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 4s
 
 THE PROVERBS OF 
 JOHN HEYWOOD
 
 [Reduced Facsimile of Portrait of John Ilcyuiood, the 
 Frontispiece to " Three Hundred Epigramnics upon 
 Three Hundred Proverbs," London, 15(12.]
 
 ^% 
 
 A Dialogue 
 
 of 
 
 "The Effectual Proverbs 
 
 in the English Tongue 
 CONCERNING MARRIAGE 
 
 BY 
 
 JOHN HEYWOOD 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 JOHN S. FARMER 
 
 itonUon 
 
 GiBBiNGs & Co., 1 8, Bury Street, W,C. 
 
 MCMVI
 
 w>-
 
 r 
 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 A Dialogue of the Effectual Proverbs 
 V IN THE English Tongue concerning 
 
 .^ Marriage 
 
 ^ PART I. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 V" Preface 3 
 
 Chapter I. . . 4 
 
 Chapter II 5 
 
 Chapter III 8 
 
 Chapter IV 10 
 
 Chapter V 12 
 
 Chapter VI J4 
 
 Chapter VII i6 
 
 Chapter VIII 18 
 
 Chapter IX 20 
 
 Chapter X 23 
 
 Chapter XI   . . 30 
 
 Chapter XII 46 
 
 Chapter XIII 49 
 
 544893
 
 vm 
 
 Contents 
 
 
 PART II. 
 
 Chapter I. 
 
 
 
 • 
 
 Chapter II. 
 
 
 
 
 Chapter III. 
 
 
 
 
 Chapter IV. 
 
 
 
 
 Chapter V. 
 
 
 
 
 Chapter VI. 
 
 
 
 
 Chapter VII. 
 
 
 
 
 Chapter VIII. 
 
 
 
 
 Chapter IX. 
 
 
 
 
 Chapter X. 
 
 
 
 
 Chapter XI. 
 
 
 
 
 Note-Book, Word 
 
 -Lis- 
 
 r, a 
 
 \D Index 
 
 51 
 
 55 
 58 
 60 
 
 65 
 74 
 77 
 87 
 89 
 98 
 
 lOI 
 
 105
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 'Art thou Heywood, with thy mad merry wit? 
 
 Yea, forsooth, master, that name is even hit. 
 Art thou Heywood, that appliest mirth more than 
 thrift? 
 
 Yes, sir, I talve merry mirth a golden gift. 
 Art thou Heywood that hast made many mad plays? 
 
 Yea, many plays, few good works in my days. 
 Art thou Heywood that hath made men merry long? 
 
 Yea, and will, if I be made merry among. 
 Art thou Heywood, that wouldst be made merry now? 
 
 Yes, sir, help me to it now, I beseech you." 
 
 So, of hirnself, wrote John Heywood, the 
 author of this work, which, 360 years after it 
 was first published, is ag-ain given to the world. 
 It ran through at least ten editions during- the 
 first fifty years, and was then neglected until 
 the Spenser Society, in 1867, issued a collated 
 reprint of the editions of 1562 and 1566. The 
 number of copies issued of this reprint was 
 limited. The Society dissolved itself, its pub- 
 lications were dispersed, and copies are now 
 very rare. Nine years later, in 1876, Mr. 
 Julian Sharman issued a very imperfect reprint 
 of the edition of 1598, line after line being 
 omitted. 
 
 HEY. PROV. b
 
 X Introduction 
 
 The present text, modernised in spelling 
 (with but few exceptions), is based on the 
 Spenser Society reprint, a few obvious mis- 
 prints having- been rectified. These, however, 
 are comparatively few in number, and the work 
 of the Society has been found to have been 
 most faithfully done. 
 
 Hitherto an index to the proverbs and collo- 
 quialisms has been wanting. It is made a 
 special feature of the present edition. This 
 index is based (but greatly enlarged and ex- 
 tended) on the materials collected for the 
 Spenser Society, which were never utilised, as 
 the manuscript disappeared, coming incident- 
 ally to light again, after a lapse of nearly forty 
 years, when bought at a public sale for the 
 Manchester Free Libraries. Mr. C. W. Sutton, 
 the librarian of the Manchester Corporation, 
 very courteously placed the volume, amongst 
 others, at my disposal, to very great purpose 
 and advantage. 
 
 A present-day orthography has been 
 adopted ; the punctuation has likewise been 
 modernised. Quite recently, and more than 
 once, I have been censured for the former and 
 commended for the latter. Setting aside the 
 obvious inconsistency of differentiating between 
 these two departures from an original text — 
 one is just as defensible or indefensible as the 
 other — it may help to a better understanding 
 if I add a word or two of explanation. 
 
 In my own view there is no object whatever 
 in placing unnecessary difficulties in the way 
 of the ordinary student of English literature. 
 Such students are becoming an ever-increasing
 
 Introduction xi 
 
 body of seekers for, and delvers In, the goodly 
 literary heritag'e which has come down to us 
 from the days — "and after" — when this 
 modern England of ours was " in the making." 
 I speak now of those who are, so to speak, 
 the high and all but " expert " outcome to-day 
 of the improved educational methods and ex- 
 tended educational facilities which have char- 
 acterised, and which will, I believe, ultimately 
 prove to be among the lasting glories of, the 
 last half-century. From public school to uni- 
 versity the difference is hardly credible unless 
 direct comparison of the two periods be made. 
 The process of evolution — though it has little 
 to do with the present question, as yet — is 
 seen in the effects, as far as popular read- 
 ing is concerned, of the Compulsory Educa- 
 tion Act of 1870. The universal ability to 
 read, which soon characterised even the lowest 
 sections of the community, was the secret 
 of the phenomenal success of such mental 
 pabulum as is found in periodicals of the Tit- 
 Bits, Anszvers, and Pearson's IVeekly type. 
 Unsatisfying, indigestible as such fare would 
 be to those whose early training had been of 
 a less elementary and more refined nature, yet 
 it exactly suited the needs of those who, until 
 then, had read either nothing at all or had 
 been contented with the Dick Tiirpin or Burglar 
 Bill type of fiction. Surely the "scissors and 
 paste," "snippety" order of literature was 
 a distinct advance and gain ? 
 
 Then mark successive stages ! The ability 
 to read, the appetite for the lightest of ail 
 light "literature" stimulated and assuaged.
 
 xii Introduction 
 
 then comes, in progressive development, the 
 desire for something- a little higher and better. 
 Hence — and all praise to the Newneses, the 
 Harmsworths, and the Pearsons — the cheap 
 monthlies, the sixpenny reprints of notable 
 novels, and the like; now being followed by 
 Universal and Everyman's Libraries — cheap, 
 good, and astounding reprints of much that is 
 of the best in the world's classics. Will the 
 upward movement stop there ? Surely not ! 
 Hence reprints like the present one. 
 
 To return now to the question of the merits, 
 or the reverse, of a modernisation of the spell- 
 ing of an original text. As I have said, I 
 believe no good object is served, or advantage 
 gained, in placing unnecessary difficulties in 
 the way of the ordinary student. He wants to 
 get at an author's meaning; and neither that 
 nor his construction is, as a rule, obscured by 
 changing the antique and obsolete orthography 
 for the current spelling : always provided that 
 an editor is careful to conserve the spelling and 
 form (even a word itself) in cases where justice 
 to the author requires it, or the rhyme (in the 
 case of verse) demands it, or the interest at- 
 taching to the use of a particular word seems 
 to render such a course desirable. A text thus 
 treated, with a note added occasionally, satis- 
 ties all but those whose business or inclination 
 concerns them with "the higher criticism," 
 textual or otherwise. For these last, be it 
 noted, no reprint, no matter how carefully 
 done, is adequate. Errors must occur while 
 an infallible printer (to say nothing of an in- 
 fallible editor!) is awanting. For these " fac-
 
 Introduction xiii 
 
 simile" is "the only wear"; and facsimile, 
 too, of the most exact kind. No " touching- 
 up " of "blemishes," no "restoration" of 
 " blurred words," or other mechanical manipu- 
 lation of the original should be allowed or 
 attempted, as is frequently the case. 
 
 To return, however, to the present volume. 
 
 Hey wood's book of " Proverbs on Marriage " 
 was exceedingly popular when it appeared : 
 it was a quarry from which the Elizabethan 
 dramatists drew many a sparkling gem of 
 phrase — to wit, Ben Jonson, in Eastward Hoe, 
 and Henry Porter, in The Tivo Angry Women 
 of Abingdon, and others. 
 
 Of the man himself little is known and less 
 has been written. As I have pointed out else- 
 where, Heywood was a voluminous and ver- 
 satile writer; indeed, his achievement and posi- 
 tion in the hierarchy of English letters have 
 only of late years begun to receive anything 
 like adequate, even if tardy, recognition. 
 Heywood, so far, has mainly been studied 
 piecemeal, so to speak : as a dramatist, build- 
 ing (better than he knew) a bridge between * 
 religious morality and comedy— comedy- j 
 tragedy, also, it may ultimately appear ; as a 
 disputant, popularising in some degree the old 
 theological, hair-splitting disputations ; as a 
 writer of epigrams, some pointed and subtly 
 quippish, others of the look-a-fool or be-a-fool 
 order ; as a collector and compiler of proverbs ; 
 or as a political pamphleteer on a large scale 
 (vide Spider and Fly) — as one of these — for 
 he was all at times — in two, or even three 
 aspects, maybe — Heywood has occasionally
 
 xiv Introduction 
 
 been studied ; but, as a whole, with a scientific 
 eye on the man's many-sidedness, there is yet 
 to come a judgment at once adequate and 
 balanced. 
 
 Such an attempt at a more complete account 
 of the man, his times, and his place in con- 
 temporary literature I am making- in my Ter- 
 minal Essay to The Works of John Heyzvood, 
 3 vols. (E.E.D.S.). 
 
 J. S. F.
 
 THE PROVERBS OF 
 JOHN HEY WOOD
 
 mimhn of tfte rtFcrtuaU pvoucitc^ m 
 
 tijr #ngUfijc tountjr, rompart m 
 
 a matter rouccrngnge 
 
 ttuo maner of ma:= 
 
 Joijn i^njioooti. 
 
 L O N D I N I. 
 
 ANNO chriTti. 
 
 1562. 
 
 HEY. II.
 
 A DIALOGUE 
 
 CONTAINING THE NUMBER OF THE EFFECTUAL PROVERBS 
 IN THE ENGLISH TONGUE 
 
 PART I. THE PREFACE 
 
 Among- other things profithig 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 fitlv 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
 
 4 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. I. 
 
 Chapter I. 
 
 Of mine acquaintance a certain young- man 
 (Beings 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. 
 Tr/i050 i]uit knezv what would be dear, 
 Shuidd need be a merchant but one year. 
 Though it, (quoth hej, 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 seem 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 tothcr for her 
 
 purse. [woo. 
 
 Thev 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 wedding, ere ye wed to ask advice. 
 The second, your years being young it appears, 
 Ye regard yet good proverbs of old fcrne years. 
 And, as ye ground your tale upon one of them, 
 Furnish we this tale with evcrychone 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 1 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. 
 \\'here 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 maketli waste. 
 When time hath turned white sugar to white 
 
 salt, [malt. 
 
 Then such folk see, soft fire maketh sweet 
 And that deliberation doth men assist. 
 Before they wed, to beware of Had I wist. 
 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 Jove soon cold. 
 And when hasty witless mirth is mated weele, 
 Good to be merry and wise, 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 far 
 
 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 thing-s 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 list 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 g-rieve me more 
 That she, in my fault, should die one hour 
 
 before [voke. 
 
 Than one minute after ; then haste must pro- 
 IVhen 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 forg'e, when th'iron is hot, 
 
 strike ! [man ; 
 
 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 he
 
 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. III. 9 
 
 And thereby the fat clean flit from my beard. 
 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 it'Jn/e / at length debate and beat the bush, 
 There shall step in other men and catcli the 
 
 birds. 
 And by long time lost in many vain words, 
 Between these two wives make sloth speed 
 
 confound; [ground. 
 
 While, between tzvo 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. 
 W'hich show, as surely in all that they all tell, 
 That in my wedding 1 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 Ukeivise, 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. 
 Yc 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
 
 lo 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; 
 Which 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 Jove 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 though we have noug^ht, nor nought we 
 can geat, 
 
 God never sendeth mouth but he sendeth meat; 
 
 And a liard beginning maketh 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 ; 
 I'hat 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 thing-s 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 tivo 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 ivag, and take mine ease in 
 
 mine inn — [chin ; 
 
 He must needs S7vim, that is hold up by the 
 He lau^heth that winncth. And this thread 
 
 finer to spin,
 
 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. V. 13 
 
 IMaister 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 : be it better, be it worse, 
 Do ye after him that beareth the purse. 
 Thus be I by this once le senior de graundc. 
 Many that commanded me I shall command. 
 And also I shall, to reveng-e 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, better 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 by dark are like store; 
 ]Vhen all candles be out all cats be grey ; 
 All thing-s 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 g^ifts be given freely — east, west, north 
 
 or south — 
 No man ought to look a given horse in the 
 
 mouth. [tail — 
 
 .A.nd though her mouth be fold 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 bald as a 
 
 coot? 
 Her substance is shoot anker, whereat I shoot. 
 Take a pain for a pleasure all zvise men can —
 
 14 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. VI. 
 
 What? hungry dogs will eat dirty puddings, 
 
 man I 
 And here I conchidc, (quoth he), all that I 
 
 know 
 By this old widow, what good to me may grow. 
 
 Chapter VI. 
 
 Ve have, (quoth IJ, 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 btisy 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.
 
 1 6 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 
 
 thoug-ht 
 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 black 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 mc to hear him : and I said, I would ; 
 Wherewith this that followeth forthwith he 
 told. 
 
 Chapter VIII, 
 
 I am now driven, (quoth hej, 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 
 l)i\ers, 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 g'old. 
 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, 
 \\ hile they and we live, of them we get right 
 
 nought. [§^et, 
 
 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. 
 W^hereof , no wonder ; since the end of our 
 
 gfood. 
 And beginning of our charge, together stood. 
 But wit is never good till it he bought. 
 Howbcit, when bought, wits to best price be 
 
 brought ;
 
 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. VIII. 19 
 
 Yet is one good forezvit worth two after ivits. 
 This payeth me home, lo ! and full mo folly 
 
 hits ; 
 For, had I looked afore, with indifferent eye, 
 Though haste had made me thirst never so dry, 
 Yet to drown this drought, this must I needs 
 
 think : 
 ^5 I would needs brew, 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, facfus 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 woidd 
 
 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 ivill 
 
 needs wed, [bed. 
 
 Mo things helo7ig than four bare legs in a 
 I reckoned my wedding a sugar-sweet spice ; 
 But reckoners 7vithoiit their liost niucli rcckoi 
 
 tivice. [twain, 
 
 And, although it were sweet for a week or 
 Siveet meat will have sour sauce, I see now 
 Continual penury, which I must take, [plain. 
 Telleth me : better eye out than alway 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 1 did it myself : and self do, self have. 
 But, a day after fair cometh this remorse 
 For relief : for, thouj^h it be a good horse 
 That never stumbleth, 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, thoujjht I, I shall 
 Cut my coat after my cloth when I have her. 
 But now I can smell, nothing hath no savour; 
 J 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, 
 I'han 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 surgeon, (said I), without store 
 Of g-ood plasters. Howbeit, such as they are, 
 Ve 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 vet shall we catch a hare zvitli a taber 
 As soon as catch aught of them, and rather. 
 Ye play cole-prophet, (quoth IJ, who taketh in 
 
 hand 
 To knou^ his ansiver before he do his errand. 
 What should I to them, (quoth he), fling- or flit? 
 An unbidden guest ktioiveth not ivliere 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, ivill ye lie in bed? 
 Or sit still? nay, he that gapcth 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 
 TT'ff/i as good will as a bear goeth to the 
 
 stake, 
 I 7vill straight iveigh anchor, and hoist up sail ; 
 And thitherward hie me in haste like a snail; 
 And home ag"ain hitherward quick as a bee: 
 Now, for good luck, cast an old shoe after me. 
 And first to mine uncle, brother to my father, 
 Rv 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. 
 1 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 Inirtcth not the tongue to give fair words; 
 The roiigJi 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 causcth, (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, mv 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, hs it grew upon mine own. 
 And, in likewise, mine uncle, her husband, w^as 
 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, thought 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 wc 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 shej ; 
 But the weaker hath the worse we all day see. 
 After our last parting, my husband and 1 
 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 
 Iheir folks glomed on me too, by which it 
 
 appeareth : 
 The young cock croiveth, as he the old hearcth. 
 At dinner they were, and made, (for manners' 
 
 sake), 
 A kinswoman of ours me to table take ; 
 A false fiatt'ring filth; and, if that be good, 
 None better to bear 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, hlab it wist, and out it 
 
 must. 
 There is no mo such titifils in Eng-land's ground, 
 To hold with the hare, and run ivith the hound. 
 Fire in the tone hand, and water in the tother, 
 The makebate beareth between brother and 
 
 brother. 
 She can wink on the e^ve and worry the lamh ; 
 She maketh earnest matters of every flimflam. 
 She must have an oar in every man's barge; 
 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, but yet it ivill 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 beg'ins. 
 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 ring-leader 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 hack, 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 ufitaught, 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 makcth 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 findcth 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 
 ivell. [end ; 
 Yea, Alice, of a good beginnitig cometh a good 
 Not so good to borrow, as be able to lend. 
 Nay indeed, aunt, (quoth shel, it is sure so; 
 She must needs grant she hath wrought her 
 own woe. [stone, 
 She thought, Alice, she had seen far iri 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 IJ, humbly I beseech ye, 
 
 Aly trespass done to you forgive it me. 
 
 1 know, and knowledge I have wroug^ht mine 
 
 own pain ; 
 But things past my hands, I cannot call again. 
 True, (quoth AhceJ, things dune 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 : 
 Wlicn the steed is stolen shut the stable durre. 
 I took her jar 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 
 Shoiveth 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 ivarmth 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 bear 
 
 th 'ashes out? [breathe. 
 
 She may not bear a feather, but she must 
 She maketh so much of her painted sheath. 
 She thinketh her fartJiing good silver, I tell 
 
 you;
 
 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. X. 27 
 
 But, for a fartliing, whoever did sell you 
 Might hoast you to he 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 AHcej, 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 cometJi 
 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, [moutJi. 
 
 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 wtne before ye taste of the grape : 
 But she can no more harm than can a she ape. 
 It is a good body, her property prevcs
 
 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 7voIf in a lamb's skin. 
 Her heart is full hig-h when her eye is full low — 
 A guest as good lost as found, for all this 
 
 show — • 
 But many a good co-w hath an evil calf. 
 1 speak this, daug'hter, 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 ivhen he is sober; and he, 
 Whom in itching no scratching will forbear. 
 He must bear the smarting that shall follow 
 
 tJiere. 
 And thou, being borne very nigh of my stock. 
 Though nigh be my kirile, 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 compclleth 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 case; 
 Hunger maketh hard beans S7veet; where 
 
 saddles lack, [hack. 
 
 Better ride on a pad than on the horse hare 
 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 hloiv at the coal. 
 Thev 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. 
 
 Bcg-^ing: of her booteth not the ivorth of a 
 
 bean; [mea72. 
 
 Little knoweth the jat 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), routino^ like a hog; 
 And //. 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 IJ, 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, 
 Mali is above wheat with him, market men sav. 
 But forasmuch as I saw the same taunt 
 Contented well mine uncle and mine aunt. 
 And that / came to fall in ami 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 Iml ; for this is true: 
 It is a small hop on my thumb ; and Christ wot, 
 It is wood at a word — Utile pot soon hot. 
 Now merry as a cricket, and by and by 
 Angry as a ivasp, thoug-h 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 beg-an : 
 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 pilg-rim 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, hut 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 be envied than pitied, folk say ; 
 And for his cause of pity, (had he had grace), 
 He niig-ht this day have been clear out of the 
 
 case; [f''og — 
 
 But now he hath well fished and caught a 
 Where nought is to wed with, wise men flee the 
 
 clog. 
 \Vhere 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, 
 ]]'ishers 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 g-Q — 
 Tush ! there was no mo maids but 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 dtir. 
 But who will, in time present, pleasure refrain 
 Shall, in time to come, the more pleasure 
 
 obtain. 
 Follo7v pleasure, and then will pleas-iire 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. XI, 33 
 
 AMiereby 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 of 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. 
 7 have hanged up my hatchet, God speed him 
 
 well ! ^ _ [tell : 
 
 A wonder thing what things these old things 
 Cat after kind good mouse hunt; and also 
 Men say, kind will creep zvhere it 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 amble 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. 
 r^or 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; ihou wilt beg or steal ere thou 
 
 die — 
 Take heed, friend, / have seen as far conic as 
 
 nigh . 
 If ye seek to jind 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 groat 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 ble at other men's cost. 
 But, a b'ow 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 woidd eat fish and woidd not wet her 
 
 feet; [in heat. 
 
 They must hunger in frost that ivill riot 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 wive 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 ! zvill 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 tJie 
 
 bench — [French. 
 
 Jack woxdd be a gentleman if he could speak 
 He thinketh his jeet be where his head shall 
 
 never come ; 
 He would fain flee, but he zvanteth 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. Incmght. 
 
 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. 
 Shame fid craving, (quoth he), must have 
 
 sJiamefid nay. [one yea. 
 
 Ye max, 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
 
 J 
 
 6 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XI. 
 
 But the mo knaves, the worse company to 
 greet; [craveth. 
 
 The one knave noxv crouch eth 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 i^old, lie may his part on Good Friday 
 And fast never the worse, for ought he shall 
 g-eat. [son : 
 
 These former lessons conned, take for this, 
 Tell thy cards, and then tell me ivhat thou hast 
 
 WO)}. 
 
 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 hlack, 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 ! 
 
 I.ct this wind overblow ; a time I will spy 
 To take wind and tide with me, and speed 
 thereby. [small 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 huilt in one day, (quoth he), and 
 
 yet stood 
 Till it was finished, as some say, full fair. 
 )'our 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 tu the boii<, for ye know, 
 Thoug-h 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 man's girdle, 
 man ; [can 
 
 Thougfh nought will be won here, I say, yet ye 
 Taste other kinsmen ; of whom ye may g-eat 
 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 nig^h. 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. 
 J 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 50 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.
 
 3^ Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XI. 
 
 Men knoiv, (quoth I J, I have heard now and 
 
 then, 
 How the market goeth by the 7varket men. 
 Further it is said, who that saying- weigheth, 
 It must needs be true that every man sayetli. 
 Men say also : children and fends 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 ivas at an ebb, though he be now afloat, 
 Poor as the poorest. And now nought he 
 
 scttcth 
 By poor folk, For the parish priest forgetteth 
 That ever lie hath been holy water clerk. 
 By oug-ht 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, 
 7f happeth in one hour that happeth not in 
 
 seven year. 
 Forspeak not your fortune, nor hide not your 
 
 need ; 
 Nought venture, itought 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. 
 It is, (quoth he), ill fishing before the net. 
 But thoug^h we get little, dear bought and jar 
 
 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 IJ, ""rease 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. [iin}id ; 
 
 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 knoiv no end of their good; nor hegin- 
 Of any goodness : such is wretched winning. 
 Hunger droppeth even out of hoth their noses. 
 She goeth with broken shoon and torn hoses ; 
 But ivho 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 noug-ht foreg"0 ; 
 She will not part unth the paring oj her nails; 
 She toileth continually for avails ; 
 Which life she hath so long- now kept in ure, 
 I'hat for no life she would make change, be 
 
 sure. 
 But this lesson learned I, ere I was years seven : 
 lliey that be in hell iveen there is none other 
 
 lieaven. 
 She is nothing- fair, but she is ill favoured ; 
 And no more uncleanly than unsweet favoured ; 
 But hackney men say at mang-y 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 ivith the tone eye and looketh with 
 
 the totlier ; 
 I will not trust liim though he were my brother. 
 He hath a poison wit, and all his delig-ht 
 To g-ive taunts and checks of most spiteful 
 
 spite. 
 In that house commonly, such is the cast, 
 A nian 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 
 
 g:reat ; 
 But the greatest 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 pur station ! 
 But I am laxative enough there otherwise. 
 'Ihis, (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. 
 / 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 liis 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 askcth another: 
 Nought won by the tone, nought won fiy 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. 
 / have been common Jack to all that whole 
 
 flock;
 
 42 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XI. 
 
 When ouoht was to do I was common 
 
 hackney — 
 Folk call on the horse that iviU carry alivay — 
 But evermore tlie common horse is ivorst shod. 
 Desert and reivard be ofttimes thino^s jar odd; 
 At end / might put my ivinning in mine eye, 
 And see never the worse, for ought I wan 
 
 them by. [end, 
 
 And now, without them I hve here at stave's 
 ^^'here I need not borrow, nor I will not lend. 
 It is good to heivare by other mc7i'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, 
 \\'ith 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 liastings. 
 I'e run to work in haste as nine m.en held ye; 
 But whensoever ye to work must yield ye, 
 If 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 dotvn a feather. 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 yoti 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 : 
 I suck not this out of my oivn fingers' efids. 
 And since ye were wed, althoug-h 1 nought gave 
 
 you, [you ! 
 
 Yet pray I for you, God and Saint Luke save 
 And here is all : for what should I further 
 
 wade? 
 I urns 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 1). 
 Scarb 'rough warning I had, (quoth he), whcre- 
 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 wife, 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 ivell ! (quoth I), Jiowevcr I fare now; 
 And well mote ye fare both when I dine with 
 
 you. 
 Come, go we hence, friend ! (quoth I to my 
 
 mate) — 
 .'\nd nozv will I make a cross on this gate.
 
 44 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XI. 
 
 And I, (quoth he), cross thee quite out of niy 
 
 book 
 Since thou art cross failed; avail, unhappy 
 
 hook ! 
 By hook or crook nought could I win there; 
 
 men say : 
 He that couteth every day, sJiall have a 
 cockney; [/len. 
 
 He that cometh now and then, shall have a fat 
 But I gat not so much in comings seeld when, 
 As a good hen's feather, or a poor eggshell: 
 As good play for nought as work for noucrht, 
 
 folk tell. 
 Well, well! (quoth he), we be but where we 
 
 were ; 
 Come wliat come would, I thoug-ht 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 broken, nor water spilt. 
 Farewell, he ! (quoth I), I will as soon be hilt 
 As %vait again for the moonshine in the zvater. 
 But is not this a pretty piked matter? 
 To disdain me, who muck of the world 
 
 hoardeth not, 
 As he doeth ; it may rhyme but it accordeth not. 
 She foameth like a boar, 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, 
 // she be angry, beshrew her angry heart! 
 Friend, (quoth he), he may show wisdom at 
 will, [still : 
 
 That with ang-ry heart can hold his tongue 
 Let patience grow in your garden alway.
 
 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XI. 45 
 
 Some loose or odd end zvill come, man, some 
 
 one day 
 From some friend, either in life or at death. 
 Death ! (quoth IJ, take ive that time to take 
 
 a breath? 
 Then graft we a green graft on a rotten root : 
 Who zvaiteth for dead men shoes shall go long 
 
 barefoot. 
 Let pass, (quoth he), and let us be trudg-ing 
 \\'here 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. 
 \\(t 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 jricnd 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 basteth the fat ho^ 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 
 
 agam. 
 
 Chapter XII. 
 
 Surely, (quoth I), ye have in this time, thus 
 
 worn, 
 Made a long harvest for a little corn! 
 Howbcit, comfort yourself with this old text, 
 That telleth us, when bale is hekst, boot is 
 
 next ; 
 Though every man may not sit in the chair, 
 Yet alway tlie 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, 
 Feedcth on this : he that never climbed, never 
 jell. [somewhere, 
 
 And some case, at some time, showeth prefe 
 That riches bringeth 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 %vho can sing so merry a note [thief ; 
 
 As may he that cannot change a groat? 
 Yea, (quoth hcj, beggars may sing before 
 
 thieves, [s^^reeves. 
 
