VV. .<& lt)Un 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, 
 
 Class 
 
<fatlB ffinglisi) Sramatis'ts 
 
 THE PROVERBS 
 EPIGRAMS AND 
 MISCELLANIES OF 
 JOHN HEYWOOD 
 
jBarlj) iSngli^f) IBramatt^ts; 
 
 The 
 
 Proverbs^ Epigrams^ and 
 Miscellanies of 
 
 JOHN HEYWOOD 
 
 COMPRISING 
 
 A Dialogue of the Effectual Proverbs in the English 
 Tongue concerning Marriages — First Hundred Epi- 
 grams — Three Hundred Epigrams on Three Hundred 
 Proverbs — The Fifth Hundred Epigrams — A Sixth 
 Hundred Epigrams — Miscellanies — Ballads — Note- Book 
 and Word- List 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 JOHN S. FARMER 
 
 Hontron 
 
 Privately Printed for Subscribers by the 
 
 Early English Drama Society, i8 Bury Street 
 
 Bloomsbury, W.C. 
 
 MCMVI 
 
 I tfWIVERSITV I 
 

 CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 A Dialogue of the Effectual Proverbs in the 
 English Tongue concerning Marriages : 
 
 Part I., Chapters I. -XIII i 
 
 Part II., Chapters I. -XI 51 
 
 The First Hundred Epigrams 105 
 
 Three Hundred Epigrams upon Three Hundred 
 
 Proverbs 155 
 
 The Fifth Hundred Epigrams 229 
 
 A Sixth Hundred Epigrams 265 
 
 A Description of a Most Noble Lady .... 299 
 
 A Ballad of the Green Willow 303 
 
 A Ballad against Slander and Detraction . . . 305 
 
 A Brief Ballet touching the Traitorous taking 
 
 OF Scarborough Castle 311 
 
 A Ballad of the Marriage between our 
 
 Sovereign Lord and our Sovereign Lady . 315 
 
 A Note-Book, Word-List, and Index to Pro- 
 verbs and Colloquialisms 319 
 
^ ^ trialogue contcgngng tfte 
 
 numtcr i3( ti)e cff^ctuall prouertcs in 
 
 t|)e iSnglifl)e tounge, compact in 
 
 a matter coiuerngnge 
 
 ttoo maner of ma::: 
 
 rgagcgi. 
 
 5l2aiti) one ijunirretr of (Spigrammes; : anin 
 
 t\)xtt |)untrretr of (Spigrammeis 
 
 bpon ti)xtt f)untrreir pro=: 
 
 utxht^ : antr a fiftJ) 
 
 t)uni)ireir of ©:= 
 
 pigram^* 
 
 ffiSSfterebnto are noto nctolg atitreir 
 
 a fgxt Ijuniireti of ^pigramis 
 
 1)8 tlje fagtre Joijn 
 
 f^ejjtoootJ- 
 
 L O N D I N I. 
 
 ANNO chrifti. 
 
 1562. 
 
 HEY. II. B 
 

 "/v-r^^ cH 
 

 A DIALOGUE 
 
 CONTAINING THE NUMBER OF THE EFFECTUAL PROVERBS 
 IN THE ENGLISH TONGUE 
 
 PART I. THE PREFACE 
 
 Among other thing's profiting in our tongue — 
 Those which much may profit both old and 
 
 young, 
 Such as on their fruit will feed or take hold — • 
 Are our common plain pithy proverbs old. 
 Some sense of some of which, being bare and 
 
 rude, 
 Yet to fine and fruitful effect they allude. 
 And their sentences include so large a reach. 
 That almost in all things good lessons they 
 
 teach. [why ? 
 
 This write I, not to teach, but to touch : for 
 Men know this as well or better than I. 
 But this, and this rest, I write for this, 
 Rememb'ring and considering what the pith 
 
 is : 
 That, by remembrance of these, proverbs may 
 
 grow. 
 In this tale, erst talked with a friend, I show 
 As many of them as we could fitly find 
 Falling to purpose, that might fall in mind ; 
 To th 'intent that the reader readily may 
 Find them, and mind them, when he will 
 
 alway. 
 
 Finis. 
 
 B 2 
 
 Q 1 
 
4 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. I. 
 
 Chapter I. 
 
 Of mine acquaintance a certain young man 
 (Being a resorter to me now and thanj 
 Resorted lately, showing- himself to be 
 Desirous to talk at length alone with me. 
 And, as we for this a meet place had won, 
 With this old proverb this young man begun. 
 Whoso that knew what would be dear, 
 Should need he a merchant hut one year. 
 Though it, (quoth he), thing impossible be 
 The full sequel of present things to foresee, 
 Yet doth this proverb provoke every man 
 Politically, (as man possible can), 
 In things to come after to cast eye before. 
 To cast out, or keep in, things for fore store; 
 As the provision may seerh most profitable. 
 And the commodity most commendable. 
 Into this consideration I am wrought 
 By two things, which fortune to hands hath 
 
 brought. 
 Two women I know, of which twain the tone 
 Is a maid of flowering age, a goodly one; 
 Th 'other a widow, who so many years bears, 
 That all her whiteness lieth in her white hairs. 
 This maid hath friends rich, but riches hath 
 
 she none, 
 Nor none can her hands get to live upon. 
 This widow is very rich, and her friends bare, 
 And both these, for love, to wed with me fond 
 
 are. [worse ; 
 
 And both would I wed, the better and the 
 The tone for her person, the tother for her 
 
 purse. [woo. 
 
 They woo not my substance, but myself they 
 Goods have I none and small good can I do. 
 
Proverbs, Pt I., Ch. II. 5 
 
 On this poor maid, her rich friends, I clearly 
 
 know, [bestow, 
 
 (So she wed where they will), great gifts will 
 But with them all I am so far from faver, 
 That she shall sure have no groat, if I have 
 
 her. [swear, 
 
 And I shall have as little, all my friends 
 Except I follow them, to wed elsewhere. 
 The poor friends of this rich widow bear no 
 
 sway, ■ . 
 
 But wed her and win wealth, when I will I may. 
 Now which of these twain is like to be dearest? 
 In pain or pleasure to stick to me nearest? 
 The depth of all doubts with you to confither. 
 The sense of the said proverb sendeth me 
 
 hither, [scan'd. 
 
 The best bargain of both quickly to have 
 For one of them, think I, to make out of hand. 
 
 Chapter II. 
 
 Friend, (quoth I), welcome ! and with right 
 
 good will, 
 I will, as I can, your will herein fulfil. 
 And two things I see in you, that show you 
 
 wise. 
 First, in w^eddlng, ere ye wed to ask advice. 
 The second, your years being young it appears. 
 Ye regard yet good proverbs of old feme years. 
 And, as ye ground your tale upon one of them, 
 Furnish we this tale with everychone of them. 
 Such as may fitly fall in mind to dispose. 
 Agreed, (quoth he). Then, (quoth I), first this 
 
 disclose — [maid. 
 
 Have you to this old widow, or this young 
 Any words of assurance ere this time said? 
 
6 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. II. 
 
 Nay, in good faith ! said he. Well then, (said 
 
 I will be plain with you, and may honestly 
 And plainly too speak : I like you, (as I said). 
 In two foretold things ; but a third have I 
 
 weighed 
 Not so much to be liked, as I can deem ; 
 Which is, in your wedding, your haste so 
 
 extreme. 
 The best or worst thing to man, for this life. 
 Is good or ill choosing his good or ill wife. 
 I mean not only of body good or bad, 
 But of all things meet or unmeet to be had ; 
 Such as at any time by any mean may. 
 Between man and wife, love increase or decay. 
 Where this ground in any head gravely 
 
 grateth. 
 All fiery haste to wed, it soon rebateth. 
 Some things that provoke young men to wed 
 
 in haste. 
 Show, after wedding, that haste maketh waste. 
 When time hath turned ivhite sugar to white 
 
 salt, [inalt. 
 
 Then such folk see, soft fire maketh s'ujeet 
 And that deliberation doth men assist. 
 Before they wed, to heivare of Had I ivist. 
 And then, their timely wedding doth clear 
 
 appear 
 That they were early up, and never the near. 
 And once their hasty heat a little controlled. 
 Then perceive they well, hot love soon cold. 
 And when hasty witless mirth is mated weele, 
 Good to he merry and iinse, they think and 
 
 feel. 
 Haste in wedding some man thinketh his own 
 avail. 
 
Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. II. 7 
 
 When haste proveth a rod made for his own 
 
 tail. 
 And when he is well beaten with his own rod, 
 Then seeth he haste and wisdom things jar 
 
 odd. [need, 
 
 And that in all, or most things, wisht at 
 Most times he seeth, the more haste the less 
 
 speed. [hasty man's foe. 
 
 In less things than wedding haste show'th 
 So that the hasty man never wanteth woe. 
 These sage said saws if ye take so profound, 
 As ye take that by which ye took your ground, 
 Then find ye grounded cause by these now here 
 
 told, 
 In haste to wedding your haste to withhold. 
 And though they seem wives for you never so 
 
 fit, [wit 
 
 Yet let not harmful haste so far outrun your 
 But that ye hark to hear all the whole sum 
 That may please or displease you in time to 
 
 come. [cheap 
 
 Thus, by these lessons, ye may learn good 
 In wedding and all thing to look or ye leap. 
 Ye have even now well overlooked me, (quoth 
 
 he), 
 And leapt very nigh me too. For, I agree 
 That these sage sayings do weightily weigh 
 Against haste in all thing, but I am at bay 
 By other parables, of like weighty weight, 
 Which haste me to wedding, as ye shall hear 
 
 straight. 
 
8 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. III. 
 
 Chapter III. 
 
 He that will not when he may, 
 When he would he shall have nay. 
 Beauty or riches, the tone of the twain 
 Now may I choose, and which me Hst obtain. 
 And if we determine me this maid to take, 
 And then tract of time train her me to forsake, 
 Then my beautiful marriage lieth in the dike ; 
 And never for beauty shall I wed the like. 
 Now if we award me this widow to wed, 
 And that I drive off time, till time she be dead. 
 Then farewell riches, the fat is in the fire, 
 And never shall I to like riches aspire. 
 And, a thousandfold would it grieve me more 
 That she, in my fault, should die one hour 
 
 before [voke. 
 
 Than one minute after ; then haste must pro- 
 When the pig is proffered to hold up the poke. 
 When the sun shineth make hay; which is to 
 
 say, [away. 
 
 Take time when time cometh, lest time steal 
 And one good lesson to this purpose I pike 
 From the smith's forge, when th'iron is hot, 
 
 strike ! [rnan ; 
 
 The sure seaman seeth, the tide tarrieth no 
 And long delays or absence somewhat to scan, 
 Since that, that one will not another will — 
 Delays In wooers must needs their speed spill. 
 And touching absence, the full accompte who 
 
 summeth 
 Shall see, as fast as one goeth another cometh. 
 Time is tickle; and, out of sight, out of mind. 
 Then catch and hold while I may : fast hind, 
 
 fast find. [bleared. 
 
 Blame me not to haste for fear mine eye be 
 
Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. III. 9 
 
 And thereby the fat clean flit from my heard. 
 Where wooers hop in and out, long time may- 
 bring- 
 Him that hoppeth best at last to have the ring. 
 I hopping without for a ring of a rush, 
 And ivhile I at length debate and beat the bush, 
 There shall step in other men and catch the 
 
 birds. 
 And by long time lost in many vain words, 
 Between these two wives make sloth speed 
 
 confound; [ground. 
 
 While, between two stools, my tail go to 
 By this, since we see sloth must breed a scab, 
 Best stick to the tone out of hand, hab or nab. 
 Thus, all your proverbs inveighing against 
 
 haste, [placed. 
 
 Be answered with proverbs plain and promptly 
 Whereby, to purpose all this no further fits, 
 But to show so many heads so many wits. 
 Which show, as surely in all that they all tell, 
 That in my wedding I may even as well 
 Tarry too long, and thereby come too late. 
 As come too soon by haste in any rate. 
 And prove this proverb, as the words thereof 
 
 go- 
 Haste or sloth herein work nother wealth nor 
 Be it far or nigh, wedding is destiny. [woe — 
 And hanging likewise, saith that proverb, said 
 
 I. 
 Then wed or hang, (quoth he), what helpeth in 
 
 the whole, 
 To haste or hang aloof, happy man happy dole. 
 Ye deal this dole, (quoth I), out at a wrong 
 
 diir ; 
 For destiny, in this case doth not so stir 
 Against man's endeavour, but man may direct 
 
10 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. IV. 
 
 His will, for provision to work or neglect. 
 But, to show that quick wedding may bring 
 good speed, [deed. 
 
 Somewhat to purpose your proverbs prove in- 
 Howbeit, whether they counterpoise or out- 
 weigh 
 The proverbs which I before them did lay, 
 The trial thereof we will lay a water 
 Till we try more. For trying of which matter 
 Declare all commodities ye can devise 
 That, by those two weddings, to you can rise. 
 
 Chapter IV. 
 
 I will, (quoth he), in both these cases straight 
 
 show [grow. 
 
 What things, (as I think), to me by them will 
 And, where my love began, there begin will I 
 With this maid, the piece peerless in mine eye ; 
 Whom I so favour, and she so favoureth me, 
 That half a death to us ['tis] asunder to be. 
 Affection, each to other, doth us so move 
 That well nigh, without food, we could live by 
 
 love. [sight, 
 
 For, be I right sad, or right sick, from her 
 Her presence absenteth all maladies quite ; 
 W^hich seen, and that the great ground in 
 
 marriage 
 Standeth upon liking the parties personage. 
 And then of old proverbs, in opening the pack. 
 One sheweth me openly, in love is no lack. 
 No lack of liking, but lack of living 
 May lack in love, (quoth I), and breed ill 
 
 chieving. 
 Well, as to that, (said he), hark this othing : 
 What time I lack not her, I lack nothing. 
 
Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. IV. ii 
 
 But thoug-h we have nought, nor nought we 
 
 can geat, 
 God never sendeth mouth but he sendeth meat; 
 And a hard beginning tnaketh a good ending; 
 In space cometh grace, and this further amend- 
 ing— 
 Seldom cometh the better, and like will to like; 
 God sendeth cold after clothes; and this I pike, 
 She, by lack of substance, seeming- but a 
 
 spark, 
 Steinth yet the stoutest : for a leg of a lark 
 Is better than is the body of a kite; 
 And home is homely though it be poor in sight. 
 These proverbs for this part show such a 
 
 flourish, 
 And then this party doth dehght so nourish ; 
 That much is my bow bent to shoot at these 
 
 marks, [have larks. 
 
 And kill fear : when the sky falleth we shall 
 All perils that fall may, who feareth they fall 
 
 shall, 
 Shall so fear all thing, that he shall let fall all ; 
 And be more fraid than hurt, if the things were 
 
 doone ; [moon; 
 
 Fear may force a man to cast beyond the 
 Who hopeth in God's help, his help cannot 
 
 start : 
 Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. 
 And will may win my heart, herein to consent, 
 To take all things as it cometh, and be content. 
 And here is, (q'he), in marrying of this maid. 
 For courage and commodity all mine aid. 
 Well said, (said I), but awhile keep we in 
 
 quench [wench. 
 
 All this case, as touching this poor young 
 And now declare your whole consideration ; 
 
12 Proverbs, Pt I., Ch. V. 
 
 What manner things draw your imagination 
 Toward your wedding of this widow, rich and 
 
 old? 
 That shall ye, (q'he), out of hand have told. 
 
 Chapter V. 
 
 This widow, being foul, and of favour ill, 
 In good behaviour can very good skill ; 
 Pleasantly spoken, and a very good wit; 
 And, at her table, when we together sit, 
 I am well served — we fare of the best ; 
 The meat good and wholesome, and whole- 
 somely dressed ; [shift — 
 Sweet and soft lodging, and thereof great 
 This felt and seen ; with all implements of 
 
 thrift, [coffers ; 
 
 Of plate and money such cupboards and 
 And that without pain I may win these proffers. 
 Then covetise, bearing Venus 's bargain back, 
 Praising this bargain saith, better leave than 
 
 lack. 
 And greediness, to draw desire to her lore, 
 Saith, that the wise man saith, store is no sore. 
 Who hath many peas may put the mo in the 
 
 pot; [in lot. 
 
 Of two ills, choose the least, while choice lieth 
 Since lack is an ill, as ill as man may have, 
 To provide for the worst, while the best itself 
 
 save. 
 Resty wealth willeth me this widow to win, 
 To let the world wag, and take mine ease in 
 
 mine inn — [chin ; 
 
 He must needs swim, that is hold up by the 
 He laugheth that winneth. And this thread 
 
 finer to spin, 
 
Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. V. 13 
 
 Maister promotion saieth : make this substance 
 
 sure; 
 If riches bring once portly countenance in ure, 
 Then shalt thou rule the roost all round about ; 
 And better to rule, than be ruled by the rout. 
 It is said : he it better, he it worse, 
 Do ye after him that heareth the purse. 
 Thus be I by this once le senior de graunde, 
 Many that commanded me I shall command. 
 And also I shall, to revenge former hurts, 
 Hold their noses to grindstone , and sit on their 
 
 skirts 
 That erst sat on mine. And riches may make 
 Friends many ways. Thus, hetter to give than 
 And, to make carnal appetite content, [take. 
 Reason laboureth will, to win will's consent, 
 To take lack of beauty but as an eye fore, 
 The fair and the foul hy dark are like store; 
 When all candles he out all cats he grey ; 
 All things are then of one colour, as who say. 
 And this proverb saith, for quenching hot 
 
 desire 
 Foul water as soon as fair will quench hot fire. 
 Where gifts be given freely — east, west, north 
 
 or south — 
 No man ought to look a given horse in the 
 
 mouth. [tail — 
 
 And though her mouth he foul she hath a fair 
 I conster this text, as is most my avail. 
 In want of white teeth and yellow hairs to 
 
 behold. 
 She flourisheth in white silver and yellow gold. 
 What though she be toothless, and hald as a 
 
 coot? 
 Her substance is shoot anker, whereat I shoot. 
 Take a pain for a pleasure all wise men can — 
 
V" 
 
 14 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. VI. 
 
 What? hungry dogs will eat dirty puddings, 
 
 man ! 
 And here I conclude, (quoth he), all that I 
 
 know 
 By this old widow, what good to me may grow. 
 
 Chapter VI. 
 
 Ye have, (quoth I), in these conclusions found 
 Sundry things, that very savourly sound; 
 And both these long cases, being well viewed, 
 In one short question we may well include ; 
 Which is : whether best or worse be to be led 
 With riches, without love or beauty, to wed; 
 Or, with beauty without richesse, for love. 
 This question, (quoth he), inquireth all that I 
 
 move. 
 It doth so, (said I), and is neerly couched, 
 But th 'answer will not so briefly be touched; 
 And yourself, to length it, taketh direct trade. 
 For to all reasons that I have yet made, 
 Ye seem more to seek reasons how to contend, 
 Than to the counsel of mine to condescend. 
 And to be plain, as I must with my friend, 
 I perfectly feel, even at my finger's end, 
 So hard is your hand set on your halfpenny, 
 That my reasoning your reason setteth nought 
 But, reason for reason, ye so stiffly lay [by. 
 By proverb for proverb, that with you do 
 
 weigh. 
 That reason only shall herein nought move you 
 To hear more than speak ; wherefore, I will 
 
 prove you 
 With reason, assisted by experience, [hence. 
 Which myself saw, not long since nor far 
 In a matter so like this fashioned in frame 
 
Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. VI. 15 
 
 That none can be liker — it seemeth even the 
 
 same ; 
 And in the same, as yourself shall espy, 
 Each sentence suited with a proverb well nigh ; 
 And, at end of the same, ye shall clearly see 
 How this short question shortly answered may 
 
 be. [prick; 
 
 Yea, marry ! (quoth he) ; now ye shoot nigh the 
 Practise in all, above all toucheth the quick. 
 Proof upon practise, must take hold more sure 
 Than any reasoning- by guess can procure. 
 If ye bring practise in place, without fabling, 
 I will banish both haste and busy babling. 
 And yet, that promise to perform is mickle, 
 For in this case my tongue must oft tickle. 
 Ye know well it is, as telleth us this old tale, 
 Meet that a man be at his own bridal, [were ; 
 If he wive well, (quoth I), meet and good it 
 Or else as good for him another were there. 
 But for this your bridal, I mean not in it 
 That silence shall suspend your speech every 
 
 whit. 
 But in these marriages, which ye here meve, 
 Since this tale containeth the counsel I can 
 
 give, 
 I would see your ears attend with your tongue ; 
 For advice in both these weddings, old and 
 
 young. [to talk, 
 
 In which hearing, time seen when and what 
 When your tongue tickleth, at will let it walk. 
 And in these bridals, to the reasons of ours, 
 Mark mine experience in this case of yours. 
 
i6 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. VII. 
 
 Chapter VII. 
 
 Within few years passed, from London no far 
 way, _ [lay, 
 
 Where I and my wife with our poor household 
 Two young men were abiding ; whom to dis- 
 crive 
 Were I, in portraying persons dead or alive, 
 As cunning and as quick, to touch them at full. 
 As in that feat I am ignorant and dull, 
 Never could I paint their pictures to allow 
 More lively than to paint the picture of you. 
 And as your three persons show one similitude. 
 So show you three one, in all things to be 
 
 viewed. 
 Likewise a widow and a maid there did dwell ; 
 Alike, like the widow and maid ye of tell, 
 The friends of them four, in every degree 
 Standing in state, as the friends of you three. 
 Those two men, each other so hasted or tarried. 
 That those two women on one day they 
 married. [stand, 
 
 Into two houses, which next my house did 
 The one on the right, th 'other on the left hand, 
 Both bridegrooms bade me — I could do none 
 
 other 
 But dine with the tone, and sup with the tother. 
 He that wedded this widow rich and old, 
 And also she, favoured me so that they wold 
 Make me dine or sup once or twice in a week. 
 This poor young man and his make, being to 
 seek [bad, 
 
 As oft where they might eat or drink, I them 
 Were I at home, to such pittance as I had. 
 Which common conference such confidence 
 wrought 
 
Proverbs, Pt I., Ch. VII. 17 
 
 In them to me, that deed, word, ne well nigh 
 
 thought 
 Chanced among them, whatever it were, [ear. 
 But one of the four brought it straight to mine 
 Whereby, between these twain, and their two 
 
 wives, [lives. 
 
 Both for wealth and woe, I knew all their four 
 And since the matter is much intricate. 
 Between side and side, I shall here separate 
 All matters on both sides, and then sequestrate 
 Th'one side, while th'other be full rehearsed, 
 
 in rate. 
 As for your understanding may best stand. 
 And this young poor couple shall come first in 
 
 hand 
 Who, the day of wedding, and after a while. 
 Could not look each on other but they must 
 
 smile ; 
 As a whelp, for wantonness, in and out whips, 
 So played these twain, as merry as three chips. 
 Yea, there was God, (quoth he), when all is 
 
 doone. 
 Abide ! (quoth I), it was yet but honey moon ; 
 The hlack ox had not trod on his nor her foot. 
 But ere this branch of bliss could reach any 
 
 root, 
 The flowers so faded that, in fifteen weeks 
 A man might espy the change in the cheeks. 
 Both of this poor wretch, and his wife, this 
 
 poor wench — [French. 
 
 Their faces told toys, that Tott'n'am was turned 
 And all their light laughing turn'd and trans- 
 lated 
 Into sad sighing ; all mirth was amated. 
 And, one morning timely, he took In hand 
 To make, to my house, a sleeveless errand; 
 
 HEY. II. c 
 
i8 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. VIII. 
 
 Hawking- upon mc, his mind herein to break, 
 Which I would not see till he began to speak, 
 Praying- me to hear him : and I said, I would ; 
 Wherewith this that followeth forthwith he 
 told. 
 
 Chapter VIII. 
 
 I am now driven, (quoth he), for ease of my 
 
 heart 
 To you, to utter part of mine inward smart. 
 And the matter concerneth my wife and me. 
 Whose fathers and mothers long^ since dead 
 
 be; 
 But uncles, with aunts and cousins, have we 
 Divers, rich on both sides ; so that we did see 
 If we had wedded, each where each kindred 
 
 would, 
 Neither of us had lacked either silver or gold. 
 But never could suit, on either side, obtain 
 One penny to the one wedding of us twain. 
 And since our one marrying, or marring day. 
 Where any of them see us, they shrink away. 
 Solemnly swearing-, such as may give ought, 
 While they and we live, of them we get right 
 
 nought. [get, 
 
 Nor nought have we, nor no way ought can we 
 Saving by borrowing till we be in debt 
 So far, that no man any more will us lend ; 
 Whereby, for lack, we both be at our wits' 
 
 end. 
 Whereof, no wonder ; since the end of our 
 
 grood, 
 And beginning of our charge, together stood. 
 But wit is never good till it he bought. 
 Howbeit, when bought, wits to best price Idc 
 
 brought ; 
 
^Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. VIII. 19 
 
 Yet is one good forewit worth two after wits. 
 This payeth me home, lo ! and full mo folly 
 
 hits ; 
 For, had I looked afore, with indifferent eye, 
 Thougfh haste had made me thirst never so dry, 
 Yet to drown this drought, this must I needs 
 
 think : 
 As I ivould needs hrew, so must I needs drink. 
 The drink of my bride cup I should have for- 
 borne, 
 Till temperance had tempered the taste beforne. 
 I see now, and shall see while I am alive. 
 Who weddeth or he be wise shall die or he 
 
 thrive. 
 I sing now in this fact, factus est repente, 
 Now mine eyes be open I do repent me : 
 He that will sell lawn before he can fold it, 
 He shall repent him before he have sold it. 
 Some bargains dear bought, good cheap would 
 
 be sold; 
 No man loveth his fetters, be they made of 
 
 gold; 
 Were I loose from the lovely links of my chain, 
 I would not dance in such fair fetters again. 
 In house to keep household, when folks will 
 
 needs wed, \bed. 
 
 Mo things belong than four bare legs in a 
 I reckoned my wedding a sugar-sweet spice ; 
 But reckoners without their host much reckon 
 
 twice. [twain. 
 
 And, although it were sweet for a week or 
 Sweet meat will have sour sauce, I see now 
 Continual penury, which I must take, [plain. 
 Telleth me : better eye out than ahvay ache. 
 Boldly and blindly I ventured on this ; 
 Howbeit, who so bold as blind Bayard is? 
 
 c 2 
 
20 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. IX. 
 
 And herein, to blame any man, then should I 
 
 rave 
 For I did it myself : and self do, self have. 
 But, a day after fair cometh this remorse 
 For relief : for, thoug"h it be a good horse 
 That never stumhleth, what praise can that 
 
 avouch [touch ? 
 
 To jades that break their necks at first trip or 
 And before this my first foil or breakneck fall, 
 Subtilly like a sheep, thought I, I shall 
 Cut my coat after my cloth when I have her. 
 But now I can smelly nothing hath no savour ; 
 I am taught to know, in more haste than good 
 How Judicare came into the Creed. [speed. 
 
 My careful wife in one corner weepeth in care. 
 And I in another ; the purse is threadbare. 
 This corner of our care, (quoth he), I you tell. 
 To crave therein your comfortable counsel. 
 
 Chapter IX. 
 
 I am sorry, (quoth I), of your poverty; 
 And more sorry that I cannot succour ye ; 
 If ye stir your need mine alms to stir. 
 Then of truth ye beg at a wrong man's dur. 
 There is nothing more vain, as yourself tell can, 
 Than to beg a breech of a bare-arsed man. 
 I come to beg nothing- of you, (quoth he). 
 Save your advice, which may my best way be ; 
 How to win present salve for this present sore. 
 I am like th'ill surg^eon, (said I), without store 
 Of g-ood plasters. Howbeit, such as they are. 
 Ye shall have the best I have. But first declare 
 Where your and your wife's rich kinfolk do 
 dwell. [well, 
 
 Environed about us, (quoth he), which showeth 
 
Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. IX. 21 
 
 The nearer to the church, the farther from God. 
 Most part of them dwell within a thousand rod ; 
 And yet shall we catch a hare with a taher 
 As soon as catch aught of them, and rather. 
 Ye play cole-prophet, (quoth I), who taketh in 
 
 hand 
 To know his answer before he do his errand. 
 What should I to them, (quoth he), fling or flit? 
 An unhidden guest knoweth not where to sit. 
 I am cast at cart's arse, some folk in lack 
 Cannot prease : a broken sleeve holdeth th'arm 
 
 back ; 
 And shame holdeth me back, being thus for- 
 saken. 
 Tush, man ! (quoth I), shame is as it is taken; 
 And shame take him that shame thinketh ye 
 
 think none. 
 Unminded, unmoaned, go make your moan; 
 Till meat fall in your mouth, will ye lie in bed ? 
 Or sit still? nay, he that gapeth till he be fed 
 May fortune to fast and famish for hunger. 
 Set forward, ye shall never labour younger. 
 Well, (quoth he), if I shall needs this viage 
 
 make 
 With as good will as a bear goeth to the 
 
 stake, 
 I will straight weigh anchor, and hoist up sail; 
 And thitherward hie me in haste like a snail; 
 And home again hitherward quick as a bee : 
 Now, for good luck, cast an old shoe after me. 
 And first to mine uncle, brother to my father. 
 By suit I will assay to win some favour. 
 Who brought me up, and till my wedding was 
 
 done 
 Loved me, not as his nephew, but as his son : 
 And his heir had I been, had not this chanced, 
 
22 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. IX. 
 
 Of lands and goods which should me much 
 
 avanced. [bones 
 
 Trudge, (quoth I), to him, and on your mary- 
 Crouch to the ground, and not so oft as once 
 Speak any one word him to contrary. 
 I cannot tell that, (quoth he), by Saint Mary ! 
 One ill word axeth another, as folks spake. 
 Well ! (quoth I), better is to how than break — 
 It hurteth not the tongue to give fair words ; 
 The rough net is not the best catcher of birds. 
 Since ye can nought win, if ye cannot please, 
 Best is to suffer : for of sufferance cometh ease. 
 Cause causeth, (quoth he), and as cause causeth 
 
 me, 
 So will I do : and with this away went he. 
 Yet, whether his wife should go with him or no, 
 He sent her to me to know ere he would go. 
 Whereto I said, I thought best he went alone. 
 And you, (quoth I), to go straight as he is 
 
 gone. 
 Among your kinsfolk likewise, if they dwell 
 
 nigh. 
 Yes, (quoth she), all round about, even here 
 
 by. 
 
 Namely, an aunt, my mother's sister, who well, 
 (Since my mother died), brought me up from 
 
 the shell, 
 And much would have given me, had my 
 
 wedding grown 
 Upon her fancy, as it grew upon mine own. 
 And, in likewise, mine uncle, her husband, was 
 A father to me. Well, (quoth I), let pass; 
 And, if your husband will his assent grant, 
 Go, he to his uncle, and you to your aunt. 
 Yes, this assent he granteth before, (quoth 
 
 she), 
 
Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. X. 23 
 
 For he, ere this, thoug-ht this the best way 
 to be. [none 
 
 But of these two things he would determine 
 Without aid : for two heads are better than one. 
 With this we departed, she to her husband, 
 And I to dinner to them on th 'other hand. 
 
 Chapter X. 
 
 When dinner was done I came home again 
 To attend on the return of these twain. 
 And ere three hours to end were fully tried. 
 Home came she first : welcome, (quoth I), and 
 
 well hied ! 
 Yea, a short horse is soon curried, (quoth she) ; 
 But the weaker hath the worse we all day see. 
 After our last parting, my husband and I 
 Departed, each to place agreed formerly. 
 Mine uncle and aunt on me did lower and 
 
 glome ; [welcome. 
 
 Both bade me God speed, but none bade me 
 Their folks glomed on me too, by which it 
 
 appeareth : 
 The young cock croweth, as he the old heareth. 
 At dinner they were, and made, (for manners' 
 
 sake), 
 A kinswoman of ours me to table take; 
 A false flatt'ring filth; and, if that be good, 
 None better to hear two faces in one hood. 
 She speaketh as she would creep into your 
 
 bosom; [bottom 
 
 And, when the meal-mouth hath won the 
 Of your stomach, then will the pickthank it tell 
 To your most enemies, you to buy and sell. 
 To tell tales out of school, that is her great 
 
 lust ; 
 
24 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. X. 
 
 Look what she knoweth, hlah it wist, and out it 
 
 must. 
 There is no mo such titifils in England's ground, 
 To hold with the hare, and run with the hound. 
 Fire in the tone hand, and water in the tother, 
 The makebate beareth between brother and 
 
 brother. 
 She can wink on the ewe and worry the lamb; 
 She maketh earnest matters of every flimflam. 
 She must have an oar in every man's harge ; 
 And no man may chat ought in ought of her 
 
 charge. 
 Coll under canstick, she can play on both 
 
 hands ; 
 Dissimulation well she understands. 
 She is lost with an apple, and won with a nut; 
 Her tongue is no edge tool, hut yet it will cut. 
 Her cheeks are purple ruddy like a horse plum ; 
 And the big part of her body is her bum. 
 But little tit-all-tail, I have heard ere this. 
 As high as two horse-loaves her person is. 
 For privy nips or casts overthwart the shins, 
 He shall lese the mastery that with her begins. 
 She is, to turn love to hate, or joy to grief, 
 A pattern as meet as a rope for a thief. 
 Her promise of friendship for any avail, 
 Is as sure to hold as an eel by the tail. 
 She is nother fish, nor flesh, nor good red 
 
 herring. 
 She is a ringleader there; and I, fearing 
 She would spit her venom, thought it not evil 
 To set up a candle before the devil. 
 I clawed her by the back, in way of a charm 
 To do me, not the more good, but the less 
 
 harm ; 
 Praying her, in her ear, on my side to hold ; 
 
Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. X. 25 
 
 She thereto swearing", by her false faith, she 
 
 would. 
 Straight after dinner mine aunt had no choice, 
 But other burst, or burst out in Pilate's voice: 
 Ye huswife, what wind bloweth ye hither this 
 night? [is light. 
 
 Ye might have knocked ere ye came in ; leave 
 Better unborn than untaught, I have heard 
 
 say; 
 But be ye better fed than taught, far away ; 
 Not very fat fed, said this flebergebet ; [jet. 
 
 But need hath no law; need maketh her hither 
 She cometh, niece Alice, (quoth she), for that 
 is her name, [shame. 
 
 More for need than for kindness, pain of 
 Howbeit, she cannot lack, for he findeth that 
 
 seeks ; 
 Lovers live by love, yea, as larks live by leeks. 
 Said this Alice, much more than half in mock- 
 age. 
 Tush ! (quoth mine aunt), these lovers in dot- 
 age [courage 
 Think the ground bear them not, but wed of 
 They must in all haste ; though a leaf of borage 
 Might buy all the substance that they can sell. 
 Well, aunt, (quoth Alice), all is well that ends 
 well. [end; 
 Yea, Alice, of a good beginning cometh a good 
 Not so good to borrow, as be able to lend. 
 Nay indeed, aunt, (quoth she), it is sure so; 
 She must needs grant she hath wrought her 
 own woe. ' [stone, 
 She thought, Alice, she had seen far in a mill- 
 When she gat a husband, and namely such one, 
 As they by wedding could not only nought win, 
 But lose both living and love of all their kin. 
 
26 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. X. 
 
 Good aunt, (quoth I), humbl;^ I beseech ye, 
 
 My trespass done to you forgive it me. 
 
 I know, and knovvledg-e 1 have wrought mine 
 
 own pain ; 
 But things past my hands, I cannot call again. 
 True, (quoth AUcej, things done cannot be un- 
 done, 
 Be they done in due time, too late, or too soon ; 
 But better late than never to repent this. 
 Too late, (quoth mine aunt), this repentance 
 
 showed is : 
 When the steed is stolen shut the stable durre. 
 I took her for a rose, but she breedeth a burr; 
 She Cometh to stick to me now in her lack ; 
 Rather to rent off my clothes fro my back^ 
 Than to do me one farthing worth of good. 
 / see day at this little hole. For this bood 
 Showeth what fruit will follow. In good faith, 
 
 I said, 
 In way of petition I sue for your aid. 
 Ah, well ! (quoth she), now I well understand 
 The walking staff hath caught warmth in your 
 
 hand. 
 A clean-fingered huswife, and an idle, folk say, 
 And will be lime-fingered, I fear, by my fay ! 
 It is as tender as a parson's leman — [than? 
 Nought can she do, and what can she have 
 As sober as she seemeth, few days come about 
 But she will once wash her face in an ale clout. 
 And then between her and the rest of the rout, 
 / proud, and thou proud, who shall hear 
 
 th'ashes out? [breathe, 
 
 She may not bear a feather, but she must 
 She maketh so much of her painted sheath. 
 She thinketh her farthing good silver, I tell 
 
 you; 
 
Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. X. 27 
 
 But, for a farthing, whoever did sell you 
 Might hoast you to be better sold than bought. 
 And yet, though she be worth nought, nor have 
 
 nought, 
 Her gown is gayer and better than mine. 
 At her gay gown, (quoth Alice), ye may repine, 
 Howbeit, as we may, we love to go gay all. 
 Well, well ! (quoth mine aunt), pride will have 
 
 a fall; [after. 
 
 For pride goeth before, and shame conieth 
 Sure, (said Alice), in manner of mocking 
 
 laughter, [worse 
 
 There is nothing in this world that agreeth 
 Than doth a lady's heart and a beggar's purse. 
 But pride she showeth none,^ her look reason 
 
 alloweth, [mouth. 
 
 She looketh as butter would not melt in her 
 Well, the still sow eats up all the draf, Alice ; 
 All is not gold that glitters, by told tales. 
 In youth she was toward and without evil : 
 But soon ripe, soon rotten; young saint, old 
 
 devil — [horns. 
 
 Howbeit, Lo God sendeth the shrewd cow short 
 While she was in this house she sat upon 
 
 thorns, 
 Each one day was three till liberty was borrow, 
 For one month's joy to bring her whole life's 
 
 sorrow. [well ; 
 
 It were pity, (quoth Alice), but she should do 
 For beauty and stature she beareth the bell. 
 Ill weed groweth fast, Alice : whereby the corn 
 
 is lorne ; 
 For surely the weed overgroweth the corn. 
 Ye praise the wine before ye taste of the grape ; 
 But she can no more harm than can a she ape. 
 It is a good body, her property preves 
 
28 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. X. 
 
 She lacketh but even a new pair of sleeves. 
 If I may, (as they say), tell truth without sin, 
 Of truth she is a wolf in a lamb's skin. 
 Her heart is full high when her eye is full low — 
 A guest as good lost as found, for all this 
 
 show — 
 But many a good cow hath an evil calf. 
 I speak this, daughter, in thy mother's behalf, 
 My sister, (God rest her soul !) whom, though I 
 
 boast, 
 Was called the flower of honesty in this coast. 
 Aunt, (quoth I), I take for father and mother 
 Mine uncle and you, above all other. 
 When we would, ye would not be our child, 
 
 (quoth she), [we; 
 
 Wherefore now when ye would, now will not 
 Since thou wouldst needs cast away thyself 
 
 thus, 
 Thou shalt sure sink in thine own sin for us. 
 Aunt, (quoth I), after a doting or drunken 
 
 deed, 
 Let submission obtain some mercy or meed. 
 He that killeth a man when he is drunk, (quoth 
 
 she), 
 Shall be hanged when he is sober; and he, 
 Whom in itching no scratching will forbear, 
 He must bear the smarting that shall follow 
 
 there. 
 And thou, being borne very nigh of my stock, 
 Though nigh be my kirtle, yet near is my 
 
 smock — 
 I have one of mine own whom I must look to. 
 Yea, aunt, (quoth Alice), that thing must ye 
 
 needs do ; 
 Nature compelleth you to set your own first up ; 
 For I have heard say, it is a dear collop 
 
Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. X. 29 
 
 That is cut out of th'own flesh. But yet, aunt, 
 So small may her request be, that ye may 
 
 grant 
 To satisfy the same, which may do her good, 
 And you no harm in th'avancing- your own 
 
 blood. [crave, 
 
 And cousin, (quoth she to me), what ye would 
 Declare, that our aunt may know what ye 
 
 would have. 
 Nay, (quoth I), be they winners or losers, 
 Folk say alway beggars should be no 
 
 choosers. [please ; 
 
 With thanks I shall take whatever mine aunt 
 Where nothing is, a little thing doth ease ; 
 Hunger maketh hard beans sweet; where 
 
 saddles lack, [back. 
 
 Better ride on a pad than on the horse bare 
 And by this proverb appeareth this o 'thing : 
 That alway somewhat is better than nothing. 
 Hold fast when ye have it, (quoth she), by my 
 
 life ! [wife. 
 
 The boy thy husband, and thou the girl, his 
 Shall not consume that I have laboured for. 
 Thou art young enough, and I can work no 
 
 more. 
 Kit Callot, my cousin, saw this thus far on, 
 And in mine aunt's ear she whispereth anon, 
 Roundly these words, to make this matter 
 
 whole : 
 Aunt, let them that he a-cold blow at the coal. 
 They shall for me, Alice, (quoth she), by God's 
 
 blist ! 
 She and I have shaken hands : farewell, un- 
 
 kissed ! 
 And thus, with a beck as good as a dieu gard. 
 She flang fro me, and I from her hitherward. 
 
30 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XI. 
 
 Begging of her booteth not the worth of a 
 
 bean; [mean. 
 
 Little knoiueth the fat sow what the lean doth 
 Forsooth ! (quoth I), ye have bestirred ye 
 
 well— [fell? 
 
 But where was your uncle while all this fray 
 Asleep by, (quoth she), routing like a hog; 
 And it is evil waking of a sleeping dog. 
 The bitch and her whelp might have been 
 
 asleep too. 
 For ought they in waking to me would do. 
 Fare ye well ! (quoth she) ; I will now home 
 
 straight, [wait. 
 
 And at my husband's hands for better news 
 
 Chapter XI. 
 
 He came home to me the next day before noon : 
 What tidings now, (quoth I), how have ye 
 
 doon? 
 Upon our departing, (quoth he), yesterday. 
 Toward mine uncle's, somewhat more than 
 
 midway, 
 I overtook a man, a servant of his. 
 And a friend of mine ; who guessed straight 
 
 with this 
 What mine errand was, offering in the same 
 To do his best for me; and so, in God's name 
 Thither we went ; nobody being within 
 But mine uncle, mine aunt, and one of our 
 
 kin — 
 A mad knave, as it were a railing jester. 
 Not a more gaggling gander hence to Chester. 
 At sight of me he asked, who have we there? 
 I have seen this gentleman, if I wist where; 
 Howbeit, lo ! seldom seen, soon forgotten. 
 
Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XI. 31 
 
 He was, (as he will be), somewhat cupshotten : 
 Six days in the week, beside the market day, 
 Malt is above wheat with him, market men say. 
 But forasmuch as I saw the same taunt 
 Contented well mine uncle and mine aunt. 
 And that / came to fall in and not to fall out, 
 I forbear ; or else his drunken red snout 
 I would have made as oft change from hue 
 
 to hue 
 As doth the cocks of Ind ; for this is true : 
 It is a small hop on my thumb ; and Christ wot, 
 It is wood at a word — little pot soon hot. 
 Now 7iierry as a cricket, and by and by 
 Angry as a wasp, though in both no cause why. 
 But he was at home there, he might speak his 
 
 will : 
 Every cock is proud, on his own dunghill. 
 I shall be even with him herein when I can. 
 But he, having done, thus mine uncle began : 
 Ye merchant ! what attempteth you to attempt 
 
 us. 
 To come on us before the messenger thus? 
 Roaming in and out, I hear tell how ye toss ; 
 But son, the rolling stone never gathereth 
 
 moss. 
 Like a pickpurse pilgrim ye pry and ye prowl 
 At rovers, to rob Peter and pay Poule. 
 Iwys, I know, or any more be told. 
 That draf is your errand, but drink ye wolde. 
 Uncle, (quoth I), of the cause for which I 
 
 come 
 I pray you patiently hear the whole sum. 
 In faith ! (quoth he), without any more 
 
 summing, 
 I know to beg of me Is thy coming. 
 Forsooth ! (quoth his man), it is so, Indeed ; 
 
32 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XI. 
 
 And I dare boldly boast, if ye knew his need, 
 Ye would of pity yet fet him in some stay. 
 Son, better he envied than pitied, folk say ; 
 And for his cause of pity, (had he had grace). 
 He might this day have been clear out of the 
 
 case; \j^og — 
 
 But now he hath well fished and caught a 
 Where nought is to wed with, wise men flee the 
 
 clog. 
 Where I, (quoth I), did not as ye willed or bad. 
 That repent I oft, and as oft wish I had. 
 Son, (quoth he), as I have heard of mine olders. 
 Wishers and woulders be no good house- 
 holders : 
 This proverb for a lesson, with such other. 
 Not like, (as who sayeth), the son of my 
 
 brother, 
 But like mine own son, I oft before told thee 
 To cast her quite off ; but it would not hold thee 
 When I willed thee any other where to go — 
 Tush ! there was no mo maids hut malkin 
 
 though 
 Ye had been lost to lack your lust when ye list. 
 By two miles trudging twice a week to be 
 
 kissed. 
 I would ye had kissed — well I will no more stir : 
 It is good to have a hatch before the dur. 
 But who will, in time present, pleasure refrain 
 Shall, in time to co7ne, the more pleasure 
 
 obtain. 
 Follow pleasure, and then will pleasure flee; 
 Flee pleasure, and pleasure will follow thee. 
 And how is my saying come to pass now? 
 How oft did I prophesy this between you 
 And your ginifinee nycebecetur? [petre? 
 
 When sweet sugar should turn to sour salt- 
 
Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XL 33 
 
 Whereby ye should in saying- that ye never 
 
 saw, 
 Think that you never thought yourself a daw. 
 But that time ye thought me a daw, so that I 
 Did no good in all my words then, save only 
 Approved this proverb plain and true matter : 
 A man may well bring a horse to the water. 
 But he cannot make him drink without he will. 
 Colts, (quoth his man), may prove well with 
 
 tatches ill, 
 For 0/ a ragged colt there cometh a good 
 
 horse — 
 If he be good now of his ill past no force, [he), 
 Well, he that hangeth himself a Sunday, (said 
 Shall hang still uncut down a Monday for me. 
 / have hanged up my hatchet, God speed him 
 
 well ! [tell : 
 
 A wonder thing what things these old things 
 Cat after hind good mouse hunt; and also 
 Men say, kind will creep where H may not go. 
 Commonly all thing showeth fro whence it 
 
 came ; 
 The litter is like to the fire and the dam; 
 How can the foal amhle if the horse and mare 
 
 trot? 
 These sentences are assigned unto thy lot. 
 By conditions of thy father and mother, 
 My sister-in-law, and mine own said brother. 
 Thou followest their steps as right as a line. 
 For when provender prickt them a little tyne, 
 They did as thy wife and thou did, both dote 
 Each one on other; and being not worth a 
 
 groat, [last, 
 
 They went (witless) to wedding ; whereby, at 
 They both went a-begging. And even the like 
 
 cast 
 
 HEY. II. D 
 
34 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XI. 
 
 Hast thou; thou wilt heg or steal ere thou 
 
 die — 
 Take heed, friend, / have seen as jar come as 
 
 nigh. 
 If ye seek to find things ere they he lost, 
 Ye shall find one day you come to your cost. 
 This do I but repeat, for this I told thee ; 
 And more I say ; but I could not then hold thee ; 
 Nor will not hold thee now ; nor such folly feel, 
 To set at my heart that thou settest at thy heel. 
 And as of my good ere I one g-roat give, 
 I will see how my wife and myself may live. 
 Thou goest a-gleaning ere the cart have carried ; 
 But ere thou glean ought, since thou wouldst 
 
 be married, [then? 
 
 Shall I make thee laugh now, and myself weep 
 Nay, good child ! better children weep than old' 
 
 men. [upon fools ; 
 
 Men should not prease much to spend much 
 Fish is cast away that is cast in dry pools. 
 To flee charge, and find ease, ye would now 
 
 here host — 
 It is easy to cry hie at other men's cost. 
 But, a bow long bent, at length must wear 
 
 weak: [break. 
 
 Long bent I toward you, but that bent I will 
 Farewell, and feed full, that love ye well to do; 
 But you lust not to do that longeth thereto. 
 The cat would eat fish and would not wet her 
 
 feet; [in heat. 
 
 They must hunger in frost that ivill not work 
 And he that will thrive must ask leave of his 
 
 wife ; [life, 
 
 But your wife will give none : by your and her 
 It is hard to 7vive and thrive both in a year. 
 Thus, by thy wiving, thriving doth so appear. 
 
Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XI. 35 
 
 That thou art past thrift before thrift begin. 
 But lo ! will will have will, though will woe 
 
 win ; 
 Will is a good son, and will is a shrewd hoy ; 
 And wilful shrewd will hath wrought thee this 
 
 toy. 
 A gentle white spur, and at need a sure spear ; 
 He standeth now as he had a flea in his ear. 
 Howbeit, for any great courtesy he doth make, 
 It seemeth the gentle man hath eaten a steak. 
 He beareth a dagger in his sleeve, trust me, 
 To kill all that he meeteth prouder than he. 
 He will perk : I here say he must have the 
 
 bench — [French. 
 
 Jack would be a gentleman if he could speak 
 
 He thinketh his feet be where his head shall 
 
 * never come; 
 
 He woidd fain flee, but he wanteth feathers, 
 
 some. 
 Sir, (quoth his man), he will no fault defend, 
 But hard is for any man all faults to mend — 
 He is lifeless, that is faultless, old folks 
 
 thought. [nought. 
 
 He hath, (quoth he), but one fault, he is 
 Well, (quoth his man), the best cart may over- 
 throw, [though. 
 Carts well driven, (quoth he), go long upright, 
 But, for my reward, let him be no longer tarrier, 
 I will send it him by John Long the carrier. 
 O ! help him, sir, (said he), since ye easily may. 
 Shameful craving, (quoth he), must have 
 
 shameful nay. [one yea. 
 
 Ye may, sir, (quoth he), mend three nays with 
 Two false knaves need no broker, men say, 
 
 (said he). 
 Some say also, it is merry when knaves meet; 
 
 D 2 
 
o 
 
 6 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XI. 
 
 But the mo knaves, the worse company to 
 
 greet; [craveth. 
 
 The one knave now croucheth while th'other 
 But to show what shall be his relevavith, 
 Either after my death, if my will be kept, 
 Or during my life : had I this hall hept \^eat 
 With gold, he may his part on Good Friday 
 And fast never the worse, for ought he shall 
 
 geat. [son : 
 
 These former lessons conned, take for this, 
 Tell thy cards, and then tell me what thou hast 
 
 won. 
 Now, here is the door, and there is the way ; 
 And so, (quoth he), farewell, gentle Geoffrey ! 
 Thus parted I from him, being much dismayed, 
 Which his man saw, and (to comfort me) said : 
 What, man, pluck up your heart, be of good 
 
 cheer ! 
 After clouds black, we shall have weather clear. 
 What, should your face thus again the wool 
 
 be shorn 
 For one fall? What, man, all this wind shakes 
 
 no corn ! 
 Let this wind overblow ; a time I will spy 
 To take wind and tide with me, and speed 
 
 thereby. [sinall roast 
 
 I thank you, (quoth I), but great boast and 
 Maketh unsavoury mouths, wherever men host. 
 And this boast very unfavourly serveth ; 
 For while the grass groweth the horse sterveth; 
 Better one bird in hand than ten in the wood. 
 Rome was not built in one day, (quoth he), and 
 
 yet stood 
 Till it was finished, as some say, full fair. 
 Your heart is in your hose, all in despair; 
 But, as every man sayeth, a dog hath a day — 
 
Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XI. 37 
 
 Should you, a man, despair then any day? 
 
 nay ! 
 Ye have many strings to the bow, for ye know, 
 Though I, having the bent of your uncle's bow, 
 Can no way bring- your bolt in the butt to stand ; 
 Yet have ye other marks to rove at hand. 
 The keys hang not all by one 7nan's girdle, 
 
 man ; [can 
 
 Though nought will be won here, I say, yet ye 
 Taste other kinsmen ; of whom ye may geat 
 Here some, and there some : many small make 
 
 a great. [curses. 
 
 For come light winnings with blessings or 
 Evermore light gains make heavy purses. 
 Children learn to creep ere they can learn to 
 
 go; 
 And, little and little, ye must learn even so. 
 Throw no gift again at the giver* s head; 
 For, better is half a loaf than no bread. 
 I may beg my bread, (quoth I), for my kin all 
 That dwelleth nigh. Well, yet, (quoth he), 
 
 and the worst fall. 
 Ye may to your kinsman, hence nine or ten 
 
 mile, 
 Rich without charge, whom ye saw not of long 
 
 while. 
 That benchwhistler, (quoth I), is a pinchpenny. 
 As free of gift as a poor man of his eye. 
 I shall get a fart of a dead man as soon 
 As a farthing of him; his dole is soon done. 
 He is so high in th' instep^ and so straight- 
 laced, 
 That pride and covetise withdraweth all repast, 
 Ye know what he hath been, (quoth he), but 
 
 i-wis. 
 Absence sayeth plainly, ye know not what he is. 
 
38 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XI. 
 
 Men know, (quoth I), I have heard now and 
 
 then, 
 How the market goeth by the market men. 
 Further it is said, who that saying weigheth, 
 It must needs be true that every man sayeth. 
 Men say also : children and fools cannot lie — 
 And both man and child sayeth, he is a heinsby. 
 And myself knoweth him, I dare boldly brag", 
 Even as well as the beggar knoweth his bag. 
 And I knew him not worth a grey groat ; 
 He was at an ebb, though he be now afloat, 
 Poor as the poorest. And now nought he 
 
 setteth 
 By poor folk, For the parish priest forgetteth 
 That ever he hath been holy water clerk. 
 By ought I can now hear, or ever could mark, 
 Of no man hath he pity or compassion. 
 Well, (quoth he), every man after his fashion; 
 He may yet pity you, for ought doth appear, 
 It happeth in one hour that happeth not in 
 
 seven year. 
 Forspeak not your fortune, nor hide not your 
 
 need ; 
 Nought venture, nought have; spare to speak, 
 
 spare to speed; 
 Unknown, unkissed; it is lost that is unsought. 
 As good seek nought, (quoth I), as seek and 
 
 find nought. 
 Jt is, (quoth he), ill fishing before the net. 
 But though we get little, dear bought and far 
 
 fet 
 Are dainties for ladies. Go we both two; 
 I have for my master thereby to do. 
 I may break a dish there ; and sure I shall 
 Set all at six and seven, to win some windfall. 
 And I will hang the bell about the cat's neck, 
 
Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XI. 39 
 
 For I will first break and jeopard the first 
 
 check. [mine, 
 
 And for to win this prey, though the cost be 
 Let us present him with a bottle of wine. 
 What should we, (quoth 1), grease the fat sow 
 
 in th'arse, 
 We may do much ill, ere we do much wars. 
 It is, to give him, as much alms or need, 
 As cast water in Thames, or as good a deed 
 As it is to help a dog over a stile. [while. 
 
 Then go we, (quoth he), we lese time all this 
 To follow his fancy we went together, [thither, 
 And toward night yesternight when we came 
 She was within, but he was yet abroad, [toad. 
 And straight as she saw me she swelled like a 
 Pattering the devil's Pater noster to herself : 
 God never made a more crabbed elf ! 
 She bade him welcome, but the worse for me ; 
 This knave cometh a-begging by me, thought 
 
 she. [wind ; 
 
 I smelled her out, and had her straight in the 
 She may abide no beggars of any kind. 
 They be both greedy guts all given to get 
 They care not how : all is fish that cometh to 
 
 net. [ning 
 
 They know no end of their good; nor begin- 
 Of any goodness : such is wretched winning. 
 Hunger droppeth even out of both their noses. 
 She goeth with broken shoon and torn hoses ; 
 But who is worse shod than the shoemaker's 
 
 wife, 
 With shops full of new shoes all her life? 
 Or who will do less than they that may do 
 
 most? 
 And namely of her I can no way make boast. 
 She is one of them to whom God hade ho; 
 
40 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XI. 
 
 She will all have, and will right nought forego ; 
 She will not part with the paring of her nails; 
 She toileth continually for avails ; 
 Which life she hath so long now kept in ure, 
 That for no life she would make change, be 
 
 sure. 
 But this lesson learned I, ere I was years seven : 
 They that be in hell ween there is none other 
 
 heaven. 
 She is nothing fair, but she Is ill favoured ; 
 And no more uncleanly than unsweet favoured ; 
 But hackney men say at mangy hackney's 
 
 hire, [squire. 
 
 A scald horse is good enough for a scabbed 
 He is a knucklebone-yard, very meet 
 To match a minion nother fair nor sweet. 
 He winketh with the tone eye and looketh with 
 
 the tother ; 
 I will not trust him though he were my brother. 
 He hath a poison wit, and all his delight 
 To give taunts and checks of most spiteful 
 
 spite. 
 In that house commonly, such is the cast, 
 A man shall as soon break his neck as his fast; 
 And yet, now such a gid did her head take. 
 That more for my mate's than for manner's 
 
 sake, 
 We had bread and drink, and a cheese very 
 
 great ; 
 But the s^reatest crabs be not all the best meat. 
 For her crabbed cheese, with all the greatness, 
 Might well abide the fineness, or sweetness. 
 Anon he came in ; and when he us saw, 
 To my companion kindly he did draw ; 
 And a well favoured welcome to him he yields. 
 Bidding me welcome strangely over the fields 
 
Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XI. 41 
 
 With these words : Ah, young man ! I know 
 
 your matter ; 
 By my faith ! you come to look in my water; 
 And for my comfort to your consolation, 
 Ye would buy my purse — give me a purgation! 
 But I am laxative enough there otherwise. 
 This, (quoth this young man), contrary doth 
 
 rise; 
 For he is purse-sick, and lacketh a physician; 
 And hopeth upon you in some condition, 
 Not by purgation, but by restorative, 
 To strength his weakness to keep him alive. 
 I cannot, (quoth he), for though it be my lot 
 To have speculation, yet I practise not. 
 I see much, but I say little, and do less 
 In this kind of physic — and what would ye 
 
 guess : 
 Shall I consume myself to restore him now? 
 Nay, backare ! {quoth Mortimer to his sow); 
 He can, before this time, no time assign, 
 In which he hath laid down one penny by mine, 
 That ever might either make me bite or sup. 
 And by'r lady, friend ! nought lay down, nought 
 
 take up ; 
 Ka me, ka thee; one good turn asketh another; 
 Nought won by the tone, nought won by the 
 
 tother. [miles 
 
 To put me to cost, thou camest half a score 
 Out of thine own nest, to seek me in these out 
 
 isles : 
 Where thou wilt not step over a straw, I think. 
 To win me the worth of one draught of drink. 
 No more than I have won of all thy whole 
 
 stock. 
 I have been common Jack to all that whole 
 
 flock; 
 
42 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XI. 
 
 When ought was to do I was common 
 
 hackney — 
 Folk call on the horse that will carry alway — 
 But evermore the common horse is worst shod. 
 Desert and reward be ofttimes things far odd; 
 At end / might put my winning in mine eye, 
 And see never the worse, for ought I wan 
 
 them by. [end, 
 
 And now, without them I live here at stave's 
 Where I need not borrow, nor I will not lend. 
 It is good to beware by other men's harms; 
 But thy taking of thine halter in thine arms 
 Teacheth other to beware of their harms by 
 
 thine : 
 Thou hast stricken the hall under the line. 
 I pray you, (quoth I), pity me, a poor man, 
 With somewhat till I may work as I can. 
 Toward your working, (quoth he), ye make 
 
 such tastings. 
 As approve you to be none of the hastings. 
 Ye run to work in haste as nine men held ye; 
 But whensoever ye to work must yield ye, 
 // your meet-mate and you meet together. 
 Then shall we see two men bear a feather; 
 Recompensing former loitering life loose. 
 As did the pure penitent that stale a goose 
 And stack down a feathen And, where old 
 
 folk tell 
 That evil gotten good never proveth well; 
 Ye will truly get, and true getting well keep 
 Till time ye be as rich as a new shorn sheep. 
 Howbeit, when thrift and you fell first at a 
 
 fray, [away. 
 
 You played the man, for ye made thrift run 
 So help me God ! in my poor opinion, 
 A man might make a play of this minion. 
 
Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XI. 43 
 
 And fain no ground, but take tales of his own 
 
 friends : 
 / suck not this out of my own fingers^ ends. 
 And since ye were wed, although I nought gave 
 
 you, [you ! 
 
 Yet pray I for you, God and Saint Luke save 
 And here is all : for what should I further 
 
 wade? 
 / was neither of court nor of council made; 
 And it is, as I have learned in listening", 
 A poor dog that is not worth the whistling. 
 A day ere I was wed, I bade you, (quoth I). 
 Scarb 'rough warning I had, (quoth he), where- 
 I kept me thence, to serve thee according, [by 
 And now, if this night's lodging and boarding 
 May ease thee, and rid me from any more 
 
 charge, [large. 
 
 Then welcome ! or else get thee straight at 
 For of further reward, mark how I boast me, 
 In case as ye shall yield me as ye cost me, 
 So shall ye cost me as ye yield me likewise ; 
 Which is, a thing of nought rightly to surmise. 
 Herewithal, his v/ife, to make up my mouth, 
 Not only her husband's taunting tale avoweth, 
 But thereto deviseth to cast in my teeth 
 Checks and choking oysters. And when she 
 
 seeth 
 Her time to take up, to show my fare at best : 
 Ye see your fare, (said she), set your heart at 
 
 rest. 
 Fare ye well! (quoth I), however I fare now; 
 And well mote ye fare both when I dine with 
 
 you. 
 Come, go we hence, friend ! (quoth I to my 
 
 mate) — 
 And now will I make a cross on this gate. 
 
44 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XI. 
 
 And I, (quoth he), cross thee quite out of my 
 
 hook 
 Since thou art cross failed; avail, unhappy 
 
 hook! 
 By hook or crook noug-ht could I win there ; 
 
 men say : 
 He that cometh every day^ shall have a 
 
 cockney; [hen. 
 
 He that cometh now and then, shall have a fat 
 But I gat not so much in coming- seeld when, 
 As a good hen's feather, or a poor eggshell: 
 As good play for nought as work for nought, 
 
 folk tell. 
 Well, well ! (quoth he), we be but where we 
 
 were; 
 Come what come would, I thought ere we came 
 
 there, 
 That if the worst fell, we could have hut a nay. 
 There is no harm done, man, in all this fray; 
 Neither pot hroken, nor water spilt. 
 Farewell, he ! (quoth I), I will as soon be hilt 
 As wait again for the moonshine in the water. 
 But is not this a pretty piked matter? 
 To disdain me, who muck of the world 
 
 hoardeth not. 
 As he doeth ; it may rhyme hut it accordeth not. 
 She foameth like a hoar, the beast should seem 
 
 bold; 
 For she is as fierce as a Lion of Cotsolde. 
 She frieth in her own grease, but as for my 
 
 part. 
 If she he angry, heshrew her angry heart ! 
 Friend, (quoth he), he may show wisdom at 
 
 will, [still : 
 
 That with angry heart can hold his tongue 
 Let patience grow in your garden alway. 
 
Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XI. 45 
 
 Some loose or odd end will come, man, some 
 
 one day 
 From some friend, either In life or at death. 
 Death ! (quoth I), take we that time to take 
 
 a breath? 
 Then graft we a green graft on a rotten root : 
 Who waiteth for dead men shoes shall go long 
 
 barefoot. 
 Let pass, (quoth he), and let us be trudging" 
 Where some noppy ale is, and soft sweet 
 
 lodging. 
 Be it, (quoth I), but I would very fain eat; 
 At breakfast and dinner I eat little meat, 
 And two hungry meals make the third a glutton. 
 We went where we had boiled beef and bake 
 Whereof I fed me as full as a tun; [mutton, 
 And a-bed were we ere the clock had nine run. 
 Early we rose, in haste to get away; 
 And to the hostler this morning, by day, 
 This fellow called, What ho ! fellow, thou 
 
 knave ! 
 I pray thee let me and my fellow have 
 A hair of the dog that bit us last night — 
 And bitten were we both to the brain aright. 
 We saw each other drunk in the good ale glass, 
 And so did each one each other, that there was. 
 Save one ; but old men say that are skilled : 
 A hard foughten field where no man scapeth 
 
 unkilled. [the shot ; 
 
 The reckoning reckoned, he needs would pay 
 And needs he must for me, for I had it not. 
 This done we shook hands, and parted in fine ; 
 He into his way, and I into mine. 
 But this journey was quite out of my way : 
 Many kinsfolk and few friends, some folk say ; 
 But I find many kinsfolk, and friend not one. 
 
46 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XII. 
 
 Folk say — it hath been said many years since 
 
 gone — [deed, 
 
 Prove thy friend ere thou have need; but, in- 
 A friend is never known till a man have need. 
 Before I had need, my most present foes [goes : 
 Seemed my most friends ; but thus the world 
 Every man hasteih the fat hog we see; 
 But the lean shall burn ere he basted be. 
 As sayeth this sentence, oft and long said 
 
 before : 
 He that hath plenty of goods shall have more; 
 He that hath hut a little, he shall have less; 
 He that hath right nought, right nought shall 
 
 possess. [what obtain, 
 
 Thus, having right nought, and would some- 
 With right nought, (quoth he), I am returned 
 
 again. 
 
 Chapter XII. 
 
 Surely, (quoth I), ye have in this time, thus 
 
 worn. 
 Made a long harvest for a little corn ! 
 Howbeit, comfort yourself with this old text, 
 That telleth us, when bale is hekst, hoot is 
 
 next; 
 Though every man may not sit in the chair, 
 Yet alway the grace of God is worth a fair. 
 Take no thought in no case, God is where he 
 
 was. 
 But put case, in poverty all your life pass, 
 Yet poverty and poor degree, taken well, 
 Feedeth on this : he that never climhed, never 
 
 fell. [somewhere, 
 
 And some case, at some time, showeth prefe 
 That riches hringeth oft harm, and ever fear, 
 
Proverbs, Pt I., Ch. XII. 47 
 
 Where poverty passeth without grudge of grief. 
 What, man ! the beggar may sing before the 
 And who can sing so merry a note [thief; 
 
 As may he that cannot change a groat? 
 Yea, (quoth he), beggars may sing before 
 
 thieves, [greeves. 
 
 And weep before true men, lamenting their 
 Some say, and I feel, hunger pierceth stone 
 
 wall; 
 Meat, nor yet money to buy meat withal. 
 Have I not so much as may hunger defend 
 Fro my wife and me. Well ! (quoth I), God 
 
 will send [see. 
 
 Time to provide for time, right well ye shall 
 God send that provision in time! (said he.) 
 And thus, seeming well-nigh weary of his life, 
 The poor wretch went to his like poor wretched 
 
 wife : [their knees ; 
 
 From wantonness to wretchedness, brought on 
 Their hearts full heavy, their heads be full of 
 
 bees. 
 And after this a month, or somewhat less. 
 Their landlord came to their house to take a 
 
 stress 
 For rent ; to have kept Bayard in the stable — 
 But that to win, any power was unable. 
 For, though it be ill playing with short daggers, 
 Which meaneth, that every wise man staggers, 
 In earnest or boord to be busy or bold 
 With his biggers or betters, yet this is told : 
 Whereas nothing is, the king must lose his 
 
 right. [quight. 
 
 And thus, king or keyser, must have set them 
 But warning to depart thence they needed none ; 
 For, ere the next day, the birds were flown, 
 
 each one 
 
48 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XII. 
 
 To seek service; of which, where the man was 
 
 sped, 
 The wife could not speed ; but, maugre her 
 
 head, [nigh, 
 
 She must seek elsewhere, for either there or 
 Service for any suit she none could espy. 
 All folk thought them, not only too lither 
 To linger both in one house together ; 
 But also, dwelling nigh under their wings. 
 Under their noses they might convey things — 
 Such as were neither too heavy nor too hot — 
 More in a month than they their master got 
 In a whole year. Whereto folk further weigh- 
 
 Receive each of other in their conveying, 
 Might be worst of all ; for this proverb preeves : 
 Where he no receivers, there he no thieves. 
 Such hap here hapt, that common dread of sucH 
 
 gyles 
 Drove them and keepeth them asunder many 
 
 miles. 
 Thus, though love decree departure death to he, 
 Yet poverty parteth fellowship, we see ; 
 And doth those two true lovers so dissever, 
 That meet shall they seeld when, or haply never. 
 And thus by love, without regard of living. 
 These twain have wrought each other's ill 
 
 chieving ; [friends, 
 
 And love hath so lost them the love of their 
 That I think them lost; and thus this tale ends. 
 
Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XIII. 49 
 
 Chapter XIII. 
 
 Ah, sir ! (said my friend), when men will needs 
 
 marry, 
 I see now, how wisdom and haste may vary : 
 Namely, where they wed for love altogether. 
 I would for no good, but I had come hither. 
 Sweet beauty with sour beggary ! nay, I am 
 
 gone 
 To the wealthy withered widow, by Saint John ! 
 What ! yet in all haste, (quoth I) ? Yea ! (q. he) ; 
 For she hath substance enough ; and ye see 
 That lack is the loss of these two young fools. 
 Know ye not, (quoth I), that, after wise men's 
 
 schools, 
 A man should hear all parts ere he judge any? 
 Why axe ye that (quoth he)? For this, (quoth 
 
 I told you, when I this began, that I would 
 Tell you of two couples ; and I, having told 
 But of the tone, ye be straight starting away, 
 As I of the tother had right nought to say ; 
 Or, as yourself of them right nought would 
 
 hear. [clear 
 
 Nay, not all so, (quoth he), but since I think 
 There can no way appear so painful a life 
 Between your young neighbour and his old 
 
 rich wife, 
 As this tale in this young poor couple doth 
 
 show; 
 And that the most good or least ill ye know 
 To take at end, I was at beginning bent, 
 With thanks for this and your more pain to 
 
 prevent, 
 Without any more matter now revolved, 
 
 HEY. II. E 
 
50 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XIII. 
 
 I take this matter here clearly resolved ; 
 And that ye herein award me to forsake 
 Beggarly beauty, and rivalled riches take. 
 That's just, if the half shall judge the whole, 
 
 (quoth I) ; [try. 
 
 But yet, hear the whole, the whole wholly to 
 To it (quoth he) then, I pray you, by and by. 
 We will dine first, (quoth I), it is noon high. 
 We may as well, (quoth he), dine when this 
 
 is done ; 
 The longer forenoon, the shorter afternoon — 
 All Cometh to one, and thereby men have 
 
 guessed, 
 Alway the longer east, the shorter west. 
 We have had, (quoth I), before ye came, and 
 
 syne, 
 Weather meet to set paddocks ahrood in: 
 Rain more than enough ; and when all shrews 
 
 have dined, 
 Change from foul weather to fair is oft inclined. 
 And all the shrews in this part, saving one wife 
 That must dine with us, have dined, pair of 
 
 my life ! [ing 
 
 Now, if good change of ill weather be depend- 
 Upon her diet, what were mine offending 
 To keep the woman any longer fasting? 
 If ye, (quoth he), fet all this far casting 
 For common wealth, as it appeareth a clear 
 
 case, [place. 
 
 Reason would your will should, and shall take 
 
 Thus Endeth the First Part. 
 
PART II 
 
 Chapter I. 
 
 Diners cannot be long where dainties want; 
 Where coin is not common, commons must he 
 
 scant. 
 In post pace we passed from potage to cheese, 
 And yet this man cried : Alas, what time we 
 
 lese ! 
 He would not let us pause after our repast ; 
 But apart he plucked me straight, and in all 
 haste, [maid, 
 
 As I of this poor young- man, and poor young 
 Or more poor young wife, the foresaid words 
 
 had said, 
 So prayeth he me now the process may be told, 
 Between th 'other young man, and rich widow- 
 old. 
 If ye lack that, (quoth I), away ye must wind, 
 With your whole errand, and half th 'answer 
 behind. [you loth, 
 
 Which thing to do, since haste thereto showeth 
 And to haste your going, the day away goeth ; 
 And that time lost, again we cannot win : 
 Without more loss of time, this tale I begin. 
 In this late old widow, and then old new wife, 
 Age and appetite fell at a strong strife: 
 Her lust was as young as her limbs were old. 
 
 E 2 
 
52 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. I. 
 
 The day of her wedding, hke one to be sold, 
 
 She set out herself in fine apparel. 
 
 She was made like a beer pot, or a barrel; 
 
 A crooked hooked nose, beetle browed, blear 
 
 eyed. 
 Many men wished, for beautifying- that bride, 
 Her waist to be gird in, and for a bon grace, 
 Some well favoured visor on her ill favoured 
 But with visorlike visage, such as it was, [face. 
 She smirked, and she smiled, but so lisped this 
 
 lass, [alone 
 
 That folk might have thought it done only 
 Of wantonness, had not her teeth been gone. 
 Upright as a candle standeth in a socket 
 Stood she that day, so simper-de-cocket. 
 Of ancient fathers she took no cure nor care, 
 She was to them as coy as a croker's mare. 
 She took th 'entertainment of the young men 
 All in dalliance, as nice as a nun's hen. 
 I suppose that day her ears might 'well glow. 
 For all the town talked of her, high and low. 
 One said, a well favoured old woman she is ; 
 The devil she is, said another ; and to this, 
 In came the third, with his five eggs, and said, 
 Fifty year ago I knew her a trim maid. 
 Whatever she were then, (said one), she is now 
 To become a bride, as meet as a sow 
 To bear a saddle. She is, in this marriage. 
 As comely as is a cow in a cage. 
 Gup ! with a galled back Gill, come up to 
 
 supper! [crupper! 
 
 W^at? mine old mare would have a new 
 And now mine old hat must have a new band ! 
 Well, (quoth one), glad is he that hath her in 
 A goodly marriage she is, I hear say. [hand ; 
 She is so, (quoth one), were the woman away. 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. I. 53 
 
 Well, (quoth another), fortune this moveth ; 
 And in this case every man as he loveth 
 Quoth the good man when that he kissed his 
 
 cow. [a vow ! 
 
 That kiss, (quoth one), doth well here, by God 
 But how can she give a kiss, sour or sweet? — 
 Her chin and her nose within half an inch 
 God is no hotcher, sir! said another; [meet. 
 He shapeth all parts as each part may fit 
 
 other. [scanning- ; 
 
 Well, (quoth one), wisely, let us leave this 
 God speed them ! he as he may is no banning. 
 That shall he, shall he; and with God's grace 
 
 they shall 
 Do well, and that they so may, wish we all. 
 This wonder, (as wonders last), lasted nine 
 
 days; [their ways, 
 
 Which done, and all guests of this feast gone 
 Ordinary household this man straight began 
 Very sumptuously, which he might well do 
 
 than. [was set 
 
 What he would have, he might have ; his wife 
 In such dotage of him, that fair words did fet 
 Gromwell-seed plenty ; and pleasure to prefer, 
 She made much of him, and he mocked much 
 
 of her. 
 I was, (as I said), much there, and most of all 
 The first month; in which time such kindness 
 
 did fall 
 Between these two counterfeit turtle birds ; 
 To see his sweet looks, and hear her sweet 
 
 words, [ure, 
 
 And to think wherefore they both put both in 
 It would have made a horse break his halter 
 
 sure. [taught 
 
 All the first fortnight their ticking might have 
 
54 Proverbs, Pt. IL, Ch. I, 
 
 Any young couple their love ticks to have 
 
 wrought. [is green. 
 
 Some laughed, and said : all tiling is gay that 
 
 Some thereto said : the green new broom 
 
 sweepeth clean. 
 But since all thing is the worse for the wearing^ 
 Decay of clean sweeping folk had in fearing. 
 And indeed, ere two months away were crept, 
 And her biggest bags into his bosom swept, 
 Where love had appeared in him to her alway 
 Hot as a toast, it grew cold as a kay. 
 He at meat carving her, and none else before, 
 Now carved he to all but her, and her no more. 
 Where her words seemed honey, by his smil- 
 ing cheer, [hear. 
 Now are they mustard, he frowneth them to 
 And when she saw sweet sauce began to wax 
 
 sour, 
 She waxed as sour as he, and as well could 
 
 lower. 
 So turned they their tippets by way of ex- 
 change, [range 
 From laughing to lowering, and taunts did so 
 That in plain terms, plain truth to you to utter, 
 They two agreed like two cats in a gutter. 
 Marry, sir ! (quoth he), by scratching and 
 biting [citing. 
 Cats and dogs come together, by folks re- 
 Together by the ears they come, (quoth I), 
 
 cheerly ; 
 Howbeit those words are not void here clearly. 
 For, in one state they twain could not yet 
 
 settle. 
 But wavering as the wind : in dock, out nettle. 
 Now In, now out; now here, now there; now 
 sad. 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. II. 55 
 
 Now merry; now high, now low; now good, 
 
 now bad. 
 In which unsteady sturdy storms strainable, 
 To know how they both were irrefrainable, 
 Mark how they fell out, and how they fell in: 
 At end of a supper she did thus begin. 
 
 Chapter II. 
 
 Husband, (quoth she), I would we were in our 
 nest ; [rest. 
 
 When the helly is full, the hones would he at 
 So soon upon supper, (said he), no question 
 Sleep maketh ill and unwholesome digestion : 
 By that diet a great disease once I gat. [that. 
 And burnt child fire dreadeth; I will beware of 
 What, a post of physic, (said she)? Yea, a 
 
 post; 
 And from post to pillar, wife, I have been tossed 
 By that surfeit. And I feel a little fit 
 Even now, by former attempting of it. 
 Whereby, except I shall seem to leave my wit 
 Before it leave me, I must now leave it. 
 I thank God, (quoth she), I never yet felt pain 
 To go to bed timely ; but rising again, 
 Too soon in the morning, hath me displeased. 
 And I, (quoth he), have been more diseased 
 By early lying down, than by early rising. 
 But thus differ folk, lo ! in exercising : 
 That one may not, another may. 
 Use maketh maistry ; and men many times say 
 That one loveth not, another doth; which hath 
 
 sped 
 All meats to he eaten, and all maids to he wed. 
 Haste ye to bed now, and rise ye as ye rate ; 
 
56 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. II. 
 
 While I rise early, and come to bed late. 
 Long lying warm in bed is wholesome, (quoth 
 
 she); [(quoth he). 
 
 While the leg warmeth, the hoot hanneth, 
 Well, (quoth she), he that doeth as most men do, 
 Shall be least wondered on; and take any two 
 That be man and wife, in all this whole town, 
 And most part together they rise and lie down. 
 When birds shall roost, (quoth he), at eight, 
 
 nine, or ten, [hen? 
 
 Who shall appoint their hour — the cock, or the 
 The hen, (quoth she) ; the cock, (quoth he) ; 
 
 just, (quoth she), [(quoth he). 
 
 As Germans lips. It shall prove more just, 
 Then prove I, (quoth she), the more fool far 
 
 away ; 
 But there is no fool to the old fool, folk say. 
 Ye are wise enough, (quoth he), if ye keep ye 
 
 warm. 
 To be kept warm, and for none other harm, 
 Nor for much more good, I took you to wed. 
 I took not you, (quoth he), night and day to 
 
 bed. 
 Her carrain carcase, (said he), is so cold 
 Because she is aged, and somewhat too old. 
 That she killeth me : I do but roast a stone 
 In warming her. And shall not I save one. 
 As she would save another? Yes, by Saint 
 
 John! 
 Ah, sir ! (quoth she), marry ! this gear is alone. 
 Who that worst may shall hold the candle; I 
 
 see [me. 
 
 I must warm bed for him should warm it for 
 This medicine thus ministered is sharp and 
 
 cold ; [told. 
 
 But all thing that is sharp is short, folk have 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. II. 57 
 
 This trade is now begun, but if it hold on, 
 Then farewell my good days ! they will he soon 
 gone. [break. 
 
 Gospel in thy mouth, (quoth he), this strife to 
 Howbeit, all is not gospel that thou dost speak. 
 But what need we lump out love, at once lash- 
 ing [for dashing? 
 As we should now shake hands ? what ! soft 
 The fair lasteth all the year; we be new knit, 
 And so late met that I fear we part not yet. 
 Quoth the baker to the pillory. Which thing, 
 From distemperate fonding, temperance may 
 bring ; [strong. 
 And this reason to aid, and make it more 
 Old wise folk say : love me little, love me long. 
 I say little, (said she), but I think more; 
 Thought is free. Ye lean, (quoth he), to the 
 
 wrong shore. 
 Brawling booted not, he was not that night bent 
 To play the bridegroom : alone to bed she went. 
 This was their beginning of jar. Howbeit, 
 For a beginning, this was a feat fit. 
 And but a fleabiting to that did ensue — 
 The worst is behind ; we come not where it 
 
 grew. 
 How say you, (said he to me), by my wife? 
 The devil hath cast a hone, (said I), to set strife 
 Between you ; but it were a folly for me 
 2'o put my hand between the bark and the tree; 
 Or to put my finger too far in the fire 
 Between you, and lay my credence in the mire. 
 To meddle little for me it is best ; 
 For of little meddling cometh great rest. 
 Yes, ye may meddle, (quoth he), to make her 
 
 wise. 
 Without taking harm, in giving your advice. 
 
58 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. III. 
 
 She knoweth me not yet ; but if she wax too 
 wild [child. 
 
 I shall make her know an old knave is no 
 Slug"ging in bed with her is worse than watch- 
 ing ; [ing. 
 I promise you an old sack axeth much patch- 
 Well, (quoth I), to-morrow I will to my beads 
 To pray, that as ye both will, so ache your 
 
 heads ; 
 And in meantime, my aching- head to ease, 
 I will couch a hogshead. Quoth he, when ye 
 
 please. 
 We parted; and this, within a day or twain, 
 Was raked up in th' ashes, and covered again. 
 
 Chapter III. 
 
 These two days past, he said to me, when ye 
 
 will [have Jill. 
 
 Come chat at home ; all is well — Jack shall 
 Who had the worst end of the staff, (quoth I), 
 
 now? [you? 
 
 Shall the master wear a hreech, or none? say 
 I trust the sow will no more so deep root. 
 But if she do, (quoth he), you must set in foot; 
 And whom ye see out of the way, or shoot 
 
 wide. 
 Over-shoot not yourself any side to hide ; 
 But shoot out some words, if she be too hot. 
 She may say, (quoth I), a fool's holt soon shot. 
 Ye will me to a thankless office hear; 
 And a busy officer I may appear; 
 And, Jack out of office, she may bid me walk; 
 And think me as wise as Waltham's calf, to 
 
 talk 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. III. 59 
 
 Or chat of her charge, having- therein nought 
 
 to do. 
 Howbeit, if I see need, as my part cometh too, 
 Gladly between you I will do my best. 
 1 bid you to dinner, (quoth he), as no guest, 
 And bring your poor neighbours on your other 
 
 side. 
 I did so. And straight as th'old wife us espied, 
 She bade us welcome, and merrily toward me : 
 Green rushes for this stranger, straw here, 
 
 (quoth she). 
 With this, apart she pulled me by the sleeve, 
 Saying in few words : my mind to you to 
 
 meve, 
 So it is, that all our great fray, the last night. 
 Is forgiven and forgotten between us quite ; 
 And all frays by this I trust have taken end, 
 For I fully hope my husband will amend. 
 Well amended, (thought I), when ye both 
 
 relent, [ment. 
 
 Not to your own, but each to other's mend- 
 Now, if hope fail, (quoth she), and chance 
 
 bring about 
 Any such breach, whereby we fall again out, 
 I pray you tell him he's pars vers, now and 
 
 than. 
 And wink on me. Also hardly, if ye can 
 Take me in any trip. Quoth I, I am loth 
 To meddle commonly. For as this tale go'th. 
 Who meddleth in all thing may shoe the 
 
 gosling. [bring 
 
 Well ! (quoth she), your meddling herein may 
 The wind calm between us, when it else might 
 
 rage. 
 I will, with good will, (quoth I), ill winds to 
 
 swage, 
 
6o Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. IV. 
 
 Spend some wind at need, though I waste wind 
 
 in vain. 
 To table we sat where fine fare did remain ; 
 Merry we were as cup and can could hold; 
 Each one with each other homely and bold. 
 And she for her part, made us cheer heaven 
 
 high— 
 The first part of dinner merry as a pie : 
 But a scald head is soon broken; and so they, 
 As ye shall straight hear, fell at a new fray. 
 
 Chapter IV. 
 
 Husband, (quoth she), ye study, be merry now; 
 And even as ye think now, so come to you. 
 Nay, not so, (quoth he), for my thought to tell 
 
 right, 
 I think how ye lay groaning wife, all last night. 
 Husband ! a groaning horse, and a groaning 
 
 wife, [life. 
 
 Never fail their master, (quoth she), for my 
 No, wife ! a woman hath nine lives like a cat. 
 Well, my lamb ! (quoth she), ye may pick out 
 
 of that. 
 As soon goeth the young lamskin to the market 
 As th* old ewe's. God forbid, wife ! ye shall 
 
 first jet. 
 I will not jet yet, (quoth she), put no doubting : 
 It is a had sack that will abide no clouting. 
 And, as we oft see, the lothe stake standeth 
 
 ^ long. 
 So is it an ill stake, I have heard among, 
 That cannot stand one year in a hedge. 
 I drink ! (quoth she). Quoth he, I will not 
 
 pledge. 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. IV. 6i 
 
 What need all this? a man may love his house 
 
 well % 
 
 Though he ride not on the ridge, I have heard 
 
 tell. [stinketh; 
 
 What? I ween, (quoth she), proffered service 
 But somewhat it is^ 1 see, when the cat 
 
 winketh, [shun ; 
 
 And both her eyne out; but further strife to 
 Let the cat wink, and let the mouse run. 
 This passed, and he cheered us all, but most 
 
 cheer 
 On his part, to this fair young- wife did appear. 
 And as he to her cast oft a loving eye. 
 So cast her husband like eye to his plate by ; 
 Wherewith in a great musing he was brought. 
 Friend ! (quoth the good man), a penny for 
 
 your thought. [dish. 
 
 For my thought, (quoth he) ; that is a goodly 
 But of truth I thought : better to have than 
 
 wish. [(quoth he)? 
 
 What ! a goodly young wife, as you have, 
 Nay, (quoth he), goodly gilt goblets, as here 
 
 be. [show, 
 
 By'r lady, friends ! (quoth I), this maketh a 
 To show you more unnatural than the crow : 
 The crow thinketh her own birds fairest in the 
 
 wood. [stood), 
 
 But, by your words, (except I wrong under- 
 Each other's birds or jewels, ye do weigh 
 Above your own. True, (quoth the old wife), 
 
 ye say ! 
 But my neighbour's desire rightly to measure, 
 Cometh of need, and not of corrupt pleasure ; 
 And my husband's more of pleasure, than of 
 
 need. [best feed; 
 
 Old fish and young flesh, (quoth he), doth men 
 
62 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. IV. 
 
