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BOUGHT  WITH  THE  INCOME 
FROM  THE 

SAGE  ENDOWMENT  FUND 

THE  GIFT  OF 

Hettrg  W,  Sage 

1891 


4./.z.;?..7,g//^. ^.^ 


5474 


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http://www.archive.org/details/cu31 924091 772693 


LEAN'S  3C0LLECTANE  A. 


-^^^^^tl/^  ^^^^^-'^'^^A^ 


%tan'&  Collectanea 


COLLECTIONS 


Vincent  Stuckey  Lean 


proverbs  (EngUsb  S.  foreign),  f  olft  Xore,  anb  Superstitions, 

also  Compilations  towar&s  2)ictionaries  or  proverbial 

pbrases  anb  Morbs,  olb  anb  bisuseb. 


Vol.  L 


BRISTOL 
J.  W.  Arrowsmith,  II  Quay  Street 

LONDON 
SlMPKlN,  Marshall,  Hamilton,  Kent  and  Company  Limited 

igo2 


^y^^lf 


r\^\'X\'^v 


PREFATORY    NOTE. 


The  MSS.  of  Mr.  V.  S.  Lean  have,  in  accordance  with  the 
directions  of  his  will,  been  offered  by  his  Executors  to,  and 
accepted  by,  the  Trustees  of  the  British  Museum.  Some 
of  the  beneficiaries  under  his  will  have  thought  that  the 
devoted  labour  of  so  many  years  should  be  accessible 
to  a  larger  number  of  students  and  others  interested 
in  Proverbs  and  Folk-lore  than  would  be  the  case  did  his 
work  remain  open  only  to  those  who  would  frequent  the 
British  Museum.  They  determined,  with  the  sanction  of 
Mr.  James  Lean,  one  of  the  Executors,  to  print  parts  of 
the  MSS. ;  and  they  have  gratefully  to  acknowledge  the 
kindness  and  courtesy  of  the  Trustees  of  the  British 
Museum  in  allowing  such  portions  to  be  printed. 

The  time,  however,  allowed  for  this  could  only  of  necessity 
be  limited,  and  it  was  therefore  possible  to  do  little  more  than 
print  the  MSS.  as  they  were  left  by  Mr.  Lean  :  as  the  whole 
work  practically  consists  of  quotations,  it  would  have  been 
impossible  to  verify  them  unless  a  very  considerable  length  of 
time  was  available  for  that  purpose.  The  reader  should  bear 
this  in  mind  if  any  parts  of  the  work  appear  to  him  without 
form  or  arrangement.  Had  Mr.  Lean  revised  the  work  for 
printing,  he  would  probably  have  done  much  in  the  way  of 
arrangement  and  collocation. 

The  use  of  the  term  "  Editor  "  may  therefore  be  deemed 
a  presumption  on  the  part  of  him  who  has  seen  the  work 
through  the  press.  As  Matthew  Arnold  said  of  the  term 
"  Professor,"  so  may  be  said  of  the  term  "  Editor  " ;  there  is 


PREFATORY    NOTE. 

an  editor  of  The  Times  and  of  Tit-Bits :  the  work  might  have 
been  "overseen,"  but  the  phrase  seems  consecrated  to  the 
productions  of  the  Kelmscott  and  other  presses  which  would 
rival  it :  so  for  want  of  a  less  high-sounding  word  the  term 
Editor  has  been  used. 

Two  facsimile  specimens  of  Mr.  Lean's  handwriting 
(happily  calligraphy  indeed)  are  given  :  his  method  of  work 
is  shown  by  one,  viz.  the  MS.  of  p.  361  of  Vol.  I.  Having 
found  his  original,  he  added  to  it  from  time  to  time  as 
he  came  across  fresh  references  bearing  on  his  subject,  until 
the  note-paper  is  replete  to  exhaustion  :  this  is  the  case  with 
the  greater  part,  indeed  almost  the  whole,  of  the  MSS. 

His  references  to  authorities  are  often  Meredithian  in  their 
condensation,  e.g. : — 

Chamberlain,  W.  W.  W.—Sc.  Sal.— Wr.,  V.  of  Voc.-— 
B.  Jon.,  Ev.  M.  out  of  i?.— Bed.,  Ephem.—B.  E.  N. 
D.  C.  Cr.—G.,  M.  Y.  Ale—].  D.,  Ent.— 'Nun.,  1555— 
Kn.  to  K.  JCm.— Straff.— B.  &  F.,  K.  ofB.  P.— Wander 
— Cotton,  B.  B. — and  numberless  others. 

The  Editor  has  set  out  these  references  more  fully  and 
added  the  number  of  the  line  to  the  quotations  from  Shake- 
speare (using  the  Cambridge  Edition),  and  so  endeavoured  to 
make  all  the  references  to  authorities  clear  to  those  who, 
without  special  knowledge,  might  find  themselves  hindered  in 
the  work  of  verification  or  the  desire  to  see  any  passage  in  its 
full  context.  The  Editor  is  also  responsible  for  the  Index 
and  the  Bibliographical  References:  he  would  Hke  gratefully 
to  admit  the  great  help  he  has  derived  from  Mr.  W.  W.  Greg's 
work,  A  List  of  English  Plays  Written  before  1643  and  Printed 
before  1700,  and  its  Supplement,  in  the  compilation  of  the 
latter. 

The  Executors  and  others  concerned  have  also  to  thank 
the  proprietors  of  Notes  and  Queries  for  their  courtesy  and 
kindness  in  permitting  the  use  of  the  queries  and  the  answers 


PREFATORY     NOTE. 

thereto  supplied  by  Mr.  Lean,  printed  at  the  end  of  the  work ; 
and  Mr.  E.  R.  Norris  Mathews  (Bristol  City  Librarian)  for 
extracting  these  queries  and  answers  from  the  files  of  Notes 
and  Queries,  extending  over  a  considerable  number  of  years,  to 
whom  also  thanks  are  due  for  verifying  dates  in  connection 
with  the  Memoir. 

The  Memoir  is  from  the  pen  of  Miss  Julia  Lucy 
Woodward,  of  the  Knoll,  Clevedon,  at  whose  request  my 
duties  were  undertaken,  and  whose  valuable  help  and  co- 
operation I    desire  also  to  acknowledge. 

T.  W.  Williams. 


MEMOIR 


Vincent  Stuckey  Lean  was  born  on  the  loth  of  April,  1820, 
at  19  Bellevue,  Clifton,  Bristol.  His  great-grandfather,  James 
Lean,  came  from  Lesmahagow,  in  Lanark,  early  in  the  i8th 
century,  and  settled  at  Bridgwater,  Somerset ;  afterwards,  about 
the  year  1737,  removing  to  Wiveliscombe,  in  the  same  county,, 
where  his  son  also  resided.  James,  the  eldest  son  of  the  latter, 
having  married  Lucy,  daughter  of  Samuel  Stuckey,  of  Lang- 
port,  the  founder  of  the  Somerset  Bank  (now  known  by  his 
name),  moved  after  a  time  to  Clifton.  He  was  one  of  the 
managers  of  the  Bristol  Branch,  which  was  first  settled  on 
the  Broad  Quay,  and  later  (before  being  moved  to  its  present 
position)  in  the  picturesque  old  Dutch  house  at  the  top  of 
High  Street,  then  known  as  the  Castle  Bank. 

James  Lean,  then  living  at  Clifton  Hill  House  (now  Church 
House),  was  Sheriff  of  Bristol,  1833-4.  ^^  afterwards  resided 
at  1 9  Caledonia  Place,  Clifton ;  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  and  a 
member  of  the  Anchor  Society,  that  one  of  the  local  societies 
founded  in  honour  of  Edward  Colston  with  which  Whigs 
associated  themselves.     He  died  in  1849. 

Vincent  Stuckey,  the  youngest  of  nine  children,  was 
educated  at  private  schools  in  Clifton  and  Failand,  near 
Bristol,  one  of  his  masters  being  the  Rev.  J.  Coles,  of  Clifton 
Wood,  Bristol.  Amongst  his  early  playmates  were  John  and 
Henry  Lawrence  (afterwards  Lord  Lawrence  and  Sir  Henry- 
Lawrence,  of  Indian  fame).  In  one  of  his  letters  he  mentions 
his  early  love  of  Horace,  and  his  recollection  of  reading  him 
as  a  boy  in  their  garden  at  Clifton.  Another  reminiscence  was 
of  the  Bristol  Riots  in  1831,  when  his  father  and  brothers  were 
sworn  in  as  special  constables. 

After  leaving  school  he  was  for  a  time  in  Stuckey's  Bank, 
Bristol.     Either  the  work  was   uncongenial,  or  his  thoughts. 


MEMOIR. 

may  have  been  turned  to  the  legal  profession  by  the  extra- 
ordinarily successful  career  of  his  cousin,  Edward  Jacob,  who 
died  about  this  time  at  the  early  age  of  34.  He  entered  the 
Middle  Temple  in  1840,  reading  in  the  Chambers  of  Sir  John 
Rolt,  with  whom  and  whose  family  he  contracted  a  life-long 
friendship.     He  was  called  to  the  Bar  in  1843. 

Miss  Rolt,  daughter  of  Sir  John  Rolt,  says  of  V.  S.  Lean  : 

"  He  was  one  of  my  father's  earliest  (I  think  he  and  Mr. 
Humphry  were  the  first)  pupils.  He  was  always  a  great  deal 
at  our  house,  and  his  taste  for  poetry,  general  literature,  music, 
&c.,  made  him  a  congenial  companion  to  my  father.  He 
had  a  pleasing  soft  voice,  and  read  aloud  charmingly,  poetry 
especially.  Mr.  Lean  and  Mr.  Humphry  travelled  abroad  one 
autumn,  and  the  latter  was  taken  ill  at  Bologna.  Mr.  Lean 
stayed  with  him  and  nursed  him.*  Mr.  Lean,  not  being 
dependent  upon  his  legal  work,  did  not  pursue  his  profession, 
and  therefore  indulged  his  taste  for  books  and  literature ;  and 
he  preferred  a  quiet  life  to  the  bustle  of  a  professional  one— at 
least  my  father  thought  so.  The  collection  of  Proverbs  was  a 
work  of  years,  for  he  always  seemed  to  have  a  book  on  hand 
on  the  subject.  He  almost  always  when  walking  had  a  book 
in  his  hand,  reading  as  he  went  along  in  his  country 
walks." 

In  the  course  of  the  tour  above  referred  to,  which  took  place 
in  1850,  he  visited  Rome,  and  Mrs.  Burdett  (another  daughter 
of  Sir  John  Rolt),  then  a  child  staying  there,  tells  of  the  many 
kindnesses  he  showed  to  her — how  he  would  take  her  to  the 
places  of  interest  and  tell  her  their  history,  and  of  the 
irresistible  attraction  old  book  and  print  shops  had  for 
him. 

He  remained  abroad  a  considerable  time ;  and,  quite  abandon- 
ing any  intention  of  practising  at  the  Bar,  in  1854  gave  up  his 
Chambers  and  sold  his  law  books.  He  never  severed  his 
connection  with  the  Temple,  however,  frequently  going  to  the 
Temple  Church  on  Sundays  and  joining  in  the  singing.  Having 
a  good  tenor  voice  and  a  love  of  music,  he  joined  one  of  the 
chief  London  Philharmonic  Societies,  and  attended  regularly 
the  principal  musical  festivals  as  a  listener.    He  was  also  an 

*  Mr.  Lean  and  Mr.  Humphry  remained  friends  through  their  lives, 
:and  the  widow  of  the  latter  writes  that  her  husband  remembered  with 
gratitude  Mr.  Lean's  loving  kindness  on  this  occasion. 


MEMOIR. 

ardent  admirer  of  painting,  and  well  acquainted  with  the 
principal  masterpieces,  ancient  and  modern,  at  home  and 
abroad. 

After  giving  up  his  Chambers,  he  never  again  settled  into 
rooms  of  his  own,  though  always  intending  to  do  so.  His 
books  and  other  property  were  packed  in  cases  and  stored  away 
in  London  from  1855  and  after.  He  continually  added  to  the 
store,  and  thus  they  remained  until  his  death,  though  very  many, 
if  not  most,  of  his  books  related  to  his  life-study — the  Proverbs 
of  all  Nations. 

From  this  time  he  went  frequently  abroad,  always  adding 
to  his  stock.  Many  parts  of  Europe  were  visited,  especially 
Italy ;  and  being  fond  of  walking,  he  trudged  two  or  three 
times  through  this  country. 

His  early  friend,  and  connection,  Alan  Cheales,  of  Hag- 
worthingham,  Lincolnshire,  accompanied  him  on  some  of  these 
walking  tours  into  the  wilder  parts  between  Capua  and  Rome, 
and  was,  like  himself,  occupied  in  the  collection  of  folk- 
lore. 

In  reply  to  a  request,  Mr.  Cheales  has  supplied  the  following 
recollections : — 

"  You  ask  me  for  some  recollections  of  Vincent  Stuckey 
Lean.  Such  memories  at  once  take  me  back  half  a  century, 
when  I  was  a  graduate  fresh  from  Cambridge,  proud  to  be 
the  representative  of  Alma  Mater  for  three  years  as  her 
Travelling  Bachelor,  and  he  was  fresh  from  that  bedside  of  a 
sick  friend  at  Bologna,  which  he  had  so  tenderly  guarded ; 
staying  on  until  at  last  professional  business  had  left  him,  and 
instead  of  Themis,  the  Muses  were  henceforth  his  clients. 
We  first  met  at  Rome.  It  was  in  the  apartments  of  his  brother, 
John  Stuckey  Lean,  who  had  recently  married  my  cousin, 
Monique  Bellingham ;  so  that  we  were  relatives  and  friends 
from  the  first.  Then  for  five  months  we  were  thrown  perpetu- 
ally into  the  most  intimate  relationship ;  for  five  years  more  we 
met  from  time  to  time  in  England,  and  then  drifted  apart— 
myself  buried  those  many  years  in  a  little  country  parish ; 
Vincent  Lean  travelling  far  and  wide,  to  build  up  the  great 
work  he  had  projected,  a  resume  and  selection  of  the  Proverbs 
of  all  Nations.  Then  at  last,  and  of  late,  I  suddenly  awoke  to 
find  his  name  in  all  men's  mouths  as  one  of  the  most  liberal 
and  enlightened  public  benefactors  of  his  era. 


MEMOIR. 

"  But  my  chiefest  recollections  all  go  back  to  those  Italian 
days,  when  we  were  so  seldom  separate.  First,  the  winter  at 
Rome,  with  its  endless  objects  of  interest,  combined  with  the 
pleasant  society  of  our  little  English  community ;  we  frequented 
the  same  house  where  his  musical  acquirements  were  in  such 
request  and  appreciation. 

"We  both  drank  of  Trevi's  fountain  as  we  left  Rome  in 
early  spring  for  pedestrian  tours  southward — Vincent  Lean 
soon  to  be  lured  back  thither,  myself  but  to  cherish  memories. 
Then  began  that  closest  intimacy,  which  either  effectually  joins 
together  or  separates.  '  Can  two  walk  together  except  they  be 
agreed  ? '  Then  we  started  on  one  long  tramp  through  the 
Pontine  marshes  and  Caserta  to  the  dominions  of  King  Bomba, 
where  we  found  Naples  dominated  by  the  cannon  he  had 
trained  on  it ;  not  that  this  disturbed  the  visitors.  Here  we 
picked  up  our  old  acquaintances,  and  began  the  same  happy 
round  of  sight-seeing  and  social  intimacies :  some  of  these 
to  come  to  nothing ;  others,  perhaps  more  fortunate,  to  end  in 
lasting  relationships.  Pompeii,  Amalfi,  Sorrento,  Capri,  not 
least  Paestum.  What  happy  days  and  pleasant  friendships 
these  bring  back !  Then  we  two  left  for  Rome  again,  for  the 
Holy  Week;  this  time  by  Capua,  Monte  Casino,  and  then 
through  the  Abruzzi,  having  more  than  one  adventure  in  that 
wild  and  rough  region.  One  night  I  remember  the  one  inn  could 
not  receive  us,  and  we  had  to  fall  back  on  the  gendarmerie, 
who  shared  with  us  their  rough  lodgings.  I  rested,  though  not 
with  repose,  on  a  plank  bed;  my  companion  smoking  cheer- 
fully all  night  by  the  fire.  Next  morning,  a  wash  at  the  public 
fountain,  and  the  early  cup  of  coffee,  started  us  as  fresh  as  ever 
on  another  long  cheery  journey.  As  your  great  Western  poet 
has  it — 

'  What  cared  this  body  for  wind  or  weather 
When  youth  and  I  were  in  it  together  ? ' 

S.  T.  Coleridge. 

And  so  we  went  towards  Rome ;  and  the  Holy  Week  and  its 
varied  ceremonials  passed  over  us,  culminating  with  the  at 
length  again  allowed  illumination  of  St.  Peter's.  And  then  we 
parted.  I  close  with  an  example  of  his  graceful  diction  and 
steadfast  friendship. 

"  There  lies  before  me  his  bridal  present,  three  years  later 
—a  magnificent  copy  of  that  prince  of  uninspired  works,  the. 


MEMOIR. 

Pilgrim's  Progress,  and  with  this  very  happiest  of  wedding  good 
wishes : — 

'  To  my  fellow  pedestrian  in  sunny  Italy, 

Alan  B.  Cheales,  and  his  Bride. 

At  that  stage  of  their  pilgrimage 

Where  their  roads  are  no  longer  separate,  but  one, 

May  each  help  the  other  to  "  run  well," 
And  may  much  happiness  attend  them  on  the  way ! ' 

V.  S.  L.,   1854." 

His  very  carefully  -  written  MS.  collection  of  Proverbs  of 
All  Nations  and  annotated  books  are  the  results  of  these 
and  later  travels,  and  were  left  by  will  to  the  British  Museum. 
The  following  volumes  are  an  endeavour  to  give  a  wider  circle 
than  the  students  there  the  opportunity  of  benefiting  by  his 
painstaking  research.  When  in  London,  often  for  seven  hours 
a  day,  day  after  day,  he  would  be  occupied  in  the  Museum 
reading-room  consulting,  compiling,  and  noting  down. 

His  life  was  of  the  simplest  and  most  self-denying :  after 
an  early  breakfast  came  the  reading  at  the  British  Museum ; 
then  to  the  Windham  Club  for  mid-day  meal,  papers,  &c.,  of 
which  his  favourites  were  the  Daily  News  and  Westminster 
Gazette,  he  being  an  advanced  Liberal  in  politics.  In  these 
times  he  would  usually  be  found  at  the  Temple  dinners. 

In  relation  to  this  phase  of  his  life,  Mr.  C.  F.  Wade, 
his  nephew  by  marriage,  of  the  Inner  Temple,  has  contributed 
the  following  note  : — 

"  In  the  old  hall  of  the  Middle  Temple,  running  crosswise 
near  the  top,  and  under  the  shadow  of  the  Benchers'  table  on 
its  raised  platform,  is  the  celebrated  table  of  the  'Ancients.' 
This  table  holds  eight  of  these  august  remnants  of  antiquity, 
who  have  certain  privileges  both  in  food  and  drink  over  the 
common  herd  of  juvenile  barristers  and  students  sitting  at 
right  angles  to  them  in  long  rows  down  each  side  of  the  room. 
They  are  the  senior  members  ox  the  Bar  present  who  are  not 
Benchers ;  and  though  they  do  not  change  much  in  their 
attendance  from  night  to  night  in  Term  time,  they  are  a  rather 
motley  company.  Here  is  an  ex-Colonial  judge ;  here  a  retired 
Indian  civilian ;  a  few  bachelor  barristers  still  in  practice,  and 
who  have  residential  chambers  in  or  near  the  Temple ;  and, 
commonest  of  all,  some  old  members  of  the  Bar  who  do  not 


MEMOIR. 

practice,  but  who  like  to  keep  in  touch  with  the  old  legal 
surroundings,  and  who  moreover  get  a  very  fair  plain  dinner 
at  a  very  moderate  price. 

"  Amongst  these  non -practising  barristers  was  Mr.  Vincent 
Lean,  and  it  is  doubtful  whether  any  of  the  emeriti  who  sat 
there  enjoyed  the  company  and  the  rations  more  than  he  did. 
Unless  he  was  really  ill,  he  never  missed  a  night,  generally 
tramping  it  down  the  Strand  from  his  club,  the  Windham,  in 
all  weathers,  and  nobody  who  sat  there  was  better  read  and 
more  apt  at  conversation  than  he. 

"Talking,  too,  of  his  being  really  ill,  nobody  had  more 
pluck  in  illness  than  he  had.  He  always  struggled  to  disregard 
and  shake  off  not  only  passing  maladies,  but  much  more  serious 
ailments,  and  it  took  a  great  deal  to  keep  him  away  from  his 
favourite  haunts — the  British  Museum  reading-room,  the 
Windham  Club,  and  the  Temple.  Besides  the  hall  in  the 
latter,  the  seats  in  the  gardens  and  round  the  fountain  in 
Fountain  Court  knew  him  well,  as  also  did  the  Temple  Church, 
where  his  tenor  voice — -sweet  even  in  his  old  age — often  joined 
in  the  harmony  of  the  choir.  He  kept  a  good  deal  to  himself, 
but  when  he  did  meet  his  friends  at  the  Ancients'  table  in  the 
old  hall  no  one  there  was  better  company.  He  had  his  pecu- 
liarities both  in  his  habits  and  in  his  ideas ;  but  such  men  as 
Mr.  Lean  are  always  missed  and  regretted,  and  when  he  was 
taken  away,  the  Middle  Temple  lost  one  of  those  many  links 
with  the  past,  which  may  be  renewed  by  fresh  ones,  but  which 
can  never  be  replaced." 

Although  never  married,  he  enjoyed  quiet  home  life,  and 
was  specially  kind  to  little  children.  Walks,  especially  country 
ones,  were  always  an  attraction;  and  being  devoted  to  wild 
flowers,  he  would  pluck  and  press  some  in  any  book  which 
might  then  be  his  pocket  companion.  Later  in  life  he  would 
say  he  agreed  with  a  writer  who  said  he  was  "content  to 
admire,  not  pick.  Why  should  a  flower  not  be  allowed  to 
enjoy  its  life?"  Anticipating  Mrs.  Ewing's  idea  in  "Mary's 
Meadow,"  he  would,  especially  at  Malvern,  a  favourite  locality, 
plant  seeds  or  roots  in  parts  where  they  had  not  been  found 
before.  He  also  took  interest  in  noting  down  and  comparing  the 
dates  of  spring  flowers,  the  first  bird's  notes,  &c. ;  and  in  the 
autumn  would  bring  home  various  species  of  fungi  for  the  table, 
considered  excellent  abroad,  but  generally  shunned  in  England. 


MEMOIR. 

In  1853-5  Spain  and  Portugal  deeply  interested  him,  also 
Argentina.  In  1856  he  visited  Egypt  and  Syria,  ireturning  by 
Turkey  and  Greece.  America,  a  country  with  which  he  had 
great  sympathy,  followed,  with  Cuba  in  1857;  and  in  1858 
Algeria  struck  him  with  the  difference  in  its  beauty  to  the  flat 
shores  of  the  Nile,  the  part  of  Africa  with  which  he  had  been 
previously  acquainted. 

He  was  a  constant  contributor  to  Notes  and  Queries,  being 
especially  interested  in  verifying  quotations,  often  quoting  the 
saying  of  Lord  Chancellor  Campbell :  "  Each  man  has  his 
hobby,  and  mine  is  not  to  suffer  a  quotation  to  slip  without 
identification.  It  is  fortunate  that  I  am  not  a  despotic 
monarch,  or  I  would  certainly  make  it  felony,  without  benefit 
of  clergy,  to  quote  a  passage  without  giving  a  plain  reference." 

Being  interested  in  word  derivation,  he  occasionally  .sent 
contributions  to  Dr.  Murray's  great  work,  now  in  progress. 

Though  so  saving  and  frugal  in  his  habits,  he  was  always 
ready  to  help  a  cause  that  appealed  to  him,  and  many  were 
the  kindnesses  he  did  unknown  except  to  the  recipients.  By 
judicious  investments  he  was  able  year  by  year  to  increase  his 
capital  and  income,  so  as  to  be  enabled  to  make  the  noble 
bequests  hereinafter  mentioned. 

In  1890  he  had  a  serious  illness,  and  he  was  thereafter 
constantly  compelled  to  seek  health  resorts.  In  1895,  at 
Bordighera,  bronchitis  and  heart  failure  again  laid  him  low; 
from  this  illness  he  never  thoroughly  recovered.  The  winter 
of  1896  was  spent  at  Clifton ;  the  summer  in  London,  which 
he  used  to  say  he  considered  the  coolest  place  in  all 
England,  quoting  the  well-known  lines,  the  jeu  d' esprit  of 
Captain  Morris,  once  boon  companion  of  the  Prince  Regent  i 

"  In  Town  let  me  live,  and  in  Town  let  me  die, 
For  in  truth  I  can't  relish  the  country,  not  I ; 
If  ever  condemned  in  the  country  to  dwell, 
Oh !  give  me  the  sweet  shady  side  of  Pall  Mall ! " 

The  years  1897  and  1898  were  spent  at  the  Knoll,  Clevedon, 
the  residence  of  his  niece,  Julia  Lucy  Woodward  (with  an 
interval  in  London  and  Weston-super-Mare),  and  there  he 
died  on  the  24th  March,  1899,  having  just  fallen  short  of  his 
seventy-ninth  birthday,  and  was  laid  in  the  family  vault  at 
Clifton  Parish  Church. 


MEMOIR. 

By  his  will,  dated  the  4th  June,  1886,  and  a  codicil,  dated 
the  20th  November,  1893,  he  gave  to  the  trustees  of  the  British 
Museum  the  sum  of  ^50,000,  vs^hich  he  requested  them  to 
appropriate  at  their  discretion  to  the  improvement  and  exten- 
sion of  the  library  and  reading-room,  and  he  directed  his 
executors  to  offer  to  the  trustees  of  the  British  Museum  all 
his  MSS.  and  books  annotated  in  manuscript,  relating  to  the 
subject  of  National  Proverbs  (English  and  Foreign)  for  public 
use  in  the  said  institution,  and  to  form  part  of  the  national 
collection  therein.  He  gave  to  the  Mayor,  aldermen,  and 
citizens  of  the  city  of  Bristol  the  sum  of  ^50,000,  upon  trust, 
to  apply  the  same  to  the  further  development  of  the  Free 
Libraries  of  the  said  city,  and  with  especial  regard  to  the 
formation  and  sustenance  of  a  General  Reference  Library  of 
a  standard  and  scientific  character  for  public  use  in  the  city  of 
Bristol.  And  he  requested  the  trustees  of  the  British  Museum 
and  the  Municipal  Council  in  Bristol  (but  in  nowise  as  a  con- 
dition of  the  said  bequests  of  £50,000  to  each  of  them)  to 
consider  favourably  the  question  of  keeping  open  the  libraries 
and  collections  under  their  charge  during  some  part  at  least  of 
each  Sunday  throughout  the  year.  He  also  gave  the  following 
legacies  to  charitable  institutions : — 

To  Miiller's  Orphanages,  Bristol     ;£'20,ooo 

To  the  University  College,  Bristol         ...       5,000 

To  the  Bristol  General  Hospital     1,000 

To  the  Bristol  Hospital  for  Sick  Children  1,000 
To  the  Weston-super-Mare  Sanatorium  ..  1,000 
To  King's  College  Hospital,  London     ...       1,000 

With  the  assent  of  th^  residuary  legatees,  his  executors 
have  given  his  books,  about  5,000  volumes,  relating  principally 
to  Proverbs,  Folk-lore  and  the  like,  to  the  Corporation  of 
Bristol  for  their  Central  Library,  the  books  to  be  kept  together 
in  one  room  and  called  the  Stuckey  Lean  Collection. 


[  <fe   t   t^enM.  tufr^  li  fir^o    b>rli?  ^cy^^^  ^uzKa^  ruiOi^J'acU.  eft. 
S^-cc-iSui.^  «f-  rjy^zjy^^jrou^  ffU.  ^puz  mojJizi-ont,  t  gpuzli,  Aa^tia,  Ayc4^  c/ 

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Facsimile  oj  MS.  of  page  361- 


PROVERBS 

Relating  to   the    United  Kingdom  and 
to   Localities  therein. 

ARRANGED    UNDER    THE    COUNTY    DIVISIONS; 
WITH  ILLUSTRATIVE  AND  EXPLANATORY  NOTES, 

TOGETHER  WITH   A   FEW 

ENGLISH   ESTIMATES  OF  OTHER  NATIONS  AND  PLACES. 


"  Books,  like  proverbs,  receive  their  chief  value  from  the  stamp  and 
esteem  of  ages  through  which  they  have  passed." 

Sir  W.  Temple,  Anc.  &■  Mod.  Learning. 

"And  Israel  shall  be  a  proverb  and  a  by-word  among  all  people." 

/  Kings  ix.  7. 


INTRODUCTION. 


11 J  ORE  than  two  centuries  have  elapsed  since  Ray  put  the 
finishing  touch  to  his  great  work  on  English  Proverbs,  and 
during  that  period  they  have  fared  but  badly :  little  attention  has 
been  paid  to  them,  and  no  one  has  so  much  as  attempted  to  carry 
on  or  improve  the  system  on  which  Ray  proceeded. 

Thos.  Fuller,  the  physician,  indeed,  in  his  Gnomologia,  1732,  added 
a  few  proverbs  that  had  become  current  since  1678  ;  but  their  value 
was  greatly  diminished  by  the  intermixture  of  a  farrago  of  feeble 
maxims  manufactured  by  himself — perhaps  to  justify  the  pretentious 
title  he  had  chosen  for  his  book. 

Of  later  issues  it  may  be  sufficient  to  say  that  Bohn  by  reprinting 
Ray  and  Ferguson,  and  adding  a  General  Index,  in  which,  too,  a  few 
modern  proverbs — distinguishable  by  the  absence  of  page  reference 
— are  inserted,  did  essential  service. 

I  wish  I  could  say  as  much  of  Mr.  Hazlitt.  He,  on  the  contrary, 
in  his  compilation  of  1871,  has  made  "  confusion  worse  confounded  " 
by  casting  everything,  good,  bad  and  indifferent — the  good  seed-corn 
of  Ray's  proverbs  and  phrases,  the  platitudinous  chaff  of  Fuller,  M.D., 
and  his  own  scanty  gleanings, — back  into  one  heterogeneous  chaotic 
mass.  Perhaps  a  more  perplexing  or  more  provoking  book  of 
reference  never  passed  the  press. 

Of  the  several  branches  of  Proverbial  literature,  the  one  which 
stands  most  apart  from  the  rest  is  undoubtedly  that  which  embraces 
the  local  and  personal  sayings  of  a  country,  inasmuch  as  being 
rarely  of  general  application  they  look  at  people  and  places  from  a 

3 


INTRODUCTION.         LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

near  and  narrow  standpoint — many,  indeed,  enunciating  only  a  dry 
fact  in  the  geography  or  weather-lore  of  a  particular  district. 

To  Thomas  Fuller,  the  Divine,  we  are  indebted  for  gathering 
together  from  Camden's  Britannia  and  other  sources  those  relating 
to  England.  They  form  a  distinct  and  acknowledged  feature  of 
the  charming  portraiture  of  each  county  drawn  in  his  Worthies  of 
England,  and  published  in  1662,  the  year  after  his  death.  Preceding 
pare'miographers,  such  as  Camden  and  Clarke,  had  admitted  these 
sharp  sentences  only  sparely  into  their  collections,  and  with  great 
reserve,  perhaps  considering  them  too  partial  and  personal,  or 
possibly  as  too  malicious.  In  the  various  provinces  of  France, 
however,  many  monographs  on  the  subject  have  appeared  during 
the  last  thirty  or  forty  years,  and  notably  in  1884  the  Blason  Populaire 
de  la  France  of  Messrs.  H.  Gaidoz  and  Sebillot  has  brought  into  a 
focus  the  Dictons  and  Sobriquets  of  the  whole  of  France  and  her 
colonies,  with  the  addition  of  others  concerning  the  outside  world 
as  seen  through  French  spectacles.  The  collaboration  of  many 
hands  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land  is  undoubtedly 
needed  for  a  satisfactory  work  of  this  nature.  My  sources  of  infor- 
mation for  Proverbs  not  already  gathered  up  have,  of  course,  been 
the  several  County  Histories  and  Glossaries,  many  of  Murray's 
Handbooks  for  the  United  Kingdom,  and  the  inexhaustible  and 
perennial  fountain  of  Notes  and  Queries.  But  people  often  seem 
indisposed  to  furnish  the  outside  world  with  evidence  of  local 
jealousies  and  feuds  which  yet  survive  in  the  dictons  injurieux  (as  the 
French  have  it)  of  their  place  of  birth  or  residence,  and  which  they 
would  fain  have  consigned  to  oblivion — a  perfectly  natural  and  even 
laudable  feeling,  but  sadly  checking  the  elucidation  of  national  and 
provincial  character. 

Many  proverbs  which  no  doubt  have  thus  escaped  me  may, 
perhaps,  come  to  hand  before  another  edition  of  this  work  is  called 
for.    Meanwhile  I  need  not  say  that  communications  of  new  material 

4 


LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA.         introduction. 

will  have  my  best  thanks  and  attention.  I  have  endeavoured  to 
make  the  notes  clear  and  concise,  shortening  Fuller's  amusing 
observations,  but  giving  with  accuracy  the  gist  of  them. 

For  the  reasons  already  adduced  I  have  taken  this  section  of  a 
large  subject  for  separate  publication — as  an  avant  courier  it  may  be 
of  a  comprehensive  Collection  of  English  Proverbs,  giving  the  dates 
of  their  first  appearance  in  literature,  which  I  hope  will  some  day 
see  the  light. 

It  has  occupied  and  interested  me  for  a  very  long  period,  and 
now  approaches  completion,  so  far  as  such  a  word  can  be  properly 
applied  to  work  which  is  in  reality  "  still  beginning,  never  ending." 


CHARACTER    OF    INSTITUTIONS. 


Cathedrals. 

Q.  What  three  churches   are   those  that   have  their   several 

prerogatives  before  any  others  in  the  land? 
A,  Paul's,  Westminster,  and  Salisbury.  Paul's  for  his  anti- 
quity, spaciousness,  and  strength  ;  Westminster  for 
curiosity  and  workmanship,  being  42  years  in  building,  as 
is  afore  recited  ;  Salisbury  for  variety  of  Pillars,  Windows, 
and  Gates :  Secondly — Paul's  for  the  continual  society  of 
the  living,  Westminster  for  her  Royal  Sepulture  of  the 
dead,  Salisbury  for  her  tripartite  calculation  of  the  year, 
having  in  it  as  many  windows,  pillars,  and  gates  as  there 
are  days,  hours,  and  months  in  the  year. — Help  to  Discourse, 
p.  344,  1619. 

Christ's  Hospital.     Dietary : 

Sunday  all  saints, 

Monday  all  souls, 

Tuesday  all  trenchers, 

Wednesday  all  bowls : 

Thursday  tough  Jack, 

Friday  no  better, 

Saturday  pea-soup  with  bread  and  butter. 

Walter  Thornbury. 
Public  Schools.      Winchester  for  gentlemen, 
Harrow  for  scholars, 
Westminster  for  blackguards. 
And  Eton  Bucks. 
Or— 

Harrow  for  gentlemen,  Eton  for  lords, 
Winchester  for  scholars,  Westminster  blackguards. 
Waterloo  was  won  on  the  playing-fields  of  Eton. — Attributed  to 
D.  of  Wellington. 

Trade,  Manufactures. 

Es  ist  nicht  alles  aus  England,  worauf  London  steht. — Wan. 
A  compliment  to  English  fabrics.  Home-made  articles  are 
often  sold  as  such  bearing  a  forged  impress.  At  a  table 
d'hote  in  Naples  I  saw  a  bottle  of  beer  served  at  3  francs, 
but  the  label  of  "  Bass  "  had  two  clerical  mistakes — one  I 
remember  was  "  Burton-opon-Trent." 

Drap  d'Engleterre/le  meilleur  qui  courre  sur  terre.  .  .  . 
Meurier. — Colloques,  F.  4  Y.,  1558.  soy  huy  sus.  .  .  . — Id. 
Devis  Familiers,  ii.  1590. 

Ein  Englischer  hund  macht  so  viel  wie  drei  soldaten. — Hesekiel. 


CHARACTER.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Cinque  Ports. 

Instituted  by  William  I.  in  1078  for  the  better  defence  of  the 
coast,  consisting  of  Dover,  Hythe,  Sandwich,  Romney, 
and  Hastings.  Then  Rye  and  Winchelsea  were  added  as 
"nobiliora  membra,"  after  which  the  Cinque  Ports  were 
enumerated  in  the  Memoria  Technica  : 
Has, — Dov, — Sea, — Hy,  — 
Sand, — Rum, — Win, — Ry .  — 

Later  on  Pevensey  and  Seaford  were  added  as  corporate; 
then  five  almost  unknown  places  —  Bulverhithe,  Petit 
Shaw,  Hidney,  Beakesbourne,  and  Grange  as  unincor- 
porate. — Sussex,  by  Augs.  Hare,  1894,  P-  ^'^-  ^-^  ^-^so 
under  Kent  and  Sussex. 

Prisons. 

Millbank  for  thick  shins*  and  graft f  at  the  pump ; 
Broadmoor  for  all  laggs  |  as  go  off  their  chump ; 
Brixton  for  good  toke  §  and  cocoa  with  fat ; 
Dartmoor  for  bad  grub,  but  plenty  of  chat ; 
Portsmouth  a  blooming  bad  place  for  hard  work  ; 
Chatham  on  Sunday  give  four  ounce  of  pork ; 
Portland  is  worst  of  the  lot  for  to  joke  in— 
For  fetching  a  lagging  ||  there 's  no  place  like  Woking. 

Crutchy  Quinn,  70  and  a  ticket. 
*  ?  of  beef,      t  Work.       {  Criminal  lunatics.      §  Bread.       |1  Serving  a  sentence. 
Given  by  Michael  Davitt  {Leaves  from  a  Prison  Diary;   1885)  as 
found  scratched  with  a  nail  on  the  bottom  of  a  dinner-can 
at  Portland. 


CLIMATE. 

Excess  of  Moisture. 

[feeds— F.  W.] 
When  the  sand  doth  feed  the  clay,  [wet  summer] 
England  cryes,  "  Well-a-day  !  " 
[England  Woe  and  Well-a-day. — R.,  1670.] 
but  when  the  clay  doth  feed  the  sand,  [dry  summer] 

[feeds— F.  W.] 
it  is  merry  with  England. — F.  W. 
[then  it 's  well  with  England. — R.,  1670.] 
Because  the  clay  predominates  in  the  proportion  of  five  to  one. 
(?)  If  modern  drainage  has  not  greatly  altered  this. 
Winter's  thunder  and  summer  flood 
never  boded  Englishmen  good. — Ho.,  R.,  1670. 
Summer  in  winter  and  a  summer's  flood 
never  boded  England  good. — D. 
In  England  a  bushel  of  March  dust  is  worth  a  King's  ransom. — 

F.  W. 
Drought  never  bred  [causeth  a — F.  W.]  dearth  in  England. — R. 
No  dearth  but  breeds  in  the  horse-manger. — C,  1636. 
A  famine  in  England  begins  first  at  the  horse-manger. — F.  W., 
i.e.  with   grain,   as  distinguished  from   the   horse-rack   (hay), 
for  the  scarcity  of  any  grain  soon  makes  the  others  dear. 
Whoso  hath  a  mouth 

Shall  ne'er  in  England  suffer  drouth.— R.,  1670. 
(?)  From  the  fog  which  he  is  obliged  or  the  abundance  of 
liquor  he  is  tempted  to  swallow. 

When  England  wrings,  [i.e.  is  "wringing  wet"] 
the  Island  sings. 
i.e.  the  Isle  of  Thanet,  where  the  chalky  soil  asks  for  much 
rain. — Murray,  Kent. 

Rain,  rain,  go  to  Spain ; 
Fair  weather  come  again. — Ho. 
Wenn  es  in  England  nicht   regnet,  so  schneit's. — Wander. 
An  English  summer :    three  fine  days  and  a  thunderstorm. 
The  English  summer  begins  on  July  31  and  ends  on  August 

ist. — Ascribed  to  H.  Walpole. 
England    produces   but    one   ripe    fruit  —  a   roasted    apple. — 

Talleyrand. 
The  old  English   rule  was:  All  summer  in  the  field,  and  all 

winter  in  the  study. — Emerson,  New  England  Reformers. 
There  are  more  days  in  the  year  in  which  you  can  take  out- 
door exercise  with  pleasure  in  England  than  in  any  other 
country. — Ascribed  to  King  Charles  II. 
Plenty  of  [?  fine]    weather,   but    no  climate  in,  England. — 
(American,  only  a  number  of  samples). 


LANGUAGE. 


Q.  Whither   should  a  man  with   most   profit  travel   to   learn  the 

languages  ? 
A.  To    Orleance    for   the    French,    to    Florence   for    the    Italian, 

to  Lypsick  for   the  Dutch,  to  London   for  the    English. — 

Help  to  Discourse,  p.  115.     1638. 

Q.  What  preheminence  have  our  best  linguists  above  others  ? 

A .  The  Hebrews,  that  they  drink  at  the  fountains ;  the 
Grecians  at  the  rivers ;  the  Latines  at  the  brooks ;  the 
English  and  some  others  at  the  lakes. — Ih.,  p.   119. 

The  most  auncient  English  wordes  are  of  one  sillable,  so  that 
the  more  monosyllables  that  you  use  the  truer  Englishman 
you  shall  seem,  and  the  less  you  shall  smell  of  the  inkhorn. 
— Gascoyne  Steel  Glass,  Arber  rep.,  p.   35.     1576. 


10 


CHARACTER    OF    THE    COUNTRY. 


Sith  God  hath  made  al  under  one 
let  Albione  now  Al-be-one. 
Pontanus  (Rob.),  De  Unione  Bntannics,  1604  (end). 
All  countries  stand  in  need  of  Britain,  and  Britain  of  none. — Lyly, 
Euph.,  p.  439 — Arb. 

Bona  terra,  mala  gens. — A.  Borde,  1542  ;  E.E.T.S.,  p.  118. 
Schloss,  briicken,  kirchen,  berg  und  brunnen, 
der  Konig  weiberwolle  gespunnen, 
haben  England  das  lob  der  schonheit  gewunnen. 

Hesekiel,  Land  u.  Stadt. 
Anglia    Mons,    Pons,    Pons,    Ecclesia,    Fsemina,    Luna. — Lupton, 

London  and  the   Country  Carbonadoed,   p.  97,  1632 ;   Books  of 

Characters,  p.  303,  1857. 
England  amongst  all  nations  is  most  full  of  hills,  wells,  bridges, 

churches,  women,  wool. — Drunken  Barnaby's  Jowl. 
You  can't  see  a  three  mile  radius  of  level  land  in  all  England. — 

?  Glastonbury  Tor. 
Triangularis  forma. — Angliie  Tr.,  48  ro. 
If  there  were  a  bridge  over  the   narrow  seas,  all  the  women  of 

Italy  would  show  their  husbands   a  light  pair  of  heels  and 

fly  over  to  Eng'^- — Webster,  West.  Ho.,  iii.  3. 
England,  they  say,  is   the  only  hell  for  horses   and  paradise  for 

women. — Dekker,  2  H.  Who.  iv.  i. 
England  was  called  (in  the  days  of  our  ancestors)  the  Purgatory  of 

Servants,  as  it  was  and  is  still  the  Paradise  of  Wives  and 

the  Hell  for  Horses.— Chamberlayne,  Anglice  Notitia,  1669, 

P-  513- 
England  's  the  Paradise  of   women.  Hell  of  horses.  Purgatory  of 

servants. — F.  W. 
L'Inghilterra  e  il  Paradise  delle  donne,  Purgatorio  degli  borse  et  lo 

Inferno  de  cavalli. — Fynes  Morison,  Itiny.,  iii.  53 :  Flo.,  2d.  tr. 
Angleterre  le  paradis  des  femmes,  le  purgatoire  des  valets,  I'enfer 

des  chevaux. — Ho.— Bacon,  Promus,  1648. 
Cf,   Paris   est   le    purgatoire   des    plaideurs,    [Hommes.     Cat.   des 

Court. — Fournier,    v.    79,    1661,]    I'enfer    des    mules    et    le 

paradis   des  femmes.     Tournebu. — Les  Contens,   iv.  6,  1584 

{An.  Th.  Fr.,  vii.  207) ;    E.  Fournier,   Var.  Hist,  et   Lit.,  ii. 

284.     And  see  Plaisant  Galimatias,  i6ig. 
Qu'une    jeune    fille   arrete   son   cheval   sous    un   grand   arbre,  et 

vous  contemplarez  groupees  dans  un  seul  tableau  les  trois 

merveilles  de  1' Angleterre. — Francs. Wey,  Les  Anglais  chez  Eux. 
Planting  of  trees  England's  old  thrift. — Ho.  New  Sayings,  ii. 

11 


CHARACTER.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

England  is  the  ringing  island  (bells).— F.  W.—"  haying  greater 

and  more  tuneable  bells  than  any  one  country  in  Christen- 
dom, Italy  itself  not  excepted." — p.  84. 
"The  ringing   island   can   mean    nothing   but   the   clergy  of  the 

Church  of  Rome,  whose  mysteries  are  all  performed  at   the 

sound  of  large,  middle-sized,  little,  and  very  little  bells."— 

Motteux,  Rabelais,  Bk.  V. 
Denison  {Church  Btdldg.,  p.  130,  2d.  Ed.)  and  others  explain  it  by 

saying  that  we  are  the  only  people  who  ring  our  bells  at  full 

swing  and  practise  change-ringing. 
Far  feste   alle   campane,  i.e.  far  allegria :  the'  that  is   more   used 

in  Engl''  than   anywhere  else,  inasmuch  as   it   is  called  the 

Ringing  Island. — Torriano. 
England  were  but  a  fling  {i.e.  a  slight,  light  thing] 
savefor  the  crooked  stick  and  the  grey-goose  wing.— F.W.,«.«.  archery. 
Every  English  archer  beareth  under  his  girdle  twenty-four  Scots.— 

Ascham,  Tox.,  Arb.  rep.,  p.  84.     See  W.  Scott. 
Britain's  best  bulwarks  are  her  wooden  walls.— Refrain  of  "When 

Britain  on  her  sea-girt  isle."— Written*  and  composed  by  Hook. 
*  or  Henry  Green,  1785, 
Britannia  rules  the  waves.— Thomson,  "  Rule  Britannia." 
England  expects  every  man  to  do  his  duty.     (Nelson's  Message.) 
Saint  George  to   borrow:    our  Navy  is   afloat. — Barclay,  Ship  of 

Fools,  i.  176. 
Englishmen  never  know  when  they  are  beaten. 
The  English   never   fight   better  than   in   their  first   engagement. 

Quoted   in  Ch.   Kingsley's  Westward  Ho!    as  the  saying  of 

an  old  chronicler. 
England    is  a  little  garden,    full   of  very  sour   weeds. — G.     Said 

to   have   been  often  in  Louis   XIV.'s   mouth  during   Marl- 
borough's campaigns. 
Do    you    know,    sir,    we    Englishmen    chiefly    puzzle    our    heads 

about    two  things,   that  is  to    say.  Religion  and  Trade  ? — 

J.  Wilson,  Projectors,  iii.  1665. 
A  man  in  Amsterdam  is  suffered  to  have  but  one  religion,  whereas 

in   London   he   may  have    two   strings   to  his    bow. — Tom 

Brown,  Whs.,  iv.  115. 
High  Church,  and  Low  Church,  and  Little  England. — Higson,  207. 
II  y  a  en  Angleterre  soixante  sectes  religieuses  differentes,  et  une 

seule  sauce. — Voltaire. 
Free  to  come,  and  free  to  go,  free  to  stay  a  night  or  so  ; 
free  to  eat,  and  free  to  drink,  free  to  speak,  and  free  to  think. 

The  Englishman's  Welcome. 

I  remember  hearing  Emerson  say,  in  commencing  an  address  at  the 
London  Working  Men's  College  circa  1872,  that  the  world 
over,  though  every  man  was  convinced  that  his  own  country 
was  the  lest,  yet  all  agreed  to  this — that  England  was  the 
next  lest. — V.  S.  L.     Cf.  Herefordsh. 

12 


CHARACTER    OF    DISTRICTS. 


An  Ox  left  to  himself  would  of  all  England  choose  to  live  in  the 
North ;  a  Sheep  in  the  South  part  hereof,  and  a  Man  in 
the  Middle  betwixt  both,  as  partaking  of  the  pleasure  of 
the  plain  and  the  wealth  of  the  deep  country. — F.  W., 
Wilts,  p.  143. 

largeness.— Aubrey,  MS.  Colin,  for  Wiltsh., 
The  North  for  greatness,  \_Ashmolean  Miism. 

the  East  for  health, 
the  South  for  neatness,  [buildings — A.J 

the  West  for  wealth.— F.  W.,  Dorset.     Of  Buildings. 
England  hath  cloth.     Burdeus  hath  store  of  wine, 
Cornewall  hath  tinne  and  lymster  wools  fine, 
London  hath  scarlet,  and  Bristowe  pleasant  red, 
Fen- land  hath  fishes ;  in  other  place  is  lead. 
This  is  of  our  Lord  disposed  so,  my  brother, 
Because  all  costes  should  one  have  need  of  other. 

Barclay,  EcL,  iv. 
In  the  countrey  of  Canterbury  most  plenty  of  fish  is, 
And  most  chase  of  wild  beasts  about  Salisbury,  I  wis ; 
At  London  ships  most,  and  wine  at  Winchester ; 
At  Hertford  sheep  and  oxen,  and  fruit  at  Worcester, 
Soape  about  Coventry,  and  yron  at  Gloucester, 
Metall,  lead,  and  tynne  in  the  country  of  Excester. 
Warwick  of  fairest  wood,  and  Lincoln  of  fairest  men, 
Cambridge  and  Huntingdon  most  plenty  of  deep  venne  [fenj, 
Elie  of  fairest  place,  of  fairest  sight  Rochester. 

JV.,  IV.jxii.;  Robert  of  Gloucester,  Chron.,  ed.  Hearne. 
Knight.   What 's  that  strange  lady  there  ? 

Wages.    I    think    it    be    mistress    Babee,    sir,    master    Nucome's 

mistress ;     for     she     looks     like     a     Northern    lass, 

made   of  a    strange   fashion,    something    like    a    lute, 

all      belly      to     the      neck      [Sharpham].    —   Cupid's 

Whirligig.     D. 

And  here    [N.  of  E.]    it  is,  they  say  in  jest,  their  women  never 

die;    as  much  as  to  say  they  live  to  exceeding  great   ages 

by  eating  no  other  sort  of  bread   than    oat-cakes.  —  Ellis, 

Modn.  Hushy.,  Oct.,  p.  24,  1750. 

There    hath    been   an   old   saying  that    all    evils  rise    out   of  the 

North. — ^Sir  R.  Barckley,  Felicitie  of  Man,  p.  339,  1636. 
No  good  comes  from  the  North. — Ford,  Sun's  Darlg.  vi. 

13 


CHARACTER.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Three  ills  come  out  of  [from — Ho.J  the  North, 

A  cold  wind,  a  cunning  Knave  [crafty  man — Ho.J,  and  a  sleezy 
cloth. — B.  Jonson,  Bart.  F.,  iv.  3. 

Cold  weather  and  crafty  Knaves  come  from  the  North. — Ho. 

Out  of  the  North 

All  ill  comes  forth. — A  Wintey  Dream,  1649,  p.  13. 

Northish.     Over-reaching,  grasping. — Baker,  Nhamptn.  Gloss. 

As  deep  as  the  North. — Jackson,  Shropshire,  W.  B. 

You  are  too  far  North  for  me,  i.e.  too  Knowing  by  half. 

Old  things  must  shrink  as  well  as  new  Northern  cloth. — Webster, 
West.  Ho.,  ii.  i. 

Like  Northern  cloth.  Shrunk  in  the  wetting.  —  Taylor  (W.  P.), 
Navy  of  Landships. 

A  Northern  man  may  speak  broad. — Bacon,  Promus  (558),  1594. 

Sir  Oliver.     The  devil  take  my  soul,  but  I  did  love  her  ! 
Taffeta.  That  oath  doth  show  you  are  a  Northern  Knight, 

And  of  all  men  alive,  ill  never  trust 

A  Northern  man  in  love. 
Sir  O.  And  why,  and  why,  slut  ? 

T.  Because  the  first  word  he  speaks  is — the  devil 

Take  his  soul,  and  who  will  give  him  trust 

That  once  has  given  his  soul  unto  the  devil  ? — Barry, 
Ram  Alky,  v. 

My  conceit  wandered  like  a  Northern  Shepherd's  tongue  when  (half 
drowned  in  a  wassail  bowl)  he  tells  the  story  of  a  lad  that 
went  to  seek  his  fortunes. — T.M.,  Life  of  a  Satirical  Puppy, 
called  Nim,  p.  14,  1657. 

Dam.     What  is  your  name  sir,  or  your  country  ? 

Boy.      John — Try  just  my  name,  a  Cornish  youth  and  the  poet's 

servant. 
D.  West    Country-bred,    I    thought :     you    were    so    bold. — 

B.  Jonson,  Magnetic  Lady  iii.   i. 

The  West  of  England — that  is  to  say,  the  Clothing  Counties  (which 
we  call  the  West,  though  they  are  South-West). — Defoe, 
Behav.  of  Servts.,  1724. 

Zedland.  Great  part  of  the  West  Country  where  the  letter  z  is 
substituted  for  s. — Devon,  Dorset  and  Somerset.     G.  Diet. 

The  East  is  formed  only  by  the  washings  down  from  the  West. — 
Wr.  White,  Eastn.  Engd.,  i.  2. 

Clergymen  who  have  consulted  God's  honour  with  their  own  credit 
and  profit,  could  not  desire  better  for  themselves  than  to  have 
a  Lincolnshire  Church,  as  best  built ;  a  Lancashire  Parish  as 
largest  bounded ;  and  a  London  audience  as  consisting  of 
most  intelligent  people.— F.  W.  Lancashire,  w"-  Camden 
says  has  only  36  parishes,  while  Rutland  has  48. 

14 


LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA.  character. 

To  come  out  of  the  Shires  (pronounced  Sheres).  This  is  a  pro- 
verbial saying  relative  to  any  person  who  comes  from  a 
distance,  and  the  ground  of  it  is  that  the  word  Shire  is 
not  annexed  to  any  one  of  the  Counties  bordering  upon  Kent, 
which  are  Surrey,  Sussex,  Middlesex,  and  Essex  ;  so  that  to 
come  out  of  a  Shire  a  man  must  necessarily  come  from 
beyond  any  of  these  neighbouring  provinces.— Pegge,  Kenth. 
Prov.  71,  E.  D.  S. 

Cf.  Rejoice,  O  English  hearts,  rejoice !  rejoice,  O  lovers  dear  ! 
Rejoice,  O  city,  town,  and  country !  rejoice  eke  every  shere. 
Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  Knight  of  the  Burning  Pestle,  iv.  5. 
From  Berwick  to  Dover 
Three  hundred  miles  over. — F.  W. 
I  doubt   whether  (the  doors  being  shut)  you  shall  speed  of  your 
desire  (though  you  should  run  from  Barwick  to  Dover,  from 
Old  England  into  new  for  it)  and  be  admitted  to  believe. 

Danl.  Rogers,  Naaman,  p.  367,  1642. 
Siv  Gudgeon.     D'ye  hear  this,    Mr.  Driver  ?    I    shall   order    you, 
i'  faith!    if  there  be  any  law  between  the  Mount  in  Cornwall 
and  Berwick  Stairs. — ].Wi[son,Pyojectors,  v.  1665. 
When  Dover  and  Calais  meet. — F.  W. 

And  yett  not  lowng  agoo 
was  prechars  one  or  tooe 
that  spake  it  plene  enowgh 
to  yow,  to  yow,  and  to  yowe, 
Highe  tyme  for  to  repente 
this  develyche  intente 
of  covitis  the  convente 
from  Skottland  into  Kente 
this  pracheng  was  be-sprent, 
and  from  the  est  frunt 
unto  Saynt  Mychell's  montte. 
Vox  Populi,  Vox  Dei  :    a  complaynt  of  the  commons  against  Taxes, 
P-  4>  1549.  I'^P^-  1821. 
Old  England  =  the  Provinces.      "  Tom  Wisdom  went  to  Lunnon 
and  stopt  a  wik,  and  when  a  come  back  a  said  '  Giv'  I  old 
England." — Mrs.  Parker,  Oxfordsh.  Gloss.,  Sup. 


15 


CHARACTER  OF  THE  ENGLISH  PEOPLE. 


See  Scotland  and  Ireland  also,  and  Wales. 

Bustum  Anglorum  Gallia,  Gallorum  Italia.— Calfhill,  ^»SK^«r^(?  Martiall, 
1565,  Parker  Soc,  113. 

Loyaute   d'Anglois  : 
Le  mutin  Anglois. 
Bonne  terre,  mauvaise  gent.  -Prov.  Flam.  Fran.,  i6th  Cy. 
England  a  good  land  and  bad  people  (French).— F.W. 
Apt  to  revolt  and  willing  to  rebel, 
And  never  are  contented  when  they're  well. 

De  Foe,  True  Born  Engi*-  II. 

For   Englishmen   are  ne'er  contented  long. — lb. 

AngH,  velut  Angeli.     St.  Gregory.— F.W. 

The    King    of   England  is    the   King   of    devils.— Ho.,    Parley    of 

Beasts.— F.W. 
[Emperor  of  Germany  King  of  Kings,  King  of  Spain  King  of  Men, 

and  the  King  of  France  King  of  Asses.] 
Tres  Inglesses  :  dos  ladrones,  el  tercer  rebelde. — Ho. 
The  English  are  the  best  masters  and  the  worst  servants  in  the 

world. — Defoe,  BeJiav.  of  Servts.,  260,  1724. 
The  flour  of  England  fine  enough  ;  the  bran  very  coarse  ;  viz.,  the 

gentry  and  commonalty. — Ho.,  New  Sayings,  i. 
In   1877-8,   during  the  Jingo  delirium,  the  Germans  added  a  new 

characteristic   of  "tall  talk"  to  Speech  is  silver,  silence   is 

golden — "  But  Britannia  metal  is  sound  and  fury,  signifying 

nothing." 
English  reden  und  teuflich  meinen. — Wander. 
Foreigners  say  of  us  English  that  we  are  Lyncei  foris,  talpae  domi. 

—Aubrey,  N.  H.  Wilts,  Pref. 
At  Boughton,  built  by  Ralph  ist  Duke  of  Montagu,  in  17th  century, 

there  is  inscribed  on  a  chimney-piece  in  the  Audit  gallery, 

Mille  douleurs   pour  ung  plasure.     Ne  sis    Argus   foris    et 

domi  talpa. — Murray,  Northants. 
Aimable  comme  un  Anglois. — Gomes  de  Trier,  Javdn.,  i6th  Cent. 
Hilaris  gens,  cui  libera  mens  et  libera  lingua:  the  old  e[u]logium 

and  character  of  the  English  nation. — Clement  Walker,  Hist. 

of  Independency,   1648,  pt.  i.,  93. 
Topo  el  Breton/con  su  compaiion. — Nunez,  1555. 
Tra  puttana  e  Breton/no  se  tien  rason. — Ital.  Nunez,  1555. 

16 


LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA.  character. 

A  nation  of  shopkeepers. — Napoleon  I. 

John  Bull  can  stand  many  things,  but  he  cannot  stand  two  per  cent. 

rate  of  interest. — Bagehot,  Lombd.  St.,  vi. 
J  'ai  pay 6  tous  mes  Anglois  (creanceirs). 
II  y   a   des   Anglais   dans  cette  rue  :    je   n'y    veux    pas    aller. — 

Oudin  C,  Fr, 

Der  Englander  lasst  seine  Moral  am  Cap  der  guten  HofFnnug,  aber  wenn 
er  heimgekehrt  ist,  wird  erwieder  ein  frommermann. — Wander. 

Fal.  But  it  was  always  yet  the  trick  of  our  English  nation  if  they 
have  a  good  thing  to  make  it  too  common. — Shak.,  2 
H.  IV.,  i.  2,  201. 

They  say  that  the  English  only  care  for  three  things— Business, 
Politics,  and  Religion. — Saty.  Rev.,  23/11,  '85. 

Spiritual  pride  the  epidemical  disease  of  England. — Ho.,  JV.  Says.,  iv. 

Scire  Anglis  sitis  est,  sitis  est  nescire  Brittannis, 

Fastus  Normannis  crescit  crescentibus  annis. 

Camden,  Remains,  p.  ig,  ed.  1870. 

Williams.     Ah,   damnation!     God   damn!  [Lion,  1789. 

Blondel.     Goddam,  Monsieur,  est  Anglais  apparemment. — Cceur  de 

Monsieur  God-dam  !  Diable,  c'est  une  belle  langue  que  1' Anglais  ; 
il  en  faut  peu  pour  aller  loin ;  avec  Goddam  en  Angleterre  on 
ne  manque  de  rien :  les  Anglais  a  la  vente  ajoutent  par  ci 
par  la  quelques  autres  mots  en  conversant,  mais  il  est  bien 
aise  de  voir  que  Goddam  est  le  fond  de  la  langue. — Beau- 
marchais,  M.  de.  Figavo,  iii.  5. 

John  Bull.  G.  ascribes  this  nickname  to  Swift's  Hist.,  where  the 
Sovereigns  of  Austria,  France,  and  Spain  figure  as  Squire 
South,  Louis  Baboon,  and  Strut ;  the  Republic  of  Holland 
as  Nick  Frog. 

A  Britisher,  1829. 

II  ne  chassera  jamais  Ifes  Anglais  hors  de  France. — Brantome,  I.,  ii. 
d' Angleterre        con  todo  il  mondo  guerra 

ne  vient  bon  vent  ne  bonne  guerre,      y  paz  con  Inglatierra.       Ho. 

The  English  never  know  when  they  are  beaten. 

The  French  say  the  English  were  beaten  at  Waterloo,  but  had 
not  the  wit  to  know  it. — Prov.  Treasy..  Leipsig,  1880. 

An  English  bug.  (An  Irish  taunt. )^G.  Founded  on  the  sup- 
position that  the  English  first  brought  bugs  into  Ireland. — G. 

This  was  one  of  the  Travellers'  observed  faults  in  England,  camini 
mali ;  that  we  had  ill  clothes  and  worse  chimneys,  for  they 
smoked  no  charity. — T.  Adams,  Whs.,  p.  131. 

The  English  are  the  Frenchman's  apes,  i.e.  in  language  and 
fashion. — F.W. 

Jack  would  be  a  gentleman  if  he  could  speak  French. — F.W.,  86. 

In  which  respect  (changeableness  of  dress)  we  are  termed  the 
Frenchmen's  apes,  imitating  them  in  all  their  fantastic 
devised  fashions  of  garbs  — Randle  Holme,  Academy  of  Armorie, 
iii.  5,  1688. 

VOL.  I.  17  3 


CHARACTER.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

The  Englishman  drawn  naked  with  a  pair  of  Shears. —  Boorde, 
Intro,  to  Knowledge,  ch.  i.,  1547  ;  Dekker,  Seven  Deadly  Sins, 
v.,  1606. 

The  New  Guise  of  the  Englisli. — Camden,  Rem.,  p.  13. 

Besides,  I  turned  him  to  that  long-tailed  beast  (the  Ape)  because 
they  of  his  country  [England]  are  called  Stertmen,  that  is 
men  with  long  tails,  for  which  there  is  both  tradition  and 
story. — Howell,  Parley  of  Beasts,  p.  29,  1660.     Cf.  Kent. 

Les  Anglois  couez  qui  descendoient  et  prenoient  terra  a  Dieppe 
(having  tails). — An.  Tkeat.  Fran.,  vii.  46. 

Non  Angli  sed  Angeh.  (Exclamation  of  Gregory  the  Great  (a.d.  578) 
on  seeing  the  English  slaves  in  the  Market-place  at  Rome.) 

Tout  Anglais  pris  individuellement  est  un  peu  fou  et  tous  les  Anglais 
ensemble  font  le  peuple  le  plus  raisonnable  de  la  terre. — John 
Lemoinne,  /.  des  Dehats,  June  21,  1887. 

This  is  a  free  country.  (An  Englishman's  apology  for  speaking  his 
mind.) 

The  Peerage  is  the  Englishman's  Bible. 

Did  not  the  People's  William  once  record 
That  every  true-born  Briton  loves  a  lord  ? 

Thorold  Rogers,  Epigrams,  p.  84. 

John  Bull  loves  a  lord.— Quoted  by  Furnivall,  E.E.T.S.  Extra, 
vol.  viii.,  p.  xii. 

A  right  Englishman,  neither  idle  nor  well  occupied.— C^.  (Curiositas). 
A  right  Englishman  sees  with  his  ears  and  hears  with  his  eyes. 
Never  content  with  what  you  had  before, 
But  true  to  change  and  Englishmen  all  o'er. 

Dryden,  Pro.  to  "The  Prophetess." 
A  right  EngHshman  knows  not  when  a  thing  is  well.— C/. 

cannot  tell  when  he  is  well. — Ho. 
A  true  Englishman  never  knows  when  he  is  well.— C/.,  S.P.C,  ii. 

As  wanton  as  the  EngHshman  after  a  long  peace. — Ho.,  New 
Sayings,  iii. 

He  can  never  hold  his  hand  from  the  table  ;  which  proves  him  a  true 
EngHshman,  for  he  cannot  leave  it  when  it  is  well.— Brath- 
wait,  Whimzies,  A.  Painter,  1631. 
They  say  it  is  an  Englishman's  quality  not  to  let  things  alone  when 

they  are  weH.— Strafford,  Letters,  n.  157. 
An  EngHshman  is  never  happy  but  when  he  is  miserable ;  a  Scotch- 
man never  at  home  but  when  he  is  abroad  ;  and  an  Irishman 
never  at  peace  but  when  he  is   fighting.-Quoted  in  Cahes, 
Leeks,  Puddings,  and  Potatoes  by  Geo.  Seton.     Edinb.,   1865. 
England  expects  every  man  to  do  his  duty. 
The  EngHshman  weeps, 
The  Irishman  sleeps. 

But  the  Scotchman  goes  tiU  [i.e.  while]  he  gets  \t.~Ho. 
gangs  while  he  gets  it. 

18 


LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA.  character. 

In  the  meantime,  patience,  Courtine :  that  is  the  Englishman's 
virtue. — T.  Otway,  Soldier's  Fortune,  iv.,  1681. 

Compromise,  the  breath  of  the  EngHshman's  nostrils. — World, 
25/10,  '93. 

They  have  no  fancy  and  never  are  surprised  into  a  covert  or  witty 
word  such  as  pleased  the  Athenians  and  Italians ;  but  they 
delight  in  strong  earthy  expressions  not  mistakable. 

What  shall  we  go  out  and  kill  ?  (The  after-breakfast  enquiry.) 
An  Englishman's  idea  of  happiness  is  to  find  something 
he  can  kill  and  to  hunt  it.  Like  as  children  do  with  their 
babies  [dolls]  when  they  have  played  enough  with  them,  they 
take  sport  to  undo  them. — Bacon,  Promus,  356. 

The  children  of  England  take  pleasure  in  breaking 
What  the  children  of  Holland  take  pleasure  in  making — i.e.  toys. 

Percival,  Span.  Dial.,  ii. 

Englishmen   by  making  their  children  gentlemen   before  they  are 
men  cause  that  they  are  so  seldom  wise  men. — F.W.,  216. 
Cf.  Como  los  torneros  engana  muchachos  y  saca  dineros. 

A  foreigner's  observation. 

Moreover,  of  the  English,  especially  [of  the  peasantry]  it  hath  been 
[formerly  and  unhappily]  observed  that  then  it  is  happiest 
with  them  when  when  they  are  somewhat  pressed  and  in 
a  complaining  condition ;  according  to  that  old  rhyming 
verse  : 

Anglica  gens  est  optima  flens 
[et]  pessima  ridens. 
Chamberlayne,  Angl  Not.,  p.  35,  1669  ;   Present  State 
of  England,  p.  44,   1673  !    Bliss,  Reliq.  Hearn,  i.  40. 

Rustica  gens  est  optima  flens 
sed  pessima  gaudens. 

Greg.  Richter,  Axiomata,  Gorlitz,  1604,  4. 

lis  s'amusaient  tristement,  selon  la  coutume  de  leur  pays. 

When  two  Englishmen  meet,  their  first  talk  is  of  the  weather. — 
(Johnson)  Christy. 

L' Anglais  remet  son  pantalon  a  Paris  quand  il  pleut  a  Londres. 

None  but  dogs  and  Englishmen  walk  in  the  sun.  An  Italian  saying, 
D'aprSs  un  proverbe  Romain  il  n'y  a  que  les  chiens  et  les 
etrangers  qui  aillent  au  soleil,  ces  chr^tiens  vont  a  I'ombre. — 
Baedeker,  Italia  Septentrionak,  VIII.  Regime. 

Ambassadors,   Englishmen,  and  fools  travel    first-class. -iV.,  VI., 

ii.,  224. 
The  devil  or  an  Englishman  will  go  anywhere. — lb. 

Report  of  fashions  in  proud  Italic 

Whose  manners  still  our  tardy  apish  nation 

Limps  after  in  base  imitation. — Sh.,  Rich.  II.,  i.  i. 

Utopian  youth  grown  old  Itahan. — Donne,  Ep.  to  Witton,  46. 

19 


CHARACTER.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Inglese  Italianato  6  il  diavolo  incarnate  [Ho]. — Serdonati. 
I  am  English-born  and  I  have  English  thoughts,  not  a  devil  incar- 
nate because  I  am  Itahanate,  but  hating  the  pride  of  Italy, 
because  I  know  their  peevishness. — 'Ha.sh.,Pierce  Penniless,  1592. 
The  English  go  mad  once  every  seven  years,  i.e.  at  the  elections.  — 

Voltaire. 
Ningun  Ingles  se  va  nunca  a  la  cama  sino  haber  hesto  una  extrava- 
ganza.— St.  J.  G.,  24/2,  '86. 

Anglia  plena  jocis,  gens  libera,  et  apta  jocari, 
Libera  gens  cui  libera  mens,  et  libera  lingua, 
Sed  lingui  melior,  liberiorque  manus. 

Alfred  of  Beverly. 
Gli  Inghilesi  non  sono  piu   Inghilesi.      Cosi  dicono  i  popolani  di 
Roma    per   significare   che   gli    Inglesi    non    sono    piii   cosi 
splendidi  come  in  addietro. — StrafForello. 

Chi  promette  mari  monti,  e  montagna 
non  ha  credito  in  Bretagna. — FL,  G. 
Cote  Angles  pass6,  larzent  pousse  (ou  passent  les  Anglais  I'argent 
pousse. ) — M.    C.   Baissae,   Patois    Creole   Mauricien,    Nancy, 
1880,  p.  159. 

9a  qui  Angles  caus6,  zautes,  meme  tende  ce  que  disent  les  Anglais, 
eux  seuls  le  comprennent. — lb.,  p.  156. 

The  labouring  poor,  in  spite  of  double  pay, 
Are  saucy,  mutinous,  and  beggarly; 
So  lavish  of  their  money  and  their  time. 
That  want  of  forecast  is  the  nationls  crime. 
Good  drunken  company  is  their  delight. 
And  what  they  get  by  day  they  spend  by  night. 

Defoe,  True-born  Englishman,  II. 
Britain  is 
A  world  by  itself,  and  we  will  nothing  pay 
For  wearing  our  own  noses. — Shak.,  Cymb.,  iii.  i. 
An  Englishman  hath  three  qualities;  he  can  suffer  no  partner  in 
his  love,  no  stranger  to  be  his  equal,  nor  to  be  dared  by  any. 
Lyly,  Ewphues  and  his  England, 

An    Englishman    does    not    travel    to    see    Englishmen.— Sterne, 
Sentimental  Journey,  Pref. 


Civis    Romanus    sum.— Attributed  to  Palmerston,  but   anticipated 
by  Cromwell. 

Some  of  Blake's  sailors  had  got  into  trouble  at  Malaga  for  show- 
ing disrespect  to  a  procession  of  the  Host.  Blake  demanded 
that  the  priest  who  had  incited  the  mob  in  revenge  to  maltreat 
the  sailors  should  be  given  up  to  him,  and  on  his  making  his 
appearance  and  defending  what  he  had  done,  Blake  answered 
that  if  he  had  sent  a  complaint  to  him  he  would  have  punished 
them_  severely  .  .  .  but  he  took  it  ill  that  he  had  set  on  the 
Spaniards  to  do  it ;  for  he  would  have  all  the  world  to  know 
that  an  Englishman  was  only  to  be  punished  by  an  English- 
man. .  .  .  Cromwell  was  much  delighted  with  this,  and  read 

20 


LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA.  character. 

the  letters  in  Council  with  great  satisfaction,  and  said  he 
hoped  he  should  make  the  name  of  an  Englishman  as  great 
as  ever  that  of  a  Roman  had  been. — Burnet,  History  of  Ms 
own  Times,  Bk.  I. 
A  witty  foreigner  once  said  that  if  three  Englishmen  were  ship- 
wrecked on  a  desert  island,  their  first  proceeding  would  be 
that  one  would  propose,  another  second,  that  the  third  should 
take  the  chair. — Bp.  Creighton  (Peterborough,  afterwards 
London),  Romanes  Lecture  at  Oxford,  June  17th,  1896. 
There  are  no  people  who  sigh  for  the  place  of  their  birth  like 
Englishmen.  They  make  good  colonists  and  wander  to  the 
most  remote  parts  of  the  earth ;  but,  as  Carlyle  has  some- 
where said,  all  these  wanderers  are  home-sick  to  a  man. 
The  last  of  all  the  emigrants  [immigrants]  who  become 
naturalised  in  the  United  States  is  the  Englishman. — L.  J. 
Jennings,  Rambles  among  the  Hills,  1880,  p.  264. 
Inside  Shepheard's  Hotel  [Cairo]  you  will  find  just  the  Bel  Alp  in 
winter  quarters.  All  the  people  who  live  in  their  boxes  and 
grand  hotels,  who  know  all  lands  but  no  languages,  who  have 
been  everywhere  and  done  nothing,  looked  at  everything  and 
seen  nothing,  read  everything  and  know  nothing,  who  spoil 
the  globe  by  trotting  on  it.  And  outside  is  the  native 
complement  of  them,  guides  and  donkey-boys,  &c. — G.  W. 
Steevens,  Egypt  in  1898  (American),  London,  p.  49,  8vo. 
They  (the  English)  fare  sumptiously,  God  is  served  in  their  churches 
devoutly,  but  treason  and  deceit  among  them  is  used  crafty ly, 
ye  more  pity ;  for  if  they  were  true  within  themselfs  thei  nede 
not  to  feare,  although  all  nations  were  set  against  them.— 
Borde,  Boke  of  Introdn.  of  Knowledge,  A,  4. 
If  England's  Peers  and  People  join  in  one, 
Nor  Pope,  nor  France,  nor  Spain  can  do  them  wrong. 

King  John,  1591. 
This  England  never  did,  nor  never  shall, 
Lie  at  the  proud  foot  of  a  conqueror. 
But  when  it  first  did  help  to  wound  itself : 
Now  these  her  princes  are  come  home  again, 
Come  the  three  corners  of  the  world  in  arms. 
And  we  shall  shock  them  :  nought  shall  make  us  rue, 
If  England  to  itself  do  rest  but  true. 

Shak.,  K.  John,  v.  7. 
It  was  said  of  the  British  nation  by  Voltaire,  that,  like  their  beer, 
the  top  was  froth,  the  bottom  dregs,  but  the  middle  excellent. 
(Meaning  the  classes  ?) 

Permanence  of  Families. 

Some  curious  examples  are  cited  to  show  the  stability  of 
English  families.  Their  proverb  is  that  50  miles  from 
London  a  family  will  last  an  hundred  years ;  at  100  miles, 
two  hundred  years ;  and  so  on ;  but  I  doubt  that  steam, 
the  enemy  of  time,  as  well  as  of  space,  will  disturb  these 
ancient  rules.— Emerson,  English  Traits — Aristocracy. 

21 


COMPARISONS   WITH    OTHER   NATIONS. 


Neither  one's  self  nor  mankind  is  served  by  national  vanity. — 
German.     Quoted.     M.  Davitt's  Prison  Diary. 

L' Anglais  invents,  le  Franfais  perfectionne. — Ausland,  1871,  No.  18. 

In  Italien  sind  die  Weiber  eingezogen  und  bose,  in  Deutschland 
hauslich  und  kaltsinnig,  in  England  Koniginnen  und  allzu 
frei,  in  Frankreich  Frauen  und  prachtig,  in  Spanien  sklavish 
und  verliebt. — Deutsche  Romanzen,  iii.  45. 

Wenn  Italien  Guitarre  spielt,  Spanien  Castagnetten  schlagt,  Frank- 
reich seine  Lauten  rilhrt,  Irland  dazu  Harfe  tragt,  Deutschland 
die  Trompete  blast,  England  Violinen  streicht,  die  Schweiz 
pfeift,  Holland  lasst  die  Trommeln  horen,  nichts  dem  gleicht. 
— Berckmimeyer. 

Frenchmen  synne  in  lechery 
and  Englysmen  yn  enuye. 

Rob.  Brunne,  Handlyng  of  Synne. 

Cogli  Inglesi  i  grandi  servigi,  coi  Frances!  i  rigaardi,  cogli  Italian! 
le  maniere.' — Ted.  Straff. 

II  mondo  per  I'lnglese  e  una  tragedia,  e  pel  Francese  una  commedia. 
—lb. 

La  podagra  e  la  malattia  degli  Inglesi  e  la  pietra  del  Tedeschi. — lb. 

Unter  drei  Italiern  findet  man  zwei  geistliche,  unter  drei  Spaniern 
zwei  windmacher,  unter  drei  Deutschen  zwei  Soldaten,  unter 
drei  Franzosen  zwei  Koche  und  unter  drei  Englandern  zwei 
Hurenhengste. — Der  Gesellschafter  (Magdeburg,  1784). 

The  English  love,  the  French  make  love. — Christy. 

A  Frenchman  invented  the  dickey  (false  front),  the  Englishman 
added  the  shirt. — Emerson,  Led.  on  France,  1856. 

Ane  IngHss  man  worthe  Frenche  twa.* — Andrew  of  Wyntoun, 
Ryming  Chron.  of  ScoU.,  1420,  B.  viii.,  ch.  43  ;  Ed.  Laing,  ii. 
489. 

*  This,  it  must  be  remarlted,  is  a  British  estimate. 

I  thought  upon  one  pair  of  English  legs.  See  Douce,  Bin.  of  Shak., 
ii.  346,  where  this  prov.  is  referred  to  Odo  de  Ceriton 
(XII.  Centy.). 

Did  march  three  Frenchmen. — Shak.,  Hen.  V.,  iii.,  6. 

One  Frenchman  can  beat  two  Portugeeee 
one  Englishman  can  lick  all  three. 

Cited  by  Ch.  Kingsley. 

22 


LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA.  comparisons. 

Another  reading :  Two  skinny  Frenchmen,  one  Portugee, 

one  jolly  Englishman  will  beat  'em  all  three. 

Der  Konig  in  Frankreich  ist  Rex  asinorum,  der  Konig  von  Spanien 
Rex  hominum,  der  Konig  von  England  Rex  diabolorum,  der 
Kaiser  aber  Rex  Regum. — Wander. 

Der  Konig  von  Frankreich  ist  ein  Konig  der  Esel,  denn  was  er 
seinen  Unterthanen  auferlegt,  das  mussen  sie  thun ;  der 
Konig  in  England  ist  ein  Konig  der  Leute,  was  er  ihnen 
auferlegt,  das  genehmigen  sie;  aber  der  Kaiser  ist  ein 
Konig  der  Fiirsten,  die  than,  was  ihnen  gefallt. — A  saying  of 
Maximilian  L  (Zinkgref). 

Germanie  beginnes  a  dance 
that  passes  through  Italie,  Spain  and  France, 
but  England  must  pay  the  pyper. 

Patk.  Gordon,  Britanes  Distemper,  1639 
(Spalding  Club  ed.,  p.  57). 

Bere  (alia  Todesca)  il  vino :  la  matina  puro,  a  descinar  senza  acqua, 
e  a  cena  come  viene  dal  tonello. — Florio,  2d  Frutes,  1591. 

I  learned  [the  song]  in  England,  where  indeed  they  are  more  potent 
in  potting ;  your  Dane,  your  German,  and  your  swag-bellied 
Hollander  are — drink  ho! — nothing  to  your  Englishmen. — 
Shak.,  Othello,  ii.  3. 

It  takes  four  Turks  to  overreach  one  Frank,  two  Franks  to  cheat 
one  Greek,  two  Greeks  to  cheat  one  Jew,  and  six  Jews  to 
cheat  one  Armenian. — A  saying  on  Liverpool  Exchange. 

Glove.  It  was  anciently  a  popular  saying  that  Three  Kingdoms 
must  contribute  to  the  formation  of  a  good  glove :  Spain  to 
prepare  the  leather,  France  to  cut  it  out,  and  England  to  sew 
it.— S.  W.  Singer,  N.  I.,  ii.  165. 

On,  English  fool !  wanton  Italianly  ;  go  Frenchly  ;  Dutchly  drink  ; 
breathe  Indianly.: — Hy.  Buttes,  Dyet's  Dry  Dinner,  1599 ; 
Epilogue  on  Tobacco,  P.  4  r. 

Non  vogliate  mai  dar  fede  a  Faremo  de  Roma ;  agli  Adesso  adesso 
d'ltalia,  a  Magnana  di  Spagna,  a  By-and-by  d'Inghilterra,  a 
Warrant  you  di  Scotia  e  a  Tantost  di  Francia,  perche  tutte 
sono  ciancie. — Florio,  2d  Frutes,  1591. 

Lad.  There's  a  saying  when  they  commend  nations:  it  goes,  the 
Irishman  for  his  hand,  the  Welchman  for  a  leg,  the  English- 
man for  a  face,  the  Dutchman  for  a  beard. 

Fon.   I'faith  they  may  make  swabbers  of  them. 

Lod.  The  Spaniard — let  me  see — for  a  little  foot :  I  take  it  the 
Frenchman — what  a  pox  hath  he  ?  and  so  of  the  rest. — 
Dekker,  Honest  Who.,  II. ,  i.  i. 

Dal  Tedesco  negro,  Spagnuolo  bianco,  Italiano  rosso  guarda  mi  Dio. 

I  Don  di  Spagna,  i  Conti  d'Alemagna,  i  Monsieur  di  Francia,  i 
Vescovi  d'ltalia,  i  Cavaglieri  di  Napoli,  i  Lordi  di  Scotia,  gli 
Hidalgi  di  Portogallo,  i  minori  Fratelli  d'Inghilterra  e  i 
Nobili  d'Ungaria  fanno  una  povera  compagnia. — Florio,  2d 
Frutes,  1591 ;  Dial.,  vi. 

23 


COMPARISONS.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

The  French  hath  valour,  but  with  it  vanitatem  et  levitatem ; 
the  Dutch  hath  honest  deahng,  but  gulam  et  ebrietatem  ; 
the  Italian  discreet  carriage,  but  procationem  et  libidinem. 

Help  to  Discourse,  p.  115,  1638. 
An  Italian  traveller  used  to  say  that  the  Portuguese  seems  a  fool  and 
is  so  ;  the  Spaniard  seems  wise  and  is  a  fool ;  the  Frenchman 
seems  a  fool  and  is  wise  ;  the  Englishman  is  wise  but  cannot 
show  it ;  the  Italian  both  is  wise  and  seems  so,  and  the 
Dutchman  would  be  wise  but  for  the  pot. — Copley,  Wits, 
Fits,  and  Fancies,  1614,  p.  109. 

Franzosen  und  Russen  gehort  das  Land, 

Das  Meer  gehort  den  Britten, 
Wir  aber  fiihren  im  Luftreich  des  Traums 
Die  Herrschaft  unbestritten. — J.  P.  Richter. 

Quoted  by  De  Stael,  Corinne,  i,  18,  ed.  1833. 
The  Italian  is  wise  before  he  undertakes  a  thing,  the  German  [is 
wise  in  the  acting — W.W.]    while   he   is  doing  it,  and  the 
Frenchman  [when  it  is  over — Ital.,  El.  Ex.']  after  it  is  done. 
— W.  W.,  New  Help  to  Discourse,  p.  56,  1659. 
Galli  cantant,  Angli  jubilant,  Hispani  plangunt,  Germani  ululant, 
Itali  caprizant,  i.e.  caper  like  a  goat,  alluding  to  their  quaver- 
ings  or  divisions.    XIV.  to  XVI.  Cents. — Chappell's  Popular 
Music  of  the  Olden  Time. 
The  nimble  French,   majestic  Spanish,  courtly  Italian,  masculine 
Dutch,  happily-compounding  Greek,  mystical   Hebrew,  nor 
physical  Arabic. — Poor  Robin,  Prog.,  1708. 
Bread,  butter,  and  green  cheese, 
is  very  good  Enghsh,  and  very  good  Freeze. 

Bell's  Shakspere's  Puck,  i.  7. 
The  High  Dutch  pilgrims  when  they  beg  do  sing ;  the  Frenchmen 
whine  and  cry ;  the  Spaniards  curse,  swear,  and  blaspheme ; 
the  Irish  and  English  steal  (Spanish). — F.  W. 
A  report  of  the  witty  German.     The  Germans  beg  by  singing  and 
going  in  troops,  the  Frenchmen  by  praying  and  shrugging, 
the  Flemings  by  making  of  legs  and  by  low  and  frequent 
conjies,  the  Gipsies  by  importuning,  the  Portuguese  by  their 
weeping,  the  Italians  by  their  long  circumlocution,  and  the 
Spaniards  by  their  big  looks  and  high  language  as  if  they 
would  swagger  a  man  out  of  his  alms  whether  he  will  or  no. 
— P.  Robin,  Progn.,  1704. 
In  settling  an  island  the  first  building  erected  by  a  Spaniard  will  be 
a  church ;  by  a  Frenchman  a  fort ;  by  a  Dutchman  a  ware- 
house, and  by  an  EngHshman  an  alehouse. — G. 
The  French,  like  a  flea,  quickly  sHpping  into  a  country,  and  as  soon 
skipping  out  of  it ;  the  Dutch  a  louse,  slowly  mastering  a  place 
and  as  slowly  being  driven  from  their  hold ;  the  Spaniard  a 
crab,*  which  being  crept  into  a  place  almost  unawares  is  so 
fast  rooted  there  that  nothing  but  the  extremity  of  violence 
can  force  him  out  again. — W.  W.,  New  Help  to  Dis.,  p.  55. 
*  The  crab  is  of  course  the  crab-louse. 

24 


LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA.  comparisons. 

Die  Italiener  sind  wie  die  Wanzen,  die  haben  uberall  einen  schand- 
licken  gestank  von  Sodomiterei,  mord  un  verrath  bei  sich. 
— Hesekiel,  p.  7. 

The  Russian,  Poloniar,  German,  Belgian  are  excellent  in  the  Art 
of  Drink ;  the  Spaniard  will  wench  it ;  the  Italian  is 
revengeful ;  the  Frenchman  is  for  fashions ;  the  Irishman, 
Usquebaugh  makes  him  light-heeled ;  the  Welshman,  Cowss- 
body  works  (by  infusion)  to  his  fingers'  ends,  and  translates 
them  into  the  nature  of  lime-twigs ;  and  it  is  said  that  a  Scot 
will  prove  false  to  his  father  and  dissemble  with  his  brother ; 
but  for  an  Englishman,  he  is  so  clear  from  any  of  these  vices 
that  he  is  perfectly  exquisite  and  excellently  endued  with 
all  those  noble  aforesaid  exercises. — Taylor  (Water  Poet), 
Christmas  In  and  Out,  1652. 


25 


EATING   AND   DRINKING. 


Der    Englander    isst    das    meiste,    aber    der    Deutsche   trink    das 

meisste. — Hesekiel. 
Saoul  comme  un  Anglois. 
The  EngHsh  glutton.— F.  W. 

And  God,  he  knows  the  English  soldier's  gut 
Must  have  his  fill  of  victual  once  a  day, 
Or  else  he  will  but  homely  earn  his  pay. 

Gascoigne,  Dulce  Bellum,  150. 
For    fighting    we    may    say    of    our    countrymen    that    give    but 

Englishmen   great  meals  of  beef,  iron  and  steel,  and   they 

will    eat   like  wolves  and   fight    like   devils. — Poor    Robin, 

Mar.,  1703. 
There   is    more    good   victuals   in    England   than   in    seven    other 

Kingdoms. — CI. 
Ha  piii  da  fare  che  i  forni  di  Natale  in  Inghilterra. — Flo.,  G.  F. 
To   stink  of  Muscadel  like  an  English  Christmas. — Beaumont  & 

Fletcher,  The  Pilgrim. 
^uesto  sempre  sguazzar  alia  Inghilese  e  pastaggiare  come  fanno 

loro  e  causa  di  molte  infirmita.     La  crapula  ne  amazza  piii  in 

Inghilterra   che   non  se   malattia  alcuna. — Flo.,  2nd   Fniits, 

ch.  10. 
Constable.    And  then  give  them  great  meals  of  beef,  and  iron  and 

steel,  they  will  eat  like  wolves  and  fight  like  devils. 
Orl.    Ay,  but  these  English  are  sadly  out  of  beef. 
Constable.    Then  shall  we  find  to-morrow  they  have  only  stomachs 

to  eat  and  none  to  fight. — Shak.,  Hen.  V.,  iii.  7. 
The  Roast  Beef  of  Old  England. 
Jack  Roast  Beef  (French). — G. 
Mandar  conigli  in  Inghilterra. — Torr.  (rabbits). 
Der  ochse  ist  England's  rebhuhn. — Hesekiel. 
Enghsh  poke  pudding. — G.     A  Scotch  jest  at  the  plum-pudding. 
England  lebt  sein  Steinkohlen,  Thee  und  Plum-pudding. — Wander. 
Nothing  can  be  inaugurated  in  England  without  a  dinner. 
An   Englishman's   one  idea  of  a  celebration  is  a  public   dinner. — 

P.  M.  G.,  7/5,  '85. 

The  way  to  an  Englishman's  heart  is  through  his  stomach. 
In    England   they  have  but  one  sauce  (melted  butter),  and  forty 
religions. — Voltaire. 

26 


LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA.  eating. 

•Up,  Look  you,  sir :  the  Northern  man  loves  whitemea't ;  the 
Southery  man,  sallads;  the  Essex  man,  a  calf;  the  Kentish 
man,  a  wagtail ;  the  Lancashire  man,  an  egg-pie  ;  the  Welsh- 
man, leeks  and  cheese ;  and  your  Londoner,  raw  mutton  ; 
so  father,  God  b'  wi'  you,  I  was  born  in  London.  (Of 
women). — Webster,  Northward  Hoe,  i.  3. 

He  is  an  Englishman,  and  English  dyet  will  serve  his  turn.  If  the 
Norfolk  Dumplin  and  the  Devonshire  Whitepot  be  at  variance, 
he  will  atone  them ;  the  Bag-puddings  of  Gloucestershire, 
the  Black-puddings  of  Worcestershire,  the  Pan- puddings  of 
Shropshire,  the  White-puddings  of  Somersetshire,  the  Hasty- 
puddings  of  Ham  shire,  the  Pudding-pyes  of  any  shire,  all  is 
one  to  him;  nothing  comes  amiss. — Taylor  (W.  P.),  The 
Great  Eater;  or,  Nicholas  Wood. 

Now  if  you  would  know  whither  to  go  for  several  sorts  of  belly- 
timber,  I  shall  inform  you :  to  Devonshire  for  whitepots,  to 
Essex  for  veal,  to  Norfolk  for  dumplings,  to  Tewkesbury  for 
mustard,  to  Banbury  for  cakes,  to  King's  Norton  for  cheese, 
and  to  Derby  for  ale, — Poor  Robin,  1687. 


27 


DRINKING. 


Li  mieldre  buveor  en  Angleterre. — Dits  de  I'Apostoik,  13th  Cy. 
Topo  el  Breton  con  su  compafion. — Nunes,  1555- 
Tra  putana  e  Breton  no  se  tien  rason. — lb. 

Whoso  hath  a  mouth, 

shall  ne'er  in  England  suffer  drouth. — R.,  1670. 
Whether  this  alludes  to  the  free  flow  of  liquor  or  to  the  necessity 
of  swallowing  the  fog  is  uncertain. 

Excess  of  drinking  was  formerly  more  rare  in  England,  as  appears 
by  an  old  poet : — 

Ecce  Britannorum  mos  est  laudabilis  iste, 
Ut  bibat  arbitrio  pocula  quisque  suo. 

Present  State  of  England,  1673,  p.  45. 

And  though  the  Germans  did  bear  away  the  bell  for  drinking,  yet  it 
was  rather  long  than  much,  being  content  to  pelt  his  enemy 
at  a  distance  ;  whereas  we  are,  after  the  modern  way  of  fight, 
altogether  for  down  blows,  being  impatient  till  the  opposite 
have  a  total  rout. — C.  Trenchfield,  Cap  of  Gray  Hairs  for  a 
Green  Head,  ch.   14,     1678. 


28 


ESTIMATES  OF  OTHER  NATIONS. 


Italy  to  be  born  in,  France  to  live  in,  and  Spain  to  die  in. — Sp.,El.  Extr. 

Adam  was  tempted  in  Italian,  fell  a-begging  pardon  in  French, 
and  was  thrust  out  of  Paradise  in  High  Dutch. — Ho.,  N^w 
Sayings,  IV. 

Take  heed  of  a  slow  foe  in  Italy,  and  a  sudden  friend  in  France. — 
Ho.,  Parley  of  Beasts,  191. 

Americans  are  Vulgar ;  French  are  Immoral ;  Russians  are  Bar- 
barians ;  Italians  are  Beggars ;  Spaniards  are  Cut-throats ; 
Germans  are  Boors;  Greeks  are  Sharpers;  Australians  are 
Convicts ;  Swiss  are  Harpies ;  Turks  are  unspeakable : 
and  every  other  people  below  contempt.  Foreigners  are  in 
fact  deceitful,  effeminate,  irreligious,  immoral,  unclean  and 
unwholesome.  Any  one  Englishman  is  a  match  for  any 
seven  of  them.  (According  to  the  popular  estimate.) — Truth, 
2/11,   1893,  p.  928. 

Der  Englander  hat  seinen  Verstand  in  den  Fingerspitzen,  der 
Franzose  auf  der  Zunge. — Russ.,  Reinsherg,  V.  7. 

Every  Englishman  is  an  island. — Novalis,  iii.  301. 

The  Romans  fight  well  in  their  councils  (I  had  almost  said  fence- 
schools),  the  Italians  in  their  shops,  the  Spaniards  in  their 
ships,  the  Frenchmen  in  a  hold,  the  Scot  with  his  lance, 
the  Irishman  on  foot  with  his  dart. — T.  Adams,  Physic  from 
Heaven  :   Wks.,  p.  280. 

To  smoke  with  the  Indian,  quarrel  with  the  Frenchman,  court  a 
lady  with  the  Venetian,  plot  villany  with  the  Italian,  be 
proud  with  the  Spaniard,  cog  with  a  Jew,  insult  with  a  Turk, 
drink  down  a  Dutchman,  and  tell  lies  with  the  Devil, — for 
a  wager,  are  work  for  wolves,  not  for  lambs. — lb.,  386. 

The  German  proud  by  imitation,  the  French  by  inclination. — 
Ho.,  New  Sayings,  V. 

If  thy  son  be  given  to  drink  send  him  to  Spain,  if  to  drabs  send 
him  to  Germany  to  be  reclaimed. — Ho.,  New  Sayings,  V. 
And  they  shall  spell  as  they  do  speak. 
And  they  shall  sing  as  they  do  prick. 

Colvil,  Whigs'  Supplication,  p.  51- 

Johnny  Crapaud.— iV.,  I.,  v.  439.  Jacques  Bonhomme  is  the 
modern  nickname. 

Wooden  Shoes  (Sabots). — Addison,  DrmimefProl.   Gay,  Trivia,  i.  86. 

29 


ESTIMATES.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Gallis,  hominibus    levibus,  perfidis    et    in   ipsos  Deos  immortales 

impiis. — Cicero,  Oratio  pro  M.  FonUio. 
Moitie  singe,  moitie  tigre. 
As  a  Frenchman   rides,   all  upon   one   buttock. — Webster,   Appms 

and  Vivginms,  iii.  2. 
Like  French  falconers,  fly  at  anything  we  see. — Shaks  ,  Ham.,  ii.  2. 
It  is  said  of  the  French  that  they  are  born  with  a  Racket  in  one 
hand,   and   a  pack   of    cards   in   the  other   (proficiency   in 
Tennis  and  Piquet). — Torriano. 
France  is  a  meadow  that  cuts  thrice  a  year. — H. 

I  've  heard  and  I  've  read  in  a  great  many  books 

Half  the  Frenchmen  are  tailors,  and  t'  other  half  cooks. 

Chapter  on  Proverbs,  by  Rev.  T.  Wilson,  D.D.,  1775 — 
1813,  in  Harland  and  Wilkinson's  Lancashire  Folk  Love. 
Wife.  That  I  was  larger  I  may  swear 

Than  well-fed  ox  or  Flanders  mare. 

Ned  Ward,  Nuptial  Dialogues,  II.,  v.  1710. 
Like  Flanders  mares,  fairest  afar  off  (Fr.),  i.e.  Flemish  prostitutes. 
See  Riley,  Memoirs  of  Lon.,  p.  535,  and  Taylor  (W.P.),  A  Thief. 
Cf.    purnel  of  Flanders. — P.  Plow.,  C.  vii.  367. 
Leicester  Square  still  has  a  supply. 
A   Flanders   reckoning. — T.   Hey  wood,  2d   Pt.   Qu.  Eliz.   Troubles, 

1606,  p.  8g.,  reprint. 
A  Flemish  account. 

As  cruel  as  a  Spaniard.  (West  Cornw.)  The  village  of  Paul- 
church  was  burnt  by  them. — Polwhele,  Hist,  of  Cornw.,  v.  37. 

We  may  say  of  him,  as  of  the  Spaniard :  He  is  a  bad  servant,  but 
a  worse  master. — T.  Adams,  The  Sacrifice  of  Thankfulness : 
Wks.,  p.  85,   1629. 

Gidomar.     Are  you  a  Castilian  ? 
Rutilio.        No,  Madam.     Italy  claims  my  birth. 
Gidomar.     I  ask  not  with  purpose  to  betray  you  ;  if  you  were 
Ten  thousand  times  a  Spaniard,  the  nation 
We  Portugals  most  hate,  I  yet  would  save  you 
If  it  lay  in  my  power. — 

B.  &  FL,  Custom  of  the  Country,  ii.  4. 
As  Spaniards  talk  in  dialogues 
Of  heads  and  shoulders,  nods  and  shrugs. 

Butler,  Hud.,  III.,  ii.  1491. 

As  Dutchmen  do  in  taverns,  drink  and  be  merry  and  be  gone. 

Dekker,  //.  Hon.  W.,  iv.  2. 

Half  steeped  in  grease  like  a  Dutch  dish. — Sh.,  M.  W.  W.,  iii.  5. 
In  Germany  auris  Batava  is  taken  by  the  poet  (Martial,  16)  for  a  dull 

ear  which  has  no  skill  in  witty  conceits. — F.  W.,  Notts,  316. 
The  Dutchman  drinketh  pure  wine  in  the  morning,  at  noon  wine 

without   water,  and   in   the   evening  as  it  comes  from  the 

butt.— Ho. 

30 


LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA.  estimates. 

Whosoever  hath  been  in  Rome  and  hath  seen  their  usage  there, 
except  grace  do  work  above  nature,  he  shall  never  be  good 
man  after. —  Boorde,  Breviaire  of  Health,  ii.  ii. 
It  is  a  false  rumour  that  there  is  no  sound  air  but  the  Romish.     Is 
it  not  rather  true  that  thence  cometh  ill  infection  ?  and  that 
they  who  have  forsaken  us  to  find  health  there  have  gone 
out   of    God's  blessing  into   the   warm   sun  ?  — T.    Adams, 
Whs.,  p.  327.     Cf.   Inglese  Italionato  e  il  diavolo  incarnato. 
An  English  wolf  and  Irish  toad  to  see 
Were  as  a  chaste  man  nurs'd  in  Italy. 

Hall,  Sat.,  IV.,  iii.  78. 
In  Roma  vale  piu  la  putana 
che  la  moglie  Romana. 

Thomas,  Hist,  of  Italy,  1546,  f.  39. 
The  harlot  hath  a  better  life 
than  she  that  is  a  Roman's  wife. 
In  Roma  piii  vala  la  cortigiana 
che  la  donna  Romana. 

Florio,  Pfov.,  2d  Fmtes,  1591. 
Thereby  it  fareth  thus  with  them  to  be  a  proverb  rife 
To  judge  the  Romayne  harlot  better  than  the  wife. 

E.  More,  Defence  of  Women,  125,  1557. 
Some  men  do  say  I  do  smell  of  the  smoke 
I  passe  not  for  that  I  have  money  in  my  pooke. 

Boorde,  Introduction  to  Knowledge,  24. 
The  Venetians  smell  somewhat  of  the  smoke  of  Rome. — Boorde, 

Abuse  of  Rome. 
It  is  proverbially  said  that  there  are  in  Genoa  mountains  without 
wood,   sea  without  fish,  women   without    shame,    and  men 
without  conscience ;   which  makes  them  to  be  termed  the 
White  Moors. — Ho,,  Itistructions  for  Travel,  67. 
Les  Dames  Genevoises  Donne  senza  vergonga,  comme  dit  le  pro- 

verbe. — Joubert,  Err.  Pop.,  I.,  iv.  i. 
Genoese  are  high  in  the  instep  and  stondeth  in  their  own  consayte. — 
Boorde,  Introduction  to  Knowledge,  26. 

Like  a  German  that  never  goes  to  the  wars  without  his  Tannaken 
and  her  cock  on  his  shoulder. — Nash.  Have  with  you  to 
Saffron  Walden. — R.,  2. 

The  wit  seems  to  manifest  itself  in  the  hands ;  as  the  Italians  say  of 
the  Dutchmen  that  their  wit  dwells  in  their  fingers'  end. — 
T.  Adams,  p.  891. 

The  German's  wit  is  in  his  fingers. — Herb. 

Cotgrave,  i.e.  in  executing  the  designs  of  others. 

If  he  be  a  High  German  (especially  Swab)  such  as  have  wives  that 
believe  their  husbands  doth  not  love  them  except  they  be 
beaten. — Sir  Balth.  Gerbier,  On  Buildings,  ii.  3,  1664. 

A  Prussian  fights  best  when  he  sees  his  own  breath  [which  is  in 
frosty  weather]. — Ho.,  Parley  of  Beasts,  p.  114. 

31 


ESTIMATES.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

As  a  German  from  the  waist  downwards ;  all  slops. — Sh.,  Much  Ado, 

iii.  2. 
A  German  quarrel :  three  fighting :  each  against  the  other  two. — 

Southey,  C.  P.  Bk.,  iv.  675. 
Apres  avoir  longuement  et  fidelement  servi  la  patrie  [in  the  ofifice  of 

Chancelier]  on  leur  dresse  des  querelles  d'Allemand  et  de 

fausses  accusations  pour  les  bannir  des  affaires. — Du  Vair, 

Ess.     N.,  I.,  iii.  495. 
Querelle  d'Alleman. — Oudin,  Cur.  Franc,  p.  462.     Scarron,  Giganto- 

machie. 
Gare  la  queue  des  Alleman. — Prov.  Dauphin.     A  quarrel  or  brabble 

entered  into  upon  a  slight  or  drunken  occasion. — Cotgrave. 
If  a  man  hath  lost  his  religion  he  may  find  it  in  Poland,  all  sects 

being  tolerated,  and  so  in  Amsterdam. — W.  W.,  New  Help 

to  Discourse,  p.  36,  1659. 
Des  Polognes  malades,  voire  a  I'extremite  qui  se  levent  et  vestent 

a  I'heure   que    les  medecins   les   doivent   visitor. — Joubert, 

Err.  Pop.  (Cab.  III.). 
Where  the  Great  Turk's  horse  once  treads,  the  grass  will  never 

grow. — Ho. 
Grattez  le  Russe,  vous  trouverez  le  Tartare. 
Let  him  have  Russian  law  for  all  his  sins. — 

Cf.  Webster,  The  White  Devil,  p.  30.     G.  Fletcher,  Of  the  Russe 

Common  Wealth,  p.  159. 
"  What 's  that  ? "     A  hundred  blows  on  the  bare  shins. — J.  Day, 

Parliament  of  Bees,  1641,  p.  55,  reprint. 


32 


HISTORICAL    AND     PROPHETICAL, 


Tria  regna  titulo  usurpant  Reges  Anglise 
Angliam,  Galliam,  Hiberniam. — F.,  f.  48,  ro. 
The  crown  of  Rich.  III.  was  [after  the  battle  of  Bosworth]  hidden 
by  a  soldier  in  a  hawthorn  bush,  but  was  soon  found  and 
carried  to  Ld.  Stanley,  who  placed  it  on  the  head  of  his 
son-in-law,*  saluting  him  by  the  title  of  Hen.  VII.  It  was  in 
memory  of  the  picturesque  fact  that  the  red-berried  hawthorn 
once  sheltered  the  crown  of  Engd.  that  the  house  of  Tudor 
assumed  the  device  of  a  crown  in  a  bush  of  the  white  haw- 
thorn. To  the  same  circumstance  may  be  referred  the  loyal 
proverb.  Cleave  to  the  Crown,  though  it  hang  on  a  bush. — 
Strickland,  Queens  of  Eng.,  ii.  419. 

*  Note. — This  should  be  step-son. — Ed. 
Long  beards  heartless, 
painted  hoods  witless, 
gay  coats  graceless^ 
make  England  thriftless. — F.  W. 
"A  Scottish  taunt,"  temp.  Edw.  III.,  14th  Cy. 
Puttenham,  Art  ofEng.  Poesie,  1589,  v.  2 ;  Camden,  Remains,  1637 ; 
Manningham,  Diary  {Camd.  Soc),  1602-3. 
Great  men  graceless  are  the  devil's   special  factors. — T.   Adams, 
p.  893. 

The  Rat  and  the  Cat,  and  Lovel  the  Dog 
do  govern  all  England  under  the  Hog. — F.  W. 
The  Cat,  the  Rat,  and  Lovell  the  Dog 
rule  all  England  under  a  Hog. — Ho. 

See  Ellis,  Original  Letters,  II.,  ii.  161. 

Sir  Wm.  Catesby  was  the  Cat,  Sir  Richd.  RadclifFe  the  Rat,  and 
Lord  Lovell  the  Dog.     The  Hog  refers  to  the  Boar  which 
Richard  III.  had  adopted  as  one  of  the  supporters  of  his 
arms. — Murr.,  N'hamp. 
The  King  and   Pope,   the  lion   and  the  wolf.      A  prov.  used  in 
K.  John's  time,  in  regard  of  the  great  exactions. — Ho. 
Hops,  Reformation,  baise  and  beer 
came  into  England  all  in  a  year.* 

Brady,  Varieties  of  Literature,  1826,  p.  264. 
*  Introduced  by  foreign  Protestant  refugees  at  Maidstone. 

Heresy  and  beer 

came  hopping  into  England  both  in  a  year. 

Buttes,  Dyet's  Dry  Dinner,  1599  G.  4. 
Turkeys,  carps,  hops,  piccadel  and  beer 
came  into  England  all  in  one  year, 
[about  the  15th  of  Hen.  VIII.]  Baher's  Chron.  ed.  1696,  p.  298. 

VOL.  I.  33  3 


HISTORICAL  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 


When  Hempe  is  sponne,* 
England  's  done.f — Bacon,  Ess.  xxxv. 
*  Spun,  i.e.,  none  left  for  sails  and  cordage. — F.W.  t  Is  undone. — F.W. 

The  initials  of  Hen.  VIII.,  Edw.VL,  Mary,  Philip  and  Elizabeth: 
the  Hemp  is  the  cordage  of  ships.  F.  W.  gives  this  quasi- 
Popish  prophecy  relating  to  Bath  Abbey  : 

"  Be  blithe,  fair  Kirck  :  when  Hempe  is  past. 
Thine  Olive,  that  ill  winds  did  blast. 
Shall  flourish  green,  for  age  to  last." 
Yet,  to  keep  this  proverb  in  countenance,  it  may  pretend  to  some 
truth,  because  then  England,  with  the  addition  of  Scotland, 
lost  its  name  in  Great  Britain  by  royal  proclamation. — F.  W. 
There  shall  be  seen  upon  a  day, 
between  the  Baugh  and  the  May,* 
the  black  fleet  of  Norway  : 
When  that  is  come  and  gone 
England,  build  houses  of  lime  and  stone, 
for  after,  wars  you  shall  have  none. 
*  A  writer  in  N.  VIII.,  ii.  362,  suggests  that  the  Bass  and  the  May,  two  islands  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Firth  of  Forth,  were  intended. 

Bacon  {Ess.  xxx.,  "On  Prophecies")  says  the  King  of  Spain 
[Philip  II.'s]  name  was  Norway.      This   prediction  of  the 
Armada  was  current  in  Bacon's  childhood  before  the  year  1588. 
Cardinals.     Cf.  Becon,  i.  124. 

The  comune  clamat  cotidie  eche  a  man  to  other 
fe  contre  is  ]je  curseder  fat  cardynales  come  inne. 

Langland,  Piers  Plowman  Pass.,  xix.  415. 
There  was  never  Legatt  nor  Cardinall  that  did  good  in  England. 

— E.  Hall,  Chron.  p.  1548. 
It  was  never  merry  in  England  while  we  had  any  Cardinals 
among   us.     Quoted   by  Duke  of   Suffolk   against   Cardl. 
Wolsey. — Stowe's  Chwn.,  by  Howes,  1631,  p.  546. 
But  God  that  liveth  ever, 
Grant  that  they  never 
Have  power  to  come  hither  ; 
For  wher  they  ones  arive, 
So  clene  they  do  us  shrive. 
The  contry  ther  shall  thrive 
Yeres  tenne  and  five 
After  them  the  wurse. 

Y7n.  ofHypocr.,  1533,     Ballads  fr.  MS.  1. 
Nevil  for  the  Protestant,  Lord  Thomas*  for  the  Papist; 
Bromley  for  the  Puritan,  Lord  Cobham  for  the  Atheist. 
(Courtiers  of  James  I.)     Manningham,  Diayy,  p.  168,  Camden  Soc. 

*  Howard. 
Tres  Principes  maximis  calamitatibus  subjecti :  Rex  Scotiffi,  Dux  in 
Anglia,  Comes  in  Belgio.— Tr.,  f.  47  r"-  [Heine. 

France  rules  the  Land,  England  the  Sea,  and  Germany  the  Air.— 

New  England  hath  undone  the  Old ;  viz.,  with  distractions. Ho. 

New  Says.,  ii.  1659. 

34 


LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA.  historical. 

England— the  Mother   of  Parliaments.— John    Bright,   Speech   at 
Rochdale,  i860. 

Englands  Verlegenheit 
ist  Irland's  Gelegenheit. — Wander. 
England's  difficulty  is  Ireland's  opportunity. 
Repeal  the  Union*,  restore  the  Heptarchy !— Ascribed  to  Canning ;  used 
first  by  Sir  Rob.  Peel  [of  Reform]  in  1834,  answering  O'Connell. 
*  With  Ireland. 
Chronica  si  penses,  cum  pugnent  Oxonienses, 
Post  aliquot  menses  volat  ira  per  Angliginenses. 
Mark  the  Chronicles  aright, 
When  Oxford  scholars  fall  to  fight 
before  many  months  are  expir'd 
England  will  with  war  be  fired. — F.  W. 
Chi  vuol  vincere  Inghilterra  cominci  dall'Irlanda. — Giani. 
It  is  a  saying  auncient,  not 

Autenticall  I  win, 
That  who  so  England  will  subdue 
With  Ireland  must  begin. 

Warner,  Albion's  England.,  x.,  1586. 
He  that  England  will  win 
must  with  Ireland  first  begin. — F.  W. 
i.e.  proceeding  gradatim,  methodically. — F.  W. 
G.  says  that  men  and  rations  are  largely  furnished  by  Ireland  in 
war-time. 

Get  Ireland  to-day,  and  England  may  be  thine  to-morrow. — Ho., 
New  Sayings  Cent.  I. 

And  Our  Lord  lights  in  Our  Lady's  lap 
and  therefore  England  must  have  a  clap. 

T.  Adams,  The  Soul's  Sickness :  Whs.,  p.  472,  1629. 
When  Christ  falleth  in  Our  Lady's  lap 
then  let  England  look  for  a  clap. — Ho. 
When  Our  Lady  falls  in  our  Lord's  lap 
then  let  England  beware  a  sad  clap  [a  mishap]. — F.W. 
the  Clergyman  look  to  his  cap. — F.  W. 
Fuller  laughs  at   this  coincidence   of  Easter  on   March  25   being 
unfortunate. 

If  Chichester  steeple  fall 
in  England  there  's  no  King  at  all. 
Verified  Feb.  21,  1861,  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Victoria,  when 
the  tower  fell  through  the  roof. 

Truly,  Sir,  I  find  all  things  conspire  to  make  strange  mutations  in 
this  miserable  island.  I  fear  we  shall  fall  from  under  the 
scepter  to  be  under  the  sword,  and  since  we  speak  of  Pro- 
phecies I  am  afraid  among  others  that  which  was  made  since 
the  Reformation  will  be  verified  : 

The  Churchman  was,  the  Lawyer  is,  the  Soldier  shall  be.  A 
Prophecy  of  England  since  the  Reformation. — Ho.,  Fam. 
Lett.,  III.,  xxii. 

35 


RELATING    TO    COUNTIES. 


BEDFORDSHIRE. 

Bedfordschir  is  not  to  lack 
Buckinghamschir  is  his  make. — MS.  Harl. 
Bedfordshire  is  nought  to  lakke 
Bokynghamshire  is  his  maakke. — MS.  Rawl. 
Of  "  Malthorse  "  Bedfordshire  long  since  the  blazon  wan. — Drayt. 

Pol.,  xxiii. 
A  slow,  dull,  heavy  horse,  such  as  brewers  employ.     Shak.  uses 

the  word  as  a  word  of  contempt.     You  whoreson  malthorse 

drudge. — T.  of  Sh.,  I.,  vi. 
Mome,  malthorse,  capon,  coxcomb,  idiot,  patch. — C.  of  Er.,  iii.  i. 
Bedfordshire  bull-dogs,  Hertfordshire  hedgehogs,  Buckinghamshire 

great  fools. — N.,  IV.,  iv.  507. 
"I'm  off  to  Bedfordshire,"  i.e.  to  bed. — S.P.C.  Gr.     This  ancient 

joke  appears  in  Middleton  (an  Elizabethan  writer).     A  Mad 

World,  my  Masters. — ii.  5. 
Bedfordshire  for  naked  flesh. — See  Chesh. 
Rufes  de  Bedford. — Douce  MS.  98.   The  Ruffe  or  Pope,  a  species  of 

Perch. 
The  bailiff  of  Bedford  is  coming,  i.e.  the  river  Ouse. — F.W.      So 

called  in  Cambridgeshire  because  of  its  floods. 
As  crooked  as  Crawley  brook. — F.  W.     Falling  into  the  Ouse  (to 

which  F.  W.  suggests  it  would  be   more   applicable),  near 

Woburn. 

Dunstable. 

Herbergerie  de  Donestaple. — Douce  MS.  98. 

Larks.— F.W. 

As  plain  as  Dunstable  highway  (hieway).     He,  i.e.  smooth. — 
F.W. 

Cf.  The  crooked  shall  be  made  straight  ("  simple,"  obvious), 

and  the  rough  places  plain. — Isaiah  xi.  4. 
Some  good  walkers  .  .  .  that  walked  in  the  King's  highway, 

ordinarily,  uprightly,  playne    Dunstable  waye.— Latimer, 

Seven  Sermons,  1549. 

I  am  plain  Dunstable. — Witch  of  Edmon.,  i.  2. 
Downright  Dunstable,  i.e.  a  plain,  simple,  honest  person. — Gr. 
In   the   Dunstable   highway  to   Needham   and   beggary. — CI. 
Cf.  Facilis  descensus  Averni. 

36 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Bedford. 

It  would  be  an  unknown  encouragement  to  goodness  if  honour 
still  might  not  be  dealt  but  upon  these  terms.  Then  should 
many  worthy  spirits  get  up  the  Highgate  of  preferment, 
and  idle  drones  should  not  come  nearer  than  the  Dunstable 
highway  of  obscurity. — T.  Adams,  Wks.,  p.  1084. 

Wherein  I  judge  him  the  more  to  be  esteemed,  because  he 
useth  no  going  about  the  bush,  but  treads  Dunstable  way 
in  all  his  travel. — Gesson,  Ephemerides  of  Phialo,  1586, 
Epist.  Ded. 

Leighton  Buzzard. 

Tring,  Wing,  and  Ivinghoe,  [first  two  in  Bucks] 
three  dirty  villages  all  in  a  row 
and  never  without  a  rogue  or  two. 
Would  you  know  the  reason  why  ? 
Leighton  Buzzard  is  hard  by. — N.,  I.,  v.  619. 

PoTTON  [10  m.  E.  of  Bedford] . — See  Sutton. 

Sutton  [3  m.  N.E.  of  Biggleswade], 

I,  John  of  Gaunt, 

do  give  and  do  grant 

unto  Roger  Burgoyne 

and  the  heirs  of  his  loin 

both  Sutton  and  Potton 

until  the  world's  rotten. — N,,  L,  vi.  156. 

Beauties  of  England  and  Wales,  Bedfordsh.,  i.  76,  1801. 


BESKSHIRB. 

Barkschir  fill  vaine. — MS.  Harl. 
Barkshyre  fyll  the  wayne. — MS.  Rawl. 
As  Berkshire  has  for  her's  "  Let's  to't  and  toss  the  ball." — Drayt. 
Pol.,  xxiii.  (her's,  i.e.  her  blazon). 

Berkshire  for  dogs. — See  Chesh. 
Hampshire  hog 
Berkshire  dog 
Yorkshire  bite 

London  white. — Higson,  123. 
He  is  a  representative  of  Barkshire,  i.e.  afflicted  with  a  cough. — Gr. 
Abingdon  law. — Pineda,  Span.  Diet.,  1740,  Art.  Peralvillo. 

"A  garrison  was  established  at  Abingdon  by  Charles  I.,  which 
became  the  head-quarters  of  his  horse,  and  thither  the 
whole  Royal  family  came  Ap.  7,  1644.  Their  custom  of 
hanging  all  Irish  prisoners  without  a  trial  made  '  Abingdon 
law '  proverbial." — Murr. 
I  showed  my  Papers  in  Manuscript  to  divers  who  I  presumed 
were  Intelligent  and  Learned,  desiring  them  to  try  them 
and  pass  judgment  and  execute  them  who  deserved  not  to 
live.  To  work  they  went  with  Abington  law. — Pearson, 
Raptures  of  a  Flaming  Spirit,  B.  2,  1682. 

37 


BEDFORD.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Aldermaston  [io  m.  S.W.  of  Reading]. — Haz.,  p.  457. 

When  clubs  are  trumps  Aldermaston  House  shakes. 

Murr.  refers  this  to  the  notorious  gambling  propensities  of  Lord 
Stawell,  who  married  the  heiress  of  this  house  and  estate. 
Bray  (adjoining  Maidenhead). 

The  Vicar  of  Bray  will  be  Vicar  of  Bray  still.— F.W. 

"  The  vivacious  Vicar  [Simon  Aleyn  d.  1588],  living  under 
Hen.  VHL,  Edw.  VL,  Mary  and  Eliz'■^  was  first  a  Papist 
then  a  Protestant,  then  a  Papist,  then  a  Protestant  again. 
He  had  seen  some  martyrs  burnt  two  miles  off  Windsor 
and  found  this  fire  too  hot  for  his  tender  temper.  This 
Vicar  being  taxed  by  one  with  being  a  turncoat  and  an 
unconstant  changeling,  '  Not  so,'  said  he,  '  for  I  have 
always  kept  my  principle,  which  is  this,  to  live  and  die  the 
Vicar  of  Bray.'  "—Fuller. 

Wastel  de  Hungerford.   Douce  MS.  98,  i.e.  fine  white  bread. 

Ilsley,  remote  amidst  the  Berkshire  downs,  [14  m.  N.W.  of  Reading] 
Claims  these  distinctions  o'er  her  sister  towns ; 
Far-famed  for  sheep  and  wool,  though  not  for  spinners, 
For  sportsmen,  doctors,  publicans,  and  sinners. — Murr. 

Lambourn  £25  m.  W.N.W.  of  Reading]  and  stream  of  same  name. 
The  earlier  it  dries  up,  the  higher  will  be  the  price  of  corn  (and 
see  Pang). — Lowsley,  B.  Wds.  <&•  Ph. 

Cf.  Drought  never  bred  dearth. 
Newbury.  Troyte  de  Neubery. — Douce  MS. 

Trout  of  the  river  Kennet. 

Long  noted  for  its  corn-market.  .  .  .  The  old  custom  here  that 
everything  must  be  paid  for  on  delivery  gave  rise  to  the 
local  proverb,  The  farmer  doth  take  back  his  money  in  his 
sack. — Murr. 

Pangbourne  [5  m.  W.N.W.  of  Reading] .  The  Pang  w"  rises  at 
Hampstead  Norreys  never  begins  to  rise  much  before  the 
shortest  day,  nor  to  sink  much  before  the  shortest  day. — 
Lowsley,  Berksh.  Wds.  &>  Phr. 

Reading.     Scarlet  town.     Ballad  of  Barbara  Allen. 

Teule  de  Redinges. — Douce  MS.  98.     ?  draining  pipes 
or  tiles. 

To  show  the  way  to  Reading. 
"  In  Madame  Knight's  Journal  ...  she  speaks  of  a  tavern- 
keeper's  daughter  who  '  drew  a  chair,  bid  me  sitt.  And 
then  run  up  stairs  and  putts  on  two  or  three  Rings  (or  else 
I  had  not  seen  them  before),  and  returning  sett  herself  just 
before  me,  showing  the  way  to  Reding,  that  I  might  see 
her  Ornaments,  perhaps  to  gain  the  more  respect." — 
N.,  II.,  vi.  233. 

Windsor.     Forest  de  Wyndesoure. — Douce  MS.  98. 
Soap. 

38 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Buckingham. 

buckinghamshirb:. 

Bedfordschir  is  not  to  lack. 
Buckingham schir  is  his  make. — MS.  Harl. 
Bedforshire  is  nought  to  lakke 
Bokynghamshire  is  his  maakke. — MS.  Rawl. 
Rich  Buckingham  doth  bear  the  term  of  "  Bread  and  beef," 
Where  if  you  beat  a  bush  'tis  odds  you  start  a  thief. 

Drayt.  Pol.,  xxiii.,  1622. 
Buckinghamshire  bread  and  beef; 
Here,  if  you  beat  a  bush,  it's  odds  you 'Id  start  a  thief. 

F.  W.,  referring  to  Drayt. 
This  alludes  to  the  dense  forest  of  beech-trees  which  at  one  time 

covered  the  Chilterns. 
Bedfordshire  bull-dogs,  Hertfordshire  hedge-hogs  and  Buckingham- 
shire great  fools. — N.,  IV.,  iv.  507. 

When  William  conquer'd  English  ground 
Bulstrode  had  per  annum  three  hundred  pound. 
Bulstrode  Park  3  m.  E.S.E.  of  Beaconsfield  now  belongs  to  the 
Duke  of  Somerset. —  Murr. 

Bledlow.     2  m.  S.W.  of  Prince's  Risborough. 
They  who  live  and  do  abide 
Shall  see  Bledlow  church  fall  into  the  Lyde. 

Sharp,  By.  Gaz. 
This  is  one   of    Mother   Shipton's   prophecies.     The  church 
stands  on  a  rock  which  a  pool  underneath,  where  a  number 
of  springs  flow  out,  is  wearing  away  the  chalk. — Lysons, 
Buckingh.,  p.  516. 

Brickhill. 

Here  stand  three  Brickhills  all  in  a  row, 

Great  Brickhill,  Little  Brickhill,  and  Brickhill  of  the  Bow. 

Three  villages  near  Bow  Brickhill,  an  eminence  683  ft.  high, 
one  mile  E.N.E.  of  Fenny  Stratford. — N.,  IV.,  iv.  507. 

Brill  upon  the  Hill,  6  m.  N.W.  by  N.  of  Thame, 
Oakley  in  the  hole,  5  m.  N.W.  of  Thame, 
Shabby  little  Ickford,  3  m.  W.N.W.  of  Thame, 
Dirty  Worminghall,  or  Wornall. — N.,  I.,  viii.  427. 
(All  near  Thame.) 

At  Brill  on  the  Hill,  the  wind  blows  shrill, 

the  cook  no  meat  can  dress ; 
at  Stow  in  the  Wold  the  wind  blows  cold, 

I  know  no  more  than  this. 

Halliwell,  Nursery  Rh.  of  Eng.,  1853. 

Buckingham.     Pronounced  to  be  the  most  uninteresting  town  in 

England. — All  the  Year  Round,  xxxii.  64. 

Women  are  born  in  Wiltshire,  brought  up  in  Cumberland,  lead 
their  lives  in  Bedfordshire,  bring  their  husbands  to  Buck- 
ingham, and  die  in  Shrewsbury. — Wit  Restored,  1658. 

39 


BUCKINGHAM.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

An  old  man  who  weds  a  buxom  young  maiden  biddeth  fair  to 
become  a  freeman  of  Buckingham,  i.e.  a  cuckold. — Gr. 

Castlethorpe  (par.  of  Hanslope,  5  m.  N.W.  of  Newport  Pagnell). 
If  it  hadn't  been  for  Cobb-bush  Hill 
Thorpe  Castle  would  have  stood  there  still. 
[There  would  have  been  a  castle  at  Thorpe  still.] 

N.,\.,  viii.  387. 

To  take  the  Chiltern  Hundreds.  A  voluntary  "  happy  despatch  " 

of    a    Member   of    Parliament.      The   acceptance   of    the 

Stewardship  of  Burnham,  Desborough  and  Stoke  being  an 

office  of  profit  under  the  Crown  eo  instante  vacates  the  seat. 

Eton.         Winchester  for  gentlernen,  Harrow  for  scholars, 
Westminster  blackguards,  and  Eton  Bucks, 
or  Harrow  for  gentlemen,  Eton  for  lords, 

Winchester  for  scholars,  Westminster  blackguards. 
(Once  the  only  recognised  "Public  Schools.") 

Grendon  Underwood  [i  m.  from  Ludgershall] .     G.  under  Bern- 
wood. 

The  dirtiest  town  that  ever  stood. — Murr. 
IcKFORD.     See  Brill. 
IviNGHOE.     See  Wing. 
LiLLiNGSTON  Dayrell  [4  m.  N.  of  Buckingham] . 

The  Dayrells  have  been  seated  here  since  the  Conquest.     Also 
at  Littlecote  in  Wiltshire.     Of  them  it  has  been  said — 
The  luck  of  the  Dayrells,  whatever  it  be. 
Shall  come  by  the  sea  and  go  by  the  sea. 

Great  Marlow.     Here  is  fish  for  catching, 
corn  for  snatching, 
and  wood  for  fatching,  i.e.  thatching.  (?) 

Reliq.  HearniancB,  p.  485. 
North  Crawley  [3  m.  E.  of  Newport  Pagnell] . 

How  North  Crawley  her   bonnet  stands,  i.e.   not    straight. — 
Baker,  N'hants  Gloss. 

Oakley.     See  Brill. 

Olney.  Sle,  sla,  stuck  in  the  mud ; 

Oh  it  is  pretty  to  wade  through  a  flood. 
Murr.  gives  this  referring  to  the  roads  hereabouts.     The  lines 
occur  in  Cowper's  Distrest  Tvavellers. 
Slapton.     3  m.  S.  of  Leighton  Buzzard,  near  Towcester. 

Where  fools  will  happen.— Sternberg,  N'hants  Gloss. 
Thorp.     See  Castlethorp. 

If  it  hadn't  been  for  Cobb-bush  Hill 
Thorpe  Castle  would  have  stood  there  still. 
[There  would  have  been  a  castle  at  *  Thorpe  still. 

N.,  I.,  viii.  387,  Northolt.] 
*  Pronounced  Thrup. 

40 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  camsriDqe. 

Wing.  Tring,  Wing,  and  Ivinghoe,  [Tring  is  in  Herts] 

three  dirty  villages  all  in  a  row 
and  never  without  a  rogue  or  two. 
Would  you  know  the  reason  why  ? 
Leighton  Buzzard  is  hard  hy.  —  N.,  L,  v.  619. 

i.e.  in  the  adjoining  co.  Bedfordsh. 
Tring,  Wing,  and  Ivinghoe, 
for  striking  of  a  blow 
Hampden  did  forego 

and  glad  he  could  escape  so. — N.,  HL,  v.  176. 
or  Hampden  of  Hampden  did  forego 

the  manors  of  Tring,  Wing,  and  Ivinghoe 
for  striking  the  Black  Prince  a  blow. — Hun.  Pop.  Rhy. 
Manors  forfeited  by  the  Hampdens  in  consequence  of  a  blow 
received  by  the  Black  Prince  [from  a  racket  in  a  quarrel  at 
tennis — N.,  III.,  v.  176]  when  on  a  visit  with  Edward  III. 
at  Great  Hampden. — Murr. 
Wing  and  Ivinghoe  are  in  Bucks. 

Tring,  Wing,  and  Ivinghoe 
three  churches  all  of  a  row. — N.,  IV.,  iv.  507. 
{See  Gentleman's  Mag.,  1820,  ii.  326,) 
WoRMiNGHALL.     See  Brill. 
Symenels  de  Wycombe. — Douce  MS.,  98. 

Simnels  are  rich  cakes  of  fine  quality,  varying  according  to 
locality.  Those  now  made  at  Worcester  for  Mid-Lent,  or 
Mothering  Sunday,  resemble  a  "  Scotch  bun,"  and  are  highly 
flavoured  with  saffron. 


CAMBRIDGESHIRE:. 

Cambridgeschir  full  of  pikes. — Harl.  MS, 
Cambrygeshire  ful  of  pykes. — Rawl.  MS. 

Cambridgeshire  camels. — F.  W.  From  the  practice  of  stilt-walking 
in  the  Fens,  he  suggests  doubtingly. 

Cambridgeshire  oaks.  Willows  are  so  called  as  the  only  tree  that 
will  grow  in  the  marshy  soil  of  some  parts  of  the  county. — G. 

Haz.  has  blundered  stupidly  in  making  this  the  text  for  the  pre- 
ceding prov.  from  F.  W. 

So  Cambridge  hath  been  call'd  "  Hold  nets  and  let  us  win  !  " — 
Drayt.  Pol.,  xxiii. 

.  .  .  Hard  it  is  for  weather  to  please  the  concernments  of  this 
County,  whose  Northern  part,  being  moist  and  fenny,  desires 
fair  weather  ;  South  and  South-Eastern,  dry  and  heathy, 
delighteth  so  much  rain  that  it  can  well  digest  (save  in 
harvest -time).  One  shower  every  day  and  two  every 
Sunday. — F.  W.,  p.  170.     Cf.  Cornwall  and  Hampsh. 

Caldecot.     13  m.  E.S.E.  of  Caxton.     See  Hardwick. 

Cambridge. — Anguyles  de  Cantebrigge. — Douce  MS.,  98. 
Sausages. 

41 


CAMBRIDGE.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Fortune.  A  windmill  and  watermill — used  to  signify  a  woman 
without  any  but  personal  endowments — G.  Didy. 

Cantabrigia  petit  sequales.  Cambridge  requires  all  to  be  equal. 
— F.  W.     All  graduates  of  the  same  degree  rank  alike. 

Cantabrigia  petit  aequalia. — F.  W.      All  paying  the  same  for 
commons. 
It  is  used  also  in  Oxford. — F.  W. 

See  Royston. 

A  Soph.     An  undergraduate  in  his  second  year. — G.  Diet. 

An  Henry  Sophister. — F.  W.  See  Haz.,  53.  A  man  of  4  years' 
standing  who  does  not  become  B.A.  in  order  to  remain 
eligible  for  preferment  under  the  changes  temp.  H.  VIII. 

Who  robs  a  Cambridge  scholar,  robs  twenty. — F.  W.  This 
prov.  appears  in  Withal's  Diet.,  1616,  and  in  Draxe  and 
Howell  of  any  scholar  without  reference  to  Cambridge  in 
particular. 

Though  there  be  better  air  in  Oxford,  yet  is  there  more  in  the 
Colleges  of  Cambridge ;  for  Oxford  is  an  University  in  a 
town,  Cambridge  a  town  in  an  University. — F.  W.,  149. 

There  is  a  common  saying  w''  remaineth  unto  this  day  :  "  When 
mayster  Stafford  and  mayster  Latimer  preached,  then  was 
Cambryge  blessed." — Becon,  ii.  10,  1560. 

Twittle-twattle,  drink  up  your  posset-drink.  This  prov.  had 
its  original  in  Cambridge,  and  is  scarce  known  elsewhere. 
—  R.,  1678. 

Plodding  and  dunstically,  like  a  clown  of  Cherry  Hinton  [2  m. 
E.S.E.  of  Cambridge]  Nash, "  Have  with  you." — C.  2, 1596 

Ely.     Cerveyse  de  Ely  (Douce  MS.,  98J,  i.e.  ale.     It  is  now  famous 
for  Asparagus. 

Quatuor  Elize  :  lanterna,  capella  Mariae, 

Atque  molendinum,  et  multum  [necnon]  dans  vinia  vinum. — 
Withal's  Diet.,  1586. 

What !  forsake  garlike,  leekes,  and  butter  sweet  ? 

Nay,  rather  would  I  go  to  Ely  on  my  feet. — Barclay,  Eclogue,  ii. 

Cf.  To  go  to  Rome  with  a  morter  on  my  head. 
Hungry  Hardwick,  greedy  Toft,  [all  in  S.  Divis.j, 
Hang-up  Kingston,  Cawcott  [Caldecoj:]  nought. — JV.  I.,  viii.  305. 
Kingston.     3  m.  S.E.  of  Caxton.     See  Hardwick. 

Newmarket.     A  fine   morning  to  catch   herrings  on  Newmarket 
heath. — CI. 

Take  away  the  praying  for  the  dead,  and  ye  purgatory-rakers 
may  pick  your  meat  upon  Newmarket  heath. — Becon,  iii. 
48.    1564.     See  also  Ashcam.  Toxoph.  [Arber]  ,  p.  97. 
Thersites  (of  his  mother) 
I  will  with  a  cushion  stop  her  breath. 
Till  she  have  forgot  Newmarket  Heath. 

Thersites,  H.O.P.,  i.  428. 

42 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Cambridge. 

This  woman  thanked  me  chiefly 

That  she  was  rid  of  the  endless  death, 

And  so  we  departed  on  Newmarket  heath ; 
And  if  that  any  man  do  mind  her, 

Who  lists  to  seek  her  there  shall  he  find  her. 

[Margery  Corron]  He  Four  Ps.  H.O.P.  i.,  379. 

RoYSTON.     The  bailiff  of  Royston. — Haz. 

Royston  was  a  hunting-seat  of  James  L — F  W.,  Gr. 
And  for  to  somoun  alle  them  to  the  fest 
The  baily  of  Royston  thereto  is  the  best. 

Colin  Blowboll's  Test.  Haz.  E.P.P.,  i.  103. 
A  Royston  [Boisteo]  horse  and  a  Cambridge  Master  of  Arts 
will    give    way  to    nobody. — F.  W.      Town   and   Gown 
antipathies  lurk  here. — See  my  n.  Haz.,  p.  33. 

Stourbridge.     Stirbitch  Fair. — Webst.,  North.  Ho.,  i.   i.     Nash 
Have,  &c.,  M.  4. 
Groundwork  of  Coney  catching. 
Sturbidge  Fair. — Taylor  (W.  P.).     It  is  held  at  Barnwell,  near 

Cambridge. 
A  new  master,  a  new  and  hang  up  the  oldj  as  the  porters  cry  in 
Stirbridge  Fair. — Becon,  iii.  228. 

At  Stourbridge  Fair  are  hops  and  ships, 
And  whores  that  kiss  with  flattering  lips. 

P.  Robin.  Ap.,  1738. 

This  Fair,  which  lasted  a  fortnight,  and  was  under  the  control 
of  the  University  of  Cambridge,  was  held  on  the  19th 
Sept.  (for  cheese,  hops,  and  household  goods),  near  the 
river  Sture,  between  Chesterton  and  Cambridge. 

See  further  particulars  in  Coles'  MSS.,  vol.  42,  in  Brit.  Mus. 

Thorney.  Entrie  de  Thorneye. — Douce  MS.,  98,  i.e.  Entrance-gate 
of  the  Abbey. 

Toft.     3  m.  S.E.  of  Caxton.     See  Hardwick. 

Teumpington  [2  m.  S.  of  Cambridge]. 

Trumpington,  Trumpington,  God  be  thee  with 
Thy  steeple  looks  like  a  knife  in  a  sheath. 

Cole  says  "  attributed  to  Chaucer." 

[A  comparison  of  which  the  justice  is  by  no  means  evident. — 
Murr.] 

Youth.     Wert  thou  born  in  Trumpington, 

And  brought  up  at  Hogs  Norton  ? 
By  my  faith  it  seemeth  so — 
Well,  go,  knave,  go  ! 

Int.  of  Youth,  H.O.P.,  ii.  30. 

Whittlesea  Mere  [20  m.  N.W.  of  Ely]  has  folded  (foaled),  i.e. 
such  a  flood  as  drives  fish  plentifully  from  the  mere  into  the 
dykes  and  rivers. — Wr.  White,  Eastn.  Engd.,  i.  254. 

43 


CHESHIRE.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

CHESHIRE. 

See  Chesh.  Idioms,  Metaphors,  and  Proverbs,  by  Robt.  Holland,  in 
Lancash.  (&>  Chesh.  Antiquarian  Notes.     1885. 

Cheschir  thacker.— Harl.  MS. 

Chestreshire  thwakkere. — Rawlinson  MS. 

Old  Cheshire  is  well  known  to  be  the  "  Chief  of  meii." — Drayt.  Pol., 
xi.,  xxiii. 

Cheshire,  Chief  of  men. — F.  W. 
Lancashire  for  fail  women. — Ho. 

Cheshire-men  whose  county  is  called  nobilitatis  altrix,  and  those  of 
Lancashire  (most  commendable  ad  bonitatem  habitudinis  et 
decorum  aspectfts)  are  in  this  [Brasenose]  College  most  proper 
for  preferment. — Fuller,  Ck.  Hist.,  IV.,  xv.  33. 

Cheshire  bred, 

Strong  i'  th'  arm,  weak  i'  th'  head. — Higson  51  ;  N.,  V.,  viii.  226. 

Mwy  nag  un  bwa  yro  Ynghaer.    More  than  one  yew-bow  in  Chester. 

Modern  use  applieth  this  proverb  to  such  who  seize  on  other  folks' 
goods  (not  with  intent  to  steal,  but  mistaken  with  the  simili- 
tude of  their  own  goods).  But  give  me  leave  to  conjecture 
the  original  hereof,  seeing  Cheshire  men  have  been  so  famous 
for  Archery.— F.  W.,  Flint. 

Neither  in  Cheshire  nor  Chawbent. — R.,  1678.     Cf.  Kent. 

(Chawbent  is  a  town  in  Lancash. — R.,  1678.) 

This  should  be  Cheshire. 

Cheshire  of  Castria  took  the  name. 

As  if  that  Castria  were  the  same. — N.,  I.,  viii.  615. 

A  Welsh  bitch  makes  a  Cheshire  cat,  and  a  Cheshire  cat  makes  a 
Lancashire  witch.  "  The  harlot's  progress  in  factory  towns." 
—N.,  IX.,  ii.  134. 

To  grin  like  a  Cheshire  cat. — N.,  I.,  v.  402.  Said  to  allude  to  the 
crest  of  the  Grosvenors  (a  talbot).  Said  of  any  one  who 
shows  his  teeth  and  grins  in  laughing.— G. 

So  like  a  Cheshire  cat  our  court  will  grin. — P.  Pindar,  ii.  91.     1830. 

Harland  &  Wilkinson  (Lancashire  Legends,  1873,  p.  194)  has  "Grinnin' 
like  a  Cheshire  cat  chewing  gravel"  comes  from  the   old- 
fashioned  cheeses  formerly  sold  in  Chesh.  and  which  were 
moulded  like  a  grinning  cat. — Globe,  25/10/97. 
Cheshire  cheese. 

Stout  Cheshire,  thou  no  praise  shalt  leese 
For  making  of  the  purest  cheese, 
Whilst  in  those  places  nigh  to  London 
By  making  butter  and  cheese  is  undone  ; 
For,  taking  all  the  butter  from't. 
It  makes  the  cheese  look  bluely  on't ; 
But  cream  and  milk  in  Cheshire  ever. 
As  they  do  come,  so  go  together. 

P.  Robin,  April,  1700. 

44 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  cHESHtBE. 

Cheshire  for  men,  Berkshire  for  dogs, 
Bedfordshire  for  naked  flesh,  and  Lincolnshire  for  hogs,* 
Derbyshire  for  lead,  Devonshire  for  tin, 
Wiltshire  for  hunting  plomes  [?  plains]  and  Middlesex  for  sin. 
*  Bogs,  Northolt. 

Westn.  Antiqy.,  v.  262,  where  it  is  ascribed  to  the  "  Help  to  Discourse, 

1631."     I  do  not  find  it  in  the  B.  M.  copy,  1636. 
Better  wed  over  the  mixen  than  over  the  moor.— F.  W. 

(Noted  for  its  intermarriages.) 
The  mayor  of  Altringham*  and  the  mayor  of  Over*; 
The  one  is  a  thatcher,  the  other  a  dauber,  i.e.  a  plasterer. — R.,  1678. 
*  Two  petty  corporate  towns. 

The  mayor  of  Altringham  lies  in  bed  while  his  breeches  are  mending. 
— R.,  1678. 

Two  jeers  at  the  absurdities  of  small  corporate  towns. 

Torriano  has  this  fleer  at  "the  Gentlemen  of  Furnival's  Inn," 
London. 

Blacon  Point 
From  Birkenhead  to  Hibree 
A  squirrel  might  leap  from  tree  to  tree. 

Pennant  Pour  in  Wales. — Haz.,  138. 
[Hilbree  Point  at  the  mouth  of  the  JDee] 

From  Birchen  haven  to  Hiltre 

A  squirrel  might  hop  from  tree  to  tree. — Murray. 

Every  man  cannot  be  Vicar  of  Bowdon. — R.,  1678.    A  good  living — 
the  aristocratic  suburb  of  Manchester. 

Bowdon  downs  (Potatoes). — N.,  V.,  viii.  226. 

Cheadle.     See  Northen.  [4  m.  E.N.E.  of  Altrincham]. 

Cheadle  swingers  (a  peculiar-shaped  coat). — N.,  V.,  viii.  226. 

Chester.     Csestria  Gallis.    See  York. 

Not  a  more  gaggling  gander  hence  to  Chester. — He. 

When  the  daughter  is  stolen,  shut  Pepper  Gate. — F.  W.  This 
[also  called  New  Gate]  is  one  of  the  supplementary  gates 
of  the  city.  It  refers  to  the  elopement  of  a  mayor's 
daughter,  and  in  revenge  he  ordered  that  the  gate  should  be 
shut  up  through  which  she  was  carried  off  when  playing 
with  other  maidens  at  handball. — F.  W. 

If  thou  had'st  the  rent  of  Dee  Mills  thou  would'st  spend  it  all, 
i.e.  the  City  Mills  on  the  river. — R.,  1670. 

To  be  sent  to  West  Chester,  i.e.  into  banishment,  being  on  the 
road  to  Ireland.  The  city  of  Chester  was  formerly  so 
designated.  After  giving  the  Roman,  British  and  Saxon 
names,  Camden  adds,  Nos  contractius  West  Chester  ab 
occidental!  situ.  Britannia,  p.  458,  ed.  1607. 

CoNGLETON  bears.— R.   1813.       [28  m.  E.  of  Chester.] —iV.,  V., 
viii.  226. 

45 


CHESHIRE.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Congleton  points  [tagged  laces]  made  of  tough  white  leather 
with  metal  tips  for  fastening  dresses. — Holland. 
Congleton  rare,  Congleton  rare, 
Sold  the  Bible  to  pay  for  a  bear. — Higson,  170. 

DiDSBURY  [3  m.  S.  of  Stockport].     See  Northen. 
Holt  lions.     See  Wales. 

HooLE  [2  m.  N.E.  of  Chester].     Hooton  [7  m.  N.  of  Chester]. 
Hutton  an'  Huyton,  Ditton  and  Hoo  [le] 
Are  three  of  the  merriest  towns  a  man  e'er  rode  thro'.— Higson,  37. 

Huyton  and  Ditton  are  in  S.W.  Lancash. 
As  long  as  Helsby  Hill*  wears  a  hood 
The  weather  's  never  very  good. — R.  Holland,  Chesh.  Gloss. 
*  An  ancient  camp  N.E.  of  Chester. 

Knutsford.     See  Peover. 

She  hath  given  Lawton-gate  a  clap. — R.,  1678.  Spoken  of  one 
gotten  with  child  who,  to  conceal  it,  has  gone  to  London, 
passing  through  Church  Lawton  [5  m.  S.W.  of  Congleton]. 
Clap  to  :  To  shut  with  a  bang. — Holland,  Ches.  Gloss. 

To  lick  it  up  like  Lim  hay.  Lim  [Lymm,  6  m.  W.S.W.  of 
Altrincham]  is  a  village  on  the  river  Mersey  that  parts 
Cheshire  and  Lancashire,  where  the  best  hay  is  gotten. — 
R.,  1670.  Others  have  supposed  the  grass  elymus  is 
intended. 

Macclesfield.     Maxfield   measure    heap    [as    opposed   to    strike 
measure,   where   the  top   is   levelled  with    a   stick],    and 
thrutch  [thrust].— R.,  1678. 
Upyeped  and  thrutched,  i.e.  heaped  up  and  pressed  down. — 
N.,  v.,  X.  284. 

He  feeds  like  a  freeholder  of  Maxfield  (or  Macklesfield),  who 
hath  neither  corn  nor  hay  at  Michaelmas,  i.e.  the  needy 
button-makers  there. — R.,  1678. 

Higgledy-piggledy  like  Malpas  shot. — N.,  IV.,  iii.  194.  [13  m. 
S.S.E.  of  Chester.] 

MoBBERLEY  [2  m.  E.N.E.  of  Knutsford].    Mobberley  crabs,  appHed 
figuratively. — R.  Holland,  Chesh.  Glossary. 

Northen.  [trincham] 

Northen,  sweet   music,  [or   Northenden,  4  m.  E.N.E.  of  Al- 

And  Didsbury  pans,  [4  m.  S.  of  Manchester] 
Cheadle  old  kettles. 

And  Stockport  old  cans. — Higson,  43,  The  Church  Bells. 
When  a  hare  shall  run  through  the  town 
The  walls  of  Northwick  shall  fall  down. 

Nixon's  Chesh.  Prophecy. 
Verified  at  the  subsidences  of  1888. 

Saddleworth.     The  parson  of. — R.,  1670.     See  in  Yorkshire. 
G.  has  Saddlewc^,  but  neither  are  in  Cheshire. 

46 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Cheshire. 

Smethwick.     You  been  like  Smethwick  either  clemm'd  or  bossten 
[starved  or  bursting]. — R.,  1678. 

[Brereton  cum  Smethwick,  S.E.  Chesh.J 

See  Wilbraham,  Cheshire  Gloss.,  pp.  21,  26.    1826. 

Stockport.        A  Stockport  chaise, 

two  women  riding  sideways. — Carr,  Craven  Gloss. 

When  the  world  was  made  the  rubbish  was  sent  to  Stockport. — 
The  Ladye  Shakerley,  p.  279.     N.,  IV.,  viii.  549. 

See  Northen. 

Stopford.  Stopford  law, 

No  stake,  no  draw. — R.,  1670. 
[Stockport  is  so  written  in  Richd.  Blome's  Britannia,  p.  57, 1672]. 

Only  those  who  pay  their  shot,  drink. — G. 

Stockport,  which  is  partly  in  Lancashire,  is  probably  intended, 
there  being  no  place  named  Stopford. 

Cf.  Lancashire  law. 

Higher  Peover  kettles,  [2  m.  W.S.W.] 

Lovv^er  Peover  pans  {Church  Bells)  [2  m.  E.  of  Knutsford.] 

Knutsford  sweet  roses,  [24  m.  E.N.E.  of  Chester.] 

And  Rosthern  great  drones. — Murr.   [3  m.  S.W.  of  Altrincham.] 

Middlewich  is  a  pretty  town  seated  in  a  valley, 
With  a  church  and  market-cross  and  eke  a  bowling  alley ; 
All  the  men  are  loyal  there,  pretty  girls  are  plenty ; 
Church  and  King  and  down  with  the  Rump  :  there 's  not 
such  a  town  in  twenty. — Egerton  Legh, 

Ballads  and  Legends  of  Chesh.,  p.  60,  1867. 

Cf.  King's  Sutton  (Notts). 
Rosthern.     See  Peover. 

She  hath  been  at  London  to  call  a  "  strea  "  a  straw,  and  a 
"  waw  "  a  wall.  This  the  common  people  use  in  scorn  of 
those  who,  having  been  at  London,  are  ashamed  to  speak 
their  own  country  dialect. — R.,  1678. 

To  scold  like  a  wych-waller,  i.e.  a  boiler  of  salt  from  the 
mines. — R.,  1670. 

(There  are  several  other  proverbs  marked  "  Cheshire  "  in  R., 
but  they  do  not  seem  to  have  any  local  bearings.) 

Peter  of  Wood,  church  and  mills  are  all  his. — R.,  1678. 

"  Rynt  you,  witch  !  "  quoth  Bessie  Lockit  to  her  mother. — R., 
N.  C.  Wds. 

To  be  bout  [without]  as  Barrow  was.— R.,  1678.  So  better 
bad  than  bout. 

As  fair  as  Lady  Done.  Cheshire  nurses  used  to  call  their  girls 
Lady  Dones,  and  boys  Earls  of  Derby. — R.,  1670. 

47 


CORNWALL.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Efe  a  aeth  ya  Glougti.  (He  is  become  a  Clough). — Haz., 
and  ed.  Equivalent  to  a  Croesus.  Sir  Rd.  Clough  was  a 
rich  merchant  temp.  Eliz.  See  Denbigh  and  its  Lordship, 
by  Jno.  Williams,  i860,  p.  179. 

Offley  three  dishes  had  of  daily  roast. 

An  egg,  an  apple,  and  the  third  a  toast. — F.  W. 

Sir  Thos.  Offley,  Ld.  Mayor  of  London,  d.  1560,  buried  St- 
Andrew  Undershaft.  A  Cheshire  philanthropist,  the 
Zaccheus  of  London. — F.  W. 

As  many  Leghs 

as  fleas ; 
[as  many  Masseys* 

as  asses  ;  — Vegge,  Anonym,  iii.53, 176. 1776] 

as  many  Higson,  71. 

and  Davenports  as  dogs'  tails. — G. 
*  The  Papist  trusts  Antichrist  with  his  soul :  he 's  like  to  have  it  well  kept. 
If  Masses  and  Asses  can  keep  it  (for  so  the  Jesuits  term  their  Secular 
Priests)  it  shall  not  be  lost. — T.  Adams  (Puritan),  Whs.,  p.  914,  1629. 
This  may  have  suggested  the  interpolation. 

There  Dutton  Button  kills ;  a  Done  doth  kill  a  Done, 

A  Booth  a  Booth ;  and  Leigh  by  Leigh  is  overthrown. 

A  Venables  against  a  Venables  doth  stand. 

And  Troutbeck  fighteth  with  a  Troutbeck  hand  to  hand. 

Then  Molineux  doth  make  a  Molineux  to  die, 

And  Egerton  the  strength  of  Egerton  doth  try. 

O  Cheshire,  wert  thou  mad,  of  thine  own  native  gore 

So  much  until  this  day  thou  never  shed'st  before. 

(Battle  betw.  H.  IV.  &  Hotspur)— Dray t.  Pol.,  xxii. 

Swing  'em,  Swang  'em, 

bells  at  Wrangham, 

three  dogs  in  a  string 

hang  'em,  hang  'em. — Hll. 

A  hit  at  the  Cheshire  pronunciation  of  the  ng. 


GORNWAIiIi. 

The  White  Island. — Southey,  Modoc,  vi. 

Pars  Corinea  datur  Corineo  de  duce  nomen  Patria ;  deque  viro  gens 
Corinensis  habet. — N.,  I.,  vi.  156. 

Long  life  to  the  Pope,  and  death  to  thousands. — Murr,  [Fisheries.] 
See  St.  Ives. 

Fish,  Tin  and  Copper.     Cornish  toast. 

Tin  and  Fish.— Murr.     Tin  and  Taters  (13th  Cy.). 

Cornewayle  ful  of  tynne. — Rawl.  MS. 

Estinals  de  Cornwaile. — Douce  MS.  98. 

Cornewall  full  of  tyne.— M5.  Harl. 

Cornewall  hath  tinne. — Barclay,  Eel.,  iv. 

One  and  all  (Motto  of  Arms). 

48 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Cornwall. 

All  Cornish  gentlemen  are  cousins. — Carew,  Survey,   1602.     From 

their  marrying  "  in  and  in." 
Cousin  Jockey. — Haz. 

Jackey. — All  Year  Rd.,  xvii.  425,  1867. 
Like  Uncle  Acky  Sloddem,  the  picture  of  ill  luck. — R.  N.  Cotton, 

Burlesque  on  B  202. 

To  give  one  a  Cornish  hug  (in  wrestling). 

Cornwal  and  Devonshire  say  "We'll  wrestle  for  a  fall." — Drayt. 
Pol.,  xxiii. 

A  Cornishman  is  never  in  spirits,  but  during  drisly  weather. 
You  may  lead  a  Cornishman,  but  you  cannot  drive  him. 
The  land   will  bear  a   shower   every  week-day  and   two   upon   a 
Sunday. — G.  B.  Worgan,  Agr.  of  C,  p.  3.     Cf.  Cambridge- 
shire.    Cf.  Hampshire. 
My  Cornish  chofe  !  (chough).     A  nickname  given  to  a  Cornishman. 
— ^Yarranton,  Eng<^'^-  Improve*-'  ii.  169,  1677. 
?  churl. — Promp.  Parv. 
Cornish  blessings.     Wrecks  were  so  called  up  to  middle  of  i8th  Cy. 

—See  In  the  Hebrides,  by  C.  Gordon  Cumming,  ch.  ix. 
It  is  an  ill  wind  that  blows  no  good  to  Cornwall. 
(Both  coasts  have  their  harvest  of  wrecks.) 

Oh  master  Vier,  we  cannot  pay  you  your  rent,  for  we  had  no  grace 
of  God  this  year.     (No  shipwreck  upon  our  coast.     A  saying 
of  the  Cornish. — Ho.) 
Cornish  people  say  they  would  be  in  the  world  and  like  the  rest  if 

Devonshire  did  not  stand  in  the  way. 
Master  Atty.  Gen.  Noy  was  wont  pleasantly  to  say  that  his  house 
had  no  fault  in  it  save  only  that  it  was  too  near  unto  London, 
though  indeed  distanced  thence  full  300  miles  in  the  remoter 
part  of  this  co.     But  seriously  one  may  say  and  defend  it 
that   the   distance   of   Cornwall    from   that   metropolis   is   a 
convenient  inconvenience. — F.  W. 
He  doth  sail  into  Cornwall  without  a  bark  (is  cuckolded)  Ital. — F,  W. 
Andar  senza  barca  in  Cornovaglia. —  Flo.,  G.,  1591. 
Chevalier  de  Cornevaille. — Bacon,  Promus. 

There  are  more  Saints  in  Cornwall  than  in  Heaven. — JV.,  HL,  v.  275. 
My  bedaver  will  to  London  to  try  the  law 
to  sue  Tre,  Pol  and  Pen 
For  waggyng  of  a  straw, 
they  will  go  to  law, 
and  all  not  worth  a  straw, 

playing  so  the  dawe. — Boorde,  Int.  of  Kn., ch.  i.,  1542. 
By  Tre,  Ros,  Pol,  Lan,  Caer  and  Pen 
You  may  know  the  most  Cornishmen. 

Camden,  Remains  (surnames). 

By  Tre,  Pol,  and  Pen 
[Ros,  Car,  and  Lan— JV.,  HI.,  v.  208.] 

You  shall  know  the  Cornishmen. — Carew,  f.  115. 

VOL.  :.  49  4 


CORNWALL.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

By  Lan,  Law,  Les, 

by  Tre,  Pol,  Pan, 

you  soon  may  guess 

a  Cornishman. — n  Haz.,  96. 

Some  add  Car. — F.  W. 

Car  and  Pen,  Pol  and  Tre, 

will  make  the  devil  run  away. — Wn.Antiq. ,ii.  41. 

In  Cornwall  are  the  best  gentlemen. — See  Sorrow's  Lavengro,  pp.  i,  2. 

The  natives  of  the  Scilly  Islands  are  feigned  to  eke  out  a  precarious 
livelihood  by  taking  in  each  other's  washing. — D.N.,  20/10,  85. 

For  one  who  dies  a  natural  death,  nine  are  drowned  {Scilly), — 
Murray. 

A  feast  or  a  famine  in  Scilly. — Heath,  Acct.  of  the  Is.  of  Sc,  1750. 

Always  a  feast  or  a  fast  in  Scilly. — N.,  III.,  v.  275.  The  prodigality 
of  the  Scillonians  in  old  times  was  proverbial. — Ih. 

A  Scilly  ling 

is  a  dish  for  a  King. — N.,  III.,  v.  208. 

God  may  be  said  in  this  County  to  rain  meat  and  give  dishes  too,  i.e. 
pilchards  and  tin. — F.  W. 

Heat  and  pilchards.  A  saying  on  the  coast,  because  a  warm  July 
or  August  haze  on  the  sea  occurs  when  the  fish  are  expected. 
— Hid.  Itin.  of  Corn.,  1842,  p.  108. 

Meat,  money  and  light  [oil] 
All  in  one  night. — CoMch.,Hist.of  Polpervo ,-g,  129. 
Cf.  A  good  pilchard  take. 
One  and  All,  the  motto  of  the  county  arms,  is  said  to  refer  to  the 
share  principle   in  the  gains  of  the  coast  fisheries. — Nail., 
G.  Yarmouth,  &c. 
If  the  proverb  be  true  that  the  fame  of  our  pies 

Prevents  us  from  falling  to  Satan  a  prey, 
It  is  clear  that  his  friends  the  attorneys  are  wise 
In  moving  such  obstacles  out  of  the  way. 

Dr.  Paris,  Guide  to  St.  Mount's  Bay,  p.  77. 
This  alludes  to  a  decision  of  lawyers  at  Quarter  Sessions 
to  abstain  from  pastry  during  a  period  of  scarcity. 
The  devil  will  not  come  into  Carnwall  for  fear  of  being  put  into  a 
pie. — Gr. 

Squab-pie,  herby-pie,  pilchard  pie  or  star-gazy  pie,  muggety  pie  are 
a  few  of  them. 

Cornwall  squab-pie,  and  Devon  whitepot  brings, 
And  Leicester  beans  and  bacon  fit  for  [food  of]  Kings. 

King,  Art  ofCoohy.,  n.  Ed.  of  1744.     Hud.,  i.  37. 
God  keep  us  from  rocks  and  shelving  sands 
and  save  us  from  Breage  and  Germo  men's  hands. 

[The  1st  3  m.  W.  and  the  2nd  5^-  m.  N.W.  of  Helston] 
Two  seabord  villages,  noted  for  wrecks  and  wreckers. — 
F.  L.  Journ.,  v.  18. 

50 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Cornwall. 

I'll  send  you  to  Bodmin,  i.e.  to  gaol. — Haz. 

Out  of  the  world  and  into  Bodmin. — Haz.     See  n,  p.  326,  i.e.  a 

sleepy  town. 
All  play  and  no  play,  like  Boscastle  fair,  which  begins  at  12  o'clock 

and  ends  at  noon.— A''.,  III.,  v.  275.     Cf.  At  St.  Tib's  Eve. 

See  N.,  II.,  ii.  269. 

Backwards  and  forwards,  like  Boscastle  fair. — N.,  III.,  v.  275. 
Like  the  Mayor  of  Calenich,  who  walked  two  miles  to  ride  one. 
Give   him  Camborne !    a  peculiar   kick   in  wrestling.     Used  as  a 
rallying  cry  in  an  attack  on  the  Salvation  Army  in  1882  (Feb.). 
See  Redruth. 
When  Caradon  's*  capped  and  St.  Cleer+  hooded, 
Liskeard  town  will  soon  be  flooded. — Western  Antiquary,  ii.  145. 
*  4j  m.  N.  t  2j  m.  N.  of  Liskeard. 

When  Dudman  and  Ramhead  meet,  i.e.  never. — F.W.  Two  fore- 
lands on  the  coast,  well-nigh  20  miles  asunder :  Deadman  * 
Point,  9  m.  S.  by  W.  of  St.  Austell ;  Rame  Head,  the  W.  horn 
of  Plymouth  Bay. 

*  Dod-maen,  W.  point  of  Veryan  Bay. 

Like  the  Mayor  of  Falmouth,  who  thanked  God  when  the  town 
gaol  was  enlarged. 

The  gallants  of  Fowey. — R.,  1813.  [Foy.J — Carew,  i.e.  bold  priva- 
teers, temp.  Edw.  IV.— Gr. 

Germow  Mahtearn  :  Breage  Lavethas.  [Germo  was  a  King,  Breage 
but  a  midwife.] — PoUok. 

He  is  to  be  summoned  before  the  Mayor  of  Halgaver. — Carew,  f.  126. 

He  shall  be  presented  at  Halagaver  Court  for  slovenliness. — R.  (A 
periodical  mock  tribunal  where  laxity  of  dress  was  punished 
as  well  as  other  ludicrous  offences  of  the  young  Bodminese. 
It  was  held  on  Halgaver  Moor.) 

Like  the  mad  Mayor  of  Gantick,  who  was  wise  for  one  day  and 
then  died  of  it. 

As  naughty  as  Gantick,  where  the  devil  struck  for  shorter  hours. 

Hengston  Down  well  ywrought 

is  worth  London  town  dear  ybought. — Carew,  f.  115 — F.  W. 

Hinckeson  (Ho.  spells  it)  is  supposed  to  contain  Cornish 
diamonds  as  well  as  tin. — Polwhele.  In  E.  Cornwall,  near 
Callington. 

Trapolpen,  N.,  III.,  v.  276,  calls  it  Kingston,  and  when  capped 
a  weather-sign. 

Keep  your  eye   to    Hingston. — Haz.     The  high  downs  near 

Callington  in  E.  Cornwall  serve  as  a  weather-guide  to  their 

Devonshire  neighbours. 

Hensbarrow  Hill  [4  m.  N.  of  St.  Austell],  1,034ft.  above  sea  level. 

Haynsborough's  wide  prospect  at  once  both  feeds  and  gluts  your  eye 

With  Cornwall's  whole  extent  as  it  in  length  and  breadth  doth  lie. 

Walter  White,  Londonev's  Walk  to  the  Land's  End,  p.  194, 1856. 

51 


CORNWALL.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Illogan  [2 J  m,  N.W.  of  Redruth] .     See  Redruth, 
Meet  him  at  [the]  Land's  End.     '  He '  in  Haz.  ? 
One  day  the  devil  having  nothing  to  do 
built  a  great  hedge  from  Lerrin  to  Looe  (Fowey). 

Couch,  Hist,  of  Polperro,  p.  80,  1871. 
This  is  the  Giant  Hedge  of  Kilmenawth  in  E.  Cornw. 

Lizard.     The  Globe,  16/6,  1884,  asserts  a  deadly  feud  between  the 
inhabitants  of  MuUion  and  those  of  the  Lizard  Point. 
Like  the  Mayor  of  Market  Jew,  sitting  in  their  own  light. — 
N.,  HI.,  V.  275.     His  pew  in  the  church  was  so  placed  as 
to  cause  this.     Marazion  [see  below)  is  the  present  name 
of  the  town,  which  is  at  the  eastern  end  of  Penzance  Bay. 
You  must  go  to  Marazion  to  learn  manners. — N.,  111.,  v.  275. 
Aga  fyth  tyer,  war  an  meyne  Merlyn 
Ara  neb  fyth  Leskey,  Paul,  Penzance,  Newlyn, 
There  shall  stand  on  the  stone  Merlyn 
those  who  shall  burn  Paul,  Penzance  &  Newlyn. 

Polwh.,  n.,  ch.  xi. 

MooR-sTONE    Cross,   near    Bodmin,   called   the  Prior's  Cross  in 

memory  of  his  having  given  rights  to  cut  wood  in  Dun- 

mear  "  by  hook  or  crook,"  these  words  being  cut  in  the 

cross. — Dav.  Gilbert,  Parochl.  Hist,  of  Col.,  i.  354. 

Like  Moroah  Downs,  hard  and  never  ploughed. — N.,  HI.,  v.  275. 

All  of  a  motion,  like  a  Mulfra  toad  on  a  hot  showl — N.,  III., 
V.  275. 

Blown  about  like  a  Mulfrea  toad  in  a  gale  of  wind. — lb. 
From  Padstow  Point  to  Lundy  Light 
its  a  watery  grave  by  day  or  night. 

The  good-fellowship  of  Padstow. — N.,  III.,  v.  275. 
When  Meeth  and  Martin  shall  go  down, 
Padstow  shall  be  a  haven  town. — Polwh.,  v. 
Meeth  on  the  Torridge  and  Comb  Martin  are  both  in 
N.  Devon. 
By  Penhale  fair  (Sep.  25) 
wheat  should  cover  a  hare,  i.e.  have  grown  high  enough  to  hide 

her  back. 
This  was  in  times  of  early  tillage.— G.  B.  Worgan,  Agric.  Hist, 
of  C,  p.  60. 

Penryn.  Old  Penryners  up  in  a  tree, 

looking  as  whist  as  whist  can  be. 
Falmouth  boys  as  strong  as  oak, 
knock  them  down  with  a  single  stroke. 

Wn.  Antiq.,  ii.  6. 

Redruth  boys,  Redruth  boys  up  in  the  tree 

looking  as  whist  as  whist  can  be. 

Illogan  boys,  Illogan  boys  up  in  the  oak  [2^  m.  N.W.  of  Redruth. 

knocking  down  Redruth  boys  at  every  stroke.  Cf.  Penryn.] 

Westn,  Antiq,,  ii.  37. 

52 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  Cornwall. 

Camborne   men   enquire   scornfully  of    Redruth  men,   "Who 
crowned  the  donkey  ? "     And  Redruth  men  remember  with 
contrition  an  act  of  jeering  disloyalty  committed  on  the 
accession  of  George  IV.     Another  taunt  flung  at  them  is 
that  they  have  all  three  chocks  [or  slits]  in  their  heels. — 
Arthur  H.  Norway,   Highways  and  Byways  in  Devon  and 
Cornwall,  p.  311,  1897. 
Not  a  word  of  Penzance  !  [Pensants. — P.  in  R.,  1678]  — N.,  III., 
V.  275.      Accused  of  cowardice  during  the  Spanish  inva- 
sion 1595. — See  Heath's  Scilly. 
There  is  always  a  wind  from  Penzance  to  Mousehole  (Capt. 
Tregarthen). — White,  Londoner's  Walk,  p.  266. 
When  Pons-an-dane  calls  to  Lariggan  river, 
there  will  be  fine  weather  ; 
but  when  Lariggan  calls  to  Pons-an-dane, 
there  will  be  rain. 

Two  streams  entering   the   sea   at  Mount's  Bay  on 
N.E.  and  S.W.—JV.,  VII.,  ix.  213. 
Stean  san  Agnes  anguella  stean  en  Kernow. 
(St.  Agnes'  tin  is  the  best  tin  in  Cornwall.) — Polwh. 
St.  Austell  [14  m.  N.E.  of  Truro]. 

Now  farmers,  now  farmers,  take  care  of  your  hay, 
for  its  the  Quaker's  great  meeting  to-day. 
The  annual  Friends'  meeting  about  hay  harvest,  generally  wet. 

W.  Antiq.,  ii.  37. 
He  is  gone  to  St.  Colomb,  i.e.  is  in  the  sulks. — Polw.,  v.  39. 
St.  Germans.    In  Craftehole*  twelve  houses  and  thirteen  cuckolds 
and  never  a  house  between. — Norden,  Spec.  Brit. ; 
Carew,  p.  92. 
*  A  creek  or  hamlet  in  Shevicke  par.,  and  a  great  thoroughfare. 

St.  Ives.     The  Pope,  our  best  customer.    Toast  at  the  Corporation 
dinners.     See  Prely.  n. 
No  metal  will   run  within  the  sound  of  St.   Keverne's   bells 

(Lizard). 
The  Saint  being  offended  has  made  the  country  unproductive  of 
minerals. 
St.  Just.  Sav  a  man  kebner  thali  ha  ker  tha'n  hal 

Morte'ed  a  metten  travouth  ne  dal. 
i.e.  Get  up,  take  thy  breakfast,  and  go  to  the  moor. 
At  St.  Just  stream  or  Penwith,  where  are  both  fishermen 
and  tinmen. — Polwh.,  ii.  30,  1826. 
Stratton  [15  m.  N.W.  of  Launceston] .     As  big  as  Tom  Payne  of 
Stratton,  i.e.  the  celebrated  Cornish  giant,  servant  to  Sir 
Bevil  Grenvil  (Devonshire). — N.,  VIII.,  ii.  368. 
When  with  panniers  astride 
a  pack-horse  can  ride 
through  Saint  Levan's  stone,* 
the  world  will  be  done. 
*  A  great  rock  in  chyd.  of  St.  Levan,  7  m.  S.W.  of  Penzance. — Hll. 

53 


CORNWALL.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA, 

There  is  in  Cornwall,  near  the  parish  of  St.  Neots,  a  well  arched 
over  with  the  robes  of  four  kinds  of  trees — withy,  oak,  elm, 
and  ash,  dedicated  to  St.  Keyne  aforesaid.  The  reported 
value  of  the  water  is  this.  That  whether  husband  or  wife 
come  first  to  drink  thereof  they  get  the  mastery  thereby. — 
F.  W.,  Wales,  p.  22. 
The  pride  of  Truro.— iV.,  III.,  v.  275.  Ther  is  not  a  towne  in  the 
weste  part  of  the  Shire  more  commendable  for  neatness  of 
buildings  and  for  being  served  of  all  kyndd  of  necessaries, 
nor  more  discommendable  for  pryde  of  the  people. — Norden. 

Tru-ru.     Truru  consisteth  of  three  streets,  and  it  shall  in  time 
be  said  "  Here  stood  Truru." — F.  W.  Ru-ru  (in  English  Woe). 

Triveth-eu. 

Ombdina  geveth  Try-ru. — Carew,  f.  141. 

No  cock,  no  charter.     A  woodcock  is  bound  to  be  served  at  the 
banquet  of  the  Mayor  of  Truro  (Oct.  9). — Polwh.,  v.  38. 

Talland  [8  m.  S.  of  Liskeard]  . 

If  you  will  my  wish  fulfil 

build  the  church  on  Talland  Hill. — F.  L.  J.,  v. 
The  church  was  commenced  at  Pulpit,  but  in  obedience  to  this 
injunction  was  removed  to  near  the  coast. 

Wellcombe  [3  m.  from  Morwenstow]. —  Baring  Gould,  Life  of 
Hawker,  p.  140. 

Grained  like  a  Wellcombe  woman  (Haz.,  2nd  E.),  i.e.  of  dark 
complexion. 
TowEDNACK  [p.  m.  S.W.  of  St.  Ives].  "Who  built  a  wall  round 
the  cuckoo  ? "  retort  taunt  of  the  St.  Ives  men.  Some 
natives  of  the  bleak  village  of  Zennor  resolved  to  keep  the 
warm  weather  always  with  them  by  detaining  a  cuckoo. 
So  they  caught  him  and  began  to  build  a  wall  round  him, 
but  had  only  completed  2  or  3  courses  when  the  bird  flew 
out.  "  Ef  us'd  got  another  coorse  an'  us'd  a  kep'n  in," 
they  said  regretfully,  as  they  watched  their  treasure  fly 
away. — Norway,  Highways  and  Byways,  p.  253. 

Zennor  [5  m.  N.N.W.  of  Penzance] .  The  Zennor  people  ask  the 
St.  Ives  men  "Who  whipped  the  hake?"  The  fishers  of 
St.  Ives  were  much  distressed  by  the  ravages  made  by  the 
hake,  then  very  numerous  along  the  coast,  among  the 
mackerel.  So  they  took  the  natural  and  simple  course  of 
catching  the  largest  they  could  find,  whipped  him  soundly 
with  little  rods  to  teach  him  better  manners,  and  put  him 
back  to  tell  his  brothers  what  he  had  undergone. — Norway, 
Highways  of  Dev.  and  Cornw.,  p.  311. 

Never  a   Granville  wanted    loyalty,   a   Godolphin   wit,   or   a 
Trelawny  courage. — Haz. 

The  four  wheels  of  Charles'  wain,  [Cavalier,  W.C.  leaders] 
Grenville,  Godolphin,  Trevanion,  Slanning,  slain. 

Worth's  W.  Country  Garland. 

54 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Cumberland. 

And  shall  Trelawny  die  ?  (bis) 
Here's  twenty  thousand  Cornishmen 
Will  know  the  reason  why. 
Introduced  by  the  Rev.  R.  S.  Hawker  in  his  Song  of  the  Western 
Men,  is  really  old,  having  been  a  popular  prov.  in  Cornwall 
since  the  days  of  James  H. — Spectator,  10/6,  1893. 


CUMBBRIiAND. 

Cumberland  grey-coats.     From  their  home-spun  garb. — Murr. 

He  that  fetcheth  a  wife   from   Shrewsbury  must   carry   her   into 
■  Shrewsbury,  or  else  shall  live  in  Cumberland. — F.  W.     See 
also  Wiltshire. 

The  devil  and  John  of  Cumberland. — Ho. 

If  that  glass  either  break  or  fall, 

farewell  the  luck  of  Edenhall  [3  m.  E.N.E.  of  Penrith]. 

See  Brand,  P.  A.,  ii.  335. 
A  ballad  on  this  subject  by  Uhland  has  been  translated  by 
Longfellow. 

The  luck  of  Muncaster.  An  enamelled  glass  vase  preserved  at 
Muncaster  Castle  nr.  Ravenglass  [S.  W.  Cumbd.].  The 
virtue  ascribed  to  it  that  the  ancient  family  of  Pennington 
would  never  want  a  male  heir  to  the  estates  while  it  remained 
unbroken. — Murr. 

The  Percys'  profit  was  the  Lucys'  loss. — F.  W.  This  was  the 
settlement  of  the  honour  of  Cockermouth  on  Henry  Percy, 
first  Earl  of  Northumberland  by  the  Lady  Maude  Lucy,  on 
condition  of  his  bearing  her  arms  (3  luces  quarterly)  in  lieu 
of  taking  her  name  on  marriage. — See  Metrl.  Chron.  of  the 
family  of  Percy,  by  Wm.  Peeris  1500,  in  M.  A.  Denham's 
Folk  Lore  of  Nortkumb.,  1858,  p.  2. 

It  will  do  in  spite  of  the  devil  and  Dick  Senhouse.     Brady,  Var. 
of  Lit. 
The  Senhouses  were  a   family   of  accomplished  gamesters. — 
Hutchinson,  His.  of  Cumberland,  1794. 

The  Allonby  midge-fleet,  i.e.  the  small  herring  boats  of  this  bathing- 
place  [9  m.  N.  W.  of  Cockermouth] . — Gibson. 

He 's  a  Bewcastler,  i.e.  a  bad  one. — M.  A.  Denham,  Nn.  F.  L.,  p.  44. 
[N.  Cumbd.,  9  m.  E.N.E.  of  Brampton.] 

Black  Comb.  A  mountain  at  the  foot  of  which  the  road  dividing 
Cumbd.  from  Lancashire  passes.  The  people  of  Broughton 
in  Furness  and  of  Bootle  in  Cumberland  hold  that  nothing 
good  ever  came  round  that  nook. — Gibbon,  i.  54. 

A  BoRRowDALE  cuckoo.  Like  the  men  of  Gotham's  attempt  to 
detain  the  cuckoo,  a  wall  is  said  to  have  been  built  across 
the  narrow  gorge  of  Borrowdale  [5  m.  S.  of  Keswick] 
for  that  purpose. — Gibson. 

BowNESS  [10  m.  S.W.  of  Longtown,  N.W.  Cumbd.] . 

55 


CUMBERLAND.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Low  church,  high  steeple, 
drunken  priest  and  wicked  people. 

Trans.  Hist.  Soc.  of  Lane,  and  Chesh.,  ii.  i68  n. 
"  Carry  me  back,"  says   Bowness   bell.       Supposed   to_  have 
been  stolen    from   Tundergarth    on   the  opposite   side  of 
the  Solway. — Gn. 

Caldbeck. 

Caldbeck  and  Caldbeck  fells  [N.  of  Skiddaw] 

Are  worth  all  England  else,  i.e.  for  mineral  wealth. — Gn. 

Carlisle.     Nearer  God's  blessing  than  Carlisle  fair. — Scot.     You 
need  but  go  to  your  closet  for  the  one,  but  you  must  go  out 
of  the  kingdom  for  the  other. — K. 
Cf.   Out  of  God's  blessing,  and 

The  grace  of  God  is  worth  a  fair. 
Merrie  Carlisle. — Adam  Bell,  Clym  of  the  Clough.    Pf. 
In  by  the  Flosh  to  Carel  =  the  longest  way  round  is  the  nearest 
way  home. 

Let  us  gang  together  like  t'  lads  o'  Drigg  and  t'  lasses  o'  Becker- 
met.  See  Ferguson's  Northmen  of  Cumbd.  and  Westmd. 
— Gibson. 

When  Ehen  meets  the  Calder  tkere  's  an  end  to  the  world.  Two 
streams  running  parallel  into  the  sea  nr.  Seascale,  within 
a  mile  of  each  other. — Walter  White,  Nhd.  and  Border, 
p.  432. 

When  Gelt  puts  on  his  nightcap  'tis  sure  to  rain.  [N.E. 
Cumbd.] . — Denham,  F.  L.N.  of  E.,  p.  13,  1850. 

Harrington    [5    m.  N.N.E.   of  Whitehaven]. — See   Whitehaven. 
As  old  as  Walker  Brow.— Gibson. 

He  breaks  bands  like  a  Herdwick  tip.  A  breed  of  small  active 
sheep  said  to  have  been  introduced  from  Norway  and 
constantly  breaking  bounds. — Gn. 

Inglewood    [3  m.  N.  of  Penrith] .    Chase  de  Engelwode. — Douce 
MS.  98. 

Lamplugh  hawkies.     Inhabitants  of  a  par.  adjoining  Loweswater, 
so  called  from  a  local  breed  of  cattle,  now  extinct. — Gn. 

From  Lamplugh  fell  to  Moresbee  [2  m.  N.  of  Whitehaven] 

A  squirrel  could  hop  from  tree  to  tree. — Gn. 

"  It's  a  big  world  when  yan  seen  it  o'  "  as  t'  Loweswater  lad 

said   when   he   got   on    Mowerkin   How. — Gn.      A  small 

elevation  at  the  head  of  the  vale  of   Loweswater    [6  m. 

S.E.  of  Cockermouth] . 

Maryport.     See  Whitehaven. 

The  Isle  of  Man  seen  fair  and  clear 

Is  the  sign  of  westerly  breezes  here. — Gibson. 

'Moresbee.     See  Lamplugh. 

56 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Cumberland. 

Plumbland    [6  m.  N.E.  of  Cockermouth] . 

Sec  a  seet  as  ne'er  was  seen 
Plimlan  Church  on  Arkleby  Green. 

W.  Dickinson,  Dialect  of  Ciimberland. 
Saint  Bees  Head  seen  fair  and  clear 
Is  a  sign  of  westerly  breezes  here. 
The  Isle  of  Man  may  be  substituted.    A  saying  about  Maryport, 
W.  Cumbd.— Gn. 

If  Skiddaw  hath.-i/o. 

wears  a  cap, 
Scruffel  wots  full  well  of  that. — F.  W.  i.e.  CrifFel  in  Annandale, 
Kirkcudbrightshire  on  the  Scotish  border. 
When  Skiddaws  fell  puts  on  a  cap 
CrifFel  Hill  begins  to  drap. — Gibson. 
[Helvellyn  and  Catchedecam.] 
Skiddaw,  Lanvellin  [Lavellyn. — Ho.     Lauvellin. — F.  W.]  and 
Casticand  are  the  highest  hills  in  all  England. — Camd.  Brit. 
Fuller  adds :  Every  county  is  given  to  magnify  (not  to  say 
altify)  their  own  things  therein.     Cattstee  cam,  signifying 
the  top  of  a  ladder  or  track,  available  only  to  cats,  is  the 
proper  name  of  this  height.    The  old  rhymester  has  altered 
it  to  meet  a  rhyming  emergency,  and  Scott  has  made  it 
Catchedecam. — -Gibson. 
"  If  it  rains  we  mun  dee  as  they  dee  under  Skiddaw."     "  How's 
that  ?  "     "  Why  they  let  it  come  down."     Said  to  be  one  of 
the  rainiest  spots  in  England.— Gn. 

Wardhall    [in    the    par.    of    Seabraham    betw"-   Egremont    and 
Ambleside] ,  or  Bridekirk  near  the  Derwent. 
A  lady  of  the  Warthole  family  was  addicted  to  gambling  at  high 
stakes,  and  having  set  all  upon  a  cast,  when  lifting  the  last 
card  she  exclaimed : 

"  Up  a  deuce  or  else  a  trey. 
Or  Warthole's  lost  for  ever  and  aye."^— Gibn,,  i.  6i. 
the    game    was    Put    where    the    trey    is    the    best    card. — 
[Whellan's  Cumbd.  and  Westmd.,  290.]     The  card  came  as  the 
player  wished,  and  to  perpetuate  the  trick  the  owner  had  it — the 
ace  of  clubs — cut  in  stone  and  placed  on  the  building.     It  still 
exists. — Hutchinson's  Cumbd.,  i.  349.     Higson's  version: 
"  Up  now,  ace,  and  down  with  the  trey. 
Or  Wardhall's  gone  for  ever  and  aye." — 27. 

Wastdale  Head  possesses  (says  the  country  saying)  the  highest 
mountain,  the  deepest  lake,  and  the  smallest  church  in 
England.  There  are  two  other  superlatives  that  complete 
the  dalesman's  epigram,  but  these  we  suppress  out  of 
reverence  towards  the  dead  and  kindliness  to  the  living. 
The  saying  is  truer  than  such  witticisms  are  apt  to  be. — 
D.  N.,  22/10,  '83,  Mountaineering  in  Cumberland. 
The  wicked  of  Water  Millock.*— Brady,  Var.  of  Lit. 
*  6  m.  S.W.  of  Penrith. 

57 


DERBY.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Whili.imoor  cheese   [4  m.  N.E.  of  Whitehaven] . 
Lank  and  lean, 
But  cheap  and  clean.    Poor  skim-milk  cheese. — Gn. 

A  Whillimoor  lion  ?  a  sheep. — Gn. 
Whitehaven  fortune. — Gn. 

Whitehaven  blackbirds,  Harrington  crows 
Workington*  sweeps,  and  Maryport  beaux. — Gn.,  W.  Cumb. 
The  first  three  are  colliers  by  trade. 

*5  m.  N.  of  Whitehaven. 

Workington.     Three  in  a  gig,  Workington  fashion. — Gn. 
Whatever  may  hap  or  whatever  befall, 
I  '11  be  lady  of  Workington  Hall. 
A  prophecy  of  one  of  the  housemaids  as  she  decked   herself 
in  her  deceased  mistress's  clothes.     She  married  a  younger 
son,  who  ultimately  succeeded  to  the  Curwen  estate. — Gn. 

SERBYSHIRS:. 

[There  are  no  Derbysh.  Prov.  either  in  F.  W.  or  R.J 

Darbyschir  full  of  doggys. — MS.  Harl. 

Derbyshire  full  of  dogges. — MS.  Rawl. 

To  Derby  is  assign'd  the  name  of  "  wool  and  lead," 

As  Nottingham's  of  old  is  "  common  ale  and  bread." 

Drayt.  Pol.,  1622. 

Derbyshire  for  wool  and  lead. — W.  W.  New  Help  to  Discourse,  p.  113, 

1659. 
Derbyshire  for  lead,  Devonshire  for  tin. — Help  to  Discourse,  1631  (?). 
Wiltshire  for  plains,  and  Middlesex  for  sin. — Globe,  16/6,  1884.     See 

Chesh. 
To  send  lead  into  Derbyshire  and  pippins  into  Kent. — Torriano. 
Derbyshire  born  and  Derbyshire  bred. 

Strong  i'  th'arm  and  thick  [weak]  i'  the  yed. — N.,  I.,  v.  573,  F.L.J. ii. 
Strong  i'  th'  back. — Addy.  Sheffield  Gloss. 
Var. :  With  a  very  strong  arm  and  a  very  thick  head. 
A  Darby  is  slow  and  easy,  but  goes  far  in  a  day. — N.,  V.,  viii.  226. 
I  will  discover  it  [the  jest]    not  as  a  Derbyshire  woman  discovers 

her  great  teeth,  in  laughter. — Webster,  iSlorth  Ho.,  iii.  2. 
Derbyshire  neck.      The  goitre  enlargement  of  the  neck,  which  is 
•     found  in  the  county  and  attributed  to  the  presence  of  lime 
and  other  minerals  in  the  drinking  water. 
Everyone  coming  across  Whaley  Bridge  (the  division  of  the  counties 
of  Derby  and  Chester,  near  Macclesfield)  has  hooked  fingers 
i.e.  is  careful  and  close-fisted. — N.,  V.,  viii.  226. 
Two  words  for  money,  Darbyshirian  wise, 
(That 's  one  too  many)  is  a  naughty  guise ; 
Who  looks  for  double  biddings  to  a  feast, 
May  dine  at  home  for  an  importune  guest. 
N.,  VHL,  xii.  207,  330.     Bp.  Hall,  Satires,  IIL,  iii.  11. 

58 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  derby. 