 And iveep 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 1), 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 — 
 Rut 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 
 W^ith 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 thoug-ht them, not only too lither 
 To linger both in one house tosjcther ; 
 But also, dwelling nigh under their wing's, 
 Under their noses they mig-ht convey things — 
 Such as were neither too heavy nor too hot- 
 More in a month than they their master got 
 In a whole year. \\'hereto folk further weigh- 
 
 Receive each of other in their conveying, 
 Might be worst of all ; for this proverb preeves : 
 Where be no receivers, there be no thieves. 
 Such hap here hapt, that common dread of such 
 
 gyles 
 Drove them and keepeth them asunder many 
 
 miles. 
 Thus, thons^h love decree departnre death to be, 
 Yet poverty parteth fellowship, ive 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 g'ood, but I had come hither. 
 Siveet beauty with sour beggary ! nay, I am 
 
 gone 
 To the wealthy withered widow, by Saint Jolin ! 
 What ! yet in all haste, (quoth I) ? Yea ! (q. he) ; 
 For she hath substance enous^h ; 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 shoidd hear all parts ere he judge any? 
 Why axe ye that (quoth he)? For this, (quoth 
 
 I): 
 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 1 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. H. E
 
 50 Proverbs, Pt. I., Ch. XIII. 
 
 I take this matter here clearly resolved ; 
 And that ye herein award me to forsake 
 Beg-^arly beauty, and rivalled riches take. 
 That's just, if the lutJf shall judge the whole, 
 
 (quoth 1} ; [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 hi^h. 
 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, 
 AhiVay the longer east, the shorter west. 
 We have had, (quoth I), before ye came, and 
 
 syne, 
 IVeat'jier meet to set paddocks ahrood in: 
 Rain more than enough; and zvhen 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 caiuwt be long where dainties want; 
 Where coin is not common, commons must he 
 
 scant. 
 In post pace we passed from potag"e 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, (ciuoth 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, ag-ain we cannot win : 
 Without more loss of time, this tale I begin. 
 In this late old widow, and then old new wife, 
 A o;e and appetite fell at a stro7ig strife: 
 Her lust was as young as her limbs were old.
 
 52. Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. I. 
 
 The day of her wedding, like 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 g'ird 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. 
 I'prio^lii as a candle stajideth iti 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 cvoker's mare. 
 She took th 'entertainment of the voung- men 
 All in dalliance, as nice as a nun's hen. 
 I suppose that day Jier ears wight 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, 
 F'lhy 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 I 
 
 \Miat? mine old mare wotdd have a new 
 And now mine old hat must have a new band ! 
 AVell, (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 lie loveih 
 Quoth the good man when that he kissed liis 
 
 cow. [a vow ! 
 
 That kiss, (quoth one), doth well here, by God 
 But Jww can she give a kiss, sour or sweety — 
 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 jit 
 
 other. [scanning- 
 
 Well, (quoth one), wisely, let us leave this 
 God speed them ! he as be may is no banning. 
 That shall be, shall be; 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 
 \'ery 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, ["re, 
 
 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. II., 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 : tlic 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 big-g-est 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- lie 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 laug'-hing to lowering, and taunts did so 
 That in plain terms, plain truth to you to utter, 
 yiiey 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 hig^h, 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. 
 
 J]lien the belly is full, the hones ivould be at 
 So soon upon supper, (said hej, 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 shej, 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; ivhich hath 
 
 sped 
 All meats to he eaten, and all maids to be wed. 
 Haste ye to bed now, and rise ye as ye rate ;
 
 56 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. II. 
 
 ^Miile I rise early, and come to bed late. 
 Long- lyinj^ warm in bed is wholesome, (quoth 
 she) ; [(quoth he). 
 
 While the leg ivarmeth, the hoot harmeth, 
 Well, (quoth she), he that doetJi as most men do, 
 Sljcill 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. 
 ]Vhe7Z birds shall roost, (quoth he), at eight, 
 
 nine, or ten, [hen? 
 
 TT'/!o 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 ; 
 Rut 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 w^ed. 
 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. 
 JVho that ivorst may shall hold the ca7rdle ; 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 ivill be 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 lastcth 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. 
 Braiding 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 bone, (said I), to set strife 
 
 Between you ; but it were a folly for me 
 
 To put my hand between the hark 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 ; 
 
 P'or of little meddling cometh great rest. 
 
 Yes, ye may meddle, (quoth he), to make her 
 wise. 
 
 Without taking harm, in giving your advice.
 
 5S 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 
 Slu5j,q;ing- in bed with her is worse than watch- 
 
 ino^ ; [ing. 
 
 I promise you an old sack axeih 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. Ouoth he, when ye 
 
 please. 
 We parted; and this, within a day or twain, 
 Was raked np'itt th'ashcs, 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 
 ]Vho had the worst end of the staff, (quoth I), 
 
 now ? [you ? 
 
 Shall the master ivear a breech, 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 ofhce hear ; 
 And a busy oflficer I may appear; 
 And, Jack out of office, she may bid me walk; 
 And think me as ivise as ]]\iltham'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 1 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, thoug-h I waste wind 
 
 in vain. 
 To table we sat where fine fare did remain ; 
 Merry we were as cup and can could liold ; 
 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 
 
 li-'ife, [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 eive'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 someivhat it is, I see, ivhen the cat 
 
 winketh, [shun; 
 
 And both her eyne out; but further strife to 
 Let the cat ivink, and let the mouse run. 
 I'his 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 ; 
 W'herewith 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)? 
 
 W'hat ! 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 
 
 zvood. [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 coiv calf as for the bull. 
 And thoug-h your pasture look barrenly and 
 
 dull, 
 Yet look not on the meat, but look on the man; 
 And whoso looketh on you, shall shortly skan. 
 Ye may ivrite to your friends that ye are in 
 
 health ; 
 But all thing- 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 uwod for trees, [sees 
 Your lips hang in your light ; but this poor man 
 Both how blindly ye starid in your own light ; 
 And that you rose on your right side here rig-ht ; 
 And mig-ht have gone further and have faren 
 
 worse. 
 I wot well I mig-ht, (quoth he), for the purse; 
 But ye be a baby of Bclsabub's bower, [sour ; 
 Content ye, (quoth she) ! take the stveetwith the 
 Fancy may bolt 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 mig-ht, (quoth she), and hear this reason 
 
 why : 
 Snow is white, 1 ,i j , , . ,. 
 
 And lieth in the dike, f^"'^ ''"''y ""'" ^'^' '^ ^'^- 
 Pepper is black, \ And every man doth it 
 
 And hath a good smack, j buy. 
 
 Milk, {q' he), is white, ) But all men knoiv it 
 And lieth not in the dikc.j good meat.
 
 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. IV. 63 
 
 Ink is all black, \No mamvill it drink 
 
 A ml hath an ill smack, j nor eat. 
 
 Thy rhyme, (quoth hej, is much older than 
 
 mine ; 
 But mine, being- newer, is truer than thine. 
 Thou Ukenest now, for a vain advantage, [age, 
 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 change will [tace? 
 
 For a pepper ink-black, rough, old withered 
 Though chancre be no rubbery for the changed 
 
 case, l^^'^!-* 
 
 Yet shall that change rob the changer of his 
 For, who this case searcheth, shall soon see in 
 
 it, 
 That as well agreceth thy comparison in these. 
 
 As alike to compare in taste, chalk ami cheese ; 
 
 Or alike in colour to deem ink and chalk. 
 
 Walk, drab, ivalk ! Nay, (quoth she), walk, 
 
 knave, ivalk ! 
 Sayeth that term. Howbeit, sir, I say not so; 
 And best we lay a straw here, and even there, 
 
 ho! 
 Or else this gear will breed a pad in the straiv ; 
 If ye haul this way, 1 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 hcjore your wits, by Saint 
 Antony ! [(quoth he) ; 
 
 Mark ye, how she hittetli 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. 
 
 vShe 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 lunvk ; she is 
 hardy. 
 
 But wife, the first point of ha^vking 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), tliat will be angry without 
 cause. 
 
 Must be at one, withotit amends ; by sag"e 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. [good ; 
 
 \Vell, (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 o%vn 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. 
 
 I'his 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 IJ, for men 
 
 say : 
 Three may a-keep counsel, if iivo he away. 
 But all that ye speak, unmeet again to tell, 
 / will say nought hut 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. 
 
 W'hom I made of nought, as the thing self doth 
 And for these two causes only, him 1 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. 11. F
 
 66 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. V. 
 
 He is so lavish, the stock beginneth to droop; 
 And as for gain is dead and laid in tomb, 
 ]Vhcn 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 hazvks 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 curryfavel ; and make fair weatJicr 
 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 — 
 .4 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 tip 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, (quotli IJ, whoever that term beg'an, 
 Was neither great clerk, nor the greatest wise 
 
 man. 
 In your running from him to mc, ye run 
 Out of God's blessing into the warm sun. 
 Where the blind leadeth the blind, both jail in 
 
 the dike ; 
 And, bUnd be we both, if we think us his Hkc. 
 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 tothcr 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 th:' 
 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 nought 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, will 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 hreakcth bone, itself having none, 
 
 (quoth I) ; [awry. 
 
 Jf the wind stand in that door, it standeth 
 I'he peril of prating out of tune by note, 
 Telleth us that a good bestiJl is worth a groat ; 
 In being your own foe, you spin a fair thread. 
 Advise ye well, for Jiere dotli all lie and bleed ; 
 Flee th'attcnipting of extremities all. 
 P'olk 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, 
 llie weaker goeth to the pot, we all day see. 
 So that alwav the bigger eateth the bean — ' 
 Ye can nought win, by any wayward mean. 
 Where the hedge is loxvest men may soonest 
 
 over :
 
 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. V. 69 
 
 Be silent ! let not your tongue run at rover ; 
 Since by strife ye may lose, and cannot win, 
 Suffer ! it is good sleeping in a ivhoJe skin. 
 if he chide, keep you bill 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 jair words make fools fain. 
 Than be plain without pleats, and plant your 
 
 own pain. 
 For, were ye as plaiyi 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 be 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 best where my shoe doth wring 
 
 me.
 
 70 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. V. 
 
 But as ye say : where 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 was late chau72t- 
 One swallow maketh not summer, (said Ij, men 
 say. [lay, 
 I have, (quoth she), mo blocks in his zvay 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 ears, ye 
 And also on my maids he is ever tooling. 
 Can ye judge a man, (quoth I), by his looking? 
 W'hat, a cat may look on a king, ye know ! 
 My cat's leering look, (quoth she), at first 
 
 show, 
 Showeth me that my cat goetJi 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 flesh, 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 nest; 
 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 wfth 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 Ij, 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 Jiis head fast under your girdle: 
 Where your words now do but rub him on the 
 
 gall, _ [wall. 
 
 That deed without ivords 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 w^atch 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 yio falser than is he. [devil; 
 I have heard tell, it had need to he [ear — 
 
 .4 wily mouse that should breed in the cat's 
 Shall I get within him then? nay, ware that 
 
 gear ! 
 It is hard halting before 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 hark not at him, I warrant yow. 
 Namely not I, I say, thoug-h as 1 said, 
 He sometime, though seldom, by some be be- 
 wrayed, [loweth ; 
 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 g-ain? 
 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 Hes at last. 
 And here goetJi the hare aiimy ; for ye judge all, 
 And judg-e the worst in all, ere proof in ought 
 
 fall. [saws ; 
 
 But blind men sJiouJd judge no colours: by old 
 And folk ofttimes are most blind in their own 
 
 cause — 
 The blind eat many flies. Howbelt, 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 mcthinketh 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 tire 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 hear 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 thoug-h 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 be done than wish it had been done. 
 .4,v 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 beg'an, in way of exclamation. 
 
 Chapter YI. 
 
 Oh! zvhat 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 be a lord. 
 Wlierefore, 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 boast how they ^I'ill teach their 
 
 wives good;
 
 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. VI. 75 
 
 But many a man speakeih of Robin Hood 
 That never shot in his boiv. When all is 
 
 soug-ht, [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 houget, and such toys in her head, 
 That to dance after her pipe I am nigh led. 
 It is said of old : an old dog hiteth 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, [good hap, 
 
 AVithout 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 semleth 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 ivas gotten on a holy 
 
 day ; 
 Sayeth another: who may hold that will away. 
 'I his 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 
 \\ hose 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 'words, 
 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 goose 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 
 I'"or 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 
 Defaceth 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 \'II. 
 
 Well said ! (said he). Marry, sir ! here is a 
 
 tale — 
 I'^or 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, 
 (jrow this, as most part doth, I durst hold my 
 
 life. 
 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 gone 
 She thinketh I run over all that I look on. 
 Take good heed of that, (quoth I), for at a 
 
 word, [sword 
 
 The proverb saith : he that sfriketh 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 prcfe, 
 Reporteth it for a truth to the most mischief. 
 In words gold 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 Eng-Ush, and hke that as in Easter week. 
 She beg-inneth, 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 g-ood dish, g^ood 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, [re^veth 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 g-ood 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 heard, 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 tJic 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. 
 ^Vhere he, with g-ossips at a banquet late was, 
 At which, as use is, he paid all — but let pass ! 
 I came to be merry ; wherewith merrily : 
 Proface ! Have among you blind harpers, (said 
 
 I)- 
 Ihe mo the merrier, w'e all day hear and see. 
 
 Yea, but the fewer the better fare, (said he). 
 
 Then here were, ere I came, (quoth IJ, 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 hcj, thou shalt none 
 
 pay ; [thy way. 
 
 And fray here should be none were thou gone 
 Here is, since thou earnest, too many feet 
 
 a-hcd ; [errand sped. 
 
 Welcome ! when thou goest : thus is thine 
 I come, (quoth I), to be one here, if I shall — 
 It is merry in Jiall ivheh beards iimg 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. 
 
 F"rom bassitig of beasts of Bearbmder Lane. 
 
 I have, (quoth 1), 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 I 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 hej, thine own wel- 
 come marr'd. [jarr'd, 
 
 Well, (said shej, whensoever we twain have 
 
 My words be pried at narrowly, I espy.
 
 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. VII. 8i 
 
 Ye can see a mote in another nian's eye, " " 
 
 But ye cannot sec a balk in your own. 
 
 Yea, mark my words, but not that they be 
 
 g^rown 
 By your revellous riding on every royle ; 
 Well nigh 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 geat ; 
 . 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 nought 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 starino- aiid stark blind 
 The wise man at all times to folloxv 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 spent but 
 
 hckle, 
 Vet little and little the cat eateth the fiickle ; 
 •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, 
 Vet lo, the pot so long to the water goeth, 
 Till at the last it cometh home broken; 
 Vew 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 
 
 he) ; 
 I"'or, though this appear a proper pulpit piece, 
 \'et when the fox preacheth then beware your 
 
 geese. 
 .1 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. 
 Fray for yourself! I am not sick, (quoth she). 
 \Veil 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 nic at land's 
 
 end. [mean — 
 
 Ah ! then I beguile you, (quoth she), this ye 
 But sir ! my pot is whole, and my ivater clean. 
 Well, thou wouldst have me, (quoth he], pinch 
 
 like a snudge, 
 Every day to be thy drivel and drudge. 
 Not so, (quoth shej, but I would have ye stir 
 Honestly; to keep the 7volf front 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 ivith thee down the 
 
 lane I [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. 
 
 Oh 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. 
 W'hereby this proverb showeth thee in by the 
 
 week : 
 No man will another in the oven seek 
 Except that himself have been there before. 
 God give grace thou hast been good ! I say no 
 
 more ; [couldst prove 
 
 And would have thee say less except thou 
 Such process as thou slanderously dost move. 
 For slander, perchance, (quoth she), I not deny 
 It may he a slander, but it is no lie. 
 It is a He, (quoth he), and thou a liar ! 
 \Vill ye, (quoth she), drive me to touch ye 
 
 nigher? [yit 
 
 I rub the galled horse back till he winch ; and 
 H"e would make it seem that I touch him no 
 
 whit. [make : 
 
 I^ut 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 g"o to bed at 
 
 noon. 
 Nay, (quoth he), the day of doom shall be done 
 Ere thou g'o to bed at noon, or night, for mc. 
 Thou art, to be plain, and not to Hatter thee, 
 As wholesome a morsel jor my comely corse 
 As a shoulder of niuttoii for a sick horse. 
 The devil with his dam hath more rest in hell 
 Than I have here with thee; but well, wife, 
 
 well ! [buckets. 
 
 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. 
 .1 dog will bark 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 makest me claw ivhere it itcheih not. I 
 
 would [cold ; 
 
 Thy tongue were cooled to make thy tales more 
 I'hat aspen leaf, such spiteful clapping have 
 
 bred, 
 That my cap is better at ease than my head. 
 (!od send that head, (said she), a better nurse'. 
 For when the head acJieth all the body is the 
 
 worse. 
 God grant, (quoth I), the head and bod]', 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. 
 
 I brought to nurse both, (quoth she), hadjt not 
 
 been waste. [meal; 
 
 Margery, good coiv, (quoth he), gave a good 
 But then she cast it doivn again with her heel. 
 How can her purse for profit be dehghtful 
 Whose person and properties be thus spiteful ? 
 .1 piece of a kid is worth two of a cat — 
 IVho the devil will change a rabbit jor^ a rat? 
 If I mig-ht chang-e, I would rather choose to 
 
 beg", 
 Or sit with a roasted apple or an egg" 
 Where mine appetite serveth me to be. 
 Than every 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 7vho doth thee harm, who 
 Yes, yes ! (quoth she), for all those wise words 
 
 uttered, 
 J know on which side my bread is buttered; 
 But tJiere 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, tlience 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 / should have bridled her first with 
 
 rough hit, 
 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 aivay with it; whereby each man 
 
 seeth 
 It is, (as old men rig-ht well understand), 
 III putting a naked sword in a madman's hand. 
 She taketh such heart of grace that thoug^h 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 ag^one : 
 It zvill 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 ; 
 SootJi bourd is no boiird, in ought that mirth 
 
 doeth. 
 Such jests could not juggle her, were ought 
 
 amiss, 
 Nor turn melancholy to inirth ; 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 flo7ver 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'rlady ! then ive 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 7vill Jiozv 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 leng-th came to buckle and bare 
 
 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 bare as a bird's arse. _ [worse, 
 Money, and money worth, did so miss him 
 That lie had not noiv one penny to bliss 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 liis 0W7i fingers. 
 But about her at home now still he lingers. 
 Not checker a-boord, all was not clear in the 
 
 coast, 
 He looked like one that had bcshit 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 showang 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 ; 
 Praying" her to forgive and forget all, free 
 And he forgave her as he forgiven would be ; 
 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 again yesterday. 
 Wife ! (quoth he), such may my diligence seem 
 That th 'offence of yesterday I may redeem; 
 God taketh me as I am, and riot as I ivas — 
 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. 
 IVhat 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 could 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. 
 Yoti had on your harvest ears, thick of hearing ; 
 But this is a question of old inquiring : 
 ]Vho is so deaf, or so blind, as is he 
 That wilfidly ivill notJier liear nor see? 
 When I saw your manner, my heart for woe 
 
 molt ; [bolt : 
 
 Then would ye mend as the fietchcr mends his 
 Or as sour ale mendeth in summer: I know, 
 And knew, which ivay 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 ivorse hard, 
 By flinging from your folks at home, which all 
 
 marred, 
 When I said in semblance either cold or warm : 
 .4 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 
 / 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 wrong way to wood, and the wrong soiv 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 thrijt 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. ' [any; 
 
 Field ware might sink or szunni vi'hile 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 ivill take none other 
 So may I say here, to my deep dolour, [hue; 
 It is a bad cloth that zvill 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 tother. 
 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 stories 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. 
 JVhe7i thieves fall out true men come to their 
 Which is not alway true ; for, in all that bretch, 
 I can no farthing of my good the more fetch ; 
 Nor, I trow, themselves neither, if they were 
 
 sworn ; 
 Light come, light go ! And sure, since we were 
 
 born. 
 Ruin of one ravine was there none greater; 
 For, by your gifts, they be as little the better 
 As you be much the worse, and I cast away- — 
 An ill wind that hloiveth no man to good, men 
 say. [the corn. 
 
 Well, (quoth he), every wind bloweth not down 
 I hope, (I say), good hap he not all outworn. 
 I will now begin thrift, when thrift seemeth 
 gone — [than one : 
 
 What, wife ! there he 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, 
 .45 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 
 cam mock he. 
 
 And, such beginning 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 witliout his tools? — 
 
 Talcs of Robin Hood are good among fools. 
 
 He cayi ill pipe that lacketh his upper lip; 
 
 IVho 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 tJic 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 hcj, care not a 
 
 rush, 
 I will learn to stop two gaps with one hush. 
 Ye will, (quoth she), as soon stop gaps with 
 
 rusJies 
 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. WUe (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 7 gave you an inch, ye took an ell, 
 Till both ell and inch be gone, and w^e 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 hut 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, 
 .4s the blind man casts his staff, or shoots the 
 
 crow. [none, 
 
 Howbeit, had I money right much, and ye 
 Yet to be plain, ye should have none for Joan. 
 Nay, he that first flattereth 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 jar off were now so jar on. 
 That as she may wallow, away she is gone
 
 Proverbs, Pt. II., Gh. 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 hidlock's 7ioble, 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 far 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 conietli 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 I 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 I 
 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 if. 
 
 HEY. PROV. H
 
 98 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. X. 
 
 But abide, friend ! your mother bid till ye were 
 horn: [morn. 
 
 Snatching- winneth it not, if ye snatch till to 
 Men say, (said he), long standing and small 
 offering [proffering- 
 
 Makctli 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 tlic 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 bear his own pro- 
 vender. 
 And oft before seemed she never so wise, 
 Yet was she now, suddenly w-axen as nice 
 As it had been 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 brought the bottom of the bag clean 
 His gadding thus again made her ill content;
 
 Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. X. 99 
 
 But she not so nuich 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 ivhat it was a clock, 
 Then was it proved true, as this proverb goeth : 
 He that cometh last to the pot is soonest wroth. 
 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 slie 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, Cod wot ! 
 
 H 2
 
 loo Proverbs, Pt. II., Ch. X. 
 
 First from friend to friend, and then from dur 
 
 to dur, 
 A-beg"ging- of some that had beg'ged 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, 
 AVhere they both wedded, tog-ether 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 g-ood hap 
 In her doting days to be danced on the lap. 
 In condition they differed so many ways. 
 That lig-htly he laid her up for holy days ; 
 Her g^ood he laid up so, lest thieves mig-ht 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. XI. loi 
 
 Chapter XI. 
 
 Forsooth ! said my friend, this matter mahelh 
 
 boast 
 Of diminution. For, here is a mill post 
 1 hwitten to a pudding prick so nearly, 
 That I confess me discouraged clearly. 
 In both my weddings, 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 each 
 
 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 noug-ht win, }ct shall I nought 
 
 lose. 
 And to wni 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 Ij, 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 ; 
 AVho that hath cither of these pigs in ure, 
 He hath a pig of tlie worse pannier sure. 
 I was wedded unto my will ; howbeit, 
 I will be devorst, and be wed to my wit ; 
 AXHicreby, with these examples past, I may 
 
 sec 
 I'ond 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 things 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 unfc. 
 Here is enough, I am satisfied, (said he). 
 Since enough is enough, (said 1), 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.
 
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 INDEX 
 
 Rcjcrcncc froui text to Note-Book is copious, a)id as 
 jconipletc as may be; so also, conversely , from Note-Book 
 io text. The following pages may, -with almost absolute 
 certainty, be consulted on any point that may occur in 
 ,the course of reading. 
 
 'J' lie schenie of reference fiom Note-Book to text as- 
 sumes ilie division, in the mind's eye, of each page into 
 four horizontal sections; wliich, beginning at the top, 
 are indicated in the Note-Book by the letters a, b, c, d 
 following the page j'tgure. In practice this -will be found 
 easy, and an enormous help io the eye over the usual 
 reference to page alone in "fixing" the "catchword." 
 Thus 126a — the first quarter of page 126; i\oc = the third 
 quarter of page 40 ; and so forth. 
 
 The Index to the Proverbs, Proverbial Sayings, Col- 
 Joquialisms, (j^-c, is given vuith much completeness. 
 •" Epiiji-ams " (as a reference)^ found also in " The Epi- 
 grams on Proverbs " : see Heywood, Works, II, 
 .(E.E.D.S.).
 
 NOTE-BOOK, WORD-LIST, 
 AND INDEX 
 
 To 'John Hf^zvood's Proverbs coiucni'tng Marriage 
 
 Abject, " cast out as an abject " (loob), vagabond, 
 ne'er-do-well, despicable person. " I deemed it better 
 so to die. Than at my foeman's feet an abject lie." — 
 Mirroiir for Magistralcs (1599), 20. 
 
 Abrood, " weather meet to set paddocks abrood in 
 {•,0b), i.e. weather fit for toads or frogs to be abroad : 
 cf. " fine weather for ducks." 
 
 Absexteth, " her presence absenleth 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 " {8d), account : the old 
 spelling. " .S'un'f/i. The clerk of Chatham : he can 
 write and read, and caste accompt."- — Shakspeare, 
 2 Henry Yl. (1594), iv. 2. 
 
 Advoutry, " in advoutry to catch him " (716), adultery. 
 " Calling this match advoutrie, as it was." — Mirrour 
 for Magistrates (1599), 342. 
 
 Age, " age and appetite fell at strong strife " (5H/). 
 
 Ale, (a) " when ale is in wit is out " (Epig.). 
 
 (b) " as sour ale mendeth in summer " (91^), tliat 
 is, not at all. 
 
 Ale-clout, " wash her face in an ale-clout " (261/), get 
 drunk. 
 
 Am, " God taketh me as I am and not as I was " 
 (gob).
 
 io8 Note-Book and Word-List [amated 
 
 Amated, " all mirth was amated " (17c?), paralysed, 
 checked. 
 
 Amendment, " let vour amendment amend the matter " 
 
 (77«)- 
 An, see And. 
 
 Anchor, (a) " I will straight weigh anchor and hoist 
 up sail " (21c). 
 
 (b) " good riding at two anchors, For if the one 
 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; (h) on. 
 
 Angrv, (a) " he that will be angry without cause, must 
 be at one, without amends " (6ic). 
 
 (b) " if she be angry, beshrew her angry heart " 
 (44d). 
 
 Apaired, " so apaired he " (SSd), 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, 
 I St Ser., 94d). 
 
 Aparty, " choose we him aparty " (67s), 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). 
 
 (6) " the dun ape hath trod on both thy feet " 
 (Epig.). 
 
 (c) As a verb, ape — to befool or dupe; also, to make 
 one an ape. 
 
 Appetite, " age and appetite fell at strong strife " (5id). 
 
 Apple, " lost with an apple and won with a nut " (246). 
 " Nor woman true, but even as stories tell. Won with 
 an egg, and lost again with shell." — Gascoigne, 
 Ferdinando (d. 1577). 
 
 Ashes, " raked up in th' ashes and covered again '* 
 Aspen-leaf, " thy tongue that aspen-leaf " (85c).
 
 baker] Note-Book and Word-List 109 
 
 Assay, " I will assay to win some favour " (2 id), 
 endeavour, try, essay. " Yet wol I make assay." — 
 Chaucer, Cant. Tales (1383), 13177. 
 
 Assurance, " words of assurance " (5^), afFianco, 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. 
 
 AuDRY, see Saint Audry. 
 
 Avail, " avail, unhappy hook " (44a), «'•(?. Away ! Be- 
 gone ! you are defeated in your purpose; hook = a 
 term of reproach. " That unhappy hook." — Jack 
 Jtiggler (E.E.D.S., Aiwn. Piays, Ser. 3), 26c and 35^. 
 
 Avanced, " which should me much avanccd " (22a), 
 profited, advanced. 
 
 Axe, " I send th' axe after helve away " (07''), «•''• I 
 despair; " In for a penny, in for a pound." 
 
 (b), " without ye axe me leave " (97c), ask : the 
 word and also the construction, once literary, are now 
 vulgar. 
 
 Bachelors, (a) " bachelors boast how they will teach 
 their wives good" (74ci), hence bachelor's wife = an 
 ideal wife : see infra. 
 
 (b) " bachelors' wives and maids' children be well 
 taught " (75a). " The maid's child is ever best 
 taught." — Latimer, Sermons (1562), v. " Ay, ay, 
 bachelors' wives, indeed, are finely governed." — 
 Vanbrugh, Provoked Tli/e (1726), i. i. 
 
 Backare, " Backare, quoth Mortimer to his sow " (4if), 
 i.e. " Go back," " Give place," " Away " : the allu- 
 sion is lost, though the phrase is common enough in 
 old writers, the earliest dating about 1473. 
 
 Bag, " he brought the bottom of the bag clean out " 
 (gSd), to make an end of things, to tell all, to lose all. 
 
 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
 
 no Note- Book and Word-List [bald 
 
 owl was a baker's daughter." — Shakspeare, Hamlet 
 (ibo2), iv. 5. " Are not bakers' amies the skales of 
 • lustice? yet is not their bread light." — Dekker, Honest 
 U'liorc (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. 
 
 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, " this rather bringcth bale than boot " (63J), bale 
 = trouble, sorrow; boot = he\p, cure, relief. "God 
 send every man boot of his bale." — Chaucer, Cant. 
 Talcs (1483), 13409. 
 
 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). 
 
 Banning, " be as be may is no banning " (53(7). 
 
 Bargains, " some bargains dear bought good cheap 
 would be sold" (19c), cheap = muvket : good cheap — 
 bon marche. " He buys other men's cunning good 
 cheap in London, and sells it deare in the country." — 
 Dekker, Bcliiian's Night Walk (160S). 
 
 Barrel, " 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 barnd better herynge. " — Bale, Kynge John. 
 " Begin where you will, you shall find them all alike, 
 never a barrell the better herring." — Burton, Anat. 
 Melon. (162 1). 
 
