Two hundred epigrammes, vpon two hundred prouerbes with a thyrde hundred newely added and made by Iohn Heywood.

Of playne fashyn. i.

THe playne fashyn is best, what playne withowt pleates That fashyn commendth the calfe when it bleates.

Othervvyse.

The playne fashyn in best, and accepted beste In thynges that please hearers but not in the rest.

Otrhevvyse.

The playne fashyn is best, thats trewly exprest Where fashyners of playne fashyns are honest.

Of hym that cumth last. ii.

He that cumth last make all fast, to this say sum All is made fast ere the last cummer cum.

Othervvyse.

He that cumth last make all fast Who shall make hym fast that cumth last.

Of Stryuynge. iii.

He stryueth ageynst the streme, by custums scoole That stryuer is eyther a fyshe or a foole.

Of Syttynge. iiii.

Better syt styll then ryse and fall If all fayle ye may hange when ye shall.

Of vvrytynge to frendes. v.

Ye may wryte to yowre frendes that ye are in helth Who may wryte to his frendes that he is in welth.

Of greate Clarkes: vi.

The greatest clarkes be not the wysest men Be smaule lernd or vnlernd fooles wysest then.

Of Kyllynge. vii.

He wyll kyll a man for a messe of mustard He wyll kyl ten men then for a custard.

Of Falshed. viii.

There is falshed in felowship, there is so The felowship is small els as the worlde doth go:

Othervvyse.

There is falshed in felowship, no wander Falshed and felowship are seeld a sunder.

Of Bleedyng. ix.

Here lythe all and bleadth, all, thats fals and foolysh, Thou neuer sawst blood bleed owt of a stokfysh.

Of Seynge. x.

Seest me and seest me not, both one thing for soth As good vnsene as sene whose syght no good doth.

Of Ils. xi.

Of two Ils chose the least, of yls many The least is to great to chose any.

Othervvyse.

Of two Ils choose the least, may we choose yls now, Thoose on choosers the lyke choyse neuer had yow.

Of Pepper. xii.

Thou takst pepper in the nose, and yet thy nose, Lookth not blak lyke pepper, but red lyke the rose.

Othervvyse.

Thou takst pepper in the nose which nedyth not, Thy nose withowt pepper is fyry red what.

Othervvyse.

Thou takst pepper in the nose which so sesend Shewth thy nose better sesond then thy hed reson••d.

Of An yll stake. xiii.

An yl stake that can not stand one yere in a hege If the stake selfe fayle, the stake is as ye alege But yf stake stoobbers wyl not let staks stand Blame not the stake, blame the stake stoobers hand.

Of Suffraunce. xiiii.

Suffrans is no quyrtans, but suffryng to longe, Showth much lyke a quyttans in sustryng of wrong.

Of Mysrecknynge. xv.

Mysreknynge is no payment, yes as doth fall In sum reckners, mysrecknynge is payment all.

Othervvyse.

Mysrecknynge is no payment, to auoyde that, Sum decters with theyr credytours recken nat.

Of Euen Recknynge. xvi.

Euyn recknyng makth long frends Do recknyng makth many feends.

Of Takynge. xvii.

I wyll take as falth in the sheafe, where euer it fall In the sheafe or owt of the sheafe thou takste all.

Of Mum. xviii.

Mum is councel in euery man we see But mum except, nothynge is councell in thee.

Of stoppynge a mouth. xix.

He shall not stop my mouth, no Nan I thynke that I beleue all the deuyls in hel stopth it nat.

Of Castynge. xx.

He is cast in his owne turne, that is lykly And yet in all turnes he turnth wonders quikly.

Of Iack. xxi.

He is Iack owte of office, curtsy withdrawe Iack once owt of office all hayle Iack dawe.

Of the vvynkynge Cat. xxii.

Let the cat wynke and let the mowse run, run myse Or els the cats clawes wyll catch yow at a tryse.

Othervvyse.

Let the cat wynke and let the mouse run, run rats Smaule holes hepe smaule myse from wyly wynkyng cats.

Othervvyse.

Let the cat wynke and let the mowse run, crepe mouse crepe Run not before cats that wynke more then they stepe.

Of sayinge Nay. xxiii.

Say nay and take it, ye say nay and take it But say nay or say ye neuer forsake it.

Othervvyse.

Say nay and take it, here me say this othynge Say nother ye nor nay, takte and say nothynge.

