong , as a tortois in her shell . the living lord hath a dead hand where he strikes . lett 's goe quickly to dinner , that we may have a collation in the afternoon , and goe betimes to supper , that we may have a nuntion before we goe to bedd , and so rise early in the morning to breakefast . viz. the humour of the french. the emperour of china , the onely prince that putteth bounds to his ambition , being ever upon the defensive . the vvise man like the salamander , can goe through the furnace of affliction , and never burn . repentance the laundresse of the conscience . vvho hath glasse-windowes of his own , lett him take heed how he throwes stones at those of his neighbour . a true king like hercules should have his clubb alwayes lying by him . the fist is stronger then the hand , though it be nothing but the hand . an embleme of union . the worst peeple have most lawes . prudence applieth things past , provideth for the present , and preventeth what may come . though the air of spain be hotter , yet it is not so subject to feavers as that of france . a printed apology , is like pennance in a white sheet . rather then burn , venture a fall out of the window . well fare those dayes , that sweet-meats were served up in wheele-barrowes at goring-house . he that doth a serious businesse in haste , rides post upon an asse . infantium cerebri quartus , post quadraginta . finis . crossing of proverbs the second part. with, certaine briefe questions and answeres. by b.n. gent. crossing of proverbs. part breton, nicholas, ?- ? approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) crossing of proverbs the second part. with, certaine briefe questions and answeres. by b.n. gent. crossing of proverbs. part breton, nicholas, ?- ? [ +] p. printed [by g. eld] for iohn wright, and are to be solde at his shop without newgate, at the signe of the bible, at london : . b.n. = nicholas breton. printer's name from stc. "certaine briefe questions and answeres" has caption title. signatures: a b⁶. some print show-through. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng proverbs, english -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion crossing of proverbs . the second part . with , certaine briefe questions and answeres . by b. n. gent. at london , printed for iohn wright , and are to be solde at his shop without newgate , at the signe of the bible . . the second part , of crossing of prouerbs prouerbs . every trades-man knowes his owne ware . cros. not if his female deceiue him . p. more hast the worse speed . c. not in the hast , but lacke of heede . p. hee that hath his eyes in his head wil looke about him . c. not so , he may be blindfolded and then he cannot . p. wanton kisses are the keyes of finne . c. not except the diuell keep the lockes . p. warre is the greatest dispoyling of a kingdome . c. not so , a plague if it continue , may be greater . p. giue , gaue is a good fellow . c. not so , hee is a churle that hath no charity . p. loue is the peace of the senses . c. not where it is ioined with ielousie . p. witty women are sweet companions . cros. not , but when they are pleased , or else they are froward . prou. crabbed minds are pleased with nothing . c. not so , for nothing can giue no pleasure . pro. kind hearts are soonest wrong'd . c. not if they be carefull . p. there is no tree but beareth fruit . cros. yes , the sic amour . pro. high waies are lawfull for trauaylers . c. not if they meet with theeues . p. the greatest sort of fish keep the bottome . c. not so , for small eeles keepe in the mudde . p. too much of any thing is good for nothing . c. not so , what is good , is good for somthing . p. wishers and woulders , are neuer good house-holders . c. not so , a man may both wish wel and doe well . p. taking of bribes is priuate theeuery . c. not so , for then there would be many hangd . p. the teares of age are lamentable . c. not if they drop from sore eyes . p. a merry companion is a wagon in the way . c. not so for if your iourney be long you may be weary for want of carriage . p. hee is a fond fisher that angles for a frogge . cros. not so , for hee may be a baite for a better fish . p. when theeues fall out , true men come by their goods . c. not so , theeues may be hang'd , and true men ne're the better . p. all offices are places of esteeme . c. not so , not the hang-mans . p. there is nothing so sure as death . c. yes , life to the faithfull . p. newes are like fish . c. not so , for then they would stinke when they are stale . p. the mistris eye makes the capon fatt . c. not so , it is the good cramming of them . p. marriage is honourable . c. not when it is dishonoured . pro. children are the comfort of their parents . c. not if they proue vngratious . p. no trust to a drie sticke . c. yes , that it will burne well . p. a light supper makes cleane sheets . c. not so , he that is loose in the hiltes , may make worke for the launderesse . p. hasty spirits neuer want woe . c. yes , when they are pleased . p. as the life is , so is the death . c. not so , for she that liued a whore , may dye a bawde . p. neate apparell graceth a man. c. not so , a neate man graceth his apparell . p. kindnesse deserues loue . c. not if it be common . p. poore vertue liues as dead . c. not in ihe eye of honour . p. couetuousnes corrupteth wealth . c. no , a noble minde is euer it selfe . p. a faire woman is the trouble of wisdome . c. not so , shee is the treasure of a true wit. p. hasty climbers haue sodaine falls . c. not if they sit fast . p. when the belly is full , the bones would be at rest . cros. no , it is the spirit , not the bones : for they haue no power of desire . p. try , and then trust . c. not so , for he that is kind to day , may be crosse to morrow . p. whensoeuer you see your friend , trust to your selfe . c. not so , when you cannot helpe your selfe without your friend . p. there is none so faithlesse as an hereticke . c. yes , an hypocrite . p. he is a fond chap-man that comes after the fayre . c. not so , he may hap to buy better cheap in the market . p. there is a time allowed for all things . c. no , not to doe euill . p. honour is the reward of vertue . c. no , but where it is rightly giuen . p. sweet meate must haue sowere sauce . c. not so , a good stomake needs it not . p. when sunday comes , it will be holy-day . c. not with carriers , for they trauell all the weeke . p. a coward is fearefull , without hyre . c. not so , for feare it selfe is full of hurt . p. pouerty is the purgatory of reason . c. not so , it is the tryall of patience . p. he is wise that is rich . c. no , he is rich that is wise . p. no misery to imprisonment . c. yes , an vnquiet wife . p. no comfort to liberty . cros. yes , a louing wife . p. the night is the time of rest for all creatures . c. not for gamesters , that play night and day . p. learning is the labour of the braine . c. not so , it is rather of the spirit . p. nothing so necessary for trauallers as languages . c. yes , money . finis . certaine briefe questions and answeres . question . what is the best kinde of gouernment ? answere . peace . q. what is most dangerous in a kingdome ? a. ciuill warre . q. what is most troublesome in a common-wealth ? a. sectes . q. what quarrell breeds the best war ? a. religion . q. what most displeaseth god ? a. idolatry . q. which is the best trauell , that euer was ? a. towards heauen . q. who was the best king that euer was ? a. dauid , for he was chosen to gods owne heart . q who was the greatest conqueror that euer was ? a. christ iesus , for he conquered sinne , death and hell . q. who was the greatest foole that euer was ? a. adam when he had lost paradise for an apple . q. who had the greatest fall that euer was ? a. lucifer , when hee fell from heauen to hell . q. who was the best wrestler that euer was ? a. iacob , when he wrestled with the angell . q. who was the wisest queene that euer was ? a. the queene of sheba , that came to salomon for wisdome . q. who was the foolishest king that euer was ? a. pharaoh , when he opposed himselfe against god. q. who was the arrantest traytor that euer was ? a. iudas , when hee betrayed his master christ iesus . q. what is the best learning in the world ? a. truth . q. what is the greatest wealth in the world ? a. content . q. what is the greatest ioy in the world ? a. a cleere conscience . q. what is the greatest vertue in the world ? a. patience . q. what is the greatest blessing to nature ? a. health . q. vvhat is the most griefe in the world ? a. want. q. which was the stoutest woman that euer was ? a. iudith , when shee cut off holofernes head . q. which was the first mad-man that we reade of ? a. saul , when he killed himselfe . q. who was the most vnnaturall that euer was ? a. caine , when he slew his brother abel . q. when was noah layd naked ? a. when he was drunke . q. when did lot commit incest ? a. when he was drunke . q. when was sampson ouerthrowne ? a. when he was a sleepe . q. when was salomon led to idolatry ? a. when he followed strange women . q. when began the curse on the iewes ? a. when they fell to idolatry . q. what state is the most quiet ? a. the meane . q. what actions are most honorable ? a. that are honest . q. what study is most profitable ? a. the law. q. what musique is sweet ? a. the voyce . q. where is the best beeing in the world , a. where a man likes best . q. what is the hinderance of content , a. variety . q. what is the substance of all earthly , creatues ? a. vanity . q. what is the comfort of a blind man ? a. that he shall see no vanities . q. what comforteth a deafe man ? a. that he shall heare no villanies . q. and what comforteth a lame man ? a. that he shall not be sent of hastye arands . q. and what of a dumbe man ? a. that he shall not be called to question for his tongue . q. what is the comfort of age ? a. that hee hath past the perils of his youth . q. what should be the care of youth ? a. to giue honour to his age . q. why doe women weepe more then men ? a. because they cannot haue their wils to gouerne . q. what is the easiest life in the world ? a. a parasites , to feede vpon euery mans trencher . q. what life is the most laboursome ? a. study , for it spends the spirit , and weakens the body . q. who is the best companion in the world ? a. a library , where a man talkes without offence . q. and where is the worst company ? a. in a gaole , where there are few gracious . q. what is the best art in the world ? a. to gather wealth without wickednesse . q. and which is the worst art that euer was ? a. the blacke art , for it brings the student to hell. q. how doth ease breed the gout ? a. by lack of motion of the members . q. what is the best meat in the world ? a. that which agreeth best with the stomack . q. and what the best drinke ? a. that that breedes the best blood . q. and what is the best excercise ? a. the moderate . q. what ware is cheapest ? a. that which is had for thankes . q. what country is most fruitfull ? a. where there is best ground . q. when is it best to take phisicke ? a. in time of sicknes . q. when is it best to make meales ? a. when the stomacke is empty . q. what sauce is the best ? a. hunger . q. what flesh is best ? a. that which is sweet . q. what fish is the best ? a. that which is new taken . q. which is the best lesson to thriue ? a. to haue much , to spend little , and to giue nothing . q. what is a plaister for all paines ? a. patience . q. and what is a remedy for all diseases ? a. death . q. what is a misers musicke ? a. chinking of money . q. what is the honour of a man ? a. to be his words maister . q. what is the true signe of a foole : a. to be euer laughing . q. what is good for the tooth-ache : a. pull it out . q. vvhat is good for the heart-ache : a. patience . q. vvhat is good for the itch : a. scratching . q. vvhich is the worst worme in the world : a. the worme of conscience . q. vvhat is most necessary in a common wealth ? a. money . q. vvhat most vnnecessary ? a. cardes p. fortune fauours fooles . c. not so , there are fooles enow , but there is no fortune . p. woemen are like waspes in their anger . c. not so , for waspes leaue their stings , but women neuer leaue their tonges behind them . p. virgins are angel-like creatures . c. not so , for then they would not bee so proud of their beauty . p. musicke is comfortable to the care . c. not when the braine is full of businesse . p. a good huswife is a iewell . c. not if she be a scold . p. good wine makes a merry heart , c. not when the conscience is wounded . p. the neerer the church , the further from god. c. not with the religious . p. good wine needs no bush . c. yes , for trauellers that know not the house . p. drunkennesse is counted good fellowship . c. not , but among bad fellowes . p. the sunne shines through all the world , c. no , not in a close chest . p. euery bird is knowne by his feather . c. no , good-man bird hath no feathers . p. , painted creatures are dead speakers . c. not so , for then many women would be silent . p. wise men are at peace with all the world , c. not with some women , for they will neuer be quiet . p. a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush . c. not if they be fast limed . p. money is a great master in a market . c. not so , hee is a slaue to a begger . p. money is a continuall traueller in the world . c. not so , for with some hee is close prisoner . p. euery child knowes his owne father . cross. not , but as his mother tels him . p. there is no paine like the gowt . c. yes , the tooth-ach . p. euery man knowes what is best for himselfe . c. no not mad-men . p. vsurers are alwaies good husbands . c. not so , they may be badde to their wiues . p. good ware makes quick markets . c. not so , t is the money makes the speed . p. of idlenesse comes naught but ignorance . c. yes , beggery . p. oppression makes the wise man mad . c. no wise men will be are oppressions . p. there is nothing stoln without hands . c. yes , a good name with an ill tongue . p. rich men are stewards for the poore . c. not so , when the poore mens pence fill their purses . p. abuses shew the corruption of time . c. no , it is the timers . p. a louse is a beggers companion . c. not when hee is in the head of a lord. p. beauty is a naturall blessing . c. not in a painted woman . p. early vp and ne're the neere . c. yes , he may haue a better stomacke to his dinner . p. he that is warn'd is halfe arm'd . c. not so , for words make no armour . p. a shrew profitable , is good for a man reasonable . c not so , the profit may bee good , but the shrew is nought . p. two may keepe counsaile , if the third be away . c. not if a woman be one . p. hee that is wise in his owne conceite , is a foole . c. not so , for hee that is wise is no foole . pro. the euening praiseth the day . cros. not so , t is he that notes it . p. faire words pacifie wrath . c. not in dogged spirits . p. ambition endangers life . c. not so , t is the actions that followes it . p. a winde instrument giues a sweete sound . c. not in the ease of the chollick downwards . p. the swelling of the belly signifies the dropsie . c. not in women with child . p. a bagpipe makes more noyse then musicke . c. not so , for t is all musicke though not of the best . p. there is no foole to the old foole . c. yes , the young foole is a foole too as well as he . p. euery bird hatcheth her owne egges . c. not so : the sparrow hatcheth the cuckoes . p. all creatures are drowsie after venerie . c. not so , the cocke crowes when hee hath trod his hen . p. nothing is swifter then the winde . c. yes thought , that is at heauen in an instant . p. nothing is more subtill then the aire . c. yes , the diuell . p. he that handleth thornes will pricke his fingers . c. not if his gloues be good . p. there is nothing brighter then the diamond . c. yes , the sunne . p. pouerty parts good company . c. not when rich men part with enuy . p. sicknes soakes the purse . c. no , t is the patient that is soak't , not the purse . p. hee that is borne to be drownd , shall neuer be hang'd . c. yes , pirats drowne hanging at wapping . p. sicknes is the cause of death . c. not so , for many dye that are not sicke . p. a couetous man is neuer liberall . c. yes , when hee giues all away at his death . p. t is merry when gossips meet . c. not if they fall out vpon the reckoning . p. there is no fire without smoake . c. yes in a flint . p. pearles are restoratiue . c. no , not the pearle in the eye . p. religion is the rule of life . c. not to an athiest . p. the law is costly . c. no , t is the lawyer . p. a short horse is soone curried , c. not if he be very foule . p. a good horse that neuer stumbled , c. no , there is no such horse . p. hard fare makes hungry stomackes . c. not among sicke folkes . p. many handes make quicke worke . c. not among the lazy . p. a young courtier an old begger . c. not if he be thrifty . p. a good horse riddes ground apace . c. not if the way be full of holes . p. a staffe is soone found to beat a dogge withall . c. not in a plaine where there is no wood . p. no extreame will hold long . c. yes , weakenesse in a consumption . p. euery thing is as it is taken . c. not so , many things may bee taken amisse . p. a foole is euer laughing . c. not when hee is beaten , for then hee cryes . p. scoldes and infants neuer lin bawling . c. yes when they are asleepe . pro. bounce quoth the gun . cros. not so , gunnes cannot speake . pro. bate me an ase quoth bolton . cros. no , i wil not bate him an ase : wherfore should i ? p. content is a kingdome in this world . c. not so ▪ for the world giues it not . p. mony makes friendes enemies . cros. not so , it is the euill vse of it . p. neerer is my skin then my shitt . c. not where the flesh is rawe : p. nothing breakes the heart more then thought . c. yes a bullet . p. loue will goe through stone walls . c. not til there be holes in them . p. one rotten sheepe will marre a whole flocke . c. not if the shepheard looke well to them . pro. ouer shooes , ouer bootes . c. not except wil ouer runne wit. p. lawyers are temporall physicians , in helping weake clyents c. not if their apothecaries bils bring their purses into a consumption . finis . most holy and profitable sayings of that reverend divine, doctor tho. goodwin who departed this life, feb. . / . goodwin, thomas, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing g estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) most holy and profitable sayings of that reverend divine, doctor tho. goodwin who departed this life, feb. . / . goodwin, thomas, - . sheet ([ ] p.) s.n., [london : ] imprint from wing cd-rom, . reproduction of original in the newberry library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng maxims -- early works to . christian life -- early works to . proverbs, english -- early works to . broadsides -- england - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - elspeth healey sampled and proofread - elspeth healey text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion most holy and profitable sayings of that reverend divine , doctor tho. goodwin . who departed this life , feb. . . / . we sail to glory , not in the salt sea of our tears , but in the red sea of christs precious blood. a sanctified heart is better than a silver tongue . a heart full of graces is better than a heart full of notions . notional knowledge , it may make a mans head giddy , but it will never make a mans heart holy . the wheat and the chaff , they may both grow together , but they shall not both lie together . in hell there shall not be a saint amongst those that are terrified : and in heaven there shall not be a sinner amongst those that are glorified . will you pity a body that is going to the block ; and will you not pity a soul that is going to the pit. what a sad visitation is that , where the black horse of death goeth before , and the red horse of wrath followeth after . a mans condition in this life may be honourable , and yet his state as to another life may be damnable . there cannot be a better being for us , than for us to be with the best of beings . that which makes heaven so full of joy , is , that it is above all fear : and that which makes hell so full of horror , is , that it is below all hope . to be a professor of piety , and a practiser of iniquity is an abomination to the lord. oh! sin is that mark at which all the arrows of vengeance are shot . were it not for sin , death had never had a beginning ; and were it not for death , sin would never have had an ending . oh! did sin bring sorrow into the world , then let sorrow carry sin out of the world . let the cry of your prayers out-cry the cry of your sins . nothing can quench the fire that sin hath kindled , but the water which repentance hath caused . you that have filled the book of god with your sins , should fill the bottle of god with your tears . he can never truly relish the sweetness of gods mercy , who never tasted the bitterness of his own misery . none can promise us better than christ can , and none can threaten us worse than christ can . can any man promise us any thing better than heaven ? or , can any man threaten us with any ▪ thing worse than hell ? heaven is promised to those that love him , and hell is to be the portion of those that hate him . to live without fear of death is to dye living , to labour not to dye , is labour in vain . men are afraid to dye in such and such sins , but not afraid to live in such and such sins . oh the hell of horrours and terrors that attend those souls , that have their greatest work to do when they come to die. therefore as you would be happy in death , and everlastingly blessed after death , prepare and fit your selves for death . did christ die for us , that we might live with him : and shall not we desire to die , and be with him . a believers dying day is his crowning day . god protects men when they are in his way , but not out of his way . sin is never at a higher flood , than when grace is at a low ebb. though the churches enemies may be waves to toss her , yet they shall never be rocks to split her . it is not a time for sions sons to be rejoycing , when their mother is mourning . when the churches adversaries make long furrowes upon her back , we should cast in the seed of tears . many instead of sympathiseing with believers in their misery , they are censuring of them for their misery . true love to christ can walk on the water without drowning , and lie on the fire without burning . how shall we land at the heaven of rest , if we are not tossed upon the sea of trouble . a saint of god lives above the love of life , and fears not the terror of death . none are so welcome to that spiritual canaan , as those that swim to it through the red sea of their own blood. saints are not so much afraid of suffering , as they are of sinning ; in suffering the offence is done to us , but in sinning the offence is done to god. finis . a collection of english proverbs digested into a convenient method for the speedy finding any one upon occasion : with short annotations : whereunto are added local proverbs with their explications, old proverbial rhythmes, less known or exotick proverbial sentences, and scottish proverbs / by j. ray, m.a. and fellow of the royal society. ray, john, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing r estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a collection of english proverbs digested into a convenient method for the speedy finding any one upon occasion : with short annotations : whereunto are added local proverbs with their explications, old proverbial rhythmes, less known or exotick proverbial sentences, and scottish proverbs / by j. ray, m.a. and fellow of the royal society. ray, john, - . the second edition enlarged by the addition of many hundred english, and appendix of hebrew proverbs, with annotations and parallels. [ ], , [ ] p. printed by john hayes ..., for w. morden, cambridge [cambridgeshire] : . advertisement: p. [ ] at end. first published in . reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng proverbs. proverbs, hebrew. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - jonathan blaney sampled and proofread - jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a collection of english proverbs digested into a convenient method for the speedy finding any one upon occasion ; with short annotations . whereunto are added local proverbs with their explications , old proverbial rhythmes , less known or exotick proverbial sentences , and scottish proverbs . the second edition enlarged by the addition of many hundred english , and an appendix of hebrew proverbs , with annotations and parallels . by j. ray , m.a. and fellow of the royal society . cambridge , printed by john hayes , printer to the university , for w. morden . . the preface . the former edition of this collection of english proverbs falling into the hands of divers ingenious persons , my worthy friends , in several parts of this kingdom , had ( as i hoped it would ) this good effect , to excite them , as well to examine their own memories and try what they could call to mind themselves that were therein wanting , as also more carefully to heed what occurred in reading , or dropt from the mouths of others in discourse . whereupon having noted many such , they were pleased for the perfecting of the work frankly to communicate them to me . all which , amounting to some hundreds , besides not a few of my own observation , i present the reader with in this second edition : i dare not yet pretend it to be a compleat and perfect catalogue of all english proverbs : but i think i may without arrogance affirm it to be more full and comprehensive then any collection hitherto published . and i believe that not very many of the proverbs generally used all england over , or far diffused over any considerable part of it whether the east , west , north or midland countreys , have escaped it ; i having had communications from observant and inquisitive persons in all those parts , viz. from francis jessop esq of broom-hall in sheffield parish yorkshire , m r george antrobus master of the free school at tamworth in warwickshire , m r walter ashmore of the same place . michael biddulph gent. of polesworth in warwickshire , deceased ; m r newton of leicester , m r sherringham of caius college in cambridge ; s r philip skippon of wrentham in suffolk knight , m r andrew paschall of chedsey in somersetshire , and m r francis brokesby of rowley in the east riding of yorkshire . as for locall proverbs of lesser extent , proper to some towns or villages , as they are very numerous , so are they hard to be procured , and few of them , could they be had , very quaint or significant . if any one shall find fault , that i have inserted many english phrases that are not properly proverbs , though that word be taken in its greatest latitude and according to my own definition of a proverb , & object that i might as well have admitted all the idioms of the english tongue ; i answer , that , to say the truth , i cannot warrant all those phrases to be genuine proverbs to which i have allowed room in this collection ; for indeed i did not satisfie my self in many : but because they were sent me for such by learned and intelligent persons , and who i ought to presume understand the nature of a proverb better then my self , and because i find the like in collections of forreign proverbs both french and italian , i chose rather to submit them to the censure of the reader , then my self pass sentence of rejection on them . as for the method i have used , in the preface to the former edition i have given my reasons why i made choice of it , which to me doe still appear to be sufficient . the method of common places , if any man think it useful , may easily be supplied by an index of common places , wherein to each head the proverbs appertaining or reducible shall be referred by the apposition of the numeral characters of page and line . some proverbs the reader may possibly find repeated , but i dare say not many . i know this might have been avoided by running over the whole book , and searching for the proverbs one by one in all the places where our method would admit them entry . but sloth and impatience of so tedious a work enticed me rather to presume upon memory ; especially considering it was not worth while to be very solicitous about a matter of so small importance . in such papers as i received after the copy was out of my hands , when i was doubtful of any proverb i chose to let it stand , resolving that it was better to repeat some then to omit any . now whereas i understand that some proverbs admitted in the former edition have given offence to sober and pious persons , as savouring too much of obscenity , being apt to suggest impure fancies to corrupt minds , i have in this omitted all i could suspect for such save only one , for the letting of which stand i have given my reason in the note upon it ; and yet now upon better consideration i could wish that it also were obliterated . for i would by no means be guilty of administring fewel to lust , which i am sensible needs no incentives , burning too eagerly of it self . but though i doe condemn the mention of any thing obscene , yet i cannot think all use of slovenly and dirty words to be such a violation of modesty , as to exact the discarding all proverbs of which they are ingredients . the usefull notions which many ill-worded proverbs doe import , may i think compensate for their homely terms ; though i could wish the contrivers of them had put their sence into more decent and cleanly language . for if we consider what the reasons are why the naming some excrements of the body or the egestion of them , or the parts employed therein is condemned , we shall find them to be , either . because such excrements being offensive to our sences , and usually begetting a loathing in our stomachs , the words that signifie them are apt to doe so too ; and for their relation to them , such also as denote those actions and parts of the body by which they are expelled , and therefore the mention of them is uncivil and contrary to good manners ; or . because such excrements reflect some dishonour upon our bodies , it being reputed disgracefull to lie under a necessity of such evacuations , and to have such sinks about us : and therefore modesty requires that we decline the naming of them , left we seem to glory in our shame . now these reasons to me seem not so weighty and cogent as to necessitate the omission of so many of the most witty and significant of our english proverbs : yet further to avoid all occasion of offence , i have by that usual expedient of putting onely the initial letters for the uncleanly words so veiled them , that i hope they will not turn the stomach of the most nauseous . for it is the naming such things by their plain and proper appellatives that is odious and offensive , when they come lapped up ( as we say ) in clean linnen , that is expressed in oblique , figurative or metaphorical terms , or onely intimated and pointed at , the most modest can brook them well enough . the appendix of hebrew proverbs was collected and communicated by my worthy friend m r richard kidder rector of rayn in essex . so i have dispatcht what i thought needfull to premise either for my own excuse or the readers satisfaction , to whose favourable acceptance i recommend the work . sentences and phrases found in the former collections of proverbs , the most of them not now in common use for such , so far as i know , but borrowed of other language . a. better to go about then to fall into the ditch . hispan . the absent party is still faulty . in vain he craves advice that will not follow it . when a thing is done advice comes too late . though old and wise yet still advise . it 's an ill air where nothing is to be gain'd . no alchymy to saving . good ale is meat , drink and cloth . anger dieth quickly with a good man. he that is angry is seldome at ease . for that thou canst do thy self rely not on another . the wholesomest meat is at another mans cost . none knows the weight of anothers burden . when you are an anvil hold you still ; when you are a hammer strike your fill . the ape so long clippeth her young that at last she killeth them . an ape is an ape , a varlet 's a varlet , though they be clad in silk or scarlet . a broken apothecary a new doctour . apothecaries would not give pills in sugar unless they were bitter . better ride on an asse that carries me , then an asse that throws me . b be not a baker if your head be of butter . hispan . the ballance distinguishes not between gold and lead . there 's no great banquet but some fare ill . one barber shaves not so close but another finds work . on a good bargain think twice . ital. barefooted men need not tread on thorns . bashfulness is an enemy to poverty . better to be beaten then be in bad company . beauty is a blossom . beauty draws more then oxen . beauty is no inheritance . the begger is never out of his way . the begger may sing before the thief . no more then the english of that old latine verse . cantabit vacuus coram latrone viator . better to die a begger then live a begger . such a beginning such an end . he that makes his bed ill lies there . if the bed could tell all it knows it would put many to the blush . he who lies long in bed his estate feels it . who looks not before finds himself behind . bells call others to the church , but enter not in themselves . be not too hasty to outbid another . who hath bitter in his mouth spits not all sweet . the blind mans wife needs no painting . hispan . he is blind enough who sees not through the holes of a sieve . hispan . that which doth blossom in the spring will bring forth fruit in the autumn . he that blowes in the dust fills his eyes . the body is the socket of the soul . it 's easie to bowl down hill . brabbling currs never want fore ears . the brain that sowes not corn plants thistles . the asse that brayes most ears least . would you have better bread then is made of wheat ? ital. bread with eyes , and cheese without eyes . hisp . ita. to beg breeches of a bare ars't man. as i brew so i must drink . there is no deceit in a brimmer . building is a sweet impoverishing . it is called the spanish plague : therefore as cato well saith , optimum est alienâ insaniâ frui . building and marrying of children are great wasters gall. the greatest burdens are not the gainfullest . to buy dear is not bounty . buy at a market , but sell at home , hispan . c. there is no cake but there is the like of the same make . in a calm sea every man is a pilot . a good candle-holder proves a good gamester . if thou hast not a capon feed on an onyon gall. the cat is hungry when a crust contents her . the liquorish cat gets many a rap . it 's a bad cause that none dare speak in . he that chastiseth one amendeth many . though the fox runs , the chicken hath wings . the chicken is the countreys , but the city eats it . wo to the house where there is no chiding . the child saith nothing but what he heard at the fire . to a child all weather is cold . when children stand quiet they have done some harm . what children hear at home doth soon fly abroad . children are poor mens riches , are certain cares , but uncertain comforts , when they are little make parents fools , when great , mad . a light christmas a heavy sheaf . the cholerick drinks , the melancholick eats , the flegmatick sleeps . who never climb'd never fell . after clouds comes clear weather . give a clown your finger and he will take your whole hand . coblers and tinkers are the best ale drinkers . the cock crowes , but the hen goes . when you ride a young colt see your saddle be well girt . the comforters head never akes . ital. he commands enough that obeys a wise man. ital. it 's good to have company in trouble . solamen m●seris socios habuisse doloris . keep good men company , and you shall be of the number . confession of a fault makes half amends for it . he that contemplates hath a day without a night . he may well be contented who needs neither borrow nor flatter . he that converseth not with men knoweth nothing . corn in good years is hay , in ill years straw is corn . corn is cleansed with the wind , and the soul with chastning . he covers me with his wings , and bites me with his bill . a covetous man is like a dog in a wheel that roasteth meat for others . a dry cough is the trumpeter of death . keep counsel thy self first . counsels in wine seldom prosper . he that will not be counsell'd cannot be help't . courtesie on one side doth never last long . courts have no almanacks . craft bringeth nothing home . to a crazy ship all winds are contrary . credit lost is like a venice glass broke . he that hath lost his credit is dead to the world . no man ever lost his credit but he who had it not . crooked logs make streight fires . crosses are ladders that do lead to heaven . carrion crows bewail the dead sheep , and then eat them . ital. cruelty is a tyrant that 's always attended with fear . who is a cuckold and conceals it carries coals in his bosom . hisp . let every cuckold wear his own horns . in rain and sunshine cuckolds go to heaven . a cut-purse is a sure trade , for he hath ready money when his work is done . d. you dance in a net , and think no body sees you . when all is gone and nothing left , what avails the dagger with the dudgeon heft ? the danger past and god forgotten . no day passeth without some grief . it is never a bad day that hath a good night . deaf men go away with the injury . it 's a wicked thing to make a dearth on 's garner . death keeps no kalender . men fear death as children to go in the dark . better to go to bed supperless then to rise in debt . hispan . deeds are fruits , words are but leaves . deeds are males , and words are females . i fatti sono maschi , le parole femine . ital. desires are nourished by delays . he looseth his thanks who promiseth and delayeth . gratia ab officio , quod mora tardat , abest . a man may loose his goods for want of demanding them . optima nomina non appellando fiunt mala . first deserve and then desire . desert and reward seldom keep company . discreet women have neither eyes nor ears . la femme de bien n'a ny yeux ny oreilles . gall. sweet discourse makes short days and nights . diseases are the interests of pleasures . all her dishes are chafing dishes . the devil is not always at one door . it 's an ill battel where the devil carries the colours . diversity of humours breedeth tumors . a man may cause his own dog to bite him . the dog who hunts foulest hits at most faults . when a dog is drowning every one offers him water . dogs wag their tails not so much in love to you as to your bread . hispan . dogs gnaw bones because they cannot swallow them . ital. do what thou oughtest , and come what can . gall. a noble house-keeper needs no doors . do as the frier saith , not as he doeth . hispan . a great dowry is a bed full of brabbles . hispan . fine dressing is a foul house swept before the windows . he was hang'd that left his drink behind . who loseth his due getteth no thanks . e wide ears and a short tongue . think of ease , but work on . that which is easily done is soon believed . who eats his dinner alone must saddle his horse alone . hispan . you cannot hide an eel in a sack . good to begin well , better to end well . in the end things will mend . he that endureth is not overcome . no man better knows what good is then he who hath endured evil . envy never enriched any man. of evil grain no good seed can come . bear with evil and expect good . evil gotten evil spent . malè parta malè dilabuntur . that which is evil is soon learn't . evil that cometh out of thy mouth flieth into thy bosom . f. who hath a fair wife needs more then two eyes . fair is not fair , but that which pleaseth . this is an italian prov. non è bello quel'ch ' è bello ma è bello quel'che piace . a fair woman and a slash't gown find alway some nail in the way . one may sooner fall then rise . fall not out with a friend for a trifle . it 's a poor family which hath neither a whore nor a thief in it . a fat house-keeper makes lean executors . every one basteth the fat hog , while the lean one burneth . teach your father to get children . such a father such a son . the faulty stands on his guard . every ones faults are not written in their foreheads . better pass a danger once then be always in fear . it. reckon right and february hath thirty one days . he that hath a fellow-ruler hath an over-ruler . fidlers fare , meat , drink and money . take heed you find not that you do not seek . ital. well may he smell of fire whose gown burneth . the first dish pleaseth all . i 'll not make fish of one , and flesh of another . the fish follow the bait . in the deepest water is the best fishing . he that is suffer'd to do more then is fitting will do more then is lawful . no man can flay a stone . one flower makes no garland . none is a fool always , every one sometimes . a fool is fulsome . a fool demands much , but he is a greater fool that gives it . fools tie knots and wise men loose them . if fools went not to market bad ware would not be sold . hispan . one fool makes an hundred . if you play with a fool at home he 'll play with you in the market . better a bare foot then no foot at all . forgive any sooner then thy self . gall. ital. the foremost dog catcheth the hare . the perswasion of the fortunate swayes the doubtfull . when fortune smiles on thee take the advantage . he who hath no ill fortune is cloy'd with good . he that will deceive the fox must rise betimes . foxes when sleeping have nothing fall into their mouths . this is a french prov. a regnard endormi rien ne cheut en la gueule . foxes when they cannot reach the grapes say they are not ripe . the best mirrour is an old friend . gall. hispan . life without a friend is death with a witness . make not thy friend too cheap to thee , nor thy self to thy friend . when a friend asketh there is no tomorrow . hisp . a true friend should be like a privy , open in necessity . a friend is not so soon gotten as lost . have but few friends though much acquaintance . in time of prosperity friends will be plenty . in time of adversity not one among twenty . a tree is known by the fruit , and not by the leaves . the further we go the further behind . g. who would be a gentleman let him storm a town . it 's not the gay coat makes the gentleman . he giveth twice that gives in a trice . qui cito dat bis dat . dono molto aspettato e venduto non donato . ital. a gift long waited for is sold & not given . giving is dead now a days , and restoring very sick . who gives thee a capon give him the leg and the wing . hisp . to give and keep there is need of wit. a man of gladness seldom falls into madness . who hath glass-windows of his own must take heed how he throws stones at his house . what your glass tells you will not be told by counsel . he that hath a body made of glass must not throw stones at another . do not say go but gaw , i. e. go thy self along . god deprives him of bread who likes not his drink . god healeth , and the physician hath the thanks . get thy spindle and thy distaff ready and god will send thee flax . god cometh with leaden feet , but striketh with iron hands . god comes at last when we think he is furthest off . it. god hath often a great share in a little house . gal. god , our parents and our master can never be requited . gall. no lock will hold against the power of gold . hisp . you may speak with your gold and make other tongues dumb . ital. when we have gold we are in fear , when we have none we are in danger . ital. a good thing is soon snatch't up . an handful of good life is better then a bushel of learning . mieux vaut un poigne de bonne vie que plein muy'de clergie . gal. one never looseth by doing good turns . good and quickly seldom meet . goods are theirs who enjoy them . ital. gossips and frogs they drink and talk . the greatest strokes make not the best musick . there could be no great ones if there were no little . he that gropes in the dark finds that he would not . many things grow in the garden were never sown there . hispan . the grounsel speaks not save what it heard of the hinges . h. the wise hand doth not all the foolish tongue speaketh . happy is he who knows his follies in his youth . the hard gives no more then he that hath nothing . things hardly attain'd are long retained . he who would have a hare to breakfast must hunt over night . good harvests make men prodigal , bad ones provident . he that hath a good harvest may be content with some thistles . 't is safe riding in a good haven . the first point of hawking is hold fast . the gentle hawk mans her self . when the head aketh all the body is the worse . dum caput infestat labor omnia membra molestat . one is not so soon healed as hurt . what the heart thinketh the tongue speaketh . who spits against heaven it falls in his face . hispan . hell is full of good meanings and wishes . the high-way is never about . look high and fall into a cowturd . every man is best known to himself . better my hog dirty home then no hog at all . dry bread at home is better then roastmeat abroad . he is wise that is honest . ital. of all crafts to be an honest man is the master-craft . a man never surfets of too much honesty . lick honey with your little finger . he that likes honey from thorns pays too dear for it . this is a french proverb . trop achepte le miel qui sur espines le leche . honey is sweet but the bee stings . honour and ease are seldom bedfellows . who lives by hope dies breaking of wind backwards . ital. he that lives in hope danceth without a minstrel . hispan . the horse thinks one thing , and he that rides him another . lend thy horse for a long journey , thou mayest have him return with his skin . all things are soon prepar'd in a well-ordered house the foot on the cradle and hand on the distaff is the sign of a good housewife . hispan . an humble-bee in a cowturd thinks himself a king. it were more proper to say a beetle in a cowturd . an hungry man an angry man. husbands are in heaven whose wives chide not . i. idleness turns the edge of wit. idleness is the key of beggery . jest not with the eye nor with religion . hispan . the truest jests sound worst in guilty ears . better be ill spoken of by one before all , then by all before one . an ill stake standeth longest . there were no ill language if it were not ill taken . the best remedy against an ill man is much ground between both . hispan . industry is fortunes right hand , and frugality her left . he goes not out of his way that goes to a good inn. we must not look for a golden life in an iron age . an itch is worse then a smart . itch an ease can no man please . k. wheresoever you see your kindred make much of your friends . a knotty piece of timber must have smooth wedges . many do kiss the hands they wish to see cut off his . he that eats the kings goose shall be choked with the feathers . l. he that labours and thrives spins gold . the lame goeth as far as the staggerer . the last suitour wins the maid . in a thousand pound of law there 's not an ounce of love . the law is not the same at morning and night . the worst of law is that one suit breeds twenty . hispan . a suit of law and an urinal bring a man to the hospital . hispan . a good lawyer an evil neighbour . he laughs ill that laughs himself to death . let your letter stay for the post , not the post for the letter . ital. a bean in liberty is better then a comfit in prison . every light is not the sun. like author like book . like to like , and nan for nicholas . the lions skin is never cheap . a little body doth often harbour a great'soul . the little cannot be great unless he devour many . little sticks kindle the fire , but great ones put it out . little dogs start the hare , but the great ones catch it . that little which is good fils the trencher . he liveth long that liveth well . life is half spent e're we know what it is . he that liveth wickedly can hardly die honestly . he that lives not well one year , sorrows for it seven . it 's not how long but how well we live . who lives well sees afar off . hispan . the life of man is a winters day and a winters way . he looseth nothing who keeps god for his friend . he hath not lost all who hath one throw to cast . gal. london bridge was made for wise men to pass over , and for fools to pass under . love lives in cottages as well as in courts . love rules his kingdom without a sword . love being jealous makes a good eye look asquint . love asks faith , and faith asks firmness . ital. they love too much that die for love . they who love most are least set by . where love fails we espy all faults . a low hedge is easily leapt over . m. a maid that giveth yieldeth . ital. a maid that laughs is half taken . a maid oft seen , a gown oft worn are disesteem'd and held in scorn . manners make often fortunes . when many strike on an anvil they must strike by measure . many ventures make a full fraight . many without punishment , none without sin . many speak much that cannot speak well . the march sun causeth dust , and the wind blows it about . when the mare hath a bald face , the filly will have a blaze . the market is the best garden . at london they are wont to say ; cheapside is the best garden : the married man must turn his staff into a stake . before thou marry , be sure of a house wherein to tarry . hispan . ital. honest men marry soon , wise men not at all . ital. he who marrieth for wealth doth sell his liberty . who marrieth for love without money hath good nights and sorry days . ital. hispan . one eye of the masters sees more then ten of the servants . ital. though the mastiffe be gentle , yet bite him not by the lip . use the means , and god will give the blessing . measure thrice what thou buyest , and cut it but once . ital. measure is a merry mean. he is not a merchant bare , that hath money , worth or ware . good to be merry at meat . metal is dangerous in a blind horse . mills and wives are ever wanting . the mill cannot grind with the water that is past . the abundance of money ruines youth . the skilfullest wanting money is scorn'd . he that hath money in his purse cannot want a head for his shoulders . ready money will away . money is that art hath turn'd up trump . money is welcome though it come in a sh — clout , the morning sun never lasts a day . the good mother saith not , will you , but gives . ital. you must not let your mouse-trap smell of cheese . musick helps not the tooth-ach . n. one nail drives out another . gall. un clou pousse l'autre . a good name keeps its lustre in the dark . he who but once a good name gets , may piss a bed and say he sweats . ital. the evil wound is cured , but not the evil name . nature draws more then ten oxen . who perisheth in needless danger is the devils martyr . new meat begets a new appetite . when thy neighbours house doth burn , be carefull of thine own . tuares agitur paries cùm proximus ardet . he that runs in the night stumbles . the nightingale and the cuckow sing both in one moneth . the more noble , the more humble . cold weather and knaves come out of the north. nothing down , nothing up . nothing have , nothing crave . by doing nothing we learn to do ill . nihil agendo malè agere discimus . it 's more painful to do nothing then something . he that hath nothing is not contented . the nurses tongue is priviledged to talk . o. the offender never pardons . ital. the off-spring of them that are very old or very young lasteth not . it 's ill healing an old sore . he wrongs not an old man , who steals his supper from him . hispan . if the old dog barkes , he gives counsel . can vecchio non baia ind arno . ital. old friends and old wine are best . gall , and old gold . old men , when they scorn young , make much of death . rather , as mr. howell hath it , when they sport with young women . when bees are old they yield no honey . the old mans staff is the rapper at deaths door . his . an old knave is no babe . where old age is evil , youth can learn no good . when an old man will not drink , go to see him in another world . ital. he who hath but one hog makes him fat , and he who hath but one son makes him a fool . ital. one shrewd turn asks another . one slumberr invites another . all feet tread not in one shoe . if every one would mend one , all would be amended . one and none is all one . hispan . there came nothing out of the sack but what was in it . it 's a rank courtesie when a man is forc't to give thanks for his own . the smoke of a mans own house is better then the fire of anothers . hispan . where shall the ox go but he must labour . take heed of an ox before , an asse behind , and a monk on all sides . hispan . p. many can pack the cards that cannot play . let no womans painting breed thy stomachs fainting . painted pictures are dead speakers . on painting and fighting look aloof off . he that will enter into paradise must have a good key . say no ill of the year till it be past . every path hath a puddle . patch and long sit , build and soon flit . patience is a flower grows not in every ones garden . herein is an allusion to the name of a plant so called , i. e. rhabarbarum monachorum . he who hath much pease may put the more in the pot . let every pedler carry his own burden . there 's no companion like the penny . hispan . he that takes not up a pin sleights his wife . he that pitieth another remembreth himself . hisp . play , women and wine undo men laughing . noble plants suit not a stubborn soil . fly pleasure and it will follow thee . never pleasures without repentance . the pleasures of the mighty are the tears of the poor . if your plow be jogging you may have meat for your horses . poor men have no souls . there are none p●or but such as god hates poverty parteth friends [ or fellowship . ] poverty is the mother of health . true praise takes root and spreads . neither praise nor dispraise thy self , thine actions serve the turn . he that will not be saved needs no preacher . prettiness dies quickly . who draws his sword against his prince , must throw away the scabbard . it 's an ill procession where the devil holds the candle . between promising and performing a man may marry his daughter . gall. he promiseth like a merchant , and pays like a man of war. to promise and give nothing is a comfort to a fool . he is proper that hath proper conditions . providence is better then rent . he hath lest his purse in his other hose . a full purse makes the mouth to speak . an empty purse fills the face with wrinkles . r. it 's possible for a ram to kill a butcher . the rath sower ne're borrows o'th'late . a man without reason is a beast in season . take heed of enemies reconcil'd , and of meat twice boil'd . hispan . a good recorder sets all in order . remove an old tree , and it will wither to death . when all is consum'd , repentance comes too late . he may freely receive courtesies that knows how to requite them . god help the rich , the poor can beg . riches are but the baggage of fortune . when riches increase the body decreaseth . for most men grow old before they grow rich . riches are like muck which stink in a heap , but spread abroad , make the earth fruitful . it 's easie to rob an orchard , when none keeps it . a rugged stone grows smooth from hand to hand . better to rule then be ruled by the rout . the rusty sword and empty purse plead performance of covenants . s. it 's a bad sack will abide no clouting . when it pleaseth not god , the saint can do little . hisp . ital. salmon and sermon have their season in lent. gall. a scepter is one thing , a ladle another . alia res sceptrum , alia plectrum . you pay more for your schooling , then your learning is worth . who robs a scholar robs twenty men . for commonly he borrows a cloak of one , a sword of another , a pair of boots of a third , a hat of a fourth , &c. who hath a scold hath sorrow to his sops . being on the sea sail , being on the land settle . they complain wrongfully on the sea , who twice suffer shipwrack . every thing is good in its season . would you know secrets , look them in grief or pleasure . he who seeketh trouble never misseth it . a man must sell his ware after the rates of the market . he who serves well , needs not be afraid to ask his wages . the groat is ill saved that shames the master . it 's a foolish sheep that makes the wolf his confessor ital. ships fear fire more then water . a great ship doth ask deep waters . the chamber of sickness is the chappel of devotion . silence doth seldom harm . silence is the best ornament of a woman . silks and sattins put out the fire in the kitchin . he that sings on i ryday shall weep on sunday . the singing-man keeps his shop in his throat . hisp . sit in your place and none can make you rise . slander leaves a score behind it . calumniare fortiter aliquid adhaerebit . sloth turneth the edge of wit. better the last smile then the first laughter . a smiling boy seldom proves a good servant . the smith and his penny are both black . whether you do boil snow or pound it , you can have but water of it . sorrow is good for nothing but sin . when sorrow is a sleep wake it not . souldiers in peace are like chimneys in summer . who sows his corn in the field trusts in god. he that speaks me fair and loves me not , i 'll speak him fair and trust him not . he that speaks doth sow , he that holds his peace doth reap . ital. speech is the picture of the mind . spend and be free , but make no waste . to a good spender god is the treasurer . the jews spend at easter , the moors at marriages , and the christians in suits of law. ital. who more then he is worth doth spend , he makes a rope his life to end . who spends more then he should , shall not have to spend when he would . who hath spice enough may season his meat as he pleaseth . it 's a poor sport that is not worth the candle . the best of the sport is to do the deed & say nothing that which will not be spun , let it not come between the spindle and the distaff . they steal the hog and give away the feet in alms . hispan . steal the goose and give the giblets in alms . step after step the ladder is ascended . who hath none to still him , may weep out his eyes . the stillest humours are always the worst . who remove stones , bruise their fingers . who hath skirts of straw , needs fear the fire . hisp . stretch your legs according to your coverlet . it 's better to be stung by a nettle , then prick't by a rose . i suck't not this out of my fingers ends . though the sun shines , leave not your cloak at home . hispan . in every countrey the sun riseth in the morning . he deserves not the sweet that will not taste of the sowre . t. the table robs more then the thief . talk much and erre much ( saith the spaniard ) talking pays no toll . they talk of christmas so long , that it comes . the tast of the kitchin is better then the smell . to him that hath lost his tast , sweet is sowre . who hath aking teeth hath ill tenants . tell a tale to a mare , and she 'll let a fart . gall. asino fabulam . a thin meadow is soon mow'd . the thorn comes forth with his point forwards . the thought hath good legs , and the quill a good tongue . ital. a thousand pounds and a bottle of hay , is all one thing at dooms day . there are more threatned then struck . he who dies of threats , must be rung to church by farts . he that is thrown would ever wrestle . when it thunders , the thief becomes honest . the tide will fetch away what the ebb brings . time is the rider that breaks youth . every one puts his fault on the times . soon todd soon with god. a northern proverb , when a child hath teeth too soon . a long tongue is a sign of a short hand . better that the feet slip then the tongue . he that strikes with his tongue , must ward with his head . the tongue 's not steel , yet it cuts . the tongue breaketh bone , though it self have none . gall. the tongue talks at the heads cost . too much breaks the bag . hisp . too much scratching pains , too much talking plagues trade is the mother of money . when the tree is faln , every man goeth to it with gall. his hatchet . gall. truth and oyl are ever above . hispan . truth hath a good face , but bad clothes . u. no cut to unkindness . unknown unkist . unminded unmon'd . under water , famine ; under snow , bread . ital. valour that parlies , is near yielding . valour can do little without discretion . vis consilii expers mole ruit sua . et parvi sunt foris arma nisi sit consilium domi . that 's not good language that all understand not . where men are well used , they 'll frequent there . w. he that waits on another mans trencher , makes many a late dinner . for want of a nail the shoe is lost , for want of a shoe the horse is lost , for want of a horse the rider is lost . war is deaths feast . who preacheth war is the devils chaplain . war makes thieves , and peace hangs them . gall. it. war , hunting and law , are as full of trouble as pleasure . he that makes a good war , makes a good peace . he is wise enough that can keep himself warm . good watch prevents misfortune . he that hath a head of wax , must not walk in the sun. where it is weakest there the thread breaketh . wealth 's like rheum , it falls on the weakest parts . the greatest wealth , is contentment with a little . the gown 's hers that wears it , and the world 's his who enjoys it . change of weather is the discourse of fools . hisp . expect not fair weather in winter on one nights ice . he that goeth out with often loss . at last comes home by weeping cross . weight and measure take away strife . he that doth well wearieth not himself . well to work and make a fire , it doth care and skill require . such a welcome such a farewel . welcome death , quoth the rat , when the trap fell down . as welcome as flowers in may. i wept when i was born , and every day shews why . whores affect not you but your money . whoring and bawdery do often end in beggery . a mans best fortune or his worst is a wife . he that lets his wife go to every feast , and his horse drink at every water , shall neither have good wife nor good horse . ital. or thus , he that lets his horse drink at every lake , and his wife go to every wake , shall never be without a whore and a jade . wife and children are bills of charges , the cunning wife makes her husband her apron . hispan . the wife is the key of the house . he that hath wife and children wants not business . where the will is ready , the feet are light . to him that wills , ways are not wanting . with as good a will as ever i came from school . he that doth what he will , oft doth not what he ought . will will have wilt , though will woe win . nothing is impossible to a willing mind . willows are weak , yet they bind other wood . ital. pull down your hat on the wind side . a good winter brings a good summer . wine is the masters , but the goodness is the drawers . wine in the bottle doth not quench the thirst . ital. wine is a turn-coat , first a friend , then an enemy . wine that costs nothing is digested e're it be drunk . you cannot know wine by the barrel . wine wears no breeches . gall. i. e. shews what a man is . you can't drive a windmill with a pair of bellows . you may be a wise man though you can't make a watch . wise men care not for what they cannot have . none is so wise but the fool overtakes him . better to have then wish . better it be done then wish it had been done . it 's wit to pick a lock and steal a horse , but wisdom to let them alone . you have a little wit and it doth you good sometimes . he hath enough to keep the wolf from the door . that is , to satisfie his hunger , latrantem stomachum . wolves lose their teeth , but not their memory . who hath a wolf for his mate , needs a dog for his man. ital. who keeps company with the wolf , will learn to howl . chi prattica con lupi impara à hurlar . ita. women , priests and poultry have never enough . donne , preti & polli non son mai satolli . to wo is a pleasure in a young man , a fault in an old . green wood makes a hot fire . wood half burnt is easily kindled . you were better give the wool then the sheep . meglio è dar la lana che lapecora . ital. many words will not fill a bushel . words and feathers are tost by the wind . hisp . good words without deeds are rushes and reeds . one ill word asketh another . they must hunger in frost , that will not work in heat . what is a workman without his tools . there needs a long time to know the worlds pulse . this world is nothing except it tend to another . a green wound is soon healed . wranglers never want words . y. the more thy years , the nearer thy grave . youth and white paper take any impression . proverbs and proverbial observations belonging to health , diet and physick . an ague in the spring is physick for a king. that is if it comes off well . for an ague is nothing else but a strong fermentation of the bloud ; now as in the fermentation of other liquors there is for the most part a separation made of that which is heterogeneous and unsociable , whereby the liquor becomes more pure and defaecare , so is it also with the bloud , which by fermentation ( easily excited at this time by the return of the sun ) doth purge it self , and cast off those impure heterogeneous particles which it had contracted in the winter time . and that these may be carried away , after every particular fermentation or paroxysm , and not again taken up by the bloud , it is necessary or at least very useful , to sweat in bed after every fit . and an ague-fit is not thought to go off kindly , unless it ends in a sweat . moreover at the end of the disease it is convenient to purge the body , to carry away those more gross and seculent parts which have been separated by the several fermentations , and could not so easily be avoided by sweat , or that still remain in the bloud though not sufficient to cause a paroxysm . and that all persons especially those of years may be lessoned that they neglect not to purge their bodies after the getting rid of agues , i shall add a very material and useful observation of doctor sidenham's , sublato morbe ( saith he , speaking of autumnal feavers ) aeger sedulò purgandus est ; incredibile enim dictu quanta morborum vis expurgationis defectu post febres autumnales subnascatur . miror tutem hoc à medicis minùs caveri , minùs etiam admoneri quandocunque enim morborum alterutrum ( febrem t●rtianam aut quartanam ) paulò provectioris aetatis hominibus accidisse vidi , atque purgationem etiam omissam ; certò praedicere potui periculosum aliquem morbum eosdem postea adoriturum , de quo tamen illi nondum sòmniaverant , quasi perfectè jam sanati . agues come on horseback , but go away on foot . a bit in the morning is better then nothing all day . or , then a thump on the back with a stone . you eat and eat , but you do not drink to fill you . that much drinking takes off the edge of the appetite to meat , we see by experience in great drinkers , who for the most part do ( as we say ) but pingle at their meat and eat little . hippocrates observed of old , that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a good hearty draught takes away hunger after long fasting sooner by far then eating would do . the reason whereof i conceive is , because that acid humour which by vellicating the membranes of the stomack causes a sence of hunger , is by copious ingestion of drink very much diluted , and its acidity soon taken off . an apple , an egg and a nut , you may eat after a slut. pomae , ova atque nuces , si det tibi sordida , gustes . children an chicken must be always picking . that is , they must eat often , but little at a time . often , because the body growing requires much addition of food ; little at a time , for fear of oppressing and extinguishing the natural heat . a little oyl nourishes the flame , but a great deal poured on at once may drown and quench it . a man may carry that by little and little , which if laid on his back at once he would sink under . hence old men , who in this respect also , i mean by reason of the decay of their spirits and natural heat , do again become children , are advised by physicians to eat often , but little at once . old young and old long . divieni tosto vechio se vuoi vivere lungamente vecchio . ital. maturè sias senex si diu senex esse velis . this is alledged as a proverb by cicero in his book de senectute . for as the body is preserved in health by moderate labour or exercise , so by violent and immoderate it is impaired and worn out . and as a great excess of any quality or external violence doth suddenly destroy the body , so a lesser excess doth weaken and partially destroy it , by rendring it less lasting . they who would be young when they are old must be old when they are young . when the fern is as high as a spoon you may sleep an hour at noon . the custom of sleeping after dinner in the summer time is now grown general in italy and other hot countreys , so that from one to three or four of the clock in the afternoon you shall scarce see any one stirring about the streets of their cities . schola salernitana condemns this practise , sit brevis aut nullus tibi somnus meridianus : febris , pigrities , capitis dolor atque catarrhus . haec tibi proveniunt ex somno meridiano . but it may be this advice was intended for us english ( to whose king this book was dedicated ) rather then the italians or other inhabitants of hot countreys , who in the summer would have enough to do to keep themselves waking after dinner . the best way at least for us in colder climats is altogether to abstain from sleep ; but if we must needs sleep , ( as the italian physicians advise ) either to take a nod sitting in a chair , or if we lie down strip off our clothes as at night , and go into bed , as the present duke of tuscany himself practises and advises his subjects to do , but by no means lie down upon a bed in our clothes . when the fern is as high as a ladle , you may sleep as long as you are able . when fern begins to look red then milk is good with brown bread . it is observed by good housewives , that milk is thicker in the autumn then in the summer , notwithstanding the grass must needs be more hearty , the juice of it being better concocted by the heat of the sun in summer time . i conceive the reason to be because the cattel drink water abundantly by reason of their heat in summer , which doth much dilute their milk . every man is either a fool or a physician after thirty years of age . after dinner sit a while , after supper walk a mile . post epulas stabis vel passus mille meabis . i know no reason for the difference , unless one eats a greater dinner then supper . for when the stomach is full it is not good to exercise immediately , but to sit still awhile ; though i do not allow the reason usually given viz. because exercise draws the heat outward to the exteriour parts , and so leaving the stomach and bowels cold , hinders concoction : for i believe that as well the stomach as the exteriour parts are hottest after exercise : and that those who exercise most , concoct most and require most meat . so that exercise immediately after meat is hurtful rather upon account of precipitating concoction , or turning the meat out of the stomach too foon . as for the reason they give for standing or walking after meales , viz. because the meat by that means is depressed to the bottom of the stomach ; where the natural heat is most vigorous , it is very frivolous , both because the stomach is a wide vessel , & so the bottom of it cannot be empty , but what falls into it must needs fall down to the bottom : and because most certainly the stomach concocts worst when it is in a pendulous posture , as it is while we are standing hence , as the lord verulam truly observes , gally slaves and such as exercise sitting , though they fare meanly and work hard yet are commonly fat and fleshy . whereupon also he commends those works or exercises which a man may perform sitting , as sawing with a hand-saw and the like . some turn this saying into a droll thus . after dinner sleep a while , after supper go to bed . an old physician , a young lawyer . an old physician because of his experience ; a young lawyer , because he having but little practise will have leisure enough to attend your business , and desiring thereby to recommend himself and get more , will be very diligent in it . the italians say , an old physician , a young barber . a good chirurgion must have an eagles eye , a lions heart , and a ladies hand . good keal is half a meal . keal , i. e. pottage of any kind , though properly keal be pottage made of colewort , which the scots call keal , and of which usually they make their broth . if you would live ever , you must wash milk from your liver . vin sur laict c ' est souhait , laict sur vin c ' est venin . gall. this is an idle old saw , for which i can see no reason but rather for the contrary . butter is gold in the morning , silver at noon , lead at night . he that would live for ay must eat sage in may. that sage was by our ancestours esteemed a very wholesome herb , and much conducing to longevity appears by that verse in schola salernitana , cur moriatur homo cui salvia crescit in horto ? after cheese comes nothing . an egg and to bed . you must drink as much after an egg as after an ox. this is a fond and ungrounded old saying . light suppers make clean sheets . he that goes to bed thirsty rises healthy . gall. he that goes to bed thirsty , &c. i look upon this as a very good observation and should advise all persons not to go to bed with their stomachs full of wine , beer or any other liquour . for ( as the ingenious doctor lower observes ) nothing can be more injurious to the brain : of which he gives a most rational and true account , which take in his own words . cùm enim propter proclivem corpor is situm urina à renibus secreta non ità facilè & promptè uti cùm erecti sumus in vesicam per uretcres delabatur . cúmque vesicae cervix ex proclivi situ urinae pondere non aded gravetur ; atque spiritibus per somnum in cerebrum aggregatis & quiescentibus , vesica oneris ejus sensum non ità percipiat , sed officii quasi oblita ed copid urinae aliquando distenditur , ut majori recipiendae spatium vix detur ; inde fit ut propter impeditum per renes & ureteres urinae decursum , in totum corpus regurgitet , & nisi diarrhoea proximo mans succedat , aut nocturno sudore evacuetur in cerebrum depon● debet . tract . de corde . cap. . pag. . qui couche avec la soif se leve avec la santé . one hours sleep before midnight's worth two hours after . for the sun being the life of this sublunary world , whose heat causes and continues the motion of all terrestrial animals , when he is furthest off , that is about midnight , the spirits of themselves are aptest to rest and compose , so that the middle of the night must needs be the most proper time to sleep in , especially if we consider the great expence of spirits in the day time , partly by the heat of the afternoon , and partly by labour and the constant exercise of all the sences ; wherefore then to wake is to put the spirits in motion , when there are fewest of them , and they naturally most sluggish and unfit for it . who goes to bed supperless , all night tumbles and tosses . this is an italian proverb . chi va à letto senza cena tutta notte si dimena . that is , if a man goes to bed hungry , otherwise , he that eats a plentifull dinner may well afford to go to bed supperless , unless he hath used some strong bodily labour or exercise . certainly it is not good to go to ones rest till the stomach be well emptied , that is if we eat suppers , till two hours at least after supper . for ( as the old physicians tell us ) though the second and third concoctions be best performed in sleep ; yet the first is rather disturbed and perverted . if it be objected , that labouring people do not observe such rule , but do both go to bed presently after supper , and to work after dinner , yet who more healthful then they ; i answer that the case is different , for though by such practise they do turn their meat out of their stomachs before full and perfect concoction , and so multiply crude humours , yet they work and sweat them out again , which students and sedentary persons do not . indeed some men who have a speedy concoction and hot brains must to procure sleep eat something at night which may send up gentle vapours into the head , and compose the spirits . chi ben cena ben dorme . ital. often and little eating makes a man fat . fish must swim thrice . once in the water , a second time in the sawce , and a third time in wine in the stomach . poisson , gorret & cochin vie en l'eau , & morten vin . gall. fish and young swine live in water and die in wine . drink wine and have the gout , and drink no wine and have the gout too . with this saying , intemperate persons that have or fear the gout , encourage themselves to proceed in drinking wine notwithstanding . young mens knocks old men feel . quae peccamus juvenes ea luimus senes . go to bed with the lamb , and rise with the lark . early to go to bed and early to rise , makes a man healthy , wealthy and wise . wash your hands often , your feet seldom ; and your head never . eat at pleasure , drink by measure . this is a french proverb , pain tant qu'il dure , vin à mesure , and they themselves observe it . for no people eat more bread , nor indeed have better to eat : and for wine the most of them drink it well diluted , and never to any excess that i could observe . the italians have this saying likewise , pan mentre dura ma vin à misura . cheese it is a peevish else , it digests all things but it self . this is a translation of that old rhythming latin verse . caseus est nequàm , quia digerit omnia se quàm . the best physicians are dr. diet , dr. quiet and dr. merryman . this is nothing but that distich of schola salernitana englished . si tibi deficiant medici , medici tibi fiant . haec tria mens laeta , requies , moderata diaeta . drink in the morning staring , then all the day be sparing . eat a bit before you drink . feed sparingly and defie the physician . better be meales many then one too merry . you should never touch your eye but with your elbow . non patitur ludum fama , fides , oculus . to these i shall add a few french and italian proverbs . tenez chaud le pied & la teste , au demeurant viyez en beste . which mr. cotgrave englishes thus , the head and feet kept warm , the rest will take no harm . jeun chair & vieil poisson . i. e. young flesh and old fish are best . qui vin ne boit apres salade , est en danger estre malade . i. e. he that drinks not wine after salade , is in danger to be sick . di giorni quanto voi , di notte quanto poi . i. e. cover your head by day as much as you will , by night as much as you can . il pesse guasta l'acqua , la carne la concia . i. e. fish spoils water , but flesh mends it . pome , pere & noce guastano la voce . apples , peares & nuts spoil the voice . febre quartana ammazza i vecchii , & i giovani risana . a quartan ague kills old men & heales young . pesce , oglio & amico vecchio . old fish , old oil and an old friend are the best . vitello , pullastro & pesce crudo ingrassano i cimiterii . i. e. raw pulleyn , veal and fish make the churchyards fat . vino di mezo , oglio di sopra & miele di sotto . of wine the middle , of oil the top , and of honey the bottom is best . macrob saturn . lib. . c. . quaro igitur , cur oleum quod in summo est , vinum quod in medio , mel quod in fundo optimum esse credantur . nec cunctatus disarius ait , mel quod optimum est reliquo ponderosius est . in vase igitur mellis pars quae in imo est reliquis praestat pondere , & idco supernante pretiofior est . contra in vase vini pars inferior admixtione faecis non modo turbulenta , sed & sapore deterior est , pars verò summa aeris vicinid corrumpitur , &c. aria di finestra colpo di balestra . i. e. the air of a window is as the stroke of a cross-bow . asciuto il piede calda la testa , e dal resto vive da bestia , i. e. keep your feet dry and your head hot , and for the rest live like a beast . piscia chiaro & incaca al medico . i. e. pisse clear and defie the physician . proverbs and proverbial observations concerning husbandry , weather and the seasons of the year . janiveer freez the pot by the fire . if the grass grow in janiveer , it grows the worse for 't all the year . there 's no general rule without some exception : for in the year the winter was so mild , that the pastures were very green in january , yet was there scarce ever known a plentifuller crop of hay then the summer following . when candlemas day is come and gone the snow lies on a hot stone . february fill dike , be it black or be it white ; but if it be white , it 's the better to like . pluye de feburier vaut es gaux de fumier . gall. snow brings a double advantage : it not only preserves the corn from the bitterness of the frost and cold , but enriches the ground by reason of the nitrous salt which it is supposed to contain . i have observed the alps and other high mountains covered all the winter with snow , soon after it is melted to become like a garden , so full of luxuriant plants and variety of flowers . it is worth the noting , that mountainous plants are for the most part larger then those of the same genus which grow in lower grounds ; and that these snowy mountains afford greater variety of species then plain countreys . februeer doth cut and shear . all the moneths in the year curse a fair februeer . or thus , the welchman had rather see his dam on the beer , then so see a fair februeer . march in janiveer , janiveer in march i fear . march hack ham , comes in like a lion , goes out like a lamb . a bushel of march dust is worth a kings ransome . march grass never did good . march wind and may sun , make clothes white and maids dun . march many weathers . april showers bring forth may flowers . when april blows his horn , it 's good both for hay and corn . that is , when it thunders in april : for thunder is usually accompanied with rain . april borrows three days of march and they are ill . an april floud carries away the frog and her brood . a cold may and a windy , makes a full barn and a findy . the merry moneth of may. may come she early or come she late she 'll make the cow to quake . may seldom passes without a brunt of cold weather . some will have it thus , she 'll bring the cow. quake . i. e. gramen tremulum , which is true , but i suppose not the intent of the proverb . a may flood never did good . look at your corn in may , and you 'll come weeping away : look at the same in june , and you 'll come home in another tune . shear your sheep in may , and shear them all away . a swarm of bees in may , is worth a load of hay : but a swarm in july , is not worth a fly . when the wind 's in the east , it 's neither good for man nor beast . the east-wind with us is commonly very sharp , because it comes off the continent . midland countreys of the same latitude are generally colder then maritime , and continents then islands : and it is observed in england that near the sea-side , as in the county of cornwall , &c. the snow seldom lies three days . when the wind 's in the south , it 's in the rains mouth . this is an observation that holds true all over europe ; and i believe in a great part of asia too . for italy and greece the ancient latine and greek poets witness : as ovid. madidis notus evolat alis . and speaking of the south , metamorph. . he saith , contraria tellus nubibus assiduis pluviòque madescit ab austro . homer calles the north wind 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . pliny saith , in totum venti omnes à septentrione ficclores quàm à meridie . lib. . cap. . for judas in asia the scripture gives testimony ; prov. . . the north-wind drives away rain . wherefore by the rule of contraries , the south-wind must bring it . the reason of this with the ingenious philosopher des cartes i conceive to be , because those countreys which lie under and near to the course of the sun , being sufficiently heated by his almost perpendicular beams , send up a multitude of vapours into the air , which being kept in constant agitation by the same heat that raised them require a great space to perform their motions in , and new still ascending they must needs be cast off part to the south and part to the north of the suns course ; so that were there no winds the parts of the earth towards the north and south poles would be most full of clouds and vapours . now the north-wind blowing , keeps back those vapours , and causes clear weather in these northern parts : but the south wind brings store of them along with it , which by the cold of the air are here condensed into clouds , and fall down in rain . which accompt is confirmed by what pliny reports of africa , loc . cit . permutant & duo naturam cum situ : auster africae screnus , aquilo nubilus . the reason is , because africa being under or near the course of the sun , the south-wind carries away the vapours there ascending : but the north-wind detains them , and so partly by compressing , partly by cooling them causes them to condense and descend in showers . when the wind 's in the south , it blowes the bait into the fishes mouth . no weather is ill , if the wind be still . a hot may makes a fat church-yard . a green winter makes a fat church-yard . this proverb was sufficiently confuted anno , in which the winter was very mild ; and yet no mortality or epidemical disease ensued the summer or autumn following . we have entertained an opinion , that frosty weather is the most healthful , and the hardest winters the best . but i can see no reason for it , for in the hottest countreys of the world , as brazil , &c. men are longest lived where they know hot what frost or snow means , the ordinary age of man being an hundred and ten years : and here in england we found by experience , that the last great plague succeeded one of the sharpest frosty winters that hath lately happened . winter never rots in the sky . ne caldo , ne gelo resta mai in cielo . ital. neither heat nor cold abides always in the sky . it 's pity fair weather should do any harm . hail brings frost i'th'tail . a snow year , a rich year . anno di neve anno di bene . ital. a winters thunder 's a summers wonder . quand il tonne en mars on peut dire helas . gall. drought never bred dearth in england . whoso hath but a mouth , shall ne're in england suffer drought . v. in sentent . when the sand doth feed the clay , ( which is in a wet summer ) england wo and well-a-day : but when the clay doth feed the sand , ( which is in a dry summer ) then it is well with england . because there is more clay then sandy ground in england . the worse for the rider , the better for the bider . bon pais mauvais chemin . gall. rich land , bad way . when the cuckow comes to the bare thorn , sell your cow and buy you corn : but when she comes to the full bit , sell your corn and buy you sheep . if the cock moult before the hen , we shall have weather thick and thin : but if the hen moult before the cock , we shall have weather hard as a block . these prognosticks of weather and future plenty , &c. i look upon as altogether uncertain ; and were they narrowly observed would i believe , as often miss as hit . i' th' old o' th' moon a cloudy morning bodes a fair afternoon . as the days lengthen , so the cold strengthens . cresce di cresce'l freddo dice il pescador . ital. the reason is , for that the earth having been well heated by the sun 's long lying upon it in summer time is not suddainly cooled again by the recess of the sun , but retains part of its warmth till after the winter solstice : which warmth , notwithstanding the return and accesse of the sun , must needs still languish and decay , and so notwithstanding the lengthening of the days the weather grows colder , till the externall heat caused by the sun is greater then the remaining internall heat of the earth for as long as the externall is lesser then the internall ( that is , so long as the sun hath not force enough to produce as great a heat in the earth as was remaining from the last summer ) so long the internall must needs decrease . the like reason there is why the hottest time of the day is not just at noon , but about two of the clock in the afternoon and the hotest time of the year not just at the summer solstice , but about a moneth after , because till then the externall heat of the sun is greater then the heat produced in the earth . so if you put a plece of iron into a very hot fire it will not suddenly be heat so hot as the fire can make it , and though you abate your fire , before it be througly heated , yet will it grow hotter and hotter , till it comes to that degree of heat which the fire it is in can give it . if there be a rainbow in the eve , it will rain and leave : but if there be a rainbow in the morrow , it will neither lend nor borrow . an evening red and a morning gray , is a sign of a fair day . le rouge soir & blanc matin font rejouir le pelerin . gall. sera rossa & negro matino allegra il pelegrino . ital. a red evening and a white morning rejoyce the pilgrim . when the clouds are upon the hills they 'll come down by the mills . david and chad sow pease good or bad . that is about the beginning of march. this rule in gardening never forget , to sow dry , and to set wet . when the sloe-tree's as white as a sheet , sow your barley whether it be dry or wet . sow beans i' th' mud , and they 'll grow like wood . till st james his day be come and gone , you may have hops or you may have none . the pigeon never knoweth wo , but when she doth a benting go . if the partridge had the wood cocks thigh , t' would be the best bird that ever did fly . yule is good on yule even . that is , as i understand it , every thing in his season , yule is christmas . tripe's good meat if it be well wip't . a michaelmass rot comes n'ere i' th' pot . a nagg with a weamb and a mare with nean . i. e. none . behind before , before behind , a horse is in danger to be prick't . you must look for grass on the top of the oak tree . because the grass seldom springs well before the oak begins to put forth , as might have been observed the last year . st. matthie sends sap into the tree . a famine in england begins at the horse-manger . in opposition to the rack : for in dry years when hay is dear , commonly corn is cheap : but when oats ( or indeed any one grain ) is dear , the rest are seldom cheap . winters thunder and summers flood , never boded englishman good . butter's once a year in the cows horn . they mean when the cow gives no milk . and butter is said to be mad twice a year ; once in summer time in very hot weather , when it is too thin and fluid ; and once in winter in very cold weather , when it is too hard and difficult to spread . barly-straw's good fodder when the cow gives water . on valentines day will a good goose lay . if shee be a good goose her dame well to pay , she will lay two eggs before valentines day . before s. chad every goose layes both good and bad. it rains by planets . this the countrey people use when it rains in one place and not in another : meaning that the showres are governed by the planets , which being erratick in their own motions , cause such uncertain wandring of clouds and falls of rain . or it rains by planets , that is , the falls of showers are as uncertain as the motions of the planets are imagined to be . if candlemas day be fair and bright winter will have another flight : if on candlemas day it be showre and rain , winter is gone and will not come again . this is a translation or metraphrase of that old la-latin distich ; si sol splendescat maria purificante , major erit glacies post festum quam fuit ante . now though i think all observations about particular days superstitious and frivolous , yet because probably if the weather be fair for some days about this time of the year , it may betoken frost , i have put this down as it was delivered me . barnaby bright , the longest day and the shortest night . lucy light , the shortest day and the longest night . s. bartholomew brings the cold dew . s. matthie all the year goes by . because in leap-year the supernumerary day is then intercalated . s. matthee shut up the bee. s. valentine set thy hopper by mine . s. mattho , take thy hopper and sow . s. benedick sow thy pease or keep them in thy rick . red herring ne're spake word but een , broyl my back , but not my weamb . said the chevin to the trout , my head 's worth all thy bouk . meddlers are never good till they be rotten . on candlemas day you must have half your straw and half your hay . at twelf-day the days are lengthened a cock-stride . the italians say at christmas . a cherry year a merry year : a plum year a dumb year . this is a puerile and senceless rythme without reason , as far as i can see . set trees at allhallontide and command them to prosper : set them after candlemas and entreat them to grow . this dr. j. beal alledgeth as an old english and welch proverb , concerning apple and pear-trees , oak and hawthorn quicks ; though he is of mr. reed's opinion , that it 's best to remove fruit-trees in the spring , rather then the winter . philosoph . transact . n. . if you would fruit have , you must bring the leaf to the grave . that is you must transplant your trees just about the fall of the leaf , neither sooner nor much later : not sooner , because of the motion of the sap ; not later , that they may have time to take root before the deep frosts . to these i shall adjoin a few italian . primo porco , ultimo cane . i. e. the first pig , but the last whelp of the litter is the best . cavallo & cavalla cavalcalo in su la spalla , asino & mulo cavalcalo in su'l culo . i. e. ride a horse and mare on the shoulders , an asse and mule on the buttocks . a buon'hora in pescaria & tardi in beccaria . go early to the fish-market , & late to the butchery . al amico cura li il fico , al inimico il persico . pill a fig for your friend , and a peach for your enemy . proverbs and proverbial observations referring to love , wedlock and women . love me little and love me long . hot love is soon cold . love of lads and fire of chats is soon in and soon out . darbish . chats , i. e. chips . lads love's a busk of broom , hot awhile and soon done . chesh . love will creep where it cannot go . chi ha amor nel petto ha le sprone ne i fianchi . italian . he that hath love in his breast hath spurs in his sides . love and lordship like no fellowship . amor & seignoria non yogliono compagnia , ital. amour & feigneutie ne se tindrent jamais compagnie . gall. the meaning of our english proverb is , lovers and princes cannot endure rivals or partners . omnisque potestas impaticus consortis erit . the italian and french , though the same in words , have i think a different sense , viz. non bene conveniunt nec in una sede morantur majestas & amor . love is blind . lovers live by love , as larks by leeks . this is i conceive in derision of such expressions as living by love . larks and leeks beginning with the same letter helped it up to be a proverb . follow love and it will flee , flee love and it will follow thee . this was wont to be said of glory , sequentem fugit , fugientem sequitur . just like a shadow . love and pease-pottage will make their way . because one breaks the belly , the other the heart . the love of a woman and a bottle of wine , are sweet for a season , but last for a time . love comes in at the windows , and goes out at the doors . love and a cough cannot be hid . amor tussisque non celatur . the french and italians add to these two the itch . l'amour , la tousse & la galle ne se peuvent celer . gall. amor la rogna & la tousse non si ponno nascondere . ital. others add stink . ay be as merry as be can , for love ne're delights in a sorrowfull man. fair chieve all where love trucks . whom we love best , to them we can say least . he that loves glasse without g. take away l , and that is he . old pottage is sooner heated , then new made . old lovers fallen out are sooner reconciled then new loves begun . nay the comedian saith , amantium irae amoris redintegratio est . wedlock is a padlock . age and wedlock bring a man to his nightcap . wedding an ill wintering , tame both man and beast . marriages are made in heaven . nozze & magistrato dal cielo e destinato . ital. marry in haste and repent at leisure . it 's good to marry late or never . marry your sons when you will , your daughters when you can . marry your daughters betimes , lest they marry themselves . i 've cur'd her from laying i'th'hedge , quoth the good man when he had wed his daughter . motions are not marriages . more longs to marriage , then four bare legs in a bed . like blood , like good , and like age , make the happiest marriage . aequalem uxorem quaere . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . unequal marriages seldom prove happy . si qua voles aptè nubere , nube pari . ovid. intolerabilius nibil est quam famina dives . juvenal . many an one for land takes a fool by the hand . i. e. marries her or him . he that 's needy when he is married , shall be rich when he is buried . who weds e're he be wise , shall die e're he thrive . it 's hard to wive and thrive both in a year . better behalf hang'd then ill wed . he that would an old wife wed , must eat an apple before he goes to bed , which by reason of its flatulency is apt to excite lust . sweet heart and honey-bird keeps no house . marriage is honourable , but house-keeping's a shrew . we batchelours grin , but you married men laugh till your hearts ake . marriage and hanging go by destiny . it 's time to yoke when the cart comes to the caples , i. e. horses . chesh . that is , it 's time to marry when the woman woes the man. courting and woing brings dallying and doing . happy is the woing , that is not long in doing . widows are always rich . he that woes a maid must come seldom in her sight . but he that woes a widow must woe her day and night . he that woes a maid must fain , lie and flatter : but he that woes a widow , must down with his breeches and at her . this proverb being somewhat immodest , i should not have inserted , but that i met with it in a little book , entitled the quakers spiritual court proclaimed , written by nathanael smith , student in physick : wherein the author mentions it as counsell given him by one hilkiah bedford , an eminent quaker in london , who would have had him to have married a rich widow , in whose house in case he could get her , this nathanael smith had promised hilkiah a chamber gratis . the whole narrative is very well worth the reading . it 's dangerous marrying a widow because she hath cast her rider . he that would the daughter win , must with the mother first begin . a man must ask his wife leave to thrive . he that looseth his wife and sixpence , hath lost a tester . che perde moglie & un quatrino , ha gran perdita del quatrino . ital. he that loses his wife and a farthing hath a great loss of his farthing . there is one good wife in the countrey , and every man thinks he hath her . wives must be had , be they good or bad . he that tells his wife news , is but newly married . a nice wife and a back door , do often make a rich man poor . saith solomon the wise , a good wife 's a goodly prize . a dead wife 's the best goods in a mans house . long-tongued wives go long with bairn . a man of straw , is worth a woman of gold . this is a french proverb . un homme de paille vaut une femme d'or . one tongue is enough for a woman . this reason they give that would not have women learn languages . a womans tongue wags like a lambs tail . three women and a goose make a market . this is an italian one , tre donne & un occa fan un mercato . a ship and a woman are ever repairing . a spaniel , a woman and a walnut tree , the more they 're beaten the better still they be . nux , asinus , mulier simili sunt l●ge ligata . haec tria nil rectè faci●nt si verbera cessant . adducitur à cognato , est tamen novum . all women are good , viz , either good for something or good for nothing . women laugh when they can , and weep when they will. femme rit quand elle peut & pleure quand elle veut . gall. women think place a sweet fish . a woman conceals what she knows not . women and dogs set men together by the ears . as great pity to see a woman weep , as a goose go barefoot . winter-weather and womens thoughts change oft . a womans mind and winter-wind change oft . there 's no mischief in the world done , but a woman is always one . a wicked woman and an evil , is three half pence worse then the devil . the more women look in their glasses , the less they look to their houses . a womans work is never at an end . some adde , and washing of dishes . change of women makes bald knaves . every man can tame a shrew , but he that hath her . better be a shrew then a sheep . for commonly shrews are good housewives . better one house fill'd then two spill'd . this we use when we hear of a bad jack who hath married as bad a jyll . for as it is said of bonum , quò communius cò melius ; so by the rule of contraries , what is ill , the further it spreads the worse . and as in a city it is better there should be one lazaretto and that filled with the insected , then make every house in a town a pesthouse , they dwelling dispersedly or singly : so is it in a neighbourhood , &c. old maids lead apes in hell . batchelours wives and maids children are always well taught . chi non ha moglie ben la veste . chi non ha figlivoli ben li pasce . maidens must be seen and not heard . a dogs nose and a maids knees are always cold . young wenches make old wrenches . as the goodman saith , so say we , but as the good woman saith , so it must be . better be an old mans darling , then a young mans warling . a grunting horse and a groaning wife seldom fail their master . in time comes she whom gods sends . he that marries a widow and three children , marries four thieves . two daughters and a back door are three errant thieves . a black man 's a jewel in a fair womans eye . fair and sluttish , ( or foolish ) black and proud , long and lazy , little and loud . beautè & folie vont souvent de compagnie . gall. beauty and folly do often go hand in hand , are often match't together . put another mans child in your bosom , and he 'll creep out at your elbow . chesh . that is , cherish or love him , he 'll never be naturally affected toward you . when the good man 's from home the good wives table is soon spread . the good man 's the last knows what 's amiss at home . dedecus ille domûs sciet ultimus . 't is safe taking a shive of a cut loaf . wine and wenches empty mens purses . who drives an asse and leads a whore , hath pain and sorrow evermore . the italians add , & corre in arena . the french say , qui femme croit & asne meine , son corps ne sera ja sans peine . i. e. he that trusts a woman and leads an asse , &c. i 'll tent thee , quoth wood , if i can't rule my daughter , i 'll rule my good . chesh . ossing comes to bossing . chesh . ossing , i. e. offering or aiming to do . the meaning is the same , with courting and woing brings dallying and doing . free of her lips free of her hips . a rouk-town's seldom a good house-wife at home . this is a yorkshire proverb . a rouk-town is a gossipping house-wife , who loves to go from house to house . quickly too'd , [ i. e. toothed ] and quickly go , quickly will thy mother have moe . yorksh . some have it quickly to'd , quickly with god , as if early breeding of teeth , were a sign of a short life , whereas we read of some born with teeth in their heads , who yet have lived long enough to become famous men , as in the roman history ; m. curius dentatus , & cn. papyrius carbo mentioned by pliny , lib. . c. . and among our english kings , rich. . it 's a sad burden to carry a dead mans child . a little house well fill'd , a little land well till'd , and a little wife well will'd . one year of joy , another of comfort and all the rest of content . a marriage wish . my son 's my son , till he hath got him a wife , but my daughter 's my daughter all dayes of her life . the lone sheep's in danger of the wolf . a light heel'd mother , makes a heavy heel'd daughter . because she doth all her work her self , and her daughter the mean time sitting idle , contracts a habit of sloth . mere pitieuse fait sa fille rogneuse , gall. a tender mother breeds a scabby daughter . when the husband drinks to the wife , all would be well : when the wife drinks to the husband , all is well . when a couple are newly married , the first moneth is honey-moon or smick smack : the second is , hither an thither : the third is , thwick thwack : the fourth , the devil take them that brought thee and i together . women must have their wills while they live , be-because they make none when they die . england is the paradise of women . and well it may be called so , as might easily be demonstrated in many particulars , were not all the world already therein satisfied . hence it hath been said , that if a bridge were made over the narrow seas , all the women in europe would come over hither . yet is it worth the noting , that though in no countrey of the world , the men are so fond of , so much governed by , so wedded to their wives , yet hath no language , so many proverbial invectives against women . all meat 's to be eaten , all maids to be wed . it 's a sad house where the hen crows lowder then the cock . trista è quella casa dove le galline cantano e'l gallo tace . ital. if a woman were as little as shee is good , a peas-cod would make her a gown & a hood . se la donna fosse piccola come e buona , laminima foglia la farebbe una veste & una corona . ital. many women many words , many geese many t .... dove sonod nne & ocche non vi sono parole poche . ital. where there are women and geese there wants no noise . not what is she , but what hath she . protinus ad censum de moribus ultima fiet quaestio &c. juven . to these i shall add one french proverb . maison faicte & femme à faire . a house ready made but a wife to make , i. e. one that is a virgin & young . ne femina ne tela à lume de candela . ital. neither women nor linnen by candle-light . an alphabet of joculatory , nugatory and rustick proverbs . a. you see what we must all come to if we live . if thou be hungry , i am angry , let us go fight . lay on more wood , ashes give money . six awls make a shoemaker . all asiden as hogs fighten . b. back with that leg . of all and of all commend me to ball , for by licking the dishes he saved me much labour . like a barbers chair , fit for every buttock . a bargain is a bargain . his bashfull mind hinders his good intent . the son of a batchelour . i. e. a bastard . then the town-bull is a batchelour . i. e. as soon as such an one . he speaks bear-garden . that is , such rude and uncivil , or sordid and dirty language , as the rabble that frequent those sports , are wont to use . he that hath eaten a bear-pye will always smell of the garden . your belly chimes , it 's time to go to dinner . you shall have as much favour at billings-gate for a box on the ear . a black shoe makes a merry heart . he 's in his better blew clothes . he thinks himself wondrous fine . have among you blind harpers . good blood makes bad puddings without groats or suet . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , nobility is nothing but ancient riches : and money is the idol the world adores . a blot in his escucheon . to be bout , i. e. without , as barrow was . chesh . to leave boyes-play , and go to blow-point . you 'll not believe a man is dead till you see his brains out . well rhythm'd tutour , brains and stairs . now used in derision of such as make paltry ridiculous rhythmes . a brinded pig will make a good brawn to breed on . a red-headed man will make a good stallion . this buying of bread undoes us . if i were to fast for my life i would eat a good breakfast in the morning . she brides it . she bridles up the head , or acts the bride . as broad as long . i. e. take it which way you will , there 's no difference , it is all one . to burst at the broad side . like an old womans breech , at no certainty . he 's like a buck of the first-head . brisk , pert , forward , some apply it to upstart gentlemen . the spirit of building is come upon him . he wears the bulls feather . this is a french proverb , for a cuckold . it melts like butter in a sows tail : or , works like sope &c. i have a bone in mine arm . this is a pretended excuse , whereby people abuse young children when they are importunate to have them do something , or reach something for them , that they are unwilling to do , or that is not good for them . burroughs end of sheep , some one . c. every cake hath its make , but a scrape-cake hath two . every wench hath her sweet-heart , and the dirtiest commonly the most : make , i. e. match , fellow . he capers like a fly in a tarbox . he 's in good carding . i would cheat mine own father at cards . when you have counted your cards you 'll find you have gained but little . catch that catch may . the cat hath eaten her count . it is spoken of women with child , that go beyond their reckoning . he lives under the sign of the eats foot . he is hen-peckt , his wife scratches him . whores and thieves go by the clock . quoth the young cock , i 'll neither meddle nor make . when he saw the old cocks neck wrung off , for taking part with the master , and the old hens , for taking part with the dame . to order without a constable . he 's no conjurer . marry come up my dirty cousin . spoken by way of taunt , to those who boast themselves of their birth , parentage , or the like . cousin germans quite removed . he 's fallen into a cowturd . he looks like a cowt — stuck with primroses . to a cows thumb . crack me that nut , quoth bumsted . to rock the cradle in ones spectacles . cream-pot love . such as young fellows pretend tō dairy-maids , to get cream and other good things of them . cuckolds are christians . the story is well known of the old woman , who hearing a young fellow call his dog cuckold , saies to him , are you not ashamed to call a dog by a christians name . he has deserved a cushion . that is , he hath gotten a boy . to kill a man with a cushion . a curtain-lecture . such an one as a wife reads her husband when she chides him in bed . if a cuckold come he 'll take away the meat . viz. if there be no salt on the table . it 's better to be a-cold then a cuckold . for want of company wellcome trumpery . that 's the cream of the jest . it 's but a copy of his countenance . his cow hath calved , or sow pig'd . he hath got what he sought for , or expected . with cost one may make pottage of a stool-foot . d. the dasnel dawcock sits among the doctours . corchorus inter olera . corchorus is a small herb of little account : some take it to be the male pimpernel : beside which there is another herb so called , which resembles mallowes , and is much eaten by the egyptians . when the devil is blind . heigh ho , the devil is dead . strike dawkin , the devil is i' th' hemp . the devil is good to some . it 's good sometimes to hold a candle to the devil . holding a candle to the devil is assisting in a bad cause , an evil matter . the devil is i' th' dice. when the devil is a hog you shall eat bacon . to give one the dog to hold . i. e. to serve one a dog-trick . it 's a good dog can catch any thing . he looks like a dog under a door . make a-do and have a-do . i know what i do when i drink . drink off your drink , and steal no lambs . drift is as bad as unthrift . he was hang'd that left his drink behind him . good fellows have a story of a certain malefactour , who came to be suspected upon leaving his drink behind him in an alehouse , at the news of an hue and cry . a good day will not mend him , nor a bad day impair him . i 'll make him dance without a pipe . i. e. i 'll do him an injury , and he shall not know how . e. i 'll warrant you for an egg at easter . f. you two are finger and thumb . my wife cryes five loaves a penny , i. e. she is in travel . it 's good fish if it were but caught . it 's spoken of any considerable good that one hath not , but talks much of , sues for , or endeavours after . a future good , which is to be catched , if a man can , is but little worth . to morrow morning i found an horse-shoe . the fox was sick , and he knew not where : he clap't his hand on his tail , and swore it was there . that which one most forehets , soonest comes to pass . quod quisque vitet nunquam , homini satis cautum est in horas . horat. look to him jaylour , there 's a frog i' th' stocks . g. the way to be gone is not to stay here . good goose do not bite . it 's a sorry goose will not baste her self . i care no more for it then a goose-t .... for the thames . let him set up shop on goodwins sands . this is a piece of countrey wit ; there being an aequivoque in the word good-win , which is a surname , and also signifies gaining wealth . he would live in a gravel-pit . spoken of a wary sparing , niggardly person . this grow'd by night . spoken of a crooked stick or tree , it could not see to grow . great doings at gregories , heat the oven twice for a custard . he hath swallowed a gudgeon . he hath swore desperately , viz. to that which there is a great presumption is false : swallowed a false oath . the devils guts . i. e. the surveyours chain . a good fellow lights his candle at both ends . god help the fool , quoth pedly . this pedley was a naturall fool himself , and yet had usually this expression in his mouth . indeed none are more ready to pity the folly of others , then those who have but a small measure of wit themselves . h. his hair growes through his hood . he is very poor , his hood is full of holes . you have a handsome head of hair , pray give me a tester . when spendthrifts come to borrow money they commonly usher in their errand with some frivolous discourse in commendation of the person they would borrow of , or some of his parts or qualities : the same be said of beggers . a handsome bodied man i' th' face . hang your self for a pastime . if i be hang'd , i 'll chuse my gallowes . a king harry's face . better have it then hear of it . to take heart of grace . to be hide-bound . this was a hill in king harry's dayes . to be loosei'th ' hilts. hit or misse for a cow-heel . a hober de hoy , half a man and half a boy . hold or cut codpiece point . hold him to 't buckle and thong . she 's an holy-day dame . you 'll make honey of a dogst ... that horse is troubled with corns . i. e. foundred . he hath eaten a horse , and the tail hangs out at his mouth . he had better put his horns in his pocket , then wind them . there 's but an hour in a day between a good housewife and a bad . with a little more pains , she that slatters might do things neatly . he came in hos'd and shod . he was born to a good estate . he came into the world as a bee into the hive : or into an house , or into a trade , or employment . i. i am not the first , and shall not be the last . to be jack in an office . an inch an hour , a foot a day . a basket justice ; a jyll justice ; a good forenoon justice . he 'll do iustice right or wrong . k. there i caught a knave in a purse net . knock under the board . he must do so that will not drink his cup. as good a knave i know , as a knave i know not . an horse - kiss . a rude kiss , able to beat ones teeth out . l. his house stands on my ladyes ground . a long lane and a fair wind , and always thy heels here away . lasses are lads leavings . chesh . in the east part of england , where they use the word mothther for a girl , they have a fond old saw of this nature , viz. wenches are tinkers bitches , girles are pedlers trulls , and modhdhers are honest mens daughters . he 'll laugh at the wagging of a straw . neither lead nor drive . an unto ward , unmanageable person . to play least in sight . to go as if dead lice dropt out of him . he is so poor and lean and weak , that he cannot maintain his lice . thou 'lt lie all manner of colours but blew , and that is gone to the litting . i. e. dying . tell a lie and find the troth . listners ne'er hear good of themselves . to lye in bed and forecast . sick o' th' lombard feaver , or of the idles . she hath been at london to call a strea a straw , and a waw a wall . chesh . this the common people use in scorn of those who having been at london are ashamed to speak their-own countrey dialect . she lives by love and lumps in corners . every one that can lick a dish : as much to say , as every one simpliciter , tag rag and bobtail . it 's a lightning before death . this is generally observed of sick persons , that a little before they dye their pains leave them , and their understanding and memory return to them ; as a candle just before it goes out gives a great blaze . the best dog leap the stile first . i. e. let the worthiest person take place . m. maxfield measure heap and thrutch . i. e. thrust . chesh . to find a mares nest . he 's a man every inch of him . a match , quoth hatch , when he got his wife by the breech . a match , quoth iack , when he kist his dame . all the matter 's not in my lord judges hand . let him mend his manners , 't will be his own another day . he 's metal to the back . a metaphor taken from knives and swords . 