An  allusion  to  a  Derbyshire  saying,  the  point  of  which 
seems  to  be  that  it  is  foolish  to  decline  accepting 
money  the  first  time  itis  offered. — Maitland,  n.  in 
Edinburgh  edn.,  1825. 
?  whether  the  point  is  not  that  money  is  hard  to  get  in 
Derbyshire.     See  above. 
Strike  Dawkin  :  the  devil  is  in  the  hemp. — R.,  1678.     (The  motto  of 
the  Dakyns.) — Lower,  Cunosities  of  Heraldry,  p.  155. 
If  I  have  not  an  ace,  a  deuce,  and  a  tray, 
Farewell  Alfreton  for  ever  and  aye. 
Said  of  the  town,  and  also  of  Carnfield  Hall  in  its  neighbourhood. — A. 
Alfreton  kettles,  Pentrich  pans, 

Crich  great  rollers,  Wingfield  ting-tangs  [bells] . — A. 
Alfreton  [13  m.  N.N.E.  of  Derby.]     See  Ripley. 
AsHBOURN  has,  which  is  a  kind  of  riddle,  always  in  it  the  best  malt 
and  the  worst  ale  in  England. — Cotton,  Complete  Angler. 
Ashbourn.  Anglise  umbilicus. 
AsHFORD.  Ashford  in  the  water, 

Bakewell  in  the  spice, 
Sheldon  in  the  nutwood. 
And  Longdon  in  the  lice. 

Murr.,  Reliquary,  iv.  61. 
[The  first  three  in  N.  Derbyshire,  the  last  in  N.  StafFordsh.] 
Bakewell. 

Ding-dong  for  Timington,  ten  bells  at  Birmingham ; 
Two  slippers  and  a  trash,  say  the  bells  of  Moneyash. 
"  We  will  ring  'em  down,"  say  the  bells  of  Tideswell*  (or 

Taddington)  town. 
"  We  will  ring  a  merry  peal,"  say  the  bells  of  Bakewell. 

*  5^  m,  N.W.  of  Bakewell.  N.,  VI.,  iv.  529. 

Barrow. 

Barrow's  big  boulders,  Repton  merry  bells, 
Feremark's  crackt  pancheons  and  Newton  egg-shells, 
[Faremark. — A.]  i.e.  Newton-Solney. 

All  in  S.  Derbysh.  N.,  VI.,  ii.  514. 

Pancheons.     A  large  glazed  earthenware  pan  used,  in  bread- 
making,  &c. — Bigsby,  Hist,  of  Repton,  p.  394.  N.,  VII.,  xii.  17. 
Bolder.     A  loud  report.     A  cloudy  thundering  day  is  called  a 

boldering  day. — North.    Hll. 
Pancheon.     A  large  broad  pan. — East.    Hll. 
BuTTERLEY  [5  m.  N.W.  of  Alfreton].     See  Ripley. 
Chatsworth.     See  Peak. 

Chesterfield.  You  cannot  spell  Chesterfield  steeple  right. — G. 
\i.e.  straight]. 
Satan  was  once  flying  over  Scarsdale,  and  rested  on  the  spire 
of  Chesterfield  Church.  Just  then  the  incense  was  buriiing, 
and  a  whiff  came  up  which  so  disturbed  his  sable  Majesty 
that  he  gave  a  violent  kick  and  knocked  the  steeple  out 
of  shape. 

59 


DERBY.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

When  Chesterfield  was  heath  and  broom, 
Leech  Fend  was  a  market  town. 
Now  Leech  Fend*  is  all  heath  and  broom, 
And  Chesterfield  a  market  town. — Addy. 
*  A  boggy  piece  of  ground  on  the  She£5eld  Road. 

When  Codenor'sf  pond  runs  dry 
The  lordes  may  say  "Good-bye." 
t  E.  Derbyshire,  near  Belper. 

Codnor  Park,  an  ancient  seat  of  the  Zouches,  now  occupied: 
by  iron-works. — Murr. 

Crich  [4  m.  N.  of  Belper] .     See  Alfreton. 

Crich  two  roller-boulders,  Wingfield  ting-tangs 

Alfreton  kettles  and  Pentrich  pans  ; 

Kirk  Hallam  candlesticks,  Cossall  cow-bells, 

Denby  cracked  pancheons  and  Horsley  merry  bells. — A. 

Cossall  [5  m.  W.N.W.  of  Notthm.].     See  Crich. 

Derby  ale  and  London  beer. — Ho. 

Derby  for  ale. — P.  Robin,  1687. 

"  Pancakes  and  fritters,"  say  All  Saints'  and  St.  Peter's. 
"  When  will  the  ball  come  ? "  say  the  bells  of  St.  Alkmun. 
"  At  two  they  will  throw,"  says  St.  Werabo  (St.  Werburgh). 
"  Oh,  very  well,"  says  little  Michael. — A. 

Refers  to  a  game  of  football  on  Shrove  Tuesday. 

St.  Alkmund's  five  bells — "  Fresh  fish  come  to  town." 

St.  Michael's  three  (one  crackt) — "They  stink'en." 

All  Saints'  (repeat  quickly) — "  Put  a  little  more  salt  on  them, 

brave  boys," 
St.  Peter's  four—"  They'll  do  to  fry." 
St.  Werburgh's  six — "Old  Harry  take  them  all." — A. 

DovEDALE.  In  April  Dove's  flood 

Is  worth  a  King's  good. 

Camd.,  Brit.     See  Stafifordsh. 

The  Dove  whose  banks  so  fertile  be. — Drayt.  Pol. 
It  overflows  suddenly  and  quickly  subsides. 

It  's  nearly  as  good  as  Doveland. — A. 

If  a  stick  be  laid  down  there  overnight  in  spring,  it  will  not  be 
found  for  grass  the  next  morning. — A.  cf.  Gloucest. 

It  is  a  proverb  in  England  that  the  men  of  Tividal,  borderers 
on  the  English  middle  marches,  have  likers,  lemmans,  and 
lyerbies. — Brian  Melbancke.  Philotmms,  1583.  [Three 
varieties  of  mistress.] 

Dethwick  [2  m.  S.E.  of  Matlock]. 

The  clerk  o'  Dethick,  the  piper  of  Lea, 

Old  England's  fiddler,  Billy  Bunting  and  me. 

Spencer  Hall,  Days  in  Derbyshire. 

60 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  derby. 

The  answer  made  by  one  who  filled  all  these  positions.  He 
had  secured  himself  in  a  bedroom  at  a  crowded  inn  the  night 
of  Ashover  feast,  and  when  challenged  from  the  outside  as 
to  who  occupied  the  room,  kept  it  to  himself  by  this 
"  pious  fraud."  This  is  the  converse  of  the  Welshman 
claiming  shelter  late  at  night  and  frightening  the  innkeeper 
by  the  length  of  his  titles  of  descent.  Ashover  is  5  m. 
S.W.  of  Chesterfield. 
TElden  hole  wants  filling  up.     Spoken  of  a  liar. — F.W. 

N.W.  Derby,  near  Castleton  ;  one  of  the  wonders  of  the  Peak, 
which  see.    Denham  (F.L,  of  Northd.,  p.  59)  seems  to  allude 
to  this  prov.  as  spoken  of  persons  whose  place  of  birth  and 
former  residence  are  alike  unknown  to  the  party  questioned. 
FoREMARK   [5  m.  N.E.  of  Burton].     See  Barrow. 
Hardwick  for  bigness,  Worksop  for  height. — N.,  IV.,  ix.  160. 
See  Notts. 

Hardwick  Hall, 

More  window  [glass — A.J  than  wall. — Sharp,  Brit.  Gaz. 
In  windows  than  in  wall. — Higson,  149.     See  Haz.,  p.  150. 
The  Duke  of  Devonshire's  seat,  N.E.  Derbyshire.      [6  m.  S.E. 

of  Chesterfield] . 
The  picture  gallery,  170  ft.  long,  is  Ughted  by  18  windows,  each 
of  which  is  believed  to  contain  1,500  panes  of  glass. — A. 
HoRSLEY  [2  m.  S.W.  of  Belper].     See  Crich. 
Kinder  Scout,  [Scout  a  high  rock. — Lane,  Hll.] 

The  cowdest  place  areawt. — Higson. 
A  hill  1,800  feet  high.     In  the  Peak  near  Chapel-le-Frith. 
Kirk  Hallam  [7  m.  E.N.E.  of  Derby].     See  Crich. 
Masson.       Masson  top  has  got  a  cap  [above  Matlock] 
an'  Darley  Dale  must  pay  for  that. — A. 
Masson  Low  or  the  Heights  of  Abraham,  800  ft.  high. 
Newton  Solney  [2  m.  N.E.  of  Burton].     See  Barrow. 
Padley.     [N.  Derbysh.,  nr.  Bakewell.] 

Go,  pipe  at  Padley,  there's  a  peascod  feast. — -R.,  1678. 
Spoken  in  derision  of  busybodies. 
Some  have  it :  Go  pipe  at  Colston  (Notts). — R.,  1678. 
The  Peak.     Yet  was  he  to  sight  a  stout  and  lusty  freake, 
And  as  he  bosted  he  borne  was  in  the  peake. 

Barclay,  Eel.  i. 
King  of  the  Peak.     See  Tour  of  Gt.  Brit.,  iii.  98. 
Peakrels.     A  name  given  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  Peak. — Hll. 
To  send  your  wife  to  the  Peak,  i.e.  when  she  vexes  you. — Pepys 

Dy.,  Jan.  19,  1662-3. 
The  devil's  arse  a  peak.     The  end  of  the  world. — Torriano. 
He  comes  from  the  devil's  arse  at  Peak  and  a  peak  beyond. 
Said  of  persons  whose  birthplace  and  former  residence  are 
unknown. 

61 


DEVON.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

The  Devil's  Arse  is  a  natural  cavern  at  Castleton,  called  one  of 
the  Wonders  of  the  Peak. — Cf.  Elden  hole. 
Mira  alto  Pecco  tria  sunt,  barathrum  specus,  antrum 

Commodat  tot,  Plumbum,  Gramen,  Ovile  pecus 
Tot  speciosa  simul  sunt  Castrum,  Balnea  Chatsworth 
Plura  sed  occurrunt  qua  speciosa  minus. 

Camd.,  Bvit.,  f.  495. 

Nine  things  that  please  us  at  the  Peak  we  see,       \ 
A  Cave,  a  Den,  a  Hole,  a  Wonder  be ;  > 

Lead,  Sheep,  and  Pasture  are  the  useful  Three.    ) 
Chatsworth  the  Castle  and  the  Bath  dehght ; 
Much  more  you  see  :  all  little  worth  the  sight. — Ih. 

Pentrich  [4  m.  N.E.  of  Belper].     Se&  Alfreton  and  Crich. 
Repton.     See,  Ashford. 
Ripley  [4  m.  N.E.  of  Belper]. 

Ripley  ruffians,  Butterley  blacks,* 
Swanwick  bull-dogs,  Alfreton  shacks. 
*  Ironworks  in  vicinity. 
(Abt.  1800.) — Andrews'  Booh  of  Oddities,  p.  84. 
Sheldon  [3  m.  W.  of  Bakewell].     See  Ashford. 

Spondon  [3J  m.  S.E.  of  Derby] .     Paroche  de  Espanding — Douce 
MS.,  98. 

Swanwick  [i  m.  S.S.W.  of  Alfreton].     See  Ripley. 

SWARKESTON. 

He  is  driving  his  hogs  over  Swarston  bridge,  i.e.  snoring. — G. 

Swarkeston  Bridge,  near  Repton,  consists  of  29  arches  and 
3,912  ft.  to  cross  the  Trent,  which  is  at  that  point  only 
514  feet  wide,  so  that  when  a  drove  of  pigs  is  driven  over 
the  narrowness  causes  them  to  grunt. — Gr. 

WiNGFiELD.     South  Wingfield  [2  m.  W.  of  Alfreton].     See  Alfreton 
and  Crich. 


DEVONSHIRE. 

Devinschir  mizt  and  strong. — MS.  Harl. 

Devenshire  myghty  and  strong. — Rawlin.  MS. 

A  Devonshire  man=a  buccanier.  So  spoken  of  by  Elizabeth's 
Cecil. — Hamilton's  Qttarter  Sessions  fy.  EUz.  to  Anne. 

Clouted  cream.     The  County  of  Cream  and  the  Cream  of  Counties. 

White  ale.  This  is  commonly  pronounced  Whit  ale,  w"  may  be  a 
corruption  from  Wheat,  but  more  probably  derives  its  appel- 
lation from  the  quantity  of  air  which  rises  from  it  and  gives 
it  a  turbid  whiteness. — Gough,  n.  to  Camden. 

(I  tasted  and  liked  it  at  Dartmouth  in  1885.)     See  Salcombe. 

Devonshire  for  whitepots — P.  Rob.,  1687.     See  Cornwall. 

62 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  devon. 

Strawberries.  In  Latin  fraga,  most  toothsome  to  the  palate  (I  mean 
if  with  Claret  wine  or  sweet  cream),  and  so  plentiful  in  this 
county  that  a  traveller  may  gather  them  sitting  on  horseback 
in  their  hollow  highways.  They  delight  to  grow  on  the 
North  side  of  a  bank,  and  are  great  coolers.- — F.  W.,  p.  246. 

A  Devonshire  dumpling.     A  short,  thick,  and  plump  young  woman. 

The  clannish  feeling  of  cousinship  is  said  to  have  outlasted  in 
Devonshire,  while  it  has  died  out  in  Cornwall. — Polwhele, 
Traditions  of  Cornwall,  p.  721,  1822. 

Devonshire  for  dawdles. — Glohe,  16/6,  1884. 

Dull  Devonshire. — Rob.  Herrick.  A  sprightly  book  published  in 
1886  by  Miss  Gibbons,  of  Budleigh  Salterton,  had  for  title 
"  We  Donkeys  "  in  Devon,  seems  to  put  this  cap  on. 

Cornish  people  say  that  Cornwall  would  be  a  very  good  county  and  like 
the  rest  of  the  world  if  Devonshire  didn't  stand  in  the  way. 

Cornwall  and  Devonshire  say:  "  We'll  wrestle  for  a  fall." — Drayt. 
Pol.,  xxiii. 

Summer.  Many  people  this  quarter  shall  be  troubled  with  the 
Devonshire  man's  disease,  who,  being  asked  how  he  did, 
replied:  "Che's  not  zick  nor  che's  not  well:  che  can  eat 
and  drink  most  woundily,  but  che  cannot  work." — Poor  Rob., 
Progn.,  1684. 
See  also  P.  Rob.,  Aim.,  July,  1672. 

The  soil  [of  the  Lord's  Meadow,  a  broad,  open  field  extending  from 
the  Crediton  valley  to  the  Creedy  river]  is  very  fertile  both 
for  corn  and  pasture,  insomuch  that  it  is  grown  to  a  general 
proverb  throughout  the  whole  kingdom,  "  as  good  hay  as  any 
in  Denshire,"  and  here  in  the  country  "as  good  hay  as  any  in 
Kirton,"  and  there  "as  good  as  any  in  my  lord's  meadow," 
than  which  there  can  be  no  better. — Westcott. 

Devonshire  for  tin.     See  Derbysh.  and  Chesh. 

Herrings.  These  still  are  taken  in  great,  and  were  formerly  in 
greater,  plenty  in  this  co. ;  for  I  read  of  great  quantities  of 
them  for  6  or  7  years  together  taken  at  Limmouth,  until  the 
Proctor  (as  is  said),  not  contented  with  reasonable  and 
indifferent  tithes,  vexed  the  poor  fishermen  with  unusual  and 
extraordinary  payment. 

To  Denshere  land.  [To  Devonshire  ground. — F.  W.]  That  is, 
to  pare  off  the  surface  or  top  turf  thereof,  and  to  lay  it  up 
in  heaps  and  burn  it,  which  ashes  are  a  marvellous  improve- 
ment to  battle  barren  land  (F.  W.)  [by  reason  of  the  fixed 
salt  which  they  contain.  This  course  they  take  with  their 
barren,  spungy,  heathy  land  in  many  counties  in  England, 
and  call  it  "  Denshiring."  Land  so  used  will  bear  two  or 
three  good  crops  of  corn,  and  then  must  be  thrown  down 
again. — R.  W.,  70.]  They  say  'tis  good  for  the  father,  but 
naught  for  the  son,  by  reason  it  does  so  wear  out  the  heart  of 
the  land.— Aubrey,  Ji"at.  Hist,  of  Wilts.  Thus  they  may  be 
said  to  stew  the  land  in  its  own  liquor. — F.  W. 

63 


DEVON.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Hurt-berries.    In  Latin  Vaccinia,  most  wholesome  to  the  stomach,  but 
of  a  very  astringent  nature,  so  plentiful  in  this  shire  that  it  is 
a  kind  of  harvest  to  poor  people,  whose  children  nigh  Axmin- 
ster  will  earn  8d.  a  day  for  a  month  together  in  gathering  them. 
First  they  are  green,  then  red,  and  at  last  a  dark  blue. 
The  Gubbings-Land  is  a  Scythia  within  England,  and  they  pure 
heathens  therein.     It  lieth  nigh  Brent-Tor,  on  the  edge  of 
Dartmoor.    .   .   .    They  live  in  cots  (rather  holes  than  houses) 
like  swine,  having  all  in  common,   multiplied  without  mar- 
riage, into  many  hundreds.     Their  language  is  the  dross  of 
the  dregs  of  the  vulgar  Devonian.    .    .    .    Their  wealth  con- 
sisteth  in  other  men's  goods,  and  they  live  by  stealing  the 
sheep  on  the  moor,  &c. — F.  W. 
Crocker,  Cruwys,  and  Coplestone,  when  the  Conqueror  came,  were 
all  at  home. — See  n.  in  Haz. 
The  Bulteels  trace  their  descent  from  the  Crockers. — Murr. 
Copplestone,  Crewys,  and  Crocker  were  home 
when  the  Conqueror  come. — N.,  V.,  vi.  476. 
Please  God  and   Lord  Mount  Edgcumbe  (Haz.,  94), — current  at 
Plymouth  and  Devonport,  where  Ld.  M.  occupies  the  place 
of  the  "Herr  Gott-Mihtar"  of  S.  Germany. 
One   of    Crocker's   showers    (that   lasts   four-and-twenty   hours). — 
N.,  VIII.,  ii.  368. 

The  four  wheels  of  Charles'  wain, 
Granville,  Godolphin,  Trevannion,  Slanning,  slain. 
(All    Devonshire    families,    adherents   of   the   Stuarts.)      Never   a 
Grenvile  wanted  loyalty. — Norway,  H.  &>  B.  in  D.  &■  C,  18^. 
As  big  a  liar  as  Tom  Payne  (or  Pepper),  and  he  got  kicked  out  of 
hell  for  telhng  lies.— iV.,  VIII.,  ii.  368. 
The  Tracys 
Have  always  the  wind  in  their  faces. 
Sir  Wm.  Tracy  was  one  of  the  four  knights  who  compassed  the  death 
of  Thomas  A'Beckett. — F.  W.     See  note  in  Gloucestershire. 
Bishop's  Nympton  [3  m.  S.E.  of  South  Molton]  for  length,  South 
Molton  for  strength,  and  Chittlehampton  for  beauty.      The 
church  towers,  all  three  built  by  the  same  architect. — N ., 
VII.,  vii.  274.     Cf.  Oxfordsh. 
Barnstaple.     The  capital  of  North  Devon. 

When  Black  down's  white,  black  hay's  good. — Polwhele,  Coniw. 
Burrow,  or  Burr  Island  (in  Bigbury  par.,  South  Hams). 
The  Avon  rises  in  Dartmoor. 

Where  Avon's  waters  with  the  sea  are  mixt, 
St.  Michael  firmly  on  a  rock  is  fixt. 
Brixham  dabs. — N.,  V.,  vi.  476. 

The  master  built  Broadhembury  [5  m.  N.W.  of  Honiton],  the 
man  Broad  Clyst  [5  m.  N.E.  of  Exeter].— Polwhele,  Comw. 
i.e.,  the  churches  and  towers,  and  the  man's  being  best, 
the  master  hung  himself. 

64 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  devon. 

A  Brixham  lord.     One  having  a  share  of  the  manorial  fishery 

rights. — White,  194. 
Budleigh  boys.     Straight  hair  and  long  teeth. — N.,  V.,  v. 
When  Cadbury  Castle  and  Dolbury  Hill  down  delved  were, 
Then  Denshire  might  plough  with  a  golden  coulter  and  eke  with 
a  gilded  sheer. 
Caderbyr  Castle  now  belongs  to  the  Carews.    From  it  you  may 
see  5  m.  S.E.  Dolbury,  in  par.  of  Broad  Clyst. — Westcott. 
As  fine  as  Kerton  [Crediton]  spinning,  i.e.  as  delicate  hay.     See 

Prely.  on  County. 
Which,  to  express  the  better  to  your  belief,  it  was  very  true 
140  threads  of  woollen  yarn  spun  in  that  town  were  drawn 
together  through  the  eye  of  a  taylor's  needle,  which  needle 
and  thread  were  for  many  years  together  to  be  seen  in 
Watling  Street  in  London,  in  the  shop  of  Mr.  Dunscomb, 
at  the  sign  of  the  Golden  Bottle. — Westcott's  Devonsh. 
Kerdon  was  a  market  town 
When  Exeter  was  a  fuzzy  down. — Haz. 

When  Ex'ter  was  a  fuzzy  down 

Kerton  was  a  mayor  town. — A''.,  V.,  vi.  364. 

Chagge  Vord  [Chagford]. 

Good  Lord !  (cold  country  on  Dartmoor). — N.,  V.,  vi.  476. 

In  summer.    Chaggiford  and  what  d  'ye  think  ? — N.,  L,  ii.  452. 

Chittlehampton    [5   m.   W.   of    South    Molton].      See    Bishop's 

Nympton. 
Of  all   rogues   beware   of  Chulmleigh    rogues    [20   m,  N.W.   of 

Exeter]. — Polw.,  Corn.,  v.  39. 

Corkwood  [8J  m.  N.E.  of  Plymouth].     See  Ugborough. 

Churston    [Ferrers]    liver-eaters.       [7   m.    S.E.    of  Totnes  on 
Torbay.] — N.,  V.,  vi.  476. 

CuLMSTocK  [6  m.  N.E.  of  Cullompton] . 

Till  Culmstock  Fair  be  come  and  gone,  [May  21] 
There  mid  be  apples  and  mid  be  none. 

Elworthy,  W.  Som.  Wd.  Bk. 

Cf.  Olaus  Wormius  Monumenta  Dansea,  i.  7. 

River  of  Dart,  river  of  Dart, 

Every  year  thou  claimest  a  heart  (dangerous  from  its  rapidity). 

N.,  L,  ii.  511. 

The  "crying"  of  the  Dart  foretells  rain.  "We  shall  have  a 
change.  I  hear  'the  Broadstones'  [in  the  bed  of  the 
river]  crying,  or  else  'tis  Jordan  Ball." — Tmns.  Dev.  Assoc, 
viii.  58. 

He  that  will  not  happy  be 

With  a  pretty  girl  by  the  fire, 
I  wish  he  were  atop  of  Dartmoor 
A-slugging  in  the  mire. — Murr. 

VOL.  I.  65  5 


DEVON.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 


If  you  scratch  my  back,  I  '11  scratch  your  face.     Said  by  "  The 
Demon  of  Dartmoor  "  to  spectators  who  have  attempted  to 
reclaim  the  moor  and  come  to  grief. — Cornhill  Mag.,  Nov., 
1887. 
Cf.  Scratch  my  back  and  pay  vort. — Quart.  Rev.,  178,  p.  425. 
Blow  the  wind  high,  blow  the  wind  low, 
It  bloweth  good  to  Hawley's  Hoe  [Dartmouth], 
[vair. — N.,  V.,  vi.] 
The  family  of  Haule  or  Haulley  were  eminent  merchants  long 
resident  in  Dartmouth  [from  the  time  of  Hen.  IV.].    Their 
extensive  transactions  led  to  this  saying.   (?)  The  Hole  family 
of  to-day. — Fifth  Report  on  Historl.  MSS.,  by  H.  T.  Riley. 
It  is  popularly  said  that  no  one  born  and  bred  on  Dartmoor 
ever  was  consumptive. — Murray's  Mag.,  1889,  p.  247. 
Dartmouth  dicky-birds. — N.,  V.,  vi.  476. 

There  is  a  local  saying  that  [the  Tors  of  Dartmoor]  were  raised 
when  there  were  flying  serpents  on  the  hills  and  wolves  in 
the  valleys.    .    .    .    Wistman's  Wood,  overhanging  the  E. 
Dart,  between  Crockern  Tor  and  Bairdown.    Here  may  be 
seen  500  oaks  500  feet  high — i.e.  each  oak  one  foot  in  height. 
So  stunted  and  gnarled  are  they  that  an  ordinary  man's 
hand  can  measure  them. — Cornhill  Mag.,  Nov.,  '87. 
As  old  as  Dumpn.  (Dumpdon  Hill,  a  Roman  or  British  earth- 
work near  Honiton. — N.,  V.,  vi.  364. 
Nothing  is  good  in  ex-tremes  [Exe-streamsJ. — Polwh.,  Corn.,  v.  39. 
That 's  extra  [Exeter],  as  the  old  woman  said  when  she  saw 
Kirton. — /V.,  II.,  ii.  246;  V.,  ii.  332. 

When  Ex'ter  was  a  fuzzy  down 
Kerton  was  a  mayor  town. — N.,  V.,  vi.  364. 
Exeter  jail-birds. — N.,  V.,  vi.  474. 
Excestria  clara  metallis.     See  York. 
Fardell  [on  the  skirts  of  Dartmoor,  near  Ivy  Bridge]. 
Between  this  stone  and  Fardell  Hall 
Lies  as  much  money  as  the  devil  can  haul. 
i.e.  treasure  supposed  to  have  been  buried  by  Raleigh,  whose 
father  owned  Fardell. — Murr. 
When  *Haldon  hath  a  hat  [C/.  Sir  Gawayn,  ed.  Madden,  p.  77] 
Kenton  may  beware  a  skat  [i.e.  a  skat  or  shower]. — N.,  I.,  ii.  511. 
[6^  m.  S.E.  of  Exeter.] 

*  A  hill  range  betw.  the  rivers  Exe  and  Teign. 
Harford  [12  m.  N.E.  of  Plymouth],     See  Ugborough. 
When  Heytor  rock  wears  a  hood  [one  of  the  Dartmoor  range] 
Manxton  folk  may  expect  no  good. — Haz. 

L?  Manaton,  3  m.  S.  of  Moreton  Hampsted.] 
The  people  are  poor 
at  *Hatherleigh  Moor, 
and  so  they  have  been 
for  ever  and  ever. — Haz. 
*430  acres,  N.W.  Devon,  near  Torrington. 

66 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  devon. 

I  John  o'  Gaunt 

do  give  and  do  grant 

unto  Hatherleigh  poor 

Hatherleigh  Moor 

from  this  time  forth  for  evermore. 

Wm.  White,  History  of  Devon,  1878. 
HoNiTON.   For  if  one  can  flater  and  here  a  hawke  on  his  fyst, 

He  shall  be  made  Person  of  Honyngton  or  of  Clyst. 

Barclay,  Ship  of  Fods,  i.  22. 
Lace. — F.  W. 

IvYBRiDGE  [10  m.  N.E.  of  Plymouth].     See  Ugborough. 
All  on  one  side,  like  Kingswear  boys. — 5  N.,  V. 

[S.E.  Devon,  opposite  Dartmouth.] 
First  hang  and  draw, 

then  hear  the  cause  by  Lydford  law. — F.  W. 
This  was  one  of  the  Stannaries  Courts. 

Now  be  the  lawe  of  lydfford  in  londe  and  in  water. — J.  Westcott, 
Devonshire,  1630. 

filke  lewde  ladde  oughte  eyylle  to  Jiryve 

fat  hongith  on  his  hippis  more  than  he  wynneth. 

Richard  the  Redeles,  1399,  iii.  145. 
E.E.T.S.,  P.  Plow.,  Vis.,  p.  491. 
I  oft  have  heard  of  Lydford  law, 
How  in  the  morn  they  hang  and  draw 
And  sit  in  judgment  after. 

Wm.  Browne,  Lansd.  MSS.  'jj'j,  p.  360. 
See  Chambers,  B.  of  Days,  ii.  327,  and  Haz.,  p.  132. 
As  it  is  reported  of  a  Judge  of  the  Stannery  at  Lydford,  in 
Devon,  who  having  hanged  a  felon  among  the  Tinners  in 
the  forenoon  sate  in  judgment  upon  him  in  the  afternoon. — 
T.  Adams,  Lycanthropy,  Wks.,  p.  389. 
Meeth,  Martin.     See  in  Cornwall,  under  Padstow. 
MoRETON  [Hampsted]  tatie  eaters. — N.,  V.,  vi.  476. 
[11  m.  S.W.  of  Exeter.] 
He  may  remove  Mort  stone. — F.  W.      A  rock  guarding  the 
entrance  of  Barnstaple  Bay.     It  has  been  supposed  to  refer 
to  the  large  upright  Druidical  stone  on  the  high  ground 
near  Bull  Point. — Tugwell. 
Spoken  of  one  who  is  master  of  his  wife. — F.  W.     No  power 
on  earth  can  remove  it  but  that  of  a  number  of  wives  who 
have  dominion  over  their  husbands. — Murr. 
MoRTHOE  was  the  last  place  God  made  and  the  first  that  the  devil 
will  take. — Murr.      This  is  a  village  on  a  neighbouring 
headland,  which  is  a  great  resort  of  visitors  to  Ilfracombe 
from  the  luxurious  footing  of  the  Woolacombe  sands. 
MoDBURY.     Hark  to  Modbury*  bells,  how  they  do  quiver, 

better  than  Ermingtonf  bells  down  by  the  river. 

Worth,  S.  Devon. 
*74  m.  N.W.  of  Kingsbridge.    fa  m.  N.W.  of  Modbury  on  the  Erme. 

67 


DEVON.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

A  Paignton  cabbage.     Monstrous  in  size,  but  of  the  finest  flavour. 

To  go  to  Paignton  to  meet  the  French.  A  Totnes  saying, 
meaning  to  meet  danger  half-way  unnecessarily.  Napoleon 
was  expected  to  invade  England,  like  William  IIL,  by 
landing  in  Torbay. — Trans.  Dev.  Assoc,  ix.  lor. 

Plymouth,  the  Cornishman's  London. 

A  Plymouth  cloak,  i.e.  a  staff. — F.  W.  Mass.  N.  Way,  i.  i. 
See  Haz.,  p.  30. 

"  Clad  in  a  cloak  of  Plymouth." — Denham,  To  Sir  Jno.  Mennis. 

Rather  it  seems  to  be  a  leafy  branch  which  shipwreckt  sailors 
who  had  lost  their  clothes  provided  themselves  with  as  a 
covering.     Cf.  Homer,  Odyssey,  vi.  129. — [Ed.] 

When  Plymouth  was  a  vuzzy  down 
Plympton  was  a  borough  town. 

R.  J.  King,  in  N.,  I.,  ii.  511. 

A  Plymouth  rain  is  a  Dock  fair.  In  the  last  century  Dock,* 
i.e.  Devonport,  suffered  from  lack  of  water.  Plymouth 
would  not  help  them,  and  so  they  depended  on  the  rainfall 
{Athenaum,  11/8,  1877). 

*  So  called  up  to  1824.  In  the  beginning  of  the  18th  century 
it  was  a  desolate  common. 

One  o'clock 

all  over.  Dock,  i,e.  work  ceases. 

It  takes  three  towns  to  make  a  metropolis  for  the  West,  say 
up-country  folk  [i.e.  Plymouth,  Devonport,  and  Stoke]. — 
Quart.  Rev.,  vol.  178,  p.  425.  The  Three  Towns  is  the 
collective  name. 

Salcombe.     The  Montpellier  of  the  North. — Murr. 

Noted  for  White  Ale. 

Whoever  shall  find  the  treasure  hidden  in  Ringmore  Down 
shall  plough  with  a  golden  ploughshare  and  yoke  his  oxen 
with  golden  cross-sticks. — R.  J.  King,  N.,  I.,  ii.  513. 

This  is  5  m.  W.  of  Kingsbridge. 

South  Hams.  The  district  bounded  by  the  rivers  Tamar  and  Teign, 
Dartmouth,  and  the  Channel  is  called  The  Garden  of 
Devonshire. — Murr. 

South  Molton.     See  Bishop's  Nympton, 

SiDBURY  peace  and  good  neighbourhood.  So  characterised  some 
years  ago  by  a  writer,  no  lawyer  having  ever  resided 
there. — Polwhele,  Cornwall,  v.  39. 

See  "  A  curious  story  of  the  Tamar  and  the  Torridge,"  parallel 
with  "Annan,  Tweed  and  Clyde,"  in  Westcott's  View  of 
Devonsh.,  rep.  Exr.,  1845,  p.  348. 

Tamar,  "  The  English  Rhine,"  Comhill  Mag.,  Nov.,  1887. 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  devon. 

Tamerton.  Is  there  any  origin  for  the  absurd  reference  often  made 
to  Tamerton  Treacle  Mines,  and  another  saying  also  applied 
to  the  same  neighbourhood  that  the  potatoes  which  are 
grown  there  can  be  fried  in  their  own  fat  ? — -Kearley, 
Westn.  Antiq.,  v.  6i. 

Tawstock  Court  [2  m.  S.  of  Barnstaple],  seat  of  the  Wrey  family. 
The  view  from  the  Terrace  includes  the  most  valuable 
manor,  the  best  mansion,  the  finest  church,  and  the  richest 
rectory  in  the  county. — World,  i6/7,  1884. 

Hll.,  in  his  Dicty.,  has  "  Tawstock-grace.     Finis.  Devon,"  an 
enigmatical  entry. 

Tiverton.     He  must  go  to  Tiverton  and  ask  Mr.  Able. — Haz. 

Let  'en  go :  he's  only  a  Tavistock  man.     (Contempt.) 

Globe,  16/6,  1884. 

TopsHAM.  Topsham,  thou'rt  a  pretty  town, 

I  think  thee  very  pretty, 
And  when  I  come  to  wear  a  crown 
I  '11  make  of  thee  a  city. 
Attributed  to  Monmouth. — Hamilton,  Qy.  Sess. 
See  Lyme,  in  Dorset. 

ToTNESs  horseheads. — N.,  V.,  vi.  476. 

Here  I  sit  and  here  I  rest, 

And  this  town  shall  be  called  Totness. — N.,  I.,  ii.  511. 

Said  to  have  been  pronounced  by  Brutus  on  his  landing. — 
R.  J.  King. 

At  Torquay  all  is  blue — sky,  water,  and  women. — Land  and  Water, 
6/3,  i885. 
A  Torquay  marriage.   Two  single  women  keeping  house  together. 

Thurlestone.  Brave  every  shock 

Like  Thurlestone's  Rock. 

A  perforated  arch  of  conglomerate,  near  Bolt  Tail,  in  the  South 
Hams. — Morris,  Devonshire. 

Ugborough  [iJ  m.  S.W.  of  Kingsbridge  Road  Station]. 

Ubber  lubbers,  Harford  gads, 

Cornwood  robbers  and  Ivybridge  lads. — Wn.  Antiq.,  iii.  98. 
var. :  Brent  .     .     .    Buckfastleigh. 

WiDDicoME  in   the   cold  country,  good  Lord !   [on  Dartmoor]. — 
N.,  I.,  ii.  452. 

Widdecombe  hills  are  picking  their  geese  ; 
faster,  faster,  faster,  i.e.  it  is  snowing. 

R.  J.  K.,  AT.,  L,  ii.  511. 

These  hills  lie  E  S.E.  of  Kingsbridge,  on  Start  Bay. 
Another  correspondent  [iV.,  I.,  x.  173]  suggests  that  Widdicote 
[the  sky]  is  alluded  to,  so  called  in  a  nursery  ballad. 

69 


DORSET.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

OORSBTSHIRE. 

Dorcetschir  will  have  no  wronge, — MS.  Harl. 
Dorseteshire  wil  have  no  wronge. — MS.  Rawl. 

So  Dorsetshire  of  long  they  "  Dorsers "  us'd  to  call.  —  Drayt. 
Pol.,  xxiii.  1622. 

Dorsetshire  dorsers,  i.e.  the  peds  or  panniers  of  fish-jobbers  carried 
on  the  backs  of  horses,  on  which  haglers  use  to  ride  and 
carry  their  commodities  above  an  hundred  miles,  from  Lyme 
to  London. — F.  W.  And  see  Diary  of  Walter  Yonge  (1604-28), 
ed.  Roberts,  Camden  Soc,  Introd.,  p.  xxiii. 

Dorset  butter. 

Let  the  Latin  proverb,  "  Albo  gallo,"  &c.,  in  Dorsetshire,  be  turned 
into  "  Albo  cervo  ne  manum  admoliaris." — F.  W.,  Dor.,  284. 

BiNCOMBE  [3^  m.  N.  of  Weymouth].     Cf.  Somerset,  Stogursey. 
Out  of  the  world  into  Bincombe.     An  outlandish  village  lying 
in  a  hollow  of  the  hills  under  a  coronal  of  barrows. 
BiNDON.     See  Wool. 

Beaminster.     "  Bimmister  zingers,"  sheep  and  cattle  driven. 
Bridport.     Corde  de  Bredeport. — Douce  MS.,  98. 

The  best  if  not  the  most  hemp  growing  there.— F.  W. 
Stabbed   with   a    Bridport  dagger    [i.e.  hanged]  =  a   hempen 

halter.— F.  W. 
Freewill  : 

And  what  life  have  they  there,  [prison]  all  that  great  sort  ? 
Imagination  : 

By  God,  sir,  once  a  year  some  taw  halts  of  Burport : 
Yea,  at  Tyburn  there  standeth  the  great  frame, 
And  some  take  a  fall  that  maketh  their  necks  lame. 

Hickscorner,  H.O.P.,  i.  158. 
Combe.     See  Wool. 

Dorchester.    As  big  as  a  Dorchester  butt. — O  'Keeffe.    The  Poor 
Soldier  :  "  Dear  Tom,  this  brown  jug." 
See  Weymouth. 
The  City  of  Avenues. 

The  devil  piss'd  piddles  about  Dorchester.     This  saying  arises 
from  the  number  of  small  streams  running  through  different 
villages   hereabouts,  which  from  that  circumstance   have 
their  names  terminating  in  puddle  (pronounced  piddle),  as 
Piddletown,  Toll-piddle,  Aff-piddle,  &c.     These  waters  are 
very  improperly  called  puddles,  being  most  of  them  clear 
and  running. — G. 
FoRDiNGTON  [close  to  Dorchester].     See  Wool. 
Knowlton  [3  m.  S.W.  of  Cranborne]. 
Knowlton  bell  is  stole 
and  thrown  into  White  Mill  Hole. — Murr. 
There  is  a  tradition  that  it  now   forms    part   of  the  peal   at 
Sturminster  Marshall. 

70 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  dorset. 


Lewson  Hill.     As  much  akin  [i.e.  no  kin  at  all" 
as  Lewson  Hill*  to  Pilson  Penf. 
Two   eminences   of  the   green   sand,   much    alike,    called    by 
sailors    "The    Cow    and    Calf."      The    correct    names, 
Lewesdon  Hill  and  Pillesden  Pen. — Murr. 
*  3  m.  W.  of  Beaminster. 
t  In  the  parish  of  Broadwinsor  [F.  W.]  where  Fuller  was  Rector. 

Lyme  Regis.  Lyme,  although  a  little  place,  [?  town] 

I  think  it  wondrous  pretty; 
If  'tis  my  fate  to  wear  a  crown, 
I  '11  make  of  it  a  city. 
This  is  traditionally   said   to   have  been   the  exclamation   of 
Monmouth,  when   he  visited   Lyme. — A    Summer  Trip   to 
Weymouth  and  Portland.     From  the  Note  Books  of  an  Old 
Traveller.     Weymouth,  1842. 
See  Topsham  (Dev.),  to  which  this  speech  has  been  assigned. 

PooLE.     If  Poole  was  a  fish-pond  and  the  men  of  Poole  fish, 

there  'd  be  a  pool  for  the  Devil  and  fish  for  his  dish. — G. 

This  satirical  distich  was  written  a  long  time  ago.  Poole  is 
at  present  a  respectable  place,  and  has  in  it  several  rich 
merchants  trading  to  Newfoundland. — G. 

"  When  do  you  fetch  the  five  pounds  ?  "  It  is  said  that  a  rich 
merchant  of  Poole  left  by  his  will  the  sum  of  £^,  to  be 
given  every  year  to  set  up  any  poor  man  who  had  served 
an  apprenticeship  in  that  town,  on  condition  that  he  should 
produce  a  certificate  of  his  honesty,  properly  authenticated. 
This  bequest  has  not,  it  is  pretended,  been  yet  claimed,  and 
it  is  a  common  water-joke  to  ask  the  crew  of  a  Poole  ship 
whether  anyone  has  yet  received  that  five  pounds. — G. 

"  Shoot  zaftly  ;  doey  now !  "  Another  gird  at  the  Poolites. 
A  privateer  of  that  town  having  it  is  said  loaded  their 
guns,  on  their  return  to  port  wished  to  draw  out  the 
shot,  but  did  not  know  how ;  nor  could  they  think  of 
any  other  method  than  that  of  firing  them  off  and 
receiving  the  shot  in  a  kettle.  The  person  employed  to 
hold  the  kettle  being  somewhat  apprehensive,  prayed  of 
their  companion  who  was  to  hold  the  gun  to  "  shoot 
zaftly."     Told   of  other  ports   also. — G. 

Old   Harry  and   His  Wife.  —  Haz.      The    pinnacles    of  chalk 
forming  Handfast  Point,  between  Studland  and  Swanage. 

Portland.  The  word  of  a  Portland  man  is  a  proverb  for  sincerity 
and  faith. — Mackenzie  Walcott,  Soitth  Coast,  p.  395. 
They  have  a  peculiar  custom  called  Portland  custom,  that  the 
man  never  marries  till  his  intended  wife  is  pregnant ;  and 
it  was  hardly  ever  broken  in  the  memory  of  man  [because 
in  that  case  he  would  be  disgraced  and  nevermore  acknow- 
ledged by  his  countrymen. — Smeaton,  Hist,  of  Edystone 
Lighthouse,  1791],  but  when  the  woman  falsely  assure  the 
man  that  she  was  breeding. — Hutchins,  Dorset,  1803,  ii.  354. 

71 


DURHAM.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA, 

PuRBECK.     Marbre  de  Corfe.— Douce  M.S.,  98,  i.e.  Corfe  Castle. 
The  marble  of  the   Isle  of  Purbeck  is  still   famous.     It  was 
resorted  to,  in  1840,  to  renew  the  pillars  of  the  Temple 
Church  (London)  where  they  had  perished  from  time. 

ShaftsbOry.  Coverches  de  Schaftesbury. — Douce  M.S.,  98,  i.e. 
covrechefs  or  head  cloths.  The  woollen  trade  still  lingers 
here. 
The  Nunnery  of  Shaftesbury  was  so  well  endowed  that  it  was  a 
common  proverb  to  say  that  "  If  the  Abbess  of  Shaftesbury 
were  to  marry  the  Abbot  of  Glastonbury,  their  heir  would 
have  more  land  than  the  King  of  England."  (The  rental 
was  ;^i,3oo  a  year  at  the  Suppression.) — A  Summer  Trip 
to  Weymouth,  1842,  p.  177.  See  Lyme.  Cf.  Somerset, 
Glaston. 

SwANAGE  (Swanwich).     See  Weymouth. 

Weymouth.    Dr.  Arbuthnot  quitted  it,  saying  that  "  a  doctor  could 
neither  live  nor  die  there  "  (from  its  healthiness) — Walcott, 
p.    395.     Murray,   ed.    1882,   ascribes  this  to  Dorchester, 
which  is  doubtless  right. 
JefFery  and  Joan, 

and  little  dog  Denty  and  Edy  alone. 
Four  upright  columns  near  The  Demon's  Quoit,  at  Portisham, 

6  m.  N.W.  of  Weymouth. — Walcott,  p.  395. 
Weymouth  was,  Bournemouth  is,  and  Swanage  will  be.     An 
adaptation  of  the  prophecy,  "  Lincoln,  was,"  &c. 

Wool.  Wool  streams  and  Combe  wells, 

Fordington  cuckolds  stole  Bindon  bells. — Murr. 
Villages   near   Wareham,  said   to  possess   the  twelve  bells  of 
Bindon  Abbey,  now  belonging  to  the  Welds  of  Lulworth. 


DURHAM. 

[No  Durham  Prov.  in  F.  W.  or  R.] 

Durham,  the  most  Northern  County  in  England. — D.,  66.   i.e.  while 

Northumberland    was    a    separate    Kingdom    extending   to 

Edinburgh. 
Durham  folks  are  troubled  with  after-wit. — Murray,  Hdbk.,  Intr. 

["  An  old  proverb."] 
Fye,  fye  for  a  guide  to  Durham !     The  exclamation  of  the  English 

cavalry  at  Newcastle  on  their  retreat  before  the  Scotch  at  the 

battle  of  Newburn,  1640. — D.,  25. 
Out  o'  Bisho'brigg  into  Yorkshire,  i.e.  a  change  for  the  worse. — -D.,  53. 
Tute  [i.e.  do  it]  again  made  the  lad  leave  Yorkshire,  and  when  he 

gat  into  Bisho'brig  he  was  niver  dune. — D. 
F.  W.    speaking  of  Westmorland,    says    "  it   has   Bishopric   and 

Yorkshire  on  the  East,"  p.  135. 
The  Bysshoprick  used  for  Durham  in  1404. — 

Testam,  Ebor.,  iii.  25,  Surtees  Soc. 

72 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  durham. 

Beef  to  the  heels,  hke  a  Durham  heifer.— D.,  38.     (Applied  to 
women  with  thick  ankles.) 

AiSLABY.     When  Yarm  sinks,  and  Egglescliffe  swims,  Aislaby  [i  m. 
from  Yarm]  will  be  a  market  town. — D.,  Supp.,  6.  Yarm  lies 
low  on  the  Yorksh.  bank  of  the  Tees,  Egglescliffe  high  on  the 
Bisho'brig  side.     There  are  remains  of  a  market  cross  there. 
From  Axwell  Park  to  Shotley  [par.  of  Ryton] 
a  squirrel  could  leap  from  tree  to  tree. — D.,  66. 
\i.e.  Shotley  Bridge,  S.  side  of  Derwent,  in  par.  of  Lanchester.] 

Bishop's  Auckland  for  the  Bishop's  Palace  and  Jock's  Row. 

Durham  for  wealthy  priests,  old  maids,  good  mustard,  simple 

magistrates,  and  uncorrupt  jurors. 
Darlington  for  quakers,  tammy  weavers  and  a  bad  foundation. — 

D.,  28. 
Bishop's  Auckland  i'  Bisho'brigg,  God  help  me !      Beggar's 

answer  to  enquiry  where  he  comes  from,  as  the  haunt  of 

wretchedness. — D.,  67. 
Little    London.      A   resort   of   Muggers   Tinkers,    Faws   and 

Gipsies  in  the  town. — D.,  77. 
By  'grees  and  'grees,  as  the  West  Auckland  lasses  get  their 

fortunes. — D.,  35. 

Barnard  Castle.     The  last  place  that  God  made. — D.,  58. 
A  coward,  a  coward  of  Barney  Castle 
dare  na  come  out  to  fight  a  battle. — D.,  6. 

He  refers  this  to  the  Rising  in  the  North,  1569,  when  Sir  Geo. 
Bowes,  acting  on  the  defensive,  shut  himself  up  in  Barnard 
Castle.  And  he  further  mentions  that  a  feud  has  always 
existed  between  the  town's  folk  and  the  Hee-landers  above 
the  town.     (p.  47.) 

Come !  come !  that 's  Barney  Castle.  An  expression  often 
uttered  when  a  person  is  heard  making  a  bad  excuse  in  a 
still  worse  cause. — D.,  58. 

A  [Barney  Cassel]  Briggate-bred-un.  A  female  of  a  certain 
class  born  and  bred  in  that  Billingsgate  portion  of  the 
town  :  a  foul,  filthy,  and  fetid  alley,  sometimes  dignified 
to  Bridge  Street. — D.,  75. 

Barney  Cassel  farmers  may  be  known  by  the  holes  in  their 
sacks,  and  the  women  by  the  holes  in  their  stockings. — 
Walter  White. 

A  Barney  Cassel  Wisp.  A  handful  of  straw,  used  by  slovens 
to  mend  their  corn  sacks. 

Bonny  Barney.  Popularly  so  called,  but  more  truly  Black  or 
Blackguard  Barney. — D.,  58.  Barnard  Castle  has  always 
been  the  butt  of  the  Bishoprick.  It  must  be  confessed 
that  personal  frays  are  more  scandalously  conducted  there 
than  elsewhere. — Longstaffe,  Rickmondsh.,  p.  132. 

Barney  Cassel  gingerbread.  The  best  in  the  world. — Brockett. 
See  Lartington  and  Richmond,  in  Yorksh. 

73 


DURHAM.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Benfieldside  [near  Lanchester] ,  where  the  devil  stole  the  key  of 

the  Quakers'  meeting-house. — D.,  67. 
GotoBiDDicic!   ».«.  go  the  devil.— D.,  22.   N.  Biddick,  near  Chester- 
le-Street,  is  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Worm  Hill,  the  habitat 
of  the  great  dragon  serpent  or  worm  of  Lambton. 
BiNCHESTER  pennies.     Roman  copper  coins  found  there. — D.,  66. 
Black  Boy  and  Billy  Row, 
Sunny- side  and  shiney  Row, 
White  Smocks  and  Mally  Bow. — D.,  21. 
First  five  near  Bp's.  Auckland,  Durham  and  Sunderland.     The 
last,  Mary-le-bow  in  Durham  city. 
The  City  of  Blaydon.     A  sneer  at  an  improving  village,  4  m.  W- 
of  Newcastle,  affixed  by  the  envy  of  the  large  town  of  a 
rival  county. — N.,  111.,  iii.  233. 

A  Brusselton  cracker.     [Near  W.  Auckland.]     Primarily  a  bad 
coal  raised  there,  full  of  pyrites. — D.,  65. 

Chester-le-Street. 

Chester-le- Street  has  a  bonny,  bonny  church. 

With  a  broach  upon  the  steeple ; 
But  Chester-le-Street  is  a  dirty,  dirty  town, 
And  mair  sham'  for  the  people. — D.,  53. 
Chester-le-Street,  where  the  folks  play  at  Putt  for  bairns. — D.,  41. 
Picktree  and  Pelaw  and  Rickleton  on  the  hill, 
Lambton  and  Biddick  and  Johnnie  Floater's  mill, 
(on  the  Wear.) 
Four  parishes  in  Ch.-l.-St. — D.,  Supp.,  7. 

Cockfield,  the  last  place  that  God  made. — D.,  59. 

Cox's  Green  's*  a  bonny  place,  where  water  washes  clean, 
And  Painshaw'sf  on  a  hill,  where  we  have  merry  been. — D.,  53. 
*  5  m.  West  of  Sunderland.  t  3  m.  N.  of  Houghton-le-Spring. 

Darlington.     Dirty  Darnton,  or  Darnton-in-the-dirt. 

The  last  sobriquet  afiixed  by  Jas.  II.  travelling  to  Scotland  in 

1579. — Defoe,  Tour. 
He  takes  Darnton  trod  [N.  of  Darlington].    Said  of  one  wishing 
to  elude  pursuit.     D.,  54,  considers  that  it  was  a  resort  of 
thieves. 
Deep  as  the  Hell  Kettles.     Three  pits  (supposed  to  be  bottom- 
less) at  Oxle  Hall   [1  m.  from  Darin.].     Harrison,  1577, 
calls  them  "  three  little  poles,  which  the  people  call  the 
Kettles   of  Hell  or   ye   Devil's  Kettles,  as  if   he  should 
seethe  souls  of  sinful  men  and  women  in  them."      Many 
centuries  ago  the  occupier  of  fields  on  this  spot  was  going 
to  load  his  hay  on  the  feast  day  of  St.  Barnabas  (June  11), 
and  being  remonstrated  with  for  his  impiety,  he  replied : 
Barnaby  yea  !     Barnaby  nay  ! 
A  cart-load  of  hay  whether  God  will  or  nay, 
[I  '11  hae  my  hay.]     When  instantly  he,  his  carts  and 
horses,  were  all  swallowed  up  in  the  pools. — D.,  55. 

74 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Durham. 

Darnton,  where  the  wind  once  blew  a  dog's  tongue  out. — D.,  55. 

In  Darnton  Towne  ther  is  a  stane  and  most  strange  it  is  to 
tell  that  yt  turns  nine  times  round  about  when  yt  hears  the 
clock  strike  twell  [opposite  Northgate  House.— Longstaflfe's 
Darin.,  p.  164].— D.,  F.  L.  N.  of  E.,  1850,  p.  19.  It  is 
called  Bulmer  Stone. 

Darlington  's  a  bonny  town, 
with  a  broach  upon  the  steeple. 

i.e.  a  spire  on  the  tower,— iV.,  VII.,  v.,  428. 

Brave    Durham    I    behold,  that   stately   seated    town.  —  Drayton, 
Polyolh. 

Durham,  the  only  finished  town  in  England. — D.,  22. 
The   City   of  Durham   is  famous   for   seven  things  :    Wood, 
Water,  and  pleasant  Walks,  Law  and  Gospel,  Old  Maids 
and  Mustard. — D.,  26. 
As  peppery  as  Durham  mustard.— D.,  16. 
He  is  a  Durham  man ;  he 's  Knocker-Kneed,  i.e.  grinds 
mustard  with  his  knees. — Grose,  Diet.,  VI.     Durham 
is  famous  for  its  mustard. — G. 

Durham  the  English  Sion  on  Seven  Hills. — Hegge,  Legd.  of 
St.  Cutkbert,  1626. 

The  City  of  Priests. — D.,  24.  The  golden  Prebends  of 
Durham. — D.,  17. 

York  has  the   highest    Rack,   but   Durham   has   the  deepest 

manger  (Tobias  Matthew). — D.,  ig. 
Quicquid     Rex    habet     extra,    Episcopus    habet    intra.      A 
maxim    applicable    to    the    Palatinate    up   to    the    reign 
of  Hen.  VIII.— D.,    10. 
Half    church   of   God,  half    castle,  'gainst   the   Scot. — Scott, 

Harold  the  Dauntless,  III.,  ii. 
Solum  Dunelmense  stola  jus  dicat  et  ense. — D.,  7. 
or,  Dunelmia  solo  judicat  ense  et  stola. — lb. 
Ye 're  like  the  Bishop's  mother,  ye 're  nivver  content,  nowther  full 
nor  fasting.     Robert  de  Insula's  mother.     On  his  being 
made  Bishop  he  gave  her  Lindisfarne,  in  his  diocese ;  but 
the  greatness  of  the  position  overwhelmed  her. — D.,  23. 
Too  dear  for  the  Bishop  of  Durham. — D.,  16. 
The  Dun  cow's  milk 
makes  the  prebends'  wives  go  in  silk. 
The  legend   of  St.    Cuthbert's    final   resting-place   being 
indicated  by  the  milkmaid  who  was  in  search  of  her 
cow.      She  directed  his  bearers  to  Dunholme. 
Durham  lads  hae  gowd  and  silver, 
Chester  lads  hae  nou't  but  brass. 
i.e.   Chester-le-Street   where  St.   Cuthbert's  remains  first 
reposed,  but  wealth  flowed  into  Durham  when  they 
were  permanently  settled  there,  in  995. — [Murray.] 

75 


DURHAM.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Runaway  Doctor  Bokanki.  Walter  Balcanquall,  Dean  of 
Durham,  who  fled  at  the  approach  of  the  Scots. — 
Surtees,  i.  96. 

The  Devil's  Dean.   Whittingham  (a  Calvinist),  d.  1579- — D.,76. 

Short  rede  is  good  rede,  slea  ye  the  Bishop  {i.e.  Walcher,  slain 
in  1080  by  the  mob  at  Gateshead). — D.,  5. 

Ah  Dunelmia !  nimium  vicina  Scotia.  Bp.  Morton's  hospitality 
was  severely  taxed  by  Jas.  I.  on  his  journeys  to  ScotF- 
— D.,  Sup.,  5. 

A  Dunelm  of  Crab.     A  toothsome  dish. — D.,  23. 

A  Butterby  church-goer.     One  who  attends  no  church,  who,  if 
asked  What  church   have  you  attended  ?  would   answer, 
"  I    have   been   attending   service   at    Butterby " — Hone. 
Ev.  D.  Bk.    It  is  a  pleasant  Sunday  walk  from  the  city  and 
there  is  an  old  manor  house  (Beautrood)  there. 

EvENWooD.  Evenwood, 

Where  never  straight  tree  stood. 

Bishopric  Garland,  p.  73. 
A  village  5  m.  W.S.W.  of  Bp.  Auckland,  standing  high  above 
the  river  Gaunless  and  much  exposed  to  S.W.  gales. 

FiNCHALE.      The  Prior  of  Finchale  has  got  a  fair  wife, 

and  every  old  monk  will  soon  have  the  like. — D.,  29. 
The  first-fruits  of  the  Reformation. 

Ferr'yhill.     Round  about  Ferryhill,  Hey  for  Hett 

there  's  many  a  bonny  lass,  but  few  to  get. 
[Two  villages  at  no  great  distance  from  Durham.]. — D.,  68. 

Gainford,  where  the  parson  married  a  Pigg,  christened  a  Lamb, 
and  buried  a  Hogg. — D.,  75. 

All  the  world  and  part  of  Gateside.     (Gateshead). — D.,  56. 

Gateshead,  a  long  dirty  lane  leading  into  Newcastle.  Said  to  be 
Mr.  Fox's  answer  in  H.  of  C.  to  a  Southerner  who  asked : 
Gateshead  !    Gateshead  !    where  is  Gateshead? — D.,  56. 

A  Gatesider.     A  low  vulgar  fellow. — D.,  Sup.,  3. 

Let 's  have  no  Gateshead  (unfair  play  at  cards). — N.,  IH.,  iii.  232. 

GiLLiNG.         When  Gilling  brews  [near  Richmond] 

Durham  rues. — Longstaffe,  Richmondsh.,  p.  120. 

Hamsterly. 

Hamsterly*  hunger-town  stands  on  a  hill, 
Witton-le-Wear  f  lies  in  a  gill  (or  stands  on  a  sill, 

metalHferous  ground). 
Wolsingham's  %  full  of  pride  and  that  at's  donnat, 

[of  the  devil] 
Frosterly'sg  poor,  but  has  a  good  stomach  {i.e.  pluck). 

D.,  Sup.,  6. 
*6  m.  W.  of  Bp.  Auckland.  }i2  m.  W.S.W.  of  Durham. 

t4  m.  W.N.W.  of  Bp.  Auckland.         §3  m.  W.  of  Wolsingham. 

76 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  Durham. 

Hang-bank,  Legs- Cross  and  Bildershaw 
make  many  a  horse  to  puff  and  blaw. 
[Three  long  and  lofty  hills :  first  in  Ykshr.  near  Melsonby,  the 
others  between  Piersebridge  and  W.  Auckland.] — D.,  67. 

Hartlepool,  where  the  man  was  smoored  to  death,  sinking  for  a 
draw-well  in  his  father's  backside. — D.,  64. 

Like  the  Mayor  of  Hartlepool,  you  cannot  do  that  [i.e.  work  im- 
possibilities.— R.,  1813],  as  he  himself  owned,  "being  but 
a  man." — D.,  31. 

See  Seaton  and  Stockton. 

Headlam  Hens  lay  twice  a  day  [par.  Gainford],  i.e.  "You're 
lying."— D.,  64. 

A  walk  to  Hendon  Gardens=a  trip  to  Gretna  Green. — D.,  69. 

Hungry  Heaton,  i.e.  Hutton  Henry  near  Monk  Hesleton. — D.,  65. 
The  water  of  Hezzle  Well 
will  make  tea  by  itsel. 
[A   wayside   spring  W.  of  Stainton,  near   Barnard  Castle.] 

D.,  Sup.,  7. 
Jarrow.     Bump  against  Jarrow,  to  run  foul. — D.,  64. 
The  laddie  ran  sweaten,  ran  sweaten. 

The  laddie  ran  sweaten  about. 
Till  the  Keel  went  bump  against  Jarrow, 

And  three  o'  the  bullies  lap  out. — Song,  The  Pee  Dee. 
It  is  never  dark  in  Jarrow  Church. — D.,  64. 
JoUybody  and  Spittlehope  side  all  of  a  raw, 
and  then  Bonny  Stanhope,  the  best  o'  them  a'. — D.,  Sup.,  5. 

Kelloe  [5  m.  S.E.  of  Durham]. 

Here  lies  John  Lively,  vicar  of  Kelloe, 
had  seven  daughters  and  never  a  fellow. 

Hll.,  Pop.  Ry.,  202.     D.,  33. 

Lartington.  Lartington  for  frogs, 

and  Barney  Cassel  for  butchers'  dogs. 
oy  Lartington  frogs, 

Barney  Castle,  butchers'  dogs. — D.,  57. 
Lartington  in  N.R.  of  Yorksh.,  2  m.  W.S.W.  of  Barnard  Castle. 

Mainsforth.  Seat  of  the  Surtees  family,  7  m.  E.  of  Bp.  Auckland, 
on  a  dry  gravel  soil. 

Rain  in  April,  rain  in  May, 

or,  Mainsforth,  farewell  [to]  corn  and  hay  ! 

Bishopric  Garland,  p.  73. 

Bishop  Middleham,  where  might  rules  right. — D.,  68. 

OviNGTON  Edge. 

Ovington  Edge*  and  Cockfield  Fellf 
are  the  coldest  spots  twixt  heaven  and  hell. — D.,  62. 
*  Near  Greta  Bridge.  t  Near  Staindrop. 

77 


DURHAM.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Seaton.  Seaton  Sluice  and  Hartlepool  Mill, 

the  one  goes  round,  the  other  stands  still. — D.,  Supp.,  7. 
[Seaton  Delaval.] 

Sedgefield  [ii  m.  S.S.E.  of  Durham]. 

When  Roseberry  Topping  wears  a  hat, 
Morden-Carrs  will  suffer  for  that. 
[A  large  level  of  many  hundred  acres,  frequently  overflowed 
in  winter]. — D.,  63. 
I  've  been  as  far  South  as  Sedgefield,  where  they  call  strea, 

straw. — Bk.  Garland,  p.  74. 
A  Sedgefield  chap.     The  Knave  of  Clubs. — D.,  61. 
To  go  at  a  thing  like  a  Sedgefield  hunt. — D.,  61. 
The  Montpelher  of  the  North.     So  called  from  its  healthiness 

by  Dr.  Askew. — D.,  61. 
See  Trimdon. 

Shields.  Go  to  Shields 

and  fish  for  eels 

[or,  and  shave  ducks]. — D.,  22,  61. 
A  Newcastle  taunt. 

Shields  Geordies. — D.,  44.  A  sailors'  nickname  for  their 
brethren  of  this  port. 

We'll  a'  gan  together,  like  the  folks  o'  Shields. — D.,  33, 
refers  this  to  a  boat  called  a  Comfortable,  in  which  pleasure 
parties  came  up  the  river. 

The  folks  o'  Shields  (S.)  are  often  the  butt  of  the  Newcastle 
wits.  If  you  ask  an  inhabitant  of  Shields  to  name  the 
four  quarters  of  the  world,  he  will  reply,  "  Rooshia, 
Prooshia,  Manch,  and  Shields."  Such  being  the  countries 
and  ports  which  are  all  the  world  to  him  in  a  pecuniary 
point  of  view. — N.  III.,  iii.  232. 

He's  like   a   Stanhope   [5  m.  W.N.W.  of  Wolsingham]  pan — 
black  both  inside  and  outside.     A  Scotish  border  saying. 
— D.,  76. 
A  Stanhope  Wolf. — D.,  Supp.,  3. 

Stockton-on-Tees. 

He  has  found  a  pot  of  gold  in  the  Castle  garth.     Said  of  any 
one  grown  suddenly  rich ;  there  being  a  tradition  of  buried 
treasure. — D.,  Sup.,  4. 
The  mayor  of  Stockton  town,  and  the  mayor  of  Hartlepule, 
the  first 's  a  silly  young  fellow,  the  second  's  an  awde  fule. 

D.,  40. 
Sunderland  sowies=women. — D.,  41. 

A  Sunderland  fitter.     A  name  for  the  Knave  of  Clubs. 

D.,  F.  of  N.  of  E.,  p.  14,  1852. 
Sunderland    Jammies.       A   nickname  for   the   sailors   of   the 

port.— D.,  45. 
A  Sunderland  ball  (at  cricket).     An  inartistic  one. — D.,  66. 

78 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  Durham. 

Tanfield  fools  and  Anfield  lubberts,  [All  near  source  of  river  Derwent] 
hungry  Iceton  with  its  empty  cupboards. — D.,  42. 
[Iveston.] 

Teesdale  folk  are  all  kin  to  one  another.     (From  inter-marriage.) 

Murray. 

May  the  Tees  prove  a  teazer  to  the  Tyne  and  the  Thames 

D.,  62. 

Tees  has  made  hisself  a  good  bed  long  ago,  and  he  wad  be 
loathe  to  leave  it.  From  the  depth  of  the  bed  of  the 
river  floods  are  unusual. — Murr. 

ToFT-HiLL. — The  last  place  that  God  made. — D.,  59. 
[between  Evenswood  and  Wolsingham.J 
A  Toft-hiller.     One  rough  and  uncouth. — D.,  39. 
They're  like   Toft-hill  stockings — they'll  fit   owther  lad   or 
man. — D.,  Supp.,  6. 

Trimdon  Trough- Legs*  stands  on  a  hill, 
poor  silly  Fishburn  stands  stock  still : 
Butterwick  walls  are  like  to  fall, 
but  Sedgefield  is  the  flower  o'  them  all. — D.,  6g. 
*  3j  m.  N.E.  of  Sedgfield,  in  which  parish  are  the  other  two. 
I  gave  her  [or  him]  Washington. — D.,  67.     (Unexplained.) 
Up  wi'  leede  [lead]  and  down  wi'  breede  [bread] 
is  what  we  drink  at  Wardale  heede  [Weardale  head]. 
A  population  of  lead  miners.  D.,  65. 

Weardale.  Weardale  weaker  and  wiser, 

Harwood  bigger  and  fonder  [i.e.  foolisher] . 

D.,  Supp.,  4. 
A  comparison  of  the  bodily  and  intellectual  strength  of  the 
two  places.     Harwood  is  near  the  head  of  the  Tees 
and  is  separated  from  Weardale  by  a  narrow  mountain 
range. — D.,  Supp. 
Weardale  gowks. — D.,  4. 
A  Weardale  Wolf.— D.,  4. 

An  otter  in  the  Wear 
you  may  find  but  once  a  year, 
but  an  otter  in  the  Tees 
you  may  find  at  your  ease. — D.,  62. 
Thir  Weardale  men,  they  have  good  hearts, 

They  are  as  stiff  as  any  tree, 
For  if  they  'd  every  man  been  slain. 
Never  a  foot  back  man  would  flee. 

"  Ballad  of  the  Rookhope  Ryde,"  Bk.  Card.,  p.  27. 

Whorlton.  Whorlton  snobs  [par.  Gainford] 

are  all  called  Bobs. — D.,  44. 

WiLLiNGTON  shags. — D.,  42. 

He 's  a  Wintlatee,  i.e.  a  bad  'un, — D.,  45. 

79 


DURHAM.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 


PERSONAL. 


There  never  was  an  Allan  a  Parson  — D.,  43  Spoken  of  the  family 
of  Allan  of  Blackwell,  Co.  Durham,  and  of  Barton,  Yorksh. — 
Haz.  251. 

Johnny  tu  th'  Bellas  daft  was  thy  poll 

when  thou  chang'd  Bellas  for  Hen  Knoll. — Bph.  Garld. 

Other  versions : 
Belasize,  Bellasis,  daft  was  thy  [nowle,  Collins]  [sowel,  Hutchinson] 
when  thou  gave  Ballasis  for  Hen  Knowle. 

In  one  of  the  windows  of  St.  Andrew's  C",  Auckland,  a  belt  encircles 
the  arms  of  Bellasis  with  this  motto. — See  Varia.,  D.,  4. 

In  1380  John  de  Bellasis  made  this  unfavourable  exchange  with 
the  Chief  of  Durham  in  order  to  detach  himself  from  family 
ties  and  go  to  the  Crusades. — D.,  4. 

"  Better  luck  still,"  quoth  Rowley  Burdon.  An  extremely  popular 
Toast  and  saying  through  nearly  the  whole  of  the  N.  of 
Engd.— D.,  43  (?)  of  Castle  Eden. 

The  CoUingwoods  have  borne  the  name 
since  in  the  Bush  the  Buck  was  ta'en  ; 
but  when  the  Bush  shall  hold  the  Buck 
then  farewell  faith  and  farewell  luck. — D.,  8. 
[welcome] 

The  family  crest  is  a  stag  at  full  gaze.  Origy.  of 
Eslington,  North  ^i  now  of  Palden,  Eppleton,  and 
Hetton  on  the  hill,  Co.  Durham. 

Sockburne*  where  Conyers  so  trusty 

A  huge  serpent  did  dish  up 

That  had  alse  eat  the  Bish  up 
But  now  his  old  falchion 's  grown  rusty,  grown  rusty. — Bpk.  Garld. 
*  7  m.  from  Darlington. 

The  Apostle  of  the   North.— Bernard  Gilpin.     Of  whom  it  was 

said :    "  If  a   horse   was   turned   loose   in  any  part  of   the 

country  it  would  immediately  make  its  way  to  the  Rector 
of  Houghton's." — D.,  33. 

Like  Shankey  Hall,  he  taks  ne  hints.  Referred  to  a  recent  Bellman 
of  the  city,  who  bore  this  nickname. — D.,  43. 

Never  trust  a  Little.     (A  family  of  Border  rievers  ?) — D.,  39. 

He 's  fit  to  keep  company  with  the  Lambtons.  Said  of  a  dashing, 
flashing,  styhsh  fellow. — D.,  78. 

To  kill  all,  like  Andrew  Mills.  (A  sportsman  who  spared  nothing.) 
— D.,  43. 

Neville.  I'll  Neville  you!  (An  unexplained  threat.)— D.,  8. 
Cf.  Washington. 

God  save  the  Bull  of  Westmoreland,  i.e.  the  house  of  Nevill  of 
Durham  (whose  heraldic  bearing  is  a  Bull),  1567. 

80 


LOCAL     PROVERBS. 


ESSEX. 


A  posy.     Kempe's  Losely  Mss.,  p.  213,  Lottery  of  1567. 
Cicely  of  Raby 
never  so  good  a  lady. — D.,  47. 

[Youngest  and  21st  child  of  Ralph  Neville,  E.  of  Westd.  She 
was  married  to  Richd.  D.  of  York. — Died  1495  in  reign  of 
H.  VIL,  who  married  her  grand-daughter. 

Lost  in  a  wood  like  Geordie  Potter  [of  Sadberge] ,  i.e.  a  pedlar  who 
when  in  the  stocks  thus  spoke  of  his  detention. — D.,  49. 

Sir  Harry,  oh,  Sir  Harry  Vane!  The  Lord  deliver  me  from  Sir 
Harry  Vane! — Spoken  by  Cromwell  when  dissolving  the 
Long  Parliament  through  his  opposition.  He  was  beheaded 
1662.  He  it  was  who  called  Raby  Castle  "  a  hurrock  of 
Stones  "  when  bargaining  for  it  with  the  Crown,  though  the 
price  came  to  ^10,000. — D.,  77.     See  also  Ludlow's  Memoirs. 


CHARACTERISTICS    OF    BISHOPRICK   FAMILIES. DENHAM,    73. 


The  beggarly  Baliols. 

The  base  Bellasis. 

The  bloody  Brackenburys. 

See  N.D.  7. 
The  bold  Bertrams. 
The  bauld  Blakestones. 
The  brave  Bowes. 
The  bare-boned  Bulmers. 
The  bacchanalian  Burdons. 
The  clacking  Claxtons. 
The  confident  Conyers. 
The  crafty  Craddocks. 
The  cozening  Croziers. 
The  eventful  Evers. 
The  friendly  Forsters. 
The  filthy  Foulthorpes. 
The  generous  Garths. 
The  handsome  Hansards. 


The  hoary  Hyltons. 
The  jealous  Jennisons. 
The  lamb-like  Lambtons. 

See  N.D.  78. 
The  light  Lilburnes. 
The  lofty  Lumleys. 
The  mad  Maddisons. 
The  manly  Mairs. 
The  noble  Nevilles. 
The  politic  Pollards. 
The  placid  Places. 
The  ruthless  Ruths. 
The  salvable  Salvins. 
The  shrewd  Shadforths. 
The  sure  Surtees's. 
The  testy  Talboys. 
The  wily  Wilkinsons. 
The  wrathful  Wrens. 


ESSEiX. 

Esex  ful  of  good  hoswyfes.  —  Rawlinson  MS.  Leland  by  Hearne, 

V.  Int.  [i.  269. 

Essex  good  huswives. — MS.  Harl.  7371.    Wright  &  HIL,  Rel.  Ant., 

Lanes.     A  mouse  could  hardly  pass  a  carriage  in  the   narrow 

lanes  in  the  17th  Cy. 
Miles.     Long  as  compared  to  Middlesex,  but   not  as  to  N.  of 
Engd.  miles. — F.  W.     Nail,  suggests  that  the  flatness  of  the 
country  makes  them  appear  so. 
Cheese  (thin,  hard  and  poor). 

I  never  saw  Banbery  cheese  thick  enough. 
But  I  have  oft  seen  Essex  cheese  quick  enough. 

He.,  Ep.,  v  24. 


81 


6 


ESSEX.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Calves.— F.  W. 

As  Essex  hath  of  old  been  named  "  Calves  and  stiles." 

Drayt.  Pol. 

Essex  calves  the  proverb  praiseth,  and  some  are  of  the  mind 

that    Waltome   calf  was    also    that    countryman. — Buttes, 

Dyet's  Dry  Dinner,  i.  1599. 
Foes  must  be  friends  quoth  an  Essex  calf.— G.  Harvey,  Letter 

Book,  135.     1573. 
Essex   calves,    Kentish  long-tails,    Yorkshire   tykes,    Norfolk 

bumkins. — Ho. 
As  valiant  as  an  Essex  lion,  i.e.  a  calf. — F.  W. 
Essex  calves,  called  Uons. — Taylor,  Wit  cS-  Mirth,  79. 
The  Essex  calf. — Taylor,  Jack  a  Lent. 
She  read  the  fool  in  my  face,  the  Essex  calf. — Killigrew,  TJwmaso, 

I.,  V.    II. 

W.     An  Essex  man,  sir  :  your  servant. 
D.     The  better  flesh,  I  warrant. 

Tatham,  The  Scots  Figaries,  iii,,  1652. 
A  creature  bounceth  from  a  bush,  which  made  them  all  to  laugh  ; 
"  My  lord ! "  he  cried, "  a  hare,  a  hare !  "  but  it  proved  an  Essex  calf. 
D'Urfey's  Pills  to  purge  Mely-    The  Lord  Mayor's  Field-day. 
If  a  man  beats  a  bush  in  Essex,  out  jumps  a  calf. — Haz. 
Veal. — Poor  Robin,  1687. 
Essex  stiles. — F.  W.     An  Essex  stile.     A  ditch. — G. 
Kentish  miles 
Norfolk  wiles 

many  men  beguiles. — CI.     T.  Brown,  i.  212,  iv.  198. 
Yellow  bellies.     People  born  in  the  fens. — R.,  1813. 
Tadpoles.     The  children  of  the  district  between  Tilbury  and  Leigh. 

— White,  E.E.,  ii.  230. 
The   three   Hundreds,   i.e.  Barstaple,   Rochford  and  Denge,  lying 
between  the  Colne  and  the  Crouch,  a  continuous  level  of 
unhealthy  marshes. — Tour  thro'  Gt.  Britain,  i.  7,  1761. 
Autumn  will  introduce  with  it  abundance  of  distempers  and  the 
inhabitants  of  the   Hundreds   of  Essex   will  look  as  white 
as  their  nightcaps. — The  World  Bewitched,  p.  30,  1699. 
The  English  Goshen. — Norden  [Descr.of  E.,p.  7,  repr.  Camd.  Soc.J 
in  1594,  gives  this  name  to  the  fat  fertile  lands  of  Essex,  and 
he  specifies  the  following  as  notably  so  : — 
Baron-park*  is  fruitful  and  fat  [Marney] 

How-field  is  better  than  that  [in  Layre  Marney  Park,  Lord 
Copt  Hall  [2  m.  W.  of  Epping  nr.  Ambresbury  Camp] 
is  best  of  all. 

Yet  Hubbledown  [Sir  T.  Heneage] 
may  wear  the  crown  [parcel  of  Peldo  Hall] 

*  Barne  Hall,  nr.  Salcott,  Lord  Morley's.     See  a  legend  relating  to  it — 
Antiquary,  iv.  279. 

1, 2  &  4  are  S.  of  Colchester  and  near  the  Colne.— Norden,  Ess,,  p.  8, 

82 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  essex. 

Booking  [i  m.  N.  of  Braintree].     See  Braintree. 

Braintree  for  the  pure,  Becking*  for  the  poor, 
Cogshallffor  the  jeering  town,  and  Kelvedon|  for  the  whore. — R.,  1670. 
*  I  m.  N.E.  of  Braintree.     t6m.  E.  of  Braintree     J 12  m.  S.W.  of  Colchester. 
Braintree  boys,  brave  boys  ;  Booking  boys,  rats  ; 
Church  Street*  puppy  dogs,  High  Garrett f  cats. — R.  181 3. 
*  Edmonton.         f  2  m.  N.E.  of  Braintree  (scene  of  Foote's  farce). 

Chelmsford.     Trespas  de  Chelniereford. — Douce  MS.  98,  xiii.  Cy., 

i.e.  the  toll  taken  on  crossing  the  river  Chelmer. 
Cf.  Trespas  de  Loire. — Cotgr. 

He  has  gone  to  Jericho.  According  to  some — to  a  manor  and 
palace  of  that  name  nr.  Chelmsford,  once  belonging  to 
Henry  VHL— Haz. 

Chignall  St.  James  [3  m.  N.W.  of  Chelmsford] 
There  is  a  good  ale 
at  Saint  Jameses  Chignele. 
(A  posy).     Lottery  of  1567.     Kempe's  Losely  MS.,  p.  212. 

CoGGESHALL  (Great)  [3  m.  N.E.  of  Chelmsford].     See  Braintree. 
Jeering  Coggeshall.      F.  W.  says  they  were  Martyrs,  and  no 

jeerers. 
A  Coggeshall  job. — Haz. 
Fairs,  Jan.  i.    At  Coggeshall  in  Essex  for  jeers. — P.  Robin,  1674. 

Some  of  the  jeers  at  Coggeshall  are  their  having  a  regiment  of 
volunteers  [trainbands]  wherein  all  were  officers — lighting 
fires  under  plum-trees  to  hasten  the  ripening  of  the  fruit, 
and  putting  hurdles  across  a  meadow  to  stay  the  spreading 
of  a  flood. — E.  Walford  in  N.,  VI.,  vi.  365.  An  earlier  note 
says  :  Placing  hurdles  in  the  stream  to  turn  the  river,  and 
chaining  up  the  wheelbarrow  when  the  mad  dog  bit  it. — 
N.,  L,  iii.  285. 

Colchester  Oysters. — Ho. 

Weaver's  Beef  of  Colchester,  i.e.  Sprats.  F.  W.,  who  says  that 
"  the  poor  weavers  (numerous  in  this  city)  make  much  of 
their  repast ;  cutting  rands  [rande  of  befe,  giste  de  beuf — 
Palsgr.],  rumps,  sirloins,  chines,  and  all  joints  of  beef  out  of 
them  as  [he  goes  on — R.]  lasting  in  season  well-nigh  a 
quarter  of  a  year. — F.W.  Diary  of  Rev.  Jno.  Ward,  112. 
Bell.     'Sfoot  ye  all  talk 

Like  a  company  of  sprat-fed  mechanics. 

B.  &  F.,  Faithf.  Friend,  i. 

Russet  de  Colcestre.^-Douce  MS.,  13th  Cy.  i.e.  dingy  brown 
cloth. 

DovERCOURT  [13  m.  W.  of  Harwich].    All  speakers  and  no  hearers. 
—F.W.     See  Kent. 

This  proverb  has  been  assigned  to  Essex,  but  on  no  sufficient 
grounds :  the  local  historians  do  not  mention  it. 

83 


ESSEX.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

DuNMOw.     He  may  fetch  a  flitch  of  bacon  from  Dunmow.— F.  W. 

Dunmow  bacon. — Ho. 

Who  fetcheth  a  wife  from  Dunmow 
Carrieth  home  two  sides  of  a  sow. — Ho. 

He  who  repents  him  not  of  his  marriage,  sleepin'  or  wakin',  in 
a  year  and  a  day  may  lawfully  go  to  Dunmow  and  fetch  a 
gammon  of  bacon. — Antiq.  Reposy.,  iii.  342,  1807. 

Strife.     And  fain  myself  sick  :  there  is  no  such  trick 
To  dolt  with  a  daw  and  keep  him  in  awe. 
I  will  teach  him  to  know  the  way  to  Dunmoe, 
So  shall  I  be  sure  to  keep  him  in  ure 
To  serve  like  a  knave  and  live  like  a  slave. 
[Apocryphal].     Tom  TyUv  and  his  Wife,  1598,  printed  1661,  p.  4. 

El  tocino  de  Parayso  para  al  casado  que  no  arrepise. — Ho. 

You  may  now  go  for  bacon  to  Dunmoe. — II.,  p.  211. 

In  the  Chartulary  of  Dunmow  Priory  in  the  Brit.  Mus.  instances 
of  the  receipt  of  the  Bacon  in  1445  &  1467  are  recorded. — 
See  the  form  of  oath,  Morant,  Hist,  of  Essex,  ii.  429. 

There  or  thereabouts,  as  parson  Smith  says  [Dunmow]. 

To  be  up  at  Harwich  [hariage  =trouble :  Fr.  harier] . — N.,  III., 
ix.  325. 

Ingatestone  [6  m.  S.W.  of  Chelmsford].  They  have  a  Charter 
for  a  Fair  at  Salem,  but  it  begins  like  Ingerstone  Market, 
half  an  hour  after  eleven  and  ends  half  an  hour  before 
twelve. — Ned  Ward,  Trip  to  New  England:  PFfo.,ii.  180. 

Kelvedon  [3  m.  N.E.  of  Witham].     See  Braintree. 

London  over  the  Border.  A  name  given  to  the  district  E.  of 
Bow  Creek  beyond  the  E.  India  Docks  consisting  of 
Canning  Town,  &c. — White,  E.  Eng.,  ii.  320. 

The  Rodings.  A  cluster  of  eight  little  agricultural  parishes,  so 
called  from  the  name  of  the  little  sedgy  river  near  which 
they  stand. — A^.,  VI.,  ix.  246. 

This  part  of  Essex,  wooded  and  rich  in  pasture,  is  very  remote 
from  urban  or  scholastic  influence.  In  the  language  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Rodings,  the  world  or  at  least  the  isle  of 
Britain  is  divided  into  three  parts,  looked  on  most  likely  as 
three  concentric  circles.  The  hallowed  centre  the  bull's 
eye,  the  7a»  O|«0o\o?,  the  inner  Ecbatana  is  "  the  Rudings  "  : 
round  about  them  in  the  middle  circle  lie  "  the  Hundreds  " 
— the  rest  of  Essex ;  further  still  on  the  outer  circle  lie 
"the  Shires" — the  rest  of  Britain.  As  for  the  rest  of 
Europe  and  of  the  world,  they  are  doubtless  looked  upon  as 
utterly  barbarous  so  as  to  deserve  no  place  at  all  in  the 
geography  of  the  favoured  Rudingas. — E.  A.  F[reeman"], 
Murray. 

84 


LOCAL    PROVERBS*  essex. 

Romford.       There  is  a  proverb  to  thy  comfort 

Known  as  "  the  ready  way  to  Romford." 

Musarum  Delicia,  1651,  p.  31,  ed.  1874. 
Go  to  Romford  to  have  your  backside  new-bottomed. — G. 
To  ride  to  Rumford.     To  have  a  new  pair  of  leather-breeches — 
a  famous  manufacture  there. — G. 

(The  play  of  course  is  on  the  first  syllable). 

RoYDON.         The  colliers  of  Croydon, 

the  rustics  of  Roydon  [6  m.  N.W.  of  Epping] 
and  the  fishers  of  Kent.     See  Surrey. 

Saffron  Walden:  God  help  me! — JV.,  I.,  iii.  167.  A  beggar's 
answer  when  asked  (in  Suffolk)  where  he  comes  from,  as 
the  raison  d'etre  of  his  poverty  and  a  sneer  at  the  neighbour 
county. 

Haz.  (p.  327)  has  given  a  wrong  explanation. 

Norden  (Descr'n.  of  Essex,  1594,  Carad.  Soc.)  speaks  of  the 
expense,  uncertainty  and  occasional  profitableness  of  a  crop 
of  saffron,  so  that  it  may  be  referred  to  this. 

Takeley  Street.  [Between  Dunmow  and  Bishop  Stortford].  All 
on  one  side  like  Takeley  Street.  The  cottages  are  all  on 
one  side  of  the  road,  the  squire's  park  on  the  other. — JV., 
VI.,  ii.  307. 

Tilbury  [opposite  Gravesend].  Passage  [i.e.  ferry]  de  Tillesbury. — 
Douce,  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 

Ugley*  church,  ugly  steeple, 

ugly  parson,  ugly  people. — JV.,  I.,  v.  375. 

*5  m.  N.N.E.  of  Bishop  Stortford. 
Waltham.     Praerie  de  Waltham. — MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 

As  wise  as  Walton's  calf — [he]  is  fain  to  return  home  more  fool 
than  he   came   for   spending  of  horsemeat. — Arth.    Hall, 
Admonition  toF.A.,  1576,  rep.  1815,  p.  166. 
Savio  come  il  vitallo  del  Gonella,  ch'and  i  nove  miglie 
per  tetlar  un  toro  bianco. — Ho.,  G.,  1591. 

Some  running  and  gadding  calves  wiser  than  Waltham's  calf 
that  ran  nine  miles  to  suck  a  bull.  — Disclosing  of  the  Great 
Bull,  1567.  Harl.  Misc.,  vii.  535. 
Essex  calves  the  proverb  praiseth,  and  some  are  of  the  mind 
that  Waltome  calf  was  also  that  countryman. — Buttes, 
D.D.  Din.  P'  1599. 

See  further  my  note  in  N.,  V.,  x.,  and  Haz.,  p.  446.  , 
As  wise  as  Waltham's  calf  who  went  nine  miles  to  suck  a  bull 
and  came  back  more  thirsty  than  when  he  went. — Ho. 

river. 
The  wanton  Lea  that  oft  doth  lose  its  way. — Spenser. 
The  gulfy  Lea. — Pope. 
The  fatal  Lea  (from  the  deaths  by  drowning). 

85 


GLOUCESTER.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

GLOUCESTERSHIRB!. 

See  Drink,  G.  cider. 

Glowceterschir,  schow  and  naile. — Harl.  MS. 
Gloucetershire,  sho  and  nayle. — Rawl  MS. 
And  Gloucestershire  again  is  blazon'd  "Weigh  thy  wool." — Drayt. 

Pol.     See  Dursley. 
Gloucestershire  kindness.      Giving  away  what  you  don't  yourself 

want. — Northall,  F.  Pkr.  of  Four  Counties. 
Gloucestershire  moonrakers. — Globe,  16/6,  '84.     Probably  a  mistake 
for  Wilts. 

In  Gloucestershire  everything  always  is  "  he," 
except  a  cock  turkey  and  he  is  a  she. — N.,  V.,  vi. 
Others  admit  a  tomcat. 

The  bag  puddings  (the  poke  or  bolster  roll)  of  Gloucestershire. — 
Taylor  (W.  P.),  The  Great  Eater. 

As  sure  as  God's  in  Gloucestershire. — F.  W.,  i.e.  the  relic  of 
Christ's  blood  preserved  at  Hailes  Abbey,  2  m.  N.E.  of 
Winchcomb.  F.  says  it  has  been  assigned  to  the  fertility 
and  the  many  Abbeys,  but  protests  against  its  use. 

The  blood  of  ducks  keepeth  a  goodly  colour  longtime,  the 
Idolaters  did  practise  therewith,  deceiving  the  people  of 
Hailes  with  a  blood  which  they  called  holy.  —  Bullein, 
Bulwarhe  of  Defence,  1562. 

The  old  prov.  As  sure  as  God's  at  Gloucester  certainly  alluded 
to  the  vast  number  of  churches  and  rehgious  foundations 
here. — Defoe,  Tour,  ii.  322.  There  is  an  article  on  this 
subject  by  Jas.  Hooper  in  Gentleman's  Mag.,  April,  i8g6^ 

In  the  body  of  this  hundred  [of  Berkeley]  are  observed  three  stepps 
or  degrees,  obvious  to  every  observer :  the  first  from  the 
chanels  of  Severn  half  way  towards  the  hills,  which  hath 
wealth  without  health,  the  second  from  thence  towards  the 
tops  of  those  hills  which  hath  wealth  and  health,  and  the 
third  step  or  degree,  from  thenceforward  called  the  Weald  or 
Cotsall  part,  afibrdeth  health  in  that  sharp  air,  but  less 
wealth,  and  seems  to  take  name  of  the  barren  woody  parts, 
into  the  best  whereof  the  merciful  goodness  of  Almighty  God 
hath  cast  my  lot  beyond  my  hopes  or  desires. — John  Smyth, 
Berkeley  MSS.,  1639,  iii.  10.     Cf.  Nibley. 

Blesed  is  the  eye 

that  is~  betwixt  Severn  and  Wye. — F.  W. 

Out    of  fighting   troubles.      This  would  seem  to  embrace  the 
Forest  of  Dean,  but  it  may  have  had  a  wider  scope.     See 
Powis,  in  Wales,  and  Herefordsh.     Ho.'s  reading — 
Happy  is  the  eye 

that  dwelleth  'twixt  Severn  and  the  Wye — 
has  led  to  the  vulgar  supposition    that    the    prospect    is 
spoken  of. 

86 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  Gloucester. 

In  Shropshire  they  add — 

But  thrice  happy  he 
between  Severn  and  Clee. 
Eye  in  the  original  of  course  means  islet  of  land,  which  does 
not   agree  very  well  with  the   grammar  of  the   Salopian 
addition. 
The  Tracys 
have  always  the  wind  in  their  faces. — F.  W. 

Sir  Wm.  Tracy  was  one  of  the  most  active  against  Thomas 

A' Beckett. 
Cf.  The  Tracys  be  a  fierce  people  and  redy  to  a  fray  or  a  rysynge. 
Thraces  sunt  hominum  genus  ferox  et  rebelle. — Horman,  Vul- 

garia,  115. 
A  lofty  Thrasonicall  huff-snuff. — Stanihurst,  Of  a  Craking  Ciitler. 

Aston     See  Buckland. 

Badsey  [2  m.  S.E.  of  Evesham].     See  Buckland. 

Berkeley. 

He  thinks  himself  as  great  as  my  Lord  Berkeley. — The 
Berkeley  MSS.,  by  John  Smyth,  of  Nibley,  ed.  Sir  John 
Maclean  for  Bristol  Archseologl.  Soc. 

BiSLEY  [3  m.  E.  of  Stroud]. 

Beggarly  Bisley,  strutting  Stroud, 
Hampton  poor,  and  Painswick  proud. — N.,  I.,  v.  449. 
Mincing  Hampton  and  Tetbury  proud. — N.,  VIH.,  iii.  252. 
Buckland  [6  m.  N.E.  of  Winchcomb]. 

Buckland  and  Laverton, 
Stanway  and  Staun  [Staunton], 
Child's  Wickham,  Wickenford, 
Badsey*  and  Awn. — HU. 
*  Worcestershire. 

[Aston  Somerville  and  Aston-sub-Edge  are  4  or  5  m.  S.  of 
Evesham.] 

Cheltenham. 

Here  lie  I  and  my  three  daughters, 

Killed  by  drinking  the  Cheltenham  waters  ; 

If  we  had  stuck  to  Epsom  salts 

We  shouldn't  be  lying  in  these  here  vaults. 

Child's  Wickham  [4  m.  S.E.  of  Evesham].     See  Buckland. 
Cirencester.     Gueseylur  de  Cicestre. — Douce  MS.  98. 

(guiseleur,  mummer.)  Guise  is  still  the  name  of  one  of  the 
leading  county  families. 
CoTSWOLD  [a  range  of  hills  running  from  N.E.  to  S.W.  through 
Glos.]. 
As  fierce  as  a  lion  of  Cotswold. — He.,  D.,  i.  11.  An  unshorn 
sheep.— Udall,  R.R.D.  A  breed  carrying  a  very  heavy 
fleece. 

87 


GLOUCESTER.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

It  is  as  long  in  coming  as  Cotswold  barley. — F.  W.  The 
harvest  in  the  higher  lands  is  usually  late. 

DuRSLEY.  You  are  a  man  of  Duresley= Fides  Grseca  or  Punica. — 
F.  W.  i.e.  one  who  keeps  not  his  word.  Promises  much 
and  performs  nothing.  —  Smyth,  Berhdey  MSS. 

Murray  refers  this  to  the  shalrping  qualities  of  the  clothier  here- 
abouts :  one  who  dares  lie.     Cf.  Drayton,  ut  sup. 

Drunken  Dursley. — J.  H.  Blunt,  Dursley  and  its  Neighbourhood, 
p.  15,  1877. 

Dursley  baboons, 

who  yet  their  pap  without  any  spoons. — Blunt,  ut  sup. 

Gloucester.  The  bright  City. — N.,  IV.,  ix.  137.  More  properly 
Fort  (Caer). 

Far  (foire)  de  Gloucestre. — Douce  MS.  98.  The  Barton  fair 
(Sep.  28)  is  still  famous — for  cheese. 

Hampton  [nr.  Minchinhampton).     See  Bisley. 

HoRTON-TowN.     See  Wotton. 

KiNGSwooD  [a  suburb  of  Bristol]. 

A  Kingswood  lion — an  ass.  An  animal  much  employed  by  the 
retail  vendors  of  coal  to  carry  it  into  Bristol. — G. 

Laverton  [5  m.  N.E.  of  Winchcomb].     See  Buckland. 

Maisemore  [2  m.  N.W.  of  Gloucester]. 

All  together,  like  the  men  of  Maisemore,  and  they  went  one  at  a 
time.— N.,  F.  P. 

Minchinhampton  [12  m.  S.S.E.  of  Gloucester].     See  Bisley. 

Painswick.     See  Bisley. 

If  pride  springs  from  poverty,  the  epithet  to  Painswick  may  have 
been  well  chosen,  as  it  has  been  said  that  the  inhabitants 
of  that  village  are  in  an  unhappy  predicament,  being  so 
poor  that  they  cannot  live,  while  the  air  of  their  home  is  so 
healthy  that  they  cannot  die. — F.  A.  H.,  N.,  VIII.,  iii.  132. 

Pamington  [2  m.  E.  of  Tewkesbury]. 

His  hat 's  turn'd  up  behind  like  a  Pammington  mon's. — Jesse 
Salisbury,  Gloss,  of  S.E.  Worcestersh.  Words  and  Phrases,  p.  77. 

Severn.  If  it  raineth  when  it  doth  flow 

then  yoke  your  ox  and  go  to  plough ; 
but  if  it  raineth  when  it  doth  ebb 
then  unyoke  your  ox  and  go  to  bed. 

Aubrey,  N.  H.  of  Wilts,  p.  16. 

Simond's  Hall  (Symondshall).     [A  farm  in  the  par.  of  Wotton, 
hundred  of  Berkeley.]     [2  m.  N.E.  of  Wotton-under-Edge], 

Symondshall  sauce.  Keen,  appetising  air  from  its  high 
situation. 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  Gloucester. 

The  clothiers,  horse-carriers  and  wainmen  of  our  old  hundred 
who  weekly  frequent  London,  knowing  by  ancient  custome 
that  the  first  question  (after  "Welcome  home  from 
London  ")  is  "  What  news  at  London  ?  "  doe  usually  gull 
us  with  feigned  inventions  devised  by  them  upon  these 
downes :  which  wee  either  then  suspecting  upon  the  report 
or  after  finding  false,  wee  cry  out  "  Simondsall  newes."  A 
general  speech  betweene  each  cobler's  teeth. — The  Berkeley 
MSS.,  by  John  Smyth,  of  Nibley. 
Slimbridge.  As  for  pasturage,  I  have  heard  it  reported  from 
credible  persons  that  such  the  fruitfulness  of  the  land  nigh 
Slimbridge  that  in  spring-time,  let  it  be  bit  bare  to  the 
roots,  a  wand  laid  along  therein  overnight,  will  be  covered 
with  new-grown  grass  by  the  next  morning. — F.  W., 
p.  349.     Cf.  Derbysb.,  Dovedale. 

Stanton   [4  m.  N.E.  of  Winchcombl.  l         ^    , ,      ., 
c  r  TWT  T-      r  TIT-     ,         ,  -,  t  See  Buckland. 

Stanway   [13  m.  N.E.  of  Wmchcomb].J 

Stow-on-the-Wold  [N.E.  Glo.J     See  Bucks,  Brill  on  the  Hill. 
Where  the  wind  blows  cold. — N.,  L,  v.  375. 

A  squirrel  can  hop  from  Swell*  to  Stow 
without  resting  his  foot  or  wetting  his  toe. — Murr. 
*  Swell  is  one  mile  W.  of  Stow. 
Stroud.     See  Bisley. 

Tetbury  portion.     A  c  •  ■  t  and  a  clap. — G.  Diet.     See  Bisley. 

Tewkesbury.     As  thick  as  Tewkesbury  mustard. — Sh.,  2  H.  IV., 

ii.  4.     Nash,  Have,  etc.,  D.  4     F.  W. 

He  looks  as  if  he  had  lived  on  Tewkesbury  mustard. — F.  W.    i.e. 

sad,  snappish,  severe. — P.  Robin,  1687.   Of  a  sad,  sad,  severe, 

and  tetrick  countenance,  or  snappish,  captious,  and  prone  to 

take  exceptions.     F.  W.  quotes  Plautus,  in  Truculento,  such 

will  crispare  nasum  in  derision  of  what  they  slight  or  neglect. 

My    little    Tewkesbury    mustard. — Rob.     Chamberlain,     The 

Swaggering  Damsel,  ii.,  1616. 
Tewkesbury  mustard  balls. — Gentn.  Instructed,  p.  383.     De  Foe, 
Tour,  ii.  328. 

The  park  of  Tewkesbury,  spoken  of  in  Lady  Bessy  (Percy  Soc, 
P-  15)- 
Wanswell  [par.  of  Berkeley]. 

All  the  maids  in  Wanswell 
May  dance  in  an  egg  shell. — Smyth,  Beyk.  MSS. 
When  Westridge  Wood  [par.  of  Berkeley,  on  the  top  of  Beckets- 
burne]  is  motley,  then  it 's  good  to  sow  barley. — Smyth, 
Descr.  of  Hund.  of  Berkeley, 
Neighbour,  we  're  sure  of  fair  weather ;    each  (ich)  ha'  beheld 
this  morn  Abergaine  (Abergavenny)  hill    [seen  from  the 
hilly  part  of  Berkeley  hundred]. — Smyth,  Berk.  MSS. 
When  WoTTON  hill  doth  wear  a  cap 
let  Horton  town  beware  of  that. — Smyth,  Berk.  MSS. 

89 


BRISTOL.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA, 

BRISTOIJ. 

Bristowschir  schip  and  saile. — MS.  Harl. 

Brystowe  shippe  and  sayle. — MS.  Rawl. 

Ship-shape  and  Bristol  fashion. 

When  we  set  out  on  the  jolly  voyage  of  life  what  a  brave  fleet 
there  is  around  us,  as,  stretching  our  fair  canvas  to  the 
breeze,  all  ship- shape  and  Bristol  fashion,  pennons  flying, 
music  playing,  &c. — Scott,  Chron.  of  Canon:  Introd,,  vi.  1829, 

Hsec  sunt  Brystollys,  bladelys,  dozelys  quoque  bollys, 
Burges,  negones,  Karinae,  clocheriaque,  chevones. 
Webbys  cum  rotis,  haec  sunt  staura  cuntotis. 

MS.  Trin.  Coll.,  Cam.,  15th  Cy.,  O  9/38;  R.A.,  ii.  178. 

Her  kyrtell  Bristowe  red. — Skelton,  Elynoure  Rumming,  70. 

London  hath  scarlet,  and  Bristowe  pleasant  red. — Barclay,  Ed.,  iv. 
1570. 

At  Brystow  is  the  best  water  to  dye  red. — Horman,  Vulgaria,  vii. 
1530 ;  106,  1519.     Cf.  Will  of  Roland  Stavely,  1551. 

Wearing  an  old  threadbare  Bristowe  frieze  gown,  girded  to  his  body 
with  a  penny  leather  girdle,  at  the  which  hanged  by  a  long 
string  of  leather  his  Testament  and  his  spectacles,  without 
case,  depending  about  his  neck  upon  his  breast.  (Bp. 
Latimer's  appearance  when  about  to  be  martyred,  Sep.  30, 
1565).— S^y.  &•  Rem.,  Parker  Soc.     Fox,  ^c^s  &  Mon. 

Bristol  Diamonds.  Particles  of  the  quartz  in  the  mountain  lime- 
stone rocks  bordering  the  Avon  below  Clifton. 

You  shall  never  find  him  [Brocage]  without  a  counterfeit  chain 
about  him,  Bristow  diamonds  set  in  gold  instead  of  right, 
and  these  puts  he  away  at  what  rate  he  list  to  men  that  are 
in  extremity. — T.  Lodge,  Wifs  Miseries,  p.  33,  1596. 

To  the  unskilful  owner's  eyes  alike 
The  Bristow  sparkles  as  the  diamond, 
But  by  a  lapidary  the  truth  is  found. 

Field,  Amends  for  Ladies,  i.  1618. 

This  is  a  fit  companion,  Cosmus,  wear 
This  Bristol  diamond  in  thy  copper  ear. 

Rob.  Heath,  Sat.,  iii.  1650. 

Hairs  curl'd,  ears  pearl'd,  with  Bristows  brave  and  bryte 
Bought  for  true  diamonds  in  his  false  sight. 

F.  Lenton,  Young  GenP''^-  Whirligig,  1629. 

Uncut  or  unset  diamonds,  shuffled  among  other  stones  that  are 
polished,  are  not  heeded  by  a  common  eye :  Byrrals  and 
Bristow  stones  especially.  Rubies  and  Sapphires  are  incom- 
parably preferred  before  them.  But  the  Lapidary  culls  out 
the  other,  and  having  artificially  handled  them,  holds  the 
least  diamond  at  a  greater  price  than  they  can  have  for  all 
the  rest. — F.  Adams,  Med"-  on  Creed,  1629,  p.  1229. 

90 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  Bristol. 

For  whether  we  arrive  at  London  or  Brystowe, 
Or  any  other  haven  within  this  our  londe, 
We  folys  ynowe  shall  fynde  alway  at  honde. 

Barclay,  Ship  of  Fools,  ii.  309. 
Jests,  verses,  tales,  puns,  satires,  quibbles  too. 
And  certain  Bristol  words  that  like  wit  show. 

Alex.  Brome,  To  His  University  Friend. 
Somebody.     Those  [are]  Brisle  dice  [i.e.  false]. 
Clown.         'Tis  like  they  brisle,  for  I  am  sure  they  breed  anger. 

Nobody  3=  Somebody,  c.  1600;  Sch.  of  Shak.,  i.  337. 
See  n.  on  Bristol  hogs,  infra. 

[Out  of  respect,  however,  to  the  morals  of  Bristol,  it  is  to 
be  observed  that  Murray  {A   New  English  Did.,  1888) 
gives  a  different  derivation  sub  bristle. — Ed.] 
Maade  'e  Bristol,  selled  'e  Yerk, 
putten  'e  a  bottle  and  call'd  a  kerk  (cork). 

Peacock,  Lincoln  Gloss. 

A  Jew  cannot  live  in  Bristol.      The  Bristol  men  the  Devil  cannot 

deal  with. — G. 
Bristol  men  [merchants]  sleep  with  one  eye  open.      That  is,  are 

always  on  the  watch  to  gain  some  unfair  advantage  in  their 

dealings. — G.     The  modern  reading  I  would  suggest  is  that 

they  are  never  more  than  half  awake. 
Bristol  man.     The  son   of  an  Irish  thief  and  a  Welsh  whore  — 

Grose,  Dicty. 

"  Though,"  said  Burke,  "  I  have  the  honour  to  represent  Bristol,  I 
should  not  like  to  live  there ;  I  should  be  obliged  to  be  so 
much  on  my  good  behaviour." — Boswell,  Johnson,  1779. 

To  speak  as  freely  as  the  collier  that  called  my  Lord  Mayor  Knave  * 
when  he  was  got  upon  Bristow  causey. — Caleb  Trenchfield,. 
Cap  of  Gray  Hairs,  1678  ;  N  ,  1.,  xi.  226. 

*  Be  not  inclined  to  an  eaves-dropping  and  underhand  barkening  what  your 
servants  say  in  their  privacies.  For  it  is  rare  (even  though  they  love  you),  but  at 
one  time  or  other  you  shall  ihear  them  curse  you.  And  at  such  times  I  have 
observed  they  are  apt  to  prattle  that  which  they  never  mean  and  please  them- 
selves in  a  way  of  speaking  freely  as  the  Collier  that  called  my  Lord  Mayor 
Knave  when  he  was  got  upon  Bristol  causey.— Caleb  Trenchfield,  Cap  of  Gray 
Hairs  for  a  Green  Head,  ch.  23,  1678. 

Though  she  [your  daughter]  never  have  a  dancing  Schoolemaster,  a 
French  Tutor,  nor  a  Scotch  Taylor  to  make  her  shoulders  of 
the  breadth  of  Bristow  cowsway,  it  makes  no  matter. — Thos. 
Powell,  Tom  of  All  Trades,  Lon.,  1631,  4to,  p.  47. 

Kaucie. — R.  Brunne,  Handling  Sinne. 
Picard  cauchie  (Chaussea). — R.O. 

Bristol  for  parsons  and  prizefighters.— Haz. 

[and  philanthropists]. — Athenaeum,  26/9,  1869. 
The  Belchers  Gully  and  Neat  all  hailed  from  Bristol.     The  last  two 

were  butchers.     I  remember  well  seeing  Neat  at  his  stall  in 

Bristol  market. 

91 


BRISTOL.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

The  City  of  Churches. 

St.  Mary  Redchff  leads  the  van  of  all  parochial  churches  in 
England.— F.W. 

is  said  to  be  the  finest  parish   church  in   England,  as  St. 
Nicholas,  Great  Yarmouth,  is  the  largest. 

Cf.  Hood's  Rotteydam,  "  a  sort  of  vulgar  Venice." 

Leghorn  has  been  called  "Bristol  on  a  visit  to  Italy"  (Viator). — 
N.,  L,  ii.  491. 

Umbrellas  were  introduced  in  Bristol  c.  1780  and  were  red  in  colour. 
V.  attributes  to  them  an  Italian  origin  as  imported  from 
Leghorn.     Torriano  mentions  them  in  1666. 

The  Bristol*  hogs  have  built  a  sty,  but  cannot  find  their  way  into  it. 
i.e.  the  Exchange,  which  has  never  been  used  for  the  purpose 
intended. — A  Journey  thro'  England,  1752,  repr.  1869,  p.  144. 
*  i.e.  bristled,  a  play  on  the  word  as  in  illustrn.  given  above. 

Bristol  the  City  of  the  Plain. — Daily  News,  16/4,  '77.  This  refers 
to  the  ugliness  of  the  women,  on  account  of  which  Qn.  Elizth. 
granted  to  them  the  privileges  of  conferring  the  freedom  of 
the  city  on  their  husbands,  and  of  hanging  out  their  linen  to 
dry  upon  Brandon  Hill. 

The  master  of  the  inn  [at  Warminster  or  Westbury  ?]  made  us 
mighty  merry  at  supper  about  manning  the  new  ship  at 
Bristol  with  none  but  men  whose  wives  do  master  them.  It 
seems  it  is  in  reproof  of  some  men  of  state  that  are  such 
hereabouts  that  this  is  become  common  talk. — Pepys'  Dy,, 
iii.  461. 

He  hath  sold  Bristol  and  bought  Bedminster.  Said  of  a  bad  swap. 
A  reproach  to  an  unthriftie  man. — The  Berkeley  MSS.,  by  John 
Smyth  of  Nibley. 

They  pull'd  down  the  old  Guildhall  because  it  was  too  small, 

and  now  they  've  built  a  new  one  with  no  hall  at  all.    [Opened  in  1 846.  J 

The  arrangements  of  the  building  have  more  regard  to  its  useful- 
ness for  Courts  of  Justice  than  foj;  public  meetings. — John 
Latimer,  Annals  of  Bristol  in  the  19th  Centy.,  1887,  p.  225. 

Bristol  board  [for  drawings]. 

milk. — Torr.,  1666  ;  Pepys'  Diary,  June  13, 1668.  A  Spanish 
wine  called  Xeres  or  Sherry,  much  drank  at  that  place, 
particularly  in  the  morning. — G.  i.e.  sherry  sack. — F.  W. 
Antidote  against  Melancholy,  p.  73,  1661. 

Macaulay,  Hist,  of  Engl.,  i.  335,  calls  it  "a  brewage  given  at 
sugar-refiners'  banquets." 

Too  much  in  turtle  Bristol  sons  delight, 
Too  much  o'er  bowls  of  rack  prolong  the  night. 
[?  sack.- — L.  Braybrooke.] 
Byron,  Eng.  Bards  and  Scotch  Reviewers,  ist  Edn. 

Pepys,  iii.  464,  is  in  error  in  supposing  that  Bristol  milk  is  rum- 
punch. 

92 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Bristol. 

*'  Walked  with  my  wife  and  people  through  the  city  which  is  in  every 
respect  another  London,  that  one  can  hardly  know  it  to  stand  in 
the  country  no  more  than  that.  No  carts,  it  standing  generally 
on  vaults,  only  dog-carts." — Pepys'  Dy.,  June  13,  1668. 

Autochtones  or  aboriginals,  the  favorite  epithet  of  the  Athenians, 
signifies  only  people  born  in  the  country  where  they  lived 
in  opposition  to  strangers.  The  common  people  of  Athens 
understood  it  to  mean  people  sprung  from  the  earth ;  but 
Isocrates  says,  that  people  of  sense  in  Athens  understood 
it  to  mean  that  Athens  was  the  most  ancient  of  the  Greek 
cities,  and  that  it  had  been  built  by  those  who  had  been 
from  time  immemorial  established  in  the  country.  We  have 
our  Stoches.  All  the  Stocks  and  Stokes  were  pronounced 
Stoch-es,  or  Stockey,  which  had  the  same  meaning  as  the 
autochtones  of  the  Athenians,  as  Stockey  Down,  Tavistock  ; 
the  Stokes  round  Bristol ;  and  English  towns  ending  with  that 
word  ;  and  the  common  surname  in  Devonshire  of  Stuckey. 
V.  Stuckey's  Bank  below — Reflections  on  Names  and  Places  in 
Devonshire,  p.  333.     London  [Birmingham]  :  Simpkin,  1845. 

Notes  from  /im"  William  of  Wyrcestre.     Bristol,  1834.     4to. : 

Rok  Breke-faucet  per  unum  jactum  lapidis  versus  Bristolliam 
in  parte  Ghyston  Cliff,  p.  54.  i.e.  the  rock  from  which 
the  Suspension  Bridge  springs. 

Fox-hole.  Old  name  for  present  mouth  of  Cavern  in  Observa- 
tory hill,  opposite  Nightingale  Valley. — (Stokeleigh,  Slade, 
Ordn.  Mp.) 

Scarlet  Well.     The  water  gushing  from  rock  on  the  Leigh  side. 

St.  Mary-le-Port.    i.e.  of  the  town. 

Cf.    Port-meadow,  Oxford,  and  Langport,  Somerset. 

BANKERS   IN    BRISTOL. 

Old  Bristol  Bank,  Corn  St. : 

Tyndall,  Elton,  Edwards,  Edye  and  Skinner, 
Corn  Street  Bank : 

Miles,  Vaughan,  Miles,  Baugh  and  New. 
Exchange  Bank  : 

Worrall,  Blatchly  and  Worrall. 
Bristol  Bank,  Corn  St. : 

Harfords,  Davis  and  Winpenny. 
Bristol  Bank,  No.  15  Corn  St.  : 

Ames,  Cave,  Daubeny  and  Bright. 
All  Saints  Lane  Bank  [aiV^  Nat'-  Prov'-  B.  of  Eng*-] 

Ireland,  Protheroe,  Bengough,  Haythorne,  Wright  and  Gore. 

J.  Savery,  Esq.,  Narrow  Wine  Street. 
Bristol  and  Somersetshire  Bank   [Messrs.    Stuckey's    Banking    Co.] 

Founded  by  Mr.  Vincent  Stuckey.     Established  in  Bristol  in 

1806  at  50  Broad  Quay.     Now  in  Corn  Street. 
[The  above  list  is  not  complete.     See  C.  H.  Cave,  A  History  of 

Banking  in  Bristol.     1899. — Ed.] 

93 


HANTS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Sons,  while  thy  cliffs  a  ditchlike  river  laves, 
Rude  as  thy  rocks,  and  muddy  as  thy  waves, 
Of  thoughts  as  narrow,  as  of  words  immense, 
As  full  of  turbulence  as  void  of  sense. 
Thee,  thee  what  senatorial  souls  adorn  ! 
Thy  natives  sure  would  prove  a  senate's  scorn. 
***** 

Boast  thy  base  Tolsey,  and  the  turnspit  dogs, 
Thy  Haulers'*  horses,  and  thy  human  hogs  ; 
Proceed,  great  Bristol,  in  all  righteousness, 
And  let  one  justice  brighten  yet  thy  praise, 
Still  spare  the  catamite,  and  swinge  the  whore 
And  be  whate'er  Gomorrha  was  before. 

Richd.  Savage  (1698 — 1743),  London  and  Bristol  Delineated. 
^  Persons  who  drive  or  own  the  sledges  -w^  are  here  used  instead  of  carts. 

HAMPSHIRE. 

Southampton  dire  and  wete. — MS.  Harl. 

Hampshire,  drye  and  wete. — MS.  Rawl. 
Hampshire  ground  requires  every  day  in  the  week  a  shower  of  rain, 
and  on  Sunday  twain. — P.  in  R.,  1678. 

Cf.  Cambridegshire  and  Cornwall. 
As  Hampshire  long  for  her  hath  had  the  term  of  "  Hogs." — Drayt. 
Pol.,  xxiii. 
Hampshire  hogs.     A  derisive  term  for  the  natives. — Hll. 
Hampshire  hog, 
Berkshire  dog, 
Yorkshire  bite, 
London  white. — Higson,  123. 
Now  to  the  sign  of  Fish  let 's  jog. 
There  to  find  out  a  Hampshire  hog, 
A  man  whom  none  can  lay  a  fault  on, 
The  pink  of  courtesie  at  Alton. 

Vade  mecum  for  Malt-worms,  i.  50,  1720. 

This  alludes  to  the  acorn-pasturage  for  swine  in  the  New  Forest. 
I  remember  the  sign  of  the  "  Hampshire  Hog  "  at  a  public- 
house  in  the  Strand,  near  the  Adelphi  Theatre,  in  1840. 
The  expression  of  "  Hampshire  and  Wiltshire  moonrakers"  had  its 
origin  in  the  Wiltshire  peasants  fishing  up  the  contraband 
goods  at  night  brought  through  the  [New]  Forest  and  hid  in 
the  various  ponds. — Wise,  N.  Forest,  p.  170. 
And  with  their  loose-tail'd  pens  to  let  it  loose, 
It 's  like  a  syring  to  a  Hampshire  goose. 

E.  Guilpin,  Skialetheia  [Lat.  Preliid.'\,  1598. 
Hampshire  onions.     The  ancient  copper  coins  dug  up  in  the  soil. — 
Denham,  F.  L.  of  Durham,  p.  66.     [See  Cheales,  Guide  to 
Silchester,  p.  19.     1895. — Ed.] 

Alton  [16  m.  E.N.E.  of  Winchester].     Ale  of  Halton. — Chester, 
Plays,  i.  123. 

94 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  hants. 

Famous  for  ale  and  Quakers. — Murr. 
Robbour  de  Altonn. — Douce  MS.  98. 

through  the  pass  of  Halton 
Poverty  might  pass  without  peril  of  robbing. 

P.  Plow.,  ii.  291,  ed.  1856. 
The  route  from  London  to  Weyhill  fair  passed  by  Alton. 
Beaulieu  or  Bewley  [6  m.  N.E.  of  Lymington]. 

The  cuckoo  goes  to  Beaulieu  fair  to  buy  him  a  great-coat. — 

Wise,  New  Forest,  p.  180. 
The  cuckoo-whit  orders  his  coat  at  Beaulieu  fair  (April  15),  and 
puts  it  on  at  Dornton  (April  23),  i.e.  Downton,  Wilts. 

Bournemouth.     See  Dorset,  Weymouth. 

BuRLEY,  God  help  us!    [4  m.   E.S.E.  of  Ringwood  in  the  New 

Forest] . 
Dependent  on  the  crop  of  malt  and  acorns. — Wise,  New  Forest, 

p.  180. 
CoRHAMPTON  [4  m.  N.E.  of  Bishop's  Waltham]  .     See  Stoke. 
Crawley,  God  help  us  !     Downton,  good  now. — Haz.,  p.  io6. 

No  indication  of  county.     Perhaps   Crawley  (5  m.  N.W.  of 

Winchester)  and  Downton  (6  m.  S.S.E.  of  Salisbury)  are 

intended. 
ExTON  [4  m.  N.E.  of  Bishop's  Waltham] .     See  Stoke. 

GoDSHiLL.  Godshill  plain 

is  a  sign  of  rain. — St.  fames'  Gaz.,  2/5,  '82. 
There  are  two  Godshills — one  a  mile  W.  of  Fordingbridge ; 
another  L  of  Wight,  5  m.  S.S.E.  of  Newport. 

RoMSEY — in  the  mud. — N.,  I.,  i.  167. 
Southampton.     Navie  de  Suthanton. — Douce  MS.  98. 
SowLEY    [S.W.   of   BeauUeu]    (formerly  the   site   of   iron -forges). 
There  will  be  rain  when   Sowley  hammer   is   heard. — Wise, 
N.  F.,  p.  72. 

Stoke*  folk  and  Extonf  people, 
Corhampton  church  without  a  steeple. 

Hampshire  Notes  and  Queries,  ii.  7. 
*  Stoke  is  in  the  par.  of  Bourne  [4  m.  N.W.  of  Whitchurch] . 
t4  m.  N.E.  of  Bishop's  Waltham. 

Tadley  [5  m.  E.N.E.  of  Kingsclere]. 

From  Tadley :  where  should  'un  ? 

from  Tadley,  God  help  'un ! — N.,  1.,  i.  422. 

Weyhill  [3  m.  W.N.W.  of  Andover]. 

To  Wy  and  Wynchestre  I  went  to  the  faire 

With  many  [maner]  marchaundise  as  my  maistre  me  highte 

Ne  had  the  grace  of  gyle-ygo  among  my  ware 

It  had  be  unsolden  this  seven-yere,  so  me  god  helpe. 

P.  Plow.  Vis.  Pass.,  V.  203. 

95 


ISLE  OF  WIGHT.        LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Winchester.     Bochers  de  Wyncestre. — Douce  MS.  98. 
Manners  makyth  man, 

[makes  a  man — Ho.] 
quoth  William  Wickham*— F.  W. 
[of  Wickham — Ho.] 
*  1324— 1340,  Bp.  of  Winchester,  and  founder  of  the  School  and  New  Coll., 
Oxon.,  on  which  the  first  line  is  inscribed  as  motto. 

Winchester  for  gentlemen,  Harrow  for  scholars, 
Westminster  blackguards  and  Eton  Bucks. 
or,  Harrow  for  gentlemen,  Eton  for  lords, 

Winchester  for  scholars,  Westminster  black-guards. 
Canterbury  is  the  higher  rack,  but  Winchester  is  the  better 
manger — F.  W.,  i.e.  though  of  a  lower  dignity,  of  a  richer 
endowment  as  a  see. 
See  Hereford. 
The  Winchester  bushel.     Made  the  standard  by  Edgar. 

He  profits  out  of  measure :  his  ostrie  must  not  be  tied  to 
Winchester.     If  oats  seem  dear  he  will  tell  you  how 
their  price  quickened  at  every  quarter  last  market- 
day. — Rd.  Brathwait,  Whimzies,  1631  :  An  Ostler. 
The  Winchester  goose — the  venereal  disease.     Because  often 
contracted  in  the  Stews  of  Southwark,  which  formed  part 
of  the  ancient  jurisdiction  of  the  Bishop  of  Winchester. — 
Shak.,    I    H.   VI.,  i.  3  ;  Taylor   (W.  P.)  's   Goose,   1621  ; 
Cotgrave  sub  Poulain. 

Wood  Fidley  [^  m.  S.W.  of  Winchester]. 

Wood  Fidley  rain  is  proverbial,  i.e.  rain  which  lasts  all  the 
day. — Wise,  New  Forest,  p.  79,  1867. 


ISIiB    OF    WIGHT. 

Isle  of  Wight  parsons = cormorants. 

The   Isle   of  Wight  hath  no  monks,  lawyers,  nor  foxes. — F.  W. 

Camd.,  Brit. 
Though  the  Isle  of  Wight  could  not  for  a  long  time  neither  endure 
foxes   nor  lawyers,   yet   it   could  brook   the   more  dreadful 
cockatrice. — Webster,  Westward  Ho.,  iii.  3. 

Th'  inhabitants  of  the  lie  of  Wight  did  host 
No  vermin  used  to  harbour  in  their  coast, 
For  they  no  hooded  Monks,  nor  Foxes  had. 
Nor  Law  Retrivers  who  make  fooles  run  mad 
With  their  strife-stirring  tongues. 

T.  Scot,  Philomythie,  i5i6,  Pt.  ii.,  A  3. 

The  hob  of  Hornchurch.  A  story  was  current  in  and  about  1575 
of  a  clown  who  came  to  London  for  the  first  time  from 
Hornchurch,  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  and  who  was  told  that 
the  nearest  way  to  Bartholomew  Fair  was  through  White- 
chapel. — Ace.  of  the  Quarrel  betw.  Hall  and  Mallerie,  repr. 
in  Misc.  Antiq,  Anglica.,  p.  106.     Hazlitt, 

96 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Hereford. 

HERBFORDSHIRE. 

Hervordschir 

shild  and  sper.— MS.  Harl.  7371 ;  R.A.,  i.  269. 

Herefordshire 

sheeld  and  speere. — MS.  Rawl.,  Leland. 

The  five  Ws  of:  Wine  (cider),  Women,  the  Wye,  Wells,  and 
Woods. 

This  county  doth  share  as  deep  as  any  in  the  alphabet  of  our 
English  commodities,  though  exceeding  in  W.,  for  wood, 
wheat,  wool,  and  water. — F.  W. 

Herefordsh.  a  country  that  hath  the  best  of  wool,  the  best  of  sider, 
the  best  of  fruit,  the  best  of  wheat,  and  the  best  of  rivers. — 
Andw.  Yarranton,  England's  Improve'-  by  Sea  and  Land,  i. 
161.     1677. 

Herefordshire  Redstreak  Cider,  made  of  rotten  apples,  at  the  Three 
Crowns,  London. — Praised  in  Poov  Robin,  Sep.,  1697. 

It  is  said  that  there  is  more  lunacy  in  Herefordshire  than  in  any 
other  county,  and  it  has  been  attributed  to  cider  drinking. 

Foxwhelp  cider  and  Barland  perry. 

Herefordshire  weeds,  i.e.  oaks. — Wr.  White,  All  Rd.  Wrekin,  99. 

Damaysele  de  Hereford. — Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 

So  Hereford  for  her  says,  "  Give  me  woof  and  warp." — Drayt.  Pol. 

Shines  like  Worcester  agen  Gloucester  (a  Herefordsh.  comparison). 
— Hav. 

Of  the  Triennial  Festival  Meetings  Gloucester  is  said  to  be  dis- 
tinguished for  Rank,  Worcester  for  Wealth,  and  Hereford  for 
Good  Music. — Hav. 

Blest  is  the  eye 

betwixt  Severn  and  Wye. — F.  W. 

Because  out  of  fighting  troubles,  the  rivers   forming  natural 
barriers  to  the  lands  lying  between. 
Cf.  Gloucestersh.  and  Powis  in  Wales. 

When  the  bud  of  the  aul  [alder]  's  as  big  as  a  trout's  eye, 
then  that  fish  is  in  season  in  the  river  Wye. — Lewis,  Herefordshire 
Glossy. 

Salmo  non  astate  novus,  nee  frigore  desit. — F.  W.  Applied  to  the 
Wye  salmon,  as  being  in  season  all  the  year. 

There  is  a  familiar  story  illustrating  the  rudeness  of  Herefordshire 
boys:  A  lady,  riding,  came  to  a  gate.  A  little  boy  ran 
forward  and  opeped  it.  "Thank  you,  my  boy;  I'm  sure 
you're  not  a  Herefordshire  boy."  "  Thee  'rt  a  Hard,  I  be !  "— 
Hav. 

VOL.  I.  97  "7 


HEREFORD.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

"  Secunda  fertilitatis  laude  inter  Angliae  Provincias  acquiescere, 
haud  facile  est  contenta." — Cam.,  Brit.  "  It  is  not  willingly 
content  to  be  accounted  the  second  shire  for  matter  of  fruit- 
fulness."  But  the  foresaid  Author  in  his  whole  Book  never 
expresseth  which  is  the  first,  too  politic  to  adjudge  so 
invidious  a  pre-eminence.  And  thus  keeping  the  uppermost 
seat  empty  such  competitor  counties  are  allowed  leave  to  put 
in  their  several  claims  which  pretend  to  the  prime  place  of 
fertility.— F.  W.     Cf.  Emerson's  remark,  Char,  of  England. 

Acton  Beauchamp  [ii  m.  S.W.  of  Worcester]. 

Acton  Beauchamp,  the  poorest  place  in  all  the  nation, 

a  lousy  parson,  a  nitty  clerk,  and  a  shabby  congregation. — Hav. 

Bishop's  Frome  [4  m.  S.  of  Bromyard]. 
"  A  Dish  and  a  Spoon  " 
say  the  Bells  of  Bish  Frome. — Hav. 

BosBURY  [4  m.  N.  of  Ledbury] . 

Make  your  will  before  going  to  Bosbury.  A  Malvern  saying  in 
reference  to  the  intricacy  and  badness  of  the  roads  between 
those  places. 

The  CO.  of  Worcester  is  rather  more  celebrated  for  the  manu- 
facture of  perry  than  Hereford ;  the  latter,  however,  is 
justly  celebrated  for  its  Barland  perry,  produced  originally 
from  fields  in  Bosbury,  called  Barelands. — AgncuUl.  Jotirn., 
1853- 
Brampton  Bryan  [id  m.  S.W.  of  Ludlow].     See  Orleton. 

"  They  are  gone  to  Bron  Fair,"  when  peas  or  other  crops  look 
weakly,  or  not  doing  well.  — Hav. 

Bromyard.       "Come  old  man  and  shave  yer  beard," 
say  the  bells  of  Bromyard. — Hav. 

Cowarne  [5^  m.  S.W.  of  Bromyard] . 

Dirty  Cowarne,  wooden  steeple, 
cracked  bell,  wicked  people. — Hav. 

Hereford.         The  Church  of  Hereford  doth  well, 
Yet  Winchester  doth  that  excell ; 
But  Canterbury  bears  the  bell. 

MS.  in  Canterbury  Archives. 
?  Extract  from  Antidotum  Ctdmenanmn,  Oxford,  1644.     Richard 
Calmer,  alias  "  Blue  Dick,"  was  a  Canterbury  man. — JV., 
VH.,  xi.  169. 

Hope  under  Dinmore,*  and  if  Dinmore  should  fall, 
the  Devil  will  have  Hope  and  Dinmore  and  all. — Hav. 
*  4  m.  S.E.  of  Leominster. 

Kentchurgh.     See  Sutton. 

John  a  Kent  and  John  a  Cumber. — A  play  by  Ant.  Munday. 
The  first-named  belonged  to  this  parish,  which  is  midway 
between  Hereford  and  Abergavenny. 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Hereford. 

Leominster. 

Leominster  is  still  famous  for  wigs  (an  old-fashioned  cake  or 
bun). — Hav. 

Lemster  bread  and  Weobly  ale. — F.  W. ;  Camd.,  Brit. 

Webley  ale,  Medley  bells,  Lemster  oref  :  three  things  in  Here- 
fordshire which  are  best  in  that  kind. — Ho.     Madeley,  in 
Shropsh.,  is  probably  intended, 
t  Ore,  i.e.  wool. 

But  then  the  ore  of  Lempster  ! 
By  Got  is  never  a  sempster 
That  when  he  is  spun  e'er  did 
Yet  match  him  with  hir  thrid. 
B.  Jon.,  Hon.  of  Wales;  Drayt.  Pol.,  B.  vii. ;  F.  W. 

a  bank  of  moss 
Spongy  and  swelling  and  far  more  [Palace. 

Soft  than  the  finest  Lemster  ore. — Herrick,  Obevon's 

Lempster  ore,  Lana  optima.  Sed  prsecipua  hodie  gloria  est  a 
lana  in  circumvicinis  agris  (Lemster  ore  vocant  cui  [excepta 
Apulia  et  Tarentina]  palmam  deferunt  Europoei  omnes). — 
Camd.,  Brit.  (1586),  p.  472.  1616. 

Cf.  Worth  its  weight  in  gold,  and  the  following: — In  many 
places  a  very  rich  alluvion,  forming  a  most  valuable 
manure,  is  found  at  the  bottom  of  these  shallows ;  hence 
the  name  of  Mer  d'Or,  or  Golden  Sea,  the  inhabitants 
deriving  a  golden  harvest  of  hay  from  its  employment  on 
these  meadows. — Havard,  Dead  Cities  of  the  Zuyder  Zee,  p.  29. 

Lemster  wool  and  Monmouth  caps. — Ho. 

Cornewall  hath  tynne  and  lymster  woole  fine.  —  Barclay, 
Eclogue,  iv. 

The  beast  which  bleats  on  Lemster's  ore  [iv. 

her  flesh  is  good,  her  fleece  is  more. — Ho.,  N,  Sayings, 

"  Trip  a  trap  a  trencher  " 
say  the  bells  of  Lemster.— Hav. 

Letton  [on  the  Wye,  5  m.  S.W.  of  Weobley]. 

"  From  Letton,  Where  should  'un  ? 
From  Letton,  God  help  'un  !" — N.,  I.,  i.  422. 

Perhaps  according  to  the  hop  yield. 
LusTON  [2J  m.  N.W.  of  Leominster] .     Cf.  Sutton,  in  Somerset. 

Luston  short  and  Luston  long, 

at  every  house  a  tump  of  dung, 

some  two,  some  three, 

the  dirtiest  place  you  ever  did  see. — Hav. 

Orcop  [8^  m.  N.W.  of  Ross] . 

"  Orcop,  God  help  !  Orcop,  the  Lord  be  praised  ! " — Hav. 
According  to  the  crop  of  plums. 

99 


HERTS.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Orleton  [5  m.  S.W.  of  Ludlow]. 

The  cuckoo  always  comes  to  Orleton  Fair  (April  23)  to  buy  a 
horse  and  goes  to  Bron  (Brampton  Bryan)  to  sell  him. — Hav. 

Pencombe  [4  m.  S.W.  of  Bromyard]. 

"  Pencombe,  God  help !"— Hav.    A  local  expression  relative  to 
the  unfortunate  position  of  the  place. 
Ross.     The  Man  of  Ross. 

But  all  our  praises  why  should  lords  engross  ? 
Rise,  honest  Muse,  and  sing  the  Man  of  Ross. 

Pope,  Moral  Ess.,  iii.  249. 

RoTHERWAS  [2  m.  E.S.E.  of  Hereford  on  the  Wye]  . 

Every  one  cannot  dwell  at  Rotheras.     (A  delicate  seat  of  the 
Bodmans  in  this  county.) — Ho.     It  still  belongs  to  them. 

Stoke  Edith  [6  m.  E.  of  Hereford] .     See  Tarrington. 

Sutton  Wall*  and  Kentchester  hill* 
are  able  to  buy  London,  were  it  to  sell. — Ho. 

*  Two  fruitful  places.  Sutton  Walls,  a  camp  of  30  acres,  on  which  stood 
King  Offa's  palace,  is  on  a  hill  in  the  parish  of  Satton  St.  Michael,  or  Sutton 
Kings,  4  m.  N.N.E.  of  Hereford  on  the  Lug.  Kentchester  was  perhaps  the  hill 
above  Kentchurch,  11  m.  W.  of  Ross  on  the  Monnow. 

Buried  treasure  may  be  what  is  alluded  to. 
Tarrington  [7^  m.  E.  of  Hereford]. 

Lusty  Tarrington,  lively  Stoke, 
beggars  at  Weston,  thieves  at  Woolhope. 
or,  Dirty  Tarrington,  lousy  Stoke. — Hav. 

Weobley  [10  m.  N.W.  of  Hereford]. 

When  Ladie  Lift  f  puts  on  her  shift 

she  fears  a  downright  rain, 
but  when  she  doffs  it  you  will  find 
the  rain  is  o'er,  and  still  the  wind, 
and  Phoebus  shines  again, 
t  Ladylift,  a  clump  of  trees  on  a  high  hill  near  Weobley. 
Poor  Weobley,  proud  people,  low  church,  high  steeple. — Hav. 
Weston  under  Penyard  [2  m.  S.E.  of  Ross] .     See  Tarrington. 
Woolhope  [7  m.  S.E.  of  Hereford] .     See  Tarrington. 

HERTFORDSHIRE. 

Harvordschir,  full  of  wood. — MS.  Harl. 

Hertfordshire,  ful  of  wode. — MS.  Rawl. 

They  say  of  the  Hertfordshire  people,  that  if  a  man  fall  he'  11  come 
to  no  harm  so  long  as  he  falls  on  his  head. 

So  Hertford  blazon'd  is  "  The  club  and  clouted  shoon," 
Thereto  "  I  '11  rise  betime  and  sleep  again  at  noon." 

Drayt.  Pol.,  xxili. 
Hertfordshire  clubs  and  clouted  shoon. — F.  W. 

100 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  herts. 

Hedgehogs. — F.  W.      Bedfordshire  bull-dogs, 

Hertfordshire  hedge-hogs, 
Buckinghamshire  great  fools. 

N.,  IV.,  iv.  507. 

The  hedgehog  is  emblematically  used  to  represent  a  bad  neigh- 
bour, an  unsociable  and  ill-conditioned  person ;  its  points, 
when  set  up,  forbidding  a  near  approach. — Gr. 

Kindness,  i.e.  returning  a  kindness  immediately — S.P.C,  ii.  F.  W. 
i.e.  anyone  drinking  back  to  his  right-hand  man,  and  so 
defrauding  the  others. — Gr. 

For  want  of  a  third  in  our  mess  we  were  fain  to  use 
Hertfordshire  kindness,  "Here's  to  you  again." — Ned 
Ward,  Walk  to  Islington,  ii.  75. 

It  is  the  Garden  of  England  for  delight,  and  men  commonly  say 
that  such  who  buy  a  house  in  Hartfordshire  pay  two  years' 
purchase  for  the  air  thereof. — F.  W. 

Who  buys  a  house  in  Hertfordshire 
Pays  three  years'  purchase  for  the  air. 

Atkinson,  England  Described,  p.  159,  1788. 

Surely  no  county  can  show  so  fair  a  Bunch  of  Berries ;  for  so 
they  term  the  fair  habitations  of  Gentlemen  of  remark, 
which  are  called  Places,  Courts,  Halls,  and  Manors  in 
other  shires. —  F.  W. 

If  you  wish  to  go  into  Hertfordshire  [?  quasi  Hearthioidshire] 
hitch  a  little  nearer  the  fire. — Lysons,  Magna  Brit.  Bedf.,  p.  117. 
See  Hitchin. 

Miss  Baker  {N'hants  Gloss.)  says  this  distich  is  [inscribed]  on 
the  old  beam  which  separated  Bedfordshire  from  an  insulate 
portion  of  Herts  in  the  dining-room  of  the  late  parsonage 
house  at  Mappershall,  near  Shefford  [9  m.  S.E.  of 
Bedford]. 

Will  anybody  tell  me  why  his  intimates  almost  always  dub  a 
Hertfordshire  proprietor  with  the  generic  title  of  "  Squire  "  ? 
— Whyte  Melville,  Good  for  Nothing,  ch.  xii. 

There  is  a  town  in  Hertfordshire,  not  far  from  London,  of  which 
they  say  that  there  is  nobody  poor  enough  to  keep  the 
town-hogs,  or  rich  enough  to  keep  a  hog-heard. — Defoe, 
Behaviour  of  Servants,  p.  260,  1724. 

AsHRiDGE  [3  m.  N.  of  Berkhampsted].     Seat  of  Earl  of  Ellesmere. 
Fraxinus  in  clivo  frondetque  vivet  sine  rivo 
Non  est  sub  divo  similis  sine  fiumine  vivo. — Skelton. 

Chipperfield  [4  m.  N.  of  Rickmansworth].     Famous  for  cherries. 

Chipperfield  :  Where  d '  ye  think  ? 
God  help  us ! 
A    common    variation    of  the    answer    to    "  Where    do    you 
belong?"  in   orchard   districts. 

101 


HERTS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

HiTCHiN.     Mede  de  Hicche. — Douce  MS.  98.     i.e.  mead,  the  drink 
made  of  honey. 
I  suspect  some  play  on  the  name  of  tliis  town  in  the  proverb  : 
If  you  wish  to  go  into  Hertfordshire, 
hitch[in]  a  little  nearer  the  fire  ; 
there  being  insulated  portions   of    Beds   and  Herts   between 
Shefford  and  Hitchin. 

Pennywell.     See  Brockley  Hill,  in  Middlesex. 

St.  Albans.     Payn  de  Seynt  Albon. — Douce  MS.  98. 

As  common  as  the  way  between   St.   Albans   and   London. — 
Sh.,  2  H.  IV.,  ii.  2. 

When  Verulam  stood 
St.  Albans  was  a  wood  ; 
now  Verulam 's  down 
St.  Albans  is  a  town. 

Black  and  White,  20/1,  '94. 
Verulam  was  the  Roman  municipal  city  on  Watling  Street. 

Tring.  Tring,  Wing,  and  Ivinghoe, 

three  dirty  villages  all  in  a  row, 
and  never  without  a  rogue  or  two. 
Would  you  know  the  reason  why  ? 
Leighton  Buzzard  is  hard  by. — N.,  L,  v.  619. 
This  is  a  slap  at  a  neighbour  in  the  adjoining  co.,  Bedford. 
Tring,  Wing,  and  Ivinghoe, 
for  striking  of  a  blow 
Hampden  did  forego, 

and  glad  he  could  escape  so. — N.,  III.,  v.  176. 
Hampden  of  Hampden  did  forego 
the  manors  of  Tring,  Wing,  and  Ivinghoe, 
for  striking  the  Black  Prince  a  blow. — Hll.,  Pop.  Rhy. 
Set  explanatory  note  in  Bucks,  to  which  Wing  and  Ivinghoe 
belong. 

Verulam.     See  St.  Albans. 

Ware  and  Wade's  Mill  are  worth  all  London. — CI.     A  play  on 
the  first  name,  in  allusion  to  commerce. 
Wade's  Mill  is  a  village  2  m.  N.  of  Ware. 
Ned  Ward  places  at   Ware,   in   the  chamber   containing   the 
Great  Bed,  the  horns  on  which  travellers  were  sworn. 
Take  care  thou  dost  thyself  no  wrong ; 
Drink  no  small  beer  if  thou  hast  strong, 
And  further,  do  thyself  this  right. 
Eat  no  brown  bread  if  thou  hast  white  ; 
And  if  the  mistress  thou  can  bed. 
Be  sure  thou  dost  not  kiss  the  maid. 
.  .  .  What  I  have  said  do  thou  retain, 
So  kiss  the  horns,  and  say  "  Amen." 

A  Step  to  Stir-hitch  Fair,  ii.  250,  1704. 

102 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  hunts. 

HUNTINGDONSHIRE. 

Huntingdonschir  corne  full  good  — MS.  Harl. 
Huntyngdonshire,  corne  ful  goode. — MS.  Rawl. 
And  Huntingdon  "With  stilts  we'll  stalk  through  thick  and  thin." 

— Drayt.  Pol.,  xxiii. 
And  where  in  the  words  of  the  proverb,  "They  have  churches  for 

milestones." — Walter  White,  Eastn.  Engd.,  ii.  95. 
This  is  the  way  to  Beggar's  Bush. — F.  W.  A  well-known  tree  on 
left  hand  of  the  London  road  from  Huntingdon  to  Caxton. 
A  taunting  prophecy  of  poverty.  The  primary  meaning  was 
a  rendezvous  for  beggars  at  the  bifurcation  of  two  roads. 
Such  a  one  exists  on  the  Leigh  side  of  the  river  Avon, 
opposite  Clifton,  and  it  is  still  called  "  Beggar's  Bush  Lane." 
Cold  Harbour  [9  m.  N.W.  of  Huntingdon]. 

Some  say  the  devil's  dead  and  buried  in  Cold  Harbour, 
Others  say  he 's  rose  again  and  prentic'd  to  a  barber. 

Lamb,  Letters,  i.  167,  1837. 
There  are  many  places  in  England  called  Cold  Harbour. 
This  one,  on  the  borders  of  Hunts  and  N.  Hants,  is 
chosen  because  the  lines  are  current  in  N.  Hants,  Oxon, 
and  Bucks. — F.  L.  Jouv.,  i.  90. 
A  GoDMANCHESTER  [Huntington]  black  pig,  a  donkey. 
A  [Huntingdon]  sturgeon,  i.e.  an  ass. — R.,  1678. 

See  Pepys  Diary,  ed.  Bohn,  iii.  134. 
During  a  very  high  flood  in  the  meadows  something  was  seen 
floating,  which  the  Godmanchester  people  thought  was  a 
black  pig,  and  the  Huntingdon  folk  declared  was  a  sturgeon. 
It  proved  to  be  a  young  donkey. 
Fortes  de  Huntyngdon. — Douce  MS.,  98. 
It  comes  from  Needingworth. — CI.  a  village  2  m.  E.  of  St.  Ives. 
Cf.  At  Needham's  shore. — Tusser,  Housewifery,  p.  17,  1573. 
Old  Weston  [6  m.  N.  of  Kimbolton]. 

You  must  go  to  Old  Weston  before  you  die. — N.,  I.,  iii.  449. 
An  out  of  the  way  village,  formerly  almost  unapproachable 
by  carriages  in  winter.  [built  969. 

Ramsey  [10  m.  N.N.E.  of  Huntingdon].     A  Benedictine  Abbey, 
Ramsey  the  rich  of  gold  and  of  fee, 
Thorney  the  flower  of  the  fen  country  [Notts], 
Crowland  so  courteous  of  meat  and  of  drink  [Lincolnsh.J, 
Peterborough  the  proud,  as  all  men  do  think, 
and  Sawtrey,  by  the  way,  that  old  Abbay,  [See  below] 
gave  more  alms  in  one  day  than  all  they. — N.,  I.,  vi.  350. 
or,  Crowley  as  courteous  as  courteous  may  be, 
Thorney  the  bane  of  many  a  good  tree, 
Ramsey  the  rich,  and  Peterborough  the  proud, 
Sawtrey,  by  the  way,  that  poor  Abbay, 
gave  more  than  all  they. 

Mark  Noble,  Mem.  of  the  Protectoral  House  of  Cromwell. 
JV.,I.,  vi.  281. 

103 


ISLE  OF  MAN.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

or,  Ramsey  the  bounteous  of  gold  and  of  fee, 
Crowland  as  courteous  as  courteous  may  be, 
Spalding*  the  rich,  and  Peterborough  the  proud, 
Sawtrey,  by  the  way,  that  poor  Abbaye, 
gave  more  alms  in  one  day  than  all  they. — Murr. 
•  Lincolnshire. 
Saint  Ives.     Barbeus  de  Seynt  Yve. — Douce  MS.,  98,  i.e.  barbels 
of  the  river  Ouse. 
.    .    .    or  drink  of  the  waters   of   Saint  Ives,  by  John  Bale 
(out  of  Romish  Authors)  produced  to  be  good  against  the 
temptations  of   the   petticoat. — T.   Nash.      Have  with  you 
to  Saffron  Walden. — N.,  2,  1596. 
Sawtrey  [9  m.  N.W.  of  Huntingdon] .     Cistercian.    See  Ramsey. 
Sawtrey,  by  the  way, 
now  a  grange  that  was  an  abbey. — Kempe. 

Losely  MS.,  212,  Lottery  of  1567. 

Stilton  [6  m.  S.W.  of  Peterborough]  gives  its  name  to  the  premier 
cheese  of  England,  tho'  it  is  chiefly  made  in  Leicestershire. 
Cheese,  such  as  men  in  Suffolk  make. 
But  wished  it  Stilton  for  his  sake. 

Pope,  City  &=  Cotmtry  Mouse. 
"  Nay,  stay,"  quoth  Stringer,  when  his  neck  was  in  the  halter. — 
R.,  1678. 

ISLE    OF    MAN. 

Christian,  Callow  and^iKerruish  [pronounced  Kerrush] 
all  the  rest  are  refuse  [par.  of  Maughold] . 

Moore,  Surnames  of  I.  of  M.,  p.  94. 
Kelly.     So   common  a  surname   that   any    Manxman   answers   to 

it. — See  N.,  VI.,  vii.,  viii. 
A  Manx  puffin,  i.e.  a  Manxman. — M.  M.,  i.  29. 

If  the  puffin's  nest  was  not  robbed  in  the  Calf  of  Man  they 
would  breed  there  no  longer.  Up  to  the  present  century 
they  laid  a  single  egg  in  the  rabbit  burrows  there,  and  if 
it  was  taken  away,  a  second  and  third,  never  rearing 
more  than  one  bird.— M.  M.,  i.  31.  The  puffin  was  also 
eaten. — See  Wilson,  Voyage  round  the  Coasts  of  Scotd.  and 
the  Isles,  ed.  1842. 
Blue.     The  Manxman's  livery. — M.  M.,  i.  29 

Manxman  like,  a  day  behind  the  Fair  [unpunctuality  common! — 
M.  M.,  i.  35. 

Quocunque  jeceris  stabit.     Raad  erbee  cheau  00  eh  nee  eh  shasso. 
The  arms  of  Man  are  its  [three]  legs. — M.  M.,  i.  22. 

Three  legs  armed,  armed  for  self  defence, 
centrally  united,  security  from  thence. 
On  the  old  Parlt.  House  at  Castleton,  destroyed  since  1775. — 
M.  M.,  i.  238. 

104 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  isle  of  man. 

With  one  leg  I    spurn    Ireland,  with   the   second    I   kick   at 
Scotland,  with  the  third  I  kneel  to  England.— M.  M.,  i.  22. 
God  keep  the  house  and  all  within 
From  Cut  MacCuUoch  and  all  his  kin. 

God  keep  the  good  corn,  the  sheep,  and  the  bullock 
From  Satan,  from  sin,  and  from  Cutlar  MacCulloch. 

(A  powerful  Gallovidian  rover  of  the  i6th  century.) 
The  first  the  poor,  the  second  the  rich,  Manx  man's  prayer. — 
M.  M.,  i.  37. 

Do  as  they  do  in  the  Isle  of  Man  : 
"How's  that  ?" — they  do  as  they  can. — M.  M.,  i.  27. 
Cf.    What !     I  see  'tis  raining  again, 

Why,  then  we  must  do  as  they  do  in  Spain  : 
"  How's  that  ? " — we  must  let  it  rain. 

Swift,  Polite  Convers.,  i. 
Duke  of  Athol,  King  of  Man, 
is  the  greatest  man  in  all  this  Ian' — M.  M.,  i.  23. 

All  the  bairns  unborn  will  rue  the  day 
when  the  Isle  of  Man  was  sold  away, 
and  there 's  ne'er  a  wife  that  loves  a  dram 
but  what  will  lament  for  the  Isle  of  Man. — HaUiwell. 
The  great  Road  of  King  Orry. — The  milkyway.     His  answer  that 
he  came  thence  when  challenged  on  his  first  landing  in  the 
North. — M.,  i.  23. 
Mie   Mannin,   mie   Nherin   (Good  in   Mann,  good   in   Ireland). — 

Mon.  Mis.,  ii.  9. 
The  Manx  and  the  Scots  will  come  so  near  as  to  throw  their  beetles 
at  one  another.     The  sea  is  still  retiring  in  the  North  at  the 
Point  of   Ayre,  but   there   are   yet   twenty  miles  across  to 
Scotland. 

In  hoc  medio  cursu  [inter  Iberniam  et  Britanniam]  est  insula 
quae  appellatur  Mona. — Caesar,  De  Bella  Gallico,  v. 

I  have  read  of  a  contention  between  Scotland  and  Ireland  about 
a  little  island,  either  challenging  it  for  theirs.  It  was  put  to 
the  decision  of  a  Frenchman,  who  caused  to  be  put  into  the 
island  living  serpents,  arbitrating  it  thus:  that  if  those 
serpents  lived  and  prospered  then  the  ground  was  Scot- 
land's; if  they  died,  Ireland's. — T.  Adams,  Wovks,  1629, 
p.  837. 
Like  a  Manx  cat,  hasn't  a  tail  to  wag,  i.e.  the  stubbin  or  rumpy  cat. 

He  is  like  a  Manx  cat,  he  leaves  nought  behind  him  but  his 
tail.— Af.  M.,  i.  34. 
The  following  general  byenames  occur  in  the  Isle  of  Man  : 

The  Dalby  folks  are  called  Gobbocks,  from  their  partiahty  to 
that  fish ;  the  Castleton  youths  are  generally  styled  Dullish 
(Manx,  Boasters) ;  the  Peel  gents  are  called  Vinegar  hill 
boys,  also  Skaddon  or  Haddock  boys. — M.  A.  Denham, 
F.L.  of  N.  of  Engd.,  17,  1852. 

105 


KENT.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

The  natives  of  Castleton  are  called  the  Dullish  Boys,  those  of 
Dalby  are  called  Gobbogs :  the  Peel  men  are  designated 
the  Skaddan  Boys,  as  well  as  Haddock  Boys,  while  those 
from  the  North  of  the  island  are  called  Stunners  or 
Boasters. — Mon.  Misc.,  i.  41. 
Peel  for  Antiquity,  Castleton  for  Dignity, 
Ramsey  for  Scenery,  Douglas  Malignity. — M.  M.,  ii. 

(Written  by  a  Lady,  early  part  of  this  century.) 
Douglas,  the  seat  of  scandal,  nurse  of  pride, 
To  ignorance  by  lasting  ties  allied, 
With  self-tormenting  spleen  and  envious  strife 
Sours  her  own  cup,  and  blasts  the  joys  of  life. 

John  Stowell  of  Peel,  Retrospect,  1790.     Called  the 
Churchill  of  Mona.— M.  M.,  ii.  15. 
Four  Ls,  four  As,  an  S,  and  a  B, 
spells  a  nice  village  as  you  may  see. 

i.e.  Ballasalla,  2  m.  N.  of  Castleton. — M.M.,  ii.  15. 
If  of  the  world  you  're  tired,  pray 
Don't  hang  or  drown,  but  only  give 
The  world  up  and  to  Peel  go  live. 

Mrs.  Griffiths,  Lines  on  Peel,  1839. 
Shenn  phott,  shenn  ghryle, 
Shenn  chlooid  dy  choodaghey  yn  aile. 

An  old  pot,  an  old  griddle, 
an  old  clout  to  cover  the  fire. 
Imitation  of  the  sound  of  Kirk  Arbory  bells. — M.  M.,  ii.  15. 
As  round  as  the  Tynwald.     The  Seat  of  Parliament  or  House  of 
Keys,  a  circular  grassy  mound  near  Saint  John's. — M.  M.,  i.  25. 
As  indifferently  as  the  herring  bone  doth  lie  in  the  midst  of  the  fish. 
(Oath  of  Deemster  and  Bailiff  that  they  will  thus  administer 
justice.) — M.  M.,  i.  25. 
As  stiff  as  the  staff  of  government.     The  Governor  on  assuming 
office  takes  an  oath  somewhat  similar,  the  symbol  of  upright- 
ness  being  the   white    staff,    which   he    holds   erect   in   his 
hands.— M.Af.,  i.  24. 
Our  enemies,  the  Redshanks  or  Goblen  Marrey,  i.e.  Scotch  High- 
landers.— M.M.,  i.  36. 
Hit  him  again,  for  he  is  Irish. — /&.,  i.  30. 

Ste  Wilson  and  Geikie's  Lift  of  Edward  Forbes  for  old  Manx  legends. 

KSNT. 

Kent,  as  hot  as  fire. — MS.  Harl. 
Kentshire,  hoot  as  Hie.— MS.  Rawl. 
Kent-shire,  hoot  as  fyre. — Leland,  Itin.,  V.  xxvi. 
Pegge  ascribes  this  to  the  chalk  and  gravel  roads. 
Kentish  fire :  continuous  cheering  by  measured  tread.     Introduced 
in  1828  in  opposition  to  the  Roman  Catholic  Relief  Bill. 

106 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  kent. 

Kentish  miles. — F.  W.     See  Essex. 

L.  C.  D.     The  London,  Chatham  and  Dover :   or,  the   Land  'em, 

Smash  'em  and  Do  for  'em  Railway. 
All  things  are  allowable  in  Christendom  and  Kent.— G.  Harvey, 

Letter  Booh,  p.  123,  1573. 
Nor  in  all  Kent,  nor  in  Christendom. — Spenser,  Shep.  Cal.  Sept.,  153. 
Neither  in  Kent  nor  Christendom. — Nash,  Have  with  you  to  Saffron 

Walden.     Lenten  Stiff e  [Harl.  Misc.~\,  vi.  153. 
"  The  first  cut  and  all  the  loaf  beside."— F.W. 
Omne   solum   forte   patria :    I  can  live  in  Christendom  as  well  gs 

in   Kent. — Lilly,  Mother  Bombie,  iii.  3.     And  see  Middleton, 

Mayor  of  Queenborough,  v.  i . 
The  father  to  the  bough, 
the  son  to  the  plough. 

A  Kentish  prov.  meant  of  Gavelkind. — Ho. 

[Tho'  the  Father  were  convicted  of  treason    .    .    .   yet  the 
son  enjoys  his  inheritance. — E.  Chamberlayne,  St.  Gt. 
Brit.,  I.  I.  iii.  [1707]  19. — Ed.] 
Ttirfe.  Come,  send  your  men  off :  I  will  have  them  sent 

Home  again,  wife ;  I  love  no  trains  of  Kent 

Or  Christendom,  as  they  say. — B.  Jonson,  A  Tale  of  a  Tub,  ii. 
The  Church  of  God  is  Catholic,  not  Roman  Catholic :  that 's  just 

as  foolish  a  phrase  as  the  by-word  of  Kent  and  Christendom. 

Particular   and   universal   are    contradictories.  —  T.    Adams, 

Wks.,  p.  557,  1629. 

Then  straight  he  got  up,  and  together  they  went 
As  great  as  Old  Nick  and  the  old  Earl  of  Kent. 

Ned  Ward,  Revels  of  the  Gods,  ii.  no,  1704. 

Some  part*  of  Kent  hath  health  and  no  wealth  ;f 

Some  wealth  and  no  health  ;  % 

Some  both  health  and  wealth.  § 

Some  have  neither  health  nor  wealth. — Ho. 

'Places.— Ho. 

tE.  Kent.— R.     N.W  — Lambard.     The  Downs,  N.  of  the  backbone.— Murr. 

X  The  Weald. — R.  Rumney  Marsh. — Lamb.  And  the  marshes  on  the 
Medway  and  the  Swale. — Murray. 

§  Mid-Kent  and  parts  near  London. — R.  From  Maidstone  to  Tonbridge  and 
about  Canterbury. — Murray.     The  Weald. — Lambard. 

The  sick  to  the  Hundreds  in  pale  throngs  repair. 

And  change  the  Gravel-pits  for  Kentish  air. — Garth,  Disp.,  iii.  2ig. 

The   Garden   of  Eden.      The  ten   miles   between   Maidstone   and 
Tunbridge. — Cobbett,  Rural  Rides. 

A  Kentish  ague. — P.,  13.     Northern  marshes. 

I  trembled  like  a  Kentish  yeoman  troubled  with  a  Tertian  ague. — 

Ned  Ward,  Dancing  School,  ii.  240. 
A  Kentish  jury  hang  half  and  save  half. — F.  W. 
As  lythe  as  lass  of  Kent.— Drayton.    "Dowsabell."   v.  Spenser,  Shep. 

Kal.  Feb. 

m 


KENT.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA, 

A  man  of  Kent.  A  free  man  sui  juris. — F.  W.  Men  of  Kent 
born  east  of  the  Medway,  who  are  said  to  have  met  the 
Conqueror  in  a  body,  each  carrying  a  green  bough  in  his 
hand,  the  whole  appearing  hke  a  moving  wood,  and  thereby 
obtaining  a  confirmation  of  their  ancient  privileges. — G.,  Diet. 

Men  of  Kent  [of  the  Weald — N.,  III.,  vii.  423], W.  division  of  Co. : 
Kentish  men,  E.  div. — N.,  III.,  vii.  123,  viii.  92. 

But  if  he  be  no  Christian,  the  matter  is  not  much :  he  will  serve 
well  enough  for  a  man  of  Kent. — Taylor,  The  Great  Eater. 

Mother  Bee.     Ah  whoreson,  thou  callest  me  whore  by  craft : 
Thou  art  a  Kentish  man,  I  trow. 

Marriage  of  Wit  and  Wisdom,  Shak.  Soc,  p.  52. 
Ex   his    omnibus  longe   sunt  humanissimi  qui  Cantium  incolunt. 
— Caesar,  De  Bella  Gallico.     (Quoted  in  contention  between 
York  and  Lancaster. — Shak.  Soc.) 
Kentish  cousins.     Abundant  from  intermarriage. — P.,  15. 
Kentish  longtails. — F.  W.  cites  Matt.  Paris  (1250),  p.  790.     Rohin 
Goodfellow,    1628,    Percy    Soc. ;    Deloney's    Strange    Histories, 
1607,   ib. 

Kent  first  in  our  account  doth  to  itself  apply. 
Quoth  he  this  blazon  first,  "  Long  tails  and  liberty." 

Drayton,  Poly.,  xxiii. 
A   present    ascribed   to   St.  Thomas   A 'Beckett.      Also    to 
St.  Augustine,  in  return  for  an  insult  at   Rochester. — 
Murray. 
The  tail  of  a  Kentish  man  to't. — B.  Jon.,  Vis.  of  Delight. 
Kentish  tayles  are  now  turned  to  such  spectacles,  soe  that  yf  a 
man  put  them  on  his  nose,  he  shall  have  all  the  land  he 
can  see. — Manningham,  Dy.,  i.  27.,  1601,  Cam.  Soc. 
A  Kentish  yeoman. — F.  W.     It  passeth  for   a   plain    man   with  a 
plentiful  estate. — F.  W. 

A  gentleman  of  Wales 
with  a  Knight  of  Cales  [Cadiz] 
and  a  lord  of  the  North  Countree ; 
a  yeoman  of  Kent 

upon  a  rack  rent  [sitting  on  a  peny  rent] 
is  able  to  buy  all  three. — N.,  III.,  ii.  144. 
English  Lord,  German  Count,  and  French  Marquis,  a  yeoman 

of  Kent  is  worth  them  all  three. — N.,  I.,  vi.  156. 
A  Knight  of  Cales  and  a  Gentleman  of  Wales  and  a  Laird  of 

the  North  Countree, 
a  yeoman  of  Kent  with  his  yearly  rent  will  buy  them  out  all 
three.— F.  W. 
Sixty  Cales  Knights  were  made  in  1596  by  Rob'-  E.  of  Essex, 
many  poor. 

Gavelkind,  i.e.  Give-all-kind. 

Teutonibus  priscis  patrios  succedit  in  agros 
Mascula  stirps  omnis  ne  foret  ulla  potens. 

108 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  kent. 

The  Grey  Coats  of  Kent.     Clothiers  and  Farmers  about  Maidstone 
(from  their  plain  appearance). — Defoe,  Tour  in  G.  B.,  i.,  Lett.  2. 
Wearing  their  own  broadcloth  made  at  Cranbrook. — Murr. 
Like  a  Kentish  cloth,  that  stains  with  nothing. — Melbancke, 
Philohmus,  R.  3. 
Kentish  hogs. — Globe,  17/6/' 84. 
As  fat  as  a  Kentish  oyster. — Greene,  Tu  Quoque. 
Kent  red  veal  and  white  bacon,  i.e.  pickled  pork. — P.,  6. 
A   Kentish   stomach,   i.e.   a   great   eater. — P.,    19.     Nich'-    \'\'ood, 
d.    1620,  who   would  eat  the  dinner  of  twenty  men  at  one 
sitting. — Sandys,  n.  to  Ovid,  Met.,  p.  162. 
The   Colliers  of  Croydon,  the  Rustics  of  Roydon,  and  the  fishers 

of  Kent.     See  Canterbury. 
Kentish  apples. — Camd  ,  215.    Behold  the  applemaker  of  Kent,  and 
mark  well  him  that  killed  thy  father  [said  of  the  priest  at  the 
altar,  holding  up  the  consecrated  elements]. — Becon,  iii.  41. 
pippins. — Lambarde,  Per.,  pp.  5,  263  ;  1656. 
To  send  pippins  into  Kent. — Torr.,  1666. 
cherries. — Camd.,  f.  215. 
See  Derbyshire. 
AsHFORD.       Naughty  Ashford,  surly  Wye, 

poor  Kennington  hard  by.  [2  and  4  m.  N.  of  Ashford.] 
P.,  20,  who  refers  to  Hist,  of  College  of  Wye  in  Gough  MS.  in 
Bodleian. 

Bapchild.  If  you  '11  live  a  little  while, 

go  to  Bapchild  ; 
if  you  'd  live  long, 

go  to  Tenham  [Teynham]  or  Tong. — P.,  21. 
But  see  Merstham. 

Broadstairs  scrubs  [3  m.  N.E.  of  Ramsgate].     See  Ramsgate. 

As  old  as  Cale  Hill. — CI.  [5  m.  N.  W.  of  Ashford.] 

A  Canter[bury]  gallop. — P.,  23.  Rider's  Diet,  in  Brady,  Vay.  of  Lit. 
For  his  grace  at  meat,  what  can  I  better 
compare  it  to  than  a  Canterbury  rack,  half 
pace  half  gallop? — "Character  of  a  Fanatic, 
1675,  Harl.  Misc.,  vii.  637. 

story  or  tale. — F.  W.     Since  Chaucer's  time. 

Canterbury  Tales  are  parallel  to  Fahulce  Milesice,  which 
are  characterised  nee  verae  nee  verisimiles : 
merely  made  to  mar  precious  time  and 
please  fanciful  people.  Such  are  the  many 
miracles  of  Thomas  ^^i.' Beckett,  &c. — 
F.  W.,  p.   97. 

bells. — P.,  24.  Such  as  were  worn  by  pilgrims  on 
their  horse. 

trappings. — Fox,  Martyr,     i.  6g8. 

broches. — P.,  24.     Memorial  medals. 

109 


KENT.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Seyntuarie  de  Canterbur.— Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 
Haec  sunt  Cantorum  juga,  dogmata,  bal  baculorum, 
Et  princeps  tumba,  bel,  brachia,  fulsaque  plumba, 
Et  syserum  potus,  haec  sunt  staura  cuntotis. — MS.   15th 
Cy.,  Trin.  Coll.,  Cam.,  O  g,  38.     Rel.  Ant.,  ii.  178. 

Canterburie  was,  London  is,  and  York  shall  be. — W.  Perkins, 

Fruitful  Dialogue  concerning  the  end  of  the  World  :  Wks.,  1618, 
p.  468.     In  the  North  they  say  Lincolne  was. 

Canterbury  is  in  decay, 
God  help  may. 

Lottery  of  1567,  Kempe's  Losely  MS.  211.  Haz. 

Canterbury  is  the  higher  rack  \i.e.  in  rank],  but  Winchester  is 
the  better  manger  [i.e.  richer  in  revenues].  —  F.  W. 
(Saying  of  Bp.  W.  Edinton).     See  Hereford. 

For  company,  as  Kit.  went  to  Canterbury.— P.,  29.  Perhaps 
this  refers  to  the  social  attractions  which  led  many  to  go 
on  pilgrimage.  I  once  travelled  to  Jerusalem  with  a  very 
jolly  party  of  French,  personally  conducted  by  a  Cook  of 
the  period  (1856). 

Testes  Londonias  ratibus  (shipping),  Wintonia  Baccho, 
Hereforda  grege,  Wirecestria  fruge  redundans, 
Batha  lacu,  Salesbira  feris,  Cantuaria  pisce 
[Badha]  Eboracum  silvis,  Excestria  clara  metallis. 
Norvicium  Dacis,  Hibernis  Cestria,  Gallis 
Cicestrum,  Norwageniis  Dunelma  propinquans, 
Testis  Lincolise  gens  infinita  decore 
Testis  Ely  formosa  situ,  Rouecestria  visu. 

Henrici  Huntendunensis.   Hist.  Angl"-,  i.,  p.  11  (Rolls  ed.). 

Smoky  Charing. — P.,  30.  [6  m.  N.W.  of  Ashford.]  Probably 
the  locus  in  quo  of  "  The  Smoke  of  Charren."  A  prov. 
relating  to  a  wife  who  had  beat  her  husband,  and  he  going 
out  weeping,  said  "  it  was  for  the  smoke  his  eyes  watered." 
—Ho. 

If  you  would  go  to  a  church  mis-went* 

You  must  go  to  CucKSToNEf  in  Kent. — Leland,  Itin.,  II.  137, 1744. 

Very  unusual  in  proportion.  The  pews  are  as  old  as  the 
Reformation. 

*(Gone  astray)  Spenser,  Shep.  Kah,  Aug.  1.  16;  F.  j.,  IV.,  xxx.  6. 
t  Caxton,  2  m.  S.W.  of  Strood. 

A  Deal  gale  (from  the  S.) — Murr. 

Deal,  Dover,  and  Harwich, 

the  devil  gave  his  daughter  in  marriage  ; 

and  by  a  codicil  to  his  will, 

he  added  Helvoet  and  the  Brill. — Gr.,  P.,  32. 

A  satirical  squib,  thrown  at  the  innkeepers  of  those  places. — Gr. 
Deal  crabs, — Murr. 

110 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  kent. 

Deal  Savages,  Canterbury  Parrots, 
Dover  Sharps,  and  Sandwich  Carrots.—  P.,  33. 
Gardening  first  used  as  a  trade  at  Sandwich. — Harris,  p.  63. 
See  Folkstone. 

A  Dover   Shark,  and  a   Deal  Savage.      The  first  from   the  ring 

being  removed  from  a  dying  man's  finger  by  biting  the 

finger  off. — Gr. 

Dover,  a  den  of  thieves. — Smollett,  Trav.  thro'  Fr.  and  It.,  p.  5. 

As  sure  as  there 's  a  dog  in  Dover. — P.,  35,  i.e.  as  sure  as  a  gun. 

It 's  all  Dover  with  me,  i.e.  all  up. — Haz.,  2nd  ed.    Cf.  L.  C.  D. 

on  first  page  of  Kent. 

Load  me  well,  and  keep  me  clean, 
and  I  '11  carry  a  ball  to  Calais  Green. 
Said  of  Qu.  Eliz*'''^  pocket  pistol  at  Dover  Castle. — Murray. 
A  Dover  house,  i.e.  a  necessary  house.— P.,  34. 
When  it 's  dark  in  Dover 
'tis  dark  all  the  world  over. — P.,  40. 
From  Berwick  to  Dover 
three  hundred  miles  over. 

i.e.  from  Dan  to  Beersheba. — F.  W. 
See  Haz.,  p.  138. 
In  Barwick  and  Dover 
And  all  the  world  over. 

"  Little  John  and  the  Four  Beggars,  " 
British  Ballads,  ed.  Child,  v.  327. 
From  Dover  to  Dunbar. — Antiqu"-  Report,  i.  78,  P.,  39. 
When  Dover  and  Calais  meet. — Fr. 
A  Jack  of  Dover.— F.W. 

And  many  a  Jack  of  Dover  he  had  sold 

Which  had  been  two  times  hot  and  two  times  cold. 

Chaucer,  Cook's  Prol. 
Nor  Jack  of  Dover,  that  Grand  Jury  Jack. — Taylor,  Jack  a  Lent. 
Chastel  de  Dovre.— Douce,  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 
Dover,  Sandwich,  and  Winchelsea, 
Rumney  and  Rye,  the  Five  Ports  be. — N.,  I.,  viii.  615. 

Rye  and  Winchelsea  are  in  Sussex.     See  another 
form  under  that  Co. 

Hardement  de  Cink  pors,  [i.e.  dash,  courage]. — Douce  MS.  98, 
13th  Cy. 

Dover  Court,  all  speakers  and  no  hearers. — F.  W.,  who  considers 
that  Dover  Court  in  Essex  is  not  intended  by  this,  but 
some  Admiralty  tribunal  at  Dover.  Pegge,  however,  ignores 
it  as  a  Kentish  proverb. 

The  proverbial  Court  at  Dover. — North  Examen,,  p.  517. 

.  .  .  where  all  speak,  but  nobody  heard  or  answered. 

Tom  Brown,  Wks.,  iii.  66. 

HI 


KENT.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

A  North-East  wind  in  May 

makes  the  Shotver-men  a  prey. — P.,  41. 

The  mackerel  fishers,  who  use  a  Shot-net. 
An  Eastry  flower.     A  double  crown  on  an  horse's  head ;  meaning, 

I  suppose,  a  recommendation  to  a  horse  at  Eastry  fair. — P. 

He  also  suggests  that  it  is  a  corruption  of  Ostrich  feather. 

Erith.        Then  down  to  Erith  'gainst  the  tide  we  went. 
Next  London,  greatest  Mayor  town  in  Kent 
Or  Christendom.        Taylor,  A  Discovery  by  Sea,  1623. 

Feversham  [or  Milton]  oysters. — P.  42.     Juvenal  celebrates  those 
of  Richborough  :    Rutupinove  edita  fundo 

Ostrea.  Sat.,  iv.  141. 

Lambarde,  p.  259,  commends  those  of  the  N.  &  S.  yenlets, 
near  the  Reculvers. 
To  be  married  at  Finglesham  Church,  i.e.  in  a  chalk  pit  notorious 
for  amatory  meetings. — F.  W.     Finglesham  is  a  hamlet  in 
the  par.  of  Northbourne,  nr.  Deal. — P.,  43. 

FoLKSTONE.    The  Montpelier  of  England. — Dr.  Harvey  (in  P.,  13), 
who  was  a  native. 
Folkstone  washerwomen,  i.e.  the  white  clouds  which  commonly 
bring  rain. — P.,  44. 
There  was  a  vale  (whale)  came  down  the  flood, 
Folsteners  couldn't  catch  'un,  but  Doveres  dud. — P.,  16. 
i.e.  Folkstone  men. 

FoRDWicH  trouts. — p.,  46.     On  the  Stour,  Camb.     Somner,  p.  25. 

Frindsbury  Clubs. — P.,  47.     Lambarde,  p.  365.     Harris,  p.  128. 
A  legend  of  a  beating  inflicted  on  the  monks  of  Rochester. 

Let  him  set  up  shop  on  Goodwin  Sands. — He.    i.e.  be  shipwrecked. 
More  thanks  than  there  are  pebbles  on  Goodwin  Sands. — 
Don  Quixote,  by  Philips,  1687.      See  Tenterden. 
Greenwich  geese,  i.e.  pensioners. — Brady,  V.  of  L.,  p.  53. 
He  that  rideth  into  the  Hundred  of  Hoo,* 
besides  pilfering  seamen  shall  have  dirt  enoo— Holinshed. 

*  District  between  Thames  and  Medway. 
Jesus  Christ  was  never  but  once  at  Hever, 
and  then  He  fell  into  the  river. — Murray.     Deep  muddy  roads. 
The  Vale  of  Holmesdale  [between  Reigate  and  Sevenoaks] 
never  won,  nor  never  shall. — Lambard,  1596,  p.  519. 
was  never  won,  ne  ever  shall. — R. 
never  conquer'd,  never  shall. — Murray. 

The  Danes  were  beaten  here,  and  the  Men  of  Kent  retained 
their  ancient  privileges  under  the  Conqueror. 
Knole.  The  dome  of  Knole*  by  fame  enroU'd, 

The  Church  of  Canterbury, 
The  hops,  the  beer,  the  cherries  there, 
Would  fill  a  noble  story. 
*  Near  Sevenoaka 

112 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  kent. 

Long,  lazy,  lousy  Lewisham. — Gr.     Said  to  have  been  so  called  by 
James  I. — Skeat. 

Margate.     Margate  kings.    See  Ramsgate. 

He  that  will  not  live  long, 

let  him  dwell  at  Muston,*  Tenham,  or  Tong, — Lambard. 

*  Merstham. 
Cf.  Bapchild.     See  Somerfield. 

NoRTHDowN  ale.     In  the  Isle  of  Thanet. — P.,  54.     Ray,  312. 

The  Mayor  of  Queenborough, 

The  Recorder,  Howell,  appeared,  and  to  avert  the  rule  for 
an  attachment  alledged  .  .  .  the  disorder  that  might 
happen  in  the  City  if  the  mayor  were  imprisoned. 
The  C.  J.  put  his  thumb  in  his  girdle,  as  his  way  was, 
and  "  Tell  me  of  the  mayor  of  London,"  said  he ;  "  tell 
me  of  the  mayor  of  Queenborough." — R.  North,  Life  of 
Guildford,  i.  114. 
And  that  which  is  the  mischief  of  it,  too,  is  to  see  the 
Codled  fool  take  upon  him  in  that  tune  [of  drunkenness] 
and  exercise  his  husbandly  authority  like  a  Mayor  of 
Quenborow,  and  with  as  much  discretion  .  .  .  nodding 
out  his  commands  with  less  wit  than  a  gander  on  a 
green. — C.  Trenchfield,  Cap  of  Gray  Hairs  for  a  Green 
Head,  ch.  26.  1678. 
A  Queenboro'  Mayor  behind  his  mace  (ludicrous). — M.  Green, 
The  Spleen. 

A   Rochester   portion,   i.e.  two  torn   smocks   and    what    Nature 

gave. — Gr. 
Ramsgate  skinflints. — Murr. 

Ramsgate  herrings,  Peter's*  lings, 
Broadstairs  scrubs,  and  Margate  Kings. — Murray. 
Indicating  the  poverty  of  all  but  the  last,  which  from  its 
London  trade  was  wealthy. 

*Near  N.  Foreland. — Walcott. 

Like  Rumney  Marsh  :  hyeme  malus,  sestate  molestus,  nunquam 
bonus. — T.  Adams,  Wks.,  388,  1629.  Romney  Marsh,  S.E. 
of  Dungeness,  reclaimed  from  the  sea,  now  very  fertile. 

He  thrives  as  well  as  a  Welsh  runt  in  Romney  Marsh. — Ho., 

New  Sayings,  V. 
The  world  is  divided  into  Europe,  Asia,  Africa,  America,  and 

Romney  Marsh.     A  saying  of  the  marshmen,  alluding  to 

the  isolation  of  the  district. — Murr. 

St.  Michael's  Mount  who  does  not  know, 

That  wards  the  Western  Coast  ? 
And  of  St.  Bridget's  Bowre,  I  trow. 

All  Kent  can  rightly  boast ! — Spen.,  Shep.  Gal.,  July,  41. 

Sandwich.     See  Tenterden.     Sandwich  carrots. — Murr. 

Conscience  is  drowned  in  Sandwich  Bay,  or  Haven. — P.,  56. 

VOL.  I.  113  8 


KENT.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

St.  Peter's  [i^  m.  N.  of  Broadstairs].     See  Ramsgate. 

Starve  'em,  Rob  'em,  and  Cheat  'em.  i.e.  Stroud,  Rochester,  and 
Chatham. — Gr.  A  saying  in  the  mouths  of  the  soldiers 
and  sailors  who  were  fleeced  there. 

Sutton  for  mutton,  [Sutton  at  Hone] 
Kirby  for  beef  [Horton  Kirby] 
South  Darne  for  gingerbread  [S.  Darenthe] 
Dartford  for  a  thief.* 

(All  on  the  river  Darent.) 
•  The  bridewell  was  in  Lowfield  St.,  Dartford.     "Wat  Tyler  began  his  insur- 
rection here  by  beating  out  the  brains  of  the  poll-tax  collector  [temp.  Rich.  II.). — 
Murray. 

Tenham  (Teynham)  [3  m.  W.N.W.  of  Faversham].    See  Merstham. 
Tenterden's    ...    is  the  cause  of  the  breach  in    .    .    . — F.  W. 
Tenterton's  steeple  was  cause  of  Goodwin's  Sands. — CI. 
Of  many  people  it  hath  been  said. 
That  Tenterden  steeple  Sandwich  haven  hath  decayed. 

Kempe,  Losely  MS.,  Lottery  Devises  c.  1567,  p.  211. 
.  .  before  Tenterton  steeple  was  in  building,  there  was  no 
manner  of  talking  of  any  flats  or  sands  that  stopt  up  the 
haven  ;  and  therefore  I  think  that  Tenterton  steeple  is  the 
cause  of  the  decay  and  destroying  of  Sandwich  haven. — ■ 
Quoted  as  the  remembrance  of  an  old  man  in  Latimer, 
Senn. 
It  was  a  wiser  answer  of  him  that,  being  demanded  the  cause  of 
those  shelves  about  Sandwich  haven,  said  "  It  was  the 
building  of  Tenterden  steeple." — -T.  Adams,  Med.  on  Creed.- 
Wks.,  p.  1 154. 

When  England  (w)rings 

Thanet  sings. — TV.  I.,  vi.  185.  Murray,  i.e.  rejoices  in  its  dry  soiL 
The  island,  i.e.  Thanet. 

Insula  rotunda  Thanatos  quam  circuit  unda 
Fertilis  et  munda  nulli  est  in  orbe  secunda. 

This  formerly  encircled  the  chancel  of  Monkton  Church  in 
the  Isle  of  Thanet. — Murray. 

ToNG  [5  m.  W.N.W.  of  Faversham].     See  Merstham. 

Wedged  as  close  as  wheatears  in  a  Tunbridge  pie. — Ned  Ward> 
Step  to  Stirbitch  Fair :   Wks.,  ii.  250. 

Between  Wickham  and  Welling 

there 's  not  an  honest  man  dwelling ; 

and  I  '11  tell  you  the  reason  why 

because  Shooter's  Hill  is  so  nigh. — N.  I.,  viii.  466. 

As  a  Thorn  produces  a  Rose,  so  Godwin  begat  Editha. — P.,  59. 
Harris,  p.  416.     Rapin,  i.,  131,  notes. 

Fogge's  feast. — P.,  63.  An  ancient  saying  when  any  accident 
happens  at  an  entertainment.  From  a  dinner  which  came 
to  grief  at  his  house. 

114 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  lancs. 

At  Betshanger*  a  Gentleman,  at  Fredvilef  a  Squire, 
at  Bonington  J  a  noble  Knight,  at  ...  a  Lawyer. 

Lawyer  is  to  be  pronounced  Lyer,  as  is  common  now  in  some 
counties.   This  relates  to  the  worshipful  family  of  the  Bois's, 
of  which  four  several  branches  were  flourishing  at  once  at 
those  seats  here  mentioned. — P.,  60. 
"  4  m.  W.  of  Deal.     1 7  m.  S.E.  of  Canterbury.     }  6  m.  W.  of  Hythe. 
Somerfield^*  shall  quickly  yield 
Scott's  t  Hall  shall  have  a  fall 
Merstham  HatchJ  shall  win  the  match. 

Sir  Egerton  ^rjdges,  Additions  to  Kent  in  "  Seats  of  Families." — F.  W. 
*  In  Sellinge,  the  seat  of  the  Gomeldons. 
t  In  Barbourne  or  Smeeth,  seat  of  the  Scotts.      i  Still  the  seat  of  the  KnatchuUs. 

Scot's  Hall  shall  have  a  fall, 

Ostenanger  was  built  in  anger, 

Somerfield  will  have  to  yield,  [near  Maidstone] 

and  Merstham  Hatch  shall  win  the  match. 

Saturday  Review,  Feb.,  1877. 
We  all  hang  by  a  Hopbine,  and  according  as  that  hopbine  is  full  and 
strong,  we  are  rich  and  prosperous. — Graphic,  24/9,  '99. 
Cf.  Hops  make  or  break. 

Ttirfe.     I  'd  play  hun  'gain  a  knight,  or  a  good  'squire, 
Or  gentleman  of  any  other  county 
In  the  kingdom. 
Pan.     Outcept  Kent,  for  there  they  landed 

All  gentlemen  and  came  in  with  the  Conqueror. 

B.  Jon.,  A  Tale  of  a  Tub,  i.  2. 

LiANCASHIRi:. 

Lancaschir.  fair  archer. — MS.  Harl. 

Lancastreshire  fayre  archere.  —MS-  Rawl. 

"Fair  women"  doth  belong  to  Lancashire  again. — Drayt.  Pol.,  xxiii. 

Lancashire  fair  women. — F.  W. 

(Pendle  Hill)  in  Lancashire,  where  the  witches  use  to  be. — Ho. 

Lancashire  witches  (title  of  a  play,*  1634.) — ^^^  Jon.,  The  Devil  is 
an  Ass,  i.  i. 
*By  Thomas  Heywood  and  Brome.      Not  long  before  these  plays  were 
written  fifteen  women  had  been  indicted  and  twelve  condemned  for  witchcraft  in 
Lancashire. — Note  by  Gifford.     B.  Jon.,  Wks. 

Ye  lusty  lasses  then  in  Lancashire  that  dwell ; 
For  beauty  that  are  said  to  bear  away  the  bell ; 
Your  country's  hornpipe  ye  so  mincingly  that  tread, 
As  ye  the  egg-pie  love  and  Apple  cherry-red. 

Drayt.  Pol.,  xxvii.  65. 

A  Welsh  bitch  makes  a  Cheshire  cat,  and  a  Cheshire  cat  makes  a 
Lancashire  witch;  "the  harlot's  progress  in  the  factory 
towns." — N.,  IX.,  ii.  134. 

115 


LANCS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

He  that  would  take  a  Lancashire  man  at  any  time  or  tide 
must  bait  his  hook  with  a  good  egg-pie  or  an  apple  with  a  red  side. 

R.,  1678. 

A  foolish  Fasting  Day.  ...  I  bade  him  stay  till  Lent, 

And  now  he  whimpers  he  'd  to  Rome  forsooth ; 

That 's  his  last  refuge,  but  would  try  awhile 

How   well   he   should  be   used   in    Lancashire. — Middleton,  Inner 

Temple  Masque. 
The  people,  generally  devout,  are  (as  I  am  informed),  Northward 

and    by   the   West,    Popishly   affected,  which  in   the  other 

parts  (intended  by  antiperistasis)  are  zealous  Protestants. — 

F.  W.,  Lane. 

Lancash.  Parishes.     See  Characters  of  Districts. 

What  Lancashire  thinks  to-day  all  England  will  think  to-morrow. 
This  was  in  the  days  of  the  Anti-Corn-Law  League.     Since 
then   the  initiative  in  political  movements  proceeds  from 
Birmingham. 

Lancashire  Cotton-lords. 

In  Lancashire  cotton  is  King. 

Oat-cake  lads  (operatives). — Harland  and  W"-,  p.  239. 

Little  lad,  little  lad,  where  wast  thou  born  ? 
Far  off  in  Lancashire  under  a  thorn, 
Where  they  sup  sour  milk  in  a  ram's  horn. 

HIL,  Pop.  Rhy. 

If  a  Lancashire  man  wish  to  be  ahead  of  a  Yorkshireman  he  must 
be  up  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  ;  but  if  a  Yorkshireman 
wish  to  be  ahead  of  a  Lancashire  man  he  musn't  go  to  bed 
at  all  (an  old  saying). — C.  W.  Bardsley,  Romance  of  London 
Directory,  p.  108. 

Lankies,  on  entering  a  room,  either  winter  or  summer,  rush  to  the 

fire-place. — JV.,  V.,  viii.  226. 
Maria.      Were  I  yet  unmarried,  free  to  choose 

Through  all  the  tribes  of  men  I  would  take  Petruchio 
In  's  shirt  with  one  ten  groats  to  pay  the  priest, 
Before  the  best  man  living  or  the  ablest, 
That  e'er  leap'd  out  of  Lancashire — and  they  are  right  ones. 
Fletcher,  The  Woman's  Prize,  i.  3. 
Lancashire  law, 
no  stake  no  draw. — Carr,  Craven  Gloss,  p.  274. 

(An  evasion  of  a  bet  lost  that  had  been  orally  made — Hll.) 
C/.,  Stopford,  in  Cheshire. 

You  are  as  necessary  in  a  city  as  tumblers  in  Norfolk,  sumners  in 
Lancashire,  or  rakehells  in  an  army.  —  Webster,  West.  Ho., 
iii.  2. 

Beyond  Lawrence  of  Lancashire. — Field,  A  Woman  is  a  Weathercock, 
1612;  H.,  O.P. 

As  rich  as  Cheetham  of  Castleton. — Har.  and  W"-,  p.  192. 

116 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  lancs. 

Ashton-under-Lyne  [6  m.  E.  of  Manchester] . 
Proud  Ash'on,  poor  people, 

ten  bells,  un'  un  owd  crackt  steeple. — Higson,  Supplt. 
Ash'n  fellows.^-N.,  V.,  viii.  226.     See  Oldham. 
Sweet  Jesu,  for  Thy  mercy  sake,  and  for  Thy  bitter  passion, 
save  us  from  the  axe  of  the  Tower  and  from  Sir  Ralph  of  Assheton. 

HIL,  Pop.  Rhy. 

BiRKLE  [S.E.  Lane,  2  m.  N.N.W.  of  Middleton.J 

Birtle  (or  Bircle)  folk  are  a  deal  on  'em  sib  an'  sib,  rib  an'  rib, 
o'  00  a  letter :  Fittons  an'  Diggles  an'  Fittons  an'  Diggles 
o'er  again. — H.  and  W". 

Black  Comb  (near  Broughton-in-Furness).     See  Cumberland. 
Blackpool. 

Penny  stood,  Carling  fled,  and  Red  Bank  ran  away. 

(Travellers  used  to  tie  their  horses  to  Penny  Stone,  near 
Blackpool,  when  they  alighted  to  get  a  penny  pot  of 
ale  at  the  public  close  by.  It  is  now  submerged. — 
Murr.     Opposite  to  Norbrock,  2  m.  N.  of  Blackpool.) 

Bolton  [le  Moors,  10  m.  N.  of  Manchester]. 

1644,  May  2.     Bolton  was  taken.    Colonel  R.     Forces  Routed, 
and  many  a  sweet  Saint  slain ;  no  quarter  would  be  given, 
so  that  it  arose  into  a  Proverb,  Bolton  quarter,  i.e.  present 
death  without  mercy. — Ambrose,  Media  or  Middle  Things, 
Lon.,  1650,  4to.,  p.  72 
As  rough  as  a  Bolton  chap. — Murr. 
BowTON  billies.  — W.,  V.,  viii.  226. 
trotters.     See  Bolton. 

