John heywoodes woorkes :: :: University of Virginia Library

John heywoodes woorkes

A dialogue conteynyng the number of the effectuall prouerbes in the Englishe tongue, compact in a matter concernynge two maner of maryages. With one hundred of Epigrammes: and three hundred of Epigrammes upon three hundred prouerbes: and a fifth hundred of Epigrammes. Whereunto are now newly added a syxt hundred of Epigrams by the sayde John Heywood

Heywood, John (1497?-1580?)

[section]

The Preface.

[Of mine acquayntance a certaine yong man]

ii.

iii.

iiii.

vi.

vi.

vii.

The seuenth chapiter.

viii.

ix.

xi.

xii.

xiii.

ii.

iii.

iiii.

vi.

The .vi. chapiter.

vii.

viii.

ix.

xi.

The firste hundred of Epigrammes.

To the reader.

An Epygramme on this booke of Epygrammes. 1.

Of three sages. 2.

Questions answered. 3.

Of water, wine, and ale. 4.

To muche or to little. 5.

Of the senses. 6.

Of talkyng. 7.

Of heares and wyttes. 8.

A dronkard. 9.

10.

The foxe and the mayde. 10.

11.

Of an yll gouernour called Jude. 11.

12.

Of geuyng an almes. 12.

13.

Of a surfet. 13.

14.

Repugnancie in apparance. 14.

15.

The ape and the asse. 15.

16.

A foole and a wise man. 16.

17.

Of syght. 17

18.

Feigned newes. 18.

19.

Two, arme in arme. 19.

20.

Of hearyng and speakyng. 20.

21.

Of wit, will, and wisdome. 21.

22.

The wrenne, and hir birdes. 22.

23.

The maister and the man. 23.

24.

Vpon penance. 24.

25.

Jacke and his father. 25.

26.

Of a daw. 26.

27.

Of shewyng the waie. 27.

28.

A quiet neighbour. 28.

29.

Of dogges and theeues. 29.

30.

A keper of the commaundementes. 30.

31.

Of a nose. 31.

32.

Lettyng of a ferme. 32.

33.

Age and youth. 33.

34.

A rose and a nettill. 34.

35.

Of the wyues and hir husbandes waste. 35.

36.

An olde wiues boone. 36.

37.

A talke of two conies. 37.

38.

A prisoner. 38.

39.

Two blinde men. 39.

40.

Debilitee of senses. 40.

41.

A foolishe husbande. 41.

42.

A wytty wyfe. 42.

43.

Handsom handlyng. 43.

44.

A saiyng of Patche my lord cardinals foole. 44.

45.

Certaine folies. 45.

46.

Of two studentes. 46.

47.

A merie woman. 47.

48.

A louse and a flea. 48.

49.

Of him that forgat his pater noster in latine. 49.

50.

Of him that could not learne his Pater noster in Englishe. 50.

51.

Of the fist and the hart. 51.

52.

Of this woorde enough. 52.

53.

Of table play. 53.

54.

The cocke, and the hen. 54.

55.

Cheepenyng of a face of furre. 55.

56.

Biyng of showes. 56.

57.

A suspicion cleared. 57.

58.

Of spite. 58.

59.

Of the letter H. 59.

60.

Il fliyng of idelnesse. 60.

61.

A tounge and a clocke. 61.

62.

A hearer of a sermon. 62.

63.

A man without wit, strength, and cunnyng. 63.

64.

How to wishe. 64.

65.

A doubtfull demaunde of choise. 65.

66.

An olde widower and a yong mayde. 66.

67.

Gaping oysters. 67

68.

The Judge and the Juggler. 68.

69.

Of lookyng. 69.

70.

Of constancie. 70.

71.

Of a face and a witte. 71.

72.

Of blowyng. 72.

73.

To the flatterer. 73.

74.

Of contentacion. 74.

75.

Of waytyng. 75.

76.

Of fore knowlage. 76.

77.

Mistakyng an errand. 77.

78.

Of holdyng an Inne. 78.

79.

A wiues defence of hir beetill brow. 79.

80.

The shrewde wiues tounge. 80.

81.

A fooles tounge. 81.

82.

Of glas and lattise. 82.

83.

Two wisshers for two maner of mouthes. 83.

84.

Of dispraise. 84.

85.

A discharge from hipocrisie. 85.

87.

Of the foole and the gentlemans nose. 87.

87.

A foole taken for wise. 87.

88.