't is midsummer moon with you . i. e. you are mad . to handle without mittins . he was born in a mill . i. e. he 's deaf . samson was a strong man , yet could he not pay money before he had it . thou shalt have moon-shine i' th' mustard-pot for it . i. e. nothing . sick o' th' mulligrubs with eating chop 't hay . you make a muck-hill on my trencher , quoth the bride . you carve me a great heap . i suppose some bride at first , thinking to speak elegantly and finely might use that expression ; and so it was taken up in drollery ; or else it 's onely a droll , made to abuse countrey brides , affecting fine language . this maid was born odd . spoken of a maid who lives to be old , and cannot get a husband . n. nipence nopence , half a groat lacking two pence . would no i thank you had never been made . his nose will abide no jests . doth your nose swell [ or eek , i. e. itch ] at that ? i had rather it wrung you by the nose then me by the belly . i. e. a fart . it 's the nature o' th' beast . o. a small officer . once out and always out . old enough to lye without doors . old muckhills will bloome . old man when thou diest give me thy doublet . an old woman in a wooden ruffe . i. e. in an antique dresse . it will do with an onyon . to look like an owl in an ivy-bush . to walk by owl-light . he has a good estate , but that the right owner keeps it from him . how do you after your oysters ? all one but their meat goes two wayes . p. there 's a pad i'th'straw . as it pleases the painter . mock no panyer-men , your father was a fisher . every pease hath its veaze , and a bean fifteen . a veaze vescia in italian is crepitus ventris . so it signifies pease are flatulent , but beans ten times more . you may know by a penny how a shilling spends . peter of wood , church and mills are all his . chesh . go pipe at padley , there 's a pescod feast . some have it , go pipe at colston , &c. it is spoken in derision to people that busie themselves about matters of no concernment . he pisses backwards , i. e. does the other thing . he has pist his tallow . this is spoken of bucks who grow lean after rutting time , and may be applied to men . such a reason pist my goose . he playes you as fair as if he pick't your pocket . if you be not pleased put your hand in your pocket and please your self . a jeering expression to such as will not be pleased with the reasonable offers of others . as plum as a jugglem ear . i. e. a quagmire . devonsh . to pocket up an injury . i. e. to pass it by without revenge , or taking notice . the difference between the poor-man and the rich is , that the poor walketh to get meat for his stomach , the rich a stomach for his meat . prate is prate , but it 's the duck layes the eggs . she is at her last prayers . proo naunt your mare puts . i. e. pushes . it would vex a dog to see a pudding creep . he was christned with pump-water . it is spoken of one that hath a red face . pye-lid makes people wise . because no man can tell what is in a pye till the lid be taken up . to ride post for a pudding . be fair condition'd , and eat bread with your pudding . he 's at a forc't put . q. we 'll do as they do at quern , what we do not to day , we must do i' th morn . r. some rain some rest , a harvest proverb . the dirt-bird [ or dirt-owl ] sings , we shall have rain . when melancholy persons are very merry , it is observed that there usually followes an extraordinary fit of sadness ; they doing all things commonly in extremes . every day of the week a showre of rain , and on sunday twain . a rich rogue two shirts and a ragge . right master right , four nobles a year 's a crown a quarter . chesh . room for cuckolds , &c. he rose with his a .... upwards . a sign of good luck . he would live as long as old rosse of pottern , who liv'd till all the world was weary of him . let him alone with the saints bell , and give him rope enough . the lass i'th'red petticoat shall pay for all . young men answer so when they are chid for being so prodigal and expensive , meaning , they will get a wife with a good portion , that shall pay for it . neither rhythme nor reason . rub and a good cast . be not too hasty , and you 'll speed the better : make not more haste then good speed . s. 't is sooner said then done . school-boys are the reasonablest people in the world , they care not how little they have for their money . a scot on scots bank . the scotch ordinary . i. e. the house of office . that goes against the shins . i. e. it 's to my prejudice , i do it not willingly . he knows not whether his shooe goes awry . sigh not but send , he 'll come if he be unhang'd . sirrah your dogs , sirrah not me , for i was born before you could see . of all tame beasts i hate sluts . he 's nothing but skin and bones . to spin a fair thread . spit in his mouth and make him a mastiffe . no man ever cryed stinking fish . stretching and yawning leadeth to bed . to stumble at the truckle-bed . to mistake the chamber-maids bed for his wives . he could have sung well before he brake his left shoulder with whistling . sweet heart and bag pudding . nay stay , quoth stringer when his neck was in the halter . say nothing when you are dead . i. e. be silent . t. his tail will catch the kin-cough . spoken of one that sits on the ground . a tall man of 's hands , he will not let a beast rest in 's pocket . he 's tom tell-troth . two slips for a tester . the tears o th'tankard . four farthings and a thimble make a tailours pocket jingle . to throw snot about . i. e. to weep . though he saith nothing , he pays it with thinking , like the welchmans jackdaw . tittle tattle , give the goose more hay . tosted cheese hath no master . trick for trick , and a stone in thy foot besides , quoth one , pulling a stone out of his mares foot , when she bit him on the back , and he her on the buttock . are there traitours at the table that the loaf is turn'd the wrong side upwards ? to trot like a doe . there 's not a t. . to chuse , quoth the good wife by her two pounds of butter . he looks like a tooth-drawer . i. e. very thin and meager . that 's as true as i am his uncle . turnspits are dry . v. veal will be cheap : calves fall . a jeer for those who lose the calves of their legs by &c. in a shoulder of veal there are twenty and two good bits . this 〈◊〉 piece of country wit. they mean by it , there are twen ( others say forty ) bits in a shoulder of veal , and but two good ones . he 's a velvet true heart . chesh . i 'll venture it as johnson did his wife , and she did well . up with it , if it be but a gallon , 't will ease your stomack . w. look on the wall , and it will not bite you . spoken in jeer to such as are bitten with mustard . a scotch warming-pan . i. e. a wench . the story is well known of the gentleman travelling in scotland , who desiring to have his bed warmed , the servant-maid doffs her clothes , and lays her self down in it a while . in scotland they have neither bellowes , warming-pans , nor houses of office . she 's as quiet as a wasp in ones nose . every man in 's way . water betwitch't . i. e. very thin beer . eat and wellcome , fast and heartily wellcome . i am very wheamow ( i. e. nimble ) quoth the old woman , when she step't into the milk-bowl . yorksh. a white-liver'd fellow . to shoot wide of the mark . wide quoth wilson . to sit like a wire-drawer under his work . yorksh. he hath more wit in 's head then thou in both thy shoulders . he hath plaid wily beguild with himself . you may trusse up all his wit in an egg-shell . hold your tongue husband , and let me talk that have all the wit. the wit of you , and the wooll of a blew dog will make a good medly . this is the world and the other is the countrey . when the devill is dead there 's a wife for humphrey . to wrap it up in clean linnen . to deliver sordid or uncleanly matter in decent language . a point next the wrist . y. he has made a younger brother of him . the younger brother hath the more wit. the younger brother is the ancienter gentleman . old and tough , young and tender . miscellany proverbiall sayings . put a miller , a weaver and a tailour in a bag , and shake them , the first that comes out will be a thief . harry's children of leigh , never an one like another . a seaman if he carries a millstone will have a quait out of it . spoken of the common mariners , if they can come at things that may be eat or drunk . go here away , go there away , quoth madge whitworth , when she rode the mare i'th'tedder . there 's strushion , i. e. destruction , of honey , quoth dunkinly when he lickt up the henturd . i kill'd her for good will , said scot , when he kill'd his neighbours mare . gip with an ill rubbing , quoth badger when his mare kickt . this is a ridiculous expression , used to people that are pettish and froward . he 's a hot shot in a mustard pot , when both his heels stand right up . three dear years will raise a bakers daughter to a portion . 't is not the smalness of the bread , but the knavery of the baker . i hope better quoth benson , when his wife bade him come in cuckold . one , two , three , four , are just half a score . i 'll make him fly up with jacksons hens . i. e. undo him : so when a man is broke , or undone , we say he is blown up . i 'll make him water his horse at high-gate . i. e. i 'll sue him , and make him take a journey up to london . what have i to doe with bradshaws windmill ? leycester . what have i to do with other mens matters ? he that would have good luck in horses , must kiss the parsons wife . he that snites his nose , and hath it not , forfeits his face to the king. a man can do no more then he can . it 's an ill guest that never drinks to his host . run tap run tapster . this is said of a tapster that drinks so much himself , and is so free of his drink to others that he is fain to run away . he hath got the fiddle , but not the stick . i. e. the books but not the learning , to make use of them , or the like . that 's the way , to catch the old one on the nest . this must be if we brew . that is if we undertake mean and sordid , or lucrative employments , we must be content with some trouble , inconvenience , affronts , disturbance , &c. proverbiall periphrases of one drunk . he 's disguised . he has got a piece of bread and cheese in 's head . he has drunk more then he has bled . he has been i' th' sun. he has a jagg or load . he has got a dish . he has got a cup too much . he is one and thirty . he is dag'd . he has cut his leg . he is afflicted . he is top-heavy . the malt is above the water . as drunk as a wheelbarrow . he makes indentures with his legs . he 's well to live . he 's about to cast up his reckoning or accompts . he has made an example . he is concerned . he is as drunk as davids sow . he has stollen a manchet out of the brewers basket . he 's raddled . he is very weary . he drank till he gave up his half-penny , i. e. vomited . proverbiall phrases and sentences belonging to drink and drinking . lick your dish . wind up your bottome . play off your dust . hold up your dagger hand . make a pearl on your nail . to bang the pitcher . there 's no deceit in a brimmer . sup simon the best is at the bottom . ale that would make a cat to speak . fill what you will , and drink what you fill . he hath pist out all he hath against the walls : she 's not a good house-wife that will not wind up her bottom , i. e. take off her drink . one that hath the fr. pox. he has been at haddam . he has got the crinckams . he is pepper'd . he is not pepper-proof . he has got a kentish ague . he has got the new consumption . he has got a clap . he has got a blow over the nose with a french cowlstaff . he is frenchified . the covent-garden ague . the barnwell ague . to make water . &c. to make a little maids water . to water the marigolds . to speak with a maid . to gather a rose . to look upon the wall . a lier . he deserves the whetstone . he 'll not let any body lye by him . he shall have the kings horse . he 's a long-bow-man . he lies as fast as a dog can trot . a great lie. that was laid on with a trowel . that 's a loud one . that 's a lie with a witness ; a lie with a latchet . that sticks in 's throat . if a lie could have choked him , that would have done it . the dam of that was a whisker . a bankrupt . he 's all to pieces . he has sh ..... i' th' plum-bag . he 's blown up . he has shut up shop-windows . he dare not shew his head . he hath swallowed a spider . he hath shewn them a fair pair of heels . he is marched off . he goes on 's last legs . he is run off his legs . a wencher . he loves lac't mutton . he 'll run at sheep . he 'll commit poultry . he 'll have a bit for 's cat . he keeps a cast of merlins . men of his hair are seen oftner at the b ... court then at the gallows . a whore. she 's like a cat , she 'll play with her tail . she 's as right as my leg . a light-skirts . a kind-hearted soul . she 's loose i' th' hilts . a lady of pleasure . as errant a wh ..... as ever pist . a cockatrice . a leman . shee 's as common as a barbers chair . as common as the high way . she lyes backward and lets out her fore-rooms . she is neither wife , widow , nor maid . a covetous person . his money comes from him like drops of blood . he 'l flay a flint . he 'l not lose the droppings of his nose . he serves the poor with a thump on the back with a stone . he 'll dress an egg , and give the offall to the poor . he 's like a swine , never good untill he come to the knife . avarus nisi cùm moritur nil recte facit . lab. his purse is made of a toads skin . proverbiall phrases relating to several trades . the smith hath always a spark in 's throat . the smith and his penny are both black . nine taylours make a man. coblers law , he that takes money must pay the shot . to brew in a bottle and bake in a bag . the devil would have been a weaver but for the temples . the gentle craft . s. hughs bones . a hangman is a good trade , he doth his work by day-light . it is good to be sure . toll it again quoth the miller . any tooth good barber . a horse-doctour , i. e. a farrier . he should be a ba●er by 's bow-legs . take all and pay the baker . he drives a subtill trade . proverbs that are entire sentences . a long absent soon forgotten parallel to this are , out of sight out of mind , and seldome seen soon forgotten : and not much different those greek ones . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 friends dwelling afarre off are no friends . and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . forbearance of conversation dissolves friendship . adversity makes a man wise not rich . the french say , vent au visage rend un home sage . the wind in a mans face makes him wise . if to be good be the greatest wisdom , certainly affliction and adversity make men better . vexatio dat intellectum . he that 's afraid of every grass , must not piss in a meadow . chi ha paura d'ogni urtica non pisci in herba . ital. he that 's afraid of every nettle , must not pisse in the grass . he that 's afraid of leaves must not come in a wood . this is a french proverb englished . qui a peur de fueilles ne doit aller au bois . he that 's afraid of the wagging of feathers , must keep from among wild foul . mr. cotgrave in his french dictionary produces this as an english proverb , parallel to the precedent . he that 's afraid of wounds must not come nigh a battell . these four proverbs have all one and the same sence . viz. that timorous persons must keep as farr off from danger as they can . they import also , that causeless fear workes men unnecessary disquiet , puts them upon absurd and foolish practises , and renders them ridiculous . he'st ne're have thing good cheap that 's afraid to ask the price . il n'aura ja bon marchè qui ne le demande . gall. agree , for the law is costly . this is good counsell back't with a good reason , the charges of a suit many times exceeding the value of the thing contended for . the italians say , meglio è magro accordo che grassa sentenza . a lean agreement is better then a fat sentence . a man cannot live by the air . good ale is meat , drink and cloath . fair chieve good ale , it makes many folks speak as they think . fair chieve is used in the same sence here as well-fare sometimes is in the south , that is , good speed , good success have it , i commend it . it shall have my good wish , or good word . in vino veritas . we shall lie all alike in our graves . aequa tellus pauperi recluditur regúmque pueris . horat. mors sceptra ligonibus aequat . no living man all things can . non omnia possumus omnes . virgil. see many sentences to this purpose in erasmus's adages . almost was never hang'd . almost and very nigh save many a lie . the signification of this word almost having some latitude , men are apt to stretch it to cover untruths . angry ( or hasty ) men seldome want woe . hasty in our language is but a more gentle word for angry . anger indeed makes men hasty , and inconsiderate in their actions . furor iráque mentem praecipitant . he that 's angry without a cause must be pleased without amends . two anons and a by and by is an hour and half . scald not your lips in another mans pottage . parallel hereto is that place , proverb . chap. . v. . the higher the ape goes the more he shews his tail . the higher beggers , or base-bred persons are advanced , the more they discover the lowness and baseness of their spirits and tempers : for as the scripture saith . prov. . . honour is unseemly for a fool . tu fai come la simia , che piu va in alto piu mostra il culo . ital. the italians i find draw this proverb to a different sence , to signifie one , who the more he speaks the more sport he makes , and the more ridiculous he renders himself . stretch your arm no further then your sleeve will reach . metiri se quemque modulo suo ac pede verum est . lend you mine a — and sh — through my ribs . that is , lend you that whereof i have necessary and frequent use , and want it my self . it is a russick proverb , and of frequent use in this nation ; and was , i suppose , brought over to us by some merchants that traded there . never be ashamed to eat your meat . apud mensam vereeundari neminem decet . erasm . takes notice that this proverb is handed down to us from the ancients , save that the vulgar addes neque in lecto : whereas ( saith he ) nusquam magis habenda est vere cundiae ratio quàm in lecto & convivio . yet some there are who out of a rustick shame-fac'tness or over mannerlyness are very troublesom at table , expecting to be carv'd to , and often invited to eat , and refusing what you offer them &c. the italians say almost in the same words . a tavola non bisogna haver vergogna . and the french. qui a honte de manger a honte de vivre . he that 's ashamed to eat , is ashamed to live . every man must eat a peck of ashes before he dies . lose nothing for asking . every ass thinkes himself worthy to stand with the kings horses . a kindly aver will never make a good horse . this is a scottish proverb quoted by k. james in his basilicon doron . it seems the word aver in scottish signifies a colt , as appears also by that other proverb , an inch of a nagg is worth a span of an aver : in our ancient writings averium signifies any labouring beast , whether ox or horse , and seems to be all one with the latine jumentum . aw makes dun draw . b. that which is good for the back is bad for the head . omnis commoditas sua fert incommoda secum . he loves bacon well that licks the swine-sty door . where bad 's the best , naught must be the choice . a bad bush is better then the open field . that is , it 's better to have any though a bad friend of relation , then to be quite destitute and exposed to the wide world . a bad shift is better then none . when bale is hext boot is next . hext is a contraction of highest as next is of nighest . bale is an old english word signifying misery , and boot profit or help . so 't is as much as to say , when things are come to the worst they 'l mend . cùm duplicantur lateres venit moses . a bald head is soon shaven . make not balks of good ground . a balk , lat. scamnum ; a piece of earth which the plow slips over without turning up or breaking , it is also used for narrow slips of land left unplowed on purpose in champian countreys , for boundaries between mens lands or some other convenience . a good face needs no band ; and a bad one deserves none . some make a rhyme of this , by adding . and a pretty wench no land . more words then one go to a bargain . a good bargain is a pick-purse . bon marchè tire l'argent hors de la bourse . gall. good cheap is dear , for it tempts people to buy what they need not . bare walls make giddy house-wives . i. e. idle house-wives , they having nothing whereabout to busie themselves and shew their good housewivery . we speak this in excuse of the good woman , who doth like st. pauls widow 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , gad abroad a little too much , or that is blamed for not giving the entertainment that is expected , or not behaving her self as other matrons do . she hath nothing to work upon at home , she is disconsolate , and therefore seeketh to divert her self abroad : she is inclined to be virtuous , but discomposed through poverty . parallel to this i take to be that french proverb , vuides chambres font les dames folles , which yet mr. cotgrave thus renders , empty chambers make women play the wantons ; in a different sence . the greatest barkers bite not forest : or dogs that bark at distance , bite not at hand . cane chi abbaia non morde . ital. chien qui abbaye ne mord pas . gall. canes timidi vehementiùs latrant . cave tibi à cane muto & aqua silente . have a care of a silent dog and a still water . sr john barley-corn's the strongest knight . it 's a hard battel where none escapes . be as it it may be is no banning . every bean hath its black . vitiis nemo sine nascitur . horat. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . non est alauda sine crista . omni malo punico inest granum putre . ogni grano ha la sua semola . every grain hath his bran . ital. sell not the bears skin before you have caught him . non vender la pelle del orso inanzi che sia preso . ital. he must have iron nails that scratches a bear. a man may bear till his back breaks . if people find him patient they 'll be sure to load him . you may beat a horse till he be sad , and a cow till she be mad . all that are in bed , must not have quiet rest . where bees are , there is honey . where there are industrious persons , there is wealth , for the hand of the diligent maketh rich . this we see verified in our neighbours the hollanders . a beggar pays a benefit with a louse . beggers must be no choosers . the french say , borrowers must be no choosers . set a beggar on horse-back , and he 'll ride a gallop . asperius nihil est humili cùm surgit in altum . claudian il n'est orgueil que de pauvre enrichi . gall. there is no pride to the inriched begger 's . il villan nobilitado non conosce il parentado . ital. the villain ennobled will not own his kindred or parentage . sue a begger and get a louse . rete non tenditur accipitri neque milvio , terent. phorm . much ado to bring beggers to stocks , and when they come there , they 'll not put in their legs . beggers breed , and rich men feed . a begger can never be bankrupt . it 's one beggers wo , to see another by the door go . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . hesiod . etiam mendicum mendico invidet . a good beginning makes a good ending . de bon commencement bonne fin gall. & de bonne vie bonne fin . a good life makes a good death . boni principii finis bonus . well begun is half done . dimidium facti qui coepit habet . horat. which some make a pentameter by putting in bene before coepit . believe well and have well . the belly hath no ears . venter non habet aures . ventre affame ●…'a point d'oreilles . gall. discourse to or call upon hungry persons , they 'll not mind you , or leave their meat to attend . or , as erasmus , ubi de pastu agitur , non attenduntur honestae rationes . nothing makes the vulgar more untractable , fierce and seditious , then scarcity and hunger . nescit plebes jejuna timere . there is some reason the belly should have no ears , because words will not fill it . better belly burst then good drink lost . better belly burst then good meat lost . little difference between a feast and a belly-full . a belly full's a belly full , whether it be meat or drink , when the belly is full , the bones would be at rest . the belly is not fill'd with fair words . best to bend , while 't is a twig . udum & molle lutum es , nunc nunc properandus & acri , fingendus fine sinc rota . pers . quae praebet latas arbor spatiantibus umbras , quo pofita est primùm tempore virga fait . tunc poterat manibus summâ tellure revelli , nunc stat in immensum viribus acta suis . ovid. quare tunc formandi mores ( inquit erasmus ) cùm mollis adhuc aetas ; tunc optimis assuescendum cùm ad quidvis cereum est ingenium . ce qui poulain prend en jeunesse . il le continue en vie illesse . gall. the tricks a colt getteth at his first backing , will whilst he continueth never be lacking . cotgr. they have need of a besome that sweep the house with a turf . the best is best cheap . for it doth the buyer more credit and service . make the best of a bad bargain . the best things are worst to come by . difficilia quae pulchra : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . beware of had i wist . do as you 're bidden and you 'll never bear blame . birchen twigs break no ribs . birds of a feather flock together . like will to like . the greeks and latines have many proverbs to this purpose , as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . semper graculus assidet graculo . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . theocrit . cicada cicadae chara , formicae formica . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . homer . odyss . . semper similem ducit deus ad similem . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . simile gaudet simili . & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . simile appetit simile . unde & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . likeness is the mother of love . aequalis aequalem delectat . young men delight in the company of young , old men of old . learned men of learned ; wicked of wicked , good fellows of drunkards , &c. tully in cat. maj . pares cum paribus ( ut est in vetere proverbio ) facillimè congregantur . he 's in great want of a bird that will give a groat for an owl . one bird i' th' hand is worth two in the bush . e meglio aver hoggi un uovo che dimani una gallina , ital. better have an egg to day , then a hen to morrow . mieux vant un tenez que deux vous l'aurez . gall. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . theocr. praesentem mulgeas , quid fugientem inseq●eris ? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hesiod . he that leaves certainty and sticks to chance , when fools pipe , he may dance . it 's an ill bird that berays its own nest . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . every bird must hatch her own egg . tute hoc intristi omne tibi exedendum est . terent. it should seem this latine proverb is still in use among the dutch , for erasmus saith of it , qu●… quidem sententia vel hodie vulgo nostrati in ere est . faber compedes quas fecit ipse gestet . auson . small birds must have meat . children must be fed , they cannot be maintained with nothing . birth is much , but breeding more . if you cannot bite , never shew your teeth . he that bites on every weed , must needs light on poison . he that is a blab is a scab . black will take no other hue . this diers find true by experience . it may signifie , that vicious persons are seldom or never reclaimed . lanarum nigrae nullum colorem bibunt , plin. lib. . h. n. he that wears black , must hang a brush at his back . a black plum is as sweet as a white . the prerogative of beauty proceeds from fancy . a black hen lays a white egg . this is a french proverb . noire geline pond blanc oeuf . i conceive the meaning of it is , that a black woman may bear a fair child . it is ill to drive black hogs in the dark . they have need of a blessing , who kneel to a thistle . blind men can judge no colours . il cieco non giudica de colori . ital. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; quid coeco cum speculo ? the blind eat many a fly . a man were better be half blind , then have both his eyes out . who so bold as blind bayard ? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . ignorance breeds confidence , consideration , slowness and wariness . who so blind , as he that will not see ? blow first and sip afterwards . simul sorbere & flare difficile est . a blot is no blot unless it be hit . blushing is vertues colour . great boast , small roast . grands vanteurs petits faiseurs . gall. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . briarcus esse apparet cùm sit lepus . and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . the nearer the bone , the sweeter the flesh . he that is born to be hang'd , shall never be drown'd . he that was born under a three half-penny planet , shall never be worth twopence . he that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing . he that borrows must pay again with shame or loss . shame if he returns not as much as he borrowed , loss if more , and it 's very hard to cut the hair . the father to the bough ; and the son to the plough . this saying i look upon as too narrow to be placed in the family of proverbs ; it is rather to be deemed a rule or maxime in the tenure of gavil kind , where though the father had judgement to be hang'd , yet there followed no forfeiture of his estate , but his son might ( a happy man according to horace his description ) paterna rura bobus exercere suis . though there be that expound this proverb thus , the father to the bough , i. e. to his sports of hawking and hunting , and the son to the plow , i. e. to a poor husbandmans condition . they that are bound must obey . bought wit is best , v. in w. better to bow then break . il vaut mieux plier que rompre . gall. e meglio piegar che scavezzar . ital. a bow long bent at last waxeth weak . l'arco si rompe se sta troppo teso . ital. arcus nimis intensus rumpitur . things are not to be strained beyond their tonus and strength . this may be applied both to the body and the mind : too much labour and study weakens and impairs both the one and the other . otia corpus alunt , animus quoque pascitur illis ; immodicus contra carpit utrumque labor . brag 's a good dog , but that he hath lost his tail . brag 's a good dog if he be well set on : but he dare not bite . much bran and little meal . beware of breed , chesh . i. e. an ill breed . that that 's bred in the bone will never out of the flesh . chi l'ha per natura fin alla fossa dura . ital. that which comes naturally continues till death . the latines and greeks have many proverbial sayings to this purpose , as lupus pilum mutat non mentem . the wolf may change his hair ( for wolves and horses grow gray with age ) but not his disposition . naturam expellas furcâ licet usque recurret . horat. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . aristoph . you can never bring a crabfish to go straight forwards . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . wood that grows crooked , will hardly be straightned . persons naturally inclined to any vice , will hardly be reclaimed . for this proverb is for the most part taken in the worser sense . let every man praise the bridge he goes over . i. e. speak not ill of him who hath done you a courtesie , or whom you have made use of to your benefit ; or do commonly make use of . bridges were made for wise men to walk over , and fools to ride over . a bribe will enter without knocking . a broken sack will hold no corn . this is a french proverb englished , un sac perce ne peut tenir le grain : though i am not ignorant that there are many common both to france and england , and some that run through most languages . sacco rotto non tien miglio . ital. millet being one of the least of grains . a broken sleeve holdeth the arm back . much bruit little fruit . who bulls the cow must keep the calf . mr howell saith , that this is a law proverb . the burnt child dreads the fire . almost all languages afford us sayings and proverbs to this purpose , such are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . hesiod . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . homer . piscator ictus sapit ; struck by the scorpion fish or pastinaca , whose prickles are esteemed venemous . can'scottato da l'acqua calda ha paura poi della fredda . ital. the same we find in french , chien eschaudè craint l'eau froide . i. e. the scalded dog fears cold water . busie will have bands . persons that are medling and troublesome must be tied short . who more busie then they that have least to do ? every man as his business lies . all is not butter the cow shites . non è tutto butyro che fa la vocca . ital. what is a pound of butter among a kennel of hounds ? they that have good store of butter may lay it thick on their bread . [ or put some in their shooes . ] cui multum est piperis etiam oleribus immiseet . that which will not be butter must be made into cheese . they that have no other meat , bread and butter are glad to eat . who buyes hath need of an hundred eyes , who sells hath enough of one . this is an italian proverb . chi compra ha bisogno dicent ' occhi , chi vende n'ha assai de uno . and it is an usual saying , caveat emptor , let the buyer look to himself . the seller knows both the worth and price of his commodity . buying and selling is but winning and losing . c. a calves head will feast an hunter and his hounds . a man can do no more then he can . care not would have it . care will kill a cat . and yet a cat is said to have nine lives . cura facit canos . care 's no cure . a pound of care will not pay an ounce of debt . cento carre di pensieri non pagerannoun'oncia di debito . ital. i. e. an hundred cart-load of thoughts will not pay an ounce of debt . the best cart may overthrow . a muffled cat is no good mouser . gatta guantata non piglia mai sorice . ital. a gloved cat , &c. that cat is out of kind that sweet milk will not lap . you can have no more of a cat then her skin . the cat loves fish , but she 's loath to wet her feet . or in rhyme thus . fain would the cat fish eat , but she 's loath her feet to wet . le chat aime le poisson , , mais il n'aime pas a meuiller le patte . gall. in the same words , so that it should seem we borrowed it of the french. the more you rub a cat on the rump , the higher she sets up her tail . the ca● sees not the mouse ever . well might the cat wink when both her eyes were out . when the cat winketh little wots the mouse what the cat thinketh . though the cat winks a while , yet sure she is not blind . how can the cat help it if the maid be a fool ? this is an italian proverb , che ne puo la gatta se la massara è matta . not setting up things securely out of her reach or way . that that comes of a cat will catch mice . ital. parallel whereto is that italian proverb . chi di gallina nasce convien che rozole . that which is bred of a hen will scrape . chi da gatta nasce sorici piglia . ital. a cat may look on a king. an old cat laps as much as a young kitlin . when the cat is away , the mice play . ital. les rats se promenent a l'aise la ou il n'y a point des chats . gall. quando la gatta non è in casa , i sorici ballano ital. when candles are out , all cats are gray . jone is as good as my lady in the dark . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . the cat knows whose lips she licks . cry you mercy , kill'd my cat . this is spoken to them who do one a shrewd turn , and then make satisfaction with asking pardon or crying mercy . by biting and scratching cats and dogs come together , or , biting and scratching gets the cat with kitlin . i. e. men and maid-servants that wrangle and quarrel most one with the other , are often observed to marry together . who shall hang the bell about the cats neck ? appiccar chi vuol'il sonaglio à la gatta ? ital. the mice at a consultation held how to secure themselves from the cat , resolved upon hanging a bell about her neck , to give warning when she was near , but when this was resolved , they were as far to seek ; for who would do it . this may be sarcastically applied to those who prescribe impossible or unpracticable means for the effecting any thing . a scalded cat fears cold water . v. in s. he that leaves certainty and sticks to chance , when fools pipe he may dance . they may sit i' th' chair that have malt to sell . it chanceth in an hour , that comes not in seven years . plus enim fati valet hora benigni quàm si te veneris commendet epistola marti . horat. every man is thought to have some lucky hour , wherein he hath an opportunity offered him of being happy all his life , could he but discern it and embrace the occasion . accasca in un punto quel che non accasca in cento anni . ital. it falls out in an instant which falls not out in an hundred years . there is chance in the cocks spur . change of pasture makes fat calves . charity begins at home . self-love is the measure of our love to our neighbour . many sentences occurre in the ancient greek and latine poets to this purpose , as , omnes sibi meliùs esse malunt quàm alteri . terent. andr. proximus sum egomet mihi . ibid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. v. erasm adag . fa bone á te & tuoi , epoi à gli altri se tu puoi . ital. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . when good chear is lacking our friends will be packing . those that eat cherries with great persons shall have their eyes sprinted out with the stones . chickens feed capons . i. e. as i understand it , chickens come to be capons , and capons were first chickens . it 's a wife child knows his own father . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . homer . odyssa . childs pig , but fathers bacon . parents usually tell their children , this pig or this lambe is thine , but when they come to be grown up and sold , parents themselves take the money for them . charre-folks are never paid . that is , give them what you will they are never contented . when the child is christned , you may have godfathers enough . when a mans need is supplied or his occasions over , people are ready to offer their assistance or service . children and fools speak truth . the dutch proverb hath it thus , you are not to expect truth from any but children , persons drunk or mad . in vino veritas , we know . enfans & fols sont divins . gall. children and fools have merry lives . for out of ignorance or forgetfulness and inadvertency , they are not concern'd either for what is past , or for what is to come . neither the remembrance of the one , nor fear of the other troubles them , but onely the sence of present pain : nothing sticks upon them , they lay nothing to heart . hence it hath been said , nihil scire est vita jucundissima , to which that of ecclesiastes gives some countenance . he that encreaseth knowledge encreaseth sorrow . children suck the mother when they are young , and the father when they are old . so we have the chink we 'll bear with the stink . lucri bonus est odor ex re quâlibet . juvenal . this was the emperour vespasians answer to those who complained of his setting gabels on urine and other sordid things . after a christmas comes a lent. the church is not so large but the priest may say service in it . the nearer the church the further from god. this is a french proverb . pres de l'eglise loin de dieu . church-work goes on slowly . let the church stand in the church-yard . where god hath his church the devil will have his chappell . non si tosto si fa un tempio à dio come il diavolo ci fabrica una capella appresso . ital. pater noster built churches , and our father pulls them down . i do not look upon the building of churches as an argument of the goodness of the roman religion , for when men have once entertained an opinion of expiating sin and meriting heaven by such works , they will be forward enough to give not onely the fruit of their land , but even of their body for the sin of their soul : and it 's easier to part with ones goods then ones sins . claw a churl by the breech , and he will sh — in your fist . persons of servile temper or education , have no sense of honour or ingenuity , and must be dealt with accordingly . ungentem pungit , pungentem rusticus ungit . which sentence both the french and italian in their languages have made a proverb . oignez villain qu' il vous poindra . gall. &c. insomuch that one would be apt with aristotle to think , that there are servi naturâ . the greatest clerks , are not always the wisest men . for prudence is gained more by practise and conversation , then by study and contemplation . it 's the clerk makes the justice . hasty climbers , have sudden falls . those that rise suddenly from a mean condition to great estate or dignity , do often fall more suddenly , as i might easily instance in many court-favourites : and there is reason for it , because such a speedy advancement is apt to beget pride and consequently folly in them , and envy in others , which must needs precipitate them . sudden changes to extraordinary good or bad fortune , are apt to turn mens brains . a cader va chi troppo alto sale . ital. the clock goes at it pleases the clark . can jack-an-apes be merry when his clog is at 's heels ? close sits my shirt , but closer my skin . that is , i love my friends well , but my self better : none so dear to me as i am to my self . or my body is dearer to me then my goods . plus pres est la chair che la chemise . gall. a close mouth catcheth no flies . people must speak and solicite for themselves , or they are not like to obtain preserment . nothing carries it like to boldness and importunate , yea , impudent begging . men will give to such se defendendo , to avoid their trouble , who would have no consideration of the modest , though never so much needing or well deserving . bocca trinciata mosca non ci entra ital. it 's a bad cloth indeed will take no colour . cattiva è quella lana che non si puo tingere . ital. cloudy mornings turn to clear evenings . non si malè nunc & olim sic erit . better see a clout then a hole out . they that can cobble and clout , shall have work when others go without . glowing coals sparkle oft . when the mind is heated with any passion , it will often break out in words and expressions , psalm . . you must cut your coat according to your cloth . noi facciamo la spese secondo l'entrata . ital. we must spend according to our income . selon le pain il faut le couteau . gall. according to the bread must be the knife . & fol est qui plus despend que sa rente ne vaut . gall. he is a fool that spends more then his receits . sumptus censum nè superet . plaut . poen . messe tenus propria vive . pers . every cock is proud on his own dunghill . gallus in suo sterquilinio plurimum potest . senec. in ludicro . the french say , chien sur son fumire est hardi . a dog is stout on his own dunghill . let him that is cold blow the coal . in the coldest flint there is hot fire . cold of complexion good of condition . a ragged colt may make a good horse . an unhappy boy may make a good man. it is used sometimes to signifie , that children which seem less handsome when young , do afterwards grow into shape and comeliness : as on the contrary we say , fair in the cradle , and soul in the sadle : and the scots , a kindly aver will never make a good horse . company makes cuckolds . comparisons are odious . conceited goods are quickly spent . confess and be hang'd . an evill conscience breaks many a mans neck . he 's an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers . celuy gouverne bien mal le miel qui n'en taste & ses doigts n'en leche . gall. he is an ill keeper of honey , who tastes it not . god sends meat , and the devil sends cooks . salt cooks bear blame , but fresh bear shame . corn and horn go together . i. e. for prices , when corn is cheap cattel are not dear , & vice versâ . much corn lies under the straw that is not seen . more cost more worship . i 'll not change a cottage in possession for a kingdome in reversion . all covet all lose . covetousness brings nothing home . qui tout convoite tout perd . gall. & qui trop empoigne rien n'estrain'd . he that grasps at too much , holds fast nothing . the fable of the dog is known , who catching at the appearance in the water of the shoulder of mutton he had in his mouth , let it drop in and lost it . chi tutto abbraccia nulla stringa . ital. a cough will stick longer by a horse then half a peck of oats . good counsell lightly never comes too late . for if good , it must suit the time when it is given . count not your chickens before they be hatch't . ante victoriam nè canas triumphum . so many countreys so many customes . tant de gens tant de guises . gall. a man must go old to the court and young to a cloyster , that would go from thence to heaven . a friend in court is worth a penny in a mans purse . bon fait avoir amy en cour , car le proces en est plus court . gall. a friend in court makes the process short . far from court far from care . full of courtesie full of craft . sincere and true-hearted persons are least given to complement and ceremony . it 's suspicious he hath some design upon me who courts and flatters me . chi te sa piu carezza che non vuole , o ingannato t' ha , o ingannar te vuole . ital. he that makes more of you then you desire or expect , either he hath cozen'd you or intends to do it . less of your courtesie and more of your purse . re opitulandum non verbis . call me cousin but cozen me not . curst cowes have short horns . dat deus immiti cornua curta bovi . providence so disposes that they who have will , want power or means to hurt . who would keep a cow , when he may have a pottle of milk for a penny ? many a good cow hath but a bad calf . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . heroum filii noxae . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . homer . odyss . ε. aelius spartianus in the life of severus shews by many examples , that men famous for learning , vertue , valour , success have for the most part either left behind them no children , or such as that it had been more for their honour and the interest of humane affairs that they had died childless . we might add unto those which he produceth , many instances out of our own history . so edward the first a wise and valiant prince , left us edward the second : edward the black prince richard the second : henry the fifth a valiant and successful king , henry the sixth a very unfortunate prince , though otherwise a good man. and yet there want not in history instances to the contrary , as among the french , charles martell , pipin and charl●main in continual succession , so joseph scaliger the son , was in point of scholarship no whit inferiour to julius the father . fortes creantur fortibus & bonis , &c. where coyn 's not common , commons must be scant . a colliers cow and an ale wives sow are always well sed . others say a poor mans cow , and then the reason is evident , why a colliers is not so clear . much coyn much care . crescentem sequitur cura pecuniam . horat. the greatest crabs are not always the best meat great and good are not always the same thing , though our language oft makes them synonymous terms , as when we call a great way a good way , and a great deal a good deal , &c. in which and the like phrases good signifies somewhat less then great , viz. of a middle size or indifferent . bonus also in latine is sometimes used in the same sense , as in that of persius . sat. . bona pars procerum . les grands boeuss ne font pas les grands journees . gall. the greatest oxen rid not most work . crabs breed babs by the help of good lads . country wenches when they are with child usually long for crabs : or crabs may signifie scolds . there 's a craft in dawbing . or , there is more craft in dawbing then throwing dirt on the wall . there is a mystery in the meanest trade . no man is his crafts-master the first day . nessuno nasce maestro . ital. shameless craving must have , &c. v. in s. you must learn to creep before you go . soon crooks the tree that good gambrell would be . a gambrell is a crooked piece of wood on which butchers h●ng up the carcasses of beasts by the legs , from the italian word gamba signifying a leg . paralel to this is that other proverb , it early prick , that will be a thorn . adcò à teneris assuescere mulium est . each cross hath it's inscription . crosses and afflictions come not by chance , they spring not out of the earth , but are laid upon men for some just reason . divines truly say , that many times we may read the sin in the punishment . no cross no crown . it 's ill killing a crow with an empty sling . the crow thinks her own bird fairest . afinus asino , sus sui pulcher , & suum cuique pulchrum . so the ethiopians are said to paint the devil white . every one is partial to , and well conceited of his own art , his own compositions , his own children , his own countrey , &c. self-love is a more in every ones eye ; it influences , biasses and blinds the judgements even of the most modest and perspicatious . hence it is ( as aristotle well observes ) that men for the most part love to be flattered . rhetor. . & a tous oiseaux leur nid ▪ sont beaux . gall. every bird likes its own nest . a ogni grolla paion belli i suoi grollatini . ital. a crow is never the whiter for washing her self often . no carrion will kill a crow . cunning is no burden . it is part of bias his goods , it will not hinder a mans flight when the enemies are at hand . many things fall between the cup and the lip . multa cadunt inter calicem supremáque labra . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . citantur ab a. gell●o . de la main à la bouche so perd souvent la soupe . gall. between the hand and the mouth , the broth is many times shed . entre la bouche & le cueillier vient souvent grand destourbier . gall. what cannot be cured , must be endured . levius fit patientia quicquid corrigere est nesas . horat. od a bad custome is like a good cake , better broken then kept . a curst curre must be tied short . a meschant chien courtlien . gall. custome is another nature . desperate cuts , must have desperate cures . d. he that will not be ruled by his own dame , must be rul'd by his stepdame . he dances well , to whom fortune pipes . assal ben balla à chi fortuna suona . ital. the french have a proverb , mieux vaut une once de fortune qui une livre de sagesse . better is an ounce of good fortune , then a pound of good forecast . they love dancing well , that dance among thorns . when you go to dance , take heed whom you take by the hand . it 's as good to be in the dark , as without light . jone's as good as my lady in the dark . v. in i. one may see day at a little hole . the better day , the better deed . a bon jour bon oeuvre . gall. dicenda bonâ sunt bona verba die . he never broke his hour that kept his day . to day a man , tomorrow a mouse . to day me , tomorrow thee . aujourd'huy roy , demain rien . gall. the longest day must have an end . il n'est si grand jour qui ne vienne à vespre . gall. non vien di , che non venga sera . ital. be the day never so long , at length cometh evensong . 't is day still while the sun shines . speak well of the dead . mortuis non conviciandum & de mortuis nil nisi bonum . namque cùm mortui non mordent iniquum est ut mordeantur . , a dead mouse feels no cold . he that waits for dead mens shooes , may go long enough barefoot . a longue corde tire qui d'autruy mort desire . gall. he hath but a cold suit who longs for another mans death . after death the doctour . this is a french proverb , apres la mort le medecin , parallel to that ancient greek one , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . post bellum auxilium . we find it in quintilians dec●am . cadavirib . pasti , with another of the like import ; quid quod medicina mortuorum sera est ? quid quod nemo aquam infundit in cineres ? after a mans house is burnt to ashes , it s too late to pour on water . who gives away his goods before he is dead , take a beetle and knock him on the head . chi dona il suo inanzi morire il s' apparecchia assai patire . ital. he that gives away his goods before death , prepares himself to suffer . he that could know what would be dear , need be a merchant but one year . such a merchant was the philosopher thales , of whom it is reported , that to make proof , that it was in the power of a philosopher to be rich if he pleased , he foreseeing a future dearth of olives , the year following , bought up at easie rates all that kind of fruit then in mens hands . out of debt , out of danger . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , happy he that owes nothing . desperate cuts must have , &c. v. in c. there 's difference between staring and stark blind [ or mad . ] this proverb may have a double sense , if you read it stark mad , it signifies , that we ought to distinguish , and not presently pronounce him stark mad that sta●es a little , or him a rank fool who is a little impertinent sometimes , &c. if you read it stark blind , then it hath the same sense with that of horace , est inter tanaim medium soccrúmque vitelli. and is a reprehension to those who put no difference between extremes , as perfect blindness and lynceus his sight . he that would eat a good dinner let him eat a good breakfast . dinners can't be long , where dainties want . he that saveth his dinner , will have the more for his supper . this is a french proverb , qui garde son disne il a mieux à souper . he that spares when he is young , may the better spend when he is old . mal soupe qui tout disne . he sups ill who eats all at dinner . an ounce of discretion , is worth a pound of wit. the french say , an ounce of good fortune , &c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . nazianz. gutta fortunae prae dolio sapientiae . i will not make my dish-clout my table-cloth . it 's a sin to belie the devil . give the devil his due . he that takes the devil into his boat , must carry him over the sound . he that hath shipt the devil , must make the best of him . seldom lies the devil dead in a ditch . we are not to trust the devil or his children , though they seem never so gentle or harmless , without all power or will to hurt . the ancients in a proverbial hyperbole , said of a woman , mulierinè credas nè mortuae quidem , because you might have good reason to suspect that she feigned ; we may with more reason say the like of the devil and diabolical persons , when they seem most mortified . perchance this proverb may allude to the fable of the fox , which escaped by feigning himself dead . i know no phrase more frequent in the mouths of the french and italians then this , the devil is dead , to signifie that a difficulty is almost conquered , a journey almost finished , or as we say , the neck of a business broken . talk of the devil and he 'll either come or send . as good eat the devil , as the broth he is boil'd in . the devil rebukes sin . clodius accusat moechos . aliorum medicus ipse ulceribus scates . the devils child the devils luck . he must needs go , whom the devil drives . he had need of a long spoon , that eats with the devil . the devil shites upon a great heap . the devil is good when he is pleased . the devil is never nearer then when we are talking of him . the devils meal is half bran . la farine du diable n'e que bran , or s' en va moitie en bran . gall. what is gotten over the devils back , is spent under his belly . malè parta malè dilabuntur . what is got by oppression or extortion is many times spent in riot and luxury . every dog hath his day , and every man his hour . all the dogs follow the salt bitch . love me and love my dog . qui aime jean aime son chien . gall. spesse volte si ha rispetto al cane per il padrone . he that would hang his dog , gives out first that he 's mad . he that is about to do any thing disingenuous , unworthy , or of evil fame , first bethinks himself of some plausible pretence . the hind most dog may catch the hare . he that keeps another mans dog , shall have nothing left him but the line . this is a greek proverb , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . the meaning is , that he who bestows a benefit upon an ungratefull person ; looses his cost . for if a dog break loose he presently gets him home to his former master , leaving the cord he was tied with . what ? keep a dog and bark my self . that is , must i keep servants , and do my work my self . there are more ways to kill a dog then hanging . hang a dog on a crabtree , and he 'll never love verjuyce . this is a ludicrous and nugatory saying , for a dog once hang'd is past loving or hating . but generally men and beasts shun those things , by or for which they have smarted . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . amphis in ampelurgo apud stoboeum . et mea cymba semel vastâ percussa procellâ , illum quo leasa est , horret adire locum . ovid. dogs bark before they bite . it 's an ill dog that deserves not a crust . digna canis pabulo . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . eras . ex suida . a good dog deserves a good bone . it is an ill dog that is not worth the whistling . better to have a dog fawn on you then bite you . he that lies down with dogs , must rise up with fleas . chi con cane dorme con pulce si leva . ital. qui se couche avec les chiens se leve avec des puces . gall. give a child till he craves , and a dog while his tail doth wave , and you 'll have a fair dog , but a foul knive . the dog that licks ashes trust not with meal . the italians say this of a cat , gatto che lecca cenere non sidar farina . into the mouth of a bad dog , often falls a good bone . souvent à mauvais chien tombe un bon os en gueule . gal. hungry dogs will eat dirty pudding . jejun●● raró stomachus vulgaria temnit . a la faim il n'y a point de mauvais pain . gall. to him who is hungry any bread seems good , or none comes amiss . l'asino chi ha fame mangia d'ogni strame . ital. it 's an easie thing to find a staff to beat a dog : or a stone to throw at a dog . qui veut battre son chien trouve assez de bastons . gal. malefacere qui vult nusquam non causam invenit . pub. mimus . he who hath a mind to do me a mischief , will easily find some pretence . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . to do evil , a flight pretence or occasion will serve mens turns . a petite achoison le loup prend le mouton . gall. an old dog will learn no tricks , v. in o. do well and have well . draffe is good enough for swine . he that 's down down with him . drawn wells are seldom dry . drawn wells have sweetest water . puteus si hauriatur melior evadit . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . basil . in epist . ad eustachium medicum . all things , especially mens parts , are improved and advanced by use and exercise . standing waters are apt to corrupt and putrifie : weapons laid up and disused do contract rust , nay the very air if not agitated and broken with the wind , is thought to be unhealthfull and pestilential , especially in this our native countrey , of which it is said , anglia ventosa , si non ventosa venenosa . golden dreams make men awake hungry . after a dream of a wedding comes a corps . draff was his errand , but drink he would have . drunken folks seldom take harm . this is so far from being true , that on the contrary of my own observation , i could give divers instances of such as have received very much harm when drunk . ever drunk , ever dry . parthi quo plus bibunt ed plus sitiunt . what soberness conceals drunkenness reveals . quod est in corde sobrii est in ore ebrii . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . plutarch . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . erasmus cites to this purpose a sentence out of herodotus , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , when wine sinks , words swim : and pliny hath an elegant saying to this purpose , vinum usque adeò mentis a●●ana prodit , ut mortisera etiam inter pocula loquantur homines , & nè per jugulum quidem reditur as voces contineant . quid non ebrietas designat ? operta recludit . he that kills a man when he is drunk , must be hang'd when he is sober . the ducks fare well in the thames . dumb folks get no lands . this is parallel to that , spare to speak and spare to speed , and that former , a close mouth catcheth no flies . e. early up and never the nearer . early sow early mow . it early pricks that will be a thorn . soon crooks the tree that good gambrel would be . the early bird catcheth the worm . a penny-worth of ease is worth a penny . the longer east the shorter west . you can't eat your cake , and have your cake . vorrebbe mangiar la forcaccia & trovar la in tasca . ital. eating and drinking takes away ones stomack . en mangeant l'appetit se perd . to which the french have another seemingly contrary . en mangeant l'appetit vient , parallel to that of ours , one shoulder of mutton draws down another . he that will eat the kernel must crack the nut . qui nucleum esse vult nucem srangat oportet . no gains without pains . madam parnel crack the nut and eat the kernel . eaten bread is forgotten . it 's very hard to shave an egg . where nothing is , nothing can be had . an egg will be in bellies in hours . better half an egg then an empty shell . better half a loaf then no bread . ill egging makes ill begging . evil persons by enticing and flattery , draw on others to be as bad as themselves . all ekes [ or helps ] as the geni-wren said , when she pist in the sea . many littles make a mickle , the whole ocean is made up of drops . goutte a goutte on remplit la cuve . gall. and goutte à goutte la mer s' egoute . drop by drop the sea is drained . empty vessels make the greatest sound . the scripture saith , a fools voice is known by multitude of words . none more apt to boast then those who have least real worth ; least whereof justly to boast . the deepest streams flow with least noise . empty hands no hawks allure . a right englishman knows not when a thing is well . whoso hath but a mouth , shall ne're in england suffer drought , v. supra . for if he doth but open it , it s a chance but it will rain in . true it is , we seldom suffer for want of rain : and if there be any fault in the temper of our air , it is its over-moistness , which inclines us to the scurvy and consumptions ; diseases the one scarce known , the other but rare in hotter countries . every thing hath an end , and a pudding hath two . all 's well that ends well . exitus acta probat . there 's never enough where nought leaves . this is an italian proverb , non vi è à bastanza se niente auvanza . it is hard so to cut the hair , as that there should be no want and nothing to spare . enough is as good as a feast . asser y a , si trop n'y a. gall. better be envied then pitied . this is a saying in most languages , although it hath little of the nature of a proverb in it . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . herodot . in thalia . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . pindar . piu tosto invidia che compassione . ital. essex stiles , kentish miles , norfolk wiles many men beguiles . for stiles essex may well vie with any county of england , it being wholly divided into small closes , and not one common field that i know of in the whole county . length of miles i know not what reason kent hath to pretend to , for generally speaking , the further from london the longer the miles , but for cunning in the law and wrangling , norfolk men are justly noted . where every hand fleeceth , &c. v. fleeceth . evening orts are good morning fodder . the evening crowns the day . la vita il fine , e ' l di loda la sera . ital. the end or death commends the life , and the evening the day . dicique beatus ante obitum nemo supremáque funera debet . ovid. of two evils the least is to be chosen . this reason the philosopher rendred why he chose a little wife . exchange is no robbery . a bad excuse is better then none at all . experience is the mistress of fools . experientia stultorum magistra . wise men learn by others harms , fools by their own , like epimetheus , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . what the eye sees not , the heart rues not . le coeur ne veut douloirce que l'oeil ne peut veoir . gall. therefore it is not good to peep and pry into every corner , to be two inquisitive into what our servants or relations do or say , lest we create our selves unnecessary trouble . better eye out then always aking , [ or watching ] he that winketh with one eye , and seeth with the other , i would not trust him , though he were my brother . this is only a physiognomical observation . he that hath but one eye sees the better for it . better then he would do without it : a ridiculous saying . f. a good face , &c. v. band . faint heart ne're won fair lady . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . suidas ex eupolide , timidi nunquam statuêre tropaeum . ja couard n'aura belle amie . gall. for , audentes fortuna juvat . fair feathers make fair fowls . fair clothes , ornaments and dresses set off persons , and make them appear handsome , which if stript of them would seem but plain and homely . god makes , and apparel shapes . i panni rifanno le stanghe , vesti una colonna & par una donna . ital. fair words , &c. v. words . fair and softly goes far in a day . pas à pas on va bien loing . gall. chi va piano va sano è anche lontano . ital. he that goes softly , goeth sure and also far . he that spurs on too fast at first setting out , tires before he comes to his journeys end . festinalenté . fair in the cradle , and foul in the saddle . a fair face is half a portion . praise a fair day at night . or else you may repent , for many times clear mornings turn to cloudy evenings . la vita il fine e ' l di loda la sera . the end commends the life , and the evening the day . the fairest silk is soonest stained . this may be applied to women . the handsomest women are soonest corrupted , because they are most tempted . it may also be applied to good natures , which are more easily drawn away by evil company . men speak of the fair , as things went with them there . if a man once fall , all will tread on him . dejecta arbore quivis ligna colligit . vulgus sequitur fortunam & odit damnatos . juven . when the tree is fallen every man goeth to it with his hatchet . gall. there 's falshood in fellowship . common fume's seldome to blame . a general report is rarely without some ground . no smoke without some fire . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . hesiod . too much familiarity breeds contempt . nimia familiaritas contemptum parit . e tribus optimis rebus tres pessimae oriuntur ; è veritate odium , è familiaritate contemptus , è felicitate invidia . plutarch . fancy passes beauty . fancy may boult bran and think it flour . you can't fare well , but you must cry roast-meat . sasse bonne farine sans trompe ny buccine . gall. boult thy fine meal , and eat good past , without report or trumpets blast . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . they that are thirsty drink silently . si corvus tacuisset haberet plus dapis & rixae multò minùs invidiaeque . horat. far fetch 't and dear bought's good for ladies . vache de loin a laict assez . gall. far folks fare well , and fair children die . people are apt to boast of the good and wealthy condition of their far-off friends , and to commend their dead children . it 's good farting before ones own fire . a man far from his good , is near his harm . qui est loing du plat est prez de son dommage . gall. far from the dish and near to his loss ; for commonly they that are far from the dish , shed their broth by the way . as good be out of the world as out of the fashion . fat drops fall from fat flesh . fat sorrow is better then lean sorrow . better have a rich husband and a sorrowfull life then a poor husband and a sorrowfull life with him , spoken to encourage a maid to marry a rich man , though ill conditioned . little knows the fat sow what the lean one means . the father to the bough , &c. v. in b. where no fault is there needs no pardon . every man hath his faults , or he is liveless that is faultless . ut vitiis nemo sine nascitur . quisque suos patimur manes . they that feal [ i. e. hide ] can find . it 's good to fear the worst , the best will save it self . no feast to a misers . il n'est banquet que d'homme chiche . gall. little difference between a feast and a belly-full . better come at the latter end of a feast , then the beginning of a fray . feeling hath no fellow . no fence against a flail . ill fortune . some evils and calamities assault so violently that there is no resisting or bearing them off . no man loves his fetters though of gold . next to health and necessary food , no good in this world more desireable then liberty . the finest lawn soonest stains . the finest shoe often hurts the foot . there is no fire without some smoke . nul feu sans fumée . gall. fire and water are good servants , but bad masters . first come first served . qui premier arrive au moulin , premier doit mouldre . gal. it 's ill fishing before the net . one would rather think after the net . no fishing to fishing in the sea . il fait beau pescher en eau large . gall. it 's good fishing in large waters . fishes are cast away , that are cast into dry ponds . it 's good fishing in troubled waters . il n'y a pesche qu' en eau troublé . gall. in troubled waters ; that is , in a time of publick calamity , when all things are in confusion . fresh fish and new come guests , smell by that they are three days old . l'hoste & le poisson passe trois jours puent . gall. piscis nequam est nisi recens , plaut . ordinary friends are welcome at first , but we soon grow weary of them . the best fish swim neer the bottom . still he fisheth that catcheth one . tousjours pesche qui en prend un . gall. when flatterers meet the devil goes to dinner . where every hand fleeceth the sheep goes naked . all flesh is not venison . this is a french proverb , toute chair n'est pas venaison . flesh stands never so high but a dog will venture his legs . a flow will have an ebb . no flying without wings , or , he would fain fly , but he wants feathers . sine pennis volare haud facile est . plaut . in poenulo . nothing of moment can be done without necessary helps , or convenient means . non si puo volar senza ale , ital. how can the fole amble , when the horse and mare trot . a fool and his mony are soon parted . no fool to the old fool . every man hath a fool in his sleeve . fools will be medling . a fool may ask more questions in an hour , then a wise man can answer in seven years . a fool may put somewhat in a wise bodies head . a fools bolt is soon shot . de fol juge brieve sentence . gall. a foolish judge passes a quick sentence . as the fool thinks , so the bell tinks , or clinks . fools set stools for wise folks to stumble at . fools build houses , and wise men buy them . fools make feasts and wise men eat them . le fols font la feste & lessages le mangent . gall. the same almost for word . fools lade water and wise men catch the fish . the fool will not part with his bable for the towre of london . if every fool should wear a bable fewell would be dear . si tous les fols portoient le marotte , on ne seait de quel bois s' eschaufferoit . gall. send a fool to the market and a fool he will return again . the italians say , chi bestia va à roma bestia retorna . he that goes a beast to rome returns thence a beast . change of place changes not mens minds or manners . coelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt . fortune favours fools , or fools have the best luck . fortuna favet fa●uis . it 's but equall , nature having not that fortune should do so . it 's good to go on foot when a man hath a horse in his hand . al aise marche à pied qui mene son cheval par la bride . gall. forbearance is no acquittance . in the forehead and the eye the lecture of the mind doth lie . vultus index animi . to forget a wrong's the best revenge . delle ingiurie il remedio è lui scordarsi . ital. infirmi est animi exiguique voluptas ultio . juv. it 's not good praising a ford till a man be over . forewarn'd forearm'd . praemonitus , praemunitus . forecast is better then work-hard . every ones faults are not written in their foreheads . the fox prey 's furthest from 's hole . to avoid suspicion . crafty thieves steal far from home . the fox never fares better , then when he 's ban'd [ or curst . ] populus me sibilat , at mihi plaudo ipse domi , quoties nummos contemplor in area . horat. it 's an ill sign to see a fox lick a lamb . when the fox preaches , beware of your geese . fire quoth the fox , when he pist on the ice . he saw it smoak't , and thought there would be fire e're long . this is spoken in derision to those which have great expectation from some fond design or undertaking , which is not likely to succeed . fie upon heps ( quoth the fox ) because he could not reach them . the fox knows much , but more he that catcheth him . every fox must pay his own skin to the flayer . tutte le volpi si trouvano in pelliceria . ital. en fin les regnards se trouvent chez le pelletier . gal. the crafty are at length surprised . thieves most commonly come to the gallows at last . what 's freer then gift ? it 's good to have some friends both in heaven and hell . he is my friend , that grindeth at my mill . that shews me real kindness . a friend in need is a friend indeed . prove thy friend e're thou have need . all are not friends , that speak us fair . he 's a good friend that speaks well on 's behind our backs . no longer foster no longer friend . as a man is friended , so the law is ended . where shall a man have a worse friend , then he brings from home ? friends may meet , but mountains never greet . mons cum monte non miscebitur : pares cum paribus two haughty persons will seldom agree together . deux hommes se rencontrent bien , mais jamais deux montagnes . gall. many kinsfolk , few friends . ones kindred are not always to be accounted ones friends , though in our language they be synonymous terms . there is a friend that sticketh closer then a brother . one god no more , but friends good store . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . unus deus , sed plures amici parandi . where ever you see your friend , trust your self . a friend is never known till one have need . amicus certus in re incerta cernitur . cic. ex ennio . scilicet ut fulvum spectatur in ignibus aurum , tempore sic duro est inspicienda fides . ovid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . friends stand afar off , when a man is in adversity . what was good , the frier never lov'd . when the frier 's beaten , then comes iames. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . sic est ad pugnae partes re peractâ veniendum . the frier preach't against stealing when he had a pudding in his sleeve . il srate predicava , che non si dovesse robbare & lui haveva l'occha nel scapulario . ital. the same with the english , only goose instead of pudding . to fright a bird is not the way to catch her . qui veut prendre un oiseau qu' il ne l'affarouche . gall. the same with the english . the frog cannot out of her bog . frost and fraud both end in foul . a saying ordinary in the mouth of s r tho. egerton lord chancellour . take away fewel take away flame . remove the tale-bearer and contention ceaseth . sine cercre & libero friget venus . the furthest way about 's the nearest way home . what is gained in the shortness may be lost in the goodness of the way . compendia plerumque sunt dispendia . fields have eyes , and woods have ears . bois ont oreilles , & champs oeillets . gall. some hear and see him whom he heareth and seeth not ; for fields have eyes , and woods have ears , ye wot . heywood . g. touch a galled horse on the back , and he 'll kick , [ or wince . ] try your skill in galt first , and then in gold . in care periculum , subaudi fac . cares olim notatisunt . quód primi vitam mercede locabant . they were the first mercenary souldiers . practise new and doubtfull experiments in cheap commodities , or upon things of small value . you may gape long enough , e're a bird fall in your mouth . he that gapeth untill he be fed , well may he gape untill he be dead . c ' est folie de beer contre un four . gall. no gaping against an oven . make not a gauntlet of a hedging glove . what 's a gentleman but his pleasure . a gentleman without living , is like a pudding without sewet . gentry sent to market , will not buy one bushel of corn . gentility without ability , is worse then plain beggery . giff gaff was a good man , but he is soon weary . giffe gaffe is one good turn for another . look not a gift horse in the mouth . it seems this was a latine proverb in hieroms time , erasmus quotes it out of his preface to his commentaries on the epistle to the ephesians , noli ( ut vulgare est proverbium ) equi dentes inspicere donati . a caval donato non guardar in bocca . ital. a cheval donne il ne saut pas regarder aux dens . gall. it is also in other modern languages . there 's not so bad a gill but there 's as bad a will. giving much to the poor , doth increase a mans store . give a thing and take a thing , &c. or , give a thing and take again , and you shall ride in hells wain . plato mentions this as a childrens proverb in his time . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which with us also continues a proverb among children to this day . better fill a gluttons belly then his eye . les yeux plus grands que la pance . gall. piu tosto si satolla il ventre chel'occhio . ital. a belly full of gluttony will never study willingly , i. e. the old proverbial verse . impletus venter non vult studere libenter . man doth what he can , and god what he will. when god wills , all winds bring rain . deus undecunque juvat modò propitius . eras . la ou dieu veut il pleut . gall . god sends corn , and the devil marres the sack . god sends cold after clothes . after clothes , i. e. according to the peoples clothes . dieu donne le sroid selon le drap . gall. god is where he was . spoken to encourage people in any distress . not god above , gets all mens love . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . theogn . god knows well which are the best pilgrims . what god will , no frost can kill . tell me with whom thou goest , and i 'll tell thee what thou doest . la mala compagnia è quella che mena huomini à la furca , ital. gold goes in at any gate except heavens . philip alexanders father was reported to say , that he did not doubt to take any castle or cittadel , let the ascent be never so steep and difficult , if he could but drive up an ass laden with gold to the gate . all is not gold that glisters . toutce qui luit n'est pas or . gall. non è oro tutto quel che luce . ital. fronti nulla fides . juven . a man may buy gold too dear . though good be good , yet better is better , or better carries it . that 's my good that does me good . some good things i do not love , a good long mile , good small beer , and a good old woman . good enough is never ought . a good man can no more harm then a sheep . ill gotten goods , seldom prosper . della robba di mal acquista non se ne vede allegrezza . ital. and , vien presto consumato l'ingiustamente acquistato . de mal è venu l'agneau & à mal retourne le peau . gall. to naught it goes that came from naught . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . hesiod . mala lucra aequalia damnis . malè parta malè dilabuntur : and , de malè quaesitis vix gaudet tertius haeres . juven . that that 's good sawce for a goose , is good for a gander . this is a womans proverb . there 's meat in a gooses eye . as deep drinketh the goose , as the gander . goose , and gander and gosling are three sounds , but one thing . a goshawk beats not at a bunting . aquila non capit muscas . grace will last , favour will blast . while the grass grows , the steed starves . caval non morire , che herba dè venire . ital. grass grows not upon the high way . gray and green make the worst medley . turpe senex miles , turpe senilis amor . ovid. an old lecher is compared to an onyon , or leek , which hath a white head but a green tail . gray hairs are deaths blossoms . great gifts are from great men . the gull comes against the rain . h. hackney mistress hackney maid . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . cic. epist . att. . qualis hera tales pedijsequae . et , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . catulae dominam imitantur . videas autem ( inquit erasmus ) & melitaeas , opulentarum mulierum delicias , fastum , laseiviam totàmque ferè morum imaginem reddere . had i fish is good without mustard . half an acre is good land . no halting before a cripple . for fear of being detected . il nè faut pas clocher devant un boiteux . gall. half an egg , &c. v. egg . half a loaf , v. loaf . help hands for i have no lands . he is handsom that handsom doth . half an hours hanging hinders m. riding . it 's better to be happy then wise . e meglio esser fortunato che savio . ital. gutta fortunae prae dolio sapientiae . mieux vaut une once de fortune qu' une libre de sagesse . gall. an ounce of good fortune is better then a pound of wisdom . happy is he whose friends were born before him . i. e. who hath rem non labore parandam sed relictam . happy man happy dole , or happy man by his dole . happy is the child whose father went to the devil . for commonly they who first raise great estates , do it either by usury and extortion , or by fraud and cozening , or by flattery and ministring to other mens vices . some have the hap , some stick i' th' gap . hap , and half-penny goods enough , i. e. good luch is enough , though a man hath not a penny left him . set hard heart against hard hap . tu-ne cede malis , sed contra audentior ito . in re mala enimo si bono utare adjuvat . hard with hard makes not the stone wall . duro con duro non fa mai buon muro . ital. though i have seen at ariminum in italy an ancient roman bridge made of hewn stone laid together without any morter or cement . hard fare makes hungry bellies . it 's a hard winter , &c. v. winter . it 's a hard battel , &c. v. battel . where we least think , there goeth the hare away . harm watch , harm catch . king harry lov'd a man , i. e. valiant men love such as are so , hate cowards . most haste worst speed . come s' ha fretta non si fa mai niente che stia bene . ital. qui trop se haste en cheminent , en beau chemin se fourvoye souvent . gall. he that walks too hastily , often stumbles in plain way . qui nimis properè minùs prosperè , & nimium properans seriùs absolvit . et canis festinans caecos parit catulos . et festinalenté . tarry a little that we may make an end the sooner , was a saying of s r amias paulet . presto & bene non si conviene . ital. hastily and well never meet . haste makes waste , and waste makes want , and want makes strife between the good man and his wife . as the man said to him on the tree top . make no more haste when you come down then when you went up . nothing most be done hastily but killing of fleas . hasty climbers , &c. v. climbers . a hasty [ or angry ] man never wants woe , v. a. hasty people will never make good midwives . hasty gamesters oversee . no haste to hang true men . it 's good to have a hatch before the door . high flying hawks are fit for princes . make hay while the sun shines . a great head and a little wit. this is only for the clinch sake become a proverb , for certainly the greater , the more brains ; and the more brains , the more wit , if rightly conformed . better be the head of a pike , then the tail of a sturgeon . better be the head of a dog , then the tail of a lion . meglio è esser capo di lucertola che coda di dragone . ital. better be the head of an ass , then the tail of a horse . better be the head of the yeomanry , then the tail of the gentry . e meglio esser testa di luccio che coda di sturione . ital. these four proverbs have all the same sense , viz. men love priority and precedency , had rather govern then be ruled , command then obey , lead then be sed , though in an inferiour rank and quality . he that hath no head needs no hat . qui n'a point de teste n'a que faire de chaperon . gall. a man is not so soon healed as hurt . you must not pledge your own health . health is better then wealth . the more you heap , the worse you cheap . the more you rake and scrape the worse success you have ; or the more busie you are and stir you keep , the less you gain . he that hears much and speaks not all , shall be wellcome both in bower and hall . parla poco , ascolta assai , & non fallirai . ital. where the hedge is lowest commonly men leap over . chascun joue au roy despouille . gall. they that are once down shall be sure to be trampled on . take heed is a good read . or as another proverb hath it , good take heed doth surely speed . abundans cautela non nocct . one pair of heels is often worth two pair of hands . always for cowards . the french say , qui n'à coeur ait jambes ; and the italian in the same words , chi non ha cuore habbi gambe . he that hath no heart let him have heels . so we see , nature hath provided timorous creatures , as deers , hares , rabbets , with good heels , to save themselves by flight . they that be in hell think there 's no other heaven . every herring must hang by his own gill . every tub must stand upon its own bottom . every man must give an account for himself . hide nothing from thy minister , physician and lawyer . al confessor medico & advocato non si dè tener il vero celato . ital. he that doth so doth it to his own harm or loss wronging thereby either his soul , body or estate . look not too high , lest a chip fall in thine eye . noli altum sapere . mr howel hath it , hew not too high , &c. according to the scottish proverb . the higher standing the lower fall . tolluntur in altum ut lapsu graviora ruant . the higher floud hath always the lower ebb . the highest tree hath the greatest fall . celsae graviore casu decidunt turres . horat. up the hill favour me , down the hill beware thee . every man for himself , and god for us all . ogniun per se & dio per tutti , ital. it is hard to break a hog of an ill custom . ne're lose a hog for an half-penny-worth of tarr . a man may spare in an ill time : as some who will rather die , then spend ten groats in physick . some have it , lose not a sheep , &c. indeed tarr is more used about sheep then swine . a man may hold his tongue in an ill time . amyclas silentium perdidit . it 's a known story , that the amycleans having been oft frighted and disquieted with vain reports of the enemies coming , made a law that no man should bring or tell any such news . whereupon it hapned , that when the enemies did come indeed , they were surprised and taken . there is a time to speak as well as to be silent . who can hold that they have not in their hand , i. e. a fart . home is home though it be never so homely . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . because there we have greatest freedom . v. eras . bos alienus subinde prospect at for as . an honest mans word is as good as his bond . an honey tongue a heart of gall . honours change manners . honores mutant mores . as poverty depresseth and debaseth a mans mind . so great place and estate advance and enlarge it ; but many times corrupt and puff it up . where honour ceaseth , there knowledge decreaseth . honos alit artes . quis enim virtutem amplectitur ipsam praemia si tollas ? on the other side . sint mecaenates non deerunt flacco marones : virgiliumque tibi vel tua rura dabunt . a hook well lost to catch a salmon . il faut perdre un veron pour pescher un saulmon . gall. if it were not for hope , the heart would break . spes alunt exules . spes servat afflictos . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . spes bona dat vires , animum quoque spes bona firmat . vivere spe vidi qui moriturus crat . hope well and have well , quoth hickwell . you can't make a horn of a pigs tail . parallel hereto is that of apostolius , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . an asses tail will not make a sieve . ex quovis ligno non sit mercurius . horns and gray hairs do not come by years . who hath horns in 's bosom , let him not put them on his head . let a man hide his shame , not publish it . it 's a good horse that never stumbles : and a good wife that never grumbles . il n'y a si bon cheval qui ne bronche . gall. quandóque bonus dormitat homerus . a good horse cannot be of a bad colour . a good horse often wants a good spur . it 's an ill horse will not carry his own provender . it 's an ill horse can neither whinny nor wag his tail . let a horse drink when he will , not what he will. a man may lead a horse to the water , but he cannot make him drink unless he will. on ne fait boire a l'asne quand il ne veut . gall. & on a beau mener le boeuf a l'eau s' il n'a soif . gall. in vain do you lead the ox to the water , if he be not thirsty . a resty horse must have a sharp spur . a scal'd horse is good , &c. v. scald . the common horse is worst shod . a short horse , &c. v. short . the best horse needs breaking , and the aptest child needs teaching . where the horse lies down , there some hair will be found . fullers worth. the horse that 's next the mill , &c. v. mill . a gall'd horse will not endure the comb . touch a gall'd horse , &c. v. gall'd . il tignosa non ama il pettine . ital. jamais tigneux n'aime le pigne . gall. & cheval roigneux n'a cure qu' on l'estrille . gall. you may know the horse by his harness . they are scarce of horse-flesh where two and two ride on a dog . a short horse is soon wisp't , and a bare a — soon kist . the horse that draws his halter , is not quite escaped . non á scappato chi strascina la catena dietro . ital. il n'est pas eschappée qui traine son lien . gall. trust not a horses heel , nor a dogs tooth . ab equinis pedibus procul recede . he that hires the horse must ride before . the fairer the hostess the fouler the reckoning . belle hostesse c ' est un mal pour la bourse . gall. hot sup , hot swallow . it chanceth in an hour , &c. v. chanceth . better ones house too little one day , then too big all the year after . when thy neighbours house is on fire , beware of thine own . tua res agitur paries cùm proximus ardet . a mans house is his castle . this is a kind of law proverb , jura publica savent privato domîls . he that builds a house by the high-way side , it 's either too high or too low . chi fabrica la casa in piazza , ô che è troppo alta ô troppo bassa . ital. he that buyes a house ready wrought , hath many a pin and nail for nought . il faut acheter maison fait & femme à faire . gall. a house ready made and a wife to make . hence we say , fools build houses and wise men buy them . when a mans house burns , it 's not good playing at chess . a man may love his house well , and yet not ride on the ridge . a man may love his children and relations well , and yet not cocker them , or be foolishly fond and indulgent to them . huge winds blow on high hills . feriúntque summos fulmina montes , horat. hunger is the best sawce . appetito non-vuol salsa . ital. il n'y a saulce que d'appetit . gall. this proverb is reckoned among the aphorisms of socrates , optimum cibi condimentum fames sitis potûs . cic. lib. . de finibus . hunger will break through stone walls . hungry flies bite sore . the horse in the fable with a gall'd back desired the flies that were full might not be driven away , because hungry ones would then take their places . hungry dogs , &c. v. dogs . they must hunger in frost that will not work in heat . a hungry horse makes a clean manger . hunger makes hard bones sweet beans . erasmus relates as a common proverb ( among the dutch i suppose ) hunger makes raw beans relish well or taste of sugar . manet holiéque vulgò tritum proverbium . famem efficere ut crudae ctiam fabae saccharum sapiant . darius in his slight drinking puddle-water desiled with dead carcasses , is reported to have said , that he never drank any thing that was more pleasant , for saith the story , neque enim sitiens unquam biberat : he never had drank thirsty . the full stomach loatheth the honey-comb , but to the hungry , every bitter thing is sweet . prov. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . all are not hunters that blow the horn . i. every iack must have his gill. chascun demande sa sorte . gall. like will to like . it ought to be written jyll , for it seems to be a nickname for julia or juliana . a good iack makes a good gill. bonus dux bonum reddit comitem . inferiours imitate the manners of superiours ; subjects of their princes , servants of their masters , children of their parents , wives of their husbands . praecepta ducunt , exempla trahunt . iack would be a gentleman , if he could but speak french. this was a proverb , when the gentry brought up their children to speak french. after the conquest , the first kings endeavoured to abolish the english language , and introduce the french. more to do with one iack-an apes , then all the bears . iack would wipe his nose if he had it . iack sprat would teach his grandame . ante barbam doces senes . of idleness comes no goodness . better to be idle , then not well occupied . praestat otiosum esse quàm nihil agere . plin. epist . better be idle then do that which is to no purpose , or as good as nothing ; much more then that which is evil . an idle brain is the devils shop . idle folks have the most labour . idle folks lack no excuses . no jesting with edge tools , or with bell-ropes . tresca con i fanti & lascia stari santi . ital. play with children , and let the saints alone . when the demand is a jest , the fittest answer is a scoff . better lose a jest then a friend . ill gotten goods , &c. v. goods . ill news comes apace . ill weeds grow apace . mauvaise herbe croist tous jours . gall. pazzi crescono senza inaffiargli . ital. fools grow without watering . a mauvais chien la queüe luy vient . gall. herba mala praesto cresce , ital. ill will never said well . an inch breaks no squares . some add , in a burn of thorns . pour un petit n'avant n'arriere . gall. an inch in a miss is as good as an ell . ione's as good as my lady in the dark . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . erasmus draws this to another sense , viz. there is no woman chast where there is no witness : but i think he mistakes the intent of it , which is the same with ours . when candles are out all cats are gray . no joy without annoy . extrema gaudii luctus occupat : & usque adeò nulla est sincera voluptas , sollicitumque aliquid laetis intervenit . strike while the iron is hot . infin che il ferro è caldo bisogna batterlo . ital. il fait bon battre le fer tandis qu' il est chaud . gal. people must then be plied when they are in a good humour or mood . he that hath many irons in the fire , some of them will cool . ill luck is worse then found money . he that will not endure to itch must endure to smart . k. ka me and i 'll ka thee . da mihi mutuum testimonium . cic. orat . pro flacco . lend me an oath or testimony . swear for me and i 'll do as much for you . or claw me and i 'll claw you . commend me and i 'll commend you . & pro delo calauriam . neptune changed with latona delos for calauria . keep some till furthermore come . the kettle calls the pot black a — la padella diee al paiuolo vati in la , che tu mi non tinga . ital. il lavezzo fabeffe de la pignata . ital. all the keys hang not at one mans girdle . a piece of a kid's worth two of a cat . who was kill'd by a cannon bullet , was curst in his mothers belly . he that kills a man when he 's drunk , v. in d. the kiln call's the oven burnt-house . it 's good to be near of kin to an estate . a kings favour is no inheritance . the kings cheese goes half away in parings . kissing goes by favour . better kiss a knave then be troubled with him . he that kisseth his wife in the market-place , shall have enough to teach him . if you can kiss the mistress , never kiss the maid . to kiss a mans wife or wipe his knife , is but a thankless office . many kiss the child for the nurses sake . a carrion kite will never make good hawk . on ne seauroit faire d'une buse un espreuvier . gall , many kinsfolks , &c. v. friends . knaves and fools divide the world . when knaves fall out , true men come by their goods . les larrons s' entrebatent , les larcins se descouvrent . gall. when high-way men fall out , robberies are discovered . knavery may serve for a turn , but honesty is best at long run . the more knave the better luck . two cunning knaves need no broker : or a cunning knave , &c. it 's as hard to please a knave as a knight . it is better to knit then blossom . as in trees those that bear the fairest blossoms , as double flower'd cherries and peaches , often bear no fruit at all , so in children , &c. where the knot is loose , the string slippeth . they that know one another salute afar off . l. an unhappy lad may make a good man. a ragged colt , &c. a quick landlord makes a carefull tenant . he that hath some land must have some labour . no sweet without some sweat , without pains no gains . land was never lost for want of an heir . a i ricchi non mancano parenti . ital. the rich never want kindred . one leg of a lark 's worth the whole body of a kite . he that comes last makes all fast . le dernier ferme la porte , ou la laisse ouverte . gall. better late then never . il vaut mieux tard que jamais . gall. meglio tarde che non mai . ital. it 's never too late to repent . nunquam sera est . &c ▪ let them laugh that win . merchand qui perd ne peut rire . gall. the merchant that loses cannot laugh . give losers leave to speak , and i say , give winners leave to laugh , for if you do not , they 'll take it . he that buys lawn before he can fold it , shall repent him before he have sold it . they that make laws must not break them . patere legem quam ipsc tulisti . in commune jubes siquid censésve tenendum , primus jussa subi , tunc observantior aequi fis populus , nec ferre vetat cùm viderit ipsum , autorem parere sibi . claudian . better a lean jade then an empty halter . never too old to learn. nulla aetas ad perdiscendum sera est , ambros . the least boy always carries the greatest fiddle . all lay load upon those that are least able to bear it . for they that are least able to bear , are least able to resist the imposition of the burden . better leave then lack . leave is light . it 's an easie matter to ask leave , but the expence of a little breath , and therefore servants and such as are under command are much to blame , when they will do , or neglect to do what they ought not or ought , without asking it , while the leg warmeth , the boot harmeth . he that doth lend will lose his friend . qui preste al amis perd au double . gall. he that lends to his friend , loseth double , i. e. both mony and friend . learn to lick betimes , you know not whose tail you may go by . shew me a liar , and i 'll shew you a thief . life is sweet . while there 's life there 's hope . infin que v ' è fiato v ' è speranza , ital. aegroto dum anima est spes est . tull. ad attic. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . when all diseases fled out of pandora's box , hope remained there still . there 's life in a muscle , i. e. there is some hopes though the means be but weak . life lieth not in living , but in liking . martial saith , non est vivere , sed valere vita . light gains make a heavy purse . le petit gain remplit la bourse . gall. they that sell for small profit , vend more commodities and make quick returns , so that to invert the proverb , what they lose in the hundred , they gain in the county . whereas they who sell dear , sell little , and many times lose a good part of their wares , either spoil'd or grown out of use and fashion by long keeping . poco è spesso empie il borsetto . ital. little and often fills the purse . light burdens far heavy . petit far deau poise à la longue , or petite chose de loing poise , gall. light cheap lither yield . that that costs little , will do little service , for commonly the best is beast cheap . lightly come lightly go . the light is nought for sore eyes . al'oeil malade le lumiere nuit . gall. he that doth evil hateth the light , &c. there 's lightning lightly before thunder . a heavy purse makes a light heart . the lion's not half so fierce as he is painted . minuunt prasentia famam , is a true rule . things are represented at a distance , much to their advantage beyond their just proportion and merit . fame is a magnifying glass . every one as they like best , as the good man said when he kist his cow . like will to like ( as the devil said to the collier . ) or as the scab'd squire said to the mangy knight , when they both met in a dish of butter'd fish . ogni simile appetisce il suo simile , ital. chascum cherche son semblable , or , demande sa sorte , gall. cascus eascam ducit , i. vetulus anum . significat a. similis similem delectat . like lips like lettuce . similes habent labra lactucas . a thistle is a sallet fit for an asses mouth . we use when we would signifie that , things happen to people which are suitable to them , or which they deserve : as when a dull scholar happens to a stupid or ignorant master , a froward wife to a peevish husband , &c. dignum patellâ operculum . like priest , like people , and on the contrary . these proverbs are always taken in the worse sense . tal carne tal cultello . ital. like flesh like knife . like saint like offering . like carpenter like chips . trim tram , like master like man. quel maistre tel valet , gall. tal abbate tali i monachi . ital. a liquorish tongue is the purses canker . a liquorish tongue a liquorish lecherous tail . a little pot 's soon hot . little persons are commonly cholerick . little things are pretty . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . many littles make a mickle . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . hesiod . adde parum parvo magnus acervus erit . de petit vient on au grand . and , les petits ruisseaux font les grands rivieres , gall. all ekes , &c. the greatest number is made up of unites ; and all the waters of the sea , of drops . piuma à piuma se pela l'occha . ital. feather by feather the goose is pluckt . little pitchers have ears . ce quel'enfant oit au fouyer , est bien tost cogneu jusques au monstier . that which the child hears by the fire , is often known as far as monstier , a town in savoy . so that it seems they have long tongues , as well as wide ears . and therefore ( as juvenal well said ) maxima debetur puero reverentia . by little and little the poor whore sinks her barn . little said soon amended . little strokes fell great oaks . multis ictibus dejicitur quercus . many strokes fell , &c. assiduity overcomes all difficulty . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . minutula pluvia imbrem parit . assidua stilla saxum excavat . quid magis est durum saxo ? quid mollius unda ? dura tamen molli saxa cavantur aqud . ovid. annulus in digito subter tenuatur habendo : stillicidî casus lapidem cavat , uncus aratri ferrcus occultè decrescit vomer in armis , lucret. pliny reports , that there are to be found flints worn by the feet of pismires . which is not altogether unlikely ; for the horse ants especially , i have observed to have their rodes or foot-paths so worn by their travelling , that they may easily be observed . a little good is soon spent . a little stream drives a light mill . live and let live , i. e. do as you would be done by . let such pennyworths as your tenants may live under you ; sell such bargains , &c. every thing would live . they that live longest , must go furthest for wood . longer lives a good fellow then a dear year . as long lives a merry heart as a sad . one may live and learn. non si finisce mai d'imparare , ital. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a famous saying of solon , discenti assiduè multa senecta vexit . and well might he say so , for ars longa vita brevis , as hippocrates begins his aphorisms . they that live longest must fetch fire furthest . they that live longest must die at last . all lay load on the willing horse . on touche tous jours sur le cheval qui tire , gall. the horse that draws is most whipt . half a loaf is better then no bread . it 's a long run that never turns . the longest day , &c. v. day . long lookt for comes at last . look to the main chance . look before you leap , for snakes among sweet flowers do creep . look not too high , &c. v. high . where the knot is loose , &c. v. knot . no great loss , but some small profit . as for instance , he whose sheep die of the rot , saves the skins and wooll . it 's not lost that comes at last . all is not lost that is in danger . in love is no lack . love thy neighbour , but pull not down thy hedge . better a louse i' th' pot then no flesh at all . the scotch proverb saith a mouse , which is better sense , for a mouse is flesh and edible . he must stoop that hath a low door . lowly sit richly warm . a mean condition is both more safe and more comfortable , then a high estate . the lower millstone grinds as well as the upper . ill luck is worse , &c. v. ill. what is worse then ill luck ? give a man luck , and throw him into the sea . the honester man , the worse luck , v. honester . thieves and rogues have the best luck , if they do but scape hanging . he that 's sick of a feaver lurden must be cured by the hasel gelding . no law for lying . a man may lie without danger of the law . m. you 'll ne're be mad , you are of so many minds . there are more maids then maukin , and more men then michael , i. e. little mal or mary . maids say nay and take . who knows who 's a good maid ? every maid is undone . look to the main , &c. v. look . make much of one , good men are scarce . malice is mindfull . man proposes , god disposes . homme propose , mais dieu dispose , gall. humana confiiia divinitus gubernantur . a man 's a man though he hath but a hose on 's head . he that 's man'd with boys and hors'd with colts , shall have his meat eaten and his work undone . many hands make light [ or quick ] work . multorum manibus grande levatur onus . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . homer . unus vir nullus vir . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . euripid. he that hath many irons , &c. v. irons . many sands will sink a ship . we must have a care of little things , lest by degrees we fall into great inconveniences . a little leak neglected , in time will sink a ship . many littles , &c. v. little . so many men so many minds . tant● teste tanti cervelli , ital. autant de testes autant d'opinions , gall. quot homines tot sententiae , terent. there are more mares in the wood then grisell . you may know by the market-folks , how the market goes . he that cannot abide a bad market deserves not a good one . forsake not the market for the toll . no man makes haste to the market , where there 's nothing to be bought but blows . the masters eye makes the horse fat . l'occhio del padrone ingrassa il cavallo , ital. l'oeil du maistre engraisse le cheval . gall. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . arist . oeconom . . the answers of perses and libys are worth the observing . the former being asked , what was the best thing to make a horse fat , answered the masters eye : the other being demanded what was the best manure , answered the masters footsteps . not impertinent to this purpose , is that story related by gellius . a fat man riding upon a lean horse asked , how it came to pass , that himself was fat , and his horse so lean . he answered because i feed my self , but my servant my horse . that is not always good in the maw that is sweet in the mouth . who that may not as he will , &c. v. will. every may be hath a may not be . two ill meals make the third a glutton . measure is a treasure . after meat comes mustard . when there is no more use of it . meat is much , but manners is more . much meat much maladies . surfetting and diseases often attend full tables . our nation in former time , hath been noted for excess in eating , and it was almost grown a proverb , that english men dig their graves with their teeth . meat and mattens hinder no mans journey . in other words , prayers and provender , &c. he that will meddle with all things , may go shoe the goslins . c ' e da fare per tutto , diceva colui che fer●ava l'occha . ital. of little medling comes great ease . it 's merry in the hall when beards wag all . when all are eating , feasting or making good chear . by the way we may note that this word chear , which is particularly with us applied to meats and drinks , seems to be derived from the greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying joy : as it doth also with us in those words chearly and chearfull . merry meet merry part . be merry and wise . the more the merrier , the fewer the better chear . merry is the feast-making till we come to the reckoning . as long lives a merry , &c. v. lives . can jack-an-apes be merry , &c. v. clog . who doth sing so merry a note , &c. v. sing . mickle ado and little help . might overcomes right . no mill no meal . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . qui sugit molam sugit sarinam . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . he that would have honey , must have bees . erasmus saith , they commonly say , he that would have eggs , must endure the cackling of hens . it is i suppose a dutch proverb . much water goes by the mill , the miller knows not of . assai acqua passa per il molino the il molinaio non vede , ital. an honest miller hath a golden thumb . in vain doth the mill clack , if the miller his hearing lack . every miller draws water to his own mill . amener eau au moulin , or ; tirer eau en son moulin , gall. tutti tira l'acqua al suo molino . ital. the horse next the mill , carries all the grist . my mind to me a kingdom is . a pennyworth of mirth is worth a pound of sorrow . mischiefs come by the pound , and go away by the ounce . i mali vengono à carri & suggino a onze . ital. better a mischief , then an inconvenience . that is , better a present mischief that is soon over , then a constant grief and disturbance . not much unlike to that , better eye out , then always aking . the french have a proverb in sense , contrary to this , il faut laisser son enfant morveux plus tost que luy arracher le nez . better let ones child be snotty then pluck his nose off . better endure some small inconvenience , then remove it with a great mischief . there 's no feast to the misers , v. feast . misfortunes seldom come alone . the french say , malheur ne vient jamais seul . one misfortune never came alone . & apres perdre perd on bien . when one begins once to lose , one never makes an end . & un mal attire l'autre . one mischief draws on another , or one mischief falls upon the neck of another . fortuna nulli obesse contenta est semel . misreckoning's no payment . misunderstanding brings lies to town . this is a good observation , lies and false reports arise most part from mistake and misunderstanding . the first hearer mistakes the first reporter , in some considerable circumstance or particular ; the second him , and so at last the truth is lost , and a lie passes currant . money will do more then my lords letter . it 's money makes the mare to go . pecuniae obediunt omnia . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 &c. i danari san correre i cavaili . ital. prate is but prate , it 's money buyes land . beauty is potent , but money is omnipotent . amour fait beaucoup , mais a gent fait tout . & amour fait rage , mais argent fait marriage , gall. love makes rage , and money makes marriage . god makes , and apparel shapes , but money makes the man. pecunia vir . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . tanti quantum habeas fis , horat. tell money after your own father . do as the most do , and fewest will speak evil of thee . the moon 's not seen where the sun shines . a mote may choke a man. a child may have too much of his mothers blessing . mothers are oftentimes too tender and fond of their children . who are ruined and spoiled by their cockering and indulgence . the mouse that hath but one hole is easily taken . tristo è quel topo , che non ha ch' un sol pertuggio per salvarsi . ital. la souris qui n'a qu' une entrée est incontinent happée , gall. mus non uni fidit antro . good riding at two anchors , having two strings to ones bow . this sentence came originally from plautus in truculento , v. erasm . adag . a mouse in time may bite in two , &c. v. time . god never sends mouths , but he sends meat . this proverb is much in the mouth of poor people : who get children , but take no care to maintain them . much would have more . multa petentibus desunt multa , horat. creverunt & opes & opum furiosa cupido , ut quò possideant plurima plura p●●ant . sic quibus intumuit suffusa venter ab unda , quo plus sunt potae plus sitiuntur aquae . ovid. fast . muck and money go together . those that are slovenly and dirty usually grow rich , not they that are nice and curious in their diet , houses and clothes . murder will out . this is observed very often to fall out in the immediate sense , as if the providence of god were more then ordinarily manifested in such discoveries , it is used also to signifie , that any knavery or crime or the like will come to light . men muse as they use , measure other folks corn by their own bushel , when a musician hath forgot his note , he makes as though a crum stuck in his throat . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . when a singing-man or musician is out or at a loss , to conceal it he coughes . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . some seeking to hide a scape with a cough , render themselves doubly ridiculous . he loves mutton well , that dips his bread in the wooll . n. if ones name be up he may lie in bed . qui a bruit de se lever matin peut dormir jusques a disner , gall. etiam trimestres liberi felicibus , sue . he that hath an ill name is half hanged . take away my good name and take away my life . naught is never in danger . near is my petticoat , &c. v. petticoat . necessity hath no law . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . la necessita non ha legge , ital. ingens telum necessitas . cic. de amic . necessity is cole-black . they need much whom nothing will content . need makes the old wife trot . bisogno la trottar la vecchia , ital. besoign fait vieille trotter , gall. all the same , word for word . need will have it's course . need makes the naked man run , [ or the naked quean spin . ] a good neighbour , a good goodmorrow . qui à bon voisin à bon matin , gall. chi ha cattivo vicino ha il mal matino , ital. aliquid mali propter vicinum malum , plaut . in merc. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , hesiod . themistocles having a farm to sell , caused the crier who proclaimed it , to add that it had a good neighbour : rightly judging that such an advantage would make it more vendible . love thy neighbour , &c. v. in l. neighbour-quart is good quart , i. e. giffe gaffe is a good fellow . he dwells far from neighbours [ or hath ill neighbours ] that 's fain to praise himself . proprio laus sordet in ore . let another man praise thee and not thine own mouth , a stranger and not thine own lips . here 's talk of the turk and pope , but it 's my next neighbour does me the harm . you must ask your neighbour if you shall live in peace . the rough net 's not the best catcher of birds . new lords new laws . de nouveau seigneur nouvelle mesnie , gall. every one has a penny to spend at a new ale-house . a new broom sweeps clean . no penny no , &c. v penny . no mill no , &c. v. mill . no silver no , &c. v. silver . no living man all , &c. v. all . one may know by your nose , what pottage you love . every mans nose will not make a shooing horn . non cuivis homini contingit adire corinthum , horat. where nothing is a little doth ease . where nothing 's to be had , the king must lose his right . ninno da quello che non ha , ital. le roy perd sa rente ou il n'y a que prendre , gall. one year a nurse and seven years the worse . because feeding well and doing little she becomes liquorish and gets a habit of idleness . fair fall nothing once by the year . it may sometimes be better to have nothing then something . so said the poor man , who in a bitter snowy morning could lie still in his warm bed , when as his neighbours who had sheep and other cattel , were fain to get up betimes and abroad , to look after and secure them . o. an unlawfull oath is better broke then kept . he that measureth oil , shall anoint his fingers . qui mesure l'huile il s' en oingt les mains , gall. to cast oil in the fire 's not the way to quench it . old men are twice children . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . and that not in respect of the mind only , but also of the body . old be or young die . never too old to learn. v. learn. older and wiser . discipulus est prioris posterior dies , senec. nunquam ita quisquam benè subductâ ratione ad vitam suit , quin res , aetas usus semper aliquid apportet novi , &c. terent. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . you can't catch old birds with chaff . annosa vulpes non capitur laqueo . if you would not live to be old , you must be hang'd when you are young . young men may die , old men must . the old woman would never have look't for her daughter i' th' oven , had she not been there her self . se la madre non fosse mai stata nel forno , non vi cercarebbe la figlia . ital. the same to a word . an old ape hath an old eye . an old dog biteth sore . un vieil chien jamais ne jappe en vain , gall. of young men die many , of old men scape not any . de giovane ne muoiono di molti , di vecchi ne scampa nessuno , ital. an old fox needs learn no craft . an old sack asketh much patching . old men and far travellers may lie by authority . il à beau , mentir qui vient de loin . gall. better keep under an old hedge , then creep under a new furze-bush . as the old cock crows , so crows the young [ or so the young learns . ] chi di gallina nasce convien che rozole , ital. some have it , the young pig grunts like the old sow . an old thief desires a new halter . old cattel breed not . this i believe is a true observation , for probable it is , that all ter estrial animals both birds and beasts have in them from the beginning , the seeds of all those young they afterwards bring forth , which seeds , eggs if you so please to call them ; when they are all spent , the female becomes effaete or ceases to breed . in birds these seeds or eggs are visible , and van horn hath discovered them also in beasts . an old naught will never be ought . an old dog will learn no tricks . it 's all one to physick the dead , as to instruct old men . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . senis mutare inguam is an absurd impossible thing . old age is int●actable , morose , slow and forgetfull . if they have been put in a wrong way at first , no hopes then of reducing them . senex psittacus negligit ferulam . an old man hath one foot in the grave . an old man is a bed full of bones . the old withy tree would have a new gate hung at it . old mares lust after new cruppers . that that 's one mans meat 's another mans poison . l'un mort dont l'autre vit , gall. one swallow makes not a spring , nor one woodcock a winter . this is an ancient greek proverb . arist. ethic. nicom . lib. . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . one shoulder of mutton draws down another . en mangeant l'appetit vient . gall. one mans breath 's another mans death . one man may better steal a horse , then another look over the hedge . if we once conceive a good opinion of a man , we will not be perswaded he doth any thing amiss ; but him whom we have a prejudice against , we are ready to suspect on the sleightest occasion . some have this good fortune , to have all their actions interpreted well , and their faults overlookt ; others to be ill beheld and suspected , even when they are innocent . so parents many times are observed to have great partiality towards some child ; and not to be offended with him for that , which they would severely punish in their other children . one beats the bush and another catcheth the bird . il bat le buisson sans prendre l'oisillon . gall. alii sementem faciunt , alii metent . this proverb was used by henry the fifth , at the siege of orleans : when the citizens besieged by the english , would have yielded up the town to the d. of burgundy who was in the english camp , and not to the king. he said , shall i beat the bush and another take the bird ? no such matter . which words did so offend the duke , that he made peace with the french , and withdrew from the english . one doth the scath and another hath the scorn , i. e. one doth the harm and another bears the blame . scath signifies loss or harm . opportunity makes the thief . occasio facit furem . therefore , masters and superiours and house-keepers ought to secure their moneys and goods under lock and key ; that they do not give their servants , or any others , a temptation to steal . it is good to cry ule at other mens costs . ule that is christmass . it 's time to set in when the oven comes to the dough , i. e. time to marry when the maid woes the man : parallel to that cheshire prov. it's time to yoke when the cart comes to the caples , i. e. horses . all 's out is good for prisoners but naught for the eyes . it 's good for prisoners to be out , but bad for the eyes to be out . this is a droll used by good fellows when one tells them , all the drink is out . god send us of our own when rich men go to dinner . let him that owns the cow take her by the tail . t is good christening a mans own child first . the ox when weariest treads surest . bos lassus fortiùs sigit pedem . those that are slow are sure . p. a small pack , &c. v. small . pain is forgotten where gain follows . great pain and little gain make a man soon weary . without pains no gains . dii laboribus omnia vendunt . it 's good enough for the parson unless the parish were better it s here supposed that if the parish be very bad the parson must be in some fault ; and therefore any thing is good enough for that parson whose parishioners are bad , either by reason of his ill example , or the neglect of his duty . fat paunches make lean pates , &c. pinguis venter non gignit sensum tenuem . this hierom mentions in one of his epistles as a greek proverb . the greek is more elegant . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . all the honesty is in the parting . patch by patch is good husbandry , but patch upon patch is plain beggery , or one patch on a knee , &c. two patches on a knee , &c. patience with poverty , is all a poor mans remedy . patience perforce is a medicine for a mad dog . patience is a plaister for all sores . pauls will not always stand . a fair pawn never sham'd his master . a good pay-master needs no surety , or starts not at assurances . once paid never craved . he that pays last , never pays twice . he that cannot pay , let him pray . they take a long day that never pay . he that would live in peace and rest , must hear and see and say the best . oy , voy , & te tais , si tu veux vivre en paix , gall. ode , vede , tace , sevuoi viver in pace , ital. pen an ink is wits plough . a penny in my purse will bid me drink when all the friends i have will not . penny in pocket's a good companion . no penny no pater noster . that penny is well spent that saves a groat . bonne la maille qui suave le denier , gall. the halfpenny is well spent that saves a penny . penny and penny laid up will be many . who will not keep a penny shall never have many . the greatest sum is made up of pence : and he that is prodigall of a little can never gain a great deal : besides by his squandring a little one may take a scantling of his inclination . near is my petticoat , but nearer is my smock . mu chemise m' est plus proche que ma robe . gall. tocca piu la camisia ch' il gippone , ital. i. e. tunica pallio propior . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . theocr. some friends are nearer to me then others : my parents and children then my other relations , those then my neighbours , my neighbours then strangers : but above all i am next to my self . plus pres est la chair que la chemise . gall. my flesh is nearer then my shirt . if physick do not work , prepare for the kirk . i 'll not buy a pig in a poke . the french say chat en poche , i. e. a cat in a poke . pigs love that lie together . a familiar conversation breeds friendship among them who are of the most base and fordid natures . when the pig's profer'd hold up the poke . never refuse a good offer . he that will not stoop for a pin , shall never be worth a point . he can ill pipe , that wants his upper lip . things cannot be done without necessary helps and instruments . no longer pipe no longer dance . piss not against the wind . chi piscia contra il vento si bagna la camiscia , ital. he that pisseth against the wind , wets his shirt . it is to a mans own prejudice , to strive against the stream ; he wearies himself and loses ground too . chi spuda contra il vento si spuda contra il viso . ital. he that spits against the wind spits in his own face . the pitcher doth not go so often to the water , but it comes home broken at last . tant souvent va le pot à l'eau que l'anse y demeure , gall. quem saepe transit aliquando invenit . sen. trag. foolish pity spoils a city . plain dealing 's a jewel but they that use it die beggers . he plays well that wins . as good play for nothing as work for nothing . he that plays more then he sees forfeits his eyes to the king. he had need rise betimes that would please every body . he that would please all and himself too , undertakes what he cannot doe . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . pleasing ware is half sold . chose qui plaist est à demi vendu . gall. mercantia chi piace è meza venduta . ital. short pleasure long lament , v. in s. plenty makes dainty . the plow goes not well if the plow-man holds it not . he that by the plow would thrive himself must either hold or drive . there belongs more then whistling to going to plow. a man must plow with such oxen as he hath . he is poor indeed that can promise nothing . poor folks are glad of pottage . poor and proud , fie , fie . the devil wipes his tail with the poor mans pride . a poor mans table is soon spread . possession is eleven points of the law , and they say there are but twelve . a cottage in possession , &c. v. cottage . if you drink in your pottage , you 'll cough in your grave . when poverty comes is at the doors , love leaps out at the windows . plain of poverty and die a begger . poverty parteth good fellowship . pour not water on a drown'd mouse . i. e. add not affliction to misery . praise a fair day , &c. v. fair . praise the sea , &c. v. sea . prayers and provender hinder no mans journey . they shall have no more of our prayers then we of their pies ( quoth the vicar of layton . ) he that would learn to pray , let him go to sea . qui veut apprendre à prier , aille souvent sur la mer , gal. prettiness makes no pottage . pride will have a fall . pride feels no cold . pride goes before , shame follows after . it 's an ill procession where the devil carries the cross . a proud mind and a beggers purse agree not well together . there 's nothing agrees worse then a proud mind and a beggers purse . as proud come behind as go before . a man may be humble that is in high estate , and people of mean condition may be as proud as the highest . it 's good beating proud folks , for they 'll not complain . the priest forgets that he was a clerk . proud upstarts remember not the meanness of their former condition . he that prieth into every cloud , may be stricken with a thunderbolt . proffer'd service [ and so ware ] stinks . merx ultronea putet , apud hieronym . erasmus saith , quin vulgo etiam in ore est , ultro delatum obsequium plerunque ingratum esse , so that it seems this proverb is in use among the dutch too . merchandise offe●te est à demi vendue , gall. ware that is proffer'd is sold for half the worth , or at half the price . all promises are either broken or kept . this is a flam or droll , used by them that break their word . the properer man [ and so the honester ] the worse luck . aux bons meschet il , gall. better some of a pudding then none of a pie . there 's no deceit in a bag pudding . the proof of the pudding is in the eating . pull hair and hair , and you 'll make the carle bald . caudae pilos equinae paulatim vellere . there is a notable story of sertorius mentioned by plutarch in his life . he to perswade his souldiers that counsel was more available then strength , cause , two horses to be brought out , the one poor and lean ; the other strong and having a bushy tail . to the poor weak horse he sets a great , strong , young man. to the strong horse he sets a little weak fellow , each to pluck off his horses tail . this latter pulling the hairs one by one , in a short space got off the whole tail : whereas the young man catching all the tail at once in his hands , fell a tugging with all his might , labouring and sweating to little purpose ; till at last he tired , and made himself ridiculous to all the company . piuma à piuma se pela l'occha . ital. feather by feather the goose is pluckt . like punishment and equal pain , both key and key-hole do maintain . let your purse be your master . messe tenus propria vive . all is not won that is put in the purse . he that shews his purse longs to be rid of it . be it better or be it worse , be rul'd by him that bears the purse . that 's but an empty purse that is full of other mens money . q. quick at meat , quick at work . bonne beste s' eschausse en mangeant , gall. a good beast will get himself on heat with eating . hardi gaigneur hardi mangeur , gall. we must live by the quick , and not by the dead . any thing for a quiet life . next to love quietness . r. small rain lays great dust . petite pluye abat grand vent . small rain , or a little rain lays a great wind , gall. so said a mad fellow , who lying in bed bepist his farting wives back . after rain comes fair weather . raise no more spirits then you can conjure down . thou art a bitter bird , said the raven to the sterling . raw leather will stretch . there 's reason in roasting of eggs . est modus in rebus . no receiver no thief . the receiver's as bad as the thief . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . phocyl . he that reckons without his host , must reckon again . chi fa conto senza l'hoste fa conto due volte , ital. qui compte sans son hoste , il lui convient compter deux sois , gal. even reckoning keeps long friends . a vieux comptes nouvelles disputes , gall. old reckonings breed new disputes or quarrels . conto spesso è amicitia longa . ital. never refuse a good offer . if i had reveng'd all wrong , i had not worn my skirts so long . 't is brave scrambling at a rich mans dole . soon ripe soon rotten . citò maturum citò putridum . odi puerulum praecoci sapientia , apul. it is commonly held an ill sign , for a child to be too forward and rise-witted , viz. either to betoken premature death , according to that motto i have somewhere seen under a coat of arms , is cadit ante sencm qui sapit ante diem ; or to betoken as early a decay of wit and parts . as trees that bear double flowers , viz cherties peaches , &c. bring forth no fruit , but spend all in the blossom . wherefore as another proverb hath it ; it is better to knit then blossom . praesto maturo , praesto marzo . ital. why should a rich man steal ? men use to worship the rising sun . plures adorant solem orientem quam occidentem . they that are young and rising have more followers , then they that are old and decaying . this consideration , it is thought , withheld queen elizabeth , a prudent princess , from declaring her successour . all 's lost that 's put in a riven dish . all is lost that is bestowed upon an ungratefull porson ; he remembers no courtesies . perit quod facis ingrato . senec. he loves roast-meat well , that licks the spit . many talk of robin hood , that never shot in his bow . and many talk of little john that never did him know . tales of robin hood are good enough for fools . that is , many talk of things which they have no skill in , or experience of . robert hood was a famous robber in the time of king richard the first : his principal haunt was about shirewood forest in notingham-shire . camden calls him , praedonem mitissimum . of his stollen goods he afforded good penny-worths , lightly come lightly go . molti parlan di orlando chi non viddero mai suo brando . ital. non omnes qui citharam tenent citharoedi . spare the rod and spoil the child . a rogues wardrobe is harbour for a louse . a r●lling stone gathers no moss . saxum volutum non obducitur musco . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . pietra mossa non fa muschio , ital. la pierte souvent remuée n'amasse pas volontiers mousse . gall. to which is parallel that of fabius , qu. planta quae saepiùs transscrtur non coalescit . a plant often removed cannot thrive . rome was not built in one day . rome n'a ste basti tout en un jour , gall. & grand bien ne vient pas en peu d'heures . a great estate is not gotten in a few hours . name not a rope in his house that hang'd himself . no rose without a thorn . nulla est sincera voluptas . the fairest rose at last is withered . the rough net , &c. v. net . at a round table there 's no dispute of place . this deserves not place among proverbs , yet because i find it both among our english collections , and likewise the french and italian , i have let it pass . a tavola tonda non si contende del luoco , ital. ronde table oste le debat , gall. he may ill run that cannot goe . he that runs fastest , gets most ground . there 's no general rule without some exception . s. an old sack , &c. v. old . set the saddle on the right horse . this proverb may be variously applied ; either thus , let them bear the blame that deserve it : or thus , let them bear the burden that are best able . where saddles do lack , better ride on a pad , then the bare horse-back . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . sadness and gladness succeed each other . it 's hard to sail o're the sea in an egg shell . a young saint an old devil , v. young . a good salade is the prologue to a bad supper . ital. there 's a salve for every sore . a ogni cosa è rimedio fuora qu' alla morte . ital. there 's a remedy for every thing but death . save something for the man that rides on the white horse . for old age , wherein the head grows white . it 's somewhat a harsh metaphor to compare age to a horse . some savers in a house do well . every penny that 's saved is not gotten . of saving cometh having . learn to say before you sing . he that would sail without danger , must never come on the main sea . saying and doing are two things . du dire au faict y a grand traict , gall. say well and do well end with one letter , say well is good , but do well is better . one scab'd sheep will marr a whole flock . un a pecora insetta n'ammorba una setta . ital. il nè faut qu' une brebis rogneuse pour gaster tout le troupeau , gall. grex toius in agris unius scabie cadit & porrigine porci , juvenal . scald not your lips in another , &c. v. another . a scalded cat fears cold water . can scottato d'acqua calda ha paura poi della fredda , ital. chat eschaudè craint l'eau froide . gall. a scal'd head is soon broken . a scal'd horse is good enough for a scab'd squire . dignum patellâ operculum . among the common people scoggin's a doctour . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . est autem corydus vilissimum aviculae genus miniméque canorum . who more ready to call her neighbour scold , then the errantest scold in the parish ? scorning is catching . he that scorns any condition , action or employment , may come to be , nay often is driven upon it himself . some word it thus : hanging 's stretching , mocking's catching . scratch my breech , and i 'll claw your elbow . mutuum muli scabunt . ka me and i 'll ka thee . when undeserving persons commend one another . manus manum fricat & manus manum lavat . differ not much in sense . praise the sea , but keep on land . loda il mare & tienti à terra , ital. the second blow makes the fray . seldom seen soon forgotten . seeing is believing . chi con l'occhio vede , col cuor crede . ital. seek till you find , and you 'll not lose your labour . seldom comes a better . to see it rain is better then to be in it . the self-edge makes shew of the cloth . self do , self have . self-love's a mote in every mans eye . service is no inheritance . a young serving-man , &c. v. young . it 's a shame to steal , but a worse to carry home . shameless craving must have shamefull nay . a bon demandeur bon refuseur , gall. it 's very hard to shave an egg , v. egg . a barber learns to shave by shaving of fools . a barbe de fol on apprend à raire , gall. ala barba de pazzi il barbier impara a radere , ital. he is a fool that will suffer a young beginner to practise first upon him . it 's ill shaving against the wooll . he that makes himself a sheep , shall be eaten by the wolf . chi pecora si fa il lupo la mangia , ital. qui se fait brebis le loup le mange gall. he that is gentle , and puts up affronts and injuries shall be sure to be loaden . veterem ferendo injuriam invitas novam , terent. post folia cadunt arbores , plaut . shear sheep that ha's them . the difference is wide that the sheets will not decide . he that shews his purse , &c. v. purse . hang him that hath no shifts . a bad shift , &c. v. bad . a good shift may serve long , but it will not serve ever . close sits my shirt , &c. v. close . shitten luck's good luck . the wearer best knows where the shooe wrings him . every shooe fits not every foot . it is therefore an instance of absurd application , eundem calceum omni pedi induere . or eodem collyrio omnibus mederi . who goes worse shod then the shooemakers wife ? or , who goes more bare then the shooemakers wife and the smiths mare . the shooe will hold with the sole . la suola tien con la scarpa , ital. i. e. the sole holds with the shooe . every man will shoot at an enemy , but few will go to fetch the shaft . keep thy shop , and thy shop will keep thee . short and sweet . i. e. sermonis prolixitas fastidiosa . cognat . è ficino . short acquaintance brings repentance . a short horse is soon curried . short shooting loseth the game . short pleasure long lament . de court plaisir long repentir , gall. a short man needs no stool to give a great lubber a box on the ear . a sharp stomack makes short devotion . out of sight out of mind . this is ( i suppose ) also a dutch proverb . for erasmus saith , jam omnibus in ore est , qui semotus sit ab oculis eundem quoque ab animo semotum esse . absens hares non erit . silence is consent . chi tace confessa , ital. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , euripid. qui tacet consentire videtur , inquiunt juris consulti . assez consent qui nè mot dit , gall. white silver draws black lines . no silver no servant . the suisses have a proverb among themselves , parallel to this . point d'argent point de suisse . no money no suisse . the suisses for money will serve neighbouring princes in their wars , and are as famous in our days for mercenary souldiers , as were the carians of old . who doth sing so merry a note , as he that cannot change a groat ? cantabit vacuus coram latrone viator . the brother had rather see the sister rich then make her so . as good sit still as rise up and fall . if the sky falls we shall catch larks . se rouinâsse il cielo si pigliarebbon di molti uccelli , ital. sile ciel tomboiles cailles scroyent prinses , gall. a broken sleeve , &c. v. broken . good to sleep in a whole skin . the sluggards guise , loath to go to bed and loath to rise . sluts are good enough to make slovens pottage . a small sum will serve to pay a short reckoning . a small pack becomes a small pedler . petit mercier , petit panier , gall. better are small fish then an empty dish . the smoke follows the fair . no smoke without some fire , i. e. there is no strong rumour without some ground for it . cognatus hath it among his latine proverbs , non est fumus absque igne , though it be no ancient one . snotty folks are sweet , but slavering folks are weet . others have it . slavering folks kiss sweet , but snotty folks are wise . ride softly , that we may come sooner home . soft fire makes sweet malt . something hath some savour . soon hot soon cold . soon ripe , &c. v. ripe . soon crooks the tree , &c. v. crooks . sorrow and an evil life , maketh soon an old wife . sorrow comes unsent for . mala ultro adsunt . sorrow will pay no debt . sorrow is always dry . a turd's as good for a sow as a pancake . truy aime mieux bran que roses , gall. every sow to her own trough . in space comes grace . better spared , then ill spent . better spare at the brim , then at the bottom . ever spare and ever bare . spare the rod , &c. v. rod. what the goodwife spares the cat eats . it 's too late to spare when the bottom is bare . sera in fundo parsimonia . seneca epist . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . hesiod . spare to speak , and spare to speed . speak fare and think what you will. he that speaks lavishly , shall hear as knavishly . qui pergit ea quae vult dicere , ea quae non vult audict . terent. speak when you are spoke to , come when you are call'd . ad consilium nè accesseris antequam voceris . great spenders are bad lenders . raise no more spirits , &c. v. raise . spend and god will send . a qui chapon mange chapon lui vient , gall. he that eats good meat shall have good meat . a man cannot spin and reel at the same time . you must spoil before you spin . that is well spoken , that is well taken . the worst spoke in a cart breaks first . no sport no pye . sport is sweetest , when no spectatours . do not spur a free horse . non opus admisso subdere calcar equo , ovid. a spur in the head 's worth two in the heel . it 's a bad stake will not stand one year in the hedge . nothing stake nothing draw . standing pools gather filth . standers by , see more then gamesters . plus in alieno quàm in suo negotio vident homines . he that will steal an egg , will steal an ox . he that will steal a pin , will steal a better thing . when the steed is stoln , the stable door shall be shut . serrar la stalla quando s' han perduti i buovi , ital. il est temps de sermer l'estable quand les chevaux en sontalles , gall. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . quandoquide accepto claudenda est janua damno , juv. sa. . serò clypeum post vnlnera sumo , ovid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . lucian . blessed be s. stephen , ther 's no fast on his even . he that will not go over the stile must be thrust through the gate . the still sow eats up all the draff . whoso lacketh a stock , his gain 's not worth a chip . store is no sore . stretch your arm , &c. v. arm . strike while the iron , &c. v. iron . he must stop that hath a low door . after a storm comes a calm . doppo il cattivo ne vien il buon tempo , ital. apres la pluye vient le beau temps , gall. no striving against the stream . contra torrentem niti . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . stultus ab obliquo qui cum discedere possit , pugnat in adversas ire natator aquas , ovid. of sufferance comes ease . that suit is best that best fits me . no sunshine but hath some shadow . put a stool in the sun , when one knave rises another comes , viz. to places of profit . they that walk much i' th' sun , will be tann'd at last . sure bind sure find . bon guet chasse mal aventure , gall. abundans cautetela non nocet . if you swear you 'll catch no fish . no sweet without some sweat . nul'pain sans peine , gall. sweet meat must have sowre sauce . he must needs swim , that 's held up by the chin . celuy peut hardiment nager à qui l'on soustient le menton , gall. put not a naked sword in a mad mans hand . nè puero gladium . for they will abuse it to their own and others harm . he that strikes with the sword , shall be beaten with the scabbard . sweep before your own door . t. make not thy tail broader then thy wings , i. keep not too many attendants . a tailours shreds are worth the cutting . good take heed doth surely speed . a good tale ill told , is marr'd in the telling . one tale is good till another is told . therefore a good judge ought to hear both parties . qui statuit aliquid parte inauditá alterâ , aequum licet statuerit haud aquus fucrit . the greatest talkers are always the least doers . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . non verbis sed fact is opus est . nec mihi diccre promptum , nec facere est lsti . ovid. verba importat hermodorus . he teacheth ill , who teacheth all . nothing dries sooner then tears . niente piu tosto se secca che lagrime , ital. when i 've thatch't his house , he would throw me down . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . i have taught thee to dive , and thou seekest to drown me . he that thatches his house with t — shall have more teachers then reachers . set a thief to take a thief . all are not thieves that dogs bark at . save a thief from the gallows , and he 'll be the first shall cut your throat . dispiccha l'impicchato che impicchera poi te , ital. ostez un vilain du gibet il vous y mettra , gall. give a thief rope enough , and he 'll hang himself . one may think that dares not speak . and it 's as usual a saying , thoughts are free . humane laws can take no cognizance of thoughts , unless they discover themselves by some overt actions . where ever a man dwells , he shall be sure to have a thorn-bush near his door . no place no condition is exempt from all trouble . nihil est ab omni parte beatum . in medio tybride sardinia est . i think it is true of the thorn-bush in a litteral sense , few places in england where a man can live in but he shall have one near him . he that handles thorns , shall prick his fingers . thought lay a bed and besh — himself . certo su appiccato per ladro . ital. i. e. truly or certainly was hang'd for a thief . threatned folks live long . three may keep counsel , if two be away . the french say , secret de deux secret de dieu , secret de trois secret de tous . the italians in the same words , tre taceranno , se due vi non sono . if you make not much of three pence you 'll ne'xe be worth a groat . tickle my throat with a feather , and make a fool of my stomach . he that will thrive , must rise at five : he that hath thriven may lie till seven . the thunderbolt hath but his clap . tidings make either glad or sad . time fleeth away without delay . cito pede praeterit atas , fugit irrevocabile tempus . a mouse in time may bite in two a cable . time and tide tarry for no man. time and straw make medlars ripe . col tempo & la paglia si maturano mespoli , ital. avec le temps & la paille l'on meure les mesles , gall. take time when time is , for time will away . timely blossom timely ripe . a tinkers budget's full of necessary tools . too much of one thing is good for nothing . assez y a si trop n'y a , gall. nè quid nimis . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . this is an apophthegm of one of the seven wise men ; some attribute it to thales , some to solon . est modus in rebus , sunt , &c. hor. l'abondanza delle cose ingenera fastidio . ital. too too will in two , chesh . i. e. strain a thing too much and it will not hold . touch a gall'd horse , &c. v. gall'd . he that travels far , knows much . trash and trumpery is the highway to beggery . tread on a worm , &c. v. worm . there 's no tree but bears some fruit . such as the tree is , such is the fruit . telle racine , telle fueille . gall. de fructu arborem cognosco . mat. . . the tree is known by its fruit . if you trust before you try , you may repent before you die . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . theogn . therefore it was an ancient precept . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . non vien ingannato se non che si fida . ital. there is none deceived but he that trusts . in trust is treason . speak the truth and shame the devil . truth may be blamed , but it shall never be shamed . truth finds foes where it makes none . obsequium amicos , veritas odium parit , terent. truth hath always a fast bottom . all truth must not be told at all times . tout vray n'est pas bon à dire , gall. that is true which all men say . vox populi , vox dei. fair fall truth and day-light . let every tub stand on it 's own bottom . chascun ira au moulin avec son propre sac , gall. every one must go to the mill with his own sack , i. e. bear his own burden . a t — is as good for a sow , v. sow . where the turks horse once treads , the grass never grows . one good turn asks another . qui plaisir fait plaisir requiert , gall. gratia gratiam parit . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , sophocl . he that would have friends , must shew himself friendly . fricantem refrica , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . it is meet and comely , just and equal to requite kindnesses , and to make them amends who have deserved well of us . mutual offices of love , and alternate help or assistance , are the fruits and issues of true friendship . swine , women and bees cannot be turn'd . for one good turn another doth itch , claw my elbow , &c. all are not turners that are dish-throwers . as good twenty as nineteen . if things were to be done twice , all would be wise . two heads are better then one . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . unus vir nullus vir . two good things are better then one . two eyes see more then one . deux yeux voyent plus clair qu' un , gall. plus vidont oculi quàm oculus . two of a trade seldom agree . two ill meals , &c. v. meals . between two stools the breech cometh to the ground . tener il cul su due scanni , ital. il a le cul entre deux selles , ar , assis entre deux selles le cul à terre , gall. tout est fait negligemment la ou l'un l'autre s' attend . while one trusts another , the work is left undone . two dry sticks will kindle a green one . two to one is ods . noli pugnare duobus , catull. & nè hercules quidem adversus duos . it 's no uncomely thing to give place to a multitude . hard to resist the strength , or the wit , or the importunity of two or more combin'd against one . hercules was too little for the hydra and cancer together . two cats and a mouse , two wives in one house , two dogs and a bone never agree in one . deux chiens ne s' accordent point à un os , gall. good riding at two anchors men have told , for if one break 'tother may hold . duabus anchoris fultus . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , aristid . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . pindar . it 's good in a stormy or winter night , to have two anchors to cast out of a ship . two dogs strive for a bone , and the third runs away with it . v. he that stays in the valley , shall never get over the hill . valour would fight , but discretion would run away . you cannot make velvet of a sows ear . venture a small fish to catch a great one . il faut hazarder un petit poisson pour prendre un grand , gall. butta una sardola per pigliar un luccio . ital. venture not all in one bottom . nothing venture nothing have . chi non s' arrischia non guadagna , ital. qui ne s' adventure n'à cheval ny mule , gall. quid enim tentare nocebit ? & conando graeci troja potiti sunt . where vice is , vengeance follows . rarò antecedentem scelestum deseruit pede poena claudo , horat. unbidden guests , &c. v. in g. better be unborn then unbred . make a vertue of necessity . il savio fa della necessita virtu , ital. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . erasmus makes to be much of the same sense , that is , to do or suffer that patiently which cannot well be avoided . levius fit patientia , quicquid corrigere est nefas . or to do that our selves by an act of our own , which we should otherwise shortly be compelled to do . so the abbeys and covents which resigned their lands into king henry the eight his hands , made a vertue of necessity . ungirt unblest . better be unmannerly , then troublesome . unminded unmoned . use makes perfectness . usus promptos facit . use legs and have legs . once an use and ever a custom . to borrow on usury brings suddain beggery . citiùs usura currit quam heraclitus . the pay days recur before the creditour is aware . of the mischiefs of usury i need say nothing , there having been two very ingenious treatises lately published upon that subject , sufficient to convince any desinteressed person of the evil consequences of a high interest and the benefit that would accrue to the common wealth in general , by the depression of interest . w. no safe wading in an unknown water . it 's not good to wake a sleeping dog ; or lion . ital. good ware makes quick markets . proba merx facilè emptorem reperit , plaut . poen . when the wares be gone , shut up the shop windows . one cannot live by selling ware for words . war must be wag'd by waking men . wars bring scars . no marvell if water be lue . lue , i. e. enclining to cold , whence comes the word lukewarm . foul water will quench fire . where the water is shallow , no vessel will ride . it 's a great way to the bottom of the sea . there are more ways to the wood then one . the weakest must go to the wall . les mal vestus devers le vent , gall. the worst clothed are still put to the wind-ward . weak men had need be witty . wealth makes worship . the wearer best knows where the shooe , &c. v. shooe . never be weary of well doing . it 's hard to make a good web of a bottle of hay . there goes the wedge where the beetle drives it . one ill weed marrs a whole pot of pottage . an ill-spun weft , will out either now or est . weft , i. e. web . this is a yorkshire proverb . great weights hang on small wires . tutte le gran facende si fanno di poca cosa . ital. welcome is the best chear . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . in muncribus res praestantissima mens est . super omnia vultus accessêre boni . that that is w●ll done is twice done . well well , is a word of malice , chesh . in other places , if you say well well , they will ask , whom you threaten . if well and them cannot , then ill and them can , yorksh. a whet is no let . as good never a whit as never the better . a white wall is a fools paper . muro bianco carta da matti , ital some put this in rhyme ; he is a fool and ever shall , that writes his name upon a wall . two whores in a house will never agree . a young whore an old saint . once a whore and ever a whore . qui semel scurra nunquam patersamilias , cic. orat. aliquando qui lusit iterum ludet . wide will wear but narrow will tear . who so blind , as they that will not see ? v. in b. who so deaf , as they that will not hear ? il n'est de pire sourd que celuy qui ne veut ouïr , gall. he that will not when he may , when he wills he shall have nay . nothing is impossible to a willing mind . will is the cause of wo. they who cannot as they will , must will as they may : or must do as they can . chi non puo sare come voglia faccia come puo , ital. and chi non puo quel che vuol , quel che puo voglia . quoniam id fieri quod vis non potest , velis id quod possis . terent. andria . puff not against the wind . it is an ill wind blows no body profit . a quelque chose malheur est bonne , gall. misfortune is good for something . the wind keeps not always in one quarter . good wine needs no bush . al buon vino non bisogna frasca , ital. a bon vin il ne faut point d'enseigne , gall. vino vendibili hederâ suspensâ nihil est opus . when the wine is in , the wit is out . in proverbium cessit , sapientiam vino obumbrari , plin. lib. . cap. . vin dentro , senno fuora . ital. the sweetest wine , makes the sharpest vineger . vineger , i. e. vinum acre . forte e l'aceto di vin dulce , ital. corruptio optimi est pessima . wink at small faults . it 's a hard winter , when one wolf eats another . this is a french proverb , mauvaise est la saison quand un loup mange l'autre . winter is summers heir . he that passeth a winters day , escapes an enemy . this is also a french proverb , qui passe un jour d'hyver passe un de ses ennemis mortels . winter finds out what summer lays up . by wisdom peace , by peace plenty . wise men are caught in wiles . a wise head makes a close mouth . some are wise , and some are otherwise . send a wise man of an errand , and say nothing to him . wishers and woulders are never good householders . if wishes were butter-cakes beggers might bite . if wishes were thrushes , beggers would eat birds . if wishes would bide , beggers would ride . si souhaits furent vrais pastoureaux seroyent rois , gall. if wishes might prevail , shepherds would be kings . it will be long enough ere you wish your skin full of holes . i never fared worse , then when i wish't for my supper . wish in one hand and sh — in the other , and see which will be full first . bought wit is best . duro flagello mens docetur rectiús . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , nazianz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , nocumenta documenta , galeatum serò duelli poenitet . good wits jump . wit once bought , is worth twice taught . a wonder lasts but nine days . a wooll-seller knows a wooll-buyer . yorksh . a word is enough to the wise . a buon intenditor poche parole , ital. a bon entendeuril ne faut que demye parole , gall. so the italians say , a few words ; we say one word ; and the french say , half a word is enough to the understanding and apprehensive . many go out for wooll and come home shorn . words are but wind , but blows unkind . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . words are but sands its money buys lands . fair words make fools fain , i. e. glad . douces promesses obligent les fols , gall. i fatti sono maschii , le parole femine . ital. deeds are males , words are females . few words are best . poche parole & buon regimento . ital. a fools voice is known by multitude of words . nature hath furnished man with two ears and but one tongue , to signifie , he must hear twice so much as he speaks . fair words butter no parsnips . re opitulandum non verbis : the same in other terms , good words fill not a sack . good words cost nought . good words cool more then cold water . soft words hurt not the mouth . douces or belles paroles ne scorchent pas la langue , gall. soft words scald not the tongue . words have long tails ; and have no tails . soft words break no bones . soft words and hard arguments . many words hurt more then swords . an ill workman quarrels with his tools . meschant ouvrier ja ne trouvera bons outils , gall. he that kills himself with working must be buried under the gallows . the better workman the worse husband . though this be no proverb , yet it is an observation generally true ( the more the pity ) and therefore as i have found it , i put it down . account not that work slavery , that brings in penny savoury . all work and no play , makes jack a dull boy . the world was never so dull , but if one will not another will. it 's a great journey to the worlds end . i wote well how the world wags , he is most lov'd that hath most bags . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . felicium multi cognati . it was wont to be said , ubi amici ibi opes , but now it may ( as erasmus complains ) well be inverted , ubi opes ibi amici . tread on a worm and it will turn . habet & musca splcnem . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . inest & formicae & serpho bilis . the meanest or weakest person is not to be provoked or despised . no creature so small , weak or contemptible , but if it be injured and abused , will endeavour to revenge it self . every thing is the worse for wearing . he that worst may , still holds the candle . au plus debile la chandelle a la main , gall. the worth of a thing , is best known by the want . bien perdu bien connu , or chose perdue est lors connue , gall. vache ne seait que vaut sa queue jusques a ce qu' elle l'ait perduë . the cow knows not what her tail is worth , till she hath lost it . he that wrestles with at — is sure to be besh — whether he fall over or under . that is , he that contends with vile persons , will get nothing but a stain by it . one cannot touch pitch without being defiled . y. as soon goes the young lambs skin to the market , as the old ews . aussi tost meurt veau comme vache , gall. cosi tosto muore il capretto come capra , ital. young men think old men fools , and old men know young men to be so . this is quoted by camden , as a saying of one doctour metcalf . it is now in many peoples mouths , and likely to pass into a proverb . a young saint an old devil . de jeune angelote vieux diable , gall. a tartesso ad tartarum . a young serving-man an old begger . chi vive in corte muore à pagliaro . ital. a young whore an old saint . v. in w. young men may die , but old men must . v. in o. if youth knew what age would crave , it would both get and save . proverbial phrases and forms of speech that are not entire sentences . a. to bring an abbey to a grange . to bring a noble to nine-pence . we speak it of an unthrift . ha fatto d'una lanza una spina , & d'una calza una borsetta . ital. he hath made of a lance a thorn , and of a pair of breeches a purse : parallel to ours , he hath thwitten amill-post to a pudding-prick . to commit as many absurdities as a clown in eating of an egg . afraid of far enough . chesh . of that which is never likely to happen . afraid of him that died last year . chesh . afraid of the hatchet lest the helve stick in 's a — ches . afraid of his own shadow . more afraid then hurt . they agree like cats and dogs . they agree like harp and harrow . this hath the same sense with the precedent . harp and harrow are coupled , chiefly because they begin with the same letter . they agree like bells , they want nothing but hanging . he is paced like an alderman . the case is alter'd , quoth ployden . edmund plowden was an eminent common lawyer in queen elizabeths time , born at plowden in shropshire , of whom camden gives this character , vitae integritate inter homines suae professionis nulli secundus . elizabeth . ann. . and s r edward coke calls him the oracle of the common law. this proverb is usually applied to such lawyers or others as being corrupted with larger fees shift sides and pretend the case is altered ; such as have bovem in lingua . some make this the occasion of the proverb : plowden being asked by a neighbour of his , what remedy there was in law against his neighbour for some hogs that had trespassed his ground , answered , he might have very good remedy , but the other replying , that they were his hogs , nay then neighbour ( quoth he ) the case is altered . others more probably make this the originall of it . plowden being a roman catholick , some neighbours of his who bare him no good will , intending to entrap him and bring him under the lash of the law , had taken care to dress up an altar in a certain place , and provided a lay-man in a priests habit , who should do mass there at such a time . and withall notice thereof was given privately to mr plowden , who thereupon went and was present at the mass . for this he was presently accused and indicted . he at first stands upon his defence and would not acknowledge the thing . witnesses are produced , and among the restone , who deposed , that he himself performed the mass , and saw mr plowden there . saith plowden to him , art thou a priest then ? the fellow replied , no. why then gentlemen ( quoth he ) the case is altered : no priest no mass . which came to be a proverb , and continues still in shropshire with this addition . the case is altered ( quoth ployden ) no priest no mass . to angle with a silver hook . peschar col hamo d'argento . the italians by this phrase mean , to buy fish in the market . it is also a latine proverb , aureo hamo piscari . money is the best bait to take all sorts of persons with . if you be angry you may turn the buckle of your girdle behind you . to cut large shives of another mans loaf . to cut large thongs of another mans leather . de alieno corio liberalis . del cuoio d'altri si fanno le corregge largee . ital. il coupe large courroye du cuir d'autruy . gall. it may pass for a sentence thus , men cut large shives of others loaves . this should seem to be also a dutch proverb : for erasmus saith , circumfertur apud nostratium vulgus non absimile huic proverbium , ex alieno tergore lata secari lora . to hold by the apron-strings . i. e. in right of his wife . to answer one in his own language . ut salutaris ita resalutaberis . a bit and a knock [ or bob ] as men feed apes . arsy versy . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . she is one of mine aunts that made mine uncle go a begging . a pretty fellow to make an axle-tree for an oven . chesh . b. he knows not a b from a battledoor . his back is broad enough to bear jests . my lord baldwin's dead . it is used when one tells that for knews which every body knows . a sussex proverb , but who this lord baldwin was i could not learn there . you 'll not believe he 's bald till you see his brains . never a barrell better herring . bate me an ace , quoth bolton . who this bolton was i know not , neither is it worth the enquiring . one of this name might happen to say bate me an ace , and for the coincidence of the first letters of these two words bate and bolton it grew to be a proverb . we have many of the like originall as v. g. sup simon . &c. stay quoth stringer , &c. there goeth a story of queen elizabeth , that being presented with a collection of english proverbs , and told by the authour that it contained all the english proverbs , nay replied she , bate me an ace quoth bolton : which proverb being instantly looked for happened to be wanting in his collection . you dare as well take a bear by the tooth . if it were a bear it would bite you . are you there with your bears . to go like a bear to the stake . he hath as many tricks as a dancing bear . if that the course be fair , again and again quoth bunny to his bear . i bear him on my back . that is i remember his injuries done to me with indignation and grief , or a purpose of revenge . to bear away the bell . you 'll scratch a begger before you die . that is , you 'll be a begger , you 'll scratch your self . it would make a begger beat his bag . i 'll not hang all my bells on one horse . that is , give all to one son . better believe it then go where it was done to prove it . voglio piu tosto crederlo che andar a cercarlo . ital. the belly thinks the throat cut . to have the bent of ones bow . there 's ne're a best among them , as the fellow said by the fox-cubs . between hawk and buzzard . to look as big as if he had eaten bull-beef . he 'll have the last word though he talk bilk for it . bilk , i. e. nothing . a man is said to be bilkt at cribbets when he gets nothing , when he can make never a game . bill after helve . he 'll make bits of a bilberry . spoken of a covetous person . to bite upon the bridle . that is , to fare hardly , to be cut short or suffer want , for a horse can eat but slowly when the bridle is in his mouth . or else it may signifie to fret , swell and disquiet himself with anger . froena mordere in latine hath a different sense , i. e. to resist those who have us in subjection , as an unruly horse gets the bridle between his teeth and runs away with his rider , or as a dog bites the staff you beat him with . statius useth it in a contrary sense , viz. to submit to the conquerour and take patiently the bridle in ones mouth . subiit leges & froena momordit . though i be bitten i am not all eaten . what a bishops wife ? eat and drink in your gloves ? to wash a blackmore white . aethiopem lavare or dealbare , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . labour in vain . parallel whereto are many other latine proverbs , as laterem lavare , arenas arare . you cannot say black is his eye [ or nail ] that is you can find no fault in him , charge him with no crime . blind-mans holiday , i. e. twilight , almost quite dark . as the blind man shot the crow . he hath good blood in him if he had but groats to it . that is , good parentage , if he had but wealth . groats are great oatmeal of which good housewives are wont to make black puddings . to come bluely off . he 's true blue , he 'll never stain . coventry had formerly the reputation for dying blues , in so much that true blue came to be a proverb , to signifie one that was alway the same , and like himself . to make a bolt or a shaft of a thing . there 's a bone for you to pick. egli m' ha dato un osso da rosegar . ital. to be bought and sold in a company . she hath broken her elbow at the church door . spoken of a housewively maid that grows idle after marriage . you seek a brack where the hedge is whole . his brains are addle . his brains crow . his brains will work without barm . yorksh. he knows which side his bread is butter'd on . 't would make a horse break his bridle , or a dog his halter . one may as soon break his neck as his fast there . break my head , and bring me a plaister . taglia m' il naso & soppi me poi nelle orecchie . ital. spare your breath [ or wind ] to cool your pottage . you seek breeches of a bare-ars'd man. ab asino lanam . his breech makes buttons . this is said of a man in fear . we know vehement fear causes a relaxation of the sphincter ani , and unvoluntary dejection . buttons , because the excrements of some animals are not unlike buttons or pellets : as of sheep , hares , &c. nay they are so like , that they are called by the same name ; this figure they get from the cells of the colon. as they brew e'en so let them bake . some have it , so let them drink , and it seems to be better sence so . tute hoc intrîsti tibi omne exedendum est . terent. phorm . ut sementem feceris ita metes . cic. de orat. lib. . to make a bridge of ones nose . i. e. to intercept ones trencher , cup , or the like ; or to offer or pretend to do kindnesses to one , and then pass him by and do it to another , to lay hold upon and serve himself of that which was intended for another . to leave one i' th' briers or suds . he hath brought up a bird to pick out his own eyes . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . tal nutre il corvo che gli cavera poi gli occhi . he brings up a raven , &c. ital. he 'll bring buckle and thong together . to build castles in the air . far castelli in aria . ital. he thinks every bush a boggard , i. e. a bugbear or phantasm . bush natural , more hair then wit. no butter will stick to his bread . to buy and sell and live by the loss . to have a breez , i. e. a gad-fly , in his breech . spoken of one that frisks about , and cannot rest in a place . the butcher look't for his knife when he had it in his mouth . his bread is buttered on both sides . i. e. he hath a plentifull estate : he is fat and full . c. i think this is a butchers horse , he carries a calf so well . his calves are gone down to grass . this is a jeer for men with over-slender legs . his candle burns within the socket . that is , he is an old man , philosophers are wont to compare mans life not ineptly to the burning of a lamp , the vitall heat always preying upon the radical moisture , which when it is quite consumed a man dies . there is indeed a great likeness between life and flame , air being as necessary to the maintaining of the one as of the other . if his cap be made of wooll . in former times when this proverb came first in use men generally wore caps : hats were a thing hardly known in england , much less hats made of rabbets or beavers furr . capping was then a great trade and severall statutes made about it . so that , if his cap were made of wooll , was as much as to say most certainly , as sure as the clothes on his back . dr fuller . they may cast their caps at him . when two or more run together , and one gets ground , he that is cast and despairs to overtake commonly casts his hat after the foremost , and gives over the race . so that to cast their caps at one is to despair of catching or overtaking him . he carries fire in one hand and water in the other . alterâ manu sert aquam , alterâ ignem . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. plutarch . il porte le feu & l'eau , gall. alterâ manu sert lapidem , alterâ panem ostentat . plaut . to set a spoke in ones cart . to set the cart before the horse . currus bovem trahit . metter il carro inanzi aibuoi . ital. la charrue va devant les boeufs . gall. the cat's in the cream-pot . this is used when people hear a great noise and hubbub amongst the good wives of the town , and know not what it means ; but suppose that some sad accident is happened ; as that the cat is faln into the cream-pot , or the like . before the cat can lick her ear . you shall have that the cat left i th' malt-heap . they are not catercousins . he hath good cellarage . that char is char'd ( as the good wife said when she had hang'd her husband . ) a char in the northern dialect is any particular business , affair or charge , that i commit to or entrust another to doe . i take it to be the same with charge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . to go cheek by jowl with one . to chew the cud upon a thing . i. e. to consider of a thing , to revolve it in ones mind : to ruminate , which is the name of this action , is used in the same sense both in latine and english . the child hath a red tongue like its father . children to bed , and the goose to the fire . i cannot conceive what might be the occasion , nor what is the meaning of this saying . i take it to be senseless and nugatory . a chip of the old block . patris est silius . he is his fathers own son ; taken always in an ill sense . like a chip in a pottage-pot , doth neither good nor harm . it goes down like chop 't hay . i 'll make him know churning days . to clip ones wings . pennas incidere alicui . he hath a cloak for his knavery . he is in the cloth-market , i. e. in bed . to carry coals to newcastle . soli lumen mutuari ; coelo stellas ; ranae aquam . crocum in ciliciam , ubi sc . maximè abundat : noctuas athenas . porter de fueilles au bois . gall. to carry leaves to the wood . alcinoo poma dare . to set cook on hoop . this is spoken of a prodigal , one that takes out the spigget and lays it upon the top of the barrel , drawing out the whole vessel without any intermission . his cockloft is unfurnished . i. e. he wants brains . tall men are commonly like high houses , in which the uppermost room is worst furnished . to have a colis tooth in his head . it is usually spoken of an old man that 's wanton and petulant . to cut ones comb . as is usually done to cocks when gelded ; to cool ones courage . they 'll come again , as goodyers pigs did , i. e. never . come and wellcome , go by and no quarrel . command your man and do 't your self . ask my companion if i be a thief . in the north they say , ask my mother if my father be a thief . demanda al hosto s' egl'ha buon vino . ital. ask your host if he have good wine . to complain of ease . to outrun the constable . to spend more then ones allowance or income . you might be a constable for your wit. cook-ruffian , able to scald the devil in 's feathers . to cool ones courage . he 's corn-fed . a friend in a corner . to take counsell of ones pillow . la nuict donne conseil . gall. noctu urgenda consilia . inde nox 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicitur , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . la notte e madre di pensieri . ital. the night is the mother of thoughts . counsel's as good for him as a shoulder of mutton for a sick horse . what is got in the county is lost in the hundred . what is got in the whole sum is lost in particular reckonings ; or in generall , what is got one way is lost another . court holy-water . eau beniste de la cour . gall. fair words and nothing else . one of the court but none of the counsell . all the craft is in the catching . to speak as though he would creep into ones mouth . he hath never a cross to bless himself withall . i. e. no money which hath usually a cross on the averse side . to have crotchets in ones crown . you look as if you were crow-trodden . you look as if you would make the crow a pudding , i. e. die . i have a crow to pluck with you . you need not be so crusty , you are not so hard baked . here 's a great cry and but a little wooll ( as the fellow said when he shear'd his hogs . ) assai romor & poca lana . ital. a sinum tondes . parturiunt montes , &c. you cry before you 're hurt . let her cry , she 'll piss the less . to lay down the cudgels . his belly cries cupboard . to curse with bell , book and candle . to be beside the cushion . aberrari a janua . to stand for a cypher . d. to take a dagger and drown ones self . to be at daggers drawing . to look as if he had suckt his dam through a hurdle . to dance to every mans pipe or whistle . to burn daylight . dead in the nest . to deal fools dole . to deal all to others and leave nothing to himself . good to send on a dead bodies errand . to work for a dead horse or goose . to work out an old debt or without hope of future reward . argent receu le bras rompu . gall. the wages had the arm is broken . chi paga inanzi è servito indietro . ital. he that pays beforehand is served behindhand . chi paga inanzi tratto trova il lavor mal fatto . ital. if thou hadst the rent of dee-mills thou would'st spend it . chesh . dee is the name of the river on which the city chester stands : the mills thereon yield a great annual rent , the biggest of any houses about that city . as demure as if butter would not melt in 's mouth . some add , and yet cheese will not choke him . to get by a thing as dickson did by his distress . that is , over the shoulders , as the vulgar usually say . there is a coincidence in the first letters of dickson and distress : otherwise who this dickson was i know not . hold the dish while i shed my pottage . to lay a thing in ones dish . he claps his dish at a wrong mans door . to play the devil i' th' bulmong , i. e. corn mingled of pease , tares and oats . if the devil be a vicar thou wilt be his clerk , do and undoe , the day is long enough . to play the dog in the manger , not eat your self nor let any body else . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . lucian . canis in praescpi . e come il cane del ortolano , che non mangia de cauoli egli & non ne lascia mangiar altri . ital. like the gardners dog who cannot eat the coleworts himself , nor will suffer others . dogs run away with whole shoulders . not of mutton , but their own ; spoken in derision of a misers house . we dogs worried the hare . to serve one a dog-trick . it would make a dog doff his doublet . chesh . a dogs life , hunger and ease . to dote more on 't then a fool on 's bable . he 'll not put off his doublet before he goes to bed , i. e. part with his estate before he die . you need not doubt you are no doctour . a drachm o' th' bottle . this is the seamens phrase for a draught of brandy wine or strong waters . to dream of a dry summer . one had as good be nibled to death by ducks , or pecked to death by a hen . to take things in dudgeon , or to wear a dudgeon-dagger by his side . to dine with duke humphrey . that is , to fast , to go without ones dinner . this duke humphrey was uncle to k. henry the sixth , and his protectour during his minority , duke of glocester , renowned for hospitality and good house-keeping . those were said to dine with duke humphrey , who walked out dinner time in the body of s. pauls church ; because it was believed the duke was buried there . but ( saith dr fuller ) that saying is as far from truth as they from dinner , even twenty miles off : seeing this duke was buried in the church of st albans , to which he was a great benefactour . she 's past dying of her first child , i. e. she hath had a bastard . e. he dares not for his ears . to fall together by the ears . in at one ear and out at the other . dentro da un orecchia & fuora dal altra . ital. to eat ones words . you had as good eat your nails . he could eat my heart with garlick . that is , he hates me mortally . so we know some of the americans feast upon the dead carcases of their enemies . there 's as much hold of his word as of a wet cel by the tail . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . i have eggs o' th' spit . i am very busie . egges if they be well roasted require much turning . neither good egg nor bird . you come with your five eggs a penny , and four of them be rotten . set a fool to roast eggs ; and a wise man to eat them . an egg and to bed . give him the other half egg and burst him . to smell of elbow-grease . lucernam olere . she hath broken her elbow . that is , she hath had a bastard ; another meaning of this phrase see in the letter b , at the word broken . elden hole needs filling . darbysh . spoken of a lier . elden hole is a deep pit in the peak of darbyshire near castleton , fathomless the bottom , as they would perswade us . it is without water , and if you cast a stone into it you may for a considerable time hear it strike against the sides to and again as it descends , each stroke giving a great report . to make both ends meet . to bring buckle and thong together . to have the better end of the staff . he 'll have enough one day when his mouth is full of moulds . a sleeveless errand . find you without an excuse and find a hare without a muse . vias novit quibus effugit eucrates . this eucrates was a miller in athens who getting share in the government was very cunning in finding out shifts and pretences to excuse himself from doing his duty . i was by , ( quoth pedley ) when my eye was put out . this pedley was a natural fool of whom go many stories . to cry with one eye , and laugh with the other . f. to set a good face on a thing . faire bonne mine . gall. i think his face is made of a fiddle , every one that looks on him loves him . to come a day after the fair . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . post festum venisti . plat. in gorg. it will be fair weather when the shrews have dined . he pins his faith on another mans sleeve . to fall away from a horse-load to a cart-load . fall back , fall edge . farewell and be hang'd , friends must part . farewell frost , nothing got nor nothing lost . he thinks his fart as sweet as musk . he farts frankincense . this is an ancient greek proverb , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . self-love makes even a mans vices , infirmities and imperfections to please him . suus cuique crepitus bene 〈◊〉 . he makes a very fart a thunderclap . all the fat 's i' th' fire . to feather ones nest well . to go to heaven in a featherbed . non est è terris mollis ad astra via . better fed then taught . all fellows at foot-ball . if gentlemen and persons ingeniously educated will mingle themselves with rusticks in their rude sports , they must look for usage like to or rather courser then others . go fiddle for shives among old wives . fight dog , fight bear . nè depugnes in alleno negotio . to fight with ones own shadow . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . to fight with shadows , to be afraid of his own fancies ; imagining danger where there is none . to fill the mouth with empty spoons . to have a finger i' th' pie . he had a finger i' th' pie when he burnt his nail off . he hath more wit in 's little finger then thou in thy whole body . to put ones finger i' th' fire . prudens in flammam nè manum injicito . hieron . put not your finger needlesly into the fire . meddle not with a quarrel voluntarily wherein you need not be concern'd . prov. . . to foul ones fingers with . to have a thing at his fingers ends . scire tanquam ungues digitósque . his fingers are lime-twigs , spoken of a thievish person . all fire and tough . to come to fetch fire . to go through fire and water to serve or do one good . probably from the two sorts of ordeall by fire and water to add fewell to the fire . oleum camino addere . all is fish that comes to net . you fish fair and catch a frog . neither fish , nor flesh , nor good red herring . i have other fish to fry . by fits and starts , as the hog pisseth . to give one a flap with the foxes tail , i. e. to cozen or defraud one . he would flay a flint , or flay a groat , spoken of a covetous person . to send one away with a flea in his ear . lo gli ho messo un pulce nel orecchio . ital. it 's not easie to conceive by them who have not experienced it , what a buzzing and noise a flea will make there . it 's the fairest flower in his crown or garden . to fly at all game . more fool then fidler . the vicar of fools is his ghostly father . to set the best foot forward . he hath a fair forehead to graft on . better lost then found . too free to be fat . he 's free of fumblers hall . spoken of a man that cannot get his wife with child . he may e'en go write to his friends . we say it of a man when all his hopes are gone . to fry in his own grease . out of the frying-pan into the fire . cader dalla padella nelle bragie . ital. saulter de la poile & se jetter dans les braises . gall. de fume in flammam ( which ammianus marcellinus cites as an ancient proverb ) hath the same sense , evitatâ charybdi in scyllam incidere . nè cinerem vitans in prunas incidas . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . lucian . you are never well full nor fasting . g. the gallows groans for you . to gape for a benefice . he may go hang himself in 's own garters . all your geese are swans . suum cuique pulchrum . ill suo soldo val tredeci danari . ital. his shilling's worth pence . you 're a man among the geese when the gander is away . what he gets he gets out of the fire . to get over the shoulders . all that you get you may put in your eye and see never the worse . he bestows his gifts as broom doth honey . broom is so far from sweet that it 's very bitter . i thought i would give him one and lend him another , i , e. i would be quit with him . give a loaf and beg a shive . there 's a glimmer i' th' touch-box . out of gods blessing into the warm sun . ab equis ad asinos . go in gods name , so ride no witches . go forward and fall , go backward and marr all . a fronte praecipitium , à tergo lupi . i 'll go twenty miles on your errand first . to give one as good as he brings , or his own . qui quae vult dicit quae non vult audiet . terent. ut salutaris ita resalutaberis . one yate for another , good fellow . v. in o. i am a fool , i love any thing that is good . to come from little good to stark naught . ab equis ad asinos . mandrabuli in morem . mandrabulus finding gold mines in samos , at first offered and gave to juno a golden ram , afterward a silver one , then a small one of brass , and at last nothing at all . some good some bad , as sheep come to the fold . sunt bona , sunt quaedam mediocria , sunt mala plura quae legis , &c. mart. i 'll do my good will , as he said that thresht in 's cloak . this was some scotchman , for i have been told , that they are wont to do so : my self have seen them hold plough in their cloaks . he did me as much good as if he had pist in my pottage . to brag of many goodmorrows . a goose cannot graze after him . he hopes to eat of the goose shall graze on your grave . steal my goose and stick me down a feather . he cannot say shooh to a goose . you 're a pretty fellow to ride a goose a gallop through a dirty lane . you find fault with a fat goose . you 'll be good when the goose pisseth . all is not gospel comes out of his mouth . he must have his grains of allowance . a knave or a rogue in grain . that is of a scarlet dye , the alkermes berry where-with they dye scarlet is called in greek , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . that is granum in latine , and in english grain . it goeth against the grain . the grain , pecten ligni , longways the wood , as the fibres run . to go transversly to these fibres is to go against the grain . teach your grandame to grope her ducks . teach your grandameto sup sowre milk . aquilam volare , delphinum natare doce . il ne faut apprendre aux poissons à nager . gall. you must not teach fish to swim . teach me to do that i know how to do much better then your self . teach your father to beget children . sus minervam . he 's gray before he is good . to grease a fat sow on the a — on ne doit pas à gras porceau le cul oindre . gall. to grease a man i' th' fist . that is to put money into his hand ; to fee or bribe him . i 'll either grind or find . all brings grist to your mill . to grow like a cows tail , i. e. downwards . he has no guts in 's brains . the anfractus of the brain , look'd upon when the dura mater is taken oft , do much resemble guts . he has more guts then brains . out of gunshot . h. to be hail fellow well met with one . it goes against the hair . the hair of most animals lies one way , and if you stroke them down that way the hair lies , your hand slides smoothly down ; but if you stroke the contrary way , the hair rises up and resists the motion of your hand . to take a hair of the same dog . i. e. to be drunk again the next day . to cut the hair . i. e. to divide so exactly as that neither part have advantage . you halt before you 're lame . to make a hand of a thing . to live from hand to mouth . in diem vivere , or as persius ex tempore vivere . , hand over head , as men took the covenant . two hands in a dish and one in a purse . to have his hands full . i' ay assez á faire environ les mains . gall. i 'll lay my hand on my halfpenny e're i part with it . to hang ones ears . demitto auriculas ut iniquae mentis ascllus . horat. they hang together like burs , or like pebbles in a halter . to catch a hare with a tabret . on ne prend le lievre au tabourin . gall. one cannot catch a hare with a tabret . bove venari leporem . you must kiss the hares foot , or the cook . spoken to one that comes so late that he hath lost his dinner or supper . why the hares foot must be kist i know not ; why the cook should be kist there is some reason , to get some victuals of her . set the hares head against the goose giblets . i. e. ballance things , set one against another . it 's either a hare or a brake-bush . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . aut navis , aut galerus . something if you knew what . to be out of harms way . ego ero post principia . terent. to harp upon the same string . eandem cantilenam recinere ; & eâdem chordâ aberrare . horat. he is drinking at the harrow when he should be following the plow. to make a long harvest of a little corn . to hear as hogs do in harvest , or with your harvest ears . he is none of the hastings . spoken of a slow person . there is an aequivoque in the word hastings which is the name of a great family in leicestershire , which were earls of huntington . they had a fair house at ashby de la zouch , now much ruined . too hasty to be a parish clerk. he knows not a hawk from a hand-saw . to be as good eat hay with a horse . to have his head under ones girdle . he cannot hear on that ear . he may be heard where he is not seen . his heart fell down to his hose or heels . animus in pedes decidit . he is heart of oak . hell is broken loose with them . harrow [ or rake ] hell , and scum the devil . to help at a dead lift . to throw the helve after the hatchet . to be in despair . ad perditam securim manubrium adjicere . to fish for a herring , and catch a sprat . to be high in the instep . to hit the nail o' th' head . toucher au blanc . gall. to hit the white . to hit the bird o' th' eye . hobsons choice . a man is said to have hobsons choice , when he must either take what is left him , or chose whether he will have any part or no. this hobson was a noted carrier in cambridge in k. james his time , who partly by carrying , partly by grazing raised himself to a great estate , and did much good in the town ; relieving the poor , and building a publick conduit in the market-place . to make a hog or a dog of a thing . to bring ones hogs to a fair market . to hold with the hare and run with the hound . not much unlike hereto is that latine one , duabus sellis sedere , i. e. incertarum esse partium , & ancipiti fide ambabus servire velle , v. erasm . liberius mimus chosen into the senate by caesar , coming to sit down by cicero , he refusing him , said , i would take you in did we not sit so close [ nisi angustè sederemus ] reflecting upon caesar , who chose so many into the senate that there was scarce room for them to sit . liberius replied , but you were wont to sit upon two stools [ duabus sellis sedere ] meaning to be on both sides . he 'll find some hole to creep out at . he 's all honey or all t — as honest a man as ever brake bread . as honest a man as ever trode on shooe leather . an honest man and a good bowler . by hook or by crook . quo jure , quâque injuriâ . terent. soit à droit ou à tort . gall. you 'll ride on a horse that was foal'd of an acorn . that is the gallows . they cannot set their horses together . he hath good skill in horse-flesh to buy a goose to ride on . see how we apples swim quoth the horse-t — to throw the house out of the windows . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . he is so hungry he could eat a horse behind the saddle . i. to be iack on both sides . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . a turn-coat , a weathercock . to play the iack with one . to break the ice . romper il giaccio . ital. scindere glaciem . to begin any hazardous or difficult thing . sick o' th' idles . sick o' th' idle crick , and the belly-wark i' th' heel . belly-wark , i. e. belly-ake . it is used when people complain of sickness for a pretence to be idle upon no apparent cause . you 'll soon learn to shape idle a coat . give him an inch and he 'll take an ell . he hath no ink in 's pen , i. e. no money in his purse , or no wit in his head . k. to lay the key under the threshold . to kill with kindness . so the ape is said to strangle her young ones by embracing and hugging them . and so may many be said to do , who are still urging their sick friends to eat this and that and t'other thing , thereby clogging their stomacks and adding fewel to their diseases . fondly imagining that if they eat not a while they 'll presently die . kim kam . it comes by kind , it costs him nothing . a man of a strange kidney . whosoever is king thou 'lt be his man. i 'll make one , quoth kirkham , when he danc't in his clogs . you 'ld kiss my a — before my breeches are down . she had rather kiss then spin . kit after kind . a chip of the old block . qui naist de geline il aime à grater . gall. he that was born of a hen loves to be scraping . kit careless , your a — hangs by trumps . as very a knave as ever pist . knit my dog a pair of breeches and my cat a codpiece . he hath tied a knot with his tongue that he cannot untie with all his teeth . meaning matrimony . it 's a good knife ; it will cut butter when 't is melted . a good knife , it was made fives miles beyond cutwell . you say true , will you swallow my knife ? it does me knights service . he got a knock in the cradle . to know one from a black sheep . to know one as well as the begger knows his dish . to know one no more then he does the pope of rome . better known then trusted . l. to have nothing but ones labour for ones pains . avoir l'aller pour le venir . gall. to have ones going for ones coming . you 'll go up the ladder to bed , i. e. be hang'd . at latter lammas . ad graecas calendas , i. e. never . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . cùm muli pariunt . herodot . help the lame dog over the stile . he was lap 't in his mothers smock . the lapwing cries most furthest from her nest . to laugh in ones face and cut his throat . as bottled ale is said to do . da una banda m' onge , da l'altra me ponge . ital. he can laugh and cry both in a wind . to laugh in ones sleeve . more like the devil then s. laurence . he 'll goe to law for the wagging of a straw . to have the law in ones own hand . she doth not leap an inch from a shrew . to leap over the hedge before you come at the stile . she hath broken her leg above the knee , i. e. had a bastard . he 's on his last legs . to have the length of ones foot . to lick ones self whole again . to lick honey through a cleft stick . to lie as fast as a dog can lick a dish . that 's a lie with a latchet , all the dogs i' th' town cannot match it . to tell a man a lie , and give him a reason for it . to stand in ones own light . like me , god bless the example . if the lions skin cannot the foxes shall . si leonina pellis non satis est , assuenda vulpina . coudre le peau de regnard à celle du lion . gall. to attempt or compass that by craft which we cannot obtain or effect by force . dolus an virtus quis in hoste requirit . if he were as long as he is lither , he might thatch a house without a ladder . chesh . to send by tom long the carrier . he looks as if he had neither won nor lost . he stands as if he were mop't , in a brown study , unconcern'd . to lose ones longing . he 'll not lose the droppings of his nose . he 'll not lose the paring of 's nails . egli scortarebbe un pedocchio per haverne la pelle . ital. he would flay a louse to get the skin . aquam plorat cùm lavat fundere . plaut . ware skins , quoth grubber when he flung the louse into the fire . there 's love in a budget . to love at the door and leave at the hatch . see for your love , and buy for your money . i could not get any neither for love nor money . to leave one i' th' lurch . m. madge good cow gives a good pail of milk , & then kicks it down with her foot . to correct or mend the magnificat . i. e. to correct that which is without any fault or errour . magnificat is the virgin mary's hymn luke . so called from the first word of it , which is magnificat . as the other hymns are called benedictus , nunc dimittis , te deum , &c. for the same reason . nodum in scirpo quaerere . she 's a good maid but for thought , word and deed . there are never the fewer maids for her . spoken of a woman that hath maiden children . for my peck of mault set the kiln on fire . this is used in cheshire and the neighbour countries . they mean by it , i am little concerned in the thing mentioned : i care not much come on it what will. one lordship is worth all his manners . there is an aequivoque in the word manners , which if written with an e signifies mores , if with an o manneria ; howbeit in the pronunciation they are not distinguished ; and perhaps in writing too they ought not . you know good manners , but you use but a few . to miss his mark . aberrare a scopo , non attingere scopum , or extra scopum jaculare . she hath a mark after her mother . that is , she is her mothers own daughter . patris est filius . the gray mare is the better horse . i. e. the woman is master , or as we say wears the breeches . i 'll not go before my mare to the market . i 'll do nothing preposterously : i 'll drive my mare before me . all is well , and the man hath his mare again . much matter of a wooden platter . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . mira de len●e . a great stir about a thing of nothing . one may know your meaning by your gaping . you measure every ones corn by your own bushel . tu misuri gli altri col tuo passetto . ital. to measure his cloth by anothers yard . to bring meat in its mouth . meddle with your old shoes . i 'll neither meddle nor make , said bill heaps when he spil'd the butter-milk . to mend as sowre ale does in summer . i cry you mercy , i took you for a joyn'd stool . to spend his michaelmas rent in midsummer moon . you 'd marry a midd●n for muck . either by might or by sleight . i can see as far into a milstone as another man. a scotch mist , that will wet an english man to th' skin . mock not ( quoth montford ) when his wife called him cuckold . to have a moneths mind to a thing . in ancient wills we find often mention of a moneths mind and also of a years mind and a weeks mind : they were lesser funerall solemnities appointed by the deceased at those times , for the remembrance of him . tell me the moon 's made of a green cheese . quid si coelum ruat ? you may as soon shape a coat for the moon . to make a mountain of a molehill . areem ex cloaca sacere , ex elephanto museam . to speak like a mouse in a cheese . your mouth hath beguil'd your hands . you'st have his muck for his meat . yorksh . he hath a good muckhill at 's door , i. e. he is rich . n. he had as good eat his nails . you had not your name for nothing . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . i took him napping , as moss took his mare . who this moss was is not very materiall to knew : i suppose some such man might find his mare dead , and taking her to be only asleep might say , have i taken you napping ? i 'll first see thy neck as long as my arm . to seek a needle in a bottle of hay . i may see him need , but i 'll not see him bleed . parents will usually say this of prodigal or undutifull children ; meaning i will be content to see them suffer a little hardship , but not any great misery or calamity . as much need on 't as he hath of the pip , or of a cough . tell me news . more nice then wise . nichils in nine pokes or nooks . chesh . i. e. nothing at all . to bring a noble to ninepence , and ninepence to nothing . il fait de son teston six sols . gall. to bring an abby to a grange . he hath a good nose to make a poor mans sow . il seroit bon truy à pauvre homme . gall. to hold ones nose to the grindstone . to follow ones nose . to lead one by the nose . menar uno per il naso , ital. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . this is an ancient greek proverb . frasmus saith the metaphor is taken from buffles , who are led and guided by a ring put in one of their nostrills , as i have often seen in italy : so we in england are wont to lead bears . to put ones nose out of joint . you make his nose warp . it will be a nosegay to him as long as he lives . it will stink in his nostrils , spoken of any bad matter a man hath been engaged in . o. to cut down an oak and set up a strawberry . cavar un chiodo & piantar una cavicchia . ital. to dig up a nail and plant a pin . to have an oar in every mans boat . be good in your office , you 'll keep the longer on . to give one a cast of his office . he hath a good office , he must needs thrive . to bring an old house on ones head . to rip up old sores . to cast up old scores . once at a coronation . never but once at a wedding . once and use it not . one yate for another , good fellow . they father the originall of this upon a passage between one of the earls of rutland and a countrey-fellow . the earl riding by himself one day overtook a countrey-man , who very civily open●d him the first gate they came to , not knowing who the earl was . when they came to the next gate the earl expecting he should have done the same again , nay soft , saith the countrey-man , one yate for another , good fellow . a man need not look in your mouth to know how old you are . facies tua computat annos . to make orts of good hay . over shoes over boots . this hath almost the same sense with that , ad perditam securim manubrium adjicore . a shive of my own loaf . a pig of my own sow . to outshoot a man in his own bow . the black ox never trode on his foot . i. e. he never knew what sorrow or adversity meant . p. make a page of your own age . that is ▪ do it your self . to stand upon ones pantofles . to pass the pikes . he is pattring the devils pater noster . when one is grumbling to himself and it may be cursing those that have angred or displeased him . to pay one in his own coyn . he is going into the pease-field , i. e. falling asleep . to be in a peck of troubles . to take one a peg lower . penny-wise and pound foolish . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. e. ad mensuram aquam bibunt , sinc mensura offam comedentes . he spares at the spiggot and lets it out at the bung-hole . he thinks his penny good silver . to take pepper in the nose . to take physick before one be sick . to pick a hole in a mans coat . he knows not a pig from a dog . pigs play on the organs . a man so called at hogs norton in leicestershire , or hocks norton . pigs fly in the air with their tails forward . to shoot at a pigeon and kill a crow . not to high for the pie , nor to low for the crow . if there be no remedy then wellcome pillvall . to be in a merry pin . probably this might come from drinking at pins . the dutch , and english in imitation of them , were wont to drink out of a cup marked with certain pins , and he accounted the man that could nick the pin ; whereas to go above or beneath it was a forseiture . d r fuller eccles . hist . lib . p. . as surly as if he had pist on a nettle . to piss in the same quill . to stay a pissing-while . he 'll play at small game rather then stand out . auloedus sit qui citharoedus esse non potest . let the plough stand to catch a mouse . to be tost from post to pillory . to go to pot . i know him not should i meet him in my pottage dish . to prate like a parrot . to say his prayers backward . to be in the same predicament . to have his head full of proclamations . provender pricks him . to come in pudding time . her pulse beats matrimony . to no more purpose then to beat your heels against the ground or wind . to as much purpose as the geese slurr on the ice . chesh . to as much purpose as to give a goose hay . chesh . q. to be in a quandary . to pick a quarrel . ha'll be quartermaster where e're he comes . to touch the quick , or to the quick . r. to lie at rack and manger . if it should rain pottage he would want his dish . he is better with a rake then a fork , & vice versâ . most men are better with a rake then a fork , more apt to pull in and scrape up then to give out and communicate . no remedy but patience . set your heart at rest . you ride as if you went to fetch the midwise , you shall ride an inch behind the tail . he 'll neither do right nor suffer wrong . give me roastmeat , and beat me with the spit or run it in my belly . you are in your roastmeat when others are in their sod . priusquam mactaris excorias . to rob the spittle . to rob peter to pay paul. il oste à s. pierre pour donner à s. pol. gall. he makes robin hoods pennyworths . this may be used in a double sense ; either he sells things for half their worth : robin hood afforded rich pennyworths of his plunder'd goods ; or he buyes things at what price he pleases : the owners were glad to get any thing of robin hood , who otherwise would have taken their goods for nothing . to have rods in piss for one . you gather a rod for your own breech . tel porte le baston dont à son regret le bat on . gall. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . hesiod . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . in tuum ipsius caput lunam deducis . right roger , your sow is good mutton . to twist a rope of sand . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . a rope and butter , if one slip the other may hold . i thought i had given her rope enough , said pedley when he hang'd his mare . he rose on his right side . to give one a rowland for an oliver . that is quid pro quo , to be even with one . je lui bailleray guy contre robert. gall. to run through thick and thin . his shooes are made of running leather . to run the wild goose chase . to row one way and look another . as skullers do , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . aristoph . apud suidam . altera manu fert lapidem , panem ostentat alterâ . plaut . s. more sacks to the mill . to come sailing in a sows ear . to scape a scowring . you make me scratch where it doth not itch . the sea complains it wants water . that would i fain see said blind george of hollowee . to set up ones staff . i. e. to resolve to abide in a place . to set up his sail to every wind . faire voile à tout vent . gall. evannare ad omnem auram . nazianzen . share and share like , some all , some never a whit . leonina societas . to cast a sheeps eye at one . to cast an old shooe after one . not worth shooe-buckles . to make a fair show in a countrey church . good to fetch a sick man sorrow and a dead man woe . chesh . to pour water into a sieve . cribro aquam haurire . to sing the same song . cantilenam candem canere . terent. phorm . crambe bis cocta . nothing more troublesome and ungratefull then the same thing over and over . thou singest like a bird call'd a swine . sink or swim . to call one sir and something else , i. e. sirrah . to set all at six and seven . to sit upon ones skirts . to slander one with a matter of truth . to sleep dogs sleep . slow and sure . this might have been put among the sentences . i smell a rat . to drive snails : a snails gallop . testudineus gradus . plaut . vicistis cochleam tarditate . idem . tell me it snows . to take a thing in snuff . to have a soft place in 's head . fair and softly , as lawyers goe to heaven . as softly as foot can fall . suspensos pedes ponere . quintil. suspenso gradu ire . terent. to take a wrong sow by the ear . a sow to a fiddle . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . asinus ad lyram . to sow his wild oats . as they sow so let them reap . ut sementem seceris ita metes . to be tied to the sowre apple-tree . i. e. to be married to an ill husband . to call a spade a spade . you never speak but your mouth opens . spick and span new . from spica an ear of corn , and the spawn of fishes , saith m r howel : but rather as i am informed by a better authour ; spike is a sort of nail , and spawn is a chip of a boat ; so that it is all one as to say , every chip and nail is new . spare at the spigget and let it out at the bung-hole . e tien su dalla spina & spande dal coccone . ital. he hath spit his venome . spit in your hand and take better hold . you would spy faults if your eyes were out . to make one a stalking horse . what starve in a cooks shop ? endurer la soif aupres d'une fontaine . gall. mourir de faim aupres de mestier . gall. this may be made a sentence by putting it imperatively . never starve , &c. to go through stich with a business . to stick by the ribs . he hath swallowed a stake , he cannot stoop . the more you stir the worse you stink . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . plus foetent stercora mota . quanto piu si ruga tanto piu puzza il stronzo . ital. the more you stir a t — &c. to strain at a gnat , and swallow a camel . to stumble at a straw , and leap over a block . these two proverbs have the same sense : the former is used by our saviour . matth. . . when two sundays meet , i. e. never . ad graecas calendas . to swallow an ox , and be choak't with the tail . it hath the same sense with the two last save one . he 'll swear through an inch board . he 'll swear dagger out of sheath . he 'll swearthe devil out of hell . t. to thrust his feet under another mans ' table . alienâ vivere quadrâ . to take from ones right side , to give to ones left . to take one up before he is down . tell you a tale , and find you ears . a tale of a tub . to tell tales out of school . to talk like an apothecary . tenterden steeple's the cause of goodwins sands . this proverb is used when an absurd and ridiculous reason is given of any thing in question : an account of the original whereof i find in one of bishop latimers sermons in these words . m r moore was once sent with commission into kent , to try out , if it might be , what was the cause of goodwins sands , and the shelf which stopped up sandwich haven . thither cometh m r moore , and calleth all the countrey before him , such as were thought to be men of experience , and men that could of likelihood best satisfie him of the matter concerning the stopping of sandwich haven . among the rest came in before him an old man with a white head , and one that was thought to be little less then an hundred years old . when m r moore saw this aged man , he thought it expedient to hear him say his mind in this matter ( for being so old a man , it was likely that he knew most in that presence , or company ) so m r moore called this old aged man unto him and said , father ( said he ) tell me if you can , what is the cause of the great arising of the sands and shelves here about this haven , which stop it up , so that no ships can arrive here . you are the oldest man i can espie in all this company , so that if any man can tell any cause of it , you of all likelyhood can say most to it , or at leastwise more then any man here assembled . yea forsooth , good m r moore , quoth this old man , for i am well nigh an hundred years old , and no man here in this company any thing near my age . well then ( quoth m r moore ) how say you to this matter ? what think you to be the cause of these shelves and sands , which stop up sandwich haven ? forsooth sir ( quoth he ) i am an old man , i think that tenterton-steeple is the cause of goodwin's sands . for i am an old man sir ( quoth he ) i may remember the building of tenterton-steeple , and i may remember when there was no steeple at all there . and before that tenterton-steeple was in building , there was no manner of talking of any flats , or sands that stop't up the haven ; and therefore , i think that tenterton-steeple is the cause of the decay and destroying of sandwich haven . thus far the bishop . i 'll thank you for the next , for this i am sure of . there 's a thing in 't ( quoth the fellow ) when he drank the dish-clout . i 'll not pull the thorn out of your foot and put it into my own . to stand upon thorns . thrift and he are at a fray . when thrift's in the field , he 's in town . he strook at tib , but down fell tom. his tongue 's no slander . your tongue runs before your wit. this is an ancient form of speech ; i find it in isocrates his oration to demonicus , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . his tongue runs on wheels [ or at random . ] to have a thing at ones tongues end , or at the tip of ones tongue . tooth and nail . manibus pedibúsque . remis velisque . to have an aking tooth at one . from top to toe . topsie turvie . i 'de not touch him with a pair of tongs . to it again , no body comes . nemo nos infequitur aut impellit , erasmus è platone ; who tells us that this proverb continues to this day in common use ( among the dutch i suppose ) to signifie that it is free for us to stay upon any business [ immorari in re aliqua . ] to drive a subtill trade . to put one to his trumps . i 'll trust him no further then i can fling him , or , then i can throw a millstone . you may trust him with untold gold . to turn with the wind , or tide . to turn over a new leaf . to turn cat in pan . in the twinkling of an eye . to stop two gaps with on bush . to stop two mouths with one morsel . duas linit parietes eâdem sideliâ . unicâsiliâ duos parare generos : this is a modern proverb , but deserves ( saith erasmus ) to be numbred amongst the ancient ones . i find it among the french , d'une fille deux gendres . to get himself two sons in law with one daughter . to kill two flies with one flap . to kill two birds with one shaft [ or stone . ] d'une pierre faire deux coups , gall. di un'dono far duoi amici , ital. to make two friends with one gift . pigliar due colombe con una fava , ital. to take two pigeons with one bean . to carry two faces under one hood . il a une face à deux visages , gall. due visi sotto una beretta , ital. to have two strings to ones bow . il fait bien avoir deux chordes en son are , gall. this may be made a sentence by adding to it , it is good , or such like words . duabus ancoris fultus . two hands in a dish , and one in a purse . to have thwitten a mill-post to a pudding prick . she 's cured of a tympany with two heels . u. to nourish a viper in ones bosom . tu ti allevi la biscia in seno , ital. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , theocr. in hodoep . colubrum in sinu fovere . est apud aesopum apologus de rustico quodam in hanc rem . nothing but up and ride ? to be up the queen apple-tree . no sooner up , but the head in the aumbrey , and nose in the cup. w. a warrant seal'd with butter . to look to ones water . to cast water into the thames . lumen soli mutuari , &c. you cant't see green cheese , but your teeth must water . i 'll not wear the wooden daggar , i. e. lose my winnings . wear a horn , and blow it not . to come home by weeping cross . this weeping cross which gave occasion to this phrase , is about two miles distant from the town of stafford . you may make as good musick on a wheel-barrow . without welt or guard . all shall be well , and jack shall have jyll . with a wet finger . levi brachio & molli trachio . but when , quoth kettle to his mare ? chesh . whist whist , i smell a birds nest . you 'll make an end of your whistle though the cart overthrow . whist and catch a mouse . to let leap a whiting . i. e. to let slip an opportunity . shee 's neither wife , widow nor maid . your windmill dwindles into a nut-crack . all this wind shakes no corn . either win the horse or lose the saddle . aut ter sex aut tres tesserae . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . the ancients used to play with three dice , so that thrice six must needs be the best , and three aces the worst chance . they called three aces simply three dice , because they made no more then the number of the dice. the ace side was left empty without any spot at all , because to count them was no more then to count the dice. hereupon this chance was called , jactus inanis , the empty chance . wind and weather doe thy worst . to goe down the wind . win it and wear it . to have one in the wind . to have windmills in 's head . keep your wind , &c. v breath . you may wink and chuse . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . thrax ad thracem compositus ▪ he shews all his wit at once . god send you more wit , and me more money . you were born when wit was scant . your wits are on wooll gathering . you have wit enough to drown ships in . you give the wolf the weather to keep . ha dato la pecora in guardia al lupo , ital. ovem lupo commisisti . to have a wolf by the ears . this is also a latine proverb , lupum auribus tenere . when a man hath a doubtful business in hand , which it is equally hazardous to pursue or give over ; as it is to hold or let go a wolf which one hath by the ears . to be in a wood . you cannot see wood for trees . in mari aquam quaeris . to make woof or warp of any business . a word and a blow . when he should work , every finger is a thumb . if any thing stay let work stay . the world is well amended with him . to have the world in a string . he has a worm in 's brain . not worthy to carry his books after him . not worthy to be named the same day . not worthy to wipe his shooes . indignus qui illi matellam porrigat . dispeream si tu pyladi praestare matellam dignus es , aut porcos pascere pirithoi . martial . not worthy to carry guts after a bear. proverbial similies , in which the quality and subject begin with the same letter . as bare as a birds arse , or as the back of my hand . as blind as a beetle or bat . talpâ caecior , as blind as a mole , though indeed a mole be not absolutely blind ; but hath perfect eyes , and those not covered with a membrane , as some have reported ; but open and to be sound without side the head , if one search diligently , otherwise they may easily escape one , being very small and lying hid in the furr . so that it must be granted , that a mole sees but obscurely , yet so much as is sufficient for her manner of living , being most part under ground . hypsaea caecior . this hypsaea was a woman famous for her blindness . tiresia caecior , the fable of tircsias , and how he came to be blind , is well known . leberide caecior . est autem leberis exuviae sive spolium serpentis , in quo apparent effigies duntaxat oculorum , ac membranula quaedam tenuissima quâ serpentum oculi praeteguntur . a beetle is thought to be blind , because in the evening it will fly with its full force against a mans face or any thing else which happens to be in its way ; which other insects as bees , hornets , &c. will not doe . to blush like a black dog . as bold as blind bayard . as bold as beauchamp . of this sirname there were many earls of warwick , amongst whom ( saith doctour fuller ) i conceive thomas the first of that name , gave chief occasion to this proverb ; who in the year , with one squire and six archers , fought in hostile manner with an hundred armed men at hogges in normandy and overthrew them , slaying sixty normans , and giving the whole fleet means to land . as brisk as a body louse . as busie as a bee . as clear as crystal . as cold as charity . as common as coleman hedge . as coy as crokers mare . as cunning as craddock , &c. as dead as a door nail . as dull as dun in the mire . to feed like a farmer ; or freeholder ▪ as fine as five pence . as fit as a fiddle . as flat as a flounder . as grave as an old gate-post . as hard as horn . as high as three horse loaves as high as a hog all but the bristles . spoken of a dwarf in derision . as hungry as a hawk , or horse . as kind as a kite , all you cannot eat you 'll hide . as lazy as ludlams dog , that lean't his head against a wall to bark . as mad as a march hare . foenum habet in cornu . as merry as the maids . as nice as a nuns hen . as pert as a pearmongers mare . as plain as a packsaddle , or a pike staff . as plump as a partridge . as proud as a peacock . as seasonable as snow in summer . as soft as silk . as true as a turtle to her mate . as warm as wooll . as wise as walthams calf , that ran nine miles to suck a bull . as wise as a wisp , or woodcock . as welcome as water into a ship , or , into ones shooes . as weak as water . others . as angry as a wasp . as bald as a coot . as bare as the back of my hand . as bitter as gall . ipsa bile amariora . as black as a coal ; as a crow or raven ; as the divell ; as jet ; as ink ; as soot . as busie as a hen with one chicken . as busie as a good wife at oven ; and neither meal nor dough . he 's like a cat ; fling him which way you will he 'll light on 's legs . she 's like a cat ; she 'll play with her own tail . he claws it as clayton claw'd the pudding , when he eat bag and all . as clear as a bell . spoken principally of a voice or sound without any jarring or harshness . as clear as the sun. as comfortable as matrimony . it becomes him as well as a sow doth a cartsaddle . as crowse as a new washen louse . this is a scotch and northern proverb . crowse signifies brisk lively . as dark as pitch . blackness is the colour of darkness . as dead as a herring . a herring is said to die immediately after it is taken out of its element the water ; that it dies very suddainly my self can witness : so likewise doe pilchards , shads , and the rest of that tribe . as dear as two eggs a penny . as like a dock to a daisy . that is very unlike . as dizzy as a goose . as drunk as a begger . this proverb begins now to be disused , and in stead of it people are ready to say , as drunk as a lord : so much hath that vice ( the more is the pity ) prevail'd among the nobility & gentry of late years . as dry as a bone . as dull as a beetle . as dun as a mouse . as easie as pissing a bed ; as to lick a dish . as false as a scot. i hope that nation generally deserves not such an imputation ; and could wish that we english men , were less partial to our selves , and censorious of our neighbours . as fair as lady done. chesh . the dones were a great family in cheshire , living at utkinton by the forest side : nurses use there to call their children so if girls , if boyes earls of derby . as fast as hops . as fat as butter ; as a fool ; as a hen i th' forehead . to feed like a freeholder of macklesfield , who hath neither corn nor hay at michaelmas . chesh . this macklesfield or maxfield is a small market town and borough in cheshire . as fierce as a goose . as fine [ or proud ] as a lords bastard . as fit as a pudding for a friers mouth . as fit as a shoulder of mutton for a sick horse . as flattering or fawning as a spaniel . as fond of it as an ape of a whip and a bell . to follow one like a st. anthonies pig . it is applicable to such as have servile saleable souls , who for a small reward will lacquay it many miles , being more officious and assiduous in their attendance then their patrons desire . st. anthony is notoriously known to be the patron of hogs , having a pig for his page in all pictures , i am not so well read in his legend as to give the reason of it ; but i dare say , there is no good one . as freely as s. robert gave his cow . this robert was a knareburgh saint , & the old women there can still tell you the legend of the cow . as hollow as a gun ; as a kex . a kex is a dried stalk of hemlock or of wild cicely . as free as a blind man is of his eye . as free as an ape is of his tail . as free as a dead horse is of farts . as fresh as a rose in iune . as full as an egg is of meat . e pieno quanto un novo . ital. as full as a pipers bag ; as a tick . as full as a toad is of poison . as full as a jade , quoth the bride . as gant as a greyhound . as glad as a fowl of a fair day . to go like a cat upon a hot bake stone . to go out like a candle in a snuff . as good as george of green. this george of green was that famous pinder of wakefield who fought with robin hood & little john both together , and got the better of them , as the old ballade tells us . as good as goose-skins that never man had enough of . chesh . as good as ever flew in the air . as good as ever went endways . as good as ever the ground went upon . as good as ever water wet . as good as ever twang'd . as good as any between bagshot and baw-waw , there 's but the breadth of a street between these two . as greedy as a dog . as green as grass ; as a leek . as hail as a roch , fish whole . e sano come un pesce . ital. as hard-hearted as a scot of scotland . as hasty as a sheep , so soon as the tail is up the t — is out . to hold up his head like a steed of ten pounds . as hot as a tost . to hug one as the divell hugs a witch . as hungry as a church-mouse . as innocent as a devill of two years old . a conscience as large as a shipmans hose . as lawless as a town-bull . as lazy as the tinker who laid down his budget to fart . as lean as a rake . to leap like a cock at a black-berry . spoken of one that desires and endeavours to doe harm but cannot . as lecherous as a he-goat . as light as a fly . to lick it up like lim hay . chesh . lim is a village on the river mersey that parts cheshire and lancashire , where the best hay is gotten . as like his nown father as e're he can look . as like one as if he had been spit out of his mouth . as like as an apple to an oyster . as like as four pence to a groat . as like as nine pence to nothing . no more like then chalk and cheese . to look like the picture of ill luck . to look like a strain'd hair in a can . chesh . to look like a droun'd mouse . to look like a dog that hath lost his tail . to look as if he had eaten his bedstraw . to look on one as the devill looks over lincoln . some referre this to lincoln-minster , over which when first finished the devill is supposed to have looked with a torve and tetrick countenance , as envying mens costly devotion , saith d r fuller , but more probable it is that it took its rice from a small image of the devill standing on the top of lincoln colledge in oxford . as loud as a horn . to love it as a cat loves mustard . to love it as the devill loves holy water . to love it as a dog loves a whip . as good luck as had the cow , that stuck her self with her own horn . as good luck as the lowsy calf , that liv'd all winter and died in the summer . as melancholy as a gib'd cat . as merry as cup and can . as merry as a cricket . as mild [ or gentle ] as a lamb . as natural to him as milk to a calf . as necessary as a sow among young children . as nimble as an eel . as nimble as a cow in a cage . as nimble as a new gelt dog . as old as charing-cross . as plain as the nose on a mans face . as poor as iob. this similitude runs through most languages . in the university of cambridge the young scholars are wont to call chiding jobing , as proud as a cock on 's own dunghill . as proud as an apothecary . to quake like an aspen leaf . to quake like an oven . he 's like a rabbet , fat and lean in hours . as red as a cherry ; as a petticoat . as rich as a new shorn sheep . as right as a rams horn ; as my leg . as rotten as a t — as rough as a tinkers budget . as safe as a mouse in a cheese ; in a malt-heap . as safe as a crow in a gutter . as safe as a thief in a mill . as scab'd as a cuckow . to scold like a cut-purse ; like a wych-waller . chesh . that is a boiler of salt : wych houses are salt-houses , and walling is boyling . to scorn a thing as a dog scorns a tripe . as sharp as a thorn ; as a rasour ; as vinegar . aceto acrius . as much sib'd as sieve and ridder , that grew in the same wood together . sib'd that is a kin : in suffolk the banes of matrimony are called sibberidge . as sick as a cushion . she simpers like a bride on her wedding day . she simpers like a riven dish . she simpers like a furmity kettle . to sit like a frog on a chopping block . as slender in the middle as a cow in the wast . as slippery as an eel . as smooth as a carpet : spoken of good way . as softly as foot can fall . as sound as a trout . as sour as verjuice . as spruce as an onyon . to stink like a poll-cat . as streight as an arrow . as streight as the back-bone of a herring . thou 'lt strip it as slack stript the cat , when he pull'd her out of the churn . as strong as mustard . to strut like a crow in a gutter . as sure as a gun [ or as death . ] as sure as check or exchequer pay . this was a proverb in q. elizabeths time ; the credit of the exchequer beginning in and determining with her reign , saith d r fuller . as sure [ or as round ] as a juglers box . as sure as a louse in bosome . chesh . as sure as a louse in pomfret . yorksh . as sure as the coat 's on ones back . as surly as a butchers dog . as sweet as honey , or as a nut . as tall as a may-pole . as tender as a chicken . as tender as a parsons leman , i. e. whore . as tender as parnell that broke her finger in a posset-curd . as testy as an old cook . as tough as whitleather . as true as god is in heaven . as true as steel . as warm as a mouse in a churn . as wanton as a calf with two dams . as wellcome as hopkin , that came to jayl over night , and was hang'd the next morning . as white as the driven snow . as wild as a buck . as wily as a fox . as much wit as three folks , two fools and a mad-man . chesh . as well worth it as a thief is worth a rope . like goodyers pig , never well but when he is doing mischief . chesh . he stands like mumphazard , who was hang'd for saying nothing . chesh . like the parson of saddleworth , who could read in no book but his own . chesh . to come home like the parsons cow with a calf at her foot . chesh . to use one like a jew . this poor nation was into lerably abused by the english , while they lived in this land , especially at london on shrove-tuesday . thus it came to pass , which god frequently foretold , that they should become a by-word and a reproach among all nations . d r fuller . he 's like a swine , he 'll ne're doe good while he lives . undone as a man would undoe an oyster . he feeds like a boar in a frank . he 's like a bagpipe , he never talks till his belly be full . like hunts dog , that will neither goe to church nor stay at home . she goes as if she crack't nuts with her tail . as willfull as a pig , he 'll neither lead nor drive . as honest a man as any is in the cards when all the kings are out . as good as ever drave top over til'd house . you been like smithwick , either clem'd or borsten . chesh . proverbial rhythmes and old saws . the crab of the wood is sawce very good for the crab of the sea . but the wood of the crab is sawce for a drab , that will not her husband obey . snow is white and lies in the dike . and every man lets it lie : pepper is black and hath a good smack , and every man doth it buy . alba ligustra cadunt , vaccinia nigra leguntur . virg. my horse pisseth whey , my man pisseth amber , my horse is for my way , my man is for my chamber . the higher the plum-tree the riper the plum . the richer the cobler , the blacker his thumb . when adam delv'd and eve span , where was then the gentleman : upstart a churl and gathered good , and thence did spring our gentle bloud . le robbe fanno il primo sangue . ital. with a red man reade thy read ; with a brown man break thy bread : at a pale man draw thy knife ; from a black man keep thy wife . bounce buckram , velvet's dear , christmas comes but once a year ; and when it comes it brings good chear , but when it 's gone it's never the near . he that buys land buys many stones ; he that buys flesh buys many bones : he that buys eggs buys many shells , but he that buys good ale buys nothing else . jack sprat he loved no fat , and his wife she lov'd no lean : and yet betwixt them both , they lick't the platters clean . he that hath it and will not keep it , he that wants it and will not seek it , he that drinks and is not dry , shall want money as well as i. the third of november the d. of vendosme past the water , the fourth of november the queen had a daughter , the fifth of november we scap't a great slaughter , and the sixth of november was the next day after . a man of words and not of deeds , is like a garden full of weeds . fridays hair and sundays horn goes to the d'ule on munday morn . our fathers which were wondrous wise , did wash their throats , before they wash't their eyes . when thou dost hear a toll or knell , then think upon thy pasting bell . if fortune favour i may have her , for i go about her ; if fortune fail you may kiss her tail , and go without her . a red beard and a black head , catch him with a good trick and take him dead . he that hath plenty of good shall have more ; he that hath but little he shall have less ; and he that hath right nought , right nought shall possess . cardinal wolsey . a whip for a fool , and a rod for a school , is always in good season . will. summers . a halter and a rope for him that will be pope , without all right or reason . the shape of a good greyhound . a head like a snake , a neck like a drake , a back like a beam , a belly like a bream , a foot like a cat , a tail like a rat . punch cole , cut candle , set brand on end , neither good housewife , nor good housewives friend . alum si sit stalum non est malum . beerum si sit eleerum est syncerum . if one knew how good it were , to eat a hen in janivere ; had he twenty in the flock , he 'd leave but one to go with the cock . children pick up words as pigeons pease , and utter them again as god shall please . deux ace non possunt & six cinque solvere nolunt omnibus est notum quater trois solvere totum . as a man lives so shall he die , as a tree falls so shall it lie . aegrotat daemon monaechus tunc esse volebat : daemon convaluit daemon ut ante fuit . the devill was sick , the devill a monk would be , the devill was well the devill a monk was he . thither as i would goe i can go late , thither as i would not goe i know not the gate . no more morter no more brick , a cunning knave has a cunning trick . tobacco hic if a man be well it will make him sick . tobacco hic will make a man well if he be sick . per ander salvo per ill mondo bisogna havere occhio di falcone , orecchie di asino , viso di scimia , parole di mercante , spalle di camelo , bocca di porco , gambe di cervo . ital. to travell safely through the world a man must have a falcons eye , an asses eares , an apes face , a merchants words , a camells back , a hogs mouth , and a harts legs . it would make a man scratch where it doth not itch , to see a man live poor to die rich . est furor haud dubius simul & manifesta phrenests , ut locuples moriar is egenti vivere fato . juvenal . out of doctour fullers worthies of england , such as are not entred already in the catalogues . barkshire . the vicar of bray , will be vicar of bray still . bray is a village well known in bark-shire , the vivacious vicar whereof living under king henry the eighth , king edward the sixth , queen mary and queen elizabeth : was first a papist , then a protestant , then a papist , then a protestant again . this vicar being tax't by one for being a turn-coat , not so ( said he ) for i always kept my principle ; which is this , to live and die vicar of bray . bedfordshire . as plain as dunstable road . it is applied to things plain and simple , without either welt or guard to adorn them ; as also to matters easie and obvious to be found out without any difficulty or direction . such this road being broad and beaten , as the confluence of many leading to london from the north and north-west-parts of this land . i conceive besides this , there is an allusion to the first syllable of this name dunstable , for there are other roads in england as broad , plain and well beaten as this . as crooked as crawley brook . this is a nameless brook arising about wobourn , running by crawley and falling immediately into the ouse , a river more crooked and maeandrous then it , running above eighty miles , in eighteen by land . the bayliff of bedford is coming . the ouse or bedford river is so called in cambridgeshire , because when swoln with rain , &c. in the winter time it arrests the isle of ely with an inundation , bringing down suddenly abundance of water . buckinghamshire . buckinghamshire bread and beef . the former as fine , the latter as fat in this , as in any other county . here if you beat a bush , it's ods you 'll start a thief . no doubt there was just occasion for this proverb at the original thereof , which then contained a satyrical truth , proportioned to the place before it was reformed : whereof thus our great antiquary . it was altogether unpassable in times past by reason of trees , until leofstane abbot of st. albans did cut them down , because they yielded a place of refuge for thieves . but this proverb is now antiquated as to the truth thereof ; buckinghamshire affording as many maiden assizes as any county of equal populousness . cambridgeshire . cantabridgia petit aequales or aequalia . that is ( as doctour fuller expounds it ) either in respect of their commons ; all of the same mess have equal share : or in respect of extraordinaries , they are all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , club alike : or in respect of degree , all of the same degree are fellows well met . the same degree levels , although of different age . cambridgeshire . camels . i look upon this as a nickname groundlesly fastned on this countrey men , perhaps because the three first letters are the same in cambridge and camel . i doubt whether it had any respect to the fen men stalking upon their stilts , who then in the apparent length of their legs do something resemble that beast . an henry-sophister . so they are called , who after four years standing in the university , stay themselves from commencing batchelours of arts , to render them in some colleges more capable of preferment . that tradition is senseless ( and inconsistent with his princely magnificence ) of such who fancy that king henry the eighth coming to cambridge , stayed all the sophisters a year , who expected that a year of grace should have been given to them . more probable it is , that because that king is commonly conceived of great strength and stature , that these sophistae henriciani were elder and bigger then others . the truth is this , in the reign of king henry the eighth , after the destruction of monasteries , learning was at a loss ; and the university ( thanks be unto god more scared then hurt ) stood at a gaze what would become of her . hereupon many students staid themselves two , three , some four years ; as who would see , how their degrees ( before they took them ) would be rewarded and maintained . twittle twattle , drink up your posset-drink . this proverb had its original in cambridge , and is scarce known elsewhere . cheshire . cheshire chief of men . it seems the cestrians have formerly been renowned for their valour . v. fuller . she hath given lawton gate a clap . spoken of one got with child and going to london to conceal it . lawton is in the way to london from several parts of cheshire . better wed over the mixon then over the moor. that is hard by or at home , the mixon being that heap of compost which lies in the yards of good husbands , then far off or from london . the road from chester leading to london over some part of the moor-lands in staffordshire . the meaning is , the gentry in cheshire find it more profitable to match within their own county , then to bring a bride out of other shires . . because better acquainted with her birth and breeding . . because though her portion may chance to be less , the expence will be less to maintain her . such intermarriages in this county have been observed both a prolonger of worshipful families , and the preserver of amity between them . every man cannot be vicar of bowden . bowden , it seems , is one of the greatest livings near chester , otherwise doubtless there are many greater church-preferments in cheshire . the maior of altringham lies in bed while his breeches are mending . the maior of altringham and the maior of over . the one is a that cher the other a dauber . these are two petty corporations whose poverty makes them ridiculous to their neighbours . stopford law , no stake no draw . neither in cheshire nor chawbent that is , nither in kent nor christendome . chawbent is a town in lancashire . the constable of oppenshaw sets beggers in stocks at manchester . he feeds like , a freeholder of maxfield [ or macklesfield , ] who hath neither corn nor hay at michaelmas . maxfield is a market town and burrough of good account in this county , where they drive a great trade of making and selling buttons . when this came to be a proverb , it should seem the inhabitants were poorer or worse husbands then now they are . maxfield measure heap and thrutch , i. e. thrust . cornwall . by tre , pol , and pen , you shall know the cornish men . these three words are the dictionary of such sirnames as are originally cornish ; and though nouns in sense , i may fitly term them prepositions . . tre signifieth a town , hence tre-fry , tre-lawney , tre-vanion , &c. . pol signifieth an head hence pol-wheel . . pen signifieth a top. hence pentire , pen-rose , pen-kevil , &c. to give one a cornish hug. the cornish are masters of the art of wrestling . their hug is a cunning close with their fellow combatants , the fruit whereof is his fair fall or soil at the least . it is figuratively appliable to the deceitful dealing of such , who secretly design their overthrow whom they openly embrace . hengsten down well ywrought , is worth london town dear ybought . in respect of the great quantity of tin to be found there under ground . though the gainful plenty of metal this place formerly afforded , is now fallen to a scant-saving-scarcity . as for the diamonds which doctour fuller fancieth may be found there , i believe they would be little worth . he is to be summoned before the major of halgaver . this is a joculary and imaginary court , wherewith men make merriment to themselves , presenting such persons who go slovenly in their attire : where judgement in formal terms is given against them , and executed more to the scorn then hurt of the persons . when dudman and ram-head meet . these are two forelands , well known to sailers , nigh twenty miles asunder , and the proverb passeth for the periphrasis of an impossibility . he doth sail into cornwall without a bark . this is an italian proverb , where it passeth for a description ( or derision rather ) of such a man as is wronged by his wives disloyalty . the wit of it consists in the allusion to the word horn . cumberland . if skiddaw hath a cap , scruffell wots full well of that . these are two neighbour hills , the one in this county , the other in anandalc in scotland : if the former be cap't with clouds and foggy mists , it will not be long e're rain falls on the other . it is spoken of such who must expect to sympathize in their sufferings by reason of the vicinity of their habitations . skiddaw , lauvellin and casticand . are the highest hills in all england . i know not how to reconcile this rhythme with another mention'd by the same author , camden . britan. in lancashire . ingleborough , pendle and penigent , are the highest hills between scotland and trent . unless it be , that the later ternary are highest in yorkshire mens account ; the former in cumberland mens account : every county being given to magnifie ( not to say altifie ) their own things . devonshire . to devonshire or denshire land . that is , to pare off the surface or top-turf thereof , and to lay it upon heaps and burn it ; which ashes are a marvelous improvement to battle barren land , by reason of the fixt salt which they contain . this course they take with their barren spungy heathy land in many counties of england , and call it denshiring . land so used will bear two or three good crops of corn , and then must be thrown down again . a plymouth cloak . that is , a cane or staff ; whereof this the occasion . many a man of good extraction coming home from far voyages , may chance to land here , and being out of sorts , is unable for the present time and place to recruit himself with clothes . here , ( if not friendly provided ) they make the next wood their drapers shop , where a staff cut out , serves them for a covering . for we use when we walk in cuerpo to carry a staff in our hands , but none when in a cloak . he may remove mort-stone . there is a bay in this county called morts-bay , but the harbour in the entrance thereof is stopt with a huge rock , called mort-stone , and the people merrily say , none can remove it but such as are masters of their wives . first hang and draw ; then hear the cause by lidford law . lidsord is a little and poor ( but ancient ) corporation in this county with very large priviledges , where a court of stanneries was formerly kept . this libellous proverb would suggest unto us , as if the towns-men thereof ( generally mean persons ) were unable to manage their own liberties with necessary discretion , administring preposterous and preproperous justice . dorsetshire . as much a kin as lenson-hill to pilsen pen. that is no kin at all . it is spoken of such who have vicinity of habitation or neighbourhood , without the least degree of consanguinity or affinity betwixt them . for these are two high hills , the first wholly , the other partly in the parish of broad windsor . yet the sea-men make the nearest relation between them , calling the one the cow , the other the calf , in which forms it seems they appear first to their fancies , being eminent sea-marks . stab'd with a byrdport dagger . that is hang'd . the best if not the most hemp ( for the quantity of ground ) growing about byrdport , a market-town in this county . and hence it is that there is an ancient statute ( though now difused and neglected ) that the cable ropes for the navy-royal were to be made thereabouts . dorsetshire dorsers . dorsers are peds or paniers carried on the backs of horses , on which higlers use to ride and carry their commodities . it seems this homely but most useful instrument was either first sound out , or is most generally used in this county ; where fish-jobbers bring up their fish in such contrivances , above an hundred miles from lime to london . essex . essex stiles . see the catalogue of sentences . essex calves . this county produceth calves of the fattest , fairest and finest flesh in england , and consequenly in all europe . sure it is that a cumberland cow may be bought for the price of an essex calf at the beginning of the year . let me add that it argues the goodness of flesh in this county , and that great gain was got formerly by the sale thereof , because that so many stately monuments were erected therein anciently for butchers inscribed carnifices in their epitaphs in cogshall , chelmsford and else where , made with marble , inlaid with brass , befitting ( saith my authour ) a more eminent man : whereby it appears , that those of that trade have in that county been richer ( or at least prouder ) then in other places . as valiant as an essex lion , i. e. a calf . the weavers beef of colchester . that is sprats , caught hereabouts , and brought hither in incredible abundance , whereon the poor weavers ( numerous in this town ) make much of their repast , cutting ●ands , rumps , surloyns , chines , &c. out of them , as he goes on . jeering cogshall . this is no proverb : but an ignominious epitheté fastned on this place by their neighbours , which as i hope they do not glory in ; so i believe they are not guilty of . other towns in this countrey have had the like abusive epithetes . i remember a rhyme which was in common use formerly of some towns , not far distant the one from the other . braintree for the pure , and bocking for the poor , cogshall for the jeering town , and kelvedon for the whore . gloucestershire . as sure as god's in gloucestershire . this is a foolish and profane proverb , unfit to be used . however some seek to qualifie it , making god eminently in his , though not exclusively of other counties ; where such he former fruitfulness thereof , that it is ( by william of malmesbury , in his book of bishops ) said to return the seed with the increase of an hundred fold : others find a superstitious sense therein , supposing god by his gracious presence more peculiarly fix't in this countrey , wherein there were more and richer mitred abbeys , then in any two shires of england besides . you are a man of duresley . it is taken for one that breaks his word , and fails in performance of his promise ; parallel to fides graca or punica . duresley is a market and clothing town in this county , the inhabitants whereof will endeavour to confute and disprove this proverb , to make it false now , whatsoever it was at the first original thereof . it 's as long in coming as cotswald barely . it 's applied to such things as are slow , but sure . the corn in this cold country on the wowlds , exposed to the winds bleak and shelterless , is very backward at the first , but afterward overtake , the forwardest in the county , if not in the barn in the bushel , both for the quantity and goodness thereof . he looks as if he had liv'd on tewksbury mustard . tewksbury is a fair market-town in this county , noted for the mustard-balls made there , and sent into other parts . this is spoken partly of such , who always have a sad , severe and tetrick countenance . si ecastor hic homo sinapi victite● non conseam tam tristem esse posse . plaut . in trucul . partly of such as are snappish , captious , and prone to take exceptions . the traceys have always the wind in their faces . this is sounded on a fond and false tradition , which reporteth , that ever since sr william tracy , was most acti●… among the four knights , which killed thomas becket , it is imposed on the tracies for miraculous penance , that whether they go by land or by water , the wind is ever in their faces . if this were so ( saith the doctour ) it was a favour in an hot summer to the females of that family , and would spare them the use of a fan , &c. as fierce as a lion of cotswald . i. e. a sheep . hampshire . manners make a man , quoth william of wickham . william of wickham was a person well known . he was bishop of winchester , founded new colledge in oxford , and winchester colledge in this county . this generally was his motto , inscribed frequently on the places of his founding . so that it hath since acquired a proverbial reputation . canterbury is the higher rack but winchester is the better manger . w. edington bishop of winchester was the authour of this expression , rendring this the reason of his refusal to be removed to canterbury , though chosen thereunto . indeed though canterbury be graced with an higher honour ; the revenues of winchester are greater . it is appliable to such , who preferre a wealthy privacy before a less profitable dignity . the isle of wight ath no monks , lawyers nor foxes . this speech hath more mirth then truth in it . ( speeds catal. of religious houses . ) that they had monks i know , black ones at caris-brook , white ones at quarter in this island . that they have lawyers they know when they pay them their fees : and that they have foxes their lambs know . but of all these , perchance fewer then in other places of equal extent . hartfordshire . hartfordshire clubs and clouted shoon . some will wonder how this shire lying so near to london , the staple of english civility , should be guilty of so much rusticalness . but the finest cloth must have a list , and the pure pesants are of as course a thread in this , as in any other place . yet though some may smile at their clownishness , let none laugh at their industry ; the rather , because the high-shoon of the tenant , payes for the spanish leatherboots of the landlord . hartfordshire hedgehogs . plenty of hedgehogs are found in this high woodland countrey , reported to suck the kine , though the dairy-maids conne them small thanks for sparing their pains in milking them . whether this proverb may have any further reflection on the people of this county , as therein taxed for covetousness and constant nudling on the earth , i think not worth the enquiry ; these nicknames being imposed on several counties groundlesly , as to any moral significancy . ware and wades-mill are worth all london . this i assure you is a master-piece of the vulgar wits in this county , wherewith they endeavour to amuse travellers , as if ware a through-fare market , and wades-mill part of a village lying two miles north thereof were so prodigiously rich , as to countervail the wealth of london . the sallacy lieth in the homonymy of ware , here not taken for that town so named , but appellatively for all vendible commodities . it is rather a riddle then a proverb . hartfordshire kindness . it is , when one drinks back again to the party , who immediately before drank to him : and although it may signifie as much , as , manus manum fricat , & par est de merente be ne mereri , yet it is commonly used onely by way of derision of those , who through forgetfulness or mistake , drink to them again whom they pledged immediately . herefordshire . blessed is the eye , that is between severn and wye . not onely because of the pleasant prospect ; but it seems this is a prophetical promise of safety , to such as live secured within those great rivers , as if priviledged from martial impressions . sutton wall and kenchester hill are able to buy london were it to sell . these are two fruitfull places in this countrey , saith m r howell . lemster bread and weabley ale. both these the best in their kinds , understand it of this county . otherwise there is wheat in england that will vie with that of lemster for pureness : for example that of ( nordens middlesex . camden . brit. ) heston near harrow on the hill in middlesex , of which for a long time the manchet for the kings of england was made : and for ale derby town , and northdown in the isle of thanet , hull in yorkshire , and sambich in cheshire will scarce give place to webley . every one cannot dwell at rotheras . a delicate seat of the bodmans in this county . huntingtonshire . an huntington sturgeon . this is the way to beggers-bush . it is spoken of such , who use dissolute and improvident courses , which tend to poverty . beggers-bush being a tree notoriously known , on the left hand of london road from huntington to caxton . nay stay quoth stringer when his neck was in the halter . ramsey the rich . this was the croesus of all our english abbeys , for having but sixty monks to maintain therein , the revenues thereof according to the standard of those times amounted unto seven thousand pounds per annum ; which in proportion was an hundred pounds for every monk , and a thousand pounds for their abbot ; yet at the dissolution of monasteries , the income of this abbey was reckoned at but one thousand nine hundred eighty three pound a year ; whereby it plainly appears how much the revenues were under-rated in those valuations . kent . neither in kent nor christendom . that is , saith d r fuller , our english christendom , of which kent was first converted to the christian saith , as much as to say as rome and all italy , or the first cut and all the loaf besides : not by way of opposition , as if kent were no part of christendom , as some have understood it . i rather think that it is to be understood by way of opposition , and that it had its original upon occasion of kent being given by the ancient britains to the saxons , who were then pagans . so that kent might well be opposed to all the rest of england in this respect , it being pagan when all the rest was christian . a knight of cales , a gentleman of wales , and a laird of the north-countree , a yeoman of kent with his yearly rent , will buy them out all three . cales knights were made in that voyage by robert earl of essex , to the number of sixty ; whereof ( though many of great birth ) some were of low fortunes ; and therefore queen elizabeth was half offended with the earl , for making knighthood so common . of the numerousness of welch gentlemen nothing need be said , the welch generally pretending to gentility . northern lairds are such , who in scotland hold lands in chief of the king , whereof some have no great revenue . so that a kentish yeoman ( by the help of an hyperbole ) may countervail , &c. yeomen contracted for gemen-mein from gemein signifying common in old dutch , so that a yeoman is a commoner , one undignified with any title of gentility : a condition of people almost peculiar to england , and which is in effect the basis of all the nation . kentish long-tails . those are mistaken who found this proverb on a miracle of austin the monk ; who preaching in an english village , and being himself and his associates beat and abused by the pagans there , who opprobriously tied fish-tails to their back-sides ; in revenge thereof such appendants grew to the hind-parts of all that generation . for the scence of this lying wonder was not laid in any part of kent , but pretended many miles off , nigh cerne in dorsetshire . i conceive it first of outlandish extraction , and cast by forreigners as a note of disgrace on all english men , though it chanceth to stick onely on the kentish at this day . what the original or occasion of it at first was is hard to say ; whether from wearing a pouch or bag to carry their baggage in behind their backs ; whilst probably the proud monsieurs had their lacquies for that purpose ; or whether from the mention'd story of austin . i am sure there are some at this day in forreign parts , who can hardly be perswaded but that english men have tails . why this nickname ( cut off from the rest of england ) continues still entail'd on kent , the reason may be ( as the doctour conjectures ) because that county lies nearest to france , and the french are beheld as the first founders of this aspersion . dover-court all speakers and no hearers . the doctour understands this proverb of some tumultuous court kept at dover , the confluence of many blustering sea-men , who are not easily ordered into any awful attention . it is appliable to such irregular conferences , where the people are all tongue and no ears . a jack of dover . i find the first mention of this proverb in our english ennius , chaucer in his proeme to the cook. and many a jack of dover he had sold , which had been two times hot , and two times cold . this he makes parallel to crambe his cocta ; and appliable to such as grate the eares of their auditours with ungrateful tautologies , of what is worthless in it self , tolerable as once uttered in the notion of novelty , but abominable if repeated . some part of kent hath health and no wealth , viz. east kent . some wealth and no health , viz. the weald of kent . some both health and wealth , viz. the middle of the countrey and parts near london . lancashire . lancashire fair women . whether the women of this county be indeed fairer then their neighbours i know not ; but that the inhabitants of some countreys may be and are generally fairer then those of others , is most certain . the reason whereof is to be attributed partly to the temperature of the air , partly to the condition of the soil , and partly to their manner of food . the hotter the climate , generally the blacker the inhabitants , and the colder the fairer : the colder i say to a certain degree , for in extreme cold countreys the inhabitants are of dusky complexions . but in the same climate that in some places the inhabitants should be fairer then in others , proceeds from the diversity of the situation ( either high or low , maritime or far from sea ) or of the soil and manner of living , which we see have so much influence upon beasts , as to alter them in bigness , shape and colour , and why it may not have the like on men , i see not . it is written upon a wall in rome , ribchester was as rich as any town in christendome . some monumental wall , whereon the names of principal places were inscribed then subject to the roman empire . and probably this ribchester was anciently some eminent colony ( as by pieces of coins and columns there daily dig'd out doth appear ) however at this day it is not so much as a market-town , but whether decayed by age , or destroyed by accident is uncertain . it is called ribchester because situate on the river ribble . as old as pendle hill . if riving pike do wear a hood , be sure that day will ne're be good . a mist on the top of that hill is a sign of foul weather . he that would take a lancashire man at any time or tide , must bait his hook with a good egge-pie or an apple with a red side . leicestershire . bean-belly leicestershire . so called from the great plenty of that grain growing therein . yea those of the neighbouring countreys use to say merrily , shake a leicestershire man by the collar , and you shall hear the beans rattle in his belly . but those yeomen smile at what is said to rattle in their bellies , whilst they ▪ know good silver ringeth in their pockets . if bever hath a cap , you churls of the vale look to that . that is when the clouds hang over the towers of bever-castle , it is a prognostick of much rain and moisture , to the much endamaging that fruitful vale , lying in the three counties of leicester , lincoln and notingham . bread for borrough - men , at great gleu there are more great dogs then honest men . carleton wharlers . i 'll throw you into harborough field . a threat for children , harborough having no field . put up your pipes , and goe to lockington wake . the last man that he kill'd keeps hogs in hinckley field . spoken of a coward that never durst fight . he has gone over asfordby bridge backwards . spoken of on that is past learning . like the maior of hartle pool , you cannot doe that . then i 'll thatch groby pool with pancakes . for his death there is many a wet cye in groby pool . in and out like billesdon i wote . a leicestershire plover , i. e. a bag-pudding . bedworth beggers . the same again , quoth mark of bellgrave . what have i to doe with bradshaws wind-mill , i. e. what have i to doe with another mans business ? lincolnshire . lincolnshire , where hogs shite sope and cows shite fire . the inhabitants of the poorer sort washing their clothes with hogs dung , and burning dried cow-dung for want of better fuel . lincolnshire bagpipes . whether because the people here do more delight in the bagpipes then others , or whether they are more cunning in playing upon them , indeed the former of these will inferre the latter . as loud as tom of lincoln . this tom of lincoln is an extraordinary great bell hanging in one of the towers of lincoln minster ; how it got the name i know not , unless it were imposed on it , when baptized by the papists . howbeit this present tom was cast in king james his time , anno . all the carts that come to crowland are shod with silver . crowland is situate in so moorish rotten ground in the fens , that scarce a horse , much less a cart can come to it . since the draining , in summer time carts may go thither . as mad as the baiting bull of stamford . take the original hereof . ( r. butcher in his survey of stamford p. . ) william earl warren lord of this town in the time of king john , standing upon the castle walls of stamford , saw two bulls fighting for a cow in the meadow , till all the butchers dogs great and small pursued one of the bulls ( being madded with noise and multitude ) clean through the town . this sight so pleased the said earl , that he gave all those meadows ( called the castle meadows ) where first the bull duell begin , for a common to the butchers of the town ( after the first grass was eaten ) on condition they find a mad bull , the day six weeks before christmas day , for the continuance of that sport every year . he was born at little wittham . little wittham is a village in this county . it is applied to such as are not overstock't with acuteness , being a nominal allusion ; of the like whereto we have many current among the vulgar . grantham gruel , nine grits , and a gallon of water . it is appliable to those who in their speeches or actions , multiply what is superfluous , or at best less necessary , either wholly omitting or less regarding the essentials thereof . they hold together as the men of marham , when they lost their common . some understand it ironically , that is , they are divided with several factions , which ruines any cause . others use it onely as an expression of ill success , when men strive and plot together to no purpose . middlesex . middlesex clowns . because gentry and nobility are respectively observed according to their degree , by people far distant from london , less regarded by these middlesexians ( frequency breeds familiarity ) because abounding there abouts . it is generally true where the common people are richer , there are they more surly and uncivil : as also where they have less dependence on the gentry , as in places of great trade . he that is at a low ebb at newgate , may soon be aflote at tiburn . m r bedwell descript . of tottenham , chap. . when tottenham wood is all on fire , then tottenham street is nought but mire . that is , when tottenham wood standing on an high hill at the west end of the parish , hath a foggy mist hanging over it in manner of a smoke , then generally foul weather followeth . idem ibid. tottenham is turned french. it seems about the beginning of the reign of king henry the eighth , french mechanicks swarmed in england , to the great prejudice of english artisans , which caused the insurrection in london on ill may-day , a. d. . nor was the city onely but the countrey villages for four miles about filled with french fashions and infections . the proverb is applied to such , who contemning the customes of their own countrey , make themselves more ridiculous by affecting forreign humours and habits . london . a london jury , hang half and save half . some affirm this of an essex , others of a middlesex jury : and my charity believes it equally true , that is equally untrue of all three . it would fain suggest to credulous people , as if londoners frequently impannel'd on juries , and loaded with multiplicity of matters , aim more at dispatch then justice , and to make quick riddance , ( though no hast to hang true men ) acquit half and condemn half . thus they divide themselves in aquilibrio between justice and mercy , though it were meet the latter should have the more advantage , &c. the falseness of this suggestion will appear to such , who by perusing history , do discover the london jurors most conscientious in proceeding secundùm allegata & probata , always inclining to the merciful side in saving life , when they can find any cause or colour for the same . london lick-penny . the countrey man coming up hither , by his own experience will easily expound the meaning thereof . london bridge was made for wise men to goe over , and fools to goe under . a london cockney . this nickname is more then four hundred years old . for when hugh bigot added artificial fortifications to his naturally strong castle of bungey in suffolk , he gave out this rhythme , therein , vaunting it for impregnable , were i in my castle of bungey , upon the river of waveney , i would ne care for the king of cockney . meaning thereby king henry the second , then quierly possessed of london , whilst some other places did resist him : though afterwards he so humbled this hugh , that he was fain with large sums of money , and pledges for his loyalty to redeem this his castle from being rased to the ground . i meet with a double sence of this word cockney . . one coaks'd and cocquer'd , made a wanton or nestle-cock , delicately bred and brought up , so as when grown up to be able to endure no hardship . . one utterly ignorant of countrey affairs , of husbandry and housewivery as there practised . the original thereof , and the tale of the citizens son , who knew not the language of a cock , but called it neighing is commonly known . billings-gate language . billings was formerly a gate , and ( as some would make us believe ) so called from belinus the brother of brennus : it is now rather portus a haven , then porta . billings-gate language is such as the fishwives and other rude people which flock thither use frequently one to another , when they fall out . kirbes castle and megses glory , spinola's pleasure and fishers folly . these were four houses about the city , built by citizens , large and sumptuous above their estates . he that would know any thing more of the builders of these houses , let him consult the authour . he was born within the sound of bow-bell . this is the periphrasis of a londoner at large . this is called bow-bell because hanging in the steeple of bow church , and bow church , because built on bows or arches ( saith my author ) but i have been told that it was called from the cross stone arches , or bows on the top of the steeple . s t peters in the poor , where no tavern , alehouse , or sign at the door . under correction i concelve it called in the poor , because the augustinian friers professing willful poverty for some hundreds of years , possessed more then a moiety thereof . otherwise this was one of the richest parishes in london , and therefore might say , malo pauper vocari quàm esse . how ancient the use of signs in this city on private houses is to me unknown ; sure i am it was generally used in the reign of king edward the fourth . good manners to except my lord major of london . this is a corrective for such , whose expressions are of the largest size ; and too general in their extent . i have dined as well as my lord major of london . that is , though not so dubiously or daintily on variety of costly dishes , yet as comfortably , as contentedly , according to the rule , satis est quod sufficit , enough is as good as a feast , and better then a surfet . as old as pauls , or as pauls steeple . different are the dates of the age thereof , because it had two births or beginnings , one when it was originally cofounded by king ethelbert , with the body of the church , anno . another when burnt with lightning , and afterwards rebuilt by the bishops of london , . he is onely fit for ruffians-hall . west smithfield ( now the house-market ) was formerly called ( continuer of stows annals . ) ruffians-hall , where ruffians met casually , and otherwise to try masteries with sword and buckler . a loyal heart may be landed under traitors bridge . this is a bridge under which is an entrance into the tower , over against pink-gate , formerly fatal to those who landed there ; there being a muttering that such never came forth alive , as dying , to say no worse therein , without any legal trial . the proverb importeth that passive innocence overpower'd with adversaries , may be accused without cause , and disposed at the pleasure of others . to cast water into the thames . that is , to give to them who had plenty before ; which notwithstanding is the dole general of the world . he must take a house in turn-again lane. this in old records is called wind-again lane , and lieth in the parish of s t sepulchres , going down to fleetdike , having no exit at one end . it is spoken of , and to those who take prodigal or other vicious and destructive courses . he may whet his knife on the threshold of the fleet. the fleet is a place notoriously known for a prison , so called from fleet-brook running by it , to which many are committed for their contempts , more for their debts . the proverb is appliable to such who never owed ought ; or having run into debt have crept out of it , so that now , they may triumphare in hostico , defie danger and arrests , &c. all goeth down gutter-lane . guttur-lane ( the right spelling whereof is guthurn-lane , from him the once owner thereof ) is a small lane ( inhabited anciently by gold-beaters ) leading out of cheap-side , east of foster-lane . the proverb is applied to those , who spend all in drunkenness and gluttony , meer belly gods : guttur being latine for the throat . as lame as s t giles cripple-gate . s t giles was by birth an athenian , of noble extraction but quitted all for a solitary life . he was visited with a lameness , ( whether natural or casual i know not ) but the tradition goes , that he desired not to be healed thereof , for his greater mortification . cripplegate was so called before the conquest , from cripples begging of passengers therein . this proverb may seem guilty of false heraldry , lameness on lameness ; and in common discourse is spoken rather merrily then mournfully of such , who for some sleight hurt lag behind ; and sometimes is applied to those who out of laziness counterfeit infirmity . you are all for the hoistings or hustings . it is spoken of those , who by pride or passion , are elated or mounted to a pitch above the due proportion of their birth , quality or estate . it cometh from hustings the principal and highest court in london ( as also in winchester , lincoln , york , &c. ) so called from the french word haulser to raise or lift up . they agree like the clocks of london . i find this among both the french and italian proverbs for an instance of disagreement . who goes to westminster for a wife , to pauls for a man , and to smithfield for a horse , may meet with a whore , a knave and a jade . grayes inne for walks , lincolns inne for a wall , the inner temple for a garden , and the middle for a hall . westminster . there is no redemption from hell. there is a place partly under , partly by the exchequer chamber , commonly called hell , ( i could wish it had another name , seeing it is ill jesting with edg'd tools ) formerly appointed a prison for the kings debtors , who never were freed from thence , until they had paid their utmost due . as long as megg of westminster . this is applied to persons very tall , especially if they have hop-pole height , wanting breadth proportionable . that there ever was such a gyant-woman cannot be proved by any good witness , i pass not for a late lying pamphlet , &c. vide sis . he thinks it might relate to a great gun lying in the tower called long megg , in trouble some times brought to westminster , where for some time it continued . norfolk . norfolk dumplings . this referres no● to the stature of their bodies ; but to the fare they commonly feed on and much delight in . a yarmouth capon . that is a red herring : more herrings being taken then capons bred here . so the italian friers ( when disposed to eat flesh on fridays ) call a capon piscem è corte , a fish out of the coop . he is arrested by the bayliff of mershland . that is , clapt on the back by an ague , which is incident to strangers at first coming into this low , fenny and unwholesome countrey . gimmingham , trimmingham , knapton and trunch , north repps and south repps are all of a bunch . these are names of parishes lying close together . there never was a paston poor , a heyden a coward , nor a cornwallis a fool . northamptonshire . the major of northampton opens oisters with his dagger . to keep them at a sufficient distance from his nose . for this town being eighty miles from the sea , fish may well be presumed stale therein . yet have i heard ( saith the doctour ) that oisters put up with care , and carried in the cool , were weekly brought fresh and good to althrop , the house of the lord spencer at equal distance : and it is no wonder , for i my self have eaten in warwickshire , above eighty miles from london , oisters sent from that city , fresh and good ; and they must have been carried some miles before they came there . he that would eat a butter'd faggot , let him go to northampton . i have heard that king james should speak this of newmarket ; but i am sure it may better be applied to this town , the dearest in england for fuel , where no coals can come by water , and little wood doth grow on land . one proverb there is of this county , which i wonder how doctour fuller being native thereof could miss , unless perchance he did studiously omit , as reflecting disgrace on a market town therein . brackley breed , better to hang then feed . brackley is a decayed market town and borough in northamptonshire , not farre from banbury , which abounding with poor , and troubling the countrey about with beggers , came into disgrace with its neighbours . i hear that now this place is grown industrious and thriving , and endeavours to wipe off this scandal . like banbury tinkers that in mending one hole make three . northumberland . from barwick to dover , three hundred miles over . that is from one end of the land to the other , parallel to that scripture expression , from dan to beer-sheba . to take hectors cloak . that is to deceive a friend , who confideth in his faithfulness . when thomas percy earl of northumberland , anno . was routed in the rebellion he had raised against queen elizabeth , he hid himself in the house of one hector armstrong of harlaw in this county , having confidence he would be true to him , who notwithstanding , for money betrayed him to the regent of scotland . it was observable that hector being before a rich man fell poor of a sudden , and so hated generally that he never durst go abroad . insomuch that the proverb to take hectors cloak is continued to this day among them , in the sence above mentioned . we will not lose a scot. that is , any thing how inconsiderable soever that we can save or recover . during the enmity between the two nations , they had little esteem of , and less affection for a scotchman in the english border . a scottish man and a newcastle grindstone , travel all the world over . the scots are great travellers into forreign parts , most for maintenance , many for accomplishment . and newcastle grindstones , being the best in their kind , must needs be carried far and near . if they come they come not . and , if they come not they come . the cattel of people living hereabout , turn'd into the common pasture , did by custome use to return to their home at night , unless intercepted by the free booters and borderers . if therefore those borderers came , their cattel came not : if they came not , their cattel surely returned . notinghamshire . as wise as a man of gotham . it passeth for the periphrasis of a fool , and an hundred sopperies are feigned and fathered on the towns folk of gotham , a village in this county . here two things may be observed . . men in all ages have made themselves merry with singling out some place , and fixing the staple of stupidity and stolidity therein . so the phrygians in asia , the abderita in thrace , and the boeotians in greece were notorious for dulmen and block heads . . these places thus sleighted and scoffed at , afforded some as witty and wise persons as the world produced . so democritus was an abderite , plutarch a boeotian , &c. hence juvenal well concludes , summos posse viros & magna exempla daturos , vervecum in patria crassóque sub aëre nasci . as for gotham it doth breed as wise people as any , which causlesly laugh at their simplicity . sure i am , mr william de gotham , fifth master of michael-house in cambridge , and twice chancellour of the university , was as grave a governour as that age did afford . sapientum octavus . hor. the little smith of notingham , who doth the work that no man can . who this little smith and great workman was , and when he lived i know not , and have cause to suspect , that this of notingham is a periphrasis of nemo , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or a person who never was . by way of sarcasme it is applied to such , who being conceited of their own skill , pretend to the atchieving of impossibilities . oxfordshire . you were born at hogs norton . this is a village properly called hoch norton , whose inhabitants ( it seems formerly ) were so rustical in their behaviour , that boarish and clownish people are said to be born there . but whatever the people were , the name was enough to occasion such a proverb . to take a burford bait . this it seems is a bait not to stay the stomack , but to lose the wit thereby , as resolved at last into drunkenness . banbury veal , cheese and cakes . in the english edition of camdens brit. it was through the correctours mistake , printed banbury zeal , &c. vide autorem . oxford knives , and london wives . testons are gone to oxford to study in brazen-nose . this began about the end of the reign of king henry the eighth , at such time as he debased the coin , allaying of it with copper , ( which common people consound with brass ) it continued till about the middle of queen elizabeth , who by degrees called in all that adulterate coin . testone and our english tester come from the italian testa signifying a head , because that money was stamped with a head on one side . copstick in high dutch hath the same sence , i. e. nummus capitatus , money with a head upon it . send verdingales to broad-gates in oxford . for they were so great , that the wearers could not enter ( except going sidelong ) at any ordinary door . though they have been long disused in england , yet the fashion of them is still well enough known . they are used still by the spanish women , and the italian living under the spanish dominion , and they call them by a name signifying cover-infant ; because they were first brought into use to hide great bellies . of the name verdingal i have not met with a good , that is , true etymology . rutlandshire . draitons polyolbion . rutland raddleman . that is perchance reddleman , a trade and that a poor one onely in this county , whence men bring on their backs a pack of red stones or oker , which they sell to their neighbouring countries for the marking of sheep . stretton i' th' street , where shrews meet . an uppingham trencher . shropshire . he that fetcheth a wife from shrewsbury , must carry her into staffordshire , or else he shall live in cumberland . the staple wit of this vulgar proverb , consisting solely in similitude of sound is scarce worth the inserting . somersetshire . ' ch was bore at taunton dean , where should i be bore else . this is a parcel of ground round about taunton very pleasant and populous ( containing many parishes ) and so fruitful , to use their own phrase , with the zun and zoil alone , that it needs no manuring at all . the pesantry therein are as rude as rich , and so highly conceited of their own countrey , that they conceive it a disparagement to be born in any other place . the beggers of bath . many in that place ; some natives there , others repairing thither from all parts of the land , the poor for alms , the pained for ease . bristol milk . that is sherry-sack , which is the entertainment of course , which the courteous bristolians present to strangers , when first visiting their city . staffordshire . camdens britan. in this county . in april doves flood . is worth a kings good . dove is a river parting this and derbyshire , which when it overflows its banks in april is the nilus of staffordshire , much battling the meddows thereof . idem ibidem . wotton under weaver , where god came never . this profane proverb it seems , took its wicked original from the situation of wotton , covered with hills from the light of the sun , a dismal place , as report represents it . the devill run through thee booted and spurred , with a sithe on his back . this is sedgeley curse . m r howel . suffolk . suffolk milk . this was one of the staple commodities of the land of canaan , and certainly most wholesome for mans body , because of gods own choosing for his own people . no county in england affords better and sweeter of this kind , lying opposite to holland in the netherlands , where is the best dairy in christendom . suffolk fair maids . it seems the god of nature hath been bountiful in giving them beautiful complexions ; which i am willing to believe , so far forth as it sixeth not a comparative disparagement on the same sex in other places . you are in the high-way to needham . needham is a market-town in this county ; according to the wit of the vulgar , they are said to be in the high-way thither , which do hasten to poverty . beckles for a puritan , bungey for the poor , hallsworth for a drunkard , and bliborouh for a whore . between cowhithe and merry cassingland , the devil sh — benacre , look where it stands . it seems this place is infamous for its bad situation . surrey . the vale of holms-dale was never won , ne ever shall . this proverbial rhythme hath one part of history , the other of prophecy . as the first is certainly untrue , so the second is frivolous , and not to be heeded by sober persons , as neither any other of the like nature . sussex . a chichester lobster , a selfey cockle , an arundel mullet , a pulborough eel , an amberley trout , a rie herring ; a bourn wheat-ear , are the best in their kind , understand it of those that are taken in this countrey . westmorland . let uter pendragon do what he can , the river eden will run as it ran . parallel to that latine verse , naturam expellas fured licet usque recurret . tradition reporteth , that uter pendragon had a design to fortifie the castle of pendragon in this county . in order whereto with much art and industry , he invited and tempted the river eden to forsake his old channel , but all to no purpose . as crafty as a kendale fox . wiltshire . it is done secundùm usum sarum . this proverb coming out of the church hath since enlarged it self into a civil use , signifying things done with exactness , according to rule and precedent . osmund bishop of sarum about the year , made that ordinal or office , which was generally received all over the land , so that churches thence forward easily understood one another , speaking the same words in their liturgy . salisbury plain is seldom without a thief or twain . yorkshire . from hell , hull and halifax — deliver us . this is a part of the beggers and vagrants letany . of these three frightful things unto them , it is to be feared , that they least fear the first , conceiting it the furthest from them . hull is terrible to them as a town of good government , where beggers meet with punitive charity , and it is to be feared are oftener corrected then amended . halifax is formidable to them for the law thereof , whereby thieves taken 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the very act of stealing cloth , are instantly beheaded with an engine ; without any further legal proceedings . doubtless the coincidence of the initial letters of these three words , help't much the setting on foot this proverb . a scarborough warning . that is none at all but a sudden surprise , when a mischief is felt before it is suspected . this proverb is but of an hundred and four years standing , taking its original from thomas stafford , who in the reign of queen mary , anno with a small company seized on scarborough castle ( utterly destitute of provision for resistance ) before the townsmen had the least notice of his approach . however within six days by the industry of the earl of westmoreland he was taken , brought to london and beheaded , &c. vide . as true steel as rippon rowels . it is said of trusty persons , men of metal , faithful in their employments . rippon in this county is a town famous for the best spurs of england , whose rowels may be enforced to strike through a shilling , and will break sooner then bow . a yorkshire way-bit . that is an overplus not accounted in the reckoning , which sometimes proves as much as all the rest . ask a countreyman , how many miles it is to such a town , and he will return commonly so many miles and a way-bit . which way-bit is enough to make the weary traveller surfet of the length thereof . but it is not way-bit though generally so pronounced , but wee-bit , a pure yorkshirism , which is a small bit in the northern language . merry wakefield . what peculiar cause of mirth this town hath above others , i do not know and dare not too curiously enquire . sure it is seated in a fruitful soil and cheap countrey : and where good chear and company are the premisses , mirth ( in common consequence ) will be the conclusion . pendle , ingleborough and penigent . are the three highest hills between scotland and trent . and which is more common in the mouths of the vulgar , pendle , penigent and ingleborough , are the three highest hills all england thorow . these three hills are in sight of each other , pendle on the edge of lancashire , penigent and ingleborough near settle in yorkshire , and not far from westmorland . these three are indeed the highest hills in england not comprehending wales . but in wales i think snowdon , caderidris and plimllimmon are higher . if brayton bargh , and hambleton hough , and burton bream , were all in thy belly 't would never be team . it is spoken of a covetous and unsatiable person , whom nothing will content . brayton and hambleton and burton are places between cawood and pontefraict in this county . brayton bargh is a small hill in a plain countrey covered with wood . bargh in the northern dialect is properly a horse-way up a steep hill , though here it be taken for the hill it self . when dighton is pull'd down . hull shall become a great town . this is rather a prophecy then a proverb . dighton is a small town not a mile distant from hull , and was in the time of the late warrs for the most part pull'd down . let hull make the best they can of it . cleveland in the clay , bring in two soles and carry one away . cleveland is that part of yorkshire , which borders upon the bishoprick of durham , where the ways in winter time are very foul and deep . when sheffield park is plowed and sown , then little england hold thine own . it hath been plow'd and sown these six or seven years . you have eaten some hull cheese . i. e. are drunk , hull is famous for strong ale. when all the world shall be aloft , then hallam-shire shall be gods croft . winkabank and temple brough , will buy all england through and through . winkabank is a wood upon a hill near sheffield where there are some remainders of an old camp. temple brough stands between the rother and the don , about a quarter of a mile from the place where these two rivers meet . it is a square plat of ground encompassed by two trenches . selden often enquired for the ruines of a temple of the god thor , which he said was near rotherham : this probably might be it , if we allow the name for any argument : besides there is a pool not far from it called jordon-dam , which name seems to be compounded of jor one of the names of the god thor and don the name of the river . miscellaneous locall proverbs . dunmow bacon and doncaster daggers , monmouth caps and lemster wooll , derby ale and london beer . there is a currant story , that the prior and convent of dunmow were obliged by their charter , to give a flitch of bacon to any man , who coming with his wife , should depose both of them that they had been married a twelve moneth , and neither of them had at any time repented . you may sip up the severn and swallow mavern as soon . little england beyond wales , i. e. pembrokeshire . little london beyond wales ; i. e. beaumaris in the isle of anglesey : both so called because the inhabitants speak good english : indeed in pembrokeshire many of the people can speak no welsh . there 's great doings i' th' north when they barre their doors with tailours . there 's great stirring in the north when old wives ride scout . three great evils come out of the north , a cold wind , a cunning knave , and a shrinking cloth . proverbs communicated by m r andrew paschall of chedsey in somersetshire , which came not to hand till the copy of this second edition was delivered to the bookseller , and so could not be referred to their proper places . steal the horse , & carry home the bridle . what are you good for ? to stop bottles ? i 'll not pin my faith on your sleeve . a fine new nothing . what wine blew you hither ? as nimble as a cow in a cage . set a cow to catch a share . is the wind in that corner ? i 'll watch your water . one's too few , three too many . he put a fine feather in my cap. i. e. honour without profit . all ilchester is gaol , say prisoners there . i. e. the people hard-hearted , somers . the bird that can sing and will not sing must be made to sing . after a lank comes a bank ; said of breeding women . there or thereabouts , as parson smith sayes . proverbial about dunmow in essex . i wip't his nose on 't . tomorrow come never . choak up , the church-yard's nigh . sow or set beans in candlemas waddle . i. e. wane of the moon . somerset . you are right for the first — miles . eat thy meat and drink thy drink , and stand thy ground old harry . somerset . blow out the marrow and throw the bone to the dogs . a taunt to such as are troublesome by blowing their nose . 't were well for your little belly if your guts were out . murder will out . this is remarkably true of murder however secretly acted , but it is applied also to the discovery of any fault . to put out the millers eye . spoken by good-housewives when they have wet their meal for bread or paste too much . as your wedding-ring wears your cares will wear away . somerset . she stamps like an ewe upon yeaning . somers . pinch on the parsons side . a old as glaston-bury torre . somerset . this torre , i. e. tower , so called from the latine turris , stands upon a round hill in the midst of a levell , and may be seen sar off . it seemed to me to have been the steeple of a church that had formerly stood upon that hill , though now scarce any footsteps of it remain . on candlemas day throw candle and candlestick away . share & share-like , some all , some n'ere a white . to help at a dead lift . to water a stake . as welcome as water into ones shooes . march birds are best . i will not want when i have & when i han't too . somerset . so many frosts in march so many in may. 't is year'd . spoken of a desperate debt . the snite need not the woodcock betwite . som. you shall have the whetstone . spoken to him that tells a lie . you have no more sheep to shear . somerset . that 's a dog-trick . you shall have the basket . taunton . said to the journeyman that is envied for pleasing his master . you are as fine as if you had a whiting hanging at your side , or girdle . april cling good for nothing . somerset . you must goe into the countrey to hear what news at london . 't will not be why for thy . somerset . of a bad bargain or great loss for little profit . the lamentation of a bad market . the chicken crammes the capon . somerset . i have victualled my camp : ( filled my belly . ) parsley fried will bring a man to his saddle , and a woman to her grave . i know not the reason of this proverb . parsley was wont to be esteemed a very wholesome herb , however prepared , onely by the ancients it was forbidden them that had the falling sickness , and modern experience hath found it to be bad for the eyes . i 'll make you know your driver . somerset . i 'll vease the. ( i. e. hunt , drive thee . ) somerset . better untaught then ill taught . snapping so short makes you look so lean . wondring makes you look so lean . t' is long of your eyes , the crows might have helped it when you were young . quick and nimble , 't will be your own another day . in some places they say in drollery , quick and nimble , more like a bear then a squirrel . upon s. davids day put oats and barley in the clay . with us it is accounted a little too early to sow barley ( which is a tender grain ) in the beginning of march. be patient and you shall have patient children . too hot to hold . moderata durant . talk is but talk , but 't is money buys lands . you cry before you are hurt . cradle-straws are scarce out of his br. god send me a friend that may tell me my faults ; if not , an enemy , and to be sure he will. he is a fool that is not melancholy once a day . he frets like gum'd tasfaty . you speak in clusters , you were begot in nutting . hee 'll turn rather then burn . i never see 't but once and that was at a wedding . hang him that hath no shift , and him that hath one too many . how doth your whither goe you ? ( your wife . ) farewell and be hang'd , friends must part . what she wants in up and down she hath in round about . he 's steel to the back . a man every inch of him . cut off the head and tail , and throw the rest away . to play fast and loose . you are mope-ey'd by living so long a maid . your horns hang in your light . what do you come or send . look to the cow , and the sow , & the wheat-mow , and all will be well enow . somerset . better have it then hear on 't . heer 's to our friends , and hang up the rest of our kindred . doe , jeer poor folks , and see how 't will thrive . you love to make much of naught . ( your self . ) in the shooe-makers stocks . neck or nothing . they two are hand and glove . somerset . they love like chick . somerset . to give one the goe-by . i 'll not play with you for shooe-buckles . god make you an honester man then your father . one may wink and choose . want goes by such an ones door . somerset . maids want nothing but husbands , and when they have them they want every thing . som. often to the water often to the tatter . ( of linnen . ) beware of him whom god hath marked . most take all . a somerton ending . somers . i. e. when the difference between two is divided . truth fears no colours . never good that mind their belly so much . old head and young hands . somerset . lend and lose , so play fools . cast not thy cradle over thy head . the dunder clo gally [ affright ] the beans . somers . beans shoot up fast after thunder-storms . wheat will not have two praises . ( summer and winter . ) if size cinque will not , and deuce ace cannot , then quatre trey must . the middle sort bear publick burthens taxes , &c. most . deux ace non possunt & size cinque solvere nolunt : est igitur notum quatre trey solvere totum . take all and pay the baker . never sigh but send . my son , buy no stocks . good counsel at gleek . there 's never a why but there 's a wherefore . spend not where you may save ; spare not where you must spend . listners seldome hear good of themselves . where there is whispering there is lying . happy is the bride the sun shines on , and the corse the rain rains on . by fits and girds , as an ague takes a goose . will you snap [ or bite ] off my nose ? you will tell another tale when you are tryed . you eat above the tongue like a calf . recipe scribe , scribe solve . a good rule for stewards . he needs a bird that gives a groat for an owl . you goe as if nine men held you . under the furze is hunger and cold ; under the broom is silver and gold . nine tailours make but one man. i am loath to change my mill . somerset . i. e. eat of another dish . your horse cast a shooe . to hit over the thumbs . win at first and loose at last . hee 'll bear it away , if it be not too hot or too heavy . spoken of a pilferer . hickledy pickledy , one among another . we have in our language many the like conceited , rhyming words or reduplications to signifie any confusion or mixture , as hurly burly , hodge podge , minlge mangle , arsy versy , kim kam , hub bub , crawly mauly , hab nab . londoner-like ask as much more as you will take . so got so gone . oysters are not good in a moneth that hath not an r. in it . i love thee like pudding , if thou wert pie i 'de eat thee . heer 's nor rhythm , nor reason . this brings to mind a story of s r tho. more , who being by the author askt his judgment of an impertinent book , wish't him by all meanes to put it into verse , and bring it him again , which done , s r tho. looking upon it saith , yea now it is somewhat like , now it is rhythm , before it was neither rhythm nor reason . take all and pay all . a penny saved is a penny got . a lisping lass is good to kiss . when the shoulder of mutton is going 't is good to take a slice . make the vine poor and it will make you rich . ( prune off its branches . ) not a word of pensants . you may if you list , but doe if you dare . set trees poor and they will grow rich , set them rich and they will grow poor . remove them always out of a more barren into a fatter soil . no cut to unkindness . a good saver is a good server . somerset . to slip ones neck out of the collar . i will keep no more cats then will catch mice ( i. e. no more in family then will earn their living ) somerset . blind-mans holy-day . if you would a good hedge have , carry the leafes to the grave . as yellow as the golden noble . as good be hang'd for an old sheep as a young lamb . somerset . she loves the poor well , but cannot abide beggers . somerset . ( of pretenders to charity . ) you put it together with an hot needle and burnt thread . like a loaders horse that lives among theeves . ( the countrey man near a town . ) som. apples , pears , hawthorn-quick , oak , set them at all-hollontide and command them to prosper , set them at candlemas and intreat them to grow . 't is good sheltring under an old hedge . let not a child sleep upon bones . somerset . i. e. the nurses lap . the more moors the better victory . no man hath a worse friend then he brings from home . defend me and spend me . ( saith the irish churle . ) to fear the loss of the bell more then the loss of the steeple . nab me , i 'll nab thee . he hath a conscience like a cheverels skin . ( that will stretch ) a cheverel is a wild goat . somers . if you touch pot you must touch penny . somers . ( pay for what you have . ) he hath a spring at his elbow . ( spoken of a gamester . ) pull not out your teeth but with a leaden instrument . when tom pitcher's broken i shall have the sheards . ( i. e. kindness after others have done with it ; or refuse . ) a childs bird and a boys wife are well used . som. be it weal or be it wo , beans blow before may doth goe . little mead little need . somerset . ( a mild winter hoped for after a bad summer . ) a good tither a good thriver . somerset . who marries between the sickle and the sithe will never thrive . shee will assoon part with the crock as the porridge . somerset . you shall have the red cap. somerset . ( said to a marriage-maker . ) let them buckle for it . somerset . she is as crousty as that is hard bak'd . somerset . ( one that is surly and loath to doe any thing . ) money is wise , it knowes its way . somerset . sayes the poor man that must pay as soon as he receives . after lammas corn ripens as much by night as by day . if you will have a good cheese and have'n old , you must turn'n seven times before he is cold . som. he is able to bury an abbey . ( a spendthrift . ) when elder 's white brew and bake a peck ; when elder 's black brew and bake a sack . som. more malice then matter . somerset . he builds cages for oxen to bring up birds in . ( disproportionable . ) where there is store of oatmeal you may put enough in the crock [ pot . ] somerset . he that hath more smocks then shirts in a bucking , had need be a man of good fore-looking . chaueer . you never speak but your mouth opens . the charitable gives out at door and god puts in at the window . all the leavers you can lay will not doe it . som. hampshire ground requires every day of the week a shower of rain , & on sunday twain . as cunning as captain drake . let him hang by the heels . som. ( of a man that dies in debt : his wife leaving all at his death , crying his goods in three markets and three parish churches is so free of all his debts . ) he is ready to leap over nine hedges . she look't on me as a cow on a bastard calf . som. i will wash my hands and wait upon you . the death of wives and the life of sheep make men rich . april fools . ( people sent on idle errands . ) after a famine in the stall , comes a famine in the hall . somerset . wellington round-heads . proverbial in taunton for a violent fanatick . none so old that he hopes not for a year of life . the young are not always with their bow bent . i. e. under rule . to catch two pigeons with one bean . every honest miller hath a golden thumb . they reply , none but a cuckold can see it . somerset . in wiving and thriving a man should take counsel of all the world . 't is good grafting on a good stock . the eye is a shrew . to measure the meat by the man. ( i. e. the message by the messenger . ) he suckt evil from the dug . they are so like that they are the worse for it . out of door out of debt . somerset . of one that payes not when once gone . words may pass , but blows fall heavy . som. poverty breeds strife . somerset . every gap hath its bush . a dead woman will have four to carry her forth . k. harry rob'd the church , and died a beggar . to take the birds by its feet . the hogs to the honey-pots . their milk sod over . he hath good cards to shew . 't is best to take half in hand and the rest by and by . ( the trades-man that is for ready money . ) to heave and theave . somers . ( the labouring husbandman . ) here is gerards bailiff , work or you must die with cold . somers . come every one heave a pound . som. as fond as an ape of a whip . som. you make the better side the worse . som. northern proverbs communicated by mr fr. brokesby of rowley , in yorkshire . as blake [ i. e. yellow ] as a paigle . hee 'll never dow [ i. e. be good ] egg nor bird . as flat as a flaun , i. e. a custard . i 'll foreheet [ i. e. predetermine ] nothing but building churches and louping over them . meeterly [ indifferently ] as maids are in fairness . weal and women cannot pan , i. e. close together . but woe and women can . scottish proverbs . a. all things hath a beginning ( god excepted ) a good beginning makes a good ending . a slothful man is a beggers brother . a vaunter and a liar is both one thing . all is not tint that is in peril . all is not in hand that helps . a toom purse makes a bleat merchant . as long runs the fox as he feet hath . a hasty man never wanted wo. a wight man wanted never a weapon . a fools bolt is soon shot . a given horse should not be lookt in the teeth . a good asker should have a good naysay . a dear ship stands long in the haven . an oleit mother makes a sweir daughter . a carless hussie makes mony thieves . a liar should have a good memory . a black shooe makes a blithe heart . a hungry man sees far . a silly bairn is eith to lear . a half-penny cat may look to the king. a greedy man god hates . a proud heart in a poor breast , hes meikle dollour to dree . a scald mans head is soon broken . a skabbit sheep fyles all the flock . a burnt bairne , fire dreads . auld men are twice bairnes . a tratler is worse then a thief . a borrowed len should come laughing hame . a blithe heart makes a blomand visage . a year a nurish , seven years a daw . an unhappy mans cairt is eith to tumble . an old hound bites fair . a fair bride is soon buskt , and a short horse soon wispt . as good haud as draw . a man that is warned , is half armed . an ill win penny will cast down a pound . all the corn in the countrey , is not shorn by pratlers . ane begger is wae that another be the gate gae . a travelled man hath leave to lie . ane ill word meets another , and it were at the bridg of london . a hungry louse bites fair . a gentle horse would not be over fair spurred . a friends dinner is soon dight . an ill cook wald have a good claver . a good fellow tint never , but at an ill fellows hand . at open doors , dogs comes in . a word before , is worth two behind . a still sow eats all the draff . a dumb man holds all . all fails that fools thinks . a wooll seller kens a wooll buyer . all fellows , jock and the laird . as the sow fills , the draff soures . a full heart lied never . as good merchant tynes as wins . all the speid is in the spurs . as fair greits the bairne that is dung afternoon , as he that is dung before noon . an ill life , an ill end . anes wood , never wise , ay the worse . anes pay it never cravit . a good rufer , was never a good rider . all the keys in the countrey hangs not at ane belt . a dumb man wan never land . as soon comes the lambs skin to the market , as the old sheeps . as many heads , as many wits . a blind man should not judge of colours . as the old cock craws , the young cock leares . a skabbed horse is good enough for a skald squire . a mirk mirrour is a mans mind . as meikle up with , as meikle down with . an ill shearer gat never a good book . a tarrowing bairn was never fat . a good cow may have an ill cals . a cock is crouse in his own midding . a new bissome soupes clean . as fair fights wranes as cranes . a yelt sow was never good to gryses . as the carle riches he wretches . a fool when he hes spoken hes all done . an old seck eraves meikle clouting . an old seck is ay skailing . a fair fire makes a room flet . an old knave is na bairne . a good yeaman makes a good woman . a man hath no more good then he hath good of . a fool may give a wise man a counsel . a man may speir the gate to rome . as long lives the merry man as the wretch for all the craft he can . all wald have all , all wald forgive . ane may lead a horse to the water , put four and twenty cannot gar him drink . a bleat cat makes a proud mouse . an ill willy kow should have short horns . a good piece steil is worth a penny . a shored tree stands lang . a gloved cat was never a good hunter . a gangand foot is ay getting , an it were but a thorn . all is not gold that glitters . a swallow makes not summer or spring-time . a man may spit on his hand and do full ill . an ill servant will never be a good maister . an hyred horse tyred never . all the winning is in the first buying . anuch [ enough ] is a feast ( of bread and cheise . ) a horse may stumble on four feet . all thing wytes that well not faires . all things thrives but thrice . absence is a shroe . auld sin new shame . a man cannot thrive except his wife let him . a bairne mon creep or he gang . as long as ye serve the tod , ye man bear up his tail . all overs are ill , but over the water . a man may wooe where he will , but he will wed where he is weard . a mean pot [ where several share in it ] plaid never evin . among twenty four fools not ane wise man. ane mans meat , is another mans poison . a fool will not give his bable for the tower of lon. a foul foot makes a full weamb . a man is a lion in his own cause . a hearty hand to give a hungry meltith . a cumbersome cur in company , is hated for his miscarriage . a poor man is fain of little . an answer in a word . a beltless bairn cannot lie . a yule feast may be quat at pasche . a good dog never barket bout a bone . a full-seek will take a clout on the side . an ill hound comes halting home . all things help ( quod the wran ) when she pished in the sea . all cracks , all beares . a houndless man comes to the best hunting . all things hes an end , and a pudding hes twa . all is well that ends well . as good hads the stirrep , as he that loups on . a begun work is half ended . a scottish man is ay wise behind the hand . a new sound , [ per onomatop . ] in an old horn . as broken a ship hes come to land . as the fool thinks , ay the bell clinks . a man may see his friend need , but he will not see him bleed . a friend is not known but in need . a friend in court , is better nor a penny in the purse . all things is good unseyed . a good goose indeed , but she hes an ill gander . all are not maidens that wears bair hair . a mache and a horse-shoe are both alike . airlie crooks the tree , that good cammok should be . an ounce of mothers wit is worth a pound of clergy . an inch of a nag is worth the span of an aver . b. better sit idle then work for nought . better learn by your neighbours skaith nor by your own . better half egg nor an empty shell . better apple given nor eaten . better a dog fan nor bark on you . bodin [ offered ] geir stinks . bourd [ jest ] neither with me , nor with my honour . buy when i bid you . better late thrive then never . better hand louse nor bound to an ill baikine . better lang little nor soon right nought . better give nor take . better bide the cookes nor the mediciners . better saucht with little aucht , nor care with many kow . bring a kow to the hall , and she will to the byre again . bear wealth , poverty will bear it self . better good sale nor good ale . better wooe over midding nor over moss . blaw the wind never so fast it will lower at the last . bind fast , find fast . better auld debts nor auld saires . better a fowl in hand nor two flying . better spaire at the breird nor at the bottom . bind the seck before it be full . better be well loved nor ill won geir . better finger off nor ay warking . better rew sit , nor rew flit . bourd not with bawty , fear lest he bite you . better say , here it is , nor here it was . better plays a full weamb , nor a new coat . better be happy nor wise . better happy to court , nor good service . better a wit bought , nor twa for nought . better bow nor break . better two seils , nor ane sorrow . better bairnes greit nor bearded men . betwixt twa stools , the arse falls down . better na ring nor the ring of a rush . better hold out nor put out . better sit still , nor rise and get a fall . better leave nor want . better unborn nor untaught . better be envied nor pitied . better a little fire that warms , nor a meikle that burns . be the same thing that thou wald be cald . black will be no other hew . beauty but bounty avails nought . beware of had i wist . better be alone , nor in ill company . better a thigging mother , nor a ryding father . before i wein and now i wat. bonie silver is soon spendit . better never begun nor never endit . biting and scratching is scotsfolks woing . breads house skiald never . bairns mother burst never . bannoks [ a tharfecake oat bread ] is better nor na kin bread . better a laying hen nor a lyin crown . better be dead as out of the fashion . better buy as borrow . better have a mouse in the pot as no flesh . c. court to the town , and whore to the window . cadgers [ meal-men ] speaks of packsaddles changing of words is lighting of hearts . charge your friend or you need . cats eats that hussies spares . cast not forth the old water while the new come in . crabbit was , and cause had . comparisons are odious . come not to the counsel uncalled . condition makes , and condition breaks . cut duelles in every town . cold cools the love that kindles over hot . cease your snowballs casting . come it aire , come it late , in may comes the cow-quake . courtesie is cumbersom to them that kens it not . chalke is na sheares . d. do in hill as ye wald do in hall . do as ye wald be done to . do weill and have weill . dame deem warily . dead and marriage makes tearm-day . draff is good enough for swine . do the likliest , and god will do the best . drive out the inch as thou hast done the span . dead men bites not . daffling [ jesting ] good for nothing . dogs will red swine . dirt parts company . drink and drouth comes sindle together . daft talk dow not . do well and doubt na man , and do weill and doubt all men . dead at the one door , and heirship at the other . dummie [ a dumb man ] cannot lie . e. early maister , lang knave . eaten meat is good to pay . eild [ old age ] wald have honour . evening orts is good morning fodder . every land hes the lauch , and every corn hes the caffe . every man wishes the water to his own mylne . every many can rule an ill wife but he that hes her . eat measurelie and defie the mediciners . every man for himself ( quoth the merteine ) every man flames the fat sows arse . experience may teach a fool . every man wates best where his own shoe binds him . efter lang mint , never dint . efter word comes weird . efter delay comes a lette . f. fair fowles hes fair feathers . fair hights makes fools fain . fools are fain of flitting . falshood made never a fair hinder end . freedom is a fair thing . for a lost thing care not . fool haste is no speed . fools let for trust . for love of the nurse , mony kisses the bairne . folly is a bonny dog . fair words break never bone ; foul words breaks many ane . foul water slokens fire . far fought , and dear bought , is good for ladies . for fault of wise men , fools sit on binks . fools makes feasts , and wise men eats them . fools are fain of right nought . forbid a thing , and that we will do . follow love and it will flee thee , flee love and it will follow thee . fegges after peace . fools should have no chappin sticks . frindship stands not in one side . few words sufficeth to a wise-man . fire is good for the farcie . fidlers dogs and flies comes to feasts uncalled . fill fow and had fow makes a stark man. g. grace is best for the man. giff gaff [ one gift for another ] makes good friends . good wine needs not a wispe . good cheir and good cheap garres many haunt the house . god sends men cold as they have clothes to . gods help is neirer nor the fair evin . give never the wolf the wether to keep . good will should be tane in part of payment . god sends never the mouth but the meat with it . girn when ye tie , and laugh when ye louse . go to the devil and bishop you . go shoe the geese . god sends meat , and the devil sends cooks . h. hunger is good kitchine meat . he that is far from his geir , is neir his skaith . had i fish , was never good with garlick . he mon have leave to speak that cannot had his tongue . he that lippens to lent plows , his land will ly ley . he rides sicker that fell never . he that will not hear motherhead , shall hear stepmotherhead . he that crabs without cause , should mease without mends . he that may not as he would , mon do as he may . he that spares to speak , spares to speed . he is weil easit that hes ought of his own , when others goes to the meat . he that is welcome , faires weil . he that does ill hates the light . he that speaks the thing he should not , hears the things he would not . he that is evil deemd is half hanged . help thy self , and god will help thee . he that spends his geir on a whore , hes both shame and skaith . he that forsakes missour , missour forsakes him . half a tale is enough to a wise man. he that hewes over hie , the spail will fall into his eye . he that eats while he lasts , will be the war while he die . he is a weak horse that may not bear the saidle . he that borrows and bigs , makes feasts and thigs , drinks and is not dry , these three are not thrifty . he is a proud tod that will not scrape his own hole . he is wise when he is well , can had him sa . he is is poor that god hates . he is wise that is ware in time . he is wise that can make a friend of a foe . hair and hair , makes the cairles head baire : hear all parties . he that is redd for windlestraws , should not sleep in lees . he rises over early that is hangit or noon . he is not the fool that the fool is , but he that with the fool deals . he that tholes overcomes . he loves me for little , that hates me for nought . he that hes twa herds , is able to get the third . he is a sairie begger that may not gae by ane mans door . hall binks are sliddery . he is not the best wright that hewes the maniest speals . he that evil does , never good weines . hooredome and grace , can never bide in one place . he that compts all costes , will never put plough in the earth . he that slays , shall be slain . he that is ill of his harberie , is good of his way kenning . he that will not when he may , shall not when he wald . hanging ganges be hap . he is a fool that forgets himself . happy man , happy cavil . he that comes uncalld , sits unservd . he that comes first to the hill , may sit where he will. he that shames , shall be shent . he gangs early to steal , that cannot say na . he should have a long shafted spoon that sups kail with the devil . he sits above that deals aikers . he that ought the cow , goes nearest her tail . he is worth na weill that may not byde na wae . he should have a hail pow , that calls his neighbour nik●ienow . he that hes gold may buy land . he that counts without his hoste , counts twise . he that looks not or he loup , will fall or he wit of himself . haste makes waste . hulie [ softly ] and fair , men rides far journeys . he that marries a daw [ slut ] eats meikle dirt . he that marries or he be wise , will die or he thrive . hunting , hawking , and paramours , for ane joy , a hundred displeasures . hald in geir , helps well . he is twise fain , that sits on a stean . he that does his turn in time , sits half idle . he plaints early , that plaints on his kail . he is good that faild never . half anuch , is half fill . he is a sairie cook that may not lick his own finger . hunger is hard in a heal maw . he should wear iron shone that bydes his neighbours deed . hame , is hamelie . he that is hated of his subjects , cannot be counted a king . hap and a half-penny , is warlds geir enough . he cals me skabbed , because i will not call him skade . he is blind that eats his marrow , but far blinder that lets him . have god , and have all . honesty is na pride . he that fishes afore the net , lang or he fish get . he tint never a cow , that grat for a needle . he that hes na geir to lose , hes shins to pine . he that takes all his geir fra himself , and gives to his bairns , it were weill ward to take a mallet and knock our his brains . he sits full still that hes a riven breech . he that does bidding , deserves na dinging . he that blaws best bears away the horn . he is weill staikit within , that will neither borrow nor len . hea will gar a deaf man hear . he is fairest dung when his awn wand dings him . he hes wit at will , that with angry heart can hold him still . proverbial speeches of persons given to such vices or vertues as follows . of greedy persons it is said , he can hide his meat and seek more . he will see day at a little hole . he comes for drink , though drafft be his errand . of well skilled persons . he was born in august . he sees an inch before his nose . of willful persons . he is at his wits end . he hears not at that ear . he wald fain be forwart if he wist how . he will not give an inch of his will , for a span of his thrift . of vousters or new upstarts . his wind shakes no corn . he thinks himself na payes peir . he counts himself worthy meikle myce dirt . henry cheike never slew a man until he came to him . of fleyit persons . his heart is in his hose . he is war frighted nor he is hurt . he looks as the wood were full of thieves . he looks like the laird of pity . he looks like a lochwhaber axe , of false persons . he will get credit of a house full of unbored mill-stones . he looks up with the one eye , and down with the other . he can lie as weill as a dog can lick a dish . he lies never but when the holen is green . he bydes as fast as a cat bound with a sacer . he wald gar a man trow that the moon is made of green cheis , or the cat took the heron . of misnortured persons . he hes a brasen face . he knows not the door be the door bar . he spits on his own blanket . of unprofitable foolish persons . he harpes ay on ane string . he robs peter to pay paul. he rives the kirk to thatch the quier . he wags a wand in the water . he that rides or he be ready , wants some of his geir . of weillie persons . he can hald the cat to the sun . he kens his oatmeal among other folks kail . he changes for the better . he is not so daft as he pretends him . of angry persons . he hes pisht on a nettle . he hes not gotten the first seat of the midding the day . he takes pepper in the nose . of unconstant persons . he is like a widder cock . he hes changed his tippet , or his cloak on the other shoulder . he is like a dog on a cat . his evening song and morning song are not both alike . he is an aberdeens man , taking his word again . of persons speaking pertinently . he hes hit the nail on the head . he hes touched him in the quick . of weasters and divers . he hes not a heal nail to claw him with . he hes not a penny to buy his dog a leaf . he is as poor as job . he is as bair as the birch at zule evin . he begs at them that borrowit at him . he hes brought his pack to a fit spead . he is on the ground . his hair grows through his hood . he hes cryed himself diver . of proud persons . he counts his half-penny good silver . he makes meikle of his painted sheits . he goes away with lifted up head . he answers unspoken to . he hes not that bachell to swear by . of untymous persons : he is as welcome as water in a rivin ship . he is as welcome as snaw in harvest . of rash persons : he sets all on sex or sevin . he stumbles at a strea and loupes at a bank . of ignorant persons . he does as the blind man when he casts his staff . he brings a staff to his own head . he gars his awn wand ding him . he takes after the goat that casts all down at evin . he hes good skill of rosted wooll , when it stinks it is enough . of effeminate persons : he is john thomsones man , coutching carle . he wears short hose . of drankards . his head is full of bees . he may write to his friends . his hand is in the panyer . he is better fed nor nortured . he needs not a cake of bread at all his kin . of hypocrites . he hes meikle prayer , but little devotion . he runs with the hound and holds with the hair . he hes a face to god , and another to the devil . he is a wolf in a lambs skin . he breaks my head , and since puts on my hood . he can say , my joy , and think it not . he sleeps as dogs does , when wives sifts meal . he will go to hell for the house profit . i. it is a sairie brewing , that is not good in the newing . it is tint that is done to child and auld men . ill weids waxes weill . in some mens aught mon the auld horse die . it is a sooth bourd that men sees wakin . in space comes grace . it is ill to bring out of the flesh that is bred in the bane . ill win , ill warit . it is a silly flock where the yowe bears the bell . it is a sin to lie on the devil . it is eith till , that the awn self will. it is good mowes that fills the womb . it is na time to stoup when the head is asf . it is fair in hall , where beards wags all . it will come in an hour that will not come in a year . if thou do na ill , do na ill like . if thou steal not my kail , break not my dyke . if ye may spend meikle , put the more to the fire . if i can get his cairt at a wolter , i shall lend it a put . if i may not keep geese , i shall keep gesline . it is kindly that the poke savour of the herring . it is eith to cry zu●o on another mans cost . like [ each ] a man as he loves , let him send to the cooks . it is eith to swim where the head is holden up . it is well warit they have sorrow that buyes it with their silver . if ane will not , another will. it is ill to take breeches off a bare arse . it is dear bought honey that is lickt off a thorn . if god be with us , wha will be against us . it is weill warit that wasters want geir . it is ill to bring up the thing that is not therein . it that lyes not in your gate , breaks not your shins . it is na play where ane greits , and another laughs . if a man knew what wald be dear , he wald be but merchant for a year . it is true that all men says . i have a good bow , but it is in the castle . it is hard to fling at the brod [ a stick that children use , when they play at penny prick ] or kick at the prick . ilk man mend ane , and all will be mendit . it is a fairie collope that is tain off a capone . ill bairnes are best heard at home . it is ill to wakin sleeping dogs . ill herds makes fat wolffs . it is hard to wife , and thrive in a year . it is good sleeping in a heal skin . it is not tint that is done to friends . it is ill to draw a strea before an auld cat . it is a paine both to pay and pray . it is good fishing in drumbling waters . it is little of gods might , to make a poor man a knight . it is good baking without meal . it is a good goose that drops ay . it is not the habite that makes the monk . it is not good to want and to have . it hes neither arse nor elbow . i shall sit on his skirt . it is a bair moore that he goes over and gets not a cow . i shall hold his nose on the grindstone . it goes as meikle in his heart as in his heel . it goes in at the one ear , and out at the other . it is na mair pittie to see a woman greit , nor to see a goose go bare fit . it is weill said , but wha will bell the cat . it is short while seen the louse boore the langelt . i have a sliddrie eill by the tail . it is as meit as a sow to bear a saddle . it is as meit as a thief for the widdie . i wald i had as meikle pepper as he compts himself worthy myse dirt . it will be an ill web to bleitch . i cannot find you baith tales and ears . it is ill to make a blown horn of a tods tail . if ever ye make a lucky pudding i shall eat the prick . it that god will give , the devil cannot reave . in a good time i say it , in a better i leave it . it 's a silly pack that may not pay the custome . i have seen as light green . it 's a cold coal to blow at . it 's a sair field where all are dung down . it 's a sair dung bairn that dare not greit . i wat where my awn shoe bindes me . if ye wanted me and your meat , ye wald want ane good friend . k. kame single , kame sair . kindness comes of will. kindness will creep where it may not gang . kindness cannot be bought for geir . kail spaires bread . kamesters are ay greasie . knowledge is eith born about . kings are out of play . kings and bares oft worries their keepers . kings hes long ears . kings caff is worth other mens corn . kindness lies not ay in ane side of the house . l. little intermeddling makes good friends . long tarrying takes all the thank away . little good is soon spendit . lang lean makes hameald cattel . little wit makes meikle travel . learn young , learn fair . like draws to like , and a skabbed horse to an ald dyke . laith to the bed , laith out of the bed . little may an ald horse do , if he may not nye . let them that are cold blow at the coal . lang standing , and little offering makes a poor prise love hes na lack . leave the court , before the court leave thee . light supper makes long life . lykit geir is half bought . lordships changes manners . light winning makes a heavy purse . live and let live . liveless , faultless . little said , soon mendit . laith to the drink , and leath fra it . lightly comes , lightly goes . last in the bed , best heard . lata is lang and tedious . little waits an ill hussie what a dinner holds in . laddes will be men . lauch and lay down again . likelie lies in the myre , and unlikelie goes by it . let him drink as he hes brewed . like to die mends not the kirk yard . luck and a bone voyage . lang or ye cut falkland wood with a pen knife . love me little and love me lang . let alone makes mony lurdon . little troubles the eye , but far less the soul . little kens the wise that sits by the fire , how the wind blows cold in hurle burle swyre . m. mony yrons in the fire part mon coole . maidens should be meek until they be married . men may buy gold over dear . mony purses holds friends together . meat and cloath makes the man. mony hands make light work . make not twa mews of ane daughter . meat is good , but mense is better . mony masters , quoth the frog to the harrow , when every tooth took her a knock . mint [ offer ] or ye strike . measure , is treasure . mony men does lack , that yat wald fain have in their pack . misterfull folk mon not be mensfull . many smals makes a great . maisterie mawes the meadows down . mony speaks of robin hood , that never shot in his bow . mister makes men of craft . meikle water runs where the miller sleeps . meikle mon a good heart endure . mony cares for meal that hes baking bread enough . meikle spoken , part mon spill . messengers should neither be headed nor hanged . men are blind in their own cause . mony words wald have meikle drink . man propons , but god dispons . mony man serves a thankless master . mony words fills not the furlot . mony kinsfolk , but few friends . men goes over the dyke at the ebbest . might oftentimes overcomes right . mends is worth misdeeds . meikle head , little wit. mustard after meat . millers takes ay the best toll with their own hand . mony man speirs the gate he knows full well . mussel not the oxens mouth . meikle hes , wald ay have mair . money tynes the half mark whinger , for the half-penny thong . make not meikle of little . mony man makes an errand to the hall , to bid the lady good-day . mony brings the raike , but few the shovell . make no balkes of good bear land . march whisquer was never a good fisher . meat and masse never hindred no man. n. nature passes norture . na man can baith sup and blaw at once . nothing enters in a close hand . need makes vertue . need hes na law . neirest the kirk , farrest fra god. neirest the king , neirest the widdie . new lords , new laws . na man may puind for unkindness . neirest the heart , neirest the mouth . never rode , never fell . need gars naked men run , and sorrow gars websters spin . neir is the kirtle , but neirer is the sark . nothing is difficile to a well willit man. na man makes his awn hap . na reply is best . nothing comes sooner to light , then that which is long hid . na man can play the fool sa weill as the wise man. na penny , na pardon . na man can seek his marrow in the churne , sa weill as he that hes been in it himself . o. over fast , over louse . of anuch men leaves . over great familiarity genders despite . oft compting makes good friends . over narrow compting culzies na kindness . out of sight , out of langer . of twa ills choose the least . of other mens lether , men takes large whanges . over jolly dow not . of the abundance of the heart , the mouth speaks . of all war , peace is the final end . of ill debtours , men takes oats . of need make vertue . of the earth mon the dyke be builded . of ane ill , comes many . over hote over cold . over heigh , over low . over meikle of ane thing , is good for nathing . p. penny wise , pound fool . priest and doves makes foul houses . pride and laziness wald have meikle uphald . put your hand na farder nor your sleive may reach . poor men are fain of little thing . play with your peirs . pith is good in all plays . put twa half-pennies in a purse , and they will draw together . painters and poets have leave to lie . possession is worth an ill chartour . pride will have a fall . poverty parts good company , and is an enemy to vertue . put not your hand betwixt the rind and the tree . poor men they say hes na souls . patience perforce . provision in season , makes a rich house . put that in the next parcel . peter in , and paul out . plenty is na dainty . puddings and paramours wald be hotelie handlit . q. quhair [ where ] the deer is slain , some bloud will lie . quhen the eye sees it saw not , the heart will think it thought not . quhen wine is in , wit is out . quhen the steed is stowen , shut the stable door . quhen the tod preaches , beware of the hens . quhen the cup is fullest , bear it evinest . quhat better is the house that the da rises in the morning . quhen theeves reckons , leall men comes to their geir . quhen i am dead , make me a cawdle . quhiles the hawk hes , and whiles he hunger hes . quhen the craw flees , her tail follows . quhen the play is best , it is best to leave . quha may wooe without cost . quhiles thou , whiles i , so goes the bailleri . quhen a man is full of lust , his womb is full of leesings quha may hold that will away . quhen taylours are true , there little good to shew . quhen thy neighbours house is on fire , take heed to thy awn . quhen the iron is hot , it is time to strike . quhen the belly is full , the bones wald have rest . quhom god will help , na man can hinder . quhen all men speaks , na man hears . quhen the good man is fra hame , the tablecloths tint . quhair stands your great horse . quhair the pig breaks , let the shells lie . quhen friends meets , hearts warmes . quhen the well is full , it will run over . r. reason bound the man. ruse [ praise ] the foord as ye find it . ruse the fair day at evin . rackless youth , makes a goustie age . ryme spares na man. reavers should not be rewers . rule youth weill , and eild will rule the sell . rome was not biggit on the first day . s. sike man , sike master . seldom rides , tynes the spurs . shod in the cradle , bairfoot in the stubble . sike lippes , sike latace . sike a man as thou wald be , draw thee to sike company . soothe bourd is na bourd . seldome lies the devil dead by the dyke side . saying goes good cheap . spit on the stane , it will be wet at the last . soft fire makes sweet malt . sorrows gars websters spin . sturt pays na debt . sillie bairns are eith to lear . saw thin , and maw thin . soon rype , soon rotten . send and fetch . self deed , self ha . shame shall fall them that shame thinks , to do themselves a good turn . sike father , sike son , &c. seill comes not while sorrow be gone . shee s a foule bird that fyles her own nest . speir at jock thief my marrow , if i be a leal man. soon gotten , soon spendit . sike priest , sike offering . she is a sairie mouse that hes but ane hole . surfet slays mae nor the sword . seik your sauce where you get your ail . sokand seall is best . sike answer as a man gives , sike will he get . small winning makes a heavy purse . shame is past the shedd of your hair . send him to the sea and he will not get water . saine [ bless ] you weill fra the devil and the lairds bairns . she that takes gifts her self , she sels , and she that gives , does not ells . shroe the ghast that the house is the war of . shew me the man , and i shall shew you the law . swear by your burnt shines . sairie be your me●l poke , and ay your fist in the nook of it . t. the mair haste the war speid . tyde bydes na man. twa daughters and a back door , are three stark theeves . there was never a cake , but it had a make . there came never a large fart forth of a wrans arse . toome [ empty ] bagges rattles . the thing that is trusted , is not forgiven . take part of the pelf , when the pack is a dealing . tread on a worm , and she will steir her tail . they are lightly robbed that hes their awn . the craw thinks her awn bird fairest . there is little to the rake to get after the bissome . they buy good cheap that brings nathing hame . thraw [ twist ] the wand while it is green . the shooemakers wife is worst shod . the worst warld that ever was , some man wan . they will know by a half-penny if a priest will take offering . tyme tryes the truth . the weeds overgaes the corn . take tyme while time is , for time will away . the piper wants meikle that wants the nether chaps . they are welcome that brings . the langer we live , the mae strange sights we see . there are many soothe words spoken in bourding . there is na thief without a receiver . there is many fair thing full false . there came never ill of a good advisement . there is na man sa deaf , as he that will not hear . there was never a fair word inhicding . the mouth that lyes , slayes the soul . trot mother , trot father , how can the foal amble . they were never fain that shrugged . twa wolfs may worrie ane sheep . twa fools in ane house is over many . the day hes eyne , the night hes ears . the tree falls not at the first straike . the mair ye tramp in a turde , it grows the breader . there is none without a fault . the devil is a busie bishop in his awn diocie . there is no friend to a friend in need . there is na fool to an auld fool . touch a good horse in the back , and he will fling . there is remeid for all things but stark deid . there is na medicine for fear . the weakest goes to the walls . that which hussies spares , cats eats . thou wilt get na mair of the cat but the skin . there mae madines nor makine . they laugh ay that winnes . twa wits is better nor ane . they put at the cairt that is ay gangand . three may keep counsel if twa be away . they are good willie of their horse that hes nane . the mae the merrier , the fewer the better chear . the blind horse is hardiest . there mae ways to the wood nor ane . there is meikle between word and deed . they that speirs meikle , will get wot of part . the less play the better . the mair cost , the mair honour . there is nothing more precious nor time . true love kyths in tyme of need . there are many fair words in the marriage making , but few in the portion paying . the higher up , the greater fall . the mother of mischief is na mair nor a gnat wing . tarrowing bairns were never fat . there little sap in dry pease hulls . this bolt came never out of your bag . thy tongue is na slander . take him up there with his five eggs , and four of them rotten . the next time ye daunce , wit whom ye take by the hand . the goose pan is above the rost . thy thumb is under my belt . there is a dog in the well . the malt is above the beir . touch me not on the fair heel . the pigs overgaes the ald swine . take a man by his word , and a cow by her horn . there meikle hid meat in a goose eye . they had never an ill day that had a good evening . there belongs mair to a bed nor four bair legs . the greatest clarks are not the wisest men . thou should not tell thy foe when thy fit slides . the grace of god is geir enough . twa hungry meales makes the third a glutton . this warld will not last ay . the devil and the dean begins with a letter , when the devil hes the dean , the kirk will be the better . they are as wise that speir not . there is nothing so crouse as a new washen louse . w. wrang hes nea warrand . will hes that weill is . well done , soon done . weapons bodes peace . wiles helps weak folk . wishers and walders are poor house halders . words are but wind , but dunts are the devil . wark bears witness wha weill does . wealth gars wit waver . weill bydes , weill betydes . wrang compt , is na payment . wrang hears , wrang answer gives . with empty hand , na man should hawkes allure . weill wat 's the mouse , the cats out of the house . well worth aw , that gars the plough draw . we hounds slew the hair , quoth the messoun . wonder lasts but nine nights in a town . women and bairns keeps counsel of that they ken not . wont beguilt the lady . waken not sleeping dogs . we have a craw to pluck . well good mother daughter . wood in wilderness , and strength in a fool . wit in a poor mans head , mosse in a mountain avails nothing . weils him & wooes him that hes a bishop in his kin . use makes perfectness . unskild mediciners , and horsemarshels , slays both man and beast . what reakes of the feed , where the friendship dow nought . y. ye will break your crag and your fast alike in his house . ye strive against the stream . youth never casts for perrill . ye seek hot water under cold yce . ye drive a snail to rome . ye ride a bootless errand . ye seek grace at a graceless face . ye learn your father to get bairns . ye may not sit in rome and strive with the pope . youth and age will never agree . ye may puind for debt , but not for unkindness . ye breid of the cat , ye wald fain eat fish , but ye have na will to weet your feet . ye breid of the gouk , ye have not a ryme but ane . ye should be a king of your word . ye will get war bodes before belten . ye may drink of the bourn , but not byte of the brae . ye wald do little for god an the devil were dead . ye have a ready mouth for a ripe cherry . ye breid of the millers dog , ye lick your mouth or the pok be open . adagia hebraica . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the axe goes to the wood , from whence it borrowed its helve : it is used against those who are injurious to those from whom they are derived , or from whom they have received their power . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if any say that one of thine ears is the ear of an ass , regard it not : if he say so of them both , procure thy self a bridle . that is , it is time to arm our selves with patience when we are greatly reproached . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do not speak of secret matters in a field that is full of little hills . because it is possible some body may lie hid there and here what is said . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that city is in a bad case whose physitian hath the gout . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do not dwell in a city whose governour is a physitian . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a myrtle standing among nettles does notwithstanding retaine the name of a myrtle . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. where there is a man , there do not thou shew thy self a man : the meaning is , that it becomes us not to intermeddle in an office where there is already such good provision made that there is no need of our help . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. at the door of the fold words , within the fold an account . the shepheard does with fair words call back his fugitive sheep to the door of the fold , but when he gets them in he punisheth them for straying away . it is applicable to what may be expected from our governours against whom we have rebelled : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. he is pleased with guourds , and his wife with cucumbers . a proverb by which is expressed that both the man and his wife are vitious much alike . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. it is not as thy mother sayes , but as thy neighbours say : the meaning is that we are not to regard the praises of a near relation , but to listen to what is said by the neighbourhood . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. if the dog bark , go in ; if the bitch bark , go out . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. we may not expect a good whelp from an ill dog . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. sichem marries the wife ( viz. dinah ) and mifgaeus is circumcised ( i. e. punished . ) delirant reges plectuntur achivi . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a camel in media dances in a little cab : this proverb is used against those who tell incredible things . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the camel going to seek hornes , lost his ears . against those who being discontented with what they have , in pursuit of more lose what they once had . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. many old camels carry the skins of the young ones to the market . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the great cab , and the little cab go down to the grave . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. he that hires one garden ( which he is able to look after ) eats birds ; he that hires more then one will be eaten by the birds . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. as is the garden such is the gardiner . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. if i had not lifted up the stone you had not found the jewell . it is used when one man reaps the fruit of the labours of another . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. when the sun rises , the disease will abate . it is said by one of the jews that there was a pretious stone which did hang on the neck of abraham , which when the sick man looked on he was presently healed ; and that when abraham died god placed this stone in the sun : this is thought to have given occasion to the proverb above named . v. buxtorf . lexic . rabbin : in voce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. whoever hath a divided beard , the whole world will not prevaile against him : this proverb is used of those who are cunning , and such are they thought to be whose beard is divided , which , by their much handling ; when they are musing and thoughtfull , they are said to divide . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. go down the ladder when thou marriest a wife , go up when thou choosest a friend . the meaning is , that we should not marry a wife above our rank , though we choose such a friend . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. rather sell then be poor . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. he that buys and sells is called a merchant . this proverb is used in derision of those who buy and sell to their loss . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. while the dust is on your feet sell what you have bought . the meaning is that we should sell quickly ( though with light gaines ) that we may trade for more . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. cast your staff into the aire , and it will fall upon its root , or heavy end . naturam expell as furcâ licet usque recurret . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the wine is the masters , but the goodness of it is the butlers . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when an ass climbs a ladder we may find wisdom . in women . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. an ass is cold even in the summer solstice . the meaning is , that some men are so unhappy that nothing will do them good . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. asinario — camelarius : i. e. a man that hath the care of leading a camel , and driving an ass . such a man is in the midst and knows not how to go forward or backward ; for the asse will not lead , nor the camel be driven . it is applicable to him who hath to do with two persons of contrary humors , and knows not how to please both , nor dares he displease either of them . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. they had thought to have put others into a sleeve and they are put in themselves . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the poor man turns his cake and another comes and takes it away . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. open thy purse ( viz. to receive thy money ) and then open thy sack ; i. e. then deliver thy goods . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. an hungry dog will eat dung . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. if you take away the salt you may throw the flesh to the dogs . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the servant of a king is a king . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. do not dwell in a city where an horse does not neigh , nor a dog bark : the meaning is that if we would be safe from danger we must not dwell in a city where there is neither horse against an enemy , nor dogs against thieves . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. make hast when you are purchasing a field ; but when you are to marry a wife , be slow . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when the shepheard is angry with his sheep he sends them a blind guide . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. in the time of affliction , a vow ; in the time of prosperity an inundation : or a greater increase of wickednes . the devil was sick , the devil a monk would be ; the devil was well , the devil a monk was he . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. an old man in an house is a good signe in an house . old men are fit to give wise counsel : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. wo be to him whose advocate becomes his accuser . this proverb is accommodable to various purposes : god required propitiatory sacrifices of his people ; when they offered them up , as they should , they did receive their pardon upon it ; but if they offered the blind or lame , &c. they were so far from gaining their pardon , that they increased their guilt : and thus their advocate became their accuser . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. while thy shooe is on thy foot tread upon the thornes . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. your surety wants a surety . this proverb is used of an infirm argument that is not sufficient to prove what it is alledged for . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. one bird in the net is better then an hundred flying . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. little and good . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. never cast dirt into that fountain of which thou hast sometime drank . the meaning is that we should not proudly despise or reproach that person or thing which formerly have been of use to us . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. do not look upon the vessel , but upon that which it contains . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. a lie hath no feet . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. one sheep follows another . so one thief , and any other evil doer , follows the ill example of his companion . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. we never find that a fox dies in the dirt of his own ditch : the meaning is that men do rarely receive any hurt from the things to which they have accustomed themselves . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. if a word be worth one shekel , silence is worth two . nunquam etenim tacuisse nocet , nocet esse locutum . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. if the ox fall , whet your knife . the meaning is , we must not let slip the occasion of getting the victory over an enemy . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. when the ox falls , there are many that will help to kill him . the meaning is , that there are many ready to trample upon him that is afflicted . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. we must fall down before a fox in season : the meaning is that we ought to observe cunning men and give them due respect in their prosperity . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. choose rather to be the taile of lions then the head of foxes . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. when the weasil and the cat make a marriage it is a very ill presage . the meaning is that when evil men , who were formerly at variance , and are of great power , make agreement , it portends danger to the innocent and to others who are within their reach . thus upon the agreement of herod and pilate the most innocent bloud is shed . the jews tell of two dogs that were very fierce one against the other ; one of them is assaulted by a wolfe , and thereupon the other dog resolves to help him against the wolfe who made the assault . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. in two cabs of dates there is one cab of stones and more . the meaning is that there is much evil mingled with the good which is found in the world . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. if the whole world does not enter yet half of it will. 't is meant of calumny and reproach , where many times some part is believed though all be not . calumniare fortiter , & aliquid adhaerebit . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. he that hath been bitten by a serpent is afraid of a rope . the meaning is , he is afraid of any thing that hath the least likeness to a serpent . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. she playes the whore for apples and then bestows them upon the sick : this proverb is used against those who give almes of what they get unjustly . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the door that is not opened to him that begs our almes , will be opened to the physitian . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let but the drunkard alone , and he will fall of himself . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. thou hast dived deep in to the water and hast brought up a potsherd . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. if thou hast increased thy water , thou must also increase thy meale . thus he that raiseth many objections is obliged to find solutions for them also . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. there is nothing so bad , in which there is not something of good . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. he that hath had one of his family hanged , may not say to his neighbour hang up this fish . the meaning is , we must abstain from words of reproach , and then especially when we are not free from the crimes which we reproach others for . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. o thou nazarite go about , go about and do not come near the vineyard . the meaning is that we should avoid the occasions of sin . the nazarite was forbidden the use of wine , and it was therefore his wisest course to avoid all occasions of trespassing . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. thy secret is thy prisoner , if thou let it go thou art a prisoner to it . the meaning is plain , viz. that we ought to be as carefull in keeping a secret as an officer in keeping his prisoner , who makes himself a prisoner by letting his prisoner go . there is sometimes a great danger in revealing a secret , and alwaies it is an argument of great folly . for as the jews say well , thy friend hath a friend , and thy friends friend hath a friend : and therefore what thou wouldest have kept as a secret reveale not to thy friend . and they elsewhere say , that he who hath a narrow heart : i. e. but a little wisdom , hath a broad tongue . i. e. is apt to talk at large . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the magician mutters and knows not what he mutters . this is proverbially used against those who pray in an unknown tongue ; or do any thing which they do not understand . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. if thy daughter be marriageable set thy servant free , and give her to him in marriage . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. to expect , to expect is worth four hundred drachms . zuz is the fourth part of the sacred shekel . this proverb is used to recommend to us the advantage of deliberation in our actions . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. they can find money for mischief , when they can find none to buy corn. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in my own city my name , in a strange city my cloaths procure me a respect . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. 't is not a basket of hey but a basket of flesh which will make a lion roar . that is , it must be flesh and not hey which will give courage and strength to a lion . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. let thy grandchild buy wax and do not thou trouble thy self . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. pull off the skin in the streets and receive thy wages . that is , we were better submit to the meanest emploiment then want necessaries . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. one graine of sharp pepper is better then a basket full of guourds . that is , one wise man , how mean soever is more valuable then many that are unwise . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. as if a man that is killed should come home upon his feet : this is used proverbially of those things which we give for lost . these that follow are the sentences of ben syra , a man of great fame and antiquity among the jews . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. honour a physitian before thou hast need of him : that is , we must honour god in our health and prospetity that he may be propitious to us in our adversity . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. thy child that is no child leave upon the waters and let him swim . that is , where our child is not reclaimable by fair means we may not hinder him from condigne punishment . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. gnaw the bone which is fallen to thy lot : that is , he that hath an ill wife must patiently beare with her : it may also be applyed to other things . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. gold must be beaten , and a child scourged . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. be good , and refrain not to be good . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. wo be to the wicked , and wo be to them that cleave to them . or , to their neighbours that live near them . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if we would avoid a mischief we must not be very kind and familiar with an evil man. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. withhold not thine hand from shewing mercy to the poor . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the bride goes to her marriage bed , but knows not what shall happen to her . the meaning is , that we ought not confidently to promise our selves in any thing any great success . thus it is said , that a certain man said he would enjoy his bride on the morrow , and when he was admonished to say he would ; if god will : he answered that he would , whether god would or not . this man and his bride were both found dead the following night . thus was the saying of ben syra verified , the bride , &c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. a nod for a wise man , and a rod for a fool . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. he that gives honour to his enemy is like to an ass . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. a little fire burns up a great deal of corn. this saying is to be understood of the mischief which an evil and slandring tongue does , and is exemplified in doeg , who by this means brought destruction upon the priests . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . jam. . . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. an old man in an house is a good sign in an house . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spread the table and contention will cease . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. if thou must deal , be sure to deal with an honest man. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be not ungratefull to your old friend . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though thou hast never so many counsellers , yet do not forsake the counsell of thy own soul . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the day is short , and the work is much . ars long a vita brevis . finis . books sold by w. morden bookseller in cambridge . dr henry mores philosophicall collections , fol. mystery of iniquity , fol. enchyridion metaphysicum lat. o. cum fig. enchyridion ethicum lat. o. divine dialogues in vol. o. his epist . to the churches with an antidote against idolatry o. introductio ad cartesium , o. observations on antroposophia theomagica . merceri in job proverb . eccles. & cant. fol. cocceius in prophetas minor. fol. bullialdi astro . fol. origines contra celsum ; ejusdem philocalia , cum ann. gulielmi spenceri , o. g. l. edit . secund . scheyneri fundamenta optica , o. glissoni de natura substantiae , o. cartesii epistolae , o. causabons letter against the royal society , o. smiths select discourses , o. enjedini in vet. & novum testament . o. letter of resol . concerning the chief of orig. opinions , o. warrens no praeexistence , o. godmans sermon , o. officium concionatorium , o. epicteti enchyridion cum cebetis tabula . accesserunt simplicii & arriani comment . g. l. o. gassendi astronomia , o. billingsly's idea of arithmetick , o. rami logica cum comment . amesii , o. ray's collection of english and scotch proverbs , o. templeri idea theolog. leviathanis , o. psalterium lat. o. gazaei pia hilaria . tomus alter cum indice philologico , o. lucretius cum not . tan. fabri , o. florus germanicus , o. dr templers sermon at the bishops visitation camb. . select and choyce observations, containing all the romane emperours the first eighteen by edward leigh ... ; the others added by his son henry leigh ... ; certain choyce french proverbs, alphabetically disposed and englished added also by the same edward leigh. leigh, edward, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing l estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) select and choyce observations, containing all the romane emperours the first eighteen by edward leigh ... ; the others added by his son henry leigh ... ; certain choyce french proverbs, alphabetically disposed and englished added also by the same edward leigh. leigh, edward, - . leigh, henry, d. . [ ], p. printed by roger daniel, for john williams ..., london : . reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng emperors -- rome -- history. proverbs, french. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion select and choyce observations , containing all the romane emperours . the first eighteen by edward leigh m. a. of magdalene-hall in oxford , the others added by his son henry leigh , m. a. also of the same house . certain choyce french proverbs , alphabetically disposed and englished added also by the same edward leigh . london . printed by roger daniel , for john williams at the sign of the crown in s t paul's church-yard , . to the right worshipful and his loving father henry legh esquire . loving father : how much i am obliged unto you both for my being and well-being , i desire now to testifie unto the world ; for though to requite your love and bounty , be not within the sphear of my activity , yet since the apostle * commandeth children to learn to requite their parents , and nature it self hath taught the unreasonable * creatures this lesson , i shall endeavour , ( god assisting me with his grace ) to pay that three-fold debt , of reverence , obedience , and gratitude , which all children owe to their parents : as aeschines therefore , when he saw his fellow-schollers give great gifts to socrates ( being poor , and having nothing else to bestow ) did give himself to socrates , professing to be wholly devoted unto him : so i shall ever devote my self unto your service , to whom ( next under god ) i owe my self , and those abilities i have , both natural , and which through gods blessing upon your liberal education , by a double apprentiship in two * famous and flourishing societies i have acquired . to expresse therefore my due observance , and gratefull recognition of your former care , and cost , and withal to give you some account of the fruitful spending of my time , i here present unto you some choyce observations concerning the tvvelve first caesars , emperours of rome . a work ( as i conceive ) both delightful , and useful , and therefore to you ( i hope ) not unwelcome ; as geographers express the whole world in a little map , so have i laboured graphically to describe these great monarchs of the world in a little model , neither strictly tying my self to any one historian , nor relating all the passages of their lives , but excerping out of the most principal * authors , such things of them as were most memorable . amongst all which writers ( though i confesse tacitus his stile is elegant , & full of wise sētentious * apotheg . ) i have chiefly followed suet. . because my worthy * tutor ( whosememory i shall ever honour ) made choice especially ( of that history to read to his pupils . because his phrase is pure & polite , and himself a faithful historian : of whom it is recorded ( as i think ) by erasmus , that he wrote the lives of the romane emperours , prorsus ea libertate , quaipsi vixerunt , with the same freedom that they lived . alex. ab alex. genial . dier . lib. . c . calleth him sincerissimum . scriptorem , and ludov. * vives , incorruptissimum . and i desire to write as freely and unpartially of them , since i may say of them all , as tacitus doth of some of them , that they were mihi nec beneficio nec injuria cogniti ; only i shall herein fail , that i write not of these emperours stylo imperatorio , with a high and lofty stile . iulius caesar is here placed in the forefront , he being the first emperour . for this title was at the first given unto him , that had fought valiantly for his country and slain many enemies ; iulius * caesar ( having brought the greatest part of the then known world into the subjectiō of the romans ) was the first that was saluted by the title of absolute emperour , and all the emperours succeeding were called imperatores & caesares from him , mat. . . dunbar in his fifth century of epigrammes hath these verses of iulius caesars and pope gregories reforming the kalender . caesar gregoriusque annum dum jure reformant , deformant regnires sine jure , sui : scilicet antiqui facies à caesare regni versa est , à papa pristina religio : malo reformari civilem à caesare stammam . malo reformatam gregoriique fidem . the emperours after iulius caesar were called augusti from octavius , the second romane caesar , who revived the good lawes , and reformed the bad . but the emperours succeeding him , having more ●are to be great then good , rather raged then reigned , and the decrees of some of them , viz. tiberius and caligula , are witily termed furores non judicia . quatuor principes ferro interempti ( saith tacitus in his history ) four of these emperours were slain with the sword , galba , otho , vitellius , domitian : which three first plutarch compareth ( in regard of their short reign ) to kings in a tragedy , which last no longer then the time that they are represented on the stage , iulius caesar , and caligula were also slain , claudius , and titus were poisoned , nero slew himself , * augustus dyed in a complement , tiberius in dissimulation , galba with a sentence , vespasian with a jest , yet he died peaceably in his bed , which no emperour since augustus ever did . the * heathens shadowed the sting of conscience by the eagle or vulture that feed upon the heart of prometheus , and by the three virgins which they called furies , following men in a hideo●s form , with burning torches in their hands , which some of the worst of these heathen emperours really felt after their bloody cruelties , and verified that old * maxime , he must needs fear many , whom many fear . * caligula ( though he contemned the gods , as they called them ) yet at the least thundering and lightening would run under his bed , and cover his head . * nero that monster of mankind having killed his mother agrit●ina , could never after endure the worm and sting of conscience for his foul fact , but confessed that he was often haunted with the apparition of his mothers ghost , and tormented also with scourges , and burning torches of the furies . we may take notice of many morall vertues also in the best of these heathens , julius caesar , augustus vespasian , and titus that mirrour of humanity , and see in them the truth of that old maxime , magistratus virum indicat , a place sheweth the man , and it sheweth some to be better , some to be worse . it was said of caligula , that there was never better servant and worse master : omnium consensu capax imperii , nisi imperasset , saith tacitus of galba : but of vespasian he saith , solus imperatorum vespasianus mutatus in melius . but least i should be upbraided with the city of myndus , for making my porch too bigge , here will i cast anchor , ever remaining . your dutiful sonne to command edward leigh . iulius caesar. the iulii were so called ( saith alex. ab alex. ) à prima barbae lanugine , from the first wool or down of the beard . others think the name of the iulii came from iulus ascanius , the son of aeneas . at puer ascanius , cui nunc cog nomen iulo. he reformed the kalender which was then confused , and framed the whole year just unto the course of the sunne , that it should contain dayes , and appointed that every fourth year a whole day should be inserted . therefore we call our year annum iulianum , and the kalender which we use calendarium iulianum , and that moneth which was by them called quintilis , because it was the fifth moneth , is now called iuly in honour of him . for his other name caesar , there are different opinions of the originall of it . some derive it à caesiis oculis , from his grey eyes . but suetonius * refutes that , and saith , he had black eyes . others say he was so called à caesarie , from a bush of hair with which he was born . some say he was * cut out of his mothers womb : although festus pompeius thinks , such are rather to be called caesones , and casaubon * rejecteth that etymologie . others derive it à caeso elephanto , from his grand-fathers killing an elephant , which in the carthaginian tongue is called caesar. sigonius speaks much of it , but so that it should seem to be ambiguae fidei , and therefore i shall leave it undermined . he was tall of stature , white , and clear of complexion , somewhat full faced , his limbs were well trussed , and in good plight , his eyes black , lively , and quick . he was also very healthfull , saving that in his latter dayes he was given to faint , and swoon suddenly . comitiali quoque morbo bis inter res agendas correptus est , saith suetonius , twice in the midst of his martial affaires , he was surprized with the falling sickness , which he stileth morbum comitialem , either because it chiefly invadeth , and seizeth on men in comitiis , in popular assemblies , or because their comitia , their parliaments or assemblies were dissolved , and broke up by occasion thereof , if any chanced to fall sick of that disease , they reputing such an accident to be a sinister presage . est morbi species subiti cui nomen ab illo est , quod fieri nobis suffragia justa recusant . saepe etenim membris acri languore caducis , concilium populi labes horrenda diremit . in eloquence and warlike feats together , he either equalled , or excelled the glory of the very best . eloquentiâ attigit summorum gloriam : re militari excessit . lipsius . caesar quine sçait moins bien faire , que bien dire . caesar who knows as well to write as fight . he held a sword in one hand , and a book in the other , with this motto , ex utroque caesar , emperour by both . he was counted the second man for eloquence in his time , and gave place to the first , because he would be the first and chiefest man of war , and authority . iulius caesar scalig●r writeth thus of him : duae sunt aquilae solae in natura rerum , altera bellicae laudis , altera literariae ; illa potentiae , haec sapientiae ; caesar & aristotles . exercit. . sect. . paterculus reckoning up the famous wits of those times saith , et proximum ciceroni caesarem . nay cicero himself in his catalogue of orators to brutus , * saith , he cannot see any to whom caesar might give place , and he highly commends him in his oration pro marcello . est ejus viri pura oratio , sine fuco ac calamistris ornata , vel romanis vel atticis musis dignissima . lipsius . aulus gellius scribit caesarem sermonis fuisse praeter alios suae aetatis castissimi . he left commentaries of his own acts , touching the gaule warre , and the civill warre , which ( s r. francis bacon * saith ) is the best history of the world . king iames exhorting his son to the study of history , above all prophane writers commendeth this book of caesars to his reading , both sor the sweet flowing of the stile , and the worthinesse of the matter in it self . he was a famous mathematician , and diligent in that study , as lucan writes of him . — media inter proelia semper stellarum , coelique plagis superisque vacavi . he could at one time read , and write , heare , and indite , and if he did nothing else , he could dictate to . actuaries or penmen at once . we ought to admire two things in him , which he had to perfection , and which render a commander excellent ; viz. that he forecast and provided for all things which might either further or hinder his designe before he undertook it ; and that in the very execution he failed not to take his advantage when occasion presented it , or to remedy upon the instant such unexpected accidents as befell ; wherein he hath been inimitable . the duke of rohan's observ . upon caes. com. l. . in his enterprises he was both valiant and fortunate , and therefore singled out for an idea , or pattern of an absolute generall , especially for four military properties very resplendent in him . first , laboriousnesse in his affaires . secondly , courage in his dangers . thirdly , industrious contriving of what he undertook . fourthly , quick dispatch in accomplishing what he had once begun . nam caesar in omnia praeceps , nil actum credens , si quid superesset agendum . quintus curtius speaking of alexander the great saith , nullam virtutem regis istius magis quam celeritatem laudaverim . i can commend no vertue more in this king then speed . in eleven dayes he marched with his army six hundred miles . suetonius affirmeth , that caesar did ever march formost before his troopes , and most commonly bare-headed , and on foot , whether the sun shined , or it rained . tully reports of him , that he was never heard to say to his souldiers , ite illuc , go forth thither , as if they should go forth upon service , and he tarry behind in his tent , but * venite huc , come ye hither . — ignave , venire te caesar , non ire jubet . pertinax was wont to say to his souldiers , militemus ; and severus septimius , laboremus : livie bringeth in valerius corvinus thus speaking ; facta mea , non dicta vos milites sequi volo , nec disciplinam modò , sed exemplum etiam à me petere . under his conduct were slain eleven hundred fourscore and two thousand enemies . he fought in pitched field two and fifty times , saith solinus , fifty saith pliny , and never was so much as in any hazard save only twice . he conquered all france , germany , discovered us britaines , and made us tributary ; and triumphed five times in rome with unspeakable admiration . it is observable , that in all his warres he hath alwaies been inferiour to his enemies in number ; for which cause he hath alwaies helped himself by fortifications , more then ever any other hath done , which he made much the better , when he found himself not sufficiently strong to give battel , as he was a long time in africa ; insomuch that scipio himself wondred at his coldness , nevertheless he alwaies continued his souldiers in exercise , and himself exercised new levied men , and entred them by small skirmishes , wherein by his industry for the most part he had the best , and alwaies attempted something upon his enemy . the duke of rohan's observ. on caesars comm. l. . tam celer in agendo & consulta exequendo , ut persaepe nuntios de se praevenerit . he is renowned for his celerity in doing , and preventing the very report of his coming . caesar hath made himself as much redoubted and admired by the great works which he caused his souldiers to make , as by his great battels . the duke of rohan's treatise of modern warre . cap. . having overcome king pharnaces , and being desirous to advertise one of his friends of his quick expedition in dispatching that war , he onely wrote three words unto an●tius at rome , veni , vidi , vici ; i came , i saw , i overcame . charles the fift emperor of germany said , veni , vidi , deus vicit . surius in bello germanico . he never put enemy to flight but he discamped him , and drave him out of the field : by this meanes he gave them whom he had once discomsited no time to bethink themselves . in any doubtfull and dangerous service , his manner was to send away the horses , and his own with the first , to the end that when all meanes of flight were gone , they might of necessity be forced the rather to stand to it , and abide to the last . he called not his souldiers milites , but commilitones : not plain souldiers , but by a more pleasing name , fellow-souldiers . he maintained them so trim and brave , that he stuck not to set them out in polished armour , damasked with silver and gold , as well for goodly shew , as because they should in * battel keep the same more surely for fear of damage and losse . he loved them so affectionately , that when he heard of tiberius his overthrow , and the legions with him : he suffered the haire of his head and beard to grow long , and would not cut the same before he had revenged their death . by which means he both had his souldiers most devoted unto him , and also made them truly valiant . he was so entirely beloved of his souldiers , that to do him service ( whereas otherwise they were but like other men in any other private quarrell ) if caesars honour were touched they were invincible , and would so desperately , and with such fury venter themselves , that no man was able to abide them . a private souldier of his fought so valiantly in britain , that by his meanes he saved the captaines , which otherwise were in great danger to have been cast away ( being driven into a bogge ; ) then marching with great pain through the mire and dirt , half swimming , and half a foot , in the end he got to the other side , but left his shield behind him : caesar wondering at his noble courage , ran to him with joy to embrace him : but the poor souldier hanging down his head , the water standing in his eyes , fell down at caesars feet , and besought him to pardon him for leaving his target behind him . petronius being taken by scipio , he said he would give him his life , but he answered him again , that caesar's souldiers did not use to have their lives given them , but to give others their lives ; and with these words he drew his sword and thrust himselfe through . caesar at alexandria being busie about the assault and winning of a bridge , was driven by a suddain sally of the enemies to take a boat , and many besides making hast to get into the same , he leapt into the sea , and by swimming almost a quarter of a mile recovered the next ship , bearing up his left hand all the while , for fear the writings which he held therein should take wet , and drawing his rich coat-armour after him by the teeth , because the enemy should not have it as a spoile . beholding advisedly the image , or portraiture of alexander the great in the temple of hercules at cales , at the sight thereof he fetched a deep sigh , as being ashamed that he had yet performed no memorable act at those years , wherein alexander had conquered the whole world . he was very much disquieted and dismayed with a dream the very night before , ( for he imagined in his sleep that he had carnal cōpany with his own mother : ) the diviners and wizards incited him to the hopes of most glorious achievements , making this exposition of his dream , that thereby was portended unto him the soveraignty of the whole world ; for his mother whom he saw under him , betokened the subjection of the earth , which is counted the mother of all things . there were two factions in rome at that time , sylla was the chief of the one , and marius of the other ; marius stood for the people , and sylla defended the nobles . marius and all his confederates were proclaimed traitors , and enemies to the common-wealth . sylla determining to kill caesar , some of his friends told him , that it was to no purpose to put so young a boy as he was to death : but sylla answered again , caesari multos marios inesse , that there were many marii in that one boy , implying , that he would be a great enemy unto their state . when the day of election for summus pontifex came , he told his mother kissing him , that that day she should see her son chief bishop of rome , or banished from rome . he said , he had rather be the chiefest man in a poor village , then the second person in rome . nec quenquam jam ferre potest caesarve priorem , pompejusve parem . — he did extremely affect the name of king , and some were set on as he passed by , in popular acclamation to salute him king ; whereupon finding the cry weak and poor , he put it off thus in a kind of jest , as if they had mistaken his sirname , non rex sum , sed caesar. he often used these verses of euripides , which he himself thus translated . nam si violandum est jus , imperii causâ violandum est , aliis rebus pietatem colas . he alone managed all the affaires of state : his collegue or fellow-consull did nothing , in so much as divers citizens pleasantly conceited , whensoever they signed , subscribed , or dated any writings to stand upon records , would merrily put it down thus ; such a thing was done not when caesar , and bibulus , but when iulius and caesar were consuls : setting down one and the same man twice by his name and sirname ; yea , and soon after these verses were commonly currant . non bibulo quidquam nuper , sed caesare factum est : nam bibulo fieri consule , nil memini . caesar of late did many things , but bibulus not one : for nought by consul bibulus can i remember done . he was such an excellent rider of a horse from his youth , that holding his hands behind him he would gallop his horse upon the spur . the horse he used to ride upon was strangely marked , with feet resembling very near a mans , and the hoofes cloven like toes : * the beast would abide no man else to ride him , and he himself was the first that backed him . when one brought him his horse to get upon , which he used in battel , he said unto him , when i have overcome mine enemies i will get upon him to follow the chase , but now let us give them charge . benignitate adeò praeditus , ut quos armis subegerat , clementiâ magis vicerit . he was of so good a nature , that such as he subdued by battell , he more overcame with gentlenesse . he said the greatest pleasure he took of his victories was , that he daily saved the lives of some of his country-men that bare armes against him . caesar dando , sublevando , ignoscendo , gloriam adeptus est . salust . in bel . catilin . when pompey's head was presented to him , vberrimas lachrymas profudit , he wept bitterly , and caused him to be honourably buried , saying , ego pompeii casum deploro , & meam fortunam metuo , i lament pompey's fall , and fear mine own fortune . when he found many letters in pompey's coffers , wherein divers testified their good will unto pompey , and their hatred towards him , he neither read them nor copied them out , but presently burnt them , least being exasperated by them , he should have been forced to have committed some greater evil . when pompey's images had been thrown down he caused them to be set up again , and cicero thereupon used this speech , that caesar in setting up pompey's images again , made his own to stand surer . he accounted his conquest of the two pompeys ( sons to pompey the great ) in andaluzia in spain the most glorious of all his victories , for he would often say afterwards , that at others times he fought for fame and victory , but that day he fought for his life , which he had never fought for before . when some of his friends did counsell him to have a guard for the safety of his person , and some also did offer themselves to serve him , he would never consent unto it , but said , it was better to dye once , then alwaies to be afraid of death . he said also , mori se quam timeri malle , saith , paterculus , when some advised him to keep by armes what he had got by armes . when he was hindered by one of the tribunes from taking some of the common treasure out of saturnes temple , and told that it was against the law , tush , said he , time of warre and law are two things . that speech of his was compounded both of terrour and clemency , to metellus the tribune ; for caesar entring into the inner treasury of rome to take the money there kept , metellus forbad him ; whereto caesar said , that if he did not desist he would lay him dead in the place ; and presently taking himself up , he added , young man , it is harder for me to speake it then do do it . * he was a spare drinker of wine , as his very enemies confessed , whence arose that apothegme of cato , that of all that ever were , caesar alone came sober to the overthrow of the state . he was the first that devised the way for friends to talke together by writing cyphers in letters , when he had no leisure to speake with them for his urgent businesse , and for the great distance from rome . he said , caesars wife ought not only to be without fault , but also without all suspition of fault . being certified that cato had slain himself with his own hands , he seemed to be very sorry for it , and said , o cato , i envie thy death , because thou didst envie my glory to save thy life . cicero wrote a book in commendation of cato , to justify that action , which caesar answered with another , which he called anti-cato , both which are lost . schildius out of beroaldus saith , cicero wrote a book intituled cato , in commendation of him , which vexed caesar , because he conceived the commendation of the other tended to his dispraise , and therefore he wrote two bookes against cato , discovering his crimes , called anti-catones . being in a pinnase or small boat in a great storm , he said to the master of it : fellow , be of good cheer , for thou hast caesar and his fortune with thee . [ so charles the fifth taking his horse to rush into the main battel , was requested to forbear , but he answered , an emperour was never shot through with a bullet . so william the second of england , comming to imbark at portsmouth , the master told him the weather was rough , and there was no passing without imminent danger , tush , said he , set forward , i never yet heard of a king that was drowned , dan. hist. ] yet i may say of him as our chronicler doth of one of our english kings , inerant illi confuso quodam temperamento , virtutes magnae & vit●a non minora . suetonius and others , speake of his unnaturall uncleannesse , and prodigious prodigality . he stole out of the capitol . pounds ( reduced to our money ) in gold at once , gave to servilia a jewell which cost him . pounds , owed . pounds more then he was worth by his own confession . his shewes , and publike donations , in costlinesse are almost invaluable . about the trimming of his body he was over curious , so as he would not only be shaven very precisely , but also have his hair plucked . the chiefest cause that made him mortally hated , was his excessive desire of honour , and his slighting the senators . when his friends complained unto him of antonius and dolabella , that they intended some mischief towards him , he answered them again , as for these fat men , and smooth-combed-heads , quoth he , i never reckon of them , but those pale-visaged , and carrion lean people , i fear them most , meaning brutus and cassius . he never refused to fight but in his latter dayes , being then of this opinion , that the oftner he had gotten●victory , the lesse he was to venture , and make trial of fortune : also that a victory could gain him nothing so much as some disastrous calamity might take from him . there conspired against him more than threescore , the heads of which conspiracy were cassius and brutus . he had fair warning of his death before it came , by many evident prodigies ; fires were seen in the element , and spirits running up and down in the night , and solitary birds at noon-day sitting in the great market-place ; as the bird regaliolus did flye with a little branch of lawrell into the court of pompeius , a sort of other birds of divers kinds from out of the grove hard by pursued after , and there pulled it in pieces . caesar sacrificing to the gods , found that one of the beasts which was sacrificed , had no heart , and that was a strange thing in nature , how a beast could live without a heart . there was a certain south-sayer that had given caesar warning long before , to take heed of the day of the ides of march ( which is the fifteenth of the moneth , ) for on that day he should be in a great danger . that day being come , caesar going unto the senate-house , and speaking merrily to the south-sayer , told him , the ides of march were come : so they be , softly answered the south-sayer , but yet they are not past . [ christianus matthias theat . histor. theoret . pract. in iul. cap. . hath an elegant and memorable parallel history . henry the . king of france was disswaded from going abroad that day he was slain ▪ by some ; as a day mark't out by astrologers to portend danger to his person : yet he , a second caesar as well in the course of his life as of his death , was little sway'd therewith , but like a king , and a christian replied ; that it was an offence to god to give credit to these prognostiques , and that having god to his guard , he feared no man. the life and death of henry the . ] the night before this discourse had with the south-sayer , all the windowes and doores of his chamber did flye open , and his wife calphurnia dreamed that caesar was slain , and that she had him in her arms . he was stabbed with . wounds ; he onely gave one groane at the first thrust , without uttering any words . some say , that as m. brutus came running upon him , he said , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; and thou my son ? all men are of opinion , that such a death befell unto him as he desired ; for when he had read in xenophon how cyrus being at the point of death , gave order for his funeral , he seting light by so slow and lingering a kind of death , wished to dye quickly and of a suddain . the very day before he was killed , in a certain discourse moved at supper in marcus lepidus his house , upon that point , which was the best end of a mans life ? he preferred that which was suddain and unlooked for . he dyed in the . year of his age ; et in deorum numerum relatus est , he was made a god after death ( which could not defend himself from death , from cruell murther ) and that , non * ore modo decernentium , sed & persuasione vulgi , not only by their voyce which decreed such honour unto him , but also by perswasion of the common people . a comet shined then for seven dayes together , arising about the eleventh hour of the day , and it was believed by those blind heathen to be caesars soul , who had been a comet of combustion to the world . — micat inter omnes iulium sidus , velut inter ignes luna minores . also upon his image there is a star set to the very crown of his head . of these murtherers there was not one that either survived him above three years , or dyed a naturall death . all stood condemned , and by one mishap or other perished ; some by shipwrack , others by battel , and some again shortned their own dayes with the very same dagger wherewith they had wounded caesar : cassius , as plutarch reporteth , and brutus according to dion . choyce observations of octavius avgustvs . he was styled by the name of augustus , i. e. worshipfull or sacred , which they thought to be a name of reverence and majesty , because all consecrated and hallowed places were called loca augusta . that moneth which was by them called sextilis , because it was their sixth moneth , is called augustus in honour of him , and things of greatest splendour are called augustissima . iulius caesar was his great uncle , but his father by adoption . he was called octavius from his father , and augustus from his victory . a man most nobly descended ; for riches , honour , friends , empire , fortunate victories , almost adored ; for bodily good things , of comely stature , forma eximia & per omnes aetatis gradus venustissima . of most amiable visage , and that also majesticall by his bright and shining eyes , quibus etiam existimari volebat inesse quiddam divini vigoris . wherein also ( as he would have men believe ) was seated a kind of divine vigor : and he joyed much , if a man looking wishly upon him , held down his face , as it were against the brightnesse of the sun ; therefore a certain souldier turned away his eyes from beholding his face , and he demanding the reason why he did so , he answered ; quia fulmen oculorum tuorum ferre non possum . his hair was somewhat yellow , and his body freckled with spots , which his flatterers would have the world believe were in form like stars . he was indeed somewhat low , neverthelesse of a comely stature , five foot and nine inches , the just measure ( saith one ) of our late famous queen elizabeth , who as she matched that roman emperour in happinesse , and duration of reigne , so did she likewise in the stature of her body . cities were called caesareae in honour of him , so in honour of our virgin queen was there a country called virginia . augustus imperii formator , ne dominum quidem dici se volebat . augustus the founder of the roman empire ( for his father caesar was but metator rather then imperator , the chalker of it out , then the setter of it up ) this great man would not be called lord. upon the same day that our saviour was born , he forbad them by edict to call him lord , that all lordship might be ascribed to him . in his time our saviour was born , imperante augusto natus est christus , imperante tiberio crucifixus . he consulting with the oracle of delphos about his successour , received this answer : puer hebraeus diis beatis imperans , jubet me hanc domum linquere , & rursus in orcum reverti : quod superest , abi tacitus ex aris nostris . whereupon augustus coming home , in the capitol erected an altar , and thereon in capitall letters caused this inscription to be ingraven , haec est ara primogeniti dei. he is mentioned in the scripture , luke . . there came an edict from augustus caesar that all the world should be taxed , i. e. all the provinces subject to the roman empire , for the romans called themselves lords of the whole world . he made not war upon any people without just and necessary causes ; his saying was , that neither battel nor war was to be undertaken , unlesse there might be evidently seen more hope of gain then fear of damage . he likened such who sought after small commodities with great danger , unto those that angle with a golden hook , which if it be broken off , no draught of fish whatsoever is able to make amends for the losse . [ that was prudent advice of henry the fourth k. of france , to henry the third his brother , who would needs with those small forces they had , salley out of tours upon the great army of charles duke of mayen ; sire ( quoth he ) n'hazardons pas un double henry , contre un carolus , i. e. let us not venter a double ducket for a single penny . ] he was so troubled and astonished at the relation of a foyl and overthrow of varus , that for certain moneths together he let the hair of his beard and head grow still , and wore it long ; yea , and otherwhiles would run his head against the doores , crying out , quintilius varus , deliver up my legions again . suetonius . he deemed nothing lesse beseeming a perfect and accomplished captain , then temerity , or rashnesse : using this speech , satis celeriter fieri , quicquid commodè geritur , that is done soon enough which is done well enough . he was so exceedingly delighted with that proverbiall saying , festina lentè , that he would not onely use it frequently in his daily colloquies , but would insert it often in his epistles ; admonishing by these two words , that to effect any enterprise , both the speedinesse of industry , and the slownesse of diligence should concurre . the city being not adorned according to the majesty of such an empire , and subject to the casualties of deluges and fires , he beautified and set out so , as justly he made his boast , that whereas he found it built of brick , he left it all of marble . augusto profiuens & quae principem deceret , eloquentia fuit . tacitus . he had a ready , fluent , and eloquent speech , such as well became a prince . seeing upon a time a number of citizens clad all in black , assembled to hear a publick speech , he with great indignation cryed out , behold , romanos rerum dominos , gentemque togatam ▪ the romans , lords of all the world , and long rob'd nation . he never recommended his sons unto the people , but with this clause added thereto , if they shall deserve . he gave charge to the praetors of rome , ne paterentur nomen suum obsolefieri , not to suffer his name to be worn thread-bare . he would never lye awake in the * dark without one sitting by his bed side . * macrobius writes of him , that he carried such an entire and fatherly affection to the common-wealth , that he called it , ●il●am suam , his own daughter ; and therefore refused to be called dominus , the lord or master of his country , and would onely be called pater patriae , the father of his country , because be governed it not per timorem , sed per amorem , not by fear , but by love . he would not lightly depart forth of the city , or any town , nor enter into any place but in the evening , or by night , for disquieting any person in doing him honour by way of dutifull attendance . sueton. the beginning of friendship between him and cinna was strange ; cinna had conspired against his life : after augustus had discovered to him all his conspiracy which he knew , he said , i have given thee thy life twice ; first as an enemy , then a rebel , and now i give thee the consulship . let us now be friends , and henceforth strive , whether i have with a better faith given thee thy life , or thou owest it to me . augustus ( saith suetonius in vita august . ) had not thenceforward in all rome a greater friend then cinna , while he lived , and when he died , cinna made him sole heire . vide senec. l. . de clement . c. . this was duely observed , that how often soever he entred rome , no punishment that day was inflicted upon any person . qui cum triste aliquid statuit , fit tristis & ipse ; cuique fere poenam sumere , poena sua est . he was grieved himself when he pronounced a grievous sentence , and he thought himself punished when he punished others . quique dolet , quoties cogitur esse ferox . * rarus quidem ad recipiendas amicitias , ad retinendas constantissimus . he would not suddenly entertain a league of friendship with any , but was a constant friend to those he loved . — amare nec citò desisto , nec temerè incipio . late ere i love , as long ere i leave . dion reporteth of him that when he gave commandment to take tribute of the jews , he would not suffer it to be taken from them on their sabbath , but caused them to delay it till the next day . he slept but upon a low bed , and the same but meanly spread , and laid with coverlets . he seldom wore any apparel but of huswives cloth , made within the house by his wife , his sister , and daughter . he was a man of very little meat , and fed for the most part on cheat bread and small fishes . he caused the bones of thallus ( who had opened a letter committed to his trust ) to be broken , to the terrour of such untrusty attendants . suetonius . by one speech he did appease a tumultuous army , audite juvenes senem , quem juvenem senes audiverunt . ye young men hearken to me now old , whom old men have hearkened unto when young . he had a special care to expresse his mind and meaning most plainly , and reprehended marcus antonius for writing such things , that men did rather wonder at then understand . it was elegantly said of him , i hate alike as departing from the mean , both antiquaries , and affectors of novelties . he did not so much observe orthographie , i. e. the form and precise rule of writing set down by grammarians , but seemed to follow their opinion who think men should write according as they speak . he could not away so much as with the winter sun-shine , and therefore at home he never walked up and down in the aire , without a broad-brim'd hat upon his head . in generall salutations he admitted the very commons , entertaining the suits and desires of all commers with so great humanity , as that he rebuked one of them merrily , because in reaching unto him a supplication , he did it so timorously , as if he had been reaching meat to an elephant . augustus militem donis , populum annona , cunctos dulcedine otii pellexit . tacit. lib. . annal. he won the souldiers with gifts , the people with provision of victuals , and all with the sweetnesse of rest and peace . he said of tiberius , miserum populum romanum , qui sub tam lentis maxillis erit , o unhappy people of rome , that shall be under such a slow paire of jawes . by this enigmaticall speech , he compared the state of the people of rome unto the miserable case of one , whom some savage and cruel beast hath gotten between his teeth , not devouring and dispatching him at once , but there holdeth and cheweth him a long while in exceeding paine ; alluding to the secret malice and dreaming nature withall of tiberius . to expresse the speedy expedition of a thing done hastily , he used this proverb , citius quam asparagi coquantur . quicker ( would he say ) then sparages can be sodden . beholding certain rich strangers and forrainers at rome carrying whelps of doggs and apes in their bosomes , and making much of them , he did ask , whether women brought not forth children in their countries ? hereby giving a worthy and princely admonition to them who do consume and wast upon beasts , the naturall affection and love due to men . when he purposed never to do what he was requested , he was wont by way of proverb to say , that he would do it , ad calendas graecas , i. e. in our english proverb , at later lammas , never . he was so much afraid of thunder and lightning , that he ever carried about with him for a preservative remedy a seales * skin ; yea , and whensoever he suspected there would be any extraordinary storm or tempest , he would retire himself into a close secret room under ground , and vauled above head . in his time warres ceased , and learning chiefly flourished . the temple of ianus was then shut in rome , peace being generall through the whole world . ianum quirini clausit : et ordinem rectum , & vaganti fraena licentie . injecit , emovitque culpas , et veteres revocavit artes . our saviour was born in the . year of his reigne say epiphanius and eusebius ; . say tertullian , and irenaeus . receiving a challenge from anthony , he returned him this answer , that if anthony had a disposition to dye , or were weary of life , there were waies enough else to death besides that . thus the challenge was rejected , and yet his honour untainted . affectabat jocos , salvo tamen ma●estatis pudorisque respectu . he was very pleasant , and had both an excellent dexterity in breaking of jests , and was very patient likewise in bearing of flouts . * probrosis in se dictis arrisit . he made himself merry with reprochful speeches touching himself , therein manifesting his clemency , and also his wisedome . when he had by proclamation promised a great sum of money to him that should bring in that famous pirate corocota , and put him in his power ; he knowing the emperors mild and pleasant vein , took the boldnesse to come himself , and told him that he was corocota which came to submit himself , and demanded the sum promised to him that should bring him in ; augustus both pardoned him , and gave him the money . dion . macrobius reporteth of him , that when he heard that at the commandment of herod , all the children of syria under two yeares old were slain , and that in the stirre his own son was also slain ; melius est ( inquit ille ) herodis porcum esse quam puerum . i had rather ( saith he ) be herods swine then his son . he commanded herennius a dissolute young man to depart out of the camp , and when he submissively entreated him not to send him home , alledging that he could not tell what to say to his father , he answered , dic me tibi displicuisse , say , that i displeased thee . when pacuvius did petere ab eo congiarium , and said , that it was commonly spoken among men , that he had given him a great deal of money , sed tu , inquit , noli credere . galba , who had a crooked back pleading before him , and often saying , corrige in me si quid reprehendis , if you find any fault in me correct it ; augustus answered , ego te monere possum , corrigere non possum , i can but admonish thee , i cannot correct thee . being entertained by one at a banquet very meanly and sparingly , after all was finished he departed , and at his farewell onely whispered this in his ear , non putabam me tibi tam familiarem , i did not think we had been so familiar . when one tilled the place where his father was buried , he said , hoc verè est monumentum patris colere . he was cholerick by nature , but his patience in bearing of bitter jests deserved much to be commended . a certain countrey-man came to rome , who did much resemble him in outward feature , insomuch that all mens eyes were cast upon him , and augustus hearing of it , caused him to be brought before him , asking him this question , whether his mother had ever been at rome ; the young man answered , no , but his father had oftentimes . he sitting between virgil and horace , being asked by one what he did , answered , sedeo inter suspiria & lachrymas ; per suspiria , intelligens virgilium suspirabundum , & per lachrymas , horatium lippientem . he hearing that a certain gentleman of rome ( who was deeply indebted ) did sleep most securely , desired to buy the bed whereupon he rested ; it seeming a matter of much marvel to him , that one fallen into so deep arrerages could take his rest so well . when a souldier bragged too much of a great scarre in his forehead , he asked him if he did not get it when he looked back as he fled . he wrote a tragedie called ajax , which afterwards ( because it displeased him ) he blotted out with a spunge . therefore when lucius a writer of tragedies , asked him what his ajax did ? caesar very wittily answered , in spongiam incubuit , alluding to the argument of the fable , in which ajax when he knew what things he had spoken and done in his madnesse , lying upon his sword kild himself . besides the pretty allusion unto the fabulous history of ajax , torrentius hath observed in the word spongia a double signification , viz. a spunge called deletilis , which writers had at hand , either to wipe and wash out what misliked them , or to blur and blot the same ; whereupon martial saith of it , vtilis haec quoties scripta novare voles : and also a sword , which addeth the better grace unto the conceit , considering that ajax fell upon his own sword . having conquered his enemy , and returning home victorious , amongst others that came to congratulate his happy conquest , there was one holding a crow , which he had taught to say , ave caesar , victor , imperator , god save the emperour , and conquerer . he wondering to see the bird so officious , gave a great sum of money for him . his fellow workman to whom none of that liberality came , affirmed that he had at home another crow for caesar , which he intreated he might bring ; being brought , he expressed the words which he had learned , ave victor , imperator antoni . the emperour being nothing provoked therewith , thought it sufficient to bid him divide the donative with the other : being saluted in like manner of a parret , he caused him to be bought . this example allured a poor cobler to try whether he could teach a crow to use the like salutation , but he being at great expences in vain , was wont often to say , opera & impensa periit , all my paines and charge is lost ; but at the last the crow began to utter the same salutation , which augustus once hearing as he passed by , he answered , satis domi salutatorum talium hab●o , i have such saluters enough at home . the crow remembred to adde that which he had heard his master complaining say , opera & impensa periit , at which caesar laughed , and gave more for him then any of the rest that he had bought . quis expedivit psittaco suum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ? corvos quis olim concavum salutare , picasque docuit verba nostra conari ? magister artis , ingenique largitor venter , negatas artifex sequi voces . he wrote a bitter satyre against a poet , but he wiped his lips and replved not , saying , periculosum est in eum scribere qui potest proscribere . suetonius writeth of him , that he loved the expressions of the good will of his friends , and especially such as appeared by some legacy given at their death : but yet whatsoever it was , he would return it at one time or other to their children with advantage . he wished three things to his son , the favour of pompey , the boldnesse of alexander , and his own fortune . he was not without his vices , being very impatient , secretly envious , and openly factious , very desirous to rule , and much given to dicing . though he was a man severe enough , yet he did not know the exceeding wantonnesse of iulia his own daughter , and her open and audacious boldnesse ; but suetonius seemes to be of a contrary opinion , for he saith , that he was much ashamed of her , and that once he thought to put her to death . and when a freed woman of his named phoebe , one that was privy to julia's lewdnesse , knit her own neck in a halter , and so ended her daies , he gave it out , that he wisht with all his heart he had been phoeb'es father . out of great indignation against his two daughters , and posthumus agrippa his grand-child , whereof the first two were * infamous , and the last otherwise unworthy , he would say , that they were not his seed , but some impostume broken from him , and he used this verse of them , o utinam aut coelebs mansissem , aut prole carerē ! he was almost peerelesse in his government , yet there are to be found so many misfortunes in his life , that a man cannot easily discern whether he was more miserable , or more happy . bonam mortem putabat celerem & insperatam , quae nulla aegritudine pulsaret fores : so often as he heard of a man that had a quick passage with little sence of grief , he wished for himself and his such euthanasy , such an easie death . he being at the point to dye , thus addressed himself ; called for his looking-glasse , commanded to have his hair and beard combed , et malas labentes corrigi , his riveled cheeks smoothed up ; then asking his friends if he had acted his part well , cum it a responderint , vos omnes igitur , inquit , plaudite . aulus gellius mentioneth , that he sent a letter unto his step-son to this effect , rejoyce with me my son , for i have past over that deadly year and enemy to old age , threescore and three , in which number the sevenths and ninths do concur . he lived fifteen yeers after christ was born , and dyed in his . year . he was beloved of his people , for they erected a statue to musas the physitian who in a sicknesse recovered him , and placed it by aesculapius : and the senate much honoured him being dead , by consecrating temples to him at rome , and in other famous cities , and all the people much lamented his death , using that speech , vtinam aut non nasceretur , aut non moreretur , would he had never been born , or never dyed . paterculus said of the roman empire after augustus death , when there was such hope of enemies , feare of friends , expectation of trouble in all , tanta fuit unius viri majestas , ut nec bonis , neque contra malos opus armis foret● such was the majesty of one man , that his very presence tooke away all use of armes . choyce observations of tiberius caesar . livia his mother , whiles she went with child of him , among many and sundry experiments which she made , and signes that she observed ( and all to know whether she should bring forth a man-child or no ) took closely an egge from under a henne that was sitting , and kept it warm , sometime in her own , otherwhiles in her womans hands by turns one after another , so long untill there was hatched a cock-chicken with a notable combe upon the head . and when he was but a very babe , scribonius the astrologer gave out , and warranted great matters of him , and namely , that he should one day reigne as monarch , but yet without the royall ensignes , for as yet the soveraigne power of the caesars was unknown . he was of personage tall , corpulent , big set and strong , of stature above the ordinary , broad between the shoulders , and large breasted , fair of complexion , great goggle-eyed , whereby he saw so clearly as is incredible to report . he used both hands alike ; * his joynts were so firm , that with his finger he was able to boar through a green and sound table , with a fillop also to break the head of a good big boy ; his speech was exceeding slow , not without a certain wanton gesticulation and fumbling with his fingers . he refused the empire a long time , putting on a most impudent and shamelesse mind , and seeming to rebuke his friends encouraging him thereto , as those who knew not what a monstrous and untamed beast an empire was . he also held the senate in suspence by ambiguous answers , and crafty delayes , when they besought him to take it upon him , yea and humbly debased themselves before his knees , insomuch as some of them could endure him no longer , and one among the rest in that tumult cryed out aloud , let him either doe it at once , or else give over quite ; and another openly to his face upbraided him in these words , caeteri , quod pollicentur tardè praestant , tu quod praestas tardè polliceris . whereas other men be slack in doing and performing that which they have promised , thou art slack in promising that which thou performest . in the end , as if he had been compelled , and complaining withall that there was imposed upon his shoulders a miserable and burdensome servitude , he took the empire upon him . the cause of this holding off and delay that he made , was the fear of imminent dangers on every side , in so much as he would often say , lupum se auribus tenere , he held a wolf by the ears . hee knowing excellently well how to conceal his own private passions , made himself be known to be an excellent doctor in the cunning art of discovering other mens thoughts , by which he may be said to set the roof over the roman monarchy . advertisements from parnassus by bocalini . century . advertis . . see more there . he was very patient when any bad rumours or slanderous libels were cast out , either of himself or those about him , and was wont to say ( how wisely i determine not ) in civitate libera linguam mentemque liberas esse debere , that in a free state men ought to have both tongue and thought free . he taxed the indiscretion of the ilienses comforting him long after the death of his son , with this answer , that he also was very sorry for them , because they had lost that worthy citizen hector , one dead many hundred years before . he was mild and gracious at the first , and seemed to be enclined to the good of the common-wealth : when the presidents and governours abroad gave him counsell to burthen the provinces with heavie tributes and taxes ; he wrote back unto them , boni pastoris est tondere pecus , non deglubere , that it was the part of a good shepheard to shear his sheep , and not to flea them . he held it good policy not to change his officers often , lest new ones succeeding should oppresse the people too much ; whereas the old having meanes to enrich themselves , would not so fleece them in the latter end as at the beginning , making hast to do it , lest they were removed before they could feather their nests well . see montagues acts and monum . of the church . c. . p. . that by his own example he might put forward the publick frugality , he himself at his solemn and festivall suppers , caused oftentimes to be served up to the board viands dressed the day before , and those half eaten , saying , that the side of a wild boar had in it the same of the whole . one there was who called him dominus , that is , sir , but he gave him warning not to name him any more by way of contumely . another chanced to say , his sacred business ; and a third again , that he went into the senate , auctore se , that is , by his warrant or authority . he caused them both to change those words , and for auctore to say suasore , that is , by his advise and counsell ; and in stead of sacred , to put in laborious and painfull . quotidiana oscula prohibuit edicto , item strenarum commercium . he forbad expresly by edict the usuall and daily kisses commonly given and taken , likewise the entercourse of new-yeares gifts to and fro . suetonius writeth of him , that he did iura omnibus ferè asylis adimere , take away the priviledge of almost all their sanctuaries , because he observed the licentious abuse of them . at length he discovered those vices , which with much adoe for a long time he had cloaked and concealed . he was very cruell , covetous , and libidinous . he spent with flaccus pomponius and l. piso , a whole night and two dayes ou●right in nothing else but eating and drinking ; giving the province of syria into the government of the first , and conferring the provostship of rome on the other , professing even in all his letters , that they were jucundissimi , & omnium horarum amici , his most pleasant companions , and friends at all assaies . propter nimiam vini aviditatem , for his excessive love of wine and hot waters , or because he loved to drink wine hot , which is delicate , * he was for tiberius named biberius , for claudius , caldius , for nero , mero . one gives this reason of his drunkennesse , because his nurse that gave him suck would drink exceedingly her self , and nourished him with sops soaked in wine . a lombard , for drinking in his presence three gallons of wine at one dr●ught , and before he took his breath again , was dubbed knight by him , and sirnamed tricongius , the three-gallon knight . he erected a new office , à voluptatibus , for the devising of new pleasures , wherein he placed priscus a gentleman of rome , and one who had been censor . he advanced sejanus to the highest place of authority , not so much for any good will , as to be his instrument for the accomplishing his wicked purposes . he put to death a souldier one of his own guard , for stealing a peacock out of a garden . theodorus gadareus his master observing his bloody disposition , called him , lutum sanguine maceratum , a lump of clay soaked in blood ; these verses were cast out of him : fastidit vinum , quia jam suit iste cruorem ; ●am bibit hunc avidè , quàm bibit antè merum . he loat●eth wine , and now he aft●r blood doth thirst ; drinkes this as greedily as wine he drank at first . he thought simple death so light a punishment , that when he heard that carnul●us one of the prisoners had laid violent hands on himself , he cryed out , carnulius me evas●t , carnulius hath escaped my hands . his saying was , oderint dum probent , let them hate me so long as they suffer my proceedings to passe . nullus à poena hominum cessavit dies , ne religiosus quidem ac sacer . there passed not a day over his head , no not so much as any festivall and religious holy day , without execution and punishment of some : many were accused and condemned , together with their children and wives . straight commandment was given , that ●he near kinsfolkes of such persons as were condemned to dye should not mourn and lament for them . no informer and promoter was discredited , but his prefentment taken , and every crime and trespasse was accounted capitall . he said to one that requested death rather than long imprisonment , nondum tecum redii in gratiam , thou art not yet reconciled to me that i should shew thee such favour . because virgins by a received custome were not to be strangled ; he caused the hangman first to defloure a virgin , and then to strangle her . among other kinds of torment he devised , that when men had drunk largely of strong wine , their privy parts should be fast bound with lute-strings , that so for want of means to avoid their urine , they might indure intollerable pain . faelicem priamum vocabat , quod superstes omnium suorum extitisset . he called priamus happy , in that he over-lived all his sons and daughters . he feared thunder exceedingly , and when the air or weather was any thing troubled , he ever carried a chaplet or wreath of lawrell about his neck , because that ( as pliny reporteth ) is never blasted with lightning . he loved liberall sciences most affectionately , he would do things better of a sudden , ex tempore , then upon study and premeditation , repentinis responsionibus aut consiliis melior , quàm meditatis . he was much addicted to astrologicall predictions , and such curious arts , so that the greater part of those things which he executed in all his life time was ordered thereby ; he gave the more credit to divination , because in certain things he had found the conjectures correspondent to truth . he seeing galba one day coming towards him , spake thus of him to certain of his familiars , behold the man that shall be one day honoured with the roman empire . he made a law called lex papia , by which he forbad sucl . men as were past sixty , or women past fifty to marry , as thinking them i●sufficient for generation ; to which lactanti●s seemes to allude , thus jesting at the heathen touching their great god jupiter ; how cometh it to passe , that in your poets , salacious jupiter begets no more children ? is he past sixty , and restrained by the papian law ? many of the roman caesars have been transported with self-admiration , they have shared the months of the year among them ; april must be neroneus , may claudius , domitian will have october , november is for tiberius , by the same token , that when it was tendered to him , he askt the senatewittily ( as xiphiline reports it ) what they would do when they should have more then twelve caesars ? it is called the sea of tiberias , iohn . ● . from a city on the bank of it , of that name , built by herod , in honour of tiberius caesar , as josephus writeth in the . book of his jewish antiquities . livie and ovid dyed in the fourth year of tiberius . pilate by letters signified unto him the miracles of our saviour christ , his resurrection , and that he was supposed of many to be god. the romans had a law , forbidding any emperour to consecrate or set up any god which was not first approved by the senate ; for tiberius caesar hearing of christs fame , by vertue of that law moved the senate to promulgate and relate christ among the number of their gods , who rejected him because he would be god alone , or because contrary to the law of the romans he was consecrated for god , before the senate of rome had so declared and approved him ; whose folly tertullian thus scoffeth ; apud vos de humano arbitrio divinitas pensitatur , nisi homini deus placuerit , non erit deus , homo jam deo propitius esse debet , that god should be god if man would let him . josephus a jew , and an enemy to christ , in his . book of antiquities , c. . speakes the same things of christ that matthew doth ; that he was a most worthy man , if it be lawfull to call him a man ( said he , ) that he wrought many miracles , and that he rose from the dead . tacitus and suetonins speak of his miracles , tacitus l. . annal. c. . affirmes that he was crucified under pilate in the time of tiberius , and that tiberius would have put him in the number of his gods . plutarch de interitu orac. reports , that under the reigne of tiberius all the oracles of the world ceased , of which the poets bear witnesse , — cessant oracula delphis . iuv. sat. . plutarch also in the same book reports , that in the later yeares of the reigne of tiberius , a strange voice and exceeding horrible clamours , with hideous cries , screetches and howlings were heard by many in the grecian sea , complaining that the great god pau was now departed . and this was brought before the emperour , who marvelled greatly thereat , and could not by all his diviners and soothsayers whom he called to that consultation , be able to gather out any reasonable meaning of this wonderfull accident : but christians may perswade themselves , that by the death of their great god pan ( which signifies all ) was imported the utter overthrow of all wicked spirits . john . . our lord was crucified in the . year of his reigne , say * tertullian and * lactantius . but luke the evangelist , . c. . v. maketh his baptisme to fall in the . year of tiberius his reigne . so then his passion must be in the . or . for three yeares he preached salvation . jerome and eusebius . the fear of losing his office under tiberius caesar , ( whose deputy he was over the province of judaea , ) made pilate condemn christ , john . . . but not long after , he lost his deputy-ship and caesars favour , and fled to vienna , where living in banishment he killed himself ; euseb. hist. l. . c. . matth. . . our saviour saith , render unto caesar the things that are caesars . the money declared the subjection of their nation ; as if he should have said , if you think it absurd to pay tribute , be not subject to the roman empire ; but the money declareth that caesar reigneth over you , and your own secret allowance declareth that the liberty which you pretend , is lost and taken away . ierome on the place doth well observe , that the name of caesar is not proper , but appellative , because from the first emperour iulius caesar all the rest were so called . yet saith gerhard in his harmony , christ properly understands tiberius who then ruled , whose image the money did bear ; to that wicked emperour tribute was due ; so that charge tim. . . was given by paul , even then when caesar was a persecutor of the christian religion . austin tells us , he that gave soveraignty to augustus , gave it also to nero ; he that gave it to the vespatians father and son , sweetest emperours , gave it also to domitian that bloody monster , de civit . dei. l. . c. . tiberius approved of the christians opinions , and threatned death to them which accused them : this came to passe ( saith * eusebius ) by divine providence , that the doctrine of the gospel having no rubbe at the first , might run over the whole world . dion writes , that ●a phoenix was seen before the last year of tiberius , which bird is an embleme of the resurrection , and signifieth that at that time christ rose from the dead , and that the gospel was then spread abroad , which affirmeth that the dead shall rise again . charion . chron. he dyed in the . year of his age , say suetonius , tacitus , and aurel. vict. . saith eutropius . it was thought he was poysoned . he raigned . yeares say eutropius , suetonius , orosius . . saith aurel. vict. . yeares , . moneths , and . dayes , tertull. . yeares , clem. alexand. . yeares , . moneths , and so many dayes , saith dion , . yeares and six moneths , iose●hus . he raigned . yeares and . moneths ; but the reason of the different computation , why some give unto him but . years , some . some but . is , because some count onely the full yeares , some the moneths of his first and last year for whole yeares , some put the odde moneths together , and make one year of them . he raigned after our saviours passion . years , . moneths , and . dayes . the people joyed so much at his death , that running up and down at the first tidings thereof , some cryed out in this note , tiberium in tiberim , let tiberius be cast into tiber ; some offered sacrifices when they heard of it , and one meeting with his master in some publick place , told him in the hebrew tongue , the lion was dead . choyce observations of caivs caligvla . some say this name of caligula was given him , for a certain kind of shooe called caliga , used among men of warre , and worn by him ; or he got it by occasion of a merry word taken up in the camp , because he was brought up there in the habit of an ordinary and common souldier among the rest . cajus , cognomen caligae cui castra dederunt . ausonius . he carried himself well before he was emperour , so that it was said of him , nec servum meliorem ullum , nec deteriorem dominum fuisse . there was never a better servant , and a worse master . he was very tali of stature , pale and wan-coloured , of body somewhat grosse and unfashionable , his eyes sunk in his head , and his temples were hollow , his fore-head was broad , the hair of his head grew thin , in all parts else he was hairy and shagged , and therefore it was a capitall offence , either to look upon him as he passed by , from an higher place , or once but to name a * goat upon any occasion whatsoever . his face and visage being naturally stern and grim , he made of purpose more crabbed and hideous ; composing and dressing it in a looking-glasse , all manner of waies to seem more terrible , and to strike greater fear . being clad oftentimes with a cloake of needle-work , and embroidered with divers colours , and the same set out with precious stones ; in a coat also with long sleeves , and wearing bracelets withall , he would come abroad into the city . on a time esteeming it a thing correspondent to his greatnesse who was emperor , to exact that superiority on the sea , which was answerable to his soveraignty on the land , being to crosse the sea between puteoli a city in campania , and misenum another maritime town , he caused a bridge to be built betwixt one cape of the sea unto another , for the space of three miles and more , on which he commanded himself to be drawn in a chariot , as if it were answerable to his dignity . some are of opinion that he invented such a kind of bridge in emulation of xerxes , who not without the wonder of the world , made a bridge of planks over hellespont an arm of the sea , somewhat narrower than this : others , that by a bruit blazed abroad of some huge and monstrous piece of work , hee might terrifie germany and britain , upon which countries hee meant to make warre . he maintained his reputation with his grand-father tiberius , by no meanes but this ; he shadowed his cruell mind with subtill modesty , and shewed not discontent either for the condemnation of his mother , or the banishment of his brethren : pari habitu semper cum tiberio , hand multum distantibus verbis , he did imitate him in his apparell , in his words , in all things as near as possibly he could . he succeeded tiberius in the empire , but in cruelty farre exceeded him . thus farre forth as of a prince ( saith suetonius , ) relate we must as of a monster . he usurped the name of a god , commanding his subjects to dignifie him with more then humane honours ; and ascending the capitol , which among all he temples in rome is most religiously honoured , he was so bold as to salute jupiter , and to call him brother . — divûmque sibi poscebat honores . he sent petronius with an army to ierusalem , commanding him to set his statue in the temple , and if the jewes refused to receive it , that those who withstood him he should put to the sword , and lead the rest captive ; but partly by petronius his prudence , and through aristobulus his intercession with him , and king agrippa's with caligula , it was hindered . the like is in the . lib. of tacitus , where he thus writeth of the jewes , sub tiberio quies , deinde jussi a caio caesare effigiem ejus in templo locare , arma potius sumpsere ; quem motum mors caesaris diremit . he gave it out openly , that his own mother was begotten by incest which augustus committed with his own daughter iulia. he caused his brother tiberius to be slain , and reserved his uncle claudius ( who was his successour in the empire ) for nothing else , but to make him his laughing-stock . many of honourable rank were by him put to death , and sawed asunder in the midst , because they had no good opinion of his shewes , or had not sworn by his genius . an ordinary thing it was at rome to swear by the genius , as also by the fortune , and the health of their emperours . and what a devout oath was this , per genium , that is , the spirit or superintendent angell of the prince ? which i take to be as much as his own good self , as appeareth by tertullian , citius apud vos per omnes deos , quam per genium principis , peseratur , doct. holland in annotat. in sueton. he forced parents to be present at the execution of their own children . and when one father excused himself by reason of sicknesse , he sent a litter for him . another of them immediately after the heavy spectacle of his son put to death , he invited to his own board , made him great cheer , and by all manner of courtesie provoked him to jocondnesse and mirth . when his grand-mother antonia seemed to give him some admonition , memento , ait , omnia mihi in omnes licere . when he had at one time condemned a sort of frenchmen and greeks together , he made his boast , that he had subdued gallo-graecia , a nation mixt of french and greekes . after he had well drunk and eaten , hee took pleasure to cast his friends into the sea , from on high from a bridge which he built at puteoli before mentioned , and caused many to be drowned which sought to save them . dion . lib. . of his hist. suetonius in calig . cap. . he would not permit any to suffer death , but after many strokes given , and those very softly . his command being generally and commonly known , ita seri ut se mori sentiat , strike so , that they may feel themselves dying , and endure the paines of an enduring death . iie executed on a time one whom he had not appointed to dye , by errour only , and mistaking his name : but it makes no matter , quoth he , for even he also hath deserved death . a certain citizen of praetors degree , desired oftentimes from the retiring place where he was at anticyra ( into which isle he went for his healths sake ) to have his licence continued ; but he gave order he should be killed outright , adding these words therewith , that blood-letting was necessary for him who in so long time had found no good by hellebore , that is , by purging . being highly displeased upon a time with the multitude , for favouring the contrary faction to his , would god ( quoth he ) that the people of rome had but one neck , meaning to chop them off at one blow ; vox carnifice quàm imperatore dignior . xiphil . a speech fitter for an hang-man then an emperour : over whom the people of rome afterward insulted , being kild by chareas . he was wont openly to complain of the unhappy condition of his time wherein he lived , as not renowned by any publick calamities ; that his government was like to be forgotten by the calm and prosperous current of all things , and therefore he would often wish for the overthrow of his armies , famine , pestilence , fire , earthquakes , and the like . nonnunquam horreis praelusis populo famem indixit . he proclaimed a famine without scarcity . while he was at his recreations and disports , he practised the same cruelty both in word and deed ; oftentimes as he sate at dinner , some were examined upon the rack in his presence , and others had their heads struck off . his saying was , oderint dum metuant , let them hate me , so they fear me . being one day very free at a great feast , he suddenly brake forth into a great laughter , and the consuls who were next him , demanding whereat he laughed so , his answer was , quid , nisi uno meo nutu jugulari utrumque vestrûm statim posse ? at what else ( quoth he ) but this , that with one nod of my head i can have both your throats cut immediately ? as oft as he kissed the neck of his wife or concubine , he would commonly adde , tam bona cervix , simulac jussero , demetur . as fair and lovely a neck as this is , off it shall go if i do but speak the word . he complained of the iniquity of the time , that one doubting to be poysoned of him , did take counterpoison , or a remedy against it ; what sayes he , antidotum adversus caesarem ? is there any antidote against caesar ? his cruelty ( as dion saith ) was not imputed to his father or mother , but to his nurce , which was a most cruell woman herself , and used to rub her breast nipple with blood , causing him to suck it ; which he practised also afterwards , for he did not onely delight in the committing of many murders , but through his insatiable desire of blood , would with his tongue suck and lick of the blood that stuck upon the sword or dagger . videtur natura edidisse , ( saith seneca ) ut ostenderet quid summa vitia in summa fortuna possent . nature seemed to have brought him forth , to shew what effects the greatest vices joyned with the greatest fortune could produce . and it may justly be verified of his times , what senecca saith in another place , res humanas sub illo in eum statum decidisse , ut inter misericordiae opera haberetur occidi . under him things were brought to that passe , as it was reckoned amongst the workes of mercy to be slain . de quo nescio an decuerit memoriae prodi , nisi sorte quia juvat de principibus nosse omnia , ut improbi saltem famae metu talia declinent . concerning whom ( saith aurel. victor ) i know not whether it shall be meet to have recorded any thing , but that peradventure it is expedient to know all things of princes , that wicked men at least with fear of the report may decline such things . he was very expert in the greek , and vulgar roman tongues . he was also of a fluent speech , and if he had been to plead and declaime against one , when he was angry once , he had both words and sentences at will : when he was about to make an oration , his manner was to threaten in these termes , viz. that he would draw forth and let drive at his adversary , the keen weapon and dart of his night-study by candle-light . he would have removed the writings of virgi● and livie out of all libraries ; he said , virgil was a man of no wit , and very mean learning , and taxed livie of verbosity , and negligence in penning his history . he said , seneca's works were arena sine calce , sand without lime , because he often spoke short sentences , having no connexion amongst themselves . nepotinis sumptibus omnium prodigorum ingenia superavit . in riotous and wastfull expences he exceeded the wits and inventions of all the prodigall spend-thrifts that ever were , inventing most monstrous kinds of meats , and making sumptuous feasts . he would drink off most precious and costly pearls dissolved in vinegar . luxus fuit portentosi , ut qui etiam panes deauratos habuerit . he spent in one year two millions , and . of sestertiums . he would set before his guests , loaves of bread and other viands all of * gold , saying commonly withall , aut frugi hominem esse oportere , aut caesarem , that a man must either be frugall , or else caesar. he held the wills of great men as void and of no effect , in case any person would come forth and say , that they purposed and intended at their death to make caesar their heir ; he declared also by an edict , that he would receive new-yeares gifts , and so he stood the first day of ianuary in the entrie of his house , ready to take what pieces of money soever came , which the multitude of all sects and degrees , with full hands and bosomes powred out before him ; nay , he took such delight in handling of mony , that oftentimes he would both walk bare-footed up and down , yea , and wallow also a good while with his whole body upon huge heapes of coyned pieces of gold spread here and there in a most large open place . there were in his secret cabinet found two bookes , bearing divers titles . the one had for the inscription , gladius , the sword ; the other , pugio , i. e. the dagger , or rapier ; they contained both of them the markes and names of such as were appointed unto death . there was found beside , a big chest full of divers and sundry poisons , which soon after being by claudius drowned in the sea , infected and poisoned the same , and many fishes were killed therewith , which the tide cast into the next shores . he set light by the gods , and threatned the aire if it rained upon his game-players , quanta dementia fuit ? putavit aut sibi noceri ne a iove quidem posse , aut se nocere & iovi posse . senec. de ira. lib. . cap. . how great madnesse was it to think that either iupiter could not hurt him , or that himself could hurt jupiter ? yet notwithstanding at the least thunder and lightning he used to wink close with both eyes , to enwrap also and cover his whole head ; but if the same were greater and somewhat extraordinary , he would start out of his bed , and hide himself under the bed-sted . dion reporteth of two , that when the emperour was sick , thinking to get much as a reward for their great love to the emperour , vowed , that on condition he might live , they themselves would dye to excuse him ; he recovering , afterward took them at their word , and put them to death , least they should break their vow , and prove perjured persons . having recalled one from exile which had been long banished , he demanded of him , what he was wont to do there ? who made answer thus by way of flattery , i prayed ( quoth he ) to the gods alwayes , that tiberius ( as now it is come to passe ) might perish , and you become emperour . hereupon caligula thinking that those whom he had banished prayed likewise for his death , sent about into the islands to kill them every one . sueton. in taking the review of goales , and prisoners therein , as they were sorted to their offences , he without once looking upon the title and cause of their imprisonment , standing onely within a gallery , commanded that all in the midst , à calvo ad calvunt , that is , from one bald pate to another , should be led forth to execution . sueton. he was murthered at last himself , who had put so many to death . he lived . years saith suetonius , . eutropius . he reigned three years , ten moneths , and eight dayes , say suetonius and eutropius ; four years say clemens , tacitus , and sextus aurel. four years , ten moneths , and eight dayes , saith beda ; three years , nine moneths , . dayes , saith dion ; three years , eight moneths , and thirteen dayes , saith tertullian ; three years , six moneths , iosephus ; three years , nine moneths , . dayes saith epiphanius : but the whole time of his reigne was three yeares , ten moneths , and eight dayes . they which give to him full four yeares , count the odde moneths and dayes for a whole year . valerius asiaticus , who had been consul , came forth among the people , who were in an uproar because of the rumours of the emperours death , & supposing it a strange matter that no man knew who had slain the emperour , whilst every one enquired who it was that had done the deed , o , said he , would it had been i that had done it ! his death concerned the security of the lawes , and the safety of all men ; and had he not been speedily cut off , our nation ( saith iosephus ) almost had been utterly exterminated . his monies were all melted by the decree of the senate ; as king richard the thirds cognizance the white bore was torn from every signe , that his monument might perish . speed. choyce observations of clavdivs caesar . after the death of caligula , certain souldiers in a hurry going to plunder the pallace , one perceiving the feet of a man hidden in a hole , plucks him out by the heeles ; this proves to be claudius , who falling on his knees , and desiring his life might be spared , the souldiers lift him on their shoulders , and proclaim him emperour ; this took so with the multitude , that the senate for their own safety were fain to give way unto it . in the fiftieth year of his age he attained to the empire , and he was the first of all the caesars , that obliged unto him the souldiers fealty by a fee and reward . his mother antonia was wont to call him , portentum hominis , the monster , and fantasticall shape of a man , as if he had not been finished , but onely begun by nature ; and if she reproved any one for his foolishnesse , she would say , he was more sottish then her son claudius . he was personable , and carried a presence not without authority and majesty . his countenance was lively , his gray haires beautifull , which became him well , with a good fat and round neck under them ; yet many things disgraced him , viz. undecent laughter , and unseemly anger , by reason that hee would froth and slaver at the mouth , and had evermore his nose dropping , his head continually shaking , somewhat stammering in his speech . he was inhumane towards strangers , and made an edict forbidding all strangers , romanorum gentilitia nomina ferre , to be called by the roman names . sueton. he commanded all jewes to depart from rome , acts . . the jewes ( saith suetonius ) who by instigation of one * chrestus , were evermore tumultuous , he banished rome . acts . . there is mention made of a great dearth throughout all the world , which came to passe in the dayes of claudiu● caesar , of which famine eusebius , * iosephus , * tacitus , and suetonius likewise speak . there was a woman that would not acknowledge her own son , and when by evidences and arguments alledged pro & contra on both sides , the question rested in equall ballance doubtfull , he awarded that she should be wedded to the young man ; and so forced her to confesse the truth , and to take him for her child . one cryed out upon a forger of writings , and required that both his hands might be cut off ; he made no more ado , but forthwith called instantly to have the hangman sent for , with his chopping-knife and butchers block to do the deed . the lawyers were wont to abuse his patience so much , that as he was going down from the judgement seat , they would not only call upon him to come back again , but also take hold of his gown-lappet and skirt , yea and some while catch him by the foot , and so hold him still with them : one of the graecian lawyers pleading before him , in earnest altereation used these words , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , et tu senex es & stultus . thou art both old and fool besides . claudius invisae privato in tempore vitae , in regno specimen prodidit ingenii . libertina ferens nuptarumque improba facta , non faciendo nocens , sed patiendo fuit . hee gave this counsell to a libidinous young man , si non castè tamen cautè . and his symbole was , generis virtus nobilitas . he was very forgetfull ; when messaliua was ( by his own commandment ) killed ▪ within a while after he asked , cur domina non veniret ? why his lady came not to him ? many of those whom he had condemned , the very morrow immediatly after he sent for , to hear him company at dice-play . one of his guests , who was thought to have closely stollen away a cup of gold the day before , he re-invited againe the morrow , and then set before him a stone-pot to drink in . it is reported that he meant to set forth an edict , quo veniam daret flatum crepitumque ventris in convivio emittendi , wherein he would give folk leave to break wind downward , and let it go even with a crack at the very board ; having certain intelligence , that there was one who for manners and modesty sake , by holding it in endangered his own life . hence the epigramme , edicto vetuit crepitus ructusque teneri claudius : ô medici principis imperium ! he played at dice most earnestly , ( concerning the art and skill whereof he published also a little book ) being wont to ply the game even whiles he was carried up and down , having his caroch and diceboard so fitted , as there might be no confusion nor shufling at all in play . he was very timorous and pusillanimous at his first coming to the empire ; he durst not for certain dayes go to any feast , without pensioners standing about him with their spears and javelins , and his souldiers waiting at the table ; neither visited he any sick person , unlesse the bed-chamber where the party lay was first searched : he would scarce suffer attendants and clarkes to carry their pen-sheaths , and pen-knife-cases . he concealed not his foolishnesse , but gave it out , and protested in certain short orations , that he counterfeited himself a fool for the nonce during caius dayes , because otherwise he should not have escaped , nor attained to the imperiall place which he aimed at , and was then entred upon . he sailed beyond britain , and subdued the orcades , added them to the roman empire , and called his sons name , * britannicus . he was not uneloquent , nor unlearned , but was rather a great student in the liberall sciences . hee wrote histories , livie being his tutor . he had good skill in the greek tongue , professing as any occasion was offered , his affectionate love to it , and the excellency thereof . when a certain barbarian discoursed in greek and latine ; see you be skilfull ( quoth he ) in both our languages . it was generally thought that he was killed by poison ; and it was a just judgement of god upon him , for hee was so gluttonous and insatiable in eating and drinking , that he thought no time or place sufficient thereto ; and ever did eat so much , that most commonly surfeiting , he used vomits to di●charge his stomack , putting a feather into his throat ; in which feather some authors affirm that poison was given him . the virgin mary dyed in his time , in the . year of her age , saith nicephorus . he lived . yeares , say some : . yeares , . months , and . dayes , saith casaubon . he reigned . yeares , . moneths , and . dayes , say dio , and josephus . he reigned . yeares , according to tacitus , suetonius , clem. alexand. eutrop. orosius . . yeares . moneths , and . dayes after eusebius . . yeares , . moneths , and . dayes after beda . but the whole time of his reigne was . yeares , . moneths , and . dayes . they which do give unto him . yeares , doe count the odde moneths for a whole year . choyce observations of nero caesar . nero was a proper name ( which noted vertue and fortitude , of that greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sinews , being the conjunction and strength of the members ) and such persons also were of the romans called neroes , as excelled others in the most egregious fortitude and noble vertues . afterward when this tyrant nero ( who descended of the claudii which were sabines ) had degenerated from all the heroicall vertues of his ancestors , and became so bloody and cruell , hee gave occasion to posterity to change that proper name into a name appellative , so that they called them that were cruell nerones , and those that were more cruell neroniores . when domitius his friends by way of gratulation wished him joy of his son new born , he said , that of himself and agrippina there could nothing come into the world but accursed , detestable , and to the hurt of the weal publick . of stature he was indifferent , within a little of . foot ; his body full of speckles , and freckles , and foul of skin besides . the haire of his head somewhat yellow , his countenance and visage rather faire then lovely , and well-favoured . his eyes gray and dimme , his neck full and fat , his body bearing out , and his legges slender and small . he began his reigne with a glorious shew of piety and kindnesse . those tributes and taxes which were any thing heavy , he either quite abolished or abated . whensoever he was put in mind to subscribe , and set his hand to a warrant for the execution of any person condemned to dye , he would say , quàm vellem nescïre literas ! o that i knew not one letter of the book ! seneca his tutor did much extoll that speech of his , as if it had proceeded from a pitifull heart . he was framed by nature , and practised by custome ( saith tacitus ) to cloake hatred with flattering speeches . many times he saluted all the degrees of the city one after another , by rote and without book . when the senate upon a time gave him thankes , he answered , cùm meruero , do so when i shall deserve . his quinquennium or first five yeares were such , that trajan himself is said to have admired , using this speech , procul differre cunctos principes neronïs quinquennio . but it is thought that it was rather the reigne of his governours seneca and burrhus , then properly his . he delighted exceedingly in musick , and would shew his skill upon the open stage , often using the greek proverb , that hidden musick was nought worth . all the while he was singing , it was not lawfull for any person to depart out of the theatre , were the cause never so necessary . it is reported , that some great-bellied woman falling into travail , were delivered upon the very scaffolds ; yea , and many men besides weary of