A  chap  fra  Boughton,  and  a  fella  fra  Wiggin. — N.,  VL,  iii.  148. 
Bury  [8  m.  N.N.W.  of  Manchester]. 
Bury  muffers. — N.,  V.,  viii.  226. 

cymblins. — JV.,  V.,  viii.  226.     ?  Simbling  cakes  [simnels], 
eaten  in  Lancashire  on  Mid- Lent  Sunday. 

Chawbent.     See  Chesh.     (R.,  1678,  erroneously  places  it  in  Lane.) 

Childwall.     See  Preston. 

Like  CoLNE*  clock,  always  at  one,  i.e.  always  the  same.     Said  of 
a  steady  person. — Harl.  &  Wn.,  p.  194. 
'"  nr.  Blackburn. 
DiTTON.     See  Hutton. 

DowNHAM*  diamonds.     Crystals  like  Bristol  "  stones." — Murr. 
'  3  m.  N.E.  of  Clitheroe. 

EccLES  cakes  [3  m.  E.  of  Manchester]. — N.,  V.,  viii.  226. 
As  thrang  as  Eccles  wakes. — Haz.,  i.e.  as  crowded. 
Grinning  like  a  clown  thro'  a  horse  collar  at  Eccles  wake  for 
a  pound  o'  bacco. — Harl.  &  W"-,  p.  193. 

117 


LANcs.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA, 

Barton  and  Eccles  they  will  not  agree, 
For  envy  and  pride  is  the  reason  you  '11  see ; 
France  with  Spain  and  England  are  the  same, 
And  many  more  compose  the  ill-natur'd  train. 

The  History  of  Eccles  and  Barton's  Contentious  Guising  War, 

by  F.  Harrington,  1778. 
Anderton  jewels,  i.e.  duck-winged  gamecocks.     Anderton,  temp. 
Henry  VHI.,  fought  a  main  with  the  Duke  of  Suffolk — the 
stakes  being  the  tithes  of  Eccles.     The  Lancashire  gentle- 
man, producing  a  magnificent  duck-winged  cock,  observed  : 

There  is  a  jewel  in  England  : 

For  a  hundred  in  hand  and  a  hundred  in  land 

I  '11  fight  him  against  any  cock  in  England. — Murr. 

EvERTON  toffee  [2  m.  N.  of  Liverpool] . — iVi,  V.,  viii.  226. 
FuRNESS.     The  Polynesia  of  Furness.     The  numerous  islands  on 
the  S.  of  the  Peninsula  in  N.W.  Lancash. — Murr. 

God  made  man,  Man  made  money, 

God  made  bees,  bees  made  honey ; 

But  the  devil  his-sel  made  lawyers  and  'turnies, 

And  placed  them  at  U'ston  and  Dawton*  in  Furness. 
Gibson,  Hist.  Soc.  Lan.  S=  Chesh.,  i.  50. 
•  Ulverston  and  Dalton. 
In  High  Furness  it  is  said  that  the  towns  are  finished,  and  the 
country  unfinished.     Hawkshead,  the  only  town,  has  shown 
no  increase  in  extent  or  population  for  centuries,  and  on 
the  West  borders  of  High  Furness,  where  the  Chapelry 
of  Seathwaite   extends   along  the  bare  side  of  the  river 
Duddon,    the    scenery  is    remarkably   wild    and    rugged. 
Wordsworth   tells  of   a   traveller   who,  after   sleeping   at 
Seathwaite,  walked  out  before  breakfast,  and  in  answer 
to  enquiries  as  to  how  far  he  had  been,  said  he  had  been 
"as  far  as  it  is  finished." — Harl*.  &  Wilk"-,  Lane.  Leg., 
p.  203. 

Gorton  bulldogs  [3  m.  E.S.E.  of  Manchester]. — N.,  V.,  viii.  226. 
See  Manchester. 

Heywood  [3  m.  E.  of  Bury].     See  Oldham. 

HuTTON  an'  Huyton,  Ditton  an'  Hoo,  [Higson,  57. 

are  three  of  the  merriest  towns  that  e'er  a  man  rode  through. 

Huyton  and   Ditton  (S.W.  Lane,  nr.  Prescott),  Hooton  and 
Hoole  (Cheshire). 

HuvTON  [2.  m.  S.W.  of  Prescott].     See  Preston. 
KiRKHAM  [6  m.  N.  of  Preston]. 

Ace,  deuce,  tray, 
Landscales,  go  thy  way. 
An  estate  at  Goosnarth  in  this  par.  was  lost  at  the  game  of  Put 
(the  name  derived  from  the  table  being  struck  with  the 
hand    to    show  that    the    player  "stands").  —  Andrews, 
F.  L.  Rec.       Cf.  Wardhall  in  Cumbld. 

118 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  lancs. 

He  has  Lathom  and  Knowsley,  i.e.  more  than  enough. 

Lathom  [S.W.  Lane,  3  m.  N.E.  of  Ormskirk]  now  belongs 
to  Lord  Skelmersdale,t  but  formerly  to  the  Earls  of  Derby, 
who  are  still  proprietors  of  Knowsley  [2  m.  W.N.W.  of 
Prescott]. 

fNow  Earl  of  Lathom  — Ed. 

There  's  been  worse  stirs  than  that  at  Lathom.  (Allusion  to 
the  havoc  made  by  the  Parliamentary  troops  in  1645 — an 
ironical  remark  on  the  house  being  bouleversfe  on  washing- 
day.~Hd.  &  W. 
Layton.  They  shall  have  no  more  of  our  prayers  than  we  of  their 
pies,  quoth  the  Vicar  of  Layton. —  R.,  1678.  (?  the  parish 
on  the  W.  coast  in  which  Blackpool  stands.) 
Leyland.    Here  thou  shalt  be,  and  here  thou  shalt  stand, 

And  thou  shalt  be  called  the  Church  of  Leyland. 
A  village,  4  m.  N.W.  of  Chorley,  whose  church  having 
been  mysteriously  removed   the  night  after  its  com- 
pletion, this  couplet  was  found  written  on  a  marble 
tablet  in  the  wall.— Hll. 

Liverpool. 

Liverpudlians. 

Dicky  Sam. 

Liverpool  gentlemen. — N.,  V.,  viii.  226. 

Liverpool  is  mentioned  as  a  port  in  Lady  Bessy  (Percy  Soc, 

p.  287). 
The  Modern  Tyre. 
Manchester,     Cottonopolis. 

Manchester  man. — N.,  V.  viii.  226. 
Manchester  bred 

long  in  the  arms  and  short  in  the  head. — Higson,  51. 
Cf.    Chesh.  and  Derbysh. 
In  Manchester,  Cotton  is  King. 
The  Manchester  School  (of   Political  Economy). 

See  N.,  Vn.  xii. 
Gr.  (Z).,  Vulg.  Tongue)  gives  Manchester  as  cant  for  the  tongue. 
As  long  as  Dean's  Gate  (corruptly  for  St.  Dionise  Gate). — F.  W. 
As  Irish  as  pigs  in  Shudehill  market. — Haz. 

As  thrang  as  Knott-Mill  *  fair. — Haz. 
*  Near  Tormorden. 

The  Abbey  Hey  bulldogs  drest  in  rags 
dar'  no  com'  out  to  th'  Gorton  lads. 

(Villages  between  Ashton  and  Oldham.) 
The    constable    of    Oppenshaw*    sets    beggars   in   stocks   at 
Manchester. — R.,  1678,  under  Chesh. 

*  a  m.  E.  of  Manchester, 

MiDDLETON*  moones. — N.,  V.  viii.  226. 

*  6  m.  N.  of  Manchester. 

119 


LANcs.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Oldham  fellows,  mon. — N.,  V.,  viii.  226. 

Dogs  i'  Owdam,  pigs  i'  Ash'on. — Higson,  202. 
Owdham    rough    yeds,    Bowton    trotters,    Smo'bridge 

cossacks  [chap],  Heywood  monkey-teawn. — Harld.  &  W".,  196. 
In  Oldham  brewis  wet  and  warm, 
and  Rochdale  puddings  there's  no  harm. — Higson,  212. 

Openshaw.     See  Manchester. 

Ormskirk  (W.  Lane.)  gingerbread. — N.,  V.,  viii.  226. 

Pendle  Hill,  near  Chtheroe  (1851  feet  high). 

As  old  as  Pendle  Hill.     (In  Lancashire,  where  the  witches  use 
to  be.)— Ho.    R,  i678. 

When  Pendle  wears  it's  woolly  cap 
the  farmers  all  may  take  a  nap. 

Harld.  &  W.,  p.  189. 

Pilling  Moss.     As  inexhaustible  as  Pilling  Moss. — Murr. 
Never  done  like  Pilling  Moss. — H.  &  W. 
God's  grace  and  Pilling  Moss  are  boundless. — Higson. 
I  am  informed  that  Pilling  Moss  is  the  fountain  of  fuel  in  this 
county,    and   is   conceived  inexhaustible  by  the  vicinage. 
May  it  prove  so.     But  if  it   should  chance   to  fail,    may 
God's  grace  (which  the  vulgar,  in  their  profane  proverb, 
unequally  yoke  therewith) — I  say,  may  God's  grace  never 
be  drained  to  those   that  stand   in   need   thereof. — F.  W. 
See  Manners  and  Customs  of  Westmorland,  p.  564. 
Once  a  wood,  then  a  sea  ; 
Now  a  moss,  and  e'er  will  be. — Higson,  81. 
It  is  situated  near  Fleetwood,  and  is  now  nearly  reclaimed, 
though  still  a  great  breeding  ground  for  seagulls. 

Preston.  Proud  Preston,  poor  people, 

high  church,  and  low  steeple. — JV.,  I.,  vi.  496. 

fine no      ...  . — Hll. 

old      new  .  .  .  . — Long  Ago,  i.  277. 

built  a no      ...  . — N.,  VII.,  viii.  56. 

Preston  for  panmugs,  Huyton  for  pride, 

Childwall  for  tolling,  and  playing  beside. — Higson,  36. 

Prescot,  Huyton,  and  merry  Childow, 

Three  parishes  churches  all  in  a  row. 

Prescot  for  mugs,  Huyton  for  ploydes,* 

Childow  for  ringing  and  singing  besides. 

Harl.  and  Wilk.,  p.  182. 
*  Ploys,  merry  meetings  ?  or  ploughs. 
P.P.  The  Paschal  Lamb  with  these  letters    [Princeps  Pads] 
forms  the  shield  of  the  town's  armorial  bearings.     A  loftier 
tower  was  erected  in  1815,  and  a  new  church  in  1853. 
Preston  was  the  residence  of  genteel  famiUes  in  days  of  yore ; 
"  the  resort  of  well-born  but  ill-proportioned  and  ill-endowed 
old  maids  and  widows." 

120 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  lancs. 

Quern.      [Quern  Moor,  3  m.  S.E.  of  Lancaster.] 
Do  as  they  do  at  Quern, 
What  we  do  not  to-day  we  must  do  in  the  morn. 

R.,  1678. 

Radcliffe  nippers  [3  m.  S.S.W.  of  Bury].— 2V.,  V.,  viii.  226. 

RiBCHESTER  [5  m.  N.N.W.  of  Blackburn,  on  theRibble.    Supposed 
to  be  the  Roman  station], — Camden,  Brit. 
It  is  written  upon  a  wall  in  Rome : 

"  Ribchester  was  as  rich  as  any  town  in  Christendom." — F.  W. 
Strafforello  prints  "  Robchester,"  perhaps  not  without  signifi- 
cation.— Rerigonium.     H.  &  W.,  207. 

RiviNGTON.         If  Riving[ton]  pike  do  wear  a  hood, 

Be  sure  that  they  will  ne'er  be  good. — R.,  1670. 
In  par.  of  Bolton. 

Rochdale.     See  Oldham. 

Ratchdaw  fellies. — N.,  V.,  viii.  226. 
gawbies. — Ih. 

Seathwaite  [7  m.  W.S.W.  of  Hawkshead]. 

Newfield  and  Nettleslack,  HoUinhouse,  and  Longhouse, 
Turner    Hall,     and     Undercrag,     Backhouse     Thrang,     and 

Tonguehouse, 
Browside,   Troutwell,    Hinginghouse,    Dalehead  and    Cockley 

Beck— 
You  may  gedder  o  t'wheeat  they  growe  and  niver  fill  a  beck. — 

Gibson. 
(The  high  grounds  are  all  sheep- pasturee.) 
A  Seathwaite  candle  is  a  greased  seeve. — Id. 
Hot  and  wet,  like  Seathwaite  broth. — Id.,  i.e.,  weak  and  tasteless, 

made  from  dried  mutton. 
We've  neeah  back  dooers  i'  Seethet,  i.e,  the  front  serves  for 

high  and  low. 

Smallbridge  [2  m.  N.E.  of  Rochdale],     See  Oldham. 

We  're  o'  00  a  litter  like  kitter  pigs,  i.e.  the  pigs  of  the  sand- 
knockers  of  Smallbridge.  — Harl.  and  W". 

SouTHPORT  [7  m.  N.W.  of  Ormskirk]. 
The  English  Montpellier.— Murr. 

Stretford  [3  m.  S.W.  of  Manchester]. 

Stratford  black  puddings. — N.,  V.,  viii.,  226. 
The  following  points  in  the  same  direction  : 
Traveller.     "  What  is  the  name  ot  this  place  ?  " 

Answer.     "  Stretford." 
Traveller.     "  What !  Stratford-upon-Avon  ? " 

Answer.     "  No  !  Hell-upon-Earth." 

Warrington  ale. — Murr.     N.,  V.,  viii.  226. 

121 


LANGS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

WiGAN.     Fellas  from  Wigan.     See  Bolton. 

Maudlin  maudlin  we  begun, 

and  built  t'  church  steeple  t'  wrang  sideon.— Higson,  198. 
(The  steeple  is  built  on  the  north  side  at  the  junction  of  nave 

and  chancel.) 
"  Here 's  to  the  Mayor  of  Wigan,  that  is  our  noble  selves."     A 

toast  while  glasses  are  touched  before  drinking.— JV.,  VIII., 

xi.  187. 

WiNwiCK  [4  m.  N.  of  Warrington]  . 

On  this  hill  a  church  shall  be  built,  and  the  name  of  it  shall  be 

called  Win  wick. 
[The  church  of  Little  Winwick.] 

And  as  for  good  old  Winwick  church, 

It  stands  upon  the  sod  ; 
And  when  a  maid  goes  to  be  wed 

The  steeple  gives  a  nod. — Higs.     H.  &  W. 
The  site  of  the  church  on  the  spot  where  St.  Oswald,  King  of 
the  Northumbrians,  was  killed,  is  said  to  have  been  deter- 
mined by  a  pig. —  H.  &  W.,  p.  76. 

RIVERS. 

Of  the  Duddon  and  other  streams  in  N.  Lancash.  a  local  expression 
states  that 

"  Up  with  a  shower, 
Down  in  an  hour." 

Harld.  &  W".,  Lan.  Leg.,  p.  189. 
The  Hodder,  the  Calder,  the  Ribble,  and  rain 
all  meet  together  in  Mitton's  domain.* — Murr. 
All  join'd  together  can't  carry  a  bean.     Harld.  &  W". ,  p.  1 85 . 
*  i.e.,  on  the  Yorksh.  border.     (Not  Milton,  as  given  by  Haz.) 
Kent  and  Keer  [Murr. 

have  parted  many  a  good  man  and  his  meere  [mare]. — Higson,  104  ; 
Two  rivers    emptying    into    Morecambe  Bay,  and    subject  to 
sudden  floods   and  shifting    sands.     The   Keer   enters  on 
the  sands  in  a  broad  rapid  current.     Cf.  Westmorland. 
Yoke,  Irwell,  Medlock,  and  Fame, 

when  they  meet  with  the  Mersey  do  lose  their  name. — Higson,  91. 
Whenas  wars  are  aloft 
safe  is  he  that 's  at  Christ's  Cross, 
and  where  should  Christ's  Cross  be  ? 
but  betwixt  Ribble  and  Mersey. 

W.  W.,  New  Help  to  Discourse,  p.  114,  1659. 
When  all  England  is  aloft 
weel  are  they  that  are  in  Christ's  Croft, 
and  where  should  Christ's  Croft  be 
but  between  Ribble  and  Mersey  ? — Higson. 
Cf,  Blest  is  the  eye 

between  Severn  and  Wye  (a  well-guarded  position). 

122 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  Leicester. 

LEIOE  STBRSHIRB. 

Leycetershire  full  of  benys. — MS.  Rawl. 
Leicesterschir  full  of  benys. — MS.  Harl. 
Bean-belly  Leicestershire. — F.W. ;  Drayt.  Pol.,  xxiii.  See  Haz.,  p.  8i. 
her  attribute  doth  bear. — Dray. 
Shake  a  Leicestershire  yeoman  by  the  collar  [shoulders — E.] 
and  you  shall  hear  the  beans  rattle  in  his  belly. — F.  W. 
The  answer  is — 
"  Yoi,  lad,  but  'ew  doost  ?  "  i.e.  durst. — Evans. 
Cornwall  squab-pie,  and  Devon  white-pot  brings, 
And  Leicester  beans  and  bacon  fit  for  [food  of]  Kings. 

King,  Art  of  Cookery. 

A  Leicestershire  plover,  i.e.  a  bag-pudding. — R.,  1678. 

Leicestershire  for  spires, 

and  Northamptonshire  for  squires. — Haz,,  and  Edn. 

What  have  I  to  do  with  Bradshaw's  windmill  ? — R.,  1678  ;  i.e.  other 

men's  affairs  ? — E. 
He  is  none  of  the  Hastings. — He.,  Dr.     Spoken  of  "  a  slow  coach." 

The   reference   is   to  the  family  of  the  E.   of  Huntingdon, 

whose  seat  was  near  Ashby  de  la  Zouch.      Cf.  Sussex. 
Of  kin  to  the  Hastings  (Obstinatio). — CI. 
Stilton  cheese  is  mostly  made  in  Leicestersh.,  tho'  it  takes  its  name 

from  a  par.  in  Hunts. 
He  has  gone  over  Assfordy  bridge  backwards — R.,  1678 ;  i.e.  Ash- 

fordby  or  Asfordby,  3  m.  W.  of  Melton. 
Spoken  of  one  that  is  past  learning —  R. ;    one  who  puts  the 
cart  before  the  horse  in  word  or  deed — E. 

Bedworth  beggars. — G.     See  Warwicksh. 

Belgrave  [i  m.  N.  of  Leicester] .     See  Mount  Sorrel. 

The  same  again,  quoth  Mark  of  Belgrave. — R.,  1678.  A  militia 
officer  who  was  so  abashed  on  parade  that  only  in  this  way 
could  he  repeat  his  commands. — E. 

Bever.  If  Bever  [Belvoir]  have  a  cap  [7  m.  S.W.  of  Grantham] 
You  churles  of  the  vale,  look  to  that. — F.  W, 
E.  reads  "  wears  "  for  have,  adding :  "  I  have  little  doubt  that 
when  an  Albini  or  a  RoS  wore  his  cap  in  the  Manor  Court, 
or  rode  out  from  his  castle-gates  either  to  the  chase,  the 
Council,  or  the  battle,  there  was  good  cause  for  the  churls 
of  the  vale  to  look  to  it." 

When  mist  doth  rise  from  Belvoir  Hole, 

Oh,  then  be  sure  the  weather's  foul. — Haz.,  p.  477. 

BiLLESDON.  In  and  out, 

like  Billesdon,  I  wot. — R.,  1678. 
A  scattered,  irregular  village  between  Leicester  and  Uppingham, 
"  noted  for  the  crookedness  of  its  main  thoroughfare." — E. 

BiRSTALL.     See  Mount  Sorrel. 

123 


LEICESTER.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Brentingby.     Brentingby*  pancheons  and  Wyfordby  f  pans, 

Stapleford  t  organs  and  Burton  §  ting-rangs  [bells]. 

N.,  VI.,  ii.  514. 
"  3  m.  E.  of  Melton.        t  2  m.  E.  of  Melton.         I  4  m.  E.S.E.  of  Melton. 
§  Burton  Lazars,  2  m.  S.E.  of  Melton. 

Bringhurst  [2  m.  W.  of  Rockingham].     See  Rutlandsh. 

BuRROUGH-men  merry,  more  bread  than  drink. — CI. 

Maza  esurenti  auro  charior  (James). — CI. 

Bread  for  Borough-men. — R.,  1678. 

E.  refers  this  to  some  special  privileges  enjoyed  by  "  borough- 
men"  in  towns  such  as  Hinckley,  divided  into  "borough 
and  bond." 

Burrow  is  5  m.  S.  of  Melton. — Murr. 

Burton  Lazars.      See  Brentingby. 

Carleton  Curlieu  [8  m.  S.E.  of  Leicester]. 

Carleton  wharlers  (from  their  harsh  speech). — F.W. 
harlers. — G.     Cf.  the  Newcastle  burr. 
An  inability  to  pronounce  an  "  r." — F.W. 
[The  inhabitants]  have  an  ill-favoured,  untunable,  and  harsh 
manner  of  speech,  fetching  their  words  with  very  much 
adoe  deepe  from  out  of  the  throat,  with  a  certain  kind  of 
wharling. — Holland's  Camden,  p.  327  ;   Fuller,  Ch.  Hist., 
IH.,  V.  6;  A  Pisgak-Sight,  II.,  ix.  i. 

Glen  Magna  [6  m.  S.E.  of  Leicester]. 
At  Great  Glen 

there  are  more  great  dogs  than  honest  men. — R.,  1678. 
A  reference  to  the  number  of  inmates  in  Glen  "  Industry." — E. 

Groby. 

Then  I  '11  thatch  Groby  [or  Grooly]  pool  with  pancakes. — F.  W. 
This  is  what  A  announces  that  he  will  do  in  case  B  succeeds 
in  doing  what  A 's  superior  judgment  considers  impossible. 
It   is   the   largest   sheet    of  water  in   the   county  (E.), 
variously  estimated  at  40  and  80  acres,  fronting  Stewards- 
bury  and  5  m.  N.W.  of  Leicester. 
For  his  death  there  is  many  a  wet  eye  in  Groby  pool. — R.,  1678. 
i.e.  eyot  or  little  isle,  implying  that  no  tears  are  shed  by  his 
friends,  so  that  it  is  a  general  prophecy. 
Whene'er  a  wan  o'  em  doys  ther's  baound  to  be  wet  oys  i' 
Grewby  Pule. — E. 

Harborough. 

I  '11  throw  you  into  Harborough  field. — R.,  1678.    (A  threat  to 

children.) 
A  goose  will  eat  up  all  the  grass  that  grows  in  Harborough  field. 
The  town  of  Market  Harboro'  has  no  lands  appertaining  to  it. 

— Murr. 

124 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Leicester. 

HiGHAM-ON-THE-HiLL,*  Stoke  in  the  Vale.f 
Wykin  I  for  buttermilk,  Hinckley  for  ale. — HU. 

*  3  m.  W.N.W.  of  Hinckley.         +  ?  Stoke  Golding,  3  m,  N.W.  of  Hinckley, 
t  2  m.  N.W.  of  Hinckley. 

Hinckley  [12  m.  S.W.  of  Leicester]. 
The  last  man  that  he  kill'd 

keeps  hogs  in  Hinckley  field  [spoken  of  a  coward]. — R.,  1678. 
Markfield.— E. 
A  boaster  of  the  Ancient  Pistol  type. — E. 

Hog's  Norton.  Hog's  Norton, 

where  pigs  play  on  the  organ. 
This  arose  from  some  pigs  having  ate  up  a  bed  of  pennyroyal 

or  organs. — See  Haz.     E.  refers  it  to  a  snorer. 
You  were  born  at  Hog's  Norton,  i.e.  are  a  boor  or  boar.     F.  W. 
says  a  corr.  of  Hoch  N"  — G. 
Hose. 

There  be  more  whores  in  Hose  than  honest  women  in  Long 
Clawson — Haz. ;  i.e.  Claxton,  6  m.  N.N.W.  of  Melton 
Mowbray.  Hose  is  likewise  the  name  of  an  adjacent 
parish. 

Leycestre. 

Rasours  de  Leycestre. — Douce  MS.,  13th  Cy. 

Lockington  Wake.     [In  the  N.  angle  of  the  county  on  the  confines 
of  Derby  and  Nottingham.] 
Put  up  your  pipes  and  go  to  Lockington  Wake. — G. 
Melton  Mowbray.     Pork  pies. 
Mount  Sorrel. 

He  leaps  like  a  Belle  giant  or  devil  of  Mount  Sorrel. — R.,  1678  ; 

n.  Haz.,  168. 
Mount  Sorrel  he  mounted  at, 

Rodely  (Rothley)  he  rode  by,  [i  m.  S.W.  of  Mount  Sorrel] 
Onelip  (Wanlip)  he  leap'd  o'er,  [4  m.  N.  of  Leicester] 
at  Birstall  he  burst  his  gall,  [3  m.  N.  of  Leicester] 
and  Bellgrave  he  was  buried  at.f  [i  m.  N.  of  Leicester] 

N.,  I.,  V.  619. 
t  This  is  founded  on  the  legend  of  Bell,  a  giant  who  took  three  tremendous 
leaps,  commencing  at  Mount  Sorrel,  where  he  mounted  his  sorrel  horse,  thence 
making  one  jump  of  it  to  Wanlip  (one  leap).  He  then  leapt  a  second  mile  to 
Birstall,  where,  with  the  force  of  the  shock,  he  burst  himself  and  his  horse,  but 
he  managed  even  then  to  leap  one  more  mile,  as  far  as  Belgrave,  where,  as  the 
name  implies,  he  was  buried. — Murr. 

Quern. 

We  '11  do  as  they  do  at  Quern ; 

what  we  do  not  to  day,  we  must  do  in  the  morn. — R.,  1678. 
We  must  dew  as  the'  dew  at  Quern ;  * 
what  we  don't  dew  to  dee,  we  mut  dew  i'  th'  morn. — E. 
*  ?  Quorn,  2  m.  N.W.  of  Mount  Sorrel. 

Rothley.     See  Mount  Sorrel. 

125 


LINCOLN.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Stapleford.     See  Brentingby. 

Stoke.     See  Higham. 

Talbot  Wood  and  Talbot  Lane 

is  all  that 's  left  of  Talbot's  name.— In  Charnwood  Forest. 

Sir  John  Talbot,  of  Swannington,  d.  1365. — E. 

Wanlip.     See  Mount  Sorrel. 

Wyfordby.     See  Brentingby. 

Wykin.     See  Higham. 

IjIncolnshike:. 

[Holland,  S.E  ;  Kesteven,  S.W. ;  Lindsey,  N.  of  both.J 
Lincolnshir  men  full  of  miztes. — Rel.  Ant.,  i.  269  (Harl  MS.  7371). 

Holond,  full  of  grete  dykes. — Rel.  Ant.,  ii.  41  (Leland  by  Hearne, 

V.  Int.). 
Holland,  full  of  dikes.— M5.  Harl.     MS.  Rawl. 
Holland  waits = frogs. — White,  E.  Eng.     See  Bagpipes,  below. 
Down  to  the  drowned  lands  of  Lincolnshire. — B.  Jon.,  Sad  Skep. 

Yellow  belly.    A  person  born  in  the  fens  of  Lincolnshire. — Line,  Hll. 

Said  to  be  in  allusion  to  the  eels  which  abound  in  the  fen 

ditches. — G.  Diet. 

Yalla  belly,  South  Lincolnsh. — Peacock,  Gloss. 

Lincolnshire  for  hogs.     See  Chesh. 

In  Lincolnshire 

the  sow  s  .  .  tes  soap,  the  cow  s  .  .  tes  fire. 

For  they  wash  with  one  and  make  fire  with  the  other. — Ho. 
A  similar  use  of  the  latter  is  made  in  India  for  pastilles. 

Lincolnshire, 

where  hogs  s  .  .  te  soap  and  cows  s  .  .  te  fire. — R.,  1670. 

And  "Bells  and  bagpipes  next  belong  to  Lincolnshire." — Drayt.Po/. 

The  sweet  ballad  of  the  Lincolnshire  bagpipes.  Three  Lords 
and  three  Ladies  of  London.  By  W.  R.,  1590. — Ho.,  P., 
vi.  393- 

Lincolnshire  bagpipes. — F.  W.,  who  treats  this  au  serieux.  I 
should  be  disposed  to  refer  it  to  the  frogs.  Cf.  Holland 
waits,  above,  and  Shak.,  i  H.  IV.,  i.  2 — As  melancholy  as 
the  drone  of  a  Lincolnsh.  bagpipe. 

A  Lincolnshire  pudding,  i.e.  sausage. — A  Shrove  Tuesday  Banquet, 
1641. 

The  honestest  thieves  of  all  come  out  of  Lincolnshire ;  they  're  the 
kindest  natured  gentlemen  ;  they  '11  rob  a  man  with  con- 
science ;  they  have  a  feeling  of  what  they  go  about,  and  will 
steal  with  tears  in  their  eyes.  Ah !  pitiful  gentlemen. — 
Middleton,  Mad  World,  ii.  5. 

126 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  Lincoln. 

Lincolnshire  is  famous  for  "  squarsons,"  i.e.  beneficed  clergy  who 
from  the  fatness  of  their  livings,  or  from  their  also  enjoying 
family  estates,  have  the  revenues  and  status  of  squires  as  well 
as  parsons. 

This  county  carries  away  the  bell  for  round-ringing  from  all  in 
England,  though  other  places  may  surpass  it  for  changes, 
more  pleasant  for  the  variety  thereof. — F.  W.,  p.  152. 

Lincolnshire  is  late,  but  it  is  loyal. — George  III. ;  N.,  VI.,  i.  475. 

No  county  [affords]  worse  houses  or  better  churches.  It  addeth  to 
the  wonder  that  seeing  in  this  soft  county  a  diamond  is  as 
soon  found  as  a  flint,  their  churches  are  built  of  polished 
stones ;  no  natives  but  naturalised  from  foreign  parts.  I  hope 
the  inhabitants  of  this  shire  will  endeavour  to  disprove  the 
old  prov.  "  The  nearer  to  the  church,  the  farther  from  God,' 
because  they  have  substituted  a  better  in  the  room  thereof, 
viz.,  "The  further  from  stone,  the  better  the  churches." — 
F.  W.,  p.  151 ;  and  see  Character  of  Districts. 

RIVERS. 

Well  is  the  man 

'twixt  Trent  and  Witham  [thedist.  of  Lindsey]. 

N.,  I.,  vi.  496. 
Thus  to  her  proper  song  the  burthen  still  she  bare  [i.e.  Witham] 
"  Yet  for  my  dainty  pikes  I  am  without  compare." — Drayt.  Pol.,  xxv. 

Ankham  [Ancholme]  eel  and  Witham  pike 
in  all  England  is  none  like. 

G.  Markham,  Eng.  Hush.,  ii.  22.     1635. 

Thence  to  Witham,  having  read  there 
That  the  fattest  eels  was  bred  there. — Brathwait,  Bayn. 
Bin.,  iii. 

Witham  pike 

England  hath  none  like. — F.  W. 

[In  that  river  that  runneth  by  Lincoln.] 

Wytham  eel  and  Ancum  pike 

in  all  the  world  there  is  none  syke. 

Selden,  n.  to  Drayton,  Pofyolb. 

The  Ancholme  falls  into  the  H  umber ;  the  Witham  runs  by 
Grantham  and  Boston  to  the  Wash. 

As  Kesteven  doth  boast  her  Witham,  so  do  I 

My  Ancum  (only  mine),  whose  fame  as  far  doth  fly 

For  fat  and  dainty  eels  as  hers  doth  for  the  pike 

Which  makes  the  proverb  up,  the  world  hath  not  her  like. 

Lindsey,  loquitur,  Drayt.  Pol.,  xxv. 

Nene  and  Welland 

shall  drown  all  Holland  [i.e.  the  rich  district  lying  between  them,  ex- 
tending from  Boston  to  Spalding].— ;-White,  East.  Eng.,  i.  272. 

Barholme  [3  m.  W.N.W.  of  Market  Deeping.].     See  Deeping. 

127 


LINCOLN.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 


Belton  [i  m.  N.  of  Epworth].  As  fond  as  the  men  of  Belton  'at 
hinged  a  sheap  for  stealing  a  man. — Peacock,  Lincolnshive 
Gloss. 

Baston  [3  m.  N.N.W.  of  Mt.  Deepg.J .     See  Deeping. 

Bloxham.  He  was  born  at  Bloxham  (a  dull,  heavy,  blundering 
person). — F.  W.,  165. 

Boston.  Boston,  Boston, 

what  hast  thou  to  boast  on  ? 

high  steeple, 

proud  people, 

and  shoals  that  souls  are  lost  on. 

AthencBum,  10/3,  '73. 
Boston,  Boston,  Boston, 
thou  hast  nought  to  boast  on 
but  a  grand  sluice  and  a  high  steeple, 
a  proud,  conceited,  ignorant  people, 
and  a  coast  where  souls  are  lost  on. 
W.  Chapman,  The  Witham  and  the  Welland,  1800,  8vo. 
Boston    stump.     The  tower  of  the  church.     A   landmark. — 
White,  E.  E.,  i. 

Said  to  look,  at  a  distance,  like  the  trunk  of  a  tree  deprived  of 
its  branches. 

Though  Boston  be  a  proud  town, 
Skirbeck  compasseth  it  round  [the  outlying  parish]. 
"  Minute  Book  of  the  Spalding  Soc."  [c.  1730],  p.  73  ; 
in  Nichols'  Bihliotheca  Topographica  Britannica,  IIL 
Between  Boston's  bay 
and  the  Pile  of  Fouldray 

shall  be  seen  the  black  navy  of  Norway. — Higson,  133. 
{i.e.  the  Peel  of  Fourdray,  near  Furness,  Lancash.] 

Bourn  [32  m.  S.S.E.  of  Lincoln].     See  Deeping. 

Bourn  for  a  whore.     See  Peterboro'  in  N.  Hants. 

Crowland  Abbey,  in  S.  Line.  [6  m.  from  Peterborough] .  See 
Ramsey  in  Hunts. 

All  the  carts  that  come  to  Crowland  are  shod  with  silver. — 
F.  W.  i.e.  no  horse  could  traverse  such  rotten  land  before 
the  roads  were  gravelled. 

Venice  and  Crowland,  sic  canibus  catulos,  may  count  their 
carts  alike. — F.  W. 

Deeping  [40  m.  S.S.E.  of  Lincoln]. 

Deeping,  and  Deeping,  and  Deeping  in  row, 
Tallington,  Uffington,  Barholme  and  Stow, 
At  the  White  House  at  Greatford*  there  you  must  turn 
to  Langtoft,  Baston,  Thurlby  and  Bourn.f — N.,  IV.,  v,  13. 

Deeping  for  a  roguet    See  Peterboro'  in  N.  Hants. 
*  6  m.  N.E.  ot  Stamford,      t  All  villages  on  the  Glen  near  Market  Deeping. 

128 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  Lincoln. 

Poor  Gainsborough,  proud  people,  [15  m.  N.W.  of  Lincoln] 
built  a  new  church  to  an  old  steeple  [1740]. — White,  E.  E.,  ii.  41. 

GosBERTON  church  is  very  high,  [5  m.  N.  of  Spalding] 

Surfleet  church  is  all  awry, 

Pinchbeck  church  is  in  a  hole, 

and  Spalding  church  is  big  with  foal. — N.,  L,  vii.  143. 

Grantham  [22  m.  S.S.W.  of  Lincoln]. 

Grantham   gruel,   nine  grits  and  a   gallon   of  water. — F.  W. 

See  N.,  111.,  ii.  133  ;    Scott,  Heart  of  Midi.,  ch.  xxix. 
'Tis    height    makes    Grantham    steeple    stand    awry — F.  W. 

(Extremely  slender.) 
His  beard  is  cut  like  the  spire  of  Grantham  steeple. — Lodge, 

Wit's  Mis.,  p.  8. 
Quite  awry  like  Grantham  steeple. — Middleton,  Blacke  Book,  1604. 
A  little  fall  will  make  the  salt   [cellar]   look  like   Grantham 

steeple  with  his  cap  to  the  alehouse. — Dekker,  The  Owles 

Almanack,  p.  39,  1618. 
O  Grantham  !  Grantham  !  these  wonders  are  thine, 
a  lofty  steeple  and  a  living  sign. 

A  hive  of  bees  once  served  as  the  sign  of  an  inn. — Cheales. 
One  of  the  Perils  of  "  the  Great  North  Road." 

Laroun  de  Gran[t]ham. — Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 

Grayingham  [9  m.  N.E.  of  Gainsboro'].     See  Northorpe. 

Greatford  [5  m.  N.E.  of  Stamford].     See  Deeping. 

Grimsby.     Morue  de  Grimesby. — Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy.     Still 
famous  cod  fishery. 

Holbeach.     If  you  want  to  know  what  Kentucky  is  like,  go  and 
live  at  Holbeach  [S.E.  Line.]. — White,  i.  270. 
Holbeach*  pots,  Whaplodef  pans, 
MoultonJ  organs,  Weston||  ting-tangs  (of  the  ch.  bells). 
Higson,  214;  Stamford  Mercury,  7/9,  '66. 

*  7J  m.  E.  of  Spalding.      f  5J  m.  E.  of  Spalding.       J  5  m.  E.  of  Spalding. 
II 4  m.  E.  of  Spalding. 

Hatton  [7  m.  N.W.  of  Horncastle]. 

The  poor  Hatton  people 

sold  the  bells  to  build  up  the  steeple. — Br. 

Kelsey  [23J  m.  N.E.  of  Lincoln].     See  Owersby. 
KiRTON  [6  m.  S.W.  of  Brigg].     See  Northorpe. 
Kyme  [6  m.  E.N.E.  of  Sleaford,  in  the  Fens].    ISee  Appendix.] 
Kyme,  God  knows. — N.,  I.,  iii.  340;  VHL,  vii.  386. 
It 's  Kyme,  God  knows, 
Where  no  corn  grows. 
And  very  little  hay. 
And  if  there  come  a  wet  time 
It  weshes  all  away. 

VOL.  I.  129  9 


LINCOLN.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Langtoft  [2  m.  N.W.  of  Mt.  Deeping].     See  Deeping. 
Legsby  [3^  m.  S.E.  of  Market  Rasen]. 

A  thack  church  and  a  wooden  steeple, 

a  drunken  parson  and  wicked  people. 

Lincoln  was  [01.],  London  is :  York  shall  be 
the  fairest  city  of  the  three. —Brome's  Travels,  1700. 
See  under  York  and  Canterbury. 

Lincoln  (going  to  be  hanged). 

This  the  old  proverb  now  complete  doth  make 
That  Lincoln  should  be  hang'd  for  London's  sake. 

Sir  Thos.  More  (a  play),  1590,  Shak.  Soc,  p.  35. 

There  is  a  Proverb,  part  of  which  is  this : 
They  say  that  Lincoln  was  and  London  is. 

Taylor,  Piene  Penniless. 

Lincoln  was,  London  is,  and  York  shall  be  (a  worm-eaten  prov.). 
— T.  Dekker,  Wonderful  Year,  1603. 

Drap  blanc  de  Nicole. — Dits  de  VApostoile,  13th  Oy. 

Pegge,  Anon.,  p.  297,  observes  that  Lincoln  was  turned  by 
the   Normans  into   Nicole,   and  he   instances  the  con- 
version of  "1"  into  "n"  in  Boulogne,  Bologna,  from 
Bononia.      Is  there  any  reference  to  Old  Nick  in  the 
proverb  ? 
Escarlet  de  Nicole. — Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 
Lyncoln  green. — Lytell  Geste  of  Robyn  Hood,  1440. 
Who  sees  so  pleasant  plains  or  is  of  fairer  seen, 
Whose  swains  in  shepherd's  grey  and  girls  in  Lincoln  green. 

Drayton,  Polyolh.,  xxv.  261. 
Hsec  sunt  Lincoln^,  bow,  bolt,  et  bellia  bolne. 
Ad  monstrum  scala,  rosa  bryghta,  nobilis  ala, 
Et  bubulus  flatus,  haec  sunt  staura  cuntotis. 

Characteristics  of  Towns.   MS.,  Trin.  Coll.,  Camb.,  13th  Cy. 
Rel.  Ant.,  ii.  178. 
As  loud  as  Tom  of  Lincoln. — ^F.  W.     The  great  cathedral  bell, 

now  recast. 
As  near  akin  as  the  cates  of  Banbury  to  the  bells  of  Lincoln. — 

A  Knack  to  Know  a  Knave  ;  H.,  O.P- 
There's   another   tinker  dead  at   Lincoln   (said  when  an  ass 

brays). — Peacock,  Line.  Gloss. 
He  lookt  o'er  me  as  the  devil  lookt  o'er  Lincoln. — CI.    i.$.  over- 
looked. 
Torve,  torviter.     Sternly,  sourly,  grimly,  as  the  devil  should 

look  over  Lincoln. — Withals,  Short  Diet.,  1608. 
Intuetur  Cyclopicum. — Withals,  Short  Diet.,  i6i6. 
He  looks  as  the  devil  over  Lincoln. — F.  W.     i.e.  enviously. 

Than  wold  ye  loke  over  me  with  a  stomakke  swolne, 
Like  as  the  divell  lookt  over  Lincoln. — He.,  Dial.,  H.  ix. 

ISO 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  linooln. 

'Tis  you  I  fain  would  see, 

'Tis  you  I  only  think  on : 
My  looks  as  kind  shall  be 
As  the  devil 's  over  Lincon. 

Love  Poems  (Ballad  Soc,  ed.  Furnivall.) 
A  small  figure  of  the  devil  with  a  witch  on  his  shoulders 
serving  as  a  gurgoyle  on  the  S.E.  porch  of  the  cathedral 
_     is  the  reputed  original. 
Some  men  seyn  pat  pouder  of  temporal  godes  makes  these  freris 
to   owverloke   ))0  law  of  hor   God,  as  dogges  lokes  ofer 
towarde  Lincolne  and  litel  sees  Jjeroff. — WycHf,  Eng.  Wks., 
iii.  236.     De  Vita  Sacerdotum. 
From  Lincoln  Heath.     Where  should  'un  ? 
From  Lincoln  Heath,  God  help  'un ! 

The  answer  given  according  as  the  cherry  crop  is  good  or 

no. — N.,  L,  i.  422. 
A  resident  denies  there  being  such  a  prov. — N.,  L,  iii.  340. 

LUDDINGTON   [i2  m.  N.W.  of  Brigg]. 
Luddington,  poor  people, 

built  a  brick  church  to  a  stone  steeple. — N.,  I.,  vi.  496. 
or  [with  a  stone  church  and  a  wooden  steeple. — Br. J 

Peacock,  Line.  Gloss. 

Marham.     They  hold  together  as  the  men  of  Marham  when  they 
lost  their  common. — F.  W. 
Though  this  prov.  be  frequent  in  the  shire,  Marham  is  in 
Norfolk.— F.  W.,  n.  Marham  Cherry  [West  Norfolk], 
7  m.  N.  of  Downham. 
[A  play  on  the  words  Mar  'em]. 
Marton  Port  [5^  m.  S.E.  of  Gainsboro']. 

Marton's  (Port)  crackt  pancheons  and  Torksey*  egg-shells, 
Saxilbyt  ding-dongs  and  Stow-Mary  bells. — Br. 
*  9f  m.  N.W.  of  Lincoln.         +  6  m.  N.W.  of  Lincoln. 

MouLTON    [5  m.  E.  of  Spalding  |.     See  Holbeach. 
NoRTHORPE  [7  m.  N.E.  of  Gainsboro']. 

Northap  rise,  and  Grayingham  fall,  [496. 

Kirton  yet  shall  be  greater  than  all  [Lindsey]. — N.,  I.,  vi. 

OwERSBY  [4  m.  N.W.  of  Market  Rasen]. 
Owersby's  parish,  wicked  people, 
sold  their  bells  to  Kelsey*  to  build  a  steeple. — Br. 
*  23J  m.  N.E.  of  Lincoln. 
Pinchbeck  [2  m.  N.N.W.  of  Spalding].    See  Gosberton. 
Saxilby  [6  m.  N.W.  of  Lincoln].     See  Marton. 
ScARTHo  [suburb  of  Grimsby]. 

Poor  Scartho  people 

sold  their  bell  to  repair  the  steeple. — Br. 

131 


LiNOOLN.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Skirbeck.     See  Boston. 

Spalding.     See  Gosberton  ;  also  Ramsey  in  Huntingdonsh. 

Spilsby.      To  go  to   Spilsby,  i.e.  to  be  ruined. — Torr.      Said  at 
tables  when  losing. — T. 

Stamford.     Drap  de  Estanfort. — Dits  de  I'Apostoile,  13th  Cy. 
Hauberge  de  Estanford. — Douce  MS.  98,  i3tli  Cy. 
Cake  de  Estannford. — Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 
Stamford  for  poor.     See  Peterboro'  in  N.  Hants.     Cf.  Braith- 

wait,  Barn.  Itin.,  iii. 
Doctrinse  studium  quod  nunc  viget  ad  vada  Bourn, 
Tempore  venture  celebrabitur  ad  vada  Saxi. 
Science,  that  now  o'er  Oxford  spreads  her  ray. 
Shall  bless  fair  Stamford  at  some  future  day. — N.,  L,  viii.  616. 
Burleigh    House   by    Stamford  town. — Tennyson.      [Seat    of 

Marquess  of  Exeter.] 
As  mad  as  the  baiting  bull  of  Stamford. — F.  W.  Traced  to 
K.  John's  time.  Earl  Warren  gave  the  Castle  Meadows  as 
a  common  to  the  butchers  of  the  town  on  condition  of  their 
providing  a  bull  to  be  chased  thro'  it  in  November. 
All  uphill  and  downhill,  like  the  way  between  Stamford  and 
Beechfield. — T.  Nash,  Have  with  you  to  Saff.  Wal.,  [Epist., 
Wed.]  1596. 

Thence  to  ancient  Stamford  came  I, 

Where  are  penceless  purses  many 

Neatly  wrought  as  does  become  them — 

Less  gold  in  them  than  is  on  them : 

Clawbacks  more  do  not  assail  me 

Than  are  beggars  swarming  daily. — Barn.  Itin.,  iii. 

Stow  [5  m.  N.E.  of  Stamford].     See  Deeping. 
Stow-Mary.     See  Marton. 

SuRFLEET  [4  m.  N.  of  Spalding].     See  Gosberton. 
Long  Sutton  [4J  m.  S.E.  of  Holbeach].     See  Somerset. 
Tallington  [4  m.  E.  of  Stamford].     See  Deeping. 
Thurlby  [2  m.  S.S.E.  of  Bourne].     See  Deeping. 
ToRKSEY  [gf  m.  N.W.  of  Lincoln].     See  Marton. 
Uffington  [2  m.  E.  of  Stamford].     See  Deeping. 
Weston  [3  m.  N.E.  of  Spalding].     See  Holbeach. 
Whaplode  [2  m.  W.  of  Holbeach].     See  Holbeach. 

Whitten's  Town  End  [village  on  S.  Bank,  of  Humber,  10  m.  W. 
of  Barton]. 
At  Whitten's  town  end,  brave  boys,  at  Whitten's  town  end 
at  every  door  there  sits  a  whore  at  Whitten  town  end. 

A.  De  la  Pryme,  Diary,  1697  (Surtees  Soc),  p.  139. 

WiTHAM.      He  was  born   at   Little  Witham. — F.  W.     Not  very 
bright.-^Scott,  Heart  of  Midln.,  xxxii.     See  Rivers. 

132 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Middlesex. 

MIDDIiESESX. 

Middelsex  full  of  strives.— MS.  Harl. 
Middlesex  ful  of  stryves. — MS.  Rawl. 

Middlesex  for  sin.     See  Derbyshire  and  Cheshire. 

A  Middlesex  clown  (colonus). — F.  W.  i.e.  less  servile  than  the 
rustic,  or  more  conspicuously  contrasted  there  with  the 
gentry.  Is  this  the  prototype  of  our  "  rough "  of  the 
present  day  ? 

To  claw  worse  than  a  Middlesex  bailiff. — Franck,  Northern  Memoirs, 
1694,  P-  79- 

Thou  that  goest  upon  Middlesex  juries  and  wilt  make  haste  to  give 
up  thy  verdict  because  thou  wilt  not  lose  thy  dinner. — • 
Middleton,  A  Tricke  to  Catch  the  Old  One,  iv.  5. 

Brentford  [7  m.  W.S.W.  of  London] . 

As  dirty  as  old  Brentford  at  Christmas. — Farquhar,  Beaux  Strat. 
Like  the  two  Kings  of  Brentford,  smelling  at  one  nosegay. — 

Sheffield  Duke  of  Buckingham,  Rehearsal,  ii.  2. 
The  wise  woman  of  Brentford. — Shak.,  M.W.W.,  iv.  5. 
His  face  was  like  the  Red  Lion  of  Brentford  (the  Inn  sign). — Gr. 
You  might  ride  to  Brentford  upon  it.     Said  of  a  dull-edged 

knife. — Haz. 

Brockley  Hill  [2  m.  N.N.W.  of  Edgware,  near  the  Roman 
Sulloniacse  on  Watling  Street].  Coins  are  supposed  to  lie 
buried. 

No  heart  can  think,  nor  tongue  can  tell 

what  lies  between  Brockley  Hill  and  Penny  well  [nr.  Elstree,  Herts] . 
Stukely,  J^jM.  C«r.,  i.  118.     1776.     2nd.  Ed. 

Bromley  St.  LeoNARD's  [3  m.  E.N.E.  of  St.  Paul's,  on  river 
Lea]. 

Go,  ride  upon  St.  Leonard's  saddle.  (A  speech  to  a  barren 
woman.  The  saddle  was  kept  at  Bromley,  in  Essex.) — 
Ho.,  who  has  named  in  error  the  adjoining  county. 

Haggerston  [2  m.  N.E.  of  St.  Paul's]. 

Esselie  de  Ogerston  (?  aisselie,  carpentry). — Douce  MS.,  13th  Cy. 

Harrow  on  the  Hill  [ii  m.  W.N.W.  of  St.  Paul's].  See 
Public  Schools.     [^See  Appendix.] 

The  Visible  Church.  The  church  standing  on  the  summit  of  a 
hill  and  having  a  very  high  spire,  they  tell  us.  King 
Charles  II.,  ridiculing  the  warm  disputes  among  some 
critical  scripturalists  concerning  the  Visible  Church  upon 
earth,  used  to  say,  "  This  was  it." — De  Foe,  Tour  thro' 
Gt.  Brit.,  ii.  214. 

Highgate  [5  m.  N.N.W.  of  St.  Paul's].  See  Ware  in  Herts,  and 
Dunstable  in  Beds. 

As  high  as  Highgate  hill. — S.  Wesley,  Maggots,  p.  147.     1685. 

133 


LONDON.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

He  has  been   sworn   at  Highgate.      See  A   Journey  Through 

England  in  1752. 
We  are  forbidden  at  Highgate  to  kiss  the  maid  when  we  may 

kiss  the  mistress. — De  Foe,  Everybody's  Business,  p.  21.   1727. 
I  '11  make  him  water  his  horse  at  Highgate,  i.e.  I  '11  sue  him 

and  make  him  take  a  journey  up  to  London. — R.,  1678. 

A  North-country  saying. — G. 
'Tis  further  from  London  to  Highgate  than  from  Highgate  to 

London.— Ho.,  New  Say'-  i.     Cf.    Italy,  Vicenza- Verona. 

HoXTON. 

Pymlico,  or  runne  Redcap;  'tis  a  Mad  World  at  Hogsden. — 
Roxb.  Ballads,  ed.  Collier,  p.  155.  Title  of  a  Tract  printed 
in  1609. 

SioN  House  [7^  m.  W.S.W.  of  London,  nr.  Brentford].     Site  of  a 
convent,  called  Mount  Sion,  of  Bridgettines,  founded  1414. 
The  nun  of  Sion  with  the  friar  of  Sheen  [in  Surrey] 
went  under  the  water  to  play  the  quean. — Ho. 
i.e.  by  a  tunnel  under  the  Thames. 
Strand  [on  the]  Green  [on  the  Thames,  r  m.  E.  of  Brentford], 
thirteen  houses,  fourteen  cuckolds,  and  never  a  house  between. — Ho. 

(For  the  father  and  the  son  both  lay  in  one  house.) — Ho. 
Tottenham  [5  m.  N.N.E.  of  St.  Paul's]. 

Tottenham  is  turned   French. — He.,   Dial.,  i.  7.      See  my  n. 
Haz.,  437. 
The  swarming  of  French  mechanics  into  England  about  the 
beginning  of  the  reign  of  Hen.  VHL,  which  caused  the 
insurrection  in  London,  May  1517,  is  alluded  to.     This 
neighbourhood    in    particular    caught    the    infection    of 
French  manners. — Wm.  Bedwell,  Descr"-  of  Tottenham, 
c.  3. 
When  Tottenham  Wood  is  all  on  fire 
then  Tottenham  Street  is  nought  but  mire.— F.  W. 
A  weather  prognostic.     The  Wood  covered  many  hundred 
acres  on  the  top  of  the  high  hill  at  the  W.  end  of  the 
parish,  and  when  smoke  or  fog  lay  upon  it  appeared  to 
be  on  fire. 
You  shall  as  easily  romove  Tottenham  Wood. — Murr.,  Hand- 
book, £nv.  of  London. 

LONDON. 

In  Urbe  London,  exceptione  habat  divulgatum  id  per  omnes  seque 
gentes  Lucani  proverbium : 
"  Invida  fatorum  series  summisque  negatum 

Stare  diu." — [Pharsal.     I.,  70. — Ed.] 
Nam   ea   annis   354  antae    Romam    condita    nunquam    emisit 
principatum  nee  bello  consumpta  est. — Gervase  of  Tilbury. 
De  Otiis  Imperialihus. 

134 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  london. 

Baronnie  de  Loundres. — Douce  MS.,  13th  Cy. 

London  globber. — MS.  Harl.     In  early  writers  it  means  a  glutton. 

[Sowthery  great  bragger.]  — HU. 

London  resortere. — MS.  Rawl. 
Merry  London. — Spenser,  Prothalamion. 
Haec  sunt  Londonis,  pira,  pomaque,  regia,  thronus, 
Chepp-stupha,  coklana,  dolum,  leo,  verbaque  vana ; 
Lancea  cum  scutis,  hsec  sunt  staura  cuntotis. 

MS.  15th  Cent. ;  Rel.  Antiq.,  ii.  178. 
Per  noctem  portse  clauduntur  Londoniarum 
Moenia  ne  forte  fraus  frangat  Francigenarum. — Stow. 
London    lickpenny.      Curates'    Conference,    1641. — Harl.    Misc.,    i. 
498;  F.W. 

Getpenny — F.  W. 
He  that  wyl  thrive  must  set  or  hold  his  ware  or  stuff  at  double 
price  that   he  will   sell  it  as   Londoner   doth. — Whitinton, 
Vulgaria,  f.  28. 
Londoner-like ;  ask  as  much  more  as  you  will  take. — P.  in  R., 
1678. 
Oxford  for  learning,  London  for  wit, 
Hull  for  women,  and  York  for  a  tit. — Higson,  209. 
Oxford  knives 
And  London  wives. — Ho. 
London  beer. — Ho. 

Wei  coude  he  knowe  a  draught  of  London  ale.  —  Chau.,    Prol. 

C.  T.,  384. 
When  Middlesex  bids  "  Up  to  London  "  let  us  go, 
And  when  our  market 's  done  we  '11  have  a  pot  or  two. 

Drayt.  Pol. 
A  London  cockney. — F.  W.     See  Haz.,  p.  23. 

The  Fire  of  London  was  a  punishment  for  gluttony. — Bohn. 

A  London  gent  [or  would-be  gentleman]. 

A  London  jury  hang  half  and  save  half. — F.  W. 

(Some  affirm  this  of  an  Essex,  others  of  a  Middlesex,  jury — 
F.  W. ;  F.,  Gnom.,  of  a  Kentish.) 

London  congregations.     See  Characters  of  Districts. 

They  agree  like  London  Clocks. — Ho. ;  F.  W. 

the  Clocks  of  London. — R.,  1678.     ?  ironical. 

A  London  flitting.     The  removal  of  parties  by  stealth  before  the 
landlord  is  paid. — Hll. 

She  hath  been  at  London  to  call  a  strea  a  straw  and  a  waw  a  wall. — 
Cheshire  R.,  1670. 

London,    Leicester,   York,   and   Chester,    all  begin   with   A.      Cf. 
Heighten  (Sussex). 

London,  the  needy  villain's  general  home. 

The  common  sewer  of  Paris  and  of  Rome. — S.  Johnson,  London,  93. 

135 


LONDON.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Fare  thee  well,  London,  thou  'rt  good  for  nought  else 
but  whoredom  and  durdam  and  ringing  of  bells. — Brathwait, 
Bam.  Jour. 

The  Wen.— W.  Cobbett. 

The  Village. 

The  Great  Metropolis. 

"  Which  way  to  London  ?  "     "A  poke  full  of  plums."     {Impevti- 
nentia). — 01.     See  my  n.  in  Haz.,  468. 

A  man  soon  finds  his  level  in  London. 

I  find  little  London  stands  just  where  it  did  when  I  left  it  last. — 
S.,  P.  C,  ii. 

You  must  go  into  the  country  to  hear  what  news  at  London. — 
P.  in  R.,  1678. 

The  London  correspondents  of  the  country  papers  nowadays 
make  this  more  strikingly  true. 

Londoners  are  generally   most   ignorant   of    London. — P.  M.  G., 

31/3.  '84- 
London,  the  best  place  in  England  to  live  in  for  eight  [ten]  months 

of  the  year,  and  as  good  as  any  other  for  the  rest. 

In  October  not  even  a  cat  is  to  be  found  in  London. 

Commune  plays  and  gay  sights 

as  be  at  London  on  mydsomer  nights. — Munera  ludi.     Huleot. 

Seven  Hills  there  were  in  Rome,  and  so  there  be 
Seven  Sights  in  New  Troy  crave  my  memory : 
Tombs,  Guildhall,  Giants,  Stage-plays,  Bedlam  poor, 
Ostrich,  Bear-garden,  Lions  in  the  Tower. 

Brathwait,  Barn.  Itin,,  ii.,  1638. 

Houses  are  London's  land. — F. 

Generally  they  [the  Chantries  of  St.  Paul's]  were  founded  on 
candlerents.  (Houses  are  London's  land)  which  were 
subject  to  casualty,  reparations,  and  vacations. — Fuller, 
Ch.  Hist.,  VI.,  V.  16.  Candlerents  are  mentioned  again, 
XL,  ii.  6.  ?  Leaseholds  on  lives.  [C/.  the  practice  which 
obtains  in  places,  e.g.  at  Congresbury  and  Puxton  in 
Somerset,  of  letting  certain  lands  by  inch  of  candle,  the 
last  bidder  before  the  candle  goes  out  securing  the  tenancy. 
—Ed.] 

Parks.  It  was  a  saying  of  Lord  Chatham  that  "the  Parks  were 
the  Lungs  of  London." — Speeches  of  Rt.  HonV-  W"-  Windham, 
iii.  146  ;  "  Encroachments  on  Hyde  Park,"  1808  (June  30). 

Aldgate,    a  draft*   on  the  pump  at.      A   bad   bill    of  exchange 
drawn  on  persons  who  have  no  effects  of  the  drawer. — Gr. 
*  Play  on  the  word  draught. 

Aldgate,  Pump-Handle  &  Co.  was  the  name  of  the  firm. 

136 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  London. 

Nick  and  Froth  built  the  Pye  at  Aldgate.  Sharping  in  the 
reckoning  and  cheating  in  the  measure  built  that  once 
noted  house  over  against  Houndsditch. — B.  E.,  A  New  Diet. 
of  the  Canting  Crew,  1770.  Mentioned  in  Defoe' i  Hist,  of  the 
Plague,  1722.     Fielding,  Essay  on  the  Characters  of  Men. 

Alsatia,  a  squire  of.  A  sharper. — G.  The  precinct  of  Whitefriars 
lying  E.  of  the  Temple  extending  to  Water  Lane,  a  place  of 
refuge  and  retirement  for  persons  wishing  to  avoid  bailiflfs 
and  creditors. — Murr. 

Bear-binder  Lane,  the  beasts  of. — He. 

Cf,  He  would  bind  bears,  Certat  cum  valentioribus. — Dr. 
Bethlehem  Hospital.     Love  and  pride  stock  Bedlam. — Fr.,  Gnom. 
Billingsgate  language. — F.W.     Taylor,  J.,  Navy  of  LandsUps. 

They  scold  like  so  many  butter-whores  or  oyster  women  at 
Billingsgate. — Ho. 

You  shall  have  as  much  favor  at  Billingsgate  for  a  box  on  the 
ear. — R.,  1678. 

Let  bawdry  Billingsgate,  my  daughters  dear, 
Support  his  front,  and  oaths  bring  up  the  rear. 

Pope,  Dunciad,  i.  387. 
Water  measure,  Billingsgate  measure  (liberal). — Torr. 
Billingsgate    Market    only    confined    to    fish    since    reign    of 
William  HL — Baedeker,  Guide. 

BiRCHiN  Lane.  See  extract  from  Ascham  and  Stow  in  Haz. ; 
Skeat,  Specimens  of  Eng.,  311,  466. 

Phil.  Thou  hast  heard  of  Burching  Lane  in  London  .  .  , 
there  are  many  volumes  of  apparel  made  at  large  by  guess 
for  no  man  and  for  every  man,  for  all  whom  they  fit  or 
who  shall  buy  them. — Hawkins,  Apollo  Shroving,  ii.  3,  1626. 

Come  unto  Birchin  Lane :  they  '11  give  Nobody  a  suit,  choose 
where  he  list. — Nobody  and  Somebody,  1592.  School  of 
Shak.,  294. 

Bow  bells  (St.  Mary  le  Bow,  Cheapside). 

As  noisy  as  Bow  bell. — Ned  Ward,  Nupt.  Dial.,  I.,  xxiv. 

The  Tenor  or  Bowbell  able  to  waken  all  the  city. — T.  Adams, 

p.  760. 
But  though  that  material  bell  can  teach  us  when  to  go  to  bed, 

yet  this  mystical  bell  cannot  teach  us  the  time  to  arise. — H. 
He  was  born  within  the  sound  of. — F.  W.    The  qualification  of 

a  coacney. 
Stow  says :  "  Rung  at  9  every  night  as  a  signal  for  knocking  off." 

— Taylor,  J.,  Navy  of  Landships.     Shak.,  H.  IV.,  viii.  529. 

Bucklersbury  (Druggists  &  Grocers). — Shak.,  M.  W.  W.,  iii.  3. 
Thy  company  and  thou  that  can  both  forge  and  lie 
be  two  mete  marchantes  to  uttre  ware  in  Bucklesbury. 

Whitinton,  Vtdg.,  f.  9. 

137 


4.0ND0N.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Charing  Cross.     As  old  as  Charing  Cross. — R. 

Puteynes  de  Cherringe. — Douce  MS.  98. 

Cheapside.     To  shine  like  a  goldsmith's  shop  in  Cheapside. 

Nabbes,  Cov'.  Gard.,  iv.  4. 

Cheapside  being  called  "  the  best  garden  "  only  by  Metaphor, 

seeing  otherwise  nothing  but  stones  are  found  therein. — 

F.W. 
Chelsea.     As  deep  as  Chelsea  reach. — N.,  11. 
As  dead  as  Chelsea. — G. 
"  Dead    Chelsea,    by    God !  "      An   exclamation  uttered   by  a 

grenadier  at  Fontenoy  on  having  his  leg  carried  away  by  a 

cannon-ball. — G. 

Clerkenwell.     Jack  Adams'  parish. 
Jack  Adams  being  a  fool. — G.  Diet. 

CoLEHARBOUR.     An  ancient  mansion  in  Downgate  Ward  privileged 
as  sanctuary. 

Or  thence  thy  starved  brother  live  and  die 
Within  the  cold  Coleharbour  sanctuary. 

Hall,  Satires,  V.,  i.  100. 

CovENT  Garden  is  the  best  garden. — G.  i.e.  cheaper  than  raising 
flowers,  fruit  and  vegetables  in  your  own. 
This  town  two  bargains  hath,  not  worth  one  farthing : 
A  Smithfield  horse  and  wife  of  Covent  Garden. 

Dryden,  Epist.  to  Limherham,  21. 

A   Drury  Lane   vestal. — G.      Drury    Lane    lost    its   aristocratic 

character  early  in  the  reign  of  William  IIL 
Duke's    Place  is  free  for   all   comers   and  peers. — John  Phillips, 
Don  Quixote,  167. 
Aldgate.     Cromwell  allowed  the  Jews  to  settle  here  in  1650. 
Eastcheap.     The  district  E.  of  Gracechurch  Street,  including  what 
is  now  Leadenhall  Market. 

Then  I  hyed  me  into  Est-Chepe, 
One  cryes  ribbes  of  befe  and  many  a  pye ; 
Pewter  pottes  they  clattered  on  a  heape, 
But  for  lacke  of  money  I  myght  not  spede. 

Lydgate,  London  Lickpenny, 
He  that  will  in  East  Cheap  eat  a  goose  so  fat 
with  harp,  pipe  and  song, 
he  must  sleep  in  Newgate  on  a  mat 
be  the  night  never  so  long. 

From  a  sea-song  in  R.A .,  apud  Haz. 
Exchange  (Royal).     See  Moorfields. 

La  Borsa  di  Londra  la  qual  da  piu  bugie  che  danari. 

Flo.,  2d.  Fru.,  xii. 
The  Fleet  prison. 

He  may  whet  his  knife  on  the  threshold  of  the  Fleet. — F.  W. 
i.e.  is  a  man  free  of  debt. 

138 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  London. 

Fleet  Street. 

As  melancholy  as  Fleet  Street  in  the  Long  Vacation. — Webster, 
Northward  Hoe,  i.  2. 

Freeman's  Quay.  To  drink  at,  i.e.  gratis.  Beer  being  given  to 
carmen  and  porters  calling  there.  (Near  London  Bridge). 
— N.,  VII.,  viii.  207. 

Furnival's  Inn  (Holborn). 

The  gentlemen  of  Furnival's  Inn  lie  a-bed  while  their  hose  are 
mending. — Torr.     Cf.  Chesh. 

Gray's  Inn.    See  Temple. 

Gutter  Lane  (Cheapside). 

All  goeth  down  Gutter  Lane. — F. W.  The  French  say  "en 
Angoulfime. ' ' — Torr. 

(Guthurun  Lane,  E.  of  Foster  Lane.) 

Guildhall.  You  are  all  for  the  Hoistings  or  hustings. — F.  W. 
See  Haz.,  182,  i.e.  in  AUHudinibus.  The  principal  and 
highest  [hus-thing]  Court  in  London,  as  also  in  Winchester, 
Lincoln,  York,  &c.— F.  W. 

Holborn.      He  will  ride  backwarks  up  Holborn  Hill,  i.e.  on  his 
last  journey  from  Newgate  to  Tyburn. —  G. 
Holborn  and  Snow  Hills  have  now  been  bridged  by  a  viaduct. 
Holborn  for  wealth, 
And  Cheam  for  health.     See  in  Surrey. 

Islington.     Merry  Islington. — Cowper,  John  Gilpin. 

Kirby's  Castle  and  Megse's  glory, 
Spinola's  pleasure  and  Fisher's  Folly. — F.  W. 

Kirkeby's  Castell  and  Fisher's  Follie, 
Spinila's  pleasure  and  Megse's  glorie. — Stow. 
Four  suburban  mansions  built  by  citizens.     The  last  appears 
to  survive  in  Devonshire  Square,  Bishopsgate  Within. 

A  Leadenhall  blade.     One  that  will  not  cut. — Torr. 

Lincoln's  Inn.     See  Temple, 

Lombard  Street. 

Fools  will  not  part  with  their  bable  for  all  Lombard  St. — ¥i.,Gnom. 
(Used  as  an  illustration  of  "  the  long  odds.") 

AJl  Lombard  Street  to  an  egg-shell. — Murphy,  Citizen,  ii.  i. 

"  It  is  a  thousand  pounds  to  a  penny"  as  the  nursery  song  says, 
or  as  the  newspaper  reporters  of  the  Ring  have  it  "  Lom- 
bard Street  to  a  China  orange,"  whether,  &c. — Southey, 
Doctor,  ch.  ccx. 

London  Bridge  was  built  upon  woolpacks,  i.e.  the  expense  was 
defrayed  by  an  impost  upon  wool  brought  into  London  in 
the  1 2th  Centy. — Brady,  Clavis  Calendaria,  i.  205. 

139 


LONDON.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Curds.     I  have  been  [a  lady  of  the  town]  in  my  days  when 

we  kept  the  Whitson  ale,  where  we  danced  "  The  Building 

of  London  Bridge  upon  Woolpacks." — London  Chanticleers, 

viii.  1659. 

London  Bridge  was  made  for  wise  men  to  go*  over  and  fools 

to  got  under  (Periculum). — CI. 

*  Pass— Ho.  t  Pass— R.,  1670. 

The  present  bridge  was  built  in  1825.  The  danger  to  light 
wherries  in  shooting  the  bridge  was  appreciable,  as  shown 
in  the  following  :  "A  young  lady  of  distinction  in  com- 
pany with  her  brother,  a  little  youth,  took  a  pair  of  oars 
at  or  near  the  Temple  one  April  day  last,  and  ordered 
the  men  to  carry  them  to  Pepper  Alley  Stairs.  One  of 
the  fellows  (according  to  their  usual  impertinence)  asked 
the  lady  where  she  was  going.  She  answered,  '  Near 
St.  Olave's  Church.'  Upon  which  he  said  she  had  better 
go  thoro'  Bridge.  The  lady  replied,  '  She  had  never 
gone  thro'  Bride  {sic)  in  her  life,  nor  would  she  venture 
for  a  hundred  guineas,'  so  commanded  him  once  more  to 
land  her  at  Pepper  Alley  Stairs,"  &c. — Defoe,  Everybody's 
Business,  p.  32,  1725. 
See  St.  Katharine. 
Where  fell  the  parson  ?  Betwixt  the  whore  your  mother's 
legs.  (A  jeer  to  those  below  London  Bridge). — Ho. 
This  means  from  those  on  the  bridge  to  those  passing 
underneath. 
Cf.  T.  Perche  sono  fatti  i  ponte  di  grazia  ? 
G.     Per  passarei  so  pra. 

T.     Perche  dunque  volete  che  passiamo  sotto  ? 
G.     Oh,  oh  !  io  vi  intendo  ! 

Florio,  Second  Fruits  :  Dial.  ii.    1591. 
Ane  ill  word  meets  anither  an  it  were  at  the  Brig  o'  London. — 

Ferg.     i.e.  jostles  from  fouling  in  the  narrow  passage. 
Like  one  of  the  heads  on  London  Bridge,  able  neither  to  speak 

or  breathe. — J.  Philips,  Don  Quixote,  1687. 
What !  stop  the  tide  at  London  Bridge  ?  'tis  impossible.     It 
contradicts  a  proverb. — Sharpe,  Address  to  the  Corporation  of 
London  on  Canals,  A.  7,  1773. 

Cf.  Time  and  tide  tarry  for  no  man.     \_See  Appendix.] 

LoTHBURY.       Like    Lothbury  conduit    that    ever    runs   waste. — 
Middleton,  Inner  Temple  Masque. 

He  that  will  braze  his  face  at  Lothbury 
Because  he  will  not  blush  at  knavery. 

N.  Breton,  Pasquil's  Foolscap,  p.  24. 
LuDGATE.     A  Ludgate  bird  (Paupertas),  Animam  debet. — CI.     He 
is  as  much  puzzled  as  one  going  up  Ludgate  Hill  in  a  stop 
of  coaches  and  carts. — Ho.,  New  Sayings,  ii. 
Between  Ludgate  and  Newgate  thou  canst  dwell  never, 
For  in  Ludgate  or  Newgate  thou  must  dwell  ever. — He.,  fi^.,  iv.  90. 

]40 


LOCAL    PROVERBS,  London. 

Marylebone.     The  Marrowbone  Stage :  to  travel  on  one's  own  legs. 
The  Monument. 

As  tall  as  the  Monument. 

MOORFIELDS. 

[Idlers]  like  usurers  in  the  walks  of  Morefields  or  on  the  seats 
of  the  Old  Exchange — Torr. 

Newgate.     See  Ludgate. 

[To  march]  two  and  two,  Newgate  fashion. — Shak.,  i  H.  IV., 

iii.  3. 
He  that  is  at  a  low  ebb  at  Newgate  may  soon  be  afloat  at 

Tyburn. — He.,  Ep. 
A  Newgate  bird. — G.  Diet. 
He  will  faint  at  the  sight  of  a  wall-flower.    (Because  wall-flowers 

grew  up  against  Newgate). — G. 
He  has  studied  at  Whittington's  College. — R.,  1813.  Haz.,p.  161. 

Oxford     Street.       Stony-hearted     stepmother.  —  De     Quincey, 
Confessions. 

Paddington  Fair.     An  execution  at  Tyburn. — G. 

Suits  hang  half  a  year  in  Westminster  Hall, 

At  Tyburn  half  an  hour's  hanging  endeth  all. — He. 

Pall  Mall.     If  ever  compelled  in  the  country  to  dwell, 

Oh,  give  me  the  sweet  shady  side  of  Pall  Mall. 

Capt"^   Morris,   [of    Brockham,   Surrey,  a  well- 
known  poet  of  the  Prince  Regent's  days.] 

Pye  Corner  Law.    The  surest  way  of  wooing. — Ho.,  New  Sayings,  iv. 

Primrose  Hill.     A  green  or  grassy  bank  that  they  call  by  London 
Primrose  Hill. — Withals,  Diet.,  1608. 

Saint  Giles'  breed — fat,  ragged,  and  saucy. — G.    i.e.  in  the  Fields. 
Greek.     Cant,  slang,  Pedlars'  French. — G. 
As  lame  as  St.  Giles,  Cripplegate. — F.  W.     Spoken  jocosely  or 
sarcastically. 

Saint  Katherine. 

While  thousands  gaz'd  we  pass'd  the  bridge  with  wonder 

Where  fools  and  wise  men  go  above  and  under, 

We  thus  our  voyage  bravely  did  begin 

Down  by  Saint  Katherine's,  where  the  priest  fell  in. 

Taylor,  A  Discovery  by  Sea  from  London  to  Salisbury. 

Saint  Martin's   beads  and  bracelets. — Taylor,   Navy  of  Ships. 
See  Hll. 

Saint  Pancras. 

A  Pancridge  earl. — B.  Jon.,  A  Tale  of  a  Tub,  iii.  3.     "An  Earl 
of  show." — Id.,  To  Marquis  Would-be  Inigo. 
An  old  Pancridge  !  (term  of  contempt). — Rob.  Chamberlain, 
Swaggering  Damsel,!.  1610;  Field,  Woman  is  a  Weathercocke, 
1612;  Nabbes,  Tott"'  Court. 

141 


LONDON.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Furcher.*  Faith  !  we  may  take  our  bows  and  shafts  and  sleep, 
This  dreaming  long  vacation  gives  us  leave. 
Gentlemen,  well  met !  what  Pancras  Knights  ! 
Yourchsv.*  The  bounty  of  the  time  will  have  it  so. 

*  Two  lawyers.  HistfiomasUx ,  ii.,  l6l I. 

Saint  Paul's.     See  Cathedrals. 

Pardoun  de  Seynt  Pol. — Douce  MS,  g8. 

Paul's  will  not  always  stand. — Bale,  Sir  Thos.  More,  p.  7,  1590 ; 

Ho. 
As  old  as  Paul's  steeple.— F.  W. ;  itself.— Torr,  p.  166. 
Paul's.— R. 
Ye  country  vicars,  when  you  preach  in  Town, 
A  turn  at  Paul's  to  pay  your  journey  down. 

Christ'-     Pitt,  On  the  Art  of  Preaching,  1699 — 1748. 
As  high  as  St.  Paul's. — Tomkins,  Albumazar,  iii.  1615. 
As  blunt  as  Paul's. — Jack  Drum's  Entertainment,  iv.  1601. 
What 's  a  man  in  Paul's,  or  a  hare  among  a  kennel  of  hounds  ? 
—  Torr.     See  Smithfield. 
Which  I  have  done  with  as  devout  a  cheer 
As  he  that  rounds  Paule's  pillers  in  the  ear. 

Bp.  Hall,  Sat.,  V.,  iii.  19.     ?  whispers. 
Paul's   work.     Esser  come  il  Duomo  di  Milano,  che  mai   si 
finisce. — Torr. 
To  have  Paul's  work  in  hand. — Riparata,  Torr. 
To  dine  with  Duke  Humphrey. — F.  W.     i.e.  at  the  tomb  of 
Humphry,  Duke  of  Gloucester,  in  the  middle  aisle  of  the 
first  cathedral. 
All  friends  round  St.  Paul's,  not  forgetting  [the  tree  norj  the 
trunkmaker's  daughter.     ?  the  elm-tree  at  the  N.E.  corner 
of  the  churchy*  on  the  site  of  St.  Paul's  Cross.     See  Haz., 
p.  251. 
As  well  taught  as  my  Lord  Mayor's  horse 
when  his  good  lord  is  at  the  Sermon  at  the  Cross  [i.e.  Paul's]. 
As  well-behaved,  docile. 

Which  will  never  be  ; 
We  may  as  well  push  against  Powle's  as  stir  'em  (sleepers). 

Shak.,  H.  VIII.,  V.  4. 

Saint  Peter's  le  Poor,*     [Peter  the  Poor. — He.,  Ep.,  vi.  85.] 
where  no  tavern,  alehouse,  or  sign  at  the  door. — F.  W. 

St.  Peter's  Hospital  is  the  name  of  the  Poor-house  at  Bristol. 
*  Old  Broad  Street. 
Smithfield. 

Choose  a  horse  in  Smithfield,  and  a  serving-man  in  Paul's. — 
Haz.,  p.  loi.     Fledknoe,  Enigmatical  Charact.,  p.  45.     1658. 

Fahtaff.  I  bought  him  (Bardolph)  in  Paul's,  and  he  '11  buy  me 
a  horse  in  Smithfield  ;  an'  I  could  get  me  a  wife  in  the  stews, 
I  were  manned,  horsed,  and  wived. — Shak.,  2  H.  IV.,  i.  2. 

142 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  London. 

Your  daughter  has  married  a  gentleman  :  is  not  this  better  than 

a  Smithfield  bargain  ?     [A  matrimonial  bargain  and  sale.] 

Smithfield    bargain.       Where    the    purchaser  is   taken   in. 

A  match  or  marriage  contracted  solely  on  the  ground 

of  interest  on  one  or  both  sides,  when  the  fair  sex  are 

bought  and  sold  like  cattle  in  Smithfield. — G.  Diet. 

Give  me  so  much  money  and  your  horse  shall  leap  my  mare. — 

J.  Wilson,  The  Cheats,  v.  5.     1633. 
He  is  only  fit  for    Ruffians'   Hall.      (A  Swaggerer ; — F.  W.) 
R.,  1670,  n. 
West  Smithfield,  now  the  Horsemarket,  was  formerly  called 
Ruffians'  Hall  because  athletic  contests  were  carried  on 
there.— F.  W. 
Strand.     As  naked  as  the  Strand   May-pole. — Rowley,  A   Match 

at  Midnight,  iv. 
Temple. 

The  Devil  would  have  been  a  weaver  but  for  the  Temples. 

R.,  1678. 
The  Devil's   Own.      A   name  applied  to  the  Inns   of  Court 

Volunteer  Corps. 
Gray's  Inn  for  walks,  Lincoln's  Inn  for  a  wall, 
the  Inner  Temple  for  a  garden,  and  the  Middle  for  a  hall. — Ho. 
Inner  Temple  rich.  Middle  Temple  poor, 
Lincoln's  Inn  for  lawyers,  and  Gray's  Inn  for  a  whore.* — R.,  1813. 

gentlemen boor. — Mwcr.,  Hdk. 

*  See  Panders,  "Come  away." — Percy,  fol. 

Thames.     The  Silent  Highway. 

When  King  James,  offended  with  the  City,  threatened  to  remove 
his  Court  to  another  place,  the  Lord  Mayor  boldly  enough 
returned  that  he  might  remove  his  Court  at  his  pleasure, 
but  could  not  remove  the  River  Thames. — F.  W. 
To  set  the  Thames  on  fire. 

Cf.     He 's  naa  eel  drowner  mair  than  me. — Roxh.  Ball, 
To  cast  water  in  Tems. — He. 

into  the  Thames.— F.  W. ;  Ho. 
As  whoso  filled  a  tonne  of  a  fresh  water  and  went  forth  with 
that  water  to  walle  with  Thames. — P.   Plow.,    Vis.   B., 
XV.  331. 
The  ducks  fare  well  in  the  Thames. — R.,  1670. 
Tower. 

A  fool  will  not  part  with  his  bauble  for  the  Tower  of  London. — 

F.W. 
Tower  Hill  play.    A  slap  in  the  face  and  a  kick  on  the  breech. — 

G.  Diet. 
A  loyal  heart  may  be  landed  under  Traitors'  Bridge. — F.  W. 

Trafalgar    Square.      The    finest    site    in    Europe.      A    saying 
attributed  to  the  first  Sir  Robt.  Peel. 

143 


LONDON.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

TuRNAGAiN  Lane. 

He  must  take  him  a  house  in  Turnagain  Lane. — He.,  Ep.,  69. 
(An  impasse  near  St.  Sepulchre's  Church  leading  to  Fleet 
Ditch.)     A  play  on  words.     Cf.  To  turn  over  a  new  leaf. 

Tyburn.     See  Paddington  and  Westminster. 

Wapping.     As  large  as  Wapping  wharf. — Taylor  (W.  P.),  Fermors 

Little  Barbayy.     Gr.  Diet. 

"  He  that  is  born  to  be  hanged  will  never  be  drowned."      This 

referred  specially  to  pirates  who  were  hanged  at  Wapping 

on  the  arrival  of  the  ship. — See  a  passage  in  Bacon's  Essays. 

Waterloo  Bridge. 

Canova  said  that  it  was  worth  travelling  all  the  way  from  Italy 
only  to  see  it. 

Westminster. 

Relikes  de  Westmoster. — Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 
Scone  Stone  (in  Abbey) : 

Except  old  saws  be  vain 
and  wits  of  wizards  blind, 
the  Scots  in  place  shall  reign 
where  they  this  stone  shall  find. — N.,  I.,  vi.  156. 
See  Public  Schools  and  Cathedrals. 
Suits  hang  half  a  year  in  Westminster  Hall, 
At  Tyburn  half  an  hour's  hanging  endeth  all. — He. 
As  tattered  as  the  Scots'  colours  in  Westminster  Hall. — Ho., 
New  Sayings,  iv. 

Angels    work    wonders    in    Westminster    Hall. — Jer.   Collier, 

Ess.,  VI.,  viii. 
As  sure  as  Check. — Ho.     As  sure  as  Exchequer  pay. — F.  W. 
There  is  no  redemption  from  Hell  (a  prison  under  the  Exchequer 

Court).— F.  W. 

Who  goes  to  Westminster  for  a  wife,  to  Paul's  for  a  man,  and 
to  Smithfield  for  a  horse  may  meet  with  a  whore,  a  knave, 
and  a  jade. — Ho. 
A  Westminster  wedding — a  whore  and  a  rogue. 

Ruyn  con  ruyn  que  asi  casan  en  duenas. — Pineda,  Spanish 
Dicty. 
Cf.  Un  mariage  de  St.  Sauveur, 
la  putain  epouse  le  voleur. 

(Dauphin6)  Gaidoz.  Blaz.  Pop.  de  la  France. 
As  long  as  Meg  of  Westminster. — F.  W.     A  long  great  gun 
brought  from  the  Tower. — F.  W. 
Long  Meg  of  Westminster. — Torr. 

As  thick  as  watermen  on  Westminster  Bridge.  —  T.  Nash, 
Have,  S'C.,  to  Saffron   Walden,  N.  3. 

Whitechapel. 

A  Whitechapel  beau.  One  who  dresses  with  a  needle  and 
thread  and  undresses  with  a  knife. — G.  Diet. 

144 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  monmouth. 

A  Whitechapel  portion.    Two  smocks  and  what  Nature  gave. — 

G.  Diet. 
Whitechapel  play  (at  Whist).     See  Suffolk  Bungay. 

Making  the  running  by  leading  ace,  king,  queen  in  succes- 
sion in  many  suits. 

WiMPOLE  Street.     The  long,  unlovely  street. 

Dark  house  by  which  once  more  I  stand, 

Here  in  the  long,  unlovely  street ; 

Doors  where  my  heart  was  wont  to  beat 
So  quickly,  waiting  for  a  hand. — Tennyson,  In  Mem.,  vii. 

LORD     MAYOR. 

As  well  taught  as  my  Lord  Mayor's  horse, 

when  his  good  lord  is  at  the  Sermon  at  the  Cross  [i.e.  Paul's] . 
I  have  dined  as  well  as  my  Lord  Mayor  of  London. 

Satis  est  quod  sufficit. — F.  W. 
Good  manners  to  except  my  Lord  Mayor  of  London  (a  correction 
of  sweeping  generalities). — F.  W. 

SCHOOLS. 

Nich'-  Heath  was  born  and  had  his  childhood  in  the  City  of  London, 
being  noted  for  one  of  St.  Anthony's  pigs  therein  ;  so  were 
the  scholars  of  that  school  commonly  called,  as  those  of 
St.  Pawl's,  Paul's  pigeons. — F.  W. ;  Stow. 

He  will  follow  him  like  a  St.  Anthony's  pig.  Applicable  to  such 
who  have  servile,  saleable  souls,  who  for  a  small  reward 
will  lack-wey  many  miles,  pressing  their  patrons  with  the 
unwelcome  opportunity. — F.  W. 

The  Protectors  and  Proctors  of  St.  Anthony's  Hospital  in  Benetfink 
claimed  the  privilege  of  turning  out  of  the  market  unsaleable 
pigs,  slitting  their  ears  and  letting  them  loose  with  a  bell  tied 
to  their  necks. — Stow,  p.  190. 


MONMOUTHSHIRE:. 

Monmouth  caps.  A  kind  formerly  worn  by  the  common  people. — 
Ho.  Something  like  the  Basque  berretta — not  so  wide  at 
the  sides  as  the  Scotch  bonnet. 

Llanover  [3  m.  S.S.E.  of  Abergavenny]. 

"  A  house  without  cheer, 
a  cellar  without  beer, 
a  park  without  deer : 
Lord  Llanover  lives  here." 
Said  of  Llanover  Court.  Cf.  Radnorshire. 

PoNTYPooL.     As  round  as  a  Pontypool  waiter. — N.,  I.,  xi.  472. 

Pontypool  was  the  original  site  of  the  manufacture  of  japanned 
or  lacquered  tin  ware,  called  Pontypool  ware. — Ih. 

VOL.  I.  145  10 


NORFOLK.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

No,  Landscape  painters,  let  your  gold  streams  sleep, 
*     *     *     Which  with  such  golden  lustre  flame 

As  beats  the  very  golden  frame. 
Peace  to  the  scenes  of  Birmingham's  bright  school. 
Peace  to  the  brighter  scenes  of  Pontipool. 

Wolcot  (Peter  Pindar),  Subjects  for  Painters. 

TiNTERN. 

Also  the  Abbot  of  Westmynster  fe  hiest  of  fis  lande. 
The  Abbot  of  Tynterne  jje  poorest  I  understand ; 
pey  are  both  abbots  of  name  and  not  lyke  of  fame  to  fande  [prove], 
yet  Tynterne  with  Westmynster  shall  nowper  sitte  nor  stande. 
John  Russell's  Book  of  Nurture,  Harl.  MS.  401 1. 

E.E.  Text.  Soc. 

NORFOLK. 

Norfolk,  Suffolk,  and   Essex  (East  Anglia),  called  by  natives 
"  The  Three  Counties."— Nail,  p.  645. 
Norfolk  ful  of  giles.— M5.  Harl. 
Norfolk  ful  of  wiles. — MS.  Rawl. 
For  Norfolk  wiles,  so  full  of  guiles. 
Have  caught  my  toe  by  wiving  so. 
That  out  to  thee*  I  see  for  me 

No  way  to  creep. — Tusser,  Life.    (Of  his  second  wife.) 
*  Suffolk. 

Norfolk  Wiles. — Camd.     ?  tricks  of  acrobats. 
As  active  as  a  Norfolk  tumbler. — Webst.,  West.  Ho.,  ii.  i. 
You  are  as  necessary  in  a  city  as  tumblers  in  Norfolk. — lb.,  iii.  2. 
Norfolk  men  are  charactered  in  jure  municipali  versatissimi,  where 
they   study    Law    as    following    the    plough  -  tail,  and    will 
enter    an    action    for   their    neighbour's    horse   but    looking 
over  their  hedge. — Fuller,  Ch.  H.,  HI.,  xii.  10. 
Si  nihil  sit  litium,  lites   tamen  ex  juris  apicibus,  serere  callent. — 

Camd.,  Brit.;  F.W. 
For   cunning  in   the  Law  and  wrangling  Norfolk  men  are  justly 
noted. — R. 
[Sir  Edward  Coke,  of  Holkham,  was  probably  in  his  mind.] 
As  Essex  hath  of  old  been  named  "  Calves  and  Stiles," 
Fair  Suffolk  "  Maids  "  and  Norfolk  "  Many  wiles."— Drayt.,  Pol. 
Norfolk  biffens  (beaufin).     A  particular  kind  of  apple,  pressed   after 
being  slowly  cooked. 
bumpkins. — Ho. 

broads. — The  baihff  of  the  Broads.     The  ague. — St.  J.  Ga.,  24/7,  '94. 

dumplings. — F.  W.      Made  of  dough  and  yeast,  boiled  for  twenty 

minutes. — Hll. ;  Massinger,  A  New  Way,  iii.  2 ;  Poor  Robin,  1 687. 

Well,  nothing  was  undone  that  might  be  done  to  make  Jemy 

Camber  a  tall  little  slender  man  when  yet  he   lookt  like 

a    Norfolke   dumpling,   thick   and   short. — Armin,  Nest  of 

Ninnies,  1605,  p.  13. 

U6 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  Norfolk. 

As  naked  as  your  Norfolk  dumpling. — Day,  The  Blind  Beggar  of 

Bethnal  Green,  ii.  1659. 
Hercules.     Dumplin  al  bumkins. — Ho. 
Stroud.     Make   me  your  cheat,   your  gull,  your  strowd,  your 

Norfolk  dumpling. — Day,  B.B.B.  Gr.,  i. 
Possessing  the  natural  soil  for  game,  it  is  proverbially  a  game 
county. — Nail,  p.  728. 
gentlemen. — Taylor  (W.  P.),  Navy  of  Land-Ships, 
turkeys. — Fed  on  buckwheat  or  brank. — Defoe,  Tour,  1724. 
The  Norfolk  drant,  or  drawl  {cf.  Suffolk  whine). — Nail,  s.v. 
I  wende  ryflyng  were  restitucion,  quod  he,  for  I  lerned  never  rede 

on  boke. 
And  I  can  no  frenche  in  feith  but  of  the  ferthest  end  of  Norfolk. 

P.  Plow,  Vis.  B.,  V.  238. 
In  part  of  Norfolk  the  farmers  used  formerly  to  plough  the  land 
with  two  rabbits  and   a  case-knife.     Spoken  hyperbolically. 
Part    of    Norfolk    is    extremely    light,    sandy,    and    easily 
ploughed. — G. 
Horace  Walpole  said  when  he  passed  through  the  county  that 
he  saw  one  blade  of  grass  and  two  rabbits  fighting  for  it. 
So  far  as  game  shooting  is  concerned,  everyone  who  shoots  a  great 
deal  knows  perfectly  well  that  the  hearing  of  the  left  ear, 
after  a  few  years,  is  never  so  good  as  that  of  the  right,  and 
when  black  powder  was  used  instead  of  the  various  chemical 
powders,  wood  powder,  E.G.,  and  many  others,  this  effect 
was  very  much  more  pronounced.     In  the  Eastern  Counties, 
where  the   shooting  is  on   a   large   scale  and  four   or   five 
hundred  shots  are  constantly  fired  by  one  man  on  one  day, 
the  deafness  of  the  left  [why  left  ?]  ear  so  produced  used  to 
go  by  the  name  of  Norfolk  deafness. — Sir  W.  B.  Dalby  on  the 
"Preservation  of  Hearing,  "in  Longman's  Mag.,  July,  1898. 
This  county  has  the  most  churches  (660)  of  any  in  England,  and 
though  the  poorest  livings  (by  some  occult  quality  of  their 
good   husbandry   and  God's  blessing  thereon),   the  richest 
clergymen. — F.  W. 
Windham  has  gone  to  the  dogs  and  Felbrigg  has  gone  to  the  kittens. 
The  family  seat   of  the   Windhams,  bought   by   a  wealthy 
Norwich  merchant. — Hissey.     Phaeton  Tour  in  Eastn.  Counties, 
p.  225. 
There  never   was   a   Paston   poor,   a    Heyden    a   coward,   nor    a 

Cornwallis   a   fool. — F.  W. 
Remember  parson  Melham,  and  pray,  sir,  drink  about. 

(An  admonition  to  pat  the  glass  about.) — Bailey.     Diet.  {Cant) 
Norfolk,  1756. 
AcLE  asses  [10  m.  E.  of  Norwich] .     See  Halvergate. 
Aylsham  [12  m.  N.  by  W.  of  Norwich]. 

Lyngeteille  de  Eylesham. — Douce  M.S.  98,  13th  Cy. 
Fliars,  i.e.  linen  cloth  for  head-dresses.     See  Blickiing. 

U7 


NORFOLK.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Beeston   babies     [2   m.    W.N.W.    of    Cromer.     Beeston    Regis] . 

See  Cromer. 
Beighton  bears  [6  m.  N.N.E.  of  Loddon].       See  Halvergate. 
BiNHAM  bulls  [4  m.  S.E.  of  Wells]. 

Blakeney  bulldogs  [5  m.  N.N.W.  of  Cromer].     See  Cromer. 
Blickling   [i  m.  N.N.W.  of  Aylesham]. 
Blickling  flats,  Aylsham*  fliers, 

Marshamf  peewits  and  Hevinghamj  liars. — N.,  L,  ii.,  150 
*  I  m.  N  W.  of  Aylsham.  1 2  m.  S.  of  Aylesham. 

■  J  4  m.  S.W.  of  Aylesham. 

Four  villages  on  the  road  between  Norwich  and  Cromer. 
Broomholm  [4  m.  N.E.  of  Walsham.]       See  Keswic. 

And  bidde  the  Roode  of  Bromholm  brynge  me  out  of  debt. — 
P.  Plow.,  24. 

Helpe,  holy  Crosse  of  Bromeholm  ! — Chaucer.  The  Reves  Tale, 
4286.  i.e.  part  of  the  true  Cross  preserved  at  Broomhall 
Priory,  near  Cromer,  founded  by  Wm.  de  Glanville  in  11 13. 

Caistor.    Caistor  was  a  city  ere  Norwich  was  none, 

and  Norwich  was  built  of  Caistor  stone. — AT.,  L,iii.  202 ;  IV. 
This  was  the  Roman  Venta  Icenorum  [3  m.  S.  of  Norwich], 

capital  of  the  Iceni. 
There  is  another  Caistor  close  to  Great  Yarmouth. 
Cantley  cats  [3  m.  N.N.E.  of  Loddon] .       See  Halvergate. 
Cromer.         Cromer  crabs, 

Runton  dabs         \       ^_  W.N .W.  of  Cromer.] 

Beeston'*  babies,  )   ^  -^ 

Sheringham  ladies,  [4  m.  E.N.E.  of  Holt.] 

Weybourne  witches,   [3  m.  N.E.  of  Holt.] 

Salthouse  ditches,  (var.,  bitches)  [3  m.  N.  of  Holt.] 

and  the  Blakeney  people 

stand  on  the  steeple, 

and  crack  hazelnuts 

with  a  five-farthing  beetle. — N.,  IV.,  iv.,  330. 

Blakeney  bulldogs,  [5  m.  N.N.W.  of  Holt.] 

Marston  dodmen,  [6  m.  N.E.  of  Walsingham.] 

Binham  bulls,  [5  m.  N.E.  of  Walsingham.] 

Stiffkey  trolls. 

Wells  bite  finger. — Nfk.  Ant.  Misc.,  i. 

(One  bit  off  dead  man's  finger  to  get  his  ring.) 
*  i.e,  B.  Regis. 

Cromer   Bay,   called    "  The    Devil's    throat,"   on    account   of    its 
dangerous   navigation. — Nail,    180.     Br. 

Dereham  gingerbread  [16  m.  W.N.W.  of  Norwich]. — A''.,  III.,  xi,  332. 
Diss  bread  [20  m.  S.S.W.  of  Norwich].— AT.,  III.,  xi.  332. 

He  knows  nothing  about  Diss. — N.,  I.,  vi.  303.  ?  this.  See 
Haz.,  n.  168. 

148 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  Norfolk. 

DowNHAM  [40  m.  W.  of  Norwich].     See  Rising. 

FREEfHORPE  fools  [5  m.  N.E.  of  Loddon].     See  Halvergate. 

GiMMiNGHAM  [4  m.  N.  of  N.  Walshaiii]. 

Gimmingham,  Trimmingham,  Knapton,  and  Trunch, 
North  Repps,  and  South  Repps,  are  all  of  a  bunch. — R.,  1678. 
[Villages  in  N.E.  of  County  between  Walsham  and  Cromer. j 

Halvergate  [6  m.  N.E.  of  Loddon]. 

Halvergate  hares,  Reedham  rats, 
Southwood  swine  and  Cantley  cats, 
Acle  asses,  Moulton  mules, 

Beighton  bears  and  Freethorpe  fools. — N.,  L,  ii.  150. 
[Villages  between  Norwich  and  Yarmouth.] 

Hevingham  liars.-    See  Blickling.      ?  Haveringland  [4  m.  S.W.  of 
Aylsham]. 

Horsey  pike  [11  m.  N.N.W.  of  Yarmouth] 

none  like. — Camd.,  Brit.,  1586,  Horsey  Mere,  nr.  Hickling  (N.E.  div.). 

Keswic.  When  Keswic  Church*  becomes  a  barn 

Bromholm  Abbey f  will  be  a  farm. 

Records  of  the  A.  N .  House  of  Glanville 
from  1050  to  1880,  reviewed. — N. 
*  2  m.  S.S.W.  of  Norwich,  now  in  ruins.        f  4  m.  N.E,  of  Walsham. 

Knapton  [3  m.  N.  of  N.  Walsham] .     See  Gimmingham. 

LoPHAM  [2  m.  S.  of  Kenninghall]. 

Twixt  Lopham  Ford  and  Shimpling  Thome* 
England  shall  be  wonne  and  lorne. — N.,  HL,  xii.  479. 
*  4  m.  N.W.  of  Lavenham  in  Suffolk. 
The  three  Wonders  of  Lopham. — Blomefield,  i.  237. 

1.  The  Self -grown  Stile :   a  tree  which  crosses  the  footpath 

and  forms  a  regular  stile. 

2.  The  Ox-foot  Stone :    a  large  stone  in  a  meadow  bearing 

the  impression  left  by  a  cow  which  came  to  be  milked  by 
the  poor  during  a  dearth. 

3.  Lopham  Ford :  a  nine-foot  piece  of  ground  lying 
between  the  sources  of  the  Ouse  and  the  Waveney 
[those  disagreeing  brethren. — Spelman],  the  former 
going  W.  by  Thetford  to  Lynn,  and  the  latter  by  Diss 
to  Yarmouth. 

Lynn.     See  Rising. 

Marchauntz  de  Leen. — Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 
That  nasty  stinking  sinkhole  of  sin 

Which  the  map  of  the  county  denominates  Lynn. — N.,  L,  iii.  206. 
A  Lynn  fairing.     The  venereal  disease. — Ned  Ward,  A  Step  to 
Stirbitoh  Fair,  1704:  Wks.,  ii.  268. 

Marham  [W.  Norfolk].     See  Lincolnshire. 

149 


NORFOLK.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Marsham  peewits  [2  m.  S.  of  Aylsham].     See  Blickling. 

He  is  arrested  by  the  Baily  [bailiff]  of  Marshland,    i.e.  an  ague. 
— F.W.     The  sea  and  fens  on  all  sides. 
This  refers  to  the  low  levels  about  Lynn. 

White,  E.E.,  i.  254. 

Marston  dodmen  [6  m.  N.E.  of  Walsingham].     See  Cromer. 
MouLON  mules  [6  m.  N.E.  of  Loddon].     See  Halvergate. 
Norwich.     Havene  de  Northwych.— Douce  MS.,  13th  Cy. 
The  tide  formerly  flowed  up  the  Yare  to  Norwich. 
Norwicum  Dacis,  Hibernis.     See  York. 
Haec  sunt  Norwycus,  panis  ordeus,  halpeny  pykys, 
Clausus  posticus,  domus  Habrahae,  durt  quoque  vicus, 
Flynt  valles,  rede  thek,  cuntatis  optima  sunt  haec. 

MS.,  Trin.  Coll.,  Camb.,  15th  Cy.     Rel.  Ant.,  ii.  178. 
The  City  of  Churches.      St.   Peter's,  Mancroft,  said  to  rank 
as  parish   Church   next    to   St.  Mary    RedclifF,  Bristol. — 
White,  i.  64. 
When  three  daws  are  seen  on  St.  Peter's  vane  together, 
then  we  are  sure  to  have  bad  weather. — Higson. 
Ululas  Athenas.      A  prov.   applied  to  foolish  occupiers  which 
carry  their  wares  to  sell  at  such  places  as  where  the  same 
do  abound,  as  if  a  man  sh''-  carry  Mockadoes  and  wool- 
steads  to  be  sold  at  Norwich. — Baret,  Alvearie,  1580. 
Worstead  (the  original  seat  of  the  manufacture  introduced  by 
the  Flemings,  and  which  gives  the  name  to  it)  is  now  an 
unimportant  place  a  few  miles  S.  of  Cromer. 
The  Dead  See  [sea].      During  the  long  incumbency  of  Bishop 
Pelham,  Norwich  has  acquired  this  sobriquet. 

Potter  Heigham  [ii  m.  N.W.  of  Yarmouth]. 

Blessed  are  they  that  live  near  Potter  Heigham,  and  double 
blessed  are  they  that  live  in  it. — Nfk.  Ant.  Misc. 

Reedham  rats  [5  m.  N.E.  of  Loddon].     See  Halvergate. 

North  Repps,  South  Repps  [2  m.  S.E.  and  S.  of  Cromer].     See 
Gimmingham. 

Rising. 

Rising  was,  Lynn  is,  and  Downham  shall  be 

the  greatest  seaport  of  the  three.— iV.,  I.,  iii.  206. 

Rising  was  a  market -town,  And  Lynn  it  was  a  wash, 

but  now  Lynn  is  a  sea-port  town.  And  Rising  fares  the  worse.* 

*  Worst. — N.,  I.,  iii.  206.  iV.,  IV.,  iv.  33O. 

Rising  was  a  seaport  town  when  Lynn  was  but  a  marsh, 
now  Lynn  it  is  a  seaport,  and  Rising  fares  the  worse. —Murray. 
The  sea  is  now  2  m.  from  Rising. 

Castle  Rising  is  described  in  Rd.  Blome's  Britannia,  1672, 
p.  171,  as  utterly  decayed  and  its  havens  filled  with  sand 
by  the  encroaching  sea. 

150 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  Norfolk. 

RuNTON  dabs  [2  m.  W.N.W,  of  Cromer].     See  Cromer. 
Salthouse  ditches,  or  bitches  [3  m.  N.  of  Holt].     See  Cromer. 
Setchey  [4  m.  S.  of  Lynn]. 

Setcha  has  but  thirteen  houses  and  fourteen  cuckolds. 

Thors&hy' s  Diavy,  1680. 
Sheringham  ladies  [4  m.  E.N.E.  of  Holt].     See  Cromer. 
SouTHWooD  swine  [4  m.  N.E.  of  Loddon].     See  Halvergate. 
Stiffkey  trolls  [5  m.  N.E.  of  Walsingham].     See  Cromer. 
Trimmingham  [4  m.  S.E.  of  Cromer].     See  Gimmingham. 
Trunch  [3  m.  N.N.E.  of  N.  Walsham].     See  Gimmingham. 
Uppertown  bull-dogs  [  ].     See  Cromer. 

Walsingham  [26  m.  N.W.  of  Norwich].   To  swear  Walsingham. — 
Porter,  Two  Angyy  Women.  1599.     H.,  0.  P.,  vii.  356. 
Turfe.     High  Constable !  now  by  our  Lady  of  Walsingham, 
I  'd  rather  be  marked  out  High  Scavinger. 

B.  Jon.,  A  Tale  of  a  Tub,  iii.  i. 
He  playeth  our  Lady  of  Walsingham,  giving  as  much  health  for 
a  penny  as  she  did  holiness,  yet  custom  commenced  him 
among  the  common  people  to  be  their  doctor. — BuUein, 
Bui.  of  Defence  (Serenes  and  Chyrurgi,  p.  49),  1562. 
Erasmus  says  that  the  monks  persuaded  the  people  that  the 
Milky  Way  in  the  sky  was  the  Virgin's  home,  calling  it  the 
Walsingham  Way. 

Weybourne  [3  m.  N.E.  of  Holt].    A  good  harbour,  deep  water  near 
shore,  guarded  in  time  of  war. 

He  that  would  Old  England  win, 

at  Weybourne  Hoope  must  first  begin. 

Chas.  'Loitus,  My  Life,  i8yy. 
Weybourne  witches.     See  Cromer. 
Wells  bite-fingers  [4  m.  N.N.W.  of  Walsingham].     See  Cromer. 
Winfarthing  [3  m.  N.  of  Diss]. 

The  good  Sword  of  Winfarthing    See  n.  from  Becon,  infra. 

Wymondham,  pie  of  [8  m.  S.W.  of  Norwich].     See  Paston,  Lett. 
(701),  Gairdner;  Fenn,  ii.  iii. 

Great  Yarmouth.     Bloater-land. 

The  Norfolk  gridiron. — Dickens ;  Household  Words.   See  Suffolk, 

Gorleston. 
You  cannot  spell  Yarmouth  steeple  right. — G.     [A  play  on  the 

word  right,  i.e.  straight.]     Cf.   As  right  as  my  leg. 
As  crooked  as  Yarmouth  steeple  [pulled  down  in  1803]. — Nail, 

Gt.  Y. 
When  an  old  maid  dies  the  steeple  nods. — N.,  II.,  iii.  199. 
The  crooked  spire  of  G.  Y.,  said  to  have  so  got  out  of  the 

perpendicular  through  a  virgin  having  once  been  married 

in  the  church. — Nfk.  Ant.  Misc.,  i.  301. 

151 


NORFOLK.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

The  Devil's  Seat  in  G.  Y.  church,  which  renders  those  who  sit 
in  it  unfortunate  for  life  {N.,  IL,  iii.  150,  258 ;  ix.  193),  is 
part  of  the  skeleton  of  a  whale.  It  now  stands  in  the  N. 
transept. 

Here's  to  his  Holiness  the  Pope  with  his  triple  crown, 
with  nine  dollars  each  for  each  cask  in  the  town.     [Toast. J 

Nail,  272. 

Haraunge  de  Gernemue. — Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 

A  Yarmouth  capon. — F.  W.  i.e.  a  red-herring.  So  the  Italian 
friars,  when  inclined  to  eat  flesh  on  Friday,. called  a  herring 
[qy.  a  fowl]  piscem  e  corte — a  fish  out  of  the  coop. — F.  W. 
In  Ireland  meat  dipped  into  water  and  christened  by  the 
name  of  "vSt.  Patrick's  fish"  is  sometimes  eaten  on  fast 
days. — Nail,  359. 

A  Ramp  Row  goose. — White,  E.E.,  i.  132.     ?  Digby  chicks. 
Yarmouth  for  the  sinners,  Cromer  for  the  saints, 
Lowestoft 

[An  incomplete  set  of  four  given  in  Haz.,  2nd  Ed.,  500. J 
A  Yarmouth  pie.     A  pie  made  of  herrings  highly  spiced,  which 
the  Corporation  of  Norwich  is  by  charter  bound  to  present 
annually  to  the  King.— G.,  Diet. 

A  Stalham  correspondent  writes  as  follows  : — 

"In  former  times  many  parishes  had  a  distinguishing  name;  for 
instance,  in  this  district  we  had  '  Proud  Stalham,'  '  Sleepy 
Ingham,'  '  Silly  Sutton,'  '  Clever  Catfield,'  and  '  Raw 
Hempstead.'  The  meanings  of  these  applications  are 
amusing.  The  pride  of  Stalham  [6  m.  S.E.  of  N.  Walsham] 
is  supposed  to  arise  from  its  central  position  and  commercial 
importance,  possibly  from  the  go-ahead  characteristics  of  the 
inhabitants  and  also  from  the  well-known  fact  that  it  possesses 
a  bank,  a  corn-hall  (not  used)  and  a  police  station.  Anyhow 
inhabitants  of  the  surrounding  villages  are  wont  to  speak 
of  going  'up'  to  Stalham.  Ingham  [7  m.  S.E.  of  N. 
Walsham]  is  said  to  take  the  peaceful  name  of  '  sleepy  '  from 
the  circumstance  that  an  aged  inhabitant  then  living  in  an 
almost  inaccessible  locality  in  the  marshes,  once  so  completely 
lost  his  reckoning  of  time  that  he  donned  his  Sunday  clothes 
and  went  to  Church  on  Monday  morning.  Sutton  [7  m. 
S.E.  of  N.  Walsham]  is  awarded  its  rather  unflattering  title 
from  the  tradition  that  its  aged  natives  were  wont  to  put 
their  hands  out  of  their  bedroom  windows  to  feel  if  it 
was  daylight.  The  cleverness  of  Catfield  [8  m.  S.E.  of 
N.  W^alsham]  is  imagined  by  some  to  arise  from  its 
'  eastward  position  '  to  Stalham  [wise  men  came  from  the 
East),  and  from  the  old  saying  that  if  anything  wonderful 
arose  inquirers  were  requested  to  proceed  to  Catfield  '  to 
know  the  truth  of  it.'  The  'rawness'  of  Hempstead 
[8  m.  E.S.E.  of  N.  Walsham]  may  possibly  be  attributed  to 

152 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Northampton. 

its  position  on  one  of  the  bleakest  portions  of  our  eastern 
coast,  and  not  from  any  want  of  polish  on  the  part  of  its 
inhabitants.  Many  other  parishes  in  our  county  have  dis- 
tinguishing names.  It  would  be  interesting  and  possibly 
amusing  could  some  account  be  given  of  them." — Eastern 
Evening  News,  Norwich,  15/11,  1892,  No.  iii.  46. 

"  In  Winfarthing,  a  little  village  in  Norfolk,  there  was  a  certeyne 
swerd  called  the  Good  Swerd  of  Winfarthing.  This  sword 
was  counted  so  precious  a  relique  and  of  so  great  virtue  that 
there  was  a  solemn  pilgrimage  used  unto  it  with  large  gifts 
and  offrings,  with  vow-makings,  crouchings  and  kissings. 
This  Sword  was  visited  far  and  near  for  many  and  sundry 
purposes,  but  specially  for  things  that  were  lost  and  for  horses 
that  were  either  stolen  or  else  run  astray.  It  helped  also 
unto  the  shortning  of  a  married  man's  life  if  that  the  wife 
which  was  weary  of  her  husband  would  set  a  candle  before 
that  sword  every  Sunday  for  the  space  of  a  whole  year,  no 
Sunday  excepted,  for  then  all  was  vain  whatsoever  was  done 
before." — Becon,  Reliques  of  Rome,  1536,  p.  gi,  repr. 

Told  him,  that  it  was  the  sword  of  a  thief  who  fled  for  sanctuary 
there  and  left  it  behind  him,  when  the  parson  and  clerk 
turned  it  to  account. 


NOSTHAMPTONSHIRS. 

Northamptonshire  of  long  hath  had  this  blazon  :  "  Love  below  the 
girdle  all,  but  little  else  above." — Drayton,  Polyolb.,  xxiii. 
?  cupboard  or  belly  love. — F.  L.  Jour. 

Northampton  full  of  love 

beneath  the  girdel  and  not  above. — MS.  Harl.  7371. 

Northamptonshire  full  of  love 

benethe  the  gyrdyll  and  noth  above. — MS.  Rawl. 

Fullalove  survives  as  a  surname.  ?  a  nickname  for  a  N'hamptonsh. 
man  or  for  one  "  of  the  same  kidney." 

No  shire  within  this  realm  can  answer  the  like  number  of  Noblemen. 
— Norden. 

Northamptonshire  for  spires  and  squires.— Haz.,  ist  Edn.  Some- 
one adds  "more  mires." — Norden,  Specuhim  Britannia,  1610  ; 
Alice  Dryden  ;  Northamptonsh.  Village  Jottings,  Pall  Mall  Mag., 
Oct.,  '97,  p.  239. 

Leicestershire  for  spires 

and  Northamptonshire  for  squires.— Haz.,  2nd  Edn. 

"Some  one  has  added  'for  springs  and  spinsters.'" — Alice 
Dryden,  u.  s.  And,  further,  that  there  is  more  haughtiness 
and  less  hospitality. 

Thack  and  dike 

Northamptonshire  like. — Sternberg,  Northamptonshire  Glossary. 

153 


NORTHAMPTON.        LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Saundev.  My  lady,  now  she  has  money,  is  studying  to  do  good 
works.  She  talked  last  night  what  a  goodly  act  it  was  of  a 
Countess — Northamptonshire  breed  belike  or  thereabouts— 
that  to  make  Coventry  a  Corporation  rode  through  the  city 
naked  by  daylight. — Middleton,  Anything  for  a  Quiet  Life,  v.  i. 

She  is  quite  an  Amy  Florence.  Said  of  any  female  loosely,  untidily 
and  tawdrily  drest.  "  How  she  goes  Florencing  about ! " 
Current  in  different  parts  of  the  county,  and  may  be  traced 
back  at  least  a  century,  but  now  nearly  obsolete. — Baker. 

Old  Busby  's  dead.     Said  of  old  news,  twice-told  tales. — Baker. 
Cf.  Lord  Baldwin  in  R. 

In  Northamptonshire  all  the  rivers  in  the  county  are  bred  in  it; 
besides  those  (Ouse  and  Cherwell)  it  lendeth  and  sendeth 
into  other  shores ;  so  the  good  housekeeper  hath  a  fortune  of 
wheat  in  his  fields,  mutton  in  his  fold,  &c.,  both  to  serve 
himself  and  supply  others.  The  expense  of  a  feast  will  but 
breathe  him,  which  will  tire  another  of  the  same  estate  who 
buys  all  by  the  penny. — Fuller,  Holy  and  Profane  State;  F.  W. 

The  language  of  the  common  people  is  generally  the  best  of  any 
shire  in  England, — F.  W. 

In  and  out,  like  Teton  Brook.*  Baker,  Northamptonshire  Glossary, 
speaks  of  its  sinuosities. 

*  ?  where. 

AsHTON.     See  Armston. 

Armstonf  on  the  hill, 

Polebrookl  in  the  hole  ; 
Ashtong  turns  the  mill, 

Oundle||  burns  the  coal. — N.,  I.,  vii.  537. 

t  3  m.  S.E.  of  Oundle.  Jam.  S.E.  of  Oundle. 

§  I  m.  E.  of  Oundle.  |i  i.e.  The  market  town. 

Aynho  [6  m.  S.E.  of  Banbury] .     See  in  Oxfordsh. 

Billing.     All  the  world  and  Little  Billing. — Baker,  Nh^-  Gloss. 
(A  par.  of  100  inhabitants,  3  m.  E.N.E.  of  N'hampton.) 

Cf.  Bingham  in  Notts. 
BouGHTON  [3  m.  N.  of  Northampton]. 

It 's  most  sure  to  be  wet  about  Boughton  Green  fair  (on  feast 
of  St.  John  Baptist). — AUce  Dryden  ;  Pall  Mall  Mag., 
Oct.,  '97. 

BowDEN  (Little)  [i^  m.  S.  of  Market  Harborough"). 

Little  Bowden,  poor  people, 
leather  bells,  wooden  steeple. — Br. 

Brackley  [19  m.  S.W.  of  N'hampton] ,  a  decayed  market  town. 

Brackley  breed  [1678. 

Better  to  hang  than  to  feed  (Malum  immedicabile).— CI. ;  R., 

154 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Northampton. 

From  thence  to  Brackley  as  did  beseem  one 
The  May'r  I  saw,  a  wondrous  mean  one, 
sitting  thatching  and  bestowing 
on  a  wind-blown  house  a  strowing  : 
on  me  call'd  he  and  did  charm  me. 
Drink  less,  eat  more — I  do  warn  thee. 

Brathwait,  Drunken  Barnabee's  Journeys,  1. 
A  beggar-banger  is  kept  by  the  Corporation. — Sternberg. 
Brackley  skegs  [a  fool  or  clown] 
come  t'  Imly  *  ta  et  th'  addled  eggs. — Sternberg. 
*  Imly  is  Evenly,  a  near  village. 

Burton  Latimer  [3  m.  S.E.  of  Kettering]. 
The  wind  blows  cold 
on  Burton  hold  [wold]. — N.,  I.,  viii.  512. 

CoLLEY  Weston  [a  village  3  m.  S.W.  of  Stamford]. 

It's  all  along  of  Colly  Weston. — Baker,  N'ton.  Gloss.,  p.  137. 
Generally  used  when  anything  goes  wrong  or  anyone  is 
much  put  out ;  has  its  origin  in  the  excellent  and  durable 
character  of  the  C.W.  roofing  stones  or  slates,  which  has 
long  been  prejudicial  to  the  interests  of  tiling  and  thatch- 
ing.— Athen.,  25/6,  '98. 
In  some  verses,  however,  upon  Holiday's  Tecknogamia,  1630, 
printed  from  a  Middle  Hill  MS.  9569  (1638)  in  the  notes 
to  the  Shakspere  Soc.'s  Edition  of  The  Marriage  of  Wit 
and  Wisdom,  these  lines  occur,  and  seem  to  point  to  a 
person  rather  than  a  place : 

"  We  had  an  ape  forsooth,  bare  three  years  old, 
could  do  more  tricks  than  Colle  Weston's  could." 
Wilbraham  and  Hartshorne  record  the  saying ;  so  it  cannot 
be  considered  local. 

Coster  or  Caster  pence.  The  ancient  copper  coins  dug  up  in  the 
soil  [4  m.  W.  of  Peterboro',  about  Warden  Morton] . — 
Denham,  F.  Lore  of  Durham,  p.  66. 

Daintry  (Daventry).     See  Warwicksh. 

It's  gone  over  Borough  Hill  after  Jackson's  pig  (said  when 
anything  is  lost). —  Baker,  Gloss.  An  ancient  encampment 
near  Daventry. 

Denford  [i  m.  S.S.W.  of  Thrapstone]. 
On  the  Sunday  after  Trinity 
come  to  Denford  feast  and  dine  with  me. — Baker. 
(The  festival  week  of  the  patron  Saint.) 

DODDINGTON. 

Doddington*  dovecot,  Wilby  t  hen, 

Irthlingborough  |  ploughboys,  and  Wellingborough  men. 

»  2  m.  S.S.W.  of  Wellingboro'.        t  2  m.  S.W.  of  Wellingboro'. 
J  4  m.  N.E.  of  Wellingboro'. 

Evenly  (Imly),  [i  m.  S.  of  Brackley].     See  Brackley. 

155 


NORTHAMPTON.         LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Grendon  moonrakers  [5  m.  S.S.W.  of  Wellingborough].— Sternberg. 

Hardington  snow-feast, 
Wootton  crow-feast. 

Two   villages   2  m.  S.  of  Northampton,   the  annual  wake  or 

festival  of  the  first  being  in  the  winter,  of  the  other  in 

the    spring,   according   to    the    respective   patron   Saints' 

days. — Baker. 

Helpstone  crackt  pippins  [pipkins],  and  Northborough  crackt  pans, 

Glinton  fine  organs,  and  Peakirk  tin  pans. — N.,  VI.,  ix.  25. 

(Bells  of  churches,  all  about  7  m.  N.W.  of  Peterboro'.) 
HoLDENBY  (ELolmby),  [6  m.  N.W.  of  Northampton]. 

It  shines  like  Holmeby  [built  by  Sir  Christ''  Hatton— F.W.].— 
Baker,  Gloss.  This  probably  refers  to  Holmby  House,  a 
fine  Elizabethan  manor-house,  in  which  Charles  I.  was 
kept  prisoner,  and  to  the  view  of  it  in  the  prospect  from 
Althorp,  the  seat  of  the  Spencers,  spoken  of  by  Evelyn. — 
See  Murr. 
If  Florence  be  said  to  be  a  city  so  fine  that  it  ought  not  to  be 
shown  but  on  Holy-days,  Holdenby  was  a  house  that  should 
not  have  been  shown  but  on  'Xmas-day. — F.  W. 
It  shines  like  Holmby  mud-walls,  i.e.  the  village  hovels  as 
contrasted  with  the  splendid  mansion. 

HoRESTONE.     See  Padwell. 

Irthungborough.     See  Doddington. 

King's    Sutton    [5   m.    S.W.   of    Brackley].      See    Bloxham,   in 
Oxfordsh. 

Marston  Trussell  [3  m.  S.W.  of  Market  Harboro'] . 

Pudding-poke   Marston.      So   called    because   the   main   road 
terminates  at  the  church  in  a  cul  de  sac. — Murr. 

MOULTON. 

Moulton  images.     Supposed  to  reflect  on  the  lack  of  beauty 
among   the   inhabitants ;    apparently  a  pun  on   molten. — 

Atlien.,  25/6,  '98. 

Naseby  [12  m.  N.N.W.  of  Northampton]. 

Naseby  children —  quasi-centenarians. — Sternberg. 
In  their  second  childhood. 

Naseby  Old  Man  was  meant  to  be  a  spire, 
but  Naseby  poor  farmers  could  raise  him  no  higher. 
It  was  therefore  finished  by  a  Copper  Ball  somewhat  in  human 
form. — Mentioned  by  Carlyle,  Cromwell,  i.  188.      Since 
taken  down  and  sold. — N.,  VIII.,  vi.  336. 

Northborough.     See  Helpstone. 
Northampton. 

Bachelerie  de  Northampton. — Douce,  MS.  98.     (Referring  to 
the  tournaments  held  there  temp.  Hen.  III.) 

156 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Northampton. 

He  that  would  eat  a  buttered  faggot,*  let  him  go  to  Northampton. 

F.W.  treats  this  as  spoken  of  a  bundle  of  sticks  for  fuel,  but  I 

take  it  as  praise  of  the  mess  of  minced  meat  called  a  faggot. 

*  ' '  Ray,  whose  collection  of  proverbs  was  issued  only  a  few  years  subsequent 
to  Fuller's  Worthies,  supports  Fuller  in  this  view,  adding  that  King  James  is  said 
to  have  spoken  thus  of  Newmarket,  but  that  the  saying  was  more  applicable  to 
Northampton,  as  the  dearest  town  in  all  England  for  fuel.  There  is  little  ques- 
tion that  '  faggot '  can  mean  [as  I  suggest] ,  and  as  Mr.  Markham  says,  something 
like  a  '  mediaeval  porcine  preparation ' ;  but  why  any  preparation  of  pig  should 
want  buttering  is  not  explained." — Athenimm,  June  25th,  1898,  reviewing  The 
Proverbs  of  Northamptonshire,  by  Christopher  A.  Markham,  F.S.A.  (Northampton  ; 
Stanton  &  Son). 

The  Mayor  of  Northampton   opens  oysters  with  his  dagger, 
i.e.  to  keep  them  at  a  sufficient  distance  from   his  nose, 
Northampton  being  eighty  miles  from  the  sea. — F.  W. 
See  Grose. 

Cf.  the  world  's  mine  oyster. 

Which  I  with  sword  will  open. 

Shak.,  M.  W.  W.,  ii.  2. 
Boots  and  shoes.       "  Northamptoniensibus  est  clavus  pedum 
gemursa  pterugium." — Lye,  D.  Ang.  Sax. 
To  be  shod  with  boots  and  shoes 
Northampton  is  the  place. 
The  town  of  Northampton  may  be  said  to  stand  chiefly  on  other 
men's  legs.     Where  (if  not  the  best)  the  most  and  cheapest 
boots  and  stockings  are  bought  in  England. — F.W. 
There  is  an  old  saying  that  you  may  know  when  you  are  within 
a  mile  of  Northampton  by  the  smell  of  the  leather  and  the 
noise  of  the  lapstones. — Murr. 

OuNDLE.     See  Armston. 

Padwell.     If  we  can  Padwell  overgoe,  and  Horestone  we  can  see, 
then  lords  of  England  we  shall  be. — Sternberg. 
This  prophecy  is  ascribed  to  the  Danes  previously  to  the 
battle  of  Danesmoor,  near  Edgehill. — Murr. 
Padwell  is  a  noted  flush  spring  in  Engcote  grounds,  Horestone, 
on  the  borders  of  Warwickshire  (in  Wardlingtonfield).— 
Morton,  ISIat.  Hist,  of  N'hants. 

Peakirk.     See  Helpstone. 

Peterborough  the  proud.     See  Ramsey,  in  Hunts. 

Orgoyl     de     Bourke. — Douce    MS.    98.      Cf.    Cron.    Fetvob. 
(Cambden  Soc). 

[Peterborough]  for  pride,  Stamford  for  poor, 
Deeping  for  a  rogue,  and  Bourn  for  a  whore. 
All  but  first  in  Lincolnshire. — Haz.,  n.  to  Barnaba  Itin, 
Rockingham  [8  m.  N.  of  Kettering] . 

Rockingham,  poor  people, 
nasty  town,  castle  down.* — Athenaum,  1872. 
*  Nothing  but  the  one  tall,  wooden  steeple  keep  is  left  standing  (a  substitute 
for  one  destroyed  by  Cromwell), 

157 


NORTHAMPTON.         LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Slapton  [3J  m.  S.W.  of  Towcester] . 

Slapton,  where  fools  will  happen. — Sternberg. 

"  More  frequently  used  of  Spratton,  a  village  near  Brixworth, 
and  this  makes  the  better  assonance." — Athen.,  25/26,  '98. 

Wansford  ("  in  England  "),  [6  m.  S.S.E.  of  StamfordJ.  The  legend 
which  has  conferred  this  sobriquet  is  that  a  native,  who 
was  surprised  asleep  on  the  top  of  a  haystack  by  an  in- 
undation of  the  river  Neen,  and  as  he  floated  away  on  the 
waters,  being  challenged  as  to  whence  he  came,  answered, 
thinking  himself  in  mid-ocean,  "  From  Wansford,  in 
England." — See  Brathwait,  Barn.  Itin.,  iii. 

Wellingborough.     See  Doddington. 

WiLBY.     See  Doddington. 

WooTTON  [2  m.  S.  of  Northampton] .     See  Hardington. 

Yardley  [7  m.  S.E.  of  Northampton] . 

The  wind  blows  cold  [rhyme"), 

upon  Yardley  old  [wold]. — Sternberg  (who  calls  it  a  "  riddle 

Old  for  wold. — Shak.,  K.  L.,  iii.  4. 

Yardley  Chase  adjoins  Castle  Ashby,  the  seat  of  the  Marquis  of 
Northampton. 

BELLS  OF  NORTHAMPTONSHIRE  CHURCHES  AND  OTHERS. 

"  Pancakes  and  fritters," 
says  the  bells  of  Saint  Peter's  [Northampton]. 

' '  Where  must  we  fry  'em  ?  " 
says  the  bells  of  Cold  Higham  [4  m.  N.N.W.  of  Towcester]. 

"  In  yonder  land-thurrow  "  [furrow], 
says  the  bells  of  Wellingborough. 

"  You  owe  me  a  shilling," 

says  the  bells  of  Great  Billing  [4  m.  E.N.E.  of  Northampton], 
"  When  will  you  pay  ?  " 

says  the  bells  at  Middlston  Cheney  [3  m.  N.E.  of  Banbury]. 

"  When  I  am  able," 
says  the  bells  at  Dunstable. 

"  That  will  never  be," 
says  the  bells  at  Coventry. 

"Oh,  yes  it  will," 
says  Northampton  Great  Bell. 

"  White  bread  and  sop,"  ampton] . 

says  the  bells  at  Kingsthrop  [Kingsthorpe,  i  m.  N.  of  North- 
"  Trundle  a  lantern," 

says  the  bells  at  Northampton. — Baker,  N'hamp.  Gloss. 

158 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.         Northumberland. 


PARISHES    IN    NORTHAMPTON. 

"  Roast-beef  and  marsh-mallows," 

say  the  bells  at  All  Hallows. 
"  Pancake  and  fritters," 

say  the  bells  of  Saint  Peter's. 
"  Roast  beef  and  boil'd," 

say  the  bells  of  Saint  Giles. 
"  Poker  and  tongs," 

say  the  bells  of  Saint  John's  [Hospital] . 
"  Shovel,  tongs,  and  poker," 

say  the  bells  of  Saint  Pulchre's. — Baker,  N'hamp.  Gloss. 

NORTHUMBERLAND. 

Fair  Northumberland. — Drayt.  Pol.,  xxxiii. 
Northumberland,  hastie  and  hot. — MS.  Rawl. 
Northumberland,  hasty  and  hoot. — MS.  Rawl. 
Northumberland    had  almost  as   many   castles   as   churches. — (P. 
Heylin),  Denham,  Folk  Lore  North.  Co.,  p.  loi.     1858. 
...  in  Northumberland, 
Where  men  seethe  rushes  in  gruel. — Hickscorner ;  H.,  O.  P.,  i.  162. 
Defoe,    Tour,  iii.   232,  speaks  of  the   R  as  the   shibboleth  in  the 
speech  of  this  co.,  saying  that  the  inhabitants  are  as  plainly 
known  by  it  as  Foreigners  are  in  pronouncing  the  Th ;  but 
the  natives  value  themselves  on  it,  because,  forsooth,  it  shows 
the  antiquity  of  their  blood. 
"  I  'se   a   true-bred  Northumberland  !  "     Answer  of  one  asked  his 

religion  or  politics. — Denham,  p.  46. 
Lord  Northumberland's  arms=a  black-eye. — G.,  Diet. 
Crankies.     Pitmen. — Hll.,  D.,  p.  74. 

Croakumshire. — G.     A  cant  name  for  N^-,  in  w""-  Newcastle  may  be 
included,  from  a  peculiar  croaking  in  the  pronunciation  of  the 
inhabitants.     The  elevating  of  the  tone  several  notes  at  the 
close  of  the  sentence  is  the  characteristic  of  the  Northumber- 
land dialect. — Brockett.     See  Newcastle. 
If  they  come  they  come  not,  and  if  they  come  not  they  come. — F.W. 
Winna  come  .  .  .  dinna  come,  they'll  come  hame. — (Wooler  version.) 
i.e.  The  cattle  on  the  Border  were  turned  out  to  pasture  and 
returned  of  their  own  accord  at  night,  in  that  case  indi- 
cating that  the  freebooters  were  not  in  the  neighbourhood. 
Homo  da  confino 

overo  le  ladro  overo  assassino. — Florio,  1578. 

Pray  God  send  us  a  good  harvest  this  winter !  (say  the  wreckers  of 
the  E.  coast). — Den.,  p.  50.  [D.,  p.  loi. 

The   autumn   of  the  year   is   the   summer  of  Northumberland. — 
Alnwick,  famed  for  bloody  battles  and  bogs. — D.,  p.  114. 
Canny  Annick  and  its  ten  miles  round. — D.,  p.  115. 

159 


NORTHUMBERLAND.    LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

He  rides  like  a  Bambroughshire  laird  (yeoman),  i.e.  with  one  spur 

and  a  whip. — D.,  p.  35. 
Runches  (charlock)  and  wild  oats  are  the  badge  of  Bamborough- 

shire. — D.,  p.  116. 
Soft  in  her  side,  like  the  lasses  o'  *Belford.— Den.,  p.  47.   (Deficient 

in  intellect.) 

*  N.E.  Northa. 

Berwick,  the  Key  of  England  on  the  E.  Sea  as  Carlisle  is  on  the 
W.  -D.,  p.  63. 
The  no-nation  town  of  Berwick. — lb.,  p.  66. 
Once  going  through  Berwick  makes  not  a  man  of  war. — D.,  66. 
This   belongs   to   the    times   of    chronic   contention   with 
Scotland. 
The  burghers  o'   Berwick  get   warm   rolls  and  butter  every 
morning  to  their  breakfast.    (Exercise  for  the  burr  or  cinder 
in  the  throat).— D.,  p.  63. 
A   Berwick  burgess   speaks  wi'  a  bunch  o'  bear  awns  in  his 

hause. — D.,  p.  67.     i.e.  Beards  of  barley  in  his  throat. 
The  Berwick  burr. — D.,  p.  28. 

The  middle  arch  of  Berwick  bridge  is  at  one  end. — D.,  62. 
i.e.  The  largest  or  principal  arch  is  the  second  (of  15)  and 
not  the  central. 

There  's  a  lang  bridge  at  Berwick, 
a  church  without  a  steeple, 
a  dunghill  before  every  door, 
and  very  deceitful  people.— D.,  p.  66. 
From  Berwick  to  Dover 
three  hundred  miles  over. — F.  W. 
Samon  de  Berwick. — Douce  MS.  98.,  13th  Cy. 
If  a  Berwick  lad  and  lass 
gang  together  by  the  Steps  of  Grace, 
they  '11  sup  wi'  the  priest  o'  Lamberton. — D.,  p.  68.. 
i.e.  The  English  Gretna  Green. 

Blaydon.  Blaydon  bred  and  Meldon  fed, 

but  Dilston  ha'  destroyed  it  a'. — D.,  p.  103. 
i.e.  The  profuse  hospitality  of  the  Derwentwaters  consumed  the 
cattle. 

Blythe.     We  're  a'  here,  like  the  bairns  o'  Blythe. — D.,  p.  46. 

BuTTTERBURN.  Ye 're  like  the  laird  o'  Butterburn, "  Whatever  is, 
is  right."  A  jeer  at  an  optimist  who,  when  lying  in  the 
ditch  and  calling  for  help,  was  answered  with  his  own 
saying. — D.,  p.  6. 

Cartington.     The  couts  o'  Cartington. — D.,  p.  121. 

Catton  (in  Allendale). 

When  ye  lang  for  a  mutton- bone 
think  on  the  Wedderstone. 

160 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.         Northumberland. 

A  sheepstealer,  carrying  off  a  sheep  round  his  neck,  was 
strangled  by  its  slipping  off  the  stone  on  which  he  was 
leaning  while  resting  his  booty.  C/.  F.  W.,  Devonshire, 
Hanging  Stone. 

The  gowks  o'  Davey  Shield. — D.,  p  124,     Nr.  Otterburne. 

DoDDiNGTON.  "Where  have  ye  been  to-day?"  "Where  the 
devil  hanged  his  grannie !  "  i.e.  A  wood  above  Doddington 
with  a  hanging  crag. — D.,  116. 

A  DuNSTANBOROUGH  diamond  (crystal*).  Applied  to  the  female 
children. — D.,  44. 

*  Found  on  coast. 
Elishawe. 

The  long  gaunts  t  o'  Elishawe 
were  heard  in  't  'loans  |  o'  Blakelaw. — D.,  no. 
t  Sighs.  }  Pastures. 

Elsdon  Moat.     The  hob  thrush  of  Elsdon  Moat. — D.,  120. 

EsHOTT  Hall.  Hearts  is  trumps  at  Eshott  Hall  [Nr.  Felton]. — 
D.,  112. 

Felton.     The  little  priest  of  Felton,  the  little  priest  of  Felton, 
he  killed  a  mouse  within  his  house 
wi'  never  a  one  to  help  him. — D.,  45. 

Halterburn.  It 's  like  the  butter  o'  Halterburn  [famous  for 
gipsies  and  near  Yetholm]  it  would  neither  rug  nor  rive, 
nor  cut  wi'  a  knife ;  it  was  confounded  (bewitched). — D.,  116. 

Hartley.         Hartley  and  Hallowell  a'  bonnie  lassie, 
fair  Seaton  Delaval  a'  ya', 
Earlsdon  stands  on  a  hill  a'  ya', 
near  to  the  Billy  Mill  a'  ya'.— Hll. 

Hebburn.  It 's  no  a  by-word  like  Hebbron  Kirk  (Hebburn). — 
D.,  113.     Rebuilt  1793. 

Go  to  Heckley  Fence  !  {i.e.  to  the  devil.) — D.,  115. 

Holy    Island.      It's    always    dry    land    over    to    Holy    Island* 
(Lindisfarne)  during  Service  time  on  a  Sunday. — D.,  108. 
■"■2  m.  across,  passable  between  the  tides. 

Horlstane.  Up-hill  turn  again 

round  about  the  Horlstane. 
(Allusion  to  a  subterranean  passage  from  a  prison  in  Chilling- 
ham  Park.) — D.,  140. 

Hexham*  the  heart  o'  (all)  England. — Brockett. 
*  20  m.  ■W.  of  Newcastle. 
With  a  fortnight  Fair  every  week,  and  a  market-day  on  the 

Tuesday.— D.,  58. 
Hexham  hopenny  (half-penny). — Brockett. 
A  hoporth  o'  soat  and  a  hopenny  back,  and  there 's  a  socer  to 
put  it  in. — D.,  58. 

VOL.  I.  161  11 


NORTHUMBERLAND.    LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

A   Hexham   sixpence  worth :    a   pennyworth   of    tey,   and   a 

pennorth  o'  shugar,  three  penny  loaves,  and  a  pennorth 

o'  butther,  and  a  pennorth  o'  hey  (he)   harreng,  for  my 

mother  hkes  melts  (milts)  best. — D.,  6i. 
Go  to  Hexham  !  i.e.  to  Jericho— to  a  bore. — N.,  VHL,  iii.  233. 

A  Newcastle  saying. 
He  comes  fra  Hexham  Green  and  that 's  ten  miles  ayont  hell 

{i.e.  he  is  a  mystery). — D.,  59. 
Everyone  to  their  ain  hand  hke  the  pipers  of  Hexham. — D.,  59. 
Hexham,  where  they  kneeband  lops,*  and  put  spectacles  upon 

blind  spiders. — D.,  60.     Cf.    Cotherston  in  Yorkshire. 
i.e.  fleas. 
Silly-goodnatured  like  a  Hexham  goose,  bid  him  sit  down  and 

he  '11  lie  down. — D.,  60. 
The  country  gowks  are  ploating*  their  geese  and  sending  the 

feathersf  to  Hexham. — D.,  60. 

*  i.e.  plucking.  f  snowing.  fcastle. 

He 's  getten  up  the  lang  stairs,  i.e.  to  prison. — D.,  60.    Cf.  New- 
Hexham,  famed  for  gloves  and  hatters. — D.,  60. 
Hexham    measure :    up-heaped,    press'd    down    and    running 
over. — D.,  p.  58. 

heaped  and  running  over. — N.,  V.,  x.  394. 
The  auld  wives  o'  the  Lee,  [in  Hexhamshire] 
they  canna  weel  see, 

they  tak  up  the  bedclothes  in  the  stree. — D.,  44. 
A  *HowDEN-pan  cant  [or  canter],  i.e.  a  fall  or  upset. — D. 

"  5  m.  E.  by  N.  from  Newcastle. 
HowicK.     The  wind 's  in  Howick  hole  {i.e.  a  storm  from  the  S.E.  is 
brewing. 

Cf.  "  Is  the  wind  in  your  hole  this  morning  ?  "  referring  to  the 
wind-hearth,  a  hole  for  ventilation  made  to  the  outer  air 
for  turf  fires. 

Canny  Lang  Bknton,  bonny  Seaton  Delaval. — D.,  124. 
The  clegs  [or  gadflies]  o'  Lisleburn  [par.  of  Corsenside], — D.,  124. 
We  '11  mak  't  out  amang  -us  as  the  folks  o'  Lisleburn  did  the 
Lord's  Prayer. — D.,  125. 

The  Keaves*  o'  Lorbottle   [near  Rothbury] .     Alluding  to  their 
big,  shapeless  feet. — D. 

*  Large  tub  or  vessel. 
The  wise  folks  o'  Lorbottle,  who  tried  to  build  in  the  cuckoo. — D. 
Also  to  catch  the  moon  on  the  hill-top. — lb.,  p.  135. 
Morpeth. 

The  Morpeth  butcher's  welcome :  "  Eat,  there  's  mair  nor  we 
can  eat," — D.,  143. 

Mitfordf  was  Mitford  when  Morpeth  was  none, 
and  Mitford  shall  be  Mitford  when  Morpeth  is  gane. — D.,  105. 
t  A  village  2  m.  W.  of  Morpeth. 

162 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.         Northumberland. 

Morpeth  town  shall  come  to  nought, 

and  Prudhoe  castle  fall, 
and  all  the  town  of  Monkchester  :|: 
shall  be  without  a  wall. — D.,  io6. 
X  The  old  name  for  Newcastle. 
He's  driving  his  swine  to  Morpeth  market,  i.e.  snoring. — D.,  41. 
It 's   Wednesday  at    Morpeth,   Thursday  at   Langtown,   and 
Friday  at  Allendale  town.     (Answer  to  enquiries,  What 
day  of  the  week  is  it  ?     These  are  the  respective  market- 
days.) — D.,  112. 

Newcastle. 

Newcastle  Scots  are  the  worst  of  all  Scots. — D.,  78. 

Burr-castle.    A  sobriquet  for  Newcastle.    Capital  of  Croakum- 

shire. 
He  has  the  Newcastle  burr  in  his  throat. — G. 
A  Scotish  man  and  a  Newcastle  grindstone  travel  all  the  world 

over. — F.  W. 
Canny    Newcassel — R.,    1813,    i.e.    neat,     clean,     handsome, 

becoming,  honest,  &c. — D. 
To  carry  coals  to  Newcastle — F.  W. ;  Graunt's  Observations  on 

Bills  of  Mortality,  1665  ;  Ded. 
As  common  as  coals  from  Newcastle. — T.  Heywood,  2d  Pt. 

of  Queen  Elizabeth's  Troubles,  1606,  p.  77. 
The  Black  Indies. — G.,  Diet. 
Streets  of  Stairs, 
whoever  climbs  them  swears. 
i.e.  Castle  Stairs,  Long  Stairs,  and  Tuthell  Stairs,  leading  to 

the  Upper  Town  Moor,  now  destroyed. 
As  old  as  Pandon  yate. — Brockett.     One  of  the  town  gates. 
He 's  getten  into  limbo  up  the  nineteen  steps  {i.e.  of  the  Old 

Castle  Gaol).— D.,  78. 
To  stand  like  a  Newcastle  fish-wife. — D.,  75. 

Newcastle   Geordies.     A  sailor's   nickname  for  those  of  that 

port. — D.,  44. 
A  Sandhiller.   An  inhabitant  of  the  Billingsgate  of  Newcastle. — 

D.,  75- 
A  Sandgate  rattle.     The  toe  and  heel  shuffle  or  dance. — D.,  81. 

A  Quay-side  umbrella,  i.e.  a  swill  or  empty  basket  inverted  on 
the  forehead  and  back. — D.,  80. 

Newcastle    hospitality.      Roasting    your    friend  to    death. — 

Brockett. 

As  rich  as  Cock's  canny  hinnies  (daughters  of  a  Newcastle 

Alderman). — D.,  78. 

Noo,  noo,  canny  Judge,  play  the  reet  caird,  and  its  a  deed  pig, 
quoth  the  Mayor  of  Newcastle,  i.e.  all  up  with  the  adver- 
saries.— D.,  80. 

163 


NORTHUMBERLAND.    LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

The  Nine  Trades  of  Newcastle :  three  of  wood,  three  of  thread, 
and  three  of  leather. — D.,  82. 

Byker  Hill  and  Walker  Shore,* 
collier  lads  for  ever  more. — D.,  p.  35. 
*  Walker  Iron  Works  on  Tyne. 

You  must  go  to  Gateshead  to  hear  Newcastle  news. — D.,  83. 
A  Newcastle  ball  (at  cricket),  i.e.  a  bad  one. — D.  {Durham,  66,). 

Cf.  Sunderland. 
If  we  cannot  win  the  Old  Castle  we  must  build  a  Newcastle. — 
D.,  87.     (Attributed  to  William  Rufus ;  now  used  by  those 
who  change  their  calling.) 

Of  all  the  churches  of  our  land — 

let  them  be  ne'er  so  braw — 
St.  Nicholas!  of  Newcastle  town 
yet  fairly  bangs  them  a'. — D.,  88. 
+  Famous  for  its  steeple. 
By  hammer  and  hand 
all  Arts  do  stand.  I 
X  1679.     Inscription  over  one  of  the  doors  of  the  Friary. — White,  p.  93. 
Templum,  Portus,  Castrum,  Carbo,  Salina,  Molaris. 
Murus,  Pons,  Salmo,  Schola  sunt  Novi  gloria  Castri. 

D.,  89  ;  Grey,  Chorogvaphia. 

Newcastle,     At  the  Westgate  came  Thornton  in  [Stow, 

with  a  happen  hapt  in  a  ram's  skyne. — Leland,  Itin.  by 
with  a  hap,*  a  halfpenny  and  a  lamb's  skin. — Brockett. 
*  A  hap  is  a  coarse  coverlet. 
To  rise  from  a  hope. — Killigrew,  Parson's  Wedding,  ii.  7.     1663. 
A  Newcastle  distich  relating  to  Roger   Thornton,  a  wealthy 
merchant  and  benefactor  to  the  town. 
Thornton  (the  pedlar)  enters  with  needles  and  a  lambskin,  singing  : 
Begone,  begone,  my  juggy,  my  puggy. 

Begone  my  love,  my  dear ; 
My  money  is  gone,  and  ware  have  I  none, 
But  one  poor  lambskin  here. 
He  then  says :  "  I  have  a  terrible  mind  to  be  a  horrible  rich 
man." 

"  Go  to  Newcastle,  take  thy  fate 
Yet  ere  thou  enter,  count  thy  state. 
If  service  in  that  place  you  get. 
Thy  wealth  shall  rise  to  infinite ; 
And  Thornton's  name  in  England  stand 
The  richest  subject  in  the  land." 
Reciting  this  prophecy,  he  finds  "his  state"  to  consist  of  one  poor 
halfpenny  and  a  lamb's  skin.     He  then  writes  on  a  tile ; — 
"  Here  did  Thornton  enter  in 
with  hap,*  a  halfpenny,  and  a  lambskin." 

Anty.  Brewer,  The  Love-sick  King,  ii.,  1655. 
*"Hap"  is  "luck." 

164 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.        Northumberland. 

To  take  Hector's  cloak.  To  deceive  a  friend  who  confideth  in 
his  faithfulness.— F.  W. 

Tho'-  Percy,  Earl  of  Northumb*-  in  1569,  hid  after  his  unsuc- 
cessful rebellion  against  Queen  Elizabeth  in  the  house 
of  one  Hector  Armstrong,  who,  however,  for  money 
betrayed  him  to  the  Regent  of  Scotland. — F.  W. 

Under  Newcastle  cloak,  Brockett  describes :  "  A  large  barrel 
formerly  used  in  Newcastle  as  a  punishment  inflicted  on 
drunkards  and  other  disturbers  of  the  public  peace.  One 
end  of  it  was  taken  out,  and  a  hole  being  made  in  the 
middle  of  the  other  to  admit  the  head  of  the  person 
appearing  through  it,  by  which  contrivance  the  vessel  was 
borne  upon  his  shoulders." — North  Cmmty  Words. 
Pelton. 

They  '11  all  come  back  again  like  the  pies  o'  Pelton. — D,,  107. 
Thicker  and  ranker,  like  pies  o'  Pelton. — D.,  ib. 

RoTHLEY.  [10  m.  W.N.W.  of  Morpeth]. 

Brunt  and  scadded,  like  the  fairies  o'  Rothley. — D.,  p.  46. 
Rattenraw-burn  will  not  make  a  crowdy  after  May-day,  i.e. 
there  will  be  no  meal  left  after  seed-time  owing  to  the 
owners'  poverty. — D. 
As  wide  as  Rimside  Moor. — D.,  p.  102.      [Near  Chillingham.J 
I  wadna  be  o'  Rimside  Moor  to-night  wi'  a  black  pig  by  the 
tail. — D.,  loi. 
St.  Abb,  St.  Helen,  and  St.  Bey,* 
they  a'  built  kirks  whilk  to  be  nearest  to  the  sea, 
St.  Abb's  upon  the  nabs,  St.  Helen's  on  the  lea, 
St.  Bey's  upon  Dunbar  sands  stands  nearest  to  the  sea. 
(Traces  of  St.  Ebba's  Chapel  remain  on  the  knap  or  link-top 
above  Beadnall  Bay,  N.  of  Sunderland.) 
*  Three  princesses  of  Northumbria. 
See  Scotland. 
Shields. 

Smoky  Shields. — D.,  107. 

Spittal. 

The  Spittal  wives  are  no  very  nice, 
they  bake  their  bread  with  bugs  and  lice, 
and  after  that  they  skin  the  cat, 
and  put  it  into  their  kail-pat, 

that  makes  their  broo'  baith  thick  and  fat. — D.,  124. 
The  Spittallers  butter  their  bread  on  both  sides. — D.,  139. 

Thropton,  near  Rothbury. 

Tatey-town  folks.     The  potato  first  grown  there. — D.,  125. 

Auld  Wark  upon  the  Tweed 

has  been  many  a  man's  deed  [death]. — D.,  126. 

As  bold  as  the  laird  of  Whinetley. — D.,  39. 

165 


NORTHUMBERLAND.    LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Cold  Wydon  *  stands  on  a  hill, 

hungry  Redpath*  looks  at  it  still. — D.,  107. 

*  Two  villages  in  the  Vale  of  Blenkinsop  or  Gilsland. 

Wallington. 

To  teach  one  the  way  to  Wallington. — D.,  14.    (When  a  player 

is  winning  by  high  cards.) 
If  you  give  your  horse  the  bridle  he  11  carry  you  to  Wallington. 
— D.,   17.     (Allusions  to  the  hospitalities  of  that  seat  of 
the  Fenwicks.     It  has  latterly  belonged  to  the  Blacketts.) 
A  Tweedale  whore,  a  Redesdale  rogue,  a  Tindale  thief,  a  Weardale 
wolf,  a  Teesdale  tupe. — D.,  25. 
Berwick  upon  Tweed, 
Newcastle  upon  Tyne, 
Alnwick  for  white  bread, 
Morpeth  for  swine.— D.,  67. 
Eyemouth  for  a  bonny  lass, 
and  Coldingham  for  swine. — Ih. 
Spittal  for  cuddies  and 
Tweedmouth  for  swine.  -—Ih. 
Harnham*  was  headless, 
Bradford!  was  breadless, 
Shaftoel  pick'd  at  the  Craw,§ 
Capheaton  ||  was  a  wee  bonny  place, 
but  Wallington  If  bangs  them  a'. 

*  8  m.  S  W.  of  Morpeth.         f  9  m.  S.W.  of  Morpeth. 

J  9  m.  W.S.W.  of  Morpeth.         §  i.e.  the  Crasters,  owners  of  Hartbura. 

II  10  m.  W.S.W.  of  Morpeth. 
If  II  m.  W.  of  Morpeth.     Seat  of  the  Trevelyans  [Fenwicks]. — Brockett. 

Rothbury*  for  goat's  milk, 
and  the  Cheviots  for  mutton ; 

Cheswickf  for  cheese  and  bread, 

and  Tynemouth  for  a  glutton. — N.,  I.,  vii.  165. 
*  26  m.  N.W.  of  Newcastle.        +  11  m.  S.S.E.  of  Berwick. 
Cuckenheugh  there 's  gear  enough,  Collierheugh  there 's  mair, 
for  I  've  lost  the  key  of  the  Bounders,  I  'm  ruin'd  for  ever  mair. 
Ross  for  rabbits,  and  Elwick  for  kail. 
Of  a'  the  towns  eer  I  saw  Howick  for  ale, 
Howick  for  ale,  and  Kyloe  for  scrubbers, 
Of  a'  the  towns  eer  I  saw  Lowick  for  robbers, 
Lowick  for  robbers,  Buckton  for  breed  [bread]. 
Of  a'  the  towns  eer  I  saw  Holy  Island  for  need, 
Holy  Island  for  need,  and  Grindon  for  kye, 
Of  a'  the  towns  eer  I  saw  Doddington  for  rye. 
Doddington  for  rye,  Bowingdon  for  rigs, 
Of  a'  the  towns  eer  I  saw  Barmoor  for  whigs, 
Barmoor  for  whigs,  Tweedmouth  for  doors, 
Of  a'  the  towns  eer  I  saw  Ancroft  for  whores, 
Ancroft  for  whores,  and  Spittal  for  fishers. 

Of  a'  the  towns  eer  I  saw  Berrington  for  dishes  [?  dishers]. — D.,  137. 
(All  but  Howick  are  in  N.  Durham.) 

166 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.        Northumberland. 


FAMILIES. 

Elliotts  and  Armstrongs,  ride  thieves  all  (moss-troopers). — D.,  27. 
Lord  Northumberland's  arms.     A  black-eye. — Grose.     Cf.  Percy  in 

Cheshire. 
Bellingham.     Amicus  amico  Alanus 

belliger  belligero  Bellinghamus. 
He  was  Treasurer   of  Berwick   and   Deputy  Warden  of  the 

Marches,  temp.  Hen.  VHI. — D.,  22. 
Blaydon  bred  and  Meldon  fed 
but  Dilston  Ha'  destroy'd  it  a'. 

(Cattle  on  the  estate  of  the  impoverished  Derwentwater  family). 

— D.,  103, 
Callaly  Castle*  stands  on  the  height, 
Up  in  the  day  and  down  in  the  night ; 
Set  it  up  f  on  the  shepherd's  haugh, 
there  it  shall  stand  and  never  fa'. — D.,  103. 

*  Seat  of  the  Claverings,  5  m.  N.  of  Rothbury,  the  site  having  been  settled  by 
supernatural  direction.  f  Down — Walcott. 

The  Collingwoods*  have  borne  the  name 
since  in  the  bush  the  buck  f  was  ta'en, 
but  when  the  bush  shall  hold  the  buck 
then  welcome  faith  and  farewell  luck. 

"The  Raid  of  the  Reidswire,"  Bishopric  Garland. 

*  The  courteous  Collingwoods. 

t  In  allusion  to  the  crest  of  the  family  of  Lilburne  Tower. 

Charlton   of  Hesleyside.     Archie   Reed,   a   successful    trader,   got 
possession  of  their  lands,  named  below,  in  the  i8th  Century. 
Hunterley  Dunterley  stands  on  yon  hill, 
hungry  Hesleyside  looks  at  it  still : 
the  Reins  and  the  Riding,  Longhaugh  and  the  Shaw, 
Bellingham,  Boggle-hole  and  the  Iver  Ha', 
The  little  man  of  the  Moulting*  striddles  over  them  a'.^ — D.,  i  ig. 
*  The  malt-kiln. 
Like  the  Elliotts  o'  Swinside :  water  them  well  and  they  '11  need  the 

less  corn. — D.,  27.     i.e.  Give  them  drink. 
Sir  John  Fenwick  's  a  flower  amang  them, 

he  look'd  ower  his  left  shoulder  and  big  the  Hexham-lads  gang  hang 
them. — D.,  123. 
The  fierce  Fenwicks. — D.,  9. 

The  warlike  band  of  Fenwick. — lb.     See  Wallington. 
The  greedy  Greys.     There  never  was  a  good  Grey  with  an  E  in 

his  name. — D.,  22. 
The  meikle  pat  o'  Haggerstone  maks  mony  a  papist.     Said  by  Sir 
Carnaby  Haggerston  of  his  wife's  converting  power. — D.,  126. 
Sae  lang  as  the  Hanging  Crag  shall  stand 
there'll  aye  be  a  Ha'  on  Bewick*  land. 

FamiUes  of  that  name  still  live  in  Bewick.—  Murr. 
•7  m.  S.E.  of  Wooler. 

167 


NORTHUMBERLAND.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

The  Proud  Percys. — D.,  6. 

"  I,  King  Athelstan,  give  unto  the[e]  Pole  Roddam 

From  me  and  mine  unto  thee  and  thine 

before  my  wife  Maude,  my  daughter  Maudlin  and  my  eldest  son  Henry 

and  for  a  certain  truth  I  bite  this  wax  with  my  gang-tooth* 

As  long  as  muir  bears  moss  +  and  knout  grows  hare 

A  Roddam  of  Roddam  for  ever  mair." 

Durham  Wills,  Surtees  Soc,  pt.  ii.  167. 
The  rubus  chamamonis  or  knoutberry,  popularly  called  "  Noops," 

grows  in  profusion  on  the  higher  parts  of  the  Cheviots  and 

Hedgehope  near  at  hand. — Murr. 
*  A  grinder  or  wang-tooth. — Verstegan.  f  Or  sheep  bear  wool. 

The  friendly  Forsters. — Walter  Besant,  Dorothy  Forster,  ch.  ii. 

There  are  in  Northumberland  (one  may  thank  Heaven  for  it)  as 

many  Forsters  as  there  are  Fenwicks,  and  more.     First  it 

has  been  said,  but  irreverently,  the  Lord  made  Adam  and 

Eve  and  then  he  made  the  Forsters. — lb. 
"  Umfreville  and  Estoteville 
the  Wyville  and  the  Tancarville 
all  cam  here  wi'  Norman  Will." — D.,  23. 
The  Meadow  Bank  grows  clover  rank, 
and  Cheeseburn  Grange  grows  tansey, 
but  go  I  will  to  the  Stob  Hill  | 
and  court  my  bonny  Nancy. — D.,  114. 

J  In  Stamfordham. 

Hartley  and  Hallowell  a'  ya'  bonnie  lassie, 

fair  Seaton  Delaval  a'  ya'. 

Earsdon  stands  on  a  hill  a'  ya' 

near  to  Billy  Mill  a'  ya'.— D.,  113.      [All  near  N.  Shields.] 

"  The  burthen  is  the  nurses'  lullaby 

See  A  you  a  hinny." — Brockett,  Gloss,  of  N.C.  Words. 

Waterless  Walwick  *  stands  upon  the  hill, 

hungry  Humshaughf  looks  at  it  still, 

Cockelaw  and  Keepick  |  stand  in  a  raw, 

there's  awks  in  the  Kirn  in  Easington  Ha'. — D.,  116. 

*  Par.  of  Warden.        t  Par.  of  Simonburn.        {  Par.  of  St.  John,  Lee. 

MOUNTAINS. 

When  Chevyut  ye  see  put  on  his  cap 

Of  rain  ye  '11  have  a  wee  bit  drap.— Higson. 

Tho'  Cheviot's  top  be  frosty  still 

he 's  green  belaw  the  knee, 
sae  don  your  plaid,  and  tak'  your  gad, 

and  gang  awa'  wi'  me. — Murr. 
When  Cheviot  gets  on  his  hat, 

an'  Harnam  Law  her  hood, 
a'  the  wives  o'  Kale  an'  Boumont 
may  expect  a  flude. — Murr. 
The  Cheviots  for  muttons,  and  Chillingham  for  beeves, 
Newcastle  for  its  whores,  and  Redesdale  for  thieves. — D.,  104. 

168 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.        Northumberland. 


Bilhope  braes  for  bucks  and  raes, 

and  Carit  haugh  for  swine, 
and  Tarras*  for  the  good  bull  trout, 

if  he  be  ta'en  in  time. — Brockett. 

*  A  stream  rising  under  Pike  Fell  in  E.  Dumfries,  and  running  S.S  W  joins 
the  Esk  at  Irvine  Bridge. 

RIVERS. 

One  mile  of  the  Tyne's  worth  ten  o'  the  Tweed 
except  for  beef  and  salmon  and  good  brown  bread. — D.,  93. 
Escaped  the  Tees  and  was  drowned  in  the  Tyne. — D.,  92. 
Tweed  says  to  Till,  or,     Till  said  to  Tweed, 

"  What  gars  ye  rin  sae  still  ?  "  "  Though  fast  I  rin 

And  still  I  gaun 
Yet  I  drown  twae  men 
Where  ye  drown  yen." 
Till  says  to  Tweed,  or,     "  What  gars  ye  rin  sae  gleed*  ? 

"  Though  ye  rin  with  speed,  For  as  slow  as  I  go, 

And  I  rin  slaw,  And  as  hard  as  ye  rin. 

Yet  where  ye  drown  ae  man  A'  can  drown  twae  men 

I  drown  twa  ?  " — D.,  p.  92.  When  ye  can  drown  but  yin  !  " 

py  Berwickshire. 

"  Div  ye  no  ken  *  [or  reed  ?  Wooler.'] 

Where  ye  can  drown  ae  man 
I  drown  ten  ?  " — Murray. 
"  Foot  of  Breamish  and  head  of  Till 
meet  together  at  Bewick  Hill." 

A  stream  which  changes  its  name  at  this  point,  between  Alnwick 
and  Wooler. — Murr. 
Says  the  Pont  to  the  Blyth, 
"  Where  thou  drowns  yan  I  drown  five ; " 
Says  the  Blythe  to  the  Pont, 
"  The  mair  shame  on 't." — D.,  94. 
At  Weldon  Brig  there  's  wale  o'  wine 

If  ye  hae  coin  in  pocket ; 
If  ye  can  throw  a  heckle  fine 

There 's  wale  o'  trouts  in  Coquet. 
The  lasses  of  Tyne  who  fearless  shine, 

are  mirrors  of  modesty  too, 
but  the  lasses  of  Coquet  put  all  in  their  pocket ; 

go  then  to  Coquet  and  woo.     (The  river  at  Warkworth.) — Murr, 
The  pea-Kytes  o'  Coquet.     The  sheakle-makers*  o'  the  Wood- 
side. — D.,  50. 

*  Birch-twigs  twisted  for  cordage. 

The  Tyne,  the  Tees,  the  Till,  the  Tarset,  and  the  Tweed, 

The  Alne,  the  Blyth,  the  Font,  the  Tarret,  and  the  Read. 

or,  The  Tees,  the  Tyne,  and  Tweed,  the  Tarret,  and  the  Till, 

the  Team,  and  Font,  and  Pont,  the  Tippal,  and  the  Dill. 

D.,  92. 

169 


NOTTS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. 

Nottinghamschir  full  of  hoggys. — Harl.  MS. 
Notynghamshire  ful  of  hogges. — Rawl.  MS. 
To  Derby  is  assigned  the  name  of  "wool  and  lead," 
As  Nottingham  of  old  (is  common)  ale  and  bread. — Drayt.,  Pol. 
Gervase*  the  gentle,  Stanhope  the  stout, 
Marsham  the  lion,  and  Sutton  the  lout. 

Queen  Eliz.,  On  4  NoUinghamsUfe  Knights. 
*  Sir  Gervase  Clifton. 
I  '11  chance  it,  as  parson  Home  did  his  neck.     Notts.     A  murderer 

who  returned  from  abroad  and  was  executed. — N.,  V.,  x.  lo. 
Like  Morley's  ducks,  born  without  a  notion.     Notts. — N.,  V.,  x.  lo. 
Aynho  [6  m.  S.E.  of  Banbury].      See  Oxfordshire. 
Balderton  [2  m.  S.E.  of  Newark]. 

Balderton  crows  and  Newark  jackdaws 

Went  into  a  field  ter  feight ; 
Balderton  crows  licked  Newark  jackdaws, 
Though  there  wor  ten  ter  eight. 
Rookeries  existed  about  the  village  of  Balderston,  and  jack- 
daws inhabited  the  towers  of  the  old  Church  at  Newark.— 
Thos.  RatclifFe.     N.,  VIL,  v.  66. 
Beeston  [3  m.  S.W.  of  Nottingham].      See  Eaton. 
Bingham.     See  Colston. 

All  the  world  and  Bingham  will  be  there,  i.e.  the  company  will 
be  numerous,   and   perhaps   more   numerous  than   select. 
A  snub  to  a  rising  town  with  petty  ambitions. — St.  Swithin. 
JV.,  IIL,  iii.  233.      Cf.  Northants,  Little  Billing. 
Bramcote  o'  th'  hill  [4  m.  S.W.  of  Nottingham].     See  Eaton. 

BULWELL. 

The  3  bells  of  Bulwell  say,  "Who  rings  best  ?  who  rings  best?  " 
the  2  bells  of  Radford  reply,  "  We  do,  we  do," 
the  I  bell  at  Hyson  Green  calls  out  "No,  no." — N.,  VL,  ii.  514. 
Churches  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Nottingham. 
Chilwell  [4  m.  S.W.  of  Nottingham].     See  Eaton. 
Clifton  with  Glapton  [4  m.  S.W.  of  Nottingham]. 
Clifton  and  Glapham  are  all  as  one, 
but  Clifton  has  a  church  and  Glapham  none. — Briscoe. 

Colston  [4  m.  S.  of  Bingham],     i.e.  Colston  Bassett. 

Colston's  crackt  pancheons,  Screveton  egg-shells, 
Bingham's  'tro-rollers,  and  Whatton  merry-bells. 

JV.,  VL,  ii.  514. 
Go  pipe  at  Colston,  there 's  a  peascod  feast.     Spoken  in  derision 
of  busybodies. — R.,  1678.       Cf.  Derbyshire,  Padley. 

Colwick  (a  suburb  of  Nottingham).     See  Eaton. 

CossAL  [6  m.  W.N.W.  of  Nottingham].      See  Crich,  in  Derbyshire. 

170 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  notts. 

The  DuKERY.  The  road  between  Mansfield  and  Worksop  passes 
thro'  a  group  of  noble  parks  which  from  their  having  origin- 
ally belonged  to  former  Dukes  have  fixed  upon  this  district 
the  well-known  name  of  the  Dukery.  The  Duke  of  Norfolk, 
however,  has  sold  Worksop  to  another  noble  family,  and 
the  Dukes  of  Kingston  are  extinct,  succeeded  in  the  pos- 
session of  Thoresby  by  their  descendant  in  the  female  line, 
Earl  Manvers.  The  Dukes  of  Portland  and  Newcastle 
remain  at  Welbeck  and  Clumber.  This  aristocratic  territory 
occupies  that  part  of  the  area  of  Sherwood  Forest  where 
the  most  palpable  traces  of  that  ancient  forest  are  preserved 
— Murr. 

Eaton  [Idleton]. 

Eaton,  and  Tatton,  and  Bramcote  o'  th'  hills, 
beggarly  Beeston,  and  lousy  Chilwell ; 
waterside  Wilford,  hey  Httle  Lenton, 

Ho  !  fine  Nottingham,  Colwick, and  Snenton. — N.,  I.,v.573. 
(Suburbs  of  the  city.) 

Gotham  [6  m.  S.S.W.  of  Nottingham] . 

As  wise  as  a  man  of  Gotham. — F.  W.  See  Sussex  and  Shropshire. 
Andrew  Borde  says  they  once  tried  to  hedge  in  a  cuckoo, 
tumbled    their   cheeses  down-hill  to   find  their  way  to 
Nottingham  market,  and  further  the  women  being  told 
to  wet  the  meal  before  giving  it  to  the  pigs,  threw  it 
into  the  well  and  the  pigs  in  after. 
Saint  Fools  of  Gotam — Bp.  Hall,  Sat.,  II.,  v.  19. 
Holme  [3  m.  N.  of  Newark] . 

Barton  Knight,  who  made  a  fortune  by  the  woollen  trade,  put 
this  rhyme  in  his  window  : — 

I  thank  God  and  ever  shall 

it  was  the  sheep  that  paid  for  all. 

Sharp,  British  Gazetteer, 

Idleton  [2  m.  S.  of  E.  Retford] .     See  Eaton. 
King's  Sutton  [4J  m.  S.  of  Banbury.]     See  Oxfordsh. 
King's  Sutton  is  a  pretty  town 

and  lies  all  in  a  valley, 
it  has  a  pretty  ring  of  bells 

beside  a  bowling  alley  : 
Wine  and  liquor  in  good  store, 

pretty  maidens  plenty, 
can  a  man  desire  more  ? 

there  ain't  such  a  town  in  twenty. — HIL,  N.  Rhy. 
Cf.  Middlewick  (Cheshire). 
Lenton  [i  m.  W.S.W.  of  Nottingham] .     See  Eaton. 
Marnham  [4  m.  E.  of  Tuxford]  on  the  Trent. 

The  wind's  gotten  into  Marnham  Hole — more  rain.— Peacock, 
Lincolnshire  Glossary. 

171 


NOTTS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Newark.     Would  they  pull  down  the  gallery  builded  new, 

With  the  churchwardens'  seat  and  Burleigh  pew, 
Newark  for  light  and  beauty  might  compare 
With  any  church  but  what  cathedrals  are. 

Bp.  Corbet,  Itev  Boreak. 
See  Balderton. 
Nottingham.     Non-such  Nottingham. — Franck,  Northern  Memoirs, 
1694,  pp.  239,  258. 
Nottingham  was  once  famous  for  the  skill  of  its  workers  in  iron, 

who  resided  in  Girdlesgate  and  Bridlesmith  Gate  — Murr. 
The  little  smith  of  Nottingham 
who  doth  the  work  that  no  man  can.     i.e.  oiins. — F.  W. 

But  seeing  it  is  known  that  a  blacksmith  of  London  did  make 
a  lock  and  key  so  little  that  a  fly  could  draw  it,  why 
should  not  the  little  smith  of  Nottingham  (whose  art  is 
thought  to  excel  all  art  of  man)  frame  a  little  chapel  in  a 
little  room  ? — Rev.  Chas.  Butler,  The  Feminine  Monarchie  ; 
or,  A  Treatise  Concerning  Bees,  Oxford,  i6og,  B.  3  v°. 
D.    What  is  that  that  is  a  wryte  and  no  man 
and  he  doth  that  no  man  can 
and  yet  it  serveth  before  God  and  man  ? 
R.     That  is  a  be[e]. — Demaundes  Joyous,  W.  de  Worde,  151 1  ; 
reprinted  in  J.  M.  Kemble's  A.S.  Dialogiies,  ^Elfric  Soc, 
1845. 
Go,  teach  your  grandam  to  sard.     A  Nottingham  prov. — Ho. 
Nottingham  where  they  knock  'em  down, 
Oakham  where  they  catch  [or  cook]  'em. 
Bringhurst  where  they  bury  'em, 
and  Cottesmore  where  they  cry. — Evans,  Leicestr.  Phra.,  p.  296. 

Rockingham  [10  m.  N.E.  of  Market  Harborough] . 
Rockingham  poor  people, 
nasty  town,  castle  down,* 
one  bell,  wooden  steeplef. — Athenaum,  1873. 

*  Nothing  but  the  keep  is  left  standing. 

t  A  substitute  for  one  destroyed  by  Cromwell. 

ScREVETON  [3  m.  N.E.  of  Bingham] .     See  Colston. 

Sherwood.    Covert  de  Sherwode. — Douce  MS.  98.     i.e.  the  Forest. 

Snenton  (a  suburb  of  Nottingham).     See  Eaton. 

Tatton.     See  Eaton. 

Thorney  Abbey  [2  m,  W.S.W.  of  Southwell].     See  Ramsey  in 
Hunts. 

TuxFORD  [22  m.  N.N.E.  of  Nottingham]. 

The  ivy  hangs  there  :  long  has  't  hung  there  ; 
Wine  is  never  vended  strong  there. 

Brathwait,  Drunken  Barnahy's  Jour. 
"  ways  like  birdlime." — Ih. 
Whatton  [2  m.  E.  of  Bingham].     See  Colston. 

172 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  oxford. 

WiLFORD.   Waterside  Wilford  [2  m.  S.S.W.  of  Nott""-  on  the  Trent]. 
See  Eaton. 

Worksop  [24  m.  N.  of  Nottingham]. 

Hardwick  for  bigness, 

Worksop  for  height. — N.,  IV.,  ix.  160.     See  Derbyshire. 

Worksop  Manor  House  (the  Duke  of  Newcastle's  Seat, 
rebuilt  1761  after  a  fire).  It  appears  to  have  been 
since  pulled  down. 


OXFORDSHIRE. 

Oxenfordschir  gurd  mare. — M.S.  Harl.,  7371 ;  R.A.,  i.  269. 

Oxenfordshire,  gyrde  the  mare. — M.S.  Rawl.  Leland. 

An  outcry  Oxford  makes,  "  The  scholars  have  been  here, 
and  little  though  they  paid,  yet  have  they  had  good  cheer." 

Drayt.  Pol.,  xxiii. 

Of  the  Colleges  University  is  the  oldest,  Pembroke  the  youngest, 
Christ  Church  the  greatest,  Lincoln  (by  many  reputed)  the 
least,  Magdalen  the  neatest,  Wadham  the  most  uniform, 
New  College  the  strongest,  and  Jesus  College  (no  fault  but  its 
unhappiness)  the  poorest,  and  if  I  knew  which  was  the 
richest  I  would  not  tell,  seeing  concealment  in  this  kind  is  the 
safest.  New  College  is  most  proper  for  Southern,  Exeter  for 
Western,  Queen's  for  Northern,  Brazen-nose  for  North 
Western  men,  St.  John's  for  Londoners,  Jesus  for  Welshmen, 
and  at  other  Colleges  almost  indifferently  for  men  of  all 
countries.  Merton  hath  been  most  famous  for  School  men. 
Corpus  Christi  (formerly  called  Trilingue  Collegium)  for 
Linguists,  Christ  Church  for  Poets,  All  Souls  for  Orators, 
New  College  for  Civilians,  Brazen-nose  for  Disputants, 
Queen's  College  for  Metaphysicians,  Exeter  for  a  late  series 
of  Regius  Professors,  Magdalen  for  ancient,  St.  John's  for 
modern  Prelates,  and  all  eminent  in  some  one  kind  or 
other.— F.W. 

Adderbury.     See  Bloxham. 

Aynho  on  the  hill, 

Souldern  in  the  hole, 

and  Fritwell  wenches  as  black  as  a  coal. 

Birmingham  Weekly  Post,  May  24th,  1884. 

Aynho  bell  metal, 

Souldern  tin  kettle  (bells). — lb. 

Aynho  on  the  hill,* 
Clifton  f  in  the  clay, 
drunken  Deddington,  ]: 
and§gYam  ||  highway. — N.,  V.,  ix.  319. 
*  In  N.  Hants.       t  i  m-  E.  of  Deddington,  on  the  Cherwell. 
J  15  m.  N,  of  Oxford.     §  On. — Birmingham  Weekly  Post,  May  24th,  1884. 
'I  Hampton,  or  Hempton,  a  hamlet  of  Deddington. 

173 


OXFORD.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 


Banbury  glosses  (corruptions  of  truth). 

Latimer,  Wh.,  Parker  Soc,  ii.  299. 

As  wise  as  the  Mayor  of  Banbury,  who  would  prove  that 
Henry  III.  was  before  Henry  IL — Ho.,  New  Sayings. 

Dirty  Banbury's  proud  people 
built  a  Church  without  a  steeple. 

The  old  church  was  pulled  down  in  1793  and  a  modern  Italian 
one  erected. — Murr. 

Like  a  Banbury  cheese,  nothing  but  paring. — Jack  Drum's 
Entertainment,  iii.  1601. 

As  thin  as  a  Banbury  cheese. — He.,  Epig.,  v.  24. 

More  fine  than  any  Banbury  cheese. — G.  Harvey,  Letter  Book, 

P-  91,  1573- 
Banbury  zeal,  cheese  and  cakes. — F.  W. 

Banbury  for  cakes. — P.  Roh.,  1687 ;  Camd.  Brit. ;  trans,  by 
Holland,   1608. 

Banbury  was  noted  for  Puritanism,  famous  for  twanging  ale, 
zeal,  cakes  and  cheese. — Braithwait.     Strappado,  1615. 

See  Drunken  Barnabee's  Journal,  and  n.  in  F.  W.  on  misprint. 

As  near  akin  as  the  cates  of  Banbury  to  the  bells  of  Lincoln. — 

A  Knack  to  Know  a  Knave,  1594. 

A  receipt  how  to  make  a  very  good  Banbury  cake  is  given  in 
Geo.  Markham's  English  Housewife,  1615.  It  is  a  refined 
mince-pie. 

To  Banbury  came  I,  O  profane  one. 
Where  I  saw  a  Puritane  one 
Hanging  of  his  cat  on  Monday 
For  killing  of  a  mouse  on  Sunday. 

BraLith-wait,  Barnabee's  Jour.,  I.,  1638.     And 
see  Id.  Strappado,  161 5. 

Beverie  de  Bannebury. — Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 

Banbury  ale  a  half-yard  pot, 

the  devil  a  tinker  dares  stand  to 't. 

Wit  Restored,  1658. 

He  hath  brought  his  hogs  to  a  Banbury  market  (Malum 
retortum). — CI.     See  Haz.,  n.  162. 

Like  Banbury  tinkers,  that  in  mending  one  hole  make  three.* — 
F.W. 

(Meant  of  those  that  mar  a  business  in  mending  it. — Ho.). 
*  Who  in  stopping  one  hole  make  two. — Ho. 

The  Puritan,  the  Anabaptist  Brownist, 

Like  a  grand  salet  of  tinkers !  what  a  town  is't. 

Corbet,  Iter  Boreale. 

174 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  oxford, 

Bicester. 

The  tailor  of  Bisciter  has  but  one  eye,* 

he  cannot  cut  a  pair  of  green  galagaskinsf  if  he  were  to  try  [die]. 

Aubrey,  Remains. 
See  Hll.,  Pop.  Rhy.,  "  Dancing  the  Candle  Rush." 

*  See  Oeil  in  Cotgrave.        t  Wide  loose  trousers. 

BiNSEY.  Between  Oxford  and  Godstow,  often  suffering  from  floods 
(Haz.)  like  the  Port  Meadow  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river. 

Where  else. 

God  help  me! — N.,  L,  iii.  44. 

Bloxham*  for  length,  Adderbury  f  -for  strength,  and  King's  Sutton  J 
for  beauty.     Cf.  Devonshire.  [Murray. 

Three  celebrated  Church-spires:  the  last  in  Northampton. — 
"  3  m.  S.W.  of  Banbury,      t  3  ni.  S.  of  Banbury.      %  4l  ™-  S.E.  of  Banbury. 

A  BuRFORD  bait ;  viz.,  when  one  sips  or  drinks  but  part  they  still  fill 
his  cup  until  he  drinketh  all. — Ho. 
To  take  a  Burford  bait.     A  tippUng  drink.— F.  W. 

"  A  proverbial  expression  for  making  a  greedy  meal." — Murr. 
Charlbury — Coggs — Combe — Crawley — Curbridge.     See  Hailey. 
Clifton.     See  Aynho. 
Deddington.     See  Aynho. 
DucKLiNGTON.     See  Hailey. 
Enstone  [4  m.  E.S.E.  of  Chipping  Norton]. 

In  Clent  cow-pasture,  under  a  thorn. 
Of  head  bereft  lies  Kenelm  King-born. 
Said  to  have  been  inscribed  in  Golden  Saxon  letters  on   a 
paper  dropt  by  an  angel  on  the  high  altar  of  St.  Peter's, 
Rome. — Murray. 

Fawler.     Finstock.     See  Hailey. 

Fritwell  [5  m.  N.W.  of  Bicester].     See  Aynho. 

Hampton  or  Hempton.     See  Aynho. 

Hailey,  Crawley,  Curbridge,  and  Coggs, 

Witney  spinners,  and  Ducklington  dogs  [all  near  Witney]. 

Finstock-upon-the-hill,  Fawler*  down  derry, 

Beggarly  Ramsden,  and  lousy  Chadbury.f 

*  In  par.  of  Charlbury.        t  Charlbury,  nr.  Chipping  Norton. 

Woodstock  for  bacon,  Bladon*  for  beef, 

HANDBORouGHf  for  a  scurvy  Knave,  and  Combe  f  for  a  thief. — Murr. 

'^  I  m.  S,  of  Woodstock.        fThe  Station  for  Blenheim,  G.W.R. 

JLong  Combe,  2  m.  S.W.  of  Woodstock. 

Hog's  Norton.    N.,  V.,  ix.  175. 

I  think  thou  wast  born  at  Hoggs  Norton,  where  pigs  play  upon 
the  organs. — Ho. 

175 


OXFORD.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

OSENEY. 

The  bells  of  Oseney.  i.e.  of  Oseney  Abbey  on  the  Isis  S.  of  Oxford. 

The  bells  he  cares  not  for  a  whit  who  hath  a  bell  of  his  own 

which,  when  he  lists  to  ring  out,  indeed  they  will  rattle 

such  a  peal  that  will  even  drown  the  bells  of  Osney. 

— Strange  Metamorphoses  of  Man,  sec.  26,  The  Daw  ;   1634. 

I  did  (as  other  idle  Freshmen  do), 

Long  for  to  see  the  Bell  of  Osney  too. 

G.  Wither,  Abuses  {The  Occasion),  161 3. 
This  is  now  Great  Tom  of  Christchurch,  one  of  the  bonny 
Christchurch    bells     immortalised    in    Dean    Aldrich's 
musical  round.     When  removed  from  Oseney  it  bore  the 
inscription  : 

"  In  Thomas  laude 
resono  Bim-Bom  sine  fraude." 
It  was  recast  in  1680. 

They  bore  various  names.  "  Finito  'Agnus  Dei'  cnollentur 
Douce,  Clement  et  Austin." — Hunter,  Hallamshire  Gloss., 
s.v.  Knoll. 

Oxford  frames 

Mixture  (pepper-and-salt-coloured  cloth). 

Sausage  (coarsely  minced,  and  not  put  in  a  skin). 
Oxford  knives, 
and  London  wives. — Ho. 
Oxford  for  learning,  London  for  wit, 
Hull  for  women,  and  York  for  a  tit. — Higson,  209. 
Escole  de  Oxenford. — Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 
When  Oxford  scholars  fall  to  fight,  before  many  months  expir'd 
England  will  with  war  be  fir'd. 
Chronica  si  penses  cum  pugnent  Oxonienses, 
Post  aliquot  menses  volat  ira  per  Angliginenses. — F.  W. 
They  hold  scholars  to  be  as  it  were  Bl'  Oxford  men — unnecessary 
guts  that  study  only  to  grow  hungry. — Thomas  May,  Life 
of  Nim,  p.  97. 
To  have  taken  his  degree  at  Blocksford.      (A  jeer  at  Gotham - 

ites.)- — Torr. 
You  were  bred  in  Brazen-nose  College. — Fuller,  Gnom. 
Testons  are  gone  to  Oxford  to  study  at  Brazen-nose. 

He.,  Ep.,  V.  63.    F.  W. 
The  silver  coinage  being  alloyed  by  Hen.  VIII.  showed  the 
copper  at  the  edges  of  these  large  coins. 
Send  verdingales  to  Broad-gates  in  Oxford.     He.,  Ep.,  v.  55. 
F.W.,  who  ascribes  their  introduction  to  the  need  of  con- 
cealing pregnancy  in  some  light  huswife.     It  was  imputed 
to  the  Empress  Eugenie  that  the  crinoline  was  invented  to 
establish  the  converse. 
Broad-gates  Hall  was  the  original  name  of  Pembroke  Coll. 

176 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Rutland. 

They  thrive  as  New  College  students,  who  are  golden  Scholars, 

silver  Bachelors,  and  leaden  Masters. — Ho. 
Castle  of  St.  Thomas.     The  Penitentiary  in  St.  Thomas'  parish 

where  Oxford  prostitutes  are  sent. — G. 
Mesopotamia.    A  slang  name  for  the  land  between  the  Cherwell 

and  the  Thames. 
Oxford  is  the  home,  they  say,  of  movements,  and  Cambridge  is 

of  men.— P.M.G.,  1/12,  '85, 

Ramsden.    See  Hailey. 

The  Rolwright  Stones  [2  m.  N.  of  Chipping  Norton]. 
Of  "  The  King,"  a  huge  monolith,  it  is  said  : 
"  When  Long  Compton  I  shall  see. 
King  of  England  I  shall  be," 
but  he  was  turned  into  stone.— iST.,  VI.,  xii.  225. 

SoULDERN  [3  m.  E.  of  Deddington].     See  Aynho. 

Spelsbury  [4  m.  S.E.  of  Chipping  Norton]  is  perhaps  played  upon 
in  the  following :  His  Majesty  bewailed  that  his  grand- 
children, then  young  and  tender,  would  be  very  chargeable 
to  England  when  they  grew  to  be  men.  It  was  their  sole 
refuge.  They  might  seek  their  fortunes  in  another  place 
and  come  home  by  Spillsbury. — Hacket,  Life  of  Archhp. 
Williams,  i.  208. 

Witney.  The  four  B's  of  Witney :  beauty,  bread,  beer,  and 
blankets. — Murr. 

Witney  blanketing. — De  Foe,  Tour,  ii.  75. 

Woodstock.  Maner  de  Wodestoke. — Douce  MS.  98.  i.e.  manor. 
See  Hailey. 

"  Pray  Mister  Student,  can  you  tell 
Which  is  the  nearest  way  to  Hell  ?  " 

"  Some  say  Woodstock :  I  say  Nay  ; 
For  Rochester  's  the  nearest  way." 

An  answer  made  by  an  Oxford  undergraduate,  to  whom  the 
profligate  Earl  of  Rochester  put  the  question. — Murr. 


RUTI<ANDSHIRE. 

Not  in  Harl.  MS. 

Pynnokshire  is  not  to  praise. 

A  man  may  go  it  in  to  dayes. — Rawl.  MS.,  86. 

And  little  Rutlandshire  is  termed  Raddleman. — Drayt.  Pol. 

Rutland  raddleman.  —  Drayton,  Polyolh.  Seller  of  red  stone  for 
marking  sheep. — F.  W.  And  see  Wit  at  Several  Weapons, 
Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  ed.  Dyce,  iv.  45,  where  the  figurative 
allusion  is  indelicate,  though  Mr.  Hazlitt  cannot  see  it.  The 
singing  voice  is  in  question. 

VOL.  I.  177  12 


SALOP.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

SivGng.  What  countryman,  Master  Voice  ? 

Boy.        Sir,  born  at  Ely:  we  all  set  up  in  E-la,  but   our  house 

commonly  breaks  in   Rutlandshire. 
Sir  Greg.  A  shrewd  place,  by  my  faith. 
Cottesmore    [4  m.  N.E.  of  Oakham].     See  Oakham. 

Oakham. 

Nottingham,  where  they  knock  'em  down, 
Oakham,  where  they  catch  'em  [or  cook  'em]  ; 
Bringhurst,  where  they  bury  'era, 
and  Cottesmore,  where  they  cry. 

Evans'  Leicestershire  Phrases,  p.  296. 

Stretton-in-the-Street   [8  m.  N.E.  of  Oakham], 
where  shrews  meet. — R.,  1678. 

An  Uppingham  trencher. — R.,  1678, 

Wing  [3  m.  N.E.  of  Uppingham]. 

The  wise  woman  lives  at  Wing  ; 
she  tries  to  hedge  the  cockoo  in. 

Brogden,  Provincial  Words  in  Lincolnshire. 

SHROPSHIRE. 

Schropschir,  my  schinnes  ben  scharpe. 
Ley  wood  to  the  fir  and  3ef  me  my  harpe. 

MS.  Harl.  7371. 

I  am  of  Shropshire,  my  shines  be  sharpe, 
Ley  wode  to  the  fyre  and  dresse  me  my  harpe. — MS.  Rawl. 

[i.e.  prepare,  tune.] 