Thinges to forbeare. 88.

89.

Of medlars. 89.

90.

Of dwelling. 90.

91.

Of the Milner and the Sexten. 91.

92.

Of bookes and cheese. 92.

93.

Of heades. 93.

94.

The woodcocke and the daw. 94.

95.

Of few woordes. 95.

96.

Wottyng and weenyng. 96.

97.

A much like matter. 97.

98.

Wisedome and foly. 98.

99.

Of lacke 99.

100.

The weathercocke, the reede, and the wynde. 100.

Three hundred Epigrammes, vpon three hundred prouerbes

Of amendment. 1.

Wagging of beardes. 2.

Of haste. 3.

Breakyng of square. 4.

Lookyng and leapyng. 5.

Weddyng and hanging. 6.

10.

11.

Geuyng and takyng. 11.

12.

Jacke and Gill. 12.

13.

Of the ende of a wit. 13.

14.

Of bought wit. 14.

15.

Of haste and waste. 15.

16.

Makyng of malte. 16.

17.

Of an akyng eye. 17.

18.

What thing beggers choose. 18.

19.

Of robbyng. 19.

20.

Of neede and law. 20.

21.

Of beginnyng and endyng. 21.

22.

Of grace. 22.

23.

Of fore prouision. 23.

24.

Of saiyng and doyng. 24.

25.

Of treadyng on a worme. 25.

26.

Of ease in an Inne. 26.

27.

How to proue a freende. 27.

28.

Vnwise weddyng. 28.

29.

Some thyng and nothyng. 29.

30.

The sleapyng dogge. 30.

31.

Of hap. 31.

32.

Of syght and mynde. 32.

33.

Of mirth with wisdome. 33.

34.

Of holding of a nose. 34.

35.

An eye sore. 35.

36.

Of recknyng. 36.

37.

Settyng vp a candell. 37.

38.

Of cloudes and weather. 38.

39.

Of making and marryng. 39.

40.

Of byrdes and byrders. 40.

41.

Of sorowes. 41.

42.

Of feedyng and teaching. 42.

43.

Of suffiance. 43.

44.

Of him that set his hand on his money. 44.

45.

Of a horse coriyng. 45.

46.

Of shame. 46.

47.

A lordes hart and a beggers purse. 47.

48.

Of fergettyng. 48.

49.

Of the harte and the heele. 49.

50.

Praise of a man aboue a horse. 50.

51.

Of weeping. 51.

52.

Of two false knaues. 52.

53.

A hart in a hose. 53.

54.

Of creeping and goyng. 54.

55.

Of flotyng and fleetyng. 55.

56.

A man at an ebbe. 56.

57.

Syght in a mylstone. 57.

58.

Of throwyng. 58.

59.

Of store. 59.

60.

Of one in prison. 60.

61.

Saintes and deuilles. 61.

62.

Of botching. 62.

63.

Of a yeres fayre. 63.

64.

Of a cap and a head. 64.

65.

A theefe that hath no felow. 65.

66.

False measures. 66.

67.

Of cleane sweepyng. 67.

68.

Turnyng of typpettes. 68.

69.

Of theft and receite. 69.

70.

Of woorke and play. 70.

71.

Of a peinted sheathe. 71.

72.

The hare and the hound. 72.

73.

Of beggers syngyng. 73.

74.

75.

76.

77.

78.

Of shalbe and shall not be. 78.

79.

The blacke oxe. 79.

80.

Of brydlyng. 80.

81.

Mendyng and payryng. 81.

82.

Of runnyng without turnyng. 82.

83.

Biyng a pyg. 83.

84.

Hungry flies. 84.

85.

Of louyng a dog. 85.

86.

Of precious stones. 86.

87.

Of yll and good wynde. 87.

88.

Of sooth boorde. 88.

89.

Of tales tolde in the eare. 89.

90.

Of goyng. 90.

91.

Of neede. 91.

92.

Takyng hart of grasse. 92.

93.

Of nothyng and althing. 93.

94.

Couetyng and leesing. 94.

95.

Of the marche hare. 95.

96.

How god will not do for vs. 96.

97.

Of harping on a string. 97.

98.

A losse by the deuils death. 98.

99.

Of a sheepes iye. 99.

100.

Of ruse. 100.

101.

Of blinde bayard. 101.

102.

Of the spinsters thrift. 102.

103.

Of defenes. 103.

104.

Of a good hors. 104.

105.

Of waies to the wood. 105.