 And some say, change of pasture maketh fat 
 
 calves. 
 As for that, reason, (quoth she), runneth to 
 
 halves : 
 As well for the cow calf as for the hull. 
 And though your pasture look barrenly and 
 
 dull. 
 Yet look not on the meat, hut look on the man; 
 And whoso looketh on you, shall shortly skan. 
 Ye may write to your friends that ye are in 
 
 health ; 
 But all thingf may be suffered saving wealth. 
 An old said saw : itch and ease can no man 
 
 please ; 
 Plenty is no dainty ; ye see not your own ease. 
 I see, ye cannot see the wood for trees, [sees 
 Your lips hang in your light; but this poor man 
 Both how blindly ye stand in your own light; 
 And that you rose on your right side here right ; 
 And might have gone further and have faren 
 
 worse. 
 I wot well I might, (quoth he), for the purse; 
 But ye be a hahy of Belsabuh's bower, [sour ; 
 Content ye, (quoth she) ! take the sweet with the 
 Fancy may holt bran and make ye take it flour. 
 It will not be, (quoth he), should I die this 
 
 hour, [eye. 
 
 While this fair flower flourisheth thus in mine 
 Yes, it might, (quoth she), and hear this reason 
 
 why : 
 Snow is white | ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ .^ ^.^ 
 
 And lieth in the dike. J 
 
 Pepper is black, \ And every man doth it 
 
 And hath a good smack, f buy. 
 Milk, [q' he), is white, \ But all men know it 
 And lieth not in the dike.j good meat. 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. IV. 63 
 
 Ink is all black, \ No man will it drink 
 
 And hath an ill smack, j nor eat. 
 
 Thy rhyme, (quoth he), is much older than 
 
 mine; 
 But mine, being- newer, is truer than thine. 
 Thou Hkenest now, for a vain advantage, [ag-e, 
 White snow to fair youth, black pepper to foul 
 Which are placed out of place here, by rood ! 
 Black ink is as ill meat, as black pepper is 
 
 good ; [is ill — 
 
 And white milk as good meat, as white snow 
 But a milk snow-white, smooth, young- skin, 
 
 who chang-e will [face? 
 
 For a pepper ink-black, rough, old withered 
 Though change he no robbery for the changed 
 
 case, [wit. 
 
 Yet shall that change rob the chang-er of his 
 For, who this case searcheth, shall soon see in 
 
 it, 
 That as well agreeeth thy comparison in these, 
 As alike to compare in taste, chalk and cheese; 
 Or alike in colour to deem ink and chalk. 
 Walk, drab, walk! Nay, (quoth she), walk, 
 
 knave, walk ! 
 Sayeth that term. Howbeit, sir, I say not so ; 
 And best we lay a straw here, and even there, 
 
 ho! 
 Or else this gfear will breed a pad in the straw; 
 If ye haul this way, I will another way draw. 
 Here is God in th'ambry (quoth I) ! Quoth he, 
 
 Nay! 
 Here is the devil in th'orologe, ye may say. 
 Since this, (quoth I), rather bringeth bale than 
 
 boot. 
 Wrap it in the cloth, and tread it under foot. 
 Ye harp on the string that giveth no melody; 
 
64 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. IV. 
 
 Your tongues run before your wits, by Saint 
 Antony ! [(quoth he) ; 
 
 Mark ye, how she hitteth me on the thumbs^ 
 And ye taunt me tit over thumb, (quoth she). 
 Since tit for tat, (quoth I), on even hand is set, 
 Set the hare's head against the goose giblet. 
 She is, (quoth he), bent to force you, perforce 
 To know that the grey mare is the better horse. 
 She choppeth logic, to put me to my clargy : 
 She hath one point of a good hawk; she is 
 
 hardy. 
 But wife, the first point of hawking is hold fast. 
 And hold ye fast, I rede you, lest ye be cast 
 In your own turn. Nay, she will turn the leaf ; 
 And rather, (quoth I), take as falleth in the 
 sheaf [too bold. 
 
 At your hands ; and let fall her hold, than be 
 Nay, I will spit in my hands, and take better 
 
 hold. 
 He, (quoth she), that will be angry without 
 
 cause, 
 Must be at one, without amends ; by sage saws. 
 Tread a worm on the tail, and it must turn 
 
 again. 
 He taketh pepper in the nose, that I complain 
 Upon his faults, myself being faultless ; 
 But that shall not stop my mouth, ye may well 
 guess. [feOod ; 
 
 Well, (quoth I), too much of one thing is not 
 Leave off this ! Be it ! (quoth he), fall we to 
 
 our food ; 
 But sufferance is no quittance in this daiment. 
 No, (quoth she), nor misreckoning is no pay- 
 ment, [friend ; 
 But even reckoning maketh long friends, my 
 For alway own is own at the reckoning's end. 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. V. 65 
 
 This reckoning thus reckoned, and dinner once 
 
 done, 
 We three from them twain departed very soon. 
 
 Chapter V. 
 
 This old woman, the next day after this night, 
 Stale home to me, secretly as she might, 
 To talk with me ; in secret counsel, (she said). 
 Of things which in no wise might be bewrayed. 
 We twain are one too many, (quoth I), for men 
 
 say : 
 Three may a-keep counselj if two he away. 
 But all that ye speak, unmeet again to tell, 
 I will say nought but mum, and mum is counsel. 
 Well then, (quoth she), herein avoiding all 
 
 fears, [ears. 
 
 Avoid your children : small pitchers have wide 
 Which done, (she said), I have a husband, ye 
 
 know, [show. 
 
 Whom I made of nought, as the thing self doth 
 And for these two causes only, him I took — 
 First, that for my love, he should lovingly look 
 In all kind of cause, that love engender might 
 To love and cherish me by day and by night ; 
 Secondly, the substance, which I to him 
 
 brought, [nought. 
 
 He rather should augment, than bring to 
 But now my good, shall both be spent, ye shall 
 
 see. 
 And it in spending sole instrument shall be 
 Of my destruction, by spending it on such 
 As shall make him destroy me; I fear this 
 
 much. [hoop ; 
 
 He maketh havoc, and setteth cock on the 
 
 HEY. n. F 
 
66 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. V. 
 
 He Is so lavish, the stopk beginneth to droop; 
 And as for gaiji is dead and laid in tomb, 
 When he should get aught, each finger is a 
 
 thumb ; 
 Each of his joints against other justles, 
 As handsomely as a bear picketh muscles. 
 Flattering knaves and flearing queans being the 
 
 mark, [wark. 
 
 Hang on his sleeve : many hands make light 
 He hath his hawks in the mew; but, make ye 
 
 sure, 
 With empty hands men may no hawks allure. 
 There is a nest of chickens, which he doth 
 
 brood, [hood. 
 
 That will sure make his hair grow through his 
 They can curry favel; and make fair weather 
 While they cut large thongs of other men's 
 
 leather. 
 He maketh his marts with merchants likely 
 To bring a shilling to sixpence quickly. 
 If he hold on awhile as he begins, 
 We shall see him prove a merchant of eel- 
 skins — 
 A merchant without either money or ware. 
 But all be bug's words, that I speak to spare. 
 Better spare at brim than at bottom, say I. 
 Ever spare and ever bare, (saith he), by and by. 
 Spend, and God shall send, (sayeth he), saith 
 
 th' old ballet, 
 What sendeth he, (say I), a staff and a wallet? 
 Then up goeth his staff, to send me aloof; 
 He is at three words up in the house roof. 
 And herein to grow, (quoth she), to conclusion, 
 I pray your aid, to avoid this confusion; 
 And for counsel herein, I thought to have gone 
 To that cunning man, our curate, Sir John. 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. V. 67 
 
 But this kept me back : I have heard, now and 
 
 then, 
 The greatest clerks be not the wisest men. 
 I think, (quoth I), whoever that term began, 
 Was neither great clerk, nor the greatest wise 
 
 man. 
 In your running from him to me, ye run 
 Out of God's blessing into the warm sun. 
 Where the blind leadeth the blind, both fall in 
 
 the dike; 
 And, blind be we both, if we think us his like. 
 Folk show much folly, when things should be 
 
 sped. 
 To run to the foot that may go to the head. 
 Since he best can, and most ought, to do it, 
 I fear not, but he will, if ye will woo it. 
 There is one let, (quoth she), mo than I spake 
 
 on : 
 My husband and he be so great, that the ton 
 Cannot piss but the tother must let a fart. 
 Choose we him aparty, then farewell my part ; 
 We shall so part stake, that I shall lese the 
 
 whole. [sole. 
 
 Folk say of old : the shoe will hold with the 
 Shall I trust him, then? nay, intrust is treason. 
 But I trust you, and come to you this season 
 To hear me, and tell me, what way ye think 
 
 best 
 To hem in my husband, and set me in rest. 
 If ye mind, (quoth I), a conquest to make 
 Over your husband, no man may undertake 
 To bring you to ease, nor the matter amend 
 Except ye bring him to wear a cock's comb at 
 
 end. 
 For, take that your husband were, as ye take 
 
 him, 
 
 F 2 
 
68 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. V. 
 
 As I take him not, as your tale would make 
 
 him, 
 Yet were contention like to do noug-ht in this 
 But keep him nought, and make him worse 
 
 than he is. [clear, 
 
 But, in this complaint for counsel quick and 
 A few proverbs for principles, let us hear : 
 Who that may not as they would, nvill as they 
 
 may; [obey. 
 
 And this to this : they that are hound must 
 Folly it is to spurn against a prick; 
 To strive against the stream, to winch or kick 
 Against the hard wall. By this ye may see, 
 Being bound to obedience, as ye be, 
 And also overmatched, sufferance is your dance. 
 He may overmatch me, (quoth she), perchance 
 In strength of body, but my tongue is a limb 
 To match and to vex every vein of him. 
 Tongue hreaketh hone, itself having none, 
 
 (quoth I) ; [awry. 
 
 If the wind stand in that door, it standeth 
 The peril of prating out of tune by note, 
 Telleth us that a good bestill is worth a groat; 
 In being your own foe, you spin a fair thread. 
 Advise ye well, for here doth all lie and bleed; 
 Flee th' attempting of extremities all. 
 Folk say : better sit still than rise and fall. 
 For little more or less no debate make; 
 At every dog's bark seem not to awake. 
 And where the small with the great cannot 
 
 agree, 
 The weaker goeth to the pot, we all day see. 
 So that alway the bigger eateth the bean — 
 Ye can nought win, by any wayward mean. 
 Where the hedge is lowest men may soonest 
 
 over : 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. V. 69 
 
 Be silent ! let not your tong^'ue run at rover ; 
 
 Since by strife ye may lose, and cannot win, 
 
 Suffer ! it is good sleeping in a whole skin. 
 
 If he chide, keep you hill under wing mute; 
 
 Chatting to chiding is not worth a chut. 
 
 We see many times, might overcometh right — 
 
 Were not you as good then to say the crow is 
 white ? 
 
 And so, rather let fair words make fools fain. 
 
 Than be plain without pleats, and plant your 
 own pain. 
 
 For, were ye as plain as Dunstable highway, 
 Yet should ye that way rather break a love day, 
 Than make one thus ; though ye perfectly knew 
 All that ye conjecture to be proved true. 
 Yet better dissemble it, and shake it off, 
 Than to broid him with it in earnest or scoff. 
 If he play falsehed in fellowship, play ye 
 See me and see me not; the worst part to flee. 
 Why, think ye me so white-livered, (quoth 
 she), _ ^ [ye 
 
 That I will be tongue-tied? Nay, I warrant 
 They that will he afraid of every fart 
 Must go far to piss. Well, (quoth I), your 
 
 part 
 Is to suffer (I say) ; for ye shall preeve 
 Taunts appease not things ; they rather 
 
 agrieve. 
 But for ill company, or expense extreme, 
 I here no man doubt, so far as ye deem ; 
 And there is no fire without some smoke, we 
 see. [she) ; 
 
 Well, well ! make no fire, raise no smoke, (said 
 What cloak for the rain soever ye bring me, 
 Myself can tell hest ivhere my shoe doth wring 
 me. 
 
TO Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. V. 
 
 But as ye say : ivhere fire is smoke will appear. 
 And so hath it done ; for I did lately hear 
 How flek and his make use their secret haunt- 
 ing, _ [ing. 
 By one bird, that in mine ear ivas late chaunU 
 One swallow maketh not summer, (said I), men 
 say. [lay, 
 I have, (quoth she), mo blocks in his way to 
 For further increase of suspicion of ills : 
 Beside his jetting- into the town to his gills, 
 With callets he consumeth himself and my 
 
 goods ; 
 Sometime in the fields, sometime in the woods. 
 Some hear and see him whom he heareth nor 
 seeth not — [wot ; 
 
 But fields have eyes and woods have earSy ye 
 And also on my maids he is ever tooling. 
 Can ye judge a man, (quoth I), by his looking? 
 What, a cat may look on a king, ye know ! 
 My cat's leering look, (quoth she), at first 
 
 show, 
 Showeth me that my cat goeth a catterwawing ; 
 And specially by his manner of drawing 
 To Madge, my fair maid ; for may he come 
 
 nigh her 
 He must needs bass her, as he cometh by her. 
 He loveth well sheep^s fiesh, that wets his 
 
 bread in the wool — 
 If he leave it not, we have a crow to pull. 
 He loveth her better at the sole of the foot 
 Than ever he loved me at the heart root. 
 It is a foul bird that fileth his own Jiest ; 
 I would have him live as God's law hath ex- 
 pressed, 
 And leave lewd ticking : he that will none ill do 
 Must do nothing that belongeth thereto; 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. V. 7' 
 
 To tick and laugh vvrth me he hath lawful leave. 
 To that I said nought, but laughed in my 
 
 sleeve ; 
 But when she seemed to be fixed in mind, 
 Rather to seek for that she was loth to find, 
 Than leave that seeking, by which she might 
 
 find ease, 
 I fained this fancy, to feel how it would please. 
 Will ye do well? (quoth I), take pain to watch 
 
 him ; 
 And if ye chance in advoutry to catch him, 
 Then have ye him on the hip, or on the hurdle; 
 Then have ye his head fast under your girdle; 
 Where your words now do but rub him on the 
 
 gall, [wall. 
 
 That deed without words shall drive him to the 
 And further than the wall he cannot go, 
 But must submit himself; and if it hap so 
 That at end of your watch he guiltless appear, 
 Then all grudge, grown by jealousy, taketh 
 
 end clear. [she) ; 
 
 Of all folks I may worst watch him, (said 
 For of all folks himself most watcheth me ; 
 I shall as soon try him, or take him this way, 
 As drive a top over a tiled house : no, nay ! 
 I may keep corners or hollow trees with th' owl, 
 This seven years, day and night to watch a 
 
 howl, 
 Before I shall catch him with undoubted evil. 
 He must have a long spoon shall eat with the 
 And the devil is no falser than is he. [devil; 
 I have heard tell, it had need to he [ear — 
 
 A wily mouse that should hreed in the cat's 
 Shall I get within him then? nay, ware that 
 
 gear ! 
 It is hard halting hefore a cripple, ye wot; 
 
72 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. V. 
 
 A falser water drinker there liveth not. 
 When he hunteth a doe that he cannot avow. 
 All dogs bark not at hhn, I warrant yow. 
 Namely not I, I say, though as I said, 
 He sometime, though seldom, by some be be- 
 wrayed, {toisoeth ; 
 Close hunting, (quoth I), the good hunter al- 
 But, be your husband never so still of mouth, 
 If ye can hunt, and will stand at receipt. 
 Your maid examined, maketh him open 
 
 straight. [preef, 
 
 That were, (quoth she), as of my truth to make 
 To axe my fellow whether I be a thief. 
 They cleave together like burrs; that way I 
 
 shall 
 Pike out no more than out of the stone wall. 
 Then like ye not to watch him for wife nor 
 
 maid? [I said ; 
 
 No ! (quoth she). Nor I, (quoth I), whatever 
 And I mislike not only your watch in vain, 
 But also, if ye took him, what could ye gain? 
 From suspicion to knowledge of ill, forsooth ! 
 Could make ye do but as the flounder doeth — 
 Leap out of the frying pan into the fire; 
 And change from ill pain to worse is worth 
 
 small hire. [doubt; 
 
 Let time try ! Time trieth truth in every 
 And deem the best till time hath tried the truth 
 
 out. 
 And reason sayeth : make not two sorrows of 
 
 one ; 
 But ye make ten sorrows where reason maketh 
 
 none. [wink 
 
 For where reason, (as I said), willeth you to 
 (Although all were proved as ill as ye think), 
 Contrary to reason ye stamp and ye stare ; 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. V. 73 
 
 Ye fret and ye fume, as mad as a March hare. 
 Without proof to his reproof, present or past, 
 But by such report as most prove lies at last. 
 And here goeth the hare away ; for ye judge all, 
 And judge the worst in all, ere proof in ought 
 
 fall. [saws ; 
 
 But blind men should judge no colours : by old 
 And folk ofttimes are most blind in their own 
 
 cause — 
 The blind eat many flies. Howbeit, the fancy 
 Of your blindness cometh not of ignorancy. 
 Ye could tell another herein the best way ; 
 But it is as folk do, and not as folk say ; 
 For they say, saying and doing are two things 
 To defend danger that double dealing brings : 
 As ye can seem wise in words, be wise in deed. 
 That is, (quoth she), sooner said than done, I 
 
 drede ; 
 But methinketh your counsel weigheth in the 
 
 whole 
 To make me put my finger in a hole ; 
 And so, by sufferance, to be so lither 
 In my house to lay fire and tow together. 
 But if they fire me, some of them shall win 
 More tow on their distaves than they can well 
 
 spin; [hands full — 
 
 And the best of them shall have both their 
 Bolster or pillow for me, be whose wull. 
 / will not bear the devil's sack, by Saint 
 
 Audry ! 
 For concealing suspicion of their baudry. 
 I fear false measures, or else I were a child; 
 For they that think none ill, are soonest be- 
 guiled. 
 And thus, though much water goeth by the mill 
 That the miller knoweth not of, yet I will 
 
74 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. VI. 
 
 Cast what may scape ; and, as though I did 
 
 find it, 
 With the clack of my mill to fine meal grind it. 
 And sure ere I take any rest in effect, 
 I must banish my maids such as I suspect : 
 Better it he done than wish it had been done. 
 As good undone, (quoth I), as do it too soon. 
 Well, (quoth she), till soon, fare ye well ! and 
 
 this 
 Keep ye as secret as ye think meet is. 
 Out at doors went she herewith ; and hereupon 
 In at doors came he forthwith, as she was 
 
 gone; 
 And, without any temperate protestation, 
 Thus he began, in way of exclamation. 
 
 Chapter VI. 
 
 Oh I what choice may compare to the devil's 
 
 life 
 Like his that have chosen a devil to his wife ? 
 Namely, such an old witch, such a macka- 
 
 broine. 
 As evermore like a hog hangeth the groyne 
 On her husband, except he be her slave. 
 And follow all fancies that she would have. 
 'Tis said : there is no good accord 
 Where every man would he a lord. 
 Wherefore, my wife will be no lord, but lady. 
 To make me, that should be her lord, a baby. 
 Before I was wedded, and since, I made 
 
 reckoning 
 To make my wife bow at every beckoning. 
 Bachelors hoast how they will teach their 
 
 wives good; 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. VI. 75 
 
 But many a man speaketh of Robin Hood 
 That never shot in his how. When all is 
 
 sought, [taught. 
 
 Bachelors^ wives, and maids' children be well 
 And this with this, I also begin to gather : 
 Every man can rule a shrew, save he that hath 
 
 her. [like wax ; 
 
 At my will I weened she should have wrought 
 But I find and feel she hath found such knacks 
 In her bouget, and such toys in her head, 
 That to dance after her pipe I am nigh led. 
 It is said of old : an old dog biteth sore; 
 But, by God ! th' old bitch biteth sorer and 
 
 more ; [her tongue. 
 
 And not with teeth — (she hath none) — but with 
 If all tales be true, (quoth I), though she be 
 
 stung, [blame ; 
 
 And thereby sting you, she is not much to 
 For, whatever you say, thus goeth the same. 
 When folk first saw your substance laid in 
 
 your lap, [g'ood hap, 
 
 Without your pain, with your wife brought by 
 Oft in remembrance of haps happy device 
 They would say : better to be happy than wise; 
 Not minding thereby then to deprave your wit, 
 For they had good hope to see good proof of it. 
 But since their good opinion therein so cools, 
 That they say as oft : God sendeth fortune to 
 
 fools ; 
 In that, as fortune without your wit gave it, 
 So can your wit not keep it when ye have it. 
 Sayeth one : this gear was gotten on a holy 
 
 day ; 
 Sayeth another : who may hold that will away. 
 This game, from beginning, showeth what end 
 
 is meant: 
 
76 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. VI 
 
 Soon gotten, soon spent; ill gotten, ill spent. 
 Ye are called not only too great a spender, 
 Too frank a giver, and as free a lender ; 
 But also, ye spend, give, and lend, among such 
 Whose lightness minisheth your honesty as 
 
 much 
 As your money ; and much they disallow 
 That ye hrike all from her, that brought all to 
 
 yow; 
 And spend it out at doors, in spite of her, 
 Because ye would kill her to be quit of her. 
 For all kindness, of her part, that may rise, 
 Ye show all th' unkindness ye can devise. 
 And where reason and custom, (they say), 
 
 affords 
 Alway to let the losers have their iiwrds. 
 Ye make her a cuckquean and consume her 
 
 good; 
 And she must sit like a bean in a monk's hood. 
 Bearing no more rule than a g-oose turd in 
 
 Thames ; 
 But, at her own maids' becks, wings, or hems, 
 She must obey those lambs, or else a lambskin 
 Ye will provide for her, to lap her in. [say ; 
 
 This biteth the mare by the thumb, as they 
 For were ye, touching condition, (say they). 
 The castle of honesty in all things else, 
 Yet should this one thing-, as their whole tale 
 
 tells. 
 Defile and deface that castle to a cottage — 
 One crop of a turd marreth a pot of potage. 
 And some to this cry. Let him pass, for we 
 think [stink. 
 
 The more we stir a turd, the worse it will 
 With many conditions good, one that is ill 
 Defaoeth the flower of all, and doth all spoil. 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. VII. 77 
 
 Now, (quoth I), if you think they truly clatter, 
 Let your amendment amend the matter : 
 Half warned, half armed. This warning- for 
 this I show, [know. 
 
 He that hath an ill name is half hanged, ye 
 
 Chapter VII. 
 
 Well said ! (said he). Marry, sir ! here is a 
 
 tale — 
 For honesty, meet to set the devil on sale. 
 But now am I forced a bead roll to unfold, 
 To tell somewhat more to the tale I erst told. 
 Grow this, as most part doth, I durst hold my 
 
 hfe. 
 Of the jealousy of dame Julok, my wife, 
 Then shall ye wonder, when truth doth define. 
 How she can, and doth here both bite and 
 
 whine. 
 Frenzy, heresy, and jealousy are three, 
 That men say hardly, or never, cured be. 
 And although jealousy need not or boot not, 
 What helpeth that counsel, if reason root not? 
 And in mad jealousy she is so far g^one 
 She thinketh I run over all that I look on. 
 Take good heed of that, (quoth I), for at a 
 
 word, [sword 
 
 The proverb salth : he that striketh with the 
 Shall he stricken with the scabbard. Tush ! 
 
 (quoth he). 
 The devil with my scabbard will not strike me ; 
 But, my dame taking- suspicion for full prefe, 
 Reporteth it for a truth to the most mischief. 
 In words g"old and whole, as men by wit could 
 
 wish, 
 
78 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. VII. 
 
 She will lie as fast as a dog will lick a dish. 
 She is, of truth, as false as God is true; 
 And, if she chance to see me, at a view. 
 Kiss any of my maids alone, but in sport, 
 That taketh she in earnest, after Bedlam sort. 
 The cow is wood; her tongue runneth on pat- 
 tens ; 
 If it be morn, we have a pair of matins ; 
 If it be even, evensong, not Latin nor Greek, 
 But English, and like that as in Easter week. 
 She beginneth, first with a cry a leison ; 
 To which she ringeth a peal, a larum ; such one 
 As folk ring bees with basins — the world run- 
 neth on wheels. 
 But except her maid show a fair pair of heels, 
 She haleth her by the boy rope, till her brains 
 ache. [make — 
 
 And bring I home a good dish, good cheer to 
 What is this? (saith she). Good meat, (say I), 
 for yow ! [sow ! 
 
 God have mercy, horse ! a pig of mine own 
 Thus when I see by kindness ease reneweth 
 not, [reweth not; 
 
 And then, that the eye seeth not, the heart 
 And that he must needs go whom the devil doth 
 
 drive ; 
 Her force forcing me, for mine ease to contrive 
 To let her fast and fret alone for me, 
 I go where merry chat and good cheer may be. 
 Much spend I abroad, which at home should 
 
 be spent 
 If she would leave controlling and be content. 
 There leaped a whiting, (quoth she), and leaped 
 in straight ; [ceit. 
 
 Take a hair from his beard, and mark this con- 
 He maketh you believe, by lies laid on by load, 
 
Proverbs, Pt II., Ch. VII. 79 
 
 My brawling at home maketh him banquet 
 abroad. [home. 
 
 Where his banquets abroad make me brawl at 
 For, as in a frost, a mud wall made of loam 
 Cracketh and crummeth in pieces asunder, 
 So melteth his money, to the world's wonder. 
 Thus may ye see, to turn the cat in the pan, 
 Or set the cart before the horse, well he can; 
 He is but little at home, the truth is so ; 
 And, forth with him, he will not let me go ; 
 And if I come to be merry where he is, 
 Then is he mad, as ye shall hear by this. 
 Where he, with gossips at a banquet late was, 
 At which, as use is, he paid all — but let pass ! 
 I came to be merry ; wherewith merrily : 
 Preface ! Have among you blind harpers, (said 
 
 I)- 
 
 The mo the merrier, we all day hear and see. 
 Yea, but the fewer the better fare, (said he). 
 Then here were, ere I came, (quoth I), too 
 
 many ; 
 Here is but little meat left, if there be any. 
 And it is ill coming, I have heard say, 
 To th' end of a shot and beginning of a fray. 
 Put up thy purse, (quoth he), thou shalt none 
 
 pay ; [thy way. 
 
 And fray here should be none were thou gone 
 Here is, since thou camest, too many feet 
 
 a-bed; [errand sped. 
 
 Welcome ! when thou goest : thus is thine 
 I come, (quoth I), to be one here, if I shall — 
 It is merry in hall when beards wag all. 
 What, bid me welcome, pig? I pray thee kiss 
 
 me ! 
 Nay, farewell, sow ! (quoth he), our Lord bliss 
 
 me 
 
So Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. VII. 
 
 From hassing of beasts of Bearbinder Lane. 
 I have, (quoth I), for fine sugar, fair rat's-bane. 
 Many years since, my mother said to me, 
 Her elders would say : it is better to be 
 An old man's darling than a young man's war- 
 ling. 
 And God knoweth ! I knew none of this snarl- 
 ing- 
 In my old husband's days; for, as tenderly 
 He loved me as ye love me slenderly ; 
 We drew both in one line. Quoth he, would 
 to our lord \cord. 
 
 Ye had, in that drawing, hanged both in one 
 For I never meet thee at flesh, nor at fish. 
 But / have sure a dead man's head in my dish; 
 Whose best and my worst day, that wish might 
 
 be. 
 Was when thou didst bury him and marry me. 
 If you, (quoth I), long for change in those 
 
 cases. 
 Would to God he and you had changed places ! 
 But best I change place, for here I may be 
 
 spared. 
 And for my kind coming, this is my reward. 
 Claw a churl by th' arse, and he shitteth in my 
 hand; [band. 
 
 Knack me that nut, much good doyt you all this 
 Must she not, (quoth he), be welcome to us all, 
 Among us all, letting such a farewell fall? 
 Such carpenters, such chips, (quoth she) ; folk 
 tell ; [farewell. 
 
 Such lips, such lettuce; such welcome, such 
 Thine own words, (quoth he), thine own wel- 
 come marr'd. [jarr'd, 
 Well, (said she), whensoever we twain have 
 My words be pried at narrowly, I espy. 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. VII. Si 
 
 Ye can see a inote in another man's eye, 
 
 But ye cannot see a halk in your own. 
 
 Yea, mark my words, but not that they be 
 
 g^rown 
 By your revellous riding- on every royle ; 
 Well nig-h every day a new mare or a moyle, 
 As much unhonest, as unprofitable. 
 Which shall bring- us shortly to be unable 
 To give a dog a loaf, as I have oft said. 
 Howbeit, your pleasure may no time be denied, 
 But still you must have both the finest meat, 
 Apparel, and all thing- that money may g-eat ; 
 Like one of fond fancy so fine and so neat 
 That would have better bread than is made of 
 
 wheat. 
 The best is best cheap, (quoth he), men say 
 
 clear. 
 Well, (quoth she), a man may buy gold too 
 
 dear ; 
 Ye nother care, nor wellnigh cast what ye pay, 
 To buy the dearest for the best alway. 
 Then for your diet who useth feeding- such, 
 Eat more than enough, and drink much more 
 
 too much. [school : 
 
 But temperance teacheth this, where he keepeth 
 He that knoweth when he hath enough is no 
 
 fool. 
 Feed by measure, and defy the physician; 
 And, in the contrary, mark this condition : 
 A swine over fat is cause of his own bane; 
 Who seeth noug-ht herein, his wit is in the 
 
 wane. 
 But pompous provision, cometh not all, alway 
 Of gluttony, but of pride sometime, some say. 
 But this proverb preacheth to men haut or 
 
 high: 
 
 HEY. II. G 
 
82 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. VII. 
 
 Hew not too high lest the chips fall in thine eye. 
 Measure is a merry mean, as this doth show : 
 Not too high for the pye, nor too low for the 
 
 crow. 
 The difference between staring and stark blind 
 The wise man at all times to follow can find; 
 And i-wis an auditor of a mean wit, [yit ; 
 
 May soon accompt, though hereafter come not 
 Yet is he sure, be the day never so long, 
 Evermore at last they ring to evensong. 
 And where ye spend much though ye sp^nt but 
 
 lickle, 
 Yet little and little the cat eateth the flickle ; 
 Little loss by length may grow importable; 
 A mouse in time may bite a-two a cable. 
 Thus, to end of all things, be we lief or loth, 
 Yet lo, the pot so long to the water goeth. 
 Till at the last it cometh home broken; 
 Few words to the wise suffice to be spoken. 
 If ye were wise, here were enough, (quoth she). 
 Here is enough, and too much, dame, (quoth 
 
 For, though this appear a proper pulpit piece, 
 Yet when the fox preacheth then beware your 
 
 geese. 
 A good tale ill told, in the telling is marred. 
 So are, (quoth she), good tales well told, and 
 
 ill heard. \wit, wife : 
 
 Thy tales, (quoth he), show longhair, and short 
 But long be thy legs, and short be thy life. 
 Pray for yourself! I am not sick, (quoth she). 
 Well let's see, what thy last tale cometh to, 
 
 (quoth he) : [wander ; 
 
 Thou sayest I spend all; to this, thy words 
 But, as deep drinketh the goose as the gander. 
 Thou canst cough in the aumbry, if need be, 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. VII. 83 
 
 When I shall cough without bread or broth for 
 
 thee. 
 Whereby, while thou sendest me abroad to 
 
 spend, 
 Thou gossipest at home to meet me at land's 
 
 end. [mean' — 
 
 Ah ! then I beguile you, (quoth she), this ye 
 But sir ! my pot is whole, and my water clean. 
 Well, thou wouldst have me, (quoth he), pinch 
 
 like a snudge. 
 Every day to be thy drivel and drudge. 
 Not so, (quoth she), but I would have ye stir 
 Honestly ; to keep the wolf froin the dur. 
 I would drive the wolf out at door first, (quoth 
 
 he); 
 And that can I not do, till I drive out thee. 
 A man were better be drowned in Venice gulf 
 Than have such a bearded bear, or such a wolf ! 
 But had I not been witched, my wedding to 
 
 flee, [me. 
 
 The terms that long to wedding had warned 
 First, wooing for woeing ; banna for banning ; 
 The banns for my bane; and then this, thus 
 
 scanning — 
 Marrying marring. And what married I than? 
 A woman ! As who saith, woe to the man ! 
 Thus wed I with woe, wed I Jill, wed I Jane — 
 I pray God, the devil go with thee down the 
 
 lane! [agreed), 
 
 I grant, (quoth she), this doth sound, (as ye 
 On your side in words, but on my side in deed. 
 Thou grant'st this grant, (quoth he), without 
 
 any grace ; 
 Ungraciously, to thy side, to turn this case. 
 Leave this, (quoth she), and learn liberality 
 To stint strife, grown by your prodigality. 
 
 G 2 
 
84 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. VII. 
 
 Oft said the wise man, whom I erst did bury : 
 Better are meals many than one too merry. 
 Well, (quoth he), that is answered with this, 
 
 wife : [whole life. 
 
 Better is one month^s cheer than a churl's 
 I think it learning' of a wiser lectour, 
 To learn to make myself mine own exectour, 
 Than spare for another that might wed thee, 
 As the fool, thy first husband, spared for me. 
 And as for ill places, thou seekest me in mo, 
 And in worse too, than I into any go. 
 Whereby this proverb showeth thee in by the 
 
 week : 
 No man will another in the oven seek 
 Except that himself have been there before. 
 God g^ive grace thou hast been good ! I say no 
 
 more ; [couldst prove 
 
 And w^ould have thee say less except thou 
 Such process as thou slanderously dost move. 
 For slander, perchance, (quoth she), I not deny 
 It may be a slander, but it is no lie. 
 It is a lie, (quoth he), and thou a liar ! 
 Will ye, (quoth she), drive me to touch ye 
 
 nigher? [yit 
 
 I rub the galled horse back till he winch ; and 
 He would make it seem that I touch him no 
 
 whit. [make : 
 
 But I wot what I wot, though I few words 
 Many kiss the child for the nurse's sake. 
 Ye have many good children to look upon, 
 And ye bless them all, but ye bass but one. 
 This half showeth, what the whole meaneth, 
 
 that I meve. 
 Ye fet circumquaques to make me believe^ 
 Or think, that the moon is made of a green 
 
 cheese. 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. VII. 85 
 
 And when ye have made me a lout in all these, 
 It seemeth ye would make me go to bed at 
 
 noon. 
 Nay, (quoth he), the day of doom shall he done 
 Ere thou go to bed at noon, or night, for me. 
 Thou art, to be plain, and not to flatter thfee. 
 As wholesome a morsel for my comely corse 
 As a shoulder of mutton for a sick horse. 
 The devil with his dam hath more rest in hell 
 Than I have here with thee; but well, wife, 
 
 well ! \huckets. 
 
 Well, well ! (quoth she), many wells , many 
 Yea ! (quoth he), and many words, many 
 
 buffets. [thus, 
 
 Had you some husband, and snapped at him 
 Iwys he would give you a recumbentibus. 
 A dog will hark ere he bite, and so thou 
 After thy barking wilt bite me, I trow now ; 
 But it is hard to make an old dog stoop, lo ! 
 Sir, (quoth she), a man may handle his dog so 
 That he may make him bite him, though he 
 
 would not. [wives scold not; 
 
 Husbands are in heaven, (quoth he), whose 
 Thou tnakest me claw where it itcheth not. I 
 
 would [cold ; 
 
 Thy tongue were cooled to make thy tales more 
 7'hat aspen leaf, such spiteful clapping have 
 
 bred. 
 That my cap is better at ease than my head. 
 God send that head, (said she), a better nurse ! 
 For when the head acheth all the body is the 
 
 worse. 
 God grant, (quoth I), the head and body, both 
 
 two. 
 To nurse each other better than they do : 
 Or ever have done for the most times past. 
 
S6 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. VII. 
 
 1 brought to nurse both, (quoth she), had it not 
 
 been waste. [meal; 
 
 Margery, good cow, (quoth he), gave a good 
 But then she cast it down again with her heel. 
 How can her purse for profit be delightful 
 Whose person and properties be thus spiteful? 
 A piece of a kid is worth two of a cat — 
 Who the devil will change a rahhit for a rat? 
 If I might change, I would rather choose to 
 
 beg, 
 Or sit with a roasted apple or an eg^ 
 Where mine appetite serveth me to be, 
 Than ev-ery day to fare like a duke with thee ! 
 Like a duke? like a duck I (quoth she), thou 
 
 shalt fare, [yet spare. 
 
 Except thou wilt spare, more than thou dost 
 Thou farest too well, (quoth he), but thou art 
 
 so wood, [doth thee good. 
 
 Thou knowest not who doth thee harm, who 
 Yes, yes ! (quoth she), for all those wise words 
 
 uttered, 
 I know on which side my bread is buttered; 
 But there will no butter cleave on my bread. 
 And on my bread any butter to be spread ; 
 Every promise that thou therein dost utter, 
 Is as sure as it were sealed with butter. 
 Or a mouse tied with a thread. Every good 
 
 thing 
 Thou lettest even slip, like a waghalter slip- 
 But take up in time, or else I protest, [string. 
 All be not a-bed that shall have ill rest. 
 Now, go to thy darlings, and declare thy grief, 
 Where all thy pleasure is : hop whore, pipe 
 
 thief! 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. VIII. 87 
 
 Chapter VIII. 
 
 With this, thence hopped she; wherewith, O 
 Lord ! he cried, [bide? 
 
 What wretch but I this wretchedness could 
 Howbeit, in all this woe, I have no wrong-; 
 For it only is all on myself along. 
 Where I should have bridled her first with 
 
 rough bit, 
 To have made her chew on the bridle one fit, 
 For lickorous lucre of a little winning, 
 I gave her the bridle at beginning ; 
 And now she taketh the bridle in the teeth, 
 And runneth away with it; whereby each man 
 
 seeth 
 It is, (as old men right well understand), 
 III putting a naked sword in a madman's hand. 
 She taketh such heart of grace that though I 
 
 maim her. 
 Or kill her, yet shall I never reclaim her. 
 She hath, (they say), been s^iff-necked ever- 
 more; 
 And it is ill healing of an old sore. 
 This proverb prophesied many years agone : 
 It will not out of the flesh that is bred in the 
 bone. [sort 
 
 What chance have I, to have a wife of such 
 That will no fault amend, in earnest nor sport? 
 A small thing- amiss lately I did espy. 
 Which to make her mend, by a jest merrily, 
 I said but this : taunt tivet, wife, your nose 
 
 drops ; 
 So it may fall, I will eat no browesse sops 
 This day. But two days after this came in urc, 
 I had sorrow to my sops enough, be sure ! 
 
88 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. VIII. 
 
 Well! (quoth I), it is ill jesting on the sooth; 
 Sooth hourd is no boiird, in oug^ht that mirth 
 
 doeth. 
 Such jests could not jug-gle her, were ought 
 
 amiss, 
 Nor turn melancholy to mirth ; for it is 
 No playing with a straw before an old cat. 
 Every trifling toy age cannot laugh at; 
 Ye may walk this way, but sure ye shall find 
 The further ye go, the further behind. 
 Ye should consider the woman is old : [cold ! 
 And what for? a hot word? soon hot, soon 
 Bear with them that bear with you, and she is 
 
 scanned 
 Not only the fairest flower in your garland, 
 But also she is all the fair flowers thereof : 
 Will ye requite her then with a taunting scoff? 
 Or with any other kind of unkindness? [ness ! 
 Take heed is a fair thing: beware this blind- 
 Why will ye, (quoth he), I shall follow her will? 
 To make me John Drawlatch, or such a sneak- 
 bill? 
 To bring her solace that bringeth me sorrow? 
 By 'r lady ! then we shall catch birds to-morrow : 
 A good wife maketh a good husband, (they 
 
 say). 
 That, (quoth I), ye may turn another way : 
 To make a good husband, make a good wife; 
 I can no more herein, but God stint all strife ! 
 Amen ! (quoth he), and God have mercy, 
 
 brother ! 
 I will now mend this house and pair another. 
 And that he meant, of likelihood, by his own ; 
 For, so apaired he that, ere three years were 
 
 grown , 
 That little and little he decayed so long, 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. IX. 89 
 
 Till he at length came to buckle and hare 
 
 thong. 
 To discharge charge, that necessarily grew, 
 There was no more water than the ship drew. 
 Such drifts drave he, from ill to worse and 
 Till he was as hare as a bird's arse. [worse, 
 Money, and money worth, did so miss him 
 That he had not now one penny to hliss him; 
 Which, foreseen in this woman, wisely weigh- 
 ing [ing, 
 That meet was to stay somewhat for her stay- 
 To keep yet one mess for Alison in store. 
 She kept one bag that he had not seen before : 
 A poor cook that may not lick his own fingers. 
 But about her at home now still he lingers. 
 Not checker a-hoord, all was not clear in the 
 
 coast, 
 He looked like one that had beshit the roast. 
 But whether any secret tales were sprinkling. 
 Or that he by guess had got an inkling 
 Of her hoard ; or that he thought to amend, 
 And turn his ill beginning to a good end 
 In showing himself a new man, as was fit, 
 That appeared shortly after, but not yet. 
 
 Chapter IX. 
 
 One day in their arbour — which stood so to 
 
 mine. 
 That I might, and did, closely mine ear incline, 
 And likewise cast mine eye, to hear and see 
 What they said and did, where they could not 
 He unto her a goodly tale began, [see me — 
 More like a wooer than a wedded man. 
 As ferre as matter thereof therein served 
 
go Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. IX. 
 
 But the first part from words of wooing 
 
 swerved, 
 And stood upon repentance, with submission 
 Of his former crooked unkind condition ; 
 Fraying- her to forgive and forget all, free 
 And he forgave her as he forgiven would he ; 
 Loving- her now, as he full deeply swore, 
 As hotly as ever he loved her before. 
 Well, well ! (quoth she), whatever ye now say, 
 It is too late to call agai?! yesterday. 
 Wife ! (quoth he), such may my diligence seem 
 That th 'offence of yesterday I may redeem; 
 God taketh me as I am, and not as I was — 
 Take you me so too, and let all things past 
 pass. [think plain : 
 
 I pray thee, good wife ! think I speak and 
 What ! he runneth far that never turneth again. 
 Ye be young enough to mend, I agree it; 
 But I am, (quoth she), too old to see it; 
 And amend ye or not, I am too old a year. 
 What is life where living is extinct clear? 
 Namely at old years of least help and most 
 need ; [heed. 
 
 But no tale could tune you in time to take 
 If I tune myself now, (quoth he), it is fair; 
 And hope of true tune shall tune me from de- 
 spair, [(said she) ; 
 Believe well, and have well, men say ; yea, 
 Do well, and have well, men say also, we see. 
 But what man can believe, that man can do 
 
 well 
 Who of no man will counsel take, or hear tell? 
 Which to you, when any man any way tried, 
 Then were ye deaf: ye coidd not hear on that 
 
 side. 
 Whoever with you any time therein wears. 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. IX. 91 
 
 He must both tell you a tale, and find you ears. 
 You had on your harvest ears, thick of hearing ; 
 But this is a question of old inquiring : 
 Who is so deaf, or so blind, as is he 
 That wilfully will nother hear nor see? 
 When I saw your manner, my heart for woe 
 
 molt; [bolt: 
 
 Then would ye mend as the fietcher mends his 
 Or as sour ale mendeth in summer: I know, 
 And knew, which way the wind blew, and will 
 
 blow. 
 Though not to my profit, a prophet was I : 
 I prophesied this, too true a prophecy. 
 When I was right ill believed, and worse hard, 
 By flinging from your folks at home, which all 
 
 marred. 
 When I said in semblance either cold or warm : 
 A man far from his good is nigh his harm. 
 Or willed ye to look, that ye lost no more, 
 On such as show that hungry flies bite sore, 
 Then would ye look over me, with stomach 
 Like as the devil looked over Lincoln, [swollen, 
 The devil is dead, wife, (quoth he), for ye see 
 I look like a lamb in all your words to me. 
 Look as ye list now, (quoth she), thus looked ye 
 
 than ; 
 And for those looks I show this, to show each 
 
 man, 
 Such proof of this proverb, as none is greater. 
 Which saith, that some man may steal a horse 
 
 better 
 Than some other may stand and look upon. 
 Lewd huswives might have words, but I not 
 
 one 
 That might be allowed. But now if ye look, 
 In mistaking me, ye may see, ye took 
 
92 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. IX. 
 
 The ivrong way to wood, and the wrong sow by 
 
 th'ear ; 
 And thereby in the wrong box to thrive, ye 
 
 were. 
 I have heard some, to some tell this tale not 
 
 seeld : 
 When thrift is in the town, ye be in the field; 
 But contrary, you made that sense to sown, 
 When thrift was in the field, ye were in the 
 
 town. [^rjy 5 
 
 Field ware might sinh or swim while ye had 
 Town ware was your ware to turn the penny. 
 But town or field, where most thrift did appear, 
 What ye won in the hundred ye lost in the 
 
 shire — 
 In all your good husbandry thus rid the rock. 
 Ye stumbled at a straw, and leapt over a block. 
 So many kinds of increase you had in choice. 
 And nought increase nor keep, how can I re- 
 joice? 
 Good riding at two anchors men have told, 
 For if the tone fail, the tother may hold. 
 But you leave all anchor hold, on seas or lands. 
 And so set up shop upon Goodwin's sands. 
 But as folk have a saying, both old and true, 
 In that they say : black will take none other 
 So may I say here, to my deep dolour, [hue ; 
 It is a bad cloth that will take no colour. 
 This case is yours ; for ye were never so wise 
 To take speck of colour of good advice. 
 Th 'advice of all friends I say, one and other 
 Went in at the tone ear, and out at the tothrr. 
 And as those words went out, this proverb in 
 
 came : 
 He that will not be ruled by his own dame 
 Shall be ruled by his stepdame ; and so you. 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. IX. 93 
 
 Having- lost your own good, and own friends 
 
 now, 
 May seek your foreign friends, if you have any. 
 And sure one of my great griefs, among many, 
 Is that ye have been so very a hog [dog ! 
 To my friends. What, man? love me, love my 
 But you, to cast precious stones before hogs, 
 Cast my good before a sort of cur dogs 
 And salt bitches ; which by whom now de- 
 voured, 
 And your honesty among them deflowered, 
 And that you may no more expense afford, 
 Now can they not afford you one good word. 
 And you them as few. And old folk under- 
 stood : \_good. 
 When thieves jail out true men come to their 
 Which is not alway true; for, in all that bretch, 
 I can no farthing of my g^ood the more fetch ; 
 Nor, I trow, themselves neither, if they were 
 
 sworn ; 
 Light come, light go I And sure, since we were 
 
 born. 
 Ruin of one ravine was there none g-reater ; 
 For, by your gifts, they be as little the better 
 As you be much the worse, and I cast away — 
 An ill wind that hloweth no man to good, men 
 say. [the com. 
 
 Well, (quoth he), every wind hloweth not down 
 I hope, (I say), good hap be not all outworn. 
 I will now begin thrift, when thrift seemeth 
 gone — [than one ; 
 
 What, wife ! there be mo ways to the wood 
 And I will assay all the ways to the wood 
 Till I find one way to get again this good. 
 Ye will get it again, (quoth she), I fear, 
 As shortly as a horse will lick his ear. 
 
94 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. IX. 
 
 The Dutchman sayeth, that segging is good 
 
 cope ; 
 Good words bring- not ever of good deeds good 
 
 hope ; [scorn — 
 
 And these words show your words spoken in 
 It pricketh betimes that will he a good thorn; 
 Timely crooketh the tree, that will a good 
 
 cammock he. 
 And, such heginning such end, we all day see; 
 And you, by me at beginning being thriven, 
 And then to keep thrift could not be pricked nor 
 
 driven — 
 How can ye now get thrift, the stock being 
 
 gone? 
 Which is th'only thing to rise thrift upon. 
 Men say : he may ill run that cannot go, 
 And your gain, without your stock, runneth 
 
 even so. 
 For, what is a workman without his tools ? — 
 Tales of Robin Hood are good among fools. 
 He can ill pipe that lacketh his upper lip; 
 Who lacketh a stock, his gain is not worth a 
 
 chip. 
 A tale of a tub, your tale no truth avoweth ; 
 Ye speak now as ye would creep into my 
 
 mouth; 
 In pure painted process — as false as fair — 
 How ye will amend when ye cannot appair? 
 But against gay glossers this rude text re- 
 cites : 
 It is not all butter that the cow shites. 
 I heard once a wise man say to his daughter : 
 Better is the last smile than the first laughter. 
 We shall, I trust, (quoth he), laugh again at 
 
 last. 
 Although I be once out of the saddle cast ; 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. IX. 95 
 
 Yet, since I am bent to sit, this will I do : 
 Recover the horse or Use the saddle too. [hap, 
 Ye never could yet, (quoth she), recover any 
 To win or save ought, to stop any one gap. 
 For stopping of gaps, (quoth he), care not a 
 
 rush, 
 I will learn to stop two gaps with one hush. 
 Ye will, (quoth she), as soon stop gaps with 
 
 rushes 
 As with any husbandly handsome bushes. 
 Your tales have like taste, where temperance is 
 
 taster. 
 To break my head, and then give me a plaster. 
 Now thrift is gone, now would ye thrive in all 
 
 haste ; [waste. 
 
 And when ye had thrift, ye had like haste to 
 Ye liked then better an inch of your will 
 Than an ell of your thrift. Wife (quoth he), 
 
 be still, 
 May I be holp forth an inch at a pinch, 
 I will yet thrive, (I say) : As good is an inch 
 As an ell. Ye can, (quoth she), make it so 
 
 well ; 
 For when I gave you an inch, ye took an ell, 
 Till both ell and inch be gone, and we in debt. 
 Nay, (quoth he), with a wet finger ye can fet 
 As much as may easily all this matter ease ; 
 And this debate also pleasantly appease, [now, 
 I could do as much with an hundred pound 
 As with a thousand afore, I assure you. 
 Yea, (quoth she), who had that he hath not 
 
 would 
 Do that he doeth not, as old men have told. 
 Had I, as ye have, I would do more, (quoth 
 
 he), [see. 
 
 Than the priest spake of on Sunday, ye should 
 
96 Proverbs, Pt II., Ch. IX. 
 
 Ye do, as I have, (quoth she) ; for nought I 
 
 have 
 And nought ye do. What, man ! I trow ye 
 
 rave : [cake ? 
 
 Would ye both eat your cake and have your 
 Ye have had of me all that I might make ; 
 And, be a man never so greedy to win, 
 He can have no more of the fox but the skin. 
 Well ! (quoth he), if ye list to bring it out, 
 Ye can give me your blessing in a clout. 
 That were for my child, (quoth she), had I 
 
 ony ; 
 But husband ! I have neither child, nor money. 
 Ye cast and conjecture this much, like in show. 
 As the blind man casts his staff, or shoots the 
 
 croiLK [none, 
 
 Howbeit, had I money right much, and ye 
 Yet to be plain, ye should have none for Joan. 
 Nay, he that first fiattereth me, as ye have 
 
 done, 
 And doth as ye did to me after, so soon, 
 He may be in my Pater noster indeed; 
 But be sure, he shall never come in my Creed. 
 Ave Maria ! (quoth he), how much motion 
 Here is to prayers, with how little devotion ; 
 But some men say : no penny no Pater noster I 
 I say to such (said she) : no longer foster. 
 No longer lemman. But fare and well then, 
 Pray and shift each one for himself, as he can : 
 Every man for himself, and God for us all. 
 To those words he said nought ; but, forthwith 
 
 did fall [speech. 
 
 From harping on that string to fair flattering 
 And, as I erst said, he did her so beseech. 
 That things erst so far off were no7V so far on, 
 That as she may wallow, away she is gone 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. IX. 97 
 
 Where all that was left lay with a trusty friend, 
 Dwelling a good walk from her at the town's 
 
 end. 
 And back again straight a halting pace she 
 
 hobbles, 
 Bringing a bag of royals and nobles ; 
 All that she had, without restraint of one jot — 
 She brought bullock's noble, for noble or groat 
 Had she not one mo : which I after well knew. 
 And anon smiling, toward him as she drew, 
 Ah, sir ! light burden jar heavy (quoth she) ; 
 This light burden in long walk well-nigh trieth 
 
 me. 
 God give grace I play not the fool thi:^ day ; 
 For here / send th'axe after the helve away. 
 But if ye will stint and avoid all strife. 
 Love and cherish this as ye would my life. 
 I will, (quoth he), wife, by God Almighty ! 
 This gear cometh even in pudding time rightly. 
 He snatched at the bag. No haste but good, 
 
 (quoth she) ; 
 Short shooting leseth your game, ye may see. 
 Ye missed the cushion, for all your haste to it. 
 And / may set you beside the cushion yit. 
 And make you wipe your nose upon your sleeve 
 For ought ye shall win without ye axe me leave. 
 Have ye not heard tell, all covet, all lose? 
 Ah, sir ! I see ye may see no green cheese 
 But your teeth must water — a good cockney 
 
 coke ! 
 Though ye love not to buy the pig in the poke, 
 Yet snatch ye at the poke, that the pig is in, 
 Not for the poke, but the pig good cheap to 
 
 win. 
 Like one half lost, till greedy grasping gat it, 
 Ye would be over the stile ere ye come at it. 
 
 HEY. II. H 
 
98 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. X. 
 
 But abide, friend ! your mother hid till ye were 
 horn : [morn. 
 
 Snatching winneth it not, if ye snatch till to 
 Men say, (said he), long sta7iding and small 
 offering [proffering 
 
 Maketh poor persons; and, in such signs and 
 Many pretty tales and merry toys had they, 
 Before this bag came fully from her away. 
 Kindly he kissed her, with words not tart nor 
 tough : [enough. 
 
 But the cat knoweth whose lips she licketh well 
 Anon, the bag she delivered him, and said 
 He should bear it, for that it now heavy 
 
 weighed. 
 With good will, wife ! for it is, (said he to her), 
 A proud horse that will not hear his own pro- 
 vender. 
 And oft before seemed she never so wise, 
 Yet was she now, suddenly waxen as nice 
 As it had heen a halporth of silver spoons. 
 Thus cloudy mornings turn to clear afternoons ; 
 But so nigh noon it was, that by and by, 
 They rose, and went to dinner lovingly. 
 
 Chapter X. 
 
 This dinner thought he long, and straight after 
 To his accustomed customers he gat ; [that 
 With whom, in what time he spent one groat 
 
 before, 
 In less time he spent now ten groats or more; 
 And in small time he brought the world so 
 
 about [out. 
 
 That he hrought the hottom of the hag clean 
 His gadding thus again made her ill content ; 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. X. 99 
 
 But she not so much as dreamed that all was 
 
 spent. 
 Howbeit, suddenly, she minded on a day 
 To pick the chest lock, wherein this bag lay ; 
 Determining this : if it lay whole still. 
 So shall it lie — no mite she minish will ; [best 
 And, if the bag began to shrink, she thought 
 To take for her part some part of the rest. 
 But straight as she had forthwith opened the 
 
 lock, 
 And looked in the bag what it was a clock, 
 Then was it proved true, as this proverb goeth : 
 He that cometh last to the pot is soonest wrotJi. 
 By her coming last, and too late to the pot. 
 Whereby she was potted thus like a sot 
 To see the pot both skimmed for running over, 
 And also all the liquor run at rover. 
 At her good husband's and her next meeting, 
 The devil's good grace might have given a 
 
 greeting, 
 Either for honour or honesty, as good [wood ; 
 As she gave him : she was, (as they say), horn 
 In no place could she sit herself to settle. 
 It seemed to him she had pissed on a nettle. 
 She nettled him, and he rattled her so, 
 That at end of that fray asunder they go ; 
 And never after came together again — 
 He turned her out at doors to graze on the 
 
 plain. 
 And himself went after ; for, within fortnight, 
 All that was left was launched out quite. 
 And thus had he brought haddock to paddock^ 
 Till they both were not worth a haddock. 
 It hath been said : need maketh the old wife 
 
 trot — 
 Other folk said it, but she did it, God wot ! 
 
 H 2 
 
100 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. X. 
 
 First from friend to friend, and then from dur 
 
 to dur, 
 A-begging- of some that had begged of her. 
 But as men say : misery may be mother 
 Where one beggar is driven to beg of another. 
 And thus wore and wasted this most woeful 
 
 wretch, [fetch. 
 
 Till death from this life did her wretchedly 
 Her late husband, and now widower, here and 
 
 there [where ; 
 
 Wandering about, few know and fewer care 
 Cast out as an abject, he leadeth his life 
 Till famine belike fet him after his wife. 
 
 Now let us note here : First, of the first 
 
 twain. 
 Where they both wedded, together to remain, 
 Hoping joyful presence should wear out all 
 
 woe : 
 Yet poverty brought that joy to ;oy-fail, lo ! 
 But, notably note these last twain : whereas he 
 Took her only for that he rich would be, 
 And she him only in hope of good hap 
 In her doting days to be danced on the lap. 
 In condition they differed so many ways, 
 That lightly he laid her up for holy days ; 
 Her good he laid up so, lest thieves might spy 
 
 it, 
 That nother she could, nor he can, come by it. 
 Thus failed all four, of all things less and 
 
 more. 
 Which they all, or any of all, married for. 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. XL loi 
 
 Chapter XI. 
 
 F'orsooth ! said my friend, this matter maketh 
 
 boast 
 Of diminution. For, here is a mill post 
 Thwitten to a pudding prick so nearly, 
 That I confess me discouraged clearly. 
 In both my wedding-s, in all things, except one. 
 This spark of hope have I, to proceed upon : 
 Though these and some other speed ill as ye 
 
 tell. 
 Yet other have lived and loved full well. 
 If I should deny that, (quoth I), I should rave ; 
 For, of both these sorts, I grant, that myself 
 
 have 
 Seen of the tone sort, and heard of the tother, 
 That liked and lived right well, each with 
 
 other. 
 But whether fortune will you that man declare. 
 That shall choose in this choice, your comfort 
 
 or care, 
 Since, before ye have chosen, we cannot know, 
 I thought to lay the worst, as ye the best show, 
 That ye might, being yet at liberty. 
 With all your joy, join all your jeopardy. 
 And now, in this heard, in these cases on eacli 
 
 part, 
 I say no more, but lay your hand on your heart. 
 I heartily thank you, (quoth he) ; / am sped 
 Of mine errand: this hitteth the nail on the 
 
 head. 
 Who that leaveth surety and leaneth unto 
 
 chance, 
 When fools pipe, by authority he may dance. 
 And sure am I, of those twain, if I none choose, 
 
102 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. XI. 
 
 Although I nought win, yet shall I nought 
 
 lose. 
 And to win a woman here, and lose a man, 
 In all this great winning what gain win I 
 
 than? 
 But, mark how folly hath me away carried ; 
 How, like a weathercock, I have here varied : 
 First, these two women to lose I was so loth, 
 That if I might, I would have wedded them 
 
 both ; [them ; 
 
 Then thought I since, to have wedded one of 
 And, now know I clear, I will wed none of 
 
 them. 
 They both shall have this one answer by letter : 
 As good never a whit as never the better. 
 Now let me ask, (quoth I), and yourself 
 
 answer 
 The short question that I asked while're. 
 A foul, old, rich widow, whether wed would ye, 
 Or a young, fair maid, being poor as ye be? 
 In neither barrel better herring, (quoth he). 
 I like thus richesse as ill as poverty ; 
 Who that hath either of these pigs in ure, 
 He hath a pig of the worse pannier sure. 
 I was wedded unto my will ; howbeit, 
 I will be devorst, and be wed to my wit ; 
 Whereby, with these examples past, I may 
 
 see 
 Fond wedding, for love, as good only to flee. 
 Only for love, or only for good, 
 Or only for both I wed not, by my hood ! 
 Thus, no one thing only, though one thing 
 
 chiefly 
 Shall woo me to wed now : for now I espy, 
 Although the chief one think in wedding be 
 
 love. 
 
Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. XI. 103 
 
 Yet must mo things join, as all In one may 
 
 move 
 Such kind of living, for such kind of life, 
 As lacking the same, no lack to lack a wife. 
 Here is enough, I am satisfied, (said he). 
 Since enough is enough, (said I), here may we. 
 With that one word take end good, as may be 
 
 guessed 
 For folk say : enough is as good as a feast. 
 
 Finis 
 
♦' 
 
Ef)t firste ibutttrretr of 
 
 Jnuenteti anir 
 matre 
 
 Joijn mtn^ 
 
 LONDINI 
 
 1562. 
 

TO THE READER 
 
 Rhyme without reason, and reason without 
 
 rhyme — 
 In this conversion deep difference doth fall 
 In first part whereof, where I am fallen this 
 
 time. 
 The folly I grant; which granted, (readers all). 
 Your grant, to grant this request, require I 
 
 shall. 
 Ere ye full reject these trifles following here. 
 Perceive, (I pray you), of the words th 'intents 
 
 clear. 
 In which, (may ye like to look), ye shall espy 
 Some words show one sense, another to dis- 
 close ; 
 Some words, themselves sundry senses signify ; 
 Some words, somewhat from common sense, I 
 
 dispose 
 To seem one sense in text, another in glose. 
 These words in this work, thus wrought your 
 
 working tool [fool. 
 
 May work me to seem, (at least), the less a 
 Then in rough rude terms of homely honesty — 
 For unhonest term, (I trust), there none here 
 
 sounds 
 Wherein fine tender ears shall offended be — 
 
io8 To the Reader 
 
 Those follies, being searched in reason's 
 
 bounds, 
 Reason may be surgeon salving those wounds ; 
 Turning those sores to salves ; for reason doth 
 
 guess 
 Homely matters homely terms do best express. 
 But where all defence standeth in exemption, 
 To defend me herein out of folly's bands — 
 So that to redeem me there's no redemption. 
 Granting, and submitting folly, that so 
 
 stands — 
 This last refuge I crave to have, at your hands, 
 Those follies standing clear from intent of ill ; 
 In lieu or lack of good wit, except good will. 
 
THE TABLE TO THIS BOOK. 
 
 The Preface to the Reader. 
 
 
 No. of Epigram. 
 
 An Epigram on this Book of Epigrams i 
 Of Three Sages ..... 2 
 
 Questions Answered 
 
 Of Water, Wine, and Ale 
 
 
 
 3 
 4 
 
 Too Much and Too Little 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 Of the Senses . 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 Of Talking . 
 
 Of Ears and Wits . 
 
 
 
 7 
 8 
 
 A Drunkard . 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 The Fox and the Maid . 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 Of an 111 Governor called Jude 
 
 
 
 II 
 
 Upon Giving an Alms 
 Of a Surfeit . 
 
 
 
 12 
 13 
 
 Repugnance in Appearance 
 The Ape and the Ass 
 
 
 
 14 
 15 
 
 A Fool and a Wise Man . 
 
 
 
 16 
 
 Of Sight 
 Feigned News 
 Two Arm in Arm . 
 
 
 
 17 
 18 
 
 19 
 
 Of Hearing and Speaking 
 Of Wit, Will, and Wisdom 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 21 
 
 The Wren and Her Birds 
 
 
 
 22 
 
 The Master and His Man 
 
 
 
 23 
 
 Upon Penance 
 
 
 
 24 
 
no The Table to this Book 
 
 No. of Epigram. 
 
 Jack and his Father .... 25 
 Of a Daw ..... 
 
 Of Asking and Showing the Way . 
 A Quiet Neighbour .... 
 Of Dogs and Thieves 
 A Keeper of the Commandments . 
 
 Of a Nose 
 
 Letting of a Farm .... 
 
 Age and Youth .... 
 
 A Rose and a Nettle 
 
 Of the Wife's and her Husband's Waste 
 
 An Old Wife's Boon . 
 
 A Talk of Two Conies 
 
 A Prisoner ..... 
 
 Two Blind Men .... 
 
 Debility of Senses .... 
 
 A Foolish Husband .... 
 
 A Witty Wife 
 
 Handsome Handling 
 
 A Saying of Patch, my Lord Cardinal'* 
 
 Fool ...... 
 
 Certain Follies .... 
 
 Of Two Students .... 
 
 A Merry Woman .... 
 
 A Louse and a Flea 
 
 Of Him that Forgot His Pater Noster in 
 
 Latin ...... 
 
 Of Him that could not Learn His Pater 
 
 Noster in English 
 Of the Fist and the Heart 
 Of this Word, Enough . 
 Of Table-play ..... 
 The Cock and the Hen . 
 Cheapening a Face of Fur 
 Buying of Shoes .... 
 A Suspicion Cleared 
 
The Table to this Book 
 
 III 
 
 No. of Epigram. 
 58 
 
 Of Spite . 
 
 Of the Letter " H " 
 
 III Fleeing of Idleness 
 
 A Tongue and a Clock 
 
 A Hearer of a Sermon 
 
 A Man Without Wit, Strength, and 
 
 Cunning . . . 
 
 How to Wish ... 
 A Doubtful Demand or Choice 
 An Old Widower and a Young Maid 
 Gaping Oysters 
 The Judge and the Juggler 
 Of Looking 
 Of Constancy . 
 Of a Face and a Wit 
 Of Blowing 
 To the Flatterer 
 Of Contentation 
 Of Waiting . 
 Of Foreknowledge . 
 The Same Impugned Without Change of 
 
 Words, Except Four or Five 
 Mistaking an Errand 
 Of Keeping an Inn .... 
 A Wife's Defence of her Beetle Brow 
 The Shrewd Wife's Tongue . 
 A Fool's Tongue .... 
 Of Glass and Lattice 
 Two W^ishes for Two Manner of Mouths 
 Of Dispraise ..... 
 A Discharge from Hypocrisy . 
 Of the Fool and the Gentleman's Nose 
 A Fool Taken for Wise . 
 Things to Forbear .... 
 
 Of Meddlers 
 
 Of Dwelling ..... 
 
112 The Table to this Book 
 
 Nc 
 
 ). of Epigram. 
 
 Of the Miller and the Sexton . 
 
 91 
 
 Of Books and Cheese 
 
 92 
 
 Of Heads 
 
 93 
 
 The Woodcock and the Daw . 
 
 94 
 
 Of Few Words .... 
 
 95 
 
 Wotting and Weening . 
 
 . 96 
 
 The Same Otherwise 
 
 
 A Much Like Matter 
 
 97 
 
 Wisdom and Folly .... 
 
 . 98 
 
 Of Lack 
 
 99 
 
 The Weathercock, the Reed, and 
 
 the 
 
 Wind . . . . • . 
 
 100 
 
 Finis Tabula. 
 
THE FIRST HUNDRED OF 
 EPIGRAMS 
 
 I. *' An Epigram on this Book of Epigrams." 
 
 This book may seem, as it sorteth in suit, 
 A thin trim trencher to serve folk at fruit. 
 But carver or reader can no way win 
 To eat fruit thereon, or compt fruit therein. 
 
 2. "Of Three Sages." 
 
 Three manner sages nature doth devise — 
 The sage herb, the sage fool, and the sage 
 
 wise. 
 And who for most wise himself doth accept, 
 May match any sage, the sage wise except. 
 
 3. '* Questions Answered. " 
 
 Trust they any 
 That trust not many? 
 Please they any 
 That serve many? 
 Help they any 
 That help not many? 
 Friend they any 
 That flatter many? 
 Fear they any 
 That fear not many? 
 Keep they any 
 That keep too many? 
 hey. ii. 
 
 Yea. 
 
 Nay. 
 
 Yea. 
 
 Nay. 
 
 Yea. 
 
 Nav. 
 
114 The first hundred of Epigrams 
 
 4. ** Of Water, Wine, and Ale." 
 
 Water under a boat, wine in a bottle, 
 The tone I can bear, th 'other beareth me well; 
 And whereas nother boats nor bottles be, 
 Nother can I bear wine, nor water bear me. 
 But, above all liquor, well fare ale, (I say), 
 For I wdth ale, and ale w-ith me, wag away. 
 
 5. '*Too Much or Too Little." 
 
 If that I drink too much, then am I dry; 
 
 If I drink too little, more dry am I ; 
 
 If I drink no whit then am I dryest. 
 
 Too much, too little, no whit — nought is the 
 
 best. 
 Thus drink we no whit, or drink till we burst, 
 Yet poor dry souls we be ever a-thirst. 
 
 6. ''Of the Senses." 
 
 Speak not too much, lest speech make thee 
 speechless ; 
 
 Go not too much, for fear thou go behind ; 
 
 Hear not too much, lest hearing bring deaf- 
 ness ; [blind ; 
 
 Look not too much, lest looking make thee 
 
 Smell not too much, lest smelling lose his kind ; 
 
 Taste not too much, lest taste mistaste thy 
 chaps ; 
 
 Touch not too much for fear of afterclaps. 
 
 7. "Of Talking." 
 
 Thy tail can talk, and knoweth no letter; 
 Thy tongue can talk, and talketh much sweeter ; 
 But except wisdom be the greater 
 Of tongue and tail, thy tail talketh better. 
 
The first hundred of Epigrams 115 
 
 8. "Of Ears and Wits." 
 
 Thin ears and thick wits be dainty ; 
 Thick ears and thick wits be plenty ; 
 Thick ears and thick wits be scant ; 
 Thin ears and thin wits none want. 
 
 9. ** A Drunkard." 
 
 A g-oose is harnessed in her white feathers ; 
 A drunkard in drink against all weathers ; 
 A fool in his fool's hood, put all tog-ethers. 
 
 10. "The Fox and the Maid." 
 
 Although that foxes have been seen there 
 
 seeld, 
 Yet was there lately, in Finsbury field, 
 A fox sat in sight of certain people, 
 Nodding, and blissing, staring on Paul's 
 
 steeple. 
 A maid toward market, with hens in a band. 
 Came by, and with the fox she fell in hand. 
 *' What thing is it, Reynard, in your brain 
 
 plodding, [ding?" 
 
 That bringeth this busy blissing and nod- 
 " I nother nod for sleep, sweetheart," the fox 
 
 said, [maid. 
 
 *' Nor bliss for spirits, except the devil be a 
 My nodding and blissing breedeth of wonder, 
 Of the wit of Paul's weathercock yonder. 
 There is more wit in that cock's only head, 
 Than hath been in all men's heads that be dead. 
 As thus, by common report, this we find. 
 All that be dead did die for lack of wind. 
 But the weathercock's wit is not so weak 
 To lack wind ; the wind is ever in his beak. 
 So that, while any wind bloweth In the sky, 
 
 I 2 
 
1 1 6 The first hundred of Epigrams 
 
 For lack of wind that weathercock will not 
 
 die." 
 She cast down her hens, and now did she bliss, 
 *' Jesu ! " (quoth she), " in nomine patris ! 
 Who hath ever heard, at any season. 
 Of a fox's forging so feat a reason? " 
 And while she praised the fox's wit so, 
 He gat her hens in his neck, and to go. 
 "Whither away with my hens, fox?" (quoth 
 
 she). 
 " To Paul's pig as fast as I can," (quoth he). 
 " Between these hens, and yonder weathercock, 
 I will assay to have chickens a flock. 
 Which, if I may get, this tale is made good, 
 In all Christendom not so wise a brood. 
 Maiden," (quoth he), *' these hens be forbodden 
 Your sight till the weathercock hath trodden." 
 "Woe, worth! " (quoth she), "all crafty in- 
 ventions. 
 And all inventors, that by false intentions, 
 Invent with intent to blind or blear blunt eyes, 
 In case as this fox to me doth devise." 
 
 II. "Of an III Governor called Jude. " 
 
 A ruler there was, in country a-fer. 
 And of the people a great extortioner ; [Jude. 
 Who, by name, (as I understand), was called 
 One gave him an ass ; which gift, when he had 
 He asked the giver for what intent [viewed. 
 He brought him that ass. " For a present 
 I bring master Jude," (quoth he), "this as[s] 
 
 hither 
 To join master Jude and this as[s] together. 
 Which two, joined in one, this is brought to 
 
 pass : 
 I may bid you * Good even,' master Judas." 
 
The first hundred of Epig^rams 1 1 7 
 
 *' Macabe or Iscariot, thou knave? " (quoth 
 
 he). ^ [be." 
 
 ** Whom it please your mastership, him let it 
 
 12. "Of Giving an Alms." 
 
 Into a beggar's hand, that alms did crave, 
 Instead of one penny, twopence one gave. 
 Which done, he said, " Beggar, happy thou 
 
 art! 
 For to thee my hand is better than my heart." 
 " That is," (quoth the beggar), " as it chanceth 
 
 now ; 
 The better for me, and the worse for you." 
 
 13. *' Of a Surfeit." 
 
 A man, from a fever recovered new, 
 
 His greedy appetite could not eschew 
 
 From meat contagious, whereto he had a lust ; 
 
 But one morsel, one evening, needs eat he 
 
 must. 
 Which, forthwith, brought good approbation 
 Of his return into residivation. 
 "What cause causeth this?" (quoth the 
 
 physician). 
 " I know," (quoth he), *' no cause of suspicion ; 
 Howbeit, my wonder is great as can be 
 By what means this fever attacheth me 
 More for eating a little this night last, [past. 
 Than for eating much more the night before 
 I did eat a capon nigh every whit 
 The last night ; after which, I felt no fit. 
 And this night I ate but one bit of fresh beef, 
 And yet I am shaken with the whoreson thief. " 
 " Now," (quoth the physician), "appeareth the 
 
 cause why : 
 Capon is wholesome, and the beef contrary; 
 
1 18 The first hundred of Epigrams 
 
 And a little ill meat giveth sickness more food 
 Than a little too much of meat that is good." 
 '* Sir, I thank you much," (quoth the patient); 
 " This lesson shall henceforth make me to con- 
 sent 
 When I shall needs surfeit, by unruly will, 
 Rather to surfeit on that is good, than ill." 
 
 14. " Repugnancy in Appearance." 
 
 Much contrariety may seem to stand 
 Where none is ; as by example, my son : 
 In London is the best ale of all England ; 
 And yet, as good ale in England as in London. 
 
 15. "The Ape and the Ass." 
 
 The ape and the ass stood where they beheld 
 A course with a greyhound at the hare in a 
 field; [ground wan, 
 
 They well perceiving the greyhound great 
 As long as the hare and he forthright ran ; 
 And like advantage they saw in the hare 
 When she list lightly to turn here and there. 
 The ape, to know whether the ass's talking, 
 Were any quicker than his assish stalking. 
 Asked the ass, " If thou should'st choose one 
 
 of both — 
 To ren as swiftly as the greyhound yonder 
 
 go'th. 
 Or turn as light as the hare — which one of 
 twain [obtain? " 
 
 Wouldst thou In thy choosing by choice 
 " I," (quoth the ass), " being at liberty [thee. 
 Will choose none of both feats, I may say to 
 What winneth the dog by his swift footman- 
 ship [a whip? 
 When the hare, at pinch, turneth from him at 
 
The first hundred of Epigrams 119 
 
 And what win'th the hare in her turns so 
 
 lightly, 
 The dog out-running- her again, by and by? 
 Renning or turning so, run or turn who will, 
 I will go softly, or else stand even still." 
 " Howbeit, to assoil thy question," (quoth he), 
 " If I should choose one, like the hare would I 
 
 be; 
 For, where the dog renneth the hare for to kill, 
 She turneth for defence, offering the dog none 
 
 ill. 
 And better is this part in this case, brother. 
 Myself to defend, than offend another." 
 
 16. "A Fool and a Wise Man." 
 
 A fool and a wise man riding, one espied. 
 
 He asked the horse that the wise man did ride : 
 
 *' Whither goest thou, horse? " " Whither go 
 
 I?" (quoth he)— [me!" 
 
 " Ask him that guideth the bridle, ask not 
 "Whither ridest thou, fool!" (quoth he), 
 
 " with look so fell? " 
 "Ask my horse, knave!" (said he), "what 
 
 can I tell? " 
 " When fools ride," (quoth he), " that cannot 
 
 rule the rein, 
 Their horses be their herbengers, I see plain. 
 And when wise men ride, I right well espy, 
 Themself, not their horse, appoint where they 
 
 lie." 
 
 17. "Of Sight." 
 
 Who needs will look, and would not see, 
 The sight once seen thou lookest for, 
 Close up thine eyes. For, trust thou me, 
 Much looking so breedeth much eye sore. 
 
1 20 The first hundred of Epigrams 
 
 18. "Feigned News." 
 
 From a field fought, one of the beaten side 
 Ran home, and victory on his part he cried ; 
 Whose prince, by him thus informed of this, 
 Made bonfires and bankets, as the use is. 
 In short time, after all which joy and cost, 
 The king was ascertained the field was lost. 
 Wherewith he, (in as great haste as great 
 
 grief), 
 Charged the first messenger to make preef 
 Where he had this lie : that the field was won. 
 "Myself, sir," (quoth he), "this lie first be- 
 gun; 
 Which, for commodity unto your grace. 
 And all your subjects, I brought it in place. 
 Where the truth should have brought watching 
 
 and weeping. 
 My lie brought two days of laughing and sleep- 
 ing. 
 And if ye all this year took my lie for true 
 To keep you merry, what harm could ensue? 
 Better is," (quoth he), "be it new or stale, 
 A harmless lie than a harmful true tale." 
 How his lie was allowed, I know none that 
 
 knoweth ; 
 But it was at least winked at, I heard of 
 trowth. 
 
 19. "Two, Arm in Arm." 
 
 One said to another, taking his arm, 
 
 " By licence, friend, and take this for none 
 
 harm." 
 " No, sir," (quoth the other), " / give you leave 
 To hang on my arm, hut not on my sleeve." 
 
The first hundred of Epigrams 121 
 
 20. " Of Hearing and Speaking." 
 
 Who heareth all 
 
 And speaketh nought, 
 
 Chance may so fall 
 
 He is well taug-ht. 
 
 Who speaketh all 
 
 And heareth nought, 
 
 Fall what shall fall. 
 
 He is ill taught. 
 
 Who heareth all 
 
 And all babbleth. 
 
 Whatever fall 
 
 He oft fableth. 
 
 Who heareth nought 
 
 Nor nought can speak, r 
 
 May soon be thought 
 
 A hoddypeak. 
 
 Say nought, hear all ; 
 
 Say all, hear nought ; 
 
 Both, none, these fall 
 
 Extremely wrought. 
 
 Who heareth oft 
 
 And speaketh seeld. 
 
 Be wit aloft 
 
 He winneth the field. 
 
 21. ** Of Wit, Will, and Wisdom." 
 
 Where will is good, and wit is ill. 
 There wisdom can no manner skill. 
 Where wit is good, and will is ill. 
 There wisdom sitteth all silent still. 
 Where wit and will are both two ill. 
 There wisdom no way meddle will. 
 Where wit and will well ordered be, 
 There wisdom maketh a trinitv. 
 
122 The first hundred of Epigrams 
 
 22. *' The Wren, and her Birds." 
 Of a nest of wrens late bred in a hedg^e, 
 Which the dam forsaking-, when they were 
 
 fledg-e, 
 One said : " Alas ! mother, what is the why 
 That ye draw from us unnaturally? " 
 "Child," (quoth the damj, "I do now unto 
 
 thee 
 As my dam, in my youth, did unto me. 
 Whereby I am blameless in that I do. 
 Since I do but as I have been done to." 
 " Mother," (quoth he), " to deal as ye be dealt 
 
 with 
 Is not alway meet ; but this is the pith : 
 .45 ye would your dam should have dealt with 
 
 yow, [now." 
 
 So should ye, our dam, deal with your birds 
 "Why, son," (quoth she), " thinkest thou me 
 
 such a fool. 
 That my child shall set his mother to school? 
 Nay, adieu," (quoth she), and away she is 
 
 flown ; 
 This child, for this check, refusing- for her own. 
 W^hich done, the wren calleth his brothers and 
 And unto them this lesson he whisters. [sisters, 
 " I see, and ye may see," (quoth he), " by this 
 
 case. 
 The trial of taunts out of time and place. 
 Where fair words haply my mother might have 
 
 won, 
 This taunt maketh her refuse me for her son. 
 Which may teach us all, wherever we become, 
 Rather by silence alway to be mum 
 Than in ought at liberty, or forbidden, 
 To taunt our betters, openly or hidden." 
 
The first hundred of Epigrams 123 
 
 22' " The Master and the Man." 
 
 A man, and his man, chanced late to be 
 Nig"h where a crow stood crying- in a tree. 
 ''James," (quoth the master), " the crow hath 
 spied thee." [(quoth he). 
 
 "Nay, by God! he looketh on you, master," 
 " Taunts," (quoth the master)^ " rebound some- 
 times I see; [me." 
 Where I thought to taunt thee, thou dost taunt 
 
 24. "Upon Penance." 
 
 Two men of one man were confessed but late, 
 And both two had penance after one rate. 
 Which was : each of them a penny should give 
 To a penniless man, him to relieve. [more; 
 
 Th'one of these twain had one penny, and no 
 Th 'other, no penny nor farthing had in store. 
 They disclosing each to other in this case, 
 This penny father drew his purse apace. 
 Saying : " Since thou art penniless, I will 
 Give thee this penny, my penance to fulfil." 
 "God thank thee! " (quoth the tother), "and 
 
 since thou 
 Art now penniless, as I was even now, 
 For penance I give this penny to thee, 
 As freely as ever thou gavest it to me." 
 " Well done ! " (quoth the other), " here may 
 
 we boast : 
 Penny dole dealt without one penny cost." 
 
 25. "Jack and his Father." 
 
 "Jack," (quoth his father), "how shall I ease 
 
 take? 
 If I stand, my legs ache; and if I kneel, 
 My knees ache; if I go, then my feet ache; 
 
124 The first hundred of Epigrams 
 
 If I lie, my back acheth ; if I sit I feel 
 
 My hips ache; and, lean I never so weel. 
 
 My elbows ache." "Sir," (quoth Jack), 
 
 *' pain to exile. 
 Since all these ease not, best ye hang awhile." 
 
 26. " Of A Daw." 
 
 With a crossbow, late, in hand ready bent, 
 To shoot at a daw in a tree, I went 
 Saying- to one by : "I will assay to hit 
 Yonder I see a daw, if she will sit." 
 " She is, if she sit, a daw indeed," (quoth he); 
 " But if she sit not, what is she then, say ye? " 
 " A daw also," (said I). Then said he, *' I see, 
 Whether a daw sit, or whether a daw flee. 
 Whether a daw stand, or whether a daw lie, 
 Whether a daw creak, or whether a daw cry. 
 In what case soever a daw persever, 
 A daw is a daw, and a daw shall be ever." 
 
 27. *'Of Showing the Way." 
 
 Twain met in a highway what time they did go, 
 Each one toward the place the tother came fro. 
 "What is my way," (said the fone), " I pray 
 
 thee? " [ings," (quoth he); 
 
 "Fool!" (quoth th 'other). "That is ill tid- 
 " I can tell thee better tidings than this : 
 Thy way, both fair and smooth as a die is. 
 My tidings," (quoth he), " is better than thine, 
 But I think thy tidings truer than mine." 
 "This is," (quoth the tother), "so well 
 
 brought about. 
 That it brought, and shall bring me, In doubt 
 Which of these twain is most ill to view : 
 Good tales that be false, or ill tales that be 
 
 true." 
 
The first hundred of Epigrams 125 
 
 28. "A Quiet Neighbour." 
 
 Accompted our commodities, 
 
 Few more commodious reason sees 
 
 Than is this one commodity — 
 
 Quietly neighboured to be ; 
 
 Which neighbourhood in thee appears. 
 
 For, we two, having ten whole years 
 
 Dwelt wall to wall, so joiningly. 
 
 That whispering soundeth through wellnigh, 
 
 I never heard thy servants brawl 
 
 More than thou hadst had none at all. 
 
 Nor I can no way make avaunt. 
 
 That ever I heard thee give them taunt. 
 
 Thou art to them, and they to thee, 
 
 More mild than mute ; mum ye be. 
 
 I hear no noise mine ease to break ; 
 
 Thy buttery door I hear not creak ; 
 
 The kitchen cumbreth not by heat ; 
 
 Thy cooks chop neither herbs nor meat. 
 
 I never heard thy fire once spark ; 
 
 I never heard thy dog once bark ; 
 
 I never heard once in thy house 
 
 So much as one peep of one mouse ; 
 
 I never heard thy cat once mew — 
 
 These praises are not small nor few. 
 
 I bear all water of thy soil, 
 
 Whereof I feel no filthy foil. 
 
 Save water which doth wash thy hands. 
 
 Wherein there none annoyance stands. 
 
 Of all thy guests set at thy board, 
 
 I never heard one speak one word ; 
 
 I never heard them cough nor hem ; 
 
 I think, hence to Jerusalem, 
 
 For this neighbourly quietness. 
 
 Thou art the neighbour nelghbourless. 
 
126 The first hundred of Epigrams 
 
 For ere thou wouldest neighbours annoy, 
 These kinds of quiet to destroy, 
 Thou rather wouldest to help that matter, 
 At home alone fast bread and water. 
 
 29. "Of Dogs and Thieves." 
 
 To keep thieves by night out of my house, 
 I keep dogs to aid me in my yard, 
 Whose barking at stir of every mouse, 
 By lack of sleep killeth me in regard — 
 Thieves or dogs then, which may best be 
 
 spared? 
 Murder is the most mischief here to guess ; 
 Thieves can do no more, and dogs will do no 
 
 less. 
 
 30. "A Keeper of the Commandments." 
 
 If it be, (as it is), much commendable 
 To keep God's precepts, given Moses in table : 
 In keeping the same, (as thou hast pretended). 
 Thou may'st well be marvellously commended. 
 First, for thy having any mo gods but one : 
 Thou keepest within that bound : for God thou 
 
 hast none. 
 Having or worshipping pf god, false or true. 
 Thou hast nor worshippest God, old nor new. 
 And, as for the committing of Idolatry, 
 By graving to thyself any Imagery : 
 This twenty years, day in, weather hot or cool. 
 Thou handledst no carving nor working tool. 
 The name of God in vain : thou consentest not 
 
 till ; [good or ill, 
 
 Thou never swearest but for some purpose 
 And as for the holy day, thou dost break none : 
 For thou wilt rather make twenty than break 
 
 one. 
 