Of the pye and crovve. xxiiii.

Not to hye for the pye nor to lowe for the crowe Hye pyes made lowe crowes we haue Iuowe I trowe.

Of sayinge naught but mum. xxv.

I wyll say nought but mum Thou showst the more wyt sum.

Othervvyse.

I wyll say nought but mum, that I beseche. Mum hath a grace in the fer more then speche.

Of Toonge and vvyt. xxvi.

Thy toonge runth before thy wyt, thats no rashe rase For so may it run, runnynge but a snayle pace.

Of Ovvne. xxvii.

Owne is owne Whers owne knowne.

Othervvyse.

Owne is owne, these wordes I speke with eyes wepynge: For all myne owne is in other mens kepynge.

But good is that eyches where it is heape That from thowner by no meanes can be keape.

Of Spynnynge. xxviii.

She hath spun a fayre threede, which showth in deede That a fowle spynner may spyn a fayre threede.

Of laughynge. xxix.

They lawgh that wyn, falsly to wyn and keepe Wynners may lawgh when they haue cause to weepe.

Othervvyse.

They lawgh that wyn, by theft to wyn and kepe Theeues at stealyng lawgh, theeues at hangyng wepe.

Of Pleyinge. xxx.

He pleyth best that wyns, that deny I wyll Many pleyers wyn much that pley very yll.

Othervvyse.

Be pleyth best that wyns, there is a lye runnyng Many wyn much, much more by hap then cunnyng.

Of the vvynde blovvyng. xxxi.

Let this wynd ouer blow, when ouer blow This wynd wyl ouer blow vs fyrst I crow.

Of for and nye. xxxii.

I haue seene as far come as ny, come no nere The serder thow arte hence the bectyr is it here.

Of thynstep. xxxiii.

He is hye in thynstep, his steps may be hye, But to stepe in good steps he stepth nothyng nye.

Of smaule and greate, xxxiiii.

Many smaul make a greate, and sum great made small, Thow hadst great good maners, and thou haste none at all.

Of the keyse. xxxv.

The keyse hang not all by one mans gyrdle, no Euery hey hath a clog, who wolde be clogd so.

Of prouender. xxxvi.

His prouender prykth hym, pryk hym godsforbod What is his prouender, pynnes by lykesyhod.

Othervvyse.

His prouender prykth hym, wheare grew that corne. Pryking prouender as yl as botes borne.

Othervvyse.

His prouender prykth hym, that hors must nede stur Prikt, with in with prouender, withowt with spur.

Of sum here and theare. xxxvii.

Here sum and theare sum, ye here and theare sum: But most when and most wheare no sum doth cum.

Of the Persons Lemman. xxxviii.

She is as tendyr as a persons leman, Pacions lemans are towgh inowgh now and than.

Of yll vveede. xxxix.

Ill weede growth fast, it groweth fast in deede The corne can scantly growe for the weede.

Othervvyse.

Ill weede growth fast, that is showyng In the show of thy fast growyng.

Of Synckynge. xl.

He shall synke in his owne sinne, ye when he synkth But he steetth in his owne sin yet me thynkth.

Of good syluer. xli.

She thynkth her farthyng good fyluer. but trust me She is quycke syluer what euer her farthyng be.

Of the proude Cock. xlii.

Euery cocke is proude on his owne dounghyll The hen is proude inough there marke who wyll.

Of fat in the fyre. xliii.

The fat is in the fyre, that is a shrowde turne Cast the leane after, fat and leane let all burne.

Of bovve bent. xliiii.

I haue the bent of his bowe, that I knowe What bolts shootst thou from that bow, fooles bolts I trow

Of gods beinge. xlv.

God is where he was. ye but so art not thow Thou were abrode late and art in newgate now.

Of Kynsfolke. xlvi.

Many kynsfolke fewe freendes Fewe freendes and many feendes.

Of Frendshippe, xlvii.

A frende is neuer knowne tyll a man haue neede Nor then nother for ony I know in deede.

Of Nothynge. xlviii.

Where nothynge is the kynge must leese his ryght Where althynge is there ryght is lost by myght.

Of Pouertie. xlix.

Pouertie partth felowship, thats not trewe euer Pouertie in beggers partth felowship neuer.

Of Eares glovvyng. l.

Thyne eares may glowe, lets se whether they glowe Ion I lye thyne eares can not glowe for thou hast non.