106.

Of one that may soone amend. 106.

107.

An ill hearer. 107.

108.

Of a good face. 108.

109.

A sharpe thorne. 109.

110.

Commyng and goyng. 110.

111.

The better cumth seldome. 111.

112.

One driueth out an other. 112.

113.

Of burden. 113.

114.

Runnyng and goyng. 114.

115.

A locke of tooles. 115.

116.

Tast of a mans tales. 116.

117.

Of a cattes looke. 117.

118.

One put out of a creede. 118.

119.

All that may be won of the fox. 119.

120.

The suertie of some seale. 120.

121.

The hares goyng away. 121.

122.

Judgement of colours. 122.

123.

Hap and wit. 123.

124.

Of fortune to fooles. 124.

125.

Of loosers wordes. 125.

126.

Gettyng and spendyng. 126.

127.

Matters not leyde a water. 127.

128.

Measure. 128.

129.

Goyng beyonde the wall. 129.

130.

Of harme. 130.

131.

Wit kept by warmth. 131.

132.

Light comyng and goyng. 132.

133.

Of kissing. 133.

134.

Of leaue. 134.

135.

God in the almery. 135.

136.

The diuell in thorologe. 136.

137.

The best. 137.

138.

The woorst. 138.

139.

Lastyng of woonder. 139.

140.

Of a galde horse. 140.

141.

Good begynnyng and ende. 141.

142.

The still soowe. 142

143.

Of stumblyng. 143.

144.

Of the shoe and the sole. 144.

145.

Myght and ryght. 145.

146.

Byrth and teaching. 146.

147.

Of hangyng. 147.

148.

An olde knaue. 148.

149.

A mans heare and his whood. 149.

150.

Geynes and losses. 150.

151.

Theeues fallyng out. 151.

152.

Of a shorne face. 152.

153.

A benche whistler. 153.

154.

What god sayde to one. 154.

155.

Boowyng and breaking. 155.

156.

Of wrestlyng. 156.

157.

God and the church. 157.

158.

Of one tale in all men tolde. 158.

159.

Of malkin. 159.

160.

Rashe ventringe. 160.

161.

162.

163.

164.

165.

Eatyng of flies. 165.

166.

Of the foxes preaching. 166.

167.

Of poore mens soules. 167.

168.

Promise of lycence. 168.

169.

Of little saiyng. 169.

170.

Of the tyde. 170.

171.

Praise of good ende. 171.

172.

Of hearyng and iudgeyng. 172.

173.

A lesson for lookyng. 173.

174.

Of a womans lines. 174.

175.

The crowe called white. 175.

176.

Of the olde foole. 176.

177.

Of a beane. 177.

178.

The gyft of a pyg. 178.

179.

Chaunge and robery. 179.

180.

Of fayre woordes. 180.

181.

Of laughyng. 181.

182.

Of seekyng. 182.

183.

Of a head vnder a gyrdell. 183.

184.

Of wyde shootyng. 184.

185.

The fooles bolte. 185.

186.

187.

188.

189.

190.

191.

192.

193.

194.

Of Mortimers sow. 194.

195.

Of fleabytyng. 195.

196.

The breechelesse maister. 196.

197.

Of meate and sauce. 197.

198.

Of proferd seruice. 198.

199.

Of common medlers. 199.

200.

Of enough and a feast. 200.

201.

Of plaine fashion. 201.

202.

Of him that cumth last. 202.

203.

Of striuyng. 203.

204.

Of sittyng. 204.

205.

Of writyng to frendes. 205.

206.

Of great clarkes. 206.

207.

208.

209.

210.

211.

212.

213.

Of an ill stake. 213.

214.

Of suffraunce. 214.

215.

Of misrecknyng. 215.

216.

Of euen recknyng. 216.

217.

Of takyng. 217.

218.

Of mum. 218.

219.

Of stoppyng a mouth. 219.

220.

Of castyng. 220.

221.

Of Jacke. 221.

222.

Of the winking Cat. 222.

223.

Of saying nay. 223.

224.

Of the pie and crowe. 224.

225.

Of saying nought but mum. 225.

226.

Of tounge and wit. 226.

227.

228.

229.

230.

231.

Of the winde blowyng. 231.

232.

Of far and nie. 232.

233.

Of thynstep. 233.

233.

Of smaule and greate. 233.

234.

Of the keyse. 234.

236.

Of prouender. 236.

237.

Of sum here and there. 237.