 Bass, to cuddle, snuggle up to ; also to give a smacking 
 kiss: once literary. "I lye hassing with Besse. " — 
 Works, 557. " Thy knees bussing the stones." — 
 Shakspeare, Coriol. (1610), iii. 2. 
 
 Baudry, " suspicion of their baudry " (73d), wanton- 
 ness, lechery. 
 
 Bayard, " to have kept Bayard in the stable " (^yc). 
 See Blind Bayard.
 
 bird] Note-Book and Word-List iii 
 
 Be, (a) " be as be may is no baniiint; " (S3'')- 
 
 (6) " that shall be, shall be " {sT,b). See Shall be. 
 
 Bead-roll, " a bead-roll to unfold " (.yyh), 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. 
 
 Beerpot, " she was made like a beerpot or a barrel "' 
 (52a), well rounded in the stomach, corpulent. 
 
 Besiirew, generally in imperative. " Beshrew ^our' 
 heart " = woe to you. '" I beshrew all shrews." — 
 Shakspeare, Love Labour Lost (1594), v. 2. 
 
 Be.^n, (a) " a bean in a monk's hood " (76c). 
 
 (b) " begging of her booteth not the worth of a' 
 bean " (30a), a standard of the smallest v.-due. 
 
 Beautiful, " my beautiful marriage " (Sb), i.e. mar-- 
 riage for beauty's sake. 
 
 Beck, " a beck as good as a dieu gard " (zcfcl), nod, 
 salutation. " Nods and becks and wreathed smiles." 
 — Milton, L'Allegro (1637). 
 
 Beforne (passim), before. 
 
 Benchwiiistler (37c), loafer, idler on an ale-house 
 bench. 
 
 Bestill, " a good bestill is worth a groat " (6.Sr), 
 bcstail = a law term for all kinds of cattle: Fr.,. 
 betail. 
 
 Bewrayed, " things . . . might be bewrayed " (Gsb), 
 spoilt, muddled, complicated. 
 
 Bird, (a) " better one bird in hand than ten in the 
 wood " (36^), possession is everything; hazard of loss 
 is not worth uncertain gain : the modern version, 
 " two in the bush," is not so exacting. Fr., Micux 
 vatix un tcuez, que deux voiis I'aiirez." " An old 
 proverb maketh with this which 1 take good. Better 
 one bird in hand then ten in the wood." — Hevwood, 
 Witty and Witless (c. 1530), Works (K.E.D.S.) I.', 
 2136. 
 
 (b) " it is a foul bird that fdeth his own nest "' 
 (7od), ^/ei/i = defileth : the proverb occurs as early as 
 1250 in The Owl and the Nightingale. " Rede and'
 
 a 12 Note-Book and Word-List [blab 
 
 lerne ye may, Howe olde proverbys say, that byrd ys 
 nat honest, That fylyth hys owne nest." — Skelton, 
 Garnesche (1520). 
 
 (f) " as bare as a bird's arse " (89a), as bare as 
 may be. 
 
 (d) " the birds were flown " (47^). 
 
 (e) " when birds shall roost . . . who shall appoint 
 their hour, the cock or hen?" (56b); compare " He 
 who pays the piper may call the tune." 
 
 (/) " we shall catch birds to-morrow " (88c). 
 
 '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, " the black ox never trod on thy foot " (i7(), 
 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), b/t! = bleat, as a sheep. One 
 of the Hundred Mcry Talcs (f. 1525) is entitled " Of 
 the husbande that cryed ble under the bed." 
 
 Bleed, " here doth all lie and bleed " (68c). 
 
 Bless, " ye bless them all, but ye bass but one " (84^), 
 see Children. 
 
 Blessing, " ye can give me your olessing in a clout " 
 (96Z)), 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? " (910). 
 
 (6) " the blind eat many flies " (73?)). " The blinde 
 eateth many a flye : So doth the husband often, iwis. 
 Father the childe that is not his." — Schole-housc of 
 Woinen (1541), line 333. 
 
 (c) " blind men should judge no colours " (73a). 
 
 ((/) " as the blind man casts his staff or shoots the 
 crow " (96b). 
 
 (c) " where the blind leadeth the blind both fall in 
 ■the dyke " {b-;b). " She hath hem in such wise
 
 bolt] Note-Book and Word-List 113 
 
 daunted. That they were, as who saith, enchaunted ; 
 And as the blinde an other ledeth, And till they falle 
 nothing drcdeth." — Gower, Confcssio Amantis. 
 
 (J) " folk ofttimes are most blind in their own 
 cause " (73«), 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), applied where persons act without consideration 
 or reflection ; generic for blindness, ignorance, and 
 recklessness. It occurs in T]ie Vision of Ficrs the 
 Ploughman (1362), and in Chaucer's Canterbtiry 
 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 ; in Ariosto's great work 
 is called Baiardo. See Bayard. 
 
 Bliss, (a) " our Lord bliss me " (79J) — " not one penny 
 to bliss him " (89a), bless. 
 (b) see Branch. 
 
 Blist, " by God's blist " (29^), bliss, joy, happiness. 
 
 Blocks, " I have more blocks in his way to lay " (/On). 
 obstructions, hindrances, impediments. 
 
 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. 
 
 Body, (a) " the big part of her body is her bum " (24c). 
 (b) see Leg. 
 
 Bolt, (a) " mend, as the thatcher mends his bolt " 
 (91a). 
 
 (b) SCO I'ool. 
 HEY. PROV. 1
 
 114 Note-Book and Word-List [bongrace 
 
 BoNGRACE (52a), a forehoad cloth, or coverinfj for the 
 head ; a kind of veil attached to a hood : afterwards 
 the hood itself. " Her bon<;race which she wore." — 
 Heywood, Pardoner cuid Frcic, Works (E.E.D.S.), 
 1. 7f. 
 
 BooKD, " 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, " it booteth not the worth of a bean " (30a), 
 remedy, cure, help, advantage. " This knight thinketh 
 his boot thou mav'st be." — Calisto and Mclibcca 
 (E.E.D.S., Anon Pi, ist Ser.). 
 
 Borage, " a leaf of borage might buy all the substance 
 that they can sell " (250), 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 " {2sd). 
 
 (b) " till liberty was borrow " (27c), pledged, mort- 
 gaged. " To borrow man's soul from blame. "^ 
 World and Child (c. i^oo), E.E.D.S., .l»ion. PL, 
 Ser. I., 1866. 
 
 Bosom, " she speaketh as she would creep into your 
 bosom " (23d). 
 
 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 Oiiceii (1590), ill. x. 29. 
 
 Bound, " they that are bound must obey " (68b). 
 
 BouRD, " sooth bourd is no bourd " (88fl), i.e. a jest 
 spoken in earnest is no jest at all; 500//; =earnest, 
 bourd — a jest: see Boord. "As the old saying is, 
 sooth boord is no boord." — Harrington, Bricfe .Ipolo- 
 ^ic of Poctrie (159 1). 
 
 Bow, (a) " a bow long bent, at length must wear weak " 
 (34('), i.e. a bow drawn back to the utmost and 
 often : hence " to the top of one's bent " (see also 
 next entry). 
 
 (b) " the bent of your . . . bow " (37(1), inclina- 
 tion, tendency, disposition, course of action.
 
 break] Note-Book and Word-List 115 
 
 (c) " Many strings to the bow " (370), 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 seakcth two stringcs to one 
 bowe, the may shute strong, but never strait." — 
 Letter .oj Queen Elizabeth to James VI. (June, 1585). 
 
 (rf) see Break. 
 Bowl, " this seven years, day and night to watch a 
 bowl " (yic), seven ycars^a long time (generic) : i.e. 
 may watch his coming and going a long time with- 
 out discovering anything. 
 
 Box, " in the wrong bo.x " (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." — Ridlev 
 ("Foxe," 1838)', vi. 438 (1554). 
 
 Boy rope, " haleth her by the boy rope " (-Sfc), ? bow- 
 rope = either, (a) the rope attached to an ox-bow; (b) 
 a rope of bow-string hemp ; or (c) bow-string. 
 
 Brain, "bitten to the brain" (45^, drunk: cf. "hair 
 of the dog that bit one." 
 
 Branch, " ere . . . branch of bliss could reach any 
 root the flower . . . faded " (171). 
 
 Brawling, " brawling booteth not " (57*:), i.e. tends to 
 no advantage: 6oo/t'//i =profitcth. 
 
 Bread, (a) " one . . . that would have belter bread than 
 is made of wheat " (816). 
 
 (h) " know on which side bread is buttered " (86c). 
 recognise one's interests : whence to butter one's bread 
 oji 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. 
 
 Break, (a) " better is to bow than break " (22a). An 
 early example is found in The Morale Proverbs of 
 Cristyne; originally written in Fr:nch about the year 
 1390 and of which a verse translation by Karl Rivers 
 was printed by Caxton in 1478 : " Rather to bowe 
 than breke is profitable, Humylite is a thing com- 
 mendable." 
 
 {b) " in that house ... a man shall as soon break 
 his neck as his fast " (40c). 
 
 I 2
 
 ii6 Note-Book and Word-List [breech 
 
 Breech, (a) " there is nothing more vain than to beg 
 a breech of a bare-arsed man " (20c). 
 
 (/)) " the master wcareth no breech " (58c; also in 
 Epigrams), is not master: to ivcar the breeches — to 
 usurp a husband's prerogative (of women). " All 
 women be suche, Thoughe the man bere the breeche, 
 They wyll be ever checkemate." — Boke of Mayd 
 Emiyn (1515). 
 
 Bretch, " in all that bretch " (0;,?'), 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." — Wodrocphe, 
 Spared Iloures of a Souldier (1623). 
 
 Bridal (15b), a note as to the origin of the word may 
 not be without interest. («) " 'Ihere 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 " 
 (156), a variant of " every man must attend his own 
 funeral." 
 
 Bridle, (a) " I gave her the bridle at beginning " (876), 
 let her have her own way. 
 
 (b) " she taketh the bridle in the teeth and runneth 
 awav with it " (87?)), the modern version alters 
 " bridle " to " bit." 
 
 Bridled, " I should have bridled her first with rough 
 bit. To have made her chew on the bridle one fit " 
 (876), fit = a portion or bout of anything — stanza of a 
 songj 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), [)»-i7o(' = 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.
 
 butter] Note-Book and Word-List 117 
 
 Broom, " the green new broom svveepeth clean " (54a), 
 still proverbial ; in the Epigrams " new broom sweep- 
 eth clean " is nearer the modern version. 
 
 Brother, " I will not trust him though he were my 
 . brother " (40c). 
 
 Buckle, " till he at length came to buckle and bare 
 thong " (89a), poverty, distress : //;ofi^ = shoestring. 
 
 Bud, " This bud sheweth what fruit will follow " 
 (266). 
 
 Bug, " bug's words " (66c), swaggering or threatening 
 language ; also " bugbear words " ; of " such bugbear 
 thoughts " (Locke). Bug = Vin object of terror, bogey. 
 " Matrimony hath euer been a blacke bugge in their 
 sinagoge and churchc." — Bale, ]'otaryes (Pref.). 
 
 Bullock's-noble (97a), see Noble. 
 
 Burden, " light burden far heavy " (97b). 
 
 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 " (9a). 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 mid 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. 
 (6) " it is not alfbutter that the cow shits " (94^). 
 
 (c) " she looketh as butter would not melt in her 
 mouth " (276), in contempt of persons of simple 
 demeanour. " A cette parolle mist dame Mehault ses 
 mains k ses costez et en grant couroux luy respondy
 
 ii8 Note-Book and Word-List [buttered 
 
 que . . . et que, Dieu nicrci, aincorcs fondoit le 
 burre en sa bouche, combien qu'elle ne peust croquier 
 noisettes, car elle n'avoit que un seul dent." — Lcs 
 Evangiles des Quenonilles (c. 1475). 
 
 (d) " As sure as it were sealed with butter " (86c), 
 shaky, uncertain. 
 
 Buttered, see Bread. 
 
 Buy, (a) " you to buy and sell " (23J), betray, impose 
 upon. 
 
 (b) see Borage. 
 
 By and by (50a, et passii)i), immediately, forthwith. 
 
 Cake, " would ve both eat your cake and have vour 
 cake? " (gba).' 
 
 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 VJ. (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). 
 
 Can, " I can some skill " (12a), know, able, possess. 
 " Though he be ignorant and can little skill." — Four 
 Elements (c. 1510), E.E.D.S., Anon PL, Ser. L, 3c. 
 
 Candle, (a) " to set up a candle before [or hold a candle 
 to] the devil " (24^), to 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 case so proffering up a candell to the deuill." — 
 Tusser, Husbandrie (1557), 148. 
 
 (b) " upright as a candle standeth in the socket " 
 (526), as erect as may be. 
 
 (c) " who that worst may shall hold the candle "
 
 case] Note-Book and Word-List 119 
 
 Canstick, " coll under canstick " {24b), coll = {a) kiss, 
 embrace, or (b), deceit: sec Coleprophet ; canstick = 
 candlestick. There was, however, a Christmas game 
 called "coll under canstick." 
 
 Cap, " my cap is belter at ease than my head " (851/1. 
 
 Cards, " tell thy cards and then tell me what thou hast 
 won " (366). 
 
 Carrain, " her carrain carcase " (56c), rotten, withered : 
 a generic reproach. 
 
 Carrier, " I will send it him by John Long the 
 carrier " (35^/), see John Long. 
 
 Carpenter, " such carpenters, such chips " (8oii), " 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." — Fulwell, Like Mill I0 
 Like (EE.D.S.), 24(1 
 
 Cart, (a) " set the cart before the horse " (790), 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, 
 ills 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 " (216), 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 " (35r), see 
 section b supra. 
 
 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-Nokcs, John-a-
 
 I20 Note-Book and Word- List [cast 
 
 Nash, and John-a-Stile." — Returnc from Parnassus 
 {1606). 
 
 (b) " clear out of the case " (32a), out of the run- 
 ning, beyond consideration. 
 
 Cast, " privy nips or casts overthwart the shins " 
 (24c) — " even the like cast hast thou " (33d) — " ye 
 neither care nor wellnigh cast what ye pay " (8ic), 
 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. 
 
 Casting, " far casting for commonwealth " (sod), 
 roundabout search for joint benefit. 
 
 Cat, (a) " a cat may look on a king " (701:), a retort on 
 impertinent or misplaced interference ; there are cer- 
 tain 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^); cf. Shakspeare (Mac- 
 beth), " Letting, 1 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). 
 
 (d) " let the cat wink and let the mouse run "■ 
 [bib). 
 
 (e) " it hath need be a wily mouse that should 
 breed in the cat's ear " (7id). "A hardy mowse that 
 is bold to breede In cattis eeris." — Order of Foles^ 
 M.S. (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 " (33c). 
 
 (h) " little and little the cat eateth the flickle " (82b). 
 
 (0 " no playing with a straw before an old cat " 
 (88a). 
 
 (/) "the cat knoweth whose lips she licketh " (qSb). 
 " Li vilains reproche du chat Qu'il set bien qui barbes-
 
 CHALK] Note-Book and Word- List i2f 
 
 il leche." — Dcs trots Daincs qui troiivcrcnf tin And 
 (c. 1300). ,, 
 
 (k) " to turne the cat in the pan " (79(1), 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 1 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. 1550), 
 " As for Bernard, often tyme he turneth the cat in the 
 pan."— Shacklock, Hatchet of Heresies (1565). 
 
 (/) " 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 "■ 
 
 (n) " by scratchmg and bitmg cats and dogs come- 
 together " (54c). ,, , , 
 
 (o) " when all candles be out cats be grey (i3<:), 
 cf. " If you cannot kiss the mistress kiss the maid " ;. 
 " Joan in the dark is as good as my lady." 
 
 Catch, " catch that catch may " {Epig.), in modern 
 form, " catch as catch can." 
 
 Cause, " cause causcth " (226). 
 
 Chair, " every man may not sit in the chair " (4t)c), 
 it is not given to everyone to rule ; all cannot be 
 masters. 
 
 Chalk, " 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, Cottfessio Ainantis (1393). 
 " Though I have no learning, yet I know chese from 
 chalke."— 7o/;/i 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, Chippcs (1573).
 
 122 Note-Book and Word-List [change 
 
 (h) " alike in colour to deem ink and chalk " (63c), 
 a variant of the foregoing entry. 
 
 •CiiANGK, " change be no robbery " (63b), an excuse for a 
 forced or jesting imposition ; a delicate way of making 
 a present : now usually " fair exchange is no rob- 
 bery." 
 
 Changed, " would to God he and you had changed 
 places " (Sue). 
 
 •Chat, " no man may chat ought in ought of her 
 
 charge" (24?)), f/iaf = talk. " Into a rapture lets her 
 
 baby cry. While she chats him . . ." — Shakspeare, 
 Coriolantis (1610), ii. i. 
 
 ■Chatting, " chatting to chiding is not worth a chute " 
 (69a), it is hardly worth while to answer a scolding. 
 
 Check, " checks and choking oysters " (43c), taunts, 
 reproaches : see Choking oyster. 
 
 Checker, " not checker a-board all was not clear in 
 the coast " (896). " Not as a checker, reprover, or 
 despiser of other men's translations." — Covcrdale, 
 Lewis's History of the Translations of the Bible into 
 English, 95. 
 
 Cheese, " ye may see no green cheese, but your teeth 
 must water " (97c), green cheese = cream cheese. 
 
 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. 
 
 (b) " thy chickens tell aforehand " (Epigrams), 
 reckon beforehand a successful issue. 
 
 Chieving (lod and 48^), doing, accomplishment. 
 
 Child, " burnt child, fire dreadeth " (55b), 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).
 
 clawed] Note-Book and Word-List 123 
 
 Children, («) " children learn to creep ere thev can 
 
 go " (37'')- 
 
 (b) " children and fools cannot lie " (380). "Master 
 Constable says : \'ou know neighbours 'tis an old 
 saw, Children and fools speake true." — Lyly, Endi- 
 niion (1591). 
 
 (c) " better children weep than old men " (34?')- It 
 is related in connection with the (iowrie conspiracy, 
 that King James \'I., about to depart from (iowrie 
 Castle, was forcibly prevented by the Master of 
 Glammis, and as the tears started to the eyes of the 
 voung king, " better bairns weep than bearded men 
 was the other's observation. 
 
 {(i) " ve have many godchildren to look upon, and ye 
 bless them all, but ye bass but one " (84^). 
 
 Chip, («) " who lackcth u stock his gain is not worth a 
 chip" (94c). _ ^ 
 
 (b) " as merry as three chips " (i7f), cf. Shak- 
 speare's " dancing chips " {Sonnets, 12.S). 
 
 Choking oysters. " checks and choking oysters " (43c), 
 taunts and replies that put one to silence. " 1 have 
 a stoppynge oyster in my poke." — Skelton, Boiuge of 
 Court {c. 1529), 477. " To a feloe laiyng to his 
 rebuke that he was over deintie of his niouthe and 
 diete, he did with this reason give a stopping oistre." 
 — Udall, Apoph. (1542), 61. 
 
 Church, " the nearer to the church, the furth(>r from 
 God " (2i«). " Qui est pr6s de I'd'glise est souvent 
 loin de Dieu." — Lcs Proverbes commiins (c. 1500). 
 
 CiRCUMQUAQUES (84(/), far-fetched and roundabout stories. 
 
 Clargy, " to put me to my clargy " (646), see rhyme : 
 c/er^'y = learning, science, knowledge. " I rede how 
 besy that he was Upon clergye, an bed of bras To forge 
 and makp it for to telle." — Gower, MS. Soc. Aniiq., 
 134, f. 104. 
 
 Claw, (a) " thou makest me claw when it itcheth not " 
 (850- 
 
 (b) " claw a churl bv th' arse and he shitteth in 
 my hand " (Soc). 
 
 Clawed, " I clawed her by the back " (24J).
 
 124 Note-Book and Word-List [clerks 
 
 Clerks, " the greatest clerks be not the wisest men " 
 (67a). " 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^). 
 
 Cloak, " that 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 Wotnen of Abingdon (1599). 
 
 Clock, " and looked . . . what it was o'clock " {<j6b), 
 saw how matters stood ; became aware of the facts : 
 the phrase is still colloquial or slang. " To know 
 what ys a clockc." — Skelton, Works (c. 1513), ii. 132 
 (Dyce). 
 
 Clog, " where nought is to wed with, wise men flee the 
 flog" (32a), originally f/o^= incumbrance ; hence a 
 wife : this definition occurs very early. " Science. Ye 
 have woon me for ever, dowghter, Although ye have 
 woon a clog wyth all. U'yt. 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, 3 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, " it is a bad cloth that will take no colour " (92^). 
 
 Clothes, " to rent off my clothes from my back " (26b). 
 
 Clouds, " after clouds black we shall have weather 
 clear " (36c). 
 
 Coat, " cut my coat after my cloth " (20^), 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 Ottcene Hester (c. 1530) : 
 " There is a cause why, That 1 go not gay : I tell you of 
 a word, Aman that n^ \v 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
 
 cockney] Note-Book and Word-List 125 
 
 the town, do buy him a good gown, He is very wroth. 
 And will him straight tell, the statute of apparel Shall 
 teach him good " (H.K.D.S., Anon PL, 2nd Ser.). 
 
 Cock, " 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}. 
 
 (6) " every cock is proud on his own dunghill 
 (31b), every man is a hero to his own circle; each one 
 fights best with friends and backers about him. '" ])et 
 rteshs is her et home, ase eorSe, ])et is et eorSe : aut lor 
 pui hit is cwointel cwiuer, "-'ase me seit<, J)et coc is kene 
 on his owne mixennc." — ]>£ Aiuren Khvlc {c. 1250). 
 
 Cockney, (a) " he that cometh every day shall have a 
 cockney, He that cometh now and then shall have a 
 fat hen " (44a), Murray breaks up M.E. cokency into 
 coken ey = cock's egg, and defines the word when used 
 by Langland as "egg," a rendering which seems 
 confirmed in the present instance. " I have no salt 
 bacon, Ne no cokeney, by Crist, coloppes for to make." 
 — Langland, P. Ploiuman (1363), 4370. 
 
 (b) " a good cockney coke " (97^), i.e. a cockney 
 cook : in derision and contempt, with perhaps a play 
 on cokes = iou\. 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 {Acadetny, 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 idoo 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.' "
 
 126 Note-Book and Word-List [cockscomk 
 
 Cockscomb, " to wear a cockscomb " (b'jd), the comb of 
 a cock was one of the ensigns or tokens of a profes- 
 sional fool. 
 
 (c) " as oft change from hue to hue as doth the 
 cocks of Ind " (jifl), ? /H(/ = indigo, the alhision 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 jill by the ears ; is proud, 
 vaunting, and exultant. " Vou'U make a mutiny 
 aiiKing my guests ! You will set cock-a-hoop ! you'll 
 be the man ! " — Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet (1505), 
 '• 5- 
 
 Coin, " when coin is not common, commons must be' 
 scant " (51/)). 
 
 Cold, " let them that be cold, blow at the coal " 
 (2()(/). " Our talwod is all brenl. Our faggottes are 
 all spent, We may blow at the cole." — Skelton, Why 
 conic yc not to Court (f. 1520). 
 
 Cor.KPROPiir.T, " ye play coleprophet (quoth I) who taketh 
 in hand To know his answer before he do his errand " 
 (2ifl), colcproplic! = u false prophet or cheat. "Cole- 
 prophet and cole-poyson, tluju art both." — lleywood, 
 is'/)., 89, Cent. vi. 
 
 Coi.[., " coll under canstick she can play in both hands " 
 (24/* ), see Canstick. " Coll under canstyk she can 
 plaie on both hands, Dissiinulation well she under- 
 st.'uids " (see supra 246). 
 
 CoLi.op, " it is a dear collo]) that is cut out of th' own 
 flesh " (28d). " God knows thou art a colup of my 
 flesh." — -Shal'ispeare, i Henry 17. (1502), v. 5. 
 
 Colt, (a) " of a ragged colt there cometh a good horse " 
 (33/'). " Touchstone. This cannot be fained, sure. 
 Heaven pardon my severitie ! ' The ragged colt may 
 prove a good horse.' " — Jonson, iVc, Kastivard Hoc 
 (1605). 
 
 (/)) "scolts may prove well witii latches ill " (336), 
 tache (or /o/r/;) = spot, blemish. 
 
 Come, {a) " come what, come would " (44/)). 
 {b) " you come to your cost " (34(1).
 
 couch] Note-Book and Word-List 127 
 
 CoMKTH, " all cometh to one " (50^), in modern phrase, 
 " all cometh to him that waits." 
 
 Coming, " it is ill coming to th' end of a shot and 
 beginning of a fray " (yqc). 
 
 Commodities (lob), matters of advantage or conveni- 
 ence. 
 
 CoNSiTHER (5b), consider. 
 
 CoNSTER (i3(i;, construe, explain. 
 
 Convey (486), steal. The classical quotation is of- 
 course from Shakspeare, and from the same authority 
 I give illustrations of derivatives : the rendering was- 
 popular. " Nytn. 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., sub fin. 
 
 Cook, " a poor cook that may not lick her own fingers " 
 (Sqb). " He is an evyll coke y' can not lycke his owne- 
 lippes." — Vidgarta Stambrigi (c. 15 10). " Capiilet. 
 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. 
 
 CooKOUEAN, see Cuckquean. 
 
 Cope, " segging is good cope " {()^a), sedge is good 
 covering. 
 
 Cord, " would to our lord ve had hanged both in one 
 cord " (800). 
 
 Corner, " the corner of our case (quolh he) I vou tell "' 
 (20b), corner = gist, the furthest point of probing. 
 
 Corse, " my comely corse " (85(7). body. 
 
 Cost, " all was not clear in the cost " (89?)), i.e. coast. 
 
 Couch, " couch a hogshead " (58/)), go to sleep : hogs- 
 hcad = hca.d. " I couched a hogshead in a skvpper 
 this darkmans." — Harman, Caveat {1567), 66 (1814).
 
 t28 Note-Book and Word-List [cough 
 
 ■Cough, " thou canst cough in the aumbry " (Szd), 
 aumbry = cuphoard, pantry. " Some slovens from 
 sleeping no sooner be up, But hand is in aumbrie, and 
 nose in the cup." — Tusser, Five Hundred Points 
 
 (1573). i'- 5- 
 Counterpoise, " whether they counterpaise or out- 
 weigh " (loa), counterpoise. 
 
 Court, " I was neither of court nor of counsel made " 
 (43b), i.e. neither approached for advice, nor invited 
 to express an opinion. 
 
 Covet, " all covet, all lose " (970). 
 
 CovETiSE (i2c), covetousness. 
 
 Cow, (rt) " the cow is wood " (78J), -4C'ood = mad, furi- 
 ous. 
 
 (b) " God sendeth the shrewd cow short horns " 
 (27c), 5/jj'eie;d = malicious, 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." — Fo.xe, Acts and Maniiments. 
 
 (c) " as comely as a cow in a cage " (s^d). 
 
 (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 " (530). 
 
 (/) " many a good cow hath an evil calf " (aSa). 
 
 Cow-calf, " as well for the cow-calf as for the bull " 
 (620). 
 
 Coy, "as coy as a croker's mare" (52&), croker = 
 
 saffron-dealer. 
 Crabs, " the greatest crabs be not all the best meat " 
 
 (4od). 
 
 Cripple, " it is hard halting before a cripple " (yid). 
 " 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 Ferdinando 
 Jeronimi and Leonora de Valases (1575). 
 
 Cross, (a) " now will I make a cross on this gate " (43(i), 
 the cross as the emblem of disappointment and mis- 
 fortune ; and the fact that many pieces of money were
 
 cuckquean] Note-Book and Word-List 129 
 
 stamped on one side with a cross gave rise to many 
 quibbles : see Cross b and c infra, and cf. Heywood, 
 Epigrams (E.E.D.S., Works, ii. 226b), " 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), cross^money (see a supra); unhappy 
 hook = a commiserating address. " Now 1 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). " Not a penny, not a penny ; 
 you are too impatient to bear crosses." — Shakspeare, 
 2 Henry IV. (1598), i. 2. 
 
 Crow, (a) " we have a crow to pull " (yod), 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 crow thinketh his 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 to say, the crow is white " (690). i.e. 
 "You're talking nonsense, or worse, telling lies." 
 
 Crummeth, " cracketh and crummeth " (79a), crumbleth. 
 
 Cry a leison (78J?), 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 {Obed. Chr. Man, 130^, 
 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 d \la\ Alison, which appears (8qb) 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." 
 HEY. PROV. K
 
 130 Note-Book and Word-List [cunnino 
 
 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." — Bible, Auth. Vers. (161 1), Psalm 
 cxxxvii. 5. " With all the cunning manner of our 
 flight. Determined of. "— Shakspeare, Two Gent., 
 ii. 4. 
 
 CuPSHOTTEN, " somewhat cupshotten " (31a), drunk. 
 
 CuRRYFAVEL, " they can curry favel and make fair 
 weather" (66b), 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, Euphues (1581). 
 
 (b) " 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, i. 291. 
 