Of Post and Pyller. li.

Tost from post to pyller, thou art a pyller stronge And thou hast byn a pyller sum say to louge.

Of may be. lii.

Be as be may is no bannynge But be as be shall hath much scannynge.

Of Vse. liii.

Vse makth mastry, that is a trewe tale to tell In that vse hath made the pycke a purse so well.

Of Spurnynge. liiii.

Folly to spurne or kyck ageynst the harde wall Being shod with eakebread, that spurner marth all.

Othervvyse.

Folly to spurne or kyck ageynst the hard wall But ageynst soft wals spucuers spurne and kyck all.

Of Tyinge the bell. lv.

Who shall tye the bell abowt the cats neck how, Not I quoth the mowse, for a thyng that I know.

Of had I vvyst. lvi.

Beware of had I wyst wyfe, oh man tys to late To beware therof syus thou were my wedded mate.

Of Dauncying. lvii.

He dauncth atendaunce, are atendantes dauncyng, Then haue we much dauncyng with small auaunsyng.

Of the eat eatyng fyshe. lviii.

The cat wold eate fysh: but she wyll not weate her feete She thinkth fleshe with day feete more swete then fyshe with weete.

Of the blynde. lix.

The blynde eath many a fly, that we fynde The••ly where caruers to the blynde are blynde.

Of the vvorst and best. lx.

Prouyde for the worst, the best wyll saue it selfe For that sauyng syde thou art a suetyll elfe.

Of al kynds of thyngs thow hast proushin prest For thy neyghbour the wurst, for thy selfe the best.

Of. v. egges. lxi.

He cumth in with his .v. egges, what egge to cal Hen eggs, goose eggs, or ducke egges, nay dawes egges al.

Of dymyng. lxii.

He that neuer clymbd neuer fel, sum men clyme For douys nests and fynde dawes nestes sum tyme.

Of the vvey. lxiii.

It is owt of my wey, so it lyghtly mey To al good thyngs thy wey is owce of the wey.

Of vvayting, lxiiii.

He waytyth for the mone shyne in the water Such waytyng such wyknyng thats a meete mater.

Of Ryme. lxv

It may ryme but it acordth not, cordth not wyl Beware of cordyng rymes those rymes agree yl.

Of fisshyng. lxvi.

It is yl fysshyng before the net Wurs fysshing be hynd as nets are set.

Of good, lxvii.

He knowth none end of his good, mark his wynnyng He knowth of hys good none ende, nor begynnyng.

Of the hot Iron. lxviii.

When the Iron is hot stryke, stryke hot Iron and steele. But gold or syluer to stryke we haue no deele.

Of the Purse, lxix.

Thy purse is threed bare, we se on the owt syde And more bare on the in syde when both sydes are tryde.

Of many Handes, lxx.

Many handes make lyght warke, many handes ye marke Ye must say thus. many lyght hands make lyght warke.

Othervvyse.

Many hands make lyght worke, no worke is finde the Thou canst not worke thy hands be bounde behynde the.

Of the loth flake. lxxi,

The loth stake standth longe, we haue many loth stakes Ech stake welny to other it selfe, loth makes.

Othervvyse.

The loth stake standth longe, in some place, but some hande Pluckth vp all stakes, suffrynge no stake longe to stande.

Of Hauynge, lxxii.

Better to haue then wyshe, nay ye may so craue, That better to wyshe ten tymes then once to haue.

Othervvyse.

Better to haue then wyshe, not alway cosyn What yf ye rashely wysht strypes nowe a dosyn.

Othervvyse.

Better to haue then wyshe. better haue as we haue Then to haue at wyshe all that wyshers wolde craue.

Of Councell. lxxiii.

Three may kepe councell if twayne be away But one foole doth oft his owne councell bewray.

Othervvyse.

Three may kepe councell if twayne be away Sum women I here say, that saying denay.

Of Rome. lxxiiii.

Rome was not bylt on one day, that is well knowne Nor in one day Rome wyll not be ouerthrowne. For where Rome semd puld downe in one day brother There is Rome set vp ageyne in an other.

Of Speeche. lxxv.

Spare to speake spare to speede Doome men wyn nought in deede And speech as speeche may fall May wyn nought, and leesde all.

Of one had in the vvynde. lxxvi.

I haue hym in the wynde, wel syr is it your mynde To haue hym in the wynde, or hange him in the wynde.