tedious hearing , and praysing him , when the town gates were shut , either by stealth lept down from the walles , or counterfeiting themselves dead , were carried forth as co●ses to be buried . but how timorously , with what thought and anguish of mind , with what emulation of his concurrents , and fear of the umpires he strove for mastery , it is almost incredible . he never durst once spit , and reach up flegm , and he wiped away the very sweat of his forehead with his arm onely . there was a boy named sporus , whose genitories he cut off , and assayed thereby to transform him into the nature of a woman : then he caused him to be brought unto him , as a bride without a dowry , in a fine yellow vaile after the solemn manner of marriage , not without a goodly traine attending upon him , whom he maintained as a wise ; whereupon one brake this witty jest , that it would have been happy for the world , if domitius ( his father ) had wedded s●ch a wife . he said jestingly of claudius , that he left morari inter homines , with a long syllable , meaning that he spent his dayes foolishly . epulas à medio die ad mediam noctem protrahebat . he held out his feasts from noon-day till mid-night . * he was very profuse and prodigall in expences , he never put on the same garment twice ; when he played at hazard , he ventered no lesse then . pounds at a cast , upon every point or prick of the chance . he fished with a golden net , drawn and knit with cords twisted of purple , and crimson silk in grain . when he made any journey , he never had under ▪ caroches in his train , his mules were shod with silver , but in no one thing was he more wastful then in building . * his house was so large that it contained three galleries of a mile a piece in length , and a standing poole like unto a sea , and the same inclosed round about with buildings in form of cities . it was laid all over with gold , garnished with precious stones , and mother of pearl . he said , he now at length began to live like a man : and himself named it , domum auream , a golden house . his mother agrippina being with child with him , went to consult with the chaldeans or south-sayers about her son ; they answered her , that he should reigne , but kill his mother ; but she being very ambitious slighted that , saying , occidat modò imperet , let him kill mee so he may be king. this was accomplished afterwards , for he caused his mother to be murdered , and not onely so , but ( which was more horrible ) he took an axact view of her dead body , and beheld it crowner-like , saying , he did not think he had had so faire a mother . his father he poisoned , he slew his brother germanicus , and his sister antonia , and both his wives poppaea and octavia , his aunt domitia , his son in law rufinus , and his instructers , seneca and lucan . there was no kind of affinity , and consanguinity , were it never so near , but it felt the weight of his deadly hands . the first persecution was under him in the . year of his reigne . tertullian calls him , dedicator damnationis nostrae , i. e. the first that made a law to condemne christians to death . * tertullian , * eusebius , * lactantius , * and others say , that he put peter and paul to death . paulus à nerone ( saith eusebius ) romae capite truncatus , & petrus palo assixus scribuntur ; & historiae huic fidem facit , quod illic coemiteria habentur in quibus petri & pauli nun cupatio ad hunc usque diem obtinet . chrys. and theophyl . upon the fourth chapter of the second to timothy , alledge this to be the cause wherefore he put paul to death , because paul had converted to the christian faith nero's butler , whom he made great account of , thereupon he commanded him to be beheaded ; others say , it was because he converted one of nero his concubines , which afterward refused to company with him ; but we need assigne no other cause of nero's rage against the apostle , then that which eusebius and jerome both do touch , the cruelty of that bloody tyrant joyned with a wicked detestation of the christian faith. his cruelty is by paul compared to the mouth of a lion , tim. . . but here then ariseth an objection , how paul should suffer under him , when he saith there , that he was delivered ? therefore paul was his prisoner twice , he was set at liberty after his first imprisonment at rome , phil. . . philem. . heb. . . tim. . . . the reason is thus alledged by eusebius ; neronem in principio imperii mitiorem fuisse , that nero in the beginning of his empire was more gentle , and mild , but afterward when paul was taken again , nero then being become a most cruell tyrant , caused him to be put to death . he dyed in the . year of nero's reigne , and the . year after the passion of christ. seneca disswaded him from killing some , with this speech , licet ( saith he ) quàm plurimos occidas , tamen non potes successorem tuum occidere . xiphiline . although thou killest very many , yet thou canst not kill thy successor . the tyrannous rage of this emperour was so fierce against the christians ( as eusebius reporteth ) usque adeò ut videret repletas humanis corporibus civitates , jacentes mortuos simul cum parvulis senes , faeminarumque absque ulla sexus reverentia in publico rejecta starent cadavera , i. e. insomuch that a man might then see cities lye full of mens bodies , the old lying there with the young , and the dead bodies of women cast out naked , without all reverence of that sex , in the open streets . in this persecution also james the greater , and the lesse , philip , bartholomew , barnabas , mark , suffered . christians were covered in wild beasts skins , and torn in pieces with dogs , or fastned on crosses , or burnt in fire ; and when the day failed , they were burnt in the night , to make them serve as torches to give light . they put a pitched coat upon the christians to make them burn the better , called tunica molesta , a troublesome coat . sulpitius severus observes this of nero ( in the . book of his history ) that it was his own bad life which made him hate christians ; for he still thought they censured him , and could not but expect what they knew he deserved . he caused rome to be set on fire in twelve places together , that he might the better conceive the flames of troy , singing unto it homer's verses , and being a pleasant spectator thereof , as at a feu-de-joy . ad levandam sceleris atrocitatem ( saith polyd. * virgil ) to avoyd the infamy thereof , he laid the fault on the innocent , and suborned some falsly to accuse the christians , as authors of that fire ; whereupon hee put many of them to death : but tacitus will clear them , who yet was their enemy . non perinde ( saith hee ) crimine incendii , quàm odio humani generis convicti sunt . suetonius ( being no christian ) calleth the christians men of new and pernicious superstition : affl●cti suppliciis christiani , ( saith he ) genus hominum superstitionis novae & malesicae . under nero to do ill was not alwaies safe , alwaies unsafe to do well . he was so hatefull an adversary to all righteousnesse , that eusebius following the example and words of tertullian , affirmeth , that if the gospel had not been an excellent thing , it had not been condemned by nero. he was ( as augustine * witnesseth ) commonly reputed antichrist . he came into the world an agrippa , or born with his feet forward , and turn'd the world upside down before he went out of it . in him alone all the corruptions which had been ingendred in rome , from the birth of rome till his own daies , seemed drawn together into one impostume or boyl . when one in common talk upon a time chanced to say , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . when vitall breath is fled from me , let earth with fire mingled be . nay rather , quoth hee , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , whiles vitall spirit remaines in me . he had a desire ( though it were foolish and inconsiderate ) of eternity and perpetuall fame , and therefore abolishing the old names of many things and places , he did put upon them new after his own . he called the moneth april neroneus , he meant also to have named rome neropolis , nero's city . he pronounced an oration composed by seneca : it was observed , that he was the first emperour that needed another mans eloquence ; for julius caesar was equall with the famous orators ; and augustus had a ready , fluent , and eloquent speech , such as well became a prince ; tiberius had great skill in weighing his words ; yea , caligula's troubled mind hindered not his eloquence ; neither wanted claudius elegancy , when he had premeditated . the study of nero was versification , which tacitus thinks he borrowed , having no gift therein at all ; but suetonius ( who often doth disagree with tacitus , though unnamed ) both proves he had , and proves it well : it was one of his exercises to translate greek tragedies into latine , who made true tragedies in blood , such as even the greekes never feigned . nothing netled him more then when he was blamed by vindex for an unskilfull musician : he said of himself a little before his death , qualis artifex pereo ? what an excellent artisan do i dye ? meaning of his skill in playing of tragedies ; as indeed his whole life and death was all but one tragedy . vespasian asked apollonius , what was nero's overthrow ? he answered , nero could touch and tune the harp well , but in government sometimes he u●ed to winde the pinnes too high , and sometimes to let them down too low ; thereby intimating , that he applyed corrosives where gentle lenitives would have served the turn , and again he applyed lenitives where corrosives were needfull . additum nomine neronis donativum militi , congiarium plebi . tacit. . annal. the princes liberalities to the souldiers were called donativa , ( which they bestowed , upon some great victory , or rather extraordinary occasion ; ) to the people , or otherwise to his friends , congiaria ; doubtlesse because at the first certain measures called congii , of wine or oyl were bestowed , and afterwards other things were given , yet the ancient name remained . vindex first stirred the stone , which rowling tumbled nero out of his seat . when it was told iulius vindex , that nero by publick edict had prized his head at . thousand sesterces , ( that is above four-score thousand pounds in our coine , ) well , quoth he again , and he that kils nero , and brings me his head , shall have mine in exchange . qui neronem interfecerit , & ad me caput ejus attulerit , is meum accipiet caput in mercedis loco . xiphilin . nero consulting the delphick ( or rather divellish ) oracle , he received this answer , that he should take heed of the year . which he supposing to be meant of his own age , rested secure , being farre short of it ; but he was deluded by the ambiguous construction of those words , and so fell into the hands of galba , a man indeed of those yeares . at last the senate proclaiming him a publick enemy unto mankind , condemned him to be drawn through the city , and to be whipped to death ; which sentence when he heard of , finding no man to strike him , and exclaiming against them all , what , have i neither friend nor foe ? ( said he ) i have lived dishonourably , let me dye shamefully ; and then he strake himself through with his own sword , and was a horrible spectacle to all beholders . he dyed in the . year of his age , saith suetonius ; and . year of his reigne , say tacitus , clem. alexand. eusebius , and eutropius , the very day of the year on which he had murdered his wife octavia ; and by his death brought so great joy unto the people generally , that the commons wore caps to testifie their freedom recovered , and ran sporting up and down throughout the city . some say that nero is yet alive ( saith baronius out of sueton ▪ and severus ) although he did thrust himself through with a sword , yet some think that his wounds were healed , and that he survived according to that in the rev. . . and that he shall be antichrist ; but bellarmine himself saith , it is a presumptuous folly to say that nero shall be revived and received as antichrist ; and suarez calls it , anilem fabulam , a foolish fable . choyce observations of sulpitius galba . some think his name galba came by occasion of a town in spain , which after it had been a long time in vain assaulted , he at length set on fire with burning brands besmeared all over with galbanum : others , because in a long sicknesse which he had , he used continually galbeum , i. e. remedies lapped in wooll : some again because he seemed very fat , and such a one the french doth name galba : or contrariwise because he was slender , as certain little wormes are called galbae . he succeeded nero , and his age being much despised , there was great licentiousnesse and confusion ; whereupon a senatour said in full senate , it were better to live where nothing is lawfull , then where all things are lawfull . he was of full stature , his head bald , his eyes gray , and his nose hooked ; his hands and feet by reason of the gout exceeding crooked , in so much as he was not able to abide shooes on the one , or to hold his bookes with the other . there was an excrescence , or bunch of flesh in the right side of his body , and it hung downward so much , as it could hardly be tyed up with a truss or swathing band ; yet hee had a good wit , though a deformed body , like a good instrument in a bad case . being with generall applause , and great good liking placed in state , he behaved himself under expectation , and though in most points he shewed himself a vertuous prince , yet his good acts were not so memorable , as those were odious and displeasant wherein he did amisse . he obtained the empire with greater favour and authority then he mannaged it when he was therein ; so that he overcame nero by his good name , and the good opinion men had of him , and not through his own force and power . major privato visus dum privatus fuit , & omnium consensu capax imperii nisi imperâsset ▪ he seemed more then a private man whilest he was private , and by all mens opinions capable of the empire , had he never been emperour . spem frustrate senex , privatus sceptra mereri visus es , imperio proditus inferior : fama tibi melior juveni , sed justior ordo est , complacuisse dehinc , displicuisse prius . he lived in honourable fame and estimation in the reigne of five emperours , alieno imperio faelicior quàm suo . he was in greater prosperity , and lived more happily under the empire of others then in his own . his house was of ancient nobility , and great wealth . he neither neglected his fame , nor yet was ambitiously carefull of it : of other mens money he was not greedy , sparing of his own , of the common a niggard . as he sacrificed within a publick temple , a boy among other ministers holding the censer , suddenly had all the haire of his head turned gray . some made this interpretation of it , that thereby was signified a change in the state , and that an old man should succeed a young , even himselfe in nero's stead . he was of a middle temperature , neither to be admired nor contemned ; magis extra vitia , quàm cum virtutibus , rather void of ill parts , then furnished with good . in the palace , julius atticus , one of the bill-men met him , holding out a bloody sword in his hand , with which , he cryed aloud , he had slain otho ; my friend , quoth galba , who bad thee ? a man of rare vertue ( saith tacitus ) to keep in awe a licentious souldier ; whom neither threats could terrifie , nor flattering speech corrupt and abuse : thence it was a usuall speech through the camp ; disce miles militare , galba est , non getulicus . learne souldiers service valorous , galba is here , and not getulicus . for eight yeares space ( before hee was emperour ) hee governed a province of spain variably , and with an uneven hand , at first sharp , severe , violent , afterward he grew to be slothfull , carelesse , idle . being intreated for a gentleman condemned , that he might not dye the death of ordinary malefactors , he commanded that the gallowes should be dealbata , whited , or coloured for him ; quasi solatio & honore poenam levaturus , as if the painted gibbet might adde solace and honour to his death . when there was question made of an heifer before him , whose it should be , arguments and witnesses being brought on both sides ; he so decreed it , that she should be led with her head covered to the place where she was wont to be watered , and there being uncovered , he judged her his , to whom she went of her own accord . among the liberall sciences he gave himself to the study of the civil law. he cryed to his souldiers , ego vester , & vos mei ; i am wholly devoted unto you , and you are wholly devoted unto me . his severity which was wont to be highly commended by the voice of the souldiers , was now displeasant to them who were generally weary of the ancient discipline , and so trained up by nero . yeares , that now they loved their emperours no lesse for their vices , then once they reverenced them for their vertue● . his hardnesse toward his souldiers caused him to fall ; for a large donative being promised to them in galba's name , and they requiring if not so much , yet so much at least as they were wont to receive , he wholly refused the suit , adding withall , legi à se militem , non emi , that his manner had ever been to choose , and not to buy his souldiers . vox pro republica honesia , ipsi anceps ; a saying no doubt fit for a great prince in a more vertuous age , not so in those seasons for him , who suffered himself to be sold every houre , and abused to all purposes . he was killed by the wiles of otho , in the market-place ; the souldiers flying upon him , and giving him many wounds , he held out his neck unto them , and bade them strike hardily , if it were to do their country good . he dyed in the . year of his age , and seventh moneth of his empire . he reigned seven moneths , and so many dayes . aurel. vict. choyce observations of salvivs otho . tacitus and suetonius observe , that his father was so like unto tiberius , that most men held him to be his own son. tam non absimilis facie tiberio principi fuit , ut plerique procreatum ex eo crederent . he was of a mean and low stature , he had feeble feet , and crooked shankes . he wore by reason of his thinne hair a perruck or counterfeit cap of false hair , so fitted and fastened to his head , that any man would have taken it for his own . he was wont to shave , and besmear his face every day all over with soaked bread ; this bread was made of bean and rice flower , of the finest wheat also ; a depilatory to keep hair from growing , especially being wet and soaked in some juyce or liquor appropriate thereto , as the blood of bats , froggs , or the tunie-fish : to this effeminacy of otho alludeth the satyricall poet in this verse , et pressum in faciem digitis extendere panem . which devise he took to at first , when the down began to bud forth , because he would never have a beard . he was of a noble house ( saith plutarch ) , but ever given to sensuality and pleasure from his cradle : insomuch as his father swinged him and soundly for it . he used night-walking , and as he met any one either feeble or cupshotten , hee would catch hold of him , lay him upon a souldiers gabardine , and so tosse and hoist him up in the aire . pueritiam in curiose , adolescentiam petulanter egerat . he spent his tender yeares without regard of his honour , his youth afterwards in all dissolute disorder . he repaired often to his glasse to see his face , that he might keep it clean . he was one of nero's chief minions and favourites , such was the congruence of their humours and dispositions . gratus neroni aemulatione luxus . he was in grace with nero through emulation of vice . neroni criminosè familiaris , he was sinfully familiar with nero. he was privie and party to all his counsels and secret designes ; to avert all manner of suspicion , that very day which nero had appointed for the murthering of his mother , he entertained them both at supper with most exquisite dainties , and the kindest welcome that might be . he subscribed nero's name unto his letters patents , till the noble men of rome misliked it . frustrà moritur nero , si otho vivit . he strove by gifts , and all other meanes to oblige the souldiers unto him before he was emperour , and to winne their hearts by fair promises ; he protested before them all assembled together , that himself would have and hold no more then just that which they would leave for him . one calleth him the roman absalom . cui uni apud militem fides , dum & ipse non nisi militibus credit . the souldiers onely trusted him , because he trusted none else . all of them together put up a petition to him , and besought him to command their persons , whilest they had one drop of blood left in their bodies to do him service . but amongst others , there was a poor souldier drawing out his sword , said unto him , know , o caesar , that all my companions are determined to dye in this sort for thee , and so slew himself . rebus prosperis ●●certus , & inter adversa melior . a man in prosperity uncertainly carried , and governing himself in adversity . duo omnium mortalium impudicitiâ , ignaviâ , luxuri● deterrimi , velut ad perdendum imperium fataliter electi , saith tacitus of otho and vitellius . two of all mortall men the most detestable creatures in slothfulnesse , incontinency , and wastfull life , fatally elected to ruine the empire . but though in the first book of tacitus his history they are both compared as like , in opposition to a good prince ; yet in his second book they are opposed the one to the other as unlike , with notes of distinction . vitellii ignavae voluptates , othonis flagrantissimae libidines . vitellius ventre & gulâ sibi ipsi hostis ; otho luxi● , saevitiâ , audaciâ , reipublicae exitiosior ducebatur ; of the one side , an ill mind in a man of nothing , and of the other , an ill mind joyned with courage and edge . the drowsie pleasures of vitellius were feared lesse then the burning lusts of otho . vitellius in excesse of belly-chear was an enemy to himself ; otho in riot , cruelty , audaciousnesse , reputed more dangerous to the state . it was hard to judge which of them two was most licentiously given , most effeminate , least skilfull , poorer , or most indebted , before he was emperour . magna & misera civitas eodem anno othonem vitelliumque passa . a great and miserable city , which in the same year supported an otho and a vitellius . we may learn by otho ( saith sir henry savil ) that the fortune of a rash man is torre●ti similis , which ariseth at an instant , and falls in a moment . alii diutius imperium tenuerunt , nemo tam fortiter reliquerit ; it was his own speech , others have kept the empire longer , none hath ever so valiantly left it . plura de extremis loqui pars ignaviae est . he thought it a part of dastardy to speak too much of death . when he saw his side the weaker and going to the walls , he counselled his souldiers to provide for their safety by hying them to the winner . he slew himself with his own hands , but slept so soundly the night before , that the groomes of his chamber heard him snort . many of his souldiers who were present about him , when with plentifull teares they had kissed his hands and feet as hee lay dead , and commended him withall for a most valiant man , and the onely emperour that ever was ; presently in the place , and not farre from the funerall fire killed themselves . many of them also who were absent , hearing of the newes of his end , for very grief of heart ran with their weapons one at another to death . most men who in his life-time cursed and detested him , when hee was dead highly praised him ; so as it was a common and rife speech , that galba was by him slain , not so much for that he affected to be soveraigne ruler , as because he desired to recover the state of the republick , and the freedome that was lost . his saying was , melius est unum pro multis , quam pro uno multos mori ; an excellent and worthy speech of an emperour , preferring the publick good before his own private ; sic imperium quod maximo scelere invaserat , maxima virtute deposuit , as xiphilinus noteth out of dion . he dyed but . yeares old saith plutarch ; . say eutropius , and suetonius ; and was emperour but three moneths , plutarch ; three moneths and five dayes , tertullian ; four moneths , aurelius victor . he dyed in the . day of his empire , saith eutropius ; . saith suetonius . choyce observations of avlvs vitellivs . he was beyond measure tall ; he had a red face , occasioned by swilling in wine , and a great fat paunch besides , and somewhat limped upon one legge , by a hurt formerly received . he was stained with all manner of reprochable villanies ; he was familiar with caius for his love to chariot-running , and with claudius for his affection to dice-play , but he was in greater favour with nero for his wicked conditions likewise ; for he attended and followed him as he did sing , not by compulsion , as many a good man , but selling his honour to nourish his riot , and feed his belly , to which he enthralled himself . he found some supplications that were exhibited unto otho , by such as claimed reward for their good service in killing galba , and gave command that they should be sought out and executed every one . a worthy and magnificent beginning , such as might give good hope of an excellent prince , had hee not managed all matters else according to his own naturall disposition , and the course of his former life , rather then respecting the majesty of an emperour . when hee came into the fields where a battel was fought , and some of his train loathed and abhorred the putrified corruption of the dead bodies , he stuck not to hearten and encourage them with this cursed speech , optimè olere occisum hostem , & meliùs civem , that an enemy slain had a very good smell , but a citizen far better . [ that was also a wicked speech of charles the ninth of france , at the parisian massacre , when beholding the dead carcasses , he said , that the smell of a dead enemy was good . ] he banished from rome and italy all the judiciall astrologers called mathematicians , because they had said , that his reigne should not endure one year to an end . if he could have forborn his riotous living , or used any moderation therein , covetousnesse was a crime in him not to be feared , but he was shamefully given to his belly without all order or measure ; epularum foeda & inexplebilis libido , saith tacitus ; for which purpose there were daily brought out of rome and italy , irritamenta gulae , all provocations of gluttony . the high-waies from both the seas sounded of nothing else but of caterers , and purveyours ; the greatest men in the city were spent and consumed in providing of cates for the banquets ; the cities themselves were wasted . the souldiers grew worse , and degenerated from labour and vertue , partly by turning themselves to pleasures , and partly through the contemptiblenesse of the commander . he would eat four meales a day , breakfast , dinner , supper , and rere-banquet , or after supper , being able to bear them all very well , he used to vomit * so ordinarily . his manner was to send word that hee would break his fast with one friend , dine with another , and all in one day ; and every one of those refections when it stood them least , cost . l. sterling . but the most notorious and memorable supper above all other , was that which his brother made for a welcome at his first coming to rome ; at which were served up at the table before him two thousand severall dishes of fish , the most dainty and choycest that could be had , and seven thousand fowl . yet himself surpassed this sumptuous feast at the dedication of the platter , which for its huge capacity he used to call the target of minerva . in this he blended together the livers of guilt-heads , the delicate braines of pheasants and peacocks , the tongues of phoenicopters , the tender small guts of sea-lampries sent as far as from the carpa●thian sea , and the straights of spain , by his captaines over gallies . for the making of this charger there was a furnace built of purpose in the field . mucianus ( after the death of vitellius ) alluding to this monstrous platter , and ripping up his whole life , upbraided the memoriall of him in these very termes , calling his excesse that way , patinarum paludes , platters as broad as pooles or ponds . nunquam ita ad curas intentus , ut voluptatis oblivisceretur . he was never so intentively addicted to serious affaires , that he would forget his pastimes . in his traine all was disorderly and full of drunkennesse , more like to wakes and feasts of bacchus , then to a camp , where discipline should be . he was forward enough to put to death any man ; he killed noble men , and his school-fellowes . he delivered blaesus over to the executioner to suffer death , but straightwaies called him back again ; and when all that were by praised him for his clemency , he commanded the said party to be killed before his face , saying withall , velle se pascere oculos , that he would feed his eyes with seeing his death . at the execution of another he caused two of his sonnes to bear him company , because they presumed to intreat for their fathers sake . a gentleman of rome being haled away to take his death , he cryed aloud unto him , sir , i have made you my heire ; then he compelled him to bring forth his writing . tables concerning his last will , and so soon as he read therein , that a freed man of the testators was nominated fellow-heir with him , he commanded both master and man to be killed . he was suspected also to have consented to his own mothers death . impar curis gravioribus , saith tacitus of him , he was unmeet to weild weighty affaires . the empire was conferred upon him by those which knew him not , and yet never man found so constant good will of his souldiers by vertuous meanes , as he did with all his cowardly sloth . tanta torpedo invaserat animum , ut si principem eum fuisse caeteri non meminissent , ipse oblivisceretur . so great a sencelesnesse did possesse his mind , that if other men had not remembred that he had been a prince , ( and therefore was not to look for security in a private estate ) he himself would quickly have forgotten it . a contumelia quàm à laude propius fuerit , pos● vitellium eligi . it was more a disgrace then a praise to be chosen after vitellius . he used no other defences against the ruine which approched him , but onely to keep out the memory and report of it with fortification of mirth and sottishnesse , that so he might be delivered from the paines of preserving himself . praeterita , instantia , futura , pari oblivione dimiserat , mirum apud ipsum de bello silentium , prohibiti per civitatem sermones , &c. tacit. hist. lib. . ita formatae principis aures , ut aspera quae utilia , nec quidquam nisi jucundum & laesurum acciperet . the princes eares were so framed , that he accounted all sharp that was wholsome , and liked of nothing but that which was presently pleasant , and afterwards hurtfull . amicitias dum magnitudine munerum , non constantiá morum continere putat , meruit magis quàm habuit . he deserved rather then found faithfull friends , because he sought them more by great gifts then vertuous behaviour . at the last he was slain in an ignominious manner , having many scornfull indignities offered unto him both in deed and word ; they drew his head backward by the bush of the hair ( as condemned malefactors are wont to be served ) and a swords point was set under his chin , to the end he might shew his face , and not hold it down while some pelted him with dung and dirty mire ; others called him with open mouth , incendiary or firebrand , because hee burnt the capitol ; and patmarium or platter-knight , for his gormandizing , and great platter ; and some of the common sort twitted him with the deformities of his body : being all mangled with many small strokes , he was killed in the end . numerosis ictibus confossus interiit . he was slain * in the . year of his age , when he had reigned eight moneths and five dayes , say * josephus , and * eusebius ; eight moneths and ten dayes saith * tertullian . * tacitus reporteth , that in those few moneths wherein he reigned , he had wasted nine hundred millions of sesterces , which amounteth to seven millions , thirty one thousand two hundred and fifty pounds sterling ; and josephus * thinketh if he had lived longer , the whole revenues of the empire had not been sufficient to have maintained his gluttony . choyce observations of flavius vespasianus . princeps obscurè quidem natus , sed optimis comparandus , privatâ vitâ illustris . he was of a middle stature , well set , his limbes compact and strongly made , vultu veluti nitentis , he looked still as if he strained hard for a stool , whereupon a buffon brake a pretty jest on him ; for when vespasian seemed to request him to say something of him as well as of others in the company , dicam , inquit , cum ventrem exonerare desieris . i will let you alone , saith he , till you have done your businesse . he was very pleasant and facetious himself ; for being advertised by florus to pronounce * plaustra rather than plostra , he saluted him the next morning by the name of flaurus . when the apparition of a comet or blazing starre was thought to portend his death , he replyed merrily , that the bushy stella crinita , noted not him but the parthian king , ipse enim comatus est , ego vero calvus , for , he weareth bushy lockes , but i am bald . but he dyed a little while after , and by his example ( saith keckerman ) warned men to forbear jesting at gods great workes and prodigies . an oxe having cast off his yoke , ran furiously into the room where he sate at supper , where affrighting his attendants from him , he straight prostrates himself before his feet , as if he had been weary , offering his neck to his clemency , suetonius . when he came to the empire , the exchequer was so impoverished , that he protested in open senate , that he wanted to settle the common-wealth . millions of sestertiums ; which protestation ( saith sueton. ) seemed probable , quia & male partis optimusus est . he fought . battels in britain , took . townes , and adjoyned the isle of wight to the obedience of the roman empire . when a certain gallant youth smelling hot of sweet balmes and perfumes , came unto him to give thanks for an office obtained at his hands , after a strange countenance shewing his dislike of him , he gave him also in words a most bitter check , saying , i would rather thou hadst stunk of garlicke , and so revoked his letters patents for the grant . he never carried in his mind , nor revenged displeasures done unto him . he married the daughter of vitellius his enemy into a most noble house , gave unto her a rich dowry withall , and furniture accordingly . he was made totus ex clementia ( as the historian tels us ) yet for all that , machinationes nefariorum assiduas expertus est , he found daily treacheries attempted against him . iustis etiam suppliciis illachrymavit & ingemuit . he was so compassionate a prince , that he was wont to sigh and weep , even for them that were condignly punished . an innocent person was not punished but when he was absent , & not aware thereof , or at leastwise unwilling thereto , and deceived . but he was severe towards julius sab inus , who in times past said he was caesar ; and taking up armes , was at last conquered and brought to rome . his wife spake to vespasian in his behalf , pleading that he had two sons of her ; and supplicating to him for mercy to her husband and her self , used these words , ego , ● caesar , hos in monument● peperi aluique , ut plures tibi supplices esse●nus : by which speech , although she drew teares from him and those that were present , yet she could not procure her husbands pardon . dion . the souldiers elected him emperour , and requested him to preserve the empire being in great danger to be lost . yet he ( though he had been alwaies carefull for the good of the common-wealth ) refused to be emperour , deeming himself indeed to have deserved it , but rather chusing to live a private life , wherein was security , then in the height of fortune and honour with perpetuall danger . the captains were most earnest because he refused it , and the souldiers flocked about him with drawn swords , threatning his death except he would consent to live as he deserved ; yet he strove a long time to avert their determination , being loth to be emperour ; at last seeing he could not avoid it , he accepted their offer . he comforted his souldiers with these and such like speeches , i will expose my self to all dangers with you , and go first to fight , and come last from fight . ipse vespasianus milites adire , hortari , bo●●os laude , segnes exemplo incitare saepiùs quam coercere ; vitia magis amicorum quam virtutes dissimulans . he would go in his own person , and encourage the souldiers , inciting the good by praise , the slow by example rather then correction ; he was more ready to conceal the vices of his friends , then the vertues . it was a worthy report which pliny gave of him , if he flattered him not , to whom being emperour he wrote thus ; nec quicquam in te mutavit fortunae amplitudo , nisi ●●prodesse tantundem posses & velles . greatnesse and majesty have changed nothing it you but this , that your power to do good should be answerable to your will. solus omnium ante se principum , in meliu● mutatus est . the onely prince before his time which changed to the better , for after him titus his son changed also the same way . a vigilant warriour , and in all respects , set avarice aside , comparable to the commanders of ancient times , saith tacitus . sola est in qua meritò culpetur , pecuniae cupiditas . the onely thing for which he might worthily be blamed was covetousnesse . prorsus si avaritia abesset , antiquis ducibus par . tacitus . he not onely called for arrerages due in galba's time , but raised new tributes , and laid upon the provinces more grievous impositions , doubling them in some places . negotiationes vel privato pudendas propalam exercuit . he did negotiate and deale in certain trades , which it was a shame for a private person to use : buying up and engrossing some commodities at a cheap hand , that afterward he might vent them at higher rates . neither did he spare to sell honours to such as sued for them , or absolutions to such as were accused , whether they proved guilty or not . he was thought of set purpose to have made choyce of the most greedy proling officers he could any where find out , and to have advanced them to the highest places , that being thereby grown rich , he might condemn their persons , and confiscate their goods . and it was commonly said , that he used these men as spunges , quòd quasi & siccos madefaceret , & exprimeret humentes ; because he did wet them well when they were dry , and presse them hard when they were wet . some write that he was by nature most covetous , and an old neatherd upbraided him once therewith , who being at his hands denied freedom without paying for it ( which he humbly craved of him now invested in the empire ) cried out with a loud voyce , vulpem pilum mutare non mores , that the foxe might change his hair but not his qualities . he laid an imposition upon urine , and being by his son titus put in mind of the basenesse of it , he took a piece of money received for the use , and putting it to his sons nose , demanded of him whether he was offended with the smell or no , atqui ( inquit ) è lotio est , and yet ( quoth he ) it commeth of urine : vnde juvenalis , — lucri bonus est odor è re qualibet . ad quod alludens etiam ammianus , dixit , & lucrum ex omni odorantes occasione . there are some of a contrary opinion , that he was driven to spoyl , to pill and poll of necessity , even for extreme want , both in the common treasury , and also in his own exchequer , whereof he gave some testimony in the beginning of his empire , professing ( as was said before ) that there was need of forty millions to set the state upright again ; which opinion ( saith suetonius ) seemes to sound more near unto the truth , because the mony by him ill gotten he used and bestowed very well , for he was most liberall to all sorts of men . restitutionem capitolii aggressus , ruderibus purgandis manus primus admovit , ac suo collo quaedam extulit , suetonius . in the third building of the capitol , vespasian carried the first basket of earth , after him the nobility did the like , to make the people more forward in the service ; and perhaps the custome of laying the first stone in a building , hath from hence , if not beginning , yet growth . it was his speech , oportet imperatorem stantem mori , an emperour ought to dye standing . and likewise he said at his death , vt puto deus fio , id est , morior ; nam post mortem caesares referebantur in numerum deorum . me thinkes ( quoth he ) i am a deifying , and growing to be a god . annum agens vitae absque uno septuagesimum interiit . he lived threescore and . yeares , . moneths , and . daies over . he reigned . yeares , saith eusebius . choyce observations of titus vespasianus . for his naturall goodnesse and noble disposition , he was called amor & deliciae humani generis , the lovely darling , and delightfull joy of mankind . tantum illi ad promerendam omnium voluntatem , vel ingenii , vel artis , vel fortunae superfuit . sueton. so fully was he either indued with good nature and disposition , or enriched with skill and cunning , or else graced with fortunes favour . augustin de civit. dei. lib. . cap. . calls him suavissimum principem , a most sweet prince . yet god made him a terrible scourge to the nation of the jewes , who forsook the lord jesus , and preferred caesar ; for as our saviour prophesied concerning jerusalem , that a stone should not be left upon a stone , matth. . . so it was fulfilled forty yeares after his ascention , by vespasian the emperour , and his son titus , say eusebius and josephus . and by that which followeth in the same ch. . v. he meaneth the tribulation the jewes were to endure at the siege , and surprisall of jerusalem by vespasian and titus . in the time of which siege the jewes were oppressed with a grievous famine , in which their food was old shooes , old leather , old hay , and the dung of beasts . there dyed partly of the sword , and partly of the famine , eleven hundred thousand of the poorer sort : two thousand in one night were imbowelled : six thousand were burned in a porch of the temple . the whole city was sacked and burnt , and laid levell to the ground ; and ninety seven thousand taken captives , and applyed to base and miserable service . so many of the jewes were crucifyed , that ( by relation of their own josephus de bello iudaico lib. . c. . ) there remained no more space to set crosses in , nor any more crosses to crucify bodies upon . at the very first , even in his child-hood there shone forth in him gifts both of body and mind , and the same more and more still by degrees , as he grew in yeares . he was therefore sickly , because his nurse was so . ingenium quantaecunque fortunae capax , decor oris cum quadam majestate . a person capable of any dignity , were it never so great ; of a goodly presence and countenance , wherein was seated no lesse majesty then favour and beauty . his stature was not tall , and his belly bare out somewhat with the most . he had a singular memory , and was very docible ; he was most skilfull in handling his weapon , and withall a passing good horseman . he was facilis ad extemporalitatem usque . he was of a prompt and ready wit , and would have spoken well ex tempore ; he was also skilfull in musick ; he could write with cyphers , and by artificial characters , both very fast and very fair , striving by way of sport and mirth with his own clerkes , whether he or they could write fastest : he was able to expresse and imitate what hand soever he had seen , and would often say , that he could have been a notable forger , and counterfeiter of writings . suo quam patris imperio modestior . whiles he was a private person , he behaved himself not altogether so well as when he was emperour . his youthful affections were setled somewhat upon berenice the queen of iewry ; notwithstanding in no such degree that it was any hinderance to his honourable actions . the feasts which he made were pleasant merriments rather then lavish and sumptuous . no grosse vice could be found in him , but many excellent vertues . neminem a se dimisit tristem . he never dismissed any petitioner with a tear in his eye , or a heavy heart ; and when his domesticall servants about his person would seem to tell him , that he promised more then he was able to perform ; his saying was , non oportet quenquam à sermone principis tristem discedere . no man ought to depart from the speech of a prince , sad and discontented . calling to mind one time as he sate at supper , that he had done nothing for any man that day , he uttered this memorable and praise-worthy apothegme , amici , diem perdidi . my friends , i have lost a day . if he had not bestowed some benefit upon one or other , he was wont to say ( saith mollerus ) hodie non imperavi quia nemini benefeci . his rule and government was mercifull , he received no accusation against those who were reported to have spoken evil of him , saying , ego cum nihil faciam dignum propter quod contumeliá afficiar , mendacia nihil curo . when i shall do nothing worthy of blame , i care not for lyes . he said , he would rather dye himself then put others to death . he proceeded no further against two noblemen convicted for affecting and aspiring to the empire , then to admonish them to desist and give over , saying , that sovereigne power was the gift of destiny and divine providence ; if they were petitioners for any thing else , he promised to give it unto them . he would not endure to kill , or sequester and confine his brother domitian ( though he never ceased to lay wait for his life ) but still made him partner with him in his sovereigne government , and often with teares exhorted him to mutual love . there fell out in his dayes some heavy accidents ; a fire in the city of rome , which lasted three dayes and three nights ; and a grievous pestilence , wherein there dyed ten thousand a day : and vesuvius a mountain in campania flamed with great horrour ; pliny the naturall historian then admiral of the roman navie , desirous to discover the reason , was suffocated with the smoke thereof , as his nephew witnesseth in an epistle of his to cornelius tacitus . marcellinus observeth , that the ashes thereof transported in the aire , obscured all europe ; others say , that they darkned the sun. he was a valiant souldier ; going once to espy the enemy , and not to fight , notwithstanding that an infinite number of darts and arrowes were shot at him , and he had no armour at all , yet received he not one wound , but all past him , as though upon purpose every one had strove to have mist him . and he with his sword made way and cut many upon the face that opposed themselves against him , and so they falling down , he with his horse past over them . the jewes seeing titus his valour ▪ exhorted one another to set upon him , but whithersoever he turned , the jewes fled and would not abide by it . in the last assault of ierusalem , he slew twelve enemies that defended the wall , with just so many arrowes shot , and won the city with great joy , and favourable applause of all his souldiers . he being to see that executed which christ foretold should happen to ierusalem , stretched forth his hands , and called heaven and earth to witnesse in great bitternesse , that he was not to blame that the jewes perished in such sort , but they themselves ; and would not by any meanes that fire should be set on the temple . comparing the desolation of jerusalem with the beauty and goodly buildings that were before it was destroyed , he lamented and pitied the overthrow thereof , saith iosephus . it is likely that he would have carried a milder hand upon the iewes his prisoners , after his sacking the city of ierusalem , then to cast so many thousands of them to the lions , and other beasts to be devoured , as he did on the birth-day of his brother domitian , but that the heavy curse of god which boyled against that nation , did urge his gentle and calm nature to bring them to destruction . he did stamp in his coin a dolphin and an anchor , with this impresse , sat cito si sat bene . a dolphin out-strips the ship , that 's soon enough ; an anchor stayeth the ship , that 's well enough . a dolphin and anchor , soon enough if well enough . it was said of him , abstinuit alieno , ut si quis unquam . if ever any man abstained from that which was not his own , he was the man. though he was the mirrour of men among the heathen , yet he was loth to depart out of this world ; for being carried in his horse-litter , and knowing that he must dye , he looked upwards towards heaven , and complained very pitiously , that his life should be taken from him who had not deserved to dye , for he knew not ( he said ) of any sin that ever he cōmitted but only one . suetonius writes as if he had dyed of a natural death , but aurel. vict. saith , he was poysoned by his brother domitian . titus à domitiano leporis marini vi peremptus . cael. rhod. lect. antiq. l. . cap. . morte praeventus est , majore hominum damno quam suo . he was cut short and prevented by death , to the greater losse of mankind then of himself , saith suetonius . the senate gave him more thankes being dead , then ever they did living and present . his death was much lamented , so that they call'd him generally , delicias publicas ; and wept for him as if the world had been deprived of a perpetuall protectour . tantus luctus eo mortuo publicus fuit , ut omnes tanquam in propria doluerint orbitate . he dyed in the . year of his age , saith suetonius . . say aurel. vict. and eutropius . when he had reigned two yeares , two moneths , and twenty dayes , say suetonius , aurel. vict. carion ; eight moneths , saith eutropius . choyce observations of flavivs domitianvs . he was called domitian from his mother domitilla , as titus ( his brother ) was called vespasian from his father . he was associate to his brother titus in government during his life , and after his death was his successour . perceiving many of his predecessours to be hated , he asked one , how he might so rule as not to be hated ? the party answered , tu fac contra , do thou contrary to that they have done . yet he neither resembled his father vespasian nor his brother titus . neroni , aut caligulae , aut tiberio similior , quam patri vel fratri suo . he was tall of stature , his countenance modest , and given much to rednesse ; his eyes full and great , but his sight very dim . he was fair and of comely presence , especially in his youth ; all his body was well shaped throughout , excepting his feet , the toes whereof were of the shortest ; afterwards he became disfigured , and blemished with baldnesse , with a fat grand panch , and slender shankes . in the beginning of his empire his manner was to retire himself daily into a secret place for one houre , and there to do nothing else but to catch flyes , and with the sharp point of a bodkin prick thē through , in so much as when one enquired whether any body were with caesar within ? crispus made answer not impertinently , ne musca quidem , no , not so much as a flye . in the administration of the empire , he behaved himself for a good while variable , as one made of an equall mixture and temper of vices and vertues , untill at length he turned his vertues also into vices . he neglected all liberall studies in the beginning of his empire , albeit he took order to repaire the libraries consumed with fire , sending as far as * alexandria for copies of books . his ordinary speech was not unelegant , sometimes he would deliver apothegmes ; as for example , he wished , that he had been as fair and well-favoured as metius did think himself to be ; another time he said , that the condition of princes was most miserable , who could not be credited touching a conspiracy plainly detected , unlesse they were first slain . this speech was used also by adrian , miser a conditio imperatorum , quibus , de affectata tyrannide , nisi occisis non potest credi . vulcat . gallic . in avidio cassio . he had no affection to bear armes , or wield weapons , but delighted especially to shoot arrowes . he would drive his arrowes point blank , so just against the palm of a mans right hand , standing a far off , and holding it forth stretched open for a mark , as they should all directly passe through the voyd spaces between the fingers , and do him no harm at all . during his abode at alba , many have seen him shoot at an hundred wild beasts at a time , and purposely so to hit some of them in the head , that his shafts appeared there like a pair of hornes . it was rumoured abroad , that in his infancy , dragons were found about him , in manner of a guard , which is but a fable ; for he himself , who never derogated from himself , was wont to report but of one serpent which was seen in his chamber . when he was mounted once to the imperiall state , he made his boast in the very senate , that it was he who had given unto his father and brother both the empire , and they had but delivered it up to him again . martial writeth thus to him in his epigrams . magna licet toties tribuas , majora daturus dona , ducum victor , victor & ipse tui : diligeris populo non propter praemia , caesar ; propter te populus , praemia , caesar , amat . he was precise and industrious in ministring justice , he reversed many times definitive sentences given for favour , and obtained by flattery ; he did so chastise those that were faulty in that kind , that the officers were never more temperate , or just in their places . he repressed false informations , and sharply punished such informers , using this saying , princeps qui delatores non castigat , irritat . the prince that chasteneth not promoters , setteth them on to promote . at the first he so abhorred all bloodshed and slaughter , that he purposed to publish an edict , forbidding to kill and sacrifice any oxe ; and he scarce gave the least suspicion of covetousnesse . but he continued not long in this strain , but fell after both to cruelty and avarice . he was not only cruell , but very subtil and crafty in cloking of his cruelty . nunquam tristiorem sententiam sine praefatione clementiae pronunciavit , ut non aliud jam certius atrocis exitus signum esset , quam principis lenitas . he never pronounced any heavy and bloody sentence without some preamble and preface of clemency , so that there was not now a surer signe of some horrible end and conclusion , then a mild beginning and gentle exordium . it is reported of him , that , eum se impensissimè diligere simulabat , quem maximè interemptum vellet . he would seem to love them most , whom he willed least should live . it was sufficient , if any deed or word whatsoever was objected against any one , to make it high treason against the prince . inheritances ( though they belonged to the greatest strangers ) were held confiscate , and adjudged to the emperours coffers , in case but one would come forth , and depose that he heard the party deceased say whiles he lived , that caesar was his heir . he was the first emperour who commanded himself to be called lord , and god. he sent out his writs in this form , dominus & deus noster sic fieri jubet , our lord and god thus commandeth . whereupon afterward this order was taken up , that neither in the writing or speech of any man , he should be otherwise called . edictum domini deique nostri . martial . a true forerunner of his successour the pope , who in the extravagants ( and well it deserves to be put there ) is styled dominus deus noster papa , and his decrees are styled oracles . the second persecution was under him in the twelfth year of his reigne ; he most cruelly persecuted the christians , because they would not give the title of lord to any but christ , nor worship any but god. in this second great persecution , the beloved disciple of christ , the evangelist iohn , when he taught the church of ephesus , was banished to the isle of patmos for the word of god , where he wrote the revelation . cletus , nicomedes , pontia , theodora , domicilla , were then famous martyrs . there were many learned schollars in his time ; iuvenal , martial , valerius flaccus , silius italicus , poets : epictetus the philosopher , and apollonius tyanaeus a famous magician : cornelius tacitus the historian , iulius solinus , quintilian , iosephus the writer of iewish antiquities . he was proud like nero , and persecuted innocent christians as he did . tertullian called him neronis portionem , eusebius haeredem , the one a part , the other the heir of nero : and tacitus puts onely this difference between them , that nero indeed commanded cruell murthers , but domitian not onely commanded them , but beheld them himself ; and so he was bis parricida ( as valerius * maximus saith of another ) consilio prius , iterum spectaculo . he caused the line of david to be diligently sought out and extinguisht , for fear lest he were yet to come of the house of david , which should enjoy the kingdom . he was so fearfull , that he walked almost continually in his gallery , which he caused to be set with the stone phengites , that by the brightnesse thereof as in a glasse , ( plin. l. . c. ) he might see what was done behind him . that is admirable which writers have related concerning apollonius tyanaeus , a pythagorick philosopher and famous magician , who suddenly as amazed , cried out at ephesus the same time , o stephen , strike the tyrant ; and a little after , he said , it is well thou hast strucke him , thou hast wounded him , thou hast killed him . as his life was like unto the life of nero , so was he not unlike him in his death ; for his own wife domitia , and friends conspired against him , and slew him ; his body was carried to the grave by porters , and buried without honour ; the senate of rome also decreed , that his name should be rased , that all his acts should be rescinded , and his memoriall abolished quite for ever . he perished in the . year of his life , about the . of his reigne . with whom both tacitus and suetonius end their history . an advertisement to the reader . reader , i know bookes have their doom according to thy capacity , and that such are usually most free in censuring other mens workes , which are least able to publish any of their own . but as the poet saith , carpere vel noli nostra , vel ede tua : many carpes are expected when curious eyes go a fishing , and bookes are pressed to the war as well as men ; ad praelum tanquam ad praelium . i neither deserve that favour from thee nor desire it , that thou shouldest respect my toyes , as pliny said to vespasian , tu soles nostras esse aliquid putare nugas : and yet if thou be such a one , that augustus-like thou art ready to tax all the world , i know no reason why i should regard thy censure ; the french proverb saith , de fol juge brieve sentence , & nihil facilius quam reprehendere alium . however , i shall say now with iulius caesar , iacta est alea , i have put it to the hazard ; thy applause shall not much tickle me , nor thy rash sentence discourage me . i have taken notice of a witty allusion used by divers of these emperours , and others concerning them , which i thought fit to commend to thy observation , viz. a descanting as it were upon the double signification of the word , as first , that of iulius caesars souldiers : gallias caesar subegit , nicomedes caesarem : ecce caesar nunc triumphat , qui subegit gallias ; nicomedes non triumphat , qui subegit caesarem . caesar did subdue the gaules , and him hath nicomede : behold now caesar doth triumph , who did the gaules subdue ; but nicomede triumpheth not , who caesar hath subdu'd . subegit carrieth a double sence , the one signifieth the conquering of a nation , and so it is taken in the former place , as it is applyed to gaule ; the other , the wanton abuse of the body , in which acceptation it is to be understood in reference to caesar abused by nicomedes . so in the history of augustus , suetonius saith , quasi alii se puerum , alii ornandum tollendumque jactassent ; ne aut sibi aut veteranis par gratia referretur . the grace lyeth in the ambiguity of the latine word tollendum , which in one signification , is in a manner equivalent with laudandum & ornandum , and betokeneth to be advanced , extolled , or lifted up , and so it is to be taken in good part ; but in another , it is all one with tollendum de medio or occidendum , that is , to be dispatched out of life or killed , in which sence augustus took it ; much like to that you shall read of nero in martial , quis neget aeneae magni de stirpe neronem ? sustulit hic matrem , sustulit ille patrem . the like appeareth in some of augustus his witty speeches , as that to galba ; ego te monere possum , corrigere non possum . iocatus est ambiguo verbo , corrigitur quod reprehenditur , corrigitur quod ex distorto sit rectum . eras. apophtheg . hoc verè est monumentum patris colere ; colimus ea quae veneramur , & colitur ager aut aliud simile . gemina fuisset amphibologia , si pro monumento dixisset memoriam , quod ab illo dictum arbitror ; siquidem eorum memoria nobis sacrosancta dicitur , quos vita defunctos veneramur , & memorias ad graecorum imitationem vocamus defunctorum monumenta . erasm. in apoph . nero said jestingly of claudius , that he left morari inter homines ; in which verb morari there is couched a double sense , which gives the grace unto this pleasant scoffe ; for being a meer latine word , and having the first syllable by nature short , it signifieth to stay , or to make long abode , and taking it thus , nero might he thought to imply thus much ; that claudius was now departed out of the company of mortall men : but take the same word as nero spake it , derived of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in greek , which signifieth a fool , and hath the first syllable long , it importeth , that claudius played the fool no longer here in the world among men . in the time of the two first caesars , which had the art of government in greatest perfection , there lived the best poet , virgilius maro ; the best historiographer , titus livius ; the best antiquary , marcus varro ; and the best or second orator , marcus cicero , that to the memory of man are known . the time that the roman monarchie seemed to be at his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was ( saith carion ) from iulius caesar to the end of antoninus the philosopher his reigne . afterward , many filthy monsters reigned , and many seditious and civill wars followed ; therefore i have not onely enlarged the former treatise , by inserting here and there some other speciall observations , but have made an addition also of six more emperours since , ( as sir francis bacon also saith in his advancement of learning ) the six next princes were all learned , or singular favourers and advancers of learning : which age ( as he also saith ) for temporall respects , was the most happy and flourishing that ever the roman empire ( which then was a model of the world ) enjoyed : a matter revealed and prefigured unto domitian in a dream , the night before he was slain ; for he thought there was grown behind upon his shoulders a neck , and a head of gold , which came accordingly to passe , in those golden times which succeeded . fulke in his book of meteors observeth , not long before the contention of galba , otho , and vitellius , for the empire of rome , there appeared three suns , as it were pointing out the strife which followed soon after between them three for the imperial diadem ; of threescore and thirteen roman emperours ( that perished within the narrow compasse of one hundred years ) onely three died a naturall death in their beds , the rest were cut off by their lusts . it was a heavy time then with christians , when they groaned under the persecuting emperours three hundred years together , yet in that time they had many lucida intervalla , many breathing spaces under princes not altogether so bloody ; there were too principal persecutors of the church , diocletian , and julian , but the last was the most pestilent . jerome justly styled him canem rabidum ; and it is remarkable what is observed of him , that going forth to the persian war , he asked in scoffing manner , what the carpenters son ( meaning christ ) was doing ? to whom it was answered by a good christian , loculum fabricatur , he is making a coffin for julian ; which propheticall speech was indeed verified by the event ; for julian was strangely wounded and slain in that war , and as in his life time he had blasphemed christ , so he died blaspheming christ , and casting up his blood towards heaven , he cried , vicisti ô galilaee , thou hast overcome o galilean . this may suffice to have spoken of some of the chief persecutors in generall , since i purpose not to enlarge this treatise any more , because there is little said of many of the roman emperours , and the * history of them altogether is already written in our mother tongue : but i intended onely at the first , analecta , some choyce and pithie observations of them , if these therefore may benefit thee , summam votorum attigi , i have attained the end of my desires , and so i rest thy well-wisher , edward leigh . choyce observations of cocceivs nerva . domitian thus made away , coccejus nerva a prudent , honourable , and aged person was elected emperour by the senate ; his birth was noble , and of italy , in the city narnia , and of the province vmbria , ruling so well , as he may be esteemed too good a prince long to continue in so bad an age ; who reformed many enormities , and remitted many grievous tributes and exactions ; also he recalled from banishment the christians severally dispersed , and suffered them to enjoy the freedom of their profession , at which time iohn the evangelist returned from pathmos ( wherein he had been confined ) unto ephesus , a city in asia the lesse , where after his return he lived . years . the excellent temper of his government is by a glance in cornelius tacitus touched to the life , postquam divus nerva resolim insociabiles miscuisset , imperium & libertatem . dion writeth of him , that he was so good a prince , that he once uttered this speech , nihil se fecisse quo minus possit deposito imperio privatus tutò vivere , he remembreth not to have done any thing why he should not live securely , and without fear of any body , although he gave over the empire . his symbole was , mens bona regnum possidet . he discharged the city of the new impositions which vespasian and domitian had laid upon them , and commanded that goods unjustly taken should be restored to the owners . he was very eloquent , and a good poet , as martial testifies of him , quanta quies placidi , tanta est facundia nervae . see martial's epigramme of him , lib. . epig. . herodes atticus found a great treasure in his house , but fearing calumnies , he wrote to nerva , and discovered it . he wrote back again , vtere , use it . but he being not so secure , wrote again , at enim thesaurus privati hominis conditionem superat , but the treasure exceedes the condition of a private man : nerva again nobly replied , ergo abutere . lips. in plin. paneg. on a reverse of nerva is found a team of horses let loose , with this inscription , vehiculatione per italiam remissa ; whereby we learn ( which no historian remembers ) that the roman emperours commanded all the carriages of the countrey ; that nerva remitted that burden ; and that the grievance was so heavy , that coines were stamped in remembrance of this emperours goodnesse that eased them of it . see the coines in l. hulsius , and speed's chronicle . sextus aurel. victor writeth thus ; quid nerva prudentius aut moderatius ? quid trajano divinius ? quid praestantius hadriano . having reigned onely one year , four moneths , and nine dayes , de dyed of a passionate anger conceived against a senatour , in the year of christ his incarnation ninety nine , the twenty seventh day of ianuary , and seventy sixth of his own age . choyce observations of ulpivs trajanvs . unto nerva succeeded vlpius trajanus into the roman empire , in the . year of his age , who was born near unto sevil in the territories of spain , of a noble family , but was much more ennobled in himself for his princely endowments ; which moved nerva in his life time to adopt him into so high a calling , and the whole senate after his death joyfully to confirm his election , and so often to honour him with the title of the most excellent prince in publik dedications . he raised the roman empire unto the very highest pitch of glory , and spread the power of their command into the largest circuit that ever before or since hath been possessed . he subdued dacia , made subject armenia , parthia , and mesopotamia , conquered assyria , persia , and babylon ; passed tigris , and stretched the confines of the roman empire unto the remotest dominions of the indies , which never before that time had heard of the roman name . for his person , he was not very learned , yet he was a great admirer of , and benefactor to learning ; a founder of famous libraries , a perpetuall advancer of learned men to office , * and a familiar converser with learned professors . quem honorem dicendi magistris ? quam dignationem sapientiae doctoribus habes ? ut sub te spiritum , & sanguinem , & patriam receperint studia , quae priorum temporum immanitas exiliis puniebat . plin. secund. paneg. of stature he was big , of complexion swarthy , thin of hair both head and beard , he had a hooked nose , broad shoulders , long hands , and a pleasant eye . he stirred up the third persecution , wherein ignatius , and simon the son of cleophas , and many other worthy saints of god received the crown of martyrdom in such cruell manner , as that his other vertues are much clouded by that taxation ; for mollification whereof , he was intreated by plinius secundus , whose epistles to that purpose are yet extant , viz. the . of his tenth book , where he hath this passage to trajan concerning them ; affirmabant hanc fuisse summam vel culpae suae vel erroris , quòd essent soliti stato die ante lucem convenire , carmenque christo quasi deo dicere secum invicem ; seque sacramento non in scelus aliquid obstringere , sed ne furta , ne latrocinia , ne adulteria committerent , ne fidem fallerent , ne depositum appellati abnegarent , &c. to which letter trajan thus replyeth , conquirendi nnon sunt ; si deferantur & arguantur , puniendi sunt . whereupon tertullian in his apology hath this passage , o sententiam necessitate confusam ! negat inquirendos innocentes , & mandat puniendos ut nocentes ; parcit & saevit , dissimulat & animadvertit . quid teip sum censur â circumvenis ? si damnas , cur non , & inquiris ? si non inquiris , cur non & absolvis ? he was affable and familiar even with his inferiours ; of such carriage toward his subjects , as he himself would wish ( he said ) his prince to use towards him , if he had been a subject . aequus , clemens , patientissimus , atque in amicos perfidelis , saith aurelius victor of him . he was a great observer of iustice , in so much that when he invested any praetor , in giving him the sword , he commanded him to use the same even against his own person , if he violated law or equity . he erected many famous buildings , whence constantine the great called him parietariam wall-flower , because his name was upon so many walls . alexander severus is rather to be commended , who caused that precept of the gospel to be engraved on the frontispiece of his palace , quod tibi fieri non vis , alterinèseceris . dion reporteth this apothegme of him , nullum se unquam virum bonum male habiturum , nedum occisurum dies ille triplici gaudio laetus ( saith pliny in a panegyrick to him ) qui principem abstulit pessimum , dedit optimum , meliorem optimo genuit . in solo plinio trajanum habemus , in trajan● imaginem omnium magnarum virtutum . qui ea libertate omnia scripsit , qua trajanus fecit ; adeò ut incomparabili principe opus dignissimum sit & ipsum incomparabile . boxhorn . orat. rara temporum felicitas , ubi sentire quae velis , & quae sentias dicere licet , saith tacitus of his reigne : a man so exceeding wellbeloved of the senate , and of the people of rome , that after his dayes , whensoever a new emperour was elected , they wished unto him the good successe of augustus , and the uprightnesse of trajanus . he dyed by a flux the seventh day of august , after he had reigned . yeares , six moneths and . dayes , and of his age . choyce observations of aelivs hadrianvs . after the decease of trajan , his nephew aelius hadrianus by the consent of the army , who swore to him obedience , was proclaimed emperour ; the senate likewise confirmed their choyce , as being a man endued with gifts both of art and nature , answerable to the fortunes of his estate . his birth was of spain , in the city italica , near unto sevil where trajan was born ; his father noble , and his mother in cales descended of an honourable stock . he was a great mathematician , skilfull in arithmetick , geometry , and judiciall astrology , learned in the greek and latine tongues , well seen in physick , and knew the vertues of herbs , roots , and stones ; a singular musitian both for theory and practise , and could both limne and carve with approbation of the skilfull ; but above all is the admirable report of his memory , who never ( they say ) forgot any thing that he had either read or heard . if he discovered any man to have the like skill with him in all sciences ( in the which he very much excelled ) by whom there might be danger lest he were overcome , through envy and too greedy a desire of singularity , he caused him to be killed . among the which was apollodorus the architect , a man beyond comparison excellent in that art ; for that the emperour having sent unto him the plat-form of a great work which he had contrived , he by his efficacious reasons had proved , that in some place it was to be corrected . cuffe of affectation . he quotes dion & bapt. fulg. l. . he was the most curious man that lived , and the most universal inquirer , in so much as it was noted for an errour in his mind , that he desired to comprehend all , and not reserve himself for the worthiest things ; but it pleased god to use the curiosity of this emperour as an inducement to the peace of the church in those dayes : for having christ in veneration , not as a god or saviour , but as a wonder or novelty ; and having his picture in his gallery matched with apollonius ( with whom in his vain imagination he thought he had some conformity ) yet it served the turn to allay the bitter hatred of those times against the christian name , so as the church had peace during his time . he was a great favourer of learned men . in adriani principis aulam non viri tantum militares , sed innumer abiles philosophorum greges , tanquam in lycaeum aut veterem academiam magnis de rebus disputaturi confluebant . alphonsus garcias matamorus in narrat . apologet . de acad. & viris liter atis . t. . piccartus observat. historico-polit . dec. . c. . instanceth in k. alphonsus and others , who delighted in the society of learned men . he was minded ( as lampridius writeth ) to have built a temple to the service of christ , had not some disswaded him therefrom . he was of personage tall and very strong , of a good complexion , and amiable countenance , wearing the heare of his head and beard long . to shew that he counted hatred retained a base and unprincely disposition , as soon as he came to the empire , he laid aside all his former enmities ; insomuch as that meeting with one who had been his capitall enemy , he said unto him , evas●s●i , thou art now escaped from my displeasure . spartianus in hadriano . videsis casuabonum . when a woman called to him passing by , saying , audi me caesar , hear me caesar , and he answered , non est * otium , i have no leasure , she cryed out , noli ergo imperare , then cease to reign ; at that speech he being moved , staid and heard the * woman . it was accounted discretion in him , that would not dispute his best with him , excusing himself , that it was reason to yeeld to him that commanded thirty legions . though he was famous for his industry , wit , memory , and fortunate successe , and could in his fatall sickness command others to be slain , yet death denyed subjection to him . his servant which undertook it fled , his adopted son pretended piety , his own hand was prevented by attendants , his solicited physician flew himself that he might not slay the emperour , who yet complained at his death , many physicians have slain the emperour . he sported at death with these verses : animula , vagula , blandula , hospes , comesque corporis , quae nunc abibis in loca ? pallidula , rigida , nudula , nec ut soles , dabis jocos . my fleeting fond poor darling , bodies guest and equall , where now must be thy lodging ? pale , and stark , and stript of all , and put from wonted sporting . when he had reigned in great honour and love the space of one and twenty years , five moneths and fifteen daies , and lived sixty two yeares , he dyed the eighth or tenth day of iuly of a dropsie , which malady so tormented him , that willingly he refused all sustenance , & languished away through faintnesse . choyce observations of antoninus pivs . unto adrianus succeeded antoninus pius , who was for his many vertues , or rather piety toward the gods , sur-named pius ; for piety ( to speak properly ) is the true worship of god , as austin shewes in his . book de civit. dei c. . but he was not truly pious , because he knew not the true god. he was compared for his peace and policy unto numa pomplius , the second king of rome . his birth was in lombardy , the son of aurelius fulvius . he was a prince excellently learned , and had the patient and subtile wit of a school-man , insomuch as in common speech ( which leaves no vertue untaxed ) he was called cymini-sector , a carver or a divider of cumine seede , which is one of the least seeds ; such a patience he had , and setled spirit to enter into the least and most exact differences of causes : he likewise approched a degree nearer unto christianity , and became as agrippa said to paul , half a christian ; holding their religion and law in good opinion , and not onely staying persecution , but giving way to the advancement of christians . in his time iustin martyr wrote notable bookes of apologie for the christians , which were preserved and read in the senate of rome , and mollified the emperours mind towards them . he was favourable to all sorts of men , having that apothegme of scipio africanus rife in his mouth , that he had rather save one subjects life then kill a thousand enemies . he was of stature tall , of a seemely presence , in countenance majesticall , in manners mild , of a singular wit , very learned and eloquent , a great lover of husbandry , peaceable , mercifull and bounteous , he neither in his youth did any thing rashly , nor in his age any thing negligently . in time of great famine which was in rome , he provided for their wants , and maintained the people with bread and wine , the most of the time that the famine lasted ; making victuals to be brought from all parts , and paying for the same at his own cost . having reigned twenty and two yeares , seven moneths , and twenty six dayes , he dyed of a fever at porium the seventh of march , the year of his life . and of christ . his death was generally lamented , and the romans did him great honour , and made sacrifices to him , canonizing him for a god , and building a temple also to him . choyce observations of lucius commodus verus , and antoninus philosophus . there succeeded antoninus the divi fratres , the two adoptive brethren , lucius commodus verus , son to aelius verus , ( who delighted much in the softer kind of learning , and was wont to call the poet martial his virgil , ) & marcus aurelius antoninus , whereof the latter who obscured his collegue , and survived him long , was named the philosopher , who as he excelled all the rest in learning , so he excelled them likewise in perfectiō of all royall vertues . betwixt their natures and conditions was as much odds as between day and night ; the one very moderate , loving , and industrious ; the other proud , careless , and cruell ; the fruits whereof the poor christians felt , whose chiefest pillars , polycarpus bishop of smyrna , and iustin martyr an excellent philosopher , with infinite more were put to most cruell deaths . after his death the whole government returned to antoninus philosophus onely , whose symbole was , regni clementia custos . he was sur-named the philosopher , not onely for his knowledge , but also practice of philosophy ; he had often in his mouth that speech of plato , tunc florent respublicae , quando vel philosophus regit , vel rex philosophatur . this good emperour possessed the seat of majesty nineteen yeares and eleven dayes , wherein he alwayes approved himself in wit excellent , in life vertuous ; very learned and eloquent , full of clemency , justice , and temperance , nothing inferiour to most of all the worthiest emperours before him , nor matchable in qualities by many of the monarchs that followed him . he would not believe that avidius cassius could ever have deposed him ; and his reason was , the gods had greater care of him , then to let cassius wrong him undeservedly , vulc. gallicanus in vita aridii cassii . iulian the emperour in his book intituled caesares , being a pasquil or satyre to deride all his predecessors , feigned that they were all invited to a banquet of the gods , and silenus the iester sate at the lower end of the table , and bestowed a scoffe on every one as they came in ; but when antoninus philosophus entred , he was gravelled and out of countenance , not knowing where to carpe at him , save at the last he gave a glance at his patience towards his wise . when his armies were even famished * for want of water , the christians by their prayers procured wine from heaven to their great refreshing , and the barbarians were dashed with thunder and fire ; whereupon he mitigated the rage against christs professors , and in his time the church for the most part was in peace . he dyed the seventeenth day of march , in the year of our lord . and of his own age , . choyce observations of commodvs . his name agreed not with his disposition , he being called commodus , who was ( saith * orosius ) cunctis incommodus . concerning his birth there passeth this story or fiction ; his mother annia valeria faustina , daughter of antoninus fius , and wife of antoninus philosophus , when she saw certain gladiators or sword-players going to fight , was monstrously inflamed with the love of one of them , upon whom she dored so extremely , that her affection was almost grown to phrensy , languishing wherewith , she confessed her love-madnesse to her husband . he perceiving her distemper to increase , consulted with the chaldaeans or sooth-sayers , what was best to be done in so desperate a case , for the saving of his wives life , and the quenching of her unchast desires . they after long consideration determined , that there was left for her but one onely remedy , as strange as the disease ; viz , to cause the said gladiator to be murdered secretly that she might not know of it , and that the next night that her husband intended to lye with her , a cup full of his luke-warm bloud * changed into the likeness of water should be given her to drink , ut sese * sublevaret : which was performed accordingly , and she cured of her disease , but with this bad successe ; for that night , as it is said , she was delivered of commodus , who in qualities resembled that gladiator upon this occasion , as some reported ; which they ascribed to the power of her imagination , but others esteemed him a bastard . ferrand . of love-melancholy out of capitolinus in antonino philosopho c. . editionis gruterianae . the conject●re that commodus was born in adultery , is confirmed by the behaviour of faustina his mother at cajeta , where she was wont want only to gaze on naked gladiators and mariners . capitolinus ibid. aurel. victor . when his mother was with child with him and his twin-brother antoninus , who dyed when . months old , she dreamed that she brought forth two serpents , one whereof , viz. commodus , as the event proved , exceeded in fierceness . lamoridius in commodo . c. . commodus was more noble by descent then any of the former emperours , and the most beautifull person of his time . herodian . l. . in fine . he was so excellent a marks-man , that he could hit with an arrow or dart whatsoever he aimed at , exceeding the most expert parthian archers , and numidian darters which he had about him . herodian l. . c. . editionis boeclerianae . once he shot forked arrowes at moresco estriches , which were wonderfull swift of foot , using their wings as sailes in running . these he did hit so full in the neck , that though their heads were struck off with the furiousnesse of the blow , yet they ran awhile headlesse , as if they had not been hurt . id. ibid. neque haec superant veri sidem , cum instrumentamotus , spiritus s●ilicet vitales , aliquandiu motum continuare possint , non exhausti uno temporis momento ; quod colligunt medi●●è motu cordis anguillae exsecti . simile quid memini inter historias à nonnullis narratum , de quodam pyrata , qui interceptus cum suis sociis navalibus hoc unum suppliciter petiit , ut sociorum singuli vitae redonarentur , quos capite truncus cursu praeteriisset . largitum hoc est supremis ejus votis : stans capite truncatur ; cursum intendit , quem usque ad posiremos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 continuasse● , nisi a carnifice ac l●ctoribus adstantibus in terram fuisset detractus . p. voet. in herodiani marc. & commod . p. . videsis fromondum de anima l. . c. . art . . p. . &c , another time a panther having fastned upon a man , ( who was brought into the lists ) so that all thought she would instantly tear him in pieces ; he darted at her so happily , that he killed the beast and saved the man , preventing the impression of her teeth with the point of his weapon . [ alcon seeing his son phalerus ( one of the argonauts ) sleeping on the grasse , and a serpent creeping on his breast , slew the serpent , and saved his son : — non sic libravit in hostem spicula , qui nato serpentis corpore cincto plus timuit dum succurrit ; dum jactibus iisdem interitum vitamque daret ; stabilemque teneret corde tremente manum ; totamque exiret in artē spe propiore metus ; dans inter membra duorū vnius mortem . — sidonius apollinaris in paneg . majoriani . videsis servium in fextam virgilii eclogam . ] he slew also . lyons with so many darts ; their bodies falling in such order , that they might easily be numbered ( not one dart miscarrying . ) herodian ubi suprà . he resembled his father in nothing but fortunate fighting against the germans , with whom notwithstanding he made a dishonourable peace . he was faithfull to none ; and most cruel to those whom he had before advanced to the greatest honours , and enriched with most vast rewards . sextus aurelius victor . he and heliogabalus conferred all the dignities of the empire upon men for lust and licentiousness most like unto themselves . walsinghams manuall . he was the first roman emperour who through covetousnesse sold offices for mony ; vespasian had done it before him , but through necessity , finding the common-wealth in debt , and the treasure exhausted . the history of spain translated by grimston . he killed some though innocent , instead of others who were guilty , and did let offenders escape for mony . lampridius in comm. if any one had an enemy of whom he would be revenged , he needed but to bargain with commodus for a summe of money to kill him . id. ibid. he pretended that he would go into africa , that he might raise money for that feigned journey , which when he had gathered , he spent in banquetting and gaming . id. ibid. he was so careless in serious matters , that he wrote nothing more then vale in many of his letters ; and so serious in things of light or ill concernment , that he caused to be registred how often he frequented the fense-schoole , with all his cruelties and impurities . id. ibid. he employed not himself in any thing which became an emperour ; making glasses , dancing , singing , piping , playing the buffoon and fencer ; bathing . or . times in the day , eating in the bath , drinking in the theatre in womans habit ; mingling humane excrements with the daintiest fare , tasting them himself , thinking so to mock others . id. ibid. he kept . concubines , and so many boyes which he used as women ; like * caligula commanded women to be ravished in his sight , committed incest as he did with all his sisters , and exceeded him ( saith tristan ) in polluting the temples with whoredome and human bloud . his naturall incontinence was incredibly inflamed by divers sorts of ointments ( used by him to preserve himself from the pestilence , whilest it reigned throughout italy ) which were of so hot and subtile a quality , that they excited in him the unquenchable flames of extraordinary lasciviousnesse . tristan . he was so cruell , that when he was but . yeares old , because the bath in which he was washed was a little too warm , he commanded that the heater of it should be cast into a furnace . dion confidently reporteth that the physicians poysoned his father to gratify him . he put to death his wife crispina , his eldest sister lucilla , and annia faustina his fathers cousin german , with . of the eminentest personages of the roman empire . he commanded one to be cast to wild beasts , for reading the life of caligula in suetonius , because he had the same birth-day with caligula . his very jests were cruell ; seeing one have white haires among black ones , he set on his head a starling , which thinking it picked wormes made festers . he cut a fat man off at the middle of the belly , that he might see his entrailes drop out suddenly . he called them monopodii and luscinii whom he deprived of a foot or eye . he made men exercise that cruelty upon themselves in reality , which they used to act but in shew . lamprid. c. . he imitated chirurgions in letting bloud , and barbers in trimining , under which pretence he cut off eares and noses : wherefore such was his jealousy of all men , that he was forced like dionysius to be his own barber . histories not onely affirm , that he plaid the gladiator in person , but his statue in that fashion stark naked , with his naked sword in his hand , is yet extant at rome in the farnesian palace . he imitated nero in driving of chariots , and if quintus aemylius laetus had not deterred him , he would have burned rome ( as nero did ) thinking he might do what he pleased with that place which he called after his name . so exceeding great was the madness of this vile monster , that he sent a letter to the senate with this style : imperator caesar lucius , aelius , aurelius , commodus , antoninus , augustus , pius , foelix , sarmaticus , germanicus maximus , britannicus , pacator orbis tevy rum , invictus , romanus hercules , pontisex maximus , tribunitiae potestatis , xviii . imperator , viii . consul , vii . pater patriae , consulibus , praetoribus , tribunis plebis , senatuique * commodiano soelici salutem . xiphilin . the former emperours at pleasure sometimes times took some few names to themselves , sometimes bestowed them on others . in the later times , vertue decaying , ambition in titles increased . yet iustinian accounted of as a sober emperour , hath his style notwithstanding not much shorter . imp. caesar flavius justinianus , alemannicus , gothicus , francicus , germanicus , anticus , alanicus , vandalicus , africanus , pius , foelix , inclytus victor , ac triumphator semper augustus . s r. h. savil on tacitus . he changed the names of all the moneths , calling them after his own sur-names , which was observed no longer then he lived . he ever and anon changed all his surnames , except that of amazonius , taken up out of love to marcia his concubine , whose picture he wore upon the outside of his garment ; and of exuperans , because he would have been thought to excell all men : as appeareth by his being sacrificed to as a god. when his favourite perennis was dead , he repealed many things that were done by him , but persisted no above dayes in his reformation , permitting cleander to be more licencious then perennis , lamprid. yea to such drunken dotage he was grown , that he refused his fathers name , commanding himself in stead of commodus the son of marcus , to be styled hercules the son of iupiter ; and accordingly he forsook the roman and imperiall habit ; and in stead thereof , thrust himself into a lions skin , and carried a great club in his hand : and ( which made him extremely ridiculous ) he put on also purple amazonian robes embroydered with gold ; expressing in one and the same garb austerity and effeminateness : this was his daily attire . he commanded many statues of himself made in likeness of hercules , to be erected throughout the city , and one before the senate-house in form of an archer ready to shoot ; that his very images might strike a terror into the beholdèrs . herodian . he ranged so far in a mad humour , as that he purposed to forsake his palace , and live in a fence-school ; and now being weary of the name of hercules , he assumed the name of a famous sword-player deceased . on new-yeares day he determined in great solemnity to issue forth of a senceschool , from which marcia , laetus , and electus disswaded him ; but he incensed with them , commanded them to depart , and retiring into his bed-chamber , to repose himself at noon ( as he was wont , ) he wrote their names in a table-book , dooming them to death that night . having done this , he laid his table-book on the pailet , not imagining that any would enter into his chamber . but his darling philo-commodus being full of play , went ( as he usually did ) into the bed-chamber ( while commodus was bathing ) and taking the book to play with , went forth , and was met by marcia ; who took the book from him , lest he might spoil some weighty matter . as soon as she perceived it was commodus his own hand , she greatly desired to read it . but when she found the deadly contents , she discovered to electus and laetus the danger they were in , and they all resolved to purchase their own security by commodus his death , and concluded it most convenient to dispatch him by poyson ; which marcia having given to him , it cast him into a slumber , out of which awaking he vomited extremely : the conspirators fearing fulnesse might expell the poyson , cause him to be strangled . he lived . yeares , . moneths , and reigned . yeares , . moneths and . dayes . in him the aelian together with the aurelian family was extinguished , as the iulian in nero. tristan . how joyfull his death was both to senate and people , their assemblies in the temples to give thanks for their deliverance , and their execrations pronounced against him , at large reported by lampridius , do manifest . he was called the enemy of god and men ; the very name of the devil . the christians escaped persecution from him by the mediation of marcia , who favoured their doctrine . dion . of all emperours until constantine he was most favourable unto christians , whatsoever he was otherwise . mountague's acts and monuments of the church . c. . paragr . . in respect of much persecution before , those times were called halcyonia sub commodo ecclesiae . lloid's consent of time , p. . commodus insequitur , pugnis maculosus arenae ; threicio princeps bella movens gladio . eliso tandem persolvens gutture poenas , criminibus fassus matris adulterium . ausonius . choyce observations of pertinax . was so called , either for his reluctance in accepting the empire , or rather for his pertinacious resolution in his youth to be a woodmonger , as his father was , when he would have made him a scholar . yet at last he was perswaded by his father to apply himself to learning , in which he was such a proficient , that he succeeded his master sulpitius apollinaris in the teaching of grammer : but gaining little thereby , he served in the camp with such proof of his valour , that upon the death of commodus he was chosen emperour . for the murther being done in the night , laetus went in all hast to pertinax , and saluted him with the unexpected name of emperour ; but he thought laetus was sent from commodus to kill him , till he was certified of commodus his death , by one of his servants whom he sent to view his carkase . so different was the opinion of all men concerning pertinax and commodus , that many hearing of commodus his death , thought the report was raised by himself to try mens inclinations ; wherefore many governours of provinces imprisoned those who related it , not because they would not have had the news to be true , but for that they thought it more dangerous to believe the death of commodus , then not to come in to pertinax , by whom every one was confident that they should be easily pardoned , whereas with commodus innocence gave no security . excerpta petresci . p. . pertinax was forced to accept of the empire by laetus and electus , when he was above . yeares old ; yet admitted not any symbole of sovereignty , and declined so envious a title , till compelled by the senate . recusabat imperare ; quod erat bene imperaturi . plinius de trajano . panegyr . . he chiefly re●used the empire , because he was to succeed a tyrant , who by his disorders had so impoverisht the state , and rendred the souldiers so loose , that he saw 't was impossible to avoid a publik odium , by the use of a necessary remedy . tristan . he would not let his wife receive the title of empresse , nor his son be called caesar , as the senate had decreed , lest he should be corrupted , but deferred it till he might deserve it ; nor admitting him being a youth into the court , but causing him to lead a private life . he permitted not his name to be stamped on the peculiar goods of the emperours , saying , that the propriety thereof belonged to the state in generall . herodian l. . c. . as marcus aurelius , whom he imitated , said to the senate ; nos usque adeo nihil habemus proprium , ut etiam vestras aedes habitemus . xiphilinus in marco aurelio . he enacted that all the wast ground in italy and other countries ( though of the princes demesne ) should be improved , and freely given to them who would manure it : to which purpose , he granted to husband-men . yeares immunity from all taxes , and security from all further trouble during his reigne . herodian . he banisht informers , preserved the commoners from the injury of souldiers , and released all imposts exacted by tyrants . id. he never could be induced to revenge an injury . s. a. victoris epitome . he was too negligent of his wife flavia titiana's chastity , who openly loved a fidler ; he in the mean time being as ardently and infamously enamoured on his concubine cornificia . capitolinus c. . he was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a giver of good words , because he was rather a fawning than a kind prince ; promising well but performing ill . such was his niggardliness , that he would set before his guests a sallad of lettuce , &c. and part of a tripe ; but if he at any time exceeded , a leg or wing of a hen. capitolinus c. . tristan parallelleth him with vespasian . his strict discipline and short donatives displeased the souldiers , who conspired against him , and elected falco emperour , whom the senate sentenced , but pertinax cryed out , god forbid , that during my reigne any senatour be put to death , though deservedly . xiphiline . laetus pretending to punish this sedition , causeth the death of divers souldiers , that the rest might mutiny , which they did , . entring the palace with drawn swords , whom pertinax was advised to flye from : but he indiscreetly rejecting that good counsell , met them , thinking with his majesty to make them afraid and leave off their enterprise , which fell out accordingly , for immediately they all retreated , except one tausius a tungrian , who ran him into the breast , saying , hunc tibi gladiū milites mittunt . dion censureth him thus , non norat homo multarum rerum peritus , multa simul tutò corrigi non posse : sed si quid aliud in rebus humanis , tum imprimis reipublicae constitutionem & tempus & sapientiam requirere . he having endured all manner of labours , & being bandied from one extreme condition to another , was called the tennis-ball of fortune . he lived . years lacking . months and . dayes , and reigned . dayes , saith dion . pertinacis principatus solo tempore minor est optimi cujusque principis regimine , saith boeclerus . helvi , judicio & consulto lecte senatus , princeps decretis prodite , non studiis . quod docuit malefida cohors , errore probato , curia quod castris cesserat imperio . ausonius . choyce observations of julianus . souldiers proclaiming the sale of the empire , julians wife and his daughters with some parasites , urged him to accept of the proffer , since he could exceed any in largesses . herodian l. . c. . sulpitian father-in-law to pertinax offered each soulder . crownes , but julian outbidding him , and promising more then they demanded or expected , obtained the empire of them , who feared lest sulpitian might revenge pertinax his death , as his competitor suggested to them . xiphiline . he entered the city , all the souldiers calling him emperour , the citizens neither daring to resist , nor yet approving the election by joyfull acclamations , as the custome was to other emperours ; but cursing him and throwing stones at him . herodian ubi suprà . he being hated , syria elected niger , germany chose severus emperour , who took albinus as partner . the rise of these . commanders , with the fall of julian , was prognosticated by the appearance of . stars about the sun ( while julian sacrificed ) conspicuous to all but the flattering pur-blind senators . xiphiline . a boy also divining by a looking-glasse , saw severus his advance and julians departure . spartian c. . severus hasting to rome was met by embassadors from julian with the offer of half the empire ; which he refused , and was by the senate ( who lately proclaimed him traitor ) declared emperour . the souldiers discontented because julian kept not his covenant , and hoping to purchase favour with severus , slew their chapman in his palace ; he thus expostulating with them , quid rei gravis admisi ? quem interfeci ? severus who had been acquitted by him from the imputation of adultery , wherewith he was charged , slew him with the like ingratitude , as julian did laetus , who had saved his life . tristan . he lived . yeares , . moneths , and so many dayes ; and reigned . dayes . dion . he being old , honourable and rich , by the purchase of the empire lessened his estate , impaired his credit , and lost his life . dii bene , quod spoliis didius non gaudet opimis ; et citò perjuro praemia dempta seni . tuque severe pater titulum ne horresce novantis ; non rapit imperium vis tua , sed recipit . ausonius . choyce observations of septimius severus . he was one of the . consuls made in one year by cleander commodus his favourite . he was an african , of so low birth , that , when he enrolled himself into the family of marcus aurelius , one pollenius sebennus is reported to have said , o caesar , i congratulate thy ●ortune , that thou hast found a father : as if he had not had a father before , his original being so base and obscure ; reflecting hereby also upon the chastity of his mother . having ascended from mean estate to the highest honour , he was wont to say ; omnia fui , nihil expedit . spartian in severo c. . he dreamed that he saw in one of the market-places at rome a horse to throw pertinax , who had mounted on him , and to suffer himself to back him ; a brasse image of which dream remained in herodians time . he was expert in the mathematiques , a good philosopher , and eloquent oratour . nothing is comparable to severus his conflicts or conquests , either for multitude of forces , commotion of countries , number of battels , length of journeyes , or speed in marches . herodian l. . his souldiers endured all difficulties cheerfully in emulation of him , who excited them to hardship by his own example , being wont as silius italicus saith of hannibal : — vertice nudo excipere insanos imbres , coelique ruinam . he was so inured to continual action , that even at his last gasp he said ; is there any thing for me to do ? xiphiline . in stead of punishing he entertained and rewarded priscus an engineer , who did him most mischief in his siege of byzantium . xiphiline . entring into alexandria he found this inscription , domini nigri est urbs ; with which being offended , the inhabitants met him , crying , novimus nos dixisse domini nigri esse urbem ; tu enim es nigri dominus . for which ready excuse he pardoned them . suidas in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . when certain of his officers went about to perswade him to rase out an epigramme made in commendation of niger , ( at the basis of whose statue it was engraved ) he expressed his dislike by these words ; si talis suit , sciant omnes qualem vicerimus ; si talis non suit , putent omnes nos vicisse talem : immo sic sit , quia fuit talis . ingenuously and wisely confessing the worth of his enemy . spartianus in nigro c. . when he was lieutenant in africke , one of his inferiour acquaintance met him going in state with his bundle of rods carried before him , and embraced him familiarly as his quondam chamber-fellow ; whom he caused to be beaten , the cryer proclaiming , embrace not rudely a roman lieutenant . from which time lieutenants have not gone on foot . spartian . plautian his favourite was so great with him , that one of plautians officers being commanded by severus , then at leisure , to plead a cause , refused , saying , he could not do it unlesse plautian commanded him . xiphiline . at the siege of atra , when he had beaten down a great part of the wall , and his souldiers were ready to enter , he commanded a retreat , hoping thereby to induce the arabians to discover that great treasure there laid up . but his covetous designe was miserably disappointed , for the besieged immediately made up their wall and kept him out . xiphiline . being used to get the victory , he now reputed himself conquered , because he could not overcome . herodian l. . c. . when one who lived in albinus his quarters , would have excused his forced assistance of him to severus , demanding what he would have done if it had been his own case ; severus answered , ea perferrem quae tu , i would suffer as you do . aurel. vict. he boasted to the senate of his clemency , although he slew at one time . of the most illustrious personages of the roman empire , not hearing them in their defence , contrary to a law which himself first made ; proving himself thereby truly to answer his name , being ( as was said of him ) verè pertinax , verè severus : so that silenus might well say , ( in iuliani caesaribus ) i dare not speak against him , i am so terrified with his inexorable cruelty . . antiochenus saith he was a great souldier , but his covetousnesse transported him beyond his valour . he was more covetous and cruell then any of his predecessors . tristan . when he warred in britain , he commanded an universall slaughter of his enemies , in these verses : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . let none escape your bloudy rage , with terrour let all die ; spare not the mother , nor the babe which in her womb doth lie . having taking albinus prisoner , he commanded him to be slain , caused his body to be laid before his palace , rode over him , and at last cast his mangled corps ( the stench whereof could not be endured ) into the river rh●s●e , with the carkases of his wife and children . having compelled nigers captaines ( whose children he kept as pledges ) to betray nigers affaires , when he had attained his ends , he slew them and their children . he gained his sur-name britannicus , by building , or at least repairing the picts-wall between england and scotland , . miles in length , against the incursions of the scots and picts . at every miles end was a tower , and pipes of brasse ( in the wall betwixt every tower ) conveied the least noise from garison to garison , without interruption ; so newes of an approching enemy was quickly spred over the borders , and occasionall provision made for resistance . there were also resting places for the areans , who were appointed by the ancients ( saith amm. marcellinus ) to serve for foot-posts , to run as occurrents fell between the officers , and carry them word of the least stirring . since the wall is ruined , and that way of dispatch taken away , many inhabitants thereabout hold land by a tenure in cornage ( as lawyers speak ) being bound by blowing a horn to discover the irruption of the enemy . cambden's britannia . ubi videsis plura . it is reported by spartian , that in his passage to york a little before his death , a black-moor with a cypresse garland on his head did meet severus , ( who bid him , as unfortunate , to be put out of his sight ) and saluted him thus ; totum fuisti , totum vicisti , jam deus esto victor . at his entrance into the city , he was by errour of a rusticall sooth-fayer ( who guided him ) brought into the temple of bellona : and black beasts , being appointed for sacrifice , did of themselves follow him to his palace . which things , howsoever they fell our accidentally , yet were interpreted as ominous by others in respect of the event . while he lay sick of the gout at york , the souldiers saluting his son bassianus emperour , he arose and caused the principall of them to be brought before him , and when they prostrate craved pardon , he laying his hand on his head , said , sentitisne tandem caput imperare , non pedes ? spartian c. . a little before his death he caused his urne to be brought before him , and taking it into his hand , said ; thou shalt contain him whom the world could not . xiphiline . he said to his sons on his death-bed , agree among your selves , enrich the souldiers , and contemne all others . id. ibid. in relation to which union he bade them read in salust , mycypsa's dying speech to his sons , in which there is this expression ; concordiâ res parvae cres●unt , discordiâ magnae dilabuntur . spartian . c. . by his pernicious advice to his sons to study onely the enriching of the souldiery , he made a breach in the impenetrable wall of the roman power , as the greek epigrammatist calls it . for after severus his raigne , for lawfull emperours , the roman empire saw in the space of yeares , more then an tyrants . the discipline of the vertuous emperours occasioning the wicked ones to mount on the throne . as the tragicall ends of young gordian , of alexander severus , of posthumus , probus and aurelian manifest . tristan . he ended his life with these words , turbatam rempublicam ubique accepi , pacatam etiam britannis relinquo , senex & pedibus aeger , firmum imperium antoninis meis relinquens si boni erunt , imbecillum si mali . spartian c. . before he dyed he was so pained in all his body , but especially in his feet , that not able to endure the torment , he called for poyson , which being denied , he greedily glutted himself with grosse meates , and not able to digest them , dyed of a surfet . sex. aurel. vict. the imprecation of plautius quintillus had the like effect upon severus , as that of severianus had upon hadrian . xiphilin . some say he dyed rather through grief for his son caracalla's wickednesse , then of any other malady . he lived yeares , moneths and dayes , and reigned yeares , moneths and dayes . he was buried in a place near york , which to this day is called severs-hill . it was said of him by the senate , that either he should not have been born , or not have dyed ; having done so much mischief in pursuit of greatness , and so much good when he was established . spartian . c. . he married martia , and after her death iulia domna , because he found by her nativity she should be matcht with a king ; though he foresaw not by his art his destiny to marry a whore ; whom yet he bare with through excesse of affection , though she was guilty of a conspiracy . spartian . c. . and . he was deifyed after his death by the senate . after the death of charles the of france , his image was laid in a rich bed , in triumphant attire , with the crown upon his head , and the collar of the order about his neck , and dayes at ordinary houres , dinner and supper was served in with all accustomed ceremonies , as sewing , water , grace , carving , &c. all the cardinals , prelats , lords , gentlemen and officers attending in far greater solemnity , then if he had been alive . now this i confesse was a piece of flattery more then needed , but not comparable to that of the romans , in making their emperours gods , which they might well have conceived , was neither in the power of the one to give , nor of the other to receive . dr. hakewill in his apology . in severus his reigne the world was so loose that were indicted for adultery . id. ib. when julia blamed the wife of argento●oxus a northern britain , because her country people accompanied promiscously ( or men having or women common among them ) she not ignorant of the roman incontinency , replied ; we accompany openly with the best , but vile persons defile you secretly . xiphiline . dion writeth that in severus his time it rained silver at rome in augustus his forum . o pluviam salutarem , & supparem illi , quâ iupiter ad danaen suam penetravit ! sed nimis hic inf●equentem inquies . sed avaritiam tuam effervescentem infusâ hac frigidâ confutabo . rore illo argenteo , addit dion , nummos aliquot aereos oblivi , mansit color dies ; to . quicquid oblitum fuerat , evanuit . fromondus met●orolog . l. . c. . art. . severus caused the . persecution , it being the devils policy to employ especially men noted for morall honesty and abilities , to massacre gods saints , that the world might believe , that those could not choose but be most