 Dagger, (a) " he beareth a dagger in his sleeve " (35&), 
 i.e. hidden, in reserve, ready for use. 
 
 (b) " it be ill pla\ing with short daggers " (47c), 
 in modern phrase, "edged tools." 
 
 Daiment, " sufferancee is no c]uittance in this daiment " 
 (64ti), ? judgment, settlement: cf. daysman = umpire, 
 arbitrator. Day (in legal sense) = return of a writ, 
 appearance. 
 
 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." 
 
 Dancetii, " he danceth attendance " (Epigrams), to 
 wait upon constantly and obsequiously. 
 
 Darling, "it is better to be an old man's darling than 
 a young man's warling " (8oa), warliiig is of doubt- 
 ful origin, occurring only in this proverb; perhaps
 
 dear] Note-Book and Word-List 131 
 
 coined from war, in imitation of darling, and meaning 
 one often quarrelled with. 
 
 Daw (passim), an empty-headed, foolish fellow. " He 
 that for commyp 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), borroiv = 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) " I will say no more till the day be longer " 
 (Epigrams). 
 
 (d) "■ be the day never so long, evermore at last they 
 ring to evensong " (826). " For though the dav be 
 never so long At last the bell rings for evensong."— 
 Hawes, Pastime of Pleasure. 
 
 (e) " the day of doom shall be done " (85a). 
 
 (/) " farewell, my good days, they will be soon 
 gone " (57a). 
 
 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. 
 
 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?" 
 (Epigrams). 
 
 Dear, (a) " whoso that knew what would be dear, 
 should need be a marchant but one year " (46). 
 
 (b) " dear bought and far fet are dainties for 
 ladies (38d), /e< = fetched. "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. Pomp'ey. And' far 
 
 K 2
 
 132 Note-Book and Word-List [dearest 
 
 fetched; therefore good for you, lady." — Beaumont 
 and Fletcher, Wit at Several Weapons (1614). 
 
 Dearest, " to buy the dearest for the best alway " 
 (8ic), 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 
 (48ci). 
 
 Deed, " deed without words " (71^)- 
 
 Desert, " desert and reward be ofttimes things far 
 odd " (42rt). 
 
 Devil, (a) " the devil hath cast a bone to set strife " 
 
 (570- 
 
 (b) " young saint, old devil " (271:), this occurs in 
 
 , MS. Harlcian (c. 1490). 
 
 (c) " he must have a long spoon that would sup 
 (or eat) with the devil " {jid). " 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,
 
 DOCK] Note-Book and Word-List i33 
 
 He must nedes go that the dyvell dryveth."— Hey- 
 wood, Johaii Johaii, Tyb, and Syr Jhan. 
 
 (/) " the devil is no falser than he " {7id). 
 
 (g) " the devil go with thee, down the lane " 
 
 (Ssd). 
 
 (h) " meet to set the devil on sale " (yy'')- 
 
 (i) "the devil in th'orloge" (63d). "Some for a 
 tryfuU pley the devyll in the orloge."— Harman, 
 Vulgaria (1530). 
 
 (;') " the devil is dead " (91c). 
 
 (/o) " the devil with his dam hath more rest in hell 
 than I with thee" (856). 
 
 [1) " the devil's good grace might have given a 
 greeting " (qqr)- 
 
 (in) " I will not bear the devil's sack " (73d), com- 
 pound a wrong. 
 
 (h) " what change may compare to the devil's life 
 like his that has chosen a devil to his wife? " (74^)- 
 DiEU-GARD, " a beck as good as a dieu-gard " (29^), a 
 salutation, " God save you! " " Each beck of yours 
 shall be in stead of a diew garde unto me."— Florio, 
 Second Friites (1591), Si. 
 Dinners, " dinners cannot be long, where dainties 
 
 want " (5 it). 
 Discrive (i6a), describe. 
 
 Diseased, " more diseased by early lying down " (55c;, 
 disease formerly was generic for " absence of ease." 
 
 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. 
 Do, "it is as folk do and not as folk say " (736). 
 
 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 
 (74«)- 
 
 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." —
 
 134 Note-Book and Word-List [doe 
 
 Chaucer, Testament of Love. " Is this my in dock, 
 out nettle? " — Middleton, More Dissemblers besides 
 Women (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). 
 
 (5) " 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 " (43b)- 
 
 (d) " unable to give a dog a loaf " {8ib). 
 
 (e) " 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. 
 
 (/i) " an old dog biteth sore " (75b). " Olde dogges 
 bite sore." — Churchyard, Handcful of Gladsome I'crses 
 
 (1592)- 
 
 (i) " 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. 
 
 (/) " it is ill waking of a sleeping dog " (30a), cf. 
 " let sleeping dogs lie." 
 
 (m) " at every dog's bark, seem not to awake 
 (68rf). 
 
 (;i) " hungry dogs will eat dirty puddings " (140), 
 another proverb declares that a himgry man will eat 
 anything, except Suffolk cheese.
 
 DUCK] Note-Book and Word-List 135 
 
 Dole, (a) " his dole is soon done " (37ti), lot, share. 
 Happy man he your dole = a. general wish for success. 
 " Happv man be his dole that misses her." — Grim 
 the Collier of Croydoti. 
 
 (b) " ye deal this dole out of a wrong door " (9^), 
 your charity is ill bestowed. 
 
 I^OON (301), done. 
 
 UooR, (rt) " 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. 
 
 (c) " he, turned her cut of doors to graze on the 
 plain " (99^). 
 
 Doting, " after a doting and drunken deed, let submis- 
 sion obtain some mercy or meed " (j.'St), doting = 
 foolish, silly. 
 
 DoYT (80c), doth. 
 
 Draff, "the still sow cats up all the draf " (27c)— 
 " draf is your errand, but drink ye would " (^id), 
 draff = dregs, dirt, refuse, anything thrown away as 
 unfit for food. " 'Tis old but true, Still swine eat 
 all the draff." — Shakspcare, Merry Wives (1596), 
 iv. 2. 
 
 DRAWL.'iTCH, see John Drawlatch. 
 
 Drede (75^), 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 Dratf. 
 
 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). 
 
 Drivel, "drivel and drudge" (836), drivel = scTvant. 
 " To encourage the husband to use his wife as a vile 
 dreuell."— Udall, Cornitli., ch. xi. 
 
 Duck, "like a duke? like a duck! " (806), a play on 
 words.
 
 1 1:6 Note-Book and Word-List [dunstable 
 
 'J 
 
 Dunstable, " as plain as Dunstable highway " (696), 
 plain DHn^/af)/e = anything homely, plain, simple — 
 why, is not clear : sometimes byeivay. " 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 ; 
 hovvbeit there were some good walkers among them, 
 that walked in the king's high way ordinarily, up- 
 right plaine Dunstable way." — Latimer, Sermons 
 (d- 1^55)- 
 
 DuR (gd, 20c, 2Gb, 32c, &;c.), door (A.S.). 
 
 Dyke, " my beautiful marriage lieth in the dyke " (Sb). 
 
 Ear, (a) " in at the one ear and out of the t'other " 
 (92d). " But 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 Crcseide (1369). 
 
 (b) " her ears might well glow, for all the town 
 talked of her " (52c), that the ears burn when talked 
 of by someone absent is still a prevalent superstition. 
 
 (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 pcregrinantiir aiires." — 
 Withal, Dictionary (1608), 46. 
 
 (d) " he must both tell you a tale and find you ears " 
 (91a). 
 
 (e) " by the ears " (54(i), quarrelling, at strife. 
 " Were half to half the world by the ears, and he 
 Upon my party, I'd revolt." — Shakspeare, Coriolanus 
 (i6io), i. I. 
 
 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. 
 
 East, " the longer east, the shorter west " (506). 
 
 Ebb, (a) " he was at an ebb, though he be now afloat " 
 (38&), in difficulties or hard up, but now in better 
 circumstances. 
 
 (b) " thou art at an ebb in Newgate " (Epigrams).
 
 eye] Note-Book and Word-List 137 
 
 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). 
 
 Eel-skins, " we shall see him prove a merchant of eel- 
 skins " (66c). 
 
 Eggs, " in came the third, with his \' eggs " (5.^1 ), 
 see Heywood, Works (E.E.D.S.), II. 220?;. 
 
 End, (a) " some loose or odd end will come . . . some 
 
 ... day " (45«). 
 
 (6) " such beginning, such end " (94^)- 
 
 (c) " the game from beginning sheweth what end is 
 
 meant " {JS'^). 
 
 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). 
 
 (6) " enough is as good as a feast " (103a). " It 
 is an olde proverb He is well at ese y' hath enough 
 and can say ho. He hath enough, holy doctours sav, 
 to whom his temporall godes be they never so fewe 
 sufTisen to him and to his, to fynde them that them 
 nedyth." — Dives and Pauper {1493). 
 
 (c) " he that knoweth when he hath enough is no 
 fool " (8ic). 
 
 (d) " here is enough and too much " (S2c). 
 
 Envied, " better be envied than pitied " (32(j). 
 
 Errand, (a) " thus is thine errand sped " (79(f). 
 (6) " I am sped of mine errand " (loic). 
 
 Even, " I shall be even with him " (3 if), on equality 
 with, quits with : now chiefly colloquial. 
 
 EvERYCHONE (5^), everyonc. 
 
 E.\TREMITIES, " flee th'attempting of extremities " (6Sc), 
 i.e. avoid the harshest measures. 
 
 Eye, (a) " I might put my winning in mine eye and 
 see never the worse " (42«). " You have had con-
 
 1 38 Note-Book and Word-List [eyesore 
 
 fcit-nccs 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. 08. " Bating Namure, he might 
 have put all the glorious harvests he yearly reap'd 
 there into his eye, and not have prcjudic'd his royal 
 sight in the least." — T. Brown, Works {d. 1682), 
 
 }i. 329- 
 
 (b) " better eye out than alway ache " (igd). 
 
 (c) " he winlieth with the one eye and looketh out 
 of the other " (406). 
 
 (<i) " that the eye sceth not, the heart reweth not " 
 78c). " The blincle eats many a flie, and much water 
 runncs 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 to haste for fear mine eye be 
 bleared" (8d), /iask' = hastily. 
 
 Eyesore, "it is but an eye sore " (13b). " Quod the 
 Barbour, but a lytell eye sore." — Merry Jests of the 
 Wyddow Edytli (1525). 
 
 Fabling, " without fabling " (15?'), exaggerate, draw 
 the long bow, lie. " Without fable or guile." — Four 
 Elements {c. 1500), E.E.D.S., Aito)i Plays, Ser. I. 
 
 Face, (a) " I did set a good face on the matter " 
 (Epigrams), make the best of things. 
 
 (b) " two faces in one hood " (23d), double-dealing, 
 shuffling, two-faced. " Alberto. Not play two parts 
 in one? away, away, 'tis common fashion. Nay, if 
 you cannot bea/ two subtle fronts under one hood ; 
 ideot, goe by, goe by ; off this world's stage ! O 
 times impuritie ! " — Automo and Mellida (1602). 
 
 (c) " their faces told toys " (lyd), told tales : see 
 Toys. 
 
 Fair, (<i) " the fair lasteth all the year " (57b), i.e. 
 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 = {rtib.
 
 farthing] Note-Book and Word-List 139 
 
 (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. 
 
 Fair and well (96^), farewell. 
 
 Fall, " to fall in and not to fall out " (31a), to concur 
 and agree, and not to disagree, quarrel, or fall at odds 
 with. 
 
 False, (a) " I fear false measures " (73d). 
 
 (b) " as false as fair " {g^c). 
 
 (c) " as false as God is true " (78a). 
 
 Falsehood, " falsehood in fellowship " {bgc), fellowship 
 = companionship : in the Epigra))is occurs "there is 
 falsehood in fellowship." 
 
 Fanxy, " 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), the 
 drip of water wears away the stone. 
 
 (b) " things erst so far off, were now so far on " 
 (96d). 
 
 Fare, (a) " ye see your fare, set vour heart at rest " 
 
 (b) " fare ye well how ever I fare " (43d). 
 
 Faren, " have gone further and have faren worse " 
 (62c), faren = iaTed. " How has thou faren in far 
 land?" — Touiucley Mysteries, 48. 
 
 Farewell, " 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. 
 
 Fart, (a) " I shall get a fart of a dead man as soon as 
 a farthing " (37d). 
 
 (b) " they that will be afraid of every fart must go 
 far to piss " (69c). 
 
 Farthing, (a) " she thinketh her farthing good silver " 
 (2bd). " Take example at me ; 1 tell you 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).
 
 I40 Note-Book and Word-List [fashion 
 
 {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, " every man after his fashion " (38c), probably 
 a pun (a common one at the time) on /as/iion = farcy. 
 " Sh. What shall we learn by travel? An. Fashions. 
 Sh. That's a beastly disease." — Old Fortunatus 
 (1600). 
 
 1'ast, " fast bind, fast find " (SJ). " Wherefore a 
 plaine bargain is best, and in bargaines making ; fast 
 bind, fast find." — Jests of Scogin (1565). " Do, as 
 I bid you, Shut doors after you ; Fast bind, fast find ; 
 A proverb never stale in thrifty mind." — Shakspeare, 
 Merchant of Venice (1598), ii. 5. 
 
 Fat, (a) " the fat is in the fire " (Sb), all is confusion, 
 all has failed : of failures and the results of sudden 
 and unexpected revelations and disappointments. 
 " P^aith, 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 " 
 (8irf). 
 
 (c) " little knoweth the fat sow what the lean doth 
 mean " (30a). 
 
 (d) " the fat clean flit from my beard " (ga). 
 
 Fault, (a) " he hath but one fault, he is nought " 
 (35c). 
 
 (b) " hard is for any man all faults to mend " 
 
 (350- 
 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. 
 
 Feather, (a) " she may not bear a feather but she must 
 breathe " (26^), i.e. much ado about nothing, moun- 
 tains made of molehills. 
 
 (6) " 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
 
 fewer] Note- Book and Word-List 141 
 
 (c) "I got not so much ... as a good hen's 
 feather or a poor eggshell " (446), said of altogether 
 inadequate results. 
 
 (d) " he would fain flee, but he wanteth feathers " 
 (35c), condition, substance : compare the modern " not 
 a feather to fly with." 
 
 Fed, (a) " better fed than taught " (25b). 
 
 (b) " he that gapeth till he be fed may fortune to 
 fast and famish far longer" (21c), "if you want a 
 thing done, do it yourself," "God helps those who 
 help themselves," '" he that will not work cannot 
 eat." 
 
 Feed, " feed by measure and defy the physician " (8id), 
 i.e. use and 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), i.e. you are not wanted, are de trop ; your room 
 is desired more than your company. 
 
 Ferne, " old feme years " (5ci), long ago, bygone. 
 " Farewel al the snowgh of ferne yere." — Chaucer, 
 Troihis and Crescide (1369), v. 1176. 
 
 Ferre, " as far as matter . . . served " (89^), far. 
 
 Fet, " 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.] 
 
 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. Wy'att (1607). 
 
 (b) " were T loose from the lovely links of my 
 chain I would not dance in such fair fetters again 
 {19c). 
 
 Few, " few know and fewer care " (loob). 
 Fewer, " the fewer, the better fare " (79c).
 
 142 Note-Book and Word-List [fields 
 
 Fields, (a) " fields have eyes and woods have ears " 
 (70b), now usually "wall's 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 Edivard and the Shepherd, MS. (c. 1300). 
 (b) " bidding me welcome strangely over the fields " 
 (4od). 
 
 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, " ye seek to find things ere they be lost " (34a), 
 i.e. you are " too previous." 
 
 FiNDETii, " he findeth that seeks " (256). 
 
 Fine, " in fine " (45^), in conclusion, finally, to sum up. 
 "In fine, delivers me to fill the time, Herself most 
 chastelv 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 
 IIorse-Race (1613), sig. D 3. 
 
 (d) " each finger is a thumb " (66a), of clumsy 
 handling. " Each finger is a thumb to-day, methinks." 
 — Udall, Roister Doistcr (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. 
 
 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 supra.
 
 flea] Note-Book and Word-List 143 
 
 (c) " make no fire, raise no smoke " (God), see supra. 
 
 (d) " soft fire maketli sweet malt " (6c), 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 Abingtou (i5qg). 
 
 (e) " fire in the one hand and water in the other " 
 (24a). 
 
 (/) " to lay fire and tow together " (73c), to court 
 danger or disaster. 
 
 Fish, (a) " fish is cast away that is cast in dry pooN " 
 (34c)- 
 
 (h) " 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 Wrothc 
 (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 fiesh doth men best feed " 
 (6id), i.e. mature fish and young womanhood. 
 
 (d) " all is fish that cometh to net " (30c), 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). 
 
 Fished, " he hath well fished and caught a frog " (t,2o). 
 " 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(/). 
 
 Fit, (a) " by that surfeit ... I feel a little fit " (ssr), 
 disorder, out of sorts. 
 
 (6) " for beginning this was a feat fit " (57c), con- 
 test, struggle, fight. 
 
 Flea, " a flea in his ear " (3S«), an annoying suggestion 
 or experience, a good scolding.
 
 144 Note-Book and Word-List [kleabiting 
 
 Fi-EAHiTiNG, " but a fleabitinf; " (57c), a trifle, anything 
 of little or no moment. " Their miseries are but flea- 
 bitings to thine." — Burton, Anat. Melon. (1621). 
 
 Flebergebet (25?^), here = sycophant, smooth-tongued 
 talker. " And when these flatterers and flibbergibbes 
 another day shall come and claw you by the back, 
 your grace may answer them thus." — Latimer, Ser- 
 7nons {d. 1555), fol. 39. 
 
 Flee, " flee charge and find ease " (34c), c/jar^e = busi- 
 ness, matters, affairs, an.xieties, cares, responsibility. 
 
 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 vour gruel." — Davenant, The Wits 
 (1636). 
 
 Flesh, " 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 1 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 Uumoiir (1596). 
 
 Fletcher, " mend as the fletcher mends his bolt " 
 (gin), 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., 6. PI. (Reed), vii. 378. 
 
 Flies, " hungry flies bite sore " (91c). 
 Flim-fla.m (24??), a lie, imposition. 
 
 Flinging, " by flinging from your folks at home " 
 (916), /Zin^i«^ = departing hastily, " rushing off." 
 
 I'"lower, " she is not only the fairest flower in your 
 garland, but also she is all the fair flower thereof " 
 (886).
 
 forspeak] Note-Book and Word-List 145 
 
 Foal, " how can the foal amble if the horse and mare 
 trot? "(33c). 
 
 Follow, " the wise man at all times to follow can find " 
 (82a). 
 
 Fond, " to wed with me fond are " (4^), /o»d = pleased, 
 delighted, eager. 
 
 Fool, (a) •• There is no fool to the old fool " (sbh). 
 " Comedie upon comedie he shall have; a morall, a his- 
 toric, a tragedie, or what he will. One shal be called 
 the Doctor's diimpc . . . 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 ivith you to Saffron Walden (i.sqb). 
 
 (h) " a fool's bolt soon shot " (58^), in quotation 
 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 
 Ilendyng, MS. {c. 1320). 
 
 (c) " fair words make fools fain " (69b). " When 
 thou art become one of that courtlie travne, Thinke 
 on this proverbe olde, quod he, that fa'ire woordes 
 make fools faine. " — Paradyse of Dayntie Devises 
 (1578). 
 
 (d) " God sencleth fortune to fools " (75^) ; cf. " God 
 watches over children, drunkards, and 'fools." 
 
 Foot, (a) " he loveth her better at the sole of the foot 
 than ever he loved me at the heart root " (jod). 
 
 (b) " wrap it in the clothes and tread it under foot " 
 
 (c) " folk shew much folly, when things should be 
 sped, to run to the foot, that may go to the head " 
 (676). " Thou that stondys so sure on sete Ware lest 
 thy hede falle to thy fete."— T/je Hoke of Curtasye. 
 MS. (r. 1350). ^ ' 
 
 Forgave, " he forgave her, as he forgiven would be " 
 (90a). 
 
 Forgive, "to forgive and forget" (90a). 
 
 Forgiven, " forgiven and forgotten " (596). 
 
 Forspeak, " forspeak not vour future " (380, gainsay. 
 ilEV. FR()\-. L
 
 u6 Note-Book and Word-List [foster 
 
 Foster, " no longer fosfer, no longer lemman " (96c), 
 foster = to cherish, indulge, harbour; lemman = 
 darling, beloved one. 
 
 FouGHTEN, " a hard foughten field where no man 
 escaped 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 " (13^), i.e. though she be shrewish yet her person 
 is desirable. 
 
 Fox, («) " be a man never so greedy to win, He can 
 have no more of the fox than the skin " (96a). 
 
 (h) " when the fox preacheth, then beware your 
 geese " (82c). 
 
 'Fraid, " more 'fraid than hurt " (iic). 
 
 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). 
 
 (b) " prove thy friend ere thou have need " (46a). 
 
 (c) " ye may write to your friends that ve are in 
 health " {626). ' 
 
 Fro (passim), from. 
 
 Frying pan, " out of the frying pan into the fire " 
 (72c), from bad to worse. 
 
 Further, (a) " might have gone further and fared 
 worse " (62c), see next entry. 
 
 (b) " the further ye go, the further behind " (886). 
 see previous entry. 
 
 Galled, " Gup! with a galled back, Gill " (52^). 
 
 Gall, " rub him on the gall " {71b), gall = a. sore, a 
 rubbed place. " Enough, you rubbed the guiltie on the 
 gaule. "— i\h»;'. for Mag. (1559), 463. 
 
 Gander, " not a more gaggling gander hence to Chester " 
 (3od), 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.
 
 GiNiFiNEE] Note-Book and Word-List 147 
 
 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. " 
 
 (b) " to stop gaps with rushes " (95a), a simile of 
 futile effort. 
 
 G.-vT, " she gat a husband " (25^), got : an old preterite. 
 
 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). 
 
 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. 
 
 Geat, "nor nought we can geat " (iia), get; see the 
 rhyme with " meat " in next line. 
 
 Ge.n'Tle, " farewell, gentle Godfrey " (366). 
 
 Gentleman, " Jack would be a gentleman if he could 
 speak French " (356) 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 
 Englishrnen 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." — Amenities of Literature. 
 
 (iiD, " 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." 
 
 tiiFT, (a) " throw no gift again at the giver's head " 
 {37c), cf. "look no gift horse in the teeth." 
 
 (b) " as free of gift as a poor man of his eye " 
 (37d). 
 
 Gill, wanton, strumpet : but the word, a common 
 female name, does not always carry a bad meaning. 
 
 GiNiFiNEE, see Nycebecetur. 
 
 r. 2
 
 14S Note-Book and Word-List [give 
 
 Give, " better to give than take " (13b), the usual form 
 is " better to give than to receive." 
 
 Gleaning, " thou goest a-gleaning ere the cart have 
 1 arried " (34b), i.e. you are " too previous " ; you seek 
 a thing before it is lost. 
 
 Glome, Glomed, " did lower and glome " (23c) — " folks 
 glomed on me too " (23c), lour, look gloomy. 
 
 God, (a) " she is one of them to whom God bad ho! 
 (39^), /jo = stop: formerly an exclamation to arrest 
 attention, and more particularly a call to cessation of 
 action : " There is no ho with him " = he is not to be 
 restrained. 
 
 (6) " God is where he was "' (46d). 
 
 (c) " here is God in th' aumbry " (63d), (a) aunihry 
 = cupboard, pantry, almonry ; specifically a room in 
 which alms were distributed; and (b) amhry = Si 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, how- 
 ever, is of little moment. 
 
 (d) " every man for himself and God for us all " 
 (96d). 
 
 (e) " God is no botcher " (53?^). 
 
 (/) " alway the grace of God is worth a fair " (46c), 
 see Fair. 
 
 (g) " out of God's blessing into the warm sun " 
 (1670), from bad to worse ; "to jump out of the 
 frying-pan into the fire " : and conversely, " I am t( o 
 much i' the sun" {Hatnlct, 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, 
 Eitphties (1579), 236. " 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 " (lib). " Dieu 
 donne le froid selon la robbe," is the French form of 
 this proverb, found in Les PrcDiiccs (1594), by Henry 
 Estienne. 
 
 (i) " God never sendeth mouth but he sendeth 
 meat " (i ui)- 
 
 (j) " there was (iod . . . when all is done " (17c).
 
 good] Note-Book and Word-List 149 
 
 (k) " who hopeth in God's help his help cannot 
 start " (lie), start — change, put aside, alter. 
 (I) " God stint all strife " (88d). 
 (m) " God have mercy, brother " (SSd). 
 (n) " spend and God shall send " (66d). 
 (o) " God will, send time to provide for time " ^yb). 
 (p) " God and Saint Luke save you " (43a). 
 
 Godfrey, see Gentle. 
 
 GoETH, " as fast as one goeth another cometh " 
 {Epigravis). 
 
 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 Dcnisc cordelier (c. 
 1300). "All things that shineth is not by and by pure 
 gold."— Udall, Ralph Roister Doistcr (1566). See 
 also Chaucer, Chanones Yeinannes Tale, and Lydgate, 
 On the Mutability of Human Affairs. 
 
 (b) "a man may buy gold too dear " (8ic). 
 
 (c) " in words gold and whole " (77^), 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." 
 
 Good, (a) " of a good beginning cometh a good end " 
 (25^). " Bvt in proverbe 1 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). 
 
 (c) " they know no end of their good nor beginning 
 of any goodness " (39c). 
 
 (d) " he knoweth none end of his good " (Epigrams). 
 
 (e) " to do me, not the more good, but the less 
 harm " (24^) 
 
 (/) " may do her good and you no harm " (29a). 
 
 ig) " if he be good now, of his ill past no force " 
 (336), by repentance and well-doing forgiveness is 
 won. 
 
 (/;) " with many conditions good, one that is ill 
 Defaceth the flower of all, and doth all spill " (y6d), i.e. 
 " the strength of a chain is that of its weakest link." 
 
 (i) " evil gotten good never proveth well " (42^).
 
 150 Note-Book and Word-List [good cheap 
 
 (j) " her good be laid up so, lest thieves might spy 
 it, that n'other she could, nor he can, come by it " 
 (looc). 
 
 (fc) " 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 " (^bb). 
 
 (1) " I hope good hap be not all outworn " (93d). 
 
 Good cheap, see Cheap. 
 
 Goodwin Sands, " set up shop upon Goodwin's sands " 
 (92c), properly 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 stole a goose and 
 stuck down a feather " (42f). 
 
 (b) " as deep drinketh the goose as the gander " 
 (Szd), " 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 1 (without offence be it 
 spoken) have heard, that as deepe drinketh the goose 
 as the gander." — Lyly, Euphtics and his England. 
 
 Gosling, " who meddleth in all things may shoe the 
 gosling " (S9d), i.e. undertake a work of supereroga- 
 tion, engage in a foolish or fruitless 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). 
 
 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, " in space cometh grace " (iia), i.e. in time a 
 condition of mind and conduct that embellishes char- 
 acter and commands favour and esteem : cf. past grace 
 = devoid of shame.
 
 CROMWELL SEED] Notc-Book and Word-List 151 
 
 Graft, " then graft we a green graft on a rotten root " 
 (45«)- 
 
 Grass, " while the grass groweth the horse starveth " 
 (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." — Shakspeare, Hamlet 
 (1596), iii. 2. 
 
 Grateth, " where this . . . gravely grateth " (fcb), 
 touches, concerns, disturbs. " Grating so harshly all 
 his days of quiet." — Shakspeare, Hamlet (1596), iii. i. 
 
 Grease, " she fryeth in her own grease " (44<i), 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. 
 
 Greedy, " they be both greedy guts all given to get " 
 i39'^)y gluttons. " Edace, an eater, a devourer, a 
 greedigut." — Florio, Worldc of Wordes (1598). 
 
 Greeves, " 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). 
 
 Groaning, " a groaning hor.=e and a groaning wife 
 never fail their master " (6oc), groanmg-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. 
 
 (6) " not worth a groat " (33d, 386), a small stand- 
 ard of value; grey ^^•oa^ = 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 =
 
 152 Note-Book and Word-List [grouni> 
 
 worried, vexed ; gromwell seed being anciently ad- 
 ministered for the cure of gravel. 
 
 Ground, " these lovers . . . think the ground bear thr-m 
 not" (25c), i.e. in modern phrase, are "up in the 
 skies," have neither eyes nor ears for aught than 
 their mutual endearments. 
 
 Guest, (a) " an imbidden guest knoweth not where to 
 sit" (216). 
 
 (/)) " 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. " 
 
 Gyles, " dread of such gyles " (4<Sc), guiles, deceits. 
 " Many on trowyn on here wylys. And many tymes 
 the pye hem gylys." — MS. Harl. (1701), f. 3. 
 
 Hab or nab {<)b), have or have not, without order, by 
 fair means or foul. 
 
 Hackney-men (406), originally proprietors of horses let 
 for hire: hackney = 0. 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, {a) " had I wist " (6c), had 1 known : a very 
 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, in 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., 
 •'• 57-
 
 hall] Note-Book and Word-List 153 
 
 {b) " who had that he hath not would do that he 
 doeth not " (o5(/). 
 