The first hundred of Epigrams 127 
 
 Father and mother not dishonoured by thee : 
 For thou never comest where any of them be. 
 And where tliou shalt not kill ; to clear thee of 
 
 that, 
 Thou never durst abide to fight with a gnat. 
 Than all adultery or fornication : 
 Chastity dischargeth, by this approbation ; 
 All women hardly can bear thee their favour 
 To abide thy sight ; and in no wise thy savour. 
 For stealing or theft : whatever thou hast been, 
 Thy hands at this day are known to be clean. 
 How canst thou steal ought in house, field, or 
 
 street ? — [feet. 
 
 Thou sittest in Newgate fast bound, hands and 
 By false witness thou never hurtest man : for 
 
 why? 
 Every word thou speakest, every man thinkest 
 
 a lie. 
 Now, to covet in mind thy neighbour's ass, 
 Or his house : when bondage will not let thee 
 
 pass 
 To ride to the tone, or go to the tother ; 
 Or, in consented thought, one way or other. 
 For to covet thy neighbour's maid or his wife : 
 Thou knowing they cannot love thee for their 
 
 life. 
 Or, of thy neighbour's things to covet any- 
 thing : 
 When covetousness can no way bring winning ; 
 But that lack of credit, liberty, or love, 
 Keepeth thee from that coveting can move. 
 Thou hast too shrewd a wit in desire to dwell, 
 To have things from which despair doth thee 
 
 expel. [appear, 
 
 Thus in God's precepts, except thou clear 
 I know not who the devil can say he is clear. 
 
I2S The first hundred of Epigrams 
 
 31. " Of a Nose." 
 
 But for blemish of a face to look upon, 
 
 1 doubt which were best, to have a nose or 
 
 none. 
 Most of our savours are more sour than sweet : 
 A nose or no nose, which is now most meet? 
 
 32. " Letting of a Farm." 
 
 By word, without writing, one let out a farm, 
 The covenants wherein the lessee brake amain : 
 Whereby the lessor, lacking- writing", had 
 
 harm. [plain. 
 
 He said and sware, he would make promise 
 Without writing-, never to let thing again. 
 " Husband ! " cried this wife, " that oath again 
 
 revart : 
 Else, without writing, ye cannot let a fart." 
 
 33. "Age and Youth." 
 
 Though age and youth together can seeld 
 
 agree, 
 Yet once, two young and two old folk did I see 
 Agreed like lambs together, divers years : 
 The story whereof forthwith appears. 
 A woman old, and a man young were led, 
 She him for love, and he her for good, to wed. 
 A young woman, and old man, in like case. 
 Were wed for like cause at the same time and 
 
 place. 
 Into one house these two couples wedded were, 
 And during their lives, together must live there. 
 And they once acquainted, and one month 
 
 married, 
 All their lives after they never varied. 
 Company and condition these four folk hold. 
 
The first hundred of Epigrams 1 29 
 
 As nature naturally willeth young- and old : 
 Coupling themselves tog^ether thus every day ; 
 Th'old fools all day prate, the young fools all 
 day play. 
 
 34. "A Rose and a Nettle." 
 
 What time herbs and weeds, and such things 
 
 could talk, 
 A man in his g^arden one day did walk. 
 Spying a nettle green, (as Themeraude), spread 
 In a bed of roses like the ruby red. [eye, 
 
 Between which two colours he thought, by his 
 The green nettle did the red rose beautify. 
 " Howbeit," he asked the nettle, " what thing 
 Made him so pert? so nigh the rose to 
 
 spring? " [nettle ; 
 
 " I grow here with these roses," said the 
 *' Their mild properties in me to settle; 
 And you, in laying unto me your nose. 
 Shall smell how a nettle may change to a 
 
 rose." 
 He did so : which done, his nostrils so pritcht, 
 That rashly he rubbed where it no whit itched ; 
 To which smart mock, and wily beguiling. 
 He, the same smelling, said smoothly smiling — 
 " Roses convert nettles? Nay, they be too 
 
 fell; 
 Nettles will pervert roses rather, I smell." 
 
 35. ** Of the Wife's and her Husband's 
 Waste." 
 
 "Where am I least, husband?" Quoth he, 
 ** In the waist : [strait-laced." 
 
 W^hich cometh of this ; thou art vengeably 
 hey. n. K 
 
I JO The first hundred of Epigrams 
 
 "Where am I biggest, wife?" "In the 
 
 waste," (quoth she); 
 '* For all is waste in you, as far as I see." 
 
 36. ''An Old Wife's Boon." 
 
 In old world, when old wives bitterly prayed, 
 
 One devoutly, as by way of a boon, 
 
 Axt vengeance on her husband, and to him 
 
 said : 
 *' Thou wouldst wed a young wife ere this 
 
 week were doon [soon." 
 
 Were I dead, but thou shalt w^ed the devil as 
 *' I cannot wed the devil," (quoth he). 
 
 '' Why? " (quoth she). [he). 
 
 "For I have wedded his dam before," (quoth 
 
 37. "A Talk of Two Conies." 
 
 In time when dumb beasts, as well as birds 
 
 spake. 
 Two conies their minds in this matter brake. 
 " Were all conies in such case," (said the one), 
 *' That of two winters' weather we must choose 
 
 one: [snow ever? 
 
 Which were best choice — frost never, and 
 Or else to choose frost ever, and snow never? " 
 *' Frost," (quoth the other), " maketh us lusty 
 
 and fat; [(quoth he), " for that? 
 
 And snow lameth us for lean." "What," 
 Forty fat conies be oft killed in one night, 
 When lean conies with life 'scape away quite." 
 " Yea," (quoth the tother), " but where snow 
 
 too long lieth, 
 Conies by famine well-nigh every one dieth. 
 Better all be fat, though some die as lots fall, 
 Than linger in leanness, and thereby die all." 
 
The first hundred of Epigrams 131 
 
 38. "A Prisoner." 
 
 In prison, a prisoner condemned to die, 
 And for execution waiting daily, 
 In his hands for worms looking on a day, 
 Smiling to himself these words did say : 
 "Since my four quarters, in four quarters 
 shall stand, [hand? 
 
 Why harm I these seely worms eating my 
 Nought else in this deed do I, but myself show 
 Enemy to the worm and friend to the crow. ' * 
 
 39. "Two Blind Men." 
 
 One blind man to supper another bad ; 
 Which twain, sitting at such meat as they had, 
 " Methinketh," (quoth the blind host), "this 
 
 candle burneth dim." [him. 
 
 " So thinketh me, sir," said the blind guest to 
 "Wife," (said the good man), "with sorrow 
 
 mend this light." [bright; 
 
 She put out the candle, which burned very 
 And chopped down empty candlesticks two or 
 
 three. [(quoth he). 
 
 "So lo ! now eat and welcome, neighbour," 
 
 40. "Debility of Senses." 
 
 " Wife, my hands for feeling are oft very ill; 
 And, as th'one hand mendeth, th'other ap- 
 
 paireth still." [feeleth, evermore, 
 
 " Ye say sooth," (said she), " th'one hand 
 Worse the day present than the day before. 
 Th'other hand feeleth, by ointments excellent. 
 Better the day before than the day present. 
 But how doth your eye-sight? " " Worse and 
 
 worse," (said he); [thee." 
 
 " For worse this day, than yesterday, I see 
 
 K 2 
 
132 The first hundred of Epigrams 
 
 " Though you were blind," (quoth she), " that 
 
 should no love break; [speak." 
 
 I would your eyes were out, so you could not 
 "Take hearing- too," (quoth he), "thou 
 
 makest my ears such [too much. 
 
 That thou hast made them hear enough, and 
 And going may go too. For where\'er I am, 
 I go not an inch from the devil or his dam." 
 "In faith, if thou didst," (quoth she), "yet 
 
 could I well 
 Find means to find out a fool by the smell. 
 And here may we hear and see, how this tale 
 
 fits, [wits." 
 
 With my good man's goodly limbs, and good 
 
 41. "A Foolish Husband." 
 
 " Husband, two wits are better than one, 
 clerks say, [way : 
 
 To debate matters ; which seemeth true this 
 
 When we two contend, what's my wit without 
 thine 
 
 To convince thyself thy wit conducteth mine? " 
 
 42. "A Witty Wife." 
 
 " Jane," (quoth James), " to one short demand 
 
 of mine [thine, 
 
 Answer not with a lie from that mouth of 
 And take this noble." Which when she had 
 
 ta'en: [Jane?" 
 
 " Is thy husband," (quoth he), " a cuckold. 
 She stood still, and to this would no word 
 
 spake. [break, 
 
 From which dumb dump when he could her not 
 He axt his noble again. " Why," (quoth she), 
 " Made I any lie to thee? " " Nay," (quoth 
 
 he). 
 
The first hundred of Epigrams 133 
 
 " Then walk, fool ! " (quoth she), " this wager 
 
 I win clear, 
 And thou of my counsel never the near." 
 "Gog's soul!" (sware he), and flung away 
 
 amain : 
 '* I will never talk with that woman again. 
 For, as she in speech can revile a man, 
 So can she in silence beguile a man." 
 
 43. ** Handsome Handling." 
 
 Some wonder to see thy handling of things 
 But it is no wonder as the case stands, [neat ; 
 The toes of thy feet, in handling of things feat, 
 Are as handsome as the fingers of thy hands. 
 
 44. "A Saying of Patch, my Lord Cardinal's 
 
 Fool." 
 
 Master Sexten, a person of known wit. 
 As he at my Lord Cardinal's board did sit, 
 Greedily wrought at a goblet of wine : 
 " Drink none," (said my lord), " for that sore 
 leg of thine. " [provide 
 
 " I warrant your grace," (quoth Sexten), " I 
 For my leg : For I drink on the tother side." 
 
 a folly. 
 
 45. " Certain Follies. 
 
 To cast fair white salt into wise" 
 
 men's meat, 
 To make them count salt sugar, 
 
 when they eat : 
 
 To bear a man in hand he itcheth"! 
 
 in each part I r ,, 
 
 When the man feeleth an universal j ^° 
 
 smart : J 
 
134 
 
 To speak always well, and do' 
 
 always ill, 
 And tell men those deeds are done 
 
 of g-ood will : 
 
 The first hundred of Epigrams 
 a folly. 
 
 Thy lusty-limbed horse to lead in' 
 
 thy hand. 
 When on thy lame limbs thou canst 
 
 scantly stand : 
 
 a folly. 
 
 Of kicks for cag-e work, to build' 
 
 thy house high, 
 And cover it with lead to keep thy 
 
 house dry : 
 
 - a folly. 
 
 46. "Of Two Students." 
 
 Two scholars young-, in the university late 
 Kept in thin diet, after scholars' rate, 
 Th'one being an eater greedy and great, 
 Th 'other a weak feeder, said at his meat : 
 " Oh this smart, small pittance and hungry 
 Maketh us to study aptly and quiet." [diet 
 
 ** Sure," (said the tother), " small meals are 
 
 induction 
 To th 'increase of study, for deeper instruction; 
 This dinner shall drive me to study, anon, 
 Where I may get more meat when this is 
 
 gone." 
 
 47. ** A Merry Woman." 
 
 There came, by chance, to a good company 
 A lady, a wanton and a merry. [lig^ht, 
 
 And though every word of her own showed her 
 Yet no man's words else to her might that 
 recite. 
 
The first hundred of Epigrams 135 
 
 She had all the words ; she babbled so fast 
 That they, being weary, one said at the last : 
 '* Madame, ye make my heart light as a kyx. 
 To see you thus full of your meretrix.^' 
 This trick thus well tricked in the Latin phrase. 
 Brought to this tricker nother muse nor mase ; 
 She nought perceiving, was no whit offended ; 
 Nor her light behaviour no whit amended ; 
 But still her tongue was clapping like a patten. 
 "Well," said the said man, "in language of 
 
 Latin 
 I never told woman any fault before, 
 Nor never in Latin will tell them fault more." 
 
 48. "A Louse and a Flea." 
 A louse and a flea, set in a man '3 neck. 
 Began each other to taunt and to check; 
 Disputing at length all extremities 
 Of their pleasures, or discommodities : 
 Namely this I heard, and bare away well. 
 " If one," (quoth the louse), " scrat within 
 
 an ell 
 Of thy tail, then forthwith art thou skipping ; 
 Like Jack of Bedlam, in and out whipping. 
 Half an hour after thou dar'st nowhere sit. 
 To abide the biting of one good bit. 
 And when any man herein shall prove me. 
 His nails do, (as a writ doth), remove me; 
 Which nails, once removed from the man's 
 
 head, 
 I am straight at feeding, within a hair bread 
 Where I fed before in my dainty diet. 
 " Ye be hardy," (quoth the flea), " I deny not ; 
 But how many lice have abidden by it 
 When they would have done as fleas do, fly 
 
 it? " 
 
136 The first hundred of Epigrams 
 
 With this the man to his neck his hand 
 
 wrought ; 
 The flea skipped away, but the louse he caught. 
 "Now, now?" (quoth the flea). "Alas!" 
 
 (quoth the louse) ; 
 " My head is well served to serve for souse 
 That thus, like a souse head, forsaw not this 
 
 g:nef. 
 Till feeling hath put painful practise in preef. " 
 
 49. " Of Him that Forgot his Pater Noster 
 IN Latin." 
 
 An old, homely man at shrift commanded, 
 By his curate, his Pater noster to bid, 
 After long study, he said: "Master vicar! 
 By Jis ! cham ashamed my wit is no quicker. 
 Ich said it within little more than fortnight ; 
 And now, like a beast, cha forgot it quite. 
 Fie on age ! In youth ich had ever such wit. 
 That whatsoever ich had to do, yet 
 At shrift chad my Pater noster evermore, 
 W^hen ich said it not twice in the year before." 
 
 50. " Of him that could not learn his 
 Pater Noster in English." 
 
 A man of the country, shriven in Lent late, 
 (According to th'injunction), his curate 
 Bade him the Pater noster in English say. 
 " Ich can it not, master," (quoth he), " by my 
 
 fay! " [the rest miss." 
 
 "Say a piece of it," (quoth he), " though ye 
 " Ich cannot one word of it," (quoth he), " by 
 
 Jis ! 
 And yet, master vicar, by God's sacrament ! 
 Cha jumbled about it ever since last Lent ; 
 And some of it ich had in the cleansing week ; 
 
The first hundred of Epigrams 137 
 
 But now, when ich should say it, all is to 
 seek." [far decayed, 
 
 " Well," (quoth the priest), " if your wit be so 
 Say the Pater noster ye have always said." 
 " Nay, by the Mass ! " (sware he), *' if you will 
 
 have all told, 
 Cha so grated on the new, cha forgot th'old. " 
 
 51. ** Of the Fist and the Heart." 
 
 One cursed another's heart for a blow in a 
 
 fume : 
 " Curse not his heart," (quoth one by), ** curse 
 
 his fist.'' 
 "His heart," (quoth he), "to mine ear did 
 
 not presume; 
 But his heart to mine ear did his fist assist." 
 Since each limb must frame in feat, as the 
 
 heart list, 
 When the heart willeth any limb in any fault 
 
 to fall, 
 No man blame any man, to blame the heart 
 
 for all. 
 
 52. "Of This Word, Enough." 
 
 A merry man by his master at meat set : 
 
 " Methinketh, (quoth the master}, " thou 
 
 canst no drink get." [he, 
 
 " Here is enough, though there be none," said 
 " Then art thou not dry? " " Yes, so mote I 
 
 thee. 
 And fain would drink." " How be thy words 
 
 true then? " 
 " Thus : This word enough two ways we may 
 
 scan ; 
 Th'one much enough, th 'other little enough; 
 And here is little enough." His master lough. 
 
138 The first hundred of Epigrams 
 
 Calling in his wife to discant upon this. 
 
 " How sayest thou, wife? our man in this case 
 
 is 
 Dry, and would drink, and drink nothing nigh 
 
 him ; 
 And yet proveth he drink enough by him." 
 " Since he," (quoth she), " proveth drink 
 
 enough in store, 
 More than enough were waste : he getteth 
 
 no more." 
 
 53. " Of Table-play." 
 
 " Wife, I will no more play at tables with thee ; 
 When we come to bearing, thou beguilest me 
 In bearing of thy men; while thou hast any, 
 Each other cast thou bearest a man too many. " 
 
 54. "The Cock and the Hen." 
 
 A cock and his hen perching in the night, 
 The cock at his hour crowed loud as he might ; 
 The hen, heavy of sleep, prayed the cock that 
 
 he 
 Would leave off his crowing; but it would not 
 
 be. 
 The hen saw the cock stick to his tackling : 
 In her treble voice she fell so to cackling 
 That the cock prayed her, her cackling to 
 
 cease, 
 And he of his crowing would hold his peace. 
 "Nay, churl," (quoth she), " be sure that will 
 
 I not; 
 And for thy learning henceforth mark this 
 
 knot : 
 Whenever thou wouldest seem to overcrow me, 
 Then will I surely overcackle thee." 
 
The first hundred of Epigrams 139 
 
 55. "Cheapening of a Face of Fur." 
 
 Into a skinner's shop, while his wife there 
 wrought, 
 
 In haste ran a gentleman, there to espy 
 
 A fair face of fur which he would have bought. 
 
 '* What fur," (quoth he), " would your master- 
 ship buy? " [nigh? " 
 
 *' Harlots' wombs," (quoth he), *' know ye any 
 
 "Harlots' wombs," (forsooth!), "I have 
 none," (quoth she); 
 
 But ye shall have knaves' shanks, meet as 
 can be. " 
 
 56. " Buying of Shoes." 
 
 When I at the shoemaker's shall shoes assay, 
 If they be too little, they will stretch, (saith 
 
 he) ; [way. 
 
 If they be too much, they will shrink straight- 
 Too long, too short, how narrow or wide they 
 
 be. 
 All is one matter as he shapeth them to me. 
 For may he once get his shoes on my feet. 
 Without last or lingel his words make them 
 
 meet. 
 
 57. "A Suspicion Cleared." 
 
 One to his friend, kindly 
 
 Gave monition friendly, i 
 
 That ill was reported 
 
 By one that resorted 
 
 To him : whom, (as they thought), 
 
 Enticed him to nought. 
 
 He thanked him, and said, 
 
 " My friend, be not afraid. 
 
 The hearing of that fool 
 
I40 The first hundred of Epigrams 
 
 Setteth me no whit to school. 
 
 I hear him when he Hst ; 
 
 And follow him when me list." 
 
 58. "Of Spite." 
 
 If there be any, as I hope there be none, 
 That would lese both his eyes to lese his foe 
 
 one, 
 Then fear I there be many, as the world go'th, 
 That would lese one eye to lese their foes both. 
 
 59. " Of the Letter * H.' " 
 
 ** H " is worst among- letters in the cross row; 
 For if thou find him other in thine elbow, 
 In thine arm, or leg" — in any degree — 
 In thy head, or teeth, in thy toe or knee. 
 Into what place soever " H " may pike him, 
 Wherever thou find ache, thou shalt not like 
 him. 
 
 60. " III Flying of Idleness." 
 
 If flight from idleness may be deemed 
 Main means to virtue being- fled warely : 
 How mayest thou then thereby be esteemed ? 
 Thou fleest that vice not meanly nor barely, 
 But mainly ; scrupulously, and so charely, 
 That in thee, ere idleness shall be spied, 
 Thou wilt yet rather be ill occupied. 
 
 61. ** A Tongue and a Clock." 
 
 "Thy tongue should be a clock, wife, had I 
 
 God's power, 
 For then would it strike but once in one hour." 
 " Yet it might run," (quoth she), " and strike 
 
 ere the time ; 
 
The first hundred of Epigrams 141 
 
 And should that clock have, (as my tongue 
 
 hath), a chime, 
 I, being- sexton, might set the clock forth soon 
 To strike and chime twelve two hours before 
 
 noon. " 
 
 62. "A Hearer of a Sermon." 
 
 ** What bringeth thou from the sermon, Jack? 
 
 declare that ! " 
 *' Forsooth, master ! " (quoth he), " your cloak 
 
 and your hat. " 
 " I can thee good thank, Jack, for thou art 
 
 yet sped 
 Of somewhat in thy hand, though nought in 
 
 thy head." 
 
 63. " A Man without Wit, Strength, and 
 Cunning." 
 
 Thou art a wight to wonder at : 
 
 Thy head for wit showeth thee a wat ; 
 
 Thy body for strength showeth thee a gnat; 
 
 Thy voice for tune showeth thee a cat — 
 
 Do, say, or sing, in any what, 
 
 Thou art a minion marmsat. 
 
 64. " How TO W^ISH." 
 
 ** How may I have thee. Gill, when I wish for 
 
 thee? " 
 ** Wish not for me. Jack, but when thou 
 
 mayest have me." 
 This is a lesson Gill, proper and pleasant ; 
 For, by these words, this winning Jack may 
 
 avaunt. [before, 
 
 Though Jack be no nearer Gill than Jack was 
 Yet Jack is nearer his wit, by Jis ! by ten 
 
 score. 
 
142 The first hundred of Epigrams 
 
 65. "A Doubtful Demand of Choice." 
 
 " If thou must choose, Hodge, touching 
 
 cuckoldry, [commonly 
 
 Which vvouldst thou choose? to know thyself 
 To be taken for one, and take thyself none ; 
 Or, to be taken for none, and take thyself 
 
 one? " 
 '* The best or worst of these twain, (Hugh), tell 
 
 me which : 
 Claw where it doth smart, or tickle where it 
 
 doth itch? " [brother." 
 
 " I know small difference herein, Hodge 
 " And I, (Hugh), know as little in the tother." 
 
 66. " An Old Widower and a Young Maid." 
 
 A widower rich, with riveled face old, 
 Wooing a fair young woman, his mind he told 
 Boasting what he had, as wooers do, that can. 
 Wherein he boasted of a goodly young man, 
 A son of his own, whom God had him sent, 
 Of conditions and qualities excellent. 
 In this hot wooing this old man's behaviour, 
 So far forth, had won this young woman's 
 
 favour [done. 
 
 That, in short tale, when his long tale was 
 She prayed him to go home and send her his 
 
 son. 
 
 67. "Gaping Oysters." 
 
 " On whom gape thine oysters so wide, oyster- 
 wife?" [life!" 
 
 " Mine oysters gape on you, sir, God save your 
 
 " Wherefore gape they? " " Sir, they gape 
 for promotion ; [tion. " 
 
 They hope, (to promote them), you have devo- 
 
The first hundred of Epigrams 143 
 
 " Nay," (quoth he), " the peril were pernicious 
 To promote oysters that be ambitious." 
 
 68. ** The Judge and the Juggler." 
 
 To a justice, a juggler did complain 
 
 Of one that dispraised his liger de maine. 
 
 "What's thy name?" (said the justice). 
 
 " Dawson," said he. [pardie ! " 
 
 "Is thy father alive?" "Nay, dead sir, 
 " Then thou shalt no more be Daw's son, a 
 
 clear case, [place." 
 
 Thou art Daw thyself now, in thy father's 
 
 69. " Of Looking." 
 
 To save mine head when I upward cast mine 
 
 eye. 
 And look not to my feet, to the ground fall I. 
 When I look downward to my feet, to take 
 
 heed, [bleed. 
 
 A tile, fallen from a house maketh my head 
 And look I right forth, between my feet and 
 
 head, 
 Broken head, breakneck falls, of both I am 
 
 sped. 
 I think it as good, by ought I can devise. 
 To be stark staring blind, as thus to have eyes. 
 
 70. "Of Constancy." 
 
 Some say thou art inconstant, but I say nay — 
 W^hat though thy wit be wavering every way? 
 Whose wit, like the wind, hath been wavering 
 
 ever. 
 And in unsteady wavering doth persever. 
 A constant man I affirm him constantly. 
 For he is constant in inconstancy. 
 
144 The first hundred of Epigrams 
 
 71. " Of A Face and a Wit." 
 
 In thy youth and age these properties are 
 
 sprung- : [young. 
 
 In youth thy face was old : in age thy wit is 
 
 72. " Of Blowing." 
 
 What wind can there blow that doth not some 
 
 man please? 
 A fart in the blowing doth the blower ease. 
 
 73. "To THE Flatterer." 
 
 Thy flattering of me, this followeth thereupon : 
 Other thou art a fool, or else I am one. 
 Where flattery appeareth, at least by wise 
 
 men's school, 
 The flatterer, or the flattered, is a fool. 
 
 74. "Of Contentation. " 
 
 Is not the poor man rich that is contented? 
 Yes : rich by his contentation consented. 
 Is not the rich man poor that is not content? 
 Yes : poor by lack of contentation here meant. 
 Then riches and poverty in men's minds lie? 
 Yea : but we may far sooner learn, (think I), 
 To think ourselves rich having no riches nigh, 
 Than make ourselves rich having much riches 
 by. 
 
 75. " Of Waiting." 
 
 I would see a man wait to his master's mind 
 As the weathercock waiteth on the wind ; 
 Blow it here or there, blow it low or high, 
 The weathercock's beak is still in the wind's 
 eye. 
 
The first hundred of Epigrams 145 
 
 76. "Of Foreknowledge." 
 
 Foreknowledg-e of things that must fall 
 
 To man, I think it were not best. 
 
 The foreknown ill to man would call 
 
 Forefelt grief of foreknown unrest. 
 
 By foreknown good, to man were ceast 
 
 Sweet sudden joy, which evermore 
 
 Cometh when joys come unknown before. 
 
 The Same Impugned without Change of 
 Words, except four or five. 
 
 Foreknowledge of things that must fall 
 
 To man, I think it were the best. 
 
 The foreknown ill to man would call 
 
 Digestion of foreknown unrest. 
 
 By foreknown good, to man were ceast 
 
 Distemperate joy, which evermore 
 
 Cometh when joys come unknown before. 
 
 'j'j. '* Mistaking an Errand." 
 
 Feasting a friend, the feaster, (whose man did 
 
 wait), [conceit. 
 
 Bade him at the last course fetch the clouted 
 "What bringest thou here, knave?" (quoth 
 
 he), "what hast you doon? " 
 "I have," (quoth his man), "brought here 
 
 vour clouted shoon. " 
 "Clouted shoon, carterly knave! what dost 
 
 thou dream? 
 Eat thou the clouted shoon, fetch us the 
 
 clouted cream. " 
 
 78. "Of Holding an Inn." 
 
 Being holden in Newgate, thou canst not be 
 An innholder, for thine inn holdeth thee. 
 hey. ii. l 
 
146 The first hundred of Epigrams 
 
 79. "A Wife's Defence of her Beetle 
 Brow." 
 
 " Were I to wed again, wife, I make a vow 
 I would not wed a wife with a beetle brow." 
 *'And I," (quoth she), "rather would a hus- 
 band wed 
 W^ith a beetle brow, than with a beetle head." 
 
 80. "The Shrewd W^ife's Tongue." 
 
 " A dog, dame, ruleth in degree 
 
 Above a devil with thee; 
 
 At least sour wind a dog letteth flee, 
 
 Thy nose will stopped be ; 
 
 But no devil's word may make decree 
 
 To stop thy tongue I see." 
 
 " Since thou appearest to be," (quoth she), 
 
 " A dogged devil to me. 
 
 To tame thy devilish property 
 
 My tongue shall still be free." 
 
 81. " A Fool's Tongue." 
 
 Upon a fool's provocation 
 A wise man will not talk ; 
 But every light instigation 
 May make a fool's tongue walk. 
 
 82. " Of Glass and Lattice." 
 
 Where glaziers and lattice-makers work in 
 
 sight. 
 This one difference in their two feats we find : 
 Glass keepeth out the wind and letteth in the 
 
 light ; [wind. 
 
 Lattice keepeth out the light and letteth in the 
 Of both sorts I wish when I shall wish any, 
 Lattice-makers few, and glaziers many. 
 
The first hundred of Epigrams 147 
 
 83. ** Two Wishers for Two Manner of 
 Mouths." 
 
 " I wish thou hadst a little narrow mouth, 
 
 wife ! 
 Little and little to drop out words in strife." 
 *' And I wish you, sir, a wide mouth for the 
 
 nonce, 
 To speak all that ever you shall speak at once. " 
 
 84. "Of Dispraise." 
 
 All men must be blind and deaf ere thou praise 
 
 win ; 
 For no man seeth or heareth ought to praise 
 
 thee in. 
 
 85. *'A Discharge from Hypocrisy." 
 
 Thou ai:vt no bird of hypocrisy brood, 
 For thou fleest all things that might show thee 
 good. 
 
 87. " Of the Fool and the Gentleman's 
 
 Nose." 
 
 One gentleman having another at meat, 
 
 That guest having a nose deformed, foul and 
 
 great, ^ [by. 
 
 The fool of that house, at this time standing 
 Fell thus in hand with that nose suddenly. 
 " Nose auteniy a great nose as ever I saw ! " 
 His master was wroth, and cried, ** Hence with 
 
 that daw!" [fool, 
 
 One said : *' Talk no more of great noses, ye 
 Lest ye be talked withal in the whipping 
 
 school." [speak, 
 
 The fool, warned of great nos^s no more to 
 
 L 2 
 
148 The first hundred of Epigrams 
 
 To mend that fault this way these words did 
 
 break. 
 " Said I, this is a foul, great spittle nose? 
 By'r lady ! I lied, it is a fair little nose." 
 " Will not that fool be had hence? " (quoth 
 
 the master). 
 "Thou wilt, fool! " (quoth one), be walked 
 
 with a waster, 
 If thou speak of any nose, great or small." 
 The fool at third warning, minding to mend 
 
 all. 
 Stepped to the board again, crying as he goes : 
 '* Before God and man! that man hath no 
 
 nose. ' * 
 The fool was feaked for this ; but what of that? 
 The great fault, here to note, he amended nat ; 
 Which is this : not the wise, but the fool, ye 
 
 see. 
 In cloaking of one fault maketh two or three. 
 
 87. "A Fool Taken for Wise." 
 
 Wisdom and folly in thee, (as men scan), 
 Is as it were a thing by itself sool : 
 Among fools thou art taken a wise man ; 
 And, among wise men, thou art known a fool. 
 
 88. ''Things to Forbear." 
 
 Displeasures that fume and fret, 
 
 Good to forgive and forget. 
 
 All oaths, what, when, and where, 
 
 Better forbear than forswear. 
 
 Other men's livings all, 
 
 As good forsteal as forstall. 
 
 Not at bottom, but at brink, 
 
 Better foresee than forthink. 
 
The first hundred of Epigrams 149 
 
 89. *• Meddlers." 
 
 To feed of any fruit at any feast, 
 Of all kinds of meddlers, meddle with the least. 
 Meddle not with great meddlers ; for, no ques- 
 tion, [gestion. 
 Meddling with great meddlers maketh ill di- 
 
 90. **Of Dwelling." 
 
 Between Ludgate and Newgate thou canst dwell 
 
 never ; 
 For in Ludgate or Newgate thou must dwell 
 
 ever. 
 
 91. "Of the Milner and the Sexton." 
 
 The milner tolleth corn, the sexton tolleth the 
 
 bell; 
 In which tolling, tollers thrive not alike well. 
 Th'one tolleth with the clapper, th 'other in the 
 
 hopper ; [copper. 
 
 Th'one savour'th of silver, th'other soundeth of 
 
 92. " Of Books and Cheese." 
 
 No two things in all things can seem only one ; 
 Because two things so must be one thing 
 
 alone. [cheese, 
 
 Howbeit, reading of books and eating of 
 No two things, for some things, more like one 
 
 than these. 
 The talent of one cheese in mouths of ten men 
 Hath ten different tastes in judgment — most 
 
 times when 
 He saith " 'tis too salt " ; he saith " 'tis too 
 
 fresh"; [nesh. " 
 
 He saith " 'tis too hard " ; he saith *' 'tis too 
 "It is too strong of the rennet," saith he; 
 
150 The first hundred of Epigrams 
 
 "It is," saith he, "not strong enough for 
 
 me. 
 " It is," saith another, " well as can be." 
 No two of any ten in one can agree ; [books. 
 And, as they judge of cheese, so judge they of 
 Onlookers on which, who that narrowly looks. 
 May look for this : Saith he, " that book is too 
 
 long." ["ye say wrong, 
 
 " Tis too short," saith he. " Nay," saith he, 
 'Tis of meet length ; and, so fine phrase, or 
 
 fair style, 
 The like that book was riot made a good while ; 
 And, in touching the truth, invincibly 
 
 wrought. ' ' [nought. ' ' 
 
 " Tis all lies," saith another, " the book is 
 No book, no cheese, be it good, be it bad, 
 But praise and dispraise it hath, and hath had. 
 
 93. "Df Heads." 
 
 Some heads have taken : two heads better than 
 
 one; 
 But ten heads, without wit, I ween as good 
 
 none. 
 
 94. "The Woodcock and the Daw." 
 
 A woodcock and a daw sat upon a plain, 
 Both showed comparison each other to disdain. 
 " Back ! " (quoth the woodcock). " Straw for 
 
 thee ! " (quoth the daw); [awe? " 
 
 "Shall woodcocks keep daws now in dreadful 
 " None awe," (quoth the woodcock), " but in 
 
 behaviour; [favour!" 
 
 Ye ought to reverence woodcocks, by your 
 " For what cause? " (quoth the daw), " for 
 
 your long bills? " 
 
The first hundred of Epigrams 151 
 
 "Nay," (quoth the woodcock), "but lords 
 
 will, by their wills, 
 Rather have one woodcock than a thousand 
 
 daws ; 
 Woodcocks are meat, daws are carron — weigh 
 
 this clause." [agree; 
 
 " Indeed, sir," (said the daw), ** I must needs 
 Lords love to eat you, and not to eat me — 
 Cause of daws' courtesies ! — so, if woodcocks 
 
 thus gather, 
 Ye shall have courtesy; for this, I would rather 
 Be a daw, and to woodcock courtesy make, 
 Than be a woodcock, and of daws courtesy 
 
 take. 
 I were double a daw, had I not liever 
 Birders should, (in their birding endeavour), 
 Take up gins and let me go when they geat me, 
 Than set gins to get me, for lords to eat me." 
 
 95. "Of Few Words." 
 Few words show men wise, wise men do de- 
 vise ; 
 Which is ofttime true, and oft otherwise. 
 In some case silence may as stiffly stand 
 With folly, as with wisdom, wisely scanned. 
 
 96. "Wotting and Weening." 
 Wotting and weening — were those two things 
 one, [none ! 
 
 Who could wot himself wise like thee? I ween 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 ** I would give the best fardle in my pack 
 To be as wise as thou weenest thou art. Jack." 
 ** And to be as wise as I wot thou art — 
 What would I give, trowest thou? what? not a 
 fart!" 
 
152 The first hundred of Epigrams 
 
 97. "A Much Like Matter." 
 
 "Tom, thou thinkest thyself wise." "Yea, 
 
 what of that, Hugh? 
 Thou thinkest thyself wiser than I? " " Yea, 
 
 Tom, true." 
 " It seemeth," (said a third man), " by this 
 
 device, 
 No mastery for fools to ween themselves wise." 
 
 98. "Wisdom and Folly." 
 Thy wisdom and folly both, nay no one 
 Can be contained in volumes great nor small. 
 Thy wisdom being none, occupieth place none ; 
 Thy folly being all, occupieth place all. 
 
 99. " Of Lack." 
 
 One lack of late in thee saw we. 
 Which lacketh not now ; for this we see : 
 Thou hast lacked lack of honesty ; 
 But now that lack lacketh not in thee. 
 
 100. " The Weathercock, the Reed, and 
 THE Wind. " 
 
 The weathercock and the reed, comparing late 
 Their service done to the wind, fell at debate. 
 "The wind," (quoth the weathercock), 
 
 " windeth nowhere ; [there. " 
 
 But straight, bolt upright, I stand waiting 
 " Forsooth ! " (said the reed), " and where the 
 
 wind is found. 
 At every blast I bow down to the ground." 
 " Surely," (said the wind), " the waiting of 
 
 the tone. 
 And curtsey of the tother I take both one? 
 
The first hundred of Epigrams 153 
 
 And none of both good ; but rather ill to me : 
 For, when I oft in corners secret would be, 
 Other the crooked curtsey of the reed, 
 Or weathercock's waiting, bewrayeth me with 
 
 speed. 
 As lief is to me, in such serving pretence, 
 Single negligence as double diligence." 
 The weathercock and the reed, being both 
 
 blank, [thank." 
 
 Each told himself: "much service have small 
 
 Finis. 
 
grammes, bpon 
 
 ti^vtt Jbuntrretr 
 
 j>rouerl&es, 
 
 Jnucntei antt matte feg 
 
 LONDINI. 
 
 1562. 
 
THE TABLE OF THIS BOOK. 
 
 Of Amendment 
 
 Wagg-ing of Beards 
 
 Of Haste 
 
 Breaking of Square 
 
 Looking and Leaping 
 
 Wedding and Hanging 
 
 Of Delay 
 
 Of Wits . 
 
 No Lack in Love 
 
 Of Homely Home . 
 
 Giving and Taking . 
 
 Jack and Gill . 
 
 Of the End of a Wit 
 
 Of Bought Wit 
 
 Of Haste and Waste 
 
 Making of Malt 
 
 Of an Aching Eye . 
 
 What Thing Beggars Choose 
 
 Of Robbing . 
 
 Of Need and Law . 
 
 Of Beginning and Ending 
 
 Of Grace 
 
 Of Fore Provision . 
 
 Of Saying and Doing 
 
 Of Treading on a Worm 
 
 No. of Epigram 
 I 
 2 
 
 3 
 4 
 5 
 6 
 
 7 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 lO 
 
 II 
 
 12 
 
 13 
 
 14 
 
 15 
 16 
 
 17 
 18 
 
 19 
 20 
 21 
 
 22 
 
 23 
 24 
 
 25 
 
158 
 
 The Table to this Book 
 
 No. of Epigram 
 26 
 
 Of Ease in an Inn . 
 
 How to Prove a Friend . 
 
 Unwise Wedding . 
 
 Something' and Nothing . 
 
 The Sleeping Dog . 
 
 Of Hap .... 
 
 Of Sight and Mind . 
 
 Of Mirth with Wisdom . 
 
 Of Holding of a Nose . 
 
 An Eye-sore . 
 
 Of Reckoning . 
 
 Setting up a Candle 
 
 Of Clouds and Weather . 
 
 Of Making and Marring 
 
 Of Birds and Birders 
 
 Of Sorrows 
 
 Of Feeding and Teaching 
 
 Of Sufferance . 
 
 Of Him that set His Hand on His Money 
 
 Of a Horse Currying 
 
 Of Shame 
 
 A Lord's Heart and a Beggar's Purse 
 
 Of Forgetting . 
 
 Of the Heart and the Heel 
 
 Praise of a Man above a Horse 
 
 Of Weeping . 
 
 Of Two False Knaves 
 
 A Heart in a Hose . 
 
 Of Creeping and Going 
 
 Of Floating and Fleeting 
 
 A Man at an Ebb 
 
 Sight in a Millstone 
 
 Of Throwing . 
 
 Of Store . 
 
 Of One in Prison 
 
 Saints and Devils 
 
The Table to this Book 
 
 Of Botching . 
 
 Of a Year's Fair . 
 
 Of a Cap and a Head . 
 
 A Thief that hath no Fellow 
 
 False Measures 
 
 Of Clean Sweeping- . 
 
 Turning of Tippets . 
 
 Of Theft and Receipt 
 
 Of Work and Play . 
 
 Of a Painted Sheath 
 
 The Hare and the Hound 
 
 Of Beggars Singing 
 
 Of Two Faces . 
 
 Of Begging 
 
 Of Nothing . 
 
 Of Venturing . 
 
 Of Shall Be and Shall Not Be 
 
 The Black Ox 
 
 Of Bridling . 
 
 Mending and 'Pairing 
 
 Of Running without Turning 
 
 Buying a Pig . 
 
 Hungry Flies . 
 
 Of Loving a Dog . 
 
 Of Precious Stones . 
 
 Of 111 and Good Wind . 
 
 Of Sooth Boord 
 
 Of Tales Told in the Ear 
 
 Of Going 
 
 Of Need .... 
 
 Taking Heart of Grass . 
 
 Of Nothing and Allthing 
 
 Coveting and Losing 
 
 Of the March Hare . 
 
 How God will Not Do for Us 
 
 Of Harping on a String . 
 
 No. of 
 
i6o 
 
 The Table to this Book 
 
 No. of Epigram 
 
 A Loss by the Devil's Death ... 98 
 
 Of a Sheep's Eye . 
 
 
 99 
 
 Of Rule . 
 
 , , 
 
 
 100 
 
 Of Blind Bayard . 
 
 . 
 
 
 lOI 
 
 Of the Spinster's Thrift 
 
 , . 
 
 
 102 
 
 Of Deafness . 
 
 , , 
 
 
 . 103 
 
 Of a Good Horse . 
 
 , . 
 
 
 104 
 
 Of Ways to the Wood 
 
 . 
 
 
 105 
 
 Of One that may Soon 
 
 Amend 
 
 
 . 106 
 
 An III Hearer . 
 
 , 
 
 
 107 
 
 Of a Good Face 
 
 , 
 
 
 108 
 
 A Sharp Thorn 
 
 , 
 
 
 109 
 
 Comings and Going- . 
 
 . 
 
 
 1 10 
 
 The Better Cometh Seldom 
 
 
 III 
 
 One Driveth Out Another 
 
 
 1 12 
 
 Of Burden .... 
 
 
 113 
 
 Running- and Going 
 
 . 
 
 
 114 
 
 A Lack of Tools 
 
 . 
 
 
 115 
 
 Taste of a Man's Tales 
 
 , 
 
 
 116 
 
 Of a Cat's Look . 
 
 , 
 
 
 117 
 
 Of Matters Not Laid a Water 
 
 
 118 
 
 One Put out of a Creed . 
 
 
 119 
 
 All that may be Won of the Fox 
 
 
 120 
 
 The Surety of Some Seal 
 
 
 121 
 
 The Hare's Going- Away . 
 
 
 122 
 
 Judg-ment of Colours 
 
 
 
 123 
 
 Hap and Wit . 
 
 
 
 124 
 
 Fortune and Fools . 
 
 
 
 125 
 
 Of Loser's Words . 
 
 
 
 126 
 
 Getting- and Spending- 
 
 
 
 127 
 
 Measure . 
 
 
 
 128 
 
 Going- Beyond the W^all 
 
 
 
 129 
 
 Of Harm 
 
 
 
 130 
 
 Wit Kept by Warmth 
 
 
 
 131 
 
 Light Coming and Going 
 
 
 132 
 
 Of Kissing 
 
 • 
 
 
 ^33 
 
The Table to this Book 
 
 Of Leave 
 
 God in the Almonry 
 
 The Devil in the Horologe 
 
 The Best 
 
 The Worst . 
 
 Lasting of Wonder . 
 
 The Galled Horse . 
 
 Good Beginning and End 
 
 The Still Sow . 
 
 Of Stumbling . 
 
 Of the Shoe and the Sole 
 
 Might and Right . 
 
 Birth and Teaching 
 
 Of Hanging . 
 
 An Old Knave 
 
 A Man's Ear and his Hood 
 
 Gains and Losses . 
 
 Thieves Falling Out 
 
 Of a Shorn Face 
 
 A Bench Whistler . 
 
 What God Said to One 
 
 Bowing and Breaking 
 
 Of Wrestling . 
 
 God and the Church 
 
 Of One Tale in All Men Told 
 
 Of Malkin 
 
 Rash Venturing 
 
 A Scabbed Horse 
 
 Of Sitting 
 
 Ale and Wit . 
 
 Of Restitution 
 
 Eating of Flies 
 
 Of the Fox's Preaching 
 
 Of Poor Men's Souls 
 
 Promise of Silence . 
 
 Of Little Saying 
 
 HEY. II. 
 
 No. of 
 
 M 
 
l62 
 
 Of the Tide . 
 
 Praise of Good End 
 
 Of Hearing and Judging 
 
 A Lesson for Looking 
 
 Of a Woman's Lives 
 
 The Crow Called White 
 
 Of the Old Fool . 
 
 Of a Bean 
 
 The Gift of a Pig . 
 
 Change and Robbery 
 
 Of Fair Words 
 
 Of Laughing . 
 
 Of Seeking 
 
 Of a Head under a Girdle 
 
 Of Wide Shooting . 
 
 The Fool's Bolt 
 
 Of a Merchant 
 
 Of Tongue 
 
 Of Speech 
 
 A Busy Body . 
 
 Of Time . 
 
 Of Far Casting 
 
 Of Hunger 
 
 Of Feeding 
 
 Of Mortimer's Sow 
 
 Of Flea-biting 
 
 The Breechless Master 
 
 Meat and Sauce 
 
 Of Proffered Service 
 
 Of Common Meddlers 
 
 Of Enough and a Feast 
 
 Of Plain Fashion . 
 
 Of Him that Cometh Last 
 
 Of Staining 
 
 Of Sitting 
 
 Of Writing to Friends 
 
 The Table to this Book 
 
 No. of Epigram. 
 70 
 
The Table to this Book 
 
 Great Clerks 
 
 Killing 
 
 Falsehood 
 
 Bleeding 
 
 Seeing 
 
 Eyes . 
 
 Pepper 
 
 an 111 Stake 
 
 Sufferance . 
 
 Misreckoning 
 
 Even Reckoning 
 
 Taking 
 
 Mum .... 
 
 Stopping a Mouth 
 
 Casting 
 
 Jack .... 
 
 the Winking Cat 
 
 Saying Nay 
 
 the Pie and Crow 
 
 Saying Nought but Mum 
 
 Tongue and Wit 
 
 Own .... 
 
 Spinning . 
 
 Laughing . 
 
 Playing 
 
 the Wind Blowing 
 
 Far and Nigh . 
 
 Th 'instep . 
 
 Small and Great 
 
 the Keys . 
 
 Provender . 
 
 Some Here and There 
 
 the Parson's Leman . 
 
 Ill Weed . 
 
 Speaking . 
 
 Good Silver 
 
 No. of 
 
 M 2 
 
164 
 
 the Proud Cock 
 Fat in the Fire 
 Bow Bent . 
 God's Being 
 Kinfolk . 
 Friendship 
 Nothing 
 Poverty 
 Ears Glowing 
 Post and Pillar 
 May Be 
 Use . 
 Spurning . 
 the Tying the Bell 
 Had I Wist 
 Dancing 
 the Cats Eating Fish 
 the Blind . 
 the Worst and Best 
 Five Eggs . 
 Climbing . 
 the Way . 
 Waiting 
 Rhyme 
 Fishing 
 Good 
 
 the Hot Irons 
 the Purse . 
 Many Hands 
 the Loth Stake 
 Having 
 Counsel 
 Rome 
 Speech 
 One Had in the Wind 
 One 111 Shod . 
 
 The Table to this Book 
 
 No. of Epigram. 
 242 
 
The Table to this Book 
 
 Of All and Nought . 
 
 Of Warning . 
 
 Of Birds Flown 
 
 Of Leaving 
 
 Of Setting in Foot . 
 
 Of Fast Binding 
 
 Of Hap . 
 
 Of Time . 
 
 Of .the Fat Hog . 
 
 Of Bale and Boot . 
 
 Of Sows . 
 
 Of Making a Cross . 
 
 Of a Pad 
 
 Of Long Standing . 
 
 Of the Weak . 
 
 Of Catching . 
 
 Of Holding . 
 
 Of Knowledge 
 
 Of Smelling . 
 
 Of Nought Laid Down 
 
 Of Sight of Fare . 
 
 Of the Pot not Broken 
 
 Of Late and Never . 
 
 165 
 
 No. of Epigram. 
 278 
 279 
 280 
 281 
 282 
 283 
 284 
 285 
 286 
 287 
 288 
 289 
 290 
 291 
 292 
 
 293 
 294 
 
 296 
 
 297 
 298 
 
 299 
 
 300 
 
 Finis. 
 
EPIGRAMS UPON PROVERBS 
 
 I. "Of Amendment." 
 
 If every man mend one, all shall he mended : 
 This mean to amendment is now intended. 
 For though no man look to mend himself, 
 brother ; [other. 
 
 Yet each man looketh to control and mend 
 
 2. ''Wagging of Beards." 
 
 It is merry in hall when beards wag all: 
 
 *' Husband, for this, these words to mind I 
 
 call: 
 This is meant by men, in their merry eating- ; 
 Not to wag their beards in brawling and 
 
 threating. " [pins 
 
 " Wife, the meaning hereof differeth not two 
 Between wagging of men's beards and 
 
 women's chins." 
 
 3. " Of Haste." 
 
 The hasty man wanteth never woe : 
 In hasty women not ever so. 
 With suffering husbands hasty wives 
 Have oft, we see, full merry lives. 
 
 4. ''Breaking of Square." 
 
 An inch hreaketh no square : which, since thou 
 
 hast heard tell. 
 Thou dost assay how to break square by an ell. 
 
1 68 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 An inch hreaketh no square: thou breakest 
 
 none, though it do; 
 Thou rather bringest square than breakest 
 
 square between two. 
 
 5. ** Looking and Leaping." 
 
 Look ere thou leap : nay, thou canst in no wise 
 
 brook [look. 
 
 To look ere thou leap, for thou leapest ere thou 
 
 6. "Wedding and Hanging." 
 
 '' Wedding and hanging are destiny, I see; 
 Wedding- or hanging, which is best, sir? " 
 
 (quoth she). 
 " Forsooth ! good wife, hanging I think best," 
 
 (quoth he). [me." 
 
 " So help me God, good husband ! so thinketh 
 Oh, how like lambs, man and wife here agree. 
 
 7. "Of Delay." 
 
 He that will not when he may, 
 
 When he would he shall have nay : 
 
 But to that nay, nay I say : 
 
 If of my wife I delay 
 
 To take shrewd words, yet that stay 
 
 Stayeth them not from me next day. 
 
 8. "Of Wits." 
 
 So many heads, so many wits : nay, nay ! 
 We see many heads and no wits, some day. 
 
 9. "No Lack in Love." 
 
 In love is no lack : true, I dare be borrow ; 
 In love is never lack of joy or sorrow. 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 169 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 In love is no lack : no, in no wooing day ; 
 But after wedding day, let's hear what ye say. 
 
 10. "Of Homely Home." 
 
 Home is homely : yea, and too homely some- 
 time 
 
 Where wives' footstools to their husbands' 
 heads climb. 
 
 11. "Giving and Taking." 
 
 Better give than take : all say, but so think 
 
 none. [one. 
 
 All think better take twenty pounds than give 
 
 12. "Jack and Gill." 
 All shall be well. Jack shall have Gill: 
 Nay, nay ! Gill is wedded to Will. 
 
 13. " Of the End of a Wit." 
 Thou art at thy wits* end: which I wonder in 
 To see a wit at end before it begin. 
 
 14. "Of Bought Wit." 
 
 Wit is never good till it he bought: 
 
 Thy wit is dear bought, and yet stark nought. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 " Wit is never good till it he bought, Will." 
 " Jack, to buy or sell that ware fools can no 
 skill." 
 
 15. " Of Haste and Waste." 
 
 Haste maketh waste : which, perceived by 
 
 sloth, [truth ! 
 
 Sloth will make no haste, he sweareth by his 
 
170 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 1 6. ** Making of Malt." 
 
 Soft fire maketh sweet malt : as malt-makers 
 
 tell. 
 Then, to make sweet malt fire is too rash in 
 
 hell; 
 Whereby, since in hell no good ale is to sell, 
 Dry drunken souls cannot like in hell to dwell. 
 
 17. ''Of an Aching Eye." 
 
 Better eye out, than alway ache : 
 In rage of ache, true as I spake : 
 But in mean ache, meanly to moan, 
 Better an aching eye than none. 
 
 18. *' What Thing Beggars Choose." 
 
 Beggars should he no choosers : but yet they 
 
 will ; 
 Who can bring a beggar from choice to beg 
 
 still? 
 
 19. " Of Robbing." 
 
 Roh Peter and pay Paul: thou sayest I do; 
 But thou robbest and poulst Peter and Paul too. 
 
 20. " Of Need and Law." 
 
 Need hath no law: in some case, in very deed, 
 Need hath no law; and yet of law we have 
 need. 
 
 21. *' Of Beginning and Ending." 
 
 Of a hard beginning cometh a good ending: 
 Truth, on this term, is not alway depending; 
 Some hardly begin by the feet to sit fast, 
 That end with hard hanging by the necks at 
 last. 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 171 
 
 22. ''Of Grace." 
 
 In space cometh grace : I grant grace may 
 
 come in space ; 
 But in rule, by thy rule, never look for grace. 
 
 23. "Of Fore Provision." 
 
 Whoso that knew what would he dear, 
 Should need be merchant but one year: 
 But thou hast known years, two or three, 
 That good conditions would, in thee. 
 Both dear and daintily be grown ; 
 And yet for all this, thus foreknown 
 To warn thee of great fore provision, 
 Thou hast not now one good condition. 
 
 24. ** Of Saying and Doing." 
 
 Saying and doing, are two things, we say : 
 But thy sayings and doings every way 
 Join, jump in one ; thy words and deeds pro- 
 ceed. 
 But thou art good, nother in word nor deed. 
 
 25. " Of Treading on a Worm." 
 
 Tread a worm on the tail, and it turneth again : 
 But thou treadest on the worm's head that to 
 restrain. 
 
 26. ** Of Ease in an Inn." 
 
 Thou takest thine ease in thine Inn, so nigh 
 
 thee 
 That no man in his Inn can take ease by thee. 
 
 '* Otherwise." 
 
 Thou takest thine ease in thine Inn: but I see 
 Thine Inn taketh nother ease nor profit by 
 thee. 
 
172 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 2"]. " How TO Prove a Friend." 
 
 Prove thy friend ere thou need : that canst thou 
 
 no way ; 
 For without need of thy friend thou art no day. 
 
 28. "Unwise Wedding." 
 
 Who weddeth ere he be wise shall die ere he 
 
 thrive : 
 Then shalt not thou be wedded and rich alive. 
 
 29. ** Something and Nothing." 
 
 Something is better than nothing: 
 In something I g-rant this othing ; 
 In some I deny; for I see 
 As good have nothing as have thee. 
 
 30. "The Sleeping Dog." 
 
 It is ill waking of a sleeping dog: 
 
 So think many, namely, the wroting hog. 
 
 31. " Of Hap." 
 
 It happeth in an hour that happeth not in 
 
 seven year. 
 ** That happeth this hour, wife, for thou 
 
 makest me good cheer." 
 
 32. "Of Sight and Mind." 
 
 Out of sight out of mind : this may run right ; 
 For all be not in mind that be in sight. 
 
 33. "Of Mirth with Wisdom." 
 
 'Tis good to be merry and wise : 
 How shall fools follow that advice? 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 173 
 
 34. *' Of Holding of a Nose." 
 
 Thou canst hold my nose to the grindstone : 
 So cannot I thine for thou hast none. 
 
 35. "An Eye-sore." 
 
 It is but an eye-sore : but an eye-sore, fie ! 
 That eye-sore is as ill as any sore eye. 
 
 36. "Of Reckoning." 
 
 Reckoning without thine host thou must reckon 
 
 twice : 
 May not my hosts disappoint that device? 
 
 27. ** Setting up a Candle." 
 To set up a candle before the devil: 
 Dim-sighted devils, I deem, deem it not evil. 
 
 38. "Of Clouds and Weather." 
 
 After clouds black, we shall have weather 
 clear: [black; 
 
 And after weather clear we shall have clouds 
 
 Now hot, now cold, now fair, now foul appear; 
 
 As weather cleareth, or cloudeth, so must men 
 take. 
 
 39. "Of Making and Marring." 
 Make or mar I will, so sayest thou ever ; 
 But thou dost ever mar, thou makest never. 
 
 40. "Of Birds and Birders." 
 
 Better one bird in hand, than ten in the wood: 
 Better for birders, but for birds not so good. 
 
 41. "Of Sorrows." 
 
 Make not two sorrows of one, if thou can ; 
 Lest making of two sorrows mar one man. 
 
174 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 >> 
 
 42. ** Of Feeding and Teaching. 
 
 Thou art better fed than taught, I undertake : 
 And yet art thou skin and bone, lean as a rake. 
 
 43. " Of Sufferance." 
 
 Of sufferance cometh ease: '* How shall I know 
 
 that, wife? " 
 *' I have suffered thee, without ease, all my 
 
 life." 
 
 44. *' Of Him that Set his Hand on his 
 Money." 
 
 " Thy hand is on thy halfpenny : and must 
 
 John; [on." 
 
 For thou hast no more coin to set thy hand 
 
 45. "Of a Horse Currying." 
 A short horse is soon curried : that is, to wit, 
 When short horse and short curriers do meet. 
 
 46. "Of Shame." 
 Shame take him that shatne think e th : for thou 
 dost think none ; [on. 
 
 Thou art too far past shame, shame to think 
 
 47. " A Lord's Heart and a Beggar's 
 Purse." 
 
 There is nothing in this ivorld that agreeth 
 
 worse 
 Than doth a lord's heart and a beggar's purse: 
 And yet, as ill as those two do agree, 
 Thou canst not bring- them asunder to be. 
 
 48. "Of Forgetting." 
 
 The parish priest forgetteth he was parish 
 
 clerk : 
 And the parson forgetteth he was parish priest ; 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 175 
 
 But priest, clerk, and no clerk, all who will 
 
 mark, 
 To forg-et what we were shall see us enticed. 
 
 49. "Of the Heart and the Heel." 
 
 Shall I set at my heart that thou settest at 
 
 thy heel? [weel. 
 
 Nay, a heart in a heel'd hose can never do 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 Shall I set at my heart that thou settest at thy 
 heel? [not weel. 
 
 Nay, however kibed heels do, kibed hearts do 
 
 50. " Praise of a Man Above a Horse." 
 A man may well lead a horse to the water 
 But he cannot make him drink, without he list. 
 I praise thee above the horse, in this matter ; 
 For I, leading thee to drink, thou hast not 
 
 missed 
 Alway to be ready, without resistance, 
 Both to drink, and be drunk, ere thou were 
 led thence. 
 
 51. " Of Weeping." 
 Better children weep than old men, say wise 
 men : [and then. 
 
 But old men weep when children laugh, now 
 
 52. "Of Two False Knaves." 
 Two false knaves need no broker: but it is need 
 That brokers break false knaves' fellowship 
 with speed. 
 
 53. "A Heart in a Hose." 
 Thy heart is in thy hose : which jail is not 
 
 strong : 
 Thy hose are too full of holes to keep it long. 
 
176 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 54. "Of Creeping and Going." 
 
 Children must learn to creep ere they can go : 
 In the spittle old knaves learn to do so. 
 
 55. "Of Floating and Fleeting." 
 
 Thou art afloat, thou weenest, being- in the 
 
 fleet : 
 But floating and fleeting- agree not there meet. 
 
 56. "A Man at an Ebb." 
 
 Thou art at an ebb in Newgate : thou hast 
 
 wrong- ; 
 But thou shalt be afloat at Tyburn ere long. 
 
 57. " Sight in a Millstone." 
 
 Thou seest far in a millstone : thank God, there- 
 fore ! 
 Thou seest in a millstone ; in nothing more. 
 
 58. "Of Throwing." 
 
 Throw no gift again at the giver's head: 
 Namely, no gift of thy wife given in check ; 
 If thou do, the rebound may be so red 
 That the red blood may run down in thy neck. 
 
 59. " Of Store." 
 
 Store is no sore: yes, store may be a sore; 
 I think it a sore of sores to have store. 
 
 60. "Of One in Prison." 
 
 "Thou art in hy the week.^' "Nay, sir, I 
 
 am here. 
 Not in by the week, I am in by the year." 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 177 
 
 61. " Saints and Devils." 
 
 Young saint, old devil: there's mo of woman- 
 kind [find. 
 Than young devils, old saints in mankind, as I 
 
 62. ** Of Botching." 
 
 God is no botcher: but, when God wrought you 
 
 two, 
 God wrought as like a botcher as God might 
 
 do. 
 
 63. " Of a Year's Fair." 
 
 The fair lasteth all the year: "but wife, I tell 
 
 thee. 
 In this year's fair, for fair, I cannot sell thee." 
 " I have worse luck," (quoth she), and began 
 
 to scowl : 
 *' I cannot sell thee there for fair nor for foul." 
 
 64. " Of A Cap and a Head." 
 
 Thy cap is better at ease than thy head: 
 Between which twain, might I at wish be sped 
 To choose one of the twain, which I would first 
 
 crave — 
 Thy whole cap before thy sick head I would 
 
 have. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 My cap is better at ease than my head : 
 Thy cap is better than thy head, 'tis said, 
 
 65. "A Thief that hath no Fellow." 
 
 Ask my fellow whether I be a thief: 
 No way, can that way of thy theft make preef ; 
 Thou hast no fellow in theft to catch thee; 
 For there is no thief, (in theft), can match thee. 
 hey. ii. n 
 
178 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 66. "False Measures." 
 
 Thou fearest false measures : which are things 
 
 to fear sore ; 
 But I fear false measures as much and more. 
 
 67. '*Of Clean Sweeping." 
 
 New broom sweepeth clean, which is thus 
 
 understand — 
 New broom sweepeth clean in the clean 
 
 sweeper's hand. 
 
 68. *' Turning of Tippets." 
 
 He hath turned his tippet — that turn showeth 
 
 plain 
 Our tippets have been turned, and turned again. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 He hath turned his tippet, dyed it, and dressed 
 
 it [it. 
 
 Upon the right side and fair, and plain pressed 
 
 *' Otherwise. " 
 
 He hath turned his tippet, and pressed it so 
 
 close, 
 That for a turned tippet it hath a fair gloss. 
 
 *' Otherwise." 
 
 He hath turned his tippet : Lord ! how he pro- 
 vides [both sides. 
 Tippets turned, dyed, shorn, and worn bare on 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 He hath turned his tippet twice in my sight : 
 First on the wrong side, and last on the right. 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 179 
 
 •' Otherwise." 
 
 He hath turned his tippet: an honest turningf 
 To turn his tippet, and turn round for burning. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 He hath turned his tippet, shorn against the 
 
 wool full, 
 And more against his will than against the 
 
 wool. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 He hath turned his tippet: that have we turned 
 
 all ; [as a ball. 
 
 Some half turn, some whole turn, turned round 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 He hath turned his tippet; yea, for a while: 
 But might he turn again. Lord ! how he would 
 smile. 
 
 '* Otherwise." 
 
 He hath turned his tippet; yet mo turns ye 
 
 mock : 
 But who doth wear his tippet a weathercock? 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 He hath turned his tippet : now for a novelty ; 
 And, for a novelty, would turn straight again 
 he. 
 
 *' Otherwise." 
 
 He turneth his tippet, or his tippet turneth 
 
 him, [Saint Sim ! 
 
 But which turneth which, I see not, by sweet 
 
 N 2 
 
I So Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 He hath turned his tippet, 
 For simony a sippet. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 He turneth his tippet: if that turning- turn him 
 Into the pulpit, that turning is turned trim. 
 
 69. "Of Theft and Receipt." 
 
 Where are no receivers, there are no thieves: 
 Where noug^ht is to receive, thieves bring- no 
 grieves. 
 
 70. "Of Work and Play." 
 
 As good to play for nought, as to work for 
 
 nought : [for ought. 
 
 But thou wilt play for nought, and not work 
 
 71. " Of a Painted Sheath." 
 
 Thou makest much of thy painted sheath: and 
 
 wilt do, 
 It having not one good knife longing thereto. 
 
 72. "The Hare and the Hound." 
 
 Hold with the hare and run with the hound: 
 
 run there 
 As wight as the hound, and as wise as the hare. 
 
 73. "Of Beggars Singing." 
 
 Beggars sing before thieves: but what of that? 
 When beggars sing so, thieves see nought to 
 laugh at. 
 
 74. " Of Two Faces." 
 
 Thou bearest two faces in one hood: 
 Thou hast one ill face, both be not good. 
 

 Epigrams upon Proverbs^^J aLL: ^r^""*^ i8i 
 
 75. ''Of Begging." 
 
 Thou begges't at wrong door, and so hast 
 
 begged long : [wrong. 
 
 Thy getting, by begging, showeth every door 
 
 76. " Of Nothing." 
 
 Nothing hath no savour: which savourless 
 
 show [we know. 
 
 Showeth nothing better than something that 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 Nothing hath no savour: as ill is this othing — 
 111 savoured something as unsavoured nothing. 
 
 yy. "Of Venturing." 
 
 Nought venture, nought have : and venturing 
 
 of much 
 May have a little, venturing is now such. 
 
 78. "Of Shall Be and Shall Not Be." 
 
 That shall be, shall be : but all that should be 
 Shall not be, nor hath been, as far as I see. 
 
 79. " The Black Ox." 
 
 The black ox never trod on thy foot: 
 
 But the dun ass hath trod on both thy feet. 
 
 Which ass, and thou, may seem sprung of one 
 
 root; 
 For the ass's pace, and thy pace, are meet. 
 
 80. " Of Bridling." 
 
 "I will bridle thee with rough bit, wife." 
 
 Quoth she : 
 " If thou wilt bridle me, I will snaffle thee." 
 
1 82 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 8i. *' Mending and 'Pairing." 
 
 / will mend this house, and 'pair another: 
 Yea, but when wilt thou mend thyself, brother? 
 
 82. ** Of Running without Turning." 
 
 He runneth far that never turneth again: nay, 
 
 nay ! [far way. 
 
 Though the snail never turn he runneth no 
 
 83. '' Buying a Pig." 
 
 I will never buy the pig in the poke : 
 There's many a foul pig in a fair cloak. 
 
 84. '' Hungry Flies." 
 
 Hungry flies bite sore : which shall bite us 
 
 ever ; 
 For without hungry flies we shall be never. 
 
 85. "Of Loving a Dog." 
 
 Love me, love my dog: by love to agree 
 I love thy dog as well as I love thee. 
 
 86. " Of Precious Stones." 
 
 '' Folly to cast precious stones before hogs, 
 
 Hugh," 
 '* Hodge, except they be precious hogs, thou 
 
 sayest true." 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 Cast precious stones before hogs : cast stones 
 
 to hogs ? nay ! 
 But precious stones have been given to hogs, 
 
 some say. 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 183 
 
 87. "Of III and Good Wind," 
 
 M is an ill wind that hloweth no man to srooel : 
 And like g-ood wind that bloweth no man ill. 
 But, fearing ill winds, old men most times 
 
 stood 
 Out of all extreme winds under the hill. 
 
 88. *' Of Sooth Boord." 
 
 Sooth hoord is no hoord: sooth boord soundeth 
 
 ill 
 In false fair flattering boord, boord as ye will. 
 
 8g. "Of Tales Told in the Ear." 
 
 In at the tone ear and out at the totjier : 
 
 If tales told thee go in and out so, brother. 
 
 Then the travel of those tales show much 
 
 wonder : 
 Thy two ears be two hundred mile asunder. 
 
 90. " Of Going." 
 
 The further we go the further behind : 
 
 Meet footmen to go with crabs, in my mind. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 The further I go the further behind: 
 
 Stand still, fool ! till thou better footing find. 
 
 91. "Of Need." 
 
 Need inaketh th'old wife trot: is she a trotter 
 
 now ? [you ? 
 
 Gallop, young wives ! shall th'old trot out-trot 
 
 92. "Taking Heart of Grass." 
 
 " Thou takest heart of grass, wife, not heart 
 
 of grace. " [in one place. " 
 
 " Come grass, come grace, sir, we graze both 
 
184 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 93. " Of Nothing and All Thing." 
 
 Where nothing is, a little thing doth ease : 
 Where all thingf is, nothing can fully please. 
 
 94. ** Coveting and Leesing. " 
 
 All covet, all lose: this cometh oft in ure. 
 But nought have, nought lose : this is ever 
 sure. 
 
 95. "Of the March Hare." 
 
 As mad as a March hare: where madness com- 
 pares, [hares? 
 Are not Midsummer hares as mad as March 
 
 96. *' How God will Not Do for Us." 
 
 Every man for himself, and God for us all: 
 God will not seal that writing, write it who 
 shall? 
 
 97. *' Of Harping on a String." 
 
 Harp no more on that string, for it standeth 
 
 too high ; 
 And soundeth as basely as a halter, well nigh. 
 
 98. "A Loss BY THE Devil's Death." 
 
 The devil is dead : then hast thou lost a friend ; 
 In all thy doings the devil was at tone end. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 The devil is dead: one devil is dead, but we see 
 Mo devils left alive, as ill or worse than he. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 The devil is dead: who shall inherit his land? 
 Enough : the devil hath left children a thousand. 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 185 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 The devil is dead: who shall his land rightly 
 
 win? 
 Thou ! for thou, by condition, art next of kin. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 The devil is dead : nay, the devil is in a sown ; 
 But the devil reviveth again, chil lay my gown. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 The devil is dead: what helpeth the death of 
 
 the devil? 
 The devil hath heirs as ill as he, and more evil. 
 
 99. "Of a Sheep's Eye." 
 
 He cast a sheep's eye at her: a strange eye 
 
 spread 
 To see a sheep's eye look out of a calf's head. 
 
 100. " Of Rule." 
 
 Better rule than he ruled: wife ! thy endeavour 
 Hath showed thee to be ruled by that rule ever. 
 
 loi. "Of Blind Bayard." 
 
 Who so bold as blind Bayard? no beast, of 
 truth ; [showeth 
 
 Whereof my bold, blind Bayard, perfect proof 
 Both of his boldness, and for his bold blind- 
 ness. 
 By late occasion, in a cause of kindness, 
 A company of us rode in certain ground ; 
 Where we wellnigh an impassable slough 
 found. 
 
1 86 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 Their horses, ere they entered, began to stay; 
 Every one horse giving- another the way — 
 Of good manner, as it were — and more and 
 
 more 
 Each horse gave back to set his better before, 
 Save this rude rusty, bold, blind Bayard of 
 
 mine, [fine, 
 
 As rashly, as rudely, chopped forth ; and in 
 Without any curtsey, ere any man bids. 
 Blindly and boldly, he leapt into the mids. 
 And look how boldly, the mids he leapt in till ; 
 Even, with like boldness, in the mids he lay 
 
 still ; [there. 
 
 And trow you the jade, at the best men's words 
 Would stir one joint? nay, not the breadth of 
 
 one hair. [ance 
 
 But stared on them, with as bold a counten- 
 As that whole had been his by inheritance ; 
 He having no more to do there than had I. 
 But straight there cometh a cartwear of good 
 
 horse by ; 
 By force whereof, and help of all that rout, 
 Blind Bayard and I were drawn together out. 
 Which blind boldness, by this admonition, 
 Except he amend in some meet condition, 
 Rather than ride so, I will afoot take pain 
 Blind bold Bayard shall not thus bear me again. 
 
 I02. ** Of the Spinster's Thrift." 
 
 Thus rideth the rock : if the rock be riding, 
 The spinster's thrift is set a-foot sliding. 
 
 103. **Of Deafness." 
 
 Who is so deaf as he that will not hear? 
 Not the devil till will draw his hearing near. 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 187 
 
 104. •' Of A Good Horse." 
 
 It is a good horse that never stumhleth : 
 Then have I a good horse, for my horse 
 
 tumbleth, [never. 
 
 And falleth down right ; my horse stumhleth 
 So well am I horsed, and have been horsed 
 
 ever, 
 And so loth to lend him, to field or town's end, 
 That, as soon shall my foe ride him as my 
 
 friend. 
 
 105. ** Of Ways to the Wood." 
 
 There he mo ways to the wood than one : 
 Of all good ways to wood, thou goest none. 
 
 106. ** Of One that may Soon Amend." 
 
 He may soon amend, for he cannot appair: 
 A good evidence to prove him the devil's heir. 
 
 107. "An III Hearer." 
 
 7 cannot hear on that side : no, truth to tell, 
 Of any side thou couldst never yet hear well. 
 
 108. " Of a Good Face." 
 
 " I did set a good face on the matter, Joan." 
 *' Thou didst borrow it then, Bess, for thou 
 hast none." 
 
 109. "A Sharp Thorn." 
 
 It pricketh betimes that shall he a sharp thorn: 
 *' I ween thou prickest, wife ! ere time thou 
 were born." 
 
1 88 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 no. "Coming and Going." 
 As fast as one goeth another cometh in ure : 
 Two buckets in a well come and go so, sure; 
 But go or come who shall, while all come and 
 
 go, 
 Seldom cometh the better : practise preveth so. 
 
 111. "The Better Cometh Seldom." 
 Seldom cometh the better, come or go who 
 
 will : 
 One nail driveth out another, we see still. 
 
 112. "One Driveth Out Another." 
 One nail driveth out another: with strokes so 
 
 stout 
 That the hammer-head which driveth them 
 weareth quite out. 
 
 113. " Of Burden." 
 
 Light burden, far heavy: that dost thou try; 
 A feather borne far will tire thee well nigh. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 Light burden, far heavy, borne for other men ; 
 For ourselves, heavy burdens light enough 
 then. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Light burden, far heavy: thy brain lacketh 
 
 strength 
 To bear a pint of wine a pair of butts' length. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Light burden, far heavy : thou dost find that 
 
 lack 
 In all light good burdens that lie on thy back. 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 189 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 Light burden, far heavy : how can lame folk 
 
 prove, [remove? 
 
 Who in all their lives, their lengths do not 
 
 114. "Running and Going." 
 
 He may ill run that cannot go : 
 He that sitteth by the feet find so. 
 
 115. "A Lack of Tools." 
 
 What is a workman without his tools ? 
 How may baubles be missed among fools ? 
 
 116. "Taste of a Man's Tales." 
 A tale of a tub, thy tales taste all of ale : 
 Not of pescod ale, sir; my tales are not stale. 
 
 117. " Of a Cat's Look." 
 
 A cat may look on a king: and what of that? 
 When a cat so looketh, a cat is but a cat. 
 
 118. " One Put Out of a Creed." 
 Thou mayest he in my pater noster, indeed ; 
 But surely thou shalt never come in my creed. 
 I care not, though I do not ; what can I win 
 To come in a creed, which creed God is not in? 
 
 iig. "All that may be Won of the Fox." 
 We can have no more of the fox hut the skin: 
 And the fox thinketh that too much for us to 
 win. 
 
 120. "The Surety of Some Seal." 
 
 As sure as it were sealed with butter: forsooth ! 
 Some butter seal lasteth as long as some wax 
 doth. 
 
I go Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 121. "The Hares Going Away." 
 
 There goeth the hare away : is she gone, say 
 
 you? [enou'. 
 
 Let her go ! we have hares and hare-heads 
 
 122. "Judgment of Colours." 
 
 Blind men should judge no colours : should they 
 
 nat? 
 Blind men will judge all colours, for all that. 
 
 123. "Hap and Wit." 
 
 Better he happy than wise : here art thou hit ; 
 Thy hap hath ever been better than thy wit. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Better he happy than wise : not so, some say ; 
 He that can be wise shall be happy, say they. 
 
 124. " Of Fortune to Fools." 
 
 God sendeth fortune to fools : not to everyone ; 
 Thou art a fool, and yet, fortune thou hast 
 none. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 God sendeth fortune to fools : and to wise men 
 
 still [ill. 
 
 God sendeth good fortune, or the devil sendeth 
 
 125. "Of Loosers' Words." 
 
 Let the loosers have their words, all at once : 
 Shall the loosers talk? there will be chat for the 
 nonce. 
 
 126. "Getting and Spending." 
 
 Ill gotten, ill spent : be that tale true to tell, 
 Thou art never like to spend penny well. 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 191 
 
 127. "Matters Not Laid a-Water." 
 
 My matter is laid a-water : that's a false tale; 
 Thy matters lie, not in water, they lie in ale. 
 
 128 *' Measure." 
 
 Measure is a merry mean 
 Which, filled with noppy drink, 
 When merry drinkers drink off clean 
 Then merrily they wink. 
 
 ** Otherwise." * 
 
 Measure is a merry mean, 
 But I mean measures g^reat ; 
 Where lips to little pitchers lean, 
 Those lips they scantly wet. 
 
 *' Otherwise." 
 
 Measure is a merry mean: 
 
 But inch, foot, yard, or ell, 
 
 Those measures are not worth a bean ; 
 
 They measure no drink well. \ 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 Measure is a merry mean : 
 
 Be drink dear or good cheap. 
 
 From measure no wight may thee wean ; 
 
 Thou measurest drink by heap. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 Measure is a merry mean: 
 Good liquor may not shrink ; 
 Thou takest no triacle of Gean 
 So wholesome as good drink. 
 
192 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Measure is a merry mean 
 
 Showing indifferency ; 
 
 Would th 'ale-wife play the polling quean? 
 
 Yet measure will not lie. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 Measure is a merry mean 
 
 That doth diligently ; 
 
 Attend the taps of stand and stean 
 
 To moist thy lips full dry. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 Measure is a merry inean: 
 
 And measure is thy mate 
 
 To be a deacon, or a dean : 
 
 Thou wouldst not change the state. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 Measure is a merry mean : 
 
 Who that shall enterprise 
 
 This measure from thee, for to glean, 
 
 Right early must he rise. 
 
 '* Otherwise." 
 
 Measure is a merry mean : 
 
 In volumes full or flat; 
 
 There is no chapter, nor no scene 
 
 That thou appliest like that. 
 
 129. ''Going Beyond the Wall." 
 
 Furder than the wall we cannot go : 
 Thine visage showeth otherwise, then so ; 
 Thou goest, when thou must start out of sight, 
 To the wall, and over the wall quite. 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 193 
 
 130. " Of Harm." 
 
 A man jar from his good is nigh his harm: 
 Nigh thy good, next thy harm, as chance may 
 charm. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 A man jar from his good is nigh his harm : 
 For thee to fear that it were worse than wood- 
 
 ness ; 
 Movables, unmovables, land or farm. 
 Thou hast not one groat's worth of good or 
 
 goodness. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 A man far from his good is nigh his harm: 
 This showeth thee nigh harm ; for, hadst thou 
 an arm [stantine, 
 
 That could and would reach hence to Con- 
 That arm could not reach to any good of thine. 
 
 131. "Wit Kept by Warmth." 
 
 Thou art wise enough if thou keep thee warm : 
 But the least cold that cometh killeth thy wit 
 by harm. 
 
 132. "Light Coming and Going." 
 
 Light come, light go, that cometh in ure by 
 
 light feet ; [street. 
 
 But light heads make light feet lie lame in the 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 Light come, light go : for that thou art well 
 
 wrought ; 
 For thou art as light as a thing of nought. 
 
 HEY. II. O 
 
194 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Light come, light go : pass, come and go 
 
 lightly; 
 In a juggler that lightness is sightly. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Light come, light go : thy light going dolh 
 
 excel ; 
 But thy light coming I like not half so well. 
 
 233. " Of Kissing." 
 
 Unknown, unkissed : and being known, I ween 
 Thou art never kissed where thou mayest be 
 seen. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 " Unknown, unkissed: from that desire, wife, 
 bless thee; [thee." 
 
 For no man that seeth thee desireth to kiss 
 
 " From kissing in sight, husband, such as 
 flee me, [me. " 
 
 Let them come kiss me where they do not see 
 
 134. " Of Leave." 
 Leave is light: light enough as thou wilt make 
 
 it; 
 
 If thy master give no leave thou wilt take it. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Leave is light : yea, and leave is axed lightly ; 
 And may be granted lightly, axed rightly. 
 
 135. "God in the Almonry." 
 
 There is God in th'almery: a well-played part; 
 Shut God in thine almonry out of thy heart. 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 195 
 
 136. "The Devil in th'Orologe. " 
 
 The devil is in th'orologe, the hours to try; 
 Search hours by the sun; the devil's dial will 
 lie. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 The devil is in th'orologe : now cheer in 
 
 bowls ; 
 Let the devil keep our clocks while God keep 
 
 our souls. 
 
 137. "The Best." 
 
 The best is behind: the worst is before; 
 Between both, beware drift to the worst shore. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 The best is behind: we go before too fast; 
 Bide for the best, else it will be lost at last. 
 
 '* Otherwise." 
 
 The best is behind: start thou back and fet it, 
 Abide, abide ! a wiser man must get it. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 The best is behind: even so I thought it would ; 
 The best lacketh feet, foot pace with us to hold. 
 
 *' Otherwise." 
 
 The best is behind: behind, nor yet before, 
 Would I have the best but with us evermore. 
 
 138. *'The Worst." 
 
 The worst is behind: 
 There art thou assigned. 
 
 o 2 
 
196 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 The worst is behind: but the way is not rough ; 
 The worst will get before again, time enough. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 T/ie worst is behind : yet behind worse evil 
 We see our fare ; at next course cometh the 
 devil. 
 
 '* Otherwise." 
 
 The worst is behind: God keep it behind us; 
 Or us before it, as it never find us. 
 
 139. "Lasting of \Vonder. " 
 
 A wonder lasteth but nine days: 
 
 Yes, thou didst nine years gone 
 
 But one good deed, for which some says, 
 
 Thou art yet wondered on. 
 
 140. "Of a Galled Horse." 
 
 Rub a galled horse on the back and he will 
 
 kick : [prick. 
 
 But the galled ass will stand still, rub, spur, or 
 
 141. "Good Beginning and End." 
 
 Of a good beginning there cometh a good end : 
 Nay, Lucifer began well, and now a fiend ; 
 But of good beginning and ending, truth lo 
 
 tell, 
 The best wav to end well is to beirin well. 
 
 -t>' 
 
 142. "The Still Sow." 
 
 The still sow eateth all the draff : my sow eateth 
 
 none ; [g^onc- 
 
 The devil stealeth not my sow till her grain be 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 197 
 
 143. "Of Stumbling." 
 
 Stumble at a straw and leap over a block: 
 Such stumblers are blockheads, or else they 
 do mock. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 Stumble at a straw and leap over a block : 
 The ass and the ape seem here joined in one 
 stock. 
 
 144. "Of the Shoe and the Sole." 
 
 The shoe will hold with the sole: no man 
 
 knoweth it 
 But he that knoweth how the shoemaker 
 
 seweth it. 
 
 *' Otherwise." 
 The shoe will hold with the sole : what should 
 
 the shoe do 
 But hold with the sole? the sole will hold with 
 
 the shoe. 
 
 145. "Might and Right." 
 
 Might overcometh right: God keep us from 
 
 that might ; [right. 
 
 God give us that might that striveth not with 
 
 146. "Birth and Teaching." 
 Better unborn than untaught: but, of truth, 
 thou [now. 
 
 Were as well taught afore thou were born as 
 
 147. " Of Hanging." 
 
 J have hanged up my hatchet : and 'scaped thy- 
 self? 
 
 Thou shouldest rather be hanged than thy 
 hatchet, else ! 
 
igS Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 148. "An Old Knave." 
 
 An old knave is no hahe : no, but we know 
 Of an old knave's babe an old knave may 
 grow. 
 
 149. ** A Man's Ear and his Hood.'* 
 
 Thy ear groweth through thy hood: is thy hood 
 
 torn? 
 Or doth thy ear pierce through thy hood, like 
 
 a horn. 
 
 150. "Gains and Losses." 
 
 Light gains make heavy purses : 
 Light losses make heavy curses. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Light gains make heavy purses : and light 
 
 purses 
 Make heavy hearts, and heavy-hearted curses. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Light gains make heavy purses: so brag mer- 
 chants bare 
 
 When they take three halfpence for twopenny- 
 worth ware. 
 
 151. "Thieves Falling Out." 
 
 When thieves fall out true men come to their 
 
 good : 
 Come betimes, or else it Is gone, by rood ! 
 
 152. "Of a Shorn Face." 
 
 Thy face is shorn against the wool, very deep : 
 Have I wool in my face? yea, thou art a sheep. 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 199 
 
 153. "A Bench Whistler." 
 
 ** Thou art a bench whistler: a shrill, whistling- 
 wench ; [Bench? " 
 
 But how long hast thou whistled in the King's 
 
 *' I have whistled in the King's Bench, 
 (Geoffrey), [sea." 
 
 As long as thou hast marched in the Marshal- 
 
 154. "What God Said to One." 
 
 Thou art one of them to whom God hade Ho ! 
 God took thee for a cart-horse, when God bade 
 so. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Thou art one of them to whom God bade Ho ! 
 I ween thou went'st too far when God bade so. 
 
 155. ** Bowing and Breaking." 
 
 Better bow than break when straining shall 
 
 stretch ; 
 Nay, as good break as bow beyond our reach. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Better bow than break: I praise this that ye 
 
 spake ; [break. 
 
 But some bend, or be bent and bowed, till they 
 
 ** Otherwise!" 
 
 Better bow than break: it is truly spoken : 
 Bowed wands serve for somewhat, so do not 
 broken. 
 
 156. "Of Wrestling." 
 
 The weaker hath the worse in wrestling alway : 
 Best for the weak to leave wrestling then, I 
 
 say. 
 
200 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 157. ** God and the Church." 
 
 The nearer to the church, the farther from God : 
 Both one to thee, a ream thence, or a rod. 
 
 158. " Of One Tale in All Men Told." 
 
 It must needs he true that every man saith: 
 Till all men say one thing-, the judgment 
 stayeth. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 It must needs he true that every man saith : 
 Must it so? then art thou a fool, in faith ! 
 
 159. " Of Malkin. " 
 
 There be mo maids than Malkin: " thou sayest 
 
 truth, Joan; 
 But how may we be sure that Malkin one? " 
 
 160. ** Rash Venturing." 
 
 I will set all even at six and at seven: 
 Yea, and repent all between ten and eleven. 
 
 161. ** A Scabbed Horse." 
 
 A scahhed horse is good enough for a scalded 
 
 squire : [hire. 
 
 Your mastership need not care what horse ye 
 
 162. " Of Sitting." 
 
 Between two stools my tail goeth to the 
 
 ground : 
 Better stand than sit till sure seat be found. 
 
 163. "Ale and Wit." 
 
 When ale is in wit is out : 
 When ale is out wit is in ; 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 201 
 
 The first thou showest, out of doubt, 
 The last in thee hath not been. 
 
 164. ** Of Restitution." 
 
 Steal a goose and stick down a Jeather : 
 In a feather, and such conscience, 
 If I should stick them down together 
 I can devise no great difference. 
 
 165. ** Eating of Flies." 
 
 ** The blind eateth many a fly: not thou, wife ! 
 For, though bhndness have banished thine eyes' 
 
 defence, 
 Yet when flies in flying to thy mouth be rife, 
 Thy tongue is a fly-flap, to flap ffies from 
 
 thence. " 
 
 166. "Of the Fox's Preaching." 
 
 When the fox preacheth thenheware our geese : 
 You that fear your geese learn wit here a-piece ; 
 Keep foxes from pulpits your geese to teach, 
 Or keep geese from sermons when foxes do 
 preach. 
 
 167. "Of Poor Men's Souls." 
 