238.

Of the persons lemman. 238.

239.

Of il weede. 239.

240.

Of synkyng. 240.

241.

Of good syluer. 241.

242.

Of the proude cocke. 242

243.

Of fat in the fyre. 243.

244.

Of bowe bent. 244.

245.

Of gods beynge. 245.

246.

Of kinsfolke. 246.

247.

Of Freendshippe. 247.

248.

Of nothinge. 248.

249.

Of pouertee. 249.

250.

Of eares glowyng. 250.

251.

Of poste and pyller. 251.

252.

Of may be. 252.

253.

Of vse. 253.

254.

[Folly to spurne or kycke ageynst the harde wall.]

255.

Of tiyng the bell. 255.

256.

Of had I wyst. 256.

257.

Of daunsyng. 257.

258.

Of the cat eatyng fyshe. 258.

259.

Of the blinde. 259.

260.

Of the woorst and best. 260.

261.

262.

263.

264.

265.

266.

267.

268.

Of the hot yron. 268.

269.

Of the purse. 269.

270.

Of many handes. 270.

271.

Of the lothe stake. 271.

272.

273.

274.

275.

276.

Of one had in the wynde. 276.

277.

Of one yll shod. 277.

278.

Of all and naught. 278.

279.

Of warnyng. 279.

280.

Of byrdes flowne. 280.

281.

Of leauyng. 281.

282.

Of settyng in foote. 282.

283.

Of fast byndyng. 283.

284.

Of hap. 284.

285.

Of tyme. 285.

286.

Of the fat hog. 286.

287.

The bale and boote. 287.

288.

Of sowes. 288.

289.

Of makyng a crosse. 289.

290.

Of a pad. 290.

281.

Of long standyng. 281.

282.

293.

294.

295.

296.

297.

Of nought laide downe. 297.

298.

Of syght and fare. 298.

299.

Of the pot not broken. 299.

300.

Of late and neuer. 300.

The fifth hundred of Epygrams.

To the reader.

Of weenyng and wottyng. I.

Of a man of law and his clientes. 2.

An aduise against mockyng. 3.

Of itchyng and smartyng. 4.

Of a sharpe tunge. 5.

Of a horse. 6.

Of a butler and a hors. 7.

Of brasse. 8.

Of a louces dwellyng place. 9.

10.

Of a straunge glasse. 10.

11.

Of driuyng and drawyng. 11.

12.

Of longe sutes. 12.

13.

Of lightnesse. 13.

14.

Of a disagreement. 14.

15.

Of chepenyng of conies. 15.

16.

Of a wyfe hauyng childe. 16.

17.

Of a bachiler and a mayde. 17.

18.

Of shorte payment. 18.

19.

Whence certaine thinges came fyrst. 19.

20.

Of furred and lyned gownes. 20.

21.

Of a wyne drawer. 21.

22.

Shorte checkes betwene a man and his wyfe. 22.

23.

Of a woman deckt in two coloures. 23.

24.

Of vnsweete breath. 24.

25.

Of clyppyng and clensyng. 25.

26.

Of a man and his wyues departyng. 26.

27.

An account of a mans children. 27.

28.

Of a woman of Huntington. 28.

29.

Of a laundres. 29.

Of a cutter of purslane.

31.

Of one standyng in his owne conceite. 31.

32.

Of one that hard without eares. 32.

33.

Of an archers rouyng. 33.

34.

Of perill to one by the number of three. 34.

35.

Of gloria patri. 35.

36.

Of a dyar. 36.

37.

Of a Jugge. 37.

38.

Of the three cuppes. 38.

39.

Of brasse and Iron. 39.

40.

Of Jacke and John. 40

41.

42.

43.

44.

45.

Of louinge of a goose. 45.

46.

Of harpe stringes. 46.

47.

Of fortune. 47.

48.

Of choyce. 48.

49.

Of a false bragge.

50.

Of liyng and true saiyng. 50.

51.

Of a dawe pate. 51.

52.

Of water and wyne. 52.

53.

Betwene dogges and a deere. 53.

54.

Of twelue and one. 54.

55.

Of verdingales. 55.

56.

Preceptes of a man to his wyfe. 56.

57.

Of an expert man. 57.

58.

Of deliuerance from yll. 58.

59.

Of cuttyng of the herbe tyme. 59.

60.

Of one fearyng the swette. 60.

61.

Of one thinkyng on an other. 61.

62.