 Haddock, (o) " not worth a haddock " (991/), of small 
 value: cf. " as witty as a haddock " = downright fool- 
 ish {Hickscorncr [c. 1550J, E.E.D.S., Anou. Plays, 
 Ser. I, i53i>). 
 
 (b) " thus had he brought haddock to paddock " 
 (ggd), outrun the constable: liciddock = cod = purse 
 (" the tish 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, (u) " make his hair grow through his hood " 
 (bbb), i.e. 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), ll'orks (E.E.D..S.), y^b. " French hood, 
 French hood, I will make your hair grow thorough." 
 — Middleton, .hiytliiiig for a Quiet Life (1662). 
 
 (6) " long hair and short wit"" (82t/). " Hair! 'tis 
 the basest stubble ; in scorn of it The proverb sprung, 
 — He has more hair than wit." — Decker, Satiroiuastix 
 (1002). " 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 " (jSi/j. 
 
 Half, (a) " this half sheweth what the whole meaneth " 
 
 {b) " that's just if the half shall judge the whole " 
 
 (50a)- 
 
 (c) " half warned, half armed " {~~a), the modern 
 version is "forewarned, forearmed." 
 
 Hall, " it is merry in hall when beards wag all " (jgtf), 
 an extremely popular saying in olden times. " '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. — Wife, the meaning hereof 
 differeth not two pins, Between wagging of men's 
 beards and women's chins." — Hevwood. Works
 
 154 Note-Book and Word-List [halfpenny 
 
 (E.E.D.S.), ii. 167^. " Be merry, be merry, my wife 
 
 has all. For women are shrews, both short and tall, 
 
 'Tis merry in hall when beards wag all." — Shak- 
 
 speare, 2 Henry IV. (1598), v. 3. 
 
 Halfpenny, see Hand. 
 
 Halves, " as for that, reason runneth to halves — As 
 well for the cow calf as for the bull " (62a), see 
 Cow-calf. 
 
 Halter, " thy taking of thine halter in thine arms 
 teacheth other to beware of their harms by thine " 
 (42b). 
 
 Hand, (a) " so hard is your hand set on your half- 
 penny " (14c), eye on main chance, attention riveted 
 on self-interest. " Ri. Dromio, looke heere, now is 
 my hand on my half-peny. Half. 'I'hou liest, thou 
 hast not a farthing to lay thy hands on." — Lyly, 
 Mother Boinbie (1594). 
 
 (b) " by 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 work " {66b). " The 
 werke is the soner done that hathe many handes : 
 Many handys make light werke : my leve child." — 
 How the Goode Wif Thaiight Iiir Daughter (c. 1471), 
 
 "3- 
 
 (e) " both their hands full " (73c). 
 
 (/) " she can play on both hands " (24^), is e.\pert, 
 "wide." 
 
 Hang, (a) " he that hangeth himself a Sunday, Shall 
 hang still uncut down a Monday for me " (336). 
 
 {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. 15 18), 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).
 
 HARE] Note-Book and Word-List 155 
 
 Hanged, " he that hath an ill name is half hanged " 
 (77a), or modern, " give a dog a bad name and hang 
 him." 
 
 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. 
 
 Happy, (o) " happy man, happy dole " (gd), a generic 
 wish for success. " Wherein, happy man be his dole, 
 I trust that I Shall not speede worst, and that very 
 quickly." — Edwards, Damon and Pith., O. PI. (Reed), 
 i. 177. 
 (b) " better be happy then wise " (75c). 
 
 Hardly, " hardly if ye can " (59c), boldly, certainly. 
 " And hardly, aungel, trust therto. For doughtles it 
 shal be do."— .1/S. Coll. Trin. Diibl. D. iv. 18. 
 
 Hare, (a) " there goeth the hare away " (13a), i.e. 
 " 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 (1510). 
 
 (b) " to hold with the hare and run with the 
 hounds " (24a), play a double game, keep on good 
 terms with two contending parties. 
 
 (c) " mad as a March hare " {73a), 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."— Bloivbol's Test 
 (14 — ?). "As mery as a Marche hare." — Skelton, 
 Magn. (1526), 930. " I saye, thou madde Marche 
 hare." — Skelton, Reply cation Against Certayiie 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 jormA 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."
 
 156 Note-Book and Word-List [harm 
 
 — Simon Smel-knavc, Fearcjiill and Lamentable 
 Effects of Two Dangerous Comets (1591). 
 
 (f) " set the hare's head against the goose jiblet " 
 (64H). " 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 wooed thou knowest not who doth 
 thee harm, who doth thee good " (86c). 
 
 (c) " it is good to beware bv other men's harms " 
 {42b). 
 
 Harp, (a) " ye harp on the string that giveth no 
 melody " (Ojti), dwell persistently : see infra. 
 
 (b) " harp no more on that string " {g6d), see 
 supra. 
 
 Harpers, " have among you blind harpers " (79b), 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 yon 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, Roy all Slave (165 1). 
 
 Harvest, " a long harvest for a little corn " (46c). 
 
 Haste, (a) " haste maketh waste " (6oc). 
 
 (b) " the more haste the less speed " (7a). 
 
 (c) " in more haste than good speed " (20^). 
 
 (d) " no haste but good " (97c). 
 
 (e) " then seeth he haste and wisdom things far 
 odd " (7a). 
 
 Hasty, " the hasty man never wanteth woe " (76). 
 " 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- 
 zvard Hoe (1605), v. i. 
 
 Hat, " mine old hat must have a new band " (52^). 
 
 Hatchet, " I have hanged up my hatchet " (336).
 
 HEALING] Note-Book and Word-List 157 
 
 Hath been, " yc know what he hath been ... ye know 
 not what he is " (^~d). 
 
 Haut, " men haut or high " (8id), /(a!(i = proud. " No 
 lord of thine, thou haught insulting man." — Shak- 
 speare, Richard II. (1597), iv. i. 
 
 Hawk, (a) " she hath one point of a good hawk, she is 
 hardy " {6^b), bold, stubborn. 
 
 (b) " he hath his hawks in the mew, but With 
 I'mpty hands men may no hawks allure " (66b), 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 " (jib), on the hip, " in chancery." 
 
 {b) " break my head and then give me a plaster " 
 
 (95b). 
 
 (c) " a scabbed head is soon broken " (60b). 
 
 (d) " my aching head to ease I will couch a hogs- 
 head " (58b), see Couch. 
 
 (e) " when the head acheth, all the body is the 
 worse " (85^). 
 
 (/) " their heads full of bees " (47^), projects : 
 usually denotive, however, of crazy crotchets. 
 
 (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). " Quot 
 homines tot sentential " (Terence). " For amonge 
 feaders are alwayes sondry appetytes, and in great 
 assemblyes of people, dyvurse, and varyaunt judge- 
 ments ; as the saynge is, so many heades, so many 
 wyttes." — Queen Elizabeth, Godly Mcdiiacyon of ihe 
 Christen Soivie (1548). " Ah, sirha, I see wel 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 " (23d). 
 
 Healing, " it is ill healing of an old sore " (87c).
 
 158 Note-Book and Word- List health 
 
 Healt!i, " vc may write to your friends that yc are in 
 
 health " (62^). 
 Hear, (a) " a man should hear all parts, ere he judge 
 
 anv " (49^)- 
 
 (b) " I cannot hear on that side " {Eptgratns), an 
 excuse for wilful deafness. 
 
 Heart, {a) " to set at mv heart that thou settest at thy 
 heel'" (346). 
 
 (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 (92) 
 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. 
 
 (c) " your heart is in your hose " (36^), a simile of 
 fear or trepidation : modern, " heart in mouth " or 
 "shoes." "Be your hearts in your hose?" — 
 Thcrsites, Anon. PL, Ser. i (E.E.D.S.), 208a. 
 
 Heaven, (a) " she made us cheer heaven high " {6or), 
 heartily, " sky-high," " raise the roof." 
 (b) see Hell. 
 
 Hedge, " where the hedge is lowest, men may soonest 
 over " (68d). " Where hedge is lovve, there every man 
 treads downe, And friendship failes, when Fortune list 
 to frowne." — Gascoigne, Posies (1575). 
 
 Heed. " take heed is a fair thing " (88c). 
 
 Heels, " show (or take to) a fair pair of heels " (786), 
 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- 
 
 Heinsby (38a), upstart, " nouveau riche " ; a generic 
 reproach of any person in an inferior grade of society, 
 or of low origin : cf. rudesby = im impertinent. 
 
 Hek.st, " when bale is hekst, boot is next " (46c), 
 things when at their worst begin to mend. " When 
 bale is greatest, then is bote a nie bore." — Chaucer, 
 Testament of Love. " When the bale is hest, Thenne
 
 ho] Note-Book and Word-List 159 
 
 is the bote nest, Quoth Hendyng." — Proverbs of 
 Hendyng, MS. (c. 1320). 
 
 Hen, " 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 of feathers ; 
 (b) 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). " 1 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). 
 
 Hept, " this hall hept with gold " (36a), heaped. 
 
 Hereafter, " though hereafter come not yet " (82a). 
 
 Hew, " hew not too high lest the chips fall in thine 
 eye " (820). " For an old proverbe it is ledged ' he 
 that heweth to hie, with chips he may lose his sight.' " 
 — Chaucer, Testament of Love. 
 
 High, (a) " not too high for the pie, nor too low for 
 the crow " (82a). 
 
 (b) see Hew. 
 
 (c) " her heart is full high when her eye is fuU 
 low " (28a). 
 
 Hilt, " I will be as soon hilt " (44c), probably 
 = cudgelled : /n7< = cudgel. 
 
 Hip, " then have ye him on the hip or on the hurdle " 
 (71&), at an advantage : probably from hunting 
 (\ares) ; 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 ! " (3qci), originally a call 
 or exclamation ; hence a stop or limit, and whence 
 many idioms — out of all lio = oul of all bounds; no ho
 
 l6o Note-Book and Word-List [hog 
 
 with ]iiin = 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. 
 
 Hog, (a) " routing like a hog " (30a), rout = snore. 
 " Hark, my pygg, how the knave dooth rowte ! Well, 
 whyle he sleepth in Idlenes lappe, Idlenes marke on 
 liym shall 1 cappe." — Wit and Science (E.E.D.S., 
 Anon. PL, Ser. 4). 
 
 (b) " every man basteth the fat hog, but the lean 
 shall burn ere he basted be " (46a). 
 
 (c) " cast precious stones before hogs " (93a), a 
 variant of " to cast pearls before swine." 
 
 Hold, (a) " hold fast when ye have it " (29c), " sit 
 tight," " freeze to." 
 
 (b) " 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). 
 
 HoLYDAY, (a) " this geare was gotten on a holyday " 
 i75d). 
 
 (b) " he laid up for holydays " (looc). 
 
 Home, (a) " home is homely though it be poor " (lib), 
 (b) " thou gossipest at home, to meet me at land's 
 end " (83a). 
 
 Honesty, " the flower of honesty " (28^), cf. " flower 
 of chivalry," " flower of the flock," &c. 
 
 Honey, " where words seemed honey . . . now are 
 they mustard " (54^). 
 
 Hood, " by my hood " (i02d), formerly, as now, the 
 commonest as well as the most sacred thin<^s were 
 convenient pegs upon which to hang a " cussword." 
 
 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 by 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 hooko or by crooke, Prynted for to be." — 
 Skelton, Colin Clout (1520). " r")vnmuro Wood was
 
 horse] Note-Book and Word-List i6r 
 
 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). 
 
 H0P-0N-.MV-THUMB, "it is a small hop on my thumb " 
 (31b), a small, insignificant person : in derision. 
 " Plain friend hop o' my thumb, know you who we 
 are? " — .Shakspcare, Taming of the Shreiv (1593). 
 
 HOPPETH, " when wooers hop in and out, long time 
 may bring him that hoppeth best, at last to have 
 the ring " (ga). 
 
 Horn wood (99c), i.e. horn-mad, stark staring mad 
 because cuckolded ; see Wood. " Sure my mistress is 
 horn-mad." — Shakspeare, Comedy of Errors (1593), 
 ii. I. 
 
 Horse, (a) " rub a galled horse on the back and he 
 will kick " (Epigrams), see next entry. 
 
 (b) " I rub the galled horse back' till he winch " 
 (84c), wmc/j = 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 scab'd horse for a scald 
 squire.'"— New Custom, Anon. PL, .Ser. i (E.E.D.S.), 
 174^. 
 
 (d) " a short horse is soon curried " (23&). 
 
 (e) " a man may well lead a horse to the water, but 
 he cannot make him drink " (33(1). 
 
 (/) " it be a good horse that never stumbleth " (20a). 
 " 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 upon " (qid). " 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, Endiiiiion (1591). 
 
 (h) " it is . . . a proud horse that will not bear 
 his own provender " (98^). " Sir, hco's a proud horse 
 that will not carry his own provander, I warrant yee. " 
 — Porter, T-mo Angry Women of Abingdon (1599). 
 HEY. PROV. M
 
 i62 Note-Book and Word-List [horse loavhs 
 
 («') " recover the horse, or lose the saddle too " 
 
 (95")- 
 
 (j) " no man ought to look a given horse in the 
 mouth " (i^f). " A gyven hors may not be loked in 
 the tethc." — Viilgaria Statubrigi (c. 1510). "It is 
 certainly as old as Jerome, a Latin father of the fourth 
 centurv ; 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. 
 
 (fc) " as shortly as a horse will lick his ear " (93d). 
 
 (/) " it would have made a horse break his halter " 
 {53d). 
 
 (m) " God have mercy, horse " (ySc), i.e. God help 
 us; according to Tarlton's Jests (1611), this arose from 
 an adventure of Richard Tarleton, the player, with 
 Banks's performing horse, Morocco, the phrase being 
 a retoit that tickled the ears of the assembled crowd 
 and " caught on." 
 
 (»j) " the grey maro is the better horse " {6:\a), the 
 wife is master : a tradition, perhaps, of the time when 
 priests were forbidden to carry arms or ride on a 
 male horse : Non eniin licucrate ponttficcm sacroruin 
 vel ar)iia ferre, vel praeter qiiaw in eqntid cqiiitare. — 
 Beda, Hist. Eccl. ii. 13. Fr. Mariage d'epervier = a 
 hawk's marriage ; the female hawk being the larger 
 and stronger bird. Lord Macaulay's e.xplanation (pre- 
 ference given to the grey mares of Flanders over the 
 finest coach horses of England) is the merest guess- 
 i\ork. " What ! shall the grave mayre be the better 
 horse, And the wanton styll at home? " — Pryde and 
 Abuse of Women Nozv a Daycs (c. 1550). 
 
 (o) " evermore the common horse is worst shod " 
 (^2(7), cfa " the shoemaker's wife is worst shod." 
 
 (/>) " folk call on the horse that will carry alway " 
 (42a), in modern phrase, " the willing horse is always 
 most ridden." 
 
 (q) " 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." — 
 Jonson, Every Man in his Humour (1596), ii. i. 
 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
 
 hunger] Note-Book and Word-List 163 
 
 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 plu.m, " purple ruddy like a horse plum " (24c), 
 horse, a generic qualificative = coarse, large. 
 
 Hose, " your heart is in your hose " (36^), see Heart. 
 " Primus Pastor, Breck outt youre voce, let 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 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," see Iron. 
 
 (c) "little pot soon hot," see Pot. 
 
 House, " a man may love his house well though he 
 ride not on the ridge " (6ia). 
 
 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. 
 
 Hundred, " what ye won in the hundred ye lose in tiie 
 shire " (926), hiindred = a division of a county in 
 England, supposed to be named from originally con- 
 taining one hundred families of freemen. 
 
 Hunger, (a) " hunger droppeth over out of both their 
 noses " (39^). 
 
 (b) " hunger piorceth 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- 
 laiius (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 " (34d). 
 
 M 2
 
 164 Note-Book and Word-List [hunter 
 
 (e) " two hungry meals made the third a glutton " 
 
 Hunter, " close hunting the good hunter alloweth " 
 (72a). 
 
 Husbands, " husbands are in heaven whose wives scold 
 not " (8sc). 
 
 Huswife (250), 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." — Gaivain 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 vou whipped for slandering me."— 
 Look About You (1600), sc. 28 (Dodsley, Old Plays, 
 4th ed., 1875, vii. 476). 
 
 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." 
 
 (b) " of two ills choose the least " (i2d). " Of 
 harmes two the lesse is for to cheese." — Chaucer, 
 Troiliis and Creseide. 
 
 (c) " turn ... ill beginning to a good end " (89c). 
 
 (d) " ill believed and worse heard " (91b). 
 
 (e) " they that think none ill are soonest beguiled " 
 
 (73^)- 
 
 (/) " all be not a-bed that shall have ill rest " (86d). 
 
 (g) " an ill wind that bloweth no man to good " 
 (03c). 
 Importable, " may grow importable " (82??), unendur- 
 able, insupportable. " Beware of the importable bur- 
 dens of the high-mynded pharisees. " — Bale. English 
 ]'otaries, pt. i. 
 
 In, " in by the week " (84??), see Week.
 
 JACK] Note-Book and Word-List 165 
 
 Inch, (a) "as good is an inch as an ell" {gsc),eH = 
 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 " (Epigrams). 
 
 Ink. " ink is all black and hath an ill smack. No man 
 will it drink or eat " (63a). 
 
 Inn, " to take mine ease in mine inn " (i2d), to 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. 
 
 Instep, " high in th 'instep " (37^), haughty, proud. 
 " The gentleman was grown higher in the instep, as 
 appeared by the insolent conditions he required." — 
 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 " (8c), act at the 
 appropriate time. " Right so as while that iron is 
 hot, men should strike." — Chaucer, Mclib. (c. 1386), 
 70. 
 
 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). 
 
 IvvYS (passim), certainly, indeed, truly: often no more 
 than a metrical tag. 
 
 Jack, (a) " jack out of office " (58^), one dismissed or 
 out of employment. " For liberalitie is tourned Jacke 
 out of office, and others appointed to have the custo- 
 die." — -Rich, Farewell to Militarie Profession (1581). 
 
 (b) " all shall be well. Jack shall have Gill " (58^), 
 Jack and Gill are generic for " man " and " woman " : 
 specifically of the common people. " For Jok nor for 
 Gyll will I turne my face." — Toivulcy Myst. (c. 1460), 
 iii. 336. 
 
 (c) " I have been common Jack to all that whole 
 flock " (41''). in disparagement; i.e. at everyone's beck
 
 i66 Note-Book and Word-List [jerman 
 
 and call : cf. " a tvvangling jack " (Taming of the 
 Shrew), and " silken, sly, insinuating jacks " 
 (Richard III.). 
 
 Jerman, "just as Jerman 's lips" (566). "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 lippes." — Gosson, 
 Schole of Ahxise. 
 
 Jesting, " it is ill jesting on the sooth " (88a), i.e. true 
 jesting is no jest at all : 50ot/i = truth. 
 
 Jet, suhs. 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, I'lvelftli NigJit (1602), ii. 5. 
 
 Joan (or Jone), " ye should have none for Jone " (96c), 
 Joan — a generic name for a female rustic. " Some 
 men must love my lady, and some Joan." — Shak- 
 speare, Love's Labour Lost (1588), iii. i. 207. 
 
 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). 
 
 Joy, (a) " for one month's joy, to bring her whole life 
 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. 
 
 Ji^DiCARE, " to know how Judicare came into the 
 Creed " (206). 
 
 Ka, " ka me, ka thee " (4if), a phrase implying mutual 
 help, service, flattery and the like. " To keep this 
 rule, kaw me and I kaw thee." — Lodge, Fig for 
 .Momus (1595), Sat. i. 
 
 Key, (a) " cold as a key " (54?^, as cold as may be, 
 spec, cold as in death: usually "key-cold." "With 
 quaikard voce and hart cald as a key." — Douglas,
 
 KNAVE] Note-Book and Word-List 167 
 
 Pal. Hon. (1501), 674. " Poor key-cold figure of a 
 holy king."— Shakspeare, Richard HI. (1597), i- 2. 
 (b) " the keys hang not all by one man's girdle " 
 
 (37a)- 
 Kid, " a piece of a kid is worth two of a cat " (Soa). 
 
 Kind, " kind will creep where it may not go " (33c), 
 /emd = human nature, kinship. " He . . . rode in 
 poste to his kynsman . . . verefiying the old pro- 
 verbe : kvnne will crepe, where it male not go." — 
 Hall, Cliron. (c. 1548), Ediv. IV., 190. "Ay, gentle 
 Thurio; for you know that love Will creep in service 
 when it cannot go." — Shakspeare, Two Gcntleiiicu of 
 Verona (1595), iv. 2. 
 
 Kinsfolk, " many kinsfolk, few friends " (45^). 
 
 KiRTLE, " though nigh be my kirtlo yet near is my 
 smock" (28d), fc«>»e = 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 lessc practised then common, which is. Nearer 
 unto mee is my shirt then my coate ; by following of 
 which, everv man commonly loveth his owne jirofit 
 more than others." — The Contention betwecne Three 
 Brethren; the Whore-monger, tlie Drunkard, and the 
 Dice Player (1608). 
 
 Kiss, (a) " many kiss the child for the nurse's sake " 
 (84rf). 
 
 (b) " how can she give a kiss, sour or sweet? Her 
 chin and her nose within half an inch meet " (53a). 
 
 Knacks, " such knacks in her bougct " (75&), see 
 Bouget. 
 
 Knave, (a) " two false knaves need no broker " (35(^), 
 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." — .1 Sword against .Swearers (i6ii).
 
 1 08 Note-Book and Word-List [knowledge 
 
 (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 " {Epigrams), see 
 supra. 
 
 (d) " the one knave now croucheth while the Other 
 craveth " (36a). 
 
 (e) " it is merry when 1-cnaves meet " (35^)- " No 
 more of Cocke now I wryte, But mery it is when 
 knaves done mete." — Cocke Lorellcs 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 " (36«). 
 
 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). 
 
 Knucklebonyard, "he is a knucklebonyard " (40b), a 
 clumsy fellow. " A knokylbonyarde wyll counterfete 
 a Clarke, He wolde trotte gentvllv, but he is to 
 stark." — Skelton, Magn. (1526), 48,^.' ' 
 
 Lap.our, "ye shall never labour younger" (21c), be- 
 come, grow: cf. to labour on — to go on. 
 
 Labouretii, " reason laboureth will " (136), cultivates. 
 
 Lack, (a) " lack is the loss of these two young fools " 
 
 (b) " no lack to lack a wife " (1030). 
 
 (c) " ye had been lost to lack your lust " (32c), 
 ZMst = wish, desire. 
 
 Lady, " there is nothing that agree'th worse than n 
 lady's heart and a beggar's purse " (276). 
 
 Lamb, " look like a lamb " (91c). 
 
 Lambskin, (a) " as soon goeth the young lamb's skin to 
 the market as the old ewe's " (60c). " It is a com- 
 mon saying, there do come as manv skins of calves
 
 i.AVj Note-Book and Word-List 169 
 
 to the market as there do of bulls or kinc." — Barclay, 
 Ship of Fools (1509). 
 
 (b) " a lambskin ... to lap her in " (76c), i.e. 
 beat, trounce her: lamb shin = stroke, blow; lap = 
 coil, wind round, wrap up (cf. " The Wife Lapped in 
 Mowelles 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. AslinioL, 208. 
 
 Lap, see Lambskin (b). 
 
 L.\RUM (786), hubbub, uproar. " Then the crye and 
 larum began." — Berners, Hiion (c. 1533), cxxix. 472. 
 
 Last, " he that cometh last make all fast " (Epigrams). 
 
 L./VTE, (a) " better late than never " {26b). " Far bet 
 than never is late." — Chaucer, Can. Veom. Prol. and 
 T. (c. 1386), S57. Also in Tusser's Five Hundred 
 Points of Good Husbandry. 
 
 (b) " too late . . . this repentance shewed is " 
 {26b). 
 
 Laugh, " they laugh that win " (lod and Epigrams), 
 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 Pcuilessc (1592). "Let 
 them laugh that win the prize." — May, Heir (1622), 
 iii. I. 
 
 Laugiiikg, " from laughing to lowering " (54c). 
 
 Laughter, " better is the last smile then the first 
 laughter " (q^d), see Laugh. 
 
 Lawn, " he that will sell lawn before he can fold it, he 
 shall repent him before he have sold it " (lo^)- 
 Another " lawn " proverb says, " No piece of lawn so 
 pure but hath some fret " (Barnefield, Pecunia, 1508, 
 xxxvi.). 
 
 Lay, (a) " reason for reason ye so stiffly lav by proverb 
 for proverb " (i^d), compare with " They conferre 
 the one with the other, and lay them with the lawe." 
 — Tr. BuUinger's Decades (1577), 11. viii. 192. 
 
 (6) " the trial thereof we will lay a water till we
 
 17° Note-Book and Word-List [lkak 
 
 try mcirc " (io<i), put aside, defer judgment concern- 
 ing, render nugatory : sec Water. " If he had broke 
 his arme . . . either Apollo must have played Bone- 
 setter, or every occupation beene laide a water." — 
 Gosson, Schoolc of Abuse (1579). 
 
 Leaf, " she will turn the leaf " (64b), adopt a different 
 line of conduct : now, always in a good sense. " He 
 must turn the leaf and take out a new lesson." — 
 Holinshed, Citron. (1577), i. 21 2. 
 
 Lean, " lean is light " (25fi). 
 
 LiCAP, " look ere ye leap " (7c). " He that leaps before 
 he look . . . may lero in the mire." — Marr. Wit and 
 Science (c. 1570), Anon. Plays (E.E.D.S.), Ser. 4. 
 
 !.i:atiier, " they cut large thongs of other men's 
 leather " {66b), 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'cst li Mariagcs 
 des Filles au Dyable, MS. (c. 1300). 
 
 Li;ave, (a) " leave it or it leave you " (Epigrams). 
 
 (b) " 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. 
 
 LiXTOUR, " a wise lectour " (84a), a college or university 
 " reader " or lecturer. 
 
 Li.G, (a) " while the leg maimeth the boot harmeth " 
 (56«). 
 
 (b) " a leg of a lark is better than is the body of a 
 Icite " (11^). " Gyrtrudc. 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 houshold, when folks will 
 need wed, more 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 
 >gs in a bed : and he tiiat is too prodigal in spend-
 
 lion] Note- Book and Word-List 171 
 
 ing, shall die a beggar b)' the statute." — Fennilesse 
 Parliament of Threadbare Poets (1608). 
 
 Leman, " as tender as a parson's leman " (26c), mis- 
 tress, concubine : also a gallant or lover. " They 
 t'ounde greater gaines by priestes lemmans then they 
 were like to haue bv priestes wives." — T. Wilson, 
 Rhet. (1553), 28b. 
 
 Length, " yourself to length it taketh direct trade " 
 (14c), prolong, lengthen, spin out. " Thought must 
 length it." — Daniel, Zeihys Fcstiv. (1610), F. ^b. 
 
 Lese (24c, 396, 51b, 67c, et passim), lose. 
 
 Less, " who will do loss than thev that may do most " 
 
 (39^)- 
 Lies, " lies laid on by load " (ySd). 
 
 Life, " what is life where living is extinct clear? " 
 
 (90c). 
 Light, (a) " light come, light go " (93^). " Wyte thou 
 
 wele it schall be so, That lyghtly cum schall lyghtly 
 
 go." — Debate of the Carpenter's Tools. 
 
 [b) " light gains make heavy purses " (37b). 
 
 (c) " ye stand in your own light " (62c), injure your 
 own interests. " 'lake counsel and do not stand in 
 your own light." — Jonson, Talc of a Tub (1633), ii. i. 
 
 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 (26(), given to pilfering. " They are 
 light-footed and lime-fingered."- — Purchas, Pilgrimage 
 (1613), VIII. iv. 029. 
 
 Line, (a) " as right as a line " {33d), in a direct course, 
 straightforwardly, immediately : also line-right. 
 " Streyt as lyne he com." — Chaucer, Troilus (c. 1374), 
 II. 1412 (1461). 
 
 (6) " we drew both in one line " (8ob), were unani- 
 mous, in complete accord. " The Senat thus drawing 
 all in a line." — Holland, Livy (1600), xi.ii. xxi. 1127. 
 
 Lion, " as fierce as a lion of Cotsolde " (44fi), a sheep : 
 cf. Essex (or Rittnford) lioii = a calf. " Carlus is as
 
 172 Note-Book and Word-List [lips 
 
 furious as a lyon of Cotsold." — Davies, Epigrams 
 (1596). " You stale old ruftian, you lion of Cots- 
 olde. "—StV John Oldcastlc. 
 
 Lips, (a) " such lips, such lettice " (Sod), see Like. 
 
 {h) " your lips hang in your light " (62b), i.e. hang- 
 ing your lips in vexation is against your interests. 
 
 List, " which we list " (Sa), like, wish, desire. 
 