Of one yll shod. lxxvii.

Who is worse shod then is the shomakers wyfe The deuyls wyfe, she was neuer shod in her lyfe.

Of all and naught. lxxviii.

He wold al haue and naught for go, no, He may all forgo and naught haue so,

Of vvarnyng. lxxix.

I gaue hym scarborow warnyng, scarborow That warnyng ca•••• short to bryng good harborow.

Of byrdes flovvne. lxxx.

The byrdes are flowne, that byrdes nest was yl wacht Byrdes wynges ons full sumd byrdes wyll hardly he cache

Othervvyse.

The byrds are flowne, flowne that flight no wonder brings Byrds may sone ••e wheare byrders clyp no byrds wyngs.

Of leauynge. lxxxi.

Leaue it or it leaue yow, leaue what folly, He can neuer leaue it nor it hym wholly.

Of settyng in foote. lxxxii.

He hath set in foote, thyngs by wyt to be sped His foote shall do secuyce as good as his hed.

Othervvyse.

I wyll set in foote, frende thou mayst set in fyt Foote hand & hed but thou canst set in no wyt.

Of fast byndyng. lxxxiii.

Fast bynd fast fynd, nay thou weare prentyse fast bownde And yet ranst thow a way where thou couldst not be founde.

Of Hap. lxxxiiii.

Happy man happy dolt, so say sycke and hole, But good hap is deintie, most men haue feelde good dole.

Othervvyse.

Happy man happy dolt, hap is full of holes, Hap catcheth and holdeth very few doles.

Of Tyme. lxxxv.

Take tyme when tyme comth, we are oftymes tolde of it, But when tyme cumth yet can we take no holde of it.

Othervvyse.

Take tyme when tyme cumth, asay to be holde of it, But slyper as an eeles tayle is the holde of it.

Othervvyse.

Take tyme when tyme cumth are we set tyme to take? Beware tyme, in meane tyme, take not vs in brake,

Othervvyse.

Take time when time cumth, when time cumth thou saist wel But when cumth good tyme to take, I can not tell.

Of the fat hog. lxxxvi.

Euery man basteth the fat hog, nay freende nay, Mast faylth sore this yere fat hogs pyne away.

Othervvyse.

Euery man bastyth the fat hog, tis agreed That those hogs shall haue most help that haue least need.

Of the bale and boote. lxxxvii.

When bale is hekst, boote is next, though boote be nye. What helpyth boote, where bale is euer moste hye.

Of Sovves. lxxxviii.

As meete as asowe to beare a saddle Iohn. A sowe to beare a saddle, we haue seene none, But though sowes beare no saddles yet may we say We see saddles beare sowes wel ny euery day.

Of makynge a Crosse. lxxxix.

I wyll make a crosse vpon this gate, ye crosse on Thy crosses be one gates all, in thy purse none.

Of a pad. xc.

It wyll breede apad in the strawe, very weele, Beware it breede not a padlocke on thy heele.

Of long standynge. xci.

Longe standyng and small offryng makth poore parsons, Long wayghtyng and small wages makth poor garsons.

Of the vveaker. xcii.

The weaker goth to the pot, ye, and god wot, Sum the weaker for ofte goyng to the pot.

Of Catchyng. xciii.

Catch that catch may, after catchyng and snatchyng, Pyllyng and pollyng, we fall now to patchyng.

Of Holdynge. xciiii.

Holde fast when ye haue it, if it be not thyne, Holde fast and run fast when thou hast it freend myne.

Of Knovvledge. xcv.

I know him as well as the begger knowth his bag. Thou knowst him, but when wilt thou know thy selfe wag.

Of Smellyng. xcvi.

I smeld him out, furder then he might smell thee. The smeller of smellers then, thou art euyn hee.

Of nought layde dovvne. xcvii.

Nought lay downe nought take vp. wel sayde, Nought ly downe nought ryse vp. wel wayde.

Of syght and fare. xcviii.

Ye see your fare, a very straunge fare to see, A blinde man may see our fare as well as wee.

Of the Pot not broken. xcix,

Neither pot broken nor water spylt, water Thou spilst none, but thou spylst all other mater.

Of late and neuer. C.

Better late then neuer, ye mate, But as good neuer as to late.

Othervvyse.

Better late then neuer. That is not trew euer, Sum thynges to rule in rate. Better neuer then late.

FINIS.