Of one beyng at a poynt. 62.

63.

Of testons. 63.

64.

Of redde Testons. 64.

65.

Of stampyng. 65.

Of John longe the carier.

67.

Of turnyng. 67.

68.

Of master Carter. 68.

69.

Of goyng farre. 69.

70.

How money is made lame. 70.

71.

Of an olde woer. 71.

72.

Of a yong wooer. 72.

73.

Of weakenesse and strength. 73.

74.

Warnyng of pride. 74.

75.

Of pacience. 75.

76.

Of pleasyng. 76.

77.

Of a hande gonne and a hande. 77.

78.

Of brasse and siluer. 78.

79.

Of difference betwene wise men and fooles. 79.

80.

Of a pithy witte. 80.

81.

Of choise to be a wise man or a foole. 81.

82.

Of a knightes carterly coller. 82.

83.

Of males and male horses. 83.

84.

A man discommended. 84.

85.

Of runnyng. 85.

86.

Of polling. 86.

87.

Of plate lente forth. 87.

88.

Of a man of law and his wife. 88.

89.

Of pennes and pence. 89.

90.

Of a womans thinne tounge. 90.

91.

Of drinkyng to a man. 91.

92.

Of runnyng at Tilte. 92.

93.

Of expence. 93.

94.

Of fraying of babes. 94.

95.

Of Reedes and Okes. 95.

96.

Of biyng a morter. 96.

97.

Of a stepmother. 97.

98.

Of a lyar. 98.

99.

Of tunges and pinsons. 99.

100.

Of Heywood. 100.

A sixt hundred of Epigrammes.

To the reader.

Of Rebellion. 1.

Of toung, mouth, teeth, and wisdome. 2.

Of syluer to be borowed. 3.

Of an vnkyndly march. 4.

Of goyng to heauen and hell. 5.

Of the high way and a maydes face. 6.

Of one that would be praysed. 7.

Of lookyng. 8.

Of a hare a foote. 9.

10.

Of Hob and John. 10.

11.

Of seekyng a daw. 11.

12.

Of saiyng grace. 12.

13.

Of Dette. 13.

14.

Of stepping. 14.

15.

Of wrytyng a gentleman. 15.

16.

Of a wyues affection to hir husband. 16.

17.

Of a mans thrift. 17.

18.

Of learnyng the lawe. 18.

19.

Of good wyll and good deedes. 19.

20.

Of Newgate wyndowes. 20.

21.

Of treadyng a shooe awrye. 21.

22.

Of a fayre soowe. 22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

A taunt of a wife to her husband. 27.

28.

Of pride. 28.

29.

To walke, talke, drinke or sleape. 29.

30.

Of a santhorne and light. 30.

31.

Of a crie. 31.

32.

Of a watermans rowyng. 32.

33.

Of tunge and witte. 33.

34.

Of a peinter. 34.

35.

Of Peter and Poll. 35.

36.

Of losse of helth and wealth.. 36.

37.

Of lookyng out. 37.

38.

Of chafyng disshes. 38.

39.

Of hanging and standyng. 39.

40.

Of a mans head and the Pillery. 40.

41.

A prayse of one. 41.

42.

Of diuers bandes. 42.

43.

Of couenantes. &c. 43.

44.

Of promise and paiment. 44.

45.

Of one that dare not steale. 45.

46.

Of the creation of the deuils dam. 46.

47.

Of reward to a seruyng man. 47.

48.

Two properties of a seruaunt. 48.

49.

Of toughnes and tendernes. 49.

50.

A question to a childe. 50.

51.

Seekyng for a dwellyng place. 51.

52.

Of three soules. 52.

53.

Of one saying of a hat. 53.

54.

Of biyng a coate. 54.

55.

Of paryng neyles. 55.

56.

Of a mans head. 56.

57.

Of money in ones purse. 57.

58.

Of freendes and foes. 58.

59.

Of diffrence in sondry thinges. 59.

60.

Of callyng one flebergebit. 60.

61.

Of crowes breedyng. 61.

62.

Of Powles. 62.

63.

Of a crowe keper. 63.

64.

65.

66.

67.

68.

69.

70.

71.

72.

73.

74.

Of Parsnip seede. 74.

75.

Of Annesse seede. 75.

76.

Of lettis seede. 76.

77.

Of good newes to a man. 77.

78.

Of least and most mastrie. 78.

79.

Of a man and a clocke. 79.

80.

Of a spare horse. 80.

81.