 Listening, " I have learned in listening " (43&), cf. 
 " listeners hear no good of themselves." 
 
 LiTHER, " too lithrr " (48a ; also 73c), bad, rascally 
 inclined. 
 
 Litter, " the litter is like to the sire and the dam " 
 (33c), see Like. 
 
 Logic, " she choppeth logic " (64b), argues a point, is 
 contentious, answers sharply. " If he heare you thus 
 play choploge. " — Udall, Roister Doister (E.E.D.S.), 
 iii. 2. 
 
 Long, " long be thy legs and short be thy life " (82tfl. 
 
 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 a Shretv (1596), 
 iv. 4. 6. 
 
 Look, (a) " look ere thou leap " (7c), see Leap. 
 
 (b) " look as ye list " (911), /isf^like, wish, desire. 
 
 Lord, (a) " there is no good accord where every man 
 would be a lord " (74^). 
 
 (h) " there is nothing in this world that agreeth 
 worse than doth a lord's heart and a beggar's purse " 
 (Epignutis), see Lady. 
 
 LoRNE, " the corn is lorne " (27^), injured, ruined, 
 spoilt. 
 
 Lose, " lose both living and love of all their kin " 
 
 Losers, " let the losers have their words " (~6b). 
 
 Lost, (a) " as good lost as found " (28a). 
 
 (b) " it is lost that is unsought " (38c). 
 
 (c) " like one half lost till grecdv grasping got it " 
 (97'0.
 
 malkin] Note-Book and Word-List 173 
 
 LoTHE, " the lothe stake " (bod), ugly, rough, mis- 
 shapen. 
 
 Love, (a) " in love is no lack " (lod). 
 
 (b) " love me, love my dog " (93a), a proverb in 
 the time of Saint Bernard. " Cudora. Love me? — 
 love my dog ! Tharsalis. I am bound to that by the 
 proverb, madam." — Chapman, Widozv's Tears (1612). 
 
 (c) " love me little, love me long " (S7&). " Bella- 
 inira. 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 " 
 
 (250- 
 
 (h) " what need we lump out love at once lashing " 
 (57«)- 
 LovEDAY, " break a loveday " (6gb), an agreement for 
 the amicable settlement of a dispute. " He is more 
 redy to make a fraye than a loue day." — Herman, 
 Vulg. (1519), vii. 66 b. 
 
 Mackabroine, " such a mackabroine " (74f), old hag : 
 from Fr. machabree ; Murray marlcs it "rare," and 
 gives only the present instance. 
 
 Maister, " maister promotion saieth " (ijc), master. 
 
 Maistry, " use maketh maistry " (55^), gives power, 
 skill, the knowledge and experience which constitutes 
 a master. 
 
 Make, (a) " make or mar I will " (Epigrams). 
 
 (b) "how fiek and his make" (70a), nzafee = com- 
 panion. " This is no season To seek new makes in." 
 — Jonson, Tale of a Tub (1633), i. i. 
 
 Makebate (24a), breeder of strife. " Such a malicious 
 makebate." — More, Stippl. Soiilys (1529), Wks., 296. 2. 
 
 Malkin, " more maids but Malkin " (32c), Malkin 
 ( = Mary) is generic for a woman of low birth, countrv 
 wench, servant : frequently used proverbially to signify
 
 174 Note- Book and Word-List [malt 
 
 drab, wanton. " There are more houses then Parishe 
 Churches, more maydes than Maulkin." — Gosson, 
 Sell, 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 Play. 
 
 March hare, " as mad as a March hare " (73a), see 
 Hare. 
 
 Mare, (a) " my old mare would have a new crupper " 
 
 (/>) " 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); rj]0«7 = mule 
 (also contemptuously of a trull, for the sake of the 
 rhyme). 
 
 Market, " the marl-cet goeth by the market men " (38a), 
 i.e. prices, rate of purchase and sale. 
 
 Marks, " yet have ye other marks to rove at hand " 
 (37(7), rove = to shoot at. 
 
 Marrlage, " a goodly marriage she is . . . were the 
 woman away " (52^), 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 " (i8c), in slightly 
 different guise still proverbial. 
 
 Marybones, " on your mary bones crouch to the ground " 
 (22a), the knees. " Down he fel vpon his maribones." 
 — More, Confut. Tindale (1532), IVks., 727/2. 
 
 Mastery, see Maistry. 
 
 Matins, "if it be morn we have a pair of matins " 
 (78«). 
 
 Maugre, " maugre her head " (48a), in spite of : Fr., 
 tnalgre.
 
 mekchantJ Note-Book and Word-List 175 
 
 May, (a) '' that one may not another may " (55<i). 
 
 (b) " he that will not when he may, when he would 
 he shall have nay " (8a), also in Burton, McJanch. 
 (1621). 
 
 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 " (82(1), 
 moderation " Magn. Yet mesure is a mery mene. 
 Fan. Yea, syr, a blannched almonde is no bene, 
 Measure is mete for a marchauntes hall." — Magnyfy- 
 cencc {c. 1520). "There is measure in everything." 
 — Shakspeare, Much Ado (1600), ii. i. 
 
 {b) " thou fearest false measures " {Epigrams). 
 
 Meat, (a) " look not on the meat but look on the man " 
 
 (62a). 
 
 (b) " that one loveth not, another doth, which hath 
 
 sped All meats to be eaten and all maids to be wed " 
 
 (55^)- 
 Meddling, " of little meddling cometh great rest " 
 
 (57^). " Crete reste stande in lytell besynesse. Beware 
 
 also to sporne against a wall." — Lydgate, Proverbcs. 
 
 Meet-mate (42c), helpmate : cf. mee/-/!c//) = help-meet, a 
 wife. " In my discoveries of him and his meet-help." 
 — Spratt, Relation of Young's Contrivance. 
 
 Melancholy, " turn melancholy to mirth " (884). 
 
 Mend, (a) " if every man mend one, all shall be 
 
 mended " (Epigrams), many hands make light work. 
 (b) " I will mend this house and pair another " 
 
 (88d), pair = impair, neglect. " He bulde newe citces 
 
 and amended citees pat were i-peyred." — Trevi^a, 
 
 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, 1626. 
 
 [b) " a merchant without either money or ware " 
 (66c).
 
 176 Note-Book and Word-List [mekry 
 
 Merrier, " the more the merrier " (791:). " 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, 
 When two be mette that bankette with a leche." — 
 Gaiscoigne, Posies (1575). 
 
 Merry, (a) " good to be merry and wise " {6d). " 1 
 . . . 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 " (31b) — " merry as a pie " 
 (60a). " By the Lord of Ludgate, my Liege, I'll be as 
 merrie as a Pic." — Decker, Sliomakers Holiday (i6oo). 
 
 (c) "it is merry in hall when beards wag all " 
 (79d), see Hall. " Swithe mury hit is in halle When 
 burdes wawen alle. " — Life of Alexander (13 12). 
 " 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. 
 
 Mess, " to keep yet one mess ... in store " (Sgb), 
 " put by something for a rainy day." 
 
 Messenger, " to come . . . before the messenger " 
 (31c), to be " previous," be one's own postman. 
 
 Meve (15c, 5gb, 84(i, ct passim), move. 
 
 Mew, " hawks in the mew " (666), properly a cage for 
 hawks : figuratively a place where anything is in 
 keeping. 
 
 Might, " might overcometh right " (69a), in modern 
 phrase, " might is right." 
 
 Milk, " milk is white, And lieth not in the dike, But 
 all men know it good meal " (62d). 
 
 Mill, " much water goeth by the mill that the miller 
 knoweth not of " (73^)- " 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 Andronicits (1593), ii. 7.
 
 MOON] Note-Book and Word-List 177 
 
 Millstone, " she had seen far in a millstone " (2^d) : 
 " to look (or see) into a millstone " = to fathom a 
 secret ; to be far or sharp sighted. " Your eies are 
 so sharp that yon 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, Euphues and his England. 
 
 MiMON (406), " a creature": here a debased sense of 
 minion = favourite ; i.e. an unworthv or unseemly 
 favourite. 
 
 MiNiSH, MiNisiiETii (ggij, 76a), diminish. " To abbridge 
 his power, and to minishe his authoritie." — Hall, 
 Henry VI. f. 81. 
 
 Mire, " lay my credence in the mire " (57d), compare 
 " to drag one's reputation through the mud." 
 
 Misery, " misery may be mother where one beggar is 
 driven to beg of another " (looa). 
 
 MisRECKONiNG, " misreclvoning is no payment " i6^d). 
 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. 
 
 Molt, " my heart for woe molt " (qia), melted : an old 
 form. 
 
 Monk, '• like a bean in a monk's hood " (76c), i.e. lost, 
 like a nonentity : hcan = a low standard of value. 
 
 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 ot Cathay." 
 
 Moon, (a) " to cast beyond the moon " (iic), to calcu- 
 late deeply ; make an extravagant conjecture ; be ambi- 
 tious ; to attempt impossibilities. "Rut oh, I talk 
 of things impossible And cast beyond the moon."^ 
 T. Hey wood, .4 Woman Kill'd zvith Kindness 
 (c. 1603). 
 IIEY. PROV. N
 
 178 Note-Book and Word-List [moonshine 
 
 (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 if^norant sort beleve that the mone is made of 
 grene chese. " — Shacklock, Hatchet of Heresies (1565). 
 
 Moonshine, " moonshine in the water " (44c), an illu- 
 sive shadow. 
 
 More, " for little more or less no debate make " (684), 
 trouble not about trifles ; seek not to enforce a differ- 
 ence between Tweedledum and Tweedledee. 
 
 Mornings, " cloudy mornings turn to clear afternoons " 
 (98c). 
 
 Moss, see Rolling stone. 
 
 Mote, " ye can see a mote in another man's eye, but 
 ye cannot see a baulk in your own " (8ic), baulk = 
 beam, rafter. 
 
 Mother, " your mother bid till ye were born " (gSa). 
 
 Mouse, (a) " as sure as a mouse tied with a thread " 
 (86c). 
 
 (b) " a mouse in time may bite in two a cable " 
 (826). 
 
 (c) " it had need to be a wily mouse that should 
 breed in the cat's ear " (7 id). 
 
 Mouth, (a) " that shall not stop my mouth " (64c), i.e. 
 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 Creiv (1641), iv. i. 
 
 (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). 
 
 Much, see Made. 
 
 Muck, " muck of the world " (44c), money. " For to 
 pinche, and for to spare, Of worlds miicke to gette 
 encres." — -Gower, Confcssio Aiiiaiitis, v.
 
 newer] Note-Book and Word- List 179 
 
 Mum, " I will say nought but mum, and mum is coun • 
 sel " {6^b), vitim = a warning to silence. 
 
 Muscles, " as handsomelv as a bear picketh muscles " 
 (66fl). 
 
 Mustard, " he will kill a man for a mess of mustard 
 (Epigrams). 
 
 Nail, (a) " one nail driveth out another " (Epigrams), 
 (b) " 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, 
 Dives and Lazarus, Lusty Juveiitus, and the Marriage 
 of Wit and Wisdom." 
 
 Nay, (a) " say nay and take it " (Epigrams) : another 
 version is, " Maids say ' No ' and mean ' Yes.' " 
 (b) " ye may mend three nays with one yea " (35^). 
 
 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, nis — is not, niH = ne will—w'iU 
 not, nadde = ne hadde = \\iX(\ not, &c. 
 
 Near, " near is my smock " (28^), nearer. " Of friends, 
 of foes, behold my foule expence. And never the 
 neere." — ^Hrror for Mag. (1559), 364. 
 
 Need, (a) " need hath no law " (25?; and Epigrams), 
 in modern phrase : " Needs must where the devil 
 drives." 
 
 (b) " need maketh the old wife trot " (99^), Fr., 
 " bcsoin fait vieille trotter " (Roman de Trubert, 
 (-. 1300). 
 
 Net, " the rough net is not the best catcher of birds " 
 (22b). 
 
 Nettle, " she had pist on a nettle " (99c), was peevish. 
 
 out of temper. 
 New man, " showing himself a new man " (89c), through 
 
 having reformed. 
 
 Newer, " newer is truer " (63a). 
 
 N 2
 
 i8o Note-Book and Word-List [nobles 
 
 Nobles, " a ba^ of . . . nobles " (97a), noble = a gold 
 coin struck by Edward III., and originally of the 
 value of 6s. Sd. In the reigns of Henry VI. and 
 l{!dward IV., the value of the noble having risen to 
 I OS., another gold coin of the same value as the original 
 noble was issued called an angel (q.'j.). Half-nobles 
 and quarter-nobles were also current. 
 
 Noon, (a) " go to bed at noon " (85a), betimes, uncon- 
 scionably early. 
 
 (h) " the longer forenoon the shorter afternoon " 
 iSob). 
 
 NopPY, " some noppy ale " (45^), usually nappy = s\rong„ 
 " heady." " Nappy liquor will lullaby thy fine 
 wittes." — New Letter (1593). 
 
 Nose, (a) " thou canst hold my nose to the grindstone " 
 {13b and Epigrams), 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 pczantes, whose lordes your auncet- 
 tors were." — Aylmer, Harborough, Sec, 1559 (Mait- 
 land on Ref., 220). " They might be ashamed, for 
 lack of courage, to suffer the Lacedcemonians 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."— TI'/7y Beguiled (1606) [Dodsley, Old Plays 
 (1874), ix. 242]. 
 
 (d) see Pepper. 
 
 NoTiiER ipassiiit), neither. 
 
 Nothing, (a) " nothing hath no savour " (20??), i.e. there 
 is no savour in want. 
 
 (h) " where as nothing is the king must lose his 
 right " (47(0. *-^- even the king can get nothing from 
 nothing. 
 
 (c) " whnre nothing is a little thing doth ease " 
 (296).
 
 o'thing] Note-Book and Word-List i8i 
 
 Nought, (a) " nought venture, nought iiave " (38c). 
 {b) " nought lay down, nought take up " (41c). 
 
 (c) " a thing of nought " (43c). 
 
 (d) " whom I made of nought " (65c) — " bring to 
 nought " (65^). 
 
 Nun, " as nice as a nun's hen " (524), 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 Mather (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, as also does Udall. " Merygreeke. But with 
 whome is he nowe so sadly roundyng yond ? Dough- 
 tie. With Nobs nicebecetur miserere fonde." — Roister 
 Doister, i. iv. 12. A somewhat exhaustive enquiry on 
 the phrase is summed up in Heywood 's Works 
 (E.E.D.S.), III. Notebook 5.7;. Nicebecetur. 
 
 Oar, " she (or he) must have an oar in every man's 
 barge " (24b), 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, Eras. Apop. (c. 1543), 
 II. 180. 
 
 Ony, " had I ony " (966), any. 
 
 Or {passim), ere, before, lest, than. 
 
 OsTE, " ye would now here oste " (34c), dwell, remain : 
 i.e. Host. 
 
 O'thing, " this o'thing " (29c), one thing : C> = numeral 
 adjective, a reduced form of 6n, oon : cf. nothing. 
 " O flessh they been, and o flessh 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, Husb. (1573), 184 (1878).
 
 i82 Note-Book and Word-List [our 
 
 Out, " out of sight, out of mind " (8d). 
 
 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 " {846), 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 yon to 
 Saffron Waldon (1596), 157. 
 
 OvERTHWART, " ovcrthwart the shins " (24c), across. 
 
 Owl, " keep corners, or hollow trees with th' owl " 
 (71c). 
 
 Own, " alwav own is own at the reckoning's end " 
 (64d). 
 
 Pad, " it will breed a pad in the straw " (63d), a lurk- 
 ing or hidden danger. " Though they make never so 
 fayre a face, yet there is a padde in the strawe." — 
 Palsgrave, &c. (1530), 595. i- 
 
 Pain, (a) " change from ill pain to worse is worth small 
 hire " (72c). 
 
 (b) " plant your own pain " {6gb). 
 
 (c) " I have wrought mine own pain " (26a). 
 
 (d) " take a pain for a pleasure all wise men can " 
 
 Pair, see Mend. 
 
 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 " (38b). 
 
 Pars vers, " tell him he's pars vers " (59c), perverse. 
 
 Parsons, " long standing and small offering maketh 
 poor parsons " (98a). 
 
 Past, " let all things past, pass " (90b), let bygones be 
 bygones ; let sleeping dogs lie.
 
 1'Hnny] Note-Book and Word-List 183 
 
 Paternoster, (a) " he may be in my paternoster . . . 
 but ... he shall never cortre in my creed " (96c). 
 " 1 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 
 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 " 
 (3gb), grumbling, muttering imprecations. " Yet wol 
 they seyn harm and grucche and murmure priuely for 
 verrav despit, whiche wordes men clepen the deueles 
 Pater noster." — Chaucer, Pars. T. (c. 1386), 434. 
 
 Patience, " let patience grow in your garden alway " 
 (44d). 
 
 Pay, see Shot. 
 
 Payment, " misreckoning is no payment " (64^). 
 
 Peas, " who hath many peas may put the more in the 
 
 pot " (I2C). 
 
 Penny, (a) " a penny for your thought " {6ih}, 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 " (92b), 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 
 ferthynge." — Maid Emlyn (c. 1520) [Hazlitt, Early 
 Pop. Poet. iv. 85]. 
 
 (c) " not one penny to bless him " (89a), very poor.
 
 184 Note-Book and Word-List [pepper 
 
 Pepper, (a) " pepper in the nose " (64c), quick at 
 offence, testy : Fr., moiiUtrde ait uez. " There are ful 
 proude-herted men paciente of tonge, And boxome as 
 of berynge to burgeys and to lordes, And to pore peple 
 liav peper in the nose." — Langland, Piers Plowman 
 (1362), XV. 107. 
 
 (6) " pepper is bhick and hath a good smack " 
 (62d). 
 
 Peter, " to rob Peter and pay Paul " (31c), to take of 
 one to give to another. The proverb pretty certainly 
 derives its origin from the fact that in the reign of 
 Edward \T. 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. VIIL) for 
 the support of the see, was translated to Norwich, 
 and with him ended the bishopric of Westminster " 
 (Haydn, Dignities). Heylin (Hist. Rcf. i. 256, 1661) 
 says that the lands at Westminster were so dilapidated 
 by Bishop 'I'hirlby 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." 
 
 PiCKTH.^NK (23(i), toady : also as verb. " There be two 
 tythes, rude and ranke, Symkyn Tytyuell and Pers 
 Pykthanke." — Skelton, Works (1513-25), ii. 60 (Dyce). 
 
 Pie, " merry as a pie " (60a). 
 
 Piece, " this maid, the piece peerless in mine eye " 
 (loc), piece i= a person, male or female: often in con- 
 tempt. " His princess say you? . . . Ay, the most 
 peerless piece." — Shaicspearc, Winter's Talc (1604), 
 
 V. I.
 
 plain] Note-Book and Word-List 1S5 
 
 Pig, ((() " a pig of mine own sow " (j^c). 
 
 (b) " to buy the pig in the poke " (97^), of a blind 
 bargain. " And in the floor, with nuse 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 " 
 
 (97d). 
 
 (d) " when the pig is proffered . . . hold up the 
 poke " (Sc), " never refuse a good bargain." " When 
 me profereth the pigge, open the poghe." — Douce MS. 
 (c. 1400), 52. 
 
 (e) "bid nie welcome, pig; I prav thee kiss me 
 (79 J). 
 
 (/) " a pig of the worse panier " (102c). 
 
 Pike, "one good lesson ... I pike" (Sc, im, 72?)), 
 mark, note, learn, pick out. 
 
 Piked, "a pretty piked matter" (44c,), pikcd = marked : 
 thus " a pretty kettle of fish." 
 
 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. 
 
 PiN'CHPEN'NY, " that benchwhistler is a pinchpenny 
 (37c), a niggard in food, dress, or money : it early 
 occurs in Occleve (14 12), De Reg. Princip. " They 
 accompt one ... a pynch penny if he be not prody- 
 gall." — Lyly, Euphties, .iiiat. of Wit (1579), 109. 
 
 Pipe, (a) " who that leaveth surety and leaneth unto 
 chance when fools pipe, by authority he mav dance " 
 (loid). 
 
 (b) " to dance after her pipe " (756). 
 
 (c) " he can ill pipe that lacketh his upper lip " 
 (94^)- 
 
 Pitchers, " small pitchers have wide ears " (05c), 
 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, " plain without pleats " (696), in the Epigrams 
 on Proverbs (201) it is thus amplified, " Ihe plain 
 fashion is best . . . plain without plates."
 
 i86 Note-Book and Word- List [play 
 
 Tlay, " as good plav for nought as work for nought " 
 (44^)- 
 
 Pleasure, (a) " who will in time present, pleasure re- 
 frain, shall in time to come more pleasure obtain 
 
 (b) " flee pleasure and pleasure will follow thee : 
 follow pleasure and then will pleasure flee " (32^). 
 
 Plenty, " plenty is no dainty " (62b). 
 
 Pompous provision, " pompous provision comcth not all 
 alway of gluttony but of pride some time " {Sid). 
 
 Post, (a) " from post to pillar 1 have been tost " (ssf), 
 hither and thither, with aimless effort or action : 
 literally, from the same ;o the same — pillar = hat. 
 coluiiuia = post. Thus in the Ayenbite of Iiiwit a 
 good man becomes a post in God's temple. " And, 
 dainty duke, whose doughty dismal fame From Dis 
 to Djedalus, from post to pillar, Is blown abroad." — - 
 Shakspeare and Fletcher, Tivo Noble Kinsmen (c. 
 1611), iii. 5. 
 
 (b) " in post pace " (sib), 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 : twitten = 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), 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. 
 
 (b) "the pot so long to the water goeth, till at the 
 last it cometh home broken " (826), i.e. the inevitable 
 must happen. " So long went the pot to the water,
 
 prick] Note-Book and Word-List 187 
 
 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 Noit est invoiliis." — Greene, 
 Never too Late (1590). 
 
 (c) " neither pot broken nor water spilt." 
 
 (d) " to see the pot both skimmed for running over 
 and also all the liquor run at rover " (996), to run at 
 rover = to have too much liberty : here = squandered, 
 dissipated. 
 
 (e) " he that coineth last to the pot is soonest 
 wroth " (996). 
 
 (/) " """y pot is whole and my water is 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 Slireiv (1593), iv. i. 
 
 Potted, " she was potted thus like a sot " (99b), ruined : 
 see Pot (a). 
 
 Poverty, " poverty parteth fellowship " (48^). 
 
 Peril, " the peril of prating out of tune bv note " 
 (68c). 
 
 Prayers, " much motion ... to prayers with . . . little 
 devotion " (96c). 
 
 Prease, " some folk in luck cannot prease " (21b, 34c), 
 press forward, hasten, "crowd in." "No humble 
 suitors prease to speak for right." — Shakspeare, 3 
 Henry VI. (1595). iii. i. 
 
 Prefe (in pi. Preves), " some case . . . showeth 
 prefe " (46 J, 2yd), proof. 
 
 Prick, (a) " folly it is to spurn against a prick " (686), 
 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 seene nor hard 
 tell on yet amonges men." — Ascham, Toxoph. (1544), 
 123.
 
 1 88 Note-Book and Word-List [pride 
 
 Pride, (a) " pride will have a fall " (27a). 
 
 (b) " pride goeth before and shaine cometh after " 
 {2~b). " Pryde gothe before and shame cometh be- 
 hynde . . . We may wayle the tyme that ever it 
 came here." — Treatise of a Gallant {c. 1510). 
 
 Priest, " I would do more than the priest spake of on 
 Sunday " (95^). 
 
 Proface (79b), " much good may it do you ! " a common 
 welcome at meals : in the Epigrams we have, " Reader 
 . . . for preface, proface." " The dinner's half done 
 before I say grace, And bid the old knight and his 
 guest proface." — Hevwood, Wise II'o)». of Hogsdon 
 (1638). 
 
 Proffered, " proffered service stinketh " (6uj). 
 
 Property, " her property preves ' {2yd), cloak, disguise. 
 
 Prophet, " not to my profit a prophet was I " (91b), 
 the pun still does yeoman service as such. 
 
 Proud, " I proud and thou proud who shall bear th' 
 ashes out? " (26d). 
 
 Provender, " his provender pricketh him " {Epigrams). 
 
 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. 
 
 Pulpit, " a proper pulpit piece " (S2c), " gospel," some- 
 thing to be received without question because ex- 
 pounded as it were ex cathedra. 
 
 Purse, (a) " the purse is threadbare " {20b). 
 
 {b) " he is purse sick and lacketh a physician " 
 (416), needy, hard up. 
 
 (c) " ye would by my purse give me a purgation " 
 (41a). 
 
 {d) "be it better, be it worse, love ye after him 
 that beareth the purse " (13a). 
 
 Put, see Case. 
 
 Queans, " flearing queans " (66a), wantons, strumpets : 
 primarily quean (like queen) = a woman without regard 
 to character or position ; the spelling ultimately differ-
 
 rf.sty] Note-Book and Word-List 189 
 
 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 knyght fro a 
 knave other a queyne fro a queene." 
 
 Question, " this is a question of old enquiring " (91a). 
 
 QuiGiiT (47^), quit. 
 
 R\BBiT, " like the devil will change a rabbit for a rat " 
 (86a). 
 
 Rate, " rise ye as ye rate " (55^), reckon, fix, decide. 
 
 Ravine, " ruin of one ravine " {93c), ra-vinc = 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. 
 
 Receivers, " where be no receivers, there be no thieves " 
 (48c). " .And 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." — .4 Christen Exliortation unto 
 Ciistomahlc Sivcarcrs (1575). 
 
 Reckoners, (a) " rrrkoners without their host must 
 reckon twice " (igd). Fr., " Comptoit sans son hoste." 
 — Rabelais, Gargaiitua. 
 
 (b) " even reckoning maketh long friends " (64^). 
 
 Recumbentibus (S5/)), a knock-down blow : cf. " circum- 
 bendibus." " Me yaff the Kyng Episcropus Suche a 
 recumbentibus, He smot in-two bothc helme and 
 mayle." — Laud Troy Bk. {c. 1400), 7400. 
 
 Relevavith, " what shall be his relevavith " (36(1), 
 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. nil. (1546), I. ii. 840. 
 
 Resty, " resty wealth " (iid) : rcsty may be subject to 
 three glosses = (a) indolent, lazy : meaning that wealth 
 obtained by a rich marriage tends thereto ; or (b) it 
 niay = restive, coy (as hard to get); or (c) = it may be 
 a contemptuous application of rcs(y= rancid, thus
 
 I90 Note-Book and Word-List [reweth 
 
 referring to money as" dross,"" muck," &:c. " Where 
 the master is too resty or too rich to say his own 
 pravers, or to bless his own table." — Milton, Icono- 
 clastes (1649), xxiv. 
 
 Reweth (78c), rues. 
 
 Riches, " riches bringcth oft harm and over fear, where 
 poverty passeth without grudge of grief " (46^). 
 
 Riciiesse, " beauty without richessc " (14b), riches : 
 properly a singular, but now used as a plural. 
 
 Rid, see Rock. 
 
 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 shea 
 keepe house alreadic? D. Alreadie. C. O good God : 
 we rose on the right side to-day." — Terence in English 
 (1614). 
 
 Rime, " it may rime but it accordeth not " (44c). " It 
 may wele ryme but it accordith nought." — Lydgate, 
 MS. poem, " On Inconstancy." 
 
 Ring, " I hopping without for a ring of a rush " (9a), 
 see Rush-ring. 
 
 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). 
 
 Roast, {a) " rule the roast " (13a), to have (or lake) 
 the lead (or mastery) : roa5/ = roost (probably). " But 
 at the pleasure of me That ruleth the roste alone." — 
 Skclton, Colyn Cloutc {c. 15 iS). 
 
 {h) " 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, Wliy 
 come ye not to Court? (1520). 
 
 ROB3ERY, " change is no robbery " (Epigrams), see 
 Change.
 
 koof] Note-Book and Word-List 191 
 
 Robin Hood, " tales of Robin Hood are good among 
 fools " (94f), 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, siibs.=: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, 5/;//) of Fooles 
 (1509), fol. 250' (1570). 
 
 Rock, " thus rid the rock " (gzb and Epigrams), i.e. so 
 was the distaff managed, manipulated : rocfc = the dis- 
 taff or frame about which (lax, 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, T-welftJi Night (1602), 
 iii. 4. 
 
 Rod, (a) " when haste proveth a rod made for his own 
 tail " (7a). 
 
 (b) " beaten with his own rod " (ya). " don 
 
 fust Con kint sovent est-on batu." — Roman dii Rcnart 
 {c. 1300). 
 
 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 VHerinitc qui se dcscspera 
 pour le Larron qui ala en Paradis avant que hii (13th 
 century). 
 
 Rome, " Rome was not built in one day and yet stood 
 till it was finished" (36(/). " Haec tamen vulgaris 
 sententia me aliquantulum recreavit, qu^e etsi non 
 auferre, tamen minuere possit dolorem meum, qu;e 
 quidem sententia hasc est, Romam uno die non fuisso 
 conditam." — Queen Elizabeth, Extempore speech be- 
 fore the University of Cambridge (9th August, 1564). 
 