And  Shropshire  saith  in  her  "  That  shins  be  ever  sharp. 
Lay  wood  upon  the  fire,  reach  hither  me  my  harp, 
And  whilst  the  black  bowl  walks  we  merrily  will  carp." 

[i.e.  we  '11  chat  as  long  as  the  drink  lasts.]     Drayt.  Pol.,  xxiii. 

"Sharpshins"  is  still  applied  in  Shropshire — first,  to  light  heels; 
second,  to  sharp  wits,  as  "  Be  off  sharpshins  !  "  i.e.  run  away. 
"  Now  then,  sharpshins,  taking  me  up  as  usual." — Jackson, 
Shropshire  Folk  Lore. 

"  Harp  and  carp  "=play  the  harp  and  talk  with  me.  Carpe, 
to  talk,  is  very  common  in  Mid-England.  The  Wif  of  Bathe 
could  "laugh  and  carpe."' — Chau.,  Prol.  Canterbury  Tales,  476 
(note  by  Skeat) ;   Jackson,  S.F.L.,  581. 

Shropshire  fare,  i.e.  fried  eggs  and  bacon.  Waggoners  and  such- 
like folk,  stopping  for  refreshment  at  a  public-house,  will  say : 
"Can  yo  gie  us  any  S'ropshire  ?  " — Jackson,  Shropshire  Word 
Booh,  p.  379. 

Shropshire  is  full  of  trout   and   Tories. — Salopian  Shreds  and 
Patches,  y/^,  '86. 

The  pan-puddings  of  Shropshire. 

178 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Salop. 

The  Proud  Salopians.  When  Hen.  VIIL  (or  Charles  IL)  wished 
to  make  Shrewsbury  a  city  and  bishop's  see,  they  declined, 
preferring  that  it  should  continue  to  be  the  first  of  Towns ; 
hence  the  sobriquet. — Jackson,  S.F.L.,  581. 

To  all  friends  round  the  Wrekin  [not  forgetting  the  trunkmaker 
and  his  son  Tom. — R.,  1813].     George  Farquhar  dedicated 
his  Recruiting  Officer  (1705-6)  to  "All  Friends,"  &c. 
To  be  "remembered  to   your  friends  round  the  Wrekin." — 
Congreve,  Way  of  the  World,  iii.  15. 
This  was  a  Hill  in  King  Harry's  days. — R.,  i678. 

As  old-fashioned  as  Clent  hills. — Old  Humphry  (Geo.  Mogridge), 
Pithy  Papers. 

May  they  be  as  everlasting  as  the  Hills  of  Shropshire  and  the 
Shropshire  Hills. — N.,  IV.,  vii.  132.  This  is  gentle  chaff  at 
the  Hill  family,  who  claim  to  be  "  as  old  as  the  hills."  Miss 
Jackson,  S.F.L.,  p.  472,  gives  it :  "  The  Hills  of  Shropshire, 
may  they  be  as  everlasting  as  the  Shropshire  Hills,"  and 
refers  it  to  a  toast  in  honour  of  the  Peninsular  general, 
Lord  Hill. 

When  it  snows,  Shropshire  people  say  to  children :  "  The  Welsh- 
men are  plucking  their  geese,"  sometimes  adding  "and  sending 
their  feathers  to  market " ;  or  (in  E.  Shrop.),  "  It 's  the  old 
woman  plucking  geese  in  Wales  and  sending  us  the  feathers." 
— Jackson,  S.F.L. 

Happy  is  the  eye 

between  Severn  and  Wye, 

but  thrice  happy  he 

between  Severn  and  Clee. — Jackson,  S.F.L. ,  584. 

Bishop's  Castle  [gj-  m.  S.W.  of  Church  Stretton]. 

"Oh,  he  comes  from  Bishop's  Castle;  they 'anna  no  doors  at 
Bishop's  Castle,"  said  of  one  who  went  out  of  a  shop 
leaving  the  door  open. — Jackson,  S.F.L. 

BiTTERLEY  [4  m.  N.E.  of  Ludlow]. 

Bitterley,  Bitterley,  under  the  Clee, 

devil  take  me  if  ever  I  come  to  thee. — Jackson. 

BoMERE  Heath,  [4  m.  from  Hadnall] 

where  the  devil  catcht  his  death. — Jackson,  584. 

Bridgnorth. 

All  of  one  side,  like  a  Bridgnorth  election. 

The  borough,  which  before  the  Reform  Act  of  1832  returned 
two  members  to  Parliament,  included  a  large  suburban 
district,  mostly  the  property  of  the  Whitmore  family,  of 
Apley  Park,  whose  influence  was  predominant. 

Bridgnorth,  a  spot  which  Charles  I.  considered  the  most  plea- 
sant in  his  kingdom,  and  some  travellers  say  is  like 
Jerusalem. — Sharp,  British  Gazetteer. 

179 


SALOP.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

The  following  are  recorded  as  local  sayings : 

Stand  on  one  side,  John  Ball,  and  let  my  wife  see  the  bar 

[bear]. 
Cuup,  cuup,  master  Thomas!     (Used  whilst  thrashing  a  lazy 

son  through  the  streets.) — N.,  II.,  xii.  501. 

Church  Stretton,  [12^  m.  S.W.  of  Shrewsbury] 
where  they  eaten  more  nor  they  getten. — Jackson. 
(Surrounded  by  barren  hills.) 

Clunton  and  Clunbury,  Clungunford  and  Clun, 
are  the  quietest  places  under  the  sun, — Murr. 

dirtiest,  drunkenest,  pleasantest  are  variants. 

Jackson,  S.F.L.,  583. 
Four  villages  on  the  river  Clun,  which  divides  S.  Shropshire 
from   Montgomeryshire,  and  falls  into  the  Teme  near 
Leintwardine. 
Whoever   crosses   Clun   Bridge  comes  back  sharper  than  he 
went  (said  of  the  moorland  and  border  natives). — Jackson, 
S.F.L. 

CoNDOVER  [4^  m.  S.  of  Shrewsbury].     See  Tibberton. 

Dawley  [4  m.  S.E.  of  Wellington] . 
Dawley  oaves. — Jackson,  S.F.L. 

DiLLUsoN  Yeth,  [Dudleston  Heath,  N.W.  of  Ellesmere] 
where  the  devil  was  starved  to  djeth. 

[py,  ketcht  'is  djeth.] — Jackson,  S.W.B.,  p.  516. 

The  longer  you  live  the  more  you  see, 

Dudleston  chapel-bell  hung  in  a  tree. — Jackson,  S.F.L. 

Drayton-in-Hales,  or  Market  Drayton. 

Drayton  Dirty  Fair — from  the  usually  bad  weather — on  the 
Wednesday  before  Palm  Sunday. — ^Jackson. 
As  sure  as  Hodnet  sends  the  wind, 
a  rainy  day  will  Drayton  find. 
When  the  [weather]  cock  {i.e.  on  Drayton  Church)  has  his  neb 
in  Hodnet  Hole  [5^  m.  S.W.  of  Drayton],  look  out  for 
rain. — Jackson,  S.F.L. 

Edgmond  [2  m.  W.  of  Newport]  and  its  various  townships. 

Tibberton  tawnies  [darkies],  Cherrington  chats  [gossips]. 

Wall  dogs  and  Buttery  rats, 

Edgmond  men  and  Adeney  cats. — Jackson. 

Four  bull-dogs  fast  in  a  pen, 

darna  come  out  for  Edgmond  men. — Edgmond  veysion. 

Edgmond  bull-dogs  made  up  in  a  pen, 

darna  come  out  for  Tibberton  men. — Tihherton   do. 

Ellesmere  [ii  m.  S.W.  of  Whitchurch]. 

The  Devil  was  flying  over  Ellesmere,  and  he  said :   "  Sweet 
little  Ellesmere,  you  are  all  mine  own." — Jackson,  S.F.L. 

180 


LOCAL     PROVERBS,  s/vlop. 

Ketley  [if  m.  S.E.  of  Wellington]. 

A  pretty  Ketley  set.     An  opprobrious  nickname  acquired  by 
the  employees  at  the  ironworks  established  there  early  in 
this  [the  igth]  century. — Jackson,  S.F.L.,  98. 
Llanymnech  [5^  m.  S.W.  of  Oswestry]. 

Take  heed  how  you  go  through  Llanymnech,  or  you  '11  get  your 
tail  cut. — Salopian  Shreds  and  Patches,  7/4,  '86. 
LoNGDEN.     Haz.,  p.  386,  refers  to  this  place  the  saying  (which  he 
quotes  from  Higson,  131) : 

The  stoutest  beggar  that  goes  by  the  way 
can't  beg  through  Long  on  a  midsummer's  day. 
But  of  the  two   Longdens  in  Salop,  one  has  a  pop.  of  99, 
the  other  of  371.     Sharp  {British  Gazetteer,  1852)  is  doubt- 
less right  in  assigning  it  to  Longdon  in  Staffordshire,  "  a 
village  of  some  length."     Pop.,  1183. 
Madeley. 

Medley  bells. — Ho.     See  Leominster  in  Herefordshire. 
The  Wise  Men  of  Madeley  (who  hedged  in  the  cuckoo). 
Cf.  Gotham  in  Notts. 
Melverley,  God  help  me ! 

and  what  do  you  think  ? — N.,  L,  i.  422. 
wheer  else. — Jackson,  S.F.L.,  97. 
A  parish  11  m.  W.N.W.  of  Shrewsbury,  at  the  junction  of  the 
Vyrnwy  with  the  Severn,  and  so  liable  to  floods.     It  lies 
pleasantly  under  the  Breiddon  Hills. 
MoRFE.     See  Bridgnorth. 
Prees  [4J  m.  S.  of  Whitchurch] . 

They  say  the  Devil  died  here. — Jackson,  S.F.L.,  584. 
PuLVERBATCH  [7J  m.  S.S.W.  of  Shrewsburj'] .    See  Church  Pulver- 
Cothercot*  up  o'  the  'ill,  [batch. 

Wilder  ley*  down  i'  the  dale, 
Churton  t  for  pretty  girls, 
an'  Powtherbitch  for  good  ale. — Jackson,  p.  518. 

'  5  m.  N.N.W.  of  Church  Stretton. 
t  i.e.  Church  Pulverbatch,  6  m.  N.  of  Church  Stretton. 

Huglith  (a  solitary  hill-farm  near  Pulverbatch)  was  the  last 
place  God  made,  and  he  never  allowed  the  sun  to  shine 
upon  it. — Jackson. 
A   storm   will   go   three    miles   out   of    its   way   to   come   by 
Habberley  to  Churton. 
Stanton. 

Stan'  upon  Trent,  Stan'  upon  Wye, 

Clean  Stan',  Dirty  Stan',  and  Stanton  Lacy. 

Corve  Dale  ;  Skeat  in  Jackson,  S.F.L.,  584. 

Shrewsbury.     See  Tibberton. 

Pelryn   de   Schrowesbury. — Douce,   98.     i.e.  to  the  shrine  of 
St.  Winifred  in  the  Benedictine  Abbey  there. 

181 


SALOP,  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Like  a  Shrewsbury  cake,  short  and  sweet. — P.  Rob.,  Mar.,  1767. 

Of  a  rich  closeness,  like  Scotch  shortbread. 
I  '11  sen'  you  to  Sosebury  [pronunciation  of  lowest  class].    This 
means  a  threat  of  legal  proceedings  or  of  consignment  to 
the  county  gaol. — Jackson,  519. 
He  that  fetcheth  a  wife  from  Shrewsbury,  must  carry  her  into 

Staffordshire,  or  else  shall  live  in  Cumberland. — F.  W. 

Women  are  born  in  Wiltshire,  brought  up  in  Cumberland,  lead 

their    lives    in    Bedfordshire,    bring    their    husbands    to 

Buckingham,  and  die  in  Shrewsbury. — Wit  Restored,  1658. 

Stoke  Yeth  [Heath],  wheer  Owd  Nick  was  clemm'd  to  djeth.— 

Jackson. 
TiBBERTON  [4  m.  N.W.  of  Newport].     See  Edgmond. 
It  rains,  it  hails,  it  batters,  it  blows, 
the  Tibberton  girls  are  washing  their  clothes.* 

Jackson,  S.F.L. 

(A  wet  washing-day  betokened  a  faithless  lover.) 
The  same  thing  was  said  at   Shrewsbury  of  the  "  Condover 
wenches." 

*  An  Edgmond  jingle. 
Wem  [10  m.  N,  of  Shrewsbury] . 
Amen, 

says  the  clerk  of  Wem. — Jackson. 
The  women  of  Wem  and  a  few  musketeers* 
beat  Lord  Capel  and  all  his  cavaliers. — Higson,  124. 

*  In   1643  old  women  in  red  cloaks   being   posted  to  represent  a  military 

force. — ^Jackson,  585.     [Cf.  The  capture  of  the  French  troops  landed  at 
Fishguard,  in  Pembrokeshire,  Feb.,  1797. — Ed.] 

The  Wem  Ranters  (a  stronghold  of  Primitive  Methodism). — 
Jackson,  S.F.L.,  98. 

A  new  church,  an  old  steeple, 
A  drunken  parson  and  a  wicked  people. — lb. 
From  Wem  and  from  Wich,  [i.e.  Nantwich] 
and  from  Clive  of  the  Styche,  Good  Lord,  deliver  us !  * 

Jackson,  586 
*  Prayer  of  the  Shropshire  Royalists.     Col.  Clive  led  the  Parliamentary  army. 
WiLDERLEY.     See  Pulverbatch. 

Wroxeter  (Uriconium)  [6  m.  S.E.  of  Shrewsbury]. 
Near  the  Brook  of  Bell,  there  is  a  well* 
which  is  richer  than  any  man  can  tell. 

*  On  the  N.  side  of  Watling  Street,  where  it  crosses  the  brook. — T.  Wright, 

Uriconium,  p.  80. 

SHROPSHIRE  BELL-JINGLES. — Jackson,  S.F.L.,  p.  605. 

"  A  nut  and  a  kernell," 

say  the  bells  of  Acton  Burnell  [8  m.  S.E.  of  Shrewsbury]. 
"  A  pudding  in  the  pot," 

say  the  bells  of  Acton  Scott  [3  m.  S.  of  Church  Stretton]. 

182 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Salop. 

"  Pitch  'em  and  patch  'em," 
say  the  bells  of  Old  Atcham  [4  m.  S.E  of  Shrewsbury]. 
Hold  up  your  shield," 

say  the  bells  of  Battlefield*  [3  m.  N.E.  of  Shrewsbury]. 
*  Where  Hotspur  was  killed,  1403. 

"  Wristle,  wrastle," 

say  the  bells  of  Bishop's  Castle. 
"  Up,  Severn,  and  down,  Morfe,"t 

say  the  bells  of  Bridgnorth. 
+  A  hilly  spot,  with  five  tumuli  on  it,  at  Quatford,  a  suburb  of  Bridgnorth. 

"  Roast  beef  and  mutton," 

say  the  bells  of  Church  Stretton. 
"  Hop,  skip,  and  run," 

say  the  bells  of  Clun  [5^  m.  N.  of  Knighton]. 
"  Axes  and  brummocks,"  [=  bilhooks]  of  Clun]. 

say  the  bells  of  Clungunnus  [=  Clungunford]  [6  m.  S.E. 
"  Under  and  over," 

say  the  bells  of  Condover. 
"  A  stick  and  a  stone," 

say  the  bells  of  Edgton  [4^  m.  S.E.  of  Bishop's  Castle]. 
"  You  're  too  fond  of  beer," 

say  the  bells  of  Ellesmere. 
"  Why  don't  you  ring  louder  ?  " 

say  the  bells  of  Hope  Bowdler  [2  m.  S.E.  of  Ch.  Stretton], 
"  Because  we  are  beaten,"  of  Ch.  Stretton]. 

say  the  big  bells  of  Eaton  [under  Heywood]  [4^  m.  S.E. 
"  Buttermilk  and  whey," 

say  the  bells  of  Hopesay  [5J  m.  S.E.  of  Bishop's  Castle]. 
"  An  old  lump  of  wood," 

say  the  bells  of  Leebotwood  [4  m.  N.E.  of  Ch.  Stretton] . 
oy  "  Lay  a  bottle  in  the  wood," 

say  the  bells  of  Leebotwood. 
"  Roas'  goose  an'  gonder,'' 

say  the  bells  of  Longnor  [2  m.  S.E.  of  Shrewsbury]. 
"  How  dare  you  do  so  ?  " 

say  the  bells  of  Ludlow  [1795] . 
"  Because  I  've  a  mind," 

say  the  bells  of  Leintwardine  [Herefoi'dsMre,  1795] . 
"  White  bread  and  red  wine," 

say  the  bells  of  Leintwardine.* 

'9  m.  W.  of  Ludlow  at  the  confluence  of  the  Teme  and  the  Clun. 
"  We  must  all  die," 

say  the  bells  of  Lydbury  [2J  m.  S.E.  of  Bishop's  Castle]. 
"  An  owl  in  the  tree," 

say  the  bells  of  Norbury  [4  m.  N.E.  of  Bishop's  Castle]. 

"  Three  crows  on  a  tree," 
say  the  bells  of  Oswestry  [18  m.  N.W.  of  Shrewsbury]. 

183 


SOMERSET.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

"  Roast  beef  and  be  merry," 
say  the  bells  of  Shrewsbury. 

"  Itchy  and  scabby," 
say  the  bells  of  the  Abbey. 

"  Three  naked  lads," 
\_or  "  Three  golden  spades,"] 

say  the  bells  of  St.  Chad's. 

"  Three  silver  pikels,"  [or  "  golden  pikels  "] 
say  the  bells  of  St.  Michael's. 

"  Three  golden  canaries," 
[or  "  Buttercups  and  daisies," 
or  "A  new-born  baby,"] 

say  the  bells  of  St.  Mary's. 

"  A  boiling  pot  and  stewing  pan," 
say  the  bells  of  Julian. 

"  You  're  a  rogue  for  sartin," 
say  the  bells  of  St.  Martin. 

"  Up  the  ridge  and  down  the  butt," 
say  the  bells  of  Smethycote  [4  m.  N.  of  Church  Stretton] . 

"  Roast  beef  and  mutton,"  Shrewsbury], 

say  the  bells  of  Old  Upton  [Upton   Magna,  3^  m.  E.  of 

"  Jack,  and  Jim  the  tailor,  Wellington] . 

hang  the   rogue  the   ringer  [Uppington,   4   m.    S.W.  of 

"  Ivy,  holly,  and  mistletoe," 
say  the  bells  of  Wistanstow  [6  m.  S.  of  Church  Stretton]. 


SOMBRSBTSHIRB. 

Somersetschir  good  for  whete. — MS.  Harl.  7371. 

Somersetshire  good  for  whete. — MS.  Rawl. 

Zummerzet. 

Mid-Somerset.  One  of  the  political  divisions  previously  to  1885, 
and  embracing  the  moors  E.  of  Weston-super-Mare,  acquired 
the  name  of  Mud  Somerset. 

"  Noted  for  the  fertility  of  its  soil  and  the  folly  of  its  gentlemen." — 
Bickham  Escott,  on  Hustings  at  Taunton. 

"  Confirms  the  legend  that  the  Wise  Men  don't  come  from  the 
West." 

Cornwall 's  as  ugly  as  ugly  can  be, 
Devonshire 's  better  certainly  ; 
but  Somersetshire 's  the  best  of  the  three, 
and  Somersetshire 's  the  country  for  me. 

Quoted  by  Southey  in  Espriella's  Letters 
from  England,  ch.  76. 

1S4 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  somerset. 

De  Foe,  Tour  of  Gt.  Britn.,  i.,  Lett.  3  (1724),  says:  "The  'boorish 
country  speech '  about  Yeovil,  as  in  Ireland  it  is  called  the 
Brogue  upon  the  Tongue,  so  here  it  is  called  '  Jouring.'  The 
difference  is  in  tone  and  diction  and  their  abridging  the 
speech  '  cham '  for  '  I  am,'  '  chill '  for  '  I  will,'  '  don  '  for 
'put  on,'  and  'doff'  for  'put  off,'  and  the  like." 

Here  is  Gerard's  bailiff:  work,  or  you  must  die  with  cold. — P.  in 
R.,  1678. 

Then  Somerset  says  :  "  Set  the  bandog  on  the  bull." — Drayt., 
Pol.,  xxiii. 

F-  W.  says  that  "  the  Mastiffs  of  Somerset  were  famous,  and 
that  the  gentry  and  country-folk  were  much  affected  with 
the  pastime  of  bull  -  baiting,  though  some  scruple[d]  the 
lawfulness  thereof." — P.  18. 

The  Barle  and  the  Exe  do  both  urn  out  o'  the  same  rex-bush> 
i.e.  clump  of  rushes. — Elworthy,  West  Somerset  Word  Book. 

The  Barle  or  Barley,  after  running  a  course  of  20  m.  S.E., 
rejoins  the  Exe  below  Dulverton. 

Bath.     Bayn  de  Baa. — Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 

"The  Bath  Waters"  have  again  (1884)  come  into  high  repute. 
Bath  asparagus  (ornithogalum  umballatum). 
beau — beauties. 

brick  (resembling  free-stone,  but  made  at  Bridgwater  of 

the  mud  of  the  Parret). 
bun  —  chair  —  chap  —  cheese   (curd)  —  coating  —  faggot 

(minced  meat).     See  Scotch,  warming-pan. 
metal — lozenge. 

Olivers  (thin  butter  biscuits  called  after  Dr.  Oliver,  the 
inventor). 

pipe— post   (writing  paper)-— [free]stone   (from  the  Box 
quarries). 

shilling  (a  gilt  card  counter*) — waters  (hot  springs) — rings  ? 
*  And  although  it  may  pass  for  gold  on  each  ninney, 
Sure,  we  know  a  Bath  shilling  soon  from  a  guinea. 

Swift,  A  Conference  between  Car  and  Chariot. 

The  beggars  of  Bath. — F.  W.  [ie.  the  free  patients  at  the 
Hospital] ,  attracted  by  all  the  two  seasons  the  confluence 
of  Gentry.— F.  W. 

Go  to  Bath ! 

Residents  at  Bath  are  said  to  "  forget  to  die." 

The  Baths  of  Bath.      [CUfton  Hotwells  are  still  under  eclipse.] 

It  seems  all  waters  of  this  kind  have  (though  far  from  the  sea) 
their  ebbing  and  flowing,  I  mean  in  esteem.  It  was  then 
full  tide  with  Wellingborough  Well,  which  ever  since  hath 
abated,  and  now,  I  believe,  is  at  low  water  in  its  reputation.. 
— F.  W.,  N'hants. 

185 


SOMERSET.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Ludhudibras  a  Meazel  Voule,  did  zend  his  zun  a  graezing, 
Who  Vortuend  hither  vor  to  cum,  and  geed  his  Pigs  sum  peazun  ; 
Poor  Bladud  he  was  Manger-grown,  his  Dad,  which  zum  call  Vaether, 
Zet  Bladud  Pig,  and  Pig  Bladud,  and  zo  they  ved  together. 
Then  Bladud  did  the  Pigs  invect,  who  grunting  ran  away 
And  vound  whot  waters  prezently,  which  made  um  vresh  and  gay. 
Bladud  was  not  so  grote  a  Vool,  but  zeeing  what  Pig  did  doe,    [toe. 
He  beath'd  and  wash'd  and  rins'd  and  beath'd  from  Noddle  down  to 
Bladud  was  now  (Gramercy  Pig)  a  delicate  vine  boy, 
So  whome  he  trudges  to  his  Dad,  to  be  his  only  Joy. 
And  then  he  bilt  this  gawdy  Town,  and  sheer'd  his  beard  Spadewayes, 
Which  Voke  accounted  then  a  grace,  though  not  so  nowadays. 
Two  Thowsand  and  vive  hundred  years,  and  thirty-vive  to  that, 
Zince  Bladud' s  zwine  did  looze  their  greaze,  which  we  Moderns  cal  vat : 
About  that  time  it  was  alzo,  that  Ahob's  zuns  were  hanged 
And  Jezabel  their  Mam  (curz'd  deel)  caus'd  Naboth  be  Stone  banged. 
Chee  cud  zay  more,  but  cham  a  veard,  Voke  will  account  this  Vable, 
O  Invidels  if  yee  woon  not  me,  yet  chee  pray  believe  the  Table. 
Written  by  Tom  Coriat  of  Odcombe  on  seeing  "  the  great  Table 
hung  up  against  the  Wall  in  the  King's  Bath,"  which  sets 
forth  the  legend  of  King  Bladud  out  of   Geoffrey  of  Mon- 
mouth's   Chronicle,    and    appended    to    Thenme    Redivivte. — 
The  City  of  Bath  described,  S^c,  by  Henry  Chapman,  Gent"-, 
London.     1673.     8°. 
Balnea,  lympha.  Forum,  sic  Templum,  Mcenia,  Rivus, 
Talia  tam  parva,  nusquam  sunt  urbe  reperta. 
Baths,  Church,  Rock-water,  River,  Hall,  'Wall-round 
Such  in  so  little  a  City  nowhere  found. — Ibid. 
These  walls  so  rich  in  monument  and  bust 
Show  how  Bath  Waters  serve  to  lay  the  dust. 

(The  interior  walls  of  Bath  Abbey  are  completely  incrusted  with 
memorials  of  strangers  who  have  died  in  the  City.) 
As  to  Bath  Abbey,  see  ante,  England,  Historical  and  Prophetical. 
Beckington    [3  m.  N.E.  of  Frome].     See  Frome. 
Cadbory.     If  Cadbury  *  and  Dolburyf  dolven  were,  [digged] 

all  England  might  plough  with  a  golden  share. — R.,  1813. 
*  Camp-hills  :  one  near  Clevedon,  the  other  near  Wincanton. 
t  Near  Wrington,  above  Churchill. 

If  Dolbury  digged  were, 
of  gold  should  be  the  share. — Leland,  Itin. 
Chew  Magna,  Chew  Stoke.     See  Stoke. 

Chew  fine  organ  pipes.  Stoke  brass  candlesticks. 
Chew  Stoke.     See  Stoke. 
Cheddar  cheese. — F.W.     As  much  difference  as  between  Norfolk 

and  Cheddar. — Torriano. 
Chard.     In  so  high  a  situation  that  the  stream  of  water  in  it  being 
turned,   as  it  easily  may   be  north  or  south,  will  run,  as 
is  affirmed,  either  into  the  Severn  or  South  Sea, — Gibson, 
note  to  Camden. 

186 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  somerset. 

Crewkerne.  The  first  rain  after  Crewkerne  Fair  (Sept.  5)  is  the 
first  rain  of  winter. 

CuLBONE  [gj  m.  W.  of  Minehead].     See  Oare. 

DoLBURY,  near  Churchill  [2  m.  N.  of  Banwell].     See  Cadbury. 

DuNDRY  [5  m.  S.W.  of  Bristol,  Somersetshire  side  of  Avon] . 
The  origin  of  its  name  was  caused  in  this  wise.  A  local 
architect  was  commissioned  to  build  various  churches. 
He  began  with  Saint  Stephen's  in  Bristol,  then  moved  a 
Bitt-on,  and  having  finished  a  third,  exclaimed,  "  Now 
I  'dun-dree." 

ExE  (river).     See  Barle. 

Frome  dumbledores,  Beckington  bees,  and  Road  wopses  (wasps). — 
Il.,F.P.;  N.,  v.,  vi.  277. 

Glastonbury.     As  old  as  Glastonbury  Torre. — F.  W. 

The  Glastonbury  Thorn  is  said  to  blossom  at  Christmas-tide. 
If  the  Abbot  of  Glaston  could   have  married  the  Abbess  of 
Shaston,  the  King  of  England  would  be  the  poorer  man. — ■ 
Som.  &•  Dor.  N.  &  Q.,  iii.  i8g.     See  Dorset  (Shaftesbury). 
Bloomed  in  the  winter  of  her  days. 
Like  Glastonbury  Thorn. 
Sir  C.  Sedley,  The  Mulberry  Garden,  "  Ah  Chloris." 
Hopton,  Horner,  Smyth,  Knocknaile,  and  Thynne, 
when  Abbots  went  out  they  came  in. 

Aubrey's  Lives,  ii.  362. 
Portman,  Horner,  Popham,  and  Thynne, 
when  the  Monks  went  out  they  came  in. 

Thynne's  Animadversions  on  Chaucer,  p.  ix.,  ed.  1875. 
Horner,  Popham,  Wyndham,  and  Thynne, 
when  the  Abbot  went  out,  then  they  went  in. — Higson,  173. 
The  four  families  to   whom   Glastonbury  Abbey  estate  was 
granted  at  the  Dissolution. 

HiNTON  St.  George  [3  m.  N.  of  Crewkerne].  The  seat  of  the 
Lord  Poulet,  having  every  stone  in  the  Front  shaped 
Doule-ways,  or  in  the  form  of  a  cart-nail. — F.  W. 

The    Holms  (Steep  and  Flat,  in  the   Bristol    Channel). — Holmr, 
Icelandic,  an  islet. 
Then  as  the  Holmes,  two  sturdy  umpires,  met 

Betwixt  the  quar'ling  Welsh  and  English  tydes ; 
In  equall  distance  each  from  other  set. 

As  both  removed  from  faire  Severne's  sides. 

Zonch's  Dove,  1613. 

Horner  [par.  Luckham,  5  m.  W.S.W.  of  Minehead].  A  favourite 
meet  of  the  Staghounds. 

Oaks  be  trumps  in  Horner  'ood, 

there  they  grow'd  and  there  they  stood. 

Elworthy,  Som.  W.B. 

187 


SOMERSET.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

All  Ilchester  is  gaol.      The   people  hard-hearted,  say  prisoners 

there. — P.  in  R.,  1678. 
Keynsham  [5  m.  S.E.  of  Bristol]. 

Canesham,  commonly  called  "smoakyCanesham." — Rd.  Blome, 
Britannia,  p.  197. 
Long  Sutton  [3  m.  E.  of  Langport]. 

Sutton  Long,  Sutton  Long, 
at  every  door  a  tump*  of  dung, 
Some  two,  some  three ; 

it's  the  dirties  place  that  ever  you  see. — N.,  L,  v.  375. 
"A  round  mass:  a  local  word  for  the  wooded  top  of  a  hill.     So  Ashtoa 
Tump,  near  Clifton. 

Also  parishes  in  Hants  and  Lincolnshire. 
Cf.  As  much  as  York,  &c. 

MiNEHEAD.  Minehead  by  the  sea, 

Minehead  on  the  down, 
Minehead  at  the  quay, 
Minehead  in  the  town. 
The  town  now  consists  of  these  four  patches  of  dwellings, 
each  half  a  mile  from  any  other ;  the  church  is  on  the 
down.     This  is  formulated,  however,  by  myself.      1880. 
Norton  Fitzwarren  [2  m.  N.W.  of  Taunton].     See  Taunton, 
Nertown  was  a  market  town 

when  Taunton  was  a  vuzzy  down. — N.,  L,  iv.  96. 
Mr.    Warre,   who    reads    "  walled "   for    "  market,"    thinks    it 
was   a    British  town. ^Proceedings  Som.  Arch.   Soc,    1849. 

Oare  [6  m.  W.  of  PorlockJ. 

Oare,  Culbone,  and  Stoke  Pero, 
three  such  places  you  never  did  hear  o'. — Murr. 
Three   celebrated   meets   of  the   Devon    and    Somerset    Stag- 
hounds,  and  lying  close  round  Dunkerry  Beacon,  the  crown 
of  Exmoor. 
Odcombe.     Coryate,  the  author  of  the  celebrated  "  Crudities,"  was 
the  son  of  a  Rector  of  Odcombe.     He  hung  up  the  shoes 
in  which  he  had  walked  900  miles  in  Odcombe  Church, 
somewhere  about  1610. — Worth,  Somerset  Guide. 
He  was  credited  with  the  introduction  of  forks  into  England 
from  Italy. 

Pendummer  [or  Pendomer,  a  village  4  m.  from  Yeovil,  near  Coker], 
where  the  devil  was  stodged  in  the  midst  of  summer. — 
West  of  England  Archl.  Transactions,  1873. 

Pensford  [6  m.  S.  of  Bristol].     See  Stanton  Drew. 

PoRLOCK.  I  rode  [to  Lynmouth]  by  the  coast  through  Minehead 
and  came  to  Porlock,  where  I  had  luncheon  at  "The 
Ship."  The  name  of  this  place  is,  I  believe,  derived  from 
the  Saxon  "  Port  locan,"  the  locked  or  enclosed  port ;  but 
another  derivation  is  given  by  the  peasantry,  .   .  .  that  this 

188 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  somerset. 

was  the  first  place  in  which  the  devil  landed  in  England, 
and  that,  finding  himself  hungry,  he  asked  for  such  fare  as 
they  could  give  him,  when  a  dish  similar  to  my  own, 
i.e.  bacon  and  eggs,  was  set  before  him.  "  Poor  luck 
this  !  "  exclaimed  the  luxurious  traveller  ;  whereupon  the 
name  Porlock  has  been  fixed  upon  the  place  for  ever.- — 
Rev.  Wm.  Quekett,  My  Sayings  and  Doings,  p.  44,  1888. 

PoRTBURY  [8  m.  N.W.  of  Bristol]. 

Fuller,  speaking  of  the  wild  strawberry  in  Devonshire  as 
toothsome  but  small  and  sour  (as  growing  wild,  having 
no  other  gardner  but  Nature),  adds  :  "  They  quickly 
acquire  greatness  and  sweetness  if  transplanted  into 
gardens,  and  become  as  good  as  those  at  Porbery,  in 
Somersetshire,  where  ;^2o  per  ann.  (thank  the  vicinity 
of  Bristol)  have  been  paid  for  the  tithe  thereof." — 
F.  W.,  p.  246. 

Priddy  [3  m.  N.N.W.  of  Wells]. 

The  first  rain  after  Priddy  Fair  (Aug.  21)  is  the  first  rain  of 
winter. — Som.  &  Dev.  N.  &  Q.,  iii.  115. 

Road.     See  Frome  [from  which  it  lies  4  m.  N.E.] .     Cf.  Crewkerne. 
Shepton  Beauchamp. 

Hang  me  right  and  ring  me  well, 

they  '11  hear  me  sound  at  Hambdon  Hill. 

H.  T.' Ellacombe,  Church  Bells  of  Somerset,  1875. 
Inscribed  on  one  of  the  church  bells. 

SoMERTON.  A  Somerton  ending.  When  the  difference  between 
two  is  divided.  —  P,  in  R.,  1678.  i.e.  splitting  the 
difference.— G. 

Stanton  Drew  [7  m.  S.E.  of  Bristol]. 

A  mile  from  Pensford,  another  from  Chue,  i.e.  Chew  Magna. — 

Stukely,  Itin.,  ii.  169.    1776. 
Stanton  ding-dangs  (bells).     See  Stoke. 
Stogursey  [gj  m.  N.W.  of  Bridgwater]. 

Out  of  the  world  and  into  Stogursey. — Haz.,  2nd  ed.,  326. 

"Ex  relatione  H.  Pyne,  a  Somerset  man." 
Cf.  Dorset,  Bincome. 
Stoke  Pero  [3  m.  S.  of  Porlock].     See  Oare. 

Stoke*  brass  candlesticks,  Winford  brass  pans. 
Chew  fine  organ-pipes,  and  Stanton  ding-dangs. 
*  Chew  Stoke  [6  m.  S.  of  Bristol]. 
Taunton.    See  Norton. 

When  Taunton  was  a  furzy  down 
Norton  was  a  walled  town. — Mur. 
'ch   was   bore   at   Taunton   Dean ;    where   should    I    be  bore 

else  ?— R.  W. 
Where  should  I  be  bore  else  thon  in  Tonton  Deane  ? — F.  W. 

189 


STAFFS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Zich  glorry  vatt  Ducks  but  zildom  are  zean, 

Where  should  they  be  bore  but  about  Taunton  Dean  ? 

S.  Wesley  (the  grandfather   of  John  and  Charles 
Wesley),  Maggots,  p.  74,  1685. 
He  is  speaking  of  wild  ducks  caught  in  a  decoy  in  Somerset- 
shire.— Note  p.  74. 
So   high's   Marlin  tower,   i.e.    St.    Mary    Magdalen    Church, 
Taunton. — Elworthy,  W.  Sotn.  W.  B. 
Our  noble  Sheriif 's  a-dying,  and  I  fear 
Will  never  feast  us  more  in  Taunton-shire. 

Alex.  Brome,  Epistle  to  C.  S.,  Esq. 

Watchet.  When  Watchet  is  all  washed  down, 

Williton  shall  be  a  seaport  town. 

Quoted  by  Rd.  Jefferies, "  Summer  in  Somerset," 
in  Field  and  Hedgerow,  p.  284. 

Wellington  Roundheads,  i.e.  fanatics. — P.  in  R.,  1678.    A  Taunton 
proverb  (from  their  attachment  to  the  Parliamentary  cause. 

— Muri). 

Weston-super-Mare   is  called  Weston- super- Mud;   also   Bristol- 
super- Mare. 

Williton.     See  Watchet. 

WiNFORD   [5   m.   S.W.  of  Bristol].      Winford   brass  pans   (bells). 
Sie  Stoke. 

Wicked  Wiveliscombe. — Worth,  Handbook  to  N.  Devon. 

Upon  Sir  Abraham  Elt  being  knighted  and  taking  the  name  of  Elton. 
In  days  of  yore  old  Abraham  Elt 
When  living  had  nor  sword  nor  belt  ; 
But  now  his  son,  Sir  Abraham  Elton, 
Being  knighted  has  both  sword  and  belt  on. 

MS.  Harl.  7318,  p.  206.     Hll. 
Abm.  Elton,  M.P.  and  Mayor  of  Bristol,  1710;  created  a  Bart. 
Oct.  31,  1717. 


STAFFORDSHIRE. 

StafFordschir  full  of  shrewd  quenys. — MS.  Harl. 

Staffordshire,  ful  of  quenys. — MS.  Rawl. 
Staffordshire  for  beer  and  bread, 
Derbyshire  for  wool  and  lead ; 
Cheshire,  the  chief  of  men, 
and  Lancashire  for  fair  women. 

W.  W.,  New  Help  to  Discotirse,  p. 113.    1659. 
For  boots  and  shoes  and  slippers  rare 
what  shire  with  Stafford  may  compare. 

Langford,  Staffordshire  and  Warwickshire  Past  and  Present,  i. 

190 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  staffs. 

Then  Staffordshire  bids :  "  Stay,  and  I  will  beet*  the  fire, 

And  nothing  will  I  ask,  but  goodwill  for  my  hire." — Drayt.,  Pol.,  xxiii. 

*  Mend. 

Among  soldiers  Stafford  law,  martial  law,  kiUing  and  hanging,  is 
soon  learned. — Breton  Scholar  and  Soldier,  p.  26.     Speech  of 
Miles  Corbet,  1647.     Harl.  Misc.,  i.  243. 
This,  of  course,  is  a  pun,  alluding  to  the  lex  baculinus. 
In  April  Dove's  flood 

is  worth  a  King's  good. — Camb.,  Brit. ;  n.  in  Haz.,  p.  231. 
"  The  Nilus  of  Staffordshire."— F.  W.     Cf.  Derbyshire, 
the  beauty  of  her  stream  is  such 
As  only  with  a  swift  and  transient  touch 
To  enrich  her  sterile  border  as  she  glides, 
And  force  sweet  flowers*  from  her  marble  sides. 

*  Cotton. 

The  Black  Country. 
Barton. 

Barton  under  Needwood,*  Dunstall  in  the  Dale,t 
Sitenhill  |  for  a  pretty  girl,  and  Burton  for  good  ale. 

Higson.  MS.  Col.,  148. 
*  4  m.  S  W.  of  Burton-upon-Trent.  t  4  m.  W.S.W.  of  Burton. 

X  ?  Stapenhill,  a  suburb  of  Burton,  or  Tatenhill,  3  m.  S.W.  of  Burton. 

Bloxwich  [2  m.  N.  of  Walsall]. 

Like  the  Bloxwich  bull  [not  to  be  found] . 
Because  stolen  the  night  before  the  wake. — Timbs,  Nooks  and 
Corners  of  English  Life,  p.  261. 
Bromwich  (West  Bromwich),  [2  m.  S.S.E.  of  Wednesbury] . 

To  sing  like  a  Bromwich  throstle,  i.e.  a  donkey.  —  Northall, 
Folk  Phrases  of  Four  Counties. 
Burton-upon-Trent.     See  Barton. 
Calton. 

Calton,*  Caldon,t  Waterfall,!  and  Grin  §  [Grindon], 
are  the  four  fou'est  places  I  ever  was  in. — N.,  I.,  xi.  74. 
*  8  m.  N.E.  of  Cheadle.        f  N.W.  Stafford.        J  7  m.  S.E.  of  Leek. 
§  6  m.  E.S.E.  of  Leek. 

Dudley  [8  m.  W.N.W.  of  Birmingham]. 
Moonrakers= illiterate. — N.,  F.  P. 
Like  Dudley  tripe-  always  ready. — Wore.  N.,  F,  P. 

Cf.  Warwickshire  version  :  Like  the  old  woman's  tripe,  always 
ready. — Ih. 

Dunstall  in  the  Dale.     See  Barton. 

EccLESHALL.     While  the  ivy  is  green,  and  the  holly  is  rough, 
this  is  a  lease  for  the  Blests  of  the  Hough. 
A  farm  in  this  neighbourhood  held  under  the  Bishops  of  Lich- 
field for  some  centuries  by  this  family. — N.,  L,  vi.  185. 
Fazeley  [i  m.  S.  of  Tamworth]. 

Fazeley  bull-dogs  locked  in  a  pen, 

dusn't  come  out  for  Tamworth  men. — N.,  F.  P. 

191 


STAFFS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

GoRNALL  [2  m.  N.W.  of  Dudley] . 

He  comes  from  Gornall,  i.e.  is  rude  or  odd-mannered,  a  boor  or 
a  guy. — N.,  F.  P- 
Grindon.     See  Calton. 
Harborne  [3  m.  S.W.  of  Birmingham]. 

Hungry  Harborne,  poor  and  proud. — N.,  F.  P. 
Leek.     The   MetropoHs  or   Queen   of    the   Moorlands. — Spectator, 

31/12,  '87. 
Lichfield.     Encloystre  de  Lycheffeld. — Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 
LoNGDON  [4  m.  N.W.  of  Lichfield]. 

The  stoutest  beggar  that  goes  by  the  way, 
cannot  beg  through  Long  in  a  summer's  day. 

Sharp,  Brit.  Gazetteer. 
(Haz.  assigns  this  to  Longdon,  5  m.  S.W.  of  Shrewsbury,) 
LoNGSDON  [2  m.  W.S.W.  of  Leek].     See  Derbyshire,  Ashford. 
Marchington  (par.  Hanbury),  [3  m.  E.S.E.  of  Uttoxeterj. 

As  short  as  a  Marchington  wake-cake  [of  a  woman's  temper]. — 
Poole,  Glossary  of  A .  and  P.  Words  of  Staffordshire. 
Narrowdale  [4  m.  S.S.E.  of   Longnor].     A  pass  between  high 
limestone  rocks,  traversed  by  the  Dove. 
"  The  inhabitants  of  Narrowdale,  when  the  sun  is  nearest  the 
tropic  of  Capricorn,  never  see  it ;  and  when  it  does  begin 
to  appear,  they  do  not  see  it  till  about  one  o'clock,  which 
they  call  '  Narrowdale  noon,'  using  it  as  a  proverb  when 
anything  is  delayed." — Plot's  Staffordshire. 
RusHALL  (in  the  borough  of  Walsall).     See  Sutton. 
Seugely  [3  m.  N.W.  of  Dudley]. 

A  Sedgley  curse. — Mus.  Delic,  1656. 

The  devil  run  *  through  thee,  booted  and  spurred,  with  a  scythe 
on  his  back.f — Ho. 
*  Ride. — Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  Woman's  Prize,  v.  3;  Suckling,  Goblins,  i   i. 
t  As  the  Scotchman  says. — Massinger,  City  Madam,  ii.  2. 

Smethwick  (par.  Harborne),  [3  m.  W.  of  Birmingham]. 

Go  to  Smerrick  !  =  Go  to  Jericho  ! — N.,  F.  P- 
Stafford. 

Noah's  Wife.     Bot  thou  wert  worthi  be  clad  in  Stafford  blue. 
For  thou  art  always  adred,  be  it  false  or  trew. 

Townley,  Myst.,  p.  24;   R.  A.,  i.  29.  1450. 
Stanton  [8  m.  E.N.E.  of  Cheadle]. 
Stanton  on  the  Stones, 

where  the  devil  broke  his  bones. — JV.,  1.,  v.  293. 
Stapenhill  (a  suburb  of  Burton).     See  Barton. 
Sutton.         Sutton  for  mutton,  [?  Sutton  Coldfield] 
Tamworth  for  beef. 
Sutton  for  mutton,  Tamworth  for  beeves ; 
Brummagem  for  blackguards,  Coleshill  for  thieves. 

N.,  v.,  ix.  175. 

192 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  staffs. 

Tamworth.     See  Sutton. 

As  sandy  as  a  Tamworth  pig.  Of  a  red-haired  woman,  concu- 
piscent and  prolific. — N.,  F,  P- 

Vileyns  de  Tameworth. — Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 

Fazeley  bull-dogs  lock'd  in  a  pen, 

dusn't  come  out  for  Tamworth  men. 

After  a  collar  comes  a  halter,  quoth  the  Tanner  of  Tamworth 
when  Henry  IV.  called  for  a  collar  to  make  him  a  Squire. 
— Hll. 

There's  Biterscote,  and  Bonehill,  and  Dunstall  upon  Dun, 

Hopwas,  and  Coton,  and  miry  Wiginton ; 

Little  Amington,  and  Great  Amington,  with  the  Woodhouses  by, 

Glascote  and  Wilnecote  and  merry  Fasely, 

Comberford  and  Syerscote,  and  Bole  Hall  Street ; 

and  Tamworth  is,  the  head  town  where  all  these  cuckolds  meet. 
C.  F.  R.  Palmer,  Hist.  &  Antiq.  of  College  Ch.  of  Tamworth,  p.  13. 
They  hail'd  him  Lord  of  Fontenaye, 
Of  Lutterward  and  Scrivelbaye, 
Of  Tamworth  tower  and  town. 

Scott  Marmion,  c.  L,  s.  xi.  6. 

Tipton.  The  Tipton  Slasher  was  a  noted  pugilist  of  the  first  half 
of  the  nineteenth  century.  The  male  sex's  proclivities  are 
to  eating  and  fighting,  and  at  the  end  of  a  day's  outing  the 
daughter  is  said  to  enquire :  "  Hast  thee  foughten  feather  ? 
We  '11  be  going  if  thee  hast." 

Walsall    See  Sutton. 

Walsall  for  bandy  legs,*  [Worcester  for  pretty  girls] 
and  Brummagemf  for  a  thief. — N.,  I.,  xi.  115  ;  Higson,  175. 
*  Tag-rags;    t  Rushall. — Birmingham  Weekly  Post,  23/2,  1878. 
Another  version  :    N.,  II.,  i.  135,  gives  Yenton  for  a  pretty 
girl,  i.e.  Erdington,  4  m.  N.E.  of  Birmingham. 
A  Walsall  whoffler  =  knockkneed,  because  the  inhabitants  of 
that  place  are   remarkable  in  this  respect,  owing,  as  the 
natives  themselves  facetiously  explain,  to  having  so  many 
steps  to  ascend  to  church. — Globe,  21/2,  '90. 
Too  much  for  one  and  not  enough  for  two,  like  the  Walsall  man's 
goose.— N.,  F.  P. ;  Poole,  A.  and  P.  Words  of  Staffordshire, 
p.  25.  1880. 
You  're  too  fast,  Hke  Walsall  clock. — Higson,  176. 
To  go  out  of  one's  own  country  and  all  others  and  into  Walsall 
(a  rough,  ill-conditiond  place). — N.,  F.  P. 

Waterfall.     See  Calton. 

Wotton-under-Wever, 

where  God  was  [came]  never. — Ho. ;  F.  W. ;  Camd,,  Brit. 

A  black,  squalid  place  near  Moreland,  in  Staffordshire. — Ho. 

A  dark  spot  near  to  Alton  Towers,  overshadowed  by  the 

Wever  hill. 

VOL.  I.  193  IS 


SUFFOLK.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

SUFFOLK. 

Suffolk,  full  of  wiles.— iW5.  Harl,  7371  ;  Rel.  Ant.,  i.  269. 
Southfulk  ful  of  styles. — Rawl  MS.  ;  Leland  by  Hearne,  Intr.,  V. 
Suffolk   stiles. — He.       Inclosed   into    petty   quillets    [the   county] 
abounds  with  high  stiles  troublesome  to  be  clambred  over. 
— F.W. 

beef.     Disparaged. — Ned  Ward,  Nuptial  Dialogues,  L,  xiii. 

cheese  (called  Bang,  made  of  milk  which  has  been  skimmed). 

As  much  difference  between  Suffolk  and  Cheddar. — Torriano. 

Hunger  will  break  through  stone  walls,  or  anything  except 
a  Suffolk  cheese. — G.  ;  Pepys,  Diary,  4th  Oct.,  i56i. 

F.  W.  says  "  most  excellent  .  .  .  the  finest  are  very  thin 
as  intended  not  for  food  but  digestion." 

Those  that  made  me  were  uncivil. 
For  they  made  me  harder  than  the  devil ; 
Knives  won't  cut  me,  fire  won't  sweat  me, 
Dogs  bark  at  me,  but  can't  eat  me. 

Forby,  Vocabulary  of  East  Anglia. 

Many  London  prentices  will  be  forced  to  eat  Suffolk  cheese 
that  their  master's  daughters  may  be  kept  at  a  boarding 
school. — The  World  Bewitched,  p.  183.     1699. 

fair  maids. — F.  W. 

As  Essex  hath  of  old  been  named  Calves  and  stiles, 
Fair  Suffolk  Maids  and  milk,  and  Norfolk  Many  wiles. 

Drayt.  Pol. 
A  bonnier  wench  all  Suffolk  cannot  yield, 
All  Suffolk  !  nay  all  England  holds  none  such. 

Greene,  Friar  Bacon,  &c. 
milk.— F.  W. 

punches,  i.e.  cob-horses,  and  thick-set  men. 

Major  Moor  {Suffolk  Words,  p.  514)  says  :  "  The  people  are 
of  the  same  build  as  the  horses,  and  that  Suffolk 
Poonsh  and  a  true  Suffolk  meeowld  are  well  under- 
stood phrases." 

Your   Suffolk    Puritan. — T.    Hey  wood.      //  yoti  know  not 
me,   &€.,  Pt.   n.,  1606,  p.  77,  repr. 
whine. — G.    (Manner  of  speaking.)    Like  the  speech  of  a  person 
in  great  mental  distress.— G.     Cf.  Norfolk  drant. 
The  only  difference,  according  to  some,  between  a  Norfolk  and  a 
Suffolk    man    is    that   the    one   calls    a    snail    dodman  and 
the   other    hodmandod.  —  Nail.,    G'-    Yarm'-    &■    Lowes'-:    s. 
Hodmandod. 

A  Suffolk  calves  [calf  s]-head.    A  Shrove-Tuesday  Banquet.     1641. 
Silly   Suffolk.  — Nail.,    p.    720;    Globe,    16/6,    1884.      It   has   been 

suggested  that  this  is  Selig  [A.  S.],  happy,  fortunate.    [C/.  Silly 

Sheep. — Ed.] 

194 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Suffolk. 

Suffolk  has  been  called  "  The  Land  of  Churches."  364  are  recorded 
in  Domesday  Book,  while  only  one  is  recorded  in  Cambridge- 
shire, and  none  in  Lancashire,  Cornwall,  or  Middlesex. — 
Nail.,  p.  224.     Cf.  Norfolk. 

Suffolk  hath  the  best  and  the  worst  air  in  England  :   best  about 

Bury,  and  worst  on  the  seaside. — F.  W.,  London,  p.  221. 
Read,  try,  judge,  and  speak  as  you  find,  says  old  Suffolk. — R.,  1813. 

To  lay  the  stool's  foot  in  water,  i.e.  to  make  preparations  for  com- 
pany. Because  the  brick  floor  was  always  washed  the  day 
of  a  party  by  the  "tidy"  housewives,  with  whom  wet  and 
clean  are  synonymous. — Forby. 

(This  is  a  touch  which  carries  one  across  to  Holland.) 

Barton  Mere.     The  price  of  corn  rises  and  falls  with  Barton  Mere. 

(Great  Barton,  2  m.  N.E.  of  Bury.) 

Beccles  for  a  puritan,  Bungay  for  the  poor, 

Halesworth  for  a  drunkard,  and  Bilborough*  for  a  whore. — R.,  1678. 

(All  in  N.E.  Suffolk.) 
*  ?  Blythburgh,  a  decayed  town  4  m.  W.  of  Southwold. 

Benacre.     See  Covehithe. 

Bentley  [6  m.  S.W.  of  Ipswich]. 

Before  the  Normans  into  England  came, 

Bentley  was  my  seat  and  Tollemache  was  my  name. — Higson,  72. 

The  Tollemaches  now  own  Helmingham  hard  by. 
Blytheburgh.     See  Beccles. 
Bungay.     See  Beccles. 

Were  I  in  my  castle  of  Bungay, 

Upon  the  river  of  Waveney, 

I  would  ne  care  for  the  King  of  Cockeney. — Ho. 

(A  saying  of  Hugh  Bigod,  temp.  Hen.  H.,  of  the  powerful 
family  of  Bigot.) 

The  river  Waveney  nearly  encompasses  Bungay. 

Go  to  Bungay  to  get  new-bottomed,  i.e.  a  new  pair  of  leather 
breeches  made  there. — G.  It  was  considered  a  money- 
making  place.  The  opening  of  the  navigation  caused  the 
removal  of  trade  from  Beecles  to  Bungay. — Forby,  ii.  434. 

Bungay  play  (at  Whist).  Leading  all  your  winning  cards  in 
succession. — Cf.  Whitechapel  play. 

BuRES  St.  Mary  [5  m.  S.S.E.  of  Sudbury]. 

Vile  de  Bures. — Douce  MS.,  98,  13th  Cy. 

Edmund,  King  of    E.  Anglia  was   crowned   at  this   (now) 
village  on  the  Stour. 

Bury  St.  Edmunds.    Called  by  some  "  the  Montpelier  of  England." 
White,  E.  England,  ii.  100. 

195 


SUFFOLK.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

CovEHiTHE.   Betwixt  Covehithe  and  merry  Kessingland 

the  devil  sh .  t  Benacre :  look  where  it  stand. — R.,  1678. 
The  first  is  5  m.  N.  of  Southwold,  and  is  mis-spelt  Cowhithe 
by  R.  He  also  writes  Cassingland  by  mistake,  which  is 
5  m.  S.S.W.  of  Lowestoft.  I  have  also  taken  the  liberty 
of  strikmg  out  the  final  "  s  "  in  stands,  both  for  the  sake 
of  the  rhyme  and  for  the  coideur  locale,  as  it  is  generally 
omitted  at  the  end  of  the  present  tense  singular  of  verbs. 

DuNwicH  [4  m.  S.W.  of  Southwold]. 

Molins  de  Doneswyz.— Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 
Once  the  most  considerable  seaport  on  the  coast :  now  but  a 
fragment  is  left  on  the  landward  side,  owing  to  the 
incursions  of  the  sea.  It  is  a  tradition  that  the  tailors 
of  Dunwich  could  formerly  sit  in  their  shops  and  see  the 
shipping  in  Yarmouth  Roads. — Nail.,  p.  226. 

GoRLESTON  was  Gorleston  ere  Yarmouth  begun, 
and  will  be  Gorleston  when  Yarmouth  is  gone. — Nail.,  p.  154,  n. 
Gorleston  great  will  one  day  be, 
Yarmouth  buried  in  the  sea. — Nail.,  p.  154,  n. 
Each  occupies  a  side  of  the  mouth  of  the  Yare.     The  latter 
prophecy  seems  very  improbable,  as  the  sea  is  retreating 
at  this  point. 

Halesworth.     See  Beccles. 

Hoc.     You  must  do  as  they  do  at  Hoo  : 

what  you  can't  do  in  one  day,  you  must  do  in  two. 

Forby,  ii.  427. 

Ipswich.  Burdix  (tournament)  de  Gipeswyz.  —  Douce  MS.  98, 
13th  Cy. 
Ipswich,  a  town  without  inhabitants,  a  river  without  water, 
streets  without  names,  where  asses  wear  boots.  (Said  by 
the  Duke  of  Buckingham  to  Charles  II.)  At  low  water 
the  bed  of  the  river  is  dry,  and  the  bowling-green  of  Christ 
Church  Priory,  then  the  seat  of  Lord  Hereford,  was  rolled 
by  asses  in  a  sort  of  boots  to  prevent  their  feet  sinking  into 
the  turf.— G. 

Kessingland.     See  Covehithe. 

Lowestoft.  Abraham's  Bosom.  The  name  given  by  seamen  to 
the  N.  and  S.  Roads  from  their  quiet  anchorage  in 
N.  and  S.  gales. — Nail.,  p.  195. 

Needham.        You    are    in    the    highway    to    Needham. — F.  W. 
i.e.  beggary  (a  play  on  the  name).     The  Needham  Market 
is  8  m.  N.W.  of  Ipswich. 
At  Needham's  shore. — Tusser,  Huswifery,  p.  17.     1573. 

Cf.  Needingworth  in  Hunts. 
Idleness  is  the  coach  to  bring  a  man  to  Needome :  prodigality 
the  post-horse. — T.  Adams  (Puritan),  Wks.,  466.     1629. 

Shimplingthorne  [4  m.  N.W.  of  Lavenham].  See  Norfolk (Lopham). 

196 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  surrey. 

SouTHwoLD.     See  Walberswick. 

Stonham.      No    cousin    in    London,    no    cousin    at    Stonham. — 
Forby,  ii.  428. 
The  retort  of  a  "  country  cousin ' '  who  had  been  ignored  in  Town . 
There  are  three  parishes  of  Stonham,  5  m.  N.E.  of  Needham 
Market. 

Sutton  [?  2  m.  S.E.  of  Woodbridge] . 

Akin  to  Sutton  windmill,  I  can  grind  which  way  soe'er  the 
wind  blows. — T.  Hey  wood,  Edw.  IV. 

He  is  a  Walberswick  whisperer ;  you  may  hear  him  over  to  South- 
wold. — Forby,  ii.  430. 
Two  seaport  towns  opposite  each  other  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Blyth,  and  nearly  a  mile  apart.     This  is  like  what  we 
call  "a  stage  whisper." 

SURREY. 

Sothery  great  bragger. — Harl.  MS. 

Sowtherey  gret  bragere. — Rawl.  MS. 
Sussex  with  Surrey  say,  "  Then  let  us  lead  home  logs." — Drayt. 

Pol.,  xxiii. 
In  and  out,  like  a  Surry  lane. — Cheales,  Prov.  Folk-Lore. 
The  true  arms  of  Surry,  to  have  and  to  hold, 
are  the  fam'd  Warren  chequers  of  blue  and  of  gold. — Cheales. 

Battersea. 

Go  to  Battersea  to  be  cut  for  the  simples,  i.e.  medicinal  herbs 
grown  by  market  gardeners. — G.  The  Apothecaries  Com- 
pany still  have  a  garden  of  this  sort  on  the  Chelsea  bank  of 
the  river. 

Camberwell.        All  the  maids  in  Camberwell 
may  dance  in  an  egg-shell, 
for  there  are  no  maids  in  that  well. 

N.,  IL,  xi.  449,  xii.  17. 
To  which  the  answer  was  given  : 

All  the  maids  in  Camberwell  towne 
cannot  daunce  in  an  acre  of  ground. — lb. 

Carshalton.     See  Sutton. 

Caterham  (White  Hill),  Chelsham,  Warlingham,  and  Woldingham 
are  called  locally  "the  four  places  on  the  hills,"  having 
been  the  sites  of  ancient  camps. — Murr. 

Cheam.     Big-headed  Cheamers. — N.,  VI.,  x.  125.     See  Sutton. 
Holborn  for  wealth 
and  Cheam  for  health. 

Quoted  by  Ld.  Keeper  Williams  when  he  offered  the  latter 
living  to  the  incumbent  of  the  former  (Bp.  Hacket),  who, 
however,  managed  (like  the  Somersetshire  Bishop)  to  keep 
both. — c.  1663. 

J  97 


SURREY.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Chelsham.     See  Caterham, 

Crooksbury  [a  pine-covered  hill,  S.  of  the  Hog's  Back,  2  m.  E.  of 
Farnham]. 
As  high  as  Crooksbury. — Murr.,  quoting  Cobbett. 

Croydon.     See  Sutton. 

A  Croydon  Coranto.     Set  Haz.,  p.  7. 

The   Colliers   of  Croydon*,  the  rustics   of  Roydon,   and  the 
fishers  of  Kent. 

*  i.e.  the  charcoal-burners. 

And  as  in  Croidon  I  heard  the  Collier  preach. — Barclay,  Ed.,  i. 

for  his  riches 
This  Collier  might  have  been  a  knight. 

Rd.  Crowley,  Epigrams,  1550.     Of  Collyers. 
"  Marry,"  quoth  hee  that  looked  like  Lucifer,  "  though  I  am 
black  I  am  not  the  Devill." — Gvim  the  Collier  of  Croydon,  or 
the  Devil  and  his  Dame,  c.  1662. 
By  'r  Lady,  you  are  of  a  good  complexion,  a  right  Croydon 

sanguine. —  R.  Edwards,  Damon  and  Pythias,  1571. 
Both   of  a   complexion  inclining  to  the  Oriental  colour  of  a 
Croydon  sanguine. — Harington,  An  Anatomie  of  the  meta- 
morphosed Ajax. 
Cf.  the  shade  of  orange  introduced  by  French  dressmakers, 
and  called  there  "  Bismarck  en  colore. " 

DuLwiCH.     It  is  a  good  knife :  'twas  made  at  Dull-edge,  five  miles 
beyond  Cut-well. — R.,  1678. 

Epsom.     [Spelt  Ebsham. — F.  W.]     See  Sutton. 

EwELL.     See  Sutton. 

Farnham. 

You  who  do  like  me,  give  money  to  end  me. 
You  who  dislike  me,  give  as  much  to  mend  me. 

N.,  I.,  viii.  616. 
On  Market-house. 

Fulham.     See  Putney. 

GoDALMiNG.     See  Woking. 

Godalming  rabbits.     In  allusion  to  Mrs.  Tofts,  the  pretended 

rabbit-breeder. — G. 
Godalmin  cats. — R.,  1813. 

Guildford.     See  Woking. 

Chalonn  de  Geudeford.— Douce  MS.  gS.     Coverlets  made  there 

by  the  Chaloners,  still  a  current  surname. 
Guildford  bulls.     A  retort  on  Godalming,  but  unexplained. — G. 
Poor  Guildford,  proud  people, 
three  churches,  no  steeple. 

Hissey,  On  the  Box-Seat,  p.  42. 

198 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  surrey. 

HoLMSDALE  [near  Reigate,  partly  in  Surrey,  partly  in  Kent]. 
The  Vale  of  Holmsdale, 

never  won,  nor  never*  shall  [be]. — Ho. ;  F.  W. ;  Lambarde. 
*  ne  ever. — F.  W. 

Hydon  (High-down)  Ball  [2  m.  S.  of  Godalming]. 
On  Hydon's  top  there  is  a  cup, 
and  in  that  cup  there  is  a  drop ; 
take  up  the  cup  and  drink  the  drop, 
and  place  the  cup  on  Hydon's  top. — Murr. 

A  Kent  Street  distress,     i.e.  taking  away  the  doors  of  defaulters' 
houses  [in  the  Borough],  there  being  no  goods  to  seize. — G. 
Kingston-on-Thames. 

Dars  de  Kyngestone. — Douce  MS.  98.     i.e.  dace. 
Lambeth.     A  Lambeth  Doctor.     A  D.D.  made  by  the  Archbp.  of 
Canterbury  as  a  matter  of  favour  and  without  examina- 
tion.— G. 
Pert  and  small,  like  Lambeth  3.\e..—  Sticcessful  Pyrate,  ii.  i. 
Mitcham.     See  Sutton. 

A  Mitcham  whisper,     i.e.  a  loud  shout. — Haz. 
Newington  (Stoke). 

Pious  parson,  pious  people, 
sold  the  bells  to  build  a  steeple. 
A  very  fine  trick  of  the  Newington  people, 
to  sell  the  bells  to  build  a  steeple. 
Surely  the  devil  will  have  the  Newington  people, 
the  rector  and  church  without  any  steeple. — Br. 
Peckham.     All  holiday  at  Peckham.     i.e.  no  appetite. 

Peckham  :  going  to  dinner.  Peckish  :  hungry. — Bee,  Lexicon 
Balatronicum. 
Putney.  According  to  the  vulgar  tradition,  the  churches  of  Putney 
and  Fulham  were  built  by  two  sisters,  who  had  but  one 
hammer  between  them,  which  they  interchanged  by 
throwing  it  across  the  river,  on  a  word  agreed  between 
them :  those  on  the  Surrey  side  made  use  of  the  words, 
"  Put  it  nigh ;  "  those  on  the  opposite  shore,  "  Heave  it 
full  home ; "  whence  the  churches,  and  from  them  the 
villages,  were  called  Putnigh  and  FuUhome,  since  corrupted 
to  Putney  and  Fulham. — G. 
Sheen.  The  nun  of  Sion  with  the  friar  of  Sheen 

went  under  the  water  to  play  the  quean. — Ho. 
i.e.  under  the  Thames.     Sion  House,  on  the  Middlesex  side, 
was  a  Convent  of  Bridgetines,  established  1432. 
SouTHWARK.     Borough  blacks.     A  term  of  reproach. — G. 
A  Clinker.     An  inhabitant  of  the  Mint  or  Clink. — G. 
To  kiss  the  counter,     i.e.  to  go  to  prison  for  debt. — E.  Guilpin, 
Shialetkeia,  1598,  rep.,  p  61. 
The  Compter  was  the  Borough  prison. 

199 


SUSSEX.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

The  nappy  strong  ale  of  Southwirke 

keeps  many  a  gossip  fra'  the  kirke  [an  overworn  prov.J 

A  Comment  upon  the  Miller's  and  Wife  of  BatVs  Tales,  1665,  p.  3. 
if  that  I  mis-speke  or  say 
Wite  it  the  ale  of  Southwark  I  you  pray. 

Chaucer,  Pyol.  Canterbury  Tales,  314. 
Sutton.     See  Woking. 

Akin  to  Sutton  windmill,   I  can  grind  which  way  soever  the 
wind  blows. — T.  Heywood,  Edw.  IV.,  1600. 
Sutton  for  mutton, 
Carshalton  for  beeves, 
Epsom  for  whores  [jades], 
and  Ewell  for  thieves. — G. 
Sutton  for  good  mutton, 
Cheam  for  juicy  beef, 
Croydon  for  a  pretty  girl, 
Mitchara  for  a  thief. — N.,  I.,  v.  374. 
The   downs  near   Sutton,    Banstead    and    Epsom    produce 
delicate    small    sheep,    and    the    rich    meadows   about 
Carshalton  are  remarkable  for  fattening  oxen.     Epsom 
was  once  famous  for  its  mineral  waters,  and  the  Wells 
were  greatly   resorted    to   as  a    place    of    amusement, 
particularly  by  ladies  of  easy  virtue.     Ewell  is  a  poor 
village,  about  a  mile  from  Epsom,  and  is  said  to  have 
harboured  a  number  of  the  inferior  sharpers  and  other 
idle  retainers  to  the  Wells,  lodgings  being  there  cheaper 
than  at  Epsom. — G. 
Walton-on-Thames. 

Warrene  de  Waltoun. — Douce  MS.  98.     (Warren.) 
Wandsworth.     The  sink  of  Surrey.     This  reproach  is  in  a  great 
measure   removed.     Formerly   the  town,    which  lies  low, 
was  one  continued  puddle. — G. 
Warlingham.     See  Caterham. 
Weybridge.     Loches  de  Wexebrugge. — Douce  MS.  98.     i.e.  the 

loach  (cobitis  barbatula). 
Woking. 

'Oking  was,  Guildford  is,  Godalming  shall  be. — N.,  I.,  viii.  616. 
Beastly  'Oking,  pretty  Sutton, 

filthy  Foxglove,  bachelor's  button. — N.,  I.,  viii.  6i5. 
Woldingham.     See  Caterham. 


SUSSEX. 

See  Fred"^'  Sawyer's  two  papers. — N.,Vl.,  ix.  341,  401 ;  x.  370. 
Sussex  full  of  mir. — MS.  Harl. 
Sowseks  ful  of  dyrt  and  myre. — Rawl.  MS. 
The  oxen,  swine,  and  women  are  all  long-legged,  from  the  difficulty 
of  pulling  their  ankles  out  of  the  mire. — Dr.  John  Burton, 
Iter  Sussexiense,  S.A.C.,  viii.  257. 

200 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  Sussex. 

Sussex  with  Surrey  say,  "  Then  let  us  lead  home  logs."— Drayton 
Pol.,  xxiii. 

Silly  Sussex. — Lower,  History  of  Sussex,  230  n. 

Sussex  jarmer  [?  farmer]. — S. 

Wildishers.     People  of  the  Weald.    So  called  by  Southdowners  and 
Coast-folk. — Lower,  230. 

Sussex  wee'ds=Oak  trees,  the  prevailing  forest -growth. — Haz. 
Sussex  wreckers. 

Sussex  men,  that  dwell  upon  the  shore, 
Look  out  when  storms  arise  and  billows  roar. 
Devoutly  praying  with  uplifted  hands 
That  some  well-laden  ship  may  strike  the  sands, 
To  whose  rich  cargo  they  may  make  pretence. — Congreve. 
Sussex  marble.     A  limestone  formed  of  fresh-water  shells  ;  common 

about  Horsham  and  Petworth  ;  used  for  roofing. — S. 
Sussex  pudding,     Flour  and  water  [?  hasty  pudding],  requiring  to 

be  quickly  eaten. — S. 
The  Sussex  Fortnight  (of  Races),  ending  first  week  in  August. — S. 
It  is  said  that  the  last  race-horse  brings  snow  on  his  tail.    This 
begins  with  Goodwood  and  ends  with  Brighton. 
My  Lord  Bateman  's  dead. — R.,  1670.    Sussex  equivalent  to  "  Queen 

Anne's  dead." 
Sussex  aboundeth  more  with  carpes  than  any  other  of  this  nation. — 

F.W. 
An  Arundel  mullet,  a  Chichester  lobster,  a  Shelsey  cockle,  and  an 

Amerly  trout. — F.  W. 
A  Chichester  lobster,  a  Selsey  cockle,  an  Arundel  mullet. — Yarrell, 

i.  233. 
[A   Pulborough*  eel],   an    Amberley  f    trout,   a  Rye  J   herring,    a 
Bourn  §  wheat-ear. — R.,  1678. 
*  On  the  Arun,  4  m.  S  S.E.  of  Petworth. 

t  On  the  Arun  above  Arundel ;  Isaac  Walton  has  Shelsey  and  Amerley. 
I  E.  Sussex.  §  i.e.  Eastbourne. 

?  Bricklesey   [Colchester]   oysters,    Selsey    cockles,    Rye    herrings, 
Severn   salmon. — Ho. 

Alciston  [6  m.  S.E.  of  Lewes]. 

When  Firle  *  Hill  and  Long  Man  has  a  cap 
We  at  A'ston  gets  a  drap. — S. 

*  ?  Fairlight. 

The  Long  Man,  also  called  the  Wilmington  Giant :  a  figure 
cut  in  the  turf  of  the  Downs. 

Amberley  [3  m.  N.N.E.  of  Arundel]. 

People  said  to  be  web-footed.* — Lower,  i.  8. 
*  And  yellow-bellied. — S. 

Amberley.  God  help  me !  or,  Amberley !  Where  would  you 
live  ?  .  Answer  to  the  question,  Where  do  you  hve  ?, 
according  to  the  goodness  or  badness  of  the  season  or 
whether  in  winter  or  summer. — Lower,  i.  8. 

201 


SUSSEX.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Amberley — God  knows ! — 
all  among  the  rooks  and  crows, 
where  the  good  potatoes  grows. — S. 
Arundel.  Since  William  rose  and  Harold  fell, 

There  have  been  Earls  of  Arundel ; 
And  Earls  old  Arundel  shall  have. 
While  rivers  flow  and  forests  wave. — S. 
Arundel  mullet,*  stinking  fish  ; 
eats  it  off  a  dirty  dish. 
A  reproach  flung  at  the  natives  by  the  children  of  an  adjoining 
village,  and  thus  answered :  — 

Offham  dingers,  church-bell  ringers ; 
only  taters  for  your  Sunday  dinners. — S. 
*  The  grey  mullet,  caught  in  the  Aran. 

Balcombe  [3  m.  N.  of  Cuckfield].     Going  to,  i.e.  baulk  'em  (of  an 

an  unsuccessful  enterprise). — Lower. 
The  people  of  Balcombe  put  dung  round  their  church- spire  to 

make  it  grow  as  high  as  Cuckfield  spire. — S. 
When  the  people  of  Barcombe  want  to  make  a  cart,  they  make 

a  wagon  and  saw  it  in  two. — S. 

Battle  [8  m.  S.W.  of  Hastings]. 

Ware  the  Abbot  of  Battel,  when  the  Prior  of  Lewes  is  taken 
prisoner. — F.  W. 
i.e.  When  a   man  falls   into  difficulties,    let   his   neighbours 
beware.     This  refers  to  the  capture  by  the  French  in 
1377. — Lower. 

Beachy  Head.  When  the  Charleses  wear  a  cap,  the  clouds  weep. — 
Lower,  i.  40. 
Seven   masses   of  chalk   cliff,    of  which   only   one  remains. 
Charlston  is  a  manor  in  the  neighbouring  parish  of  West 
Dean. 

Beddingham  [N.E.  of  Brighton,  2  m.  from  Lewes]. 
When  Beddingham  hills  wear  a  cap. 
Ripe  and  Chalvington  gets  a  drap. — S. 

BiLLiNGHURST  [5  m.  S.W.  of  Horsham].     See  Rudgwick. 
BoLNEY  [3  m.  S.W.  of  Cuckfield] . 

Merry  Bolney,  rich  Twineham, 
proud  Cowfold,  and  silly  Shermanbury. 
The  first  place  gets  its  name  probably  from  its  peal  of  bells, 
but  the  others  are  obscure. — S. 

Brighton.      London-super-Mare. — Queen   of  Watering   Places. — 
James  Smith,  Brighton. 
One  of  the  best  physicians  our  city  has  ever  known  is  kind, 

cheerful,  merry  Doctor  Brighton. — Thackeray,  Newcomes. 
Jerusalem   the   Golden.      The   Grand    Hotel    from    its   usual 
complement  of  wealthy  Hebrew  guests. 

202 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  sussex. 

Pavilion.      The   Dome  of  St.   Paul's  came  to  Brighton  and 
pupped. — Sydney  Smith.  Cf.  Life  ofWm.  Wilherfovce,  iv.  277. 
Shut  up — no,  not  the  King — but  the  Pavilion, 
or  else  'twill  cost  us  all  another  million. 

Byroh,  Don  Juan,  xiv. 
Brighthelmston  jugs.    Lower,  232,  says  Brightonians.    Sawyer 
restricts  it  to  the  fishermen. 
Jaspers = Fishermen.  — S. 
The  Brighton  fishermen  have  corns  on  their  chests  from  leaning 

on  the  cliff  railings. — S. 
It  always  rains  at  Brighton  Races. — S    • 
When  the  Island 's*  seen  above  the  line 
Brighthelmstone  loses  weather  fine. — S. 

*i.e.  I.  of  Wight,  45  m.  distant. 
The  Devil's  Dyke,  called  evasively  by  the  peasantry  the  Poor 
Man's  Wall.— Walcott,  S.  Coast,  214. 

BuLVERHYTHE*  bells  are  said  to  be  heard  at  St.  Leonards  when 
the  sea  rakes  the  shingles  in  the  bay  to  the  W.,  where 
are  the  ruins  of  St.  Mary's  Chapel.  Bad  weather  is 
then  expected. — S. 

*  2  m.  W.  of  Hastings. 
BuxTED  [g.  m.  N.E.  of  Lewes], 

Master  Huggett  and  his  man  John 
they  did  cast  the  first  can-non. 

This    was    at     Huggett's    furnace    between    Buxted    and 
Mayfield. — Murray. 

Chalvington  [4.  m.  W.  of  Hailsham].     See  Beddingham. 
Chanctonbury  Ring.     (On  the  Goring  estate.) 

Old  mother  Goring  got  her  cap  on 

We  shall  have  some  rain. — S. 

Chichester.     The  Master  Workman  built  Sarisbury,  and  his  Man 
the  Church  at  Chichester. — F.  W.     "No  foundation."— 
Hare. 
But  Seffrid   built  Chichester  in   K.  John's  reign,  and   Poore 

Salisbury  in  Hen.  III.'s. — S. 
If  Chichester  steeple  fall, 
in  England  there's  no  King  at  all. — S.A.C.,  xiii.  233. 

This  prophecy  was  verified  Feb.  21,  1861. 
Gueseylur  de  Cicastre. — N.,  VI.,  viii.  224. 
A  Chichester  lobster.    See  ante. 
Cocking  [3  m.  S.  of  Midhurst]. 

When  Foxes  brewings*  go  to  Cocking, 
Foxes  brewings  come  back  droppin. — Li.,  1 19. 

*  A  mist  which  rises  from  the  beach-hangers,  and  if  it  turns  westward 
comes  to  rain. 

CowFOLD  [6  m.  W.S.W.  of  Cuckfield].     See  Bolney. 

203 


SUSSEX.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA, 

Crawley  [7  m.  W.  of  East  Grinstead]. 

It  always  rains  on  Crawley  Fair-day  (May  8th). — S. 
Crowborough  [6  m.  S.W.  of  Tunbridge  Wells] . 

As  poor  as  Crowborough  Common  (of  the  iron-sand  formation). 
—N.,  IV.,  xi.  238,  350.  Mantell,  Geology  of  Sussex,  p.  25. 
Lower,  i.  125. 

CucKFiELD.     See  Balcombe. 

Eastbourne.     A  Bourne  wheatear.     See  ante. 

Fairlight  [2  m.  E.N.E.  of  Hastings]. 

When  Fairlie  down  puts  on  his  cap, 

Romney  Marsh  will  have  its  sap. — S. 

Fletching  [8  m.  E.  of  Cuckfield]. 
The  people  of  Fletching 
live  by  snapping  and  Ketching. — S. 

Gotham.  (S.  claims  the  Wise  Men  for  Sussex.)  A  manor  in  the 
parishes  of  Hailsham  and  Pevensey.  Andrew  Borde 
lived  for  some  time  at  Pevensey,  and  is  considered  to 
have  burlesqued  the  proceedings  of  the  Laste  Court, 
regulating  Pevensey  marshes. — S.  Cf.  Notts  and 
Shropshire. 

East  Grinstead. 

Large  parish,  poor  people, 

large  new  church  and  no  steeple. — S. 

Harting  [6  m.  W.  of  Midhurst]. 

Who  knows  what  Tarberry  would  bear, 
would  plough  it  with  a  golden  share. 

A  conical  hill,  of  which  it  is  also  said  that:  The  devil 
rejecting  the  scalding  spoon  from  his  punch-bowl  at 
Hinde  Head  in  Surry,  threw  it  over  to  Sussex,  and 
it  alighted  here  bowl  upwards. — S. 

Hastings.     Family  not  local.       Cf.   Leicestershire. 

He  is  none  of  the  Hastings. — He.  A  play  on  the  name, 
imputing  dulness  and  sluggishness. — F.  The  allusion 
is  to  a  quick-growing  pea  called  [green]  Hastings  pea 
from  its  early  appearance. — G.  Some  indeed,  as  St.  Jude 
saith,  are  so  base  and  perverse  that  they  are  rather  moved 
to  prich  and  disdain  by  their  inferiors'  forwardness  calling 
them  bastings,  soon  ripe  soon  rotten. — D.  Rogers,  Naaman, 
p.  288. 

Chop  backs      "l  Fishermen.     They  are  said   to  have  patches  on 
Hatchet  backs)     their  trousers  from  sitting  so  much. — S. 

Heathfield  [7  m.  N.  of  Hailsham]. 

An  old  woman  takes  the  cuckoo  in  her  basket  to  HefFul'  Fair 
(Ap.  14),  and  there  turns  it  out. — M.  A.  Lower,  Archaeo- 
logical Collections,  xiii.  210. 

204 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Sussex. 

Heighton,    Denton,   and   Tarring ;    all    begins   with   A. — Lower, 
S.A.C,  xiii.  2IO.       i.e.  All  does. 
(Villages  on  the  Ouse,  about  5  m.  S.S.E.  of  Lewes.) 

Herrinly,  Chidd'nly,*  and  Hoadly ;  three  lies,  and  all  true. — 
S.A.C,  xiii.  210. 

4  m.  N.W.  of  Hailsham. 

Horsham.     See  Ridgwick. 

Lavant.  According  to  a  current  local  tradition,  Aaron's  golden 
calf  is  buried  in  Rook's  Hill,  Lavant ;  i.e.  St.  Roche's  Hill, 
an  eminence  of  the  South  Downs. — Brewer,  Phrase  and 
Fable. 

Lewes.    Wymple  de  Lewes. — Douce  MS.  98.,  13th  Cy. 

Lewes  is  famous  for  clean  windows  and  pretty  girls. — S. 

Proud  Lewes,  and  Poor  Brighthelmstone. — Horsfield,  History 
of  Lewes,  ii.  34.  Formerly  the  postal  address  was  "Bright- 
helmstone, near  Lewes." 

Newhaven  tipper.      A  kind  of  beer  brewed  with  brackish  water, 
first  by  Thos.  Tipper,  d.  1785. — S. 
The    Sussex    Ouse    enters    the    sea    here.     Formerly    called 
Meeching. — Drayton  Polyol.,  xvii. 

NoRTHiAM  [6  m.  N.W.  of  Rye]. 

O  rare  Norgem  !  thou  dost  far  exceed 

Beckley,  Peasmarsh,  Ildimore,  and  Brede. — Lower,  ii.  63. 

Offham  (in  Stoke  parish).     See  Arundel. 

Petworth.  Proud  Petworth,  poor  people, 

high  church,  crooked  steeple. 

PiDDiNGHOE,*  where  they  shoe  magpies. — Lower,  ii,  gg. 
At  Piddinghoe  they  dig  for  moonshine.  ) 

smoke.         I  S. 
daylight.      ) 
The  first  means  run  spirits.     Is  not  the  second  tobacco  ? 
'4m.  S.  of  Lewes,  near  the  coast. 

PuLBOROUGH.     A  Pulborough  eel.     See  ante. 

Playden  (adjoining  Rye). 

Sauket*  church,  crooked  steeple, 
drunken  parson,  wicked  people. — S. 
*  Saltcoat  Street,  so  called  from  salted  cod  spread  out  to  dry. 

Racton.     When  the  wind  sits  in  Gunter's  Pool,  there  will  be  rain. 
A  deep  place  in  the  river  Ems  which  rarely  dries  up. 

Ripe  [6  m.  E.  of  Lewes].     See  Beddingham. 

RoTHERFiELD  [6  m.  S.S.W.  of  Tunbridge  Wells]. 

The  women  of  Rotherfield  possess  an  additional  pair  of  ribs. — 
Lower,  ii.  126.  i.e.  are  of  a  taller  race  than  their  neighbours. 

205 


SUSSEX.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

RoTTiNGDEAN.  You  're  not  from  Rottingdean.  "  Said  to  a  braying 
donkey,  the  insinuation  being  that  as  Rottingdean  donkeys 
were  used  at  night  by  smugglers,  they  would  be  too  tired 
to  bray  during  the  day." — F.  I  should  infer  that  the 
smugglers  had  brayed  them  out  of  the  habit,  lest  it  should 
betray  their  night-proceedings. 

RuDGWiCK.       Ridgwick  for  riches,  Green  for  poors, 

Billinghurst  for  pretty  girls,  Horsham  for  whores.  — S. 
(All  in  N.W.) 
Rye.     Merlyng  de  la  Rye. — Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy.    i.e.  Whiting. 
A  Rye  herring.     See  ante. 

Rye  Royal.    So  called  by  Queen  Elizabeth,  in  1573,  from  the 
hospitality  she  met  with  there. — Jeake,  Charters  of  Cinque 
Ports. 
Diamond  plaice  =  fish  caught  at  the  Diamond  Rock. — S. 
Selsey.     A  Shelsey  cockle.     See  ante. 

Seaford  Shags  (cormorants).  The  people  so  called. — Lower,  S.^.C, 
xiii.  232. 
Are  you  from  Seaford  ?     Asked  of  a  person  who  leaves  the  door 

open.     Origin  obscure. — S. 
What  time  the  French  sought  to  have  sacked  Seafoord, 
This  Pelham  did  repel  'em  back  aboord. 

(Part  of  the  Epitaph  on  Sir  Nicholas  Pelham  (d.  1559),  on 
his  monument  in  St.  Michael's  Church,  Lewes). — S. 

Shermanbury  [5  m.  N.E.  of  Steyning].     See  Bolney. 
Steyning  [20  m.  E.N.E.  of  Chichester]. 

As  often  as  the  field  at  Steyning,  known  as  the  Penfold  field,  is 

mown,  rain  immediately  follows. — Sussex  D.N.,  iS/g/'S^. 
See  the  legend  of  St.  Cuthman. — AT.,  VI.,  x.  370.  Acta  Sanctorum, 
ii.,  Feb.  8. 

Thakeham.  The  last  place  God  made.  Outlandish,  i.e.  out  of  the 
way  situation. — S. 

Twineham  [4  m.  S.W.  of  Cuckfield].     See  Bolney. 

Udimore  [3  m.  W.S.W.  of  Rye]. 

The  inhabitants  began  to  build  a  church,  and  one  night  the 
foundations  were  removed  by  unseen  hands  with  great 
noise,  and  a  voice  pronounced,  "O'er  the  mere."  The 
church  was  thereupon  built  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river. — Horsfield,  Hist,  of  Sussex,  i.  510,  who  derives  the 
name  from  Eau  de  mere,  because  the  sea  flowed  by  it. 

Winchelsea.     Playz*  de  Wynchelsee. — Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 

*  i.e.  Plaice. 
Dowers   plaice   are   caught    in   the    dowers   or   flats   between 

Folkstone   and   Hastings. — S. 
Little   London.      So  called   by   Queen   EUzabeth   in   1573. — 
Horsfield,  i.  481. 

206 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Warwick. 

Dovor,  Sandivicus,  Ry, 

Rum,  Frig-mare- veiitus,w.Wind-chills-sea(Friget-inare-ventus). 

Jeake,  Charters  of  Cinque  Ports. 
(Dover,   Sandwich  and  Romney  are  in  Kent).     See  Pre- 
liminary Matter :    Institutions. 
He  who  drinks  from  St.  Leonard's  Well  (the  Vale  well),  will 
never  rest  till  he    returns   to  drink  again. — M.  Walcott, 
•       N.,  II.,  iv.  145. 

WiSTON  [2  m.  N.W.  of  Steyning]. 

Shirley  (Shelley)  of  Preston, 

died  for  the  loss  of  Wiston  (the  family  seat). — S. 

WooLLAViNGTON  [4  m.  S.E.  of  Midhurst]. 

No  heir  to  the  Lavington  estate  ever  succeeded  his  own  father. 
(Sargent  family). — Mozley,  Reminiscences,  p.  132. 

Worthing  Pork-bolters.     The  fishermen. — S. 

Worthing  wheat-ears.    Taken  in  great  numbers. — Hare,  p.  167. 

WARWICKSHIRE. 

Warwikschir 
bind  beare.— Harl.  MS. 
Warwykshire 
bynd  bere.— Rawl.  MS. 
Quoth  warlike  Warwickshire :  "  I  '11  bind  the  stur'dy  bear." — Drayt. 

Pol. 
The  heart  of  [England- F.  W.]  the  Midlands.  [xiii. 

That  shire  which  we  the  heart  of  England  call. — Drayt.  Pol., 
Globe,   17/6,    1884  (Local   Gibes),  speaks  of  a   cheese  made  near 
Birmingham   which   is   used  for  grindstones,  buttons,   and 
skittle-balls. 
He  is  the  black  bear  of  Arden*  (the  crest  of  the  Earls  of  Warwick). 
— F.W. 

*  The  Forest  of  Arden  is  3  m.  S.  of  Alcester. 

"  The  black  hound  of  Arden  "  was  the  name  given  by  Piers 
Gaveston  to  Guy  Beauchamp,  Earl  of  Warwick. — Sharp, 
Brit.  Gaz. 

The  bear  wants  a  tail  and  cannot  be  a  lion. — Said  of  Robert 
Dudley,  Earl  of  Leicester.  He  was  descended  from  the 
Earls  of  Warwick,  and  adopted  their  crest  of  the  Bear 
and  Ragged  Staff.  As  a  check  to  his  ambition,  there  was 
written  underneath  it,  while  he  was  Governor  of  the  Low 
Countries,  "  Ursa  caret  cauda,  non  queat  esse  Leo." 

Bedworth  beggars. — R.,  1678,  who  places  it  under  Leicestershire. 
Between   Coventry   and    Nuneaton,   3   m.   from    last.     See 
Pebworth. 
Bromford  [i  m.  S.E.  of  Erdington],  parish  of  Aston  juxta  Birming- 
ham. 
As  red  as  the  rising  sun  at  Bromford. — N.,  F.P. 

207 


WARWICK.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Brummagem  (Birmingham). 

Brums:    i,  The  inhabitants;    2,  London  and  North- Western 

Railway  Stock. — Stock  Exchange. 
The  Hardware  Village.     The  Toyshop  of  Europe. — Burke. 
Brummagem  for  a  thief.  See  Staffordshire  (Sutton), 

blackguards.     ,,  ,,  ,, 

imitation  or  bogus  jewelry. 
A  Brummagem  button.     A  young  native. — N.,  F.P. 
Birmingham  is  Liberal  as  the  sea  is  salt. — John  Bright. 
The  Capital  of  the  Midlands. 
Clifton-super-Dunsmere  [2  m.  E.N.E.  of  Rugby]. 
The  people  of  Clifton-super-Dunsmere 
sold  the  Church-bible  to  buy  a  bear. 

Midland  Counties  Historical  Collector,  i.  i  ig. 

CoLESHiLL  [10  m.  N.E.  of  Birmingham].    See  Staffordshire  (Sutton). 
Coventry.     Savonn  de  Coventre. — Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 
He  is  true, 
Coventry  blue. — F.  W. 

He'll  never  stain. — R.,  1670. 
His  breech  of  Cointree  blue. — Drayton,  Dowsahell. 
Thence  to  Coventre,  where  'tis  said-a 
Coventre  blue  is  only  made-a. — Brathwait,  Barn.  Itin., 
ii.  1638. 
To  send  one  to  Coventry.     A  punishment  inflicted  by  officers 
of  the  army  on  such  of  their  brethren  as  are  testy,  or  have 
been  guilty  of  improper  behaviour  not  worthy  the  cogni- 
zance of  a  court-martial.     The  person  sent  to  Coventry  is 
considered  as  absent :  no  one  must  speak  to  or  answer  any 
question  he  asks,  except  relative  to  duty,  under  penalty  of 
being  sent  to  the  same  place.     On  a  proper  submission  the 
penitent  is  recalled,  and  welcomed  by  the  mess  as  just 
returned  from  a  journey  to  Coventry. — G. 
Contreye  mirum,  so  panedula,  tractaque  wyrum, 
Et  carmen  notum,  nova  stipula,  pedula  totum, 
Cardones  mille,  hsec  sunt  insignia  villae. 

MS.  Trinity  College,  Cambridge,  15th  Cy. ;  Rel.  Ant.,  ii.  178. 
Like  Coventry  bowlers,  who  play  their  best  at  first. — Southey, 
Common  Place  Booh,  iv.  676. 

DUNCHURCH. 

Featherbed  Lane.    Any  bad  road,  but  particularly  that  between 
Dunchurch  and  Daintry  (Northants). — B.  E.  Canting  Crew. 

Erdington  [Yenton,  4  m.  N.E.  of  Birmingham].    See  Staffordshire 
(Sutton). 

Henley-in-Arden  (par.  Wootton-Wawen),  [8  m.  W.  of  Warwick]. 
More  fools  in  Henley  !  Used  by  the  natives  of  gaping  strangers. 
— N.,  F.P. 

208 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Westmorland. 

Pebworth. 

Piping  Pebworth,*  dancing  Marston,t 
Haunted  Hillborough,  :f  and  hungry  Grafton,  § 
with  dadging  Exhall,|i  Papist  Wixford,** 
Beggarly  Broom,tt  and  drunken  Bidford.|J- 

*  6  m.  N.E.  of  Evesham.  f  Broad  Marston,  a  hamlet  of  the  same. 

J  5  m.  W.S.W.  of  Stratford,  §  Grafton  Temple. 

II  2  m.  S.E.  of  Alcester.         **  i  m.  S.  of  Alcester.         ft  2  m.  S.  of  Alcester. 

t{  3  m.  S.S.E.  of  Alcester. 

"These  lines"  [attributed  to  Shakspere  by  tradition]  "seem 
to  intimate  that  his  opponents  [in  a  drinking  bout]  con- 
sisted of  a  motley  group  selected  from  the  above  villages. 
Pebworth  is  still  celebrated  for  the  skill  of  its  inhabitants 
in  music  and  rural  festivity ;  and  Long  Marston,  or 
Marston  Sicca  (as  it  is  commonly  wrote),  the  inhabitants 
of  which  are  noted  for  their  activity  in  country  dances  ; 
and  Hillsborough  is  a  lonely  hamlet,  said  by  the  tradition 
of  the  vicinage  to  have  been  haunted  by  spirits  and 
fairies.  Hungry  Grafton,  I  suppose,  received  that  appel- 
lation from  the  barrenness  of  its  soil ;  but  however  that 
may  be,  the  produce  of  its  excellent  stone  quarries  make 
sufficient  amends  for  the  sterility  of  the  land.  Dadging 
Exhall — I  must  confess  I  am  at  a  loss  how  to  account 
for  the  appellation  of  Dadging ;  but  Papist  Wixford  is 
a  village  belonging  to  the  Throckmorton  family,  and  the 
tenants  are  most  of  them  of  the  Roman  Catholic  religion. 
Beggarly  Broom  must  have  been  so  called  from  the  bad- 
ness of  the  soil,  and  Drunken  Bidford  still  deserves  the 
name ;  for  though  it  is  but  a  small  village,  there  are  five 
public-houses  in  it,  and  the  people  love  ale  as  well  as 
they  did  in  the  time  of  Shakspere.  Of  this  I  am  certain 
from  my  own  observations,  having  resided  amongst  them 
above  half  a  year." — Note,  Malone's  Shahs.,  ii.  501.  1821. 

Warwick.     Corde  de  Warwik.— Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy.     There 
are  still  rope-walks  there. 


WESTMOSLAND. 

Northumberlond  hastie  and  hot, 
Westmerlond  tot  for  sote. — Harl.  MS. 

Norhumbrelond  hasty  and  hoot, 
Westmerland  tprut  Scotte.*— Rawl.  M.S. 
"  to  prod  the  Scot. — Leland. 
Appleby. 

And  3itt  sail  they  be  coussid  *  away  at  Appleby  faire, 
As  wyfes  makis  bargans,  a  horse  for  a  mare, 
Thay  lefe  ther  the  febille  and  brynges  ham  the  freche  ware. 
MS.  Lyarde,  Lincoln  Cathl.,  xv.  Cent. ;  Rel.  Ant.,  ii.  280. 
*Couse,  to  exchange. — Hll. 

VOL,  I.  209  14 


WESTMORLAND.         LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

BowNESS.  New  church,  old  steeple, 

poor  town,  and  proud  people. 

Gibson,  Hist.  See,  Lane,  and  Chesh.,  i.  48. 

DuNM.\iL   Raise    (where   the   high-road   crosses  the  boundary  of 
Cumberland). 
Nought  good  comes  ower  the  Raise. — Gibson.    (A  mutual  com- 
pUment  by  the  dwellers  on  either  side.)     King  Dumail  was 
defeated  here  by  the  Saxons. 

Let  Uter  Pendragon  do  what  he  can, 
The  River  Eden  will  run  as  it  ran. — F.W. 
Eden  will  run  *the  same  way  she  ran. — Ho. 
*  where  Eden  ran. — Gib. 
This  mythical  personage  said  to  have  been  a  Welsh  prince 
and  a  companion  of  King  Arthur,  and  who  in  order  better 
to  protect  his  castle  endeavoured  to  divert  the  course  of 
the  river   so  as   to  make  it  encircle  the  walls. — Murr. 
The  traces  of  the  moat  yet  remain.    Cf.  Naturam  expellas 
furca,  tamen  usque  recurrit. 
'Tis  the  language  of  Uter  pendragon. 

C'est  un  langage  du  temps  de  hauts  bonnets. — Gibson. 

Kenda-L.     As  crafty  as  a  Kendal  fox. — Ho. 

His  costly  clothing  was  thred-bare  Kendal  green  (ironical). — 

Barclay,  Eclogues,  i.     Cf.  Shak.,  i  H.  IV.,  ii.  4. 
Kendal  cottons  are  famous  all  over  England,  and  Master  Camden 
termeth  that  town  "  Lanificii  gloria  et  industria  prsecellens." 
—F.W. 
Luck  to  Levens*  while  Kent  runs. 

''4  m.  S.S.W.  of  Kendal.    Sold  by  Sir  Alan  Bellingham  in  1690,  and 
now  belonging  to  the  Howards. 

Kent*  and  KEERt 

have  parted  many  a  good  man  and  his  meer. — Higson,  104. 
*  In  S.  Westmoreland.        +  In  N.  Lancashire. 
Dangerous  streams  discharging  into  Morecambe  Bay.     €/• 
Lancashire. 

Villa  egena,  populus  elatus 
Templum  damnosum,  ruiq.  lautus 
Obelistus  jam  novatus. 
A  poor  town,  and  a  proud  people, 
An  old  church,  and  a  new  steeple. 

MS.  Note  in  Drunken  Bavnahy  on  Lonesdale,  apud 
Hazlitt's  ed. 
KiRBY  Lonsdale. 

Eighty  eight  was  Kirkby  fight, 
where  niver  a  man  wor  slain, 
we  yatt  our  meat,  we  drank  their  drink, 
and  than  came  merrily  heeam  again. — lb. 
An  expedition  in  i688  to   repel   a    French    invasion. — See 
Cwnberland  and  Westmoy eland  Dialects,  J.  R.  Smith. 

210 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  wilts. 

Knipe  Scar  [4  m.  N.W.  of  Shap]. 

When  Knipe  Scar  gets  a  hood 
Sackworth  may  expect  a  flood. 

M.  A.  Denham,  Folk  Lore  N.ofEngd.,  p.  14, 1850. 
Langden. 

We  '11  have  to  borrow  Langden  lid.  Said  in  rainy  weather  near 
the  Langdale  Pikes:  an  old  dalesman  having  jestingly 
proposed  that  the  mountain  recess  of  Little  Langdale 
should  be  tiled  with  a  lid  or  canopy. — Gibson. 

Troutbeck. 

There 's  three  hundred  brigs  i'  Troutbeck, 

three  hundred  bulls, 
three  hundred  constables, 

and  three  hundred  feuls. — Gibson,  i.  49. 
In  each  of  the  three  hundreds  of  the  Vale  of  Troutbeck 
(midway  between  Bowness  and  Ambleside),  a  bridge  over 
the  stream,  a  bull  for  breeding  purposes,  and  a  constable 
for  the  preservation  of  order  were  obliged  to  be  main- 
tained.— Gibs.     A  play  on  the  word  hundred. 

WILTSHIRE. 

Willschir  fayre  and  playne. — Harl.  MS. 
Wilkshire  fayre  and  playne. — Rawl.  M.S. 
Wiltshire  for  plains.     See  Derbyshire. 

hunting  plains.     See  Cheshire. 
Bacon. 
Wiltshire  moonrakers. — G.     This  is  said  to  have  originated  in  the 
exertions  of  a  rustic,  who  upon  seeing  the  figure  of  the  moon 
in  a  pond,  attempted  to  rake  it  out.     Descended  from  a  race 
of  shepherds,  the  inhabitants  of  the  county  retain  much  of  the 
simplicity  of  the  pastoral  character. — Murr.   But  see  Larwood, 
Hist,  of  Signboards,   p.  463,    1867;    and    under  Hampshire, 
Staffordshire. 
A  Wiltshire  farmer  can  buy  a  Somersetshire  squire  (some  of  the 

farms  run  from  2,000  to  3,000  acres). — Haz.,  2nd  Edn. 
And  Wiltshire  will  for  her  "  Get  home  and  pay  for  all." — Drayton 

Pol.,  xxiii. 
Women  are  born  in  Wiltshire,  brought  up  in  Cumberland,  lead  their 
lives  in  Bedfordshire,  bring  their  husbands  to  Buckingham, 
and   die  in   Shrewsbury. — Wit  Restored,  1658.     (A  play  on 
words.) 

Amesbury.     "  The   best  tobacco  pipes  for   shape  and  colour   (as 

curiously  sized)  are  made  here." — F.  W.     (Of  clay.) 
Chippenham. 

Hither  extendeth  Maud  Heath's  gift, 

for  where  I  stand  is  Chippenham  Clift. — JV.,  I.,  viii.  616. 

Inscription  on  a  stone,  erected  1698.     The  gift  was  in  1474. 

211 


WILTS.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

At  Wick  Hill  is  a  stone  with  another  couplet : 
From  this  Wick  Hill  begins  the  praise 
Of  Maud  Heath's  gift  to  these  highways. 
And  at  Calloway  is  another.— Britton,  Beauties  of  Wilts. 
Dauntsey  [4^  m.  S.E.  of  Malmesbury]. 
Mulet  de  Daneseye. — Douce  MS.  98. 

This  village  belonged  to  the  Benedictine  Abbey  of  Malmesbury. 
Devizes.      (Present  local  name,  the  Vize.      Lat.    divisse,  frontier 
forming  boundary  to  the  valley  of  the  Avon.     Welsh  in  the 
time  of  the  Romans.) 
DowNTON.     See  Hampshire,  Beaulieu  and  Crawley. 
Easton  Grey  [3  m.  W.  of  Malmesbury].     See  Sherston. 
Imber  on  the  Down* 
four  miles  from  any  town. — Murr. 

*  5  m.  N.  of  Heytesbury. 

LiTTLECOTE  [3  m.  N.W.  of  Hungerford]. 

The  story  of  the  Dayrells,  the  first  owners  of  the  Park,  and 
how   it    came   into    possession   of  the  Pophams,   will  be 
found  in  a  note  to  Scott's  Rokehy.     See  also  Bucks. 
LoNGLEAT  [4  m.  W.  of  Warminster]. 

This  seat  of  the  Marquis  of  Bath  is  said  to  have  (like  Salisbury 

Cathedral)  as  many  windows  as  there  are  days  in  the  year. 

Marlborough.     In  the  olden  time,  over  forty  coaches  used  to  rattle 

through  the  town ;  it  was  full  of  life  and  bustle  then.     It 

used  to  be  a  standard  proverb  on  the  road  that  the  High 

Street  of  the  place  was  the  widest  in  all  England.     It  is  a 

street  of  ample  width,  and  the  houses  on  either  side  being 

comparatively   low   makes   it  a  bright  and  sunny  one. — 

J.  J.  Hissey,  Oft  the  Box-Seat,  p.  386.     i885. 

At  Amesbury,  Sep.,  1887, 1  heard  an  ostler  say :  "I  never  knew  an 

honest  man  come  from  Marlboro'  "  ;  but  it  may  have  been 

mere  chaff  of  the  roguish-looking  dealer  he  was  addressing. 

Marlboro'-handed.     People    who  used  their  tools  awkwardly 

said  to  be  natives  of  Marlboro',   traditionally   famed   for 

clumsiness    and    unhandiness.  —  Dartnell    and    Goddard, 

Wiltshire  Words,  Eng.  Dialect  Soc. 

Old  Sarum  [2  m.  N.  of  Salisbury]. 

Est  ibi  defectus  lymphas,  sed  copia  cretse  ; 
Saevit  ibi  ventus,  sed  Philomela  silet. 
Systema  Agrictdtura,  by  J.  W[orllege],  p.  87,  3rd  ed.,  1681. 
Pewsham  [nr.  Chippenham]. 

(Disafforested    temp.    Jas.    I.,    and    given    to    the     Duke    of 
Buckingham.) 

When  Chipnam  stood  in  Pewsham's  wood, 

before  it  was  destroy'd, 
a  cow  might  have  gone  for  a  groat  a  year, 
but  now  it  is  denied. 

Aubrey,  Nat,  Hist,  of  Wilts.,  p.  58. 

212 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  wilts. 

PiNKNEY  [4  m.  W.  of  Malmesbury].     See  Sherston. 
PoTTERN  [2  m.  S.E.  of  Devizes]. 

He  would  live  as  long  as  old  Russe*  of  Pottern,  who  lived  till 
all  the  world  was  weary  of  him. — Ho. 
*  Ross.— R.,  1678. 
Salisbury  Plain 
is  seldom*  without  a  thief  or  twain. — Ho. 

*  never. — Aubrey,  N.  H.  of  W. 

Pleynes  de  Salesbury. — Douce  MS.  98. 

More  channels  and  creases  he  has  in  his  face  than  there  be 
fairy  circles  in  Salisbury  plain. — Nash,  Have  with,  you  io 
Saffron  Walden,  O.  4.     1595. 

This  Democharus  was  one  of  the  Ambassadours,  and  for  his 
malapart  tongue  called  at  home  in  his  countree  in  their 
language  Parrhesiastes  (as  ye  would  say  in  English,  Thorn 
trouth  or  plain  Sarisburie). — Udall,  Apopkthegmes  [pref.  by 
Erasmus],  p.  202. 

Salisbury  Cathedral  was  built  upon  wool-packs,  i.e.  duties,  as 
London  Bridge  was  said  to  have  been. — Aubrey.  See 
Cathedrals. 

Fair  Sarum's  Church,  besides  the  stately  tower, 
Hath  many  things  in  number  aptly  sorted. 

Answering  the  year,  the  month,  week,  day,  and  hour. 
But  above  all  (as  I  have  heard  reported. 

And  to  the  view  doth  probably  appear) 

A  pillar  for  each  hour  in  the  year. 

Harington,  Epigr.,  iv.  56. 

As  many  days  as  in  one  year  there  be, 

So  many  windows  in  this  church  you  see, 

As  many  marble  pillars  here  appear 

As  there  are  hours  through  the  fleeting  year, 

As  many  gates  as  moons  one  here  doth  view  : 

Strange  tale  to  tell,  yet  not  more  strange  than  true. 

N.,  L,  viii.  5i6. 
(Attributed  by  Godwin  to  Daniel  Rogers. — Murr.) 

It  is  done  Secundum  Usum  Sarum. — F.  W.  i.e.  comme  il 
faut.  i.e.  the  Choir  there  had  the  best  method  in 
England.  —Aubrey. 

This  proverb  coming  out  of  the  Church  hath  since  enlarged 
itself  into  a  civil  use. — F.  W. 

The  Ordinal  made  c.  1090  by  Bishop  Osmond  of  Sarum. — 
F.W. 

Murray   ascribes   it   to   Salisbury   having  been   the  seat  of 
Parliament. 

Used  by  Lyndsay,  Complaynt  of  the  King's  Papingo,  700. 
213 


WORCESTER.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Sherstone.  Fight  on  Rattlebone 

and  thou  shalt  have  Sherstone* : 

if  Sherston  will  not  do, 

then  Easton  Greyf  and  Pinkneyf  too. 

HIL,  Pop.  Rhy. 

'  Sherston  Magna,  5  m.  W.S.W.  of  Malmesbury.   Edmund  Ironside  defeated 
Canute  there,  1016.        f  3  and  4  m.  W.  of  Malmesbury. 

Stonehenge  [2  m.  W.N.W.  of  Amesbury]. 

Merveille  de  Stonehengle. — Douce  MS.  98. 

Wilton.  Agules  de  Wilton. — Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy.  This  was 
before  the  carpet  trade  was  introduced  here  from  France 
that  the  needles  were  famous  {Ump.  Elizabeth). 

WORCBSTBRSHIRE. 

No  Wore.  prov.  in  F.  W. 
Woseterschir  wringe  per. — Harl.  MS. 
Worsetershire  wryng  pere. — Rawl.  MS. 
Cider.     Let   me   tell   you,   friends,   that   a   glass   of   eleemosynary 
Canary  is  better  than  any  sider  you  can  drink,  altho'  it  be 
made  in  Worcestershire. — Yea  and  Nay  Almanack,  1688. 
Quoth  Worcestershire  again,  "  And  I  will  squirt  the  pear. ' — 
Drayt.  Pol. 
The     Black  -  puddings    of    Worcestershire. — Taylor    (W.P.),    The 

Great  Eater. 
"  Ours  is  the  only  County  that   can   produce   everything   that   is 
necessary  for  its  own  consumption." — Chamberlain,  West  Wore. 
Words,  Eng.  Dialect  Soc. 
He  is  gone  up  Johnson's  end,  i.e.  sunk  into  poverty. — Haz. 

End  is  a  local  word.      We  have  it,  however,  in  Towns-end, 
Gravesend. 
It  shall  be  done  when  the  King  cometh  to  Wogan ;  viz.,  an  impos- 
sibility.-Ho.     "An  out-of-the-way-place." — G. 
"  We've  got  a  vent  for  them  now,"  as  Jack  Hafod  said.     This  was 
once  when  storing  pease  and  not  finding  room  enough  in  the 
barn,  he  shovelled  them  out  of  the  window  into  a  pool  that 
lay  beneath.: — Noake,  Wor.  N.  &•.  Q.,  p.  290. 
As  big  a  fool  as  Jack  Hafod.     Said  to  have  been  the  last  official  fool 
kept  in  England — by  Squire  Bartlett  of  Castle  Morton,  at 
the  S.  end  of  the  Malvern  range.     The  date  of  his  death  is 
supposed  to  have  been  at  the  end  of  the  i8th  century.     He 
is  still  spoken  of  in  this  saying. — Malvern  Advertiser,  3/ii/'75. 
The  Severn.     Severn  sammon. — Ho.     'I'he  sandy-bottom'd  Severn. 
— Sh.,  I  H.  IV.,  iii.  I. 
The  Severn  trout. — Rob.  Heath,  Occasional  Poems,  p.  95.     1680. 
A  small  sparcle  may  kindle  love  certayne, 
But  scantly  Severne  may  quench  it  clene. 

Barclay,  Eclogue,  i. 

214 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  Worcester. 

Badsey  [2  m.  S.E.  of  Evesham].     See  Gloucestershire,  Buckland. 

A  Bewdley  salute  is  to  tap  the  ground  with  the  point  of  the  walking- 
stick  when  passing  a  friend. — Globe,  2i/2/'go ;  Northall, 
Folk  Phrases  of  Fouv  Counties. 

For  ringers,  singers,  and  a  crier 

Bewdley  excelled  all  Worcestershire. — N.,  IV.,  viii.  507. 

When  Bredon  Hill*  puts  on  his  hat, 

ye  men  of  the  Vale,  beware  of  that. — Noake,  Rambles  in  Wore,  p.  158. 

■"  960  feet  high.    The  hill  dividing  Worcestershire  from  Gloucestershire. — 

N.  I.,  viii.  507. 

The  Bambury  Stone,  at  the  border  of  Kemerton  Camp  on 
the  summit  of  the  Bredon,  is  said  to  go  down  to  the  Avon 
to  drink  every  time  that  it  hears  a  church  clock  strike 
twelve. —  J.  Salisbury,  Gloss,  of  S.E.  Wor.  Words  3=  Phrases, 
p.  75.     1893. 

Clent  [6  m.  N.  of  Bromsgrove]. 

The  people  of  Clent  are  all  Hills,  Waldrons,  or  devils. — Amphlett, 
Short  Hist,  of  Clent.     i8go. 

In  Clent  in  Cowbach  lieth  under  a  thorn, 
his  head  off  shorn,  Kenelm  King- born. 

John  Amphlett,  Hist,  of  Clent.     Parker,  1890. 

Ceome.  Our  Lady  of  Crome,  alluded  to  in  Heiwood's  Four  P's. 
Haz.  in  n.  says  it  is  in  Kent,  near  Greenwich. 

Droitwich.      Called   Sodom,  because   of  its  saline  abundance. — 
Wr.  White,  All  Round  Wrekin,  p.  401. 
Punned  on  as  Durt-wich,  i.e.  dirt. — Latimer,  Lett.,  xxxiii.  1538. 
Elmley  Castle  [4  m.  S.S.E.  of  Pershore.J 

You  can  always  tell  a  Embley  mon  by  'is  stick,  i.e.  an  ash 
sapling  some  half  foot  higher  than  his  fist. — Salisbury, 
S.E.  Wor.  Words,  p.  76. 

HoNEYBouRNE  [Church  Honeybourne,  5  m.  E.  of  Evesham]. 
There  was  a  church  at  Honeybourne 
when  Evesham  was  but  bush  and  thorn. 

Noake,  Worces.  Notes  &•  Queries,  p.  238. 
Inkberrow  [4  m.  W.  of  Alcester]. 
Neither  sleep,  neither  lie, 

for  Inkberrow's  ting- tangs  hang  so  nigh. — Noake,  p.  177. 
i.e.  church  bells. 

Kidderminster. 

As  bow-legged  as  Potter's  pig.  )  w    tt 

"Goes  again,"  quoth  Tommy  Harris.  )      ■'  ^^•'  ^""  5°^- 
King  Cador  saw  a  pretty  maid, 

King  Cador  would  have  kiss'd  her  ; 
The  damsel  stept  aside  and  said, 

"  King  Cador,  you  have  miss'd  her," — Noake,  p.  201. 

Malvern.  Go,  dig  at  Mavorn  Hill.  Spoken  of  one  whose  wife 
wears  the  breeches. — Ho. 

215 


WORCESTER.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

You  may  as  well  sip  up  the  Severn  and  swallow  Ma'vern. — F.W. 
You  may  sip  up  the  Severn  and  swallow  Mavern  as  soon. — Ho. 
Meant  of  impossibilities. — Ho.      Cf.  Fix  thy  pale  in  Severn 
(Wales). 

Malvern  might  behold 
The  Herefordian  floods,  far  distant  though  they  be  ; 
For  great  men,  as  we  find,  a  great  way  off  can  see. 

Drayton  Pol.,  vii.  i5i2. 
All  about  Malvern  Hill 

a  man  may  live  as  long  as  he  will. — Noake,  p.  256. 
If  Malvern  Hills  should  on  thy  shoulders  light, 
They  shall  not  hurt  them,  nor  suppress  thy  might. 

Thersites,  H.,  O.P.,  i.  400. 
These  waters  so  famed  by  the  great  Doctor  Wall* 
consist  in  containing  just — nothing  at  all. 

*  A  local  physician,  who  wrote  a  Treatise  on  them. 
Come  to  Malvern  to  wear  out  one's  old  clothes.      From  its 
scattered  houses  and  ready  access  to  the  fields  and  hills, 
observation  is  easily  evaded. 
The  Goat  is  a  right  Worcestershire  man,  bred  on  Mauberne 
Hills,  which  he  takes  for  an  honour,  and  therefore  stands 
so  much  upon  his  tiptoes. — Strange  Metamorphoses  of  Man, 
sec.  9.     163^. 
Malvern   measure,   full   and   running  over! — Globe,   2i/2/'go — 
is  proverbial.      This   must   surely  be  "  Maxfield,"  which 
see    in    Cheshire.       This   appeared    afterwards    (1894)   in 
Northall,  Folk  Phrases  of  Four  Counties. 

Oddingley  Heath  [4  ra.  N.E.  of  Worcester]. 

O  Dingley  Dingley,  spare  thy  breath  : 
it  shall  be  called  Oddingley  Heath. 
Two  Saxon  giants  who  fought  on  the  Common  thus  compro- 
mised their  claims,  so  that  both  names  were  perpetuated. 
—Nash,  Hist,  of  War. 

Pershore.     See  Tenbury. 

"  Parshia.    God  help  us  !  "    The  exclamation  of  the  inhabitants 

in  a  bad  fruit  season. — Lees;  N.,  I.,  i.  422. 
When  cherries  are  good  and  plentiful  it  is  a  God-bless-me  Fair  ; 
when  scarce  and  inferior,  a  God-help-me  Fair. 
Cf.  Amagney.     Les  poures  gens  d'Amagney.     Lorsqu'il  y  a 
une  bonne  recolte  et  qu'on  demande  aux  femmes  d'Ay 
d  'ou  elles  sont  elles  repondent  vivement : 
"  I   son  d'Aimaigney,  d'Aimaigney  las  poirottes,"  et  quand 
les  fruits  manquent  elles  repondent  tristement  "  La-moi ! 
i  son   de  9as  poures   gens   d'Aimaigney." — Dr.   Perrot, 
Proverbes  de  la  Franche  Comte,  p.  103. 
Goumois  Quand  les  prunes  ont  manqufe  "  D'ou  ^tes  vous  ?  " 
"  De  Goumois  las  moi !  "    Quand  elles  sont  en  abondance 
"De  Goumois,  fotre  !  " — lb.,  p.  114. 

216 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  Worcester. 

Pershore  Abbey  Church  (as  also  many  others)  is  subject  to 
Westminster :  the  vergers  are  summoned  to  all  public 
functions  there  {e.g.,  there  were  150  of  the  class  present 
at  Gladstone's  funeral).  The  monks  of  Pershore  used  to 
tramp  all  the  way  to  Westminster  (over  100  miles),  their 
password  being  "  Pershore,  God  help  us,"  and  their 
reply  "Pershore,  what  do  you  think  ? "  [Local  tradition. 
See  Appendix.] 

Little  Shelsley  [9  m.  N.W.  of  Worcester]. 

The  wind  comes  from  Witchery  Hole.  Said  by  the  inhabitants 
when  a  violent  N.  wind  blows,  insinuating  that  "broom- 
stick hags  "  are  at  the  bottom  of  it. — Noake,  p.  185. 

Stourport.      Like  Gawson's  boats  that  sink  upwards. — N.,  II., 
xii.  501. 

Tenbury  [18  m.  N.  of  Worcester]. 

You  never  hear  the  cuckoo  before  Tenbury  fair  (April  20),  nor 
after  Pershore  fair  (June  26).  He  is  said  to  attend  the 
latter  to  buy  a  horse  to  ride  away  on. — Lees. 

"  Sell  wheat  and  buy  rye," 

say  the  bells  of  Tenbury. — Chamberlain,  West  Wor.  Words. 

TiBBERTON  [3  m.  E.N.E.  of  Worcester]. 

A  stone  church,  a  wooden  steeple, 
a  drunken  parson,  a  wicked  people. 

Noake,  Ram.,  p.  288  ;  Chamberlain. 

WicKENFORD  [2  m.  S.E.  of  Evesham]. 

See  Gloucestershire,  Buckland. 

Worcester.     The  faithful  city  {i.e.  to  the  Stuart  dynasty). 

Rimeour  de  Wyrcestre. — Douce  M.S.  98,  13th  Cy.  Before 
Pievs  Plowman. 

It  shines  like  Worcester  against  Gloucester,  is  a  very  old 
saying. — Chamberlain. 

It  is  proverbial  that  the  Worcester  ladies  are  poor,  proud,  and 
pretty. — Chamberlain . 

Worcester  for  pretty  girls.      See  Staffordshire,  Sutton. 
Cf.  There  are  three  P's  almost  in  every  place 
From  which  I  counsel  thee  always  to  flee  : 
Poison,  Pride,  Piles,  and  Pockes. 

Gascoigne,  Dan  Bartholomew  of  Bath. 
The  churches  in  general  we  everywhere  find 
Are  places  where  men  to  the  women  are  joined  ; 
At  Worcester  it  seems  they  are  more  cruel-hearted, 
For  men  and  their  wives  are  brought  here  to  be  parted. 

Noake,  p.  207. 
This  custom  of  separating  the  sexes  no  longer  prevails  in  the 
Cathedral  there,  though  it  has  been  generally  adopted  of 
late  years  where  a  high  ritual  is  followed. 

217 


YORKS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

YORKSHIRE. 

See  Lancashire. 

Yorkeschir  full  of  Knijtes.— MS.  Harl. 
Yorkshire  ful  of  Knyghtys. — MS.  Rawl. 
Go  to  Yorkshire. — Folk  Lore  Record,  i.  175. 
England  is  all  turn'd  Yorkshire,  and  the  age 
Extremely  sottish,  or  too  nicely  sage. 

Davies  of  Hereford,  Paper  Persecutors,  p.  81. 
In  Yorkshire  ancient  people  say, 
If  February's  second  day 
Be  very  fair  and  very  clear, 
It  doth  portend  a  scanty  year 
For  hay  and  grass ;  but  if  it  rains. 
They  never  do  perplex  their  brains. — P.  Robin,  1735. 

(These  allusions  seem  to  point  to  an  acknowledged  character 
for  canny  wisdom  in  Yorkshire.) 
Measter  's  Yorkshire  too. — G.     The  answer  of  a  hostler  from  the 
country  to  one  enquiring  why  he  had  been  so  long  in  the 
house  and  still  only  a  servant. 
The  Yorkshire  phrase :  Cry  "  Whore  "  first.— P-  Rob.,  Prog.,  1734. 
Like  the  Yorkshireman's   days,  of  all   sorts   and   sizes. — P.  Rob., 

Prog.,  1727. 
'Twas  the  usual  saying  of  a  very  ingenuous  person,  that  Passionate 
Men,  like  Yorkshire  Hounds,  are  apt  to  overrun  the  Scent. — 
Sir  T.  Blount's  Essays,  p.  141.     1692. 
y.       I  am  a  Yorkshireman  born  and  bred ;   I  care  not  who  knows 

it.     I  hope  true  Yorkshire  never  denies  his  County. 
Scot.  1  thought  you  looked  like  a  subtle  blade. 

A  Brief  and  Witty  Dial,  between  a  Yorkshireman  and 
Scottishmatt.     1650. 
Yorkshire,  but  honest — with  good  looking  after. — N.,  V.,  viii.  226. 
Yorkshire   bite.      A   rogue,    cheat.— Brogden,   Line.   Prov. ;    Globe,  ■ 

17/6,  '84. 
A  Yorkshireman  will  bite  either  dead  or  alive. — AT.,  V.,  viii.  226. 
To  put  Yorshar  to  a  man,  is  to  trick  or  deceive  him. — Lancashire 

Dialogue.     1757. 
To  come  Yorkshire  over  him  =  To  cheat  him. — G. 
When  anything  is  done  very  sharp,  clever,  or  unscrupulous  we  say, 

"  That 's  real  Yorksheer." — Peacock,  Lincoln  Gloss, 
Yorkshire  tikes. — Ho.     i.e.  clowns.— G.,  Diet. 
Tike.     A  common  sort  of  dog. — Hll. 
3one  heythene  tykes. — Morte  d'  Arthur. 

The  indigence  [?  indigenes]    of  Yorkshire  and  strong,  tall  and 
long  leg'd :  they  call  'em  opprobriously  long-leg'd  tyke. — 
Aubrey,  MS.,  Royal  Soc,  p.  11. 
Tykes  too  they  had  of  all  sorts,  bandogs, 
curs,  spaniels,  water-dogs,  and  land-dogs. 

Cotton,  Virgile  Travestie,  iv. 

218 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  yorks. 

It  is  observed  of  the  family  of  Vavasour  that  they  never  married 
an  heir  or  buried  their  wives.    (Edward  IV.) — F.W.,  p.  222. 

The  lands  that  over  Ouse  to  Berwick  forth  do  bear, 

Have  for  their  blazon  had  :  the  snafifle,  spur,  and  spear. 

Drayt.  Poly. 

(Arms  of  the  County.)  A  fly,  a  flea,  a  magpie  and  a  flitch  of 
bacon. — G. 

A  flea,  a  fly,  and  a  flitch  of  bacon.  The  flea  will  *suck  anyone's 
blood;  the  fly  f drink  out  of  anyone's  cup;  and  the  bacon  is 
no  good  till  it  is  hung.  Some  add,  for  fourth  quartering,  a 
magpie  who  will  steal  anything  that  comes  in  his  way,  and  a 
horse  for  a  crest. 

•  eat  with  anyone. 

+  will  drink  with  any  one,  a  magpie  will  talk  with  any  one,  and  a 

flitch  of  bacon  is  good  for  nothing  until  it  is  hung,  and  so  is  a 

Yorkshireman. 

Yorkshireman.     A  fly  drowned  in  ale.— Brogden. 

Give  a  Yorkshireman  a  halter,  and  he  '11  find  a  horse. — Haz. 

Shake  a  bridle  over  a  Yorkshireman 's  grave,  and  he  '11  rise  and  steal 

a  horse. — G. 
Whipshire. — G.,  Diet. 
A  Yorkshire  fritter.     A  Shrove  Tuesday  Banquet.     1641. 

(Perhaps  the  Yorkshire  pudding  which  still  accompanies  roast 
beef.) 
-Old  Pegg.     Poor  Yorkshire  cheese,  made  of  skim-milk. — G.,  Diet. 
A  Yorkshire  way-bit. — F.  W.,  ii.  492, 535.   An  overplus  not  accounted 
in  the  reckoning. — George  Meriton,  Yorkshire  Ale. 
wea-bit  (i.e.  wee,  small). — F.  W. 

a  wea-bit  longer  than  a  mile. — Cleveland,  Poems,  p.  37. 
In  the  Northern  parts  there  is  a  wee-bit  to  every  mile. — Ho.,  Familiar 
Letters,  iv.  28. 

Like  higler's  pad  or  pack-horse  drone. 
Not  caring  to  perform  much  more 
Than  one  good  Yorkshire  mile  an  hour. 

Edw.  Ward,  Don  Quixote,  p.  44.     1711. 
Yorkshire  estates.     Imaginary  possessions  :  chateaux  en  Espagne. 

This  expression  has  been  attributed  to  Dr.  Johnson. 
York  =  every  man  pay  his  share. 

Yorkshire  reckoning = each  pays  for  himself  [?  your  share]. 
Indeed  though  other  Counties  have  more  of  the  warm  sun,  this 
[Yorksh.]     hath    as    much    of    any    of    God's    [temporal] 
blessings. — F.  W. 
[Note.— N  =  North  Riding,  W  =  West  Riding,  E  =  East  Riding.— Ed.] 
Addleborough  (N.),  [near  Askrigg]. 
A  Druidical  circle,  a  Roman  camp. 

Druid,  Roman,  Scandinavia, 
Stone  Raise  on  Addleboro'. 

Walter  White,  Month  in  Yorkshire,  245. 

219 


YORK8.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Bawtry  (W.).     The  Saddler  of  Bawtry  was  hanged  for  leaving  his. 
liquor  behind  him. — G. 

Beswick  [6J  m.  N.W.  of  Beverley] . 

A  thatched  church,  a  wooden  steeple, 

a  drunken  parson,  and  wicked  people. — N.,  III.,  xii.  75. 

Beverley  (E.).     Burnet  de  Beverle. — Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 

It  is  better  to  be  at  the  baiting  of  a  bear  than  the  saying  of  a 
mass.  This  refers  to  the  falling  of  part  of  the  Minster  in 
1520,  by  which  fifty-five  of  the  worshippers  were  killed 
while  the  people  attending  a  bear-fight  at  the  same  moment 
escaped. — Longstaffe,  Richmondshire,  p.  124. 

See  Hornsea. 

BiRSTAL.  Birstal  *  for  ringers, 

Heckmandwike*  for  singers ; 

Dewsburyl*  for  peddlers, 

Clackheaton  *  for  sheddlers  [swindlers] . 

•  All  West.  F.  L.  Rec,  i.  174. 

Bowes  (N.),  [near  Barnard's  Castle]. 
When  Julius  Caesar  was  a  King 
Bowes  Castle  was  a  famous  thing. — Murr. 

(Built  within  the  Roman  station,  and  pronounced  untenable. 
— Temp.  Edw.  III.) 

Bradfield   [7  m.  N.W.  of  Sheffield].     On  the  Moors.     A  place 
which  God  began  but  never  finished. 

Bridlington  (E.).     See  Hornsea. 

Brotherton  [3  m.  N.E.  of  Pontefract].     See  Sutton. 

Castleford.       Castleford  women  must  needs  be  fair 

because  they  wash  both  in  Calder  and  Aire. 

Whitaker,  Loidis  and  Elmete. 
Castleford  is  an  old  Roman  station  at  the  junction  of  two 
W.R.  rivers,  where  the  Calder  ceases. — F.  L.  Journal, 
i.  172. 

Clackheaton  (W.).     See  Birstall. 

Cleveland-in-the-clay  (N.).     See  Roseberry  and  Eston-in-Hills. 
Cleveland-in-the-clay  * 

bring  in  two  solesf  and  carry  one|  away. — R.,  1670. 
*  Between  Whitby  and  the  Tees.  t  twa  shun.  J  yane. 

A  shire  even  of  herself  might  well  be  said  to  be 
If  she  were  not  here  confined  thus  in  me. 

CoTHERSTON  (N.),  [4  m.  N.W.  of  Barnard's  Castle], 

Cotherston,  where  they  christen  calves,  hopple  lops^  and  knee- 
band  spiders. — N.,  III.,  iii.  233. 
Not  hops,  as  Hazlitt  renders  it.     Lops  are  fleas. — Hunter, 

HaUamshire  Glossary. 

220 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  yorks. 

Hazlitt  has  further  blundered  by  inserting  as  a  Somerset  pro- 
verb, "  Cotherston  cheeses  will  cover  a  multitude  of 
sins."  This  is  really  a  remark  in  Longstaffe's  Richmond- 
shire,  p.  38,  apologising  for  the  preceding  proverb,  and  in 
praise  of  Yorkshire  cheeses.  There  is  no  Cotherston  in 
Somerset,  and  the  nearest  approach,  Cothelstone,  is  not 
a  cheese-making  place. 
Cf.  Hexham,  in  Northumberland. 

COTTINGHAM  (E.),  [4  m.  N.W.  of  HuU], 
When  Derwent  flows 
then  Keldgate  goes. — F.  L.  J.,  i.  164. 

These  are  intermittent  springs,  supposed  to  depend  on  the 
Derwent,  twenty  miles  away. 

Cowling  (W.),  [5  m.  S.S.W.  of  Skipton]. 

Cowling  moons.     A  Craven  proverb.     See  Hone,  Tahle  Book, 
p.  721. 

Craven  (W.). 

A  lang-horned  an,  i.e.  an  inhabitant.      After  the  cattle  of  the 

district. — Carr,  Craven  Glossary. 
There 's  a  hill  against  a  stack  all  Craven  through. — Higson,  172. 
Ollas  a  hill  anenst  a  slack.* — Carr. 

*  Slack,  low-ground. — Hll. 

Darfield  [4  m.  E.S.E.  of  Barnsley].     See  Doncaster. 

Dewsbury  (W.).     See  Birstal. 

DiGHTON  (E.),  [i  m.  from  Hull].     See  Hull, 

Doncaster  (W.).    Cengles  de  Doncastre, «.«.  girths. — Douce  MS.  g8. 
Doncaster  cuts,  i.e.  horses. — Skelton,  Magnyfycence,  circa  1520. 
Dunmow  bacon  and  Doncaster  daggers. — Ho. 
The  Doncaster  Mayor,  he  sits  in  his  chair, 

His  mills  they  merrily  go ; 
His  nose  doth  shine,  with  drinking  of  wine, 

And  the  gout  is  in  his  great-toe. — Murr. 

The  profits  of  the  town-mills  on  the   Don  were   formerly 
assigned  for  the  mayoralty  expenses. — Murr. 

There  '11  either  be  rain  or  else  summat  waur 
when  bitter-bumps*  sing  upon  Potterick  Carr.f 
*  Bitterns.         t  A  level  of  4,000  acres  i  m.  S.  of  Doncaster  race-course. 
Doncaster  Roll-abouts,  Melton  egg-shells, 
Mexborough  cracked  Panchion  and  Darfield  merry  bells. 

N.,  vni.,  V.  425. 

Entrepen  (Enterpen  common),  [7  m.  N.  of  Northallerton].     See 
Hutton. 

Ferrybridge  [_ii  m.  N.W.  of  Knottingley].     See  Sutton. 

Fishlake  (W.),  [2  m.  W.  of  Thorne].  Poor  Fishlake.    See  Hatfield. 

221 


YORKs.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Halifax  (W.).     See  Hull. 

Heading  Halifax. — Drayt.  Pol.,  xxviii. 

Alas  !  all  this  comes  too  late :  Hallifaxe  law  hath  been  executed 
in  kind :  I  am  already  hanged,  and  now  wee  cum  to  con- 
consider  and   examine  of   the    evidence. — Wentworh,   in 
Irish  State  Papers. 
Impanelled  of  an  Holyfax  inquest. — Bp.  Hall,  Sat.,  IV.,  i.  17. 
By  the  Gibbet-law  of  the  Forest  of  Hardwick  thieves  taken 
"  in    the    manner "    were   summarily   beheaded. — Wright, 
Antiq.  of  Halifax. 
Cf.  Lydford,  in  Devonshire,  and  Edinburgh. 
Go  to  Halifax  !  (a  euphemism  for  Hell). — N.,  V,,  iv.  154. 
Halifax  is  a  mongrel  begot  by  a  Leeds  merchant  and  a  Lanca- 
shire woman,  and  nursed  by  a  Dutch  frow. — Tim  Bobbin, 
Lane.  Dialect. 

Halifax  is  made  of  wax 

and  Heptonstall  of  stone  ; 
in  Halifax  there 's  many  a  pretty  girl, 

in  Heptonstall  there's  none. — N.,  II.,  xii.  499. 
Gooid  brade,  better,  and  sheese, 
is  gooid  Halifax,  and  gooid  Frieze. — White ;  Higson. 

Hallamshire  (W.).     a  lordship  round  Sheffield,  now  belonging  to 
the  Duke  of  Norforlk. 

When  all  the  world  shall  be  aloft, 
then  Hallamshire  shall  be  God's  croft. — R.,  1678. 
See  Lancashire. 

Halton.  Halton,  Rudby,  Entrepen  :  (N.) 

far  more  rogues  than  honest  men. 

Wm.  Andrews,  Old  Yorkshire. 
All  in  Cleveland.     Rudby  is  3  m.  W.S.W.  of  Stokesley. — 

F.  L.  Rec,  i.  263-g. 
See  Hutton. 
Harrogate. 

Said  the  Devil  when  flying  o'er  Harrogate  Wells, 
I  think  I  am  getting  near  home  by  the  smells. 

Hartforth  (N.). 

Have  at  thee.  Black   Hartforth,  but   have  a  care  of  Bonny 
Gilling  [near  Richmond]. — Hll.,  Pop.  Rhy.,  ig5. 
The   devil  being  angry  with  the   Hartforth   people  cast  a 
boulder  at  them,  which  now  lies  on  the  north  side   of 
Gaterley  Moor.— 'L.ongstaSe's  Richmotidshire, -p.  120. 

Hatfield.         Proud  Hatfield,  Rich  Stainforth ; 

Poor  Fishlake,  Lousy  Thome. — N.,  VIII.,  iv.  335. 
There  are  no  rats  at  Hatfield  *  nor  sparrows  at  Lindholm.f — 
F.  L.  Rec,  i.  173. 

*  2  m.  from  Thorne  (W.).         +  4  m.  from  Thome  (W.). 

222 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  yorks. 

Heptonstall  [8  m.  N.W.  of  Halifax].     See  Halifax. 
Heckmandwicke  (W.).     See  Birstall. 

Heptonstall  (W.),  [7  m.  N.W.  of  Halifax].     See  Halifax. 
HOLDERNESS  (E.),  [5  m.  E.  of  Hull]. 

Patrington  Church  is  said  to  be  the  Queen   and  Heydon  or 
Hedon  Church  the  *King  of  Holderness  churches. — Murr. 
*  Pride— Walcott. 
Hornsea  (E.).       Hornsea  steeple  when  I  built  thee, 
thou  wert  ten  miles  off  Burlington, 
ten  miles  off  Beverley, 
and  ten  miles  from*  the  sea. — Murr. 

*  Off.— White. 
Hornsea  broach,  when  I  built  thee 
thou  wast  ten  miles  from  Beverley, 
ten  miles  from  Bridlington, 
and  ten  miles  from  the  sea. 

Andrews,  People  and  Steeple  Rhymes. 
It  is  now  a  watering-place  on  a  sea-cliff.     The  steeple  fell  during 
a  gale  in  1773. — White. 
Hull. 

From  Hull,  Hell,  and  Halifax,  good  Lord,  deliver  us  !— Ho. 
It  is  proverbial  in  our  country. — Copley,  Wits,  Fits,  and  Fancies, 

p.  112.     1614. 
From  Hell,  Hull,  and  Halifax,  good  Lord,  deliver  us ! 
This  is  part  of  the  Beggars'  and  Vagrants'  Litany. — F.  W. 

The  magistrates  were  noted  for  their  severity. 
Neither    in    Hull,    Hell,    nor    Halifax. — Nash,    Lenten   Stuffe, 
p.   58.     1599. 

There 's  neither  Halifax,  nor  Hull,  nor  Hell 
That  for  good  parts  my  horse  can  .parallel. 

J.  Taylor,  Short  Relation  of  a  Long  Journey. 
If  ill  to  Newgate  hiss  them  or  Bridewell, 
To  any  place — Hull,  Halifax,  or  Hell. 

J.  Taylor,  Virtues  of  a  Gaol. 
There  is  a  proverb  and  a  prayer  withal. 
That  we  not  to  three  strange  places  fall ; 
From  Hull,  from  Halifax,  from  Hell — 'tis  thus  : 
From  all  these  three,  good  Lord,  deliver  us  ! 

Id.,  A  Very  Merry  Wherry  Ferry  Voyage. 
You  have  eaten  some  Hull  cheese,  i.e.  are  drunk. — R.,  1678. 

Famous  for  strong  ale. 
Like  a  loaf  out  of  a  brewer's  basket — cousin-German  to  the 

mightiest  ale  in  England. — J.  Taylor,  Pierce  Penniless, 
Hull  for  women.     See  Oxford, 
Hull  memorable  for  mud  and  train  oil.     (A  saying  of  W.  Etty, 

R. A.)— White,  p.  10. 
As  strong  as  Hull  (fortifications). — Peacock,  Lincoln  Gloss, 

223 


YORKS.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

When  Dighton*  is  pull'd  down 
Hull  shall  become  a  great  town. — R.,  1670. 
*  A  suburb,  now  destroyed. 
Paul  and  Paul  Holme. — White,  p.  10.     On  the  banks  of  the 
H umber,  the  church  standing  apart. 

High  Paul,*  Low  Paul,  and  all  Paul  Town, 
there  is  ne'er  a  maid  married  in  old  Paul  Town. 

*i.e.  Paghill.  N.,  I.,  vi.,  410. 

Holloa 's  dead  and  his  wife  lives  at  Hull ; 
kept  a  cow,  but  milked  a  bull.— Peacock,  Lincoln  Gloss. 
(Said  to  anyone  holloa-ing  persistently.) 

HuTTON.  Hutton,  Rudby,  Entrepen,  (N.) 

far  more  rogues  than  honest  men. — White,  p.  182. 
Near  Northallerton,  in  Cleveland. 

Jervaulx  (N.),  [3  m.  S.E.  of  Middleham]. 

Justeur  de  Jerdele. — Douce  MS.  98.    i.e.  jousteur,  tilter. 
Furnage  de  Gerwaus  ib  Fournage.     The  fee  taken  by  a  Lord 

of  his  vassals  and  tenants,  [who  were]  bound  to  bake  in  his 

common  oven,  or  for  a   permission  to  use  their  own. — 

Cotgrave. 
Jervaulx,  a  Cistercian  Abbey,  founded  1156,  on  the  river  Ure 

or  Yore. 

Knottingley  [2i  m.  N.E.  of  Pontefract].     See  Sutton. 

Lartington  (N.),  [2  m.  W.N.W.  of  Barnard's  Castle]. 

Lartington  frogs, 

and  Barney  Castle  butchers'  dogs. 

Longstaflfe,  Richmondshive,  p.  133. 
Leeds. 

Leeds  Saracens'  heads.     The  ancient  copper  coins  found  here- 
abouts.— Denham,  F.  L.  of  Durham,  p.  66. 

Snaw,  snaw  faster. 

Bull,  bull  faster ; 

Owd  women  picking  geese, 

sending  feathers  down  to  Leeds. — Haz. 

Market  Weighton  (E.),  [18  m.  E.S.E.  of  York] . 

Market  Weighton,  Robert  Leighton,* 
a  brick  church,  a  wooden  steeple, 

a  drunken  priest,  a  wicked  people. — F.  L.  journal,  i.  164. 
*  A  well-known  farmer. 

Melton  (High)  (E.),  [4  m.W.S.W.  of  Doncaster] ,  which  see. 
The  fairest  lady  in  this  land 
was  drowned  at  Mount  Ferrand. 

Denham,  F.  L.  N.  of  E.,  p.  10.    1851. 

Mexborough  [6  m.  S.W.  of  Doncaster],  near  Beverley,  which  see; 
also  rivers  Dearne  and  Don. 

224 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  yorks. 

Northallerton  (N.). 

Northallerton  in  Yorkshire  doth  excel 

all  England,  nay,  all  Europe,  for  strong  ale. 

George  Meryton,  Yorkshire  Ale,  1683. 
Northallerton  spurs. — G. 

Nun  Keling. 

If  you  go  to  Nun  Keling, 
You  shall  find  your  belly  filling 
Of  whig  or  of  whey ; 

But  go  to  Swine, 

And  come  betime, 
Or  else  you  go  empty  away  ; 
But  the  Abbot  of  Meaus* 
Doth  keep  a  good  house 

By  night  and  by  day. — Hunter,  Hall.  Gloss. :  art.  WMgges. 
*Meaux,  3  m.  E.  of  Beverley. 

(Three  Cistercian  Houses  near  to  Hull  (E.). 

From  one  of  Dodsworth's  MSS.  in  Bodleian  Museum. 

Pontefract(W.).    Marche  de  Punfreyt. — DoaceMS.  98.   (Market.) 
Pomfret  cakes  (liquorice  prepared  in  small  medallions),  stamped 

with  a  small  castle. 
As  sure  as  a  louse  in  Pomfret. — R.,  1670. 
A  louse  in  Pomfret  is  not  surer 
Than  the  poor  through  sloth  securer. 

Brathwayt,  Drunken  Barnaby,  iii. 

Raskelfe  (N.),  [2  m.  N.W.  of  Easingwold]. 
A  wooden  church,  a  wooden  steeple, 
rascally  church,  rascally  people. — Br. 

Richmond  (N.).         Omne  super  omen 

LH.S.  est  venerabile  nomen. 
(Inscription  on  curfew  bell). — Longstaffe,  Richnondshire, 

Ripon  (W.).     Palefrey  de  Ripun.— Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 
As  true  steel  as  Rippon  rowels. — F.  W. ;  Drayton,  Pol.,  ii. 
Ripon  spurs  for  men  and  fighting  cocks. — G.,  Did. 

RiVAULX  (N.),  [4  m.  N.W.  of  Helmsley] .     (Rievallis.) 

Round  about  Revess.  A  similitude  for  tautological  circumlocution 

in  discourse.  The  valley  of  the  Rye  is  tortuous. — Gentleman's 

Magazine,  1754,  p.  426. 
Cf.  Robin  Hood's  barn. 

RuDBY  IN  Cleveland.     See  Hutton. 

Saddleworth  (W.),  [6  m.  N.W.  of  Ashton-under-Lyne]. 

Like  the  parson  of  Saddleworth,  who  could  read  in  no  book  but 
his  own. — R.,  1670.  See  N.,  IV.,  xii.  388,  524.  R.  places 
this  in  Cheshire. 

VOL.  I.  225  15 


YORKs.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Scarborough  (N.).     See  N.H.W. 

A  Scarbro'  warning,  i.e.  none  at  all. — He. 

Cf.  A  Skairsburn  warning  (Kirkcudbright)  in  Scotland  (Rivers). 
(Not  till  danger  knock  at  the  door,  as  it  once  happened  there 

from  the  French. — Ho.) 
Such  proverbial  speeches  as  Totness  (sic)  is  turned  French, 
for  a  strange  alteration,  Skarborow  warning  for  a  sodaine 
commandment  allowing  no  respect  or  delay  to  bethink  a 
man  of  his  business. — Puttenham,  Art  of  English  Poesie, 
111.,  xviii. 

A  word  and  a  blow,  like  a  Scarborough  warning. — Murray, 
who  refers  it  to  the  capture  of  the  Castle  by  surprise  by 
Stafford  in  Wyatt's  rebellion,  1553.     Said  also  to  have 
been  spoken  by  Mountain  of  his  capture  at  Cambridge 
Castle  in  1544.     See  Strype's  Memorials  of  Queen  Mary, 
1554- 
One  explanation  is  that  it  was  the  custom  to  fire  without 
warnng  upon  vessels  passing  Scarborough  Castle  which 
did  not  strike  their  sails. — Corlass,  p.  6. 
Al  they  the  lyke  poast  haste  did  make  with  Scarboro'  scrabbling. 
— Stanihurst,  Mneid,  iv.  621.     See  also  Chambers'  Booh  of 
Days,  January  ig  ;  Diary  of  Adela  Pryme,  p.  126. 

Scarborough  leisure  [ironical]. — Stanihurst,  Description  of  Ireland, 
p.  23. 

Scarborough,  which  looks  as  though  in  Heav'n  it  stood 
To  those  that  lie  below  from  the  bay  of  Robin  Hood, 
Even  to  the  fall  of  Tees. — Drayt.  Pol. 

The  Queen  of  Northern  watering-places. — Murr. 

Sheffield  (W.).  When  Sheffield  Park  is  ploughed  and  sown 
then  little  England  hold  thy  own. — R.,  1678. 

Winkabank  and  Temple  brough, 

will  buy  all  England  through  and  through. — R.,  1678. 
[Two  camps  nr.  Sheffield.] 

A  Sheffield  thwitel  bare  he  in  his  hose. — Chau. ,  Cant.  Tales:  Reve's  T. 

Bride  and  bridegroom  called  "  a  new  pair  of  Sheffield  Knives." 
i.e.  scissors. — Witch  of  Edmonton,  ii.  2. 

Sheffield  blades.     The  inhabitante  of  these  times. 

Skipton  (W.).  Oh,  in  Skipton  in  Craven 

is  never  a  haven 
but  many  a  day  foul  weather. — Murr. 

Sprotbrough  (W.),  [2  m.  S.W.  of  Doncaster] . 

Whoso  is  hungry  and  lists  well  to  eat. 

Let  him  come  to  Sprotborough  for  his  meat, 

and  for  a  night  and  for  a  day 

his  horse  shall  have  both  corn  and  hay, 

and  no  man  shall  ask  him  when  he  goeth  away. — Higson,  22. 

226 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  yorks. 

R.  W.  Scott  Surtees  {Waifs  and  Strays  of  North  Humher 
Hist.,  1864),  refers  this  to  King  Alfred's  sanctuary  laws, 
by  which  a  criminal  could  obtain  three  days'  sanctuary 
at  a  minster  house. 

Sutton.        Sutton*  boiled  mutton,  Brotherton*  beet, 

Ferrybridgef  bonny  lass,  and  KnottingleyJ  thief. 

N.,  v.,  ix.  175. 

•  3  m.  N.E.  of  Pontefract.  f  ij  ni.  N.W.  of  Knottingley. 

X  2\  m.  N.E.  of  Pontefract. 

Sutton  is  a  small  hamlet,  20  m.  S.  of  York. 

Stainforth  (W.),  [3  m.  W.S.W.  of  Thorne] .     Rich  Stainforth. 
See  Hatfield. 

Tadcaster  (W.)  lang-borrow  pennies.     The  ancient  copper  coins 
found  in  the  soil. — Denham,  F.  L.  Derb.,  p.  66. 
Nil  Tadcaster  habet  Musis  vel  carmine  dignum 
Prseter  magnified  structun  sine  flumine  pontum. 

Itin.  of  T.  Edas,  in  Camd.  Soc. 
The  Lord  Dacres 
was  slain  in  the  North  Acres.— Haz. 

(at  the  battle  of  Towton,  2  m.  S.  of  Tadcaster.) 

Thorne  (W.),  [25  m.  S.S.E.  of  York].  Lousy  Thorne,  See  Hatfield. 

TiCKHILL  (W.) 

Chances  de  TikehuU. — Douce  MS. 
Tickhill,  God  help  me  \—N.  L,  i.  247. 

Wakefield  (W.). 

Merry  Wakefield. — F.  W. ;  R.  Brathwaite,  Strappado  for  the 
Divell,  1 61 5. 

and  her  Pinder  too. — See  N.,  H.,  xi.  310. 
G.  suggests  mirrie,  faithful,  and  instances  "  Uprouse  ye  then 
my  merry  men." 

Wetherby  (W.),  [12  m.  W.S.W.  of  York] . 

The  woeful  town  of  Wetherby. — N.,  I.,  vii.  233. 

Whitby  (N.).     The  English  Engadine. 

WiBSEY-HooPEY  (W.),    [2  m.  S.S.W.  of  Bradford]. 

Wibsey-Hoppey  beef-eaters. 
York  (E.  and  W.). 

Eboracum  silvis,  Excestria  clara  matallis, 
Norwicum  Dacis,*  Hibernis  Csestria  Gallis  {temp.  Rich.  I.). 
Blomfield,  Hist,  of  Norfolk,  iii.  .(Norwich,  p.  39). 
*  Danes. 
York  still  shall  be.— F.W. 

Lincoln  was,  London  is,  and  York  shall  be 
the  fairest*  city  of  the  three.  — Stukely,  Itin.  j  Brome,Travels,  1 700. 
*  Finest. — Murr. 

227 


YORKs.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

That  Lincoln  was ;  viz.,  a  far  fairer,  greater,  richer  city  than 
it  now  is — both  plainly  appears  by  the  ruins  thereof, 
being    without    controversy    the    greatest    city   in   the 
Kingdom  of  Mercia.     That  London  is,  we  know;    but 
that  York  shall  be,  God  knows. — F.  W. 
Those  who  hope  it  may  become  the  English  metropolis  must 
wait  until  the  river  Thames  runs  under  the  great  arch  of 
Ouse  bridge. — Ih. 
Quoted  of  himself  by  Geo.  Montaigne,  who,  leaving  Lincoln, 
was  Bishop  of  London  1 621-8,  and  in  the  last  year  was 
translated  to  York  and  died.— F.  W. 
Let  none  upbraid  thee  for  thy  skill,  whereas 
Thy  Trade  's  a  smith,  thou  bred  in  Lincoln  was. 
A  City  great  (where  thou  didst  gather  this) 
Known  to  our  nation  well,  as  London  is. 
I  speak  thy  worth,  thy  work :  let  all  men  see, 
And  wrest  it  if  they  can,  still  York  shall  he. 
But  what !  a  Smith  a  herald  ?  Yes,  of  fame : 
Thy  pen  thy  book  doth  show,  as  York  thy  name. 

Prefatory  verses  to  The  Union  of  Honour,  by  Jas.  Yorke  (a 
Blacksmith :  the  local  Heraldry  of  Lincolnshire). 
Let  London  still  the  just  precedence  claim, 
York  ever  shall  be  proud  to  be  the  next  in  fame. 

"  By  an  old  rhymester."     White,  p.  5. 
As  much  as  York  exceeds  foul  Sutton. — R.  Ascham,  Toxoph., 
reg.  C. 

I  can't  be  at  York  and  London  at  the  same  time. — Fuller, 
Gnom. 

Referred  by  F.  L.  Jotir.  to  Dick  Turpin's  famous  ride  from 

London  to  York  to  establish  an  alibi.     He  was  b.  1711, 

and  executed  1739. 
He  is  a  lord  for  a  year  and  a  day, 
but  she  is  a  lady  for  ever  and  aye. 

i.e.  The  Mayor  and  Mayoress  of  York :  he  and  the  Mayor  of 

London  being  the  only  Lord  Mayors.      [No  longer  so, 

however. — Ed. J 
The  three  P's  of  York.     Pretty,  Poor,  Proud. — Higson,  208. 
York  for  a  tit.     See  Oxford.     Cf.   Worcester. 
York,  York  for  my  money 
of  all  the  cities  that  ever  I  see, 
In  merry  pastime  and  companie. 
Except  the  cittie  of  London. — HIL,  Yorkshire  Authors. 

Chorus  of    Song  of    i6th    Cy.      Quoted    by   Rd.    Brome, 
"Northern  Lass,"  ii.  i. 

Capitulum,  Kekus,  porcus,  fimus  Eboracus, 
Stal,  nel,  lamprones,  Kelc  et  melc,  salt,  salamones 
Ratus,  cum  petys,  hsec  sunt  staura  cuntetis. 

MS.  15th  Cy.,  Trin,  Coll.,  Camb. ;  Rel.  An.,  ii.  178. 

228 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  hills. 

Bilhope  braes  for  bucks  and  raes,  and  Carit  haugh  for  swine, 
and  Tarras  for  the  good  bull-trout,  if  he  be  ta'en  in  time. — Brockett. 
?  Scotland.     Tarras  is  a  river  in  E.  Dumfries,  falling  into  the 
Esk. 
If  Brayton  bargh,  and  Hambleton  hough,  and  Burton  bream, 
were  all  in  thy  belly,  it  would  never  be  teem. — R.,  1670. 
Eminences  between  Cawood  and  Pontefract. 

(Said  of  a  covetous  person.) 
You  might  as  well  try  to  bore  a  hole  through  Beacon  Hill  (above 
Halifax,  on  the  Bradford  Road,  now  tunnelled  by  the  Lan- 
cashire and  Yorkshire  Railway). — N.,  I.,  xi.  223. 
See  Wright,  Hist,  of  Halifax,  1738. 
When  Eston  Knab  puts  on  a  cloak,  and  Roysberry  a  cappe, 
then  all  the  folks  on  Cleveland's  Clag*  ken  there  will  be  a  clappe. 

M.  A.  Denham,  F.  L.  N.  of  E.,  p.  13.     1850. 
*  4  m.  N.W.  of  Guisborough. 
When  Hood  Hill  has  on  his  cap, 
Hamilton's  sure  to  come  down  with  a  clap. — Denham,  p.  14. 

How  Hill  and  Hambleton  [7  m.  from.  Thirsk] .     Hambleton 
Moor  is  celebrated  as  a  training-ground  for  horses. 
Ingleborough*,  Pendlef  (hill),  and  Pennygent  | 
are  the  highest  hills  between  Scotland  and  Trent. — Camden. 
*  W.,  2361.  t  N.E.  Lan.,  1803.  {  W.,  2270. 

or  Pendle,  Penigent,  and  Ingleborough, 

are  the  three  highest  hills  all  England  through. — R.,  1670. 
or  Pendle  hill,  Penygent,  and  little  Ingleborough, 

are  three  such  hills  as  you  '11  not  find  by  searching  England 
thorough. — F.L.  J.,  i.  164. 
that  Ingleboro'  hill,  Pendle,  and  Penigent, 
Should  be  named  the  highest  betwixt  our  Tweed  and  Trent. 

Drayt.  Pol.,  xxviii. 
When  Ingleboro'  wears  a  hat, 
Ribblesdale  '11  know  of  that.— F.  L.  J.,  i.  164. 

Pendle  Hill,  though  1851  feet  above  the  sea  level,  is  800  feet 
lower  than  Grey  Friar  in  N.  Lancashire,  and  considerably 
lower  than  Whernside  in  Yorkshire. — Harland  and  Wil- 
kinson, Lancashire  Legends. 
Rawden  (W.). 

When  Billing  Hill  puts  on  his  cap, 
Calverley  mill  will  get  a  slap. 
Billing,  the  highest  point  of  the  hill  in  Rawdon  (Wharfdale),  , 
dividing  the  valleys  of  the  Wharfe  and  Aire.    Calverly  Mill 
is  on  the  Aire,  near  the  scene  of  the  "  Yorkshire  Tragedy." 
— F.L,.  Record,  i.  169. 
When  Roseberry  Topping  wears  a  cappe, 
let  Cleveland  then  beware  *a  clappe. — Camd. 
*  Of  a  rap,  i.e.  a  thunderstorm. 

229 


CHARACTERISTICS.     LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 


When  Rhosbery  Topping  wears  a  hat, 

Morden*  carrs  will  suffer  for  that. — Denham,  F.  L.,  p.  13. 

*  Co.  Durham,  near  Sedgfield. 
When  Gormire*  riggs  shall  be  covered  with  hay 
the  White  Mare  of  Whitestone  Clifff  will  bear  it  away. — Murr. 

*  Gormire  is  a  tarn.  t  At  the  end  of  the  Hambledon  Hills,  near  Thirsk. 

When  Oliver  Mount  J  puts  on  its  hat, 
Scarborough,  Falsgrave,  and  Scalby  must  pay  for  that. 

%  14  EQ.  from  Scarboro'.  N.,  IV.,  iv.  131. 


RIVCRS. 

Still  Are,  swift  Wherfe,  with  Oze  the  most  of  might. 
High  Swale,  unquiet  Nidd,  and  troublous  Skell.— Spenser. 
Wharfe  is  clear,  and  the  Aire  lithe, 
where  the  Aire  drowns  one,  Wharfe  drowns  five. 

Andrews,  Old  Yorkshire,  i.  263-g. 
Seamer  Water,  near  Askrigg. 
Simmer  Water  rise.  Simmer  Water  sink, 

and  swallow  *all  the  town,  save  one  li'le  house  where  they  gave  me 
meat  and  drink.. — Murr. 

*  up  all  but  this    .  bread  and  cheese  and  summat  to  drink. — Longstaffe, 

Richmondshire ,  p.  108. 

(A  beggar's  curse,  fulfilled  by  an  inundation.) 
When  Derwent  flows 
then  Keldgate  goes. — F.  L.  J.,  i.  164. 

There  are  some  intermitting  springs  at  Keldgate  [i  m.  from 
Cottingham,  near  Hull]  which  are  supposed  to  be  dependent 
on  the  Derwent,  some  twenty  miles  away. — Murr. 
The  shelving,  slimy  river  Dun,t 

each  year  a  daughter  or  a  son. — Hunter,  Haliamshire  Gloss.     Cf.  Dart. 

(drowned)  ?  Sacrifice  to  the  River- God. 

t  Or  Don,  running  past  Sheffield. 
The  happiest  people  under  the  sun 

dwell  betwixt  the  Dearne  and  the  Dun. — N.,  VHI.,  v.  425. 
Mexborough  [6  m.  S.W.  of  Doncaster]  lies  between  them. 


CHARACTERISTICS    OF    THE    COUKTIES. 

Hervordschir,  shild  and  sper  ;  The  propyrtfe  of  every  shire 

Wosterschir,  wringe  per.  I  shal  you  telle  and  ye  will  here. 

Glowceterschir,  schow  and  naile ;  Herefordshire,  sheeld  and  spere ; 

Bristowschir,  schip  and  saile.  Worsetershire,  wryng  pere. 

Oxenfordschir,  gurd  mare  ;  Gloucestershire,  sho  and  nayle ; 

Warwikschir,  bind  beare.  Brystowe,  shippe  and  sayle. 

London,  globber ;  Oxenfordshire,  gyrde  the  mare ; 

Sothery,  great  bragger.  Warwykshire,  bynd  bere. 

Schropschir,  my  schinnes  be  London,  resortere ; 

scharpe,  Sowtherey,  gret  bragere. 

230 


LOCAL     PROVERBS. 


BLAZONS. 


Ley  wood   to  the  fir,   and  yef 

me  my   harpe. 
Lancaschir,  a  fair  archer  ; 
Cheschir,  thacker. 
Northumberlond,  hastie  and  hot ; 
Westmerlond,  tot  for  sote ! 
Yorkeschir,  full  of  kni3tes ; 
Lincolnschir,  men  full  of  mi3tes. 
Cambridgeschir,  full  of  pikes ; 
Holland,  full  of  dikes. 
Suffolk,  full  of  wiles  ; 
Norffolk,  full  of  giles. 
Essex,  good  huswives ; 
Middelsex,  full  of  strives. 
Kent,  as  hot  as  fir  ; 
Sussex,  full  of  mir. 
Southampton,  dire  and  wete ; 
Somersetschir,  good  for  whete. 
Devinschir,  mi3t  and  strong ; 
Dorcetschir,  will  have  no  wrong. 
Willschir,  fair  and  plaine ; 
Barkschir,  fill  vaine. 
Harvordschir,  full  of  wood ; 
Huntingdonschir,  come  full  good. 
Bedfordschir  is  not  to  lack  ; 
Buckinghamschir  is  his  make. 
Northampton,  full  of  love, 
Beneath  the  girdel  and  not  above. 
Nottinghamschir,  full  of  hoggys  ; 
Darbyschir,  full  of  doggys. 
Leicesterschir,  full  of  benys ; 
Staffordschir,  full  of  shrewd 

quenys. 
Cornewall,  full  of  tyne  ; 
Wales,  full  of  gentlemen. 

Probata  sunt  ista  omnia. 
MS.  Harl.  7371 ; 

Rel.  Ant.,  i.  269. 


Esex,  ful  of  good  hoswyfes : 
Middlesex,  ful  of  stryves. 
Kentshire,  hoot  as  fire  ; 
Sowseks,  ful  of  dyrt  and  myre. 
Hertfordshire,  ful  of  wode  ; 
Huntyngdonshire,  come  ful 

goode 
Bedfordshire  is  nought  to  lakke  ; 
Bokynghamshire  is  his  maakke. 
Northamptonshire,  full  of  love 
Benethe   the    gyrdyll   and  noth 

above. 
Lancastreshire,  fayre  archere ; 
Chestreshire,  thwakkere. 
Northumbreland,  hasty  and  hoot ; 
Westmorland,  tprut  Scotte. 
Yorkshire,  ful  of  knyghtys  ; 
Cambrygeshire,  ful  of  pykes  ; 
Holond,  ful  of  grete  dykes. 
Northfolk  ful  of  wyles ; 
Southfolk  ful  of  styles. 
I  am  of  Shropshire,  my  shines 

be  sharpe ; 
Ley  wode  to  the  fyre,  and  dresse 

me  my  harpe. 
Notynghamshire,  ful  of  hogges ; 
Derbyshire,  ful  of  dogges. 
Leycetershire,  ful  of  benys ; 
Staffordshire,  ful  of  quenys. 
Wilkshire,  fayre  and  playne ; 
Barkshyre,  fyll  the  wayne. 
Hampshire,  drye  and  wete  ; 
Somersetshire,  good  for  whete. 
Devenshire,  myghty  and  stronge ; 
Dorseteshire  wil  have  no  wronge. 
Pynnokshire  is  not  to  prayse ; 
A  man  may  go  it  in  to  dayes. 
Cornewayle,  ful  of  tynne  ; 
Walys,  full  of  goote  and  kene. 
That  Lord  that  for  us  alldydedye. 
Save  all  these  shires  !     Amen, 

say  we. 

MS.  Rawlinson ;  Leland's 
Itin. ,hy  Hearne,  V.,  xxvi. 


THE  BLAZONS  OF  THE  SHIRES. 

As  he  the  surface  thus,  So  likewise  will  he  show 
The  clownish  blazons  to  each  country  long  ago, 
Which  those  unletter'd  times  with  blind  devotion  lent, 
Before  the  learned  maids  our  fountains  did  frequent. 


231 


BLAZONS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 


To  show  the  Muse  can  shift  her  habit,  and  she  now 
Of  Palatins  that  sung,  can  whistle  to  the  plough  ; 
And  let  the  curious  tax  his  clownry,  with  their  skill 
He  recks  not,  but  goes  on,  and  say  they  what  they  will. 
"  Kent,  first  in  our  account,  doth  to  itself  apply," 
Quoth  he,  "this  blazon  first,  '  Long  tails  and  liberty.' 
Sussex  with  Surrey  say,  '  Then  let  us  lead  home  logs.' 
As  Hampshire  long  for  her  hath  had  the  term  of  '  Hogs,' 
So  Dorsetshire,  of  long,  they  '  Dorsers '  us'd  to  call. 
Cornwal  and  Devonshire  cry,  '  We  '11  wrestle  for  a  fall.' 
Then  Somerset  says,  '  Set  the  bandog  on  the  bull.' 
And  Glo'stershire  again  is  blazon'd,  '  Weigh  thy  wool.' 
As  Berkshire  hath  for  hers,  '  Let 's  to  't  and  toss  the  ball,' 
And  Wiltshire  will  for  her,  '  Get  home  and  pay  for  all.' 
Rich  Buckingham  doth  bear  the  term  of  '  Bread  and  beef. 
Where  if  you  beat  a  bush  'tis  odds  you  start  a  thief.' 
So  Hertford  blazon'd  is,  '  The  club  and  clouted  shoon ' ; 
Thereto,  '  I  '11  rise  betime  and  sleep  again  at  noon.' 
When  Middlesex  bids,  '  Up  to  London  let  us  go. 
And  when  our  market 's  done,  we  '11  have  a  pot  or  two.' 
As  Essex  hath  of  old  been  named,  '  Calves  and  stiles,' 
Fair  Suffolk,  '  Maids  and  milk,'  and  Norfolk,  '  Many  wiles.' 
So  Cambridge  hath  been  call'd,  '  Hold  nets  and  let  us  win  ' ; 
And  Huntingdon,  'With  stilts  we'll  stalk  through  thick  and  thin.' 
Northamptonshire  of  long  hath  had  this  blazon,  '  Love 
Below  the  girdle  all,  but  little  else  above.' 
An  outcry  Oxford  makes,  '  The  scholars  have  been  here, 
And  little  though  they  paid,  yet  have  they  had  good  cheer.' 
Quoth  warlike  Warwickshire,  '  I  '11  bind  the  sturdy  bear ' ; 
Quoth  Wor'stershire  again,  '  And  I  will  squirt  the  pear.' 
Then  Staffordshire  bids,  '  Stay,  and  I  will  beat  *  the  fire, 
And  nothing  will  I  ask  but  goodwill  for  my  hire.' 
'  Bean-belly  Le'stershire '  her  attribute  doth  bear. 
And  '  Bells  and  bagpipes  '  next  belong  to  Lincolnshire. 
Of  '  Malthorse  'f  Bedfordshire  long  since  that  blazon  wan. 
And  little  Rutlandshire  is  termed  '  Raddleman.' 
To  Derby  is  assign'd  the  name  of  '  Wool  and  lead,' 
As  Nottingham's,  of  old,  (is  common)  '  Ale  and  bread.' 
So  Hereford  for  her  says,  '  Give  me  woof  and  warp,' 
And  Shropshire  saith  in  her,  '  That  shins  be  ever  sharp ; 
Lay  wood  upon  the  fire,  reach  hither  me  my  harp, 
And  whilst  the  black  bowl  walks  we  merrily  will  carp.' J 
Old  Cheshire  is  well  known  to  be  the  '  Chief  of  men,' 
'  Fair  women '  doth  belong  to  Lancashire  again. 
The  lands  that  over  Ouse  to  Berwick  forth  do  bear 
Have  for  their  blazon  had  the  '  SnafHe,  spur  and  spear.'  " 

M.  Drayton,  Polyolbion,  Song  xxiii.,  1622. 

*  Mend,  repair. 

t  A  slow,  dull,  heavy  horse,  such  as  is  used  by  brewers.  Used  by 
Shakespeare  as  a  term  of  contempt.  Com.  of  Err.,  iii.  i ;  Taming  of  the  Shrew, 
iv.  II. 

}  To  talk,  chat.     A-N.,  i.e.  as  long  as  the  drink  lasts. 

232 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  wales. 

WALES. 

See  Shropshire. 

Wales  full  of  gentlemen. — MS.  Harl. 

Wales  full  of  goote  and  kene. — MS.  Rawl. 

Taffy  [Davidl .— G.,  Diet. 

Welsh  flannel — snuff — wig. 

Hard  as  Severn  salmon,  dried  in  Wales. — Ned  Ward,  Nuptial 
Dialogues,  I.,  xiii.  1710. 

Gallant  little  Wales.  A  Gladstonian  compliment.  Cf.  Sharpham, 
Cupid's  Whirligig.     1607. 

Li  plus  ligier  (active)  en  Gales. — Dit  de  I'Apostoile,  13th  Cent. 

His  Welsh  blood  is  up.— F.  W. 

The  older  the  Welshman  the  more  madman. — Ho.,  p.  31. 

Archers  de  Walz.— Douce  MS.  98,  13th  Cy. 

A  gentleman  of  Wales, 

with  a  Knight  of  Gales,  [».«.  Cadiz*] 

and  a  lord  of  the  North  Countree, 

a  yeoman  of  Kent 

upon  a  rack-rent 

will  buy  them  out  all  three. — F.  W. 

*  See  sub  Kent,  p.  108. 
Like  the  Welshman's   cow,  little   and   deedy   [i.e.  good]. — Baker, 
N'hants  Gloss. 

Though  he  says  nothing  he  pays  it  [i.e.  makes  amends]  with  thinking, 
like  the  Welshman's  jackdaw. — R.,  1678.  See  Taylor,  Wit 
and  Mirth,  No.  8,  1629. 

Ni  cheitio  Cymbro  oni  goUo. 

The  Welshman  keeps  nothing  till  he  has  lost  it.  Seen  in  the 
tenaciousness  of  their  hold  on  their  castles  when  they  had 
recovered  them. — F.  W. 

The  Welshman  had  rather  see  his  dam  on  the  bier 
than  to  see  a  fair  Februeer. — R.,  1678. 

Wild  Wales. 

And  ships  them  to  the  new-named  virgin  land, 
or  wilder  Wales  where  never  wight  yet  won'nd. 

Bp.  Hall,  Sat.,Y.,  i.  113. 

He  that  is  born  in  Walys  or  small  brytayne. 

To  lerne  to  pyke  and  stele  nedys  nat  go  to  Rome. 

Barclay,  Ship  of  Fools,  i.  178. 

The  Lumbard  nation,  untrue  of  deed  and  mind. 

And  little  Brytayne  is  all  of  like  assent. — Ih.,  ii.  308. 
Cf.  Taffy  was  a  Welshman,  Taffy  was  a  thief. 

Calon  y  Sais  wrth  Cymro.  The  heart  of  an  Englishman  (or  Saxon) 
towards  a  Welshman,  i.e.  open  or  secret  hatred. — F.  W. 

233 


WALES.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

News  from  heaven,  hell,  and  the  land  of  whipperginnie. — Nash, 
The  Unforitmate  Traveller. 
The  Cambrian  game  of  Whip  her  ginny  or  English  one-and- 
thirty.— Taylor,  Wks.,  i.  325. 

And  thus  as  I  am  told  Ap  Owen 

is  now  confounded  into  Bowen, 

and  she  that  lately  was  Ap  Rice 

is  Anglicised  to  Mrs.  Price. — P.  Robin,  Mar.,  1730. 

Ferd.  Prithee,  what  countryman  art  thou  that  puts  so  many  R's 
into  thy  English  ? 

Porter.  A  Briton,  sir.  Glamorganshire,  sire  and  dam. — Killigrew, 
Thomaso,  I.,  i.  2. 

Giraldus  Cambrensis,  the  son  of  an  English  father  and  Welsh 
mother,  says  that  he  was  ever  beheld  oculo  novercali, 
because  being  a  Welshman  by  the  surer  side  and  then  such 
the  antipathy  of  the  English  they  thought  no  good  could 
come  out  of  Wales. — F.  W. 

Poor  Robin — an  Almanac  published  in  London  from  1663 — 1776,  the 
early  volumes  being  ascribed  to  Robert  Herrick — continually 
on  St.  David's  Day  recurs  to  chaff  and  even  abuse  the 
Welsh.  Under  March  i,  1735,  it  speaks  of  their  being 
carried  in  effigy  in  London.  A  Welshman  whose  house  had 
a  chimney  was  told  about  then  that  he  was  in  a  fair  way  of 
being  pricked  for  High  Sheriff. — Globe,  17/6,  '84. 

Bu  Arthur  ond  tra  fu,  i.e.  Arthur  was  not  but  while  he  was. — F.  W- 

It  is  sad  to  say  "  Nos  fuimus  Trojes."  The  greatest  eminency  when 
not  extant  is  extinct.  "  The  Fryer  never  loved  what  was 
good."— F.  W. 

Crogging  !  Crogging  ! — F.  W.  A  rallying  cry  used  by  the  English 
in  battle  in  memory  of  the  Welsh  having  defeated  them  in 
the  attempt  to  take  Croggen  Castle,  Denbighshire,  temp. 
Hen.  n.     Croggen,  nickname  for  Welsh. — Drayt.  Polyolb.,  ix, 

Ne  thorres  Arthur  Nawdd  gwraig  [i.e.  Arthur  did  never  violate  the 
refuge  of  a  woman]. — F.  W.  Some  suppose  this  to  mean  her 
tongue,  which  he  granted  free  course. — F.  W. 

A  North- Wale-ian.  A  South- Wale-ian.  The  Wye  as  a  natural 
line  of  separation  dividing  the  inhabitants,  they  thus  speak 
of  each  other.  The  people  of  the  North  pride  themselves  on 
the  superior  purity  of  race  and  language. 

The  Welsh  ambassador  or  leiger,  i.e.  the  cuckoo.'^Northall,  F.P. ; 
Middleton,  Your  Five  Gallants,  vi. ;  A  Trick  to  Catch  the  Old 
One,  iv.  5. 

Give  your  horse  a  Welsh  baif^  [to  survey  the  country  and  refresh 
the  horse]. 

*  i.e.  a  rest  at  the  top  of  the  hill.— F.  W.     Others  call  this  a  Scottish  bait.— 
F.  W. 

A  Welsh  bitch  makes  a  Cheshire  cat,  and  a  Cheshire  cat  makes  a 
Lancashire  witch.     (And  see  under  Bristol.)     The  "  harlot' 
progress  in  factory  towns." — N.,  IX.,  ii.  134. 

234 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  wales. 

Dvyfat.     What !   art  thou  a  Welsh  carrier,  a   Northern   landlord : 
thou  'rt  so  saucy  ? — Middleton,  Yonr  Five  Gallants,  iv.  2. 

A  Welsh  comh,  i.e.  the  thumb  and  four  fingers. — Grose.     Called  also 

an  Alman  (or  German)  comb. — Urquhart's  Rabelais,  I.,  xxi. 
A  Welsh  cousin. — Polwhele,  Hist,  of  Cornwall,  v. 

uncle.     Brother  of  an  aunt  by  marriage. 
The  Welshman's  hug,  i  e.  the  itch. — Elworthy,  W.  Somerset  Word- 
book. 
A  Welsh  cricket,  i.e.  a  louse. — Greene,  A  Quip  for  an  Upstart  Courtier ; 

P.  Robin,  Oct.,  1742. 
A  Welsh  ejectment.     Unroofing  the  house  to  get  rid  of  the  tenant. — 

Grose. 
A  V\f&\sh.  falconer,     i.e.  an  owl. — Beaumont  and  Fletcher. 
A  Welsh  goose.     A  bullock's  heart,  stufft  with  sage  and  onions 

Cf.  A  German  duck,  i.e.  a  sheep's  head  similarly  drest. 
The  Welsh  honour.     The  tenth  card  of  the  trump  suit. — Gomme, 

Gent.  Mag.  (Dialect  vol.),  p.  204. 
A  Welsh  main  [at  cockfighting],  where  all  must  fight  to  death. — 

Scott,  Fair  Maid  of  Perth,  ii.  71. 
He  may  have  her  for  asking,  as  they  said  of  a  Welsh  maidenhead. — 

Congreve,  The  Way  of  the  World,  iii.  6. 
Like  a  Welsh  mile,  long  and  narrow — G.     (Tedious— G.) 
A  'Welsh,  pancake.     A  cow-turd. 
In  tough  Welsh  parsley,  whic'n  in  our  vulgar  tongue  is  strong  hempen 

halters. — Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  The  Elder  Brother,  i. 
As  long  as  a  Welsh  pedigree. — F.  W. 

So  that  any  Welsh  gentleman  (if  this  be  not  a  Tautology)  can 
presently  climb  up  by  the  stairs  of  his  pedigree  into  princely 
extraction. — F.  W. 

Like  a  Welch  gentleman,  that  tacks  his  kin 
To  all  coats  in  the  country  he  lives  in. 

R.  Fletcher,  Martiall  his  Epigrams,  i8g.     1656. 
A  Welsh  rabbit  [rare  bit],  of  cheese  toasted.     G.,  Diet. 
A  Welshman's  hose,  i.e.  none  at  all. — Mirror  for  Magistrates,  p.  278. 
As  Welchmen  do  love  fire,  salt,  and  drink, 
the  Frenchmen  women,  weapons,  horses, 
So  Englishmen  do  especially  like  good  cheare,  lands  and  traffique. 

Welsh  Triad  in  Camden's  Remains,  p.  21  [of  1870  reprint]. 
The  Welsh  are  liberal,  the  French  courteous,  the  English  confi- 
dent.—/&. 
The  Seven  Wonders  of  [North]  Wales : 

The  Tower  of  Wrexham  Church  (Denb.).     The  "great  organ 
at  Wricksom  "  is  mentioned  by  Wm.  Rowley. — A   Shoe- 
maker, a  Gentleman,  iii.  1638;  also  F.  W. 
the  twelve  Bells  of  Gresford  Church  (Denb.). 
the  Yew  of  Overton  Churchyurd  (Flint.),  30ft.  in  girth  ;  another 
tree  grows  on  the  tower. 

235 


ANGLESEA.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

the  Holy  Well  of  St.  Winifred  (Flint.).  Taylor  (W.  P.),  Navy 
of  Land  Ships,  cites  it  for  its  cures. 

the  Bridge  of  Llangollen  (Denb.),  one  of  three  built  by  Bp. 
Trevor,  1345. 

the  Gate  of  Chirk  Castle  (Denb.),  ironwork.  [Snowdon  instead. 
— A.  Roberts.] 

the  Waterfall  Pistyll,  Rhayader  (S.  Denb.),  i.e.  the  Spout  Fall 
of  the  river  Moat,  242  feet  in  height. 

You  may  as  vsrell  try  to  break  up  St.  Beuno's  chest.     See  Pennant's 
Tour,  ii.  399.     1818. 

Llanllwch  fu,  Caerfyrddin  sydd,  Abergwili  saif.     See  Murray's  Hdbk. 
was,  Caerrnarthen  is,  Abergwili  shall  stand. 

(Attributed  to  Merlin.)— iV.,  VII.,  vi.  231. 
Llandaf  y  sydd, 
Llandaf  a  fydd, 
Llandaf  a  go  dir  o  gerig  Caerdydd. 

LlandafF  now  stands, 

Llandaflf  will  always  stand, 

With  Cardiff  stones  will  Llandaff  be  built. — lb. 

Roderic  the  Great  divided  Wales  betwixt  his  three  sons  into  three 
dominions — N.  Wales,  S.  Wales,  and  Powis. — F.  W. 

[Rhodri  Mawr,  844 — 877,  divided  Wales  between  his  three 
sons  into  the  three  kingdoms  of  Gwynedd,  Powys,  and 
Deheubarth.  See  Rhys  and  Jones,  Welsh  People,  p.  144. 
—Ed.] 

This  division  lasted  up  to  Hen.  VIII.,  when  the  country  was 
divided  into  shires. — F.  W. 


ANGI^BSBA. 

It  was  an  island  (hugg'd  in  Neptune's  arms 
As  tending  it  against  all  foreign  harms) ; 
And  Mona  hight,  so  amiably  fair. 
So  rich  in  soil,  so  healthful  in  her  air. 
So  quick  in  her  increase  (each  dewy  night 
Yielding  that  ground  as  green,  as  fresh  of  plight 
As  'twas  the  day  before,  whereon  then  fed 
Of  gallant  steers  full  many  a  thousand  head). 
So  deck'd  with  floods,  so  pleasant  in  her  groves, 
So  full  of  well-fleec'd  flocks  and  fatten'd  droves. 
That  the  brave  issue  of  the  Trojan  line     .     .     . 
Those  brave  heroic  spirits  'twixt  one  another 
Proverbially  call'd  Mona  Cambria's  mother, 
Yet  Cambria  is  a  land  from  whence  have  come 
Worthies  well  worth  the  race  of  Ilium. 

W.  Browne,  Britannia's  Pastorals,  II.  i. 

Mon  mam  Cymbry,  i.e.  Anglesea  is  the  mother  of  Wales.- 
F.  W. 

236 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  Carnarvon. 

Yet  (from  her  proper  worth)  as  she  before  all  other 

Was  called  (in  former  times)  the  country  Cambria's  mother. 

Drayton,  Polyolh.  Song,  ix.  389,  and  Selden's  note 
quoting  Giraldus  Cambrensis. 
In  such  sense,  as  Sicily  was  called  Italy's  storehouse.— Strabo, 

lib.  S. 
Claimed  as  Mona  of  the  Romans  because  Tacitus  says  that  the 
Roman  foot  (under  Paulinas)  swam  over  from  Britain  to 
Mona.— F.  W. 
Beaumaris.     Little  London  beyond  Wales,  so  called  because  the 
inhabitants  speak  good  English. — R.,  1678. 

BRBCKNOCKSHIRB. 

.  .  .  the  vulgar  error  which  falsely  reporteth  this  county  the 
worst  in  Wales.  Let  it  suffice  for  me  to  say  this  is  not  it, 
and  which  it  is  let  others  determine. — F.  W. 
BuiLTH.  The  inhabitants  of  a  village  in  Wales  where  the  last 
Welsh  prince  [Llewelyn]  was  betrayed  into  the  hands  of 
Longshanks  [Edw.  I.]  are  still  called  Traitors. — Chambers, 
Pop.  Rhymes  of  Scotland,  p.  282.  This  was  in  the  middle  of 
the  13th  Cy. 

CARDIGANSHIRE. 

Called   "the    devil's    grandmother's    jointure"   (owing  to   its 
proverbial    barrenness). — Wirt  Sikes.     Old  South  Wales, 
ch.  X.  I. 
Cardys  y  Blaenau 
Hirion  eu  coesau. 

i.e.  the  folks  of  the  upper  part  of  the  county  are  long-legged. 
The  Levitical  county.  Every  farmer  breeds  a  parson  and  a  pig. 
Talaeth,  talaeth.     Fine,  fine  !     A  word  of  praise — F.  W.     See 

his  note. 
Uchenaid  Gwyddno  Garanhir, 
pan  droes  y  don  dros  ei  dir. 
The  sigh  of  Gwyddno  Garanhir 
When  the  wave  rolled  over  his  land. 

[5««  Lady  Guest's  MaUnogion,  Vol.  Ill,  397. — Ed.J 

See  Welsh  Names  of  Places,  by  J.  James, 
Bristol,  1869,  p.  102. 

CARNARYONSHIRE. 

Aberdaron. 

The  simple  folk  of  Aberdaron.     The  Gotham  of  Wales.     See 
A.  Roberts,  Gossiping  Guide  to  Wales. 
Clwyd.     Diange  ar  Gluyd  a  boddi  ar  Gonwy. 

To  escape  Clwyd*  and  be  drowned  in  Conway*  (Carnar.) — 
F.W. 
*  These  rivers  are  20  miles  asunder.     The  last  is  the  inferior  in  size. 

237 


GLAMORGAN.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Llanberis  (Vale  of).     The  Welsh  Chamounix. 

Llandudno.     The  Welsh  Brighton.     Ascribed  to  Sheridan  by  the 

elder  Matthews  in  a  letter  addressed  to  his  son  at  Mold. — 

Memoirs  of  Charles  Matthews.,  504. 
Snowdon.     Craig   Eriry   will   yield   sufScient  pasture  for  all  the 

cattle  of  Wales  put  together. — F.  W. 

DENBIGHSHIRE. 

He  is  become  a  Clough.  Sir  Richard  Clough  (temp.  Eliz.),  a 
native  of  Denbighshire,  raised  himself  from  a  poor  boy  to 
the  highest  eminence  as  a  British  merchant.  He  was  a 
friend  of  Sir  Thomas  Gresham.  Buried  at  Hamburg. — 
Murray. 
Wrexham.  The  Metropolis  of  North  Wales. — A.  Roberts.  See 
Seven  Wonders. 

FlilNTSHIRE. 

Harden  Jews.     The  story  goes  that  the  inhabitants  of  Hawarden 
(Flintshire),   in   946,   having   prayed  ineffectually   to   the 
Virgin  in  a  time  of  drought,  tried  her  and  sentenced  her  to 
death  by  drowning,  and  so  cast  her  image  into  the  sea, 
from  whence  it  was  cast  up  at  Chester.    Hence  the  rhyme  : 
"  The  Jews  their  God  did  crucify, 
The  Hardners  theirs  did  drown,"  &c. 
?  whether  this  is  not  a  play  on  the  word  hard :  "  Harder  of 
belief  than  Jews  "  occurs  in  Taylor's  Merry  Wherry  Voyage 
as  a  proverbial  expression. 
Haordine  was  the  original  spelling. — Egerton  Leigh,  Ballads  of 
Cheshire,  p.  304,  n. 
Holt  Uons  [5  m.  N.E.  of  Wrexham] .     So  called  by  their  Cheshire 
neighbours.     (It  is  opposite  Farndon.) — Haz.,  2d  Ed.     A 
Border  taunt. 
Hope.     I  '11  live  in  Hope  if  I  live  in  Caergwrle.    The  Hope  mountain 
and  village  is  near  Wrexham,  Caergwrle  being  the  station 
and  a  hamlet  in  the  parish  of  Hope. — A.  Roberts. 
Mold.         Were  I  to  curse  the  man  I  hate 
From  youth  till  I  grow  old, 
Oh  might  he  be  condemned  by  fate 

To  waste  his  days  in  Mold. 
Pretty  Mold,  proud  people, 
handsome  church  without  a  steeple. — A.  Roberts.    1760. 

OliAMORGANSHIRE. 

The  Garden  of  Wales.— F.  W. 
Caerphilly.     It 's  gone  to  Caerphilly.     Said  of  anything  irrecover- 
ably lost,  owing  to  the  rapacity  of  the   Mortimers  and 
Spencers,  favourites  of  Edward  II.  in  the  14th  century. 

238 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Pembroke. 

Merthyr  Tydvil.     Jocosely  corrupted  to  "  Mother  Tiddle." 
Penrice,   mentioned  as  a  place  of  pilgrimage. — Latimer,   Works, 
395,  Parker  Soc. 

MERIONETHSHIRE. 

Some  think  'tis  from  the  impassable  mountains  [the  Black 
mountain]  of  this  county  that  we  have  an  old  saying, 
"  That  the  Devil  lives  in  the  Middle  of  Wales  "  ;  though 
I  know  there  is  another  meaning  given  to  it — in  a  word, 
Mr.  Camden  called  these  parts  "The  Alps  of  Wales" 
(A  tourist  of  a  century  back.) — A.  Roberts.     ?  Gibson. 

Barmouth.  The  sand  of  the  shore  is  found  in  everything  you  eat 
there  except  the  eggs. 
The  sand  of  Barmouth  is  proverbial,  and  it  is  a  common 
remark  that  when  the  wind  is  in  certain  quarters  it  pene- 
trates everything  you  eat  there  except  eggs,  and  these  you 
must  despatch  quickly. — A.  Roberts. 

Cader  Idris.     If  you  sleep  on  Cader  Idris,  you  will  wake  a  poet, 
mad,  or  not  at  all. 

DOLGELLY. 