 Poor men have no souls : no, but poor men had 
 
 souls [ale-bowls. 
 
 Till the drunken souls drowned their souls in 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Poor m,en have no souls : yes, but we see 
 Poor men's souls as poor as their purses be. 
 
202 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 Poor men have no souls : no, have rich men 
 
 any? 
 I fear but few ; for they have lost souls many. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 Poor men have no souls : No, no ! the devil 
 
 made them ; 
 The sots could not keep their souls while they 
 
 had them. 
 
 1 68. " Promise of Licence." 
 
 7 will say no more till the day he longer: 
 No, no ! say no more till thy wit be stronger. 
 
 i6g. "Of Little Saying." 
 
 Little said, soon amended: 
 Little g"ood, soon spended ; 
 Little charg-e, soon attended ; 
 Little wit, soon ended. 
 
 170. " Of the Tide." 
 
 The tide tarrieth no man: but here to scan — 
 Thou art tied so that thou tarriest every man. 
 
 171. "Praise of Good End." 
 
 *' All is well thai endeth well: a good saying, 
 
 (wife); 
 But I would see it proved by th'end of thy life. " 
 
 172. " Of Hearing and Judging." 
 
 Hear all parts ere ye judge any : 
 God send such hearers many ! 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 203 
 
 173. "A Lesson for Looking." 
 
 Some man m.ay better steal a horse 
 Than some may stand and look upon: 
 Where such suspicion standeth in force, 
 Flee sight of stolen horse — look on none ! 
 
 174. "Of a Woman's Lives." 
 
 ** Wife, a woman hath nine lives like a cat.*' 
 " Sir, you have but one life, and yet enough of 
 that." 
 
 175. "The Crow Called White." 
 
 I will say the crow is white : art thou so light ? 
 W^hat is thy credence when the crow cometh in 
 sight? 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Ye must say the crow is white : in any case 
 Not now ; but we were made say so a long 
 space. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 I will say the crow is white : wilt thou so 
 When every man seeth her black? go, fool, 
 go! 
 
 176. '• Of the Old Fool." 
 
 There is no fool to the old fool: 
 
 Go, young fools, to th'old fools to school ! 
 
 '* Otherwise." 
 
 There is no fool to th'old fool: speak not that 
 
 loud ; [proud ; 
 
 That praise will make old fools vengeably 
 
204 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 Which praise of old fools, young fools perceiv- 
 ing- plain : [dain. 
 Young- fools and old fools each will other dis- 
 
 177. " Of a Bean." 
 
 A heart in a monk's hood: very good ! 
 Here is the bean, but where is the hood? 
 
 178. "The Gift of a Pig." 
 
 " Sir, ye give me a pig of mine oivn soiv/' 
 ** Wife, I give a sow pig to a sow now." 
 
 179. "Change and Robbery." 
 
 Change is no rohhery : that is a tale not 
 strange ; [change. 
 
 Change is no robbery, but robbery maketh 
 Many sweet blessings change to bitter curses 
 When true men's money changeth into thieves' 
 purses. 
 
 180. " Of Fair Words." 
 
 Fair words make fools fain: that was by old 
 
 schools ; [fools. 
 
 But now we see fair words make wise men 
 
 •* Otherwise." 
 
 Fair words make fools fain : yet fair words 
 
 are cheerful ; 
 But foul words make all folk ireful or fearful. 
 
 181. " Of Laughing." 
 
 I laughed in my sleeve, faint laughings there 
 
 to win ; 
 Sleeves be too narrow to laugh lustily in. 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 205 
 
 182. •' Of Seeking." 
 
 " I seek for a thing, wife, that I would not 
 
 find." [mind." 
 
 ** Good husband ! ye are the more fool, in my 
 
 *' Otherwise." 
 
 Thou seekest for a thing that thou wouldst not 
 find : 
 
 And I find all things that I do not seek ; 
 
 In my hap, and thy wit, what difference as- 
 signed ? 
 
 I ween not the value of a good green leek. 
 
 183. "Of a Head under a Girdle." 
 
 He hath thy head under his girdle : take heed 
 He hang not thy head in his girdle, indeed. 
 
 184. "Of Wide Shooting." 
 
 He shooteth wide : the cause why I see, even 
 
 sith [with. 
 
 He hath not one straight shaft to shoot straight 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 He shooteth wide : 
 On which side? 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 He shooteth wide : but he cannot amend that ; 
 For he seeth not the mark that he shooteth at. 
 
 185. "The Fool's Bolt." 
 
 A fool's holt is soon shot, and fleeth ofttimes 
 
 far; 
 But the fool's bolt and the mark come few 
 
 times near. 
 
2o6 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 i86. "Of a Merchant." 
 
 He is a merchant without money or ware : 
 Bid that merchant be covered ; he is bare. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 He is a merchant without money or ware : 
 He hath, in some respect, the less cause of 
 care. 
 
 187. " Of Tongue." 
 
 " Tongue breaketh bone, and bone it hath 
 
 none : 
 I wish, (wife), thy tongue may have a bone." 
 " And I wish," (quoth she), " a bone in your 
 
 hood." [good." 
 
 " Wish that bone away," (said he), " 'tis not 
 ** Then wish you the tother, " (quoth she), 
 
 "away." [may 
 
 They did so; which done, now said she : " We 
 Witness both that you have your wish in fine. 
 But both cannot witness that I have mine." 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Tongue breaketh bone itself having none : 
 Such tongues should have bones, or bodkins 
 the tone. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Tongue breaketh bone and hone itself hath 
 
 none: [(Joan)." 
 
 "Yes, thy tongue is full of good ale-bones, 
 
 188. "Of Speech." 
 
 Spare to speak, spare to speed : If speech bring 
 speed, 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 207 
 
 Then wilt thou speed, for thou speakest more 
 than need. 
 
 i8g. "A Busy-body." 
 
 He will have an oar in every man's harge : 
 Even in Cock Lorel's barge he beareth that 
 charg-e. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 He will have an oar in every man's barge : 
 Then with some of those oars he roweth at 
 larg-e. 
 
 190. " Of Time." 
 
 Time is tickle: we may match time in this; 
 For we be even as tickle as time is. 
 
 *' Otherwise." 
 
 Time is tickle : 
 Chance is fickle ; 
 Man is brickie; 
 Frailties pickle 
 Powdereth mickle, 
 Seasoning- lickle. 
 
 191. "Of Far Casting." 
 
 He casteth beyond the moon: g-reat diversity 
 Between far casting- and wise casting-, maybe. 
 
 *' Otherwise." 
 
 He casteth beyond the moon: what need that 
 
 be done? 
 We have casting enough a this side the moon. 
 
 192. " Of Hunger." 
 
 Hunger droppeth out of his nose: 
 That is the worst kind of the pose. 
 
2o8 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 193. ** Of Feeding." 
 
 He hath fed till he is as full as a tun : 
 I mean an empty tun — what food hath he 
 won? 
 
 194. "Of Mortimer's Sow." 
 
 Backare, quoth Mortimer to his sow : 
 
 Went that sow back at that bidding-, trow you ? 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 Backare, quoth Mortimer to his sow: see 
 Mortimer's sow speaketh as good Latin as he. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Backare, quoth Mortimer to his sow: 
 ''The boar shall back first," (quoth she), "I 
 make a vow ! 
 
 195. "Of Flea-biting." 
 
 'Tis hut a flea-hiting : friend, if fleas bite so, 
 They will bite men to the bare bones where 
 they go. 
 
 196. "The Breechless Master." 
 
 The master weareth no breech : then I protest ! 
 The master is a girl, a boy, or a beast. 
 
 197. "Of Meat and Sauce." 
 
 Sweet meat will have sour sauce : to this reason 
 
 feat 
 Join this conversion : sour sauce will have 
 
 sweet meat. 
 Thus, sourness and sweetness, the one and 
 
 th'other, 
 In fear of the tone, we hope of the tother. 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 209 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Sweet meat will have sour sauce : where that 
 
 is seen, [ween. 
 
 As good lack that meat as have that sauce, I 
 
 198. ** Of Proffered Service." 
 
 Proffered service stinketh: thou art deceived 
 
 else; 
 Thy proffered service stinketh not ; thou 
 
 stinkest thyself. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 Proffered service stinketh : more fool thou to 
 
 proffer it ! 
 Thou shouldest season thy service ere thou 
 
 offer it. 
 
 199. *'Of Common Meddlers." 
 
 He that meddleth with all thing may shoe the 
 
 gosling : 
 If all such meddlers were set to goose-shoeing. 
 No goose need go barefoot between this and 
 
 Greece ; 
 For so : we should have as many goose-shoeers 
 
 as geese. 
 
 200. " Of Enough and a Feast." 
 
 .45 good enough as a feast: yea God save it ! 
 Enough were even as good if we might have it. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 As good enough as a feast: 
 This for a truth say most and least. 
 But what enough is justly meant. 
 And with enough to be content, 
 
 hey. ii. P 
 
2IO Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 Those are two points that few or none 
 Can learn to know, and stand upon. 
 
 20I. "Of Plain Fashion." 
 The plain fashion is best: what! plain without 
 pleats ? [bleats. 
 
 That fashion commendeth the calf when it 
 
 *' Otherwise." 
 The plain fashion is best : and accepted best 
 In things that please ears, but not in the rest. 
 
 '* Otherwise." 
 
 The plain fashion is best : that's truly expressed 
 Where fashioners of plain fashions are honest. 
 
 202. "Of Him that Cometh Last." 
 
 He that cotneth last make all fast: to this, say 
 
 some. 
 All is made fast ere the last comer come. 
 
 " Otherwise."" 
 
 He that cometh last make all fast: 
 
 Who shall make him fast that cometh last? 
 
 203. "Of Striving." 
 
 He striveth against the stream: by custom's 
 
 school 
 That striver is either a fish or a fool. 
 
 204. " Of Sitting." 
 
 Better sit still than rise and fall: 
 
 •If all fall ye may hang- when ye shall. 
 
 205. "Of Writing to Friends." 
 
 Ye may write to your friends that ye are in 
 
 health : [wealth ? 
 
 Who may write to his friends that he is in 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 211 
 
 206. "Of Great Clerks." 
 
 The greatest clerks he not the wisest men: 
 Be small learned, or unlearned fools, wisest 
 then? 
 
 207. " Of Killing." 
 
 He will kill a man for a mess of mustard: 
 He will kill ten men then for a custard. 
 
 208. " Of Falsehood." 
 
 There is falsehood in fellowship : there is so ; 
 The fellowship is small else as the world doth 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 There is falsehood in fellowship : no wonder ; 
 Falsehood and fellowship are seldom asunder. 
 
 209. "Of Bleeding." 
 
 Here lieth all and bleedeth : all? that's false 
 
 and foolish ; [fish. 
 
 Thou never sawest blood bleed out of a stock- 
 
 210. "Of Seeing." 
 
 Seest me and seest me not: both one thing", 
 
 forsooth ! [doeth. 
 
 As good unseen as seen whose sight no good 
 
 211. " Of Ills." 
 
 Of two ills choose the least : of ills many 
 The least is too great to choose any. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Of t7vo ills choose the least: may we choose ills 
 
 now ? [yow- . 
 
 Choose on, choosers ! the like choice never had 
 
 p 2 
 
212 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 212. " Of Pepper." 
 Thou takest pepper in the nose : and yet thy 
 nose [rose. 
 
 Looketh not black like pepper, but red like the 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Thou takest pepper in the nose; which needeth 
 
 not — 
 Thy nose without pepper is fiery red-hot. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Thou takest pepper in the nose, which so 
 
 seasoned, 
 Showeth thy nose better seasoned than thy 
 
 head reasoned. 
 
 213. "Of an III Stake." 
 
 An ill stake that cannot stand one year in a 
 
 hedge : 
 If the stake self fail, the stake is as ye allege; 
 But, if stake stobbers will not let stakes stand. 
 Blame not the stake; blame the stake stobber's 
 
 hand. 
 
 214. "Of Sufferanxe." 
 
 Sufferance is no quittance : but, suffering too 
 
 long* [wrong". 
 
 Showeth much like a quittance in suffering of 
 
 215. "Of Misreckoning. " 
 Misreckoni7ig is no payment: yes ! as doth fall 
 in some reckoners, misreckoning is payment 
 all. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 'Misreckoning is no payment: to avoid that, 
 Some debtors with their creditors reckon nat. 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 213 
 
 216. " Of Even Reckoning." 
 
 Even reckoning maketh long friends: 
 Odd reckoning maketh many friends. 
 
 217. ''Of Taking." 
 ' / will take as falleth in the sheaf: wherever it 
 fall [all. 
 
 In the sheaf, or out of the sheaf, thou takest 
 
 218. " Of Mum." 
 Mum is counsel in every man we see ; 
 But mum except, nothing is counsel in thee. 
 
 219. ** Of Stopping a Mouth." 
 
 " He shall not stop my mouth." " No, Nan, I 
 
 think that; 
 I believe all the devils in hell stoppeth it nat. " 
 
 220. "Of Casting." 
 He is cast in his own turn : that is likely ; 
 And yet in all turns he turneth wondrous 
 quickly. 
 
 221. *• Of Jack." 
 
 He is Jack out of office : curtsey, w^ithdraw ! 
 Jack once out of office, all hail Jack daw ! 
 
 222. "Of the Winking Cat." 
 
 Let the cat wink and let the mouse run: run, 
 
 mice ! 
 Or else the cat's claws will catch you at a trice. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 Let the cat wink and let the mouse run: run, 
 rats ! [cats. 
 
 Small holes keep small mice from wily winking 
 
214 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Let the cat wink and let the mouse run: creep, 
 
 mouse, creep ! [sleep. 
 
 Run not before cats that wink more than they 
 
 223. "Of Saying Nay." 
 
 Say nay, and take it : yea, say nay and take it ; 
 But say nay or say ye never forsake it. 
 
 *' Otherwise." 
 Say nay and take it : hear me say this othing : 
 Say nother yea nor nay; tak't and say nothing. 
 
 224. "Of the Pie axd Crow." 
 Not too high for the pie nor to low for the 
 
 crow : 
 High pies made low crows ; we have enough, 
 
 I trow. 
 
 225. "Of Saying Nought but Mum." 
 I will say nought hut tnum: 
 Thou showest the more wit some. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 I will say nought hut mum : that I beseech ; 
 Mum hath a grace in thee far more than 
 speech. 
 
 226. " Of Tongue and Wit." 
 Thy tongue runneth before thy wit: that's no 
 
 rash race ; 
 For, so may it run running but a snail pace. 
 
 227. " Of Own." 
 
 Own is own 
 Where's own known. 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 215 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 Own is own: these words I speak with eyes 
 
 weeping, 
 For all mine own is in other men's keeping. 
 But good is that riches where it is heapt 
 That from th 'owner by no means can be kept. 
 
 228. " Of Spinning." 
 
 She hath spun a fair thread: which showeth, 
 
 indeed, 
 That a foul spinner may spin a fair thread. 
 
 229. " Of Laughing." 
 
 They laugh that win: falsely to win and keep, 
 Winners may laugh when they have cause to 
 weep. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 They laugh that win: by theft to win and keep, 
 Thieves at stealing laugh, thieves at hanging 
 weep. 
 
 230. *'Of Playing." 
 
 He playeth best that wins : that deny I will ; 
 Many players win much that play very ill. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 He playeth best that wins : there is a lie run- 
 ning; [ning. 
 Many win much, much more by hap, than cun- 
 
 231. "Of the Wind Blowing." 
 
 Let this wind overblow : when over blow. 
 This wind will over blow us first, I trow. 
 
2i6 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 232. " Of Far and Nigh." 
 
 I have seen as far come as nigh : come no near ; 
 The ferder thou art hence, the better is it here. 
 
 233. ** Of Th'instep. " 
 
 He is high in th' instep : his steps may be high, 
 But to step in good steps he steppeth nothing 
 nigh. 
 
 234. **Of Small and Great." 
 
 Many small make a great : and some great 
 
 made small ; 
 Thou hadst great good manners and thou hast 
 
 none at all. 
 
 235. "Of the Keys." 
 
 The keys hang not all hy one man's girdle : 
 
 no ! [so ? 
 
 Every key hath a clog : who would be clogged 
 
 236. "Of Provender." 
 
 His provender pricketh him : prick him ? gods 
 
 forbod ! 
 What is his provender? pins, by likelihood! 
 
 *' Otherwise." 
 
 His provender pricketh him : where grew that 
 
 corn? 
 Pricking provender as ill as boats borne. 
 
 *' Otherwise." 
 
 His provender pricketh him: that horse must 
 
 need stir; [spur. 
 
 Pricked within with provender, without with 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 217 
 
 237. "Of Some Here and There." 
 
 Here some and there some : yea^ here and there 
 
 some ; [come. 
 
 But most when, and most where no some doth 
 
 238. "Of the Parson's Leman. " 
 
 She is as tender as a parson's leman: 
 Parson's lemans are tough enough now and 
 than. 
 
 239. "Of III Weed." 
 
 Ill weed groweth fast : it groweth fast indeed ; 
 The corn can scantily grow for the weed. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Ill weed groweth fast: that is showing 
 In the show of thy fast growing. 
 
 240. " Of Sinking." 
 
 He shall sink in his own sin: yea, when he 
 
 sinketh ; 
 But he fleeth in his own sin yet, methinketh. 
 
 241. "Of Good Silver." 
 
 She thinketh her farthing good silver : but, trust 
 
 me ! 
 She is quicksilver what ever her farthing be. 
 
 242. "Of the Proud Cock." 
 Every cock is proud on his own dunghill: 
 The hen is proud enough there, mark who will. 
 
 243. "Of Fat in the Fire." 
 
 The fat is in the fire : that is a shrewd turn ; 
 Cast the lean after ; fat and lean, let all burn ! 
 
2i8 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 244. '• Of Bow Bent." 
 
 I have the bent of his how: that I know; 
 What bolts shootest thou from that bow? fools' 
 bolts, I trow ! 
 
 245. " Of God's Being." 
 
 God is where he was : yea, but so art not thou ; 
 Thou were abroad late, and art in Newgate 
 now. 
 
 246. "Of Kinsfolk." 
 
 Many kinsfolk, few friends: 
 Few friends and many fiends. 
 
 247. "Of Friendship." 
 
 A friend is never known till a nian have need : 
 Nor then, nother, for any I know, indeed. 
 
 248. " Of Nothing." 
 
 Where nothing is, the king must lose his 
 
 right : 
 Where all thing is, there right is lost by might. 
 
 249. " Of Poverty." 
 
 Poverty parteth fellowship : that's not true 
 
 ever; 
 Poverty in beggars parteth fellowship never. 
 
 250. "Of Ears Glowing." 
 
 Thine ears may glow: "let's see whether they 
 
 glow, John. [none." 
 
 I lie : thine ears cannot glow, for thou hast 
 
 251. " Of Post and Pillar." 
 
 Tossed from post to pillar: thou art a pillar 
 
 strong ; [long. 
 
 And thou hast been a pillar, some say, too 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 219 
 
 252. " Of May Be." 
 
 Be as he may is no banning: 
 
 But be as be shall hath much scanning. 
 
 253. " Of Use." 
 
 Use maketJi mastery : this is a true tale to tell ; 
 In that use hath made thee prick a purse so 
 well. 
 
 254. ** Of Spurning." 
 
 Folly to spurn or kick against the hard wall: 
 Being- shod with cakebread that spurner 
 marreth all. 
 
 *' Otherwise." 
 
 Folly to spurn or kick against the hard wall: 
 But against soft walls spurners spurn and kick 
 all. 
 
 255. "Of Tying the Bell." 
 
 Who shall tie the bell about the cat's neck 
 
 now? [I know." 
 
 *' Not I," (quoth the mouse), " for a thing that 
 
 256. ''Of Had I Wist." 
 
 ''Beware of Had I wist, wife." "Oh man! 
 
 'tis too late [mate." 
 
 To beware thereof since thou were my wedded 
 
 257. "Of Dancing." 
 
 He danceth attendance: are attendants danc- 
 ing? ^ ^ [ing. 
 Then have we much dancing with small avanc- 
 
220 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 258. ** Of the Cat Eating Fish." 
 
 The cat would eat fish but she will not wet her 
 
 feet : 
 She thinketh flesh with dry feet more sweet 
 
 than fish with weet. 
 
 259. "Of the Blind." 
 
 The blind eat many a fly: that we find 
 Chiefly where carvers to the blind are blind. 
 
 260. "Of the Worst and Best." 
 
 Provide for the worst : the best will save itself ; 
 For that saving- side thou art a subtle elf. 
 Of all kinds of things thou hast provision 
 pressed, [best. 
 
 For thy neighbours the worst, for thyself the 
 
 261. "Of Five Eggs." 
 
 He Cometh in with his five eggs: what eggs to 
 
 call? [daws' eggs all. 
 
 Hen eggs, goose eggs, or duck eggs? nay, 
 
 262. " Of Climbing." 
 
 He that never climbed never fell: some men 
 
 climb [time. 
 
 For doves' nests and find daws* nests, some- 
 
 263. " Of the Way." 
 
 It is out of my way : so it lightly may ; 
 
 To all good things thy way is out of the way. 
 
 264. " Of Waiting." 
 
 He waiteth for moonshine in the water: 
 Such waiting, such winning; that's a meet 
 matter. 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 221 
 
 265. *'Of Rhyme." 
 
 It may rhyme but it accordeth not: " 'cordeth 
 
 not, Will? 
 Beware of 'cording- rhymes ; those rhymes 
 
 agree ill. " 
 
 266. '*Of Fishing." 
 
 It is ill fishing before the net : 
 
 Worse fishing behind, as nets are set. 
 
 267. "Of Good." 
 
 He knoiveth none end of his good: mark his 
 
 winning-; [ning. 
 
 He knoweth of his good none end, nor begin- 
 
 268. "Of the Hot Iron." 
 
 When the iron is hot, strike: strike hot iron and 
 
 steel ; 
 But gold or silver to strike we have no deal. 
 
 269. "Of the Purse." 
 Thy purse is threadbare, we see, on the out- 
 side; 
 And more bare on the inside when both sides 
 are tried. 
 
 270. "Of Many Hands." 
 Many hands make light work: many hands? 
 
 yea, mark ! 
 Ye must say thus : many light hands make 
 
 light wark. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 Many hands make light work: no work is 
 'signed thee; 
 
222 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 Thou canst not work ; thy hands be bound 
 behind thee. 
 
 271. " Of the Loath Stake." 
 
 The loath stake standeth long: we have many 
 
 loath stakes ; [makes. 
 
 Each stake well-nigh to other itself, loath 
 
 ** Otherwise.*" 
 
 The loath stake standeth long; in some place, 
 
 but some hand 
 Plucketh up all stakes, suffering no stake 
 
 long to stand. 
 
 2'^2. " Of Having." 
 
 Better to have than wish : nay, ye may so 
 
 crave [have. 
 
 That better to wish ten times than once to 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Better to have than wish: not alway, cousin ! 
 What if ye rashly wished stripes now, a dozen ? 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 Better to have than wish : better have as we 
 
 have [crave. 
 
 Than to have at wish all that wishers would 
 
 273. "Of Counsel." 
 Three may keep counsel if twain he away: 
 But one fool doth oft his own counsel bewray. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Three may keep counsel if twain he away: 
 Some women, I hear say, that saying denay. 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 223 
 
 274. " Of Rome." 
 
 Rome was not built on one day : that is well 
 
 known ; 
 Nor in one day Rome will not be overthrown. 
 For where Rome seemed pulled down in one 
 
 day, brother, 
 There is Rome set up ag"ain in another. 
 
 275. '* Of Speech." 
 Spare to speak, spare to speed: 
 Dumb men win noug'ht indeed ; 
 And speech, as speech may fall, 
 IVTay win nought and lese all. 
 
 276. '*Of One Had in the Wind." 
 
 / have him in the wind: well, sir, it is your 
 
 mind [wind. 
 
 To have him in the wind, or hang him in the 
 
 2^/. '* Of One III Shod." 
 
 Who is worse shod than is the shoemaker's 
 
 wife ? 
 The devil's wife; she was never shod in her life. 
 
 278. "Of All and Nought." 
 
 He would all have and nought forego : no ! 
 He may all forego and nought have, so ! 
 
 279. "Of Warning." 
 
 I gave him Scarborough warning: Scar- 
 borough? [borough. 
 That warning came short to bring good har- 
 
 280. "Of Birds Flown." 
 
 The birds are flown: that bird's nest was ill 
 watched ; 
 
224 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 Birds' wing-s once full summ'd birds will hardly 
 be catched. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 The birds are flown. Flown? that flight no 
 
 wonder brings ; [wings. 
 
 Birds may soon flee where birders clip no birds* 
 
 281. •* Of Leaving." 
 
 heave it or it leave you: leave what? folly? 
 He can never leave it nor it him, wholly. 
 
 282. "Of Setting in Foot." 
 
 He hath set in foot: things by wit to be sped, 
 His foot shall do service as good as his head. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 / will set in foot: friend, thou mayest set in fit 
 Foot, hand, and head, but thou canst set in 
 no wit. 
 
 283. "Of Fast Binding." 
 
 Fast hind, fast find: nay, thou were 'prentice 
 
 fast bound. 
 And yet rannest thou away where thou couldst 
 
 not be found. 
 
 284. " Of Hap." 
 
 Happy tnan, happy dole : so say sick and 
 
 whole ; 
 But good hap is dainty : most men have seldom 
 
 good dole. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 Happy man, happy dole : hap is full of holes ; 
 Hap catcheth and holdeth very few good doles. 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 225 
 
 285. *'Of Time." 
 
 Take time when time cometh: we are ofttimes 
 
 told of it; 
 But when time cometh yet can we take no hold 
 
 of it. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 Take time when time cometh: assay to be bold 
 
 of it; 
 But slippery as an eel's tail is the hold of it. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Take time when time cometh : are we set time 
 
 to take? [break. 
 
 Beware time, in meantime, take not us in 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 Take time when tim.e cometh: when time 
 cometh — thou sayest well ! [tell. 
 
 But when cometh g'ood time to take, I cannot 
 
 286. ** Of the Fat Hog." 
 
 Every m,an basteth the fat hog: nay, friend, 
 
 nay ! 
 Mast faileth sore this year, fat hogs pine away. 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 Every man hasteth the fat hog, 'tis ag"reed 
 That those hogs shall have most help that have 
 least need. 
 
 287. "The Bale and Boot." 
 
 When hale is hekst, hoot is next: though boot 
 be nigh, [high ? 
 
 What helpeth boot where bale is ever most 
 hey. II. g 
 
226 Epigrams upon Proverbs 
 
 288. "Of Sows." 
 " As meet as a sow to hear a saddle, John." 
 " A sow to bear a saddle? we have seen none; 
 But though sows bear no saddles, yet may we 
 
 say 
 We see saddles bear sows, well-nigh every day. 
 
 289. '*Of Making a Cross." 
 / will make a cross upon this gate : yea, cross 
 
 on; 
 Thy crosses be on gates all, in thy purse none. 
 
 290. "Of A Pad." 
 It will breed a pad in the straw : very well ! 
 Beware it breed not a padlock on thy heel. 
 
 291. "Of Long Standing." 
 
 Long standing and small offering maketh poor 
 
 parsons : [garsons. 
 
 Long waiting and small wages maketh poor 
 
 292. "Of the Weaker." 
 
 The weaker goeth to the pot: yea, and God 
 
 wot ! 
 Some the weaker for oft going to the pot. 
 
 293. "Of Catching." 
 
 Catch that catch may : after catching and 
 
 snatching, 
 Pilling and polling, we fall now to patching. 
 
 294. "Of Holding." 
 
 Hold fast when ye have it : if it be not thine, 
 Hold fast and run fast when thou hast it, 
 friend mine ! 
 
Epigrams upon Proverbs 227 
 
 295. " Of Knowledge." 
 
 / know him as well as the beggar knoweth his 
 
 bag: 
 Thou knowest him ; but when wilt thou know 
 
 thyself, wag? 
 
 296. ** Of Smellings." 
 
 / smelt him out further than he might smell 
 
 thee. 
 The smeller of smellers then, thou art even he ! 
 
 297. ** Of Nought Laid Down." 
 
 Nought lay down, nought take up : well said ! 
 Nought lie down, nought rise up : well weighed ! 
 
 298. "Of Sight and Fare." 
 
 Ye see your fare : a very strange fare to see ; 
 A blind man may see our fare as well as we. 
 
 299. ** Of the Pot Not Broken." 
 
 Neither pot broken nor water spilt: water 
 Thou spillest none; but thou spillest all other 
 matter. 
 
 300. "Of Late and Never." 
 Better late than never: yea, mate! 
 But as good never as too late. 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Better late than never: 
 That is not true ever ; 
 Some things, to rule in rate, 
 Better never than late. 
 
 Finis. 
 
 o 2 
 
^ Ei)t Mti) i)xmXfvttj 
 
 Jnucntrtr antr 
 
 inatic iij 
 
 Joi)U 
 
 L O N D I N L 
 
 ^««i? Chrifti 
 1562. 
 
Were it as perilous to deal cards at play, 
 As it is quarrelous to deal books this day, 
 One and forty men, among- one and fifty. 
 Would flee one and thirty, to flee one un- 
 thrifty, [i^g"? 
 And yet cards so dealt should have, in reveal- 
 Foredeal of books in this hard time of dealing. 
 Cards be tooted on but on the tone side : 
 Books on both sides ; in all places pored and 
 
 pried. 
 Not to content, but to contend, upon spial 
 Of least tittle, that can come in trial. 
 If the best writer to write be much afraid. 
 More may I, (the worst), by fearful fear be 
 stayed. [me so, 
 
 And were not this one thing-, fear should stay 
 That book or ballet, I never durst write mo. 
 In all my simple writing- never meant I 
 To touch any private person displeasantly. 
 Nor none do I touch here by name, but only 
 
 one. 
 Which is myself; whom I may be bold upon. 
 This meant in my making-, since proof doth 
 
 declare, 
 I pray you readers to scan this, by this square. 
 As I, for mirth, merrily did make it. 
 So you, in mirth, merrily will take it. 
 
 Finis. 
 
THE TABLE 
 
 Of weening and wotting . 
 
 Of a man of law and his clients 
 
 An advice against mocking 
 
 Of itching and smarting . 
 
 Of a sharp tongue . 
 
 Of a horse .... 
 
 Of a butler and a horse . 
 
 Of brass ..... 
 
 Of a louse's dwelling-place 
 
 Of a strange glass . 
 
 Of driving and drawing . 
 
 Of long suits .... 
 
 Of lightness .... 
 
 Of a disagreement . 
 
 Of cheapening of conies . 
 
 Of a wife having child 
 
 Of a bachelor and a maid 
 
 Of short payment ... 
 
 Whence certain things came first 
 
 Of furred and lined gowns 
 
 Of a wine-drawer . 
 
 Short checks between a man and hi 
 
 Of a woman decked in two colours 
 
 Of unsweet breath . 
 
 Of clipping and cleansing 
 
 Of a man and his wife's departing 
 
 An account of a man's children 
 
 Of a woman of Huntington 
 
 No. of Epigram 
 I 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 lO 
 
 II 
 
 12 
 
 13 
 
 14 
 
 15 
 16 
 
 17 
 18 
 
 19 
 20 
 
 21 
 
 22 
 
 23 
 24 
 
 25 
 26 
 
 27 
 28 
 
 s wife 
 
234 
 
 Of a laundress 
 
 Of a cutter of purslane . 
 
 Of one that standeth in his own conceit 
 
 Of one that heard without ears 
 
 Of an archer's roving 
 
 Of peril to one by the number of three 
 
 Of gloria patri 
 
 Of a dyer 
 
 Of a jug- . 
 
 Of the three cups . 
 
 Of brass and iron . 
 
 Of Jack and John . 
 
 Of wrestling . 
 
 Of pride . 
 
 Of one hanged 
 
 Of a debtor . 
 
 Of loving of a goose 
 
 Of harp strings 
 
 Of fortune 
 
 Of choice 
 
 Of a false brag 
 
 Of lying and true saying 
 
 Of a daw pate 
 
 Of water and wine . 
 
 Between dogs and a deer 
 
 Of twelve and one . 
 
 Of fardingales 
 
 Precepts of one to his wife 
 
 Of a man expert 
 
 Of deliverance from ill 
 
 Of cutting of the herb thyme 
 
 Of one fearing the sweat 
 
 Of one thinking on another 
 
 Of one being at a point . 
 
 Of testons 
 
 Of red testons 
 
 The Table 
 
 No. of Epigram 
 29 
 
The Table 
 
 Of stamping . 
 
 Of John Long the carrier 
 
 Of turning 
 
 Of Master Carter . 
 
 Of going far . 
 
 How money is made lame 
 
 Of an old wooer 
 
 Of a young wooer . 
 
 Of weakness and strength 
 
 Warning of pride . 
 
 Of patience 
 
 Of pleasing 
 
 Of a handgun and a hand 
 
 Of brass and silver 
 
 A difference between wise men and 
 
 Of a pithy wit 
 
 Of choice to be a wise man or a fool 
 
 Of a knight's carterly collar 
 
 Of males and male horses 
 
 A man discommended 
 
 Of running 
 
 Of polling 
 
 Of plate lent forth . 
 
 Of a man of law and his wife 
 
 Of pens and pence . 
 
 Of a woman's thin tongue 
 
 Of drinking to a man 
 
 Of running at tilt 
 
 Of expense 
 
 Of fraying of babes 
 
 Of reeds and oaks . 
 
 Of buying a mortar 
 
 Of a stepmother 
 
 Of a liar .... 
 
 Of tongues and pinsons . 
 
 Of Heywood . 
 
 Finis. 
 
 235 
 
 No. of Epigram 
 65 
 
 fools 
 
THE FIFTH HUNDRED OF 
 
 EPIGRAMMES 
 
 I. "Of Weening and Wotting." 
 
 Wise men in old time would ween themselves 
 
 fools ; [wise. 
 
 Fools now in new time will ween themselves 
 
 Ween wise and wot wise differ in wise schools : 
 
 To ween themselves wise, when fools so devise, 
 
 As foolish as fruitless is th 'enterprise. 
 
 This case is thus adjudged, in wisdom's school : 
 
 Who weeneth himself wise, wisdom wotteth 
 
 him a fool. [one, 
 
 Made by John Heywood to these fools every- 
 
 And made of John Heywood when he weeneth 
 
 himself none. 
 
 2. "Of a Man of Law and his Clients." 
 
 Twenty clients to one man of law 
 For counsel, in twenty matters, did draw. 
 Each one praying- at one instant to speed. 
 As all at once would have speed to proceed. 
 " Friends all," (quoth the learned man), "I'll 
 
 speak with none 
 Till one barber have shaven all, one by one." 
 To a barber they went all together : 
 And being shaven, they returned again thither. 
 
238 The fifth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 " Ye have," (quoth the lawyer), " tarried long 
 hence." [shaven since 
 
 "Sir," (quoth one), "twenty could not be 
 Of one barber; for, ye well understand, 
 One barber can have but one shaving hand." 
 " Nor one lawyer," (quoth he), "but one talk- 
 ing tongue. " 
 Learn clients this lesson of this lawyer sprung : 
 Like as the barber, one after one must shave, 
 So clients, of counsellors, counsel must have. 
 
 3. "An Advice against Mocking." 
 
 Use to thy true friend no derision ; 
 If thy friend spy it, he taketh it poison. 
 Though thy friend dissemble th 'espial clearly, 
 Yet spied in a friend it toucheth him nearly. 
 Telling thy friend his fault, mocking him not, 
 If he thank thee not, then is he a sot. 
 
 4. "Of Itching and Smarting." 
 
 Itching and smarting, both touch us at quick. 
 When we itch, we scratch : when we smart, 
 
 we kick. 
 But, in our kicking at pur present smart, 
 Let us consider our former desart. 
 
 5. " Of a Sharp Tongue." 
 
 " Wife, I perceive thy tongue was made at 
 
 Edgware. " [by there." 
 
 " Yea, sir, and yours made at Rayleigh, hard 
 
 6. " Of A Horse." 
 
 A tilt horse, alias a beer horse to be — 
 Which wouldst thou be? a beer horse, I say 
 to thee. [beer, 
 
 When the horse is seen cheerily to draw the 
 He is so praised that he may be proud to hear. 
 
The fifth hundred of Epigrams 239 
 
 At tilt, when the horse runneth as fast as he 
 can, [the man. 
 
 All cry: "Well run! " not to the horse, to 
 And if the horse fall, with the man overlaid. 
 Then cry they all : "A vengeance on that lame 
 jade!" 
 
 7. ** Of A Butler and a Horse." 
 
 The butler and the beer horse both be like one : 
 They draw beer both ; that is truth to bide one. 
 " Both draw beer, indeed, but yet they differ, 
 
 Joan ; 
 The butler draweth and drinketh beer, the 
 
 horse drinketh none." 
 
 8. "Of Brass." 
 
 I perceive well now that brass is waxen proud, 
 Because brass so much with silver is allowed ; 
 And being- both joined, since they most by 
 brass stand, [hand. 
 
 That maketh brass bold to stand on the upper 
 
 9. " Of A Louse's Dwelling-place." 
 
 "Were thou a louse and shouldst choose one 
 
 dwelling-place, [this case : 
 
 Whither wouldst thou dwell, having choice in 
 
 In men's big breeches, or in women's thick 
 
 ruffs? " 
 " I would be, both for the places and stuffs. 
 In summer with women, in winter with men. 
 In summer the woman's neck pleasant then. 
 In winter the man's breech is close and warm : 
 Large walks for life to walk warm without 
 harm ; [halls — 
 
 Galleries, gable ends, cambers, parlours, 
 Cold frost to defend, a dozen double walls. 
 
240 The fifth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 Some sealed, some hanged, some dyed, some 
 painted, some stained ; [tained. 
 
 Rents of all size, great and small rents re- 
 And when, by louse biting, the leg is itching, 
 The bars of men's breeches have such strong 
 stitching, [and stamp ! — 
 
 Such bolstering, such 'broidering — let men stare 
 The louse is as safe there as he were in a camp. 
 In winter, I say, these breeches are alone ; 
 But then in summer let the louse thence be 
 
 gone 
 For fear of a plague ; if he then thither get, 
 A thousand to one he shall die of the sweat." 
 
 10. "Of a Strange Glass." 
 
 Good God ! what a glass to view is this? 
 
 See what an unsightly sight here is : 
 
 Great promise, small performance ; 
 
 Great countenance, small continuance ; 
 
 Great winning, small saving; 
 
 Great hoping, small having ; 
 
 Great hives, small honey ; 
 
 Great purses, small money; 
 
 Great gaps, small bushes ; 
 
 Great spears, small pushes; 
 
 Great wine, small water ; 
 
 Great words, small matter; 
 
 Great bottom, small brink ; 
 
 Great brewing, small drink; 
 
 Great rent, small place ; 
 
 Great space, small grace; 
 
 Great drift, small shift; 
 
 Great gift, small thrift ; 
 
 Great watching, small catching ; 
 
 Great patching, small matching ; 
 
The fifth hundred of Epigrams 24 1 
 
 Great blood, small brute; 
 
 Great flowers, small fruit ; 
 
 Great woods, small oaks ; 
 
 Great staves, small strokes ; 
 
 Great hens, small eggs ; 
 
 Great hose, small legs ; 
 
 Great study, small art ; 
 
 Great desire, small desert ; 
 
 Great giving-, small taking ; 
 
 Great marring, small making ; 
 
 Great ships, small sailing; 
 
 Great loss, small availing ; 
 
 Great marking, small minding; 
 
 Great seeking, small finding ; 
 
 Great lawing, small loving ; 
 
 Great stirring, small moving; 
 
 Great sowing, small growing ; 
 
 Great trowing, small knowing — 
 
 I trow so great ill, and so small good 
 
 In one glass, together, never stood. 
 
 II. "Of Drinking and Drawing." 
 
 *' If thou must be forced forth to take journey 
 
 quick, [forth, Dick? " 
 
 Whither wouldst thou be driven forth, or drawn 
 
 "I would be driven forth, Jack; for, as doth 
 
 appear. 
 Drawing and hanging draw vengeable near. 
 I think it less ill. Jack, having choice in scope. 
 To be driven with the whip than drawn to the 
 rope. ' * 
 
 12. "Of Long Suits." 
 
 Suits hang half a year in Westminster Hall ; 
 At Tyburn, half an hour's hanging endeth all. 
 
 HEY. II. R 
 
242 The fifth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 13. "Of Lightness." 
 
 "Nothing is lighter than a feather, Kit." 
 "Yes, Clim." "What light thing is that?" 
 "Thy light wit." 
 
 14. "Of a Disagreement." 
 
 Each one man wellnigh falleth out with 
 
 another ; 
 And likewise each thing disagreeth with other : 
 Namely, malt and water; these two things are 
 So far fallen asunder, by scornful square. 
 That no brewer, be he lusty or lither. 
 Dare couch malt and water in house together. 
 But, chiefly sour water now beareth such sway 
 That, sweet malt from brewhouse, water 
 
 driveth away. 
 
 15. "Of Cheapening of Conies." 
 
 " Jane, thou sellest sweet conies in this poultry- 
 shop; 
 But none so sweet as thyself, sweet cony mop ! 
 What is the price of thee? " " Forsooth ! " 
 
 she told : 
 " At what price soever myself shall be sold, 
 Strange is the hearing, for ware or for money, 
 To hear a woodcock cheapen a cony." 
 
 16. "Of a Wife having Child." 
 
 " My wife hath a child now at four score and 
 
 ten! " 
 "At four score and ten years? nay, friend, 
 
 nay ! what then? " [meant." 
 
 " At four score and ten quarters of a year I 
 
The fifth hundred of Epigrams 243 
 
 " Meant ye so? and I meant years; by which 
 
 extent [smell 
 
 Your wife might seem your mother ; but now I 
 
 You may seem your wife's father wonder fool 
 
 well." 
 
 17. " Of A Bachelor and a Maid." 
 
 " Is that bachelor a wooer to that maid? " 
 "The commons common so; 'tis commonly 
 
 said." 
 " Where dwelleth that bachelor? " " Wide a 
 
 bow of Bridewell." 
 " Where dwelleth that maid? " "At Broken 
 
 Wharf very well." 
 
 18. "Of Short Payment." 
 
 Thy debtor will pay thee shortly : shortly ? 
 He will make that short lie, a long- lie, dread I. 
 
 ig. "Whence Certain Things came First." 
 
 Whence come great breeches? from Little 
 
 Wittam. 
 Whence come great ruffs? from Small Brain- 
 forth they came. [Square Thrift. 
 Whence come these round fardingales? from 
 Whence come deep coped hats? from Shallow 
 Shift. [of Evil. 
 Whence come 'broidered gards? from the Town 
 Whence come uncombed staring heads? from 
 the devil ! [Folly, John. 
 Whence come these women's scarves? from 
 Whence come their glittering spangs? from 
 Much Wanton. [osity. 
 Whence come perfumed gloves? from Curi- 
 Whence come fine trapped moils? from Super- 
 fluity, [shapen shoon. 
 Whence come corned crooked toes? from Short 
 
 R 2 
 
244 T^^ ^^^^ hundred of Epigrams 
 
 Whence come wild high lookers? from Mid- 
 summer moon. [Painters' tools. 
 Whence come fair painted faces? from 
 Whence come all these? from the vicar of Saint 
 Fools. 
 
 20. " Of Furred and Lined Gowns." 
 
 Thick furred gowns worn in summer show 
 
 bare worn threads ; [Saint Needs. 
 
 Thin lined gowns worn in winter come from 
 
 21. "Of a Wine-drawer." 
 
 Drawer, thy wine is even with thee now I see : 
 Thou piercest the wine, and the wine pierceth 
 thee. 
 
 22. ** Short Checks Between a Man and His 
 
 Wife." 
 
 ' I am careful to see thee careless, Jill : " 
 ' I am woeful to see thee witless, Will." 
 ' I am anguished to see thee an ape, Jill : 
 ' I am angry to see thee an ass, Will." 
 ' I am fretting to see thee flee from me, Jill : " 
 ' I am sorry to see thee seek to me. Will." 
 ' I am mad to see thee mate thy husband, 
 
 ' I am sad to see thee slander thy wife, Will." 
 
 ' I am dumpish to see thee play the drab, 
 
 Jill:" [Will." 
 
 ' I am knappish to see thee play the knave, 
 
 23. *' Of a Woman decked in Two Colours." 
 
 My bonny Bess, black and white doth set thee 
 
 out nett. 
 Thy car white as pearl, thy teeth black as jet. 
 
The fifth hundred of Epigrams 245 
 
 24. " Of Unsweet Breath." 
 
 Thine unsavoury breath lacketh salt, beale 
 Belsabub : [tub. 
 
 It hath ta'en too much wind in the powdering- 
 
 Thy breath, Hodge, with salt is so savoury to 
 smell. 
 
 That no seasoning liquor can season it well. 
 
 25. "Of Clipping and Cleansing." 
 
 Not clipping your beards, why clip you your 
 nails? [tails? 
 
 Not combing your heads, why wipe you your 
 These being superfluous things every one, 
 Comb, clip, or cleanse all : or clip or cleanse 
 none. 
 
 26. " Of A Man and His Wife's Departing." 
 
 " Wife, I will go abroad — will ye take the 
 pain? " [again? " 
 
 "Be't; but when the devil will ye come in 
 
 ** Makest thou me a devil? nay, then be out of 
 doubt ; [goeth out. ' ' 
 
 The devil will come in when the devil's dame 
 
 27. "An Account of a Man's Children." 
 
 *' Wife, of ten babes between us by increase 
 grown, [own : 
 
 Thou sayest I have but nine." ** No mo of your 
 Of all things increasing, as my conscience 11 'th, 
 The parson must needs have the tenth for the 
 tithe." 
 
 28. "Of a Woman of Huntington." 
 
 "Where dwel'st thou, Sis?" "I dwell at 
 
 Huntington now." [sow." 
 
 " Like so, for thou look'st like a now hunted 
 
246 The fifth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 " Where dwel'st thou, Sim? " "At Hammer- 
 smith dwell I." [hard by." 
 ' * A meet soil for thee ! for hammer-head is 
 
 29. ** Of a Laundress." 
 
 A like laundress to thee, never saw I. 
 Thy clothes washed but once a week commonly. 
 Thyself washed once in an hour usually ; 
 And yet each week's end doth this thus try, 
 Thy clothes ever wet, thyself ever dry. 
 
 30. " Of a Cutter of Purslane." 
 
 This herb purslane thou cutt"'st prettily I see : 
 But to cut a purse in a lane none like thee. 
 
 31. "Of One Standing in His Own 
 Conceit." 
 
 He standeth well in his own conceit each man 
 
 tells : [else. 
 
 So had he need, for he standeth in no man's 
 
 32. "Of One that Heard Without Ears." 
 
 I see men hear though they ears have none : 
 Thou dost hear me speak, thine ears being 
 g-one. 
 
 33. ** Of an Archer's Roving.*' 
 
 What a shaft shoots he with a roving arrow ! 
 Still he hits the mark, be it wide or narrow. 
 " Where shooteth this sharp-shooting archer 
 
 most. Will?" 
 ** He shooteth most at rovers on Shooter's 
 
 Hill." 
 
The fifth hundred of Epigrams 247 
 
 34. ** Of Peril to One by the Number of 
 Three." 
 
 In thy hand I see thy fortune shall be such 
 That the number of three shall dang^er thee 
 much — [thee ; 
 
 Three bedfellows in thy bed shall displease 
 Three lice in thy bum breech shall oft disease 
 
 thee; 
 Three cups full at once shall oft disguise thee ; 
 Three bearers of the hum shall oft despise thee ; 
 Three drinks — wine, ale, and beer — shall over- 
 flow thee ; [thee ; 
 Three wrestlers In one sign shall overthrow 
 Three wives in three years shall wonderfully 
 wear thee ; [tear thee — 
 Three she-bears those three years shall all to 
 But in things numbered by three, above all 
 these, [three trees. 
 Bliss thee three thousand times from frame of 
 
 35. "Of Gloria Patri. " 
 
 " Dick, I marvel much why, in every plate, 
 Gloria patri standeth before Sicut erat.^^ 
 ** Tom, Gloria patri is a gentleman : [can. 
 
 In pleasant speech, speak so sweetly no tongue 
 Sicut erat is a churl, so rude and plain. 
 That to hear him speak all degrees do disdain. " 
 
 36. ♦* Of A Dyer." 
 ** Is thy husband a dyer, woman? " ** Alack ! " 
 ** Had he no colour to dye thee on but black? 
 Dyeth he oft?" '* Yea, too oft when cus- 
 tomers call ; 
 But I would have him one day die once for all. 
 Were he gone, dyer would I never mo wed, 
 Dyers be ever dyeing, but never dead." 
 
248 The fifth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 37. " Of a Jug." 
 
 " Pot him Jack ! " " Pot him Jack? " ''Nay, 
 
 pot him Jug ! 
 To pot the drunkard, the jug is the dug." 
 
 38. "Of the Three Cups." 
 
 "Where's thine inn, John?" "At Three 
 Cups in Breadstreet, Joan." [bread alone; 
 
 " At Three Cups in Breadstreet? well, let 
 
 At those Three Cups whenever thou dines or 
 sups. 
 
 Ere thou go to bed, thou hast in all thy cups ! " 
 
 39. "Of Brass and Iron." 
 
 Brass and old iron — who brought those two 
 together? [hither. 
 
 Brass thinketh scorn to see them brought so 
 Old iron is rousty and rotten to view, [new. 
 Brass with silver fair blanched and polished 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Brass said to old iron with brass perking late : 
 " Back, ye cankered carl, ye be not my 
 mate ! " [most tallow; 
 
 "Back, brass," (quoth iron), "plainness is 
 I show as I am : and so dost not thou ! " 
 
 40. " Of Jack and John." 
 
 Jack and John in degree differ far, brother : 
 Jack daw is one, master John Daws is another. 
 
 41. "Of Wrestling." 
 
 Where we wrestled by couples, we wrestle 
 
 alone, [g'one. 
 
 And shall, till time our shackled breeches be 
 
The fifth hundred of Epigrams 249 
 
 In stepping- and striding- it is a wonder 
 How we wrestle to get our leg-s asunder. 
 
 42. *' Of Pride." 
 
 If thou will needs be proud, mark this, friend 
 
 mine : 
 Of good deeds be not proud ; they are not thine. 
 But when thou playest the knave, in ill deeds 
 
 grown, 
 Be proud of those ill deeds : they are thine own. 
 
 43. "Of One Hanged." 
 
 " What fault had he done that was hanged 
 
 yesterday? 
 Of any fault done by him I can nought say." 
 " Two or three two-penny trifles were laid to 
 
 him, [him." 
 
 But his fair gay hanged house, man, did undo 
 " Here is tit for tat, measure met very trim : 
 First he hanged his house, now his house hath 
 
 hanged him." 
 
 44. "Of a Debtor." 
 
 *' Doth your mastership remember your debt 
 tome?" [thee: 
 
 " Remember my debt? yea, friend, I warrant 
 I remember it so, that though I say it, 
 I'll never forget it, nor never pay it." 
 
 45. "Of Loving of a Goose." 
 
 " A goose, green or gray — which lovest thou 
 
 better?" 
 " A green goose : for it is far the sweeter." 
 " Love both as thyself, for as proof showeth 
 
 rife. 
 Thou art, and hast been, a goose all thy life." 
 
250 The fifth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 ** Otherwise." 
 
 Thou lovest a goose too much : 'ware surfeit, 
 
 elf; 
 I never saw goose yet, like thee, love himself. 
 
 46. "Of Harp-strings." 
 
 *' Which string in all the harp wouldst thou 
 still harp on? " 
 
 " Not the bass : I will be none underling, John ; 
 
 Nor the standing tenor : for stiff standing ; 
 
 Nor the treble : for fear of too high hanging ; 
 
 Nor the counter tenor : for countering too 
 long." [harp thy song? " 
 
 " Upon what harp-string then wouldst thou 
 
 " Above all strings, when we shall fall to harp- 
 ing, ^ [string." 
 
 The harp-string to harp on, is the mean harp- 
 
 47. "Of Fortune." 
 
 Take thy fortune as it falleth, some adviseth : 
 But I would fain take fortune as it riseth. 
 
 48. "Of Choice." 
 
 Choice is good in most things, folk say; in 
 which choice, [rejoice : 
 
 For choice of one of two things, thou mayest 
 For man alive, like thee, frank choice can have 
 To play the knavish fool or the foolish knave. 
 
 49. " Of A False BracJ. " 
 
 " I was never but an honest man." 
 " Put out that but, and thou sayest truth 
 than." 
 
The fifth hundred of Epigrams 251 
 
 50. "Of Lying and True Saying." 
 
 "Wife, the people are disposed all to lie, 
 
 For thou art commended universally." 
 
 "Nay, sir! the people, to tell truth, are all 
 
 bold, 
 For you are discommended of young and old." 
 
 51. " Of a Daw Pate." 
 
 " Thou art a very daw pate, as ever I saw." 
 " Sir ! indeed the pate is chief part of a daw : 
 For when daws shall appear in any coast. 
 For all those daws' parts, their daw pates be 
 most." 
 
 52. "Of Water and Wine." 
 
 Thou makest curtsy to wash hands with water 
 of mine, [wine. 
 
 Making no curtsy to wash thy mouth with my 
 
 But I pray thee make this change in this 
 matter — 
 
 More curtsy at my wine, and less at my water. 
 
 53. "Between Dogs and a Deer." 
 
 " Set malice aside," said a buck to a grey- 
 hound. 
 
 " Beware of pride," said that dog to that deer. 
 
 " Be patient in trouble," a hound said round. 
 
 Loving advice to this deer this did appear ; 
 
 In which, counsel given, to kill him they run 
 near : [seeth : 
 
 Which counsel amounteth to this, every man 
 
 Comfort him with their tongues, kill him with 
 their teeth. 
 
252 The fifth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 54. " Of Twelve and One." 
 
 *' It is twelve o'clock." "Sir! 'tis more, 
 wellnig^h one. " [alone." 
 
 ** Is one more than twelve? that's a reason 
 ** Sir ! when the day to afternoon doth amount, 
 One is more than twelve, by our sexton's 
 account." 
 
 55. "Of Fardingales. " 
 
 Alas ! poor fardingales must lie in the street : 
 To house them, no door in the city made meet. 
 Since at our narrow doors they in cannot win, 
 Send them to Oxford, at Broadgates to get in. 
 
 56. "Precepts of a Man to His Wife." 
 
 'Stand still, wife! " "I will: " 
 ' Be still, wife! " " I nill. " 
 •Now bark, wife! " " I will: " 
 'To wark, wife! " "I nill." 
 'Prove me, wife! " " I will: " 
 ' Love me, wife! " " I nill." 
 'Now chat, wife! " "I will: " 
 ' Leave that, wife! " "I nill." 
 'Keep chair, wife! " "I will: " 
 ' Speak fair, wife! " "I nill." 
 
 57. "Of an Expert Man." 
 
 "Is he such an expert man? " " An expert 
 
 man? [than." 
 
 Put out that eXy and no man more expert 
 
 58. "Of Deliverance from III." 
 
 "Wifel from all evil, when shalt thou de- 
 livered be?" [from thee." 
 " Sir ! when I," (said she), " shall be delivered 
 
The fifth hundred of Epigrams 253 
 
 59. **Of Cutting of the Herb Thyme." 
 
 All times of the day, to-night from the prime, 
 Thou gardener wilt not leave cutting of thyme. 
 Thou wilt never leave cutting of thyme, I see, 
 Till such time, as time, shall in time cut off 
 thee. 
 
 60. ** Of One Fearing the Sweat." 
 
 Sweating sickness so fearest thou beyond the 
 
 mark, [wark. 
 
 That winter or summer thou never sweatest at 
 
 61. "Of One Thinking on Another." 
 
 " When doth your mastership think on me? " 
 " Ever." ["Never." 
 
 ** When do you think upon my matter? " 
 " Me ye remember, my matter ye forget : 
 Remembrance and forgetfulness is wrong set ; 
 For I would wish you rather, if it might be, 
 To remember my matter and forget me." 
 
 62. " Of One Being at a Point." 
 
 " Is he at a point with his creditors? " " Yea ! 
 For he is not worth a point they all see." 
 
 63. *' Of Testons." 
 
 Testons be gone to Oxford, God be their 
 
 speed ! 
 To study in Brazennose, there to proceed ! 
 
 64. "Of Red Testons." 
 
 These testons look red : how like you the same? 
 'Tis a token of grace : they blush for shame. 
 
254 The fifth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 65. "Of Stamping." 
 
 We stamp crabs ; we stamp testons : which 
 
 stamping doon 
 We stare upon testons now beyond the moon. 
 Which stamping of testons brought it not some 
 
 skill, 
 Our staring on testons could judge them but ill. 
 But as the hot sun melteth snow away, 
 So shall hot fire melt cold testons, as folk say. 
 We, for testons leaving scolding and squaring, 
 And on testons leaving stamping and staring. 
 
 66. "Of John Long the Carrier." 
 
 "Of what length is John Lonq- the carrier, 
 Prat? " ^[thou that?" 
 
 " A quarter of a year long." " How provest 
 
 " Thirteen weeks past he should have brought 
 me a wat ; [cometh nat. 
 
 But yet 'long, John, John Long with that wat 
 
 Whereby I, John Short, am as short to com- 
 pare. 
 
 As John Long by this length is long to declare. 
 
 For as John Long lurketh too long this wat to 
 fet, 
 
 So I John Short leap too short this wat to get. 
 
 67. " Of Turning." 
 
 " Wilt thou use turner's craft still? " " Yea, 
 by my troth ! [grow'th. 
 
 Much thrift and most surety in turner's craft 
 
 Half turn, or whole turn, w^here turners be 
 turning, [ing." 
 
 Turning keeps turners from hanging and burn- 
 
The fifth hundred of Epigrams 255 
 
 68. •* Of Master Carter." 
 
 *' Is that g-entleman's name Master Carter? " 
 "Yea!" [see! 
 
 " How his name and conditions differ now, 
 So cunning, so comely, so courteous, so kind, 
 So gentle a gentleman in each man's mind 
 That all men are stricken in pitiful wonder 
 To see Master Carter and the cart asunder." 
 
 69. "Of Going Far." 
 
 As he goeth far that never doth turn him back, 
 So goest thou far wide : thou never turnest 
 
 again. 
 Where thou goest, or what thou doest, come 
 
 luck, come lack, 
 Thyself or thy matters forth they go amain. 
 To turn again no counsel can thee strain ; 
 Except thy will shall show thy wit in the 
 
 wane, [lane. 
 
 Find means to take a house in Turn-again 
 
 70. *' How Money is Made Lame." 
 
 *' Money, with covetousness, thou dost rest so 
 That lack of use doth lame thee : thou canst 
 
 not go ; 
 With prodigality thou trudgest so fast 
 That excess of too much exercise doth lame 
 
 thee at last. 
 These two being lame lets of extremities, 
 Where wouldst thou be 'lotted to be from both 
 
 these? " 
 "With liberality would I be the mean." 
 "With liberality? nay, he is gone clean." 
 
256 The fifth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 71. "Of an Old Wooer." 
 
 *' Lady, I love you, in way you to wed : 
 But mine age with your youth disagreeth so 
 That, if I speak, I think not to be sped." 
 *' Your age in your suit is no whit your foe; 
 To your years many, had ye many mo, 
 We would wed the sooner by years ; showing 
 
 plain 
 That I should the sooner be unwed again." 
 
 "22. " Of A YouxG Wooer." 
 
 *' I brought thee late an old, rich widow to 
 
 woo ; [wouldst thou then do ; 
 
 Whom thou mightest have had, but nought 
 
 Nor nought canst thou do now ; thrift and 
 
 thou art odd ; 
 For now lieth she speechless at mercy of God." 
 " For the mercy of God bring me now to her; 
 I never saw meet time, till now, to woo her." 
 
 73. " Of Weakness and Strength." 
 
 Weakness and strength, here showest thou 
 
 both in preef : 
 Thou art a weak man and yet a strong thief. 
 
 74. "Warning of Pride." 
 
 Beware of pride, sayest thou to me? 
 
 Let pride, say I, beware of thee. 
 
 In every place thou dost so watch him, 
 
 That if pride stir, thou wilt sure catch him. 
 
 75. " Of Patience." 
 
 Be patient in trouble — how can that be' 
 Since out of trouble nothing pleaseth thee? 
 
The fifth hundred of Epigrams 257 
 
 76. '• Of Pleasing." 
 
 "Be g-lad to please?" "Yea, be glad to 
 
 please, brother ! " 
 "But whom?" "Please thyself, see thou 
 
 please none other." 
 
 yy. "Of a Hand-gun and a Hand." 
 
 Thou hast a good hand-gun, but what's thy 
 hand [stand ? 
 
 When thou shootest of['t], out of danger to 
 No standing more sure, in any place or plat, 
 Than to stand close to the mark thou shootest 
 at. 
 
 78. "Of Brass and Silver." 
 
 Brass hath been aloft, with silver set up. 
 Come down, brass, and drink on an ashen cup ! 
 
 79. "Of Difference between Wise Men and 
 Fools." 
 
 Between wise men and fools, among things 
 many [^^Y 
 
 This one differeth, when both sorts get things 
 
 Which to their pleasures are pleasantly 
 allowed — [be proud. 
 
 Of those things won, wise men are glad, fools 
 
 80. " Of A Pithy Wit." 
 
 Good God ! what a pithy wit hast thou, Dick ! 
 The pith of thy words so deep and so trick. 
 Thy words so pithily pierce to the quick, 
 Pith of no words against thy words may kick, 
 No more than the pith of a gunstone may 
 
 prick 
 Against the pithy pith of an elder stick. 
 
 HEY. II. s 
 
258 The fifth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 81. *' Of Choice to be a Wise Man or a 
 
 Fool." 
 
 " A wise man or a fool : if thou must be one, 
 Which wouldst thou be in winter, John? " 
 
 " A fool, Joan. [cold, 
 
 Where best men in winter sit next fire from 
 There stands the fool warm while all his tales 
 
 be told." 
 " Which wouldst thou be in summer, when 
 
 winter is gone ? ' ' [showeth hereupon : 
 
 "A fool!" ''A fool, why?" "That why 
 In summer when states sit from fire in the cool. 
 At that board's end in cool air there stands the 
 
 fool." [work, 
 
 "Winter and summer what time men must to 
 Which wouldst thou be? " "A fool, to look 
 
 on and lurk : 
 All times of the year, for one thing or other, 
 Better be a fool than a wise man, brother ! " 
 
 82. "Of a Knight's Carterly Collar." 
 
 I bade this carter bring my collar of gold : 
 And he bringeth me my horse-collar — "Hold, 
 
 knave, hold ! " [ing, 
 
 " Sir, if I may speak my thought without fear- 
 This collar of both showeth best for your 
 
 wearing." 
 
 83. "Of Males and Male Horses." 
 
 Of all horses, a male horse would I not be ; 
 Where he erst bare one male, now beareth he 
 
 three ; 
 Those are : one behind, and one on each side. 
 The man, who on the male horse doth ride, 
 
The fifth hundred of Epigrams 259 
 
 Weareth on each leg one male; for his slops 
 
 are, 
 Each one slop one male (kindly to declare) — 
 Long, round, wide, weighty as a male each 
 
 one. 
 But all horses are now male horses every one ; 
 For every one horse beareth two males at 
 
 least — [feast. 
 
 Of male horses and male men, friends here's a 
 
 84. "A Man Discommended." 
 Not once a year ought seen in thee to allow : 
 Not once a year thy knee to God dost thou 
 
 bow; 
 Not once a year openest thou thy lips to pray ; 
 Not once a year showest thou goodness any 
 
 way; 
 Not once a year givest thou alms to the poor ; 
 Not once a year dost thou repent thee there- 
 fore ; [stood 
 But all times a year thou wouldst all under- 
 Thou never dost repent, but when thou dost 
 good. 
 
 85. '' Of Running." 
 
 ** In post haste run, whoreson, run ! Art thou 
 
 here yet? " [of thy wit." 
 
 *' Shall I run out of breath? " ** Nay, run out 
 
 86. ** Of Polling." 
 
 Our heads grow too long, God give our barbers 
 
 curses ; [purses. 
 
 Our barbers poll no heads, our barbers poll 
 
 87. "Of Plate Lent Forth." 
 
 "Where is thy plate?" ''Lent out to a 
 marriage." 
 
 s 2 
 
26o The fifth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 ' ' Whither ? " "To Saint Needs. " * * To 
 whom ? " * * To Master Gage. ' ' 
 
 88. "Of a Man of Law and His Wife." 
 
 You, being- a pleader at law excellent, 
 
 Yet hath your wife brought you to an exigent. 
 
 Pray her to let fall th 'action at law now, 
 
 Or else, so God help me ! she will overlaw yow. 
 
 89. "Of Pens and Pence." 
 
 Pens and pence differ far in proportion — 
 The penny flat and round, the pen straight and 
 And yet for aids, in case of extortion, [long. 
 Pens and pence are like in working of wrong. 
 
 90. " Of A Woman's Thin Tongue.'* 
 
 " I never saw wife like thine for this thing, 
 Dick — [wondrous thick." 
 
 Her tongue wondrous thin, and her speech 
 " Tom, I have spent much in vain, since she 
 was young, [tongue." 
 
 To have her thick speech as thin as her 
 " It is the tongue of tongues, Dick, for running 
 
 round ; 
 I take the tip for silver, by the shrill sound." 
 " It hath, Tom, a shaking sharp sound in the 
 But it is no silver, would God it were ! " [ear, 
 
 91. " Of Drinking to a Man." 
 
 " I drink to thee, John." " Nay, thou drinkest 
 
 from me, Joan; [leavest none." 
 
 When thou drinkest to me, drink for me thou 
 
 92. "Of Running at Tilt." 
 We apply the spigot till tub stand a-tilt. 
 
The fifth hundred of Epigrams 261 
 
 Yea, run at the spigot tilt, leave the spear tilt 
 thou wilt. 
 
 93. " Of Expense." 
 
 " What may he spend? " " Ten pound a year 
 
 he might spend." [penny lend 
 
 " Is't mortg-ag-ed? " " Nay; no man will one 
 Upon it." "Is't sold?" "Nay; no man 
 
 will buy it. ' ' 
 "Then he holdeth it?" "Nay; he cannot 
 
 come nigh it. " 
 " Why, fool ! how may he spend ten pound 
 
 by year than ? ' ' [man ; 
 
 " I said not, he may, but he might spend it, 
 Meaning, he might spend it if he had it." 
 " O, if he had it — a sir, the devil made it ! " 
 
 94. "Of Fraying of Babes." 
 
 When do mothers fray their babes most from 
 
 dugs? [bear bugs. 
 
 When they put on black scarves, and go like 
 
 95. "Of Reeds and Oaks." 
 
 " Will you reeds at the wind's will still make 
 
 low becks ? [your necks ? 
 
 W^ill you oaks stand stiff still while wind break 
 Will you reeds, like apes, still tuck and bow 
 
 each joint? [one point? 
 
 Will you oaks, like asses, still stand stiff at 
 Will you reeds be still bending bowing bodies? 
 Will you oaks be still stout stiff-necked 
 
 noddies? [avails? 
 
 Will you reeds be staggering still for vain 
 Will you oaks be stern still till your tops kiss 
 
 your tails? [towardly? 
 
 Will you reeds shrink still to all winds 
 
262 The fifth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 Will you oaks swell still at all winds fro- 
 wardly? [footstools? 
 
 Will you reeds crouch still to be the wind's 
 Will you oaks crake still to be the wind's head 
 fools? " [reeds. 
 
 " Oaks will do as we have done; so will we 
 Wherein, for our purpose, mark what end 
 proceeds : [blown ; 
 
 In each one storm a thousand oaks down are 
 In a thousand storms not one reed over- 
 thrown." 
 
 96. '* Of Buying a Mortar." 
 
 *' That spice mortar to sell it be you willing? " 
 "Yea, mistress?" "What's the price?" 
 
 "Ten shilling." 
 "Ten shilling? Friend! I am hither enticed 
 To buy a spice mortar, not a mortar spiced." 
 
 97. "Of a Stepmother." 
 
 Thy father's second wife, thy stepmother — 
 For a stepmother there's not such another. 
 At three steps I saw her step, since she was 
 wed, [head. 
 
 From a stair foot, straight up to thy father's 
 
 98. "Of A Liar." 
 
 " Where doth Francis Fabler now lie, Jane? " 
 " At sign of the Whetstone, in Double-Tongue 
 
 Lane, 
 He lieth by night; and, by day, daily he 
 Lieth down right in what place soever he be. 
 That he lieth still day and night, this thing 
 
 doth try — 
 He never speaketh word but it is a lie. 
 
The fifth hundred of Epigrams 263 
 
 99. "Of Tongues and Pinsons." 
 
 One difference this is on which our tongues 
 may carp, [sharp ; 
 
 Between pinching pinsons and taunting tongues 
 
 Where these two nippers nip anywhere or 
 when, 
 
 Those pinsons nip dead things, those tongues 
 nip quick men. 
 
 100. *' Of Heywood. " 
 
 " Art thou Heywood with the mad merry 
 
 wit?" [hit." 
 
 "Yea, forsooth, master! that same is even 
 ** Art thou Heywood that applieth mirth more 
 
 than thrift? " 
 " Yea, sir! I take merry mirth a golden gift." 
 ** Art thou Heywood that hath made many mad 
 
 plays?" [days." 
 
 ** Yea, many plays; few good works in all my 
 '* Art thou Heywood that hath made men merry 
 
 long? " 
 ** Yea, and will, if I be made merry among." 
 ** Art thou Heywood that would be made merry 
 
 now?" 
 '* Yea, sir ! help me to it now I beseech yow. " 
 
 Finis. 
 
^ sixt ijimtrretr of 
 (jrammes. 
 
 i^ftolg inuentcti anir niaUc 
 
 L o N D I N I. 
 
 y/n«<3 Chrifti 
 1562. 
 
tHo tf}t tcalrer. 
 
 Readers, read this thus : for Preface, Proface. 
 Much good do it you : the poor repast here, 
 A six hundred dishes I bring in place 
 To make good welfare, nay to make good 
 
 cheer. [dear, 
 
 Fare is food : cheer is mirth : since meat is 
 Not of meat but of mirth, come young come 
 
 old. 
 Come who come will, here is open household. 
 
 Finis. 
 
THE TABLE 
 
 
 
 No of 
 
 Epigram 
 
 Of rebellion ..... 
 
 I 
 
 Of tongue, mouth, teeth, and wisdom 
 
 2 
 
 Of silver to be borrowed . . . . 
 
 3 
 
 Of an unkindly match 
 
 
 4 
 
 Of going to heaven and hell . 
 
 
 5 
 
 Of the highway and a maid's face . 
 
 
 6 
 
 Of one that would be praised . 
 
 
 7 
 
 Of looking .... 
 
 
 8 
 
 Of a hare afoot 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 Of Hob and John 
 
 
 
 lO 
 
 Of seeking a daw 
 
 
 
 II 
 
 Of saying grace 
 
 
 
 12 
 
 Of debt . 
 
 
 
 13 
 
 Of stepping 
 
 
 
 14 
 
 Of writing a gentleman . 
 
 
 15 
 
 Of a wife's affection to her husband 
 
 
 16 
 
 Of a man's thriving 
 
 
 17 
 
 Of learning the law 
 
 
 . 18 
 
 Of good will and good deeds . 
 
 
 . 19 
 
 Of Newgate windows 
 
 
 20 
 
 Of treading a shoe awry . 
 
 
 21 
 
 Of a fair sow .... 
 
 
 22 
 
 Of prayer 
 
 . 
 
 
 • 23 
 
270 
 
 Of cheese .... 
 
 Of a lease .... 
 
 Of stocks .... 
 
 A taunt of a wife to her husband 
 
 Of pride ..... 
 
 To walk, talk, drink, and sleep 
 
 Of a lantern and a light . 
 
 Of a cry ..... 
 
 Of a waterman's rowing 
 
 Of a tongue and a wit 
 
 Of a painter .... 
 
 Of Peter and Paul . 
 
 Of loss of health and wealth . 
 
 Of looking out 
 
 Of chafing dishes . 
 
 Of hanging and standing 
 
 Of a man's head and the pillory 
 
 Praise of one .... 
 
 Of divers bands 
 
 Of covenants, &c. . 
 
 Of promise and payment 
 
 Of one that dare not steal 
 
 Of the creation of the devil's dam 
 
 Of reward to a serving man . 
 
 Two properties of a servant . 
 
 Of toughness and tenderness . 
 
 A question to a child 
 
 Of seeking for a dwelling-place 
 
 Of three souls 
 
 Of the assaying of a hat 
 
 Of buying a coat . 
 
 Of paring of nails . 
 
 Of a man's head . 
 
 Of money in one's purse 
 
 Of friends and foes . 
 
 Of difference in sundry things 
 
 The Table 
 
 No. of Epigram 
 24 
 
The Table 
 
 
 271 
 
 No. of Epigram 
 
 Of calling- one flibergibet 
 
 60 
 
 Of crows breeding ..... 
 
 61 
 
 Of poles . 
 
 
 62 
 
 Of a crow-keeper . 
 
 
 63 
 
 Of rape-seed . 
 
 
 64 
 
 Of red roses . 
 
 
 65 
 
 Of pennyroyal 
 
 
 66 
 
 Of marjoram . 
 
 
 67 
 
 Of poppy 
 
 
 68 
 
 Of thyme-seed 
 
 
 69 
 
 Of rue . 
 
 
 70 
 
 Of liverwort . 
 
 
 71 
 
 Of pineapple . 
 
 
 72 
 
 Of heartsease . 
 
 
 7Z 
 
 Of parsnip 
 
 
 74 
 
 Of aniseed 
 
 
 75 
 
 Of lettuce-seeds 
 
 
 76 
 
 Good news to a man 
 
 77 
 
 Of least and most mastery 
 
 78 
 
 Of a man and a clock 
 
 79 
 
 Of a spare horse .... 
 
 . 80 
 
 Of a husband hanged 
 
 81 
 
 Of Horsedown .... 
 
 82 
 
 Of a cock and a capon . 
 
 . 83 
 
 Of disdain ..... 
 
 . 84 
 
 Of Peter 
 
 . 85 
 
 Of one in Newgate .... 
 
 . 86 
 
 Of saving of shoes .... 
 
 . 87 
 
 Of Hogstown ..... 
 
 . 88 
 
 Of cole-prophet .... 
 
 . 89 
 
 Of things unlike .... 
 
 . 90 
 
 Of the gentleness of a wife 
 
 • 91 
 
 Of catching a fly . 
 
 92 
 
 Of a horse wearing great breeches . 
 
 • 93 
 
 Of a reckoning at a shot . 
 
 . 94 
 
 Of use . 
 
 . 
 
 • 95 
 
272 The Table 
 
 <o. of Epigram 
 
 Of one asking for sheep . . .96 
 
 Of walking- and talking .... 97 
 Of seeing and feeling money ... 98 
 Of taking things wrong .... 99 
 Of rats taken for devils in a man's slops 100 
 
 Finis. 
 
THE SIXTH HUNDRED OF 
 EPIGRAMS 
 
 I. "Of Rebellion." 
 
 Against God I daily offend by frailty ; 
 But against my prince, or native country, 
 With as much as bodkin, when I rebel, 
 The next day after hang me up fair and well. 
 The next day after? nay, the next day before 
 Wish thou thyself hanged, in that case, ever- 
 more. 
 Before, thou hangest honestly unworthily ; 
 After, thou hangest worthily unhonestly. 
 But ho ! at our first dish in our merry feast 
 Why talk we of hanging our mirth to molest? 
 Be our cheese no better than our pottage is, 
 Better fast than feast at such, feasts as is this. 
 But being true to God, queen, country, and 
 crown, [down. 
 
 We shall at all feasts^ not hang up, but sit 
 
 " Otherwise." 
 
 Wilt thou be taken for a true Englishman? 
 Yea? be true to God, thy queen, and country 
 than. [it ; 
 
 Stand fast by thy country whoever would win 
 Better stand fast by it than hang fast in it. 
 
 HEY. II. T 
 
274 The sixth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 2. "Of Tongue, Mouth, Teeth, and 
 Wisdom." 
 
 The tongue is assigned of words to be sorter; 
 The mouth is assigned to be the tongue's 
 dorter; [porter; 
 
 The teeth are assigned to be the tongue's 
 But wisdom is 'signed to tie the tongue shorter. 
 
 3. "Of Silver to be Borrowed." 
 
 " Hast thou any bowed silver to lend me, 
 
 Joan?" [me?" "None." 
 
 "Nay." "Hast thou any broken silver for 
 "Hast thou any clipped silver?" "I had, 
 
 but 'tis gone." 
 " Hast thou any cracked groat? " " Cracked 
 
 groat? nay, not one." [nor cut — 
 
 " No silver — bowed, broken, clipped, cracked, 
 Here's a friend for friendship, not worth a 
 
 cracked nut." 
 
 4. "Of an Unkindly March." 
 
 This like March? as like as I am a March hare. 
 March is not so like March, friend ; I would it 
 were. [thee, 
 
 Though shape of the March hare show not in 
 Yet hast thou the March hare's mad property. 
 
 5. "Of Going to Heaven and Hell." 
 
 Of heaven or of hell, which go folk fastest to? 
 To hell, fool ! to hell go far more fast they do. 
 The highway to both lieth thus as clerks tell, 
 Uphill to heavenward, downhill to hell. 
 
The sixth hundred of Epigrams 275 
 
 6. "Of the Highway and a Maid's Face." 
 
 The more the highway is washed the fouler it 
 
 is : this ! 
 
 Maid, the highway and thy face are like in 
 
 7. '*Of One that Would be Praised." 
 
 • • Wouldst thou be praised ? " * * Yea. ' ' 
 "Why?" "Praise pleaseth me well." 
 
 " Yea, but how doth desert of praise please 
 thee, tell!" 
 
 8. "Of Looking." 
 
 "Look upward to heaven, my friend; what! 
 
 where lookest thou? " 
 * ' Sir, I was looking downward to hell for you. ' * 
 
 9. " Of A Hare Afoot." 
 
 I hear by the hounds the hare is afoot; 
 Then must she to horseback, none other boot. 
 Nothing doth more a hare's hope of life quail 
 Than doth a hound's nose nigh a hare's tail. 
 
 10. "Of Hob and John." 
 
 Horse and harness up, on all hands ! Hob and 
 
 John. 
 Hob and John? Nay, Lob and John would 
 
 now be gone ; [start, 
 
 But, till your prince stir you to harness to 
 Harness you your horse, and get ye to the 
 cart. 
 
 11. "Of Seeking a Daw." 
 
 " I have sought far to find a daw." " Why, 
 
 thou elf! ^ [thyself." 
 
 When thou wouldst quickly find a daw, seek 
 
 T 2 
 
276 The sixth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 " What is Domine Daw in English to say? " 
 " No mo daws ; thou Daw art daws enough for 
 this day." 
 
 12. "Of Saying Grace.** 
 
 To say grace fair, and to say grace oft, John, 
 From Gracechurch to Grantham thy like there's 
 
 none. 
 At breakfast, at dinner, at supper, at all. 
 At sitting, at rising, have grace we shall. 
 There's no man alive, in house, street, or field. 
 That saith grace so oft, and showeth grace so 
 
 seeld. 
 
 13. '• Of Debt." 
 
 What difference in true debt, and blue debt, to 
 
 rate? 
 Difference as in distance Ludgate and Newgate. 
 
 14. *' Of Stepping." 
 
 In stepping one foot back, stepping forward 
 
 twain, 
 My steps so stepped are not stepped in vain. 
 If one backstep be as much as foresteps three. 
 By your stout stepping your winning let us see. 
 Where wide-striding stepping gets no gain 
 
 ought worth, [forth. 
 
 As good to stand stone-still, as step one step 
 
 15. "Of Writing a Gentleman." 
 
 Thou writest thyself gentleman in one word, 
 
 brother ! 
 But gentle is one word, and man is another. 
 
The sixth hundred of Epigrams 277 
 
 16. " Of A Wife's Affection to Her 
 Husband.'' 
 
 I ween there's no wife like the wife of thine — 
 Thy body being hers, yet doth she inchne, 
 Fairest, or foulest, whom fancy doth prefer, 
 To take whom thou list, so thou touch not her. 
 
 17. "Of a Man's Thrift." 
 
 Lord ! what thrift ariseth in thy behalf? 
 
 Thy sow great with pig; thy cow great with 
 
 calf ; [whelp ; 
 
 Thy ewe great with lamb ; thy bitch great with 
 Thy cat great with kit (and more increase to 
 
 help) ; [thrift, fool ! 
 
 Thy wife great with child ; and to show thy 
 Thy mare great with foal; and thyself great 
 
 with fool. 
 
 18. "Of Learning the Law." 
 
 Thou wilt learn the law wherever thou be — 
 Lincoln's Inn, or Lincoln town, both one to 
 thee. 
 
 19. "Of Good Will and Good Deeds." 
 
 Is good will the best part of a friend? nay, 
 nay ! [may. 
 
 Beggars with lords so, for friendship compare 
 
 Good deeds by good will had, differ there, 
 brother ! 
 
 A pudding prick is one, a millpost is another. 
 
 20. "Of Newgate Windows." 
 
 All Newgate windows bay-windows they be ; 
 All lookers out there stand at bay we see. 
 
278 The sixth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 21. "Of Treading a Shoe Awry." 
 
 My wife doth ever tread her shoe awry. 
 Inward, or outward? nay, all outwardly: 
 She treadeth so outward, that if she outwin, 
 She will by her will never tread foot within. 
 
 22. " Of A Fair Sow." 
 
 I never saw a fairer sow in my life. 
 
 Ah sir, thy sow is even as fair as thy wife ! 
 
 23. " Of Prayer." 
 
 Some pray familorutn familarum : 
 Some say, that is folorum, solarum. 
 
 24. *' Of Cheese." 
 
 I never saw Banbury cheese thick enough ; 
 But I have oft seen Essex cheese quick enough. 
 
 25. **Of a Lease." 
 
 Thy lease of Freshwharf bindeth thee there to 
 dwell; ^ [tell. 
 
 Which thou hast forfeited, as thy neighbours 
 
 These four years at Freshwharf, as folk con- 
 sither, [together. 
 
 Thou hast not been fresh full four hours 
 
 26. " Of Stocks." 
 
 Thy upper stocks, be they stuffed with silk or 
 
 flocks, 
 Never become thee like a nether pair of stocks. 
 
 27. "A Taunt of a Wife to Her Husband." 
 
 ** Wife, I ween thou art drunk or lunatic I " 
 ** Nay, husband ! women are never moonsick; 
 
The sixth hundred of Epigrams 279 
 
 Come that conjunction in time, late, or soon, 
 We say, not the woman, the man in the moon. " 
 
 28. •* Of Pride." 
 
 Fie on pride when men go naked : naked or 
 
 clothed. 
 Pride is in all men a thing to be loathed ; 
 But yet may we see, though it do ill accord, 
 Some naked beggar as proud as some clothed 
 
 lord. 
 
 29. "To Walk, Talk, Drink, or Sleep." 
 
 Walk groundly ; 
 Talk profoundly; 
 Drink roundly; 
 Sleep soundly. 
 
 30. " Of A Lanthorn and Light." 
 
 A lanthorn and a light maid — mannerly said : 
 But which to be light? the lanthorn, or the 
 maid. 
 
 31. "Of a Cry." 
 
 Thou lost'st a mark In issues, criers cry — 
 Cry not so for me, crier ! and mark this, why? 
 I would rather give thee a gown of tissue 
 Than be in dread to lese my mark in issue. 
 
 32. "Of a Waterman's Rowing." 
 
 Thy fares over the water thou shouldst row 
 
 them, 
 But under the water thou dost bestow them. 
 
 33. "Of Tongue and Wit." 
 Thou hast a swift-running tongue; howbeit, 
 
28o The sixth hundred of Epig^rams 
 
 Thy tongue is nothing so quick as thy wit. 
 Thou art, when wit and tongue in running con- 
 tend, 
 At thy wits' end ere thou be at the tale's end. 
 
 34. "Of a Painter." 
 
 Thou art the painter of painters, mark who 
 
 shall, 
 In making and setting colours above all. 
 No painter painting within England's bounds, 
 Can set so fair colours upon so foul grounds. 
 
 35. "Of Peter and Paul." 
 
 I dwell from the city in suburbs at rowles ; 
 I pray to Saint Peter to bring me near Powles. 
 Alas, thou pray'st all in vain, poor silly fool — 
 Peter will set no hand to bring thee to Poule. 
 
 36. "Of Loss of Health and Wealth." 
 
 How lost you your health? 
 
 That gluttony tell'th. 
 
 How lost you your wealth? 
 
 That lost I by stealth. 
 
 Who was your wealth's wringer? , 
 
 My thumb and my finger. 
 
 37. "Of Looklng Out." 
 
 Stand in and look out; hang out and look 
 
 not out — 
 Newgate and Tyburn do bring both these 
 
 about. 
 
 38. "Of Chafing Dishes." 
 Wife, all thy dishes be chafing dishes placed ; 
 For thou chafest at sight of every dish thou 
 hast. 
 
The sixth hundred of Epigrams 281 
 
 39. *' Of Hanging and Standing." 
 
 Whether wilt thou hang up with ropes of 
 
 inions? 
 Or stiffly stand up with roperipe minions? 
 Forsooth ! both for number and stuff, truly 
 
 cast, [last. 
 
 As good hang with the first as stand with the 
 
 40. "Of a Man's Head and the Pillory." 
 
 Upon the pillory, your worshipful head 
 Unto the pillory doth worship far spread, 
 Which worship the pillory requiteth ill now ; 
 For, as you worship it, so it shameth yow. 
 
 41. "A Praise of One." 
 
 See how some above some other praises win — 
 I praise thee for one thing above all thy kin. 
 They, without teaching could never practise 
 ought ; [taught. 
 
 Thou canst play the knave, and never was 
 
 42. " Of Divers Bands." 
 
 '* All kinds of bands to be bound in being 
 scanned, [or husband — 
 
 Headband, smockband, flailband, houseband, 
 
 Which shall bind thee?" " Not the last on sea 
 nor land ; [stand." 
 
 Before husband's bands, in devil's bands I will 
 
 43. "Of Covenants, &c. " 
 
 Many poses without apposition ; 
 Many covenants without good condition; 
 Many promises without good payment; 
 Many arbitraments without good dayment. 
 