 Koor, " he is at three words up in the house roof " 
 (66f/) : nowadays we say " up in the skies."
 
 192 Note-Book and Word-List [ropk 
 
 Rope, (a) " as meet as a rope for a thief '" (24c). 
 
 (6) " he hauleth her by tlie boy rope " (78c), see 
 Boy rope. 
 
 Routing, "routine; like a hog" (30(/), roul = snoTe. 
 
 Rovers, " ye pry and ye prowl at rovers " (31c) — " letnot 
 your tongue run at rover " (bqa) — (also qgb), at rover 
 = \vilcl, unrestrained, at random. 
 
 Royals (i.e. Rial), " a bag of royals and nobles " 
 (qja), royal = an old English gold coin, of varying 
 value, from los. in Henry VI. 's time to 15s. in 
 Queen Elizabeth's, whilst in the reign of James I. the 
 rose-rial was worth 30s., and the spur-rial, 15s. : see 
 Noble. 
 
 RovLE, " by your revellous riding on every royle " (Sia), 
 royle = a Flemish horse : this would seem to echo the 
 alleged contempt of Henry VHI. as regards Anne of 
 Cleves, whom he described as " a Flanders mare." 
 
 Ruin, " ruin of one ravin was ihrre none greater " 
 (73c), see Ravine. 
 
 Rule, " better to rule than be ruled by the rout " (i3rt). 
 
 Run, (a) " he may ill run that cannot go " (94b). 
 
 (b) " ye run to work in haste as nine men held ye " 
 (42 c). 
 
 (c) " she thinketh I run over all that I look on " 
 (77c), examine, " possess," have to do with. 
 
 Runneth, " he runneth far that never turneth again 
 (90b). 
 
 Rush, " care not a rush " (95a), rusli = low stanrlard 
 of value. " And yet yeve ye me nevere The worthe 
 of a risshe." — Langland, Piers Plo'Miiian (1362), 2421. 
 
 Rushes, " green rushes for this stranger, straw here " 
 (59&) : 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- 
 tiiiian (1617), ii. 4.
 
 SCARBOROUGH] Notc-Book and Word-List 193 
 
 Rush-ring, " a ring of a rush " (qa), 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). 
 (6) "it is a bad sack that will abide no clouting " 
 (6od). 
 
 Saddles, " where saddles lack belter ride on a pad than 
 on the horse bareback " (296). 
 
 Sage, " sage said saws " (76). 
 
 Said, (a) " sooner said than done " (736). 
 
 (b) " little said soon amended " {Epigi'ai)is), 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), 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. 
 
 Savourly, " very savourly sound " (14&), properly, 
 rightly — as with a good and proper sense. 
 
 Say, " I say little but I think more " (57&). 
 
 Saying, {a) " saying and doing are two things " (73b). 
 {b) " saying that ye never saw " (33a). 
 
 Scarborough warning, " Scarborough warning I had 
 (43b), i.e. no warning at all ; a blow before the word. 
 Fuller in his Worthies says : " The proverb took its 
 original from 'I'homas 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 ne.\t ; which Scarborough warning did 
 not only perplex me, but so puzzel me." — Mayhew, 
 Letter (1603, 19th January). 
 HEY. PROV. O
 
 194 Note-Book and Word-List [see 
 
 See, (a) " see mc and see me not " (6gc). 
 
 {b) " I see much, but I say little and do less " (41&). 
 
 Seek, (a) " to seek for that she was loth to find " (yin) — 
 
 " I seek for a thing . . . that I would not find " 
 
 (Epigrams). 
 Seeled when, " in coming seeled when "' (44^), seldom. 
 Seen, " seen of the tone sort and heard of the tother " 
 
 (1016). 
 Segging, " the Dutchman saith that segging is good 
 
 cope " (94a), scgging=^sedge. 
 
 Seldom, (a) " seldom cometh the better " (iia). " This 
 change is like to the rest of worldly chaunges, that is, 
 from the better to the worse : For as the Proverb 
 sayth : Seldome coms the better." — Eiiglisli Courtier 
 and Country Gentleman (1586). 
 
 (b) " seldom seen, soon forgotten " (30^). 
 
 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 stinkcth " (6ia), see Prof- 
 fered. 
 
 Shall, " that shall be, shall be " (531)), the modern 
 " we shall see what we shall see " is regarded as an 
 echo of the Fr. nous verrons que nous verrons, where- 
 as the idiom is of native growth. 
 
 Shame, " shame take him that shame thinketh " (21b), 
 i.e. " Honi soit qui mal y pense." 
 
 Shameful, " shameful craving must have shameful 
 way " (35d). 
 
 Sharp, " all thing that is sharp is short " (56^). 
 
 Sheaf, " take as falleth in the sheaf " (646). 
 
 Sheath, " she maketh so much of her painted sheath " 
 (26d). 
 
 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 
 shorno shepe." — Cocke Lorelles Bote (c. 1510). 
 (tj " subtilly like a sheep thought I " (206).
 
 shoot] Note-Book and Word-List 195 
 
 Sheep's eve, " he casf a sheep's eye at her " {Epigrams), 
 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) : Sharnian 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 conieth a gely and an oynte- 
 ment ryal." — Treaty se of the Horse, the Shepe, ait J 
 the Goos. 
 
 Shht, " shift each one for himself as he can " (god). 
 
 Shilling, " to bring a shilling to nincpence " (66c). 
 
 Shoe, (a) " the shoe will hold with the sole " (67c). 
 (6) " now for good luck cast an old shoe after me " 
 (2 id), an old and still intelligible bit of folk-lore: 
 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 " (69^), 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). '^ '^ 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)- 
 
 Shoemaker's wife, " who is worse shod than the shoe- 
 maker's wife " (39^), an excuse for lack of some- 
 thing one ought to possess : compare Slipper. 
 
 Shoot, {a) " ye shoot nigh the prick " (15a), prick = 
 point, dot, mark, " bull's-eye." 
 
 (b) " he shooteth wide " (Epigrams). 
 
 (c) " whom ye see out of the way, or shoot wide, 
 over-shoot not yourself any side to hide " (58c). 
 
 O 2
 
 196 • Note-Book and Word-List [shootanker 
 
 Shootan'Ker, " 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 loseth your game " (97c), 
 a technical term in archery : i.e. shooting wide of the 
 mark. 
 
 Shore, " ye lean to the wrong shore " (57b). 
 
 Shorn, " as rich as a new shorn sheep " (42d), see 
 Sheep. 
 
 Shot, " pay the shot " (45^), s/iof = 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). 
 
 Shrew, " every man can rule a shrew save he that hath 
 her " (7sa). 
 
 Sight, " out of sight out of mind " (8d), a saying 
 which is found in Thomas h Kempis (1450), and earlier 
 in Prov. of Hendyng (c. 1320) — " Fer from e^e, fer 
 from herte. Quoth Hendyng." 
 
 Simper de Cocket (52b), found as a subs, as well as an 
 ad;. = coquettish, wanton. " I saw you dally with your 
 simper de cocket." — Heywood, Play of Weather 
 (Works, I. i22(i). " And gray russet rocket With 
 simper the cocket." — Skelton, Tlie Tunny ng of Ely- 
 noure Kumtnyng (1520). 
 
 Sink, (a) " thou shalt sure sinl-c in thine own sin for 
 us " (28c). 
 
 (b) " 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 " (6Sc). " 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
 
 sleeveless] Note-Book and Word-List 197 
 
 meane was sure : better be in the middle roome, then 
 either in the Garret or the Seller." — Brereton, Court 
 and Country (1618). 
 
 Six, " set all at six and seven " (38d), in confusion, at 
 loggerheads. " AUe in sundur hit [a tun] brast in six 
 or in seujn." — Avowyne of Kitig ArtJicr {c. 1340), 04 
 [Camden Soc, Eng. Meln. Rom. 89]. 
 
 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. 
 
 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, Fani. Lett. (1650). 
 
 .Sky, " wben 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 nucs tomboyent 
 esperoyt prendre les alouettes. " — Rabelais, Gargantua. 
 
 SL.'iNDER, " it may be a slander but it is no lie " (84c). 
 
 Sleeve, (a) " laughed in my sleeve " (710), derided or 
 exulted in secret. 
 
 (b) " nattering knaves and flearing queans . . . 
 hang OQ his sleeve " (66a), lickspittle, cadge from, are 
 dependent on. 
 
 (c) "a broken sleeve holdeth th' arm back " (216). 
 " It is a terme with John and Jacke, Broken sleeve 
 draweth arme a backe. " — Parliament of Byrdes 
 ('550)- 
 
 (d) " she lacketh but even a new pair of sleeves " 
 (28a). 
 
 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, Shakspcare, &c.). 
 Sharman suggests the mediaeval custom of favoured 
 knights ,wearing the sleeve of their mistress as a mark
 
 198 Note-Book and Word-List [slipper 
 
 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). 
 
 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, Fearefiill and Lament- 
 able Effects of Two Dangerous Comets (1591). 
 
 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 
 Bombie (1594), ii. i. 
 
 Sloth, " sloth must breed a scab " (gb). 
 
 Slugging, " slugging in bed " (58a), lazing. " All night 
 slugging in a cabin." — Spenser, State of Ireland. 
 
 Small, " many small make a great " {T,yb), mod. " many 
 a mickle makes a muckle. " "The proverbe saith 
 that many a small makith a grcte." — Chaucer, Par- 
 son's Tale (13S3). 
 
 Smelled, " I smelled her out " (39c), discovered, 
 " nosed," found. " Can you smell him out by that? " 
 — Shakspeare, Much j\do (1600), iii. 2. 
 
 Snail, " in haste like a snail " (3i<i). 
 
 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 " (barf). 
 
 Snudge, " pinch like a snudge " (83?)), snMrf^e = miser. 
 " Your husbandry ... is more like the life of a 
 covetous snudge that ofte very evill proves." — Ascham, 
 Toxoph. (1544), i. 
 
 Sold, (a) " better sold than bought " (27a). 
 
 (6) " like one to be sold she set out herself in fine 
 apparel " (52a). 
 
 Some, " hcie some and there some " {Epigrams).
 
 STABLE door] Note-Book and Word-List 199 
 
 Something, " something is better than nothing " (Epi- 
 grams and 29c, with " somewhat " for " something "). 
 
 Soon, "till soon fare ye well" (74a), this may = till 
 some future time not far distant, or 50on = evening, a 
 provincialism. 
 
 Sore, " present salve for this present sore " (2orf). 
 
 Sorrow, (a) "I had sorrow to my sops " (Syd). 
 (h) " make not two sorrows of one " (72d). 
 (c) " to bring her solace that bringeth me sorrow " 
 (88c). 
 
 Souls, " poor men have no souls " (Epigrams). 
 
 Sow, (a) " as meet as a sow to bear a saddle " (52 c). 
 
 (b) " the still sow eats up all the draff " (27c), 
 still sow — a. generic reproach, a sly lurking fellow; 
 dni^ = anything unfit for human food. " We do not 
 act, that often jest and laugh ; 'Tis old but true, still 
 swine eat all the draff." — Shakspcare, 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). 
 
 (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. 
 
 Spare, (a) " ever spare and ever bare " (66c). 
 
 (b) " spare to speak, spare to speed " (2^c). 
 
 Spark, " this spark of hope have 1 " (loia). 
 
 .Speed, " both bade me God speed, but none bade me 
 welcome " (23c). 
 
 Spit, " I will spit in my hands and take better hold " 
 (64c), 
 
 Spoons, " as nice as it had been a ha'porth of silver 
 spoons " (98c). 
 
 Spur, " a gentle white spur and at need a sure spear " 
 
 (35«)- 
 Stable door, " when the steed is stolen shut the stable 
 
 door " (26b), set a guard after the mischief is done ;
 
 20O Note-Book and Word-List [staff 
 
 see Barclay, Ship of Fools (1509), i. 76 (1874). " Quant 
 le cheval esi embl6 dounlce ferme fols Testable." — 
 Les Provcrbes del Vilain (c. 1300). " The steede was 
 stollen before I shut the gate, The cates consumed 
 before I smelt the feast." — Devises of Suudrie Gentle- 
 men. 
 
 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, (o) " the loth stake standeth long " (God), see 
 Loath. 
 
 (b) " it is an ill stake that cannot stand one year 
 in a hedge " (6od). 
 
 (c) " as a bear goeth to the stake " (21c). 
 
 (d) " we shall so part stake, that I shall lose the 
 hole " (67c). 
 
 (e) " hath eaten a stake " (356). 
 
 Stale, (a) " stale a goose " (42c), stole : an old inflec- 
 tion. 
 
 (b) " stale home to mo " (65^), see supra. 
 
 Start, " who hopeth in God's help his help cannot 
 start" (lie), change, be moved away. 
 
 Stave's end, " I live here at stave's end " (42Z)). 
 
 Stay, " to stay somewhat for her staying " {Sgb), keep 
 back somewhat for a rainy day. 
 
 Steinth, " steinth yet the stoutest " (iib), checks, causes 
 to hesitate. " The Reve answered and saide. Stint 
 thy clappe." — Chaucer, Cant. Talcs (1383), 3144. 
 
 Sterveth, " the horse sterveth " (36^), starveth : note 
 the rhyme — " serveth " = " sayveth," now vulgar. 
 
 Stiff-necked (87c), untoward, unruly, mulish. 
 
 Stile, " ye would be over the stile ere ye come at it " 
 (g7d). " Dulipo. I would fayne have you conclude. 
 Erostrato. You would fayne leape over the stile before 
 you come at the hedge." — Gascoigne, Supposes (1575). 
 
 .Stomach, " an when the meal mouth hath won the 
 bottom of your stomach " (23d).
 
 sun] Note-Book and Word-List 201 
 
 Stone, (a) " the rolling stone never gathereth moss " 
 (31c), see Moss. 
 
 (b) "I do but roast a stone " (56c), see Roast. 
 
 Stools, " between two stools my tale go'th to the 
 ground " (gb), a proverb found in a French" manu- 
 script of rhe fourteenth century — " Entre deux arcouns 
 chet cul k te're." — Lcs Proverbes del Vilain, MS. 
 Bodleian (c. 1300). Afterwards used by Rabelais 
 (Garganhia, liv. i. c. ii.), " S'asseoir entre deux selles 
 le cul k tene." 
 
 Store, " store is no sore " (12c). 
 
 Straight-laced (37^), precise, squeamish, puritanical. 
 
 Strainable, " sturdy storms strainable " (55a), 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. 
 
 Straw, (a) " ye stumbled at a straw and leapt over a 
 block " (92b), made much of nothing. " Lest of a 
 strawe we make a block." — Pilgr. Perf. [W. de W., 
 
 1531]. 93- 
 
 (b) " this gear will breed a pad in the straw " 
 (Epigrams), see Pad. 
 
 (c) " lay a straw here and even there " (63f). 
 
 (d) " thou wilt not step over a straw " (41^), go a 
 step out of the way. 
 
 Stream, " to strive against the stream " (686). 
 
 Strife, " since bv strife ye may lose and cannot win 
 suffer " (69a). 
 
 Sufferance, (a) " sufferance is no quittance " (64^). 
 
 (6) " of sufferance cometh ease " {22b). " He give 
 a proverbe — Sufferance giveth ease." — Marston, What 
 yon Will (1607). 
 
 Sugar, (a) " when time hath turned white sugar to 
 white salt " {6c), otherwise (as 32^), " when sweet 
 sugar should turn to sour saltpetre." 
 (b) " I have for fine sugar fair rat's bane " (80a). 
 
 Summer, see Swallow. 
 
 Sun, " when the sun shineth make hay " (8c), seize 
 your chance or opportunity.
 
 202 Note-Book and Word- List [surgkon 
 
 Surgeon, " I am like the ill surgeon (said I) without 
 store of good plasters " (2od). 
 
 Swallow, " one swallow maketh not summer " (700). 
 " One swallowe prouveth not that summer is neare." 
 — Northbrooke, Treatise against Dauncing (1577). 
 
 Sweet, (a) " sweet meat will have sour sauce " (igd). 
 
 (b) " take the sweet with the sour " (b2c). 
 
 (c) " sweet sauce began to wax sour " (54b). 
 
 (d) " sweet beauty with sour beggary " (49b). 
 
 Swim, " he must needs swim that is held 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? Nicli. Yes, I could have said to you, 
 syr. Take heede is a good reede." — Haughton, Two 
 Angry Women of Abington (1599). 
 
 (b) " it is ill putting a nalied sword in a mad man's 
 hand " (S7C). 
 
 Tale, (a) " a tale of a tub " (94c), nonsense, fooling, 
 absurdity. " Ye say they follow your law. And vary 
 not a shaw. 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), faZe=: incredible story, 
 marvellous narration ; also words of wisdom : thus the 
 acme of truth or falsehood. " Telle no talys." — Cov. 
 Myst. (1469). 
 
 Tarier, " let him be no longer tarier " (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. x.\iii.
 
 THRIFT] Note-Book and Word-List 203 
 
 Taunt tivet (87^), primarily a huntin;:^ 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. 
 
 Terms, " in plain terms plain truth to utter " (54c). 
 
 Thames, (a) " to cast water in Thames " (39b), a simile 
 of useless or thankless labour ; a work of supereroga- 
 tion. 
 
 (b) " bearing no more rule than a goose turd in 
 Thames " (76c). 
 
 Than (passim), then. 
 
 Thankless, " a thankless office " (^Sd). 
 
 Thief, " to a.\ my fellow whether I be a thief " (72b). 
 
 Thieves, (a) " when thieves fall out true men come to 
 
 their good " (936), or (modern) " when thieves fall out 
 
 honest men come by their own": ^ood= belongings. 
 
 (b) " beggars may sing before thieves and weep 
 
 before true men " (47a). 
 
 Thing, (a) " too much of one thing is not good " (64^), 
 this we now shorten to " too much of a good thing." 
 
 Thought, (a) " thought is free " (576). " Since thought 
 is free, thinke what thou will."— James I., MS. Add. 
 
 24.195- 
 
 (b) " my thought ... is a goodly dish " {6ib). 
 
 Thread, " you spin a fair thread " (68c), with which 
 compare " this thread finer to spin " (i2d). 
 
 Three, (a) " three may keep counsel if two be away " 
 (1656). " Three may keep a counsel if twain be 
 away." — Chaucer, Ten ConiDiaiidments of Love. " The 
 empress, the midwife, and yourself : Two may keep 
 counsel, when the third's away." — Shakspeare, Titus 
 Androniciis (1593), iv. 2. 
 
 (/)) " frenzy, heresy, and jealousy are three that . . . 
 never cured be " (77c). 
 
 Thrift, (a) " when thrift is in the town ve be in the 
 field " (92a). 
 
 (b) " I will now begin thrift when thrift seemeth 
 gone " (93ci).
 
 204 Note-Book and Word-List [thrive 
 
 (c) " now thrift is gone now would ye thrive in all 
 haste " (956). 
 
 (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 " (42d). 
 
 Thrive, " he that will thrive must ask leave of his 
 wife " (34^), another form of which occurs in Thynn's 
 Deb. bctw. Pride and Lo'vlincss (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. " 
 
 Thumb, (a) " ye taunt me tit over thumb " (64a). 
 
 (b) " she hitteth me on the thumbs " (64a). 
 
 (c) " this bitelh the mare by the thumb " (76c). 
 
 Ticking, " then ticking might have taught any young 
 couple their love ticks to have wrought " (53d) — 
 " leave lewd ticking " (70^) — " 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, " my tongue must oft tickle " (15&), itch to be 
 wagging (Udall, Apoph. 381). 
 
 Tide, " the tide tarrieth no man " (Sc). " Hoist up 
 saile while gale doth last, Tide and wind stay no 
 man's pleasure." — Southwell, St. Peter's Complaint 
 
 (1595)- 
 
 Time, (a) " take time when time cometh, lest time steal 
 away " (8c). 
 
 {b) " let time try " (72c). 
 
 (f) " time trieth truth " (72c). 
 
 (d) " time is tickle " (8d), uncertain. 
 
 (e) " time lost again we cannot win " (5id). 
 
 TiPi'ETS, " 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; Vou to turn tippet!" — 
 Jonson, Cast' is Altered (1609).
 
 tongue] Note-Book and Word-List 205 
 
 Tit, (a) " tit for tat " (64a), blow for blow, an equiva- 
 lent, as good one side as the other : i.e. Fr., tant 
 pour taut. 
 
 (b) "little tit, all tail" (24c), tit originally = any- 
 thing very small or diminutive. 
 
 TiTiFiLS, " no more such titifils " (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 " (39b). 
 
 Toast, " hot as a toast " (54?)). 
 
 I Tone (passim), the one : see Tother. 
 
 Tongue, (u) " her tongue runneth on pattens " (78a), 
 see Pattens. 
 
 (b) " let not your tongue run at rover " (69a), see 
 Rover. 
 
 (c) " thy tongue runneth before thy wit " (64a). 
 
 (d) " biteth not with teeth but with her tongue " 
 
 (75^)- 
 
 (e) " her tongue is no edged tool but yet it will cut " 
 (24b). 
 
 (/) " tongue breaketh bone, itself having none " 
 (68c). " Tonge breketh bon. Ant nad hire selve non." 
 — Proverbs of Hendyng, MS. (c. 1320). 
 
 (g) " when your tongue tickleth, at will let it walk " 
 
 {h) " my tongue must oft tickle " (15b), itch to be 
 wagging. 
 
 (i) " it hurteth not the tongue to give fair words " 
 (22b). " O, madam, faire words never hurt the 
 tongue." — Jonson, &c., Eastivard Hoe (1605). 
 
 (;■) " he may show wisdom at will that with angry 
 heart can hold his tongue still " (44^). 
 
 (fc) "I would thy tongue were cooled to make thy 
 tales more cold " (85c). 
 
 (Z) " my tongue is a limb to match and to vex 
 every vein of him " (68?;). 
 
 (m) " think ye ... I will be tongued-tied " (69c).
 
 2o6 Note-Book and Word-List [iooting 
 
 Tooting, " on my maids he is ever tooting " (yob), 
 making signals to. 
 
 Top, " as soon drive a top over a tiled house " (71c). 
 
 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, 15 17. 
 
 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. 2^c. 
 
 Toy, (a) " every trifling toy age cannot laugh at " (88a), 
 toy = whim, fancy, jest, &c. 
 
 (b) " 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, Clironycle, 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. 
 
 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. 
 
 (b) " timely crooketh the tree that would a cammock 
 be " (94a), see Cammock. 
 
 (c) " you cannot see the wood for trees " (62b), see 
 Wood. 
 
 Trip, " take me in any trip " (59^).
 
 VI age] Note-Book and Word-List 207 
 
 True, "' it must needs be true that everv man sayeth " 
 (J8a). 
 
 Truth, (a) " tell truth without sin " (2S«). 
 
 (b) " deem the best till time hath tried the truth 
 out " (72^), see Time. 
 
 Tun, " as full as a tun " (456), ttiii = 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, " one good turn asketh another " (41c) : we now 
 say " deserves." 
 
 Twain, " we twain are one too many " (656). 
 
 Unborn, " better unborn than untaught " (25a). " 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 Mauer Chyldryn (c. 
 
 1450)- 
 
 Unkissed, (a) " farewell, unkissed " (2gd), of a not over- 
 friendly parting : see next entry. 
 {b) " unknown, unkissed " (38f). 
 
 Unminded, " unminded, unmoaned " (21c). 
 
 Ure (passim), chance, destiny, fortune, use, practice. 
 
 Use, "use maketh maistry " (55<i), )H«(.shy = mastery, 
 perfection. 
 
 Venom, " spit her venom " (24^). 
 
 ViAGE, " this viage make" (21c), voyage = a journey by 
 land or sea. " To Scotland now he fondes, to redy 
 his viage." — Robert de Briitinc, 314.
 
 2o8 Note-Book and Word-List [wade 
 
 Wade, " for what should I further wade " (43a). 
 
 Waghalter, " wa<:ihalter slipstrinj^ " (86rf), waghalter 
 = :i rogue, gallowsbird, crackrope : see Slipstring. 
 " I'll teach my wag-halter to know grapes from 
 barley." — Lyly, Mother Bomhie (1594), ii. 5. 
 
 Walk, (a) " walk, drab, walk! " (630. 
 {h) "walk, knave, walk!" (63c). 
 
 Walking-staff, " the walking-staff hath caught warmth 
 in your hand " (26c). 
 
 Wall, {a) " to winch or kick against the hard wall " 
 (68b), ivinch (or "cyi»ce) = kick. " Paul, whom the 
 Lord haddc chosun, long tyme wynside agen the 
 pricke." — Wycliffe, Prolog on the Dcdes of Apostles. 
 
 (b) " further than the wall he cannot go " (71b). 
 
 (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 " (72b), pike = pick, iind out, learn, mark. 
 
 (e) " as in frost a mud wall cracketh and crumbleth 
 so melteth his money " (79a). 
 
 Waltham, "as wise as_Waltham's calf" (58^), the 
 allusion is lost though the meaning is clear and 
 examples are many, the earliest 1 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." 
 " 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), won. 
 
 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). 
 
 W'asp, "angry as a wasp" (31I').
 
 wedding] Note-Book and Word-List 209 
 
 Water, (a) " the trial thereof we will lay a water " 
 (loa) — " my iratter is laid a water " {Epigrams), see 
 Lay. 
 
 (b) " you come to look in my water " (4K1), 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." — Shakspcare, 
 MacBeth (1606),' v. 3. 
 
 (c) " there was no more water than the ship drew " 
 (89a). 
 
 Water-drinker, " a falser water-drinker there liveth 
 not " (72a). 
 
 Wax, " at my will I weened she should have wrought 
 like wax " (75a)- 
 
 W'ay, " if ye haul this way I will another wav draw " 
 (63d). 
 
 Weaker, " the weaker hath the worse " (23?)). 
 
 Wealth, (a) " both for wealth and woe " (170), ivealili 
 = (originally) good, weal, prosperity. " Let no man 
 seek his own, but every man another's wealth." — 
 I Corinth. [Auth. Ver., 161 1), x. 24. 
 
 (b) " all thing mav be suffered saving wealth " 
 (62b). 
 
 Weather, (a) " when all shrews have dined, change from 
 foul weather to fair is oft inclined " (50c). 
 
 (b) " weather meet to set paddocks abroad in " 
 (506), see Paddocks. 
 
 Weathercock, " like a weathercock " (102a). 
 
 Wed, " where nought is to wed with wise men flee the 
 clog" (32a). 
 
 \^'EDDED, " I was wedded unto my will ... I will bt- 
 divorced and be wed to my wit " (102c"). 
 
 Wkddeth, " who wcddeth ere he be wise shall die ere 
 he thrive " (19^). 
 
 Wedding (terms of), (a) " wooing for woeing, bannri 
 for banning, the banns for my bane, marrying marring, 
 u v/oman, as who saith, woe to the man " (H3C)- 
 HEV. PROV. P
 
 21 o Note-Book and Word-List [weeij 
 
 (b) " wedding and hanging are destiny " (9c), an 
 earlier mention, " Hanging and wiving go by 
 destiny," is found in the Scholc-hous for Woinen 
 (1541). In 1558 a ballad was licensed with the title 
 " The Proverbe is true y' Weddynge in destinye." 
 
 (c) " they went (witless) to wedding whereby at last 
 they both went a-begging " (33d). 
 
 (d) " quick wedding may bring good speed " (10a). 
 
 ^^■EED, (a) " ill weeds growcth fast " (27^). " Ewyl 
 weed vs sone y-growe. " — MS. Harleian (c. i4qo). 
 (h) " the weed overgroweth the corn " {2yd). 
 
 Week, " in by the week " (84!)). 
 
 Weep, " better children weep than old men " {Epigrams), 
 see Man. 
 
 Welcome, " welcome when thou goest " (yod). 
 
 Well, {a) " all is well that ends well " (25c). 
 (h) " believe well and have well " (god). 
 
 (c) " do well and have well " (god). 
 
 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. 1. el. 6 : — " Neu te decipiat nutu, digitoque 
 liquorem Ne trahat, ct mens;e 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). 
 
 (d) " many wells, many buckets " (85b). 
 
 Whelp, " as a whelp for wantonness in and out whips " 
 (17^)- 
 
 Whit, " as good never a whit as never the better " 
 (1026). 
 
 White livered (faqc), cowardly, mean : an old notion 
 was thut cowards had bloodless livers. " White 
 liver 'd runagate." — Shakspeare, Richard III. (1597), 
 iv. I.
 
 win] Note-Book and Word-List 211 
 
 Whiteness, " that all her whiteness lieth in her white 
 hairs" (4c), •z£'/7t7e>2c'ss = chastity. 
 
 Whiting, " there leaped a whiting " (78^), there was 
 an opportunity missed. 
 
 Whole, (a) " if ve lack that away ye must wind with 
 your whole errand and half th' answer behind " (sul. 
 
 (b) " hear the whole, the whole wholly to try 
 (50a). 
 