1 .  The  walls  thereof  are  three     i .  The  mountains  that  surround 

miles  high.  it. 

2.  Men  come  into  it  over  the    2.  On  a  fair  bridge. 

waterbut. 

3.  Go   out   of    it  under    the     3.  Falling  from  a  rock,  and  con- 

water,  veyed  in  a  wooden  trough 

(under  which  Travellers 
must  make  shift  to  pass) 
to  drive  an  overshot  mill. 

4.  The  Steeple  thereof  doth    4.  The  Bells  (if  plural)  hang  in 

grow  therein.  a  yew-tree. 

5.  There  are  more  alehouses    5.  Tenements  are  divided  into 

than    houses,    or    more  two. 

tippling  houses  and  chim- 
neyless  Barns  used  to 
that  purpose. — F.  W. 

MONTGOMERYSHIRE. 

Pywys  Paradwys  Cymry. 

Powis  is  the  Paradise  of  Wales. — F.  W.    [Taliesin.J     The  country 

surrounding   Welshpool    and    Powis    Castle,   now   called 

Powisland. 
Formerly  all  the  land  between  Severn  and  Wye. — F.  W. 

PEMBROKESHIRE. 

When  Percelty*  wears  a  hat, 

all  Pembrokeshire  shall  weet  of  that. — N.  and  Q.,  I.,  viii.  616. 
*  Mynydd  Preseley. 

239 


RIVERS.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Little  England  beyond  Wales.— Cam.,  Brit. ;  J.  Taylor  (W.  P.), 
Worhs,  Spenser  Soc,  4to,  p.  19.  In  Pembrokeshire  many 
of  the  people  can  speak  no  Welsh. — R.,  1678.  "  More 
than  half  inhabited  by  the  English." — Ho. 

MiLFORD  Haven. 

Dangers  in  Milford  there  are  hone, 

save  the  Crowe,  and  the  Carre,  and  the  Castle  Stone. 

St.  David's. 

Once  to  Rome  thy  steps  incline, 

but  visit  twice  St.  David's  shrine. — N.  and  Q.,  L,  viii.  616. 
Two  of  the  latter   being  equivalent   to   one   pilgrimage   to 
Rome.— Full,  Ch.  Hist.,  III.,  xii.  25. 
Roma  semel  quantum : 
bis  dat  Menaevia  tantum  (indulgences). 

RADNORSHIRE. 

Alas,  alas !  poor  Radnorshire, 

never  a  park  nor  ever  a  deer, 

nor  ever  a  squire  of  five  hundred  a  year, 

save  Sir  Richard  Fowler  of  Abbey  Cwm  Hir. 

A  Herefordshire  taunt. — Cambrian  Quarterly  Magazine,  iv.  467. 

1833- 
Murray  says  that  he  built  the  Abbey  Church  thesse  in  1680,  and 
gives  it  thus : — 

There  is  neither  a  park  nor  a  deer 
to  be  seen  in  all  Radnorshire, 
nor  a  man  with  five  hundred  a  year 
save  Fowler  of  Abbey  Cwm  Hir. 
Higson,  174  in  Hazlitt,  begins  thus  : 

"  In  Radnorshire  is  neither  knight  nor  peer.'' 

RIVERS. 

Gwan  dy  Bawl  yn  Hafren,  Hafren  fydd  hifel  cynt. 
Fix  thy  pale   [with    intent   to    fence   out    his   water]   in   Severn, 
Severn  will  be  as  before. — F.  W.     Applicable  to  those  who 
attempt  impossibilities  and  defy  the  powers  of  Nature. — F.  W. 
Y  Tair  Chiwiorydd.     The  three  Sisters,  Severn,  Wye,  and  Rhiddiall, 
all  rising  out  of  the  S.W.  side  of  Plynlimmon  (Montgomery- 
shire), within  a  few  paces  of  each  other. 
The  tradition  is  that  they  were  to  run  a  race  which  should  be 
first  married  to  the  ocean.    Severn  and  Wye,  having  a  great 
journey  to  go  [to  the  Bristol  Channel] ,  chose  their  way 
through  soft  meadows  and  kept  on  a  Traveller's  pace ;  while 
Rhiddiall,  presuming  on  her  short  journey  [to  the  Irish 
Sea],  stayed  before  she  went  out,  and  then,  to  recover  her 
lost  time,  runs  furiously  in  a  distracted  manner  with  her 
mad  stream  over  all  opposition. — F.  W. 

240 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  Scotland 


SCOTLAND. 


Men  of  the  South,  Gentlemen  of  the  North,  People  of  the  West,  and 
Folk  of  Fife. — Scott,  Tales  of  My  Landlord :  Dedication.    1816. 

Qui  la  France  veut  gagner 

a  I'Escosse  faut  commencer.     Cf.  Shak.,  Hen.  V.,  i.  2  ;  M.  of  V.,  i.  2. 

Quod  non  fecerunt  Goti, 

id  fecerunt  Scoti. 

He  that  will  England  win 

must  with  Scotland  first  begin. — F.  W. ;  Haz.,  n.,  189. 

See  Hall's  Chron.,  1548 ;  Holinshed,  1577 ;  Famous  Victories  of 
Hen.  v.,  in  Hazlitt's  Shak.  Library,  v.  350,  where  it  is 
quoted  as  "the  old  saying." 

God  and  nature  hath  so  combined  and  chaunged  their  likings  to 
their  country  a's  they  will  say  with  the  Scottish  man  when 
he  comes  to  London  or  to  the  fairest  town  in  Europe  that 
(Edenborowe  except)  it  is  the  godliest  place  he  ever  set  his 
foot  in. — Arthur  Hall,  Admonition  by  the  father  of  F.  A.  to  him, 
1579,  p.  88  ;  repr.  1815. 

Scotland  that  knuckle-end  of  England,  that  land  of  Calvin,  oat- 
cakes and  sulphur. — Sydney  Smith,  Memoirs,  ii. 

The  land  o'  Cakes.  Said  to  have  been  originally  applied  to  the 
Buchan  district  only. — View  of  the  Diocese  of  Aberdeen,  1732. 

Oats,  food  for  men  in  Scotland ;  in  England,  for  horses. — Johnson, 
Did.     Cf.  Chesnuts  in  Corsica. 

The  healsome  parritch,  chief  of  Scotia's  food. — Burns,  Cotter's 
Saturday  Night,  xi. 

The  Highlands.  Tir  nan  gleauns,  nam  beanns  nam  breacan. 
i.e.  the  land  of  glens,  of  hills,  and  of  plaids.  —  Chambers, 
Pop.  Rhymes  of  Scotland. 

Hareship  in  the  Highlands  ;  the  pens  in  the  corn  ; 

if  the  cocks  go  in,  it  will  never  be  shorn. 

An  ironical  outcry  upon  a  small  loss. — K, 

Herschip,  heirschip.  Wreck  of  property. — K.— Jamieson,  Diet,  of 
Scottish  Lang. 

Judas  might  have  repented  before  he  could  have  found  a  tree  to  have 
hanged  himself  upon,  had  he  betrayed  Christ  in  Scotland. — 
Ho. 

A  Scotish  mist  will*  wet  an  Englishman  to  the  skin. — With.,  1616  ; 
CI.;  F.W. 

*  may. — F.  W.,  who  assigns  it  to  the  Northumbrian  border. 

Where  the  old  prov.  of  a  Scotish  mist  was  verified,  in  wetting  me  to 
the  skin. — Nash,  Pierce  Pennilesse. 

Day  sinks,  but  twilight  owes  the  traveller  soon 

To  reach  his  bourne  a  round  unclouded  moon  ; 

Bespeaking  long  unclouded  hours  of  time  : 

False  hope — the  Scots  are  stedfast,  not  their  clime. — T.  Campbell, 
Pilgrim  of  Glencoe,  ii. 

VOL.  I.  241  16 


SCOTLAND.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Cain  in  disgrace  with  Heav'n  retired  to  Nod, 

A  place  undoubtedly  as  far  from  God 

As  Cain  could  wish,  which  makes  some  think  he  went 

As  far  as  Scotland  ere  he  pitch'd  his  tent ; 

And  there  a  city  built  of  ancient  fame, 

Which  he  from  Eden  Edin-burgh  did  name. 

Written  on  a  window  at  Belford,  near  Berwick. — Roger  Gale, 
173,  Religida  Galeana. 

The  Curse  of  Scotland  :  the  nine  of  diamonds.  From  its  similarity 
to  St.  Andrew's  Cross.  (Cors,  Corse.  The  cross  or  rood. — 
Jamieson.) 

Jockie.  A  famihar  abbreviation  of  John  in  its  mean  sense. — Racket, 
Life  of  Williams,  ii.  142,  223  ;  Nash,  LenUn  Stuffe. 

Sandy  (pronounced  Sawney)  from  Alexander. 

A  Scotch  cousin. 

A  Scotch  bonnet. 

Scotch  bread  [short  bread]. 

Scotch  broth. 

Every  Scottishman  has  a  pedigree. — Sir  Walter  Scott,  Autobiography, 
ch.  i. 

Mess  John.     A  Scotch  Presbyterian  parson. — G.,  Diet. 

A'  Stewarts  are  no  sub  (sib)  to  the  King. — K. 

A'  Campbells  are  no  sib  to  the  Duke. — Hen. 

Les  Ecossais  sont  lions  dans  la  battaille  et  agneaux  dans  la  maison. 
(Said  of  the  Highlanders  at  Waterloo.) 

Hielanders — shoulder  to  shoulder. — Hen. 

Showther  to  showther 

stands  steel  and  powther.— A.  Cunningham,  Gloss,  to  Burns. 

As  like  one  another  as  a  Scot  and  a  Redshank. — Ho.,  New  Sayings,  iv. 

Redshanks. — Spenser,  State  of  Iceland, 

He  has  a  kind  of  Hieland  honesty — he 's  honest  after  a  sort,  as  they 
say. — Scott,  Rob  Roy. 

The  Englishman  greets,* 

the  Irishman  sleeps, 

but  the  Scotchman  gangs  while  f  he  gets  it. — K. 

A  pretended  account  of  the  behaviour  of  these  three  nations 
when  they  want  meat. 

*  [weeps]        t  i.e.  till. 

A  Scotish  man  and  a  Newcastle  grindstone  travel  all  the  world  over. 
F.  W.,  Northumberland. 

A  Scot,  a  rat,  and  a  Newcastle  grindstone  [*are  found]  all  the  world 

over. — [MS.  n.  in  Sir  J.  Banks'  copy  of  Ray  in  B.M.] 

*  Travel.— Gr.,  1790. 

242 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Scotland. 

Vous  saur6s  qu'on  dit  en  proverbe 

Que  d'Ecossois,  de  rats,  de  poux, 

De  soliciteurs,  de  filous, 

Et  de  messieurs  qui  scavent  battre 

L'argent,  qui  les  fait  souvent  battre 

Ceux  qui  voyagent  jusqu'au  bout 

Du  monde  en  rencontrent  partout. — "La  Semaine  Burlesqwe," 

Pierre  Le  Jolle,  Description  de  la  Ville  d' Amsterdam,  1666,  p.  25. 

A  Scotchman  is  never  at  home  but  when  he's  abroad. — N.,  VIIL, 
V.  356.     See  An  Englishman. 

Set  a  Scotchman  in  the  sand  and  he  will  grow. 

A  Scotchman  is  one  who  keeps  the  Sabbath  and  every  other  darned 
thing  he  can  lay  his  hands  on. 

A  Scotchman  crosses  the  Border  as  soon  as  he  can  and  never 
returns  *. — Seton. 

*  Never  gangs  back  to  his  ain  countree. 

King  Jamie's  cow  was  the  only  creature  known  to  return. — Denham, 
Folh  Lore  of  the  Northern  Counties. 

The  Union  betwixt  England  and  Scotland  like  oil  mixt  with  vinegar, 
— Ho.,  New  Sayings. 

Three  failures  and  a  fire  make  a  Scotsman's  fortune. — Hen. 

A  Scotch  prize.  A  mistake  :  worse  than  no  prize,  or  one  liable  to 
hamper  with  heavy  law-expenses. — Smyth,  Sailor's  Word  Bock. 

The  Scottes  ...  by  a  certain  proverb  that  they  have  amonges 

'  them  in  theyr  communicacyon  whereby  they  give  the  whole 

prayse  of  shoting  honestlye  to  Englysshemen,  saying  thus 

that  He  shooteth  like  a  Scot,  i.e.  badly. — Bp.  Pilkington, 

Sermons,  Parker  Soc,  c.  1560,  p.  428. 

Every  English  archer  beareth  under  his  girdle  twenty-four*  Scots. — 

Ascham,  Toxoph.,  ed.  Arber,  p.  84. 
*  Twenty-three. 
You  have  a  Scotish  tongue  in  your  head,  i.e.  you  can  ask  your  way 

if  you  don't  know  it. 

I  hae  a  Scotch  tongue  in  my  head :  if  they  speak  I'se  answer. — Hen. 

"  Salvo  jure  calcoli,"  disse  Scoto. — Florio,  Giardino.  i.e.  provided 
the  account  be  right  balanced. — Tor. 

Esser  sottile  che  non  fu  Scotto. — BoUa,  Prov.  Bergamasc. 

Callings  followed  by  Scotchmen  :  Bailiff  or  grieve,  baker,  bookseller, 
banker,  doctor,  farmer,  merchant  in  foreign  and  far  countries, 
gardener,  gamekeeper,  pedler  or  packman. 

It  is  said  that  a  Scot  will  prove  false  to  his  Father  and  dissemble 
with  his  brother. — Taylor  (Water  Pt.),  Christmas  in  and  out. 
1652. 

As  false  as  a  Scot. — R.,  1670. 

A  Scot  on  Scot's  bank. — R.,  1678. 

As  hard-hearted  as  a  Scot  of  Scotland. — R.,  1678. 

243 


SCOTLAND.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

He  was  as  hard  with  me  as  if  I  had  been  the  wild  Scot  of  Galloway, 
i.e.  dealt  with  me  rigorously  and  severely. — K.  The  Wild 
Scots  o'  Galloway  were  the  Highlanders  of  their  day  in 
fighting  reputation.     See  Mactaggart,  Gallovidian  Encyc. 

Rage  rules  the  Portuguese  and  fraud  the  Scotch, 
Revenge  the  Pole  and  avarice  the  Dutch. 

Defoe,  True-horn  Englishman. 

We  will  not  lose  a  Scot.  (A  contemptuous  phrase  for  a  thing  of  least 
value.)     A  Northumbrian  saying  before  the  Union.— F.  W. 

Hit  her  hard  ;  she 's  a  Scot.  Two  contemptuous  Border  sayings. — 
Den.,  F.  L.  of  Northumberland. 

Scotch  and  English.  A  name  in  Cumberland  for  the  game  of 
prisoner's  base. — Hll. 

Li  plus  truant  en  Escoce  (beggarly). — Dits  de  I'Apostoile,  13th  Cy. 

Non  andrei  a  Scotia  s'io  v'havessi  lasciato  un  occhio. — Ho.,  who 
reads  it,  "  I  would  not  go  there  even  to  recover  it.'' 

Qui  m'aura  perdu  ne  m'aille  chercher  en  Eccosse. — Ho. 

Cf.  Chi  ha  da  far  col  Tosco 
non  bisogna  esser  Iosco. 

Ye  fand  it  where  the  Hielandman  fand  the  tangs,  i.e.  in  their  proper 
place  at  the  fireside.  A  proverbial  manner  of  saying  that  a 
thing  has  been  stolen,  in  reply  to  those  who  say  they  found 
it.— Hen. 

It  is  ill  getting  breek  aff  a  Hielandman. — Ry. 

It 's  hard  to  tak'  the  breeks  aiF  a  Hielandman. 

Fier,  comme  un  Ecossais. — Adages  Franc,  16th  Cy. 

Jurer  comme  un  Ecossois. — Prov.  Flameng  Francois,  i6th  Cy. 

The  devil  ride  through  thee  booted  and  spurred  with  a  scythe  on  his 
back,  as  the  Scotchman  says. — Massinger,  The  City  Madam, 
ii.  2. 

J'ay  la  conscience  aussy  large  que  les  houseaux  d'un  Ecossois. — 
Gringoire,  Menus  Propos,  15th  Cy. 

It  requires  a  surgical  operation  to  get  a  joke  well  into  a  Scotch 
understanding.  Their  only  idea  of  wit,  or  rather  that  infinite 
variety  of  this  electric  talent  which  prevails  in  the  North, 
and  which  under  the  name  of  "  wut  "  is  so  infinitely  distressing 
to  people  of  good  taste,  is  laughing  immoderately  at  stated 
intervals. — Sydney  Smith,  Memoirs. 

A  Scotsman  is  aye  wise  behind  hand. — Ferg. 

A  Scotish  man  is  wise  behind  the  hand.  K.  says  that  his  warm 
temper  makes  him  easily  imposed  upon. 

Tres  Principes  maximis  calamitatibus  subjecti :  Rex  Scotiae,  Dux  in 
Anglia,  comes  in  Belgio. — Tr.,  f.  47  ro. 

Scotsmen  reckon  aye  frae  an  ill  hour. — Ferg. 

244 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  Scotland. 

Scotish  men  take  ay  their  mark  from  a  mischief. — K.  A  Scotish 
man  solicited  the  Prince  of  Orange  to  be  made  an  ensign,  for 
he  had  been  a  sergeant  ever  since  His  Highness  ran  away 
from  Groll. — K. 

I  am  a  Liberal  because  I  am  a  Scotchman. — In  Raid's  Why  I  am  a 

Liberal,  1885. 
Ce  qui  est  la  contre-partie  du  diction  :  "  Vous  devez  etre  Ecossais, 
puisque  6tes  Libferal." — See  N.,  VIL,  iv.,  and  Independence 
Beige,  3o/io/'85. 
A  Border  burying  is  better  than  a  Carel  [Carlisle]  wedding,  i.e.  for 

festivity. — Gibson . 
"  Even  thus,"  quoth  she,  "  he  spake — and  then  spake  broad 
With  epithets  and  accents  of  the  Scots." — Edward  III.,  ii.  i. 
I  wish  you  may  have  Scotch  to  carry  you  to  bed.     (To  one  in  an 

incipient  state  of  intoxication  and  talking  Latin.). — K. 
A  Scots  bait.     A  halt  and  a  resting  on  a  stick,  as  practised  by 
pedlars. — G.,  Did. 
convoy. — J.     To  the  door.     Cf.  Aberdeen  and  Kelso, 
pint.     A  bottle  containing  two  quarts. — G.,  Diet. 
My  brothers,  let  us  breakfast  in  Scotland,  lunch  in  Australia,  and 

dine  in  France  to  our  lives'  end. — Henry  Kingsley. 
Ein  schottisch  Friihstuck  kostet  einen  pfennig. — Hesekiel. 
Pain  benist  d'Ecosse.     A  sodden  sheep's  liver. — Cotgr.,  i.e.  a  haggis 

(hachis). 
Scotch  chocolate.     Brimstone  and  milk. — G.,  Diet. 
Hot  and  hasty,  like  a  Scotch  jig. — Shak.,  Much  Ado,  ii.  i. 
The  Highland  fling. 
A  Scotish  warming-pan. — R.,  1678. 

In  these  raw  mornings  when  I  'm  freezing  ripe 
What  can  compare  with  a  tobacco-pipe  ? 
Prim'd,  cock'd,  and  toucht,  'twould  better  heat  a  man 
Than  ten  Bath  faggots  or  Scotch  warming-pan. 

S.  Wesley,  Maggots,  p.  36.    1685. 
The  chambermaid  occupying  the  bed.     A  wench  or  a  f  .  rt. — 
G.,  Diet. 
The  Scotch  fiddle.     The  itch.     Played  by  the  forefinger  upon  the 
hollow  below  the  thumb  of  the  other  hand.— HU. 
Itchland,  Louseland,  Scratchland. — G. 
The  Scotch  Ordinary.     (The  house  of  Office.)— R.,  1678. 
Scots  Greys.     Lice. — G.,  Diet. 
Biting*  and  scarting 
's  Scotch  folks'  wooing. — ^Ferg. 

*  Nipping  and  scarting. — Ry. 
A  Hieland  passion.     A  phrase  used  in  the  Lowlands  to  denote  a 

violent  but  temporary  ebullition  of  anger. — J. 
The  Hielandman's  ling.     The  act  of  walking  quickly  with  a  stride 
and  jerk. — J. 

245 


AYR.  LEAN'S  COLLECTANEA. 

ABERDKBNSHIRE. 

Aberdeen.     See  Montrose. 

The  Granite  City. 

The  brave  town  of  Aberdeen. — Spalding,  Battle  of  Havlaw. 

Mony  ane  speirs  the  road  to  Aberdeen  that  bides  i'  the  Aul'  town 

(a  mile  distant). — Mair,  Hdbk. 
Aberdeen  and  time  till  't !  quo'  the  wife  at  the  Loch  o'  Skene. — 

Mair,  Hdbk. 
He 's  an  Aberdeens  man,  taking* his  word  again. — Ferg.  i.e.  inconstant. 

*  Takes  — Ry.     He  may  take. — K. 
An    Aberdeen   man   ne'er  stands  to   the  word  that  hurts  him. — 

Mair,  Hdbk. 
Balgownie.     5^15  Don  in  Rivers. 
The  *gule  o'  the  Garioch,  [Gary] 
and  the  bowman f  [i.e.  farmer]  of  Mar; 
they  met  on  Bannachie :  | 
the  gule§  wan  the  war. — N.,  IV.,  xii. 

*  Grole  o'  the  Geerie. — Ch.        f  Bowmen, — Ch.        J  Bennochie.— Ch. 
§  Grole. — Ch.,  who  does  not  seem  to  understand  the  point  of  the  proverb. 

Turriff,  The  brig  o'  Turry, 

Weary  fa,  the  Trot  o'  Turry. — Ch.     i.e.  a  curse  befall. 

AYRSHIRE. 

Auld  Ayr.— Ch. 

Send  your  son  to  Ayr ; 

if  he  did  weel  here,  he  '11  do  weel  there. — Hen. 
Floak  and  Bloak  and  black  Drumbog, 
hungry  Gree  and  greedy  Glashogh ; 
dirty  doors  in  Wannockhead, 
mouUy  *  siller  in  Wylieland  ; 
taupy  t  wives  in  Bruntland, 
Witen  wives  in  Midland. 

Places  in  Fenwick  parish. — Ch. 

*  Mouldy.      +  Drabbish. 
Carrick  for  a  man,  Kyle  for  a  coo,  [these  are  sometimes  reversed] 
Cunningham  for  *corn  an'  here,  and  Galloway  for  woof. — Ch. 
*  Butter  and  cheese.        t  Woe  [wrecks]. 
Cunningham  for  butter  [and  cheese]. — N.,  I.,  v.  500. 
Like  the  dogs  o'  Dunragget,  ye  dow  na  bark  unless  ye  hae  your 

arse  at  char  [ajar] . — K. 
Doughtie  Auchengairn,  Dawine  and  Dahairn, 
Classgalloch,  the  Balloch,  the  Challoch, 

the  Chang  and  the  Cairn. — Mactaggart,  Gallo.  Encyl. 
Farms  near  the  Steps  of  Styncher. 
Donald  Din 
built  his  house  without  a  pin. — Ch. 

i.e.  Dundonald  Castle,  6  m.  S.W.  of  Rowallan. 

246 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  banff. 

There  stands  a  castle  in  the  West, 

They  call  it  Donald  Din  ; 
There's  no  nail  in  all  its  proof, 

Nor  yet  a  wooden  pin. 

West,  History  of  House  of  Rowallan. 

The  friars  o'  Faill  [near  Mauchlin] 

ne'er  wanted  ale ; 

they  made  gude  kail 

on  Fridays  when  they  fasted, 

an'  never  wanted  gear  eneuch 

as  long  as  their  neighbour's  lasted. — Murray. 

The  friars  o'  Faill 

gat  never  owre  hard  eggs  or  owre  thin  kail, 
for  they  made  their  eggs  thin  wi'  butter 
and  their  kail  thick  wi'  bread. — Ch. 

He  that  can  hear  Dumbuck  may  hear  Dumbarton.  A  Glasgow 
saying.  The  first  (in  Argyleshire)  is  further  than  Dumbarton. 
—Hen. 

Little  knows  the  wife  that  sits  by  the  fire 

How  the  wind  blows  in  Hurle-burle  Swyre.* — Ferg. 

*  Sware.     A  pass  between  Nithsdale,  Teesdale,  and  Clydesdale. 


ARGTIiliSHIRE. 

It 's  a  far  cry  to  Loch  Awe  (alluding  to  the  enormous  stretch  of  the 
country  of  the  Campbells). 

The  fat  Loch  Fyne  herring  has  the  sobriquet  of  "  A  Glasgow 
magistrate." 

Oban  [20  m.  N.W.  of  Inverary].  The  Charing  Cross  of  the 
Highlands,  because  the  meeting-place  of  so  many  cross 
routes. 


BANFFSHIRB. 

Gae  to  Banff  and  buy  bend-leather. — J. 

bittle  or  beetle  bean. — J. 

bind  bickers  [beakers] . — J.,  Lothian. 

All  suggestive  of  useless  idle  labour. — J.     Cf.  Bath. 

Cauld  Carnousie  stands  on  a  hill, 

and  many  a  fremit  ane  gangs  theretill. — Ch. 

(A  property  much  given  to  change  of  ownership.) 

Fiddich-side  for  fertility.— WoWi,  -/5/'86.     The  Fiddich  is  a  river. 

Banff  it  is  a  borough  toon,  a  kirk  without  a  steeple,  [Brewer, 

a  midden  o'  dirt  at  ilky  door,  a  very  unceevil  people  (old  version). — 
a  bonnie  lass and  fine  ceevil . . .  (modern  version. — Id, 

247 


BERWICK.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

beristicrshire:. 

In  the  town  of  Auchencraw,* 
where  the  witches  bide  a'. — Ch. 

*  Pronounced  Edenshaw. 
Like  the  witches  o'  Auchencraw,  you  get  mair  for  your  ill  than 
your  gude. 

Little  Billy,  Billy  Mill, 
Billy  Mains  and  Billy  Hill ; 
Ashfield  and  Auchencraw, 
BuUerhead  and  Pefferlaw, 
there's  bonny  lasses  in  them  a'. — Ch. 
Bunkle  and  Chirnside, 
Bought-rig  and  Belchester, 
Hatchet-knows  and  Darnchester, 

Leetholm  and  the  Peel : 
if  ye  dinna  get  a  wife  in  ane  o'  thae  places 
ye  '11  ne'er  do  weel. 
(All  within  a  few  miles  of  Coldstream.) 
Go  to  Birgham  and  buy  bickers. — White,  Northumberland. 

Cf.  Banff. 
Like  the  fiddler  o'  Chirmside's  breakfast,  it 's  a'  pennyworths  the- 

gither  (West). 
Ye  hae  a  conscience  like  Coldingham  Common  (North). — Hen. 
Like  Cranshaw's  Kirk,  as  many  dogs  as  folk, 
and  neither  room  for  reel  nor  rock. — Hen. 

In  the  sheep-walks  of  the  Lammermuir  hills  (North). 
No  to  lippen  to,  like  the  dead  fouk  o'  Earlstoun. — Ch. 
Fish-guts  and  stinkin'  herrin'  are  bread  and  meat  for  an  Eyemouth 

bairn. — Hen. 
Tak  a  seat  on  Maggy  Shaw's  Crocky  (a  broad,  flat  stone  on  the 
brink  of  a  precipice  near  Eyemouth,  said  to  be  haunted  by 
her  in  shape  of  a  white  sea-mew). 
I  stood  upon  Eyemouth  Fort,  and  guess  ye  what  I  saw : 
Fairnieside  and  Furmington,*  Newhouses  and  Cocklaw,t 
The  fairy  fouk  o'  Fosterland,J:  the  witches  of  Edincraw, 
The  bly-riggs  o'  Reston,§  but  Dunse  dings  a'. — N.,  I.,  vii.  24. 
Variant :  And  the  rye-kail  of  Reston  gar'd  a'  the  dogs  die. — lb. 

or  The  bogle  bo'  o'  Billy  ||  Myre  wha  kills  our  bairns  a'. — Ch. 
*  Flemington. — Ch.        f  Three  farmsteads  in  Ayton  parish.— Ch. 
t  In  Bunlcle  parish.         §  rye-rigs. 
II  i.e.  Jock  o'  the  Myre,  a  morass  between  Auchencraw  and  Chirmside. 

Like  the  cooper  o'  Fogo,  ye  drive  afif  better  girds  [hoops]  than  ye 
ca'on. 

Father's  better  :  the  cooper  o'  Fogo. — Hen. 

He 's  father's  better  the  cooper  of  Fogo 
At  girding  a  barrel  or  making  a  cogie,* 
Tooming  a  stoup,  or  kissing  a  roguie. 
*  bowl. 

Cf.  Filling  his  father's  shoes  or  riving  his  bonnet. — Ch. 

248 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Dumfries. 

There 's  an  act  in  the  laird  o'  Grant's  court  that  no  abune  eleven 

speak  at  ance  (N.E.).— Hen. 
Like  Hilton  kirk, 
baith  narrow  and  mirk, 
and  can  only  hand  its  ain  parish  folk. — Hen. 
Hutton  for  auld  wives,  Broadmeadows  for  swine ; 
Paxton  for  drunken  wives  and  salmon  sae  fine. 
Crossing  for  lint  and  woo',  Spittal  for  kail ; 
Sunwick  for  cakes  and  cheese  and  lasses  for  sale. — Ch. 
Lousie  Lauder. — Ch. 

Like  a  Lauderdale  bawbee, 
as  bad  as  bad  can  be. 
The  men  o'  the  Merse. — Ch.     The  people  of  S.  Berwickshire. 
They  '11  flit  in  the  Merse 
for  a  hen's  gerse  [feed]. — Hen. 
A  Merse  mist  alang  the  Tweed 
in  a  harvest  morning's  gude  indeed. 
St.  Abbs  upon  the  Nabs,* 
St.  Helens  on  the  lea ;  t 
but  St.  Anns  upon  Dunbar  sans  J 

stands  nearest  to  the  sea. — N.,  H.,  iv.  318. 

*  On  the  points  or  nabs  of  a  high  rock  in  Beadnall  Bay,  N.  of  Sunderland, 
t  On  a  plain  near,  but  not  exactly  bordering  the  shore. — Ch. 

j  Built  on  a  level  space  close  to  the  watermark. 

See  Northumberland. 
Like  the  cow-couper  o'  Swinton,  ye  '11  no  slocken  [?  drink]  (S.E.). 
Ding  doon  Tantallan,  [and]  *  big  a  road   to  the   Bass  !  f — Scott, 
Provincial  Antiquities  of  Scotland. 

*  Mak'  a  brig.        f  The  Bass  rock,  2  m.  off  the  Haddington  coast. 
i.e.  attempt  an  impossibility. 

Tantallan  Castle  is  3  m.  E.  of  N.  Berwick. 

DUMBARTONSHIRE. 

A  Dumbarton  youth  [male  or  female],  36  years  of  age  at  least.  She 
had  been  allowed  to  reach  the  discreet  years  of  a  Dumbarton 
youth  in  an  unsolicited  maidenhood. — Gait.,  Entail,  i.  115. 

DUMFRIESSHIRE. 

Like    a   laird    of   Castlemilk's   foals,   born    beauties. — Hen.    (W.) 

(A  seat  of  the  Stewarts.) 
Gang  to  Ecclefechan  for  half  a  Saturday  to  learn  manners. — Gibson. 
Lockerbie 's  a  dirty  place, 
a  kirk  without  a  steeple ; 
a  midden  hole  at  ilka  door, 

but  a  canty  set  o'  people. — Gibson,  iii.  168. 
"  A  Lockerbie  lick  "  is  still  proverbial  from  the  slaughter  inflicted 
[by  the  Johnstones]  on  the  Maxwells  in  1593. — Murr. 

249 


ELGIN.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

A  Lockerbie  fairing :  a  bawbee  bap  and  a  bottle  o'  yill,  i.e.  a  half- 
penny roll  and  a  bottle  of  ale. — Gibson. 
Lochar  Moss.         First  a  wood  and  then  a  sea, 

Now  a  moss  and  ever  will  be. — Ch.  [Ballads. 

Lochmaber,  called   Marjorie   o'    the  many  lochs. — Burns,  Election 

He  gangs  fra  house  to  house  like  the  gousting-bans  o'  Lochmaben. 

The  beggar  is  likened  to  the  haut-gout  bone  of  a  dried  joint  of 

meat  which  was  passed  through  the  town  to  flavour  the 

broth  of  the  various  households. 

He  barks  with  his  back  to  the  hauld  like  the  dogs  o'  Lochmaben. — 

Gibson,     i.e.  with  a  retreat  accessible. 
Moffat  measure  ;  fu'  an'  rinnin'  over. — N.,  V.,  x.  39. 

BDINBURGH,  Mid-Liothian. 

The  guid  toun  of  Edinburgh,  i.e.  honourable.— ^Cfa. 
The  modern  Athens. 
Auld  Reekie. 

Edinburgh  Castle  is  the  Castle  of  Maidens,  which  is  the  chiefest 
fortress  in  Scotland.— Huloet,  1552. 

Edinburgh  castle,  toune,  and  tower, 

God  grant  thou  sink  for  sinne  ; 
and  that  even  for  the  black  dinoure, 
Erie  Douglas  gat  therein. 
i.e.  William,  sixth  earl,  who  was  treacherously  beheaded  there 
(1440)  when  a  lad  of  18. — Hume,  Hist,  of  H.  of  Douglas  ;  Ch. 
A  Lawn-market  jury. 

York  was,  London  is,  and  Edinburgh  will  be, 
the  biggest  of  the  three. — Ch.     See  Lanarkshire. 
Edinburgh  for  whores  and  thieves. — N.,  1.,  v.  155.     See  Lanarksh. 
Gae  kiss  your  lucky — she  dwells  i'  Leith. — A.  Ramsay,  Poems,  ii.  351. 
"  Made  use  of  when  one  thinks  it  is  not  worth  while  to  give  a 
direct  answer  or  think  themselves  foolishly  accused." — Id., 
n.  Letter  to  G.  Hamilton. 
Musselboro'  was  a  boro'  when  Edinbro'  was  nane, 
and  Musselboro'  '11  be  a  boro'  when  Edinbro'  's  gane. — N.,  I.,  viii.  305. 

The  mussel  bed  at  the  mouth  of  the  Esk. — Ch.  r Ch. 

The  honest  town  of  Musselburgh.     Its  heraldic  motto  is  "  Honesty." 
Ye  breed  o'  Saughton  swine,  yere  neb 's  never  out  o'  an  ill  turn. — 
K.  L.,  To  Mischievous  Boys. 

BliGIN. 

You  look  like  a  Moray-man  melting  brass. — K. 

Half-done,  as  Elgin  was  burnt. — Scott,  Tales  of  a  Grandfather. 

By  Crawford  after  the  battle  of  Brechin  in  1452.     He  burnt 

the  side  of  the  single  street  occupied  by  Douglas,  E.  of 

Murray's,  adherents. — Ch. 

250 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  fife. 

A  misty  and  a  dropping  June 

brings  the  bonny  land  of  Moray  aboon  (gravelly  soil). — Ch. 

The  gule,*  the  Gordon,!  and  the  hoodie  craw, 

Are  the  three  worst  enemiesj  Moray  ever  saw. — Pennant. 

*  Some  say  the  Charlock,  others  the  guilde  or  corn  marigold — both 
farmers'  plagues.     See  Aberdeenshire. 

t  Lord  Lewis  Gordon,  famous  for  his  plundering  expeditions. 

J  Sights  that.— Jamieson.     Things.— Ch. 


FIFHSHIRB. 

Fife-ish.     Somewhat  deranged  in  intellect. — Scott,  Pimte,  ch.  ix. 

Fruchie,  a  little  village  about  a  mile  from  the  palace  of  Falkland, 
was  assigned  as  a  place  of  temporary  banishment  and 
penance  for  courtiers  who  had  incurred  the  Royal  dis- 
pleasure, and  hence  it  is  said  the  common  ejaculation  when 
anyone  wishes  to  get  rid  of  an  obnoxious  person,  "  Go  to 
Fruchie! "—"  Castles  and  Prisons  of  Mary  in  Scotland," 
in  Den.,  Bishopric  Rhymes,  &'C.,  p.  62. 

He  that  will  to  Cupar  maun  to  Cupar. — K. 

That 's  carrying  saut  to  Dysart  and  puddings  to  Tranent — Ry. 

Falkland  [7  m  S.W.  of  Cupar]. 

Falkland  bred. — J.     (The  old  Court  manners.) 
Ye  're  queer  folk  no  to  be  Falkland  folk.— Hen. ;  Ch.    (A  satirical 
reference  to  the  same.) 

Lang  ere  ye  cut  Falkland  wood  wi'   a   penknife. — Ferg.     A 
hunting  forest  of  James  VL  attached  to  the  Royal  palace. 
The  lang  toun  of  Kirkcaldy. — Ch.     A  place  of  10,000  inhabitants 
stretching,  like  Brighton,  for  3  m.  along  the  coast. 

Pickle  till  him   in   Pathhead,   ilka   bailie  burns   anither.      A 
reproach  to  a  village  of  Kirkcaldy. 

A  Kirkcaldy  hoist :  a  kick. — Athmmum,  18/7-1891. 

When  frae  Leslie*  ye  wad  gae 
ye  maun  cross  a  brig  and  down  a  brae. — Ch. 
*  Surrounded  by  water. 
Pittenween  * 
'11  sink  wi'  sin ; 

but  neither  sword  nor  pestilence  shall  enter  therein. — Ch. 
*  It  escaped  the  first  two  visitations  of  cholera. 
Between  the  Isle  of  May 
and  the  Links  of  Tay 
mony  a  ship 's  been  cast  away. — Ch. 

Tower  Hill  (supposed  to  contain  buried  treasure). 

Here  I  sit  and  here  I  see 

St.  Andrew's,  Broughty,  and  Dundee ; 

and  as  muckle  belojv  me  as  wad  buy  a'  three. 

Athenceum,  1 8/7-1 891. 

251 


HADDINGTON.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

FORFARSHIRE!. 

When  Finhaven  Castle*  rins  to  sand, 
the  world's  end  is  near  at  hand. — Ch. 
*  Seat  of  the  Earls  of  Crawford. 
Bonnie  Dundee. — Skene  MS.  1608. 

The  beggars  o'  Benshie,  the  cairds  o'  Lour ; 
the  soutars  o'  Forfar,  the  weavers  o'  Kirriemuir. — Ch. 
Faare  are  ye  gaen  ?     To  Killiemuir  !  faare  never  ane  weel  fure 
but  for  his  ain  penny  fee. — Ch. 
Brosie  Forfar. — Ch. 
The  drunken  writers  of  Forfar. 

I  '11  do  as  the  cow  of  Forfar  did  :  I  '11  take  a  standing  drink. — K. 
In  passing  a  door  where  a  beer-tub  stood  she  drank  up  the 
contents,  and  the  judges  held  it  as  but  a  stirrup-cup  or 
deoch-on-doruis,  which  was  never  charged  for. 

Bonny  Munross  *  will  be  a  moss,t 

Dundee  will  be  dung  doun ; 
Forfar  will  be  Forfar  still, 
and  Brechin  a  braw  burrows  toun. — Ch. 
*  Montrose.     +Var. :  Aberdeen  will  be  a  green. — Ch. 
Menmuir.      Between  the  Blawart  Lap  an'  Killievair  stane 
there  lie  mony  bloody  banes. — Ch. 
Barrows  abound  in  the  district. 
Kelly  Castle  (S.  Forfar).     The  King  may  come  to  Kelly  yet,  and 
when  he  comes  he  '11  ride. — Mair. 


HADDINGTONSHIRE,    E.  liothian. 

Stick  us  a'  in  Aberlady  !     Said  to  have  been  uttered  first  by  a  dame 

of  the  village  to  an  enraged  husband  who  was  threatening 

his  unfaithful  wife,  but  getting  little  sympathy  from  those 

of  her  sex  who  were  gathered  round. — Ch. 

Dunbar  wedder.     A  salted  herring. — Teviotdale.  J.     Cf.   Yarmouth 

capon. 
There  was  a  haggis  in  Dunbar  :  Andrew  Linkum  feedel 
Mony  better  :  few  waur  :  Andrew  Linkum  feedel. — Ch. 
*As  bauld  (bold)  as  a  Lammermuir  lion. — K.     i.e.  a  sheep  of  the 
hill- country.     Cf.  Cotswold  in  Gloucestershire. 
*  You  look  like 
Loudon  louts,  Merse  brutes,  and  Lammermuir  whaups  (curlews). — 

Ch. 
Tranent  [18  m.  W.  of  Haddington].     See  Fifeshire. 
I  will  get  riches  throw  that  rent 
Efter  the  day  of  Dume, 
Quhen  in  the  col-pots  *  of  Tranent 
Butter  will  grow  on  brume. 

Lyndesay,  The  Three  Estates. 
*  Coal-pits. 

252 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Lanark. 

INVBRNBSS-SHIRB. 

There  was  greater  loss  at  CuUoden  [3  m.  E.  of  Inverness]. — Mair. 
(Where  Charles  Edward  was  finally  defeated  by  the  Duke  of 
Cumberland  in  1746.) 

He  looks  like  a  Lochaber  axe,  fresh  from  the  grindstone. — K. 


KINCARDINESHIRE!. 

The  merry  men  o'  the  Mearns. — Ch. 

The  men  o'  the  Mearns  canna  do  mair  than  they  may. — Hen.     i.e. 
more  than  their  best. 

{Aberdeenshire.     I  can  dee  fat  I  dow ;  the  men  i'  the  Mearns  can 
dee  nae  mair. — Hen.) 

Aff  o'  the  earth  and  ower  to  Cowie  [2  m.  N.  of  Stonehaven]. — Mair. 

KINROSS-SHIRB. 

Lochornie  and  Lochornie  Moss, 
the  Loutenstane  and  Dodgell's  Cross, 
Craigencat  and  Craigencrow, 
Craigaveril,  King's  Seat,  and  Drumglow. 

All  but  the  last  on  the  Blair-Adam  estate. — Ch. 


KIRKCUDBRIGHT. 

Dusty  pokes  o'  Crossmichael, 
red  Shanks  o'  Parton, 
bodies  o'  Balmaghie, 
carles  o'  Kelton. 

In  the  Stewartry  of  Kirkcudbright. — Ch. 


LANARKSHIRE. 

Cauld  kail  in  Covington  and  crowdie  in  Quothquan, 
singit  sweens  in  Symington  and  brose  in  Pettinain, 
the  assy  peats  o'  Tocharton  and  puddings  o'  Poneil, 
black  folk  o'  Douglas  drink  wi'  the  deil. — Ch. 

Edinburgh  's  big,  but  Biggar  's  bigger. — Ch. 

Douglas  Water  (places  thereon) : — 

Crimp,  Cramp,  and  the  Grange, 
Midlock  and  the  Castle  Mains, 
Camp-seed  and  Cow  Hill, 
Blackens  and  the  Norman  Gill. — Ch. 

Glasgow  Gallons*,  Greenock  folk,  and  Paisley  bodies. — Ch. 
Wealth  and  citizenly  dignity,  homely  respectability. 

*  People. 

253 


LANARK.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Glasgow  for  bells, 

Linlithgow  for  wells, 

Falkirk  for  beans  and  pease. — Ch. 

[Edinburgh  for  whores  and  thieves, — N.,  I.,  v.  255. J 
Linlithgow  for  bells, 
Stirling  for  wells. 

Scott.,  Provincial  Ant.  of  Scotland. 
A  drink  of  the  Borgie  *,  a  bite  of  the  weed, 

sets  a'  the  Cam'slang  folk  wrang  in  the  head. — Folkard,  PI.  Lore. 
*  The  Borgie  Well  at  Cambuslang,  4  m.  S.E.  of  Glasgow. 

Cathkin's  covenant :    Let   abee  for  let   abee.     A  local  saying  at 
Hamilton. — Dean  Ramsay. 

Hamilton  and  Lanark  (places  between) : — 

Gill  Mill, 

Canner  Water  and  Whitehill, 

Everwood  and  Doosdale, 

Canner  and  Canner  Mill, 

Cannerside  and  Rawhill, 

the  Rickerton,  the  Rabberton, 

the  Raplock  and  the  Ross, 

the  Merrytown,  the  Skellytown, 

Cornsilloch  and  Dalserf. — Ch. 
Lesmahagow.        Between  Dillerhill  and  Crossfoord, 

there  lies  Katie  Neevie's  hoord. — Ch. 
One  of  the  treasure  prophecies. 
Ye  gang  abojit  by  Lanark  for  fear  Linton  dogs  bite  ye. — Ry. 
Bell— ell— ell ! 
there  's  a  fat  sheep  to  kill ! 
a  leg  for  the  provost,  another  for  the  priest, 
the  bailies  and  the  deacons,  they  '11  tak'  the  niest, 
and  if  the  fourth  leg  we  canna  sell, 
the  sheep  it  maun  live  and  gae  back  to  the  hill ! — Ch. 

This  is  like  the  beef  difficulty  now-a-days  in  mountain  districts^ 

The  lang  Pints  o'  Whitburn 
and  Tennants  o'  the  Inch  ; 
John  Maccall  o'  Bathgate 
sits  upon  his  bench. 
Tarryauban,  Tarrybane, 
Easter  Whitburn's  assy  pets  ^' 
and  Wester  Whitburn's  braw  lads. 
The  Duke  i'  the  Head, 
the  Drake  o'  the  Reeve, 

the  Laird  o'  Craigmalloch  and  Birnieton  Ha', 
Heii-nest  and  Hare-nest, 
Cockhill  and  Cripplerest, 
Belstane  and  the  Belstane  Byres, 
Bicketon  Ha'  and  the  Guttermyres. — Ch. 
(Places  near  Whitburn,  Lanarkshire.) 
*  Ashy  peats. 

25i 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  perth. 

LINI^ITHGOiarSHIRE,    -HT.    Lothian. 

Ye  wad  be  a  gude  Borrowstone  sow,  ye  smell  weel. — K.     i.e.  what 
you  are  not  wished  to  smell. 

The  faithful  toun  of  Linlithgow. — Ch.     Cf.  Heraldic  motto.     See 
Lanarkshire. 


NAIRN. 

Nairn  is  sae  lang  that  the  folk  at  the  tae  end  canna  understand  the 
tongue  spoken_^.by  the  tother.  [A  saying  of  James  VI.]  Both 
Gaelic  and  English  are  spoken  there. — Murray. 

ORKNBY. 

Like  the  Orkney  butter,  neither  good  to  eat  nor  to  creich*  wool. — K. 

i.e.  grease. 

PEJEBIiES-SHIRE. 

Vale  of  Manor  : — 

There  stand  three  mills  on  Manor  Water,  a  fourth  at  Posso  cleugh, 
gin  heather  bells  were  corn  and  here  they  wad  get  grist  eneugh. 

Ch. 
Do  what  the  miller's  wife  of  Newlands  did,  she  took  what  she  had 

and  she  never  wanted. — Hen. 
Farms  near  Peebles  : — 

Bonington  lakes* 
and  Cruikston  cakes, 

Caidmuir  and  the  Wrae, 
and  hungry,  hungry  Hundleshope, 
and  skawed  Bell's  Brae. — Ch. 
*  i.e.  mossy  flows  and  wells,  now  drained. 
Powbate  an'  ye  break 
tak'  the  Moorfoot*  in  your  gate, 
Moorfoot  and  Maudslie, 
Huntlycote  a'  three, 
five  Kirks  t  and  an  abbacie. 

*  A  large,  deep  well  on  the  top  of  a  high  hill  at  Eddleston,  near  Peebles, 
t  The  Kirks  are  supposed  to  have  been  Temple,  Carrington,  Borthwick, 
Cockpen  and  Dalkeith. — Ch. 

PERTHSHIRE:. 

Carles  o'  theCarse  [of  Gowrie],  Lithgow. — Journey  through  Scotland, 
p.  394.     1628. 
The  men  of  the  Carse  want  water  in  the  summer,  fire  in  the 
winter,  and  the  Grace  of  God  all  the  year  round,    i.e,  they 
are  stupid  and  awkward. — Ch. 
Drunken  Dumblane. — Ch. 

Dirty  Dumblane. — Franck,  Northern  Memoirs,  p.  134,  repr. 

255 


ROXBURGH.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Was  there  aye  sic  a  parish,  a  parish,  a  parish, 

Was  there  aye  sic  a  parish  as  Little  Dunkell  ? 
Where  they  stickit  the  minister,  hang'd  the  precentor, 

Dang  down  the  steeple  and  breakit  the  bell. — Murray. 

Of  as  great  knowledge  as  the  Bishop  of  Dunkeld. — Geo.  Webb, 
God's  controversie  with  England,  1609,  p.  78. 

The  lasses  of  Exmagirdle*  [Ecclesmagirdle] 

may  very  weel  be  dun, 
for  frae  Michaelmas  to  Whit-Sunday 

they  never  see  the  sun. — Ch. 

*  A  village  on  the  N.  slope  of  the  Ochil  hills. 
All  is  fair  at  the  ball  of  Scone,  i.e.  football. — N.,  VL,  xi.  287. 

There  was  mair  lost  at  Sherramuir  where  the  Hielandman  lost 
his  father  and  mother,  and  a  gude  buff  belt  worth  baith 
of  them. 

The  battle  of  Sherriffmuir  [between  Stirling  and  Dumblane], 
1715. — Hen. 


RENFREIlBrSHIRE:. 

The  merry  men  o'  the  Mearns.* — Ch.     See  Kincardineshire. 

"  5  m.  from  Paisley. 
Like  the  Kilbarchan  calves,  like  best  to  drink  wi'  the  wisp  in  your 
mou. — Hen. 

A'  to  ae  side,  like  Gourock.* — Mair,  Hbk. 

■*  2  m.  W.  of  Greenock. 

Clock  Sorrow  Mill  has  nae  feir, 

she  stands  aneath  a  heuch, 
and  a'  the  world  's  at  the  weir 

when  she  has  water  eneuch. — Ch. 

Paisley  bodies.  See  Lanarkshire.  A  good  story  is  told  of  Prof. 
Wilson  (a  native)  talking  at  a  public  dinner  in  Edinburgh 
of  the  population  numbering  so  many  souls.  "  Bodies,  you 
mean,"  interjected  Campbell  the  poet.  Paisley,  considered 
to  be  the  most  intelligent  town  in  Scotland. — Folk  Lore,  by 
Jas.  Napier,  Paisley,  1879,  p.  15. 


SOXBUROHSHIRE. 

Bilhope  braes  for  bucks  and  raes, 

Carit  rigs  for  swine, 
and  Tarras  for  a  good  bull  trout 

if  it  be  taen  in  time. — Ch.     See  Northumberland,  p.  i6g. 

A  Blainslee  la  win  :  there's  mair  for  meat  than  drink. — J. 

(Melrose  par.,  3  m.  S.E.  of  Lauder.) 
There's  day  eneuch  to  Bowden. — Ch. 

256 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Stirling. 

A  Hawick  gill.     The  half  of  an  English  pint. — J. 
An'  weel  she  looed  a  Hawick  gill 
And  leugh  to  see  a  tappit  hen.* 

Herd,  Scottish  Songs,  ii.  i8. 
*  The  tappit  hen   (cant)   was  a.  quart  can  with  a  knob  on  the  lid 
somewhat  resembling  a  crest. 

Jeddart  justice :  first  hang  a  man,  syne  try*  him. — Ch. 

*  judge. 
Dunbar's  trials  after  the  Union. 

Scott,  Border  Minstrelsy,  Pref.,  Ivi. 
A  terrier  tyke  and  a  rusty  key 

were  Johnnie  Armstrong's  Jeddart  fee. — Ch., Pop.  Rhy. 

He  gained  a  pardon  by  betraying  the  burglars' 

secret  of  the  best  safeguards. 

A  Kelso  convoy:   a  step*  and  a  half  o'er  the  doorstane. — Scott, 

Antiquary,  xxx.     Cf.  A  Scotch  convoy  is  only  to  the  door. — J. 

*  Stride. — Cunningham,  Gloss,  to  Burns. 

Liddlesdale.  The  earth  of  this  place  was  sent  for  formerly  from 
distant  parts  to  lay  the  floors  of  barns,  etc.,  as  a  protection 
against  rats. — N.  by  Sir  Wr.  Scott  to  Franck's  North.  Mem. 
(p.  228),  where  the  same  thing  is  recorded  of  the  soil  of  Ross. 

Scour  the  duds  o'  Yetholm. — Ch.     A  village  of  gipsies. 

Selkirkshire:. 

Atween  the  wat  ground  and  the  dry 

the  gowd  o'  Tamleuchar  doth  lie. — Ch.     i.e.  at  Tamleuchar  Cross. 
The  souters  o'   Selkirk. — Ch.     The  calling  of   a  shoemaker  once 
prevailed  there. 

Sutors  ane,  sutors  twa, 

sutors  in  the  Back  Raw. — Ch. 


SHETLAND. 

The  well  of  Kildinguie   and   the  dulse  of  Guiodin   will   cure    all 
maladies  save  Black  Death. — Scott,  Pirate,  xxix. 


STIRIilNGSHIRE. 

Ye  hae  little  need  o'  the  Campsie  wife's  prayer,  That  she  might 

be  able  to  think  enough  0'  herself. — Hen. 
Falkirk  bairns  mind  naething  but  mischief. — Hen. 
Falkirk  bairns  dee  ere  they  thrive. — Hen. 
Like  the  bairns  of  Falkirk,  they  '11  end  ere  they  mend. — Ch. 
"The    bairns"   has    come    to    be    an    understood    name    for    the 

Falkirkese. — Ch. 
The  crooks  of  land  within  the  Forth 
are  worth  an  earldom  in  the  North.— Nimmo's  Stirlingshire,  p.  439. 

VOL.  I.  257  ^'^ 


HILLS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Other  versions  are : 
The  lairdship  o'  the  bonny  links  of  Forth 
is  better  than  an  earldom  in  the  North. 

Murray  has  it : 
A  loop  of  the  Forth 
is  worth  an  earldom  in*  the  North. 

*  o'.— Ch. 
It  is  a  beautiful  sight  only  to  see  the  multitudes  of  convolutions 
the  river  presents  from  Stirling  Castle,  as,  hke  a  ribbon,  it 
"wanders  at  its  own  sweet  will,"  fertilising  the  land  and 
at  the  same  time  feasting  the  eye. 
Out  o'  the  warld  and  into   Kippen. — Hen.     A   secluded   singular 
district,  the  laird  of  which  was  called  King  of  Kippen.* 
*  The  Laird  of  Logan. 
When  the  Castle  of  Stirling  gets  a  hat 
the  Carse  of  Corntown  pays  for  that. — Dean  Ramsay. 

SKYB,    ISLB    OF. 

Slebhte  riabbach 

nam  ban  boidheach.    i.e.  Russet  Sleat  of  beauteous  women. — Ch. 

SUTHEIRUANDSHIRE. 

Dornoch  law  :  hang  you  to-day  and  try  you  to-morrow. — J. 

WIGTONSHIRB. 

Whithorn*  is  a  filthy  place 
like  a  church  without  a  steeple, 
a  wee  dunghill  at  every  door, 
and  full  of  Irish  people. — Br. 

■"  12J  m.  S.  of  Wigtown. 

Like  the  dog  o'  Dodha'  baith  double  and  twa-faced, 

Like  the  cowts  o'  Bearbughty  yere  cowts  tell  your  best's  by. — Hen. 

Like  the  lasses  o'  Bayordie  ye  learn  by  the  lug. — Ramsay. 

You   are  one*    o'   the  house  of  Harletillim. — Ry.      i.e.    greedy; 

Harle,  to  drag  forcibly. 

*  Come. 
Ye're  either  ower  het  or   ower  cold  like  the  miller  o'  Marshack 

Mill.— Hen. 

HlliliS. 

Aberdeenshire. 

The  four  great  land-marks  on  the  sea 

are  Mount  Mar,  Lochnagar,  Clochnaben  and  Bennochie. — Ch. 

Clochnaben  is  distinguishable  by  its  white  stone  summit,  about 
100  feet  high,  and  Bennochie  has  a  round  Top,  like  the 
nipple  of  a  pap. — Fullarton,  Gazetteer. 

258 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  hills. 

There  are  two  landmarks  off  at  sea, 
Clochnaben  and  Bennachie. 

View  of  the  Diocese  of  Aberdeen,  1732. 

Ayrshire.      The  Stoke,  Milnwharcer,  and  Craigneen, 
The  Breska  and  Sligna, 
they  are  the  five  best  Crocklet  hills 
the  auld  wives  ever  saw. — Ch. 

Clackmananshire. 

Glendevon.     There  's  Alva  and  Dollar  an'  Tillicoutrie,  [Ch. 

but  the  bonnie  braes  o'  Menstrie  bear  awa'  the  gree. — 

Dumfriesshire.      Repentance  Tower  stands  on  a  hill 
the  like  you  '11  see  nowhere, 
except  the  one  that 's  nieest  to  't, 
folks  call  it  Woodcockaire. — Ch. 
Repentance  stands  upon  a  hill 
Most  beautiful  and  fair, 
Hard  by  another  wooded  hill, 
Far-kenn'd  as  Woodcockair. — Gibson. 
In  the  vale  of  the  Annan,  near  to  Hoddam.     The  first  and  the 
neighbouring  farm  of  Relief  were  in  the  boy's  mind  who 
answered   Sir   Rd.    Steele's  question  as  to  what  he  was 
learning  in  his  book  by  saying :  "  The  way  to  Heaven  by 
Repentance  and  Relief." 

Kirkcudbrightshire. 

Cairnsmuir  o'  Fleet,  Cairnsmuir  o'  Dee, 

and  Cairnsmuir  o'  Carsphairn  's  the  biggest  o'  the  three. — Ch. 

Mactaggart,  Gallovidian  Encyclo. 
Climb  Criffel, 

clever  cripple  (set  as  a  capper). — Gibson.     See  Cumberland. 
When  cloudy  Cairnsmuir  hath  a  hat, 
Pilnour  and  Skairs  laugh  at  that. 

Two  mountain  burns  rejoicing  in  the  prospect  of  a  flood. 

All  the  Year  Round,  xxxviii.  465.     1886. 

Lanarkshire.     The  "hill  o'  fire,"  6m.  S.E.  of  Lanark. 
On  Tintock's  top  there  is  a  mist, 
and  in  that  mist  there  is  a  kist,* 
and  in  the  kist  there  is  a  caup, 
and  in  the  caup  there  is  drap, 
Tak'  up  the  caup,  drink  off  the  drap, 
and  set  the  caup  on  Tintock  tap. — Ch. 

*  Chest. 
Sir  W.  Scott  (notes  to  Franck's  Northern  Memoirs)  says  this  is 
merely  a  child's  gibberish  to  test  the  power  of  repetition 
without  blundering. 

Be  a  lassie  ne'er  sae  black 

Gin  she  hae  the  penny  siller 
Set  her  up  on  Tinto's  tap, 

The  wind  will  blow  a  lover  till  her. 

259 


RIVERS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

The  height  atween  Tintock  tap  and  Coulterfell 
is  just  three  quarters  o'  an  ell. — Ch. 

Two  hills  of  nearly  equal  height  rising  out  of  the  flat  country. 
Peeblesshire  (W.). 
Glenkirk  and  Glencotha, 
the  Mains  of  Kilbucho, 
Blendeivan  and  the  Raw, 
Mitchellhill  and  the  Shaw, 
there 's  a  hole  abune  the  Thriepland  * 
would  hand  them  a'. 

*  A  tarn  with  an  overhanging  cave  artificially  made  as  a  retreat 
for  soldiers,  temp.  Wallace,  nr.  Boghall. 

Stirlingshire. 

There  are  hills  beyond  Pentland  and  fields  beyond  Forth. 

Brewer,  Reader's  Handbook. 


ISLANDS. 


For  well  our  mountain-proverb  shows 
The  faith  of  Islesmen  ebbs  and  flows. 

Scott,  Lord  of  the  Isles,  III.,  iii. 


KIVBRS. 

The  water  o'  A'an*  it  rises  sae  clear 

'twould  beguile  a  man  of  a  hunder  a  year. — Fullarton,  Gazetteer. 

*  The  Avon  in  Aberdeenshire. 
The   lads   of   Ae.      A   river   in    Dumfriesshire    famous   for   broils, 

battles,  and  feats  of  agiUty. — Ch. 
Annan,  Evan,  Tweed,  and  Clyde 
A'  rin  out  o'  ae  hillside. 

They  run  out  of  different  sides  of  the  same  hill. — Gibson,    i.e. 
Rodger   Law,   near  the  village   of  Elvanfoot,  a  mass  of 
mountain  ground  occupying  the  upper  parts  of  the  counties 
of  Peebles,  Lanark,  and  Dumfries. — Ch. 
Tweed  ran  [quickest,  but  furthest], 
Annan  wan  [shortest,  but  slowest], 

Clyde  fell  [down]  and  broke  his  neck  [crown]  owre  Corra  Linn*. 

Ch. 
*  The  Falls  are  alluded  to  near  Lanark. 
Cf.  Tamar  and  Torridge. — Westcott,  View  of  Devonshire,  p.  343, 

repr.  Exeter,  1845. 
The  Annan  being  nearer  to  the  Solway  than  the  Tweed  to  the 

German  Ocean  or  the  Clyde  to  the  Atlantic. — Gibson. 
What  is  that  compared  to  two  of  the  great  American  rivers, 
the  Missouri  and  the  Mackenzie,  respectively  disemboguing 
into  the  Gulf  of  Georgia  (Mexico)  and  the  Polar  Sea  after 
a  course  of  thousands  of  miles,  having  branches  which 
approach  within  300  miles  of  each  other  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains  ? — Cowan. 

260 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  rivers. 

"When  Annan  roars  o'er  bank  and  brae 

the  Southland  farmer's  heart  is  wae. — Gibson. 

Like  most  mountain-bred  streams,  Annan  is  subject  to  heavy 
floods. 
Prosin,  Esk  and  Carity 
meet  a'  at  the  broken  buss  o'  Inverquharity. — Ch. 

Forfarshire.     The  first  and  third  join  the  second  at  Inverarity, 
the  seat  of  the  Ogilvies. 
Up  Corrie  and  down  Dryfe, 
that 's  the  gate  to  seek  a  wife. 

Two  rivers  in  Dumfriesshire. — Gibson. 
There 's  Corrie-lea  and  Corrie-law, 
Corrie-hill  and  Corrie-ha', 
Corrie-mains,  where  maidens  hork, 
Corrie-common,  Corrie  Kirk. — Gibson. 
As  deep  as  Currie  well.     A  river  S.  of  Edinb. — Murray. 
Like  the  dam  o'  Devon,  lang  gathered  and  soon  gane. — Hen. 

The  Devon  rises  in  Perthshire,  and  above  Dollar  goes  over 
Devil's  Mill  Fall  (so  called  because  it  sounds  like  a  mill 
and  pays  no  regard  co  Sunday). — Sharp,  Brit.  Gazetteer. 

It  is  a  doom  Devon.     Said  of  a  very  destructive  flood. 
Don  (Aberdeenshire). 

Brig  o'  Balgownie,  black 's  your  wa', 

wi'  a  wife's  ae  son  and  a  meere's  ae  foal, 

Down  ye  sail  fa'. — Byron,  n.  to  Don  Juan. 

Brig  o'  Balgownie,  black  be  your  fa'. 

Over  the  Don,  2  m.  N.  of  Aberdeen,  of  which  a  legend  says 
that  it  will  fall  with  a  wife's  ae  son  and  a  mare's  ae  foal. 

Ae  mile*  of  Don  'sf  worth  twa  of  Dee  J, 
except  for  salmon,  stone,  and  tree. — Ch. 
[unless  it  be  for  fish  or  tree. — Sharp,  Brit.  Gazetteer.] 
*  Rood.        t  Rich,  fat  cornland.        J  Thin,  dry  soil. 
Some  go  even  so  far  as  to  affirm  that  not  only  the  corn,  but  also 
the  men  and  beasts  are  firmer  and  plumper  on  Don  than 
on  Dee. — View  of  the  Diocese  of  Aberdeen,  1732. 

The  floods  do  great  injury,  but  are  useful. 

When  Dee  and  Don  run  both  in  one, 

and  Tweed  shall  run  in  Tay, 
the  borinie  water  of  Urie 

shall  bear  the  Basse*  away. — Thomas  the  Rhymer. 

*   An  artificial  mound  near  Inverury,  supposed  to  have  been  the  seat  of 
Parliament . — Ch. 

Let  Spades  and  shools  do  what  they  may, 
Dryfe  will  hae  Drysdale  Kirk  away. 

Let  spades  and  shools  do  what  they  may, 
Dryfe  will  hae  Dryfisdale  Kirk  away. 

A.  Cunningham,  Gloss,  to  Burns. 

261 


RIVERS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

A  prophecy  of  Thomas  the  Rhymer,  fulfilled  in  1670.  Another 
church  was  built  the  following  year,  and  also  swept  away 
by  the  flood.  The  present  parish  church  is  situated  at 
Lockerbie,  a  mile  away. — Gibson. 

A  Dryfesdale  man  once  buried  a  wife  and  married  a  wife  in  ae 
day. — Ch.  i.e.  as  he  was  returning  from  his  second  bridal 
they  met  the  corpse  of  his  first  wife  carried  down  by  the 
torrent,  and  had  to  re-inter  it. 

The  Ettrick  and  the  Slitterick, 

the  Leader  and  the  Feeder, 

the  Fala  and  the  Gala, 

the  Ale  and  the  Kale, 

the  Yod  and  the  Jed, 

the  Blackater  and  the  Whittater, 

the  Teviot  and  the  Tweed. 

Rivers  chiefly  in  Roxburghshire, — Ch. 

Forth  bridles  the  wild  Hielandman.  Being  a  defensive  line  between 
his  country  and  the  Lowlands  from  its  source  nearly  to  the 
Frith.— Scott,  Rob  Roy. 

Colquhally  and  the  Sillertoun,  [Fifeshire] 

Pitcairn  and  Bowhill, 
should  clear  their  haughs  ere  Lammas  spates, 

the  Ore  begin  to  fill. — Ch. 

Farms  lying  below  its  junction  with  the  Fittie,  in  low  land 
where  floods  are  disastrous. 

Ladeddie,  Radernie,  Lathockar  and  Lathone, 

ye  may  saw  wi'  gloves  off  and  shear  wi'  gloves  on. 

Farms  lying  on  high  ground  in  East  Fife,  where  it  is  summer 
before  the  crop  can  be  sown,  and  winter  before  it  can  be 
reaped. 

The  hooks  and  crooks  of  Lambden  Burn* 
fill  the  bowie  and  fill  the  kirn  f. — Ch. 

*  A  tributary  of  the  Tweed,     f  The  pastures  producing  cheese  and  butter. 

Lochtie,  Lothrie,  Leven,  and  Ore 

rin  a'  through  Cameron  Brig  bore. — Ch. 

Four  streams  in  Fifeshire.  The  Leven  is  the  principal,  and, 
after  receiving  the  rest,  falls  into  the  sea  near  Wemyss. 

When  the  Marr  Burn  ran  where  man  never  saw, 
the  House  of  the  Hassock  was  near  a  fa'. — Ch. 

This  old  castle  has  now  disappeared ;  the  rivulet  has  been 
diverted  from  its  course  and  made  to  run  in  the  valley 
before  Drumlanrig  Castle,  a  new  mansion  built  by  the 
Queensberry  family,  and  now  owned  by  the  Duke  of 
Buccleuch. 

When  cloudy  Cairnmuir*  hath  a  hat, 

Pilnour  and  Skairsf  laugh  at  that. — All  the  Year  Round,  xxxviii.  465. 
*  Kirkcudbright.        f  Two  mountain  burns,  liable  to  sudden  floods. 

262 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  famiues. 

A  Skairsburn  warning  is  proverbial  in  the  neighbourhood  as 
representing  the  entire  absence  of  any  notice  beforehand. — 
Ih.     Cf.  a  Scarborough  warning. 
Love  swells  like  the  Solway,  but  ebbs  like  its  tide. — Scott,  Young 

LocMnvar. 
Was  ne'er  ane  drowned  in  Tarras*, 

Nor  yet  in  doubt, 
For  ere  the  head  wins  down 
The  harns  are  out. — Ch. 
*  A  river  rising  in  the  parish  of  Ewes  of  a  broken  and  rugged  character,  so 
that  a  man  falling  in  would  have  his  brains  dashed  out  ere  he  could  be 
drowned. 

When  Tweed  and  Pausayl*  joinf  at  Merlin's  grave, 
England  and  Scotland  shall  one  monarch  have. — Murray. 
[Scotland  and  England  that  day  ae  king  shall  have. — Ch.] 

A  flood  is  said  to  have  joined  them  on  James  VI. 's  coronation 
day. — Murray  ;  Pennycuick,  Hist,  of  Tweeddale,  p.  26. 
*  Powsail.— Ch.        t  Meet. 


FAMILiISS. 

Duke  of  Atholl — King  in  Man* 
and  the  greatest  man  in  Scotland. — Ch. 

*  The  only  Royal  fief  of  the  English  Crown. 

The  sturdy  Armstrongs. — Ch. 

Baron*  of  Bucklyvief 
may  the  foul  fiend  drive  ye 
and  a'  to  pieces  rive  ye 
for  building  sic  a  town 

where  there 's  neither  horse  meat  nor  man's  meat 
nor  a  chair  to  sit  down. — Ch. 
Quoted  by  Scott,  Roh  Roy. 

*  A  Buchanan.        t  Stirlingshire. 
The  trusty  Boyds. — Henry  the  Minstrel. 
A'  Campbells  are  no  sib  to  the  Duke. — Hen. 
The  greedy  Campbells, 
Fair  and  fause. — Ch. 
From  their  advancement  by  State-craft. 
There  never  was  a  rebellion  in  Scotland  without  a  Campbell  or 
a  Dalrymple  at  the  bottom  of  it.— Attributed  to  Chas.  H. 

Cathcart.    Sundrum*  shall  sink,  Auchincruive*  shall  fa' 

and  the  name  o'  Cathcart  shall  in  time  wear  awa. — Ch. 
*  About  4  m.  E.  of  Ayr.     The  first  now  belongs  to  the  Hamiltons,  the  second 
to  the  Oswalds. 
Cariston  and  Pyetstone,  Kirkforthar  and  the  Drum, 
are  four  o'  the  maist  curst  lairds  that  ever  spak'  wi'  tongue. 

Cariston  was  a  Seton— Pyetstone  and  Kirkforthar,  Lindsays— 
and  Drum  a  Lundie  :  lairds  in  Fife  in  bygone  times.— Ch. 

263 


FAMILIES.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Caithness. 

Sinclair,  Sutherland,  Keith,  and  clan  Gon,  [Gunn] 
there  never  was  peace  when  they  four  were  on. 
Four  leading  families. 

The  muckle-mouthed  Crawfords  of  Cowdenhills,  Dumbartonshire. 
Craufurds  of  Craufurdland,  Ayr. 
A  spoon  of  large  proportions  has  been  handed  down  in  each 
family  thus  inscribed : 

This  spoon  ye  see 
I  leave  in  legacie, 
To  the  maist-mouthed  Crawford  after  me. 
Whoever  sells  or  pawns  it  cursed  let  him  be. — Ch. 

The  dirty  Dalrymples.     Said  to  be  in  allusion  to  their  coarse  wit. 
The  name  is  pronounced  D'rumple,  sometimes  softened  to 
the  rough  Dalrymples.— Ch. 
Another  family  supplanted  them. 

DuNDAS.  First  came  the  men  o'  many  wimples, 

In  common  language  ca'd  Da'rimples ; 
And  after  them  came  the  Dundases, 
Who  rode  our  lords  and  lairds  like  asses. 
The  fore-name  Hev,-  in  this  family  is  said  not  to  be  Hugh,  but 
to  have  been  bestowed  by  an  early  King  of  Scotland,  who, 
besieged  on  the  top  of  the  Bass  Rock,  owed  his  safety  to 
the  hewing  down  of  those  who  one  by  one  climbed   the 
steep  ascent. 

The  red  Douglas  (Angus).     Of  fairer  complexion  than  the  black 
Douglas  (Liddesdale). 
The  red  Douglas  put  down  the  Black. — Hume,  Hist,  of  the  House 
of  Douglas. 

So  many,  so  good,  as  of  the  Douglases  have  been 
of  one  surname  was  ne'er  in  Scotland  seen. —  Hume. 

The  lucky  Duffs.     Duff's  luck  is  proverbial  in  Aberdeensh.,  where 
many  of  the  family  have  acquired  lands. — Ch. 

Elliotts  and  Armstrongs  ride,  f  thieves  a'. 

The  two  predominant  clans  in  Liddisdale,   Roxburghshire. 

— Ch.  tWha'  wad.— Ry. 

The  bauld  Erasers. — Ch.,  and  see  under  Gordon. 

As  long  as  there 's  a  cock  in  the  North 

there  '11  be  a  Fraser  in  Phillorth  [Lords  Saltoun]. — Ch. 

The  Gordons  hae  the  guiding  o't. — Ch. 

Ne'er  misca'  a  Gordon  in  the  raws  [i.e.  ridges]  of  Strathbogie.* 

— Hen.  *  N.W.  Aberdeenshire. 

The  gay  Gordons. — Ballad  of  Glenlogie. 
The  Cock  o'  the  North  (head  of  the  Gordon  family). — Ch. 
You  are  one  o'  the  tender  Gordons,  who  dow  not  be  hanged  for 

galing  of  the  neck,  sir. — K. 

264 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  families. 

The  Gordons  guid  in  English  bluid 
Did  dip  their  hose  and  shoon. — Ballad  of  Otterburn. 
The  Gordon  is  gude  in  a  hurry, 
And  Campbell  is  steel  to  the  bane, 
An'  Grant,  an'  Mackinzie,  and  Murray, 
An'  Cameron  will  harkle  to  nane. 
The  Stuart  is  sturdy  an'  cannie, 
An'  sae  is  Macleod  and  Mackay, 
An'  I,  their  gude  brither  Macdonald, 

Sal  never  be  last  i'  the  fray. — Jas.  Hogg,  Donald  Macdonald. 
A  Gordon  in  green 

should  never  be  seen. — D.N.,  i3/5/'86. 
The  Gordon's  Gramacie. 
Ken  ye  the  Gordon's  Gramacie  ? 
To  curse  and  swear  and — and  lie, 
and  that 's  the  Gordon's  Gramacie. — Ch. 
Gordon  (Berwickshire),  original  seat  of  that  family. 
Huntly  Wood — the  wa's  is  down, 
Bassendean  and  Barrastown, 
Heckspeth  wi'  the  yellow  hair, 
Gordon  Gowks  for  evermair. — Ch. 
All    farms    in    the    parish    of    Gordon.      Gordon    Viscount 
Kenmure  (now  dormant). 
The  gallant  Grahams. — Ch. 

Oh  the  Grahams,  the  gallant  Grahams, 
Wad  the  gallant  Grahams  but  stand  by  me 
The  dogs  might  douk  in  English  bluid 
Ere  a  foot's  breadth  I  wad  flinch  or  flee. 

Finlay's  Old  Ballads. 
A  Graham  in  green 
should  never  be  seen. 
Guthrie  o'  Guthrie,  Guthrie  o'  Gaiggie, 
Guthrie  o'  Taybank  an'  Guthrie  o'  Craiggie. — Ch. 

A  Forfarshire  family. 
Betyde,  betyde,  whate'er  betyde 
there  '11  be  a  Haig  in  Bemersyde. — Thomas  the  Rymer. 

or,  Haig  shall  be  laird  o'  Bemersyde.*    See  Scott,  Monastery. 
Petrus  de  Haga  was  the  owner  of  these  lands,  c.  1200.    "The 
family  has  now    died    out."^ — Ch.,    1867.      There  is  a 
parody,  referring  to  an  adjoining  property : — 
Befa',  befa',  whate'er  befa' 
there  '11  aye  be  a  gowk  in  Purves  Ha'. 
*  S.W.  Berwickshire. 
Ye  're  like  the  lady  of  Bemerside,  ye  '11  no  sell  your  hen  in  a 
rainy   day. — Ch. 
Frae  Annan-fit  to  Errick-stane 
men  and  horse  lang  syne  hae  gane 
'neth  greenwood  gay,  and  a'  the  way 
upon  the  lands  o'  Halliday. — Gibson,  iii.  169. 

265 


FAMILIES.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

It  is  said  that  the  Hallidays  of  Corehead,  near  Moffat,  could, 
about  the  time  of  Edward  I.,  ride  in  the  shade  of  their 
own  forests  from  the  Deil's  Beef-tub,  where  the  Annan 
rises,  to  its  mouth,  a  distance  of  forty  miles. 

The  haughty  Hamiltons. — Ch, 

The  handsome  Hays. — Ch. 

The  haughty   Humes,   the  saucy  Scotts,  the  cappit*  Kers,  the 
bauld  RuTHERFORDs  (Border  families). — Ch. 
*  i.e.  Crabbed,  contentious. 
The  handsome  Humes. 

The  gentle  Johnstons  (ironical). 

'Gree  amang  yoursells,  Johnstons  !     (Annandale.) 

The  rough-riding  Scott  and  the  rude  Johnston. 
Within  the  bounds  of  Annandale 
the  gentle  Johnstones  ride : 
a  thousand  years  they  have  been  there 
and  a  thousand  years  they  '11  bide. — Gibson. 

Ca  cuddle,  ca, 

the  Johnstones  and  the  Jardines  ride*  thieves  a'. — Gibson. 
*  Rin  away  wi'  a'. 

Twixt  Wigtowne  and  the  town  of  Ayr 

and  laigh  down  by  the  Cruves  o'  Cree, 
you  shall  not  get  a  lodging  there 

except  ye  court  a  Kennedie. 

Pitcairn,  Account  of  the  Kennedies,     1830. 

Twixt  Wigton  and  the  town  of  Ayr, 

Portpatrick  an'  the  Cruives  o'  Cree 
nae  man  need  think  for  to  bide  there 

unless  he  court  wi'  Kennedie.* — Ch. 

*"  Saint  Kennedy"  is  Murray's  reading,  which  sounds  modern. 

Leslie  *  for  the  Kirk  and  Middleton  for  the  King,f 

but  deil  a  man  can  gie  a  Knock  but  Ross  and  Augustine. — Ch. 

*  Earl  of  Leven.  f  Chas.  I. 

Between  the  Less  Lee  and  the  Mair 
He  slew  the  Knight  and  left  him  there. — Ch. 
Was  said  of  the  founder  of  the  family  (a  Fleming)  in  the 
1 2th  Century.    ' 

Lindsay.     The  light  Lindsays. 

The  Lindsays  flew  like  fire  about 

Till  a'  the  affray  was  done. — Ballad  of  Otterburn, 

He  chose  the  Gordons  and  the  Grahams 
With  them  the  Lindsays  light  and  gay. 

Ballad  of  Otterburn. 

Keep  me,  my  good  cows,  my  sheep,  and  my  bullocks 
from  Satan,  from  sin,  and  those  thievish  MagCullochs. 

266 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  families. 

A  Manx  prayer  directed  against  the  Wigtonshire  family  of 
Myrton. — Murray. 

The  brave  Macdonalds. — Ch. 

Grighair  is  craic, 
Domnuil  is  freuc. 
i.e.  Macgregor  as  the  rock, 

Macdonald  as  the  heather.— Ch, 

Macgregor.         Cnoic  is  uisgh  is  Alpanich, 

an  truir  bu  shine  'bha  'n  Albin, 
This  clan  is  called  Alpanich  as  descended  from  Alpin,  a  King 
of  Scotland  in  the  gth  Cy. — Ch. 
Hills,  waters  and  Alpins 
the  eldest  three  in  Albin. — Ch. 

The  fiery  and  quick-tempered  Macintoshes. — Ch. 

Macleans.     An  cinneadh  mor's  am  por  tubaisteach.     i.e.  the  great 
clan  and  luckless  race. 
Ch.  says  a  sort  of  ostentatious  egotsim  or  Gasconading  was  their 
fault. 

The  proud  Macneils. 

The  black  Macraes  o'  Kintail. — Ch. 

The  wild  Macraws.     An  old  and  unmixed  but  very  handsome 
race — Ch. 

The  fause  Monteiths.  Sir  John  Monteith,  Wallace's  friend  and 
traitor.  It  was  common  in  Scotland  till  the  last  age,  when 
presenting  bread  to  a  Monteith,  to  give  it  with  the  wrong 
side  of  the  bannock  uppermost.  The  wrong  side  of  a 
bannock  to  a  Monteith,  was  a  common  saying. — Ch. 

If  ye  wi'  Montrose  gae,  ye  '11  get  sick  and  way  eneugh, 
if  ye  wi'  Lord  Lewis  gae,  ye  '11  get  rob  and  reive  eneugh. — Ch. 
See  Moray,  i.e.  Lord  Lewis  Gordon. 

The  manly  Morisons.  A  handsome  (Dumfriesshire)  family  settled 
at  Woodend,  par.  Kirkmichael. 

The  muckle-mou'ed  Murrays  (Lord  Elibank,  Peeblesshire).  See 
Jas.  Hogg's  Ballad. 

From  the  greed  of  the  Campbells, 
from  the  ire  of  the  Drummonds, 
from  the  pride  of  the  Grahams, 
from  the  wind*  of  the  Murrays 
Good  Lord,  deliver  us ! 
*  i.e.  the  bluster. 
The  Litany  of  Maxton  of  Culloquey,  Perthshire  {c.  1720),  whose 
small  estate  in  Perthshire,  though  surrounded  by  powerful 
proprietors,  has  been  preserved  entire  in   his  family    for 
500  years. —  Ch. 

The  Setons,  tall  and  proud.— Ch. 

267 


FAMILIES.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA, 

Wood  Willie  Sommervill    [Roxburghsh.J 
Killed  the  worm  of  Wormandaill 
for  whilk  he  had  all  the  lands  of  Lintoun 
and  sex  mylles  them  about. 

Wm.  of  Somerville,  in  the  12th  century,  was  the  reputed 
dragon-slayer. 

The  wode  Laird  of  Laristone 
Slew  the  worm  of  Worry's  Glen 
and  wan  all  Linton  parochine. 

Memorie  of  the  Smtervilles  (17th  Cy.). 

The  pudding  Somervilles.     A  name  given  by  King  James  IV. 
in  allusion  to  the  good  fare  at  Cowthally. — Ch. 

The  worthy  Watsons,  the  gentle  Neilsons,  the  jingling  Jardines, 
the  muckle-backit  Hendersons,  the  fause  Dicksons  ;  ae 
Brown  is  enow  in  a  toun  ;  ae  Paterson  in  a  parochine — 
they  brak'  a'  (Families  in  Lanarkshire). — Ch. 


268 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Ireland. 

IRELAND. 

Ireland.     Teagueland. — G.,  Diet. 

Irishman.     Patlander. — G.,  Diet. 

Irishman.     Pat. 

Irishman.     Murphy. 

Irishman.     Paddy. — G.,  Diet. 

Irishman.     Teague  (a  name  of  contempt). — Johnson's  Diet. ;  Shirley, 

Hyde  Park,  iii.  i ;  Howard  Committee,  1665. 
Hibernicis    ipsis    Hiberniores   (the   EngUsh   Settlers). — Farquhar, 

Twin  Rivals ;  Beaux  Stratagem,  iii.  2. 
Irish  Bulls— Potheen— Whisky— Butter. 
Irish  Fruit :  Potatoes  and  Apricots. — G.,  Diet. 

Murphies. — G.,  Diet. 
Irish  mosketaes  [crab-lice] . — Taylor,  Pierce  Pennyless. 
shillelagh, 
wake, 
car. 
The  Dutchman  for  a  drunkard, 

the  Dane  for  golden  locks ; 
the  Irishman  for  usquebaugh, 

the  Frenchman  for  the  pox. — Malcontent,  v.  2. 
Thatch,  thistle,  thunder  and  thump :  words  to  the  Irish  like  the 

Shibboleth  of  the  Hebrews. — G.,  Diet. 
Pillaloo  !    The  funeral  howl. — G.,  Diet. 

The  Irish  Karne. — Somers'  Tracts,  iii.  582 ;  Roll  of  Pari,  in  1423. 
Redshanks. — Boorde,  Introduction  of  Knowledge,   iii.;    Nash,  Lenten 

Stuffe. 
Li  plus  sauviage  en  Irlande. — Dit  le  I'Apostoile,  13th  Cy. 
But  if  England  were  nigh  as  good  as  gone, 
God  forbid  that  a  wylde  Irish  wyrlynge 
Shulde  be  chosen  for  to  be  their  King. 

Libell  of  English  Policy  (1436) ;  Wr.,  Pol.,  s.  ii.  187. 
Wylde  Irish. — lb.,  p.  185  ;  G.  Harvey,  Letter  Book,  p.  100,  1573. 
Like  the  wild  Irish  I  '11  never  think  thee  dead. 
Till  I  can  play  at  football  with  thy  head. 

Webster,  White  Devil  [Dyce's  ed.],  p.  29. 
An  Irishman  is  never  at   peace  except   when   he 's   fighting. 

See  England. 
It  is  the  nature  of  a  wild  Irishman  that  the  worse  you  use  him, 
the  more  service  he  doth  you. — Melbancke,  Philot.  Y  2. 
O'Neal.     Speak  softly,  O'Hanlon,  and  gow  make  ready  oore  kerne 

and  gaUinglasse  against  night. — See  Gallowglass  in  HU. 
Dauph.     You  rode  like  a  Kern  of  Ireland,  your  French  hose  in  your 

streit  strossers. — Shak.,  Hen.  V.,  iii.  7. 
So  ships  he  to  the  wolfish  Western  ile 
Among  the  savage  Kernes,  in  sad  exile. — Bp.  Hall,  Sat.,  IV.,  v.  27. 

269 


IRELAND.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Rapparees.    Irish  robbers  or  outlaws,  temp.  Cromwell,  armed  with 

rapiers  for  ripping  people  up. — Grose,  Diet. 
No  Irish  need  apply.     You  can't  trust  an  Irishman. — Dublin  Penny 

Journal,  i.  36. 
To  weep  Irish,  i.e.  to  howl. — E.  Hall,  Chvon.  (1548),  c.  viii. ;  Brand, 
Pop.  Antiq.  [ed.  Haz.] ,  ii.  186. 
Surely  the   Egyptians  did  not   weep   Irish  with  fayned   and 
mercenary  tears. — Fuller,  Pisgah,  &>€.,  II.,  xii.  15. 
Let  such  as  shall  rehearse 
This  story  howl  like  Irish  at  a  hearse. 

Quarles,  Argalus  and  Parthenia,  ii. 

An  Irish  game  hath  an  Irish  trick  or  vengeance. — Torriano,  1666. 

The  land  of  green  ginger. — Haz. 

Beware  of  the  hoof  of  the  horse,  the  horn  of  the  bull,  and  the  smile 

of  the  Saxon. — Leinster.    N.,  VII.,  ii.  126. 
Ireland  will  be  your  hinder  end.     Foreboding  that  he  will  steal  and 

go  to  Ireland  to  escape  justice. — K. 
Ireland,  a  good  goose  to  be  pluckt. — Ho.,  New  Sayings,  ii. 
Pleasure,  like  an   Irishman,  wounds  with  a  dart  and  is  suddenly 

gone.— T.  Adams,  Works,  535  (1618). 

The  Emerald  Isle. 

Dr.  Wm.  Brennan,  of  Belfast  (d.  1820),  in  a  note  to  his  poem 
"  Erin,"  refers  the  first  use  of  phrase  to  a  party  song  of 

The  Sister  Island. 

Rhymed  to  death,  as  they  do  Irish  rats. — B.  Jonson,  The  Poetaster. 

Then  as  in  Ireland  they  do. 

Rhyme  rats  to  death  with  [a]  verse  or  two. 

Flecknoe,  Diarium  J.,  iv.  1656. 

There  are  no  snakes  in  Ireland.     St.  Patrick  drove  them  all  out,  i.e. 
by  charm. — Sir  P.  Sidney. 

My  country  breeds  no  poison. — Middleton,  A  Fair  Quarrel,  iv.  4. 

The  Urinal  of  the  Planets.— G.,  Diet. 

Ireland  with  us  because  of  its  frequent  and  great  rains,  as  Heidel- 
berg and  Cologne  in  Germany. — B.  E.,  New  Diet.  Canting  Crew. 

Irish  assurance,  or  impudence. — G.,  Diet. 

Mie  Mannin,  mie  Nherin.     Good  in  Mann,  good  in  Ireland. — Mona 
Mise.,  ii.  g. 

A  ha'porth  of  taties  and  a  farthing's  worth  of  fat 
will  make  a  good  dinner  for  an  Irish  Pat. 

Denham,  N.  of  E.  F.  L.,  p.  12.    1852. 

Harington  {Epig.,  ii.  38)  speaks  of  the  Irish  bringing  Lenten  stuff 
[herrings]  to  the  Fair  at  Bridgwater  (Somerset). 

La  sardina  Galiziana  y  el  pescado  d'Yrlanda. — Nunez.    1555. 

Her  father  was  an  Irish  costermonger. — B.  Jon.,  Alchemist,  iv.  i. 

270 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Ireland. 

In  England,  sir, — troth  I  ever  laugh  when  I  think  on't;  to  see  a 
whole  nation  should  be  marked  i'  th'  forehead,  as  a  man  may 
say,  with  one  iron  ;  why,  sir,  there  all  costermongers  are 
Irishmen.— Oh,  that's  to  show  their  antiquity  as  coming 
from  Eve,  who  was  an  applewife,  and  they  take  after  the 
mother. — Dekker,  Honest  Whore,  pt.  II.,  i,  i ;  and  see  Old 
Fortunatus,  iv.  2. 

He  whose  throat  squeaks  like  a  treble  organ  and  speaks  as  small 
and  shrill,  as  the  Irishmen  cry,  "  Pip,  fine  Pip." — Jack  Drum's 
Entertainment,  i.    1601. 

Foote  said  that  he  never  could  tell  what  became  of  the  cast-off  rags 
of  the  English  beggars,  till  going  to  Ireland  he  found  that 
they  wore  them  there. 

The  hat  worn  jauntily  aside  in  virtue,  as  he  said  of  his  Irish  title. — 
Whyte  Melville,  Ro/s  Wife,  ch.  xxvii. 

Some  Irish  lady,  born  we  may  suppose. 
Because  she  runs  so  fast  she  never  goes. 

Taylor  (W.  P.),  Lady  Pecunia. 

As  sluttish  and  slatternly  as  an  Irishwoman  bred  in  France. — 
Wycherly,  Plain-  Dealer,  ii.  i. 

Ireland  was  thrice  beneath  the  ploughshare ;  thiice  it  was  wood  and 
thrice  it  was  bare. — O'Flaherty,  H-Jar  Connaught. 

Irish  beauty.     A  woman  with  two  black  eyes. — G.,  Diet. 

Tim.     I  wonnot  kiss,  indeed. 

Widow.  I  hope  you  will,  sir ;  I  was  bred  in  Ireland,  where  the 
women  begin  the  salutation. — Rowley,  A  Match  at  Midnight,  i.  i . 

Amongst  the  Irish  foster- brethren  are  loved  above  the  sons  of  their 
fathers. — F.  W.,  Line,  p.  159. 

The  Irish  arms.  Thick  legs.  It  is  said  of  the  Irish  women  that 
they  have  a  dispensation  from  the  Pope  to  wear  the  thick  end  of 
their  legs  downwards. — G.,  Diet. 

Hast  thou  never  a  Knack  in  thy  sot's  head,  never  a  shifting  shoo  of 
an  Irish  hobby  ? — Melbancke,  Phil.  Y  2.  i.e.  a  pony  such  as 
came  from  Ireland. — Harrison,  Eng.,  220;  Stanihurst,  20; 
Holinshed,  Chronicles  Ireland,  83. 

Cuir  d'Irelande. — Dit  de  I'Apostoile. 

Irish  horse.     Old  salt  beef. — Smyth,  Sailor's  Word  Booh. 

Irish  beef  [inferior  food]. — Wilson,  The  Cheats,  ii.  4.    1633. 

Irish  economy — eating  bacon  and  butter  together. 

An  Irishman  carries  his  heart  in  his  hand. 

Like  Irish  reciprocity — all  on  one  side. — Cobbett. 

Where  an  Irishman  can  enjoy  a  potatoe- plantation  and  a  cow,  he 

thinks   himself    happy    enough.  —  Ellis,   Modern    Husbandry. 

p.  no.    1750. 
Like  an  Irish  wolf,  she  barks  at  her  own  shadow. — Day,  Isle  of 

Gulls  F  3. 

271 


IRELAND.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Like  the  hole  in  the  Irishman's  coat,  which  lets  in  the  heat  and  lets 

out  the  cold. 
An  Irishman's  hurricane — right  up  and  down,  i.e.  a  dead  calm. — 

W.  C.  Russell. 
Paddy's  toothache,  i.e.  pregnancy.     [Cant.J — Elworthy,  W.  Somerset 

Word  Book. 
The  best  thing  that  could  happen  for  England  would  be  for  Ireland 

to  be  submerged  in  the  Atlantic  for  twenty-four  hours. 
We  have  an  adage  in  Ireland :  "  There 's  worse  than  this  in  the 
North." 
(An  odious  comparison ;  Other  people  are  worse  off  than  here. 
Spoken  as  a  word  of  praise.  Cf.  No  false  Latin.) — C.  Lever, 
Dodd  Family  Abroad. 
Pardoner.     Heir  is  ane  relict,  lang  and  braid, 

of  Fine  Macoull,*  the  richt  chaft  blaid, 
with  teith  and  all  togidder. 

Lyndesay,  The  Three  Estates,  2086. 
*  Fingal. 
Fyn  Mac  Kowle, 
that  dang  the  devil  and  gart  him  yowle.f 

t  i.e.  yell  or  howl.  W.  Dunbar. 

Gret  Gow,  Mac  Morne,  and  Fin  Mac  Cowl,  and  how 
They  suld  be  Goddis  in  Ireland,  as  they  say. 

Gawin  Douglas,  Palis  of  Honour. 
The  only  time   that    England   can   use   an    Irishman   is  when   he 

emigrates  to  America  and  votes  for  Free  Trade. 
Every  time  a  donkey  brays  an  Irishman  dies. — Jackson,  Shropshire 

[EUesmere]  Folk  Lore,  209. 
Leinster  for  breeding, 
Ulster  for  reeving ; 
Munster  for  reading, 

Connaught  for  thieving. — N.,  V.,  ix.  486. 
Ulster  for  a  soldier, 

Connaught  for  a  thief; 
Munster  for  learning, 
Leinster  for  beef. 

An  Laighneach  laoigheach, 
an  Mumhaineach  spleaghach, 
an  Conachtach  beul-bhinn, 
'o  an  t-Ultach  beadaidh. 
i.e.  The  Leinster  man  is  sprightly, 
the  Munster  man  boastful, 
the  Connaught  man  sweet  tongued, 
and  the  Ulster  man  impudent. 

Ulster  Journal  of  Archaeology,  vi.  264. 

■"  And  bad  luck  to  the  Bishop  of  Cork,''  a  frequent  addendum  to 

toasts,  meaning  Peter  Browne,  Protestant  Bishop  of  Cork 

and  Ross,  who  published  in   171 6  A   Discourse  of   the  Great 

Evil  of  the  Prevailing  Custom  of  Drinking  Healths. 

272 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  Ireland. 

He  killed  what  the  Connaught  man  shot  at,  i.e.  nothing. — Mair, 

Handhooh. 
To  hell  or  Connaught  [a  malediction  of  the  13th  century]. — Wilde, 

Irish  Popular  Superstitions. 
Connaught  security  :  three  in  a  bond  and  a  book-oath. — Christy. 
Donegal  girls,  who  are  red-headed,  and  therefore  strong-smelling, 

are  said  to  be  born  with  a  pig  under  the  bed. — Folk  Lore 

Journal,  ii.  63. 

The  Burkes,  the  Blakes,  and  the  Bodkins.     Three  tribal  families  of 

Galway. 
Dublin  for  a  city,  Dunshaughlan  *  for  a  plow, 
Navan  t  for  a  market,  Ardbracken  \  for  a  cow  ; 
Kells§  for  an  old  town,  Virginia  1|  poor, 
Cavan  for  dirt,  and  Belturbet  11  for  a  whore. — Swifliana. 

*  S.  Meath.  {  Mid-Meath.  ||  S.  Cavan. 

+  Meath.  §  N.  Meath.  %  N.  Cavan. 

To  take  the  Dublin  packet.     To  escape  round  a  corner. — Cowan, 

Sea  Prov.,  [American]. 
Sligo  is  the  devil's  place, 
and  MuUingar*  is  worse  ; 
Longford  is  a  shocking  hole, 
to  Boyle  f  I  give  my  curse  ; 
but  of  all  the  towns  I  ever  was  in 
bad  luck  to  ould  Kinsalej. — iV.,  IV. 

*  Mid-Westmeath.  t  N.  Roscommon.  J  Cork. 

Loughrin  is  a  blackguard  place, 
To  Gort  I  give  my  curse ; 
Athlone  itself  is  bad  enough. 
But  Ballinrobe  is  worse. 
I  cannot  tell  which  is  the  worst. 
They  're  all  so  very  bad  ; 
But  of  all  the  towns  I  ever  saw, 
Bad  luck  to  Kennagad. — Walter  Scott,  Life,  ch.  Ixxi. 
(Sent  by  his  son,  a  cavalry  oiBcer,  from  Ireland.) 
In  Irland  sind  die  Aerzte  Bettler,  weil  es  so  gesund  dort  zu  wohnen 

ist. — Hes. 
Sind  die  Irlander  gut,  so  gibt  es  keine  bessern,  menschen,  und  sie 

aber  schlecht  so  findet  man  keine  schlechtern. — Hes. 
Per  gli  Irlandesi  non  vi  sono  stelle. — Strafforello. 
Inconsistencies.   Buckles  and  brogues.  Cf.  Goldsmith :  sending  them 

ruffles  when  wanting  a  shirt. — Haunck  of  Venison. 
Head  of  a  shilling,  tail  of  a  farthing. 

The  Irish  mix  better  with  the  English  than  the  Scotch  do ;  their 
language  is  nearer  to  English,  as  a  proof  of  which  they 
succeed  very  well  as  players,  which  the  Scotch  do  not. 
Then,  sir,  they  have  not  that  extreme  nationality  which  we 
find  in  the  Scotch.  You  [Boswell]  are  almost  the  only 
instance  of  a  Scotchman  that  I  have  known  who  did  not 
at  every  other  sentence  bring  in  some  other  Scotchman. — 
Boswell,  Life  of  Johnson.    1773. 

VOL.  I.  273  18 


IRELAND.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

The  Irish  are  not  [like  the  Scotch]  in  a  conspiracy  to  cheat  the 
world  by  false  representations  of  the  merit  of  their  country- 
men. No,  sir  !  the  Irish  are  a  fair  people :  they  never  speak 
well  of  one  another. — lb.,  1775. 

Get  an  Irishman  on  the  spit,  and  you  '11  easily  find  two  others  to 
turn  him. — Bernal  Osborne  in  House  of  Commons,  7/5/'72. 

An  English  wolf,  an  Irish  toad  to  see. 

Were  as  a  chaste  man,  nursed  in  Italy. — Hall,  Sat.,  IV.,  iii. 

But  now  can  every  novice  speak  with  ease 
The  far-fetch'd  language  of  the  Antipodes. 
Would'st  thou  the  tongues  that  once  were  learned  hight, 
Though  our  wise  age  hath  wip'd  them  of  their  right*. 
Would'st  thou  the  courtly  three  f  in  most  request  ? 
Or  the  two  barb'rous  neighbours  of  the  West. — Hall,  5a^.,  VI.,  i.  137. 
*  ?  Irish,  Welsh.        t  French,  Italian,  Spanish. 

BuRREN  Barony  (N.  Clare),  said  not  to  have  water  enough  to  drown 
a  man,  wood  enough  to  hang  a  man,  or  earth  enough  to 
bury  him. — Murray. 

'Tis  all  over,  like  the  Fair  of  Athy,*  i.e.  quickly  terminated. — Haz. 
"  Co.  Kildare. 
Ballyore  (South). 

Tri  h-iongantuis  Bhaile  Fhoir ;    muileann  gan  sruth,  angeoire 
g-loich,  agus  mainistear  air  fhasach. 

The  three  wonders  of  Ballyore :  a  mill  without  a  stream 
(driven  direct  from  lake),  a  hermitage,  and  a  monastery 
in  a  wildeirness. — Ulst.  Journ.  Arch,,  ix.  229. 

Banagher. 

This  bangs  Banagher,  and  Banagher  bangs  the  devil. 

A  writer  in  the  Ulster  Journal  of  Archceology,  i.  306,  1853,  refers 
this  to  the  Cemetery  of  Banagher,  near  Dungiven,  co. 
Derry  (all  that  is  left  of  a  church  and  monastery  of  the 
nth  Cy.),  the  sand  of  which  is  used  as  a  charm  to  bring 
luck  and  keep  off  witches. 

You  've  kissed  the  Blarney  Stone  (Cork). 

Beware  of  the  curse  of  Columb-Kille  ! 

The  same  writer  adduces  this  warning,  which  is  pronounced 
when  anyone  puts  on  a  shoe  before  both  feet  have  been 
encased  in  their  stockings.  In  vol.  ii.,  67,  this  is 
explained :  The  Saint  of  that  name,  when  attacked  by 
some  Irish,  hastened  off  with  one  shoe  on.  His  foot- 
steps were  thus  traced,  and  he  pronounced  the  curse. 

Carlow  spurs  and  Tullow  garters  (N.  Carlow). 

Cashel  (Tipperary),  [14  m.  N.W.  of  Clonmel]. 

As  firm  as  the  Rock  of  Cashel  (on  the  Suir). 

Low  town,  high  steeple, 

proud  folk,  beggarly  people. — Carlow. 

274 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.  Ireland. 

Cork.  Prince  {Worthies  of  Devon),  speaking  of  Sir  Lewis  Pollard  and 
of  the  marriages  of  his  twenty-two  children  into  Devon- 
shire families,  says :  "So  that  what  is  said  of  Cork  in 
Ireland,  that  all  the  inhabitants  therein  are  akin,  by  these 
matches  almost  all  the  ancient  gentry  in  the  county 
became  allied." 
Citizens  of  Cork,  all  of  one  alliance. — Camb.,  Brit.  [^Ireland']. 
F.  W.,  Cheshire.     See  under  Limerick. 

DowNPATRiCK.     Hi  tres  en  Duno  tumulo  tumulantur  in  uno, 
Brigida  Patricius,  atque  Columba  Pius. 

Sir  John  De  Courcy  on  the  discovery, 
1185 ;  Murray. 
Dromore.  High  church  and  low  steeple, 

dirty  town  and  proud  people. 

Dr.  Hume  in  Trans.  Hist.  Soc.  Lan.  and 
Ches.,  i.  48  n. 
Dublin.     Dirty  Dublin. 

A  beggarly  people, 

a  church*  and  no  steeple. 

Swift.    Prior,  Life  of  Goldsmith,  38. 
*  St.  Ann's  Church. 
The  Silent  Sister — Trinity  College,  Dublin. 
As  plain  as  the  old  Hill  of  Howth  [in  Dublin  Bay]. 
Donnybrook  Fair.     Proverbial  for  fun  and  fury. 
To  have  been  dipt  in  the  Liffey.  To  have  lost  your  bashfulness. 
Cf.  Shannon. 
Ferns  (N.  Wexford). 

This  house  Ram  built  for  his  succeeding  brothers ; 
Thus  sheep  bear  wool,  not  for  themselves,  but  others. — Murray. 
(Inscription  on  Ferns'  Episcopal  Palace,  built  by  Thomas 
Ram  in  1630.) 

Kerry.     The  Sanctuary  of  Sin  and  Refuge  of  Rebels  as  outlawed 
from  any   English  jurisdiction. — F.  W.,    Suffolk,    p.   64 ; 
Camden,  Elizabeth,  1598. 
Kerry  Security.     Bond,  pledge,  oath,  and  keep  the  money. — 

G.,  Diet. 
A  Kerry  shower 's 
of  twenty-four  hours. 

Kerry  showers 
last  twenty-four  hours. 
Kilkenny. 

Fire  without  smoke,*  air  without  fog, 
water  without  mud,  land  without  bog, 
and  streets  paved  with  marble.f 

N.,  VI.,  vi.  47.     Gentleman's  Magazine,  January,  1801. 
*  Owing  to  the  general  use  of  the  Castlecomer  anthracite  or  stone  coal. — 

Murray, 
t  Black,  the  neighbouring  geological  formation  being  almost  entirely  com- 
posed of  carboniferous  limestone. 

275 


IRELAND.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

The  Kilkenny  Cats,  who  fought  till  there  was  nothing  but  their 
tails  left  of  either. — N.,  I.  ii.  71,  and  N.,  IIL  v.  433. 
An  allegory  of  the  municipalities  of  Kilkenny  and  the  adjoining 
suburb  of  Irishtown,  who  contendeth  so  severely  about 
boundaries  and  dues  to  the  end  of  the  17th  century  that 
they  mutually  ruined  each  other. — Globe,  2s/io/'gy. 
Kilkenny.     An  old  frieze  coat. — G.,  Diet. 
KiSHCORRAN  hill  (S.  Sligo).     Leave  Keish  where  it  stands. — Mair, 
Handbook. 

Leap.     Beyond  the  Leap,  beyond  the  law.     A  river  in  W.  Cork. 

See  Haz.,  p.  89. 
Limerick.       Limerick  was,  Dublin  is,  and  Cork  shall  be 
the  finest  city  of  the  three. 

(Quoted  in  Hole's  Little  Tour  in  Iveland.) 
As  wise  as  the  women  of  Mungret. — N.,  II.,  vi.  208. 

A  famous  seminary  near  Limerick.  An  examination  by  the 
College  at  Cashel  being  threatened,  some  of  the  young 
students  were  dressed  up  as  women  and  some  of  the 
monks  as  peasants,  and  sent  on  the  road  the  professors 
were  to  arrive  by.  AU  their  enquiries  were  answered  in 
Greek  and  Latin  ;  and,  fearing  to  have  the  tables  turned 
in  a  country  where  the  rustics  talked  the  classical  lan- 
guages, they  abandoned  the  mission. — See  Ferrar,  History 
of  Limerick  (1787),  p.  186. 
Limerick  beauties. 

Limerick  Races  stand  in  the  same  category  as  Donnybrook. 
Meath.     Praiseach  bhuidhe  na  ngort  chiureas  mna  na   Midhe  le 
h-ole.     It  is  the  yellow  preshagh  [wild  kail]  that  brings  the 
Meath  women  to  harm.     Under  pretence  of  going  out  to 
gather  it,  they  would  meet  their  lovers. — McAdam,  Ulster 
Journal  of  Archaeology,  vii.  270. 
Monster  plums.     Potatoes. — G.,  Diet. 
Newry.  High  church  and  low  steeple, 

dirty  streets  and  proud  people. — Swift. 

Shannon.       As  civil  in  the  English  Pale  as  here. 
And  laws  obeyed  and  order  duly  kept. 
And  all  the  rest  may  one  day  be  reduced. 

A  Warning  for  Fair  Women,  i.    1599. 
Party-coloured  like  the  people, 
red  and  white  stands  Shandon*  steeple. 

*  Village  on  opposite  side  to  Cork  of  the  river  Lee. 
To  have  been  dipt  in  the  Shannon,     To  have  lost  all  sense  of 
bashfulness. — Grose. 
Skellig  [S.W.  Kerry] . 

To  go  to  Skellig. — N.,  I.,  vi.  533. 

A  group  of  rocks  on  the  coast,  to  which  the  unmarried  of 
both  sexes  are  said  to  go  in  pairs  to  do  penance  during 
Lent,  when  marriages  are  prohibited. 

276 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  Ireland. 


Sligo.  Making  up  for  lost  time,  as  the  piper  of  Sligo  said  when  he 
ate  a  hail  side  of  mutton. — Scott,  Woodstock,  xx, 

Telton.  a  Telton  marriage.  It  was  a  custom  in  ancient  times,  at 
the  Fair  held  at  this  royal  seat  in  Meath,  for  all  the  lads 
and  lasses  who  wished  to  try  their  luck  to  arrange  them- 
selves on  either  side  of  a  high  wall,  in  which  was  a  small 
opening,  through  which  the  female  protruded  her  hand.  If 
the  swain  admired  it  the  parties  were  married  ;  an  arrange- 
ment which,  fortunately  for  both,  only  held  good  for  a  year 
and  a  day,  when  each  were  free  to  try  their  luck  again. 
The  proverb  is  not  yet  obsolete. — Murray,  1878. 

TiPPERARY.    A  Tipperary  fortune.   Two  town-lands :  Stream's  town 
and  Ballinocack. 
Said  of  Irishwomen  without  a  fortune. — G.,  Diet. 

Waterford. 

He  is  like  a  Waterford  merchant,  up  to  the  arse*  in  business.— 
Irish  R.,  1813. 

*  Eyes. — Haz. 

She  is  like  a  Waterford  heifer,  beef  to  the  heels. — Irish  R.,  1813. 
G.  has  Munster.     Her.,  MuUingar. 


SURNAMES. 

Per  Mac  atque  O  tu  veros  cognoscis  Hibernos, 
His  duobus  demptis,  nuUus  Hibernus  adest. 

Moore,  Manx  Place-Names,  p.  9. 
By  Got,  o'  my  conshence,  tish  he !  ant  tou  be  King  Yamish,  me 
name  is  Dennish,  I  sherve  ti  Majesties  owne  cashtermonger, 
be  me  trote ;  and  cry  peepsh  and  pomwatersh  in  te  mayesties 
shervice  'tis  five  years  now. — B.  Johnson,  Irish  Masque. 


277 


BERMUDA.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 


COLONIES,     DEPENDENCIES,    AND    THE 
UNITED     STATES     OF    AMERICA. 


COLONIES    AND     DEPENDENCIES. 

The  Mulattoes  hate  their  fathers  and  despise  their  mothers. — Sir 

Spencer  St.  John,  Hayti. 
Creole.     A  native  of  the  Tropics,  of  European  parentage. 
Alia    Creolinnen    wiinschen    camisas    de    Britana,   y   maridos    de 

Espaiia. — Hes. 
The  English  language  is  Dutch,  embroidered  with  French. — Ho., 

New' Sayings,  V. 


AUSTRALIA. 

Cornstalks.  Australians  (N.  S.  Wales). — All  the  Year  Round,  N.S., 
xii.,  p.  67. 

"  I  am  an  American,  I  am,"  said  he,  as  if  his  first  nasal  greeting 
had  not  betrayed  him  as  surely  as  it  does  an  Australian.  In 
fact,  residence  in  a  colony  and  nasillation  belong  now  to  cause 
and  effect. — Walter  White,  Northumberland  and  the  Border, 
P-  319- 

Our  trees  without  shade,  our  flowers  without  perfume,  our  birds 
who  cannot  fly,  our  beasts  who  have  not  yet  learnt  to  walk 
on  all  fours. — Marcus  Clarke,  author  of  For  his  Natural  Life. 

My  brothers,  let  us  breakfast  in  Scotland,  lunch  in  Australia,  and 
dine  in  France,  to  our  lives'  end. — Henry  Kingsley. 

Queensland.  Banana-landers.  Queenslanders, — All  the  Year  Round, 
N.S.,  xii.,  p.  67. 

Tasmania.  Gum-suckers.  Tasmanians  (from  gum-trees). — All  the 
Year  Round,  N.S.,  xii.,  p.  67. 

Victoria.     The  British  El  Dorado. 


BARBADOS  S. 

Barbadoes  abounds  in  lizards,  Guiana  is  over-run  by  frogs,  but 
Trinidad  by  the  number  and  variety  of  the  communities  of 
ants. — Lady  Brassey,  In  the  Trades,  etc.,  1885,  p.  132. 

Barbadians  are  said  to  be  natives  of  Bimshire. — Collens,  Trinidad. 


BERMUDA. 

If  the  Bermudas  let  you  pass, 
then  look  out  for  Hatteras. 
[you  must  beware  of  Hatteras.] 

278 


LOCAL     PROVERBS.         channel  islands. 

It  is  customary  for  vessels  returning  from  Rio  Janeiro  to  New 
York  to  sail  out  several  hundred  miles  to  sea,  sometimes 
even  inclined  to  the  southward.  Then  there  is  a  long  home 
reach  of  about  6,500  miles,  with  a  trade  wind  all  the  way 
home.  This  line  passes  near  the  mouth  of  the  Amazon, 
thence  east  of  the  dangerous  cluster  of  the  Bermudas,  and 
the  N.  American  equally  dangerous  Cape  Hatteras. — 
Cowan,  Sea  Pvov. 

Keeps  he  still  your  quarter  in  the  Bermudas*? — B.  Jonson,  The  Devil 
is  an  Ass,  ii.   i. 

*  Narrow  passages  near  Covent  Garden,  N.  of  the  Strand. 

CANADA. 

Ontario  (Ont.).      [K'nucks.] 

Toronto.    City  of  Colleges. 

Montreal.     City  of  the  Mountain  and  the  Rapids. 
Quebec  (P.Q.).     [K'nucks.J 

Quebec.     Gibraltar  of  America. 
New  Brunswick  (N.B.).     [Blue  Noses.] 
Nova  Scotia  (N.S.).     [Blue  Noses.] 
Pr.  Edw.  Island  (P.E.L).      [Blue  Noses.J 
Newfoundland  (Nfld.). 
Manitoba  (Man.). 
N.  W.  Territory  (N.W.  Ter.). 
British  Columaia  (Br.  Col.). 

Yankees  are  called  in  Canada  Blue  bellies. 

CHANNEL    ISIiANDS. 

They  say  in  these  Channel  Islands  a  man  will  run  across  every 
mortal  he  has  known,  or  is  fated  to  know,  from  his  cradle  to 
his  grave. — Mrs.  Edwardes,  A  Girton  Girl,  ch.  ii. 

Alderney. 

"Aurigny,  c'est  le  dernier  pays  du  monde,"  dit  un  Sercquois. — 
Blackwood'' s  Mag.,  Aug.,  1887,  p.  io5. 

The  Spring  may  be  considered  the  most  rainy  season,  but  it  is 
believed  that,  taking  the  whole  year  into  consideration,  less 
rain  falls  in  these  islands  than  in  the  Western  Counties  of 
England.  Westerly  winds  are  proverbially  prevalent,  and 
when  accompanied  by  rain  constitute  what  has  sometimes 
been  denominated  "Guernsey  weather." — C.C.Babington, 
Primitice  Flora  Sarnica,  1839,  Pref.  vi. 

Guernsey. 

The  Assembly  Rooms  at  St.  Peter's  Port,  over  "  Les  Halles  " 
of  the  Frenchwomen,  where  public  balls,  concerts,  and 
exhibitions  are  held,  are  private  property,  the  funds  for  the 

279 


NEW  ZEALAND.         LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

erection  of  which  were  raised  by  shares  held  by  certain  of 
the  head  families  of  the  island,  who  on  first  clubbing  their 
means  together  found  their  numbers  to  amount  to  sixty. 
Hence,  we  believe,  arose  that  exclusive  body  in  Guernsey 
called  "The  Sixties."  "It  is  scarcely  probable,"  writes 
Berry,  "  to  define  the  essential  requisites  for  admission  into 
this  rank ;  ample  fortune  will  not  accomplish  it,  and  neither 
business  nor  lack  of  noble  ancestry  is  any  bar  to  it.  Very 
resolute  distinctions  prevail  among  the  Guernsey  families, 
and  those  of  '  The  Sixties '  will  neither  mix  nor  visit  with 
'  The  Forties.'  "  What  the  latter  means  we  cannot  explain. 
— Guide  to  Guernsey,  by  F.  F.  Dally,  2nd  Ed.,  i860,  p.  30. 
Offend  the  Careys,  and  God  help  you  ! — Truth,  28/ii/'95. 

GISSALTAB. 

Rock  scorpion.     A  native  of  Gibraltar. 

HBIilGOLAND.     [English  no  longer. — Ed.] 

Griin  ist  das  Land, 

roth  ist  die  Wand, 

und  weiss  der  Strand, 

das  sind  die  Farben  von  Helgoland. 

Times,  /io/'86. 

JAMAICA. 

Soldiers  say  that  the  first  year  you  are  quartered  in  Jamaica  you 
admire  the  scenery,  the  second  you  collect  ferns,  the  third 
year  you  go  mad. — St.  James'  Gan.,  ii/i2/'8^. 

MAIiTA. 

Smiche.     A  native  of  Malta. 


NEW    ZEAIiAND. 

The  Great  Britain  of  the  Antipodes. 
The  England  of  the  Pacific. 
The  Britain  of  the  South. 

Auckland.     All  the  Aucklanders  have  strangely  aquiline  noses. 

"Ah,  that's  a  peculiarity  of  the  climate;  you'll  have  along 
nose  too,  after  a  year  or  so.  There 's  an  Auckland  proverb 
that  a  new  chum  [fresh  settler]  never  does  any  good  until 
his  nose  is  grown.  It 's  like  the  proverbial  cutting  of  the 
wisdom  teeth.  After  inhaling  this  magnificent  air  of  ours 
for  a  year  or  two,  your  nose  will  grow  bigger  to  receive  it, 
and  about  the  same  time  you  will  have  spent  the  money 
you  brought  with  you,  gone  in  for  hard  work,  learnt 
common  sense,  and  become  '  colonised.' " — W.  D.  Hay, 
Brighter  Britain,  i.,  1882. 

280 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  united  states. 

Wellington.    A  port  much  given  to  earthquakes  and  gales  of 
wind. 

The  Wellington  climate  is  proverbial.  It  is  said  that  a 
Wellington  man  may  always  be  known  by  his  holding  his 
hat  on  when  he  comes  to  the  corner  of  a  street. — Geo. 
Sayce,  Twelve  Times  round  the  World,  ch.  iv. 

Truth  compels  me  to  say  that  the  wind  does  blow  at  Wellington 
in  a  way  I  never  experienced  elsewhere. — E.  Brodie  Hoare, 
National  Review,  June,  1887,  p.  503. 

TRINIDAD. 

Trinidad  was  christened  by  one  of  its  Governors,  "  The  Pearl  of  the 

Antilles." 
The  Cascadou  [ra],  a  fresh-water  fish  found  there,  has  a  coat  of 
mail,  and  is  esteemed  a  great  delicacy ;  but  it  is  said  that  those 
who  eat  of  it  will  sooner  or  later  die  in  Trinidad — when  the 
prophecy  saieth  not. — Collens,  Trinidad, 
The  meaning  is  that  they  cannot  tear  themselves  away  from 
this  flesh-pot. 


UNITED    STATES. 

Uncle   Sam. 

Yankee.     The  Indian  pronunciation  of  "  English." 

Brother  Jonathan.  Said  to  have  originated  in  Washington's  habitual 
remark  in  difficulties :  "  Let  us  consult  Brother  Jonathan," 
i.e.  Jonathan  Trumbull,  Governor  of  Massachussets. 

Die  Englander  prugeln  die  ganze  Welt,  aber  die  Amerikaner  prugeln 
die  Englander.    (Nord-Amerika). — Wander. 

England  whips  the  universe  and  America  whips  England. 
We  own  the  ocean  tu,  John ; 
You  mus'n  take  it  hard, 
Ef  we  can't  think  with  you,  John, 
It 's  jest  yer  own  backyard. 
Ole  Uncle  S.  sez  he,  "  I  guess 
"  Ef  that 's  his  claim,"  sez  he, 
"  The  fencing  stuff  '11  cost  enough 
To  bust  up  friend  J.  B." 

Lowell,  Biglow  Papers. 

Wenn  America  entdeckt  ist,  dann  will's  jeder  finden. — Wan. 

There  is  no  gentleman  like  an  American  gentleman  (ascribed  to  the 
States  and  quoted  satirically). — Daily  News,  g/ii/'86. 

The  real  American  never  takes  off  his  coat  to  work,  i.e.  he  leaves  all 
manual  drudgery  to  the  Canadians,  Germans,  and  Irish. — 
Dr.  Rigg,  Contemporary  Review,  August,  1884. 

281 


UNITED  STATES.       LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Good  Americans  when  they  die  go  to — Paris  (O.  W.  Holmes). 

The  Champs  Elysfees  being  their  ideal  Paradise.     Ascribed  by 

Miss  A.  H.  Ward  (Grocott's  Quotations)    to  Thos.  Gold 

Appleton   (1812-1884),    o°6   of  the  Seven   Wise   Men  of 

Boston. 

A  good  Indian  is  a  dead  Indian. — Alf.  Gurney,  Ramble  through  U.S., 

p.  29.    1884. 
Early  to  bed  and  early  to  rise — 
is  no  good  unless  you  advertise. — lb.,  p.  51. 
In  Amerika  macht  man  eine  stunde  in  vierzig  minuten. — Wan. 

A  saying  of  Germans  in  the  States  referring  to  the  activity  and 
economy  of  labour. 
In  America  one  makes  an  hour  out  of  forty  minutes. — Christy. 
Die  Amerikaner  kochen  auch  nur  mit  wasser. — Wan. 
American  railroads  built   on   three  gauges — broad   gauge,   narrow 

gauge,  and  mortgage. 
It  has  become  a  proverb  that  if  you  wish  to  see  Old  France  you 
must  go  to  French  Canada.    And  for  many  things  if  you  wish 
to  see  Old  England  you  must  go  to  New  England. — E.  A. 
Freeman,  On  American  Speech  and  Customs. 
Whoever  believes  a  New  England  Saint  shall  be  sure  to  be  cheated, 
and  he  that  knows  how  to  deal  with  their  traders  may  deal 
with  the  devil  and  fear  no  craft. — Ned  Ward,  Works,  ii.  176  ; 
Tvip  to  New  England. 
There  is  no  God  beyond  the  Mississippi.      Reckless  character  of  the 

inhabitants  of  the  Western  States. 
It  has  been  said  that  there  are  only  two  positions  in  life  to  which  it 
is   desirable  to   be  born — Czar   of  all  the   Russias  and   an 
American  woman. — National  Review,  March,  1887,  p.  33. 
It  is  a  saying  in  the  States  that  the  best  thing  that  could  happen  for 
the  country  would  be  for  every  Irishman  to  kill  a  nigger 
and  be  hanged  for  doing  it    (both  the  Irish  and  Negro 
element  being  over-powerful  in  the  elections). 

Boston  is  the  hub  of  the  Universe. 

Brooklyn,  the   old   bedroom  of  New    Yoxk.^Westminstev  Review, 
July,  1888. 

California.      The  farther  away  from  the  State  the  louder  they  cry 

"  California  pears.'' — Christy. 
Scratch  a  Chicago  man  and  you  find  a  Red  Indian. 

A    Montgomery  decision :    all  on  one  side,  none  on  the  other. — 
Christy. 

New  York,  the  first  Irish  city  and  the  third  German  city  in  the 
world,  having  more  Irish  than  Dublin,  and  more  Germans 
than  any  city  except  Berlin  and  Vienna. — G.  W.  Smalley, 
"  Notes  on  New  York,"  Nineteenth  Cy.,  Feb.,  1887. 
As  Venice  was  the  City  of  Doges,  New  York  is  the  City  of 
Dodges. — Alf.  Gurney,  Ramble  thro'  U.S.,  p.  47  [1884]. 

282 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  united  states. 

At  New  York  they  say  that  people  only  go  to  Brooklyn  to  sleep 
and  to  be  buried. — Times,  7/9/'87. 

In  Philadelphia  the  first  question  about  a  stranger  is :  "  Who  is 
he  ?  "—in  New  York,  "  What  has  he  ?  "—in  Boston,  "  What 
is  he  ?  "  At  Baltimore  the  first  question  about  a  woman 
is,  "Is  she  good-looking?" — at  Philadelphia,  "Who  was 
her  grandmother  ?  " — at  New  York,  "  What  has  she  got  ?  " 
— at  Boston,    "  What   does  she  know  ?  " 

The  Missouri  capitalist  says  of  a  dangerous  scheme:  "Rash  and 
rapid,  like  Chicago."  The  Illinois  adventurer  says  of  a  safe 
and  steady  enterprise :  "  Slow  and  stupid,  like  St.  Louis." 
— "  Characteristics  of  American  Cities,"  Westminster  Review, 
July,  1888. 

Washington.     The  City  of  Magnificent  Distances. 

Yankee.     Thus  let  us  meet  and  mingle  converse  dear 
By  Thames  at  home  or  by  Potoumac  here  ; 
O'er  lake  and  marsh,  through  fevers  and  through  fogs, 
Midst  bears  and  Yankees,  democrats  and  frogs 
Thy  foot  shall  follow  me. — T.  Moore,  Epistle  to  David  Hume. 
Poems  relating  to  America.     1806. 


U.  S.  A. 

See  N.  and  Q.,  V.,  ii.  82,  174. 

Alabama  (Ala.).     [Lizards.] 

Alaska  Terr.  (Alas.). 

Arizona  Terr.  (Ariz.). 

Arkansas  (Ark.).    Bear  State  [Toothpicks]. 

California  (Cal.).     Golden  State  [Gold-hunters]. 

San  Francisco  [Frisco] .    City  of  the  Golden  Gate  [Hundred 
Hills]. 
Connecticut  (Conn.)     Land  of  Steady  Habits.     Blue  Law  State 
[Wooden  Nutmegs]. 

New  Haven.     City  of  Elms. 
Colorado  (Col.).    Centennials  [Rovers]. 
Columbia  Dist.  (D.C.). 

Washington.     City  of  Magnificent  Distances.     Federal  City. 
Dacotah  Terr  [Dac.J.    Squatters.   Farmer. 
Delaware  (Del.).     Diamond  State.     Blue  Hen's  Chickens  [Musk 

Rats]. 
Florida  (Fla.).    Peninsula  State  [Fly-up-the  Creeks]. 
Georgia  (Ga.).     Crackers  [Buzzards]. 

Atlanta.     Gate  City. 
Idaho  Ter.  (Id.).    Fortune  Seekers  or  Cutthroats. 

283 


UNITED  STATES.      LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Iowa  (la.).    Hawkeyes. 
Keokuk.     Gate  City. 

Illinois  (111.).     Sucker  State  (Suckers).    Prairie  State. 
Chicago.     Garden  City;    Windy  City. 
Springfield.     Flower  City. 
City  of  Brick.    Pullman. 

Indiana  (Ind.).     Hoosiers. 

Indianopolis.     Railroad  City. 

Kansas  [Kan.]     Jay-hawkers. 

Kentucky  [Ky.].     Dark  and  Bloody  Ground.     Corncrackers. 
Louisville.     Falls  City. 

Louisiana  (La.).     Creole  State  [Creoles].     Pelican  State. 
New  Orleans.     Crescent  City. 

Maine  (Me.).     Pine-tree  State   [Foxes]. 

Portland.     Forest  City. 
Maryland  (Md.).     [Craw-thumpers.]     Clam-hampers.    Farmer. 

Baltimore.     Monumental  City. 
Massachussets  (Mass.).    Bay  State. 

Boston.  Modern  Athens ;  The  Hub  of  the  Universe.  City  of 
Spindles,  [Lowell] ;  Classic  City ;  City  of  Notions — of 
Baked  Beans. 

Michigan  (Mich.).     Wolverines. 

Detroit.     City  of  the  Straits. 
Minnesota  (Min.)     [Gophers,  i.e.  burrowers.] 
Mississippi  (Miss.).    Bayou  State.      [Tadpoles.] 
Missouri  (Mo.).     Pukes,  i.e.  cads. 

St.  Louis.     Mound  City. 
Montana  Ter.  (Mta.). 

Nevada  (Nev.).    Silver  State.    [Sage  Hens.] 
New  Jersey  (N.J.)     Jersey  Blues.    [Clara-catchers. J 
Nebraska  (Neb.).    [Bug-eaters.] 
New  Mexico  Ter.  (N.M.).     Spanish  Indians. 
New  Hampshire  (N.H.).     Granite  State.     [Granite  Boys.] 

New  York  (N.Y.).     Empire  State.    Knickerbockers. 
Buffalo.     Queen  City  of  the  Lakes. 
New  York,     Gotham. 
Brooklyn.     City  of  Churches. 

North  Carolina  (N.C.).    [.Old  North  State.     Turpentine    State. 
Tar-heels.     [Tar-boilers.    Tuckoes.] 

284 


LOCAL    PROVERBS.  united  states. 

Ohio  (O.).    Buckeye  State. 

Cincinnati.     Queen    City   of  the   West.     Paris   of   America. 
Porkopolis. 

Cleveland.    Forest  City. 
Oregon  (Ogn.).     Web- Foot  State.    [Hard  Cases.] 

Lynn.     City  of  Soles. 
Pennsylvania   (P.A.).    Keystone   State.     [Pennanites.     Leather- 
heads]. 

Philadelphia.     Quaker  City ;  City  of  Brotherly  Love. 

Pittsburg.   Iron  City. 
Rhode  Island  (R.L).     Little  Rhody.     [Gun-flints.] 
South  Carolina  (S.C).    Palmetto  State.    [Weasels.] 
Tennessee  (Tenn.).     Big  Bend  State.     Mudheads  [Whelps]. 

Nashville.    City  of  Rocks. 
Texas     (Tex.).      Lone -Star    State.      Beet-heads;     Beef -heads. 
Farmer. 

Salem  :  City  of  Witches. 
Utah  Ter.  (Uh.).     Mormon  State :  Polygamists. 
Vermont  (Vt.).      Green  Mountain  State. 
Virginia  (Va.).     Old   Dominion.      Mother   of  States    [Beadies]. 

Beagles.    Farmer. 
West  Virginia  (W.Va.). 
Washington  Ter.  (Wash.  T.). 
Wisconsin  (Wis.).    Badger  State. 
Wyoming  Ter.  (Wyo.). 


285 


Gl'   ITALIANI 

DA      SUOI      STESSI      DIPINTI: 

Proverbs 

IN    THEIR    OWN    TONGUE 

Concerning  Peoples    and   Places 

IN 

ITALY, 


287 


ABBREVIATIONS  OF  AUTHORITIES   CITED 
IN  THE  FOLLOWING  SECTION, 


Berckenmeyer    (P.    L.).      Vermehrter    Curieuser   Antiquarius.      2  v. 
Hamburg,  1712. 

B.     Barthol.   BoUa.      Thesaurus    Proverbiorum    Italo  -  Bergamascorum. 
Francofurti.     1605.     8vo. 

D.     Satire  Dettati  e  Gerghi  della  Citta  di  Firenze  da  Francesco  Dani. 
Firenze,  pp.  84-92.     1886. 

F.  Giovanni  Florio.    First  Fruits. 

id.  Second  Fruites.    4to.     1591. 

id.  Giardino  di  Ricreatione,    4to.     1591. 

G.  Giuseppe  Giusti.    Raccolta  di  Proverhi  Toscani.    Firenze.  1853, 

i2mo. 
Giani    (L.    C.    M.).         Sapienza    Italiana    in    bocca    Alemanna, 

Stoccarda.     1876. 
Gotti   (Aurelio).      Aggiunta  ai  Proverbi  Toscane    di   G.   Guisti, 

Firenze.     1855.     8vo. 

Hes.     Land  und  Stadt  im  Volksmunde,  von  George  Hesekiel.     Berlin, 
Janke.     1867. 

Ho.    James  Howell,  Paramiographia.     London.     1659.     Fol. 

L.     [Ortensio  Landi].     Commentario  delle  piu  notabile  e  mostruose  cose 
d'ltalia  ed  altri  luoghi,  S'C.     1548. 

P.     Orlando  Pescetti.     Proverbi  Italiani.     Venetia.      1603.      lamo. 

S.     Francesco   Serdonati.      Proverbi    Fiorentini   di  F.S.      Padova. 
1871.     8vo. 

Straff.     Gustavo  StrafForello.      La  Sapienza  del  Mbndo.      Torino. 
1883.     8vo. 

T.     Giov.  Torriano.    Piazza  Universale  di  Proverbi  Italiani.    London. 
1666.     Fol. 

Tom.    N.  Tommaseo  and  B.  Bellini.    Dizionario  della  Lingua  Italiana. 

4  vols.     Torino.     1861-79. 

Te.     Triads  (Latin  and  Italian)  in  Add'  MSS.,  30155  B.M.,  ascribed 
to  1 8th  Century. 

W.     K.  F.  W.  Wander.     Deutsckes  Sprichworter  Lexicon.     Berlin. 

5  V.    1867-80. 


288 


LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA.  italy. 

THE    NAMES    OF    ALL    THE    WITS    OR    INGENIOUS 
MEN    IN    MOST    OF    THE    CITIES    OF    ITALY, 

AS     THEY     OF     THE     ACADEMIE     DE     BEAUX     ESPRITS     IN     PARIS    ARE 
CALLED    ACADEMICIANS. 

Lincei,  Fantastici,  Humoristi  di  Roma. 

Intronati  di  Siena. 

Oziosi  di  Bologna. 

Addormentati  di  Geneva. 

Ricoverati  e  Orditi  di  Padoa. 

Invaghiti  di  Mantova. 

Affidati  di  Pavia. 

Olympici  di  Vicenza. 

Innominati  di  Parma. 

Offuscati  di  Cesena. 

Caliginosi  d'Ancona. 

Adagiati  di  Rimini. 

Assorbiti  di  Citta  di  Castello. 

Insensati  di  Perugia. 

Catenati  di  Macerata. 

Ostinati  di  Viterbo. 

Immobili  d 'Alessandria. 

Occulti  di  Brescia. 

Perseveranti  di  Treviso. 

Oscari  di  Lucca. 

Raffrontati  di  Fermo. — Ho.,  p.  i8. 

Sicilia  da  i  Covielli,    Bergamo  gli  Zanni,  Venezia   e   Pantaloni   e 
Mantova  i  BufFoni. — Giani,  Sapienza  Ital. 

Fiorentini  ciechi,  Senesi  matti,  Pisani  traditori,  Lucchesi  signori. — 
Giani. 

Legge  Bolognese 

dura  trenta  giorni  meno  un  mese. 

Fiorentina 

fatta  la  sera  guasta  la  mattina. 

Napolitana 

dura  una  settimana. 

Veneziana 

non  dura  settimana. 

Triestina 

dura  della  sera  alia  mattina. 

Vicentina 

dalla  sera  alia  mattina. 

di  Verona 

dura  da  terza  a  nona. — Giani. 

VOL.  I.  289  19 


LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 


DE    ITALIC    CIVITATIBUS 

(quarum  hoc  in  libello  fit  mentio)  versus  hi  vernacula 

LINGUA   CIRCUMFERUNTUR   PULCERRIMI    (stc). 

Fama  tra  noi  Roma  pomposa  e  santa, 

Veneta  riccha,  saggia  e  signorile, 

Neapoli  odorosa  e  gentile, 
Fiorenza  bella  tutto  il  vogo  canta, 
Grande  Milano  in  Italia  si  vanta, 

Bologna  grassa,  e  Ferrara  civile, 

Padova  forte,  e  Bergamo  sottile. 
Genova  di  superbia  altiera  pianta, 
Verona  degna,  e  Perugia  sanguigna, 

Brescia  I'armata,  e  Mantoa  gloriosa, 
Rimini  buona,  e  Pistoja  ferrigna, 

Siena  di  bel  podere,  Lucca  industriosa, 
Forli  bizarra,  e  Ravenna  benigna, 

E  Sinigaglia  del  aria  noiosa, 

E  Capua  amorosa, 
Pisa  frendente,  e  Pesaro  giardino, 
Ancona  de  bel  porto  pellegrino, 
Fidelissima  Urbino, 

Ascoli  tondo,  e  longo  Recanate, 

Foligno  delle  strade  inzuccarate, 

E  par  da  cielo  mandate. 
Le  belle  donne  di  Fano  si  dice, 
Ma  Siena  poi  tra  I'altre  piii  felice. 

?  Agostino  Calaldi,  Delkics  ItdicB.     Cologne,  1609. 


290 


LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA.  italy. 

Veramente  ti  porto  grande  invidia:  imperoche  fra  un  mese 
(se  i  venti  non  ti  fanno  torto)  giugnerai  nella  ricca  I  sola  di 
Sicilia,  et  mangerai  di  que'macheroni  i  quali  hanno  preso  il  nome 
del  beatificare  (Macharias  beatos) :  Suoglionsi  cuocere  insieme  con 
grassi  caponi  e  caci  freschi  da  ogni  lato  stillante  butiro  e  latto,  e  poi 
con  liberale  e  larga  mano  vi  soprapongano  zucchero  e  canella  della 
pill  fina  che  trovar  si  possa  ;  oime  !  che  mi  viene  la  saliva  in  bocca 
sol  a  ricordarmene.  Quando  is  ne  mangiava  mi  doleva  con  Aris- 
toxeno  che  Iddio  non  mi  avessi  dato  il  collo  di  grue,  perche 
sentissinel  trangugiarli  maggior  piacere,  mi  doleva  che  il  corpo  mio 
non  si  facesse  una  gran  campana :  Sel  ti  viene  commodo  di  fare  la 
quaresima  in  Taranto  tu  doventarai  piu  largo  che  longo,  tanta  6  la 
bonta  di  quel  pesci,  oltre  che  li  cucinano,  e  con  I'aceto  e  col  vino, 
con  certe  herbicine  odorifere,  e  con  alcuni  saporetti  di  noci,  aglio,  et 
mandorle.  Ma  quanta  invidia  ti  porto  ricordandomi  che  tu  mangerai 
in  Napoli  quel  pane  di  puccia  bianco  nel  piii  eccelente  grado,  dirai 
questo  e  veramente  il  pane  che  gustano  gli  Agnoli  in  paradiso. 
Oltre  quel  di  puccia  vi  se  ne  fa  d'un'  altra  sorte  detta  Pane  di 
S.  Antonio  in  forma  di  diadema,  ed  e  tale  che  chi  vi  desidera  con 
esso  companatico  e  ben  Re  de  Golosi. 

Mangerai  vitella  di  Surrento,  la  quale  si  strugge  in  bocca  con 
maggior  diletto  che  non  fa  il  zucchero,  e  che  meraviglia  e  se  I'b  di  si 
grato  sapore,  poi  che  non  si  cibano  gli  armenti  d'altro  che  di  serpillo, 
nepitella,  rosmarino,  spico,  maggiorana,  citornella,  menta,  ed  altri 
simili  herbe ;  tu  sguazzerai  con  que  caci  cavallucci  freschi,  arrostoti, 
non  con  lento  fuoco,  ma  prestissimo,  con  sopraveste  di  zucchero  e 
cinamomo :  lo  mi  strugo  sol  a  pensarvi.  Vedrai  in  Napoli  la  Loggia 
detta  per  sopranome  de  Genovesi,  plena  di  tutte  quelle  buone  cose 
che  per  ungere  la  gola  desiderar  si  possano,  mangerai  in  Napoli  de 
susameli,  mostacciuoli,  rafEoli,  pesci,  fungi,  castagni  di  zucchero, 
scbiacciate  di  mandole,  pasta  reale,  conserve,  rosate,  bianco 
mangiare ;  saranno  ti  appresentati  de  buoni  caponi  fa  che  tu  alizi, 
Gropizi,  et  non  coseggi,  cioe  mangia  I'ali  e  il  gropone,  e  lascia  star  le 
coscie :  se  brami  coscie,  piglia  coscie  de  pollastri,  ed  ali  di  caponi,  e 
spalle  di  montone,  e  questi  sono  tre  buoni  bocconi,  desiderati  in  ogni 
luogo,  gusterai  quelle  percoche  da  far  risuscitar  i  morti  Manucherai 
in  Siena  ottimi  marzapani,  gratissimi  bericoccoli,  e  saporitissimi 
ravagiuoli.  Se  n'andassi  in  Foligno  assaggiareste  seme  de  Popone 
confetto  piccicata,  ed  .altre  confetture  senza  paragone ;  trovera  in 
Firfenze  Caci  marzolini — oh  che  dolce  vivanda,  oh  che  grato  sapore 
li  lasciano  in  bocca ;  dirai  io  non  vorrei  esser  morto  per  millanta 
scudi  senza  haver  provato  si  delicato  cibo ;  mangerai  del  pane 
pepato,  berlingozzi  a  centinaia,  zuccherini  a  migliola,  e  berrai  d'un 

291 


ITALY.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Trebbiano  non  inferiore  al  Greco  di  Lomma.  Vatene  a  Pisa  dove  si 
fa  un  biscotto  che  se  di  tal  sorte  se  ne  facesse  per  le  galee  non 
vorreste  far  tua  vita  altrove ;  poco  lontano  de  Pisa  in  un  luogo  detto 
Val  calci  mangerai  le  migliori  ricotte  e  le  piii  belle  che  mai  si  vedes- 
sero  dal  Levante  al  Ponente.  In  Lucca  essendo,  oh  che  buona 
salsiccia,  oh  che  gratimarzapanetti  ti  sieno  dati.  Se  gusti  del 
Tramarino  di  S.  Michele  non  te  ne  parte  mai,  egli  ha  proprieta 
uguale  all'acqua  di  Poggio  Reale.  Non  mi  voglio  scordar  d'avver- 
tirti  che  in  Bologna  si  facciano  salciciotti,  i  migliori  che  mai  si 
mangiassero,  mangiansi  crudi,  mangiansi  cotti,  ed  a  tutte  I'hore 
n'agrezzano  I'appetito,  fanno  parire  il  vino  saporitissimo,  anchora 
che  suanito  e  sciapito  molto  sta ;  benedetto  chi  ne  fu  I'inventore,  io 
bacio  ed  adoro  quelle  virtuose  mani :  io  soleva  sempre  portare  nella 
sacoccia  per  aguzzar  la  voglia  del  mangiare  se  per  mala  ventura 
svogliato  me  ritrovava.  Che  te  diro  della  magnifica  citta  di  Ferrara, 
unica  maestra  del  far  salami,  e  di  confettare  herbe,  frutti  e  radici  ? 
dove  berai  Testate  certi  vinetti,  detti  Albanelle,  non  si  puo  here  piu 
grata  bevanda :  vi  si  godeno  de  buone  ceppe,  sturioni,  e  buratelli,  e 
famosi  le  migliori  torte  del  mondo-desiderava  io  venesse  la  Giobbia 
e  la  Domenica  piu  sovente  del  consueto  per  empirmi  la  pancia 
di  torta. 

Haverai  in  Modona  buona  salciccia,  e  buon  Trebbiano.  Se  ti 
verra  disio  di  mangiare  perfetta  Cotognata,  vatene  a  Reggio,  alia 
Mirandola  e  a  Correggio,  ma  felice  ti  se  giungi  a  quel  cacio 
Piacentino  :  il  quale  ha  meritato  d'esser  lodato  dalla  dotta  penna  del 
Conte  Giulio  da  Lando  e  dal  S.  Hercole  Bentivoglio :  mi  ricordo 
haver  mangiato  con  esso,  mentre  in  Piacenza  fui,  certe  Poma  delte 
Calte  ed  un  uva  chiama  diola,  e  ritrovarmi  consolato  come  se  man- 
giato havessi  duno  perfettissimo  Fagiano.  Usasi  ancho  in  ^^iacenza 
una  vivanda  detta  Gnoechi  con  I'aglio,  la  quale  risuscitarebbe 
I'appetito  d'un  morto.  Se  avvessi  che  passa  per  Lodi  (dio  buono) 
che  carni  vi  mangerai,  ti  leccherai  le  dita  ne  mai  ti  chiamerai  satoUo, 
ma  vorrei  ben  esser  nella  tua  pelle  quando  arrivarai  a  quelle  minute 
pescagioni  di  Binasco.  Goderai  in  Milano  del  cervelato  del  pera- 
gallo,  cibo,  Re  de  cibi,  col  quale  ti  conforto  mangiar  delle  offellette, 
e  bervi  doppo  della  Vernaciuola  di  Cassano,  d'Inzago,  e  d'Avauro. 
Goderai  certi  verdorini  della  buona  deUi  arrosti :  non  ti  scordar  la 
luganica  sottile,  e  la  tomacelle  di  Moncia,  non  le  trotta  di  Como, 
non  li  agoni  di  Lugano,  non  le  Herbolane  e  fagiani  montanari  che 
dai  deserti  de  Grisoni  a  Chiavenna  capitar  sogliono :  non  anche  i 
maroni  Chiavennaschi,  non  il  cacio  di  Malengo  e  della  valle  del 
Bitto,  non  le  Truttalle  della  Mera.  Haverai  in  Padova  ottimo  pane 
vino  Berzamino,  Luzzatelli  e  ranocchie  perfette :  non  ti  debbo  dire 

292 


LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA.  italy. 

delli  Poponi  Chiozzotti,  delle  passere,  delle  orate,  ostreghe,  cappe 
sante  e  cefFali  Vinitiani.  Haverai  similmente  in  Vinegia  cavi  di 
latte,  ucelletti  di  Cipri,  Malvagia  garba  e  dolce,  et  ottimo  pesce  in 
gelatina  che  di  Schiavonia  addur  si  suole.  lo  vado  per  la  memoria 
ricercando  a  mio  potere  tutte  queste  cose  che  gustevoli  parute  mi 
sono,  accioche  di  cosa  veruna  non  rimanghi  defraudato,  et  il  mio 
giuditio  lodi  nelle  cose  appartenente  alia  gola.  Buoni  vini  havrai 
nel  Frioli,  migliori  in  Vicenza,  dove  ancho  mangerai  perfettissimi 
capretti  taccero  dirti  de  Carpioni  di  Garda?  Goderai  a  Trevigi 
trippe  e  gamberi  del  Sille,  de  quali  quanto  piu  ne  mangi,  piii  ne 
mangereste.  Capitando  in  Brescia  voglio  da  parte  mia  vadi  al 
S.  Gioan  Battista  Luzago  overo  al  S.  Ludovico  barbisono  et 
dilli  che  ti  dia  bere  di  quella  Vernaccia  che  gia  piu  fiate  mi  dettero  ; 
hanno  i  Bresciani  oltre  la  Vernaccia  di  Celatica,  moscatelli  superiori 
alii  Bergamaschi  et  alii  Brianceschi  e  mi  soviene  che  il  consultissimo 
Conte  Camillo  me  ne  fece  assaggiare  di  uno  che  mai  non  asaggia  il 
migliore.  Vi  mangerai  una  vivanda  detta  in  lor  lingua  Fiadoni,  belli 
da  vedere,  grati  al  gusto,  odoriferi  piu  che  I'ambra  e  piu  che  il 
muschio,  e  morbidi  al  tatto  confortano  il  stomaco,  dano  vigore  a 
sensi,  ristorano  le  forze,  sono  facili  a  digerire,  ne  punto  aggravano  io 
mi  meraviglia  grandimenti  che  que  tanti  terzaruoli  lodatori  de  bacelli 
d'orinali,  di  ricotte  e  d'altre  fanfalughe  non  si  sieno  posti  a  lodare  i 
Fiadoni  Bresciani  non  pero  mai  bastevolmente  lodati.  .  .  .  Ma 
perche  certo  sono  che  non  farai  ritorno  nell'  amata  patria  che  Genova 
non  veghi  io  ti  avviso  che  vi  si  fanno  torte  dette  Gattafure,  perche 
le  gatte  volontieri  le  furano,  e  vaghe  ne  sono,  ma  chi  e  si  svogliato 
che  non  li  furasse  volontieri  ?  a  me  piacquero  piii  che  all'  orso  il 
mele,  o  le  pera  moscatelle  mangerai  delle  presenzuole,  de  buoni 
fichi,  e  delle  schiacciate  fatte  de  pesche  e  de  cotogni,  berai  mosca- 
telle di  Tagia  tanto  buono,  che  se  in  uno  tinaccio  di  detto  vino  mi 
afFogassi  parerebbemi  far  una  felicissima  morte,  non  ti  mancher- 
anno  Corsi  racesi  ed  amabili. 

Commentario  delle  piu  Notabili  et  Mosiruose  cose  D' Italia  &<  altvi 
luoghi,  di  lingua  Arantea  in  Italiana  tmdotto,  nel  qual  s'impara  S^ 
prendesi  istremo  piacere.  [Ortensio  Landi]  Epilogue  dated  [Vinegia] 
1548,  p.  5. 


293 


ITALY.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Lo  zafferano  d'Aquila,  il  saponetto  di  Atri,  i  panni  di  Arpino,  la 
paglia  di  Firenze,  i  merletti  de  Genova,  i  fiori  de  Penne,  la 
carta  di  Loreto,  i  vasi  di  Castelli,  I'acciaro  di  Campobasso,  le 
tavole  di  Venezia,  la  majolica  di  Faenza. — Straff. 

Napola  vanti  in  prima  i  maccheroni, 

Roma  i  prosciutti  e  la  giuncata  in  Maggio, 
Milano  i  cervellati  ed  i  capponi ; 

Firenze  ha  d'ogni  buono  un  piccol  saggio. 

Torino  sa  condir  qualunque  erbaggio, 
Genova  manda  paste  e  bei  limoni ; 

Casal  da'suoi  tartufi  ha  gran  vantaggio, 
Ferrara  si  contenta  c6  storioni. 
Parma  da  caccio  suo  fa  tomi  in  foglio ; 

Modena  in  coppe  poi  non  ha  sorella. 
Nizza  pretende  maggioranza  in  oglio, 

Bologna  e  la  maestra  in  mortadella, 
Venezia  e  la  regina  in  far  rosoglio, 

Novara  a  cucinar  riso  in  padella.     (i8th  Cy.). 
P.  20  of  Prima  Centuria  de  Prov.  i  Motte  Hal.,  P.  Fanfani,  1878. 

Un  Seiior  en  Espaigne,  Maistre  en  haute  Bretaigne,  Monsieur  en  la 
France  Gaule,  Fidargo  en  Portugalle,  Evesque  en  Italie 
Comte  en  Germanie,  c'est  un  povre  compaigna. — Meurier,i558 

I  Don  de  Spagna,  i  Conte  d'Alemagna,  i  Monsieur  di  Francia,  : 

Vescovi  d'ltalia,  i  Cavaglieri  di  Napoli,  i  Lordi  di  Scotia,  gl: 

Hidalghi   di    Portogallo,  i   Minori    Fratelli    d'lnghilterra, 

Nobili  di  Ungheria  fanno  una  povera  compagnia. — Fl.,  2nd 

Fr.,  ch.  vi. 
Mai  dar  fede  a  "  Faremo  "  di  Roma,  agli  "  Adesso,  adesso  "  d'ltalia, 

a  "Magnana"  di  Spagna,  a  "By  and  by"  d'Inghiterra,  a 

"  Warrant  you ''  di  Scotia,  e  a  "  Fan  tost  "  di  Francia,  perche 

tutte  sono  ciancie. — lb. 
Todeschi  a  la  stala,  Francesi  a  la  cusina,  Spagnoli  a  la  camera, 

Italiani  a  ogni  cosa, — Pasqualigo,  Pnv.  Veneti. 
Le  nazioni  smaltiscono  diversamente  il  dolore,  il  Tedesco  lo  beve,  il 

Francese  lo  mangia,  lo  Spagnuolo  lo  piange,  e  I'ltaliano  lo 

dorme. — S. 
Bergamaschi,  Fiorentini  e  passeti  n'h  pieno  tutto  il  mondo. —  Giusti. 
Fiorentini  innanzi  al  fatto,  Veneziani  sul  fatto,  Senesi  dopo  il  fatto, 

Tedeschi  alia   stalla,    Francesi    alia    cucina,   Spagnuoli   alia 

camera,  Italiani  ad  ogni  cosa. — (Gotti.) 
Pisantin  pesa  I'uovo,  Milanese  spanchiarol,  Veronese  cavoso,  Visentin 

gatto,  Bressa  mangia-brodo,  Fiorentin  cieco,  Bolognese  matto, 

Mantuan  bulbar,  Ferrarese  gambamarze,  Cremonese  mangia- 

fasole,  Padoan  picca  I'aseno,  Fachin  stoha. — (Gotti.) 
Romagnuolo  d'ogni  pelo,  Spagnuolo  bianco,  Lombardo  rosso,  Tedesco 

negro,    Schiavon    picciolo,    Genovese     guscio     [squinting], 

Venezian  gobbo. — (Gotti.) 

II  Ministro  di  Sicilia  rode,  quel  di  Napoli  mangia  e  quel  di  Milano 

divora  [the  Spanish  Governors]. — Serdonati. 

294 


PROVERBS.  ITALY. 

Guardati  da  Lombardo  calvo,  Toscano   Iosco,  Napolitano  biondo, 
Siceliano    rosso,    Romagnuolo    ricciuto,   Vinitiano    guercio, 
Marchigiano  zoppo. — O.  Landi. 
Francese  furioso,  Spagnuolo  assennato,  Tedesco  sospettoso. — S. 

Gli  Italian!  a  pisciare 

i  Frances!  a  cr!dare 

gl'  Ingles!  a  mangiare 

gli  Spagnol!  a  bravare 

ed  !  Tedesch!  a  bevacchiare. — FL,  G. 

L'ltaliano  al  can  tare 

!  Frances!  al  ballare 

!  Spagnuoli  al  bravare, 

i  Todesch!  alio  sbevacchia- 

-re  si  conoscono. — Tor. 
L'Espagnol  mange,  I'Allemand  boit  et  le  Francois,  s'accommode  a 
tout  et  on  le  nomme  le  singe  des  autres  nations. — Joubert,  Er. 
Pop.,  pt.  II.  (125). 

Gli  Italian!  piangono 

gl!  Alemann!  cridano 

!  Frances!  cantano. — FL,  G, 

L'AUemande  a  I'etable, 

la  Tcheque  a  la  cuisine, 

la  Fran9a!se  au  lit 

celakovsky  Mudroslovi. — Prag.,  1852. 
Francese  per  la  vita  Tedesco  per  la  bocca. — S. 
Al  Francese  un'oca,  alio  Spagnuolo  una  rapa  [piii  frugale]. — S. 
Bare  si  de  alia  Greca,  mangiar  all'  Italiana,  vestir  alia  Francese. — 

Tor. 
Signore  Spagnuolo  e  pasticciere  Francese. — S. 
Spagna  magra,  Francia  grassa,  Germania  la  passa, — S. 
Cui  po  accurdari  la  Spagna  cu  la  Franza  ? — Pitre,  Sicilian. 
Guardati  da  mattutini  di  Parigi  e  da  vespri  di  Sicilia. — FL,  G. 
Spagnol  rosso,  Lombardo  nero,  Guardati  da  Toscan  rosso,  da  Romano 

di  ogni  pelo. — B. 
Lombardo  nero,  da  Romagnuol  d'ogni  pelo. — Giusti. 
Da  Spagnuoli  e  Imperial! 
da  Frances!  e  Cardinal!,  Libera  nos,  Domine. — S. 

I  Giudei  in  Pasqua,  !  Mori  in  nozze  ed  !  Cristiani  in  piatire  con- 
sumano  il  loro. — FL,  G. 

lit!  spregano — Tor. 

sanno  impoverire. — S. 

Meurier,  1568.     Said  to  be  Spanish. — Herb.,  Jac.  Prud. 
Judios  en  Pascuas,  Moros  en  bodas,  Christianos  en  pleytos  gastan 
sus  dineros. — Nanez,  1555. 
They  say  the  Jew  will  spend  all  on  his  Pasches,  the  Barbarian 
on  his  nuptials,  and  the  Christian  on  his  quarrels  or  law 
suits. — T.  Adams,  Wks.    1032 — 1629. 

295 


ITALY.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Itali  ante  factum,  Galli  in  facto,  Germani  post  factum  consultant. — 

Tr.,  47  r. 
In  Italia  sono  troppo  feste,  troppo  teste  a  troppo  tempeste.— Fl., 

2d  Fr. 
In  Italien  sind  viel  schone  Sachen  zu  sehen,  aber  es  is  wenig  tugend 

und  Gottseligkeit  da  zu  lernen  oder  zu  holen. — Zinkgref. 
Das   Paradies   des   leibes,   das   feyfeuer  des  beutels,  die  hoUe  der 

seelen. —  Berckenr. 
Italien  mag  wol  recht  ein  Paradiess  heissen,  well  ein  jeder  so  darein 

kommt  so  leicht  in  siinde  fallt. — Berckenr. 
Non  conosce  I'ltalia  e  non  la  stima 
chi  provato  non  ha  la  Spagna  prima. — Serdonati. 
Italia  sepolcro  de'  Frances!.  — Tor. 
Se  Africa  pianse,  Italia  non  rise. — Tor. 
Italy — the  Second  Country  of  every  man. 
Italy  is  only   a   geographical  expression.     Spoken   by   Metternich 

before  the  union  of  the  various  Kingdoms  after  1850. 
An  English  wolf,  an  Irish  toad  to  see, 

Were  as  a  chaste  man  nurs'd  in  Italy. — Bp.  Hall,  Sat.,  IV.,  iii. 
Italiano  accorto  e  geloso. — Tor. 

L'occhio  alia  fenestra,  I'ltaliano  al  chiasso  [brothel]. — Fl.,  G. 
Tres  Italianos,  dos  bugerones,  el  otro  Atheista. — Ho. 
LTtalien,  adonne  a  la  sodomie. — Le  Roux,  Did.  Comique. 
It  is  Italian  courtesy  to  give  a  man  leave  to  be  his  own  carver. — 

G.  Harvey,  Letter  Book,  p.  57.     1573. 
Inglese  Italianato  e  il  diavolo  iacarnato  [Ho. J. — Serdonati. 
Wer  einmal  in  Italien  reiset,  der  sucht  ein  Schalk  (furfante) ;  zum 

zweitenmal  find  er  jhn,  zum  drittenmal  bringt  er  jhn  mit 

heraus. — Lehmann. 
Drei  dinge  bringt  man  aus  Italien  heim  :  leeren  beuttel,  kranken  leib 

und  bos  gewissen. — Berckenr. 
Die  Italianer  send  entweder  gantz  gut,  oder  gantz  bose. — Berckenr. 
Die  Welschen  haben  weder  Treu  noch  Glauben. — Luther. 
Tria  unica  in  tribus  civitatibus  Italise  :  Unus  Petrus  in  Roma,  una 

turris  in  Cremona,  unus  Portus  in  Ancona. — Tr.,  f.  43  ro. 
Barletta  in  Puglia,  Fabriano  nella    Marca,   Chiavari  in   Riviera  e 

Mompellieri  in  Francia  sono  i  belli  castelli  chi  si  sogliono 

nominare. — Giustiniani,  Ord.  Mil. 
The  Italian's  curse.     The  Turks  borrow  this  imprecation  for  their 

enemies ;  wishing  their  souls  no  more  rest  after  death  than 

a    Christian's    hat    hath,    which   is   always   stirred,    or  the 

Italian's  curse,  which  is  that  the  plague  of  Building  may 

light  upon  them. — Poor  Robin's  Almanac,  Aug.,  1713. 
Abruzzo.     Abruzzese  mangia-pan-onto. — T. 

Scorsi  I'Abruzzo,  ne  contener  poter  le  risa  veggendo  quei 
huomini  piil  voghi  del  pane  unto  che  non  e  la  capra  del 
sale. — L.,  p.  12. 

296 


PROVERBS.  ITALY. 

Chi  vuol  provar  I'inferno 

Testate  in  Paglia  e  nell'  Abruzzo  il  verno.— L.,  p.  8. 

Zafferano  d' Abruzzo. — L.,  p.  41. 
ACQUAPENDENTE  [i2  m.  N.W.  of  Orvicto].     See  Rodicofani. 

Buon  pane,  buon  vino,  e  cattiva  gente. —  T. 
Albano  [14  m.  S.E.  of  Rome]. 

Dir  "  Albanese,  Messere."     i.e.  dire  spropositi. — T. 
Cf.  "  How  far  to  London  ?  "     "A  poke  full  of  plums." 
Albenga  [on  Riviera  di  Ponente,  midway  between  Ventimiglia  and 
Genoa]. 

Ad  Albenga 

chi  non  ha  a  far  non  venga. 
Fertile  but  insalubrious. 
Alessandria  [46  m.  E.S.E.  of  Turin]. 

Delia  paglia.     Straw  used  for  fuel  from  lack  of  wood. — Hes. 

Belle  borse  Alessandrini. — T. 

Ciera  bionda  come  un  lino  d' Alessandria,    i.e.  nero  e  brutto.— T. 
Altemura  [28  m.  S.W.  of  Bari,  at  the  foot  of  the  Apennines]. 

Le  cicogne  d  'Altemura. — T. 
Amalfi.     Coriandoli  della  costa  di  Malphi. — L.,  p.  41. 
Ampezzo.     Doi  Ampezzane  fes  un  Cadorin  e  doi  Cadoris  fes  un 

diaol. — Pasqualigo. 
Ancona.     See  Roma. 

Ancona,   ricetto   singolare   de    Schiavoni,   ricapito   de  Giudei, 
albergo  de  Turchi,  stunza  de  Esel  von  Ancona. — Hes. 

Ancona  bel  porto. — T.     See  Italia,  Roma. 

Morlacchi  e  nide  de'  Greci. — L.,  p.  15. 

Ciambelotta  (camlet)  di  Ancona. — L.,  p.  41. 
Angera  [on  E.  side  of  Lago  Maggiore]. 

Chi  vuol  provare  le  pene  delT  inferno 

vade  ad  Angera  d'estate  ed  ad  Arona  d'inverno. — Giani. 
AosTA  [49  m.  N.N.W.  of  Turin]. 

Nichts  als  kropfe 

und  dummkopfe. — Hes. 

Selbst  die  pferde  und  hunde  haben  kropfe  zu  Aosta,  darum 
finden  sie  den  lacherlich,  der  keinen  kropf  hat. — Hes. 

Aquila    [in  the  Central  Apennines,  58  m.  N.E.  of  Rome].     See 

Puglia  and  Roma. 
Arcetri. 

La  verdea  soavissima  d' Arcetri, 

vino  composto  di  luce  et  di  umore. — Redi,  Bacco  in  Toscana. 
Arezzo.     See  Toscana. 

O  di  quel  vino  che  vermigliuzzo 

Brillantuzzo 
Fa  superbo  I'Aretino. — Redi. 

297 


ITALY.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Arimino  (?  Rimini).     See  Grosseto. 
Arno.     See  Venezia. 

Cascar  in  Arno  ed  ardersi. — T. 

Cercar  de  fonghi  in  Arno, — T. 

I  desiderii  non  empion  Arno. — Straff. 

Come  Arno  che  non  ingrossa  che  [se]  non  intorbida. — T. 

Arno  non  cresce 

se  Sieve  non  mesce. — Giani. 

Haver  sete  che  Arno  noUo  satiarebbe. — T, 

Arno  vuoto  granaio  pieno. — Straff. 

Far  la  campano  dell'  Arno  che  facea  un  suono  che  parea  che 
dicesse  "  Del  poco  un  poco." — T. 

Dicesi  di  chi  fa  parte  altrui  di  quel  poco  che  ha. 

Saltar  d  'Arno  in  Bacchiglione.     i.e.  di  ramo  in  pertica. — F. 
Cf.  Out  of  God's  blessing  into  the  warm  sun. 

Torre  a  vuotar  Arno  con  una  cocchiara. — T. 

Arno  non  gonfia  d'acqua  chiara. — Tom. 

La  lingua  dell'  Arno  (la  Toscana). — Tom. 

Arno  e  mori  ogni  anno  ne  vuole. — Giani. 
Arona  [S.W.  shore  of  Lake  Maggiore].     See  Angera. 
AscoLi  [23  m.  S.  of  Ancona]. 

Ascolani  buoni  soldati. — T.     See  Fermo. 
Baccano  [a  haunt  of  robbers,  12  miles  from  Rome]. 

A  Baccano  non  si  farebbono. — F.  Giardino. 

Esser  crocifisso   a   Baccano.      i.e.    svaliggiato    nel    Bosco   di 
Baccano. — T. 
Baiante. 

Andar  da  Baiante  a  Ferrante.— F.,  G.     (A  quid  pro  quo.) 

Barcelletta  [?  BarcellonetteJ. 

Bastari*  di  Barcelletta. — T. 

*  Saddlers,  sumpter-makers. 

Bari  [on  a  peninsula  in  the  Adriatic]. 

Bari,  la  regina  della  Puglia. — Giani. 

Barletta  in  Puglia,  Prato  in  Toscana  e  Mompolier  [?  Montpellier] 

in  Francia. — P. 
Batignano  [in  the  Maremma].     See  Grosseto. 
Benevento  [32  m.  N.E.  of  Naples]. 

Mostrar  il  noce  di  Benevento  [i.e.  un  noce  dove  li  Stregoni 

vanno  a  fare  il  lor  Sabato]. — T. 
Bergamo. 

la  sottile. — Giani. 

Esser  un  Coglion  da  Bergamo.     (Gothamite). — T. 

Bergamasco   ha    '1   parlar  grosso   [a   ma].  '1   ingegno   [a  far] 
sottile.— P. 

298 


PROVERBS.  ITALY. 

Bergamaschi  e  Bergamasche 

dove  vanno  empion  le  tasche. — T. 

Bergamaschi  Fiorentini  e  passere  n'e  piano  tutto  il  monde. — G. 

Per  tutto  son   Fiorentini,    Bergamaschi,    passeri,    e   frati    dai 

zoccoli  [clogs]. — P. 
*'  ma  piii  assai  di  Ganovesi." — StrafF. 
Haver  le  cinque. — T.     Bermaschi :  To,  Tien,  Tira, 
Tosto  e  Tutto.     (Esser  un  fangorone.     i.e.  a  miser). — T. 
E  piu  faechino  che  un  Bergamasco.  — T. 
Fiorentino  da  Bergamo,     i.e.  parlar  grosso. — B. 
Come  i  panni  Bergamaschi,  di  due  colori.   i.e.  linsey  woolsey. — T. 
E  torto  come  la  via  di  Bergamo. — Ho. 
Esser  dritta  come  la  via  di  Bergamo,     i.e.  storta. — T. 

Non  esser  piu  tempo  di  Bartholomeo*  da  Bergamo, 
non  esser  piii  coccagnuola  quel  viver  da  matto. — T. 

*  i.e.  who  was  a  very  fool,  an  Abram. — T. 
Per  fare  un  Greco  ci  voglione  sette  Ebrei,  e  per  fare  un  Berga- 
masco sette  Greci. — StrafF. 

BiTONTO  [lo  m.  W.S.W.  of  Bari]. 

Ogliari  di  Bitonto. — T.     Olive  di  Bitonto. — L.,  p.  41. 

Bologna.     Bononia  docet. — F.,  G.    Sorella  di  Roma. — Has. 
Bologna  la  grassa 
ma  Pavoda  la  passa. — F.,  2d  Fr. 
Bologna  e  grassa 

per  chi  ci  sta,  non  per  chi  ci  passa.     (Gotti). 
Esser  come  i  pifFari  da  Bologna  che  non  sanno  suonar  se  non 

sono  gonfi  e  ripieni. — T. 
Far  incarir  la  merda  a  Bologna,     i.e.  pagar  caro  per  quello  che 

altri  hanno  a  buon  mercato. — T. 
A  la  Bolognese :  a  discaricar  le  fasine  [fasciculos]  sul  'uscio. — B. 
Esser  fuor  di  Bologna,     i.e.  un  ignorante. — T. 
La  luna  di  Bologna  ti  si  puo  dire. — F.,  G. 
Che  sta  cent'  anni  e  poi  ritorna. — StrafF. 

Said  to  persons  who  make  themselves  strangers  by  absence. 
In  Bologna  sono  piii  trappoli  che  topi. — F.,  G. 
Bologna  h  pur  del  Papa. — T. 
Bologna  bei  saponette. — T. 
Mele  Bolognesi. — F.,  G.    See  Mantova. 

Chi  va  a  Bologna 

catta  febbre  o  rogna. — F.,  G. 

II  primo  anno  ch'altri  va  a  Bologna 
o  la  febbre  o  la  rogna. — P. 

El  bando  del  Bolones 

dura  trenta  di,  manco  un  mes. — Nun.,  1555. 

299 


ITALY.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Ser  un  Bolonio.  i.e.  ignorant,  rattle-brained.  A  proverb  launched 
by  envy  at  Spaniards  at  those  who  availed  themselves  of  a 
College  founded  at  Bologna  by  a  Cardinal  of  Toledo. — 
Sbarbi,  FlorUegio.     1874. 

Bolognesi,  liberi,  lieti,  freschi. — Giani. 

Alle  Bolognes  er  gelten  fiir  spassmoche. — Hes. 

Oro  di  Bologna 

che  diventa  rosso  dalla  vergogna. — Tom. 
(The  imitation-gold  is  famous.) 

Fiaschi  di  vetro  coperti  di  cuoio  lavorato-pallotte  de  Melone. — 
Velo,  L.,  p.  41. 

O  la  luna  di  Bologna 

che  sta  cent'  anni  e  poi  ritorna ! 

(A  word  of  welcome  to  an  absentee  on  his  reapperance.) 

BOLSENA    LaGO    di. 

(Famous  in  the  spring  for  its  eels  au  vin  blanc.) 

Pope  Martin  IV. — a  gourmand  .  .  .  e  purga  per  digiuno. 

L'anguille  di  Bolsena  in  la  Vernaccia. — Dante,  Inf. 
BoRDiGHERA  [5  m.  W.S.W.  of  San  Remo].     The  Jericho  of  Italy 

[for  palms]. — Hare,  Tke  Rivievas. 
La  Brenta. 

La  Brenta  non  sarebbe  Brenta, 

se  iJ  Cismon  non  gli  desse  la  spenta. — Giani. 
Brentonico  [p^  m.  from  Roveredo  in  Tyrol,  on  the  Brenta]. 

Come  quel  da  Brentonico.   i.e.  sempre  sul  viaggio  da  Verona.   Si 
dice  di  quegli  che  stanno  sempre  sul  I'istesso  proposito  e 
non  sanno  svariar. — T. 
Brescia. 

Armaruoli  e  gran  mercanti 

son  li  Bressanti  tutti  quanti. — T. 

Forbici  lavorati  alia  zimena. — L.,  p.  41. 

Tutte  le  arme  di  Brescia  non  armeriano  la  paura. — F.,  2nd  F. 

Bressa  puo  e  non  vuol,  Venetia  vuol  e  non  puo,  Vicenza  puo  e 
vuol,  Padoa  ne  pud,  ne  vuol. — T.  Origin  not  discovered. — G. 

Egli  e  piu  presto  che  la  moglie  di  Gian  Bresciano. — F.,  G. 

Brescia  sdegnosa  d'ogni  vil  pensiero, 

Pill  che  di  ferro,  di  valore  armata. — Monti. 
Brianza  [at  the  foot  of  the  Alps,  near  Lecco]. 

Nel  monte  di  Brianza 

senza  vin  non  si  danza. — G. 

Brianza  il  Paradiso  d'ltalia. 

Brianza  il  giardino  di  Lombardia. — Giani. 
Brindisi  [45  m.  E.  of  Taranto]. 

Brindisino  bel  porto. — T. 

Navigare  a  Brindisino,  i.e.  andarse  facendo  imbriacco  con  li 
brindisi  [toasts]. — T. 

300 


PROVERBS.  ITALY. 

Brisighella  [28  m.  S.W.  of  Ravenna] . 
Che  vuol  veder  la  donna  bella 
vada  a  Cesena,  oppure  a  Brisighella. 

Francesco  Dani,  Satire,  Dettati  e  GtvgM  della  Cetta 

di  Firmze,  1886,  p.  85. 
Brozzi  [6  m.  W.  of  Florence]. 
Brozzi,*  Peretola,  e  Campi, 
so  la  peggio  geniu  che  Cristo  stampi. — G. 
*  Sesto,  5  m.  N.W.  of  Florence. 
Brozzi,  Peretola,  Sesto  e  Camp' 
son  la  peggio  genia  che  Cristo  stamp.. — D 
Cadore.     See  Ampezzo. 
Cagliari  [capital  of  the  Island  of  Sardinia] . 
Callar  para  encallar 
y  Oristan  [o]  para  emprenar. 

Dos  ciudades  de  Cerdeiia,  Callar  buena  para  vivir,  Oristan  mala 
y  enferma  y   que  se   hinchan   los  vezinos  por  los  malos 
manteni  mientos. — N. 
Quando  questa  nazione  canta  par  che  pianga,  e  quando  piange 
par  che  canti. — L.,  p.  11. 

Calabria.    Terra  de' tarantole. — T.    Marina  di  Calavria. — L.,p.  41. 
Calabrese 
guai  a  quella  casa  dove  sta  un  mese 
se  ci  sta  un  anno 
c'apporta  ruina  e  danno. — F.,  G. 
Come  disse  il  Calavrese  "  Havesti  paura,  eh  ? " 
dopo  sparato  I'arcobuzzio. — P. 

i.e.  the  brigand,  when  his  gun  had  missed  fire,  pretending 
'twas  all  in  fun  :  "  Se  coglie,  cogHe,  se  no  :  havevi  paura, 
eh  ? "— T. 

Calamec. — T. 

Trovarsi  tardi  in  Calamec  dove  si  da  la  minestra  a  vinti  quattr' 
hore,  i.e.  at  sunset. — T. 
Camerino  [41  m.  S.W.  of  Ancono]. 

Pannaiuoli  di  Camerino. — T.     (Clothiers.) 
Campi  [7  m.  N.W.  of  Florence;  in  the  Val  d'Arno,  W^  of  Florence]. 
See  Brozzi. 
La  compagnia  di  Campi  passi  e  non   baci.     Because  one  in 
passing  the  altar  had  emptied  the  alms'  dish. —  G. 

Campiglia  [33  m.  N.W.  of  Grosseto]  (C.  Marittima). 
Campiglia 

ingrossa  il  porco  e  poi  lo  piglia. — G. 

L'aria   di   Maremma    ingrassa    chi   fa    goz    zoviglia,   ma   poi 
Cuccide.     Pigliare  il  porco  vale  andar  sene. — G. 

Capagna  (?  Campagna  di  Roma). 
Capagna  per  acquedotti. — T. 

301 


ITALY.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Capo  d'Istria  [8  m.  S.W.  of  Trieste].     See  Rovigno. 
Capraja.     See  Montelupo. 
Capua  [20  m.  N.  of  Naples]. 

La  amorosa. — Hes. 

Buffalari  di  Capua. — T. 

Carmignuola.     Esser  lana  Carmignuola.     i.e.  cattiva  e  da  pettinar 
co'  sassi  e  dicesi  d'un  gran  furbo. — T. 

Casaferro.     I  cani  di  Casaferro  il  di  s'amazzano,  e  la  notte  vanno 
a  rubar  insieme. — T. 

Cascia   [13  m.  E.  of  Spoleto,  in  the   Umbrian  Apennines] .     See 
Norcia. 

Cascina  [8  m.  E.S.E.  of  Pisa]. 
Cascina,  Pontedera  e  Vico 
son  tre  paesi  che  vagliono  un  fico. — Giani. 

Castel  Nuovo. 

Bere  vino  di  Castel-Nuovo.     i.e.  temperato  con  acqua. — T. 
Castro  [10  m.  S.W.  of  Otranto]. 

Secondo   che  vengon   le   quaglie   divien   ricco    il   Vescovo    di 
Castro. — T. 

Castro  villari  [prov.  Cosenza]. 

La  Sargia  di  Castro  Villeri. — L.,  p.  41. 
Castrogiovanni  [Enna,  13  m.  N.E.  of  Caltanisetta,  in  Sicily]. 

L'insuperabile. — Giani. 

Catania.  Se  Catania  avesse  porto 

Palermo  sarebbe  morto. — Murray,  Sicily. 
lUustre — La  bella. — Giani. 
Catanesi  lussuriosi. — T. 

Metter  I'arme  di  Catania ;  viz.,  an  ass  on  a  chair. 
Cf.  Les  armoires  de  Bourges. — T. 

Catanzaro  [33  m.  S.S.E.  of  Cosenza].   Dobleto  da  Catanzaro. — L., 
p.  41. 

Cava  [3 J  m.  N.W.  of  Salerno]. 

Operatori  della  Cava. — T. 
Cefalu  [47  m.  E.S.E.  of  Palermo].     La  Graziosa. — Giani. 

Celina.      See    Lago    di    Garda   (torrente    che    scende    dalle    Alpi 
carniche). 

Cervia.     See  Grosseto. 

Cesena   [12  m.  S.E.   of   Forli].     Dalle  belle  donne. — Giani.     See 
JBrisighella. 

Chianti.  Del  buon  Chianti  il  vin  decrepito 

Maestoso,  Imperioso, 
Mi  passeggia  dentro  il  core 

Esso  scaccia  stenza  strepito 
Ogni  affanno  e  ogni  dolore. — Redi. 

302 


PROVERBS.  ITALY. 

Chiavari  [prov.  of  Genoa,  on  the  Riviera  di  Levante]. 
Se  Ciivai  u  I'avesse  porto 
de  Zena  ne  faivan  un  orto 
but  Se  Zena  a  I'avesse  ciannfia 
de  Ciivai  ne  faivan  seportua. 

Chiavenna  [20  m.  W.N.W.  of  Sondrio]. 

Chiavenna  buoni  lavezzi. — T.     Pots  or  pipkins. 

Chiaverina.  Of  the  women  here  and  at  Piuro,  O.  Landi  thus 
speaks :  "  Le  donne  sono  de  visi  belli,  hanno  petti  piu  belle 
delle  Romane,  visi  piu  dilicati  delle  Modonese,  di  schena 
non  sono  inferiori  delle  Tedesche,  di  bellezza  de  fianchi  non 
cedeno  alle  Fiammenghe,  di  bella  mano  non  si  lasciano 
vincere  dalle  Sanese,  fanno  li  inchini  come  se  Franzese 
fuss6ro,  e  non  men  di  loro  sanno  trattenere  chi  li  visita  e 
vezeggia,  di  politezza  superano  le  Venitiane,  di  creanza 
avanzano  le  Napolitane,  di  sufficientia  nel  maneggiare  le 
cose  domestiche  non  darebbono  luogo  alle  Bresciane,  &c. — 
Commentario,  p.  28.     1548. 

Chioggia  [15  m.  S.  of  Venice]. 

Come  quelli  di  Chiosa  che  debbon  dare  e  fanno  dimandare.^ — ^T. 

(C/.  To  cry  whore  first.) 
Quanta  costa  il  sale  a  Chiozza.    i.e.  saper  il  falto  suo. — T. 
Come  i  meloni  o  popponi  di  Chioggia    i.e.  d'una  buccia  e  d'un 

sapore. — T. 
Lui  fa  brocchette  da  Chiozza — ha  paura. — F.,  G. 

CiANGOLANO.     Gran  boccali  *  in  Ciangolano. — T. 

*  Bottles. 
CiGOLi  [ —  m.  from  Brescia]. 

Come  i  giganti  da  C.  chi  battevano  i  ceci  coUe  pertiche. — T. 
CiOMPi.     Bandi  (proclamations)  di  Ciompi  durava  tre  di. — G. 
A  CiTTA  DI  Castello*  dicono : 

Tevere,  Vitelli  e  BufFalini 
son  tre  mai  vicini. — Tr.,  f.  58,  lo. 
The  Vitelli  and  Bufalini  families  seem  to  have  eaten  up  their 
neighbours ;  the  former  had  no  less  than  four  Palaces. 
*  N.  of  Perugia,  on  road  to  Urbino. 

CiTTA  Nova  [26  m.  S.S.W.  of  Trieste]. 
Chi  non  vi  porta,  non  vi  trova. — G. 
CiviDALE  [9  m.  E.N.E.  of  Udine].     See  Roma. 
CoLLE.    Palle  de  CoUe. — L.,  p.  41. 

COMO*. 

Vanne  a  prendere  rombrello 
che  Bisbino  ha  il  suo  cappello. 

*  4,415  ft.  high,  behind  Urio,  on  the  W.  side  of  the  lake. 

CoNCA  (di  Rame),  prov.  Rovigo.     See  Fusina. 

30.3 


JTALY.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

CoRNETO  [i2  m.  N.  of  Civita  Vecchia]. 

Al  corniero  di  Corneto. — F.,  G.     i.e.  to  be  a  cuckold. — T. 
Cf.  Andare  in  Cornovaglia  senza  barca. 
Crema  [25  m.  E.S.E.  of  Milan]  (on  the  Serio). 

Cremaschi  telaiuoli. — T. 

Tela  sottile. — L.,  p.  41. 

II  Gran  Turco  gli  ha  preso  la  China 

e  i  Savoiardi  han  preso  la  Crema  .  .  . — Dani. 

Cremona  buona   mostarda. — T.     i.e.  mosto   ardente.     A  conserve 
made  of  new  wine   and   spices. — Sargia,   L.,  p.  41.     See 
Italia  Roma. 
Cremonesi  buoni  soldate. — T.    La  Torrita. — Giani.    La  fedele. 

— Hes. 
In  Cremona  sind  die  Bratwurste  erfunden. — Hes. 
Cresole. 

A  Cresole 
non  v'e  ne  pan  ne  fregole. — Giani. 

Elba.     See  Isola. 

Empoli  [16  m.  W.  of  Florence]. 

Far  la  festa  da  Empoli.    i  e.  mangiare  senza  bere. — T. 
EuGUBiNi  e  Veronesi  matti. — Gior.  d.  Eruditi,  ii.  327. 
Fabriano  [29  m.  W.  of  Macerata].     Carta  da  Fabriano. — L.,  p.  41. 
Faenza  [19  m.  S.W.  of  Ravenna]. 

Braggiole  di  Faenza  (steaks  or  rashers). — T. 
Piatti   di   Faenza. — T.     Piatti   e   scodelle   di   terra   bianca. — 
L.,  p.  41. 
Fano  [a  seaport  on  the  Adriatic,  7  m.  S.E.  of  Pesaro], 
Le  belle  donne  di  Fano  si  dice 

Ma  Siena  poi  tra  I'altre  piu  felice. — Agostino  Calaldi. 
[Modena. — Gior.  d.  Erud.,  iv.] 
Fermo  [34  m.  S.E.  of  Ancona] . 
La  montuosa. — Giani. 
Robusti  quel  di  Fermo. — T. 

Quando  Fermo  vuol  firmar 
tutta  la  Marca  fa  tremar. — F.,  G. 
Quando  Fermo  vuol  fermare, 
se  Ascoli  il  lascia  fare 
tutta  Marca  fa  tremare. — Tr.,  f.  60,  1. 
-Ferrara. 

La  civile. — Giani. 
Ferrara  belle  artiglierie. — T. 
Veluto  intagliato. — L,,  p.  41. 
Fiche  Ferraresi. — F.,  G.     See  Mantova. 
Fatta  a  Ferrara  e  temprata  a  Piombino. — F.,  G. 
i.e.  a  knife  (play  on  words). 

304 


PROVERBS.  ITALY. 

Mandar  a  far  stuore  in  Ferrarese. — F.,  G. 
Ferrara  hat  mehr  hauser  als  einwohner. — Hes. 
Ranocchia  da  Ferrara  chi  non  morde  per  non  haver  denti. — T. 
Quando  il  tempo  vien  dal  Ferrarese 
si  bagna  ogni  paesi. — Giani. 

The  Ferrarese  are  as  crafty  as  the  devil  of  hell. — Gascoigne ; 
Ariosto's  Supposes,  ii.  2. 
O  citta  bene  avventurosa 

La  gloria  tua  salira  tanto 
Che  avrai  di  tutta  Italia  il  pregio  e  il  vanto. 

Ariosto,  Orl.  Fur.,  xliii.  55. 

FlESOLE. 

Come  i  buoi  da  Fiesole  che  si  leccano  i  mocci  vedendo  I'acqua 
d'Arno  {i.e.  mouths  water). — T. 

Cavalier  del  Fiocco.     (Cruscante.) 

FiRENZE  [Florence],     v.  Bergamo,  Siena,  NapoH. 
Fiorenza  la  bella.— F.,  2d  F. 
Citta  da  veder  solamente  le  Feste. — T. 
Fiorenza  mercantile. — T. 
La  seconda  Roma. — Giani. 
Fiorenza  non  si  muova 
se  tutta  non  si  duole. — P. 

Antico  proverbio  indicante  certa  longanimita  per  la  quale  i 
Fiorentini  erano  tardi  alle  sommosse. — G. 
Firenze  ha  consolevole  I'acqua,  la  terra,  e  I'etera 
Fazio.     Vedi  Napoli  e  mori. 

Tomaso.  Vedi  Venezia,  eccetera. — Goldoni,  Torquato  Tasso,  v.  13. 
Nascere  in  Spagna,  vivere  in  Firenze  e  morire  a  Napoli. — D. 
Egregia  citta  di  Fiorenza,  oltre  ad  ogni  altra  Italica  bellissima. 

Bocc,  Dec,  I. 
Se  Fiorenza  avesse  un  porto, 
di  Pisa  farebbe  un  horto, 
di  Livorno  uno  scrittoio, 
di  Luca  un  cacatoio. — T. 
A  Firenze  il  fiore 
a  Prato  I'amore 

a  Pistoia  il  pazzo. — Gotti.     (?  puzzo.) 
Chi  sta  a'  marmi  di  Santa  Maria  del  Fiore  (il  Duomo)  o  e  pazzo, 

o  sente  d'amore. — G.     (The  evening  lounge.) 
Chi  va  al  canto  al  Giglio  e  non  inciampa 
puo  ir  sicuro  in  Francia. — S. 

(Chaff  of  the  shopkeepers  to  passing  travellers. — G.) 
Chi  va  a  San  Biagio 
perde  I'agio ; 
chi  va  a  Santa  Maria,  lo  ritrova. 

(The  former  an  ill-supplied  suburban  hospital  for  the  poor ; 
the  latter  first-class. — G.) 

VOL.  I.  305  20 


ITALY  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Far  le  scale  di  S.  Ambrogio.  i.e.  der  mal  di  alcuno.  (A  famous 
gossiping  place. — T.) 

Esser  fanciulla  delle  Stinche.  i.e.  che  non  riporta  mai  ravvanzo 
de'  quattrini.- — T.     (A  prison  in  Florence.) 

Torrai  in  Firenze  due  pezze  di  brocato  riccio  sopra  riccio,  at 
due  di  tela  d'argento,  con  dieci  lire  di  quel  filo  tanto 
sottile ;  portami  di  quei  fiaschettini  lavorati  con  la  seta 
che  fanno  le  monache  Florentine  e  di  quelle  coseline  che 
fanno  i  prigioni  nelle  stinche  Fammi  avere  vinti  sei  braccia 
di  panno  monachino,  altre  tanto  di  perso,  venti  braccia  di 
rascia  sei  berette  Florentine  per  la  state. — L.,  p.  41. 

Vender  i  merli  di  Fiorenze.  i.e.  voler  mettersi  in  compromesso 
per  I'amico,  voler  far  falsa  moneta  per  esso. — T. 

Esser  di  quei  larghi  di  Fiorenza.  i.e.  esser  de'sottili,  concioche 
li  Signori  Fiorentini  sappiano  benissimo  il  fatto  loro,  fin  ad 
un  finocchio. — T. 

Q.  Whither  should  a  man  with  most  profit  travel  to  learn  the 
languages  ? 

A .  To  Orleance  for  the  French,  to  Florence  for  the  Italian,  to 
Lypsick  for  the  Dutch,  to  London  for  the  English. — Help 
to  Discourse,  p.  115.    1638. 

Chi  volesse  mandar  dinari  a  Venezia  omvero  a  Fiorenza. — B. 