282 The sixth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 44. "Of Promise and Payment." 
 
 " May I trust that he promised? " 
 
 *• Yea : scantly to be performed." 
 
 *' Promiseth he thrice or he once pay?" 
 
 " Sometimes he doth; but not alway. 
 
 Some things he promiseth to pay ever ; 
 
 Which things so promised he payeth never." 
 
 45. *' Of One that Dare Not Steal." 
 
 '* Thou borrowest, and thou beggest, but when 
 
 wilt thou steal? " 
 *' Never; for to be hanged, sir, I have no zeal." 
 " Thou wouldst steal if thou durst? " " Yea, 
 
 but I dare not." [care not; 
 
 " Well then, for thy hanging, in this world 
 And in the world to come, as well thou shalt 
 
 speed [indeed." 
 
 For good will to steal as thou hadst stolen 
 
 46. *' Of the Creation of the Devil's Dam." 
 
 When was the devil's dam created, th'old 
 withered jade? [made, 
 
 The next leap-year after wedding was first 
 
 In an ill time; when the devil will that devil 
 die, 
 
 At that year's end, that endeth wedding finally. 
 
 47. **Of Reward to a Serving Man." 
 
 " Wait well ; thy master will do for thee I wis : 
 Canst thou spy nothing to ask of him? " 
 
 ** Yis; 
 But when I ask I cannot have that I crave." 
 " No? ask him blessing, and that shalt thou 
 
 surely have." 
 
The sixth hundred of Epigrams 283 
 
 48. "Two Properties of a Servant." 
 
 Whoso that hath a good servant, keep him 
 
 well — 
 Well must I keep thee then, by this that I tell. 
 Singular in many things ; in this above all — 
 To take thy wages great, and make thy service 
 
 small. 
 
 49. "Of Toughness and Tenderness." 
 
 For toughness and tenderness both in one man 
 
 seen, [been. 
 
 One like your mastership few or none hath 
 
 Axe ought of ye : then are ye so tart and tough 
 
 That your taunts would touch a horse's heart 
 
 most rough. [you ; 
 
 Give ought to ye : thus tender and meek are 
 
 Tears, like tears from your eyes, your knees to 
 
 ground bow. 
 
 50. "A Question to a Child." 
 
 ** Who is thy father, child? " axt his mother's 
 husband. [stand." 
 
 " Axe my mother," (quoth he), " that to under- 
 " The boy dallieth with you, sir; for, verily ! 
 He knoweth who is his father as well as I." 
 The man, of this child's wit was wrapped in 
 such joy [boy. 
 
 That he knew not what he might make of the 
 
 51. " Seeking for a Dwelling-place." 
 
 Still thou seekest for a quiet dwelling-place : 
 What place for quietness hast thou now in 
 chase ? [water. 
 
 London Bridge? That's ill for thee, for the 
 
284 The sixth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 Queenhlthe? That's more ill for another 
 
 matter. 
 Smart's Key? That's most ill for fear of 
 
 smarting smart. 
 Carter Lane? Nay, nay! that soundeth all on 
 
 the cart. [the chain. 
 
 Powles Chain? Nay, in no wise dwell not near 
 Wood Street? Why wilt thou be wood yet 
 
 once again? 
 Bread Street? That's too dry; by drought 
 
 thou shalt be dead. 
 Philpot Lane? That breedeth moist humours 
 
 in thy head. [fie ! 
 
 Silver Street? Coppersmiths in Silver Street; 
 Newgate Street? 'Ware that, man! New- 
 gate is hard by. 
 Faster Lane? Thou wilt as soon be tied fast, 
 
 as fast. 
 Crooked Lane? Nay, crook no more, be 
 
 straight at last. [against brother. 
 
 Creed Lane? They fall out there, brother 
 Ave Mary Lane? That's as ill as the t'other. 
 Paternoster Row? Paternoster Row? 
 Agreed ! that's the quietest place that I know. 
 
 52. "Of Three Souls." 
 
 Thou hast three souls in charge : thy body 
 soul one ; [alone. 
 
 Thy feet soles twain ; but let thy feet soles 
 
 Discharge thy body soul, and feet soles, poor 
 elves, [themselves. 
 
 They shall pay their own fees and discharge 
 
 53. "Of One Saying of a Hat." 
 
 "Said he that hat on his head?" "Nay! 
 chance so led 
 
The sixth hundred of Epigrams 285 
 
 That by that time the hat came, he had no 
 head." 
 
 54. •' Of Buying a Coat." 
 
 ** I must buy a new coat for shame." 
 " To get shame? " ** Nay, t'avoid the same." 
 " T'avoid shame? Thou mayest desire it, 
 But ten new coats will not hire it." 
 
 55. " Of Paring Nails." 
 
 "Pare my nails, wife!" ** Nay, man! if 
 your nails fail, [scab'd tail? " 
 
 Where can ye find friends to scratch your 
 " Pare thine own nails then; for, as they be 
 led, ^ [head." 
 
 They prove fiendly friends in scratching- my 
 "That may be; but, as those words are soon 
 
 spoken, 
 So even as soon is a scal'd man's head broken. " 
 
 56. " Of a Man's Head." 
 
 Thy head is great, and yet seemeth that head 
 
 but thin ; 
 Without hair without, and without wit within. 
 
 57. "Of Money in One's Purse." 
 
 He hath in his purse forty or fifty pound. 
 Put n to or, and mark then how that doth 
 sound. 
 
 58. "Of Friends and Foes." 
 
 The devil shall have friends; and, as good 
 
 reason goes [have foes. 
 
 That the devil shall have friends as God shall 
 
286 The sixth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 59. "Of Difference in Sundry Things." 
 
 Small difference between receiving and tak- 
 ing : 
 Great difference between marrying and making. 
 Small difference between sighing and sobbing : 
 Great difference between bassing and bobbing. 
 Small difference between fair looks and fair 
 words : [swords. 
 
 Great difference between blunt words and sharp 
 Small difference between talking and telling : 
 Great difference between smarting and smell- 
 ing, [ing : 
 Small difference between true love and trust- 
 Great difference between rubbing and rusting. 
 Small difference between lowering and snower- 
 ing: _ [ing. 
 Great difference between laughing and lower- 
 Small difference between waste-ware and 
 weeds : [deeds. 
 Great difference between good words and good 
 Small difference between closeness and conceal- 
 ing : 
 Great difference between giving and stealing. 
 
 60. "Of Calling One Flibergibet. " 
 
 " Thou flibergibet ! " " Flibergibet, thou 
 wretch ! [doth stretch ? 
 
 Wott'st thou whereto last part of that word 
 Leave that word or I'll baste ye with a libet ; 
 Of all words I hate words that end with gibet. " 
 
 61. "Of Crows Breeding." 
 
 I would wish some good provision, to provide 
 That crows should never breed by the high- 
 way's side. 
 
The sixth hundred of Epigrams 287 
 
 They so mistrust every man to steal their birds, 
 That no man can 'scape their opprobrious 
 
 words. 
 No man passeth by, whatsoever he be, 
 But those crows beknave him to the ninth 
 
 degree. [and raves, 
 
 Should the crow's word stand when he rages 
 We should have in England forty thousand 
 
 knaves. 
 
 62. '*Of Powles." 
 
 Thanks to God and good people Powles goeth 
 
 up well : 
 Powles goeth up? but when goeth polling 
 
 down : that tell ! 
 
 63. " Of A Crow-keeper." 
 
 There be many called crow-keepers ; but, in- 
 deed, seed ; 
 
 There's no crow-keeper but thou in time of 
 
 Where others keep crows out, like starvelings 
 forlorn. 
 
 To keep crows in plight, thou keepest crows 
 in the corn. 
 
 64. **Of Rape-seed." 
 
 *' Hast thou any rape-seed? " " Yea; if you 
 
 to rape fruit fall, [mixed withal." 
 
 Here is rape-seed; but there's hemp-seed 
 
 65. •* Of Red Roses." 
 
 ** What think ye worth one bushel of red 
 
 roses? " [noses." 
 
 " More worth than are two bushels of red 
 
288 The sixth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 66. "Of Pennyroyal." 
 
 " I seek pennyroyal: have ye any? " 
 "Seek further; I have neither royal nor 
 penny." 
 
 67. "Of Marjorum." 
 
 "Hast any marjorum, gentle?" "Yea, in- 
 deed ; 
 But it is somewhat mingled with nettle-seed." 
 
 68. " Of Poppy." 
 
 " Let's see poppy-seed." " My poppy-seed is 
 
 gone ; [alone ! " 
 
 But, for your ground, I have puppy-seed 
 
 69. "Of Thyme-seed." 
 
 " Have ye any thyme-seed? " " Thyme-seed? 
 
 yea, by rood ! [good." 
 
 But it is so mistimed that it bringeth no thyme 
 
 70. "Of Rue." 
 
 " I would have a groatworth of your seed of 
 
 rue." [new." 
 
 " Ye shall have rue-seed enough, both old and 
 
 71. " Liverwort." 
 
 "What lack you, sir?" "Liverwort-seed I 
 
 come to crave. " [have." 
 
 "Liverwort I have none; but lipwort-seed I 
 
 72. "Of Pineapple." 
 
 " Hast thou any graffs of the pineapple-tree? " 
 "Yea; pining graffs, great growers as can 
 be." 
 
The sixth hundred of Epigrams 289 
 
 73. "Of Heartsease." 
 
 " Have you any heartsease-seed? " " Yea, 
 
 for God, I ! [buy? " 
 
 But what other ware with heartsease will ye 
 
 "None." "Then have I no heartsease for 
 
 you, brother. [another; 
 
 We seed-sellers must sell seeds one with 
 
 To buy heartsease-seed of me, that no man 
 
 shall, [withal." 
 
 Except he buy some seeds of arse-smart 
 
 74. "Of Parsnip-seed." 
 
 Here is parsnip-seed that will nip you, as near 
 As ye were nipped with any parsnip this year. 
 
 75. " Of Aniseed." 
 
 This aniseed is brown ; but, to occupy, 
 Brown Anne's as sweet, as white Anne's, like 
 I. 
 
 76. "Of Lettuce-seed." 
 
 " I would buy lettuce-seed for my garden, 
 Joan." [none. 
 
 " Lettuce-seeds? forsooth, good master ! I have 
 But put out wee, and these seeds, I'll avow, 
 Best seeds in England for your garden and 
 you." 
 
 "^"j. " Of Good News to a Man." 
 
 " What news? " " Good news for thee as wit 
 
 can scan ; 
 We have news that thou art an honest man. 
 This news coming even now thus fresh and 
 
 new, 
 hey. II. U 
 
290 The sixth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 All men take for good ; no man taketh for 
 true." 
 
 78. "Of Least and Most Mastery." 
 " What is the least mastery thou canst 
 
 devise? " [vyise. " 
 
 '* Least mastery is a fool to ween himself 
 *' What is the most mastery that thy wit 
 
 spies? 
 " The most mastery is, to make a fool wise." 
 
 79. " Of a Man and a Clock." 
 
 Men take man of earthly things most excellent, 
 But in one thing thou seemest under that ex- 
 tent : 
 A clock after noon above thee I avow — 
 A clock can go alone then ; so canst not thou. 
 
 80. " Of A Spare Horse." 
 
 " Hast thou any spare horse, to lend me one? " 
 "A spare horse? There's one; take him and 
 
 begone." 
 Saddled and bridled he was, and with that, 
 As the man leapt up, the horse fell down flat. 
 He fell without help ; but then up to get, 
 Five men were too few him on foot to set. 
 " A spare horse," (quoth he), " the devil may 
 
 spare him ; 
 He that shall occupy him must bear him." 
 " Since this spare horse will not serve thee, 
 
 brother ! 
 Yet of my spare horses here's another." 
 Up leapt the man, hence ran the horse amain; 
 In ten miles galloping he turned not again. 
 
The sixth hundred of Epigrams 291 
 
 For judgment in spare horse, let this be com- 
 pared : [spared ? 
 Run ever, run never — which may best be 
 
 81. "Of a Husband Hanged." 
 
 *' Is thy husband hanged? " *' He was; but 
 
 he is nat ; 
 In spite of his foes I found friends to ease that. 
 For or my dear heart had hanged fully hours 
 
 twain, 
 I gat his pardon and cut him down again." 
 
 82. "Of Horsadown." 
 
 ** Hiredst thou not this horse at Horsa- 
 down? " "Yis!" 
 
 " Where is Horsadown? " " That mayest 
 thou learn by this : [field, town, 
 
 In high way, low way, fair way, foul way, 
 
 Wheresoever this horse is, there is Horsa- 
 down ! " 
 
 83. " Of A Cock and a Capon." 
 
 A brave capon by a brag cock late being, 
 The proud cock thinking scorn, the same so 
 
 seeing, 
 Said to the capon : " What thou barren 
 
 bastard ! 
 Perkest thou with me here as I were a haskard? 
 Where I — comely, combed, crowing, cocking 
 
 cock — 
 Am husband or father to all this whole flock." 
 "What," (quoth the capon), "thou lewd 
 
 lecherous wretch ! 
 These chickens all for thine benefit thou this 
 
 brag to stretch ? [alone ! 
 
 As though there were but one treading cock 
 
 u 2 
 
292 The sixth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 Yes, cock, yes ! there be mo treading cocks 
 than one; [avaunt, 
 
 But since thou thus proudly dost make this 
 To repress thy pride, take this tale for a taunt. 
 I have of mine own — I treading hens never — 
 As many chickens as thou, treading thy hens 
 ever." [dead; 
 
 This strake the cock in a deep dump, dull and 
 Having a still tongue he had a busy head. 
 Two days after this, he trod not nor fed not, 
 His comb sore cut ; but thanks to God ! it bled 
 not. 
 
 84. "Of Disdain." 
 
 " Is't mastery to disdain things by envy's 
 
 school? " 
 ** Nay, nay ! no more mastery than to be a 
 
 fool." 
 
 85. " Of Peter." 
 
 Peter the proud, and Peter the poor, in which, 
 Poor Peter oft as proud as Peter the rich. 
 
 86. "Of One in Newgate." 
 
 " Art thou in Newgate to stand to thv tack- 
 
 ling?" Xhng.- 
 
 " Nay; I am in Newgate to stand to my shack- 
 
 87. "Of Saving of Shoes." 
 
 Thou wearest, (to wear thy wit and thrift 
 
 together). 
 Moils of velvet to save thy shoes of leather. 
 Oft have we seen moil men ride upon asses ; 
 But to see asses go on moils : that passes. 
 
The sixth hundred of Epigrams 293 
 
 88. " Of Hogstown." 
 
 The head man in Hogstown, hog-herd is ex- 
 pressed ; [best. 
 Where hogs be parishioners, hogherd must be 
 Yet hogshead in Hogstown is no John-a-droin, 
 Pigs dare not quich there, if hogshead hang 
 the groin. 
 
 89. "Of Cole-prophet." 
 
 Thy prophecy poisonly to the prick goeth : 
 Cole-prophet and cole-poison thou art both. 
 
 90. "Of Things Unlike." 
 
 Like will to like, men say ; but not always so : 
 Contrary to contrary ofttimes doth go. 
 When folk be most open, their low parts most 
 
 loose, 
 Then go they to stools that be made most close. 
 
 91. " Of the Gentleness of a Wife." 
 
 Thy wife is as gentle as a falcon : true ! 
 And namely in this kind of gentleness : Hugh ! 
 Being not hungry, lower falcons when ye list, 
 They will check oft, but never come to the fist. 
 
 92. " Of Catching a Fly." 
 
 A boy on his book clapped hand to catch a fly. 
 "Hast her?" cried his master. "Nay, God 
 
 wot I." 
 "Then thou shalt drink! " "Master, I have 
 
 her, I think." [shalt drink." 
 
 "If thou have her," said the master, "thou 
 To furious masters, what helpeth fair speeches? 
 Flies caught, or not caught, up go boys' 
 
 breeches ! 
 
294 The sixth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 93. ''Of A Horse Wearing Great 
 
 Breeches." 
 
 My horse to wear great breeches is now as- 
 signed : 
 Why? to keep him from interfering behind. 
 
 94. " Of A Reckoning at a Shot." 
 
 " Give us a reckoning upon this pot filling : 
 What have we to pay in all?" "Ten 
 
 shilling!" 
 ** What Cometh our meat to? " "Four shil- 
 lings, up and down ! " 
 '* What is drink? " " Six shillings; that's to 
 
 say a French crown." 
 " Why? Have we drunk more than we 
 
 have eaten, knave? " 
 ** Yea, as many other men, many times have." 
 Look wheresoever malt is above wheat, 
 There in shot ever drink is above meat. 
 
 95. " Of Use." 
 
 Use maketh mastery : this hath been said 
 
 alway ; 
 But all is not alway, as all men do say, [rote ; 
 In April the cuckoo can sing her song by 
 In June, out of tune, she cannot sing a note : 
 At first, cuckoo, cuckoo, sing still can she do. 
 At last cuck, cuck, cuck — six cucks to one cu. 
 
 96. "Of One Asking for Sheep." 
 
 " Came there any sheep this way, you sheepish 
 
 maids?" "Nay; [way." 
 
 But even as you came, there came a calf this 
 
The sixth hundred of Epigrams 295 
 
 97. ** Of Walking and Talking." 
 
 Walk thou narrowly, walk thou nearly — 
 Walk as thy walk may end cheerily. 
 Talk thou basely, talk thou boldly — 
 In all thy talk, talk thou coldly. 
 Walk thou wetly, walk thou dryly — 
 In thy walk, walk not too highly. 
 Talk thou merrily, talk thou sadly — 
 Talk as thy talk may take end gladly. 
 Walk thou daily, walk thou weekly — 
 In all thy walk, walk thou meekly. 
 Talk thou softly, talk thou loudly — 
 In any talk, talk not proudly. 
 Walk thou firstly, walk thou lastl_v— - 
 Walk in the walk that standeth fastly. 
 Talk or walk oldly or newly — 
 Talk and walk plainly and truly. 
 
 98. "Of Seeing and Feeling Money." 
 
 " Lacking spectacles, canst thou see money, 
 
 John? " 
 " Yea : but having spectacles I can feel none." 
 
 99. "Of Taking Things Wrong." 
 
 " Perceived and taken things right, thou hast 
 long, [wrong : 
 
 But for one thing In thee long since taken 
 
 Thy credit is touched, and thou thereby the 
 worse." 
 
 " What thing sayest thou have I taken 
 wrong?" "A purse." 
 
296 The sixth hundred of Epigrams 
 
 100. " Of A Number of Rats Mistaken for 
 Devils in a Man's Slops." 
 
 A big breeched man, fearing a dear year to 
 
 come, [bum. 
 
 Bestowed in his breech a cheese, hard by his 
 And, leaving off those hose for days two or 
 
 three, [be 
 
 Rats two or three crept into that breech ; they 
 'Pointing themselves of that cheese to be 
 
 keepers : [sleepers. 
 
 In which ware watch be sure they were no 
 No wight riding men, from Sandwich to Sarum, 
 Could win that cheese from them without a 
 
 larum. [on, 
 
 At three days' end this man, putting these hose 
 Having tied his points, the rats began anon 
 To start and to stir that breech round about ; 
 To seek and find some way, what way to get 
 
 out. 
 But that breech was bolstered so with such 
 
 broad bars, 
 Such cranks, such cony holes, such cuts and 
 
 such stars, [fast 
 
 With ward within ward, that the rats were as 
 As though they with thieves in Newgate had 
 
 been cast. [fumbling, 
 
 But this man, in his breech feeling such 
 Such rolling, such rumbling, joisting and 
 
 jumbling. 
 He was therewith stricken in a frantic fear; 
 Thinking sure to himself that some sprites were 
 
 there. 
 He ran out, he cried out, without coat or cloak, 
 Those rats in those rags whined like pigs in a 
 
 poke. 
 
The sixth hundred of Epigrams 297 
 
 *' A conjuror," cried he, " in all haste I be- 
 seech, [breech ! " 
 To conjure the devil : the devil is in my 
 Running-, and turning- in and out as he flung. 
 One of the rats by the ribs he so wrung. 
 That the rat in rage to his buttock gat her ; 
 She set in her teeth, his eyes ran a-water. 
 She bote, he cried, dogs barked, the people 
 shouted, [doubted. 
 Horns blew, bells rang-, the devil dreaded and 
 To be in his breech to bring him straight to 
 hell— [tell. 
 The woe and wonder whereof — too much to 
 At last to see what bugs in his breech frayed 
 him, [him. 
 Four or five manful men, manfully stayed 
 The rats hopping out at his hose pulling off. 
 All this sad matter turned to merry scoff. 
 When he saw these rats by this cheese brought 
 
 this fear, 
 Rejoicing the 'scape he solemnly did swear 
 That in his breech should come no cheese after 
 
 that, 
 Except in his breech he were sure of a cat. 
 
 Finis. 
 
 Imprinted at London, in Fleeteftrete, by Thomas Powell. 
 Cum priuilegio. 
 
A DESCRIPTION OF A 
 MOST NOBLE LADY 
 
 Adviewed by JOHN HEYWOOD, 
 
 PRESENTLY ; WHO ADVERTISING HER YEARS, AS 
 FACE, SAITH OF HER THUS, IN MUCH ELOQUENT 
 
 PHRASE : 
 
 Give place, ye ladies ! all be gone ; 
 Show not yourselves at all. 
 For why? behold ! there cometh one 
 Whose face yours all blank shall. 
 
 The virtue of her looks 
 Excels the precious stone ; 
 Ye need none other books 
 To read, or look upon. 
 
 In each of her two eyes 
 There smiles a naked boy ; 
 It would you all suffice 
 To see those lamps of joy. 
 
 If all the world were sought full far, 
 Who could find such a wight? 
 Her beauty twinkleth like a star 
 Within the frosty night. 
 
30O A Description of a Most Noble Lady 
 
 Her colour comes and goes — 
 With such a g'oodly grace, 
 More ruddy than the rose — 
 Within her lively face. 
 
 Amongst her youthful years 
 She triumphs over age ; 
 And yet she still appears 
 Both witty, grave, and sage. 
 
 I think nature hath lost her mould 
 Where she her form did take ; 
 Or else I doubt that nature could 
 So fair a creature make. 
 
 She may be well compared 
 Unto the phoenix kind ; 
 Whose like hath not been heard 
 That any now can find. 
 
 In life a Dian chaste ; 
 
 In truth Penelope ; 
 
 In word and deed steadfast — 
 
 What need I more to say? 
 
 At Bacchus' feast none may her meet; 
 Or yet at any wanton play ; 
 Nor gazing in the open street, 
 Or wandering, as astray. 
 
 The mirth that she doth use 
 Is mixed with shamefastness ; 
 All vices she eschews. 
 And hateth idleness. 
 
A Description of a Most Noble Lady 301 
 
 It is a world to see 
 How virtue can repair, 
 And deck such honesty 
 In her that is so fair. 
 
 Great suit to vice may some allure 
 That thinks to make no fault ; 
 We see a fort had need be sure 
 Which many doth assault. 
 
 They seek an endless way 
 That think to win her love ; 
 As well they may assay 
 The stony rock to move. 
 
 For she is none of those 
 That sets not by evil fame ; 
 She will not lightly lose 
 Her truth and honest name. 
 
 How might we do to have a graff 
 Of this unspotted tree? 
 For all the rest they are but chaff 
 In praise of her to be. 
 
 She doth as far exceed 
 These women, nowadays. 
 As doth the flower the weed ; 
 
 And more, a thousand ways. 
 This praise I shall her give 
 When Death doth what he can; 
 Her honest name shall live 
 Within the mouth of man. 
 
302 A Description of a Most Noble Lady 
 
 This worthy lady to bewray — 
 
 A king's daughter was she — 
 
 Of whom John Heywood list to say, 
 
 In such worthy degree. 
 
 And Mary was her name, sweet ye, 
 With these graces indued ; 
 At eighteen years so flourished she : 
 So doth his mean conclude. 
 
A BALLAD OF THE GREEN 
 WILLOW 
 
 All a green willow, willow; 
 
 All a green willow is my garland. 
 
 Alas ! by what mean may I make ye to know 
 The unkindness for kindness that to me doth 
 grow? [bestow, 
 
 That one who most kind love on me should 
 Most unkind unkindness to me doth show? 
 For all the green willow is my garland. 
 
 To have love, and hold love, where love is so 
 
 sped, 
 Oh, delicate food to the lover so fed ! 
 From love won to love lost where lovers be led, 
 Oh desperate dolour ! the lover is dead ; 
 For all the green ivillow is my garland. 
 
 She said she did love me, and would love me 
 
 still ; 
 She sware above all men I had her good will ; 
 She said and she sware she would my will 
 
 fulfil— 
 The promise all good, the performance all ill; 
 For all the green willow is my garland. 
 
304 A Ballad of the Green Willow 
 
 Now, woe worth the willow, and woe worth the 
 
 wight 
 That windeth willow, willow garland to dight ; 
 That dole dealt in alms is all amiss quite. 
 Where lovers are beggars for alms in sight ; 
 No lover doth heg for this willow garland. 
 
 Of this willow garland the burden seem'th 
 
 small, 
 But my break-neck burden I may it well call ; 
 Like the sow of lead on my head it doth fall. 
 Break head, and break neck, back, bones, brain, 
 
 heart and all ; 
 All parts pressed in pieces. 
 
 Too ill for her think I best things may be had ; 
 Too good for me thinketh she things being 
 
 most bad ; 
 All I do present her that may make her glad ; 
 All she doth present me that make me sad ; 
 This equity have I with this willow garland. 
 
 Could I forget thee as thou canst forget me, 
 That were my sound salve, which cannot nor 
 shall be; [flee, 
 
 Though thou like the soaring hawk every way 
 I will be the turtle most steadfast still to thee ; 
 And patiently wear this green willow garland. 
 
 All ye that have had love, and have my like 
 wrong, [among ; 
 
 My like truth and patience plant still you 
 When feminine fancies for new love do long. 
 Old love cannot hold them, new love is so 
 strong 
 For all. 
 
 Finis qd. Heywood. 
 
A BALLAD AGAINST 
 SLANDER AND DETRACTION 
 
 Gar call him down, gar call him down, gar call 
 
 him down, down a : 
 God send the faction, of all detraction, called 
 
 down and cast away. 
 
 Almig-hty God 
 Doth shake His rod 
 
 Of justice, and all those 
 That unjustly, 
 Detractively, 
 
 Detract their friends or foes. 
 
 He telleth each one : 
 Thou shalt judge none ; 
 
 And if thou judge unbidden, 
 Thyself, saith He, 
 Shall judged be ; 
 
 This lesson is not hidden. 
 
 To this now stirred, 
 This is concord, 
 
 Which willeth us in each doubt; 
 To deem the best 
 That may be jest, 
 
 Till time the truth try out. 
 
 HEY. 11. X 
 
3o6 A Ballad against Slander and Detraction 
 
 Knowing by this, 
 That think amiss 
 
 Against no man we may ; 
 Much more must we 
 111 language flee, 
 
 And call it down, down a; 
 Gar call him down, &c. 
 
 With sword or skain 
 To see babes slain, 
 
 Abhorreth to look upon ; 
 Attend to me, 
 And ye shall see 
 
 Murder and slander one. ~~ 
 
 Like as a knife. 
 By rueing life, 
 
 So slander fame hath slain ; 
 And both once doon. 
 Both alike soon 
 
 May be undone again. 
 
 Then what more ill, 
 With knife to kill. 
 
 Or with the tongue to sting? 
 With knife or tongue 
 Strike old or young, 
 
 Both in effect one thing. 
 
 These words are short. 
 But they import 
 
 Sentence at length to way ; 
 Of all which sense. 
 To flee offence. 
 
 Call slander down I say ; 
 Gar call him down, &g 
 
A Ballad against Slander and Detraction 307 
 
 When vice is fought 
 All vice is nought; 
 
 But some vice worse than some ; 
 And each man sees 
 Sundry degrees 
 
 In each vice self doth come. 
 
 Now sins the least, 
 We should detest 
 
 Vice or degree in vice ; 
 If in the most 
 We show our boast, 
 
 That showeth us most unwise. 
 
 If I in thee 
 
 Such faults once see, 
 
 As no man else doth know; 
 To thee alone, 
 And other none. 
 
 These faults I ought to show. 
 
 Then of intent 
 If I invent 
 
 False tales, and them display; 
 That is most vile, 
 Which to exile, 
 
 God calleth this down, down a. 
 Gar call him down, &c. 
 
 Some count no charge 
 To talk at large 
 
 Such ill as they do hear ; 
 But God's account 
 Doth not amount 
 
 To take such talkers here. 
 
 X 2 
 
3o8 A Ballad against Slander and Detractio 
 
 Of work ill wrought, 
 When it is fought, 
 
 In telling forth the same. 
 Though it be true, 
 The talk may brew 
 
 Drink of damnable blame. 
 
 To frame excuse 
 Of tongue's misuse, 
 
 We have no manner mean ; 
 So that by this 
 No way there is 
 
 111 tales to carry clean. 
 
 Which makes me call 
 Upon you all, 
 
 As calling call you may ; 
 Tales false or true. 
 Me to ensue, 
 
 To call them down, down a. 
 Gar call him down, &c. 
 
 Christ crieth out still : 
 Say good for ill ; 
 
 But we say harm for harm ; 
 Yea, ill for good 
 111 tongues do brood — 
 
 Wrath is in them so warm. 
 
 Slander to fear. 
 And to forbear — 
 
 This text stands well in place ; 
 Woe by the tongue, 
 W^hereby is sprung 
 
 Slander in any case ! 
 
A Ballad against Slander and Detraction 309 
 
 To slake this fire 
 Of slanders ire, 
 
 Repentance must devise 
 To set all hands 
 To quench the brands 
 
 With water of our eyes. 
 
 Which brand then blow 
 To make love g'low, 
 
 That love by grace may stay, 
 And by resort 
 Of g"ood report, 
 
 Call slander down I say. 
 Gar call him down, &c. 
 
 Finis qd. Heywood. 
 
A BRIEF BALLET 
 
 Touching the Traitorous Taking of 
 Scarborough Castle 
 
 Imprinted at London, in Fleete-strete, by Tho. Powell. 
 Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum. 
 
 Oh, valiant invaders! gallantly gay; 
 
 Who, with your compeers, conquering the 
 route. 
 
 Castles or tow'rs, all standing in your way; 
 Ye take, controlling all estates most stout, 
 Yet had it now been good to look about, 
 
 Scarborough castle to have let alone ; 
 
 And take Scarborough warning everyone. 
 
 By Scarborough castle, not Scarborough 
 I only mean — but further, understand. 
 
 Each haven, each hold, or other harborough 
 That our good King and Queen do hold in 
 
 hand : 
 As due obedience bindeth us in band 
 
 Their Scarborough castles to let alone ; 
 
 And take Scarborough warnings everyone. 
 
312 » A Brief Ballet 
 
 The scalers of which castles evermore, 
 
 In books of old, and in our eyes of new, 
 Have always lost themselves, and theirs there- 
 fore; 
 All this ye did forget in time to view. 
 Which might have wrought both you and 
 yours t 'eschew, 
 Letting Scarborough castle now alone ; 
 Taking Scarborough warning everyone. 
 
 This Scarborough castle simply standing, 
 Yet could that castle slyly you beguile ; 
 
 Ye thought ye took the castle at your landing. 
 The castle taking you in the self while : 
 Each stone within the castle wall did smile 
 
 That Scarborough castle ye let not alone ; 
 
 And took Scarborough warning everyone. 
 
 Your putting now in ure your devilish dream. 
 Hath made you see (and like enough to feel) 
 
 A few false traitors cannot win a ream ; 
 
 Good subjects be, and will be, true as steel 
 To stand with you, the end they like no 
 deal. 
 
 Scarborough castles they can let alone ; 
 
 And take Scarborough warnings everyone. 
 
 They know God's law — to 'bey their King and 
 Queen ; 
 Not take from them, but keep for them their 
 own ; 
 And give to them, when such traitors are seen, 
 As ye are now, to bring all overthrow. 
 They work your overthrow, by God's power 
 grown. 
 God saith — let Scarborough castle alone ; 
 Take Scarborough warning everyone. 
 
A Brief Ballet 3^3 
 
 Too late for you, and in time for the rest 
 Of your most traitorous sect (if any be) ; 
 
 You are all spectacles at full witnessed, 
 As other were to you — treason to flee, 
 Which in you past, yet may the rest of ye 
 
 The said Scarborough castles let alone ; 
 
 And take Scarborough warnings everyone. 
 
 This term, Scarborough warning grew, (some 
 say). 
 By hasty hanging, for rank robbery there. 
 Who that was met but suspect in that way. 
 Straight was he truss'd up, whatever he 
 
 wear. 
 Whereupon, thieves thinking good to for- 
 bear, 
 Scarborough robbing they let that alone ; 
 And took Scarborough warning everyone. 
 
 If robbing in that way, bred hanging so. 
 By theft to take way, town, castle, and so, 
 
 What Scarborough hanging craveth this, lo ! 
 Were yourselves herein judges capital, 
 I think your judgments on these words must 
 fall, 
 
 Scarborough robbing, who lett'th not alone, 
 
 Scarborough hanging deserve everyone. 
 
 We would to God that you, and all of you 
 Had been considered, as well as ye knew 
 
 The end of all traitory, as you see it now, 
 Long to have lived, lovinjcf subjects true. 
 Alas ! your loss we not rejoice, but rue 
 
 That Scarborough castle ye let not alone ; 
 
 And took Scarborough warning everyone. 
 
314 A Brief Ballet 
 
 To crafts that ever thrive, wise men ever 
 cleave ; 
 To crafts that seeld when thrive, wise men 
 seeld when flee ; 
 The crafts that never thrive a fool can learn 
 to leave. 
 This thriftless crafty craft then clear leave 
 
 we, 
 One God, one king, one queen, serve frank 
 and free, 
 Their Scarborough castle let it alone ; 
 Take we Scarborough warning everyone. 
 
 One sovereign lord and sovereign lady both, 
 Laud we our Lord, for their prosperity ; 
 
 Beseeching Him for it, as it now go'th. 
 Continued so, in perpetuity ; 
 
 We letting their Scarborough castles alone ; 
 
 Taking Scarborough warnings everyone. 
 
 Finis. 
 
 Quod. J. Heywood. 
 
A BALLAD 
 
 Specifying partly the manner, partly the 
 matter, in the most excellent meeting 
 and like marriage between our sovereign 
 Lord and our Sovereign Lady the King's 
 AND Queen's highness 
 
 Penned by JOHN HEYWOOD 
 
 Imprinted at London by William Ryddell. 
 
 The eagle's bird hath spread his wings, 
 And from far off hath taken flight, 
 
 In which mean way by no leverings 
 
 On bough or branch this bird would light ; 
 Till on the rose, both red and white, 
 
 He 'lighteth now most lovingly, 
 
 And thereto most behovingly. 
 
 The month ensuing next to June, 
 
 This bird this flower for perch doth take, 
 
 Rejoicingly himself to prune, 
 He rouseth ripely to awake 
 Upon this perch to those his make : 
 
 Concluding straight, for ripe right rest, 
 
 In the lion's bower to build his nest. 
 
3i6 A Ballad 
 
 A bird, a beast, to make, to choose. 
 
 Namely, the beast most furious. 
 It may seem strange, and so it does, 
 
 And to this bird injurious ; 
 
 It seemeth a case right curious 
 To make construction in such sense, 
 As may stand for this bird's defence. 
 
 But mark, this lion so by name. 
 
 Is properly a lamb t'assign. 
 No lion wild, a lion tame, 
 
 No rampant lion masculine. 
 
 The lamb-like lion feminine, 
 Whose mild meek property allureth 
 This bird to light, and him assureth. 
 
 The eagle's bird, the eagle's heir. 
 
 All other birds far surmounting, 
 The crowned lion matcheth fair, 
 
 Crown unto crown this bird doth bring ; 
 
 A queenly queen, a kingly king. 
 Thus, like to like here matched is — 
 What match may match more meet than this? 
 
 So meet a match in parentage, 
 
 So meet a match in dignity. 
 So meet a match in patronage. 
 
 So meet match in benignity. 
 
 So matched from all malignity, 
 As, (thanks to God given for the same), 
 Seldom hath been seen ; thus sayeth the fame. 
 
 This meet-met match, at first meeting, 
 
 In their approach together near, 
 Lowly, lovely, lively greeting. 
 
A Ballad 3^7 
 
 In each to other did so appear, 
 That lookers-on, all must g-rant clear, 
 Their usage of such humane reach, 
 As all might learn, but none could teach. 
 
 Thou, in conjoining of these twain, 
 
 Such sacred solemn solemnity, 
 Such fare in feast to entertain, 
 
 Such notable nobility, 
 
 Such honour with such honesty. 
 Such joy, all these to plat in plot. 
 Plat them who can, for I cannot. 
 
 But here one dainty president. 
 
 Number so great in place so small, 
 
 Nations so many, so different. 
 So suddenly met ; so agree all. 
 Without offensive word let fall ; 
 
 Save sight of twain, for whom all met. 
 
 No one sight there, like this to get. 
 
 This lamb-like lion and lamb-like bird, 
 
 To show effect as cause affords. 
 For that they lamb-like be concurred, 
 
 The lamb of lambs, the lord of lords ; 
 
 Let us like lambs, as most accords. 
 Most meekly thank in humble wise. 
 As humble heart may most devise. 
 
 Which thanks full given most thankfully. 
 To prayer fall we on our knees. 
 
 That it may like that Lord on high 
 In health and wealth to prosper these. 
 As faith for their most high degree : 
 
 And that all we, their subjects, may 
 
 Them and their laws love and obey. 
 
3i8 A Ballad 
 
 And that between these twain and one, 
 The three and one, one once to send. 
 
 In one to knit us everyone, 
 
 And to that one such mo at end, 
 As his will only shall extend. 
 
 Grant this, good God ! adding thy grace. 
 
 To make us meet to obtain this case. 
 
 Finis. 
 
A NOTE-BOOK, WORD-LIST, 
 AND INDEX 
 
 INCLUDING 
 
 References, Notes, a complete Index to 
 ALL THE Proverbs, Proverbial Sayings, 
 Colloquialisms, &c., together with a 
 Glossary of Words and Phrases now 
 Archaic or Obsolete ; the whole arranged 
 in One Alphabet in Dictionary Form 
 
A FOREWORD TO NOTE- 
 BOOK, WORD-LIST, AND 
 INDEX 
 
 Reference jroin text to Note-Book is copious, and as 
 complete as may be; so also, conversely, from Note-Book 
 to text. The following pages may, with almost absolute 
 certainty, be consulted on any point that tnay occur m 
 the course of reading. 
 
 The scheme of reference from Note-Book to text as- 
 sumes the division, in the mind's eye, of each page into 
 four horizontal sections; which, beginning at the top, 
 are indicated iti the Note-Book by tlie letters a, b, c, d 
 following the page figure. In practice this will be found 
 easy, and an enormous help to the eye over the usual 
 reference to page alone in "fixing" the "catchword." 
 Thus i26a = the first quarter of page 126; ^oc = the third 
 quarter of page 40; and so forth. 
 
 The Index to the Proverbs, Proverbial Sayings, Col- 
 loquialisms, <5>c. {specifically as an Index, and not as a 
 Glossary, which indeed would be largely superfluous), is 
 made with much completeness, careful attention being 
 given, as an aid to reference , to Cross-entries. The more 
 noteworthy Proverbs are, in the text, brought into 
 prominence by the use of italics. 
 
 [For Errata see Page 466.] 
 
INDEX, NOTE-BOOK, AND 
 WORD-LIST 
 
 To John Heywood's Proverbs, Epigrams, 
 AND Miscellanies 
 
 Abject, " cast out as an abject " (loob), vagabond, 
 ne'er-do-well, despicable person. *' I deemed it belter 
 so to die. Than at my foeman's feet an abject lie." — 
 Mirrour for Magistrates (1599), 20. 
 
 Abrood, " weather meet to set paddocks abrood in " 
 (50&), i.e. weather fit for toads or frogs to be abroad : 
 cf. "fine weather for ducks." 
 
 Absenteth, " her presence absenteth all maladies " 
 (loc), makes absent, expels, cures : now always with 
 the reflective pronouns. " . . . or what change 
 Absents thee or what chance detains? " — Milton, 
 Par. Lost (bk. x.). 
 
 AccoMPTE, " the full accompte " (Sd), account : the old 
 spelling. " Smith. The clerk of Chatham : he can 
 write and read, and caste accompt. " — Shakspeare, 
 2 Henry VI. (1594), iv. 2. 
 
 AccoMPTED (125a), see previous entry. 
 
 AccoRDETH, see Rhymes. 
 
 Ache (a) (140c), i.e. " aitch " = letter " H " : a play on 
 ac/2e = pain. 
 (b), see Eye. 
 
 Adviewed (299^)), considered. 
 
 Advoutry, " in advoutry to catch him " (71b), adultery. 
 " Calling this match advoutrie, as it was." — Mirrour 
 fur Magistrates (1599), 342. 
 HEY. II. Y 
 
322 Note-Book and Word-List [afloat 
 
 Afloat, " thou art afloat " (176a), see also " at an ebb 
 in Newgate . . . afloat at Tyburn " (176&). 
 
 Afterci.aps, *' for fear of afterclaps " (114^), conse- 
 quences : especially if unexpected or disagreeable ; now 
 chiefly American. " He can give us an after-clap 
 when we least ween." — Latimer, Sermons (1515), I. 
 27. 
 
 Against, see Stream. 
 
 Age, " age and appetite fell at a strong strife " (5 id). 
 
 Ale, (a) " when ale is in wit is out " (20od). 
 
 (b) " as sour ale mendeth in summer " (91&), that 
 is, not at all. 
 
 (c), " thy tales taste all of ale " (189&), i.e. are pot- 
 house yarns; stories "bemused in beer." 
 
 Ale-clout, " wash her face in an ale-clout " (26^), get 
 drunk. 
 
 All, see Bleed, Hear, Nought. 
 
 Allowed, " how his lie was allowed " (120c), allow = 
 admit, approve, intend, think. " Alowe, to make 
 good or allowable, to declare to be true." — Baret, 
 Alvearie (1580), A. 297. The usage still survives in 
 America. 
 
 Almonry, see God. 
 
 Alms, "upon giving an alms" (109c; 117a), alms is 
 singular : the " s " = o- of the original Greek, though 
 now used as a plural. 
 
 Am, " God taketh me as I am and not as I was " 
 
 (90b). 
 Amated, " all mirth was amated " (17^), paralysed, 
 
 checked. " That I amazed and amated am, To see 
 
 Great Brittaine turn'd to Amsterdam. "^Taylor, Mad 
 
 Fashions (1642). 
 
 Amend, " he may soon amend for he cannot appair " 
 (187c), appair = get worse : see Apaired. 
 
 Amended, see Said. 
 
 Amendment, " let your amendment amend the matter " 
 
 (77«)- 
 An, see And. 
 
arse-smart] Note-Book and Word-List 323 
 
 Anchor, (a) " I will straight weigh anchor and hoist 
 up sail " (21c). 
 
 (b) *' good riding at two anchors. , . . For if the tone 
 fail, the t'other may hold " (92c), best to have more 
 chances than one: cf. " two strings to one's bow." 
 
 And, An (passim), (a) if ; (b) on. 
 
 Angry, (a) " he that will be angry without cause, must 
 be at one, without amends " (64c). 
 
 (b) " if she be angry, beshrew her angry heart " 
 (44(i). 
 
 Another, see Nail. 
 
 Any, see Hear. 
 
 Apair, see Amend. 
 
 Apaired, " so apaired he " (88d), grew worse, degene- 
 rated. " I see the more that I them forbear, The 
 worse they be from year to year : All that liveth 
 appaireth fast." — Everyman (E.E.D.S., Anon. Plays, 
 ist Ser., 94^) : also Appaireth (13 id). 
 
 Aparty, " choose we him aparty " (67c), aside, separate. 
 *' He that es verrayly meke, God sal safe hym of 
 there, here aparty, and in tother worlde plenerly." — 
 MS. Coll. Eton. 10, f. 40. 
 
 Ape, (a) " she can no more harm than can a she ape " 
 
 (27d). 
 
 (b) As a verb ape = to befool or dupe; also to make 
 one an ape. 
 
 Appaireth, see Apaired. 
 
 Appetite, " age and appetite fell at a strong strife " (51^). 
 
 Apple, " lost with an apple and won with a nut " (24&). 
 " Nor woman true, but even as stories tell. Won with 
 an egg, and lost again with shell." — Gascoigne, 
 Ferdinando (d. 1577). 
 
 Apposition (281^), conjunction. 
 
 Arse-smart, " seeds of arse-smart " (289&), a popular 
 name of Polygonum persicaria. " Arsmart . . . be- 
 cause if it [water pepper] touch the taile or other bare 
 skinne, it maketh it smart, as often it doth, being 
 laid into the bed greene to kill, fleas." — Minsheu, 
 Ductor (1617), 544. 
 
 Y 2 
 
324 Note- Book and Word-List [ascertained 
 
 Ascertained, " the King was ascertained " (120a), made 
 sure of, satisfied about. " Mer. But how shall I be 
 ascertained that I also should be entertained?" — 
 Bunyan, Pilg. Prog, pt, ii. 
 
 Ashes, " raked up in th' ashes and covered again " 
 (58&). 
 
 Ask, see Thief. 
 
 Aspen-leaf, " thy tongue . . . that aspen-leaf " (85c). 
 
 Ass, " the dun ass hath trod on both thy feet " (iSid) : 
 see Black ox. 
 
 Assay, " I will assay to win some favour " (2 id), 
 endeavour, try, essay. "Yet wol I make assay." — 
 Chaucer, Cant. Tales (1383), 13 177. Also 139&. 
 
 AssiSH, " his assish stalking " (iiSc), foolish. " Passe 
 not, therfore, though Midas prate, And assishe judge- 
 ment give." — Galfrido and Bernardo (1570). 
 
 AssoiL, " assoil thy question " (119a), solve, answer. 
 
 Assurance, " words of assurance " (5^), affiance, be- 
 trothal. " This druge, diviner laid claim to me ; 
 called me Dromio ; swore I was assured to her." — 
 Shakspeare, Comedy of Errors (1593), iii. 2. 
 
 Attacheth (117c), attacketh. "I cannot blame thee; 
 Who am myself attach 'd with weariness, To the dull- 
 ing of my spirits." — Shakspeare, Tem/)e5f (1609), iii. 3. 
 
 Attendance, see Danceth. 
 
 AuDRY, see Saint Audry. 
 
 Aumbry, see Cough. 
 
 Avail, (a) " avail, unhappy hook " (44a), i.e. Away ! 
 
 Begone! you are defeated in your purpose; hook = a 
 
 term of reproach. " That unhappy hook." — Jack 
 
 Juggler (E.E.D.S., Anon. Plays, Ser. 3), 26c and 35ti. 
 
 (6) " vain avails " (261^), no purpose or profit. 
 
 Avanced, " which should me much avanced " (22a), 
 profited, advanced. 
 
 Axe, (a) '* I send th' axe after helve away " (976), i.e. I 
 despair ; " in for a penny, in for a pound." 
 
baker] Note-Book and Word-List 325 
 
 (h) " without ye axe me leave " (97c), ask : the 
 word and also the construction, once literary, are now 
 vulgar. 
 
 Babe, see Knave. 
 
 Bable ; "how may babies be missed among fools" 
 (i8gb), bauble (or bable) = a badge of ofitice of the 
 domestic fool : see other volumes of this series. 
 
 Bachelors, (a) " bachelors boast how they will teach 
 their wives good " (j^d), hence bachelor's wife = an 
 ideal wife : see infra. 
 
 (b) " bachelors' wives and maids' children be well 
 taught " (75«). '* The maid's child is ever best 
 taught." — Latimer, Sermons (1562), v. "Ay, ay, 
 bachelors' wives, indeed, are finely governed." — 
 Vanbrugh, Provoked Wife (1726), i. i. 
 
 Back, see Clawed, Clothes, Horse. 
 
 Backare, " Backare, quoth Mortimer to his sow " (41c; 
 208a and b), i.e. *' Go back," " Give place," 
 " Auay " : the allusion is lost, though the phrase is 
 common enough in old writers, the earliest dating 
 about 1473. 
 
 Bag, (a) " he brought the bottom of the bag clean out " 
 (gSd), to make an end of things, to tell all, to lose all. 
 (b) " I know him as well as the beggar knoweth 
 his bag " (386 ; 227a). " As well as the beggar knows 
 his dish," is another form of this proverb found in 
 The Burning of Paules Church in London, by Bishop 
 Pilkington (1561). 
 
 Baker, " so late met, that I fear we part not yet, quoth 
 the baker to the pillory " (57^) : severe penalties for 
 impurity of bread or shortness of weight were enforced 
 against bakers from very early times ; they were fre- 
 quently the subject of much sarcasm. " A pillorie for 
 the punishment of bakers, offending in the assize of 
 bread." — Stow, Survey (1598), 208. " They say the 
 owl was a baker's daughter." — Shakspeare, Hamlet 
 (1602), iv. 5. " Are not bakers' armes the skales of 
 Justice? yet is not their bread light." — Dekker, Honest 
 Whore (1604). " Three dear years will raise a baker's 
 daughter to a portion. 'Tis not the smallness of the 
 bread, but the knavery of the baker." — Ray, Proverbs. 
 
326 Note-Book and Word-List [bald 
 
 Bald, " bald as a coot " (13d), as bald as may be : 
 the frontal plate of the coot is destitute of feathers. 
 (See Tyndale, Works, 1530, ii. 224.) 
 
 Bale, (a) " this rather bringeth bale than boot " (63d), 
 bale — trouble, sorrow; boot = he\p, cure, relief. " God 
 send every man boot of his bale." — Chaucer, Cant. 
 Tales (1483), 13409. 
 (b), see Hekst. 
 
 Ball, " thou hast stricken the ball under the line " 
 (426), i.e. a line regarded as marking the limit of 
 legitimate or successful play. " Poor mortals are so 
 many balls, Toss'd some o'er line, some under for- 
 tune's walls." — Howell, Letters (1645). 
 
 Ballads. See " John Hey wood as a Ballad-monger "in 
 " Terminal Essay " (Hey wood's Works HI). 
 
 Bankets, " bonfires and bankets " (120a), banquets. 
 "A great banket of meat." — Wever, Lusty Juventers 
 (E.E.D.S. Works 286). 
 
 Banning, " be as be may is no banning " (53b ; 219a). 
 
 Bare, see Breech, Buckle, Leg. 
 
 Bargains, " some bargains dear bought good cheap 
 would be sold " (19c), c/2ea/) = market : good cheap = 
 bon march^. " He buys other men's cunning good 
 cheap in London, and sells it deare in the country." — 
 Dekker, Belman's Night Walk (1608). 
 
 Barge, see Oar. 
 
 Barrel, (a) " in neither barrel better herring " (102c), 
 not a pin to choose between, six of one and half a dozen 
 of the other ; elliptical — no one barrel contains herrings 
 better than another. " Lyke Lord, lyke chaplayne, 
 neyther barrel better herynge." — Bale, Kynge John. 
 " Begin where you will, you shall find them all alike, 
 never a barrell the better herring." — Burton, Anat. 
 Melan. (162 1). 
 (b) see Beerpot. 
 
 Bass (70c), to cuddle, snuggle up to, give a smacking 
 kiss: once literary. " I lye bassing with Besse." — 
 More, Works, 557. "Thy knees bussing the stones." 
 — Shakspeare, Coriol. (1610), iii. 2. 
 
 Basteth, see Hog. 
 
beg] Note-Book and Word- List 327 
 
 Bauble, see Bable. 
 
 Baudry, " suspicion of their baudry " (73d), wanton- 
 ness, lechery. 
 
 Bayard, " to have kept Bayard in the stable " (47c). 
 See Blind Bayard. 
 
 Be, (a) " be as be may is no banning " (53b ; 219a). 
 (h) " that shall be, shall be " (53b). See Shall. 
 
 Bead-roll, " a bead-roll to unfold " (77&), a story, 
 narration ; specifically (as here) a catalogue of woes : 
 properly a list of those for whom a certain number 
 of prayers were offered, the count being kept by the 
 telling of beads. 
 
 Bean, (a) " a bean in a monk's hood " (76c ; 204a). 
 
 (&) " begging of her booteth not the worth of a 
 bean " (30a), a standard of the smallest value. 
 
 (c) " the bigger eateth the bean " (68d). " For I 
 am wery of this renning about. And yet alway I stand 
 in great doubt Least that the bigger wyll eate the 
 Been." — XII Mery Jests of the Wyddow Edyth {1^2^). 
 
 Bear, (a) " bear with them that bear with you " (886). 
 (h) see Faces, Sow, Stake. 
 
 Bear bugs (261c), bugbears: bug = an object of terror, 
 
 a spectre, hobgoblin. 
 Beards, see Merry. 
 Beat, see Bush. 
 
 Beautiful, " my beautiful marriage " (86), i.e. mar- 
 riage for beauty's sake. 
 
 Beck, " a beck as good as a dieu gard " (29^), nod, 
 salutation. " Nods and becks and wreathed smiles." 
 — Milton, L' Allegro (1637). 
 
 Bed, see 111, Leg. 
 
 Bedlam, ** after Bedlam sort " (78a), crazy, violently (or 
 madly) angry. 
 
 Beerpot, " she was made like a beerpot or a barrel " 
 (52a), well rounded in the stomach, corpulent. 
 
 Bees, see Folk, Head, Quick. 
 
 Beforne (passim), before. 
 
 Beg, see Breech, Steal, Wrong. 
 
328 Note-Book and Word-List [bicggar 
 
 Beggar, (a) "beggars should be no choosers" (29b; 
 170b). " Beggers must be no choosers; In every 
 place, I take it, but the stocks." — Beaumont and 
 Fletcher, Scornful Lady, v. 3. 
 
 (fe) see Bag, Lord, Thieves. 
 
 (c) " one beggar to beg of another " (looa). 
 
 Beginning, (a) *' a hard beginning maketh a good 
 ending (iia ; lyod). 
 
 (b) "of a good beginning there cometh a good 
 end " (196c). 
 
 (c) see End, Fit, 111. 
 
 Behind, see Best, Further, Worst. 
 
 Bell, (a) " Who shall tie the bell about the cat's neck " 
 (38d; 219c). 
 
 (b) " she beareth the bell " (27^), carries away the 
 prize. 
 
 Belly, " when the bellv is full the bones would be at 
 rest " (55b). 
 
 Belzabub, " a baby of Belzabub's bower " (62c). 
 
 Bench, " he must have the bench " (35b). 
 
 Benchwhistler (37c ; 199a), loafer, idler on an ale- 
 house bench. 
 
 Bent, see Bow, Break. 
 
 Beshrew, generally in imperative. " Beshrew your 
 heart " = woe to you. " I beshrew all shrews." — 
 Shakspeare, Love's Labour's Lost (1594), v. 2. 
 
 Beside, see Cushion. 
 
 Best, (a) " the best is behind " (195b to d). 
 
 (b) " the plain fashion is best " (210a and b). 
 
 (c) see Truth, Wins. 
 
 (d) " the best is best cheap " (8ib), the best is 
 cheapest in the end. 
 
 Bestill, " a good bestill is worth a groat " (68c), 
 bestail = a law term for all kinds of cattle : Fr., 
 betail. 
 
 Betimes, see Sharp thorn. 
 
 Better, see Bird, Break, Brim, Cap, Children, Fed, 
 Horse, Late, Rule, Seldom, Sit, Unborn, Wish. 
 
 Between, see Stools. 
 
bid] Note-Book and Word-List 329 
 
 Beware, see Fox, Had, Harms. 
 
 Bewrayed, " things . . . might be bewrayed " (65b), 
 spoilt, muddled, complicated. 
 
 Beyond, see Moon. 
 
 Bibliography. The Dialogue of the Effectual Proverbs 
 in the English language Concerning Marriage seems 
 to have been first printed, apart from the collected 
 editions of Heywood's Works (Proverbs and Epi' 
 grams), in 1546 by T. Berthelet. A copy of this 
 quarto appeared in the Roxburghe sale in 1812, and 
 fetched ;^^ los. Lowndes says this edition was re- 
 printed in 1547, 1549, and 1556. Another edition, 
 " newly overseen and somewhat corrected," appeared 
 in 1561 in 8vo, an imperfect copy of which is pre- 
 served in the British Museum. In the following year 
 it was appended to his Epigra'tns, and the whole was 
 published as John Heywoodes Woorkes. This is the 
 edition (collated with that of 1566) which forms the 
 text of the present reprint. Another edition ap- 
 peared in 1566, which Hazlitt erroneously says was 
 " a reprint, without alterations, of the edition of 
 1562 " (see Variorum Readings). Further editions 
 appeared in 1576, 1587 (? edited by Thomas Newton, 
 of Cheshire) and 1598. Altogether, ten editions 
 within the first fifty years : a record that is not often 
 surpassed ! Moreover, it would appear from Dibdin 
 (iv. 421) that the Epigrams were printed separately 
 on flyleaves or broadsides ; as he states that he pos- 
 sessed two, printed on a long slip of paper, on one 
 side only, and bearing an imprint — " Printed at 
 London for Rowland Hall for James Rowbotham, and 
 are to be sold at his shoppe under Bow Churche." 
 Concerning the Ballads see the Terminal Essay [Works 
 (E.E.D.S.) III.]. The text has been modernised except 
 in cases where the rhyme or the interest attaching to a 
 particular usage seemed to render desirable the reten- 
 tion of the old spelling. The punctuation has been 
 altered only so far as to make intelligible what would 
 otherwise be obscure. 
 
 Bid, *' his paternoster to bid " (136&), to bid beads 
 originally = to pray prayers with or without a rosary, 
 hence to count beads, each one dropped passing for 
 a prayer. 
 
330 Note-Book and Word-List [big 
 
 Big, see Body. 
 
 Bill, see Wing. 
 
 Bind, see Fast. 
 
 Bird, (a) " better one bird in hand than ten in the 
 wood" (36d ; i73<i), possession is everything; hazard 
 of loss is not worth uncertain gain ; the modern 
 " two in the bush,^' is not so exacting. Fr., " Mieux 
 vaux un tenez, que deux vous I'aurez." " An old 
 proverb maketh with this which I take good. Better 
 one bird in hand then ten in the wood." — Hey wood, 
 Witty and Witless (c. 1530), Works (E.E.D.S.) I., 
 
 2I3&- 
 
 (b) " it is a foul bird that fileth his own nest " 
 (yod), j^Ze^/i = defileth : the proverb occurs as early as 
 1250 in The Owl and the Nightingale. " Rede and 
 lerne ye may, Howe olde proverbys say, that byrd ys 
 nat honest, That fylyth hys owne nest." — Skelton, 
 Garnesche (1520). 
 
 (c) " as bare as a bird's arse " (89a), as bare as 
 may be. 
 
 (d) " the birds were flown " (47^; 223d ; 224a). 
 
 (e) " when birds shall roost . . . who shall appoint 
 their hour, the cock or hen? " (566); compare " He 
 who pays the piper may call the tune." 
 
 (/) " we shall catch birds to-morrow " (88c). 
 (g) " I hear by one bird that in mine ear was late 
 chanting " (70a) ; modern, " a little bird told me." 
 (h) see Bush and Crow. 
 
 Birders, Birding, " birders ... in their birding " 
 (151b), bird-catchers, bird-catching. " I do invite you 
 to-morrow morning to my house to breakfast ; after 
 we'll a birding together." — Shakspeare, Merry Wives 
 (1596), iii. 3. 
 
 Bit, see Rough bit. 
 
 Bite, see Brain, Cat, Flies. 
 
 Blab, " look what she knoweth, blab it wist and out 
 it must " (24a), i.e. anything a blab knows must be 
 told. " Labbe hyt whyste and owt yt muste." — MS. 
 Harleian (c. 1490). 
 
 Black, " black will take none other hue " (92c). 
 
 Black ox, "black ox never trod on thy foot" (17c; 
 
BLIND bayard] Notc-Book and Word-List 331 
 
 i8ic), the black ox is the symbol of decrepitude or mis- 
 fortune. " Venus waxeth old : and then she was a 
 pretie wench, when Juno was a young wife ; now 
 Crowes foote is on her eye, and the black oxe hath 
 trod on her foot." — Lyly, Sapho (1584). 
 
 Ble, " to cry ble " (34c), hle = hleat, as a sheep. One 
 of the Hundred Mery Tales (c. 1525) is entitled " Of 
 the husbande that cryed ble under the bed." " I hear 
 a young kid blea." — Jacob and Esau (1568), iv. 6. 
 (E.E.D.S. Anon. PL 2 Set., 59c.) 
 
 Bleed, " here doth all lie and bleed " (68c; 211c). 
 
 Bless, " ye bless them all, but ye bass but one " (84^), 
 see Children. 
 
 Blessing, " ye can give me your blessing in a clout " 
 {g6b), i.e. the hoard (or talent) wrapped up in a 
 napkin, bag, or *' stocking." 
 
 Blind, (a) " who so deaf or so blind as is he that wil- 
 fully will never hear nor see? " (91a). 
 
 (b) " the blind eat many flies " (73b ; 201& ; 220b). 
 *' The blinde eateth many a flye : So doth the hus- 
 band often, iwis. Father the childe that is not his." 
 — Schole-house of Women (1541), line 333. 
 
 (c) " blind men should judge no colours " (73a ; 
 190a). 
 
 (d) " as the blind man casts his staff or shoots the 
 crow " (96b). 
 
 (e) " where the blind leadeth the blind both fall in 
 the dyke " (67b). " She hath hem in such wise 
 daunted. That they were, as who saith, enchaunted ; 
 And as the blinde an other ledeth. And till they falle 
 nothing dredeth." — Gower, Confessio Amantis. 
 
 (J) " folk ofttimes are most blind in their own 
 cause " (730), or, as in modern phrase, " blind to one's 
 own interests." 
 
 (g) " the difference between staring and stark 
 blind. The wise man at all times to follow can find " 
 (82a). 
 
 Blind Bayard, " who so bold as blind Bayard is? " 
 {igd ; 185^), of persons who act without consideration 
 or reflection ; generic for blindness, ignorance, and 
 recklessness. It occurs in The Vision of Piers the 
 Ploughman (1362), and in Chaucer's Canterbury 
 
332 Note-Book and Word-List [blind harpers 
 
 Tales (1383). Bayard originally = a grey horse; after- 
 wards generic ; and Skelton mentions a description of 
 horse-loaf called " Bayard's bun." Bayard was a 
 horse famous in old romances. See Bayard. 
 
 Blind harpers, see Harpers. 
 
 Bliss, (a) " our Lord bliss me " (ygd) — " not one penny 
 to" bliss him " (8ga), bless. 
 (b) see Branch. 
 
 Blissing, "this busy blissing and nodding" (115c). 
 bliss = to wave about, brandish, sway to and fro : 
 probably from the lifting up of hands in consecration ; 
 "hardly (O.E.D.) an independent word." 
 
 Blist, " by God's blist " (29<i), bliss, joy, happiness. 
 
 Block, see Straw. 
 
 Blocks, " I have more blocks in his way to lay " (70a), 
 obstructions, hindrances, impediments. 
 
 Blow, see Cold, Wind. 
 
 Boast, (a) " this matter maketh boast of diminution " 
 (loia), to make boast = to promise well, to seem very 
 likely. " Nought trow I the triumphe of Julius, Of 
 which that Lukan maketh moche host." — Chaucer, 
 Cant. Tales (1383), 4820-21. 
 
 (b) " Great boast and small roast Maketh un- 
 savoury mouths wherever men host " (36c), i.e. large 
 promise and little performance is little to one's liking : 
 host = lodge, abide. 
 
 Bodkins, " bodkins the tone " (206c), a mild impreca- 
 tion. 
 
 Body, (a) " the big part of her body is her bum " (24c). 
 (fe) see Leg. 
 
 Bold, see Blind Bayard. 
 
 Bolt, (a) " mend, as the fletcher mends his bolt " (91a). 
 (b) see Fool. 
 
 Bone, see Belly, Flesh and Tongue. 
 
 BoNGRACE (52a), a forehead cloth, or covering for the 
 head ; a kind of veil attached to a hood : afterwards 
 the hood itself. '* Her bongrace which she wore." — 
 Hevwood, Pardoner and Frere, Works (E.E.D.S.), 
 L yc. 
 
bow] Note-Book and Word-List 333 
 
 BooD, see Bud. 
 Book, see Cross. 
 
 BooRD, " in earnest or boord " (47^), jest, joke, mock, 
 sport. " Speak but in bord." — Udall, Roister Doister 
 (1550), 75d (E.E.D.S., Works). See also Bourd. 
 
 Boot, (a) " it booteth not the worth of a bean " (30a), 
 remedy, cure, help, advantage. " This knight thinketh 
 his boot thou mav'st be." — Calisto and Melihaa 
 (E.E.D.S., Anon PL, ist Ser.). 
 ih) see Hekst. 
 
 Borage, " a leaf of borage might buy all the substance 
 that they can sell " (25c), i.e. just such a trifle as 
 would be a leaf of borage in a salad, as a pot-herb, 
 or as an ingredient in cool tankards. 
 
 Borrow, (a) " not so good to borrow as to be able to 
 lend " (25d). 
 
 {h) " till liberty was borrow " (27c), pledged, mort- 
 gaged. " To borrow man's soul from blame."— 
 World and Child (c. 1500), E.E.D.S., Anon. PL, 
 Ser. I., 186 b. Also as subs {i6Sd). 
 
 (c) see Day. 
 
 Bosom, " she speaketh as she would creep into your 
 bosom " (22d). 
 
 Botcher, see God. 
 
 Bote, " she bote, he cried " (2976), bit. " He bote his 
 lippes." — Piers Plow. Vis., v. 84. 
 
 Bottom, see Brim. 
 
 BouGET, " in her bouget " (756), budget, bag, (and 
 figuratively) store. " With that out of his bouget 
 forth he drew Great store of treasure, therewith him 
 to tempt." — Spenser, Fairy Queen (1590), in. x. 29. 
 
 Bought, see Dear, Wit. 
 
 Bound, " they that are bound must obey " (68&). 
 
 Bourd, " sooth bourd is no bourd " (88a; 183b), a jest 
 spoken in earnest is no jest at all; 50of/z=: earnest, 
 bourd = a. jest: see Boord. "As the old saying is, 
 sooth boord is no boord." — Harrington, Briefe Apolo- 
 gia of Poetrie (1591). 
 
 Bow, (a) " a bow long bent, at length must wear weak " 
 (34c), i.e. a bow drawn back to the utmost and 
 
334 Note-Book and Word-List [bowed silver 
 
 often : hence " to the top of one's bent " (see also 
 the next line of text and the next entry). 
 
 (h) " the bent of your . . . bow " (37a; 218a), in- 
 clination, tendency, disposition, course of action. 
 
 (c) " Many strings to the bow " (37a), alternatives, 
 more resources than one. " I am wel pleased to take 
 any coulor to defend your honor, and hope that you 
 wyl remember, that who seaketh two stringes to one 
 bowe, the may shute strong, but never strait." — 
 Letter of Queen Elizabeth to James VI. (June, 1585). 
 
 (d) see Break. 
 
 Bowed silver (274b), crooked, bent money. 
 
 Bowl, " this seven years, day and night to watch a 
 bowl" (71c), seven years = a long time (generic): i.e. 
 may watch his coming and going a long time with- 
 out discovering anything. 
 
 Box, " in the wrong box " (92a), mistaken, embar- 
 rassed, in jeopardy. " Sir, quoth I, if you will hear 
 how St. Augustine expoundeth that place, you shall 
 perceive that vou are in a wrong box." — Ridley 
 ("Foxe," 1838), vi. 438 (1554). 
 
 Boy rope, " haleth her by the boy rope " (78b), ? bow- 
 rope = (a) ox-bow; (&) a rope of bow-string hemp; or 
 (c) bow-string. Hale, in Early English, is employed in 
 various ways indicative of rapid movement. 
 
 Brain, " bitten to the brain " (45c), drunk : cf. " hair 
 of the dog that bit one." 
 
 Branch, " ere . . . branch of bliss could reach any 
 root the flower . . . faded " (17c). 
 
 Brawling, " brawling booteth not " (57c), i.e. tends to 
 no advantage : feoo/ei/i = profiteth. 
 
 Bread, (a) " one . . . that would have better bread than 
 is made of wheat " (816). 
 
 (b) " know on which side bread is buttered " (86c), 
 recognise one's interests : whence to butter one's bread 
 on both sides = to seek advantages from more sides 
 than one. 
 
 (c) " better is half a loaf than no bread " (37c), 
 the earliest known example of this proverb. 
 
 (d) see Sheep's flesh. 
 
 (c) " within a hair bread " (135^).—" That he de- 
 
bridle] Note-Book and Word-List 335 
 
 stroied this lond in brede & in length." — R. Brunne, 
 p. 41. 
 
 Break, (a) " better is to bow than break" (22a; 199c). 
 An early example is found in The Morale Proverbs of 
 Cristyne; originally written in French about the year 
 1390 and of which a verse translation by Earl Rivers 
 was printed by Caxton in 1478 : " Rather to bowe 
 than breke is profitable, Humylite is a thing com- 
 mendable." 
 
 (6) " in that house ... a man shall as soon break 
 his neck as his fast " (40c). 
 
 Breaketh, see Inch, Tongue. 
 
 Breath, see Death. 
 
 Breech, (a) " nothing more vain than ... to beg a breech 
 of a bare-arsed man " (20c). 
 
 (b) " the master weareth no breech " (58c ; also 208c 
 Epigrams), is not master: to wear the hreeches = to 
 usurp a husband's prerogative (of women). " All 
 women be suche, Thoughe the man here the breeche. 
 They wyll be ever checkemate." — Boke of Mayd 
 Emlyn (1515). 
 
 Breed, see Pad. 
 
 Breedeth, see Burr. 
 
 Bretch, " in all that bretch " (93&), breach, quarrel, 
 source of dissension. 
 
 Brew, " as I . . . brew, so must I . . . drink " (19a), 
 in allusion to cause and effect. " If you have browen 
 wel, you shal drinke the better." — Wodroephe, 
 Spared Houres of a Souldier (1623). 
 
 Bridal (15&), a note as to the origin of the word may 
 not be without interest, (a) " There were bride-ales, 
 church-ales, clerk-ales, give-ales, lamb-ales, leet-ales, 
 Midsummer-ales, Scot-ales, Whitsun-ales, and several 
 more." — Brand's Popular Antiquities. 
 
 (b) " it is meet that a man be at his own bridal " 
 (15b), a variant of " every man must attend his own 
 funeral." 
 
 Bridle, (a) " I gave her the bridle at beginning " (87&), 
 let her have her own way. 
 
 (b) " she taketh the bridle in the teeth and runneth 
 
^;^6 Note-Book and Word-List [bridled 
 
 awav with it " (87b), the modern version alters 
 " bridle " to " bit." 
 (c) see Rough Bit. 
 
 Bridled, " I should have bridled her first with rough 
 bit, To have made her chew on the bridle one fit " 
 (87b), fit = a portion or bout of anything — stanza of a 
 song, stave of a tune, scene of a play, round at fisti- 
 cuffs : here = a space of time. 
 
 Brike, " ye brike all from her, that brought all to you " 
 (76a), fcrifee = breach, violation of, or injury done to, 
 anyone : hence deplete, " suck dry " (of money and 
 goods). 
 
 Brim, " better spare at brim than at bottom " (66c), 
 i.e. at the beginning rather than at the end of one's 
 tether. 
 
 Broid, " better dissemble . . . than to broid him with 
 it " (69b), braid, abraid, reproach. 
 
 Broken, see Pot. 
 
 Broker, see Knave. 
 
 Broom, " the green new broom sweepeth clean " (54a), 
 still proverbial ; in the Epigrams " new broom sweep- 
 eth clean " is nearer the modern version (178a). 
 
 Brother, " I will not trust him though he were my 
 brother " (40c). 
 
 Buckets, see Well. 
 
 Buckle, " till he at length came to buckle and bare 
 thong " (89a), poverty, distress : f/jon^ = shoestring. 
 
 Bud, " This bood sheweth what fruit will follow " 
 (26b), hood = hud. 
 
 Bug, " bug's words " (66c), swaggering or threatening 
 language ; also " bugbear words " ; of " such bugbear 
 thoughts " (Locke). Bug = an object of terror, bogey. 
 " Matrimony hath euer been a blacke bugge in their 
 sinagoge and churche." — Bale, Votaryes (Pref.) : see 
 Bear bugs. 
 
 Built, see Rome. 
 Bull, see Cow calf. 
 Bum, see Body. 
 
BY AND by] Note-Book and Word-List 337 
 
 Burden, " light burden far heavy " {gyb ; i88c and d ; 
 189a). 
 
 Burnt child, see Child. 
 
 Burr, (a) "I take her for a rose, but she breedeth a 
 burr " (26b). 
 
 (b) " they cleave together like burrs " (72b). 
 
 Bush, (a) " while I . . . beat the bush . . . other men 
 . . . catch the birds " (ga). Henry the Fifth is re- 
 ported to have uttered this proverb at the siege of 
 Orleans, when the citizens, besieged by the English, 
 declared themselves willing to yield the town to the 
 Duke of Burgundy, who was in the English camp. 
 " Shall I beat the bush, and another take the bird? " 
 said King Henry. The Duke was so offended that 
 he withdrew his troops and concluded a peace. " I 
 beat the bush, and others catch the bird, Reason 
 exclaimes and sweares my hap is hard." — Pettowe, 
 Philochasander and Elanira (1599). 
 (b) see Bird. 
 
 Butter, (a) " there will no butter cleave on my bread " 
 (86c), i.e. nothing by which to profit or advantage,. 
 
 (b) "it is not all butter that the cow shits " (94^). 
 
 (c) " she looketh as butter would not melt in her 
 mouth " (27b), in contempt of persons of simple 
 demeanour. " A cette parolle mist dame Mehault ses 
 mains k ses costez et en grant couroux luy respondy 
 que . . . et que, Dieu merci, aincores fondoit le 
 burre en sa bouche, combien qu'elle ne peust croquier 
 noisettes, car elle n'avoit que un seul dent." — Les 
 Evangiles des Quenoiiilles (c. 1475). 
 
 (d) " As sure as it were sealed with butter " (86c ; 
 iSgd), shaky, uncertain. 
 
 Buttered, see Bread. 
 
 Buttery, " thy buttery door " (125c), a larder for dairy 
 stuff : hence (now chiefly at the universities and 
 colleges) a pantry for provisions generally. 
 
 Buy, (a) " you to buy and sell " (23d), betray, impose 
 upon, do for utterly. 
 (6) see Borage, Pig. 
 
 By and by (50a, et passim), immediately, forthwith. 
 HEY. II. Z 
 
338 Note-Book and Word-List [cage 
 
 Cage, see Cow. 
 
 Cake, " would ye both eat your cake and have your 
 cake? '• (96a). 
 
 Calf, see Cow and Cow calf. 
 
 Call, " things past my hands I cannot call again " 
 (26a). 
 
 Callet (70b), scold, drab, trull. " A wisp of straw 
 were worth a thousand crowns. To make this shame- 
 less callet know herself — Helen of Greece was fairer 
 far than thou." — Shakspeare, 3 Henry VI. (1592), 
 ii. 2. 
 
 Calves, " change of pasture maketh fat calves " (62a). 
 " Boniface. You may see what change of pasture is 
 able to do. Honeysuckle. It makes fat calves in Rom- 
 ney Marsh, and lean knaves in London, therefore, 
 Boniface, keep your ground." — Dekker and Webster, 
 Westward Hoe (1607). 
 
 Cambers, " gable ends, cambers, parlours " (239^), 
 chambers. 
 
 Cammock, " timely crooketh the tree that would a cam- 
 mock be" (94'i), cammock = 3i crooked tree or beam, 
 a knee of timber : as used in shipbuilding. " Camocks 
 must be bowed with sleight not strength." — Lyly, 
 Sappho and Phao (1591). 
 
 Can, (a) " can very good skill " (12a), know, able, 
 possess. ** Though he be ignorant and can little skill." 
 — Four Elements (c. 1510), E.E.D.S., Anon. PL, Ser. 
 I., 3c. 
 
 (h) see Cup, Thank. 
 
 Candle, (a) " to set up a candle before [or hold a candle 
 to] the devil " (24^ ; 173&), propitiate through fear, to 
 assist in, or wink at, wrong-doing. " Though not for 
 hope of good, yet for the feare of euill, Thou maist 
 find ease so proffering up a candell to the deuill." — 
 Tusser, Hushandrie (1557), 148. 
 
 (b) " upright as a candle standeth in the socket " 
 (52b), as erect as may be. 
 
 (c) " who that worst may shall hold the candle " 
 (56d). 
 
 id) see Cat. 
 
carterly] Note-Book and Word-List 339 
 
 Canstick, " coll under canstick " (24b), coll = {a) kiss, 
 embrace, or (6), deceit: see Coleprophet ; canstick = 
 candlestick, which was very generally pronounced 
 thus. There was, however, a Christmas game called 
 " coll (or coal) under canstick." — (Harsenet, Ded. 
 Pop. Impost, 1603.) 
 
 Cap, " my cap is better at ease than my head " {S^d ; 
 177c). 
 
 Cards, " tell thy cards and then tell me what thou hast 
 won " (36b). 
 
 Care, see Corner. 
 
 Carpenter, " such carpenters, such chips " (Sod), " like 
 to its like." " New. By the faith of my body, such 
 carpenter, such chips. And as the wise man said, 
 such lettuce, such lips. For, like master, like man : 
 like tutor, like scholar ; And, like will to like, quoth 
 the Devil to the Collier."— Ful well, Like Will to 
 Like (E.E.D.S.), 24^. 
 
 Carrain, " her carrain carcase " (56c), rotten, withered : 
 a generic reproach. 
 
 Carrier, " I will send it him by John Long th» 
 carrier " (35^), see John Long. 
 
 Carron, '* daws are carron " (151a), carrion. 
 
 Cart, (a) " set the cart before the horse " (79a), to 
 begin at the wrong end ; to set things hind side 
 before : Fr. " II mettoyt la charette devant les beufz " 
 (Rabelais). " He deemes that a preposterous govern- 
 ment where the wife predominates, and the husband 
 submits to her discretion, that is Hysterion and 
 Proteron, the cart before the horse." — Harry White, 
 his Humour. 
 
 (b) " the best cart may overthrow " (35c), " acci- 
 dents may happen," "there's nothing certain save 
 the unforeseen." 
 
 (c) " I am cast at cart's arse" (21&), in disgrace: 
 offenders were formerly punished by being flogged 
 when tied to the hinder part of a driven cart. 
 
 (d) " carts well driven go long upright " (35c), see 
 section b supra. 
 
 Carterly, " carterly knave " (145^), " carterly collar " 
 (258c), rough, unmannerly. 
 
 Z 2 
 
340 Note-Book and Word-List [cartwear 
 
 Cartwear, " cartwear of good horse " (i86c), carter, 
 driver. 
 
 Carving, " he at meat carving her, and none else before. 
 Now carved he to all but her, and her no more " 
 (54b)- 
 
 Case, (a) " put case " (passim), to suppose or propose 
 a hypothetical instance or illustration : an idiomatic 
 expression formerly common in arguments. " Put 
 case there be three brethren, John-a-Nokes, John-a- 
 Nash, and John-a-Stile." — Returne from Parnassus 
 (1606). 
 
 (h) " clear out of the case " (32a), out of the run- 
 ning, beyond consideration. 
 
 Cast, (a) " privy nips or casts overthwart the shins " 
 (24c) — " even the like cast hast thou " (33<i) — " ye 
 nother care nor wellnigh cast what ye pay " (Sic), 
 both as subs, and verb cast was in full work — throw, 
 motion, turn, glance, blow, advice, counsel, plan, 
 design, object of desire, attempt at flight, skill, art, 
 trick, juggle, fashion, form, pattern, shade, colour, 
 tinge, chance, venture, touch, stroke, and many more 
 glosses beside, each with their corresponding verbal 
 usages. 
 (b) see Cart, Hog, Moon, Sheep's eye, Shoe, Turn. 
 
 Casteth, see Moon. 
 
 Casting, *' far casting for commonwealth " (soi), 
 roundabout search for joint benefit. 
 
 Cat, (a) " a cat may look on a king " (70c ; 189c), said 
 of impertinent or misplaced interference ; there are 
 certain things an inferior may do in the presence of 
 a superior. 
 
 (b) " the cat would (or will) eat fish and would (or 
 will) not wet her feet" (34^; 220a); cf. Shakspeare 
 (Macbeth), " Letting, I dare not, wait upon, I would, 
 Like the poor cat i' the adage." "Cat lufat visch, 
 ac he nele his feth wete." — MS. Trin. Coll. Camb. 
 (c. 1250). 
 
 (c) " a woman hath nine lives like a cat " (60c ; 
 2036). 
 
 (d) " let the cat wink and let the mouse run " 
 (6ib ; 213d ; 214a). 
 
 (e) "it hath need to be a wily mouse that should 
 
catterwawing] Note-Book and Word-List 341 
 
 breed in the cat's ear " (7 id). " A hardy mowse that 
 is bold to breede In cattis eeris." — Order of Poles, 
 MS. (c. 1450). " It is a wyly mouse That can build 
 his dwellinge house Within the cattes eare." — Skelton 
 (1520). 
 
 (/) " somewhat it is . . . when the cat winketh and 
 both her eyne out " (6ia). 
 
 (g) " cat after kind, good mouse hunt " (330- 
 *' Cat after kind . . . sweet milk will lap." — facob 
 and Esau (1568), iv. 4 (E.E.D.S. Anon. PL 2 Ser., 
 58a). 
 
 (h) " little and little the cat eateth the fiickle " (82b). 
 
 (t) " no playing with a straw before an old cat 
 (88a). 
 
 (;) " the cat knoweth whose lips she licketh " (98b). 
 " Li vilains reproche du chat Qu'il set bien qui barbes 
 il leche." — Des trois Dames qui trouverent un Anel 
 (c. 1300). 
 
 (k) " to turne the cat in the pan " (79a), to " rat " ; 
 to reverse one's position through self-interest; to play 
 the turncoat ; the derivation is absolutely unknown ; 
 cat = '^ cate " or " cake " is historically (says Murray) 
 untenable. '* Now am I true araid like a phesitien ; I 
 am as very a turncote as the wethercoke of Poles ; 
 For now I will calle my name Due Disporte. So, so, 
 finely I can turne the catt in the pane." — Wit and 
 Wisdom (E.E.D.S., Anon. PL, Ser. 4), 3 (c. 1559), 
 " As for Bernard, often tyme he turneth the cat in the 
 pan." — Shacklock, Hatchet of Heresies (1565). 
 
 (l) " my cat's leering look , . . showeth me that 
 my cat goeth a catterwawing " (70c), i.e. is given to 
 wantonness. 
 
 (m) " they two agreed like two cats in a gutter " 
 
 (540- 
 
 (n) " by scratching and biting cats and dogs come 
 together " (54c). 
 
 (o) " when all candles be out cats be grey " (13c), 
 cf. " If you cannot kiss the mistress kiss the maid "; 
 " Joan in the dark is as good as my lady." 
 
 (p) see Bell. 
 Catch, (a) " catch that catch may " (226^), in modern 
 form, " catch as catch can." 
 
 (b) see Hare. 
 Catterwawing. see Cat. 
 
342 Note-Book and Word-List [cause 
 
 Cause, '* cause causeth " (226). 
 Cha, see Cham. 
 Chad, see Cham. 
 
 Chair, " every man may not sit in the chair " (46c), 
 it is not given to everyone to rule ; all cannot be 
 masters. 
 
 Chalk, (a) " to compare in taste, chalk and cheese " 
 (63c), to compare (or mistake) things utterly different. 
 The modern form is " to know chalk from cheese " = to 
 have one's wits about one, to know what is worthless 
 from what is of value. " Lo ! how they feignen chalk 
 for cheese." — Gower, Confessio Amantis (1393). 
 " Though I have no learning, yet I know chese from 
 chalke. " — John Bon and Mast Person (1548). " Do 
 not these thynges differ as muche as chalcke and 
 chese? " — Shacklock, Hatchet of Heresies (1565). 
 " To French and Scots so fayr a taell I tolde. That 
 they beleeved whyt-chalk and chees was oen." — 
 Churchyard, Chippes (1573). 
 
 (b) " alike in colour to deem ink and chalk " (63c), 
 a variant of the foregoing entry. 
 
 Cham, " cham ashamed" (136?;), cham = l am: the 
 conventional rustic speech of early plays is a mixture 
 of southern and northern dialect, but chiefly the 
 former. See other volumes of this series. 
 
 Change, (a) " change be no robbery " (63b ; 204b), an 
 excuse for a forced or jesting imposition ; a delicate 
 way of making a present : now usually " fair ex- 
 change is no robbery." 
 (h) see Calves. 
 
 Changed, " would to God he and you had changed 
 places " (80c). 
 
 Chat, " no man may chat ought in ought of her 
 
 charge " (24b), chat = ta\k. " Into a rapture lets her 
 
 baby cry. While she chats him . . ." — Shakspeare, 
 Coriolam4S (1610), ii. i. 
 
 Chatting, " chatting to chiding is not worth a chute " 
 (69a), it is hardly worth while to answer a scolding. 
 
 Cheap, see Bargains, Best. 
 
 Cheapen, " cheapen a cony " (242^), price a rabbit. 
 
chin] Note-Book and Word-List 343 
 
 Check, "checks and choking oysters" (43c; 122c; 
 135/? ; 244c), taunts, reproaches : see Choking oyster. 
 
 Checker, " not checker a-boord, all was not clear in 
 the coast " (Sgh) ? a-boord = to jest, the prefix a being 
 the old intensive. " Not as a checker, reprover, or 
 despiser. " — Coverdale, Lewis's Hist. Bible into 
 English, 95. 
 
 Cheese, (a) " ye may see no green cheese, but your teeth 
 must water " (qyc), green cheese = cre3Lm cheese. 
 (h) see Chalk. 
 
 Chickens, (a) " there is a nest of chickens, which doth 
 brood, That will sure make his hair grow through his 
 hood " {66b), i.e. deceived, cuckolded as it were. 
 
 Chiding, see Chatting. 
 
 Chieving (lod and 48^), doing, accomplishment. 
 
 Chil, see Cham. 
 
