A collection of English proverbs digested into a convenient method for the speedy finding any one upon occasion : with short annotations : whereunto are added local proverbs with their explications, old proverbial rhythmes, less known or exotick proverbial sentences, and Scottish proverbs / by J. Ray, M.A. and Fellow of the Royal Society.

Miscellany Proverbiall Sayings.

• PUt a miller, a weaver and a tailour in a bag, and shake them, the first that comes out will be a thief.
• Harry's children of Leigh, never an one like another.
• A Seaman if he carries a millstone will have a quait out of it. Spoken of the common ma∣riners, if they can come at things that may be eat or drunk.
• Go here away, go there away, quoth Madge Whitworth, when she rode the mare i'th'tedder.
• There's strushion, i. e. destruction, of honey, quoth Dunkinly when he lickt up the hen∣turd.
• I kill'd her for good will, said Scot, when he kill'd his neighbours mare.
• Gip with an ill rubbing, quoth Badger when his mare kickt.

  This is a ridiculous expression, used to people that are pettish and froward.

• He's a Hot shot in a mustard pot, when both his heels stand right up.
• Three dear years will raise a bakers daughter to a portion. 'Tis not the smalness of the bread, but the knavery of the baker.
• I hope better quoth Benson, when his wife bade him come in cuckold.
• One, two, three, four, are just half a score.
• I'll make him fly up with Jacksons hens. i. e. un∣do him:
• So when a man is broke, or undone, we say he is blown up.
• I'll make him water his horse at High-gate.

  i. e. I'll sue him, and make him take a journey up to London.

• What have I to doe with Bradshaws windmill? Leycester.
• What have I to do with other mens matters?
• He that would have good luck in horses, must kiss the Parsons wife.
• He that snites his nose, and hath it not, forfeits his face to the King.
• A man can do no more then he can.
• ...It's an ill guest that never drinks to his host. Run tap run tapster.

  This is said of a tapster that drinks so much himself, and is so free of his drink to others that he is fain to run away.

• He hath got the fiddle, but not the stick.

• ...

  i. e. The books but not the learning, to make use of them, or the like.

• That's the way, to catch the old one on the nest.
• This must be if we brew.

  That is if we undertake mean and sordid, or lucrative employments, we must be content with some trouble, in∣convenience, affronts, disturbance, &c.

Proverbiall Periphrases of one drunk.

HE's disguised. He has got a piece of bread and cheese in's head. He has drunk more then he has bled. He has been i'th' Sun. He has a jagg or load. He has got a dish. He has got a cup too much. He is one and thirty. He is dag'd. He has cut his leg. He is afflicted. He is top-heavy. The malt is above the water. As drunk as a wheelbarrow. He makes indentures with his legs. He's well to live. He's about to cast up his reckoning or accompts. He has made an example. He is concerned. He is as drunk as Davids sow. He has stollen a manchet out of the brewers basket. He's raddled. He is very weary. He drank till he gave up his half-penny, i. e. vomited.

Proverbiall Phrases and Sentences belonging to drink and drinking.

LIck your dish. Wind up your bottome. Play off your dust. Hold up your dagger hand. Make a pearl on your nail. To bang the pitcher. There's no deceit in a brimmer. Sup Simon the best is at the bottom. Ale that would make a cat to speak. Fill what you will, and drink what you fill. He hath pist out all he hath against the walls: She's not a good house-wife that will not wind up her bottom, i. e. take off her drink.

One that hath the Fr. Pox.

HE has been at Haddam. He has got the Crinckams. He is pepper'd. He is not pepper-proof. He has got a Kentish ague. He has got the new consumption. He has got a clap. He has got a blow over the nose with a French cowlstaff. He is Frenchified. The Covent-garden ague. The Barnwell ague.

To make water. &c.

TO make a little maids water. To water the Marigolds. To speak with a maid. To gather a rose. To look upon the wall.

A Lier.

HE deserves the whetstone. He'll not let any body lye by him. He shall have the kings horse. He's a long-bow-man. He lies as fast as a dog can trot.

A great Lie.

THat was laid on with a trowel. That's a loud one. That's a lie with a witness; a lie with a latchet. That sticks in's throat. If a lie could have choked him, that would have done it. The dam of that was a whisker.

A Bankrupt.

HE's all to pieces. He has sh.....i'th' plum-bag. He's blown up. He has shut up shop∣windows. He dare not shew his head. He hath swallowed a spider. He hath shewn them a fair pair of heels. He is marched off. He goes on's last legs. He is run off his legs.

A Wencher.

HE loves lac't mutton. He'll run at sheep. He'll commit poultry. He'll have a bit for's cat. He keeps a cast of Merlins. Men of his hair are seen oftner at the B...court then at the gallows.

A Whore.

SHe's like a cat, she'll play with her tail. She's as right as my leg. A light-skirts. A kind∣hearted soul. She's loose i'th' hilts. A Lady of pleasure. As errant a wh..... as ever pist. A Cockatrice. A Leman. Shee's as common as a barbers chair. As common as the high way. She lyes backward and lets out her fore-rooms. She is neither wife, widow, nor maid.

A covetous person.

HIs money comes from him like drops of blood. He'l flay a flint. He'l not lose the droppings of his nose. He serves the poor with a thump on the back with a stone. He'll dress an egg, and give the offall to the poor. He's like a swine, never good untill he come to the knife. Avarus nisi cùm moritur nil recte facit. Lab. His purse is made of a toads skin.

Proverbiall Phrases relating to several trades.

THe smith hath always a spark in's throat. The smith and his penny are both black. Nine Taylours make a man. Coblers law, he that takes

• money must pay the shot. To brew in a bottle and bake in a bag. The Devil would have been a weaver but for the Temples. The gentle craft. S. Hughs bones. A Hangman is a good trade, he doth his work by day-light. It is good to be sure. Toll it again quoth the miller. Any tooth good Barber. A horse-doctour, i. e. a farrier. He should be a ba••er by's bow-legs. Take all and pay the baker. He drives a subtill trade.