Credo  che  siete  Fiorentino,  perche  sete  cosi  ritrose,  protervo  e 

fastidioso  a  contentare. —  F.,  2d  Fv.,  ch.  viii. 
Di  tre  cose  un  Fiorentino  fa  una  fruUa, 
d'  "  Addio,"  "  Mi  raccomando  "  "  Vuoi  tu  nulla  "  ?— F.,  G. 
Quattro  cose  difficili :  cuocer  un  uove,  far  il  letto  al  cane  insegnar 

ad  un  Fiorentino,  e  servir  ad  un  Venetiano. — T.    (G.  omits 

the  last.) 
Raviggioli  Fiorentini. — G.    (Little  cheeses  made  of  goat's  milk.) 

See  Puglia. 
Mangiar  alia  Fiorentina.     i.e.  poco  e  pulito. — T. 
II  Fiorentino  mangia  si  poco  e  si  pulito 
che  sempre  si  conserva  I'appetito. — G. 
De  trois  choses  le  Fiorentini  fait  fricassee. — Straff. 
Fiorentini  ciechi,  Senesi  matti 
Pisani  traditori,  Lucchesi  signori. — G. 
Chi  vuol  ben  principiare  una  cosa,  vada  al  Fiorentino. — S. 
Fiorentin  mangia  fagioli, 
e  volevan  li  Spagnuoli, 
li  Spagnuoli  son  venuti, 
Fiorentin  becchi  cornuti. 
i.e.  when  the  Infante  Don  Carlo  was  summoned  in  1752. — G. 
And  see  Venezia. 
Fiorentin  per  tutto, 
Roman  distrutto. — G.     See  Bergamo. 
I  Fiorentini  son  cattive  doghe  da  botte  ed  i  Veneziani  sono 

buone. — F.,  G, 

306 


PROVERBS.  ITALY. 

Legge  Fiorentina 

Fatta  ta  sera  a  guasta  la  maltina. — Giani. 

Donato  Giannotti,  Traitato  della,  Repuh.  Fiov.,  II.,  ch.  i8. 
Quelli  difficilmente  s'uniscono,  e  questi  (come  le  buone  doghe) 
si  combaciano  molte  insieme,  cosi  da  fare  la  citta  forte. — G. 
Lotto,  lusso  lussuria  e  Lorenesi 
quattro.     L'  ch,  han  rovinato  i  miei  paesi. — G. 

(al  tempo  della  Reggenza  Lorenese.) 
Firenze  la  bella  ha  molti  mercanti 
ma  co'  suoi  balzelli  li  rovina  tutti  quanti. — Straff. 
also  Co'  Medici  un  quattin  facea  per  sedici :  dacche. 
Abbiamo  la  Lorena, 
86  si  desina  non  si  cena. — G. 

(contro  la  Reggenza  Lorenese.) 
GF  accoppiatori  e  le  borse  a  mano 
hanno  difeso  le  palle  e  il  piano. — Detto  del  Dei  (Medici),  who 

made  their  way  by  fraudulent  electioneering. — Gotti. 
Stai  a  bottega  e  tiene  col  Palagio,  avrai  gli  ufficii  a  Firenze.    i.e.  la 

parte  di  chi  ha  il  romajolo  in  mano,  fattelo  amico. — Gotti. 
Palle  e  gruccia 
Beato  chi  lesuccia. 

Le  palle  insegna  de'  Medici ;  la  gruccia  dello 
Spedale  di  S.  Maria  Nuova. 

Delto  degli  aderenti  e  favoriti  di  casa  Medici  e  di  chi  avea 

mano  inpasta  uelle  amministrazioni  degli  Ospedali. — 

G.,  84. 

A  Firenze  per  avere  uf&zii  bisogna  avere  bel  palazzo  e  stare  a 

bottega. — G. 

(La  Repubblica  era  governata  da  una  patriziato  di  bottegai.) 

Firenze  Suburbs.     See  Fiesole. 

Star  a  Bello-squardo.    To  stand  at  ease,  looking  about  one. — T. 
Commosso  come  I'hermo  di  Camaldoli. — F.,  G. 

(The  convent  in  the  Appennines,  S.  of  Florence.) 
Alia  Certosa 
e  un  cert'  uso 
chi  vi  va  e  non  ha  fretta, 
tocca  un  pane  e  una  mezzetta. — G. 
Chi  va  alia  Certosa  e  non  ha  fretta 
quadagna  un  pane  et  una  mezetta. — Torr. 
Quando  Monte  Morello  ha  il  cappello 
villan  predi  il  mantello. — Giani. 

Portar  frasconi  a  Vallombrosa. — Straff,     i.e.  firewood. 
A  San  Miniato 

o  tira  vento;  o  suona  a  magistrato. — Gotti. 
Chi  non  ha  moneta 
non  vada  all'Impruneta. — ^G. 

i.e.  the  fair  at  the  village  of  that  name,  7  m.  from  Florence, 
on  the  Siena  road. 

307 


ITALY.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

FiuMALBA  [near  Modena]. 

Portar  tavole  a  Fiumalba. — StrafF. 
FoLiGNO  [15  m.  N.  of  Spoleto]. 

Centro  del  carso  immenso. — Giani. 

Andar  a  Fuligno  cioe  a  fune  e  legno. — F.,  G.    i.e.  the  gallows. 

oy  Filigno  (filo  e  legno). — T. 
Ben  mi  ha  detto  il  mutto  [mutus]  di  Foligno. — B. 
Perche  si  dicono  Cuccagnai.     Spiegazioni  di  questa  qualifica- 
zione  proverbiale  data  a   quei  de  Foligno. — In  II  Topiiw, 
Foligno,  I  Mar.,  1885. 

FoNDi  [12  m.  N.W.  of  Gaeta]. 
Corteggiane  a  Fondi. — T. 
Friuli. 

Far  come  la  balestra  Furlana.*  i.e.  ferire  tanto  gl'amici  [cross- 
bow] quanto  li  nimici. — T. 

*  Furlano  for  Friulano,  Venetian  dialect. 
Furlano  salti'mbanco. — T. 
Furlano  buona  came. — T. 
Beccar  nel  buso  della  mostarda  Furlana.     i.e.  servirsi  di  merda 

invece  di  impiastro,  anche  voler  esser  Edometa. — T. 
Tre  cose  vanta  il  Friuli :  i  prosciutti  di  San  Daniele,  le  mummie 

di  Venzon  e  i  fringuelli  di  Pordenon. — Straff. 
Andar  in  Friuli. — F.,  G. 
FucECCHio  [18  m.  W.  of  Florence]. 
Tanto  e  a  dir  pennecchio 
quanto  ladro  a  Fucecchio. 

(Nella  terra  F"  e  grande  industria  di  lini.) — G. 

FuMONE  [7  m.  N.N.W.  of  Frosinone]. 

Quando  Fumone  fuma,  trema  la  campagna. — Giani. 
FosiNA  [4  m.  W.S.W.  of  Venice,  on  the  Brenta  Canal] . 
Fusina,  Conca  e  Lova 
guai  chi  vi  si  trova. — Giani. 
Garbo.     See  San  Martino,  Chiavari. 
Genova. 

Genova  la  superba. — F.,  G. 

V.  Bergamo,     la  reale  la  nobil  citta. — Tasso. 
Genova  prende 
e  non  rende. — G.     See  Lerici. 

Genova  Aria  senza  uccelli,  marina  senza  pesce,  montagna  senza 
legna,  huomini  senza  rispetti,  e  donne  senza  vergogna. — 
F.,  2d  Fr. 

Montagne  senza  legna.  Mar  senza  pesce,  Donne  senza  amore, 

e  molti  mercatanti  senza  fe. — L.,  p.  21. 
Genova  per  taglioline,  lasagne,  maccaroni. — T. 
Genovese  aguzzo,  piglialo  caldo. — G. 

308 


PROVERBS.  ITALY. 

Far  come  i  Genovesi  che  ingravidano  le  mogli  cento  meglia  da 

lontano. — F.,  G. 
Le  monache  di  Genova  toman  dal  bagno,  e  poi  domandano 

licentia  alia  Badessa. — F.,  G. 
Prender  la  licenza  dalle  massare  di  Genoa,    i.e.  ask  leave  of 

yourself. — T. 
To  be  poor,  painted  and  proud  is  as  common  in  Genoa  as  felt 

and  feathers   in    the    Fortunate    Islands. — J.    Day,  Law 

Tricks,  ii. 
Nave  Genovese  e  mercante  Fiorentino. — G. 
A  fuia  di  zeneixi  a  dfia  trei  giorni. — Staglieno. 
L'arme  di  Genova :  Corona  nobilium,  crux  populi,  griphi  nota- 

riorum. — Giorii.  dagU  Erud.,  iv.  293. 
Se  Zena  no  piggia  Zena,  tutto  a  mundo  no  pocu  piggia  Zena.  — 

Staglieno. 
When  a  Jew  meets  with  a  Genoway    ...    he  puts  his  fingers 

to  his  eyes. — Ho.,  Inst,  for  For.  Trav.,  p.  41.    1642. 
Ferd.    Have  I  lived  in  Genoa  where  the  Jews  come  laughing  in 

and  go  crying  out,  as  having  met  with  greater  Jews  than 

themselves,  and  do  you  think  I  shall  not  be  able  to  deal 

with  him  ?     I  warrant  ye  !  — J.  Wilson,  The  Projectors,  iii. 

1665. 
Non  h  si  volubile  Vertunno,  ne  si  spessi  mutasi  il  vento  come 

sinueta  il  capo  d'un  Genovese. — L.,  p.  39. 
A  fare  un  Genovese 

ci  vogliono  sette  Ebrei  e  un  Fiorentino. — Giani. 
Adieu,  G6nes  detestable ! 
adieu,  sejour  de  Plutus, 
si  le  cial  m'est  favorable 
je  ne  te  rever  hai  plus. — Montesquieu. 
Pasta  de  Genova. — Tom. 
Veluto  di  tre  pele. — L.,  p.  41. 

Grosseto  [40  m.  W.S.W.  of  Siena], 
la  mal  sana. — Giani. 
Grosseto  ingrossa,    Batignano  fa    la   fossa,  Paganico  sotterra 

I'ossa. — G  ,  '84. 
Esser  da  Grossetto.     i.e.  da  poco  e  di  poco  cervello  =  to  be  a 

threepenny  customer,  a  blockhead. — T. 
Guardati   dall'    aria    di    Grosseto,   di   Piombino,   di   Pisa,   di 

Sinigallia,  di  Macerata,  d'Arimino,  di  Cervia  e  di  Pesaro. 

— L.,  p.  8. 

Insulano. 

Giammai  I'lnsulano  habbi  per  compagno. — F.,  G. 

ISCHIA. 

Reca  tre  vasi  inghirlandati  e  colmi 

Del  vin  che  onora  Posilippo  ed  Ischia. — Chiabrera. 

309 


ITALY.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

IsoLA  (d'Elba). 

Ne  muli,  ne  molini,  ne  compari  dell  'Isola,  ne  moglie  di  Piombino. 
The  last  is  on  the  coast  of  Tuscany,  opposite  Elba  and  in  the 
Maremma. 

ISTRI. 

Leva-robbe  son  da  Istri. — T.     Perhaps  Istria,  on  the  N.E.  side 
of  the  Adriatic  (plunderers). 

Jesi  [i6  m.  W.S.W.  of  Ancona]. 
Jesi  e  Valdecchiano 
il  miglior  grano. — StrafF. 

JORZI. 

Bei  Hni  da  Jorzi. — T. 
Lago  di  Garda. 

Lago  di  Garda  e  bocca  di  Celina 

porta  spesso  la  rovina. — Pasqualigo,  Prov.  Venete. 

Lanciano  [13  m.  S.E.  of  Chieti]. 

Trovarsi  tardi  alia  fiiera  di  Lanciano,  che  dura  un  anno  e  tre 
di=to  be  an  idle,  slow,  lazy  person. — T. 

Legnaia.     a  Western  suburb  of  Florence  and  market-garden. 
Portar  poponi  a  Legnaia. — T, 

cavoli     .     .     .     . — StrafF. 

Lerici  [5  m.  E.S.E.  of  Spezia].  The  following  inscription  over  the 
gate  of  the  castle  was  carried  off  in  triumph  in  1256  by  the 
Genoese : 

Scopa  bocca  al  Zenoese 

crepa  cuore  al  Porto  Venerese, 

strappa  Corsello  al  Lucchese. — Hare,  The  Rivieras. 

Lezzeno. 

Lezzeno  della  mala  fortuna 

d'estate  senza  sol,  d'inverno  senza  luna. 

On  the  E.  shore  of  Lake  Como,  S.  of  Bellagio.  In  an  alcove 
at  the  foot  of  a  dark  mountain  at  the  deepest  part  of  the 
lake. 

LiGNACco  [?  Legnago,  22  m.  S.E.  of  Verona  on  the  Adige]. 

Fortezza  di  Lignacco. — T. 
LivoRNO  bel  Porto. — T.     la  commerciale. — Giani. 
LoDi  [19  m.  S.E.  of  Milan]. 

Speise,  kase  zu  Lodi 

bessern  findest  du  nie. — Hes. 

Ogni  uno  volontiere  passa  da  Lodi. — T.     A  play  on  lode,  praise. 

LOMBARDIA. 

Lombardia  coccagna  (land  of  plenty). — T, 

La  Lombardia  e  il  giardino  del  mondo. — F.,  1st  Fr. 

La  Lombardia  e  il  cimitero  dei  Tedeschi  e  dei  Francesi. — StrafF. 

310 


PROVERBS.  ITALY. 

Lombardo  buon-compagno. — T. 

Ringraziar  alia  Lombarda.     i.e.  senza  il  lecchetto  delle  cere- 

monie. — ^P. 
Ringratiar  alia  Lombarda.    i.e.  licentiarsi  alia  buona  di  Dio. — T. 
Cenar  alia  Lombarda.     i.e.  dove  si  cena  si  dorme  ancora. — T. 
Cenar  da  prete  di  Lombardia 
mangiar  ben  bene  e  del  meglio  che  vi  sia. — T. 
Les  Lombars  selon  leurs  usages 
sont  foulx  a  force  d'estre  saiges. 

Anc.  Theat.  Fran.,  ii.  214;  Bib.  Elze. 
The  Lumbard  nation  untrue  of  deed  and  word 
And  little  Brytayne  is  all  of  like  assent. 

Barclay,  Ship  of  Fools,  li.  308. 
Le  bon  Dieu  nous  garde 
d'una  femme  qui  se  farde, 
de  la  fureur  des  Picards, 
et  de  la  morsuredes  Lombards. — StrafF. 
Les  graces  du  Lombard,  trois  dez  sur  la  table. — Straff. 
Boucon  du  Lombard. — Straff. 

LoRETO  [13  m.  S.  by  E.  of  Ancona]. 
la  divota. — Giani. 
Divotion  di  Loreto. — T. 
Santa  Casa  di  Loreto. — T. 
A  Loreto 

tanto  va  lo  zoppo  che  il  dritto. — Giani. 
Chi  e  stato  a  Loreto  e  non  a  Sirolo 
ha  veduto  la  madre  ma  non  il  figliuolo. — Straff. 
Chi  vede  Loreto  e  non  San  Nicol 
vede  la  madre  e  non  il  figliuol. — T. 

Lucca.     See  Firenze,  Napoli,  Leprici,  Pisa,  Toscana  [o  ti  comprai]. 

— — o» 

A  Lucca  gente  industriosa.— F.,  G, 

A  Lucca  ti  vidi,  a  Pisa  ti  conobbi. — F.,  G. 

rividdi=iron.     A  rivedersi. — Tom. 
Luca  buon  oglio. — T. 
Raso  Lucchese  (satin). — L.,  p.  41. 

Far   come   i   pifari   da   Luca  che  andaron  a  sonare  e  furono 
sonati. — F.,  G. 

Haver  il  naso  sopra  della  bocca,  come  hanno  i  Lucchesi. — T. 

i.e.  to  be  made  as  other  folks  are. — T. 
Keusch  wie  eine  Luccheserin. — Hes. 
Figurino  di   Lucca-Bambino  di  Lucca,  faccia  che  mello  sua 

regolarita  dice  poco,  intirizzita.     Gassi  di  Lucca,  figurine 

di  gesso. — Tom. 
Monta   qui,   tu   vedrai   Lucca  Dicevasi  a  Firenze  a  fanciulli. 

See  Pisa. 


ITALY.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Forse  dai  viaggi  che  i  Lucchesi  in  lontane  parti  fanno. — Tom. 
Hier  wird  das  Italienische  gar  lieblich  gesprochen. — Hes. 
Macerata  [22  m.  S.E.  of  Ancona].     See  Grosseto. 

Esser  de  Macerata.     i.e.  esser  magrentino,  sottile,  asciutto, 
smilzo,  quanto  si  possa  essere. — T.    A  play  on  macer,  raacerare. 

Malamocco  [9  m.  S.S.E.  of  Venice]. 

Allegri !  il  diavolo  e  morto  a  Malamocco. — T. 

Da  Malamocco  a  Pavia 

vi  son  cento  miglia. — P.     (An  island  S.  of  Venice.) 

Malo.      [10  m.  N.W.  of  Vicenza]. 
Tre  oche  e  un  gallo 
Fanno  il  mercato  di  Malo. — Giani. 

Mambrino. 

Esser  una  alfana  di  Mambrino.    i.e.  una  femina  di  smisurata 
grandezza. — T.     Cf.  A.  horse  godmother, 

Manfredonia  [22  m.  N.E.  of  Foggia,  under  Monte  Gargano,  on  the 
Adriatic]. 
Suonar   come  le  campane  di   Manfredonia  "  Dammi  e  dotti ; 
da  a  me,  ed  io  daro  a  te." — T. 

Mantova. 

la  forte,  la  gloriosa. — Giani. 

Fave  di  Mantova,  meli  di  Bologna  e  fichi  Ferraresi. — F. 

Fave  Mantovani. — F.,  G. 

Calce  di  seta  fatte  con  laco  ed  altri  lavori  doro  e  di  seta. — L.,  p.  41 . 

Mantova,  asito  dei  falliti. — T. 

Andar  a  star  a  Mantova.    Cf.  To  be  in  Queer  Street.    i.e.  in  or 
near  bankruptcy. 

Correr  come  i  cavalli  di  Mantova.     i.e.  sempre  in  posta. — T. 

Mantovani  ballerini. — T. 

Mantovane 

putane  o  rufRane. — B. 

Un  Milanese  e  un  Mantovano  se  ne  vergognerebbe. — F.,  G. 
Marca. 

Ma  che  vidi  io  nella  Marca  di  memorabile  ? 

Vidi  here  il  vin  colto,  mangiar  il  pan  crudo,  e  la  carne  dirupata. — 
L.,  p.  15. 

Marche.     (The  marches  of  Ancona.) 
Fregarealla  Marchiana. — F.,  G. 

Esser  una  Marchiana.    i.e.  una  guasta  dal  mal  Francese.— T. 
Far  a  chi  la  dice  piii  Marchiana.     i.e.  le  piij  grosse  bugie.— T. 
Bugia  Marchiana. — F.,  G. 
Dire  una  Marchiana. — F.,  G. 
T.  says  that  these  all  are  a  play  on  marcio=fracido,  guasto. 

312 


PROVERBS.  ITALY. 

Maremma. 

In  Maremma  si  arrichisce  in  un  anno  e  si  muore  in  sei  mesi. — 
Giani. 

Maremmani 

Dio  ne  scampi  i  cani. — G. 

Febre  Maremmana. — Tom. 
Mariano. 

Triovarsi  un  cavallo  Mariano.  i.e.  cavello  focoso  e  dicesi  d'un 
cavallo  baldanzoso,  che  nell  andar  porte  la  testa  =  un  huomo 
o  donna  che  habbino  il  cervallo  stravolto. — T. 

Marino  [13  m.  S.E.  of  Rome]. 

CipoUe  di  Marino.— T. 
Marradi  [N.E.  of  Florence,  N.  side  of  Apennines]. 

A  Marradi  seminan  fagioli  e  nascono  ladri. — Gotti. 
Massa  Marittima  [22  m.  N."W.  of  Grosseto,  in  the  Maremma]. 

Massa 

saluta  e  passa : 

chi  troppo  ci  sta,  la  pelle  si  lassa. — G.,  who  says  that  it  is  now 
pretty  healthy. 

Massala. 

Vantia. — Giani. 
Messina.     See  Palermo. 

La  nobile. — Giani. 

A  Messina  assai  polvere,  pulci  e  puttane. — F.,  G. 

Bei  correnti  di  Messina  [currents]. — T. 
i.e.  the  Straits. 
MiLANo.     See  Modena. 

Milano  grande. — F.,2dFr. 

Milano  la  grande,  Vinegia  la  ricca,  Geneva  la  superba, 

Bologna  la  grassa,  Firenze  la  bella,  Padova  la  dotta, 

Ravenna  I'antica,  Roma  la  santa. — G. 

la  grande. — T. 

la  ricca. — Giani. 

Ducato  di  Milano. — T. 

Armava  per  altri  tempi  cento  mila  cavaglieri  e  chiamavasi  La 
seconda  Roma. — L.,  p.  25. 

Milan  pud  far,  Milan  puo  dir,  ma  non  puo  far  d'aqua  vino. — F.,  G» 

La  paura  non  si  puol  armar  con  tutto  Milano. — B. 

Di  questi  chi  pagano  alia  vincita  di  Milano. — F.,  G. 

Questo  e  quel  che  fa  Milano. — T. 

Cosi  si  fa  a  Milano. — T. 

Esser  come  il  Duomo  di  Milano  che  mai  si  finisce. — T. 
The  English  say  "  Paul's  work."— T. 

Un  Milanese  e  un  Mantovano  se  ne  vergognerebbe. — F.,  G. 

313 


ITALY.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Corsaletti,  celade,   aghi,   sonagli,  stametto,   sargia  pannata. — 

L.,  p.  42. 
Milan  assia  busecche  [chitterlings.] — T. 

Vi  volse  tutto  Milano  per  far  bevere  un  asino. — B.  Has. 

Nur  zu  Mailand  kann  man  seinem  leibe  etwas  zu  gut  thun. 
Chi  volta  il  culo  a  Milan 

10  volta  al  pan. — Giani. 

Obra  de  Milan  :  veeme  y  no  me  tangas. — Perceval,  Span.  Gram., 

1599- 
Cast  le  ducil  de  Milan 
les  plus  joyeux  iront  avant — De  Navorschar,  xii.  222. 

11  n'est  Comte  que  de  Flandres,  Duche  que  de  Milan,  Royaume 

que  de  France.— Straff. 
Tres  Principatus  Optimi :  Regnum  Galliae,  Ducatus  Mediolani, 

Comitatus  Belgiae  Flandriae. — Tr.,  47  ro. 
I  buoni  Milanesi  (han  gusto  a  banchettare). — Alfieri. 
War  Italian  helfen  will  muss  Mailand  curiren, 
war  Italian  will  befriedigen,  muss  Mailand  ruiniren  [erniedrigen]. 
The  first  on  account  of  its  commerce,  the  last  its  disastrous 

wars. — Berckenmeyer. 
Marganburg*  ex  luto,  Ofen  ax  saxo,  ax  marmora  Mayland. — 

Berckr.,  i.  659. 

*  Marienburg,  in  Prussia. 

MoDENA.     See  Fano,  Parma. 

Manar  Torso  a  Modona.— F.,  G.     (Una  dif&cil  imprasa. — T.) 
(Impresa  non  ne  trarre  onore  ne  guadagno,  perche  degli  orsi  ca 

n'era  sugli  Appennini  assai. — Tom.) 
Maschera  da  Modona. — F.,  G. 
Umor  da  Modona. — F.,  G. 
Belle  maschere  e  rozzelle  di  Modena. — T. 
Rotelle  e  maschere. — L.,  p.  41. 
Modena  un  porcile. — G.     See  Parma. 
Va  a  Modena  per  ingrassarti. — B. 
Valenta  coma  il  Potta  [Podasta]  di  Modena,  chi  seminava  le 

fave  a  Cavallo. — F.,  2d.  F. 
O  cha  Potta*  da  Modona!— F.,  G. 
o  che  cazzo  da  Raggio  !^F.,  G. 

*  Potta  is  short  for  Podesta,  and  also  something  else. 
Haver  del  Modonese.     i.e.  non  esser  geloso,  [un  po  simpliciotto 

e  buonaccio. — T.]  ;  O  esser  matto.— F.,  G. 
Modena  e  un  citta  di  Lombardia 
Ove  si  smerda  ogni  fedal  Cristiano 
Che  s'abbatte  a  passar  per  quella  via  — Tassoni. 
Tres  Coronae  imponuntur  Imparatori  cum  in  Italiam  coronatur : 

Unam  Modontise  ex  palea,  Unam  Mediolani  farream,  Aliam 

Romae  auream. — Tr.,  43. 

314 


PROVERBS.  ITALY. 

MoNFERRATo  [3  m.  N.W.  of  Prato]. 
Dove  son  due  Monfin 
due  ladri  e  un  assassin, 

A  Lombard  saying  of  the  "  Monferratesi  o  Monferrini."  ~G. 
Montaigne  [near  Massa  in  the  Maremma]. 
Montaione  e  Montaio 
ne  penna  ne  calamaio. — S. 
Sterile  places. 

MONTALTO. 

Seta   di   Mont'alto,  la  quale  e  piu  forte  della    Messinessa. — 
L.,  p.  41. 

MoNTEBELLO  [lo  m.  S.W.  of  Vicenza]. 
Tre  donne  e  un  corbello 
fanno  il  mercato  di  Montebello. — Giani. 

MoNTECUccoLO  [22  m.  S.S.W.  of  Modena]. 

Far  come  la  gallina  di  Montecuccoli,  che  mangiava  Fovo  prima 
che  se  lo  facesse.     To  squander  an  estate  before  one  comes 
of  age. — T. 
Cf.  To  eat  the  calf  in  the  cow's  belly. 
MoNTEFALCo  [14  m.  N.W.  of  Spoleto]. 

Testimonio  di  Montefalco.     i.e.  testimonio  appostato  da  guirar 
il  falso.     i.e.  a  knight  of  the  post. 

MoNTEFiAscoNE  [9  m.  N.  of  Viterbo]. 

A    Montefiascone    buon    moscadino.       i.e.     wine    of    Muscat 
grape. — T. 

MoNTELUPO  [12  m.  W.S.W.  of  Florence,  on  the  Arno]. 
Da  Montelupo  si  vede  Capraia 
Cristo  fa  le  coppie  a  poi  I'appaja. — Dani. 

MoNTEMURLo  [near  Florence]. 

Darsi  di  Montemorello  in  capo    i.e.  freneticarsi. — T. 

Cercar  i  pesci  in  Montemorello.     i.e.  cercar  spropositi. — T. 

Come  le  starne  di  Montemorello,  che  si  pascevano  di  ruggida 
cioe  de  palabras. — T. 
MoNTEPULCiANo  [26  m.  S.E.  of  Siena]. 

Montepulciano  d'ogni  vino  e  il  Re. — Redi,  Bacco  in  Toscana. 

Se  chiedi  oggi  chi  regna,  Regna  Montepulciano. — Chiabrera. 
MoNTESPERTOLi  [near  Florence]. 

Esser  da  Montespertoli  i  esser  pratico  assai. — T. 
MuRANo  [a  suburb  of  Venice]. 

Viva  Morano. — T.     (A  play  on  the  word  "  muore.") 

Bei  cristalli  e  bicchieri  di  Murano. — T. 
Napoli.     See  Roma,  Firenze,  Salerno. 

Napoli  gentile. — Fl.,  2d  Fr. 

la  fidelissima. — Giani. 

315 


Y.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA, 

la  popolosa. — Giani. 

e  signorile. — T. 

un  Paradiso  habito  da  diavoli. — Ho. 

Napoli  Paradiso  ma  habitato  poi  da  .  .  .  [diavoli]. — T. 

Cav.  Fiorenzi  ha  salutevole  [consolevole],  I'aqua,  la  terra  e 

I'etera. — D.      Fagio  Vedi   Napoli   e   mori. — Tom.     Vedi 

Venezia  eccetera. — Goldoni,  Torq.  Tasso,  v.  13. 
Nascere  in  Spagna,  vivere  in  Firenze  e  morire  in  Napoli. — Dani. 
Anche  altrove  che  nel  Campo  di  Napoli  si  truova  Bari. — P. 
Bari  means  Constables,  and  also  is  the  name  of  a  city  on  the 
Adriatic. 
Compere  de  la  Pouille 
couste  at  despouille. — Cotgrave. 

i.e.  first  feeds  on  and  then  strips  you.    A  part  of  Naples  whose 
inhabitants  are  held  very  dangerous  in  conversation. 
Napolitano 

largo  di  bocca,  stretto  di  mano. — F.,  G. 
Dir  come  disse  lo  Napolitano.    "  Qui ;  taglia  me  ne  un  rottolo." 

— T.      [Qui  me  ne  taglia  un  ruotolo.  —P.] 
Napolitani,  mangia  broccoli. — T. 
Napoli  e  11  inferno  dei  cavalli. — Giani. 
Esser  come  i  cavalli  di  Napoli.     i.e.  ignorante,  e  che  hanno  le 

lettere  nelle  chiappe. — T.     i.e.  the  owner's  initials. 
Parlar   come   quel   del   Regno,    i.e.  far  I'ignorante,   con   dire 

"  Non  saccio  niente." — T. 
La  donna  mi  fece  un  inchino  tutto  Napolitanizzato,  tutto  pro- 

fumato,  tutto  Cleopatresco. — F.,  2d  Fr. 
Nothing  so  long  of  memory  as  a  dog :  these  Italians  are  old 

dogs,  and  will  carry  an  injury  a  whole  age  in  memory.     It 

is   grown   to   a   common    proverb,    "  I  '11    give    him    the 

Neapolitan  shrug,"  when  one  means  to  play  the  villain 

and  make  no  boast  of  it. — -T.  Nash,  Unf.  Travr.,L.  3.    1594. 
Tre     persone    ragionano    eccessivamente    delle    loro    patria : 

Napolitano,  Veronese,  e  Lucchesi. — Tr.,  f.  57  ro. 
Wenn  das  Konigreich  Neapel  in  fiinf  Theile  getheilt  wiirde,  so 

wurde  man  finden,  dass  vier  Theile  den  Pfaffen  gehoren. — 

Berckenmeyer. 
Napoli  e  il  giardino  dell'  ItaHa.— Straff, 
la  prima  citta  del  mondo. — Straff, 
bella  e  sua  popolazione  cortese. — Straff. 
pare  caduta  dal  cielo. — Straff, 
un  pezzo  di  cielo  caduto  in  terra. — Giani  (Sannazaro). 

Portami  da  Napoli  dell'  opre  che  fanno  que  setaiuoli,  ispetial- 
mente  strenghe,  capelli  e  borse  fatte  con  I'aco. — L.,  p.  41. 

Fare  la  Napolitana.     When  the  tray,  deuce,  and  ace  of  a  suit 
are  found  in  the  same  hand  at  cards. — Tom. 

316 


PROVERBS.  ITALY. 

Ci  vogliono  tre. — F.      per  tener  quieto  il  Napolitano,  Farini, 

Festini,  Forca. — Giani, 
Legge  Napolitana 
dura  una  settimana. — Giani. 
Esser  caviglier  da  Napoli.     i.e.   che  habbia  il  mal  Francese, 

concioche  se  Vadossine  I'un  all'  altro. — T. 
The  Neapolitans  say  "  Naples  commits  the  sin,  but  Torre  must 

pay  for  them."     i.e.    Torre   del   Greco  and   Torre   dell' 

Annunziata  suffer  from  the  eruptions  of  Vesuvius. — Jul. 

Stinde,  The  Buckholzes  in  Italy.     Berlin,  1886. 

Nardo  [prov.  Lecce,  8  m.  N.N.E.  of  Gallipoli]. 

Bambagina  di  Nardo. — L.,  p.  41. 
Nervi  [12  m.  E.  of  Genoa]. 

When  the  snow  lies  for  three  days  on  Monte  Fino  (the  promon- 
tory bounding  on  the  E.  the  Bay  of  Chiavari)  there  will  be 
three  more  falls  during  the  winter. 

NizzA  I'amena. — Giani. 
NoGARA  [10  m.  E.  of  Mantua]. 

Legno  di  Nogara 

fa  desperar  la  mas^ra. — T. 

Also  of  a  nut-tree  which  burns  not  well. 
NoRCiA  [10  m.  E.  of  Spoleto]. 

Esser  piu  crudele  della  gente  di  Norcia  [che  castrano]. — T. 

Cava  coioni  son  li  Norcini. — T. 

Norcino  di  cette  faccie,  e  otto  se  bisognano. — G. 

Guardati  de  I'andar  in  Norsia,  Cassia,  e  Visse,* 

per  che  Dio  li  maledisse. — L.,  p.  8. 

*  Three  villages  in  the  Umbrian  Apennines. 
NovARA  [27  m.  W.  of  Milan]. 

Novara  centro  di  grandi  strade. — Giani. 
Oristano  [Sardinia]. 
.    Who  goes  to  Oristano  stays  at  Oristano.    i.e.  dies  of  fever. 

Callar  para  encallar 

y  Oristan  para  empreiiar. — N.     See  Cagliari. 

Ortignano  [on  the  Upper  Arno,  near  Bibbiena]. 
A  Ortignano 
chi  non  e  birro  non  6  Cristiano. — G. 

Orvieto  [60  m.  N.N.W.  of  Rome]. 

Orvieto  chi  ci  trova  da  far  ben,  non  va  ne  inanzi  ne  in  drieto. — T. 
Orvieto,  bel  pozzo. — T, 

OsTiA  [14  m.  W.S.W.  of  Rome]. 

Dir  "A  rivederci  a  Ostia."  i.e.  alia  prima  Laccia,  alia  prima 
occasione,  "  Laccia  is  a  sort  of  fish  called  Cherm  in 
England,  and  in  Italy  by  another  name,  Alosa." — T. 

317 


ITALY.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Otranto  [in  the  heel  of  Italy,  S.E.  of  Brindisij. 

Otrantese  sospettoso. — T. 
Padova.     See  Venezia. 
Padoa  la  dotta. — T. 
Padoa  bello  studio. — T. 
Padua  ist  die  mutter  Venedigs. — Wan. 
Pan    Padovano,    vin    Vincentino,    carne    Furlana    formaggio 

Piacentino,     trippe    Treviggiane    e    donne    Venetiane. — 

F.,  2d  F. 
Pan    Padoan,   vin   Vincentin,    trippe    Triviggiani    e    puttane 

Venetiani. — T. 
Wiisst  ich's  nicht  in  Asia 
so  suchte  ich's  in  Padua. — ^Hes. 

Said  by  Paradise  on  account  of  the  beautiful  neighbourhood. 
Bei  capelli  di  Padoa. — T.     (Hats.) 
Sargia  cotonata,  berette  leggerissime,  guanti  e  galline  Padovane. 

— L.,  p.  42. 
Esser  una  barca  di  Padoa.     i.e.  una  confusione,  una  Babilonia 

concioche  in  essa  vi  siano  d'ogni  sorte  di  gente  e  d'ogni 

nazione. — T. 
Padovani  e  Vicentini 

0  ladri  o  assassini.— Giani. 

Far  come  i  giudici  da  Padoa.     i.e.  che  per  parer  savii  si  davano 

la  sentenza  incontra  (against  themselves). — T. 
A  Padova  i  giudici  danno  la  ragione  ad  ambe  le  parti. — G. 

1  Padovani  impiccan  I'asino. — F.,  G. 

This  being  the  banner  of  Vicenza,  an  ass,  the  Paduans  in  a 
friendly  melee  suspended  it  on  the  gallows. — Cantii. 
Count    Algarotti    (friend   of    Frederic   the   Great),    called    the 
Swan  of  Padua." — Hes. 

Paganico  (in  the  Maremma).    See  Grosseto. 
Palermo. 

La  felice. — Giani. 

Bei  giardini  di  Palermo. — T. 

La  Concha  d'Oro. 

Se  Palermo  avesse  un  porto 

Messina  saria  un  orto. — Giani. 

Parma. 

La  graziosa. — Giani. 
Parma  buon  cascio. — T. 

Filar  come  il  cascio  Parmiggiano.  i.e.  esser  grasso  bene  e  filare, 
come  una  pruovatura.  (A  little  round  cheese  made  of 
buffalo's  milk  and  sold  in  Rome.). — T. 

Che  ha  da  far  il  Marzohno  col  Parmiggiano  ? —T.  (Cheeses- 
not  to  be  named  together.) 

318 


PROVERBS.  ITALY. 

Parma 

bell'arma, 

Reggio  gentile 

e  Modena  un  porcile. — G. 

Pavia.     See  Malamocco. 
La  gran  Certosa. — T. 
Pavia  buono  studio. — T. 
Dalle  cento  torri. — Giani. 
Insegnar  la  via 
per  andar  a  Pavia. — B. 

Peretola.     See  Brozzi. 
Perugia. 

Buon  Moscatello  di  Perugia. — T. 

Buon  soldato  Perugino. — F.,  2d  Fr. 

Far  di  quel  Perugino  che  subito  che  gli  fu  rotto  il  capo,  corse  a 

casa  per  la  celata  (helmet). — T. ;  Ho. 
Monsignor,  non  tanta  fretta 
Che  a  Perugia  c'e  I'acquetta. 

(A  threat  of  using  the  famous  poison  invented  in  a  convent 
in  Perugia.) 

Pesaro  [19  m.  N.E.  of  Urbino,  on  the  Adriatic].     See  Grosseto. 
Ein  feigen  garten.—  Hes. 

Peschiera  [20  m.  N.N.W.  of  Mantova].     The  N.W.  fortress  of 

"  the  Quadrilateral." 
Son  da  Peschiera  e  so  pescare 
ma  se  io  v6  del  pesce  me'l  convien  comprare. — T. 

(A  play  on  words.) 

Pescia.     The  Buratino  (a  famous  wine). 

Egli  e  il  vero  oro  potabile 

Che  mandar  suole  in  esilio 
Ogni  male  irremediable 
Egli  e  d' Elena  il  nepente 
Che  fa  stare  il  mondo  allegro 
Dai  pensieri  Foschi  e  neri 
Sempre  sciolto  e  sempre  esente. — Redi. 

Pesto  [prov.  Salerno]. 

Quando  canta  la  cicala,  a  Pesto  c'e  la  febbre. — Giani. 
PiACENZA  [36  m.  W.N.W.  of  Parma]. 
La  mesta. — Giani. 
Piacenza  buon  formaggio. — T. 

Chi  vuol  regnar,  prima  vada  a  Piacenza,  poi  a  Sesto. — T. 
Sesto  is  a  place  in  the  Florentine  State,  and  by  Piacenza  is 
meant  clemency  and  meekness. — T. 
Andar  piii  volontieri  a  Piacenza  et  a  Lodi  che  a  Verona,     i.e. 
voler  anzi  piacere  e  lodare  che  dire  la  verita. — T. 

319 


ITALY.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Ogn'un  ha  a  caro  che  si  passi  da  Piacenza. — T. 

(All  these  are  merely  playing  on  words.) 
Placentias  vivit,  non  Veronae.     Hee  loveth  to  flatter  more  than 
speak  true. — Clarke,  Pkras.  Puerilis,  2d  Ed.,  p.  89.     1650. 
Piazza  [17  m.  E.S.E.  of  Caltanisetta,  in  Sicily]. 

L'opulentissima. — Giani.     From  the  abundance  of  rich  produce. 
PiEMONTE.     See  Sardegna. 

Piemontesi  conquassati  (shattered). — T. 
Piemonte  e  la  sepoltura  dei  Frances!.— Giani. 
PiGNONE  (prov.  Genova)  [ —  m.  from  Savona]. 
O  gente  del  Pignone,  gente  acquatica 
maledetto  voi  altri  e  chi  vi  pratica. — Dani. 
PioMBiNO    [on  the  Tuscan   coast,   opposite   Elba].     See   Ferrara, 

Grosseto,  and  Isola. 
PiRANO  [on  the  Adriatic,  S.W.  of  Trieste].     See  Trieste. 
Pisa.     See  Lucca,  Grosseto,  Firenze,  Toscana. 
La  morta. — Giani. 
Buon  biscotto  di  Pisa. — T. 

Buoni  cantucci  di  Pisa. — T.     (Slim  wine-biscuits.) 
Pisa  pesa  per  chi  posa.     Allude  alia  pesantezza  dell'  aria. 
Pisana :  avere  i  Pisani,  e  aver  sonno. — G. 
Esser  piii  vano  che  una  canna  alia  Pisano.     i.e.  hollow,  without 

pith.— T. 
Far  la  cena  alia  Pisana.    i.e.  cenar  e  dormire  in  un  istesso  luoco, 

starsene  allegramente. — T. 
Haver  il  soccorso  di  Pisa.     i.e.  quando  e  fornita  la  guerra. — T. 
(un  aiuto  che  viene  quando  non  c'e  piu  tempo. — Tommaseo.) 
You  and  your  pleas  and  proofs  were  what  folk  call  Pisan 
assistance,  aid  that  comes  too  late. — R.  Browning,  Ring 
and  the  Book,  xii. 
Tres    Civitates   situ    celeberrimae    apud    antiquos    Romanes : 
Cartago,     Capua,     Corinthum.       Tres    nostro    tempore  : 
Byzanthium,  Roma,  Pisa. — Tr.,  f.  48,  lo. 
Essere  come  i  ladri  di  Pisa,  che  di  giorno  si  leticano,  e  la  notte 
vanno  a  rubare   insiemi    (de'  tristi  che   sotto  sotto  se  la 
intendono. — Tommaseo.) 
Non  c'e  niente  di  dritto  a  Pisa. — Giani. 

Monta  qui,  tu  vedi  Pisa.    Dicevasi  per  atto  di  giuoco  a  fanciulli ; 
Quando  volevansi  far  montare  o  su  un  muricciuolo,  o  sopra  una 

seggiola. — Tommaseo. 
Si  che  i  Pisani  veder  Lucca  non  ponno. — Dante. 
Mezzo  dormendo  ancor  domando  "  Piove  ?  " — Alfieri. 
PiSTOjA  [21  m.  N.W.  of  Florence].     See  Toscano. 
Lucerne  di  Pistoja. — T. 

Mannarini  Pistolesi. — G.     Young  fat  sheep.     See  Puglia. 
Esser  da  Pistoja  (pistone,  a  pedestrian). — T. 

320 


PROVERBS.  ITALY. 

Il  Po. 

II  P6  non  sarebbe  il  Po  [ci  mettesser  co  (capo). — G.J 

se  Adda  e'l  Tessin  non  vi  mettessero  il  c6, — T. 

Far  piu  rami  che  il  Po  in  Lombardia  (of  a  subdividing,  dis- 
cursive talker). — T. 

La  catene  tengon  i  molini  sul  Po  e  sul  Tevere,  e  non  terrebber 
i  cervelli  volante  degli  huomini. — T. 

I  pioppi  (poplars)  del  Po  lagrimano  ambra. — T. 

La  merla  ha  passato  il  Po  (the  downhill  of  age). — T. 

Le  son  cose  que  passano  il  Po  :  quand'altri  importunamente 
domanda :  "E  po?"  per  eel.  rispondono.  "  Dopo  il  Po 
viene  I'Adige." — Tom. 

PoNTE  A  RiFREDo  [4  kil.  W.  of  Florence]. 

La  compagnia  di  Ponte  a  Rifredo,  pochi  e  mal  I'accordo. — G. 
PoNTEDERA  [13  m.  E.S.E.  of  Pisa].     See  Cascina. 
Poppi  [on  the  Upper  Arno] . 

Star  piii  adaggio  che  il  conte  in  Poppio. — T. 
Bandi  da  Poppi,  per  chi  si  e  per  chi  no  [partial]. — P. 
PoRDENONE  [28  m.  W.S.W.  of  Udine].     See  Friuh. 
Porto  Venere.     See  Venezia  and  Lerici. 
PozzuoLi  [6  m.  W.S.W.  of  Naples]. 
Pozzuoli  belle  anticaglie. — T. 
Galeotti  Puzzuolani  [good  watermen] . — T. 
Prato  [9  m.  N.W.  of  Florence]. 

La  migliore  lattughe  sono  a  Prato. —  Straff. 
A  Paremo  dunque  come  fanno  a  Prato. — S.     E  come  fanno  a 
Prato  quando  piove  ?    A  Lasciano  piovere  e  stanno  in  casa. 
— F.,  2d  Fr.,  V.     See  note  to  Malmantile,  i.  189. 
Non  esser  ancora  sera  a  Prato.      i.e.  avvanzar  ancora  tempo 
alia  vendetta. — T. 
Cf.  An  Irish  game  hath  an  Irish  trick. — T. 
A  Prato  c'e  piu  preti  che  a  Pistoja*  staia  [bushels] . — G. 

*  porci. — Giani. 
Id  son  di  Prato 

e  voglio  esser  rispettato. — Archiv.  T.  P.  J.,  ii.  443. 
I  Cavalieri  Pratesi  sono  come  i  corbelli  che  hanno  la  croce  nel 
culo.     (Cesta  rotonda  tessuta  di  strisce  di  legno  col  fondo 
piano). — P.  Fanfani,  Vocabol: 
Pruneta. 

La  mezzina  di  Santa  Maria  di  Pruneto.  i.e.  una  misura  smi- 
surata,  grandissima.  The  English  say  Water-measure  or 
London  measure,  a  handful  above  their  fellows. — T. 

PuGLiA.     See  Abruzzo. 
Pan  de  Puglia. — T. 
E  grassa  come  una  Puglia. — Ho. 

VOL.  I.  321  21 


ITALY.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Puglia  assai  mosche. — T. 

Portar  mosche  in  Puglia. — T. 

Esser  come  morir  una  moscha  in  Puglia. — T. 

Barletta  in  Puglia. — T.     A  famous  fortress. 

Compare  di  Puglia 

costa  caro  e  poi  ti  spoglia. — F.,  G. 

Compar  di  Puglia.    i.e.  dove  I'un  tien  con  raltrc— T.    [L'un 

tiene  e  I'altro  spoglia. — Giani.] 
Che  ?  saresti  mai  fra  Frario,  compar  di  Puglia  ? — F.,  G. 
Credersi  che  non  ci  fossero  altri  asini  in  Puglia.     i.e.  ingannarsi 

ale'engrosso. — T. 
Pugliese, 
cento  per  forca*  e  un  per  paese. — G. 

*  forno.     i.e.  den  Bauch. — Giani. 
Chi  vuol  provar  le  pene  dell'  Inferno 
la  state  in  Puglia  e  all'  Aquilaf  di  verno. — G. 
t  Aquila  is  in  the  Central  Apennines. 

Haver  bisogno  di  Scamonea  di  Puglia  e  Rhabarbero  di  Levante. 

i.e.  star  per  piglia  medecina  e  purgarsi. — T. 
Ruiscir  una  Puglia.  i.e.  una  Coccagna,  paese  abbondatessima. — T. 
Castroni  Pugliesi,  mannarini  Pistolesi,  gran  Siciliano,  zucchero 

di    Candia,    cera    Veneziana,    magli    Romaneschi,    sproni 

Viterbesi,  cacio  di  Creta,  raviggioli  Fiorentini. — G. 
Vedi  in   Puglia  del  stereo  de'  buoi  far  si  il  fuoco  e  scaldarsi 

i  forni. — L.,  p.  12. 

Radicofani  [on  road  from  Siena  to  Rome,  36  m.  S.S.E.  of  Siena]. 

Esser  come  Radicofani.     i.e.  haver  sempre  un  po  di  fumo  in 

capo,   per  esser  cosi  alto  e  quasi   sempre    annuvolato ;    e 

decesi  di  qualche  gran  Personaggio  o  altro  letterato,  che  si^ 

pero  scuro  e  capriccioso. — T. 

The  castle  of  the  robber  knight,  Gino  di  Tacco,  was  on  the 

summit  of  the  mountain,  2,470  feet  above  the  sea. 

Addison  {Remarks  on  Italy),  in   leaving  the  Papal   States  and 

entering    Tuscany    at    Radicofani,    says:    "This    savage 

prospect  put  me  in  mind  of  the  Italian  proverb.  That  the 

Pope  has  the  flesh  and  the  Great  Duke  the  bones  of  Italy." 

Rapallo  [14  m.  E.S.E.  of  Genoa] . 

Far  dell  Boncio  di  Rapalle,  i.e.,  chi  bastonava  la  moglie  e  noi  la 
voleva  pettinare.     (Make  it  up). — T. 

Ravenna. 

Ravenna  la  antica. — F.,  2d  Fr. 

Cercar  Maria  per  Ravenna. — F.,  G.     i.e.  cercar  malamente. — 
Tommaseo.     To  seek  what  we  would  not  find. — T. 
It  has  been  suggested  that  Maria  was  originally  Mare  in  the 
proverb,  and  the  invasions  of   the   sea   in   Ravenna   are 
alluded  to. — L. 

322 


PROVERBS.  ITALY. 

Cosi  si  paga  Sancti  a  Ravenna. — B. 
Esser  bambino  di  Ravenna,    i.e.  che  nacque  barbuto. 
Dicesi  d'un  furbo  o  manigoldo,  figliol  del  gran  Diavolo. — T. 
Von  Ravenna  fliegen  die  raben. — Hes. 
Ravenna  est  von  Esau  erbaiet. — Hes. 
Recanati  [4  m.  S.W.  of  Loreto]. 

Recanati  la  lunga. — Giani. 
Rkggio  [15  m.  W.N.W.  of  Modena].     See  Modena  and  Parma. 
Reggio  gentile. — G. 
Esser  una  razza  da  Reggio.    i.e.  un  Villano  Zottico.     A  very 

clown,  peasant  or  country  bumpkin. — T. 
Egli  par  d'esser  il  Caca  di  Reggio.     A  famous  captain  of  the 

Ghibelline  party. — Ho. 
Giunto  in  Reggio  fornisceti  di  stafFe,  de  speroni,  e  di  quelle  opre 

fatte  di  corno  cioe   calzatoi,  discriminali,   corone,  anella, 

pettini. — L.,  p.  41. 

Rezzo.     Speroni  di  Rezzo. — T. 

Rimini  [32  m.  S.E.  of  Ravenna].     Oche  di  Rimini. — T. 

Roma.     See  Italia,  Modena. 

Tria  Romas  nomina  :  Amarillis,  Arethusa,  Roma. — Tr.,  43. 

Roma  locuta  est,  causa  finita  est. 

Roma  la  santa,  che  gia  fu  regina  ed  hora  e  ancilla  del  mondo. — 
F.,  2d  Fr. 

Roma  caput  mundi 

e  Napoli  secundi. — Dani. 

[regit  orbis  frena  rotundi. — Berckr.J 

Roma  caput  mundi. — F. 

Venezia  secundi. — Straff. 

Roma,  Roma,  Roma  !  non  e  piu  qual  era  prima. — Straff. 

Roma  gia  capo  ma  hora  coda  del  mondo. — F.,  2d  Fr. 

Voler  governar  Roma  e  Romagna.     i.e.  tutto  il  mondo. — T. 

Roma 

doma. — T. 

Roma 

i  vecchi  ammazza  et  i  giovani  doma. — T. 

A  Roma 

ogni  matto  si  doma. — B. 

[Cane  matto. — Gotti.] 
i.e.  of  the  French  occupation. 

Rom,   hiite   dich  vor   dem    Hahne,  wenn  dieser  kraht,  weint 
Petrus ! — Wan. 

Roma  o  morte !     The  cry  of  protest  against  the  Papacy. 

Promettere  Roma  e  Toma. — F.,  G.   (Toma  is  a  made  word. — T.) 
i.e.  mari  e  monti. 

Lui  beveria  Roma  e  Toma. — F.,  G.     i.e.  mari  e  monti. 

323 


ITALY.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Roma  e  Toma  mangiaria. —  Roman  e  Toman  ederet. — B. 

Papa  Leone  [X.J  quel  che  non  poteva  aver  donava. — Giani. 

Papa  Sisto  [V.]  non  la  perdono  neppure  a  Cristo. — Giani. 

Son  santi  i  Papi,  potente  sono  i  Re, 

ma  poscia  nel  cacare  son  tutti  eguata  a  me. — D. 

Roma  e  Re  convien  servire. — F.,  G. 

Tanto  morre  o  Papa 

como  o  que  nao  tem  capa. — Pereyra,  Ad.  Poriug.     1655. 

Essere  stato  a  Roma  senza  aver  verduto  il  Papa. — Gianj. 

Roma  non  fu  fatta  in  un  di.     Rome  was  not  built  in  one  day. — 

J.  Heywood. 
Unus  Petrus  est  in  Roma, 
unus  torris  in  Cremona, 
unus  portus  in  Ancona. —  Giani. 
[e  unus  ceres  in  Racona. — Straflf.     (Famous  Bavarian  beer. — 

Berckr.)] 
Roma  e  pur  del  Papa. — T. 
NuGvo  Papa  nuovi  amici. — Giani. 
lo  son  que,  e  il  Papa  e  in  Roma. — T. 
Sa  piu  il  Papa  e  un  contadino  che  il  Papa  solo. — Giani. 
Dove  e  il  Papa,  ivi  e  Roma. — T. 
Rey  por  natura 

Papa  por  ventura. — Bluteau,  Voc.  Portug.     1712. 
Chi  vuol  veder  il  Papa,  vada  a  Roma. — Giani. 

Roma  Santa,  popolo . — T. 

Del  Papa,  del  Rey  y  de  la  Inquisicion,  chiton,  chiton. — Julian 

de  Medrano  Selva,  Curiosa.     1583. 
Siamo  a  Roma  v'e  ?  basta  di  questo. — T. 
Roma  santa 

Aquila  bella  Napoli  galante. — Straff. 
Roma  non  e  matrigna 

A  chi  non  traligna.     i.e.  keeps  straight. — T. 
Roma  non  fu  matrigna  a  nessuno. — P. 
Portar  indulgenze  a  Roma. — Giani. 
Cf.  To  carry  coals  to  Newcastle. 
Chi  va  a  Roma  e  porta  buon  borsotto 
diventa  Abbate  o  vescovo  di  botto. — F.,  2d  Fr. 
Cosi'  si  fa  a  gastigar  lo  sgherro 
Papa  di  sasso  e  Podesta  di  ferro. — Dani. 
I  vescovi  in  Roma  sono  come  i  crocifissi  in  botega  del  legnaiuolo. 

— G.     (ai  quali  nessuno  si  leva  il  cappello. — G.) 
A  Roma  ci  vogliono  tre  cose  :  pane,  panni  e  pazienza. — G. 
In  Roma  chi  segue  le  fortune  le  fuggono  e  chi  le  aspetta  le 

vengono. — F.,  G. 
Dizem  en  Roma 
que  a  molher  fie  a  coma. — Bluteau,  Voc.  Portug. 

324 


PROVERBS.  ITALY. 

In  Roma  piu  vale  la  corteggiana 

che  la  donna  Romana. — F.,  2dL  Fr. 

So  viel  Sterne  am  Himmel  stehn 

so  viel  madchen  in  Roma  gehn. — Hesekiel. 

Rom  ist  eine  fromme  stadt,  da  heist's ;  so  viel  Kloster,  so  viel 

hiirenhauser. — Klosterspiegel. 
La  Corte  Romana 
non  vuol  pecore  senza  lana. — F.,  2d  Fr. 

pecora  sana. — G. 
Denari  fanno  correr  gli  asini  a  Roma  per  beneficii. — F.,  G. 
Roma  travagliata 

che  chi  ha  bella  moglie,  vive  d'entrata. — G. 
Die  Italier  sind  unter  alien  Christen  (die   schlimmsten)   und 

unter  diesen  die  zu  Rom  die  argsten. — Berckenmeyer. 
Roma  veduta,  fede  perduta. 
De  weg  naer  Rome  gaat  over  Herrnhut. — Harrebomfee,  i.  306. 

From  England  by  Oxford. 
Non  importa  andare  a  Roma  per  la  penitenza. — G. 
Dov'  e  mio  marito  e  Roma. — Tommaseo  &  Bellini,  Dizionano. 
HUte  dich  vor  Rom 

willst  du  bleiben  fromm. — Eiselein  (i6th  Centy.). 
Zu  Rom  thut  man  drei  dinge  nicht  gern :  Beten,  Zahlen,  und 

(am  wege)  Weichen. — Theair.  Diabolorum,  3986.     1575. 
Nam    ireis   pel   pendencia    (quarrel)  a  Roma.      Haud  impun& 

feres. — Pereyra.     1655. 
Roma,  Roma, 
la  que  a  los  locos  doma 
y  a  los  cuerdos  no  perdona. — Nunez.     1555. 
Roma,  a  chi  nulla  in  cent'  anni,  a  chi  molto  in  tre  di. — G.     '84. 
Lingua  Toscana 

in  bocca  Romana  [con  grazia  Pistojse]. 
Haver  pigliato  un  Papalino  per  lo  naso.     i.e.  to  have  got  the 

wrong  sow  by  the  ear,  who  "is  no  fool  to  be  trepanned  in 

the  least." — T.     Not  a  pigeon  to  be  plucked. 
Pigliar  un  papalino  per  lo  naso.     Significa  tirar  solto  qualche 

buon  peccione,  o  poUastrone  da  lasciarsi  cavare  infin  le 

penne  matte  Papalino  e  una  spezie  d'ucello,  oggi  chiamato 

pagoncino.     Aleuni  dicono  Paolino ;  altri  pagelina. — P. 
Soldati  del  Papa 
otto  a  cavar  una  rapa. 
Senza  il  sargente 

non  son  buoni  a  nicente. — Giani,  Pasq. 
Camino  de  Roma,  ni  mula  coxa,  ni  bolsa  floxa. — N. 
Nel  Ghetto  degli  Ebrei 
c'e  pitturato  lui  e  lei. — Dani. 
A  Roma  se  va  por  bulas,  por  tobaco  a  Gibraltar,  por  mansanilla 

a  San  Lucar,  y  a  Cadiz  se  va  por  sal. — De  Nervo,  Dictons 

et  Prov.  Par.     1874. 

,S25 


ITALY.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Donna  Latina 

si  da  bel  tempo  la  sera  e  la  mattina. — Giani. 

A  Roma  per  todo. — Nunez.     1555- 

Chi  bee  va  a  Roma 

bee  se  torna  (Catalan). — Nuriez.     1555.     bee  =  cabron. — N. 

Bien  se  esta  Sant  Pedro  en  Roma.     (Anaden  algunos 

Si  no  la  quitan  la  corona). — Nunez.     1555. 

Buscado  la  avia 

en  Roma  a  Maria. — Nunez.     1555. 

El  ruyn  de  Roma 

en  mentando  le  luego  assoma. — Nunez.     1555. 

quando  le  nombran  luego  assoma. — Percival,  Dial.,  i.     1599. 

Dizen  en  Roma 

que  la  dama  hile  y  coma. — Nunez.     1555. 

No  ay  hermosa 

sine  toca  en  Roma. — Nunez.     1555. 

Quien  a  Roma  va 

dineros  Uevara. — Nunez.     1555. 

Una  higa  ay  en  Roma 

para  quien  le  don  y  no  toma. — Nunez.     1555- 

Tu  vas  a  Rome  querir  ce  que  tu  as  a  ton  buys. — Tv. ;  N. 

He  that  goeth  not  to  Rome  is  not  in  danger  of  hell. — Draxe. 

He  that  goes  first  to  Rome  sees  a  bad  man ;  he  that  goes  the 
second  time  meets  with  him ;   he  that  goes  the  third  time 
brings  him  home.— Help  to  Discourse,  p.  336.     1648. 
See  Italy. 

Qui  semel  it  Romam  vult  istic  querere  nequam 

Qui  bis  it  hunc  reperit  qui  ter  secum  huncque  reportat. 

No  right  at  Rome.     Bruta  fulmina  (Ingiustitia). — CI. 

A  Roma  dottori,  a  Napoli  ladroni,  a  Genova  scavezzi,  a  Milan 
tagliacantoni*,  a  Venezia  forestieri,  a  Fiorenza  scar- 
dassierit. — G. 

*  Cutthroats.        f  Woolcombers. 

Tre  stanno  bene  in  Roma :  Commendatore  di  Santo  Spirito, 
Generale  de  Domenicani,  Generale  de  Giesuiti. — Tf.,  f.  56  ro. 

Ber  vin  di  Ripa.  i.e.  vin  basso  ma  gagliardo,  vin  Corso  o  di 
Corsica. — T. 

Fa  ch'  io  trovi  dell'  acqua  e  non  di  fonte ; 

Di  fiume  si'  che  gia  sei  di  veduto 

Non  abbia  Sisto,  ne  alcun  altro  ponte. 

Ariosto  [directions  to  his  brother]. 

If  on  leaving  Rome  you  drink  of  the  fountain  of  Trevi  you  will 
surely  return  to  the  City. 

If  you  pass  three  winters  in  Rome  you  will  never  winter  else- 
where. 

S.P.Q.R.  Senatus,  populus  que  Romanus.  A  modern  reading 
of  these  initials  is  "  Sono  porchi  questi  Romani." 

326 


PROVERBS.  Italy: 

A  Roman  with  a  Roman's  heart  can  suffer. — Shak.,  Cymb.,  v.  5. 

MagU  Romaneschi.     See  Puglia. 

Wer  mittags  in  Rom  wandelt  in  sonnenschein 

mus  ein  hund,  ein  narr,  oder  Franzose  sein. — Hesekiel. 

Four  F's  to  be  avoided  in  Rome :   Famina,  frigus,  fructus  et 

femur. — Hes. 
Wer   zu   Rom   leben  will   muss  3  T  zu  gebrauchen  wissen : 

Tempo,  Testa,  Testoni  h.  e.  Zeit,  Verstand  und  gelt. — 

Berckr.    [Experience,  Wit  and  Money,] 
Jamais  cheval  ni  mechant  homme 
n'amende  pour  aller  a  Rome. 
Chi  Roma  non  vede 
nulla  non  crede. — T. 

Ogni  uno  non  e  nato  per  andar  a  Roma. — F.,  G. 
A  Roma  si  va  per  santita,  a  Napoli  per  allegria. — Giani. 
Chi  bestia  va  a  Roma, 
bestia  torna. — T. 
Qui  beste  va  a  Rome 
tel  en  retourne. — Meurier.     1568. 
Que  roim  he  en  Roma 
roim  he  en  Carmona*. — [Port.]  Nunez.    1555. 

*  Carmona,  18  m.  N.E.  of  Sevilla. 
How  much  a  dunce  that  has  been  sent  to  Rome  [roam] 
Excels  a  dunce  that  has  been  kept  at  home. 

Cowper,  Pngress  of  Error,  415. 

Chi  lingua  a 
a  Roma  va. — F.,  G. 
Qui  langue  a, 

a  Rome  va. — Meurier.     1568. 
Quien  lengua  ha 

a  Roma  va. — Lopez  de  Mendoza.     1508. 
Dimandando  si  va  Roma. — P. 
Per  molte  strade  si  va  a  Roma. — F.,  G, 
A  passo  a  passo  si  va  a  Roma. — T. 
Ella  e  piii  pesta  che  la  strada  Romea. — F.,  G. 
Esser  piii  pisto  che  la  strada  di  Roma  I'anno  Santo. — T. 
Bisogna  viver  a  Roma  co'  costumi  di  Roma. — F.,  G. 
Cum  fueris  Romae  Romano  vivito  more 
cum  fueris  alibi,  vivito  more  loci. — T. 
The  Englishman's  reading  is : 

When  you  are  at  Rome 

do  as  you  do  at  home. 

Die  Englische  Romane  spielen  im  Hause,  die  Franzosichen  auf 

der  Strasse,  die  Deutschen  im  Walde. — Wan. 
Anticaglie  di  Roma. — T. 
La  Ruota  di  Roma  [the  Chief  Civil  Court]. — T. 

327 


ITALY.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Esser  Barone 

die  Piazza  Navona.     i.e.  un  furbo. 

Esser  vergine  come  la  Porta  de'  Borsari.     i.e.  del  Popolo. — T. 

Volte  di  Ponte  Sisto.    i.e.  brazen-faced,  like  the  masks  there. 

-F.,  G. 
Meglio  e  un  bicchier  di  vino  che  tutt'  il  Tevere. — F.,  G. 
"  Chi  paga  qiia  ?  Pasquino  o  Marsorio  ?  "    A  vintner's  question. 
Marsorio's  statue  is  near  the  Capitol. 

Haver  pigliato  una  mula  di  San  Spirito  (the  Foundling),  i.e.  a 
bastard  for  wife. — T. 

Pagarealla  Romanesca  di  "Faremo." — F.,  G.  i.e.  stentamente. 
— T. 

Alia  Rom.  pagar  di  ben. — P. 

Con  le  abra  parlavano  i  Greci  e  con  il  petto  i  Romani.— F.,  G. 

II  Romano  vince  sedendo. — F.,  G. 

Romanus  sedendo  vincit — Erasm.,  Ad.  329. 

Animo  Romano  e  senno  Ateniese. — T. 

Wie  im  guten,  so  im  Schlechten 

sind  die  Romer,  nie  die  Rechten. — Giani. 

Romaneschi 

non  son  buoni,  ne  caldi  ne  freschi. — G. 

I  Romaneschi  nascono  co'  sassi  in  mano. — G. 

Romanesca,  or  after  the  Romish  way ;  but  rather  meant  by 
any  stranger  fashioning  himself  to  the  garb  of  a  Roman, 
but  yet  not  so  much  but  that  he  will  keep  his  native 
fashion  too  in  most  things.  The  English  express  the  same 
by  Mungrell  [sic']. — T. 

Faralla  Romanesca.     i.e.  pagar  del  pari 
"  Bianco  e  bruno, 
tanto  per  uno." 
concioche  il  vero  Romano  dice  sempre  "  Chi  invita,  paga." 
All  pay  alike,  to  club  higgledy-piggledy. — T. 
Riuscir  una  zitella  Romana.     i.e.  una  puttana  che  si  butta  a 
tutti  che  ne  da,  a  chi  va,  et  a  chi  viene,  et  a  chi  n'addi- 
manda. — T. 

RoMAGNA. 

Cavar  I'olio  di  Romagna  (ironical),  as  none  is  produced  there. — 
Giani. 

Romagnuolo  vantatore. — T. 

Da  Tescan  rosso  da  Lombardo  nero. — Straff. 

da  Romanguolo 

d'ogne  pelo. — Guardati. 

Romagnuol  della  mala  Romagna 

o  ti  giunta,  o  ti  fa  qualche  magagna. — G. 

328 


PROVERBS.  ITALY. 

I  Romagnuoli  portano  la  fede  in  grembo. — G.  "  E  pero  non  e 
da  maravigliare  quando  i  tiranni  di  Romagna  mancano  di 
fede,  conciossiache  sieno  tiranni  e  Romagnuoli." — M.  Villani. 

(Abbondano  i  motti  contro  a  Romagnuoli,  perche  vicini. — G.) 
RoviGNo  [in  Illyria,  40  m.  S.S.W.  of  Trieste].     See  Trieste. 

Rovigno  pien  d'ingegno 

spacca  i  sassi  come  legno. — Giani. 

RoviGo  [35  m.  S.S.W.  of  Venice].     See  Trieste. 

Ravigotti  Bacco  e  pippe. — G. 
Sagra  [S.E.  Calabria]. 

Lasciammo  Reggio  sul  margine  dell'  Italia  &  entrammo  nella 
Calauria ;  vedemmo  il  fiume  Sagra  dove  si  face  quella 
memorabil  rotta  e  donde  si  nacque  il  proverbio  "  Veriora 
his  quae  apud  Sagram  contingere." — O  Landi  Commentario, 

p.    II,    1548.       This    Greek    proverb,     "  aKrjeimepa   twv    evl 

'Sar/pa,"    alludes   to   the   defeat  of   130,000   Crotoniats   by 

10,000  Locrians  at  the  river  (now  called  Aloro)  e.g.  387. 
Salerno. 

Salerno  is  said  to  be  the  exile  of  the  beggars  who  are  too  bad 

for  Naples. 
I  Salernitani  ingannarono  il  diavolo. — F.,  G. 
Salernitani  gabba-diavoli. — T. 
Recami  del  Sivelto,  del  sapone  di  Ceros  e  de  fiori  di  aranci  diu 

corsieri  della  razza  del  Re,  6  di  quetta  del  P.  di  Salerno. — 

L.,  p.  41. 

Se  Salerno  avrebbe  un  porto 
Napoli  sarebbe  morto. — Giani. 

San  Daniele.     See  Friuli. 

San  Gimignano  [about  20  m.  N.W.  of  Siena]. 

San  Geminiano  dalle  belle  torri  e  dalle  belle  campane 

gli  uomini  brutti,  e  le  donne  befane. — G.    (Frights  or  dolls.) 

San  Giovanni. 

Tribbiano  [vino]  di  san  Giovanni. — T. 
San  Marino. 

"  Die  Hebe  Schwester  von  Venedig." — Hes. 
San  Martino  [in  Tuscany]. 

Esser  tutto  di  S.  Martino  e  niente  di  Garbo.  i.e.  esser  tutto 
pezzente,  stracciato  e  mal  in  arnese,  senza  garbo-scherzando 
co'  luochi  detti,  dove  si  fabricano  i  drappi  o  panni :  a 
S.  Martino  li  piii  tristi,  a  Garbo  li  migliori. — T.  (Towns 
in  Tuscany. — T.) 

San  Remo  [30  m.  E.N.E.  of  Nice]. 

Mandar  a  S.  Remo.     i.e.  in  galera. — T.     (Play  on  words.) 
Santa  Maria. 

Castron  di  Santa  Maria, cervello  digatta. — F.,G.  (Harebrained.) 

329 


SARDINIA.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Sardegna. 

Chi  ha  lingua 

va  in  Sardegna. — Straff. 

Sardo 

papa  lardo. — Nunez.     1555. 

Riso  Sardonico. — P.,  G.  i.e.  riso  da  pentir  sane,  concioche 
mangiando  niente  niente  del  mette  herba  sardonica,  spetie 
di  sellaro,  la  persona  a  ridere  a  segno  di  smaniare  at  in 
ultimo  di  morire. — T. 

Quivi  sono  moltissime  herba  velenose ;  quivi  gustamo  il  mele 
amaro.  Quivi  conoscerno  quella  herba  la  quale  fa  morire 
ridendo  onde  ne  nacque  il  proverbio  Riso  Sardesco. — L., 
p.  22. 


SARDINIA. 

Mortu  ipsu,  mortu  un  aino  [asino]  di  Rosello. 

A  famous  fountain  near  Sassari,  whence  the  water  is  carried  in 
barrels  by  asses.     Cagliari  has  no  such  excellent  supply. 
Ballu  come  un  canonico  di  Rosello.     Vala  come  un  asino. 
Fagher  comente  faghent  in  Bosa.     Quando  pioet,  laxant  pioere. 

Fare  come  fanno  in  Bosa  Quando  piove  lasciano  piovere. 

Sos  consizeris  de  Bosa.     I  consiglieri  di  Bosa.     Cf.  Pisa. 
Quando  tanti  sono  di  diversa  opinione,  ne  deliberano. 
Totu  padronos,  sa  barca  Bosinca.     Tutte  padroni  la  barca  di 

Bosa.     Senza  piloto. 
A    sa    moda   de  Gavoi,   moi   po   moi.      Alia  foggia  di   Gavoi 

moggio  per  moggio.     Cosi  dicesi  nel  Campidano  quando  il 

terreno  non  da  che  la  semente. 
Quantu  sos  primos  qui  alzant  a  Kalaris   Quanto  i  primi  che 

satiscono   a    Cagliari.     Prov.   prop  Sassarese  per  indicare 

la  certezza  di  eseguire  una  cosa. 
Pintada  sa  linna  mandala  in  Sardigna.      Pinta  la  legn  mandala 

in  Sardegna.      Prov.  che  duono  gli  stelsi  Sardi  per  dis- 

prezzare  la  roba  d'altrui. 

Malaidu  de  Sosso.  Ammalato  di  Sorso  (altr.  si  aggiunge) 
mandigat  su  lardu  a  mosses.  Mangia  il  lardo  a  gran 
boccini  (finto  ammalato). 

Paret  qui  tenzat  in  manu  s'istanu  de  Milanu.  Para  che  abbia 
in  mani  lo  stato  de  Milano.     Dicesi  d'un  presantuoso. 

Monte  Sanctu  [kasu]  est  cuguddadu,  in  Mineroa  hat  neu  lore, 
temporada  manne  est  custa.  Morte  Santo  e  coperta  di 
nebbia,  come  pure  il  Monte  Minerva,  segno  di  gran 
temporale. 

Ddi  mancat  binti  noi  arrialis  a  fa  sa  pezza  de  cincu.  Mer.  Gli 
mancano  ventinovi  cagliaresi  a  formar  una  pezza  da  cinque 
(cinquanto  cent.).     Dicesi  per  denotare  uno  che  si  credeva 


.3.30 


PROVERBS.  SARDINIA. 

Pianu  de  Sant  'Anna.     La   pianura   di  Sant  Anna.      Dicesi 

d'una   cosa   lunga  presa  la    similitudine  dalla  sterminata 

pianura   di   Sant  'Anna  nel  Campidano  d'Oristano.      Sa 

fabbrica  de  Sant 'Anna.  (Parish  church  33  years  in  building.) 
Pisili  che  is  de  Isili.  Essere  stizzoso,  pronto  alio  sdegno  como 

quelli  di  Isili. 
Quando  movit  Pittinure  totu  bi  suni.     Quando  spira  vento,  o  b 

brutto  il  cielo  nella  regione  di  Pittinuri,  accade  tempesta. 
Chi  ha  lingua 
va  in  Sardegna. 
Biri  s'aqua  de  Santiblamu.      Bever  I'acqua  di  S.  Remo.     Vale 

s'addattarsi  a  far  seguitare  le  stesse  costumanze  del  luogo. 

(Cagliari.) 
Sardu  villanu.      Cosi  chiama  la  Gallura,  Sassari  e  Sorso  con 

tutta  la  regione  Settentrionale  il  rimante  della  Sardegna. 

Segno  che  sono  colonic  sopragiunte  Narrer  una  cosa  ad 

sa  Sarda.    i.e.  franco,  chiaramente,  schietta  mente. 
Tataris    (Sassari)    mannu    (grande)  Salighera   (Alghero)    bella 

Dicesi   per   asprimere   che   Alghero   e   citta   piil   bello   di 

Sassari,  non  pero  piu  grande. 

Proverhi  Sardi  [di  G.  Spano]. — Nuova,  Ede.  Cagliari, 
1871,  8vo,  p.  414. 
Qui  non  abbaidat  in  faccia  est  traitore. 
guarda     .     .     .     e     traditore. 
Su  parturire  est  imbellire,  s'allactare  est  imbezzare  (invecchiare). 
Pezza  de  acca,  doi  e  pappa ;  pezza  de  porcu,  coidda  totu. 
vacca  cuoci  e  mangia     .     .     .     .     sia  ben  cotta. 
Chi  aspetta  piatto  altrui  lo  mangia  freddo. 
Piscamos  et  coiuados  sunt  dai  Deus  destinados. 
(Vescovi)       (maritati) . 
Porcu,  hortu,  et  conca  rasa 
fanno  la  casa. 

testa  cive  il  prete. 
Fraiga  et  preta,  miseria  ispecta.     Murare  et  piatire  [litigate] 

dolce  impoverire. 
Ne  po  pesti  ne  po  gherra 
no  cretas  in  scera. 

Ne  in  tempo  di  peste,  ne  in  tempo  di  gherra  non  aspettiate 
notizie  certe. 
Sardinia  Cerderia 

0  mata  o  emprena  (Porque  es  esla  muy  doliente). — Nunez.  1555. 
Di  Sardignia  addurami  un  paio  di  cavalli  per  far  I'amore. — L., 

p.  41. 
In  Sardegna  non  vi  sono  serpenti  ne  in  Piemonte  bestemmie. — 

Giani. 
Callar  pa^a  encallar 
y^Oristan  para  emprenar. — Nunez.   1555. 

1  Sardi  son  venali :  uno  peggior  dell'  altro. — Straif. 

331 


SARDINIA.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Sarzana  [prov.  Genoa,  8  m.  E.  of  Spezia].     Set  Toscana. 
Savona  [25  m.  W.  of  Genoa,  on  the  Riviera]. 
Bei  giardini  di  Savona. — T. 

Vino  bianco.     Di  questo  unqua  il  pensier  non  m'abbandona 
Questo  e  il  nettare  mio,  che  an  ogni  sorso 
Soave  sulla  lingua  imprime  un  morso. 

Chiabrera. 
ScARPERiA  [16  m.  N.E.  of  Florence]. 
Andare  a  Scarperia  la  non  mi  torna, 
son  tutti  birrie  e  spie  e  limacorna. — G. 

A  Scarperia  e  manifattura  di  coltelli  e  temperini,  che  hanno 
manichi  di  corno.  —  G. 
SciLLA  [in  Calabria  at  N.  entrance  of  Straits  of  Messina] . 
Essere  tra  Scilla  e  Cariddi  [Charybdis] . — Giani. 

The  rock  of  Scylla  is  nearly  opposite  the  whirlpool  of  Galofaro 
on  the  Sicilian  coast. 
Cf.  To  be  between  the  devil  and  the  deep  sea. 

Seravalle. 

Riuscir  come  i  caponi  di  Seravalle.     i.e.   amici  tre  per  paio. 

i.e.  friends  in  abundance. — T. 
Da  Seravalle  Lieci  buone  lamme. — L.,  p.  42. 
Sesto  [5  m.  N.W.  of  Florence,  at  the  foot  of  Monte  Morello].     See 

Brozzi. 
Sicilia. 

Sicilia  di  tiranni  antico  nido. — T. 

granaro  d' Italia. — T. 
Gran  Siciliana. — G.     See  Puglia. 
La  Sicilia  si  puo  arrichire  in  un  anno,  se  si  salva  la  pelle. — 

Straff. 
Sicilia  da  i  Covelli,  Francolino  i  Graziani,  Bergamo  gli  Zanni, 

Venezia  i  Pantaloni,  e  Mantova  i  buffoni. — G. 
E  ora  Firenze  gli  Stenterelli. — G. 
Omnes  insulari  mali,  Siculi  autem  pessimi, — Tacitus. 
Siciliano  bravoso. — T. 
II  Ministro  di  Sicilia  rode,  quel  di  Napoli  mangia,  e  quel  di 

Milano  divora. — G.    i.e.  i  governatori  e  Vicere  Spagnuoli. 
Die   Spanischen    Ministri   in  Sicilian  niimpfferen  in  Neapolis 

trincken,  in  Mayland  aber  schlemmeren. — Berck. 
Guardati  da  mattutini  di  Parigi  e  da  Vespri  di  Sicilia. — F.,  G. 
Far   cantar    ad    uno    il   Vespro    Siciliano.      i.e.   ammazzarlo, 

massaeralo  all'  improvise. — T. 
Die  tre  promontorij,  delli  quali,  I'uno  risguarda  ITtalia,  I'altro 

mira  la  Gretia,  il  terzo  vagheggia  I'Affrica. — L.,  p.  9. 
Tres  promontorij    Sicilise,  unde  Trinacrium.     Pelorus  spectat 

Italian!,    Pachinus     Greciam,    Lilyboeus    Africam    Capo 

passero. — Tr.,  43ro ;    Hall,  Sat.,  V.,  iii.  22. 

332 


PROVERBS.  SARDINIA. 

Siena.     See  Firenze,  Toscana  and  Fano. 
Di  sei  cose  piena  : 
di  torri  e  di  campane, 
di  scolari  e  di  puttani 
di  becchi  e  di  ruffiane. — F.,  G. 
Die  zierliche,  oder  beredte. — Hes. 
Belle  donne. — Straff. 

Del  bel  parlare,  delle  torri  e  della  fontane. — Giani. 
[Far]  bandi  di  Siena,     i.e.  per  chi,  si,  per  chi,  no. — P. 
Come  disse  -il  Ciga  da   Siena.     "  So  son  quel   che   do."— P. 

Partial  and  biassed. —  [T.] 
Preti  di  Siena. — T. 
Lingua  Sanese 
e  bocca  Pistojese. — Gotti. 

Pazzo  alia  Sanese.     i.e.  pazzo  e  cattivo  [mischievous].— T. 
[Portar]  panno  Sanese,  che  si  rompe  prima  che  si  metta  in 

dosso. — P. 
Haver  le  arme  Sanesi  in  corpo.   i.e.  la  lupa  [the  arms  of  S.] — T. 

I  Sanesi 

hanno  sei  nasi. — G. 

Ecei  in  Siena  I'aria  tanto  sottile  che  ogni  anno  n'escono  de 
gangheri  infiniti,  de  quali  alcuni  ne  ritornano,  ed  alcuni 
perpetuamante  na  rimangane  pazzi. — L.,  p.  i6. 

Quando  Siena  piange  Firenze  ride. — Giani. 

Della  pioggia  e  del  sereno. — Straff. 

II  vento  Senese 

acqua  per  un  mese. — Giani. 

Sieve.     See  Arno. 

SiNiGAGLiA  [17  m.  N.W.  of  Ancona].     See  Grosseto. 

Le  mele  di  Sinigaglia  sono  si  grosse*  che  non  hanno  semenza. 

— F.,  G.  *  grande— T. 

Dicesi  di  persona  de  si  smisurata  grandezza,  che  non  hanno  figli 

o  pochi. — T. 
Padesta  di  Sinigalla  comanda  e  fa  par  luy. — Nunez.     1555. 
Far  come  il  Podesta  di  Sinigaglia  che  comanda  e  bisogna  che  se 

facia  da  se  stesso. — F.,  2d  Fr.,  viii. 
Comma  le  potestat  da  Senegaille  qui  commande  et  fait. — Meurier, 

Colloq.,  i. 

SiRAcusA  la  fedale,  dell'  antica  gloria. — Giani. 

SiROLO.     See  Loretto. 

SiSA,  borse  strette. — T. 

SoMMA  Vesuviano  [9  m.  E.  of  Naples]. 

11  buon  Greco  [Vino]  di  Soma. — T. 
SoNDRio  [in  the  Valtelline,  56  m.  N.N.E.  of  Milan]. 

Podesta  da  Sondri. — F.,  G. 

333 


SARDINIA.  LEAN  S     COLLECTANEA. 

S0N21N0  [?  Soncino,  20  m.  N.N.W.  of  Cremona]. 
Mercanti  di  Sonzino. — T. 

SoRGA  [near  Verona] . 

Come  i  piffari  da  Sorga  chi  non  si  contentano  d'un  pagamento  : 
ci  vuol  un  soldo  a  farli  cominciare  e  parecchi  a  farli 
finire. — T. 

Soriano  [7  m.  E.  of  Viterbo]. 

Come  I'arco  Soriano  che  tiro  tanto  a'gl'amici. 
Quanto  a  nemici. — T, ;  Ho. 

Sorrento  [7  m.  S.W.  of  Castellamare]. 
La  gentile. — Giani. 
Carri  di  Sorriento. — T. 

Spoleto  [32  m.  S.S.E.  of  Perugia]. 

Far  da  Spoletino.     i.e.  dire  e  poi  disdirsi. — T. 

Dar  Tartuffoli  Spoletine.  i.e.  de'pugni  o  sgrugnoni  nel  mostaccio. 

(Spoleto  mushrooms — good  sound  thumps  with  one's  fist 

upon  the  face.) — T. 

Stra  [15  m.  W.  of  Venice,  between  Venice  and  Padua— haunt  of 
robbers] . 
Chi  passa  Stra  e  non  v'inciampa 
va  sano  sino  in  Francia. — G. 

Stromboli  [a  volcanic  mountain,  N.  of  Sicily]. 

Trovarsi  a  spacca- Stromboli.     i.e.  in  confusione. — T. 

SuLMONE  [28  m.  S.E.  of  Aquila]. 
Sulmone  buon  zaffrano. — T. 

Taggia  [5  m.  E.  of  San  Remo] . 
Moscatello  di  Taggio.— T. 

Taormina  [30  m.  S.W.  of  Messina] . 
Taormina  la  riguardevole. — Giani. 

Taranto  [a  province  of  S.  Italy]. 
II  gran  pesce  Tarantino. — T. 

Termini  [25  m.  S.E.  of  Palermo]. 

La  splendida. — Giani. 

In  Sicilia  non  c'e  che  un  monte,  un  fonte,  ed  un  ponte,  say  the 
Terminesi ;  the  bridge  being  that  of  Termini — very  lofty 
and  steep  and  of  a  single  arch,  yet  substantial,  erected  more 
than  a  century  since  by  Charles  III.— Murr.  (not  in  Pitrfe). 

Terni  [46  m.  N.  by  E.  of  Rome]. 

Sanguinosi  i  Ternani. — T. 
Terracina  [58  m.  S.E.  of  Rome]. 

Buon  vin  da  Terracina. — T. 

334 


PROVERBS.  SARDINIA. 

Tevere.     See  Citta  di  Castello. 
Tevere  non  cresce 
se  Nera  non  mesce. — Giani. 

TiROLO. 

In  Tirolo  si  semina  fagioli  e  nascono  sbirri. — G. 
Tivon  [17  m.  E.  by  N.  of  Rome] . 

Confetti  et  oglio  da  Tivoli. — T.     The  confetti  are  little  white 

pebbles  like  sugar-plums,  and  sold  for  such  in  jest. 
Gigante  da  Tivoli  chi  butta  le  ceci  con  le  pertiche. — Ho.     (A 

mere  dwarf.) 
Tivoli  di  mal  conforte 
o  piove  o  tira  vento  o  suona  morte. — L' Intermedia,  S'C,  ii.  168. 

Torino  I'elegante. — Giani. 

Les  amoureux  de  Turin  (University  students). — Straff. 

Die  Turiner  besitzen  alles  was  die  Deutschen,  Italiener,  und 

Franzosen  gutes  an  sich  haben. 
Die  Turiner  sind  gross  und  aufrichtig  wie  die  Deutschen,  hoflich 

und   lustig  wie  die  Franzosen  und  scharfsinuig  wie]  die 

Italiener. — Berck. 
Ruin  con  ruin 
que  asi  casan  en  Turin. — Julian  de  Medrano,  Silva  Curiosa,  1583. 

Torre  [?  Torri,  on  the  Lago  di  Garda] . 

Denti  neri  della  Torre. — T.     i.e.  guns  of  the  fortress. 
ToRTONA  [14  m.  E.S.E.  of  Alessandria]. 

Tiriaca  di. — T. ;  L.,  p.  42. 

E  capelli  di  paglia  finissima. — lb. 

TOSCANA. 

Deh  !  che  non  e  tutta  Toscana  il  mondo. — Alfieri. 
Toscano  bello. — T. 
Chi  ha  a  far  con  Tosco 
non  convien*  esser  Iosco. — F.,  G. 
*  vuol.— P. 
Tosco  also  means  a  clown,  rustic. 
Quien  con  tosco  ha  de  entender, 
mucho  seso  ha  de  tener. — Nunez.    1555. 
Del  tosco,  fuoco  e  ferro  utile  si  trahe. — F.,  G.     Perhaps  this  is 

meant  only  of  tosco,  abbreviation  of  tossico,  poison. 
Lingua  Toscana 
in  bocca  Romana  [con  grazia  Pistojese],    i.e.  the  Court  tongue. 

— T.     See  Siena. 
Parer  un  [Toscano  di  Monferrato. — F.,  G.] .    i.e.  un  de'  Confini 

d'ltalia,  e  che  si  metta  a  parlar  Toscano  per  farsi  creder 

tale,  e  stroppiarlo. — T. 
Fosco,  Iosco,  e  non  Tosco 
ben  ti  conosco  :  se  pan  tu  avessi,  non  avresti  tosco. — 'Straft. 

335 


SARDINIA.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

La  Maremma  di  Siena,  e'l  contado  di  Pisa,  il  contado  d' 
Arezzo  e'l  Val  d'Arno  dariano  a  vivere  a  mezza  1'  Italia. — 
MS.  Serdonati,  [Magliabecchian  Library,  Firenze,]  V.,  III., 
f.  129  ro. 

[Al  Granduca  di  Firenze]  non  gli  manca  che  Lucca  a  Sarzana 
per  esser  Re  di  tutta  la  Toscana. — StrafF. 

Que  s'il  avoit  Castre  Luque  et  Sarsane 

il  se  feroit  bien  tost  Roy  de  Toscane. — Berck. 

Toscana  hat  vier  Thiirme ;  der  erste  steht  auf  der  Erde 
"Campanile  di  Giotto,  Firenze]  der  zweite  auf  dem  Wasser 
11  Forrico  all'  ingresso  dell'  antico  porto  di  Pisa]  der  dritte 
schwebt  in  der  Luft  [Palazzo  Vecchio,  Firenze]  der  vierte 
droht  alien  Einsturz  in  schiefer  Lage  und  wird  seine  drei 
Briider  noch  iiberleben  [le  Torre  pencolante  di  Pisa] . — Wan. 

Trebbia.     Se  sei  Trebbiano,  altro  sara  miele  ; 
se  sei  cicuta,  altri  sara  fiele. — T. 
This  refers  to  the  sweet  wine  and  means :  "  Kindness  is  met 
with  kindness  and  cross-grain  with  cross-grain." — T. 
Star  a  Trebbia.    i.e.  star  allegramente  in  conversatione. — T. 
II  Trebbiano  S  buono  dentro  una  secchia. — F.,  G. 
Trent  [formerly  Tridentum]. 

En  Todesch  Entaliana — I'e  'n  diaol  descadena  e  viceversa. 
Sette  Trentini  fa  'n  nones ;    sette  nonesi  fa  'n  solandro  sette 

solandri  fa  'n  diaol. 
Quel  de  Avio  lassei  magnar  ;  quel  de  Ala  lassei  ciaccierar ;  que 

de  Mori  no  te'  npazzar  ;  quel  de  Brentonec  lassei  star. 
Javre,  Dare,  e  Verdesina 

no  ghe  n'e  de  bei  se  no  i  ghen  mina  (Paeselh  della  Rendena). 
Prima  Jare  e  po  Dare  (prima  avere  e  poi  dare). 
Garniga 
magnar  poc  e  bever  miga. 

Paesello  su  una  rupa  in  Val  d'Adige  ove  si  e  poveri  e  manca 
d'acqua. 
Chi  camina  da  Trent 
camina  dal  bon  temp. 

Si  capisce  che  questo  prov.  e  tutto  particolare  di  Trento  e  un 
po  'troppo  ottimista,  tanto  per  chi  deve  restare,  come 
per  chi  deve  restare,  come  per  chi  non  vuol  andare. 
A  nonesi  e  solandri.  Libera  nos  Domine  ! 

E  sanguinosa  invocazione  che  colpisee  buoni  e  cattivi  senza 
freno  e   senza  distinzione.      Ricordo  funesto  delle  nostre 
fatale  discordie. 
L'aqua  del  Ades  la  mena  sabbion 
el  bon  vin  me  conza'l  magon. 
el  vin  de  Gozzador  e  de  I  sera 
el  va  fin  al  Re  de  Baviera. 
el  vin  de  I  sera  e  de  Gozzador. 
el  va  fin  all'  Imperator. 

336 


PROVERBS.  SARDINIA. 


Gozzadoro  h  un'  aprica  localita  presso  Trento  ;  Isera  un 
paesello  vicino  a  Rovereto,  celebri  entrambi  per  questi 
lor  vini  squisiti. — N.  Bolognini,  Saggio  di  Prov.  e  Mod.Prov. 
Tridentini,  pp.  26,  27,  35.     Rovereto,  1882* 

A  Helium 

no  triga  nessum. 

A  Belluno  non  si  ferma  nessuno. 

A  Brentim 

ne  pam  n^  vim 

A  Rivalta 

i  B^chi  salta 

Co  le  nugole  va  vers  Trent 

to  'm  pan6t  e  tachetel  al  dent. 

Co  le  nugole  va  vers  Verona 

to'l  zapom  e  va  zapona. 

Dove  cresce  Baco 

no  star  'mpiantar  tabaco. 

Pioza  de  sam  Gorgom  (Sep.  9) 

na  piena  e  'm  pienom  (del  Adige) 

Se  piove  '1  di  de  Santa  Cross  (May  3) 

vegn  sbuse  le  noss. 

From  Una  Centuria  di  PvovevU  Trentini,  16°.,  p.  13. 

[Albino  e  Oddone  Zenatti.    Venezia,  1884.    45  copies.] 

Le  Trentini 

vengono  giu  pollastrine 

e  se  ne  vanno  su  galline. — Giani. 

Prov.  che  ricorda  le  vecchie  animosita  fra  quelli  della  provincia 
di  Trento  e  di  Verona  :  con  la  stessa  malignita  diciamo  in 
Toscana  delle  ragazze  che  vanno  per  le  campagne  a 
cantare  il  Maggio  "  Le  Maggiaiole  vengano  in  due  e 
tornano  in  tre." — Giusti,  1884. 

Tresa. 

Maravigliarsi  dal  ponte  a  Tressa. — F.,  G. 
This  must  be  Ponte  Tresa  on  the  river  which  empties  Lake 
Lugano  into  Lake  Maggiore.      It  is  now  "  a  brid-ge  of 
three  stone  arches." — Murr. 

Treviso  [17  m.  N.  of  Venice] . 

Buone  trippe  di  Treviso. — T.     See  Padova. 
Far  la  danza  Triviggiana. — T. 
Cf.  Shaking  of  the  sheets. 
Soldati  di  Trevisa 
ch'andavano  36  a  cavar  una  rava. — MS.  addn.  in  Nunez.   1555. 

Trieste. 

La  commerciale. — Giani. 

Trieste, 

pien  de  peste ; 

Citta  nova, 

chi  non  vi  porta  non  vi  trova  ; 

VOL.  I.  337  S3 


SARDINIA.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Rovigno,  pien  de  ingegno  ; 

spacca  i  sassi  come  il  legno  ; 

Capo  d'Istria,  pedocciosa : 

Isola,  famosa ; 

A  Piran, 

buon  pan ; 

Umago, 

tre  preti  e  un  zago ;  (ragazzo  che  serve  messe) 

una  femmina  da  ben, 

e  il  pievan  che  la  mantien. 

Rivista  satirica  di  alcune  tevve  delV  Istna. — G. 

Udine  [6o  m.  N.E.  of  Venice].     See  Roma. 

Udine,  giardini   senza   fiori,  castello   senza   cannoni,  fontane 
senzacqua,  nobilta  senza  creanza. — G. 

Piatti  di  terra  figurati  di  Udine. —L.,  p.  41. 

Udine  e  la  cadetta  di  Venezia. — Straff. 
Umago.     See  Trieste. 
Vald'arno.     See  Toscana. 
Valdecchiano.     See  Jesi. 
Vallombrosa. 

Portar  frasconi  a  Vallombrosa. — Giani. 

Varese  [13  m.  W.  of  Como].     Town  on  lake  between   Maggiore 
and  Como. 

Belle  donne  di  Varese. — T. 
Velletri  [21  m.  S.E.  of  Rome]. 

Vin  cotti  di  Velletri.— T. 
Venafro  [25  m.  N.  of  Capua  and  E.  of  San  Germano]. 

Come  disse  Messer  Antonio  da  Venafro,    i.e.  "  Ogni  aiuto  e 
buono." — P. 

Venafro  famoso  per  la  copia  e  gran  bonta  dell'  olio. —  L.,  p.  14. 

Viridique  certat 

Bacca  Venafro. — Hor.,  Cay.,  IL,  vi. 

Venezia.     See  Roma,  Padova,  Firenze,  Corsica. 
A  Venezia  chi  vi  nasce 
mal  vi  pasce. — F.,  G. 
e  chi  vi  viene 
per  ben  s'attiene. — T. 
Venezia  bella 
Padova  so'sorella. — Giani. 
Venetia,  Venetia 

chi  non  te  vede  ei  non  te  pretia. — Shak.,  L.  L.  L.,  iv.  2,  92. 
La  vide  non  la  pretia. — B.     (Pregia. — P.) 
Venezia,  Venetia 
chi  non  ti  vede,  non  ti  pretia 
[chi  troppo  ti  vide  ti  dispretia. — T.] 

.•538 


PROVERBS.  SARDINIA. 

ma  chi  ti  vede  ben  gli  costa. — F.,  1st  Fr.     1578. 

.     .     .     va  a  vederla     .     .     . — G. 

Venezia  la  ricca. — F.,  2d  Fr. 

.     .     .     la  dominante. — Giani. 

.     .     .     la  regina  dell'  Adriatico. — Giani. 

Venezia  bela  fabbrica  sul  mare 

chi  non  la  vede  non  la  puo  stimare. — StrafF. 

Venezia  bella,  fabbricata  sul  mare 

chi  non  la  vede  non  la  puo  stimare. — Giani. 

II  bianco  e  nero  hanno  fatto  Venezia  ricca,  cioe  pepe  e  cotone. 
-F.,  G. 

Venetia  citta  vergine. — T. 

E  una  grant  donna  la  signoria  di  Venetia. — B. 

Ne  Turcho,  ne  chiesa,  ne  signoria  di  Venetia. — B. 

Venetia  un  fastidio,  persino  ai  cani. — B. 

Si  puol  ben  dir  una  busia  e  star  a  Venetia. — B. 

Venetia  ha  il  mar  per  muro  et  il  ciel  per  tetto. — T. 

Legge  Veneziana 

dura  una  settimana. — G. 

Parte  Veneziana 

non  dura  una  settimana. — G.     1884. 

Venetia  non  ha  queste  quattro  cose,  ne  moschi,  ne  cavalli,  ne 

polvere,  ne  acqua  sorgente. — T. 
Non  son  nell'  Arno  tanti  pesciolini 
quanto  sono  a  Venezia  zazzere  e  camini. — F.,  G. 

quanti  a  Venezia  gondole  e  camini. — P. 

Non  ha  Venetia  tanti  gondolieri 
quanti  Vicenza  Conti  e  Cavallieri. — P. 

Viva  Santo  Marco  per  mare  et  per  terra. — B. 

Scappucciare  per  fin  in  San  Marco,  i.e.  fallar  facilmente 
essendo  loco  piano. — T. 

Esservi  li  vicini  di  San  Marco. 
or,  Truovarsi  li  vicini  di  Giuliano   Gondi.     i.e.  i  Leoni  che  gia 
stavan  di  dietro  al  Palazzo  del  Gran  Duca,  ove  son  vicine 
le  case  de'  Gondi.     (Said  to  deafish  persons.) — T. 

Non  gli  farebbe  il  tesoro  di  San  Marco.  1  p         nrodip-  1  — T 
or,  Non  bastar  la  Zecca  di  Venetia.  )  P       fe    •        ■ 

San  Marco  non  e  festa  per  tutti. — T. 

Wenn  ein  Venetianer  bei  Gott  schwort  so  gilts  nichts,  wenn  er 
aber  beim  heiligen  Antonio  schwort,  so  kann  man  ehm 
glauben .  — Wan . 

Cera  Veneziana. — G.     See  Puglia. 

Piii  rara  cosa  il  mondo  non  possiede 
che  la  citta  dove  il  Leon  risiede. — Giani. 

339 


SARDINIA.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Quando  Venezia  comandava 
si  desinava  e  si  cenava 
coi  Francesi,  buona  gente 
se  desinava  solamente. — Giani. 

CO  Venezia  comandava 

se  disnava  se  cenava 

coi  Francesi,  bona  zente 

se  disnava  solamente 

coi  Tedeschi  su  la  schiena 

ne  se  disna,  n^  se  cena. — Pasquali. 

Tria  jactant  Veneti — ita  appellant  eam  Virginem— quia  nun- 
quam  passi  sunt :  Tirannidem,  Seditionem,  Heresiam. — 
Tf,  f.  49,  lo. 

So  few  in  fear. 
Flying  away  from  him,*  whose  boast  it  was 
That  the  grass  grew  not  where  his  horse  had  trod, 
Gave  birth  to  Venice. — Rogers,  Italy :  Venice. 
*  Attila. 

Tre  Dogi  in  Venezia :  Doge  de'  nobili — il  vero.  Doge  de 
cittadini,  cancelliere  Grande :  Doge  della  plebe,  Capitano 
Grando.     Bargello. — Tr.,  f.  57,  lo. 

Tre  ironice :  Dottor  Corso,  cavallerizzo  Venetiano,  Cristiano  da 
Porto  Venere. — Tr.,  f.  61,  lo. 

Can  e  villan 

e  gentiluomo  Venezian  [non  chiudono  mai  la  porta]. — Giani. 

II  Doge  di  Venezia  e  senatore  in  senato,  Re  nel  suo  palazzo,  e 
prigionero  in  citta. — Straff. ;   Berck. 

Das  Venetianische  frauenzimmer  geht  auf  sehr  hohen  schuhen 
einher ;  derowegen  Julius  Scaliger  zu  sagen  pflegen :  Die 
Venetianischen  Ehemanner  geniessen  von  ihren  weibern 
im  bette  nur  die  helffte,  well  die  andere  helffte  mit  den 
schuhen  abgeleget  wiirde. — Berck. 

Da  Vinegia  venti  specchi ;  cinquanta  bicchieri  di  cristallo  e 
venti  tazze,  trenta  braccia  di  scarlatto,  una  pezza  di  veluto 
cremisino,  sei  cassetti  di  cipresso,  dieci  ventaruole  di  seta 
di  vario  colore,  duodici  pettini  d'avorio,  venticinque  braccia 
di  damasco,  qualche  vasetto  di  polvere  di  Cipri  e  per 
profumar  camere. — L.,  p.  42. 

Tre  sorte  di  famiglie  nobili  i  Venezia ;  Casevecchie,  nuove,  e 

novissime. — Tr.,  f.  56  I, 
Venezia  bela 
Padoa  so  sorela, 
Treviso  forte  Seraval  campana, 
Ceneda  vilana, 
Corregian  cazzador 
Belun  traditor 

Prata  desfata  Brugnera  per  tera,  Socil  crudil 
Pordenon  soliza,  e  Porgia  inamora. — Pasquali. 

340 


PROVERBS.  SARDINIA. 

Veneto  Signorile. — T. 
Veneziani,  gran  Signori ; 
Padovani,  gran  dottori ; 
Vicentini  magna  gatti ; 
Veronesi,  tutti  matti ; 
Udinesi  castellani 
Col  cognome  di  Furlani ; 
Trevisani,  pane  e  trippe 
Rovigotti  Bacco  e  pippe  ; 
Bergamaschi  fa  cogioni 
i  Brescian  tagliacantone 
ne  volete  de'  piu  tristi  ? 
i  Cremaschi  brusa-Cristi. — G. 

(In   1448  the  Ghibellines   burnt  a  crucifix  because  it  was 
Guelf.— G.) 
Hatt'  ich  Venedigs  macht,  Ausburger  pracht,  Nurnberger  witz, 
Strassburger  geschiitz  und  Ulmer  geld,  so  war  ich  der 
reichste  in  der  Welt. — 1783. 
Prima  Veneziani 
e  poi  Cristiani. 

(Lo  dicevano  al  tempo  dell'  Interdetto.) — G. 
I  Veneziani  cacan  in  acqua  per  un  pezzo  di  focaccia. — F.,  G. 
I  Veneziani  han  gusto  di  lasciar  fare 
I  buoni  Milanesi  a  banchettare. — Alfieri,  Sonn.,  143. 
I  Veneziani  a  la  matina  una  messeta 
al  dopo  disnar  una  basseta* 
e  alia  sera  una  doneta. — Annali  per  la  Lett.  R.  and  I. — Giani. 

*  Game  at  cards. 
Tre  Brovinano  i  Veneziani  Bocca,  Barca,  Brachetta. — Tr.,  f.  57 1. 
In  Venedig  soil  man  sich  hiiten  fiir  4  P  :  Pietra  bianca,  Putana, 
Prete,  und  Pantalone  die  vor  den  weissen  steinen  (womit 
die  Canale  und  Briicken  aus  gesetzet  und  sehr  glatt  sind) 
hiiren,  pfaffen  und  gaucklern. — Berck. 
Pantalon  paga  per  tutti. — G. 

I  Veneziani  erano  tenuti  piu  ricchi  d'ogni  altro.     Ma  perch^  le 
tasse  piu  gravavano  il  popolo  basso,  usavano  dire  Vene- 
zianamente :  "  Scarpa  grossa  paga  ogni  cossa." — G. 
Viderat  Adriacis  Venetam  Neptunus  in  undis 
Stare  urbem  et  toto  dicere  jura  mari ; 
"I,  nunc  Tarpeias  quantum  vis,  Jupiter  arces 
Objice  et  ilia  tui  moenia  Martis  ait 
Si  Tiberim  pelago  confers  urbem  aspice  utramque 

Illam  hominem  dices,  banc  possuisse  Deum." — Sannazaro. 

Venzone  [18  m.  N.N.W.  of  Udine].       See  Triuli. 
Verona.      See  Eugubini,  Napoli. 

Verona  la  degna,  la  vetusta. — Giani. 

Ti  faro  veder  le  montagne  di  Verona. — B. 

Monta  qua  [su,  che]  e  vedrai  Verona. [T.]—:P. 

341 


SARDINIA.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Verona  bel  Amfiteatro. — T. 

Esser  piu  grande  che  non  ^  la  Ren  a  di  Verona. — T. 

Voler  parlar  assai  e  pur  creder  di  poter  star  in  Verona. — T. 

Esser  da  Verona. — T.     Cf.  Tom  Tell-truth  (a  play  on  Verita). 

Sei  Piacenza. 
Far  come  la  vecchia  da  Verona,  che  se  le  dava  un  quattrino 

accio  cantasse,  e  poi  due,  accio  se  ne  testasse. — T. 
In  Verona  bisogna  far  come-fanno  le  galline. 
[Far  come  fanno  le  galline  di  Verona. — T.]     Andar  tosto  a 

dormir  e  levar  tosto.  — P. 
A   Verona  bisogna   andare   a   letto   guando   le  galline.     (Era 

lamento  de'  Veneziani,  soliti  fare  di  notte  giorno.) — G. 
Di  Verona  chi  senza  bere  passa  la  Campagna 
egli  e  ben  goffo  poi  se  si  lagna. — T. 
A  Verona 

ogni  matto  si  stagiona. — Giani. 
Da  Verona  a  Vicenza  dalle  miglia  trenta 
da  Vicenza  a  Verona  dalle  miglia  trenta  due. — F.,  G. 

(The  latter,  being  mostly  uphill,  seems  to  be  longer.) 
Berettari  Veronese. — T. 
Veronesi  belle  mani. — T. 
Veronese  bella  mano. — G. 
A  mercato  di  Verona 
or  si  vende,  or  si  dona. — Giani. 
Legge  di  Verona 
dura  da  terza  a  nona. — Straff. 

Vicenza.     See  Padova,  Venezia. 

Vicenza  bel  Teatro. — T.,  who  says  that,  though  small,  it  is  the 
best  contrived  in  the  world  for  opera. 

Frutti  e  buon  vin  di  Vicenza. — T. 

La  fertile. — Giani. 

Der  Venediger  schlachthaus  [shambles] .  —  Hes. 

Gli  assassini  Vicentini. — Hes. 

Non  ha  Venetia  tanti  gondolier! 
quanti  Vicenza  Conti  e  CavalUeri. — T. 

I  Vicentini  quando  piscia  uno  piscian  tutti. — Giani. 

Faremo  senza 

come  quel  da  Vicenza. — P. 

i.e.  contentarsi  della  mala  fortuna. 

Quando  il  Suman  ha  il  cappello 

se  anco  piove,  doman  fa  bello. — Giani. 

Legge  Vicentina 

dura  della  sera  alia  mattina. — G. 

Vico,     See  Cascina. 

342 


PROVERBS.  SARDINIA. 

ViLLAFRANCA. 

Esser  come  i  poUi  di  Villafranca  un  buono  et  un  cattivo. — T. 

Visso  [17  m.  E.  of  Spoleto,  in  the  Umbrian  Apennines].    See  Norcia. 

ViTERBO  [40  m.  N.N.W.  of  Rome], 

Viterbo  belle  fontane. — T.     E  delle  belle  donzelle. — Giani. 
Sproni  Viterbesi. — G.     See  Puglia,  Speroni. — L.,  p.  41. 

VoLTERRA  [33  m.  S.W.  of  Florence]. 

Anticaglie  e  miniere  di  Volterra.* — T. 

*  Large  alabaster  works. 
Zago. 

Piu  pazzi  che  quel  di  Zaga  chi  davan'  del  letame  al  Campanile 
perche  crescesse. — Ho. 


343 


PROVERBS 

And  Popular  Sayings  Relating  to  the 
Calendar  and  Natural  Phenomena. 


PROVERBS. 


DAYS. 


SAYS    OF    THE    WEEK. 

Sunday  shaven,  Sunday  shorn, 

better  hadst  thou  ne'er  been  born. — Henderson,  F.  L.  of  N.  of  E. 

A  man  had  better  ne'er  been  born 

as  have  his  nails  on  a  Sunday  shorn. — Den. 

Who  on  the  Sabbath  pares  his  horn 

It  were  better  for  him  he  had  never  been  born. — N.,  I.,  ii.  511. 

Every  day  braw 

makes  Sunday  a  daw. — Ulst.  J.  Ar.,  ii. 

AUke  every  day  makes  a  clout  on  Sunday. — K. 

Courtier  cousin  well  met ;  I  see  you  are  still  for  the  country ;  your 
habite,  your  countenance  your  footing  and  your  carriage 
doe  all  plainly  show  you  are  no  changeling,  but  every  day  alike 
one  and  the  same. — Breton,  The  Couvt  and  the  Country. 

The  wolf  does  something  every  week  that  keeps  him  from  going 
to  church  a  Surday. — F. 

Yeow  mussent  sing  a  Sunday 
becaze  it  is  a  sin, 

but  yeow  may  sing  a  Monday 

till  Sunday  coms  agin  (Suffolk)  .—Haz. 

Sunday  wooing 

draws  to  ruin. — Hen. ;  Scot.     (A  puritanical  doctrine.) 

Sunday  sail 

never  fail. — Sea. 

Mo9a  muy  Dissantera  [endimanchfee] 

o  gran  romera,  o  gran  ramera  [prostitute)]. — Nuiiez,  1555. 

Sunday  saint  and  week-day  devil. 

W.  Rye,  in  Novfolk  Ant.  Misc.,  i.  308. 
A  wet  Sunday,  a  wet  week. — Forby.    Essex. 

If  it  rains  on  a  Sunday  before  mess  * 

it  will  rain  all  the  week  more  or  less. — Den. 

"  mass. — Audelay's  Poems,  p.  28. 
Rain  afore  chutch, 
rain  all  the  week,  little  or  much.     (Norfolk.) 

[or  else  we  shall  have  three  rainy  Sundays]. — Mrs.  Lubbock. 
Du  Dymanche  au  maten  la  playe 

bien  souvent  la  semaine  ennuye. — Cat.  de  Bans  Labotireurs. 
Come  day,  gang  day, 
God  send  Sunday. — K. 

Come  day,  go  day,  the  day  is  long  enough.    (Idleness.)— Draxe. 

Sunday  is  a  dies  non.     This  is  the  legal  maxim. 

Dies  Dominicus 

non  est  juridicus. — Noy.,  2. 

When  Sunday  comes  it  will  be  holyday. — CI. ;  Breton,  Crossing  of 
Proverbs,  ii. 

Sunday  the  negro's  holiday, — Smyth. 

347 


DAYS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Sunday's  moon 

a  day  too  soon. — Dev. 

Sunday's  moon  floods'  for  'ts  out. — Sternberg,  N'hants  Glossary. 

Had  I  as  ye  have,  I  would  do  more  (quoth  he) 

Than  the  Priest  spake  of  on  Sunday,  ye  should  see. 

He.,  Dial.,  II.,  ix. 
The  day  is  never  so  holy  that  the  pot  refuses  to  boil. — Danish. 
There  is  no  Sunday  to  a  sailor  out  of  five  fathoms  water. 

Cowa.n,  Sea  Pr.,  [American.] 
Cobblers'  Monday. — Haz. 

Monday  is  Sunday's  brother,  [Tarlton's  J^ests,  1611] 
Tuesday  is  such  another, 
Wednesday  you  must  go  to  church  and  pray, 
Thursday  is  half  holidaj', 
on  Friday  'tis  too  late  to  begin  to  spin, 
the    Saturday   is   half  holiday   agin. — Den.,  from    Taylor's  Divers 

Crahtree  Lectures,  1639. 
If  you  sneeze  on  Monday  you  sneeze  for  danger, 
sneeze  on  a  Tuesday,  kiss  a  stranger, 
sneeze  on  a  Wednesday,  sneeze  for  a  letter, 
sneeze  on  a  Thursday  something  better, 
sneeze  on  a  Friday,  sneeze  for  sorrow, 
sneeze  on  a  Saturday,  see  your  sweetheart  to-morrow. 

Hll.,  Nursery  Rhymes. 
Handsel  Monday.      The  first  Monday  in  the  New  Year. — Patten,. 

Expedition  to  Scotland,  1548;  Arber,  English  Gamsr,  iii.  84. 
No  ay  Lunes  sin  luna 
ni  Jueves  qua  no  alumbra. — Nunez,  1555. 
They  that  wash  on  Monday  have  a  whole  week  to  dry, 
they  that  wash  on  Tuesday  are  not  so  far  agye, 
they  that  wash  on  Wednesday  may  get  their  clothes  clean, 
they  that  wash  on  Thursday  are  not  so  much  to  mean, 
they  that  wash  on  Friday  wash  for  their  need, 
but  they  that  wash  on  Saturday  are  clarty  paps*  indeed. — Den. 

*  Dirty  slovens. — Hll. 
Saturday  the  working-day  and  Monday  the  holy-day  of  preachers.  — 

F.W. 
Marvell  said  he  would  cross  the  proverb  because  he  preached  what 
he  had  studied  some  competent  time  before. — F.  W.,  p.  159. 
Born  in  the  middle  of  the  week,  looking  both  ways  for  Sunday. 

(A  squint.)     Cf.  Mondayish. 
Wednesday  is  aye  weather  true,  whether  the  moon  be  old  or  new. — 

Roper. 
A  lazy  boy's  week  : — Lundi,  Mardi,  f6te, 
Mercredi  peut-etre, 
Jeudi  St.  Nicolas, 
Vendredi  je  n'y  serai  pas, 
Samedi  je  reviendrai, 
et  voila  la  semaine  passee. — And.  Theuriet. 

348 


PROVERBS.  DAYS. 

This  is  silver  Saturday, 

the  morn  's  the  resting  day, 

on  Monday  up  and  to't  again, 

and  Tuesday  push  away. — Den. 

Eight  hours  work,  eight  hours  play, 

eight  hours  sleep  and  eight  shillings  a  day. 

The  Working  Man's  Utopia. 
All  the  six  days  thou  shalt  work  and  slave  as  much  as  thou  art  able, 
on  the  seventh  holystone  the  deck  and  rub  the  chain  cable. 

(Sailor's  life)  — Cheales. 
Six  days  shalt  thou  labour  and  do  all  that  thou  art  able, 
and  on  the  seventh  holystone  the  decks  and  scrape  the  cable. 

Dana,  The  Philadelphia  Catechism. 
The  Poor  Man's  Plaint : 

To  live  hard,  to  work  hard,  to  die  hard. 
And  then  go  to  the  bad  place  after  all — that 's  hard. — J.L.W. 
On  Thursday  at  three 
look  out  and  you'll  see 
what  Friday  will  be. — (South  Devon)  Haz. 
Thursday  come  and  the  week 's  gone. — Herbert. 
Giobbia  venuta, 
sette  mana  perduta. — Flo.,  G, 
No  ay  Lunes  sin  luna 
ni  Jueves  que  no  alumbra. 

Porque  en  Jueves  suele  ser  mercado  por  ser  la  mitad  de  la 
semana. — Nunez,  1555. 
Se  piove  il  Giovedi,  piove  la  Domenica. — Gior.  d.  Enid.,  iv. 
Friday  and  the  week 
is  seldom  aleek. — N.,  V. 
Right  as  the  Friday,  sothely  for  to  tell. 
Now  it  schyneth,  now  it  reyneth  fast  .  .  . 
Selde  is  the  Friday  all  the  weke  ylike. — Ch.,  1876. 
Friday's  noon 
is  Sunday's  doom. 
Fine  on  Friday,  fine  on  Sunday, 
wet  on  Friday,  wet  on  Sunday. — Inwards,  Weather  Love.  1893. 

Friday's  weather  governs  Sunday's  and  Sunday's  the  week. 
Pluie  de  Vendredi,  pluie  de  Dimanche. 

Coremans,  Belgique. 
Friday's  moon 

come  when  it  will,  comes  too  soon. — Haz.     See  Saturday's  moon. 
A  Fridays  feast,     i.e.  a  fast. 

Jo.     Do  you  strain  courtesies  ?    Had  I  it  in  fingering 
I  'd  make  you  both  make  but  a  Friday's  feast. 
Oh  how  the  steam  perfumes  my  nostrils. 

Davenport,  A  New  Trick  to  Cheat  the  Devil, 
E.  2.    1639. 

People  born  on  Friday  come  to  all  harm. — Anglo-Saxon  Leechdoms. 

349 


DAYS.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Friday's  hair  and  Sunday's  horn 

goes  to  the  Dule  on  Monday  morn. — R.,  1678. 

Friday's  sail 

always  fail. —  Sea. 

Le  Vendredy  est  le  plus  beau  ou  le  plus  laid  jour  de  toute  la  semaine. 

— Joubert,  Er.  Pop.,  1570.     (Catalan.) 
Friday  is  either  the  fairest  or  the  foulest  day  of  the  week. 
Friday  will  be  either  king  or  underling. — (Wiltshire)  Cheales. 
Friday  's  a  day  as '11  have  its  trick,* 
the  fairest  or  foulest  day  of  the  week.— Jackson,  Shropshire  Word  Book. 

*  Trick— character,  peculiarity. — Hll- 
What  Friday  gets  it  keeps. — Hen. 
A  Friday  night's  dream  will  come  true  before  the  Tuesday. — ^Jackson, 

Shropshire  F.  L . 

Friday  night's  dream  on  the  Saturday  told 
is  sure  to  come  true,  be  it  never  so  old. 

See  Sir  T.  Overbury,  The  Character  of  a  Milkmaid. 
Chi  ride  il  Venerdi  (e  non  ha  chierica)    [i.e.  the  tonsure. J 
so  spira  il  Sabato  e  piange  la  Domenica. — Gior.  d.  Enid.,  iv.  236. 

See  Monday. 
Tel  qui  rit  Vendredi  Dimanche  pleurera. — Racine,  Plaideurs. 
Le  Sabat  invite  a  I'esbat, — Meurier,  1568. 

Ne  donna  senz  amore, 

ne  Sabato  senza  sole, 

ne  Domenica  senza  sapore. 

Forasmuch  as  usually  on  Saturdays  our  women  wash  their 
heads  on  that  day  and  dry  their  hair  in  the  sun  on  the 
Sunday,  alias  the  Saboth,  all  persons  more  or  less  have 
exceedings  on  their  cheer. — Torr. 

The  sun  shines,  if  only  for  a  minute,  every  Saturday  throughout  the 
year.     Current  also  in  Spain. — Southey,  The  Doctor,  iii.  165. 

Ni  Sabado  sin  sol,  ni  moza  sin  amor,  ni  viejo  sin  dolor. — Nunez, 

1555' 
Saturday's  noon  and  Sunday's  prime 
once  is  enough  in  seven  years'  time. — Ch. 

A  Saturday's  moon 

if  it  comes  once  in  seven  years  comes  too  soon. — F. 

[come  when  it  will  it — Den.]. 

A  Saturday's  change  brings  the  boat  to  the  door, 

but  a  Sunday's  change  brings  it  upon  t'  mid-floor. — -Den. 

On  Saturday  change,  on  Sunday  full, 

was  never  good  and  never  wool. — Forby,  Vocah.  of  East  A  ng. 

Saturday's  new  and  Sunday's  full 

was  never  fine  and  never  wool. — Suffolk,     [i.e.  Moon.] 

If  the  moon  on  a  Saturday  be  new  or  full 

there  always  was  rain  and  there  always  wull. — Lees. 

350 


PROVERBS.  MORNING. 

Air  hosteria  mai  d  Giovedi,  ne  alle  puttane  il  Sabato,  ne  al  barbier 

la  Domenica. — Torr. 
If  thou  desirest.a  wife,  choose  her  on  a  Saturday  rather  than  on 

a  Sunday.     (Spanish). — R.,  1813. 
Saturday  servants  never  stay, 
Sunday  servants  run  away. 

Day  of  entering  a  new  service. — (Northants).     Sternberg. 

Saturday's  flit 

will  never  sit. — Baker,  N  'hants  Glossary, 


MORNING,    NOON,    NIGHT. 

In  the  morning  mountains, 

in  the  evening  fountains. — Herb. 

The  morning  sun  never  lasts  a  day. — Herb. 

The  morning  to  the  mountain, 

the  evening  to  the  fountain. — Den. 

Tho'  you  rise  never  so  early,  the  sun  will  rise  at  his  own  time 
and  not  till  then. — Cod. 

The  morning  hour  has  gold  in  its  mouth. — German. 

If  red  the  sun  begin  his  race 

expect  that  rain  will  flow  apace. — Den. 

For  age  and  want  save  while  you  may, 

no  morning  sun  lasts  all  the  day. — Ch. 

He  that  riseth  not  in  the  morning  loseth  his  journey. — Dr. 

The  morning  is  the  best  for  study.     Aurora  amica  Musis. — Dr. 

Hora  una  auroras  tres  valet  certe  duas. — Dr. 

Mane  bonis  studiis,  quilibet  aptus  erit. — Dr. 

The  morning  is  perhaps  as  good  a  friend  to  the  Graces  as  it  is  to  the 
Muses. — M.  Henry,  Comm. 

Se  quieres  ter  boa  fama 

naom  te  tome  el  sol  na  cama. — Port. ;  Nunez,  1555. 

Wm.  Forbes  leaves  us.  As  to  the  old  story :  Scribble  till  two  ;  then 
walk  for  exercise  till  four.  Deil  ha'e  it  else :  for  company  eats 
up  the  afternoon,  so  nothing  can  be  done  that  is  not  achieved 
in  the  forenoon. — Sir  Walter  Scott,  Journals,  ii.  264.  1890. 

The  darkest  hour  is  nearest  the  dawn. — Den. 

Cloudy  mornings  turn  to  clear  evenings. — CI. 

In  the  old  of  the  moon 

a  cloudy  morning  bodes  a  fair  afternoon. — R.,  1678. 

Brune  matinee  belle  journfee. — Meurier,  D.  F.     1590. 

Many  a  foul  morning  hath  a  fair  day. — CI. 

The  cock  doth  crow 

to  let  us  know 

if  we  be  wise 

'tis  time  to  rise. — Den. 

351 


TvioRNiNG.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

When  the  dawn  breaks  thro'  the  clouds  near  the  horizon,  a  fine  day 

follows ;  when  the  dawn  breaks  high  it  will  rain.— Roper. 
A  high  dawn  denotes  wind — a  low  dawn  fair  weather. — Sir  H.  Davy, 

Salmonia. 
Soleil  qui  luisarne  au  matin,  femme  qui  parle  Latin  et  enfant  nourry 

de  vin  ne  viennont  point  a  la  bonne  fin. 
A  glaring  morn,  a  woman  Latinist,  and  a  wine-fed  child  make 
men  cry  "  Had  I  wist."^ — Cotgrave. 
If  early  in  the  morning  you  see  a  fog  lying  on  the  low  ground,  fine 

weather  may  be  expected. — Roper. 

So  a  mist  at  the  base  of  the  Bredon  Hill  is  the  favourable  sign  at 
Malvern. 

Sunrise  breakfast, 

sun -high  dinner, 

sun-down  sup 

makes  a  saint  of  a  sinner. — R.  D.  Blackmore,  Lorna  Doom,  ch.  29. 

Dew-bit  and  scrumpin, 

breakfast  and  nuncheon, 

dinner  and  scrag, 

supper  and  bed.    (The  Labourer's  day). — N.,  V. 

'Tis  said  that  from  the  twelfth  of  May 

to  the  twelfth  of  July  all  is  day. 

From  the  twelfth  day  of  May 

To  the  twelfth  of  July 

Adieu  to  starlight. 

For  all  is  twilight. — Ag.,  Corn. 

The  sun  shines  on  both  sides  of  the  hedge.  Between  May  23rd  and 
July  2oth  there  is  no  absolute  darkness  in  England,  and  the 
sun  ascends  so  high  in  the  heavens  that  the  shadow  of  hedges 
is  hardly  perceptible. — Den. 

May,  June  and  July 

daylight  never  laves  the  sky. — P.  Robin's  Ollminich. 
When  the  sun  is  in  the  West 
lazy  folks  do  work  the  best. 
Wanneer  de  zon  is  in  't  Westen, 
luie  menschen  zijn  op't  beste. — Dutch. 
The  ware  *  evening  is  lang  and  teugh  f 
the  harvest  I  evening  runs§  soon  o'er  the  heugh.li — K. 
i.e.  the  night  seems  to  fall  in  a  moment. 

*  Lentren.— Ch.     f  Tedious.     J  Spring.     §Tumbles.— Jam., Sc.  Die*.  [Angus]. 
li  How  or  hill. 

When  Ave  Maria  you  hear 

see  that  your  house  be  near. 

The  dews  of  the  evening  industriously  shun, 

they  're  the  tears  of  the  sky  for  the  loss  of  the  sun. — Lord  Chesterfield. 

Suonata  I'Ave  Maria :  ecco  il  mal  tempo. — Torr. 

The  hour  next  after  sunset  is  in  Italy  considered  the   most 
dangerous  to  be  abroad. 

352 


PROVERBS. 


MORNING. 


Retirons  nous  du  serain 

car  il  n'est  pas  trop  sain. — Meurier,  1558. 

Out  of  God's  blessing  into  the  warm  sun. — He. 

This  I  believe  originated  at  the  time  of  the  Reformation,  and 
was  directed  against  the  prevailing  fashion  of  Italian  travel 
with  its  dangers  to  religious  faith. 

Ab  equis  ad  asinos. 

The  sun  is  comfortable. — CI. 
They  that  walk  much  in  the  sun  will  be  tanned  at  last. — R.,  1678. 
An  evening  red  and  a  morning  grey 
are  sure  signs  of  a  fair  day.— CI. 

Evening  red  and  morning  grey 

help  the  traveller  on  his  way ; 

evening  grey  and  morning  red 

bring  down  rain  upon  his  head. — Inwards. 

Evening  grey  and  morning  red 

make  the  shepherd  hang  his  head. — Den. 

[send  the  poor  shepherd  home  wet  to  his  bed] . — Forby,  E.  Ang. 

Le  rouge  soir  et  brun  matin 

est  le  desir  du  pelerin. — -Meurier,  1590. 

The  evening  red  and  the  morning  grey 
is  the  sign  of  a  bright  and  cheery  day  ; 
the  evening  grey  and  the  morning  red, 
put  on  your  hat  or  you  'II  wet  your  head. — M. ;  Scott. 

Sky  red  in  the  morning 

is  sailor's  sure  warning, 

sky  red  at  night 

is  the  sailor's  delight. — Inwards. 

Evening  red  and  morning  grey 

two  sure  signs  of  one  fine  day. — Den. 

If  the  sun  goes  pale  to  bed 

'twill  rain  to-morrow  it  is  said. — Inwards. 

If  the  sun  in  red  should  set 

the  next  day  surely  will  be  wet, 

if  the  sun  should  set  in  grey 

the  next  will  be  a  rainy*  day. — Den. 

*  bonny. 

Like  a  red  morn  that  ever  yet  betokened 
Wreck  to  the  seaman,  tempest  to  the  field, 
Sorrow  to  the  shepherds,  woe  unto  the  birds, 
Gust  and  foul  flaws  to  herdsmen  and  to  herds. 

Shak.,  Ven.  &•  Adon.,  453. 
A  dogg*  in  the  morning,  sailor  take  warning  ; 
a  dogg  in  the  night  is  the  sailor's  delight. — Roper. 
*  A  small  rainbow  near  the  horizon. 

When  the  sun  sets  in  a  bank, 

a  Westerly  wind  we  shall  not  want. — Den. 

VOL.  I.  353  23 


JANUARY.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

When  the  sun  sets  bright  and  clear, 

an  Easterly  wind  you  need  not  fear. — Den. 

If  the  the  sun  sets  as  clear  as  a  bell, 

it's  an  Easterly   wind  as  sure  as  hell.— Basil  Hall,  Fragments  of 

Voyages. 
Ore  di  sonno.     Un  ora  per  un  ammalato,  due  per  un  viandante,  tre 
per  un  studente,  quattro  per   un  mercante,  cinque  per  un 
lavorante,  sei  per  ogni  corpo,  sette  per  ogni  porco. 

Gior.  d.  Eyaditi,  iv.  378. 
The  night  is  the  time  of  rest  for  all  creatures. — Breton,  Crossing  of 

Provs.,  ii. 
Air  Ave  Maria 
o  a  casa  o  per  la  via. — Torr. 

i.e.  at  sunset.     In  S.  Italy  the  succeeding  hour  is  looked  on  as 
the  most  dangerous  of  the  twenty -four. 
La  minuit  est  de  coustuma 
aussi  tenebrause  et  brune 
au  dernier  quartier  de  la  lune 

qu'une  bourse  sans  pecune. — Meurier,  1558,  Coll.  M.,  3  r. 
Coucher  de  nuit  du  matin  seoir, 
droit  a  midy,  aller  du  soir. — Meurier,  1568. 
Le  vinti  quattro 
chi  le  annovera  h  matto. — Torr. 

i.e.  attempts  to  count  the  hour  from  the  clock  striking,  it  being 
the  custom  to  have  six  hours  only  marked  on  the  face  and 
for  the  hour  hand  to  traverse  it  four  times  in  the  twenty-four 
hours,  the  number  being  struck  that  corresponds  with  the 
position  of  the  hand. 

JANUARY. 

El  mal  ano  entra  nadando. — Nunez,  1555. 

In  January  if  sun  appear 

March  and  April  pay  full  dear. 

Fair  days  in  January  deceive  many  in  February  (dissimulation). — Dr. 

The  blackest  month  in  all  the  year 

is  the  month  of  Janiveer. — Den. 

A  January  spring 

is  worth  naething. — Den. 

If  Janiveer  calends  be  summerly  gay 

'twill  be  winterly  weather  till  the  calends  of  May. — R. 

Aubrey  quotes  the  Welsh,  Haf  hyd  gatan  gaiaf  hyd  Fay. — 
Thoms.,  Anecdotes  3=  Traditions,  p.  82. 

If  the  grass  grows  in  Janiveer 

it  grows  the  worse  for  't  all  the  year. — R.,  1670. 
If  you  see  grass  in  January 
lock  your  grain  in  your  granary. — Inwards. 

January  commits  the  fault  and  May  bears  the  blame. — Ital. ;  Ho. 

354 


PROVERBS.  FEBRUARY. 

To  have  January  chicks.     Aver  i  pulcini  di  Gennajo.     To  have 

children  in  old  age. — R.,  1813. 
Pulcin  di  Gennajo.     A  child  begotten  by  an  old  man. — Torr. 
Chi  ha  pulzi  de  Genaro 
a  I'ista  un  centenaro. — Anhiv.,  iv.  257,  Palermo. 

A   January  haddock,   a   February  bannock,  and  a  March  pint  of 
ale. — Den. 

Si  il  villano  supiesse  el  sabor  de  la  gallina  en  Enero, 

no  dexaria  ninguna  en  el  poUero. — Nunez,  1555. 

If  one  knew  how  good  it  were 

to  eat  a  hen  in  Janiveer 

he  would  not  leave  one  in  the  flock 

for  to  be  trodden  by  the  cock. — Ho. 

If  one  but  knew  how  good  it  were 

to  eat  a  pullet  in  Janiveer 

if  he  had  twenty  in  a  flock 

he'd  leave  but  one  to  go  with  cock. — R.,  1670. 

January  never  lies  dead  in  a  dyke  gutter. — Den. 

Janiveer 

freeze  the  pot  by  the  fire. — Ho. 

A  kindly  good  Janiveere  [i573> 

freeseth  pot  by  the  fiere. — Tusser,  Five  Hundredth,  &c.  [Jan.  Abst."], 

Jack  Frost  in  Janiveer 

nips  the  nose  of  the  nascent  year. 

January  white, 

February  fill-dyke. — Sternberg,  JV  'kants  Glossary. 

As  the  day  lengthens 

so  the  cold  strengthens. — CI. 

When  the  days  do  lengthen 
the  cold  doth  strengthen. — Torr. 

[at  Candlemas  an  hour  wide. — Den.  J 

At  New  Year's  tide  a  cockstride, 

by  Twelfth-tide  another  beside. — (Wore.)  Lees. 

It  is  now  February,  and  the  sun  is  gotten  up  a  cockstride  of  his 
climbing. — Breton  (N.),  Fantastickes  (Feb.). 

FEBRUARY. 

February  sun 

is  dearly  won. — C,  1636. 

All  the  months  in  the  year 
curse  a  fair  Februeer. — R.,  1670. 

The  Welshman  had  rather  see  his  dam  on  the  bier 
than  to  see  a  fair  Februeer. — R.,  1678. 

Soulgrove  sil  lew,     i.e.  February  [is]  seldom  warm. — Aubrey,  Rem. 
of  G.S-J. 

355 


FEBRUARY.  LEAN'S    CCHLLECTANEA. 

In  February  if  thou  hear'st  thunder 
thou  wilt  see  a  summer's  wonder. — D. 
January  white, 

February  fill-dyke.— Sternberg,  N  'hants  Glossary. 
February  fill  dike 
either  with  black  or  white ; 
he  will  fill  it  ere  he  go 
if  it  be  but  with  a  fold  of  straw. — Ho. 
February  fill  the  dick 
every  day  white  or  black. — Parish,  Sussex. 
February  fill  dike 
be  it  black  or  be  it  white ; 
but  if  it  be  white 
it 's  the  better  to  like. — R.,  1670. 
February  fill  dyke,  March  muck  it  oot  again,    i.e.  snow  and 
rain  to  follow. — Peacock,  Lincolnshire  Glossary. 
February  fill  the  dike 
with  what  thou  dost  like. 

Tusser,  Five  Hundred,  &€.  [Feb.  Abst.],  1573. 
February  fill  ditch 

black  or  white,  don 't  care  which. — Essex. 
If  foul-faced  February  keeps  true  touch 

He  makes  the  toiling  ploughman's  proverb  right, 
by  night,  by  day,  by  little  and  by  much. 

He  fills  the  ditch  with  either  black  or  white. — Taylor,  Works,  394. 
If   February   is   dry,   there  is  neither  good  corn  nor  good  hay. — 
N.,  I.,  xi.  112. 

Much  February  snow 

a  fine  summer  doth  show. — Chamberlain,  W.  Worces.  Words,  E.  D.  S. 

February  makes  a  bridge  and  March  breaks  it. — Herb. 

February  fire  lang, 

March-tide  to  bed  gang. — Carr,  Craven  Glossary. 

Februeer 

doth  cut  and  sheer. — R.,  1678  ;  B.  Jon.,  A  Tale  of  a  Tub,  i.  i. 

February  if  ye  be  fair 

the  hoggs*  will  mend  and  nothing  'pairf, 

February  if  ye  be  foul  | 

the  hoggs  will  die  in  every  pool. — Ch. 

*  i.e.  sheep.        t  Impair.        }  Rainy,  not  snowy. 
Reckon  right  and  February  hath  one  and  thirty  days. — Herb. 
Hebrero  corto  con  sus  dias  veyute  y  ocho 

quien  bien  los  ha  de  contar  treynta  le  ha  de  echar. — Nuiiez,  1555. 
D.  Pedro.     Good  morrow,  Benedict.     Why,  what 's  the  matter  ? 
That  thou  hast  such  a  February  face. 
So  full  of  frost,  of  storm,  of  cloudiness  ? 

Shak.,  Much  Ado,  v.  4,  40. 
3rd  Thursday.     The  fair-day  of  Auld  Deer 

is  the  warst  day  in  a'  the  year. — (Aberdeen)  Ch, 

356 


PROVERBS.  MARCH. 

MARCH. 

March  cometh  in  like  a  Lyon  and  goes  out  like  a  lamb. — Systema 

AgricuUuvte,  by  J.  W[orlidge],  1669. 
March  hack  ham* 
comes  [in  like  a  lion,  goes  out  like  a  lamb]. — R.,  1670 ;  North,  Life 

of  Guilford,  ii.  74;  Ho.,  Dendvologia,  1640. 

*  Hackande= Annoying.     Balkham. — Fr.     Black  ram. — Inwards. 

March  wind  wakens  the  ether  and  blooms  the  thorn. — P.  Robin,  1729. 

A  windy  March  and  a  rainy  April  make  a  beautiful  May. — R. 

March  winds  and  April  showers 
bring  forth  May  flowers. — Den. 

March  flowers 

make  no  summer  bowers. — Inwards. 

March  yeans  the  lammie  and  buds  the  thorn, 

but  blows  through  the  flint  of  an  ox's  horn. — (Northumberland)  Ch. 

March  birds  are  best. — P.  in  R.,  1678.   i.e.  partridges. 

A  chick  now  and  then  of  a  month  old,  but  March  birds  are  too 
strong  meat. — Breton,  A  Physician's  Letter,  1599. 

March  cocks  is  aye  crawin'. — Gregor,  Aberdeen  Journal. 
March  birds   lays  in   harvest,    i.e.   the  hen  chicks  then  hatched 
become  laying  pullets  in  harvest  time. — P.  Robbin's  Olminick, 
1861 
As  mad  as  a  March  hare.     i.e.  wild. — He.     See  Hll.,  Diet. 
One  foal  falling  in  March  is  worth  two  falling  in  May. — Markham, 

Country  Contentments,  I.,  161 5. 
April  borrows  three  days  of  March  and  they  are  ill. — R.,    1670. 

[The  three  last  days  (O.S.)  of  March.     See  Scott's  n.  Heart  of 
Midlothian.] 

March  borrowed  of  April 

three  days  and  they  were  ill. — K. 

[they  killed  three  lambs  were  playing  on  a  hill. 

Haz.] 
April  borrows  of  March  again 
three  days   of  wind  and  rain. — British  Apollo,  iii. 

No.  18. 
March  does  from  April  gain 
three  days  and  they  're  in  rain, 
return'd  by  April  in  's  as  bad  kind 
three  days  and  they  're  in  wind. — British  Apollo,  u.  s. 
Marco  yguarco. — (Port.)  Nuiiez,  1555.      [The  equinoxes]. 
A  wet  March  makes  a  sad  harvest. — Inwards. 
March  rain  spoils  more  than  clothes. — Inwards. 
March  water  is  worse  than  a  stain  in  cloth. — Inwards. 
March  water  is  worth  May  soap. — Mearns ;  Ch. 
March  dust  is  worth  its  weight  in  gold. — M. 
Vino  de  Marco  nunga  encubado. — Nunez,  1555. 

357 


MARCH.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Muddy  water  in  March,  muddy  water  every  month  of  the  year.— 

Chamberlain,  West  Wove.  Words.     [E.D.S.] 
A  bushel*  of  March  dust  Ton  the  leaves"!  is  worth  a  king's  ransom. 
—CI. ;  Ho. 

*  Coome.— F. 
A  peck  of  March  dust  worth  ransom  is  of  gold.— Tusser,  1557 ;  Den. 
March  dust  to  be  sold 
worth  ransom  of  gold. — Tusser,  May.  [Abst.'],  1573. 

Haz.  refers  to  Forby,  E.  A.  Voc,  p.  48,  art.  Busk. 
The  streets  he  gravell'd  twice  a  day.     (Vice- Chancellor  on  King 

James  II.'s  visit  to  Cambridge.) 
One  strike  of  March  dust  for  to  see 
no  proverb  would  give  more  than  he. 

Bp.  Corbet,  Poem  to  tune  of  "  Bonny  Nell." 
A  dry  March  never  begs  its  bread. — Brady,  Clavis  Calendaria. 
March  dust  and  May  sun 
makes  corn  white  and  maids  dun. — Den. 
March  wind*  and  May  sun 
make  clothes f  white  and  maids  dun. — R. 

»  Water.— Ch.  t  Cloths.— By. 

March  dust  and  March  win' 
bleaches  as  weel  as  simmer's  sun. — Ch. 
E  come  il  sol  di  Marzo  che  muove  e  non  risuolve. — Ho. 
The  March  sun  raises  but  dissolves  not. — Herb. 
A  March  sun  sticks  like  a  lock  of  wool. — (Sp.)  Ho. 
Like  a  March  sun,  which  heats  but  does  not  melt. — Ho. 

worse  than  the  sun  in  March, 
This  praise  doth  nourish  agues. — Shak.,  i  Henry  IV.,  iv.  i. 
Haver  sole  di  Marzo.    i.e  esser  felice. — Torr. 

March  whisquer 

was  never  a  good  fisher. — Ferg. 

i.e.  a  windy  March  bad  fishing-time. — K. 

March  comes  in  with  adder-heads   and   goes   out  with   peacocks' 
tails.— K. 

It  is  the  bright  day  that  brings  forth  the  adder 

And  that  craves  wary  walking. — Shak.,  Julius  Cmsav,  ii.  i. 

March  many  weathers  [rained  and  blowed, 

but. — F.]  March  grass  never  did  good. — R.,  1678. 

Mists  in  March  bring  rain 

or  in  May  frosts  again. — Inwards. 

He  is,  in  religious  practices, 

Like  the  spring  in  that  windy  month. — T.  Adams,  Wks.,  p.  472. 

March  many  forwards,    i.e.  promises,  covenants. — Prompt.  Parv.; 
Forward,  Chester  Plays,  i.  63. 

March  many  forwards  in  his  words,  December  in  his  actions. — T. 
Adams,  White  Devil :  Works,  p.  47.     1629. 

358 


PROVERBS.  APRIL. 

March  search, 

April  try, 
May  will  prove 

whether  you  live  or  die. — N.,  I.,  xi.  416. 

If  you  kill  one  flea  in  March  you  kill  a  hundred. 

In  Suffolk  fleas  are  said  to  be  particularly  brisk  thrice  a  year :  at 

oat-sahwen,  at  oat-hahwen  (when  the  hose  or  sheath  spathe 

of  the  ear  appears),  and  at  oat-mahwen. — Nail,  Great  Yarmouth. 

Never  come  March,  never  come  winter. — Chamberlain,  W.  W.  Words. 

I.     On  the  first  of  March 

the  birds  begin  to  search. — North  D.     {i.e.  pair.) 

If  from  fleas  you  would  be  free 

on  the  ist  of  March  let  all  your  windows  closed  be. 

Sussex  Folk-Lore  Record,  i.  50. 
March  dust  on  an  apple-leaf 
brings  all  kinds  of  fruit  to  grief. — Bull,  Pomona  Hevefovdensis,  p.  50. 

Lyde  (an  old  name  for  March).     See  Spring. 
Lide  [or  Lede] 
pilles  the  cowes  hide. 

Minsheu,  Emendatio  Ductoris  in  Linguas,  1627. 
i.e.  March  pinches  the  beasts. — Smyth,  Hundred  of  Berkeley, 
p.  201.     1639. 
Ducks  won't  lay  till  they  have  drunk  Lide  water. — Folk-Lore 
Journal,  iv.  221.     i885. 

24.  If  the  bushes  hang  of  a  drop  before  sunrise  it  will  be  a  dropping 
season  ;  if  the  bushes  be  dry  we  may  look  for  a  dry  summer. 
— Mrs.  Lubbock. 

The  Blackthorn  winter.  A  spell  of  N.E.  winds,  which  prevail 
towards  the  end  of  the  month  when  the  sloe  comes  into 
blossom. 

Like  to  the  Blackthorn,  which  puts  forth  his  leaf. 

Not  with  the  golden  fawnings  of  the  sun 

But  sharpest  show'rs  of  hail  and  blackest  frosts. 

Chapman,  Byron's  Tragedy,  iii.  i. 

A  cold  April 

the  barn  will  fill.— F. 

A  cold  April,  much  bread  and  little  wine. — (Sp.)  Ho. 

II  n'est  si  joli  mois  d'Avril 
qui  n'ait  son  chapeau  de  gresil. 

April  wears  a  white  hat. — Inwards.     (Frost.) 

When  April  blows  his  horn 

it 's  good  both  for  hay  and  corn. — R.,  1670. 

The  thunder  being  accompanied  by  rain. 
As  changeable  as  an  April  day. — Inwards. 

359 


APRIL.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

He 's  like  an  April  shower 

that  wets  the  stone  nine  times  in  an  hour. 

Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS.,  1639. 

Cherries.     If  they  blow  in  April 
you  '11  have  your  fill, 
but  if  in  May 
they  '11  all  go  away.— Pegge's  Kenticisms,  62. 

April  with  his  back*  and  bill 
plants  a  flower  on  every  hill. — D. 

*  ?  hack. 
[Sweet*]  April  showers 

do  spring  May  flowers. — C,  1629. 

make — CI. 

bring  forth     .     .     .     . — Ho. ;  R. ;  G.  Harvey,  Letter  Book, 

p.  34-     1573- 
*  Tusser,  Ap.  [Abst.l,  1573. 

All  w""-  mine  A"'-  flowers  are  humbly  sent  unto  y'-  good  Ladyship 
for  that  I  hope  very  shortly  to  see  the  May  flowers  of  y'- 
favour. — Gascoyne,  Complaint  of  PMlomene. 

An  April  flood 

carries  away  the  frog  and  her  brood. — CI. 

April  weather 

rain  and  sunshine  both  together. — Haz. 

Called  Le  nozze  del  Diavolo. — Torr. 

Till  April  is  dead 
change  not  a  thread. 

April  cling* 

good  for  nothing. — (Somt.)  P.  in  R.,  1678. 

*  ?  Sling  or  slink,  a  calf  prematurely  born. 

If  it  thunders  on  All  Fools'  day 

it  brings  good  crops  of  corn  and  hay. — Inwards. 

Aayprul  vools  gan  paast 

and  you  be  the  biggest  vool  at  last. 

Lowsley,  Berkshire  Words  and  Phrases. 
[Must  be  said  before  noon.] 

On  the  first  of  Aperill 

you  may  send  a  gowk  whither  you  will. — Haz. 

The  first  of  April,  some  do  say, 

is  set  apart  for  All  Fools'  day. — P.  Robin,  1760. 

The  first  and  second  of  April 
hound  the  gowk  another  mile. — Jam. 

3.      The  third  of  April 

comes  in  the  cuckoo  and  the  nightingale. — F. 

This  would  make  the  14th,  N.S.,  which  is  our  "  cuckoo  day." 

If  the  first  three  days  of  April  be  foggy,  there  will  be  a  flood  in 
June. — (Huntingdon)  N.,  II. 

360 


PROVERBS.  MAY. 

MAY. 

Cast*  not  a  clout 

till  May  be  out.— Hen. 

*  Change. — Haz. 
The  wind  at  North  and  East 
was  never  good  for  man  nor  beast, 
so  never  think  to  cast  a  clout 

until  the  month  of  May  be  out. — Robinson,  Whitby  Gloss. 
The  merry  month  of  May. — R.,  1678. 
Of  fair  things  the  month  of  May  is  fair. — Cod. 
The  pleasant  month  of  May 
doth  not  last  alway. — With.,  1608. 
Come  it  aire,  come  it  late, 
in  May  comes  the  cow-quake. — Ferg. 

i.e.  a  cold  rain  with  wind.     R.,   1678,  suggests  the  gramen 
tremulum  or  "  quaking-grass." 
As  welcome  as  flowers  in  May. — He. 
He :  to  my  eyes 

As  foul  weather  to  the  skies.     (Ironical.) 
She :  And  you  to  mine  as  mists  to  the  day, 

or  frosts  unto  the  month  of  May. — Flecknoe,  A  Rural  Dialogue. 
U.P.K.  spells  May  goslings. — Haz. 
U.P.K.  spells  goslings  in  May. — Brady,  Var.,  p.  16. 
May-day  is  come  and  gone ; 
thou  art  a  gesling  and  I  am  none. — Den. 
He  has  na  more  sense  than  a  May  gosling. — W.  Rye,  in  Norfolk 

Ant.  Misc.,  i.  308. 
Cold  May  enriches  no  one. — Inwards. 
A  la  mi- Mai  queue  d'hivar. 
If  you  would  the  doctor  pay 

leave  your  flannels  off  in  May. — Elworthy,  W.  Som.  Word  Book. 
A  cold  *  May  and  a  windy 
makes  a  fatf  [full — R.,  1670]  barn  and  a  findy|. — Ho. 

*  Wet. — K.       t  *'•«•  solid,  full,  substantial. — K.       %  What  finds  or  supports. 
Cold  May  and  windy, 

barn  fiUeth  up  finely. — Tusser,  May  {Ahst.l     1573. 
Checks  growth  of  weeds  and  corn  from  growing  rank. — Ellis,  p.  9. 
A  cold  May 
full  bay* 
Good  for  corn  and  bad  for  hay. — Baker,  N'hants  Glossary. 

*  of  barn. 
A  cold  May 

[plenty  of  corn  and  hay] 

A  cold  May  is  kind. — Chamberlain,  West  Wore.  Words. 
Shear  your  sheep  in  May, 
and  shear  them  all  away. — R.,  1670. 
A  wet  May  and  a  winnie 
brings  a  fou  stackyard  and  afinnie. 

361 


MAY.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Mactaggart  {Gall.  Ency.)  derives  this  from  Find,  to  feel,  weigh 
wheat  in  the  hand. 
A  swarm  of  bees  in  May 

is  worth  [a  cow  and  her  calf  and]  a  load  of  hay, 
but  a  swarm  in  July 

is  not  worth  a  fly. — Herts.   Ellis,  The  Mod,  Husbandman,  May  (2),  167. 

A  swarm  in  August  is  not  worth  a  dust. 

The  herrings  are  na  guid  till  they  smell  the  new  hay. — Northd.  Ch. 

A  cameral  haddock 's  ne'er  gude 

till  it  get  three  draps  o'  May  flude. — Ch. 

Quien  en  Mayo  come  la  sardina 

en  Agosto  caga  la  espina. — Cornw.     Nuriez,  1555. 

Cockles  and  ray 

come  in  in  May. — Harland  and  Wn.,  Lancash.  Leg.,  p.  224. 

A  hot  May 

makes  a  fat  church-hay — Haz. 

yard. — Ho. 

Chyrche-haye.  —  Cimiterium ;  Wright,  A   Vol.  of  Vocabularies  (14th 

Cent.),  p.  178. 
Marry  in  May  and  you  '11  rue  the  day. 
Who  weds  in  May 
throws  all  away. — Ovid  Fasti,  v.  490. 
May  birds  are  aye  cheeping  (chirping  in  the  nest). 
Mense  Maio  nubunt  male. — Fuller,  W.  of  E. 
From  the  marriages  in  May 
all  the  bairns  die  and  decay. — Den. 
He  that  would  live  for  aye 
must  eat  sage*  in  May. — R.,  1678. 

*  and  butter. — F. 
Cur  moriatur  homo  cui  salvia  crescit  in  horto  ? — Schola  Salemitana. 
This  month  eat  butter  and  red  sage, 
And  you  shall  live  out  your  full  age ; 
If  no  red  sage  be  to  be  seen. 
You  may  for  need  take  that  is  green. 
Great  store  of  authors  much  do  utter 
In  praise  of  this  same  sage  and  butter. — P.  Robin,  1669. 
Merchant  May's  little  summer. — Cornw.     Haz. 
Flowers  in  May, 
fine  cocks  of  hay. — York.     N.,  I.,  x.  210. 

A  north-east  wind  in  May 

makes  the  Shot'ver  men  a  prey. 

i.e.  at  Dover,  where  it  is  a  good  wind  for  mackerel  fishers. — P.,  41. 

May  butter.  If  during  the  month  of  May  before  you  salt  your 
butter,  you  save  a  lump  thereof  and  put  it  into  a  vessel,  and 
so  set  it  into  the  sun  the  space  of  that  month,  you  shall  find 
it  exceeding  sovereign  and  medicinable  for  wounds,  sprains, 
aches,  and  such-like  grievances. — Markham,  Eng.  Hwife.  1615. 

362 


PROVERBS.  MAY. 

Be  it  weal  or  be  it  woe, 

beans  blow  before  May  doth  go. — P.  in  R.,  1678. 

The  last  spring  floods  that  happen  in  May 

carry  the  salmon  fry  down  to  the  say  (sea). 

The  floods  of  May 

take  the  smolts  away  [young  salmon]. 

May-bes  don't  fly  [this  month]  now. — S.,  P.C,  i. 

May  rain  kills  lice. — Den. 

A  May  wet 

was  never  kine  yet. — Wor.,  Lees. 

A  May  flood 

never  did  good. — CI. 

A  labberly  May  [wet,  splashy] 

makes  a  good  crop  of  hay. — Somerset.    Pulman,  Rustic  Sketches,  p.  69. 

Bourbes  (mud)  en  May,  espies  (ears  of  corn)  en  Aoust. — Nunez,  1555. 

A  wet  May 

will  fill  a  byre  full  of  hay. — Den. 

Be  sure  of  hay 

till  the  end  of  May.— Tusser,  May  [Abst.'],  150. 

A  weat  Maay  brings  plenty  of  corn  and  plenty  of  haay. — Peacock, 

Lincoln  Gloss, 
i.e.   dry  weather    gives  the  Wheat   an  opportunity  to  begin 
opening  its  sheath  or  hose,  and  let  out  the  green  ear  of  the 
more  forward  and  largest  stalks. — Ellis,  M.  H.  May  (8). 
May  never  goes  out  without  a  wheatear. — Forby,  E.  A . 
The  first  of  May 

is  Robin  Hood's  day. — Strutt,  Sports  and  Pastimes  [ed.  Hone]. 
The  Twenty-ninth  of  May 
shick-shack*  day. 

Oak-leaves  worn  up  to  noon ;  after  twelve,  ash-leaves  substi- 
tuted.— Lowsley,  Berkshire  Words  and  Phrases. 
*  A  Somerset  term. 
The  fair  maid  who  on  the  first  of  May 
goes  to  the  fields  at  break  of  day, 
and  washes  in  dew  from  the  hawthorn-tree, 
will  ever  after  handsome  be. — Haz. 
May-day,  pay-day, 
pack  rags  and  go  away. 

The  day  of  entering  and  leaving  farm- service. — Jackson,  Shrop- 
shire F.L.,  p.  465. 
Mese  di  fiori, 
mese  di  dolori. 
To  do  what  one  can  to  get  up  May  hill. — Torr.    (Of  a  convalescent.) 

— Wise,  N.  Forest. 
Whereas  in  our  remembrance  Ale  went  out  when  Swallows  came  in, 

seldom  appearing  after  Easter,  it  now  hopeth  (having  climbed 

up  May  hill)  to  continue  its  course  all  the  year. — F.  W., 

Derbyshire. 

363 


JULY.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

C/.  All  wheat  should  May  or  look  yellowish  in  April,  and  be  of 
a  black-green  in  May. — Ellis,  M.  H.  May  (2). 
He  that   is   hanged  in  May  will  eat  no  flaunes*  in  Midsummer. 
Dryfesdale  says  in  Scott,  Abbot,  ch.  xxxiii.  (A.S.,  flena.) 
*  Pancakes. 
Grief  melts  away 
like  snow  in  May. 


JUNB. 

As  fresh  as  a  rose  in  June. — R.,  1678. 

Calm  weather  in  June 

corn  sets  in  tune. — Tusser,  June  [Abst.']     1573. 

A  good  leak  in  June 
sets  all  in  tune. — Den. 

A  dry  May  and  a  dripping  June 

brings  all  things  in  tune. — Baker,  N'hants  Glossary. 

Lane  croie  cabbyl  dy  ushtey  laal  yoan  feeu  mayl  Vannin. 

A  horseshoe  full  of  water  on  St.  John's  day  (24th)  is  worth  the 
rent  of  the  Isle  of  Man. — Man.  Misc.,  ii.  21. 

The  bree 's*  upon  her  like  a  cow  in  June. — Shak.,  A.  and  C,  iii.  10. 

*  Brise,  a  gadfly. 
The  blossoming  of  the  bramble  early  in  June  indicates  an  early 
harvest. — Illustrated  London  News,  ig/ii/'Si. 

If  on  the  eighth  of  June  it  rain 

it  foretells  a  wet  harvest,  men  sain. — R. 

Wait  or  barley  '11  shut  *  in  June 

nif  they  baint  no  higher  'an  a  spoon.     (A  late  season.)     Elworthy> 
W.  Som.  Word  Booh. 

*i.e.  sprout. 

If  it  rains  on  Midsummer  Eve  all  the  filberds  will  be  spoiled. — D. 

23.  Under  the  stars  on  the  Eve  of  St.  John 

lucky  the  babe  that  those  stars  shine  on. — JV.,  VIII.,  vi.  217. 
Quoted  on  the  birth  of  Duchess  of  York's  child. 

The  cuckoo  sings  in  April, 

the  cuckoo  sings  in  May, 

the  cuckoo  sings  at  Midsummer,  but  not  upon  the  day. 

Jackson,  Shropshire  Folk  Love,  p.  222. 

JUIiY. 

A  shower  in  July  when  the  corn  begins  to  fill 

is  worth  a  plough  of  oxen  and  all  belongs  theretill. — K. 

Bow-wow,  dandy-fly, 

brew  no  beer  in  July. — Den. 

In  July 

shear  your  rye. — Den. 

364 


PROVERBS.  AUGUST. 

No  tempest,  good  July, 

lest  corn  look  ruely. — Tusser,  July  {_Ahit.^  ^5Ti- 

.     .     .     come  off  bluely. — F.     To  come  bluely  off. — R.,  1678. 

See  ex.  in  HU.  Also  Urq.  Rabelais,  IV.,  xxxv. ;  Ward,  English 
Reformation,  i.  67 ;  T.  Brown,  Wovhs,  i.  284. 

If  the  first  of  July  it  be  rainy  weather, 

'twill  rain  more  or  less  for  four  weeks  together. — R. 

forty  days. — Den. 

Sordido.  O  here  "St.  Swithin  the  15  day,  variable  weather,  for  the 
most  part  rain"  good!  "for  the  most  part  rain":  why  it 
should  rain  forty  days  after,  now  more  or  less,  it  was  a  rule 
held  afore  I  was  able  to  hold  a  plough,  and  yet  here  are  two 
days  no  rain;  ha!  it  makes  me  muse. — B.  Jon.,  Every  Man 
out  of  his  Humour,  i.  i. 

Upon  Saint  Swithin's  *  day  I  noted  well 

The  wind  was  calm,  nor  any  rain  then  fell ; 

Which  fair  day,  as  old  saws  saith,  doth  portend 

That  heav'n  to  earth  will  plenteous  harvest  send. 

Taylor  (W.  P.),  Part  of  this  Summer's  Trav.  [ikfwc,  i.,  Spens.  Soc] 
*  July  15th  :  apple  christening  day.     [West  Country  saying.] 

Such  a  man  [the  Engrosser  of  Corn]  .  .  .  makes  his  Almanac  his 
Bible :  if  it  prognosticates  ram  on  St.  Swithin's  day  he  loves 
and  believes  it  beyond  the  Scripture. — T.  Adams,  Wks.,  p.  836. 

In  1887  a  drought  which  had  lasted  for  all  June  was  followed  on 
the  15th  July  by  a  fair  rain,  but  the  drought  reestablished 
itself,  and  was  not  fairly  broken  till  August  31. 

The  dog-days  extend  from  the  3rd  July  to  the  nth  August.  Called 
Caniculares,  because  the  dog-stai:  Sirius  is  in  the  ascendent. 
They  are  mentioned  Shak.,  H,  VIII.,  v.  3 ;  Taylor,  Works, 
fo.  394. 

AUGUST. 

Dry  August  and  warm 

doth  harvest  no  harm. — Tusser,  Aug.  [^Abst.]      1573. 

£but]  a  rainy  August 

makes  a  hard  bread-crust. — Denham,  F.  L.  N.  of  E.,  1851,  p.  6. 

Secundum  proverbium  Etruscum  dicuntur  Vendere  solem  de  mense 
Augusti. 

The  French  still  say  a  man  has  made  his  August,  i.e.  his  harvest 
is  gathered  in. 

Ferrare  Agosto. — Torr. 

Stare  in  allegria  e  in  conviti  il  i  ""^  di  Agosto. 

Agua  de  Agosto 

azafran,  miel  y  mosto. — Nunez,  1555. 

He  was  born  in  August.     (Of  a  well-skilled  person.) — Ferg. 

F.  W.  gives  it  as  a  Scots  proverb  current  in  Northumberland 
and  as  the  periphrasis  of  a  liquorish  person,  and  "such  as 
would  be  tasters  of  everything  they  can  come  by,  though 
not  belonging  to  them." 

365 


OCTOBER.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

It  is  good  to  eat  the  briarsin  the  sear  month. — Kuhrey, Remains  of  G.  &J. 

When  the  blackberries  ripen  in  August  it  is  a  forward  season. 
Merry  be  the  first 
and  merry  be  the  last 

and  merry  be  the  first  of  August. — Haz.,  p.  280. 
24.  If  the  twenty-fourth  of  August  be  fair  and  clear, 

then  hope  for  a  prosperous  autumn  that  year. — R. 

SEPTEMBER. 

Fools  grow  fat  in  September. 
Auld  Reekie's  sons  blithe  faces  wear, 
September's  merry  month  is  near 
That  brings  in  Neptune's  caller  cheer 

New  oysters  fresh, 
The  halesomest  and  nicest  gear 

O'  fish  or  flesh. — Robt.  Ferguson,  Caller  Oyster. 
September  blow  soft 

till  the  fruit  be  in  loft. — Tusser,  Sep.  lAbst.'],  1573  ;  R. 
For,  as  you  've  been  in  Society,  you  '11  pawsibly  remember 
That  of  all  the  dullest  months  in  Town  far  the  dullest  is  September ; 
Of  all  the  dullest,  deadest  months  in  all  the  dull,  dead  year — 
If  that  line  aint  in  Tennyson,  I  'm  sure  it 's  precious  near — 
And  if  you  ask  the  reason  why  our  Town-house  we  aint  quittink, 
It 's  cos  of  that  'ere  Parliament  as  will  keep  on  a  sittink. — Thackeray. 
I.     Saint  Partridge  day. 

OCTOBER. 

Dry  your  barley-land  in  October 
or  you  '11  always  be  sober. — Den. 

Often  drunk  and  seldom  sober 
falls  like  the  leaves  in  October. — F. 
And  he  that  will  to  bed  go  sober 
falls  like  the  leaf  still  in  October. 

B.  and  F.,  Tke  Bloody  Brother,  ii.  2. 
Good  October,  a  strong  blast, 
to  blow  hog  acorn  and  mast. — Tusser. 
Twenty-five  days  in  October. 
In  October  dung  your  field 
and  your  land  its  wealth  shall  yield. 

If  in  the  fall  of  the  leaves  in  October  many  of  them  wither  on  the  boughs 
and  hang  there,  it  betokens  a  frosty  winter  [and  much  snow — 
Inwards]  or  many  caterpillars. — Stevenson,  Twelve  Moneths,  1661. 
In  October  not  even  a  cat  is  to  be  found  in  London. 
The  prevalence  of  berries  on  the  holly-bushes  indicate  a  cold  winter. 
— Illustrated  London  News,  ig/ii/'Si. 
This  applies  to  fruit  of  this  kind  in  general,  more  especially  to 
the  haws.    It  is  a  pretty  theory  that  provision  is  thus  made 
for  the  birds  in  the  hard  weather  predetermined  on.     It  is 
merely  the  result  of  a  profusely  flowering  summer. 

366 


PROVERBS.  DECEMBER. 

NOVKMBBR. 

November,  take  flail : 

let  ships  no  more  sail. — Tusser,  1573 ;  P.  Rob.,  1675  ("  Old  prov."). 

Let  the  thresher  take  his  flayle 

and  the  ship  no  more  sayle. 

Breton,  Fantastics  (Nov.). 
If  there 's  ice  in  November  to  bear  a  duck 
there  '11  be  nothing  after  but  sludge  and  muck. — N. 

If  ducks  do  slide  at  HoUandtide,*  at  Christmas  they  shall  swim.— 
Globe,  io/i/'87. 

*  [All  Hallows  or  All  Saints',  the  ist  November.— Ed.]. 

There  are  fifteen  days  in  November  in  which  you  don't  need  a  great- 
coat. 

November  has  twenty  days  on  which  the  sun  shines. 

Sprat  weather.  The  dark  days  of  November  and  December. — 
Cowan,  Sea  Proverbs  (American). 

I.  On  the  first  of  November,  if  the  weather  holds  clear, 
an  end  of  wheat  sowing  do  make  for  this  year. — Den. 

10.  If  Nov.  10  be  cloudy  it  denotes  a  wet,  if  dry  a  sharp  winter. — 
Stevenson,  Twelve  Moneths. 

II.  St.  Martin. 

St.  Martin's  little  summer. 

"  Expect  St.  Martin's  summer,  halcyon  days." 

Shak.,  Hen.  VI.,  Pt.  i.,  Act  I.,  ii.  131. 
A  San  Martin 
Met  la  legna  sul  camin.     [Milan.] 

"  On  St.  Martin's  day 
Your  fires  lay." — Cheales. 

DBCBMBBR. 

December's  frost  and  January's  flood 

Never  boded  the  husbandman's  good. — Times,  i/i/'84. 

4.     St.  Barbara. 

Barbara  makes  bridges  (of  ice), 

Sara  (Dec.  5)  sharpens  the  nails. 

And  Nicholas  (Dec.  6)  drives  them  in. — Russian  Prov. 

6.      St.  Nicholas. 

St.  Nicholas  in  winter  sends  the  horses  to  the  stable, 

St.  Nicholas  in  spring  (May  9)  makes  them  fat. — Russian  Prov. 

21.    St.  Thomas. 

St.  Thomas  grey,  St.  Thomas  grey, 

The  longest  night  and  shortest  day. — (Somerset). 

25.    A  green  Christmas  makes  a  fat  churchyard. 

A  warm  Christmas — a  cold  Easter, 
A  green  Christmas — a  white  Easter. 

367 


SPRING.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 


SPRING. 

Dat  Clemens  *  hiemem  :  dat  Petrus  ver  Cathedratus  t 
iEstuat  Urbanus  f  :   autumnat  Bartholomaeus.  § 

Ducange,   Gloss.   Mediae  et  Infimae  Lat.,   I.,  col.  882  [in 
edition  of    1733;   p.   495   in   edition   of   1884,  v.  sub 
Autumnus. — Ed.] 
[Elisabet  hiemem  dat  (Nov.  19).— Bedwell,  W.  [Ephemerides] 

Op.,  i.  266.] 

*  Nov.  23.  +  Feb.  22.  t  May  25.  §  Aug.  24. 

Every  month  hath  its  flower, 
Every  flower  hath  its  hour. 
Step  on  nine  daisies,  Spring's  first  sign. — Roper. 
It  ain't  Spring  till  you  can  plant  your  foot  on  twelve  daisies. 
When  the  hain-beard  appear 
the  shepherd  need  not  fear. 

The  advent  of  genial  weather  is  shown  by  the  coming  of  the 

field  wood-rush  (Luzula  campestvis). — Baker,  N'hants  Glossary. 
A  wet  spring  is  the  sign  of  dry  weather  in  harvest. — Den. 
March  in  Janiveer, 
Janiveer  in  March  I  fear. — R.,  1678. 
A  late  spring 
is  a  great  bless-ing. — D. 

Better  late  ripe  and  bear  than  early  blossom  and  blast. — F. 
An  ague  in  the  Spring 
is  physic  for  a  King. — Ho. 
Calenturas  de  Mayo  salud  para  todo  el  ano. 
Qui  a  la  fievre  au  mois  de  May 
tout  I'an  demeure  sain  et  gay. — Joubert,  Er.  Pop.,  II.  (34). 

Le  rest  de  I'an  sit  sain  et  gay. — Bacon,  Promus  (1650). 

Eat  leeks  in  Lide  and  ramsins  in  May 
and  all  the  year  after  physicians  may  play. 

Aubrey,  Remains  of  G.  and  J. ;  Nat.  Hist,  of  Wilts,  p.  51. 

Lide  is  March. — BuUokar,  Gov.  Myst.,  p,  340. 

Leeks  purgeth  the  blood  in  March. — BuUein,  Gov.  of  Health, 

f.  64.  1558. 
Britton  says  in  a  note  to  Aubrey  that  he  has  seen  it  written : 

Eat  leeks  in  Lent  and  raisins  in  May. 

If  they  would  drink  nettles  in  March  and  eat  mugwort  in  May 
so  many  fine  maidens  wouldn't  go  to  the  clay. — Den. 

In  March  milk  is  good  for  yourself,  in  April  for  your  brother,  and  in 

May  for  your  mother-in-law. — (Spanish.) 
In  March 

the  birds  begin  to  search, 
in  April 

the  corn  begins  to  fill, 
in  May 
the  birds  begin  to  lay. — (Lancashire)  Hll. 

368 


PROVERBS.  SUMMER. 

Kill  crow,  pie  and  cadow, 

rook,  buzzard,  and  raven, 
or  else  go  desire  them 

to  seek  a  new  haven. — Den. ;  Tusser,  Mar,  [^Abst.]      1573. 
Thunder  in  Spring 
cold  will  bring. — Inwards. 

Le  Vendredy  Sainct  &  aournS  [=31  March,  1469]  vint  &  yssit  du 
Ciel  plusieurs  grans  esclats  de  tonnoire  es  partissemens  & 
meveilleuse  pluye  qui  es  bahist  beau  coup  de  gens,  pour  ce 
que  les  enciens  dient  tousiours  que  nul  ne  doit  dire  helas, 
s'il  n'a  ouy  tonner  en  Mars. — Chronique  Scandaleuse.  1468  (end). 

And  also  in  March  is  time  to  sow  flax  and  hemp,  for  I  have  hard 
old  housewyves  say  that  Better  is  March  hurdes  [or  hards] 
than  April  flax :  the  reason  appeareth. — Fitzherbert,  Book  of 
Husbandry,  f.  61.    1534. 

Sin,  repentance,  and  pardon  are  like  to  the  three  vernal  months  of 
the  year,  March,  April  and  May :  Sin  comes  in  like  March, 
blustering,  stormy,  and  full  of  bold  violence;  Repentance 
succeeds  like  April,  showering,  weeping,  and  full  of  tears; 
Pardon  follows,  like  May,  springing,  singing,  full  of  joys  and 
flowers. — T.  Adams,  Man's  Contort,  1653,  iii.  299. 


SUMMER. 

Summer  hath  no  fellow. — CI. 
Cra,  Cra  di  sta' 
per  tutto  e  ca'. 

or  CrS.,  Cra  se  vien  la  sta' 
mi  faro  una  ca'. — Torr. 
The  sound  of  the  crowing  cock  suggests  out  of  door  life  in  the 
country. 
Summer  is  a  seemly  time.     There  is  a  second  part  to  this  proverb, 

but  it  is  paltry. — K. 
Qui  amant  ipsi  sibi  somnia  fingunt. — W.,  1616. 
[He  is  a  dreaming.] 

You  dream  of  a  dry  summer. — Ho. ;  CI.,  Cribro  divinare,  p.  64. 
To  dream  of  a  dry  summer — R.,  1670;  Daniel  Rogers,  Matrimonial 

Honour,  194.  1642. 
One  swallow  makes*  not  summer. — He. 

[Yet  a  prodigal's  summer  makes  many  swallows. — P.  Rob.  Prog, 
1699.] 

*  brings. — Gosson,  Sch.  of  Ah.  ;  Withals,  i6i6. 
It  is  not  one  swallow  that  bringeth  in  summer. — Taverner,  f.  25.  1539. 
An  English  summer  begins  on  the  31st  July  and  ends  on  ist  of 

August. — H.  Walpole. 
"  There  were  four  very  hot  days  at  the  end  of  last  month  [July], 
which  you  know  with  us  Northern  people  compose  a  summer. 
— H.W.,  Letter  to  Earl  of  Strafford,  August  25, 1771,  from  Paris. 

VOL.  I.  369  34 


AUTUMN.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

An  English  summer — three*  fine  days  and  a  thunderstorm. 

*  two. — Den. 
Don't  sit  on  the  grass  in  any  month  that  has  an  r  in  it. — Agric. 

Communications,  S'c.     (Causes  agues.) 
When  the  sand  doth  feed  the  clay 
England  Woe  and  Well-a-day  ! 
but  when  the  clay  doth  feed  the  sand 
then  its  well  with  old  England. — R.     1670. 

When  the  sand  feeds  the  clay 
England  cries  "  Well-a-day  ! " 
but  when  the  clay  feeds  the  sand 
it  is  merry  with  England. — F.  W. 
i.e.  it  is  better  by  far  that  the  Vales  feed  the  hilly  country  than 

that  the  Vales. — Ellis,  Mod.  Hush.,  June,  '52. 
Because  there  is  more  clay  than  sandy  ground  in  England. — 
R.     1678. 
A  dry  summer  never  made  a  dear  peck. — K. 

begs  its  bread. — (Cornwall)  Haz. 

There  can't  be  too  much  rain  before  midsummer,  nor  too  little  after. 

— G.  B.  Worgan,  Agriculture  of  Cornwall,  3. 
'Tis  said  that  from  the  twelfth  of  May 
to  the  twelfth  of  July  all  is  day. — Spurgeon. 
Put  off  flannel  on  Midsummer   night   and  put   it  on  again   next 

morning. — Boerhave. 
Short  summers  lightly  have  a  forward  spring. — Shak.,  Richard  III., 

iii.  I  ;  Tusser;  B.  Jon.,  New  Inn.,  ii.  i. 
Little  mead, 
little  need.— P.  in  R.    1678, 

Mild  winter  after  bad  summer,  and  so  bees  badly  fed. 
If  many  white  thorn  blossoms  or  dog-roses  are  seen,  expect  a  severe 
winter. — Inwards. 

When  the  bramble  blossoms  early  in  June,  an  early  harvest  is 
expected. — (Scotland)  Murr. 

So  long  as  the  dog-rose  appears  before  Midsummer,  so  long  before 
Michaelmas  the  harvest  will  commence. — The  Star,  May  13, 
1794. 

Frosty  nights  and  hot  sunny  days 
set  the  corn-fields  all  in  a  blaze. — Sw. 


AUTUMN. 

A  blackberry  summer.  A  few  fine  days  at  the  close  of  September 
or  opening  of  October,  when  the  fruit  of  the  bramble  ripens 
[in  the  N.  of  England]. — Den. 

Pulcrorum  autumnus  pulcher. — Quoted  Bacon,  Essays.    Of  Beauty. 

Of  fair  things  the  autumn  is  fair. — Herb. 

Autunno  per  la  bocca  primavera  per  I'occhio. — Torr. 

370 


PROVERBS.  WINTER. 

If  on  the  trees  the  leaves  still  hold, 

the  winter  coming  will  be  cold. — Harland  and  Wn.,  Lane.  Leg.,  233. 

Where  we  fare  well  four  days  and  did  complain 

Like  harvest  folks  of  weather  and  the  rain. — Bp.  Corbet,  Itev  Boreah. 

A  huncht*  back-end,  and  melchf  Spring. — Peacock,  Lincoln  Glossary. 

*  Cold,  ungeuial.  t  Mild. 

Not  only  the  Spring,  but  the  Michaelmas  Spring, 
The  middle  Summer's  Spring. — Shak.,  Midsummer  Night's  Dream,  ii.  2. 
Thou  latter  Spring. — Shak.,  i  Henry  IV.,  i.  2. 
Thus  we  see  how  Fall  of  th'  leaf 
Adds  to  each  condition  grief ; 
Only  two  there  be  whose  wit 
Make  hereof  a  benefit. 
These  conclusions  try  on  man 
Surgeon  and  Physician, 
While  it  happens  now  and  then 
Kill  than  cure  they  sooner  can. 

Rd.  Brathwait,  Shepkeard  's  Tales,  1621,  p.  254.  [P.  302  in  reprint 
of  1887.— Ed.] 

WINTER. 

Come  sol  d'invierno 
quien  sale  tarde  e  pone  presto. 
Well,  horse,  winter  will  come. — Ho. 
The  English  winter,  ending  in  July, 
To  recommence  in  August. — Byron,  Don  yuan,  xiii.  42. 
There  is  but  one  winter  in  England,  but  the  difficulty  is  to  know 
when  it  begins  and  when  it  ends. 

Invierno  solagero 

verano  barrendero  [dusty], — Nunez,  1555. 
A  good  winter  bringeth  a  good  summer. — He.     ?  Dr. 
A  green  winter  makes  a  fat  churchyard. — R.,  1670.  [211. 

A  hot  Christmas     „  „  „  — Swan,  Spec.  Mun.,  1635,  p. 

Improved  drainage  and  more  wisely  chosen  sites  for  houses  have 
however  altered  this. 
If  the  blackbird  sings  before  Christmas  he  will  cry  before  Candlemas. 
As  long  as  the  bird  sings  before  Candlemas  he  will  greet  after  it. — K. 
When  there  is  a  Spring  in  winter  and  a  winter  in  Spring  the  year 
is  never  good.* — Cod. 

*  Won't  be  good  for  anything. 
A  mild  winter  makes  a  cold  summer, 
A  long  winter  maketh  a  full  ear. — Bacon,  Promus,  374. 
An  early  winter 
a  surly  winter.* — Den. 

sammer. — Roper. 

Au  air  winter 

makes  a  sair  winter. — Chambers. 

371 


WINTER.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Till  New  Year  sweat 

till  May  no  heat.— Globe,  lo/i/'Sy. 

Onion's  skin  very  thin, 

mild  winter  coming  in ; 

onion's  skin  thick  and  tough, 

coming  winter  cold  and  rough. — Inwards. 

One  woodcock  makes  no  winter. — J.Wilson,  The  Cheats,  1663.  C.  1636. 

The  woodcock's  early  visit  and  abode 

Of  long  continuance  in  our  temperate  clime 

Foretell  a  hberal  harvest. — PhilUps,  Cider,  II.,  177. 

Winter  finds  out  what  summer  lays  up. — R.,  1670, 

Winter  reveals 

what  summer  conceals. 

If  the  winter  is  windy  the  spring  will  be  rainy. — Agric.  Commun.,  S>c. 

Winter  is  summer's  heir. — R.,  1678. 

Al  invierno  Uuvioso 

verano  abondoso. — (Spanish)  R. 

Winter  never  dies  in  her  dam's  belly  (sure  of  frosts  or  snows,  first 
or  last). — Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS. 

Winter  never  rots  in  the  sky. — R.,  1670. 

Beware  therefore  of  extremities  and  till  the  Lord  hath  truly  brought 
down  thy  winter  out  of  the  sky  know  it  will  never  rot  there, 
it  must  be  the  merciful  calm  of  grace  which  must  bring  a 
settled  calm  upon  thy  soul. — Dan  Rogers,  Naaman,  pp.  264, 
565.     1642. 

Ne  caldo  ne  gielo 

non  resta  niai  in  cielo. — 1530. 

Winter  thunder 

is  old  men's  wonder. — CI. 

Winter  thunder 

is  summer's  wonder. 

Ho. ;  Willsford,  Nature's  Secrets,  p.  113 ;  T.  Jevon, 
The  Devil  of  a  Wife,  ii.,  1686. 
Winter  thunder 
bodes  summer  hunger. — M. 
Winter's  thunder  and  summer's  flood 
never  boded  Englishman  good. — Ho. ;  R.,  1670. 
Den.  has  "  Summer  in  winter." 

Who  doffs  his  coat  on  winter's  day 

will  gladly  put  it  on  in  May. — (Scotland)  Murr. 

Winter  time  for  shoeing, 

peascod  time  for  wooing. — (Devon.)     See  Haz.,  Brand,  ii.  57. 

Winter  weather  and  women's  thoughts  often  change. — Dr. 
Wedding  and  ill  wintering  tames  both  man  and  beast. — CI. 

Winter  tames  man,  woman,  and  beast. — Shak.,  Taming  of  the 
Shrew,  iv.  i. 

.372 


PROVERBS.  FESTIVALS. 


FHSTIlTAIiS. 

If  New  Year's  eve  night  wind  blows  South, 

it  betokeneth  warmth  and  growth  ; 

if  West,  much  milk  and  fish  in  the  sea ; 

if  North,  much  cold  and  storms  there  will  be  ; 

if  East,  the  trees  will  bear  much  fruit ; 

if  North-east,  flee  it,  man  and  brute. — Den. 

If  it  rain  much  during  the  twelve  days  after  Christmas,  it  will 
be  a  wet  year. — Inwards. 

He  might  be  not  altogether  improperly  charactered  an  ill  wind 
that  begins  to  blow  upon  Christmas  eve,  and  so  continues 
very  loud  and  blustering  all  the  twelve  days. — Brathwait, 
Whimzies,  1631 :  A  Pedler, 

Take  out,  then  take  in, 

bad  luck  will  begin  ; 

take  in,  then  take  out, 

good  luck  bring  about. — Brand. 

At  Twelfth-day  the  days  are  lengthened  a  cock-stride.  (The 
Italians  say  at  Christmas.) — R.,  1670. 

At  New-year's  day  a  cock  stride, 
at  Candlemas  an  hour  wide. — Den, 

At  New-Year's  tide 

the  days  lengthen  a  cock  stride. — North. 

Pray  don't  'ee  wash  on  New  Year's  day, 

or  you'll  wash  one  of  the  family  away. — N.,  VIII.,  ix.  46. 

Jan.  7.        On  St.  Distaff's  day 

neither  work  nor  play. — Den. 

Rock-day  dividing  the  holidays  from  work-days. 

[The  morrow  after  Twelfth  Day — Jan.  7,  called  Rock 
Day,  because  the  women  then  resumed  work  with 
the  rock  or  distaff,  or  professed  to  do  so. — Ed."] 

Jan.  22.      "St.  Vincent  Vincenti  festo 
si  sol  radiet  memor  esto. 

Prens  garde  au  jour  St.  Vincent 
car,  sy  ce  jour  tu  vois  at  sent 
que  de  soleil  soiet  cler  et  biau 
nous  erons  du  vin  plus  quel'sau. 

Jan.  25.       If  St.  Paul  be  fair  and  clear, 
then  betides  a  happy  year ; 
if  the  wind  do  blow  aloft, 
then  of  wars  we  shall  hear  full  oft ; 
if  the  clouds  make  dark  the  sky, 
great  store  of  people  then  will  die ; 
if  there  be  either  snow  or  rain, 
then  will  be  dear  all  sorts  of  grain. — F. 

373 


FESTIVALS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Clara  dies  Pauli  bonitatem  denotat  anni 
si  fuerint  venti  crudelia  proelia  genti 
quando  sunt  nebulse  pereunt  animalia  quaeque 
si  nix  aut  pluvia  sit,  tunc  fiunt  omnia  chara. 

Harl.  MS.  4043  ;  Eel.  Ant.,  ii.  10. 
Clara  dies  Pauli  multas  segetes  notat  anni 
Si  fuerint  nebulae,  aut  venti  erunt  proelia  genti. 

Feb.  2.        If  Candlemas  day  be  fair  and  bright, 
winter  will  have  another  flight ; 
if  on  Candlemas  day  it  be  shower  and  rain, 
winter  is  gone  and  will  not  come  again. — R,,  1678. 

If  Candlemas  day  is  fair  and  clear, 

there  '11  be  twa  winters  in  the  year. — (Scotland.) 

[corn  and  fruits  will  then  be  dear.— Inwards.] 

If  Cannlemas  day  be  lound  and  fair, 

yaw  hawf  o'  t'  winter  's  to  come  and  mair  ; 

if  Cannlemas  day  be  murk  an'  foul, 

yaw  hawf  o'  t'  winter 's  geean  at  Yule. 

Robinson,  Whifby  Glossary. 

On  Candlemas  day,  if  the  sun  shines  clear, 

the  shepherd  had  rather  see  his  wife  on  the  bier. — Forby,  E.  A . 

Hoc  mihi  dixit  Hiems,  Si  sim  quandoque  morosa 

In  Candeloso,  semper  ero  radiens. 

MS.  Harl.  4043,  i6th  Cy.,  f.  i  ra 

Men  were  wont  for  to  discern 

By  Candlemas  day  what  weather  should  hold. 

Skelton,  Garlande  of  Laurell. 

In  Yorkshire  ancient  people  say 

If  February's  second  day 

Be  very  fair  and  very  clear 

It  doth  portend  a  scanty  year 

For  hay  or  grass,  but  if  it  rains 

They  never  then  perplex  their  brains. — P.  Robin,  Feb.,  1735. 

As  big  as  bull-beef  at  Candlemas.— Den. 

My  Candlemas  bond  upon  you. 

Den. ;  Hone,  Every  Day  Book,  i.  12. 
i.e.  you  owe  me  a  New  Year's  gift. 

If  the  sun  shines  in  the  forenoon 

winter  is  not  half  done. — Gentleman's  Magazine,  I.,  403.     1799. 

A  Candlemas  eve  wind. — See  N.,  V.,  ii.  391. 

Where  the  wind  blows  on  Candlemas  eve  it  will  continue  till 
May  eve. 

At  Candlemas 

the  cold  comes  to  us. — F. 

If  it  neither  rains  nor  snows  on  Candlemas  day 

you  may  striddle  your  horse  and  go  and  buy  hay. — (Line.)  Haz. 

As  long  as  the  bird  sings  before  Candlemas,  so  long  she  greets 
after.— K. 

374 


PROVERBS.  FESTIVALS. 

As  far  as  the  sun  shines  in  on  old  Candlemas  day, 
so  far  will  the  snow  blow  in  before  old  May. 

Mrs.  Lubbock,  Norfolk  Arch.,  ii.  291. 
First  comes  Candlemas,  then  the  new  moon, 
and  the  next  Tuesday  after  is  Fasten's  e'en. 

i.e.  Shrove  Tuesday. 
When  once  is  come  Candlemas  day 
leave  off  at  cards  and  dyce  to  play. — P.  Robin,  1702. 
At  Candlemas  day 

it 's  time  to  sow  beans  in  the  clay. — ?  Ellis. 
On  Candlemas  day 

throw  candle  and  candlestick  away. — P.  in  R.,  1678. 
On  Candlemas  day 

you  must  have  half  your  straw*  and  half  your  hay. — R.,  1678. 
*  Turnips. — Lubbock.     Stover. — Haz.  (2nd  ed.),  p.  381. 
The  rule  of  husbandry  that  at  Candlemas  a  prudent  husband- 
man should  have  half  his  fodder  and  all  his  corn  remain- 
ing.— Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS.,  1639. 
On  Candlemas  day 
a  good  goose  will  lay, 

but  on  Candlemas  day  [?  Valentine's. — Ed.] 
any  goose  will  lay. — Den. 
Candlemas  day 
the  good  husewife's  goose  lay, 
Valentine  day 

yours  and  mine  may. — Haz. 

From   Candlemas  to   May  is   called   the   Canting  quarter,  a 
species  of  chaffing. 

Does  your  goose  lay  ? 
Does  your  maid  stay  ? 
is  a  couplet  in  vogue,  farmhouse  servants  being  then  "  hired 
for  May." — Jackson,  Shropshire  Word  Book. 
When  Candlemas  day  is  come  and  gone 
the  snow  lies*  on  a  hot  stone. — R.,  1678. 

*  Won't  lie. — Lubbock. 
When  the  wind 's  in  the  East  on  Candlemas  day 
there  it  will  stick  till  the  second  of  May. 

N.,  I.,  V.  462  ;  vi.  238,  334,  421. 

Feb.  12.      If  the  sun  shines  on  St.  Eulalie's  day 

it  is  good  for  apples  and  cider,  they  say. — (French.) 