 Child, " burnt child, fire dreadeth " (55&), once 
 bit, twice shy. " So that child withdraweth is hond. 
 From the fur ant the brond. That hath byfore bue 
 brend, Brend child fur dredth. Quoth Hendyng." — 
 Proverbs of Hendyng, MS. (c. 1320). " Timon. Why 
 urge yee me? my hart doth boyle with heate, And 
 will not stoope to any of your lures : A burnt childe 
 dreads the ffyre." — Timon (c. 1590). 
 
 Children, (a) " children learn to creep ere they can 
 learn to go " (37?? ; 176a). 
 
 (6) " children and fools cannot lie" (38a). "Master 
 Constable says : You know neighbours 'tis an old 
 saw. Children and fools speake true." — Lyly, Endi- 
 mion (159 1). 
 
 (c) " better children weep than old men " (346 ; 
 175c). It is related in connection with the Gowrie 
 conspiracy, that King James VI., about to depart 
 from Gowrie Castle, was forcibly prevented by ihe 
 Master of Glammis, and as the tears started to the 
 eyes of the young king, " better bairns weep than 
 bearded men " was the other's observation. 
 
 (d) " ye have many godchildren to look upon, and ye 
 bless them all, but ye bass but one " (84^). 
 
 Chin, see Swim. 
 
344 Note-Book and Word-List [chip 
 
 Chip, (a) " who lacketh a stock his gain is not worth a 
 chip" (94c). 
 
 (b) " as merry as three chips " (17c), cf. Shak- 
 speare's " dancing chips " {Sonnets, 128). 
 
 (c) see Carpenters, Hew. 
 
 Choking oysters, " checks and choking oysters " (43c), 
 taunts and replies that put one to silence. " I have 
 a stoppynge oyster in my poke." — Skelton, Bowge of 
 Court [c. 1529), 477. " To a feloe laiyng to his 
 rebuke that he was over deintie of his mouthe and 
 diete, he did with this reason give a stopping oistre." 
 — Udall, Apoph. (1542), 61. 
 
 Choose, see 111. 
 
 Choosers, see Beggars. 
 
 Chopped, "chopped down empty candlesticks" (131c), 
 '* planked " down : chop down = to place with a sud- 
 den or violent motion. 
 
 Church, " the nearer to the church, the further from 
 God" (21a; 20oa). "Qui est pr^s de I'^glise est 
 souvent loin de Dieu." — Les Proverbes connnuns 
 (c. 1500). 
 
 Churl, see Claw. 
 
 Chute, see Chatting. 
 
 CiRCUMQUAQUES (84^), far-fetched and roundabout stories. 
 
 Clargy, " to put me to my clargy " (646), see rhyme : 
 cier^y = learning, science, knowledge. " I rede how 
 besy that he was Upon clergye, an hed of bras To forge 
 and make it for to telle." — Gower, MS. Soc. Antiq., 
 134, f. 104. 
 
 Claw, (a) *' thou makest me claw where it itcheth not " 
 
 (fe) " claw a churl by th' arse and he shitteth in 
 my hand " (Soc). " Claw a churl by the tail and 
 he will file vour hand." — Jacob and Esau {ic,6S), ii. 3 
 (E.E.D.S. Anon. PI. 2 Ser., 36a). 
 
 Clawed, " I clawed her by the back " (24J). 
 
 Clean, see Broom. 
 
 Cleansing, " in the cleansing week " (136^), Shrove- 
 
cloth] Note-Book and Word-List 345 
 
 tide : specifically from the evening of the Saturday 
 before Quinquagesima Sunday and Ash Wednesday. 
 On the Tuesday all Catholics were accustomed to 
 confess. 
 
 Clear, see Case. 
 
 Clerks, " the greatest clerks be not the wisest men " 
 (67a; 2iia). " The greatest clerks ben not the wisest 
 men, As whilom to the wolf this spake the mare." — 
 Chaucer, Cant. Tales (1383), Miller's Tale. " Now I 
 here wel, it is treue that I long syth have redde and 
 herde, that the best clerkes ben not the wysest men." 
 — Historye of Reynard the Foxe (1481). 
 
 Climbed, "he that never climbed never fell" (46^; 
 220c). 
 
 Climme, " yes, climme " (242a), i.e. challenge me to 
 say. 
 
 Cloak, " what cloak for the rain soever ye bring me " 
 (69^). " Nicholas. 'Tis good to have a cloake for the 
 raine ; a bad shift is better then none at all ; He sit 
 heere, as if I were as dead as a doore naile, " — Two 
 Angry Women of Abingdon (1599). 
 
 Clock, " and looked . . . what it was o'clock " (99^), 
 saw how matters stood ; became aware of the facts : 
 the phrase is still colloquial or slang. " To know 
 what vs a clocke. " — Skelton, Works {c. 1513), ii. 132 
 (Dyce). 
 
 Clog, " where nought is to wed with, wise men flee the 
 clog" (32a), originally cZo^= incumbrance ; hence a 
 wife : this metaphor occurs very early. " Science. Ye 
 have woon me for ever, dowghter. Although ye have 
 woon a clog wyth all. Wyt. A clogg, sweete hart, 
 what? Science. Such as doth fall To all men that 
 joyne themselves in marriage." — Wyt and Science (c. 
 1540), Anon. Plays, 4 Ser. (E.E.D.S.). " The prince 
 himself is about a piece of iniquity, Stealing away 
 from his father with his clog at his heels." — Shak- 
 speare, Winter's Tale (1604), iv. 4. 
 
 Cloth, (a) " it is a bad cloth that will take no colour " 
 
 (92d). 
 
 (b) see Coat, Cut. 
 
346 Note-Book and Word-List [clothes 
 
 Clothes, (a) " to rent off my clothes fro my back " 
 (26b). 
 
 (b) see God. 
 
 Clouds, " after clouds black we shall have weather 
 clear " (36c; 173c). 
 
 Coal, see Cold. 
 
 Coat, " cut my coat after my cloth " (206), to adapt one- 
 self to circumstances ; to measure expense by income. 
 A relic of the sumptuary laws : an early allusion occurs 
 in the interlude of Godly Queene Hestor {c. 1530) : 
 " There is a cause why, That I go not gay : I tell you of 
 a word, Aman that new lord, Hath brought up all 
 good clothe. And hath so many gowns, as would 
 serve ten towns, Be ye never so loth : And any man in 
 the tov/n, do buy him a good gown. He is very wroth. 
 And will him straight tell, the statute of apparel Shall 
 teach him good " (E.E.D.S., Anon. PL, 2nd Ser., 262a). 
 
 Cock, (a) " the young cock croweth as he the old 
 heareth " (23c), other readings are : " The young cock 
 learneth to crow of the old " (1509) ; " as the old cock 
 crows so does the chick " (1589). 
 
 (b) " every cock is proud on his own dunghill " 
 (31& ; 217^), every man is a hero in his own circle ; one 
 fights best with friends and backers about him. "pet 
 fleshs is her et home, ase eorSe, pet is et eorSe : aut for 
 |)ui hit is cwointel; cwiuer, ®ase me seiS, J)et coc is kene 
 on his owne mixenne." — pe Ancren Riwle {c. 1250). 
 
 (c) " as oft change from hue to hue as doth the 
 cocks of Ind " (3i«), ? I«d = indigo, the allusion being 
 to the changing sheen of the cock's bluish-black 
 feathers. 
 
 (d) " he setteth cock on the hoop " (65^), gives way 
 to reckless enjoyment ; sets all by the ears ; is proud, 
 vaunting, and exultant. " You'll make a mutiny 
 among my guests! You will set cock-a-hoop! you'll 
 be the man ! " — Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet (1^05), 
 
 0- 
 
 Cockney, (a) " he that cometh every day shall have a 
 cockney. He that cometh now and then shall have a 
 fat hen " (440), Murray breaks up M.E. cokeney into 
 coken ey = cock's egg, and defines the word when used 
 by Langland as " egg," a rendering which seems 
 
coll] Note-Book and Word-List 347 
 
 confirmed in the present instance. " I have no salt 
 bacon, Ne no cokeney, by Crist, coloppes for to make." 
 — Langland, P. Plowman (1363), 4370. 
 
 (b) " a good cockney coke " (gyd), i.e. a cockney 
 cook : in derision and contempt, with perhaps a play 
 on cokes = {oo\. The origin of cockney ( = one born 
 within the sound of Bow Bells) has been much debated ; 
 but, says Dr. Murray, in the course of an exhaustive 
 statement (Academy, May 10, 1890, p. 320), " the history 
 of the word, so far as it means a person, is very clear 
 and simple. We have the senses (i) ' cockered or pet 
 child,' ' nestle-cock,' 'mother's darling,' 'milksop,' 
 primarily the child, but continued to the squeamish 
 and effeminate man into which he grows up. {2) A 
 nickname applied by country people to the inhabitants 
 of great towns, whom they considered ' milksops,' from 
 their daintier habits and incapacity for rough work. 
 York, London, Perugia, were, according to Harman, 
 all nests of cockneys. (3) By about 1600 the name 
 began to be attached especially to Londoners, as the 
 representatives par excellence of the city milksop. 
 One understands the disgust with which a cavalier in 
 1641 wrote that he was ' obliged to quit Oxford at the 
 approach of Essex and Waller with their prodigious 
 number of cockneys.' " 
 
 Cockscomb, " to wear a cockscomb " (Syd), the comb of 
 a cock was one of the ensigns or tokens of a profes- 
 sional fool. 
 
 Coin, " when coin is not common, commons must be 
 scant " (516). 
 
 Cold, (a) " let them that be a-cold, blow at the coal " 
 {2gd). " Our talwod is all brent, Our faggottes are 
 all spent. We may blow at the cole." — Skelton, Why 
 come ye not to Court (c. 1520). 
 (h) see God, Hot, Key. 
 
 CoLEPROPHET, " ye play coleprophet (quoth I) who taketh 
 in hand To know his answer before he do his errand " 
 (21a), coleprophet = a false prophet or cheat. " Cole- 
 prophet and cole-poyson, thou art both." — Heywood, 
 Ep., 8g, Cent. vi. 
 
 Coll, " coll under canstick she can play both hands " 
 (246), see Canstick. 
 
348 Note-Book and Word-List [collop 
 
 CoLLOP, " it is a dear collop that is cut out of th' own 
 flesh " (28^). " God knows thou art a colup of my 
 flesh." — Shakspeare, 1 Henry VI. (1592), v. 5. 
 
 Colours, see Blind, Cloth. 
 
 Colt, (a) " of a ragged colt there cometh a good horse " 
 (33^)- " Touchstone. This cannot be fained, sure. 
 Heaven pardon rny severitie ! ' The ragged colt may 
 prove a good horse.' " — Jonson, &c.. Eastward Hoe 
 (1605). 
 
 (b) "xcolts may prove well with tatches ill " (33b), 
 tache (or tatch) = spot, blemish. 
 
 Come, (a) " come what, come would " (44b). 
 
 (b) " you come to your cost " (34a). 
 
 (c) see Come, Light, Thieves. 
 
 Cometh, (a) *' all cometh to one " (50b), in modern 
 phrase, " all cometh to him that waits." 
 (b) see Eggs, Goeth, Last, Seldom, Time. 
 
 Coming, "it is ill coming . . . to th' end of a shot and 
 beginning of a fray " (ygc). 
 
 Commodities (10&), matters of advantage or conveni- 
 ence (also i2ob ; 125a). 
 
 Common, see Jack. 
 
 Commons, " the commons common so " (2436), " people 
 say." 
 
 Commonwealth, see Casting. 
 
 CoNSiTHER (56 ; 278c), consider. 
 
 Constantine (193c), Constantinople. 
 
 CoxsTER (13d;, construe, explain. 
 
 CoNTENTATioN, " rich by his contentation " (144c), satis- 
 faction, content. 
 
 Conversion, " join this conversion " (208^). " Con- 
 version is the changing or altering of words in a 
 proposition. . . ." — Wilson (1551), The Arte of 
 Logike, fol. 21. 
 
 Convey (486), steal. The classical quotation is of 
 
counterpoise] Note-Book and Word-List 349 
 
 course from Shakspeare, and from the same authority 
 I give illustrations of derivatives : the rendering was 
 popular. " Nym. The good humour is, to steal at a 
 minute's rest. Pist. Convey, the wise it call." — 
 Shakspeare, Merry Wives of Windsor (1596), Act i., 
 Sc. 3. " Since Henry's death, I fear there is convey- 
 ance." — Shakspeare, i Henry VI. (1592), i. 3. " O 
 good ! convey? Conveyers are you all, That rise thus 
 nimbly by a true king's fall." — Shakspeare, Richard 
 II- 1597). iv. 315. 
 
 Cony mop, " sweet cony mop " (242c), an endearment. 
 
 Cook, " a poor cook that may not lick his own fingers " 
 (896). " He is an evyll coke y*^ can not lycke his owne 
 lippes." — Vulgaria Stamhrigi {c. 1510). '^ Capulet. 
 Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks. 2 Servant. 
 You shall have none ill, sir ; for I'll try if they can lick 
 their fingers." — Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet (1595), 
 iv. 2. 
 
 CooKQUEAN, see Cuckquean. 
 
 Cope, " segging is good cope " (94a), sedge is good 
 covering. 
 
 Cord, " would to our lord ye had . . . hanged both in 
 
 one cord " (80&). 
 Corner, " the corner of our care (quoth he) I you tell " 
 
 (2ofo), corner = gist, the furthest point of probing. 
 
 Corse, " my comely corse " (85a), body. 
 CoTSOLD LION, see Lion. 
 
 Couch, (a) " couch malt and water in house together 
 (242b), lay, place. 
 
 (b) " couch a hogshead " (586), go to sleep : hogs- 
 fcea(i = head. " I couched a hogshead in a skypper 
 this darkmans." — Harman, Caveat (1567), 66 (1814). 
 
 Cough, " thou canst cough in the aumbry " (82^), 
 aMit7fery = cupboard, pantry. " Some slovens from 
 sleeping no sooner be up, But hand is in aumbrie, and 
 nose in the cup." — Tusser, Five Hundred Points 
 
 (1573). ii- 5- 
 Counsel, see Court, Mum, Three. 
 
 Counterpoise, " whether they counterpoise or outweigh " 
 (loa). 
 
350 Note-Book and Word-List [court 
 
 Court, " I was neither of court nor of counsel made " 
 (43b), i.e. neither approached for advice, nor invited 
 to express an opinion. 
 
 Courtesy, " so courtesy, so kind " (255a), polished, 
 courteous. 
 
 Covet, " all covet, all lose " (97c; 184a). 
 
 CovETiSE (i2c), covetousness. 
 
 Cow, (a) " the cow is wood " (78a), wood = mad, furi- 
 ous. 
 
 (b) " God sendeth the shrewd cow short horns " 
 (27c), shrewd = m3i\icious, badly disposed. " The Bis- 
 hop of Sarum sayd. That he trusted ere Christmas 
 Day to visit and cleanse a good part of the kingdom. 
 But most commonly God sendeth a shrewd cow short 
 horns, or else many a thousand in England had 
 smarted." — Foxe, Acts and Manuments. 
 
 (c) " as comely as is a cow in a cage " (52^). 
 
 (d) " Margery, good cow, gave a good meal, but 
 then she cast it down again with her heel " (86a). 
 
 (e) " every man as he loveth, Quoth the good man, 
 when that he kissed his cow " (53a). 
 
 (/) " many a good cow hath an evil calf " (28a). 
 
 Cow-calf, " as well for the cow-calf as for the bull " 
 (62a). 
 
 Coy, " as coy as a croker's mare " (52b), croker = 
 saffron-dealer. 
 
 Crabs, " the greatest crabs be not all the best meat " 
 (4od). 
 
 Creed, see Paternoster. 
 
 Creep, see Children, Kind. 
 
 Cripple, " it is hard halting before a cripple " (71^). 
 " I perceyve (quod she) it is evill to halte before a 
 creple . . . and it is evill to hop before them that 
 runne for the bell." — Gascoigne, Fable of Ferdinaudo 
 Jeronimi and Leonora de Valases (1575). 
 
 Croker's mare, see Coy. 
 
 Crook, see Hook. 
 
crummeth] Note-Book and Word- List 351 
 
 Cross, (a) " now will I make a cross on this gate " 
 (43d ; 226b), the cross as the emblem of disappoint- 
 ment and misfortune, and the fact that many pieces 
 of money were stamped on one side with a cross gave 
 rise to many quibbles : see b and c infra, and 226a. " I 
 will make a cross upon his gate ; yea, cross on, Thy 
 crosses be on gates all, in thy purse none." 
 
 (b) " I cross thee quite out of my book " (44a). 
 
 (c) " since thou art cross failed, avail, unhappy 
 hook" (44a), cro55 = money (see a supra); unhappy 
 hook = a. commiserating address. " Now I have never 
 a crose to blesse me, Now I goe a-mumming, Like a 
 poore pennilesse spirit. Without pipe or druming." — 
 Marriage of Witt and Wisdome, 1579 (E.E.D.S., 
 Anon. Plays, Ser. 4, 227a). " Not a penny, not a 
 penny; you are too impatient to bear crosses." — Shak- 
 speare, 2 Henry IV. (1598), i. 2, 
 
 Cross row, " worst among letters in the cross row " 
 (1406), cross row = Christ-cross row, i.e. the alphabet; 
 from a cross placed at either end ; or from an old 
 practice of writing the alphabet in the form of a cross 
 by way of a charm. Note the difference between the 
 old and modern girds at the letter " H " — " aitch " 
 V "ache." 
 
 Crow, (a) " we have a crow to pull " (70^), complaint 
 to make, quarrel, a bone to pick. " Abelle. Dere 
 brother, I will fayre On feld ther our bestes ar, To 
 looke if they be holgh or fulle. Cayn. Na, na, abide, 
 we have a craw to pulle." — Mactacio Abel, in Towne- 
 ley Mysteries (c. 1420). 
 
 (b) " the ctow thinketh her own birds fairest in the 
 wood " (6ic). " It must needs be good ground that 
 brings forth such good corne ; When I look on him, 
 methinks him to be evill favoured. Yet the crowe 
 thinkes her black birds of all other the fairest." — 
 Lupton, All for Money (1578). 
 
 (c) " as good then to say, the crow is white " (69a ; 
 2036, and c), " You're talking nonsense, or worse, tell- 
 ing lies." 
 
 (d) see High. 
 
 Croweth, see Cock. 
 
 Crummeth, " cracketh and crummeth " (79a), crumbleth. 
 
352 Note-Book and Word-List [cry a leison 
 
 Cry a leison (78b), i.e. Kyrie eleison (" Lord, have 
 mercy "), a short petition used at the beginning of 
 the Roman Mass. The phrase was early the subject 
 of punning allusions. Tyndale uses it in the sense 
 of a complaint or scolding {Ohed. Chr. Man, i^oh, 
 1528) ; and Heywood, in the present instance, appar- 
 ently means something of the same kind, with an 
 added sarcasm in his corrupted orthography, " cry a 
 leison " ( = a cry a. [la] Alison, which appears (89&) to 
 be the name of the wife of whom the husband is 
 speaking). 
 
 CucKQUEAN, " ye make her a cookquean " (76b), a 
 female cuckold : here possibly also a play on " cook." 
 
 CuMBRETH, " the kitchen cumbreth not by heat " (125c), 
 is not a trouble, source of annoyance. 
 
 Cunning, " that cunning man " (66d), orig. knowledge, 
 skill, learning, no bad sense being implied : as early 
 as the time of Lord Bacon, however, the word was 
 on the down-grade in meaning, influenced, no doubt, 
 by the mundane truth that skill in the hands of the 
 unscrupulous is used to defraud those less gifted. " If 
 I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget 
 her cunning." — Bihle, Auth. Vers. (161 1), Psalm 
 cxxxvii. 5. " The cunning manner of our flight. Deter- 
 mined of." — Shakspeare, Two Gent., ii. 4. 
 
 Cup, " merry ... as cup and can could hold " (60a). 
 
 CupsHOTTEN, " somewhat cupshotten " (31a), drunk. 
 
 Curried, see Horse. 
 
 CuRRYFAVEL, " they can curryfavel and make fair 
 weather" (666), curryfavel = Hatter. 
 
 Cushion, (a) " ye missed the cushion, for all your 
 haste " (97c), idiomatic : from the practice of archery 
 = to fail in an attempt, to miss the point. " Trulie, 
 Euphues, you have mist the cushion, for I was neither 
 angrie with your long absence, neither am I well 
 pleased at your presence." — Lyly, Eitphues (1581). 
 
 (h) " I may set you beside the cushion " (97c), i.e. 
 pass over with contempt, ignore, shelve. " Thus is 
 he set beside the cushion, for his sincerity and for- 
 wardness in the good cause." — Spalding, Hist. i. 291. 
 
 Cut, see Coat. 
 
day] Note-Book and Word-List 353 
 
 Dagger, (a) " he beareth a dagger in his sleeve " (35b), 
 i.e. hidden, in reserve, ready for use. 
 
 (b) " it be ill playing with short daggers " (47c), 
 in modern phrase, " edged tools." 
 
 Daiment, " sufferancee is no quittance in this daiment " 
 (64^), ? judgment, settlement: cf. daysman = umpire, 
 arbitrator. Day (in legal sense) = return of a writ, 
 appearance. 
 
 Dainties, see Dear. 
 
 Dame, *' he that will not be ruled by his own dame shall 
 be ruled by his stepdame " (92^). 
 
 Dance, " sufferance is your dance " (686), role, lot : 
 cf. " to lead one a dance." 
 
 Danceth, " he danceth attendance " (219^), to wait 
 upon constantly and obsequiously. 
 
 Dark, see Fair. 
 
 Darling, " it is better to be an old man's darling than 
 a young man's warling " (8oa), wawl as verb = to 
 wrangle ; hence as subs, (it occurs only in this proverb) 
 it probably = an object of nagging or bad temper. 
 "Leave this brawling and wawling. " — Misogonus, 
 Anon. Plays, 2 Ser. 227a. 
 
 Daw (passim), an empty-headed, foolish fellow. " He 
 that for commyn welth bysyly Studyeth and laboryth, 
 and lyveth by Goddes law, Except he waxe ryche, 
 men count hym but a daw ! " — Four Elements (c. 
 1510), Anon. Plays, Ser. i (E.E.D.S.), 4^. " Good 
 faith, I am no wiser than a daw." — Shakspeare, 
 I Henry VI. (1592), ii. 4. 
 
 Day, (a) " one day was three till liberty was borrow " 
 (27c), borrow = pledged, mortgaged. 
 
 (b) *' I see day at this little hole " (266), in modern 
 phrase, " daylight " ; an echo, possibly, of another 
 proverbial saying — " It is always darkest before the 
 dawn." 
 
 (c) " Say no more till the day be longer " (202b). 
 
 (d) " be the day never so long, evermore at last they 
 ring to evensong " (826). " For though the day be 
 never so long At last the bell rings for evensong." — 
 Hawes, Pastime of Pleasure. 
 
 (e) " the day of doom shall be done " (85a). 
 HEY. II. A A 
 
354 Note-Book and Word-List [dayment 
 
 (/) " farewell, my good days, they will be soon 
 gone " (57a). 
 
 (g) see Dog, Fair, Rome. 
 
 Dayment (28i(i), judgment. 
 
 Dead, (a) " for gain (he) is dead and laid in tomb " 
 (66a). 
 
 (b) " I have ... a dead man's head in my dish " 
 (Sob), the " dear departed " of modern phrase. " As 
 bold-fac'd women, when they wed another. Banquet 
 their husbands with their dead love's heads." — 
 Marston, Insatiate Countess. 
 
 (c) see Devil, Shoes. 
 
 Deaf, (a) " then were ye deaf, ye could not hear on 
 that side " (god), i.e. wilfully deaf. 
 
 (b) " who is so deaf as he that will not hear? " 
 (i86d). 
 
 Dear, (a) " whoso that knew what would be dear, 
 should need be a merchant but one year " (4b ; 171a). 
 (6) " dear bought and far fet are dainties for 
 ladies " (38^), fet = ietched. " Some far fet trick, 
 trick good for ladies, some stale toy or other." — 
 Marston, Malcontent (1604). " Niece. Ay, marry, sir, 
 this was a rich conceit indeed. Pompey. And far 
 fetched; therefore good for you, lady." — Beaumont 
 and Fletcher, Wit at Several Weapons (1614). 
 
 Dearest, " to buy the dearest for the best alway " 
 (Sic), cf. " cheap and nasty." 
 
 Death, (a) " death ! . . . take me that time, to take 
 a breath " (45a), waiting for dead men's shoes profiteth 
 little. 
 
 (b) " though love decree departure death to be " 
 (48c). 
 
 Deed, " deed without words " (71b). 
 
 Denay (222^), deny : note the rhyme. 
 
 Departure, see Death. 
 
 Desart (238c), desert : note the rhyme. 
 
 Desert, " desert and reward be ofttimes things far 
 odd " (42 a). 
 
 Destiny, see Wedding. 
 
devil] Note-Book and Word-List 355 
 
 Devil, (a) '* the devil hath cast a bone to set strife " 
 
 (570- 
 
 {b) "young saint, old devil" (27c; 177a), this 
 occurs in MS. Harleian (c. 1490). 
 
 (c) " he must have a long spoon that would sup 
 (or eat) with the devil " {yid). " Therefore behoveth 
 him a ful long spone. That shal ete with a fend : thus 
 herd I say." — Chaucer, Squieres Tale {Cant. Tales, c. 
 1383). " Courtesan. Will you go with me? Dromio. 
 Master, if you do, expect spoonmeat or bespeak a long 
 spoon. Antipholus. Why, Dromio? Dromio. Marry, 
 he must have a long spoon that must eat with the 
 devil." — Shakspeare, Comedy of Errors (1593), iv. 3. 
 
 (d) " like as the devil looked over Lincoln " (91c). 
 " The middle or Rood tower of Lincoln Cathedral is 
 the highest in the whole kingdom, and when the spire 
 was standing on it, it must, in proportion to the 
 height of the tower, have exceeded that of old St. 
 Paul's, which was five hundred and twenty feet. The 
 monks were so proud of this structure, that they 
 would have it that the devil looked upon it with an 
 envious eye : whence the proverb of a man who looks 
 invidious' and malignant, ' he looks as the devil over 
 Lincoln.' " — Tour through England and Wales (1742). 
 Ray gives another account : " It is probable that it 
 took its rise from a small image of the devil standing 
 on the top of Lincoln College, in Oxford." — Proverbs 
 (1737)- 
 
 (e) " he must needs go when the devil doth drive " 
 (78c). " There is a proverb which trewe now preveth, 
 He must nedes go that the dyvell dryveth." — Hey- 
 wood, Johan Johan, Tyb, and Syr Jhan. 
 
 (/) " the devil is no falser than is he " (71^). 
 
 (g) *' the devil go with thee down the lane " 
 (83d). 
 
 (h) " meet to set the devil on sale " (yyb). 
 
 (i) "the devil in th' orloge " (63d; 195a and b). 
 " Some for a tryfull pley the devyll in the orloge." — 
 Harman, Vitlgaria {1530). 
 
 (j) "the devil is dead" (91c; 184c and d ; 185a 
 and b). 
 
 {k) " the devil with his dam hath more rest in hell 
 than I . . . with thee " (856). 
 
 A A 2 
 
356 Note-Book and Word-List [dieu-gard 
 
 (I) " the devil's good grace might have given a 
 greeting " (99c). 
 
 (m) " I will not bear the devil's sack " (73d), com- 
 pound a wrong. 
 
 (n) " what change may compare to the devil's life 
 like his that have chosen a devil to his wife? " (74c). 
 
 (o) see Candle. 
 
 DiBU-GARD, " a beck as good as a dieu-gard " (29^), a 
 salutation, " God save you ! " still in use in Scots 
 Masonic lodges as a salute. " Each beck of yours shall 
 be in stead of a diew garde unto me." — Florio, Second 
 Frutes (1591), 81. 
 
 Diners, " dinners cannot be long, where dainties want 
 (516) ; the old spelling, by an oversight, is retained in 
 the text. 
 
 Dirty puddings, see Dogs. 
 
 Discommodities (135c), disadvantages : see Commodi- 
 ties. 
 
 Discrive (i6a), describe. 
 
 Diseased, " more diseased by early lying down " (55c), 
 disease formerly was generic for " absence of ease." 
 
 Disguise, " three cups full at once shall oft disguise 
 thee " (247t), make drunk. " Harp. I am a prince 
 disguised. Hir. Disguised! How? Drunk!" — 
 Massinger, Virgin Martyr (1622), iii. 3. 
 
 Dish, (a) "I may break a dish there " (38^), have a 
 meal, take pot-luck, ply knife and fork. 
 
 (b) " as well as the beggar knoweth his dish (or 
 bag)," see Bag. 
 
 Distaff, see Tow. 
 
 Ditch, see Blind. 
 
 Do, (a) " it is as folk do and not as folk say " (73&). 
 
 (b) " nouglit can she do and what can she have then " 
 (26c). 
 
 Dock, " in dock, out nettle " (54^), a charm for a 
 nettle sting which early passed into a proverb expres- 
 sive of inconstancy. " Ye wete well Ladie eke (quoth 
 I) that I have not plaid racket. Nettle in, Docke 
 out, and with this the weathercocke waved." — 
 Chaucer, Testament of Love. " Is this my in dock, 
 
dog] Note-Book and Word-List 357 
 
 out nettle? " — Middleton, More Dissemblers besides 
 Wotnen (1623). 
 
 Doe, " when he hunteth a doe that he cannot avow all 
 dogs bark not at him " (72a). 
 
 Dog, (a) "a man may handle his dog so that he may 
 make him bite him " (85c). 
 
 {h) " when he hunteth a doe that he cannot avow 
 all dogs bark not at him " (72a). 
 
 (c) " it is ... a poor dog that is not worth the whist- 
 ling " (43&)- 
 
 {d) " unable to give a dog a loaf " (81&). 
 
 (g) " a dog will bark ere he bite " (856). 
 
 (/) " she will lie as fast as a dog will lick a dish " 
 (78a). 
 
 {g) " a dog hath a day (36^), or, in modern 
 phrase, " every dog has its day " ; i.e. a period during 
 which he is in his prime. 
 
 {h) " an old dog biteth sore " (75&). " Olde dogges 
 bite sore." — Churchyard, Handeful of Gladsome Verses 
 
 (1592). 
 
 (t) "it is hard to make an old dog stoop " (85c). 
 
 (;■) " to help a dog over a stile " {39b), the modern 
 version has " lame dog " : to give a hand, to assist 
 in difficulty. " Here is a stile so high as a man 
 cannot help a dog over it." — Marston, Insatiate Coun- 
 tess (1605), ii. 2. 
 
 (k) " a hair of the dog that bit us last night " 
 (45c), a pick-me-up after a debauch : apparently a 
 memory of the superstition, which was and still is 
 common, that, being bitten by a dog, one cannot do 
 better than pluck a handful of hair from him, and lay 
 it on the wound. Old receipt books advise that an 
 inebriate should drink sparingly in the morning some 
 of the same liquor which he had drunk to excess over- 
 night. 
 
 (l) " it is ill waking of a sleeping dog " (30a ; 172c), 
 cf. "let sleeping dogs lie." 
 
 (m) " at every dog's bark, seem not to awake " 
 (68d). 
 
 (n) " hungry dogs will eat dirty puddings " (14a), 
 another proverb declares that a hungry man will eat 
 anything, except Suffolk cheese. 
 
 (0) see Cat, Love. 
 
358 Note-Book and Word-List [doing 
 
 Doing, see Saying. 
 
 Dole, (a) " his dole is soon done " (37^), lot, share, 
 Happy man be your dole = 3. general wish for success. 
 " Happy man be his dole that misses her." — Grim 
 the Collier of Croydon. 
 
 (b) " ye deal this dole out at a wrong door " (gd), 
 your charity is ill bestowed. 
 
 Done, (a) " as good undone as do it too soon " (74a). 
 
 (b) " things done cannot be undone " (26a). 
 
 (c) " better it be done than wish it had been done " 
 (74a). 
 
 Doom, see Day. 
 
 DooN (30c), done. 
 
 Door, (a) " it is good to have a hatch before the door " 
 (32c), hatch = a wooden partition coming over the lower 
 half of a doorway and leaving open the upper half. 
 
 (b) see Dole, Wrong. 
 
 (c) " he turned her out of doors to graze on the 
 plain " (99^). 
 
 Dorter, " the mouth is the tongue's dorter " (274a), a 
 dormitory or sleeping room. " Slepe as monke in his 
 dortoure." — Langtoft, p. 256. 
 
 Doting, " after a doting and drunken deed, let submis- 
 sion obtain some mercy or meed " (28c), doting = 
 foolish, silly. 
 
 DoYT (80c), doth. 
 
 Draff, " the still sow eats up all the draf " (27c ; 196(f), 
 '* draf is your errand, but drink ye would " (3 id), 
 draff = dregs, dirt, refuse, anything thrown away as 
 unfit for food. " 'Tis old but true, Still swine eat 
 all the draff." — Shakspeare, Merry Wives (1596), 
 iv. 2. 
 
 Drawlatch, see John Drawlatch. 
 
 Drede (73&), fear : in a lesser degree than is usually 
 conveyed by the word. 
 
 Drink, (a) " I drink (quoth she) ; quoth he, I will not 
 pledge " (6od). 
 
 (b) see Brew, Draff. 
 
 (c) *' then thou shalt drink " (293^), a play on the 
 
dyke] Note-Book and Word-List 359 
 
 two meanings of drink ( = (a) imbibe and (b) suffer 
 punishment) was common in old writers. " I hold a 
 penny ve will drink without a cup." — Udall, Roister 
 Doister (E.E.D.S. iSd), i. 3. 
 (d) see Horse. 
 
 Drivel, "drivel and drudge" (83b), drivel = servant. 
 " To encourage the husband to use his wife as a vile 
 dreuell." — Udall, Corinth., ch. xi. 
 
 Driveth, see Nail. 
 Droppeth, see Hunger. 
 Drudge, see Drivel. 
 
 Drunk, (a) " drunk in the good ale glass " (45c), i.e. 
 in a state of " alecie." 
 
 (b) " he that killeth a man when he is drunk shall 
 be hanged when he is sober " (28c). 
 
 Duck, "like a duke? like a duck! " (86&), a play on 
 words. 
 
 Dump, " which dumb dump " (132^), a melancholy 
 strain. " To their instruments Tune a deploring 
 dump." — Shakspeare, Two Gent. (1595), iii. 2. 
 
 Dun ass, see Ass. 
 
 Dunghill, see Cock. 
 
 Dunstable, " as plain as Dunstable highway " {6gb), 
 plain Dunstable = anything homely, plain, simple — 
 why, is not clear : sometimes byeway. " These men 
 walked by-wayes, and the saying is, many by-walkers, 
 many balkes, many balkes, much stumbling, and 
 where much stumbling is, there is sometime a fall ; 
 howbeit there were some good walkers among them, 
 that walked in the king's high way ordinarily, up- 
 right, plaine Dunstable way." — Latimer, Sermons 
 (d. 1555). 
 
 Dur (gd, 20c, 26b, 32c, &c.), door (A.S.). 
 
 Dyke, (a) " my beautiful marriage lieth in the dyke " 
 (86), see Beautiful. 
 (b) see Blind. 
 
360 Note-Book and Word-List [ear 
 
 Ear, (a) "in at the tone ear and out of the tother " 
 (92 d ; 1836). " Troilus, that nigh for sorrow deide, 
 Tooke little hede of all that ever he ment ; One eare 
 it heard, at the other out it went." — Chaucer, Troilus 
 and Creseide (1369). 
 
 (&) " her ears might well glow, for all the town 
 talked of her " (52c; 2i8d), that the ears burn when 
 talked of by someone absent is still a prevalent super- 
 stition. 
 
 (c) " you had on your harvest ears, thick of hear- 
 ing " (91a). " Thine eares be on pilgrimage, or in 
 the wildernes, as they say commonly, thou hast on 
 thy harvest eares, vestrce peregrinantur aiires.^^ — 
 Withal, Dictionary (1608), 46. 
 
 (d) " he must both tell you a tale and find you ears " 
 (91a). 
 
 (e) " by the ears " (54^), quarrelling, at strife. 
 " Were half to half the world by the ears, and he 
 Upon my party, I'd revolt." — Shakspeare, Coriolanus 
 (1610), i. I. 
 
 (/) " thy ear groweth through thy hood " (198a), 
 as the mark of an ass or a cuckold. 
 (g) see Bird, Pitchers, Sow. 
 
 Early " early up and never the near " {6d), near = 
 nearer. " Better far off than near, be ne'er the 
 near." — Shakspeare, Richard II. (1597), v. i. 
 
 Ease, see Cap, Inn, Nothing, Sufferance. 
 
 East, " the longer east, the shorter west " (50b). 
 
 Eat, see Blind, Cat. 
 
 Eateth. see Sow. 
 
 Ebb, (a) " he was at an ebb, though he be now afloat " 
 (38b), in difficulties or hard up, but now in better 
 circumstances. 
 
 (b) *' thou art at an ebb in Newgate " (176b). 
 
 Eel, " as sure to hold as an eel by the tail " (24c), i.e. 
 slippery, unreliable. " Cauda tenes anguillam : you 
 have an eele by the taile." — Withal, Dictionary (ed. 
 1634), 554. " Paulo momento hue illuc impellitur. 
 Hee is as wavering as a wethercocke. He is heere 
 and their all in a moment. Theirs as much holde to 
 his word, as to take a wet eele by the taile." — 
 Terence in English (1614). 
 
exigent] Note-Book and Word-List 361 
 
 Eel-skins, " we shall see him prove a merchant of eel- 
 skins " (66c). 
 
 Eggs, " in came the third, with his V eggs " (52c ; 
 220c), to interfere, meddle, put in one's spoke. " What, 
 come you in with your seven eggs? " — Misogonus, 
 Anon. PL, 2 Ser., 1886 (E.E.D.S.). 
 
 End, (a) " some loose or odd end will come . . . some 
 
 ... day " (45a). 
 
 (b) " such beginning, such end " (94^). 
 
 (c) " the game from beginning sheweth what end is 
 meant " (75^). 
 
 (d) see Beginning, Good. 
 
 Enough, (a) " enough is enough " (103a). " And of 
 enough enough, and nowe no more, Bycause my 
 braynes no better can devise ... It is enough and as 
 good as a feast." — Gascoigne, Memories (1575). 
 
 (b) " enough is as good as a feast " (103a; 209^). 
 "It is an olde proverb He is well at ese y* hath 
 enough and can say ho." — Dives and Pauper (1493) 
 
 (c) " he that knoweth when he hath enough is ne 
 fool " (8ic). 
 
 (d) " here is enough and too much " (82c). 
 
 Envied, " better be envied than pitied " (320). 
 Epigrams, see Bibliography. 
 
 Errand, (a) " thus is thine errand sped " (79d). 
 
 (b) " I am sped of mine errand " (loid). 
 
 (c) see Draff, Sleeveless, Errand. 
 
 Errata, see page 466. 
 
 Even, '* I shall be even with him " (31c), on equality 
 with, quits with : now chiefly colloquial. 
 
 Even reckoning, see Reckoners. 
 
 Evensong, see Day. 
 
 EvERYCHONE (5^), everyone. 
 
 Ewe, " she can wink on the ewe and worry the lamb " 
 (24a). 
 
 Exigent, " brought ... an exigent " (260a), extremity, 
 situation of difficulty. " Hath driv'n her to some 
 desperate exigent." — Wisdome of Dr. Dodypole (1600). 
 E.E.D.S. Anon. PL, 7 Ser., s.v. Exigent. 
 
362 Note-Book and Word-List [extremities 
 
 Extremities, " flee th' attempting of extremities " (68c), 
 i.e. avoid the harshest measures. 
 
 Eye, (a) " I might put my winning in mine eye and 
 see never the worse " (42a). " You have had con- 
 ferences and conferences again at Poissy and other 
 places, and gained by them just as much as you 
 might put in your eye, and see never the worse." — 
 Bramhall, Works, i. 68. " Bating Namure, he might 
 have put all the glorious harvests he yearly reap'd 
 there into his eye, and not have prejudic'd his royal 
 sight in the least." — T. Brown, Works (d. 1682), 
 ii. 329. 
 
 (b) " better eye out than alway ache " (igd ; 170b)- 
 
 (c) " he winketh with the tone eye and looketh with 
 the tother " (40b). 
 
 (d) *' that the eye seeth not, the heart reweth not " 
 (78c). " The blinde eats many a flie, and much water 
 runnes by the mill that the miller never knowes of : 
 the evill that the eye sees not, the hart rues not." — 
 Greene, Never too Late (1590). 
 
 (e) " blame me not too haste for fear mine eves be 
 bleared " (8d), haste ^hastily. 
 
 (J) see Fields. 
 
 Eyesore, " but an eye sore " (13b ; 173a). " Quod the 
 Barbour, but a lytell eye sore." — Merry Jests of the 
 Wyddow Edyth (1525). 
 
 Fableth (12 i&), see next entry. 
 
 Fabling, " without fabling " (15&), exaggeration, the 
 long bow, lie. "Without fable or guile." — Four 
 Elements (c. 1500), E.E.D.S., Anon. Plays, Ser. 1. 
 
 Face, (a) "I did set a good face on the matter " 
 (187^), make the best of things. 
 
 (b) " two faces in one hood" (23d; iSod), double- 
 dealing, shuffling. " Alberto. Not play two parts 
 in one? away, away, 'tis common fashion. Nay, if 
 you cannot bear two subtle fronts under one hood ; 
 ideot, goe by, goe by; off this world's stage! O 
 times impuritie ! " — Antonio and Mellida (1602). 
 
 (c) " their faces told toys " (17^), told tales : see 
 Toy. 
 
 {d) " thy face is shorn against the wool " (198^). 
 
fardle] Note-Book and Word-List 363 
 
 Fain, see Fool. 
 
 Fair, (a) " the fair lasteth all the year " (576 ; 177&), 
 any time or every day is meet for the purpose : see 
 next entry. 
 
 (b) " a day after the fair " (20a), too late, when 
 everything is over. 
 
 (c) " fair words did fet " (53c), politeness costs 
 nothing : fet = ietch. 
 
 (d) " the grace of God is worth a fair " (46^), a 
 matter or affair to remember. 
 
 (e) *' the fair and the foul by dark are like store " 
 (13c), comparisons are not always possible; under 
 some circumstances quality is no matter ; in the dark 
 all cats are grey. 
 
 (/) see Thread. 
 
 Fair and well (96^), farewell. 
 
 Fair words, see Fool, Tongue. 
 
 Fall, (a) " to fall in and not to fall out " (31a), to 
 concur and agree, and not to disagree, quarrel, or 
 fall at odds with. 
 
 (b) see Sit. 
 
 Falleth, see Sheaf, Sky. 
 
 False, (a) "I fear false measures " (73d). 
 (&) " as false as fair " (94c). 
 
 (c) " as false as God is true " (78a). 
 
 (d) see Knave. 
 
 Falsehood, " falsehood in fellowship" (69c; 211b), fel- 
 lowship — companionship. 
 
 False measures, see Measure. 
 
 Fancy, " fancy may bolt bran and make ye take it 
 flour " (62c), make-believe counts for much. 
 
 Far, (a) " I have seen as far come as nigh " (34a ; 216a), 
 the drip of water wears away the stone. 
 
 (b) " things erst so far off, were now so far on " 
 (96d). 
 
 (c) see Runneth. 
 
 Fardle, " best fardle in my pack " (151^), article, item, 
 piece, property ; a burden of any kind. 
 
364 Note-Book and Word-List [fare 
 
 Fare, (a) " ye see your fare, set your heart at rest " 
 (43d ; 227c), business, conduct, goings on, course, path. 
 (6) " fare ye well how ever I fare " (43d). 
 
 (c) " her time to take up to show my fare at best " 
 (43d), see supra a. 
 
 (d) " well mote ye fare " (43d). 
 
 Faren, " have gone further and have faren worse " 
 (62c), /aren = fared. 
 
 Farewell, (a) " farewell and feed full — that love ye well 
 to do, but you lust not to do that longeth thereto " 
 (34c), i.e. like to live well without the right to do so. 
 (b) see Day. 
 
 Fart, (a) " I shall get a fart of a dead man as soon as 
 a farthing " (37^). 
 
 (b) " they that will be afraid of every fart must go 
 far to piss " (69c). 
 
 (c) " the tone cannot piss but the tother must let a 
 fart " (67c). 
 
 Farther, see Church. 
 
 Farthing, (a) " she thinketh her farthing good silver " 
 (26^; 217c). "Take example at me ... I thought 
 my halfpeny good silver within these few yeares past, 
 and no man esteemeth me unlesse it be for counsell." 
 — Gascoigne, Glasse of Government (1575). 
 
 (b) " but for a farthing who ever did sell you might 
 boast you to be better sold than bought " (27a). 
 
 (c) " one farthing worth of good " (26b), a low 
 standard of value. 
 
 Fashion, (a) " every man after his fashion " (38c), prob- 
 ably a pun (a common one at the time) on fashion = 
 farcy. " S/z. What shall we learn by travel? An. 
 Fashions. Sh. That's a beastly disease." — Old For- 
 tunatus (1600). 
 (b) see Best. 
 
 Fast, (a) '"'fast bind, fast find " {8d ; 224c). " Where- 
 fore a plaine bargain is best, and in bargaines 
 making; fast bind, fast find." — Jests of Scogin (1565). 
 (&) see Goeth, Hold, Last, Weed. 
 
 Faster Lane (284b), Foster Lane. 
 
 Fat, (a) " the fat is in the fire " (8b ; 217^), all is con- 
 fusion, all has failed : of failures and the results of 
 
fed] Note-Book and Word-List 365 
 
 sudden and unexpected revelations and disappoint- 
 ments. " Faith, Doricus, thy braine boils ; keele it, 
 keele it, or all the fatt's in the fire."— Marston, 
 What You Will (1607). 
 
 (b) " a swine over-fat is cause of his own bane " 
 (8id). 
 
 (c) " little knoweth the fat sow what the lean doth 
 mean " (30a). 
 
 (d) " the fat clean flit from my beard " (9a). 
 
 (e) see Hog. 
 
 Fault, (a) " he hath but one fault, he is nought " 
 
 (35c). 
 
 (b) " hard is for any man all faults to mend " 
 
 (35^)- 
 Faultless, " he is lifeless that is faultless " (35c), i.e. 
 perfection is not attained during life. 
 
 Faver (5a), favour : see the rhyme " have her " in next 
 line. 
 
 Feaked, " the fool was feaked for this " (i486), beaten, 
 whipped. 
 
 Fear, see False. 
 
 Feast, see Enough. 
 
 Feat, " handling of things feat " (133&) — " frame in 
 feat " (1376), neat, dextrous, elegant. " And look 
 how well my garments sit upon me, Much feater 
 than before." — Temp., ii. i. 
 
 Feather, (a) " she may not bear a feather but she must 
 breathe " (26^), i.e. much ado about nothing, moun- 
 tains made of molehills. 
 
 (b) " if your meet-mate and you meet together, then 
 shall we see two men bear a feather " (42c), of means 
 employed altogether disproportionate to the end in 
 view. 
 
 (c) "I gat not so much ... as a good hen's 
 feather or a poor eggshell " (44b), said of altogether 
 inadequate results. 
 
 (d) " he would fain fiee, but he wanteth feathers " 
 (35c), condition, substance : compare the modern " not 
 a feather to fly with." 
 
 (e) see Goose. 
 
 Fed, (a) " better fed than taught " (256 ; 174a). 
 
366 Note-Book and Word-List [feed 
 
 (6) " he that gapeth till he be fed may fortune to 
 fast and famish for hunger" (21c), "if you want a 
 thing done, do it yourself," " God helps those who 
 help themselves," " he that will not work cannot 
 eat." 
 
 (c) see Tun. 
 
 Feed, " feed by measure and defy the physician " {Sid), 
 i.e. use and do not abuse things ; temperance bringeth 
 health. 
 
 Feet, (a) " he thinketh his feet be where his head shall 
 never come " (35c). 
 
 (b) " here is since thou camest too many feet abed " 
 (79^), i.e. you are not wanted, are de trop ; your room 
 is desired more than your company. 
 
 (c) see Cat. 
 
 Fell, (a) " too fell " (129^), irritating, sharp, keen. 
 (6) see Climbed, 
 (c) " they fell out and . . . they fell in " (55a). 
 
 Fellow, see Thief. 
 
 Fellowship, see Falsehood, Poverty. 
 
 Ferder, " the ferder thou art " (216a), further : still in 
 vulgar use. 
 
 Ferne, " old feme years " (5^), long ago, bygone. 
 
 Fet, (a) " fet him in some stay " (32a) — " ye can fet as 
 much " (95c), fetch. " From thence we fet a com- 
 pass." — Bible, Author. Ver. (161 1), Acts xxviii. 13. 
 [Such archaisms in the Scriptures were not completely 
 changed until well into the eighteenth century.] 
 (b) see Fair. 
 
 Fetters, (a) " no man loveth his fetters be they made 
 of gold " (19c). " Who would weare fetters though 
 they were all of gold? Or to be sicke, though his faint 
 browes, for wearing night-cap, wore a crown." — 
 Webster, Sir T. Wyatt (1607). 
 
 (b) " were I loose from the lovely links of my 
 chain I would not dance in such fair fetters again " 
 (19c). 
 
 Few, (a) " few know and fewer care " (loot). 
 (6) see Kinsfolk. 
 
FiNGERj Note-Book and Word-List 367 
 
 Fewer, " the fewer, the better fare " (79c). 
 
 Fields, (a) " fields have eyes and woods have ears " 
 (70b), now usually "walls have ears." "The were 
 bettur be still; Wode has erys felde has si3t Were 
 the forster here now right. Thy wordis shuld like the 
 ille." — King Edward and the Shepherd, MS. (c. 1300). 
 (b) " bidding me welcome strangely over the fields " 
 (40^). 
 
 Fiend, see Devil. 
 
 Fierce, see Lion. 
 
 Filth, " a false flattering filth " (23^^), a generic term 
 of contempt — slut, slattern, or worse. " If the filth 
 be in doubt." — Gammer Gurton's Needle (c. 1562), 
 E.E.D.S., Anon. Plays, Ser. 3, 136^. 
 
 Find, (a) " ye seek to find things ere they be lost " 
 (34a), i.e. " too previous." 
 (b) see Fast, Seek. 
 
 Findeth, " he findeth that seeks " (25b). 
 
 Fine, " in fine " (45^), in conclusion, finally, to sum up. 
 " In fine, delivers me to fill the time. Herself most 
 chastely absent." — Shakspeare, All's Well that Ends 
 Well (1598), iii. 7. 
 
 Finger, (a) " [folly] to put my finger too far in the fire " 
 (57^), i.e. to meddle or interfere too much. 
 
 (b) " to make me put my finger in a hole " (73c). 
 
 (c) " with a wet finger ye can fet as much as 
 may easily all this matter ease " (95c), i.e. easily, 
 readily : as easy as turning over the leaf of a book, 
 or rubbing out writing on a slate. " He darting an 
 eye upon them, able to confound a thousand conjurers 
 in their own circles, though with a wet finger they 
 could fetch up a little divell." — Dekker, A Strange 
 Horse-Race (1613), sig. D 3. See Wet finger. 
 
 (d) " each finger is a thumb " (66a), of clumsy 
 handling. " Each finger is a thumb to-day, methinks." 
 — Udall, Roister Doister (1534), i- 3. (E.E.D.S., 
 
 Works, 2od). 
 
 (e) " I suck not this out of my own finger's end " 
 
 (43«)- 
 
 (/) "I perfectly feel even at my finger's end " 
 (14c), i.e. know perfectly, am fully familiar with. 
 
368 Note-Book and Word-List [fire 
 
 Fire, (a) " where fire is, smoke will appear " (70a), there 
 is no effect without a cause : see infra. 
 
 (b) " there is no fire without some smoke " (69^), 
 see stopra. 
 
 (c) " make no fire, raise no smoke " (69^), see supra. 
 
 (d) "soft fire maketh sweet malt" (6c; 170a), 
 gentle means are best ; take things quietly. " O 
 Maister Philip, forbeare ; you must not leape over the 
 stile before you come at it ; haste makes waste ; soft 
 fire makes sweet malt; not too far for falling; there's 
 no hast to hang true men." — Haughton, Two Angry 
 
 Women of Abmgton (1599). 
 
 (e) " fire in the tone hand and water in the tother " 
 (24a). 
 
 (/) " to lay fire and tow together " (73c), to court 
 danger or disaster. 
 
 (g) see Child, Fat, Frying pan. 
 
 Fish, (a) " fish is cast away that is cast in dry pools " 
 
 (34c)- 
 
 (b) " she is neither fish nor flesh nor good red 
 herring" (24^), nondescript; neither one thing nor 
 another ; neither hay nor grass. " Wone that is nether 
 flesshe nor fisshe." — Roy, Rede me and be nott Wrothe 
 (1528), i. iij. b. " Prince Henry. An otter, sir John ! 
 why an otter? Falstaff. Why? she is neither fish nor 
 flesh; a man knows not where to have her." — Shak- 
 speare, 2 Henry IV. (1598), iv. 3. 
 
 (c) " old fish and young flesh doth men best feed " 
 {6id), i.e. mature fish and young womanhood. 
 
 (d) " all is fish that cometh to net " (39c), all serves 
 the purpose. " But now (aye me) the glasing christal 
 glasse Doth make us thinke that realmes and townes 
 are rych, Where favour sways the sentence of the law, 
 Where al is fishe that cometh to net." — Gascoigne, 
 Steele Glas (1575). 
 
 (e) see Cat. 
 
 Fished, " he hath well fished and caught a frog " (32a). 
 " Well I have fished and caught a frog, Brought little 
 to pass with much ado." — Latimer, Remains. 
 
 Fishing, " it is ill fishing before the net " (38^ ; 221b). 
 
 Fit, (a) " by that surfeit ... I feel a little fit " (55c), 
 disordered, out of sorts. 
 
flibergibet] Note-Book and Word-List 369 
 
 (6) " for a beginning this was a feat fit " (57c), a 
 round of a contest, struggle, or fight. 
 
 Five, see Eggs. 
 
 Flea, " a flea in his ear " (35a), an annoying suggestion 
 or experience, a good scolding. 
 
 Fleabiting, "a fleabiting " (57c; 208c), a trifle, any- 
 thing of little or no moment. " Their miseries are but 
 fleabitings to thine." — Burton, Anat. Melan. (162 1). 
 
 Flebergebet (25& ; 286c), = sycophant, smooth-tongued 
 talker. " And when these flatterers and flibbergibbes 
 another day shall come and claw you by the back." — 
 Latimer, Sermons {d. 1555), fol. 39. 
 
 Flee, (a) " flee charge and find ease " (34c), charge = 
 business, matters, affairs, anxieties, cares, responsi- 
 bility. 
 
 (6) " worst part to flee " (69c). 
 
 Fleet, see Afloat. 
 
 Flek, " flek and his make " (70a), flek = a. generic re- 
 proach (of man or woman), specifically in contempt as 
 of something altogether insignificant; make = com- 
 panion. " Fie upon me ! 'tis well known I am the 
 mother Of children, scurvy fleak ! 'tis not for nought 
 You boil eggs in your gruel." — Davenant, Wits (1636). 
 
 Flesh, (a) " it will not out of the flesh that is bred in 
 the bone " (87c), i.e. cannot be eradicated ; in modern 
 phrase, " What's bred in the bone will come out in the 
 flesh." " He values me at a crack'd three farthings, 
 for aught I see. It will never out of the flesh that's 
 bred in the bone. I have told him enough, one would 
 think, if that would serve ; but counsel to him is as 
 good as a shoulder of mutton to a sick horse." — 
 Jonson, Every Man in his Humour (1596). 
 (6) see Fish. 
 
 Fletcher, " mend as the fletcher mends his bolt " 
 (91a), i.e. not at all. " Her mind runs sure upon a 
 fletcher, or a bowyer ; however, I'll inform against 
 both ; the fletcher for taking whole money for pieced 
 arrows ; the bowyer for horning the headmen of his 
 parish, and taking money for his pains." — Rowley, 
 Match at Midn., O. PI. (Reed), vii. 378. 
 
 Flibergibet, see Flebergebet. 
 
 HEY. II. B B 
 
370 Note-Book and Word-List [flies 
 
 Flies, (a) " hungry flies bite sore " (91c ; 1826). 
 (&) see Blind. 
 
 Flim-flam (24&), a lie, imposition. 
 
 Flinging, " by flinging from your folks at home " 
 (916), /Zm^in^ = departing hastily, " rushing off." 
 
 F"lounder, see Frying pan. 
 
 Flower, " she is not only the fairest flower in your 
 garland, but also ... all the fair flower thereof " (886). 
 
 Flown, see Bird. 
 
 Flung, " he . . . flung away amain " (133a). 
 Fly, see Blind. 
 
 Foal, " how can the foal amble if the horse and mare 
 trot?" (33c). 
 
 Folk, " as folk ring bees with basins " (78b). 
 Follow, *' the wise man at all times to follow can find " 
 (82a). 
 
 Folly, see Hog, Wall. 
 
 Fond, " to wed with me fond are " (4^), /ond = pleased. 
 
 Fool, (a) " No fool to the old fool " (56b ; 203d). 
 " Comedie upon comedie he shall have ; a morall, a his- 
 torie, a tragedie, or what he will. One shal be called 
 the Doctor's dumpe . . . and last a pleasant Enterlude 
 of No Foole to the Olde Foole, with a jigge at the 
 latter end in English hexameters of O Neighbour 
 Gabriel!! and his -wooing of Kate Cotton/^ — Nash, 
 Have with you to Saffron Walden (1590). 
 
 (b) " a fool's bolt soon shot " (58^; 205^), in quot. 
 sot = ioo\. " Sot is sot, and that is sene ; For he wel 
 speke wordes grene, Er ther hue buen rype. ' Sottes 
 bolt is sone shote,' Quoth Hendyng." — Proverbs of 
 Hendyng, MS. (c. 1320). 
 
 (c) " fair words make fools fain " (69b ; 204c and 
 d). " When thou art become one of that courtlit- 
 trayne, Thinke on this proverbe olde, quod he, that 
 faire woordes make fools faine." — Paradyse of Dayn- 
 tie Devises (1578). 
 
 (d) " God sendeth fortune to fools " (75^ ; igoc) ; 
 cf. " God watches over children, drunkards, and 
 fools." 
 
 (e) see Children. 
 
FOUL bird] Note-Book and Word-List 371 
 
 Foot, (a) " he loveth her better at the sole of the foot 
 than ever he loved me at the heart root " (yod). 
 
 (b) " wrap it in the cloth and tread it under foot " 
 (63d). 
 
 (c) " folk shew much folly, when things should be 
 sped, to run to the foot, that maj' go to the head 
 (676). " Thou that stondys so sure on sete, Ware lest 
 thy hede falle to thy fete." — The Boke of Curtasye, 
 MS. (c. 1350). 
 
 {d) see Black ox. 
 
 (e) " set in foot " (2246 and c). 
 
 FooTMANSHiP, "swift footmanship " (ii8d), pedestrian- 
 ism. 
 
 FoRBODDEN, " these hens be forbodden your sight " 
 (ii6fe), forbidden. 
 
 Forgave, *' he forgave her, as he forgiven would be " 
 (90a). 
 
 Forgetteth, see Parish priest. 
 
 Forgive, " to forgive and forget " (90a). 
 
 Forgiven, " forgiven and forgotten " {S9^)- 
 
 Forgo, see Nought. 
 
 Forspeak, " forspeak not your fortune " (38c), gainsay. 
 
 FoRTHiNK, " better foresee than forthink " (148^), grieve, 
 vex, repent. 
 
 Fortune, see God. 
 
 Foster, " no longer foster, no longer lemman " (96c), 
 foster — to cherish, indulge, harbour; lemman = 
 darling, beloved one. 
 
 Foughten, " a hard foughten field where no man 
 scapeth unkilled " (45^). 
 
 Foul, (a) " foul water as soon as fair will quench hot 
 fire " (13c). 
 
 (b) " though her mouth be foul she hath a fair 
 tail " (13d), i.e. though she be shrewish yet her person 
 is desirable. 
 
 (c) see Fair. 
 
 Foul bird, see Bird. 
 
 E B 2 
 
372 Note-Book and Word-List [four quarters 
 
 Four quarters, " since my four quarters in four 
 quarters shall stand " (131a), quartering and drawing 
 after hanging was once the punishment of treason. 
 
 Fox, (a) " be a man never so greedy to win, He can 
 have no more of the fox but the skin " (96a ; 189J). 
 
 (b) " when the fox preacheth, then beware your 
 geese " (82c ; 201c), 
 
 'Fraid, ** more 'fraid than hurt " (iic). 
 
 Fray, " fray babes . . . from dugs " (261c), frighten, 
 terrify. " Whenne Jacob was moost in fray, God 
 him counfortide, that al do may." — Cursor Mundi, 
 MS. Coll. Trin. Cantab, f. 30. 
 
 Free, see Thought. 
 
 French, see Gentleman, Tott'n'am. 
 
 Friday, " he may his part on Good Friday eat and fast 
 never the worse " (36a), i.e. have nothing. Good 
 Friday being a " black " or total fast. 
 
 Friend, (a) " a friend is never known till a man hath 
 need " (46a; 2186). 
 
 (6) "prove thy friend ere thou have need " (46a; 
 172a). 
 
 (c) " ye may write to your friends that ye are in 
 health " (62b ; 2iod). 
 
 (d) " even reckoning maketh long friends " (213a). 
 
 (e) see Kinsfolk. 
 
 Fro {passi7n), from. 
 
 Frog, see Fished. 
 
 Frying pan, " out of the frying pan into the fire " 
 (72c), from bad to worse. 
 
 Full, see Tun. 
 
 Furder (192^), further : now dialectal or vulgar : see 
 Wall. 
 
 F"URTHER, (a) " might have gone further and have faren 
 worse " (62c), see next entry. 
 
 (b) " the further ye go, the further behind " (88b ; 
 183c), see previous entry. 
 
gear] Note-Book and Word-List 373 
 
 Gains, see Light. 
 
 Gall, " rub him on the gall " (71&), gall = a sore, a 
 rubbed place. " Enough, you rubbed the guiltie on the 
 gaule. "— MiVr. for Mag. (1559), 463. 
 
 Galled, (a) *' Gup ! with a galled back, Gill " (52^). 
 (b) see Horse. 
 
 Gander, " not a more gaggling gander hence to Chester " 
 (30^), cackling goose, a woman given to immoderate 
 laughter and idle talk. " But when the priest is at 
 seruice no man sitteth, but gagle and ducke like so 
 many geese." — Hackluyt, Voyages (1582), i. 241. 
 
 Gaps, (a) " to stop two gaps with one bush " (95a), to 
 do (or achieve) a double purpose : cf. " to kill two birds 
 with one stone." 
 
 (6) " to stop gaps with rushes " (95a), a simile of 
 futile effort. 
 
 Gards, " broidered gards " (243c), trimmings, facings, 
 ornaments on dress. " Nay, mock not, mock not; the 
 body of your discourse is sometimes guarded with 
 fragments ; and the guards are but slightly basted on 
 neither." — Shakspeare, Much Ado (1600), iii. 4. " On 
 rhimes are guards on wanton Cupid's hose." — Shak- 
 speare, Love's L. L. (1594), iv, 3. 
 
 Garsons, " small wages maketh poor garsons " (226c), 
 youth, page : Fr., gar con. " Ther sone was a prowde 
 garson. Men hym clepyd svr Befown." — MS. Cantab., 
 Ff. ii. 38, f. 115. 
 
 Gat, " she gat a husband " (25^), got : an old preterite. 
 
 Gate, see Cross. 
 
 Gay, (a) " all thing is gay that is green " (54a), green = 
 fresh, new, recent : cf. a green memory. 
 
 (6) " as we may we love to go gay " (27a). 
 
 Gean, see Triacle. 
 
 Gear, " ware that gear " (71^), i.e. be careful of that 
 matter : gear formerly did service for not only dress or 
 ornament, but for outfit of all kinds, goods, and pro- 
 perty generally ; also matter, business, affair, &c. 
 " I will remedy this gear ere long ! " — Shakspeare, 
 2 Henry VI. (1594), iii. i. 
 
374 Note-Book and Word-List [geat 
 
 Geat, " nor nought we can geat " (iia), get : see the 
 rhyme with " meat " in next line. Another example 
 occurs (1516), where " geat me " rhymes with " eat 
 me." 
 
 Geese, see Fox. 
 
 Gentle, " farewell, gentle Geoffrey " {^6b). 
 
 Gentleman, " Jack would be a gentleman if he could 
 speak French " (35I') is obviously a relic of the Nor- 
 man subversion of England. Speaking of the rule of 
 the Anglo-Norman kings, the elder Disraeli writes : — 
 " This was the time when it was held a shame among 
 Englishmen to appear English. It became proverbial 
 to describe a Saxon who ambitioned some distin- 
 guished rank, that ' he would be a gentleman if he 
 could but talk French.' " — Atnetiities of Literature. 
 
 German's lips, see Jerman. 
 
 GiD, " such a gid did her head take " (40c), properly 
 a disease in sheep, now known as " sturdy," marked 
 by staggers, stupor, &c., and which is caused by an 
 insect in the brain : hence gid here = *' maggot," fancy, 
 " bee in bonnet." 
 
 Gift, (a) " throw no gift again at the giver's head " 
 (37c; 17c), cf. " look no gift horse in the teeth." 
 
 (b) " as free of gift as a poor man of his eye " 
 (37^). 
 
 Gift horse, see Horse. 
 
 Gill, (a) wanton, strumpet : but the word, a common 
 female name, does not always carry a bad meaning. 
 (6) see Jack. 
 
 Ginifinee, see Nycebecetur. 
 
 Girdle, see Head, Key. 
 
 Give, " better to give than to take " (13& ; 1696), a later 
 form is " better to give than to receive." 
 
 Giver's head, see Gift. 
 
 Gleaning, " thou goest a-gleaning ere the cart have 
 carried " (34b), i.e. you are " too previous " ; you seek 
 a thing before it is lost. 
 
 Glisters (Glitters or Glistens), see Gold. 
 
god] Note-Book and Word-List 375 
 
 Glome, Glomed, " did lower and glome " (25c) — " folks 
 glomed on me too " (23c), lour, look gloomy. 
 
 Glow, see Ear. 
 
 Go, see Children, Come, Further, Light, Run. 
 
 God, (a) " she is one of them to whom God bad ho! " 
 (39^; 1996), ho = stop: a common exclamation to 
 arrest attention, and more particularly a call to cessa- 
 tion of action : " There is no ho with him " = he is 
 not to be restrained. 
 
 (b) " God is where he was " (46^?; 218a). 
 
 (c) " here is God in th' aumbry " (63d; 194^), (a) 
 atim&/y = cupboard, pantry, almonry; specifically a 
 room in which alms were distributed ; and (b) amhry 
 — a. niche or cupboard near the altar in a church in 
 which were kept the utensils used for public worship ; 
 a slight confusion exists between the two forms which, 
 however, is of little moment. 
 
 (d) " every man for himself and God for us all " 
 {g6d; 184&). 
 
 (e) " God is no botcher " (53a ; 177a). 
 
 (/) " alway the grace of God is worth a fair " (46c), 
 see Fair. 
 
 (g) " out of God's blessing into the warm sun " 
 (67a), from bad to worse; " to jump out of the fry- 
 ing-pan into the fire " : and conversely, '* I am too 
 much i' the sun" {Hamlet, i. 2) = unfortunate, un- 
 blessed. " Therefore if thou wilt follow my advice, and 
 prosecute thine own determination, thou shalt come 
 out of a warme Sunne into God's blessing." — Lyly, 
 Eiiphues (1579), 23b. " Pray God they bring us not, 
 when all is done. Out of God's blessing into this 
 warm sun." — Harrington, Epig. (d. 1612), ii. 56. 
 
 (h) " God sendeth cold after clothes " (iib). " Dieu 
 donne le froid selon la robbe," is the French form of 
 this proverb, found in Les Premices (1594), by Henry 
 Estienne. 
 
 (t) " God never sendeth mouth but he sendeth 
 meat " (iia). 
 
 (;') " there was God . . . when all is done " (17c). 
 
 (k) *' who hopeth in God's help his help cannot 
 start " (lie), start = change, put aside, alter. 
 
 (l) " God stint all strife " (SSd). 
 
 (m) " God have mercy, brother " (88d). 
 
376 Note-Book and Word-List [godchildren 
 
 (n) " spend and God shall send " (66d). 
 
 (o) " God will send time to provide for time " (47b). 
 
 (p) " God and Saint Luke save you " (43a). 
 
 (g) "God sendeth fortune to fools" (75^; 190c). 
 
 (r) see Church, Cow, Horse. 
 
 Godchildren, see Children. 
 
 Godfrey, see Gentle. 
 
 GoETH, (a) " as fast as one goeth another cometh " 
 (iSSa). 
 
 (b) see Hare, Pot. 
 
 Gold, (a) " all is not gold that glitters " (27c). " Uns 
 proverbes dit et raconte Que tout n'est pas ors c'on 
 voit luire. " — Li Diz de freire Denise cordelier (c. 
 1300). "All things that shineth is not by and by pure 
 gold." — Udall, Ralph Roister Bolster (1566). See 
 also Chaucer, Chanones Yemannes Tale, and Lydgate, 
 On the Mutahility of Human Affairs. 
 
 (h) " a man may buy gold too dear " (8ic). 
 
 (c) " in words gold and whole " {jjd), words of 
 wisdom and import : the simile of golden speech is 
 common, and on the other hand we have, " Speech is 
 silvern, but silence is golden." 
 
 {d) see Fetters. 
 
 Good, (a) " of a good beginning cometh a good end " 
 (25ti). " But in proverbe I have herde sale, That who 
 that well his warke beginneth, The rather a good ende 
 he winneth. " — Gower, Confessio Amantis (1393). 
 
 (b) "a man far from his good is nigh his harm " 
 (91c; 193a). 
 
 (c) " they know no end of their good nor beginning 
 of any goodness " (39c) : see d. 
 
 {d) " he knoweth none end of his good " (221b). 
 
 (e) "to do me, not the more good, but the less 
 harm " (24^). 
 
 (/) " may do her good and you no harm " (290). 
 
 (g) " if he be good now, of his ill past no force " 
 (33^)> by repentance and well-doing forgiveness is 
 won. 
 
 (h) " with many conditions good, one that is ill 
 iDefaceth the flower of all, and doth all spill " (76^), i.e. 
 " the strength of a chain is that of its weakest link." 
 
gosling] Note-Book and Word-List 377 
 
 (t) " evil gotten good never proveth well " (42^). 
 
 (;) " her good be laid up so, lest thieves might spy 
 it, that n'other she could, nor he can, come by it " 
 (looc). 
 
 (k) " he that hath plenty of goods shall have more; 
 He that hath but little, he shall have less ; He that 
 hath right nought, right nought shall possess " (46b). 
 
 (/) *' I hope good hap be not all outworn " (93d). 
 
 (m) " she . . . for love . . . he . . . for good . . . 
 to wed " (128c), good (as in c, d, i, /) = property. 
 
 (n) see Beginning, Enough, Farthing, Feast, Good, 
 Horse, Merry, Play, Wind, Wit. 
 
 Good cheap, see Bargains, Best. 
 
 Goodwin Sands, " set up shop upon Goodwin's sands " 
 (92c), properlv Godwin Sands, from Godwin Earl of 
 Kent, the father of King Harold H. The land now 
 represented by these quicksands (off the east coast of 
 Kent) was given to the monastery of St. Augustin at 
 Canterbury, but the abbot neglecting to keep the sea 
 wall in repair, the tract was submerged about iioo. 
 
 Goose, (a) " the pure penitent that stale a goose and 
 stuck down a feather " (42c ; 201a), otherwise " to steal 
 a goose and give the giblets in alms." 
 
 (b) " as deep drinketh the goose as the gander " 
 (82d), " what is good for the goose is good for the 
 gander " is the modern version. " Gentlewoman, 
 either you thought my wits very short, that a sip of 
 wine could alter me, or else yours very sharp, to cut 
 me off so roundly, when as I (without offence be it 
 spoken) have heard, that as deepe drinketh the goose 
 as the gander." — Lyly, Euphues and his England. 
 
 Goose giblet, see Hare. 
 
 Gosling, " who meddleth in all things may shoe the 
 gosling " (59^ ; 209c), undertake a work of superero- 
 gation, engage in a foolish or profitless task. " Whoso 
 melles of wat men dos. Let hym cum hier and shoo 
 the ghos." — Inscrip. in Whalley Church (c. 1434). 
 " What hath lay men to do The gray goose for to 
 sho ! " — Skelton, Colin Clout (c. 1510). Compare " It 
 is as great pyte to se a woman wepe as a gose to go 
 barefote. " — Hundred Mery Talys (c. 1525). 
 
378 Note-Book and Word- List [gospel 
 
 Gospel, " all is not gospel that thou dost speak " (57a), 
 the exact truth. 
 
 Gotten, (a) " soon gotten, soon spent " (76a). 
 
 (b) " ill gotten, ill spent " (76a). 
 Grace, (a) "in space cometh grace" (iia; 171a), in 
 time a condition of mind and conduct that embel- 
 lishes character and commands favour and esteem : 
 of. past grace =^ devoid of shame. 
 (b) see Heart. 
 
 Graffs (228^), grafts, slips, cuttings, young plants. 
 
 Graft, " then graft we a green graft on a rotten root " 
 (45«)- 
 
 Grass, (a) " while the grass groweth the horse 
 sterveth " (36^). " Whylst grass doth growe, oft 
 sterves the seely steede." — Whetstone, Promos and 
 Cassandra (1578). " Ay, sir, but. While the grass 
 grows, — The proverb is something musty." — Shak- 
 speare, Hamlet (1596), iii. 2. 
 (fo) see Heart. 
 
 Grateth, " where this . . . gravely grateth " (6b), 
 touches, concerns, disturbs. " Grating so harshly all 
 his days of quiet." — Shakspeare, Hamlet (1596), iii. i. 
 
 Grease, " she fryeth in her own grease " (44^), to be 
 left vindictively or resentfully alone : also " stew in 
 one's own juice." " But certeynly I made folk such 
 chere That in his owne grees I made him frie." — 
 Chaucer, Prologue of Wyf of Bathe. 
 
 Great, see Small. 
 
 Greatest, see Clerks. 
 
 Greedy, " they be both greedy guts all given to get " 
 (39c), gluttons. " Edace, an eater, a devourer, a 
 greedigut." — Florio, Worlde of Wordes (1598). 
 
 Green, see Cheese, Moon, Rushes. 
 
 Greeves, (a) " lamenting their greeves " (47a), here 
 shin shackles or the stocks, with an eye on the old 
 plural of grief. An iron foot was formerly so called 
 (see Mir. Mag. 46). 
 
 (6) see 180b, Epigram 69. " On Theft and Re- 
 ceipt." 
 
gyles] Note-Book and Word-List 379 
 
 Grieves, see Greeves. 
 
 Grindstone, see Nose. 
 
 Groaning, " a groaning horse and a groaning wife 
 never fail their master " (60c), groaning-wife = a 
 woman ready to lie-in. " As smoothe as a groaning- 
 wive's bellie." — Nashe, Unf. Trav. (1594), 92 (Chis- 
 wick Press, 1892). 
 
 Groat, (a) see Bestill. 
 
 (h) " not worth a groat " (33d, 386), a small stand- 
 ard of value; grey ^roa^ = something of no value, a 
 " brass farthing." '* I'll not leave him worth a grey 
 groat." — Marlowe, Jew of Malta (1586), iv. 4. 
 
 (c) " who can sing so merry a note As may he that 
 cannot change a groat? " (47a). 
 
 Groin, " like a hog hangeth the groin on her husband " 
 (74c), groin (A.N.) = to grumble, and as subs. = 
 grumbler, malcontent: usually "groiner." 
 
 Gromwell seed, " fair words did fet gromwell seed 
 plenty " (53c), possibly with an eye on gravelled = 
 worried, vexed ; gromwell seed being anciently ad- 
 ministered for the cure of gravel. 
 
 Ground, (a) " these lovers . . . think the ground bear 
 ihem not " (25c), i.e. in modern phrase, are " up in 
 the skies," have neither eyes nor ears for aught but 
 their mutual endearments. 
 (b) see Stools. 
 
 Groweth, see Grass, Weed. 
 
 Guest, (a) '* an unbidden guest knoweth not where to 
 sit" (216). 
 
 (6) " I bid you to dinner as no guest " (59a), i.e. 
 without formality, to take "pot-luck," as we now 
 have it. Or, it may be elliptical =" as we have no 
 invited guests." 
 
 GuNSTONE, see Pith. 
 
 Gutter, see Cat. 
 
 Gyles, " dread of such gyles " (48c), guiles, deceits. 
 " Many on trowyn on here wylys, And many tymes 
 the pye hem gylys." — MS. Harl. (1701), f. 3. 
 
380 Note-Book and Word-List [hab or nab 
 
 Hab or nab (9&), have or have not, without order, by 
 fair means or foul. 
 
 Hackney-men (406), originally proprietors of horses let 
 for hire: hackney =:a saddle horse. It was not until 
 the reign of Charles I. that the title was transferred 
 to the drivers of vehicles, the year 1625 being the 
 date of the first appearance of hackney coaches in the 
 streets of London. They were then only, twenty in 
 number, but the innovation occasioned an outcry 
 (Sharman) : " The world runs on wheeles. The hack- 
 ney-men, who were wont to have furnished travellers 
 in all places with fitting and serviceable horses for 
 any journey, (by the multitude of coaches) are un- 
 done by the dozens, and the whole commonwealth 
 most abominably jaded, that in many places a man 
 had as good to ride on a wooden post, as to poast it 
 upon one of those hunger-starv'd hirelings." — Taylor, 
 Works (1630). 
 
 Had, (n) "had I wist" (6c; 219^), had I known: a 
 common exclamation in old writers, who also used it 
 substantively. " But, out alas, I wretch too late did 
 sorrowe my amys. Unless lord Promos graunt me 
 grace, Jn vayne is had-y-wist. " — Whetstone, Promos 
 and Cassandra (1578), ii. 2. *' His pallid feares, his 
 sorrows, his affrightings, His late-wisht had-I-wists, 
 remorcefull bitings." — Browne, Brit. Past. (1613), I., 
 
 ii- 57- 
 
 {h) " who had that he hath not would do that he 
 doeth not " (95^). 
 
 Haddock, (a) " not worth a haddock " (99^), of small 
 value : cf. " as witty as a haddock " = downright fool- 
 ish (Hickscorner [c. 1550], E.E.D.S., Anon. Plays, 
 Ser. I, 153b). 
 
 (b) " thus had he brought haddock to paddock " 
 (qqd), outrun the constable: haddock = cod = purse 
 (" the fish we call a hadock, or a cod " [Florio]) — 
 the meaning thus being, a purse or bag of money 
 has melted as if cast to the paddocks (frogs). 
 
 Hair, (a) " make his hair grow through his hood " 
 (66& ; 198a), go-betweens will become rivals : usually the 
 phrase means " to cuckold." " It will make his hair 
 grow through his hood." — Ingelend, Disobedient Child 
 (c. 1550), Works (E.E.D.S.), 74b. " French hood, 
 
hand] Note-Book and Word-List 381 
 
 French hood, I will make your hair grow thorough." 
 — Middleton, Anything for a Quiet Life (1662). 
 
 (6) " long hair and short wit " (82^). " Hair! 'tis 
 the basest stubble ; in scorn of it The proverb sprung, 
 — He has more hair than wit." — Decker, Satiromastix 
 (1602). " More hair than wit, — it may be; I'll prove 
 it : The cover of the salt hides the salt, and therefore 
 it is more than the salt : the hair, that covers the 
 wit, is more than the wit, for the greater hides the 
 less." — Shakspeare, Two Gentlemen of Verona (1595), 
 iii. 2. 
 
 (c) " take a hair from his beard " (jSd). 
 
 (d) see Chickens, Dog. 
 
 Half, (a) " this half sheweth what the whole meaneth " 
 (84d). 
 
 (b) " that's just if the half shall judge the whole " 
 
 (50a)- 
 
 (c) " half warned, half armed " (77a), the modern 
 version is " forewarned, forearmed." 
 
 Halfpenny, see Hand. 
 
 Hall, " it is merry in hall when beards wag all " (79^), 
 an extremely popular saying in olden times. " 'It is 
 merry in hall when beards wag all.' Husband, for 
 this, these words t9 mind I call : This is meant by 
 men, in their merry eating. Not to wag their beards 
 in brawling and threating. — Wife, the meaning hereof 
 differeth not two pins, Between wagging of men's 
 beards and women's chins " (1676). 
 
 Halting, see Cripple. 
 
 Halter, " thy taking of thine halter in thine arms 
 teacheth other to beware of their harms by thine " 
 
 (42fe). 
 
 Halves, " as for that, reason runneth to halves — As 
 well for the cow calf as for the bull " (62a), see 
 Cow-calf. 
 
 Hand, (a) " so hard is your hand set on your half- 
 penny " (14c ; 1746), eye on main chance, attention 
 on self-interest. " Ri. Dromio, looke heere, now is 
 my hand on my half-peny. Half. Thou liest, thou 
 hast not a farthing to lay thy hands on." — Lyly, 
 Mother Bomhie (1594). 
 
382 Note-Book and Word-List [hang 
 
 (b) " lay your hand on your heart " (loic), as a 
 symbol of sincerity. 
 
 (c) " glad is he that hath her in hand " (52^), under 
 control. 
 
 (d) "many hands make light wark " (66b; 221^^). 
 " The vverke is the soner done that hathe many 
 handes : Many handys make light werke : my leve 
 child."— How the Goode Wif Thaught hir Daughter 
 {c. 1471), 113. 
 
 (e) " both their hands full (73c). 
 
 (/) " she can play on both hands " (246), is expert, 
 " wide." 
 
 (g) see Bird, Call, Claw. 
 
 Hang, (a) " he that hangeth himself a Sunday, Shall 
 hang still uncut down a Monday for me " (33b). 
 
 (b) " hang the bell about the cat's neck " (38^), 
 see infra. " But they are loth to mell, and loth to 
 hang the bell about the cat's neck, for dread to have 
 a check."— Skelton, Colin Clout (c. 1518), 165. " But. 
 quoth one Mouse unto the rest, Which of us all dare 
 be so stout To hang the bell cat's neck about? If 
 here be any, let him speake. Then all replide, We 
 are too weake : The stoutest Mouse and tallest Rat 
 Doe tremble at a grim-fac'd Cat." — Diogines Lan- 
 thorne (1607). 
 
 (c) see Keys. 
 
 Hanged, (a) " he that hath an ill name is half hanged " 
 (77a), or modern, " give a dog a bad name and hang 
 him." 
 
 (b) see Cord, Hatchet. 
 
 Hanging, see Wedding. 
 
 Hap, (a) " such hap here hapt " (48c) — " brought by good 
 hap " (75c), chance, fortune : subs, or verb, 
 (b) *' in hope of good hap " (looc), see supra. 
 
 Happeth, " it happeth in an hour that happeth not in 
 seven year " (38c ; 172 c). 
 
 Happy, (a) " happy man, happy dole " (gd ; 224^), a 
 generic wish for success. " Wherein, happy man be 
 his dole, I trust that I Shall not speede worst, and 
 that very quicklv." — Edwards, Damon and Pith., 
 O. PL (Reed), i.'i77. 
 
 (b) "better be happy then wise" (75c; 190b). 
 
hare] Note-Book and Word-List 383 
 
 Harborough, " good harborough " (223d), shelter, har- 
 bour, refuge. " Ah pleasant harborough of my heart's 
 thought ! Ah sweet delight, the quick 'ner of my soul." 
 — Wilmot and others, Tancred and Gism. 
 
 Hard, (a) " ill believed and worse hard " (91b), heard : 
 note the rhyme. 
 
 (b) see Cripple. 
 
 Hardly, " hardly if ye can " (59c), boldly, certainly. 
 " And hardly, aungel, trust therto. For doughtles it 
 shal be do."— MS. Coll. Trin. Duhl. D. iv. 18. 
 
 Hard wall, see Wall. 
 
 Hardy, "ye be hardy " (135^), courageous, bold. 
 
 Hare, (a) "there goeth the hare away" (73a; 190a), 
 " that's the gist, trend, secret, why and wherefore of 
 the matter." " Man. By my fayth a lytell season 
 I folowd the counsell and dyet of reason. Gets. 
 There went the hare away." — Medwall, Nature (15 10). 
 (6) " to hold with the hare and run with the 
 hound " (24a ; i8oc), play a double game, keep on 
 good terms with two contending parties. 
 
 (c) " mad as March hare " (73a ; 184&), a proverbial 
 type of madness ; but Skelton has it differently. 
 " Thanne they begynne to swere and to stare. And 
 be as braynles as a Marshe hare." — Blowhol's Test 
 (14 — ?). "As mery as a Marche hare." — Skelton, 
 Magn. (1526), 930. " I saye, thou madde Marche 
 hare." — Skelton, Replycation Against Certayne Yong 
 Scalers (1520). 
 
 (d) " catch (or hunt for) a hare with a taber " {21a), 
 to engage in or attempt a hopeless task : the taber 
 was a shallow drum beaten with the fingers. " The 
 poore man that gives but his bare fee, or perhaps 
 pleads in forma pauperis, he hunteth for hares with 
 a taber, and gropeth in the darke to find a needle in 
 a botle of hay." — Greene, Quip for an Upstart Cour- 
 tier (1592), Harl. Misc., v. 407. " One day after the 
 set of this comet men shall catch hares with tabers." 
 — Simon Smel-knave, Fearefull and Lamentable 
 Effects of Two Dangerous Comets (1591). 
 
 (e) " set the hare's head against the goose jiblet " 
 
384 Note-Book and Word-List [harm 
 
 (64a). *' Ide set mine old debts against my new 
 driblets, And the hare's foot against the goose gib- 
 lets." — Decker, Shomakers Holiday (1600). 
 
 Harm, (a) " there is no harm done in all this fray, 
 Neither pot broken nor water spilt " (44c). 
 
 (b) *' thou art so wood thou knowest not who doth 
 thee harm, who doth thee good " (86c). 
 
 (c) "it is good to beware by other men's harms " 
 (426). 
 
 Harp, (a) ** ye harp on the string that giveth no 
 melody " (63d), dwell persistently : see infra. 
 
 (b) "harp no more on that string" (96^; 184c), 
 supra. 
 