 Whore, " hop whore pipe thief " (86J). 
 
 Wife, (a) " he that will thrive must ask leave of his 
 wife " (34(i) : 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 " {bb). 
 
 (t) " a good wife maketh a good husband " (S8t-j. 
 
 Will, (a) " he that will not when he may, when he 
 would, he shall have nay " (8a), with which compare 
 " who that may not as thev would, will as thev may 
 (08a). 
 
 (b) " when we would, ye would not . . . wherefore 
 now when ye would, now will not we " (286). 
 
 (c) " that one will not, another will " (Sd). 
 
 {(1) " will will have will, though will woe win " 
 
 (e) " will is a good son and will is a shrewd boy 
 and wilful shrewd will hath wrought thee this toy " 
 
 (35«)- 
 Willing, " nothing is impossible to a willing heart " 
 
 (IXC). 
 
 Win, (a) "will may win my heart" (ik/). 
 
 (6) " although I nought win yet shall I nougiit 
 lose " (102a). 
 
 (c) " ye can nought win bv any wayward mean " 
 (68d). 
 
 (d) " he playoth best that wins " {Epigrams).
 
 212 Note-Book and Word-List [winch 
 
 Winch, see Wall (a). 
 
 Wind, (a) " an ill wind that blowcth no man to good " 
 (93c). " Falstaff. What wind blew you hither, Pistol? 
 Pistol. Not the ill wind which blows no man to good." 
 — Shakspearc, 2 Henry IV. (1598), v. 3. 
 
 (b) " let this wind overblow " (36c). 
 
 (c) " every wind bloweth not down the corn " 
 
 (d) " all this wind shakes no corn " (36c). 
 
 (c) " I smelt her out and had her straight in the 
 wind " (391), had at an advantage ; understood her. 
 
 (/) " I have him in the wind " {Epigrams), see 
 supra. 
 
 (g) " what wind blowcth ye hither? "• (25a). 
 
 (/;) " to take wind and tide with me " (36c). 
 
 (i) " if the wind stand in that door, it standeth 
 awry " (68f). " It is even so? is the winde in that 
 doore? " — Gascoigne, Supposes (1566). 
 
 (;■) " your meddling . . . may bring the wind calm 
 between us " (59^). 
 
 {k) '• I will ... ill winds to sway, spend some 
 wind . . . though I waste wind in vain " (6oa), wind 
 = breath is ancient. " Woman thy wordis and thy 
 wvnde thou not waste." — York Plays (c. 1362), 258. 
 
 (/) " knew which way the wind blew " (91&), aware 
 of the position of matters, state of affairs. 
 
 ()h) " wavering as the wind " (54^). 
 
 WiNDF.ALL, " to win some windfall " (38(i). 
 
 Wine, " ve praise the wine before ye taste of the grape " 
 
 (27d). ' 
 
 Wing, " keep your bill under wing mute " (69a). 
 Wise, (a) " ye are wise enough if ye keep ye warm " 
 
 ' (h) " better to be happy than wise " (75c). 
 
 (c) " as ye can seem" wise in words be wise in 
 deed " (73 bj. _ 
 
 (d) " everv wise man staggers m earnest or boord 
 to be busy or bold with his biggers or betters " (47'^)- 
 
 Wishers, " wishers and woulders be no good house- 
 holders' " (32?)). " Wysshers and wolders ben smal
 
 wood] Note-Book and Word-List 213 
 
 housholders." — Vi'^g- 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, " beware of Had I wist " (6c), an exclamation of 
 regret. " Be welle war of wedyng, and thynk in 
 youre thought ' Had I wist ' is a thyng it servys of 
 nought." — Toiunelcy Myst. (c. 1420). 
 
 Wit, («) " wit is never good till it be bought " (i8d), 
 u'i7 = wisdom, knowledge. " Stationers could not live, 
 if men did not beleeve the old saying, that Wit bought 
 is better then W'it taught." — Conceits, Clinches, 
 Flashes and Whimzies (£639). 
 
 (b) " to leave mv wit before it leave me " (55c). 
 
 (c) " at our wit's end " (i8(i). 
 
 (d) " one good forewit is worth two afterwits " 
 (190). 
 
 Woe, " she hath wrought her own woe " (25^). 
 
 Wolf, (a) " to keep the wolf from the door " {?<3b). 
 
 (b) "a wolf in a lamb's skin " (28a). 
 
 Wonder, " this wonder lasted nine days " (53f'). " Kke 
 wonder last but nine deles 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, Schoolc-mastcr (1570). 
 
 Wondered, " he that doth as most men do, shall be 
 least wondered on " (5b(i). 
 
 Wood, (a) " there be more ways to the wood tiian 
 one " (93d). 
 
 {h) " thou art so wood " (86c) — " she was horn 
 wood " (99c), mad, furious, frantic, raging. " Flem- 
 ynges, lyke wood tygres." — Fabyan, Cronycle (an. 
 1299). 
 
 (c) " ye cannot see the wood for trees " (62/))- 
 " From him who sees no wood for trees And yet is 
 busie as the bees . . . Libera nos." — A Letany for 
 S. Omers (1682). 
 
 id) "ye took the wrong way to the wood " (92a).
 
 214 Note-Book and Word-List [wool 
 
 Wool, (a) " what should your face thus again the wool 
 be shorn ? " (36c). 
 
 (b) " thy face is shorn against the wool, very deep " 
 {Epigrams). 
 
 (c) " bolster or pillow for me, be whose woll — I will 
 not bear the devil's sack " (73d). 
 
 Word, (a) " not afford you one good word " (93?)). 
 
 (b) " one ill word axeth another " (22a). 
 
 (c) " many words, many buffets " (85??). 
 
 (d) " good words bring not ever of good deeds good 
 hope " (94«). 
 
 (c) " this doth sound ... on your side in words, 
 but on my side in deeds " (83d). 
 
 (/) " few words to the wise suffice " (82c). 
 
 W'oRKMAN, " what is a workman without his tools? " 
 (94c). 
 
 World, (a) " the world runneth on wheels " (78^), 
 runs easily, expeditiously. 
 
 (b) " let the world wag " (i2d), let go, let things 
 take care of themselves. " Y'are a baggage ; the Slics 
 are no rogues ; Look in the chronicles, we came in 
 with Richard Conqueror. Therefore, paucas palla- 
 bris ; let the world slide." — Shakspeare, Taming of 
 the Shrew. Induction i. 6. 
 
 (c) " he brought the world so about " (gSd). 
 
 Worm, " tread a worm on the tail and it must turn 
 again " ((j4c). " The smallest worm will turn, being 
 trodden on ; And doves will peck in safe-guard of their 
 brood." — Shakspeare, 3 Henry VI. (1595), ii. 2. 
 
 Worse, " all thing is the worse for the wearing " (54a). 
 
 Worst, (a) " provide for the worst, while the best itself 
 save " (i2d). 
 
 (b) " the worst is behind, we come not where it 
 grew " (57c). 
 
 (c) " if the worst fell, we could have but a nay " 
 (44c). 
 
 Wot, " I wot what I wot " (84d).
 
 vow] Note-Book and Word-List 
 
 2P 
 
 Wrong. " thou begjjest at wrong door " (Epigrams)— 
 " ye beg at a wrong man's door " (20c). 
 
 Vicar, " I am too old a year " (goc). 
 
 ^'KSTERDAY, (a) " it is too late to call again yesterday " 
 (906).^^ 
 
 (6) " the offence of yesterday I may redeem " (90/;). 
 
 YiFLD, " in case as ye shall yield me as ye cast me, so 
 shall ye cast me as ye yield me " (43c). 
 
 \ouNG, "ye be young enough to mend, but I am too 
 old to sec it " (goc). 
 
 Younger, "ye shall never labour younger" (21c), see 
 Labour. 
 
 Yow (passim), you. 
 
 R. CLAV ANIJ SU.NS, I.TU., llHIiAU SI . HILL, E.G., AND UUNGAV, SL'tFOLh
 
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 HARRISON. Comprising — Windsor 
 Castle, 2 Vols. ; Tower of London, 
 2 Vols. ; St. James's, i Vol. ; Old St. 
 Paul's, 2 Vols. ; Guy Fawkes, 2 Vols. ; 
 Star Chamber, i Vol. ; Rookwood, 
 2 Vols. ; Jack Sheppard, 2 Vols. ; 
 Flitch of Bacon, i Vol, ; Crichton, 2 
 Vols. ; Miser's Daughter, 2 Vols. ; and 
 Spendthrift, i Vol., with 4 Photo- 
 gravures in each Volume. The Set 
 of 20 Volumes, or each Novel sold 
 separately. Size, fcap. 8vo. Price 
 2s. 6d. per Volume, net. 
 
 This convenient and well printed Edition is set 
 from new type, and contains all AinswortKs best 
 in handy sized "volumes, on good paper. Each 
 Novel has a special title desig?ied by Frank 
 Brangioyn, A.R.A., and '■^Rookwood'''' contains a 
 Mcfnoir of the Author by W. E. A. Axon, with 
 many Portraits. The Illustrations are from 
 George Cruikshank' s celebrated plates or other 
 original artist.
 
 ANACREON. 
 
 THE ODES. Translated by Thomas 
 Moore. With all the original Notes 
 and the Designs of Girodet de Roussy. 
 i8mo, cloth, IS. 6d. net ; or limp leather, 
 top edge gilt, 2s. net; or stamped 
 leather, gilt edges, 2s. 6d. net. 
 
 A delightful little book, presenting the Odes 
 in beautiful type, and the whole of the ex- 
 quisite and justly celebrated Illustrations. For 
 the scholar the critical notes are given, over 
 loo pages, and Moore's Preface and Remarks 
 on Anacreon.
 
 ARABIAN NIGHTS. 
 
 THE THOUSAND AND ONE 
 NIGHTS. Translated by Edward 
 William Lane. With an Introduc- 
 tion by Joseph Jacobs, and 36 Illus- 
 trations by Frank Brangwyn, A.R.A. 
 Six Volumes, fcap. 8vo, cloth extra, 
 top edge gilt, 15s. net. 
 
 It should he noted that this Edition is not 
 that usually knoiiin as '^^ Lane's y" but is pn'nted 
 from that issued by Murray, ivith the ordinary 
 spelling of the best-known names; it is the 
 pleasanter reading on that account. The 
 Editor's Introduction is learned and interesting. 
 The Illustrations contain some of the Artisfs 
 most characteristic figure drawi7ig, the binding 
 design, title-page, and head pieces are all 
 designed by him.
 
 BECKFORD, WILLIAM. 
 
 VATHEK. An Arabian Tale. With 
 Notes by Henley, and an Introduc- 
 tion by Dr. Garnett. Etchings by 
 Herbert Rye, Fcap. 8vo, 2s. 6d. net. 
 
 This is undoubtedly the best Edition published 
 of this book. The long and i^nportant Intro- 
 duction throws miich neiv light on the composition 
 of this work, " 7vhich might appear without dis- 
 advantage ill the '■Arabian Nights, with 
 Aladdin on its right hand and AH Baha on 
 its left.'''' The Etchiiigs are very delicate.
 
 BOCCACCIO, M. GIOVANNI. 
 
 THE DECAMERON. A Revised 
 Text, with over loo full-page Illustra- 
 tions after Gravelot Eisen Boucher 
 and others. Introduction by Alfred 
 Wallis. Four Vols. fcap. 8vo, los. net. 
 
   4> 
 
 A presentation of a classic, a position to which 
 it is entitled by its style, its 7vit, and its inter- 
 esting pictures of life at the epoch of the 
 Renaissance, as also by the i^ifluence it has 
 exercised on Eiiglish literature from Chaucer 
 to our own time. The text revision has beeti 
 thorough, and the Proem, the Conclusion, 
 and the Reply to critics and censors are restored 
 to their place in this Edition.
 
 BROWNE, Sir THOMAS. 
 
 RELIGIO MEDICI, HYDRIO- 
 TAPHIA, AND OTHER ESSAYS. 
 Biographical Introduction and Por- 
 trait Study by Frank Brangwyn, 
 A.R.A. i8mo, cloth, top edge gilt, 
 IS. 6d. net ; or limp leather, top edge 
 gilt, 2s. net ; or stamped leather, 2s. 6d. 
 net. 
 
 De Quincey ranks Sir Thomas Browne with 
 Jeremy Taylor as the richest and most dazzling 
 of rhetoricians^ and Mr. Lo'voell calls hitn our 
 most iviaginative mind since Shakespeare. 
 
 Mr. Brangwyn, who has drawn the Portrait 
 for this as for other Volumes in the Museum 
 Editions^ bids fair to be one of the great 
 artists of the twentieth century.
 
 CERVANTES, MIGUEL DE, 
 SAAVEDRA. THE HISTORY OF 
 THE VALOROUS AND WITTY 
 KNIGHT -ERRANT, DON QUIX- 
 OTE OF THE MANCHA Trans- 
 lated by Thomas Shelton (1612-1620). 
 Introduction by J. H. McCarthy, and 
 24 Illustrations by Frank Brangwyn, 
 A.R.A. Four Vols. fcap. 8vo, los. 
 net. 
 
 As the Editor says: '■'■If this reprint shotdd 
 serve to make Shelton a familiar friend to those 
 who knew him not before, if it brings the in- 
 genious gentleman, Don Quixote de la Mancha, 
 at all nearer to the heart of anyone, it imll have 
 done its good work in the world. It is best to 
 read Don Quixote in Spanish ; it is next best to 
 read him in the English of Shelton^
 
 CERVANTES, MIGUEL DE, 
 
 SAAVEDRA. EXEMPLARY 
 
 NOVELS. Translated by James 
 Mabbe (1640). With 12 Illustrations 
 by Frank Brangwyn, A.R.A. Two 
 Vols. fcap. 8vo, 5s. net. 
 
 This Translation {of which this is the first 
 reprint) was reissued in 16^4 tinder the title of 
 '■'■Delight in Several Shapes,''^ it contains in- 
 imitably true and graceful sketches of human 
 virtues and failings in almost every grade of 
 life ; as the original title says, it is ^'■full of 
 various accidents both delightful and profitable.''^
 
 DE QUINCEY, THOMAS: 
 A SELECTION OF HIS BEST 
 WORKS : Confessions of an English 
 Opium-Eater— Suspiria de Profundis 
 —Murder as a Fine Art, etc. Portrait 
 Study by Frank Brangwyn, A.R.A. 
 Two Vols. i8mo, cloth, top edge gilt, 
 3s. net; or limp leather, top edge 
 gilt, 4s. net; or stamped leather, 
 gilt edges, 5s. net. 
 
 Playful fancy and wealth of whimsical and 
 humorous allusio?is enliven almost every topic, 
 and the daring conception and gorgeous colouring 
 of his opium-haunted dreams are not less admir- 
 able than the pomp and refinement of the 
 language in which he clothes these weird and 
 wondrous visions.
 
 EMERSON, RALPH WALDO. 
 
 ESSAYS. Portrait Study by Frank 
 Brangwyn, A.R.A. Two Vols. i8mo, 
 cloth, top edge gilt, 3s. net; or limp 
 leather, top edge gilt, 4s. net; or 
 stamped leather, gilt edges, 5s. net. 
 
 A liandy Pocket Edition of these celebrated 
 Essays, which should be read for their iiispiring 
 iriflueiice, their stimulus to high thought and 
 endeavour, and the noble manhood "which per- 
 vades them, as well as for their singular and 
 distinctive beauty of expression, delicate wit, 
 and variety of unexpected suggestion.
 
 ERASMUS DESIDERIUS. 
 
 COLLOQUIES CONCERNING 
 
 MEN, MANNERS, AND THINGS. 
 Translated by N. Bailey, and Edited, 
 with Notes, by the Rev. E. Johnson, 
 M.A. Three Vols. fcap. 8vo, 7s. 6d. 
 net. 
 
 
 
 
 
 DESIDERIUS 
 
 tJlASMUS 
 
 
 »r n #>'(! r 
 
 "Z.T' 
 
 — ■■■r- 
 
 
 
 
 litis is a reprint in a convenient form of the 
 best Edition of Erasmtis's most famous ivork. 
 It is a 7nine of information concerning ^^ Men, 
 Manners, and Things,'" and the conditions of 
 life at the period of the Reformation.
 
 ERASMUS DESIDERIUS. 
 
 IN PRAISE OF FOLLY. With 
 Life and his Epistle to Sir Thomas 
 More. With Illustrations after Hans 
 Holbein. Fcap. 8vo, 2s. 6d. net. 
 
 ' ' In this satire, written in the full maturity 
 of his powers, we have Erasmus in his happiest 
 and most distinctive vein, as the man of letters 
 and general critic.'''' The very mimerous and 
 curious cuts inserted in the text are a feature 
 of this Edition.
 
 HERRICK, ROBERT. 
 
 HESPERIDES. THE POEMS 
 AND OTHER REMAINS. Edited 
 by W. Carew Hazlitt. Two Vols, 
 fcap. 8vo, buckram, top edge gilt, 
 5s. net. 
 
 In addition to his festive and amatory spirit, 
 we are charmed with his pictures of country 
 life and manners, old customs, and popular 
 superstitions, and wild playful incursions into 
 Fairyland. The versatility of Hemck in 
 catching the spirit of Catullus, of Anacreori, of 
 Horace, or the pathos of Tibullus, give a varied 
 charm to his Vohim.es.
 
 HOMER. 
 
 THE ILIADS AND ODYSSEYS 
 OF HOMER. Never before in any 
 language truly translated. Done ac- 
 cording to the Greek by George 
 Chapman, with Introduction and 
 Notes by the Rev. Richard Hooper, 
 M.A. Four Vols, wide fcap. 8vo, 
 buckram extra, top edge gilt, ids. net. 
 
 Coleridge says : ' ' Chapmari "writes and feels 
 
 as a poety — as Homer might have written had 
 
 he lived in England in the reign of Queen 
 
 Elisabeth.'' 
 
 " Oft of one wide expanse had I been told, 
 That deep-brow d Homer rul'd as his demesne ; 
 Yet did I never breathe its pure serene. 
 Till I heard Chapman speak out lotid and bold." 
 
 Kea ts.
 
 LESAGE, ALAIN RENE. 
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF GIL 
 BLAS OF SANTILLANA. Trans- 
 lated by Henri van Laun, with 
 Introduction, Life, and Notes. 21 
 Photogravures from the original 
 etchings by Ad. Lalauze. Four 
 Volumes, fcap. 8vo, ids. net. 
 
 This copyright Trayislation is without doubt 
 the best obtainable. None can read the story 
 without fiiiding in it one of the deepest criticisms 
 of life ever penned ; of vivid character-paintings 
 penetrating observation, lavish inventiveness, 
 and vivacity, the book is full. The Illustrations 
 are a great feature of this Edition, being more 
 numerous than in any other book published at 
 this price ; admirably Spanish in tone and 
 full of life.
 
 MALORY, Sir THOMAS. 
 
 THE HISTORY OF KING ARTHUR 
 AND OF THE KNIGHTS OF THE 
 ROUND TABLE. Edited from the 
 Text of the Edition of 1634, with 
 Introduction and Notes by Thomas 
 Wright. Three Vols. fcap. 8vo, buck- 
 ram extra, top edge gilt, los. 6d. 
 
 «Mi Ml 
 
 •ouno t*BL« ■, Mxnuo ar $IB 
 1H0HAS H*l-OB> . kOIIiO fRCa 
 
 Tut Tin or tnr DDiTioH or •*)« 
 
 Villi IKTaOOOtTIO* AKO BOTU 
 er rHOMAl WUCH* I LOkDOW 
 
 CIMINU «HO COHMHT MHITtD 
 lit Tntlt MN.Ut>(3 VObOMI 0M« 
 
 These romajices are full of life and activity^ 
 and so77ie knowledge of them is absolutely 
 necessary for those who woidd understand the 
 Middle Ages, 
 
 ' ' hidisputahly the best prose romance the 
 language can boast.''^ — Sir Walter Scott.
 
 MARGARET OF NAVARRE. 
 
 THE HEMPTAMERON. Newly 
 Translated into English from the 
 Authentic Text of M. Le Roux de 
 Lincy. With an Essay upon the 
 Heptameron by Geo. Saintsbury, M.A. 
 73 full-page Plates designed by S. 
 Freudenburg. Five Vols. fcap. 8vo, 
 cloth extra, I2s. 6d. net. 
 
 This Edition has been made without the slightest 
 suppression or abridgment^ and contai?is all the 
 more valuable Notes to be found in the best 
 French Editions. The Illustrations are repro- 
 duced from, the actual copperplates e7igraved 
 for the Berne Edition. 
 
 * ' As a critic^ and allowing fully for the per- 
 sonal equation^ I think that it deserves a far 
 higher place than is generally accorded to it.'''' 
 
 Professor Saintsbury.
 
 MONTESQUIEU. 
 
 PERSIAN LETTERS. Translated 
 by John Davidson, Author of "Scara- 
 mouch in Naxos," etc. Illustrated by 
 Etchings by E. de Beaumont. Three 
 Vols. fcap. 8vo, cloth extra, 7s. 6d. 
 net. 
 
 Mo7itesqtiieti, the author of perhaps the 
 greatest French book of the eighteenth century, 
 ^'■n Esprit des Lois," has iii this book made a 
 study for that -work ; a sketch, as perfect a work 
 of art as the coynpleted picture, although it 
 contains what he himself described as '■^certain 
 juvenilia y 
 
 The former Edition of this Translation was 
 privately pnnted.
 
 OMAR KHAYYAM RUBAiyAT. 
 
 Translated by Edward Fitzgerald. 
 With his Life of the Author and 
 Notes. Introductory Essay "Of 
 Persian Poetry" by Joseph Jacobs. 
 Ornamental Borders and Illustrations 
 by Frank Brangwyn, A.R.A. i8mo, 
 cloth, top edge gilt, is. 6d. net; or 
 limp leather, top edge gilt, 2s. net; 
 or stamped leather, gilt edges, 2s. 6d. 
 net. 
 
 Of the -works of the '■'■Astronomer Poet of 
 Persia,^^ innumerable editions are on sale from 
 one penny to four guineas, but this Editiofi has 
 features of its own, and will be found to be the 
 prettiest published. A few copies {lOo) will be 
 printed on imperial Japan vellum, ^s. net, and 
 ^o on real India paper, ys. 6d. net. For these 
 early application should be made.
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN'S 
 VISION AND CREED. Edited from 
 a Contemporary Manuscript, with a 
 Historical Introduction, Notes, and a 
 Glossary by Thomas Wright, M.A., 
 F.S.A Two Vols. fcap. 8vo, buck- 
 ram extra, top edge gilt, 5s. net. 
 
 '* This remarkable Poem is not only so inter- 
 esting a monument of the English language 
 and literature., but it is also so iniporta7it an 
 illustration of the political history of our country 
 during the fourteenth ce7itu7y, that it deserves 
 to be read far more generally than it has been." 
 
 Editor's Preface.
 
 RABELAIS, FRANgOIS: 
 
 WORKS. Translated by Sir Thomas 
 Urquhart and Peter Motteux, with 
 the Notes of Duchat, Ozell, and 
 others. Introduction and Revision 
 by Alfred Wallis. Portrait and Illus- 
 trations in Photogravure. Five Vols, 
 fcap. 8vo, I2S. 6d. net. 
 
 Of the author it is enough to quote the 
 opinion of Coleridge : " / could write a treatise 
 in praise of the moral elevation of Rabelais' 
 •work "which would make the Church stare and 
 the Conventicle groan, and yet would he truth 
 and nothing but truth. I class Rabelais with 
 the greatest creative minds of the world — Shake- 
 speare, Dante, Cervantes, etc.'''' As to the 
 Translation, it is accounted by the best judges 
 to be the most perfect version of atiy author.
 
 RABELAIS, FRANgOIS: 
 
 WORKS. The Translation of Sir 
 Thomas Urquhart and Motteux. Re- 
 vised, and with a Life of the Author, 
 by William Maccall. Portrait Study 
 by Frank Brangwyn, A.RA., and 
 Illustrations from the "Songes Dro- 
 latiques de Pantagruel." Three Vols. 
 i8mo, 4s. 6d. net ; or limp leather, top 
 edge gilt, 6s. net ; or stamped leather, 
 gilt edges, 7s. 6d. net. 
 
 This text differs Jroni that published by us in 
 Five Volumes, in that it has been thoroughly 
 revised by the Editor, not with prudish intent, 
 but to pni7ie the verbal redundance. 
 
 The very curious Illustrations {iS^s) o-^e still 
 good '■'■pour la recreation des bons esprits,^'' 
 thoiigh no longer thmight to be the work of 
 Rabelais himself.
 
 SAINTE-BEUVE. 
 
 ESSAYS ON MEN AND WOMEN 
 PORTRAITS OF MEN POR- 
 TRAITS OF WOMEN. Edited, 
 with a Critical Memoir, by William 
 Sharp. Numerous Portraits. Three 
 Vols. fcap. 8vo, 7s, 6d net. 
 
 
 
 
 •^■>^':^: '^^^ 
 
 
 These Essays of the greatest of all critics — 
 the sovereign critic — should be welcome as 
 giving the English reader not merely some 
 coynprehension of the intellecttial range and 
 insight of Sainte-Betive, but some idea also of 
 his grace of style and individual charm.
 
 SELDEN, JOHN. 
 
 TABLE TALK. To which is added 
 Spare Minutes, or Resolved Medita- 
 tions and Premeditated Resolutions, 
 by Arthur Warwick. Biographical 
 Preface and Notes by S. W. Singer, 
 F.S.A. Fcap. 8vo, buckram, top edge 
 gilt, 2s. 6d. net. 
 
 There are few volumes of its size so pregnant 
 ivith sense, combined rmith the most profound 
 learning, it is impossible to open it without 
 findifig some impoHant fact or discussion, some- 
 thing practically useful and applicable to the 
 business of life. The Volume has a fine en- 
 graved Portrait of the Author a?id reproductions 
 of early titles, etc.
 
 SMOLLETT, TOBIAS: WORKS 
 
 Comprising — Roderick Random, 3 
 Vols. ; Peregrine Pickle, 4 Vols. ; 
 Count Fathom, 2 Vols. ; Sir Launce- 
 lot Greaves, i Vol. ; Humphry Clinker, 
 2 Vols. Edited by Prof. Saintsbury, 
 and Illustrated by Frank Richards. 
 The Set of 12 Volumes, or each Novel 
 sold separately. Size, fcap. 8vo. Price, 
 2s. 6d. per Volume, net. 
 
 This cliwrnihig set, which has been several 
 times reprinted, is far and away the best for 
 those who want to read this Author, and as 
 the Editor says : ' ' Smollett is delightful, aiid 
 ' Huynphry Clinker ' is fresh after a dozen 
 perusals spread over thrice a dozen years' 
 Thackeray gives to " Clinker'''' the palm among 
 laughable stories since the art of novel-writing 
 was invented. Leigh Hunt calls Smollett the 
 finest of all caricaturists.
 
   1 
 
 VOLTAIRE, FRAN go IS 
 
 MARIE AROUET. CANDIDE; or, 
 All for the Best. A New Translation. 
 Edited by Walter Jerrold, with 
 Vignettes by Adrien Moreau. i8mo, 
 cloth, top edge gilt, is. 6d. ; or limp 
 leather, top edge gilt, 2s. ; or stamped 
 leather, gilt edges, 2s. 6d. 
 
 i3-: 
 
 -o 
 
 ,ii 
 qr 
 if 
 .b 
 
 A very satisfactory Edition of one of the wittiest 
 •>yoks in the world. Good type and paper and 
 Arming Illustrations in this case set off an 
 xellent Translation. 
 
 V 
 
 ^Of the hook itself, M. Sarcey says : " We do 
 >t know what future centuries will cherish of 
 e eighty "volumes he wrote, but we inuy rest 
 sured that if all his labours fall in ruins and 
 rish, one little story will live through all timcy 
 Jajtdide.^"
 
 WORDSWORTH, WILLIAM. 
 
 LYRICS AND SONNETS. Selecte- 
 and Edited by Clement K. Shorte 
 with an Introduction and Bibli 
 graphical Note and Portrait Study b 
 Frank Brangwyn, A.R.A. i8mo, clot^ 
 top edge gilt, is. 6d. net; or lin 
 leather, top edge gilt, 2s. net; c 
 stamped leather, gilt edges, 2s. 6; 
 net. 
 
 In the present selection an attempt is ma 
 to classify the Poems otherwise than accordi, 
 to their date of composition or form of verse, 
 is desired to emphasise the fact that Wordswo} 
 is not alone the poet of nature., hut that., next 
 the three unapproachable masters of mode 
 poetry — Dante, Shakespeare, and Goethe — he 
 the poet of human life.
 
 ANNOUNCEMENTS. 
 
 JANE AUSTEN'S NOVELS. 
 
 Twelve Vols. fcap. 8vo. 
 MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYS. Six 
 
 Vols. i8mo. 
 These are in active preparation, and 
 we hope to issue before long. Ad- 
 vance orders can now be booked.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
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