Feb.  14.      In  Valentine 

March  lays  her  line. — Baker,  Northamptonshire  Glossary, 

On  Saint  Valentine 

all  the  birds  of  the  air  in  couples  do  join. — Forby,  E.  A . 

Saint  Valentine 

set  thy  hopper  by  mine. — R.,  1678. 

By  Valentine's  day  every  good  goose  should  lay, 

but  by  David  and  Chad  both  good  and  bad. 

Chamberlain,  W.  Worcestershire  Words  [E.  D.  S.] 

375 


FESTIVALS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

On  Valentine's  day 

will  a  good  goose  lay ; 

if  she  be  a  good  goose,  her  dame  well  to  pay, 

she  will  lay  two  eggs  laefore  Valentine's  day. — R.,  1678. 

To  Saint  Valentine  the  spring  is  a  neighbour. — Ho. 

On  St.  Valentine's  day 

cast  beans  in  clay, 

but  on  St.  Chad 

sow  good  or  bad. — Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS. 

(Seed-time  of  that  Lenten  crop  limited  between  Feb.  14th  and 
March  and.) 
Feb.  24.     Saint  Mathias.    (The  farmer's  day. — Norfolk  Ant.  Misc.,  i.) 
Saint  Matthee 
shut  up  the  bee. — R.,  1678. 
Saint  Matthee 

sends  sap  into  the  tree. — R.,  1678. 
Saint  Mattho 

take  thy  hopper  and  sow. — R.,  1678. 
Saint  Matthy 
all  the  year  goes  by. — R.,  1678. 

Because  in  leap-year  the  supernumerary  day  is  intercalated. 
Saint  Matthew* 
get  candlesticks  new : 
Saint  Matthy 
lay  candlesticks  by. — Forby,  E.  A . 

*  September  21. 

March  i.     Quoth  Saint  David,  "  I  '11  have  a  flood." 

25.     Saith  our  Lady,  "  I  '11  have  as  good."* — P.  Robin,  1684.- 

*  Spring-tides  in  Wales. 

March  i,  2,  3.     First  comes  David,  next  comes  Chad, 

and  then  comes  Winneralf  as  though  he  was  mad. 

Hone,  Every  Day  Book^ 
+  Winnold. — D.        St.  Winwaloe  was  Archbishop  of  Touralain. 
White  or  black 

or  old  house  thack. — N.,  L,  i.  349,  where  these  last  words  are 

interpreted,  "  Snow,  rain,  or  wind," 
the  latter  endangering  the  thatch. 
March  i,  2.    David  and  Chad 

sow  good  or  bad. — Ho. 
David  and  Chad 

sow  peas  good  or  bad. — R.,  1670. 
Upon  Saint  David's  day 

put  oats  and  barley  in  the  clay.—  P.  in  R.,  1678. 
Ray  considers  this  too  early. 

March  2.     Before  St.  Chad 

every  goose  lays,  both  good  and  bad. — R.,  1678. 
Pascua  Marzal  hambre  o  mortandad  [Plague  or  slaughter]. — 
Nunez,  1555. 

V 

376 


PROVERBS.  FESTIVALS. 

On  Mothering  Sunday,  above  all  other, 

every  child  should  dine  with  its  mother.— Baker,  N'hants  Gloss. 
March  17.     On  Saint  Patrick's  day 

let  all  your  horses  play. — D. 
March  21.     Saint  Benedick 

sow  thy  pease  or  keep  them  in  thy  rick. — R.,  1678. 
No  puede  mas  faltar  que  Marzo  de  Quare  ma. — Nunez,  1555. 
As  sure  as  March  in  Lent. — Codrington's  Prov.,  1672. 
When  the  Pancake  bell  begins  to  knell, 
the  frying-pan  begins  to  smell. — Den. ;  Folk  Lore  of  the  N.  of  E., 

1850,  19. 
As  bashful  as  a  Lentel  lover. — D.     i.e.  one  who  abstains  from 

touching  his  mistress.     See  Cotgrave,  Diet.  Caresme. 
Marry  in  Lent 

and  you  '11  live  to  repent. — (E.  Ang.)  Haz. 
Never  come  Lent,  never  come  winter. 

Salmon  and  sermon  have  their  season  in  Lent, — R.,  1670,  tr. 
Saumon  comme  sermon 
en  Carfime  ont  leur  saison. 
So  much  as  the  sun  shineth  on  Shrove  Tuesday,  the  like  will  shine 
every  day  in  Lent. — Shepherd's  Almanack  for  1676,  February. 
Fartar  gatos  que  he  dia  de  Entrudo  [Shrove  Tuesday], — (Port.) 

Bluteau. 
Shrove  Sunday, 

Collop  Monday,  Pancake  Tuesday, 
Ash  Wednesday,  bloody  Thursday, 
Friday's  lang  but  will  be  dune, 
And  hey  for  Saturday  afternune. — Den. 
On  Lady-day  the  later 
the  cold  comes  on  the  water. — F. 
On  Shrove  Tuesday  night,  though  thy  supper  be  fat, 
before  Easter  day  thou  may'st  fast  for  all  that. 

(Isle  of  Man)  Haz. 
Wherever  the  wind  lies  on  Ash  Wednesday  it  continues  all 

Lent,— Forby,  £.  A. 
Care  Sunday,  care  away 
Palm  Sunday  and  Easter  day. — Den. 
He  that  hath  not  a  palm  in  his  hand  on  Palm  Sunday  must 

have  his  hand  cut  off. — Den. 
Nan  los  clerigos  a  los  concejos 
traen  los  cucos  en  los  capellos. — Gallego,  Porque. 
En  su  tierra  van  los  clerigos  la  Semana  Sancta  a  sus  Obispos  y 

a  la  buelta  dizen  esto  porque  es  entonce,  el  tiempo  que 

vienen  los  cucos. — Nunez,  1555. 
Tid,  mid  et  misera,* 
carling  Palm  and  good  Pacedayf. — Den. 

•  The  first  words  of  the  Psalms :  Te  Deum,  mi  Deus,  and  miserere  mihi. 
t  Paste  egg. 

377 


FESTIVALS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Mas  largo  que  el  Sabado  Sancto. — Nunez,  1555. 

The  wind  that  blows  on  Palm  Sunday  generally  prevails  through 
summer. — N. 

Sabato  manda  I'uova  e  Pasqua  le  benedice.  The  English 
tradition  is,  Hai  for  an  egg  at  Easter. — Torr. 

Benedetto  come  I'uovo  di  Pasqua.  i.e.  quasi  maladetto,  perche 
i'uovo  di  Pasqua  vogliono  che  non  durino  piii  che  tre 
giorni. — Torr. 

An  egg  at  Easter.     See  Haz.,  Brand,  i.  95. 

As  hard  as  an  egg  at  Easter. — Den. 

Esser  spacciato  a  segno  che  I'uovo  di  Pasqua  no'l  salo  arebbe. — 
Torr. 

Bosco  Pasco  Karenza  Venza.     The  Boscawen  motto. 

By  beef  at  Easter  love  cometh. 
You  keep  Easter  when  I  keep  Lent. — F. 
If  it  rains  on  Good  Friday  and  Easter  day 
it 's  a  good  year  of  grass  and  a  sorry  year  of  hay. — (Wore.)  Lees. 

Rain  on  Easter  day, 

plenty  of  grass  but  little  good  hay. — Sternberg. 
If  the  sun  shines  on  Easter  day  it  shines  on  Whitsunday  like- 
wise.— Den. 
Easter,  so  longed  for,  is  gone  in  a  day. — Ho. 
When  Easter-day  falls  on  our  Lady's  lap 
■    then  let  England  beware  a  rap. — See  note  Haz.  (2nd  ed.),  p.  475. 

When  our  Lord  doth  lie  in  our  Lady's  lap, 

then,  O  England,  beware  of  a  clap. — Codr. 
Pascha  voglia  o  non  voglia 
non  vien  mai  senza  foglia. 
Quando  Marcus  Pascha  dabit 
Et  Antonius  Pentecosten  celebrabit 
Et  Johannes  Christum  adorabit 
Totus  mundus  Vae  clamabit.— N.,  VI.,  xii.  49. 
Altas  o  bajas 

en  Abril  son  las  Pascuas. — Nunez,  1555. 
Despues  de  Pascua  nao  tem  sazaon 
ne  figos,  ne  passas,  ne  predicacion. — (Port.)  Nunez,  1555. 
At  Easter  let  your  clothes  be  new, 
or  else  be  sure  you  will  it  rue. 

Did'st  thou  not  fall  out  with  a  tailor  for  wearing  his  new  doublet 
before  Easter? — Shak.,  Romeo  and  Juliet,  iii.  1. 

April  23.     About  St.  George,  when  blue  is  worn, 

bluebells  the  fields  and  woods  adorn. — Lees. 
Wear  a  blue  coat  on  great  Saint  George's  day. — Barry,  Ram 
Alley,  v. 

April  23.     St.  George  cries  "  Goe ! " 

24.     Saint  Mark  cries  "  Ho  !  "—Aubrey,  Nat.  Hisi.  of  Wilts. 

378 


PROVERBS.  FESTIVALS. 

You  have  skill  of  man  and  beast,  you  was  born  between  the 
Beltans*.— K. 

*  ist  and  8th  May. 

At  Christmas  great  loaves,  at  Easter  clean  souls,  and  at  Whit- 
suntide new  clothes. — Ho.     See  Easter. 

If  you  sow  the  seeds  of  the  stock  on  Good  Friday  at  sunset, 
the  flowers  will  come  double. — (Wore.)  Lees. 

No  dexes  los,  pellejos* 

hasta  que  Vengan  los  Galileos.f— Ho. 

*  Waistcoat.  f  Gospel  for  Ascension. 

Black  lad  Monday.     The  Monday  in  Easter  week. — D. 

Fine  on  Ascension  day,  wet  on  Whit  Monday  [and  the 
converse]. — (Hunts.)  iV.,  IV. 

At  Whitsuntide  poke-Monday,  when  people  shear  kogs:  viz., 
Never. —  Ho. 

Despues  de  la  Ascension 

ni  salmon  ni  sermon. — Nunez,  1555. 

Cf,    San  Vio 

La  moier  batte  il  mario. 

June  II.     When  Barnaby  bright  shines  night  and  day, 
poor  Ragged  Robin  blooms  in  the  hay. — Lees. 

Tune  — ■     barnaby  bright, 

•'        21.    the  longest  day  and  shortest  night. — Ho. ;  R.,  78. 

June  15.     If  Saint  Vitus'  day  be  rainy  weather 

it  will  rain  for  thirty  days  together. — Den. 

Quand  Jean  fait  jeuner  Dieu* 
la  Paix  regne  en  tout  lieu. 

C.C.  day  falls  on  23rd  June,  owing  to  a  late  Easter. 
*  i.e.  Fete  Dieu. 

June  24.     St.  John  Baptist. 

Cut  o£F  thistles  before  St.  John 

you  will  have  two  instead  of  one. — Forby,  E,  A , 

July  4.     St.  Martin  of  Bullion. 

If  the  deer  rise  dry  and  lie  down  dry  on  Bullion's  day  there  will 
be  a  good  gose  harvest,  i.e.  in  the  last  days  of  summer. — 
Chambers,  Booh  of  Days. 

Bullion's  day  gif  ye  be  fair 

for  forty  days  there  '11  be  na  mair. — B.  Jon.,  Every  Man  out  of 
his  Humour,  i. 
July  15.     All  the  tears  that  St.  Swithin  can  cry 

24.     Saint  Bartholomew's  dusty  mantle  wipes  dry. — Inwards. 

If  St.  Swithin  weep  that  year  the  proverb  says 

the  weather  will  be  foul  for  forty  days. — F. ;  P.  Robin,  1697. 

If  it  rain  on  St.  Swithin' s  day  expect  'twill  do  so  forty  days 
after  more  or  less. — Ho. 

379 


FESTIVALS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

St.  Swithin's  day,  if  thou  dost  rain, 
for  forty  days  it  will  remain  ; 
St.  Swithin's  day,  if  thou  be  fair, 
for  forty  days  'twill  rain  nae  mair. — Den. 
How  if  on  Swithin's  feast  the  welkin  lowers, 
and  ev'ry  penthouse  streams  with  hasty  showers, 
twice  twenty  days  shall  clouds  their  fleeces  drain, 
and  wash  the  pavements  with  incessant  rain. 

Gay,  Trivia.,  i.  183. 

In  a  majority  of  our  summers  a  showery  period,  which  with 

some   latitude   as  to   time   and   circumstances   may   be 

admitted  to  constitute  daily  rain   for  forty   days,  does 

come  on  about  this  time,  but  it  is  not  marked  off  by  any 

long  space  of  dry  weather  preceeding  it. — Forster,  The 

Perennial  Calendar. 

St.  Swithin  is  said  to  be  christening  the  apples. — Den.    And  see 

under  July. 

Till  St.  Swithin's  day  be  past 
the  apples  are  not  fit  to  taste. 
July  20.     St.  Margaret. 

Margaret's  flood.     Heavy  rains. 
St.  Mary  Magdalene  said  to  be  washing  her  handkerchief  to 
go  to  her  cousin   St.   James'   fair. — F.  L.  Journ.,  iii., 
Derbyshire. 

July  22.     St.  Mary  Magdalene's  day.     The  roses  begin  to  fade. 

July  25.     Whoever  eats  oysters  on  St.  James'  day  will  never  want 
money. — Den. 
Till  Saint  James'  day  be  come  and  gone 
you  may  have  hops  or  you  may  have  none. — R.,  1670. 

Aug.  I.     Lammas.     Contracted  from  St.  Peter  ad  vincula-mass. — 
D.  Laing,  n.  to  Andrew,  of  Wyntoun,  iii.  391. 
After  Lammas  corn  ripens  as  much  by  night  as  by  day  from 

the  heavy  night  dews. — P.  in  R.,  1678. 
The  Lammas  flood  was  never  lost. — Spectator,  i/6/'95. 
Gula  Augusti.     The  calends  or  first  day  of  August. 
Till  Lammas  day  (called  August's  wheel), 
when  the  long  corn  stinks  of  camomile*. 

Mactaggart,  Gallovidian  Encyc. 
*  La  goute  d'Aout  (corn  marigold). 
Aug.  15.     Assumption  of  B.V.M. 
When  Mary  left  us  here  below 
the  Virgin's  Bower  begins  to  blow. 
i.e.  the  Clematis  vitalba. 

Aug.  24.     St.  Bartholomew 

brings  the  cold  dew. — R.,  1678. 

Sept.  I.     Saint  Giles'  breed;  fat,  ragged  and  saucy. — Bo. 

Saint  Giles'  house.     The  gallows. — Roxh.  Ball,  ed.  Collier,  3. 

380 


PROVERBS.  FESTIVALS. 

Sept.  14.     If  dry  be  the  buck's  horn 
on  Holyrood  morn, 

'tis  worth  a  kist  of  gold ; 
but  if  wet  it  be  seen 
ere  Holyrood  e'en, 
bad  harvest  is  foretold. — (Yorksh.)  N.,  II.,  vi.  522. 
On  Holyrood  day  the  devil  goes  a-nutting. — Forby,  E.  A . 
If  the  hart  and  the  hind  meet  dry  and  part  dry  on  Rood-day  fair, 
for  sax  weeks  of  rain  there  '11  be  na  mair. 

To  Buckinghamshire  he  dress'd  him  thence, 
At  Ixill  before  the  deer  fell  to  offence, 
To  finish  that  time  his  hunting  season. 
For  Holyrood  day  was  then  past  and  gone. 

W.  Forrest,  Grysild  the  Second,  p.  69.     1558. 

Sept.  21.     Saint  Matthew 

get  candlesticks  new. — Forby,  E.  A.     See  St.  Matthy. 
St.  Matthew 

brings  on  the  cold  dew. — F.     See  St.  Bartholomew. 
Sept.  29.     Michaelmas  rot 

comes  never  in  the  pot. — CI. ;  R.,  1670. 
[comes  short  of  the  pot.] 
Those   sheep  which,  by  wet  summers,  honeydews,  or  like 
causes  of  rot,  which  then  commonly  comes  in  August  or 
September,  rotting  at  Michelmas,  die  in  Lent  after,  when 
that  season  of  the  year  permitted  not  the  poor  man  to 
eat  them. — Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS. 
On   Michaelmas  day  the  devil  puts   his   foot   on   the   black- 
berries.— N. 
(About  this  time  in  a  wet  season  the  fly  deposits  her  eggs 
in  the  fruit.) 
So  many  days  old  the  moon  is  on  Michaelmas  day,  so  many 

floods  after. — Ho.;  Stevenson,  Twelve  Months,  1661,  p.  44. 
The  Michaelmas  moon 
rises  nine  nights  a'  alike  soon. — Ch. 
A  hoarfrost  on  Michaelmas  day  in  the  morning  denotes  a  hard 

winter. 
Michaelmas  chickens  and  parsons'  daughters  never  come  to 

good. — Northall,  Folk  Phrases  of  Four  Counties. 
Eat  less  and  drink  less 
and  buy  a  knife  at  Michaelmas. — Ho. 

Saint  Luke's  summer.     A  few  days  before  and  after. 
Oct.  18.     On  Saint  Luke's  day 

the  oxen  have  leave  to  play. — F. 
About  Saint  Luke's  day 
let  the  tup  have  his  way. 
Oct.  28.     St.  Simon  and  Jude. 
Simon  and  Jude 
all  the  ships  on  the  sea  home  they  do  crowd. 

381 


FESTIVALS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Dost  thou  know  her  then  ? 

Trap.     As  well  as  I  know  'twill  rain  upon  Simon  and  Jude's 

day  next. — Middleton,  The  Roaring  Girl,  i.  i . 
/.  Dapper.     Now  a  continual  Simon  and  Jude's  rain  beat  all 

your  feathers  as  flat  down  as  pancakes. — Ih.,  ii.  i. 

Nov.  1.     All  Saints. 

Martillmas  beef  doth  bear  good  tack 
when  country  folk  do  dainties  lack. — Tusser. 
If  ducks  do  slide  at  Hollantide, 
at  Christmas  they  will  swim ; 
if  ducks  do  swim  at  Hollantide, 
at  Christmas  they  will  slide. 
At  Saint  Martin's  day 

winter  is  on  his  way. — Ho.     (Verified  1881-82.) 
When  the  ice  before  Martlemas  bears  a  duck 
then  look  for  a  winter  of  mire  and  muck. — Evans,  Leicester. 

Nov.  II.     As  fat  as  a  bacon-pig  at  Martlemas. — Den. 

i.e.  after  pasture  is  over,  and  when  killing  and  curing  begin. 
If  the  ice  will  bear  a  goose  before  Christmas,  it  will  not  bear  a 

duck  after. — Den.     See  November. 

If  there  is  ice  that  will  bear  a  duck  before  Martlemas,  there 

will   be   none  that  will   bear  a   goose   all  the  winter. — 

(Midland)  Haz. 

The  winter  of  1880 — 1881   disproved  the  first   proverb,  as 

skates  were  used  before  Christmas  and  again  at  the  end 

of  January  during  a  continuous  frost  of  more  than  a  week. 

If  the  ice  bears  a  man  before  Christmas  it  will  not  bear  a 

mouse  after. 
When  the  plough  is  stopped  three  times  before  Christmas  there 

will  be  no  more  frosts  after. — (Berkshire.) 
If  the  wind  is  in  the  S.W.  at  Martinmas  it  keeps  there  till  after 

Candlemas. — Inwards. 
Expect  St.  Martin's  summer,  halcyon  days. 

Shak.,  I  Henry  VI.,  I.  ii.,  131. 
Between  Martinmas  and  Yule 
water 's  wine  in  every  pool. — Ch. 

Nov.  23.     Cattern  and  Clement  comes  year  by  year, 
some  of  your  apples  and  some  of  your  beer. 

J.  Allies  in  Athenceum,  1847. 

Nov.  25.     Da  Santa  Catarina  a  Natale 

v'e  un  mese  per  uguale. — Torr. 

Dec.  13.     Lucy  [bright]  Light, 

the  shortest  day  and  the  longest  night. — R.,  1678. 
In  old  style  St.  Lucy's  day  was  the  21st  Dec. 
Their's  was  a  Saint  Lucy's  day,  short  and  cloudy;  ours  is  a 
Saint  Barnaby's  day,  which  hath  scarce  any  night  at  all. — 
T.  Adams,  p.  1222. 

382 


PROVERBS.  FESTIVALS. 

Cada  cosa  en  su  tiempo 
y.nabos  en  Adviento. — Nunez,  1555. 
Dec.  21.     Saint  Thomas  gray,  St.  Thomas  gray, 

the  longest  night  and  the  shortest  day. — N. 
St.  Thomas  divine, 

brewing,  baking,  and  kiUing  of  fat  swine. — Agnc.  Comm. 
The  wind  for  the  next  lunar  quarter  will  stick  wherever  it  is  on 
St.  Thomas  day  at  noon. — Inwards. 
Dec.  26.     If  you  bleed  your  nag  on  St.  Stephen's  day 
he'll  work  your  work  for  ever  and  aye. — Den. 
[three  days  after  or  three  days  before 
Advent  Sunday  knocks  at  the  door.] 

J.  E.  Vaux,  Church  Folk  Lore,  p.  216. 
Saint  Andrew  the  King 
three   weeks  and  three   days  before   Christmas    comes   in. — 

Forby,  E.  Ang. 
Blessed  be  Saint  Stephen, 
there  is  no  fast  upon  his  even. 

Because  'tis  Christmas  night. — Ho. 
Ghosts  never  appear  on  Christmas  eve. — Den. 

Cf.  Shak.,  Hamlet  I.,  i.  158. 
Christmas  comes  but  once  a  year — C,  1614. 
and  when  it  comes  it  brings*  good  cheer, 
but  when  it 's  gone  it 's  never  the  near. — R.,  1670. 

*  there  is. — Ho. 
Christide  cometh  but  once  in  the  year. — Dr. 
Coming !  ay,  so  is  Christmas. — S.,  P.  C,  i. 
They  keep  Christmas  all  the  year. — Walker,  Par. ;  p.  25. 
A  black  Christmas  makes  a  fat  churchyard. — Den. 
A  green  Yule  and  a  white  Pays  make  a  fat  Kirkyard. — Dean 
Ramsay. 

Vert  Noe,  blanques  Paques. 

They  talk  of  Christmas  so  long  that  it  comes. — R.,  1670,  tr. 

Christmas  lasts  not  all  the  year  (Occasio). — CI. 

Light  Christmas,  light  wheatsheaf ; 

dark  Christmas,  heavy  wheatsheaf. — Inwards. 

A  light  Christmas,  a  heavy  sheaf.* — Ho. 

*  Sheath. — Agric.  Comm. 
A  green  Christmas  brings  a  heavy  harvest. — N.,  IV.,  x.  i. 
Green  Christmas,  white  Easter. — Cheales. 

If  the  sun  shines  on  Christmas  day  there  will  be  accidents  by 
fire*  all  the  next  year. — Agric.  Comm. 

*  Incendiary  fires. — Chamberlain,  West  Wore.  Words, 
If  Christmas  day  be  bright  and  clear 
there  '11  be  two  winters  in  the  year. 

Havergal,  Herefordshire  Words. 

383 


FESTIVALS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Those  who  are  born  on  Christmas  day  cannot  see  spirits. — 
Grose. 

If  Christmas  day  on  a  Monday  fall 

a  troublous  winter  we  shall  have  all. — Den.   Haz.  says  Sunday. 

La  Navidad  al  sol  y  la  de  Flores*  al  fuego 
si  quies  el  ano  derechero. — Nunez,  1555. 

*  Easter. 
He 's  a  fool 
who  marries  at  Yule, 
for  when  the  bairn 's  to  bear 
the  corn 's  to  shear. — Hen. 

A  gowf  at  Yule  will  no  be  bright  at  Beltane  [Whitsimtide]. 

C/.  Festivals,  May  i  and  8. — Cunningham,  Bums'  Glossary. 

Tu  cries  Noel  devant  qu'il  soit  venu. — Cordier,  1538.  i.e. 
triompher  devant  le  victoire. 

Better  have  a  new-laid  egg  at  Christmas  than  a  calf  at  Easter. 
— Chamberlain,  West  Wore.  Words. 

A  Yule  feast  may  be  quit  at  Pasch. — Ferg.  i.e.  don't  return 
civilities  too  quickly  nor  too  tardily. 

After  a  Christmas  comes  a  Lent. — R.,  1678. 

As  many  mince-pies  as  you  eat  at  Christmastide,  so  many  happy 
days  you  will  have  in  the  New  Year.  ?  at  dififerent  tables, 
so  refreshing  your  friendships. 

It  is  easy  to  cry  "  Yule  "  at  other  men's  cost. — He. 

It  is  eith  to  cry  Zula  on  ane  uder  manis  coist. — Bann.,  MS. 
in  Hen. 

It 's  eith  crying  Yule 

on  anither  man's  stool. — Ramsay. 

Now 's  now,  but  Yule 's  in  winter. — K. 

Feastings  are  the  physician's  harvest-Christmas. — CI.  [Should 
not  the  last  word  be  first  ? — V.  S.  L.] 

Yule  is  young  on  Yule  even, 
and  is  old  on  St.  Stephen. 

People  rush  at  novelties  and  as  quickly  tire  of  them. — K. 

Yule  is  good  on  Yule  even. — CI.  i.e.  everything  in  its  season. — 
R.,  1670. 

He  that  maketh  at  Christmas  a  dog  his  larder, 
and  in  March  a  sow  his  gardener, 

and  in  May  a  fool  a  keeper  of  wise  counsel,  [counsel, 

he  shall  never   have  good  larder,  fair  garden,  nor  well-kept 
Lansdowne  MS.  762,  temp.  Henry  V. ;  Rel.  Ant.,  i.  233. 

Dec.  27.     St.  John  the  Evangelist, 
Never  rued  the  man 
that  laid  in  his  fuel  before  St.  John. — F. 

384 


PROVERBS.  MOON. 

MOON. 

See  Saturday. 
An  old  moon  in  a  mist 
is  worth  gold  in  a  kist,* 
but  a  new  moon's  mist 
will  never  lack  thristf. — Den. 

*  Chest.        t  Thirst. 
As  safe  as  treasure  in  a  kist 
is  the  day  in  an  old  moon's  mist. — Den. 
An  auld  moon  mist 

never  dies  o'  thrist. — Mactaggart,  Gall.  Enc. 
Primus,  secundus,  tertius,  nuUus. 

Quartus  aliquis, 
Quintus,  sextus,  qualis, 

Tota  luna  taUs. 

M.  Bugeaud's  rule  in  planning  expeditions. — Steinmetz. 
Change  at  midnight  good  promise. 
When  Luna  lowres 

then  April  showers. — Taylor  (W.  P.)'s  Shilling,  1622. 
A  fog  and  a  small  moon 
bring  an  easterly  wind  soon. — Cornwall. 
A  new  moon  soon  seen  is  long  thought  of. — Den. 
A  new  moon  with  sharp  horns  threatens  windy  weather. — Den. 
When  early  seen  'tis  seldom  seen. — Glyde,  Norfolk  Garland. 
Luna  en  cresciente 
luna  en  menguante 
euernos  a  Oriente 
euernos  adelante. — Nunez,  1555. 

The  nearer  to  twelve  in  the  afternoon  the  drier  the  moon, 
the  nearer  to  twelve  in  the  forenoon  the  wetter  the  moon. 

Havergal,  Herefordshire  Words. 
The  full  moon  eats  clouds. — (Sea)  Inwards. 
The  full  moon  brings  fair  weather. — Den. 
When  the  moon 's  in  the  full  then  wit 's  in  the  wane. — Den. 
Midsummer  moon. — Ho.     i.e.  madness. 

Shak. ;  Nash,  Have  withyou,  p.  39,  ed.  of  1869. 
The  harvest  moon :  that  of  September. 
The  hunter's  moon  :  that  of  October. 
La  luna  sole  de'  Zingari. — Torr. 
When  the  moon  is  at  the  full 
mushrooms  you  may  freely  pull, 
but  when  the  moon  is  on  the  wane 
wait  ere  you  think  to  pluck  again. — (Essex)  Dyer,  p.  42. 
cerco  de  luna 
nunca  hinche  laguna 
cerco  del  sol 
moja  el  pastor. — Nunez,  1555. 

VOL.  ..  385  25 


MOON.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Near  bur,  far  rain. — Forby,  E.  A.    i.e.  halo  or  brough. 

A  far-off  broch  is  a  near-hand  blast. — Spectator,  June  i,  1895. 

A  far-off  brough 

is  a  storm  near  enough. — Brockett,  N.  C.  W. 

When  round  the  moon  there  is  a  brugh  * 

the  weather  will  be  cold  and  rough. — Den. 

*  Halo. 

Far  burr,  near  rain. — (Sea)  Inwards. 

Circolo  lontano  pioggia  vicina 

circolo  vicino  pioggia  lontano. 

When  the  wheel  is  far  the  storm  is  n'ar, 

when  the  wheel  is  n'ar  the  storm  is  far. — Roper. 

The  bigger  the  ring,  the  nearer  the  wet. — N.,  I.,  ii.  434. 

Pallida  luna  pluit,  rubicunda  flat,  alba  serenat. — CI. 

Pale  moon  doth  rain,  red  moon  doth  blow, 

white  moon  doth  neither  rain  nor  snow. — CI. 

Clear  moon 

frost  soon. — (Scotland)  Murr. 

If  the  moon  shows  a  silver  shield 

be  not  afraid  to  reap  your  field.  ■ 

Harland  and  Wn.,  Lancash.  Leg.,  p.  233. 

The  bonny*  moon  is  on  her  back, 

mend  your  shoon  and  sort  your  thack.f 

*  ?  horny,        f  i.e.  prepare  for  wet  weather. 

Two  full  moons  in  a  calendar  month  bring  on  a  flood. 

(Bedfordshire)  A''.,  I.,  xi.  416. 

When  the  harvest  moon  is  high  the  price  of  bread  will  be  high ;  when 
low,  bread  will  be  cheap. — Havergal,  Herefordshire  Words. 

The  harvest  moon 

rises  nine  nights  alike  soon. 

As  she  is  passing  through  one  of  her  Northern  nodes,  or  ascend- 
ing while  the  sun  is  Southing  beyond  the  Equator,  and 
descending,  her  march  round  the  earth  becomes,  as  it 
were,  obvious  on  the  horizon.  Every  night  for  about  nine 
together  we  find  her  having  her  13  degrees  of  more 
amplitude  from  the  South  which  are  about  her  daily 
number,  and  so  waning  away  to  the  North. — Mactaggart, 
Gall.  Enc.  So  there  is  no  interval  of  darkness  to  hinder 
harvest  operations. 

To  know  what  wether  shall  be  alle  the  yere  after  the  chaunge  of 
every  moone  by  the  pry  me  days  : — 

Sunday    Pryme,   dry  weather. 
Monday         ,,        moist  weather. 


Tuesday 

Wednesday 

Thursday 

Fryday 

Saturday 


cold  and  winde. 
mervellous. 
Sonne  clere. 
fayre  and  foule. 
rayne. 


SS6 


PROVERBS.  LOCALITIES. 

liOOAIilTIBS. 

Mist  muged  on  the  mor,  malt  on  the  mountes, 
Uch  hille  had  a  hatte,  a  myst-hakel  huge. 

Sa  Gawayn,  ed.  Madden,  p.  77. 
The  "  crying  "  of  the  Dart  foretells  rain.    "  We  shall  have  a  change. 
I  hear  the  Broadstones  [in  the  river-bed]  crying,  or  else  'tis 
Jordan  Ball "  [near  the  river]. — Trans.  Devonsh,  Assoc,  viii.  58. 
When  Bredon  Hill  *  puts  on  his  hat, 
ye  men  of  the  vale  beware  of  that. — Higson. 

*  Worcestershire  and  Gloucestershire. 
When  Cairn's  Muir*  wears  a  hat, 
The  Macher's  Rills  f  may  laugh  at  that. — Murr. 
Wigtonshire.     The  first  N.N.E.  of  last. 
*  Puts  on  his  hat. — Chambers. 
+  Palmuir  and  Skyreburn  (mountain  rivulets). — Chambers;  [Galloway]. 

When  Chevyut  ye  see  put  on  his  cap, 
of  rain  ye  '11  have  a  wee  bit  drap. — Higson. 

If  Cornsancone  put  on  his  cap  and  the  Knipe  be  clear,  it  will  rain 
within  24  hours. 
New  Cumnock.     Cornsancone  Hill  is  to  the  E.,  and  the  Knipe 
to  the  S.  W.,  of  this  district. 
When  Criffell  wears  a  hap* 
Skiddaw  wots  full  well  o'  that. — Chambers. 

*  i.e.  covering. 
When  Craig  Owl  puts  on  his  cowl  and  Collie  Law  his  hood, 
Then  a'  the  Lundy  lads  ken  there  will  be  a  flood. — (Forfarshire.) 
When  Falkland  hill  puts  on  his  cap 
the  Howe  o'  Fife  will  get  a  drap, 
and  when  the  Bishop*  draws  his  cowl 
look  out  for  wind  and  weather  foul. — (Fifeshire)  Chambers. 

*  Bishop  Hill  and  other  prominent  conical  eminences  in  the  Lomond 
Range 

If  Ingleborough  has  got  a  cap, 
Warton  Crag  will  have  a  sap. — Roper. 
When  crops  are  clearly  seen  round  Grange 
the  weather  soon  will  have  a  change. — (Lancaster)  Roper. 
When  Haldon  hath  a  hac 

let  Kenton  beware  of  a  skac. — (Devon)  Brice,  Diet. 
When  Heytor  rock  wears  a  hood 
Manxton  folk  may  expect  no  good. — (S.  Devon)  Haz. 
Keep  your  eye  to  Hingston*.     Keep  the  main  object  in  view. — 
Shelley,  n.  Haz. 
*  i.e.  Hengeston,  in  E.  Cornwall,  near  Callington:   high  downs,  serving 
for  weather  guide. 

When  Largo  Law  puts  on  his  hat 
let  Kellie  Law  beware  of  that, 
when  Kellie  Law  gets  on  his  cap 
Largo  Law  may  laugh  at  that. — Murr. 
The  first  is  to  the  S.W,  of  the  other. 

387 


LOCAUTtEs.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

A  Merse  mist  alang  the  Tweed 

in  a  harvest  morning 's  gude  indeed. — Hen. 

There  's  a  high  wooded  hill  above  Lochnau  Castle, 
Take  care  when  Lady  Craighill  puts  on  her  mantle, 
The  Lady  looks  high  and  knows  what  is  coming, 
Delay  not  one  moment  to  get  under  covering. — Murr. 

The  hill  is  to  the  N.W. 

Norwich.      When  three  daws  are  seen  on  St.  Peter's  vane  together, 
then  we  are  sure  to  have  bad  weather. — Higson. 

When  Percelty  wears  a  cap 

all  Pembrokeshire  shall  weet  of  that. — N.,  L,  viii.  6i6. 

A  Glasson  saying  is  "  Rossall's  wife  is  churning " :  when  in  still 
weather  the  sea  is  heard  nestling  on  Rossall  reef,  an  unfailing 
sign  of  coming  S.W.  storms. — Roper. 

If  Riving  pike  do  wear  a  hood 

be  sure  that  day  will  ne'er  hold  good. — R.,  1670.     See  Lancashire. 

When  Roseberry  Topping  wears  a  cap 
let  Cleveland  then  beware  a  clap. — Camd. 

When  Ruberstone  puts  on  his  cowl, 

The  Dunion  on  his  hood, 
Then  a'  the  wives  o'  Teviotside 

Ken  there  will  be  a  flood. — (Roxburghshire)  Chambers. 

If  Skiddaw  wears  a  cap 

ScrufFel*  wots  full  well  of  that. — Ho.     See  Cumberland. 

*  Criffell  on  the  Scottish  border. 

When  Taprain*  puts  on  his  hat 

the  Lothian  lads  may  look  to  that. — (Haddingtonshire)  Chambers. 

*  ?  Traprain. 

There  will  be  rain  when  Sowley  hammer  is  heard,  i.e.  at  Beaulieu 
(Hants),  when  the  wind  is  S.W.  (formerly  iron  furnaces 
there). — Wise,  N.  F.,  p.  72. 

If  Snowdon  be  seen  from  Hampsfell  (Grange)  or  from  Stonydale  it 
is  a  sign  of  speedy  rain. — Roper. 

W.       A  cloud  on  Lidlaw  Hills  foretells  rain  to  Carmylie, 
S.W.  „  Bin  Hill  „  „         CuUen, 

N.W.  „  Paps  of  Jura         „  „      f  Gigha  and 

S.  _„  Mull  of  Cantyre   ,,  „      (      Cara, 

and  if  the  cloud  be  white  they  expect  wind  with  it. — Murr. 

Rain  is  expected  at     Arbroath    when  the  Bell-rock  light  \  are  par- , 
„  »  Cape  Wrath  „     Orkney  Islands    ticularly 

,,  ,»      S.E.  side  Moray  Firth     „     Ross-shire  hills  V  clear  and 

»  ..  Eaglesham  „     Kilpatrick  hills    distinct. 

„  „  Cumbrae  Island  „     Ailsa  Craig       J  — Murr. 

Dirty  weather  comes  out  of  Wigmore  Hole. — Roper. 

388 


PROVERBS.  WEATHER.LORE. 

WBATHER-IiORB. 

To  complain 
Like  harvest-folks,  of  weather  and  the  rain. — Bp.  Corbet,  Iter  Boreak, 

In  England,  if  two  are  conversing  together, 

The  subject  begins  with  the  state  of  the  weather ; 

And  'tis  ever  the  same,  both  with  young  and  with  old, 

'Tis  sure  to  be  either  too  hot  or  too  cold. 

'Tis  either  too  wet,  or  else  'tis  too  dry. 

The  glass  is  too  low,  or  else  'tis  too  high  ; 

But  if  all  had  their  wishes  once  jumbled  together. 

Pray  who  upon  earth  could  live  in  such  weather  ? 

It  seemeth  to  me  that  it 's  best  as  it  be. 

And  one  thing  is  sure — they  would  never  agree. 

There 's  corn  in  the  markets,  there 's  hay  in  the  mangers. 

And  that 's  more  than  there  'd  be  if  men  were  the  'rangers. 

Jack  would  dry  up  the  wheat  to  get  in  the  hay. 

We  should  have  no  more  turnips  if  Tom  had  his  way ; 

But  thanks  to  the  goodness  that  rules  altogether. 

Say  whatever  they  like,  they  can't  alter  the  weather. 

Man 's  a  fool : 

When  it 's  hot,  he  wants  it  cool ; 

When  it 's  cool,  he  wants  it  hot. 

Ne'er  contented  with  his  lot. 

I  consider,  as  a  rule, 

Man 's  a  fool. — Cheales. 

Barometer.  When  rise  begins  after  low 

squalls  expect  and  clear  blow. 

First  rise  after  very  low 
indicates  a  stronger  blow. 

Long  foretold,  long  last ; 
short  notice,  soon  past. 

When  the  glass  falls  low 
prepare  for  a  blow  ; 
when  it  has  risen  high 
let  all  your  kites*  fly. 
(From  Manual  of  Weathenasts,  by  A.  Steinmetz,  1866,  p.  155.) 
*  i.e.  light  sails,  "  flying  kites." 
To  talk  of  the  weather  is  nothing  but  folly, 
when  it  rains  on  the  hill  't  may  shine*  in  the  valley. — Denham. 

*  be  sun. 
Weather  wise,  fool  other  wise. — Whyte  Melville,  Katevfelto,  ch.  27. 

Uber  Wetter  und  Herrenlaunen 

runzle  niemals  die  Augenbraunen. — Gothe. 

Change  of  weather  is  the  discourse  of  fools. — R.,  1670. 

Be  it  dry  or  be  it  wet, 

the  weather  always  pays  its  debt. 

Nothing  so  surely  pays  its  debt 

as  wet  to  dry  and  dry  to  wet. — Lees. 

389 


WEATHER-LORE.        LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Ill  weather  comes  unsent  for. — Melbancke,  Phil,,  F.  4. 
Sorrow  and  ill  weather  comes  unsent  for. — K. 
Like  ill  weather,  sorrow  comes  unsent  for. — CI. 
In  this  country  nobody  pays  his  debts  like  rain. 

H.  Walpole,  Lett,  to  Countess  of  Ossory,  July  9,  1788. 
After  drought  cometh  rain, 
after  pleasure  cometh  pain, 
but  yet  it  continueth  not  so ; 
for  after  rain 
cometh  drought  again, 
and  joy  after  pain  and  woe. 

MS.  Cott.  Vesp.,  A.  XXV. ;  Rel.  Ant.,  323. 
It  is  a  proverb  in  Pindarus :  "  Homines  etiam  triduanum*  piaenoscunt 
ventum." — T.  Adams. 

*  A  three-days' . 

Though  I  write  fifty  odd,  I  do  not  carry  an  almanack  in  my  bones 
to  predeclare  what  weather  we  shall  have. 

Massinger,  City  Madam,  i.  i. 
Man  makes  the  almanac,  but  God  makes  the  weather. 
Under  the  weather. — N.,  III.,  iii.  216. 
A  fog  in  the  moor 
brings  sun  to  the  door. — (W.  of  E.) 
Arragh  Chayeeagh — a  misty  Spring, 
Sourey  ouyragh — a  gloomy  Summer, 
Fouyr  ghrianagh — a  swory  Autumn, 
as  geurey  rioceagh — a  irosty  Winter. — Mona  Misc.,  ii.  21. 

The  weather  desired  by  old  Manx  people. 
Two  conveniences  sindle  meets  : 
what 's  good  for  the  plants,  is  ill  for  the  peats. — K. 
What  be  good  for  the  baay  be  bad  for  the  turmuts*. 

Lowsley,  Berkshire  Words  and  Phr. 
*  Turnips. 

Steevin'  hads  out  stormin'. 

Eating  and  drinking  well  are  good  preparation  for  exposure  to 
the  weather. — Jam. 
Thus: 
After  a  storm  comes  calm.* — CI. 

*  Fair  weather. 

A  fair  day  is  mother  of  a  storm. — CI.     ?  weather-breeder. 
'Tis  a  thousand  pities  fair  weather  should  do  any  hurt. 

Sir  Robt.  Howard,  The  Committee,  i.     1663. 
'Tis  [a]  pity  that  fair  weather  should  [ever]  do  any  harm.* 

[S.,  P.C.  ii.]. 
*  Discontent. — Dr. 

Nodum  in  scirpo  quaeris  [curiositas]. — CI. 

[Facciolati,  sub  scirpus.  De  his,  qui  in  rebus  claris  atque  apertis 
difficultatem  faciunt.  "  To  seek  a  knot  in  a  bulrush :  to 
seek  a  diiBculty  where  there  is  none." — Ed.] 

390 


PROVERBS.  WEATHER-LORE. 

Welcome  be  thou  well,  fair  weather. — Chester  Plays,  i.  189. 
You  are  like  foul  weather,  you  eome  unsent  for. — F. 

[and  troublesome  when  you  come. — Bo.J 
Lang  foul,  lang  fair. — Buchanan  ;  K. 
For  armies  oft  find  (you  may  take  it  on  my  word). 
Bad  weather  kills  more  than  the  bullet  or  sword. 

Ned  Ward,  Battle  without  Bloodshed,  ii.  124. 
Under  the  greenwood  tree 
hard  weather  endured  must  be, 

quoth  Hendyng. — Rel.Ant.,  i.  113. ' 
Under  boske  shall  men  weder  abide. 
When  we  stir  the  grees  hoeh, 

gif  the  lowe  be  blue, 
storms  o'  wun  an'  weather 

will  very  soon  ensue. — Jamieson. 
Autumn  wheezy,  sneezy,  freezy, 
Winter  slippy,  drippy,  nippy, 
Spring  showery,  flowery,  bowery, 
Summer  hoppy,  croppy,  poppy. 

Sydney  Smith.     ?  Brady,  Clavis  Calendaria. 

Un  dia  fris  y  otro  caliente 

esta  el  hombre  deliente. — Nunez,  1555. 

First  it  blew,  and  then  it  snew, 
and  then  friz  and  then  it  thew, 
and  arter  that  it  friz  'orrid. — Skeat,  in  Peacock's  Lincoln  Glossary. 

I  came  to  my  wheat  in  May 

and  went  sorrowful  away, 

I  came  to  my  wheat  at  Woodsheer 

and  went  from  thence  with  a  good  cheer. 

Of  Leicestershire  and  other  deep  lands,  warmly  situated.  In 
cold  hill-countries,  if  the  wheat  is  not  well  stocked  with 
green  wheat  by  the  beginning  of  May,  the  crop  will  not  be 
good. — Edw.  Lisle,  Observations  on  Husbandry,  p.  64.     1757. 

He  who  bathes  in  May, 

will  soon  be  laid  in  clay ; 

he  who  bathes  in  June, 

will  sing  a  merry  tune ; 

he  who  bathes  in  July,  » 

will  dance  like  a  fly. — Den. 

Cut  thistles  in  May, 

they  grow  in  a  day ; 

cut  them  in  June, 

that  is  too  soon ; 

cut  them  in  July, 

then  they  will  die. — Chamberlain,  W.  Wore,  Words, 

'Twill  be  dry, 

The  swallow  is  high, 

or  Rain,  for  the  chough  is  afar. — Courthope,  Paradise  of  Birds. 

391 


WEATHER-LORE.         LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

The  cry  of  the  owl  if  heard  in  bad  weather,  foretells  a  change. 

St.  James's  Gazette,  i4/5/'88. 
If  the  wild  geese  gang  out  to  sea, 
good  weather  there  will  surely  be. — Roper. 

Sea-gull,  sea-gull,  get  thee  on  't  sand, 

'twill  never  be  fine  while  thour  't  on  land. — Roper. 

"  Weet,  weet "  [cry  of  the  chaffinch], 

dreep,  dreep       [the  rain  it  foretells]. — St.  James's  Gazette,  n^/^/'Sg. 

A  dry  March,  a  wet  April,  and  a  dry  May  make  plenty. 

Ellis,  Mod.  Hush.,  May,  p.  ii. 

A  dry  March,  a  wet  April,  a  dry  May  and  a  wet  June, 
is  commonly  said  to  bring  all  things  in  tune. 

Ellis,  Mod.  Hush.,  June,  p.  50. 

A  red  gay  May  is  best  in  any  year ; 

February  full  of  snow  is  to  the  ground  most  dear, 

a  whistling  March  (that  makes  the  ploughman  blithe), 

and  moisty  April  that  fits  him  for  the  scythe. 

Wodroephe  [Fxenchl'\,  The  Spared  Hours.     1623. 

April  and  May  are  the  keys  of  the  year. — F. ;  Ho. 

April  rains  for  men.  May  for  beasts. — Inwards.    i.e.  rainy  April  good 
for  corn,  rainy  May  for  grass. 

A  cold  January,  a  snowy  [or  feverish]   February,  a  dusty  March, 
a  weeping  April,  and  a  windy  May, 
presage  a  good  year  and  gay. — Ho. 

January  or  February 

do  fill  or  empty  the  granary. — F. ;  Ho. 

A  peck  of  March  dust  and  a  shower  in  May 
make  the  corn  green  and  the  fields  gay. — K. 

March  dry, 

good  rye; 

April  wet, 

good  wheat. — Illustrated  London  News,  ig/g/'Si. 

'Twixt  April  and  May  if  there  be  rain, 

'tis  worth  more  than  oxen  and  wain. — Inwards. 

Mist  in  May,  heat  in  June, 

make  the  harvest  come  right  soon. — Den. 

A  dry  May  and  a  dripping  June 

brings  all  things  into  tune. — (Bedfordshire)  Inwards. 

A  leaking  May  and  a  warm  June 

bring  on  the  harvest  very  soon, 

A  leaky  May  and  a  dry  June 

keep  the  poor  man's  head  abune. — (Greenock)  Inwards. 

May  and  June  are  twin  sisters. — Den. 

One*  hour's  cold  will  spoilf  seven  hours'  warmingj.- — K. 
*An.        t  Suck  out.        f  Heat.— Den. 

392 


PROVERBS.  FROST- 

FROST. 

What  God  will 

no  frost  can  kill.— Ad.,  1622  ;  CI. 

Three  rag- rimes  [hoarfrosts]  in  succession  is  a  sure  sign  of  rain. 

Brogden,  Lincolnshire  Proverbs. 
A  wise  man  to  his  son  did  say, 
"  Keep  on  your  winter  things  till  May  "  ; 
A  wiser  man  said  to  his  son, 
"  Keep  on  your  winter  things  till  June  "  ; 
Then  said  the  wisest  man  of  all, 
"  Best  never  leave  them  off  at  all." — CI. 

A  black  frost  is  a  long  frost. — Glohe,  io/i/'87. 
Frost  and  fraud  have  always  foul  ends.* — C,  1614. 

*  farewells. 

In  frost,  they  say,  'Tis  good  bad  blood  be  nipt. 

Taylor,  Nipping  and  Snipping  of  Abuses. 

If  frost  in  March,  there  will  be  some  in  May. — Ho. 

The  mermaids  can  aught  thole 

but  frost  out  o'  the  thow-hole  (south). — Mactaggart,  Gdlov.  EncycL 

A  hoar  frost 

third  day  crost, 

the  fourth  lost. — Harland  and  Wn.,  Lancash.  Leg.,  p.  231. 

So  many  frosts*  in  March,  so  many  in  May. — P.  in.  R.     1678. 

*  Fogs. — Forby. 
So  many  mists  as  in  March  you  see, 
so  many  frosts  in  May  will  be. — Hen. 

Quick  thaw,  long  frost. — Inwards. 

There's  never  a  standing  frost  wi'  a  fow  dub*,     i.e.  frost  suddenly 
following  heavy  rain  seldom  lasts  long. — Murr. 

*  Puddle. 
Walk  fast  in  snow, 

in  frost  walk  slow, 

and  still  as  you  go 

tread  on  your  toe  : 

when  frost  and  snow  are  both  together, 

sit  by  the  fire  and  save  shoe-leather. 

Quoted  by  Swift,  Journal  to  Stella,  1710-11,  as  a  Devonshire 
proverb,  but  doubtless  his  own  impromptu  jingle. 

He  that  would  have  a  bad  day  must  gang  out  in  a  fog  after  a  frost.^ 

A  windy   Christmas   and   a  cold  Candlemas  are  signs  of  a  good 
year. — Den. 

Dream,  dream  that  the  ocean  's  queam,* 

dream,  dream  that  the  moon  did  beam, 

and  the  morning  will  hear  the  waves  roar, 

and  the  sun  through  the  cluds  will  not  find  a  bore. 

Mactaggart,  Gallov.  EncycL 

*  Quiet. 

393 


RAIN,  SNOW.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Ros  in  gramine  argumentum  serenitatis  est. 

Dew  on  the  grass  is  an  argument  of  fair  weather. 

Janua  Linguarum,  1621. 

Much  twinkling  of  the  stars  foretells  bad  weather. — Roper. 

It  is  a  certain  sign  of  rain 

when  severed  limbs  again  give  pain. — Roper. 

When  oxen  low  and  midges  bite, 

we  all  do  know  'twill  rain  to-night. — Roper. 

When  the  glow-worm  lights  her  lamp 

the  weather  is  always  damp. — Roper. 

Plenty  of  [?  fine]  weather  but  no  climate  in  England. — (American.) 

RAIN,    SNOW. 

Rain,  which  country  people  say  goeth  by  Planets,  goeth  by  Provi- 
dence.— F.  W.,  Lane,  241. 

It  rains  by  planets. — R.,  1670.     i.e.  partially,  as  we  say. 

Some  rain,  some  rest.     A  harvest  proverb. — R.,  1678. 

More  rain,  more  rest, 

more  water  will  suit  the  ducks  best. — (Cornwall)  N.,  III.,  v.  208. 

[fair  weather  is  na  always  best. — Derbyshire  Reliquary.'] 

Dry  overhead,  happy. — R.,  1813  ;   Welsh,  p.  14;  Ho. 

It  never  rains  but  it  pours.- — Smollett,  transl.  Gil  Bias. 

Three  hoar  [or  white]  frosts  bring  rain. 

When  the  cat  sits  *  on  her  brain 

we  're  sure  to  have  rain.         *  Or  sleeps. 

We  shall  have  rain  :  the  fleas  bite. — CI. 

A  man  must  not  leave  his  way  for  a  little  rain. — Dr. 

A  wise  man  carries  his  cloak  in  fair  weather,  and  a  fool  wants  his  in 
rain. — K. 

To  see  it  rain  is  better  than  to  be  in  it. — (Securitas)  CI. 

When  it 's  fair,  take  your  umbrella ;  when  it  rains,  do  as  you  please. 

"  When  you  are  all  agreed  upon  the  time,"  quoth  the  vicar,  "  I  '11 
make  it  rain." — Ho. 

Accordatevi  ed  io  faro  piovere  desse  Arlotto. — Torriano,  1666. 

Por  sol  que  haga 

no  dejes  tu  capa  in  casa. 

Morning  rain  and  women's  tears  are  soon  over. 

Rain  before  seven, 

fine  before  eleven. 

[lift. — Inwards.] 

Rain  at  seven, 

fine  at  eleven. 

[if  that  won't  do  try  two.] 

Rain  at  eight, 

not  fine  till  eight.* 
*  ?  night.— Roper. 

394 


PROVERBS.  RAIN,  SNOW. 

The  pride  of  the  morning,    i.e.  the  name  for  slight  rain  soon  after 
dawn. 

Pride  of  the  dewy  morning, 

The  swain's  experienced  eye 

From  thee  takes  timely  warning, 

Nor  trusts  the  gorgeous  sky. 

Keble,  25th  Sunday  after  Trinity. 
This  is  addressed  to  the  rainbow. 
Between  twelve  and  two 
you  '11  see  what  the  rain  will  do. 

When  rain  ceases  wind  begins  to  blow. — Agric.  Comm. 
The  faster  the  rain  the  quicker  the  hold  up.* — (Norfolk)  Inwards. 

*  Too  fierce  to  last. 
A  red  sky  indicates  rain ;  a  red  nose,  wet. 
Night  rains 

make  drowned  fens. — Forby,  E.  A.;  N.,  I.,  vi.  6oi. 
Mais  val  agoa  do  Ceo  qua  todo  o  regado.* — (Portuguese)  Bluteau. 

*  Watering-pot. 
Stormy  showers 

breed  fragrant  flowers. — Melb.,  Phil.,  p.  23. 

Small   showers  last    long,  but  sudden  storms   are   short. — Shak., 
Richard  II.,  ii.  i. 

A  sunshiny  shower 
never  lasts  half  an  hour. — Den. 
lasts  not         ,,         ,,       — Ma.ct!iggaxt,Gallov.Encycl. 
Sunshiny  rain 

will  soon  go  again. — (Devon)  Inwards. 
Sunshine  and  shower 
rain  in  an  hour. — Jamieson. 
When  it  rains  with  the  wind  in  the  East, 
it  rains  for  twenty-four  hours  at  least. — Forby,  E.  A . 
If  the  rain  comes  out  of  East 
'twill  rain  twice  twenty-four  hours  at  least. 

Aubrey,  Nat.  Hist,  of  Wilts,  p.  16. 
An  easterly  wind's  rain,* 
makes  fools  fain. — Ulster  Journal  of  Arch.,  ix.  78. 

*  Being  a  dry  one. 
Because  as  soon  as  it  brightens  unweatherwise  people 

think  it  is  going  to  stop  the  quarter. 
Rain  from  East 
two  days  at  least. — Chambers. 
An  Eastern  wind  carrieth  water  in  his  hand. — (Sp.)  Ho. 
If  a  S.E.  wind  bring  rain,  the  latter  is  expected  to  last  for  some 

time. — (Scotland.) 
Quando  Uueve  de  cierco,*  Uueve  de  cierto. — Nunez,  1555. 

*  A  cold  Northerly  wind. 
When  the  pavement  quickly  dries  after  rain,  more  will  follow. 
When  the  sun  burns  more  than  usual,  rain  may  be  expected. — Roper. 

396 


RAIN.  SNOW.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Rain,  rain,  go  to  Spain  ; 

fair  weather  come  again. — Ho. 

When  God  wills,  at  all  winds  it  will  rain. — Dr. 

„  „       all  winds  bring  rain. — CI. 

Quando  Dios  quiere  con  todos  vientos  Uueve. — Nunez,  1555. 
Whoso  hath  but  a  mouth 

shall  never  in  England  suffer  drouth. — R.,  1670. 
It  is  commonly  said  that  some  dry  earths  can  easily  dispense  every 

summer's   day  with  a  shower  of  rain.     [Of  beans]. — Ellis, 

Modem  Husbandry,  Feb.,  p.  13.    1750. 
In  April  Dove's  flood 
is  worth  a  King's  good. — Camb.,  Brit.  (Staffordshire). 

From  the  chalk  washed  out  of  the  channel  over  the  land. 
Hampshire  ground  requires  every  day  of  the  week  a  shower  of  rain, 

and  on  Sunday  twain. — Ho. 

The  Carle  sky 

keeps  not  the  head  dry. 

Along  the  N.  shore  of  the  Sol  way,  between  Dumfries  and 
Gretna,  a  lurid  yellowish  sky  in  the  E.  or  S.E.  is  called  a 
Carlisle  or  Carle  sky,  and  is  a  sign  of  rain. — Murr. 

Margaret's  flood. — N.,  I.,  ii.  512  (July  20). 

The  Lammas  flood  is  never  lost. — (August  i.) 

If  it  rain  when  the  sun  shines  it  will  rain  about  the  same  hour  next 
day. — Inwards. 

Col.  It  rained  and  the  sun  shone  at  the  same  time. 

Neverout.     Why  the  devil  was  beating  his  wife  behind  the  door  with 
a  shoulder  of  mutton. — Swift,  Polite  Conv.,  i. 

The  witches  are  making  butter. — Polish.  The  devil  is  beating 
his  grandmother  (or  he  is  laughing  and  she  is  crying). — 
German.     Or  a  Kermess  is  being  held  in  hell. — Rhenish. 

Never  offer  your  hen  for  sale  on  a  rainy  day. — Den. 

I  will  not  sell  my  hen  in  the  rain  (Obscuritas). — CI. 

Drought  never  brought  dearth. — Herb. 

„  „      bred  „      in  England. — R. 

'Tis  a  saying  in  the  West  that  a  dry  year  does  never  cause  a  dearth. 
— Aub.,  p.  33. 

A  dry  year  never  beggars  the  master. — Ho. 

Jamais  annee  seiche  ne  faict  povre  son  maistre. — Nuiiez,  1555. 

Apr^s  trois  jours  on  s'ennuye 

de  femme,  d'hoste  et  de  pluye. — Bacon,  Promus  (1626). 

Under  water,  famine* ;  under  snow,  bread. — Herb. 

*  dearth. — Den. 
Eine  gute  decke  von  schnee  treibt  das  korn  in  die  hoh. — Giani. 
A  year  of  snow,  a  year  of  plenty. — (Sp.  and  Fr.)  Ho. 
A  snow  year,  a  rich  year. — Herb. 


PROVERBS.  RAm,  snow. 

Afio  de  nieves, 
ano  de  bienes. 

Because  snow  softens  the  high  land  as  well  as  the  low,  not 
running  off  like  rain. — Nunez,  1555. 

Time  flies  awa' 

like  snaw  in  a  thaw. — Den. 

A  foot  deep  of  rain 

will  kill  hay  and  grain ; 

but  three  feet  of  snow 

will  make  them  come  mo'. — R.  D.  Blackmore,  Lorna  Dome,  ch.  1. 

Snow  lying  under  the  hedges  is  waiting  for  more. — Nunez,  1555. 

When  in  the  ditch  the  snow  doth  lie, 

'tis  waiting  for  more  by-and-by. — Christy. 

Snow  for  a  s'ennight  is  a  mother  to  the  earth,  for  ever  after  a  step- 
mother.—(It.)  R.,  1813. 

If  the  first  snow  hangs  in  the  trees  it  is  a  sign  that  the  coming  year 
will  be  a  good  one  for  fruit. —  Chamberlain,  West  Wove. 
Words,  E.  D.  S. 

Pepper  is  black, 

and  hath  a  good  smack, 

and  every  man  doth  it  buy ; 

snow  is  white, 

and  melts  in  the  dike, 

and  every  man  lets  it  lie. — Withals,  1586. 

When  the  snow  falls  dry 
it  means  to  he, 
but  flakes  light  and  soft 
bring  rain  oft. — Christy. 

Better  an  even-down  snaw  than  a  driving  drift. — Cunningham,  Gloss, 
to  Burns. 

A  snow-storm  is  as  good  for  the  land  as  a  top  dressing. 

If  it  rains  at  the  ebb, 
you  may  go  to  bed ; 
if  it  rains  at  the  flow, 
you  may  go  to  plough. 

If  it  raineth  when  it  doth  flow, 
then  yoke  your  ox  and  go  to  plough ; 
but  if  it  raineth  when  it  doth  ebb, 
then  unyoke  your  ox  and  go  to  bed. 

Aubrey,  Nat,  Hist,  of  Wilts,  p.  16. 
(Observed  as  infallible  by  the  inhabitants  of  Severnside.) 

A  little  rain  serves  to  lay  a  great  dust.  Applied  also  to  women's 
tears. 

A  misselyng*  rain  gendreth  a  great  wet. — Taverner,  Prov.,  52.  1552. 

*  Drizzling. 
Minutula  pluvia  imbrem  parit. — Erasmus,  Ad, 

397 


WINDS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

WINDS. 

If  cold  wind  reach  you  through  a  hole, 

go  make  your  will  and  mind  your  soul. — Den. 

To  a  child  all  weather  is  cold. — Herb. 

Every  wind  has  its  weather. — Bacon. 

The  sharper  the  blast 

the  sooner  'tis  past. — Ch.  Wesley. 

Down  wind,  down  sea. — Smyth. 

If  the  fire  blows*  wind  will  soon  follow. — Lewis,  Herefordsh,  Glossary. 

*  Gas  escaping  from  coal. 
A  Northern  air 
brings  weather  fair. — Den. 

Oh,  if  men  in  authority  had  sincerity  suitable,  the  North  wind  doth 
not  so  drive  away  rain  as  they  might  suppress  sin. — D.  Rogers, 
Naaman,  p.  419. 
Northerly  wind  and  blubber 
brings  home  the  Greenland  lubber. — Den. 
The  North  wind  doth  blow 
and  we  shall  have  snow. — Den. 
Three  ills  come  out  of  the  North, 
a  cold  wind,  a  cunning  knave,  and  a  sleezy  cloth. 

B.  Jon.,  Bart.  F.,  iv.  3. 
Omne  malum  ab  Aquilone. 

Sit  toga  talaris  si  ventus  sit  BoreaUs. — W.,  1616. 
When  the  wind  is  North- West 

the  weather  is  at  the  best. — Aubrey,  Nat.  Hist,  of  Wilts,  p.  16. 
A  West  wind  North  about 

never  long  holds  out. — (Northumberland)  Chambers. 
Do  business  with  men  when  the  wind  is  in  the  North- West. — (York- 
shire) Inwards. 

This  bringing  the  finest  weather,  is  said  to  improve   men's 
tempers. — Inwards. 

Rather  it  sharpens  both  wit  and  tempers. 
An  honest  man  and  a  N.  W.  wind  go  to  bed  together.  ^(Abating  about 

sunset.) — M. 

The  Westing  is  important. 
An  Easterly  wind  downright, 

up  in  the  morning  and  down  at  night. — Polwhele,  Corn.,  V.  36. 
Quand  il  fait  de  la  bise 
il  en  pleut  a  sa  guise. — Calendriev  de  Bans  Laboureurs,  1619. 

Haz  la  puerta  al  Solano 

y  viviras  sano. — Nunez,  1555. 

Quando  Solano  Uueve 

las  piedras  mueve. — Nunez,  1555. 

Viento  Solano  y  agua  en  la  mano. — Nunez,  1555. 

A  right  Easterly  wind 

is  very  unkind. — Ferg,,  add.  in  R. 

398 


PROVERBS.  wfNDS. 

When  the  wind  is  in  the  East 

it's  good  for  neither  man  nor  beast. — Ho. 

The  East  wind  is  accounted  neither  good  for  man  or  beast. — R. 

Cawdray,  Tnasurie  of  Similies,  p.  750.     1600. 
The  wind  from  North-East 

neither  good  for  man  or  beast. — Teonge's  Diary,  1675. 
If  a  goose  begins  to  sit  on  eggs  when  the  wind  is  in  the  East  she 

sits  five  weeks  before  she  hatches. — Forby,  E.  A. 
When  a  N.E.  wind  blows,  there's  a  good  steward  abroad.     i.e.  the 

cold  makes  the  labourers  work. 
In  Wales  the  E.  wind  is  called  "  the  wind  of  the  dead  men's  feet," 
because  the  dead  are  buried  with  their  feet  to  the  E.  to  meet 
their  Lord  at  His  second  coming. — Swain. 
Easterly  winds  and  rain 
bring  cockles  here  from  Spain. — Den. 
If  the  wind  is  North-East  three  days  without  rain 
eight  days  will  pass  before  South  wind  again. — Inwards. 
The  East  wind  never  goes  away  without  rain. 
When  the  wind  's  in  the  North 
the  skilful  fisher  goes  not  forth. — R.,  1678. 
When  the  wind  is  in  the  East 
the  fisher*  likes  itf  least, 
when  the  wind  is  in  the  West 
the  fisher*  likes  itf  best. — Inwards. 

*  Fishes.        t  Bite. 
When  the  wind  is  in  the  North 
the  fishes  won't  come  forth, 
when  the  wind  is  in  the  South 

it  blows  the  bait  into  the  fish's  mouth. — (Leicester)  Evans. 
When  the  wind 's  in  the  East 
the  vish  rise  least, 
when  the  wind 's  in  the  West 
the  vish  rise  best, 
when  'tis  in  the  North 
'tis  vurry  liddle  woath, 
but  when  'tis  in  the  South 

the  vly  's  blowed  in  ez  mouth. — Pulman,  Rustic  Sketches. 
The  Fisherman's  Guide : 

When  the  wind 's  in  the  North, 

You  need  not  go  forth. 
When  the  wind 's  in  the  East, 

The  fish  will  bite  least. 
When  the  wind 's  in  the  West, 

The  fish  will  bite  best. 
When  the  wind 's  in  the  South, 
The  hook  goes  into  their  mouth. — A.  Cheales. 
When  the  wind  's  in  the  West 
the  weather  's  at  the  very  best. — K. 
The  West  wind  is  a  gentleman  and  goes  to  bed  early. — (Orkney)  Murr. 

399 


WINDS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

A  sunset  and  a  cloud  so  black, 

a  Westerly  wind  you  shall  not  lack. — Cheales. 

Wind  West 

rain's  nest. — (Devon)  Inwards. 

When  the  wind  is  in  the  West 

the  cuckoo's  on  her  nest. — Ulster  Journal  of  Arch.,  ix.,  169. 

as  kind 
as  the  South- West  wind. 

Manningham's  Diary,  1602-3,  97>  Camd.  Soc. 
A  Southerly  wind  with  showers  of  rain 
will  bring  the  wind  from  West  again. — Inwards. 
A  Southerly  wind  and  a  cloudy  sky  proclaim  [it]  a  hunting  morn- 
ing.— Den. 
An  out*  wind  and  a  fog 
bring  an  East  wind  home  snug. — (Cornwall.) 

i.e.  Southerly. 
The  South  as  unkind  draweth  sickness  too  near, 
The  North  as  a  friend  maketh  all  again  clear. — Tusser. 
When  the  wind  's  in  the  South 
'tis  in  the  rain's  mouth. — CI. ;  R.,  1670. 
When  the  wind  's  in  the  South 
it  blows  the  bait  into  the  fish's  mouth. — R.,  1678. 
When  the  wind  's  in  the  South 
rain  will  be  fouth*. — K. 

*  Abundant. 

The  mermaids  can  ought  thole 

but  frost  out  of  the  thow-hole, — McTaggart,  Gallov.  Encycl. 

i.e.  the  South,  when  the  cold  is  unnaturally  severe. 
If  the  South  wind  blow  in  seasoning  time  the  shepherd  may  look 

for  store  of  ewe  lambs ;  if  the  North  wind,  then  for  males. — 

Buttes,  Dyet's  Dry  Dinner,  1599. 
Adraissura — seasoning  of  a  cow,  and  covering  of  a  mare. — Elyot's 

Diet.,  1559. 

Clear  in  the  South  beguiled  the  cadger. 

The  rain  comes  skouth* 

when  the  wind 's  in  the  South. — Cunningham,  Burns'  Glossary. 

*  Showery. 
No  weather 's  ill 
when  the  wind 's  stilL — CI. 

There  is  no  weather  ill 

when  the  wind  is  still. — C,  1629. 

The  weather 's  always  ill 

when  the  wind  's  not  still. — Lees. 

Grass  never  grows 
when  the  wind  blows. — Den. 

Many  can  brook  the  weather  that  love  not  the  wind.— Shak.,  Love's 
Labour  Lost,  iv.  2. 

400 


PROVERBS.  WINDS. 

The  winds  of  the  daytime  wrestle  and  fight 

longer  and  stronger  than  those  of  the  night. — Inwards. 

The  Gulf  Stream  is  called  the  Storm  King  of  the  Atlantic Cowan, 

Sea  Prov.,  American.     But  see  Maury,  Physical  Geog.  of  Sea, 
p.  60. 
Mr.  East  made  a  feast ; 
Mr.  North  laid  the  cloth  ; 
Mr.  West  brought  his  best ; 
Mr.  South  burnt  his  mouth,  eating  a  cold  potato. 

W.  J.  Fernie,  Herbal  Simples. 
When  the  wind  is  in  the  North, 
hail  comes  forth ; 
when  the  wind  is  in  the  West, 
look  for  a  wet  blast ; 
when  the  wind  is  in  the  Soud, 
the  weather  will  be  *  gude  ; 
when  the  wind  is  in  the  East, 
cold  and  snaw  comes  neist. — Den. 

*  Fresh  and. — Cham. 
Wind  East  or  West  is  the  sign  of  a  blast, 
wind  North  or  South  is  the  sign  of  a  drouth. — Cham. ;  Den. 

But  see  Noah's  Ark  in  Clouds. 
When  the  smoke  goes*  West, 
good  weather  is  past ; 
when  the  smoke  goes  East 
good  weather  comes  neist  f. — Den. 

*  Carry,     i.e.  current  of  the  clouds. — Cham.        t  Next. 
When  the  wind 's  in  the  North, 
we  sup  hot  scalding  broth  ; 
when  the  wind  's  in  the  South, 
it 's  muck  to  the  mouth. — Den. 
North  winds  sends  hail. 

South  winds  bring  rain. 
East  winds  we  bewail, 

West  winds  blow  amain, 
North-east  is  too  cold. 

South-east  not  too  warm. 
North-west  is  too  bold. 

South-west  doth  no  harm. — Tusser. 
The  South*  wind  always  brings  wet  weather, 
the  North  t  wind  wet  and  cold  together, 
the  West  J  wind  always  §  brings  us  rain, 
the  East  II  wind  blows  it  back  again. 

Den. ;  Smyth,  Sailor's  Word-Book.     (Of  Plymouth  climate.) 
[*  West.      t  East.      J  South.      §  Surely.       ||  North.]— Scotland. 
Decaldo  requentado  e  de  vento  de  buraco* 
guardar  delle  como  do  diabo. — (Portuguese)  Bluteau. 

*  ?  Borrasca. 
The  wind  was  fair,  but  blew  a  mackrel  gale. — Dryden,  Hind  and 
Panther,  iii.  456. 

VOL.  I.  401  26 


WINDS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Robin  Hood  could  bear  any  wind  but  a  thaw  wind. — (Lancashire) 
Haz. 

Ponente,  tramontana  si  risente 

Tramontana  non  buzzica 

se  il  marin  lo  stuzzica 

II  buon  nocchiero 

muta  velo,  ma  no  tramontana 

Se  vuol  vedere  il  buon  temporale 

la  mane  tramontana,  e  il  giorno  maestrale 

Quando  il  tempo  b  reale 

tramontana  la  mattina,  la  sera  maestrale 

Tramontana  torba,  e  scirocco  chiaro 

tienti  all'  erta,  marinaro.— G.  M. 

Scirocco  chiaro  e  tramontana  torba 

guardati  marinar,  che  non  ti  colga. 

Of  anything  dull  the  Italians  say,  "Era  scritto  nel  tempo 
del  Scirocco"  (S.E.). 
Mai  non  fu  vento  senza  acqua. — Torr. 
Blow  the  wind  ne'er  so  fast, 
it  will  lown*  at  the  last. — K. 

'  i.e.  calm  down.     Lound  :  calm,  out  of  wind. — Smyth. 
When  rain  comes  before  wind, 
halyards,  sheets,  and  braces  mind  ;  * 
when  wind  comes  before  rain, 

soon  you  may  make  sail  again  f. — Fitzroy,  Weather  Book. 
•  You  may  reef  when  it  begins. — Den. 
t  You  may  hoist  your  topsails  up  again. — Den. 

Temporale  di  mattina 

e  per  la  campagna  gran  rovina 

temporale  di  notte 

molto  fracasso  e  nulla  di  rotto. — Strafforello. 

When  the  wind  backs  and  the  weather  glass  falls, 
then  be  on  your  guard  against  gales  and  squalls. 

When  the  wind  veers  against  the  sun, 
trust  it  not,  for  back  'twill  run. — Inwards. 

Its  normal  course  or  circuit  is  S.W.N.E.  to  S.  again. 
A  thunderstorm  comes  up  against  the  wind. — Roper. 

June,  too  soon ; 

July,  stand  by ; 

August,  you  must ; 

September,  remember ; 

October,  all  over. — Miss  Scidmore,  Westward  to  the  Far  East. 

(Duration  of  the  typhoon  in  the  N.  Pacific.) 
When  the  sea  thus  doth  growl  *, 
farewell  to  fair  weather  for  awhile. — Mactaggart,  Gallov.  Encycl. 

*  Sough  of  the  sea. 
Old  women's  luck — wind  in  the  face 
both  going  too  and  from  a  place. — Brogden,  Lincolnshire  Proverbs. 

402 


PROVERBS.  CLOUD8. 

A  soldier's  wind — there  and  back  again. — Kingsley,  Wesiward  Ho ! , 
ch.  xix. 
"  One  which  serves  either  way,  allowing  a  passage  to  be  made 
without  much  nautical  ability." — Smyth. 
Pull  down  your  hat  on  the  wind's  side. — Herb. 
Ao  mao  vento  volvelhe  o  capello. — (Portug.)  Bluteau. 
I  am  but  mad  north-north-west ;   when  the  wind  is  southerly  I 

know  a  hawk  from  a  handsaw. — Shak.,  Hamlet,  ii.  2,  374. 
You  are  now  sailed  into  the  North  of  my  lady's  opinion. — Shak., 

Twelfth  Night,  iii.  2,  24. 
When  I  was  born  the  wind  was  North. — Shak.,  Pericles,  iv.  i,  53. 


CliOUDS,    HAIIi,    LIGHTNING,    MIST. 

After  black  clouds  clear*  weather. — He. 

*  Fair— CI. 
After  sorest  storms  most  clearest  air  we  see. 
After  adverse  fortune  shineth  prosperity. 

Barclay,  Myrrour  of  Good  Maners  [_Magnanimity] . 

The  "  soft  moment  " — before  a  thunderstorm  bursts. 

Messengers— little  clouds,  sailing  below  big  ones,  boding  rain. — 
Peacock,  Lincolnshire  Glossary. 

If  woolly  fleeces  spread  the  heavenly  way, 

no  rain,  be  sure,  disturbs  the  summer's  day. — Den. 

A  cruddly  sky 

means  twenty-four  hours  neither  wet  nor  dry. 

Havergal,  Herefordshire  Words. 

A  mackerel-sky 

[never  holds  three  days  dry. — Baker,  N'hants  Glossary. '\ 

neither  long  wet  nor  long  dry. — Inwards. 

not  much  wet  not  much  dry. — Elworthy,  West  Somerset  Word  Booh. 

The  wind  was  fair,  but  blew  a  mackrel  gale.  (Rough,  breezy 
weather,  stirring  up  the  sea  and  bringing  the  fish  to  the 
surface. — Dryden,  Hind  and  Panther,  iii.  456.) 

Trace  in  the  sky  the  painter's  brush, 

then  winds  around  you  soon  will  rush. — Roper. 

Hen-scrats  and  filly -taails* 

mak  lofty  shipsf  hug  low  sails. — Peacock,  Lincoln  Glossary. 

*  Or  goat's  hair. 

t  Lofty  ships.     Once  a  general  name  for  square-rigged  vessels. — Smyth. 

A  mackerel-sky*  and  mares'  tails f 

make  lofty  ships  to  carry  |  low  sails. —  Haz. 

*  Water-dogs,— (Norfolk)  Nail. 

t  Mares'  tails.    A  peculiar  modification  of  the  cirrus,  indicating  wind. — 

Smyth, 
t  Wear. — Chambers. 

When  frae  the  South  whusk  filly-tails, 

than  high  ships  wear  low  sails. — Mactaggart,  Gallov.  Encycl. 

403 


CLOUDS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Maayres'  tails  and  mackrell  sky 

not  long  wet,  nor  not  long  dry. — Lowsley,  Berkshire  Words  and  Phrases. 
When  the  scud  flies  high  you  may  let  your  kites  fly, 
when  the  scud  flies  low  then  prepare  for  a  blow. — Roper. 
When  clouds  appear  like  rocks  and  towers, 
the  earth 's  refreshed  with  frequent  showers. — Den. 
Cf.  Sh.,  A.  and  CI.,  iv.  14,  4, 

Noah's  Ark.  A  mass  of  cloud  tapering  at  the  ends.  Its  direction 
indicates : 

East  and  wast, 
the  sign  of  a  blast ; 
North  and  South, 

the  sign  of  a  drouth. — Baker,  N'hants  Gloss, 
But  see  Winds. 

A  bench  [or  bank]  of  clouds  in  the  West  indicates  rain. — (Surrey), 
Inwards. 

A  weather-gall  at  morn, 
fine  weather  all  gone. 

i.e.  a  luminous  halo  on  the  edge  of  a  distant  cloud  where  there 
is  rain,  usually  seen  in  the  wind's  eye,  precursor  of  stormy 
weather. — Smyth . 

Here  comes  John  Black  and  Gilbert  Ram  on  his  back.  (Spoken 
when  we  see  black  clouds  portending  rain. — -K.) 

When  the  clover  upright  stand 
is  a  storm  near  at  hand.* 

*  Given  as  an  English  proverb  in  Petri,  Baueynregeln,  p.  10.   Breslau,  i856. 

Look  like  the  Dutchman  to  leeward  for  fine  weather,  i.e.  to  see  if 
the  horizon  opposite  to  the  wind  does  not  remain  obscure. — 
Roper. 

Cf.  The  wind  is  always  strongest  with  a  still  sky.  i.e.  when 
clouds  have  little  motion. 

When  clouds  and  sunshine  are  together  given, 
the  piskies  dance  and  cuckolds  go  to  heaven.* 

*  I  have  given  rhyme  to  a  proverb  which  I  believe  is  not  confined  to 
Cornwall. — Polwhele,  v.  37. 

A  Dutchman's  breeches.  The  patch  of  blue  sky,  often  seen  when  a 
gale  is  breaking,  is  said  to  be,  however  small,  "  enough^  to 
make  a  pair  of  breeches  for  a  Dutchman " ;  others  assign 
the  habiliment  to  a  Welshman,  but  give  no  authority.— 
(Sea)  Smyth. 

When  the  mist  takes  the  hows 

then  gude  weather  it  grows.— (Lothian)  Jamieson. 

When  the  mist  taks  to  the  hill, 
then  good  weather  it  doth  spill  ; 
when  the  mist  taks  to  the  sea, 
then  good  weather  it  will  be.— Hen. 

D.  has  "  comes  from  "  in  each  line  for  "  taks  to. 

404 


PROVERBS.  CLOUDS. 

A  fog  from  the  sea 

brings  honey  to  the  bee, 

a  fog  from  the  hills 

brings  corn  to  the  mills. — N.,  VII.,  viii.  205. 

When  the  clouds  are  upon  the  hills 
they'll  come  down  by  the  mills. — R.,  1678. 
i.e.  in  the  watercourse. 

If  it  gangs  up  i'  sops* 
it  '11  fau'  down  i'  drops. 

*  The  small  detached  clouds  on  the  mountain-side. — Carr,  Craven  Glossary. 

A  misty  morn  in  the  old  of  the  moon 

doth  always  bring  a  fair  post-noon. — Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS.  1639. 

A  Northern  har* 

brings  drought  from  far. — Haz. 

*  Haar.     Cold,  nipping,  Easterly  winds. — Nimmo  (Stirlingshire). 

*  Har,  a  mist  or  fog. — Brockett. 

Brogden  {Provinces  0/  Lincolnshire)  has :  Harr,  Harle :  A  sea-mist,  a  tempest 
rising  at  sea. 

A  Scotish  mist  will  wet  an  Englishman  to  the  skin. — CI. 

When  the  mist  takes  the  hows 

gude  weather  it  grows. — (Lothian)  Jamieson. 

Hail 

brings  frost  i'  th'  tail. — CI. 

A  hailstorm  by  day  denotes  a  frost  at  night. — Inwards. 

When  the  mist  creeps  up  the  hill, 
fisher,  out  and  try  your  skill ; 
when  the  mist  begins  to  nod, 
fisher,  then  put  past  your  rod. — Murr. 

It  never  thunders  but  it  rains. 

Early  thunder, 
late  hunger. — N. 

Vroege  donder 

late  honger. — Dutch, 

Winter  thunder 

is  old  men's  wonder. — CI. 

Winter  thunder, 

rich  man's  good  and  poor  man's  hunger. — Inwards. 

[poor  man's  death,  rich  man's  hunger. — N.,  I.,  xi.  8.] 

The  dunder  do  gaily  [affrights]  the  beans. — (Somerset)  P.  in  R.,  1678, 
Beans  shoot  up  fast  after  thunderstorms, — R.,  1678. 

When  caught  by  the  tempest,  wherever  it  be, 

if  it  lightens  and  thunders  beware  of  a  tree. — Den. 

Pluck  poppies,  make  thunder. — N,,  VI.,  ii,  164. 

It 's  the  thunder  that  frights, 
but  the  lightning  that  smites. 

405 


CLOUDS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

If  it  sinks  from  the  North 

it  will  double  its  wrath, 

if  it  sinks  from  the  South 

it  will  open  its  mouth, 

if  it  sinks  from  the  West 

it  is  never  at  rest, 

if  it  sinks  from  the  East 

it  will  leave  us  in  peace. — Kent,  N.,  V. 

There 's  Ughtning  lightly  before  thunder. — CI. 

Thus  only  stating  the  physical  fact  that  light  travels  quicker 
than  sound;   and  therefore  the  flash  is  seen  before  the 
thunderclap  is  heard,  though  the  two  are  simultaneous. 
Cabm  thavas  en  metten,  glaweeten.    (A  crooked  bow  in  the  morning, 

rain  in  it.) — -Polwhele,  Cornwall,  v.  36. 
A  rainbow  in  the  morning 
is  the  sailor's  warning : 
A  rainbow  at  noon 
will  bring  rain  very  soon. — Hen. 
A  rainbow  at  night 
is  the  sailor's  delight. — Hen. 
L'arc  au  ciel  du  soir 
beau  tems  fait  paroir. — Meurier,  1590. 
If  there  be  a  rainbow  in  the  eve 
it  will  rain  and  leave ; 
but  if  there  be  a  rainbow  in  the  morrow 
it  will  neither  lend  nor  borrow. — R.,  1670. 
Rainbow  to  leeward,  foul  fall  the  day ; 
rainbow  to  windward,  damp  runs  away. — (Sea)  Inwards. 
A  rainbow  in  the  morn 
put  your  hook  in  the  corn, 
a  rainbow  at  eve 

put  your  head  in  the  sheave. — (Cornwall)  Haz. 
If  the  rainbow  comes  at  night 
the  rain  has  gone  quite. — Forby,  E.  Ang. 
The  rainbow  in  the  morning 
is  the  shepherd's  warning, 
the  rainbow  at  night 
is  the  shepherd's  delight. — Haz. 

The  rainbow  in  the  marnin 
gives  the  shepherd  warnin 
To  car  his  gurt  cwoat  on  his  back. 
The  rainbow  at  night 
is  the  shepherd's  delight. 
For  then  no  gurt  cwoat  will  he  lack. 

Akerman,  Wiltshire  Tales. 
Go  to  the  end  of  the  rainbow  and  you  'W  find  a  crock  of  money.— 
Cooper,  Sussex  Provincialisms. 
Where  the  rainbow  rests  is  a  crock  of  gold.— (Devon)  R.  J.  King 
in  N.,  I.,  ii.  57^- 

406 


PROVERBS.  FLOWERS. 


A    CAIiEiNDAR    OF    THB    FI^OWERS. 

Feb.    2.    The  Snow -drop  in  purest  white  arraie 

First  rears  her  head  on  Candlemas  daie. 

14.  While  the  Crocus  hastens  to  the  shrine 
Of  Primrose  love  on  Saint  Valentine. 

Mar.  25.    Then  comes  the  Daffodil  beside 

Our  Ladye's  Smock  at  our  Ladye  Tide. 

April  23.    About  Saint  George  when  blue  is  worn, 
The  blue  Harebells  the  fields  adorn. 

May    3.    While  on  the  day  of  the  Holy  Cross, 

The  Crowfoot  gilds  the  flowerie  grasse. 

June  II.    When  Barnaby  bright  smiles  night  and  day, 

Poor  Ragged  Robin  blooms  in  the  hay.     i.e.  hedge. 

24.    The  Scarlet  Lychnis,  the  garden's  pride, 
Flames  at  Saint  John  the  Baptist's  tyde. 

July  15.    Against  Saint  Swithin's  hastie  showers 

The  Lily  white  reigns  the  Queen  of  the  flowers. 

20.    And  Poppies  a  sanguine  mantle  spread. 

For  the  blood  of  the  Dragon  St.  Margaret  shed. 

22.    Then  under  the  wanton  Rose  agen 
That  blushes  for  penitent  Magdalen. 

Aug.    I.    Till  Lammas-day  called  August's  wheel. 
When  the  long  corn  stinks  of  Camomile. 

15.  When  Mary  left  us  here  below, 
The  Virgin's  Bower  begins  to  blow. 

24.  And  yet  anon  the  full  Sun-flower  blew, 
And  became  a  star  for  Bartholomew. 

Sep.  14.    The  Passion-flower  long  has  blowed. 
To  betoken  us  signs  of  the  Holy  Rood. 

29.    The  Michaelmas  Daisie  among  dead  weeds 
Blooms  for  Saint  Michael's  valorous  deeds. 

Oct.  28.    And  seems  the  last  of  flowers  that  stood 
Till  the  feast  of  St.  Simon  and  St.  Jude. 

Nov.    I.    Save  Mushrooms  and  the  Fungus  race 

That  grow  as  All-hallow-tide  takes  place. 

25.  Soon  the  evergreen  Laurel  alone  is  seen, 
When  Catherine  crowns  all  learned  men. 

Dec.  25.    Then  Ivy  and  Holly-berries  are  seen, 

And  Yule- Clog  and  Wassail  come  round  again. 

Anthol.  Austr,  et,  Bor. 

407 


PROVERBS  AND    PROVERBIAL 
SAYINGS 

Relating   to   Domestic   Life;    its 
concerns   and  interests. 


PROVERBS.  AGRICULTURE. 

AGRICUIiTURBi,    GARDENING. 

Writing  and  reading  are  unnecessary  in  the  husbandman. — Quoted 

by  Markham,  English  Husbandman.    1635. 
Farmers  iauch,* 
gar  lairds  Iauch. — Allan  Ramsay. 

i.e.  the  landlord  is  bound  by  custom. 
*  Furrow  or  fallow. 
For  a  little  ground,  a  little  gain. — Dr. 

It  is  good  to  take  a  farm  after  the  landlord  has  occupied  it. — Ellis, 
Mod.  Hush.,  May,  p.  163. 
Because  his  means  have  enabled  him  to  dress  and  manure  the 
land,  and  leave  it  in  good  heart. 
It  is  better  to  follow  a  sloven  than  a  scientific  farmer,  i.e.  as  tenant. 

— Surtees,  Ash  Mama. 
It 's  a  rare  farm  that  has  no  bad  ground. — Jackson,  Shropshire  Word 

Booh. 
Quiet  sow, 
quiet  mow. 

A  saying  with  reference  to  land  or  lease  held  on  lives.     If  the 
seed  is  sown  without  notice  of  the  death,  the  corn  may  be 
reaped  although  the  death  took  place  before  the  sowing. — 
R.  J.  King,  N.,  I.,  ii.  512. 
Flitting  of  farms  makes  mailings  dear. — Ramsay. 
As  one  flits  another  sits, 
and  that  makes  the  mealings  dear. — K. 
Let  alone  and  you  sit, 
but  improve  and  you  flit. 

Quoted  in  House  of  Commons,  May  29,  '83, 
Agricultural  Holdings  Bill. 
Farming  is  a  lottery.     In  respect  of  the  many  incidents  that  crops 

and  cattle  are  liable  to. — Ellis,  Mod.  Hush.,  August,  p.  133. 
Happy  are  those  tenants  whose  landlords  dwell  far  off. — Dr. 
God  makes  the  wheat  grow  greener 

while  farmer  be  at  his  dinner. — R.  D.  Blackmore,  Lorna  Doone,  ch.  ix. 
This  case  plainly  shows  that  a  Farmer,  like  a  Tailor,  never  is  master 

of  his  trade. — Ellis,  Mod.  Httsb.,  August,  p.  ig. 
Who  marries  between  the  sickle  and  the  scythe 
will  never  thrive. — P.  in  R.,  1678 ;  Brand,  4to  ed.,  ii.  89. 
[for  when  the  bairn's  to  bear 
the  corn 's  to  shear.] 
He  that  has  a  good  crap  may  thole  some  thistles. — Ry. 

,,         ,,         ,,       harvest  may  be  content  with  thistles. — CI. 
In  harvest  time  ladies  are  chambermaids. — Cod. 

While  harvest  lasts  they  wait  on  themselves. — Cotgrave,  161 1. 
En  moissons  dames  chambrieres. 

There  's  a  good  steward  abroad  when  there  is  a  wind  frost. — Forby, 
E.  A .     Makes  labourers  work. 

411 


AGRICULTURE.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

We  are  all  equal  in  harvesting  time. — Arthur,  B.  of  Brev. 
God*  speed  the  plough.f— Boorde,  Int.  to  Knowlege,  i8. 

I,       „      us  and  „  ,,  — H.,  E.  P.  P.,  iv.  i6  ;    Taylor,  Brood,  of 

Cormorants,  xii. 
*  Grace. — Davies,  Scourge  of  Folly,  p.  75.        f  Plow. — Homilees,  1563,  xxi. 

The  ploughshare  is   made  of  iron,  but  the  spade  is  pointed  with 

gold. — Beauclerk,  Rural  Italy,  p.  178. 
Make  noi  a  balk*  of  good  ground.— C,  1636. 

*  Little  ridges  left  in  ploughing. 

Make  no  balks  of  good  beer-land. — Ferg.    i.e.  barley-land. 

(Irregular  ploughing  from  the  plough  being  allowed  to  vary  in 
depth,  and  so  spoil  uniformity  of  furrows.)" 
More  balks,  more  barley ;    more  seamsf,  more  beans. — (Line.)  M, 
VII.,  V.  194. 

t  A  measure  of  8  bushels. 
The  soil  and  the  seed,  the  sheaf  and  the  purse, 
the  lighter  the  substance,  for  profit  the  worse. 

Agric.  Communs.,  p.  174. 
Make  hay  while  the  sun  shines. — Ellis,  Mod.  Husb.,  August,  3. 

It  is  better  to  have  one  plough  going  than  two  cradles. — Lyly,  Euph., 

p.  329,  repr. 
Plough  or  plough  not,  you  must  pay  your  rent. — Den. 
A  good  tither, 

a  good  thriver. — (Somerset)  P.  in  R.,  1678. 
Plough  deep 

while  sluggards  sleep. — Hen. 
[and  you  shall  have  corn  to  sell  and  keep. — Den. J 
Better  an  April  sop  than  a  May  clot.    i.e.  for  ploughing  in  stiff  land. 

— Ellis,  Modern  Hush.,  April,  p.  15  ;  May,  p.  10. 
The  more  furrows,  the  more  corn. — Fitzherbert,  Book  of  Husbandry, 

P-  3-    1534- 
The  ox  is  never  wo 
tyll  he  to  the  harrow  go.* — Fitzherbert,  ii.s.,  f.  12. 

See  a  modern  version.  Animal  Life. 

*  Because  of  the  jerking  motion. 
Weel  worth  a' 

that  gars  the  plough  draw  — Ferg. 

Late  ploughings  make  bad  tilths. — Ellis,  Mod.  Hush.,  June,  26. 

Because  done  too  rapidly. 
'Tis  the  farmer's  care 
that  makes  the  field  bear. — F. 

Half  stock,*  whole  profit ;    whole  stock,  half  profit. — H.  TroUope, 
Belton  Estate. 

*  Of  animals  on  farm. 

Draining.     Lack  a  tile,  lack  a  sheaf. ^ — CI. 

Neither  weed  amongst  corn  nor  suspicion  in  friendship. — Dr. 

Cf.  It  is  better  to  have  a  cocoa  plantation  than  a  gold  mine. — 
(South  America.) 

412 


PROVERBS.  AGRICULTURE. 

Cucumbers  will  buy  a  horse  before  pineapples  will  purchase  a  saddle. 

— Govt.  Gdn.  saying. 
The  profit  of  willows  will  buy  the  owner  a  horse  before  that  of  other 

trees  will  pay  for  his  saddle. — (Camb.)  F.  W.,  p.  148 ;  J.  G. 

Nail,  Great  Yarmouth  and  Lowestoft,  p.  239,  n.  speaking  of 

plantations  on  sides  of  G.E.R. 
Seven  hours  sleep  will  make  the  husbandman  forget  his  design. — Den. 
Who  sows  his  corn  in  the  field  doth  trust  in  God. — Codr. 

To  complain 
Like  harvest  folks  of  weather  and  the  rain. — Bp.  Corbet,  Iter  Boreale, 
A  good  grieve*  is  better  than  an  ill- worker. — K. 

*  Steward  or  overseer. 
Ower  mony  grieves  but  hinder  the  wark. — A.  Ramsay. 
Farmer,  that  thy  wife  may  thrive, 
let  not  bur  and  burdock  wive ; 
and  if  thou  wouldst  keep  thy  son, 
see  that  bine  and  gith  hath  none. 

R.  D.  Blackmore,  Lorna  Doone,  ch.  xxii. 
Oats  will  mow  themselves,  i.e.  will  from  their  heaviness  fall  together 

in   a   heap  without  requiring  pressure. — Ellis,  Mod.  Hush., 

August,  52. 
Who  in  Janiveer  sows  oats, 
gets  gold  and  groats ; 
who  sows  in  May, 

gets  little  that  way. — Tusser,  Husbandry,  1573. 
In  July 

some  reap  rye : 
in  August, 

if  one  won't,  another  must. — Hone,  Year  Book. 
Hay  is  for  horses, 
straw  is  for  cows, 
milk  is  for  little  pigs, 
and  wash  for  old  sows. 

Mrs.  Parker,  Oxfordshire  Glossary,  Supp.    [E.D.  Soc.J 
When  the  weirling  shrieks  at  night, 
sow  the  seed  with  the  morning  light ; 
but  ware  when  the  cuckoo  swells  its  throat : 
harvest  flies  from  the  mooncall's  note. — N.,  TV,,  i.  614. 
Cuckoo  oats  and  woodcock  hay 
makes  the  farmer  run  away. 

i.e.  when  the  cuckoo  arrives  before  the  oats  are  sown  and  the 
autumn  is  so  wet  that  the  woodcock  finds  the  grass 
uncarried. — Brockett,  North  Country  Words. 

This  rule  in  gardening  never  forget : 

to  sow  dry  and  set  wet. — Agric.  Communs. 

Set  moist  and  sow  dry. — Markham,  "Country  Housewife's  Garden," 
Way  to  Wealth,  i658. 
A  dry  March  has  therefore  been  always  desired. 

413 


AGRICULTURE.  LEAN  S    COLLECTANEA. 

The  rathe  sower  never  borroweth  of  the  late.— Ho. 
Sow  in  the  slop, 

'twill  be  heavy  at  top.— Forby,  E.  A. 

We  should  sow  from  the  hand  and  not  from  the  full  sack. — Times, 
2o/6/'95. 

Sow  wheat  in  dirt  and  rye  in  dust. — K. 

The  curious  husbandman  will  forbear  to  sow  rye  in  any  shower 
of  rain,  bearing  in  his  mind  this  ancient  adage  or  saying 
that  Rye  will  drownd  in  the  Hopper,  as  on  the  contrary 
part  Wheat  would  be  sown  so  moist  that  might  stick  to  the 
Hopper. — Markham,  A  Way  to  get  Wealth,  IV.,  p.  14.    1668. 

Sow  barley  in  dree  and  wheat  in  pul.* — (Cornwall.) 

*  i.e.  mud. 
Triticum  luto,  hordeum  pulvere  conserite. 
Sow  beans  in  the  mud 
and  they  '11  grow  like  wood.f — CI. 

t  i.e.  mad. 
See  Fuller,  God  speed. 

Sow  peas  and  beans  in  the  wane  of  the  moon ; 

who  soweth  them  sooner  he  soweth  too  soon. — Tusser,  Feb. 

Sow  or  set  beans  in  Candlemas  waddle.J — (Somerset)  P.  in  R.,  1678. 

X  i.e.  wane  of  the  moon. — R.,  1678. 
One  for  the  mouse,  one  for  the  crow, 
one  to  rot  and  one  to  grow. — (Beans)  N.,  L,  ii.  515. 
A  green  shear  is  an  ill  shake. — Den. 
Short  harvests  make  short  addlings. — Den, 
A  long  harvest  leaves  little  corn. — Den. 

The  hasty  or  timely  sowing.     Sometime  it   faileth,  but  too  late 
sowing  seldom  or   never  well  proveth. — MS.   Lansd.   210, 
f.  80  vo.  (Mary). 
Sow  thin,  mow  thin. — K. 

„        shear    „    — Den. 
Sow  early  and  have  corn,  sow  late  and  have  straw. — Ellis,  Mod^ 
Husb.,  March,  p.  56. 

Early  sow, 
early  mow. — CI. 
Lat'  sowin' 
maks  lat'  mowin'. 

Jackson,  Shropshire  Word  Book. 
Where  the  scythe  cuts  and  the  plough  rives 
no  more  fairies  and  bee-bikes  [nests]. — Den. 

As  wheat  comes  out  of  the  field,  so  it  will  come  out  of  the  barn  (an 
argument  for  the  "  reap  and  bind  as  you  go "  system,  as 
saving  exposure  to  bad  weather. — Ellis,  Mod.  Husb.,  August, 
P-57- 

A  great  deal  happens  sometimes  between  the  field  and  the  barn. — 
Ellis,  Mod.  Husb.,  October,  p.  28. 

414 


PROVERBS.  AGRICULTURE. 

One  year's  seeding 

makes  seven  years'  weeding. 

Harland  and  Wn.,  Lancashire  Legends,  p.  189. 
Under  the  furze  is  hunger  and  cold ; 
under  the  broom  is  silver  and  gold. — P.  in  R.,  1678. 
Like  the  weed  called  gosses,  they  make  the  ground  barren  whereso- 
ever they  grow. — T.  Adams,  p.  393. 
When  elmen  leaves  are  as  large  as  a  farden 
it 's  time  to  plant  kidney-beans  in  the  garden, 

(Worcester.)     Lees ;  Noake,  Wove.  N.  and  Q.,  p.  239. 
When  the  elmen  leaf's  big  as  a  mouse's  ear, 
then  to  sow  barley  never  fear ; 
when  the  elmen  leaf's  big  as  an  ox's  eye, 
then  says  I,  "Hie,  boys,  hie!" — The  Field,  April  28,  1866. 
When  elm  leaves  are  as  big  as  a  shilling, 
plant  kidney-beans  if  to  plant  'em  you  're  willing ; 
when  elm  leaves  are  as  big  as  a  penny 
you  must  plant  kidney-beans  if  you  mean  to  have  any. 

Noake,  W.  N.  and  Q. ;  The  Field,  April,  1866. 
When  the  elder  is  white,  brew  and  bake  a  peck ; 
when  the  elder  is  black,  brew  and  bake  a  sack. 

(Somerset.)    P.  in  R,,  1678. 
When  the  sloe-tree  is  as  white  as  a  sheet, 
sow  your  barley  whether  it  be  dry  or  wet. — R.,  1678. 
When  fern  grows  red, 
then  milk  is  good  with  bread. — Ho. 

This  is  the  proper  order — spring,  summer,  autumn.  Haz.  has 
turned  them  topsy-turvey.  Ho.  it  will  be  observed  has 
only  the  autumn. 

When  the  fern  is  as  high  as  a  spoon 

you  may  sleep  an  hour  at  noon ; 

when  the  fern  is  as  high  as  a  ladle, 

you  may  sleep  as  long  as  you  are  able ; 

when  fern  begins  to  look  red, 

then  milk  is  good  with  brown  bread. — R.,  1670. 

When  whins  are*  out  of  bloom,  then  kissing  is  out  of  fashion. — Den. 

*  gorse  is. — Bo. 
Joan  says :  "  Furze  in  bloom  is  still," 
and  she  '11  be  kiss'd  if  she 's  her  will. 

Poov  Robin,  August,  1752. 
Barley  makes  the  heape, 
but  wheat  the  cheape. 

Meaning  that  a  good  wheat-year  pulls  down  the  price  of  itself 
and  of  all  other  grains,  which  no  other  grain  can  do. — 
Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS. 

Corn  to  pay  the  landlord,  and  sheep  to  keep  the  farmer. 

When  the  wheat  stalk  is  well-jointed  and  is  thick  and  strong,  it  is  a 
sign  of  a  good  ear. — Ellis,  Mod,  Husb.,  June,  p.  50. 

415 


AGRICULTURE.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

A  small  ear,  and  large  grain.     For  the  smaller  the  ear,  the  larger 

the  wheat,  rye,  or  barley. 
Harvest  about  two  month  after  shooting  of  the  wheat-ear. 
When  black  ears  appear  off  wheat  it  is  sign  of  a  good  corn  year. 
Wheat  shows  itself  best  in  blade,  for  when  it  comes  to  shoot  it  looks 

thin. 

Wheat  will  not  have  two  praises  (Summer  and  Winter). — P-  in  R,, 
1678. 
Cf.  Three  *  unto  whom  the  whole  world  gives  applause, 
yet  their  Three  praises  praise  but  One :  that 's  Lawes. 

Herrick,  To  Henry  Lawes,  ii.  298.    [Hesp.,  853. — Ed.] 
*  Musicians. 
Near  trees  no  corn. 

If  you  would  have  a  good  crop,  sow  sparingly :  pour  not  out  of  the  sack. 
It  is  a  shame  to  see  beasts'  meat  growing  where  men's  meat  should 
grow.     Old  maxim  of  farmers  for  raising  nothing  but  corn. — 
Sinclair,  Anal,  of  Statistical  Account  of  Scotland,  p.  288. 
In  the  dry  summer  of  '95  the  Somerset  labourers  were  scan- 
dalised by  the  beasts  being  fed  upon  apples. 
Since  1878  the  acreage  of  corn  in  this  country  has  decreased 
more  than  10  per  cent. 
To  break  a  pasture  will  make  a  man  ; 
to  make  a  pasture  will  break  a  man. 
It  is  the  pasture  lards  the  rother's*  sides, 

the  want  that  makes  him  lean. — Shak.,  Tinion  of  Athens,  iv.  3,  12. 

*  Horned  beast. 

Thistles.     To  destroy.     If  cut  in  May  it 's  before  the  day, 
if  cut  in  June  it 's  still  too  soon, 
if  cut  in  July  they  '11  surely  die. 
(Cotswold  proverb.) — J.  J.  Hissey,  Through  Ten  English  Counties, 

1894,  P-  199- 
Barley-sowing  may  be  continued  till  the  leaves  of  the  ash  cover  the 
pyet's  nest.     i.e.  end  of  May  or  beginning  of  June. — Sinclair, 
Anal,  of  Statistical  Account  of  Scotland,  p.  233. 
Second  grass  don't  never  pay.     i.e.  the  crop  repeated  the  next  year 
without  the  ground   being  ploughed   up. — Elworthy,    West 
Somerset  Ward  Book. 
Hence  by  wise  farmers  we  are  told 
Old  hay  is  equal  to  old  gold. — Swift,  Fable  of  Midas, 
Point  de  fourrage,  point  de  bestiaux  ;  sans  bestiaux,  aucun  engrain ; 

sans  engrais,  nulle  recolte. — (Flemish)  Q,  R.,  April,  '85. 
El  estiercol*  no  es  sancto 
mas  do  cae  haze  milagro. — Nunez,  1555. 

*  Dung. 
II  tetame  non  e  un  santo 
fa  miracoli  per  tanto. 
The  use  of  lime  without  manure 
will  make  the  farm  and  farmer  poor. 

Tanner,  First  Principles  of  A griculttire,  p.  58. 

416 


PROVERBS.  AGRICULTURE. 

A  full  bullock-yard  and  a  full  fold-yard  makes  a  full  granary. — 
Q.  R.,  April,  -85. 

From  the  manure  they  furnish. 
.     .     .     yet  thou  d'st  know 
That  the  best  compost  for  the  lands 
Is  the  wise  master's  feet  and  hands. — Herrick,  ii.  213.    [Hesperides, 

664. — Ed.] 

Whan  the  rain  draps  aff  the  hat 

'Tis  fully  time  for  folk  to  quat, 

Who  on  the  harrist  rig  do  shear 

Barley  wheat*,  pease  rye,  or  bearf. — Mactaggart,  Gall.  Enc. 

*  ?  Oats  or  barley-corn.        f  Barley. 
A  late  harvest  is  a  bad  harvest.     This  is  chiefly  true  of  wheat  only. 

The  land-springs,  which  we  call  lavants,  break  out  much  on  the 
downs  of  Sussex,  Hampshire,  and  Wiltshire.  The  country 
people  say,  "  When  the  lavants  rise,  corn  will  be  dear ;  " 
meaning  that  when  the  earth  is  so  glutted  with  water  as  to 
send  forth  springs  on  the  downs  and  uplands,  that  the  corn- 
vales  must  be  drowned. — G.  White,  Natural  History  of  Selbome  ; 
Letters  to  Daines  Barrington,  xix. 

A  snow-storm  is  as  good  for  the  land  as  a  top  dressing. 

It  is  generally  observed  the  finer  the  wheat  and  wool  (both  very 

good  in  this  county,  Hants)  the  purer  the  honey  of  that  place. 

— F.W. 

There's  cheating  in  every  trade  except  farmers,  and  they  put  the 
shortest  straws  in  the  middle. 

Agricola  semper  in  novum  annum  dives. — Erasmus,  Ad.,  590. 

And  I  think  that  the  want  of  Planting  [of  Orchards]  is  a  great  loss 
to  our  Commonwealth,  and  in  particular  to  the  owners  of 
Lordships ;  which  Landlords  themselves  might  easily  amend 
by  granting  longer  term  and  better  assurance  to  their  Tenants, 
who  have  taken  up  this  Proverb  : 

Botch  and  sit, 

build  and  flit ; 
for  who   will   build   or   plant   for   another   man's   profit  ? — 
Markham  {The  Orchard,  by  Wm.  Lawson),  A  Way  to  get  Wealth, 
Bk.  III.,  1625,  p.  9. 
Quarterly  Review  (April,  '84)  gives  a  Berkshire  variant : 

He  that  havocs  may  sit, 

he  that  improves  must  flit. 

When  the  cuckoo  sitteth  on  a  dry  thorn*, 
sell  thy  cow  and  sow  thy  cornf  ; 
but  when  she  comes  to  the  full  bit, 
sell  your  corn  and  buy  you  sheep. —  Ho. 

*  Comes  to  the  bare  thorn. — R.,  1670.    i.e.  a  late  spring. 

+  Buy  your  corn. — R.,  1670. 

If  mole-catching  you  want  to  know, 

you  must  surely  choose  a  fowl-right  bow. — N.,  VI.,  viii.  428. 

WL.  I.  417  27 


CROPS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

The  labour  of  a  Christian  is  like  the  labour  of  an  husbandman,- 
whereof  I  have  read  the  proverb  that  it  returns  into  a  ring : 
the  meaning  is  it  is  endless,  they  have  perpetually  something 
to  do,  either  plowing,  or  sowing,  or  reaping. — T.  Adams^ 
Works,  p.  419. 

There  is  the  proud  gallant  that  comes  forth  like  a  May  morning, 
decked  with  all  the  glory  of  art,  and  his  adorned  lady  in  her 
own  imagination  a  second  Flora  ;  and  these  are  riders,  but 
closer  riders.  The  world  with  them  runs  upon  wheels,  and 
they,  hastening  to  overtake  it,  outrun  it.  Their  great  revenues 
will  not  hold  out  with  the  year,  and  the  furniture  on  their 
backs  exceeds  their  rent-day.  Hence  they  are  fain  to  wring 
the  poor  sponges  of  the  country  to  quench  the  burning  heat 
of  the  city.  Therefore  say  the  countrymen  that  their  carts 
are  never  worse  employed  than  when  they  do  service  to 
coaches. — T.  Adams,  p.  611. 


CROPS. 

Quand  le  chou  passe  le  cep,  le  vigneron  meurt  de  soif.    i.e.  when  the 
cabbage  grows  faster  than  the   cep   (shoot   of  the  vine),    a. 
bad  vintage. — Cotgrave. 
Every  month  has  its  flower, 
every  flower  has  its  hour. — Lees. 
When  apple-trees  blossom  in  March, 
for  your  barrels  you  needn't  search  ; 
when  they  blossom  in  April, 
some  of  them  you  may  chance  to  fill ; 
but  when  they  blossom  in  May, 
you  may  drink  cider  all  day. — N. 

You  can  eat  apple  dumplings  every  day. — Bull,  Heref.  Pomona. 
When  the  trees  blossom  in  May, 
you  may  eat  apples  night  and  day. — Agric.  Commun. 
,,      ,,      ,,    apple  dumplings  all  day. 

A  peck  of  March  dust  is  worth  a  year's  rent  in  the  Isle  of  Man. 
Sheeu  Kishan  dy  yoan  mayrnt  manill  bleaney  Vannin. — Mona  Misc^, 
ii.  18. 

S.  V.  Hare  sends  an  inferior  version. — N.,  VL,  ix.  258. 
When  it  is  a  good  apple  year  it  is  a  great  year  for  twins. — N.,  III. 
Petites  pommes  gros  cidre. 
March  dust  on  an  apple  leaf 
brings  all  kind  of  fruit  to  grief. — Bull,  Heref,  Pomona,  p.  50. 

Danger  of  leaf  coming  prematurely  in  an  early  Spring. 
That  3ere  shalbe  litule  quete 

and  plentie  shalbe  of  appuls  grete. — MS.  Cantab.,  Ff.  v.  48,  f.  75.- 
That  3ere  shalbe  overalle 
there  shalle  mony  children  overqualle. — lb.,  f.  77. 

Cited  in  HU.,  Die,  Art.  "  Quete  and  Overqualle.'' 

41S 


PROVERBS.  CROPS. 

You  can't  price  the  green  barley. 

It 's  time  to  mak  the  bear-seed  *  when  the  plane-tree  t  covers  the 

craw. — Hen. 

*  Barley.        f  Maple. 
At  Candlemas  day- 
it 's  time  to  sow  beans  in  the  clay. — Ellis,  Mod.  Hush.,  viii.  309. 
Mercante  di  formento 
mercante  di  tormento, — Torr. 
The  broom  having  plenty  of  blossoms  or  the  walnut-tree,  a  fruitful 

year  in  corn. — Willsford. 
As  long  in  coming  as  Cotswold  barley. — F.  W. 

High  exposed  lands. 
A   quick  man  should  sow  oats  and  a  slow  man  barley.      Barley 

should  be  sown  so  thick  that  a  shoemaker's  awl  may  but  enter 

between   the   stalks  without    touching    them. — Ellis,    Mod. 

Hush.,  March,  p.  34. 

A  crooked*  man  should  sow  beans  and  a  woadmanf  pease. —  K. 
*i.e.  a  lame.        He-  a  madman. 
The  first  should  be  sown  thick,  the  other  thin  and  scatteringly. 

The  more  furrows,  the  more  corn.     i.e.  ploughed  in  narrow jilines. — 

Ellis,  Mod.  Hush.,  March,  p.  39. 
Rotation.     Efter  wheat,  to'nups,* 
efter  to'nups  barley, 
efter  barley  cloaver, 
efter  cloaver  wheat, 

and  so  oher  an'  oher  agean. — Peacock,  Lincoln  Glossary. 
*  Turnips. 

When  thers  oht,  it  makes  noght, 

and  when  it  makes  oght,  ther  's  noht. — Peacock,  Lincoln  Glossary. 

Abundance  makes  low  prices. 
The  more  beans,  the  fewer  for  a  penny.     When  beans  prove  best, 
wheat  and  barley  prove  worst,  whereby  the  price  of  pulse 
is  raised. — Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS.,  1639. 
A  cherry  year, 
a  merry  year ; 
a  plum  year, 
a  dumb  year. — R.,  1678. 
Cf.  Fortuna  y  azeytuna 

a  vezes  mucha,  a  vezes  ninguna. — Nunez,  1555. 
A  cherry  year  's  a  merry  year, 
a  sloe  year 's  a  woe  year, 
a  haw  year  's  a  braw  year, 
an  apple  year 's  a  drappin'  year, 

a  plum  year's  a  glum  year. — Poor  Robbin's  Ollminich,  1861. 
Hops  make 
or  break. 

The  yield  is  most  uncertain  and  the  cultivation  most  expensive ; 
the  value  of  the  land  may  be  won  in  a  single  year  or  its 
whole  expenditure  lost. 

419 


CROPS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

If  it  were  not  for  hops  the  farmers  would  have  to  hop  themselves. — 
Havergal,  Herefordshire  Words. 

Hops  are  a  constant  care,  but  an  uncertain  profit. — Dr. 

A  great  rime  year, 
a  great  fruit  year. 

By  the  hoar-frost,  while  it  kills  garden  produce,  impregnating 
the  trees  with  their  nitrous  qualities. — Ellis,  Mod.  Hush., 
August,  p.  133. 

Hareship*  in  the  Highlands,  the  hens  in  the  corn  ; 
if  the  cocks  go  in,  it  will  never  be  shorn. — K.     i.e.  much  ado. 
*  Herschip :  Ruin,  devastation. 

A  frosty  winter  and  a  dusty  March,  and  a  rain  about  April, 
and  another  about  the  Lammas-time  when  the  corn  begins  to  fill, 
is  worth  a  plough  of  gold  and  all  her  pins  theretill. — Den. 
Cf.  A  shower  in  July. 

The  bad  husbandman  has  a  good  crop  once  in  seven  years,  i.e.  in  a 
wet  season  when  the  richer  lands  are  overpowered  with 
moisture,  producing  a  blight. — Ellis,  Mod.  Hush.,  viii.  200 ; 
lb.,  March,  p.  56  ;  Atig.,  p.  126. 

The  sluggard  husbandman  succeeds  once  in  seven  years. — Ih., 
May,  p.  II. 

After  Lammas,  corn  ripens  as  much  by  night  as  by  day. — P.  in  R., 
1678. 

May  never  goes  out  without  a  wheat-ear.  i.e.  the  opening  of  the 
sheath  or  hose. — Ellis,  Mod.  Hush.,  May  8.     See  May. 

A  bending  crop  is  a  breaking  crop. — (Sussex.) 

Wheat  only  wants  the  water  to  lie  once  in  the  furrows. 

Wheat  always  lies  best  in  wet  sheets. — For  by,  E.  A. 

If  a  drop  of  rain  or  dew  will  hang  on  an  oat  at  Midsummer  there  may 
be  a  good  crop. — Friend,  220. 

At  Michaelmas  fair  (Oct.  2) 

the  wheat  should  hide  a  hare. — Noake,  Wore.  N.  &=  Q.,  p.  222. 
A  Ledbury  saying. 

When  wheat  lies  long  in  bed, 
it  riseth  with  a  heavy  head. 

i.e.  sown  in  October  under  a  heavy  furrow  and  not  rising  above 
ground,  if  at  all,  till  December  or  January. — Smyth, 
Berkeley  MSS.,  1639. 

A  thetch*  will  go  and  come.  i.e.  though  hardy,  will  be  nearly 
killed  by  a  frost,  and  yet  milder  weather  will  recover  it. — 
Ellis,  Mod.  Hush.,  April. 

*  Vetch. 
A  thatch  will  grow  through 

the  bottom  of  an  old  shoe. — Ellis,  Mod.  Hush.,  viii.  242. 
A  most  hardy  grain. 

420 


PROVERBS.  CROPS. 

Clover  is  the  mother  of  corn. — lb.,  May,  p.  60 ;  Sept.,  p.  125. 

i.e.  where  a  full  crop  of  Clover  or  other  artificial  grass  has  grown, 
the  next  corn  crop  will  be  the  better  for  it. — Wm.  Ellis, 
Modern  Husbandman,  1750;  Feb.,  p.  32. 

It  kills  weeds,  prevents  exhalations,  hollows  the  earth  and  leaves 
so  many  large,  long  roots  behind  it  as  to  become  a  sort  of 
dressing  to  it. — lb.,  March,  p.  77. 

March  dry,  good  rye ; 

April  wet,  good  wheat. — Illustrated  London  News,  Nov.  19,  1881. 

April  every  year 
produces  rye  in  the  ear. 

Quickly  comes  up  and  matures. — Ellis,  Mod.  Husb.,  viii.  286. 

In  the  season  when  lilacs  are  scarce  apples  will  fail  (Regent's  Park 
gardener). 

Muck  is  the  mother  of  the  meal  chest. — G.  B.  Worgan,  Agriculture  of 
Cornw.,  p.  123. 

Human  ordure  laid  on  land  will  breed  nettles. — Ellis,  Mod.  Husb., 
May,  159, 

Little  mead,* 

little  need.— P.  in  R.,  1678  (Som.). 

*i.e.  the  drink  made  of  honey — from  a  scarcity  of  flowers. 

A  mild  winter  hoped  for  after  a  bad  summer. — R.,  1678. 

A  good  year  of  kidney  beans,  a  good  year  of  hops. — Chamberlain, 
West  Worces.  Words. 

A  good  bark  harvest,  a  good  wheat  crop. — (Hampshire.)   i.e.  absence 
of  frost  at  ripping  time. 

A  good  bark  year  makes  a  good  wheat  year. — Wise,  New  Forest,  p.  1 79. 

A  good  nut  year,*  a  good  corn  year. — D. 

*  Especially  filberds. — "Willsford,  N.S.,  p.  144. 

A  good  cherry  year,  a  good  wheat  year. — Ellis,  Mod.  Husb.,  June,  p.  50. 

They  that  go  to  their  corn  in  May 

may  come  weeping  away, 

they  that  go  in  June 

may  come  back  with  a  merry  tune. — CI. 

Look  at  your  corn  in  May, 

and  you  '11  come  weeping  away ; 

look  at  the  same  in  June, 

and  you  '11  come  home  in  another  tune. — R.,  1670. 

No  dearth  but  breeds  in  the  horse-manger. — C,  1636. 

A  famine  in  England  begins  at  the  horse-manger. — R.  W.     i.e.  with 
the  dearness  of  oats.     See  R.'s  note. 

Weel  won  *  corn 

should  be  housed  ere  the  morn.— H.  P. 

*  Win. — A.  Cunningham,  Gloss,  to  Burns. 

421 


CROPS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Prospects  of  hay  harvest : 

"  Wilt  thou  be  hay  ?  " 

"Nay!" 
"  Wilt  thou  be  be  fowther*  ?  " 

"  I  '11  be  nowther." 
"  Wilt  thou  be  muck  ?  " 
"  That 's  my  luck." 

Denham,  F.  L.of  N.  of  E.,  p.  22. 
*  Fodder. 
Probably  this  refers  to  the  succession  of  dry  and  wet  seasons. 
After  a  famine  in  the  stall* 
comes  a  famine  in  the  hallf. — P.  in  R,,  1678. 

*  Bad  hay  crop.        t  Bad  corn  harvest. 
Corn  and  horn  go  together. — R.,  1678.    i.e.ioi  prices:  when  corn  is 

cheap,  cattle  are  not  dear,  and  vice  versa. — R.,  1678. 
Down  corn, 

down  horn. — Norfolk  Arch.  Misc.,  i.  308. 
A  good  hay  year,  a  bad  fog  year. — Den.     i.e.  coarse  grass. 
Make  hay  while  the  sun*  shineth. — C,  1636. 

*  Weather. — Ad.,  1622. 
In  good  years  corn  is  hay,  in  ill  years  straw  is  corn. — Herb. 

Midsummer  thistles  are  better  than  Michaelmas  hay.     i.e.  summer 
grass  better  than  autumnal  for  hay. — Peacock,  Lincoln  Gloss. 
Good  rye 
grows  high. 
Up  horn, 
down  corn. 

Many  nits, 

many  pits. — AT'.,  L,  ii.  510.     See  Fruit. 

A  great  nut-year,  a  full  churchyard. — Derbyshire  Reliquary. 

The  more  hazel-nuts,  the  more  bastard  children. — (Gloucestershire) 
Northall,  Folk  Phrases  of  Four  Counties. 

If  you  would  fruit  have, 

you  must  bring  the  leaf  to  the  grave. — R.,  1678. 
i.e.  transplant  at  the  fall  of  the  leaf. 

Quien  planta  a  barrena* 
planta  y  espera, 
quien  planta  a  noya 
planta  y  goya. — Nuriez,  1555. 

*  Dust. 

Olive.     Qui  ne  possede  que  des  oliviers  est  toujours  pauvre  (un  prov. 
trivial  Nicois). — F.  G.  Fodera,  Voyage  auxAlpes  Mariiimes, 
Paris,  1821,  ii.  93, 
Chiefly  because  the  crop  is  alternative  and  intermittent. 
When  a'  fruit  fa's,* 
welcome  ha'sf. — K. 

*  Fails.        t  Haws. 

422 


PROVERBS.  CROPS. 

Many  hips  and  haws, 

many  frosts  and  snaws. — Den. 

A  pear  year 

a  dear  year. — Inwards. 

When  the  pea 's  in  bloom 

the  mussel 's  toom. — Ch. 

A  haw  year 

a  snaw  year. — Murr. 

A  haw  year 

's  a  braw  year. 

Mony  haws, 

mony  snaws. — Murr. 

Many  sloes, 

many  cold  toes. — Den. 

Pruning.     Ramo  curto,  vendimi  a  lunga. — Bacon,  Promus. 

Cherries,         If  they  blow  in  April 
you  '11  have  your  fill, 
but  if  in  May 
they  '11  all  go  away. — Pegge,  62. 

Let  me  add  what  experience  avoweth  true,  though  it  be  hard  to 
assign  the  true  cause  thereof,  that  when  wheat  is  dear, 
leather  always  is  cheap,  and  when  leather  is  dear,  then  wheat 
is  cheap. — F.  W.,  Middlesex,  176. 

Many  rains,  many  rowans ; 

many  rowans,  many  yawns. — Den. 

Many  mountain-ash  berries,  a  deficient  harvest. 

Many  slones, 

many  groans. — M,  I.,  ii.  510.    {^Devon.  R.  J.  King.]    This  is  coupled 
with  "  Many  nits  "  (above). 
Slone  for  sloe  is  used  by  Browne,  a  Devon  poet. — Brit.  Past.,  ii.  i. 
Cf.  A  plum  year  a  dumb  year.     When  plums  are  good  all  else 
is  bad. 

Ragwort.     There  is  gold  on  Cushags  there. — (Manx.)    i.e.  it  shows  a 
rich  soil. 

A  March  wind  is  salt  which  seasoneth  all  pulse,  i.e.  no  peas  or 
beans  should  be  stacked  till  they  have  been  dried  by  it. — 
Markham,  The  Way  to  get  Wealth,  II.,  p.  94,  1668. 

If  you  cut  oats  green, 

you  get  both  king  and  queen. 

i.e.  the  top  of  the  heads,  the  largest  grains  Which  would  fall  out 
if  allowed  to  ripen. — Peacock,  Lincoln  Glossary. 

■Of  evil  grain  no  good  seed. — Dr. 

Thick  sown  and  thin  come  up. — (Raritas)  CI. 

■One  for  the  cutworm,  one  for  the  crow, 
-one  for  the  grub,  and  two  for  to  grow. 
American  rule  for  sowing. 

423 


LAND,  HOUSE.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

How  to  sow  Beans : 

One  for  the  mouse, 
one  for  the  crow, 
one  to  rot, 

one  to  grow. — N.,  L,  ii.  515. 
Vin  vert*  vin  chir.     i.e.  good  quality  goes  with  good  quantity,  i.e.- 
an  abundant  vintage. 

*  Tart. 

Happy  is  the  farmer  who  has  a  river  running  near  his  cider-press. 
La  piazza  el  piii,  bel  giardino  che  siu. — Bolla,  1604. 
The  market  is  the  best  garden. — Herb. 
Cheapside  is  the  best  garden. — R.,  1670. 
Covent  Garden  is  the  cheapest  garden. 

liAND,    HOUSE!. 

Cujus  est  solum,  ejus  est  usque  ad  coelum,  [et  ad  inferos. — Ed.] 

As  ane  flits 

anither  sits. — Mactaggart,  Gallov.  Encycl. 

The  first  duty  of  a  landlord  is  to  be  rich.    i.e.  to  have  capital  to  fully 

develop  the  capacities  of  his  land. 
Land  won't  run  away.     A  maxim  of  investors  who  consider  it  th& 

most  stable  property. 
Bawbees  are  round  and  rin  away : 

a  grip  o'  th'  ground  is  gude  to  hae. — N.  Fife  F.  L.  Journal,  ii.  91. 
"  If  the  French  did  come  'ere  they  might  spile  the  land  a  bit ;  they 

met'n  trash  [trample]  over  it,  but  they  could  na  carry  it  away 

wi'  'em,"  said  a  farmer. — Jackson,  Shropshire  Word  Booh. 
Land   is   security  without    interest,   the    Funds    interest   without 

security;   but  a  mortgage  is  both   interest   and   security. — 

Lord  Eldon  (Of  Investments). 
What  is  worse  for  the  rider 

is  best  for  the  abider. — (Somerset)  R.  Blome,  Britannia,  p.  195.    1672. 
The  best  ground  the  dirtiest. — Dr.  (Faults.) 
It 's  a  common  saying  that  there  are  more  waste  lands  in  England 

in  these  particulars  [i.e.  pasture]  than  in  all  Europe  besides, 

considering    the    quantity  of   land. — Samuel    Hartlib,    The 

Compleat  Husbandman,  1659,  p.  40. 
Pasture  doth  not  depopulate,  as  is  commonly  said. — Ih.,  p.  43. 
An  acre  of  sea  is  worth  four  acres  of  land  (from  the  abundance  of 

food  for  fish). — "  Old  Saying,"  Spectator,  i^jifg^. 
Land  without  church 
shall  be  left  in  the  lurch ; 
church  without  land 
for  ever  shall  stand. 

One  of  the  prime  precepts  the  Earl  of  Strafford  left  his  son 
upon  the  scafibld  was  that  he  should  not  meddle  with 
Church  land,  for  they  would  prove  a  canker  to  his  estate. — 
Strafford  Letters,  II.  78. 

424 


PROVERBS.  LAND,   HOUSE, 

The  father  buys,  the  son  biggs* 

the  grandchild  sells,  and  his  son  thigsf. — K. 

*  Builds.  t  Begs  genteelly. 

A  proverb  much  used  in  Lowthian,  where  estates  stay  not  long 
in  one  family,  but  hardly  heard  of  in  the  rest  of  the  nation. 
— K. 
There  is  a  curse  lies  hard  against  all  those 
who  turn  large  commons  into  small  inclose. 

Ellis,  Mod.  Husb.,  Sept.,  151. 
A  good  tenant  requires  no  protection  from  the  law. — .S^.  James's 

Gazette,  i2/y/'8y. 
A  good  tenant  makes  a  good  landlord. — Ellis,  Mod.  Husb.,  Oct.,  133. 
A  good  landlord  makes  a  good  tenant. — lb. 
Tant  vaut  I'homme,  tant  vaut  sa  terre. — Cotgr.,  161 1. 
He  never  had  a  bad   lease  that   had   a   good    landlord. — Smyth, 

Berkeley  MSS. 
When  lairds  break,  carles  get  land, — K.     i.e.  the  small  purchaser 

has  a  chance. 
Land  was  never  lost  for  want  of  an  heir. — R. 

It  is  something  to  be  sub  to  a  good  estate.     Because  at  the  long  run 
it  may  fall  to  us. — K. 

It  is  good  to  be  near  akin  to  land. — F.  W.,  Leicestershire. 

The  thistle  is  said  to  be  an  indication  of  good  land. — Ellis,  Mod. 
Husb.,  May,  p.  46. 

Good  elm,  good  barley  ;  good  oak,  good  wheat. — Wr.  White,  Eastern 
England,  i.  38. 

On  fat  londe  and  ful  of  dunge  foulest  wedes  groweth. — P.  Plow.  Vis.^ 
c.  xiii.,  224.     Cf.  Shak.,  2  H.  IV.,  iv.  4. 

I  paesi  fecondi, 

fanno  gli  vagabondi. — Flo.  G. 

He  that  marls  sand 

may  buy  land, 

he  that  marls  moss 

shall  suffer  no  loss, 

but  he  that  marls  clay 

flings  all  away. — Ellis,  Mod.  Husb.,  July,  p.  139. 

See  N.,  III.,  iii.  246.     Gentleman's  Magazine,  1753,  p.  120,  given 
as  a  Lancashire  proverb. 

Marl  is  said  to  be  good  for  the  father,  bad  for  the  son. — Q.  R.,  April,. 
1885. 

Neghe  sythe  sede, 
and  neghe  sythe  glide,* 
and  fif  pond  for  the  were  f 
er  he  bicome  healder. 

Lambard,  Perambulation  of  Kent,  650,  from  an  old  Charter 
of  Gavelkind. 
*  i.e.  fine  after  forfeiture  of  tenancy,    t  "  Wer."  is  the  tenant's  own  valuation. 

425 


LAND,  HOUSE.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

[Pollock  and  Maitland,  Hist,  of  Eng.  Law,  Vol.  II.,  p.  269,  say  : 
"  Some  parts  of  the  custom  [gavelkind]  enshrined  ancient 
English  proverbs,  which  the  scribes  of  the  fourteenth  cen- 
tury could  not  understand  and  which  make  reference  to 
institutions  that  must  have  been  obsolescent  in  the  twelfth, 
obsolete  in  the  thirteenth  century.  We  find  a  proverb 
about  the  wife  who  loses  her  free  bench  by  unchastity, 
another  about  the  descent  of  the  felon's  land,  a  third  about 
the  process  called  gavellet.  The  last  of  these  is  obscure. 
The  lord  after  a  long  forbearance  has  had  the  tenement 
adjudged  to  him,  because  of  the  tenant's  failure  to  pay  his 
rent.  The  tenant  however  has  a  locus  panitentia  allowed 
him.  The  proverb  seems  to  say  that,  if  he  will  get  back 
his  land,  he  must  pay  the  arrears  of  rent  nine  times  (or 
perhaps  eighteen  times)  over,  and,  in  addition  to  this,  must 
pay  a  wergild  of  five  pounds.  .  .  .  Seemingly  the  proverb 
means  in  truth  that  the  tenant  will  lose  the  land  for  good 
and  all.  It  is  one  of  those  humorous  rules  of  folk-law 
which,  instead  of  telling  a  man  he  cannot  have  what  he 
wants,  tell  him  that  he  may  have  it  if  he  will  perform  an 
impossible  condition." — Ed.] 

He  that  buys  land,  buys  many  stones  ; 

he  that  buys  flesh,  buys  many  bones  ; 

he  that  buys  eggs,  buys  many  shells ; 

but  he  that  buys  good  ale,  buys  nothing  else.— R.,  1670. 

(This  and  more  may  be  found  in  a  drinking  song  of  the  15th 
century:  "Bring  us  in  no  brown  bread." — Carols  and 
Songs,  temp.  Henry  VI.  (Percy  Society.) 

The  charges  of  building  and  making  of  gardens  is  unknown. — Codr. 

Near  a  church  and  near  a  mill, 

far  from  a  lord  and  under  a  hill. 
(Site  of  a  house  should  be.) 

There  never  yet  was  a  house  built  big  enough  to  hold  two  families. 
— Surtees,  Plain  or  Ringlets,  c.  xcvii. 

A.  house  had  better  be  too  little  for  a  day  than  too  great  for  a  year. — 
Fr.,  III. ;  Ho.,  St.,  vii.  7.   [As  for  receipt,  i.e.  accommodation.] 

A  rich  widow,  a  quiet  house. — Codr. 

[The]  Master  of  a  house  (as  I  have  read) 

Must  be  the  first  man  up  and  last  in  bed. — Herrick,  ii.  263. 

When  we  agree  one  bed  can  hold  us,  when  we  are  at  variance  the 
whole  house  is  too  little  for  us. — T.  Adams,  Works,  800.    1629. 

Alas  !  we  bless  but  see  none  here 

That  brings  us  either  ale  or  beer. 

Deos  te  de  saude  e  gozo 

e  casa  con  quintal  e  poco. — Bluteau. 

In  a  dry  house  all  things  are  neere  (?  near — close). — Herrick,  ii.  129. 

Houses   as   an   investment   ought  to  return  7  per  cent,  to  cover 
insurance,  wear  and  tear,  and  change  of  fashion. 

House-rent  in  London  should  be  one-sixth  of  your  income. 

426 


PROVERBS.  LAND,    HOUSE. 

For  every  lodging-room  that  you  have,  be  sure  you  have-^ioo  of 
annual  revenues. — Sir  Samuel  Sleigh,  Sheriff  of  Derbyshire, 
1648 — 1666  ;  Reliquary,  i. 

Achete  paix,  bon  air  et  maison  faite, 

«t  garde  toy  d'exces  et  vieille  debte. — Meurier,  1590, 

Monte  y  rio 

■de  me  lo  Dios  por  vezino. — Nunez,  1555. 

Monte,  porto,  citt^  bosco  o  torrente 

abbi  se  puoi  per  viceno  o  parents. — Tommasso,  Diet. 

Casa  en  canton 

y  viiia  en  rincon. —  Lopez  de  Mendoza,  1508. 

Monte  y  rio 

demele  Dios  por  vecino. — Julian  de  Medrano,  Silva  Curiosa.     1583. 

•Quien  quisiere  medrar 

viva  en  pie  de  Sierra  o  en  puerto  de  mar. — Nuiiez,  1555. 

Camera  terrena 

corta  vita  mena. — Giani. 

Casa  fatta  e  vigna  posta 

nissun  sa  quanto  essa  costa. — Giani. 

Tierra  en  frontera 

y  vina  en  ladera  (on  a  slope). — Nuriez,  1555. 

Ni  hagas  huerta  en  sombrio 

Tii  edifiques  cabe  rio. — Julian  de  Medrano,  Silva  Curiosa.     1583. 

Build  a  church  and  a  public-house  and  you  '11  soon  have  a 
neighbourhood. 

Tal  he  a  casa  de  dona  sem  escudeiro 

como  fogo  sem  trasfogueiro. — (Portuguese)  Bluteau. 
Old  houses  mended 

cost  little  less  than  new,  when  all  is  ended. 

Cibber,  Double  Gallant,  Prologtie, 

Building  is  a  sweet  impoverishing. — Herbert,  Jacula  Prudentum. 

The  man  who  builds,  and  wants  wherewith  to  pay, 

provides  a  house  from  which  to  run  away. — Spurgeon. 

"  This  work  made  William  de  Wickham."  i.e.  he  both  built  the 
house  (Winchester  School),  and  the  building  made  a  man  of 
him. — Spurgeon. 

Dip  not  thy  finger  in  the  morter, 

nor  seek  thy  penny  in  the  water. 

Against  building  and  waterworks. — Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS.,  1639, 
where  it  is  assigned  to  Coke,  C.  J.  in  1613. 

Painting  and  whitewashing  cost  nothing. — Ch.     (Because  they  are 
preservative.) 
'Tis  a  Dutch  proverb  that  paint  costs  nothing,  such  are  its 
preserving  qualities  in  damp  climates. — Emerson,  Conduct 
of  Life :  Considerations  by  the  Way. 

When  we  build  a  house,  the  rule  is  to  set  it  not  too  high  nor  too 
low,  under  the  wind,  but  out  of  the  dirt. — Emerson,  Represen- 
tative Men ;  Montaigne. 

427 


BIRDS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Owners  of  the  ancient  fishponds  once  attached  to  every  house  of 
consideration  in  the  country-side,  remembering  the  old  saying 
that  'An  acre  of  water  is  worth  four  acres  of  land,'  often  take 
advantage  of  the  chance  offered  by  the  sub-division  of  these 
streams  to  restock  their  home-waters  with  young  and  lively 
trout  [at  the  Whitsuntide  fishing]. — C.  J.  Cornish,  Wild 
England  of  To-day,  p.  289.     1895. 

It  is  a  maxim  held  in  Plantations  that  '  No  land  is  habitable  which 
hath  not  Wood  and  Water ' ;  they  too  being  as  it  were  the- 
only  nerves  and  strength  of  a  man's  safe  and  wholesome 
living. — Markham,  English  Husbandman,  II.  39.     1635. 

Horta  com  pombal*  he  Paraiso  terreal. — (Portuguese)  Bluteau. 

*  Dovecot. 

The  ditch  makes  the  hedge,  i.e.  the  outer  side  of  it  makes  the 
boundary,  and  the  hedge  is  a  mere  voluntary  addition  by  the 
owner. 

There  was  a  Gentleman  lately  who  was  offered  by  the  Parlement  a 
parcel  of  Church  or  Crown  lands  equivalent  to  his  arrears, 
and  asking  counsel  of  a  friend  of  his  which  he  should  take, 
he  answered,  "  Crown  lands  by  all  means  "  ;  for  if  you  take 
them  you  run  a  hazard  only  to  be  hanged,  but  if  you  take 
Church  lands  you  are  sure  to  be  damned. — Ho.,  Familiar 
Letters,  IV.  33. 

BIRDS. 

There  are  no  birds  this  year  in  last  year's  nest. — F. 
En  los  nidos  de  antano  no  ay  paxaros  o  gaiio. — Nunez,  1555. 
However  far  a  bird  flies  it  carries  its  tail  with  it. — N.,  VII.,  iii.  206. 
No  one  can  be  in  two  places  at  once,  unless  he 's  a  bird. — Sir  Boyle 

Roche. 
She 's  a  bad  sitter 
that 's  ay  in  a  flitter. — Cunningham,  Burns  Glossary. 

Crow. 

When  the  crow  begins  to  build 

then  sheep  begin  to  yeald. — Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS. 

As  good  land  as  any  the  crow  flies  over. — B.  E.  New  Diet,  of  the- 

Canting  Crew. 
If  the  crow  crows  on  going  to  bed, 
he 's  sure  to  rise  with  a  watery  head. — Den. 
Crows  craying  early  in  the  morning  with  a  clear  and  loud  voice 

shows  the  day  will  be  fair.     If  in  the  evening,  a  sign  of 

rain  next  day. — Ag.  Camp. 
No  carrion  will  kill  a  crow. — (Glou.)  Northall,  Folk  Phrases  of 

Four  Counties. 
The  corbie  says  unto  the  craw, 
"  Johnnie,  fling  your  plaid  awa' ;  " 

the  craw  says  unto  the  corbie, 
"  Johnnie,  fling  your  plaid  about  ye." 

428 


PROVERBS.  BIRDS. 

It  is  God  that  feeds  the  crows, 
that  neither  tills,  harrows,  nor  sows. — K. 
The  horse-crow  croaketh  before  the  rain. — Dr. 
The  wicked  crow  aloud  foul  weather  threats, 
when  on  dry  sands  alone  she  proudly  jets. — W. 
The  crow    bids    you    good-morrow.     A   phrase    whereby   we 
figuratively  call  a  man  a  knave. — Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS. 

Cuckoo. 

Sunshine  and  rain  brings  the  cuckoo  from  Spain, 
but  the  first  cock  of  hay  flays  the  cuckoo  away. 

Harland  and  Wn.,  Lancashire  Legends,  232. 
In  April 

the  cuckoo  shows  his  bill, 
in  May 

he  sings*  all  day, 
in  June 

he  changes  his  tune, 
in  July 

away  he  '11  fly, 
in  August 
away  he  must. — HU.,  Popular  Rhymes. 

*  or  stuts. 
In  March 

he  sits  upon  his  parch, 
in  April 

he  tunes  his  bill*, 
in  May 

sings  night  and  day, 
in  June 
alters  his  tune, 
in  July 
away  he  fly. — (S.  Devon)  Haz. 

*  Soundeth  his  bell.— N 
In  March 
the  cuckoo  starts, 
in  April 
'a  tune  his  bill, 

in  September 

you  '11  oilers  remember, 

in  October 

'uU  never  get  over. — (E.  Ang.)  Haz. 

The  cuckoo  comes  of  mid-March  and  cucks  of  mid- April, 

and  gauns  away  of  Midsummer  month,  when  the  corn  begins  to 

fill. — Den.    See  under  June. 
The  first  cock  of  hay 
frights  the  cuckoo  away. — Den. 
When  the  cuckoo  comes  he  eats  up  all  the  dirt. — Yea  and  Nay 

Almanack,  1680. 
i.e,  the  mire  of  winter  dries  up. 

429 


BIRDS.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

The  cuckoo  goes  to  Beaulieu  Fair  (April  15)  to  buy  him  a  great- 
coat.— Wise,  New  Forest,  180. 

You  never  hear  the  cuckoo  before  Tenbury  Fair  (April  20),  nor 
after  Pershore  Fair  (June  26). 
He  is  said  to  attend  the  latter  to  buy  a  horse  to  ride  away  on. 

As  long  as  the  cuckoo  remains  after  Midsummer,  so  long  will  the 
harvest  continue  after  Michaelmas. — (Norfolk)  Athenaum,. 
1 1/8/ '49. 

In  the  month  of  Averill 

the  gowk  comes  over  the  hill 

in  a  shower  of  rain, 
and  on  the         of  June 

he  turns  his  tune  again. — (Craven)  Haz. 

The  nightingale  and  the  cuckoo  sing  both  in  one  month. — CI. 

The  cuckoo  comes  in  mid-March, 
sings  in  mid-April, 
stuts*  in  mid-May, 

and  in  mid- June  flies  away. — Gentleman's  Magazine,  1797,  I.,  456.. 
"  Stammers. 
Daw, 

When  three  daws  are  seen  on  Peter's  vane  together, 
then  we  're  sure  to  have  bad  weather. 

(Norwich)  Higson  in  Haz. 

Dotterel.      A  dish  of  dotterels  (Munus  non  munus).       Calabri 
hospitis  Xenia.^Cl. 
When  dotterel  do  first  appear, 
it  shows  that  frost  is  very  near  ; 
but  when  the  dotterel  do  go, 
then  you  may  look  for  heavy  snow. — (Scotland)  Murr. 

Ducks. 

Titty  kum  tawtah, 

the  ducks  in  the  water  ; 

titty  kum  tawtah, 

the  geese  follow  aater. — (Suffolk)  Nail,  Gnat  Yarmouth,  674. 

Fly-catcher. 

If  you  scare  the  fly-catcher  away, 
no  good  luck  will  with  you  stay. 

F.  A.  Knight,  In  the  West  Country,  p.  200.. 
If  you  scare  the  fly-catcher  away, 
no  good  will  with  you  stay. 

(Somerset)  T.  Compton,  A  Mendip  Valley,  p.  152. 
Fowls. 

If  the  cock  moult  before  the  hen, 
we  shall  have  weather  thick  and  thin  ; 
but  if  the  hen  moult  before  the  cock, 
we  shall  have  weather  hard  as  a  block*. — R.,  1670. 

■  Rock, 

430 


PROVERBS.  BIRD& 

When  the  hen  doth  moult  before  the  cock, 
the  winter  will  be  hard  as  a  rock  ; 
but  if  the  cock  moults  before  the  hen, 
the  winter  will  not  wet  your  shoe's  seam. 

Aubrey,  Nat.  Hist.  Wilts,  p.  i6. 
Da  galina  a  preta  *  da  pata  t 
a  parda,  da  mollar  a  sarda|. — (Portuguese)  Nunez,  1555. 

*  Black.        t  Duck.         \  Freckled. 
He  that  will  have  his  farm  full 
must  keep  an  old  cock  and  a  young  bull. 

Ellis,  Modem  Husbandtnan,  May,  p.  94. 
A  good  cock  will  never  out. — (Fortitudines)  CI. 
If  fowls  roll  in  the  sand, 
rain  is  at  hand. — W. ;  Inwards. 

The  mistress'  eye  makes  the  capon  fat. — BretonjCrossingofP.,!]. 
La  geline  pond  par  le  bee*. — Cotgr. 
*,  Lays  as  she  is  fed. 
Geese. 

Fie  upon  pride  when  geese  go  bare-legged. — B.  E.  N.  D.  C.  Cr. 
Oison  verd  bon 

grison  grain  *  bon. — Meurier,  Dev.  Fam, 
guere. — Cotgr. 
Gull. 

The  gull  cometh  not  but  against  a  tempest. — Dr. 
The  gull  comes  against  the  rain. — R.,  1670. 

Not  "  after,"  as  Hazlitt  has  printed. 
Sea-gull,  sea-gull,  sit  on  the  sand, 

it 's  never  fair  weather  when  you  come  to  land. — Long  Ago,  i.  339, 
Gie  your  ain  fish-guts  to  your  ain  sea-mews  (gulls). 
Heron. 

Craiget  heron  near  the  hill, 
plenty  water  for  the  mill ; 
Craiget  heron  to  the  sea, 
fine  weather  it  will  be. — Spectator,  1/6/ '95. 
t  Craiget :   throaty. 
Lapwing.     The  lapwing  cries  most  when  she's  furthest  from  the 
nest. — Old  Law,  iv.  2. 
The  pea-straw  aye  cries  farest  frae  its  ain  nest. — Hen. 
And  lapwinges  that  wel  conneth  ly. — Chau.,  Plow,  T.,  1335. 

And  yet,  unto  this  day  men  saith 

A  lappewinke  hath  lost  his  feith 

And  is  the  brid  falsest  of  alle. — Gower,  C.  A.,  ii.  329. 

Lark.     It  is  better  to*  hear  the  lark  sing  than  the  mouse  cheep. 

*  I  wad  rather. — Cunningham,  Glossary  to  Burns. 
Martin. 

The  martin  and  the  swallow 

are  God  Almighty's  birds  to  hallow. — Haz. 

431 


BIRDS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Nightingale.     When  the  eels  be  in  the  nightingale  comes,  to  be 
ready  to  sing  in  May. — (Worcester.)     And  siS.  Cuckoo. 

Owl.     Stroke  oule   and   schrape  oule  and   evere  is  oule  oule.  — 
N.  Bozon,  Contes,  i.  17,  c.  1320,  Anc.  Text  Tr. 

Partridge. 

If  the  partridge  had  the  woodcock's  thigh 
it  would  be  the  best  bird  that  ever  did  fly. — R.,  1670. 
[if  the  woodcock  had  the  partridge's  breast 
'twould  be  the  best  bird  ever  sat  in  the  nest*. 

*  That  ever  was  drest.     ^^S'-  ^'"^P-'  P"  277-] 
Perdiz  derrengada* 
perdigoncillos  guarda. — Nuriez,  1555. 
*  Limping. 

Peacock.  Fly  pride,  saith  the  peacock. — Shak.,  Com.  of  Er.,iv.  2,  75. 

When  the  peacock  loudly  bawls, 

soon  we  '11  have  both  rain  and  squalls. — Inwards. 

Pigeon. 

The  dow  she  dew  no  sorrow  know 

until  she  dew  a-benten  go. — Nail,  Great  Yarmouth. 

i.e.  feeds  on  the  seeds  of  grasses  before  pease  are  up. 
The  pigeon  is  never  woe 
Till  a-benting  she  doth  go 
With  heavy  and  hoe, 
So  let  the  wind  blow. — Melismata,  i5ii. 
The  pigeon  never  knoweth  woe 
But  when  she  doth  a-benting  go. — R.,  1670. 
When  the  pigeons  go  a-benting*, 
then  the  farmers  lie  lamenting. — Forby,  E.  Ang. 
*  or  benetting. 

Pigeons,  against  their  wills,  keep  one  Lent  for  seven  weeks  in 
the  year,  betwixt  the  going  out  of  the  old  and  growing  up 
of  the  new  grass. — F.  W.,  N  'kants,  279, 

Puffin. 

Tammie  Norie  0'  the  Bass 
canna  kiss  a  pretty  lass*. 

W.  White,  Notthumberland  and  Border,  p.  268. 
*  Because  of  his  bill. 

Raven.     Nourish  a  raven  and  he  will  scratch  out  thine  eyes. — Dr. 

If  the  raven  cries  first  in  the  morning  it  will  be  a  good  day  ;  if 
a  rook,  the  reverse. 

A  raven  always  dines  off  a  young  one  on  Easter  Sunday. — 
(Herefordshire)  St,  James'  Gazette,  8/3/ '87. 
Robin. 

If  the  robin  sings  in  the  bush, 

then  the  weather  will  be  coarse  ; 

but  if  the  robin  sings  on  the  barn, 

then  the  weather  will  be  warm. — Forby,  E.  Ang.,  p.  416. 

432 


PROVERBS.  CAT. 

Rooks. 

When  rooks  fly  sporting  high  in  air, 
it  shows  that  windy  storms  are  near. — Swainson. 
Storks.     The  storks  fly  afore  that  winter  cometh. — Dr. 
Swallow.     Su  Martin. 

Swan.     Apropos  of  the  fact  of  its  abundance  in  Norfolk,  as  a  food 
it  used  to  be  called,  and  possibly  still  is  called,  "  Norfolk 
venison."    And  very  good  eating  it  is,  at  least  when  young. 
— Spectator,  20/8/ '98. 
Woodcock.     See  Partridge. 

'Cock-shooting,  the  fox-hunting  of  shooting. — Illustrated  London 
News,  22/io/'8i. 

<JAT. 

A  harmless,  necessary  cat. — Shak.,  M.  of  Ven.,  iv.  i,  55. 

■Quattro  cose  necessarie  in  una  casa  un  camino,  un  gatto,  una  gallina, 

ed  una  donna. — Florio,  First  Fruits,  p.  24.     1578. 
A   good  wife  and   a   good  cat  are  best  at  home. — Northall,  Folk 

Phrases  of  Four  Counties. 
As  fortunate  as  a  cat  that  still  falls  on  its  legs. — Torr. 
A  cat  will  never  drown  if  she  sees  the  shore.  — Bacon,  Promus,  590. 
A  cat  may  look  on  a  King. — He. 

at     .     .     .—CI. 

upon     .     . — Ho. 

R.  Yes,  by  Gisse,  but  chill  loe ;  nay  loe  there :  thought  is  free 
And  a  catt,  they  zaith,  may  looke  on  a  King  pardee. 

Respublica,  iv.  4,  1553  ;  Collier,  Reprints  Old  Eng.  Lit.,  i. 
Drink  that  will  make  a  cat  speak. 
Stephano  :  Open  your  mouth  ;  here  is  that  which  will  give  language 

to  you,  cat. — Shak.,  Temp.,  ii.  2,  77. 
The  cat  did  it.     A  common  shift  on  puss  of  unwitnessed  smashes. 
How  can  the  cat  help  it,  if  the  maid  be  a  fool  ? 
•Care  will  kill  a  cat. — CI.     See  Haz.,  p.  98. 

Hang  sorrow  !     Care  will  kill  a  cat. — Wither,  Christmas  ? 
Plague  on  the  cat  that  loves  not  milk  nor  fish. — Armin,  Two  Maids 

of  More  Clacke,  1609,  p.  74  (repr.). 
The  cat  would  lick  milk,  but  she  will  not  wet  her  feet. — Melb.,  Philot. 
Letting  "  I  dare  not  "  wait  upon  "  I  would," 
Like  the  poor  cat  i'  the  adage. — Shak.,  Macbeth,  I.  vii.  43. 
The  cat  knows  whose  lips  she  licks  well  enough.     (Proprii  commodi 

studium.) — CI. 
Nature  teaches  beasts  to  know  their  friends. — Shak.,  Cor.,  ii.  i,  5. 
A  cat  has  nine  lives.     {See  Haz.,  p.  5.) 
Tybalt.     What  would'st  thou  with  me  ? 
Mercutio.     Good  King  of  cats,  nothing  but  one  of  your  nine  lives. — 

— Shak.,  R.  and  J.,  iii.  i,  75. 

VOL.  I.  433  28 


CATTLE.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

From   two-legged   cats*  with   thrice  nine  lives. — Quarles,   Virgin 
Widow,  i.     (Part  of  a  Litany.) 

*  i.e.  women. 
The  mice  will  play 
when  the  cat  is  away. 

"  In  my  long  abodes  abroad  all  my  life  long  proved  too  true  for 
my  profit." — Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS. 
Put  an  old  cat  to  an  old  rat. — Davenant,  The  Man 's  the  Master,  i. 

1668. 
Rats  walk  at  their  ease, 

if  cats  them  do  not  meese. — Wodroephe,  1623. 
A  blate*  cat  makes  a  proud  mouse. — Ferg. 

When  parents  and  masters  are  too  mild  and  easy,  it  makes 
their  children  and  servants  too  saucy  and  impertinent. — K. 
*  Bleat  =  bashful. 
A  mim-mou'd  cat  is  na  guid  mouser. — Cunningham,  Glossary  to  Burns. 
A  peute*  chatte,  jolis  mirons 

A  poueta  tzatta,  bi  menons. — Bourguignon,  Swiss  Romansch. 
An  ugly  cat  will  have  pretty  kittens. 
*  Peute,  ugly. 
Cat  after  kind  :  good  mouse-hunt. — He.     See  Haz.,  p.  gg. 
If  the  cat  will  after  kind, 

so  be  sure  will  Rosalind. — Shak.,  A.  Y.  L.,  iii.  2,  93. 
Whenever  the  cat  of  the  house  is  black, 
the  lasses  of  lovers  will  have  no  lack. 

Denham,  F.  L.  N.  of  England,  1858,  p.  25. 

Kiss  the  black  cat, 

and  that  '11  make  ye  fat : 

kiss  ye  the  white  one, 

and  that  '11  make  ye  lean. — Denham,  ti.s. 

Whittington.  and  his  cat  *. 

*  "  In  the  14th  century  a  cat  or  catch  (modernised  ketch)  was  a  ship  built  on 
the  Norwegian  model,  with  a  narrow  stern,  projecting  quarters,  and  a 
deep  waist.  It  was  strongly  built  and  used  in  the  coal  trade.  Sir 
Richard  Whittington  made  his  money  by  carrying  coals  from  Newcastle 
to  London,  and  coal  was  first  made  an  article  of  trade  between  these 
ports  a  few  years  prior  to  his  mayoralty.  The  Ketch  is  still  the  name  of 
a  public-house  on  the  Severn  below  Worcester." — Globe,  25/io/'97. 

Cf.  also  the  Cat-water  at  Plymouth. 
Kilkenny  cats.     See  Ireland. 


CATTLE,    SHEEP,    SWINE. 

Hark  !  I  hear  the  asses  bray  : 

we  shall  have  some  rain  to-day. — [Rutland],  Swainson, 

He  that  will  have  his  farm  full 

must  keep  an  old  cock  and  a  young  bull. 

Ellis,  Modern  Husbandman,  May,  p.  94. 
Bos  lassus  fortius  figet  pedem. — Eras.,  Ad,,  42. 

434 


PROVERBS.  CATTLE. 

The  ox  doth  never  know  such  woe 

as  when  to  the  harrow  he  doth  go. — Ag.  Comp.,  174. 

From  the  jerking  motion.     See  Agriculture. 
A  blatant  cow  soonest  forgets  her  calf.     i.e.  a  bellowing  animal. 
Applied  to  disconsolate  widows. — Ch. 
A  lowing  cow  soon  forgets  her  calf. — E.  L.  Chamberlain,  W. 

Worcestershere  Words,  E.D.S. 
A  healing  cow  soonest  forgets  its  calf. — Peacock,  Lincoln  Glossary. 
A  quay  out  of  a  quey* 
will  breed  a  byre  full  of  kye. — Den. 

*  A  cow  of  two  years. 
Que,  Quee,  a  female  calf. — Brogden,  Lincoln  Pr. 
A  canny  quey  makes  a  sonsie  cow. — Cunningham,  Glossary  to  Burns. 
Look  to  the  cow, 
and  the  sow, 
and  the  wheat  mow, 

and  all  will  be  well  enow. — (Somerset)  P.  in  R.,  1678. 
Long  in  her  sides,  bright  in  her  eyes, 
short  in  her  legs,  thin  in  her  thighs ; 
big  in  her  ribs,  wide  in  her  pins, 
full  in  her  bosom,  small  in  her  shins ; 
long  in  her  face,  fine  in  her  tail, 
and  never  deficient  in  filling  the  pail. 

If  the  cows  be  not  milked  by  the  time  the  herdsman  blows  his  hornf 
it  spoils  the  dairymaid's  marriage. — Ellis,  Modern  Husbandman, 
May,  p.  135. 

t  i.e.  about  sunrise. 

The  more  you  milk  a  good  cow  the  more  [milk]  she  will  give. — 
Rowland  Hill. 

The  higher  the  grass,  the  more  milk.  But  of  a  flashy  watery  nature, 
apt  to  sour. — Ellis,  Modem  Husbandman,  June,  p.  154. 

The  more  milk,  the  more  butter.  But  because  milk  is  mixt  with  the 
cream,  the  butter  is  poorer. — Ellis,  Country  Housewife,  p.  170. 

The  more  butter,  the  worse  cheese. — Bullein,  Bulwarhe  of  Def.  {B.  of 
Simples,  p.  85),  1562. 
Spoken  of  dairy  farms. 

Butter  is  in  the  cow's  horns  once  a  year. — Ho. 

,,      ,,  once  a  year  in  the  cow's  horn, — R.,  1670.     i.e.  when  she 
calves  and  gives  no  milk. 

My  milk  is  in  the  cow's  horn 

now  the  zun  is  'ryved  at  Capricorne. 

Meaning,  when  the  days  are  at  shortest,  the  cow  commonly 
then  fed  with  straw  and  near  the  calving  gives  little  or  no 
milk. — Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS. 

Butter  is  mad  twice  a  year.  Once  in  summer  heat,  when  it  is  too 
thin  and  fluid ;  and  once  in  the  cold  of  winter,  when  it  is 
hard  to  spread. — R.,  1678. 

435 


CATTLE.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 


Be  not  mad  butter ;  if  it  be 

It  shall  both  July  and  December  see. 

Rob.  Heath,  Epigv.,  p.  38,  1650;  S.,  P.C,  i.; 
B.  Jon.,  Staph  of  Newes,  ii.  i. 
Two  good  meals*  are  better  than  three  bad  ones. — Codr.,  Youth's 
Behavr.,   and  part,  p.  99,  advocating  the   milking  of  cows 
twice  a  day  only — i.e.  at  6  a.m.  and  6  p.m. — calls  this  an  old 
proverb. 
*  Meal.     The  milk  of  a  cow  produced  at  one  and  the  same  milking. — 
(North.)  HU. 

Barley  straw's  good  fodder  when  the  cow  gives  water. — R.,  1678. 
In  the  excessively  dry  autumn  of  1894  a  mash  of  chopt  straw 
and  apples  was  given  to  their  cattle  by  the  farmers  of  W. 
Somerset,  owing  to  the  want  of  grass. 
Little  drops  of  water  added  to  the  milk 
makes  the  milkman's  daughter  dress  herself  in  silk. 

(Copied  from  a  MS.  on  a  hoarding,  Bristol,  Oct.,  1884.) 
An  ill- willy  cow  should  have  short  horns. — K. 
The  end  of  the  old 

's  to  keep  sheep  in  the  fold. — Ho.,  Brit.  P.,  p.  11. 
To  keep  sheep  the  best  life. — Manningham,  Diary,  1602-3,  f-  loiS., 

Camd.  Soc. 
A  lame  shepherd  and  a  lazy  dog  are  the  best  attendants  on  a  flock 
of  sheep.     Because  they  don't  overdrive  or  worry  them. — 
Ellis,  Modern  Husbandman,  October,  p.  147. 

No  two  sheep  are  exactly  alike. 

A  sheep's  belly  is  the  cheapest  dung-cart. 

Symmetry  well  covered.     The  toast  at  Holkham  drunk  to  sheep. — 

Quarterly  Review,  April,  '85. 
Small  in  size,  but  great  in  value. — The  Leicester  sheep  introduced 

by  Bakewell  in  1760. 
The  mountain  sheep  are  sweeter, 
but  the  valley  sheep  are  fatter. 

T.  L.  Peacock,  Misfortunes  of  Elphin,  ch.  xi.,  p.  141. 
A  leap  year 

is  never  a  good  sheep  year. — Den. ;  (Peeblesshire)  Chambers. 
One  night  out  and  another  night  in  is  bad  for  horses,  but  good  for 

sheep. — (Manx)  Mona  Miscellany,  ii.  20. 
He  that  would  have  his  fold  full, 
must  have  an  old  tup  and  a  young  bull ; 
he  that  will  have  a  full  flock, 
must  have  an  old  stagge*  and  a  young  cock. 

MS.  Royal  Society ;  cited  in  Hll. 
*  gander. 

He  that  will  have  his  farm  full 

must  keep  an  old  cock  and  a  young  bull. 

Ellis,  Modern  Husbandman,  p.  94. 
They  '11  bite  a  bit  quicker  and  run  a  bit  thicker.     Said  of  well-bred 
sheep. — Peacock,  Lincoln  Glossary. 

436 


PROVERBS.  CATTLE. 

The  lamb  where  it 's  tipped, 
the  ewe  where  it 's  clipped. — K. 

(Rule  in  tithe-taking.) 
A  black  sheep  is  a  biting  beast. — Bastard,  Chrestoleros,  iv.  26,  1598, 

p.  90. 
The  best  shepherd  that  ever  run 

can't  tell  wher  a  sheep  goes  twenty  weeks  or  twenty-one  (in  gestation). 
You  may  shear  your  sheep 
when  the  elder  blossoms  peep. — Inwards. 

When  the  white  pinks  begin  to  appear, 

then 's  the  time  your  sheep  to  shear. — (Hunts.) 

N.,  IV.,  iii.  575. 
Many  frosts  and  many  thowes 
make  many  rotten  yowes. — Den. 

It  is  a  common  saying,  that  the  lamb  shall  not  rot  as  long  as  it 
sucketh,  except  the  dam  want   meat. — Fitzherbert,  Book  of 
Husbandry,  f.  28. 
Queso  de  ovejas,  leche  de  cabras,  manteca  de  vacas. — Nuiiez,  1555. 
Pigs  are  either  all  muck  or  all  money. 

Pigs  are  always  either  all  gold  or  all  copper.    Price  fluctuates  owing 
to  the  prolific  breeding  power. — C.  S.  Read,  M.P.,  in  Daily 
News,  3/i/'8s. 
A  hog  is  good  for  nothing  till  he  is  dead. — Ellis,  Modem  Husbandman, 

November,  p.  79. 
There  's  no  profit  got  from  feeding  pigs  but  their  muck  and  their 
company. — Northall,  Folk  Phrases  of  Four  Counties. 

Pigs  see  the  wind,  i.e.  the  coming  tempest,  which  makes  them  the 

most  restless  of  animals.  — W. 
There  is  a  proverb  which  says,  "  A  pig  may  fly,  but  it  isn't  a  likely 

bird."— D.  Morgan,  Budget  of  Paradoxes,  p.  275. 
Pigs  are  content  with  mast. — Fulwell,  Ars  Adulandi  G.  1. 
Whey  will  fat  a  hog, 
and  starve  a  dog ; 
butter-milk  will  fat  a  dog, 

and  starve  a  hog. — Ellis,  Modern  Husbandman,  May,  p.  132. 
Cochon  d'un  mois, 
chapon  de  huit,  et 
oison  de  trois, 
est  vray  manger  de  Roy. — Meurier,  Dev.  Fam. 

He  that  hath  both  sheep,  swyne,  and  bees ;  sleep  he,  wake  he,  he 
may  thrive. — Fitzherbert,  Book  of  Husbandry,  p.  50. 
An  old  saying.     Much  profit  in  shortest  space,  with  least  cost. 
As  good  to  the  purse  is  a  sow  as  a  cow. — Tusser. 
A  sow  doth  sooner  than  a  cow 
bring  an  ox  to  the  plow. — Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS.,  1639. 

Meaning  more  profit  doth  arise  to  the  husbandman  from  a  sow 
than  a  cow. 

437 


DOG.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Rich  doth  prove  the  man  who  hath  the  hand 
to  bury  wives  and  to  have  his  sheep  to  stand*. 

Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS.,  1639. 
*  be  maintained. 
More  women  than  men, 
more  pigs  than  ten ; 
a  man  will  get  rich  when  the  devil  gets  blenf. — 

Transactions  Devonshire  Association,  IX.,  191. 
t  i.e.  blind. 
Unless  your  bacon  you  would  mar, 
kill  not  your  pig  without  the  R.  [in  the  name  of  the  month]. 

Harland  ahd  Wn.,  Lancashire  Legends,  p.  224. 
Never  hit  a  pig  when  it  is  going  straight. 
What  can  ye  get  of  a  sow  but  a  gruniph  ? — Cunningham,  Glossary  to 

Burns. 
If  a  deer  be  once  struck,  it 's  never  suffered  to  herd  again. — Torr. 


DOG. 

I  have  heard  old  woodmen  say :  He  cannot  be  a  gentleman  that 
loveth  not  a  dog. — Northbrook,  Against  Dicing,  1577;  Shak.  . 
Soc,  p.  108. 

A  man,  a  horse,  and  a  dog  are  never  weary  of  each  other's  company. 
Wm.  Ellis,  Shepherd's  Sure  Guide,  p.  9.     1749. 

Nothing  so  long  of  memory  as  a  dog. — Nash,  Unf.  Trav.  L.  3. 

Dogs  love  where  they  are  beloved.^Rowley,  Witch  of  Edmonton,  iii.  i_ 

Let  sleeping  dogs  lie. 

Cama  de  chao 

cama  de  cao. — (Portuguese)  Bluteau. 

A  gentleman,  a  greyhound,  and  a  salt-box,  seek  them  at  the  fire- 
side.— Herb. 

Wake  not  at  every  dog's  bark. — Dr. 

It  is  a  common  proverb  :  "  Dogs  bark  more  from  custom  than  fierce- 
ness."— Wharton,  Merlini  Anglici,  1647,  Preface. 

Beware  of  a  man  that  does  not  speak  and  of  a  dog  that  does  not 
bark. — Dr. 

Holdfast  is  the  only  dog. — Sh.,  H.  V.,  II.,  iii.  54.- 

The  more  spaniels,  the  more  game  (in  hawking). — Aubrey,  N.  H. 
Wilts. 
I  have  read  of  this  being  quoted  apropos  to  the  complaint  of  so 
many  lawyers  in  a  town  damaging  each  other. 

A  whelp  that  first  doth  miss  of  his  game  doth  never  after  prove 
worth  a  haw. — Melb.,  Philotimus,  p.  50. 

If  you  call  a  dog  a  dog  [to  a  sportsman]  you  are  undone. — Lyly, 
Midas,  iv.  3. 

The  spaniel,  the  more  he  is  beaten  the  fonder  he  is. — Lyly,  Euphues, 
p.  109 ;  Arb.  repr. 

438 


PROVERBS.  DOG. 

Dogs,  easily  won  to  fawn  on  any  man  ! — Sh.,  Rich.  11, ,  iii.  2,  130. 

Dog  don't  eat  dog. — Haz.,  112. 

The  dog  offended,  the  sow  suffered  (Puniri  pro  aho). — CI. 

Canis  peccatum,  sus  dependit. — CI. 

Carry  a  stone  in  your  pocket  to  throw  at  a  dog. — CI. 

It  is  a  good  dog  nowadays  that  '11  come  when  he 's  called,  let  alone 

coming  before  it. — W.  C.  Russell,  Sailor's  Language. 
Any  stick  will  do  to  beat  a  dog  [with]. 
The  dog  that  killeth  the  wolf  is  at  length  killed  by  the  wolf. — Dr. 

Cunados  y  perros  bermejos  pocos  buenos. — N.,  1555. 

Of  all,  and  of  all, 
commend  me  to  Ball, 

for  by  licking  the  dishes  he  saved  me  much  labour. — R.,  1678. 
Ball,  a  dog.     See  Privy  Purse  Exps.  of  H.  VIII.,  p.  43. 

"  Swaggering  Ball,  the  butcher's  dog." — S.  'Ro^\a.nA.,Knave  ofCluhhes, 
1611. 

He  was  a  strong-built  ball   and  an  old   dog  at   fisticuffs. — Urq., 
Rabelais,  IV.,  xii. 
This  is  a  translation  of  ribault  (German) — bald,  hardi. 

If  you  will  have  a  good  tike. 

Of  which  there  are  few  like, 

he  must  be  headed  like  a  snake, 

Neckt  like  a  drake, 

backt  like  a  beam, 

sided  like  a  bream, 

Tailed  like  a  bat, 

and  footed  like  a  Cat.     (A  good  greyhound.) 

Markham,  Country  Contentments,  1615,  I.  100. 

The  first  yere  he  most  lerne  to  fede, 

the  second  yere  to  felde  him  lede, 

the  iii  yere  he  is  felow  lyke, 

the  iv  yere  there  is  noon  syke, 

the  V  yere  he  is  good  inough, 

the  vi  yere  he  shall  hold  the  plough, 

the  vii  yere  he  will  avayle, 

[grete  bikkys*  for  to  assay le] 

the  viii  yere  likladill, 

the  ix  yere  cartsaydllt, 

and  when  he  is  commyn  to  that  yere  have  him  to  the  tanner. 

For  the  best  hounde  that  ever  bikke  had, 

At  ix  yers  he  is  full  badde. 

*  Contests.  t  or  [wit  fadyth]. 

See  Bohe  of  St.  Albans,  Haz.,  p.  18,  where  the  training  of  the 
greyhound  is  given  as  above. 
Every  dog  is  allowed  his  first  bite.     i.e.  is  not  punished. 
A  weel-bred  dog  goes  out  when  he  sees  them  preparing  to  kick  him 

out. — Hen. 
A  dog  to  his  vomit  and  a  sow  to  her  wallowing  in  the  mire. — Dr. 

439 


FISH.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

That  dog  fights  best  that  out  of  danger  plays. 
Optimum  est  aliena  frui  insania  (Periculum). — CI. 
Fling  the  dog  a  bone. — Dr. 

As  good  to  have  a  dog  fawn  upon  him  as  bark  at  him. — Dr. 
Apud  causidicos  ipsum  silentium  est  venale. — Cassiod. 
The  dog  will  be  patient  that 's  struck  with  a  bone. — Swift,  Vindica- 
tion of  a  Libel. 
Smite  a  dog  with  a  bone  and  he  '11  not  yowl. — K. 
It  is  a  bad  dog  that  deserves  not  a  crust. — CI. 
It  is  dangerous  to  feed  another  man's  dog. — CI. 
The  dog  waggeth  his  tail  not  for  you  but  for  your  bread. — Dr. 
The  dog  gnaws  the  bone  because  he  cannot  swallow  it. — Cod. 
A  dog  is  made  fat  in  two  meals. — Wise,  New  Forest,  p.  179. 

Applied  to  upstart  and  purse-proud  people. 
Love  me  and  love  my  dog. — Turberville. 

To  his  Love  that  controlled  his  dog  for  fawning  on  her. 

FISH. 

Fish   are  plentiful  when   fleas  are  plentiful. — (Norfolk)  N.,   III., 

viii.  288. 
Ant,         This  night  I  purpose  to  lodge  in  Dumfries.     But  who  must 

carry  our  implements  and  our  fish  ? 
TJieoph.     Let  us  catch  'em  first  and  then  consider  their  portage. 

Franck,  Northern  Memoirs,  1694  (i^S^))  P-  73>  repr. 
Thus  [Isaac  Walton]  and  some  others  dress  fish  before  they 
catch  them  ;  but  I  approve  it  requisite  to  catch  them  first 
and  then  at  your  leisure  dress  them  afterwards. — Ih.,  p.  325. 
No  man  can  be  a  fisher  and  want  a  wife.     i.e.  do  without  one,  from 
the  great  assistance  they  give  to  fishermen. — Sinclair,  Anal, 
of  Statistical  Ace.  of  Scotland,  p.  52,  repr. 
Gi'e  your  ain  fish-guts  to  your  ain  sea-mews  (gulls). 
A  fish-merchant's  loss.    i.e.  when  his  gains  do  not  come  up  to  the 

maximum  level. — Nail,  Great  Yarmouth,  etc.,  p.  303  n. 
Le  poisson  puisque  il  est  un  coup  hors  de  I'eau,  il  ne  la  doit  jamais 

toucher. — Joubert,  Er.  Pop.,  II.  (6). 
II  pesce  guasta  I'acqua,  la  carne,  la  concia. — Ho. 

Al  sole  la  carne  ed  il  pesce  all'  ombra. — Torr.     The  back  of  beasts 
and  the  belly  of  fish. 

Pesce  e  femina  meglior  sotto  la  panza. — Torriano. 

Le  poisson  est  en  chaude  saison  poison. — Meurier,  Dev.  Fam.,  c.  18, 

1590. 
Es  moys  qui  ne  sont  point  errez, 

du  poisson  pas  ne  mangerez. — Meurier,  Dev.  Fam.     1590. 
Despues  de  los  peces 
malas  son  las  leches. — Nunez,  1555. 

440 


PROVERBS.  FISH. 

Quien  en  Mayo  come  la  sardina 

en  Agosto  caga  la  espina. — Nunez,  1555. 

Big  fish  spring  out  of  the  kettle. — Nail,  Great  Yarmouth,  388. 

As  in  this  county,  and  in  Cash-Houlton  especially,  there  be  excellent 

Trouts,  so  are  there  plenty  of  the  best  Wall-nuts  in  the  same 

place,  as  if  Nature  had  observed  the  rule  of  Physic  Post 

Pisces  Nuces. — F.  W. 
Quien  come  pechos  menudos 
come  mierda  de  muchos  culos. 
Porque  los  pechos  menudos  andan  a  la  orilla  del  agua  donde  las 

mugeres  lavian  sus  trapos. — Nunez,  1555. 
A  moUer  e  a  sardina 
piquena. — (Portuguese)  Nunez,  1555. 

Little  fish  eat*  sweet. — Forby,  E.  Ang.    Generally  applied  to  women. 

*  Are. 
Better  a  little  fish 
than  an  empty  dish. 
He  that  catches  one  fish,  fishes  on. 
Better  sma'  fish  than  nae  fish. — Ry. 

Affairs,  like  salt  fish*,  ought  to  lie  a  good  while  a-soaking. — Bo. 
(Italian)  E. 

*  In  a  pie. 

L'hoste  et  le  poisson,  passes  trois  jours  jurent*. — Bacon,  Promus 
(1464). 

*  ?  purent. 

A  fresh  fish  and  a  poor  friend  soon  grow  ill-faured. — ?  Cowan. 

Cockles.  Cockles  and  ray 

come  in  in  May. 

Harland  and  Wn.,  Lancashire  Legends,  224. 

Cod.     Called  marble-head  turkey  in  Massachussets*. — Cowan. 
*  The  Codfish  State. 
Cod-fish.     Aristocracy  of  New  England. 
Cod  is  not  good  eating  till  the  snow  comes  on  the  water.    (Irish.) 

Eels.     When  the  eels  be  in,  the  nightingale  comes,  to  be  ready  to 
sing  in  May.     (Worcester.) 
He  has  a  slid  grip  that  has  an  eel  by  the  tail. — Ry. 
Silver  eels  are  generally  preferred,  and  I  could  wish  they  loved 
men   but   as  well  as  men   loved  them. — Fuller,  Worthies, 
p.  143,  who  cites  an  Italian  proverb. 
"  Give  eels  without  wine  to  your  enemies." — lb. 
Anguilla  empanada 

y  lamprea  escavechada*. — Nunez,  1555. 
*  In  sauce,  soused. 
Haddock.     A  January  haddock,  a  February  bannock,  and  a  March 
pint  of  ale. — Denham. 
The  haddocks  are  good 
dipped  in  May  flood. — Haz. 

411 


FISH.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

A  cameral*  haddock 's  never  guid 
till  it  gets  three  days  o'  May  flude. — Mearns, 
*  Large,  ill-shaped. 
Hake.     The  West  Country  parson  (from  the  stripe  down  its  back). 
Abundant  on  the  Devonshire  coast. 

Herring.     Gentleman  Jack  Herring,  that  puts  his  breeches  on  his 

head  for  want  of  wearing. — Nash,  Lenten  Stuffe. 
This  seems  to  refer  to  the  packing  in  straw  of  the  fish  in  the 
cade. 
[Herring  and  ling,  herring  and  ling. — Nail,  Gveat  Yarmouth,  etc., 

396,  n.] 
Of  all  the  fish  in  the  sea,  herring  is  the  king. — Ho. ;    Nash, 

Lenten  Stuffe. 
Those  blooming  days  when  in  youth  red  herring  was  king. — 

Melb.,  Phil.,  K.  2  ;  B.  Jonson,  Every  Man  in  his  Humour, 

i.  3  ;  Taylor,  Jach  a-Lent, 
The  Persians  give  him  this  title,  "  Shah-mahee."     The  Caspian 

is  full  of  them. — Morier,  Persia,  pp.  230,  402.     1812. 
Dinna  gut  your  herrings  till  ye  get  them. 
Don't  cry  herrings  till  they  are  in  the  net. — Nail. 
Herrings  in  the  land, 

the  doctor  at  a  stand. — (Dutch)  Nail,  Great  Yarmouth,  358. 
No  herring,  no  wedding.     i.e.  a  good  season  promotes  marriage 

of  fisher-folk. — (Manx)  Mona  Miscellany,  ii.  15. 
Red-herring  ne'er  spake  word  but  een, 
"  Broil  my  back  but  not  my  weam." — R.,  1678. 
The  herring  loves  the  moonlight,  the  mackerel  loves  the  wind, 
but  the  oyster  loves  the  dredging-song,  for  he  comes  of  a  gentler 

kind. 
See  Argyllshire,  Haddingtonshire,  Norfolk,  for  sobriquets  of 
the  herring. 
The   herrin's    are  nae  guid   till   they   smell  the   new   hay. — 

(Northumberland)  Cowan,  Sea  Proverbs. 

Mackerel.     See  Herring. 

Mackerel  is  in  season  when  Balaam's  ass  speaks  in  church. 

The  lesson  in  the  old  Lectionary  (Numbers  xxii.)  for  2nd 

Sunday  after  Easter. 
Some  suppose  that  the  French  term  for  an  April  fool,  poisson 

d'Avril,  is  derived  from  the  mackerel,  which  is  credited 

with  stupidity  and  easily  taken. — Brady,  Cla.  Cal. 

Mullet.    The  red  mullet  is  called  "  the  woodcock  of  the  sea."    As 
Pisca  Nobile  it  is  sold. 
Come  della  triglia 
non  la  mangia  chi  la  piglia. — Torr. 
Mussel.     Comment  doit  on  manger  ces  moules  ?  I'une  embouchee 
tost ;  I'autre  en  I'ceil ;  la  troisieme  preste  a  la  main  et  le 
bon  vin  preste  ou  prochain.— Meurier,  1590. 

442 


PROVERBS.  FISH. 

When  the  pea 's  in  bloom 
the  mussel 's  toom  *. 

*  Empty,  or  not  fit  to  be  eaten. 
Oyster.     Ste  Herring. 

The  oysters  are  a  gentle  kin, 
and  winna  tak'  unless  you  sing. 

"The  Dreg  Song,"  Herd's  Sc.  S.,  ii.  164. 
He  that  eats  oysters  on  St.  James'  day  (August  5th)  will  never 

want  money  for  the  rest  of  the  year. 
King  James  was  wont  to  say  he  was  a  very  valiant  man  who 
first  adventured  on  eating  of  oysters. — (Essex)  F.  W. 

Pilchards.      Heat   and   pilchards   appear   simultaneously   on   the 
coast. — Illustrated  Itinerary  of  Cornwall,  ■p.  108.     1842. 
When  the  corn  is  in  the  shock 
the  fish  are  at  the  rock. 

i.e.  the  pilchards  are  near  shore.     (Cornwall.) 

Pilot-fish.     When  you  meet  the  pilot-fish,  the  shark  arn't  far  off. 

Marry  at,  Peter  Simple,  xi. 
Salmon. 

The  jowl  of  a  salmon,  the  tail  of  a  tench, 

the  back  of  a  herring,  and  the  belly  of  a  wench. — Ho. 

The  back  of  an  hearing,  the  poll  of  a  tench, 

the  side  of  a  salmon,  the  belly  of  a  wench. 

Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS.,  1639. 

Salmon  and  sermon  have  their  season  in  Lent. — R.,  1674. 

Saumon  comme  sermon 

en  caresme  ont  leur  saison. 

Salmone  e  sermone 

son  d'un  medesima  stagione. — Torr. 

Buena  es  la  trucha,  mejor  el  salmon, 

buena  es  el  savalo,  quando  es  de  sazon. — Nunez,  1555. 

Despues  de  le  Ascension  ni  salmon  ni  sermon. — lb. 

Salmon  de  Ginero*  al  emperador  primero, 

y  despues  contando  degrade  engrado. — (Asturian)  lb. 
*  January. 
Shad.     Sino  te  quieres  casar  como  savalo  por  San  Juan. — Pineda. 

Sino  te  quieres  casar 

como  savalo  por  Sant  Juan. — Nuriez,  1555. 

Saval  de  Mayo 

maleytas  para  todo  el  ano. — (Portuguese)  Mai  Lara,F.  V.,vi.  13. 
Shell-fish. 

Quand  nous  venons  de  I'an  au  bout 

I'esclefin  a  perdu  son  gout. — Meurier,  1590. 

Als  wy  op  eynde  van  den  jare  Komen 

zoo  is  den  schelvisch  synen  smaer  benomen. — lb. 
Sole.    A  sole  is  the  bread  and  butter  of  fish. — N.,  VIH.,  ix.  448. 
i.e.  pleases  all  and  always. 

443 


HORSE.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Sturgeon.     Taken  in  the  Hudson  River,  and  called  Albany  beef. — 
Cowan,  Sea  Proverbs  (American). 

Tench.     The  tench  is  the  physician  of  fishes  [and  they  being  hurt, 
come  to  him  for  cure]. — J.  Adams,  Works,  p.  ago.     1629. 
Taci,  taci,  tenca  rugginente 

che  chi  mangia  di  te  tutto'l  di  febbre  sente. — Torr. 
Trout.     See  Aspen-tree. 

A  better  fish  than  trout  was  never  hooked, 
a  better  fish  than  shad  was  never  cooked, 
a  better  thing  than  this  was  never  crooked  * , 
and  a  better  saw  than  this  was  never  booked. 

Cowan,  Sea  Proverbs  (American). 
*  The  arm  in  pouring  out  drink. 
Butter  and  burn-trouts  gar  maidens  f . . .  *  the  winde. — Ferg. 

*  Force. 
Butter  and  burn-trouts  are  kittle  meat  for  maidens. — Ry. 

A  burn-trout  is  one  that  has  been  bred  in  a  rivulet,  not  in  a 
river. — J. 

Mottled,    dappled,    like    an    April    trout. — Franck,    Northern 
Memoirs,  1694,  P-  80. 
Turbot.  Inter  pisces  rumbus  si  quis  me  judice  certet 

Inter  quadrupedes,  gloria  prima  lepus. — Martial. . 

HORSB. 

Horses,  dogs  and  servants  devour  many. — Dr. 

Hounds  and  horses  devour  their  masters. — CI. 

It  is  not  poor  Actseon's  case  alone, 

hounds  have  devoured  more  masters  sure  than  one. 

W.  W.,  New  Help  to  Discourse,  1656,  p.  8. 

Hasc  bis  bina  Canes  et  Aves,  Servique  Caballi, 

Dicuntur  dominos  saepe  vorare  suos. — Help  to  Discottrse,  p.  79.    1636. 

A  horse  will  bite  you  at  the  one  end,  kick  you  at  the  other,  and 
make  you  sore  with  his  middle.- — Quoted  by  Sir  H.  Maxwell, 
House  of  Commons,  March  7,  '83  (Cruelty  to  Animals). 

The  old  saying  that  a  horse  with  a  bad  name  never  wins  the  Derby 
would  really  seem  to  have  something  in  it. — "  The  Art  of 
Nomenclature,"  Cornhill  Magazine,  May,  1896. 
It  was  won  in  the  following  month  by  Persimmon. 

A  good  horse  cannot  be  of  a  bad  colour. — R.,  1678. 

No  matter  whether  black  or  white,  so  the  steed  be  good. — Quarles, 
Enchiridion,  I.,  Ixxxii. 

In  alle  haer  mach  wel  een  goet  paard. — Gruterus,  II.  150  bis. 

Cavallo  alacan 

no  este  contigo  al  Saint  Joan.— Nuiiez,  1555. 

Horses  are  gude  o'  a'  hues. — Hen. 

Good  luck  for  a  grey  horse. — Robinson,  Dialect  of  Leeds,  1862,  p.  316. 

444 


PROVERBS.  HORSE. 

[Dun]  had  a  black  list  from  the  mane  to  tail, 
Which  is  a  colour  that  doth  seldom  fail. 

J.  Taylor  (W.  P.),  Short  Relation  of  a  Long  Journey,  1652. 
Caval  sasin  o  negro 
orbo  o  pigro. — (Ital.)  Nunez,  1555. 
Morel  senza  segno 
non  te  ne  fidar  col  pegno. — Torr. 
If  you  desire  a  horse  you  long  to  serve, 
take  the  Brown  Bay  and  him  with  care  preserve ; 
the  Gray 's  not  ill,  and  he  is  prized  far 
that  is  coal-Black,  and  blazed  with  a  white  star. 

Agreeable  Companion,  p.  27. 

Better  a  horse  with  a  full  crest  than  full  cratch. — Ho.,  Brit.  P.,  p.  17. 

Alazan  tostado 

antes  muerto  que  cansado. — Nuriez,  1555. 

A  flea-bitten  horse  never  lives. — Ben  Jon.,  Bavth.  Fair,  iv.  3.  Cf. 
Porter,  Two  Angry  Women  [H.,  O.F.,  vii.  280-1]. 

Their  blind  colours  are  reputed  to  be  a  very  dark  Grey,  the  Flea- 
bitten,  White-spotted,  Peach-blossom  and  Roan :  Black  the 
strongest  and  White  the  weakest  colours  [of  stallions]. — 
Ellis,  Mod.  Hush.,  May,  174. 

A  nag  with  a  weamb 

and  a  mare  with  nean*. — R.,  1670. 

*  none. 

A  mare  should  never  take  horse  while  she  suckles  her  foal. — Ellis, 
Mod.  Husb.,  176. 

An  inch  of  a  nag  is  worth  a  span  of  an  averf.— Ferg.,  1641. 

t  cart-horse. 