 Harpers, " have among you blind harpers " (ygb), a 
 proverbial pledge in drinking. Macaulay observes 
 that in the old ballad poetry, all the gold is " red " 
 and all the ladies "gay." So, also, the harpers are 
 blind. The Poet's Blind Man's Bough: or, Have 
 among you blinde Harpers, was the title of a tract 
 by Martin Parker, printed in 1651. " Leoc. Have 
 towards thee, Philotas. Phil. To thee, Archippus. 
 Arch. To thee, Molops. Molops. Have among you, 
 blind fiddlers." — Cartwright, Royall Slave (1651). 
 
 Harvest, " a long harvest for a little corn " (46c). 
 
 Harvest ears, see Ears. 
 
 Haskard, " as I were a haskard " (291^), a sloven. 
 
 Haste, (a) " haste maketh waste " (6oc ; 169^). 
 
 (b) " the more haste the less speed " (7a). 
 
 (c) " in more haste than good speed " (20b). 
 
 (d) " no haste but good " (97c). 
 
 (e) " then seeth he haste and wisdom things far 
 odd " (7a). 
 
 (/) " ye had like haste to waste " (95&). 
 
 Hasty, " hasty man never wanteth woe " {yb ; 167^^), 
 " Thou wert afire to be a ladie, and now your ladi- 
 ship and you may both blowe at the cole, for aught I 
 know. ' Selfe doe, selfe have.' 'The hastie man 
 never wanteth woe,' they say." — Jonson, &c., East- 
 ward Hoe (1605), V. I. 
 
 Hat, " mine old hat must have a new band " (s^d). 
 
head] Note-Book and Word-List 385 
 
 Hatch, see Door. 
 
 Hatchet, " I have hanged up my hatchet " (336 ; 197^). 
 
 Hath been, " ye know what he hath been ... ye know 
 
 not what he is " (37<i). 
 Haut, " men haut or high " (Sid), haut = proud. " No 
 
 lord of thine, thou haught insulting man." — Shak- 
 
 speare, Richard II. (1597), iv. i. 
 
 Have, see Harpers, Hold, Nought, Wind, Wish. 
 
 Havoc, " he maketh havoc " (65^). 
 
 Hawk, (a) " she hath one point of a good hawk, she is 
 hardy " (646), bold, stubborn. 
 
 (b) " he hath his hawks in the mew, but With 
 empty hands men may no hawks allure " (666), mew 
 = a place where falcons were kept. 
 
 Hawking, (a) " the first point of hawking is hold fast " 
 (64b). 
 
 (b) " hawking upon me, his mind herein to break " 
 (i8a), spluttering, spitting : hawk is from Welsh 
 " hochi," apparently an imitative word (Skeat). 
 
 Head, (a) " then have you his head fast under your 
 girdle" (71& ; 205b), on the hip, "in chancery." 
 
 (b) " break my head and give me a plaster " (95&). 
 
 (c) " a scald head is soon broken " (6ob). 
 
 (d) '* my aching head to ease I will couch a hogs- 
 head " (58&), see Couch. 
 
 (e) " when the head acheth, all the body is the 
 worse " (85^). 
 
 (/) " their heads be full of bees " (47c), projects : 
 usually denotive, however, of crazy crotchets. " But, 
 Wyll, my maister hath bees in his head." — Edwards, 
 Damon and Pithias (1571). 
 
 (g) see Nail. 
 
 (h) " to-morrow I will to my beads to pray that as 
 ye both will, so ache your heads " (58a). 
 
 (i) " so many heads, so many wits " [gc ; 168J). 
 " Quot homines tot sententiae " (Terence). " For 
 amonge feaders are alwayes sondry appetytes, and in 
 great assemblyes of people, dyvurse, and varyaunt 
 judgements ; as the saynge is, so many heades, so 
 many wyttes." — Queen Elizabeth, Godly Meditacyon 
 of the Christen Sowle (1548). " Ah, sirha, I see wel 
 HEY. II. C C 
 
3S6 Note-Book and Word-List [healing 
 
 the olde proverbe is true, which saith : so many men 
 so many mindes." — Gascoigne, Glasse of Government 
 
 (1575)- 
 
 (fe) " two heads are better than one " (23a). 
 {1} see Cap, Dead, Foot, Gift. 
 
 Healing, " it is ill healing of an old sore " (87c). 
 
 Health, " ye may write to your friends that ye are in 
 health " (626 ; 2iod). 
 
 Hear, (a) " a man should hear all parts, ere he judge 
 any " (49b ; 202d). 
 
 (6) " I cannot hear on that side " (187c), an excuse 
 for wilful deafness. 
 
 Heart, (a) " to set at my heart that thou settest at thy 
 heel " (34b ; 175a and b). 
 
 (b) " she taketh such heart of grace " (87c), to pick 
 up courage, some thinking it was originally " to take 
 heart at grass " : in the Epigrams on Proverbs (183d) 
 both forms occur — " thou takest heart of grass . . . 
 not heart of grace." " He came within the castle 
 wall to-day, His absence gave him so much heart of 
 grace. Where had my husband been but in the way, 
 He durst not," &c. — Harington, Ariost. (1591), xxi. 39. 
 " Seeing she would take no warning, on a day took 
 heart at grasse, and belabour 'd her well with a 
 cudgel." — Tarlton, Neivs out of Purgatory (1590). 
 
 (c) " your heart is in your hose " (36^ ; 175^), a simile 
 of fear or trepidation : modern, " heart in mouth " or 
 " shoes." " Be your hearts in your hose? " — 
 Thersites, Anon. PL, Ser. i (E.E.D.S.), 208a. 
 
 (d) see Eye, Hose. 
 
 Heaven, (a) " she made us cheer heaven high " (60a), 
 heartily, "sky-high," "raise the roof." 
 (h) see Hell 
 
 Heavy, see Burden, Hot, Light. 
 
 Hedge, (a) " where the hedge is lowest, men may 
 soonest over " (68 J). " Where hedge is lowe, there 
 every man treads downe. And friendship failes, when 
 Fortune list to frowne." — Gascoigne, Posies (1575)- 
 (b) see Stake. 
 
 Heed, " take heed is a fair thing " (88c). 
 
herring] Note-Book and Word-List 387 
 
 Heels, (a) " show (or take to) a fair pair of heels " 
 (ySb), to take flight, run away. " Darest thou be so 
 valiant as to play the coward with thy indenture and 
 show it a fair pair of heels? " — Shakspeare, i Henry 
 IV. (1598), ii. 4. 
 (6) see Cow, Heart. 
 
 Heinsby (38a), upstart, " nouveau riche " ; a generic 
 reproach of any person in an inferior grade of society, 
 or of low origin : cf. rudesby = an impertinent. 
 
 Hekst, "when bale is hekst, boot is next" (46c; 
 225^), things when at worst begin to mend. " When 
 bale is greatest, then is bote a nie bore." — Chaucer, 
 Testament of Love. 
 
 Hell, (a) " uphill to heavenward, downhill to hell " 
 (274^). 
 
 (b) " they that be in hell ween there is none other 
 heaven " (40a). 
 
 Hen, (a) " as nice as a nun's hen " (52c), a very ancient 
 proverbial simile: ? nun = {a) a variety, of pigeon 
 having its head almost covered with a veil i^feathers ; 
 (6) the smew ; or (c) the blue titmouse — most likely 
 the last. " Women, women, love of women, Make 
 bare purs with some men. Some be nyse as a nonne 
 bene, Yet al thei be not soo ; Some be lewde, some 
 all be schrewde. Go schrewes wher thei goo." — 
 Satirical Verses on Women (1462). " I have the 
 taught dyvysyon between Frende of effect, and frende 
 of countenaunce ; The nedeth not the gall of none hen 
 That cureth eyen." — Lydgate, Proverbes (c. 1520). 
 '* I knewe a priest that was as nice as a Nonnes 
 Henne." — Wilson, Arte of Rhetorique (1562). 
 (b) see Cockney. 
 
 Hept, " this hall hept with gold " (36a), heaped. 
 
 Herbengers, " their horses be their herbengers " (iigd), 
 harbinger : properly herberger, or herbergeour, origin- 
 ally one who not only announced the approaching 
 arrival of a guest, but who made all ready for his 
 reception ; hence a messenger. 
 
 Here, see Some. 
 
 Hereafter, " though hereafter come not yit " (82a). 
 
 Herring, see Fish. 
 
 C C 2 
 
J 
 
 88 Note-Book and Word-List [hew 
 
 Hew, " hew not too high lest the chips fall in thine 
 eye " (82a). " For an old proverbe it is ledged ' he 
 that heweth to hie, with chips he may lose his sight.' " 
 — Chaucer, Testament of Love. 
 
 Hey WOOD (John), see Terminal Essay, Vol. IH. 
 
 High, (a) " not too high for the pye, nor too low for 
 the crow " (82a; 214b). 
 (fo) see Hew. 
 
 (c) " her heart is full high when her eye is full 
 low " (28a). 
 
 (d) " high in t' instep " (216a), haughty, proud, 
 arrogant. " Now the gentleman was growne higher 
 in the instep, as appeared by the insolent conditions 
 he required." — Moryson, Itin. (1617), n. 26. 
 
 Hilt, " I will as soon be hilt " (44c), probably 
 = cudgelled : /it/^ = cudgel. 
 
 Hip, " then have ye him on the hip or on the hurdle " 
 (71b), at an advantage : probably from hunting 
 (Nares) ; the hurdle in old law was a frame or sledge 
 on which criminals were drawn from the prison to the 
 place of execution, and designed to preserve the 
 offender from the extreme torment of being dragged 
 on the ground. " I'll have our Michael Cassio on 
 the hip." — Shakspeare, Othello (1602), ii. 7. 
 
 Ho, " to whom God bade Ho ! " {39d), originally a call 
 or exclamation ; hence a stop or limit, and whence 
 many idioms — out of all /io= out of all bounds; no ho 
 with him = not to be restrained; Let us ho = stop. 
 " Howbeit they would not crie hoa here, but sent in 
 post some of their covent to Rome? " — Stanihurst, 
 Description of Ireland, 26. 
 
 Hoddypeak (i2ic), fool, craven : a generic reproach. 
 " They counte peace to be cause of ydelnes, and that 
 it maketh men hodipekes and cowardes." — Christo- 
 pherson, Exh. against Rebel (1554). 
 
 Hog, (a) " routing like a hog " (30a), rouf = snore. 
 " Hark, my pygg, how the knave dooth rowte ! Well, 
 whyle he sleepth in Idlenes lappe, Idlenes marke on 
 hym shall I cappe." — Wit and Science (E.E.D.S., 
 Anon. PL Ser. 4). 
 
hood] Note-Book and Word-List 389 
 
 (6) " every man basteth the fat hog, but the lean 
 shall burn ere he basted be " (46a ; 225c and d). 
 
 (c) " cast precious stones before hogs " (93a ; 182^), a 
 variant of "to cast pearls before swine." 
 
 HoGSTOWN (293a), ? Hoxton : play on hog ( = churl, 
 clown) in connection with place names was common. 
 The classical instance is, "I think thou wast born 
 at Hogs-Norton (a village in Oxfordshire, and pro- 
 perly Hoch, or High Norton, neighbouring towns or 
 hamlets being Chipping Norton, Over Norton, &c.) 
 where pigs play upon the organs," and applied to 
 clownish behaviour. Then " over a Hogsdon cask " 
 ( = hurriedly, unceremoniously); "a hog in armour" 
 (of a rustic or lout in fine apparel) ; " hog-rabbler " 
 ( = a churl, clown, clodhopper); " hog-in-togs " ( = a 
 well-dressed loafer : American ; cf. " hog in armour ") ; 
 " hog-age " ( = hobbledehoyhood) ; " hog-grubber " ( = 
 a niggard) ; and so forth. 
 
 Hold, (a) "hold fast when ye have it" (29c; 226d), 
 " sit tight," " freeze on to." 
 
 (&) " hold ye fast . . . lest ye be cast " (64b). 
 
 (c) " who may hold that will away " (75^). 
 
 (d) [She will] "let fall her hold [rather] than be 
 too bold " (64b). 
 
 (e) see Hare, Nose, Shoe. 
 
 Hole, see Day. 
 
 Holy day, (a) " this gear was gotten on a holy day " 
 
 (75^). 
 
 (h) " he laid her up for holy days " (looc). 
 
 Home, (a) " home is homely though it be poor " (iib ; 
 169a). 
 
 (b) " thou gossipest at home to meet me at land's 
 end " (83a). 
 
 Honesty, " the flower of honesty " (28b), cf. " flower 
 of chivalry," " flower of the flock," &c. 
 
 Honey, " where words seemed honey . . . now are 
 they mustard " (54b). 
 
 Honey moon, " it was yet but honey moon " (17c). 
 
 Hood, (a) " by my hood " (i02d), formerly, as now, the 
 
390 Note-Book and Word-List [hook 
 
 commonest as well as the most sacred things were 
 convenient pegs upon which to hang a " cussword." 
 (b) see Bean, Chickens, Ear, Face. 
 
 Hook, (a) " avale, unhappy hook " (44a), adieu : hook = 
 a term of reproach, here equivalent to " miserable 
 failure." "That unhappy hook." — Heywood, Works 
 (E.E.D.S.), I., 26c and 35^. 
 
 (b) " by hook or crook " (44a), by some means 
 or other, by fair means or foul, at all hazards : a 
 term derived from old forestry. " Nor will suffer this 
 boke, By hooke or by crooke, Prynted for to be." — 
 Skelton, Colin Clout (1520). " Dynmure Wood was 
 ever open and common to the . . . inhabitants of 
 Bodmin ... to bear away upon their backs a burden 
 of lop, crop, hook, crook, and bag wood." — Bodmin 
 Register (1525). 
 
 (c) see Cross. 
 
 Hop-ON-MY-THUMB, "it is a small hop on my thumb " 
 (31&), a small, insignificant person : in derision. 
 " Plain friend hop o' my thumb, know you who we 
 are? " — Shakspeare, Taming of the Shre-ju (1593). 
 
 HoppETH, " when wooers hop in and out, long time 
 may bring him that hoppeth best at last to have 
 the ring " (9a). 
 
 Horns, see Cow. 
 
 Horn wood (99c), i.e. horn-mad, stark staring mad, 
 originally because cuckolded ; see Wood. " Sure my 
 mistress is horn-mad." — Shakspeare, Comedy of Errors 
 
 (1593), ii- I- 
 Horologe, see Devil. 
 
 HoRSADOWN (291&), ? Horsleydown. 
 
 Horse, (a) " rub a galled horse on the back and he 
 will kick " (196c), see next entry. 
 
 (fe) " I rub the galled horse back till he winch " 
 (84c), 'u;mc/i = wince. 
 
 (c) " a scald horse is good enough for a scabb'd 
 squire " (40b), i.e. like to like ; a mangy screw is 
 good enough for a disreputable rider : " scald " and 
 " scabb'd " are synonymous, and both are used in 
 contempt of anything shabby, disgusting, or paltry. 
 " Like lettuce like lips, a scabb'd horse for a scald 
 squire." — New Custom, Anon. PL, Ser. i (E.E.D.S.), 
 
horse] Note-Book and Word-List 391 
 
 174^. In the Epigrams (200c), the identity of 
 " scald " and " scabb'd " is shown by the wording 
 of the proverb being reversed. 
 
 (d) "a short horse is soon curried " (23& ; 174c). 
 
 (e) " a man may well lead a horse to the water, but 
 he cannot make him drink " (33a ; 175&). 
 
 (/) "a good horse that never stumbleth " (20a; 
 187a). " A good horse that trippeth not once in a 
 journey." — Three Proper and Wittie Familiar Letters 
 (1580). 
 
 (g) " some man may steal a horse better than some 
 other may stand and look " {gid ; 203a). " Good Epi, 
 let mee take a nap ; for as some man may better 
 steale a horse then another looke over a hedge ; so 
 divers shall be sleepie when they would fainest take 
 rest." — Lyly, Endimion (1591). 
 
 (h) "it is ... a proud horse that will not bear 
 his own provender " (986). " Sir, hee's a proud horse 
 that will not carry his own provander, I warrant yee. " 
 — Porter, Two Angry Women of Abingdon (1599). 
 
 (i) " recover the horse, or lese the saddle too " 
 
 (95«)- 
 
 (j) " no man ought to look a given horse in the 
 mouth " (13c). " A gyven hors may not be loked in 
 the tethe." — Viilgaria Stambrigi (c. 1510). "It is 
 certainly as old as Jerome, a Latin father of the fourth 
 century ; who when found fault with . . . quoted the 
 proverb, that it did not behove to look a gift horse 
 in the mouth." — Trench, Proverbs and their Lessons. 
 
 (k) " as shortly as a horse will lick his ear " (93d). 
 
 (/) " it would have made a horse break his halter " 
 
 (53^)- 
 
 (m) " God have mercy, horse " (78c), i.e. God help 
 us; according to Tarlton's Jests (161 1), this arose from 
 an adventure of Richard Tarlton, the player, with 
 Banks's performing horse, Morocco, the phrase being 
 a retort that tickled the ears of the assembled crowd 
 and " caught on." 
 
 (n) " the grey mare is the better horse " (64a), the 
 wiiFe is master : a tradition, perhaps, of the time when 
 priests were forbidden to carry arms or ride on a 
 male horse : Non enim licuerate pontificem sacrorum 
 vel arma ferre, vel praeter quatn in equud equitare. — 
 Beda, Hist. Eccl. ii. 13. Cf. Fr. Mariage d'epervier = a 
 
392 Note-Book and Word-List [horse loaves 
 
 hawk's marriage; the female hawk being the larger 
 and stronger bird. Lord Macaulay's explanation (pre- 
 ference given to the grey mares of Flanders over the 
 finest coach horses of England) is the merest guess- 
 work. " What ! shall the graye mayre be the better 
 horse, And the wanton styll at home? " — Pryde and 
 Abuse of Women Now a Dayes (c. 1550). 
 
 (0) " evermore the common horse is worst shod " 
 (42a), cf.> " the shoemaker's wife is worst shod." 
 
 {p) " folk call on the horse that will carry alway " 
 (42a), in modern phrase, " the willing horse is always 
 most ridden." 
 
 (g) " as wholesome a morsel for my comely corse 
 as a shoulder of mutton for a sick horse " (85a), 
 utterly worthless, distasteful. " Counsel to him is as 
 good as a shoulder of mutton to a sick horse." — 
 JoHSon, Every Man in his Humour (1596), ii. i. 
 
 (r) see Cart, Colt, Galled, Grass. 
 
 Horse loaves, " as high as two horse loaves her person 
 is " (24c), a jocular standard of measurement (some- 
 times three horse loaves) : compare the phrase, still 
 current, which says that diminutive persons must 
 stand on three penny loaves to look over the back of 
 a goat, or a duck. The horse-loaf was made of beans 
 and wheat. " Her stature scant three horse loaves 
 did exceed." — Harington, Ariosto. 
 
 Horse plum, " purple ruddy like a horse plum " (24c), 
 horse, a generic qualificative = coarse, large. 
 
 Hose, " your heart is in your hose " (36^ ; 175^). 
 " Primus Pastor. Breck outt youre voce, yet se as ye 
 yelp. Tercius Pastor. I may not for the pose bot I 
 have help. Secundus Pastor. A, thy hert is in thy 
 hose." — Towneley Mysteries (c. 1430). 
 
 Host, see Oste, Reckoners. 
 
 Hot, (a) " hot love soon cold " {6d). " Dowghter, in 
 this I can thinke none oother But that it is true thys 
 proverbe old, Hastye love is soone hot and soone 
 cold ! " — Wyt and Science (c. 1540), Anon. PL, Ser. 4. 
 (b) " when th' iron is hot, strike " (8c), act at the 
 right moment, seize an opportunity. Fr. " Messieurs, 
 ce pendant que le fer est chauld il le fault battre " 
 
'*€^^J.'.0KW3^ 
 
 hunger] Note-Book and Word-List 393 
 
 (Rabelais, 11. 31). '* Birdlime. Strike whilst the iron 
 is hot. A woman, when there be roses in her 
 cheeks, cherries on her lips, civet in her breath, 
 ivory in her teeth, lilies in her hand, and liquorice in 
 her heart, why, she's like a play : if new, very good 
 company ; but if stale, like old Jeronimo, go by, go 
 by, therefore, as I said before, strike." — Webster, 
 Westward Ho (1607). See Iron. 
 
 (c) " little pot soon hot," see Pot. 
 
 (d) " neither too heavy nor too hot " {^?>h). 
 
 (e) " soon hot, soon cold " (886). 
 
 Hound, see Hare. 
 
 Hour, see Happeth. 
 
 House, (a) "a man may love his house well though he 
 ride not on the ridge " (6ia). 
 (b) see Mend. 
 
 HousEBAND (281c), husband : originally the head or 
 master of a house ; also a farmer, tiller of the soil. 
 
 Householders, see Wishers. 
 
 Housewife, " a clean-fingered housewife and an idle " 
 
 (26c), i.e. if a mistress does her duty she cannot ever 
 
 have clean hands. 
 
 Hum, " bearers of the hum " (247b), old, mellow, and 
 very strong ale. " Hum, Meath, and Obarni." — Jon- 
 son, Devil's an Ass (1616), i. i. 
 
 Hundred, " what ye won in the hundred ye lost in the 
 shire " (926), hundred = a division of a county in 
 England, supposed to be named from originally con- 
 taining one hundred families of freemen. 
 
 Hunger, (a) *' hunger droppeth even out of both their 
 noses" (39^1; 20yd). 
 
 (b) " hunger pierceth stone wall " (47a). " They 
 said, they were an-hungry ; sigh'd forth proverbs; — 
 That, hunger broke stone walls ; that, dogs must eat ; 
 That, meat was made for mouths ; that, the gods sent 
 not corn for the rich man only." — Shakspeare, Corio- 
 lanus (1610), i. i. 
 
 (c) " hunger maketh hard beans sweet " (296), cf. 
 ** hunger is the best sauce." 
 
 (d) " they must hunger in frost that will not work 
 In heat " (34^). 
 
394 Note-Book and Word-List [hungry 
 
 Hungry, (a) see Dogs, Flies. 
 
 (b) " two hungry meals made the third a glutton " 
 
 (45&)- 
 Hunter, " close hunting the good hunter alloweth " 
 (72a). 
 
 Husbands, *' husbands are in heaven whose wives scold 
 not " (85c). 
 
 Huswife (25a), primarily a housewife : whence (a) 
 domestic servant ; (b) a wanton or a gad-about wench ; 
 and (c) a comic endearment. Hence, too, " house- 
 wifery " and " housewife's tricks " = the habit of 
 wantonness. *' A gude husy-wife ay rinning in the 
 toun." — Gawain and Gologras, " Ballade " (1508), 
 Pinkerton, Scottish Poems (1792), iii. " Half lost for 
 lack of a good huswife's looking to." — Puttenham, 
 English Poesie (1589), ii. 16 (ed. Arber, 148). " Hus- 
 wife, I'll have you whipped for slandering me." — 
 Look About You (1600), sc. 28 (Dodsley, Old Plays, 
 4th ed., 1875, vii. 476). 
 
 IcH, " Ich said " (136b), I. 
 
 Ignorancy, " Cometh not of ignorancy " {73b), ignor- 
 ance. " Rocked in blyndnes and ignorauncy." — Tyn- 
 dall, Workes, 157. 
 
 Iles, see Out isles. 
 
 Ill, (a) " from ill to worse and worse " (89a), the 
 modern version is '* bad to worse." 
 
 (&) "of two ills choose the least" (i2d ; 2iid). 
 " Of harmes two the lesse is for to cheese." — 
 Chaucer, Troilus and Creseide. 
 
 (c) " turn ... ill beginning to a good end " (89c). 
 
 (d) " ill believed and worse hard " (gib). 
 
 (e) " they that think none ill are soonest beguiled " 
 
 (73^). 
 
 (J) " all be not a-bed that shall have ill rest " (86d). 
 
 (g) " an ill wind that bloweth no man to good " 
 (93c; 183a). 
 
 (h) see Dagger, Dog, Fishing, Run, Stake, Weed. 
 
 Illgotten, " ill gotten, ill spent " (igod), cf. " lightly 
 come, lightly go." 
 
issues] Note-Book and Word-List 395 
 
 Importable, " may grow importable " (826), unendur- 
 able, insupportable. " Beware of the importable bur- 
 dens of the high-mynded pharisees." — Bale, English 
 Votaries, pt. i. 
 
 In, " in by the week " (846 ; 176^). 
 
 Inch, (a) " as good is an inch as an ell " (95c), ell = 
 a cloth measure (in England 45 inches) : cf. " it is the 
 first step that counts." 
 
 (b) " when I gave you an inch ye took an ell, till 
 both ell and inch be gone " (95c), see supra (a). 
 
 (c) " better an inch of your will than an ell of your 
 thrift " (95&), see supra (a). 
 
 (d) " an inch breaketh no square " (iSyd ; i68a). 
 
 (e) " may I be holp forth an inch at a pinch " (95c). 
 
 Inde, see Cock. 
 
 Inions, " ropes of inions " (281a), now vulgar. It 
 occurs also in Hey wood's Spider and the Fly 
 (E.E.U.S., Works, III.) : " Not worth an inion." 
 
 Ink, " ink is all black and hath an ill smack. No man 
 will it drink or eat " (63a). 
 
 Inn, " take mine ease in mine inn " {i2d ; 171^), enjoy 
 oneself as if one were at home. " Shall I not take 
 mine ease in mine inn, but I shall have my pocket 
 picked?" — Shakspeare, i Henry IV. (1598), iii. 3. 
 
 Inowe (passim), enough. 
 
 Instep, "high in th' instep" (37^; 216a), haughty, 
 proud. " The gentleman was grown higher in the 
 instep, as appeared by the insolent conditions he re- 
 quired." — Moryson, Itin. (1617), ii. 26. "He was 
 too high in the instep to wear another man's shoes." 
 — Fuller, Holy War (1639), 11. viii. (1647), 53. 
 
 Iron, " when the iron is hot strike " (Sc ; 221c), act at 
 the appropriate time. " Right so as while that iron 
 is hot, men should strike." — Chaucer, Melib. (c. 1386), 
 70. See Hot. 
 
 Issues, " lost'st a mark in issues " (279c), issues = 
 fines; rnarfe = money of account, value 13s. 4d. : as a 
 coin it was never used in England, though in Scotland 
 marks were current in the 15th and 16th centuries. 
 
396 Note-Book and Word-List [itch 
 
 Itch, " itch and ease can no man please " (62b). 
 
 Itching, " he whom in itching no scratching will for- 
 bear, he must bear the smarting that shall follow 
 there " (28c). 
 
 Itcheth, see Claw. 
 
 IwYS (passhn), certainly, indeed, truly : often no more 
 than a metrical tag. 
 
 Jack, (a) " jack out of office " (58^ ; 213c), one dis- 
 missed or out of employment. " For liberalitie is 
 tourned Jacke out of office, and others appointed to 
 have the custodie." — Rich, Farewell to Militaric 
 Profession (1581). 
 
 (b) " all . . . well, Jack shall have Jill " (58c : 
 169^), Jack and Jill (or Gill) are generic for " man " 
 and " woman " : specifically of the common people. 
 " For Jok nor for Gyll will I turne my face." — 
 Toivneley Myst. {c. 1460), iii. 336. 
 
 (c) "I have been common Jack to all that whole 
 flock " (4id), in disparagement; i.e. at everyone's beck 
 and call : cf. " a twangling jack " {Taming of the 
 Shrew), and '* silken, slv, insinuating jacks " 
 (Richard III.). 
 
 (d) see Gentleman. 
 
 Jerman, " just as Jerman's lips " (56b). *' As just as 
 German's lips, which came not together by nine 
 mile." — Latimer, Remaines. "Agree like Dogge and 
 Catte, and meete as just as German's Hppes. " — Gosson, 
 Schole of Abuse. 
 
 Jests, " such jests could not juggle her were ought 
 amiss " (88a). 
 
 Jesting, " it is ill jesting on the sooth " (88a), i.e. true 
 jesting is no jest at all : sooth = truth. 
 
 Jet, subs, and verb (passim), strut, swagger, pose. ** O 
 peace ! Contemplation makes a rare turkey-cock of 
 him ; how he jets under his advanc'd plumes ! " — 
 Shakspeare, Twelfth Night (1602), ii. 5. 
 
 Jis, " by Jis " (136&), Jesus : a common contraction. 
 
 Joan (or Jone), " ye should have none for Jone " (96c), 
 /oan = a generic name for a female rustic. " Some 
 men must love my lady, and some Joan." — Shak- 
 speare, Love's Labour's Lost (1588), iii. i. 207. 
 
kill] Note-Book and Word-List 397 
 
 JoHN-A-DROiN (293a), the exact meaning is unknown : 
 another example is found in Nash {Saffron Walden 
 P j b). — " That poor lohn a Droynes his man, ... a 
 great big-board thresher." 
 
 John Drawlatch (88c), a thief ; also idle fellow, loafer, 
 ne'er-do-well. " Well, phisitian, attend in my cham- 
 ber heere, till Stilt and I returne ; and if I pepper 
 him not, say I am not worthy to be cald a duke, but 
 a drawlatch." — Chettle, Hoffman (1602). 
 
 John Long the Carrier (254b), proverbial for delay and 
 postponement. 
 
 Joy, (a) " for one month's joy, to bring her whole life's 
 sorrow " (27c), in allusion to the honeymoon. 
 
 (b) " poverty brought that joy to joyfail " (looc). 
 
 (c) " with all your joy join all your jeopardy " 
 (loic). 
 
 Joyfail, " poverty brought that joy to joyfail " (lOoc), 
 joyfail = a. nonce word intended as a pun. 
 
 Judge, see Blind, Hear. 
 
 JuDicARE, " to know how Judicare came into the 
 Creed " (206). 
 
 Ka, " ka me, ka thee " (41c), a phrase implying mutual 
 help, service, flattery and the like; to " logroll." 
 
 Kay, see Key. 
 
 Keep, see Three, Wise. 
 
 Key, (a) " cold as a kay " (54&), as cold as may be, 
 spec, cold as in death : usually " key-cold." " With 
 quaikard voce and hart cald as a key." — Douglas, 
 Pal. Hon. (1501), 674. 
 
 (h) " the keys hang not all by one man's girdle " 
 (37a; 216c). 
 
 KiBED, " kibed heels . . . kibed hearts " (175&), kibed 
 heels = hee\s affected with chilblains. " No wonder 
 yf he halted, for kybed were his helys." — How Plow- 
 man Learned Pater-Noster (c. 1500). 
 
 Kick, see Horse, Wall. 
 
 Kid, " a piece of a kid is worth two of a cat " (86a). 
 
 Kill, see Mustard. 
 
39? Note-Book and Word-List [kind 
 
 Kind, " kind will creep where it may not go " {33c), 
 fcmd = human nature, kinship. " He . . . rode in 
 poste to his kynsman . . . verefiying the old pro- 
 verbe : kynne will crepe, where it maie not go." — 
 Hall, Chron. (c. 1548), Edw. IV., 190. " Ay, gentle 
 Thurio ; for you know that love Will creep in service 
 when it cannot go." — Shakspeare, Two Gentlemen of 
 Verona (1595), iv. 2. 
 
 King, see Cat, Nothing. 
 
 Kinsfolk, "many kinsfolk, few friends" (45^; 218b). 
 
 KiRTLE, " though nigh be my kirtle yet near is my 
 smock " (28^), fei>iZe = originally a man's garment 
 reaching to the knees or lower, sometimes the only 
 body garment, but more usually worn with a shirt (or 
 smock) beneath, and a cloak or mantle above ; also 
 (as here) a woman's gown : both forms became archaic 
 long since. " Beside, there is a antiquitie a proverb 
 no lesse practised then common, which is. Nearer 
 unto mee is my shirt then my coate ; by following of 
 which, every man commonly loveth his owne profit 
 more than others." — The Contention betweene Three 
 Brethren; the Whore-monger, the Drunkard, and the 
 Dice Player (1608). A'^ear = nearer. 
 
 Kiss, (a) " many kiss the child for the nurse's sake " 
 (84^). 
 
 (b) " how can she give a kiss, sour or sweet? Her 
 chin and her nose within half an inch meet " (53a). 
 
 Kissed, see Cow. 
 
 Kit Callot (29c). Kit Callot and Giles Hather arc 
 said to have been the first English persons who took 
 up the occupation of gipsies (Sharman) : hence calot 
 (callet, calot, calet, or caillot) = a scold, infamous 
 woman : a generic term of abuse. " Gogs bread ! 
 and thinkes the callet thus to keep the neele me 
 fro." — Gammer Giirtons Needle (1560). 
 
 Kite, see Leg. 
 
 Knacks, " such knacks in her bouget " (75b), see 
 Bouget. ivnacfe5 = tricks, fancies, " bees in bonnet," 
 
 Knappish, " I am knappish to see " (244^), rude, 
 vexed, testy. " A certaine saucie or knappishe young 
 springall." — Udall, Erasmus Apoph. (1542), 165 (1877). 
 
knuckleboneyard] Note-Book and Word-List 399 
 
 Knave, (a) " two false knaves need no broker " (35^ ; 
 175^), broker — a go-between. " Some will say, A 
 crafty knave need no broker, But here's a craftie 
 knave and a broker too." — Knacke to Knowe a Knave 
 (1594), " As two false knaves need no Broker, for 
 they can easily enough agree in wickednesse . . . 
 so among true and faithfull men, there need no 
 others." — A Sword against Swearers (i6n). 
 
 (b) " an old knave is no child " (58a), see infra. 
 " Thus the English proverb saith, No knave to the 
 learned knave." — Moryson, Itin. (1627), iii. 5. 
 
 (c) " an old knave is no babe " (198a), see supra. 
 
 (d) " the one knave now croucheth while th' other 
 craveth " (36a). 
 
 (e) " it is merry when knaves meet " (35^)- ** No 
 more of Cocke now I wryte, But mery it is when 
 knaves done mete." — Cocke Lorelles Bote (c. 1510). 
 " Merrie meeting? why that Title is stale. There's 
 a Boke cald Tis merry when knaves meete, and 
 there's a Ballad Tis merry when Malt-men meete; 
 and besides there's an old Proverbe The more the 
 merrier." — Samuel Rowlands, Tis Merrie when Gos- 
 sips meete (1602). 
 
 (/) " the more knaves the worse company " (36a). 
 
 Knot, " mark this knot " (138^), problem, point, gist 
 of a matter. " The knotte why ]>at every tale is 
 toold." — Chaucer, Cant. Tales (c. 1386), Sq. Tale, 
 393- 
 
 Know, see Bag. 
 Knoweth, see Good. 
 
 Knowledge, " I know and knowledge " (26a), own, 
 acknowledge, confess. " They knowledge thee to be 
 the Father of an infinite majesty." — Goodly Primer 
 (1535). 82 (1834). 
 
 Known, see Friend. 
 
 Knuckleboneyard, " he is a knuckleboneyard " (40&), a 
 clumsy fellow. " A knokylbonyarde wyll counterfete 
 a clarke. He wolde trotte gentylly, but he is to 
 stark." — Skelton, Magn. (1526), 485.' 
 
400 Note-Book and Word-List [kyx 
 
 Kyx, " light as a kyx " (135a), a dry hollow stalk : 
 also "kex." 
 
 Labour, " ye shall never labour younger " (21c), be- 
 come, grow : cf. to labour on = to go on. 
 
 Laboureth, " reason laboureth will " (13b), cultivates. 
 
 Lack, (a) " lack is the loss of these two young fools " 
 
 (49fc). 
 
 (b) " no lack to lack a wife " (103a). 
 
 (c) " ye had been lost to lack your lust " (32c), 
 ZM5i = wish, desire. 
 
 {d) see Love. 
 
 Lady, *' there is nothing that agree 'th worse than doth a 
 lady's heart and a beggar's purse " (27b). 
 
 Laid, see Water. 
 
 Lamb, " look like a lamb " (91c). 
 
 Lambskin, (a) " as soon goeth the young lamb's skin to 
 the market as th' old ewe's " (60c). " It is a com- 
 mon saying, there do come as many skins of calves 
 to the market as there do of bulls or kine." — Barclay, 
 Ship of Fools (1509). 
 
 (b) " a lambskin ... to lap her in " (76c), i.e. 
 beat, trounce her: Zamb5fem = stroke, blow; lap = 
 coil, wind round, wrap up (cf. " The Wife Lapped in 
 Morelles Skin," Earl. Pop. Poet., iv. 179). "And 
 because therof, I did give her three or four lamb- 
 skines with the yerd. Thou servedst her well ynough, 
 said he." — MS. AshmoL, 208. 
 
 Lap, see Lambskin (fe). 
 
 Lark, see Leg, Sky. 
 
 Larum (a) (78b), hubbub, uproar. " Then the crye and 
 larum began." — Berners, Huon {c. 1533), cxxix. 472. 
 (b) see Ringeth. 
 
 Last, " he that cometh last make all fast " (210b). 
 
 Late, (a) " better late than never " (26b ; 227^). " Far 
 bet than never is late." — Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol. 
 and T. (c. 1386), 857. Also in Tusser's Five Hun- 
 dred Points of Good Husbandry. 
 
 (6) " too late . . . repentance shewed is " (266). 
 
least] Note-Book and Word-List 401 
 
 Laugh, ** they laugh that win " (i2d and 215& and c), 
 the adage occurs in various forms : " they win that 
 laugh"; "they laugh best that laugh last"; "give 
 losers leave to talk," &c. " Give loosers leave to 
 talke : it is no matter what sic probo and his penni- 
 lesse companions prate, whilst we have the gold in 
 our coffers." — Nash, Pierce Penilesse (1592). " Let 
 them laugh that win the prize." — May, Heir (1622), 
 iii. I. See Laughter and Win. 
 
 Laughed, see Sleeve. 
 
 Laughing, " from laughing to lowering " (54c). 
 
 Laughter, " better is the last smile then the first 
 laughter " (94^), see Laugh. 
 
 Law, see Need. 
 
 Lawn, " he that will sell lawn before he can fold it, he 
 shall repent him before he have sold it " (19&). 
 Another " lawn " proverb says, " No piece of lawn so 
 pure but hath some fret " (Barnefield, Pecunia, 1598, 
 xxxvi.). 
 
 Lay, (a) " reason for reason ye so stiffly lay by proverb 
 for proverb " (14^^), " cap " by, compare with. " They 
 conferre the one with the other, and lay them with the 
 lawe." — Tr. Bullinger's Decades (1577), ii- viii. 192. 
 
 (b) " the trial thereof we will lay a water till we 
 try more " (loa), put aside, defer judgment concern- 
 ing, render nugatory : see Water. " If he had broke 
 his arme . . . either Apollo must have played Bone- 
 setter, or every occupation beene laide a water." — 
 Gosson, Schoole of Abuse (1579). 
 
 Lead, see Horse. 
 
 Leaf, ** she will turn the leaf " (646), adopt a different 
 line of conduct : now, always in a good sense. " He 
 must turn the leaf and take out a new lesson." — 
 Holinshed, Chron. (1577), i. 21, 2. 
 
 Leap, " look or ye leap " (7c; 168&). " He that leaps 
 before he look . . . may leap in the mire." — Marr. 
 Wit and Science (c. 1570), Anon. Plays (E.E.D.S.), 
 Ser. 4. 
 
 Least, see 111. 
 
 HEY. II. D D 
 
402 Note-Book and Word-List [leather 
 
 Leather, " they cut large thongs of other men's 
 leather " (666), cf. " to steal another man's thunder." 
 " Men cut large thongs here of other men's leather." 
 — Mary Paston, Paston Letters (1460), ill. 372. 
 " D'autrui cuir font large curoie." — C'est U Mariages 
 des Filles au Dyahle, MS. (c. 1300). 
 
 Leave, (a) " leave it or it leave you " (224b). 
 
 (6) " better leave than lack " (12c). " A worthy 
 work (wherein the Reader may rather leave then 
 lack)." — Fuller, Holy and Prof. State (1642), iv. 
 xiv. 310. 
 
 (c) " leave is light " (25a; 194c and d). 
 
 Lectour, " a wiser lectour " (84a), a college or university 
 
 " reader " or lecturer. 
 Leg, (a) " while the leg warmeth the boot harmeth " 
 
 (56a). 
 
 (b) "a leg of a lark is better than is the body of a 
 kite " (life). " Gyrtrude. I would not change hus- 
 bands with my sister ; L ' The legge of a larke is 
 better than the body of a kite.' Mistress Touchstone. 
 
 Know that ; but Gyrtrude. What, sweet mother, 
 
 what? Mistress Touchstone. It's but ill food when 
 nothing's left but the claw." — Chapman, Marston, 
 and Jonson, Eastward Hoe (1605). 
 
 (c) " in house to keep household, when folks will 
 needs wed, mo things belong than four bare legs in 
 a bed " (19c). " Furthermore it shall be lawful for 
 him that marries without money to find four bare 
 legs in a bed : and he that is too prodigal in spend- 
 ing, shall die a beggar by the statute." — Pennilesse 
 Parliament of Threadbare Poets (i6o8). 
 
 Leman, " as tender as a parson's leman " (26c; 217b), 
 mistress, concubine : also a gallant or lover. ''* Thev 
 founde greater gaines by priestes lemmans then they 
 were like to haue by priestes wives." — T. Wilson, 
 Rhet. (1553), 2Sb. 
 
 Length, " yourself to length it taketh direct trade " 
 (14c), prolong, lengthen, spin out. " Thought must 
 length it." — Daniel, Zethys Festiv. (1610), F. 36. 
 
 Lese (24c, 39&, 51b, 67c, et passim), lose. 
 Less, " who will do less than they that may do most " 
 (39^). 
 
link] Note- Book and Word-List 403 
 
 Let (passim), objections, hindrances. 
 
 Leverings (315c), apparently a verb. subs, from laveer 
 = to beat to windward, to tack: obviously, if so, on 
 account of the rhyme, and hence the coinage is note- 
 worthy. Clarendon (Essays) speaks of schoolmen as 
 *' the best laveerers in the world." 
 
 Liberty, see Day. 
 
 LiBET, " baste ye well with a libet " (286^), a stick to 
 beat with, or throw at anything. 
 
 Lick, see Cat, Cook. 
 
 Lie, (a) " lies laid on by load " (ySd). 
 (b) see Bleed, Children. 
 
 Liever, " had I not liever " (151&), rather. 
 
 Life, " what is life where living is extinct clear? " 
 (90c). 
 
 LiGER de MAINE (143a), slcight of hand, jugglery, 
 legerdemain. 
 
 Light, (a) "light come, light go" (93c; 193d; 194a). 
 " Wyte thou wele it schall be so, That lyghtly cum 
 schail lyghtly go." — Debate of the Carpenter's Tools. 
 
 (b) " light gains make heavy purses " (376 ; 1986 
 and c). 
 
 (c) " ye stand in your own light " (62c), injure your 
 own interests. " Take counsel and do not stand in 
 your own light." — Jonson, Tale of a Tub (1633), ii. i. 
 
 (d) see Burden, Hands, Leave, Lips. 
 
 Like, "like will to like" (iia), a typical proverbial 
 formula, with many variants — " like master, like 
 man"; "like lord, like chaplain"; "like carpenter, 
 like chips"; "like men, like manners," &c. : Ful- 
 well's Like Will to Like is the title of an early play. 
 
 Lime-fingered (26c), given to pilfering. " They are 
 light-footed and lime-fingered." — Purchas, Pilgrimage 
 (1613), VIII. iv. 629. 
 
 Line, (a) " as right as a line " (33^), in a direct course, 
 straightforwardly, immediately : also line-right. 
 " Streyt as lyne he com." — Chaucer, Troilus (c. 1374), 
 II. 1412 (1461). 
 
 D D 2 
 
404 Note-Book and Word-List [lingel 
 
 (b) " we drew both in one line " (8o&), were unani- 
 mous, in complete accord. " The Senat thus drawing 
 all in a line." — Holland, Livy (1600), xlii. xxi. 1127. 
 
 LiNGEL, " without last or lingel " (139c), a shoemaker's 
 waxed thread. " The cobler of Caunterburie, armde 
 with his aul, his lingel, and his last, presents him- 
 selfe a judiciall censor of other mens writinges." — 
 The Cobler of Caunterburie (1590). 
 
 Lion, " as fierce as a lion of Cotsolde " (44^), a sheep : 
 of. Essex (or Rumford) lion = a calf. " Carlus is as 
 furious as a lyon of Cotsold." — Davies, Epigrams 
 (1596). " You stale old ruffian, you lion of Cots- 
 olde." — Sir John Oldcastle. 
 
 Lion's bower (315c?), the lion as emblematic of the 
 sovereign power of England : here of Queen Mary. 
 
 Lips, (a) " such lips, such lettuce " (Sod), like to like. 
 '' Every lip has its lettuce to himself : the lob has 
 his lass, the collier his dowdy, the western-man his 
 punk, the student his nun in Whitefriars, the puritan 
 his sister, and the lord his lady ; which worshipful 
 vocation may fall upon you, if you'll but strike whilst 
 the iron is hot." — Webster, Westward Hoe (1607). See 
 Like. 
 
 (6) " your lips hang in your light " (626), i.e. hang- 
 ing your lips in vexation is against your interests. 
 
 (c) see Light. 
 
 LiPWORT SEED (288d), idle talk, " jaw " : a nonce word. 
 
 List, " which me list " (8a), like, wish, desire. 
 
 Listening, " I have learned in listening " (436), cf. 
 " listeners hear no good of themselves." 
 
 Either, (a) "too lither " (48a; also 73c), bad, rascally 
 inclined. 
 
 (/)) " be he lusty or lither " (2426), ill-conditioned, 
 sorry. 
 
 Litter, " the litter is like to the sire and the dam " 
 (33c), see Like. 
 
 Little, see Nothing, Said. 
 
 Logic, " she choppeth logic " (646), argues a point, is 
 contentious, answers sharply. *' If he heare you thus 
 
love] Note-Book and Word-List 405 
 
 play choploge."— Udall, Roister Doister (E.E.D.S.). 
 iii. 2. 
 
 Long, (a) " long be thy legs and short be thy life " (Szd). 
 (b) see Day, Devil, Offering, Stake. 
 
 Longer, see Day. 
 
 LoNGETH, " that longeth thereto " (34^), is appropriate 
 to, that pertains to; often written " 'longeth," as if 
 = " belong. " "With such austerity as longeth to a 
 father." — Shakspeare, Taming of the Shrew (1596), 
 iv. 4. 6. 
 
 Look, (a) " look or ye leap " (7c), see Leap. 
 
 (b) " look as ye list " (91c), /i5i = like, wish, desire. 
 
 (c) see Cat, Horse, Lamb. 
 
 Lord, (a) " there is no good accord where every man 
 would be a lord " (74^)- 
 
 (b) " there is nothing in this world that agreeth 
 worse than doth a lord's heart and a beggar's purse " 
 (174^), see Lady. 
 
 LoRNE, ** the corn is lorne " (27^), injured, ruined, 
 spoilt. 
 
 Lose, (a) " lose both living and love of all their 
 kin " (25d). 
 
 (b) see Covet, Nothing. 
 
 Losers, " let the losers have their words " {y6b ; 190J). 
 
 Lost, (a) " as good lost as found " {28a). 
 
 (b) " it is lost that is unsought " (38c). 
 
 (c) " like one half lost till greedv grasping gat it " 
 (97^)- 
 
 Lost'st, " thou lost'st a mark " (279c), a noteworthy 
 inflection : see Issues. 
 
 LoTHE, " the lothe stake " (6od ; 222a and b), ugly, 
 misshapen. 
 
 Lough, " his master lough " (137^?), laughed. 
 
 Love, (a) " in love is no lack " (lod ; i68d ; 169a) 
 
 (fe) " love me, love my dog " (93a; 182c), a proverb 
 
 in the time of Saint Bernard. " Ctidora. Love me? 
 
 — love my dog ! Tharsalis. I am bound to that by the 
 
 proverb, madam." — Chapman, Widoiv's Tears (1612). 
 
 (c) " love me little, love me long " (57&). " Bella- 
 
4o6 Note-Book and Word-List [loveday 
 
 tnira. Come, gentle Ithamore, lie in my lap. Itha- 
 more. Love me little, love me long ; let music rumble, 
 Whilst I in thy incony lap do tumble." — Marlowe, Jew 
 of Malta (1586), iv. 
 
 (d) " by love, without regard of living, these twain 
 have wrought each other ill chieving " (48c). 
 
 (e) " love hath lost them the love of their friends " 
 (48d). 
 
 (/) " we could live by love " (loc). 
 
 (g) " lovers live by love ... as larks live by leeks " 
 
 (25c). 
 
 (h) " what need we lump out love " (57a). 
 (i) see Hot. 
 
 Loveday, " break a loveday " (69b), an agreement for 
 the amicable settlement of a dispute. " He is more 
 redy to make a fraye than a loue day." — Horman, 
 Vulg. (1519), vii. 66 b. 
 
 Low, see High. 
 
 Mackabroine, " such a mackabroine " (74c), old hag : 
 from Fr. machabree ; Murray marks it "rare," and 
 gives only the present instance. 
 
 Mad, see Hare. 
 
 Made, see Much, Mocked. 
 
 Maids, see Malkin. 
 
 Maister, " maister promotion saieth " (13a), master. 
 
 Maistry, "use maketh maistry " (55^; 219a), gives 
 power, skill, the knowledge and experience \^hich 
 constitutes a master. 
 
 Make, (a) " make or mar I will " (173c). 
 
 (b) " how flek and his make " (70a), tnafee = com- 
 panion. " This is no season To seek new makes in." 
 — Jonson, Tale of a Tub (1633), i. i. 
 
 (c) see Cross, Last, Small, Sorrow. 
 
 Makebate (24a), breeder of strife. " Such a malicious 
 makebate." — More, Suppl. Soulys (1529), Wks., 296. 2. 
 
 Maketh, see Havoc, Offering, Use. 
 
 Male, " males and male horses " (258^), nia/e = bag, 
 pack : now Scots and American. 
 
marmasat] Note-Book and Word-List 407 
 
 Malkin, " mo maids but Malkin " (32c ; 200b), 
 Malkin ( = Mary) is generic for a woman of low birth, 
 country wench, servant : frequently used proverbially 
 to signify drab, wanton. '* There are more houses 
 then Parishe Churches, more maydes than Maulkin," 
 — Gosson, Sch. of Abuses (1597), 37 (Arber). 
 
 Malt, (a) " soft fire maketh sweet malt " (6c), an ad- 
 monition to be gentle or merciful : see Fire. 
 
 (b) " malt is above wheat with him " (31a), i.e. 
 " he is under the influence of drink." '* Malt is now 
 aboue wheat with a number of mad people." — Breton, 
 Fantastickes (1626), B3. 
 
 Man, see God, Good, Happy, Haste, Hog, Horse, 
 Mend, Mustard, Oar, Tide, true, Wind. 
 
 Many, see Hands, Kinsfolk, Small. 
 
 Mar, see Make. 
 
 March hare, " as mad as a March hare " (73a), see 
 Hare. 
 
 Mare, (a) " mine old mare would have a new crupper " 
 
 (52^)- 
 
 (&) " the grey mare is the better horse " (64a), see 
 Horse. 
 
 (c) " well nigh every day a new mare or a moil " 
 (8ia), mare = a woman (contemptuously); mot7 = mule; 
 also contemptuously of a trull, for the sake of the 
 rhyme. 
 
 {d) see Coy. 
 
 Mar JORUM gentle (288a). " Marierome is called . . . 
 in English Sweete Marierome, Fine Marierome, and 
 Marierome gentle; of the best sort Maiorane." — 
 Gerarde, Herbal (1597), ii. ccvii. 539. 
 
 Mark (279c), see Issues. 
 
 Market, " the market goeth by the market men " (38a), 
 i.e. prices, rates of purchase and sale. 
 
 Marks, " yet have ye other marks to rove at hand " 
 (37a), rove = to shoot at. 
 
 Marmasat, " a minion marmasat " (141c), of a man = 
 a term of abuse or contempt; "ape," "fool," &c. 
 Minion apparently = servile, unworthy; as in one sense 
 of the subs. 
 
4o8 Note-Book and Word-List [marriage 
 
 Marriage, " a fijoodly marriage she is . . . were the 
 woman away " (52<i), i.e. her money is desirable if 
 her person is not. 
 
 Marry, " when men will needs marry . . . wisdom and 
 haste may vary " (49a). 
 
 Marrying, " marrying or marring " (18c), in slightly 
 different guise still proverbial. 
 
 Marybones, " on your marybones crouch to the ground " 
 (22a), the knees. " Down he fel vpon his maribones." 
 — More, Confut. Tindale (1532), Wks., 727/2, 
 
 Mase, " nother muse nor mase " (135a), mase = per- 
 plexity, doubt, abashment. 
 
 Master, see Breech. 
 
 Mastership, " would your mastership " (139a, et 
 passim), a respectful address. 
 
 Mastery, see Maistry. 
 
 Mate, " I am mad to see thee mate thy husband " 
 (244c), puzzle, browbeat, withstand. 
 
 Matins, " if it be morn we have a pair of matins " 
 (78a). 
 
 Matter, see Face, Water. 
 
 Maugre, " maugre her head " (48a), in spite of : Fr., 
 nialgrd. 
 
 May, (a) " that one may not another may " (55^). 
 
 (b) " he that will not when he may, when he would 
 he shall have nay" (8a; i68c), in Burton, Melanch. 
 (1621). 
 
 (c) see Catch. 
 
 Meal, see Cow. 
 
 Mealmouth (23d), a person of soft, carneying words, of 
 hypocritical delicacy of speech : now surviving in 
 " mealy-mouthed." 
 
 Meals, " better are meals many than one too merrv " 
 (84a). 
 
 Measure, (a) " measure is a merry mean " (82a; 191a 
 to d ; 192a to c), moderation. ^^ Magn. Yet mesure 
 is a mery mene. Fan. Yea, syr, a blaunched 
 almonde is no bene, Measure is mete for a mar- 
 
merrier] Note-Book and Word-List 409 
 
 chauntes hall." — Magnyfycence {c. 1520). "There 
 is measure in everything." — Shakspeare, Much Ado 
 (1600), ii. I. 
 
 (b) " thou fearest false measures " (178a). 
 
 Meat, (a) " look not on the meat but look on the man " 
 (62 a). 
 
 (h) " that one loveth not, another doth ; which hath 
 sped All meats to be eaten and all maids to be wed " 
 
 (55^)- 
 
 (c) see Crabs, Sweet. 
 
 Meddle, see Gosling. 
 
 Meddling, " of little meddling cometh great rest " 
 (57^). " Crete reste stande in lytell besynesse, Beware 
 also to sporne against a wall." — Lydgate, Proverbes. 
 
 Meet, see Sow. 
 
 Meet-mate (42c), helpmate : cf. meet-help = he\p-meet, a 
 wife. " In my discoveries of him and his meet-help." 
 — Spratt, Relation of Young's Contrivance. 
 
 Melancholy, " turn melancholy to mirth " (88a). 
 
 Melt, see Butter. 
 
 Men, see Blind, Clerks. 
 
 Mend, (a) " if every man mend one, all shall be 
 mended " {i6yb), many hands make light work. 
 
 (b) " I will mend this house and pair another " 
 (88d ; 182a), pair = \mpa\r, neglect. "He bulde newe 
 citees and amended citees })at were i-peyred." — 
 Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), vi. 399 (1387). 
 
 Merchant, (a) " ye merchant " (31c; also 66c), a fami- 
 liar address — "fellow," "chap." "I would have so 
 scourged my marchant, that his breech should ake." 
 — New Custom (c. 1550), Anon. Plays (E.E.D.S.), 
 Ser. 3, 162b. 
 
 (b) " a merchant without either money or ware " 
 (66c ; 206a). 
 
 (c) see Dear, Eel-skins. 
 
 Merrier, " the more the merrier " (79c). " Store makes 
 no sore : loe this seemes contrarye. And mo the merier 
 is a Proverbe eke, But store of sores maye make a 
 maladye, And one to many maketh some to seeke, 
 
410 Note-Book and Word-List [merry 
 
 When two be mette that bankette with a leche. " — 
 Gaiscoigne, Posies (1575). 
 
 Merry, (a) "good to be merry and wise" (6d ; 172^). 
 " I . . . garnished my shop, for want of plate, with 
 good wholesome, thriftie sentences ; as, ' Touchstone, 
 keepe thy shoppe, and thy shoppe will keepe thee.' 
 ' Light gaines make heavie purses.' ' Tis good to be 
 merry and wise.' " — Eastward Hoe (1605). 
 
 (b) " merry as a cricket " (31&) — " merry as a pie " 
 (60a). " By the Lord of Ludgate, my Liege, I'll be as 
 merrie as a Pie." — Decker, Shomakers Holiday (1600). 
 
 (c) " it is merry in hall when beards wag all " 
 (ygd), see Hall. " Swithe mury hit is in halle When 
 burdes wawen alle." — Life of Alexander (1312). 
 *' Be merry, be merry, my wife has all ; For women 
 are shrews, both short and tall, 'Tis merry in hall 
 when beards wag all." — Shakspeare, 2 Henry IV. 
 (1598), V. 3. 
 
 {d) see Chip, Measure. 
 
 Mess, (a) " to keep yet one mess ... in store " (89b), 
 " put by something for a rainy day." 
 (h) see Mustard. 
 
 Messenger, " to come . . . before the messenger " 
 (31c), to be " previous," be one's own postman. 
 
 Meve (15c, 59b, S^d, et passim), move. 
 
 Mew, " hawks in the mew " (66b), properly a cage for 
 hawks : figuratively a place where anything is in 
 keeping. 
 
 MiDS, MiDDES (i86b), midst : note rhyme with " bids." 
 
 Might, "might overcometh right" (69a; 197c), in 
 modern phrase, " might is right." 
 
 Milestone, see Millstone. 
 
 Milk, " milk is white. And lieth not in the dike, But 
 all men know it good meat " {62d). 
 
 Mill, " much water goeth by the mill that the miller 
 knoweth not of" {73d). "What, man; more water 
 glideth by the mill Than wots the miller of, and easy 
 it is Of a cut loaf to steal a shive." — Shakspeare, 
 Titus Andronicus (1593), ii. 7. 
 
moil] Note-Book and Word-List 411 
 
 Millstone, "seen far in a millstone" (25^; 176c): 
 " to look (or see) into a millstone " = to fathom a 
 secret; to be far or sharp sighted. "Your eies are 
 so sharp that you cannot onely looke through a mil- 
 stone, but cleane through the minde, and so cunning 
 that you can levell at the dispositions of women whom 
 you never knew." — Lyly, Euphiies and his England. 
 
 MiLNER, " the milner tolleth corn " (i49&), miller : see 
 Tolleth. 
 
 Mind, see Sight. 
 
 Minion (406), " a creature " : here a debased sense of 
 minion = favourite ; i.e. an unworthy or unseemly 
 favourite : also as adj. (14x0) = servile, unworthy. 
 
 MiNiSH, MiNiSHETH (99a, 76a), diminish. " To abbridge 
 his power, and to minishe his authoritie. " — Hall, 
 Henry VI. f. 8i. 
 
 Mire, " lay my credence in the mire " (57^), compare 
 " to drag one's reputation through the mud." 
 
 Miscellanies, see Terminal Essay, Heywood's Works 
 (E.E.D.S.), III. 
 
 Misery, " misery may be mother where one beggar is 
 driven to beg of another " (looa). 
 
 Misreckoning, " misreckoning is no payment" (64^; 
 
 212d). 
 
 Missed, see Cushion. 
 
 Mo (i2C, 19a), more. 
 
 Mock, " he mocked much of her " (53c), feigned, pre- 
 tended to make. " He mocks the pauses that he 
 makes." — Shakspeare, Antony and Cleopatra (1608), 
 
 V. I. 
 
 Mockage, " half in mockage " (25c), mocking, " But 
 all this perchaunce ye were I speake half in moccage. '' 
 — Sir Thos. Chaloner, Morice Enc. (1549), M 3. 
 
 Moil, " moils of velvet . . . moil men — to see asses 
 go on moils " (292^), tnoil = (a) a sort of high shoe, 
 formerly worn by persons of quality ; (b) a lawyer 
 of eminence : judges and sergeants, says Nares, rode 
 to Westminster Hall on mules ; (c) a mule — the fol- 
 lowing examples illustrate the different senses. 
 
412 Note-Book and Word-List [molt 
 
 " They drewe owt of dromondaries dyverse lordes, 
 Moyllez mylke whitte, and mervaillous bestez." — 
 Morte Arthure, MS. Lincoln, f. 77. " Well, make 
 much of him ; I see he was never born to ride upon 
 a moyle." — Jonson, Every M. out of H. (1599), ii. 3. 
 
 Molt, " my heart for woe molt " (91a), melted : an old 
 form. 
 
 Money, see Merchant. 
 
 Monk, " like a bean in a monk's hood " (76c ; 204a), 
 lost, like a nonentity : 6ean = a low standard of valuf. 
 
 Month, " better is one month's cheer than a churl's 
 whole life " (84a) : cf. Tennyson's " better fifty years 
 of Europe than a cycle of Cathay." 
 
 Moon, (a) " to cast beyond the moon " (iic; 207c and 
 d), to calculate deeply ; make an extravagant conjec- 
 ture ; be ambitious ; to attempt impossibilities. " But 
 t)h, I talk of things impossible And cast beyond the 
 moon." — T. Heywood, A Woman Kill'd with Kind- 
 ness (c. 1603). 
 
 (b) " to make me believe . . . that the moon is 
 made of a green cheese " (84^), to hoax, quiz, " chaff." 
 *' Whilst they tell for truthe Luther his lowde lyes, 
 so that they may make theyr blinde brotherhode and 
 the ignorant sort beleve that the mone is made of 
 grene chese." — Shacklock, Hatchet of Heresies (1565). 
 
 Moonshine, "moonshine in the water" (44c; 22od), 
 an illusive shadow. 
 
 Mop, see Cony mop. 
 
 More, " for little more or less no debate make " (68d), 
 trouble not about trifles ; seek not to enforce a differ- 
 ence between Tweedledum and Tweedledee. 
 
 Mornings, " cloudy mornings turn to clear afternoons " 
 (98c). 
 
 Mortimer, see Backare. 
 
 Moss, see Rolling stone. 
 
 Mote, (a) " ye can see a mote in another man's eye, 
 but ye cannot see a balk in your own " (8ia), 
 fca/fe = beam, rafter. 
 
 (b) "■ so mote I thee " (137^0, i-^- " so may I 
 thrive." 
 
nail] Note-Book and Word-List 413 
 
 Mother, " your mother bid till ye were born " (98a). 
 Mouse, (a) "as sure as ... a mouse tied with a thread " 
 
 (86c)- 
 
 (h) " a mouse in time may bite a-two a cable " 
 
 (82b). 
 
 (c) " it had need to be a wily mouse that should 
 breed in the cat's ear " (yid). 
 
 (d) see Cat. 
 
 Mouth, (a) "that shall not stop my mouth" (64c; 
 213&), silence me. 
 
 (6) " to make up my mouth " (43c), i.e. to give cause 
 for arranging the features to produce a particular ex- 
 pression ; cf. " make up a face," " make up a lip," 
 &c. ; thus to induce a grimace or wry face : now Ame- 
 rican by survival. " Make up your face [to a weeping 
 person] quickly." — Brome, Jovial Crew (1641), iv. 1. 
 
 (c) " ye speak now as ye would creep into my 
 mouth " (94c). 
 
 (d) " till meat fall in your mouth will ye lie in bed " 
 (21c). 
 
 (e) see Butter, Horse. 
 
 Much, " she made much of him and he mocked much of 
 her " (53c), see Mocked. 
 
 Muck, " muck of the world " (44c), money. " For to 
 pinche, and for to spare. Of worlds mucke to gette 
 encres." — Gower, Cotifessio Amantis, v. 
 
 Mum, " I will say nought but mum, and mum is coun- 
 sel " (656; 2136; 214c), mum = a warning to silence. 
 
 Must, see Blab. 
 
 Mustard, " he will kill a man for a mess of mustard " 
 (211a). 
 
 Nail, (a) " one nail driveth out another " (i88b). 
 
 (6) " this hitteth the nail on the head " (loid), to 
 get at the bottom of a matter, to succeed, to come to 
 the point. In Sir Thomas More (c. 1590), " my lord 
 Cardinal's players, in answer to the question as to 
 what pieces compose their repertory, reply : — Divers, 
 my Lord, The Cradle of Security, Hit Nail o' th' 
 Head, Impatient Poverty, The Play of Four P's, 
 
414 Note-Book and Word-List [naked boy 
 
 Dives and Lazarus, Lusty Juventus, and the Marriage 
 of Wit and Wisdom." 
 (c) see Paring. 
 
 Naked boy (299^), the minute reflection of one gazing 
 into another's eye : hence to look a naked boy (or 
 babies) in the eyes = to look amorously. " But O, 
 see, see we need enquire no further, Upon your lips 
 the scarlet drops are found. And in your eye the boy 
 that did the murder. . . . See where little Cupid 
 lies Looking babies in the eyes." — Drayton, Idea 
 (1594), 2. '* In each of her two crystal eyes Smileth 
 a naked boy ; It would you all in heart suffice To 
 see that lamp of joy." — Ellis, Specimen Eng. 
 Romances, 7. " Joy had the like conception in our 
 eyes, And, at that instant, like a babe sprung up." — 
 Shakspeare, Timon of Athens (1609), i. 2. 
 
 Nat (148&, et passim), not : note the rhymes. 
 
 Nay, (a) " say nay and take it " (214a and b) : another 
 version is, " Maids say ' No ' and mean * Yes.' " 
 
 (b) " ye may mend three nays with one yea " (33^)- 
 
 (c) see Will. 
 
 Ne (passim), not, nor : frequently in M.E. joined with 
 the verbs " to have," "to be," and " to will " : thus. 
 nam = ne am = am not, nt^ = is not, niU = ne will = -wiU 
 not, nadde = ne hadde = ha.d not, &c. 
 
 Near, " near is my smock " (28^), nearer. " Of friends, 
 of foes, behold my foule expence. And never the 
 neere." — Mirror for Mag. (1559), 364. 
 
 Nearer, see Church. 
 
 Need, (a) " need hath no law " (25?? and 170c), in 
 modern phrase : " Needs must where the devil 
 drives." 
 
 (b) " need maketh the old wife trot " (99^ ; 183d), 
 Fr. " besoin fait vieille trotter " (Roman de Trubert, 
 c. 1300). 
 
 (c) see Devil, Friend, True. 
 
 Neighbourhood, " which neighbourhood in thee ap- 
 pears " (125a), neighbourhood = the state or quality 
 of being neighbours, situate near to. 
 
noble] Note-Book and Word-List 415 
 
 Nesh, " 'tis too nesh " (149^^), soft. " He was to 
 nesshe and she to harde." — Gower, Confessio 
 Amantis (1393), v. 
 
 Nest, see Bird. 
 
 Net, (a) " the rough net is not the best catcher of 
 birds " (226). 
 
 (b) see Fish, Fishing. 
 
 (c) " set thee out net " (244^), neat : note the 
 rhyme. 
 
 (d) " all is fish that cometh to net " (39c), nothing 
 comes amiss. " But now (aye me) the glasing 
 christal glasse Doth make us thinke that realmes and 
 townes are rych, Where favor sways the sentence of 
 the law, Where al is fishe that cometh to net." — 
 Gascoigne, Steele Glas (1571). 
 
 Nettle, (a) " she had pissed on a nettle " (99c), was 
 peevish, out of temper. 
 (b) see Dock. 
 
 Never, see Climbed, Late. 
 New broom, see Broom. 
 
 New man, " showing himself a new man " (8gc), through 
 having reformed. 
 
 Newer, " newer is truer " (63a). 
 
 Next, see Hekst. 
 
 Nigh, see Far. 
 
 Nine, see Cat, Wonder. 
 
 Ninth, " to the ninth degree " (287a), completely, per- 
 fectly, utterly : in modern phrase " up (or down) to 
 the nines." Probably from the mathematical for- 
 mula. 
 
 Noble, " a bag of . . . nobles " (97a), nohle = a gold 
 coin struck by Edward IIL, and originally of the 
 value of 6s. 8d. In the reigns of Henry VL and 
 Edward IV., the value of the noble having risen to 
 los., another gold coin of the same value as the original 
 noble was issued called an angel (q.v.). Half-nobles 
 and quarter-nobles were also current. 
 
4i6 Note-Book and Word-List [noddies 
 
 Noddies (26id), simpletons, fools. ** Ere you came 
 thither, poor I was somebody ; The King delighteth 
 in me, no\\ I am but a noddy." — Edwards, Damon 
 and Pithias (1567), Works (E.E.D.S.). 
 
 Noon, (a) " go to bed at noon " (85a), betimes, uncon- 
 scionably early. 
 
 (fo) " the longer forenoon the shorter afternoon " 
 (50b). 
 
 NopPY, " some noppy ale " (45b), usually na/)/>y = strong, 
 " heady." " Nappy liquor will lullaby thy fine 
 wittes. " — New Letter (1593). 
 
 Nose, (a) " thou canst hold my nose to the grindstone " 
 (136 and 173a), oppress, harass, punish, hold at 
 a disadvantage. " A shame and . . . vilanie for you 
 . . . hable to hold their nose to the grindstone, nowe 
 ... to be their pezantes, whose lordes your aunces- 
 tors were." — Aylmer, Harborough, &c., 1559 {Mait- 
 land on Ref., 220). " They might be ashamed, for 
 lack of courage, to suffer the Lacedaemonians to hold 
 their noses to the grindstone." — North, Plutarch 
 (1578), 241. 
 
 (b) " your nose drops ... I will eat no browesse 
 sops" (87^^), brose in O.E. = bread and fat meat 
 (Huloet). " That tendre browyce made with a mary- 
 boon." — Lydgate, Order of Fooles (d. 1460). 
 
 (c) [I shall] " wipe your nose upon your sleeve " 
 (97c), affront. " There is one Sophos, a brave gentle- 
 man ; he'll wipe vour son Peter's nose of Mistress 
 Lelia."— Il'i/y Beguiled (1606) [Dodsley, Old Plays 
 (1874), ix. 242]. 
 
 (d) see Hunger, Pepper. 
 
 NoTHER (passim), neither. 
 
 Nothing, (a) "nothing hath no savour" (20b; iSia), 
 there is no savour in want. 
 
 (b) " where as nothing is the king must lose his 
 right" {-^yd ; 218c), even the king can get nothing 
 from nothing. 
 
 (c) " where nothing is a little thing doth ease " 
 (29b ; 184a). 
 
 (d) see Something. 
 
offering] Note-Book and Word-List 417 
 
 Nought, (a) " nought venture, nought have " (38c ; 
 1816). 
 
 (b) " nought lay down, nought take up " (41c- ; 
 227b). 
 
 (c) " a thing of nought " (43c). 
 
 (d) " whom I made of nought " (65c) — " bring to 
 nought " (6sd). 
 
 (e) see Mum, Play. 
 
 (/) " all have and nought forgo " (223c). 
 
 (g) " as good seek nought ... as seek and find 
 nought " (38c). 
 
 (h) " nought won by the tone, nought won by the 
 tother " (41c). 
 
 Nun, " as nice as a nun's hen " (52c), see Hen. 
 
 Nurse, " God send that head a better nurse " (85^). 
 
 Nut, " knack me that nut " (80c), solve me that 
 problem, explain that, overcome this difficulty : knack 
 = crack. 
 
 Nycebecetur, " your ginifinee nycebecetur " (32^), appar- 
 ently a term of contempt : Heywood uses it again in 
 Play of the Weather (E.E.D.S., Works, i. 123), 
 " such nycebyceturs as she is." The word has puzzled 
 all editors so far ; all that seems clear is that Heywood 
 in each case employs the word in contempt of a 
 woman. A somewhat exhaustive enquiry on the 
 phrase is summed up in Heywood's Works (E.E.D.S.), 
 III. Notebook s.v. Nicebecetur : see also Udall's 
 Works (E.E.D.S.), pp. 138-9. 
 
 Oar, " she (or he) must have an oar in every man's 
 barge " (246 ; 207a), meddle in the business or affairs 
 of others : somewhat earlier, the proverb occurs in a 
 ballad entitled " Long have I bene a singing man," by 
 John Redford (c. 1540). " In each mannes bote would 
 he have an ore." — Udall, Apop. (c. 1543), 11. 180. 
 
 Occupy (2890), use, with an eye in the Epigram on 
 the obscene sense of the word. " Inke made of soote, 
 such as printers occupie." — Nomenclator (1585). 
 " These villains will make the word captain as odious 
 as the word occupy." — Shakspeare, 2 Hen. IV. 
 (1598), ii. 4. 
 
 Offering, " long standing and small offering maketh 
 poor parsons " (226c). 
 HEY. II. E E 
 
4i8 Note-Book and Word-List [office 
 
 Office, see Jack. 
 
 Old, see Children, Devil, Dog, Fool, Need, Saint, 
 Shoe. 
 
 One, see Cometh. 
 
 Ony, " had I ony " (96b), any. 
 
 Or {passim), ere, before, lest, than. 
 Orologe, see Devil. 
 
 OsTE, " ye would now here oste " (34c), dwell, remain : 
 i.e. host. 
 
 Other, " other thou art a fool or ... I am one " (1446), 
 either. 
 
 O'thing, "this o'thing " (29c), one thing: = numeral 
 adjective, a reduced form of 6n, oon : cf. nothing. 
 " O flessh they been, and o fiessh as I gesse Hath 
 but oon herte, in wele and in distresse." — Chaucer, 
 Merch. T. {c. 1386), 91. " 111 huswiferie othing or 
 other must craue." — Tusser, Hiisb. (1573), 184 (1878). 
 Also in Epigrams (172b), " I grant this othing." 
 
 Out, (a) " out of sight, out of mind " (8d). 
 (h) see Smelled, Way. 
 
 Out iles (41^), properly islands away from the main- 
 land : here figuratively for an outlandish district, up- 
 country, away from a centre of population. 
 
 Oven, " no man will another in the oven seek, except 
 that himself have been there before " (84b), the com- 
 monest version is, " no woman will her daughter seek 
 in the oven," &c. "A hackney proverb in men's 
 mouths ever since King Lud was a little boy, or 
 Belinus, Brennus' brother, for the love hee bare to 
 oysters, built Billingsgate." — Nash, Have with you to 
 Saffron Waldon (1596), 157. 
 
 Overblow, see Wind. 
 
 Overcometh, see Might. 
 
 OvERTHWART, " overthwart the shins " (24c), across. 
 
 Owl, " keep corners, or hollow trees with th' owl " 
 (71c). 
 
paternoster] Note-Book and Word-List 419 
 
 Own, " alway own is own at the reckoning's end " 
 (644/ ; 2i^d ; 215a). 
 
 Ox, see Black ox. 
 
 Pad, " it will breed a pad in the straw " (63d ; 226b), a 
 lurking or hidden danger. " Though they make 
 never so fayre a face, yet there is a padde in the 
 strawe," — Palsgrave, &c. (1530), 595, i. 
 
 Paddock, see Haddock, Weather. 
 
 Pain, (a) " change from ill pain to worse is worth small 
 hire " (72c). 
 
 (6) " plant your own pain " (69&). 
 
 (c) " I have wrought mine own pain " (26a). 
 
 (d) " take a pain for a pleasure all wise men can " 
 
 Painted Sheath, see Sheath. 
 
 Pair, see Mend. 
 
 Pan, see Cat. 
 
 Pannier, see Pig. 
 
 Paring, " she will not part with the paring of her nails " 
 (40a). 
 
 Parish priest, " the parish priest forgetteth that ever 
 he hath been holy water clerk " (386 ; 174^). 
 
 Pars vers, " tell him he's pars vers " (59c), perverse. 
 
 Parsons, " long standing and small offering maketh 
 poor parsons " (98a ; 226c). 
 
 Parson's leman, see Leman. 
 
 Part, see Paring, Poverty. 
 
 Past, " let all things past, pass " (90&), let bygones be 
 bygones ; let sleeping dogs lie. 
 
 Pasture, see Calves. 
 
 Paternoster, (a) " he may be in my paternoster . . but 
 . . he shall never come in my creed (96c ; 189c). 
 " I trust yee remember your jugling at Newington 
 with a christall stone, your knaveries in the wood by 
 Wanstead, the wondrous treasure you would discover 
 in the Isle of Wight, al your villanies about that 
 peece of service, as perfectly known to some of my 
 
 E E 2 
 
420 Note-Book and Word-List [patience 
 
 friends yet living as their Paster-noster, who curse the 
 time you ever came into their creed." — Chettle, Kind- 
 Heart's Dream (1592). 
 
 (b) " no penny, no paternoster " (96c), no pay, no 
 prayers. " The Pater-noster, which was wont to fill 
 a sheet of paper, is written in the compasse of a 
 penny ; whereupon one merrily assumed that proverbe 
 to be derived. No penny no pater-noster. Which their 
 nice curtayling putteth mee in minde of the custome 
 of the Scythians, who, if they had beene at any time 
 distressed with famine, tooke in their girdles shorter." 
 — Greene, Arcadia (1587). 
 
 (c) " pattering the devil's paternoster to himself " 
 (39b), grumbling, muttering imprecations. " Yet wol 
 they seyn harm and grucche and murmure priuely for 
 verray despit, whiche wordes men clepen the deueles 
 Pater noster." — Chaucer, Pars. T. (c. 1386), 434. 
 
 Patience, " let patience grow in your garden alway " 
 (44d). 
 
 Patten, " her tongue was clapping like a patten " 
 (1356), i.e., click-clack like a pair of pattens ; 
 " nineteen to the dozen " : see Tongue. 
 
 Paul, see Peter. 
 
 Paul's weathercock, (1x5^); frequently referred to in 
 old \\riters. " I am as very a turncoie as the 
 wethercoke of Poles." — Mariage of Witt and 
 Wisdome (E.E.D.S. Anon. PI. 4 Ser.). 
 
 Pay, see Peter, Shot. 
 
 Payment, " misreckoning is no payment " (64^; 2i2d). 
 
 Peal, see Ringeth. 
 
 Peas, " who hath many peas may put the more in the 
 
 pot " (I2C). 
 
 Penny, (a) " a penny for your thought " (61&), a call to 
 persons in a " brown study." " Come, friar, I will 
 shake him from his dumps. How cheer you, sir? a 
 penny for vour thought." — Greene, Friar Bacon (1588), 
 161. 
 
 (b) " to turn the penny " (926), earn money : the 
 phrase occurs (1510) in Foxe's Acts and Monuments, 
 iv. "His wyfe made hym so wyse. That he wolde 
 tourne a peny twyse. And then he called it a 
 
peter] Note-Book and Word-List 421 
 
 ferthynge." — Maid Emlyn (c. 1520) [Hazlitt, Early 
 Pop. Poet. iv. 85]. 
 
 (c) " not one penny to bliss him " (89a), very poor. 
 
 Penny father, (123c), miser, niggard. " Alas, this re- 
 confirms what I said rather, Cosmus has ever been 
 a penny-father. — Harington, Epigrams {d. 1612), ii. 
 21. 
 
 Pepper, (a) "pepper in the nose" (64c; 212a), quick at 
 offence, testy : Fr., motUarde au nez. " There are ful 
 proude-herted men paciente of tonge. And boxome as 
 of berynge to burgeys and to lordes. And to pore peple 
 hav peper in the nose." — Langland, Piers Plowman 
 (1362), XV. 197. 
 
 (6) " pepper is black and hath a good smack " 
 (62d). 
 
 Persever, " doth persever " (143d), note the rhyme 
 with "ever." 
 
 Pescod ale, (1896), />e5cod = pea-pod : much rustic folk- 
 lore was formerly attached to pea-time, of which not 
 a little found survival in New England. In As Yon 
 Like It (ii. 4) Touchstone says to Rosalind, " I 
 remember the wooing of a peascod instead of her," 
 which perhaps is the most fitly paralleled in the 
 following passage from Browne's Brit. Past. (p. 71) : 
 " The peascod greene oft with no little toyle Hee'd 
 seeke for in the fattest fertil'st soile, And rend it 
 from the stalke to bring it to her, And in her bosome 
 for acceptance wooe her." Both Nares and Halliwell 
 may be consulted in this respect. Pescod-ale is 
 doubtless the brew made for " pescod-time. " "In 
 pescod time, when hound and home, Gives ear till 
 buck be kill'd." — England's Helicon. 
 
 Peter, " rob Peter and pay Paul " (31c; 170c), take of 
 one to give to another. The proverb pretty certainly 
 derives its origin from the fact that in the reign of 
 Edward VI. the lands of St. Peter at Westminster 
 were appropriated to raise money for the repair of 
 St. Paul's in London. John Thirlby, the first and 
 only Bishop of Westminster (1541-50), " having wasted 
 the patrimony allotted by the King (Hen. VIII.) for 
 the support of the see, was translated to Norwich, 
 and with him ended the bishopric of Westminster " 
 (Haydn, Dignities). Heylin {Hist. Ref. i. 256, 1661) 
 
422 Note-Book and Word-List [pickpurse 
 
 says that the lands at Westminster were so dilapidated 
 by Bishop Thirlby that there was almost nothing to 
 support the dignity. . . . Most of the lands invaded 
 by the great men of the Court, the rest laid out for 
 reparation to the Church of St. Paul, pared almost to 
 the very quick in those days of rapine. From hence, 
 he says, came first that significant byword (as is 
 said by some) of robbing Peter to pay Paul. The 
 French form of the proverb, " d^couvrir saint Pierre 
 pour couvrir saint Paul " gives additional colouring to 
 the statement, and is supported by Barclay in his 
 Eclogues (Percy Soc. xxiii, xvii.), " They robbe bt. 
 Peter to cloth St. Paul." 
 
 Pickpurse (31c), pickpocket. 
 
 PiCKTHANK (23d), toady : also as verb. " There be two 
 tythes, rude and ranke, Symkyn Tytyuell and Pers 
 Pykthanke." — Skelton, Works (1513-25), ii. 60 (Dyce). 
 "Smiling pickthanks and base newsmongers." — 
 Shakspeare, i Henry IV. (1598), iii. 2. 
 
 Pie, (a) " merry as a pie " (60a). 
 (6) see High. 
 
 Piece, " this maid, the piece peerless in mine eye " 
 (loc), piece = 3i person, male or female: often in con- 
 tempt. " His princess say you? . . . Ay, the most 
 peerless piece." — Shakspeare, Winter's Tale (1604), 
 v. I. 
 
 Pig, (a) " a pig of mine own sow " (78c; 2046). 
 
 (6) " buy the pig in the poke " (97^ ; 1826), of a blind 
 bargain. " And in the floor, with nose and mouth to 
 broke, They walwe as doon two pigges in a poke." — 
 Chaucer, Reeves Tale (c. 1386), 358. 
 
 (c) " yet snatch ye at the poke that the pig is in, 
 not for the poke, but the pig good cheap to win " 
 
 (97^). 
 
 (d) " when the pig is proffered . . . hold up the 
 poke " (8c), " never refuse a good bargain." ** When 
 me profereth the pigge, open the poghe." — Douce MS. 
 (c. 1400), 52. 
 
 (e) " bid me welcome, pig ; I pray thee kiss me " 
 
 (79^). 
 
 (/) " a pig of the worse panier " (102c). 
 
playeth] Note-Book and Word-List 423 
 
 Pike, "one good lesson ... I pike" (8c, iia, 72b), 
 mark, note, learn, pick out. 
 
 Piked, " a pretty piked matter " (44c), cf. " a pretty 
 kettle of fish "; ^tfee(i = marked. 
 
 Pilate's voice (25a), a loud, ranting voice. " In Pilate 
 voys he gan to cry. And swor by armes, and by blood 
 and bones." — Chaucer, Cant. Tales (c. 1386), 3126. 
 
 Pillar, see Post. 
 
 PiNCHPENNY, " that benchwhistler is a pinchpenny 
 (37c), a niggard in food, dress, or money : it early 
 occurs in Occleve (1412), De Reg. Princip. " They 
 accompt one ... a pynch penny if he be not prody- 
 gall." — Lyly, Euphues, Anat. of Wit (1579), 109. 
 
 PiNSONS, " pinching pinsons " (263a), pincers. " Two 
 crosse forkes of tonges which come from it one both 
 sides, in the toppes whereof are little thinges like 
 pynsons, to detaine and hold fast." — Topsell, Hist. 
 Serp. (1608), 224. 
 
 Pipe, (a) " who that leaveth surety and leaneth unto 
 chance when fools pipe, by authority he may dance " 
 
 (lOld). 
 
 (&) " to dance after her pipe " (75b). 
 (c) ** he can ill pipe that lacketh his upper lip " 
 (94c). 
 
 Piss, see Fart, Nettle. 
 
 Pitchers, " small pitchers have wide ears " (65c), 
 usually of children : what children hear at home soon 
 flies abroad. " Q. Elizabeth. A parlous boy; go to, 
 you are too shrewd. Archbishop. Good madam, be not 
 angry with the child. Q. Elizabeth. Pitchers have 
 ears." — Shakspeare, Richard III. (1597), ii. 4. 
 
 Plain, (a) " plain without pleats " {6gb), in the Epi- 
 grams on Proverbs (210a) it is thus amplified, " the 
 plain fashion is best . . . plain without pleats." 
 (&) see Best. 
 
 Plat, " in any place or plat " (2576), situation, place, 
 locality. 
 
 Play, " as good play for nought as work for nought " 
 (44& ; 180&). 
 
 Playeth, see Win. 
 
424 Note-Book and Word-List [pleasure 
 
 Pleasure, (a) " who will, in time present, pleasure re- 
 frain, shall in time to come more pleasure obtain " 
 
 (32d). 
 
 (b) " follow pleasure and then will pleasure flee : 
 flee pleasure and pleasure will follow thee " (32^). 
 
 Plenty, " plenty is no dainty " {62b). 
 
 Poke, see Pig. 
 
 Poll, Poul (passim), rob, plunder, pillage : a play on 
 poll = shave frequently occurs (see 259^). 
 
 Pompous provision, " pompous provision cometh not all 
 alway of gluttony but of pride some time " (Sid). 
 
 Poor, see Offering, Souls. 
 
 Post, (a) " from post to pillar . . . tost" (55c; 2iSd), 
 hither and thither, with aimless effort or action : 
 literally, from the same to the same — pillar = L.at. 
 columna = post. Thus in the Ayenbite of Inivit a 
 good man becomes a post in God's temple. " And, 
 dainty duke, whose doughty dismal fame From Dis 
 to Daedalus, from post to pillar. Is blown abroad." — 
 Shakspeare and Fletcher, Two Noble Kinsmen (c. 
 1611), iii. 5. 
 