Of a husband hangd. 81.

82.

Of Horsadowne. 82.

83.

Of a Cocke and a Capon. 83.

84.

Of disdeigne. 84.

85.

Of Peter. 85.

86.

Of one in Newgate. 86.

87.

Of sauyng of shooes. 87.

88.

Of hogstowne. 88.

89.

Of coleprophet. 89.

90.

Of thinges vnlyke. 90.

91.

Of the gentlenesse of a wyfe. 91.

92.

Of catchyng a fly. 92.

93.

Of a horse wearyng great breeches. 93.

94.

Of a recknyng at a shotte. 94.

95.

Of vse. 95.

96.

Of one askyng for sheepe. 96.

97.

Of walkyng and talkyng. 97.

98.

Of seeyng and feelyng money. 98.

99.

Of takyng thinges wronge. 99.

100.

Of a number of rattes mistaken for diuelles in a mans sloppes. 100.

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The .vi. chapiter.

Oh what choyce may compare, to the diuels lyfe,
Lyke his, that haue chosen a diuel to his wife?
Namely such an olde witche, suche a mackabroyne,
As euermore like a hog hangeth the groyne,
On hir husbande, except he be hir slaue,
And folow all fancies, that she would haue.
Tys sayde, there is no good accorde,
Where euery man would be a Lorde.
Wherfore my wyfe will be no lorde, but lady,
To make me, that should be her Lorde, a baby.
Before I was wedded, and sens, I made recknyng,
To make my wyfe boow at euery becknyng.
Bachelers bost, how they will teach their wyues good,
But many a man speaketh of Robyn hood,
That neuer shot in his bowe. Whan all is sought,
Bachelers wiues, and maides children be well tought.
And this with this, I also begin to gather,
Euery man can rule a shrewe, saue he that hath her.
At my wil I wend she should haue wrought, like wax.
But I fynde and feele, she hath found suche knax
In her bouget, and suche toies in her hed.
That to daunce after her pipe, I am ny led.
It is saide of olde, an olde dog byteth sore.
But by God, tholde bitche biteth sorer and more.
And not with teeth (she hath none) but with hir toung.
If all tales be true (quoth I) though she be stong,
And therby styng you, she is not muche to blame,
For what euer you saie. thus goeth the fame.

Whan folke first saw your substance layd in your lap,
Without your peyn, with your wife brought by good hap,
Oft in remembrance of haps happie deuise,
They would saie, better to be happie then wise.
Not minding therby than, to depraue your wit,
For they had good hope, to see good proofe of it.
But sens their good opinion therin so cooles,
That they saie as ofte, God sendeth fortune to fooles.
In that as fortune without your wit gaue it,
So can your wit not keepe it whan ye haue it.
Saieth one, this geare was gotten on a holy daie.
Saieth an other, who maie holde that will awaie.
This game from begynnyng, shewth what ende is ment.
Soone gotten soone spent, yll gotten yll spent.
Ye are calde not onely to great a spender,
To franke a geuer, and as free a lender.
But also ye spende geue and lende, among suche,
Whose lightnesse minisheth your bonestee as muche
As your money, and much they disalow,
That ye bryke all from hir, that brought all to yow.
And spende it out at doores, in spyte of hir,
Because ye wolde kyll hir to be quite of hir.
For all kindnesse, of hir parte, that maie ryse,
Ye shewe all thunkindnesse ye can deuise.
And where reason and custome (they say afoords,
Alwaie to let the loosers haue their woords,
Ye make hir a cookqueane, and consume hir good.
And she must syt like a beane in a moonks hood.
Bearyng no more rule, than a goose turd in tems,
But at hir owne maides becks, winges, or hems.
She must obey those lambs, or els a lambs skyn,
Ye will prouyde for hir, to lap her in.
This biteth the mare by the thumbe, as they sey.
For were ye, touching condicion (say they)

The castell of honestee in all things els.
Yet should this one thing, as their hole tale tels,
Defoyle and deface that castell to a cotage.
One crop of a tourd marrth a pot of potage,
And some to this, crie, let him pas, for we thinke,
The more we stur a tourde, the wurs it will stynke,
With many condicions good, one that is yll,
Defaceth the flowre of all, and dooth all spyll.
Nowe (quoth I) if you thinke they truely clatter,
Let your amendment amende the matter.
Halfe warnd halfe armde. this warnyng for this I show,
He that hath an yll name, is halfe hangd, ye know.