An  eel-backed  dun  ne'er  left  his  master  ahin.* — Hen. 

*  A  Galloway  prov. 

The  eel-backit  din  | 

ne'er  laes  his  master  far  ahin. 

%  dun. 

Grosart  gives  this  as  a  Galloway  prov.  in  a  note  to  his  edition 
of  Bishop  Hall's  Poems. 

"  himself  a  Gallaway  ? 
Whiles  like  a  tireling  jade  he  lags  half-way  ?  " 

Sat.,  IV.,  iii.  56. 
One  foal  falling  in  March  is  worth  two  falling  in  May.     Because  he 
possesses,  as  it  were,  two  winters  in  a  year,  and  is  thereby 
so  hardened   that  nothing  can   almost  after  impair  him. — 
Markham,  Country  Contentments,  8,  1615. 
A  full-aged  mare  and  an  old  stallion  breed  the  strongest  and  stoutest 
colts. — Surtees,  Handley  Cross,  ch.  xviii. ;  Ellis,  Mod.  Husb., 
May,  175. 
No  foot,  no  horse, 
[no  hock,  no  hunter  ; 
no  frog,  no  foot.] 

Title  of  a  treatise  on  Farriery  by  Jeremiah  Bridges.     London, 
1752,  8vo. 

445 


HORSE.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

A  good  saddle-horse  should  have  the  eyes  and  joints  of  an  Ox,  the 
strength  and  foot  of  a  Mule,  the  hooves  and  thighs  of  an  Ass, 
the  throat  and  neck  of  a  Wolf,  the  ear  and  tail  of  a  Fox,  the 
boldness  of  a  Lion,  the  quick-sightedness  of  a  Serpent,  and 
the  lightness  and  nimbleness  of  a  Hare. — Ellis,  Mod.  Husb., 
May,  172. 

One  white  foot — buy  him  ; 

two  white  feet — try  him*  ; 

three  white  feet — look  well  about  himf  ; 

four  white  feet  % — go  without  him.— iV".,  V.,  vii.  64. 

*  shy  at  him. — Ure.,  Agriculture  of  Kinross,  p.  39.     1794- 
+  by  him.  J  Which  is  taken  for  an  ill  sign. — Torr. 

Balzan  da  quattro, 

caval  da  matto ; 

balzan  da  tre, 

caval  da  Re ; 

balzan  da  un, 

nol  dar  a  niun. — 1536. 

Cavallo  nigro 

o  orbo  o  pigro. — Torr. 

Four  feet  fite,  fell  'im  ; 

three  feet  fite,  sell  'im  ; 

twa  feet  fite,  gee  'm  to*  your  wife ; 

ae  fit  fite,  keep  'im  a'  his  life. 

*  or  keep  'im  for. 

Four  feet  fite,  keep  'im  not  a  day ; 

three  feet  fite,  sell  'im  in  you  may ; 

twa  feet  fite,  you  may  sell  'im  to  your  brether ; 

ae  fit  fite,  dinna  sell  'im  never. 

Wr.  Gregor,  Hippie  Folk  Lore;  Folk  Lore  Journal,  ii.  160. 
Uno  piensa  el  vago  y  otro  el  que  lo  ensilla. — Nuiiez,  1555. 
The  horse  thinks  one  thing  and  he  that  saddles  him  another. — Codr. 
A  good  horse  draweth  himself  and  his  master  out' of  the  mire. — Dr. 
A  good  horse  riddes  ground  apace. — Breton,  Crossing  of  Proverbs,  i. 

A  great*  ruser  was  never  a  good  rider. — K. 

*  good. — Ferg. 
Riding.     Your  head  and  your  heart  keep  boldly  up, 
Your  hands  and  your  heels  keep  down  ; 
Your  knees  keep  close  to  your  horse's  sides, 
And  your  elbows  close  to  your  own. — N.,  VI.,  vi.  38. 
There  is  no  secret  so  close  as  that  between  a  horse  and  his  rider. — 
Surtees,  Plain  or  Ringlets. 

A  boisteous  horse,  a  boisteous  snafell. — Tav.,  f.  4  v.    1539. 
A  gentle  horse  would  not  be  over  sair  spurred.  —  Ferg. 

A  pair  of  good  spurs  to  a  borrowed  horse  is  better  than  a  peck  of 
haver*. — G.  Meriton,  Yorkshire  Ale. 
*  oats. 

The  best  horse  will  tire  soonest  if  the  reins  be  loose  on  his  neck, — 
T.  Adams,  Works,  p.  936. 

446 


PROVERBS.  HORSE. 

Even  the  tired  horse  when  he  comes  near  home  mends  his  pace. — 

T.  Adams,  p.  727  ("  The  Trot  for  the  Avenue  "). 
An  early  start  makes  easy  stages. 
Gently  out  and  gently  in, 
the  way  to  give  a  horse  good  skin. 

A  horse  amongst  a  hundred  and  a  man  amongst  a  thousand. — Dr. 
The  good  horse  must  smell  to  a  pixy. — (S.  Devon)  Haz.    i.e.  find 

out  the  dangerous  ground  by  the  smell  of  the  soil. 
Good  horses  run  in  all  forms,     i.e.  in  various  styles.      A  racing 

proverb. — Daily  News,  io/4/'84. 
That  horses  can  go  in  all  shapes  is  an  established  maxim  of  the 
stable ;  but  when  women  are  good  movers  it  needs  no 
anatomist  to  assure  us  that  in  external  structure  at  least 
they  have  been  "  nobly  planned." — Whyte  Melville,  Roy's 
wife,  ch.  i. 
A  horse  should  always  have  his  head,  a  husband  never. — Vulgarian 

Atrocities,  by  H.  R.  Belward.    1876. 
Not  one  horse  in  a  thousand  suits  a  single  snaffle,  and  not  one  man 

in  a  million  is  fit  to  be  intrusted  with  a  curb. — N.,  IV.,  x.  412. 
Cheval  faict,  et  valet  k  faire. — Cotg.,  1611. 
He  that  loves  his  horses  generously  will  love  Woman  in  abundance. 

— E.  Howard,  Man  of  Newmarket,  ii.    1678. 
As  for  having  one's  horse  for  one's  mistress,  quoted  Shak.,  Henry  V., 

iii.  7 :  see  that  passage,  which  is  somewhat  obscure.  It  occurs 

in  a  passage  between  the  "  Dauphin  "  and  the  "  Constable." 

The  master's  eye  maketh  the  horse  fat. — C,  1614 ;  Tav. ;   Melb., 
Pkilotimus,  U.  3. 

The  master's  eye  feeds  his  horse. — Brathwait,  Whimzies,  No.  14.  1631. 

Corn  him  weel ;  he  '11  work  the  better. — Ry. 

Tether  your  horse  by  t'  teeth  an'  he'll  not  go  asthray.— P.  Robbin's 
Ollminick. 

Two  crowpecks*  (scandix  pecten  Veneris)  are  as  good  as  an  oat  for  a 
horse ;  to  which  the  reply  is.  That  a  crowpeck  and  a  barley- 
corn may  be. — Wise,  New  Forest,  p.  180. 
[*  Shepherd's  purse.    Hants. — Ed.] 

A  bad  horse  eats  as  much  as  a  good  one. — Spurgeon,  Saltcellars. 

Each  horse  his  load. — School  of  Shakespeare.     The  Honest  Lawyer, 
iii.     1616.     Cf.  Put  the  saddle,  &c. 

La  mula  por  el  tollo*  y  la  burra  por  el  polvo  y  el  cavallo  por  todo. — 
Nunez,  1555. 

*  i.e.  Atolledero,  a  deep,  miry  place. 
Awe 

makes  Dun  draw. — CI. 

Absque  baculo  ne  ingreditur  (Metus  pcense). — CI. 
A  fou  man  and  a  hungry  horse  ay  mak  haste  home. — Ry. 
A  fey  man  and  a  coosser*  fears  nathe  deil. — Cunningham,  Burns. 
*  Cursour,  a  stallion. 

447 


HORSE.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

You  may  beat  a  horse  till  he  is  sad, 
and  a  cow  till  she  be  mad. — R.,  1678. 

You  may  break  a  horse's  back,  be  he  never  so  strong. — CI. 

He  that  hires  the  horse  must  ride  first.— CI. 

An  two  men  ride  of  a  horse  one  must  ride  behind. — Shak.,  Much 
Ado,  iii.  5,  35. 

If  two  ride  upon  a  horse  one  must  sit  behind.    Meaning  that  in  each 

contention  one  must  take  the  fore. — Smyth,  Berheley  MSS. 
It  takes  three  tumbles  from  the  saddle  to  make  one  a  horseman. 
It  is  bad  to  swop  horses  when  crossing  a  stream. — President  Lincoln. 

It  is  as  usual  to  see  a  young  serving-man  an  old  beggar  as  to  see  a 
light  horse  first  from  the  great  saddle  of  a  nobleman  to  come 
to  the  hackney  coach  and  at  last  die  in  drawing  a  car. — 
Fuller,  Holy  St.,  vii.  6. 

In  some  men's  ought  f  mon  the-eld  horse  die. — Ferg. 

t  or  ownership.  fdent. 

Many  a  good  horse  dies  of  the  fashions|. — W.  of  England  correspon- 

,,         ,,         ,,       has  died  of  the  fashion. — Akeim&n,  Wiltshire  Tales. 

I  farcy. 
(Applied  to  slaves  to  fashion. — JV.,  IV.,  vii.  221.) 
See  Shak.,  Taming  of  the  Shrew,  iii.  2,  49. 

Which  makes  them  [goldsmiths]  by  an  admirable  skill 
To  live  by  that  which  many  a  horse  doth  kill. 
Which  is  the  Fashions. — Taylor,  Praise  of  Hempseed. 

A  galled  horse  never  wincheth  till  he  be  touched. — Melb.,  Phil.  L. 

If  you  want  to  be  cheated,  buy  a  horse. 

He  that  'lacks  my  mare 

would  buy  my  mare. — K.    i.e.  disparages. 

Quien  dize  mal  de  la  yegua 

esse  la  Ueva. — Percival,  Spanish  Grammar,  1599  ;  Dial.,  vi. 

Fair  Diomed,  you  do  as  chapmen  do. 

Dispraise  the  thing  that  you  desire  to  buy. 

Shak. ,Troilus  and  Cressida,  iv.  i,  77. 

It  is  naught,  it  is  naught,  saith  the  buyer ;  but  when  he  is  gone  his 
way,  then  he  boasteth. — Prov.,  xx.  14. 

Quien  compra  cavallo,  compra  cuydado. — Nunez,  1555. 

Passo  levato,  trotto  sciolto,  galloppo  gagliardo,  carriera  veloce. — 
Torr. 

Overtrain,  overstrain. 

Quelles  sont  les  qualites  que  doit  un  bon  cheval  ? 

Quatre  choses  en  soy  longues,  quatre  courtes  et  quatre  larges. 

Long  col,  longues  jambes,  longs  crins  et  coue  Large  de  pied, 
de  croupe  narines,  et  de  gueule.  Courte  poitrine,  court  dos, 
courtes  oreilles  et  courte  teste. — Meurier,  D.  F.,  1590. 

448 


PROVERBS.  HORSE. 

Enobarbus  (aside  to  Agrippa).     Will  Caesar  weep  ? 
Agrippa  (aside  to  Eno).     He  has  a  cloud  in 's  face.* 
Eno  (aside  to  Agrippa).    He  were  the  worse  for  that  were  he  a  horse; 
So  is  he  being  a  man. — Shak.,  Ant.  and  Cleo,  iii.  2,  57. 
*  A  dark  spot  between  the  eyes,  giving  the  horse  a  wicked  look. 
Up  hill  spare  me  ;  down  hill  tak'  tent  o'*  thee. — Ry.    i.e.  tak'  care. 

*To. 

Up  hill whip  me  not ; 

down  hill     ....     hurry  me  not ; 

loose  in  stable       .     .     forget  me  not ; 

of  hay  and  corn    .     .     rob  me  not ; 

of  clean  water      .     .     stint  me  not ; 

with  sponge  and  brush  neglect  me  not ; 

of  soft,  dry  bed     .     .     deprive  me  not. — Haz.,  p,  144. 

tired  or  hot      .     .     .     leave  me  not. 

Sick  or  cold     .     .     .     chill  me  not. 

with  bit  or  reins  .     .     oh  jerk  me  not ; 

when  you  are  angry  .     strike  me  not. 

A  Horse's  Petition  to  his  Driver.     A  placard  on  the   walls, 
March,  1885. 

Up  the  hill  trot  me  not ; 

doon  the  hill  gallop  me  not ; 

in  the  fair  road  spare  me  not ; 

in  the  stable  forget  me  not.     (N.  E.  Scotland.) 

Hippie  Folk  Love,  by  Walter  Gregor,  Folk  Lore  Journal,  ii.  106. 

Air  ingiu  tutti  i  santi  ajutano 

ma  all  insvi  ci  vuol  Gesii. — The  Century,  xxxi.  651. 

A  cold  stable  makes  a  sound  horse,  is  the  country  saying. — Saturday 

Review,  la/s/'Sy. 

-One  night  out  and  another  night  in  is  bad  for  horses,  but  good  for 
sheep. — (Manx)  Mona  Miscellany,  1873,  ii.  20. 

Shoeing.  Place  a  bit  upo'  the  tae, 

t'  help  the  horse  t'  climb  the  brae ; 
raise  the  cawker  i'  the  heel, 
t'  gar  the  horsee  trot  weel. 
Hippie  Folk  Lore,  by  W.  Gregor ;  Folk  Lore  Journal,  106-9. 

Let  your  horse  drink  what  he  will,  but  not  when  he  will. — (Spanish.) 

"'Tis  a  maxim  in  Farriers'  Hall  that  the  livelier  and  quicker  a  horse 
is  the  deeper  will  he  thrust  his  head  into  the  water  when  he 
drinks,  as  the  duller  and  slower  the  more  shallow. — Help  to 
Disce.,  1648,  p.  371. 

Tell  me,  thou  gentle  Troian,  dost  thou  prize 

Thy  brute  beast's  worth  by  their  dams'  qualities  ? 

Say'st  thou  this  colt  shall  prove  a  swift-paced  steed 

Only  because  a  jennet  did  him  breed  ? 

Or  say'st  thou  this  same  horse  shall  win  the  prize 

Because  his  dam  was  swiftest  Trunchefice  ? 

Or  Runcevall  his  sire,  himself  a  Galloway  ? — Bishop  Hall,  Sat. 

VOL.  I.  449  S9 


LOWER  ANIMAL.        LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

A  hackney  under  14  hands,  of  Spanish  or  Moorish  race,  dun 
with  a  black  ridge  on  back,  now  nearly  extinct.  Of  him  it 
was  said  in  Galloway  : 

The  eel  backit  din 
Ne'er  laes  his  master  far  ahin'. 
A  horse  master  is  he  that  buyeth  wild  horses  or  colts  and  breedeth 
them  and  selleth  them  again  wild,  or  breaketh  part  of  them 
and  maketh  them  tame,  and  then  selleth  them.    A  corser  is  he 
that  buyeth  all  ridden  horses  and  selleth  them  again.    The 
horse-leech  is  he  that  taketh  upon  him  to  cure  and  mend  all 
manner  of  diseases  and  sorances  that   horses  have.      And 
when  these  three  are  met,  if  ye  had  a  poticary  to  make  the 
fourth,  ye  might  have  such  four  that  it  were  hard  to  trust  the 
best  of  them. — Fitzherbert,  Book  of  Husbandry,  f.  50.    1534. 
In  selling  your  horse  praise  his  bad  points,  and  leave  the  good  ones 
to  take  care  of  themselves. 

A  dead  man's  stock  always  sells  well. — World,  i8/io/'g3  (on  Lord 
Calthorpe's  Stud  sale). 

What  said  Oud  Jones  ?  Yo'  never  seen  a  grey  foal  nor  a  bad- 
tempered  young  SSman  :  its  despert  odd  wheer  all  the  scoldin' 
wives  and  white  'orses  come  from. — Johnson,  Shropshire  Folk 
Lore,  p.  588. 

Grey  horses  are  roans  when  foaled. 

A  cursed  toad  of  a  horse,  whose  colour,  though  white,  never  boded 
me  any  good,  not  only  threw  me,  but  rolled  over  me. — Ozell, 
translation  of  Brantome's  Spanish  Rhodomantade,  1774,  Adver- 
tisement. 


LOWSR    ANIMAIi    lilFB. 

If  bees  swarm  in  May 

they're  worth  a  pound  next  day. — N.,  I.,  ii.  512. 

A  swarm  of  bees  in  May 

is  worth  a  load  of  hay, 

but  a  swarm  in  July 

is  not  worth  a  fly. — R.,  1678. 

[a  swarm  in  August 

is  not  worth  a  dust.] 

A  swarm  of  bees  in  June 

is  worth  a  silver  spoon. — Miege,  Gt.  French  Dictionary,  1687. 

A  play  of  bees  in  May 

is  worth  a  noble  the  same  day, 

a  play  in  June 

's  perty  soon, 

a  play  in  July 

's  nod  worth  a  butterfly.— Jackson,  Shropshire  Word  Booh. 

A  May's  swarm  is  worth  a  mare's  foal. — W.  Lawson,  The  Orchardy 
p.  100.     1625. 

450 


PROVERBS.  LOWER    ANIMAL. 

Big  bees  fly  high, 

little  bees  make  the  honey  ; 
poor  men  do  the  work, 

rich  men  get  the  money. — Wr.  White,  Month  in  Yorkshire,  p.  ii. 
The  Posie  thereto  annexed,  "  Prolixior  est  brevitate  sua,"  as  much 

to  say  as,  "  Burn  Bees  and  have  bees,"  and  "  hair,  the  more 

it  is  cut,  the  more  it  comes." — Nash,  Have  with  you  to  Saffron 

Walden,  Ep.  1596. 
A  still  bee  gathers  no  honey. — (Gloucester)  Northall,  Folk  Phrases  of 

Four  Counties. 
A  bee  was  never  caught  in  a  shower. — Inwards. 
If  bees  stay  at  home, 
rain  will  come ; 
if  they  fly  away, 
fine  will  be  the  day. — Inwards. 
The  loudest  bummler  's  na  the  best  bee. — Cunningham,  Glossary  to 


If  you  kill  one  wasp,  three  come  to  his  funeral. 
If  you  kill  one  flea  in  March,  you  kill  an  hundred. 

La  pulga  si  la  mataren  en  la  una 

espere  la  su  marido  a  la  luna ; 

y  si  la  matare  en  el  fuego 

no  la  espere,  casa  se  luego. — Nunez,  1555. 

Nits  will  be  lice.     (Ascribed  to  Cromwell.) 

Plenty  of  ladybirds,  plenty  of  blight. — N.,  I.,  xi.  416.  But  the 
latter  (aphidae)  being  consumed  by  the  former,  the  hops  are 
saved.    The  East  wind  brings  both  across  the  German  Ocean. 

If  the  ether  'ad  the  blindworm's  ear, 
an'  the  blindworm  'ad  the  ether's  eye, 
neither  man  nor  beast  could  safe  pass  by. 

Jackson,  Shropshire  Word  Book. 

Fools  and  foumards*  can't  see  by  dayleet. — N.,  IX.,  ii.  88. 

*  Foumarts  (polecats). 
When  the  glow-worm  lights  her  lamp 
the  air  is  always  damp. — Inwards. 

Quando  llueve  y  haze  sol 

coge  el  caracol*. — Nuiiez,  1555. 

*  Snail. 
'Tis  time  to  cock  your  hay  and  corn 
when  the  old  donkey  blows  his  horn. 

Farmer's  Mag.  in  N.,  II.,  xii.  304. 
A  los  anos  mil 
buelva  la  liebre  a  su  cubil. — Nunez,  1555. 

The  monkey  won't  talk  lest  he  should  be  set  to  work. 

You  may  tiddle*    a    monkey  till    he   befouls   your  trenchudf. — 
Salisbury,  S.E.  Worcestershire  Words  and  Phrases, 
*  i.e.  pet.— HU.        t  Trenchard. 

451 


TREES,  HERBS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Rats  quit  a  falling  house. — J.  Wilson,  Belphegor,  i.     1691. 
I  hold  a  mouse's  wit  not  worth  a  leke 
That  hath  but  one  hole  for  to  sterten  to. 

Chaucer,  Wife  of  Bath,  Prol.,  572. 
Catch  a  weasel  asleep. 


TREiBS,    HERBS. 

Apples,  pears,  hawthorn  quick,  oak :    Set  them  at  All-Hollontide 
and  command  them  to  prosper,  set  them  at  Candlemas  and 
entreat  them  to  grow. — P.  in  R.,  1678. 
Set  trees  poor  and  they  will  grow  rich ;  set  them  rich  and  they  will 
grow  poor. — P.  in  R.,  1678. 
Remove  them  always  out  of  a  more  barren  into  a  fatter  soil. — 
R.,  1678. 
Planting  of  trees  is  England's  old  thrift. — El.  Ex. 
Plant  a  tree :  it  will  grow  while  you  sleep. 
The  tree  is  known  by  its  fruit. 
Like  tree,  like  fruit. — CI. 
He  that  delights  to  plant  and  set 

Makes  after-ages  in  his  debt. — G.  Wither,  Emblems,  i.  35. 
Trees  never  bear,  unless  they  first  do  blow. — Herrick,  ii.  130. 
Alders. 

We'en  wullers*  ban  laves  as  large  as  a  mouse's  ear, 
then  sniggles  t  they'n  run  they  dunna  car'  weer. 

Jackson,  Shropshire  Word  Book. 
*  Alders.  f  Eels. 

When  the  bud  of  the  aul*  's  as  big  as  his  eye, 
the  trout  is  in  season  in  the  river  Wye. 

Sir  G.  C.  Lewis,  Herefordshire  Glossary. 
•  Alder. 

Apple.     An  apple-tree  is  up  and  down  in  a  man's   life.    i.e.  its 
growth  and  decay  correspond. 
It  is  commonly  said  by  farmers  that  a  good  pear  or  apple  costs 
no  more  time  or  pains  to  rear  than  a  poor  one. — Emerson, 
Nominalist  and  Realist. 

AsH.     May  your  footfall  be  by  the  root  of  an  ash-tree.    i.e.  because 
of  the  firm  footing,  the  roots  acting  as  drain-pipes. 
This  lop  when  green  burns  the  best  of  any,  which  makes  the 

country  folks  rhyme  it  and  say,  It 's  a  fire  for  a  Queen. 
Avoid  an  ash, 
it  courts  the  flash*. — Folkard ;  Ellis,  The  Timber-Tree,  i.  6.    1 750. 

*  Lightning. 
Burn  ashwood  green, 
'tis  a  fire  for  a  queen  ; 
burn  ashwood  sere, 
'twill  make  a  man  swear. 
See  Oak. 

452 


PROVERBS.  TREES,    HERBS. 

If  green  ash  may  burn  before  a  queen,  withered  willows  may  be 
allowed  to  burn  before  a  lady. — F.  W.,  Cambridgeshire,  p.  148. 
Aspen. 

When  the  aspen  leaves  are  no  bigger  than  your  nail 
is  the  time  to  look  out  for  truff*  and  heel. 

N.,  I.,  ii.  511;  R.  J.  King. 

*  ?  bruff. 

Beech  in  summer,  oak  in  winter.     (Season  for  felling.) 

The  wood  of  the  beech  felled  about  Midsummer  will  la'st  three 
times  longer  than  that  felled  in  winter. — Ellis,  The  Timber- 
Tree  Improved,  p.  59. 
The  Beech  by  its  large  bud  about  Christmas  indicates  a  wet 
summer  to  follow. — Friend,  220. 
Birch. 

Birk  *  will  burn  if  it  was  burn-drawn  f  ; 
saughf  will  sob  if  it  was  summer-sawn  §. — K. 

*  Birch.      +  i.e.  through  the  water.       {  Willow.      §  i.e.  it  won't  burn. 
Heart  of  oak  is  stiff  and  stout ; 

Birch  says,  If  you  keep  me  dry  I  '11  see  it  out. 

Havergal,  Herefordshire  Words,  p.  49. 
Elder. 

An  eldern  stake  and  blackthorn  ether* 

will  make  a  hedge  to  last  for  ever. — (Wilts.) 

Akerman,  Wilts  Glossary,  p.  18,  reports  a  saying  that  an  elder 

stake  will  last  in  the  ground  longer  than  an  iron  bar  of  the 

same  size. 

*  Ether,  Edder     The  top  band  of  a  fence,  the  wands  of  hazel,  &c.,  woven 

in  along  the  top  of  a  "dead  hedge"  or  wattled  fence  to  keep  it 
compact — Dartnell  and  Goddard,  Wiltshire  Words  (E.  Dialect  Soc.) 

Elm.     A  good  elm  never  grew  on  bad  ground.     See  Oak, 

The  elm  and  the  vine  do  naturally  so  entwine  and  embrace 
each  other  that  it 's  called  "  the  friendly  vine."     Who  can 
tell  why? — Daniel  Rogers,  Matrimoniall  Hon.,  147. 
Fir.     See  Oak. 
Hedge. 

If  you  would  a  good  hedge  have, 
carry  the  leaves  to  the  grave. — P.  in  R.,  1678. 
A  hedge  lasteth  three  years,  a  dog  three  hedges,  a  horse  three 
dogs,  a  man  three  horses,  a  hart  three  men,  an  elephant 
three  harts. — Ho.,  Parley  of  Beasts,  p.  64. 
Mountain  Ash. 

Rowan-tree  or  reed 
put  the  witches  to  their  speed. 
Mulberry.     After  the  mulberry-tree  has  shown  green  leaf,  there 
will  be  no  more  frost. — (Gloucestershire)  III.  L.N. jig/ii/'Si. 
Oak. 

It  is  but  a  sympill  oke 

that  [is]  cut  down  at  the  first  stroke. — Paston  Letters,  1477. 
And  under  same  year  it  occurs  again  as  "  a  febyll  oke." 

453 


TREES.  HERBS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Little  strokes 

fell  great  oaks. — R.,  1670.     See  Many  strokes. 
Three  hundred  years  an  oak  expands  in  growth, 
three  hundred  years  in  majesty  stands  forth, 
three  hundred  years  declines  and  wastes  away, 
then  dies  and  takes  three  hundred  to  decay. 

(Welsh)  lolo  MSS. 
Oak,  ash,  and  elm-tree 
the  Laird  may  hang  for  a'  the  three ; 
but  fir,  saugh*,  and  bitter  weed 
the  Laird  may  flyte  but  mak'  naethen  be'et. 

Britten  and  Holland,  Dicty. 
*  Sallow  (poplar). 
When  the  oak  puts  on  his  gosling  gray 
'tis  time  to  sow  barley  night  and  day. — Den. 
One  oak  growing  upon  clay  is  worth  any  five  which  grow  on 

sand. — Markham,  English  Husbandman,  II.,  43.     1635. 
-You  must  look  for  grass  on  the  top  of  the  oak-tree.     Because 

the  grass  seldom  springs  well  before  the  oak  begins  to  put 

forth. — R.,  1670. 

If  buds  the  ash  before  the  oak  you  '11  surely  have  a  summer's 

soak, 
but  if  behind  the  oak  the  ash  is  you'll  only  have  a  few  light 

splashes. 
If  the  oak  's  before  the  ash 
then  you  '11  only  get  a  splash, 
if  the  ash  precedes  the  oak 
then  you  may  expect  a  soak. — JV.,  I.,  v.  71. 

In  N.  Yorkshire  the  reverse  is  held. — Science  Gossip,  iv.  233. 
If  the  oak  is  out  before  the  Ash 
'twill  be  a  summer  of  wet  and  splash, 
but  if  the  Ash  is  before  the  oak 
'twill  be  a  summer  of  fire  and  smoke. 

Friend,  Flowers  and  Flower  Lore,  219. 
If  the  oak  's  before  the  ash, 
then  the  summer  's  dry  and  nash, 
be  the  ash  before  the  oak 
then  the  summer 's  wet  and  soak. 
Oak, 
smoke ; 
ash, 
squash. — Dyer,  E.  F.  L.,  [Kent.] 

Pear.     Plant  pears 

for  your  heirs. 

Poplar.     See  Oak. 

Saffron.     Mucho  duelo  cubre  acafran. — Nunez,  1555. 

Sallow.     See  Oak. 

Be  the  oak  neer  so  stout, 

the  sollar  red  will  wear  it  out. 

454 


PROVERBS.  TREES,   HERBS. 

A  sallow,  red-barked  and  when  about  a  foot  in  diameter,  is 
red-hearted,  and  when  cut  before  it  is  worm-eaten  and  kept 
dry  is  said  to  last  as  long  as  the  oak  for  hurdles,  rails,  &c. — 
Ellis,  The  Timbev-Tree  Improved,  i.  98. 

Walnut. 

A  woman,  a  whelp,  and  a  walnut-tree, 

the  more  you  bash  'em  the  better  they  be. 

'Tis  better  to  cudgel  off  the  fruit  when  dropping  ripe  than 
to  gather  it  by  hand.  Some  believe  that  the  beating 
improves  the  tree. — Ellis,  The  Timber-Tree  Improved,  p.  178 
(The  Walnut).     1750. 

He  who  plants  a  walnut-tree  expects  not  to  eat  of  the  fruit. — F. 

Sobre  a  sombra  da  nogueira  nao  te  dietas  a  dormier. — (Portu- 
guese) Bluteau. 

Willow.     A  willow  will  buy  a  horse  before  an  oak  will  purchase 

his  saddle.— F.  W. 
Belladonna.     An  escape  from  monastic  gardens :  the  apothecaries' 
gardens  Valley  near    Furness    Abbey,   called   Valley  of 
Nightshade. 
Betony. 

Vendi  la  tonica  * 
per  comprar  la  Bettonica. — Ho. 

*  Coat. 
Aver  piu  virta 
Piii  conosciuta  che  la  betonica. — Torr. 

Borage. 

I,  borage, 
give  courage. 
Dicor  borago, 
"  Gaudia  semper  ago." — [Burton,  Anat.  of  Mel.,  pt.  H.,  sec.  4, 
mem.  i,  sub.-sec.  3. — Ed.]. 

Butter-dock.     (Petasites  vulg.)     Beware  of  a  breed  if  it  be  but  a 
butter-dock. — (Shropshire)  Britten  and  Holland,  Z3«c^.,  p.  28. 

Cat-mint. 

If  you  set  it 

the  cats  will  eat  it, 

if  you  sow  it 

the  cats  will  not  know  it,  — Millar,  Botanical  Dicty, 

Camomile. 

The  camomile,  the  more  it  is  trodden  on  the  faster  it  grows. — 
Shak.,  1  H.  IV.,  ii.  4,  389. 

and    pressed    down    the 

more  it  spreadeth. — Lyly,  Euphues. 
the   sweeter   smell  it 

yieldeth. — Greene,  Philomela.     1595. 
trod  down  the  more  it  grows. — 

Marston,  Parasitaster. 

465 


TREES,  HERBS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

The  camomile  shall  teach  thee  patience, 

which  thriveth  best  when  trodden  most  upon — Epigr.,  1608. 

Like  a  camomile  bed, 

the  more  it  is  trodden  the  more  it  will  spread. — Friend,  p.  216. 

Charlock.     The  gule  is  the  Charlock  (Brassica  sinapestris). 
The  gule,  the  Gordon,  and  the  hoodie  craw 
are  the  three  worst  enemies  Moray  e'er  saw. — N.,  IV.,  xii. 

CuCKOO-GRASS. 

When  the  hair  beard*  appear 
the  shepherd  need  not  fear. 

*  A  harbinger  of  Spring. 
Luzula  compestris. — Britten  and  Holland. 
CucKoo-piNT  (Arum  maculatum). 
Dog's  dibble, 
thick  in  the  middle. — (N.  Devon)  Britten  and  Holland. 

Darnel.     The  dunghill  will  carry  the  darnel  to  the  field,     i.e.  it  is 
of  so  hardy  nature  and  so  difScult  to  kill  that  it  will  often 
endure  a  winter's  lodgment  in  the  dung  and  yet  grow  when 
brought  with  it  to  the  field. — Ellis,  Mod.  Husb.,  viii.  303. 
Dragon-tree. 

Cuando  la  sangre  del  drago  salta 

llegar  la  desdicha  nunca  falta. — (Tenerife.) 

Elecampane. 

Enula    campana    reddit    prsecordia    sana    (Elecampane). — T.- 
Adams, Works,  p.   1045.     1629. 

Fennel. 

Sowing  fennel  is  sowing  sorrow. — Friend,  Fl.  L. 

FeriS.     Where  the  fern  grows  tall,  anything  will  grow. 

Foxglove. 
Aralda 
tutte  le  piaghe  salda. 

Fumitory. 

She  that  is  fair  and  fair  would  be 

must  wash  her  face  with  fumitory. — Forby,  E,  A . 

If  you  wish  to  be  pure  and  holy, 

wash  your  face  with  fevertory. 

Dartnall  and  Goddard,  Wiltshire  Words  (E.  D.  S.), 
Holly. 

Wilhelms  Gray,  sine  gratis, 

Myne  ain  deir  cusing,  as  I  wene, 
Qui  nunquam  fabricat  mendacia, 
But  quhen  the  Holyne  growls  grene. 

W.  Dunbar,  Poems,  i.  139,  ii.  321.     1475 — 1530. 

Mercury  (Chenopodium). — See  Dietary. 

456 


PROVERBS.  TREES,  HERBS. 

Mint.  la  menta 

se  si  ama  di  cuore  non  rallenta. — (Abruzzi)  De  G.,  Myth. 

Nettles.  Nettles  don't  sting  this  month.  A  catch  on  the  last  two- 
words. 

Pimpernel  or  Burnet. 

No  heart  can  think,  no  tongue  can  tell, 
the  virtues  of  the  pimpernel. 

i.e.   the  common    burnet.      Evelyn   {Acetana,   p.    55,    1699) 
commends  its  use  in  wine. 
La  pimpinella 
fa  la  donna  bella. — Tor. 
L'insalata  non  e  tuonne  bella 
dove  non  h  la  pimpinella. 

Poppy  (Papaver  Rheas). 

Called  head-aches,  from  the  odour. 

When  head-aches  rattle, 

pigs  will  sattle*. — Britten  and  Holland,  Plant  Names,  p.  248. 

*  i.e.  fall  in  price,  about  July. 
More  head-aches  than   arnings  (bad,  sandy  land). — Peacock,. 

Lincolnshire  Glossary. 
Joan  silver- pin, 
fair  without  and  foul  within. 

Parkinson,  Theatrum  Bot.  1640. 

Quaking-grass  (Briza  media).     Trembling  jockeys. — (Yorkshire.) 
A  trimmling  jock  i'  t'  house 

an'  you  weant  hev  a  mouse. — Dyer,  F,  L.  of  Plants,  1889,  p.  143. 
Because  they  dislike  it. 

Reeds.  No  reeds,  but  there  is  some  water. — B.  E.,  New  Diet,  of  the 
Canting  Crew. 

Rosemary.  Where  rosemary  flourishes,  the  lady  rules. — Friend, 
Flowers  and  Flower  Lore,  p.  217. 

Rue.       La  ruta 

ogni  male  stuta. — De  G. 

Si  supiesse  la  muger  las  virtudes  de  la  ruda,  buscalla  ya  de 
noche  a  la  luna. — Nunez,  1555. 

Rush.  Step  on  a  rasher-bush  and  it  will  no  deceive  ye.  i.e.  a  rush- 
plant  affords  a  firm  foothold  in  crossing  boggy  ground. — 
Johnston,  Flora  of  Berwickshire. 

Thistles. 

Cut  thistles  in  May 
they  grow  in  a  day, 
cut  them  in  June 
that  is  too  soon, 
cut  them  in  July 
then  they  will  die. 

Chamberlain,  W,  Worcestershire  Words  (E.  Dialect  Soc). 

457 


LOVE.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Cut  'em  in  June 

they  '1  come  again  soon, 

cut  'em  in  July 

they  may  die, 

cut  'em  in  August 

die  they  must. — Jackson,  Shropshire  F.  Lore,  p.  579. 

Thetch.     See  Crops> 

A  thetch  will  grow  through 
the  bottom  of  an  old  shoe. 

Valerian  (Setwall).     See  Dietary. 

Venus'  Comb  (Scandix  pectens). 

"  Two  crow-pecks  are  as  good  as  an  oat  for  a  horse."  To  which 
the  reply  is  "  That  a  crow-peck  and  a  barley-corn  may  be." 
—Wise,  New  Forest,  3rd  edn.,  p.  281. 

Vetch.     Vetches  are  most  hardy. 

Vine. 

Pruning.     In  the  Alto  Douro  the  vines  are  planted  on  terraces, 
and  never  allowed  to  grow  higher  than  from  4  to  5  palmos 
— say  3  feet  4  inches.     As  the  grapes  ripen,  the  branches 
are  carefully  tied  to  the  stakes  so  that  the  fruit  may  be  at 
least  one  palmo  (8  inches)  from  the  ground. 
O  cesto  n'una  mano 
en  outra  o  podao. 
"The  basket  in  one  hand  and  the  pruning  knife  in  the 
other  "  is  a  favorite  proverb  in  the  Alto  Douro,  implying 
that  the  vines  should  be  pruned  immediately  after  the  fruit 
is  gathered. — Harper's  Handbook  for  Trav.  in  Europe,  p.  1232. 

Weeds.     Weeds  have  the  preeminence  over  all  other  vegetables. — 

Ellis,  Mod.  Hush.,  viii.  304. 
Un  fiore  non  fa  la  primavera,  ne  un  demonio  non  fa  I'inverno. — 

Torr. 
One  year's  seed  [ing 
makes]  seven  years'  weed[ing]. — (Oxfordshire)  Friend,  p.  230. 

Wormwood. 

Where  chamber  is  swept  and  wormwood  is  thrown, 
no  flea  for  his  life  dare  abide  to  be  known. 


liOVB. 

Live,  love,  and  leave. — Daniel  Rogers,  Matrimonial  Honour,  162,  320. 

1642. 
True  love  is  the  joy  of  life. — CI. 

Love  is  the  peace  of  the  senses. — Breton,  Crossing  of  Pr.,  ii. 
Love  without  end  hath  no  end. — (Spanish)  Bacon,  Apophth.,  155. 

i.e.  if  disinterested  is  lasting. 
Love  once,  love  always. — G.  Eliot,  Silas  Marner,  ch.  xi. 

458 


PROVERBS.  LOVE. 

Qui  ayme  tart  oublie. — Prov.  Com. 

This  has  been  supplemented  punningly :  Qui  bien  ayme  tarte  et 
oublie,  tard  les  oublie. — Meurier,  CoUo.,  21.    1558. 
Love  has  a  balsam  for  every  wound. — Killigrew,  Thomaso,  I.,  ii.  4. 
Love  and  scandal  are  the  best  sweeteners  of  tea. — Fielding,  Love  in 

Several  Masques,  iv.  2. 
II  n'est  que  les  premieres  amours. — Cotg.,  161 1. 
All  other  pleasures  are  not  worth  love's  pains. — Donne. 
It   [love]   adds  a  precious   seeing  to  the  eye. — Shak.,  L.  L.  L.> 
iv.  3,  329. 

d'amours 
Pour  un  plaisir  mille  doulours. — Gringoire,  N.  E.,  i.  72.     1527. 
Her  eyes  carried  darts  of  fire. 
Feathered  all  with  swift  desire. 
Yet  forth  those  fiery  darts  did  pass 
Pearled  tears  as  bright  as  glass, 
That  wonder  'twas  in  her  eyne 
Fire  and  water  should  combine, 
If  the  old  saw  did  not  borrow'' 
"  Fire  is  love  and  water  sorrow." 

Rob.  Greene,  Never  too  Late,  p.  296  ;  ed.  Dyce. 
*  Assure  us. 
A  damosel  amongst  young  men  is  as  tow  or  hurds  amongst  hot  fire- 
brands.— Dr. 

Aux  yeux  d'un  homme  de  dix-huit  ans  toute  femme  semble  belle 
(un  axiome). 

Fille  unique  et  assez  jolie,  comme  on  Test  a  seize  ans. — Geo.  Sand, 

Consuelo,  ii. 
Quand  on  est  fraiche  et  paree  de  ce  qu'on  appelle  la  beaute  du  diable. 

— lb.,  ch.  xxvii. 
Men  love  the  fairest. 
Quod  pulchrum  est  placet. — CI. 
Love  one  and  love  only. — CI. 
Love  not  at  first  look.— CI. 
Ama  chi  t'ama. — Flo.,  F.F.,  1578. 
You  say  to  me- ward  your  affection  's  strong : 
Pray  love  me  httle,  so  you  love  me  long. — Herrick. 
Love  unshown 

remains  unknown. — Arthur,  B.  of  Brev, 
Princes  in  love  no  rivals  can  endure. — Ned  Ward,  Nupt.  Dial.,  II.,  iii. 

Cf.  Bear  like  the  Turk  no  brother  near  the  throne. — Pope. 
Once  all  men  have  doted. — Daniel  Rogers,  Matrl.  Hon.,  56.     1642. 
Semel  insanivimus  omnes. 

In  love  affairs  most  men  are  idiots  once  in  their  lives. 
The  worser  child,  the  better  lover. — Lyly,  Mother  Bomhie,  i.  3. 

A  landward*  lad  is  aye  laithfu'f. — Cunningham,  Glossary  to  Burns. 
*  Country.        t  Bashful,  sheepish,  abstemious. 

459 


LOVE.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Not  Jove 
At  one  time  can  be  wise  and  love. — Herrick,  iii.  19. 
Cora9ao  partido 
simpre  combatido. 
So  Orlando  in  As  Y.  L.,  iv.  i,  39,  says:  "My  fair   Rosalind,  I 

come  within  an  hour  of  my  promise." 
Rosalind.     "  Break  an  hour's  promise  in  love  !  " 

Now  to  horse ! 
I  shall  be  'nighted  :  but  an  hour  or  two 
Never  breaks  squares  in  love. — Middleton,  The  Widow,  ii. 
Love  will  creep  where  it  cannot  go. — CI. 
Love  will  go  through  stone  walls. — Breton,  Crossing  of  Py.,  i. 
At  lovers'  perjuries 

They  say  Jove  laughs. — Shak.,  Rom.  and  Jul.,  ii.  2,  92. 
Lovers'  quarrels.     And  little  quarrels  often  prove 

To  be  but  new  recruits  in  love. — But.,  if  «^.,  III.,i.. 
Amantium  irae  amoris  integratio  est. 
Like  other  nursery  maladies, 

Love  is  not  badly  taken  twice. — C.  Patmore,  Angel  in  the  House, 
He  or  she  that  would  be  thought  twice  so,  was  never  once  a  lover. — 

Killigrew,  The  Parson's  Wedding,  v.  4.     1663. 
Successore  novo  vincitur  omnis  amor. — Ovid. 
The  new  successor  drives  away  old  love. — Herrick,  ii.  148. 
'Tis  best  to  be  off  wi'  the  auld  love 
before  ye  are  on  wi'  the  new. 

It  is  impossible  almost  for  two  young  folks,  equal  in  years,  to  live 
together   and   not   be  in   love,    especially   in   great    houses. 
— Burton,  Anat.  of  Mel. 
The  lief  full  ofte  for  the  lever 
Forsaketh,  and  so  it  hath  done  ever. — Gower,  C.  A.,  ii. 

i.e.  leaves  the  loved  for  the  more  loved. 
Of  honey  and  gall  in  love  there  is  store  : 
the  honey  is  much,  but  the  gall  is  more. — Dr. 
Omnibus  rebus  jam  peractis 
Nulla  fides  est  in  factis 
Mel  in  ore,  verba  lactis  ; 

Fel  in  corde,  fraus  in  factis. — Help  to  Discourse,  1648,  p.  322. 
Malf.     You  are  my  friend,  yet,  as  the  proverb  says, 

When  love  puts  in,  friendship  is  gone  :  suppose, 
you  should  yourself  affect  her  !* 

B.  &  F.,  The  Lover's  Progress,  i.  i. 
*  As  a  go-between. 
L'amour  passee  le  gant  et  I'eau  le  houseau*. — Meurier,  Coll.  Dr.   1558. 

*  Over-hose  in  place  of  boots. 
L'amour  passa  il  guanto. — Flo.,  2d  Fr. 

Leroux  de  Lincy  gives  it  only  from  Diet,  de  FAcademie,  1835, 
reducing  Amour  to  Amitie,  and  adding  "  Test  dit  lorsqu'  en 
saluant  on  se  touchait  la  main  sans  se  deganter." 

460 


PROVERBS.  LUST. 


Amor  non  vuol  rispetti*. — Torr. 

*  By-ends. 
Rispetti,  dispetti,  cospetti  guastano  il  mondo. — Bolla. 

e  sospetti 
guastan  le  contazze  e  diletti. — Torr. 


IiUST. 

3ef  Tpe  luste  a  sunne  don, 
ant  Jjy  })oht  bue  al  jjeron, 

3et  is  god  to  blynne  ; 
for  when  the  hete  is  overcome, 
ant  })0U  have  jjy  wyt  ynome, 

hit  shal  jje  lyke  wynne 
Let  lust  overgon,  eft  hit  shal  fe  lyke, 

QuoJ)  Hendyng. — Proverbs  of  Hendyng,  8. 
Whose  fire  smokes  not  ? — (Voluptas)  CI. 
Flesh  and  blood  will  be  sporting. — Rowley,   AlVs   Lost  by  Lust, 

iii.     1633. 
If  thou  wilt  get  a  good  name,  let  not  thy  son  take  thee  in  thy 

chamber. — Codr. 
Some  women  will  conceive  if  you  but  shake  a  pair  of  breeches 

at  them. 

Parit  puella  etiam  si  male  adsit  viro. — Erasm.,  Ad. 

A  foolish  bed-mate  has  no  peer. — Jach  Drum's  Entertain'',  i.     1601. 

Go  to  your  banquet,  then  :  but  use  delight 

So  as  to  rise  still  with  an  appetite. 

Love  is  a  thing  most  nice,  and  must  be  fed 

To  such  a  height,  but  never  surfeited. — Herrick,  388. 

There 's  but  three  steps  to  a  woman's  bed :  liking,  alone,  and 
consent. — Killigrew,  Pilgrim,  i.  4. 

The  Presbyter's  wife  had  rather  see  her  husband  in  his  shirt  than  in 
his  surplice. — Codr. 

Come,  come,  let 's  have  a  kiss  :  that  always  ends 

The  feuds  'twixt  man  and  wife,  and  makes  them  friends. 

N.  Ward,  Nuptial  Dialogues,  I.,  xxix. 

This  great  man  [Sir  M.  Hale,  1609 — 1676]  was  most  unfortunate  in 
his  family ;  for  he  married  his  own  servant-maid,  and  then 
for  excuse  said  there  was  no  wisdom  below  the  girdle. — 
R.  North,  Life  of  Guilford.     See  Burnet,  Life  of  Hale,  1682. 

Some  of  them  be  treue  of  love 

Beneath  the  gerdelle,  but  nat  above, 

And  in  an  hood  above  can  chove. — (15th  Cy.)  Rel.  Ant.,  i.  248. 

There  is  no  religion*  below  the  girdle f. 

*  Discretion.        f  O'  navel. 
Take  her  below  the  girdle  :  you  '11  never  speed  else. — Beaumont  and 

Fletcher,  Wit  without  Money,  v.  3. 
Of  women  and  fish  the  middle  is  best. — Codr. 

461 


LUST.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

A  sin  so  tamed  by  custom  that  few  or  none  hide  it,  as  if  honour  had 
no  pretence  below  a  man's  girdle.  —  Killigrew,  The  Parson's 
Wedding,  v.  4.     1663. 

Stolen  goods  the  sweetest  bits.— Rowley,  Witch  of  Edmonton,  iii.  i. 

Ant.  I  would  fain  know 

What  kind  of  thing  a  man's  heart  is. 
Laz.  Were  you  never 

At  Barber-Surgeon's  Hall  to  see  a  dissection  ? 

I  '11  report  to  you  :  'tis  a  thing  fram'd 

With  divers  corners,  and  into  every  corner 

A  man  may  entertain  a  friend ;  and  thence  came 

The  proverb,  A  man  may  love  one  well  and  yet 

Retain  a  friend  in  a  corner. 

Rowley,  All's  Lost  hy  Lust,  II.     1633. 
Kindness  will  creep  where  't  cannot  go. — (Gratitudo)  CI. 
Kindness  is  the  best  sauce  to  beauty,  and  will  increase,  nay  beget,. 

an  appetite. — Killigrew,  Thomaso,  I.,  ii.  3. 
Take  kisses  for  your  kindness. 
Kisses  three  's 
a  maiden's  fee. 
Paris  (to  ^Enone) : 

I  will  go  bring  thee  on  thy  way :  my  flock  are  here  behind. 

And  I  will  have  a  lover's  fee ;  they  say,  Unkissed,  unkind. 

Peele,  The  Arvaygnement  of  Paris,  p.  355. 
See  There  's  no  great  harm. 
Kisses  are  keys. — CI. 
If  yr)U  say  There  's  no  such  danger  in  a  kiss  or  an  embrace. — -J.  Day, 

Peregrinatio  Scholastica,  ix. 
They  are  like  the  grices  :  if  ye  kittle  their  wame,  they  fa'  on  their 

backs. — Ry. 
Lastly,  if  thou  can'st  win  a  kiss 
From  those  mellifluous  lips  of  his. 
Then  never  take  a  second  one 
To  spoil  the  first  impression. — Herrick,  iii.  144. 
She  that  will  kiss,  they  say,  will  do  worse.— R.  Davenport,  The  City 

Nightcap,  i.     1661. 
Cf.  After  kissing  comes  more  kindness. — CI. 
Take  away  fuel,  take  away  flame. — CI. 

It  makes  all  the  house 

Lie  as  snug  as  a  mouse. 

And  a  petticoat  sleep  without  porters. 

Song,  "  The  Bowl,"  Wilson,  Andron.,  ii.  4. 

Sine  Cerere  et  Baccho  friget  Venus. — CI. 

Venus  must  be  nourished  with  Ceres  and  Bacchus. — D.  Rogers, 
Matrimoniall  Hottour,  p.  345. 

Ceres  and  Bacchus  tickled,  Venus  stirs. — Histrio-mastix,  iii.     1610. 

A  fou  wame  maks  a  stiff  back. — Ry. 

462 


PROVERBS.  LUST. 

A  man  must  not  always  eat  one  sort  of  meat. — Rowley,  All 's  Lost  by 

Lust,  iii. 
An  egg  (as  physicians  say)  will  make  one  lusty. — Lyly,  Midas,  ii.  2. 
Camphora  per  nares  emasculat  mares. 
Old  broth  is  sooner  heated  than  new-made. 
A  thief  and  bawdy  house  are  never  far  asunder. — [School  of  Shaks.J, 

Honest  Lawyer,  ii.     161 6. 
A  man  cannot  so  soon  name  a  whore  but  a  knave  comes  presently. 

— Rowley,  Birth  of  Merlin,  ii.     1662. 
The  less  honesty,  ever  the  more  wit. — Chapman,  All  Fools,  iv. 
Many  kiss  the  child  for  the  nurse's  sake. — He.     See  Haz.,  275. 
Cf.  Pour  I'amour  du  Chevalier 

baise  la  Dame  I'escuyer. — Cotgrave. 
He  that  doth  suspect,  does  haste 
A  gentle  mind  to  be  unchaste. — Herrick,  Hesp.,  cclxii. 
A  nice  wife  and  a  back  door 
Oft  do  make  a  rich  man  poor. — CI. 

Le  piia  schifose  e  ritrose 

bene  spesso  le  piu  lussuriose.  — Torr. 

The  man  is  fire,  the  woman  is  tow, 

it  wants  but  the  devil  to  come  and  blow. — (Spanish.) 

Twine,  tow  your  minny  was  a  good  spinner. — Ry. 

Gallina  secca 
spesso  becca. — Torr. 

Sancho.  But  observe  how  kindly  she  takes  it  to  be  ploughed,  too  ; 
and  the  deeper  you  put  in  the  spade  or  culture  the  better. — 
Killigrew,  Thomaso,  I.,  i.  3. 

Whores  and  priests  will  never  want  excuse  [for  breaking  their  word]. 
— De  Foe,  True  Born  Englishman,  11, 

Women,  priests,  and  poultry  have  never  enough. — Cod. 

Women  love  sweet  things. — [School  of  Shaks.] ,  Honest  Lawyer,  iv. 
1616. 

Gaunting  bodes  wanting. — Ry. 

Par  comun  proverbe  on  dit 

Qu'on  cognoist  femme  a  son  cornette 
S'elle  ayme  d'amour  le  deduit 

Tant  ait  la  conscience  nette 

On  ris  au  train,  a  la  sornette. — Coquillart,  Droits  Nouveaux,  i.  loi. 

L.     Come,  come,  my  little  (what  shall  I  call  thee). 

For  it  is  now  doubtful  what  thou  art,  being  neither 
Maid,  wife,  nor  (saving  your  reverence)  widow. 

Rowley,  All's  Lost  by  Lust,  iii.     1633. 

Laz.     Forbear,  I  say  ;  you  are  a  crackt  virgin. 
And  I  '11  bestow  the  widow's  alms  on  you 
In  charity,  if  you  not  hold  your  tongue. 

Rowley,  All 's  Lost  by  Lust,  iii. 

463 


WEDLOCK.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Once  a  whore  and  ever  is  the  world's  adage. — Killigrew,  ThomasOf 

I.,  ii.  4. 
When  one  beloved  will  not  suffice, 
Shall  run  to  all  adulteries. — Herrick,  iii.  6. 
My  old  mare  would  have  a  new  crupper. — CI. 
There  's  a  teugh  sinew  in  an  auld  wife's  heel. — Ry. 
The  old  yowe's  the  better  tupe. — Denham,  F.L.N,  of  England,  p.  16. 
One  whoremaster  will  take  part  with  another. — Rowley,  A  Shoemaker 

a  Gentleman,  iv,     1638. 
And  poets  say  there  are  no  pains 
Like  itch  of  love  in  aged  veins. 
Non  v'e  maggior  dolor 

che  in  vecchie  membra  pizzicor  d'amor. — Torr. 
If  a  wife  make  her  husband  cuckold,  he  shall  hear  of  it  last  in  che 

parish. — CI. 
The  good  wife  wears  the  breeches,  the  good  man  the  horns. — CI. 
There 's  no  greater  shame  than  to  be  a  cuckold. — CI. 
A  long-nosed  man  is  seldom  a  cuckold. — Codr. 

Little  may  an  auld  nag  do  that  mauna  nicker*. — Ry. 

*  Neigh. 
Fumblers  are  ay  fond  o'  weans. — Ry. 
Lame,  and  lecherous. 
Un  boccone  di  stroppiato. — Torr. 
A  moist  palm,  which  assures  me  she  will  not 
Be  satisfied  with  a  kickshaw. 

Davenant,  News  from  Plymouth,  iv.     1635. 
Lifer  lok  and  tuinkling, 
tihing*  and  tikeling, 
open  brest  and  singing, 
jjese  midouten  losing 
arin  toknes  of  horelinge. 

MS.  Cotton,  Cleopatra,  C.  vi.,  f.  21  vo. ;  Rel.  Ant.,  ii. 

*  Teehaeing :  giggling. 

Verde  buche  fait  chaud  feu. — Wodr. 

Nipping  an'  scarting,  Scotch  fouk's  wooing.— Ry. 

Greening  wives  are  ay  greedy. — Ry. 

Love  is  a  growing  or  full  constant  light. 

And  his  short  minute  after  noon  is  night. — Donne,  A  Lecture  upon 

the  Shadow. 
The  first  minute  after  noon  is  night. — Killigrew,  Parson's  Wedding,  ii. 
A  woman's  proverb. 

(Clandestine.)     Fieri  non  debuit,  sed  factum  valet. — Civil  Law. 
Made  marriages  prove  mad  marriages. — Lyly,  Mother  Bombie,  i.  3. 
Marriage  is  honourable. — Breton,  Crossing  of  P.,  ii. 


PROVERBS.  WEDLOCK. 

So  many  draps  [of  rain  at  the  wedding] 

so  many  raps.     i.e.  blows  in  the  married  life. — (Somerset.) 

Change  the  name  and  not  the  letter, 

change  for  the  worse  and  not  the  better. 

(Of  a  woman's  marriage.) 
The  bride  must  wear 
something  old,  something  new, 
something  borrowed,  something  blue. 
He  is  an  ill  husband  that  is  not  missed. — Dr. 
He  is  happy  that 's  wed  and  without  trouble. — CL,  c.    1620. 
A  man  feels  himself  seven  years  older  the  day  after  his  marriage. — 

Bacon. 
One  delay  in  wedding  bringeth  an  hundred  dangers. — Lyly,  Mother 

Bomhie,  iv.  i. 
It 's  a  proverb  made  in  favour  of  a  good  wife  that  if  the  husband 

look  well  they  say,  "  He  hath  a  good  wife." — Daniel  Rogers, 

Matrimoniall  Honour,  296. 
Tutte  le  spose  sono  belle. — Bolla. 
A  wife  brings  but  two  good  days :    that  is  her  wedding-day  and 

death-day. — Middleton,  The  Family  of  Love,  i.  2. 
A  married  man,  some  say,  has  two  days  gladness, 
And  all  his  life  else  is  a  lingering  sadness : 
The  one  day's  mirth  is  when  he  first  is  married, 
Th'  other 's  when  his  wife's  to  burying  carried. 

Taylor  (W.  P.),  The  Motto. 
Marriage  is  a  lottery. 
It  will  not  always  be  honeymoon. — CI. 
A  single  life  's  no  burden. — Ford,  Fancies,  1.  3. 
Senza  busia  non  si  fa  matrimonio  in  pace. — Bolla. 
Married  and  done  for. 
Better  one  house  be  cumbered*  with  two  fools  than  two  [houses]. — 

Lyly,  Mother  Bomhie,  v.  3. 

*  Troubled. — Daniel  Rogers,  Matrl.  Hon.,  1642,  pp.  32,  77,  278. 
All  maids  are  mad  till  they  be  married. — R.  Brome,  The  Northern 

Lass,  iv.  4. 
Long  courtships  t  make  bad  marriages. — Harland  and  Wn.,  Lancashire 

Legends.  f  or  engagements. 

If  you  will  tame  anyone,  marry  him.  A  common  saying  in  England. 

— Rueda. 
A  woman  in  Scotland  lay  dying,  to  whom  her  husband  said :  "  Wife, 

now  thou  art  about  to  leave  me  alone,  I  pray  thee  tell  me 

with  whom  I  shall  marry."     She  replied :  "  Are  you  in  haste 

to  marry  before  the  breath  be  out  of  my  body  ?    Then  marry 

the  devil's  dam."     " Not  so,  wife,"  said  he ;  "I  have  had  his 

daughter  already,  and  if  I  should  match  with  his  mother  too 

then  I  should  be  guilty  of  incest." — Taylor,  Wii  and  Mirth,  106. 
Wedlock  without  love,  they  say. 
Is  like  a  lock  without  a  key.— Butler,  Hud. 

VOL.  I.  465  30 


WEDLOCK.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

La  prima  [notte]  faccia  a  faccia — la  seconda  spalle  a  spalle — la  terza 

dorso  a  dorso. — Torr. 
Er  '11  ruin  'er  'usband  66th  'er  junketin'  ways :    its  an  owd  sayin', 

but  a  very  true  un.,  "  The  66man  can  throw  out  66th  a  sp66n 

whad  the  man  '11  throw  in  66th  a  spade." — Jackson,  Shropshire 

Word  Book,  p.  228. 
You  crown  the  proverb  that  the  nicest  maid 
Becomes  the  greatest  slattern  when  she 's  wed. 

Ned  Ward,  Nuptial  Dialogties,  I.,  xxvi. 
Some  people  say  a  Beau 
When  married  doth  the  greater  coxcomb  grow. — lb. 

Sluts  are  good  enough  to  make  slovens  pottage. — R.,  1670. 

He  that  marries  a  daw  eats  meikle  dirt. — Ferg. 

Never  marry  a  widow  unless  her  first  husband  was  hanged. — Ry. 

He  hath  fault  of  a  wife  that  marries  mam's  pet.  i.e.  spoilt  child.  — K. 

A  wife's  ae  dother's  never  graue, 

II  a  chid  en  son  chapeau  et  puis  sen  va  convert. — Bacon,  Promtis,  1461. 

I  will  never  drite  in  my  bonnet  and  set  it  on  my  head. — K. 

Said  of  a  man  who  marries  the  mistress  he  has  kept. 
Anything  for  a  quiet  life,  as  he  that  spits  in  his  hat  and  claps  it  on 

his  head,  is  meant  he   that  lieth  with  a  whore   and   then 

marrieth  her.- — Codr. 
A  single  life  is  best. — CI. 
Single  long,  shame  at  last. — (Welsh.) 
Ne'er  seek  a  wife  till  ye  ken  what  to  do  with  her. — Ry. 
No  lack  to  a  wife. — CI. 
Many  one  leads  a  hungry  life  and  yet  must  needs  wed  a  wife. 

Llawer  un  a  ddwg  newyn  ag  er  hynny  gwraig  a  fynn. — Ho., 
Brit.  Prov.,  p.  19. 
A  married  woman  has  nothing  of  her  own  but  her  wedding-ring  and 

her  hair-lace*. — S.,  P.  C,  iii. 

*  Hair-lace.     Fascia  crinalis  vel  texta. — With.,  1608. 
Now  altered  by  the  "  Married  Women's  Property  Act,  1882." 
It  must  be  as  the  woman  will  when  all  is  said  and  done. — Melb., 

Phil.,  S.  3. 
If  you   sell  your   purse  to  your  wife   give  your  breeks  into  the 

bargain. — K. ;  from  Kyd.,  Span.  Tragedy. 
A  horse  should  always  have  his  head  :  a  husband  never. —  Vulgarian 

Atrocities,  by  H.  R.  Belward.    1876. 
In   time   the   savage   bull   doth   bear   the   yoke.      Quoted   against 

Benedict  (in  Shak.,  Mtich  Ado,  i.  i,  226)  to  show  that  he 

may  come  to  be  married  and  done  for. 

In  time  the  bull  is  brought  to  bear  the  yoke. — T.  Watson,  Sonnds- 

(1560-91). 
Ca9ete,  pesquete 
nunca  buen  casete. — Nunez,  1555, 

4fi6 


PROVERBS.  WEDLOCK. 

Ministers'  wives,  who,  if  bad,  of  all  other  commonly  are  worst. — 

D.  Rogers,  Matrl.  Honour,  310. 
If  you  carry  a  nutmeg  in  your  pocket  you  '11  be  married  to  an  old 

man. — S.,  P.  C,  i. 
Old  men  are  mistrustful. — l^acob  and  Esau;  [H.,  0.  jP.'],  ii.  230. 
Old  people's  frisking  doth  presage  their  ending. — Codr. 
Old  men  make  the  best  husbands. 
It  is  good  to  marry  late. — Dr. 
The  common  prov. :   He  that  marrieth  late  marrieth  evil. — Nash, 

Anatomie  of  Absurditie,  p.  17. 
It  is  good  to  marry  late  or  never. 
Uxorem  duxi  sed  crebro  postea  luxi. — CI. 
A  woman  that  hath  an  ill  husband  hath  sorrow  enough. — Dr. 
Marriage  and  want  of  sleep  tame  both  man  and  beast. — Dr. 
Sometimes  the  English  will  ask,  "Are  you  married?"  and  answer 

sometimes  is  made,  "  I  am  not  so  mad  yet." — Torr. 
An  old  man  is  a  cold  bedfellow. — Nabbes,  Covent  Garden,  ii.  5. 

Antes  barba  blanca  para  tu  hija 
que  mochacho  de  crencha  partida. — Nunez,  1555. 
(Hair  divided  on  the  forehead.) 

He  who  doth  an  old  wife  wed 

must  eat  a  cold  apple  as  he  goes  to  bed. — Ho. 

Four  legs  in  a  bed  want  something  to  keep  'em  warm. — T.  Brown, 

i-  345- 
The  English  say,  Love  will  cool  'twixt  a  pair  of  sheets  if  there  be 

not  wherewithal  to  keep  them  warm. — Torriano,  Piaz.,  1666. 

Ci  suol  altro  che  due  paia  di  ginocchia  ad  accasarsi. — Torr. 
A  witch  is  a  fit  wife  for  a  conjuror. — CI. 
They  love  the  face,  not  the  grace. — CI. 

Facies  non  uxor  amatur. 
All  is  well,  Jack  shall  have  Gill. — He.,  Dial.,  II.,  iii. 
Marry  with  your  match. — CI. ;  Dr. 

Love  either  finds  equality  or  makes  it. — Dryden,  Marriage  a  la  Mode, 
iii.  I. 

A  jealous  wife  is  a  very  witch. — CI. 
Other  men  have  their  wives  as  well  as  you. 
Non  soli  Atridae  uxores  amant. — CI. 

In  marriage  the  husband  should  have  two  eyes,  and  the  wife  but 
one. — Lyly,  Euph.,  p.  284. 

Married  men  need  not  many  eyes. — Codr. 

He  that  lieth  *  with  his  wife  in  the  market-place  shall  have  many 
teachers. — Codr. 

*  kisseth. 

She  '11  go  round  and  round  the  Apple-tree  till  she  find  the  Crab. 

467 


WEDLOCK.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

If  a  woman  will  beg  a  condemned  person  for  her  husband,  she  must 
come  in  her  smock  only  and  a  white  rod  in  her  hand. — Mann., 
Diary,  1602-3,  f-  99*>  Camb.  Society. 

While  they  gape  at  the  riding  anas  the  gaemg  anes  gaed  byf.  — Mrs. 

Gilroy. 

t  Lost  their  chance. 

La  primera  muger  escoba* 

la  segunda  senora.  —  Nuiiez,  1555. 

*  besom. 
The  second  wives  are  commonly  best  beloved. — Dr. 
„        „      wife    is  „  „         „        —CI. 

A  man  that  marries  a  second  wife  with  children  need  take  no  thought 
to  purchase  house  and  land. — Daniel  Rogers,  Matrl.  Honour, 
p.  302.    1642. 
Blood  without  groats  is  naught. — Atkinson,  Cleveland  Glossary. 

Con  mala  muger  el  remedio 
mucha  tierra  por  el  medio. 

Moni  mon  for  londe 
wyveth  to  shonde. 

Quojj  Hendyng. — Proverbs  of  Hendyng,  34. 

For  a  little  land 

take  a  fool  by  the  hand. — CI. 

Many  an  one  for  land 

takes  a  fool  by  the  hand. — R.,  1678.     i.e.  marries. 

A  little  love  and  a  little  money,  says  a  good  old  proverb. — T.  Brown, 

i-  345- 
Fsemina  pro  dote  nummorum  dicit  "  Amo  te." 

A  woman  for  dowry  of  money  doth  say, 

"  I  love  thee."     Quis  negat  ?    Who  is  it  saith  Nay? — W.,  1586. 

A  man  must  ask  his  wife's  leave  to  thrive. — CI. ;  R.,  1670. 

He  that  makes  his  wife  his  master  must  be  set  a-grazing. — CI. 

,,      maketh     ,,         ,,         ,,       had  need  to  ,,      ,,        — Dr. 

For  though  the  husband  be  belied. 
The  world  will  be  o'  th'  woman's  side. 

Ned  Ward,  Nuptial  Dial.,  IL,  vii. 

In  Leap-year  it  is  the  women  who  propose. 

In  Leap-year  they  have  power  to  chuse, 
the  men  no  charter  to  refuse. — Chaucer. 

Joe.     Master,  be  contented  ;  this  is  Leap-year. 

Women  wear  breeches  ;  petticoats  are  dear. 

The  Maid's  Metamorphosis  F.,  1600. 
Kensa  Blethan  Byrla  a  baye, 
nessa  Blethan  Lull  a  laye, 
ridgya  Blethan  Hann  a  Drubba, 
poswarra  Blethan  Mol  a  Dewwar. 
Him  Reeg  dryhy  uppa. 


PROVERBS.  WEDLOCK. 

The  first    year  hugg  and  kiss, 
,,    second  „     lull  and  lay, 
„    third     ,,     take  and  bring, 
,,    fourth  ,,    the  curse  of  God  on  him  that  brought  her  here. 

Wm.  Allen  (St.  Agnes),  1704. 
One  wise  and  two  happy. 

Marriage  was  made  for  man,  but  woman  was  made  for  marriage. — 
Milton. 

A  good  wife  and  a  good  cat  are  best  at  home. — Northall,  Folh  Phrases 
of  Four  Counties. 

Fair  is  the  weather 

where  cup  and  cover*  do  hold  together. — Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS. 

i.e.  husband  and  wife. 
A  stile  toward 
and  a  wife  forwardf  are  uneasy  companions. — Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS. 

t  ?  froward. 
Things  ne'er  go  ill 
where  Jack  and  Gill  p.ss  in  one  quill. — Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS. 

We  hundredors  maintain  as  an  orthodox  position,  That  he  that 
sometimes  fiattereth  not  his  wife,  cannot  always  please  her. — 
Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS. 

The  better  husband,  the  more  courtly  ever. — Chapman,  All  Fools,  ii. 

Advent  marriage  doth  deny, 

but  Hilary  gives  thee  liberty  ; 

Septuagesima  says  thee  Nay, 

eight  days  from  Easter  says  you  may ; 

Rogation  bids  thee  to  contain, 

but  Trinity  sets  thee  free  again. 

From  Vaux  (J.  E.),  Church  Lore,  p.  gi.    1893. 
(On  the  fly-leaf  of  Register  at  Everton,  Notts.) 

First  cousins  may  marry, 

second  cousins  can't ; 

third  cousins  will  marry, 

fourth  cousins  won't. — (S.  Devon)  Haz.,  p.  13. 

Again,  by  canon  law  we  note 

First  cousins,  counted  more  remote, 

Are  consequently  always  reckon'd 

Freer  to  interwed  than  second. 

This  therefore  of  all  truths  is  clearest. 

Things  the  most  distant  are  the  nearest. 

John  Brown,  Psyche,  Can.  II.    1812. 

Needles  and  pins,  needles  and  pins, 
when  a  man  marries  his  trouble  begins ; 
scissors  and  thread,  scissors  and  thread, 
when  a  man  marries  his  pleagjire  's  in  bed. 

Matches  and  tunder* 

when  a  man 's  married  he 's  fo'st  to  knock  under. 

Peacock,  Lincoln  Glossary. 
*  tinder, 

469 


WOMEN.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

You  may  dingf  the  devil  into  a  wife,  but  you'll  never  ding  him  out 
of  her. — K.  f  beat, 

Maidens'  tochers  and  ministers'  stipends  are  ay  less  than  ca'd. — Ry. 

Sease  velado 

y  sease  un  palo. — Pineda. 

You  must  get  a  husband,  if  he 's  only  a  stick. 

E'er  a  one 

Is  better 

than  ne'er  a  one. 

Will.  I  tell  you  a  wife 's  out  of  date  nowadays ;  time  was — but 
that's  all  over.  A  wife's  a  drug  now;  mere  tar-water, 
with  every  virtue  under  heaven,  but  nobody  takes  it. — 
Murphy,  The  Way  to  Keep  Him,  i.    1760. 

The  devil 's  in  you  all ;  mankind  's  a  rogue  ; 

you  love  the  bride,  but  you  detest  the  clog. 

Dryden,  Epilogue  to  Henry  the  Second,  17. 

Amour  fait  rage, 

mais  I'argent  fait  mariage ; 

Argent  fait  rage 

et  amour  mariage. — Cotgr. 

A  man's  best  fortune  or  his  worst  is  a  wife, — F. 

For  a  wife  is  the  best  or  the  worst  fortune  that  can  betide  a  man 
throughout  the  whole  train  of  his  life. — Ho.,  Fam.  Letters, 
IV.,  vii. 

Touching  their  (Spanish)  women,  nature  hath  made  a  more  visible 
distinction  between  the  sexes  here  than  elsewhere ;  for  the 
men  for  the  most  part  are  swarthy  and  rough,  but  the  women 
are  of  a  far  finer  mould — they  are  commonly  little ;  and 
whereas  there  is  a  saying  that  makes  a  complete  woman,  let 
her  be  English  to  the  neck,  French  to  the  waist,  and  Dutch 
below,  I  may  add,  for  hands  and  feet  let  her  be  Spanish,  for 
they  have  the  least  of  any.  They  have  another  saying :  A 
French  woman  in  a  dance,  a  Dutch  woman  in  the  kitchen, 
an  Italian  in  a  window,  an  England-woman  at  board,  and 
the  Spanish  a-bed. — Howell,  Familiar  Letters,  I.,  iii.  32. 

WOMBN. 

Without  women  we  men  can't  be. — CI. 

Ignis,  mare,  mulier  tria  mala. — Erasmus. 

She  is  a  woman  and  nothing  is  unpossible. — Gasc,  Glass  of  Gov.,  ii. 

As  the  common  proverb  is  :  The  wit  of  a  woman  is  a  great  matter. 

— Breton,  Praise  of  Vertuous  Ladies. 
Bonne  terre,  mauvais  chemin 
bonne  teste  mauvaise  femme. 
A  woman's  counsel  is  sometimes  good. — CI. 
A  woman  is  the  key  of  the  house  and  a  man  the  soul  of  it. — Dr. 
Women  out-superstition  men. — F.  W.,  Lincoln;  He.;  Fuller,  Holy 

and  Profane  State,  V.,  iii. 

470 


PROVERBS.  WOMEN. 

Fair  and  false. — CI. 

Trust  no  secrets  with  a  woman. — CI. 

No  war  without  a  woman. — CI. 

A  woman  is  the  weaker  vessel. — CI. 

Where  there  are  women  there  is  much  taling, — Dr. 

Revenge  is  womanish. — Cod. 

A  man  must  fear  a  woman  and  thunder. — Dr. 

Women  be  wasps  if  angered. — CI. 

Women  if  they  be  entreated  refuse. — CI. 

You*  may  as  well  turn  the  wind  as  a  woman. — Dr. 

*  A  man. — Dr. 
Women  are  apt  to  run  into  extremes. 
There 's  neither  grace  nor  savour  in  a  kiss  when  a  woman  begs  it. — 

Killigrew,  Tkomaso,  II.,  iii.  5. 
If  you  would  have  a  woman  do  one  thing  you  must  always  propose 

another,  and  that  the  very  contrary. — Richardson,  Clarissa 

Harlowe,  iii.  186. 
■"As  it  is  a  shame  to  quarrel  with  a  woman,  so  it  is  more  discredit  to 

take  the  foil." — Rob.  Greene,  Carde  of  Fancie,  1608;  R.,  3. 
No ;  you  cannot  forgive  because  you  have  injured  me :    'Tis  right 

woman's  justice :  accuse  first. — Killigrew,  Parson's  Wedding, 

ii.  I. 

Make  the  door  upon  a  woman's  wit  and  it  will  out  at  the  casement. 
— Shak.,  As  You  Like  It,  iv.  i,  144. 

No  Wit,  no  Help  like  a  Woman's. — Title  of  a  play  by  Middleton.  1657. 

You  cannot,  I  conceive,  satisfy  yourself  with  the  common  namby- 
pamby,  little  missy  phrase.  Ladies  have  nothing  to  do  with 
politics. — M.  Edgeworth,  Helen,  ch.  28. 

Witty  women  are  sweet  companions. — Breton,  Crossing  of  Pr.,  ii. 

A  good  housewife  is  a  jewel. — CI. 

If  you  tell  a  woman  that  a  thing  is  made  "  by  machinery  "  she  wants 
[to  hear  no  more  about  it]  no  further  explanation. — Whyte 
Melville,  Black  but  Comely,  ch.  2. 

Women  are  all  alike. 

Tutte  le  bocche  sono  sorelle. — Tor. 

Fly  women,  they  will  follow,  still  say 

But  if  ye  follow  women,  they  will  fly. 

Rd.  Brathwait,  Sheph.  Tales,  Ed.  i. 
An  eel  and  woman 

A  learned  poet  says  unless  by  th'  tail 

And  with  thy  teeth  thou  hold  will  either  fail. 

Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  Ttvo  Noble  Kinsmen,  iii.  5. 

They  should  kiss  the  gudewife  that  wad  win  the  gudeman. — Ry. 

He  that  will  make  aught  of  the  husband  should  begin  with  the  wife. 
Wilson,  Andron.,  iii.  i. 

The  moon  directs  more  than  the  sun. — Dr. 

Mulieris  consilium  aliquoties  sanum. — CI. 

471 


WOMEN.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Though  -women  are  angels,  yet  wedlock's  the  devil. — Concluding  line 
of  Byron's  To  Eliza  in  Hours  of  Idleness. 
He  speaks  of  it  as  "having  been  so  often  said,"  and  it  is  put  in 
inverted  commas. 
Women  will  be  quiet  when  they  are  well-pleased. — Dr. 
„         ,,    ,,       ,,         ,,        „      have  their  wills. 

Wilson,  Cheats,  v.  5. 
If  women  were  as  little  as  they  are  good, 
a  pescod -shell  would  make  them  a  gown  and  a  hood. 

W.  W.,  New  Help  to  Disc,  1659,  p.  39. 
Women's  tongues  are  longer  than  their  arms. — Rowley,  All 's  Lost 

by  Lust,  i.     1633. 
If  you  like  her  tongue  you  must  needs  like  her  tail,  for  the  one  utters 

the  other. — lb.,  ii. 
Many  [a]  man  makes  an  errand  to  the  hall  to  bid  the  lady  Good- 
day. — Ferg. 
What  is  a  tinker  without  his  wench  ? — (Staff.)  ?  Armin,  Two  Maids 

of  More-clahe,  p.  89.     1609. 
'Tis  rare  to  be  a  tinker  boy :  "  Work  enough,  wench  enough,  drink 

enough." — lb.,  p.  88.     1609. 
And  here  [N.  of  England]  it  is  they  say  in  jest,  their  women  never 
die,  as  much  as  to  say  they  live  to  exceeding  great  ages  by 
eating  no  other  sort  of  bread  than  oat-cakes. — Ellis,  Modern 
Husbandman,  October,  p.  24. 
For  of  all  flesh  a  shrowis,  they  say, 

Is  very  hard  to  heal ; 
Therefore  no  wise  man  willingly 
Will  have  therewith  to  deal. 

S.  Rowlands,  Knave  of  Clubs  :  \_A  She  Devil].     161 1. 
Se  that  her  wende, 
se  hir  lends. 

i.e.  he  that  turneth  her  about,  let  him  lend  to  (or  maintain  her). 
Lambarde  {Per.  of  Kent,  1656,  p.  645)  gives  an  O.  French 
charter  of  gavelkind,  temp.  Edward  I.,  explaining  this. 
A  widow  is  entitled  to  half  her  husband's  lands  and  tene- 
ments, but  forfeits  these  at  once  if  she  ceases  to  be  chaste, 
in  which  case  she  must  be  maintained  by  her  betrayer. 
Si  fat  is  wedewe 

si  is  leuedi. — Consuetudines  Kancise,  Queensborough  Statute  Book,  c.  134. 
i.e.  she  that  is  a  widow,  she  is  a  lady,  so  well  is  she  provided 
for. — Pegge,  Anon.,  67. 

Woman's  work.  See  Haz.,  p.  39.  Indeed,  it  may  be  justly  said  of 
these  [dairymaids]  that  their  work  is  never  done,  for  where 
twenty  or  thirty  cows  are  kept  they  must  begin  about  four 
o'clock  in  the  summer-time  to  milk,  and  at  the  same  hour 
next  morning,  and  between  these  times  they  have  enough  to 
do  to  scald  and  scour  their  utensils  and  make  butter  and 
cheese. — Ellis,  Mod.  Husb.,  August,  p.  92.  Cf.  lb.,  October, 
p.  143,  of  Odd  Man. 

472 


PROVERBS,  WOMEN. 

A  woman  conceals  what  she  knows  not. 

Do  but  dally  not  (that 's  the  widow's  phrase). — Barrey,  Ram  Alley,  ii. 

A  slice  from  a  cut  cake  is  never  missed.     Breach  of  7th  Command- 

ment.^Northall,  F.  P.  of  F.  Counties. 
Gold  makes  a  woman  penny  white. — N.,  F.  P.  of  F.  C. 
The  smock  is  nearer  than  the  petticoat. — N.,  F.  P-  of  F.  C. 
As  I  live  'tis  a  dainty  girl ;  she  speaks  so  wisely  and  her  words  are 

so  well  placed,  and  she  lisps  so  prittily  and  so  thweatly,  and 

they  say  that  lithping  wenches  are  good  to  kith. — Quarles, 

Virgin  Widow,  v. 
None  kisseth  like  the  lisping  lass. — Ford,  Lady's  Trial,  iv.  2. 
There  is   an  old   saying  that   widows'    children   turn   out  well. — 

Mrs.  Earle,  Pot  Pouvri  from  a  Sumy  G^irden,  p.  333. 
Maidens  should  be  mim  till  they  're  married,  and  then  they  may 

burn  kicks. 
Women  are  like  to  Venice  glasses ;  one  crack  spoils  them. — J.  S., 

Wit's  Labyrinth.     1648. 
Tear  ready,  tail  ready.      A   reflection  on  a  woman  who  is  ready 

to  cry. — Kelly. 
Jac.     Then  let  my  tears  prevail. 
Rod.    The  sacrifice  of  fools,  the  proverb's  scorn. 
None  pity  women's  tears  but  idiots  born. 

Rowley,  ^//'s  Z,os^,  ii.     1633. 

Assez  demande  qu'il  se  plaind. — Cotgr. 

Ni  a  la  muger  que  llorar 

ni  al  perro  que  mear. — Nuiiez,  1555. 

As  long  as  a  woman  has  a  tear  she  is  sure  to  have  her  own  way. 

Let  him  shun  Opportunity  as  his  Bawd  and  Occasion  as  his  Pander. 

— T.  Adams,  p.  463. 
Time's  ancient  bawd,  Opportunity. — Rowley,  All 's  Lost  by  Lust, 

i.     1633. 
Opportunity  is  whoredom's  bawd. — C,  1636. 
One  woman  will  not  serve  his  turn. 
L'occasion  fait  le  larron. 
"  Mother  " !  call  her  "  Whore  "  first. 

Infixo  aculeo  fugere  (Obtrectatio). — CI. 
Titty  Tatty,  Kitty  Katty :  fause  to  a  man,  fause  to  a'  men. — "  Scot's 

Song,"  quoted  Defoe,  Marriage  Bed. 

Women  always  poke  the  fire  from*  the  top. — Christy. 

*  ?at.     Kissing. 

A   woman  feels  where   a   man   thinks.      That  accounts,  say   the 

Americans,  for  so  many  men  being  bald. 
Between  a  woman's  "  Yes  "  and  "  No  " 
there  isn't  room  for  a  pin  to  go. 
Un   gentilhomme  ne  pent  recevoir  argent  que  de  son   Roy  et  de 

sa  maitresse. — Figaro,  i2/i/'89. 
A  woman  never  loves  the  man  who  pays  her. 

473 


WOMEN.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

She  that  takes  gifts,  herself  she  sells, 

and  she  that  gives,  does  nought  else. — Ferg. 

Femme  qui  prend,  se  vend  ;  femme  qui  donne,  s'abandonne. 
Maidens  love  them   that   have    their    maiden- head. — Brathwait, 

Strappado  foy  the  Divel,  p.  165. 
Pride  prinks  her  pow*  for  the  deilto  pousef. — Cunningham,  Glossary 
to  Burns. 

*  Decks  her  head.        Pouzle :  trifle,  play  with. 
She  that  looks  too  much  at  herself  looketh  too  little  to  herself. — Codr. 
A  woman  will  not  be  kept  in  a  cage. 

Mavult  videri  quam  videre  fasmina. — Dr. 
A  woman  is  no  older  than  she  looks. — ?  French. 
But  wherefore  our  age  be  revealing  ? 
Leave  that  to  the  Registry-books  ; 
A  man  is  as  old  as  his  feeling, 

A  woman  as  old  as  she  looks. — Mortimer  Collins. 
Christy  says  Italian. 
Foote  being  asked  at  what  age  he  thought  female  beauty  began  to 
decline,  answered  :  A  woman  is  to  be  counted  like  a  game  at 
piquet — 25,  26,  27,  28,  29,  60. 
A  man  is  as  young  as  his  feeling, 
a  woman  as  young  as  she  looks  ; 

Don't  eagles  live  longer  than  rooks  ? — Westminster  Gazette,  2y/ii/'g^. 
What  bridegroom  are  you  or  what  king's  son  that  you  should  think 
I  am  obliged  to  bear  this  familiarity  ? 
You   wear   no   petticoat   for   privilege. — Davenant,   News  from 

Plymouth,  iv.     1635. 
Petticoats  are  privileged. 
Ladies  will  rather  pardon  want  of  sense  than  want  of  manners. — F. 
Ladies  have  leave  to  change  their  minds.  YMontrose,  ix. 

A  lady's  answer  is  best  expresst  in  the  postscript. — Scott,  Legend  of 
The  pith  of  a  lady's  letter  is  contained  in  the  postscript. 
La  muger  placera  dize  de  todos  y  todos  d'ella. — Pineda. 
A  gossiping  woman  talks  of  everybody  and  everybody  of  her. 
La  donna  guarda  piu  sott'  occhio  che  non  fa  I'uomo  dritto  filo. — Torr. 
Women  can  see  right  through  the  back  of  their  heads  if  a  man  is 

looking  at  them. 
There  are  certain  critical  minutes  when  a  wom.an  can  deny  nothing. 

— Wilson,  Belphegor,  ii.  4. 
El  Loveless.    Did'st  thou  move  her  for  me  ? 

Abigail.         By  this  light  that  shines  there  's  no  removing  her  if  she 
get   a  stiff  opinion  by  the  end.      I  attempted  her 
to-day  when  they  say  a  woman  can  deny  nothing. 
El  Loveless.    What  critical  minute  was  that  ? 

A  bigail.  When  her  smock  was  over  her  ears ;  but  she  was  no 
more  pliant  than  if  it  hung  about  her  heels. — 
Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  Scornful  Lady,  i.  i, 

474 


PROVERBS.  WOMEN. 

Belle,  bonne,  riche  et  sage 

est  un  femme  a  quatre  estages. — Torr. 

Belle  femme  mauvaise  teste, 

bonne  mule  mauvaise  beste, 

bon  pais,  mauvais  chemin, 

bon  advocat  mauvais  voisin. — Meurier,  1568. 

He  [the  devil]  keeps  his  old  trick  still :  when  he  would  pervert  a 
whole  family  to  superstition  he  teaches  his  Jesuit  to  begin 
with  the  woman. — T.  Adams,  p.  1169. 

Brutta  e  buona.  Name  of  a  kind  of  pear — and  of  an  ugly  wife. — 
Torr. 

A  man  of  straw  is  worth  a  woman  of  gold. — (Italian)  Ho.,  Fam, 
Letters,  II.,  iv. ;  K. 

There  was  ne'er  a  silly  Jocky  but  there  was  as  silly  a  Jenny. — Ry. 

The  Devil's  Law-Case,  or  When  Women  go  to  Law,  the  Devil  is 
full  of  business. — Title  of  Play  by  J.  Webster,  1623. 

Women's  war — revenge. — S.  Daniel,  Civil  Wars,  viii. 

Cf.  Byron  :  Sweet  is  revenge,  especially  to  women. — Don  yuan, 
i.  124. 

The  fairest  are  ever  the  gentlest. — Sir  P.  Sidney,  Lady  of  May,  1578. 

Chi  fila  grosso 

si  marita  tosto, 

chi  sottile 

si  marita  d'Aprile. — Torr. 

Cold  of  complexion,  good  of  condition. — Hunt,  West  of  England. 

One  knows  not  where  to  have  him  ;  he  is  cold  of  complexion  but 
not  good  of  condition  who  spits  poison. — Strange  Metam.  of 
Man,  "  The  Snake,"  p.  27.     1634. 

]3e  longe  man  ys  3eld  wys,  fe  schort  myld  3eld  ys, 

Raro  breves  humiles,  longos  vidi  sapientes  ; 
fe  whyth  ys  ful  of  cowardys,  fe  red  ful  of  feloun  ys, 

Albos  audaces,  rufos  sine  prodicione  ; 
to  pe  blak  draw  jjy  knyf,  with  Jje  brown  led  fy  lyf, 

Cum  fusco  stabis,  cum  nigro  tela  parabis. — MS.  Harl.  3362,  fo.  33. 

Is  foisge  do  bhean  leithsgeal  na  braiscin. — Ulster  Journal  of  Archeology, 
vii.  278. 
(A  woman  has  no  excuse  readier  than  her  apron.) 

Far  am  bi  bo  bidh  bean 

's  far  am  bi  bean  bidh  mallachadh. 

i.e.  Where  there  is  a  cow  there  will  be  a  woman,  and  where 

there  is  a  woman  there  is  mischief. — (lona.) 
St.  Columba  is  said  to  have  forbidden  a  cow  or  a  woman  on  the 
island. — Chambers,  P.  Rh.  of  Scotland. 

La  muger  y  la  salsa 

a  la  mano  de  la  lanza*. — Pineda. 

*  Right  hand. 
475 


WOMEN.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

A  lady  is  always  known  by  her  boots  and  her  gloves. — ?  French. 
The  Dutch  say :  A  foolish  woman  is  known  by  her  petticoats, 
showing  her  wealth  by  the  number  she  possesses. 
Femme  sotte 

se  connait  a  la  cotte. — Cotgr.,  1611. 
A  primsie*  damsel  makes  a  daidlenf  dame. — Cunningham,  Burns 

Glossary.  *  Demure.        t  Silly. 

A  dink  J   damsel  makes  often  a  dirty  wife. — Cunningham,   Burns 

Glossary.  {  Neat,  ladylike. 

After  all,  a  woman's  forte  is  her  piano. — Punch. 
S'il  est  vrai  depuis  un  adage,  qu'on  pent  juges  la  maitresse  de  la 

maison   en   voyant   le   seuil   de   la   porte,   les   appartements 

doivent  en  traduire  I'esprit   avec   encore  plus  de  fidelite. — 

Balzac,  Scenes  de  la  Vie  Privee  La  Femme  Vertiteuse. 
A  good  face  is  a  good  dowry. — Rowley,  All 's  Lost,  iii.     1633. 
The  fair,  to  folly  easy  to  be  led, 
The  long  one  lazy,  both  at  board  and  bed, 
The  little,  for  the  most  part  they  are  curst, 
Black  females  proud,  even  from  their  cradles  nurst. 
The  fat  are  frolic  and  to  mirth  inclin'd, 
The  lean  with  sadness  are,  like  famine,  pin'd, 
The  red  are  subtle,  and  the  brown  are  sure. 
Both  to  their  friend  and  to  their  wedlock  pure, 
The  fearful  and  the  peevish  pale  and  wan, 
The  black  a  woman-lover  more  than  man. 
Yet  thus  though  I  discuss,  as  proverbs  go, 
I  '11  not  engage  myself  to  make  them  so  ; 
But  thus  I  counsel  for  thy  more  white  life. 
Trust  no  complexion  too  far  with  thy  wife. 

Help  to  Discourse,  1619,  p.  154. 
Fille  brunette 

est  de  nature  gaye  et  nette. — Cotgr. 
Bread  and  cheese  is  very  well,  but  cheese  and  cheese  is  no  sense. 

Said   of   two   women   kissing   each   other. — Baker,   N  'kants 

Glossary. 
Without  women  the  two  extremes  of  life  would  be  without  help,  and 

the  middle  without  pleasure. 
Old  women's  luck — wind  in  the  face, 

both  going  to  and  from  a  place. — Brogden,  Lincolnshire  Proverbs. 
There  is  a  teugh  sinew  in  an  auld  wife's  heel. — Ry. 
Mulier  cupido  quod  jactat  amanti 
In  vento  et  rapida  scribere  oportet  aqua. 

Written  in  Gringore's  Notables  Enseigements,  1527,  B.  M. 
Amour  de  femme  et  ris  de  chien 
tout  ne  vault  rien  qui  ne  dit  rien*. — Prov.  Com. 

*  "Tien!"— Ho. 
Amour  de  garse  et  saut  de  chien 
ne  dure  si  on  ne  dit  "  Tien." — Cotgr. 
The  lass  in  the  red  petticoat  pays  for  all. — R.,  1678. 

476 


PROVERBS.  WOMEN. 

Brent  brow  and  lily  skin, 

a  loving  heart  and  leal  within, 

is  better  than  gowd  or  gentle  kin.— Scott,  Roh  Roy  (chapter  36). 

That  estate 
Which  you  believe  so  fair  (and  wer  't  not  for 
My  father's  debts  and  some  small  slips  of  mine 
Might  have  look'd  somewhat  like  it)  is  at  present 
At  that  low  ebb,  that  if  I  don't  look  to  't 
In  time  it  will  be  past  recovery. 
Come :  the  red  petticoat  must  piece  up  all. 

John  Wilson,  The  Cheats,  i.  3.     1633. 

It 's  hats  that  go  to  gaol,  not  caps.  i.e.  husbands,  not  wives,  are 
[or  rather  were]  imprisoned  for  debts  of  the  household. — 
(Gloucestershire)  Northall,  Folk  Phmses  of  Fouv  Counties. 

For  'tis  ill  manners,  courting  lovers  say. 

Before  the  question 's  ask'd,  to  answer  Nay. 

Ned  VVard,  Nuptial  Dialogues,  II.,  xiv.     1710. 

Coy  one  in  the  winning 
Proves  a  true  one  being  won. — Wither,  Faire  Viriue,  Sonn.  II. 
The  woman  who  deliberates  is  lost. — Addison,  Cato,  iv.  i. 
Many  a  heart  is  caught  in  the  rebound,  i.e.  after  a  refusal  by  a  first  love. 
If  thou  be  young  then  marry  not  yet, 
if  thou  be  old  thou  hast  more  wit ; 
for  young  men's  wives  will  not  be  taught, 
and  old  men's  wives  be  good  for  naught. 

On  Fortune  Cards,  temp.  Eliz. ;  Rel.  Ant. 
Afterwit.  You  know  wise  men  always  marry  their  daughters  both 
ways.  i.e.  by  a  hedge-priest  and  then  by  a  regular  minister. 
— Wilson,  Cheats,  v.  3. 
Gare  ak  femme  dont  le  berceau  a  ete  une  malle  et  le  pensionnat  une 
table  d'hote.* — A.  Vandam  (?),  An  Englishman  in  Paris,  ii.  86. 
1892.  *  Said  of  the  Empress  Eugenie. 

Too  oft,  alas  !  a  daughter's  charms 

Increase  a  parent's  cares ; 
For  daughters  and  dead  fish,  we  find, 

Were  never  keeping  wares. — Wolcott,  Orson  and  Ellen. 
Imp.      But  one's  husband,  tho',  is  the  best  friend. 
Quar.    And  the  worst  company. — Wilson,  Belphegor,  ii.  2-     1691. 
Dolor  de  cobdo*  y  dolor  de  esposo 
duele  mucho  y  dura  poco. — Percival,  Spanish  Dial.,  III.     1599. 

♦  Cobdo. 
Quando  il  marito  fa  terra 
la  moglie  fa  carne.* — Flo.,  G. 
....      bella.— Bolla. 

*  i.e.  she  gains  flesh. 
No  water  like  thy  own;   no  nurse  to  the  mother. — Dan.  Rogers, 

Mat.  Hon.,  1642,  p.  279. 
There's  no  trusting  a  woman  nor  a  tapp  (sjc).— Bacon,  Promus.,  526. 
Of.  The  tap 's  a  thief.— Ho. 

477 


DIETARY.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

DIETARY. 

Men  have  their  guts  in  their  brains. — Poor  Robin,  April,  1768, 

i.e.  character  depends  on  feeding.     Cf.  S.,  P-  C,  i. 
Epicures  bear  their  brains  in  their  bowels. — F.  W.,  N'kmts,  281 ; 

T.  Brown,  Works,  i.  278, 
Edward.     By  this  light  my  guilt  has  picked  all  my  guts  out  of  my 

brains. — Killigrew,  Thomaso,  II.,  iii.  4. 
Quoth  Ralpho :  "  Truly  that  is  no 
Hard  matter  for  a  man  to  do 
That  has  but  any  guts  in  's  brains, 
And  could  believe  it  worth  the  pains." 

Butler,  Hudibras,  I.,  iii.    io8g. 
'Tis  best  eating  when  one  's  a  hungry. — Wilson,  Cheats,  iv.  2. 
The  sparing  diet  is  the  spirit's  feast. — Breton,  Mother's  Blessing,  p.  6. 
Cf.  Spare  fast  that  oft  with  gods  doth  diet. — Milton,  //  Penseroso. 
A  little  sufficeth  nature. — Breton,  Dialogue  between  Anger  arid  Patience, 

1599- 
Nature  is  content  with  a  httle. — Dr. 

If  you  would  live  long,  avoid  controversy,  lobster  salad,  and  quarrel- 
some people. — Chambers. 
The  full  soul  loatheth  an  honeycomb,  but  to  the  hungry  soul  every 

bitter  thing  is  sweet.-— Pro?;.,  xxvii.  7. 
Things  sweet  to  taste  prove  in  digestion  sour. — Shak.,  Richard  II., 

i.  3,  236. 
Many  dishes,  many  diseases. 

Multa  fercula  multos  morbos. — T.  Adams,  p.  832. 
Modicum  non  nocet  ut  medicus  daret. — Greene,  A  Looking  Glasse  for 

London,  145. 
Little  and  often  :  a  good  potecary's  shop. — Bullein,  Bulwarke  of  Def., 

f.  48.     1562. 
Kitchen  physic  is  the  best  physic. — S.,  P.  C,  ii.  ' 

The  cook's  boy  in  the  kitchen    .    .    .    was  the  best  physician  among 

the  doctors,  for  by  his  kitchen  physic  the  sick  was  cured. — 

Barnard,  Life  of  Heylin,  1683,  p.  113. 
A  good  cook  (as  Dr.  Boord   saith)    is   half  a  physician. — Cogan, 

Haven  of  Health,  p.  149. 
It  is  good  fasting  when  the  table  is  covered  with  fish. — (Danish)  R., 

1813. 
He  who  eats  but  of  one  dish  never  wants  a  physician. — (Ital.)  ?  E. 
Fill  fow  and  ha'd  fou  makes  a  stark  man. — Ferg. 
Prayers  and  provender  never  hindered  any  man's  journey. — Sp.,  E. 
C'est  la  soupe  que  fait  le  soldat.     A  saying  of  Napoleon  I. 
Bread  when  you  're  hungry,  drink  when  you  're  dry, 
rest  when  you  're  weary,  and  Heaven  when  you  die. 

Havergal,  Herefordshire  Words. 
Table  sans  sel,  bouche  sans  salive. — Cotg.,  1611. 

478 


PROVERBS.  DIETARY. 

My  brothers,  let  us  breakfast  in  Scotland,  lunch  in  Australia,  and 

dine  in  France  to  our  lives  end. — Henry  Kingsley. 
Be  thou  sick  or  whole 
put  mercury  in  thy  kole.* — Cogan,  H.  of  H.,  1584. 

*  i.e.  Chenopodium  bonus  Henricus  in  your  pottage. 
They  that  will  have  their  heale 
must  put  setwallf  in  their  keale|. — Gerarde,  Herbal,  1597. 

t  Setwall.    Valeriana  Pyrenaica.  {  Kail. 

For  want  of  capons,  bread  and  onions. — Dr. 

Garlic  makes  a  man  wink,  drink,  and  stink. — T.  Nash,  Unf.Tv.,  F.  2. 
My  Kitchen  is  my  doctor ;  and  my  garden, 
My  College,  Chief  Assistant,  Master  Warden, 
And  Pothecary. — J.  Day,  Pari,  of  Bees,  1641,  p.  58,  repr. 
He  was  a  bold  man  that  first  ate  an  oyster. — S.,  P  C,  ii. 
Only  oysters  of  all  fish  are  good  raw,  yet  he  was  no  coward  that 

first  ventured  on  them. — Muffet,  p.  47. 
Animal  est  aspectu  et  horribum  et  nauseosum,  sive  id  spectes  in  suk 
concha  clausum  sive  apertum,  et  audax  fuisse  credo  queat  qui 
primum   ea   labris  admovit. — Lentilius,  i.e.   Linsenhardt  (a 
German  physician  about  1700). 
That  man  had  sure  a  palate  covered  o'er 
With  brass  or  steel  that  on  the  rocky  shore 
First  broke  the  oozy  oyster's  pearly  coat. 

And  risked  the  living  morsel  down  his  throat. — Gay,  Trivia,  iii. 
Des  quatre  piedz  saisissez  le  mouton, 
des  oiseaux  perdrix  en  chapon, 

et  des  poissons  I'esturgeon. — Meurier,  Colloques,  H.  4  r,  1558. 
Recipe.     Delle  pillole  de  gallina,  [i.e.  eggs] 

elettuario  di  cucina, 

siloppo  di  cantina 

con  buon  pasto  di  farina. — Flo.,  2d  Fr.,  1591. 

Una  pillola  formentina, 

la  giornata  d'una  gallina, 

con  qualche  dramma  di  sermentina 

e  una  buona  medicina. 
Tudo  compao 

faz  o  homen  sao. — (Portuguese.) 
Broken  bread  maks  hale  bairns. — Ry. 

Bread's  house  skailed*  never. — Ferg. 

*  stale. 

Here  is  bread  which  strengthens  man's  heart,  and  therefore  is  called 

the  staff  of  life. — M.  Henry,  Comm.  Psalm  104. 
Bread  which  is  the  staff  of  life. — Ho.,  Parley  of  Beasts,  p.  86. 
Pao  da  Ilha 

area  cheia,  parriga  vasia. — Bluteau. 
Pan  e  acqua 
vita  da  gatta, 
asqua  e  pan 
vita  da  can. — MS.  add.  to  Nunez, 

479 


DrETARY.  LEAN'S"  COLLECTANEA. 


New  beer,  new  bread,  and  green  wood, 

will  make  a  man's  hair  grow  through  his  hood. 

Ellis,  Modem  Husbandman,  January,  1891. 
Bad  are  all  surfeits,  but  physicians  call 
That  surfeit  took  by  bread  the  worst  of  all. — Herrick,  iii.  6. 
Bread  's  a  binder,  wealth  's  a  miser  ; 

drink  down  care,  and  thou  art  wiser. — Brathwait,  Barn.  Itin.,  pt.  I.  5. 
Pain  legier,  pesant  fourrnage 
devez  tousiours  prendre  si  vous  estes  sage.— Meurier,  1558. 

Pain 
Le  meilleur  metz  a  qui  a  faim. — Meurier,  Colloquys,  I.  3  v.,  1558. 
A  pain  de  quinsaines 

faim  canine  de  trois  semaines,- — Meurier,  D,  F.,  1590. 
J'estime  un  pain  leger  et  sue  sain 
et  le  pasteux  et  crouste  leve  vain. — lb, 
Le  pain  de  nuit        Nacht  broot 
grandement  nuit      is  een  letsel  groot. — lb. 

i.e.  last  night's  baking. 
La  bocca  porta  le  gambe. — Torr. 

A  fame  pane,  a  sete  acqua,  a  sonno  pancaf. — Tommaseo,  Diet. 

+  banco. 
Raw  dawds| 
make  fat  lads. 

Spoken  when  we  give  a  good  piece  of  meat  to  a  young  boy. — K. 

X  lumps. 

One  shoulder  of  mutton  draws  down  another. — R.,  1670. 

„         „         „         „       drives     „  „        — S.,  P.  C,  ii. 

As  two  shoulders  of  mutton  drive  down  one  another,  so  two  powerful 

griefs    destroy  one    another    by   making   a   division. — Tom 

Brown,  Works,  iii.  57. 

El  buen  espejo  la  carne  sobre  el  huesso. — Nunez,  1555. 

No  ay  carne  pre  [ci]  ada 

sino  la  perdiz  cozida  y  la  liebre  assada. — Nuiiez,  1555. 

La  perdiz  emperdizada  * 

de  dos  vueltas  es  assada. — Nuiiez,  1555. 

*  Basted  with  bacon  fat. 

Cocta  caro  sapida  est,  sed  frixa  salubrior  ilia. — W.,  1616. 

Croustes  de  pastez  valent  bien  pain. — Cotg. 

They  that  eat  black  puddings  will  dream  of  the  devil. — S.,  P-  C,  i. 

Beurre  de  vache,  fromage  de  brebis,  caill6* 

de  chevre. — O.  de  Serres,  Theat.  d'AgricuH.,  i.  529. 

*  curds. 

Two  hungry  meals  make  the  third  a  glutton. — He.,  c.  1629. 

The  second  meal  makes  the  glutton,  and  the  second  blow,  or  ill 
word,  makes  the  quarrel. 

By  little  eating  hope  to  grow  the  stronger. 

And  starve  themselves  to  death  to  live  the  longer. 

Hans  Busk,  Sen.,  The  Banquet,  c.  ii.,  p.  68. 

480 


PROVERBS.  DRINK. 

Propter  vitam  vivendi  perdere  causas. 
Eat  to  live  and  not  live  to  eat. — M. 
Una  buona  imbriacatura 
nove  giorni  dura. — Torr. 
Sometimes  a  riot 
's  as  good  as  a  diet. 

When  at  a  feast  all  meats  cast   together  help  one  to  digest 
another. — F.  W.,  ch.  xxii.     Or  from  the  vomit  produced 
which  the  "getting  drunk  once  a  month"  was  prescribed 
for. 
Shift  of  meat  is  good. — Becon,  Bohe  of  Matrimony, 
A  man  must  not  always  eat 
one  sort  of  meat. — Rowley,  All's  Lost  by  Lust,  iii.    1633. 

Applied  to  women. 
Imp.  You  could  not  set  up  then  with  partridge  and  quail  for 

the  year  round  ? 
Scintilla.     No,  by  my  troth,  could  I  not ;  and  yet  I  've  but  a  puling* 
stomach. 
This  is  Tonjours  perdrix !  Englished. — Wilson,  Belphegor,  ii.  3. 
1 69 1.     (Applied  to  lust.) 
*  Puler,  s.    One  who  is  weak ;  who  eats  without  appetite. — Hli. 
Surfeits  destroy  more  than  the  sword. — B.  and  F.,  Women  Pleased,  i.  2. 
Qui  moins  mange,  plus  mange, 
et  qui  plus  mange,  moins  mange. — Meurier,  1590. 
Often  and  little  eating  makes  a  man  fat. — R.,  70,  tr. 


DRINK. 

Quo  plus  sunt  potae  plus  sitiuntur  aquae. — W.,  1616. 

A  false  water-drinker  there  liveth  not. — He. 

Primo  quando  bibo  cupio  plus  gutturis  imo. — W.,  1616. 

Better  good  sale* 
norf  good  ale. — Ferg. 

*  Health.        t  Than.— K. 

Drink  and  be  friends. — CI. 

Good  drinkers  think  none  ill. — T.  Tyler  and  his  Wife  (1598),  p.  8. 

He  is  a  fool  [that]  will  take  more  [drink]  than  will  do  him  good. — 
Porter,  Two  Angry  Women,  etc.  [H.,  O.P.'],  vii.  308. 

A  man's  wisdom  is  his  sobriety. 

Anima  sicca  est  sapientissima. — CI. 
Wine  and  women  make  men  runagates. — CI. 

Reddunt  delirum  faemina  vina  virum. 

Be  wyne  hope  men  mey  see  where  jje  tavern  is. — The  Good  Wyfe 

Pylgrimage,  E.E.T.Soc. 
Good  wine  needs  no  bush.     See  Haz. 

VOL.  I  481  31 


DRINK.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

But  others,  less  profane  than  so,  agree 
It*  clears  the  lungs  and  helps  the  memory. 

De  Foe,  Trm  Bom  Englishman,  IL 
*  Drinking, 
The  bottle  is  a  false  consoler  f. 

t  ?  counsellor. 
El  buen  vino  cua  buena  sangre. 
Good  drink  makesj  good  blood. — Nash,  Unf.  Tmv.,  M.  3. 

}  Engendereth. — Dr. 
Wine  makes  good  blood. — Ds.,  Sc.  of  Fo.,  p.  125,  Ep.  265. 
Chi  beve  vino  beve  sangue 
e  chi  acqua  cotta  flemma. — Florio,  2d  Fr.,  1591. 
They  that  drink  langest  live  langest. — Ry. 
When  an  old  man  will  not  drink,  go  to  see  him  in  another  world. — 

Cod. 
Drink  is  the  best  physic. — Nevile,  N ewes  from  the  New  Exch.,  p.  17. 

1650. 
It  is  a  good  wind  that  blows  a  man  to  the  wine. — Lyly,  M.  Bomb.,  ii.  5. 
Vanhotten  slotten,  irk  bloshen  glotten,  gelderlike.     Whatever  the 

words  were,  the  sense  was  this  :  Good  drink  is  a  medicine  for 

all. — Nash,  Unf.  Trav.,  F. 
That  which  doth  an  old  man  good  can  do  a  young  man  no  harm. — 

Lyly,  M.  Bomb.,  ii.  5. 
A  dreigh*  drink  is  better  than  a  dry  sermon. — Cunningham,  Glossary 

to  Burns. 

*  Long. 

Speak  when  ye  're  spoken  to,  and  drink  when  ye  're  drunken  to. 

Of  all  meat  in  the  world,  drink  goes  the  best  down. — K. 

Of  all  vittles,  drink  digests  the  quickest ;  give  me  a  glass  of  wine.— 

S.,  P.  C,  ii. 
Al  pesce,  mesce,  alle  fave  non  restare, 
a  maccheroni  fa  che  ti  pare. — Torr. 

Vino  ad  acquatio, 

none  vale  un  fiato. — Florio,  2d  Fr.,  1591. 

Apres  la  soupe,  un  coup  d'excellent  vin 

tire  un  ecu  de  la  poche  du  medecin. — Millingen,  Curiosities  of  Medical 
Experience. 

A  penny  pot's  the  old  man's  gallon. — Porter,  Two  Angry  Women 
[H.,  O.P.I  vii. 

The  tap 's  a  thief. — Ho. 

Bocca,  culo  e  dado 

spia,  becco,  e  poi  ladro. — Torr. 

Though  he  be  little, 

he  can  tipple. — Cod. 

When  thou  dost  drink,  beware  the  toast, 

for  therein  lies  the  danger  most. — Smyth,  Berkeley  MSS. 

482 


PROVERBS.  DRINK. 

Punch.     One  of  sour*  and  three  of  sweetf, 
four  of  strong  J  and  four  of  weak§. 

Letters  from  Jamaica, -g.  6^.     1873. 
*  Lime-juice.        f  Sugar.        \  Rum.        §  Water. 

ir  n'y  a  que  la  premiere  pinte  chSre. — Cordier,  Sent.  Pro.,  1559. 
He  that  pays  for  the  drink  must  drink  first. — Tarlton's  Jests,  p.  34. 

161 1,     [repr.  Shak.  Soc] 
A  pint  of  wine  to  a  vintner  is  but  as  a  pippin  to  a  costermonger. — Ho. 
If  the  fountains  were  wine,  yet  they  would  be  dear  at  the  inn. — Dr. 
Fiddlers'  wives  and  gamesters'  ale  are  free  to  everybody. — Ry. 
Drink  fair,  whatever  you  do. — Dickens,  Chuzzlewit. 
Drink  fair  ; 
don't  swear.     1728. 

On  a  drinking  bowl  in  the  Willett  Collection  of  Pottery  in 
Brighton  Museum. 
One  drunkard  loves  another  of  the  name. — Shak.,   Love's  Labour 

Lost,  iv.  3,  46. 
Some  can  stand  the  sword  better  than  the  pint-stoup.— Cunningham, 

Burns  Glossary. 
Drink  wine  and  have  the  gout ;  drink  no  wine  and  have  it  too. — 

R.,  70. 
If  you  drink  wine  you  will  have  the  gout,  and  if  you  do  not  drink 

wine  the  gout  will  have  you. — Sydenham. 
A   miller   is   never   dry.      i.e.    does  not  wait  to  be  thirsty  before 

drinking. — Northall,  Folk  Phrases  of  Four  Counties,  i.  6. 
A  sorrowful  heart  is  ay  dry. — K. 
Zu  viel  kann  mann  wold  trinken 
Doch  trinkt  man  nie  genug. — Lessing,  Liedern. 
He  hath  learning  enough  that  has  learned  to  drink  to  his  firstman. — 

Nash,  Unf.  Trav.,  F.  2. 

It  is  an  ill  guest  that  never  drinks  to  his  host*. — R.,  1678. 

*  Hostess.— F. 

The  best  wine  is  that  a  body  drinketh  at  another  man's  cost. — 

Udall,  Erasmus'  Apopkthegmes,  p.  141. 
Good  drinking  of  wine  of  another  man's  purse.      Gran  sabor  es 

comer  y  no  escotor. — Percival,  Spanish  Grammar,  1599. 
Lay  thy  penny  to  mine, 
and  we  will  to  the  wine. — T.  Adams,  p.  831. 
Non  ti  metti  a  sedere 
se  non  vedi  da  bere. — Torr. 
Dry  bargains  are  seldom  successful. — By. 
Never  count  the  la  win*  wi'  a  toom  quechf. — Cunningham,  Burns 

Glossary. 

*  Reckoning.        f  A  wooden  two-handled  cup. 
The  drunkard's  argument :  He  that  drinks  well,  sleeps  well ;  he  that 

sleeps  well  thinks  no  harm  ;  he  that  thinks  no  harm  is  a  good 

man ;    therefore  he  that  drinks  much  is  a  good  man. — T. 

Adams,  p.  1154. 

48.3 


DRINK.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

There 's  plenty  of  raible  * 

when  drink  's  on  the  table. — Cunningham,  Glossary  to  Burns. 
*  Rattling  nonsense. 

Buon  vin,  favola  lunga. 

Fools  be  they  that  will  them  part 

that  do  make  a  drunken  mart. — Boorde,  Breviarie  of  Health,  ch.  377. 

He  that  drinks  with  cutlers  must  not  be  without  his  ale  dagger. — 

T.  Nash,  Pap  with  a  Hatchet. 
From  the  berry  of  the  grape  and  the  grain  of  the  barley 
comes  many  a  sore  fray  and  hurly-burly. 

J.  Howell,  Parley  of  Beasts,  p.  8.     1660. 
(The  modern  proverb.) 
Preacher's  wages  :  thanks  and  wine. — Corbet,  Iter  Boreale. 
Ale- sellers 
shouldna  be  tale-tellers. — K. 

See  N.,  VHL,  x.  516  ;  xi.  322. 
He  that  drinks  beer 
thinks  beer. — Longfellow,  Hyperion. 

Deep  drinkers  have  ever  shallow  memories. — Forby,  E.  Ang. 
Better  be  drunk  than  drowned. — Brathwait,  Whimzies.    \_Sailor.'\ 

i.e.  with  wine  rather  than  beer. 
Good   ale   doth   need   no   sign,   good   wine   no   bush. — Harington, 

Ep.,  i.  73. 
By  the  ale-stake  know  we  the  ale-house  — Barclay,  Sh.  of  Fo.,  i.  328. 
Ask  the  landlord  if  his  beer  is  good.     He  has  but  one  answer. 
Pennywheep's*    guid    enough    for    muslin    kalef. — Cunningham, 
Burns  Glossary. 

*  Thin  ale.        t  Poor  vegetable  broth. 
Fill  in  beer  by  leisure, 
but  wine  out  of  measure. 

Cervisiam  lente,  vinumque  infunde  repente. — W.,  1586, 
Lay  not  churl  upon  gentleman. 

Post  vina  ne  potes  mera. — CI. ;  S.,  P.C.,  ii. 
Bier  auf  Wein 
das  las  sein, 
Wein  auf  Beir 

das  rath'  ich  dir (Prussian.) 

New  beer,  new  bread,  and  green  wood 

will  make  a  man's  hair  grow  through  his  hood. 

Ellis,  Modern  Husbandman,  January,  'gi. 
Sir  John  Barleycorn  's  the  strongest  knight. — R.,  70. 
A  red  herring  is  a  shoeing  horn  to  a  pot  of  ale. — Urquhart  and 

Motteux,  Rabelais. 
Le  boeuf  sale  fait  trouver  le  vin  sans  chandelle. — Cptgr. 
A  cup  of  ale  without  a  wench  is  like  an  egg  without  salt,  or  a  red 
herring  without  mustard. — Greene,  Looking  Glasse  for  London, 
p.  120.     1594. 

484 


PROVERBS.  DRINK. 

Alum  si  sit  stalum,  non  est  malum, 

Beerum  si  sit  clerum,  est  syncerum. — R.,  1678. 

Eat-well  is  drink- well's  brother. — K. 

Le  manger  reveille  le  boire. — Meurier,  D.  F.,  40  v. 

Quand  la  pomme,  passe  la  poire 

vend  ton  vin  ou  le  fais  boire, 

quand  la  poire  passe  la  pomme 

garde  ton  vin  bonhomme. 

Costello,  Pilgrimage  to  Auvergne,  i.  305.     1841. 
Non  bene  prandebit  potu  qui  cunque  carebit. — With.,  1586. 
El  vino  de  las  peras* 
dalo  a  quien  bien  quieras. 

See  Fruit.  *  ?  Perry. 

Roasted  pears  are  put  into  wine  of  Malaga. — Redding. 
Rhein  wein,  fein  wein  ; 
Necker  wein,  lecker  wein  ; 
Franken  wein,  tranken  wein  ; 
Mosel  wein,  unnosel  wein. 
Cider  or  perry 

to  make  you  merry. — T.  Hey  wood,  Fair  Maid  of  the  West,  I.,  iii. 
Cider  on  beer, 
never  fear* ; 
beer  upon  cider 
makes  a  bad  riderf. — (Devon  and  Cornwall.) 

*  or,  is  very  good  cheer.        f  or,  's  a  rider. 
Of  Gloucester  cider  it  is  said  that  three  helpers  are  needed  to  drink 

it — two  to  hold  and  one  to  drench. — St.  James'  Gazette,  4/10/  '95. 
Cider  is  a  treacherous  drink :  it  smiles  in  your  face  and  cuts  your 

throat. — S.,  P.  C,  ii. 
It  is  a  dissembling  falsehood  in  man  to  smile  and  betray,  as  Judas 

began  his  treachery  with  a  kiss.     Such  are  likened  to  those 

bottled  windy  drinks  that  laugh  in  a  man's  face  and  then  cut 

his  throat. — T.  Adams,  iii.  267.     1653. 
"  Welcome,  friend  !  "  says  milk  to  wine. — Cod. 
Au  matin  duit  le  bon  vin  blanc 
et  le  rouge  au  soir  pour  le  sang.  —  Meurier,  1558. 
Qui  vin  touche 

pour  vin  desbourse  et  debouche. — Meurier,  1558. 
Burgundy  for  kings.  Champagne  for  nobles*.  Claret  for  gentlemen, 

and  Port  for  shopkeepers  f. — Attributed  to  Bentley, 
*  Duchesses,  women.        t  or  heroes. 
Claret    would    be    Port   if  it   could. — Alluded   to  in   Thackeray's 

Rotmdabout  Papers,  XIV. 

The  Caliban  among  wines  is  Port,  the  Ariel  is  Champagne. 
If  you  'd  be  healthy,  happy,  and  stout, 
use  nothing  but  water  within  and  without. 

What  fizzes  i'  the  mou'  winna  fill  the  wame. — Cunningham,  Glossary 
to  Bums. 

485 


DRINK.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Vin  trouble  ne  brise  dents.— Meurier,  Coll.,  1558. 

i.e.  thick  and  sweet. 
Trouble  de  Flandres. — lb. 
Vinum  Mosellanum 

in  omni  tempore  sanum. — Schreger,  Studiostis  Jovidis. 
L'acqua  fa  male 
il  vino  fa  cantare. — Flo.,  First  Fruits. 

Di  agnello*,  porco,  scimia,  leone 

tiente  il  vin  la  complessione. — FL,  G. 

*  Grille,— Torr. 

El  vino  tinto  quiere  estar  apretado 

y  el  bianco  holgado. — Nunez,  1555. 

Ce  n'est  Gehenne  que  le  vin. — lb. 
i.e.  forming  a  judgment  on  it. 

Brandy  both  heats  and  cools. — Pegge,  Anonymiana,  x.  64. 

Brandy  is  Latin  for  a  goose  (S.,  P-  C,  ii.),  and  Tace  is  Latin  for  a 

candle. 
The  sickle  and  the  scythe  that  love  I  not  to  see, 
but  the  good  ale  tankard,  happy  might  it  be.— (Ignavia)  CI. 

The  water  is  so  strong,  it  requires  two  whiskies.— (Donegal)  Christy. 
Wine  that  will  make  a  cat  speak. 

Steph.  (offering  his  bottle).    Here  is  that  which  will  give  language  to 
you,  cat.     Open  your  mouth. — Shak.,  Tempest,  ii.  2,  67. 

Le  sang  fervent  et  tres  bon  vin 

a  digaree  remede  est  fin. — Meurier,  1590. 

Wine  is  the  masters,  but  the  goodness  is  the  drawers  — Cod. 

Wine  wears  no  breeches. 

Le  vin  n'a  point  de  chassure. — Cotgr.,  161 1. 

II  vino  e  la  poppa  de'  vecchi. — Torr. 
El  vino  anda  sin  calcas. — Nuiiez,  1555. 
Come  at  seven, 
go*  at  eleven. 

*   [it]  some  one  proposed  to  insert. — C.  Lamb. 

(Hours  of  rational  jollification.) 
Wine  makes  old  wives  wenches. — CI. 
Wine  ever  pays  for  its  lodging. 

The  Frenchman  is  most  particular  to  add  wine  to  the  water — not  to 
pour  water  on  his  wine,  which  would  be  an  insult. 

Unmix'd,  I  love  to  have  it  smirk  and  shine  : 

'Tis  sin,  I  know  ;  'tis  sin  to  throttle  wine. — Herrick,  Hesp.,  cccx. 

In  every  berry  of  the  grape  there  lurks  a  kind  of  devil. — Ho.,  Parley 

of  B.,  p.  68  ;  Haz.,  p.  392. 
Those  that  never  drink  are  never  dry. — N.  Ward,  Nuptial  Dialogues, 

I.  xxxi. 
The  more  that  a  man  drinketh,  the  more  he  may. — Dr. 

486 


PROVERBS.  FRUIT. 

The  first  glass  for  thirst,   the   second  for  nourishment,   the   third 

for  pleasure,  and  the  fourth  for  madness. — Anacharsis. 
The  third  glass  is  for  Bacchus,   not  for   Cupid. — D'avenant, 
News  from  Plymouth,  iv.     1635. 
Primum  ad  fundum,  secundum  bis  medium, 
sic  debet  bibere  vinum. — Nash,  Pievce  Penniless. 
Nothing  sobers  a  man  so  completely  as  funk. — Barham,  Ingoldshy 

Legends,  "  Bagman's  Dog." 
Drunkenness  is  counted  good  fellowship. — Breton,  Crossg.  P.,  i. 
A  la  trongne* 
■connoit-on  yorogne. — Cotgr. 

*  Face. 
Drunken  men  must  have  their  fits. — Greene,  Looking  Glasse  for  Lon., 

p.  127. 
If  a  man  be  drunk  overnight  the  devil  cannot  hurt  him  in  the 

morning. — Marlowe,  Faustus,  p.  123  ;  ed.  Dyce. 
The  Calendrier  des  Bergers  distinguishes  by  their  effects  on  the  brain 

of  four  wines  as  Vin  de  lyon — Vin  de  singe — Vin  de  mouton 

— and  Vin  de  pourceau. 
Nash,  P.  Penniless,  adds  four  other  kinds  ;  p.  81,  Grosart's  edn; 

FRUIT. 

Fruit  out  of  season, 

sorrow  out  of  reason. — (Kent  and  Sussex.) 

Friend,  Flower  Lore,  p.  207,  refers  this  to  dreams,  but  it 's  surely 
of  wider  application. 
Quattro  son  le  buon  bocconi, 
persico,  figo,  fongo,  meloni. — Nunez,  1555. 

It  is  not  the  worst  fruit  the  birds  peck  at. 
It  has  been  said  in  Worcestershire  that  when  there  are  no  more 

Lechmeres  (a  family  who  came  in  at  the  Conquest)  left  in  the 

county,   there   will   be  no   more  apples. — Bristol   Times  and 

Mirror,  'i3/3/'97.' 
He  conyes  fro  what  tree  he  cam. — Gray's  Inn  MS. 
Trendle  the  appel  nevere  so  far,  hyt  wyll  be  know  fro  wheyne  he 

Cometh. — N.  Bozon,  Contes  Moralises,  §  17  ;  Harl.  MS.  1288. 
Rypest  fruit  are  ryfest  rotten. — Hen. 
The  mellerest  apple  has  a  crawk  inside  (core,  something  that  can't 

be  eaten ;  also  used  fig.)- — Peacock,  Lincoln  Glossary. 
When  the  snow  is  in  the  orchard, 

a  crab  is  worth  a  costard. — Jackson,  Shropshire  F.  L.,  p.  579. 
The  apples  go  away  with  the  Shearer   and  come  back  with  the 

Reaper. — Somerset  and  Dorset  N.  and  Q.,  iii.  115. 
i.e.  the  seasons  of  blossoming  and  fruiting. 
A  wick-a-pip  blow  * 

brings  apples  enow. — Chamberlain,  W.  Worces,  Words. 

*  Imperfect. 

487 


FRUIT.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Pome,  pere,  e  noce, 

guastano  la  voce. — FL,  G. 

Eat  an  apple  going  to  bed 

make  the  doctor  beg  his  bread. — Trans.  Dev.  Association,  xiii.  211. 

At  Michaelmas  time  or  a  little  before 

half  an  apple  goes  to  the  core ; 

at  Christmas  time  or  a  little  after, 

a  crab  in  the  hedge  and  thanks  to  the  grafter. — Brand. 

Petits  pommes,  gros  cidre. — Heref.  Pomona. 

The  smaller  the  truit,  the  better  the  liquor  (said  of  apples  and  pears). 
"On  Recent  Improvements  in  Cider  and  Perry"  (D. 'R. 
Chapman),  Journal  of  Royal  Agricultural  Society,  April,  1888. 

You  can't  see  your  apples  before  Midsummer. — Torr. 

Till  Culm  stock  Fair  be  come  and  gone, 

there  mid  be  apples  and  mid  be  none. 

i.e.  May  21.  'Tis  a  fight  betwixt  the  devil  "and  the  maltster, 
i.e.  to  decide  if  there  shall  be  cider  totdrink  or  whether 
it  must  be  beer. — Elworthy,  W.  Somerset iWord  Book. 

Unica  nux  prodest,  altera  nocet,  tertia  mors  est. — W.,  1608. 

So  many  nits, 

so  many  pits*. — Herrick,  i.  162. 

See  Crops. 

'  i.e.  graves, 

Une  noix  est  bonne,  la  deuxieme  nuit, 

la  troisiemea  la  mort  conduit. — Meurier,  1590. 

Sobre  brevas 

no  bebas. — Nunez,  1555. 

Con  higos  y  brebas 

el  agua  no  vebas. 

De  la  ramja*  o  que  quisier 

e  da  lima  o  que  poder 

e  do  limaon  quanto  tiverf. — (Portuguese)  Nunez,  1555. 

•  Orange.  f  Toviere, 

De  quinto,  ni  cevada,  ni  ordio,  ni  higo 
sino  mo9as,  azerollas  y  vino. — Nunez,  1555. 
Either  service  or  Japanese  medlar. 

Two  into  the  mouth  do  go* ; 
one  into  the  pot  below. 

*  Of  children  gathering  blackberries. 
The  devil  sets  his  foot  on  the  blackberries  on  Michaelmas-day. 

(?  Old  Michaelmas-day,  Oct.   10.)      In  the  Midlands  children 
won't  touch  them  after,  because  then  they  are  "gubby," 
?  grubby,     i.e.  flies  have  deposited  their  eggs  in  the  ripe 
fruit,  extracting  the  juice  from  one  or  more  of  the  drupes. 
Medlar,     Quieres  un  bon  bocado 

el  niespero  despestanado. 
With  the  eyebrows  pulled  off. — Nunez,  1555. 

488 


PROVERBS.  FRUIT. 

Quien  nisperos  come  y  bebe  cerveza, 
esparagos  chupa,  y  besa  una  vieja, 
ni  come,  ni  bebe,  ni  chupa,  ni  besa. 

Heard  in  Tenerife,  1891. 
Pears.     Prepare  them  thus : 

First  part  them  in  halves  and  cut  out  the  cores, 
then  pare,  salt — and  cast  them  so  out  of  doors. 

Buttes,  Dyet's  Dry  Dinner,  B.  4,  1599. 
F.  W.  records  that  some  would  so  deal  with  lampreys  after  they 
had  been  cooked  in  wine.  See  Worcestershire  account  of 
Hen.  I.'s  death. — Stow,  Chron.,  p.  142. 
But  to  avoid  all  inconvenience  that  may  grow  by  eating  of  pears, 
apples,  and  other  fruits,  Cordus  giveth  a  very  good  caveat  in 
this  manner : 

"  Ut  pyra  non  noceant,  extra  mundentur  et  intra* 
Mox  immerge  sali :— projice  deinde  foras." 

Cogan,  H.  of  Health,  p.  89. 
*  i.e.  the  cores  cut  out. 
This  disposes  of  Dr.  Butler's*  claim  (who  applied  it  to 
mushrooms)  to  the  witticism.     He  flourished  at  Cam- 
bridge 1535-1618,  while  Euricius  Cordus,  the  German 
physician,  died  in  the  said  1535,  having  been  born  in 
i486. 
*  Buried  at  St.  Mary's,  Cambridge,  1621. — F.  W. 

A  pear  must  be  eaten  to  the  day, 

if  you  don't  eat  it  then  throw  it  away.— N.,  VH.,  ii.  506. 

A  pear  ripens  at  a  certain  hour,  and  must  then  be  eaten  night  or  day. 

La  muger  y  la  pera 

la  que  calle  es  buena 

o  mamadera. — Nunez,  1555. 
Pera  que  dize  "  Rodrigo '' 
no  vale  un  nigo. — lb. 
Pera  e  donna  senza  rumore 
vien  stimata  la  migliore. — Torr. 
Eat  no  pears 
with  the  bears. 
Apres  le  poire 

presbtre  ou  boire. — Meurier,  1568. 
Pera,  presec*  melo[n] 

volen  lo  vi  fellof. — (Valencian)  Nunez,  1555. 
*  Peach.        t  Vino  puro. 

Qui  avec  son  seigneur  mange  sobre  peros  vino  bevas 

poires,  il  ne  choysist  pas  des  plus  belles. — Nunez,  1555  ;  Prov.  Com. 

He  that  plants  pears 

plants  for  his  heirs. — Edin.  Rev.,  Oct.  '83,  p.  452. 

Of  slow  growth. 
Who  sets  an  apple-tree  may  live  to  see  its  end, 
who  sets  a  pear-tree  may  set  it  for  a  friend. 

Havergal,  Herefordshire  Words. 

489 


TABLE.  MEALS.         LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

When  the  plum  hangs  on  the  tree, 

then  the  wasp  you're  sure  to  see. — Knapp,  Journal  of  a  Naturalist. 

In  the  year  when  plums  flourish,  everything  else  fails. — (Devonshire) 

Inwards. 
Cherries.     If  they  blow  in  April, 
you  '11  have  your  fill ; 
but  if  in  May, 

they  '11  all  go  away. — Pegge,  Kenticisms,  62. 
To  gather  mazzards  you  must  hold  on  with  your  nose,  and  pick  with 

both  hands.^ — Elworthy,  W.  Somerset  Word  Book. 
No  English  fruit  dearer  at  first,  cheaper  at  last,  pleasanter  at  all 
times,  nor  is  it  less  wholesome  than  delicious. — (Kent)  F.  W. 
Cherries  and  news  full  price  soonest. — Bacon,  Pwwms,  149.     1594- 
Eat  peas  with  the  king  and  cherries  with  the  beggar. — K. 

„  „        prince       „  ,,         „         chapman. — Ramsay. 

II  ne  faut  pas  manger  des  prunes  [ou  de  cerises],  avec  son  seigneur, 
comma  dit  Pibrae. — W.  Car  le  maistre  mange  toujours  les 
plus  meures,  les  aigres  et  malmeurees  demeurent  aux  valets, 
&c. — W.  Cotgrave  gives  a  different  reason :  "  Lest  the 
stones  of  the  best  [fruit]  fly  faster  at  their  eyes  than  their 
portion,  the  worst,  into  their  mouths." 
After  melon 
wine  is  a  felon. — Haz. 

The  reverse  of  what  is  meant. 
Sobre  el  mellon 

vino  follon*. — (Valencian)  Nunez,  1555. 
■*  i.e.  fellon  (vino  puro). 
Sobra  melao 
vinho  de  tostao. — Kinsey,  Portugal  Illustrated. 


TABLB.     MSALS. 

Cease  your  chatter 

and  mind  your  platter. 

A  tavola  si  va  a  scuda. — Flo. ;  G. 

Two  good  meals  are  better  than  three  bad  ones. — R.  Codrington, 

and  part  of  Youth's  Behaviour,  1672,  p.  99. 
Spoken  of  milking  cows. 
Better  meals  many 

than  one  too  merry. — Ds.,  Epigram,  249. 
He  was  an  ingenious  man  that  first  found  out  eating  and  drinking. — 

S.,  P.  C,  ii. 
Eat  all,  but  pocket  none. 

Eat  your  fill,  but  pouch  nane.     Ry.     Is  gardener's  law. 
Better  is  a  dinner  of  herbs  where  love  is  than  a  stalled  ox  and 

hatred  therewith. — Prov.,  xv.  17. 
Qui  vient  le  dernier  peure  le  premiere. — Meur.,  1558. 

490 


PROVERBS.  TABLE.     MEALS. 

A  churl's  feast  is  better  than  none  at  all. — Greene,  Looking  Glasse 

for  London,  p.  130. 
Pray  take  then,  sir ;  enough  's  a  feast. 

Eat  some  and  pocket  up  the  rest. — Pope,  Im.  ofHov.  Ep.,  I.,  vii.  34. 
Eat  a  bit  before  you  drink. — R.,  78. 
Eating  and  drinking  wants  but  a  beginning. — Ry. 

„       „     scratching    „       „    „         „        — S.,  P.  C,  ii. 
Scarting  and  eating         „       ,,    ,,  „        — K. 

Del  comer  y  del  baylar  comien90  niedad. — Nunez,  1555. 
Rascar  y  comer  comien90  han  menester. — Nunez,  1555. 
L'appetit  vient  en  mangeant. — Rabelais,  Garg.,  i.  5. 
En  mangeant  l'appetit  vient. — Bacon,  Promus,  1597. 
L'appetit  passe  en  attendant. 

All  mouths  must  be  fed. — Ned  Ward,  Nuptial  Dialogues,  II.,  xviii. 
Le  trou  trop  ouvert  sous  la  nez 
fait  porter  souliers  dechirez. — Cotg. 

He  that  will  have  a  hare  to  breakfast  must  hunt  overnight. — C,  1636' 
Staybit  and  breakfast,  ammot*  and  dinner, 
mumpit  and  crumpet,  and  a  bit  arter  supper. — (Dartmoor.) 

St.  jfames'  Gazette,  ^/y/'S^. 
*  A  luncheon.— (West)  HU. 
No  one  ever  committed   suicide  within  an  hour  of  his  dinner. — 

(Medical)  Illustrated  London  News,  27/i/'94. 
If  you  would  eat  a  good  breakfast,  eat  a  good  dinner :  the  more  you 

fast,  the  more  you  may. — Torriano. 

Laugh  before  breakfast,  you  '11  cry  before  supper. 

Tel  rit  au  matin  qui  pleura  au  soir. — Cotg.,  161 1. 

Good  cheer  and  good  cheap  gars  many  haunt  the  house. — 'Ferg. 

Hospitality  should  run  fine  to  the  last. 

Habla  boca  de  tabla. — Nunez,  1555. 

What  the  Germans  call  Kartoffelgesprach. 
Fair  houses,  small  hospitality ;  many  chimneys,  little  smoke. — Dr. 
Boarding 'st'  best  laving.* — 'iiax\a.riA.a.ndLY\!n., Lancashive  Legends, 200. 

*  i.e.  putting  feast  on  the  table  is  best  invitation. 
They  may  dunchf 
that  gie  the  lunch. — Glossary  to  Burns, 

t  Horseplay. 
Though  raging  hunger  makes  the  stomach  wrath, 
'Tis  half  assuaged  by  laying  of  the  cloth  ; 
For  in  the  wars  of  eating  'tis  the  use 
A  table  of  cloth  is  hunger's  flag  of  truce. 

Taylor  (W.  P.),  Praise  of  Clean  Linen. 
Sal  vertida 
nunca  ben  cogida. — Nunez,  1555. 

II  n'est  horloge  plus  juste  que  le  ventre. — Bacon,  Promus  [1470]. 

491 


TABLE.   MEALS.         LEAN'S.    COLLECTANEA. 

Volerci  altro  che  tovaglia  bianca. — Torr.    Cf.  Altro  vol  la  tavola  que 

toalla  bianca. — (Italian)  Nunez,  1555. 
Half  an  hour  is  soon  lost  at  dinner.-  -S.,  P-  C,  i. 
A  tavola  mai  s'invecehia. 
A  dinner-party  should  not  be  less  than  the  Graces,  nor  more  than 

the  Muses. 
Septem  convivium,  novem  conviciumf . 

+  riot. 
Crinons*  en  teste 
gaste  la  feste. — W. 

*  i.e  crickets  (crotchets  in  the  head — a  cantankerous  man). 
He  that  riseth  early  dineth  early. — Gascoigne,  Supposes,  i.  3. 
He  that  hath  saved  his  dinner  shall  have  the  more  for  his  supper. — 

Dr. 
Le  riche  disne  quand  il  veut, 
le  povre  quand  il  a  at  peut. — Meur.,  1590. 

Faine  fait  diner 

passe  temps  souper. — Bacon,  Proimis  [1606]. 

Quien  come  y  daxa 

dos  vezes  pona  la  mesa. — Percival,  Sp,  Gram.,  1599. 

A  maxim  too  that  must  not  be  forgot : 

"  Whatever  be  your  dinner  serve  it  hot." — The  Banquet,  a  Poem. 

II  letto  caldo  spasso  fa  la  minestra  fredda.     If  I  were  a-bed  I  would 

not  rise  for  my  supper. — Torr. 
Grace  for  supper,  and  grace  for  dinner, 
or  you  '11  be  thought  a  graceless  sinner. 
Never  be  ashamed  to  eat  your  meat. — CI. 

Crusty  before  dinner,  crummy  after. — Peacock,  Lincoln  Glossary. 
Rapportez  ce  qu'est  dit  a  table 
chose  est  vile  et  vituperable. — Meur.,  1590. 
A  table  ronde  n'y  a  debat 

pour  estre  plus  pres  le  meilleur  plat. — Meur.,  1568. 
A  tavola  non  si  presents  ne  sale 
ne  testa  d'animale. — Torr. 

One  in  regard  to  superstition  ;  the  other  to  good  manners. 
Qui  faciendo  moram  prandendi  protulit  horam 
Aut  male  prandebit,  aut  sedis  honore  carebit. — N.,  VI.,  v.  278. 
At  feasts  men  sit  long. — Killigrew,  Thomaso,  II. ,  i.  i. 
The  full  belly  never  fights  nor  flies  well. — Cod. 

Maldita  seas,  Atalla, 

no  has  comido  y  beves  agua. — Nunez,  1555. 

Good  food  requires  good  liquor. — Ned  Ward,  Nuptial  Dialogues,  II.,  v. 
A  buen  comer,  o  mal  comer, 
tres  vezes  sea  de  bever. 

A  bien  disner  ou  mal  souper 

quatre  fois  convient  trinquer. — Meurier,  Dev.  Fam.,  p.  112,    1590. 

492 


PROVERBS.  TABLE.    MEALS. 

"  'Ay '  dize  nuestra  Madre  Celestina  que  esta  corrupta  la  letra,  que 

per  dezir  'treze'  dixo  'tres'." — Percival,  Sp.  Gram.  Dial., 

1599- 
Tu  padre  ceno  carnero  assado  y  acostose  y  muri6  se  pues : 
no  preguntes  de  que  murio. — Percival,  Spanish  Dial.,  VI.    1599. 
II  n'est  banquet  feste  ne  chere 
que  de  pain  frez  et  vin  bon  feu  et  chair 
mais  la  jeune  et  vieil  poisson 

verd  bou  argent  sont  tousiours  en  saison. — Meur.,  1590. 
Eaten  meat  is  good  to  pay  for. — Ferg. 
Light  suppers  make  clean  sheets. — R.,  1670. 
For  mucha  cena 

nunca  ta  noche  buena. — Nunez,  1555. 
Tiene  gana  de  morir 

cena  carnero  assado  y  echa  te  a  dormir. — lb. 
No  man  is  sure  of  his  supper  till  he  has  eaten  it. — Goldsmith,  She 

Stoops  to  Conquer,  ii. 
Cum  pedibus  fissis  est  sanior  omnibus  ovis. — Modus  Ccenandi,  E.  E. 

Text  Society. 

Qui  veut  vivre  sain 

dine  peu  et  soupe  moins. — Bacon,  Pvomus  [1613]. 

Manners  knows  distance  [and  a  man  unrude 

Would  soon  recoil,  and  not  intrude 

His  stomach  to  a  second  meal]. — Herrick,  To  Sir  L.  Pemberton. 

Fingers  were  made  before  forks  and  hands  before  knives. — S. ,  P.  C. ,  ii. 

Les  mains  sont  faictes  devant  les  cousteaux. — Com.deProv.jii.^. 
1611. 

There  are  twenty  vulgarities  which  can  be  committed  in  eating  an 

egg- 
Au  serviteur  le  morceau  d'honneur.   Last  piece  his  fee,  some  holding 

it  but  a  rude  part  to  leave  a  dish  empty. — Cotgrave. 

Sede  de  ca9ador  y  fame  de  pescador. — Nunez,  1555. 

Si  pranza  con  Abati,  si  cena  con  Mercanti,  si  merenda  con  comari, 
si  fa  colazione  con  gl'  Inamorati. — Torr.  Cf.  A  hunter's 
breakfast. 

Disinare  con  Abbati  cena  y  con  mercatanti  merendar  con  comadri  e 
far  colazione  con  innamorati. — O.  Landi,  1548,  f.  9. 

Almuerza  con  rufian,  come  con  carpintero,  cena  con  recuero. — 
Nunez,  1555. 

Laz.        You  talk  of  chalk,  and  I  of  cheese. 

Diona.     He  's  in  the  last  dish,  pray  take  him  away  here. 

Rowley,  All's  Lost  by  Lust,  ii.    1633. 
Formaggio  pere  a  pan 

pranzo*  di  villan, 
formaggio  pan  e  pere 
pranzo*  di  cavagliere. 

*  pasto, 

493 


TABLE.   MEALS.         LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

II  villan  venderia  il  podere 

per  mangiar  cascio  pan  e  pere, 

e  venderia  il  gaban 

per  mangiar  cascio,  pere,  e  pan. — Torr. 

Al  contadino  non  gli  far  sapere 

quanto  sia  buono  il  cacio  colle  pere. — Giusti. 

Para  ravanos  y  queso 

no  as  menester  trompetero. — Nunez,  1555. 

Welcome  is  the  best  cheer. — R.,  1670. 

,,  ,,         „     dish  upon  the  table. — By. 

A  foul  wind  makes  scanty  messes  ;  for  it 's  a  cheerful  saying  among 
seamen, '  Large  wind,  large  allowance ' :  starving  and  drowning 
to  them  being  equally  terrible.— Ned  Ward,  Trip  to  New 
England,  ii.  171. 

And  though  the  countenance  makes  the  feast  (say  books) 

We  ne'er  found  better  welcome  with  worse  looks. 

Corbet,  Iter  Boreale. 

O  corned  como  vestis 

0  vestid  como  comeis. — Julian  de  Medrano,  Silva  Curiosa,  1583. 
Them  as  ad'n  most  mouths  ad'n  most  meat. — Jackson,  Shropshire 

Words,  under  "  Cantle." 
Of  enough  men  leave. — K.     i.e.  the  scraps  are  the  proof. 
The  first  of  the  tea  and  the  last  of  the  cof-fee  for  poor  Pill  Garlick. 
The  strippins  o'  the   cow  and  the  foremilk  of  the   taypot. — Poor 

Rohbin  Ohninich. 
Milk.     See  Spring. 
Lang  fasting  hains  nae  meat. — Ry. 
He  that  has  a  wide  theim*  has  never  a  long  arm  (gluttons  not 

liberal).— K. 

*  or  theirm  =  gut. 

Mair  in  a  mair  dish.  i.e.  a  great  deal  more.  An  answer  to  them 
who  ask  you  if  you  will  have  any  more  when  you  have  gotten 
very  little. — K. 

A  drap  and  a  bite's 

a  small  requite. — Cunningham,  Burns  Glossary. 

1  am  the  worst  carver  in  the  world.     I  should  never  make  a  good 

chaplain. —  S.,  P.C.,  ii. 

It  is  the  point  of  an  unmannerly  guest  to  rise  before  the  grace  be 
said.— Melb.,  Philot.,  Ff.  4. 

Miss  lives  upon  love  and  lumps  of  the  cupboard. — S.,  P.C.,  i. 
The  cut  that  is  worst 
of  a  leg  is  the  first. 

i.e.  of  mutton,  because  it  does  not  go  deep  enough  so  as  to  reach 
the  Pope's  eye. 
After  dinner,  sit  awhile ; 
after  supper,  walk  a  mile. 

Unquiet  meals  make  ill  digestions. — Shak.,  Comedy  of  Errors,  v.  i.,  74. 

494 


PROVERBS.  VEGETABLES. 


as  men 
Do  walk  a  mile,  women  should  talk  an  hour 
After  supper :  'tis  their  exercise.— B.  and  F.,  Philaster,  ii.  4. 

Unbidden  guests 
Are  often  welcomest  when  they  are  gone. 

Shak.,  7  Henry  VI.,  II.,  ii.  54. 
Clecking-time  is  aye  canty  time. — Scott,  Guy  Mannering,  i. 

i.e.  a  birth  is  a  festival. 
Even  in  Science,  all  roads  lead  to  the  mouth. 
No  sorrow  can  descend  so  deep  as  meat. — Corbet,  Iter  Boreale. 
Old  coffees,  young  teas.    Planter's  maxim,   i.e.  the  first  may  be  kept 

(before  roasting)  to  mature.— S^.  James'  Gazette,  ^o/S/'S^. 
As  long  as  there's  water  there's  tea.    i.e.  the  tea-pot's  supply  is  only 

limited  by  that  of  the  kettle. 
So  frugal  dames  insipid  water  pour 
Till  green,  bohea  and  coffee  are  no  more. 

Christopher  Pitt,  On  the  Art  of  Preaching,  1699 — 1748. 
Good  tea  can't  be  too  hot,  nor  good  beer  too  cold. 
Unless  the  kettle  boiling  be, 
filling  the  teapot  spoils  the  tea. 
Coffee.     Noir  comme  le  diable,  chaud  comme  I'enfer,  pur  comme 

un  ange,  doux  comme  I'amour. — Talleyrand. 
Preneur  de  Cafe,  jeune  vieillard. 


VBGBTABIiBS. 

Better  is  a  dinner  of  herbs  where  love  is,  than  a  stalled  ox  and  hatred 
therewith. — Prov.,  xv.  17. 
Mensa  minuscula  pace  referta 
melior  divitiis  lite  repletis. 
A    body 's     nae    broke    while    they    hae    a    green    kale-stock. — 
A.  Cunningham,  Glossary  to  Burns. 

Mas  vale  dos  bocados  de  vaca 
que  siete  de  patata. 

(Que  lo  mas  segura,  aunque  valga  menos,  es   mejor  que  lo 

peligroso  aunque  valga  mas.     Patata  es  manjar  precioso  de  las 

Indias. — Nunez,  1555,  p.  72.) 
La  olla  sin  verdura 

ni  tiene  gracia  ni  hartura. — Nunez,  1555. 
Selon  I'ancien  Roman  proverbe, 
II  y  a  grand  vertu  en  herbe : 
car  qui  mange  bonne  verdure 

de  soy  chasse  mal  aventure. — Meurier,  D.  F,,  ch.  xx.     1590. 
Kail  hains  bread. — Ry. 
Eat  leeks  in  Lyde*  and  ramsonsf  in  May, 

and  all  the  year  after  physicians  may  play. — Aubrey,  N,  H,  of  Wilts. 
*  Lyde,  March  [A.S.  hlyda,  stormy.]       t  Garlic. 

495 


VEGETABLES.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

Un  tres  friande  piece  de  chair 

quant  &  quant  la  pimpernel  &  ravanelle 

elle  gast  I'estomach  &  rompt  la  cervelle. — Meurier,  D.  F.,  1590,  40  v. 

Tanto  e  mangiar  il  cardone  senza  sale 

quanto  il  non  far  col  marito  di  carnevale. — Torr. 

Parsley.     Parsley  fried  will  bring  a   man   to  his   saddle   and   a 
woman  to  her  grave. 
The  seed  of  parsley,  according  to  a  Yorkshire  saying,  goes  nine 
times  to  the  devil  before  it  comes  up. — F.  C.  Birkbeck 
Terry  in  N.,  VIIL,  xi.  124,  with  reference  to  : 
Cast  away  Willow,  Lady,  then  and  choose 
Dog-tree  or  hemlock,  or  the  mournful  yew 
Torn  from  some  church-yard  side,  the  cursed  thorne 
Or  else  the  weed,  which  still  before  it 's  borne 
Nine  times  the  devill  sees  ;  if  you  command, 
I  '11  wear  them  all,  compos'd  by  your  fayre  hand, 
So  that  you  '11  grant  me  that  I  may  go  free 
From  the  sad  branches  of  the  willow  tree. 

Richard  Barnsley  in  Wit  Restored,  1658, 
Hotten's  repr.,  p.  152. 
Transplanted  parsley  brings  ill  luck.    (Traditional.) 

Salad. 

Salade  sans  vin 

est  venin. — Meurier,  D.  F.,  2,  140  vo. 

Qui  vin  ne  boit  apres  salade 

se  risique  d'estre  malade. — lb. 

A  far  un  insalata,   ci  vuol  un  prodigo,  un  bisbettico  ed  un 

avaro. — Torr. 
Insalata  ben  oliata 

poco  aceto  e  quattro  boccone  alia  disperata. — Torr. 
Giusti  adds  "  ben  lavata '' — a  heresy,  to  my  thinking. 

I  can  therefore  by  no  means  approve  of  that  extravagant  fancy 
of  some  who  tell  us  that  '  A  fool  is  as  fit  to  be  the  gatherer 
of  a  sallet  as  a  wiser  man.'  Because,  say  they,  one  can 
hardly  choose  amiss,  provided  the  plants  be  green,  young 
and  tender,  wherever  they  meet  with  them. — Evelyn, 
Acetaria,  p.  82.     i6gg. 

L'  insalata  non  vuol  nulla 

se  non  e  rivoltata  da  una  fanciuUa. — Giani. 

Vuol  buona  insalata 

da  bella  mano  sia  rivoltata. — lb. 

Chi  la  insalata  vuol  gustare 
colle  mani  la  deve  mangiare. — lb. 

Quien  tras  ensalada  no  beve 

no  sabe  lo  que  pierda. — Nunez,  1555. 

Sin  ravanos  y  vela 
no  ay  buena  cena. — lb. 

496 


PROVERBS.  VIANDS. 

Manjar  de  burgillo,  a  la  manana  ravanos,  y  a  la  noche  higos. 

—Ho. 
Fong[h]i  fuggi. — Bolla,  Prov.  Bergamasc. 
Watercress  in  season   only  when  "  r "  in  the  month. — Fernie, 

Herbal  Simples,  p.  129. 


VIANDS,  COOKBRY. 

The  taste  of  the  kitchen  is  better  than  the  smell. — Dr. 

Ou  TravTOi  avSpoi  o^a  apTvaat  KaXu>9. — Cratinus  in  GluUCO. 

[It  isn't  every  man  who  can  season  dainties  well. — Ed.] 
On  devient  cuisinier,  mais  on  nait  votisseur. — Brillat  Savarin. 
Dirty  grate 

makes  dinner  late. — Derbyshire  F.  L.  Jour. 
They  hae  need  o'  a  canny  cook  that  hae  but  ae  egg  to  their  dinner. 

-Ry. 
A  good  cook  can  make  you  good  meat  of  a  whetstone. — Cogan, 

The  Haven  of  Health,  149. 
To  make  pottage  of  a  flint. — F.  W.,  III.,  vi.  37. 
Seethe  stanes  in  butter,  the^brose  will  be  guid. 
Them  as  pricken  68th  fork  or  knife*, 
«8n  never  be  'appy,  maid  nur  wife. — Jackson,  Shropshire  Words, 

*  Instead  of  using  a  skewer. 
No  haste, 

no  waste. — Kitchen  rule. 
Celuy  qui  dresse  la  viande  en  haste 

il  faus  necessairement  qu'il  la  gaste. — Wodroephe,  p.  250. 
The  first  dish  pleaseth  all.— Herb. 
New  meat  begetteth  a  new  appetite. — Cod. 
De  las  sopas  y  amores 

las  primeras  son  las  majores. — Nunez,  1555. 
De  la  oUa  la  orlera 
la  primera  y  la  postrera. — lb. 
Caldo  de  tripas 
bien  te  repicas. — lb. 

Nam  nimium  euro,  nam  csenae  fercula  nostrse 
Mallem  convivis  quam  placuisse  coquis. — Martial,  ix.  83. 
Taste   your   pottage  before  you  crumb  in   your    bread. — Copley, 

Wits,  &€.,  p.  116. 
They  ne'er  saw  great  dainties  that  think  a  haggis  a  feast.— Ry. 
Non  v'e  minestra  che  quella  de'  Frati. — Torr. 
A  chi  la  vita  rincresce 
mangi  la  came  col  pesce. — Torriano. 
Carne   fa  carne,  e   pesce  fa  vesce*. — Torr.,  who  says  Physicians 

admit  shell-hsh ! 

*  Wind. 

VOL.  I.  497  32 


VIANDS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Fish  marreth  water  and  flesh  mendeth  it. — Boohe  of  Meery  Riddles. 

(C.  and  W.  Prov.,  104.) 
It  is  observed  that  the  foolisher  the  fowl  or  fish*,  the  finer  the  flesh 

thereof. — F.  W.,  Line,  p.  149. 

*  Woodcocks,  dotterels,  codsheads,  &c.)- 
Despues  de  los  peces 
malas  son  leches. — Nunez,  1555. 
Huevos  solos 

mil  manjares  y  para-todos. — lb. 
Ovo  assado*  meyo ;    ovo  cazidof  ovo  inteyro;    ovo   fritoj  ovo   y 

meyo. — (Portuguese)  Bluteau. 

*  Roasted.         t  Boiled.        J  Fried. 
A  haggis  should  be  fat,  rich,  and  reeking,     i.e.  smoking  hot. 
He  that  never  eats  flesh  thinks  harigals*  a  feast. — Cunningham, 

Glossary  to  Burns. 

*  Liver  and  lights. 

The  first  fuff  *  of  a  fat  haggis  is  the  worst. — Jam.     Applied  to  the 
onset  of  a  lusty  person. 

*Puff. 

Carne  vecchia,  la  buon  brodi. — Ho. 

Chair  fait  chair  et  poisson  fait  poison  eau  et  pain. — Meurier,  Coll.  Er. 

C'est  la  viande  du  chien. — Cotgr. 

Chair  fait  chair,  vin  fait  sang,  pain  maintient. 

De  las  carnes  el  carnero, 

de  los  pescados  el  mero. — Nunez,  1555. 

Bread  is  the  staff'  of  life. — Swift,  Tale  of  a  Tub  ;  Ho. 

Bread,  beer,  and  beef — yeoman's  fare. — Rowley,  Witch  of  Edmonton, 
i.  2. 

Bread   to   bread's   nae   kitchen*.       Applied   also   to   the   sexes. — 

Cunningham,  Glossary  to  Burns. 
*  Cuisine. 
Butter  to  butter 's  no  kitchen. — Hen. 
Country  fare,  mutton  and  veal,  perchance  a  duck  or  goose. — Porter, 

Two  Angry  Women  [H.,  O.P.,  vii.  382.].     1599. 
Tripe  's  good  meat  if  it  be  well  wiped. — R.,  1678. 
There  is  a  muckle  hid  meat  in  a  goose  eye. — Ferg.    i.e.  egg.    (Note, 

P-  I3-) 
Goose  giblets   are   good    meat. — Porter,   Two  Angry    Women   [H., 

O.P.,  vii.] . 

There  are  many  ways  of  dressing  a  calf's  head  (showing  your  folly). 
At  the  Calves  Head  Club  it  was  dressed  in  every  imaginable 
way. 

A  good  goose  indeed,  but  she  hes  an  ill  gansell. — Ferg.,  Henryson, 
p.  15,  where  D.  Laing  reads  gansell  as  sauce. 

Too   much  for  one  and  not  enough  for  two — like  Walsall  man's 
goose.— Poole,  A.  and  P.  Words  of  Stafordshire. 

498 


PROVERBS.  VIANDS. 

Jeaffreson  says  the  proverb  relating  to  the  goose  being  enough  for 

one  and  not  enough  for  two  is  applied  in  France  to  the  poulet 

d'Inde;  p.  25.     1880. 
Chair  de  mouton 
manger  de  glouton. — Cotgr.,  161 1. 

So  it  was  held  in  old  time  when  beef  and  bacon  were  your  only 
dainties.— Cotgr. 
Un  bon  mouton 

est  manger  de  glouton. — Meurier,  Dev.  Fam.,  1590. 
La  chair  de  veau 
demi-chair  vaut. — lb. 
Pore  et  foison  d'escus  en  sein 
est  en  tous  temps  salubre  et  sain. — lb. 
Bacon  gives  as  much  relish  to  boiled  chicken  as  good  sense  to  a 

pretty  woman. — Miss  Maples,  of  Spalding. 
Toda  es  cosa  vil 

a  donde  falta  un  pernil. — Lope  de  Vega. 

Butter's  good  for  anything  but  to  stop  an  oven,  or  seal  a  letter. — -Ho. 
If  you  take  away  the  salt  you  may  throw  the  flesh  to  the  dogs. — R.,  78. 
Beurre  auant  et  beurre  apres  pris 
fait  bonnes  engins  et  vifz  esprits. — Meurier,  1590. 
La  carne  salata  fa  buona  memoria  per  bevere. — BoUa. 
Better  cry,  "  Fie  salt !  "  than  "  Fie  stink."     An  apology  for  meat  too 

much  powdered,  because  otherwise  it  would  stink. — K. 
L'odore  de  gli  odori  e  il  pane, 
il  sapore  di  sapori  si  e  il  sale,* 
I'amor  de  ali  amori  sono  i  figlioli. — Florio,  First  Frutes,  1.  90  vo.     1578. 

*  Un  antico  proverbio. 
Good  cooks  always  have  good  tempers. 
Bien  cugina  quien  mal  come. — Bacon,  Pro.,  624. 
Venison  is  season'd  with  oaths  in  the  taking 
more  than  with  pepper  and  salt  in  the  baking. 

Taylor  (W.  P.),  Against  Cursing  and  Swearing. 

Of  all  sorts  of  deer  I  hold  stolen  venison  to  be  the  most  honestly 
gotten,  because  the  Thieves  are  so  quiet,  close,  private  and 
silent  at  their  work  that  they  have  no  leisure  to  swear  and 
curse  as  men  do  when  it  is  lawfully  taken. — Taylor,  Navy  of 
Land-ships. 

Toute  chair  n'est  pas  venaison. — Cordier,  1538. 

All  flesh  is  not  venison. — CI. 

Many  think  of  their  wealth,  as  they  say  of  Venison  ;  so  they  have  it 
they  never  enquire  unde,  from  whence  it  comes. — T.  Adams, 
Meditations  on  Creed,  p.  1158. 

Here  will  I  insert  a  letter  of  Qu.  Eliz.,  written  to  him  with  her  own 
hand,  and  Reader,  deal  in  matters  of  this  nature  as  when 
venison  is  set  before  thee,  eat  the  one  and  read  the  other, 
never  asking  whence  either  came. — F.  W.,  p.  162. 

499 


VIANDS.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

La  perdiz  dizen  los  medicos  que  sea  de  comer  entre  tres  companeros. 

i.e.  el  hombre  un  gato  y  un  perro. — Percival,  S/.  Dial.,  iv., 

1599- 
Tapar  la  nariz 

y  comer  la  perdiz. — Nunez,  1555. 
Con  la  perdiz 

la  mano  en  nariz. — Pineda. 
La  perdiz  es  perdida 
si  caliente  no  es  comida. — Nunez,  1555. 
Como  dice  el  adagio  Que  cansa  de  comer  perdicas. — Curiosa  Relacion 

Poetica.     (Barcelona)  1637. 
La  perdris  est  perdue 

n'est  qu'elle  soit  chaude  repue. — Meurier,  Dev.  Fam.,  p.  33  r, 
Quem  a  truyte  come  assada,  e  cocida  a  perdiz 

nao  sabeo  que  faz,  nem  menos  0  que  diz. — (Portuguese)  Nunez,  1555. 
A  turkey  boil'd 
's  a  turkey  spoil'd, 
a  turkey  roast 
's  a  turkey  lost, 
but  a  turkey  brais'd — 
The  Lord  be  prais'd  ! 
Del  oca 

mangiane  poca. — Flo.,  1578. 
De  la  poule  ou  poulette 
la  noirette 
de  I'oison 

le  jeune  ou  grison. — Meurier,  1590. 
Buon  papero  cattiva  oca. — lb. 
The  wing  with  the  liver 
for  him  who 's  the  giver. — Jeaffreson. 
Al  quente  da  el  capon 
da  le  la  pierna  y  el  alon. — Nunez,  1555. 
Coscie  di  pollastri,  ed  ali  di  caponi, 
e  spalle  di  montone,  son  tre  buon  bocconi. — O.  Landi,  f.  5.     1548. 

God  sends  meat  and  the  devil  cooks. 

God   sent  us  meat,  the  devil  cooks. — Randolph,  Hey  for  Honesty, 
Introd. 

First  catch*  your  hare  — Mrs.  Glass,  preliminary  instruction  "  How 
to  make  Hare  Soup,"  The  Art  of  Coohery,  1747. 
*  case.    i.e.  skin. 

Hare    is    melancholy   meat.  —  S.,   P.C.,  ii. ;    Burton,    Anatomy   of 
Melancholy.     [Part  I,  sec.  2,  mem.  2,  subs.  i. — Ed.] 

The  case  of  the  coney  is  the  cook's  fee. — Killigrew,  Thomaso,  I.,  iv.  2. 

Si  quieres  comida  mala 
come  la  liebre  assada. — Nuriez,  1555. 

Tout  est  bon  dans  le  lievre.     Axiome  des  chaffeurs,  et  des  gros 
mangeurs,  et  de  la  medecine  du  xvi.  siecle. 

500 


PROVERBS.  VIANDS. 

The  beste  wordes  wold  I  pike 
And  serve  jiem  forthe  instede  of  chese, 
For  that  is  helpelich  to  defie*. — Gower,  C.A.,  iii. 

*  Digest. 

Cold  pudding  will  settle  your  love. — S.,  P.C.,  ii. 
Old  dog  at  a  barley  bag-pudding. — (Gula)  CI. 
Apple  pie  without  cheese 
is  like  a  kiss  without  a  squeeze. 

An  American  woman's  proverb. — Proverbial  Treasury,  Leipsig ; 
Hartmann,  1880. 
II  caccio  fa  romperle  scarpette  e  ingrossar  la  lingua. 

Spoken  to  children  to  keep  them  from  eating  cheese,  or  but  a  little 
of  it. 
In  England  cheese  is  forbidden  folks  upon  another  account,  as  also 

mustard  in  France. — Torr. 
A  white  loaf  and  a  hard  cheese  never  shames  the  master. — Ho. 
Bachelors'  fare  :  bread  and  cheese  and  kisses. — S.,  P.C.,  i. 
Au  formage  et  au  jambon 

I'homme  cognoist  son  compaignon. — Nunez,  1555. 
Cheese  is   physic    for    gentlemen   and   meat    for   clowns.  —  Harl. 

MSS.  6395. 
You  may  eat  bread  and  cheese  till  you  become  hungry  again. 
Bread  and  cheese 
for  the  sound  are  good  fees. 

Caseus  et  panis  sunt  optima  fercula  sanis. — With.,  1586. 
Caseus  et  caepe  veniunt  ad  prandia  saepe. — lb. 
Cheese  digests  everything  but  itself. 
Cheese  to  digest 

all  the  rest,  yet  itself  never  digested. — T.  Adams,  Works,  p.  170. 
Let  'em  eat  cheese  and  choke. — Rowley,  Witch  of  Edmonton,  iv.  i. 
Cf.  To  look  as  if  butter  would  not  melt  in  your  mouth  [but 
I  warrant  cheese  won't  choke  her. — S.,  P.C.,  i.] 
Volerci  un  savio  et  un  matto  per  tagliar  una  formadi  formaggio. — 

Torr. 
A  pennyworth  of  cheese  is  enough. — Cogan,  Haven  of  Health,  p.  159. 

Four  mage 

Qui  moins  en  mange  est  tenu  le  plus  sage. — Meurier,  1558. 
II  faut  bien  un  sot  et  un  sage 
a  scavoir  couper  un  formage. 
Caseus  est  sanus  quem  dat  avara  manus. 
Jamais  homme  sage 
ne  mangea  fromage. 

Bread  with  eyes,  cheese  without  eyes. — R.,  1670. 
Bread  of  a  day,  ale  of  a  month,  and  wine  of  a  year. — Bohn. 
(Euf  une  heure,  pain  d'un  jour,  chair  d'un  an,  poisson  de  dix. — 
Joubert,  Er.  Pop. 

501 


HEALTH.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Pain  d'un  jour,  vin  d'un  an,  farine  d'un  mois. — lb. 

After  cheese  comes  nothing. 

Cheese  after  meat  prohibits  other  dishes, 

And  after  shell-fish  rarely  other  fishes. 

Franck,  Northern  Memoirs,  p.  xlix. 
Chi  mangia  caviale 

mangia  mosche  merdi  e  sale. — Flor. ;  G. 
Axi  es  fromaje  sens  rona* 
Com  donzella  sen  vergona. — (Catalan)  Nunez,  1555. 

*  Rind. 
Bad  cheese  requires  butter  to  eat  with  it ;  good  cheese  asks  none. 
Tak'  the  bit 

and  the  buffet  wi  't. — K. 
Ne'er  gie  the  bit 

and  the  buffet  wi't. — Robinson,  Whitby  Glossary. 
Non  Argus  largus,  non  Methusalem  Maddalena, 
Non  Habacus  Lazarus,  caseus  ille  bonus. — M.  Luther. 
Two  pints  of  milk  and  three  of  slobber  : 

Fire  wunt  fret*  it. 

Water  wunt  wet  it, 

Knife  wunt  cut  it. 

Dogs  bark  behind  the  door 

Cos  a  cawnt  yut  it. 
Salisbury,  S.E.  Worcestershire  Words  and  Phrases,  p.  89. 
*  Frete  :  to  eat  away. 
Chussa  Wagga.     Inferior  or  skim  cheese. 
Unless  some  sweetness  at  the  bottom  lie. 
Who  cares  for  all  the  crinkling  of  the  pie  ? 

King,  Art  of  Cookery,  136. 

Two-ast  your  bread  and  rasher  yer  vlitch, 
an'  as  long  as  'e  lives,  thee  'ool  never  be  rich. 

Lowsley,  Berkshire  Words  and  Phrases,  30. 

HSALTH,    SICKNESS. 

Sickness  is  catching. — Shak.,  Midsummer  Night's  Dream,  i.  i,  186. 

Little  avails  wealth 

where  there  is  no  health. — Ho. 

Farewell  wealth, 

and  welcome  health. 

Ut  valeam  valeant. — CI. 

Keep  yourself  well  while  you  are  well. — CI. 

Keep  well  while  thou  art  well. — D.  Rogers,  Naam.,  p.  249. 

A  man  must  keep  himself  well  when  he  is  well. — Dr. 

I  will  not  say  upon  true  report  that  Physic  holds  it  possible  that  a 
clean  body  kept  by  these  three  Doctors,  Dr.  Dyet,  Dr.  Quiet, 
and  Dr.  Merryman,  may  live  near  a  hundred  years. — W. 
Lawson  in  Markham,  Way  to  get  Wealth,  III.,  p.  49.     1668. 

502 


PROVERBS.  HEALTH. 

Si  tibi  deficient  medici,  medici  tibi  fient 

Haec  tria  mens  Iseta  requie  labor  et  moderata  dieta. 

MS.  Lansd.,  762,  fol.  gg  ro.  (Hen.  VII.) ;  Rel.  Ant.,  i.  287. 
The  rules  of  health  and  long  life  are 
Moderate  diet,  open  air, 
easy  labour,  free  from  care. — Sir  P.  Sidney. 
Exercise  is  all.— Porter,  T.  A.W.  [H.,  O.P.,  vii.  35g.J 
Chi  non  sta  stano,  si  puo  dir  insano. — Torr. 
If  you  wear  on  the  ball*, 
You  '11  live  to  spend  all. 

That  is,  a  healthy,  stout  walker. 

*  The  centre  of  the  foot-sole. 

Si  quigres  vivar  sano 

anda  una  legua  mac  par  aiio. — Nuiiez,  1555. 
Tread  on  the  ball, 
live  to  spend  all ; 
tread  on  the  heel, 
spend  a  great  deal ; 
tread  where  you  may, 
money  won't  stay. — Spurgeon. 

Spare  thy  fist  and  spare  not  thy  foot. — Ho.,  Brit.  Prov.,  p.  12. 
Keep  thy  feet  dry  and  thy  mouth  moist. — Codr. 
To  rise  at  six  and  dine  at  ten, 
to  sup  at  six  and  go  to  bed  at  ten, 
will  make  a  man  live  ten  times  ten. — Codr. 
To  rise  at  five 

is  the  way  to  thrive. — Ellis,  Country  Housewife,  [Intro.]     1750. 
Early  to  bed  and  early  to  rise 
makes  a  man  healthy,  wealthy,  and  wise. — CI. 
[is  no  good  unless  you  advertise. — American.] 

See  MS.  notes,  Haz.,  p.  116. 

We  rise  with  the  Lark  and  go  to  bed  with  the  Lamb.— Breton, 
The  Court  and  the  Country,  p.  5. 

Waking  folks  do  most  live. — CI. 
They  can't  rise  early  that  use  to  rise  late. — CI. 
In  vain  they,,       ,,        ,,    used,,    ,,      ,,  . — Dr. 
Cinque  ore  dorme  un  viandante, 
sette  un  studiante, 
non'  ogni  fur  fante. 
Too  much  bed 

makes  a  dull  head. — Derbyshire  F.  L.  journal. 
Every  hour  out  of  bed  after  midnight  is  a  nail  in  your  coffin. 
An  hour's  sleep  before  midnight  is  of  equal  value  to  two  hours  after. 
Folks  never  catch  cold  at  church. — Denham,  F.  L.  Northunibd.,  p.  22. 
Huyr  de  la  pestilencia 

con  tres  III.  es  buena  sciencia. — Nuiiez,  1555. 
i.e.  luego,  lejos  y  luengo  tiempo. 

503 


HEALTH.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

The  quartan  ague  is  called  the  shame  of  physic. — T.  Adams,  p,  1189. 

i.e.  Opprobrium  medicorum. 
Physicians  say  None  die  of  an  ague  nor  without  an  ague. — T.  Adams^ 

Works,  p.  912. 
Physicians  say  No  man  dies  of  an  ague  or  without  it. — Ho.,  p.  1034.. 
?  a  chill. 

Cf.  Shak.,  Cor.,  i.  4,  38. 
Pro  quartana  non  pulsatur  campana. — CI. 

Quartan  agues  kill  old  men  and  cure  young. — Millingen. 
La  continue* 
atterre  homme  et  tue. — Meurier,  1590. 

*  Fever. 

No  marvel  if  old  men  be  sick. — CI. 

La  regola  di  sani  h  non  haver  regola. — Bolla. 

Siempra  desvarios  con  la  calentura.     Fevers  have  always  their  fits  of 

dotage. — Ho.,  F.  L.,  II.,  xxix. 
Haz  la  puerta  al  Solano 
y  viviras  sano. — Nunez,  1555. 

(The  East  wind.) 
Shut  the  sun  out  of  your  room,  and  you  open  the  door  to  the  doctor. 
Dottore  ch6  spalleggia, 
soldato  ch6  sgambeggia, 
donna  ch6  fiancheggia, 
son  genti  di  scorreggia. — Torr. 
Qui  veut  la  guarison  du  mire 
il  luy  convient  tout  son  mal  dire. — Cotg.,  1611. 
Les  medecins  et  marechaux 
occient  maints  hommes  et  chevaux. — Prov.  Com. 
Physicians  kill  more  than  ever  they  can  cure. — World   Bewitched,, 

p.  27.     1699. 
Diseases  in  a  press  are  quickly  caught. — G.  Wither,  Abuses,  II.,  iii. 
That  city  is  in  a  bad  case  whose  physicians  have  the  gout. 
Ful  seldome  is  that  welthe 

can  suffre  his  own  estate  in  helthe. — Gower,  Confessio  A  mantis  [Pw/.]. 
The  rich  man's  wealth 
is  most  enemy  unto  his  health. 

G.  Whetstone,  English  Mirrour,  i.  p.  14. 
Better  pay  the  butcher  than  the  doctor. 
Better  wait  on  the  cook  than  the  doctor. — Ry. 
Leave  [oft]  with  an  appetite.—  Cogan,  Haven  of  Health,  p.  167. 
Apres  la  past,  ou  le  repas, 
le  dormir  sain  ne  tiendras  pas. — Meurier,  1590. 

Qui  soupe  et  tost  s'en  va  coucher 

on  se  risique  de  s'amaller. — Meurier,  1568. 

Shameful  leaving  is  worse  than  shameful  eating. — Northall,  Folk 
Lore  of  Four  Counties. 

504 


PROVERBS.  HEALTH. 

First  get  your  patient  hungry  and  then  keep  him  so. — Sir  W.  Gull. 

Cold  after  eating  is  a  sign  of  long  life. 

Live  upon  sixpence  a  day — and  earn  it. — Abernethy. 

Eat  till  you  're  cold, 

and  you  '11  live  to  grow  old. 

Eat  till  you  're  hot 

and  you  '11  die  on  the  spot. 

Bonne  bouche  bon  trongne*. — Con,  1549. 

*  Trogne— snout,  nose. 
Moderation  produces  clear  complexion. — Cotg.,  161 1. 
He  that  wattis  quhen  he  is  full,  he  is  no  fule. — Bannatyne,  MS. 

in  Hen. 
Double  charge  will  rive  a  cannon.     An  excuse   for  declining  a 

surfeit. — K. 
No  wrack  like  unto  gluttony :   it  kills  a  very  coward,  insensibly, 

blows  him  up  as  it  were  with  white  gunpowder,  which  they 

say  makes  no  noise. — Torr. 
Eat  and  drink  moderately  and  defy  the  mediciners. — Ferg. 

„       „       ,,     with  mesour  „       „      „   leich*. — Bann.  MS.  1568. 

*  i.e.  physicians. 

This  old  and  approved  Proverb,  Honour  (and  use)  the  Physician  for 
necessity's  sake :  Which  importeth  extreme  danger  and  not 
every  trifling  distemperature  which  Nature,  exercise  and 
orderly  diet  will  cure. — G.  Whetstone,  English  Mirwur,  I., 
p.  14.     1586. 

Eat  less  and  drink  less 

and  buy  a  knife  at  Michaelmas*. — Ho. 

*  ?  for  the  goose. 

Si  tu  veux  engraisser  promptement 

manger  avac  faim  bois  a  laisir  et  lentement. — Cotgr. 

Frohsinn,  Massigkeit  und  Ruh 

schliessen  dem  Arzt  die  Thiire  zu. 

Peace,  Temperance  and  Repose 

slam  the  door  on  the  Doctor's  nose. — Pall  Mall  Gazette,  bj^j'S^. 
Buen  comer  trae  mal  comer. — Nunez,  1555. 

See  p.  II. 
Wash  your  hands  often,  your  feet  seldom,  and  your  head  never. — 

R.,  70  tr. 
Surfeits  slay  more  than  swords. — K. 

Non  plures  gladio  quam  cecidere  gula. 

Mas  mato  la  Cena 
che  euro  Avicena. —Nunez,  1555. 

Cover  your  head  by  day  as  much  as  you  will,  by  night  as  much  as 
you  can. — R.,  78. 
Do  giorno  quanto  vuoi,  di  notte  quanto  paoi. 

Too  soon,  too  fine,  too  daintily, 

too  fast,  too  much,  is  gluttony.— T.  Adams,  Works,  p.  24. 

505 


HEALTH.  LEAN'S     COLLECTANEA. 

The  poor  man's  physic  lies  in  his  garden. — T.  Adams,  p.  1038. 

The  husband  is  often  the  best  physician. 

Recipe  trois  pulles  d'Apothicaire 

vaut  moeux  qu'un  decipe  de  faux  Nataire. — Meurier,  1590. 

For  myself  if  I  be  ill  at  ease  I  like  kitchyn  physic.  ...  I  make 
my  wife  my  doctor  and  my  garden  my  apoticarie's  shop. — 
Greene,  A  Quip,  &c. 

La  lesina  non  va  adoperata  ne  con  medici,  ne  con  mastre. — Torr. 

Sickness  soaks  the  purse. — Breton,  Cvossing  of  P.,  i. 

By  medicine  life  may  be  prolong'd,  yet  death 

will  seize  the  doctor  too. — Shak.,  Cymb.,  v.  5,  29. 

God  does  the  cure  and  the  physician  takes  the  fee  for  it. 

Though  God  heals,  yet  the  physician  carries  away  the  fees. — Ho., 
Parley  of  Beasts,  77. 

A  physician  is  a  man  who  pours  drugs  of  which  he  knows  little  into 
a  body  of  which  he  knows  less. — Voltaire. 

One  doctor  makes  work  for  another. 

Accipe  dum  dolet. 

Throw  physic  to  the  dogs. — Shak.,  Macbeth,  v.  3,  47. 

The  best  physic  is  to  take  no  physic. — T.  Adams,  Works,  p.  289. 

"  Furtum  non  facies  "  juristse  scribitur  haec  lex  : 

Hsec,  "Non  occides,"  pertinet  ad  medicum. — T.  Adams,  Wks.,  p.  178. 
Thou  shalt  not  steal  the  lawyer's  square  to  right  them. 
Thou  shalt  not  kill  is  the  physician's  item. 

Doctors  make  the  very  worst  patients. 

If  doctors  fail 

what  shall  avail  ? 

Doctors  never  dose  themselves  nor  their  families. — Quarterly  Review, 
xcvi.,  p.  4. 

Though  Physicians  know  themselves  never  so  well  and  the  constitu- 
tion of  their  bodies,  yet  when  they  are  sick  they  commonly 
take  their  receipts  by  prescriptions  of  others,  being  distrustful 
of  themselves. — Ho.,  Parley  of  Beasts,  p.  74. 

Leaches  kill  with  license. — K.     i.e.  Surgeons. 

Physicians  have  a  rule  among  themselves  concerning  their  patients : 
Take  whiles  they  be  in  pain.  For  whatsoever  they  promise 
sick,  when  they  are  well  they  will  not  perform  it. 

Aegrotus  surgit  sed  pia  vota  jacent. — T.  Adams,  Works,  p.  634. 

Men  take  bitter  potions  for  sweet  health. — CI. 

The  knowledge  of  the  disease  is  half  the  cure. — T.  Adams,  SoiiVs 
Sickness ;   Works,  468. 

There  is,  say  Physicians,  no  perfect  health  in  this  world. — lb.,  p.  440. 

Pessimus  morbus  est  medicus. — lb.,  190. 

The  first  step  to  health  is  to  know  that  we  are  sick. — Ih.,  p.  267. 

The  disease  being  known,  it  is  half  cured. — P.  267. 

506 


PROVERBS.  HEALTH. 

Every  disease  will  have  its  course. — Muffet,  Health's  Improvement, 

p.  8.     1655. 
A  cold  :  three  days  to  come ;  three  days  to  stay  ;  and  [takes]  three 

more  to  go  away. 
A  cold  must  have  its  course. 

A  cold  begins  with  the  cat  and  goes  through  the  house[hold]. 
S'il  faut  laisser  faire  son  cours  au  rheume? — Joubert,  E-r.  Pop.,  II. ; 

Pr.  Vulg.,  214  and  519. 
If  the  patient  and  the  disease  join,  then  in  vain  is  the  physician. — 

T.  Adams,  Man's  Comfort,  1653,  iii.  280. 

Change.     With  change  of  place  be  sure, 

Like  rich  men  mending,  you  shall  find  recure. 

Chapman,  Monsieur  D'OUve,  iii. 

Per  star  bene  una  sera  fa  una  torta,  un  giorno  fa  un  pane,  otto 

lavati  il  capo. — Torr. 
Let  him  that  would  be  happy  for  a  day  go  to  the  barber,  for  a  week 

marry  a  wife,  for  a  month  buy  him  a  new  horse,  for  a  year 

build  him  a  new  house,  for  all  his  lifetime  be  an  honest  man. 

—(Italian)  F.  W.,  Wales,  p.  6. 

Souvent  laver  la  main 

mantient  le  corps  gay  et  bien  sain. — Meurier,  1590. 

Le  bel  habit 

esgaye  I'esprit. — Ih. 

Feed  a  cough  and  starve  a  fever. 

Stuff  a  cold  and  starve  a  fever. 

Comer  hasta  enfermar 

y  ayunar  hasta  sanar. — Percival,  Sp.  Dial.,  III. 

Efficacissimum  in  febribus  jejunium. — W.,  1574. 

Duol  de  testa  vuol  minestra. 

El  dolor  de  la  cabeca, 

el  comer  la  endere9a.^ — Nunez,  1555. 

Doglia  di  testa  vuol  mangiar, 
doglia  di  corpo  vuol  cagar*. — lb. 

*  Dormer. 
[Better]  to  die  quickly 
than  to  live  sickly. — T.  Adams,  Worhs,  p.  911. 

The  second  fall  in  sickness  is  ever  most  dangerous. — Hen. 
The  relapse  is  worse  than  the  disease. — Torr. 
Our  sinnes  I  fear  will  work  worse  afterclaps ; 
And  there 's  most  danger  in  a  re-relapse. 

Sylvester,  Miracle  of  Peace,  Sonnet  35. 

Every  man  must  have  something  to  bring  him  to  his  end. — Dr. 

(Death.) 
One  good  under-shirt  is  worth  a  great  coat  (for  warmth). 

Patience  and  flannel,  cure  for  the  gout. — S.,  P.  C,  iii. 
,,  ,,    water-gruel     ,,     ,,       ,, 

507 


HEALTH.  LEAN'S    COLLECTANEA. 

Patience  and  posset  drink   cures  all  maladies.     K,  gives  this  as 

English. 
En  la  goutte  le  maistre  ne  void  goutte. — Meurier,  Dev.  Fam.,  1590. 
Medicorum  ludibrium. — Torr. 
Qui  goutte  et  belle  femme  a 
jamais  sans  douleur  ne  sera. — Wodroephe. 
Tosse  d'inverno 
vuol  goserno : 
tosse  d'estate 

conduce  al  sagrato. — Strafforello. 

Patience  is  good  for  abundance  of  things  beside  the  gout. — F. 
SucMry.     (A  miser.)     A  good  rich  disease.     I  warrant  I  shall  ne'er 

be  troubled  with  it. — Wilson,  Projectors,  ii. 
Quien  quiere  el  ojo  sano,  ate  se  la  mano. — Nuriez,  1555- 
Rub  your  eye  only  with  your  elbow. 
It  is  not  the  velvet  slipper  that  can  heal  the  Kibe-heel. — Brooke, 

Serm.,  iii.  179. 
The  student's  disease — the  stone*. — F.  W.,  Surrey,  86. 

*  The  stone,  never  heard  of  in  England  until  hops  and  beer  made  therewith 
(about  the  year  1516)  began  to  be  commonly  used. — lb.,  Sussex,  108. 

Mort  de  langue*  et  de  eschine 
sount  maladies  saunt  medicine. 

Fitzherbert,  B.  of  Husbandry,  f.  49.     1534. 
*  Longe,  edition  1598. 
Always  sleep  with  your  stern  to  the  wind. — St.  J.  G.,  2/i/'84. 
Cum  cutis  est  plana,  fiet  dormitio  sana. — W.,  1616. 
Scarting  and  eating  wants  but  a  beginning. — K. 
Scalpitur  interdum  caput  ex  prurigine  null4. — W.,  161 6. 

Chi  vuol  star  san 
pisci  come  il  can. — Ho. 

Qui  sou  vent  se  pese  bien  se  connait.  Qui  bien  se  connait  bien  se  porte. 
Chi  sovente  si  pesa,  si  conosce  bene,  Qui  si  conosce  bene  in  salute 
si  mantiene.* 

*  On  automatic  weighing  machines  at  foreign  stations. 
Keep  your  back  from  the  fire  and  don't  mix  your  liquors. — (Irish) 
Truth,  i4/2/'89. 

No  pain  to  the  gout  or  toothache. — CI. 

If  thou  be  hurt  with  wound  of  hart,  'twill  bring  thee  to  thy  bier  ; 
but  barber's  hand  can  boar's  hurt  heal,  therefore  thou  need  not  fear. 

Cheales. 

As  they  say  of  some  diseases,  as  that  of  the  lungs,  that  while  they 
are  curable  they  are  hard  to  discern,  and  when  they  come  to 
be  discerned  they  are  past  cure.  — D.  Rogers,  Naaman,  251. 

The  Physician's  rules  against  the  Plague:  "  Cito,  procul,  Longe, 
tarde."  Fly  away  soon ;  live  away  far ;  stay  away  long ; 
come  again  slowly. — F.  W.,  Kent. 

508 


PROVERBS.  HEALTH. 

Plague.     Hasc  tria  labificum  tollunt  adverbia  pestem ; 
Mox,  long^,  tarde, — cede,  recede,  redi. 

Millingen,  Curiosities  of  Medical  Experience,  p.  184. 

Les  maux  terminant  en  ique 
font  au  medecin  la  nique. 

These  are  hectique,  apoplectique,  paralytique,  lethargique. 
Cf.  Shak.,  Tr.  and  Cr.,v.i.;  Tim.  of  Ath.,  iv.  i. 
Faire  la  nique.     To  mock  by  nodding  or  lifting  up  the  chin,  or, 
more  properly,  to  threaten  or  defy,  by  putting  the  thumb-nail 
into  the  mouth,  and  with  a  jerk  (from  the  upper  teeth)  make 
it  to.  knack.— Cotgr.     What  we  should  now  call  "  snapping 
the  fingers  at." 
Rouge  visage,  grosse  pauncke 
ne  sont  signes  de  penitence. — Bacon,  Prom.     1590. 
There  is  death  in  the  pot. — 2  Kings,  iv.  40.     Mors  in  oll^. 

This,  I  take  it,  does  not  mean  the  stewpot,  but  the  drinking 
vessel.  Cf.  Shak.,  7  H.  IV.,  i.  3,  pot  of  ale;  ib.,  ii.  2, 
cup  of  sack.  If  so,  it  is  the  earUest  authority  for  total 
abstainers. 


End   of  Vol.    I. 


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