abomiable , whom such wise and pious men were so earnest to extinguish . d r. prideaux . impiger egelido movet arma severus ab istr● , vt parricidae regna adimat didio . punica origo illi ; sed qui virtute probaret non obstare locum , quum valet ingenium . ausonius . pescennius niger , and clodius albinus . usurpers . engaged both in the war against septimius severus , with like unfortunate event being both conquered , and having their heads set upon a pole ; niger had his name à nigra cervice , saith spartian in his life . albinus was so called , quod , exceptus utero , contra consuetudinem puerorum qui nascuntur , & solent rubere , esset candidissimus . capitoli●us in his life ; who confirmeth his relation with this passage in an epistle of cejonius posthumius ( father of albinus ) to aelius bassianus then proconsul of africk . filius mihi natus est , ita candidus statim toto corpore , ut linteamen quo exceptus est , vinceret . quare susceptum eum albinorum famil●ae , quae mihi tecum communis est , dedi , albini nomine imposito . niger was overthrown at the first encounter of his party with severus , through the treachery of aemilianus his general , as it was thought ; and in the next fight in which he engaged personally was totally defeated , near the bay of issus , where alexander the great vanquished darius . albinus warred with severus , for withholding the copartner-ship which he promised to albinus , whom he feared because he was a valiant souldier , whereas he slighted julian and niger , who were negligent and luxurious . choyce observations of bassianus caracalla . and antoninus geta . brethren . bassianus was so called from julius bassianus his grand-father by the mothers side , and his father named him antoninus , out of respect to the antonini , whose memory was honoured by the romans . he was called caracalla from a new fashioned cassock he wore , reaching down to his ancles . he was a hopefull youth , & endeared himself to the people by weeping and turning away his eyes , when condemned persons were cast to wild beasts , ( which tenderness baronius thinketh proceeded from his christian nurse euhodia ) yet after he was so changed he seemed not the same . spartian c. . knowing well that he could not make himself seem more beautifull then he was , he would take the advantage to appear more terrible , affecting a cruell and furious countenance . tristan . in the part of his commentaires historiques . see the . . . . . . medails of him there . he attempted to kill his father ; & put to death the physicians for not hastening his death ( as he commanded ; ) slew his father in law plautian , his wife plautillae , and her brother plautus , antip●ter the famous sophister of that age , cilo his tutor , and euhodus his foster-father : sparing not any who either honoured his father , or was honoured by him . when at the circensian sports ( where himself was a spectator ) the people cast some scoffe at a chariotier which he favoured , he taking it as an affront to himself , suddenly commanded his souldiers to rush among the multitude , and kill all who had scorned the chariot-driver . upon this command , it being impossible to find out the delinquents in so great a throng ( none confessing himself guilty ) the souldiers spared none whom they light upon , but either slew them , or took away what they had for a ransome . herodtan l. . c. . he put down aristotles schooles , burnt his books , saying he conspired against alexander . xiphiline . having seen the body of alexander the great , he commanded his followers to call him alexander and antoninus magnus ; and by flatterers was brought to a fond conceit , that he walked like alexander with an awfull countenance , and bent his head to the left shoulder ; and whatever he observed in the countenance of alexander , he imitated to the life , and perswaded himself that he had the same lineaments and proportions . sext. aur. victor . vide schottum . i have seen divers ridiculous images , which had one entire body ; and one head , which had . half-faces , to wit , alexanders and antonines ; saith herodian . l. . c. . he was excessively given to adultery , while able , yet most severely punished it in others . excerpta peiresci . p. . being unable to weare true armour through his weakness of body , he wore counterfeit harnesse that none might attempt to assassinate him . excerpta peiresci . fuit ejus immanitatis , ut its praecipuè blandiretur quos ad necem destinabat : ut ejus magis bland●mentum timeretur quàm ir acundia . he would shew courtesy when he intended mischief ; so that his kindness was more feared then his anger . spartian in geta c. . having miserably impoverished the people , his mother reproved him , to whom he shewing his naked sword , replied ; as long as i have this , i will not want , xiphiline . where he wintered , or but intended to winter , he caused amphitheaters and cirques for publique games to be erected , and within a while to be taken down again . id. ibid. he learned the vices of nations from whom he drew his original ; of the french , vanity , timorousness , and idleness ; of the africans , roughness and wildness ; of the syrians , cunning and malice . excerpta peiresci . he preferred hannibal , sylla , and tiberius , before other commanders for their cruelty ; in which he exceeded his father , and all the preceding emperours . he confessed that in all his life he never learned to do good . xiphiline . when maximinus the younger ( yet a child ) got up into caracall ' as chariot , and was hardly drawn thence , there were some who admonished caracalla to beware of him , to whom he answered , longè est ut mihi succedat iste . capitolinus in maximino juniore . c. . [ tiberius in like manner when he knew that galba should be emperour , but not before old age , said ; vivat sanè quando id ad nos nihil pertinet . suetonius in galba . c. . ] he delighted more in magicians and juglers then in men of worth ; for seeing himself hated , he told the romans he could command his own security , though not their love ; and therefore he lesse valued reproches , or feared dangers by their disfavour . xiphiline . zonaras . yet oppian who when banished by severus wrote the cynegeticks , and after his decease dedicated that work to caracalla , was therefore recalled from exile , and received a piece of gold for every verse in his poem . as caligula having kild many french and greeks , bragged that he had conquered gallo-graecia : so caracalla having perfidiously slain a great number of germans and parthians , usurped the titles of germanicus and parthicus . tristan in his parallel of caracalla with caligula . being incensed against the alexandrians , who traduced him for his fratricide , and nick-named his mother iocasta , he commanded the strongest of them to be listed for service ; whom when he had enrolled , he killed , after the example of ptolomeus euergetes , the of that name , called physcon ; giving moreover a signal to the souldiers to kill their hosts . he restored all profligate persons who were exiled , to their liberty ; and presently after filled the ilands whither they were banished with more exiles . xiphiline . he slew his brother geta in his mothers armes , whom he forced to dissemble mirth ; he consecrated the sword wherewith he kild him sequestred their goods in whose will geta's name was found , and slew persons related to him ; spending whole nights in such tragicall executions . compare dion with herodian . to cloke which fratricide with shew of constraint , first to the souldiers , and then in the senate , he accused his brother to have sought his death , and that in defence of himself he was forced to kill him ; and thereupon fled to the praetorian bands for safety of his life , as though further conspiracies had been intended against him in the city . notwithstanding which cruelty he arrogated to himself the name of pius , and after , conquering the germans , he was not ashamed of the title germanicus , though through the ambiguity of the word he might be thought to boast of his brothers murder . hemelarius . he allowed geta a good funerall , buried him in a stately monument built by severus , called septizonium ; wept as often as he saw his picture , or heard mention of his name : and being told that his fratricide might be expiated in some degree by calling his brother a god , he answered ; sit divus modò non sit vivus . spartian in geta. c. . for the murther of his brother he was punished with madness by the furies , deservedly called vltrices deae . affrighted with the ghost of his father and commodus , he prohibited any upon pain of death to name geta ; and broke the mony stamped with his effigies , and abolished all the playes instituted in honour of his birth-day . by his favourites , the name of geta was raced out of all monuments and imperiall inscriptions , as we have seen some of them defaced upon some altar stones found in britain . speeds chron. he slew papinian the famous lawyer , because sollicited by him to defend his fratricide , he said ; it was a crime easilyer committed then excused . spartian c. . he did chide the executioner , because he beheaded papinian with an axe , and not with a sword . spartian in caracalla c. . and in geta c. . xiphiline . when he ascribed to himself the titles of germanicus , arabicus , and alemannicus , sarmaticus maximus , and parthicus maximus ; helvius pertinax son to the emperour pertinax jestingly said , adde if you please geticus maximus , because of his brother geta's murther , and because the gothes ( whom he overcame in his passage to the east ) are called getae ; which occasioned pertinax his death . spartian in geta ubi suprà , & in caracalla c. . being in mesopotamia , he writes to maternianus to whom he committed command at rome , to enquire of the magicians , ( to whom he was so addicted ) whether any intended to surprize the empire . maternianus writes back that macrinus treacherously aspired to the empire ; which letter with others caracalla received while he was at his sport , and delivered them to macrinus to give him an account of . macrinus broke up the letters , and fell upon that which aimed at his destruction ; wherefore finding his own danger , he reserved that letter to himself , acquainting caracalla with the rest . but fearing lest maternianus should write again of the same businesse , he resolved to prevent his imminent danger by this plot . he perswades martialis a centurion , and one of caracalla's guard ( whose brother the emperour had slain a few dayes before , upon an accusation without proof ) to dispatch him , which he did whilest the emperour was about to ease nature . when he went out of a certain gate , he heeded not the detaining of him , and tearing his garment by a lion , whom he used to play with , and named acinaces ; who held him as it were by an extraordinary instinct , as if he foreknew the misfortune ready to befall him . dion . it was but just , that he who had killed so many of his friends , should be slain by the treason of his enemies . both caligula and caracalla reigned but a little while . both were killed by military tribunes , the one by cassius chaerea , whom he was wonted to taxe with effeminacy : and the other by martialis , who was employed by macrinus , whom caracalla charged with the same fault . and which is wonderfull , they both dyed being . yeares old , and both their assassinates were slain after them . tristan in his parallel of caracalla with caligula . he reigned yeares , moneths and dayes . serapion an egyptian a few dayes before told him , that he should dye shortly , and macrinus should succeed him : for which he was cast to a lion , and though the beast spared him , macrinus would not . xiphiline . both neró and caracalla dyed violent deaths , and both had for their successors old men whom they loved not at all , and who reigned not long , being both slain by the practises of two effeminate persons , who were otho and heliogabalus . tristan in his parallel of caracalla with nero. when he was dead , it appeared that he procured as much poyson from the inhabitants of upper asia , as cost crowns , that he might poyson severall wayes as many as he pleased . xiphiline . it is to be admired , that a man so extremely wicked , tempered himself from slaughter of the christians . his wife plautina had as much for her dowry as would have served empresses . her father plautian made men eunuchs , who were married and had children ; and their children also were gelded , that she might have musick-masters who might teach her the better , and domestiques of this sort fitter to compose tunes for her . dissimilis virtute patri , & multò magis illi , cujus adoptivo nomine te perhibes ; fratris morte nocens , punitus fine cruent● , in risu populi tu caracalla jaces . ausonius . choyce observations of opilius macrinus , and his son antoninus diadumenvs . macrinus was of so obscure par●ntage , that according to the custome of the moores , he had one of his eares bored thorough . xiphiline . he was made a praefect by caracalla , after whose death he was elected emperour by the souldiers , who were ignorant of his treason , the suspicion whereof he escaped by a seeming sorrow . the romans were so glad of caracalla's death , that they considered not whether macrinus was good or bad ; men who are injured , when they overcome their enemies , respect not so much their profit as revenge . he associated with himself his son diadumenus , so called either from his grand-father by the mothers side , or because he was born with a diadem on his head , like a bow-string . lampr●d . in diadumeno . c. . he commanded diadumenus forthwith to be called antoninus by the souldiers , and assumed to himself the name of severus , whose memory he pretended to reverence , that he might deface the suspicion of assasinating his son. he imitated marcus aurelius in a slow pace and low voice , and nero in a cruell life . instead of macrinus , he was by his own servants called macellinus , as one would say butcher , quòd macelli specie domus ejus cruentaretur sanguine vernularum . because his house was like a shamble of murthered men . capitolinus in macrino . c. . he was named mezentius , because like him he joyned live bodies to dead . he commanded . souldiers , who had ravished their hostesses maid , to be sewed up in the bellies of . great oxen , their heads onely left out , that they might speak one to another . he caused those souldiers who committed adultery to be tyed to the women , and burnt alive ; though his wife nonia celsa was insatiable that way . he shut live men in seiled walls , where they dyed miserably . mothe le vayer in his opuscules p. . &c. thinketh that one reason why macrinus banished lucius priscillianus a valiant captain into an island where he dyed , was because he had the boldnesse to encounter alone . such fierce beasts , as a bear , a leopard , a lyonesse and a lyon ; though his cruell carriage under caracalla who advanced him , afforded sufficient pretence for his punishment , as dion informeth us . l. . macrinus said he was clement , when he punished but one souldier in an hundred with capitall punishment for a mutiny , when he thought they deserved to be decimated or at least one in . to suffer . having written to the senate , that he knew no body desired his death , fulvius diogenianus cryed out ; yes but we all do . after he had concluded a peace with artabanus the parthian king , he returned to antioch in syria , and there spent his time in sensual pleasures , being drenched so far therein , that the army began to dislike his government , and to favour young bassianus the son of caracalla , then present at emesa a citie in phoenicia , with maesa his grand-mother by his mothers side , who there had built a temple to the sun , and therein ordained him a priest , for which cause he was called heliogabalus , which in the phoenician language is , the priest of the sun. to this temple resorted many of the souldiers , and seeing the beauty of the youth , allured maesa to bring him to their camp : where known to be the son of caracalla , the souldiers proclaimed him emperour , and maintained his right against macrinus ; who after this revolt , met young heliogabalus in the confines between phoenicia and syria , where he fought a bloudy battel , but being put to flight , hasted to chalcedon , fell sick , and was with his son diadumenus put to death by the souldiers , because he contracted their pay , and suppressed their luxury . he lived . yeares , reigned one year and . moneths : principis hic custos , sumptum pro caesare ferrum vertit in auctorem caede macrinus iners . mox cum prole ruit . gravibus pulsare querelis cesset persidiam . quoe patitur , meruit . ausonius . choyce observations of heliogabalus . this monster had more names and sur-names ( saith tristan ) then hydra had heads ; for whilest he was a private man he was called varius avitus lupus , varius from his reputed father varius marcellus , avitus lupus from julius avitus lupus his grand-father by the mothers side ; after being presented to the souldiers to obtain their favour , he was named bassianus : by whom when he was received and proclaimed emperour , they gave him the name of antoninus . he was the last emperour upon whom that name was conferred , which because he dishonoured , he was called pseud-antoninus . he was named assyrius ( saith dion ) because he was often seen in publick clothed with a barbarous habit , such as his countrymen the priests of syria , anciently called assyria , used to wear . his debauchednesse made him to be sur-named the roman sardanapalus . he had the sur-name of heliogabalus given to him , * because he was priest of heliogabalus the peculiar god of the emesenes ; so strange a deity , that authors agree not about the writing , or meaning of his name : though it be most probable that it signifieth the sun. he was the spurious issue of caracalla and symia syra , which sealiger rendreth lunula onychine . he had wives in the short time of his reigne ; the first of which was annia faustina , of commodus his linage , for the enjoyment of whom he caused pomponius bassus her husband to be put to death , not permitting her to weep for him . divorcing her he married cornelia paula a most illustrious roman lady ( that he might the sooner be a father ( said he ) who was not able to be a man ) yet soon after onely because she had a spot in her body , as he said , he put her away , and stripping her of all honours , sequestred her to a private life . after pretending he was in love , he violently took out of vesta her sacred nunnery at rome , julia aquilia severa a vestal virgin , and married her , which by the heathens was held such a crime , that the num which had carnal knowledge of a man , was buried alive : writing to the senate , who were grieved at his sacrilegious act , that she was a fit match for a priest , and impudently affirmed he did it , that from himself a priest and his wife the chief priestesse of vesta there might be born issue worthy of the gods. yet he quickly turned away this wife , for to espouse another , with more whose names are unknown ; it being difficult to determine whether he be to be blamed more for his frequent and illegal marriages , or his sudden and causelesse divorces . and at last being possessed with a continuall inconstancy ( having changed times in . yeares ) he returned to aquilia severa . compare dion . l. . with herod . l. . c. . nor did he thus play at fast and loose with humane matrimonies onely , but now his god also wanted a wise . him he married first to pallas , after ( saying , his god liked not so martial a wife ) to vrania , concluding it was fitter to match the sun and moon together , making his god almost as fickle as himself . herodian l. . c. . he gave all the treasure in the temple of vrania to his god , for a portion with her . he commanded all the people of rome and italy to use all publick and private feasts for joy of the wedding : he erected in the suburbs a magnificent temple , into which every year with great solemnity he brought his god , whom he preferred before iupiter , and made an edic● that the romans should pray to the ne● god heliogabalus before all other gods , who he said , were servants of his god , spoiling their temples to enrich that of his , nay would have had no other gods worshippe● at rome , saith lamprid. in heliogab . c. . ne● romanas tautùm voluit extinguere religioues sed per orbem terrae unum studens ut heliogabalu● deus unus ubique coleretur . id. ibid. c. . he was a man for all women , and a woman for all men . coëffeteau . he so far differed from the manners o● men , that modesty permitteth not to relate his greatest vices ; the devil in the form of an hermaphrodite , not being able to act greater lewdness then he did saith tristan . lampridius thus beginneth the story of heliogabalus : i would never have wrote the beastly life of heliogabalus , that it might not have been known , that he was a roman emperour , unlesse caligula , nero and vitellius had before sate in the same throne . boccaline feigneth that lampridius was severely proceeded against by apollo , and that by order of the whole congregation of parnassus , his histories was turned back upon his hands , and he was freely told , that he should go and teach those execrable lusts in the publick classis , wherewith he had so delighted himself to fill his shamefull papers , wherein he had written the lives of heliogabalus , caracalla , and other las●●vious monsters of nature . parnassus cent . . advertisement . it is questioned whether were greater his boundlesse prodigality , his stupendious leachery , or his fantasticall foolery : the last of which his imperial vertues he gave proof of , when he commanded his servants to bring him a thousand pound weight of spiders offering them a reward , and received of them ten thousand pound weight , whereupon he said , that now he understood the greatness of rome : at another time he caused to be gathered ten thousand mice , a thousand wezels , and a thousand polecats , which he brought forth in a publick shew to the people , for some wise state-purpose , like the former . speeds chron. he disfigured his faire face with foul tinctures ; he slept in the day , transacted affaires in the night . being near the sea , he never tasted fish ; nor flesh , when he was farthest in the continent : he said that fare was best which cost most . he ridicously wore jewels , and those curiously engraved , on his feet ; as if the rarity of the work could be discerned there . lamprid. c. . that he might seem magnificent , he drowned ships in the haven ; paying the owners for their fraught : and drew fishes out of his ponds with oxen. lamprid. c. . and . he built stately bathes , which being but once used were plucked down . lampr. c. . he said , if he had an heir he would teach him to do as he did . when he was but a private man , being reproved for his prodigality by a friend , who asked him , whether he did not fear want hereafter ; he answered , what can be better for me then to be heire to my self ? he conferred honours on sordid persons , and put great persons upon mean employments , causing the entrails of the sacrifices to be born by generals of armies , and the chief officers of state. in imitation of apicius he would frequently eate camels heels , the combes of cocks newly cut , the tongues of peacocks and nightingales , with the entrails of mullets , partridges egges , the heads of parrats , pheasants and peacocks , and the braines of thrushes and phoenicopters . id. ibid. c. . he had served in at a meale the heads of . estridges , onely that he might eat their brains . id. ib. c. . he fed his horses with grapes , his dogs with geese livers ( a dainty then ) lyons and other beasts with parrats and pheasants . id. ibid. c. , and . he often changed his pallets , and lay not on any couch unlesse it was stuffed with hares furre , or the feathers under partridges wings . id. ib. c. . one day he would eat nothing but pheasant , another day chickens , on another this or that fish , at one time ostriches , at another herbs , or apples , other whiles sweet-meats or white-meats onely . id. ib. c. . one of his feasts was hardly ended in a day , the several messes being prepared , and eaten successively in the houses of his several friends , one dwelling in the capitol , another upon mount caelius , a beyond tiber , &c. one staying for another , till the dishes went through all their houses . lampridius c. . he tyed his parasites to a wheele , and turned them up and down in water , calling them his ixionian friends . id. ibid. c. . he thrust them also out of his dining-roomes , which had deceitfull floores , into chambers filled with roses , that smothered with them , they might meet with the bitternesse of death in sweetnesse . id. ib. c. . he tantalized them with mock-feasts in waxe , wood , ivory , marble , glasse ; sometimes what himself did eat was woven or wrought with a needle on their napkins : otherwhiles so many dishes of meat as were provided for him , were painted upon their tables : onely allowing them to drink . id. ib. c. . and . at the and course he caused beares , pardals , lyons and leopards , which lacked their teeth and clawes , to be brought in suddenly by their keepers , to terrify them , who were ignorant of their inability to hurt . lamprid. c. . he shut them up when they were drunk , turning in upon them in the night these disarmed beasts , with the fear of which many dyed . id. ib. c. . their yearly salaries were pitchers full of frogs , scorpions , serpents and flyes . id. ib. c. . many times he kept them in their lodgings from night to morning with old black-moor women , whereas he told them he had provided most beautifull ones for them . id. ib. c. . when the people had taken up their places before day in the theatre to behold the sports , he caused serpents to be thrown among them , whereby many of them were sore bitten and hurt by flight . lampridius c. . he did fantastically set up a senate of women , with sutable orders , as how to attire , where take place , when salute ; but after his death all women were deprived of that priviledge by the senate . id. ib. c. . and . he did drive chariots drawn by elephants in the vatican , levelling the tombes which stood in his way ; he was also drawn by camels in the circus , by mastives in the palace , after he was emperour ; by stags in publick , sometimes by lyons he naming himself magna mater , also by tigers counterfeiting bacchus , unto whom through his excessive humour of drinking he was something more like : other whiles naked wenches drew him , he being also naked . lamprid. c. . . . he was addicted to divination by inspection of the bowels of young men sacrificed , chusing many fair gentlemen throughout all italy , whose parents were living , that their sorrow might be the greater , lampridius c. . by perswasion of maesa his grand-mother , who pretended to free him from cares of state , he proclaimeth alexander severus his cousin german caesar , maketh him consul with himself , and adopteth him for his son , the senate ridiculously voting what he commanded , viz. alex. severus who was years old , to be the son of heliog abalus who was but . he assaying in vain to draw his cousen to his unseemely courses , repented that he had made him his collegue in the empire ; expelled all his tutors from the court , and put the chief of them to death : alleadging ridiculously , that the pedants spoiled his son , not suffering him to dance and revell , but teaching him to be modest and use manly exercises . herodian . l. . c. . lamprid. c. . that he revenged himself on none who mocked him upon the reading of macrinu● his letters against him at rome : tristan imputeth to the prudent moderation of maesa and eutychianus , by whose means chiefly he got the empire , whom yet he put to death with cruell ingratitude , onely because he was advised by him to reform . the syrian priests having foretold him that he should dye a violent death , he build a rich and stately tower whence he might throw himself down ; preparing also cords of crimson silk and gold to strangle himself with ; rich swords to thrust himself through ; keeping poyson in boxes of emeralds and jacynth , that he might chuse a death according to his humour : saying , that however he dyed , his death should be glorious in the eyes of men , and such a one as none ever dyed . but he failed of his hope , though not of his desert ; for the souldiers of his own guard , whom he commanded to make away his cousin-german , and deface his statues , for the love they bore to alexander severus , killed heliogabalus himself in a privy , whither he fled to escape them . his body was drawn by a souldier through all the streets of rome , like the carkas of a dog , with this military proclamation : the whelp of untamed and ravening lust . at last when the quantity of his body was greater then would enter into the stool of a privy , wherein for the last funerall ceremony it should have been buried , they drew it to tiber , binding it to an heavy weight , & so cast it into the river , that it might neither float above water nor be buried ; he being the only emperour who was ever so punished . they did also thrust stakes through the fundament of some of his lewd companions , that their death might be conformable to their life . it is observable that notwithstanding he not onely permitted , but also encouraged his subjects to live licentiously : moreover was so liberal toward them , that he fed them with most delicate and exquisite meates , gave unto them abundance of mony , and all the plate , were it of gold or silver , wherewith he was served , to them who dined or supped with him , & made many other very sumptuous distributions to the people : yet the romans nevertheless abhorring in him their own vices , or rather being satiated therewith , slew him as is above mentioned , in the year of his age , when he had reigned years months & dayes . choyce observations of alexander mammaeae . he was named alexander , because he was born in the temple of alexander the great , and on that day that alexander dyed ; he had a foster-father called philip , and a nurse named olympias : in allusion to alexander the great 's father and mother . lampridius in alexandro severo . c. . & . who reckoneth . omens of his coming to the empire . he is called alexander mammaeae from his mother mammaea more known then his father . though he was strict in his discipline , yet lampridius erroneously affirmeth that he was named severus for his severity to the souldiers . tristan tom . p. . his mother julia mammaea ( daughter of maesa ) was a christian woman , and did send for origen to instruct her son in the grounds of the christian religion . he was the first who received at one time all ornaments and tokens of honour , which he purchased by his honest life and vertuous manners , whereby he obtained such favour of all men , that when his cousin-german heliogabalus would have slain him , he could not for the souldiers and senates resistance : he proving himself worthy to be saved harmless by the senate and souldiers , and to be elected emperour by the votes of all good men , when he was but . years old . lamprid. c. . he was then so modest , that when the senate and people would have given to him the sur-names of antoninus and * magnus as principall titles of honour , he humbly refused them , saying openly unto the senate ; it pleaseth me not to assume what belongeth to others , and i find my self overladen with your love , for these high names of honour are too burdensome to me . whereupon ( saith lamprid. c. . ) he gained more honour , than if he had taken titles upon him , and from that time he had the repute of a moderate and wise man. [ eruditionis gloriam famamque declinando eruditissimus habebatur saith hierome of nepotianus . ] he went usually in the morning betime to his devotion into his closet , where were set the images of apollonius , christ , abraham , and orpheus . lamprid. c. . he did read much the life of alexander the great , whom he imitated especially , yet abhorred his drunkeness and cruelty toward his friends . id. c. . he would not hear oratours or poets speak any thing to his praise , counting it folly , but willingly heard orations of the acts of other good princes , or of famous romans ; and most gladly such as were made in praise of alexander the great . id. c. . he had the picture of virgil and tully , with achilles and other great persons in his lesser lararium ; alexander the great among those he worshipped as gods in his greater . id. ibid. c. . he was at first harsh , after favourable to christians , thought to build a temple to christ , but was diverted by vlpian and others who having consulted their heathen gods , received this answer ( saith lamprid. c. . ) that if that were suffered , all men would be christians , and all other temples desolate . he delighted not in cloath of gold or silkes , saying ; government consisted in vertue , and not in costly apparell . lamprid. c. . at his table he drunk not in cups of gold , and kept not above . pound weight of silver vessels in his house , id. ibid. c. . he sold jewels that were given to him , counting it unfit for himself to possesse such things , as he could neither give to his souldiers , nor any man find profit in . wherefore when an embassador had given to the empresse . unions of wonderfull greatnesse , he commanded them to be sold : and when none could be found who would give as much as they were prized at , lest any ill example should proceed from his wife , if she wore that which no body could buy , 〈◊〉 caused them to be hanged at the eares of the image of venus : thereby declaring that such things either for the inestimable price were ●itter for gods then men : or for the unprofitable beauty thereof served onely for persons of wanton dispositions , whereof venus was goddesse and patronesse . he would not suffer any to come into his presence , but such as were honest and of good report , commanding that none should enter into his palace , but onely such who knew themselves to be free from vice : causing it to be proclaimed that no person knowing himself to be a thief , should presume to salute him upon pain of capitall punishment . lamprid. c. . he prohibited infamous women to salute his wife or mother . id. c. . he was strict in his own manners , wherefore all noble men assayed to imitate him , and honourable matrons followed the empresses example . id. c. . he caused the sinews of one of his secretary's fingers to be cut through , so that he could never write after , and banished him , for forging a false bill in his counsell . id. ib. c. . videsis plura . he commanded one of his own servants , who had abused him by receiving . crownes of a souldier for a bribe , to be hanged in the high way , wherein his servants most frequently passed to his mannors without the city . id. c. . he used like severity toward souldiers ; for when he heard that one of them had wronged a poor old woman , he cashiered him and made him be bond slave to the woman , that he being a carpenter might with his trade and labour maintain her : and when the souldiers were grieved thereat , he perswaded them to be contended , and made them afraid to grudge at it . id. c. . he would in no case permit offices to be sold ; for ( said he ) he who buyeth , must sell ; i will not endure any merchandise of authority ; which if i tolerate , i cannot afterwards condemn ; and i shall be ashamed to punish him who sold what i permitted him to buy . id. c. . he so abhorred bribery , that if by chance he saw a judge therewith corrupted , he was ready to scratch out his eyes ; and was so incensed at the sight of such extortioners , that he would immediately vomit up choler , his face being as it were on fire , and he not able of a long time to speak a word . id. c. . he had a favourite named vetronius turinus , who used to be more familiar with him then others , which so blinded him , that he by lyes confirmed the opinion of many , who thought the emperour would do nothing without his advice . which abuse the emperour hearing of used this plot to circumvent him . he caused one to desire something of him openly , and after to sue privily to turinus to help him in his demand , and secretly to move the emperour for him : which being done , turinus promised good will to the petitioner , and soon after said that he had sollicited the emperour therein , ( whereas he spoke not a word thereof ) and expected his answer ; whereupon he received of the said person a great summe of money , which the emperour knowing , caused him to call often on turinus ; who , as if he had other business in hand , onely beckened on him without speaking any thing to him ; the emperour in the interim having given to another that which this man sued for , who grudging thereat , discovered openly what turinus had received of him : whereupon the emperour commanded turinus to be accused openly in his presence , and all things being proved by sufficient and credible witnesses , in whose presence he had received bribes , and in whose hearing he had promised great matters : he was adjudged by the emperour to be bound to a stake in the market place , and to be smothered to death with smoke of green sticks and wet stubble , the bedell being commanded to cry the mean while , fumo punitur qui vendidit fumum ; he perisheth by smoke who had vented smoke in stead of substance . but lest men should think the judgement was too rigorous for one offence , before he was condemned to dye , the emperour made diligent search , and found by evident proofes , that turinus had often and in many causes received money of both parts , promising to promote their cause to the emperour . lamprid ▪ c. . & . he had in his chamber bills containing the number of his souldiers , with their names , and what time they had served ; and when he was alone , he perused their accounts , and the number of them with their dignityes and wages , that he might be surely provided upon all occasions : wherefore when he had any thing to do with them , he could tell many of their names . when he was sollicited to promote any one , he marked his name , and then searched his books of remembrance , wherein were the names of them who served him , with the time of their service , also their reward , and at whose request they were promoted . id. c. . in his expeditions if any souldier going out of the way passed through an other mans ground , he would cause him to be beaten with rods , or be drubbed in his sight : or if the dignity of the person freed him from such punishments , he would severely reprove him , saying ; visne hoc in agro tuo fieri , quod alteri facis ? lamprid. c. . when his souldiers mutinyed at antioch , because he exercised martial discipline upon some of them for debauchednesse , he stilled them with these words ; quirites discedite , atque arma deponite . a wonderfull example , they all putting off their armes and souldiers coates , departed to their severall lodgings . then the emperours guard brought all the standards into the camp , and the people themselves brought all their armour to the emperours palace : yet that very legion which he disbanded , being sued unto dayes before he went toward persia , he received again , and by their valour especially , he overcame his enemies : notwithstanding ere he departed he put to death the commanders of that legion , because the souldiers passed their time riotously at daphne , through their negligence or connivence . id. ib. c. . & . he so heard the complaints of souldiers against their commanders , that if he found any officer faulty , he punished him according to the quality of the offence , without purpose of pardon . id. c. . he made one a pretorian prefect , who fled to avoid so arduous imployment , saying ; invitos , non ambientes in republica collocandos , they were fit to bear office of state who shunned them , not those that sued for them . id. c. . [ king william rufus ( sacrilegious in other acts ) herein discharged a good conscience . two monks came to him to buy an abbots place of him , seeking to outvie each other in offering great summes of money , whilest a third monk stood by , and said nothing . to whom said the king ; what wilt thou give for the place ? not a penny , answered he , for it is against my conscience ; but here i stay to wait home on him whom your royall pleasure shall design abbot . then quoth the king , thou of the three best deservest the place , and shalt have it , and so bestowed it on him . fullers holy stare . l. . c. . ] he never made a senatour without the counsell and approbation of the whole senate , testimony of him being given by honourable persons ; but if either the senatours who gave their suffrage , or the witnesses were found to have spoken untruly , they were put into the lowest place of esteem , being also condemned by the people as deceivers and forgers without hope of remission . lamprid. c. . he loved learned men , and feared them also very much , lest they should write any thing sharply of him . lamprid. c. . his mother mammaea and his grand-mother maesa chose out of the senate grave and honourable peeres for his counsellers and assistants , without whose consent nothing was to passe as an act of state. herodian . l. . c. . he transacted no weighty matter of judicature , without the advice of no lesse then most learned and wise men , beside lawyers ( whereof were scholars of papinian ) of whom vlpian was chief . every mans opinion was heard , and what they said was written ; a competent time being given each counsellour to consider what they propounded , that they might not speak unadvisedly in matters of importance . lamprid. c. . and . in law and business of state , intelligent , learned and eloquent men were of his councel ; in military affaires old commanders , who had behaved themselves valiantly in several battails , and were expert in the situation of places , pitching of fields , and preparation of camps ; in each matters he advised with the best historians : asking them , what the emperours of rome or princes of forreign countries in former times did in like cases as were then in debate . id. c. . when he appointed governours of provinces , he published their names , exhorting and encouraging the people to bring in what exception they could against them , and manifestly to prove the crime , if there was cause of accusation ; provided , if they did not sufficiently prove their charge , and that their accusation proceeded from malice , the accuser should forthwith be beheaded : for , said he , since christians and jews use this method in ordination of priests , it is most reasonable that the like course should be taken in the choice of rectors of provinces , to whom are committed the lives and fortunes of those who are under them . id. c. . when certain hucksters and cookes pretended they had right to a place which was consecrated by the christians , and it was inquired what was his pleasure therein , he answered ; it was better that god should be worshipped there after any sort , then that the place should be put to vain uses . id. c. . eusebius in his ecclesiasticall history l. . saith , that there were many christians in his family . he wrote down so far as he could remember , what he had given to any man , and if he found any to whom he had either given nothing , or that which was not equall to his merit , he called them unto him , saying what is the cause that thou askest nothing of me ? wouldst thou have me to be in thy debt ? ask something that thou mayest not complain of me for want of promotion . id. c. . when any one had exercised his office in the common-wealth well , at the end of his term when there was a successour appointed , he would say to him who departed out of his office ; gratias tibi agit respublica : and would so reward him , that being a private person , he might according to his degree live the more honestly . id. c. . he allowed every judge of a province pound weight in silver , silver pots , mules , mulets , horses , a horse-keeper and a muletour , robes to sit in judgement , one honourable garment to wear in his house , one for his bath , one cook , and crowns ; their employment being ended , they were bound to restore the mules , mulets , horses , muletours and cooks : but might retain the residue if they had discharged their office well , otherwise they payed times as much as they received . id. c. . he did let no day passe without exercising himself in learning and martial affaires . id. c. . every day also he did some good to others , in which ( saith tristan ) he had an advantage of happinesse above titus , who could not expresse the like goodness above space of yeares in which he reigned . if necessity required , he heard matters before day , staying till it was late ; never seeming to be weary or troubled : but had all the time the same countenance , in all things appearing merry and pleasant . lampridius c. . he was so courteous , that he visited the meanest of his sick friends , desiring them to tell him their minds freely of every thing , and hearing them attentively ; and when he had heard them throughly , whatsoever he found amisse he carefully amended : and when his mother mammaea and his wife memmia blamed him for his great civility , saying it made his authority contemptible , he answered ; but more secure and durable . id. c. . he repaired most of the bridges which were built by trajan , leaving notwithstanding the name and honour thereof to trajan . id. c. . his souldiers marceed like senatours to the persian war , the country loving them as brethren , and honouring the emperour as a god. id. c. . when he dined or supped abroad , he had ever with him vlpian or other learned men , that he might benefit himself by their discourse , with which he said , that he was both recreated and ●ed . id. c. . in all the time of his reign , which lasted yeares he suffered none to dye , but those who were condemned by law ; a rare vertue , and not practised by any since marcus aurelius : and there had been nothing wanting to have rendred him a most excellent prince , had not his mother who was ( a good woman but ) too miserable , blasted his honour by her sordid demeanour . herodian l. . c. . he meeting with a druid as he went into germany , she said to him ; vadas , nec victoriam speres , nec militi tuo credas . lampridias c. . thrasybulus his friend foretelling that he should die by the hand of a barbarian , he rejoyced , thinking that he should die a warlike death ; but he was mistaken in his interpretation , dying not in war : for the souldiers enraged with his discipline , and his mother mammaea's covetousness , slew both near mentz in germany , by the instigation of maximus a muletour whom he had raised . he lived yeares months and dayes , and reigned ( saith lampride ) years and dayes . s. aur. victor saith that when alexander saw himself forsaken of his guard , he cryed out upon her which gave him his life , as the cause of his death ; adding that mammaea had reduced her son to such an extremity by her sparing humour , who if never so little was left at their overfrugal table , reserved it till another time . verè mammaeus à studio in matrem mammaeam , ex cujus arbitrio & consilio multa administrat infeliciter & cum proprio exitio . dietericus in breviario historico . iulian bringeth in silenus thus deriding him : o te hominem amentissimum , & nullius plane consilii ! qui ad tantum dignitatis fastigium elatus , tuas res ex animi tui sententia non administrasti , sed tuas pecunias matri commisisti , neque tibi tn mentem venit , longe satius & utilius esse eas amicis impartiri , quàm sibi recondere . he is the more to be honoured and admired , since being come of uncertain linage , born far from rome , and in so barbarous a country as syria , he so well governed the roman empire , which before his time was extremely corrupted with detestable vices . dion was contemporary and consul with alexander , with whom he endeth his history , of which bussieres in his flosculi historici passeth this censure : tunc dio cassius principi charus & fastis insertus , inauguravit literas trabea ; romanae graecus scriptor historiae perquam accuratus , quam tamen negligentia temporum perdidit , dum studiosus brevitatis in xiphilino , ignorantiam sovet , & umbram amans corpus amittit . choyce observations of maximinus , and his son maximus . maximinus spent his youth in keeping cattle , yet was advanced afterward for his stature which exceeded foot by fingers . capitolinus in maxim. c. . & in maximino i un , c. . secundum correctionem casauboni & salmasii . [ ego ( ut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , cui magna solet esse fides , testem saciam ) belgam ( antwerpianum se fere . bat ) in galliis , anno . vidi novem pedes altitudine excedentem , &c. merula cosmographis parte prima , l. . c. . ] his body was so great that his wives bracelet served him for a ring . capitolinus in maximino , c. . his stomach was answerable ; he eating daily , sometimes pound weight of flesh ; and drinking gallons of wine , id. ibid. c , . his strength was sutable ; he being able to draw waines loaden with his hands ; to strike out the teeth of a horse with his fist , to break his thighes with a kick ; to crumble tophy stones between his fingers , and to cleave young trees : for which he was called hercules , antaeus , and m●lo ; as achilles , hector , and ajax , for his valour . id. ibid. c. . and . sept. severus celebrating the birth-day of his son geta , with military sports , gave the winners for a reward jewels , collars , bracelets , belts ; maximinus who was newly come to the army , and could scarce speak latine came before him , intreating his leave that he might put forth himself in these exercises . severus wondring at the greatness of his body , granted his request ; but upon conditition , that he should not encounter with any souldier , * but with such as were water-bearers and servitors of the camp , among which were very strong and stout men . maximinus overcame of them before he rested , receiving so many smaller rewards , but not such as were given to the souldiers , and was listed for service . three dayes after the emperour riding to view his camp , saw maximinus ( who was yet but a fresh water-souldier ) out of order ; wherefore he commanded a colonel to call him into his rank , and to instruct him in the duty he was to obverve in the warres : maximinus imagining the emperour spake of him , kneeled down at his feet . the emperour desiring to see whether he could run well or no , spurred his horse and took several turnes in the field ; and seeing maximinus left not of running , old severus being tired said to maximinus , thracian , will you wrestle after your race ? whereto he answered , so long as it shall please your majesty . then the emperour chusing of the strongest men in his army , maximinus overcame them without resting between . whereupon severus commanded a collar of gold to be given to him alone , with certain pieces of silver ; made him one of his guard , and commanded that he should continually attend in the palace : by which means he came to be esteemed by the commanders and souldiers , and to obtain what he desired of the emperour , id. ib. c. . and . he was diligent as well after as before his preferment , saying , ego quò major fuero , tanto plus labor abo : and rather then his souldiers should be out of action , he imployed them in hunting . even in his old age he would throw down , , or souldiers ( whom he wrestled with ) one after another ; and being challenged by a tribune who envied him , whē they met , maximinus gave him such a blow on the breast with the palm of his hand , that he threw him flat upon his back , saying , in sport ; date alium , sed tribunum . id. ib. c. . caracalla made maximinus a centurion ; ( in macrinus his reign he left the army out of hatred to the assasinate of his sovereign ; ) even heliogabalus permitted him to be a tribune : but alexander severus gave him the command of a legion , whose death notwithstanding he disloyally practised ( as is before mentioned ; ) whereupon he was elected emperour by the souldiers , without the consent of the senate . id. ibid. c. . . . . it appeareth unquestionably that he committed this villany ( notwithstanding the doubts of some ) because he killed all alexanders relations and friends . tristan . he arrogantly usurped the names of cajus julius verus , and the proud epithets of invictus , fortissimus , and nobilissimus ; notwithstanding his ignoble extraction . tristan . he suffered no noble person to be about him , and out of a desire to conceal the baseness of his birth , slew even the best of his friends who were conscious of it . lampridius c. . his tyranny caused many to conspire against him , which he discovering , took an occasion to renew his cruelty . maximinus first thanked macedonius , who treacherously slew tycus that had rebelled against him , but afterward put him to death as a traitor . capitolinus c. . prae●larum tyranni factū , & verè singulare , nam totâ vitâ unicum hoc laude dignum . elenchus numismatum in bibliotheca bodlejana . he slew all of the faction of his adversary magnus without any judiciall processe , not satisfied with the slaughter of above . capitolinus c. . maximus pupienus ( who made preparations at ravenna to wage war against him by the senates appointment ) was exceedingly afraid of him , and saying often ; that he was not engaged against a man , but a cyclops : and balbinus ( who was made his colleague in the empire by the senate , and staid at rome ) trembled at the naming of him . he was so feared at rome , that , when he was in italy , the women with their children prayed solemnely in their temples that he might never return ; having heard that some were crucified by him , some inclosed in beasts newly killed , others cast to wild beasts , others bruised with clubs , without any regard to the quality of persons . id. ibid. c. . for his cruelty ( which he thought necessary for his security ) he was hated , and called cyclops , busiris , syron , phalaris , typhon , and gyges . id ib. &c. . he was so infatuated with the confidence of his own greatness and personal strength , that he entertained a conceit , that death durst not adventure to encounter him , for fear of having his javelin broke about his own crazy skull , and all his skeleton of bones rattled to dust . dr. charletons darkness of atheism dispelled by the light of nature , p. . because he thought himself immortal , he was covertly defied in the theatre by a comoedian in these verses : qui ab uno non potest occidi , à multis occiditur : elephas grandis est , & occiditur : leo fortis est , & occiditur : tigris fortis est , & occiditur : cave multos , si singulos non times . if thou fear'st not the force of one alone , beware the strength of many joyn'd in one . capitolinus c. . what was spoken in sport , befell him in earnest ; for maximinus hasting with his army towards rome to be revenged of the senate which intended resistance , was opposed at aquileja , where women made bow-strings of their hair to shoot against him ; at which repulse he became so furious that he killed many of his own souldiers ; wherewith the rest being enraged slew him and his son , saying ; canis pessimi ne catulus quidem relinquendus : of a bad litter not a whelp is to be left . he was years old when he dyed , and his son . the time of their reign is not agreed upon . the messenger who brought word of their death , came from aquileia to rome ( miles ) in dayes , capitolinus c. . magna sane diligentia : sed non incredibilis ; cùm similis celeritatis aut etiam majoris exempla & apud veteres legantur , & hodiéque ed saepissimè videamus . constat hodiernos veredarios roma lute●iam saepe diebus sex septem commeare : quae longè major contentio est , casaubonus . when his head with his sons were brought to rome , all ran to the altars to thank the gods , and balbinus sacrificed hecatombs for his deliverance , commanding the same to be done throughout the empire . maximinus was the author of the persecution , which tristan thinks he raised onely that he might confiscate the christians goods , his sacrilegious covetousness not permitting him to spare heathen temples . in his reign gordian the father and son took upon them the empire in africk , the son was slain by capellianus a friend to maximinus , the father through despair strangled himself . choyce observations of marcus clodius , pupienus maximus , and decimus caelius balbinus . collegues vpon the death of the gordians the senate chose pupienus and balbinus empeperours in opposition to maximinus . in the mean time the commons decryed the election , but especially rejected pupienus , as too austere ; and cryed out that they would presently kill them both , and have a prince of gordians linage , that the empire might continue in that name . balbinus and pupienus assaying to go forth of the capitol , were kept in with clubs and stones , till they deluded the people by this invention . there was in the city a little boy , son to gordians daughter , and of his grand-fathers name ; whom they sent for thither . they who were sent for him , finding him playing at home , lifted him on their shoulders , and so carried him through the crowd , telling the people he was gordians nephew , and of his name : the people shouting for joy , and casting leaves upon him . when the senate had proclaimed him caesar ( his minority not permitting him to manage the state ) and the people were calmed , the elected emperours were suffered to passe to the palace , herodian . l. . c. . balbinus was both noble and ancient , pupienus was ignobly descended , but had born many offices , which having discharged with wisdome and valour , he was highly prized by the senate . these emperours were not joyned in affection , as in authority ; each holding himself most deserving : each having their own , and standing upon their own guard . the election of these emperours by the senate displeased the souldiers so much , that at last they assaulted the court , and easily slew these senatorian emperours , ( as they carried them ) being at variance ; crying out that they had but slain them , whom themselves first rejected . zosimus , saith that balbinus and pupienus , would have killed young gordian , because he was more beloved of the souldiers , by whom he was made caesar ; who hearing of their designe , prevented them : but boeclerus thinketh he is mistaken . choyce observations of antonius gordianus upon the dath of balbinus and pupienus , gordian the third , before created caesar by the senate through the importunity of the souldiers ; was made emperour by a general consent in the thirteenth year of his age . he married tranquillina daughter of misitheus , whom he loved and honoured for his learning ; by whose advice he transacted state-affaires prosperously , expelling sapor king of persia from syria , recovering antioch , nisibis , and carrae by his assistance : for which successe the senate appointed a triumph for gordian , and a triumphal chariot for misitheus with this inscription : misitheo parenti principum , pop. rom. tutori r●ip . s. p. q. r. misitheus was soon missed for counsell and trust , being poisoned by philip an arabian of ignoble parentage , who was made prefect in his stead , and aspired to the empire . philip secretly caused a scarcity of victuals in the army , which he did , that the souldiers might imagine it to be occasioned by gordians neglect , whom he charged with inability to govern , being so young . the officers were corrupted by philip , and the souldiers through ignorance of his deceipt , make him gordians governour , whereupon he grew so insolent , that he commanded all , as if he had been sole emperour . gordian discerning his aim complaineth openly to the souldiers of the wrong which was done to him by philip , notwithstanding all obligations to the contrary ; but philips project prevailing , gordian since he could not share in the empire , sued to be a captain , which was denyed him : philip not thinking himself safe ( whilest gordiā of great blood and esteem was alive ) slew him in the year of his age , and of his reign ; as if justice her self appeared evidently to take vengeance on the traitors , each of his murtherers with the same poinyard wherewith they slew him , killed himself . gordiaus motto was miser est imperator apud quem verà reticentur ; which was his own case . choyce observations of philippus arabs , and his son caius julius saturninus philippus . philip the father writing to the senate of gordians death as if it had hapned naturally , was by them proclaimed emperour , through fear of the souldiers . the gothes infesting mysia and asia , philip sent marinus against them , who as soon as he came into those parts drew his army into a rebellion , and proclaimed himself emperour ; taking ( he said ) his example from philip , who raised his title by his sovereignes fall . philip complaining very much to the senate of marinus his ingratitude , decius bid him not fear , for marinus should suffer for it , as he did , for the mutable souldiers , who even now erected him , suddenly threw him down , and slew him . decius being sent in marinus his room , was also proclaimed emperour by the souldiers , though against his will , out of their hatred to phil●p . decius sent secretly to philip , professing he meant to escape the souldiers , and persist in his allegiance : philip fearing that was but policy ( lest decius should be stronger by delayes ) hasted himself with a great army , and being overcome was slain by the souldiers at verona , his head being cut off through the teeth . at the newes whereof the pretorian souldiers slew his son , but years old ; who was so composed , that it from the year of his age none could make him laugh : and when his father was tickled with laughter at the secular playes , he looked on him with an estranged countenance . the time of their raign was years say some , others say , some but . the elder philips age is not related by any historian . choyce observations of trajanus decius , and his son etruscus decius . decivs was elected emperour by the persian legions , proclaimed in verona by the roman souldiers , and had the voices of the senate to confirm him . he was noble by birth , an experienced , wise and valiant prince ; and might have been reckoned among the best ; had he not with an heathenish rage persecuted the christians , being author of the seventh persecution . he put more christians to death in a year and an half , than trajan ( whose name he had , and whom he would have been thought to resemble ) in . tristan . the novatians would not communicate with them , who had denyed the faith in the persecution of decius , and afterwards repenting turned to the same faith again , nicephorus callistus l. . c. . the fear of his persecution gave the original to a monkish life . he was victorious against the gothes , and joyning a fresh battail with them , was overthrown by the treason of gallus his general : saith pomponius laetus . his son was mortally wounded by an arrow , he leaping into a whirl pool was never seen after . tristan thinketh this misfortune befell decius for a punishment of his persecutions . vopiscus in the life of aurelian , and pomponius laetus compare decius and his son with the decii mures , who devoted themselves to destruction in a dangerous fight , for the safety of their country , which depended thereupon . but the comparison doth not agree saith tristan . for the ancient decii rendred the romans victorious by their death , whereas these by theirs made them slaves to the barbarians , and lost many of their provinces . besides that decius the father was drowned and swallowed up in his flight , which hath no resemblance with the end of the decii of the ancient commonwealth . he dyed at the age of , having reigned years . choyce observations of trebonianus gallus , and his son volusianus . gallvs appearing much grieved for decius his death , was not suspected ; which facilitated his attaining of the empire . he caused virtus augustorum to be stamped upon his and his sons medails , as if he had got the empire by valour and not by deceit . under these two emperours arose a plague in ethiopia , which spred it self by degrees in all the provinces of the roman empire , and lasted years together , without intermission ; and so great was the mortality , that in alexandria , as dionisius himself ( at that time the bishop of that sea ) reports , there was not one house of the city free , and the remainder of the inhabitants equalled not the number of old men in former times : by means whereof st. cyprian , bishop of carthage , who lived in that age , took occasion to write that excellent treatise de mortalitate : and lipsius his censure of this pestilence is , non alia unquam major lues mihi lecta , spatio temporum sive terrarum . aemilianus his general having overcome the gothes , grew so proud thereupon , that he aspired to the empire , which he purchased by the good will of the souldiers , who slew gallus and his son in battail . dexippus who lived in those times saith he governed but months . choyce observations of aemilianus . he was an african of obscure parentage , and arose to be a general from a common souldier . his election was at first contradicted by the italian band , who sought to make valerian emperour , to which the senate inclined , because of valerians renown . aemilians army hearing of the election of valerian , tumultuously murdered their own creature , who reigned almost . months . some reckon him among usurpers , but his title is allowed by eutropius . of emperours who reigned since octavius augustus time , untill valerian , of them escaped not the hands of murtherers . lloids consent of time . choyce observations of valerianus . he was nobly descended , and of such esteem among the romans that being a private man , and absent they chose him for their censor ; an office of great dignity , ever conferred upon the best saith trebellius pollio who wrote his life . at the beginning of his reign he was gracious to the christians above any of his predecessors , but after being perverted by an egyptian magician and macrianus , he was author of the persecution . he was very cruel ; pulled out the eyes of young children thereby consulting of future events . in his reign there suffred martyrs together at carthage , whom the governour of the city commanded either to throw frankincense into the fire ( set before them ) in honour of iupiter , or else to cast themselves head-long into a brick kiln hard by , which they did , chusing rather to embrace fire , than resist light . prudentius in peristeph . when he warred in mesopotamia , he was taken prisoner by sapor king of persia ( through the treachery of macrianus ) and used like a slave as long as he lived , sapor setting his foot upon his neck whensoever he mounted on horse-back , to the utmost vilifying of majesty , and the regret of divers interceeding princes . it was the most signal affront which the romans hitherto ever received in the person of their emperours . tristan . at last saith eusebius , by sapors command , his eyes were pulled out , wherewith he dyed ; agathias saith he was flayed alive , and rubbed all over with salt : a calamity which may challenge tears of blood . he lived along , but disgracefull age ; was years old before he was taken prisoner : after his captivity he lived years in reproches , and then died a violent death . a man of a poor mind , and not valiant ; notwithstanding lifted up in his own , and the opinion of men , but falling short in the performance . sr. fr. bacon . infaelicissimus principum a filio gallieno in deos relatus est , quasi deum facere posset , quem liberum facere aut nequiverat , aut neglexerat , cluverus . gallienus tam claro dei judicio territus miseroque collegae permotus exemplo , pacem ecclesiae trepidâ satisfactione restituit , saith orosius . choyce observations . gallienus . when valerian his father was taken prisoner , he was made emperour . he was expert in oratory , poetry , and all other arts , but was defective in other qualifications which are requisite in an emperour . at first he acted like a valiant captain , overcame and slew ingenu●s ( who usurped the empire ) as also trebellianus ; & overcame gothes , & almans , having but on his side ( saith zonaras ) but after he gave himself so much to sensuality , that when the world was infected with warres , he continued for the most part in rome among whores , compassed with roses and flowers ; seeking new delights , often bathing himself , studying how he might keep figs and other fruits green all the year ; having ordinarily at his table most exquisite and delicate meats , and of great cost . trebellius pollio in gallieno c. . he commanded one , who had sold counterfeit jewels to his wife , to be cast to a lion ; but the den being opened , nothing came forth but a capon : at which when the people wondered , he bade the cryer proclaim , imposturam fecit & passus est ; being content to have the impostor more frighted than hurt . id. ib. c. . videsis christiani matthiae theatrum historicum theoretico-practicum . p. . when a shooting prize was played before him , he gave the garland to one who shot alwayes wide , concluding that it was the more improbable difficulty to aim so often , and never to hit . taurum toties non sagittis vel jaculis ferire difficile est . id. ib. whē it was told him that egypt rebelled , he answered , cannot we live without the linen of egypt ? being advertised of the losse of other provinces , he answered so scornfully , that he seemed to care for nothing : which occasioned tyrants to make themselves emperours in his time ; whereof two were women , zenobia and victoria . in his reign the heavens were darkned so that the sun was not seen for many dayes ; in the bowels of the earth were heard roarings , with the fear whereof many dyed ; earth-quakes threw down many houses , whereby the inhabitants were destroyed ; these earth-quakes were frequent in rome , africk , but especially in asia ; the earth opened in many places , and shewed vaults and caves , from whence salt-water streamed ; a●d several cities were drowned by the sea : and in rome there dyed above in one day of the pestilence . treb. pollio c. . gallienus addicted onely to his pleasures , was not affected with these calamities , thinking they proceeded rather from chance than any signal punishment . he grieved not for his fathers captivity , but , when he was informed of it , said , alluding to the speech of xenophon the philosopher , who having lost his son , said , sciebam me genuisse mortalem ; sciebam patrem meum esse mortalem : i knew that my father was lyable to the same miseries as other men . nec defuit annius cornicula , qui eum quasi constantem principem salsò sua voce laudaret , pejor tamen ille qui credidit , saith pollio , c. . videsis cuspinianum in gallieno . odenatus though an independent prince , was of such moderation , that he held correspondence with gallienus , & sent him such of the persian nobility as he had taken prisoners , for monuments of his victory over sapor , and revenge of the indignities offered to valerian : thus odenatus conquered , and gallienus triumphed , who when he could not eclipse odenatus his merit by any princely vertue , nor suppresse it by valour , sought to deface it by treachery ; but failing of his aimes therein , he made him partner of the empire for fear ; odenatus receiving the titles of imperator , and augustus , from gallienus and the senate . being not ashamed ridiculously to triumph over the persians , who detained his father prisoner , & to lead thē captive in his mock-shew ; some jeering companions mixing themselves with the persians , exactly viewed their countenances , and being asked wherefore they did it , answered , we seek for his majesties father ; which when gallienus heard of , he was so incensed at the taunt , that he commanded those who uttered it to be burned alive . the scythians invading cappadocia , the souldiers attempt to make a new emperour , for which gallienus put them all to the sword , pollio c. . in his time the city byzantium ( renowned for sea-fights , and the place which barreth in the euxine sea ) was destroyed by his souldiers ; to revenge which , he being received into byzantium , compassed them unarmed with armed souldiers , and slew them contrary to his covenant . and as if he had done some great matter , he posteth to rome , and summoning the senatours , appointeth decennial playes to be celebrated novo genere ludorum , nova specie pomparum , exquisito genere voluptatum , saith pollio c. . he killed sometimes or souldiers in a day . id. ib. c. . at last he himself with his brother valerian and his son gallienus were slain near milain ( where he besieged aureolus ) by the treachery of marcianus ceronius , or cecropius and heraclian . pollio . c. . he lived years , reigned , with his father , alone . choyce observations of claudius gothicus , and his brother quintillus . clavdivs was appointed emperour by the will of gallienus being ready to dy , unto who● by gallonius basilius , he sent the imperial robes to ticinum . he was elected by the souldiers before the walles of milain , and confirmed in rome by the senate with much joy . he was so renowned a prince , that he was said to have augustus his moderation , trajans vertue , and antoninus his piety met in him . a woman desiring him after he was emperour , to restore an inheritance , which he had unjustly took from her when he was but a private person ; he graciously granted her request , saying , quod claudius dum privatus erat , nec leges curabat , abstulit ; factus imperator restituit . zonaras . in his time athens was ransacked by gothes , who piled heaps of books to burn , but were advised by one to for bear , that the graecians spending their time in them , might be lesse fit for war. cedrenus . b. egnatius . judicium barbari non prorsus vanum . etsi cleodemus atheniensis , fuga elapsus , coactaque manu & navibus hostes invadens , graecis librorum tractatione virtutem non demi ipsorum clade docuit . heidmannus in epitome historica de imp. rom. in claudio . ex zonora . aureolus being slain by his own company , claudius received the government of those countries , and fighting against the almains , he overthrew above half of them . s. aur. victor . he waged war with the gothes , who infested the empire years with continual irruptions ( saith iornandes ) and now in league with many barbarous nations , invaded thrace and the countries before them , even to macedonia ; and thence came through hungary down danubius with saile of ships fraught with munition and men : to meet which claudius prepared , and engaged them so valiantly , that he slew and took men , and ships laden with shields , swords , lances , &c. so that houses were filled therewith . he intended to go against tetricus and zenobia , but was hindred by a fever which soon put an end to his life . he reigned year , months and dayes . he was deifyed by the senate ; had a statue of gold foot high erected in the capitol in honour of him by the people at their own cost , ( which they never did to any before : ) and a target of the same metal , with his picture in it , was hung up in the court by the senates appointment . there was also by general consent set up for him a pillar composed of the prowes of ships ; upon which was placed his statue , representing him clothed with his consular robe , of pound weight of silver . it was a providence , that claudius found the empire so beset with enemies , that he could not exercise so much cruelty as he intended against the christians . julian feigneth that constantine the great and his children were delivered from torments in hell , in favour to claudius their ancestor ; the reason of which fiction of that apostate was certainly , because claudius was a great persecutor . tristan . his brother quin tillus endeavoured to succeed , and was chosen emperour , but being not able to resist aurelian , chosen at the same time by the army , he made away himself by opening a vein , at tarsus in cilicia , say some , having reigned but dayes ; but others write that he was killed by the souldiers . choyce observations of aurelianus . his parents being mean , he followed the warres , and advanced himself thereby . there being in the army another tribune , who was named aurelian , and had been taken prisoner with valerian the emperour , to distinguish the one from the other , this was called aurelian with his hand upon his sword ; he being upon all occasions with a weapon in his hand , ready for service . vopiscus in aureliano . c. . he was very temperate , made no use of physicians when he was sick , but cured all excesse by abstinence . id. ibid. c. . though temperate himself , yet he delighted in phago , who in his presence at one meal ate loaves , and a boar , with a weather and a pig ; and drank through a tun-dish plus orcâ , which lipsius saith was bigger than the amphora , but how much he knoweth not ; and honoured bonosus a great drinker ; of whom he was wont to say , non ut vivat natus est , sed ut bibat : he was not born to draw in breath , but beer . aurelian married this bonosus a spaniard ( but son of an englishman ) to hunila a noble gothish woman , meerly that by her means he might discover the gothes secrets . vopiscus in bonoso . aurelian appointed bonosus to carouse with embassadours , that they might be brought to bewray secrets by this lene tormentum ; whilest he ( who had this wonderfull property , that he could pisse as fast as he drunk , without containing any jot within his body ) faultred not , but was more discreet . id. ibid. [ schenkius arma nunquam accuratius tractabat , quàm quum effusè potus , ac vino amens : immo ebrietate ipsa , quae resignare ac aperire occulta quaeque consuveerit , illum ad arcana occult and a uti solitum ferunt . strada belli belgici decade secunda , l. . aurelian was colonel of horse under claudius in persia ; he slew in one day of his enemies with his own hands in the war against the sarmatians : and slew in severall dayes above ; whereupon ballads were sung by boyes on festivals in praise of him . vopiscus in aureliano , c. . when the enemies of the romans , had overrun all france , he made such havock of them at mentz , that he slew , and sold sub corona ; upon which occasion new i●gges were made . id. ib. c. . he overcame all his enemies in years , whereas alexander the great travelled years by great victories , before he came into india . caesar spent years in overcoming the gaules , and years in conquering the romans . s. aur. victor . he caused a souldier , who had committed adultery with his hostesse , to have h●s feet tyed to the tops of trees bent downward , and suffered suddenly to start back again ; so the wretch was twitched in sunder , and hung on both sides in halves . he wrote to one of his lieutenants , if thou wilt be a captain , nay if thou wilt live , contain thy souldiers in their duty . i will not have a peasant wronged in a chicken , nor a grape taken without his permission ; not a grain of salt , or a drop of oil unjustly exacted . i desire my souldiers should be enriched with spoils of enemies , not the tears of my subjects . i would have them chast in their quarters , & no quarrellers . which commands baronius compareth with that of iohn the baptist to the souldiers , luk. . . he advanced tetricus ( one of the tyrants in gallienus his time , whom he overcame ) and made him provost of lucania , who had been before proclaimed emperour by the french army ; elegantly upbraiding him , that it was more majestical to rule some part of italy , than to reign beyond the alpes . s. aur. victor . being incensed against tyana , because the gates of the city were shut against him , he vowed , he would not leave a dog in it ; but having taken it , upon a fright by the ghost of apollonius tyanaeus dead long before , he commanded his souldiers to kill all the dogs , but spare the citizens . grande principis dictum , grandius militum votum : nam dictum principis quo praeda negabatur , civitas servabatur , totus exercitus ita quasi ditaretur , accepit . vopiscus . aurelian demanding how he might govern well , was answered by a great personage ; you must be provided with iron and gold ; iron to use against your enemies , and gold to reward your friends . zonoras . his chief engagement was against zenobia , the most beautiful , chast , learned , wise , and valiant woman of that age . her letter in answer to him , who sorely tired , profered her life , and liberty , and wealth , if she would yield , sheweth her resolves for fight . he was so inraged at her haughty reply , that he forthwith besieged palmyra , destroyed her aids , and at last took her prisoner , whom he led in triumph ; ea specie , ut nihil pompabilius populo rom. videretur , saith treb. pollio in zenobia . he put longinus to death upon a supposition that he dictated zenobias epistle . he is called necessarius magis quàm bonus imperator , because he wanted clemency , which is imperatorum dos prima , saith vopiscus . he was so bloody , that he put to death his own sisters son . being about to signe an edict for the persecution ( of which he was the author ) god hindred his purpose . theodoret. l. . reportes of valens the arrian emperour ) that as he was attempting to sign an edict for the banishing of basil , he could not write one tittle of a letter , providence breaking his pen several times ; at the fourth assay his hand was struck with a palsy , cramping ( as it were his knuckles , and thereupon as a man affrighted , with his own hands he tore the paper in pieces ; manifesting to all , that the princes of this world have no power to practise any thing against the church , any farther than god permitteth . eusebius l. . haymo l. . c. . at the same time also a thunder-bolt fell so near him , that all thought he was slain ; by which messenger god warned him to be wise , lest he perished in those destructive wayes , as shortly after he did ; mnestheus his secretary fearing punishment for some offence , for which the emperour threatned him with death , and knowing that he used not to pardon if he threatned , counterfeited the emperours hand , and wrote the names of many in a rowl as appointed by him to dy ; mixing the names of some , with whom the emperour was truly offended , with those of others whom he was not displeased with , adding his own name that he might the easilyer be believed . they upon sight hereof , thinking to prevent the worst , slew him in a castle called coenophrurium , betwixt byzantium and heraclea . when mnestheus his treason was discovered , he was cast to wild beasts , as appeareth by marble statues erected in honour of aurelian , even by those who slew him . he reigned years , months , and dayes . vopiscus calleth him bonum medicum , sed mala ratione cur antem ; a good physician , had he not administred too bitter potions : in reference to which , julian feigneth that he had much ado to defend himself at the tribunal of minos , before whom many accused him of unjustice ; but that the sun , who had alwayes in his life specially assisted him in all his enterprises , excused him to the other gods , saying , that he had been punished enough by his death , according to the delphick oracle , which saith : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . iudicium , si quis quae fecit perfer at , aequū est . choyce observations of tacitus , and his brother florianus . upon the death of aurelian , the souldiers who would not have any of his assassinates to succeed , sent to the senate to chuse an emperour ; the senate refer the election to the souldiers , who , they knew , used not to be pleased with the senates choice : half a year passed in complements with a peaceable interregnum , at last , the senate and souldiers joyntly elect tacitus . he retired to his mannor in campania , where he was secret moneths , shunning that dignity which might prove his overthrow ; was often sollicited , but , with hearty thanks , absolutely denied ; affirming his age made him unable to satisfy expectations ; at length , necessity of state so requiring , he accepted of their proffer ; at which all rejoyced but himself . he was such an example of moderation to others , that he permitted not his empresse to wear jewels . he honoured tacitus the historian , whom he called his father , commanded his works to be put in every library through the empire , to be transcribed times every year at publick cost . vopiscus in tacito . c. . when the senate chose him emperour , they cryed out , quis meliùs quàm gravis imperat ? & quis meliùs quàm literatus imperat ? when he objected his age , they answered , that trajan , adrian , and antoninus were old , when they came to the empire ; whom they mentioned because they reigned well and fortunately : omitting vespasian , nerva , pertinax , macrinus and decius , who came older to the empire ; but their reign was short , especially that of the four last : the three last also dyed a violent death . tristan . when the senate denyed him the consulship , which he sought for his brother florianus , he took it very well , saying ; scit senatus quem principem fecerit . vopiscus . he gave the souldiers all the mony he had in silver , which was a great summe ; he having had more than millions in gold for his patrimony . his death was caused by grief occasined by factions , infirmity of age helping to break his heart and his life , when he had reigned months . vopiscus . his brother florianus ambitiously strove to get the empire as true heir , though he knew tacitus was engaged to the senate , that he would prefer worth before his relations in the designation of his successour . being not able to withstand probus who was chosen by the army , he was killed by the souldiers , say some ; but most write , that by opening a vein he killed himself at tarsus , as quintillus also did , who was reduced to the same extremity . choyce observations of probus . vpon tacitus his death , the army unanimously cryed out , let us have probus for our emperour ; and the senate with applause confirmed the election . the manner of his being chosen by the souldiers was thus ; the officers told them the requisites of one that should be elected , that he should be fortis , sanctus , verecundus , clemens , probus : which when it was spoke to many companies , on all sides they cryed out as it were by a divine instinct , probe auguste , dii te servent . vopiscus in probo , c. . valerian the emperour called him verè probum , saying in an epistle , that if he had not had probus for his name , he deserved to have had it for his surname . id ib. c. . he was made tribune by valerian , in which office he served under gallienus , claudius , aurelian , and tacitus . his first service , after he became emperour , was in france , against the germans who had conquered it ; wherein one battel he slew almost germans , of whose kings prostrated themselves at his feet : he won also and repaired of their cities in lesse than years . the egyptians electing saturninus a wise and valiant captain ▪ emperour , so sore against his will , that he was like to be slain for gain-saying their desires ; probus hasting towards them offered them pardon , out of an unwillingnes to shed civil blood , or to loose such a man as saturninus : but upon refusal of his clemency , he engaged in a sharp battail , wherein most of the revolters were overthrown , and saturninus slain in the assault of a besieged castle , to the grief of probus who sought to save his life . vopiscus in saturnino . bonosus who had charge of ships , which the germans burned in the mouth of the rhine through his negligence ▪ if not treachery ; who fearing punishment for his fault , rebelled against probus , but was overcome and through despair hung himself : whereupon it was said , amphoram pendere , non bominem ; that a barrell or tankard hung there , and not a man ; because he was so given to drink . vopiscus in bonoso . there rebelled also against probus , proculus as insatiate a vassal to venus , as bonosus was to bacchus ; so impudent that he did not onely cōmit filthinesse , but boasted of it , as appeareth by his letter wherein he braggeth that having taken sarmatian virgins he deprived of that name in a night , and all the rest within a fortnight : inter fortes se haberi credens si criminum densitate coalescat , saith vopiscus in proculo . he honoured aradion a most valiant man ( whom he overcame in wrestling ) with a tomb foot broad remaining in vopiscus his time ; which he caused the souldiers , whom he never suffered to be idle , to erect : testifying the greatness of his respect by his largenes of his monument . vopiscus in probo c. . quo latior agri modus sepulchro assignabatur , eo magis crescebat honos . casaubonus . being presented with a horse taken in war , which it was said , could go an mile in a day , for or dayes together , he said , he was fitter for a cowardly than a valia● souldier . id. ibid. c. . some say he was the last emperour who triumphed , after his victory over the germans and the blemiae a people of africk . he commanded to be let loose at once estriches , stags , wild boars , fallow dear beside wild goats , wild sheep , and other creatures which sed upon grasse , as many as could be fed or found ; which he gave to the people to catch as they could ; the circus being set all over with great trees , which by the souldiers were taken up by the roots , as they grew in the woods , and planted there with green turf about them , and fastned with beams and irons : next day he let into the same place maned lyons , which filled the air with roaring as if it had thundred ; lybian leopards , syrian , lionesses , and beares . vopiscus in probo . c. . as hanibal filled most parts of africk with olive-yards planted by his souldiers that they might not be idle , to the indangering of the common-wealth ; so probus , who for his famous acts is compared with hanibal and caesar , for the same reason caused his souldiers to plant vineyards throughout all france , both the pannonias , and the mysian hills . aur. victor . he undid himself by that speech of his ; brevi milites necessarios non futuros : wherewith the souldiers being offended murdered him , when he had lived years , and reigned years moneths ; others say years . iulian feigneth that silenus reproched him with his severity towards his souldiers , who added that he underwent deserved punishment , though unjustly inflicted by them . it is thought , that because he suffered the christians to live in peace , god gave him so many victories against the barbarians . choyce observations of carus , with his sons carinus and numerianus . probvs being slain the army chose carus emperour , whereunto the senate consented . the sarmatians threatning italy he engaged with them , and overthre● them with the slaughter of , taking prisoners . vopiscus in caro. c. . leaving carinus his elder son to govern britain , france , illyricum , and spain ; he prepared with numerian against the persians , in which expedition he took in his way mes●potamia , ctesiphon , &c. whereby he purchased the surname of persicus . embassadors coming to him from the king of persia , find him lying upon the grasse , eating black broath and morsels of swines-flesh ; ( whom he bade to tell their young master : if he continued obstinate , within one moneth , all his woods and fields should be as bare as hisb. ●ld pate , which he shewed ; offering them to eat out of the pot , if they pleased , otherwise to depart forthwith . lipsius in his notes to his second book of politicks and the fiftenth chapter out of synesius de regno , where see petarius who applieth it to probus . surprized with sicknesse he pitched his tent on the shore of tigr●s ; where he and others were slain in their beds by a thunder-bolt . — fulmine captus imperator vitam fulminibus parem peregit . sidonius apollinaris . arrius aper a pretorian prefect having murdered numeri●●n ( his son-in-law ) being troubled with sore eyes upon his return from persia ( saith zonaras ) pretended to those of the army who enquired how de did , that his infirmity onely kept him from sight , but at length his treason was discovered by the putrefaction of numerians body . whereupon he being brought by the souldiers before the tribunal was slain by diocletian ; who was both his judge and executioner . vopiscus in numeriano . carinus gave himself to all lusts , married wives and then divorced them bei●g big with child ; he was twice overcome by diocletian , and slain by a tribune , whose wife he had abused . vopiscus in carino . some say carus and his sons reigned but years or some what more , others say but a little above one . these emperours claudius his brother quintillus , aurelian , tacitus , his brother , florian probus and carus reigned but years . lloids consent of times . choyce observations of diocletianus , and maximianus . collegues diocletians parentage is uncertainly reported , some making him the son of a scrivener , and others of a bondman made free by anulinus a senatour : but all agree that he was a dalmatian of base birth . the name of his mother ( and of the town wherein he was born ) was dioclea , whence he was called diocles till he came to be emperour , and then named himself diocletian ( converting a greek name into a roman form ) and upon the conquest of the persi●●● and egyptians , iovius ; as maximian his collegue stiled himself hercullus : velut ille iovis , hic herculis haeres saith p. laetus , who parallels diocletian with iupiter , and maximian with hercules . when diocletian serving as common souldier in france , reckoned with his hostesse ( one of the druides ) she told him he vvas too penurious ; he jeastly ansvvered , that he vvould be bountiful vvhen he came to the rour of rome : she bid him not jeast , saying ; imperator eris , cum aprum occideris . from that time he hunted often and killed many boares , to see if a crown would spring from their blood ; but he still missed the empire , which he saw aurelian , tacitus probus and carus obtained , whereupon he said : i kill many boars , but others go away with the flesh . at last aper having killed numerianus ( as is before mentioned ) was brought by the souldiers before diocletian , who being told his name , ( and concluding at length that the predictiō was to be understood of a man presently killed him ; in outward shew ●or zeal of justice , as being not able to endure so foul a fact : but in truth to fulfill the prediction of his hostesse , the druid ; for that aper signifieth a boar. vopiscus in numeriano saith that his grand-father , from whom he had this report , was present when aper was slain , to whom diocletian , when he struck him , said in a bravado ; gloriare aper , aeneae magni dextracadis : adding ; tandem aprum fatalem occidi . diocletian was the first who wore cloath of gold , trod on silk and purple embellished with pearls ; and ( next after caligula and domitian ) was the first , who would be sued unto as a god , though ( saith aur. victor ) he carried himself liker a father , than a tyrant . omnibus aequandus principibus , si à piorum sanguine abstinuisseth , saith b. egnatius . it was a good speech of him though an evil emperour , that the best and most wary prince may be abused by bad servants . vopiscus in aureliano . notwithstanding his cruelty condemned even by libanius a heathen ( in his oration to theodosius the great ) yet he counterfeited clemency , and in appearance had the memory of marcus aurelius in great veneration , as a god , saying often that he desired to resemble him in humanity . capitolinus in marco antonino philosopho . these emperours chose caesars ; diocletian chose galerius surnamed armentarius , and maximian ; constantius chlorus , enforcing them to put away their wives , and theodora take their daughters for an assurance of love by the bonds of that alliance aur. victor . diocletian by his profound wisdom , wherewith he was endued , found out a more assured way to secure himself against rebellions , than others had discovered : for having taken maximian for his companion and allie : and afte●wards created galerius and constantius caesars , he rendred himself formidable to those who desired to make themselves emperours . for in what part soever the rebels rose , one of these four was upon their backs , and stifled them in the birth . onely carausius , whom the situation of great britain rendred invincible , stood out years . but all the other who had the the boldness to make themselves emperours , as aelianus , amandus , julianus , &c. were quickly defeated , before they could make any considerable progresse . tristan . in the year of his reign he raised the and extremest persecution , wherein men women and children were martyred within one moneth , besides infinite numbers otherwise punished : the christians torments lasting years without intermission , no place being free . nullus dies cui non ultra quinque millium numerum martyrum reperiri posset ascriptus , excepto die calendarum ianuarii . there was never a day in the year , except the first of ianuary , whereto the number of martyrs at the least might not be ascribed saith hierome in his epistle ad heliodorum & chromatium . quis non horreat in una aegypto millia mortalium caesa , millia in exilium acta ; praeter africam totamque europam in carnificinam versas ? ut totum orcum dicas in orbem effusum , ubi nemo nisi tortus vel tortor sit . bussieres in flosculis historicis . maximian at octodurum commandeth the army to sacrifice to false gods ; the theban legion consisting of christians remove their quarters to agaunum , to avoid ( if possible ) occasion of discontenting the emperour ; who summoneth them to perform their parts in this devilish worship : they return an humble denyal , with their resolve not to disobey god , for whose sake they would ever continue faithfull to him . he unsatisfied with this answer , putteth them to a decimation ; to which they submit with cheerfulness , praying for their murderer . his commands are renewed but prevail not on the remainder , who are butchered without resistance , there being no delay in their death , except from the wearines of their executioners . mauricius their colonel could not contain his joy , when he saw the first decimation gallantly suffered . how ●eareful was i , said he to his , awhile , surviving souldiers ( for armed men may be tempted to defend themselves ) lest any of them might upon colour of just resistance for self-preservation in an innocent cause have strugled against this blessed slaughter . i was watchful and had christs example in readines , who commanded his disciple to put his sword into his scabbard . salus vestra non periclitabitur , nisi armis vestris . despair it self could not conquer one single patience , which yet createth valour in cowards , and maketh them more couragious in such extremities , because they are fearfull ; since they are likely to do most to preserve life , who are most afraid of death . eucherius lugdunensis . diocletiano & maximiano imperantibus , acerbissima persecutio exorta , quae per decem continuos annos plebem dei depopulata est , quâ tempestate omnis ferè sacro martyrum cruore orbis infectus est : quippe certatim gloriosa in certamina ruebatur , multoque avidius tum martyria gloriosis mortibus quaerebantur , quàm nunc epistopatus pravis ambitionibus appetuntur . nullus unquam bellis mundus magis exhaustus est , neque unquam majore ttiumpho vicimus , quàm cùm decem annorum stragibus vinci non potuimus . sulpitius severus sa r. hist. l. . there was a columne as a trophy of the extinguishing the christian faith erected to him with this inscription . dioclesiano caes. aug. galerio in oriente adopt . superstitione christi ubique deletâ . et cultu deorum ubi que propagato , gruters inscriptions , p. . this most bloody persecutour of the church , at last perswaded maximian to lay aside with him all government ( not because he was weary of persecuting , but of disappointment ) since he could not hatch his long brooded designes for the utter extirpation of the christians , being thus out of hope to do all the mischief he intended , by resigning the empire , he putteth himself out of powr to do any . being sollicited years afterby maximian to reassume his charge , he answered ; you would not tempt me to it , did you see the herbs set with my own hands in my garden at salona . diocletian being invited by constantine the great and licinius to their marriage-feast , excused himself , that by reason of his age he could not come ; upon which they wrote back threatning letter , wherein he was charged to favour maximinus , and to have shewed favour to maxentius : whereupon fearing some shamefull death , he poysoned himself . s. aur. victor . maximian seemingly taking offence at his son maxentius , then at variance with his son-in-law constantine the great under colour of this dislike , repaired to constantine , who married fausta his daughter , with whom he tampered to make away her husband : but she revealed his treachery to constantine , who thereupon put him to death . vtinam maximianus suo potius ingenio , quàm alieno exemplo fastidi●set fortunae fastigium . diocletianum secutus est . sic verò animi inconstans ; quia cùm ex augusto privatus esset , è privato tyrannus esse volu● . nam ut ad imperii majestatem eveheret m●xentium filium , acriter aff●xit rem romanam : ut deinde evectum rejiceret , pater quoque esse recus●vit . iam nec in filio maxentio , nec in genero constantino purpuram ferens , dum insidias utrique struit , interficitur . puteanus in historia insubrica . choyce observations of constantius chlorus , and galerius armentarius , to whom are joyned severvs maximinvs , maxentivs licinivs . collegues when diocletian and maximian laid down the ensignes of command , constantius chlorus was chosen emperour in these western provinces of france , spain , and britain . unto galerius his government fell , egypt and the provinces in asia : constantius ( who chose rather to govern well than much ) gave up africk and italy to him , as too remote from the seat of his residence , and eye of his direction . constantius was by birth a roman ; his father was named eutropius , his mother claudia , neece to the emperour claudius gothicus . tristan thinketh that constantius was not called chlorus from his palenes , since eumenius attributeth to him a very sanguine complexion ; but from some green garments which he wore when he was young : and he mentioneth others who had the same surname . he was very affable , reigned to enrich his subjects , saying ; it was fitter that the wealth of the land should be dispersed into the commons hands , than locked up in princes coffers : in which kind he was so averse from all superfluities , that he may rather be adjudged faulty the other way : for he was an enemy to extortions , even to the lessening of the train of his house . being but nominated for the empire , and reproched for his poverty by diocletian , who sent to exhort him to heap up treasures ; he advertised the people of his want ▪ who vehemently contended among themselves to fill his exchequer , rejoycing greatly , that now they had that long wished for opportunity to witnesse their benevolous minds unto the emperour : whereupon he truly and excellently said ; that the love of the people is the richest and safest treasury of the prince . shewing to diocletians embassadors , the great summes which he had ammassed in few houres , they were amazed thereat ; after whose departure he returned all the subsidy that was presented to him : by which custome he rather got the epithet of poor , than , so indeed being by this voluntary poverty , richer than diocletian himself , yea than all the other princes together who were partners with him . and as this one action shewed his royal magnificence , so this other declareth his piety ; in both which he was exemplary . to try the hearts of his courtiers , he proclaimed , that all they who would not forsake the worship of the true god , should be banished the court , and should have heavy penalties and fines laid upon them ; presently upon this ( saith the story ) all who were base and came to serve him onely for ends , went away , forsook the true god , and worshipped idols : by which means he found out who were the true servants of god , and whom he intended to make his own ; thinking as such as he found faithful to god would prove so to him . what this exploratorie stratagem of constantius effected in his court , the same did that which julian the apostate set forth in good earnest , against the christians . he no sooner caused it to be proclaimed , that whosoever would not renounce the fai●h should be discharged his service , and forfeit both life and estate to his high displeasure ; but presently upon the publication of that decree , they who were indeed christians ; and they that had onely the title , presented themselves as it were on a common stage to the view of all men . eusebius saith that constantius preserved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such christians as were under his command from harm . under him the church in these parts had a breathing-time from persecution . but i am afraid that that learned goes a little to farre , who makes him founder of a bishoprick at york , and stileth him an emperour surpassing in all vertue , and christian piety . mr. fuller in his ecclesiastical history of britain . he married helena ( daughter of coilus , who entertained him when he was lieutenant of britain ) but maximian tyrannising aswell over loves , as men , declareth constantius caesar , on condition he would forsake helen , and marry theodora his daughter-in-law . he is won by ambition , and easines of his nature ( which bowed to those who seemed to wish him well ) and by the lustre of the purple presented to him . he marrieth theodora ; which alteration helena bore with great constancy , counting it an honour , that to refuse her no other cause was found , but the good fortune of her husband ; constantius lived in body with theodora , and in heart with helen : the torrent of ambition and affaires of the world having parted their bodies could not hinder the inclinations of their hearts . for constantius returning to britain , dyed in york ; and being asked on his death-bed which of his childrē should succeed him , since besides constantine he had two sons by theodora viz. constantius & annibalinus : he then forgetting his seōnd wife & her off-spring , cryed aloud constantinū piū , he would have no other successour than the pious constantine , which was approved by the army : who cast the purple robe upon constantine at york , whilest he wept , and put spurs to his horse , that he might avoid the importunity of the souldiers , who attempted and required so instantly to make him emperour : but the happiness of the state overcame his modesty . constantius lived years ; was caesar years , and emperour saith eusebius . cambdē reporteth that at the demolition of monasteries , there was found in his supposed monument in yorkshire , a burning lamp , thought to have burnt there ever since his burial , about years after christ , & he addeth out of lazius , that the ancient romans used in that manner to preserve lights in sepulchers a long time , by the oylines of gold , resolved into a liquid substance . galerius born of mean parents ( surnamed armentarius because he kept cattle ) bragged that a serpent begat him , as one did alexander the great . moribus certèodioque in christianos draco fuit , nec indignus eo , quo se natum parente fatebatur . cluverus . when he rifled the camp of narseus king of persia , a common souldier having met with a parthick satchel , wherein were pearls , through simplicity threw out the gems , and went away contented with the beauty onely on the leather bag . amm. marcellinus l. . c. . vide piccarti observationes historico-politicas . dec. . c. . he took for ease of his burden severus and maximinus surnamed daza his sisters 〈◊〉 , whom he elected caesars and after augusti ; which honours severus enjoyed not long , being slain at rome by treachery of maxentius whē he had reigned but one year . galerius incensed with the outrage of maxentius intended to fall upon the west ; but distrust of the safety of his territories stayed him , and made him create li●inius caesar : after whose nomination he survived not long . he boasted the acutenes of his wit by the invention of new tortures for patient martyrs ; notwithstāding when he felt himself invaded with a verminous ulcer , or fistula in his secret parts ; which did evaporate so contagious and pestilential a stench , that some of his physicians , not able to endure that mephitis or steam of intense corruption , fell down dead ; he understanding this to be a judgment sent from god to retaliate upon him those tortures , which he had inflicted on many innocents ; then his flinty heart melted within him , and at length he began to think of his wicked practises against the holy worshippers of god , gave commandment for cessation of the christians persecution , confessed the equity of divine retribution , and in the midst of these confessions of his own guilt , and gods justice , he breathed out his execrable soul from a gangrenous and loathsome body . he lived not a year after his edict for the persecuting of the christians . eusebius , l. . after whose death , licinius , and maximinus beheld each other with a jealous eye , and made shew of contest ; but maximine at tarsus decided the difference by an irrevocable resignation . maximinus was much inclined to wine , in the excesse whereof he commanded many things , of which he afterwards repented , giving a charge to his followers , that they should not execute his desires , except he was sober , or gave them a command in the morning sextus aurelius victor . maxentius made himself emperour , by consent of the souldiers , to recompence whom he gave leave to sin cum privilegio ; no words being more frequent than these in his speeches to them ; fruimini , dissipat● , prodigite . he being inamoured on a woman , sent for her by his servants ( her husband not daring to refuse for his life ) of whom she desired time to make her self ready ; which having obtained , she goeth into her chamber , and killeth her self : the officers ( when they could stay no longer ) broke open the room , and finding her dead , report it to maxentius , who became more insolent than before . eusebius l. . by his necromancy , adulteries and murders he grew so intolerable , that the senate sent to constantine , craving his aid against him . constantine drawing licinius to his side ( by marrying his sister constantia to him ) hasted to rome with foot and horse , levied out of britain , france , and germany . maxentius framed a deceitful bridge over tiber near pons milvius , to intrap constantine : but being overcome in battel , he fled ( through forgetfulness or hast ) over the same bridge , which falling under him , he and many more were drowned . licinius had nothing good in him , but that he disliked eunuchs , calling them the mothes and rats of the court. he was a great enemy to learning , calling it , through his ignorance , a poyson and publick plague . he thought that none could live chastly , measuring others dispositions by his own vicious inclination . he maligning constantines fame , at last , persecuted the christians in the east , where he reigned with martinianus , whom he before made caesar at byzantium , and his son licinius at arles . he was overthrown by constantine in several battels , loosing many thousands of men , and was himself taken prisoner ; yet by meditation of his wife , had his life spared , and was confined within nicomedia : where for his treasons after , he and his son , who somewhat survived him , were put to death . he lived years , and reigned victor . licinius a constantino morte mulctatur : vel ut alii tradunt , quum filiam suam herinam eò quòd christiana esset , ab equis discerpi mandasset , ipse adstans & inspecturus , equi morsu interfectus est . elenchus numismatum in bibliotheca bodieeja●a . select and choyce french proverbs , some of which were collected out of gruterus , de la noue , and other authors , divers observed by my self when i was in france , alphabetically disposed and englished , and compared also sometimes with the refranes or spanish . a. aller où le roy va à pied . to go where the king goes a foot . aller sur la hacquen●e des cordeliers . to go upon the franciscans hackney , . to go a foot . aimer n'est pas sans amer . love is not without bitternesse ▪ ainsi va le monde . so the world goeth . amasser en saison , despencer par raison , font la bonne maison . a seasonable gathering , and a reasonable spending make a good house-keeping . amiens fut priuse en renard , repriuse en lion. amiens was taken by the * fox , retaken by the lion. amour peut moult , argent peut tout . love can do much , silver can do all . amour , toux , fumée & argent , on ne peut cacher longuement . love , the cough , the smoak and money , can not long be hidden by any . a pere , à maistre , à dieu tout puissant , nul ne peut rendre l'equivalent . to father , master , and god , al-sufficient , none can render equivalent . a petit mercier , petit panier . a little pedler , a little pack . apres * disner de la moustarde . after dinner mustard . apres la mort le medecin . after death the doctor . apres la pluye * vient le beau temps . after rain comes fair weather . a quoi pensez vous , quand vous nepensiez rien ? a vous respondre , quand vouy me demandez rien . on what think you when you think on nothing ? to answer you when you ask me nothing . argent content porte medicine . ready money is a ready medicine . a rude chien faut dur lien . a curst dogge must be tyed short . attente tourmente . expectation torments . au jourdhuy marriè , demain marri . married to day sad to morrow . a un bon entendeur ne faut que demy mot . half a word is enough * to an understanding hearer . autant de pais , autant de coustumes . so many countries so many customes . b. beau parler n'escorche pas la language . good speech flees not the tongue . beauté sans bonté est comme vin esventè . beauty without goodnesse is like wine that hath taken wind . belles filles se trovent au bourdeau , & les beaux hommes es mains du bourreau . the fairest woman in the st●wes , and the hansom'st man at the gallowes . bon marché tire l'argent de la bourse . good cheap commodities are not able pick-purses . bon sang ne peut mentir . good blood cannot lye . bonne renommée vaut mieux que ceniture dorée . a good renown is better then a golden girdle . bonne terre mauvais chemin . bon advocat mauvais voisin . bonne mule mauvaise beste . bonne femme mauvaise teste . good country and bad way . good lawyer and bad neighbour . good mule and a bad beast . good woman and a bad head . borgne est roy entre les aveugles . he that hath one eye is a king among the blinde . c. cequ'on apprend au bers , dure jusques au vers . that which one learnes in youth will continue till old age . cela est la philosophie de quenoville . it is the philosophy of the distaff . c'est un mouton * de berri , il est marqué sur le nez . it is a sheep of berrie it is marked upon the nose . c'est un bon harquebusier , il vise aux talons & frappe le nez . * it is a good harquebusier , it aims at the heels and hits the nose . chair du mouton manger de glouton . flesh of mutton is meat for a glutton . chascun a son tour , le devise du mounsieur de guise . every one hath his turn , the devise of the duke of guise . chascun est roy en sa maison . every one is king in his own house . commun n'est pas comme un . the publick is not as private . courte messe & long disner . short masse , and long dinner . d. d'eau benite le moius suffis . of holy-water the lesse sufficeth . de fol juge brieve sentence . from a foolish judge a quick sentence . de la pance vient la dance . dancing followes a full belly . de mauvais payeur il faut prendre paille . of an ill pay-master take any thing . desjuner de chasseurs , disner d'advocats , souper de marchands , & collation de moines . the huntsmans break fast , the lawyers dinner , the merchants supper , and the monkes drinking . de trois choses dieu dous garde , de beuf salé sans moutarde , d'un valet qui se regarde , d'une femme qui se farde . from three things god keep us , from powderd beef without mustard , from a servant which vieweth himself , from a woman which painteth . * du cuir d'autruy large courroye . a large-thong of anothers leather . e. en gouttes medicin ne voit goutte . the physician sees but littie in the gout . en orenge il n' ya point d'oranges . in orange * there are no oranges . en pont , en planche , & en riviere , valet devant maistre derriere . on bridge , on plank , and on river , the servant before , and master after . * entre deux selles le cul à terre . between two stooles the tail to the ground . entre la bouche & le verre , le vin souvent tombe à terre . between the lip and the cup. the wine is often spilt . eschorhcer le * renard . to flea the fox . estre sur la bord de ▪ la fosse . to be upon the brink of the pii . alterum pedem in cymba charonti habere . f. faire de chasteaux en espagne . to build castles in spain . we say , to build castles in the air . faire de son medecin son heritier . to make his phisician his heir . faire grond cas de peu de chose . to make great account of a little thing . femme , argent & vin on leur bien & leur venin . women , money , and wine , have their good and their evil . femme rit quand elle peut & pleure quand elle veut . a woman laughes when she can , and weeps when she will. fille fenestriere & trotiere , rarement bonne mesnagere . a gazing and gadding maid seldome proves good house-wife . fille qui donne s'abandonne . a maid which giveth is easily gotten . fille qui prend son corps vend . a maid which takes sels her body . fille trope veuë , robbe trop vestuë , n'est past chere tenue . a maid often seen , a garment often worn , are disesteem'd , and held in scorn . the italian proverb is : a woman that taketh is easily yielding . formage , poir , & pain , est repas de vilain . cheese , bread , and pear , is the husbandmans fare . les plus courtes folies sont les mellieures . the shortest follies are the best . fols sont sages quond ils se taisent . fools are wise men when they hold their * peace . g. goutte à goutte la mer s'esgoute . by drop and drop the sea runs out . homme chiche , jamais riche . a covetous man is never rich . homme roux & femme barbue , de trente pas loin le salūe , avecques trois pierres au poing , pour t'en aider à ton besoing . salute no red hair'd man , nor bearded woman nearer then thirty foot off , with three stones in thy fist to defend thee in thy need . i. jeunesse oiseuse , vie illesse disetteuse . an idle youth makes a needy old age . the italian proverb is , a young man idle , an old man needy . il a tousiours une * aulne de boyaux vuides , pour festoyer ses amis . he hath alwayes an ell * of empty guts to feast his friends withal . il est bien avancé qui a bien commencé . he is well advanced who hath begun well . dimidium facti qui bene caepit , habet . il a beau mentir qui vient de loin . a traveller may lye by authority . il gaste comme le fange de paris . it staineth like the dirt of paris , lutetia à luto . il a la conscience large , comme la manche d'un cordelier . he hath a conscience as large as a franciscans sleeve . il joüe de moy à la pelotte . he playes at foot-bal with me . il ment comme un aracheur de dents . he lyeth like a tooth-drawer . il n'est eschappé qui traine son lien . he is not quite got away who drags his chain after him . il n'est jamais feu sans fumé . there is never fire without some smoak . il n'y a pire sourd que celuy qui ne veut o●ir . there is none so deaf as that will not hear . il ny a tant des moutons en berry there be not so many sheep in * berry . il ni a que la premiere pinte chere . the first pint is the dearest . il vaut mieux tard que jamais . it is better late then never . jeu , putain , & vin friand font l'homme panure en riand . play a whore , and brisk wine make a man poor laughing . the italian proverb ( whence this seems to be borrowed ) is , play , woman , and wine c●nsume a ma● laughing . l. labelle plume fait le bel oyseau . the fair feathers make a fair fowl . * l'appetit vient en mangeant , est la soifs'en va en beuvant . the stomack comes by eating , the thirst is quencht by drinking . l'asne du common est tousjours malbasté the common asse is alwayes ill sadled . la soye esteiut la feu de la cuisine . silk * doth quench the fire of this kitchin. la trop longue demeurer fait changer l'amy . too long abiding causeth a friend to change . l'eau qui dort est pire qui celle quid court . the standing water is worse then that which runnes . le coust en fait perdre le goust . the cost takes away the desire to the thing . le desir nous tormente & l'espoir nous contente . desire torments us , and hope comforts us . l'habit ne fait pas le moyne . the habit makes not the monk. le maison est malheureuse & mechante , o● le poul plus haute que le coq chante . the house is unhappy and wicked where the hen croweth louder than the cock . le mari veut ( & doit ) estre maistre , la femme veut ( & doit ) estre maistresse , mais non pas de son mari . the husband will and ought to be master , the wi●e will and ought to be mistris , but not of her husband . les mots termines en ique font au medecin la nique . the words ending in * ique do mock the phisician . le plaisir engendre l'autre . one good turn requires another . le royaume du france ne tombe point en quenouille . the kingdome of france falls not to the distaffe . les apprentifs ne sont pas incontinent maistres . the prentises are not presently masters . les bons r●deurs font les bons presteurs . good restorers make good lenders . le soleil qui se leve matin , la femme qui parle latin , l'enfant qui boit du vin , font rarement bonne fin . the sun which shineth early in the morning , a woman which speaketh latin , a child that drinketh wine , seldome make a good end . le teste d'une femme , la corps d'un serjeant , les jambes d'un lacquai ▪ c'est un diable parfaict . the head of a woman , the body of a serjeant , the leggs of a lackey make a devil perfect . le vin se cognoist à la saveur , & le drap à la coleur . wine is known by its smell , and cloth by its colour . lire beaucoup & rien n'entendre , c'est beaucoup chasser & rien prendre . to read much and understand and nothing , is to hunt much and catch nothing , m. ma chemise chascun blanche baise mon cû châque dimanche . my fair shirt kisse me behinde once a week . manger * son pain blanc le premier . to eat his white bread first . mars venteux , & auril pluvieux font le may gay & gracieux . a windy march , and rainy april make a may trim and gay . n. n'irrit ez point les chiens , au paravant que vos soies aux pierres . provoke not the dogs before you beat the stones . nouer l'esguillette . to tye the * point . nourriture passe nature . nature surpasseth nature . nul bien sans peine . no good without pain and labour . this proverb is meant principally of vertue , it comes not without labour . o. oi , voy , & te tais , si tu veux veure en pais . hear , see , and be silent , if thou wilt live in peace . audi , vide , tace , si vis vivere in pace . oignez vilain , il vous poindra , poignez vilain il vous oindra . sooth a clown and he will deal roughly with you , deal roughly with him , and he will speak you fair . the italian proverb is , do good to a clown , he wisheth thee evil for it , do him an evil turn and he wisheth thee good for it . on n● doit parler latin devant les clercs . one must take heed to speaking of latin before schollars . on ne prend pas le lieure au son de ta●bour . men catch not a hare with the sound of a drum. on ne scait , que la chose vaut , jusqu ' à tant qu'on l'ait perdue . one knows not what a thing is worth till he have lost it . the spanish proverb is , buen perdido ay conocido . a good thing lost is known . bonum magis carendo quàm fruendo cognoscimus . oûi dire va par ville . hear-say goes throughout the town . p. pape par voix , roy par nature , empereur per force . the pope comes by voices , the king by nature , the emperour by force . pardon , on a pardon . by a gift on obtains a pardon . par l'eschantillon on cognoist la piece . by a pattern on knoweth the whole piece . petite pluye abbat grand vent . a small rain all aies a great wind . poisson sans vin est poison . fish without wine is poison . pour un plaisir mille douleurs . for one pleasure a thousand sorrowes . q. quand italie sera sans poison , france sans trahison , angleterre sans guerre , lors sera la mond● sans terre . when italy shall be without poison , france without treason , england without war , the world shall be without earth . quand le danger est passé , le sainct eff oubilé . when the danger is past the saint is forgotten . quand le soleil est couché tons les bestes sont à l'ombre . when the sun is set all the beasts are in the shade . quatres bonnes meres engendrent quatre mauvaises filles , grande familiarité mespris , verité haine , vertu envie , richesse ignorance . four good mothers beget four bad daughters , great familiarity contempt , truth hatred , vertue envie , riches ignorance . qui a bon voisin , il a bon matin . he that hath a good neighbour hath a good morrow . qui a le bruit de se lever matin peut dormir jusques à disner . he that hath the same of rising early may sleep till dinner . qui a terre il a guerre . he that hath land hath also strife . qui monte plus haut qu'il ne doit , descend plus bas qu'il ne voudroit . he that mounteth higher then he ought , shall descend lower then he would . qui naist de geline il ayme a gratter . he that comes from a hen loves to be scrat●ng . qui parle du loup , il en void la queue . he that speaks of the * wolf , sees his tail . while the shepherds talk of the wolf he comes sometimes , so doth he often of whom we speak . qui regimbe contre l'aiguillon , merite d'en estre picqué deux fois . he that kicks against the pricks , deserves to be pricked twice . qui veut jeune chair & vieux poisson , se trove repugner la raison . he that loves young flesh and old fish , loves contrary to reason . qui veult manger de noiau , qu'il casse la noix . he that will eat the kirnel , let him break the nut . r. remede contre la peste par art , fuir tost & loing ▪ retourner tard . an artificial remedy against the plague , t● flie swift and farre , and return slowly . rendre la pareille . to render the like . retournons a nous moutons . let us return to our sheep . this proverb is used when in some long discourse , one having made some digression from the matter , will return to the thing he first spake of . the original of it is taken from shepherds which sometimes leave their sheep to solace themselves while they feed , but fearing danger to them , after say , let us returne to our sheep . rouge soir & blanc matin , c●est le plaisir du pelerin , the evening red and the morning gray , are hopeful ●ignes of a fair day . the italian saith , the evening red , and the morning d●skie joyeth the traveller . s. si l'espine non picque quand nai , a peine que picque jamai . a thorn unlesse at first it prick , will hardly ever pierce to the quick . souvent & peu manger , ce faict l'homme engraisser . often and little eating makes a man fat . t. tel refuse qui apres muse . he refuseth who after bethinks himself . tout se qui reluist n'est pas or , all is not gold that glistereth . tost ou tard , prezau loing , le fort du foible à besoign . soon or late , near or far , the strong hath need of the weak . trois choses sont d'un accord , l'eglise , la court , & la mort , l'eglise prend de vif & mort , la court prend le droict & le tort , la mort prend le foible & le fort , three things agree in the world ; the church the court and death , the court right and wrong , death the weak and strong . the italians have the like proverb , three things are much of nature : a priest , an atturney , and death ; the priest taketh from the living and the dead ; the atturny right and wrong , and death taketh along with it both weak and strong . trop grater cuist , trop paller nuist . to much scratching smarts , too much speaking hurts . tu as frappé au blanc . thou hast hit the white . tu as memoire du lieure ou lapin , tu la pers en courant . thou hast as much memory as a hare or coney ▪ thou hast lost it in running . v. un coup de langue nuist plus qu●un coup de lance . a word hurts more then a wound . un grand seigneur , un grand clochier , une grande riviére sont trois mauvais voisins . a great lord , a great bell , a great river are three ill neighbours . une bonne femme est une mauvaise beste . a good wife is an ill beast . oftentimes in the contracted inscriptions of ancient tombes these capital letters , m. b. have been found which signify mulier bona in french bonne femme . some drollers finding that these letters m. b. signifie as well mala bestia as mulier bona ; thrice used this proverb . un homme de paille vaut une femme d●or . a man of straw is worth a woman of gold . un ministre ne doit scavoir que sa bible . a minister ought to know no more then his bible . vouz mangez vostre chemie , par ou retournerez vous . you eat your way , which way will you return . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e * quicquid est , quod dat patri filius , utique minus est , quia hanc ipsam dandi facultatem patri debet . seneca lib. . de beneficiis . patribus & d●is non possumus retribuere aequali● . arist. . ethic. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tim. . * the fow which teacheth children to requite their parents is the stork from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 natural affection , and she is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : hence commeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when children study to requite their parents . * magdalen-hall in oxford , and the middle temple in london . * tertul. euseb. eccles. hill. iosephus , plutarch . taciti hist. & annal. aurel. vict. eutropius , pliny , solimis , seneca , macrob. saturn . suetonius , with casaub. animadvers . eras. apotheg . & chili●d . * est orati● taciti ●●rum in mod●●m arguta , & prudentiae plena bodin . l. . de method . histor. * mr. william pemble . * su●tonius tranquillus graecorum & latinorum scriptorum diligentissimus , atque incorruptissiimus , res duod●cim c●sarum videtur mihi integerrimè exponere qui in optimi● principibus nec vitia , nec suspiciones vitiorum tacet : in pessimi● vero colores virtutum non di●simulat . ludov. vives de tradend . discipl . lib. tranquillè & aequaliter fluit , rebusque unicè addictu , orationis ornamenta non negligens , sed securus praeterit , & tamen hunc ipsum ornatum velut umbram ●on id agens trahit . famian : strada , lib. prol●s . histor. * nature meant caesar for a conquerour , when she gave him both such courage , and such courtesie , both which put marius into amaze . they which durst speak to him , ( said he ) were ignorant of his greatnesse ; and they which durst not , were so of his goodnesse . * augustus caesar dyed in a complement ; livia , conjugii nostri memor , vive , & vale . tiberius in dissimulation ; as tacitus saith of him . iam tiberium vires & corpus , non dissimulatio deserebans . vespas●an in a iest , sitting upon the stool , vt ●●to d●u●●io . galba with a sentence , feri , sixe re si● 〈◊〉 romani ; holding forth his ne●k , 〈◊〉 last essayes in . ● * macrob. lib. . in som● . scipion. * timeo incustoditos aditus , timeo & ipsos custodes . * see in the book of him , and domitian . * dion in nerone . our english chronicles report of king richard the third , that having imbrued his hands in the blood of two orient princes , he never after had quiet in his mind , his body was privily fenced , his hand ever upon his dagger , his countenance grimme and gastly , his sleep unquiet , for he rather slumbred than slept . the night before the battel fought in bosworth-field , he dreamed a terrible dream . credo non erat so●●lum , sed consei●ntia scelerum . polyd. virgil. notes for div a -e gen. dier . lib. . c. . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in gr. ( saith he ) signifieth primam in mento lanuginem . virg. lib. . aeneid . an●●m ad cursum solis accommod●vit . sueton. he was born in that moneth . macrob. saturn . cap. . * sueton. describes him to have been , nigris vegetisque oculis micantibus , of a black quick ●parkling eye . * primus caesar , ●caeso matris utero dictus . * animadvers . in sueton . alex. ab alex. gen. dier . l. . c. . beckman de orig. ling. latin. vide christiani matth. theatr . histor. theor. pract. in iul. caes. cap. . et commentar . schild . in suetonium . forma omnium civium excellentissimus , vigore animi acerrimus , munificentiae effusissimus . paterculus . seu inter res gerendas . i. e. cum aciem ordinaret . plutarch . whiles he was setting his army in battel aray fuchs . instit. medic. l. . sect. . c. ● . plato morbum divinum appellat , quia occupat in noble divinae particulam aurae . alii morbum sacrum , vel quia detestandus est , vel quia divinitus immi●titur . dicitur etiam herculeus , quia hercules eo laboravit ; item ●ulgo caducus . lipsius . imperatoriam majest●tem non solùm ar●●s decoratam , sed etiam legibus oportet esse armatam , ut utrumque tempus , & bellorum , & pacis recte possit gubernari . iustinian . pro●m , institut . summis oratoribus aemulus . tacit. he was ci●ero's rival in eloquence . * illum omnium fere oratorum , latinè loqui elegantissimè , saith atticus there of him . caesar quotidiano sermoni egregiè utilissimus , cui cicero laudem tribuit puri & incorrupti sermoni● latini , ledov . viv. lib. . de tradend . discipl . * advance of learn . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . l. commentarios quosdam scripsit rerum suarum valde quidem probandos , nudi enim sunt recti , & venusti , sanos quidem homines à scribendo deterruit . cicero de clar. orat. scribere & legere simul , dictare , & au ●ire accepimus : epistolas v●rò tantarum rerum quatern●s pariter librariis dictare , aut , si nihil aliud ageret , septenas . plin. natural . hist. lib. . c. . speed chron. lucan . * as you see me do , so do ye . iudg. . . one saith the like of trajane , that in all hazards and perills , he never said unto his captains go , but let us go : do , but let us do . lucan . l. . v. . solinus . the two principall men of the world alexander and caesar. have slain each of them ( as pliny reporteth ) more then a million of men . signis collatis quinquagies dimicavit . plin. natural . hist. lib. . c. . he took townes , conquered . nations . 〈◊〉 . nec 〈◊〉 de se praedicatio est caejaris , ante victum bostem esse 〈…〉 l. flor. 〈…〉 suetonius . suetonius . so william the conqueror at his arrival into england , burnt the ships which transporported his army . lucan seemeth to have alluded to this : bellorum ô socii , qui mille pericula mortis . augustus did much reprove this humor in his uncle , saying , dum affectat carier fieri , auctoritatem principis emolliverat . aurel. vict. * suetonius . it is reported of alexander that he infused such courage into his souldiers , vt illo praesente , nullius hostium arma vel inermes timuerint . iustin. l. . e. ult . caesars eye made his souldiers prodigall of their blood . plutarches lives . plutarch . plutarchs lives . paludamentum mordicus trahens , ne spolio potiretur hostis . sueton. milites erant sagati , imperatores pal●dati . plutarch & suetonius . i. e. . saepe audivi q. maximum , p. scipionem , praeterea civitatis nostrae praeclaros viros solitos ita dicere , cum majorum imagines intuerentur , vehementissime sibi animum ad virtutes accendi ; scilicet non ceram illam , neque figuram , tantam vim in sese habere ; sed memoriâ rerum gestarum eam flammam egregiis viris in pectore crescere , neque prius sedari , quam virtus eorum famam atque gloriam adaequaverit , sallustius in bello iugurthino . suetonius . ita visum interpretari va●issimae artis auctoribus ●●nis●imis . casaubon . animadvers . plutarch . suetonius . lucan . equitandi usus caesari à pueritia facilis adeò extitit , ut reflexis in tergum manibus , equum velocissimis con●itare cursibus saepe consueverit . plut. solinus . sueton. * like to alexanders bucephalus . plutarch . solinus . he gloried in nothing so much ( saith austin . . epist. ) as in pardoning his enemies , and gratifying his friends . he held neuters for his friends contrary to pompey , who held them for enemies . aurel. idem dixit , non mihi placet vindicta , sed victoria . dion . king cotis having received for a present many beautiful & rich vessels , yet frail and easie to be broken , brake them all , that he might not be stirred to choler when they should happen to be broken . plutarch in tullies life . pompeii sta●●●s erigendo su● confirmavit . mori satius est semel , quam timore semper torqueri plutarch . sueton . silent leges inter arms. adolescent difficilius est mi●i hoc dicere , quam facere . * magno illi alexandro , sed sobrio , neque iracundo simillimus , qui semper & somno & cibo in vitam , non in voluptatem uteretur . paterculus . plutarch . suetonius . plutarch . in apophtheg . dixit invidere se catoni mortem , quando sibi salutem invidisset . plutarch in the life of cato . caesarem vehis , & fortunam ejus . cambd. in annal. de henrie . . plin. lib. . c. . circa corporis euram morasior , ut non solùm tonderetur diligenter , ac raderetur , sed velleretur etiam . suetonius . odi pallidos & macilentor . or regaviolus , quasi rex avium . casaub. animadvers . nec centum victimis perlitare poterat . florus , l. . hist. rom. c. . eo ipso die dum ad senatum iret , libelli conjurationem & conjuratorum nomina indicantes , in manus ipsi traditi . plutarch . suetonius . sueton. he was slain in pompeys court . tribus & viginti vulneribus ad terram ditus est ; sic ille qui terarum orbem civil● sanguine impleverat ; tandem ipse sanguine suo curiam implevit . luc. flo. l. . hist. rom. c. . in the st. septenarie . plutarch . sueton. deum honor principi non ante habetur quam agere inter homines desierat . tacit. * sueton. of this ceremony of the apotheosis or deifying their emperours , see dr. hackwels apology of gods providence . l. . sect. . horace . lib. . ode . percussorum autem fere neque triennio quisquam amplius supervixit , neque sua morte defunctus est . sueton. bella res est ( inquit seneca ) mori sua morte . a notable judgement of god upon the unnaturall murderers of their soveraign . vel ab augurio , vel ab augendo dictus . suetonius . oculorum acies clarissimorum syderum modo vibrans . corpore toto pulcher , sed oculis magis . aurel. vict. sueton. aurel. vict sueton. his shooes were underlaid somewhat with the highest , that he might seem taller then he was . calciamentis altiusculis utebatur , ut procerior quam erat videretur . suetonius . tertul. apol. c. . orosius lib. c. . orosius . totus orbis ) ad verbum , tota habitabilis , ita ut subaudias terra , a hyperbolicall speech . nulli genti sine justis & necessariis causis bellum in●ulit . suetonius . bellum est iustum , quod necessarium est ; & arma sunt pia , quibus nulla nisi in armis relinquitur . spes . livie decad. . lib. . aurel. vict. sueton. aul. gel. . l. . c. macrob. saturn . lib. . eras. adag . vrbem lateritiam accepi , relinquo vobis marmoream . aurel. vict. sueton. macrob. liberalibus studiis , praesertim eloquentiae in tantum incumbens , ut nullus ne in procinctu quidem laberetur dies , quin legeret , scriberet , declamaret . aurel . vict. suetonius . si merebuntur . * nisi aliquo assidente , nunquam tenebris evigilavit . sueton. lib . c. . * the senate and people of rome joyntly saluting him by the name of pater patriae , he with teares standing in his eyes made answer unto them in these few words ; now that i have ( mine honourable lords ) attained to the height of all my vowes and wishes , what remaineth else for me to crave of the immortall gods , but that i may carry with me this universall consent of yours unto my lives end ? seneca said of him , poenas dat , dum poenus exigit . lib. . de clemen . cap. . damnatorum poenar interdum acrius ferebat , quam qui plectebantur . senec. lib. de ira. * aurel. vict. his speciall friends were mecoenas , agrippa , virgil. propertius . he permitted the jews to use their liberties . ne toro quidem cubuisse ajunt , nisi humili & modicè instrato . veste non te●●erè alia usus est , quam domesticâ , ab ●●ore & sor●re , filia , ●eptibusque confect● , sueton. he termed sumptuous garments , vexillum superbiae , nidumque luxuriae , the banner of pride , and nest of lechery . plutarch . in apoph . suetonius . cacozelos & antiqu●rios , ut diverso genere vitiosos , pari fastidi● sprevit . putas t● asse● elephanto dare ? macrob. . lib. sat. c. . quasi elephanto stipem . sueton. sparages soon sodden , see eras . adag . plutarch in the life of pericles saith no more then caesar , but eras. in his apothegmes took it to be meant of augustus . suetonius . the greeks had no calends . see eras. adag . * or of a sea-ca●f , which as pliny writeth , checketh al lightnings . tonitru● & fulgur●●●ulo infirmius exp●●escebat , ut sem●er & ubique pellem vituli marini circumferret ●ro remedio , ●que ad omnem 〈◊〉 tempe●●uis suspicionem , in ab●itum & concam . 〈…〉 se reciperet . suetonius . aurel. vict. in the time of war the temple was open . horace lib . carminum . he bid catullus the railing poet to supper , to shew that he had forgiven him . macrob. saturn . l. . c. . seneca de ira. * vide christ. math. th●at . hist. in august . p. . . convitia , si irascare , agnita videntur ; spret● ex●l●s●unt . tacitus . l. . saturn . cap. . mat. . . for his jewish devotiō prohibited him to deal with swine , but not religion , nor reason , nor nature could protect those innocents from slaughter . macrob. ib. qnoniam pudebat adolescentem fateri quibus ipse caesari displicuisset , caesar permisit ut sermonem inverteres , & culpam in ipsum conferret . eras. appotheg . macrob. ubi suprà . macrob. saturn . id. ib. this counsell was given him , that when the object and occasions of choler were in his eye , he should not be moved before he had pronounced over the letters of the alphabet . habendae est ad somnum culcitra , in qua ille cum tantum deberet , dormire potuit , macrob . sat. l. . c. . at tu cum fugisti , nunquam post te respe●●ris ? macrob. saturn . persiu● . non tamen vir t●ntus vitiis ●aruit ; fuit enim paululum im●●tiens , leviter iracundus , occuliè invidus , palam factiosus , dominandi supra quam aestimari p●test avidissimus , stu●iosissimus ale● lusor . aure● . vict. * heroum filii no●ae . soli●●s . n●m fore quoties audisse● , citò , aut nullo cruciatu defunctum quempiam , sibi & suis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 similem ( hoc enim & verbo uti solebat ) precabatur . suetonius . suetonius . vita nostra sicut fabula , nec refert quam diu , sed quam bene acta sit . l. . c. . the climacterical year is fatall . aurel. vict. tiberius dictus à fluvio tibere , quòd juxta tiberim natus esset . suetonius . * nullius manus velad feriendum vel adimpellendum fortiores fuerunt , quum in ●igitis nervos videretur habuisse non venas ; nam & carra venientis digito sahitari repulisse dicitur , & fortissimos quosque uno digito sic afflixisse , ut quasi-ligni vel ferri obtusioris i●tu percu●●● dolerent . multa d●●rum digitorum allisione contrivit . trebel . pollio de trigin●a ●y●annis in mario . tiberio suspensa sem●●r , & ob●●● verba . tacitus . aut agat , aut desisiat . eras . apophtheg . simile est ciceren●s ●●iud de epi●●●is . de fin . c●teri ( inquit ) existimantur dicere melius quam facere , hi mihi videntur facere melius quam dicere . dicitur in eos qui ejusmodi negotio involvuntur , quod neque relinquere sit integrum , neque tolerari possit . eras. adag . eras. in apoph . & alii . sueton. sueton. et alexand. magnus solitus erat dicere , se odisse olitorem qui herbas radici●ùs convellete● . et ut parsimoniam publicam exemplo quoque juvaret , solennibus ipse coeni● pridi●na saepe ac semesa opsoni● apposuit , dimidiatumque aprum , affirmans omnis eadem habe●● quae totum . no●●em continuumque bi●uum e●ulando potandoque consumpsit . sueton. suetonius . * elegans paranomasia . so some played upon the name of epiphanes , and called him epimanes , or mad-man . see iunius on . din. others call the duke of lorrain the duke des larrons . le theatre du monde . l. . see after in caligula and titus . pliny l ● . of naturall hist. nor the thrice gallant knight . athen●us memorat de xenocrate , illum scilicet uno haustu s●rp●isse v●nt co●gium . gassend . de vita epicuri . lib. ● ▪ c. . nero had an officer about him ( to wit petronius ) who was called arbiter neroni●ne libidinis , tacit . ann●l . l. . latinis abstracta pro concretis simpliciter posita intendunt id quod dicitur ; plus enim quam vel sordidum designat , vel sanguineum , eximie nimirum ●alem . mentitur qui te vitiosum , zoile , dixit . non vitiosus homo es , zoile , sed vitium . heins . exercit . sac. sueton. sueton. suetonius . tacitus . suetonius . suetonius . suetonius . see the like in augustus his life . ingenio ad repentina long●●●riore . aurel. vict. scribit plutarchus in apophtheg matis , augustum dicere solitum , se romani imperii successorem eum esse relicturum , qui nunquam bis de eadem reconsultasset ; tiberium significare volebat . josephus lib. . of the antiquity of the jews , c. . tu quoque galba degustabis imperium . tacit. l. . annal. lib. . divin . instit. c. . vide tacit. l. . a●al . c. . eusebius . in apologet . they refused to do it saith eusebius , l. . hist. eccle. c. . that the wisedome and divine power of god in the doctrine of salvation might not need the allowance and commendation of men . christus tiberio impe●rante , per procuratorem pontium pilatum supplicio affectus era● . * lib. adversus iudaeos . * lib. . de vera sapientia c. . vide vossium de tempore dominicae passionis . sect. . romani caesares imaginem suam imprimebant monetae tam ●ureae quam argenteae . drusius . * l. . eccles. hist. c. . he withheld a legacy from the people of rome , which his predecessor augustus had lately given ; and perceiving a fellow round a dead corse in the ear , he would needs know wherefore he did so , the fellow replyed , that hee wished the departed soul to signifie to augustus , the commons of rome were yet unpaid : for this bitter jest the emperour caused him forthwith to be slain , and carry the news himself . doctor willet on the rom. . yeares , . months , . dayes , saith euseb. as doctor willet sheweth in his hexapla on dan. where the account differs from this certain months , because he followeth euseb. computation there . suetonius quia natus in exercitu suerat , cognomen●um calceamenti milit●ris , i e. caligulae ●ortitu● est . aurel. vict. * suctonius . it was held crimen● laesae majestatis , against his imperiall person . speed. vultus horridus . sueton. torserat per omnia quae in rerum natura tristissima sunt , fidiculis , eculeo , igne , vultu suo . seneca . lib. . de ira. he said , that he did approve of nothing so much in his nature as his immodesty . sueton. novum & inauditum spectaculi genus . tacit. lib. . annal. sueton. aurel. vict. in his temple stood an idol of fine gold , of himself ; which was daily clothed and adorned with the like garments which he then wore : cuffe of affectation . ioseph . l. . antiq. c. . & . de belle iudai● . c. ● . suetonius . suetonius . per genium principis romanos jurare solitos , testes sunt iurisconsulti nostri , quemad-modum & per salutem principis , & per principis venerationem . schildius in calig . apologet. c. . suetonius . suetonius . ita in bello civili mariano , marius quidam particulatim amputatus , diu vivere vel potius diu mori coactus est , ut inquit eleganter augustin lib. . de civ . dei. schildius . hellebore that groweth in the ●sle anticyra , is of most effectuall operation ; the root is that whereof is made our sneesing powder , it purgeth extremely by vomit ; thereupon ariseth the proverb , naviget anticyram , that is , let him sail to anticyra ; applyed to one that is melancholike in the highest degree , and little better then mad . see plinies naturall hist. l. c. . at tu ( inquit ) unam cervicem habes , nos verò ●anus multas . queri de conditione temporum suorum solebat , quod nullis calami●atibus publicis insignirentur , su●ton . suetonius . suetonius . dirissimae immanitatis dictum ; sed in historia turcarum factum legimus hoc etiam dicto crudelus . schildius in calig . vide plura ibid. de cons. ad helviam . c. . in his preface to his fourth book of naturall questions . aurel. vict. peroraturus stricturum se ●ucubrationis suae telum mi●abatur . sueton. minutissimis senten●iis rerum fregit pondera , saith quintilian of seneca . sueton. commentus portentosissima genera ciborum atque coenarum . sueton. * which had a glorious sight to look on , yet there was nothing for the contentation of nature : so the papists set their glittering service of heb. gr. and lat. before the people , a goodly shew to gaze on , and wonder at . bish. iewel . cael , rhodig . suetonius . hic non toto vertente anno sex millia septingenta & quinquaginta myriadum aureorum prodegit . ●ael . rhod. iect . antiq. l. . c. . contrectandae pecuniae cupidine incensus . saepe super immensos aureorum acervos patentissimo diffusos ioco , & nudis pedibus spatiatus , & toto corpore aliquandiu volutatus est . sueton. these things were found after his death . pugio à pungendo , quis punctim potius quam caesim vulnerat . sueton. see before in the life of augustus and tiberius . onely . yeares , . moneths , and . dayes , casaubon . there is a great difference amōg chronographers , about the computation of his years . three years , ten moneths , and eighteen dayes , saith euseb. doctor willet on the epist. to the rom. ioseph . l. . of the antiq . of the jews . c. . vtinam ego eum intefecissem . xiphilin . primus caesarum fidem militis praemio pignoratus . sueton. nec absolutum 〈◊〉 natura , sed inchoatum . su●●onius . * this some think is to be understood of christians , whom we find in the ecclesiasticall writers to be misnamed by the ethnick infidels chrestians , like as christ himself chrestus in scorn . * lib. . antiq. c. . * lib. . of his annals . sueton. ausonius . idem planè accidit h●●di magno , cum uxorem mariamnem occidisset . josephus orig. lib. . c. . casaubonus . sueton. sueton. suetonius . erat natur● performidolosus . aurel. vict. sueton. claudius c●sar tumu●toantem britanniam perdomuit , ab eo c●●udiocestrium oppidum , quod nun● glocestrium dicunt . * eutropius . v●reque sermone nostro sis peritus . others say , agrippin● his wife tempered the poison in the meat which he most delighted in . viz a mushrome . infusum delectabili ●ibo boletorum 〈◊〉 tacit. annal. bole●m medicatum avidissimo ciborum talium obtulit . sueton. whence martial . boletum , qualem claudius edit , ed●● . . yeares , . moneths , and . daies , saith tertul. doct. willet . alex. ab alex . gen. dier . l . c. . gell. l. . suetonius . mali corvi malum ovum . see the like of tiberius , and of caligula in suetonius ▪ c. . suetonius . lib . de clementis . fa●tus natura , & consuetudine exercitus velare odium fallacibus blanditiis . tacit. annal. . sueton. imitatur illam augusti vocem ▪ si merebuntur . aurel. vict. suetonius . suetonius . he not onely commāded all the statues and images of the most excellent musitians to be defaced , and his own to be erected in leiu of them ; but also put many of them under hand to death . by emulation of their fame . sueton. & bapt. fulg. l. . sueton. suetonius . * divitiarum ac pecuniae fructum non alium putabat quàm profusionem . sueton. nero quadragenis in punctum sestertii● al●●m lasit . co● l. rhod. l. . c . suetonius . bis & vicies mille sestertium donationibus nero effuderat . tacit. l. . hist. c. . he most lavishly gave away two and twenty hundred millions of sesterces . * see sueton. and tacitus of this house , annal . c. . it is reported also of heliogubalus , that his apparell was rich , and most extreme costly , and yet he would never wear one garment twice ; his shooes were embellished with pearles and diamonds ; his seat strewed with musk and amber ; his bed covered with gold and purple , and beset with most costly jewels ; his way strewed with the powder of gold and silver ; his vessels ( even of basest use ) all gold ; his diet so profuse , that at every supper in his court was usually spent . l. sterling . neque tamen sceleris conscientiam , aut statim aut unquant post ferre potuit ; saepe confessus exagitari se materna specie , verberibus furiarum , ac taedis ardentibus . suetonius . eutropius . suoton . aurel. vict. orosius . * in apologet . cap. . nero ex caesaribus primus in christianos distrinxit gladium . * hist eccles. l. . c. . * l. . de vera sap. c. . * aret. probl. pet dit m●ul . def. of the cathol . faith. lla●bi supra . though n●ro were so wicked , yet paul mak●th mention of some saints in his court. phil . euseb. in chron & hieron . lib. de script . eccles. hist. eccles. l. . c. . . . nero subdidit reos , & quaesitissimis p●nis affeciteo● , quos per flagitia invisos , vulgus christianos appellabat ; auctor ejus nomini● christus . tacit. . annal. addita pereuntibus ludibria , ut ferarum tergoribus contecti ▪ canum laniatu interirent , aut crucibus affixi , aut flammandi ; & ubi dies defecisset , in usum nocturni luminis urerentur . tacit. l. . annal. sueton. in claud. * lib. . de invent rerum cap. . tacitus calleth them , hated for their wickednesse , guilty , and worthy of utmost punishment , and their religion a pestilent & pernicious superstition . see . of his annal . c. sub nerone saeva & infesta virtutibus tempora . non nisi grande aliquod bonum à neron● damnatum . tertul. apol. adversus gentes . nero virtutem ipsan● exscindere concupivit . tacit. annal . l. . * lib. . c. . de civit . dei. in his time amnes retrò ●uere vis● saut . plin. l. . c. . sueton. erat ei aeternitatis perpetuaeque famae cupido ; sed inconsulta . suetonius . which thing in him commodus the emperour imitated , calling rome commodians tacit. l. . of annal. post tacitum scripsit , eumque interdum tacitè redarguit . famia . strad . prolus . hist. l. . being admonished by astrologers that he should once be cast out of the empire , he is reported to have used this speech to himself , artem quaevis terra alit ; nimirum intelligens citharisticam , principi gratam , privato necessariam , quam excercere eum non puduit . deductus ( nero ) in forum tyro , populo congiarium , militi donativum proposuit . sueton. imperatoris munus quod popul● dabatur , congiarium dictum est , quod verò militibus , donativum . alex. ab alex. gen. dier . l. . cap. . sir henry savil on tacit . nec adhuc erat damnati principis exemplum , neither was there ever before a president of any prince by publick sentence deposed . tacit. l. . hist. sueton. he entreated that some one of those that were with him , would kill himself first , and by his example help him to take his death . itaque nec amicum ●abe● nec inimicum ; dedecorose vixi , turpiùs peream . aurel. vict. defecitque extantibus rigentibusque oculis , ad horrore●●ormidinemque visentium . sueton. vide boxhornii hist. vnivers . à christi tempore . p. . . . sueton. ipsa aet●s galbae & irrisui & fastidio erat assuetis juventae neronis , & imperatores formâ ac decore corporis ( ut est mos vulgi ) comparantibus . tacit. l. . hist. statura fuit justa , capite praecalvo , oculis caeruleis , adunco naso , manibus pedibusque articulari morbo distortissimis : ut neque calceum perpeti , neque libellos evolvere aut tenere omnin● ▪ valeret . suetonius . ingenium galbae malè habitat . suetonius . sir henry savill on tacit. plutarch . tacitus , l. . hist. auson . epigr . tacitus , l. . hist. famae nec incuriosus , nec venditator : pecuniae alienae non appetens , suae parcus , publicae avarus . tacitus . l. . hist. suetonius . plutarch . aurel. vict. e●tropius . tacitus l. . hist. the same saith hayward of our henry the fourth . hujus breve imperium fuit , & quod bona haberet exordia , nisi ad severitatem promptior videretur . eutropius . the delinquent pleaded that he was a roman citizen , and therefore not to be crucified . laudata olim , & militari fama celebrata severitos ejus angeba● coaspernantes v●terem disciplinam , atque ita . annis à nerone assu●factos , ut haud minus vitia principum amarent , quàm ●lim virtutes verebantur . tacit. l. . hist. cornel. tacitus . l. . hist. tacit. l. . hist. eutropius . plutarch . suetonius . eutropius . . months , ● . dayes , tertul. . months . dayes , eu●●●us . sueton. galericulus capiti propter raritatem capillorum adaptatus . sueton. iuvenal . his mothers side was more noble then his fathers . vita omni turpis , maximè adolescentiâ . aurel. vict. suetonius . tacit. l. . hist. suetonius . similitudo morum parit amicitiam , likenesse is the cause of liking . tacit. l. . hist. aurel. vict. otho flagrantissinnis in amiciti● nerenis habeb●tur . tacit. annal . l. . sueton. suetonius . plutarch . tacitus hist. lib. . adorare vulgus . ja●ere oscula , & omnia frevit●ter pro im●erio . tacit. hist. l. . hee worshipped the people , dispensed frequently his courtesies and plausibilities ▪ crouched and accommodated himself to the basest routs , that thereby he might creep into an usurped honour . tacit. l. . hist. plutarch . tacitus . tacitus . l. . hist. vitellius a drunkard and glutton , otho a wanton and licentious liver . plutarch . plutarch . tacit. l. . hist. tacit. l. . hist. tacit. l. . hist. irent properè , ne remorando iram victoris exasperarent . tacit. hist. l. . plutarch reporteth the like of cato . plutarch . suetonius . aurel. vict. he lived not much more honestly then nero , but dyed farre more honourably . more suo tranquillus annum inchoatum propleno numerat . nam alii . solum vixisse aiunt . casaub. ani●advers . sueton. famili●̄ bonorat● magis quam nobili . eutropius . prorsus si luxuriam temperaret , avaritiam non timeres . tacit. l. . hist. homo profundae gulae . sueton. ad vos deinde transeo , quorum profunda & insatiabilis gula , hinc maria scrutatur , hinc terras . seneca epist . . ● saith eutropius . * it was an ordinary practise among thē . epul●s qu●s toto orbe conqui●unt nec concoquer● dignantur . seneca . suetonius calls it an adventitious supper . eutropius . sueto . his meates were not touched in grosse , but an eye only of this bird , or a tongue of that fish were tasted , that the spoiles of many might be taken at one meal . phaenicopterus is a water fowl haunting lakes and fennes , and the 〈◊〉 nilus , as hesi●dus writeth . the feathers be of colour red , or purple , where●of it taketh the name , & the tongue is a most dainty & pleasant morsell ▪ tacitus l. . hist. apud vitellium omnia indisposita , temulenta , pervigiliis ac bacchanal●bus , quam discipline & castris propiora . tacit. l. . hist. iste mente crudelis avarusque cum profusione . aurel. vict. audita est saevissima v●tellii vox , quâ se pavisse oculos spectata inimici morte jactavit . tacit. hist. l. . sueton. tacit. l. . hist. tacit. l ▪ . hist. tacit. l. . hist. tacit. l. . hist. suetonius . he was killed by vespasians souldiers upon the staires gemoniae , where hee suffered vespasians brother to be slain . * aurel. vict. tacitus . suetonius . eutrop. * l. . of the wars of the ●ewes , c. . * chron. * lib. adversus iudaeos . * hist. . . ipse abunde ratus si praesentibus frueretur , nec in longum consultans , novies mille sestertium paucissimis mensibus intervertisse creditur . * octo menses ac dies quinque potitus imperio , jugulatur in m●dia vrbe ; quem si vivere diutius contigisset , ejus luxuriae satis esse imperum non potuisset . joseph . de bello iudaies . eutropius . suetonius . that saying of martial agreeth with this . nam faciem duram phaeb● cacantis habes . vir multorum salium . lodovic . viv. * a word in lat. that signifies carts or waines . convitiorum plaustr● . sueton. aurel. vict. system . phys. l. . a presignification of his advancement . being elected emperour , it is reported of him , that he cured one desperately blind by spitting upon his eyes . tacit. hist. l. . suetonius . maluissem allium oboluisses . suetonius . suetonius . pladicissimae bonitatis . eutropius . sueton. eutropius . iosephus , l. . of the wars of the jews , c. . iosephus , l. . of the wars of the jews , c. . tacitus l. . hist. tacit. l. . hist. sueton. homo turpiter avidus . eras. adag . suetonius . suetonius . not unlike to this was that speech of diogenes , dixit diony . s●um amicis uti pro vasculis , quae dum plena sunt evacuat , & abiicit vacua . suetonius . quicquid infixum & ingenitum est , leniri potest arte , non vinci . seneca . sueton. sat. . ●nfirmus , ut quidam pravè putant , adversus pecuniam , cùm satis constet aerarii inopia & clade urbium , neque novas cum neque postea habitas vectigalium pensiones exquisivisse , aurel. vict. sueton. aurel. vict. oportet episcopum concionantem mori . iewel . aurel. vict. sueton. speed saith as much of henry the fifth , whom he compareth to titus . edgar etheling , englands darling . dr. sclo● . mr. perkins . vespasian brake into their city at cedron , where they took christ , on the same feast day that christ was taken , he whipped them where they whipped christ , he sold twenty jewes for a penny , as they sold christ for thirty pence . andr. cat. lampridius . tacitus , l. . hist. formâ egregiâ , & cui non minus auctoritatis inesset quam gratiae . sueton. facundissimus , bellicosissimus , moderatissimus . eutropius . sueton. sueton. tacit. l. . hist. berenice . dion . & josephus . sueton. convivia instituit jucunda magis quam profusa . suetonius . sueton. hadrianus caesar said , it was troublesome to him if he saw any sad . aurel. vict. sueton. eutropius . or rather it must be read ( saith casaub. ) amici , hodie diem perdidi . periturum se potius quam perditurum adjurans . sueton. suetonius . eutropius . aurel. vict. aurel. vict. suetonius . tacitus . sueton. aurel. vict. plinie . l. . epist. . ioseph . l. . c. . of the wars of the jewes . from his wonderfull escape at the view of the walls of jerusalem , iosephus collects . imperatorum pericula deum curare ; that god takes care of princes in their danger . ibid. suetonius . eutropius . iosephus de bell. iud. l. . c. . & . . l. . of the wars of the jewes . c. . illud adagium festina lentè , arridebat duobus imperatoribus romanis , omnium facilè laudatissimis , augusto & tito ; quorum utrique singularis quaedam aderat animi magnitudo , cum incredibili quadam lenitate facilitateque conjuncta . eras. in adag . suetonius . multum conquestus , eripi sibi vitam immerenti , neque enim extare ullum suum factum poenitendum , excepto duntaxat uno . whether his over familiar acquaintance with his brothers wife domitia , as sueton. or with the queen berenice , as speed , is uncertain . senatus tantas mortuo gratias egit , laudesque congesset , quantas ne vivo quidem unquam atque praesenti . suetonius . aurelius . eutropius . he lived yeares , five moneths , . dayes , saith carion . titus cognomine paterno dictus vespasianus , alter frater cognomine materno à domitil●a domitianus est appellatus . casau . eutropius . stylis ●ridicullè remotis omnibus , muscarum agmina persequebatur . aurel. vict. hippocrates reckons up this for one signe of melancholy , when men catch flyes ; muscas captar● atrae bili● indicium . sueton. * at alexandria in egypt was that famous library of king ptolomeus philadelphus , and the other ptolomies progenitors , containing the number well near of . bookes , aul. gel. noct. a●tic . l. . c. . vellem tam formosus esse quàm metius sibi videtur . conditionem principum miserrimam aiebat , quibus de conjuratione comperta non crederetur , nisi occisis . sueton. sagittorum tam doctus fuit , ut inter patentes digitos exte●ae manus viri procul positi spiculi ejus transvolarent . aurel. vict. suetonius . simile quid audivi à fide dignis & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 factum de duc● brundewizensi , qui suis pedissequis ac pueris h●norariis imperavit , inter digitorum extensorum intervalla retinerent dilerum imperialem , quem sumpto sel●po minore , è patenti●us digitis globulo innoxiè exemit . paulus voetius in herodiani marcum & commodum . p. . & . tacitus l. . annal. suetonius . suetonius . suetoniu● . primus domitianus dominum se & deum appellari jussit . eusebius in chronicis . sueton. eutropius . aurel. vict. virgil called augustus god , d●us nobis haec otia fecit . vnde institutum post●ac , ut ne scripto quidem nec sermone cujusquam appellaretur aliter . suetonius . an oracle signifieth the answer of god. rom. . . euseb. eccles. hist. l. . c. . portio neronis de crudelitate . for his cruelty a piece of nero. tertul. he was reprochfully called by the people bald nero , because he was like him in cruelty , but bald . et calvo serviret roma neroni . juvenal . in vita agricolae . nero tantum subtraxit oculos , jussitque scelera , non spectavit . praecipua sub domitiano miseriarum pars erat , videre & aspici . * l. . c. . valde solicitus , quod sciret ultimum vitae diem , saith suetonius he was much tortured in mind , because he foreknew his end . sueton. suetonius . aurel. vict. carion . aurel. vict. & eutropius . carion , chron. * mexia translated by grimston . he was . yeares old when he was emperour . carion . suidas . nicephorus . in vita agricolae . dion cassius . speed chro. trajanus tudernino hispaniae oppido oriundus est , in quo nihil praeter unum trajanum est quod commendemus . opes nec exiguae , nec supra privatum modum evectae . corpore valido , & formâ quae digna imperio videbatur , erat . boxhorn . orat . de vitae & moribus trajani . caput non diadema sed gales orn●bat : & qua manu sceptrum domi , eadem gladium bello tenebat . boxhorn . * eruditissimos , quamvis ipse parcae esset scientiae , moderateque eloquens , diligebat . aurel. vict. plutarch was his master . praesens aderat non spectator tantum , sed & inter primos bellatorum ; ut virtuti consiliisque ejus omnia deberentur . eusebius . eccles. hist. l. . c. . nemo supplici vultu , sed sati & ala●res non tam principem quam patrem agnoscebant . boxho●rn . orat. accipe gladium quem pro me , si recte impero , sin minus , contra ●●e distringe . l. . hist , carion chron. it was his word , non mihi sed populo , signifying that which he was often heard to say ; ita se rempublicam gesturum , ut sciret rem populi esse , non suam , hic graecis literis impensius eruditus , à plerisque graecul●●s appell●tus est . aurel. vict. he said rightly , testibus non testimoniis ●●redendum . sir franci● bacons advanc . of learn . * some say this was spoken to philip of macedon . * dion laudat adrianum , qui in causis cognoscendis fuerit & fa●cillintus & diligentissimus , adeo ut uni causae cognoscendae & dijudicandae saepe dies undecim aut duodecim tribueret , nonnunquam etiam noctes simul insunieret . turba medicorum caesarem perdidit . hunc ferè nulla vitiorum labes maeculavit . aurel. vict. vixit ingenti honestate privatus , majori in imperio ; pius propter elementiam dictus est . eutropius . his symbole was , meliu● servare unum quam occidere mille . scipio africanus was wont to say , malle se unum civem servare quam mille hostes occidere . solus omnium principum sine civili sanguine fuit . carion . saith carion . carion . this was the first time wherein the roman empire was governed by two augusti ; domitian was titus his associate , yet was he not called or accounted ▪ augustus until the death of his brother titus : but now two emperours reigned at one and the self-same time . vir quem mirari facilius quis quam landare possit ; à principio vitae tranquillissimus , adeo ut in infantia quoque vultum nec ex ga●dio nec ex maerore mutaret . eutropius . tantum marco sapientiae , innocentiae , ac literarum fuit , ut is marcomannos , cum filio commodo quem caesarem suffecerat , petiturus , philosophorum obtestantium vi cir●umfunderetur ; ne se expeditioni aut pugnae prius committeret , quàm sectarum ardu● & occulta explanavisset , &c. aurel. victor . * the christian legion was after that time called fulminatrix . euseb. eccles . hist. his wife faustina ( by whose meanes partly he obtained the empire ) was a princesse , but a lewd and wanton woman ; one counselled him to put her away , but he answered , si uxorem di●●ttimus , reddamus & dotem ; choosing rather to have his house defiled then little . tertul. in apolog . * l. . c. . semper incommodus saith vopiscus in vita taciti . heywood in his various history of women . * casaubonus in historiam augustam . * nescia quis primus sublavaret hoc loco reposuit proe● quod v●tus editis & scripti codices habeb●nt , sublevaret . quam veram esse scripturam quovis pignore contendere sum paratus . non dicit i●tem 〈◊〉 sublevar●t se faustina sanguine illius gladiatoris occisi . quod de industria t●●●uit hic au●tor , & modestis ●erhis m●llivit horrend●m m●●ic●tionis genus . non 〈◊〉 cerie est , pro remedio sanguinem illum ebibisse faustinam , atque ita se subleva●se , &c. salmasius in historiam augustam . p. . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . aliquandiu tamen viventibus similem cursum continuabant . ut herodianum interpretatur politianus . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . herodian . l. . c. . see domitian p. . see nero p. . and domitian p. . &c. * commod . imperator , qui natus est eo die quo caligula ; tanquam eundem haberet horoscupum , & ipse sorores constupravit , concubinasque suas sub oculis suis constuprari ab amicis jubebat . beroaldus in suetenium . caligulam habuit velut exemplar quod initaretur . id. ibid. lamprid. c. . lamprid. c. . august . . id ibid. id. ibid. xiphiline . lamprid. c. . neronis insania commodi turpitudini per omnes flagitil gradus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est : egregium sc. par , princeps histrie & gladiator . boecleru● . see nero p. . quid mirum si commodus hereulem se vocari voluit , cum id fecerit alexander praeceptis imbutus aristotelis ? athenaeus . multos praeterea paraverat interimere , quod per parvulum quendam proditum est , qui ●abulam è cubiculo ejecit . lamprid. videsis gru●erum . see claudius in initio . see the advertisement . pag . orosius , ab initio pertinacis ad finem iuliani , ●nnum unum absumptum fuisse dicit , senis mensibus utriusque imperio imputatis . quod falsum est ; vix enim dimidium a●ni inter initium pertinacis & severi interjectum est . scaliger in eusebium . xiphiline in commod . xiphiline . tristan . xiphiline . herodian . l. . c. . herodian l. . c. . & . of his vertues and vices , but especially his dissimulation , see brochmands ethica hist. c. . see caligul● p. . see caligul● p. . andr. schottus l observ . human. c hath collected a catalogue of those who said th●y resembled alexander the great . see commodus p. . in parthia quid gesserit , ●siter herodianus , aliter dio narrat . certum tamen est eum etiam illi● perfidia truculenta potius quam virtute grassatum . jacobus capellus in . centuriis . baronius produceth a medaie of severus with caracalla and geta's heads on the reverse , and these words , concordia perpetus . * novo exemplo hic fanati●us , de nomine cjus dei cujus sacerdos fuit , se quoque dici voluit . quod non minut insolens quàm si iovis sacerdos aut dialis flamen ipsam iovis appellationem sibi vindicasset . casaubon . on a reverse of aunia fanstina is written concordia , and on one of paula's concordia aeterna . tristan . see p. . in the margin . in parasitas tantùm scelestus nebulo ingeniosus & justus fuisse videtur , saith one . of his pedigree , see h. valesius on peiresci , excerpta p. . * quod ei qussi alexandre est oblatum . see p. . in the margin . see p. . and . lamprid. c. . sr. th elyot his image of govern . see p. . and . see p. . lampridius c. . matris cultu plus quam pius . aur. victor . * nequid a rudi homine militaribus viris venires injuriae , saith iorna●des in geticis . c. . capitolinus in maximimino ian. & id maximo & balbino . ridiculè orosius l. . fratres fuisse scribit , cùm alter nobilis , ignobilis alter fuerit , capitolin● auctore schottus in aur. victorem . eutropius . see iulius caesar , p. . of brutus saith aur. victor . solâ pestilentiâ , morbis atque , a●gritudinibus , galli & volusiani notus fuit principatus . eutropius . valeriani vita censura est . massa candida in africa . initio imperium faeliciter , mox commodè , ad ultimum perniciosè gessit , eutropius . aliter aur. victor . aurelianus ma●●ad ferrum . the amphora copitolina held gallons . see macrinus , p. . see in herberts travels the pillar of beasts heads erected at spa●awn on such an occasion . see alexander serus , p. . he called september tacitus , because he was born and made emperour in that month . vopiscus in probo , c. . , . iulianus in caesaribus . oraculum apud plutarchum monebat quendam ut anguem sedu●ò vitaret : id cum praestaret ille , in militem cui anguish insigne clypei erat , incidit , ac obtruncatu● fuit . quanquam putem ego ( pace magni istius philosophi , & histori●i tamen ) monuisse deum ut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vitaret , quod commune nomen & clypei & serp●n●is est , ita oraculo illi aequivocatio sua constat . heinsius in crepundiis . vide val. maximum l. c. . de daphida & philippo macedone . quae persecutio omnibus ferè anteactis di●turnior atque immanior fuit . p. orosius , l. . c. . incessabiliter acta est . id. ibid. nomine christianorum deleto qui remp. ever●ebant . in another inscription mentioned by baronius anno . zonaras , nicephorus callist . th. metochita , &c. but neither tristan , nor chr. matthias hold this to be the sole cause of his resignation eusebius de vita constantini , l. . c . gonstantius pa●per . see suidas in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sozomen , l. the like history theodorus lector ●elteth of theodorick king of the gothes an arrian , in the second book of his collections . socrates , l. . camden his brit in description of york . nullo modo iacobus philippus bergomensis audiendus est , qui constantium repudiata theodorâ helenam , anglorum regis filiam captivam , uxorem duxisse fabulatur : cùm ex romannorum annalibus certò constet , helenam illum coactum repudiasse , ut theodoram maximiani augusti pri●ignam conjugem acciperet . usserius in antiquitat . britann . heme●arius , p , ● . notes for div a -e . to the stool . love is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a bitter sweet . * because the arch-duke took it by a stratagem , and henry the fourth regained it by force . the italian proverb is : love , the itch , and the cough cannot be hid . * we say , after eecf mustard . paroum parva decent . * post nubil● phoebus . after a storm comes a calm . * verbum s●t sapienti . we say , good words cost nothing . the spaniards say , it is much worth and costs little , to give to evil words a good answer . refra●es ●'oudin . a worthy nature cannot conceal it self . see prov. . . this proverb is well explained by e●din de reaub . l . c. . and pasqui●r de recherches de la france , l. . c. . some make it all one with that proverb , the hood or habit makes not the monk , others say that onely women of a good name and not whores were suffered to wear a golden girdle . the spanish proverb is , he that hath lost his renown , is dead in the world . the english is , he who hath an ill name is half hanged . see l'e●ymòlogie des proverbes francois . l. . c. . quo semel est imbu●a re●ens servabit odarem testa 〈◊〉 . * it is the custome of the shepherds of that province in france so to mark their sheep , therefore if in brabling or otherwise one hath received a blow on the nose and it appears , the● men merrily say so . see l' e●imologie des proverbe francois . l. . c. . * they speak merrily of a fa●r . we say , a fooles bol● is s●●n shot . * tollere nodosam niscit medicina podagram . ovidius . * the prince of orange his countryis fertill of all fruits save oranges , whence came this proverb , saith iodo●●● sincerus in his t●i●erarium galli● . * like to this is the spanish proverb , algran arroyo , passar postrero . at a great river one should passe last . multa cadunt inter calicem . supremaque lab●a . * to spue , cast , vomit , ( especially upon excessive drinking ) either because then one makes a noise like a fox which barkes , or because the flaying of so unsavory a beast will make any man vomit . see l'etymologie de● proverbe , francois . l. . c. . beneficium accepisti , libertatem vendid isti , terence . * prov. . . si sapiens stultus , si stultus sapiens . pitissando dolium ex●auritur . terence . semper au●rus eget . * this is spoken of one that hath a great appetite , the second small gut is named , iki●num because it is alwaies void , whence springeth this proverb . me quasi pilam hab●t plautu● . * there i● such store of sheep in that province , that they have this by word when th●y would taxe a fellow for his notable lying , and telling a greater number then the truth . * see l'etymologie des proverbes francois . l. . c. . * sumptuousnesse of apparel destroyes hospitality and good house-keeping . 〈…〉 * such be hectique , paralitique apoplectique , lathargique , because they are hardly or never cured . lex salica gallorum imperii successor masculus esto . * it is spoken of those who in their youth have all prosperity , but in the end sorrow and care . * a charm which they use to hinder a man from accompanying with his wife . est aliquod bonum propter vicinum bonum matrem proles sequitur see i' etymologie des proverbes francois , l. . c. . * like to which is both the latine proverb ; lupus in fabula , see erasm. ad●g . and the arabick , quando mention●m feceris lupi , praepara illi ●aculnm . qui vult ●ucleum , nucem frangat oporte● . ci●ò longè ●ard● . p●r p●ri r●●erre . see of the french proverb , l' ety●●logi● des proverbes francois ▪ l. . c. ● . rem acutetigisti . the cony by reason of his fear is very forgetful , whence came this proverb . that is , to teach or professe no more ▪ cor. ▪ mocking those that eat by the way . outlandish proverbs, selected by mr. g.h. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text s in the english short title catalog (stc ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) outlandish proverbs, selected by mr. g.h. herbert, george, - . [ ] p. printed by t. p[aine] for humphrey blunden; at the castle in corn-hill, london : . g.h. = george herbert. printer's name from stc. signatures: a-d e⁴. the last leaf is blank. also issued as part of: wits recreations: london, . reproduction of the original in the british library. eng proverbs, english -- early works to . aphorisms and apothegms -- early works to . a s (stc ). civilwar no outlandish proverbs, selected by mr. g.h. [no entry] c the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the c category of texts with between and defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion ovtlandish proverbs , selected by mr. g. h. london , printed by t. p. for humphrey blunden ; at the castle in corn-hill . . outlandish proverbs . . man proposeth , god disposeth . . hee begins to die , that quits his desires . . a handfull of good life , is better then a bushell of learning . . he that studies his content , wants it . . every day brings his bread with it . . humble hearts , have humble desires . . hee that stumbles and falles not mends his pace . . the house shewes the owner . . hee that gets out of debt , growes rich . . all is well with him , who is beloved of his neighbours . . building and marrying of children , are great wasters . . a good bargaine is a pick purse . . the scalded dog feares cold water . . pleasing ware , is halfe sould . . light burthens , long borne , growe heavie . . the wolfe knowes , what the ill beast thinkes . who hath none to still him , may weepe out his eyes . . when all sinnes growes old , coveteousnesse is young . if yee would know a knave , give him a staffe . . you cannot know wine by the barrell . . a coole mouth , and warme feet , live long . a horse made , and a man to make . looke not for muske in a dogges kennell . . not a long day , but a good heart rids worke . hee puls with a long rope , that waights for anothers death . . great strokes make not sweete musick . . a caske and an ill custome must be broken . . a fat house-keeper , makes leane executors . . empty chambers , make foolish maides . . the gentle hawke , halfe mans her selfe . . the devill is not alwaies at one doore . . when a friend askes , there is no , to morrow . . god sends cold , according to cloathes . . one sound blow will serve to undo us all . . hee looseth nothing , that looseth not god . . the germans wit , is in his fingers . . at dinner my man appeares . . who gives to all , denies all . . quick beleevers neede broad shoulders . . who remove stones , bruise their fingers . . all came from , and will goe to others . . he that will take the bird , must not skare it . . he lives unsafely , that lookes too neere on things . . a gentle houswife , marres the houshold . . a crooked log makes a strait fire . . he hath great neede of a foole , that plaies the foole himselfe . . a marchant that gaines not , looseth . . let not him that feares feathers , come among wild-soule . . love , and a cough cannot be hid . . a dwarfe , on a gyants shoulder , sees further of the two . hee that sends a foole , means to follow him . . brabling curres never want sore eares . . better the feet flip then the tongue . for washing his hands , none sels his lands . a lyons skin is never cheape . . the goate must browse where she is tyed . who hath a wolfe for his mate , needes a dog for his man . in a good house all is quickly ready . . a bad dog never sees the wolfe . . god oft hath a great share in a little house . . ill ware is never cheape . . a cherefull looke , makes a dish a feast . . if all fooles had bables , wee should want fuell . . vertue never growes old . . evening words are not like to morning . . were there no fooles , badd ware would not passe . . never had ill workeman good tooles . . hee stands not surely , that never slips . . were there no hearers , there would be no backbiters . . every thing is of use to a houskeeper . . when prayers are done , my lady is ready . . at length the fox turnes monk . . flies are busiest about leane horses . . harken to reason or shee will bee heard . . the bird loves her nest . . every thing new , is fine . . when a dog is a drowning , every one offers him drink . . better a bare foote then none . . who is so deafe , as he that will not heare . . he that is warme , thinkes all so . . at length the fox is brought to the furrier . . hee that goes bare foot , must not plant thornes . . they that are booted are not alwaies ready . . he that will learne to pray , let him goe to sea . . in spending , lies the advantage . . hee that lives well is learned enough . . ill vessells seldome miscarry . . a full belly neither fights nor flies well . . all truths are not to be told . . an old wise mans shaddow , is better then a young buzzards sword . . noble houskeepers neede no dores . . every ill man hath his ill day . . sleepe without supping , and wake without owing . . i gave the mouse a hole , and she is become my heire . . assaile who will , the valiant attends . . whether goest griefe ? where i am wont . . praise day at night , and life at the end . . whether shall the oxe goe , where he shall not labour . . where you thinke there is bacon , there is no chimney . . mend your cloathes , and you may hold out this yeare . . presse a stick , and it seemes a youth . . the tongue walkes where the teeth speede not . . a faire wife and a frontire castle breede quarrels , . leave jesting whiles it pleaseth , lest it turne to earnest . . deceive not thy physitian , confessor , nor lawyer . . ill natures , the more you aske them , the more they stick . . vertue and a trade are the best portion for children . . the chicken is the countries , but the citie eateth it . . he that gives thee a capon , give him the leg and the wing . . hee that lives ill , feare followes him . . give a clowne your finger , and he will take your hand . . good is to bee sought out , and evill attended . . a good pay-master starts not at assurances . . no alchymy to saving . . to a grate full man give mony when he askes . . who would doe ill ne're wants occasion . . to fine folkes a little ill finely wrapt . . a child correct behind and not before . . to a faire day open the window , but make you ready as to a foule . . keepe good men company , and you shall be of the number . . no love to a fathers . . the mill gets by going . . to a boyling pot flies come not . . make hast to an ill way that you may get out of it . . a snow yeare , a rich yeare . . better to be blinde , then to see ill . . learne weeping , and thou shalt laugh gayning . . who hath no more bread then neede , must not keepe a dog . . a garden must be lookt unto and drest as the body . . the fox , when hee cannot reach the grapes , saies they are not ripe . . water trotted is as good as oates . . though the mastiffe be gentle , yet bite him not by the lippe . . though a lie be well drest , it is ever overcome . . though old and wise , yet still advise . . three helping one another , beare the burthen of sixe . . old wine , and an old friend , are good provisions . . happie is hee that chastens himselfe . . well may hee smell fire , whose gowne burnes . . the wrongs of a husband or master are not reproached . welcome evill , if thou commest alone . . love your neighbour , yet pull not downe y●ur hedge . . the bit that one eates , no friend makes . . a drunkards purse is a bottle . . shee spins well that breedes her children . . good is the mora that makes all sure . . play with a foole at home , and he will play with you in the market . ▪ every one stretcheth his legges according to his coverlet . . autumnall agues are long , or mortall . marry your sonne when you will ; your daughter when you can . . dally not with mony or women . . men speake of the faire , as things went with them there . . the best remedy against an ill man , is much ground betweene both . . the mill cannot grind with the water that 's past . . corne is cleaned with winde , and the soule with chastnings . good words are worth much , and cost little . . to buy deare is not bounty . . jest not with the eye or with religion . the eye and religion can beare no jesting . . without favour none will know you , and with it you will not know your selfe . . buy at a faire , but sell at home . . cover your selfe with your shield , and care not for cryes . . a wicked mans gift hath a touch of his master . . none is a foole alwaies , every one sometimes . . from a chollerick man withdraw a little , from him that saies nothing , for ever . . debters are lyers . . of all smells , bread : of all tasts , salt . . in a great river great fish are found , but take heede , left you bee drowned . . ever since we weare cloathes , we know not one another . . god heales , and the physitian hath the thankes . . hell is full of good meanings and wishings . . take heede of still waters , the quick passe away . . after the house is finisht , leave it . . our owne actions are our security , not others judgements . . thinke of ease , but worke on . . hee that lies long a bed his estate feeles it . . whether you boyle snow or pound it , you can have but water of it . . one stroke fells not an oke . . god complaines not , but doth what is fitting . . a diligent scholler and the master 's paid . . milke saies to wine , welcome friend . . they that i now one another , salute a farre off . . where there is no honour , there is no griefe . . where the drink goes in , there the wit goes out . . he that staies does the businesse . almes never make poore others . . great almes-giving lessens no mans living . . giving much to the poore , doth inrich a mans store . . it takes much from the account , to which his sin doth amount . . it adds to the glory both of soule and body . . ill comes in by ells , and goes out by inches . . the smith and his penny both are black . . whose house is of glasse , must not throw stones at another . . if the old dog barke he gives counsell . the tree that growes slowly , keepes it selfe for another . . i wept when i was borne , and every day shewes why . . hee that lookes not before , finds himselfe behind . . he that plaies his mony ought not to value it . . he that riseth first , is first drest . diseases of the eye are to bee cured with the elbow . . the hole calls the thiefe . . a gentlemans grayhound , and a salt-box ; seeke them at the fire . . a childs service is little , yet hee is no little foole that despiseth it . . the river past , and god forgotten . . evils have their comfort , good none can support ( to wit ) with a moderate and contented heart . . who must account for himselfe and others , must know both . . hee that eats the hard shall eate the ripe . . the miserable man makes a peny of a farthing , and the liberall of a farthing sixe pence . . the honey is sweet , but the bee stings . . waight and measure take away strife . . the sonne full and tattered , the daughter empty and fine . . every path hath a puddle . . in good yeares corne is hay , in ill yeares straw is corne . . send a wise man on an errand , and say nothing unto him . . in life you lov'd me not , in death you bewaile me . . into a mouth shut , flies flie not . . the hearts letter is read in the eyes . the ill that comes out of our mouth falles into our bosome . . in great pedigrees there are governours and chandlers . . in the house of a fidler , all fiddle . . sometimes the best gaine is to lose . . working and making a fire doth discretion require . . one graine fills not a sacke , but helpes his fellowes . . it is a great victory that comes without blood . . in war , hunting , and love , men for one pleasure a thousand griefes prove . . reckon right , and february hath one and thirty daies . . honour without profit is a ring on the finger . . estate in two parishes is bread in two wallets . . honour and profit lie not in one sacke . . a naughty child is better sick , then whole . . truth and oyle are ever above . . he that riseth betimes hath some thing in his head . . advise none to marry or to goe to warre . . to steale the hog , and give the feet for almes . . the thorne comes forth with his point forwards . . one hand washeth another , and both the face . . the fault of the horse is put on the saddle . . the corne hides it self in the snow , as an old man in furrs . . the jewes spend at easter , the mores at marriages , the christians in sutes . . fine dressing is a foule house swept before the doores . . a woman and a glasse are ever in danger . . an ill wound is cured , not an ill name . . the wise hand doth not all that the foolish mouth speakes . . on painting and fighting looke aloofe . . knowledge is folly , except grace guide it . . punishment is lame , but it comes . . the more women looke in their glasse , the lesse they looke to their house . . a long tongue is a signe of a short hand . . marry a widdow before she leave mourning . . the worst of law is , that one suit breedes twenty . . providence is better then a rent . . what your glasse telles you , will not be told by councell . . there are more men threatned then stricken . . a foole knowes more in his house , then a wise man in anothers . . i had rather ride on an asse that carries me , then a horse that throwes me . , the hard gives more then he that hath nothing . . the beast that goes alwaies never wants blowes . . good cheape is deare . . it costs more to doe ill then to doe well . . good words quench more then a a bucket of water . an ill agreement is better then a good judgement . . there is more talke then trouble . . better spare to have of thine own , then aske of other men . . better good afarre off , then evill at hand . . feare keepes the garden better , then the gardiner ▪ . i had rather aske of my sire browne bread , then borrow of my neighbour white . . your pot broken seemes better then my whole one . . let an ill man lie in thy straw , and he lookes to be thy heire . . by suppers more have beene killed then gallen ever cured . . while the discreet advise the foole doth his busines . . a mountaine and a river are good neighbours . . gossips are frogs , they drinke and talke . . much spends the traveller , more then the abider . . prayers and provender hinder no journey . . a well-bred youth neither speakes of himselfe , nor being spoken to is silent . . a journying woman speakes much of all , and all of her . . the fox knowes much , but more he that catcheth him . . many friends in generall , one in speciall . . the foole askes much , but hee is more foole that grants it . . many kisse the hand , they wish cut off . . neither bribe nor loose thy right . . in the world who knowes not to swimme , goes to the bottome . . chuse not an house neere an inne , ( viz for noise ) or in a corner ( for filth . ) . hee is a foole that thinks not , that another thinks . . neither eyes on letters , nor hands in coffers . . the lyon is not so fierce as they paint him . . goe not for every griefe to the physitian , nor for every quarrell to the lawyer , nor for every thirst to the pot . . good service is a great inchantment . . there would bee no great ones if there were no little ones . . it 's no sure rule to fish with a crosbow . . there were no ill language , if it were not ill taken . . the groundsell speakes not save what it heard at the hinges . . the best mirrour is an old friend . . say no ill of the yeere , till it be past . . a mans discontent is his worst evill . feare nothing but sinne . . the child saies nothing , but what it heard by the fire . . call me not an olive , till thou see me gathered . . that is not good language which all understand not . . hee that burnes his house warmes himselfe for once . . he will burne his house , to warme his hands . . hee will spend a whole yeares rent at one meales meate . . all is not gold that glisters . . a blustering night , a faire day . . bee not idle and you shall not bee longing . . he is not poore that hath little , but he that desireth much . . let none say , i will not drinke water . . hee wrongs not an old-man that steales his supper from him . . the tongue talkes at the heads cost . . hee that strikes with his tongue , must ward with his head . . keep not ill men company , lest you increase the number . . god strikes not with both hands , for to the sea he made havens , and to rivers foords . . a rugged stone growes smooth from hand to hand . . no lock will hold against the power of gold . . the absent partie is still faultie . . peace , and patience , and death with repentance . . if you loose your time , you cannot get mony nor gaine . . bee not a baker , if your head be of butter . . aske much to have a little . . litle stickes kindle the fire ; great ones put it out . . anothers bread costs deare . . although it raine , throw not away thy watering pot . . although the sun shine , leave not thy cloake at home . . a little with quiet is the onely dyet . . in vaine is the mill clacke , if the m●l●er his hearing lack . . by the needle you shall draw the thread , and by that which is past , see how that which is to come will be drawne on . . stay a little and news will find you . . stay till the lame messenger come , if you will know the truth of the thing . . when god will , no winde , but brings raine . . though you rise early , yet the day comes at his time , and not till then . . pull downe your hatt on the winds side . . as the yeere is , your pot must seeth . . since you know all , and i nothing , tell me what i dreamed last night . . when the foxe preacheth , beware geese . . when you are an anvill , hold you still ; when you are a hammer strike your fill . poore and liberall , rich and coveteous . . he that makes his bed ill , lies there . . hee that labours and thrives spins gold . . he that sowes trusts in god . . hee that lies with the dogs , riseth with fleas . . hee that repaires not a part , builds all . . a discontented man knowes not where to sit easie . . who spits against heaven , it falls in his face . . hee that dines and leaves , layes the cloth twice . . who eates his cock alone must saddle his horse alone . . he that is not handsome at , nor strong at , nor rich at , nor wise at will never bee handsome , strong , rich , or wise . . hee that doth what hee will , doth not what he ought . . hee that will deceive the fox , must rise betimes . . he that lives well sees a farre off . . he that hath a mouth of his owne , must not say to another ; blow . . he that will be served must bee patient . . hee that gives thee a bone , would not have thee die . . he that chastens one , chastens . . he that hath lost his credit is dead to the world . . he that hath no ill fortune , is troubled with good . . hee that demands misseth not , unlesse his demands be foolish . . he that hath no hony in his pot , let him have it in his mouth . . he that takes not up a pin , slights his wife . . he that owes nothing , if he makes not mouthes at us , is courteous . . hee that looseth his due , gets not thankes . . hee that beleeveth all , misseth , hee that beleeveth nothing , hitts not . . pardons and pleasantnesse are great revenges of slanders . . a married man turnes his staffe into a stake . . if you would know secrets , looke them in griefe or pleasure . . serve a noble disposition , though poore , the time comes that hee will repa● thee . . the fault is as great as hee that 〈◊〉 faulty . . if folly were griefe every hous● would weepe . hee that would bee well old , mu●● bee old betimes . . sit in your place and none ca● make you rise . . if you could runne , as you drinke you might catch a hare . . would you know what mony i● go borrow some . . the morning sunne never lasts 〈◊〉 day . . thou hast death in thy house , an● dost bew aile anothers . . all griefes with bread are lesse . . all things require skill , but an appe●tite . . all things have their place , kne● wee , how to place them . . little pitchers have wide eares . . we are fooles one to another . . this world is nothing except tend to another . . there are three waies , the vniver●●ties , the sea , the court . . god comes to see without a bell . . life without a friend is death with●ut a witnesse . . cloath thee in war , arme thee in ●eace . . the horse thinkes one thing , and he ●hat sadles him another . . mills and w●ves ever want . . the dog that licks ashes , trust not with meale . . the buyer needes a hundred eyes , the seller not one . . he carries well , to whom it waighes ●ot . . the comforters head never akes . . step after step the ladder is ascen●ed . . who likes not the drinke , god de●rives him of bread . . to a crazy ship all winds are con●rary . . justice pleaseth few in their owne house . . in times comes he , whom god ●ends . . water a farre off quencheth no● fire . . in sports and journeys men are knowne . . an old friend is a new house . . love is not found in the market . . dry feet , warme head , bring safe to bed . . hee is rich enough that wants nothing . . one father is enough to governe one hundred sons , but not a hundred sons one father . . farre shooting never kild bird . . an upbraided morsell never choaked any . . dearths foreseene come not . . an ill labourer quarrells with his tooles . . hee that falles into the durt , the longer he stayes there , the fowler he is . . he that blames would buy . . he that sings on friday , will weepe on sunday . . the charges of building , and making of gardens are unknowne . . my house , my house , though thou art small , thou art to me the escuriall . . a hundred loade of thought will not pay one of debts . . hee that comes of a hen must scrape . . he that seekes trouble never misses . . he that once deceives is ever suspected . . being on sea saile , being on land settle . . who doth his owne businesse , foules not his hands . . hee that makes a good warre makes a good peace . . hee that workes after his owne manner , his head akes not at the matter . . who hath bitter in his mouth , spits not all sweet . . he that hath children , all his morsels are not his owne . . he that hath the spice , may season as he list . . he that hath a head of waxe must not walke in the sunne . he that hath love in his brest , hath spurres in his sides . . hee that respects not , is not respected . . hee that hath a fox for his mate , hath neede of a net at his girdle . . he that hath right , feares , he that hath wrong , hopes . . hee that hath patience hath fatt thrushes for a farthing . . never was strumpet faire . . he that measures not himselfe , is measured . . hee that hath one hogge makes him fat , and hee that hath one son makes him a foole . . who letts his wife goe to every feast , and his horse dr●nke at every water , shall neither have good wife nor good horse . . he that speakes sowes , and he that hol●s his peace , gathers . . he that hath little is the lesse durtie . . he that lives most dies most . . he that hath one root in the straw , hath another in the spittle . . hee that 's fed at anothers hand may stay long ere he be full . . hee that makes a thing too fine , breakes it . . hee that bewailes himselfe hath the cure in his hands . . he that would be well , needs not goe from his owne house . . councell breakes not the head . . fly the pleasure that bites to morrow . . hee that knowes what may bee gained in a day never steales . . mony refused looseth its brightnesse . . health and mony goe farre . . where your will is ready , your feete are light . . a great ship askes deepe waters . . woe to the house where there is no chiding . . take heede of the viniger of sweet wine . . fooles bite one another , but wisemen agree together . . trust not one nights ice . . good is good , but better carries it . . to gaine teacheth how to spend . . good finds good . . the dog gnawes the bone because he cannot swallow it . . the crow bewailes the sheepe , and then eates it . building is a sweet impoverishing . . the first degree of folly is to hold ones selfe wise , the second to professe it , the third to dsepise counsell . . the greatest step is that out of doores . . to weepe for joy is a kinde of manna . . the first service a child doth his father is to make him foolish . . the resolved minde hath no cares . . in the kingdome of a cheater , the wallet is carried before . . the eye will have his part . . the good mother sayes not , will you ? but gives . . a house and a woman sute excellently . . in the kingdome of blindmen the one ey'd is king . . a little kitchin makes a large house . . warre makes theeves , and peace hangs them . . poverty is the mother of health . . in the morning mountaines , in the evening fountaines . . the back-doore robs the house . . wealth is like rheume , it falles on the weakest parts . . the gowne is his that weares it ▪ and the world his that enjoyes it . . hope is the poore mans bread . . vertue now is in herbs and stones and words onely . . fine words dresse ill deedes . . labour as long liu'd , pray as even dying . . a poore beauty finds more lovers then husbands . . discreet women have neither eyes nor eares . . things well fitted abide . . prettinesse dies first . . talking payes no toll . . the masters eye fattens the horse , and his foote the ground . . disgraces are like cherries , one drawes another . . praise a hill , but keepe below . . praise the sea , but keepe on land . . in chusing a wife , and buying a sword , we ought not to trust another . . the wearer knowes , where the shoe wrings . . faire is not faire , but that which pleaseth . . there is no jollitie but hath a smack of folly . . he that 's long a giving , knowes not how to give . . the filth under the white snow , the sunne discovers . . every one fastens where there is gaine . . all feete tread not in one shoe . . patience , time and money accommodate all things . . for want of a naile the shoe is lost , for want of a shoe the horse is lost , for want of a horse the rider is lost . . weigh justly and sell dearely . . little wealth little care . . little journeys and good cost , bring safe home . . gluttony kills more then the sword . . when childten stand quiet , they have done some ill . . a little and good fills the trencher . . a penny spar'd is twice got . . when a knave is in a plumtree he hath neither friend nor kin . . short boughs , long vintage . . health without money , is halfe an ague . . if the wise erred not , it would goe hard with fooles . . beare with evill , and expect good . . he that tells a secret , is anothers servant . . if all fooles wore white caps , wee should seeme a flock of geese . . water , fire , and souldiers , quickly make roome . . pension never inriched young man . . vnder water , famine , under snow bread . . the lame goes as farre as your staggerer . . he that looseth is marchant as well as he that gaines . . a jade eates as much as a good horse . . all things in their beeing are good for something . . one flower makes no garland . . a faire death honours the whole life . . one enemy is too much . . living well is the best revenge . . one foole makes a hundred . . one paire of eares drawes dry a hundred tongues . . a foole may throw a stone into a well , which a hundred wise men cannot pull out . . one slumber finds another . . on a good bargaine thinke twice . . to a good spender god is the treasurer . . a curst cow hath short hornes ▪ . musick helps not the tooth-ach . . we cannot come to honour under coverlet . . great paines quickly find ease . . to the counsell of f●●●les a woodden bell . . the cholerick man never wants woe . . helpe thy selfe , and god will helpe thee . . at the games end we shall see who gaines . . there are many waies to fame . . love is the true price of love . . love rules his kingdome without a sword . . love makes all hard hearts gentle . . love makes a good eye squint . . love askes faith , and faith firmenesse . . a scepter is one thing , and a ladle another . . great trees are good for nothing but shade . . hee commands enough that obeyes a wise man . . faire words makes mee looke to my purse . . though the fox run , the chicken hath wings . . he plaies well that winnes . . you must strike in measure , when there are many to strike on one anvile . . the shortest answer is doing . . it 's a poore stake that cannot stand one yeare in the ground . . he that commits a fault , thinkes every one speakes of it . . he that 's foolish in the fault , let him be wise in the punishment . . the blind eate many a flie . . he that can make a fire well , can end a quarrell . the tooth-ach is more ease , then to deale with ill people . . hee that should have what hee hath not , should doe what he doth not . . he that hath no good trade , it is to his losse . . the offender never pardons . . he that lives not well one yeare , sorrowes seven after . . he that hopes not for good , feares not evill . . he that is angry at a feast is rude . . he that mockes a cripple , ought to be whole . . when the tree is fallen , all goe with their hatchet . . he that hath hornes in his bosom , let him not put them on his head . . he that burnes most shines most . . he that trusts in a lie , shall perish in truth . . hee that blowes in the dust fills his eyes with it . . bells call others , but themselves enter not into the church . . of faire things , the autumne is faire . . giving is dead , restoring very sicke . . a gift much expected is paid , not given . . two ill meales make the third a glutton . . the royall crowne cures not the head-ach . . 't is hard to be wretched , but worse to be knowne so . a feather in hand is better then a bird in the ayre . . it 's better to be head of a lyzard , then the tayle of a lyon . good & quickly seldome meete . . folly growes without watering . . happier are the hands compast with yron , then a heart with thoughts . if the staffe be crooked , the shaddow cannot be straight . . to take the nuts from the fire with the dogges foot . . he is a foole that makes a wedge of his fist . . valour that parlies , is neare yeelding . . thursday come , and the week's gone . . a flatterers throat is an open sepulcher . . there is great force hidden in a sweet command . . the command of custome is great . . to have money is a feare , not to have it a griefe . . the catt sees not the mouse ever . . little dogs start the hare , the great get her . . willowes are weake , yet they bind other wood . . a good prayer is master of anothers purse . . the thread breakes , where it is weakest . . old men , when they scorne young make much of death . . god is at the end , when we thinke he is furthest off it . . a good judge conceives quickly , judges slowly . . rivers neede a spring . . he that contemplates , hath a day without night . . give loosers leave to talke . . losse embraceth shame . . gaming , women , and wine , while they laugh they make men pine . . the fatt man knoweth not , what the leane thinketh . . wood halfe burnt is easily kindled . . the fish adores the bait . . he that goeth farre hath many encounters . . every bees hony is sweet . . the slothfull is the servant of the counters . . wisedome hath one foot on land , and another on sea . . the thought hath good leggs , and the quill a good tongue . . a wise man needes not blush for changing his purpose . . the march sunne raises but dissolves not . time is the rider that breakes youth . . the wine in the bottell doth not quench thirst . . the sight of a man hath the force of a lyon . . an examin'd enterprize , goes on boldly . . in every art it is good to have a master . . in every country dogges bite . . in every countrey the sun rises in the morning . . a noble plant suites not with a stubborne ground . . you may bring a horse to the river , but he will drinke when and what he pleaseth . . before you make a friend , eate a bushell of salt with him . . speake fitly , or be silent wisely . . skill and confidence are an unconquered army . . i was taken by a morsell , saies the fish . . a disarmed peace is weake . . the ballance distinguisheth not betweene gold and lead . . the perswasion of the fortunate swaies the doubtfull . . to bee beloved is above all bargaines . . to deceive ones selfe is very easie . . the reasons of the poore weigh not . . perversnes makes one squint ey'd . . the evening praises the day , and the morning a frost . . the table robbes more then a thiefe . . when age is jocond it makes sport for death . . true praise rootes and spreedes . . feares are divided in the midst . . the soule needes few things , the body many . . astrologie is true , but the astrologers cannot finde it . . ty it well , and let it goe . . emptie vessels sound most . . send not a catt for lard . . foolish tongues talke by the dozen . . love makes one fitt for any work . . a pittifull mother makes a scald head . . an old physitian , and a young lawyer . . talke much and erre much , saies the spanyard . . some make a conscience of spitting in the church , yet robbe the altar . . an idle head is a boxe for the winde . . shew me a lyer , and i le shew thee a theefe . . a beane in liberty , is better then a comfit in prison . . none is borne master . . shew a good man his errour and he turnes it to a vertue , but an ill , it doubles his fault . . none is offended but by himselfe . . none saies his garner is full . . in the husband , wisedome , in the wife gentlenesse . . nothing dries sooner then a teare . . in a leopard the spotts are not observed . . nothing lasts but the church . . a wise man cares not for what he cannot have . . it 's not good fishing before the net . . he cannot be vertuous that is not rigorous . . that which will not be spun , let it not come betweene the spindle and the distaffe . . when my house burnes , it 's not good playing at chesse . . no barber shaves so close , but another finds worke . . ther 's no great banquet , but some fares ill . . a holy habit clenseth not a foule soule . . forbeare not sowing , because of birds . . mention not a halter in the house of him that was hanged . . speake not of a dead man at the table . . a hatt is not made for one shower . . no sooner is a temple built to god but the devill builds a chappell hard by . . every one puts his fault on the times . . you cannot make a wind-mill goe with a paire of bellowes . . pardon all but thy selfe . . every one is weary , the poore in seeking , the rich in keeping , the good in learning . . the escaped mouse ever feeles the taste of the bait . . a litle wind kindles ; much puts out the fire . . dry bread at home is better then rost meate abroad . . more have repented speech then silence . . the coveteous spends more then the liberall . . divine ashes are better then earthly meale . . beauty drawes more then oxen . . one father is more then a hundred schoolemasters . . one eye of the masters sees more , then ten of the servants . . when god will punish , hee will first take away the understanding . . a little labour , much health . . when it thunders , the theefe becomes honest . . the tree that god plants , no winde hurts it . . knowledge is no burthen . . it 's a bold mouse that nestles in the catts eare . . long jesting was never good . . if a good man thrive , all thrive with him . . if the mother had not beene in the oven , shee had never sought her daughter there . if great men would have care of little ones , both would last long . . though you see a church-man ill , yet continue in the church still . . old praise dies , unlesse you feede it . . if things were to be done twice , all would be wise . . had you the world on your chesse-bord , you could not fit all to your mind . . suffer and expect . . if fooles should not foole it , they should loose their season . . love and businesse teach eloquence . . that which two will , takes effect . . he complaines wrongfully on the sea that twice suffers shipwrack . . he is onely bright that shines by himselfe . . a valiant mans looke is more then a cowards sword . . the effect speakes , the tongue needes not . . divine grace was never slow . . reason lies betweene the spurre and the bridle . . it 's a proud horse that will not carry his owne provender . . three women make a market . . three can hold their peace , if two be away . . it 's an ill councell that hath no escape . . all our pompe the earth covers . . to whirle the eyes too much shewes a kites braine . . comparisons are odious . . all keyes hang not on one girdle . great businesses turne on a little pinne . . the wind in ones face makes one wise . . all the armes of england will not arme feare . . one sword keepes another in the sheath . . be what thou wouldst seeme to be . . let all live as they would die . . a gentle heart is tyed with an easie thread . sweet discourse makes short daies and nights . . god provides for him that trusteth . . he that will not have peace , god gives him warre . . to him that will , wales are not wanting . . to a great night a great lanthorne . . to a child all weather is cold . . where there is peace , god is . . none is so wise , but the foole overtakes him . . fooles give , to please all , but their owne . . prosperity lets goe the bridle . . the frier preached against stealing , and had a goose in his sleeve . . to be too busie gets contempt . . february makes a bridge and march breakes it . . a horse stumbles that hath foure legges . . the best smell is bread , the best savour , salt , the best love that of children . . that 's the best gowne that goes up and downe the house . . the market is the best garden . . the first dish pleaseth all . . the higher the ape goes , the more he shewes his taile . . night is the mother of councels . . gods mill grinds slow , but sure . . every one thinkes his sacke heaviest . . drought never brought dearth . . all complaine . . gamsters and race-horses never last long . . it 's a poore sport that 's nor worth the candle . . he that is fallen cannot helpe him that is downe . . every one is witty for his owne purpose . . a little lett lets an ill workeman . . good workemen are seldome rich . . by doing nothing we learne to do ill . . a great dowry is a bed full of brables . no profit to honour , no honour to religion . . every sin brings it's punishment with it . . of him that speakes ill , consider the life more then the words . . you cannot hide an eele in a sacke . . give not s. peter so much , to leave saint paul nothing . . you cannot flea a stone . . the chiefe disease that raignes this yeare is folly . . a sleepy master makes his servant a lowt . . better speake truth rudely , then lye covertly . . he that feares leaves , let him not goe into the wood . one foote is better then two crutches . . better suffer ill , then doe ill . . neither praise nor dispraise thy selfe , thy actions serve the turne . . soft and faire goes farre . . the constancy of the benefit of the yeere in their seasons , argues a deity . . praise none to much , for all are fickle . . it 's absurd to warme one in his armour . . law sutes consume time , and mony , and rest , and friends . . nature drawes more then ten teemes . . hee that hath a wife and children wants not businesse . . a shippe and a woman are ever repairing . . he that feares death lives not . . he that pitties another , remembers himselfe . . he that doth what he should not , shall feele what he would not . . hee that marries for wealth sells his liberty . . he that once hitts , is ever bending . . he that serves , must serve . . he that lends , gives . . he that preacheth giveth almes . . he that cockers his child , provides for his enemie . . a pittifull looke askes enough . . who will sell the cow , must say the word . . service is no inheritance . . the faulty stands on his guard . . a kinsman , a friend , or whom you intreate , take not to serve you , if you will be served neately . . at court , every one for himselfe . . to a crafty man , a crafty and an halfe . . hee that is throwne , would ever wrestle . . he that serves well needes not ask his wages . faire language grates not the tongue . a good heart cannot lye . . good swimmers at length are drowned . good land , evill way . . in doing we learne . . it 's good walking with a horse in ones hand . . god , and parents , and our master , can never be requited . . an ill deede cannot bring honour . . a small heart hath small desires . . all are not merry that dance lightly . . curtesie on one side only lasts not long . wine-counsels seldome prosper . . weening is not measure . . the best of the sport is to doe the deede , and say nothing . . if thou thy selfe canst doe it , attend no others helpe or hand . . of a little thing a little displeaseth . . he warmes too neere that burnes . . god keepe me from foure houses , an vsurers , a taverne , a spittle , and a prison . . in hundred elles of contention , there is not an inch of love . . doe what thou oughtest , and come what come can . . hunger makes dinners , pastime suppers . . in a long journey straw waighs . . women laugh when they can , and weepe when they will . . warre is deaths feast . . set good against evill . . hee that brings good newes knockes hard . . beate the dog before the lyon . . hast comes not alone . . you must loose a flie to catch a trout . . better a snotty child , then his nose wip'd off . . no prison is faire , nor love foule . . hee is not free that drawes his chaine . . hee goes not out of his way , that goes to a good inne . . there come nought out of the sacke but what was there . . a little given seasonably , excuses a great gift . . hee lookes not well to himselfe that lookes not ever . . he thinkes not well , that thinkes not againe . . religion , credit , and the eye are not to be touched . . the tongue is not steele , yet it cuts . . a white wall is the paper of a foole . . they talke of christmas so long , that it comes . . that is gold which is worth gold . . it 's good tying the sack before it be full . . words are women , deedes are men . . poverty is no sinne . . a stone in a well is not lost . . he can give little to his servant , that lickes his knife . . promising is the eve of giving . . hee that keepes his owne makes warre . . the wolfe must dye in his owne skinne . . goods are theirs that enjoy them . . he that sends a foole expects one . . he that can stay obtaines . . hee that gaines well and spends well , needes no count booke . . he that endures , is not overcome . . he that gives all , before hee dies provides to suffer . . he that talkes much of his happinesse summons griefe . . hee that loves the tree , loves the branch ▪ . who hastens a glutton choakes him . . who praiseth saint peter , doth not blame saint paul . . he that hath not the craft , let him shut up shop . . he that knowes nothing , doubts nothing . . greene wood makes a hott fire . . he that marries late , marries ill . . he that passeth a winters day escapes an enemy . . the rich knowes not who is his friend . . a morning sunne , and a wine-bred child , and a latin-bred woman , seldome end well . . to a close shorne sheepe , god gives wind by measure . a pleasure long expected , is deare enough sold . . a poore mans cow dies rich mans child . . the cow knowes not what her taile is worth , till she have lost it . . chuse a horse made , and a wife to make . . it 's an ill aire where wee gaine nothing . . hee hath not liv'd , that lives not after death . . so many men in court and so many strangers . . he quits his place well , that leaves his friend there . . that which sufficeth is not little . . good newes may bee told at any time , but ill in the morning . . hee that would be a gentleman , let him goe to an assault . . who paies the physitian , does the cure . . none knowes the weight of anothers burthen . . every one hath a foole in his sleeve . . one houres sleepe before midnight , is worth three after . . in a retreat the lame are formost . . it 's more paine to doe nothing then something . . amongst good men two men suffice . . there needs a long time to know the worlds pulse . . the ofspring of those that are very young , or very old , lasts not . . a tyrant is most tyrant to himselfe . . too much taking heede is losse . . craft against craft , makes no living . . the reverend are ever before . . france is a meddow that cuts thrice a yeere . . 't is easier to build two chimneys , then to maintaine one . . the court hath no almanack . . he that will enter into paradise , must have a good key . . when you enter into a house , leave the anger ever at the doore . . hee hath no leisure who useth it not . . it 's a wicked thing to make a dearth ones garner . . he that deales in the world needes foure seeves . . take heede of an oxe before , of an horse behind , of a monke on all sides . . the yeare doth nothing else but open and shut . . the ignorant hath an eagles wings , and an owles eyes . . there are more physitians in health then drunkards . . the wife is the key of the house . . the law is not the same at morning and at night . . warre and physicke are governed by the eye . . halfe the world knowes not how the other halfe lies . . death keepes no calender . . ships feare fire more then water . . the least foolish is wise . . the chiefe boxe of health is time . . silkes and satins put out the fire in the chimney . . the first blow is as much as two . . the life of man is a winter way . . the way is an ill neighbour . . an old mans staffe is the rapper of deaths doore . . life is halfe spent before we know , what it is . . the singing man keepes his shop in his throate . . the body is more drest then the soule . . the body is sooner drest then the soule . . the physitian owes all to the patient , but the patient owes nothing to him but a little mony . . the little cannot bee great , unlesse he devoure many . . time undermines us . . the chollerick drinkes , the melancholick eates ; the flegmatick sleepes . . the apothecaries morter spoiles the luters musick . . conversation makes one what he is . . the deafe gaines the injury . . yeeres know more then bookes . . wine is a turne-coate ( first a friend , then an enemy . ) . wine ever paies for his lodging . . wine makes all sorts of creatures at table . . wine that cost nothing is digested before it be drunke . . trees eate but once . . armour is light at table . . good horses make short miles . . castles are forrests of stones . . the dainties of the great , are the teares of the poore . . parsons are soules waggoners . . children when they are little make parents fooles , when they are great they make them mad . the mr. absent , and the house dead . . dogs are fine in the field . sinnes are not knowne till they bee acted . . thornes whiten yet doe nothing ▪ . all are presumed good , till they are found in a fault . . the great put the little on the hooke . . the great would have none great and the little all little . the italians are wise before the deede , the germanes in the deede , the french after the deede . . every mile is two in winter . . spectacles are deaths harquebuzo . . lawyers houses are built on the heads of fooles . . the house is a fine house , when good folke are within . . the best bred have the best portion . . the first and last frosts are the worst . . gifts enter every where without a wimble . . princes have no way . . knowledge makes one laugh , but wealth makes one dance . . the citizen is at his businesse before he rise . . the eyes have one language every where . . it is better to have wings then hornes . . better be a foole then a knave . . count not fowre except you have them in a wallett . . to live peaceably with all breedes good blood . . you may be on land , yet not in a garden . . you cannot make the fire so low but it will get out . . wee know not who lives or dies . . an oxe is taken by the horns , and a man by the tongue . . manie things are lost for want of asking . . no church-yard is so handsom , that a man would desire straight to bee buried there . . citties are taken by the eares . . once a yeare a man may say ▪ on his conscience . . wee leave more to do when wee dye , then wee have done . . with customes wee live well , but lawes undoe us . . to speake of an vsurrer at the table marres the wine . . paines to get , care to keep , feare to lose . . for a morning raine leave not your journey . . one faire day in winter makes not birds merrie . . hee that learnes a trade hath a purchase made . . when all men have , what belongs to them , it cannot bee much . . though god take the sunne out of the heaven yet we must have patience . . when a man sleepes , his head is in his stomach . . when one is on horsebacke hee knowes all things . . when god is made master of a family , he orders the disorderly . . when a lackey comes to hells doore the devills locke the gates . . he that is at ease , seekes dainties . . hee that hath charge of soules , transports them not in bundles . . hee that tells his wife newes is but newly married . . hee that is in a towne in may , loseth his spring . . hee that is in a taverne , thinkes he is in a vine-garden . . he that praiseth himselfe , spartereth himselfe . . hee that is a master must serve ( another . ) . he that is surprized with the first frost , feeles it all the winter after . . hee a beast doth die , that hath done no good to his country . . he that followes the lord hopes to goe before . . he that dies without the company of good men , puts not himselfe into a good way . who hath no head , needes no hatt . . who hath no hast in his businesse , mountaines to him seeme valleys . . speake not of my debts , unlesse you meane to pay them . . he that is not in the warres is not out of danger . . he that gives me small gifts , would have me live . . he that is his owne counsellor , knowes nothing sure but what hee hath laid out . . he that hath lands hath quarrells . . hee that goes to bed thirsty , riseth healthy . . who will make a doore of gold must knock a naile every day . . a trade is better then service . . hee that lives in hope danceth without musick . . to review ones store is to mow twice . . saint luke was a saint and a physitian , yet is dead . . without businesse debauchery . . without danger we cannot get beyond danger . . health and sicknesse surely are mens double enemies . . if gold knew what gold is , gold would get gold i wis . . little losses amaze , great , tame . chuse none for thy servant , who have served thy betters . . service without reward is punishment . . if the husband be not at home , there is nobodie . . an oath that is not to bee made , is not to be kept . . the eye is bigger then the belly . . if you would bee at ease , all the world is not . . were it not for the bone in the legge , all the world would turne carpenters ( to make them crutches . ) . if you must flie , flie well . . all that shakes falles not . . all beasts of prey , are strong or treacherous . . if the braine sowes not corne , it plants thistles . . a man well mounted , is ever cholerick . . every one is a master and servant . . a piece of a churchyard fitts every body . . one month doth nothing without another . . a master of straw eates a servant of steele . . an old cat sports not with 〈◊〉 prey . a woman conceales what shee knowes not . . hee that wipes the childs nose , kisseth the mothers cheeke . finis .