 (&) " in post pace " (51&), with all possible speed 
 or expedition. " Lord George your brother, Norfolk, 
 and myself. In haste, post-haste, are come to join with 
 you." — Shakspeare, 3 Henry VI. (1594), ii. i. 
 
 (c) " a mill post thwitten to a pudding prick " 
 (loia), said of unthrifts : twiiten = to whittle down; 
 pudding prick = the skewer used to fasten a pudding 
 bag. 
 
 (d) "a post of physic " (55c), probably a posset. 
 
 Pot, (a) " the weaker goeth to the pot " (68d ; 226c), pot 
 has been thought to = (a) pit (i.e. of destruction), or (b) 
 the melting pot of the refiner : the meaning, however, 
 is clear, and the colloquialism, though ancient, is still 
 in common use. In the illustration (infra) and in 
 many monkish references the " pit " or " pot " is 
 obviously a kind of oubliette, in which refractory 
 monks or impenitent heretics were immured, suffering 
 a lingering or speedy death at the will of their 
 gaolers. " Under a pot he schal be put in a pryvie 
 chamber." — Piers Plowman, 62. " Not one of them 
 
PRECIOUS stones] Notc-Book and Word- List 425 
 
 shall 'scape, but they shall to the pot." — Jacob and 
 Esau (E.E.D.S., Ation. PL 2 Sen 77a), v. 4 (1568). 
 
 (fe) "the pot so long to the water goeth, till at the 
 last it cometh home broken " (Safe), i.e. the inevitable 
 must happen. *' So long went the pot to the water, 
 that at last it came broken home, and so long put he 
 his hand into his purse, that at last the empty bottome 
 returned him a writ of Non est inventus." — Greene, 
 Never too Late (1590). 
 
 (c) " neither pot broken nor water spilt " (227c). 
 
 (d) " to see the pot both skimmed for running over 
 and also all the liquor run at rover " (99b), to run at 
 rover — to have too much liberty : here = squandered, 
 wasted, dissipated. 
 
 (e) " he that cometh last to the pot is soonest 
 wroth " (99b). 
 
 (/) " my pot is whole and my water clean " (83a). 
 
 {g) "little pot soon hot" (31b), a little suffices; 
 little people (or minds) are soon angered. " Now were 
 I not a little pot, and soon hot, my very lips might 
 freeze to my very teeth, . . . for, considering the 
 weather, a taller man than I will take cold." — Shak- 
 speare, Taming of the Shrew (1593), iv. 1. 
 
 Potted, " she was potted thus like a sot " (99?^), ruined : 
 see Pot (a). 
 
 PouLST, (170c), see Poll, 
 
 Poverty, "poverty parteth fellowship" (48^; 218c). 
 
 Powdering tub (245a), properly a salting tub, but also 
 applied to the salivation bed or cradle, formerly used 
 in the cure of the lues venerea. 
 
 Peril, " the peril of prating out of tune by note " 
 (68c). 
 
 Prayers, " much motion ... to prayers with . . . little 
 devotion " (96c). 
 
 Prease, " som folk in luck cannot prease " (21&, 34c), 
 press forwari hasten, " crowd in." " No humble 
 suitors prease to speak for right." — Shakspeare, 3 
 Henry VI. (1595), iii. i. 
 
 Precious stones, see Hog. 
 
426 Note-Book and Word-List [prefe 
 
 Prefe (in pi. Preves), " some case . . . showeth 
 prefe " (46J, 2yd), proof : also Preef (120b). 
 
 Pressed (2206), ready : Fr. pret or O. Fr. prest. 
 
 Prick, (a) " folly it is to spurn against a prick " (68b), 
 in Biblical phrase, *' to kick against," &c. 
 
 (b) " ye shoot nigh the prick " (15a), in archery 
 the point or mark in the centre of the butts ; or, as we 
 should now say, " the bull's-eye." " Therefore seeing 
 that which is most perfect and best in shootinge, as 
 alwayes to hit the pricke, was never scene nor hard 
 tell on yet amonges men." — Ascham, Toxoph. (1544), 
 123. 
 
 Pricketh, see Provender, Sharp thorn. 
 
 Pride, (a) " pride will have a fall " (27a). 
 
 (b) " pride goeth before and shame cometh after " 
 (27b). " Pryde gothe before and shame cometh be- 
 hynde . . . We may wayle the tyme that ever it 
 came here." — Treatise of a Gallant (c. 15 10). 
 
 Priest, " I would do more than the priest spake of on 
 Sunday " i95d). 
 
 Pritcht, " his nostrils so pritcht " (129c), pricked : 
 still dialectical. 
 
 Proface (79b), " much good may it do you ! " a common 
 welcome at meals : in the Epigrams we find (page 
 267) : " Reader . . . for preface, proface." " The 
 dinner's half done before I say grace. And bid the 
 old knight and his guest proface." — Heywood, Wise 
 Worn, of Hogsdon (1638). 
 
 Proffered, " proffered service stinketh " (6ia ; 209a 
 and b). 
 
 Property, " her property preves *' (27^), cloak, disguise. 
 
 Prophet, " not to my profit a prophet was I " (91b), 
 the pun still does yeoman service. 
 
 Proud, (a) " I proud and thou proud who shall bear th' 
 ashes out? " (iGd). 
 (b) see Cock. 
 
 Prove, see Friend. 
 
 Provender, "his provender pricketh him" (33d; 216c 
 and d). 
 
quittance] Note-Book and Word-List 427 
 
 Provide, see Worst. 
 
 Pudding, see Dog. 
 
 Pudding time, " this year cometh ... in pudding 
 time " (97c), in the nick of time, opportunely. " You 
 come in pudding time, or else I had dress 'd them." — 
 Tylney, Locrine (1594), iii. 3. 
 
 Pull, see Crow. 
 
 Pulpit, " a proper pulpit piece " (82c), " gospel," some- 
 thing to be received without question because ex- 
 pounded as it were ex cathedrd. 
 
 Purse, (a) "the purse is threadbare" (20& ; 221c). 
 (&) "he is purse sick and lacketh a physician " 
 (4ifo), needy, hard up. 
 
 (c) " ye would buy my purse — give me a purgation " 
 (41a). 
 
 (d) "be it better, be it worse, do ye after him 
 that beareth the purse " (13a). 
 
 (e) see Light. 
 
 Put, see Case. 
 
 QuARRELOus (231a), here = apt to engender contention, 
 fault-finding, complaining. " Goete wepynges and 
 quarrellouse plaintes. " — Caxton, Encydos (1490), xxii. 
 80. 
 
 Quarters, see Four Quarters. 
 
 Queans, " fiearing queans " (66a), wantons, strumpets : 
 primarily quean (like queen) = a woman without regard 
 to character or position ; the spelling ultimately differ- 
 entiated the debased from the reputable meaning, a 
 noteworthy instance occurring in Langland (Piers 
 Plowman [1363], ix. 46, " At church in the charnel 
 cheorles aren yuel to knowe Other a kayght fro a 
 knave other a queyne fro a queene." 
 
 Question, " this is a question of old enquiring " (91a). 
 
 Quick, "pigs dare not quich there" (293a), quich = 
 
 stir, move. 
 Quick, " quick as a bee " (aid). 
 QuiGHT (47^), quit. 
 Quittance, see Sufferance. 
 
428 Note-Book and Word-List [rabbit 
 
 Rabbit, " who the devil will change a rabbit for a rat " 
 
 (86a). 
 Rain, see Cloak. 
 Rate, " rise ye as ye rate " (55^), reckon, fix, decide. 
 
 Ravine, " ruin of one ravine" (93c), ravine = an act of 
 rapine, " I sorowed for the provinces misfortunes, 
 wrackt by private ravins and publick taxes." — Q. Eliz. 
 tr. Boeth. (1593), i. pr. iv. 9. 
 
 Ream, " a ream thence " (200a), realm, kingdom ; here 
 a type of great distance : the usage is unrecorded in 
 the O.E.D. 
 
 Receivers, " where be no receivers, there be no thieves " 
 (48c ; i8ob). " It is a comon sayinge, ware there no 
 receyver there shoulde be no thefe. So ware there no 
 stewes, there shulde.not so many honeste mennes 
 doughters rune awaye from there fathers and playe the 
 whores as dothe." — A Christen Exhortation unto 
 Customable Swearers (1575). 
 
 Reckoners, (a) " reckoners without their host must 
 reckon twice " (igd). Fr., " Comptoit sans son hoste." 
 — Rabelais, Gargantua. 
 
 (h) " even reckoning maketh long friends " (64^ ; 
 213a). 
 
 (c) " reckoning without thine host thou must 
 reckon twice " (i73&). 
 Reckoning, see Reckoners. 
 
 Recumbentibus (85b), a knock-down blow : cf. " circum- 
 bendibus." " He yaff the Kyng Episcropus Suche a 
 recumbentibus, He smot in-two bothe helme and 
 mayle." — Laud Troy Bk. (c. 1400), 7400. 
 
 Red herring, see Fish. 
 
 Relevavith, " what shall be his relevavith " (36a), 
 relief. " I see not any greate lightlywod that any 
 good summe will comm in, tyl after Christmas, and 
 then no more than the releuauithes." — State Papers, 
 Hen. VIII. (1546), I. ii. 840. 
 
 Ren, Renning, " to ren as swiftly " (iiSd), run : hence 
 (119a), running; and so forth. 
 
 Rest, " money . . . thou dost rest so " (255c), lay by, 
 store for use. 
 
riveled] Note-Book and Word-List 429 
 
 Resty, " resty wealth " (lad) : resty may be subject to 
 three glosses = (a) indolent, lazy : meaning that wealth 
 obtained by a rich marriage tends thereto ; or (6) it 
 may = restive, coy (as hard to get); or (c) = it may be 
 a contemptuous application of resty = rancid, thus 
 referring to money as " dross,"" muck," &c. " Where 
 the master is too resty or too rich to say his own 
 prayers, or to bless his own table." — Milton, Icono- 
 clastes (1649), xxiv. 
 
 Revart, " that oath again revart " (1286), take back. 
 
 Reweth (78c), rues. 
 
 Rhyme, " it may rhyme but it accordeth not " (44c ; 
 22 la). " It may wele ryme but it accordith nought." 
 — Lydgate, MS. poem, " On Inconstancy.''^ 
 
 Riches, " riches bringeth oft harm and ever fear, where 
 poverty passeth without grudge of grief " (46^). 
 
 Richesse, " beauty without richesse " (14b), riches : 
 properly a singular, but now used as a plural. 
 
 Rid, see Rock. 
 
 Right, see Might, Nothing. 
 
 Right side, " you rose on your right side " (62c), a 
 happy augury : the modern usage speaks of the reverse 
 or " wrong side of the bed." " C. What! doth shee 
 keepe house alreadie? D. Alreadie. C. O good God : 
 we rose on the right side to-day." — Terence in English 
 (1614). 
 
 Rime, see Rhyme. 
 
 Ring, " I hopping without for a ring of a rush " (9a), 
 see Rush-ring. 
 
 RiNGETH, " she ringeth a peal, a larum " (jSh). 
 
 Ringleader (24^), originally one who led a ring, as of 
 dancers, &c. 
 
 Ripe, " soon ripe soon rotten " (27c) : this proverb also 
 occurs in Harman, Caveat, &c. (1567). 
 
 Rise, see Sit. 
 
 Riveled, " with riveled old face " (1426), wrinkled, 
 shrunk. " Grumbates ... a man ... of middle 
 age, and with riveled lims, but carrying with him a 
 
430 Note-Book and Word-List [roast 
 
 brave mind, and ennobled for the ensignes of many 
 goodly victories." — Ammianus Marcellinus (1609). 
 
 Roast, (a) " rule the roast " (13a), to have (or take) 
 the lead (or mastery) : roa5f = roost (probably). " But 
 at the pleasure of me That ruleth the roste alone." — 
 Skekon, Colyn Cloute (c. 1518). 
 
 (b) " he looked like one that had beshit the roast " 
 (89c). 
 
 (c) " roast a stone " (56c), i.e. one may put warmth 
 into but can never get heat out of a stone. " They may 
 garlicke pill Cary sackes to the mil Or pescoddes they 
 may shil Or els go roste a stone." — Skelton, Why 
 come ye not to Court? (1520). 
 
 Rob, see Peter. 
 
 Robbery, ** change is no robbery " (2046), see Change. 
 
 Robin Hood, " tales of Robin Hood are good among 
 fools " (94c), the story of Robin Hood ultimately grew 
 so misty and traditional that the name became a 
 generic byword for the marvellous that was not be- 
 lievable. Thus Robin Hood, suhs. = a daring lie; Robin 
 Hood's pennyworth (of things sold under value); 
 *' Good even, good Robin Hood " (said of civility ex- 
 torted by fear) ; " Many talk of Robin Hood that never 
 shot in his bow " (750) = many speak of things of 
 which they have no knowledge ; and " Tales of Robin 
 Hood are good enough for fools." " I write no ieste 
 ne tale of Robin Hood." — Barclay, Ship of Fooles 
 (1509), fol. 250 (1570). 
 
 Rock, " thus rid the rock " (92b and i86d), i.e. so 
 was the distaff managed, manipulated: rocfe = the dis- 
 taff or frame about which flax, wool, &c., was ar- 
 ranged and from which the thread was drawn in 
 spinning. Hence here the meaning is " So managed 
 you your thrift badly." " I'll ride your horse as well 
 as I ride you." — Shakspeare, Twelfth Night (1602), 
 iii. 4. 
 
 Rod, (a) " when haste proveth a rod made for his own 
 tail " (7a). 
 
 (b) " beaten with his own rod " (7a). " don 
 
 fust Con kint sovent est-on batu." — Roman du Renart 
 (c. 1300). 
 
royals] Note- Book and Word- List 431 
 
 Rolling stone, " the rolling stone never gathereth 
 moss" (31c). "I, thy head is alwaies working; it 
 roles, and it roles, Dondolo, but it gathers no mosse, 
 Dondolo." — Marston, Fawn (1606). "Pierre volage 
 ne queult mousse." — De I'Hermite qui se desespera 
 pour le Larron qui ala en Paradis avant que lui (13th 
 century). 
 
 Rome, " Rome was not built in one day and yet stood 
 till . . . finished " (36^ ; 223a). " Haec tamen vulgaris 
 sententia me aliquantulum recreavit, quae etsi non 
 auferre, tamen minuere possit dolorem meum, quae 
 quidem sententia haec est, Romam uno die non fuisse 
 conditam." — Queen Elizabeth, Extempore speech he- 
 fore the University of Cambridge (9th August, 1564). 
 
 Roof, "he is at three words up in the house roof " 
 (66d) : nowadays we say " up in the skies." 
 
 Rope, (a) " as meet as a rope for a thief " (24c). 
 
 (b) " he haleth her by the boy rope " (78c), see 
 Boy rope. 
 
 Rope-ripe (281a), fit for (or deserving) the hangman's 
 rope. " Lord, how you roll in your rope-ripe terms ! " 
 — Chapman, May Day (1611), iii. 
 
 Rough bit, " I will bridle thee with rough bit " (i8id). 
 
 Routing, " routing like a hog " (30a), rowi = snore. 
 
 Rovers, " ye pry and ye prowl at rovers " (31c) — " letnot 
 your tongue run at rover " (69a) — (also 99&), at rover 
 = wild, unrestrained, at random. 
 
 RowLES, " at rowles " (280&), a precinct situated be- 
 tween the cities of London and Westminster, enjoy- 
 ing certain immunities, and hence called the Liberty 
 of the Rolls : the name being derived from the 
 rolls or records deposited in its chapel. 
 
 Royals {i.e. Rial), " a bag of royals and nobles " 
 (97a), royal = an old English gold coin, of varying 
 value, from los. in Henry VL's time to 15s. in 
 Queen Elizabeth's, whilst in the reign of James L the 
 rose-rial was worth 30s., and the spur-rial, 15s. : see 
 Noble. 
 
432 Note-Book and Word-List [royle 
 
 RoYLE, " by your revellous riding on every royle " (8ia), 
 royle = a. Flemish horse: this would seem to echo the 
 alleged contempt of Henry VIII. as regards Anne of 
 Cleves, whom he described as " a Flanders mare." 
 
 Rub, see Horse. 
 
 Ruin, " ruin of one ravin was there none greater " 
 (93c), see Ravine. 
 
 Rule, " better rule than be ruled " (13a ; 185c). 
 Ruled, see Dame. 
 
 Run, (a) " he may ill run that cannot go " (946 ; 189b). 
 
 (b) " ye run to work in haste as nine men held ye " 
 (42c). 
 
 (c) " she thinketh I run over all that I look on " 
 (77c), examine, " possess," have to do with. 
 
 (d) see Cat, Hare. 
 
 Runneth, (a) " he runneth far that never turneth 
 again " {gob ; 182a). 
 (&) see Tongue. 
 
 Rush, " care not a rush " (95a), rush=^\ow standard 
 of value. " And yet yeve ye me nevere The worthe 
 of a risshe. " — Langland, Piers Plowman (1362), 2421. 
 
 Rushes, " green rushes for this stranger, straw here " 
 (59b) : it was usual, before the introduction of carpets, 
 to strew rushes on the floors of dwelling-houses ; and 
 on the entrance of a visitor, hospitality required that 
 they should be renewed. " Where is this stranger? 
 Rushes, ladies, rushes : Rushes as green as summer 
 for this stranger." — Beaumont and Fletcher, Valen- 
 ti)7ian (1617), ii. 4. 
 
 Rush-ring, " a ring of a rush " (9a), a rush ring = a 
 symbol of a mock marriage. " As fit . . . as Tib's 
 rush for Tom's forefinger." — Shakspeare, All's Well 
 (1598), ii. 2, 22. 
 
 Sack, (a) " an old sack axeth much patching " (58a). 
 (b) '* it is a bad sack that will abide no clouting " 
 (6od). 
 
 Saddles, (a) " where saddles lack better ride on a pad 
 than on the horse bareback " (296). 
 (fc) see Sow. 
 
scratching] Note-Book and Word-List 433 
 
 Sage, " sage said saws " (yh). 
 
 Said, (a) " sooner said than done " (73&). 
 
 (&) " little said soon amended " (202c), the modern 
 form is "least said soonest mended." 
 
 (c) " other folks said it but she did it " (99^). 
 
 Saint, (a) " young saint, old devil " (27c ; 177a), the 
 reverse was quite as common — " young devil, old 
 saint." 
 
 Saint Audry (73d), or Auldrey, meaning Saint Ethel- 
 dreda, who (by tradition) died of a swelling in her 
 throat, which she considered as a particular judgment 
 for having been in her youth much addicted to wearing 
 fine necklaces (Nich. Harpsfield (1622), Hist. Eccl. 
 Anglicana) : hence tawdry. 
 
 Saint Needs (244a), a play, most likely, on the 
 Huntingdonshire St. Neots. 
 
 Sat, " she sat upon thorns " (27c). 
 
 Sauce, see Sweet. 
 
 Savour, see Nothing. 
 
 Savourly, " very savourly sound " (14&), properly, 
 rightly — as with a good and proper sense. 
 
 Say, (a) " I say little ... but I think more " (57&). 
 (h) see Day, Mum, Nay. 
 
 Saying, " saying and doing are two things " (73&) ; 
 171c). 
 
 Scabb'd, Scald, see Horse. 
 
 Scarborough warning, " Scarborough warning I had " 
 (43& ; 223d), no warning at all ; a blow before the word. 
 Fuller in his Worthies says : " The proverb took its 
 original from Thomas Stafford, who in the reign of 
 Queen Mary, 1557, with a small company seized on 
 Scarborough Castle (utterly destitute of provision for 
 resistance) before the townsmen had the least notice 
 of his approach." " I received a message from my lord 
 chamberlaine , . . that I should preach before him 
 upon Sunday next ; which Scarborough warning did 
 not only perplex me, but so puzzel me." — Mayhew, 
 Letter (1603, 19th January). 
 
 Scratching, see Cat. 
 
 HEY. II. F F 
 
434 Note-Book and Word-List [sealed 
 
 Sealed, see Butter. 
 
 See, (a) " see me and see me not " (69c; 211c). 
 
 (6) " I see much, but I say little and do less " (416). 
 
 (c) see Far, Millstone. 
 
 (d) " seeing that ye never saw " (33a). 
 
 Seek, (a) " to seek for that she was loth to find " (71a) — 
 " I seek for a thing . . . that I would not find " 
 (205a). Also see Find and Nought. 
 
 Seeld (passim), seldom. 
 
 Seeled when, "coming seeled when" (44 & ; 314a), 
 seldom. 
 
 Seely, " these seely worms " (131b), silly. 
 
 Seen, (a) " seen of the tone sort and heard of the 
 tother " (1016). 
 (b) see Far. 
 
 Seest, see See. 
 
 Segging, " the Dutchman saith that segging is good 
 cope " (94a), 5e^^m^ = sedge. 
 
 Seldom, (a) "seldom cometh the better" (iia; i88fe). 
 " This change is like to the rest of worldly chaunges 
 . . . from the better to the worse : For as the Proverb 
 sayth : Seldome coms the better." — English Courtier 
 and Country Gentleman (1586). 
 
 (6) " seldom seen, soon forgotten " (3od). 
 
 Self, " self do, self have " (20a). 
 
 Senior de Graunde (13a). " I myself will mounsire 
 graunde captain undertake." — Udall, Roister Doister 
 (E.E.D.S.), iv. 8, 986. 
 
 Service, " proffered service stinketh " (6ia ; 209a and 
 b), see Proffered. 
 
 Set, see Foot, Heart. 
 
 Seven, see Six. 
 
 Seven year, see Happeth. 
 
 Shall, " that shall be, shall be " (536 ; iSic), the 
 modern "we shall see what we shall see " is regarded 
 as a modern echo of nous verrons que nous verrons, 
 whereas the idiom is apparently of ancient lineage of 
 native growth. 
 
shoe] Note-Book and Word-List 435 
 
 Shame, (a) "shame take him that shame thinketh " 
 (21&; 174c), i.e. " Honi soit qui mal y pense." 
 
 Shame, see Pride. 
 
 Shameful, " shameful craving . . . must have shameful 
 
 nay " (35^)- 
 Sharp, " all thing that is sharp is short " (s^d). 
 
 Sharp thorn, " it pricketh betimes that shall be a 
 sharp thorn " (94a ; 187^). " Young it pricketh that 
 will be a thorn." — Jacob and Esau (E.E.D.S., Anon. 
 PI. 2 Ser. I id). 
 
 Sheaf, "take as falleth in the sheaf" (64b; 213a). 
 
 Sheath, " she maketh so much of her painted sheath " 
 {26d ; i8oc). 
 
 Sheep, (a) " as rich as a new shorn sheep " (42^), 
 penniless, " fleeced." " The nexte that came was a 
 coryar And a Cobelar, his brother, As ryche as a new 
 shorne shepe." — Cocke Lovelies Bote (c. 15 10). 
 (&) " subtilly like a sheep thought I " (206). 
 
 Sheep's eye, " he cast a sheep's eye at her " (185^), 
 ogled, leered : originally to look modestly and with 
 diffidence but always with longing or affection. " That 
 casting a sheepe's eye at hir, away he goes ; and euer 
 since he lies by himselfe and pines away." — Greene, 
 Francesco's Fortunes (1590), Works, viii. 191. 
 
 Sheep's flesh, " he loveth well sheep's flesh that wets 
 his bread in the wool " (70c) : Sharman thinks this 
 refers to a broth or jelly made from the sheep's head 
 boiled with the wool ; as also witness the following 
 from a poem attributed to Lydgate — " Of the shepe 
 is cast awaye no thynge ; ... Of whoos hede boyled, 
 with wull and all, Tere cometh a gely and an oynte- 
 ment ryal." — Treatyse of the Horse, Shepe, and Goos. 
 
 Shift, " shift each one for himself as he can " (96^). 
 Shilling, " to bring a shilling to ninepence " (66c). 
 Shins, see Cast. 
 Shod, see Shoemaker's wife. 
 
 Shoe, (a) "the shoe will hold with the sole" (67c; 
 1976). 
 
 (b) " now for good luck cast an old shoe after me " 
 (aid), an old and still intelligible bit of folk-lore : 
 
 F F 2 
 
43^ Note-Book and Word-List [shoemaker's wife 
 
 allusions to it are very numerous in old writers. 
 " Captain, your shoes are old, pray put 'em off, And 
 let one fling 'em after us." — Beaumont and Fletcher, 
 Honest Man's Fortune (1613). 
 
 (c) " myself can tell best where my shoe doth wring 
 me " {6gd), the moderns substitute " pinch " for 
 " wring." " I wot best, wher wringeth me my sho." 
 — Chaucer, Cant. Tales (1383), 9426. 
 
 (d) " who waiteth for dead men's shoes shall go 
 long barefoot " (45a), it is tedious looking forward to 
 inheritances. " You are my maister's sonne, and you 
 looke for his lande ; but they that hope for dead men's 
 shoes may hap go barefoote." — Two Angry Women 
 of Abington (1599). 
 
 (e) see Gosling. 
 
 Shoemaker's wife, " who is worse shod than the shoe- 
 maker's wife " (39d ; 223c), an excuse for lack of 
 something one ought to possess : compare Slipper. 
 
 SiiooN, " clouted shoon " (145^), shoon^shoes : still 
 good Scots. 
 
 Shoot, (a) " ye shoot nigh the prick " (15a), prick = 
 point, dot, mark, " bull's-eye." 
 
 (b) " he shooteth wide " (205c and d). 
 
 (c) " whom ye see out of the way, or shoot wide, 
 over-shoot not yourself any side to hide " (58c). 
 
 Shootanker, " her substance is shootanker whereat I 
 shoot " (13d), chief support ; i.e. the principal attrac- 
 tion as constituting the lady's last chance of mar- 
 riage. 
 
 Shooting, " short shooting leseth your game " (97c), 
 a technical term in archery : i.e. shooting wide of the 
 mark. 
 
 Shore, " ye lean ... to the wrong shore " (576). 
 
 Shorn, (a) " as rich as a new shorn sheep " (42^), see 
 Sheep. 
 
 (h) see Face. 
 
 Short, see Cow, Horse. 
 
 .Shot, (a) " pay the shot" (45^), ^/zo/ = reckoning, share 
 of expense. " Well at your will ye shall be furnisht. 
 But now a jugling tricke to pay the shot." — Chettle, 
 Kind Harts Dreame (1592), 
 (fe) see Comings Fool. 
 
six] Note-Book and Word-List 437 
 
 Shrew, " every man can rule a shrew save he that hath 
 her " (75a). 
 
 Shrewd cow, see Cow. 
 
 Shrift, " at shrift " (1366). 
 
 Side, see Bread, Hear. 
 
 Sight, " out of sight out of mind " {Sd ; 172^), a saying 
 which is found in Thomas k Kempis (1450), and earlier 
 in Prov. of Hendyng (c. 1320) — " Fer from eye, fer 
 from herte, Quoth Hendyng." 
 
 Silver, see Farthing. 
 
 Simper de cocket (52??), found as a suhs. as well as an 
 ad;. = coquettish, wanton. " I saw you dally with your 
 simper de cocket." — Heywood, Play of Weather 
 (Works, I. i22d). " And gray russet rocket With 
 simper the cocket." — Skelton, The Tunnyng of Ely- 
 noure Rummyng (1520). 
 
 Sing, see Thieves. 
 
 Sink, (a) " sink in thine own sin " (28c; 217c). 
 (&) " sink or swim " (926). 
 
 Sir John (66d), generic for a parish priest : our univer- 
 sities . . . confer the designation of Dominus on those 
 who have taken their first degree of Bachelor of Arts ; 
 the word Dominus was naturally translated Sir, and, 
 as almost every clergyman had taken his first degree, 
 it became customary to apply the term to the lower 
 class of the hierarchy. 
 
 Sit, " better sit still than rise and fall " (68c ; 2iod). 
 " Oh Cousin, I have heard my father say, that it is 
 better to sit fast than to rise and fall, and a great 
 wise man who knew the world to a hayre, would say, 
 that the meane was sure : better be in the middle 
 roome, then either in the Garret or the Sellor. " — 
 Brereton, Court and Country (1618). 
 
 Six, "a six and seven" (38J ; 20c), in confusion, at 
 loggerheads. " AUe in sundur hit [a tun] brast in six 
 or in seuyn." — Avowyne of King Arther (c. 1340), 64 
 [Camden Soc, Eng. Meln. Rom. 89]. 
 
 (b) " six days in the week beside the market day " 
 (31a), always. 
 
438 Note-Book and Word-List [skin 
 
 Skin, (a) " a lamb's skin ye will provide ... to lap 
 her in " (76c), see Lamb's skin. 
 
 (b) " it is good sleeping in a whole skin " (69a), 
 this is the title of a play by W. Wager, not now 
 extant. 
 
 (c) see Fox. 
 
 Skirts, " sit on their skirts " (13&), pursue, persecute, 
 " go for." " Touching the said archbishop, he had 
 not stood neutrall as was promised, therefore he had 
 justly set on his skirts." — Howell, Fam. Lett. (1650). 
 
 Sky, " when the sky falleth we shall have larks " (iic), 
 a retort to a wild hypothesis ; " if pigs had wings they 
 would be likely birds." " Si les nues tomboyent 
 esperoyt prendre les alouettes. " — Rabelais, Gargantua. 
 
 Slander, " it may be a slander but it is no lie " (84c). 
 
 Sleeping dog, see Dog. 
 
 Sleeve, (a) "laughed in my sleeve" (71a; 204^), de- 
 rided or exulted in secret. 
 
 (&) " flattering knaves and flearing queans . . . 
 hang OQ his sleeve " (66a), lickspittle, cadge from, are 
 dependent on. 
 
 (c) "a broken sleeve holdeth th' arm back " (21b). 
 " It is a terme with John and Jacke, Broken sleeve 
 draweth arme a backe." — Parliament of Byrdes 
 (1550). 
 
 (d) " she lacketh but even a new pair of sleeves " 
 (28a). 
 
 (e) see Dagger. 
 
 Sleeveless errand (17^), the origin of " sleeveless " is 
 a matter of conjecture, though its meaning is tolerably 
 clear: thus "a sleeveless ( = inadequate) reason" 
 (Relig, Antiq.) ; " a sleeveless ( = trifling) excuse " 
 (Lyly) ; "sleeveless ( = aimless) rhymes" (Hall); "a 
 sleeveless ( = objectless, wanting cover or excuse, fruit- 
 less, fool's) errand " (Chaucer, Shakspeare, &c.). 
 Sharman suggests the mediaeval custom of favoured 
 knights ,wearing the sleeve of their mistress as a mark 
 of favour, aspirants failing to obtain the badge being 
 dubbed " sleeveless " — " Sir Launcelot wore the sleive 
 of the faire maide of Asteloth in a tourney, whereat 
 queene Guenever was much displeased " (Spenser). 
 
soft] Note-Book and Word-List 439 
 
 Slipper, " let not the cobbler wade above his slipper " 
 (Epigrams). " Heere are the tenne precepts to be 
 observed in the art of scolding : therefore let not the 
 cobler wade above his slipper. The cobler above his 
 slipper, said Chubb, hee is a knave that made that 
 proverb." — Simon Snel-knave, Fearefull and Lament- 
 able Effects of Two Dangerous Comets (159 1). 
 
 Slipstring, " a waghalter slipstring " (86d), a gallows- 
 bird, one rope-ripe but who has cheated the gallows. 
 " Thow art a slipstring I'le warrant." — Lyly, Mother 
 Botnbie (1594), ii. i. 
 
 Slops, " his slops are ..." (259a), a linen outer 
 garment. 
 
 Sloth, " sloth must breed a scab " (9&). 
 
 Slugging, " slugging in bed " (58a), lazing. " All night 
 slugging in a cabin." — Spenser, State of Ireland. 
 
 Small, (a) " many small make a great " (376 ; 2166), 
 mod. " many a mickle makes a muckle." " The 
 proverbe saith that many a small makith a grete." — 
 Chaucer, Parson's Tale (1383). 
 (6) see Offering, Pitchers. 
 
 Smelled, " I smelled her out " (39c ; 2276), discovered, 
 " nosed," found. " Can you smell him out by that? " 
 — Shakspeare, Much Ado (1600), iii. 2. 
 
 Snail, " in haste like a snail " (2 id). 
 
 Sneakbill, " such a sneakbill " (88c), a generic term of 
 contempt. " A checheface, mecher, sneakebill, 
 wretched fellow, one out of whose nose hunger drops." 
 — Cotgrave, Did. (161 1). 
 
 Snow, " snow is white and lyeth in the dike and every 
 man lets it lie " (62^). 
 
 Snowering, " lowering and snowering " (286&). 
 
 Snudge, " pinch like a snudge " (S^h), snudge = m\ser. 
 " Your husbandry ... is more like the life of a 
 covetous snudge that ofte very evill proves." — Ascham, 
 Toxoph. (1544), i. 
 
 Socket, see Candle. 
 
 Soft, see Fire. 
 
440 Note-Book and Word-List [solarUxM 
 
 SoLARUM, see Familorum. 
 
 Sold, (a) " better sold than bought " (27a). 
 
 (&) " like one to be sold she set out herself in fine 
 apparel " (52a). 
 
 Sole, see Shoe. 
 
 Some, " here some and there some " (2170). 
 
 Something, " something is better than nothing " (172b 
 and 29c, with " somewhat " for " something "). 
 
 SooL, " a thing by itself sool " (148c), by itself, alone. 
 
 Soon, (a) " till soon fare ye well " (74a), this may = till 
 some future time not far distant, or 5oon = evening, a 
 provincialism, 
 
 (b) see Hot, Said. 
 
 Sooth, (a) " ye say sooth " (13 id), truth. " If thy 
 speech be sooth, I care not if thou dost for me as 
 much." — Shakspeare, Macbeth (1606), v. 5. 
 (b) see Bourd. 
 
 Sore, (a) " present salve for this present sore " (2od). 
 (b) see Flies, Store, 
 
 Sorrow, (a) " I had sorrow to my sops " (87^). 
 
 (b) '* make not two sorrows of one " (72 J ; 173d). 
 
 (c) " to bring her solace that bringeth me sorrow " 
 (88c). 
 
 Sot, " he is a sot " (238c et passim), fool : see Hey- 
 wood. Works (E.E.D.S.), i, 267a. 
 
 Souls, " poor men have no souls " (2oid ; 202a). 
 
 Sour, see Sweet. 
 
 Souse head, " like a souse head " (136a), fool, simple- 
 ton, sillikins : also souse-crown. 
 
 Sow, (a) " meet as a sow to bear a saddle " (52c ; 226a). 
 
 (b) " the still sow eats up the draff " (27c ; 196^). 
 still sow = a generic reproach, a sly lurking fellow; 
 dra^ = anything unfit for human food. *' We do not 
 act, that often jest and laugh ; 'Tis old but true, still 
 swine eat all the draff." — Shakspeare, Merry Wives of 
 Windsor (1596), iv. 2. 
 
 (c) " grease the fat sow on th' arse (or tail) " (39a), 
 be insensible to kindness : see Scogin's Jests. 
 
 (d) " the sow will no more so deep root " (58c). 
 
spurn] Note-Book and Word-List 441 
 
 (e) " (ye took) the wrong sow by the ear " (92a), 
 to make a wrong conclusion. " When he has got 
 into one o' your city pounds, the counters, he has the 
 wrong sow by the ear, i' faith; and claps his dish at 
 the wrong man's door." — Jonson, Every Man in his 
 Humour (1596), ii. 7. 
 
 (/) see Backare, Pig. 
 
 Sown, " in a sown " (185a), swoon. 
 
 Space, see Grace. 
 
 Spangs, " glittering spangs " (243d), spangles. 
 
 Spare, (a) " ever spare and ever bare " (66c). 
 
 (h) "spare to speak, spare to speed" (38c; 2o6d ; 
 2236). 
 
 Spark, " this spark of hope have I " (loia). 
 
 Speak, see Spare. 
 
 Speed, (a) " both bade me God speed, but none bade me 
 welcome " (23c). 
 (b) see Spare. 
 
 Spial, " upon spial " (231c), espial. 
 
 Spiced, " a mortar spiced " (262c), an interesting item : 
 cf. modern wheezes — i'/)tcy = outrageous, " hot "; horse 
 chesnut v. chestnut horse ; and the like. 
 
 Spillest, " thou spillest all other matter " (227c), spille 
 (A.N.) = mar, destroy, spoil. " And there stode they 
 alle stylle. There had he thoght redyly To have do 
 the quene a velanye, Fayne he wolde hur spylle. " — 
 MS. Cantab., Ff. ii. 38, f. 73. 
 
 Spin, see Tow. 
 
 Spit, " I will spit in my hands and take better hold " 
 (64c). 
 
 Spittle, " in the spittle " (176a), hospital. 
 
 Spoons, " as nice as it had been a ha'porth of silver 
 spoons " (98c). 
 
 Spun, see Thread. 
 
 Spur, " a gentle white spur and at need a sure spear " 
 
 (35«)- 
 Spurn, see Wall. 
 
442 Note-Book and Word-List [square 
 
 Square, (a) see Inch. 
 
 (b) " by this square" (231 J) — " by scornful square " 
 (2426), suitability, exactness, amity, agreement ; hence 
 scornful square = disagreement and so forth. 
 
 Stable door, " when the steed is stolen shut the stable 
 durre " (266), set a guard after the mischief is done; 
 see Barclay, Ship of Fools (1509), i. 76 (1874). " Quant 
 le cheval esi embl^ dounke ferme fols Testable." — 
 Les Proverbes del Vilain (c. 1300). " The steede was 
 stollen before I shut the gate, The cates consumed 
 before I smelt the feast." — Devises of Sundrie Gentle- 
 men. Durre = door. 
 
 Staff, (a) " the worse end of the staff " (58c), we now 
 
 say " wrong end of the stick." 
 
 (b) " what sendeth he (i.e. God), a staff and a 
 
 wallet? " (66d). 
 Stake, (a) "the loth stake standeth long" {6od ; 222a 
 
 and b). 
 
 (b) " it is an ill stake that cannot stand one year 
 in a hedge" {6od ; 212c). 
 
 (c) " as a bear goeth to the stake " (21c). 
 
 (d) " we shall so part stake, that I shall lese the 
 whole " (67c). 
 
 (e) see Steak. 
 
 Stale, (a) " stale a goose " (42c), stole : an old inflec- 
 tion. 
 
 (b) " stale home to me " (65&), see supra. 
 
 (c) " my tales are not stale " (1896), stale = o]d, 
 strong : specifically of ale. 
 
 Stand, (a) " stand and stean " (192?)), stand = a beer 
 barrel set on end; 5fean = an earthenware or stone 
 vessel. 
 
 (b) see Stake. 
 
 Standing, see Offering. 
 
 Start, " who hopeth in God's help his help cannot 
 start " (lie), change, be moved away. 
 
 States, " when states sit . . . in the cool " (2586), 
 states = persons of rank or quality. 
 
 Stave's end, " I live here at stave's end " (42^). 
 
 Stay, " to stay somewhat for her staying " (896), keep 
 back somewhat for a rainy day. 
 
stools] Note-Book and Word-List 443 
 
 Steak, " hath eaten a steak " (356), possibly in allusion 
 to the " stuck-uppishness " described a pun on 
 " stake " is intended ; much as modern printers speak 
 of one so afflicted as having swallowed (or stiffened 
 his back with) a brass rule. 
 
 Steal, (a) " thou wilt beg or steal ere thou die " (34a). 
 
 (6) see Goose, Horse. 
 
 Stean, see Stand. 
 
 Steed, see Grass, Stolen. 
 
 Steinth, " steinth yet the stoutest " (11&), checks, causes 
 to hesitate. " The Reve answered and saide, Stint 
 thy clappe. " — Chaucer, Catit. Tales (1383), 3144. 
 
 Stepdame, see Dame. 
 
 Sterveth, " the horse sterveth " (36^), starveth : note 
 the rhyme — " ^erveth " = *' sarveth," now vulgar; cf. 
 Jacob and Esau, ii. 3 (E.E.D.S., Anon. PI. 2 Ser. 
 36c). 
 
 Stick, see Goose. 
 
 Stiff-necked (87c), untoward, unruly, mulish. 
 
 Stile, *' ye would be over the stile ere ye come at it " 
 (97^). " Dulipo. I would fayne have you conclude. 
 Erostrato. You would fayne leape over the stile before 
 you come at the hedge." — Gascoigne, Supposes (1575). 
 
 Still, see Sit, Sow. 
 
 Stinketh, see Service. 
 
 Stobbers, " stake stobbers " (212c), hedgers. 
 
 Stock, see Chips. 
 
 Stomach, " an when the meal mouth hath won the 
 bottom of your stomach " (23d). 
 
 Stone, (a) " the rolling stone never gathereth moss " 
 (31c), see Moss. 
 
 (b) " I do but roast a stone " (56c), see Roast. 
 
 (c) see Hog. 
 
 Stools, " between two stools my tale go'th to the 
 ground " (gb ; 20od), found in a French manuscript 
 of the fourteenth century — " Entre deux arcouns 
 chet cul h terre." — Les Proverbes del Vilain, MS. 
 Bodleian (c. 1300). 
 
444 Note-Book and Word-List [stop 
 
 Stop, see Mouth. 
 
 Store, (a) " store is no sore " (12c; 176^). 
 
 (6) see Fair. 
 Straight-laced (37<i ; izgd), precise, squeamish, puri- 
 tanical. 
 
 Strainable, " sturdy storms strainable " (55<i), violent, 
 strong. " A Portingale ship was driven and drowned 
 by force of a streinable tempest neere unto the shore 
 of the Scotish Isles." — Holinshed, Hist. Scotland: 
 Josina. 
 
 Strake (292b), put, struck. 
 
 Straw, (a) " ye stumbled at a straw and leapt over a 
 block " (92& ; 197a), made much of nothing. " Lest 
 of a strawe we make a block." — POgr. Perf. [W. de 
 W., 1531], 93. 
 
 (b) " this gear will breed a pad in the straw " 
 (226??), see Pad. 
 
 (c) " lay a straw here and even there " (63c). 
 
 {d) " thou wilt not step over a straw " (^id), go a 
 step out of the way. 
 (e) see Cat. 
 
 Stream, "to strive against the stream" (6S& ; 210c). 
 
 Strife, " since by strife ye may lose and cannot win, 
 suffer " (69a). 
 
 Strike, see Iron. 
 
 String, see Bow, Harp. 
 
 Striveth, see Stream. 
 
 Stumble, see Straw. 
 
 Stumbleth, see Horse. 
 
 Sufferance, (a) " sufferance is no quittance " (d^d ; 
 
 212C). 
 
 {b) " of sufferance cometh ease " (22b ; 174a). " He 
 give a proverbe — Sufferance giveth ease." — Marston, 
 What you Will (1607). 
 
 (e) see Dance. 
 
 Sugar, (a) " when time hath turned white sugar to 
 white salt " (6c), otherwise (as 32^), " when sweet 
 sugar should turn to sour saltpetre." 
 (6) " I have for fine sugar fair rat's bane " (80a). 
 
tail] Note-Book and Word-List 445 
 
 Summ'd, Summing, " wings full summ'd " (224a), full 
 feathered : a falconry term. " The muse from 
 Cambria comes, with pinions summ'd and sourd." — 
 Drayton, Polyolb. (1613), xi, 859. 
 
 Summer, see Swallow. 
 
 Sun, " when the sun shineth make hay " (Sc), seize 
 your chance or opportunity. 
 
 Sure, see Butter. 
 
 Surgeon, " I am like the ill surgeon (said I) without 
 store of good plasters " {2od). 
 
 Swallow, " one swallow maketh not summer " (70a). 
 " One swallowe prouveth not that summer is neare." 
 — Northbrooke, Treatise against Dauncing (1577). 
 
 SwEEPETH, see Broom. 
 
 Sweet, (a) " sweet meat will have sour sauce " {igd ; 
 2o8d ; 2oga). 
 
 (b) " take the sweet with the sour " (62c). 
 
 (c) " sweet sauce began to wax sour " (s^b). 
 
 (d) " sweet beauty with sour beggary " (496). 
 
 (e) see Fire. 
 
 Swim, " he must needs swim that is hold up by the 
 chin " (i2d), see Scogin's Jests (1565). 
 
 Sword, (a) " he that striketh with the sword shall be 
 stricken with the scabbard " (jyd), see Revelation. 
 xiii. 10. " Nich. Blessed be the peace-makers ; they 
 that strike with the sword shall be beaten with the 
 scabbard. Phil. Well said, proverbs, nere another to 
 that purpose? Nich. Yes, I could have said to you, 
 syr. Take heede is a good reede." — Haughton, Two 
 Angry Women of Ahington (1599). 
 
 (b) " it is ill putting a naked sword in a mad man's 
 hand " (87c). 
 
 Taber, see Hare. 
 
 Tables, " play at tables " (1386), backgammon. " This 
 is the ape of form, monsieur the nice, That, when 
 he plays at tables, chides the dice." — Shakspeare, 
 Love's L. L. (1594), v. 2. 
 
 Tail, see Stools, Worm. 
 
446 Note-Book and Word-List [take 
 
 Take, see Inn, Give, Heart, Nay, Pepper, Sheaf, Time. 
 
 Tale, (a) " tale of a tub " (94c ; 189b), nonsense, fooling, 
 absurdity. " Ye say they follow your law, And vary 
 not a straw. Which is a tale of a tub." — Bale, Three 
 Laws (1538), Works (E.E.D.S.). 
 
 (b) "a good tale ill told in the telling is marred " 
 (82c), see infra. 
 
 (c) " good tales well told and ill heard . . . are 
 marred " (82c), see supra. 
 
 (d) " to tell tales out of school " (23d), to romance, 
 play the informer (Tyndale, d. 1536). 
 
 (e) " by told tales " (27c), fa/e = incredible story, 
 marvellous narration ; also words of wisdom : thus the 
 acme of truth or falsehood. " Telle no talys." — Cov. 
 Myst. (1469). 
 
 (/) " thy tales all taste of ale " (189&), i.e. are pot- 
 house yarns. 
 
 Tallow, " plainness is most tallow " (248c). 
 
 Tarrier, " let him be no longer tarrier " (35^), a 
 dawdler, a " slowcoach." " And for that cause he is 
 often times called of them Fabius cunctator, that is to 
 say, the tarier or delayer." — Elyot, Governour (1531), 
 bk. i., ch. xxiii. 
 
 Taste, see Ale, Tale. 
 
 Tatch, see Colt. 
 
 Taught, see Fed. 
 
 Taunt tivet (87^), primarily a hunting call, a note on 
 the horn : here an exclamatory salutation. 
 
 Teeth, " to cast in my teeth checks and choking 
 oysters " (43c), see Checks and Choking oysters. 
 
 Tell, see Cards. 
 
 Ten, see Bird. 
 
 Tender, see Leman. 
 
 Terms, " in plain terms plain truth ... to utter " 
 
 Thames, (a) " to cast water in Thames " (39b), a simile 
 of useless or thankless labour ; a work of supereroga- 
 tion. 
 
three] Note-Book and Word-List 447 
 
 (6) " bearing no more rule than a goose turd in 
 
 Thames " (76c). 
 Than (passim), then. 
 Thank, " I can thee good thank " (141&), can = 
 
 able to give; thank is singular = thanks. 
 
 Thankless, " a thankless office " (sSd). 
 
 Thare (238^), there : note the rhyme. 
 
 There, see Some. 
 
 Thief, " to ax my fellow whether I be a thief " (72b ; 
 i77d). 
 
 Thieves, (a) " when thieves fall out true men come to 
 their good " (936 ; 198^), or (modern) " when thieves 
 fall out honest men come by their own " : ^ood = be- 
 longings, possessions. 
 
 (b) " beggars may sing before thieves and weep 
 before true men " (47a ; i8o<i). 
 
 (c) see Receivers. 
 
 Thing, (a) " too much of one thing is not good " (64^), 
 this we now shorten to " too much of a good thing." 
 (&) see Call, Gosling, Nothing, Seek, 
 (c) "a wonder thing what things these old things 
 tell " (33c). 
 
 Think, " even as ye think now so come to you " (Sob). 
 
 Thinketh, see Farthing, Shame. 
 
 Thong, see Buckle. 
 
 Thorn, see Sat, Sharp thorn. 
 
 Thought, (a) " thought is free " (57b). " Since thought 
 is free, thinke what thou will." — James I., MS. Add. 
 
 24,195- 
 
 (b) " my thought ... is a goodly dish " (6ic). 
 
 Thread, " you spin a fair thread " (68c), with which 
 compare " this thread finer to spin " (i2d ; 215&). 
 
 Threadbare, see Purse. 
 
 Threating, " in brawling and threating " (167c), 
 threatening. " The face of warre would looke so 
 Sterne and great. As it might threat to heave him 
 from his sea." — Drayton, Poems (1637), p. 18. 
 
 Three, (a) " three may a-keep counsel if two be away " 
 (65b ; 222d). " Three may keep a counsel if twain 
 
448 Note-Book and Word-List [three trees 
 
 be away." — Chaucer, Ten Commandments of Love. 
 " The empress, the midwife, and yourself : Two may 
 keep counsel, when the third's away." — Shakspeare, 
 Titus Andronicus (1593), iv. 2. 
 
 (b) " frenzy, heresy, and jealousy are three that . . . 
 never cured be " (77c). 
 
 Three trees, " frame of three trees " (247c), the gal- 
 lows : variants of like kidney are numerous — e.g. 
 Two-legged mare. Three-legged stool, Three-cornered 
 tree, Mare with three legs, Tyburn tree, Triple tree, 
 &c., &c. 
 
 Thrift, (a) " when thrift is in the town ve be in the 
 field, &c." (92a). 
 
 (b) " I will now begin thrift when thrift seemeth 
 gone " (93d). 
 
 (c) " now thrift is gone now would ye thrive in all 
 haste " (95b). 
 
 (d) " thou art past thrift before thrift begin " (35a). 
 (c) " when thrift and you fell first at a fray you 
 
 played the man, for ye made thrift run away " (42^). 
 
 Thrive, (a) " he that will thrive must ask leave of his 
 wife " (34^), another form of which occurs in Thynn's 
 Deb. betw. Pride and Lowliness (1570) : — " He had a 
 sonne or twaine he would advaunce. And sayd they 
 should take paines untyll it fell ; He that wyll thrive 
 (quod he) must tary chaunce." 
 (b) see Weddeth. 
 
 Throw, see Gift. 
 
 Thumb, (a) " ye taunt me tit over thumb " (64a). 
 
 (b) " she hitteth me on the thumbs " (64a). 
 
 (c) " this biteth the mare by the thumb " (76c). 
 
 Ticking, " their ticking might have taught any young 
 couple their love ticks to have wrought " (53d) — 
 " leave lewd ticking " (7od) — " to tick and laugh with 
 me he hath lawful leave " (71a), tick = to dally, wan- 
 ton : frequently " tick and toy." " Such ticking, such 
 toying, such smiling, such winking, and such manning 
 them home when the sports are ended." — Gosson, 
 School of Abuse (1579). 
 
 Tickle, (a) " my tongue must oft tickle " (156), itch to 
 be wagging (Udall, Apoph. 381). 
 (6) see Time. 
 
tongue] Note-Book and Word-List 449 
 
 Tide, " the tide tarrieth no man " (8c ; 202c). '* Hoist 
 saile while gale doth last, Tide and wind stay no 
 man's pleasure." — Southwell, St. Peter's Complaint 
 
 (1595)- 
 Till, " thou consentest not till " (126^), till = to. 
 
 Time, (a) " take time when time cometh, lest time steal 
 away" (8c; 225a to c). 
 
 (b) " let time^'try " (72c). 
 
 (c) " time trieth truth " (72c). 
 
 (d) " time is tickle " {Sd ; 207& and c), uncertain. 
 {e) " time lost again we cannot win " (51^)- 
 
 Tippets, " so turned they their tippets " (54c), changed 
 right about: cf. "turncoat"; frequently of girls on 
 marriage. "Another Bridget; one that for a face 
 Would put down Vesta; You to turn tippet!" — 
 Jonson, Case is Altered (1609). Also Epigrams (178& 
 to i8oa). 
 
 Tit, (a) " tit for tat " (64a), blow for blow, an equiva- 
 lent, as good one side as the other : i.e. Fr. tant 
 pour tant. 
 
 (h) " little tit, all tail " (24c), tit originally = any- 
 thing very small or diminutive. 
 
 TiTiFiLS, " no mo such titiflls " (24a), a knave, a 
 jade : a generic reproach. " The devill hymself . . . 
 did apparell certain catchepoules and parasites, com- 
 monly called titivils and tale tellers, to sowe discord 
 and dissencion." — Hall, Henry VI. (1542), f. 43. 
 
 Toad, " she swelled like a toad " (396). 
 
 Toast, " hot as a toast " (54b). 
 
 Tolleth, " the milner tolleth corn " (149b), takes a 
 portion of grain as compensation for grinding. 
 
 Tomb, see Dead. 
 
 Tone (passim), the one : see Tother. 
 
 Tongue, (a) " her tongue runneth on pattens " (78a), 
 see Pattens. 
 
 (b) " let not your tongue run at rover " (69a), see 
 Rovers. 
 
 (c) "thy tongue runneth before thy wit" (64a; 
 214^). 
 
 HEY. II. G G 
 
450 Note- Book and Word-List [tools 
 
 (d) " biteth not with teeth but with her tongue " 
 
 (75&)- 
 
 (e) " her tongue is no edge tool but yet it will cut " 
 
 (24b). 
 
 (/) " tongue breaketh bone, itself having none " 
 (68c ; 206b to d). " Tonge breketh bon, Ant nad hire 
 selve non." — Proverbs of Hendyng, MS. (c. 1320). 
 
 (g) " when vour tongue tickleth, at will let it walk " 
 
 (15^)- 
 
 (h) " my tongue must oft tickle " (15&), itch to be 
 wagging. 
 
 (t) " it hurteth not the tongue to give fair words " 
 (22&). " O, madam, faire words never hurt the 
 tongue." — Jonson, &c., Eastward Hoe (1605). 
 
 (;■) " he may show wisdom at will that with angry 
 heart can hold his tongue still " (44^). 
 
 (fe) "I would thy tongue were cooled to make thy 
 tales more cold " (85c). 
 
 (/) '* my tongue is a limb to match and to vex 
 every vein of him " (68&). 
 
 (m) " think ye ... I will be tongued-tied " (69c). 
 
 Tools, see Workman. 
 
 Tooted, " cards be tooted on but on the tone side " 
 (2316), looked at, examined. 
 
 Tooting, " on my maids he is ever tooting " (70&), 
 casting " sheep's eyes," leermg. 
 
 Top, " as soon drive a top over a tiled house " (71c). 
 
 Tossed, see Post. 
 
 ToTHER (passim), the other : see Tone. 
 
 Tott'n'am, " Tott'n'am was turned French " (lyd), 
 said of great alterations and changed conditions : from 
 the migration of a number of French workmen to this 
 locality early in the reign of Henry VIII., their com- 
 petition provoking the jealousy of English mechanics, 
 and resulting in disturbances in the streets of London 
 on May-day, 1517. 
 
 Tow, " more tow on their distaves than they can well 
 spin " (73c), more in hand than can be well undertaken. 
 " I have more tow on my dystaffe than I can well 
 spyn." — Heywood, Works (E.E.D.S.), i. 25c. 
 
trust] Note-Book and Word-List 451 
 
 Toy, (a) " every trifling toy age cannot laugh at " (88a), 
 toy = whim, fancy, jest, &c. 
 
 (h) " such toys in her head " (756), see supra, 
 (c) " their faces told toys " (17^), see Face. 
 
 Tract, " tract of time " (8a), process, length, continued 
 duration. " This in tracte of tyme made hym welthy." 
 — Fabyan, Chronyde, ch. Ivi. 
 
 Trade, " yourself . . . taketh direct trade " (14c), way, 
 means, course. " The Jewes, emong whom alone and 
 no moe, God hitherto semed for to reigne, by reason of 
 their knowledge of the law, and of the autoritee of 
 being in the right trade of religion." — Udall, Luke 
 xix. 
 
 Tread, (a) see Worm. 
 
 (6) " my wife doth . . . tread her shoe awry " 
 (278a), play the whore ; and (in a weaker sense) 
 play fast and loose. " A woman to play false, enter 
 a man more than she ought, or tread her shooe 
 awry." — Cotgrave, Diet. (1611). 
 
 Treason, " in trust is treason " (67c). 
 
 Tree, (a) " it were a folly for me to put my hand 
 between the bark and the tree " (57^), to meddle in 
 family matters. 
 
 (6) " timely crooketh the tree that would a cammock 
 be " (94a), see Cammock. 
 
 (c) " you cannot see the wood for trees " (62&), see 
 Wood. 
 
 (d) see Three trees. 
 
 Triacle (igid), a medicine, an antidote. " Is there no 
 triacle in Gilead?" — WyclifTe, Jer. viii. 22. 
 
 Trick, " so deep and so trick " (257^), smart, trig. 
 
 Trip, " take me in any trip " (59^). 
 
 Trod, see Black ox. 
 
 Trot, see Need. 
 
 True, (a) " it must needs be true that every man sayeth " 
 (38a ; 200a and h). 
 (b) see Thieves. 
 
 Trust, see Treason. 
 
 G G 2 
 
452 Note-Book and Word-List [truth 
 
 Truth, (a) " tell truth without sin " (28a). 
 
 (b) " deem the best till time hath tried the truth 
 out " (72^), see Time. 
 
 Tub, see Tale. 
 
 Tun, " as full as a tun " (45b ; 208a), tun = a large cask. 
 " And ever sith hath so the tappe yronne, Til that 
 almost all empty is the tonne." — Chaucer, Cant. Tales 
 (1383), 3,891- 
 
 Tune, (a) " out of tune by note " (68c). 
 
 (b) " no tale could tune you in time to take heed " 
 (90c). 
 
 Turd, (a) " one crop of a turd marreth a pot of potage " 
 
 (76d). 
 
 (b) " the more we stir a turd, the more it will 
 stink " (76d). 
 
 Turn, (a) " one good turn asketh another " (41c) : we 
 now say " deserves." 
 
 (&) " he is cast in his own turn " (213c). 
 
 (c) see Cat. 
 Turneth, see Runneth. 
 
 Twain, (a) " we twain are one too many " (65b). 
 (b) see Three. 
 
 Two, see Faces, Sorrow, Stools. 
 
 Unborn, "better unborn than untaught" (25a; 197^^). 
 " Old men yn proverbe sayde by old tyme, ' A chyld 
 were beter to be unbore, Than to be untaught.' " — 
 Symon, Lessons of Wysedome for all Maner Chyldryn 
 (c. 1450). 
 
 Unkissed, (a) " farewell, unkissed " (29d), of a not over- 
 friendly parting : see next entry. 
 
 (b) "unknown, unkissed" (38c; 194b and c). 
 
 Unminded, " unminded, unmoaned " (21c). 
 
 Untaught, see Unborn. 
 
 Ure, see Pig. 
 
 Use, "use niaketh maistry " (55<i ; 219a), maistry = 
 mastery, perfection. 
 
VARIORUM READINGS] Notc-Book and Word-List 453 
 
 Variorum Readings and Errata. These, except where 
 otherwise stated, are those of the edition of 1566 as 
 compared with that of the original published in 1562. 
 Anno christi (Title d), omitted ; to make out of hand 
 (5c), take ; Since that, that one will not (8d), Since 
 that one will not ; my tail go to ground (gb), go to 
 the ground; may win my heart (iid), my omitted; 
 Chapter V. (12a), erroneously given in both editions 
 (and in the Spenser Soc. reprint without a note) as 
 Chapter VI, ; to he led (146), to be is duplicated ; 
 Chapter VII. (i6a), throughout the present text the 
 Chapter headings have been modernised : in the 
 original editions these usually read The. i chapiter, 
 and so forth ; in the present instance the reading of 
 the 1562 edition is The seventh chapiter, but in the 
 1566 edition it follows the regular rule, having been 
 corrected in the press ; thought this the best way to 
 be (23a), the and way are omitted ; cometh a good 
 end (25^), a is omitted ; no scratching will forbear 
 (28c), will is omitted; ye pry and ye prowl (31c), pry 
 and prowl ; may prove well (336), may is omitted ; 
 mine own said brother (33d), said is omitted ; at 
 mangy hackney's hire (40&), hackney; by'r lady 
 friend (41c), in 1562 ed. freed, freend in 1566 issue ; 
 one draught of drink (41^), a draught; beggarly 
 beauty and rivalled riches (50a), rivalled is a mis- 
 print in the present text for rivelled ( = wrinkled, 
 shrunken) : in the original 1562 ed. it is riueld and 
 reueld in the 1566 ; the choice is between a poor 
 beauty and a rich, but foundered, old woman ; he might 
 have ; his wife was set (53c), he might have omitted ; 
 her biggest bags (546), a curious misprint occurs in 
 the 1566 edition, the biggest haggs of the original 
 reading beggs baggest ; two days past (58c), days 
 omitted ; Well amended (thought I) (59c), quoth I ; 
 ye shall first jet (6o<i), shall omitted ; this fair young 
 wife (61&), fair omitted ; ye cannot see (626), you 
 cannot ; as alike to compare (63c), to omitted ; than 
 be too bold (646), too omitted ; may a-keep counsel 
 (655), keep ; in the fields (706), the omitted ; look on 
 a king {70c), a omitted ; head fast under (71&), /a^t 
 omitted ; stand at receipt (726), in original receite, 
 but changed in 1566 to recite as though = recital : a 
 rare form, and one which the O.E.D. does not gloss 
 
454 Note-Book and Word-List [variorum readings 
 
 until 1685 ; your maid examined (726), examine ; proof 
 to his reproof (73a), proof ; then to deprave (75c), 
 then omitted ; she is 50 far gone (77c), so omitted ; 
 that striketh with the sword (77^), strike ; reporteth 
 it for a truth (77c/), it omitted ; the heart reweth not 
 (78c), rene-weth ; see a halk (8ia), block ; to end of 
 all things (82b), of omitted ; thou art so -wood (86c), 
 good ; whereby each man (876), where each man ; in 
 ought that mirth (88a), in omitted ; the fletcher mends 
 (91a), mend ; to some tell this tale (92a), some 
 omitted ; leapt over a block (926), in original ever, 
 but ouer in ed. 1566 ; with one bush (95a), with is 
 duplicated in error ; liked then (95b), /«fee ; hundred 
 pound (gsd), misprinted pround in original and set 
 right in ed. 1566; wellnigh tryeth me (97b), tyreth ; 
 Fond wedding (i02d), found ; For unhonest . . . 
 sounds (loyd), included in parentheses ; A Louse and 
 a Flea (iioc), a omitted; A Hearer of a Sermon 
 (ma), a omitted ; Thick ears and thick wits be plenty 
 (115a), so in original, the 1566 reading being thin; 
 did die for lack of wind (115^), died; so feat a 
 reason (ii6a), a omitted; and yonder weathercock 
 (ii6b), yonde, in a field (iiSfe), the; I heard of truth 
 (i20c), hear ; as for the holy day {i26d), the omitted ; 
 too shrewd a wit in desire to dwell (127^), a shrewd 
 wit in desire ; in God's precepts (127^), God's 
 omitted; which were best choice (130c), were the best 
 choice ; Made I any lie (i32(i), a ; A Louse and a 
 Flea (135&), a omitted ; Of this Word, Enough 
 (137c), the ; strike and chime twelve (141a), in 
 original "xij." and "12." in ed. 1566; smart, or 
 tickle (142b), or omitted ; {think I) (i^^^d), {quoth I) ; 
 as I wot thou art (151^), as thou I wot art ; Of 
 treading on a worm (157^), of; Of mirth with wisdom 
 (128a), and; Of the Fox's preaching (161^), fox; 
 better take twenty pounds (169??), the roman numerals 
 of the original are, as before, replaced by Arabic 
 figures in the edition of 1566 ; better for birders but 
 for birds not so good (173^), better for birds but for 
 birders, <5>-c. ; " too far past shame " (174c), too 
 omitted ; store may be a sore (176^), a omitted ; 
 mo of womankind (177a), womenkind ; as to work 
 for nought (i8ob), to omitted ; Of a painted 
 sheath (i8oc), a omitted ; venturing is now such 
 
VARIORUM readings] Notc-Book and Word-List 455 
 
 (1816), no ; good horse (i86c), horses ; Measure is a 
 merry mean In volumes, &c. (192c), a omitted in 
 original : here as in ed. 1566 ; how . . . sure that 
 malkin one (2006), is one ; scalded squire (200c), 
 scabbed ; say so a long space (203c), so long a ; each 
 will other disdain (2040), each other will; 234 (216a), 
 in original misnumbered 233 ; 235 (216b), in the 
 original misnumbered 234 ; in both cases put right 
 in the 1566 copy ; few good doles (224^), good 
 omitted ; 291 (226b), misnumbered 281 in original, 
 but correctly in 1566 copy ; Of smellings (227a), 
 smelling; Of least tittle (2316), of the least tittle; 
 Of a disagreement (233c), a omitted; Of loving of a 
 goose (2346), geese ; Between dogs and a deer (234c), 
 a omitted ; .Ik advice against mocking (2386), Of ; 
 Of a horse (238^), a omitted ; I would he, both for 
 (239^), be in both ; gable ends, cambers (239^), 
 chambers ; the leg is itching (240a), is omitted ; may 
 seem your wife's father (243a), seem you, your ; 
 whence come their glittering spangs (243^), these ; 
 corned crooked toes (243d), corn ; like a now hunted 
 sow (245^), new ; Of a Cutter of Purslane (2466), 
 the; standeth in no man's else (246c), no omitted; 
 41 (248^), erroneously in original 40 ; choice of one 
 of two things (250^), of omitted; is chief part (2516), 
 is the chief part ; so courteous (255a), original has 
 curtusie ; and one on each side (258^), one 
 omitted ; March hare's mad property (274^), made ; 
 Of a lanthorn and Light (279c), a omitted ; lost'st 
 a mark (279c), losest Hostest — losist) ; at the tale's 
 end (280a), thy ; bring both these about (280^), these 
 omitted ; axt (283c), axe ; Smart's Key (284a), Smar- 
 ris ; Carter Lane? nay, nay (284a), one nay is 
 omitted ; in thy head (284b), the ; to scratch (285??), 
 scart ; Hast any marjorum, gentle (288a), hast thou 
 any : in present text delete the comma before 
 ," gentle "; Of Pineapple (288d), " Of a pine tppell "; 
 Epigram 76 (289c), in original lettuce is spelt lettes 
 in the text, and lettis in the title of the Epigram — in 
 modernising the spelling, the es of the former is re- 
 presented by uce : the pun, such as it is, is thus pre- 
 served, its modern guise being let us ; when ye list 
 (293c), he list ; is now assigned (294a), now is omitted ; 
 walk plainly (295c), blainly ; turned to merry scoff 
 
456 Note-Book and Word-List [vengeably 
 
 (297c), to a merry ; If all the world (299), of in MS- 
 copy. See Errata, page 466. 
 
 Vengeably, " vengeably strait-laced " (129^, et passim), 
 very, exceedingly : an intensive. 
 
 Venom, " spit her venom " (24d). 
 
 Venture, see Nought. 
 
 ViAGE, " this viage make " (21c), voyage = a journey by 
 land or sea. 
 
 Wade, " for what should I further wade " (43a). 
 Wag, see Merry. 
 
 Waghalter, " waghalter slipstring " (86d), waghalter 
 = a rogue, gallowsbird, crackrope : see Slipstring. 
 
 Waking, " might have been asleep for ought they in 
 waking . . . would do " (30&). 
 
 (b) see Dog. 
 
 Walk, (a) " walk, drab, walk ! " (63c). 
 (&) "walk, knave, walk!" (63c). 
 
 (c) see Waster. 
 
 Walking-staff, " the walking-staff hath caught warmth 
 in your hand " (26c). 
 
 Wall, (a) " to winch . . . against the hard wall " (686 ; 
 219& and c), winch (or wince) = ]<.ick. " Paul, whom 
 the Lord hadde chosun, long tyme wynside agen the 
 pricke." — Wycliffe, Prolog on the Dedes of Apostles. 
 (6) '* further than the wall he cannot go " (71b ; 
 192^). 
 
 (c) " drive him to the wall " (71&), urge to ex- 
 tremities, " corner." 
 
 (d) " I shall pike out no more than out of the stone 
 wall " (726), pike — pick, find out, learn, mark. 
 
 (e) "as in frost a mud wall . . . cracketh and 
 crummeth ... so melteth his money " (79a). 
 
 Waltham, " as wise as Waltham's calf " (sSd), the 
 allusion is lost though the meaning is clear and 
 examples are many, the earliest I have found occur- 
 ring in Skelton's Colin Clout (1520), where a rascal 
 priest is described " As wyse as Waltom's calfe . . . 
 he can nothyng smatter Of logyke nor scole matter." 
 
wax] Note-Book and Word-List 457 
 
 " Some running and gadding calves, wiser than 
 Waltham's calfe that ranne nine miles to sucke a 
 bull." — Disclosing of the great Bull [Harl. Misc. 
 (1567). vii. 535]- 
 
 Wan, " I wan them " (42a; ii8c), won. 
 
 Ware, see Merchant. 
 
 Warely, " Being fled warely " (140c), warily : note the 
 rhyme with " barely " and " charely " ( = charily). 
 
 Warling, see Darling. 
 
 Warm, see God's blessing, Wise. 
 
 Wars, " we do much wars " (39a), worse : note the 
 rhyme. 
 
 Wash, " as sober as she seemeth, five days come about 
 but she will once wash her face in an ale clout " 
 (26d) : see Ale-clout. 
 
 Wasp, " angry as a wasp " (31&). 
 
 Waste, see Haste. 
 
 Waster, " walked with a waster " (148a), beaten : 
 walk = beat; ■iya5ier = cudgel. 
 
 Wat, " thy head . . . sheweth thee a wat " (141c), 
 wat = h2ire : a type of light or empty headedness, as 
 in " hare-brained." 
 
 Water, (a) " the trial thereof we will lay a water " 
 (loa) — " my matter is laid a water " (191a), put 
 aside, defer judgment, render nugatory : see Lay. 
 
 (b) " you come to look in my water " (41a), physi- 
 cians once diagnosed complaints by " casting the 
 water of a patient." " If thou could 'st, doctor, cast 
 The water of my land, find her disease." — Shakspeare, 
 MacBeth (1606), v. 3. 
 
 (c) " no more water than the ship drew " (89a). 
 
 (d) see Horse, Moonshine, Pot. 
 
 Water-drinker, " a falser water-drinker there liveth 
 not " (72a). 
 
 Wax," she should have wrought like wax " (75a). 
 
45^ Note-Book and Word-List [way 
 
 Way, (a) " if ve haul this wav I will another way 
 draw " (63d).' 
 (h) see Wood, 
 (c) " it is out of my way " (22od). 
 
 Weaker, (a) *' the weaker hath the worse " (236 ; 199^). 
 (b) see Pot, 
 
 Wealth, (a) " both for wealth and woe " (17a), wealth 
 
 = (originally) good, weal, prosperity. " Let no man 
 
 seek his own, but every man another's wealth." — 
 
 1 Corinth. {Auth. Ver., i6ii), x. 24. 
 
 {b) " all thing may be suffered saving wealth " 
 
 (62fe). 
 
 AVear, see Breech. 
 
 Weather, (a) " when all shrews have dined, change from 
 foul weather to fair is oft inclined " (50c). 
 
 (h) " weather meet to set paddocks abrod in " (50b), 
 see Clouds, Curryfavel, Paddock. 
 
 Weathercock, " like a weathercock " (102a). 
 
 Wed, ** where nought is to wed with wise men flee the 
 clog " (32a). 
 
 Wedded, " I was wedded unto my will ... I will be 
 divorced and be wed to my wit " (102c). 
 
 Weddeth, " who weddeth or he be wise shall die or 
 he thrive " (19b ; 172b). 
 
 Wedding (terms of), (a) " wooing for woeing, banna 
 for banning, the banns for my bane, marrying marring, 
 a woman, as who saith, woe to the man " (83c). 
 
 (b) " wedding and hanging are destiny " (9c ; 168b), 
 an earlier mention, " Hanging and wiving go by 
 destiny," is found in the Schole-hotis for Women 
 (1541). In 1558 a ballad was licensed with the title 
 ** The Proverbe is true y* Weddynge is destinye." 
 
 (c) " they went (witless) to wedding whereby at last 
 they both went a-begging " i33d). 
 
 (d) " quick wedding may bring good speed " (loa). 
 
WHIT] Note-Book and Word-List 459 
 
 Weed, (a) "ill weed groweth apace" (27 d ; 2176). 
 " Ewyl weed ys sone y-growe." — M.S. Harleian 
 {c. 1490). 
 
 (&) " the weed overgroweth the corn " (27^). 
 
 Week, "in by the week" (84& ; 176^). 
 
 Weep, " better children weep than old men " (175c), 
 see Children. 
 
 W'EET (220a), wet. 
 
 Welcome, " welcome when thou goest " (79^). 
 
 Well, (a) "all is well that ends well" (25c; 202d). 
 
 (b) " believe well and have well " (9od). 
 
 (c) " do well and have well " {qod). 
 
 (d) see Bag. 
 
 (e) " many wells, many buckets " (85&), with which 
 compare the modern retort, " How many wells make 
 a river? " 
 
 Wet, see Cat, 
 
 Wet finger, " with a wet finger " (95c), easily, readily : 
 as easy as turning over the leaf of a book, rubbing 
 out writing on a slate, or tracing a lady's name on 
 the table with spilt wine — the last may well be the 
 origin of the phrase : cf. " Verba leges digitis, verba 
 notata mero " (Ovid, Amor. i. 4. 20). So also Tibullus, 
 lib. i. el. 6 : — " Neu te decipiat nutu, digitoque 
 liquorem Ne trahat, et mensse ducat in orbe notas." 
 " What gentlewomen or citizens' wives you can with 
 a wet finger have at any time to sup with you." — 
 Dekker, The Gull's Hornbook (1602). 
 
 What's o'clock, see Clock. 
 
 Whelp, " as a whelp for wantonness in and out whips " 
 
 Whip, " at a whip" (ii8d), at a bound, as if in re- 
 sponse to a slash of a whip. 
 
 Whisters, " this lesson he whisters " (122c), tells 
 softly, whispers : note the rhyme. 
 
 Whit, " as good never a whit as never the better " 
 
 (l02fc). 
 
460 Note-Book and Word-List [will 
 
 White, see Crow. 
 
 White livered (69c), cowardly, mean : an old notion 
 was that cowards had bloodless livers. " White 
 liver 'd runagate." — Shakspeare, Richard III. (1597), 
 iv. I. 
 
 Whiteness, " that all her whiteness lieth in her white 
 hairs " (4c), whiteness = chastity . " The purity and 
 whiteness of my sheets." — Shakspeare, Winter's Tale 
 (1604), i. 2. 
 
 Whiting, " there leaped a whiting " (jSd), there was 
 an opportunity missed. 
 
 Whole, (a) " if ye lack that away ye must wind with 
 
 your whole errand and half th' answer behind " (51c). 
 
 (b) " hear the whole, the whole wholly to try " 
 
 Whore, " hop whore, pipe thief " (86d). 
 
 Wide, (a) see Shoot. 
 
 (b) " wide a bow of Bridewell " (2436), beyond a 
 bow shot." 
 
 Wife, (a) " he that will thrive must ask leave of his 
 wife " (34^) : a variant is "it is hard to wive and 
 thrive both in a year " (34^). " A man may not 
 wyfe And also thryfe And alle in a yere." — Towneley 
 Mysteries (c. 1420). 
 
 (b) " the best or worst thing to man for this life 
 is good or ill choosing his good or ill wife " (6&). 
 
 (c) "a good wife maketh a good husband " (88c). 
 
 (d) see Shoemaker's wife. 
 
 Wight, " as wight as the hound " (i8oc), wight = 
 nimble, active. " He was so nimble and so wight." 
 — Spenser, Shepheards Calendar, March. 
 
 Will, (a) " he that will not when he may, when he 
 
 would, he shall have nay " (8a ; i68c), compare " who 
 
 that may not as they would, will as they may " (68a). 
 
 (fc) ** when we would, ye would not . . . wherefore 
 
 now when ye would, now will not we " (28&). 
 
wind] Note-Book and Word-List 461 
 
 (c) " that one will not, another will " (8d). 
 
 (d) " will will have will, though will woe win " 
 
 (35«)- 
 
 (e) " will is a good son and will is a shrewd boy 
 and wilful shrewd will hath wrought thee this toy " 
 
 (/) see Wax, Wedded, Win. 
 
 Willing, " nothing is impossible to a willing heart " 
 (lie). 
 
 Win, (a) ''will may win my heart" (iid). 
 
 (6) " although I nought win yet shall I nought 
 lose " (102a). 
 
 (c) " ye can nought win by anv wayward mean " 
 (68d). 
 
 (d) " he playeth best that wins " (215c), see Laugh. 
 
 Winch, see Wall (a). 
 
 Wind, (a) " an ill wind that bloweth no man to good " 
 (93c; 183a). " Falstaff. What wind blew you hither? 
 Pistol. Not the ill wind which blows no man to good." 
 — Shakspeare, 2 Henry IV. (1598), v. 3. 
 
 (b) " let this wind overblow " (36c ; 215^), 
 
 (c) " every wind bloweth not down the corn " 
 (93d). 
 
 (d) " all this wind shakes no corn " (36c). 
 
 (e) " he smelled her out and had her straight in the 
 wind " (39c), had at an advantage ; understood her. 
 
 (/) " I have him in the wind " (2236), see supra. 
 
 (g) ** what wind bloweth ye hither? " (25a). 
 
 (h) " to take wind and tide with me " (36c). 
 
 (t) " if the wind stand in that door, it standeth 
 awry " (68c). " It is even so? is the winde in that 
 doore? " — Gascoigne, Supposes (1566). 
 
 (;) " your meddling . . . may bring the wind calm 
 between us " (59^). 
 
 (fe) " I will ... ill winds to sway, spend some 
 wind . . . though I waste wind in vain " (60a), wind 
 = breath is ancient, " Woman thy wordis and thy 
 wynde thou not waste." — York Plays (c. 1362), 258. 
 
4^2 Note-Book and Word-List [windfall 
 
 (/) " knew which way the wind blew " (91b), aware 
 of the position of matters, state of affairs, 
 (m) " wavering as the wind " (54^). 
 
 Windfall, " to win some windfall " (38^). 
 
 Wine, " ve praise the wine before ye taste of the grape " 
 
 (27d). 
 
 Wing, " keep your bill under wing mute " (69a). 
 
 Wink, see Cat. 
 
 WiNNETH, "he laugheth that winneth " (i2d ; 2156), 
 see Laugh. 
 
 Wins, see Win. 
 
 Wise, (a) " ye are wise enough if ye keep ye warm " 
 (56c; 193c). 
 
 (&) " better to be happy than wise " (75c ; 190&). 
 
 (c) " as ye can seem wise in words be wise in 
 deed " (736). 
 
 (d) " every wise man staggers in earnest or boord 
 to be busy or bold with his biggers or betters " (47^). 
 
 (e) see Merry, Weddeth. 
 
 Wisest men, see Clerks. 
 
 Wish, " better have than wish " (6ic ; 222^7 and c). 
 
 Wishers, " wishers and woulders be no good house- 
 holders " (32b). " Wysshers and wolders ben smal 
 housholders." — Vtilg. Stamhrigi (1510). " He . . . 
 resolved rather to live by his wit, then any way to 
 be pinched with want, thinking this old sentence to be 
 true, the wishers and woulders were never good house- 
 holders." — Green, Never too Late (1590). 
 
 Wist, (a) "beware of Had I wist" (6c; 219^), an ex- 
 clamation of regret. " Be welle war of wedyng, and 
 thynk in youre thought ' Had I wist ' is a thyng it 
 servys of nought." — Towneley Myst. (c. 1420). 
 (6) see Blab. 
 
 Wit, (a) " wit is never good till bought " (iSd ; 169c and 
 d), xy»7 = wisdom, knowledge. " Stationers could not 
 
wood] Note-Book and Word-List 463. 
 
 live, if men did not beleeve the old saying, that Wit 
 bought is better than Wit taught." — Conceits, 
 Clinches, Flashes and Whimzies (1639). 
 (6) " to leave my wit before it leave me " (55c). 
 
 (c) "at our wit's end" (i8d ; 169c). 
 
 (d) " one good forewit worth is two afterwits "" 
 (19a). 
 
 (e) see Ale, Head, Tongue, Wedded. 
 
 Woe, (a) " she hath wrought her own woe " (25^). 
 
 (6) "woe worth all crafty inventions" (1166; 
 304a), worth = to become, to be: here in imperative 
 with the noun in the dative, and meaning " Woe 
 be to," &c. 
 
 (c) see Hasty. 
 
 Wolf, (a) " to keep the wolf from the door " (83&). 
 (b) " a wolf in a lamb's skin " (28a). 
 
 W^OMAN, see Cat. 
 
 Won, see Cards, Nought. 
 
 Wonder, " this wonder lasted nine days " (53^ ; 1966), 
 " Eke wonder last but nine deies never in town." — 
 Chaucer, Troilus and Creseide. " A book on any 
 subject by a peasant, or a peer, is no longer so much 
 as a nine-days wonder." — Ascham, Schoole-master 
 (1570). 
 
 Wondered, " he that doeth as most men do, shall be 
 least wondered on " (56a). 
 
 WoNDERFOOL, " wonderfool well " (243a), a play on 
 "fool " and " full." 
 
 Wood, (a) " there be mo ways to the wood than one " 
 (93d ; 187&). 
 
 (b) "thou art so wood" (31& ; 86c)— " horn 
 wood " (99c), mad, furious, frantic, raging. " Flem- 
 ynges, lyke wood tygres." — Fabyan, Cronycle (an. 
 1299). See Horn wood. 
 
 (c) " ye cannot see the wood for trees " (62b). 
 " From him who sees no wood for trees And vet is 
 
464 Note-Book and Word-List [woodcock 
 
 busie as the bees . . . Libera nos." — A Letatiy for 
 S. Omers (1682). 
 
 (d) " ye took the wrong way to wood " (9 id). 
 
 (e) see Bird, Cow, Crow, Eyes, Woodness. 
 
 Woodcock (242^), simpleton, fool. " O this wood- 
 cock ! what an ass it is ! " — Shakspeare, Taming of 
 the Shrew (1593), i. 2. 
 
 Woodness, " worse than woodness " (193a), wood^ 
 mad, furious, frantic, raging : see other volumes of 
 this series. 
 
 Wool, (a) " what should your face thus again the wccl 
 be shorn? " (36c). 
 
 (b) " thy face is shorn against the wool, very deep " 
 (i98d). 
 
 (c) see Sheep's flesh. 
 
 W^ORD, (a) " not afford you one good word " (93b). 
 (6) " one ill word axeth another " (22a). 
 
 (c) '* many words, many buffets " (85&). 
 
 (d) " good words bring not ever of good deeds good 
 hope " (94a). 
 
 (e) " this doth sound ... on your side in words, 
 but on my side in deed " (83d). 
 
 (/) " few words to the wise suffice " (82c). 
 (g) see Losers, Tongue, Wood. 
 
 Work, see Hands, Play. 
 
 Workman, " what is a workman without his tools? " 
 (94c; 189&). 
 
 World, (a) " the world runneth on wheels " (78b), 
 runs easily, expeditiously. 
 
 (b) " let the world wag " (i2d), let go, let things 
 take care of themselves. '* Y'are a baggage ; the Slies 
 are no rogues ; Look in the chronicles, we came in 
 with Richard Conqueror. Therefore, paucas palla- 
 
wull] Note- Book and Word-List 465 
 
 bris ; let the world slide." — Shakspeare, Taming of 
 the Shrew, Induction, i. 6. 
 
 (c) " he brought the world so about " (98^). 
 
 'Worm, "tread a worm on the tail and it must turn 
 again" (64c; 171c). "The . . worm will turn, being 
 trodden on ; And doves will peck in safe-guard of their 
 brood." — Shakspeare, 3 Henry VI. (1595), ii. 2. 
 
 Worse, (a) " all thing is the worse for the wearing " 
 (54a). 
 
 (h) see Lady, Lord, Shoemaker's wife. Weaker. 
 
 Worst, (a) " provide for the worst, while the best itself 
 save " (i2d ; 220b). 
 
 (b) " the worst is behind, we come not where it 
 grew " (57c; 195^^; 196a and 6). 
 
 (c) " if the worst fell, we could have but a nay " 
 (44c). 
 
 (d) see Candle. 
 
 Wot, "I wot what I wot " (84^). 
 
 Would, see Will. 
 
 Wrestling, see Weaker. 
 
 Wringer, " your wealth's wringer " (280c), i.e. the 
 thumb and finger as the instruments of the payment 
 away, or the dissipation of money. 
 
 Write, see Friends, Health. 
 
 Wrong, (a) " thou beggest at wrong door " (i8ia) — 
 " ye beg at a wrong man's door " (20c). 
 (b) see Sow. 
 
 Wroting, " the wroting hog " (172c), grubbing, rooting. 
 
 Wull (75<i), will : note the rhyme. 
 
 HEY. II. H H 
 
466 Note- Book and Word-List [year 
 
 Year, (a) " I am too old a year " (90c). 
 (6) see Dear, Fair, Happeth, Stake. 
 
 Yesterday, (a) " it is too late to call again yesterday " 
 (906). 
 
 (b) " the offence of yesterday I may redeem " (90&). 
 
 Yield, " in case as ye shall yield me as ye cost me, so 
 shall ye cost me as ye yield me " (43c). 
 
 Yis (282^ ; 2916), yes : note the rhyme and compare 
 with the modern Cockney vulgarism. 
 
 YiT (82a), yet : note the rhyme. 
 
 Young, (a) " ye be young enough to mend . . . but I 
 am . . . too old to see it " (90c). 
 (b) see Saint, Devil. 
 
 Younger, " ye shall never labour younger " (21c), sec 
 Labour. 
 
 Yow (passim), you. 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 8d, Blame me not to haste read too. 
 2oa, day after fair read after the fair. 
 33a, in saying that read in seeing that. 
 33c, like to the fire read like to the sire. 
 51&, Diners read Dinners. 
 84^, good children read godchildren. 
 242a, Yes, Clim read Yes, dim. 
 244^^, nett read net. 
 
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